I got a chance to review a really awesome Advent Calendar from Adagio Teas ! It’s supposed to be for Advent but I couldn’t wait so I opened it right away. :) As with other Advent calendars I’ve used, the best part is being surprised by what you get each day. I would open the calendar and drink whatever tea I got for my teatime each day around 4 pm, so I ended up eating a lot of cookies and pastries with my tea. :) I’m really impressed with the variety of tea in this calendar. There was everything: plain black tea as well as flavored black tea, oolong, green, flavored green, white, flavored white, rooibos and herbal. I admit I’m not a huge fan of oolong or rooibos, but I ended up liking some of the tea I got despite my bias. Since I don’t want to spoil the surprise of what tea is in it, I’ll only highlight my favorite flavors. I liked the flavored black teas the best, but especially the winter and Christmas themed ones. The chestnut black tea was surprisingly good. I usually don’...

I’ve been watching the anime Violet Evergarden on Netflix and it is possibly the most beautiful anime series I’ve ever seen. The animation by Kyoto Animation is top notch, the storyline (based on the light novel series ヴァイオレット・エヴァーガーデン by Kana Akatsuki (暁 佳奈)) is emotional and unique, and the original soundtrack by Evan Call is out of this world. The vocal songs in the series are also really beautiful, but the best one is the opening song, “Sincerely” by TRUE. She not only has a beautiful voice, but the melody and lyrics are absolutely gorgeous. I can’t rave about this song enough. 知らない言葉を　覚えていくたび おもかげのなか　手を伸ばすの Each time unknown words come to mind, I reach my hand toward the traces they leave. だけど一人では　分からない言葉も あるのかもしれない But there may be words That I can’t comprehend all alone. さよならは　苦くて アイシテルは　遠いにおいがした 例えようのない　この想いは とても怖くて　だけど　とても愛おしくて “Goodbye” is so bitter, While “I love you” carries a far-off scent. This incomparable feeling Is so very frightening… bu...