Belated Birthday Celebrations and Gifts

Last month, I turned another year older.

My talented aunt baked me this gorgeous strawberry shortcake. 

It tasted as amazing as it looked!

Photo Credit: My Friend

I finally had afternoon tea at Tea at the White House's new location. 

This was a joint birthday celebration with my friend. We both selected dessert-inspired herbal teas. Donut herbal (top right) tasted sweet and nutty, while the chocolate covered strawberry herbal tea (bottom left) was a delicious, fruity tea (this was my favourite).

The pretty tea-themed birthday cards.

The 5-year-old daughter of my friend (from the afternoon tea)--without any hints from her mom--selected this cute teacup image for my birthday card and even coloured the teacup in my favourite colour: purple!

My family and friends showered me with tea-themed gifts again!

This charming teapot is the perfect addition to my collection. 

I'll have to share my 3 elephant teapots one day.

How adorable is this Chip mug?!?

A tea infuser bottle.

Teas! Teas! Teas!

A crafty friend handmade this super cute cozy. 

Can you see the embroidered teacup on the back?

Lovely teabag holders in my favourite hues: turquoise and purple.

These pretty paper plates and napkins are almost too pretty to use!

Ditto for these notecards!

Purple strikes again: an embroidered tea towel.

An interesting historical book on tea.

I'm hooked on this present!

A reusable bag featuring teacups and teapots.

I'm beyond grateful to my generous and thoughtful family and friends for the fabulous gifts!

I'm joining the following parties this week:

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Friends Sharing Tea

January Blues

On National Hot Tea Day (Jan 12), we had the first office tea social of 2018.

People brought their own cups. I brewed the Madeleine Cookie black tea by Monarch Tea which was a hit! Our tea was accompanied by a box of Girl Guide chocolate mint cookies and good conversation. It was a simple, but fun tea.

When my relatives came over to my place last weekend, I used my Blue Willow tea sets for our tea. Over the years, I've managed to collect 12 tea sets (one cup is missing a saucer) by different makers (e.g., Churchill England, Crown Clarence, Johnson Brothers).

I've also acquired a few mugs by Sadler.

The tea set on the right is a modern reproduction by Johnson Brothers.

I used my new "Drink Me" teapot to serve green tea.

My "Celebrate Life" teapot served the black tea.

Enjoy the last few days of Hot Tea Month!

I'm joining the following parties this week:

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Friends Sharing Tea

Tonia's Birthday Cake Black Tea

This month, I tried Tonia's Birthday Cake black tea by Steeped Tea, a local direct-selling tea company that has expanded across Canada and the US. Steeped Tea's Founder and President, Tonia, is also a January baby.

Tonia's Birthday Cake tea is supposed to taste like black forest cake. The label listed the following ingredients: black tea, sour cherry, cocoa bean bits, cocoa bean peels, almonds, rose blossom leaves, strawberry, safflower, natural flavors.

I stepped the tea for the recommended 3-minute time in my Royal Albert's polka blue tea for one set.

The breakfast cup is about twice the size of a standard teacup so fewer refills are required!

Tonia's Birthday Cake tea smelled wonderful.

My sweet tooth enjoyed the combined chocolate and fruit flavours in this dessert tea.

I also tasted a slight astringency so next time I'll try it with some milk. 

Do you drink dessert teas?

I'm joining the following parties this week:

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Friends Sharing Tea

Spoiled Again!

My family and friend once again spoiled yours truly with tea-themed Christmas gifts. This thankful tea nerd is always impressed by the unique tea gifts that they find! I already shared my new charming clock and whimsical teapot and mugs.

An assortment of new teas to enjoy throughout the year.

 .

 Owl have fun using this infuser and teabag holder!

Chic coasters for tea time.

A tea-lightful tray.

Some lovely napkins.

My favourite tea calendar

A tea nerd can never have too many tea-themed cards!

How adorable is this purple teapot pottery necklace?

This little light of mine, I'm gonna to let it shine!

2018 Giveaway Prizes

Now it's time to announce the winner of my 3-year blogiversary giveaway! 

And the WINNER selected by Random.org is...(drum roll):

Congratulations to Linda at the Crafty Gardener!

Please e-mail me your mailing address (click on my profile for my e-mail) and I will ship your prizes you.

Thank you to everyone who celebrated my blogiversary with me!

This week, I'm joining the parties:

    Friends Sharing Tea

  Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Look Who's 3!

On January 6th, my little blog turned 3!

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Let's celebrate my 3-year blogiversary with a tea party!

I'm using this whimsical tea set that I recently received as Christmas gifts from friends. 

I love the tea-riffic text on the teapot and mugs.

This charming "Drink Me" teapot is giving serious Alice in Wonderland vibes.

 TEA is instant wisdom.

HUG in a cup.

HIT me with your best pot.

HELLO, is it TEA you're looking for?

Blogging has enriched my life in ways that I never imagined.
To thank you all for your amazing support over the last 3 years, I'm hosting a giveway!

2018 Giveaway Prizes

The giveaway winner will receive:

1) "Drop It Like It's Hot"  mug by Drake General Store;

 2) Teabag silicon infuser;

3) Some tea samples and other surprise items

Eligibility: 

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

How to enter: 

Drop an "Enter Me" comment and a way for me to contact you below.

Entry Deadline: 

5:00 pm EST on Sunday, January 14, 2018

The winner will be chosen via Random.org and announced on: 

Monday, January 15, 2018

If the winner doesn't contact me within 48 hours, a new name will be drawn.

Good luck everyone!!!

I'm joining the following parties this week:

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Friends Sharing Tea

First Tea of 2018

Happy New Year!

2018 slogan: We Drink Tea

This cute teacup clock was a Christmas gift that came all the way from Scotland.

My first cup of tea in 2018 was...

"Joy" by Teavana

One of my goals this year is to find joy in the simple things.

Screenshot from Mariah Carey's Twitter

My first laugh of 2018: Mariah Carey's hilarious request for hot tea during her NYE performance in sub-zero temperatures at Times Square.  As fellow tea drinkers, we can relate to her reaction:

“I was told there would be hot tea. Oh, it’s a disaster!”

Click here to watch the 10-second video clip.

What are your tea goals for 2018?

This week, I'm joining the parties:

    Friends Sharing Tea

  Tuesday Cuppa Tea