Interview: Justine Warne
Justine, can you tell our readers about yourself and your blog?
Hi from the bottom of the world, aka New Zealand or ‘The Land of the Long White Cloud’. I have a wonderful fiance, 4 young adults between us and a beautiful chihuahua named Ellie, and I am a self-confessed tea fanatic and my blog “The Tea Chest” is all about my love and passion for all things tea-related. My love for tea and all its finery and tradition stems from a beautifully nurtured relationship with my paternal Grandparents who emigrated here from Northern Ireland. You can read all about it here
Tell me about your proudest achievement.
I joined the New Zealand Army in 1990 as a Dental Assistant in the Royal New Zealand Dental Corps. This by far would be my proudest achievement and one I hold and value dearly.
Who has impacted you most in blogging and how?
This is a tough question, different bloggers for different reasons.
I’ll list a few but really each blogger I have come across brings something different but just as valuable to the table.
- Ashley Marie @ Irish Twins Momma for her get up and go and humor
- Talat Islam @ The Modern Parent; Racing Tigers; Blogger’s Influence for her unwavering tenacity
- Kim Davis Berry @ Kims DIY Tribe is inspirational, so talented and such a lovely friend.
What is your greatest achievement outside of blogging?
Apart from my children, which goes without saying I would have to say…navigating my life from a very unhappy 15-year-old school leaver to becoming a successful professional within the corporate dental industry.
What do you do in your spare time?
Something I haven’t had a lot of this year, however, I do enjoy a good book, gardening, sailing and second-hand shopping.
Can you tell me about a few sources from where you get products for review on your site?
I have been very fortunate with being supplied with some amazing teas to sample and review. Maitea and China White have been exceptionally generous and I have thoroughly enjoyed trying their selections.
Interview: Justine Warne
What’s the most beautiful place you’ve ever been to?
In New Zealand, it is a place called Huka Falls in Taupo the most powerful yet stunning waterfall in the country. Love the sound and verocity of the water and the color is magnificent.
When you’re having a bad day, what do you do to make yourself feel better?
Brew a pot of tea, take it into the garden and inhale the smells, make a point of listening to the birds and breathe. My own form of meditation I guess.
Let’s talk about negative traits. What are some of yours?
I don’t suffer fools, so can be impatient. I overthink and I can be a little too structured sometimes. I doubt my abilities.
Justine, what inspires you?
Researching and discovering new and exciting things to do with tea. I have a strong focus to enlighten the world about the benefits and beauty of tea. I’m all about building a positive tea culture both here in New Zealand and across the globe.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Sri Lanka is one place I would love to experience with their enormous tea industry and plantations – it would be divine.
What’s your favorite quote and why?
I have two – “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.” Dr. Seuss. This one resonates with me in that people should be able to be who they are without judgment or fear.
Mark Twain – “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails.”
This quote rings true with me as we are about to undertake a very exciting adventure and it could have been something we put off until the time was right but have decided that the time is never right, so let’s get going now!
Please visit Justine Warne over @
Blog
Pinterest
Twitter
If you would like to be featured here on my blog, please check out the Wednesday Interview Series and please do get in touch with me, as I would love to showcase you and your blog.
It was a pleasure to read this segment. It helps to know different readers. Great work!
Thank you for popping in and reading some of the interviews. It’s always good to read and learn from our fellow bloggers. Please let me know if you would like and possibly would be interested to do an interview as well. I will be delighted to share you and your blog.
Enjoyed reading and learning a bit more about Justine. I have Mark Twain quote on my fridge! Knew we were connected.
Thank you dear friend for popping in and connecting here with Justine. We all are connecting in more ways than we think.
I loved learning even more about my lovely friend Justine!!! Thanks for the sweet compliment! I feel the same about that list!!! It is amazing how the blogging world can be so huge and so small and intimate all at the same time. Thank you Esme for sharing Justine with us even more!
Thanks for popping in to have a read my lovely blogging friend. Lots of fun to do. So many amazing bloggers out there and I love how these platforms allow us to connect.
All about finding our tribe vibe and the blogging community is very much mine. Thanks for commenting Amelia and I hope you pop over to the Tea Chest Blog and have a look around.
Enjoyed the interview and getting to know Justine a bit better as one of our tribe!!!
Amelia, yes a true tribe friend and this is awesome to do learn more from one another in this way.
All about finding our tribe vibe and the blogging community is very much mine. Thanks for commenting Amelia and I hope you pop over to the Tea Chest Blog and have a look around.
Thanks for the opportunity to do this interview Esme, I have enjoyed the experience and process. You are very inspiring and I am staggered by your energy and professionalism. Love your platforms.
Hi Justine, Oh WOW – how flattering. I just love doing this and wish I had double to time on hand then I could do so much more, but as I am still working full-time this will need to do, but I am so glad that I could showcase you and your blog here and that you are happy.
It is always so lovely to get to know fellow bloggers a little better. Fun to have a peek into the lives behind the screen. Thank you so much for sharing. Have a wonderful week. ♥️
Thank you so much for popping in, it was a lot of fun to do.
Justine, You are such an inspiration! Keep doing the good work 🙂
I truly agree with you Ankita. Justine is a lovely person and blogging friend.
Awww shucks, that is so kind of you. Hope you choose yo follow and share the Tea Chest Blog ☕
Thank you for introducing us to Justine! I love the 2 quotes from Dr. Suess and Mark Twain. So much wisdom in those words.
Laurie, I am so glad you popped in on this interview. I also love those quotes and in fact there as so many wonderful ones out there.
Thanks Laurie, I’ve always been a quote type of gal and love to research ones that are appropriate for the moment. Hope you choose to follow our upcoming adventure on The Tea Chest Blog ☕ ⛵
Visiting from #SeniSal. Interesting stuff Justine. Since I discovered your blog as few months ago, I’ve been experimenting with different teas. And I love getting my teapots out!
I totally get the part where you take your tea outside and make a point of listening to the birds and breathing. It’s also a form of meditation for me. Very relaxing.
Oh wow Gloria, this is so awesome to read that Justine’s blog means so much to you and that she inspired you to experiment with different teas
Hi Gloria, I love hearing feedback like yours. Tea making can be quite a medatative process if one takes the time and to then be able to enjoy some quiet time with it is perfect. Hope you manage this for yourself often. Enjoy 🙏☕
Lovely interview Justine. I have regrets for things I didn’t do.. too late now.. the time wasn’t right but now I wish we had just done it.. (third baby – I keep thinking about him or her.. and now to late) as you say the time is sometimes never right. Good luck with your adventures!
Yes always things we wonder if we had taken a different path what may have been. I try not to regret any decisions as I believe I made the decision that was best for me at the time. Live, love and laugh… Don’t wait until tomorrow, it isn’t promised to anyone.
Looking forward to our journey, only 3 days until we leave 😁
I love reading interviews with bloggers and learning something new about them on a personal level. We are all friends in this journey and it’s good to get to know the real person behind the blog. Justine, have fun, stay healthy, and be safe on your adventure.
Thanks so much Jenny, am enjoying this blogging journey and all the amazingly talented people along the way.
Need to complete my packing and check off my ‘to do’ list one more time…we are off in 3 days. Watch this space!
It was so nice reading this and finding out more about you in depth.
I just ordered so many different kinds of tea and am really excited about it.
I always look forward to your posts.
Hi Amy, Thanks for popping in and reading Justine’s awesome interview post. She’s a true teaholic and I just love her and her blog.
Oooooo Amy, what have you ordered? I had to part with most of my teas over the past few weeks. I had more than 160 different types that I shared with my tea-loving friends ☕ I had a ‘tea-share’ party 🎉
Enjoy your new teas 🙏
Wellll…..at first I was dying for the fancy pyramid looking tea bag tea that I saw from possibly your sight but also Rachel Hollis. I know I was seeing them around a few places. There is a leaf that comes out of the top and you can even order a special mug with a lid with a hole for the leaf. But I figured I better not get ahead of myself so I was going to order a Tazo tea sampler but at the last minute order Stash because it had more variety and cost a little less. But I have never heard of Stash so I hope I don’t regret it. It still hasn’t arrived yet, I’ll let you know.
Hi Amy. I love it that you found this interview so inspiring and that you are trying out new tea flavors. Enjoy
It is lovely to meet another tea drinker…and one who is going on a wonderful adventure I am envious I used to be a sailor in another life before I met my hubby who doesn’t even swim…
We are all envious Carol
Yes very exciting trip coming up in a few days…we can’t wait to head off and see what the future holds for us. Where did you sail? Looking forward to discovering teas from all over the world. First stop Singapore. Keep an eye out for my trip posts.
Nice to get to know you, Justine. I love how you handle a bad day and the quotes are perfect!
Hi Darlene, Thank you for popping in and meeting and I hope you enjoyed a cup of tea with Justine.
Thanks for popping in Darlene, hope you choose to follow our upcoming adventure and find out about all the new teas I come across.
Beautiful descriptive! Justine is a wonderful friend and the more I come to know her, the more I find myself admiring her. Iam absolutely flattered to have her mention me. From the bottom of my heart, Thank You Justine! ❤
Talat, I totally agree with you. We have an awesome mutual blogging friend and so good to know you as well. I am the privileged one here to know both of you. ♥
Awwww Talat, thank you my friend. This blogging journey certainly is an interesting one and I love how it bonds kindred spirits. You are a true friend and one I am so pleased to have in my life. Now, watch this space this gal has to finish packing and get on her way 😉