I Might Have A Coffee Mug Obsession...

I drink loads of coffee, tea & cocoa. I need an arsenal of coffee cups so I always have one on hand.

I have mugs from various vacation spots, different fandoms and I can't forget the owls! Silly novelty mugs are definitely a favorite. I fell in love with this one when I saw it.

I've never had a glass mug before, so I didn't know what to expect. I was initially worried about how hot it would get. 

The glass is very thick. I haven't held the body of the mug right after pouring my beverage in, but the handle stays cool. After a few minutes, I'm able to hold the whole thing without discomfort. 

The handle is thick and sturdy. There is a seam down the middle of it. I'm assuming it's from a mold. It's only bothersome on days my hands are hurting me. Damn you, Neuropathy! I don't know if this is something that would irritate someone with normal nerves. That's not a dealbreaker for me though.

Even though I have a ton of mugs, this one has been my go-to since I recieved it. At 13 ounces, it holds plenty of hot beverage. It has held up to lots of washes. The print is bold, clear and great quality. 

As a photographer, who constantly says and writes "Today I shot a baby, a family, my sister, etc.", this mug was just too perfect! I think the quality is great and it is quite durable, even in my clumsy hands. I give it 5 out of 5 stars and would totally recommend it. I would even check out Make Em Laugh's Amazon shop for more silly drinkware.

Grab one here.

I received this product at a discount. This review is 100% honest, unbiased, and my own.

~Crystal Vicious

More Matcha

I tried Matcha for the first time last year. I have been hooked ever since. I am always excited to try out new brands. 

I still haven't gotten around to getting the tools to make Matcha the traditional way. I just fill my tea infuser with one teaspoon of powder and steep and stir until it dissolves. I drink ceremonial matcha several times a week and I add culinary matcha to smoothies as well as baked goods. 

Minister's Morning Matcha is organic ceremonial Matcha. It's on the pricey side, but it comes in a gorgeous storage container. Even the box it comes in is fancy with gold lettering. It would be great as a gift!  

The Matcha powder comes sealed in a bag for freshness. I emptied mine into the cute storage container. It is currently filled to the top, so it is very messy when opening and closing. Matcha dust goes everywhere even though I am gentle, so be ready for clean up.

This Matcha tea is no different than the others I have tried. It is finely ground powder. It is a beautiful bright green color and has a fresh, earthy scent. It dissolved better than a few other brands I have tried. This is great because I don't make it traditionally, so I end up with lumps.

The flavor is on par with other brands as well. It has the fresh, sort of sweet, green flavor that I love. It comes with more powder than other brands I have tried, so that helps explain the price. It also is the nicest packaged Matcha I have had. I would give it 4 out of 5 stars and would recommend it, especially as a gift.

You can order some from Amazon.

I received this product at a discount. This review is 100% honest, unbiased, and my own.

~Crystal Vicious

Trying Out New Teas

The Ghograjan Tea Estate was kind enough to give me an awesome deal on some of their teas, so I just had to dive in and order a ton of it. Let's face it, I have a bit of an addiction to tea.

Each tea comes in a simple envelope. Nothing fancy, but it keeps everything fresh, so no complaints there. The labels are nice with descriptions of the tea, ingredients lists, facts about the plantation it's from, and also brewing instructions. 

I've linked each variety to their corresponding Amazon page.

Vintage Earl Grey

I am no stranger to Earl Grey, it is a tea I could drink all day long. This one is delicious.The quality of the leaves is lovely, and the aroma coming from the bag is wonderful.

There is no bitterness and steeping for 120 seconds makes a great cup for me. The Bergamot flavor is perfect. Not overpowering, but just a bit of citrus flavor. It is so much better than bagged teas. Not only is the flavor better in loose leaf, I love the process of actually making it.

I would give the Vintage Earl Grey Tea 4 out of 5 stars and I would recommend. It could be a tad bit stronger, but I usually like a more moderate flavor. It's perfect for me personally, but I know others who would like a little bit more kick from an Earl Grey.

Royal Masala Chai

I am also I huge fan of any and all types of Chai tea. It's such a fun, spicy beverage. Opening the bag is an amazing experience. The smell of cinnamon, cardamom, ginger and cloves fills the air. Yummy! 

Again, just steep for 120 seconds and you have a perfect cup. You can add milk and sugar, but I usually have my chai black. It's a perfect blend of tea and spices. I could drink it every day. 

I give the Masala Chai 5 out of 5 stars, I absolutely love it! The aroma is so delicious as it the taste! 

Lavender Delight

I was definitely excited about trying the Lavender Delight tea. Lavender is my favorite plant, scent, etc., yet I have never consumed it. I really didn't know what to expect, so I just jumped right into it. Oh my goodness! When I opened the bag, it smelled like the lavender sachets I keep around. Beautiful!

I didn't really know what to expect for taste. The lavender bits were mixed with black tea which was lovely. There was just the faintest taste of lavender. It tasted the way is smells, just a tiny hint of floral. It was amazing. I had a cup before bed with some fruit and it was a lovely experience. 

Lavender Delight gets a 5 out of 5 from me! It was so good. I will be adding a cup of this to my nightly routine. Amazing! I would totally recommend. The floral taste was brilliant.

I loved everything about these teas! They are sourced straight from India from a 5th Generation Tea Plantation where the leaves are withered, rolled, oxidized and dried to perfection. The teas are made with beautiful, fresh ingredients! I will be ordering some of their other flavors once I have room to store more tea.

I received this product at a discount. This review is 100% honest, unbiased, and my own.

~Crystal Vicious

I Got A New Tea Kettle!

By now you must realize I am a tea enthusiast. There is almost always a cup of tea in my hand, all day, every day!

Sadly in NH, the water is full of minerals that quickly ruin tea kettles. My kettle was looking pretty sad. It was time to find a new one. 
Enter this beautiful kettle from Chefs Limited. 

It's stainless stain with a black enamel coating on the outside only. It is a much larger kettle than the last few I have used at 2.75 quarts! That's plenty of hot water for everyone!

The handle is made with silicone. It does get very warm. It's fine if I heat my water up on low and remove it quickly. If it's on there a long while, I would recommend an oven mitt, because it can be uncomfortable. The lid is stainless steel as well. The knob is not stainless steel, but something coated in plastic and held on with a screw. It seems pretty cheap and gets extremely hot! I would not recommend removing the lid until the kettle cools. With that being said, the company does recommend that you leave it open to air dry when not in use to prevent rust. Every time I boil water, I dump the excess, and leave the lid open. I haven't had any rust formation yet.

The spout cover/whistle is removable. The ring is cool to the touch for easy removal. I JUST turned the burner off and was able to hold onto the ring. The whistle doesn't work if you are heating the kettle on low, but if you turn up the heat it has a nice, chill whistle. I dig it.

There is one thing I should point out. The handle is held on by nuts and bolts that are attached on the INSIDE of the pot. You WILL cut your hand on them when you hand wash this unless you are CAREFUL! I was not expecting sharp things inside and I jacked up my hand pretty good. 

For the most part I love this kettle. It looks cute in my kitchen. It's easy enough to rinse it out and air dry it. I doubt I will need to clean it heavily that often, so the exposed bolts thing is more of a general warning than a con. The whistle is perfect! Removing it is easier then holding it open like other kettles. The handle is better than some I have owned, and I don't mind whipping out an oven mitt. Waiting for the lid to cool before removing it is a bit of an inconvenience but not awful. I give this tea kettle 4 out of 5 stars.

 Grab one on Amazon.

I received this product at a discount. This review is 100% honest, unbiased, and my own.

 ~Crystal Vicious

Definitely NOT Vodka

I drink a lot of coffee and I collect a lot of silly things. My coffee mug collection is pretty extensive. I feel that they are a fun way to express my personality and my interests. If you know me, you know vodka is one of my favorite things! This silly mug has pretty much lived on my desk since the day I got it. 

When I saw this cute mug from Got Me Tipsy, I just had to have it. It's so me. At the same time, it is also perfect for my best friend. I struggled with the thought of keeping it, or gifting it to her. The shop has a matching one that says "Definitely Not Wine". I think I will be grabbing that one as a gift for her, because I could not part with this one. 

The mug is white in color and holds 11 ounces of "beverage". It is made of ceramic. It is microwave and dishwasher safe. The silly text is printed on both sides and is of nice quality, and so far is holding up great. It's a simple shape, so it is very easy to clean. 

I have small hands, so I can fit three fingers through the handle with room for a fourth. I love this in the cold months, for warming my hands up.

I love this mug. It has simple, clean lines, a cute font, and the saying is hilarious. It's holding up very well to being used multiple times a day for coffee, tea, and other "beverages" I know a few people that would love one. 

I give it 4 out of 5 stars.  It's the perfect gift for the lush/quirky friend or family member in your life.

Grab one from Got Me Tipsy's shop on Amazon.

I received this product at a discount. This review is 100% honest, unbiased, and my own. 

~Crystal Vicious