My love affair with Tea!

Sodas can have some serious negative effects on your body when consumed regularly and I really want to take steps to a healthier lifestyle. I’ve actually succeeded at cutting soda out and I’ll tell you why...

I treat myself to tea.

I think we all like to be treated to something special. When I would bring a soda or an energy drink to work I felt like it was a special treat to myself; a pick-me-up for the long work day. When my heart started to flutter from drinking too many energy drinks I decided to stop and stop fast.

My treasured Finding Nemo thermos

Now, instead of bringing sodas or energy drinks to work I brew myself my own cup of green tea every morning with a spoonful of local honey. It's healthier, cheaper and with still enough caffeine (you can also get decaffeinated) to brighten your day.

Plain tea can be a healthful, calorie-free beverage, but be careful how much cream, sugar, and flavorings you add into your cup, add too many and your once-healthful drink becomes a rich dessert. I favor natural honey because unlike processed sugar and artificial sweeteners, honey is antioxidant rich and does your body good while taking the edge off your tea.

Laboratory studies suggest that tea may reduce cholesterol levels, help prevent blood clotting, lower the risk of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, heart disease, and even fight inflammation, cancer, and seasonal allergies.

Also ladies, studies suggest these possible health benefits specifically for women:


• Black and green tea may lower risk for ovarian cancer.

• Green tea may reduce breast cancer risk.

There are several different teas to choose from, each one delicious and beneficial in it's own right. Try them out!

Honey mask

“No honey before honey, Honey” – Winnie the Pooh

1 tsp. honey
1 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 tsp. cinnamon

Add the ground nutmeg and cinnamon to a small bowl. Then add the honey last so your measurement spoon does not get sticky. Thoroughly mix the ingredients. I’ve noticed that this isn’t quite enough honey to get the mask to the consistency I want, so I add very small amounts of water until the mixture looks like image above. The goal is to keep it thick so it will not run or drip.
Apply the mask to your face for 30 minutes and rinse.

This mask is a great natural way of reducing acne and smoothing out your skin. When I was younger I had a bad encounter with acne that left me less than perfect skin. I started using this mask and already I can tell the difference. Also, I love how the smell reminds me of Christmas, my favorite time of year!

Let’s check out the benefits…

Nutmeg - is an anti-inflammatory used for skin problems such as rosacea and eczema.

Honey - Honey is a natural anti-oxidant and anti-microbial which can help protect the skin from damage & helps rejuvenate damaged skin. Honey absorbs impurities from the pores, which makes it a great cleansing facemask. Honey is also an amazing moisturizer & helps keep moisture locked into your skin.

Cinnamon (optional) - Cinnamon is an exfoliant and can stimulate the pores, which helps the nutmeg & honey to work better on the skin. Cinnamon is/was used as an antiseptic, astringent and anti-fungal remedy among other things.