Said at Starbucks

Jaclyn: “Hello!” Starbucks employee: “Hot tea?” Jaclyn: “Wow.  Yes, please!” Starbucks employee: “Refresh?” Jaclyn: “Actually, Awake, please.” Starbucks employee: “Where do you work?” {Starbucks employee #2 correctly names client I’m working for.} Jaclyn: “I’m here a lot, huh?” (Let it be noted for the record that I’m more of an indie coffeehouse girl.  But at [...]

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Creamsicle Smoothie

Ah, the Creamsicle.  I’m not ashamed to admit that it’s one of my favorite guilty pleasures.  I hardly ever have them, but whenever I do I’m always astonished at the genius behind the marvelous Creamsicle.  I mean, a vanilla ice cream pop coated in orange sherbet popsicle?  Who thought of that?  Seriously, who?  I want [...]

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Holiday Wine Guide

Well, friends, it’s the most wonderful time of the year!  Time to gather with family and friends around the fire… sing carols… light candles… generally make merry.  And what’s merrier than wine?  You might be wondering what bottle to bring to your in-laws, or what to pour if you’re hosting, or what to chug when your [...]

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London Acquisitions: Tea Edition

I’m not like other girls.  When I travel, I don’t come home with a bagful of the latest European fashions… silk scarves… even home decor items.  No, when I go to Europe I come home with TEA.  Lots and lots and LOTS of TEA.  That’s just how I roll.  Wanna see what I got?   [...]

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How To Choose A Thanksgiving Wine

If you’re hosting Thanksgiving this year… or throwing a holiday dinner party of any kind… or having the boss-man over before your end of the year performance evaluation… odds are you’re giving some serious thought to the wine.  Even if it’s not normally your beverage, you might be wanting to impress everyone with your fabulous [...]

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London Acquisitions: Ceramics Edition

You didn’t think I’d go all the way to England and come home without some new tea accoutrements, did you?  Silly rabbit.  I was in the land that invented afternoon tea.  Obviously I needed to bring home a mug or two… and a strainer… and a couple of tea tidies.  You know I love me [...]

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Tea Tasting: Japonica Tafe Pineapple Coconut Green

Japonica Tafe operates a regular booth at my local farmers market, and that’s where I got this lovely brew.  Pineapple Coconut Green tea is a flavorful blend of green tea with toasted coconut, orange peel and natural pineapple flavors.  When I bought this tea, I was just meandering through the market and asked to smell [...]

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Tea Tasting: Mariage Freres Vert Marco Polo

This was a gift from my tea-loving BFF, R, on her last trip to Paris.  Marco Polo is one of the most popular Mariage Freres blends, and for good reason – it’s mild, yet flavorful, with a gentle vanilla, fruit and floral aroma.  On my own trip to Paris, I didn’t buy any Marco Polo, because [...]

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Tea Stash Tour, Part I: Home

Buckle your seatbelts, kids.  It’s about to get all cah-razy up in here.  Now, you know that I’m a tea person.  You know I would rather have tea than coffee… and you may suspect that I would rather have tea than any other beverage, except perhaps wine.  (Please don’t make me choose between tea and [...]

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From Beans To Leaves: How I Became A Crazy Tea Lady

I may have been an Anglophile all my life, but that doesn’t mean I was always a tea drinker.  From the time I was old enough to start sneaking caffeinated beverages until about age 24, I was a coffee person.  I really didn’t much care about quality – probably because my parents drank instant coffee [...]

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