Cozy Sunday Ginger Tea.

Sunday was the first day I've gotten to relax all day since the little one was born. The weather was so cold and blustery.  So I spent the whole day at home doing some spring cleaning. I even managed to squeeze in some time for yoga. Which was rudely interrupted when my boyfriend woke up from his nap on the couch and started laughing at the picture of me struggling in front of him. (I can't believe how out of shape I became when I was pregnant, but it's a work in progress right?)
Anyway, what could make a cozy day full of catnaps more complete than a warm glass of apple cider or a ginger tea latte?
Here's my version of a ginger tea latte. You will need; ginger tea, 1 cinnamon stick (ground was my second choice because I was out), 2 cardamom pods, several whole cloves, one star anise, a few whole black pepper corns, one tsp freshly ground nutmeg, and one tsp orange zest (I was all out of oranges today, too) and honey (try one of my favorite brands at www.honeyacres.com)
First heat your water and place all your loose ingredients into a tea ball. After the water has come to a boil, turn the heat down slightly and add the tea and spices. Let them steep a few minutes before removing them and stirring in your honey.
I don't like my tea to be too sweet but feel free to play with your ingredients until you find the perfect combination. That's what's so great about this recipe. It can be different every time depending on what kind of mood you're in. Just remember that a lot of the ingredients have strong flavors so a little bit of everything can go a long way!
Like my iced coffee recipe, I prefer to make my tea the night before and add a smidge of milk before I drink it in the morning. Please give it a try and let me know what you think :)

Thank God for Coffee.

 Two o'clock in the morning and I am awakened by a growing wail on the baby monitor. I get out of bed to put the pacifier back in. Then repeat the process one or two more times even though I know it won't work.

 My four month old is usually pretty good at sleeping through the night, but that certainly wasn't the case yesterday morning. Which is unfortunate for my boyfriend and coworkers because I'm terribly slow, irritable, and sometimes downright depressed when I don't get my eight hours in.
Thank God there's coffee! I've always enjoyed a good cup of coffee or tea, but motherhood has taken my caffeine consumption to a whole new level. A glass of iced coffee while I use my breast pump, or one after work, gives me just the boost I need to finish household chores. 
Fortunately for my wallet there's no coffee shop in my town, otherwise I'd be there at least four times a week. Something I certainly can't afford when my current budget doesn't even have room to buy a coffee maker. Luckily there's Instant. I know what you're thinking. Instant? Yuck! At least that was my reaction when my boyfriend made that suggestion. But trust me, you're going to be pleasantly surprised when you try it. On my days off I try to make a big pitcher to keep in the fridge for a few days, but it always seems to disappear much quicker. I've splurged and bought the Starbucks Via iced coffee packets before, but cheaper kinds can taste just as good. Try the Aldi's brand I've heard good things about it. 
Make your favorite instant coffee like the directions say. Add some sugar to taste. Then, let it cool before pouring it in a pitcher with milk. I prefer a ratio of one cup milk to one cup coffee but make it however you like it best. Next time you are feeling run down; take a break, pour yourself a glass and enjoy!