This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #TeaProudly #CollectiveBias

The warmer weather is finally upon us, and I can’t wait to get outside and start entertaining! To kick off Memorial Day weekend, I will be brewing batches of iced tea to enjoy outside in the sun.  As we honor those who have served our great country, there’s something so traditional about iced tea, as it’s the perfect refreshing, timeless choice for holiday BBQs, or just to enjoy while cooling off in the shade.

I love Bigelow Tea as I’ve seen their dedication to tea first hand. Bigelow Tea grows their wonderful tea around the world, but also owns the Charleston Tea Plantation in South Carolina. It was at this small town farm where we were fortunate enough to take a tour through the tea fields while visiting last summer. We learned about tea leaves, growth, processing, and I never knew that green tea and black tea are actually the SAME leaves from the Camellia sinensis tea bush. The difference between the two is simply how they are finished, or oxidized after processing.

Tea is serious business to the Bigelow Tea company and has been an American family-owned company for three generations. Seeing the dedication to their product and processing on one of their farms, made me love their product even more. To me, the Bigelow Tea name means quality, and I know I’ll have the same great delicious tea with every purchase of bagged teas.

A fun way to serve delicious Bigelow Tea is to brew it in advance to let the fragrant flavors steep, and also make creative ice cubes for an ‘Ice Cube’ bar, so guests can customize their tea beverages. I like to choose a combination of herbal, green and black Bigelow Teas. Use your mouse on the image below to see my selections!

Make an Ice Cube Bar for Tea

To prepare the tea, be sure to start with fresh cold water and bring to a rolling boil. Pour water over tea bag, steep for at least an hour.

A good rule of thumb is to use one tea bag per 8-10 oz of water when brewing tea for iced tea drinks. Remove tea bags and allow tea to cool down. Store brewed tea in the refrigerator if making a day in advance.

When making ice cubes for a gathering, try to match create cubes that will complement the tea versus compete with the tea’s natural flavor.

Pairing Ideas:

• Bigelow Tea Lemon Ginger Herbal Tea paired with lemon chunk cubes
• Bigelow Constant Comment with coconut milk cubes
• Bigelow Green Tea with Pomegranate with lemon chunk cubes or blueberry cubes

I use a mini-muffin tin to create my cubes, as they come out pretty and they are nice and large, yet still fit in a glass!

Lemon Cubes – Wash lemons and cut into medium to large chunks. Place inside muffin tins and add water to each well until almost to the top. Freeze for at least 2 hours until solid.

Coconut Cubes – Shake can of coconut milk well so the fat is evening distributed into the milk. Open can and pour into each muffin tin. Freeze for at least 2 hours until solid.

Set brewed Bigelow tea in a pitcher out on a table. I like to use old-fashioned jelly jars as glasses, as they just add to the traditional American decor.  Allow guests select their own cube cubes to put in their glass.  Bring out small batches of different ice cubes for guests. Smaller batches are easier to restock – if you have too many cubes out that are unused, they will just melt!

I love the Bigelow Lemon Ginger Tea as it’s refreshing and perfect for a warm day. The lemon cubes add a nice scent while drinking, and of course, keep the tea chilled! For those who love traditional black tea, the Constant Comment by Bigelow has a warm spicy flavor and pairs well with the creamy coconut cubes. It’s a little burst of tropical goodness in a rich tasting tea!

Custom ice cubes are a fun way for both kids and adults to enjoy Bigelow iced tea! What creative ice cube combos would you make? 

I found a great selection of Bigelow Teas at my local Walmart. 

 Learn more about Bigelow Tea by visiting the Bigelow Website and learn how you can #TeaProudly during your Summer gatherings!

I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.

I received a beautiful bottle of sustainable Malaysian Palm Oil to play with in my kitchen. I’ve never actually used palm oil, so I was automatically in love with its deep rich red-orange color. Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil is a common ingredient in many healthy foods, including better-for-you nutrition bars and heart-healthy spreads. Palm oil is non-GMO and naturally free of trans-fatty acids. (more…)

If you’re looking for a vegan salad that is gluten-free to bring to a potluck or party, this one is just the ticket! You can make the quinoa the day before and keep in the fridge until you’re ready to mix in all the ingredients. As this dish is served chilled, it holds up well in travel and looks beautiful. (more…)

We all dream of owning a great big kitchen replete with a preparation island and breakfast bar, but unfortunately this is not the reality for most of us. Instead, we are left with cramped spaces where even the toaster takes up too much surface area.

Small as your kitchen may be, there are tips and tricks which can be utilized to create an illusion of airiness and space. One of these comes with making the most of your kitchen window. Windows are incredibly important in this part of the house not only for light but for ventilation too. This is why accessibility is so important when it comes to dressing your kitchen window. Blinds are by far the easiest option when it comes to practicality, as they can be easily opened and closed and are very streamlined.

Colour and Patterns

Smaller spaces can be brought to life by utilizing bold colour blocks and a blind is the perfect way to integrate this into your kitchen. Alternatively, striking patterns can be an excellent way to create texture and intrigue. If you’re looking for stylish kitchen blinds UK homeowners use to enhance their kitchens, you can find a whole range of gorgeous colours and patterns online. If you have little space to spare, then you need to make use of every inch – by making your window into a feature, you can make the most out of an area that would otherwise bring darkness into the room at night. Check out modern design ideas online for some great inspiration.

If you want to bring some more natural tones into your space, why not opt for wooden blinds? These can provide a stylish edge to a plain white kitchen and look great if you have plants too.

Style

It is important to select a style which is in keeping with your home’s interiors. For contemporary spaces, roller blinds can provide a sleek and modern look, whereas for more traditional homes slatted blinds provide the best look. You can find a whole range of contemporary and traditional styles to suit every taste. If you want to allow light to filter into your kitchen, why not opt for an opaque roller blind for a gorgeous glow? Alternatively, Roman blinds offer a lovely flowing effect, which creates a soft edge and draws the eyes up giving an illusion of space.

Shape

In small kitchens, it is often the case that windows are oddly shaped or smaller than your standard. In such cases, it can be difficult to find a blind that fits, which is why it might be a good idea to consider opting for a custom made product. This will not only look neater but will save you from giving up wall space to an oversized blind or having a blind which doesn’t quite touch the sides.

Practicality

Kitchens can be notoriously difficult to clean, which is why roller blinds are ideal as they constitute a single surface that is easy to wipe down. Likewise, wooden blinds make for a great option as they are also easy to clean. Besides from upkeep, safety is also a big concern in the kitchen. If you are opting for wooden shades, go for ones with a fire-proof coating. Wooden blinds look great and can provide an excellent way to regulate heat, but they must be made safe for kitchen use – especially when you are working with a restricted space.

Installing quality window blinds can also significantly reduce noise coming into your home through the windows. Blinds work to soundproof windows in a few key ways. The added material, thickness, and density help block and absorb sound waves rather than letting them freely pass through glass. 

There are many affordable and simple steps to take when researching how to soundproof windows without major construction. Opting for tightly-woven, noise-reducing fabrics will make the biggest impact. Combining window blinds with sealing techniques like weatherstripping frames and using acoustic caulk creates an effective barrier to outdoor sounds.

Selecting the right blinds for a smaller kitchen is a matter of both style and substance. By opting for blinds which complement your interiors and make the most of your precious space, you can make your windows into a key feature.