VernetteOutLoud

Saturdays Were Made For Coffee With Friends

perfect lattes sharing coffee

Coffee With Friends

Saturdays were made for sharing coffee with friends and today I’m rejoining the fun #weekendcoffeeshare community. Now it might be a bit late for some you to sip on some java – because caffeine and sleep are not very good bed-fellows and I completely understand.

So feel free to to have your bedtime-friendly beverage while I sip on a mason jar full of my french press cold brew coffee. Trust me, coffee so close to bedtime has absolutely no effect on me whatsoever. And I’m almost sure that that is not a good thing.

Unfurl Your Wings

If we were having coffee, I would tell you that the quote that keeps coming to mind is “unfurl your wings”. I saw  a photo on Pinterest ages ago of those words. They were tattooed on someone’s collarbone and I thought at the time, if I were to ever get a tattoo, that would be it.

The reason my thoughts keep marching back to those words, is the meaning behind them especially for me at this point in my life. I see the act of unfurling my wings as the beginning of something. A leap of faith – if you will. If we were having coffee, I would tell you that I am ready. It’s my time to fly.

The Problem With Flight

If we were having coffee, I would tell you that flying scares the cuss out of me. Because the punk that I am is afraid of heights. The whole reason we’re having coffee this late is because I’ve been dwaddling over this post for hours. I cuss you not. I don’t know when I developed this spirit of fear – fear of being seen. But this cuss is real.

Taking The Leap Anyway

If we were having coffee, I would tell you that I’m taking the leap anyway. Coming back to this space, though only three days in has been scary as cuss. But I’m here. I’m writing and hitting publish. Here’s to being afraid to be seen but showing up anyway. I hope you enjoyed out little chat and I apologize for all the cuss words.

Now it’s your turn, how was your weekend? Please feel free to share in the comments below.

#WeekendCoffeeShare is an awesome link-up where coffee is being shared over great conversations. Join in this week’s fun here.

 

#WeekendCoffeeShare: Celebrating My Half Birthday

Latte Art Weekend Coffee Share Celebrating My Half Birthday

I’m celebrating my half birthday today! Whoo hoo. #morelife

If we were having coffee, are you ready to party like it’s my half birthday? Because I am! And just in case you were wondering…YES half birthdays are a thing! Do a quick Google search and the interwebs will tell you that a half birthday is the day approximately six months (give or take a leap year or two) before or after the anniversary of the day you were born.

Why a half birthday?

When I happened upon the concept earlier this year, I had a light bulb moment! You see, my birthday is always bittersweet.  I am always in mental count down mode to mum’s death, as she died eight days after my birthday. And I stopped feeling as joyous about my birthday as I used to prior to the events of 2010.

So, taking all of that into consideration, I thought, why not make it a thing, make it my thing? My half birthday would be the celebration where I could do something a little extra special for myself without the sadness that usually engulfs me on July 30th. I also have all the energy of firsts – first month of a new year to give the day some extra magic. Bonus: It will always fall around the end of January, right around payday. HELLO!!! 

No half-baked celebration

Imagine just one birthday every year ah, but there are three hundred and sixty four unbirthdays! – Mad Hatter

The Mad Hatter was certainly on to something there. Life is too short not to take time to celebrate the journey. And that includes all the days that happen to be unbirthdays and in my case, a half birthday. Do you want know when is your half birthday? Find out here.

No birthday (half or otherwise) would be complete without a birthday wish. Thus, my 2017 Half Birthday Wish is that you choose a close friend or family member and go aaalll out – bake them a half cake or sing half of the happy birthday song – one of my close friends sang the birthday song for me today, croaky voice and all.

Or, sing the Unbirthday Song from Alice in Wonderland and add a bit more fun and give them only half of a present. Trust me, it will be the best half birthday ever!

The Gift That Keeps On Giving

If we were having coffee, it’s time for a birthday cake martini baby! Because this is no half-baked celebration. I promise to swap the amaretto for coffee liqueur. Because, this is #weekendcoffeeshare after all.

Needless to say, I super excited for this celebration and I’m looking forward to surprising some special people in my life on their half birthdays this year. I’m already thinking about what next year’s celebration could include – perhaps a mini vacation? Who knows and that’s the absolute fun part.

Now it’s your turn, how would you celebrate your half birthday? Please feel free to share in the comments below.

*****#WeekendCoffeeShare is an awesome link-up where coffee (or birthday cake martinis) is being shared over great conversations.

#WeekendCoffeeShare originated at Part Time Monster:

I started the Weekend Coffee Share last year after lots of feedback and several months of writing posts that imagined a conversation with my blog readers that started with the “if we were having coffee” line. The coffee share runs on the weekends, and there aren’t a lot of rules—-posts just need to be formatted like a conversation over beverages (we’ve had tea-drinkers and cocktail-hours as well as coffee) AND be written within the past week (so you don’t need to publish on the weekend to join the link-up). The hashtag #weekendcoffeeshare is in use all weekend on Twitter and Facebook, and it is sometimes used a bit during the week as well. ~Part Time Monster

#WeekendCoffeeShare: Happy New Year

 

If we were having coffee, the first thing I would do is wish you very Happy New Year. It’s been a while since we’ve shared some coffee in this space. This first cuppa will be a special little catch up. It’s a rainy Sunday afternoon here in Trinidad, so settle in while I brew some locally roasted beans, this coffee break is much needed.

Do you mind if I add some rum to my coffee…? Make it an Iris…a Caribbean Coffee instead. Shall I add some to yours?

Joyful Hope In A Cup

If we were having coffee, I would share with you just how hopeful I am for this new year. 2016 was a good year and one that I had many things to be thankful for. I am looking forward to cultivating meaningful relationships. To continue building on the things I started last year business-wise and generally living well. I am acutely aware of the fact that life is short and all that truly matters is that you loved. That you allowed yourself to be loved and added value to this world, so that you when you do leave…you leave it a better place, because you were here. What are you looking forward to for 2017?

One Word 2017

If we were having coffee, I suppose you might find this talk to be the effects of the rum I added earlier. But it’s not I assure you. December was a sobering month of grief and endings. Hence, the hope for this new beginning. I have been working on my goals for the next 12 -18 months and getting clear on my intentions. I have also been pondering my one word for this year. I have narrowed it down to three contenders and I’m hoping that by the end of my goal-setting this weekend, the right one will emerge. Do you have a word or theme for 2017?

Sip Sip Pass

If we were having coffee, I would pour you another cup, add some more rum to my own and and sink a little deeper into the sofa of truth while you share your news. I hope your first week of 2017 was just what you needed to start this New Year. Please feel free to share in the comments below.

*****#WeekendCoffeeShare is an awesome link-up where coffee (or some other awesome beverage) is being shared over great conversations.

#WeekendCoffeeShare originated at Part Time Monster:

I started the Weekend Coffee Share last year after lots of feedback and several months of writing posts that imagined a conversation with my blog readers that started with the “if we were having coffee” line. The coffee share runs on the weekends, and there aren’t a lot of rules—-posts just need to be formatted like a conversation over beverages (we’ve had tea-drinkers and cocktail-hours as well as coffee) AND be written within the past week (so you don’t need to publish on the weekend to join the link-up). The hashtag #weekendcoffeeshare is in use all weekend on Twitter and Facebook, and it is sometimes used a bit during the week as well. ~Part Time Monster

#WeekendCoffeeShare 08/27/16

 

If we were having coffee, I would tell you, “Thank God for Weekend Coffees, because this was the week from hell!” Settle in while I brew, and recount this week’s saga.

It started with a bouncident over the weekend. It was my first one and I felt awful. I had a stress headache for three whole days afterward. The best advice I got, was that every time we get on the road we take a risk. These things happen every day and you move on.

So now I have a bill I totally didn’t cater for. Only to check my credit card statement to see charges to a hotel in Chile. I.have.never.been.to.Chile. So now the hassle of getting that sorted out. It takes so much time to dispute charges and get the whole thing resolved. Back and forth with my bank resulted in a favourable outcome, but it will still be some weeks before this whole thing is closed.

Do you mind if I add some rum to my coffee…? Make it an Iris…a Caribbean Coffee instead. *whoosah* Want any in yours?

It didn’t end there. On Thursday morning, I woke up to a kicked in fence. I actually thought nothing of it more than – I need to snap this and send it to the landlady. I really thought it might have been an over-zealous truck driver reversing too fast. There is some construction going on opposite me after all. So, no biggie.

As it turns out though, someone was in our yard. And I slept through the whole thing. SOMEONE WAS IN MY YARD…And I slept through the whole thing!!! All the fear and anxiety of living alone showed itself. I immediately imagined various scenarios all of them ending with me hurt or dead.

A friend of mine described it aptly, “Oh, someone broke into the fortress?” Because that’s what I thought it was too. An impenetrable fortress that only a natural disaster and probably zombies could break through.

I know better now. We got the wall fixed. Peace of mind not so much. No explanation as to the reason for the break-in…just destroyed property at this point.

Anyways, there was of course two bright spots this week. Baby S is now six months old – six months of joy! And I received some Happy Mail from New Zealand. Only I refuse to open it until she gets my mail to her, because, for a stupid reason, my package was returned and now I have to send it all over again.

Ugh!

If we were having coffee, I would pour you another cup, add some more rum to my own and and sink a little deeper into the sofa of truth while you share your news. I hope your week was waaaay better than mine. Share in the comments below. I need a pick-me up.

*****#WeekendCoffeeShare is an awesome link-up where coffee (or some other awesome beverage) is being shared over great conversations.

#WeekendCoffeeShare originated at Part Time Monster:

I started the Weekend Coffee Share last year after lots of feedback and several months of writing posts that imagined a conversation with my blog readers that started with the “if we were having coffee” line. The coffee share runs on the weekends, and there aren’t a lot of rules—-posts just need to be formatted like a conversation over beverages (we’ve had tea-drinkers and cocktail-hours as well as coffee) AND be written within the past week (so you don’t need to publish on the weekend to join the link-up). The hashtag #weekendcoffeeshare is in use all weekend on Twitter and Facebook, and it is sometimes used a bit during the week as well. .~Part Time Monster

#WeekendCoffeeShare 08/20/16

If we were having coffee, I would first have to apologize, because it’s been a while since we’ve shared coffee in this space. Things have been hectic and I’ve been finding it pretty difficult to slow down and savour my coffee. I mean, I’m so busy these days, I got my coffee routine down to 3 mins – grind, brew and chug.

Today however, I’m relishing in the recreational aspect of coffee on a Saturday. Today, we’re gonna sloooow right down and savour the moment while we catch up.

My coffee routine starts with the choice of beans. I bought some absolutely delicious Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee back in June and have been chinksin* on it so that it could last and last. Choose beans, then prepare grinder. It’s not the best, but it gets the job done.

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Pour over last Saturday in Grand Riviere.

Beans, nicely ground we move on to the brew method. Today, we’re going to explore pour over. It’s Saturday, we have the time. While the coffee drips, let’s catch up.

Back in May, I shared that I was on a new desk at work and things were feeling a bit like the first day of school. Well, four months later, I’ve settled down a bit. I still feel some anxiety hitting ‘send’ on an email, but it has gotten better.

If we were having coffee, I would tell you that because of work, I missed the opportunity to go to BlogHer16 this year and connect with some of my favourite people, but I am a firm believer in you are exactly where you need to be, so I’m not stressing to much. If I make it to BlogHer Food 16 or BlogHer17…it was meant to be.

If we were having coffee, I would pour your first cup. Savour my first sip and settle in to hear all your news. So tell me about your week and your plans for the rest of today, I’ll listen while you talk.

*****#WeekendCoffeeShare is an awesome link-up where coffee (or some other awesome beverage) is being shared over great conversations.

#WeekendCoffeeShare originated at Part Time Monster:

I started the Weekend Coffee Share last year after lots of feedback and several months of writing posts that imagined a conversation with my blog readers that started with the “if we were having coffee” line. The coffee share runs on the weekends, and there aren’t a lot of rules—-posts just need to be formatted like a conversation over beverages (we’ve had tea-drinkers and cocktail-hours as well as coffee) AND be written within the past week (so you don’t need to publish on the weekend to join the link-up). The hashtag #weekendcoffeeshare is in use all weekend on Twitter and Facebook, and it is sometimes used a bit during the week as well. .~Part Time Monster