Felicitea

Giveaways on Twitter!

2009-02-02T13:52:00.003-05:00

Starting February 2, 2009, on the first Monday of each month Felicitea will be having a special contest for those in the Charlotte area. In the afternoon we will ask a a few questions and the first person to reply with the correct answer will win a prize. Up for grabs will be prizes like massages, SpecialTea spa treatments, bath & body products and tea.

Each month we'll be giving away different prizes. Here's the details:

To win you must be the first person to @reply with the correct answer.
You must use your prize during the given month. It expires on the first Monday of the following month (next contest day).
You can win every month - you are not excluded if you win the month prior.
You can only win once during a given day. Win a tea sampler on the first question? You can't win a massage on the 4th.
Winners will be announced as soon as they win. A DM will then be sent for you to claim your prize.
If no one has the correct answer within 5 minutes, the prize will not be awarded.
Prizes are non-transferable and have no cash value.

Following Felicitea on Twitter is the best way to find out what's happening around here, get specials and discounts only available on Twitter, ask general questions and get links to cool stories about tea, massage and wellness. Follow @Felicitea today.

STeaPtv Live Review of Daydream Tea

2009-01-26T11:27:00.004-05:00

On February 9 STeaP will be doing a live review of Daydream Tea on the new audio show.

This will be the second addition of the new audio portion of STeaP, so the exact time isn't scheduled yet. It'll be 8 or 9pm EST, and I'll make sure to let you know as soon as the time is announced.

If you'd like a sample of Daydream to try with the show, we have a special offer for you. Order a sample online by February 3 and the shipping is free.*

*Shipping will be refunded to your paypal or credit card account. Only valid for Daydream sample.

Tea gets called into question

2009-01-24T09:39:00.001-05:00

The Tea Council of the USA recently held its annual Calm-A-Sutra video contest, in which the organization ask students to submit two-minute videos that educate viewers about the health benefits of tea. The grand prize is a $20,000 scholarship. Not bad, eh?

The most recent winner was John Ford, a student at the American Film Institute here in L.A.

Check out his short, “Interrogation.”

via LA Times

And we're back

2009-01-23T09:55:00.002-05:00

Hello tea people,

I apologize for the delay and disconnect. The problem with having a singularly owned and (mostly) run company is that is that singularity becomes ill, everything grinds to a startling halt. This my dear customers and clients has been the case. I am sorry about the problems this may have caused you, and things appear to be on the road to recovery about the Felicitea offices.

There is good news:

The shipping issues that plagued us recently have been put to bed. After extensive conversation with the US Postal Service about the problems, we've decided to go with FedEx. We recognize that this may mean a higher shipping cost to you, but we are working to arrange for a flat rate for small packages, so hopefully it won't be too much higher. The best part being that from now on you will receive a tracking number, not just a confirmation number, so you can follow your package from our door to yours. Exact details will be up on the site soon.

All current orders will be shipped by Monday - any additional shipping cost taken from our end.

A newsletter with specials for February will be coming out soon, so keep your eyes on your inbox for that.

Meanwhile, you can check out this post over at STeaP on why we brew loose leaf tea the way we do that I wrote.

Still Here

2009-01-05T11:27:00.002-05:00

I just realized I've been so swamped with work that I didn't update the blog at all during December. I'm still here, just trying to wrap up a few things. Then we're back to normal around here.

Early Bird Special on Etsy

2008-11-27T01:02:00.003-05:00

Place an order on Thursday morning (after you put turkey in the oven) before 9am and save an extra 10% off.

Go to the Felicitea Etsy Shop and place your order. You'll get free shipping after the 1st item*, a free sample tin of tea, and that 10% early bird discount*.

*Discount and shipping will be refunded in PayPal.

Felicitea's been STeaPed

2008-11-25T10:41:00.002-05:00

Check out this informative post over at STeaP.

Brandice asked me some questions about Felicitea and how I work. Very exciting.

She's also announcing a little something I'm doing with STeaP...

check it out!

Magnetic Tea Tins

2008-11-24T09:58:00.001-05:00

Who knew?

Apparenlty Laura over at The UniqueSheep as she sent me this email this weekend:

By the way, I LOVE that your tins are magnetic. I have so many now that they were making a real mess of my counter—overflowing my tea basket and making it hard to find anything. So I stuck a magnet sheet from the craft store on the inside of one of my kitchen cabinets and now all my tins are stuck to it! I can easily see all of them and pick out the one I want, and my counter space is much neater! I was afraid that the magnet sheet wouldn’t be strong enough for the larger tins but even the 2.75oz one (the largest I have) does fine!

Much perplexed, I emailed her back with an "Oh really?!" She responded, ever so sweetly, with this picture and explination:

Kitchen stores sell boards for this purpose (but for spices) but I found a magnetic sheet at A C Moore for a lot less $$ that works just fine. Then used some of the sticky “tape” sold for hanging posters and frames to hang it inside my cabinet door. The gap in the middle is so that it doesn’t hit on the shelf.

I'm so impressed I think I'm going have to aquire a similar board myself. What a wonderful way to store your teas!

Massage Specials for the Holidays!

2008-11-23T17:21:00.004-05:00

Are you ready for the holidays? All the stress, parties and family togetherness?

If you need to relax, or you just need one more gift for that hard to buy for person, Felicitea is here to help.

Buy 1, Get 1 Free

Really. Free massage. Come in between now and the end December for your first one hour appointment, pay the $75 regular fee, and get a second one hour appointment free.

Massage does the most for your body when you recieve it regularly. So that you get a chance to see the benefits, I'm offering buy 1, get 1 free. Just schedule before the New Year!

(New clients only. Non-transferable - both massage may be recieved by one person only!)

In Home Massage

$90 for an hour, $125 for 90 minutes

The massage therapist comes to you! Enjoy the warmth and comfort of your own home while getting a massage - no need to go out in the cold! Think how nice it'll be to just crawl in bed or the bath after a massage.

Schedule two massage, back-to-back at the same location, and recieve $10 off each appointment!

Discounted Gift Certificates for One Hour Massages

Need something for the hard to buy for person? Want to get something that all your employees or clients can enjoy?

Buy 2 Certificates @ $70 each ($10 savings)

Buy 3 Certificates @ $65 each ($30 savings)

Buy 4 Certificates @ $60 each ($60 savings)

Available for purchase here.

Don't forget referrals earn you 15 free minutes of massage! Refer a friend and get free massage for yourself!

Online Booking available any time of day or night!

Changing the world one tea at a time

2008-11-20T19:46:00.006-05:00

I love that I work in a business with businesses that care. Caring is important to me, not only in how I take care of my clients, but also in how the product I supply to them takes care of the people who make it possible.

That is the one of the reasons I work with The Simple Leaf as my source for many of my teas. The people there care not only about the amazing teas they share with us, but about the estates and the people that work on them. Not only are the teas utterly remarkable, so are the people that run the estates these teas come from. (Their unique teas are in the Earl Grey Brandice, Vanilla Spice, Vanilla, and Apple Spice blends.)

The Honeybee, a delightful oolong that I am currently transitioning into the Oolong Summer blend, has this wonderful story behind it. They're not only changing "traditional" thought about oolongs, but about the way tea estates care for their employees.

I like to think that you and I can help out with that, even if it just enjoying our morning cuppa. Every cup of tea you have that has tea from estates like this goes towards encouraging these beautiful small estates to keep changing the world.

What does it mean to you that the people who create the things you enjoy are well compensate, educated, fed and safe? What does it mean to you that your tea can help change the world?

Intro to Tea Party Dec 3rd!

2008-11-19T21:30:00.012-05:00

After many cries of "my tea never tastes the same when I make it!" I've decided to take some action! Your tea at home should be as wonderful as the pro's cuppa.

During this class we'll discuss the basics of tea & it's history, steeping, equipment and sweeteners. There will be light snackage to go with your teas. Come prepared with any questions you may have! You can submit them before the class here.

There are only 15 spots available for this first class - register early to save your spot!

Intro Tea Party ticket ($9.99) covers tea, snackage, handouts, reference guide and a tea sample to take home.

Intro Tea Party ticket w/ Perfect Tea Kit ($29.99) includes top quality tea basket/filter, thermometer for gauging temperature, and tea timer - all so you can make the perfect cup at home! Also includes tea, snackage, handouts, reference guide and a tea sample to take home.

Tea cup gift sets!

2008-11-10T18:17:00.003-05:00

Tea gift sets are now available! (I'll have some at lululemon and Tailgate market tomorrow.)

Gift sets include one haiku tea cup, custom designed by Summer, two sample tins of hand-blended tea and a tea-inspired soap.

They'll be up on Etsy by Wednesday evening.

Veteran's Day Showcase at Lululemon

2008-11-10T10:36:00.003-05:00

This Tuesday 12-5, I'll be participating in a showcase at Lululemon on East Blvd.

Please join lululemon athletica on November 11th for a Veteran's Day Open House to support local artists and businesses! Come and browse handmade jewelry, meditation CDs, massage packages, paintings and handcrafted teas... all in time for the holiday season!

lululemon athletica Charlotte showroom
1419 East Blvd., Unit J (Above Dikadee's Deli!)

Open House: November 11th from 12:00pm-5:00pm

I'll have tea, holiday gift sets, and be offering chair massage until about 3:30. Stop by and pick up a perfect gift for a loved one - or yourself!

Now you can review Felicitea

2008-11-09T10:15:00.001-05:00

If you've received goods or services from Felicitea, now you have the opportunity to give a review.

Simple go to our review page and fill out the quick and simple form! We'll then post your reviews with their appropriate product or service.

We thank you for sharing your thoughts on Felicitea and the products and services we offer.

Free 30 minutes of massage for using new online booking

2008-11-03T13:23:00.002-05:00

Book a November apptointment online this week and receive free 30 minutes of massage!

A free (absolutely-no-catch-really-free) 30 minutes of massage just for scheduling online. Or get a whole hour of massage for the normal half hour price of $45.

What's not to love?

Tell your friends, your mother, your father, the parent at school pick up - free massage for everyone - just by booking online this week.

Offer valid for massages booked between Novemeber 3 and 8, 2008.

Save $15 off massage!

2008-10-29T19:33:00.006-04:00

Did you know Felicitea offers massage and SpecialTea spa treatments as well as delicious tea? To help you discover another taste of happiness we've got a special offer for you!

Schedule an appointment by:
November 1, 2008 to save $15 off
December 1, 2008 to save $10 off

Call 704.497.6514 or email summer@felicitea.com
to schedule your appointment today!

One discount per person. Please mention this promotion when scheduling appointment. Offer valid from October 29, 2008 until November 30, 2008. Not valid with any other coupon or discount.

Two New Health Teas Available

2008-10-29T12:34:00.002-04:00

We're delighted to introduce two new teas today.

Cough & Cold Tea: A blend of hyssop, peppermint, chamomile, lemon balm, and raspberry leaf help ease congestion, inflammation and nausea from cough & cold.*

PMS Ease: Nettle, crampbark, chamomile, rose hips, raspberry leaf, and valerian ease cramping, bloating and discomfort caused by the menstrual cycle.*

Both teas are made with the same quality local and/or organic herbs as the rest of Felicitea's teas.

And if you're having a hard time falling asleep due to stress, or just a evening cup of tea, don't forget about Starry Night. The combination of mugwort, catnip and chamomile will have you drifting off in no time!

*This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Apple Spice Tea available for limited time!

2008-10-28T13:54:00.004-04:00

After my sister's wedding everyone started insisting for more of the apple spice I made for her custom favors. Good news is it's now available!

Apple Spice Tea -Black Assam tea blended with orange peel, cinnamon and clove, perfect for a cool day. Custom blended for my sister's wedding, this tea is a limited edition for fall. Get it while you can! Steeping suggestion: Boiling water, for 3-4 minutes. Excellent with honey.

Also back in stock is Earl Grey Brandice!

Tea may delay onset of auto-immune disorders and Type 1 Diabetes

2008-10-26T10:27:00.002-04:00

This fascinating article from Science Daily shares:

Researchers were testing EGCG, green tea's predominant antioxidant, in a laboratory mouse with type 1 diabetes and primary Sjogren's syndrome, which damages moisture-producing glands, causing dry mouth and eyes.
"Our study focused on Sjogren's syndrome, so learning that EGCG also can prevent and delay insulin-dependent type 1 diabetes was a big surprise," says Dr. Stephen Hsu, molecular/cell biologist in the School of Dentistry.
They found it also worked well in their original disease focus.
In the mouse, EGCG reduced the severity and delayed onset of salivary gland damage associated with Sjogren's syndrome, which has no known cure.

For the full story go here.

Vanilla Spice @ Saturday's Tailgate Market

2008-10-24T18:18:00.002-04:00

The Tailgate remains open! And will do so through the week before Christmas. (I hear we're getting fresh cut trees in December!!!!!)

From 10-1 tomorrow we'll be at the corner of Park Ave & Camden like every week before. Just colder. I'll have Vanilla Spice in the pot hot and available in a big cup for just $1. If you're in Charlotte stop by. You can't get a cup of tea for $1 anywhere else in town.

Come pick out from the most beautiful fall squashes and greens in town. Plus, the Secret Chocolatier is back! Come get some chocolate and tea - that's the right way to start off your weekend.

Only 1 ounce of Earl Grey Brandice available!

2008-10-22T09:39:00.004-04:00

After what has been a long wait, the bergamot finally arrived. All backorders were filled - I am ordering more tea but it may take time. Maybe next week? If you want some for the holidays, contact me now.

Now, there is currently only one ounce of Earl Grey Brandice available.

It is $9 an ounce (at 20-30 cups that's a mere 30-45 cents a cup!). First person to email me or respond to this post gets it.

*It's taken!*

Dr. Weil says drink loose leaf green tea!

2008-10-15T09:13:00.003-04:00

Bottled drinks - I've seen some creative ways to work around it.

I've got some fizzy Green Tea Goji Berry tabs in my kitchen that a friend gave me to try. They flavor the water, make it slightly fizzy - they look like color cold tabs - and taste pretty yummy. They're a very cool way to perk up a cup of water.

But they're no substitute for a freshly steeped cup of green tea. Just ask Dr. Weil:

Q: Is Bottled, Flavored Green Tea Bad?

I like a widely available bottled green tea that has citrus flavoring, and several other things, I'm sure. Do the sugars and other additives counterbalance the healthy effects of the green tea?

A: You bet they do!

For his complete answer, click here.

Check out our teas (15% off through this weekend!) for the green blends Felicitea offers!

Harvest Sale - 15% of all in-stock teas!

2008-10-13T10:49:00.002-04:00

It's the time of year when the farmer's markets are wrapping up with fantastic fall produce and at Felicitea we're getting a new harvest of herbs from our local growers.

To help celebrate and make room for the new herbs and teas on our shelves we're having a sale!

15% of all teas in stock.

There are limited supplies of certain teas while we await the next harvest, so pick yours up quick!

(Discount applies to online sales only!)

$15 off massage for week of 10/11-10/18

2008-10-10T11:43:00.007-04:00

For the week of October 11-18, 2008 Felicitea is offering a special deal for massage clients:

Book an appointment during this week and get $15 off!

At Felicitea we understand that things are stressful here in Charlotte. Gas is hard to find (premium nearly impossible). There's tension in the air as we await the latest news on Wells-Fargo vs. Citibank. That's all on top of the tv, radio and your neighbor's lawn is telling you who to vote for, concerns about the economy across the country and in our own backyard.

Massage helps your relax, allows your parasympathetic nervous system (the part of the nervous system that controls stress hormones, digestion and rest) to be triggered and strengthened, lowers your blood pressure (and with the constant lines for gas, who can't use that?) as well as gives you an hour to rest, reflect and just let someone else take care of you for a while - leaving you refreshed and refocused so you can take care of everything else.

To help you be able to take an hour (or hour and a half) and relax we're offering you $15 off your appointment if you mention this post when you call to book. Take $15 of the price of a regular massage or use it for delightful additions or specialitea massages like:

a SpecialTea Spa treatment with hot tea towels that moisturize skin and remove toxins
Aromatherapy to help your mind and body slip more quickly into relaxation
Head, shoulders, fingers and toes - this massage uses hot towels, aromatherapy and focused massage and reflexology on the parts of our bodies we use the most - our neck, hands and feet (normally $75 for 60 minutes). This is a great intro to massage!

All Felicitea massages are for the full time stated - an hour has 60 minutes, not 50 - so you'll get a full hour of relaxation, relaxing hot towels and water or tea after your appointment.

Appointments are available Monday & Wednesday 8a-8p, Tuesday 6:30p-8:30p, Thursday 4p-8p, and Saturday 1p-5p at the corner of East Blvd & Euclid, only a few blocks from the East/West Light Rail Station.

What are you waiting for? Check your calendar and call 704.497.6514 to book your appointment today!

And we're back

2008-10-09T11:12:00.002-04:00

September snuck by quickly here at Felicitea.

We had a number of events, a number of issues with tropical storms (North Carolina is wonderful the rest of the year), the Charlotte gas crisis and then my little sister for married. The calendar's calmer, the storm season is passing, gas is coming back to the city and the wedding was beautiful.

We're back in business.

There's a number of exciting things going on, but first I want to let you know that orders will be all caught up this week. I apologize again for the delay. We've had some issues getting supplies due to shipping and gas issues across the country.

Of utmost importance is the news that the Tailgate Farmer's Market is still open through fall - Tuesday nights we are there from 3-6pm. Stop by and pick up some tea for those cold days, and enjoy a hot cup of the daily tea for just $1 (no coffee shop in town can beat that!).

Massage hours have also been expanded! Felicitea now offers appointments on Fridays and Sunday afternoons.

An update with pictures from the Tea & Chocolate Pairing is coming soon.