Breakfast with a View | Beachside Tea

Hello Everyone,

After being so busy this summer, my family and I were able to catch a last minute get away to my favorite place, the beach.  With only one day to plan and pack everything, I was unable to prepare for having tea on our trip.  So, once we were there, and the rush was over, I found it quite unacceptable to live a week without tea time.  My first priority became finding an antique store and talking my husband into taking me there to find tea items. There is something special about the look and feel of being in an antique store scouting for that special treasure that will surely bring many future cherished memories.  I found the perfect store a half hour away in Conway, SC, and the moment I stepped into the store, I knew I would find something perfect! I was able to find the sweetest white teapot with small blue and gold design, I grabbed it up immediately and set off for a teacup to accompany it.  It took some searching, but there it was, the prettiest pink and white tea cup ever.  I was set and ready to check out, get back to the beach, and have teatime.

The view from our condo was amazing and setting up these new and special tea dishes was the icing on the cake.  Every morning I would get up and indulge in this wonderful atmosphere.  I was even able to take it all the way to the beach one morning.  I was a little timid thinking I would get some strange looks but none came.  People simply walked by and minded their own business while I arranged my tea setting.  There was nothing like combining my two most favorite sounds in the world; the crashing of waves against the beach and the sound my teacup makes when I set it on its saucer.  I hope this inspires you the next time you travel to add a little tea time to your adventure.

 

 

 

 

God Bless,

Trina Belle

Raven Rock Tea | Cliffside Tea

Hello Friends,

A couple of weeks ago some friends took me on a local hike. I took advantage of this opportunity to have tea while taking in the view at the top. We visited Raven Rock State Nature Preserve, a long and winding path of land that leads to a rock jutting out of a hillside, creating a breathtaking overlook. Raven Rock sets 500 feet above the Ohio River and provides ample views of the Portsmouth area, and roughly 14 miles of the Ohio River. Not only does Raven Rock provide such a beautiful and peaceful atmosphere, but also includes a rich history. Raven Rock is known for hosting visits from Tecumseh, a great Shawnee Chief, and Daniel Boone. In fact, Daniel Boone was held captive by the Indians and in an effort to get away, jumped off Raven Rock and into a tree. He was then able to shimmy down the tree and flee back to his hometown in Kentucky. Raven Rock was used extensively by various Indian warriors watching the river for American boats. The was an ideal lookout because it allowed the then Shawnee and Cherokee Indian warriors plenty of time to prepare for ambush. Raven Rock was also known as a sacred spot, and is where some of the Indians worshiped. The origin of the rock’s name is unknown, however there are multiple legends to compensate for the lack of factual history. The most obvious is that the rock is named for its resemblance to a raven, while others claim it is named from a prominent Cherokee chief that died in battle in the area, The Raven of Toqua. There is also myth of a lost tomb that resides in the recesses of the hill. The tomb is said to house a great leader of the Ancient Ones. Avalanches and rock slides have prevented anyone stumbling across the grave.

The hike itself is tedious ascent, and the effort it took to get to the top, I believe, made the tea taste better! I premade Peach Tea and placed it in a thermos for easy transport. I also brought along a couple tea cups, candle, and blanket. It felt marvelous to sip tea with friends and take in the historical view.

More information on the history and location of Raven Rock is found here.

Special thanks to Philip Ferguson for being my pack mule. Another special thanks to both Philip and Hannah Ferguson for inviting me to hike with them!

Thank you for stopping by,

Tilly

Poolside Tea | Labor Day

Hello Everyone,

So here it is, Labor Day, the first Monday of September.  Wow where has summer gone?  The unofficial last weekend of summer has crept in on us.  It's the time of year where everyone tries to pack in parades, swimming, cookouts, and every summer activity that they can before the changing of leaves and cool weather hits us.  But what's Labor Day about?  It's not only about the time of year when everyone puts up all their white accessories and marches back to the sounds of school bells and whistles, but it has a much deeper value. In the late 19th century,  the normal work week looked like 12 hours a day, 7 days a week; even for young children.  Labor unions were formed and rallied to fight for workers' rights.  Since then this Unique American holiday has stood for the safety and the working right of every American worker across this great nation.  So, in your extra day off this year, please remember all of those who have sacrificed for your right to work a  safe 40 hour work week.

 

What other way to celebrate this wonderful holiday than having tea by the pool as a last summer hurrah.  Any cup of tea offers a wonderful way to stop and relax  on your extended weekend off.  We simply made up some tuna salad and placed them on some miniature croissants, which made a wonderful tea sandwich.  Next, we gathered up some delightful pastries and placed them around our super cute tea pot.  Once we got everything set up outside by the pool, it was an incredibly inviting and fun time of combining swimming and tea. I hope this inspires you to do the same!

 

 

 

God Bless,

Trina Belle

How To | Cherry Cheesecake Cookie Cupcakes

Hello friends!

Today I am sharing with you a very simple cheesecake cupcake. The base of the cupcake is created with cookie dough! I though that was such a fun idea and incorporated chocolate chip cookie dough into our recipe. However, next time I am determined to use sugar cookie dough as my base. The cheesecake part is made up of cream cheese, eggs, vanilla extract, and sweetened condensed milk. As topping, we used cherry pie filling, but you could substitute this out for any flavor that suits you. Here is how the product turned out:

My brother and I also filmed a video walk through on how to make these. Let us know if you would like to see more of these cupcake video tutorials!

Recipe: 

          Ingredients

          - 2 16oz packages of cream cheese

          - 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract

          - 2 eggs

          - 1 14 oz can of sweetened condensed milk

          - 1 can of cherry pie filling

          - 1 package of precut chocolate chip cookie dough

         Directions

          - Place one piece of cookie dough into each cupcake. Bake for 10 minutes at 325 degrees F, or until the cookie dough has spread out evenly in the bottom of the cupcake tin. 

          - Combine cream cheese, vanilla, eggs, and sweetened condensed milk and beat until smooth. 

          - After the cookie dough is done, place an even amount of the cheesecake mixture into each cupcake. Bake for 15 minutes to allow the cheesecake to set.

          - When the cheesecake has finished baking, allow them to cool. Then place a spoonful of cherry pie filling onto each cupcake.

          - Finally, place the cupcakes in the fridge to chill for an hour.

          Additional Comments

          - These were SUPER easy to make and were very tasty to boot.

          - Baking time: 25 minutes.

         - Prep time: 15 minutes.

         - Chill time: 1 hour.

 

 

Happy baking!

Tilly