Monthly Archives: February 2008

Writing blogs takes a lot of research. You read, in a matter of moments, what it has often taken me days to put together. I read alot of news reports, websites, blogs, library books…you name it.

The other night I was infusing MYSELF in a hot bath with a LUSH bubble bar. I was lying there reading an old Alexandra Stoddard book from my personal library, Living a Beautiful Life.

It is the book that opened my eyes to the need for beauty and ritual in our lives. Not just to be doing something but because those things feed our spirits, and help us to remember who we are deep inside. (more…)

So, B5 is doing a leap year thing.  I am pretty boring, in that I tend to live the same way year after year.  I thought it would be more fun to look back, and look ahead at coffee.
Looking back four years, and looking ahead four years…I checked around and the big coffee news four years ago was (more…)

I usually post my recipes at Baking Delights or Apron Strings, saving tea and coffee stuff here. But I really wanted to share these scones here because they could be such an incredible part of your next tea party.

I love the flavor of rose. The tea that I had custom blended and flavored just for me is a rose, lemon, blackberry blend. I just finished doing a rose and almond cake on Baking Delights..I often review rose flavored teas here. There is just something about rose that is yummy, exotic, romantic…and ..well ….yummy. (more…)

I know…Lipton? What am I thinking.  I really don’t care for Lipton teas.  But lately they have come out with the silk pyramid bags, and they are trying to change their image from the family iced tea bag, and sun tea, to the tea of tea snobs everywhere. ‘

Well, I don’t think I am a tea snob but they got me on this one.  It is fantastic.

So, what am I thinking? (more…)

O.k…who could resist a tea with a name like that? Not me.

Now, one of the things I do try to do is to pick up a variety of teas and coffees.  Some from specialty roasters and others from grocery stores.  I want there to be something for everyone, because that is just how I am.  When you have 8 kids you know about measuring liquids into cups by the exact drop to make things even… (more…)

I don’t know if you have a Target store near you, or not. I don’t know if they are all over the U.S. or not. I will tell you that I stopped shopping at Walmart about 3 years ago because of ethical issues, and issues I had with their foreign policy and about that time I discovered Target.

Over the years I have watched this store increase the quality of their merchandise, I have seen them bring in more and more organic and Fair Trade items. I have read their foreign policy and been impressed. I have used their store brand and been….impressed. (more…)

This is an antique teacup that I have in my collection. Actually, I imagine it was a coffee cup. Seems to be a little heavy for tea. Anyway..it is Buffalo China, from 1911. Just wanted to share. (more…)

O.k..so I did not make it back in time to post anything yesterday.

The VA always takes a long time and yesterday was no exception.  Labs at 10:30…waiting…check in….waiting….waiting…pharmacy…waiting….

You get it right? So they increased the amounts of Marc’s pain meds and scheduled him for consults with other specialists.  I am telling you, they have practically turned the man inside out in the past couple of months.

Believe it or not, the VA Hospital in Dallas has a Starbucks. I thought that was so funny.  I mean, we can multi-task, and head for the VA for our coffee dates. (more…)

I am about to leave to take Marc to the VA for an appointment but I wanted to check in and at least leave you with something to think about for today….Hopefully I will be back later..

The powers of a man’s mind are directly proportioned to the quantity of coffee he drinks. - Sir James Mackintosh

Go refill your cup…be brilliant…and I will be back.

This does not happen often in our house.  Leftover coffee.  Yeah, right.  If I want leftover coffee to use in a chocolate cake or something I have to plan for it.  How do you plan for leftovers??!!

Well I pour the “leftover coffee” first and hide it.  Stop laughing.  You do what you have to do.  Anyway, I thought it would be interesting to find out what to do with leftover coffee IF I ever had any.   Here is what I came up with.  Add your ideas in the comments and let’s see how many we can get. (more…)