I don't quite remember when I fell in love with tea but I do remember the most special moments of me drinking tea. I was eighteen years old and I went to live with my biological mother for four months. I had just met her months earlier and it was awkward for both of us. She and her ex-husband lived a very quiet life in Boulder, Colorado. He was a professor at one of the universities and she was a housewife. After years of drug addiction and being in and out of jail, she deserved the break. I was homeless so she and her husband agreed to let me come live with them. Each evening my mother and I would find a spot in the living room with a cup of tea and a book.
Now, years later, I'm a self proclaimed tea expert. I start each day with a wonderful English Breakfast tea to get me going. As the day progresses, who knows what wonderful tea I will crown queen. But for sure, I have at least three cups of tea a day. And yes, when I can, I have tea everyday at about 3:00 P. M. I love to invite my friends over for tea and cupcakes and so far everyone thinks it’s a delightful experience. I am always in search of the best blend of tea. Yes, I’m a tea snob, I prefer loose tea but I do like some bags also. I have learned not to judge a book by it’s cover. Some bags can be quite nice. And yes again, any Diva knows, what you drink your tea out of is very important.
Tea for me is a way of life. It's wellness for the mind body and spirit. Here, I will explore every expect of tea possible, with a high concentration on wellness. I will review the best teas, the best places to have tea, the best ways to brew tea, the best tea accessories, what tea goes best with what foods, and the list goes on and on. I plan to share my passion for tea with you. And I've been told, nothing I do is ever boring so be prepared to go on this tea journey with me.
Until recently I had never drank Peppermint Tea made with loose leaves. And Honestly, I will probably never go back. The freshness of loose Peppermint Tea cannot be denied. When I open the can of Mint Medley, From The Persimmon Tree Tea Company, I feel as if I stepped into a garden of peppermint leaves. It is a perfect blend of organic peppermint and spearmint leaves grown in the US.
Mint Medley has become a favorite and I find myself reaching for this tea tin almost everyday. It is great for on-going nausea. The health benefits and endless. It relieves muscle aches, headaches, migraines, stress. And now that it feels like someone is sitting on my chest and I have a mean cough, I'm sure it will help to relieve some of this congestion in my chest. Mint Medley has been in my tea cup more than any tea as of late. It has really helped with my winter cough, congestion related to this bout of pneumonia.
You can read my full review on The Persimmon Tree Tea Company Mint Teas.
Welcome to my world of books! As an pre-teen books changed my world. I fell in love with the writers of the Harlem Renaissance period and the more I read the more I wanted to read. The fiction of this period was powerful and empowering all at the same time. It spoke to my own degradation and gave me hope for a better tomorrow. It gave me purpose for my own life and the courage to fight the good fight and never surrender.
I love to read! Inside a book I escape into someone else's life. There is something wonderful about turning to the next page of a wonderful story. Something intoxicating about the smell of the book and the story it brings to life. Reading brings me joy, and these days with my health in the balance, I find solace in my books.
I spent hours in my bedroom sequestered with the door closed reading the classics from the Harlem Renaissance, Hughes, Larsen, Hurston, Wright and Baldwin. Books became my escape and my salvation. The fiction of this period was powerful and empowering all at the same time. It gave me purpose for my own life and the courage to fight the good fight and never surrender.
Reading is the one thing that the pain of my life could never take away from me. It was the thing that helped to make it better. And even today, living with AIDS, books continue to be the safest place for me. It’s the one thing that belongs to me that AIDS cannot take away from me.The RLTReads book club will be books that I choose. It’s me sharing a part of me with you that has nothing to do with AIDS. It’s actually in spite of AIDS.
The RLTReads book club will be books that I choose. It’s me sharing a part of me with you that has nothing to do with AIDS. It’s actually in spite of AIDS. I have read hundreds of books from many different genres and I will pick the best of my reads over the years. I warn you, it will not be exclusively white or black, male or female, fiction or non fiction, it will be all of them.
I’m so excited and I’m grateful to everyone who wants to be a part of this venture. We already have 110 Book Club Members. You can email me @ RLTReads@raelewisthornton.com. The Twitter hashtag is #RLTReads. We can make this book club as wonderful as we want to make it. Who says that Oprah has to have the only ownership to a wonderful book club?
This Month We are Reading
In My Fathers House
by E Lynn Harris
Read along and join our discussion July 19th at 7 pm CST
For more Tea with Rae "Vlogs" Click here to visit her youtube channel
I've been asked over and again to design necklaces for RLT Collection While I'm certainly capable, I didn't want to take away from my absolute gift and expertise of bracelets; but time has a way of changing things. I had already decided to add 3-5 one of a kind necklaces s to my Fall/Winter Collection (Going to the photographer this week) *fingers crossed* The necklaces will be simple but drawing from the gemstones in each collection. I am also introducing a line of Pearl Necklaces- Integrity. Yes Pearls stand for integrity.
In the meantime, I was asked to design an AIDS Awareness Necklace for an organization who wanted to give them as gifts. In the past, I've designed an AIDS Awareness Bracelet for them and being a great customer, I didn't want to turn them down. Well, RLT Collection is evolving! I loved the necklace design I created for them so much, I decided to add a similar one to my collection. With the Fall/Winter Bracelet Collections I'm drawing on the metaphysical meaning of gemstones so I decided to start with my AIDS Awareness Necklace. Introducing Spiritual AIDS Awareness Necklace. There are two designs. One with a little bling and one with a lot of bling.
So Let Me Explain What They Mean!
Red is the color of HIV/AIDS Awareness! Red is the color of power, and for sure, it is the color of blood; which has a strong symbolism of life and vitality. It brings focus to the essence of life and living with emphasis on survival. Coral will give strength and willingness to meet challenges and critical situations. Coral is also good for spiritual balance in jewelry. Quartz is the most powerful, versatile multi-purpose healing stone, particularly regarding self esteem. Quartz will not allow you to wallow in self-pity over from those things you can not change! t amplifies the energy of all other stones and increases your emotional energy. This stone amplifies prayers, wishes and positive visualizations. Quartz keeps you in touch with your spiritual side, and reminds you that you are a spiritual being, having a human experience.
RLT has combined these natural elements to gain the metaphysical properties of Coral and Quart Gemstones.. This necklace has a red Coral chuck pendent. Each Coral chuck is different and has natural inclusions. For the ultimate Diva, it is paired with an red pave' crystal ADS Awareness ribbon, encamped in sterling silver. They both dangle from a leather cord. The back closes with a black crystal claps and a perfect, faceted 10 mm round Quartz Gemstone. RLT combines sterling silver, copper and gold filled metals in this design. Check them out HERE!
I've done my best to keep both necklaces affordable, but don't forget that Sterling Silver is at a high price point right now. And some of the other jewelry designers that make these type of necklaces like Sundance charge from $150-$495 for a creation similar. I hope that you will support my necklace venture. I've been wearing the Diva Necklace since I made it on Monday. Bling Baby!
Since I made that transition to AIDS in 1992 it seems like I've lived in the impossible. I can't remember a day since the months going into my official AIDS diagnosis that I've felt "normal." Even today with a T-cell count of 618 and a non-detectable viral load I have so much going on with my health that I feel like absolute shit. I've learned that the absolutes with AIDS tend to be dark to grey and that's not the best life to live in, but it's all I got.
My bestie Luke said it best in the "Diva," Documentary on me, there is never a day when I wake in the morning and feel good like everyone else. I have bad days every day, it's just the manner of degrees. For sure I only tend to complain when the bad becomes really intrusive. You would think after 20 years I would be used to it; this is the way of my life. But how does one get used to a darkness that never seems to fade? I'm not sure that you do.
Sometimes I wonder how I seem to live in the impossible. How I glide through life in spite of the life that I have. Resilience must be a gift from God. If I was left to my own mind, my own self I would have quit a long time ago. But I know that I know that my life is not my own, it belongs to God and with this information I seem to have this fortitude, this will to live in spite of the life before me.
People tell me often that they couldn't live with this disease and I say, "You really don't know what you are capable of until you are in it." In the 5 years before I made that transition to AIDS I used to pray often, "God don't let me get AIDS." It was a simple prayer that went unanswered and yet I continue to keep my faith and love God with all of my heart. So here I am muddling through yet again and trying to keep my wits about me. Trying to live with dignity inside of the impossible.
No matter what I'm facing in the morning I try to live in this life. I started to have nerve pain again right before I went to Blog Her, yet I walked those aisles in the exhibit hall learning everything I could to help bring brands to my blog for your benefit and mine. I had 12 hour days and had it not been for Luke I would have eaten McDonald's every night because that's the budget I had. But it didn't matter; I was making the sacrifice to grow. Then with jacked up travel back and very little sleep I went straight to work. Sending out emails, setting up my Mulu Shop and on and on! Read about my Mulu Shop Click Here...
So last night I surrendered to the reality that my body is in pain overload and pain has a way of making you crazy. So I started taking my medication to help with the nerve pain and now I'm adjusting to those side-effects, slow, groggy, drowsy; both in movement and in my thinking. I added 800 mg of Ibuprofen for my endometriosis, which has nothing to do with HIV. The one issue that I have that is not about HIV, but about being a woman. The endometriosis pain feels like someone is inside of my vagina, pulling down my ovaries, no joke.
So my nerve pain Neuropathy is HIV related. HIV causes it on one level and then we think the extreme case is because of herpes attacking my nervous system; which at the end of the day, is all an AIDS opportunistic infection (OI) . Remember AIDS is having no immune system, and not having an immune system causes a host of AIDS related infections. The doctor also told me that my LDL cholesterol was extremely high (also HIV related, most likely a side-effect of one on my HIV medications) so I added yet another pill to my daily regime.
Hypothetically, with a good T-Cell count one should not have any OI, but that's just not true. Magic Johnson said it best, "Everyone's HIV is different." It's true, how HIV will affect a person will vary. Think about me in terms of a long-term survivor, At one point my T-Cell was 8 and my Viral load was 400,000, for sure long term damage was done. Just because they can slow HIV down, doesn't mean they can reverse what has been done.
My Neuropathy, is typically joined by a mad outbreak of genital herpes that requires me to go on IV medication. Remember, I contracted genital herpes in college before HIV, but it didn't become a serious health issue until I made a transition to AIDS.
Thank God that hasn't happened, i.e., genital herpes. My last round of IV medication was 34 days and I thought that I was gonna lose my mind.
But I am having a herpes outbreak in the opening of my butt... Yes I said butt and yes it hurts like hell, but I'm grateful that Valtrex the oral medication does treat this strand for me.
How did I get herpes in the ass? I know some of you wanta ask? And I've removed the herpes blogs from the website and put them in my new book, The Politics of Respectability. Well, ummm, most likely because of improper wiping when I go to the bathroom. Herpes is a touch disease. If you touch an open sore in one area and touch another area of your body you can infect yourself there too. But don't make me lie cause it could have happened from unprotected sex too. I'm not sure... Yes I just said unprotected sex, yes there. Live as long as I have you just might experience anything. For real for real. At least I can be honest *shrugs*
So on one level, I understand that I had a lot of free will and how I used my free will, left me living in the impossible... I tell people every day on twitter make the best choices for your life because some shit you can't take back. Living with HIV is more than popping a pill once a day. This is some real shit, physically and emotionally and you will be forced to deal with them. That's for real... for real.
I also Tweet, at the end of the day I pray that what you think you know about your partner is true, otherwise you are turning your free will over to someone that can't think at the moment beyond your vagina.
Living in the impossible is not joke and no real solution beyond depending on a higher source for the fortitude that is necessary to keep your wits about you when you seem to be falling around you.
I'm also glad that I have some good people in my life. This morning I woke up to a zero balance in my PayPal account, which is my RLT Collection bracelet sales account, not to even mention my bank account and I said to Markeeda "this is the first time in a long time I haven't had a dime in my PayPal" and low and behold, she transferred a dime and then said, "stop crying."
And that dime became symbolic to me. I will keep it in there forever! I understand that life ain't what I want it to be. I understand that HIV/AIDS altered my destiny, but just like Markeeda gave me that dime, God gave me an Ace in the hole, a new destiny. In my brokenness God deposited a dime into my life; Purpose for my pain! And as long as I have purpose for my brokenness, I can live in this brokenness, that seems impossible.
I joined Muluand I'm addicted already! So I'm #teammulu! Team Who? What? Well, Blogher12 was a wealth of knowledge and I'll be filling in the details next week.
Anyhoo, walking the exhibit I met a ton of people who talked to me about making money through my blog. Ok so I got connected with Mulu. It's sort of like Pinterest but ummm sooo much better because you can earn money from it.
My Mulu Sale Diva Collection!
So you become your own curator of collections and if people click the link and buy the item you get a small percentage. How cool is that? It's an affiliate program for everyone! You can set up your Mulu shop to donate to a cause or to umm donate to your own Diva fund!
So I set up my Mulu store and I have something for everyone. This is a cool way to support me and my work. Y'all know I'm a one woman show and everything helps to keep me afloat in the work that I do.
So I have everything from tea, books to bath products. Y'all know how I love body cream. And I have the best clothes picks. You can get all the RLT Reads Picks and the books I think are the best reads ever. You know that you were gonna buy them anyway, why not buy through my Mulu store?
Now, Markeeda told me that I needed to put some clothes up that people can actually afford and not just look at the pictures. *RME* Ok, Ok, Ok, I got over myself and I tried to keep it real, for real. So my Sale Diva, Grab Them Now collection are sale items I've found, but you gotta act quickly before it sells out! How cool is that, I'm doing all the leg work for you. All you have to do it click and buy.
I even have a Budget Diva Store, RLT Classics and Seasonal picks and YES, I have over the top Diva picks! There is even a RLT Wish list in case I have a secret admirer. Sophie even has a collection of her fav things that you may want to try for your doggie. I will add weekly and keep my store fresh!
Ok, so I sort of wanta keep Mulu to myself and just have you buy from my store because it's hard out here for a pimp... #ForReal #ForReal and Lawd knows I need every percent I can get.
But the truth of the matter, I'm just not that selfish. You can also set up your own Mulu Store, just Click Here and get started. You don't need to have a blog, you can simply let your friends know your Mulu URL once you get set up! If they like what you like, it's a match made in heaven. You can earn the money for your Fav charity or your own Diva Fund.
For me, I am my own charity. I don't have any sponsors or big funders behind me, so any funds I make through any of Social Media helps to keep my Social Media efforts around HIV/AIDS going.
Bottom Line, My Mulu Store helps to put food on my table so I can have the energy to keep all this knowledge coming that I give you on the blog!
That's real talk! People be on something when they want me to donate to other AIDS causes. God bless everyone's ministry but my internet to write these blogs has to be paid too!
So you can join Mulu or you can support my Mulu at my store. Either way, check it out and spread the word. Click Here!Also, other ways you can support me, is to Tweet and Pinterest items you like from my Mulu Shop to give me a little PR...
My store is http://Mulu.me/RaeLT happy pinning, happy shopping! Also there is a Mulu link in the right bar of my blog... Just click there....
RLT Collection is having a blow-out, end of the season sale. I know that you have had your eye on a bracelet or two. Well, now is your chance. The Summer and Spring Collections have been marked down over 50%. The Colors of Flowers, Yellow Baby and Orange Delight are great additions to your RLT Collection and will compliment any ensemble. Click Here....
Also, there are markdowns on selected bracelets from my permanent collections; Freshwater Pearls, Unisex and For the Love of Black.
You can take an additional 10% off the entire sale. The coupon code at checkout is Diva. The sale is until mid-September. Remember, once a bracelet is sold out, it is GONE!
I'm making room for the new. I have two new bracelet lines coming in the fall in addition to the fall/winter line, The Autumn Collection. Stay tuned! I'm in the process of designing a new website and my bracelet store, my blog and website will all be in one place This is an exciting time for me. I'm growing! Thank you for all of your support! #IcannotdoitAlone
I sooooo want to be mad. I'm tired as all get out from travel drama but something inside of me won't take me there. My flight got cancelled last night coming home from Blog Her 12. Weather, what weather it's sunny outside and sunny in Chicago; These people are mad, I thought!
But me being mad didn't change one fact, that there was a storm between Chicago and New York. I was just glad that Luke could come get me and that I had a place to lay my head for the night.That was the brighter side of last night, with 3 cancelled flights. I got to share another meal with my bestie one more night, which is one of our favorite things to do together.
Then this morning at 4:30 when I arrived at the airport, I discovered that the American airlines flight Delta had put me on was over sold. Mind you, I started out in LGA airport and ended up in Newark.
With Luke gone, I had to gather my two heavy bags, (one weighed 55 pounds and the other 53) and make my way over to another terminal to get the Delta flight I eventually took to Detroit.
I know, I know, yes I live in Chicago but I'll get to that in a minute. By 6:30am having been in the Special Service Line for over 30 minutes, I so wanted to be mad but the brighter side of it all took a hold of me. For sure my bags were over weight and I didn't get charged. Weather is not the responsibility of the airlines. And even though I got a 3 hour layover in Detroit at least I'm not still in Newark booked on the plane where the flight crew can't work because they are on work rest. Too many hours and they shut them down.
So I'm sitting on this plane waiting on a gate because we got here too early, I'm not confused about this either. There was NO Starbucks in Newark's airport so as soon as I deplane I'm headed for a perfect cup of black tea @starbucks Tazo Earl Grey! He's the king of my tea life!
Detroit is closer to Chicago than Newark and there were no other flights that would have anything shorter than 3 connections, so I'll sit in this airport and even with a 3 hour layover I will get home sooner than had I done something else.
This is one of those travel days from hell where you want to be mad at somebody about any old little thing. But the fact of the matter is shit happens and that's how life is. Today I'm embracing the brighter side of this horrible travel nightmare.
I could have not come to Blog Her 12 and I wouldn't be having this drama. But not coming to Blog Her would have meant that this blog would not have had doors opened to help make it the best it can be for you and me.
So I'm getting off this plane now! Gonna head straight to Starbucks and in about four hours I'll be walking into the comfort of my home. Do you know how many people that don't have a home? Wish I could google it for you right quick. It's alot! There's a brighter side, no matter how far your home may be... You have one.
Yep, I'll walk in my house and my baby girl Sophie will meet me at the door with love, love, love and more love. And my other Bestie Markeeda, who cancelled her flight back home to keep Sophie will look on with glee. So while getting home has been some kinda sitcom drama, I'm embracing the brighter side.
Blog Her was wonderful and I wouldn't change a thing! I have a home to come back to with lots of love waiting for me. As the song goes, you may not always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you get what you need.
I try to keep things in perspective. There is always a brighter side on the other side of darkness. All you have to do is peek around the corner and allow yourself to see.
I made it to New York after a short flight delay... My BFF Luke picked me up and treated me to a French Restaurant in Harlem and then we picked up dessert from Sylvia's, went home and shared it with tea. It was such a wonderful way to end the day! He helped me download Pandora on my iPad and created some play lists. I love Luke he keeps me hip. LOL
Food was wonderful. New York is never short of wonderful places to eat. Only in Harlem can you get a French restaurant and a soul food restaurant a few doors down from each other.
So I was back up at 6:30 and I've been at Blog Her for a half day. So far so good! I've already met some bloggers so I'm networking. I have already fallen in love with some products. I'll be blogging about them. I simply love this @askbowfex Bow Flex Care Body Reformer. Great Core training but it's so cute, compact and affordable. I'm getting in shape. I will NOT bring this much body fat into 2013. I'm learning it's not good for people living with HIV.
The workshops have been great so far...I'll give you a short update tonight. Moving on to lunch time and more workshops.
Oh yeah, President Obama is addressing us via video at 4:30. It's a full day filled with lots of great information. I'm feeling blessed to be here... Make no mistake, I'm here to grow; and when I grow you grow.
I'm so excited that I haven't been able to sleep for the last few nights! I'm headed to the largest and most powerful Blogger's Conference in the country, Blog Her. I missed the International AIDS Conference because I couldn't afford it. Registration was $975.00, not including travel and hotel. I was sitting around last week all sad, then I thought about missing BlogHer12 too and gloom set in. I had to shake that sadness and made a decision right then, if there was anyway I could work it out I had to go to Blog Her. I had to make it happen. Well, the Bible says we have not because we ask not and sometimes you have to let your pride go and I did just that. You can miss your blessing holding onto unnecessary pride.
I learned that a couple of years ago, when my speaking engagements went from 5-7 a month to 5-7 a year and I lost my book deal with Hyperion Publishing. I had to face reality. I downsized my life #ForReal I went from a 3 bedroom apartment to a studio and buckled in for the long haul. The economy hit me hard, people just weren't bringing speakers like in the past. Not only was everyone's money funny, but AIDS is not the sexiest topic it had been in the past. But, downsizing my life didn't do anything for my Purpose. I was sitting in my studio apartment looking at the walls.
I had to face the fact that God called me to do a work no matter what the conditions. I got a push from my bestie Luke, to take my message and brand to Social Media. I also started thinking about blogging, but I was nervous about it and got a push or two. I have to give credit where it's due. I got a push from another Blogger, who was following me on Twitter, who has since become my friend, Dwana. And Honestly, Luvvie from the Red Pump Project pushed me even further and put up my blog site in a day and then I got great advice from beauty blogger, Afrobella and as the saying goes, the rest has been history.
I wasn't traveling all over the country anymore, but I was still doing the work. I start my day on Twitter and Facebook and then write my blog. It was a ready made audience to take my message of self-love, self-worth and prevention; while challenging stigma and shame around HIV/AIDS with my candor, transparency and honesty.
In Just two years, I have grown by leaps and bounds, with most of the growth this last year. This blog gets about 30,000 visits a month. People are reading it too. The amount of time a person stays on my blog is 4-5 minutes which is major for a blog. My YouTube has over 120,000 views, I have over 7,000 followers on Twitter and my combined Facebook pages have 11,000 followers.
I'm the only person in the country hosting Tweet-Up's with an HIV/AIDS theme. I made the cover of the Chicago Tribune and BET News did a story on how I use Social Media for HIV/AIDS education. It's been a world wind these last two years. Who knew? I sure didn't but the point was that I was open to the possibilities. Open to taking my message to Social Media, whether I got paid or not.
I don't have any sponsors or any big names behind me. I do it all on my own, not because of me, but because of what I have been called to do. We get so stuck on the right time and conditions. When in reality the time is ripe the day God plants that seed in you to do the work. We just have to be willing to do the work, in spite of the conditions. Conditions are just for show anyway. It's a great thing when you can brag, but your gifts are not for bragging, they are for using.
So I have no shame! Most days, I'm sitting at home in my PJ's Tweeting and Blogging and using my gifts to help enrich the lives of others. My purpose is far greater than my pride will ever be. There is an internal peace that I have knowing that I'm gifted and God wants to use my gifts. With no sponsors, my brand has grown beyond what my eyes could even see.
So I'm headed to Blog Her! I didn't have the money, but I asked. I put it out there in the universe and my Twitter/Blog Followers have made it happen; My Besties Markeeda and Luke chipped in too. I'm blessed to have two good friends who believe in me and sow into my work.
I'm not going to Blog Her to party, in fact, I've not been invited to the best parties nor am I going for the wonderful swag bags and giveaways. I'm going so that I can grow and when I grow, you grow. Yes, I'm hoping to find the right sponsors, thats the perfect fit, but if I don't I'm cool. I know for a fact that I will absorb all that I can, so I can continue to grow my brand.
I'm not even ashamed to say that I wouldn't be going if on my own. Things are tight and I will be pinching pennies to make my spending money stretch. I'm just proud that I moved beyond pride and put my desire to go to Blog Her in the universe and within one day, I was able to register and purchase a plane ticket! THANK YOU!
I'm telling you, your gifts are larger than what you think is the right time to use them. Your purpose should be larger than your pride. I dare you to step out there and watch God blow your mind. You may not become famous, or you just might. You may not make a fortune or you just might. But for sure, if you don't you will miss the opportunity to bless others with what you have been gifted with. That for me is what life is about, PURPOSE.
If I never get another feature in a magazine or TV; If my bank account stays at a monthly average of $200.00, it's all good. I will continue to do what God has called me to do. I will continue to grow and be the best me, so that I can share my best with you.
I will be Tweeting and Blogging while at Blog Her. You can follow my HashTag #GrowingRLT The general Hash Tag for Blog Her is #Blogher12 There is lots of good stuff there, especially for those of you who are trying to grow your blog.
Please keep me in your prayers. Long, continuous days are tough on my health so I need all the good energy you can send my way. And Lawddd y'all know I'm gonna miss my baby girl Sophie. She has already started looking sad... She will be Tweeting while Mommie is on the road working :) You can follow Sophie on Twitter Here
Post Script: If you want to support me, you can buy a bracelet from my Collection. There are new markdowns, plus an extra 10% off the entire sale. The coupon code is Diva, Click Here! You can buy an autographed copy of my book, The Politics of Respectability, Click Here! Or you can just donate to my blog on the donate button... #IcannotdoitAlone
Tea began as medicine and morphed into a beverage of choice!
I don't quite remember when I fell in love with tea but I do remember the most 
Until recently I had never drank Peppermint Tea made with loose leaves. And Honestly, I will probably never go back. The freshness of loose Peppermint Tea cannot be denied. When I open the can of 
I love to read! Inside a book I escape into someone else's life. There is something wonderful about turning to the next page of a wonderful story. Something intoxicating about the smell of the book and the story it brings to life. Reading brings me joy, and these days with my health in the balance, I find solace in my books.
