You are warmly invited to join us at the third annual Story of a Teacup 2024 chariTEA fundraiser! Connect with other tea lovers over tea and stories and support a great cause on Sunday, November 17, 2024, 2-3:30PM ET.
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Tea Infusiast News, No. 22
My monthly newsletter, Tea Infusiast News, is now subscriber only.
It’s still free. Tea Infusiast News has engaging tea content, special deals and advance notice for events, tea giveaways, etc. (The link to subscribe is below.)
In the October 2024 edition:
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Surprise Teas of 2024
I have been thinking over my surprise teas of 2024: the teas that made a big impression on me that weren’t already on my favorites list. The first teas that came to mind were all flavored teas. Historically, I tend to drink a lot more unflavored teas. So, this was quite a surprise!
My surprise standout teas of 2024 so far include:
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Ideas to Invite Stillness into Your Life
I’m sharing some ideas to invite stillness into your life. These tips are for anyone who finds it challenging to meditate or “be still.” Maybe that’s you most of the time. Maybe only sometimes.
Difficulty with being still in meditation is something I have had to tackle in my own practice. My body and mind have often (and continue to, at times) struggle to remain still. For me, part of this challenge is nervous energy and part is physical stiffness.
Two ways of thinking about the challenge really helped me. First, reframe the issue of stillness. Recognize that stillness can be “absolute” or relative.
Secondly, conceptually and physically separating forms of stillness can also be helpful. You can be (relatively) still in body and/or mind. Either and both can be healthy and are worth cultivating.
Here are some ways to invite stillness into your life.
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Why Offer a Meditation and Gratitude Series?
This post explains how I understand a gratitude practice and why I am offering a meditation and gratitude series that begins on September 13, 2024.
Why a gratitude series?
I avoided starting a gratitude practice for years. I mistakenly believed that consciously embracing gratitude involved denying or downplaying the hard and painful parts of life. In fact, I have heard people talk about gratitude that way. Some have suggested that it trumps or should dissolve most pain and hardship.
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Subscribe to Tea Infusiast News
Subscribe to Tea Infusiast News (TIN), my monthly newsletter for tea lovers. TIN approaches tea from many angles–culinary, cultural, social, mindful, fun, and more!
Subscribers often get advance notice about my events, special discounts, and giveaways, too.
Hi, Tea Friend! Hope you have been steeping up and sipping down lots of good tea lately. This post shares a confession about tea steeping temperature.
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Review of BesTea Tea Bar on Long Island
BesTea is a “tea bar” with loose-leaf teas and really fun decor in Babylon, New York (on Long Island) that is connected to a boutique, Hitch, that carries goods to support “local makers and artisans.” This post shares what I saw, sipped, and learned during my visit to BesTea (and Hitch).
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Tea and Surprise at Gryphon
A visit to Gryphon–a beautiful café with afternoon tea in Savannah, Georgia–brought brunch, tea and a surprise discovery about our family’s ancestry!
On a recent trip to Savannah, Georgia, I was determined to finally visit Gryphon–a café that also serves tea and scones. On previous trips to the city we weren’t able to visit.
The Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD) runs Gryphon, which is situated in an historic building. It’s on Bull Street right along Madison Square, one of the lovely historic squares in the Savannah.
We were hoping for a nice brunch, tea, and scones. We received those things AND a big surprise at Gryphon!
Friday Morning Meditation and Gratitude Practice Series, September 2024
Interested in exploring what a conscious gratitude practice and gratitude-focused meditations could do for you? Or, maybe you already have a gratitude practice and would like to deepen it with meditation and the encouragement of community. Either way, you are warmly invited to sign up for my September guided meditation series focusing on gratitude!