Number of new vegan fall teas leaf - I mean 'leave' - something to be desired

By Giselle Wedemire

From the heightened appreciation for a good squash soup to the open invitation to start dressing in layers and boots until I start to resemble Rhian from My So Called Life, fall is definitely my favourite time of year. And with fall comes an increased need for a hot cup of tea. 

Pretty much the perfect autumn view

One of my favourite things to do on an autumn weekend morning is waking up before Mr. Picky Bitch, going into my little reading nook, and cozying up with a book and a hot cup of tea.

This makes the release of the new fall-themed teas at DavidsTea a very exciting time of year for me. I mean, it's got autumn-inspired teas and cute mugs involved, so how can I not love it? Look at how cute the new fall mugs are; the vintage camper and fox mugs? Get out of town! They're so darn cute I cute pinch them (but that might not work, since they're made of ceramic).

Tea-infused hand creams are your dry hands' BFFs this season

By Giselle Wedemire

My hands are almost reptilian in nature: unnaturally cold, sometimes scaly (depending on the outside temperature), and impressively dry. This only gets worse as temperatures drop and the cool fall air starts demanding that I dig my mittens out of storage. 

I have no idea why my hands are that way since the rest of my body doesn't resemble a dinosaur's hide at all, but such is my lot in life. The best I can do is moisturize them as often as I can to curb the problem before my hands go all Jurassic Park on me.

On June 13, Bare English & Co. announced on their Facebook page that their brand new hand cream had just hit their online store. I am a huge Bare English & Co. convert ever since I reviewed their lip balms last winter, so I immediately got in touch with them to see how and where I could get my (dry) hands on this new product.

Each Green Tea Infused Hand Cream retails for $8.99 on their website, and they are currently available in three scents: lavender, vanilla coconut, and juicy peach. While you might guess from the name that it contains green tea (which acts as an antioxidant), the ingredient list also boasts a slew of fantastic moisturizers like oat protein, aloe juice, coconut oil, almond oil, and shea butter. 

Bare English & Co.'s Lavender Green Tea Infused Hand Cream. The only thing better than the hand cream itself is the packaging. I love that the cruelty-free bunny is right on the front of the tube!

Fall-tastic fare for all at Wild & Raw

By Giselle Wedemire

While most may think of fall as a time to indulge in assorted sinfully sweet pumpkin-spiced delicacies, one Calgary entrepreneur is setting the bar high for healthy autumn treats. Jenn Silver, owner of Kensington's Wild & Raw Superfood + Juice Bar, is aiming to complement sweater weather with delicious lattes, elixirs, milkshakes, and smoothie bowls that'll warm you from the inside out.

"We're taking an alternative approach to the fall drinks that they do at Starbucks," Silver said. 

And that's exactly what it tastes like!

Wild & Raw has changed up its menu to feature two regular items and introduce four brand new offerings that are all perfect for autumn. From Sept. 18 until Dec. 21 (the first day of winter), these fall-themed items will be available. And best of all: they're all 100 per cent vegan and gluten-free (much like the majority of Wild & Raw's menu).

On a cold and windy day earlier this month, Silver invited me out to her store for a complimentary sneak peek of Wild & Raw's fall menu, and it was absolutely fantastic. Everything I tasted was delicious and packed with fresh, subtle, and warming flavours that made me feel at home in the little store. They also had the added bonus of perking me up and fortifying me with the strength to better cope with the nippy air and frigid rain I faced on my walk home. 

A few of the fall-tastic offerings available at Wild & Raw as of Sept. 21.
From left: the Pumpkin Milkshake, the Pumpkin Parfait, and the Golden Guru.
Photo by Jennifer Brazil, courtesy of Wild & Raw.

'Fall' in love with new flavours from DavidsTea

By Giselle Wedemire

Fans of sweater weather and all things cozy, rejoice! With September just a few days away, DavidsTea has released its fall collection of teas. 

And even though weather experts are predicting unseasonably warm temperatures for Alberta this autumn (with many days expected to peak in the 30 degree-range), there's something incredibly comforting about sipping a cup of tea while marvelling at the changing leaves outside. 

Just looking at this picture makes me want to don my favourite sweater and leggings, STAT.

Whether you reach for a cup of tea this fall in a sweater or a tank top (because Alberta weather can be a cruel and unpredictable mistress sometimes), it's important to note that not all of DavidsTea's offerings are vegan. Some are enhanced with not-so-vegan ingredients, as we found out earlier this year. Here's the 411 on which of the five DavidsTea fall collection teas are vegan-friendly*:

As a chai tea lover, I'm bummed out that I can't try their new Pumpkin Chai (because it contains milk and butter). However, I'm kind of relieved that I can't try their Peanut Butter Cup flavour because even though I love anything that's peanut butter and chocolate flavoured, there are some things that just shouldn't be in a cup of tea....

Have you tried out any of the new fall-themed teas from DavidsTea? Let us know by tweeting us at @PickyBitchez or by commenting below.

*No worries for the gluten-free Picky Bitchez: DavidsTea blends are gluten-free.