The Storage Saga Continues...

Well... the chalk board paint didn't work. I don't know why I thought it would, but I tried. The paint came off in the dishwasher. So now I have to scrub off the rest of it and resanitize. I was going to use utility shelving, but instead I'll get a cabinet with doors, so I can shield the jars from light. I'll look at some thrift stores to see if I can find one. If not, Big Lots has one for $79 that I can use. So soon... hopefully... the Storage Saga will end.

Working on Christmas Eve...

I spent 2 hours at Office Depot today having labels and business cards printed. It really wasn't so bad... Tammy, behind the counter, is a joy to do business with. She was so upbeat and kept smiling through slow computers, slow printers, with no help and customers stacking up. I met a lady that works for the school board... she says she's thankful every day she still has a job. We shared our dreams... mine of course, The Bohemian Tea House and hers... a center for middle school kids to learn life skills after school and keep them off the streets unsupervised. Such a gracious woman... I hope her dream comes to fruition. As she left, we hugged and wished each other a Merry Christmas and she invited me to her church. I might just take her up on that. Then I met a lady that is a real estate agent. She commented on my labels and I told her about my new venture. She invited me to join her networking group... I will definitely take her up on that!

Sometimes gifts aren't so obvious... They don't come wrapped in pretty paper... but instead come in the form of strangers offering, smiles, kind words and opportunities for sharing and growth.

Merry Christmas... Happy Hanukka... or whatever it is that you may celebrate this time of year... but for us all... Peace on Earth!

Good News...

I forgot to post... My food manager certificate came yesterday!

The Labels are Done!

These are my
business cards.
Pretty cool huh?

These are my main front labels.

What do you think?

There will also be tea "title" labels with net weight and packaging date on the front and the required cottage foods labeling and ingredients, as well as how to order for pick up at farmers markets (no shipping - per Florida Cottage Foods Act) on the back.

Storage Problem Solved!

Teas need to be stored in air tight containers and protected from light. They, like anything else stored long term, should not be stored in plastic. So tins and opaque glass are the materials of choice. Tins were cost prohibitive... solution... glass canning jars and storage containers (found them 50% off at Hobby Lobby) sprayed with black chalk board paint! So as soon as my paint dries well, I'll sanitize my jars and lids and break open the new teas I got! Pretty cool!

I dug out my food dehydrator and sanitized it. So now I can dry my own fruits and berries for my tea blends. I've also been working on my labels and have come up with some cool designs. I'll post when I get them finalized!

Moving Forward...

Got my packaging. The bags are smaller than I expected, but I can work with them and order larger ones next time...and they are made from 25% recycled content and biodegradable. I also put in another order for teas. One thing I really need to work on are my labels. I've also gotten a couple of requests for blends... So I'll be working on these too.

Making Slow Progess...

I took my food manager certification class and test today. I feel like I did well, but won't find out for sure for a couple of weeks. I ordered packaging as well. I am, however, still trying to find storage vessels, either glass or tins. It's not recommended to store loose tea in plastic... nor in clear containers. If I store it in glass, I will have to cover the jars with paper or paint. I'm making progress... but it's certainly not quick!