FIND YOUR CUPPA TEA RIGHT HERE

Japanese tea ceremony. Photo courtesy of justfoodnow.com

Ok so I already know that you love to make a nice cup of tea and cozy up to your computer to read the latest post at Kitchensforliving.  You don't?  Well maybe you should.  Coffee gets enough press and I'm not knocking it but the  "in" thing in hot beverages is TEA!  Now I know I have your attention because chances are you're freezing your buns off right now if you're anywhere in the northern hemisphere. (If you're in regions down under just add ice and you're good to go.)


Tea is an art and a ritual.  Japan has always been known for the "tea ceremony", a complicated ritual performed by geishas who attend school for special training in the art.  If you are here in South Florida you can attend an authentic tea ceremony at the Morikami Museum & Japanese Gardens.  Interestingly, Japanese do not add any sweeteners to their teas balancing the pure flavor of the tea by eating teacakes.

Tea stand in Pushkar Rajasthan, India Photo courtesy of bridgeandtunnelclub.com

One the contrary, in India, you'll find a yummy form of tea called chai which has become popular in the west these last few years.  To make chai, add milk, sugar and a pinch of a blend of spices called chai masala.  You can also purchase teas with the chai spices already mixed in.  Last but not least, let's not forget our dear friends across the pond.  English tea is a classic and a concept that has provided the British with comfort and refuge through multiple wars!

A proper Englishman enjoys a "cuppa"

A few blog posts ago I wrote about the amazing teapots at Teavana but now I want to talk about the tea.  You can buy it online but the stores are downright seductive.  My daughter and I were lured into one while Christmas shopping.  We sampled the feature of the day and I HAD TO HAVE IT.  Yes, it was inexcusably expensive ($24 for this special blend of two teas) but it was an indulgence.  I was able to brew it so that it tasted exactly like the sample and of course I bought the German Rock Sugar to use as a sweetener.  There's the aroma, the flavor, the warmth and it looks beautiful!  A real feast for the senses.

My Youthberry & Wild Orange Blossom Blend from Teavana. Photo by Sabrina Brunk

If you'd like to dip you toe into the world of tea without involving a major financial commitment try Shui Tea.  I found out about this great online source for tea from one of my fellow bloggers.  You can get samples (enough for a few cups) for as little as $2.00 each! This site is run by a crazy dude and features crazy blends of all sorts of tea.


If you have a tea habit tell me about it.  C'mon I know you're snowed in with nothing better to do or maybe you screwing around at work because, let's face it,  no one really "works" between Christmas and New Year's ;)

FLORIDA KITCHEN CHARM

Thank you  for the out pouring of love and concern for our family.  No matter what happens the sun always rises again and we begin another day.

[caption id="attachment_282" align="aligncenter" width="460" caption="White cabinets and a shiny blue glass tile backsplash lend a coastal feel. Photo by Southern Accents"][/caption]

As you guys up in the northern regions are beginning to crank up the heat,  I thought I'd share a little warmth from down here in sunny Florida.  If you love warm tropical beaches, even when there's snow (instead of sand) on the ground, here's how you can bring this ambiance to your "anywhere" kitchen.

Blue & White will give you an instant feel of sun and surf.  White cabinets are hot!  Blue calls  to mind the ocean and may be added to your backsplash, walls or even used as  accent color for an island or hutch cabinet.

[caption id="attachment_285" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="A modern version with Balthaup cabinets. Photo by Elle Decor"][/caption]

A sea view is a must and you can have one even if you don't live by the sea.  Think art!  That way you can choose the sea view of your choice.  It can be a painting, a photograph or even something more abstract like a mixed media work of art.

[caption id="attachment_286" align="aligncenter" width="570" caption="I wish I was at the beach by ABSTRACTINC from Etsy.com"][/caption]

Gifts from the Sea are fun ways to add a beachy feel.  Shells, starfish or even bits of beach glass are great accents.  Try using a shiny glass tile backsplash for a watery feel or tiles with more of a honed finish look like glass that has been eroded by the sand over time.

[caption id="attachment_292" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="seashells, starfish and beach glass tell the story of the sea"][/caption]

Burled Beach Corian countertop by Dupont

Throw some sand into the mix with solid surface counter tops in colors like Dijon from the Elements collection by Denova or Burled Beach by Dupont's Corian.

[caption id="attachment_288" align="aligncenter" width="261" caption="Dijon from the Elements collection Denova Solid Surface Counters"][/caption]

The nice thing is you can add a little or you can pull out all the stops.  If you have "Floridified" your kitchen sent me pix.  I would love to show and tell.  Oh, and by the way, it's nice to be back!

DESIGN STAR'S ON TO SOMETHING

Emily Henderson Design Star 2010

An apartment that looks like Tom for the win!

I don't know about you but I LOVE my HGTV.  One of my favorite treats is the show Design Star, quickly followed by The Antonio Treatment, House Hunters International and sometimes Divine Design.  I digress.  The winning designer of Design Star gets their own HGTV show based on their unique concept.  This season's recently crowned winner was Emily Henderson.  Her concept is Style to Lifestyle, meaning she takes your own personal fashion statement and turns it into a lifestyle design statement.  For the win she interpreted Tom's look into an apartment decor.  

Tom's Look

It's all about the connection between fashion and interior design.  Yes, it's all connected.  One informs the other.  Another great example of that is the stylish plumbing fixture manufacturer Brizo.  

Brizo's signature kitchen faucet (posing as a flirty little dress?)

Jason Wu's flirty little dress! 
Get it?

They are all about style and what better way to emphasize that than by connecting with the world of fashion design, which is just what they've done.  Since 2006, Brizo has partnered with fashion designer Jason Wu, a finalist in the CFDA/Vogue fashion fund and the designer of Michelle Obama's Inauguration Ball gown. As part of this unique collaboration, Brizo sponsors Jason's shows at New York Fashion Week, and Jason has designed dresses used in Brizo advertising.  Check it out at  www.brizo.com There's no reason not to add a little fashion to your kitchen. 

DESIGN STAR'S ON TO SOMETHING

Emily Henderson Design Star 2010

An apartment that looks like Tom for the win!

I don't know about you but I LOVE my HGTV.  One of my favorite treats is the show Design Star, quickly followed by The Antonio Treatment, House Hunters International and sometimes Divine Design.  I digress.  The winning designer of Design Star gets their own HGTV show based on their unique concept.  This season's recently crowned winner was Emily Henderson.  Her concept is Style to Lifestyle, meaning she takes your own personal fashion statement and turns it into a lifestyle design statement.  For the win she interpreted Tom's look into an apartment decor.  

Tom's Look

It's all about the connection between fashion and interior design.  Yes, it's all connected.  One informs the other.  Another great example of that is the stylish plumbing fixture manufacturer Brizo.  

Brizo's signature kitchen faucet (posing as a flirty little dress?)

Jason Wu's flirty little dress! 
Get it?

They are all about style and what better way to emphasize that than by connecting with the world of fashion design, which is just what they've done.  Since 2006, Brizo has partnered with fashion designer Jason Wu, a finalist in the CFDA/Vogue fashion fund and the designer of Michelle Obama's Inauguration Ball gown. As part of this unique collaboration, Brizo sponsors Jason's shows at New York Fashion Week, and Jason has designed dresses used in Brizo advertising.  Check it out at  www.brizo.com There's no reason not to add a little fashion to your kitchen.