:: the coffee shop

my favorite coffee shop.



i just can't seem to get over:

the old-timey stretch of street it's on.

or their chalkboard menu.

or their delicious veggie sandwiches.

or the designs they put in my latte foam.


i find myself always taking the same seat.

at the counter that faces the window.

sipping slowly from my mug.

sometimes reading a book.

or sometimes gazing out at the world around me.


there are always such engaging people scattered about.

who don't mind at all.

when you break into their conversation.

desperate to know the title of the incredible book they're reading aloud.



i find myself breathing easy here.

unfolded perfectly between--

its peace.

and its vibrancy.

apple verbena jam + sharp cheddar grilled cheese.
fresh coffee.
the new issue of kinfolk.
and thick knit socks.

a combination culminating into wintery bliss.

coffee shop medicine

there's something so brilliant.
about a crisp afternoon spent over lattes.
and spritzers.
and egg sandwiches.

something so therapeutic.
about a conversation that flows.
and laughs that multiply.
and encounters with strangers at counter tops.


i am a firm believer that a coffee shop is the very best medicine.

::: autumnal elements

it's late september.

the autumnal equinox.

and i feel as though i could survive solely on.

thick flannel.

changing leaves.

& stove-top espresso in a camping mug.



the trinity of fall comfort.


+++


watch.


listen.

:: minutiae

as of late.

i've been wearing plaid flats.

snagging window seats at coffee shops.

and chasing rainbows through the mist.

fall echoes.

in the pulsing minutiae of daily life.

::: the coffee shop

astro coffee
favorite menu offering: macchiato.

avalon bakery
favorite menu offering: sea salt chocolate chip cookie.


+++

i have this thing for coffee shops.
for ordering a latte.
and a cookie.
and getting lost at a corner table.
with a book.
or a newspaper.
or a journal.

there's something about the community.
that is formed across cafe tables.
and counters.
the commonality present among each hot cup of joe.
or tea.

there's this electricity in the gathering.
some form of magic in the people watching.
a peace in the knowledge that--
you're never alone in a coffee shop.
even when you enter by yourself.

i love escaping through the doors.
being greeted by the scent of fresh bean.
and, sometimes, fresh bread.
being washed over.
by the sound of a hundred different whispers.


the coffee shop gives me permission.
to do nothing.
and in finding that stillness.
i realize.

i've done everything.


+++


{my two favorite coffee spots in detroit are pictured above.
they are both equal amounts of peace and fabulous.}

:: scenes from a summer saturday...

on saturday i relished--

a long-overdue trip to whole foods.

a seriously delicious platter of vegetarian sushi.

the purchase of some amazing ethiopian blend coffee from starbucks.

a thriving watermelon in my garden.

& a warm night graced with a glorious sunset.


ahh...summer saturdays---how i love thee.



hope your weekend was just as fabulous.

:: ice ice baby...

there's this heatwave.

and it makes my hair frizz.
and my lip balm melt.
and my steering wheel capable of inducing 3rd degree burns.

but i kind of love it.
the warmth.
the bright.
it makes me feel like i'm a part of something bigger than me.

the only snag is that warm coffee just isn't doing it at 90+ degrees.
so--rather than go without--
i got to google-researching.
and i came across this recipe for
cold-brewed coffee.

it does require a little bit of pre-planning.
but--
as i sit here with the iced delight in front of me--
i can say with full confidence
that it's worth every sip.

brew a batch if you're looking for a hot-coffee alternative in this heat.


i added honey to mine.

and i wasn't sorry about it.

:: you're my coffee spoon ::

weekends are magic. seriously. even when i have a day off during the week, it's not nearly as sweet as having a whole open saturday at my disposal. there is a freedom. a care-free quality to a saturday. the streets buzz. the air sings. and maybe it's just me-- but the coffee always tastes sweeter, too. this past saturday was exceptionally fabulous-- as i had the privilege of spending it with my dear friend. she came down to the city and we ventured to the french cafe. slowly picking at our crepes and sipping our fresh cups of joe. then we spent a few hours meandering through the most fascinating old/used book store. the aisles went on as far as the eye could see. and the winding staircase took you up floor upon floor. never ceasing to dazzle you at each landing with a peak into another room laden with treasures. i skipped out of there with a thin book on writing from the '20's and a Van Morrison record. before heading to her place for an evening of vegetable curry, hulu and conversation-- we stopped at starbucks and enjoyed squares of dark chocolate and soy lattes in the sunshine.

it was quite nearly the first day of spring.

and it made the winter worth it. for the biting cold and heavy snow made the days warmth and brightness that much more enjoyable.

it is my sincere belief that the whole world needs a saturday such as this.

:: the here and now

eating one of the amazing vegan cookies that were just delivered to my door.
sipping a cup of creamy coffee.
breathing deep before heading in for my 4th shift in a row.
resting easy knowing that this guy will be singing me home in the morning.

the venti day::

in nursing school, i started classifying my days by the size of the starbucks coffee i thought would be necessary for survival.

any morning i woke up with air in my lungs was a "tall" day. that went without saying. so when, under the stresses of work, clinical, lectures and sleep deprivation, i bumped my order to a grande-- everyone knew i meant business. i had never felt the need to go larger. to-- in one sitting-- down a super-sized java. but i remember vividly the morning that all changed.

i think i was running on about 2 hours of sleep. i had been up all evening saturating every last brain cell with information about the functions of the cardiac system and the delicate balance of our body's hematology. i was staring 8-10 hours of "on-the job training" (aka: free labor) right in the face. it was the dead of winter. the air was arctic. the snow was knee deep. devastation and exhaustion were the only two palpable emotions in my ever-shrinking world.

my lab partner and i pulled into starbucks that morning. i shuffled in the door: hunched over. down-trodden. despondent. infuriated. and desperate.

"I'll have a venti mocha latte, please."

my friend gave my the questioning eyebrow. i emphatically informed her, it was indeed a "venti day". never was there one before. and rarely one since. my coffee addiction is usually satisfied with a tall (or two) a day. and occasionally i summon the powers of a grande.

today is your run-of-the-mill "tall day". one cup in the car on the way to 1st grade drop-off, and i'm wide-eyed. i feel so energized and enthusiastic about the coming days. i have so many little ventures that i'm jazzed about:: breakfast club w/niamh tomorrow. sushi with liz. metro on sunday. 'where the wild things are' with the work girls. dinner with grandpa. perusing the arbonne catalog with my new discount code. embarking on a new novel. listening to more christmas music (i downloaded bob dylan's christmas CD on itunes. & it's all the chain-smoker-raspy holiday crooning one could wish for!)

it's all so exciting! but what's even better is knowing that-- after it all-- I still have a few days of empty possibility. wide open for something. or nothing.

as long as a starbucks coffee is involved-- i'll be good either way.

::: embracing fall

okay. let's talk fall. autumn. the season that we are now--officially-- participating in.

round about the middle of august, i became overcome with this undeniable feeling of absolute dread. it felt like a real sickness. i was devastated that my beautiful, glorious summer sun, and warm air, was going to be slowly drifting away from me. i wanted more hot days. more tan skin. more excuses to exercise my obnoxiously large flip flop collection. i was downright angry. i shook my proverbial fist at the sky, screaming "WHY? WHY?". i mean, maybe fall and winter could pass us this year?.....right?

but no such thing happened. nor will it ever. and i began to relinquish to fall.

then the unthinkable happened. i got an anthropologie catalog in the mail. followed by a toast catalog. and the coats and sweaters were so dreamy. then i saw the worlds most adorable scarf at target. and the cutest thanksgiving table additions on etsy. and then. THEN. i tasted this seasons first sip of starbucks pumpkin spice latte.



and it was all enough to throw me from my complacency about the seasons, right into a full on fall embrace. i am now pretty much ecstatic for fall. so much so- i was actually a little put out that it's been so hot and humid here in the Mitten, this week. i now have the urge to don a big cozy sweater. to curl up with fuzzy socks and a mug of coffee and watch charlie brown specials on tv. i want to feel the crunch of leaves. taste the extra-sweetness of fresh cider. maybe bake a pie.

funny what happens when we give up trying to control the things we cannot change, and simply do our best to enjoy what we've been given.

i raise my pumpkin spice latte to you. and to enjoying the journey. regardless of the weather.

: happiness ::::

the sun is shining through my window. my ipod is quietly (okay...loudly!) playing in my ears. this is me on a beautiful holiday afternoon.

after a late night of "bananagrams" with my sis and brother-in-law, I slept in till late morning. i immediately stumbled down the stairs and clumsily made my way to the coffee pot. after initiating the drip, i toasted an english muffin, added a healthy smear of peanut butter, as well as strawberry jam, and waited for my sweet brew.

with fresh cup of coffee in hand, i returned upstairs, positioned myself by the window, and began soaking in all the happiness you see below:::


still-hot-from-the-pot coffee in my favorite mug, the brand spanking new issue of Instyle magazine, and my newest project: my journal for 'write club', are all sources of pure happiness for me today.
(i just went back and read all of marta's old posts/prompts for write club and immediately got on the bandwagon! week 1 starts today for me. head over to 'm.writes', and click on the "write club" link for more info)

and while this goes without saying, i must mention that another source of happiness for me is my very own backyard. as we speak, i am earnestly watching the weather updates, waiting for that temperature to rise just a hair more, so I can throw on a tank top and shorts and spend the rest of the day being lazy in the sun. grass between my toes. clouds in my hair. birdsong in my ears.

there is nothing like closing your eyes and actually FEELING life in the things around you. one of my favorite sensations is feeling the breeze. this invisible force sweeps my clothes, hair. it has the power to cool. to destroy. to transport. it amazes me to ponder the fact that something so un-tangible is also limitless and available. and oh-so-powerful.

i think that is the kind of legacy I would like to leave. one like the wind. a force that comes and goes. one that has enormous impact, but does so seemingly unnoticed on most days. one that is always moving. changing. evolving. wrapping itself around every corner of the earth. a comfort. a constant.

the wind is such a beautiful evasive thing.

i am going to go enjoy it...

assignment::: find your happiness.

crafty:::

Saw this amazing diy on design*sponge.

I was instantly inspired! I have an astronomical number of unused CD cases, and an unhealthy need for coasters---which is directly related to my unhealthy consumption of coffee in large mugs.

Seeing this post made me even happier that I have the day off tomorrow!

If anyone needs me, please direct them to my kitchen table::: where they will be able to locate me beneath a large pile of plastic, paper and masking tape...

stay tuned for pictures of the finished products!