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Get Rid of Stress with this One Drink!

Phuong Le — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 11:53:14 +0000

Are you feeling anxious at work? Having bad luck with your love life? Are your kids driving you crazy? Well, you’ve got stress my friend. You’re probably starting to lose your hair, gaining weight, or breaking out like you’re 16 again. Stress is the ultimate beauty buster. When you feel tense, you’re inviting toxins to wreak havoc on your body. Your breathing gets quick and shallow, which keeps those toxins inside, instead of releasing them. Your anxiety raises the levels of the stress hormone cortisol in your body, which can potentially damage blood vessels, cause strain on circulation, and cut delivery of vital nutrients to your body. You can prevent this by making yourself a delicious cup of Koni Holy Detox. This caffeine free tea contains tulsi, an ancient and revered herb, which has adaptogenic qualities that can lower cortisol levels in the body. An adaptogen is a non toxic substance that will increase your body’s resistance to stress, fatigue, anxiety, and trauma. According to Dr. Narendra Singh, an adaptogen must fulfill three requirements.

It must:

Be innocuous in nature

Promote normal physiological functions of your body

Induce a SNIR in the human organism, so the body copes better with stressOf all the herbs Dr. Singh researched, Tulsi ended up being one of the best adaptogens.Koni Holy Detox, a tulsi basil tea, has a wide-range of health benefits. In India, the Tulsi herb has been widely known for its health-promoting properties — for body, mind, and spirit for over 5000 years.

Tulsi Basil

Tulsi is rich in antioxidant and renowned for its restorative powers:

Relieves stress / adaptogen

Bolsters immunity

Enhances stamina

Provides support during cold season

Promotes healthy metabolism

A natural immuno-modulatorSo what does this mean to you? Push your body towards health by incorporating 3-5 cups of Koni Holy Detox tea a day. By drinking 2 cups of this tea when you feel anxiety coming, you will lower the cortisol levels in your body, which in turn can alleviate any stress you have during the day. The act of taking time away to make yourself a cup of tea also helps. It forces you to take a step away from the situation, take a couple deep breaths, and clear your head. Even if it is just for a few minutes, it will help you handle your problems in a more efficient way.

Koni Holy Detox Herbal Tea

A healthy lifestyle and diet can help you prevent disease and illnesses. Starting today, detox, get rid of negative energy, any disgusting vices and start living a healthier and happier life!A professionally trained chef and the world’s greatest tea master, Phuong has traveled to the far reaches of our planet in search of a healthier lifestyle. Phuong is the CEO and founder of Koni Tea (http://www.KoniTea.com), the largest women owned loose leaf tea company in the market today.Through her incredible journey she has touched the lives of millions and influenced them to ‘rethink their drink’. Phuong has won countless awards, has been featured on the Food Network, and takes an active role with local charities to help her community grow and prosper.

For a glimpse into her life you can read Phuong’s critically acclaimed blog, The Tea Chick at http://www.theteachick.com.

3 Day Detox with Healthy Food: Day 2

Phuong Le — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 11:02:51 +0000

Why detox? You give your car a tune-up every six months and an oil change every 3,000 miles. Why not do that for your body – your temple of beauty – by detoxing?

When you detox, you’re healing and rejuvenating your body; you’re turning back the hands of time on aging. Detoxifying our bodies helps to eliminate toxic waste accumulations, mucus, parasites and worms (that steal what little nutrition we get or have in our bodies), excess fat, fluid buildup (cellulite), old and hardened fecal matter buildup, and many more disgusting things that sabotage optimal health.

Let’s get started with Day 2 of my 3 day detox. If you missed day 1, here is the link.

Koni Liver Cleanse Tonic

Day 2: Upon waking up – drink a tall glass of the Koni Liver Cleanse Tonic.

Help support your liver against those “morning after” feelings with this delicious tonic. Koni Holy Detox Herbal Tea contains tulsi basil which acts as an adaptogen. An adaptogen is proposed to increase the body’s resistance to stress, trauma, anxiety and fatigue. This herb is known to help the body detox and de-stress. The main liver cleansing ingredient in Koni Hangover Tonic Mate Tea is licorice root. Licorice root aids in inflammation reduction by assisting the liver in its breakdown of naturally occurring cortisone. It also act as a strong blood cleanser and neutralizes the effects of powerful chemical toxins. The addition of lemon will help your stomach digest food and prevent undigested food entering the blood stream. Another reason why it’s good as a liver detox is that it helps get rid of gallstones.

In addition to this tonic, maintaining a healthy weight can also go a long way in supporting the liver. Avoidance of smoking is another good health practice to help protect the liver from harm. Engaging in moderate regular exercise, and getting the right minerals and vitamins from a healthy, balanced diet are also highly recommended.

Ingredients:

1/4 Cup Koni Holy Detox Herbal Tea
1/8 Cup Koni Hangover Tonic Mate Tea

1 Lemon juiced
Lemon slices
Few drops of agave
Mint sprigs

5 cups of boiling water
5 cups of cold, filtered water

Directions:

Mix the two teas in a bowl and divide in half.
Place each half in an Koni 5 cup infuser.
Put the infuser in the 5 cup pot then add 5 cups of boiling water.
Add a few drops of agave to desired taste.
Add the brewed tea to a large pitcher containing 5 cups of cold water.
Add lemon juice.
Serve hot or over ice with a slice of lemon and a mint sprig.

Day 2: Breakfast – Blueberry spinach smoothie.

I know what you’re thinking. Fruit and spinach smoothie? Seriously?

You’ll be surprised! This power drink is super delicious and full of vitamins and nutrients. The benefits of spinach are amazing. It’s nutrient-rich, heart-healthy, an excellent source of iron and chlorophyll. It’s the chlorophyll in spinach that aids in cleansing the colon.

Ingredients:

1 Cup of strawberries
2 Cups of blueberries
1 Lemon juiced
2 Cups of rice/almond/soy milk
3 Handfuls of fresh spinach
1/2 Tsp apple cider vinegar
3 Cups of cold Koni Simply Slim Oolong Tea
2 Tablespoons milled flax seed
2 Tablespoons honey if desired

Directions:

Place all ingredients in your blender and blend until smooth!

Day 2: Lunch – Kale and Red Bell Pepper Salad with 2 cups of Koni Slimming Goddess Oolong Tea.

Kale, a cruciferous vegetable, contains fiber and enzymes that break down toxins and unblocks the fat burning process. In other words, kale helps you lose weight!

Ingredients:

4 Cups of raw kale, stems trimmed and torn into bite-size pieces
1 Red bell pepper diced
1 Tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil
2 Tsp of lemon juice
1/2 Clove of garlic minced
Black pepper as needed

Massage raw kale leaves with olive oil and lemon juice until they become tender and develop a buttery texture. Toss the remaining ingredients with the kale.

Perfect pairing: Koni Simply Slim Oolong Tea. Losing weight is all about maintaining a healthy diet and increasing your metabolism. The abundance of polyphenols found in this oolong tea is effective in controlling obesity. They help activate thermogenesis which increases fat oxidation in the body.

Koni Simply Slim Oolong Tea

Day 2: Workout – Yoga X, one of the hardest workouts in the P90x series. It runs at a hour an a half long, and pushes your body physically and mentally to the limit.

After my workout, I had a Koni Replenish Rooibos Smoothie. Abundant in vitamins and minerals, this organic strawberry lemon rooibos will help you quickly recover from strenuous workouts or stressful days. Relieve your tired muscles with this satisfying cup of antioxidants.

YogaX kicked my butt but I loved it!

Koni Replenish Protein Smoothie. Click on image to go to the recipe and blog.

Day 2: Dinner – Blackened Swordfish Steaks with gluten-free jambalay rice, steamed green beans and a pot of Koni Radiant Beauty White Tea.

Swordfish is very beneficial for its omega-3 fatty acids – credited with “improving cognitive function in developing children, decreasing triglycerides, lowering blood pressure, reducing blood clotting, enhancing immune function. The strongest benefit from omega-3 fatty acids is reducing the risk of sudden cardiac death, which appears to be due to decreasing the risk of abnormal heart rhythms,” according to Donald Hensrud, chairman of the Mayo Clinic’s Division of Preventive Medicine.

Searing the swordfish.

The secret to making a great swordfish steak is to not overcook it. You want the flesh to become opaque yet is still moist on the inside.

Ingredients:

Deglaze the pan with Koni Radiant Beauty White Tea.

2 Tablespoons of olive oil
2 Teaspoons chopped fresh parsley
1 Garlic clove, minced
Blackened seasoning blend
1/2 Teaspoon grated lemon peel

2 Tablespoons olive oil
4 1-inch-thick swordfish fillets (about 6 ounces each)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Mash 2 tablespoons of olive oil, parsley, garlic, and lemon peel in a small bowl.
Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in heavy large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat.
Heavily sprinkle swordfish with blackened seasoning blend. Add swordfish to skillet. Cook until browned, about 3 minutes. Turn swordfish over and transfer to oven.
Roast until just cooked through, about 10 minutes longer. Transfer swordfish to plates.
Place the pan with the fish bits over medium-high heat, deglaze the pan with Koni Radiant Beauty White Tea, and reduce to half.
Pour lemon-herb sauce into the pan with tea reduced tea liquid and stir. Pour the reduction over swordfish and serve with a side of gluten-free jambala rice. You can find the rice at any health food store.

Day 2: Before Bed – 2 cups of Koni Kapha Herbal Tea.

Add a drop of honey, a squeeze of lemon, and slices of ginger to this drink to cleanse and purify the digestive system. This perfect balance of spicy cinnamon, zesty lemon balm, and aromatic cardamom helps restore balance to your kapha energy. When kapha is balanced, the mind is peaceful and the body feels full of energy and strength. Put your body back in balance.

A healthy lifestyle and diet can help you prevent disease and illnesses. Starting today, detox, get rid of negative energy, any disgusting vices and start living a healthier and happier life!

A professionally trained chef and the world’s greatest tea master, Phuong has traveled to the far reaches of our planet in search of a healthier lifestyle. Phuong is the CEO and founder of Koni Tea (http://www.KoniTea.com), the largest women owned loose leaf tea company in the market today.Through her incredible journey she has touched the lives of millions and influenced them to ‘rethink their drink’. Phuong has won countless awards, has been featured on the Food Network, and takes an active role with local charities to help her community grow and prosper.

For a glimpse into her life you can read Phuong’s critically acclaimed blog, The Tea Chick at http://www.theteachick.com.

3 Day Detox with Healthy Food- Day 1

Phuong Le — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 11:56:17 +0000

I love to eat so it is very important to cleanse my body a few times a year to remove the toxins. Plus I really like the way it makes me feel – light, happy, and clean! I’ve done the 10 day master cleanse and a juice and tea cleanse, but my favorite is a cleanse that includes healthy food. If you want to do the intense 10 day cleanse, where you stop eating for 10+ days, I recommend doing this first, then the juice and tea cleanse, then build up to the master cleanse. Your body will adjust so much better and you won’t have as many withdrawal symptoms. Here are some immediate benefits you will see from my 3 day cleanse:

Radiant, glowing skin – The cleanliness and health of your insides will show through your skin.

Lose a few pounds.

Your kidneys, liver and colon will be better able to eliminate toxins out of your body quicker, resulting in less toxic build up.

Strengthen your immune system so it can shield you from disease.

Get rid of free radicals and toxins from the body and cleanse the intestine tract and blood.

Let’s get started!

Pre-cleanse the night before – Drink 2 glasses of Koni Holy Detox Herbal Tea with lemon at bedtime. Tulsi basil, the main ingredient found in Holy Detox, is a powerful herb that purifies the blood and detoxifies the body.

2 Koni Double Wall mugs of Holy Detox

Day 1: Upon waking up – drink 1-2 glasses of Koni Holy Detox with one lemon squeezed. This will flush bad stuff through your stool, urine, and sweat. Lemon juice at the start of the day detoxifies the body and improves metabolism. Tulsi basil, the main ingredient found in Koni Holy Detox, is a powerful herb that purifies the blood and detoxifies the body.

Day 1: Breakfast – Wheat-free muesli with blueberries, a cup of yogurt, and a Strawberry Sunrise smoothie.

Muesli: This delicious detox fruit muesli will give you energy throughout the morning. Packed with fiber, vitamins, minerals and omega-3 nuts this delicious blend will aid your body to a gentle cleansing. Because it is wheat-free, it will help to give your digestive system a bit of a break. Yogurt contains friendly bacteria beneficial to your digestive tract. They also help activate the vitamins in the food that moves through your system and breaks down toxins. These bacteria overwhelm the bad bacteria in your intestines and colon, and facilitate your cleansing process.

Combine 2 cups of wheat-free muesli with 1/4 cup of blueberries and a cup of yogurt.

Strawberry Sunrise Smoothie: The licorice root in Koni Hangover Tonic is good for cleansing the liver, while the cilantro in particular is thought to help draw heavy metals out of the body. This detox smoothie is loaded with vitamins, phytonutrients (such as chlorophyll) and fiber. It tastes great and it’s also very easy to make since all you’ll need is a blender.

Ingredients:

1.5 Cups of chilled Koni Hangover Tonic Mate Tea

3 Cups or handfuls of spinach
2 Large stalks of celery
2 Apples, cored and chopped
1 Banana
1/2 Bunch of cilantro (may double the parsley if you don’t like cilantro)
Juice of 1/2 a fresh lemon
3 Cups of strawberries and blueberries mixed

Directions:

Combine everything in a blender and mix on high.
Pour into a tall glass and enjoy.

Day 1: Lunch – Grilled salmon with mushrooms and watercress and 2 cups of Koni Slimming Goddess Oolong Tea.

Koni Slimming Goddess is perfect with this dish.

Watercress is rich in antioxidants and is great for preventing cancer. It’s also very good at detoxifying free radicals that the human body acquires over time.

Mushrooms are ideal food for people striving to shed their extra weight. Mushrooms have no cholesterol and insignificant amount of fat and sodium. Mushrooms comprise about eighty to ninety percent of water, and eight to ten percent of fiber.

Grilled salmon is great for the protein. 2 cup of Koni Slimming Goddess Oolong Tea with lemon is a great complement to the flavor of the salmon.

Slimming Goddess with lemon in a Koni 2 Cup Teapot

Day 1: Workout – KenpoX, a 90 minutes program of punching, kicking, lunging, and twisting your way into a sweat. I also did all the core workouts in Ab RipperX…that’s 349 abdominal exercises. This will kick my detox into high gear.

I have a little fat around my tummy that I want to clean up. Eating healthy and drinking my Koni teas in 3 day cleanse will do it. ♥ The Tea Chick

Day 1: Dinner - Beet ravioli with acorn squash, pears, and a lemon herb sauce with 2 cups of Koni Energizer Yogi Black Tea.

Beetroot is one of the best detoxifying vegetables. It’s packed with nutrients such as sodium, vitamins A and C, biotin, calcium, iron, magnesium, folic acid, phosphorus, and potassium to name a few. It also contains something called glycine betaine, this is a chemical compound that was found in sugar beets in the 19th century. This chemical has been particularly noted for its ability to stimulate liver cells. This is incredibly important because it is the liver that does the majority of the detoxification process within your entire body and adding beets to your diet helps to support the liver so it can do its job.

Ravioli Recipe:

Cook 3 or 4 medium sized red beets with their skins intact and just the tops trimmed off. It takes about 30 minutes for them to be fork tender.
Once they are cooked, dump them into your sink and give them a bit of a squeeze. The skin will come off easily.
In a blender, puree approximately 2 cups of diced beets.
Once they are pureed, add 1 egg and 1 tablespoon of olive oil until they are nice and smooth. Set aside.

Beet dough

To finish your pasta dough you will need: 2 eggs, 3 1/2 cups of flour, 1 teaspoon salt.

Place your flour and salt in a large bowl and make a big well in the center. In the well add your eggs, and beet puree.
Slowly start to beat your eggs, mixing them into your beet puree and then start to gradually pull the flour into your wet ingredients until it has taken on a dough like consistency.
Now start to work it with your hands. It takes about 10 minutes to get a beautifully soft and silky dough by hand or about 6 minutes if you are using your mixer with the dough hook attachment.
Once you’ve finished kneading, cover your dough with a greased bowl and let it rest for 20 minutes.
Using your pasta machine work your dough through it, dusting it with flour as necessary and gradually tightening the rollers until you have a really thin dough roughly 3mm thick. For the stuffing I used basil combined with roasted acorn squash.

Stuffing for ravioli: 2 acorn squash and basil.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Split the squash in half through the equator and scrape out the seeds with a spoon. Set the squash halves, cut sides up, on a baking sheet and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil.
With a brush or a spoon coat the cut sides of each squash half with olive oil and put 2 basil leaves on top of each. Bake until tender, 30 to 35 minutes, basting every 15 minutes with any remaining olive oil.
Spoon out one half of the acorn squash for the filling. Dice up the other half and reserve them in a bowl with 2 sliced pears that have been drizzled with lemon.
After you create the raviolis in your pasta maker and stuff them, bring a large soup pot of salted water to a boil and cook your ravioli for about 10 minutes. Add them to your roasted acorn squash and sliced pears. Drizzle with your lemon herb sauce and enjoy!

Lemon herb sauce:

Add 3 tablespoons of lemon juice, 1 tsp of minced garlic, and 1 tablespoon of maple syrup to 1 cup ofKoni Slim It Sencha Green Tea in a saucepan; cook over high heat for 2 to 5 minutes or until sauce is reduced to about 1/4 cup, stirring frequently. Stir in minced thyme, cut basil, and fresh peppercorn . Spoon sauce over ravioli.

Enjoy with a cup of Koni Energizer Yogi Black Tea. The pomegranate flavor of this blend and the boldness of the black tea complements the dish perfectly!

Koni Energizer Yogi Black Tea

Day 1: Before Bed – 2 cups of Koni Holy Detox tea with lemon.

Koni Holy Detox Herbal Tea

A healthy lifestyle and diet can help you prevent disease and illnesses. Starting today, detox, get rid of negative energy, any disgusting vices and start living a healthier and happier life!

For a glimpse into her life you can read Phuong’s critically acclaimed blog, The Tea Chick at http://www.theteachick.com.

Mushrooms and Tea Fight Cancer

Phuong Le — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 10:26:03 +0000

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and if you love mushrooms and tea, this is the recipe for you! Separately, tea and mushrooms work well to prevent cancer. Drinking tea on a daily basis reduces the risk by about 40%, while eating fresh mushrooms- results in an almost 60% risk reduction. When taken together, they are like the power couple of anti-carcinogens. According to a study done by the Journal of Cancer, when enjoyed together, tea and mushrooms reduce the chance of breast cancer by almost 90%.

Mushrooms are not only healthy for your boobies, but they also help you maintain your weight. Here are some other really cool facts:

- Mushrooms contain 80 to 90 percent water, and are very low in calories (only 100 cal/oz). They have very little sodium and fat, and 8 to 10 percent of the dry weight is fiber. They are an ideal food for a weight management program or a hypertensive diet.

- Mushrooms are an excellent source of potassium, a mineral that helps lower elevated blood pressure and reduces the risk of stroke. One medium portabella mushroom has more potassium than a banana, or a glass of orange juice. One serving of mushrooms provides 20 to 40 percent of the daily value of copper, a mineral that has heart health properties.

- Mushrooms are a rich source of riboflavin, niacin, and selenium. Selenium is an antioxidant that works with vitamin E to protect cells from the damaging effects of free radicals. Men who consumed twice the recommended daily intake of selenium cut their risk of prostate cancer by 65 percent. In the Baltimore study on Aging, men with the lowest blood selenium levels were 4 to 5 times more likely to have prostate cancer.

The most commonly consumed mushroom in the United States is the white button mushroom, which is what I used in this crab stuffed mushroom recipe. This is perfectly paired with a cup of Koni Slim it Sencha Green Tea. Enjoy!!

Ingredients:

2 Tablespoons of olive oil

3 Tablespoons butter, melted (I like to use soy butter or a vegan butter.)

1/2 Cup panko crumbs (You can also use italian bread crumbs but I like panko because it has a lighter texture.)

2 Tablespoons minced onions

1 Teaspoon lemon juice

1 Cup diced cooked crab meat

2 Garlic cloves, peeled and minced

2 Tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves

1/4 Cup of dry white wine

1 Egg beaten

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

28 Large white mushrooms, stemmed

Optional: 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Drizzle a 9×13 inch baking dish with 2 tablespoons of olive oil to coat.
2. Remove stems from mushrooms. Set aside caps. Finely chop stems.
3. In a medium bowl, thoroughly blend the lemon juice, crabmeat, panko crumbs, egg, salt and pepper, parsley and 1/4 cup of cheese (optional). Set aside.
4. Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
5. Stir in the chopped stems, minced garlic and onions, and cook until soft, about 3 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat.
6. Add the crabmeat mixture. Thoroughly blend.
7. With a small brush, coat each mushroom cap with some melted butter. Arrange caps cavity side up, and stuff cavities generously with the crabmeat mixture.
8. Pour wine into the pan around the mushrooms.
9. Bake uncovered until the mushrooms are tender and the filling is heated through and golden on top (about 15-20 minutes). Serve warm.

Through her incredible journey she has touched the lives of millions and influenced them to ‘rethink their drink’. Phuong has won countless awards, has been featured on the Food Network, and takes an active role with local charities to help her community grow and prosper.

For a glimpse into her life you can read Phuong’s critically acclaimed blog, The Tea Chick at http://www.theteachick.com.

Benefits of Koni Black Tea

Phuong Le — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 10:30:00 +0000

Black tea is the perfect morning drink. Whether it is a rich chai or a robust unflavored leaf, the high caffeine content can help you get your day started. Black tea is also the perfect substitute for coffee and it’s so much healthier too! Here is a quick overview of the many benefits of black tea.

Kick the Coffee: Black tea is the perfect drink to help you transition off coffee. An 8 oz cup of coffee has approximately 150-200 mg of caffeine. Coffee’s high caffeine content may raise blood pressure, blood sugar, and decrease bone density. Consuming a lot of caffeine can also speed bone loss, and it might reduce birth weight and raise the risk of miscarriage. Caffeine can also precipitate heartburn, anxiety, and rapid heartbeat. A strong cup of black tea has between 50-75 mg of caffeine and also contains the amino acid L-Theanine. L-Theanine creates a calming effect in the body. Therefore, black tea will give you enough perks without the crash and jitters.

Heart Health: Research has shown that the antioxidants in premium loose leaf black tea are beneficial for heart health. The Department of Medicine at the University of Western Australia found that ingestion of black tea contributed to dilation of the arteries and blood vessels that support the heart. Add 5 cups of Koni black tea to your day for heart protection.

Weight Loss: Drinking black tea can help to burn fat, speed up metabolism, and block the fattening effects of carbohydrates. This makes it an ideal drink for those who are looking to lose weight, or whoexercise regularly. To speed up your weight loss regimen, check out the Koni Slim package.

Stroke and Cholesterol: A study from the Netherlands National Institute of Public Health concluded that the flavonoids in black tea helps to reduce the production of LDL – the “bad” cholesterol that can lead to stroke and heart attacks. Furthermore, men who drank over four cups of black tea per day had a significantly lower risk of stroke than men who drank only two to three cups per day.

My suggestions:

If you are new to black tea, I suggest a cup of Koni Crème Early Grey. The bergamot flavor in this tea is perfectly paired with Madagascar vanilla to create a smooth finish with a citrus undertone.

If you need a coffee substitute, jump start your morning with Koni Wake Your Assam Up! This invigorating blend of black assam will give you the power you need for those early meetings. With hints of malt and toast, this full bodied stout-like blend makes a perfect brew that’s loaded with energy.

If you are more of a flavored coffee person, the perfect substitute is Koni Kick the Coffee. This is a delicious blend of premium black tea and pu-erh tea enhanced with vanilla, hazelnut, and caramel bits. Add small cup of milk and your favorite sweetener to make a delicious tea latte. Here are some delicious tea latte recipes to get you started.

Passion gives us the drive and determination to persevere, create, and love. Koni is the Hawaiian word for passion, and is the perfect representation of Phuong Le’s philosophy on life.

For a glimpse into her life you can read Phuong’s critically acclaimed blog, The Tea Chick at http://www.theteachick.com.