4 ways to cope with Anxiety

For the last few months I have been contemplating this post, over and over again. Each moment it comes back to me, the urge to write this, fear takes over. It is that very emotion which stops many like me from saying what lies behind it.....Anxiety.

It stops even the most dedicated parent from going to their child's recital or a student asking an important question close to exam time. It is an invisible illness that affects many of those we love.

I have been silently coping with my own Anxiety since I was in grade 6. It was only late last year that I finally accepted the reality of its effects on my life. Growing up we are expected to "get a hold" of our anxiety and carry on with life. This is not something that you can just get over, just like any other mental illness. To help others like myself, here are some ways to help you cope.

Meditation

It is no surprise that it helps with anxiety. Quieting the mind does wonders for the body overall. Anxiety can bring forth the inner voice of doubt and fear. When you sit in silence for meditation, focusing only on your breath, those inner voices quiet or die.

Journaling

Everyday we have many many thoughts, these can even continue even when we are turning in for sleep. Taking up the practice to let all your thoughts out onto the page, will help you sleep soundly. If you usually have to-do lists running through your mind, perhaps take up bullet journaling. This way you can have your mind clear ,and all your to-dos together.

Counselling

Talking to a third-party really helps us see more of the picture which makes up our lives. Certain scripts that have been running through our minds can be addressed through this way. Failure, guilt, overwhelm, fear etc can be boiled down to something so small where you can finally go about your day.

Exercise

Run, yoga, weights or cardio. Whatever your choice is get on it, turn on some tunes to get your in the grove (or just block out everything else). If you need to go at it alone then that is okay but over time try to go to group classes, or invite a friend to join you. Being around others for a class while working out is a great way to re-introduce yourself to being around others in a comfortable environment. Activities such as these have been proven to improve mood and sleep. Both of which can be affected by anxiety. Add this into your routine to combat anxiety head on.

When it comes to anxiety the more tools in your tool belt the better. None of us are alone with the global community which has been created by the internet.

Do you or someone you know have anxiety? Or have any other ways of coping ? Share your thoughts with the community in the comments below.

Irresistible Tea Fundraiser for George Brown College Scholarships and Nanny Angel Network on April 10

  I was contacted over the weekend by some lovely ladies about "TEAlightful".  Their e-mail  touched me that all the proceeds go to both George Brown College Scholarships and the Nanny Angel Network.  I love it when people give back to those around them.

   You must be wondering what is planned during the event. First of there are two sessions : 10am till 12:30pm  and 1:30pm till 4pm.  Attendees have a wide arrange of things to check out! There will be plenty of tea and food samples, but also some workshops, tea leaf readings, photo booth, live entertainment, raffle and more.
   This group responsible for this fun filled are in their last year of the George Brown College Special Events Planning Program. Props to these lovely ladies and their selfless efforts to promote tea through their final project!
   I put together this post to promote their event as I believe in their cause and also wanted to support them as a George Brown College Alumni. Much love ladies and to all who attend this event.
       For more information check out their website TEAlightful , twitter or instagram.

Spring Celebrations: Teas being made and festivals around the world

While it may not feel like Spring, luckily we have small subtle clues to give us hope for the warmer weather. Perhaps you saw crocuses peeking out of a garden (or lawn) or just counting your blessings for no more snow. Noticing these small things can make a HUGE difference in your day by just noticing them however small. It is time to start thinking about what teas you will drink this season and which ones to stock up on.  Fresh Spring crops are on the way, let's take a look at some main tea growing areas and what is going on over the next few months for Spring.

Japan

    In all the various tea growing regions are gearing up for the first harvest of the year as their plants slowly wake up form their winter hibernation. From now to May we can expect all the first flushes to begin to become available, while others there is a little wait on. 
Currently, the Japanese Cherry Blossoms are beginning to bloom. Many are waiting eagerly as we wait for the best time to view the blossoms  in Japan (and across the world).  In Japanese this  time is called Hanami. The word means Flower viewing, "hana" meaning flower and "mi" meaning to watch or see.  Of course this is exactly what brings people together to admire the blossoms at all times of the day with a packed meal (bento) and sake, or tea.  

China

Leading up to  the Qingming Festival (Typically April 4 or 5) is when all those extra fresh young leaves are plucked for teas ranging from white to green. During this time, before the festival, the most sought after teas are processed.

   The festival is a time for families to clean out their family tombs and grave sites. Together as a family the cleaning is done which ends with a family tea and , of course, some tea. 

Taiwan

 The big difference between the mainland and Taiwan is that delicious Oolongs are being processed (#yumm)! Most of the greener Oolongs are on their way, such as Four Springs, Ali shan and Bao Zhong.  The first flushes are all processed from March to April, with time for family in between. Being so close to China it is no surprise that Taiwan also observed "Tomb Sweeping Day" which is known as Qingming Festival.  

India

The Holi Festival is long over and first flushes are almost finished. These teas were picked from around mid-March until about the second week of May. These leaves are typically used for Darjeeling, which is known for its light body that is often compared to champagne and Taiwanese Oolongs. 

With so many teas to choose from pick out an old favorite from your stash to celebrate the spring season (and fresh teas to come).  In the comments below share which Spring harvested tea your are eager for.

Unplugged: 4 Tips to Take Control of Your Social Media Cravings

Throughout October we are going to focus on being present by unplugging. "Unplugged" is going to help you find things to do when you just want to disconnect. It can be 10 minutes or a whole day. Take a chance and join us. All unplugged posts can be found here.

Do you remember the first time you created a social media account? Perhaps it was facebook to connect with friends and family. Or even Instagram or twitter. My first account was Facebook back in 2007. At the time it was handy to catch up with friends from High School or even plan outings. But since then there has been an increasing amount of studies that connect it to depression, anxiety or worse. But this is when you spend hours (or a whole day) on it. It takes dedication , control and some tricks to take control of this consumption.

     While writing this I have got notifications from Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus. I am just as guilty of being on Social Media too much. My "poison" is Instagram, but I avoid Facebook.  This is because I feel the social pressure to get married, have kids etc. On the other side is the negativity that is just constant for some that I just can not bring myself to unfriend, I care about them so much. My choice is to choose when I look at these platforms and also monitor the time I spend (less than 5 min on Facebook is my record low).  But it I had to use a few little things to help me get there and I hope they help you. Use the following tips to take control of your social media habits

Leave Priority Mode On

    My favorite trick, which my phone left on one day. I got work done and when I truly had a bit of time to update I could. No sounds go off which means no calls for attention from any platform.

Put it on Airplane Mode

   Take advantage of this built in feature of your devices. Turn it on when you have work to do or out with family. Being present is better than letting others look at back of your phone.

  Use a "Self Control" App

An App like this (such as Productivity Owl) will allow you to set times or days that you can look at social media. But it blocks them until then. And if you need a bit of info (maybe an event address) you can go to the page but once the timer is up, the window will be closed on you.

Log Out

This will make you think before you check messages or updates as you are completely logged out of all your platforms of choice. While it may come off extreme, it works.


How do you feel about how social media has developed over the years? Share your opinion, negative or positive, in the comments below.

Learning from a master: New read from Sen Genshitsu Urasenke Grand Master XV

  A few years ago I was fortunate enough to stumble upon " Tea Life, Tea Mind" which was written by the former Urasenke Grand Master. It inspired my life with tea at that time. Growing up in western culture it is hard at times to grasp other cultures. It was the words from Sen Genshitsu, his perspective, that changed how I viewed tea.
    What changed was how he explained everything in a simple way that anyone could understand. This week I received his other book "The Enjoyment of Tea". I am looking forward to learning more about his life with tea and his view on everything that is related. Most of all I look forward to how it will inspire me to create posts to share with all of you. So I hope you have the kettle on, because I can not wait to share things from this book with you.

Is there someone who inspires your tea? A master? Fellow student? Tell me about them in the comments below. I look forward to hearing about who you admire.

Urban Oasis: East Beach Bowmanville

Urban Oasis is a collection of images of spaces in cities where we can take a few moments to connect with nature, find balance and peace. Past posts from the series can be found here.

   A few weeks ago a friend and I were exploring the local beach and got some great shots. This little piece of land comes out from the beach and gave quite the view of Lake Ontario. The area is really called " Port Darlington Waterfront Park" but the street name is East Beach Road. As there are two beaches in the area I feel that the latter is in wider use among us locals. 

 

I hope this inspired you to explore a beach near you, but if you are in the area here is a map to find this beach. Feel free to send me an e-mail if you do visit, I would love to meet you.

Planner Kits: Studio Calico and Happie Scrappie

      Along my Tea Journey I found that intentional planning, planning to reach your highest potential, keeps you focused on your goals. So this weekend I thought I would share my favorite planner kit subscriptions. These are great kits that can make planning even more fun by adding a little cuteness  to the planner that you use, no matter what format you have.
     

       This first planner kit is by Happie Scrappie , Sam, who works with a team to create adorable dashboards and inserts. The kit I have here is the June kit which had a summer Treats theme. Who can say no to this adorable set of goodies? Sam has three different kits to choose from: A5 Size (shown), Personal sized and Fauxdori.
     What is in this A5 kit? A Happie Scrappie dashboard, 8 Happie Scrappie project life cards, Happie Scrappie note pad, Happie Scrappie planner inserts, fine tipped pen, assorted stickers (including some Happie Scrappie Exclusives), Page flag set, charm, washi tape roll and washi tape sticker sheets.
      If you are looking for cuteness for your planner then I highly suggest to check out the Happie Scrappie Store to check out the subscriptions and other goodies.

 
  Since the end of July I have been looking at Studio Calico, after a pre-order of a personal sized planner...I got on their waiting list for their planner kit. This is July's Planner kit "Fairground". I adore the use of of scrapbooking papers and their own systems for creating the "Work Hard- Play Hard" dashboard (I fell in love with the gold foil, can you blame me?).  This kit only comes with personal sized dashboards but you can easily adapt it for other types of planners.
    This kit was packaged in this plastic case when it was mailed out. It is great as I can organize my supplies with it. Included in this kit were: two dashboards (one opaque gold foil paper and one velum), two different sticker sheets, kit exclusive post-its, two washi tapes, a gold binder clip and a kit exclusive stamp set. Each months kit has an overall theme (such as August is Pop Art) and has various goodies to help you stay organized and a little crafty with your planner.
    Studio Calico has various other kits, such as Scrapbooking and Project Life, check out the subscription page for more information.


** All opinions are my own. Both subscriptions are paid by me.


 Do you use your planner to reach your goals? Share in the comments below! 
P.S. Feel free to link to images of your planner to share how you keep yourself motivated with your planning. Peace everyone!

Lolë White Tour 2015 Toronto, Fort York August 22nd

   It's summer and that means it was time to snatch up some tickets for this years Lole White Tour. Last year the event was held inside the Royal Ontario Museum, was an experience I will remember for years to come. Having a live mini orchestra to acompany the event with others who are like minded made me (and many others) cry at how loving a community we live in.
     The event is held in many locations around the world throughout the summer, sometimes even extending a bit into the fall. Some of the locations include Paris, New York City, and Montreal.
  This year they are hosting it outside at Fort York at (gasp) 8 am. Morning yoga has a special place in my heart as it sets the right tone for the rest of the day. It let's you clear your mind before processing everything else that is on your to-do list.
    My favorite thing about this year is the commemorative top that was designed especially for the event by Lole Women. It brings about a calmness and also reminds me of my dedication to mindfulness along my tea journey.
    Check out their page for the event for a location near you, here. If there is not one near you try setting up a day at your local Yoga Studio and add some moving meditation to your tea practice.

Do you practice yoga or meditation (or both) as part of your tea practice? Share your experience and how it effects your tea journey in the comments below. Satnam.

Urban Oasis:Toronto Ripley's Aquarium of Canada Lion Fish

Urban Oasis is a collection of images of spaces in cities where we can take a few moments to connect with nature, find balance and peace. Past posts from the series can be found here.

 If you have not got the chance to visit the Toronto Aquarium or are visiting sometime soon, here it is on a map. Other local attractions include The CN Tower and Rogers Center.

Urban Oasis: Toronto Ripley's Aquarium of Canada Shark Reef

Urban Oasis is a collection of images of spaces in cities where we can take a few moments to connect with nature, find balance and peace. Past posts from the series can be found here.

 If you have not got the chance to visit the Toronto Aquarium or are visiting sometime soon, here it is on a map. Other local attractions include The CN Tower and Rogers Center.

Digital Table: Global Tea Hut April 2015

Welcome to the Digital Table where you are part of a global conversation with tea. Global Tea Hut is a Non-Profit Organization that sends out a sampling of tea, a gift and a special magazine. Everything is brought together by the community to spread the love of tea, Dao and Zen. Join us to discuss the current packet from Global Tea Hut.
  This series was created because the message from Global Tea Hut touched me. It is of my own creation and I receive nothing from them ,but good karma of spreading their message and cause . All past posts can be found under "Digital Table" here

Autumn 2014 "Temple Mist" Green Tea  Wu Liang, Yunnan

    After a little hiatus Digital Table is back with a new set up, let's jump into this packets tea! This time around Global Tea Hut sent the most lovely green tea I have had in a while. It just begged to be brewed but I let the tea rest for two weeks so it could get over its "jet-lag". This lets it get accustomed to its new home and the altitude change.
     After the enough time passed it was finally the wait was over, it was time to brew. The curly leaves offered a light yellow-green liquor with a refreshing minty touch. The smooth vegetal taste had a note that reminded me of cooked broccoli. This tea was relaxing and perfect for a late evening tea before bed or after a morning meditation (or yoga session).

Circle Towards the center by Wu De

 Fluidity while brewing can be a struggle for anyone. As part of the second installment (we are going to revisit the others over the summer) of the five basics of tea brewing series. In the series Wu De covers the 5 pillars of tea brewing are applicable to all tea practices and methods. Wu de mentions that they are the foundation to build on for most practices but bowl tea they are all you need to know.
    Going back to this issues installment, "circle towards the center". This brewing basic seems so simple in writing but it takes a little hand-eye coordination and prior practice.  This brewing tip can be broken down to two motions. First "all movements of the left hand are clock wise and" second,  "all movements of the right hand are counter-clock wise".
  Think of it like the Karate kid who used one hand to "wax on" and "wax off", going in the same pattern as this tip. The reason for using this method is to ensure nothing gets knocked over and so you can have a smooth tea session.
   Everything you have placed on the left side of your tea space will only be held by your left hand. Which the movement flows towards yourself in a clock-wise motion. Then everything on the right side will only be held by your right hand with a movement that flows in a counter-clock wise motion.
   Try this out with objects that are unbreakable to practice this movement. That way if you need more practice or something slips your favorite pot is safe.

Gift: Gaba Baba Chocolate with BABA Tea

 This months gift was this lovely chocolate (which I ate most of before taking photos). I'll admit I was unsure what I was going to get myself into when I noticed that turmeric was an ingredient. After getting over my prior thoughts, I tried it. The turmeric was subtle within the chocolate. Overall the chocolate was just what I needed to sweeten up the end of my day.

Global Tea Hut is a digital community where tea drinkers enjoy the same tea(s) every month across the world. It is subscription based where all the proceeds go towards a non-profit tea center (Tea Sage Hut) in Taiwan that is open to all. For more information on Global Tea Hut and the center please visit them at:

Global Tea Hut

Tea Sage Hut

**All opinions are my own and subscription is paid by me, as a donation to the tea center

Urban Oasis:Toronto Ripley's Aquarium of Canada Dangerous Lagoon

Urban Oasis is a collection of images of spaces in cities where we can take a few moments to connect with nature, find balance and peace. Past posts from the series can be found here.

 If you have not got the chance to visit the Toronto Aquarium or are visiting sometime soon, here it is on a map. Other local attractions include The CN Tower and Rogers Center.

Happy 5th Anniversary Tea Journey

  Last night I celebrated the anniversary of Tea Journey with my family (yup cake and all). It feels life just yesterday that I signed up for the Tea Sommelier program and began to invest in this blog.
   Blog Podium last fall really pushed me in the right direction. While I can not attend this year, I am going to revisit all the information I learned before. I created a to-do list to get me to this day and I am so glad that we got a little facelift.

   Speaking of facelifts I want to introduce our new tag line "Living beyond your cup". While writing my blog business plan last month I finally picked a tag line that reflected Tea Journey. Tea Journey is not just a tea blog. It is a space that supports intentionally living beyond your cup though the ideas from people such as Lu Yu or Sen Rikyu. 

  It is about creating a life you enjoy and can remember. So keeping with this idea, I have come up with a few long term goals for Tea Journey. They are written in my planner and I am going to break down each one into simpler steps. So that more exciting things can happen before we reach the big 10.

Long Term Goals

• Write a Manifesto
• Create an e-book before the end of summer
• Experiment with my photography 
• Share some freebies

P.S. Check out last years Anniversary post here.

Have you bought a cake just because you wanted to?

Urban Oasis:Toronto Ripley's Aquarium of Canada Sea Horses

Urban Oasis is a collection of images of spaces in cities where we can take a few moments to connect with nature, find balance and peace. Past posts from the series can be found here.

 If you have not got the chance to visit the Toronto Aquarium or are visiting sometime soon, here it is on a map. Other local attractions include The CN Tower and Rogers Center.

Fushimi Inari-Taisha Shrine Plush Fox Charm (Omamori)

  Ever since I started to "fall down the rabbit hole" of learning about Japanese culture, shrine charms were at the top of my list of little must haves. In Japan they are called "Omamori", which in simplest terms is a charm. They are sold at shrines and said to provide various forms of luck. 

  

My little charm is from Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto, Japan. The main shinto Deity there is Inari who has two white foxes that act as messengers from the human world. They bring Inari all the wishes , hopes and dreams which are prayed for straight to the deity. 

    This little charm is in the form of one of those foxes and is said to bring good luck. I personally favor Inari as they are the deity of not only the arts, agriculture, business and rice but also of tea. I like to imagine little foxes keeping small pests from eating or destroying tea bushes.  What do you think?

If you are ever in Japan and want to see Fushimi Inari , 

you can find the directions below through Google maps. 

Urban Oasis: Niagara Falls

Urban Oasis is a collection of images of spaces in cities where we can take a few moments to connect with nature, find balance and peace. Past posts from the series can be found here.

     
    Mid-March for my Dad's birthday we took an overnight trip to Niagara Falls. This series are taken from our window on the 41st floor. The first two pictures are taken in the evening and the last early the next day. This body of water has such a great presence even from such a distance , and varying times of day.

These photos are taken from the Canadian side. Incase you are planning a trip to the area here is a little map ,and by the way the Hotel we stayed at was Embassy Suites by Hilton (41st floor).
   Have you stayed by the falls before? How was your experience?

Toronto 2015 Yoga Conference Shopping

Earlier this month I went with my mom to  the Toronto 2015 Yoga Conference. Being our first time we decided to see what the show floor had. It was a great shopping area which surrounds the free yoga class section in the middle. 

  My favorite offering of the show is the option to bring your old mat in exchange for a 10$ voucher. It can be used to buy a new mat from the show from one of the many vendors to choose from. My mom ended up getting a Manduka mat (that has a good weight to it) for her mainly Hot Yoga practice. 

BMat Traveller in Sunrise Red // Karmala Strappy Happy Bra in Turquoise

Goddess Guidance Oracle Cards // Lovbird Design Let Go T-Shirt

 I did not bring an old mat but I did have plans to pick up another Bmat for when I am traveling or even in Toronto for a class. The girls at the booth were very friendly and I ended up giving them a hug before we left. I was just too happy to get another mat to further my practice beyond my hometown.

    Midway through the day we ate a delicious meal that not only was healthy but energizing as well. We paired our lunch with a well deserved cup of tea from David's Tea, who had a lovely booth near the rest/eating area. It truly set the tone for the day. 

    For next year we are going to sign up for a few of the many classes that are going on over the course of the 4 day event. The whole conference was a great place to meet people who wish to further themselves through yoga meditative sequences.  I was a little sad that there were only two Tea vendors but the atmosphere made up for it. 

One of a Kind Show Spring 2015 Haul

A few weeks ago my family all loaded into the car for the ride to Toronto. While Dad went to work the rest of us hopped on the TTC and rode to the Direct Energy Building for the One of a Kind Spring Show.  Overall it was a great day to see what the spring vendors had and do a little shopping. It felt a bit smaller than the winter show but that was to be expected. I will say it made me look forward to the winter show at the end of this year.

 My favorite purchase of the whole day was this adorable kit from Kiriki Press. Within the box was everything needed to start stitching and you have a choice from different animals, and three levels of difficulty. I choose this little fox which was a level 2 doll kit. It really got into it and finished it only a few days latter. I was very inspired by the kit that I got a few more to learn more stitches. I have a latter project in mind using the skills I learn but you will have to wait till next week for that.
    Check out more of these adorable kits either on their website or on etsy.

When Shopping I had only two things on my list: Prints for my room and rings from White Feather Designs. These two prints stood out at Sea and Lake Paper Co and The Critter Co. Both just called out to me to buy them. The cardinal I had walked passed by a full step before turning around and buying it. Both pieces will be framed and put together for a "wall collage" of other framed works as part of my "Oasis" project

   I am off to try to remedy a mistake on my raccoon doll and hope you all enjoyed these finds.  Which do you like most?

Urban Oasis: Toronto Ripley's Aquarium of Canada Jellyfish

Urban Oasis is a collection of images of spaces in cities where we can take a few moments to connect with nature, find balance and peace. Past posts from the series can be found here.

Last Thursday I took a trip into Toronto with my Mom for the Yoga Conference, but we came a day too early. Rather than turning around we took the chance to spend time at the Aquarium together. We both enjoy photography and nature, so it was perfect for a rainy afternoon. 

   This installment of Urban Oasis is of the Jellyfish area. I love how colourful they can be and the array of types that the local Aquarium has. Let's look at them!

I hope you feel inspired by these lovely little creatures. They look so much like lace it makes me want to stitch up a lace-Jellyfish plush. How about you?

 If you have not got the chance to visit the Toronto Aquarium or are visiting sometime soon, here it is on a map. Other local attractions include The CN Tower and Rogers Center.

Urban Oasis: Niagara-On-The-lake

Urban Oasis is a collection of images of spaces in cities where we can take a few moments to connect with nature, find balance and find peace. Past posts from the series can be found here.

 
The last two weeks have been an adventure. Two weeks ago My family went to Niagra Falls for my Dad's birthday and for a little fun. Along our way back we stopped by Niagara-On-The-Lake and visited the small town there. Very quiet and had a lovely feel. Next time I want to find the time to sit and have tea. So happy that this little gem is just about over an hour away.

If you want to visit this location I have included a map to find it below. Don't forget to have some tea.