Tea Time Bliss

Since things have all been quite crazy lately I've been trying to make a bit of extra 'me time' when I can and there are 2 simple things that are always guaranteed to make me feel a little better...

A nice cup of tea and a couple of episodes of QI (or 1 big episode of QIXL, depends on what Dave is showing)

Every autumn I like to try out new teas until i find 'the one'. This year I did not have to search for long.

I'd heard a few people mention the peppermint and liquorice tea from Tea Pigs and thought it sounded a bit weird, but when my friend dragged me in to Holland and Barrett the other day I saw a box of the same flavour by the Pukka brand and thought, Acht I'll give it a go.

OMG I LOVE this stuff!!  Don't get me wrong it does taste a bit odd but odd good. When you first drink it tastes like regular peppermint tea, but then it gives an out of nowhere sweet liquorice after hit. Gorgeous.

Even if you don't like liquorice I still suggest you give this a whirl as its very much a liquorice bark taste rather than a Liquorice All Sorts kind of taste. And for those of you wondering what I'm on about here is a pic of a twig that you can chew on that tastes sweet, yes really.

source: www.4ayurveda.com

I'd still really like to try the Tea Pigs version but I've never seen it in the shops around here, so I'll keep an eye out as if I go on their website I can only imagine the damage that would be done to my bank account :-)

What's your favourite tea?

Eat, drink and be scary....

I was a bit at a loss about what to write about for blogtober day 17.

I'm still in love with my manicure from yesterdays post so i knew it wouldn't be nails.

I left my umbrella at work so i currently look like a drowned rat (It's Scotland, I got rained on, A LOT!)

So i knew it wouldn't be a beauty post.

On my bleak walk home, i wandered into the the supermarket (grocery store)  to warm up a bit.

They only had freaking Fiendish Fancies!!!!

Is it weird i get excited about things that I'd ignore everyday? Honestly put something in a seasonal box and I'm all over it!!

If anyone is unfamiliar with what a fancy is its a tiny cake with a bit of fondant covered in icing. They are little bites of heaven! Perfect with a nice cup of tea on a rainy evening :-)

Since i was feeling the Halloween love I also picked up a pumpkin while i was in. I'm going to a onesie party (yes, you read that right) this year and i want to take an immaculately carved pumpkin as a hostess gift.

Could someone give me some pointers on how to carve a pumpkin?
Mine always look kind of wonky.
Also, any ideas on recipes for the pumpkin flesh that i scoop out?

The most wonderful time of the year...

Oh how i love Autumn....

Let me count the ways....

1. Super cosy socks

I got these lovelies from trusty old Primark (2 pairs for £2!). They are ridiculously soft and soooo cosy. I hate waring shoes in the flat but when the weather turns the wooden floors really are to chilly to go without so cosy socks are lovely. The best thing about cosy socks is when you get in from a really cold walk, perhaps you've stepped in a puddle, and you get home and put on your fluffy socks.

Have I over thought this? Probably.

P.S Also extremely good for sliding on the floor pretending your a ninja :-)


2. Tea

Now I'm a consummate coffee drinker, I mean, seriously, I should just organise some kind of IV delivery system, but come Autumn I'm a cosy evening cuppa tea drinker.
My favourite is honey, chamomile and vanilla from Twinings.

(The Skeleton ginger bread man was from Sainsburys and was incredibly good)



The herbal stuff isn't everyones cup of tea (boom boom) but this is soothing and sweet enough to drink without adding 10 tonnes of sugar. Perfect for when the nights are drawing in. 


3. Autumn Scents

This is the time of year i go crazy for home fragrance.
And i know its not just me that this happens to.
I'm pretty sure the wee lady over at the Yankee candle kiosk is paid year round from the profits between now and Christmas.

I picked up these wax tarts (they have a special burner thing which they melt in). I melted another sugared apple tart i had last night, i had my cosy socks on and a cup of tea. It was raining outside but I was in cosy heaven watching QI :-)

For when these aren't burning I picked up a lovely hand wash from bath and bodyshop.

It smells incredible, sweet and warm. If, like me, cinnamon gives you a sore head this is your perfect autumn scent.

I'm always devastated that we don't have easy access to Bath and Body works stuff here, but the little range on that site soothes me slightly. I just wish they didn't run out of stock on everything I want so quickly.

What do you love about Autumn?
Do you Americans find it amusing that we call it Autumn?
Or are you just blocking the whole thing out waiting for summer again?
Let me know in a comment below or Tweet me

I have a feeling that there may be more to add to my list of autumn loves.
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CB