Tea With Friends

Peach Mango Refreshers from Twinings

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400

It's always fun to discover a new type of tea from Twinings, and these "Refreshers" caught my eye at the grocery store this week.

They were a little pricier than regular tea bags—$6.99 for a box of just five packets, about the size of cocoa packets—but I had to try them. Peach Mango sounded like a fun flavor, and Twinings is a brand of tea I've always enjoyed.

Until now. I am sorry to say that this tea was a big disappointment. I made it with twelve ounces of cold water as directed, but the result was a weak beverage that tasted like it came from a watered-down version of flavored-water packets I sometimes buy. Also, the peach bits remained hard and didn't much taste like peaches. When I transferred this tea to a stainless steel tumbler later on, the bits were always an unpleasant surprise coming through the straw. Also: This tea had a weird aftertaste. Coming in at a decent 60 calories per serving, the drink ingredients include "Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Dried Peach Pieces [Ascorbic Acid & Citric Acid to Protect Colour], Natural Peach and Mango Flavours with other Natural Flavours, Natural Flavour, Honeybush Extract, Xanthan Gum." Is honeybush the only "herbal tea" in this drink? No matter. I wouldn't buy these again, and I'm predicting they won't be on the shelves for long. It's clearly time for me to go make a pitcher of real tea!

A delicious new snack cake

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400

I love-love-love to bake cakes, but now that it’s just me, I pretty much need to have an “occasion” to bake a cake so that I don’t either a) gobble the whole thing or b) let it go stale before I can finish it. So major holidays, family birthdays, the occasional church event … those are cake-baking occasions. But then I saw a recipe in Our State magazine that, once again, I had to try, and it was the one-layer Banana Mayonnaise Snack Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting.

My friend Susan B. in North Carolina gave me a subscription to Our State last Christmas, and I am so enjoying their wonderful features and photography and recipes.

This photo of the cake had me drooling, and I was very happy when mine turned out just perfect and even looked like the magazine photo. As the article points out, since the main ingredients in mayonnaise are oil and eggs, it rather makes sense that mayonnaise makes a great cake ingredient. The cake reminds me of banana bread but with a much lighter texture, and that peanut butter frosting? Boy, is it good. And you don’t have to be a magazine subscriber to get the recipe, as it’s online here. Let me know if you make it and love it as much as I do!

Some birthday month wrap-up treats

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Mon, 8 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Last week, some girlfriends and I met for lunch at our local Chicken Salad Chick, and to my surprise, I received some lovely birthday gifts, including a new tea-themed puzzle and a new tea I'd never heard of!

This darling puzzle, a gift from my friend Beth, is titled Potted Teapots, and it is so pretty. I have been slowly cleaning out a spare bedroom that I want to decorate with a Blue Willow theme, and look what's in the bottom-left corner of this puzzle—a Blue Willow teapot. I love using puzzles as artwork and think this would be nice to give a pop of color to the room, and since this puzzle has just 500 pieces, maybe I can actually finish this one.

My friend Paige came bearing what looked like a wine bottle carrier, which sort of threw me, but inside was a thermos of hot water so that we could all try the tea that she had discovered, this Butterfly Boba, a green tea with butterfly pea flower and pineapple! This is from Pinky Up, whose loose tea I've tried before, but I'd sure never heard of their tea bags with tapioca pearls in them.

This tea, tinted blue from the butterfly pea flower, had a natural sweetness to it that I just loved, and of course anything with pineapple in it gets bonus points. It was so fun getting together with the girls, and to enjoy an impromptu tea tasting as well was simply delightful!

A gadget that was a nice idea, but …

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Fri, 5 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400

So I'd been waiting till I had a free afternoon to try the new ice cube trays I got at Target last weekend. I'm drinking lots of iced tea now that it's gotten so warm, and I loved the idea of having cute little flower-shaped ice cubes in my glass. I wasn't sure what the flip top on the lid was for. To release the ice cubes, I guess?

The set of two trays was just $6.99, so why not give it a whirl, I thought.

Each cavity looked plenty deep to fill with water.

Well, first, it took me a while (and almost cost me a fingernail) to pry that lid off and fill the thing. I suppose I could have just filled it by opening that flip top, but nothing *said* to do that, and besides, I wanted to fill it where I could see that the right amount of water was inside, not overflowing and making an ugly ice cube (like a cookie that spreads during baking and loses its shape). And once the water froze, I must tell you that getting these suckers out was hard! I couldn't pry the lid off, and I finally just punched a few of the silicone wells from the back side, stretching the thing like a balloon until I finally popped the lid. I filled a glass with the ice cubes, and … Well, I wasn't impressed.

I added some blackberry tea I'd cold-brewed in the fridge, thinking that might make the ice cubes show up better, but no, they didn't. This was a nice idea, but maybe I'll make some sort of craft project with these molds instead!

Road Trip Tea Review: Sprite + Tea

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Wed, 3 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400

It’s time for my annual Road Trip Tea Reviews, my critiques of those questionable bottled teas that I try each summer so that you don’t have to! Saturday, I stopped for gas at a local convenience store, and since I would be gone a while and hadn’t paused for lunch, I went inside the store for a snack. Here’s what caught my eye, not-so-attractively styled in the front seat of my car.

Some of you may remember that trend a few years ago of getting a bottle of Sprite and steeping a tea bag inside of it. The result was just so-so, Sprite being way too sugary a drink for me these days, but I was curious when I saw this ready-to-drink version and had to give this new variety of Sprite a try. And it tasted like … sugary Sprite with some tea in it. (You know how they say that the definition of insanity is continuing to do the same thing while expecting different results? I’ll let you draw your own conclusions.)

And that snack cake? I am ashamed to admit that I paid nearly three dollars for this thing. Have you ever been cleaning out the pantry when you found that, wedged in between the beans you never cooked and that flavored oil you never used, you came across a wayward Hostess snack cake from the late nineties? Well, that would *still* have tasted fresher than this cake, which lured me in with the words “Hershey’s” and “Limited edition.” Couldn’t finish the drink or the cake. And before I went home for the day, I headed to the store and got a nice big bag of Pink Lady apples so that I won’t be tempted by “snacks” like these the next time I’m out and about!

A tidbit tray for your July 4th display

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Mon, 1 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400

I'm not usually a Target shopper, two Walmarts being closer to my house, but on Saturday, I happened to be near a Target and decided to run in for a few things. You know, creamer, a bottle of glue, and some shampoo. Ah, but it never ends there, does it? And so it was that I found myself drawn like a fly to honey to those five-dollar bins, where I spotted a mini red-and-blue tiered tray.

Actually, that was the end result. It comes like this, about the size of a saucer and a dessert plate.

Since I'd put these things together myself plenty of times, the DIY angle didn't bother me. And in under three minutes (I clocked it), mine was assembled. Now I'm thinking I should have gotten two!

And because I wasn't in a cooking mood that day, I was also drawn to these red-white-and-blue Chips Ahoy cookies. Festive, huh? I'm so looking forward to celebrating our nation's 250th birthday next month, and as I streamed the excellent new movie "A Great Awakening" last weekend, I was reminded again about the promise of America and the wisdom of our founders. I highly recommend watching it if you enjoy US history without the present-day politics!

Tea Central's Pineapple Green Tea

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Fri, 29 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400

One of my favorite teatime discoveries of recent years is cold-brew teas, and I picked up a new one at T. J. Maxx the other day.

From Tea Central, this Pineapple Green Tea sounded like just the thing on a warm (almost) summer day. And at just $3.99 for the box, it's actually more economical than some of the teas I spotted at the grocery store recently.

I plopped a tea bag into a glass of water, let it sit in the fridge (much longer than the five minutes suggested, as I got distracted with house chores), and when I stopped for a break, voila, a lovely tea was waiting for me! You can definitely taste the pineapple in this tea, and it had no grassy taste from the green tea, making this one a real winner in my book!

A thrifty find from across the pond (found on an island in Georgia)

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Wed, 27 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400

It is always so satisfying to find something I'd longed for at a thrift store. From the time I first visited Fortnum & Mason in London many years ago, I have longed for one of their fancy hampers, but I have not longed to spend the pennies necessary to fill said hamper and ship it across the pond. So, the hamper remained a not-very-likely bucket-list item. But then I visited the new Goodwill Boutique on St. Simons Island last month and found this mint-condition F&M Huntsman Hamper for just $7.99. I was thrilled! The basket even has leather latches and appears to be well-made.

It's going to serve as my picnic hamper this summer, so I picked up an iced tea dispenser at an antique mall over the weekend (although I'm pretty sure the piece is brand-new), as well as this large flour sack tea towel with teacups and teapots on it, which I will use as a tablecloth.

These pieces are definitely intended for picnicking, but they may end up in some vignette around the Fourth of July too. I am still just beside myself that I now own an F&M hamper, and it makes me happy every time I look at it!

Memorial Day 2026

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Mon, 25 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400

All gave some, some gave all …

On this Memorial Day, I'm remembering those who gave the ultimate sacrifice!

Tea parties, picnics, and a plastic tablecloth

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Fri, 22 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Several years ago, I bought this thick plastic tablecloth at a thrift store, I think for fifty cents, but I had never even unfolded it. I decided this might be good to use with my little neighbors when we’re crafting, but once I got it on the table for their snacks, I kind of liked its retro look.

And I was tickled to discover that the tablecloth is reversible, with red, white, and blue stripes on the other side. A flip of the cloth and I’ll move from Memorial Day to the Fourth of July.

I’m aiming to stock a picnic hamper I recently thrifted (more on that next week!), and it occurred to me that I might as well look for red, white, and blue dishes. Then I realized I had some, these vintage enamelware plates I found (new with stickers still on them!) at a thrift store last year. I wanted to try my trusty old Brown Sugar Shortbread recipe with King Arthur's gluten-free flour. It was a little more prone to breakage when I tried to remove the cookies before they'd cooled, but the taste was great and very light. I will happily serve these to my gluten-free-eating friends.

And then I remembered an enamelware teapot that my late friend Ruth gave me years ago. It’s missing some of the enamel in spots, and I’m thinking of crocheting some stars and simply gluing them on. Any other ideas? I enjoy assembling a casual collection of goodies like this, and I’m thinking I’ll treat my young friends to a teatime picnic one day this summer.

A spoonful of sugar makes the history go down …

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Wed, 20 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Unless you were extra observant, you might not have noticed the teaspoons in the Wedgwood cream pitcher I shared a photo of on Monday, but these were some fun finds that I wanted to tell you about!

I was in a local antique mall the first of the year and was plundering through a pile of vintage silver plate items when I noticed teaspoons with some men's faces on them. After whipping out my reading glasses, I discovered that they were Wm. Rogers Mfg. Co. spoons depicting some of our former presidents, and I came home with five of them—George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, William Harrison, and James Buchanan.

Most of them were $3, but George and Thomas were $6. I couldn't really quibble with those prices, though.

Even the bowls of the spoons are interesting, depicting famous sites like Mount Vernon. I'm planning to use these around the Fourth of July each year, so I'm very happy with my fun finds!

Getting ready for America's 250th birthday

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Mon, 18 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Aware that the 250th birthday of our nation was coming up, I started buying a few vintage patriotic items a few years ago, and over the weekend, I started pulling them out. My favorite piece, by far, was this unmarked vintage teapot I found on eBay. I had seen one just like it for over $100, but the rattan handle was in pretty bad shape. This one was in perfect condition and was just $25, so that fit my budget.

Somewhere in this house are some reproduction Fourth of July postcards, but right now, only the Lord knows where they are. So I just filled this old secretary with as much red, white, and blue stuff as I could gather on Saturday, and it needs some finessing but is starting to come together.

Another favorite piece is this old pitcher displaying images of the presidents through Lyndon Johnson. This piece is marked 1965 and Made in Japan. If memory serves, I found it at an antique mall for just $6.

And this is a patriotic teacup with a vintage red, white, and blue hankie in the handle.

Since I still aspire to master the art of making fancy sugar cookies, I nabbed this box of vintage cookie cutters when I came across them in a local shop a few years ago. I also have newer ones that include elephant- and donkey-shaped cookie cutters.

Our country has lots of challenges these days, and I'm constantly praying for God to please give us godly leaders (from Washington on down to the local level) so that we can live in a way that will be blessed. The Georgia primary is tomorrow, and we'll be choosing the candidates who will run for governor in November's election, so it's an important one. (Actually, I think all elections are important!) I voted early, and I'll be eagerly awaiting the returns on Tuesday. Have any of you voted in a primary yet?

A new brew for bedtime sipping

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Fri, 15 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400

If you had to guess, you'd probably say this is some sort of nice berry-flavored tea, right?

But it's not! It's a tea from The Tea Spot, and this "Lights Out" blend is a hibiscus tea with chamomile, valerian root, and other herbs. I do try to avoid caffeine at bedtime these days, and I'll drink chamomile sometimes, but as far as teas go, that one's a bit boring.

These silken tea bags brewed up with a nice strong and tart tea that somehow softens from the addition of the chamomile and other herbs, and I love having it as an evening choice. This was a gift from my friend Gina, and I'm so happy she introduced me to this tea!

Some birthday treats suitable for teatime!

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Wed, 13 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400

My birthday was last week, and I was actually happy to hit year number sixty-two because a) it beats the alternative b) I prefer even numbers (I'm weird that way) and c) lots of senior discounts are available at this age. If there's a free something for seniors, count me in. I was also treated to a nice Indian lunch and a visit to a botanical garden by two friends, others sent lovely cards, and my friend Kathy surprised me with these teapot earrings she found on Etsy. They are absolutely the prettiest ones I've ever seen, and I can't wait to wear them the next time I go to a tearoom!

My friend Margie in California surprised me with this whimsical pop-up card that now has a spot on my tea trolley (really just a small table with wheels). I'd seen these cards advertised on television but had never realized how elaborate they are, especially this one with all the charming hummingbirds!

My friend Tammy has started making her own T-shirts, and she made me two new pink ones, including one with a teapot on it.

And a friend in Arizona, Frances, made my day by sending this gorgeous Shelley teacup with *turquoise* polka dots on it. I'm sure grateful for the thoughtfulness of my friends!

A beautiful Mother's Day Tea!

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Mon, 11 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Okay, let me say up front that these aren't MY Mother's Day Tea photos. No, I was enjoying a shrimp and crawfish boil with my family on Saturday, but my bestie in Statesboro, Kathy Bohannon, is a Christian comedian (among other talents) who spoke at the Countryside Baptist Church Mother's Day Tea in Guyton, Georgia. (Our crafting friend Lucia is a member of this church!) Now, knowing how much I love tea, dishes, and all related things, Kathy sent me these photos, and I was so impressed that I asked if I could share them here. I was happy she said yes, because I was going to do it anyway, but it was nice to have her blessing. I haven't been to an event like this in years, so I was drooling over all the lovely touches. Have you ever seen doilies layered like this? Brilliant!

Even the folded-rose napkin had a touch of lace!

Loved the accents of hydrangeas on this table, as well as the crosses (bookmarks or ornaments, maybe?).

Sage green is one of my all-time favorite colors, and I loved the elegant simplicity of this table. And the daisies and daisy runner!

I had to enlarge this detail from a photo so you could see the china pattern. Isn't that gorgeous? (Google Lens says it's a Community China pattern called "Brocade." Love it!)

And do you recognize all the Fostoria glassware in this table setting? It instantly caught my eye, as Fostoria has been all the rage on those "beautiful table settings" Facebook pages. (At least I think it's Fostoria! I don't happen to own any.)

I thought the olive-green glasses here blended beautifully with the plants on the table. Clever!

Do I spy pearls on this tablecloth? I definitely spy blue in the plates (paper plates, maybe? I've never seen real ones that are scalloped like these, but they're beautiful in any case!). And I like using the toile napkins in the glasses as part of the décor.

All these pastels and scalloped plates! Swoon!

And I'm not sure I'd ever seen brown plates with roses on them before! Now I'll be looking for these to set a fall table that can later be paired with light-green glasses and hydrangeas to make it a spring table.

Kathy said the tea was catered and offered quiche, fruit, and scones. I like that, because the ladies of the church should not have to wear themselves out this weekend! So thank you, Kathy, for letting me sharing the lovely photos with my friends in tea land!

My favorite semiquincentennial dish towels (so far!)

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Fri, 8 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400

To finish up my posts about my recent vacation in Saint Simons, I just had to tell you about one of my favorite finds of the week, which actually came from the HomeGoods in nearby Brunswick.

I had just glanced at a display of dish towels when I thought I spotted a teapot.

Upon closer inspection, I realized there were quite a few charming teapots on these tea towels. The set includes one plain blue towel and two each of the patriotic design. I absolutely love these and wanted you to know about them so you, too, can scoop them up before we celebrate the 250th anniversary of our country this summer! (And I'm betting they're at the sister stores—Marshalls, HomeSense, and T. J. Maxx—as well.)

A special souvenir from Christ Church in Saint Simons

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Wed, 6 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400

On our last full day in Saint Simons Island last week, my friend Angela made sure I got to visit Christ Church and Fort Frederica. I enjoyed both sites very much, but I must say that my heart simply fell in love with Christ Church, the Episcopal church there, and I was delighted to return home with their beautiful cookbook.

Here’s a brief history from the church’s website: “In February of 1736, General James Oglethorpe, who had founded the colony of Georgia at Savannah nearly four years before, arrived on St. Simons Island and laid the cornerstone of the town of Frederica and its fort … On the first day, Oglethorpe and the new colonists joined in Evening Prayer, quickly planting the roots of Anglicanism in island soil. A month later, The Rev. Charles Wesley, a priest of the Church of England and Oglethorpe’s private chaplain and secretary, took charge of the Frederica mission of Christ Church, Savannah on St. Simons Island.”

There’s lots more to the church's history, and I enjoyed seeing its rich heritage come to life in the stained glass windows of the church, including a magnificent image of Christ…

And even a panel depicting General Oglethorpe.

Angela and I enjoyed hearing a brief history from the docent on duty until a huge bus full of seniors (#mypeople) arrived, at which point we headed outside to explore on our own. The church and grounds are just stunning, and I could have spent hours there.

I bought the church cookbook as a memento of our visit, and I was delighted to get home and find a couple of tea recipes inside, including Paris Iced Tea, made with spiced tea and lime juice, and Tomato Tea Sandwiches, as well as, of course, some delicious-looking seafood dishes. I imagine I'll always enjoy cooking out of this lovely book! (It was $40, and you can order one here if you're interested. I learned that it's available at a bookstore here in Newnan as well!)

Finding tea on a visit to Saint Simons Island

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Mon, 4 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400

I recently returned from spending a delightful week on Saint Simons Island, where my friend Angela has a home, and I came back with lots of great memories, fun finds, and inspiration from a part of coastal Georgia I’d never visited before. This island isn’t far from Savannah, which I’ve visited many times, yet I’d somehow never made it to Saint Simons, and I loved it!

As a longtime water lover, I’d been wanting to go back to the beach for a couple of years now, but somehow, I couldn’t go back to the (many) beaches I had visited with my husband. Not yet. But since this was a beach I’d never visited before, it was the perfect getaway, and I so enjoyed wading in the water, collecting seashells, and eating some great seafood.

To my surprise and delight, a tea vendor I’d discovered a couple of years ago has a facility in nearby Brunswick, and when we drove over there for lunch one day, Angela gladly offered to stop by the Biron Tea Factory and Tasting Room.

I enjoyed seeing the pretty roses out front.

Inside, they had many teas brewing in glass pots, and you were welcome to try sample cups of tea.

The two I came home with? The Peach Blossom Black Tea at left and the Keemun tea at right, both of which I have already tried and greatly enjoyed. If you've not heard of Biron Teas, you can learn more about them here. A fun discovery while on vacation!

The puzzle winner is …

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Fri, 1 May 2026 07:32:00 -0400

Frances L.! I've got an email headed your way. Congratulations, and I hope you enjoy putting this puzzle together!

Some fun mail from Harney & Sons

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Fri, 1 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400

I miss catalogs. It used to be so fun to receive catalogs like the Lillian Vernon catalog (all those personalized goodies!) and the Victorian Trading Company catalog. I know that most companies have gone all-in on the online sales, but a happy little catalog in the mailbox always gets my attention, so I was delighted when this lovely publication from Harney & Sons showed up the other day.

It's part magazine, part catalog, and the combination is such a nice one. Here, for instance, I enjoyed reading about Mike Harney's travels to Africa, where the rooibos plant is grown.

And this page tells about "The Storied Legacy of British Teas." I'm keeping this publication, and plan to order soon, so they definitely hit a target customer with me! Did any of you receive this publication?

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

The other night, I was enjoying an evening walk through the neighborhood when I noticed that some white blossoms kept appearing along the side of the road. When I stepped in for a closer look, I couldn't help noticing how pretty the blossoms were, and I suspected they were blossoms on blackberry vines.

When I got home and looked it up on Google Lens, sure enough, these were future blackberries, and I thought they were so pretty. I was also reminded to check the blackberry vines that are growing in my backyard, because I would love to make a blackberry cobbler or blackberry muffins this summer. I guess blackberries were on the brain, because when I saw this Bigelow Blackberry Citrus Herbal Tea at Publix, I wanted to try it.

And I’m so glad I did! It’s such a pleasant blend of both the blackberry and citrus flavors, and while I’ve been enjoying it hot, I suspect it would be good as an iced tea as well. I also like to plop berry- and citrus-flavored tea bags in my water bottle to give a little zip to the water as well. Have any of you tried this Blackberry Citrus tea? Or any other blackberry teas?

Giveaway: A Mackenzie-Childs Blooming Kettle Puzzle!

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

While shopping at a HomeGoods store on Saturday, I came across this darling Mackenzie-Childs teakettle puzzle. Isn’t it great? I loved it so much that when I saw a second one, I decided it would make a great giveaway item!

Lately, I’ve purchased several puzzles that I intend to use as artwork, and maybe one of you would enjoy this puzzle as well. I mean, what tea lover wouldn’t enjoy some teatime art!

So if you’d like to win this puzzle, just leave an “Enter me” comment to this post, here or on Facebook, making sure I have a way to contact you if you’re the winner, and you’ll be entered to win. Deadline is Friday, May 1, at 7 a.m. EST. US only, please. Good luck!

The Summer 2026 Issue of Flea Market Décor Magazine

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

One of my favorite summer magazines has just appeared on newsstands, the summer issue of Flea Market Décor. I always love the vintage-garden vibe of this issue, and I was particularly delighted to see the funky old lamp on the cover, the one sitting atop the large pink table topper. You see, when I was growing up, my mom and dad had one of these oh-so-seventies lamps in their bedroom. Little droplets of oil ran down thin strands of some sort of filament, and I imagine it was the most elegant thing ever to hit our little country road in rural Buchanan, Georgia. As I studied the photo, I recalled that this memorable lamp hung over a corner of a bedroom that featured a king-sized bed with leopard-print bedclothes juxtaposed against walls papered in a swirly gold pattern with red-velvet flocking. I am not making this up. What in the name of Liberace do you suppose my Southern Baptist mother was thinking? But I digress.

Aside from the trips down memory lane that vintage articles always seem to launch, I enjoyed gleaning a few new tea-ish ideas from this issue. In almost every antique store I visit, I come across old glasses from various states across the land. Wouldn't it be fun to collect them as tea glasses?

And check out this mid-mod kitchen backsplash with a vintage tea advertisement hanging on it!

Another of my favorite sightings in this issue was a set of day-of-the-week tea towels. When did we stop using those? My guess is, when we gals hit the workforce and no longer had time to even consider daily décor in the kitchen. (And did you notice the charming typo? Or maybe I should say "stitch-o"?) This was quite a fun issue to pore over, and if you're looking for some fun weekend reading, here you go!

A fun new matcha drink

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

So how do we feel about matcha, friends? I don’t think I’ve written about matcha in a while, and it’s a variety of tea that usually has to grow on me. But then I saw this Strawberry Shortcake Matcha at a local coffee shop, Leaf and Bean, and had to give it a try. I had skipped lunch, so I decided to order this tea and a blueberry scone, which of course were more than filling!

I rarely order an iced tea or coffee drink in a coffee shop, but I wanted to try this one, an iced matcha sweetened with white chocolate and topped with strawberry cold foam. I enjoyed experiencing the different layers of the drink as I sipped, and this was a fun departure from my usual coffee shop order, a London Fog. Have any of you tried a "mixed" matcha drink like this one?

A visit to Botanic in Opelika

noreply@blogger.com (Angela McRae) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

On Friday, I took a much-needed "mental health day," as I call it, to go thrifting in Opelika, Alabama, with my friend Liz. I found a wonderful vintage mirror I'd been looking for, and she found a vintage stool that was right up her alley, and when we finished, we headed to a place I'd been wanting to visit, Botanic. And there we are at the entrance to the greenhouse!

Botanic, which is owned by the woman who started Chicken Salad Chick, features several restaurants, a garden center, a lovely market shop, and more. When we stopped for lunch, we both ordered the Greek style crepe with grilled chicken (served in a cone-style stand), and it was delicious. I forgot to get a picture, but the hot jasmine tea I ordered was tasty as well!

As we ate, we both admired the plate wall nearby. These plate walls are all the rage in decorating magazines, and both Liz and I like them.

Speaking of decorating, Liz is also an interior decorator, and while we walked through the garden center, she mentioned that she thought this colorful lantana was the kind being sought by a client of hers. She asked if I would mind transporting a few plants, and of course I did not.

They have wagons available for transporting plants, and a worker there kindly let Liz fill up the car to see how many it would hold. We ended up going home with 10 hanging baskets of lantana in my back seat!

Oh, and there were even beautiful swans in the lake there, although I forgot to go back and get a picture of them! So if you're in the Opelika area (or within driving distance) and want a nice new "ladies who lunch" spot where you can also enjoy a good cup of tea, check out Botanic!