Now that it’s getting cold, I’m in the mood to drink more hot beverages. They really do help when I’m feeling icy. Which seems like most of the time! I’ve totally been in the mood for tea, coffee and hot chocolate. I’ll comment on the other two at a later point but right now I want to talk about tea! After last night I just have tea on the brain! I’m actually making a pot right now.

I have a ridiculous amount of the stuff (not that it’s limited to tea, I have a ridiculous amount of stuff in general) and I keep getting the urge to buy more! I have two tea pots but it just doesn’t seem like enough! Here are some things that have caught my eye recently. Maybe they’d be good for the tea drinker in your life!

Mate Lemon Blast Herbal Tea: I haven’t actually tried any Mate tea so far, but I’ve been aiming to make my way through the different tea types to figure out what I like. Teavana describes it as “An energizing blend of Yerba Mate with lemongrass, rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.” I really like the smell of lemongrass so this has some definite potential.

Samurai Chai Mate: “A sip of this sweetly robust straight up Mate blend awakens the Samurai within. Inspired by the Way of the Warrior, this fresh green Mate is imbued with strong spices, invigorating herbs and revitalizing citrus. A wonderful cup of tea that will get you moving!” Citrus and spice can be pretty fabulous together and this sounds like a good morning tea.

Insulated Travel Tea Mug: This is a great idea for a messy person like me! Once in a while I’ll take my coffee or tea to work in a travel mug and somehow I always manage to spill it. On me or in the car somehow. A vacuum sealed cup would be incredibly helpful. As long as it worked anyway.

TriniTEA Electric Tea Maker: Have I mentioned that I also love appliances? I seriously don’t need any more. I don’t have room for any more. But man, I *want* this! Adagio says: “This wondrous appliance does it all – heats water, steeps leaves, and keeps tea warm so you may enjoy it all day long. Variable timer and temperature control lets you adjust the strength of an infusion, ensuring a perfect cup of tea each time. “

How handy would this be if you have multiple tea types that you like to drink? They all seem to come with different requirements for temperature and steep time. This could take the guess work out of it! (And, since it keeps it warm in the pot, it could also cut down on my icky unintentionally cold tea problem.)

Instant Read Digital Thermometer: For a slightly less expensive option, I could also use an instant read thermometer. It might not be as fancy, and it would take more work on my part, but it would definitely help me steep a perfect cup of tea. Ok, let’s not get overly ambitious here. It would get me going in the right direction, anyway.

And finally, teapots, some of which are so lovely to look at, they can almost double as decoration. If you happen to have a Teavana store near you, definitely go inside and see their selection of teapots. I’ve been to the store in Chicago and it was fabulous! I sampled teas, drooled over their wares, and got advice on tea to take home with me.

Your turn! What’s your favorite tea? Favorite place to buy it?

I have a confession to make.

It should come as no surprise that I am a bit of a hoarder. I collect things. Lots of things. Not like in a having collections sort of way like people are with knick knacks or stamps or vintage, well, everything these days. No. I mean I just keep acquiring stuff.

This would be fine, except… I’m scared to use it. I will buy stuff, then put it away and avoid taking it out and using it, just to keep it safe. How ridiculous is this?

Last summer we went to Chicago and I got the chance to walk around and do a little shopping in Chinatown. It was great. We went in a little tea shop and I found this fabulous kitty cup set. So cute! I had to have it! I had them wrap it up. I carefully wedged it in my bag. I carefully brought it home. I put it in the cupboard. In the cupboard where it has stayed for the last 5 months.

Until tonight.

I’d like you to know that right now, right this very moment, I am forcing myself to drink tea out of one of these adorable tea cups. And it’s hard! My instincts tell me no! What if something happens to it?! What if it has a nasty Muffin-induced accident like the adorable cow bowl?! What if it gets chipped when I wash it?! What if the tea stains it?! What if what if!!

But tonight, right now, right this very moment, I’m making that voice shut up! I’m doing it and… it’s nice!

One would think that I would be happy to have products sent my way. And this usually is true. As I mentioned before, I love getting mail. Really, I do. Except when it’s mail from St. Joseph’s Indian School.

My funds are limited and I am choosy with the charities I support. Their school seemed like a good cause (and I have a good amount of indian in me) so one time, ONE TIME, I sent them a small donation. I sent them what I could afford and hoped that it would go to good use. Never again. Since then, over and over again I have been piled with junk mail and trinkets and products. They’ve sent me key chains and dream catchers and note pads and calendars and cards, and once, even a blanket! And I wonder, is *this* where my money went? Not to helping some sweet indian kid but to sending unwanted crap to people with the hopes that they’ll send you a larger donation?

I intend to send them a letter one of these days letting them know exactly why I will not be sending them money ever again. Stupid indians. >:(

On another note, one place you should feel good about sending your money (they will give you a subscription to their magazine but otherwise don’t send any crap that I can recall) – Best Friends Animal Society. I heart them. They have an animal sanctuary in Utah and help thousands of animals.

Lots of tasty preparations going on at chez product whore today. I need to get to cooking, so I’ll leave you with a picture that makes me happy every time I look at it. Thanks icanhascheezburger.com!

Right now at GreaterGood Network sites, when you spend $50+ you get 1 cent shipping. With each item purchased, you help money to go to good causes. I usually do my shopping on the animal rescue site but there are many in the network to choose from.

The sites include:

The Animal Rescue Site

The Hunger Site

The Breast Cancer Site

The Child Health Site

The Literacy Site

The Rainforest Site

Even if you can’t buy anything (though if you can you should definitely go look around. They have some great stuff!) you can help by clicking at each site every day. Click here for the animal rescue site FAQ.

Sadly, part two of this project didn’t go exactly as planned.

First, a bit of advice: Don’t put your fabric to dry somewhere that will make it icky and moldy/musty/basement-y scented. Ick. :p Big ick. It’s not damp in the least, just super funky.

Beyond that, I had a bit of disappointment when I found that my line of not glue wasn’t holding. It didn’t even hold well enough for me to gently turn my fabric square inside out.

With that in mind, and with it smelling like swamp thing, I have decided to scrap my original plan. I pulled the two squares apart (with ease!) and threw them in the washer. When they’re clean and dry, I’ll re-do the squares, but this time I’m sewing them. I’ll continue from there with Part 3, which will be different than it would have been, but will still result in a fine throw pillow.

Seriously though, stupid basement. And stupid not glue. >:(

Most of the time I can’t manage to get all the way through a mug of tea before it’s icy cold and icky. Often I’ll reheat my last bits of tea 2 or even 3 times. That’s sad. Drinking tea should not take such talent or even effort.

Last year I learned to appreciate mug warmers! My friend had one that was getting neglected and so I stole it and gave it a better home. They really do work! Eventually your drink will get less hot, the longer you leave it. But even I only had warm tea at worst. (Note: It’s *much* better than unintentionally cold tea.)

Now to dig it out and dust it off. It’s getting to be that season again!

I just found this post today, so you only have a few hours left to enter. Hurry on over to At Home Mom Blog and enter to win a $100 Home Depot gift card!

What would you spend it on?

For Christmas this year, I’m going back to making things. I’m pretty excited about it actually. I decided to make today a lazy, no-sew day but I still wanted to be crafty and make something. So I dug out my bottle of Mighty Mendit and some fabric remnants from Jo-Ann’s.

Today I’m bringing you part one of this project, check back for part two. I’m splitting it up to allow for drying time with the Mighty Mendit, which calls for 2 hours before it’s wearable and 24 hours before it’s washable. I’ll play it safe and give it an extra long drying time.

Step 1: Pick out some fabric and get out your scissors, Mighty Mendit, measuring tape, and something to keep the cats out of your way. Muffin runs away from kisses. See if it works for you!

Step 2: Cut two pieces of equal size. I made squares. You can do squares too. Or maybe try rectangles, or circles! This is where your measuring tape comes in handy, to make sure your pieces are the same size!

Step 3: Place the two pieces face to face and put a thin line of glue Permanent Bonding Agent close to but not too close to the edge on one of the pieces. Carefully lay the other piece on top, making sure to line everything up as evenly as possible. Make sure to leave a gap where you don’t put any glue stuff so you can turn it inside out later.

Step 4: Put it somewhere safe, on something that you don’t mind potentially getting glue Permanent Bonding Agent on. For me this is a room where the kitties are not allowed.

Step 5: Wait. Give it a good long while to dry.

While we’re waiting, a note on Mighty Mendit: The information I’ve read on this stuff makes a point to note that it is NOT GLUE. It’s not glue, it’s just a sticky, liquid bonding agent that you can use to affix one thing to another. But it’s totally not glue. What?

There are some days when I’m sitting at my desk and I am freezing and starving. My only options are remaining freezing and starving or heading down to the basement in our building and seeing what I can find in the vending machines. It’s usually pretty disappointing, unless you really are only looking for combos and cheez-its and itty bitty instant coffee. (and hey- I do have those days!) But most days, I would much rather have more satisfying and healthful options.

Alas. Where is a coffee-and-fresh-pastry-and-fruit fairy when you really need one?