Time Out: Tea time wellness package is self -care wrapped up in a bow, complete with hugs, friendship and maybe a little DOOL

Wellness Tea package, a self-care toolkit, comes with tea, mug, candle, slippers, and good friend hugs.

Candles as roses and slippers so snuggly

Copper tea kettles and lots of warm huggies,

Colorful packages tied up strings,

These are a few of my favorite things. . . 

To borrow from Rodgers and Hammerstein, there's a lot of simple pleasures that bring us joy. Put them in a big bag, wrapped with a bow and you have a very special present. But, that's not all - add the focus of wellness and self-care, and you have been gifted a bit of indulgence as well. Sip tea in a big cup, light a scented candle, put on cozy slippers, lay back in the recliner and queue up the latest episode of Days of Our Lives.

With the exception of those last two, that’s exactly what I received last week from my very good friend, Laura — who, for clarity and tradition, has always been referred to by her full title: my very good friend, Laura.

On our way to our mid-way refresh cup.

Born the same year, married the same number of years, raising millennial children, and navigating careers that zig‑zagged through the same industries and cities, it’s surprising we didn’t meet until 2009. But when we finally did — at a once‑Fortune 500 company — we bonded instantly over The Banana Splits (the ’60s TV show), Foreigner, and musicals.

Now that we're both retired, we've turned hour lunches into half-day events. Our most favored restaurants bring us new coffee/tea cups when we've hit the two-hour mark.

Having the time for marathon catch‑ups is a gift, but even then, with all the activities that fill retirement (that oft‑repeated motto — “I’m busier now than when I was working” — turns out to be true), intentional “time‑outs” can slip to the back burner. So when your very good friend gives you all the tools to take a break, there's no excuse to let that self-care slide.

Self care box has everything but the recliner and TV remote. 

The Wellness Tea Care Package comes from Modern Elegance. The box contains a 13 oz earthtone mug, comfy cloud socks, a flower-shaped sea salt and nectar wax candle (handmade with love!) and, the piece de resistance - Wellness Blend tea, a mix of black and green tea with turmeric, ginger, and cornflower petals. It's deliciously relaxing.

And, just like in the office, I respect my good friend Laura's direction. This afternoon, I put the copper kettle on, steeped my tea, put on my cozy slippers, lighted my candle, threw back the recliner to "rest position" and caught up with DOOL. 

Taking time out from time to time is important and so is having a very good friend.