Well, here we are and I've been doing the tea stand for 3 months now! Can you believe that?! My tan is already in full force - though there are major "farmer's tan" style lines present! Ha! 

I wish I was writing to tell you that I'd be opening the shop back up, but based on the rising new cases of Covid-19 and how they continue to tick up each day, I just don't feel safe letting people inside yet.

It's a bummer, I know, but I can assure you no one is more impacted than me by this decision. I shared with you all last month that I am taking this super seriously - my Grami, my mom, and my little sister are all considered high-risk due to their various things - diabetes, COPD, age, etc. 

The tea stand has been working, and while it is getting warmer out there, I believe I can sustain the shop a little while longer outside. I am also giving some thought to doing a few farmer's markets across the state for those of you who have been ordering online from afar -- more on that in coming weeks!

I want to be clear - AS SOON AS I FEEL SAFE I will open these doors wide and welcome you all back here! I miss having the tables full. I miss tea parties in the back room. I miss having in person tea talks in the evenings. I miss working with my mom and sister every week. They miss it, too. 

I am not going anywhere! I am not closing or giving up! We are going to make it through this crazy time. But, I do ask that you continue to support my shop.

​Please continue shopping online and allowing me to bring your orders out to you curbside, or shipping it to you wherever you live!

Since everything has started opening up, I have had a pretty significant downward trend in online sales. Fortunately, the tea stand is still thriving and that helps, but those online sales help so much, too! 

All that said, I have been so incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support, love and encouragement the past couple months. It really keeps me going & I am so thankful for all of you. 

My goal is to reassess on June 1st whether it is safe to open the doors to the shop. I may try out patio only dining toward the end of the month, but again, it depends. My hope would be that I could do a nice grand re-opening on June 10th - National Iced Tea Day!

I am not ready to bring my mom back to work when things are so risky. I am not in a situation to hire additional staff to help me offer a full service experience at this time, and, frankly, it's just too soon to tell if we have really passed through this scary phase of the pandemic. 

I am hoping you, my loyal customers & friends, will understand. I am hoping you will continue to support me through online orders and you will continue to stop by the tea stand on Wednesdays and the weekends. I truly cannot wait for the day when you can sit in my lovely tea shop and share in my dreams again. Until then, I will see you curbside, in the sunshine! ​​

Meet Mary Grace, a delightful young woman who is making Girl Scout cookies more accessible to those with food allergies and/or strict diets! For Girl Scout Entrepreneur Week, Mary Grace reached out to me to work on some tea blends inspired by some of our favorite Girl Scout cookies - but her mission was to make these blends for those who may not get to partake in the cookie mania each year.

We came up with two blends - Skinny Mint Cookie (inspired by the Thin Mint) and Caramel Coconut Cookie (inspired by the Samoa). Both of these teas are non-caffeinated and do not have added sugars which makes them diabetic friendly and can be sipped anytime during the day or night!

Mary Grace recommends taking these teas with a splash of honey - but you can substitute that for whatever sweetener you prefer! In addition to the blends being on sale at the tea shop, we will also be taking "Cookie Box Donations" for families at the UAMS NICU- the idea is to drop a dollar or two to go toward a box of cookies that can be shared with those who utilize the Family Pantry at UAMS. 

The Girl Scouts (Mary Grace's Troop - #6007) will be out front of the tea shop on Saturday, February 22nd from 10am-1pm with the Cookie Bus to sell cookies and a cup of these yummy teas!

Both of the Girl Scout Inspired Blends will be on shelves from now through March 14th - so be sure to grab a bag of tea before the cookie season ends! ​

Details for Saturday's Girl Scout event can be found on Facebook.