One

It seems like it was just yesterday that I was composing Tea in the Valley's inaugural post while listening to Taylor Swift's "Blank Space" (HA!). On January 6th, I will be celebrating my first blogiversary! 
 

 Let's dance to some party music: Kool & The Gang - Celebration

Starting this blog was one of the best things I've ever done! I've been touched and humbled by the camaraderie I found in this wonderful blogging community of tea time lovers. I have met and developed friendships with fantastic individuals who have taught and inspired me with their faith, wisdom, and creativity; made me laugh, cry, swoon over their tea pretties, and salivate over their yummy foods; astonished me with their generosity; and understand the thrill of the hunt and my geeking out over a bargain teacup find!

The teas that I received from blogger friends and past teacup exchange partners during the Christmas season.

This fabulous Christmas pocket letter was part of a surprise package sent to me by Lynn who was my swap partner from the March teacup exchange. I was stunned when I found inside the box...

A CUP OF CHRISTMAS TEA--the Holy Grail of my teacup collection!!! 

I've been hunting for this pattern for years but haven't had much luck finding it at local thrift stores (the ridiculously high international shipping rates prohibited me from purchasing it online).

In addition to the awesome teacup, Lynn also sent me these lovely gloves and yummy tea samples to help keep me warm during these winter days. THANK YOU, Lynn, for the amazing package!!!

It was only fitting that my Cup of Christmas Tea was christened with Murchie's Christmas blend (Thank you, Judith!). 

To thank you all for your incredible support during the past year, I am hosting a 1-year Blogiversary Giveaway!

The giveaway winner will receive:

1) A "Tea for Two" towel 

2) A bone china mug by Cambridge (English by Design)

3) Some tea samples (to be determined based on the winner's tea preferences).

Eligibility: 

Due to high postage costs, the giveaway is only open to residents of Canada and U.S. (sorry!)

How to enter: 

Please leave a comment here about your tea preferences.
(e.g., black, green, white, oolong, herbal, rooibos, flavoured, etc.)

If you do not have a Blogger/Google account, you can also enter by sending me an e-mail.
(pleases click on my complete profile on the right for my e-mail address)

Entry Deadline: 

11:59 pm EST on Saturday, January 9, 2016

The name of the winner will be announced on: 

Monday, January 11, 2016.

Good luck everyone!!!

I'm joining the following parties this week:

  Bernideen's Tea Time, Collage, and Garden Blog Party

Mosaic Monday

  No Place Like Home

Tea Cup Tuesday 

Tuesday Cuppa Tea 

2015: A Retrospective

Where did 2015 go?!? As 2015 draws to a close, I'm jumping on the year-in-review bandwagon.

 So let's look back at this year's memorable experiences at Tea in the Valley!

January: My inaugural teacup post.

February: I went to the Toronto Tea Festival.

 March: I participated in Stephanie's teacup exchange and received a teacup from South Africa.

 April: I got a teacup printed by a 3-D printer.

 May: I visited the Irish Tea Room in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

 June: My smelly encounter with the Titan arum (aka Corpse Flower) in rare bloom received the most comments.

July: I had tea on the lawn of the Billings Estate.

 August: I enjoyed a bottomless cup of tea at Whitehern Historic House and Garden's "Downton Downtown".

 

September: I celebrated the historic occasion of Queen Elizabeth II becoming the longest reigning British monarch.

October: I participated in Stephanie's fall teacup exchange. 

November: Scarecrow Saturday 2015 in Dundas received the most views.

December: 'Tis the season for Christmas tea parties!

Thank you all for stopping by my little corner of Blogland throughout 2015.
I'm always grateful for your visits and comments and I wish you all a Happy New Year!

I'd also like to thank the lovely hosts of the parties that I join each week:

  Bernideen from Tea Time, Collage, and Garden Blog Party

Judith from Mosaic Monday

Martha from Tea Cup Tuesday 

Ruth from Tuesday Cuppa Tea
Sandi from No Place Like Home

2016, I'm coming for ya!

Cup of Christmas Cheer

At a recent visit to the local mall, I spotted the most adorable thing...

A pair of Arctic hares enjoying a cup of tea outside Santa's cabin. Too cute!

 'Tis the season for enjoying copious amounts of tea!

 Earlier this month, I hosted a Christmas tea party with my relatives which gave me the opportunity to use my holiday teawares.

I used two of my Christmas teapots: Spode's "Christmas Tree" (left) and Maxwell & Williams "Baubles" (right).

My "United Nations" of teacups with holly and ivy and poinsettia patterns:
Lefton - Japan (top left); Blue Bird - Canada (top right); Duchess - England (bottom left).

I didn't have enough seasonal teacups so I also used my Bareuther Waldsassen - Germany (bottom right) set which I thought looked Christmassy...

Last week, we had our last tea social of the year at the office.

I brought in my Maxwell & Williams "Baubles" teapot and mugs.

The Christmas sweets brought in by my co-workers.

At a friend's afternoon tea party this past weekend, I enjoyed sipping my tea from the Royal Albert "Yuletide" teacup.

Wishing you a Blessed Christmas Season!

I'm joining the following parties this week:

  Bernideen's Tea Time, Collage, and Garden Blog Party

Mosaic Monday

  No Place Like Home

Tea Cup Tuesday 

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

A Visit to the Official Hometown of Santa Claus

Back in July 2010, my friend and I backpacked through Scandinavia and had a unique "Christmas in July" experience.

We took a 12-hour overnight train from Helsinki to Rovaniemi--the capital of Lapland (Finland) and the official hometown of Santa Claus!

Our cozy sleeping compartments on our "Polar Express".

To my surprise, Rovaniemi looked a lot like northern Ontario!

From Rovaniemi, we took an 8-km bus ride to the Santa Claus Village where we crossed the Arctic Circle!

"The Arctic Circle is the line north of which the sun never sets at least one day in summer and never rises for at least one day in winter." (Source: Santa Claus Village sign)

 Manger scene

At the Santa Claus Main Post Office, one of the postal elves stamped our postcards with the special Arctic Circle postmark. The Post Office can also hold your cards and parcels  and mail them just before Christmas.

Photo courtesy of my friend

Unfortunately, photography was prohibited inside Santa's Office so we didn't capture any images of our visit with Santa. 

To see photos of the Santa Claus Village in winter, click here. You can also view the SantaClausLive Inside Cam between 9 am to 7 pm Finland time (1 am to 11 am EST).

During our 2-day stay at Rovaniemi, we tried out some Lappish cuisine.  Reindeer meat is a staple food in Lapland. You can learn more about Lappish food culture here.

At our hotel, we dined on sautéed reindeer with mashed potatoes and lingonberries (top). 

At the cafe by the train station, we had reindeer pizza (bottom).
Sorry, Dasher, Dancer and Prancer!

At the time of my trip, my teaware obsession collection had not yet started, so I didn't look for tea-themed ornaments or Santa teawares at the Santa Claus Village. Since 2010, I've amassed a modest collection of Santa teapots.

Earlier this month, I acquired this miniature Santa teapot by Fitz and Floyd...

...and "Santa's Flight" by Fitz and Floyd.

I loved the detailing on the teapot such as the handle listing the names of the good boys and girls!

This teapot was gifted to me last Christmas by a friend.

The first Santa teapot in my collection was a thrift store find a few years ago.

I hope Santa is good to you this Christmas!

I'm joining the following parties this week:

  Bernideen's Tea Time, Collage, and Garden Blog Party

Mosaic Monday

  No Place Like Home

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Rocking Around the Christmas Tree

When I moved into my own place, my parents gifted me with a purple tinsel, fibre optic Christmas tree. The 3-ft tree was a little tacky but I loved it anyway!

2012 Tree

I started collecting tea-themed ornaments in 2012. 

2013 Tree

In 2013, I had enough teapot and teacup ornaments to have a tea-themed tree.

2014 Tree

By 2014, my collection of tea-themed ornaments had grown so much that I bought a bigger tree during the Boxing Day sales.

2015 Tree

This year, the purple tree was moved to the kitchen and decorated with personalized ornaments, vintage copper cookie cutters, and cute ornaments that I received from local and blogging friends.

2015 Tree

 My new 6-ft green tree went up in late November.

These ornaments were gifted to me last Christmas. 

My friend couldn't find any tea-themed ornaments so she converted a children's tea set into ornaments for me!

I purchased these teapot ornaments from a fall pottery sale a few years ago.

I found these whimsical teapots and teacups at Kitchen Stuff Plus back in 2013. 

They remind me of the tea set from Beauty and the Beast.

These glass teapots from Target are some of my all-time favourite ornaments.

The Wedgewood (top) and Royal Albert (bottom) ornaments were gifted to me by my mom.

The new ornaments that I've acquired (so far!) this year.

The glass Santa teapot, white glittery teapot, and white with pink roses teapot were all from the Merry Farms' Christmas store. The customized teapot was from Always Christmas at Niagara Fallsview. The grey teacup was printed by a 3-D printer (you can read more about the 3-D teacup here).

I'm joining the following parties this week:

  Bernideen's Tea Time, Collage, and Garden Blog Party

Mosaic Monday

  No Place Like Home

Tuesday Cuppa Tea