A good read....

Today I set down with the latest issue of Success Magazine and read it cover to cover. Normally, I do this at a coffee spot and treat myself to a decadent frothy coffee drink. This morning I read it in the "Grandmother arm chair" with a cup of Caffix. I have been going to a coffee to do it to avoid the distractions of home and my daughter. However, I learned this morning that  I find the magazine so engaging that I can tune out the distractions and make my daughter wait until I am done. In the future I'll save my money, make a latte and enjoy the magazine all in the comfort of my own arm chair.

www.success.com

What a week....

There was so much going on this week, that it got out-of-hand. I showed up on the wrong day for a networking event. I couldn't show up on the right day because I was leading my fist ever workshop. Only one person came (it was cold and wet out) and now I can say I did it. Lucky for me the one person is a friend, so it was easier (less never racking) than I anticipated. I put my profile up on an online dating site and to do so did some serious thinking about me as a person and my likes and dislikes. Now I know, I can't live without a good book, a cup of Caffix (all natural coffee substitute) and black and white cookies. By yesterday evening, I sank into a pew at Synagogue for Shabbat Services and was glad to be relaxing, calming the nerves and leaving the hectic week behind for a hectic weekend. Oh, well!

Wednesday's words of encouragement

"You can do it." —Coffee

Tuesday's Tip: Heat water for coffee

For the past two mornings, my daughter (age 8) has made me a cup of coffee in my travel mug which is so sweet of her even if the coffee is cold, since she didn't heat the water (She said"I figured the water was still hot.")

(P.S. A second tip. just say to your child, the "blank" is delicious because it pays to sweeten things every now and then.)

What's in a number?....Age

I had coffee with a friend this morning who told me it was her birthday and I couldn't believe how old she was and that is when I truly realized that age is number by which we need not define ourselves and while as adults we should not act like kids all the time, we should be young at heart (and in mind).

Happy Birthday Linda!

Tuesday's Tip: Another use for a "nipple brush"

Now, I use mine to clean the straw in water bottles and the opening in the lid of my travel mug. This way my coffee never tastes like tea and vice versa.

Tuesday's tip: Plan ahead mornings

This morning we woke up late, so I was glad I had packed my bag the night before and prepped lunches; this made getting out of the house on time for school more likely (and that I bought a cup of coffee rather than make one).

Morning person or not?

I've spent years telling people that I became a morning person, when I had my daughter (now, 8) and got up at 3 or 4 AM when she was a baby only to realize this weekend that I am not morning person (just like my father who slept until noon on weekends) and so I raise a mug to coffee and afternoon gym workouts.

It's individual.....

This picture proves that everyone has their own opinion and the right to express because I personally think an Oreo is a classic.

Coffee and creativity....

Today I was at my mom's wanting a cup of coffee and created a drip to avoid instant and realized in that moment that some problems require really creative solutions.

(Just remember to firmly hold the edges of the filter when pulling it out.)

Wednesday's Words: Traffic

"Why do they call it rush hour when nothing moves?" — Robin Williams

In the kitchen on Thursday: Awesome chocolate cake (and vegan too)

3 C. Flour
2 C. Sugar
1/2 C. unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tsp. Baking Soda
1 tsp. salt
2 C. hot water (not boiling)
3/4 C. Oil (Sunflower or Grape Seed)
2 Tbsp. White Vinegar
1 Tbsp. Instant coffee
1 Tbsp. Vanilla Extract.

Preheat oven to 350. Grease two 8" round cake pans. Mix together all dry ingredients. Stir together all wet ingredients and slowly mix into the dry ingredients. Pour into to cake pans and bake for 35-40 minutes. Cool for 15 minutes and then invert on to cooling rack to finish. Layer cake with icing. This recipe can be cut in half and done as one 8" round cake.

The cake was no longer vegan with the addition of vanilla ice cream and then I added strawberries. This made for an awesome and tasty cake for my great-uncle's 93rd birthday.

It is finally spring out...

Today I got my first iced coffee of the warm weather seasons and took a walk in a local park, where I brainstormed, listened to good music, partook of some overdue sunshine and hopefully burned a few calories—a great way to start the weekend.

Life and breath

To paraphrase the substitute yoga teacher, "Fit the pose into your breath and not your breath into the pose" and this got me thinking that I should fit life more into me than me into life, so I raise my half-caf coffee cup to the improved, but not new me.

A coffee cup sleeve that is smart