Like a lot of people, fall is my absolute favorite season.  I look forward to it all summer long and always get excited on that first day when you can feel a chill in the air.  Over the last couple of weeks the weather in Denver has finally cooled off and I was able to start wearing some new fall outfits.  

I might end up writing another post about my fall capsule wardrobe in case anyone is interested in seeing how it works.  I basically weeded out 75% of the clothes in my closet and have less than 30 pieces hanging in there now.  I am really enjoying the cleaner, more streamlined set of options I have. You'd think less options would make it harder to pick an outfit, but it actually makes it much easier! Let me know in the comments if you'd like to see a post on that.

But for today's post, I wanted to share my fall bucket list with you.  I started this list a full month before it was officially fall, back when the weather was still 95+ degrees outside and I was already daydreaming about it being cool enough to wear cozy slippers and drink hot tea.  The full list has 41 items on it, but I'll be sharing the top 10 with you today.  

​Without further ado, here is my 2017 Fall Bucket List:

• Buy honeycrisp apples and eat them with caramel dip
• Wear an outfit with a leather jacket, scarf & boots
• Start a gratitude journal or jar to go through on Thanksgiving
• Make homemade applesauce in my crockpot
• Watch Hocus Pocus
• Make a cup of tea, put on a robe & slippers, and spend the morning reading on my lounge chair
• Write a fall reading list and try to read all the books before winter officially starts
• Find a new pumpkin recipe to try from Pinterest (here's my Pumpkin Everything board if you want to check it out)
• Go on a morning walk to look at the colorful leaves
• Get a new haircut before my birthday

I've already started a few of these and I'm loving every minute of it.  Another post I might write is my fall reading list.  Comment below if you'd be interested in seeing what I'll be reading over the next couple of months.  Also, share in the comments what you've got on your fall bucket list.  I'd love to hear what you're up to!

Last week I talked about creating a relaxing morning ritual for yourself to get your day started off on a nice note.  Today I will talk about ending your day with a "me" night that will let you relax before bedtime.  Here are some ideas for your "me" night:

• Light some candles
• Take a bubble bath
• Spend a few minutes meditating
• Journal about your day
• Make a list of what you want to accomplish tomorrow
• Set out your clothes for the next day
• Drink some tea
• Go for a walk
• Watch a sunset

Here are some YouTube videos that have other ideas on how to have your "me" night:

These are just some of the ideas you can add into your night routine for a "me" night.  You can mix and match whichever ones you like and keep switching up your choices until you've created a routine that works for you.  Let me know in the comments if there is anything else you like to do on your "me" nights.

Last week a co-worker told me about DAVIDsTEA and I knew right away that I had to check it out.  Their website has amazing pictures of their loose-leaf tea and great descriptions for each flavor.  I started shopping around and before I knew it I had not only qualified for free shipping after spending $50 but had also qualified for a free gift for spending over $100!  Despite spending a small fortune, I really felt like I got a lot for my money.  Here's everything I bought:

• Silver Starburst Glass Mug
• David's Perfect Spoon
• Main Squeeze (mate tea)
• Strawberry Rhubarb Parfait (herbal tea)
• Pink Lemonade (rooibos tea)
• Berry Poppins (herbal tea)
• Birthday Cake (rooibos tea)
• Vanilla Chai (organic chai tea)
• Midsummer Night's Dream (herbal tea)
• Garcinia Goodness (organic pu'erh tea)
• Mint Chocolate (rooibos tea) (x2) 
• Tea for One teapot/teacup set (free)
• Silver tea tin (free)
• Three samples of tea (free)

See what I mean about getting a lot for my money?  That's nine different teas plus a mug, spoon, and a teapot/teacup set!  And even better, my order confirmation email said I should get the package on April 26 and it actually came one day early!

Here are the pictures I took of my package and the contents.

Now I'll share links to each of the flavors I selected and also show the great pictures of the loose leaf tea from the website.

Main Squeeze

GREET THE DAY: We all know the classic morning ritual: a cup of coffee and a glass of orange juice. But what if you could get your energy boost and fresh-squeezed fruity taste all in one cup? We’re serious. Shake up your old routine with this fruity maté blend, and you may never go back. It’s got the juicy flavour of orange, papaya and pineapple, plus the high-energy punch of green yerba maté. Just one sip and you’ll feel alert, refreshed and ready for anything. Say hello to your new main squeeze. (MK Kosher)

INGREDIENTS:
Green yerba maté, candied papaya, pineapple, safflower, natural flavouring. 

Strawberry Rhubarb Parfait

PICTURE PARFAIT: The ancient Chinese used it in medicine. The medieval Europeans traded for it along the Silk Road. And today we love it in pies, sauces, muffins or just plain, dipped in a little sugar. But the best way to eat rhubarb is with sweet, ripe strawberries. Like in this refreshingly fruity, deep red tisane. It tastes as bright and juicy as a fresh-picked berry, with a tart rhubarb punch and a subtle hint of yogurt creaminess. We love it hot or iced, or as the base for sweet, zippy sangria. Now that’s a beautiful thing. Caffeine-free.

INGREDIENTS:
Apple, hibiscus, raisins, carrot, yogurt bits, beetroot, strawberry, rhubarb, natural and artificial flavouring.

Pink Lemonade

THINK PINK: When life gives you lemons, reach for this zippy hot pink blend. One sip is enough to turn any frown upside down. Not only is it packed with rooibos, hibiscus and other good-for-you stuff, it’s also unbelievably delicious any way you drink it. Served hot, it’s a tart and tasty throat soother. On ice, it’s an addictively tangy summer refresher. And if you really want to take it to the next level, freeze it into ice cubes and blend them up with some agave and a splash of vodka. Hello, grown-up slushie. (MK Kosher)

INGREDIENTS:
Hibiscus, mango, lemon peel, rooibos, lemon myrtle, lemongrass, stevia, cornflower petals, natural and artificial lime, lemon and sugar cane flavouring.

Berry Poppins

BERRY BERRY QUITE CONTRARY: Rich, dark, sweet and addictive – is there anything more delicious than a perfectly ripe blackberry? Not that we can think of. And with this unbelievably fruity tea, you can capture that fresh-off-the-bush taste anytime, anywhere. Served hot, it’s like a warm slice of blackberry pie. Over ice, it’s like a scoop of blackberry sorbet. With apple, hibiscus, rosehips and blackberry, it’s better than good…It’s supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

INGREDIENTS: 
Apple, hibiscus, blackberry leaves, orange peel, rosehips, rose petals, artificial blackberry and cream flavouring.

Birthday Cake

PARTY LIKE IT’S YOUR BIRTHDAY: What’s the best thing about birthdays? It could be the presents, or spending time with loved ones, but let’s be honest. It’s all about the cake. With vanilla icing, and lots of sprinkles. And this sweet and festive rooibos blend brings the taste of birthday cake to your cup any day of the year – sprinkles and all. Best of all, not only is it low in calories, it also has all the goodness of rooibos. Talk about having your cake and eating it too.

INGREDIENTS:
Red and green rooibos, honeybush, sprinkles, ice cream bits, natural and artificial flavoring.  Contains milk, eggs and soy.

Vanilla Chai (organic)

CHAI SOMETHING NEW: There’s no better way to warm up a chilly winter day than a hot cup of chai. The combo of rich black tea and exotic spice is like a cup of pure comfort. And this spicy black tea blend turns up the heat even more with a sweet and creamy hint of vanilla. It’s as cozy as a teddy bear wearing a scarf. In front of a roaring fire. While cuddling with a puppy. Try it with milk and sugar for a warming treat that’ll have you wishing for snow.

INGREDIENTS:
Organic: Cinnamon, black tea, licorice root, ginger, vanilla. With natural vanilla and cream flavouring.

Midsummer Night's Dream

SUMMER LOVE: This citrusy-mint tea is refreshingly magical, with sweet apples, cool spearmint, tart gooseberries, orange oil, and petals of marigold and rose. But before you take a sip, we should probably warn you that it’s a bit of a love potion. For some people, it seems to turn regular summer evenings into dreamlike nights of romance and enchantment. Ice it and see what happens. Caffeine-free.

INGREDIENTS:
Apple pieces, spearmint, freeze-dried whole cape gooseberries, marigold blossoms, safflowers, rose petals. With artificial flavouring.

Garcinia Goodness (organic)

GOODNESS GRACIOUS: We all sometimes need a little after-dinner relief. Next time, reach for this earthy, citrusy tea. It combines pu’erh and garcinia – two traditional metabolism boosters. Haven’t heard of garcinia? It’s a small tropical fruit that looks a bit like a mini pumpkin. And in its native Asia, it’s been used as a natural appetite suppressant for centuries. Here we blend it with black tea, pu’erh, orange peel and hibiscus, for a rich, earthy tea you can feel good about drinking. The perfect end to any meal.

INGREDIENTS:
Organic: Black tea, puerh tea, orange peel, hibiscus, garcinia, stevia, red cornflower. With natural orange flavouring.

Mint Chocolate Rooibos

FRESHLY MINTED: You won’t want anything else for dessert when you taste this tea. Even the aroma is totally satisfying. Minty fresh, with hints of dark chocolate and rich vanilla. Pour it and admire the coppery red of the rooibos, then take a sip and sink into its velvety sweetness. You can’t help but fall in love.

INGREDIENTS:
South African rooibos, chocolate, cacao, peppermint, natural and artificial chocolate flavouring*. Contains soy. May contain milk.

So those are the nine different teas I selected.  I have already tried a couple and they taste as good as they sound!  If you are interested in trying them out make sure to use the code TEAFORONE if you spend $100 so you can get the free teapot/teacup set!

2.  What is the worst tea you've ever tried?
I bought the Roasted Dandelion Root tea from Traditional Medicinals in order to do a detox drink and it tasted awful!

4.  Are you drinking tea now?  If so, what kind?
Yes, I'm drinking the Hot Cinnamon Spice tea from Harney & Sons.

5.  What was your most recent tea purchase?
I was at Sprouts the other day and the new Celestial Seasonings flavor of Caramel Apple Dream caught my eye, so I knew I needed to try it!  I also grabbed Candy Cane Lane because it felt like a good time of year to check it out.

6.  Do you prefer loose-leaf or tea bags?
Most of the tea I own is in tea bags, but I don't mind loose-leaf tea.

7.  Do you prefer caffeinated or decaf?
I don't really have a preference, I usually go by the flavor.  Although, I do try to stay away from caffeine in the evening.

8.  Do you normally add anything to your tea?
I used to always need honey in my tea, but now I drink it plain.

9.  Where is your favorite place to order a tea and what do you get?
If I am at Starbucks in the evening I will usually order a peppermint tea.

10.  Show us 3 teas we should try!!!
I would definitely recommend the seasonal teas by Celestial Seasonings, including Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride, Caramel Apple Dream, and Sweet Harvest Pumpkin.

And that's the end of the I ❤️ Tea Tag!  

Up next will be a tour of my closet, which I promised a while ago and never got a chance to post.