Saving Money Brewing Tea With Honey

I haven't yet figured out what home business to start, but for the time being, I figure I could try to be more frugal than I usually am. Taking steps to save money is also a move in the direction of financial freedom.

Yesterday I bought 100 black tea bags for one dollar. I made 2 quarts of iced tea using 4 tea bags, that's .04 cents for what I usually spend over $2.00 purchasing already brewed at McDonald's. Plus, I could add a few spoonfuls of my own honey rather than tons of sugar or worse. This gave it just a touch of sweetness without over doing it.

For quite awhile my drink splurge was Sobe Green Tea with honey, $1.68 for 32 ounces at my local Subway. I found out this was actually honey "flavor" not real honey. Eww! I need to get back to adding drops of real honey to my tea to help treat my seasonal allergies. From now on, I vow to brew my own and keep a glass pitcher of iced tea available to me in the fridgy.

How does honey help my allergies better than over the counter drugs?  Years ago I started consuming a small spoonful of LOCAL honey everyday. This exposed my immune system to local allergens year round, allowing my body to adjust. After a year of doing this, I noticed a summer went by where I wasn't bothered like I usually was. The next summer, same story. I no longer needed allergy medication. This summer, I'm hoping for the best,  but honestly, I fell off the honey wagon and haven't been consuming honey everyday. We'll see what happens this first week of June.

Running On Fumes Today

A dark chocolate IV would be nice. Instead I'm trying to get rolling here with lots of Sleepytime tea. Ironic because last night I don't recall falling asleep. I only remember the thought of trying to fall asleep, and I have no recollection of dreaming. So why am I just now drinking Sleepytime when the sun has just risen?

I seem to be twisted up, reversed.

A Facebook friend of mine believes insomnia strikes her whenever there is something she needs to be doing but isn't getting around to. Thinking about my sleepless night, I think it had more to do with my decision not to take any pain meds for my shoulder.

I thought my shoulder was getting better. A friend showed me a soft tissue manipulation technique I could do and after her adjustment it did feel better. I taught the technique to DH and he gave me an adjustment before bed. Maybe it felt worse because it's now getting better? (Hope...Hope!) 

Or maybe I was REMless in the Sleepyhouse because I drank a quart of green tea yesterday? Isn't it written somewhere 5-6 cups of green tea day is beneficial? Of course I hadn't had that much green tea in awhile. I'm sure the caffeine was a jolt to my system.

I listened to my Jon Gabriel visualization download as the sun rose. I'm suppose to listen to it each NIGHT before I go to bed. When I finally gave up and resolved I wasn't going to fall asleep, even for a few early morning hours, I thought I might as well begin this day as relaxed as possible.

I enjoy his visualization mediation, but I'm thinking about creating my own. I think it would be even more effective if I used MY voice to record the guided relaxation/visualization. If I listen on my MP3 player to my actual voice, I'm sure it would resonate stronger with my subconscious. I'll have to see if we have a microphone and recording capabilities on our PC. Of course Jon's has this vibey background music. I don't know if we have any mixing software, but I think the cool music adds to the effect.

At my work they are starting a weight loss/healthy living competition. Its based on the book, The Game On Diet. I'm not sure I'm going to read the book. I read a review its full of profanity, although supposedly the "diet" advice is good. It could be fun to join up with others, but at this time, I really feel I want to continue working with the Gabriel method. I think taking a hard look within myself is healing me and bringing me toward a permanent change towards health and wellness.

Remember that creepy dad at the pool I told you about who always stares at my girls. Last night karma cracked me up. We were alone in the unusually quiet lobby. He let a big one rip. I don't think I will ever feel intimidated when he stares at my chest again. I will always remember his tooting and laugh hysterically inside to myself!!

Interestingly now in my visualization practice, I have begun to see myself in shape and healthy. Maybe I just had to give it time and practice, or maybe I'm accepting I don't have to be a victim?

Pain and discomfort have a different meaning in life for me now. They are tools I use to grow stronger. Life isn't happening TO me, but rather FOR me.

Wow, isn't it interesting how my brain will still fire when so sleep deprived? Or am I thinking so clearly because I'm running on fumes boosted by hot beverages? (I confess, I snuck a mug of cocoa in between Sleepytime hits.)

I think now that my insides are warmed along with my brain waves, I'll bundle up and head out into the world so it can pour sunshine on my face. Peace and blessings to you this fresh Friday!

Love In Every Sip, Weekend Fun

Do you like my new tea bowl, I mean tea mug? DH insisted on buying it for me because he said it was made for me. I love the color, and I love drinking tea. Its great to brew two cups at once, and I'm sure it will make a wonderful ice cream, I mean, cereal bowl as well. Its making a great hand warmer too, since it takes both of mine to hold it.

Sunday Bloody Sunday, poor DS soon to be 12 had several flash flood nose bleeds. I think the sight of all the blood made him feel ill the rest of the day and night. He said it looked like a crime scene and in truth it did. I tried to clean everything up as best I could, but I'm sure if Dexter Morgan shows up with his blood spill kit, I'm busted. It can be very scary seeing blood gush out of you like that. I assured him he wasn't going to die and we just kept applying pressure. The bleeds would stop but an hour or so later another tsunami would surprise us. So far this morning, he seems to be doing okay except for a little bit of a sore throat.

In between nose bleeds, we remarkably all enjoyed lunch at Red Lobster in honor of DS soon to be 12. He ate his fill of cheddar biscuits. I told the waiter to skip the birthday sundae and just bring DS his own basket of biscuits.

There was a family party sitting near us celebrating their patriarch's milestone. He didn't get a sundae either but rather a large glass of chocolate milk! :) I don't know how old the gentleman was, but as I watched him, I hoped my son would some day be that blessed to be sitting in Red Lobster surrounded by his great grandchildren. 

Thinking About Tea & Exercise Planning

Yumi thought you may be interested in how I store so much tea in my pantry. I use a cardboard flat to hold the boxes and when a box gets low, I move the few remaining tea bags to this plastic shoe box. These sit nicely on the top shelf in my pantry and I can slide them out when I want to rummage for a tea fix.

I need this Friday. I have a few errands to run, but other than that, I'm planning on recharging today. My to do list for this weekend is stacked.

I was tempted by the Tread Climber, until I saw the price. We already have a treadmill, but I find it boring. I'm sure if we did purchase a tread climber, I would eventually grow bored with it as well.

My problem is, winter is coming, and I know the day will come when I can't walk outside. I have to think of something to keep my workouts going. Mall walking won't work because I'd have to drive 20 miles one way, to the nearest mall each day. Maybe I'll buy ice grippers for my winter boots. That's my main worry about walking in winter, slipping on ice.

I should start swimming again, but to be honest, do I want to drive in to work on the days I'm not scheduled just to work out? The commute time is equivalent to the exercise time. I don't think I'd stick with it, having to give up so much of my free time.

I'm just going to have to put myself on a schedule, make myself walk the treadmill while watching TV and maybe mix it up with Wii Fit and maybe as much outdoor activity as I can manage.

Celestial Seasonings True Blueberry Tea

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Other

I love this tea. The flavor is delicate, yet refreshing. For a commercial tea you can buy in any grocery store, the quality impresses rather than disappoints.

I know its actually not a tea. Its really Hibiscus and Rosehips with natural blueberry flavor bringing up the rear of the ingredient list. The blueberry really presents itself though, rather than getting lost.

I can never drink only one cup. I always have to brew two!

Honeybush tea

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Other

Its not officially tea, but rather a bush which grows in Africa. Some say it tastes like honey, and I suppose there is a hint of similarity there. To me, I pick up more a dried fruit vibe, although we're definitely not talking fruit cake here! It is similar to Rooibos tea, another Africa tea, only sweeter.

The tea is naturally sweet, and caffeine free. Some say the tea is good for upper respiratory health, and helps regulate blood sugar. Its low in tannins, and other health claims are its good for easing menopausal symptoms, prevents cancerous tumors, repairs sun damage and aids digestion.

I prefer it hot to iced, as the weather turns chilly. It certainly qualifies in my book as a hug in a cup.

Check out http://www.itmonline.org/arts/honeybush.htm