It’s great when you have been following someone on Facebook for a while and you find their business is growing and doing really well. I enjoy seeing peoples stories evolve from a small hobby into a full on business requiring a new premises to work from as it has taken over their house and their lives!

It’s great to encourage each other by ‘liking’ posts and photos, chatting and sharing ideas but what is not great is asking ‘how they have done so well’, ‘where do they get their products made’, ‘where do you find your suppliers’, and even copying someone elses work, stockists lists, websites etc.

We all have people we admire and aspire to but we also need to find our own way just like all of those people who are doing well with their own business. Just because their business is flourishing it doesn’t mean they got there over night. A small hobby takes a long, long time to turn into a money making business – often the person running it is not even aware that they are in the beginnings of a business!

There are lots of elements that take time to perfect from suppliers to stockists – lots of research needs to go into finding the right people and business for your own business. The number one place to start is online, by making searches and not at the the local craft market asking the stallholders where they have sourced things from or where they get stuff made – it really is not respectful of their work.

Unfortunately there is no one stop shop, business package or right way of doing things it is just pure hard work with lots of trial and error and mistakes to learn from along the way. I’m all for helping each other and pointing people in the right direction but it soon gets annoying being asked such direct questions and one day you just might be the person they take it out on

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Image courtesy of [vinegar & brown paper]

I was quite pleased when I was offered the chance to try out some tea, especially when I found out it was Twinings. I can drink tea all day long, but I am quite fussy – brewed tea bag and skimmed milk – not too strong and not too weak and definitely NOT with full fat milk! The only teas I really know and enjoy are the more traditional ones such as English Breakfast and PG Tips so to try something else would be great.

When I received my tea I found I had been sent x2 fruit teas and x2 black teas – apple & blueberry; cherry & cinnamon; Earl Grey; Ceylon. I have never really fancied the fruit teas although they always smelt really nice but the suggestion on the box was to try them cool or cold which i thought might be better. The black teas could be drunk with or without milk.

Before diving in I thought I would go over the packaging which is a really great design visually and mechanically. The black teas are in the distinguishable black box with the gold band which really stands out on the shelf amongst the other teas. Most people would know the Twinings brand and what to look for if they went to buy it. They have given different teas different colours which makes it easier to find. The fruit teas are in a completely differnt packaging with the fruit blends colours as the main picture on a white box. This really differentiates from the more traditional teas. I know they have just recently changed their packaging and have used the images of paper quilling which are amazing, by Yulia Brodskaya.

The boxes are torn opened around the edge but keeping the box intact and have the extra lip which holds themselves shut so you could have a variety of teas kept in heir own boxes in the cupboard. On the side of the boxes is the suggested brewing time, how to drink the tea and other teas you might like if you liked this one.

The fruit teas did indeed smell lovely, really fruity. I tried them hot and I would say that these would not be my choice for a ‘cup of tea’. I much referred them cold as they were just like an adult squash!

Earl Grey I have had before but not Ceylon, and out of the two Ceylon was my favourite – a really refreshing ‘proper’ cup of tea. Earl Grey I found quite flowery and perfume-y and quite a light tea which didnt need too much milk. Ceylon has the traditional taste of tea as most of us know it but it seems to be a bit more refined. It doesn’t brew to a really strong, dark tea but the taste is there, and also just needs a dash of milk.

As well as the black, white and fruit teas Twinings also have a healthy tea range which are blends of different natural ingredients such as herbs, flowers, spices and fruits and these can help with detoxing, digestion, immune system and even with sleep (camomile, vanilla & lavender)

I love making lists but sometimes think I don’t do it enough. I have a terrible memory when it comes to ‘doing jobs’ and so making a list helps in that sense, plus I can be easily distracted whether its in the supermarket or on the internet. I intend to go and do something but something else will take over and I don’t get to do the original task, so thats where my shopping/to-do lists come in to play.

There is nothing more satisfying than crossing something off the list and then realising that you have completed your list and it isn’t even lunchtime.

I also write lists of things I’ve done, such as who I have made contact with or emailed so as I know I won’t contact them again!! I also like notebooks – I have a notebook for Hmade, another for photography etc which is full of lists!!

I was going to add my tips for writing your own lists but I found an article by Richard Branson and his are much better than mine..

1.     Write down every single idea you have, no matter how big or small
2.     Always carry a notebook
3.     Find a list method that works for you. Doodles, bullet-points, charts – what suits you best?
4.     Make a list of small, manageable tasks to complete every day
5.     Mark off every completed task – you’ll find making each tick very satisfying
6.     Make your goals measurable so you know if your plans are working
7.     Set far off, outlandish goals. What do you want to have achieved by 2020? How about 2050?
8.     Include personal goals in your lists, not just business
9.     Share your goals with others. You can help motivate each other further
10.     Celebrate your successes – then make new lists of new goal

By Richard Branson. Founder of Virgin Group