Let’s Get In the Spirit
By Sweet Leaf Tea on Nov 29 Filed In Uncategorized Add a Comment
Need a little help finding your holiday happy spot? To get you in the spirit this season, we’ve put together a few of our favorite things that remind us what the holidays are really about — spreading the JOY!
The Sweet Leaf Tea’m is Thankful for….
By Danny on Nov 22 Filed In Austin, Texas, Blog Love 1 Comment
Thanksgiving is almost upon us, and it’s definitely a time to reflect on what all we have to be thankful for. Here at Sweet Leaf Tea we always have to remember how good WE have it: amazing people that are more friends than co-workers, working for a company that makes products we believe in, endless supplies of tea, etc.etc.etc.
Outside of work, we are also grateful for what we have. Check out some the photos below of what us Sweet Leafers are thankful for!
Jermaine:
...our great city of Austin, Texas...Live Music, Amazing Food, Arts, Festivals, Great Outdoors and Friends and Family!
... a loving husband and my own little bundle of goodness…due any day now. "The Adams Family at Austin City Limits"
...my cat, Bird. She is pretty AWESOME! (and cute)
... my dog Bess (in the top corner of the photo) and my wonderful community garden
... for my Best Friend! (Bentley)
...Artists, They inspire creativity. (Painting by Michael Bedoian)
Cathy
...that Thanksgiving will not be via Skype.
...Ansel Adams for many reasons... the memory that gets me every time isn't a vista or experience he captured; rather, it's that "you don't take a photograph, you make it."
Thanksgiving Festivus & Traditions In the Name of Homemade Goodness!
By Charla on Nov 14 Filed In Sweet Contests, Uncategorized 206 Comments
UPDATED WITH WINNERS!
Barbara H.
My tradition of late is to have untraditional food at Thanksgiving! No turkey, no stuffing, no mashed potatoes and gravy. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good turkey dinner. It just seems like we’ve changed over the years and like trying new things or unexpected main courses at the holidays. This year, we’re having bbq baby back ribs and fried chicken. It’s like having a summer outing when it’s cold outside! Since we watch a lot of football on Thanksgiving, it’s also a natural to have food we can eat with our hands! Enjoy whatever on your holiday!
Shreenath
With my family thousands of miles away, I get together with my sister in NY, go to her rooftop with close friends and cousins and watch the thanksgiving day parade together. We count how many familiar floats we see and rejoice in the excitement of the festivities.
Then, we head in and cook together and eat a long multi-hour lunch with tons of chatter followed by some poker to round it out.
Sarah G
I was raised vegetarian so we never had a turkey. My parents created tofu cutlets which are just heaven! Tofu marinated in wonderful spices and breaded and baked. We always make my grandmothers savory sweet potato casserole too! Watching the Macy’s parade is essential and this year is especially exciting because my cousin Scott McEvoy is playing in the parade with his band! I also like going around the table and saying what we are thankful for. The holiday is all about family!
Elizabeth Marcus
I make pumpkin cheesecake! and we eat the whole darn thing!
Laura
I always make cranberry bread around Thanksgiving time. I use fresh cranberries and all-fresh ingredients to make the bread, oh, make that breads!!
It’s too popular to make just one – I make two, as the first one disappears almost as soon as it comes out of the oven. Then we have one for the next day, which usually goes pretty fast, too.
I like to have it for breakfast with black coffee, and sometimes for an afternoon snack with some chilled tea. Just writing this is making me pine for some right now! I will be making it in the early part of next week, as a warm-up to all that eating that we will be doing on Thanksgiving!
Alessandro Vazquez
My favorite tradition on Thanksgiving has to do with my grandma’s famous homemade glazed donuts. She only makes a small batch each year so its first come first serve. Of course, Uncle Bobby (the favorite) always seems to get donuts so I make it a point of getting to Grandma’s as early as possible to text him pictures of me enjoying the donuts!! If he beats me, he does the same!
Anh-thu Nguyen
Often my birthday will land on Thanksgiving. Most of my fond memories as a child was having the turkey as the cake. I’m not complaining frosting wasn’t my thing so it all worked out. I don’t mind sharing my birthday when it often involves a feast
Laura Benold
We watch the Longhorns play the Aggies! This year is the last year the Aggies will be in the Big 12, so it’s extra special.
Amanda Medina
We go turkey trotting to make room in our bellies for the stuffing of our faces.
Dre jr
My favorite tradition? My mom always makes deviled eggs the night before and I always sneak in the kitchen once she goes to sleep and eat as many as I can. Now that I’m grown and on my own, I get to their house as early in the morning as I can and still sneak into the refrigerator and eat as many as I can.
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I must admit, Thanksgiving happens to be one of my favorite holidays. I love having friends and family over to the house for a gargantuan meal of epic porportions. Like most families, we usually have the same line-up of goodies on the table every year and I’m completely fine with that. In fact, I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s the only time of year I get to eat stuffing, sweet potatoes, deviled eggs, cranberries, turkey, rolls, green bean casserole, pies, etc. etc. all in one sitting. Or two, if I have to take a break.
But the thing that makes Thanksgiving unlike any other family meal gathering, besides the line-up of casseroles, is that good ol’ thankful feeling that gives the holiday it’s name. Everyone in our family gets a chance to tell us what they are most thankful for this year and it varies from the serious to the seriously funny. You can always count on a cousin or uncle to lighten the mood with a wise crack. It got me thinking, I wonder what other Thanksgiving traditions might be out there that make this holiday extra special? For some, maybe it’s watching one of the football games or playing a game of catch outside. Maybe it’s gathering around the tube for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. Or maybe, you’ve got something really fun we should be doing at our table this year!
So, is there something your family and friends do every year that gets everyone in the holiday mood and keeps the festivus alive past nap time?
Share a Thanksgiving Day tradition in the comments section below for a chance to win some Homemade Goodness for your table. With all those good eats, you’ll need something good to wash it down! Just tell us a tradition that you and yours have by Thursday, November 17th and we’ll pick a few of our favorites to surprise with a box of Sweet Leaf Tea in time for the feast.
Give Thanks to the Ones You Love
By Sweet Leaf Tea on Nov 11 Filed In Uncategorized 4 Comments
In honor of this special time of year, we put together a little something to help you give thanks to the people who mean the most to you — your friends and family. Hop on over to our Facebook page to start spreading the love. You’ll find a photo album loaded with little thank-you notes you can tag your friends and family in — they’ll see the message right on their Wall. It’s a small gesture sure to give them a big smile!
Start tagging and giving thanks here.
Sweet Leaf is headed EAST!
By Danny on Nov 10 Filed In Activities, Events, arts & crafts Add a Comment
In Austin there are many events throughout the year that capture your heart as being one of the great events that makes Austin what it is. ACL, Austin Film Festival, SXSW, and East Austin Studio Tour [EAST]. EAST is one of my favorite events Austin has to offer. Basically, starting this Friday through next Sunday, EAST is a city-wide open house for all the Austin Art Studios for you to see what these artists have been baking throughout the year!
Thanks to Big Medium for coordinating this event for 10 years and producing a eye catching catalog that presents a bird’s eye view of the city’s studios, so you can outline your path through the emerging studios and creative spaces of Texas.
Sweet Leaf Tea has been a part of EAST for a couple years now, and to continue this tradition, we’ll be supporting some of the BEST studios the east side has to offer! Check out the list below, see the sites, and grab a nice cold Sweet Leaf Tea!
- Super. Alright! – This creative agency is a hot spot for great installations and a guaranteed awesome time!
This opening party to kick off the EAST spirit in Friday at 8pm through 1pm. Click through the name for event details!
The warehouse, with an infamous pump, houses over 30 artists producing art in all forms from jewelry to wall art to sculptures. This location truly has something for everyone! Open Saturdays and Sundays during EAST [November 12, 13, 19, 20]
- Big Medium – Being the “Brain Studio” of this event, this gallery will hold top talent in the art community and ALWAYS has wonderful installations that will make your turn your head and contemplate for minutes. Open Saturdays and Sundays during EAST [November 12, 13, 19, 20]
- Art Post
This old airplane hanger is called home by 20 + welders, sculptures, poster printers, wood workers, and more in a big community atmosphere. Be sure to stop in and wander around for a couple hours and check out the metal tree pictured above!! Open Saturdays and Sundays during EAST [November 12, 13, 19, 20]
Billy Bishop, Obsolete Studios founder, travels the US going from Festival to music Festival, including ACL and Lollapalooza, producing QUALITY posters for Conan’s US tour, Sonic Youth, Pearl Jam, and many more! Be sure to hit this spot on Saturday and Sunday the 12th and 13th!
Personally, I love to get a group together, hop on a bike, and cruise the town in search of great art and a good time. One of my traditions is stopping in at Justine’s after a long days ride and settling down with a nice glass of wine and some steak frites! Ahhh, the life of Austin sophistication. 
Come out and support local art!
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