Let's Talk Tea! My favorite Supermarket Teas

I love tea. LOVE tea. Over the last year or so, I've really gotten into loose teas. This afternoon as I was having a "fancy" tea with my boys, I thought I'd share with you some of my favorite teas, nothing too pricey as most of these you can find at your local grocer or supermarket.*Some of these teas, I only had in tea bag form, so I had to open them up. I'll specify which ones those were, as I'm sure they'll appear less appealing than the whole loose tea.Twinings, Christmas Tea* - I discovered this tea this past Christmas season at my commissary. Initially I found it in tea bags and I love the aroma, for this photo, I had to pop open a Keurig version as that is all I've got left (I bought 5 boxes when I found some after the holiday season sitting alone on a shelf.) It is a black tea infused with what I like to call, "Christmas scent", Twinings USA calls it "spiced flavours of cinnamon and cloves." I like to enjoy it black or with milk and sugar. This is also a favorite of my boys, who usually steel my cup, when-ever I made some.Twinings, Earl Grey - You can't get any more classic than this tea with it's iconic blend of black tea and Bergamot. I like to make this tea with milk and vanilla syrup to transform it into a "London Fog Latte". Yum. Yum.Twinings, Lady Grey - Is my favorite tea. I love it's soft citrusy goodness that comes from orange and lemon peel. I often have this in the afternoon, or in the evening curled up with a book.Taylors of Harrogate, Green Tea with Lemon*- When my husband returned from his six month deployment to the UK, he brought me back things he knew I'd love, like tea cups, and a model of a those adorable double decker red buses in you seen in London and about 6 boxes of teas for me to try. Among them were a few boxes (in tea bag form) of Taylors of Harrogate teas. This Green Tea with Lemon, is absolutely lovely and refreshing.Harney & Sons,Yellow & Blue- This lavender and chamomile blend of tea is what my boys get when the ask for tea just before bed. Inside each tea bag is a perfect blend of whole leaf teas packed with chamomile buds and lavender....If I had one wish for this tea, it would be more lavender flavor.Teapigs Peppermint Leaves Tea -This was another gift brought back by my husband from England. Each nylon bag is filled with whole leaf tea. This peppermint tea is absolutely perfect. It's minty with out slapping you in the face.  I'm sort of in love with this brand of tea for it's great quality and eco-concious biodegradable packaging. I was very happy to learn one can find it on Amazon! Yay!Bigelow, Green Tea with Lemon- After my husband brought home the Taylors Green Tea with Lemon, I was worried I wouldn't be able to find it anywhere else, locally (here in Italy and at my commissary) so when I spied the Bigelow I figured I 'd give it a try. I'm so glad I did because it's pretty good and a pretty close match quality wise to the Taylors version. These boxes of tea bags are easy to find your local supermarket and I think Bigleow is definitely one of the best supermarket teas out there.Taylors of Harrogate, Scottish Breakfast Tea - When I first tried this tea I was worried it would get bitter, like the Earl Grey can tend to do, but I found there to be no bitterness when over brewed. Win! Win! This is perfect for the morning! (I'm sure the whole tea version of this one is quite pretty too.)Bigelow, Constant Comment - This black tea is great for a hot cup either with or without milk (I'm also not apposed to using cream.) or with lemon and honey. You can also make a great iced tea with Constant Comment, or even get creative and add fruit or syrups for extra flavor, I'd try peach or raspberry! Just follow the directions for seeping your own brew or iced or hot tea.Taylors of Harrogate teas can be purchased in the US on Amazon or at Whole Foods.Tea Pigs can be found online at www.teapigs.com and Amazon.Twinings & Bigelow can be found practically anywhere.

Summertime Skin Care - My favorite Moisturizers

I was putting on my makeup this morning, and I got to thinking about how much I liked the two moisturizers I wear daily.Thought I'd share...In the summer I don't wear foundation. I mean, what's the point?I do however wear a moisturizer with sunscreen every day all year round and this summer I've taken to wearing a tinted moisturizer (also with sunscreen) on top of that.Over kill? I think not.

I am actually very happy with them both and I think they're happy on my face.

I use Aveeno's Positively Radiant daily moisturizer with SPF 30 every day. This is one of a few broad-spectrum SPF moisturizers I use all year round. I like it because it's gentle on my skin. Has a higher sunscreen quotient, and it's not greasy and absorbs quickly.

In the summer I like to layer that with Olay Fresh Effects BB Cream tinted moisturizer which also has a broad-spectrum SPF of 15. I have used this alone, on summer evenings out and it is great. It does all the things a BB cream should do with out being greasy. The tint in the cream blends super great which I can sometimes have a hard time with since I'm so fair.

These are both great products that are super affordable and I think these last two I purchased using a coupon. You can find them at drugstores, and big boxed stores etc.

love & moisturizer,

nicole

*I was not compensated for this post.

Owlet: Society of Feathers Book Review

Everything about Iris’ daily life weighed her down. She lived a sheltered lifestyle filled with nothing but homeschooling and books. Her asthma seemed to limit her every move, never letting her run or get overly emotional. To Iris, everything in life was a threat she had to face—everything but her father. Even her dreams seemed to have switched into nightmares, making themselves her enemy.“Iris, calm down. It is just me. You are all right. I found you and brought you in here.” She heard him add softly, “You are in trouble for not taking your preventative meds, Izzy.”Iris tried to sort out her thoughts and realized what must have happened. Finally awake enough to open her eyes, she looked around. She wanted to be in her room, because there she would find strength in her surroundings. But as she surveyed the scene nothing was familiar to her. It felt as if she were sitting in a foreign land.Novel: Owlet: Society of Feathers #1Genre: Young Adult Paranormal RomancePublished: by Tribute Books, October 13, 2012Stand Alone or Series: This is the first in a series.How I Got it: I received a copy in e-book format from the publisher.Where can you get it? Amazon, PDF version.What’s it About?From the publisher:

Somewhere between falling and flying… there is a girl.

Iris has a secret. She lost her memory eight years ago and never told a living soul. After an asthma attack one night she finds out that her dreams of a strange house on a snowy island may be a memory resurfacing but the more she learns about the past the more she realizes the life she has been living is a lie. As the façade her father has built starts to crumble around her she will have to decide which means more to her; the truth or her life.

What made me want to read it: I love a good "lied to her whole life" story, I am writing one after all.What I thought…Iris, though physically weak due to chronic asthma, is a strong female protagonist, who is smart and likes books. (I can totally relate!) I would have preferred to see  this "strong" aspect of her character explored more in the story, instead of having other characters relate their experiences and perception of her strength.I totally dug the premise. This is not a book about a shape-shifter girl who becomes an owl, which is what I was pretty sure was going to happen; but rather a coming of age story in a world where everything isn't as it seems. I went cross-eyed from time to time when the author used an alternate "inner voice" that dwelled inside the protagonist. The main character actually had full blown conversations with this inner voice, which made me wonder in the beginning if she was schizophrenic and these conversations and dreams were hallucinations. As a reader I don't like to work to figure out who's voice I'm reading, and it took me a few chapters to get into it. If you experience the same problem press on, it takes a bit of getting used to, once you do all will be well.  The author's writing style is flowery which bodes well with the theme, but at times felt a bit awkward to this reader especially during scenes that contained songs or poetry.What I enjoyed best was the rather witty dialogue between characters, the lovely descriptions of the MC's dream-turned reality island retreat, and her love interest. I  wasn't crazy about the extensive use of flashback to relate the protagonist's back story, however it was well done and it helped the reader understand Iris better. Overall the premise is fantastic, and not like anything I've read recently which was refreshing.As part of the blog tour check out this cool giveaway that includes original artwork created by Emma Michaels herself!

Spectral by Shannon Duffy [Book Review]

Convinced she’s a part of the witness protection program, sixteen-year-old Jewel Rose is shuffled around the globe with her family like a pack of traveling gypsies. After arriving at lucky home twenty-seven, she stumbles upon a mysterious boy with magical powers claiming to be her guardian . . . and warning of imminent danger. Despite the obvious sparks between them, Jewel discovers a relationship is forbidden, and the more she learns about dark, brooding Roman, she begins to question who she can even believe—the family who raised her, or the supposed sworn protector who claims they’ve been lying to her all along. As she struggles to uncover who her family has really been running from, she is forced to hide her birthmark that reveals who she is. With new realities surfacing, unexplained powers appearing, and two tempting boys vying for her heart, Jewel battles to learn who she can trust in an ever growing sea of lies, hoping she’ll make it through her seventeenth birthday alive.Novel: Spectral by Shannon DuffyPublished: Published April 10th 2012 by Tribute BooksStand Alone or Series: Not sure.How I Got it: I received a copy in e-book format from the publisher.Where can you get it? This book is available in all e-book formats. Get it at Amazon it's $2.99!What made me want to read it: I have to admit, when I first received the pitch to review this book I was shocked. Shocked because the premiss is very similar to the book I'm writing down to names, birthmarks, being lied too...etc. I knew immediately I wanted to read this novel because I figured Shannon Duffy had to be a brilliant and totally cool writer, I'd want to get to know. I was right, and you'll want to get to know Shannon Duffy's work too! This book was phenomenal (and nothing really like the one I'm writing *wipes brow*)!What I thought…Jewel is no slacker! I immediately liked her and wanted to get to know her more. Once she discovered the life long ruse her family kept, her world does go and get all topsy turvy, but Jewel managed to keep herself level headed and come out on top!Jewel has probably gone to a zillion different schools (growing up in Witness Protection could do that to a girl), and when she found herself at yet another new high school she wasn't expecting to be there for very long, or make any lasting friendships. She not only manages to make a good friend, but she also has two hot guys to give her butterflies. The love triangle is put to rest early on when Jewel realized which boy is the one for her but not before a little rescuing is done by both boys. Ultimately Jewel rescues herself and becomes the kick ass witch she was meant to become.Shannon Duffy wrote a thrilling story jam packed with intrigued and a few plot twists that will keep you up reading well into to the night. When I got to the end of my e-book I kept trying to turn the page, hoping there was some magic in my iPad that would make the story continue! 

The Name of The Star by Maureen Johnson [Book Review]

The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it’s the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.

Soon “Rippermania” takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn’t notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities.

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Novel: The Name of the Star Shades of London, Book One - By Maureen Johnson.

Published: September 29, 2011

Stand Alone or Series: Series - This is the first book in the 'Shades of London' series.

How I Got it: I bought it.

What made me want to read it: I've been wanting to read Maureen Johnson for the longest time. When I read Cassandra Clare's praise, “A gorgeously written, chilling, atmospheric thriller. The streets of London have never been so sinister or so romantic.” - I decided I'd start here, instead of with an earlier work.

What I thought...

The Name of the Star has a great MC (main character) in the form of Rory Deveaux. I liked her immediately. She's an American teenager from Louisiana who moves to London to go to boarding school for her senior year of high school. Everything would have been hunky-dory except her arrival happens to coincide with some gruesome murders that have quite a bit of similarities to the famous (and never apprehended) Jack the Ripper! "Rippermania" ensues as it only could in modern times complete with t-shirts, round the clock news, and the web.  Unfortunately for Rory she finds herself right in the middle of it all and no, she's not going crazy (but the stories about her family and home town sure are!) Lucky for her she befriends some cool London police officers who aren't exactly your typical "bobbies"!

The Name of the Star is a cool paranormal-esque book that will bring two worlds together to solve this murder mystery. There is a bit of romance but it's not the main focus which is very refreshing in a YA novel.

This is the first Maureen Johnson novel I've read and I can't wait to perch my nose in the middle of her other works. It was very well written and her characters are so believable and the pace is just perfect. I'll definitely read the sequel.

You can read a bit of The Name of The Star on Maureen Johnson's website.If you'd like to see some other photos I took of this gorgeous book -Check out my flickr set Books and Writers and thingslove & books,nicōle