Tea Time!

I make no secret about the fact that I drink green tea daily. Yes, daily. Always a huge fan of iced tea, I upped the ante to the green persuasion when I started eating sushi (way) back in my (early) 20's. A ceremonious cup of hot green tea came at the start of every meal, and I grew deeply fond of its flavor and health benefits.

When Brooklyn's first outpost of the Canadian tea retailer, DAVIDsTEA, arrived here in Park Slope, stylist Amy was first to embrace the goodness (lucky lady, it's literally right out her front door). The next thing I know, I receive the following:

So last weekend, while prepping breakfast for her family, I was tickled to get this text message: 

Did I love it? Oh, yes. 

So much so that a stop at DAVIDsTEA was first on the to-do list over the weekend!

The team at DAVIDsTEA gives customer service on par to the deliciousness of their beverages - in other words, they are flawless. The lovely Stephanie took me on the grand tour, first off making my iced matcha with soy & agave:

As I sipped away, Stephanie treated us to a lovely tea overview, complete with tastings and the delight of smelling many of the store's offerings. With flavors ranging from Citron Oolong to Birthday Cake, and Rooibos de Provence to Pink Flamingo, there was not one tea I wasn't ready to try! Even the Little Miss - who has never given tea a thought - could not wait to try her iced Forever Nuts:

Because Mr. Newman's iced Coffee Pu'erh was so unbelievably delicious, we came home with the following treats to get our mornings off right:

The Steeper, David's Perfect Spoon & Coffee Pu'erh

PS, don't worry. DAVIDsTEA makes online ordering a breeze if there's not a retailer near you. Since I do not want any one of you lovelies to feel left out, I decided that this is going to be one of yours. That's right - it's giveaway time!

Please note: the giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to "twicefivemiles" - you are the lucky winner! xx JN

Here's the deal:

1. Go over and "like" Delightfully Dishy's Facebook page (if you're already a "Fan" then share the post on your Facebook wall!)
2. Leave a comment below telling me the DAVIDsTEA flavor you're most intrigued to try.

The lucky winner (chosen at random) will be announced this Thursday!

Why, yes, I'll drink to that!

xx JN

DAVIDsTEA Park Slope: 234 7th Ave at 4th St
Follow DAVIDsTEA on Twitter & "like" them on Facebook!

Sugar and Flour and Migraines ... oh, my!

{ image via Caitlin McGauley }

Choices.
Consequences.
Migraines?

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

Frustration.
Treximet.
Post-migraine hangover.

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

Yeah, not so much, friends.

I knew it was time to make a different choice when my 7-1/2 year old said, "Momma, can you pleeeeeeeeeeease not get a migraine today?"

I saw doctors. I kept journals. I had CT-scans.

But I continued to ask, "Why. Is. My. Head. Still. Hurting?"

I must admit I am the type of person who strives to find a balance between holistic medicine and traditional medicine. From my own personal experience, I have truly seen the benefit of both. However, I tend to lean toward the side of holistic when I hear, "I'm not sure what's causing it, but let's try another medication."

This mama is all about identifying the root cause.

Once I began to realize we were starting to embark on a similar medicinal journey with my recurring migraines, I had to wonder if the "garbage in, garbage out" scenario was happening with my body. When the CT of my sinuses came back clean as a whistle, my ENT deemed my migraines were not sinus-triggered. And although I knew there were more avenues to explore, I started to take notice of what I was putting in my body every day. My daily cocktail of Allegra-D, Nexium and now what seemed to be one too many Treximet were on the menu. But what about vitamin intake? Fluids? Am I eating vegetables? Or more over, what am I eating religiously?

Chocolate.
No meat.
Too many refined carbs. (But the Trader Joe's pita chips are GOOD!)
Diet Pepsi.

Yeah, not so much, friends.

I have been down the "no sugar, no flour" path a few different times in my life - always as a holistic solution to a health issue. So I thought, alright ... let's try it again.

January 4th was the last day I consumed refined flour & refined sugar. And turned to leafy greens, tons of veggies, water, green tea, green drinks and good protein.

And not a migraine since.

Choices.
Changes.
Progress.

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

xo JN