Make Your Own Tea Station

Bring the love of tea and coffee into your master bedroom by creating a tea station that reflects your decor and personal style! 

My passion for tea is so intense, that I decided to create a tea station in my master bedroom. Creating a hotel-esque space also inspires building areas in a room where one can conveniently access their favorite snacks and beverages, and a coffee/tea station is an elegant addition to any room that is far from the kitchen.

An old changing table was given new life when I moved it into the former nook that once housed a television and stereo set. With the new flat screen now mounted above the fireplace, and a Bluetooth surround-sound bar placed on the mantle, the space was left empty for laundry and sports equipment to collect. Incorporating a few knicknacks from around the house and my favorite yellow tea set, the spot became a bright, happy focal point of our bedroom. After the addition of a gallery wall, this new attraction has become a conversation piece among family members and visiting houseguests!

I can grab a cup of tea before bed, or when I wake up in the morning; a cup of tea is never far away from my reading nook or bathtub's edge. Walking all the way downstairs for a cup of tea can sometimes result in spilled, cold tea by the time you make it back upstairs. Now I can have my steamy cup of Earl Grey or Chai at the ready to curl up with a good book or to sip with Queen Elizabeth while watching "The Crown".

The thing that makes a bedroom tea table possible is a handy electric tea kettle. This one is my favorite: This ceramic tea kettle by Bella heats 1.2 L of water and comes in beautiful designs. I got mine from Target, but they are always available on Amazon. In addition, cups and teapots for additional servings are a great idea.

An infuser mug is an essential for steeping loose leaf teas. Use them like a mini teapot to brew small amounts of your favorite blend, and then pour the tea into another tea cup to enjoy.

A tea table needs a few snacks! I love jars, because they are simple and can be prettied up by a few elegant cookies. I also love to stack a few chocolate bars or bits of fudge nearby in beautiful Birchboxes that I have emptied of monthly samples. These beautiful bars are from the Café et Thé Chocolate Collection from Trader Joes, with tea-infused flavors of Earl Grey, Lemon Black Tea and Chamomile in Dark, Milk and White Chocolate. 

Accessories like a teabag caddy keep your sachets and teabags from dripping onto the nightstand or bathroom counters. Find really cute ones at Cost Plus. 

Tea and chocolate are great together, and these bars are infused with favorites such as Earl Grey, Chamomile and Rooibos!

A variety of tea helps to keep sipping adventurous and provides you with different opportunities to try new blends. My tea drawer keeps all of my teas organized; loose leaf teas from David's Tea and Teavana, sachets in gorgeous tea tins from Harney and Sons, bags and special teas like Tea Drops tea, and blooming teas are beautifully displayed and can be accessed quickly. If someone has a craving for a jolt of java, keep instant coffee packets available to mix with water in a coffee mug, along with a gallon of purified water to brew.  There is always enough to share! 

A plethora of teas from Harney and Sons, Tea Drops, Teavana and David's Tea

Style your tea station to express your personality by gathering beautiful artwork, photos, cups and trinkets to make it an attractive focal point. A gallery wall shows off all of your handiwork and makes a statement about your love of tea and other things you value. 

Make your gallery display meaningful by posting your own work; I used my own photographs and paintings to frame. My boxes from Birchbox serve as shadow boxes to display my Holstee manifesto and other printwork I receive monthly from my subscription. 

Tea cups, both elegant and contemporary, complement each other in an eclectic mix of style. 

Add fresh flowers and string lights for finishing touches and you have a spot in a room that makes the atmosphere welcoming and cozy!

This tea station is a welcome feature to my surroundings and makes my room a cheery place!

What kind of place do you have to store your tea or coffee? Share your ideas below!

ISPY Glam Bag December 2017

I have been receiving Ipsy Glam Bags since April but I have yet to write a review about them. 
Until now...

     Ipsy Glam Bags are a subscription service that sends 5 beauty samples to your home once a month for 9.99. You get to try samples of a variety of products, review each one and buy the full sizes if you choose from the Ispy website. The products come in a neatly designed pouch, called a Glam Bag, that is designed with a theme each month.

     The main reason I subscribed to Ipsy was because of the bags: These zip pouches are perfect for stashing your makeup in your purse, or even as a mini purse if you want to minimize clutter on a night out. Since LA Live does not permit backpack purses on the property, I was glad I had my Ipsy Bag handy in which to place my essentials; I was able to walk around safely, yet had everything I needed at my fingertips...including great makeup!

      I also like the variety of products that come in the bag, and the company pays close attention to your profile, which ensures that most items will match your preferences.  Even though Ipsy targets a younger demographic market, I still find that what I receive is never too "young" for me to wear.

   

     I believe the caveat with Ipsy comes with reviewing the products once they arrive in the bag.  The prices for the products are not available in the packaging, so you must visit the website to find out how much everything costs. The website is a well-oiled social media machine, with every review linked directly to Twitter or Facebook. If you do not wish your Facebook or Twitter feeds to be crowded with Ipsy posts, you have to remember to click the button to "off" before you submit your review. You are rewarded with Ipsy points, however, for each review you post, to use toward purchasing full size products. 

     What was my favorite item this month? I has to be the City Color Cosmetics eyeshadow in "It's a Girl". This deep pink shade has a sparkly shimmer that I can brush on my lids or use with other shades for a glamorous evening look. Of course, the M.A.C In Extreme Dimension 3D Blacklash Mascara is an all-time favorite, with its detailed brush that grabs and coats each lash to build and lengthen. Ultimately, all of the samples were amazing. There was not one thing I did not like! 

     For my full review, click on my YouTube video below, or visit my AlvinVision channel for more great tips and tricks!

What makeup tips have you practiced this season to bring that holiday sparkle and glow? Leave a comment below!