Time for a video chat ... technology is awesome!

Did you know that China is 12 hours ahead of Eastern Daylight Standard time? Well my boyfriend and I are experiencing that time difference right now. He is abroad for work and I'm home in the US but the technology of our culture has made this world small!

There are many options out there such as Skype or FaceTime for video chats and WhatsApp, Viber, TextPlus for texting. We chose Skype and TextPlus. Results? So far it's great! We are able to stay in touch each day, sharing what's going on and encouraging each other. He has one week left of his three week trip. Of course I am looking forward to being in the same time zone as him. It's so odd to say good morning to him when it's nighttime here!

The first time I went out of the country was very different. In 2006 I went to Oxford University for the summer to take two courses with an organization called Academic Study Associates. I remember my mom purchasing a calling card for me to be able to call home from the one phone in the dorm room hallway. My family and I exchanged letters in the mail too. Yes I mean the actual mail a.k.a. snail mail, not email. (I miss getting physical letters in the mail though)

It's crazy to think that was less than 10 years ago. Technology is rapidly expanding ... maybe even exponentially! Just think of cellphones ... they use to be the size of bricks and now they easily fit into your pocket.

What do you think the next greatest technology invention or enhancement will be?

Homemade Chai Tea Concentrate anyone?

There's just something about Chai tea ... whether it's hot or cold, it's delicious! Sadly buying the concentrate in the box from the store is expensive so I only used to buy it as a treat once in a while. 

I am an avid reader of The Elliot Homestead blog (which you should all check out!) and Shaye Elliot posted her recipe for Chai tea concentrate. I based my recipe off of hers. 

I haven't done the cost calculation like I did for my Homemade Face Cream but I have to think it is either equivalent or cheaper. Plus it's fun to make, you can tweak it to your taste buds, and you know exactly what's in it! Shaye says hers is about $2 per batch.

My homemade chai tea served chilled with raw milk

Ingredients:

• 6 cinnamon sticks
• 15-20 allspice berries
• 5 cardamom pods
• 15 cloves
• 25 black peppercorns
• 2 teaspoon of dried ginger
• 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
• 6 tea bags of black tea
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 1/4 cup brown sugar (or sweetener of choice such as maple syrup, raw sugar, etc.)

Directions:

1. Crack the spices (excluding the cinnamon sticks and ginger). To do so, place the spices between plastic wrap and put a towel over it. Hit gently with a meat smasher/hammer/rolling pin/etc. (Or you can use a mortal and pestal if you have one).
2. Then, combine the cracked spices, cinnamon sticks, ginger, and 6 cups of filtered water in a pot.
3. Bring the water to a boil and allow it to slowly simmer for 25 minutes.
4. Remove from heat, add tea bags and steep for 5 minutes. 
5. Strain the tea (use cheese cloth or fine sieve) to remove all the spice and herb sediment. Add the vanilla. Then, mix in your sweetener.
6. Pour into containers. I use quart size mason jars. Store the chai tea concentrate in your refrigerator and enjoy!

I like to have my chai tea about 60% tea and 40% milk, served either warm or chilled over ice! How do you like yours?