Wrapping up 2017

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

 

The teapot and teacup ornaments that I ordered from Avon arrived just time for Christmas!

The final tea social at the office.

We sipped Home for the Holidays black tea in my poinsettia teacups and saucers.

Tea Advent Calendar: Days 13-16

Tea Advent Calendar: Days 17-20

Tea Advent Calendar: Days 21-22

I forgot to photograph Days 23-24. Whoops!

As 2017 winds down, let's look at this year's tea highlights.

January: My blog turned 2!

February:  I attended a fashionable tea event.

March/April: I participated in The Enchanting Rose's spring teacup exchange.

May: I went to a tea dance!

June: Tea at the White House returned with pop-up afternoon teas.

July: I met up with blogging friends for afternoon tea at Nicol's Pastry Shop.

July/August: I visited the Mad Hatter Tea Co.'s new shop.

September: 'Tis the season for apple teas.

October/November: I participated in The Enchanting Rose's fall teacup exchange.

November: I went to the RBG's 2nd Annual Tea Festival.

December: My tea tree went up!

Thank you all for all your visits and comments throughout 2017.

May 2018 bring love, happiness, and prosperity.

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

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Friends Sharing Tea

Note: My regular posting schedule will temporarily shift to Wednesday due to the holidays.

Teas and Trees

I've been saving pretty teabag wrappers for something crafty and was inspired by Deborah's romantic bridal shower tea post...

...to use my teabags to decorate my miniature tree!

The aqua cookie cutter came from Michaels.

Some of these teabags were gifted by family and friends.

Photo credit: Deborah H. Montgomery

"Depression knows no season." (Deborah Montgomery)

Deborah recently published a short book called "Help for Depression".

 Click here to visit Deborah's blog and learn more about the book. 

U.S. residents can order the book here. Canadian residents can order the book here.

It's a marshmallow world in the Valley!

  I've been enjoying my Advent Tea Calendar this month.

Days 1-4.

 Days 5-8

Days 9-12

In addition to my Advent Tea calendar, I've also been sipping holiday teas by local tea companies:

Home for the Holidays black tea by For Tea's Sake.

Holiday Blend herbal blend by Lemon Lily Organic Tea.

Candy Cane Crunch by Polar Tea Co.

Gingerbread black tea by Lemon Lily Organic Tea.

 A blogging friend sent me this adorable tea-themed Christmas card.

Wishing you a Safe and Joyful Holiday Season!

Note: My regular posting schedule will shift to Wednesdays for the next 2 weeks due to the holidays.

I'm joining the following parties this week:

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Friends Sharing Tea

2017 Tea-Themed Christmas Tree

I like to put up my Christmas decorations by late November so that I can maximize my enjoyment of the festive decor.

It took HOURS to put up my tea-themed tree...

...but it was so worth it!!!
The new additions to the 2017 tree are featured below.

I purchased the Hallmark "Tea Time! Santa and Bag" and "A Spot of Tea Mini Fairy Teapot" ornaments at the Boxing Week sales after last Christmas.

This checkered teacup is almost as big as a real teacup.

Cute ornaments that I found at the thrift stores and church sales this year.

Every year, I admire the Blue Delft teapot and teacup ornaments at The Dutch Mill Country Market and wait to no avail for them to go on sale after Christmas. So this year, I decided to purchase them (at regular price) before they sold out for the umpteenth time.

These teapots are actually oil diffuser ornaments.

I commissioned a local stained glass artist to make this adorable stained glass teapot in turquoise.

Last Christmas, I was gifted this children's ladybug tea set which I converted into ornaments.

My godson gifted me this miniature dragon tea set this Christmas.
Daenerys Targaryen would approve!

These dainty demitasse tea sets only cost $1 each at the thrift store so I snatched them up and turned them into ornaments.

 I used my Indigo gift card to purchase these mini mug ornaments. I think they're supposed to be hot cocoa, but I really liked what the mugs say so I'll pretend they're tea mugs!

Left: Mint green mug that says, "Snug & Cozy"

Right: Rose pink mug that says, "Eat, drink and be amazing"

Do you have any tea-themed ornaments?

I'm joining the following parties this week:

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Friends Sharing Tea

Counting down to Christmas and 2018

Last Friday,  I excitedly opened the first tea from my tea calendar.

This HUGE stocking was a HomeSense find. In November, I filled the pockets with teas from my collection. Sufficient time has passed so that the teas will still be a surprise.

 Day 1: Bigelow Tea's Constant Comment

The mug rug underneath was given to me by a crafty co-worker.

My holiday teas carousel.

In addition to the teas from my Advent calendar, I'm also enjoying these seasonal teas. 

So far, I've managed to contain the holiday tea collection in this 2-tier tray...

The tea-themed calendars that I've acquired for 2018.

How are your Christmas preparations going?

I'm joining the following parties this week:

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Friends Sharing Tea

Tea at the White House's New Location

Last week, I had plans to meet a friend for afternoon tea at Tea at the White House. Unfortunately, my friend got sick...but rather than cancelling our reservation, I opted to go on my own instead!

Tea at the White House opened their beautiful tea shop at their new location (35 Main St North, Waterdown, Ontario) in September. The tea room opened in late October. Reservations are a must! 

 The great wall of 170+ teas.

Because I love all things banana, I tried out the Darjeeling Select Reserve tea which "offers flavors of flowers, freshly sprouting buds, pomello and even green banana." (Source: Tea at the White House). I couldn't detect the banana, but I did enjoy this light, floral tea.

My delicious cream tea was quite filling!

 Tea at the White House Impulse Purchase
How are adorable are these vintage-style teapot and teacups necklace and earrings?

I'm so glad that Tea at the White House has found a permanent location so that I can enjoy their wonderful food, teas and service again!

Tea at the White House was recently featured in the local morning news. Click here to watch the 15-minute video which includes: discussion of afternoon tea vs. high tea, tea blending, scone baking, and a tea and chocolate pairing.

I'm joining the following parties this week:

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Friends Sharing Tea

2nd Annual RBG Tea Festival

The 2nd Annual Royal Botanical Gardens Tea Festival returned earlier this month bigger and better than ever! There were 35 vendors, 13 educational presentations, and 6 demonstrations offered during the 2-day festival. This year, I focused on visiting the vendors whose enthusiasm and passion for tea were truly inspiring.

 Uva Teas Canada offered a commemorative tin to mark the 150-year anniversary of Ceylon tea.

 

The Monarch Tea Co.

The Hamilton-proud owner, Katie, is one of my favourite tea entrepreneurs and delivers excellent presentations. 

Tea samples (bottom): Madeleine Cookie Black Tea (left); Warm Peach Pie Green Tea right)

Booch Kombucha

10 am isn't too early for some  kombucha, right?!?

Blue Mountain Tea Company

Sample: Up and At Them Organic Black Tea

Victoria Road Chai Co.

Sample: Garden in Bloom Chai

Steeped Tea

Steeped Tea is another Hamilton-based company and offered their own Advent tea calendar: 

"24 Steeps 'till Christmas."

The Sugared Teacup

The Sugared Teacup offered beautifully decorated boxes filled with tea things from Tea-ronto businesses. I am soooo tempted to sign up for their subscription boxes...

Teas and Toasts

This was one of the prettiest booths at the festival. 

I loved the tiered trays made of saucers and the charming infuser holder (right).

Zhen Tea

Sample: Guan Hin Yong

Kevin Kong Wellness Centre

Samples: A black tea (top) and a Pu erh from 2007 (bottom).

The festival was sponsored by the Consulate of Sri Lanka.

Their booth gave out free samples of different types of Ceylon teas.

The Travelling Tearoom

How cute are these teapot necklaces?

The Algonquin Tea Company

"100% certified organic, hand-picked, indigenous Canadian herbs and blended herbal teas."

Samples: Awakening Tea (left); Sacred Blend Tea (right).

Left: I'm not a big fan of tumeric teas, but I enjoyed the sweet tumeric latte served by Genuine Tea.

Middle: The Matcha Uji was made from green tea leaves plants that were exposed to Mozart music to foster their growth.

Right: Vanilla matcha from Steeped Tea.

Top left: Afternoon Blend Black Tea by The Tea Stylist who wrote the award-winning Tea Book (one of my faves!).

Top right: Cinnamon Dream by Teas and Toasts.

Bottom: Samples from Chayo Tea (left) and Bon Tea Place (right).

 Tea Postcards!

Tea Butler Canada (available at the RBG)

Christmas herbal teas samples

I brought home these 2 fun tea shirts by Tea Life Brand.

I also stocked up on my favourite tea-infused lip balm by Bare English & Co.

I exercised GREAT restraint and only purchased 3 teas: 

1) Madeline Cookie; 

2) Ginger, Papaya and Peach Chai (I was intrigued by the exotic combo);

3) Garden in Bloom Chai sampler

Another wonderful tea festival in the books!

I'm joining the following parties this week:

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Friends Sharing Tea