Review: Lavender Sunset // Townshend's Tea
I’ve been feeling a little off for a while now. Between the bickering in U.S. politics, the shooting in Orlando, and finally last night the Brexit vote — just the state of world affairs is enough to drive someone crazy. Add in a busy week, or month, or two months at work. Pile on top the complexities and physical exhaustion of everyday life — banks, 6am flights, illness — and we get last night.
Finally somewhere around 9:30 I started to lose it, just exasperated at everything that’s happening. I watch too much CNN, I know. It’s my own damn fault.
I tried to go to sleep but couldn’t stop thinking. I couldn’t shut off. I knew it wasn’t as dramatic as my mind wanted to make it but my mind already went there. I was making myself sick to my stomach.
Woke up this morning feeling like there was no better occasion to take a mental health day than today. And that’s just what I did. Thank you work.
To get myself out of this mental fog and try to put on my rose colored glasses again, I have been having a completely Sara-centric day. I had tea outside on our deck early in the morning. I watched You’ve Got Mail, my favorite guilty pleasure movie (maybe my hands-down favorite movie, who says it has to be guilty). I took a leisurely hour long lunch nap. I plan on making rice krispy treats. And then I plan on reading in our hammock.
By now, I’m feeling significantly better already. There’s a mental switch that has to happen and I was bordering on whether this was going to turn towards the positive or towards a more anxiety-ridden day.
I will say that starting the day with tea, outside in our backyard, in fresh air and with an adorable though sometimes annoying cat, definitely started things off right.
I have a bundle of teas that I’ve purchased but haven’t gotten to try yet and the Townshend’s Tea Company Lavender Sunset tea was one of them. I knew I wanted something soothing and calming this morning so as I was shuffling through my tea this morning this one stood out.
The description on the front of the bag says:
A calming blend of lavender flowers, rose petals, blackberry and raspberry leaves, orange peel, sage and lemon verbena.
The lavender, rose and lemon had me sold. I brewed up a fresh cup, wandered outside and sat down on our deck in front of the grass and lemon tree.
I have to say I was really surprised by how much I liked this tea. It has a bit of a grassy smell right out of the package but it comes through really nicely when brewed.
This tea reminds me most of a chamomile in spirit. The lavender and rose petals give it that soothing feel I wanted. They make the tea taste smooth somehow. The sage is really wonderful and brings a lovely depth to the tea that I didn’t expect. And the lemon verbena shines through helping to makes this more of a bright, happy tea to start the day rather than a purely relaxing option for bedtime.
I know the name of this tea is Lavender Sunset but I think Lavender Sunrise is more appropriate. While I’m sure this tea would be wonderful at night, I think the brightness and optimism of it are better suited for the morning. It feels full of possibility.
I’m happy I landed on this tea this morning. It was just what I needed to help make that mental shift and I think it will be perfect for any morning that feels like it could use a little more spark.
Lovely little things:
- Just an update that I’m fully loving those Victoria’s Secret satin pajamas. Perfect for summer. Unfortunately sold out :(
Currently reading
- A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin (don't expect this to change for a while)
