Dairy Free Cinnamon Vanilla Chai Tea Latte

The weather is officially cold and the day light is slowly waning. I’m not sure if it’s because of the extra time we have indoors, but this time of year always make me crave a cozy afternoon to myself. Trying to find time for me while mothering three little ones seems to be the hardest part of my life these days. Nevertheless, I try my best to find time to decompress for an hour or two (or more if I’m lucky!). My husband usually takes the boys out for an adventure during parts of the weekend. So I try my best to sneak away to just slow down, relax and unwind.

I’m not the best at taking my own advice, but since becoming a mom of three, I’m more mindful of asking for help and for time-off from the “go, go, go” mindset that seems to never shut off in my brain. “Slow down,” is a phrase I’ve been saying to myself as often as I’ve been telling my boys during their (all day) play time. I’m sure most of you can agree that finding the time or being intentional about self-care and me-time is the biggest gap in your life right now.

The best advice I can offer is to not make it a big deal. Oftentimes in the past, I’ve made this HUGE spectacle out of getting the boys all set up for an afternoon without me. When in reality, the only thing I had to do was grab my purse and walk out the door. Or head upstairs and shut the door to my room. As hard as it is to turn off that mom brain, it’s best to just embrace your inner Elsa and let it go! Let go of the things to get done, the plans for the upcoming week and what to cook for dinner. It literally is one or two hours of your day that is spent focused on you! I’ve definitely noticed a change in my moods and to be honest, I haven’t felt an ounce of mom guilt either.

Whether it’s reading a chapter of a book, zoning out to a show or running out for a solo grocery trip, I love settling in for my treasured me-time with a cup of my favorite Oregon Chai® Tea Latte. Most of the time I just add in a cup of milk, but this time of year always makes me crave certain flavors. My current favorite is a Dairy Free Cinnamon Vanilla Chai Tea Latte. Yep, it’s as delicious as it sounds!

Dairy Free Cinnamon Vanilla Chai Tea Latte

1/2 cup of Oregon Chai Tea Latte (The Original)
1/2 cup of Dairy Free Milk (Almond, Cashew, or Coconut)
2 pumps of vanilla syrup
1 tsp of ground cinnamon

You know you can always count on me for simple and easy recipes. This one is literally just mixing a 1/2 cup of Oregon Chai Tea Latte with your favorite non-dairy milk (1/2 cup also) and heating it up in the microwave for 45 seconds on high. Add in 2 pumps of vanilla syrup and mix in a tsp of ground cinnamon. When I’m feeling fancy I use the frother for some texture, and I even take the time to make a little latte art on my cup for that sacred me-time. I’m telling you, it’s the little things that make me smile!

I picked up my Oregon Chai tea on the top shelf in the coffee aisle at Meijer. Luckily, we only live a couple of miles away from Meijer and their selection of Oregon Chai products (Original, Sugar-Free and Slightly Sweet) is plentiful. There’s currently an mPerks offer that you can find here. My favorite is the Original Oregon Chai Tea that is both organic and non-GMO project verified. Chai Tea Lattes are becoming a household favorite this season and I can’t wait to try some of the recipes from Oregon Chai.

As the days get shorter and the cold weather seems to slow life down a bit before the holidays, make sure to take some time for yourself. And be sure to try Oregon Chai products to relax and unwind on a rare occasion in the coming weeks. I promise, you won’t regret it! I’m already planning my next solo afternoon.