Spotlight on Love

Check out pictures from Mr. Love's art show this past Saturday!  All sales went to SCAPA's fund for their new Center for the Arts...  we love SCAPA, Mr. Love, and supporting local creativeness!

MR.LOVE

Waking up to a freshly brewed pot of coffee in the morning is one of the simple joys in life. Over 50% of all Americans have a cup of coffee in the morning, anything from espresso drinks, a regular cup of Joe, or your Moka cappuccinos and around here a Josie made with the flavored coffee of the day with whipped cream. Researchers have related the consumption of coffee to our moods and how it affects our moods, especially the feeling of depression. Coffee not only wakes people up in the morning giving us the jolt of mental stimulation to make us alert, aware, and functioning but it also may offer some protection against depression. Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health did a study of the effects of caffeine and women and found that women who drink 550 mmg of coffee a day are less likely to be depressed, that is the equivalent to 5 and 1/2 cups of coffee a day. They found that an inverse dose-response relationship between caffeine intake and mood: the more caffeine consumed the less likely that the patient developed depression during the study period. Tea, soda, and chocolate are also ways we receive caffeine but the amount of caffeine is so minimal that is doesn't process through our system the same way, and the caffeine content of coffee varied greatly on how the beans were roasted, darker roasted coffee has less caffeine than a medium roast. :) Caffeine is absorbed through the stomach and small intestines and is distributed through throughout the body, eventually reaching the brain. Between 30 and 90 minutes the body starts feeling the affects of caffeine and it lasts up to 10 hours of running through the body. Once caffeine reaches the brian it aims for the adenosine receptor, these receptors dampens brain activity by hogging the receptors and inhibiting it from producing dopamine, an important nuerotransmitter involved in moods, and also indirectly affects two other nuerotransmitters as well, serotonin and acetylcholine, and these control sleep, arousal, pleasure, and thinking. Of course each of us are different and process caffeine in different ways and caffeine has negative effects along with the good, but maybe caffeine helps us through the difficult parts of the day and those of us who drink the recommended 5 and 1/2 cups of coffee should take to heart that maybe this isn't a vice and could even be healthy. :)

burlap and beans.

We have lots of new merchandise out!! From coffee canisters to tea pots, burlap accessories and jewelry made from coffee beans, aprons and new mugs ... come check it out and see what catches your eye ... oh, and grab a drink from the bar made with love!

These necklace and earring sets are made out of coffee beans from a company called Seeds not Beads. All their products are made out of seeds from coffee and other seeded veggies/fruits. We thought they were so clever and fascinating.

Burlap backpack, fits a laptop and is perfect size for a day pack, or hey rock it at school!

"a synthesis of logic and madness"

This glass, pour-over brewing mechanism is chic, elegant, and smart. It was invented in 1941 by Peter Schlumbohm, a German chemist/inventor, and has remained unchanged in its design for 70 years. The Chemex is in an hourglass shaped vessel and is made with heat resistant glass. Each model comes with an insulated wooden collar and leather tie to serve as a barrier between you and freshly brewed, 'hot as can be' coffee. The Chemex uses a filtration method for brewing and delivers greater clarity than other paper filter systems, key being its heavier paper. Its perfectly designed filters help control the temperature in which the coffee is brewed. It also helps with under extraction, or too quick of a brew, and the finished product is clear and flavorful without a bitter taste or sediment in your cup. Chemex is said to be "one of 100 best modern devices" by New York Times and  is currently on display at New York's Museum of Modern Art and the Smithsonian Museum. From the laboratory to your kitchen, this Erlenmeyer flask designed coffee maker is unique and snazzy and has achieved an iconic role in popular culture. Come by and check out the Chemex, try a cup of coffee from a Chemex, learn about the Chemex and maybe it might be your choice in brewing mechanism. :)

from the garden to steeping

I grow lavender every year in my garden. I love the smell, I love to bake with it, and recently I have had a hankering for Lavender Butterfly tea, something about the way it clears my mind and the soothing, calming feeling I get when I smell it or taste it. Sipping on some Lavender Butterfly I started thinking about those little bluish-purple flower buds and what health benefits lavender actually has. Reading about it I was so surprised, lavender is more than a pretty bush in my garden; it has many uses and is a ‘good for what ails ya’ herb. Lavender when steeped with tea creates a calming effect, soothing anxious nerves and helps aid in sleepless nights. It promotes relaxation and soothes tired muscles, also helps with headaches. Who doesn’t get a headache every now and then? It can be used with skin irritation, chafing, and burns, as well as on cuts and scrapes because it has antiseptic properties instead of rubbing alcohol, which is a good alternative for children. It also is helpful with nits and dandruff, which is why a lot of hair products have lavender extracts or oil in them. The most popular way to enjoy lavender is the essential oil, rubbing a little on your temples or across the forehead helps with depression, anxiety, headaches, and lowers pain levels. Amazing little plant huh? I prefer to sip on some lavender tea like Lavender Butterfly tea or our newest tea addition Lavender Earl Grey, which is a lovely balance between Bergamot and Lavender. JYUM!! Lavender with it soothing minty/floral scent is a saint among herbs. Stop by the shop and try some lavender tea, whichever you choose will be just as delightful, and explore how lavender can aid you in your day to day hustle.

A PROPOSAL OVER COFFEE!

      Well, you're not going to believe it but one of our VERY OWN, Christy, proposed to her boyfriend yesterday!  She carried on the Leap Day tradition and did something out of the ordinary!  How cool?!

It's a little blurry, but SHE'S down on one knee!