Skype Coffee Date

Today was the first of many Skype dates with my friend that moved to Seattle.  She sent me pictures of her new coffee maker and that she was trying the Seattle's Best brand hazelnut coffee.  She said it was very good and that she will probably send me some so I can try it too.  She also got a new mug at Target.  Adorable, simple, and nicely sized.  I might need to get one too.  It reminded me of this cute cup and saucer setup that I'd seen at Cost Plus World Market a few months back.
I had a lot to do today so when it came to our date, I went with the simple 3-n-1 Asian coffee in my cherry blossom color changing mug.  It was perfect, as usual, but it was the company that was the highlight.  We eventually brought her brother on to Skype but since he was on his tablet, his camera wasn't enabled.  He couldn't see my goofy kitten tossing her toys around but every time I got 'attacked' by the cat, my friend cracked up.  Their belongings will arrive later this week so for now it's a slumber party in their living room where the tv is.  I look forward to more Skype dates to watch their place become a home and see her cats being just as silly as mine.

Those pillows and blankets make a weird shape on the screen.

Nugget wanted to be part of the call.

Her cool new cup and wonderful view out of her living room.  Her cat likes to hang out here.  I can see why.

Her new coffee maker.  I can't wait for her to send me some of that coffee. 

L.A. Goodness

A day filled with errands, for the husband and I, to help the new kitten settle in.  We visited the vet and he said she's tiny but very healthy.  After getting such great news, we headed to Los Angeles to have dinner and coffee with a friend.
Our friend, who lives in that area was craving sushi so we hit up Sushi Stop for good and cheap eats.  Then we walked to a place I've been wanting to try since he moved there.
Volcano Tea House is located in Sawtelle Japantown, known to most as Little Osaka.  Up and down Sawtelle, the street is lined with ramen houses, Asian shops like Daiso, which is a chain of stores similar to the 99 cents store but things are $1.50 and a bit better quality, and other places that will give a small insight into the Japanese life.  Volcano Tea House was very cool.  They have lots of options including coffee and tea, smoothies, boba, and some snacks.  Ample options to suit any one's mood which worked out great as the three of us each ordered something different from each other and also had other items we wanted to try picked out, for next time of course.  The husband ordered jasmine green tea that was perfectly steeped.  The friend ordered a banana milk tea with boba and said it was great.  Such a pretty yellow color with dark boba at the bottom.  The menu had so many options but what appealed to me most was the flavored lattes.  I went with a Kahlua flavored latte.  Nutty, buttery, foamy and perfect without needing to add any extra cream or sugar.  I can't wait to try the other flavors and items on the menu.  The only downfall, which seems to be a theme in some of the restaurants there, is that a lot of places are cash only.  The husband and I didn't know going in so it looks like when we are ready to try the other options at Volcano Tea House, we will be picking up the tab for our friend.  Thanks again, Mate.

Double Dipping

It was another one of those days where just one coffee wasn't enough.  I started my afternoon with a cup of Disneyland French vanilla coffee.  French pressed and served in my "coffee" cup.  That cup was one that a friend of mine was getting rid of but I really liked it so I snatched it up.  I try my hardest not to use it for tea.  The French vanilla was good but not as good as other French vanillas I've had before and definitely not as good as the hazelnut Disneyland coffee from yesterday.  I started drinking my coffee but felt so crappy that I knocked out on the couch.  When I woke up, I microwaved it and finished it off before heading to work.
I was focused and working all evening long at a decent pace but then, BAM! My computer crashed.  At that point, my usual break time coworker and I decided we needed a coffee break.  Something more powerful then our usual tea break.  One of our bartenders made us a couple of Americanos and we took them back to my desk.  Took 5 minutes to ourselves and enjoyed that little bit of time chatting and looking at pictures of the new kitten.
Now centered again, we finished up working and I heading home for dinner.  As I was eating, I noticed a little someone getting into my empty cup from this afternoon. Silly Nugget.

Disneyland Coffee on Mother's Day

On Mother's day, we usually get the whole family together, play board games, eat, and kick back.  This year I volunteered to host seeing as I knew my family would want to meet our new addition.  They loved her immediately and were shocked to see how tiny she is.  My parents brought us donuts, a nice variety, including my favorite, French crueler.
With donuts comes coffee, so off to it.  My step dad and I broke into the set of Disneyland coffees I picked up when I was there last time.  I decided to choose the hazelnut coffee as I knew hazelnut is his favorite.  Mom said she isn't a hazelnut fan so she picked the peppermint mocha instant coffee that was in my cabinet.  That one is really good and I love how when you pour the hot water, over the coffee, the mint pieces sizzle as they melt.  Our hazelnut was delicious! The tin reads 100% Arabica coffee and when you open it, it smells nutty and incredible.  It did not disappoint.  It was terrific.  Another family member arrived late but chose to have some in his favorite mug and enjoyed it as well.
We played Cards Against Humanity and ate till we couldn't move.  Mostly we did what mom wanted most, be together and also play with the new kitten.  She finally has a name, Nugget.  She's fitting in just fine in our home and hopefully she can help me blog about coffee.  Or she can just sit there and be adorable.

Mom got Mary Poppins, I got Mickey, and the step dad got Muppet nerds.

He brought along his favorite mug, Incredibles.

Part of an eight pack collection; more posts to follow.

Nugget enjoyed all the attention she got for Mother's  Day.

It's Not Goodbye, It's Until We Meet Again

Hopefully again comes in June or early July. We met with our friends today (the ones moving to Seattle) to say our farewells over breakfast at IHOP.  This afternoon, they packed the last bits and hit the road north, with their cats in tow and the open highways ahead.  Only after a filling breakfast and coffee, of course.
The servers were sweet and took good care of us.  My strawberry crepes were yummy. The husband ordered a regular pot of Joe and the fiance got the French vanilla iced coffee.  My friend ordered one as well, but when she saw my hot Swiss mocha with whipped cream show up, she changed her order to that.  That's just how they bring it.  I had no idea.  I didn't request anything extra or fancy.  The fiancee said his iced coffee was good but a little on the sweet side.  Our mochas were amazing.  So rich and creamy with just the right about of chocolate.  Don't knock it till you've tried it, but I wouldn't mind going to IHOP for just coffee.  After seeing this presentation, wouldn't you join me?  If not, I know my friend will when she comes for her visit this Summer.

Old Friends and New Friends

Coffee today was bittersweet.  My friends leave my side tomorrow afternoon so today we had breakfast and coffee in their almost totally empty apartment.  The fiancee picked up The Breakfast Cafe and the vanilla lattes were from Beanscene.  As usual, Beanscene doesn't let us down and delivers a creamy, delicious latte.
As we dine, we talked about going to the pet store to see if they still had this adorable white kitten boy that I really liked.  We hopped in the car and headed to the shop but sadly for me, but great for him, he had been adopted.  My friend said we should check out the shelter by my work.  I had just been at work for a meeting in the morning and we passed right by to the animal shelter.  We saw some cute and loving older cats and some feisty little kittens.  The was the sweetest 5 year old cat, big and fluffy, and was surrendered because "he was unfriendly".  My friend and I leaned down and Miso met us with love and affection.  Of course, we were just there to look.  Kill time before I had to be back at work.
Then this little one comes along.  Originally named Yale, this little girl is meowing at us louder then any other cat in there.  She's 6 weeks old and brought in as a stray.  Apparently her mates had been recently adopted, even one right before we arrived.  My friend knew she was perfect for our family.  She was happy to kitten-sit while I worked.
I brought her home and the husband fell instantly in love.  He couldn't get over how tiny she is.  Our family now makes 3.
As I lose our friends to new adventures in Seattle, they have left a piece of their hearts here with us in the form of this new friend.

Family Fun

This morning was a delightful coffee get together.  My friend and her fiancee want to see everyone before they make the move to Seattle at the end of this week, so coffee was at my mom's house.  Little One arranged it for about 11am.  I'm feeling a bit under the weather so I was late.  A rarity for me.  My friends brought mini donuts, 3 kinds, and I brought some hazelnut coffee from Cost Plus World Market.  Little One had her usual McDonald's Frappe and mom had already been working on a cup by the time we got there.
The coffees from Cost Plus have yet to disappoint me.  The grind is small but packed with great aroma and flavor.  I like opening a bag and having a slight bit of oil on the bag.  Too little or too much means it wasn't treated correctly and will taste off, but Cost Plus is consistently good.  Nice and nutty hazelnut.  Mom has a Kuerig so I used the make-your-own filtered cups for us and still have some left over in the bag.
Older One and the husband were there and we all sat around chatting.  No tv, just coffee, donuts, and the legalization of alcohol in the 1920's.  Well, Little One is writing a paper for school so we were talking about it.  Turns out, prohibition turned everyone into criminals.  A jury hearing a case about illegal alcohol had ended up on trial themselves, having drank the evidence during the case they were on.  They "had to taste it to see if it contained alcohol".  I enjoyed learning something while having my relaxing cup with my family.  It will be a while before with all can do this again but I'm already looking forward to it.