An admin from TeaLovers.com recently reached out to me and it inspired me to write a post on my favorite teas! Although I like the flavor of coffee, I would choose tea over coffee any day. The amount of caffeine in coffee is too much for me. With tea, I don't ever experience the negative effects of the caffeine. The caffeine content in the teas that I drink are not nearly as high as coffee, it feels healthier to drink (herbs and water, no terrible aftertaste), and yet it still gives me the energy boost I need. Tea is great for your metabolism as well. Although I am no tea connoisseur, I'd like to share some of my favorite teas and ways to prepare it! If I'm being honest, I've only ever tried one brand of loose-leaf tea - and I love it! I go to Teavana to get my loose-leaf tea. One of my favorite aspects of loose-leaf tea is that you can see EXACTLY what is in your tea! Every ingredient is distinguishable within the mix of herbs, flowers, fruits, and spices. Teavana creates mixes of gourmet flavors such as Tiramisu, Samurai Chai Maté, White Chocolate Peppermint, Apple Pie a la Mode, etc. The flavor in Teavana tea is so strong. Also, since it is loose-leaf, you can easily add more or less depending on the strength you prefer. Loose-leaf tea is slightly harder to prepare however since it isn't already prepackaged, but you can find reusable tea bags or a tea infuser for relatively cheap. Loose-leaf tea is also generally pricier, especially Teavana's teas. However, Teavana often puts their teas on sale at the end of every season which is a great chance to stock up. Loose-leaf tea can be good for two years if stored properly so get yourself some cheap tea tins and tea when you can! Note: Teavana no longer has it's own website as it is now owned by Starbucks and I believe they are closing down store locations.... RIP Teavana. However, there are many local places to buy gourmet loose-leaf teas. Do some research and find some good tea! When it comes to pre-packaged tea, I've tried many brands. My favorite brand is STASH. The quality is high and select flavors can be found in most grocery stores. It is a bit more expensive than Bigelow but is still very affordable (compared to loose leaf tea prices). My favorite flavor is coconut mango wuyi oolong tea which I purchase from Amazon. I love it so much that I asked for a box of 100 ct of this kind of tea for Christmas. I love the ease of using pre-packaged tea. Once you figure out the kind of tea you're going to have, you also have options in how you prepare your tea. Sweetening tea to be just right can be tricky. I personally do not recommend using regular granulated sugar, The tea flavor can sometimes get washed out by traditional granulated sugar. An alternative would be rock sugar. Teavana used to sell rock sugar by the pound. It has a bit more of a deeper flavor and pairs well with the tea to enhance the flavor without overpowering it. Another type of sweetener would be any liquid-type sweetener. Honey is a great natural sweetener and it is good to add to tea especially if you are feeling under the weather. I like the ease of sweetening tea with a liquid because it dissolves instantly. Granulated sugar and rock sugar do not always dissolve completely . However, I find that solid sugars work best when you put the sugar in the mug before pouring hot water over it. This brings me to another point. The way you heat up the water actually makes a difference. I have tried it the easy way, by microwaving a cup of water but I have found that the heat does not stay as long in the cup of tea when it is prepared that way. I usually heat my water up on the stove in a tea kettle. Although it takes several minutes to heat up throughly, the cup of tea stays hot a lot longer. I would recommend to anyone to add tea to their life! If you don't like the taste of common, plain green or black tea, I would highly suggest that you tryout Teavana tea! Their flavors are AMAZING. Paired with the rock sugar I feel that the flavor is even bolder and better. Many pre-packaged tea bags are not as flavorful as I would like, but if you find a brand like STASH, I'd say explore their other flavors as well. Loose-leaf tea is great when you are home with your kettle, tea infuser, rock sugar, etc. However, if you find a bagged tea that you love, buy it and pack extras for times you may be out and about! Now that Teavana is only available on Starbucks menus, I will be on the search for a great local loose-leaf tea here in Colorado Springs and will let you know what I find. Stay tuned!
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When I found out that Jenna Fischer wrote a book, I knew I had to have it. As a huge fan of The Office, I was intrigued to hear her perspective of the show. Let me tell you, this book is SO much more than that. Fischer starts at the very beginning of her acting journey and takes you through the ups and downs of her career. The intent of the book is to give advice for an aspiring actor, as she once was. Although I am not at all interested in becoming an actor, I still was able to relate to and enjoy the book. One if the aspects of the book that piqued my interest was the amount of pictures Fischer chose to add. I loved to see actual pictures of her first apartment, of her on sets, and of her with her fellow actors and icons. I was able to get a better sense of her experiences. Along with pictures, Fischer includes samples of her resumés, quotes from multiple actors, and encouraging tips and tricks for how she survived in the industry. I believe that these aspects of the book make it more unique. "The Actor's Life: A Survival Guide" did not read like an ordinary informational book. I think a large factor into that is how absolutely real Jenna Fischer is. While I was reading the book, it felt like she was talking directly to me. She was real, she was vulnerable, and she was providing advice. The book is a window into a huge part of her life. She includes successes and failures. I also appreciate her openness about what she loves as well as what makes her uncomfortable. For example, Fischer's love for food is apparent throughout the entire book. As a lover of food myself, I was able to relate to her desire to always peruse the snack table and take advantage of free food when it's provided. She also writes about how you need to find a healthy body weight for yourself rather than what you think casting agencies want because there are jobs available in the acting industry for every body type. It is not all about who can be the "skinniest". I found that really encouraging. Fischer's attitude about her body is one of respect which is an important message for many. Fischer is adamant about maintaining safety, trust, and comfort and encourages others to speak up if they are ever put in an uncomfortable situation regarding their bodies during their acting career. I think that aspect of her life is a great example to others. If you are an aspiring actor, you will love this book. Fischer includes how to get the best headshots, how to get an agent and manager, how to audition, how to survive off of little income, how to maintain sanity during "droughts" of work, and so much more. Even if you are not an aspiring actor, this book can still be beneficial and encouraging, especially during times of financial hardships. I personally was so amazed by Fischer's struggle and how she kept pushing forward, even though at times she felt like quitting. The role of "Pam" from The Office means so much more to me now. I highly recommend this book. Although it is intended for an aspiring actor, it is full of encouragement and inspiration for anyone. . . . I find myself returning to the question I posed back in chapter one: Why do I want to be an actor? The truth is, I don't have one definitive answer to this question. Because over the years my answers have changed, or been added to, so that now I find I have a wide variety. Of course, the simple answer is because I love it. Even with all the ups and downs, I love being an actor. But more specifically, I love using my imagination. I love reflecting on my own feelings and bringing them to life in a character. I love connecting with an audience. I love being in touch with how it feels to be guilty, angry, regretful, elated, loved, loving, spiteful, terrified, dishonest, or heroic. I love to recreate and experience these feelings onstage, on TV, or in film. I love figuring out a character, discovering how we're similar and how we differ. I love all the new challenges that come with a new project. I love being a storyteller. I love making people laugh. I love being with and creating with other artists. And I love celebrating the human experience. Thank you, Jenna Fischer, for writing this book and for not giving up on your passion.
My experience in Colorado thus far has been incredible. I go to a church that I have wanted to call my home church for years. I've been working out every morning and I'm feeling great. My grandmother's health is improving each day. The weather has been phenomenal. The mountains frame the sky no matter where I drive. The sunsets are unbelievable. I see dogs everywhere. I'm meeting new people. I'm applying to jobs. I have also started the journey of looking into schools for becoming a Veterinary Technician. It's such a dream to live here! Everything seems so perfect, right? Last night, for whatever reason, my heart was very heavy. I couldn't sleep until very late and even then I had dreams that were unsettling. When I woke up in the morning, I was so unmotivated. I got a rejection email for a job I applied to. I had a few breakdowns for what felt like no reason. I worked out as usual, cleaned, did devotions, I tried everything I could to get my mind in a happier place. A couple days ago I was so excited about life! How could I be so low today? The reality is that some days are just bad. I, like many others, struggle with insecurities, anxieties, and other negative emotions. THIS IS NORMAL. I feel like so many people are under the impression that certain individuals just have the perfect life. However, sometimes unexplainably and suddenly, anxiety creeps up and takes control. It can happen to anyone. Anxiety exhibits itself in a variety of levels throughout a variety of people. Some people believe that anxiety is a millennial construct or that the need for counseling is unnecessary. IT IS NOT. Never discount someone's feelings if they say they are anxious. Even if they don't say they are anxious, there are a lot of people who are experts at covering their own anxiety and insecurities in front of others. So how do we move forward?These are some tips that work best for me!
I recently embarked on a move from New York to Colorado. Of course, being the crazy animal person that I am, I had to bring my two guinea pigs, two geckos, and toad. Traveling 1,600 miles in two days with delicate creatures such as these puts a lot of stress on them, so it is important to make them as comfortable as possible. I did a lot of research online before leaving, looking at posts such as this. The following tips are what worked best for me and my animals.
I have been thinking a lot about my future recently and more importantly the track I'd like to follow in college. During this search for my future career path, I have decided that it would be beneficial to take a semester off, get a job, and throw myself into new experiences. I didn't know exactly what that would look like, seeing as there wasn't much to do in a small town. However, I was presented with the opportunity to move from New York to Colorado to help out with the care of my grandparents. I was unsure initially how this would go over because my grandparents have been independent for so long, but once I got here, I was thrown into a situation where I had to learn quickly how to be a caregiver.
Within a week of my family being in Colorado, my grandmother had to be hospitalized. It was apparent that her previous issues had flared up, along with some new concerns. Although my parents were with me the first day of my grandmother's hospitalization, I was soon left to gain a lot of knowledge of a whole new aspect of life very rapidly. Senior care was something I used to be afraid of, but I cannot tell you how much I love this opportunity. I am able to be there in support to my grandfather, a great man of very few words. It makes my day to see him smile at me with a big old "Goooodmorning!" when I come downstairs, ready to visit my grandmother. It is so sweet to watch him encourage my grandmother to eat. You can tell that he is full of worry and love for her, even though he doesn't speak those words often. My sweet grandmother has been becoming so lonely lately. Although we spend all day with her, it is not the same as being home with her and being available to her all the time. As old age takes her memory away, a mixture of medicine and sleeplessness have made the confusion increase. She says the craziest things at times but she also says how glad she is that I'm here or that I smell good or how she likes the jeans I'm wearing that day. We even giggle together when she says something so outrageously funny and she catches herself. These are memories that I will cherish forever. I have been so thankful to be here, to ask questions, to relay messages from the doctors and nurses to my mother, aunt, and uncles who cannot be here, to make sure my grandfather is okay, and to simply help out and make sure my grandmother is getting the best care possible. Don't get me wrong, this hospital is amazing. The staff really cares about their patients and they care about the patient's family as well. We have built relationships with the nurses because they constantly ask how we are doing and are willing to listen to any concerns we have. I am just thankful for the opportunity to be here to speak on behalf of my grandmother's needs at times to make sure she is as comfortable as possible. God has been amazing throughout this experience. Last night I had a "slumber party" with my grandmother in her hospital room. She was too lonely and I could not let her spend another night alone. This is an experience I will never forget. She continued to apologize for keeping me awake, but there is no place else that I would rather be. She is one of the sweetest people on earth and I get the privilege of spending this time with her. Regardless of the state she is in, my grandmother doesn't hesitate to thank me and all her caregivers for everything we do for her, even if it is simply adjusting her oxygen or putting on some chapstick. This experience is one I had never planned but one I will never forget. Although this situation is far less than ideal, I am so thankful to be apart of it. Experiences like this are life changing, and God channels that into growth. I may not be currently employed or in school, but this is where I am needed. This is where God wants me to be. |
AuthorJust your average animal-obsessed college student "Whenever you feel like criticizing any one," he told me, "just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had." Archives
March 2018
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