Pumpkin Spice Tea | Review

Hello friends,

When they say pumpkin spiced everything, they MEAN pumpkin spiced everything. In more recent years pumpkin spice as a flavor has taken over during the fall months. I am not a strong connoisseur of the pumpkin spice flavor, but with the growing hype surrounding it, I decided to give it a whirl. A picked up Bigelow's Pumpkin Spice Black Tea (from my local Walmart), which claims to be a Hearty Spiced Tea. After letting it brew, I added in some sugar. Here is the result!

 

 

One of my first thoughts was that it was much better than I had originally expected. It quickly began to smell and taste of nutmeg and pumpkin pie. The ingredients for the tea are black tea, natural pumpkin flavors, cinnamon, licorice root, clove, ginger, and pumpkin flake. After reading the ingredients I realized one of the flavors I was tasting was the licorice root. The tea is gluten free and includes an average of 30-60 mg of caffeine. Overall I was pleasantly surprised by this tea and happy with my purchase. I hope this encourages you to try something new as well!

Happy Steeping,

Tilly

Autumnal Picnic | Easy How To

Hello friends,

With the arrival of crisp, cool air, comes the arrival of the leaves changing colors. I love to be outside this time of year to take in all of the beautiful colors. One way I enjoy fall weather is through putting together, and delighting in, an outdoor picnic. Picnics are pretty easy to put together, therefore I thought I would let you know what I include in mine.

The first thing one should do when picnicking, is to find the perfect spot! Since it is fall, it is always good to pick a spot with plenty views of the changing of leaves.

The first item I obtain is a basket. This one is a Longaberger basket, but you may use any type of container to place your things in. I next grab a blanket to sit on. I love using plaid or flannel blankets as they truly embody the fall atmosphere. The next, and perhaps the most important item, is something to drink. Here I have water and Pumpkin Spice Black Tea to steep. However, any other tea, coffee, hot chocolate, etc. would work just fine! Going along with something to drink, is something to drink with. I simply grabbed an autumnal mug and placed in the basket. After deciding which drink will keep me warm, I decide on snacks. Because I have such a sweet tooth, I opted for a bag of dark chocolate with pomegranate flavor. I also threw in some apples to complement the fall season. Finally, I grabbed a book to read! For this day, I took along The 5th Wave (so far its good).

The last step in enjoying a picnic, is to relax and relish in the fall foliage! I hope this inspires you to go outdoors and do the same! Since the leaves change and fall so fast, one should take advantage of the beautiful colors while they can.

As always, thank you for stopping by,

Tilly

Decorating | Tea Pots and Tea Cups

Hello friends,

My mother and I have accrued multiple tea pots and tea cups through vintage shopping. I have been asked more than once what we do with it all. The answer is simple: we decorate with them!

A recently purchased of mine has been this tea cup (Rose Bouquet made in England by the Johnson Bros.) antique shopping for a mere $8. I decided to place in on top a couple books stacked on my nightstand. The other items on my nightstand are quite taller than the tea cup, so providing it with some elevation, helps to balance out the arrangement.

On a little round table in my room, I have placed a gold and white tea pot (made in Japan, no company stamp) with some other items in the same color scheme. There are two candles, one if front of the teapot and one top of a couple books. There are also two plants, one real in the glass case and one artificial flower in a glass jar. Keeping a color theme on a table is a great way to bring the pieces together and really make them look like they belong on the table.

Since I use my vanity daily I don't want a lot placed on it because it would get in my way. Here I simply have a pitcher I picked up for $12 antique shopping. In the pitcher I have my Maid of Honor bouquet I carried on my best friend's wedding day. This just helps to bring some extra color into my room in a unique way.

I hope you enjoyed seeing how I incorporate my antique tea finds into my bedroom décor. Please send me pictures of how you decorate with tea things! Also comment below which of the three decorating looks was your favorite.

Hope you have a great day!

Tilly 

The Teacup | A History

Hello Everyone,

“The mere chink of cups and saucers tune the mind to happy repose”  - George Gissing

    

There is nothing like the enjoyment someone can receive from owning and using the perfect tea cup.  Perhaps it’s the fond reminiscences of conversations during tea time with friends, or the memories invoked by a perfect day antiquing, that makes a tea cup hold a special place in your heart.  Each tea cup in my home not only holds a special story and pleasurable memory, but is considered a beloved collectible.

Like anything else, the tea cup has quite a history. Their history began in China as a simple and handle free vessel.  When tea became popular among the Europeans in the 17th century, they found it quite intolerable to hold a steaming hot cup. So the addition of a tea handle was born and became an integral part of teatime. They first used silver as the handles, but they seemed to also hold heat. This became a problem with the holding of the tea cup. Next came a wonderful solution through changing the silver to porcelain in the 1600’s. However, porcelain did had some draw backs as well. This is why an influential lady started adding milk in the teacup before the hot tea was served. Tempering the tea in this manner made the tea cup better to handle and kept it from cracking.

Now that teacups could be handled easily, they became integrated into society for not only a pleasurable experience for relationships, but status also.  In the 19th century, the tea cup took on another role as a collectible. They found their way upon display shelves and used as gifts and keepsakes. They became little pieces of art that could intrigue anyone’s interest. They have become a vital part of culture and deeply rooted in family tradition. Whether the expanse of your tea cup collection is large or small, expensive or modestly found at an antique store, the repose found in them is the same. I hope, like me, you find some comfort and enjoyment out of using a variety of your own teacup collection to ensure the legacy of the teacup endures to the future generation.

God Bless,

Trina Belle

Etiquette 101

Hello friends,

Ever watched the movie Blast from the Past? Well, in that movie, Brenden Fraser's character sums up why we should follow an etiquette code when dining. He says, "Manners are a way of showing other people we care about them." This is something that has stuck in my mind ever since I first watched Blast from the Past. Having proper etiquette is a way of showing respect to those around you and can convey how much you appreciate them. Below are some codes of etiquette that are a great rule of thumb to follow when dining with others.

1.) Pretty basic, don't talk with food in your mouth or chew with your mouth open.
2.) Wait until you have swallowed your food to take a drink.
3.) When taking a drink, don't worry about maintaining eye contact, look into your cup not over it.
4.) Not going to lie, I hate this one...sit up straight...ugh., moving on.
5.) Keep your elbows close to your sides when cutting food. And under no circumstance place your elbows on the table.
6.) Refrain from touching your face and from pulling out any food you dislike from your mouth.
7.) Don't blow on your food if it is too hot.
8.) If you need something out of reach, ask for someone to pass it to you. Do not reach across the table to get what you need.

Those are some pretty basic etiquette rules that will get you through any dinner without looking like a schmuck. Let me know if you have any other useful tips!

Talk soon,

Tilly

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