Cup & Kettle Tea

02/24/2026

This post is slightly unhinged, and I may regret posting this later on. But in the name of community and transparency I will metaphorically spill the tea.

I started Cup & Kettle in 2015 with a partner who was a dear friend of mine. In 2020 that partner went her own way and I took over total ownership hoping to find another partner again. That partner never materialized.

The 2 ½ year construction project next door wrecked my business. At the time of its completion I was out of staff and resources. The construction finished at the end of October, and things began to turn around quickly. I was so excited I was able to begin hiring again in November. As things began to ramp up just before Christmas, a pipe burst causing my ceiling to collapse. And overnight everything I had spent the last decade working for was destroyed.

Am I being dramatic? Maybe. I’m a single mother. I had just spent years trying to hold a cafe, wholesale business, and online store alone all while trying to navigate kid pickups, illnesses, and you know all the things that come along with being a single parent. Had the ceiling collapse been the only thing to have happened, I would have bounced back within days. I would have pivoted into a new kitchen space immediately, navigated the losses like a champ, and would have been back in business in no time. But by the time the collapse occurred, I had already collapsed internally.

I don’t know what the future holds for the cafe. Not because I’m not sure I can re-open, but because I’m not sure I want to hold everything alone anymore. I’ve gotten so many messages from people asking me why they haven’t received their orders. I can tell you this: The people at Brightside Cafe have been so generous with me in sharing their space so that I can continue processing orders. I am not simply pressing a button and shipping products. Each product’s recipe was developed by me and lives rent free in my head. Each tea blend is blended together by hand by me in a licensed kitchen facility. If you want convenience and speed, maybe order from Amazon. But if you want quality products, please give me grace and patience as I rebuild my life one leaf at a time.

01/27/2026

Just wanted to post a quick update so we can stay connected. Trauma is weird, It's like I'll have a good day and then the next three days I everything feels hard again. Then, I feel a little better than before. Today I'm finally feeling a little excited about tea again, which is great because honestly it's the first time since the collapse that I've felt that.

I've so appreciated everyones messages and check-ins. They mean so much. The truth is I don't know what the future holds, but I do know that tea is very much apart of that. If you've placed an order with me, I am working on them. If you've messaged me, I will respond. Your kindness is teaching me to be kind to myself also xo

Below is a little art project I'm working on

01/22/2026

I’m finally starting to feel like I can move again. Still not moving as fast as I’d like to be. But a little movement is still forward. I just wanted to say that I’m so grateful for all love support and patience. And if I’m slow to respond, it’s not because I’m not touched and grateful….im just slow.

It’s funny, how hard it is to not be afraid to open an email or answer a call. I can’t explain it except that I’m trying to teach myself everything isn’t going to collapse again. Or maybe if it does I don’t have to hold it alone. I don’t know, but today the sun is shining and I’m feeling alive again and forever grateful.

I wasn’t sure what photo to post, but I loved this day

01/17/2026

Today I finished removing the final remnants of the tea shop. So that she may enter her next chapter. To me she’s always felt like one of my children. And seeing her in this state makes me feel broken in a way I can only compare to when my first child was born and she almost didn’t make it.

I think that’s why I’ve been so quiet. For me the shop has always felt alive. And I’ve always been her mother. Seeing her like this has made me paralyzed with grief.

I keep telling myself: ‘you have to keep moving. You have orders, you have obligations. You must continue.’ But I feel frozen. Feeling frozen is a strange state.

It’s like I see a way forward, but it’s impossible to move. So I sat here and cried, while my family helped gather up the rest of her.

I helped create this space to be a safe space for the community. I’ve always felt that it was my job to help her grow into the best version of herself. I’ve always felt that she made everything around her a little brighter. That she brought a little beauty to an otherwise empty street during the day. I’ve seen her be a comforting space for me and others that needed it too.

She’s never been just a job to me. She’s felt like a part of my family, and hopefully a part of yours too

01/09/2026

On December 19th, I walked in to open the shop and water was rushing out the door.

When I opened it, I saw the ceiling had collapsed and water was raining down inside. My heart stopped. I collapsed to the ground and blacked out, I thought at first I was having a heart attack, but thankfully it turned out to be a severe panic attack.

The following two weeks were spent in shock, trying to salvage what I could. Shortly after, I became ill, and everything slowed to a complete stop.

Today, I feel alive again and ready to share. I have been so beautifully supported by my family, friends, and this community. Every message, every check-in, every kind word has mattered more than I can express.

It may take some time before the shop can reopen, but the online store is still open, and any support right now, whether through an order, a share, or simple encouragement, truly helps.

Thank you for walking with me through this chapter.
I’m so grateful to be here, and I’m looking forward to what comes next.

12/19/2025

Smoked black tea and rooibos chili 🌶️ yum

12/16/2025

12/11/2025

A Q***r Holiday Market is about to begin!

12/07/2025

Closing today to celebrate my birthday with people I love ❤️ Reopening Tuesday!

12/04/2025

The sugar plum fog off our new winter menu!