From our weekly series: The Sunday Steep

Recently, my energetic co-worker, Mason, and I were chatting about the joy of the Toddler Tea Party! As the proud papa of a three-year-old, the daily tea parties have become a cherished part of his life. This brought back a flood of memories of raising my own kids, as they used to love tea parties or just the special comfort that a hot cup of tea could bring. In fact, all my adult kids are still avid tea drinkers and I like to think all those adorable tea parties helped lay the foundation for the joy of a good, flavorful cup.

 A gentle and effective topical application for too much heat or minor bumps can come in the tried-and-true form of an herbal compress. This preparation brings the beneficial properties of herbs and the soothing sensations of a cool damp cloth close to your skin to accelerate the natural healing process. When draped around the skin, the moisture of the tea soaked towel softens the skin and allows the herbal constituents to penetrate deep.

 From our weekly series: The Sunday Steep

While I love my morning cup of coffee, there are times when I really want to shake it up. Whether I'm craving something a bit less stimulating, or yearning for some different flavor combinations, green teas can be a wonderful choice. One of my favorites is our Jasmine Green Tea. It is relatively mild and reminds me a bit of the tea I drink at Lotus Garden, a vegan Chinese restaurant here in Eugene. For extra zip, I like to balance the floral flavors with a little fruity orange peel and spicy ginger...