Is your credit card a rewards card? Mine is, and I'll take my rewards points in the form of gift certificates to T.J. Maxx, thank you very much. It's a great and easy way to earn free stuff just for using the card to pay regularly-occurring, pay-'em-off-each-month bills such as utilities and insurance premiums. I regularly receive $10 gift certificates to T.J. Maxx (and Marshall's) in the mailbox, and I have this real "thing" about finding approximately $10 worth of free tea-related goods with them each time. My latest freebies: This clearance teapot ($5.50) and mint condition cookbook ($3.99, retail $24.95).
Because I've amassed so many teawares, I no longer can buy just every teapot and teacup that catches my eye unless we add a wing to the kitchen. In fact, I saw this rather inexpensive rose design teapot at a T.J. Maxx before Christmas but left it there. Then I got the pretty creamware tea mugs and sugar bowl and creamer for Christmas and wished I'd bought it. When it showed up on the clearance shelf on a day I was "rewards points" shopping, I knew it was a sign.And I can't believe I'd never heard of this great book, "Artisan Patisserie for the Home Baker" by Avner Laskin. It has a recipe for lemon tea cakes and also recipes for tarte tatin, cream puffs and eclairs, various shortbreads and other luscious goodies that seem perfect for a tea party. And best of all, of course, is that the teapot and book were ... free!
Angela, you really are a super shopper. The teapot is lovely and will blend equally well with your creamware or with rose motif teaware. The cookbook looks interesting - I haven't seen it before either. How fun to make a game of finding just the right tea items with the $10 reward.
ReplyDeleteYou've got a great system going there, Angela...shopping at T.J. Maxx for free! I'm for that! Like you, I have soooo many tea things, that I can barely squeeze any more new things in. That's why I like your idea of adding a new wing on to the kitchen. Why didn't I think of that?? Will run it by DH tonight!
ReplyDeletewonderful teapot and book! I like your way of shopping! today I went to a sale at a consignment shop and paid $10.70 total for a top-quality cardigan and skirt. We must shop together!
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