Back to Tea Time Part 1

Getting Back to Our Roots

It has come to our attention that we have been neglecting the first part of our blog title and for this we apologize. We love tea...hot or cold...even as ice cream. (Green tea ice cream is really good and refreshing.) Tea parties are the best. So today we are going to talk tea.

New Brand

Saturday, when Xyra was out with Maree and Ami, they stopped for a refreshing iced latte from Saxby's coffee. Each tried a different flavor. Ami's tasted the most like coffee. Maree's was the lightest in color. Xyra had the raspberry mocha. She said it still had a coffee undertone, but not too strong to negate the nice raspberry. However, she also picked up 4 different tea bags. The tea at Saxby's is from Two Leaves tea company.

She picked up an Earl Grey (of course), Assam black, Tropical Green, and Mountain High Chai.

The bags are in clear plastic sleeves. The bags are triangle shaped so that the leaves have more room to expand and brew.

Loose, Bagged, Tinned

Tea bags are the most popular form of brewing tea (at least in the US) as it is easy and mess free. [Did you know tea bags are compost-able? Especially the ones without tags and the loose leaves.] You can get square with tags, square without tags, circles, and triangles. They can come in paper, plastic, or foil pouches or without a pouch.

If the bags are not protected by a pouch or they have a paper pouch it is best to store them in an airtight container like loose leaf.

You can reuse your tins, but wash them carefully and don't mix your "flavors" as one can overcome the rest. For example if you store an herbal blend with your English Breakfast, then the English Breakfast will soon take on the flavor of the herbal. Not a horrible thing, but could be disappointing on the day you are looking for a nice cup of English Breakfast and it tastes more like chamomile, mint, or vanilla.

Two Leaves Tropical Green Tea Review

We decided to try the Tropical Green tea. 

We gathered everything we needed, but instead of using the stove kettle heated the water in a small 4 cup coffee maker. [It has never brewed coffee, so no lingering coffee taste in the water.]

Then we poured the water over the bag in our glass pot and let it steep for 5 minutes.

Sadly, there are no brewing instructions on the plastic pouch. But it didn't make a difference to us because we wanted to try making hot AND iced. 

This looks great! the bubbles on top are from being just poured. White cups are perfect for showing off green tea's color.

Making the iced tea. The glass is filled with ice, a little bit of sugar in the raw, and a metal, iced tea spoon. The metal in the spoon protects the glass from the heat and cold. Unprotected...the glass would crack and break. [Xyra lost a really neat pitcher that way.]

Iced is done. The ice will melt really fast. Add more if you want it to be colder.

Even with the extra brewing the color was nice and the flavor awesome in both styles. Not bitter and not grassy. This is a mild green tea that everyone should like.

That's all for today, more tomorrow.
Best wishes,
    

Meeting New Friends

Saturday was a Wonderful Day!

Xyra planned an outing with her friends, Ladies Maree and Ami, and I tagged along to meet some new friends of my own.

The weather was great! I wore the Play Outfit, but couldn't decide on which shoes. My blue MaryJanes or Lanie’s lime green gladiator sandals….

We headed out. It was a short trip, but I should have had my sunglasses. Oh, well. Note for next trip.

We headed up the steps to the door and were greeted in the garden!

Hi! I’m Melody.

I’m Felicity.

[She's Pleasant Company.]

I’m Thomasina.

[She's My Twin]

Molly, here.

[Also Pleasant Company]

Nice to meet you.

I joined them on the bench and we talked about books and movies and camp. Felicity was the odd one out when we started talking about glasses.

That is a neat birdhouse.

Thomasina went inside to find a book she thought I’d like. Molly and Felicity led me through the salvia. They have three really pretty colors blooming.

It was time for Ami, Maree, and Xyra to head out, so we headed inside to hang out in the living room. Molly led the way…

she calmed the guard kitty so we could pass. Oh, and here you can see I chose to go with the sandals. They were perfect! [Xyra aside: The maryjanes left a blue mark on the back of Melody's heels when removed. The marks were easily removed with baking soda and water.]

It was just like home. I can’t wait for my sisters to meet these girls. We had a lot of fun!

Have a great day!

   

Fabulous Back-to-School Giveaway

Doll Diaries and Tallulah Sophie Team Up!

Almost everyone in the country is back to school! What did you wear?
Are you ready to send your dolls back to school too?
Whether the answer is yes or no, you should check out and enter this great giveaway from Doll Diaries and Tallulah Sophie (Etsy).

It's really easy to enter. Check out the rules on Doll Diaries.

Over at Tallulah Sophie...
This is my favorite Back-to-School Ensemble!

Aren't they adorable?

The giveaway outfit is just as cute (if not cuter). I can picture myself in it easily...would make for a great "Who Wore it Best" blog post at our house. ;-)

Go have fun with the giveaway!

Best wishes and good luck to all that enter!

Melody

#dolldiariesbacktoschoolgiveaway

#tallulahsophiedolldiariesgievaway

Doll Diaries 123MulberryStreet Giveaway

Do you like stylish clothes?
Do you need new foundation garments?
Then head on over to Doll Diaries for their fabulous Gotchies giveaway in partnership with Etsy site 123MulberryStreet.


I was over at 123MulberryStreet and they have some really great clothes! These are my favorite outfits:

Tres Chic

Soft Greys

Sweet & Simple

Seeing Dots - Eggplant

Pretty in Pink

Thank you Doll Diaries and 123MulberryStreet. Head over to Doll Diaries and enter now!



    

To Boldly Go...

If you can finish the above title without much thought, then you should enjoy this post.

Tonight was a lot of fun!

I like science and science fiction fantasy books, movies, and TV.
Our local theater is currently playing Star Trek Into Darkness. Xyra and Lady Vanyer love Star Trek and I begged them to take me along. Since it is PG-13, Xyra agreed.

We got to the theater a little early and got to see them turn on the "porch" lights.

Our local theater is The Grand in East Greenville, PA. They have great movies each week just check the marquee. 

It has a great history (more than just Xyra's personal memories). You can read about it on their website.

Here is the now showing movie poster. We thought that was supposed to be Kirk in the duster (kind of looks like a Superman cape from a distance), but it isn't.

We got our tickets.

The popcorn smelled wonderful.

  
They have a new...antique Coca Cola fountain. Cherry Coke, please.

If you come in late, you don't miss much while getting snacks...this is the view. Pretty neat, huh?

The building has been lovingly restored. This is a part of the tin ceiling.

The wall decorations.

The organ (sorry that is a little dark and fuzzy).

The stage.

Here we have our seats and are ready to watch the movie. (That's Lady Vanyer's elbow.)

Yeah, this is a lot of popcorn for me, but I'm sharing with Xyra.

The movie was GREAT! Lots of action and a great cast and story. Xyra didn't LOVE it, but she didn't hate it either. She mentioned something about the Khan character and movie being her favorite and something about the changes made. But then she also added that once she talks it through with Sister Stereo she'd probably see it a second time and maybe like it better.

There was one kind of icky scene where Xyra put her hand over my eyes. But she couldn't say if we really saw anything since she had turned away too. If you've seen the movie you probably know which one.

There was a scene at the end of the movie that was pretty sad, but it made Xyra smile too. She said she heard others saying "the words" too. I think it had to do with the title we're using for the post.

After it was over we headed home. And I showed my sisters my ticket. They weren't sure they'd like the movie, but think they have a turn coming too.

Xyra said she should have taken us all to see Despicable Me 2.

Just another quick note about The Grand. It's really affordable. $5 ticket ($3 for matinees), large popcorn is $3.50 and a small drink $1.50.  And you can rent the theater for parties.


   


#StarTrekintoDarkness
#TheGrandTheater