Selena S., Author at Anna Tea Shop

Personalized Christmas Gifts – Tea Bag Tins

Tea makes a fabulous gift. It’s healthy, yummy, and luxurious. With over 80+ tea varieties you can also make your tea gifts very personal. Truly a gift with heart and soul.

We have a couple of new Tea Collections and some new tea products. Our Classic Christmas Tea Sampler is a all 8 of our best Christmas and Wintry Teas bundled together in one price. One ounce each which is 80 cups of tea! Another new item for us is Tea Bag Gift Tins!

Under $10, ready to go tea bags tucked inside a tea tin. The perfect gift for corporate gifts, teachers, neighbors, coaches and more! Each tin is filled with a dozen tea bags and priced right around $7-9.

Additionally we can personalize your tin label with a minimum order of only 10!

Add your personal sentiment such as”Merry Christmas from the Smiths” or “Thank you from Spencer Financial”.

By Selena S.|2015-11-21T05:26:24-06:00November 17th, 2015|Drinking Tea|Comments Off

Decorating with Larry

People comment to our family how amazing it is we work together. The truth is sometimes we get too busy and have cranky days. Throw in the ever changing moods of 3 teenagers and extended family can get a little too close for comfort. 🙂 So, one of the things we are most thankful for in November is a family friend named Larry. Once again we review our Thankful-Giving month – first we remember our loved ones around us, our hometown Liberty, and this satisfying cup of tea. Then Larry is close to the top on all our lists as a reason to be thankful!

An important member of the Teashop Family except Larry isn’t pouring tea, shipping tea, or packaging tea. Every November he comes to spend two weeks with us to work with Brenda preparing the 1913 home for Christmas Tea Parties and Tours. Along with a beautiful talent for decorating, Larry enjoys gardening, and was even written up in the October issue of the The Kansas City Gardener! Be sure to check out the article “In the Garden with Larry Harmon”.

Larry keeps Us Calm as we Decorate On. Truly a cherished friend and a true blessing! We share lunch and tea every day “we get to have Larry over”. Enjoying two pots of Larry’s favorite teas. Pineapple Upside Down Cake and Red Velvet Rooibos.

So, today at lunch as the last cup of Red Velvet was drank Brenda and Larry went back to Christmas decorating. While Sarah and I continued working on stock orders for Christmas and creating Christmas Gift Baskets and Personalized Tea Bag Gift Tins for Liberty’s Hometown Holidays on November 28!

In case you haven’t heard about it yet, Hometown Holidays is a brand new event sponsored by Historic Downtown Liberty, Liberty Parks and Rec and over 24 local downtown merchants. Along with just enjoying a beautiful Saturday afternoon and evening down on the square this is a totally free event with many fun opportunities for the whole family. We hope to see you at Hometown Holidays and we thank you for Shopping Small on Small Business Saturday, November 28.

Hometown Holidays is a free event and includes:

November 28
Passport Giveway – a total of 6 drawings for $80 worth of gift cards each from downtown businesses. Grab your passport on the Liberty Square corner and come to Anna Marie’s to get your passport stamped!
2-4pm Santa at the Corbin Theatre, bring your own camera!
2-4pm Horse Drawn Wagon Rides
S’mores & Refreshments
Crafts for Kids at Blanc Palette and Morning Day Cafe (hosted by the Orange Easel)
Small Business Saturday Shopping and Passport Drawing

Live music and entertainment to include:
2:30 – 3:30pm: 5 Star Jazz Band
3:30 – 4pm: Stars of Tomorrow
4 – 5pm: Liberty Community Chorus 5 – 6 p.m.: Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony

In closing. We are thankful for our Hometown Liberty. Thankful for the other hard working merchants and HDLI staff helping put on such a great event!

By Selena S.|2015-11-19T16:34:37-06:00November 17th, 2015|Drinking Tea, Family Stuff|2 Comments

Cyber Monday Special

It’s all over. All the hype and hub-bub of this week. But, wait. There is still one more shopping delight. Cyber Monday. A shopper’s respite for either those who just need some quiet tea time after the Black Friday Gala or those who simply choose the quiet ease of shopping online.

Our Cyber Monday Special is 10 cups of free Cinnamon Almond Tea. Bagged in a holiday foil red with gold tie. A festive reward for either you or another delicious gift to check off your list. Cinnamon Almond black tea is one of our award-winning best sellers. Nothing says “coming home for Christmas” quite like a fragrant spicy cup of Cinnamon Almond. No matter how you enjoy it – we just thank you for any online order on Cyber Monday! So, enjoy 1 ounce (10 cups) of FREE TEA!

By Selena S.|2015-11-11T12:12:36-06:00November 11th, 2015|Drinking Tea, Events|Comments Off

KC Royals Blue Cheese & Apple Scone

Mary and The Tea Suspects

In honor of our Kansas City Royals World Series win one of our Tea Suspects, Mary Lewis created a scrumptious fall scone recipe. Using Brenda’s Signature Scone Mix she added a few ingredients and now we have a “blue” scone to go with our beautiful blue city!

You will need:

Brenda’s Signature Scone Mix
half cup of peeled, finely chopped Granny Smith apple
1/3 cup of blue cheese crumbles

Following the scone mix instructions only substituting whole milk for the heavy whipping cream.

By Selena S.|2015-11-05T15:37:57-06:00November 5th, 2015|Recipe Box, Scones and more|Comments Off

Thankful-Living.

Woody, Tinkerbell, Snow White, & Frodo posing in Christmas Wonderland!

Family traditions. Looking back through the years as the teashop family kiddos grew up we find ourselves reminiscing. From those babies sleeping in bassinets at Anna Marie’s Gift Shop to now serving tea and directing cars as teenagers and young adults. We think about how family roots are built around shared experiences in life. So, what makes a professional decorator’s family – turned retail gift shop owner – turned rock star healthy tea lady…share? Well…one of them is celebrating Thanksgiving all month long!

We haven’t always had the time to stop and savor Thanksgiving. Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas have always been sort of a mash up for our family. October 31, 1995, we handed out candy to trick-or-treaters. Not tucked inside our homes but standing inside our gift shop just off the Historic Downtown Liberty Square. Why? Because we were decorating for the Christmas Open House which fell the day after Halloween! As those cute Halloween kids rang our gift shop doorbell our family was stringing Christmas lights and fluffing pinecone garlands with Christmas music in the background. The look on those kids faces were priceless. When are own kids were old enough to trick-or-treat we headed back to the gift shop – back to the Historic Downtown Square. Our kids Halloween photos were always taken inside of a Christmas Wonder Land. Unique and special. Our family tradition.

This year the Teashop Family kicked off November by heading down the hill to Hillcrest Hope Thrift Store. We got to clean, sort, and merchandise – just like we used to with our gift shop. But, now we do the same thing in this huge amazing store with a community purpose to help families. We appreciate Ryan and all the workers at Hillcrest Hope. Someday when we retire a couple of us might just be the next weekly merchandisers at Hillcrest Hope! Thankful-living. And thankful-giving. We always try to sit down and share a pot of tea, too. This day it was Green Apple Green Tea in our teapot. A fragrant green tea that tastes and smells just like green apples! Just the right amount autumn-pick-me- up.

Fast forward to today. Last August, Wren drove herself home from school bringing a home decor item bought with her own money. A scary Halloweent witch. She hung it right up. Right up in August. Wren turned to me and said “I really don’t know why… but it just feels like it is time for Halloween.” Halloween decor came out end of August. Christmas came out end of October. This is how a family rolls (even the kids!) in the life of a retail gift shop. This time of the year Mimi’s house is decorated all different ways. The first floor is Halloween turning over to Thanksgiving and the second floor is turning into Christmas and the third floor is an amazing hot mess of all holidays combined! What once was a 1913 ballroom is now a dance floor for the art of holiday decorating!

And now we celebrate The Beauty of Thanksgiving…a precious time – not about stuff or things to buy but about the simple art of thankful-living. Living each day – and giving thanks. We get to celebrate Thanksgiving all month long at the Teashop and Inn. Join us for our Thanksgiving Tea and celebrate your own month of Thank-ful living!

By Selena S.|2015-11-05T15:40:28-06:00October 31st, 2015|Drinking Tea, Family Stuff|Comments Off

Pumpkin Pie Latte
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Pumpkin Pie Latte

Drinking Tea, Recipe Box, Tea Drinks

Pumpkin Pie Latte

Pumpkin Pie Tea Latte

One of our family’s Fall Favorites! The perfect hot beverage for an autumn pick-me-up for just “one” or make a whole pot and share with friends. We love this brewed strong with either Pumpkin Spice Tea or Masala Chai. The key is brewing it strong so all those yummy spices are coming out. We use extra spoonfuls of tea rather than brewing for a longer time. Brewing your tea leaves for longer then the recommended time could result in a bitter brew.

Make a pot of the tea or chai by following the brewing instructions for making the chai or tea. Be sure to add those extra spoonfuls of tea.

Stir in sweetened condensed milk or “honey milk” to your taste. Typically about a teaspoon or less in 1 mug or a little more in a whole pot. But, add or subtract as you wish. Drizzle the “honey milk”, stir, pour, relax and enjoy!

By Selena S.|2017-10-22T11:16:55-05:00October 22nd, 2015|Drinking Tea, Recipe Box, Tea Drinks|Comments Off

Brenda’s Pumpkin Walkway
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Brenda’s Pumpkin Walkway

From Brenda

Brenda’s Pumpkin Walkway

Pumpkin Walkway

Fall decorating is simply a favorite time of the year! 21 years of October decorating for our gift shop and tea parties has tucked away so many memories and ideas. Golden color palettes blended with plum, red, green….our fall favorite color list seems to have no end! One of the lovely sides of fall decor is the way creative spirits can simply be free! Mixing whimsical silly with classic traditional. Brenda shares three October decorating ideas – one whimsical, one classic, and a new idea she just finished up for the Masquerade Tea!

Black or white gauzy fabric is a staple around her October house. She will rip, tear and cut pieces of the gauzy fabric laying it over and tucking it around objects such as table tops and candles.

Spiders in Glass Jars

Her pumpkin stakes are a favorite that transforms into a pumpkin walkway. Using imperfect wood stakes or branches – the more imperfect they are the more perfect they are! One end is whittled down and shaped into a point to drive into the ground. Fake pumpkins with holes cut out (or watch at craft stores sometimes they come with the hole!) slide right over the top of the stake. The best part about the rustic stakes is they easily become Christmas decor. Slide the pumpkins off and attach a roping of garland connecting the stakes. String with lights making a welcoming rustic Christmas walkway.

Lastly new this year – spiders in glass jars! Fill a glass jar or vase (any size or shape) with cotton balls. Spread and stretch out the cotton balls to completely fill the jar. Tuck plastic spiders on the cotton ball web against the glass. In the center of the cotton balls place a couple of glow sticks. If your design needs added support or filling add some white tissue to finish.

So what to reward yourself after a day of Fall decorating? A Pumpkin Pie Latte is our family’s favorite treat! So simple to make…yet so simply delish! The perfect treat to indulge in after a day of decorating!!

By Selena S.|2015-10-22T14:17:40-05:00October 22nd, 2015|From Brenda|Comments Off

Private Event Space
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Private Event Space

Events, From Brenda

Private Event Space

Tucked inside of Historic Downtown Liberty, Anna Marie’s offers a truly intimate private event space. Brenda’s 1913, Frank Lloyd Wright inspired home is elaborately decorated with rich fabrics, beautiful colors, and original house appointments. Deep woodwork, French doors, tiled plant room, and so much more.
This classic and elegant space invites guests to relax, connect and truly enjoy one another.
Brenda offers much experience with small, medium and large events. She opened her home and has been working with special events since 2001. A beautiful backdrop for any special event.
Always decorated for the season our space is all inclusive with staff to help serve while you enjoy your special event.
A catered meal is available including our own Specialty Tea Bar. Up to 42+ guests can be seated.

Contact Brenda Hedrick to discuss your specific event. 816-792-0418. Interior and exterior photos available on Anna Marie’s Facebook Page.

343 W. Liberty Drive is 2 ½ blocks southwest of the Historic Downtown Liberty Square and just across the street from The Terrace Avenue Inn Bed & Breakfast.

weddings
rehearsals
corporate appreciations, parties & events
showers
family gatherings
church groups

By Selena S.|2015-10-22T12:23:08-05:00October 20th, 2015|Events, From Brenda|Comments Off

Green Tea and Me
Gallery
Green Tea and Me

From Brenda

Green Tea and Me

Over here at the teashop we love our tea. In fact as I am typing Brenda’s post I am already planning my Ginger Green tea for my afternoon pick-me-up and Sarah is downstairs brewing her first pot of green tea for the morning. Brenda’s already had her one pot of green tea before she served breakfast to our b & b guests – and is most likely looking forward to her one cup of matcha with her noon meal. Premium Green Tea has been valued as the healthiest beverage on the planet! Loaded with nutrients and antioxidants. Making the choice to choose the highest quality green tea sounds simple but sometimes not as easy as grabbing it off the shelf from just anywhere. There is so much good in green tea for you. Green tea has the highest levels of antioxidants of foods we eat. These antioxidants are what give us the health benefits inside of green tea. Here is exactly “what’s in it for you!”

Supports healthy cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugars
Protects the brain against damage of the mini-strokes
Boosts memory and helps with cognitive function
Energizes! My personal favorite afternoon pick-me-up
Brightens moods, may lower risk of serious depression
Supports heart, eye and gum health
Boosts immune system. Fighting colds, flues, etc
Decreases the effects of aging
Can slow down cancer growth. Used and prescribed by some physicians to diminish affects of radiation and chemotherapy damage
Dr. James H. O’Keefe – author and member of St. Luke’s Hospital Cardiology Tea promotes 4-5 cups of green tea per day
The tea drinking lifestyle can be a stress-reducer. We all know stress is one of the biggest culprits of declining health
Matcha has the highest level of antioxidants and premium grade matcha has the most.

Choosing to drink good premium green tea is important. Lesser quality tea may not create the same results for you.

By Selena S.|2015-10-08T10:38:41-05:00October 8th, 2015|From Brenda|Comments Off

Turkey Salad Toast Points

A tangy sandwich that is good with a sweet dessert! If gogi berries are hard to find golden currants are a good substitute.

18 2″ squares very thin wheat bread
3 tablespoons champagne vinegar
3 tablespoons minced shallots
1 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoons country Dijon-style mustard
1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup extra-light olive oil
1 1/4 cups finely shredded, cooked turkey breast
1 cup cooked multi-grain rice
3/4 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup dried goji berries

Preheat oven to 350°. Place bread squares on a baking sheet and toast lightly until crisp. About 6-10 minutes.
In a container of a blender combine champagne vinegar, shallots, lemon juice, mustard, salt, and pepper. Blend until mixture is uniform.
With motor running slowly add oil, blending until mixture thickens. Set vinaigrette aside.
In a large bowl, combine turkey, rice, celery and gogi berries. Gently mix vinaigrette and turkey mixture. Spoon mixture on toasted points just before serving.

By Selena S.|2015-09-29T13:26:25-05:00March 10th, 2015|Recipe Box, Tea Savories|Comments Off

About Selena S.

Additionally we can personalize your tin label with a minimum order of only 10!

Contact Brenda Hedrick to discuss your specific event. 816-792-0418. Interior and exterior photos available on Anna Marie’s Facebook Page.