When we go out of town we try and find local food, local beer, and local coffee. Because when in Rome… Ahem, Minneapolis…

Last week we were in Minneapolis on vacation and we found all those things and a bakery too. Our down day had us checking off the entire list… and totally not on purpose (Only thing scheduled for the day was laundry).

This is our first vacation we’ve had that was long enough to make an itinerary… a kindof loose one at that but full enough that we scheduled a down day. A day to sleep in, do laundry and chat with our hosts. Which was brilliant and Scott totally gets credit for it. It was also a switchable day with the previous day… which we needed. A rain forecast made us switch days so as to not mess with our outdoor plans. Plus a rainy day calls for relaxation and laundry, right? Right.

Anyway both Scott and I woke with the same idea… finding a local coffee spot. After using our handy dandy vacation brochure (Google on our phones) while laying in bed we found a few shops within walking distance and no raindrops to be seen.

We walked the one and a halfish miles to Sovereign Grounds. It was a wonderful walk through old neighborhoods to the shop that sits in a small shopping district at 48th and Chicago. The scent of roasted beans inticed me even before we walked in the door.

I love walking into a local shop. Each one is unique but familiar at the same time. I was amazed by how the owner knew the orders of his frequent patrons and had started drinks before they even reached the counter.

I ordered a vanilla latte and a gluten free quiche, Scott ordered a house cup of coffee, the Turkish Roast, and a cran-lemon bread (I think… I can’t remember the bread). The bread was a little dry but my quiche was phenomenal and seriously the slice was enormous (I swear it was a quarter of the whole thing). The coffee’s were tasty and I was tempted to buy a bag of the Turkish Roast to bring back home.

We chose to sit outside… the smell of the impending storms circling the air… the rich smell of moisture and earth mixed with the smell of beans roasting. We sat and talked at the simple bistro table on the sidewalk as we drank our coffee’s. We talked of the architecture, the streetlight fixtures and what it would be like to vacation/work remotely for a month at a time in different cities. We could get an Air B&B house in Minneapolis for the same cost as our mortgage… hmmm… this could be a possibility… sounds fun right?

We walked back to the house and again I was taken with the beauty of my home state. The lush of green, of the tall flowers and the beautiful houses. It started to sprinkle on our walk home… a slight drizzle turned steady. We commented on how the abundance of trees truly shelter you from the rain. I love walking in the rain.

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That night we tried out another local spot… Buster’s on 28th with our fabulous hosts… our family friends Debbie and Tom. Ashlynn and Scott both tried cheese curds for the first time and the onion rings were HUGE. Ashlynn and I both had scrumptious burgers and Scott had the Walleye Rachel sandwich. A hole in the wall joint but definitely worth the stop plus their selection of local craft beers was awesome.

We then tried the bakery next door (A Baker’s Wife) for dessert to bring back to the house. Unfortunately we weren’t as fond of well, anything… and we bought a lot of different things…because it all looked so good. We brewed coffee in the Keurig to accompany our desserts and ended up just drinking the coffee and trashing the desserts… the taste still makes me cringe. Oh well, you can’t always have great experiences right?

Our down day was exactly what we needed in a jam packed week of fun. A day of rest, laundry, errands and of course Coffee.

What are some of your favorite local spots near you?

As always enjoy your first cups☕

Coffee brings smiles.

Smile more… it’s contagious.

Happy Mid morning cups☕

First coffee since coming back from vacation. It’s a rare thing in my world not to drink coffee. For the caffeine certainly but mostly for the taste and smell and the warmth it brings to my soul. Recently coffee has not been a norm and ooh have I missed it.

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The little over a week leading up to vacation I gave up coffee and drank hot water with lemon, ginger and honey. I was trying to get rid of a cold that came on strong. It was soothing to my throat and cough.

I did have one last cup of coffee the morning we packed and left for vacation. Home brew with a touch of my creamer is the best cup this girl could ask for. You know that feeling when you’re on your last days of vacation or away from home and you’re joansing for the comfort of your own bed. I have that feeling with my coffee too. So that Thursday I had homebrew coffee knowing it would be awhile before I could partake again. I can’t say it was the best cup but it was a comfort to have it.

Vacation brought the vacation mindset… most the time. We tried local coffee shops and visited chains too (Caribou). I’ll write more on those experiences later. Granted I did buy lemon ginger tea and honey and made that a few times instead of coffee. We tried local food and drink and stayed out way too late chatting with old friends and family.

My body had enough the day we flew back home and was telling (mostly yelling) at me to rest as my cold was trying to rear it’s ugly head again. I couldn’t drink enough water… which has been my last 4 days. I could have made my lemon, ginger and honey concoction but that took energy… so instead just water and sleeping.

Today however after sleeping most the morning I looked at the coffee that Scott brewed and it called to me. Luring me with its seductive scent. Teasing me with hints of hazelnut and vanilla. I was hesitant as I poured knowing my throat is still healing but couldn’t help the anticipation of the first sip. The smell filing my nostrils and ooh that taste. I held that first sip a moment longer in my mouth letting my tastebuds rejoice. Letting the warmth fill every inch.

I’ll stick to just the one cup and go back to water today but I can’t help feeling at peace in my cup of liquid warmth. Knowing that soon I can partake in its warmth again more than just a cup.

Happy mid-day cups my friends.

A big thank you to Ben who gave me a nudge to write again. ❤☕

It’s warmer now at 8 degrees at 9am than it has been for a few days. It’s been Minnesota cold here, not something I’m used to anymore (not that I ever was). Thankfully the cold doesn’t typically last very long here. Today totally still calls for the cup of cozy cup. (One of Ashlynn’s new cups from Christmas)

The last few days both Scott and I tried to stay warm… the heat hiked, fire constantly on during the day and warm pjs/sweats and fuzzy socks or slippers. And yet still had issues staying warm.

Add in yesterday’s mishap of driving at 6:40 in the morning with the drivers window stuck open… yeah, warmth evaded me most the day. Also why I kept moving most the day cleaning and baking for our family Valentine’s dinner tonight.

So anyway today… warm cozy coffee, fire, blankets, book and a movie. Yep. Then tonight… dress up, make dinner together as a family, eat by candlelight, open Valentine’s cards and presents and then our yearly selfie photo shoot.

Hoping you all are staying warm and enjoying your morning coffee.

Ah, spa day! It’s Valentine’s Weekend so naturally I figured I’d give myself a spa day… kindof. Remember last week when I said I may have a small sliver of glass in my foot? Yeah, still there. My trusty black salve helped but I still couldn’t get it out.

I’m on Day 2 of soaking my feet in the footspa with epsom salt. I’m doing it twice a day… and it’s getting closer to the surface, still can’t find it with the tweezers though.

The plus side is my feet feel very smooth… the tops. The bottom of my feet… well, I still have a ton of calluses (walking barefoot most my life does that). But they definitely feel smoother than they have in a awhile.

So, here I am chilling with my coffee and feet soaking… watching a movie. My living room smells relaxing from the epsom soak mixed with the smell of my coffee.

I’m thinking I should paint my toes too since my feet are soft. Maybe I should wait until I don’t need to soak my feet twice a day though.

Happy Friday Cups my Friends. What are you going to do to treat yourself this Valentine’s Weekend?

Some mornings I’m distracted by my phone. Today the camera…

This is about as mischievous as I’ll get today.

Sometimes you just need to make faces…

… because being silly is awesome and gives you smiles.

What goofiness will you come up with for your mid day cups? Me… probably more silliness.

After getting back into the flow of writing last week I slacked over the weekend… kindof… I accomplished things… just not writing.

I’ve had a few days of enjoying and or holding my cup.

Saturday I was able to meet up with a friend for coffee and fun conversation even if the wind was cold. And we have plans for craftiness soon. Yay!Plus she introduced me to a coffee place I had been meaning to try. Thanks Jessica! I was able to grab some goodies for Valentine’s Day while I was there too.

Sunday, after not good (and short) sleep I was zombie like with my cup for some of the morning before Scott and I settled to watch a show early afternoon. I had fleeting thoughts of making a creation for Caleb’s birthday greeting but Zombie Rini wasn’t having it. The intent was there… now I feel I owe Caleb coffee. I was able to hop on my family zoom call and glad I did as I miss my extended family tons and was able to spend some time texting a cousin. Scott and I spent the evening with wonderful friends “watching” the super bowl. Thanks Dan and Jen!

Yesterday also brought a Zombie Rini and a cup that I never could finish. I emptied and poured coffee several times with a fresh cup. By afternoon Zombie Rini was gone and Ashlynn and I had a nice late lunch at Panera where we aren’t just mother/daughter but also think alike… we ordered the exact same thing.

I started tackling my long list of projects and craft ideas. I sorted through photos for the frames in the diningroom and reminisced of times past. Yesterday was also my sister’s birthday… Happy Birthday Kelli! My brother-in-law had put together a birthday video… this was our little exert from it.

Now today… coffee forgotten a few times as I’m busy doing some online shopping and cleaning. Sometimes my coffee feels neglected.

Grab and cup… and get to it.

Warmth. I write a lot about finding warmth in my cup.

Today it isn’t about the caffeine. I need warm… to hold warmth.

To smell it (steam rising).

I slept hard last night. My joints are stiff and I’m apparently cold, freezing in fact.

Snuggles under blankets with the fire roaring holding my cup close is my morning.

Happy Friday Cups

Sometimes coffee is interrupted by the ramblings in my brain and consequently me acting on such things. Hence this morning.

So it’s now just after 11 and I think I’ve probably finished maybe a cup and a half (I refill when I’m around the coffee pot).

And now I’m going to sit and folds all the laundry and drinks all the coffee. Unless my brain goes on down another rabbit hole and I do other random things (I wouldn’t mind not folding the laundry).

Yep, and then I’ll reward myself by doing crafty things later.

Happy Thursday Cups My Friends

Today’s coffee gets my fun cup about friends. I’ve had it since high school and still love the sentiment.

Today I got to celebrate one of my besties. My coffee loving and yoga motivator friend. Unfortunately no selfies, as our coffee date was cut short as his work pulled him away.

I’m very grateful that this hippie drummer hired me way back when. Who would have known then that my boss would become one of my best friends a little later in life. And because of that hire I’d find friends and because of those friends I’d meet my husband. Life is funny that way.

Happy Birthday Chris (a little early)

Happy afternoon cups my friends and reach out to a friend to have a cup with… Because friends are like donuts… ?☕