A few holiday decor photos, my 12 days of Christmas Socks Challenge, gifts from family, and a blanket I finally finished. Also, I baked a Strawberry Sour Cream Pound Cake.
Mini Holiday Photos & What Not
Tag: Coffee
Whatever Wednesday: The Local Coffeehouse Tour Begins!
Yesterday, sporadically, I kicked off my local coffeehouse tour. I was taking my daughter to an appointment and needed somewhere to wait. I looked up and saw Café Eclectic. I walked in and was immediately greeted by the friendly barista, Chrislond. I told him it was my first time there and he began to give me a well informed run down of all of the wonderful things they offered.
I wanted to venture out and try something different. But, I am really a coffee and Frappuccino type of girl. I tried a flat white once and it was not my thing. Chrislond suggested the Cappuccino with caramel. It would still give me that coffee taste but, with something different. Plus, I like caramel. I could have gotten vanilla but, I’d already had a cup of joe before I left home with French vanilla creamer. They had cinnamon rolls and a haul of other goodies on the counter made in house. I chose the bacon and cheese bread. It was so, so GOOD I want one right now as I am typing this!
They serve breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner. They have the bakery, kids menu, and a soda fountain. There are vegan friendly choices. I am definitely going back to try the famous cinnamon roll and the brioche French toast for brunch. It would also make a nice place for lunch when in the area.
I was very pleased with my cappuccino as it was my first time having one that was not instant. It was made by another barista who’s name I did not catch but, welcomed me there as well. Good food and coffee is awesome but, when you add great customer service on top of that it’s a win-win for me. It’s a gold medal performance.
~Nikki
Sunday Morning Coffee Musing: Funny Business
I kid you not, since retrograde, since the new moon, it’s been some strange things happening in my life. They aren’t life altering, chaotic, but enough to make you have “???” floating over your head. If not to leave you puzzled and sometimes pissed. I have no explanation for these little mishaps and annoyances that seem to be running sporadically, yet constant. I just wish this funny business would stop. In the midst, there are grand times, good times, production, positivity, and insight. It’s just these snags are so annoying. I guess the lesson is to, see it, fell it, acknowledge it, work around it, and keep moving on.
~Nikki
Confetti Coffee Review: Great Value Coffee Brand
I am just a girl with big dreams and big coffee cups to fill. In the midst of dreams coming true you have to cut back on some things. Save some money. But you NEVER cut your coffee! Instead, you find an inexpensive brand that will hold up to the quality of the brand (or brands in my case), you like.
This is my first try of the Great Value Breakfast Blend. A very, very light roasted, toasty smell when you open the package. It’s not strong (as it’s a breakfast blend, but with some brands you can smell the light roasted coffee upon opening it) and you barely notice the smell as it begins to brew if you are not standing right next to the coffee pot. Every now and then when I am brewing, depending on how many cups, it can give off a strong bitter smell (if that makes sense). It’s normal. This is the only time I can smell the coffee brewing from a distance. (More cups, stronger smell).
Arabica beans, once brewed, have a mild chocolaty taste with a hint of caramel finish and a bit of bitterness on the end. This is of course without any creamer (I know you see my Carmel Macchiato creamer by International Delight!). So imagine this coffee enhanced with a bit of caramel creamer. Delicious. Note, not everyone tastes caramel with this bean.
Overall, on my scale of 5 coffee cups, I give this brand 2.5 coffee cups. In a pinch it’s worth the purchase. Drinking this coffee without creamer or sugar, I didn’t catch the hint of caramel but, I did get the chocolaty and slightly bitter taste. If you are looking for a decent bang of coffee for your buck this would be it. Especially, of you were buying a large container for the office or an event.
~Nikki
Sunday Morning Coffee Musing: Daily Readings & Reading to Keep Your Mind
If you seem to be off track in your thinking and emotions, if you are questioning life, if anxiety is running wild and depression is on the prowl, I am going to ask you what was asked of me: Are you reading anything that keeps you grounded or growing? Well, it wasn’t asked of me like that but, that’s how I took it. And my answer was: “No. I haven’t “felt” like reading.” This coming from an author and avid reader.
Well, pick up a daily devotional and take a moment to read it and as you go about your day reflect. If you are like me, one with a heavily distracted mind as of late, I have to read it a few times through out the day. I feel like I am cleaning the cobwebs out of my mind or third eye. I also have a really good thought provoking book that I want to get into and I am going to after getting back into the routine of daily reading and meditating more.
Each year God or Spirit directs me to books to buy and some I just find interesting. I never know when I am going to read some of them but, I know when the time is right those books are for me. This year, the one I am using as a daily devotion and for my “43: All is Well Within Journey” is this one:
I also have decided to start back taking key points that resonate with me or I want to remember and put them on my mirror. I can focus on them as I do my morning routine or nightly routine. Reading something significant helps improve your mind and spirit. If you can improve your mind (mental state/health) and spirit, you can improve your quality of life.
~Nikki
Sunday Morning Coffee Musing: Patience
Patience, beloved. Every piece of the puzzle will be put into its place. This is the message that came to me as I dreamed about 1000 and 3000 piece puzzles I saw laying on the table. Before this, I’d visited with our second family in Iowa. We went there to pick up my nephew from college. In the home was a big puzzle laying on a table. I sat down and tried to match pieces and quickly was reminded how tedious this could be.
Well, all week long I’d been anxious, irritable, not feeling my best, and just ready for things to smooth out in my life. It was a Thursday night and I dreamed about puzzles on a table. I heard a voice in the dream saying, “Patience, patience.” As I saw a second puzzles in progress, the words were repeated again. This was a simple message. I want to rush a particular process I am going through. I am ready for it to be over so I can move on with my life. I am ready for it to be over so I can build and have more independence. This part of my life is the biggest stressor!
So, there it was. God, the Divine, sending out a message to my psyche. “Patience, beloved. Every piece of the puzzle will be put in its place.”
~Nikki
Sunday Morning Coffee Musings
~Nikki
Coffee Connoisseur Review #5: Gevalia Kaffee Special Reserve Costa Rica
I almost want to replace my long time standing morning coffee brand with this one! The only thing that is stopping me is I am on a strict budget! However, I have decided to compromise. I will savor this coffee as my official “Weekend Coffee.” Ah yes, brilliant! A win-win for everyone!
Sharp, crisp, sweet, and rich in flavor. Medium body. The aroma fills the house. Course ground. I may be partial since I have some sort of a obsession with visiting Costa Rica. I can assure you the partiality would not be enough to affect my pockets. The coffee is 7.99 in my area (Memphis, TN.) and worth every single penny plus tax!
5 cups for flavor and taste
5 cups for aroma (filling my little kitchen)
5 cups for price (because it is worth it for the 1lb bag)
Normally what I paid for this bag I can get a tub for my morning very good morning regular. I play to try more of their special reserves.
~Nikki
Coffee Connoisseur Review #4: Jamaican Blue Mountain Blend
When I opened up the package you could smell an intense nutty blend and even after pleasantly waffling through the kitchen, for a light roast, you could still smell the distinct aroma. I wondered if it would have the same taste and it did. But, softer for a light roast blend (guess that’s why it’s light roast huh? lol). It was very good! This is, as you can see, #TheFreshMarket ‘s Just Jo Brand. This is a sample and I can tell I will purchase the regular size.
5 cups for flavor
5 cups for taste
5 cups for the price of a sample bag
SIDE NOTE: Blue Mountain coffee has a blue green color in it’s original brew.
Coffee Connoisseur: Review #3 Community Coffee Private Reserve:Brazil Santos Bourbon
Oh. My. Coffee Beans! The Community Coffee’s Brazil Santos Bourbon is as smooth as a good Bourbon and as flavorful, without being overpowering. When you pour it in your cup it’s the color of a good bourbon. Rich to the eyes. True to its medium dark roast with a bittersweet aftertaste. You know, like the bittersweet aftertaste you get from a dark chocolate. More of a semisweet than bittersweet in my opinion once you add your creamer and honey/sugar. (I always let you know I add 2 tsp of creamer and 1 tsp or 1 tbsp of honey). Yes you can smell the aroma when you open the package and it does slightly fill the kitchen with a light and airy smell. A hint of bourbon waffling through the house….ahhhh yes lol!
5 cups for flavor (bourbon)
5 cups for taste
6.49-8.99 a bag and worth it. 5 cups for price
Side Note: Chocolate and bourbon together is something you should try. Oh and the coffee was about this color when I poured it in my cup.
Nikki's Confetti Life 