2 coffees a day keep your sorrows away

It doesn't take much to make me gush about coffee, but my (first) cup today was particularly gratifying. This morning I packed up my things and told Kaiti I was sure I had forgotten something, but with books, phone and Burt's Bees in sight I decided I was good to go.

I walked down my street with drooping eyes, and I even fell on top of someone on the bus because I was so caffeine deficient. (No, I wish I was kidding, but that really happened) Needless to say, my morning was not off to a wonderful start, but things looked brighter when I saw a short line at Jittery Joe's .

I ordered my coffee, looked on eagerly as they poured my cup and -

realized my wallet was at home. I guess chapstick isn't the most important thing in my purse ;) I told the barista I was sorry, but I would have to leave that piping hot cup... and then she gave it to me for free!! My whole morning turned around, partly because I got my fix and my eyes opened all the way, but mainly because little acts of kindness make me so happy.

So, the moral of this story is, give someone a free cup of coffee if they look sleepy, and read this NYTimes story that says women who drink 2 cups a day are less prone to depression... see I knew it was good for you!

coffee craving

This morning I woke up at 3:45 to drive Jonathan and our friend Sadie to the airport. We got there before traffic started, and I was home eating breakfast with my mom by 7:30. I've been enjoying a coffee high all morning, so instead of napping I went to Starbucks with Kate.

She has to study for exams, but I eagerly joined her so I could keep reading The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova. It's a modern day mystery about an obsessed artist, and I can't put it down. Read it. And after that read her other book The Historian. It's next on my list, and I hear it's just as good.

I took these pictures of Misha and Kate when we went on an evening Starbucks run last week, but I love the first one! so I still wanted to post them...

pain and wonder

That's the title of a paper I turned in yesterday morning, but it's also a fitting summary of my week. The past five days have been filled with intense stress and wonderful surprises. Yesterday I had to turn in a paper I started on Tuesday and give an hour long group presentation that counts for half my grade - thus the pain. The work load was daunting, so I did time in my favorite coffee shops, most notably Ike and Jane where I had a thin mint doughnut and chai latte.

I got home late Wednesday night anxious about the morning ahead and expecting to fall asleep in my disaster of a room. Literally - it was the messiest a room has ever been. But while I was studying, my roommate Brittany had cleaned up everything! She even swept and dusted.

The next morning, I furiously put the final touches on my paper and practiced my presentation, but when I got to class there was a note saying my teacher couldn't make it and the presentation would have to wait til Tuesday.

I walked out of Park Hall elated. My room was clean, my work was finished, the sun was shining and all I had to do was go home and celebrate Emily's 21st birthday!

Also, the most wonderful surprise of all was that Good Housekeeping offered me an internship in NYC this summer!

ready set ... go!

At the beginning of this week I felt like I was starting a marathon of constant business. Instead of easing back into things after spring break, I had articles for work and big assignments for almost all of my classes. But after countless cups of late night Jittery Joe's coffee and early mornings spent at Walker's, I finally finished!

To celebrate the end of a stressful week, Britt, Sarah Beth, Emma and I went to dinner at White Tiger and it was so good! White Tiger is tucked away in the middle of a neighborhood, and on the outside it looks like a run-down shack. But next to the tiny old building there is a yard full of picnic tables where we ate delicious barbecue sandwiches with a twist. I had one with tofu, barbecue sauce and arugula cole slaw on it. I know it sounds weird, but loved it so much I would have had another after church today if I hadn't been out-voted!

After dinner Tatum joined us, and we all went to play pool at Magnolias. I say "play pool" loosely, because Sarah Beth and I didn't hit a single ball the whole time... but we had fun aiming and missing!