There’s nothing more therapeutic than a good cup of hot tea.  I’m a lipton girl, I use tea bags.  This will hopefully give you an understanding about how confused I was when I realized this was loose tea.  Much to my surprise, I’ve been sipping this stuff daily. My mother had a cup as well, and now she’s dipping into my tea stash too!  First of all, I’m a sucker for packaging.  These little cardboard canisters are chic and simple, making them fabulous.

All you do is scoop a spoonful into the clothbag and steep it into your mug or tea kettle of hot water. A little honey and sugar, and it’s perfection!  At first I thought, this is going to be way too much work for a cup of tea!  But the 8 seconds of labor really, really pays off.  I’m an old fashioned girl, so I was completely content with the Royal English Breakfast blend ($13.95).  Apparently, Beyonce and Taylor Swift love the Sassy Green Tea with Acai.  Smart choice ladies.  Acai (pronounced Ah-Sah-Yee) is amazing for the body!  For the more eclectic tea drinker, Tea Village Co. also offers white, jasmine, oolong and an assortment of other varieties. One canister will yield 40-45 servings of tea.  Yes, anything over $5 is a bit pricey for tea, but don’t we all love a little relaxing getaway every once and awhile.  I think so.  I’m re-ordering!

Note: This product was sent to me by a PR representative for review.

I took a very spur of the moment trip to NYC this weekend. It may have been a dumb decision, since my first student loan payments are due in a few weeks. ($500+, if you are in high school or college, do whatever you have to do to get grants and scholarships! You’ll be thankful in the years to come!) Oh well. You only live once.

I go to NYC every other month or so, and I never want to look like a tourist. I never take pics of the things you see on tv, because I’m getting used to seeing them. But this time, I figured I would look like all of the random people walking around at a glacial pace with huge paparrazi cameras around their necks. There are many of you who have never been to NYC! So, at my expense, take a look at my (hopeful) future home, NYC.

Puerto Rican Day Parade! It hadn’t started yet in this picture, but people were lining up. It was really inspirational to see a group of people so proud of their heritage.

The window display at Gucci

The window display at Chanel

Are you a sophisticated lady? Well, Chanel has some ideas of just what will keep you smiling during the hot Summer months!!! Click the image to see a larger view.

Inside the infamous Magnolia Bakery. This one was outside of Rockefeller Center. I love the location in the Village most.

The Angel Sanchez above? Wow. It was stunning. If I have an evening wedding, locs in a high, neat bun, and wanted a sultry, sexy look, I’d have to have this dress. No doubt about it. My makeup would be a clean face with a deep crimson lip. *squeal*

Back View of the Vera Wang

This Vera Wang was my all time favorite! I’ve always dreamed of a strapless wedding gown, either sleek and simple or large and robust. When I saw the Wang garment, I screamed. That was my only reaction. It was SO beautiful. Click the image to see a larger version. Be careful, your heart may skip a beat!!!

There’s so much more to come, be on the lookout!! I’m working on a Natural Hair FAQ video, as well as a dedication to Make Up For Ever and Becca, plus I’m continuing my celebrity makeup tutorial series! The fun never ends at Scandalous Beauty!!!