Tag: stories from the life of a normal girl

Book and Tea Pairings: The Witch of Belladonna Bay and Alabama Sweet Tea

Forget food and wine pairings, I’m all about book and tea pairings. Grab a book, pour some tea and curl up in a cozy chair for delightful reading and tea-sippin’ experience.

* * *

The Book
The Witch of Belladonna Bay by Suzanne Palmieri

When the warm weather sets in I want to read something that takes place in the south, preferably in a small town or out in the country. I want the backdrop of the story to have that warm, easy pace that only a southern town can offer. And a little bit of magic thrown in certainly doesn’t hurt. I’m not talking Harry Potter magic but more of that given-by-the-earth, nature magic that blows on the wind and makes intriguing things happen. Fortunately for me, this book has both.

…her family firmly believed somehow, somewhere, at the very moment when the stars first erupted with a bang, stardust settled on only a few specks of life already forming in the the sea. And how those few specks evolved into people who hold all sorts of unexplainable talents. When I was little I thought it was terribly romantic, being held stardust, half Southern magnolia.

-Bronwyn

I’ve been on a bit of a book-bust lately, unable to find a story that I could get lost in, but this story took care of that. It was the perfect book to read while sitting on a covered porch and sippin’ on some Alabama sweet tea. Speaking of which…

The Tea
Alabama Sweet Tea

This story took place in small-town, Magnolia Creek, Alabama, so what better beverage to sip on but some Alabama sweet iced tea? I started by making my basic sun tea recipe and added that signature, southern ingredient…sugar, lots of sugar. Then because I already had one, I added a lemon slice too. Originally I almost thought about using honey instead of sugar but that must be the yankee in me and I knew that in the south, the only way to sweeten tea is with sugar!

How I drank it: 16 oz. of warm sun tea mixed with 2 tbsp. of white sugar, mix together and chill with a handful of ice cubes and a lemon slice on top.

That’s it for this edition of Books-N-Tea. What are you reading and sipping on this summer?

katie: normal girl

To see what I’m currently reading, along with previous books reviews and tea pairings, check out the “Books-n-Tea” page. As I read, I comment on Twitter and Facebook, I’d love to have you join the conversation!

5 Tips For A Great Volunteering Experience

Summer is a great time to start volunteering – the weather is great, the days are longer and organizations always have summer projects!

I’ve been volunteering regularly for several years and I’ve learned a lot along the way. Most volunteering experiences are great and lots of fun but sometimes they’re not what you were expecting and it can be a bit of a downer. Don’t give up though. These are my quick tips to ensure that you have a great volunteering experience that will make you want to do it again and again!

1. Choose a focus/organization. Don’t feel pressure to volunteer for an organization that you’re not interested in. You’re allowed to choose, in fact, it’s better if you choose your focus before you start looking for volunteer opportunities. Think about what you want to support: animals, children, learning, disease research, fitness, reducing hunger, social awareness, there’s so many choices! If you’re not sure what you want to do, explore a bit then only do what you enjoy – you’ll be more likely to stick with it.

2. Use your education/skills. Many organizations need help with graphic design, their website, administrative tasks, grant writing, woodworking, handyman related chores and a host of other skilled jobs. Why not volunteer your specialized skills?

3. Donating time vs. money. From time to time you may be asked for a monetary donation while volunteering at an event. The reasons range from offsetting event costs to general donations. It’s up to you if you want to give money in addition to your time and you are allowed to politely decline.

4. Sometimes there’s mice. If you’re volunteering somewhere and the experience has gone horribly awry (say…mice slowly dying nearby…yeah, that happened) try to keep a positive attitude until your shift is over. Then go out for lunch with your volunteer buddy, appreciate the crazy story that you’ve just earned and vow to volunteer somewhere else next time.

5. Find a friend. New (and crazy) experiences are always easier with a friend. The two of you can work together to find fun projects to participate in and you can make a pact to volunteer someplace on a regular basis (once a month works for my friend and I) and help each other to stick with it.

Bonus Resources!

Ready to start volunteering? Awesome! I’ve had good luck finding volunteering opportunities through both of these sites:

Can’t find an event that fits your schedule or interests? You can host an event of your own and invite your neighborhood and friends to help. (You can also post it on one of the sites above to find fellow helpers.) Fun events include:

Food drive – collect canned goods and drop them off with a local food bank
Supply drive – collect blankets, sheets, clothing, towels and other items for donation to local pet or homeless shelters
Clean up – get a group of people together and pick up trash around a local lake or park

If you’re thinking about hosting your own event, be sure to contact the organization that you want to drop items off at. This will ensure that you’re collecting items that they need.

Do you have volunteering tips of your own? Share in the comments!

katie: normal girl

National Iced Tea Month

I celebrated National Hot Tea Month back in January, so you just know that I’m going to celebrate National Iced Tea Month in June! These are the goodies that I’ve found so far, hop on over to Pinterest and join me in collecting all the delicious choices.

Hey, look! There’s my sun tea recipe from a couple of years ago! (It’s my board, I’ve got to contribute my own tea-love you know.)

May your afternoons be filled will front-porch rocking chairs and cool glasses of iced tea!

katie: normal girl

How to Rehydrate Hydrangea Flowers

Don’t you just love a good farmer’s market? I’m lucky to have several near me and each one is a little different. One of my favorite farmer’s markets has an expansive selection of cut flowers. During my last visit I found these beautiful, white hydrangea blooms. I was sold right away and took a bundle home. When I unwrapped them I found a hidden stem that had sagged down and the flower was now shriveled and drooping. Judging by the poor state of the flower, the stem must have been out of the water all morning. For many other flowers that would’ve been the end of it, but not hydrangea flowers, you can bring them back! Follow the steps below when your hydrangeas start to get a little droopy looking, it’ll fluff them right back up and you can enjoy them for a few more days.

Book & Tea Pairings: The Aftermath and German Breakfast Tea

Forget food and wine pairings, I’m all about book and tea pairings. Grab a book, pour some tea and curl up in a cozy chair for delightful reading experience.

* * *

The Book

I was first attracted to this book because of its cover (somewhere a book marketer is rejoicing). I read the synopsis and saw that it was a historical fiction novel and I was sold. I’ve always been intrigued by the past and even more than that, I’m intrigued by people of the past.

1946, post-World War II Hamburg. While thousands wander the rubble, lost and homeless, Colonel Lewis Morgan, charged with overseeing the rebuilding of this devastated city and the denazification of its defeated people, is stationed in a grand house on the River Elbe. He is awaiting the arrival of his wife, Rachael—still grieving for their eldest son—and their only surviving son, Edmund. But rather than force the owners of the house, a German widower and his rebellious daughter, out onto the streets, Lewis insists that the two families live together. In this charged atmosphere, both parents and children will be forced to confront their true selves as enmity and grief give way to passion and betrayal, to their deepest desires, their fiercest loyalties, and the transforming power of forgiveness.

Though this story is fiction, it amazes me to know that similar events and circumstances really did happen. Families that had been separated by war for years were suddenly thrust back together again. With each unit of the family having lived through an entire lifetime while apart, it’s amazing to me that they were able to find a rhythm with each other again. I’m sure many of them weren’t able to reconnect and their previous domestic bliss became another casualty of the war. I imagine that was still better than the group that never got the chance to try.

The Tea

Our biblio-journey is taking us to Germany, so what better tea to drink than a stout German Breakfast Tea. Much as you might expect from a German tea, it’s bold and very strong. I love a robust cup of black tea so it was perfect for me without any additions. If you prefer a smoother tea drinking experience, a splash of cream and 1/2 teaspoon of raw sugar would blend well with this strong tea.

How I drank it: 8 oz. of hot water poured over 1/2 tsp. of German Breakfast Tea steeped for 3 minutes.

Have you read this book or tried German Breakfast Tea before? Let me know in the comments and if you’re talking about the story be sure to mark any spoilers!

katie: normal girl

How To Get Pomegranate Seeds Out

Pomegranates are a round fruit that is typically in-season during the cooler months. Depending on where you live it can be anytime from September through April. You eat the flesh covered seeds (also Pomegranate - learn to get the seeds out at katienormalgirl.com | #howto #lifeskills #food referred to arils, which is actually the red portion that covers the seed) that are found inside, in a white membrane. The seeds have a tart, slightly sour taste that gets sweeter the longer it remains in the fruit. Getting the seeds out of the membrane can be tricky and there are two common methods, the water bowl method and the “beating it with a spoon” method. I prefer the later method. Despite the violent sounding nature of it, using the spoon method will get you a bowl full of seeds that are fully intact and unharmed.

You’ll need:

a sharp knife
a wooden spoon
a medium to large bowl
an apron/clothing protection

Before you start, you’ll want to put on an apron or drape a tea towel down the front of your clothing to protect it. Juice from the red arils can stain clothing.

Start by using the knife to score the outer skin of the pomegranate and pull it apart. Don’t just cut it in half because you’ll burst some of the arils which will create a mess and you’ll loose some of the seeds you’re working so diligently to harvest.

Next, take half of the pomegranate and pull the sides, stretching it in several places to loosen the seeds. Turn it over in your hand and use the back and side of a wooden spoon to hit the pomegrante. The seeds will start to fall out in your hand, dump them into the bowl and keep on going! Repeat with the other half.

That’s all there is to it! Now you can enjoy these tasty little delights as a snack by themselves, mixed into yogurt or on top of ice cream. Enjoy!

katie: normal girl

Want to learn how to cut and prepare more things? Check out Kitchen Skills.

Little Treasures: Canning Jars

Have you heard? Ball has rereleased their classic “Perfect Mason” blue jars for a limited time. I recently purchased a set and now they proudly sit next to their cousins from decades ago.

I’m not actually sure how old my original blue mason jar is, perhaps it is from a century ago. Just imagine all the foods that were stored and preserved in that jar since its creation. I still keep dried beans in it – when it’s not being photographed of course. There’s such potential in a canning jar and perhaps that’s why I, and so many others, like them so much. As the art of the homemade continues to rise in popularity, I can’t think of a better time to admire my little collection and start planning all the good things that will go in them next.

Thanks for letting me share my treasures with you, feel free to share yours in the comments!

katie: normal girl

This is part of a new series called, Little Treasures. It’s all about the little collections that find their way into our homes over the years.

Books-n-Tea: The Girl Who Chased The Moon

Welcome to the inaugural post of my new series, “Books-n-Tea”. What better time but during, The Year Of Reading and National Hot Tea Month, to launch a series about two of my favorite things, books and tea? Some people do food and wine pairings, but I do book reviews and tea pairings! Let’s start with one of my favorites, shall we?

The Book: The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen
The Tea: I suggest paring this book with one of my favorite teas, Red Rose Original

I found this book a couple of years ago while searching through the shelves at a used bookstore. I bought it and I’ve read it at least once a year ever since then. Last year I went so far as to read it twice in a row. To me it is 265 pages of pure delight, woven together with bits of enchantment and sugary cakes (oh, the cakes!).

Set in the small North Carolina town of Mullaby, the story focuses on Julia Winterson, a thirty-something baker of wondrous cakes (with a past – who doesn’t love a character with a past) and Emily Benedict, a soon-to-be high school senior who recently lost her mother. You’ll find yourself lost in the stories of their pasts and rooting for their futures. A lovely cast of characters surrounds them, each one flawed in their own gentle way. In the end, they all find the confidence to develop and learn from their mistakes and you’ll feel empowered right along with them.

Sarah Addison Allen tells the story of these two women in such a real and relatable way, that the tiny bits of magic she weaves into the story seem only natural. Once you start reading, you’ll get lost in the small barbecue town of Mullaby and you’ll be so glad you did. It’s a light, uplifting read that will fill your weekend with the delights of hummingbird cake, wallpaper that changes based on your mood, a giant of a man, secrets, ghost lights and true love of every kind.

I published a post earlier in the week about the tea but just in case you missed it, you can read it here.

I can’t wait for you to read this book and try this tea. Let me know what you think!

katie: normal girl

*These photos are from a shoot that was done last year about people and their favorite books…hence the pre-haircut hair.

A Love Letter To My Tea (And Its Treasures)

For tea drinkers there is always a brand and type of tea that is dubbed the favorite, the go-to. You might stray to try new flavors, brands, or varieties but you always come back to one in particular. For me, that tea is Red Rose Original. It’s the tea that my father used to make when I was little and it’s still my favorite today. As far as tea goes, it’s a simple one but sometimes simple is better.

As the box of tea dwindles day by day, I start looking forward to “New Tea Day”. It’s the day when I open a new box of Red Rose Tea (and with 100 bags/box, these days don’t come often). I cut through the plastic outside and open the box to be greeted with the rich smell of tea. In addition to the smell of new tea, there’s always a little treasure in the box. They are small porcelain figurines, each with a theme. “What will I get this time?” I wonder.