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 was on the road speaking last night and I needed to wind down after a thoughful question and answer session with the students at Missouri State University, so I made this video blog. Now isn't life bittersweet sometimes? And would'nt you know it; there's even a plant that's named bittersweet.
On one level, it is loved for its' beauty and versatility, but yet disliked becasue it's invasive and grows wild. But isn't that how life is? One monet beautiful and the next, crazy and out of control? So just keep on living no matter how life hits you, Bitter, Sweet or BitterSweet. Either way you are alive and at least, there is versatility.
Today is World AIDS Day! As people remember those that are infected and affected by HIV, I wanted to share one of my most candid, one on one interviews. It's with veteran reporter, owner of Heart and Soul Magazine, George Curry... I was honored that he asked. This interview was almost 5 hours to developed this two part series... Facing AIDS Part One
Just Keep on living and let God blow your mind! I don't care what comes your way, God's plan is ALWAYS bigger than man's plan. You may not be able to see it when you are in the valley, but just keep on living! I'm sorry I haven't been blogging as much, but Lawd this book and IV medication has taken everything... Love ya!!
Day 3 Video!
Day 4 Video!
Post Script: One concrete way to support me is to buy a fabulous bracelet from my collection #RLTCollection
The new Diva AIDS Awareness Bracelet celebrates my life and work!! Shop Here!
I've been MIA because I'm trying to get my book published by my Birthday. It's taking all of my energy. Then yesterday I got side-tracked by some comments on my blog. So I'm addressing them today. I'm over.it... I say it all in the video... Yes I RANT! Yes it's 15 minutes... But I needed to say what i needed to say!! Hope your day is great! I'm pressin my way!
I'm still on IV medication. My hope is to be off on Sunday. Please say a prayer. #IcannotdoitAlone
On day 17 as I count down to 50 I'm resting my body, mind and spirit. So there will be no regular Monday Reflection.... Just todays video. What I know for sure: No matter what you are facing, all things work together for good to them that love the Lord and are called according to His purpose. Well the Bible says:
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose
Romans 8:28 NIV
We can be sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good
NIV/Message
Don't be confused, God has a purpose for everyone's life. That means you too. We just need to be still and hear from God; But then, when God tells you to move that 's what you do. Obedience is Better Than Sacrifice.
God told me to move. Since Wednesday night I have been working on a book, "The Politics of Respectability" It will first be an Amazon e-book and shortly there after I will lay it out to print, also on Amazon. I have no money to self-publish any other way, so I'm using what's before me. The photo shoot for the cover was done yesterday and my hope is to have the book completed by this weekend or early next week. When I sit at the computer it just flows. I have never been able to write this much, so clearly in such a short period of time. I'm somewhere between 85-90% done with the first draft. God is giving me so much clarity. I'm using my life experiences, my education, especially drawing from my PhD studies around Black Women and my blog. I'm excited that God planted this book into my spirit.
Be encouraged Lovely's and know that God always has a plan. Know that all things work together for good. You just be steadfast and unmovable in your faith and God's call for your life.
Today is Day 21 as I count Down To 50! My body has crashed from the combo of stress, HIV fatigue and this darn IV medication, but I'm pressin my way. Today I'm working from bed. I've already started writing part two of Dating The Right Reverend and it's coming TODAY! Promise... :)
Today's Video! Day 21! Count Down To 50!
Post Script: The Diva AIDS Awareness Bracelet celebrating my life and work will be ready to ship by Tuesday. Thanks for the pre-orders! If you were waiting you can go ahead and order it. Also, The Delta Bracelet that I designed and introduced last week is still on the site and has been re-named to Diva 2. Sorry but I had no choice. However, I have invested all this freaking money into the supplies, so I'm still selling the bracelet, it's perfect for stacking and will look cute with the Diva AIDS Awareness Bracelet! SHOP HERE FOR BOTH
Diva AIDS Awareness and Diva 2 Bracelets.
Don't forget Mother's Day.. RLT Collection are wonderful and they make wonderful gifts. I have tons of Bracelets on SALE I'm shipping out the next day and if you make your order by 12 noon it will go out the same day. UPS and Priority Mail takes about the same time but Priority Mail is cheaper. You can choose either one.. It takes about 2-4 days depending on where you live. These Mother of Pearl Bracelets Kim Coles are wearing are perfect for any Mother... They are on sale and I have other Mother of Pearl Bracelets on sale too. Shop Here For These Bracelets Kim is wearing
Yesterday was a tough day, but after a sleepless night in God's face, mucho prayer and meditation, I'm moving forward. Yep, today was a good day for me. I took some time away from the house and some what from my work to process the recent events of my life. You know God always has a plan and if you just sit still, you will be given all the direction that you need.
Now don't be confused. Just because I don't wallow in misery, don't mean I'm not hurting. I remember a minster use to say, it's not that you fall in the shit, it's how long you stay in the shit and how much absorbs in your skin.
So I'm up and at them. After a long walk, a great lunch and long talks with dear friends, I'm moving forward on a project that has been in my spirit for at least 8 months.
For some reason I just couldn't get the right fit. But today it was all made plain to me and this evening I started pulling together an Amazon eBook. I wish that I had the money to publish a paperback, but truly eBooks are poplar right now.
So I'm tooooo excited. The Politics of Respectability is COMING no later than May 22nd my birthday. But I hope that I get it done at least the week before. Now y'all know I must be crazy starting a new project while I'm on this IV medication, but ummm the Bible says Obedience is better than Sacrifice and God has given me direction so I'm Moving Forward! Don't sit on God's plans for your life, you might miss out on your blessing and you just might miss blessing others!
I love this picture. It appeared on the cover of the Washington Post in 1996. When I first started speaking I was hell on wheels. I talked more shit and was rough around the edges, honestly, I was even more than I am now. If you could imagine LOL... After two hours of being raw, honest, and transparent to this group of young people in a summer program in Washington, DC, this 13 year girl couldn't stop crying. She said no one had ever validated her decision to remain a virgin and that it was hard because ALL of her girlfriends were having sex; But after hearing me lay it out on the line, she knows that it's O.K. We had no idea the photographer had captured this special moment between us.
Day 29 as I count down to 50! I wanted you to see the IV process that I must do twice a day! Ummm I get a tad emotional on this video *shrugs* I don't take a thing back...
PS... I know you are waiting on Part Two.. Dating The Right Revered... I've been moving slow, but It will be tomorrow blog.... I will start working on it today while at my doctors appointment.
As I count down to 50 years of life... I'm trying every day to be Better Not Bitter! This IV medication is kicking my tail, but I'm pressing my way. I refuse to allow this round to steal my joy! My life is a miracle and I am not confused on that one bit....
Today is Day 36 as I Count Down to 50! I started my IV meds and I've already start to feel the side-effects... Basically I feel like shit, but I'm pressing my way...
I'm counting down to 50 and I'm allowing you to see a side of me that I have never allowed. I have always wanted people to see me at my best; But God laid in my spirit to show you my day to day.
I'm doing this because I want you to really understand my journey. Really understand the miracle of my life. People are always talking about God "curing" me but even with AIDS, I'm a walking miracle, a living miracle.
I want you to see the miracle in my ability to keep pressing no matter what I face day to day. See God do what we all thought was the impossible; Live beyond the days of expectation.
In many ways these videos are allowing you to see God moving in my life daily.
We expect a miracle to be this big pie dropping out of the sky, but if we would just stop and take account, you will see the miracles God are performing, and has performed in our lives.
Yes, God has and is blessing me, but I'm doing everything I need to do to live. I take my medications no matter how they make me feel because they are a part of my miracle. Don't be confused, there are people with AIDS that have drug failure.
The miracle of my life is both me and God as actors. I do what I'm supposed to do. I use the free will that God has given me to be the best I can be, no matter what I'm facing. So the combination of my will and desire to live and God moving in my life and having purpose for my life is why I'm still here. But make no mistake this is not an easy journey.
Here are today's Videos! Day 39!! Never Surrender!
I didn't post the last two days of Video on the blog so here you go! Also, I got the You Tube Bug and more will be coming... please Subscribe to my You Tube Channel! Click Here!
Today is Day 42 as I count down to 50! I was hoping that I wouldn't get sick during this period, but it is what it is... I have AIDS and AIDS has no compassion.... Thank God I wasn't Built to Break!
While hanging out today with my girlfriend Markeeda, I started to think about my friends and support system, so I decided to talk candidly about my support system living with HIV over these last 29 years on today's video blog.
Today is Day 47 As I Count Down To 50! On this Good Friday I'm so greatful for God's Grace. I'm grateful that the Rejected stone became the Corner Stone!
Here's Today's Viedo..
For the Love of Black Collection
Post Script: Don't forget when you order my bracelets they help to keep me afloat... Sow a seed into my life, work and ministry... And YES I design and make every single bracelet. So all my love goes into every single bracelet! The picture to the right is the For Love of Black Collection I'm wearing today. I will finish putting them on the site over this weekend.
I had so much to say about Valentine's Day. I had a well thought out blog in my head. But my body has totally shut down and I've been in bed all day. Truly all I can say is that there's no fancy dinner or gift worth your life. If he can't respect you enough to use a condom then maybe you should find you someone who does. Instead of spending all your time, ladies, concerned about what he wants, spend that time thinking about what you really want in a man. I hope you have a fun but safe weekend.
In my second "Day In A Life" video I share a little of myself as I have been all day. It's not what I want for myself at this moment, but It Is What It Is!! And Please don't forget to support my video project by subscribing to my YouTube Channel.. #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 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.
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.
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.
