Spring will officially be here in a couple of days. Actually, it's starting to feel pretty spring-y around here already. This year, the first day of spring happens to fall on the final Friday before spring break – which means you may be ringing in the season with a bunch of really, REALLY excited children. It's a good idea to be prepared. May we suggest a springtime fairy-tale tea party?   

Walking into a store to buy a gift is frequently overwhelming.  We've all been there.  There are things everywhere and you don't remember what color their kitchen is or whether they're eating gluten these days and maybe you should just get her a gift card. 

Okay.  Take a deep breath.  You can do this.

When you find yourself entering a state of gift-shock, try thinking of an adjective that suits your friend's personality.  Don't overdo it - it doesn't have to perfectly encapsulate everything about them.  Just pick one that works, and go from there.

We have a few suggestions, if you're stuck...

"The Twelve Days of Christmas" is generally agreed to be  a really bad place to seek gift-giving inspiration.  No one wants that many birds at one time, and twelve drummers would just wreak utter havoc on your house.  So what do you actually do to make your true love's Christmas a happy one, without drowning them in dancers and pipers and swans?  Allow us to make a few suggestions...

        “In the end, it was the Sunday afternoons he couldn't cope with, and that terrible listlessness which starts to    set in at about 2:55, when you know that you've had all the baths you can usefully have that day, that however      hard you stare at any given paragraph in the papers you will never actually read it, or use the revolutionary          new pruning technique it describes, and that as you stare at the clock the hands will move relentlessly on to          four o'clock, and you will enter the long dark teatime of the soul.” - Douglas Adams

When the presents are unwrapped, and the breakfast is eaten, and the wrapping paper is burning merrily in the fireplace*, you may wonder what on earth you are supposed to do next. This is normal; don't panic! Christmas Afternoon is the absolute best time to curl up and get comfy with a good book.

*Illingworth's Gifts does not condone the burning of gift wrap, as it is probably horrible for the environment. That said, we recognize that you are very likely to do it anyway. Don't blame us, is what we're saying.

Tao of Tea teas and blends are traditionally hand-processed, using the entire tea leaf instead of crushed-up pieces and stems. This process can be slow, so most tea companies tend to avoid it; only 5% of all tea in the world is created this way. Full-leaf teas are more than worth it, though – they stay fresh longer and are more flavorful.

We'll use this space every now and again to let you know what's new with us, or to show-and-tell things we find fascinating.  If there's anything you'd like us to cover, feel free to comment and let us know!