burlap handbag fashion!

Hanging around the roasting plant are lots of burlap bags from all over the world. Indonesia, Guatemala, Colombia, Hawaii. All these countries produce coffee for other countries all over the world. Kind of amazing to think about ... how far coffee travels to make a pot for you and into your cup. 

Back to the coffee bag ... 

I am constantly finding ways to reuse things from the shop. Whether it be coffee grounds, burlap, filters, beans that fall on the floor ... I love finding ways to use all these things that could be thrown away or disregarded. Burlap is far to awesome to toss aside, the texture and the writing on each bag, all of it intrigues me and makes me want to make something with it! Not to mention- it's really popular and fashionable. Recently I have seen lots of people wearing/carrying burlap bags & handbags around. I love it! I love these wave of fashion. I think they are cute, durable, and each one is unique depending on which country the bag has come from. I have challenged myself to make one- I am not good on a sewing machine (I do not claim to be our very own Sarah Jane Estes, who is an amazing designer and creator), but I sure do try and that is worth something!!

Throughout this blog I have posted some of the best bags ... 

Check out these amazing handbags, shoulder bags, and clutches I have found cruising on the web ... 

If you find yourself inspired to make something out of burlap, stop by Coffee Times we have loads (1 for $5 & 2 for $8).  

coffee inked!

You love coffee?

These folks wear it. 

Tattoos are something special. It symbolizes something for you, reminds you of a time in your life, is empowering or a constant reminder of something you love or admire, or a time that you experience overcoming a great obstacle. Maybe some don't even have deep meaning but are playful. 

For me ... 

Coffee is a love. 

It's a favorite past time. 

A time of reflection, community, peace, conversation. 

Here are some Pinterest coffee tattoos that I thought were neat and wanted to share. 

Support what you love ... for these people, permanently. :)

camping with coffee.

It's the season for some serious camping! 

red river gorge 

Although the weather is getting warmer, coffee is still fitting for a morning 

WAKE UP 

in the woods.

I do a lot of camping all year round, I enjoy the great outdoors and couldn't enjoy these mornings when the sun comes up and my unbreakable french press is steeping my favorite coffee. 

Enjoy your morning ritual inside or outside! 

I want to share some of my favorite brewing mechanisms for camping ... convenient, easy, and non-breakable.  

 

Stove top espresso makers are really popular right now, and companies are coming out with new ideas for the same concept in a fashionable way. The best is the Primula brand, simple silver maker with the black plastic handle ... make sure you don't burn that off  :), creates quite a mess! Easy to pack and light, most of all made with aluminum and won't burn. No need to have a kettle!   

 Melitta is always great because of how easy it is! 

The plastic brewer and the slender box for filters is great for the outdoors. It is simple to clean ... literally dump the grinds and filter out and rinse the brewer. I usually take a kettle, which is the only bulky item I have to carry in my pack, but I also make sure that if I am packing a kettle my foods will require me heating water for more than my coffee. Fill your filter with coffee, I usually do 2 scoops per cup (but I like it a little stronger), saturate your grounds, let it drain through to your cup, repeat till you got a full cup of joe! Easy!

Percolators are old school coffeemakers. :)

My Grandmother has one that she uses on a daily basis, but they make great camping coffeemakers. Easy to function, and easy to clean, and easy to pack. It heats the water and makes coffee all in the same unit. Percolators are great when you have several people who want coffee in the morning, it makes more than one cup at a time. Watch the little knob in the lid ... because I have lost a few camping and it really is a pain to get a new one. You fill the mesh, infuser type basket with coffee and the carafe with water, sit it close to the campfire  (above) and let it steep. The boiling water will rise and steep the coffee and fill the carafe with fresh, hot coffee. 

A French press is another easy, delicious way to get your morning brew! 

Put the grinds in the bottom of the press and almost boiling water on top ... let is steep 5-6 minutes. Plunge the coffee and drink away! 

mugged!

Spring is here! 

Flowers are blooming, trees are growing leaves, and grass is getting green. 

This is the perfect time to plan your spring garden if you have space

&

add some plant life to your home. 

Planting small succulents and herbs in old mugs is a great way to reuse old mugs and get that spring feel in the home and plant life throughout. 

Keeping fresh herbs in the kitchen for easy snipping and adding to recipes is not only convenient but cute, accessible, and it brings a liveliness to the kitchen. Not to mention it's right at your finger tips to use when you are throwing together your favorite dish. 

And succulents don't need a lot of water ... which makes them perfect plants for mugs. A little water goes a long way for them and you don't need drainage holes because you only need the minimal water. I love this old porcelain mug with a small succulent in it ... so simple an adorable addition to the living space. Most succulents don't need a lot of sun light or intense heat. Great indoor plants for this kind of project would be the following:

Pincushion Cactus 

Jade 

Ponytail Palm 

Hens & Chicks 

Burro's Tail 

Christmas Cactus 

Crown of Thorns 

Aloe Vera 

Panda Plant 

Snake Plant 

  

Bring some life indoors this Spring ... add some really cool mugs and plants to your decor. 

 

classic coffee cake.

What better way to accompany a cup of coffee than with something sweet?

Nothing is better than a warm slice of coffee cake and even wash it down with a fresh cup of coffee. Double YUM! 

Now, my mom has a great coffee cake recipe, and so does Grandma ... but this recipe by the Pioneer Woman is absolutely fabulous. It's moist, soft, crumbly ... what more could you ask for? 

TRY IT! 

The Best Coffee Cake EVER! 

Ingredients: 

• 1 1/2 sticks of butter softened 
• 2 cups scant sugar
• 3 cups flour, sifted
• 4 teaspoons baking powder 
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/4 cup whole milk 
• 3 whole egg whites, beaten until stiff 

Topping: 

• 1 1/2 sticks of butter softened 
• 3/4 cups flour
• 1 1/2 cup brown sugar 
• 2 tablespoons cinnamon 
• 1 1/2 cups pecans, chopped

To make: 

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
•  Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together. 
• Beat egg whites and set aside. 
• Cream butter and sugar, and add flour mixture and milk alternately until combined. DO NOT OVER BEAT.
• Fold in beaten egg whites with a rubber spatula. 
• Spread in a well greased pan, 9x13 ... (or larger!) baking pan. A cake pan with high sides would be best. 
• In a separate bowl, combine topping ingredients with a pastry cutter until crumbly. 
• Sprinkle all over the top, Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until no longer jiggly. SERVE WARM :)!! 

Thanks to www.mychocolatetherapy,com for pictures and recipe! 

mEeT mAkEnZiE!!!!

 

our vibrant, crazy, wild-hearted little Scorpio!

She's a UK student, studying to rule the world,

has been a member of our team for almost a year,

she is fearless.

she is smart.

& and she is full of life!

 

what is your favorite regular and flavor coffee? Indonesian City Roast & Crème Brulee

who would play you in a movie? Mila Kunis

what sound annoys you? a running vacuum

favorite cartoon character? Penelope Pitstop

favorite breakfast cereal? Cinnamon Toast Crunch

what do you put on your pizza? Banana Peppers

favorite ice cream flavor? Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

what makes you smile? seeing others smile :)

what is one thing you want to accomplish in this lifetime? travel to all 50 states

idea of perfect happiness? to be in charge of something, to be successful, long walks on the beach

greatest fear? to not be successful

what do you dislike about your appearance? my height

favorite names? Scarlett and Silas

most valued possession? my baubles (clip-on earrings)

favorite place on earth? The Appalachian Mountains or the KY Theater

favorite band? Black Keys or Led Zeppelin

favorite author? Agatha Christi

favorite thing to do? compile stories for my memoir ... ya'll can read it later!

what do you love most about yourself? my awesome hair

pets? Stella the cat

food you hate? Chicken Liver

favorite song? Sympathy for the Devil by The Rolling Stones

what are you reading currently? History of the Presidency

what do you say waaaaay too much? "Well I'm a Scorpio, so ..."

must have clothing article? heels

goal job? to be the President

favorite movie? Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

favorite actress & actor? Elizabeth Taylor & Tom Hardy

 

 

 

Cafetiere a piston

Prenez une tasse, sirotez, et savourez!!

French press coffee is a true pleasure. 

Not only do you get the true flavor of the coffee but it is quite an experience too. 

On a good Saturday morning reading my book or even waiting for breakfast to come out of the oven (because Weisenberger Mill muffins seems to be the Saturday ritual at the Morgan household),

 I will heat my water and steep my delicious coffee of choice. 

For me there is nothing like Kenya in my french press. 

Kenya and muffins- OH goodness!

Try this. 
Try a french press. 
You won't be disappointed. 

The keys to perfect french pressed coffee: 

• heat your coffee water to almost boiling (195ish degrees)
• freshly ground coffee is always preferred, and coarsely ground
• for every 2 cups of coffee you are going to make, add one tablespoon of ground coffee. Most french presses are 8-10 cup (you can get smaller ones) 
• add your coffee grinds to the press :)
• pour your hot water over the grinds evenly saturating them 
• I give mine a little stir before I put my plunger in 
• let it steep 5 minutes (or longer if you want it a little stronger) 
• plunge the press and .... 
• Prenez une tasse, sirotez, et savourez!! (pour a cup, sip and enjoy!!)

If you've never experienced the joy of the french press you have to venture into this morning ritual. Some people say it's the best cup of coffee they have ever had, and something about the art of steeping it and perfecting the french press cup of coffee. 
Good for one, or two.