Many thanks to Gold Peak Tea for sponsoring this post (and encouraging my southern love of tea!).
I’ve heard it said that each child you add to a couple’s relationship drives marital satisfaction DOWN by 2%. So that means Chase and I should be less happy by 4% by now, right? I really don’t think that’s the case. In fact, the last few stressful weeks of little sleep, juggling duties and responsibilities have made us closer. We’ve always had amazing communication, and this milestone in our lives is no different. Even though we are on the same page and working together, I can’t help but notice that we aren’t getting a lot of bonding time. Sure, we are holding hands and snuggling every moment we get after both kids go to sleep (does a newborn ever really go down?!) but I’m not sure I can remember the last time we went on a date. At night. The real kind of date. I can find a few meditative moments for myself in the bathtub, and Chase loves playing video games, but the elusive date night together is rare right now.
Miraculously, last week when Red was scheduled for a drop-off birthday party (I didn’t know those were a thing!!!) we found ourselves with a very sleepy and quiet newborn, and two Friday night evening hours to ourselves. We immediately hightailed it to Carrabba’s for some Italian flavors and quiet dining. It was going to be yummy and full of grown-up “we” time. I was so ready to enjoy the simple pleasure of dinner out with my husband and live in the moment. I didn’t know when the next one was going to come!
Now, when Chase and I find ourselves at a restaurant (this date night was no different), the first thing we order is a sweet tea. He was born and raised in Georgia, and even though I moved a lot as a kid, I have southern roots and southern parents. Sweet tea was always around and a part of my life. The one time in the last 17 years when I vacationed above the Mason-Dixon I was shocked when they didn’t have sweet tea. They served “iced tea” and provided sugar on the side. It’s NOT the same thing, and I know Chase agrees.
Even with my four cheese pasta and Italian bread loaf with oil and spices, I wanted that Southern, sippable icy sweetness. Rarely will I add lemon, mint or anything else, but each time you’ll find plenty of ice and a straw. (A straw counts as an ingredient… it’s part of the whole sweet tea satisfaction!) Like Gold Peak Tea says… I take it Simple and SWEET. Chase and I made sure to cheers with our chilly teas to our impromptu and well-deserved date night. It’s something we really needed and were so happy to get.
By the time we had enjoyed our sweet, sweet teas and delicious food (that I didn’t have to cook!!), it was time to gather up Scarlett and recover Red from his party. I can’t tell you how nice it was to slow down for a few hours and sit to talk with Chase. I can’t even really tell you what we talked about, but I know we enjoyed each other’s company and really enjoyed “the now” while I downed at least three full glasses of sweet tea. Mmmmmmmmmmmm.
So in the great debate of Sweet vs. Unsweet, where do you stand? How do you take your tea? Are you an ingredient-adder or do you take your Gold Peak Tea unadulterated? What makes your glass of Gold Peak Tea perfect? Leave me a comment telling me how you take your tea!
While I am not southern at all, sometimes I really wish I was and I’m #TeamSweetTea all the way! 🙂
I just discovered Gold Leaf tea at #BloggerBlockParty and love it. The sweet tea is so good!
I drink unsweet iced tea with lemon. When I drink hot tea I use lemon and honey. I will have to try out Gold Peak Tea.
I’ve never heard of Gold Peak before. I love tea, though. So I’ll definitely be giving it a whirl.
Yum! I acquired a taste for iced tea after moving to NC. Now I like trying different brands.
I prefer when my iced tea is slightly sweetened while my husband is the complete opposite. I suppose it’s a good thing Gold Peak Tea offers us options.
I’ll have to give it a go. Not a tea drinker unless its offered by someone elses house.
Mmmmm, I love me some good tea! I definitely take my tea super cold and sweet!
I love sweet tea. It is my beverage of choice over all sodas and coffee. Not super easy to find everywhere though.
I drink unsweet tea. That looks refreshing.
I like my tea unsweetened. And I agree w/you on the kids NOT taking the satisfaction rate down. My kiddos make me exponentially happier in every area. 🙂
I love tea. Hot and iced. With hot tea I love orange pekoe and with iced I love it with a splash of lemon. So good. This looks super great! I do like mine sweet.
I love tea but have never heard of Gold Peak! I will need to check it out.
I am not much for drinking tea but the Gold Peak tea does sound good.
I just love the flavor of Gold Peak Tea. Their coffee is really good, too.
Gold Peak tea is my favorite! It’s got a great flavor, and now I’m craving one lol!
Gold Peak raspberry is my favorite tea. Amazing how tasty it is!
I am a Southern girl, so sweet tea flows through my veins! Or at least in my tall iced tea glasses lol.
I spent most of my life in the south, but I am not a sweet tea drinker. I am a tea junkie though. I have drawers full of it from all over the world stashed away in my kitchen.
With all food and drinks, I’m all about sweet! I love the flavors of tea available also.
Oddly I am probably the only blogger on the planet not fueled by coffee who also doesn’t drink tea. I only drink hot tea when I am very sick in the winter with a bad cold, other than that I don’t really like the taste. Which means I pretty much associate tea with being ‘sick’ as that is the only time I drink it!
I like peach iced tea or English breakfast with milk and sugar. . . otherwise I’m kind of tea novice.
I have to have my tea sweet. Not too sweet just the perfect amount of sugar where I can taste it. Gold peak tea definitely has that.