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One of my versions of heaven  is a quiet room, homey, with an endless supply of books and an on-demand selection of perfectly-brewed teas. (Since it's heaven, I'll request some tasty snacks, too.) So anytime I happen upon a teahouse, I seriously consider moving in. I recently enjoyed an hour in just such an idyllic spot. 

The coffee houses I've experienced (yes, sometimes I do enjoy a cup of joe) can't hold a candle to tea houses. Step inside a tea room and you're met with an air of calm, because people aren't doing that grab-the-caff-and-go routine: they're sitting and chatting, sipping slowly, savoring. (But they're not holier-than-thou, so you can get a cup to go if you need to hit the road.) Plus, tea houses provide the utmost in personalized service. Select your tea from a list which might be several pages long - not from a "what we're brewing today" mini-list. It arrives at your table perfectly steeped, or accompanied by a tiny hourglass to tell you when it will be ready. These details never fail to make me feel special. 

And what's on the shelves? (Of course there are shelves.) Quirky teapots, flowery cozies, gold-accented teacups, and other paraphernalia to allow you to savor at-home infusions with all your senses, like quilted coasters that emit sweet scents when placed under a warm mug. And then there are the canisters of aromatic teas and tisane selections, just waiting for you to select them.

Though I'm comfortably settled on my couch with a steaming mug of English Breakfast, a part of me is pining for a tea house right now. Somehow I don't think that just pulling out a little hourglass will do the trick.

 When it comes to relaxation, there is only one thing better than settling down with a hot cup of green tea to calm th nerves... making yourself a green tea facial to relax and rejuvenate your skin.   

Green tea is full of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties to help reduce stress lines and wrinkles on the face, making skin more taught and youthful looking.  If this isn't enough to convince you to slather some green tea on your face immediately, green tea facials have also been proven to help reduce the risk of sun cancer in animal tests!  Are you slicing the cucumbers for your eyes yet?   

If you're looking for a great green tea mask, you can either buy one at the store or attempt to make one yourself!  A DIY project is a fun idea for a Friday or Saturday night in with a book, so here's a recipe to get you started! 

To make the mask: 

• 1 teaspoon of Moroccan Mint green tea, steeped lightly and strained
• 1/2 ripe avocado
• 2 tablespoons ground green tea

Tea lovers, rejoice: you can use tea to give your locks extra luster this winter!

How, you ask? Well, the tannins found in tea can thicken the shaft of the hair, which of course makes hair appear thicker. Although there's no science to back it up, I have also found that my hair appears much smoother following what I call a 'tea rinse.' 

The method couldn't be simpler.

Brew three to four cups of your favorite green, white or black tea. (I have not tried herbal teas so while it's possible they may work as well, I can't vouch for it!)

Cool the tea until it's at least room temperature, if not a little colder.

Shampoo, condition, and rinse hair as usual. Allow hair to dry: it doesn't have to be totally dry, just not dripping wet! 

Pour tea into a large bowl and flip your hair into it, being sure to get the tea all the way to your roots. Gently flip your hair back up and wrap it in a towel; allow it to sit for thirty minutes or so (the longer the better in my experience) and then rinse it out. Rinse with cold water for the shiniest results.

As a bonus, if you're like me and sometimes brew more tea than you can drink, you can always use the leftovers to treat your hair!

As a fair skinned woman, I'm constantly having to check the weather before I go outside to make sure I don't end up sunburned by the end of the day.

I think it is very important to take care of one's skin because this is the only skin that you'll have for your life, why not make it the best and most beautiful you can!

In addition to my routine of washing my face and applying SPF moisturizer and make-up, I've been searching around for other tricks that will help my glow.

Of course, green tea is amazing and has many benefits, including great skin benefits!

Many people don't realize this, but green tea is actually listed as an ingrident in some of your make-up and skin care products! There are scientific reports that show green tea as very beneficial when used topically.

The benefits of using a green tea skin product are:

• The catechins in green tea fight damage that has been caused by free radicals, which are usually the culprit behind pre-mature aging.
• Green tea extract neutralizes UV light and the damage that can be caused by it's harmful rays.
• The antioxidant effects prevent skin cancer. (Drinking green tea also helps with this!)
• It rejuvantes skin cells as stated by the findings of Dr. Stephen Hsu and his research.
• Fights inflammation, which improves skin conditions such as dandruff which are attributed to inflammation.
• Sooth acne and lightens the skin — the catechins are anti-bacterial.

Source: Amazing Green Tea Website

Who knew that green tea could help one with their weight, skin, and overall health? It seems to me that this product is the Superman of all products and there will only be more and more benefits that are discovered from it's leaves.

Looking for a way to relieve puffy eyes after a night of little to no sleep?

Luckily, your used tea bags can help sooth and reduce under eye bags and dark circles.

Use a loose leaf tea pouch to brew your tea.  After making your tea, take the moist tea bag and let it cool. Once the tea bag becomes cold, let the bag rest on your eyes for ten to fifteen minutes, then discard.

You might look/ feel silly, but the tea bags really do have health properties!

Only caffeinated tea bags work, and they do so because they contain an astringent called tannin. The tannin constricts your blood vessels and encourages extra liquids to flush out of your skin. 

Some people prefer warm tea bags for the comfort they provide, but cold tea bags will act faster to reduce swollen under eyes.

So go on, try it! I know some days I need a way to feel a little more refreshed!