2010 July « Lotus's Workshop

It’s Cheese Cake Day!

30 Jul 2010 3 Comments

by barbedlotus in Finds, Gift Guides, Rambling, Written by Meghan Tags: cake, cheese, day, etsy, gift, gifts, guide, holiday, strange

Yeah, that’s right. Cheese Cake Day.

: Desert Tray Cheesecake Lollipops – $15

: Cheesecake Iris – $5

: Pumpkin Cheesecake Lip Balm – $5

: Cherry Cheesecake 5×5 Oil Painting – $75

: Pumpkin Cheesecake Mini Bath Bomb – $2.50

: 3 Mini Cheesecakes – $23.97

: Cherry Cheesecake Tsunami Kanzashi Hair Accessory – $16

: Pumpkin Cheesecake Lip Balm – $3

: Blueberry Cheesecake Phone Charm – $6

: Blueberry Cheesecake Handmade Soap – $3.80

: Cheesecake Pudding Original Spiral Bound Recycled Notebook – $5

: Pumpkin Carmel Cheesecake Whipped Clean – $6

: Tahitian Vanilla Cheesecake Danish – $26.99

: Bakery Dessert Flavors Lip Balm Set – $8.50

: Strawberry Cheesecake Mini Charms – $8

: Lemon Cheesecake Bath Bomb Parfait – $5.50

The Etsy artists featured here are:

minimenageriecakes, KarnesBitsAndBobs, BodyLuminosity, longwinterfarm, GudonyaToo, paintsquared, SoulSisterSoaps, FusionSweets, VintageConfections, FashionCandy, CynfulCreations, myotherprincess, TwoDogGardens, LittleGrayFox, marissajoannarojas, and ivylanedesigns

Flutterby

29 Jul 2010 3 Comments

by barbedlotus in Finds, Gift Guides, Rambling, Written by Meghan Tags: butterflies, butterfly, etsy, feature, gift, guide, wings

Butteflies are not insects. They are self propelled flowers.

~ R. Heinlein

They can be bright and colorful or blend in, but it’s hard not to admit butterflies hold a fascinating beauty to them. They are used as a symbol of change and patience in their progression from caterpillar to butterfly and have been the model for one of the best loved fantasy creatures, the fairy.

: Butterfly Girl Wall Art Decals – $29.99

: Brassy Blue Faerie Wing Earrings – $14

: Bohemian Butterfly Necklace – $32.50

: Hand Painted Velvet and Lace Corset Cuff – $25

: Edible Butterflies – $9.95

: Black Butterfly Necklace – $28

: Soap Papillion Savon Butterfly Soap Gifts – $11

: Floral Butterfly Goddess – $82

: Vintage Expressions Digital Collage Sheets – $3.98

: Butterfly Fantasy Glass Tile Pendant – $6.95

: Soulful Flight Necklace – $88

: Forest of Butterflies Original Paintings – $60

: Grimm Fairytale – $45

: Silver Butterflies Earrings – $54

: Le Papillon French Butterfly Burlap Pillow Cover – $35

: Custom Butterfly Wall Art – $30

: Beautiful Cloud of Butterflies Spring Bridal Bouquet – $68.99

: Float Like a Butterfly Book Locket Necklace – $25

: French Countryside Leather Bracelet – $26.50

: Teeny Felt Butterflies – $2.50

: Handcrafted Butterfly Soap Favors – $3.75

: 3D Butterfly Wall Décor – $7

: Disco Butterfly REclaimed Necklace Jewelry – $39.99

: Butterfly Love Button Earrings – $8.50

: Black and White Faded Edge Butterfly Locket – $28

: Butterfly Blue Beauty Print – $10

: Butterfly Bliss – $45

: Callaway Butterfly Beauty – $5

The Etsy artists featured in this article are:

meredithdillman, UnaLuna, mydaisydreams, freerangeart, Mymothersgarden, EmbellishedPaper, starbrightgirl, BlackBaroque, heartworksbytori, fixdesign, SugarRobot, MyDigitalCottage, walldecors, CJCrew, babycakesanddecor, intheframe, acelebrityexperience, maysay, TrianaTreasures, enchantingsoapfavors, DareDream, SatinandBirch, JolieMarche, ecoblingcouture, Thesteampunktrunk, idotakeu, MorticiaSnow, and KUKLAstudio

Also check out our array butterfly style costume wings in our Etsy shop.

More Than Just Green Jello

27 Jul 2010 6 Comments

by barbedlotus in Finds, Gift Guides, Rambling, Written by Meghan Tags: etsy, gift, green, guide, jello, local, utah

Ok so the green jello thing is not just a rumor. We’ve moved around a lot (I’ve never lived in the same house for more than three years) and about every other move made in Utah has resulted in a nice neighbor bringing green jello.

I meant to do this feature on the 24th, for Pioneer Day. Pioneer Days is celebrated almost like Utah’s own 4th of July with parades, fireworks, etc…

Utah can be kind of an odd place. In Michigan they have a saying, If you don’t like the weather wait 10 minutes. In Utah (especially in the fall and spring) it would be more like If you don’t like the season wait five minutes. I’ve seen it go from snow in the morning to a balmy 70 by noon.

We have a growing film industry here thriving off the varied landscapes all within a short drive (some scenes from Pirates of the Caribbean were filmed out on the salt flats not too far from here, and Disney does a lot of filming here). We’ve got an amazing winter sports scene in Northern Utah, the Shakespearean Festival every summer down by Cedar City, beautiful national parks, some of the randomest liquor laws in the country, and due to some very specific weather conditions air pollution that can rival LA.

We also have a thriving craft and artists community.

: Razzleberry Sewn Tutu – $20 (Clearfield, Utah)

: Vintage French Gift Tags – $3.99 (Utah)

: Dream, Dream, Dream – $29.99 (Salte Lake City, Utah)

: Piper the Peacock Crib Sized Quilt – $165 (Farmington, Utah)

: Rocket Into Outer Space Vinyl Wall Decal – $33 (South Jordan, Utah)

: Custom Baby Sling – $21.50 (Mapleton, Utah)

: The Rachel – $11.90 (Utah)

: Compact Diaper and Wipe Tote with Changing Pad – $25 (Utah)

: Green Lotus Little Lass Overalls – $29.50 (Salt Lake City, Utah)

: Ode to Strings on Wings Glass Tile Pendant – $6.95 (Utah)

: Ms. Pacman Pillow Cover – $19 (Salt Lake City, Utah)

: Geekery Computer Key Tile Coasters – $16 (Woods Cross, Utah)

: Hip Holiday Pillow – $9 (American Fork, Utah)

: The Wanderer Bracelet – $77 (Pretty Valley, Utah)

: Ode to Nuts Postcard Pack – $5 (Salt Lake City, Utah)

: Fairy Box – $30 (Utah)

: Native Legend Turquoise Bracelet – $22 (Southwest, Utah)

: Woodland Animals Pendant Necklace – $19.95 (Layton, Utah)

: Mighty Monkey – $30 (Sandy, Utah)

: Dallas Cowboy Booties – $5 (Tooele, Utah)

: Gingerbread Fox Toddler T-Shirt – $14.99 (Salt Lake City, Utah)

: All Fringe Newborn Baby Blanket Photo Prop – $75 (Kanab, Utah)

: The Wall in Monument Valley Oil Painting – $395 (Santa Clara, Utah)

: Spell-it-Out Sewn Card – $4.75 (Lehi, Utah)

The local Etsy artists featured in this article are:

RaeGun, Artman1, TheBobbinsNest, mydaisydreams, hanpaintedloveboxes, threeseasonsdesigns, BabyBirdz, ShabbyRosebyNicole, tootsietutushop, RoseyCornerCreations, SnuggleBugSlings, liltulip, debthorpe, 30one, freerangeart, studiojk, isabellsumbrella, Modernality, Crowsmack, thepatternbag, Kiss2Keep, lterrill9, foreverandrea, and curiousworkmanship

Out of this World

26 Jul 2010 3 Comments

by barbedlotus in Finds, Gift Guides, Rambling, Written by Meghan

I don’t know anyone who hasn’t been somewhat fascinated with outer space to some degree. Even those who have spent their whole life in the light polluted cities still have a tendency to look up and wonder.

If you haven’t seen some of the pictures the Hubble takes, you are truly missing out. It has been up there for 20 years and still discovers new things all the time. The images are always stunning. I was lucky enough to get into the packed astronomy class my sophmore year of college. The school has a small observatory with a projection room that shows a replica of the nightsky up (for when we couldn’t use the actual telescope due to weather). They incorporated Hubble images into the display and the teach could zoom into different parts of the sky so sudden a galaxy could be right above you. Definitely the coolest class ever.

And then there is always the question of if there is life out there. Just given the staggering number of stars, even when you narrow it down by stars with planets, and planets that match the details of ours and you still have a lot of chances that there could be life out there. There’s even speculation that it could be as close as a couple planets away (or more specifically inside something circling a planet just a couple over). Yeah, inside. Jupiter has a moon made of ice. Jupiter’s gravity pulls so much on this moon that the ice on its surface is constantly changing and it is thought to be liquid inside. Given the extreme conditions we find life thriving in on our own planet, it’s not hard to imagine that inside this moon could be a quite the surprises.

Things like this is what science fiction lives on. It explores all the what ifs and runs with them. Colonies on other planets, far flung space stations and encounters with this so other and then again just same enough to show us something about ourselves.

And did you know you can actually follow Nasa on Twitter?

: UFO-ology Flying Saucer Types T-Shirt – $24

: Crocheted Ray Gun – $15

: Flying Saucer Step Stool – $49.95

: Green Aliens Pins Set – $6.25

: UFO Alien Bunny Art Print – $18

: Alien Love Field Bag – $16.50

: Twin Alien Monster Hats – $40

: Outta This World Recolored Crayons Set – $5.95

: Avatar Inspired Personalized Portait – $17

: Alien Mug – $33

: I Want to Believe Necklace – $20.99

: Green Alien on Rainbow Tie Dye T-Shirt – $12

: Trick or Treat Bag – $10

: Alien UFO Etched Copper Earrings – $25

: Space Monster Changing Pad and Play Mat – $68

: Space Alien Toy Party Treat Bags – $12.50

: Monster Plush – $59.99

: I Want to Believe T-Shirt – $18

: Alien’s Touch Gloves – $165

: Purple Monster Baby Bodysuit – $15

: Alien Space Ship Vinyl Decal – $20

: Toy Story Alien Lego Cufflinks – $28.99

: Rocket Ship Charm Necklace – $15

: Peace Creature Toy – $20

The Etsy artists featured in this article are:

theangryrobot, happyfamily, EightBabyLegs, rainbowswirlz, chrysdesignsjewelry, vortextradingcompany, Marolsha, LookHappy, tuesdaypatrol, FeuerUndWasser, NiklynDesigns, joeyandaleethea, SepiaLepus, jettabees, Cufflinks, NinisHandmades, decomodwalls, madebyhippies, KarlaWheelerDesign, TotsOnly, HibouCards, AdoptanAlien, MyMagicMe, and MetamorphosesOfClay

Also Check Out These:

The Antithesis Progression – Kind of like the American Revolution in space.

Crescent – Sci-Fi and horror (very gory horror)

Escape Pod – Audio science fiction anthology (just passed their 200th episode not to long ago)

Life in a Day

23 Jul 2010 2 Comments

by barbedlotus in Gift Guides, Rambling, Written by Meghan

So last week I stumbled upon this on YouTube. The project is called Life in a Day. It’s schedule for tomorrow, the 24th of July.

Basically the project is to film some aspect of your day on the 24th and submit it on YouTube. They are then going to compile a movie from all this footage and release it at Sundance 2011.

On the 24th we will be at the Ogden 25th Street Farmer’s Market as usual, and will probably be doing our bit of filming there. Since the 24th is a big holiday in Utah there will be a parade and all that going on so it promises to be interesting. If anyone else is thinking of participating we’d love to here about it.

Today’s Etsy feature gift guide thing is all about film, video, cameras, etc…

: DIY Felt Movie Set Pattern – $5

: Beacon II Letterpress Linoleum Print – $38

: Tan Brown Camera Video Shoulder Bag – $134.99

: NYC Times Square Print – $10

: Smile Security Sign – $12

: Vintage Camera Craft Stamp – $3.50

: Iconic Camera Carry All Bag Khaki – $45

: Silkscreened Rolleifliex Camera T-Shirt – $20

: Set of 2 Shutter and Frame 6×6 Prints – $20

: Camera Print – $13

: Flesh and the Devil TV Necklace – $13

: Video Camera Key Chain – $8

: Embroidered Film School Hanky – $5

: Camera Messenger Bag – $58

: Surveillance with a Smile T-Shirt – $20

: Wooden Movie Ticket Necklace – $9

: Don’t Judge a Book by its Movie – $1

: Video Camera Canvas Tote Bag – $16

: Vintage Kodak Duraflex Film Camera Print – $20

: Storyboard Photoshop Templates – $10

The Etsy artists featured in this article are:

ladylotus, mediumcontrol, smathst8, HappyHarpy, CutOutAndCollect, kleinfamily, tomboy, CyanideStitches, KMalanowski, myrubberstamp, andiesmith, artstudio54, Baostudio, CrypticaTeeShirts, tissueturtle, FartsyArts, Signs, BarrelOfMonkeys, busterandboo, and umecrafts

1 Tequila, 2 Tequila, 3 Tequila Floor

21 Jul 2010 2 Comments

by barbedlotus in Finds, Gift Guides, Rambling, Written by Meghan Tags: absinthe, alcohol, beer, bottle, drink, etsy, feature, gift, gift guide, gin, glass, guide, handmade, martini, rum, tequila, vodka, wine

In honor of my new found appreciation of really freaking random holidays, here’s to Legal Drinking Age Day! No I’m completely serious (or at least as serious as I can be after a shot or two).

A new personal favorite is the black cherry Mike’s Hard Lemonade. A lot of friends of my boyfriend refer to Mikes and other flavored drinks as bitch beer, but I’ve never seen any of them turn it down (in fact you leave it in the fridge unattended while they are over and the stuff seems to mysterious vanish instantly).

Personally I can’t stand the taste of beer, but rum, now there’s a drink. Especially for cooking. I make rum spice cookies and rum pizzelles, and my brother’s rum ice cream recipe is the best (combine that with a pizzelle shaped into a cone and yay!). Another alcohol baked goodie I’m very partial to is sherry cakes.

There are a lot of makers on Etsy who celebrate the joys of alcohol.

: Netting Wrapped Wine Bottle – $49.95

: Remedy Men’s Scent – $11

: Bottle of Rum Necklace – $20

: Saints Mini Bar with Haning Wine Glass Holder – $175

: Margarita Lip Butter – $3

: Stoneware Pirate Rum Jug – $85

: I Drink Because You’re Boring Magnet – $3

: Beer Bottle Candles – $15

: Cherry Blossum Wine Glasses and Caraf – $50

: Temperance Flask – $30

: Bird Man Cup – $15

: Hand Forged Fish Bottle Opener – $28

: Happy 21st Birthday Card – $4.50

: Balancing Wine Bottle Holder and Cheese Cutting Board – $20

: I Would Exercise Pin – $1

: Beer Hello Kitty Necklace – $5

: Sylvia Mermaid Wall Sculpture – $88

: Shri Lanka Beaded Chinnamon Stick Stirs – $5.35

: Recycled Wine Bottle Spoon Rest – $20

: Seattle Tourist Drink Charms Set – $34

: Lime Margarita Sugar Scrub – $12

: Absinthe Collar – $148

: Mustache Rocks Glass – $18

: Drunken Grape Merlot Wine Jelly – $5.25

: Amaretto Nog Candle – $17.95

: Good Beer Poster – $30

: Bottle of RUm Pirate Plaque – $65

: Gin Label Necklace – $60

My Alcholic Friends by The Dresden Dolls

As always remember to enjoy your booze with brains. Underage drinking can damage still developing bodies and minds, driving drunk is selfish and moronic and if your beer is a coping mechanism as well as a beverage you have a problem and need to seek help and support to deal with that problem.

The Etsy artists featured in this article are:

Modernarchitex, marywibis, HardWoodShop, clinks, CombustionGlassworks, TRUECONNECTIONS, Gnipmac, wiggleperfume, tuckooandmoocow, blisscandles, williewobble, AtlasSigns, rocketmanclay, RetroDivas, ifitsmetal, FunkyRecycling, hopinkstudios, BreadandBadger, atwopipeproblem, khphillips, anotherfeather, soapopotamus, frivoloustendencies, CleanQueenSoapCo, bovinebubbles, designtalentedone, choklit, and ManEatingFlower

Faetastic!

19 Jul 2010 3 Comments

by barbedlotus in Finds, Gift Guides, Rambling, Uncategorized, Written by Meghan Tags: con, convention, cosplay, costume, elf, elven, etsy, fae, faerie, faerieworld, faery, fairy, feature, gift, gift guide, guide, wings, yarn

It’s finally (almost) here! Faerieworlds, a huge gathering of those fascinated by everything fae. Faerieworlds goes from July 30th until August 1 and is located in Eugene, OR.

This year Faerie World Con will feature the music of Faun, Woodland, Brother, Telesma, Wendy Rule, Tricky Pixie, David Helfand, Adam Hurst, Taarka, Stellamara, Delhi 2 Dublin and Gypsy Nomads. I had only heard of a couple of these before looking more into Faerieworld, but after hearing their music I’m definitely a fan of them all now (need to stretch my music budget a little more this month maybe, because I definitely want more of their music). They have pulled together a group of musicians that is bound to give the feel of a fae court in full blown party mode. I love the mix of styles that Delhi 2 Dublin and Telesma use and Tricky Pixie is just awesome.

Music of course isn’t going to be the only thing there, but this post is already going to be quit long once we get through the gift guide and following special extra’s below. Unfortunately our travel budget this year has been rather tight (well for the past couple years nearly everyone’s has been pretty slim come to think of it), so we’re not going to be able to attend this year’s Faerieworld. This is something we definitely want to do in the future, whether it be as a vendor or just as really happy wing wearing spectators. So in the mean time enjoy today’s faetastic gift guide.

So, on to the surprise I was talking about. Your going to need some wings for Faerieworld right? From today until Aug. 1st in honor of this event we are offering a 10% discount on all wings for our readers. Just include the coupon code FAERYTIME in the notes to seller at check out. This coupon is good for custom orders as well, but the order must be officially placed by August 1st. For more on our coupon policy please check our shop policies page.

: The Green Faerie – $43

: Captured Faerie in Bottle Necklace – $45

: Lothlorien Elven Forest Tiara – $55

: Fairy Hideaway Pattern – $5

: Fairy Polymer Clay Mold – $4

: Jewel Fairy Handspun Yarn – $7

: Fairy Houses Set – $38

: Argema Mittrei Fairy Comet Moth – $79.99

: Sleeping Fairy Garden Rock – $49.99

: Sage the Wise Healer – $50

: Sunset Kimono Fairy Art Pendant – $15

: PermaGrin the Eighth Tree Ent Mask – $145

: Enchantment Rose Bobby Pins – $18

: Believe Fairy Scrabble Tile Pendant – $5.95

: Absinthe Fairy Trinket Box – $20

: Twilight Serenade Evening Gown – $280

: Saponaria Top – $55

: Tiny Pixie Princess Doll – $40

: The Forest Bracelet – $36.50

: Patchwork Gypsy Elf Coat – $328

: Gypsy Ohm Feather Hairstick – $20

: Whimsy Fairy Decal – $55

: Fire Fairy Art Tile – $75

: She Wears Wings Collage Art – $15

The Etsy artists featured in this article are:

meredithdillman, SuzannesPotteryFarm, Syrendell, PhnomeGNOME, tzaddishop, EnlightenedPlatypus, cosmicsky, jessejanes, mulberrymudd, DaliDecals, Etheralcreation, theitsybitsyspider, FractalWings, DarklyngStudios, Thyme2dream, blueyeduckstudios, JewelryByJLy, fairiesnest, FrigidCouture, kennosborne, ghostgirl11, REALBUTERFLYGIFTS, TrashAndTrinkets, and thecrowsnest

Birds of a Feather

15 Jul 2010 1 Comment

by barbedlotus in Finds, Gift Guides, Rambling, Uncategorized, Written by Meghan Tags: bird, confetti, etsy, feather, flight, gift, gift guide, guide, jewlery, memories, memory, pet, similar, wings

Anyone who has known me for a while knows of my love of birds and that I’ve had a variety of pet birds over the years. Currently my home is sadly birdless (but will soon contain some kittens!). When cared for with love birds are the sweetest, and in my opinion most enjoyable companions. My first bird was my beloved friend for over 8 years. We were pretty much attached at the hip (or more foot and shoulder). She was a dark gray cockatiel. who loved fly ahead of me on walks and curl up under my chin while I read. It seems silly to grieve still for a pet that has been dead for four years, but that little bird meant the world to me. We had a cockatoo who used to sneak up the stairs and try and sneak under the warm covers between me and my boyfriend. She’d introduce herself when ever someone new came over or we were out and about and would giggle hysterically as she ran/hopped away with something you needed Another was a sweet eclectics (normally a hyper kind of bird) that was so calm and mellow.

Throughout my meanderings on Etsy I have stumbled across a multitude of items created using the same (or similar) bird charm. I’ve even used it myself on a recent ear cuff. I marvel at the different ways people can use such similar components.

: Vintage Style Bird Turqoise Stone Necklace – $16

: Peridot Necklace – $26

: Sparrow and Feather Necklace – $22

: Vintage Black Bird Bobby Pins – $6

: Mother Bird Necklace – $16

: Birds and the Bees Ring – $18

: Vintage Dictionary Bird Cutouts – $2.50

: Bird and Pearl Necklace – $17

: Berry Bird Ring – $11

: Silver Twigs and Bird Necklaces – $14.50

: Copper Filigree Heart Necklace – $10

: Little Bird Earrings – $18

: Nature Inspired Bird Branch Bracelet – $22.50

: Song Bird Necklace – $36

: Lonesome Dove Bird Necklace – $14

: Bird in Flight Earrings – $15.75

: My Little Bird Necklace – $25

: Aurora Jewel Necklace – $24

: Flower Locket – $22

The Etsy artisans featured in this article are:

AnechkasJewelry, mylavaliere, littlemissykate, AmandasBoutique, MDsparks, chinacherie, ChristineDomanic, sassycassjems, lizhutnick, hawaiibeads, Fineartreflections, papermache, smilesophie, liliswan, LilyLeighs, BeadsStory, pinkingedesigns, BirdinFlightBoutique, mommyholly, and Oceanmiststudio

Happy Embrace Your Geekness Day!

13 Jul 2010 1 Comment

by barbedlotus in Finds, Gift Guides, Written by Meghan

Yes, it is a real holiday believe it or not.

You know that guy who picked on everyone with good grades, glasses and a little social awkwardness in school. That guy that will is probably also one of those guys who is so fanatical about whatever sport that he will paint his bare chest with the team logo and stand in the freezing cold for hours during a game, everyone seems to be a geek of one kind or another. So bookworms, gamers, nerds, sports geeks, science geeks, language geeks, car geeks, and crafty geeks alike today is the day to celebrate what ever it is you geek out to. You should never be embarrassed about the things you enjoy. Anyone who tells you otherwise just refuses to admit they are a geek too, just a different flavor of geek.

: I Heart You Card – $3.50

: Headphone Heart Decal – $20

: Red Robot Inferno Tie – $34

: Talk to Your Kids About Zombies – $14

: I Heart Geeks Pin – $1.25

: Cthulhu Fleece Pillow – $30

: Vintage Dictionary Octopus Art Print – $8

: Einstein Sterling Silver Necklace – $32

: Happy Molecule Embroidered Wall Art – $31

: Firefox Icon Pillow – $17.99

: Keep Calm and Eat Some Bacon Magnet – $3.99

: Lungs Medical Graphic Tee Shirt – $14

: Knitting in Biology 101 Pattern PDF – $4

: Steampunk Monocle – $89

: PS Controller Pillow – $30

: Dr. Who Silence in the Library Journal – $48

: R2-D2 Portrait Plate – $25

: Tiny Moon Jellyfish – $16.50

: Plants vs Zombies Sewing Pattern – $30

: Computer Key Earrings – $4.95

The Etsy artists featured in this article are:

awkward, ObeyMyBrain, iconpillows, PrettyPixels, VerdigrisDye, DesignDude, BeatUpCreations, CritterJitters, alliedog, CraftyHedgehog, JL67, whaleandbee, littlebluebirdstudios, toybreaker, BleedingHeartsCos, shortsleevalliance, BindMe, itsastitch, arixystix, and BrazenDevice

Tea is Drunk to Forget the Din of the World

11 Jul 2010 Leave a Comment

by barbedlotus in Finds, Gift Guides, Rambling, Written by Meghan

This is a quote attributed to T’ien Yiheng. It’s funny how passionate people can get over their tea (or even lack there of). There is the battle of the tea and coffee, the little war over hot or iced tea, bags and leaves, sweet or not. Everytime we’d get to the part in US history classes about the Boston Tea Party I’d cringe a little at all that tea going overboard. Yes, yes I know it was to help win our freedom and all that, but it still seems like a lot of lost tea. I always wondered how much of that tea was actually pocketed in the process.

Myself I take no sides in the hot and iced or bagged or leaves arguements, but my tea has to be sweet. Usually to the point people joke that I’m having a little tea with my sugar (or stevia as of late). My absolute favorite is Lady Earl Grey (Twillings has a great cold brew in a bag kind, which I love because it’s really easy to make at work and has gotten me to cut back a lot on the soda), with Oolong pulling in a close second. And nothing is better on a hot day that a glass of ice cold sun brewed mint tea. Unfortunately the water in our current house tastes absolutely awful and results in really sub-par tea. I think I’m going to have to pay up for either a filter of some sort. I am usually totally disgusted by premade tea drinks, with one exception.

There is a tea (it was recently bought buy Coke, and isn’t as good as before but still pretty close and about a dollar cheaper than before) called Gold Peak. It was much better tasting when they were still selling it in the cool glass bottles, but I have to admit it’s nice not having the bottle break in the work vending machine anymore (for some reason the guy stocking it thought it was a good idea to put the glass bottle stuff on the top shelf in a drop style vending machine and the plastics at the bottom).