Category: Tea Thoughts

2/11/2022 1 Comment

Farewell, Hillcrest: last day will be March 20th

I’ve struggled all week on when to make this announcement because it’s a bittersweet one that has come with a lot of thought over the last 6 months. Do I tell them before my anniversary? On it? After Valentine’s Day? I decided for the day after my anniversary because I wanted to cap off my 4 years positively and start year 5 with the new changes. Good changes, exciting changes - but really hard changes.

Thanks so much to everyone who came by the shop yesterday. It turned out to be a pretty quiet day and Mom came by and we got to spend some time together which we hadn’t gotten to do in a long time with our constant busy schedules we have been juggling.

But - last night, there y’all were for the tea talk! Folks from all over the state and country. Twelve states were represented just from who I could see in the chat and orders afterward. We had a good time. I cried, and then laughed as I poured tea on my computer which was a very ME moment! I almost spilled the beans in the telling of how my little shop came to be, but I pulled myself together.

So here we are on this Friday before Valentine’s Day and I’m still struggling to put it into words.

When I started this tea shop, this location was like an answered prayer. The building was green, it had this big patio, it was in the perfect spot with the perfect space and so much character. Every single door swung open for me in 2017 and I opened on February 10th, 2018. Those first two years operating, I was profitable and booming. I remember starting 2020 extremely optimistic about the business - we had a huge turnout for National Hot Tea Day that year, too.

And then COVID hit in March 2020 and I confidently went to the curb with my tea stand thinking it’d be a fun solution that would only last a few months. Boy, was I wrong!

Over the last two years, I have ebbed and flowed and changed my operations all while putting a considerable effort into growing my e-commerce and national footprint with fellow tea lovers. And, it’s worked. When the weather was bad or when I needed to take some days for self-care, I built a well-oiled online process that gave me the freedom to survive this pandemic without putting my family or my customers at risk. I’m really proud of that. And as I’ve learned in therapy over the last year, I need to acknowledge that success without the word ‘but’ at the end of the sentence.

BUT, it seems COVID is not over and we are in between surges. As many of you know, our family holds several disabilities and health conditions which makes all of this a bit scarier for us. I also have a host of customers who made my shop a safe place before and during COVID as they navigated their own lives, too.

The reality is, I don’t feel comfortable having people eating and gathering in small or large groups unmasked for several hours a day at the shop. The potential exposure is just not worth it to me for my family or my customers. I can’t even get some folks to wear a mask for 5 minutes as they “just want to look around” right now without them swearing at me or causing a scene. It’s exhausting and depressing.

I am not sure when I’ll feel comfortable with the restaurant side of my operation again - but I know one day that piece will return to me. Just not right now.

Okay, out with it, Abbi…

With the growth of my online business and the success of my retail and to-go only operation that I’m currently operating in, I’ve decided to let the overhead of this space go so I can maintain profitability.

My last day in Hillcrest will be March 20th, 2022. This isn’t goodbye. I’m NOT going out of business, I’m just “shifting my sails,” as Mom says. Over the next months, I’ll be finalizing a small manufacturing space where my online and blending operations will be housed and expanded! Then I will be transitioning to a smaller retail space to have my day-to-day operations.

I’m letting go of sweet tea parties, cute little princesses, and the anxiety of having to constantly say no to people who only want to come to my shop for large group gatherings. Tea Talks will be virtual for now, but I’ll be doing some outdoor tea talks when the weather warms up consistently, too.

It’s really bittersweet.

I’m excited about what comes next, but I’m unbelievably sad about saying goodbye to what has been the best thing that’s ever happened to me - something I built and did and thrived in, despite every hurdle. I feel like the very essence of who I am is imprinted on the walls of this tea shop. And I’m grieving the loss, to be honest about it.

I’ll miss my puppy regulars and the ebb and flow of Hillcrest, but I sure won’t miss the parking issues.

Y’all have supported me this far, and I hope you’ll continue to support me as I make this transition. You can come by the shop through March 20th. I’ll be OPEN Wednesday-Saturday 10 am-6 pm and Sundays 1 pm-4 pm.

Come late March/early April, I will have an update on where I’ll be next. That’ll be an exciting announcement we can all look forward to in the future.

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12/19/2021 1 Comment

An Abbi Guide to surviving the Pandemic - Part 2: TV & Movies

Hello, again! Continuing the theme of what's gotten me through 2020/2021, I want to share some television shows, documentaries, and movies that helped me cope these last two years. There are the obvious shows like Ted Lasso that I won't feature since EVERYONE knows about -- instead, I'll be showcasing some favorites that are off the beaten path but are definitely worth the time. I hope you'll drop your favorite TV and movies in the comments, too!

My Octopus Teacher was recommended to me toward the end of 2020. I have probably watched this documentary the most of anything I will post about in this blog post. It's about a man who found solace on the seashore and began to explore the kelp forest below the water but befriended and observed an octopus through the entirety of her life cycle.

I often think "What if this film was never made?" "What if he had never gone to that specific spot on that specific beach in that specific part of the ocean where this little octopus was living?"

The entire film is about nature and our ability to connect with the world around us if we just are the tiniest bit curious and willing to pay attention. I get emotional about this documentary. I feel deeply connected to it. The film is about hope and healing and unlikely friendships. For me, it was a reminder that by working on ourselves we open ourselves up to unlikely experiences that can change our lives for the better - and by sharing our vulnerable stories, we can teach those around us that it's okay to be broken and whole at the same time. Since this was filmed in South Africa, I recommend a nice rooibos blend while watching this documentary!

Another film I spent a lot of time with was the new animated film, Raya and The Last Dragon. This film is deeply earnest. It's so full of idealism and so crushingly on the nose against cynicism that it's no surprise that it's now on my list of top Disney films.

I feel like this one got a bit overlooked due to the release happening during the pandemic and only being available on Disney+ but the message was one I think the entire world needed.

The film is about a young woman who experiences a loss at an early age that results in her becoming a very untrusting and hyper-independent young woman who struggles to accept help from others put on her path to find the lost dragon.

The movie is a coming-of-age film about the resentments we harbor and how our lack of trust in others is ultimately what breaks our spirits and holds us back from being our best selves. It's also about learning to forgive even when we are justified in our feelings of betrayal.

You can watch this with your kids, but it's got a very big kid message along with several laughs. I recommend the Jasmine Pearl green tea for tea sips!

Oh, Joe Pera, how I love you. This TV Show is the best-kept secret of the ENTIRE pandemic. Joe Pera Talks With You is about a man living in the mid-west doing normal everyday things but somehow in these 11-minute episodes, Joe tugs right at the heart of you with life lessons and sentiments that may seem completely mundane but are incredibly wholesome and tender.

Joe Pera is a comedian who likes tomatoes, his grandmother, and his community. You can find the show at midnight on AdultSwim or stream both seasons on HBO. The 3rd season just finished up a couple of weeks ago. There is also a special called Relaxing Old Footage with Joe Pera which is delightful and Bergamot really enjoyed the fishies.

This show was something Jordan and I looked forward to each week. The episodes are short and sweet and leave you feeling warm inside. You also learn some really random things along the way - like how to build a chair, how to be a better friend & what it's like accepting people who are different than you but are worthy of your love simply because they are your neighbor. Best watched with a pot of The Earl - a solid classic tea.

This movie is a decade old from one of the most imaginative minds in cinema, Spirited Away has been a go-to feel better movie for me and Jordan for years now, but we watched a lot of it in 2020.

This whimsical tale of a young, determined girl who is trying to save her parents is a good coming of age story that's full of fun. The illustration is beautiful and there are moments of such profound kindness between the characters that you cannot help but choke up on the beauty of it all.

Miyazaki movies in general are great for lifting spirits - but Spirited Away is at the top of the list. Another close second worth watching is The Wind Rises. That's another beautiful story for those who love the passionate pursuit of dreams, aviation & flight.

Back to Spirited Away, I recommend watching this movie when you have some time to really unpack the story afterwards and the themes of friendship, remembering who you are even when others try to steal your name and the very essence of yourself, and the importance of caring for our rivers and streams. Best tea to brew with this film? The Lifted Spirit green tea blend!

Last but certainly not least, Love on the Spectrum is delightful! This series began in 2019 before the pandemic but released its 2nd season this past year. It follows several young adults who are on the spectrum through the ups and downs of dating.

This is a reality TV show that will warm your heart and hopefully shed light on the beautiful and sometimes complex dynamics of dating with a disability. I enjoyed this show so much that I shared it with Jessica & Donald as it explored serious topics like love, sex, and marriage.

There are so many nuggets of truth and refreshing honesty and dating advice is shared throughout each episode by these beautiful human beings. You will laugh and cry and cheer each of them on as they find their matches - and come to understand that not every match is quite right.

It's hard to choose a favorite member of this cast, but I truly hope Michael finds his one true love. It's the hope of my little soft tender heart!

This one is best sipped with the Cherry Chamomile (Jessica's favorite) or the Ginger Peach (Donald's favorite) because they inspire me and their love is so special and worth celebrating.

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12/10/2021 0 Comments

An Abbi Guide to Surviving The Pandemic - Part 1: Books

Here we are at the end of 2021 and we all thought we'd be out of this weird and tumultuous pandemic by now. With Omicron variant and Delta surging through the world - STILL - I am spending a lot of time reflecting on the self-care practices that have gotten me through these past two years. From TV shows, to really good books, to favorite songs & podcasts - this is part one of my compiled list of "things" that helped, and of course, I shall pair them all with a cup of tea!

This Tender Land by William Kent Kruger was one of the best books I read in 2021. It was so good that I passed it around with Grami and Mom. This is a coming-of-age story from a first-person narrative. It will make you laugh, cry, think & has a really good ending though it's not what you are expecting. The book as a whole is about friendship and the choices we make as we grow up and realize the world around us isn't always friendly.

The book is earnest, and kind - it will leave you feeling like a better human for reading it.

Since I read this book through the summer of 2021, I recommend sipping the Basil Mint - my favorite tea blend to have over ice!

“If we were perfect, the light He shines on us would just bounce right off. But the wrinkles, they catch the light. And the cracks, that’s how the light gets inside us. When I pray, Odie, I never pray for perfection. I pray for forgiveness, because it’s the one prayer I know will always be answered.” - This Tender Land

The Mountains Sing by Nguyen Phan Que Mai is probably the best book I have read in the last 10 years. This story is told by 3 women - a daughter, a mother, and a grandmother over the course of several decades. This book was an education. Starting before the Vietnam War and carrying us through the war and into the present, the story is raw and emotional, and inspiring.

When I finished it I was so moved by the story, that I tweeted about it and told everyone I could about it. Overall, it's a story about family and the resilience of Vietnamese women.

Trigger warnings: this book does contain graphic depictions of war, sexual assault, and at times you may need to put the book down. I also downloaded the audiobook for the first few chapters to help with the pronunciation of names & locations which was helpful for me.

This book requires some delicate steeping & meditation - I recommend Tieguanyin, named after the Chinese Goddess of Compassion & Mercy.

“I learned then that as long as I have my voice, I am still alive." - The Mountains Sing

The Giver of Stars - JoJo Moyes was a book I read through the first few months of 2020, sitting at the tea stand. This book is so good and will make you cry in happy ways. It's about a motley crew of ladies who run a traveling library in the mountains of Kentucky. JoJo Moyes has been a favorite author of mine for a long time and she handles complex female characters with grace and dignity & honesty.

Big feminist energy in this book is about breaking free of expectations & finding yourself in the most unlikely of places & ways. It's about teaching yourself not to make negative assumptions about people and places but also the importance of contributing time and efforts to something bigger than yourself.

This book is inspiring and communal and full of friendships - I recommend sipping on a nice pot of The Duchess since it's a blend I dedicated to another group of strong women in a time when women weren't supposed to ride horses or organize for the greater good.

“Maybe that’s the thing we need to understand, Alice. That some things are a gift, even if you don’t get to keep them.” There was a silence before he spoke again. “Maybe just to know that something this beautiful exists is all we can really ask for.” - The Giver of Stars

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman is a deeply personal one for me. If you have made it this far in the post, I am assuming you care about me on some level to read my thoughts on my favorite books of the last two years - so here go some really vulnerable personal confessions.

At the end of 2020 and early 2021, I hit a wall emotionally and physically. I was really struggling with a deep depression after a miscarriage in early November and the weight of being curbside with no end in sight. I got this book in mid-November of 2020 and it took me 4 months to finish it because it just hit so close to home for me on so many levels. This book deals with anxiety - and suicide - but in a way that is extremely kind. It also deals with a bank robbery and divorce and grief and hilarious misunderstandings.

This book is FUNNY - Backman is very dialogue-heavy and winds and weaves you through multiple characters and storylines that all come together - eventually. It is not the book I expected it or wanted it to be, it was even better. The last 3 pages of this book are some of the best pages I have ever read in my life and I got to watch my mom read them in the tea shop back in May, as tears rolled down her cheeks.

This book is best read with a relaxing tea blend like Cherry Chamomile.

“We can't change the world, and a lot of the time we can't even change people. No more than one bit at a time. So we do what we can to help whenever we get the chance, sweetheart. We save those we can. We do our best. Then we try to find a way to convince ourselves that that will just have to...be enough. So we can live with our failures without drowning.” - Anxious People

All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr was an audiobook that Jordan and I listened to on a road trip through the Dakotas in September of 2020. An exceptional WWII book that is told by various main characters. Jordan and I have been doing road trip audiobooks together since our honeymoon in 2009. We really enjoyed this book and finished it on the very last leg of our trip.

We were completely drawn in with this story and the audio performance was really well done on Audible, too. We found ourselves listening to it even in the parking lot with our take-out food in our lap. My love for this book is mostly because of the relationship the author clearly has with the ocean, and how eloquently he can put that into words. And, the perils of family and friendships in a war that divided so many people.

I recommend this one to be sipped with a savory English Breakfast tea with milk & honey.

“I have been feeling very clearheaded lately and what I want to write about today is the sea. It contains so many colors. Silver at dawn, green at noon, dark blue in the evening. Sometimes it looks almost red. Or it will turn the color of old coins. Right now the shadows of clouds are dragging across it, and patches of sunlight are touching down everywhere. White strings of gulls drag over it like beads.

It is my favorite thing, I think, that I have ever seen. Sometimes I catch myself staring at it and forget my duties.

It seems big enough to contain everything anyone could ever feel.” - All The Light We Cannot See

This started as one post but in order for me to give the time needed for each thing, I am breaking it up into parts, so stay tuned for Part Two: Televison & Documentaries! Hope you find a new book or author in this batch of good books and don't forget to support your local libraries and bookstores!

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7/8/2021 1 Comment

July 2021 update: Here we go again...

After just over a month of being re-opened inside at the tea shop, I cannot believe I am writing this - I am headed back out to the curb. Today, Arkansas was marked as the 2nd most dangerous place in the United States in terms of contracting the new Delta Variant of Covid-19. With 1,000 new cases yesterday, and another 1200+ new cases today - our state is experiencing a THIRD surge of the virus.

I am so discouraged. I just got used to the shop being open again - feeling a little bit back to normal, and yet we are not back to normal. I would rather be hot and tired on the curb than feeling anxious about the spread of the virus inside of my shop. I am a small business and likely my decision will make a very small ripple in this situation, but I feel a responsibility to myself, my family and to my customers to make efforts to curb the outcome of this next surge.

Many of you already know that a large part of our customers are under the age of 15 - little cuties who love to visit the shop with their parents or neighborhood kids who ride their bike to the shop to share a jug of tea on the porch. These kids have zero choice in vaccination. And, now with new information coming out that there are many breakthrough cases (people getting the Delta Variant of Covid-19 who have been vaccinated for months specifically those who have the Pfizer vaccine.) I know this to be true because a friend of mine who has been vaccinated with Pfizer since April just tested positive this past week right here in Little Rock. Fortunately, I had not seen him for awhile, but the news was enough to have me more than worried. You see, I have the Pfizer vaccine and so does my Grami. The risk of either of us contracting this new and more contagious virus is not worth it especially after I spent 15 months out there keep this little dream alive already.

So, out to the curb we go again. I did it last year - in the heat - and I can do it again. But this go around, I am not going to be as perky about it. Here me when I say, please DO NOT come to the tea stand without your masks on your face. I will not be apologetic about asking you to put one on while you're with me. It is impossible for me to know who is vaccinated and who is not - and by us all wearing a mask that takes the stress and anxiety off me while I sit out there in the sun serving my tea.

If you are out of town and you are reading this, you can still support me! Please shop online - I have a free shipping promotion on the site running through the end of July with coupon-code SUMMERTIME at check-out. You can see my various loose leaf tea blends & other tea accessories at our online store.

HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT MY BUSINESS RIGHT NOW:

Buy some tea! Online or @ the tea stand,
Share my social media posts (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)
Be kind, send a note of encouragement, comment on my posts.
Get vaccinated & wear a mask so we can all get back to normal again - for real this time.

Thank you all so much for supporting me thus far - this was a very hard decision for me as the heat is at PEAK levels in Arkansas right now. I will likely only have 2 tea stands per week during the hot weeks but if I see a cool day, I will pop out there more - you can keep up with this info on my social media pages.

Please wear a mask, please get vaccinated, please be mindful of the kids around you, please be kind to each other. - Abbi

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6/30/2021 1 Comment

What's In Your Cup - Meaghan Ferneau

Name: Meaghan Ferneau
Where are you? Little Rock, Arkansas
Pronouns: she/her

What do you do? Regional Demand Generation Manager (basically Tech Marketing) and Princessing as a side hustle!

Favorite blends? Gentle Dreams / Rose Mint / Peach Mint

Iced or hot? Hot!

What's your ideal tea experience? Sitting out in the French countryside with a cup of Gentle Dreams and no one is around, except Chris Pratt - he’s there. Did you say ideal experience or day dream? Same thing right?

What got you into tea? I have always enjoyed it, but in all honesty I have never had blends as creative or delicious as Abbi’s!
Any fun cocktails or weird/fun things you do with your tea leaves? I use the Rose Mint leaves on my hands for eczema- and we have made cocktails with a few blends making a simple syrup!

What are you reading? I finally opened up “Untamed” which I’ve had sitting unopened for quite some time!

What are you listening to these days? I’m an old soul - I love old records mainly from the 60s and 70s.

What's a blend you'd love to try but haven't yet? Goji Ginger

Thanks for always making me laugh, Meaghan and for all the kind words & drive by honks from the Jeep on your way home!

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6/18/2021 0 Comments

A Sappy Teapot Story Coming Through...

A really small and insignificant event just happened that triggered in me a deep cathartic cry that I feel has been dwelling up in me for a few weeks now. One of those cleansing “make things new by clearing things out” types of cries.

At the beginning of the pandemic, when I was trying to figure out what retail would sell and would be easy to move in and out every day out at the tea stand I made some purchases of teapots.

Typically when I buy teapots or things for the store, I choose things that I really love in hopes people will love it like I do.

So, when I found this matte gray teapot with a cream accent, I really wanted to keep it for myself but alas, I have so many teapots. I couldn’t let it pass and there was only one left from this manufacturer, and I needed it for the stand.
I knew it would sell.

Well, the year passed - in and out this gray teapot came and went with me out to the stand. In every season - cold weather, spring weather, hot humid weather, fall weather, and repeat.

When we got to the point where I was ready to open back up, I was merchandising and buying for the gift shop room & the gray teapot was the last remaining teapot from that initial pandemic buy. I just didn’t understand why no one loved this little teapot like me. So, I told myself that if it was still here at Christmas this year, I would take it home, and it would be mine.

Today, I sold the gray teapot.

I do not know why it touched me so much, but when they came around the corner after spending much time debating which pot to choose for their tea nook, they had the gray teapot nestled in their elbow.

Tears sprung to my eyes and I said, “Oh, are you going to buy that one?!” They said “Well, we’d hoped so!” I quickly said “yes, yes please!” and unintentionally I let loose some tears on them. I explained to them about how this was the only teapot that literally came in and out every single time at the tea stand for a year and a half - and, how I just didn’t understand why no one would buy it.

The loneliest but most loyal teapot to survive the elements and the hustle without even so much as a chip on her. She’s a resilient little pot, that one!

The tears were rolling at this point and I said, “That teapot has just been waiting for you! It’s just been waiting to find you this whole time and I hope you will just love her and cherish her.”

They were super cool about it even though my sappy ass was having a bit of a moment. We chattered about books and other things and they headed out the door with her.

But, as they are standing on the sidewalk - teapot lovingly held in their arms - I feel like the whole load of this year just came rolling out of me. The weight of making it through it all. The weight of hauling my shop in and out every single day.

Farewell, teapot friend. You are the only one who saw me laugh, cry, dance, sing, work, sweat, read, & work my entire self mentally & physically to keep this tea shop afloat. You did it with me - all on the side of the curb during the hardest year of my entire life. You hold so many stories and sights and memories that only you could see & many only you will ever know.

I hope you get used fully and often and I bet you make the best damn tea a pot could ever make because you survived this year just like me — and now you are right where you belong! We made it. We’re okay. We survived - and now we can go back to doing what we were really meant to do.

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2/1/2021 2 Comments

Prosperi-TEA: February 2021 Update

I made it! I keep whispering that to myself these days. February marks the start of my fourth year in business. It also marks the 12th month of operating 100% curbside with the tea stand. I spent 10 of the 12 months of my 3rd year outside in the elements of Arkansas weather slinging tea and finding solace in the faces of my neighbors and customers. I MADE IT!

I would be remiss to not take the time to document some of my milestones during this weird last year. Despite not operating a single part of my food service business (dine-in operations, private tea party bookings, etc.) I somehow ended the year up 32.8% over 2019 - on just tea sales and tea stand shenanigans alone! What an incredible accomplishment - one that validates that my blends and my brand are viable all on their own.

I also have a whole new batch of regulars who discovered me from being on the curb - these folks have never even set foot inside the shop yet! I cannot wait for the reopening when these folks will get to experience the whole dream. Currently. the shop sits in this eerie stand-still just waiting for me to be ready & comfortable to open again.

My online business has boomed in this last year, too. When I first opened the shop, I had just left a career in digital marketing & advertising. My burnout from that decade-long dedication to being attached to my phone and email was at its peak and I setup the e-commerce site with just a handful of blends but honestly I had no intention of expanding that part of my business.

When everything shut down last March, I was grateful I had it built out so that all I had to do was get my inventory online - and boy, it has paid off. It has broadened my reach to customers across the US and some new folks, too. One of the most incredible parts of the online business is the encouragement and support from friends all over the US who haven't been able to support me before this year. College friends, high school friends, and even childhood friends.

There's been so much good despite all of the hurdles the year has brought to us. That's not to say that it has been easy. Even still, people walk up and think my cute little tea stand is a "Going Out of Business" sale or the person who just moved to the neighborhood on their walk who stops to say they didn't realize things were so "desperate" here. On the show, Ted Lasso, he gives a very profound commentary on being underestimated that has resonated with me these last few months.

I suppose the tea stand is all in how you look at it, some see it as a desperate attempt to survive. Others see it as a source of hope and endurance. For me, I see it as an incredible opportunity that saved my business and it saved me, too.

"I've been underestimated my entire life, so my dart skills are just the tip of the metaphorical iceberg. The wise Walt Whitman once said:
"Be curious, not judgmental."
So if you're curious how I got good at darts, here's what my father taught me every Sunday." - Ted Lasso

The loneliness of 2020 was really hard for me. Not just at the tea shop that sat quiet and empty day after day, but the world in general was a hard and lonely place. Isolating from those we love, the tensions of extreme partisanship in our country, and the loneliness of being misunderstood and directly lied about were all things I struggled with more than ever in year 3.

Stacey Bowers - Bang-up Betty &
Erin Pierce - Organized Chaos Collection

In the midst of the hard stuff, I somehow ended up making incredibly deep friendships with women who inspire me every single day. These were women who were always in my peripheral - we'd done events together, we were always friendly. But in the face of this crazy year, our group texts and shares became almost a daily thing for me to look forward to.

Sharing the weird stuff, the hard stuff, the FUNNY stuff - and just trying our best to encourage each other to keep going.

At 34, finding new friends is hard. And I don't know that I really think these are new friends - just some that have deepened because of all of this. So, Stacey & Erin, thank you for getting me through this past year. If you don't know these women, check them out & support them.

My Anniversary Tea Stand is on February 10th, these ladies will be joining me for a pop-up. Check that event out on Facebook.

So, what's next? Well, Grami got her first round of vaccinations last week. Mom & Jessi will be getting their first round this week. I will be in the next group once they open it up. I hope to have the shop open again by May, though it might not be 100% normal when I re-open. Really just depends on what the world looks like in May, every week looks different these days.

For now, I will keep setting up my tables and breaking them down each day the weather allows for it. We are moving into a rainy season so I will be leaning on my online tea sales to carry me through until Spring. I hope you all will stick with me as you have done so far.

I am forever grateful to all of you.

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6/3/2020 1 Comment

Uncertain-tea: my thoughts for June 2020

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.

How You Can Support
My Tea Shop This Summer

Shop My Loose Leaf Tea Blends Online
Come by the Tea Stand on Wednesdays & Saturdays - weather permitting!
Buy a digital gift card
Tell your friends about my teas & share my social media posts.
Post your packages & teas on your social accounts and tag me! @teasandthings
Pray for me.
Send me a note & be patient with me.
Wear a mask, wash you hands & stay safe - the sooner we all do this, the sooner this will stop spreading!

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7/16/2018 3 Comments

Learning to start over...

If you asked me last year if I would be sitting in my sweet little tea shop reflecting on the first 6 months of business today, I'd have likely not believed you. This tea shop has been a dream for so long, and those closest to me over the years have known of my love of tea, my heart for service, and the always present call back to waiting tables.

One of my last conversations with my dad was about why I was afraid to open a shop, and all the reasons why it wouldn't work or how it could go wrong. My deep fear of failure. He laughed with me and at me and told me to be brave. We talked about how I felt silo'd in a career that I was very good at, but not very fulfilled. We talked about who I have always been in his eyes, in my own eyes, and who I wanted to be going forward.

At the time, just a year ago, the tea shop was a symbol for who I wanted to be eventually. But to my dad (and to my mom) - they knew it was who I was all along.

When I decided to quit my very GOOD job at a very respected agency with a title and salary that I was very proud of, I had decided to let go of that chapter in my life.

The letting go wasn't really easy, but the 9-12 months that followed - - where I was forcing myself to BE STILL and figure myself out - - that was the hard part.

The starting over.

This morning, I'm sitting in my tea shop reflecting on all of the things that have changed in my life since last February. And, in these last 6 months.

How I've changed, how I've come back to life, how I've stayed true to myself after getting a little lost for a few (like 10) years. I'm thankful for my parents for seeing me even when I couldn't see myself. I'm thankful for my husband who has loved, supported, and cheered me on through all those decisions up the ladder, and now back down it.

And, I'm thankful for every single person who has come to the shop, talked about the shop, and all of you who are not just guests here, but friends.

Gotta go! Aspen is here for his morning treat & head pat! I'm thankful for the sweet puppy friends, too. 💚

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4/5/2018 0 Comments