coffee diaries (for two!) | profile coffee roasters

This coffee diaries post is an exceptionally significant one. Let me preface it by saying this...it includes an amazing new cafe, but to make it even better, I was joined by a long time friend from the blogging world who I finally met in 'real' life - it's going to be hard to contain my excitement writing this!!

I started blogging in 2010. If you're a blogger yourself, you may know some of the challenges as well as the empowering moments that blogging brings. I've dealt with the ups and downs of blogging that we all deal with! The times have been good: opportunities to travel, collaborations, and nurturing creative dreams. The times have had their troubling moments: being hacked and starting from scratch, struggling with the privacy issue, and of course, staying authentic and original. Over the years, though, I have found bloggers and cultivated blog friendships that make all of it the best part.

Which brings me to my next point....Kerri (and our mystery photobomber! he made us giggle).

I am not sure exactly when I first started reading her blog, but we soon "hit it off" as bloggers do. Through sweet and encouraging comments, then following each other, and staying in touch with social media. I soon realized that we are both PA girls, and we have such similar interests! Kerri has given me fantastic coffee diaries recommendations, and this place was totally her idea. We had always resolved to meet up for coffee, once things started getting less busy, but it never seemed to happen. Life happens, right?

I've followed her for a while now, and I can say that her posts are consistent with themes of grace, elegance, and inspiration. I love her bright and colorful style, her honesty and authenticity, and of course can totally relate to her affinity for the countryside! We stayed in touch mostly through instagram and blogging, but I turned my blog private this past year and kinda fell off the radar.

So...this past weekend, our plans for coffee actually came to fruition! Meeting Kerri was the BEST! It  is such a weird phenomenon to meet someone for the first time in "real life" but feel like you're in such familiar company. It just felt like catching up with an old friend! When we started snapping photos of our lattes in unison, I knew that it was going to be the most fun coffee date.  She brought me the most precious gifts: a handmade bracelet (Kerri, you need to sell these, seriously!) and the most beautiful rose tea cup. It is perfect for intimate weekend moments when nothing but a cup of tea will do. It's perfect, and I love that Kerri makes a point to enjoy tea the right way (in teacups, not mugs!!)

We ventured out to a new cafe: Profile Coffee Roasters. I read about it by chance in the paper - it is a new cafe inspired by the Seattle coffee scene.  I love the small-town roots, although this cafe rivals any of its counterparts you could find in the city. The interior of the coffeehouse is clean, crisp, and bright; the counter/bar is adorned with warm wood tones and has the essentials of any classic cafe like chalkboard menus, cafe lights, and big windows. I ordered a simple skim latte (Kerri ordered a vanilla latte) and we were both fawning over our cups! The baristas - clearly knowing the way into my heart - poured in latte leaves. Note to self: learn how to do that someday so I can impress all my friends. The coffee was delicious, and it was good to support this new local business. I love shopping small. I'll keep coming back to this cafe because it's just plain, good coffee and has such an alluring coffeehouse atmosphere.

notes from the coffee diary:
- delicious, light, smooth finish
- intimate, bright coffeehouse feel
- balanced, full-bodied and just-right foam
- the latte art, though :)

Every coffee diaries post should be like this. I loved catching up with Kerri and turning a blog friendship into a real one. I've seen so many of my favorite bloggers do it and now I can understand the hype!  She helped me with some blog advice, and if you haven't noticed, there are some changes I've put into place since our meeting (i.e. no more private posts! helloooo, world!). Chatting about the blogosphere was inspiring, encouraging, and much-needed. Truthfully I became a little disenchanted with it all over the last year, which happens to a lot of people - but I like it too much to stop altogether. Talking to someone else who blogs really is helpful, especially when you're from an area that doesn't have a big concentration of bloggers. It was really empowering.

So, in a nutshell, best coffee date ever.

Profile Coffee & Roasters
21 S. Market St., Elysburg
@profilecoffeeandroasters

girl date

My gal pal from Siena  and I found ourselves on bikes recently pedaling to this cute little  pop-up called the Conshohocken Brewing company. It was twilight, the lightning bugs were out in full force, the cool night air made it the perfect moment for a (small!) beer. The simple design of the brewery was brilliant: ride up, lock your bike, and go get a beer! I enjoyed a 8 oz "Summer of '19," a lager inspired by a pre-Prohibition brew, I suppose. I almost never drink beer, but when I do, I appreciate a good one like this.

Cool summer  nights are about the #1 best thing on earth. Ditto for cool summer mornings. I just got back from a  2 mile run and it was so invigorating in the breezy morning air. Next week, I'm heading to California for a few weeks (!!!) and I'm really excited for the perfect California weather; the chilly sweater-and-shorts nights, the sunny days, and of course, the Pacific breeze. Can't wait!

ciao! xo

scenes from my weekend

Memorial Day weekend was spend 90% outside and I consider that a good thing! It feels like a waste if a beautiful day is spent indoors. So my weekend included a lot of time out on this deck [above], by the riverside, in the park, and helping in the garden. No big travel plans or beach trips here. I particularly enjoyed the in the garden; deadheading plants and watering are so calming. It makes me feel so attached to home, the mornings, and watching everything make little tiny bits of progress as it grows.

To keep things short, there has been a lot going on under this roof. S has returned home for a short stay, so we are making the most of his time here! In the family, everyone is busy with their own things...lots of good changes are coming. I myself am starting grad school this week and I am a little nervous! It hopefully isn't too bad, though. Once I begin I think all will be good. I have this gut feeling that I am leaving out half of the story, and there is just so much going on that typing about it here would just be a little superfluous for a blog post.

The best part of the weekend was that S has been home! And luckily for us, we have been able to be outside (putting up a fight against the allergies - which have hit me from nowhere!) and spend a lot of time with friends catching up. It definitely went too, too fast..

ciao! xo

gelato date

Over the weekend (and for the first time in too long) my Siena friends reunited for some brunch and gelato!! It was perfect. I snapped a few pictures of our gelato date at Capogiro (I wrote about this place in an old coffee diaries post here) before our concoctions melted away. 

It's so casual and even probable to stop for a simple gelato in Italy - we were reminiscing about that - but here in the USA it's obviously not as easy to find a cute little corner gelateria that sells your favorite flavor. (sigh: i'm still searching for the frutti di bosco). We're lucky that Capogiro is here in Philly and whips up thirtysomething fresh batches of gelato daily! It'll hold me over until next time I'm in Italy. The wait for the frutti di bosco is worth it.

ps. Irish potato flavored gelato is AMAZING. sounds odd, but I promise it is good.

ciao! xo

can't go wrong with...

Love, friends and coffee! Seems to be the theme of the last couple of days...and it is something I want to continue - especially the first two parts! 

Summer is kind of over, which breaks my heart a little. I have been practicing balance (and little ways to hang on to the happy things of summer).  Through friends, through running, and I even signed up for a month of yoga. I am not feeling that doomsday "I CANNOT BELIEVE SUMMER IS OVER" feeling. Actually, I am feeling pretty content and happy with myself. Going to chase that feeling. Summer will inevitably slip away, but it will inevitably blossom back.

The weekend was beautiful. I spent it all with people near and dear to my heart! Lots of laughs, walking around the city, a sushi date, rainy day drives, photo raids at Ray-Ban, mimosas at brunch, an impulse buy here, and of course coffees to end it all. I am brimming with excitement still over it all. I'm realizing how lucky I am because whenever I spend  a day like that, I feel inspired and refreshed and yet, comforted. It's allll good. Just what I needed to kick start the school year.

ciao! xo

best friend ice cream date.

You know your best friend really looks out for you when your ice cream falls right off the cone and she is right there to snatch it up for you. And she plops it right back where it belongs!

To celebrate my first day of freedom  summer, I met J for manicures, pizza and the best ice cream! She got mint chococlate chip and I got this black raspberry one with huge chocolate chunks in it. Taking pictures of ice cream while holding ice cream is really challenging - mine dramatically, perfectly, fell right off the cone like it was a cartoon. Luckily with her lightning fast reflexes and fresh gel mani, J saved the day! :)

CHEERS TO SUMMER! and happy july!

ciao, xo

buon anniversario!

If it were up to me, May 18th would be an official holiday. It's my three year Sienaversary. Three years ago I hopped on a plane with complete strangers and began my study abroad experience.  I enjoyed life to the absolute maximum. I remember my thinking to myself, every night, no matter the occasion - I couldn't miss it. "Sleep when you're dead!" is exactly what I told myself. For a little while, Siena felt like the only other place on the planet that I knew. That summer really was one of a kind - the people, the gold man, the mid-day (sometimes twice a day) trips to Conad, skipping the bar for vino in the campo, the donkey garden, the fortezza, the awe-inspiring classes of Dr. Bruttini. I miss sitting on the warm Tuscan brick of the campo floor and writing in the journal. I miss the dry heat, the bats in the morning, the horrible internet connection. The bottiglie di acqua and coperti and the ritual of eating. I miss hanging my clothes on the line. I miss solo morning outings, like seeing the sun rise. I was so okay with being alone. Talking to a real Sienese here and there, being just as interested in them as they were in me. But the friends I was with made it all. Those total strangers became my good, good friends. I still count a few as my best. Words or photos are not enough.

ciao, xo

how did skiing go, you ask?

As I type this, just know that I feel like death.

This weekend I went skiing for the first time with mixed results. Plenty of people, including young children, can ski. I can now call myself one of them (not really). Dumbest decision of the day: I stupidly, foolishly took on a black diamond slope with such empty confidence and totally deserved to wipe out the way I did. My body aches! Even my face hurts (congestion, gah). But all in all, what a super duper fun weekend with a hilarious bunch. I was in stitches laughing the entire time on my skis, which makes all of this stiffness worth it. I can now watch the winter olympics from the comfort of my home with a totally new appreciation for winter sportsmen (and women) everywhere.

one more note: I ate a record amount of donuts this weekend, fyi.

ciao! xo, and happy monday to you!

scenes from my weekend

It must be peak-leaf weekend, because driving around and seeing all of the intense shades of orange and yellow and red over the past two days was glorious. What a pretty weekend, punctuated by equally pretty lattes and delightful outings with friends. This weekend was muuuuch needed. Work stress has been a constant high pressure for me, and I am hoping that this will soon change…

I've been spending my weekend mornings is saturday and sunday walks with my mom. First off I have been looking at old italy photos, back in a magical time when I lived 8+ floors up, no elevator, and walked everywhere…I miss those legs. So not only have I been trying to get back in shape and walk off the multiple takeout dinners of the week…but I've been enjoying the lovely catchup time with mom and admiring the scenes of the park. Sometimes we bring Scout and she frolics along like the happiest little grasshopper.

November is a month of birthdays so I have been scouring etsy for the perfect little somethings for my family. I am in LOVE with the speedy service and amazingly dainty look of this shop, and I can't wait to give my gifts.  I also am so giddy for Christmas, it's not funny. I can't wait for Christmas carols, holiday lights, the anticipation of it all, the green and red, and cozy nights in with the fireplace roaring and lots of hot chocolate and wine…

Ah, this time of year! I love it more and more as I get older.  Here's to finding the serenity of every weekend!

ciaaaoo, xo