2016: A Retrospective

As the crazy roller coaster ride that was 2016 comes to an end, it's time to look back at this year's favourite tea moments.

January: My blog turned 1!

January/February: I went to the Toronto Tea Festival.

March: I met Stephen Twinings, a 10th generation Twining.

April: I participated in Stephanie's spring teacup exchange and received this beauty from Australia!

May: I hosted a casual tea party for my relatives.

June: I went on The Carnegie Gallery's Secret Garden Tour.

July: My tea-themed garden decor.

August: I met up with Judith (Lavender Cottage) and Sandra (Ravenhill Cottage) at The Old Curiosity Tea Shop.

September/October: I received this wonderful package as part of Stephanie's fall teacup exchange.

October: I returned to The Old Curiosity Tea Shop to meet up with Judith (Lavender Cottage) and Wendy (September Violets).

 November: I went to the RBG's First Tea Festival.

December: My tea-themed tree.

Thank you all for all the visits and comments throughout 2016.

Happy New Year!

Special thanks also go out to the lovely hosts of the parties that I join each week:

Ruth from Tea Cup Tuesday

  Bernideen from Friends Sharing Tea

Martha from Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Bring on 2017! 

Holiday Teas

Throughout December, I've been sipping holiday teas from my Christmassy teawares.

My new-to-me Santa teapot, "Snack Therapy" by Fitz & Floyd, hanging out with a vintage Troll.

I love how Santa's hat converts into a mug.

Click here to view the rest of my Santa teapot collection.

Day 16 from the David's Tea Advent Calendar

Strawberry Rhubarb Parfait herbal tea was served from my mini Sadler teapot and Duchess teacup.

The Twinings Winter Wonderland herbal tea definitely tasted better in my Spode Christmas Tree mug.

The Traveling Tearoom's Nutcracker Tea served in the "Christmas Baubles" tea set by Maxwell Williams.

Last year, one of my tea friends surprised me by sending me this "Cup of Christmas Tea" all the way from the States. It was only fitting that I sipped Murchie's Christmas tea (Thanks, Judith!) in this special teacup.

I was thrilled when at a recent visit to my local thrift store, I found the out-of-print book that inspired "A Cup of Christmas Tea".

I didn't have time to raid my parents' closet for an "Ugly Christmas Sweater" so I improvised by pinning the cute Christmas ornaments handcrafted by my blogging friends to a green sweater.

My mom surprised me with this adorable teapot ornament for my tea tree.

If you live near a Canadian Sears store, the ornament is now on clearance. Or you can order it online here.

My Nativity set under the tree.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas!

I'm joining the following parties this week:

Tea Cup Tuesday

  Friends Sharing Tea

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

The Giving Tree

My second Christmas tree is a small purple fibre optic tree located in my kitchen.

This tree is decorated with vintage cookie cutters, as well as handmade ornaments gifted to me by my talented blogging friends.

Last Christmas, I gave you my heart.

Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!

Jolly old Saint Nicholas.

Rocking around the Christmas tree.

The stocking was hung by the tree with care.

Owl be home for Christmas.

 Star of wonder.

Underneath the purple tree are my miniature tea sets.

This week's holiday tea: Celestial Seasonings' Candy Cane Lane.

This is one of my favourite Christmas teas.

I'm joining the following parties this week:

Tea Cup Tuesday

  Friends Sharing Tea

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

O Christmas Tree

Throughout the year, I keep an eye out for tea-related ornaments for my Christmas tree. The irony is that some of these ornaments cost more than my functional teacups and teapots!

My tea-themed Christmas tree went up last month.

I was excited to add my latest acquisitions (below) to my tree.

Ornaments gifted to me last Christmas.

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

Ornaments found at the thrift stores this year.

New copper tea kettle ornaments from The Keeping Room.

New teapot ornaments by Ganz.

New teapot ornaments from the fall pottery show.

New handcrafted (?) wooden teapot ornaments from a church bazaar.

New teacup ornaments from the Merry Farms Christmas Store.

Here comes Santa Claus!

I had to call multiple Hallmark stores before I found one that sold this cute Tea Lover's Ornament.

I've always wanted one of David's Tea's Advent Calendar so I was ecstatic when a co-worker passed on her duplicated calendar to me!

 Day 1 of the David's Tea's Advent Calendar: Snow Day is a tasty chocolate mint herbal tea.

Have you put up your Christmas tree?

I'm joining the following parties this week:

Tea Cup Tuesday

  Friends Sharing Tea

Tuesday Cuppa Tea