#WeekendCoffeeShare 05/07/16

#WeekendCoffeeShare

I’m up early because I’m back to getting my morning run/walk/run in before sunrise. So I can linger over our coffee today, because I feel like I already accomplished a lot already for the morning. Yay for good decisions!

If we were having coffee, it would be on the sofa of truth…it looks like it might rain sometime during the day, so lets get comfy. I’m feeling an Ethiopian blend for today…as a reward for my morning run and a celebration for all the new things happening in my life. The first week of May was okay, it kinda felt like the first day of school at the office. I am on a new desk and have been trying to find my bearings in a very fast-paced and demanding environment. I’m hoping that I would settle down by next week and not feel so much anxiety hitting ‘send’ on an email. We’ll see.

If we were having coffee, I would tell you that Mother’s Day still brings an ache in my chest. Five years and counting…I still miss my mother every day and tomorrow is the (dare I say it?) mother of all things spoil your mum and make sure to snap a photo of it aaaand post it on social media. Already some of the posts are making me tear up, so instead of adding to my sadness, I choose to stay off social media on the day. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy for all the women who are mothers or mothering children, I just wish that mine was still here to be part of the celebration.

If we were having coffee, I would tell you that someone asked me at work yesterday if I would be doing anything special for my mother and I was tempted to say…yes I am, I will be taking a pretty bouquet to her grave. But it wasn’t right and my sadness is my own and the person really didn’t know. So instead I was kind and honest and said the words that still bring a catch to my throat.

I feel some guilt because the conversation just took on a sad note, so I will tell you that despite tomorrow being a wistful day for me…this particular Mother’s Day is not a sad day for my family. We are celebrating our little blessing and my sister-in-law. Praise God for all His blessings.

If we were having coffee, I’m ready for my second cup… and a change of subject so tell me about your week and your plans for the rest of today, I’ll brew 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

#WeekendCoffeeShare 05/01/16

#WeekendCoffeeShare

It’s a dreary, rainy afternoon here on my island in the hidden-for-today sun. A re-run of Sex In The City is on the TV which is almost on mute the volume is so low, because I like a little background noise while I brew. My small, open-concept kitchen and living area, smells deliciously like coffee, so come in and get comfortable.

If we were having coffee, it would be curled up on my sofa, my slippers would be off, legs tucked under me as we share about nothing and everything. My mood and relaxed dress code is a flashing neon sign that you’re probably gonna have to make the coffee for yourself today. But I can direct you so you can find everything you need just fine.

It’s been a tough week all around. Man, it’s been a tough April. I think I felt tired every day of April. I’m happy to see May, but that doesn’t mean dem problems disappear…sigh. I pretty much ate my weight in chocolate this last week. I mean seriously…why oh why does it have to be chocolate? Couldn’t broccoli or water be the feel-good-elixir? Nope. It’s chocolate! And if I’m being reeeeally honest (we are on the ‘sofa of truth’ after all) it’s chocolate, wine and freaking coffee with the whipped cream. This is why I have no thigh gap…and this week I gave zero fucks.

I wimped out on fitness training all week as well. Funny thing about chocolate and wine and freaking coffee with the whipped cream…it comes with a huge side of my-diet-is-shot-to-hell-anyway-so-I-might-as-well-LIVE-out-the-week-in-bliss-and-start-again-next-week. Sometimes, I feel like if we didn’t have Mondays I might not start or finish anything. #StruggleBus #GodBlessMondays

If we were having coffee, I’m already tired of talking…so tell me about your last week in April and your plans for the week and month ahead, as I take a sip and settle in for a good listen.

*****#WeekendCoffeeShare is an awesome link-up where coffee (or some other awesome beverage) is being shared over some 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 04/23/16

#WeekendCoffeeShare
If we were having coffee, it would be over lunch, at a new spot mutual friends having been regaling us about for the last couple weeks. We would agree to meet after we got the day’s to-do list almost squared away. One of us *coughmecough* will probably get lost and have to call for directions…but such is often the case with new spots located in parts of the island yet to be explored.

If we were having coffee today, I would be bursting to tell you that my business plan is almost complete and my still hush hush venture is taking shape quite nicely. We would talk about self-care and what it means for the both of us. Because, Saturdays are usually all about self-care routines.

Unfortunately, as the coffee arrives and we take that first sip…it’s not very good. Trying not to be coffee snobs might prove to be tricky, but there is no way we are going to continue drinking that cup of sadness.

If we were having coffee…we would politely ask for another cup….perhaps a stronger brew this time and hold the milk and sugar. Lunch ordered, conversation would shift to long-term blogging plans and the benefits of attending blogging conferences.

Amidst the easy and at times animated banter about our plans, blogs and the value of our posts when we do hit ‘publish’ our food and second cup of coffee arrives. The food is okay…but we were right the first time around. The coffee isn’t good at all.

Coffee forgotten and growing cold, food slowly disappearing, our conversation will move to what I like to call my ‘nesting phase’ and funny enough…your favourite word for it turns out to be ‘home-making’. This is my pet topic of late…all the fun little projects I’m doing around my apartment, making it more of a home. We swap ideas and make plans to visit a ‘home’ store in the area as soon as lunch is over.

Today, if we were having coffee, note to self: Sometimes, it’s not about the coffee.

p.s. and FYI the coffee was not included on our bill.

*****#WeekendCoffeeShare is an awesome link-up where coffee (or some other awesome beverage) is being shared over some 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 4/16/16

#WeekendCoffeeShare
If we were having coffee, it would be on the go as we both ran errands. This is a practice I started last year with two other girlfriends. We found that it was easy to get caught up in our mundane, Saturday morning ‘to do lists…and weeks would go by and we hadn’t seen each other. The solution? Combine our to do lists and get the chores done together while we sip our respective brews.

Not only was it a great way to catch up, but it was fun sharing what would have been an otherwise mundane day with people I love spending time with. Not to mention the satisfying rush of knocking things off the to-do list aaaand cultivating friendships as well. Because as some of you know…when you get to a certain age, life, work, families and just plain old tiredness can get in the way of maintaining friendships.

So if we were having coffee today, I would have a mochaccino grande with the whipped cream – because it was a hard week and whipped cream makes it all better. We would probably synchronize watches to meet around 9 a.m. I would drive this time. When I pick you up…get ready for visiting three hardware stores and the market. We’re looking for tools and paint for me. Since I’m thinking about making some changes to the apartment.

The first thing I would tell you is that talk about work is off the table. I’m not getting the whipped cream just because I like fat thighs and a sugar rush. It really was a hard week. We would talk instead about your errands and what the best route would be so that all our stuff can get done in time for lunch.

I would tell you about my current obsession with Pinterest boards featuring tropical outdoor spaces and how to avoid falling down the Pinterest rabbit hole. I would also tell you that I am on a strict budget and if you see me getting sidetracked from my list, feel free to reign me in.

By now we would be looking for parking at the nearest coffee shop and I would probably be thinking about getting a doughnut to go with my coffee. Sugar gods help me!

If we were having coffee while we did errands today, what would we be knocking off your Saturday morning to-do list? Feel free to share below.

*****#WeekendCoffeeShare is an awesome link-up where coffee (or some other awesome beverage) is being shared over some 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 4/3/16

If we were having coffee…at this hour it would be an after dinner treat probably with a piece of chocolate or over ice cream…affogato style. I would be regaling you with the highlights of my recent trip to Portland. And you would probably be leaning in to get a closer look at my phone as I scroll through all the photos I took.

I would also have to apologize for the photos of my nephew getting his first bath (which his grandmother enthusiastically albeit questionably shared in our family group…which I haven’t had a chance to move off my phone yet). He’s cute and his expression is priceless but it’s waaay too much of him for you (or anyone other than his parents and immediate family) to see so soon in his very young life.

I would tell you about my impressions of Portland – big city features but really a small town at heart. Imagine, I was there on Easter Sunday and the city pretty much shut down. The mall was closed *gasp* except for H&M and Forever21!

The food scene is amazing and I had the absolute fortune to be visiting during their Dining Month. Think three-course meals for only $29. Brunch was also a favourite of mine. I would also tell you…that for a coffee lover like me it is paradise. Portland is the most coffee-centric city in US…and yes, that includes NYC, LA and Seattle. I tried quite a few coffee shops during my visit and they all embraced their own identity. It made for a very happy time discovering and exploring  each one.

I would tell you that my absolute favourite coffee shop…was not a coffee shop at all. It was a coffee truck! It was called Ole Latte Coffee and I made sure to stop by every day that I was in the city. When you ask me what was it that I loved about the coffee truck…I would grab my phone again and go to my photos of my favourite thing about them.

Ole Latte had what they call a “Suspension Board”. It’s where you can pay it forward by purchasing a coffee for someone who cannot afford to buy a coffee. The baristas at Ole Latte don’t touch the board. You put the mark on the board next to the coffee you bought and the recipient takes the mark off. You don’t need a resume to get the coffee…only that you need it. I LOVED THE IDEA. And I wish more business owners would think about such practical ways to put good karma into the world.

By now we would probably be finished with our coffee treat. I would ask if you would perhaps like another…but you most probably want to see more photos of my trip since I didn’t share that many on Facebook or Instagram and I just spent all the time over dinner and dessert talking my ass off. So of course I would hand you my phone, so you could see the best ones yourself. So here you go:

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*****If we were having coffee, you’d also want to know more about this awesome link-up where coffee (or some other awesome beverage) is being shared over some 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

Feel free to join in this weekend’s coffee share here.