Weddings, Weddings, Weddings…

If I hear about ONE more friend of mine getting married this year, I don’t know what I will do with myself.  *Pictures herself running down the street pulling out her hair while screaming like a mad woman* There comes a time in everyone’s life when it seems like all of your friends are getting married.  In the last three years I have had 8 friends  ”bite the bullet”  and say their  ”I Do’s”.  I have worn four different brightly coloured bridesmaid dresses and danced to YMCA 8 times.  I’m not complaining. It all comes with ”this age”.. The age where if your friends aren’t getting married they are having their first child.  Besides… weddings are fun!

Planning for the big day

What isn’t fun is rushing around at the last minute trying to get things together for the ‘big day’. I’ve always been a planner. I organize my kitchen cupboard with labels so that my husband knows where to find the quinoa and doesn’t mistake the cassia bark for chocolate flakes.  My desk at work is usually impeccable.  The stapler, pen, and highlighter all have their place.  Sure, it’s a little bit OCD… but that’s ‘the way I roll’.

Plans. Nothing EVER goes exactly according to plan. (Just ask Murphy about THAT one!)… There is always something… But don’t fret! That is all part of the beauty of weddings, and the beauty of life. Full of surprises!

Over the last three years I have definitely fine tuned what I like to call my “wedding awareness”.   In general, you have the beautiful bride to be, who wants everything to be perfect; the groom who wants the bride to be happy but gets tired of the word ‘wedding’ a good three months before the date, and really doesn’t care if the place cards are  sage or mint green.  You have the parents of the happy couple who want to be involved in decision making that inevitably get on the nerves of the bride or groom, or both.  Let’s not forget the cute flower girls or junior bridesmaids, the groomsmen who look smashing in their suits, and the lovely bridal attendants who facilitate all of the brides plans. Plans. Nothing EVER goes exactly according to plan. (Just ask Murphy about THAT one!)  You have flowers that don’t match the dresses or that don’t show up at all;  someone who thinks it is funny to lick the icing off the cake on the way through the kitchen; the camera man accidentally keeps his lens cap on; one of the dresses doesn’t fit the bridesmaid; the groom can’t find his suit pants; the dog runs away with the pillow with the rings tied to it; and Uncle Bob gets so drunk that he insists on dancing with your father during the father daughter dance… There is always something… But don’t fret! That is all part of the beauty of weddings, and the beauty of life. Full of surprises!

Unique wedding favors will leave a lasting impression

About three years ago, when a friend of mine was getting married and was close to having a nervous breakdown because her overly priced wedding favours hadn’t made it in time, I decided that enough was enough. Being the co-owner of Herbal Infusions, I thought it was about time I used my business smarts to heal a heavy heart.  (Plus, I really didn’t want to have to piece back together a tattered wedding dress or a batty bride)  Tea favours! The ultimate wedding solution! After pulling an all night-er, I had 250 cute, classy tea wedding favors ready to go.  She still recommends them to everyone she knows.  This year, our best seller by far has been the Peppermint Dream Tea Party Favor with our new pyramid style tea bag.  But the wonderful thing about our party favors is that you can find one to please any wedding guest. Ice Wine for Uncle Bob, Buckingham Palace Garden Party for Aunt Eunice who flew in from overseas, Faerie Falls Herbal Tea for your flower girls, Kama Sutra Chai for your spicy bridal party… You get the idea. The options are pretty much limitless, which is great for both the bride who wants to plan out every single grueling detail and for the bride that just wants to “get ‘er done!”.

Many of us have been through the process of planning a wedding, and for those of you that haven’t… Don’t worry… Your time will come.

I have come across some very helpful websites for weddings that other people may fins useful while planning for their own wedding, helping a friend plan, or trying to find a last minute speech.  When it comes to white dresses and wedding messes, there are never enough resources.

• Everything About Weddings
• Canadian Weddings
• Toronto Weddings
• Destination Weddings
• Wedding Vows and Speeches
• Ethical Weddings
• Green Weddings
• Eco Weddings

I’ve read and been told many differing recommendations for how much water a person should drink in a day.  Can you drink too much? How much should I drink to lose weight? These are common questions about the oldest beverage in history and a vital link to every living thing.

8 Glasses a day – is this enough?

It really depends on what your goals are.  If you are looking to maintain your current weight and be properly hydrated then 8 glasses is a good rule to follow.  However there are many variables that can alter this amount – your age, weight, and physical activities should all be taken into account.  For a 2,000 calorie diet eight glasses is about right, but if your caloric intake is less or more then it should be adjusted accordingly.  A good rule of thumb is one milliliter of water for every calorie consumed per day.

Signs that you may be dehydrated:

• Headaches, dark yellow urine, dry mouth, difficulty concentrating, and feeling sick after a workout
• Hungry – sometimes this can be confused with being dehydrated as the signals that our bodies give off for both feelings are similar in nature.  Give a glass a water a try before reaching for a bite to eat.

A kick of flavor without the added calories

Some days I find it more of a chore to try to chug back my daily water requirements.  Instead of cutting it short I prefer to reach for some quick non (or low) calorie options:

• Spa in a bottle: Toss in some citrus fruits (orange, lemon, lime slices) and fresh mint.
• Slice and dice: cucumbers and cranberries are fantastic
• Herbal Iced teas: many herbal teas taste great chilled and add little or no calories. We recommend this berry tea.
• Frozen berries: as they defrost they slowly infuse their flavors into your water – and keep it chilled longer.

Water Intoxication: Is it real?

Well technically yes, it is possible to have too much water. Also referred to as water poisoning or hyper hydration, an excess of water can break down the levels of electrolytes in your body- leading to unnecessary stress on your heart and ultimately to a heart attack.  A rare occurrence but it has happened in the past.  Sticking to 8 to 10 glasses of water a day is well within the safe zone of water hydration.

I have always had a love of music, so when Herbal Infusions  got the opportunity to be an official sponsor for the 2009 Canadian Country Music Awards, it was thrilling.  Hosted in Vancouver, on September 13 at GM Place, the music awards will be a night of celebration and entertaiment for the who’s who of Canadian country music. The line up includes some fabulous icons and performers, such as Reba McEntire, Martina McBride, Jann Arden, Teri Clarke, Paul Brant, George Canyon, Doc Walker, Emerson Drive, and many more. With a line up like that, who could possibly be disappointed?

The gift lounge is presented by the Uptown Gift Box Company - an exclusive gift service based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.  The Founder and CEO Gabrielle Durning is an absolutely wonderful woman to deal with, and our experience with her throughout the process of supplying the Uptown Gift Box Company with our as Green as can be Eco friendly tea chests, proved to be as smooth as a cup of our Caramel Kiss tea.

Eco Tea Chests made from Reclaimed Utilty Poles

Gabrielle also provided the swag items for the 2009 Genie Awards, and 2009 Juno Awards. She has made this an unforgettable experience for us and for anyone lucky enough to snag a swag bag at this truly exciting event. Other sponsors include:

• Planet Forward (Sustainable Products)
• Doi Chaang Coffee (Certified Organic)
• Buddha Board (Definately one of my personal favourites. You have to check this out!)
• Warm Buddy Co (The most interesting stuffed animals you will ever find… don’t miss out)

Just today I read an article by Reuters about a Russian woman who hurled a steaming cup of Breakfast Tea at Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and the Louvre. 

What was she thinking? What enraged her so much about the Mona Lisa that she had to take a perfectly good cup of tea and toss it at this mysterious woman? Maybe it was that ominous Mona Lisa smile, or maybe….just maybe, it was a really really bad cup of tea. 

A woman is being held after attacking the Mona Lisa

So that got me to thinking: This can’t be the first time that tea has popped up in the news as being the weapon of choice for some.  And that lead me to the following list of stories related to tea oddities. 

• 1773: The Boston Tea Party.  An unpopular tea tax became the source of rage for merchants as they dressed themselves as savages and began throwing crates of tea into the harbor.
• 1950’s: Secret Nuclear Weapon.  The British Government has acknowledged that they planned on using a special tea as their secret weapon for nuclear war victims in the event of a nuclear bomb attack.
• May 3rd, 2000: Jail Assault.  A provincial court ruled that throwing a cup of hot tea does constitute a weapon. Ken Horan, 34, of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., faced charges of assault with a weapon for throwing a plastic cup of tea at a corrections officer in a district jail.
• Jul 12, 2003: St. Petersburg Times - Tea made me do it.  Charges were dropped against a man who claimed that drinking Jasmine Tea made him go temporarily insane, break into his neighbors house, and chase her with a dagger.  (Should have tried our Calming Chamomile Lemon Grass instead) 

If you have heard of any other stories please drop us a line and we’ll include it in the above!

Well its not everyday that a mega gaming corporation and a big name game publisher decide to join forces and release a game with a tea fighting superhero, but that’s exactly what they did with Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure for the Nintendo DS.

Now I must admit that I have played many games in my day, and we even own a Nintendo Wii, along with a sweet guitar (yes I *am* your guitar hero) but this announcement caught me by suprise.  Henry Hatsworth is described as a “quirky, light-hearted character” who you help explore five different worlds and fight a variety of opponents over thirty different levels. Puzzle-related challenges will be displayed on one screen, while more action-based activities will take place on the other – with the user able to switch between both at will.

The Power of Tea Time

Okay so get this- Henry Hatworth (being the English tea fan that he is) is able to transform into a super hero robot with the sip of tea.  Side note: Some days I feel like I really need a second cup of Organic Kama Sutra Chai Tea but somehow I’m still not in a mood to strap on a utility belt, hop in my teamobile and fight crime …bravo Henry!

The key to Tea Time – Filling the Super Meter
If you run out of silver hearts, you can refill the super meter by making matches in the Puzzle Realm. Refill it once (it turns green- think Japanese Green Tea) to gain additional silver hearts, and make Hatsworth younger.  If you fill the super meter again when Hatsworth is young, (the meter turns yellow- much like a nicely infused cup of Pai Mu Tan Tea) watch out because it’s Tea Time!

When you see the tea cup icon on the screen touch it (with the stylus) to activate Tea Time!  Hatsworth dons his robot suit for a limited amount of time granting him super moves to fight the evil doers.

I’m actually really excited about trying this game out, not only because its starring a wickedly cool looking English gentleman that hulks up on a good ol cup o tea, but because of the meshing of two different types of genres- adventure and puzzle games (two of my favs). 

Check out EA’s official site for more information on Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure

I feel a tug at my waist, and I look down to see her pulling at the bottom of my top, happily chewing away looking up at me with expectant eyes. After I managed to take the material out of her mouth, she gently bumps her head against my thigh, begging for a scratch behind her ears. Who knew goats could be so affectionate?

I spent the evening wandering around my friends hobby farm, chasing chickens and checking out the vegetable garden she has with tomatoes, peppers, peas and tons of herbs and other good things growing.  Barn cats, as cute as can be, sprang at each other through the grass, then lazed around trying to catch the last few rays of warm sunshine.  One particularly excitable little rascal chased a duck whenever he got the chance, bounding away as soon as the duck retailiated. It was quite the sight and quite the experience.

My friend makes her own chocolate which is to die for. She creates yummy chocolate goodness from pure cacao beans and uses ingredients like goji berries and agave nectar to make the tastiest natural and healthy (yes, I said HEALTHY) chocolate I have ever had the pleasure of eating. She also makes her own marvelous cheese thanks to the shirt chomper who happily provides the goat milk to produce it.

After having a big BBQ and talking to other guests that came out for the day, I stretched out in a hammock under a shady tree and thought, “This is the life for me!”.  Since becoming educated in different types of tea and many of their healing properties, I have also further developed my knowledge of herbs, plants and other natural healing products. I like the idea of being able to live in a way that so few of us do.

Growing your own crops, caring for animals, feeding chickens and collecting eggs… Admittedly, it isn’t everyone’s dream job, but there is a lot of reward in the (very hard) work. There is a feeling of accomplishment, and of appreciation that you just can’t get from buying a carton of eggs or a frozen bag of beans at the grocery store. Buying a chocolate bar at the corner store does not even come close to comparing to the chocolate that my friend makes. Aside from the flavour, it is pleasing to know that everything in it is good for you. In a world where fast food and candy bars are taking over, it’s nice for once to know that I can eat something sweet and tasty without having to worry about what I am putting into my body.  The chocolate is the perfect pair to our Vanilla Chai Dream tea blend whether you are chasing goats around all day or unwinding after a hectic day at the office.

I love the city for many reasons… There is always something going on, and always entertainment of some sort, but for me, nothing beats the feeling I get sitting in a hammock looking at green field with a warm cup of tea in one hand and a homemade chocolate in the other.

For more info about, or to order the chocolate I mentioned above, send an email to: la_selva_girl@hotmail.com

I have recieved a lot of feedback and questions on my blog entry “Tired of Being Tired?… Help is Here” from May. Thank you all for your emails and comments.

 Of course, the main thing I recommend is a special blend of herbal tea that I have created called “Counting Sheep”. It is a blend of high quality egyptian chamomile and lavender that is a perfect combination to relax you before bed and help bring you a good night’s sleep.

Aside from the sleep tips found in “Tired of Being Tired?” there is something else that you more adventurous types may want to try…

 Many people believe  that certain stones have healing properties. These stones have been used for centuries across many cultures to improve both physical and mental well being.  Of course, you can’t just go pick up any old rock and make it cure your sleep problems – but there are certain stones that are said to have properties that aid in sleep.  The top three stones, in my opinion to help give you a peaceful nights sleep are malachite, amethyst and garnet.

Malachite

Malachite is said to be a stone of amplification. It amplifies the users mood whether positive or negative.  It also draws feeling of disharmony into it, cleansing these energies.  Some people believe that it has the abilty to draw out both physical and emotional pain from its user.  Because of these quailites the stone is believed to purifiy dreams and give the user peaceful dreams.

Amythest

Amythest is a great stone to help ease transitions and to bring tranquilty to its user.  It is a stone of protection and is said to have the abilty to turn negative energy into positive. It is frequently used to combat sleep disorders like sleep apnea, tossing and turning, and sleep walking.  The calming power of amythest combats nightmares, and in some people, gives intuitive dreams.

Garnet

Garnet has been used for centuries for healing and decoration. Some of the oldest garnet jewlery found dates back to 3000 BC.  So what did they know that so few of us know? There are two ways which garnet can help us.  Physically,  garnet is said to open up passages connecting to our hearts and improve circulation in this area which is important to sleep.  Mentally, garnet is said to help us connect our concious mind to our subconcious mind, a natural transition in the time between wakefullness and dreams.  It protects the user from nightmares (especially violent nighmares) and also sends vibrations that help the user to be creative in both wakefullness and in sleep.  It is often used for meditation purposes because it helps the user learn from their dreams and apply what they learn to their waking life.

 Tuck one of these stones into your pillow case and see how it works for you.

*She stands up and waves her hands dramatically in the air

pretending to conduct a large orchestra*

“I’m a little tea pot, short and stout…”

*She puts her left hand on her hip

mimicking the handle of a tea pot*

“Here is my handle, here is my spout…”

*She puts her right hand in an arch

mimicking the spout of a teapot*

“When I get all steamed up, then I shout,
Just tip me over, pour me out!”

*She leans over to the right side as far as she can go*

Well – THAT was liberating…

Maybe not…

I think I may have thrown out my back…

Getting old you know!

 No matter what your age, I’m sure you’ve heard this song at one time or another. But where did it come from? Most of us think it is a nursery rhyme that was made for children as a source of entertainment for them and the onlookers of the funny teapot actions that accompany it, but it actually has a history more noteworthy than that…

The song was written in 1939 by George Sanders and Clarence Kelly in Tin Pan Alley – The Core of the Music publishing District at that time. Kelley at that time, ran a dance school that specialized in teaching tap dance maneuvers. The school was open to even the youngest children, who were still what I like to think of as bobble-head little kidlets… You know the ones: Heads that still look just a little bit too big for their bodies, the ones that have a handle on the basic walk and are now mastering the run… tiny little tots… As one could imagine – teaching youngsters like this dance steps would not be an easy task. Attention spans alone ( never-mind physical coordination issues) involved in a dance routine for the paying parents would be quite an undertaking. Sanders, who usually played the piano accompaniment to the school’s dance recitals worked with Kelley to create song that the children could sing to remember their dance moves, hence creating the “Teapot Tip”.

For more information on this song’s origins look for the book by Ronald Sanders (the son of George Sanders) entitled “Reflections on a Teapot: The Personal History of Time”. It was published in 1972 by Harper and Row.

I spent my Canada day yesterday digging in the garden, because with the last few weeks of rain, the weeds had started to take over, and it was quite literally ‘a jungle out there’.   After a few hours of baking under the suns intense rays, I found myself a little too hot… Being as fair skinned as I am, I do not get a nice golden glow from the sun… The Irish in me lends to lots of freckles followed by a burn, which is exactly what I got.  I wasn’t careful enough with the sunscreen application, and believe me, I paid the price.  I’m still paying for it today,  however it is feeling MUCH better because I know a handy little secret about soothing burned skin.  Green tea.

The polyphenols in green tea help soothe and heal the skin more quickly than allowing a sunbrun to pan out on it’s own. It also helps to reduce skin peeling in the case of a really nasty sunburn like the one I got yesterday. 

 There are a couple of ways that you can use green tea to help ease a sunburn. The first and easiest way is to to run a bath and hang 3 or 4 green tea bags under the faucet. Let HOT water run over the tea bags so that the water becomes infused. When the water starts to run clear, add cold water to your bath. The last thing you want to do is have a hot bath when  you have a sunbrun. Make sure that the bath water is cool and this will also help to relieve the sting of the burn.  This is the best method for children with sunburns because it offers immediate all over relief.

A second way, and a good way to target specific areas is to create a green tea compress.  To do this, steep a pot of green tea and let it cool. Once cooled, poor the infusion on a washcloth or towel – try to use one that is old – because green tea will stain. Apply the cloth to the sunburned area, and allow it to sit for several minutes to cool your skin and combat the heat and stinging from the sunburn. This is especially good if you have a bad sunburn on your face, or on your shoulders where it is easy to drape a compress. 

If you REALLY want to get rid of that redness, and get extra fast relief, check out my own personal tried, tested and true bath blend, followed by the application of aloe vera gel. (Directly from the plant source is best for aloe vera, however, if you can only get your hands on the kind of after sun aloe vera that comes in a bottle, try to make the most natural choice possible)

In your bath water add:

Green Tea: Either use teabags, or pour a pot of cool tea into your bath. This will reduces inflammation and helps with radiation damage and aging.

Peppermint: Either crush and handful of fresh peppermint leaves into your bath, or add one to two drops of peppermint essential oil. This will help ease the heat of the burn because of it’s aromatic properties.

Vinegar: Add one or two cups of white vinegar to your bath water. The acetic acid in vinegar reduces skin inflammation and eases the pain of the burn.

Aloe Vera: The biologically active compounds in aloe vera help to heal the sunburn more quickly.

I used to have a very hard time getting a decent nights sleep, but I’ve tried a few things that have helped, and they might help you too.

Some of you may recognize this routine… It used to be mine too. You wake up early and you get to the gym, you get a few hundred things done during the day, and after rushing home to clean up and organize yourself for the next busy day of yet more rushing around, you burn the midnight oil… Maybe you work on a personal project you have been meaning to get to, maybe you kill time on the internet, or you sit in front of the television until your eyes get droopy and you are forced to crawl into bed. Whether you’re killing time, or doing something worthwhile, neither one is good for you if you are taking time away from necessary sleeping hours.

Tired of being tired?

A few friends have helped me out with great ideas on how to get more shut eye, and after doing some research on what sleep deprivation can do to your body and mind, I took their advice.

Some Side Affects of Sleep Deprivation:
Of course you have the obvious – dark circles under your eyes and a mood that would keep a pack of wolves away… But there are other things to be wary of too.

Sleep deprivation affects the function of your heart, your insulin levels, your body’s ability to process food, your hormone levels – especially hormones like leptin (which tells your brain when you are full) and cortisol (which is the ‘stress’ hormone). The combination of these two things alone can be deadly. When you lose sleep, your cortisol levels rise, when your cortisol levels rise, your body produces more insulin… This, with the combination of your body not being able to tell you when you are hungry anymore can increase your chances of being overweight and your development of diabetes.

That’s not all… lets add another hormone to the mix: Ghrelin. People that get less than 8 hours of sleep each night usually have higher levels of ghrelin in their bodies. This hormone increases your hunger. (Now you know why you go searching around for food, especially foods that are high in sugar and carbs when you are tired to give you a boost.)

So – For all of you mathematical people out there:

Lack of Sleep = Moody + Hungry + Overweight + Unhealthy.
It makes solving for X pretty simple doesn’t it?

X = Get some sleep for heaven’s sake

It doesn’t take a mathematical genius to know that sleep is needed, but sometimes getting a good night’s sleep is ‘easier said than done’. Below are some things that might help.

1. Develop a Routine

Try to set a routine for yourself so that you go to bed at the same time each night and wake up at the same each morning. Try to carry this routine throughout the weekend as well.

2. Relax before sleep

Instead of watching the television or surfing the web, do something more relaxing. Read a book, have a cup of chamomile or lavender tea, listen to music or take a hot bath. (Taking a hot bath makes is a perfect way to get into sleep-mode because as your body temperature begins to drop after getting out of the tub, it makes you feel sleepy.) We carry a specialty blend of tea that I have created called Counting Sheep, that is a PERFECT sleepy time tea.

3. Exercise

Exercise will help you sleep. Make sure if you are exercising at night however, that you are doing so at least two hours before sleeping. Although certain types of exercise can exhaust us, we can also feel energized from it. Time your exercise so that you don’t feel wired before bed.

4. Darkness

Make sure that your bedroom is dark, and quiet. If you can’t sleep in total silence because you hear every little sounds in your house, think about getting a white noise machine or a air filter that you can run on low to drown out other household sounds that may disturb your sleep.

5. Temperature

We tend to sleep better in cooler temperatures, so turn that dial down a notch or two and sleep better while saving on your heating bill at the same time.

6. Get a New Pillow

Let’s face it – if you are not comfortable, you are going to toss and turn until all hours of the night, until you finally exhaust yourself and squeeze in an hour or two of rest. It may be time to get rid of “Mr.Lumps A lot” – Your not so fluffy pillow and replace it with a new one.

7. Your Bedroom

Use your bedroom for two things. Sleep and yep – you guessed it – Hanky Panky. Get that TV out of there! Falling asleep to a television is a sure way to get a poor night’s sleep.

8. Eat Early

Try to finish eating at least two or three hours prior to bedtime. This will not only help you lose weight because your body will have a healthy ‘fasting’ period overnight, but it will also help you get a sound night’s sleep because your body will be focusing on rest instead of trying to digest a plate of pasta. Of course, don’t go to bed starving either. (If your stomach is grumbling then you will probably just lay awake thinking about how hungry you are.) If you MUST snack before bed, try to have something small, like ½ cup of yogurt or something that does not contain a lot of sugar or carbohydrates.

9. Caffeine and Alcohol

While this may seem like common sense, do not consume caffeine or alcohol before bed.

10. Sleep Posture

Sleeping on your stomach can be bad for your back, and sleeping on your back can cause snoring, especially if you are very tired or congested. Try sleeping on your side with a pillow between your legs. This sleep posture aligns your spine and allows you to breathe easily.

11. Don’t try too Hard

If you can’t get to sleep, and you have been tossing and turning, then get up and do something. Don’t lie in bed tossing and turning for more than 30 minutes or you will just end up watching the clock, getting more irritable because you can’t fall asleep. Get up and do something for 15 minutes, and then try to sleep again, rather than stressing yourself out about not being able to fall asleep.

12. Nap If You Need To

Naps aren’t just for old men and young babies. If you need a nap and can take one – do it! As little as 15 minutes of down time can help you your body and mind feel refreshed, revved up and ready to go again!