Giveaway Alert: A Doll's Life

Urban Outfit Giveaway

Do you like this DreamWorldCollection outfit?

Photo by A Doll's Life

If you answered, "Yes." Hop on over to A Doll's Life to find out all the details to enter and possibly win this outfit for your favorite 18" vinyl person.
Deadline to enter is February 20, 2018.

Best wishes to all who enter!

Mini Adventure #19

Valentine Surprise!

Evan, Felicity, Hailey, Holly, Madeline, Rebecca, Tama, 2 or more

(giggling)
Where have they gone? 

I hear them, this way.
Here they are!

What are you doing?
Setting up a card for everyone.
That's cool!
Yeah!
Let's get a group photo.
Sure!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Here's a better look!

Have a great day!

Tea Review: Teapigs Darjeeling

Tea for Tuesday #12

Teapigs Darjeeling

Happy Fastnacht Day, Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras! 

Today's celebrations are perfect for a cup of Darjeeling "the champagne of teas"! You want something lovely to drink with your festival foods that doesn't overpower. We happen to have some of Teapigs Darjeeling right here ready to try.

I love how each Teapigs blend is represented by a picture. This one has a locomotive on it. I'm certain it is because of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. This is a sampler pack with two tea temple sachets. This is a tea temple.

The back of the box gives you a little description of the tea from Louise, another bit about the company and the tea temples, and the most important part...how to steep it properly.

So I've put the temple in our pot, Xyra poured the water, and I will set the timer for 4 minutes. Now we wait.

[timer beeps]
Done! Yay! The Darjeeling has a beautiful color.

And smells nice. Warm, a little floral, but not heavily floral.

The box says to drink it without milk. Of course, our first is always plain.

Mmmm, this is lovely. Light but still has good body. A bit floral, but not overpowering. Even slightly earthy, but not too much of that either. Also slightly sweet. I'm taking another sip plain.

Mmmm, yes. I like the Darjeeling just the way it is. A nice mysterious mix of goodness.
The Teapigs Darjeeling tea is the perfect cup to enjoy with your fastnacht, pancakes, doughnuts,  beignets, or king cake. It doesn't compete with your tasty treats and is super tasty on it's own.

I'm having fastnacht with mine. 

Want to learn more about today's festivities and traditions? Click the links to past posts:
Happy Fastnacht Day 2013
Happy Shrove Tuesday 2014
Fastnacht Day 2016
Happy Lent Eve 2017

Xyra's Notes

• We did not try this with any sweetners. In my humble opinion, the additional flavors might mar the lovely notes already in the tea.
• The Teapigs site gives instructions on how to enjoy the Darjeeling hot and iced. The flavor is nice hot or cold. However, if your hot cuppa gets cold and needs a re-heat, it would be better to weaken it by adding more hot water than to stick it in the microwave. Darjeeling does not like being "nuked." It gets a bit bitter. Of course, I'd be bitter too if my molecules were agitated. 😉
• We have not tried re-steeping at this time. I think you might get one more cup out of a temple depending on the length of your first steep.

Stop again soon! Have a nice day!

Note: Tea Time with Melody Q is not affiliated with American Girl or Teapigs. The tea reviewed was purchased at the Coffee and Tea Festival Philly with our own funds. The above review is unsolicited and comprised of our own observations, thoughts, and words. All links provided are for educational and informational purposes; no purchase is required to enjoy the post. If you are inspired to try Teapigs, the links can help you find your way. Happy sipping!

#TeapigsDarjeeling

#FastnachtDay

#ShroveTuesday

#MardiGras

The Build: February 2018

A LOT Rolled into One

Designed, Re-Designed, & Re-Designed Again

Hi! I suggest you go grab your favorite tea and snack. This build has a lot, and I mean a LOT, of detail. I can't wait to show them all to you.

First we started designing around Valentine's Day. No brainer, right?! Then the Super Bowl happened. Then the celebration parade in Philadelphia happened. THEN the Winter Olympics! How do you get all that into one calendar And include a vehicle theme? Well, we did it! 

Ta Da!

Oh, wait. This is a better angle to see everything.

So, If you look directly at the calendar part...on top, two eagles. The right and left side are built in a Valentine's ombre pink to red. Each horizontal dividing line is the color of an Olympic ring: blue, black, red, yellow, green.

Now, in front of the calendar the crowd of parade watchers. And we should have added more, since they were really shoulder to shoulder. In the crowd you'll find a few dogs and a pretzel. We included a tree sitter.

The vehicle part was easy. We had a mini model build truck in green and white, so we got out the instructions and tried to build another. 

Then we searched our mini figures and found two cheerleaders; also in green. Yay! So we have them representing the team. Bringing up the rear we also included a janitor because there was a lot to clean up after the parade.

So there you have it. February 2018. What do you think?

If we can get a couple of the official team mini figures we'll put the cheerleaders in one truck and the players in the other.

So glad you stopped. Come again soon!