Joyeux Anniversaire à Moi

23 years. 

Going fast. 

I see the events and remember the memories of the past and think how far I've come. Both awesome, good, great, sad, frustrating, yet rewarding. 

I've used this blog to express the little things I enjoy with coffee and as most would say, coffee is and can be an addiction. But I see it as a pleasure to hold while the obstacles come at me. 

So Cake Creations, a bakery in San Mateo, has designed this little petite cake for me as a little rewards for putting up with a bunch of &$@# in life. As I see it. 

23 years old and going. 

Thank you for all those who visit and read the little pleasures I share. 

You haven't had Starbucks?? Where have you been??!!

People haven't tried Starbucks?

So I actually didn't start drinking Starbucks until college because it was a treat for me during high school (parents were against it). But to think there are people who haven't had it surprises me a bit because if you Google Starbucks on the map....there will be a hell of a lot of dots all over the nation! 

As always, BuzzFeed does an awesome job in entertainment, so here goes a video about the newbies having Starbucks for the first time...hahaha noobs. 

Credit: http://www.buzzfeed.com/chrislam/watch-people-try-starbucks-for-the-first-time#.atjABYxaV

And of course, we all have these thoughts at the line in Starbucks......
.....darn you interns.......



Credit: http://www.buzzfeed.com/jessebenjamin/thoughts-you-have-in-line-at-starbucks#.sqAYE3876

Barista at Home!

"Breville BES870CBXL Barista Express Cranberry Red Espresso Machine"

I wrote this article on my personal experience with this awesome machine!

Wake up and smell the coffee! It’s a busy morning and the hour is already rushing against you. With a hectic schedule and that long morning meeting, there’s only one thing that will spring you up and get you ahead of the game, at least for me. Nothing smells better than freshly grinned coffee beans and listening to that espresso dripping into your coffee cup. There is just something about the smell and process of creating quality taste of perfection in minutes that indulges you in heaven. That first sip of espresso is so defined and pure, even the traffic jam in the morning will not stand a chance or the morning meeting! What makes this so fulfilling and exciting is having that professionally barista espresso quality machine right in your kitchen counter with no lines or hassle from rushing to the nearest café and actually arriving to work on time!

Regardless of your taste, the espresso should be creative at your desired taste for fulfillment and satisfaction.

Espresso Coffee Machine. The Breville Barista Express delivers quality and is built to bring that inner barista in you. Allowing that same café shop environment to your kitchen. Built with high-grade aluminum and zinc die-cast construction it is definitely made for sleek style and durability to last. Every morning you will wake up to that delicious espresso from the elegant Cranberry Red Finish. Not only are you saving time and money, but also you are crafting your espresso with numerous detailed factors and enjoying every sip of it. Like the powerful pump that is designed to pre-infuse grounds and increase that bold taste while the espresso gauge shows the pressure so you can keep monitoring it and showing off your barista skills.  And lets not forget the Stainless Steel Steam Wand that gives you full control of your milk pitcher for that delicious froth, and of course practice designing that flower for your cappuccino. Practice makes perfect.

Espresso Coffee Grinder. With the built in conical burr grinder, you have the power to adjust the grinding levels and even the dose which allows for that exact taste you are seeking and tweak it at any way. One of the key features is the patented razor dosing trims that gives that consistent extraction and a digital temperature control so you don’t have to stress too much about the precise heat that is needed, that’ll be taken care for you. The quality of the beans and the method in which they are grinded is important because that will increase that caffeine needed to take on the day and make business! I love how I can control how strong I want it or not because there is no time to explain that to a barista at Starbucks now is there.

Lattes or Espressos. Whatever sets your mood, whether it’s that daring shot of espresso or the elegant and sophisticated Latte or Cappuccino, the Breville Barista Express will deliver that right to your kitchen and you can even imagine running your own café shop. Features like the Hot Water Dispenser makes crafting the Americano a breeze, or the Hands-Free Grinding that gives you the power of one touch to have fresh grounds in seconds! The overall beauty is you can skip all the lines and have the quality and taste right in your home!  

The Before and After

We all know that we feel that certain something all the time when the first sip of coffee touches our tongues........


Or maybe just me......

We perceive the world differently.....
It suddenly becomes a world of fun and happy little things.....


Your Brain LITERALLY Wakes up!

Your energy levels skyrocket, you can run a marathon.....twice!

Your confidence and directions are impeccable! 

The idea of making plans becomes a breeze you even become super generous! 

And...... you know.........

No Mas 'Americano'?!

Coffee Around the World, in case you are tired of the 'Americano'

Buzzfeed always provides the best hacks and videos for almost anything. I cannot tell you how happy I get and how many times I wanted to run to the bathroom from laughing so much over the most hilarious videos.....ever! 

So as I woke up this morning, and surprisingly I'm up before 10am, I go to my little kitchen and prepare the Italian Espresso. I look out the window and see all the people driving out of their driveways and off they go to be stuck in traffic and rush against time.

I'm lucky I can work from home at times which lets me concentrate on my projects and ideas and drink as much free coffee as I want, and with great quality. 

I open Facebook, Twitter, Emails, and switch the TV on for any updating news. It seems I have an easy life right? I wish... 

No, I just happen to open those websites to procrastinate on some work emails I need to respond and apartment searching on Craigslist. 

So then I run through Facebook and I see this!

I posted an international guide for those of you who are traveling, lucky, but this video shows you how to prepare just a few of the greatest coffee's around the world!!! 

I'm already eyeing the Irish Coffee! 

Four Barrel Resolution

A New Year's Resolution....

I wonder how people can stick to their resolutions without breaking them at some point within weeks? I always said, "No resolutions...I just can't do it." 

My family sets them with much enthusiasm and each year I hear the same thing over and over again....

            1. Lose Weight

            2. Save Money 

            3. Something.....Something....Something

But does it really matter what resolution you set? Does it have to happen during a day of the year, like Valentines when you show how much you love someone?

              ....................I believe a "resolution" should just be any day of the year and anytime the person desires. Not just the Bandwagon of a New Years Eve principle.

I write this to say that I am someone that would like to set personal goals so that I may improve aspects of my self-being, health and overall happiness.

Yes I practically am writing a New Years Resolution when I just typed that I don't follow them.

But I write it with a personal goal that is both long-term and short-term because it is the becoming of me as a whole person and my well-being in life. 

I am 22 years old, Bachelors Degree in Psychology and Social Work, living with my loved ones (hubby and puppy), living in the most expensive county in California (Bay Area), and trying to make a dollars day working with 2 jobs. 

I started this blog about a year ago when my hubby and I explored Europe, I took numerous photos and realized that I need to keep them somewhere other than Instagram or Facebook. Thanks to Google+ here I am, uploaded the photos from Europe plus other cafes I've gotten to explore locally. 

I wrote small descriptions of random things to practically fill up the blog, but little by little I got more intrigued with this little blog I started to develop. Then came articles from Psychology sites I visited, then Buzzfeed, then Huffington Posts, etc.

So now my blog was beginning to be a hobby, a time consuming activity when I wanted to procrastinate from Senior Year of college. 

I graduated college and I continued to use this blog and was getting more into it like editing the page and trying to add Ads (not a success...so far). 

But here I am, 22, with 2 jobs and a blog that I try to keep up day by day.

So my New Years Resolution, or rather Personal Goals for 2015 are as such.

1. Be happy. 

I struggled with changes and let-downs, disappointments and fears. This year I want to smile more

and laugh at anything because Laughing is one of the best medicines out there. 

2. Be Motivated.

With the changes came a lot of struggles and challenges, I want to be motivated and fearless of

handling 2 jobs and still edging for that last cent in rent. Or be motivated to be healthy physically and mentally, with no let-downs of my negative mind set, but to be positive and strive. 

3. Love Others.  

Most important right. I feel guilty at times for not returning emails or phone calls to those that ask for

my well-being. I have a difficult time keeping up with those who care about me in ways I can never repay them for. Family and Friends supporting me on my journeys of which I should return that love and adoration. I want to show my love and care for those much more than I have this past year and continue to show my appreciation to my loved ones. 

              

 Today, hubby and I went on a little date to the city (San Francisco) and stopped at the nationwide famous cafe, Four Barrel Cafe. Ordered a Cappuccino and Macchiato, we took the time to talk about our personal goals and aspirations for the year. Hence the reason for this post.

We spoke about some upcoming changes that may be for the best of us and some changes we should both take.

So yes we did ourselves a New Years Resolution, but as a team we should hit it hard. 

So Enjoy....

 Sip....

 And Smile....

A Pocket Guide for Your Holiday Travels

I found this article online and I just want to share with you all the great tricks and travel guides if all of you may be traveling this year. Take this Pocket Travel Book with you for all the Coffee Stops and even journaling ideas too. 

Click to read the Full Article. 

Finally, the Ultimate Travel Guide for Coffee Lovers! by  Jordan Valinsky

There's nothing more awkward than going to a cafe in a foreign city and struggling over the menu until you surrender and just keeping pointing at the espresso machines in the hopes of getting something hot, caffeinated and drinkable.

Confused travelers forced to deal with the daunting task of understanding the difference between a cafe au lait and a cafe bombon may finally have their caffeine cravings sated without resorting to pantomime. Cheapflights, a British-based travel website, has compiled a list of 31 popular drinks from two dozen countries. Finally, you can expand your coffee vocabulary beyond murmuring "Americano." 

The most specific-sounding coffee drink is the ca phe sua da from Vietnam It takes a very carefully measured amount of boiling water, just two tablespoons of condenses milk and an exact 15 grams of ground coffee to get right. 

Italy is home to the largest number of coffee bars per capita in Europe, so it's smart to brush up on the lingo if you're heading there. In the north, espressos are served with more milk, while the south serves a less creamy, more pungent version. The most exotic espresso is the Espresso Romano, which is served with a slice of lime. Yum?

The tastiest option comes from Spain, which is home to the Cafe con Miel. It's a mixture of espresso, honey, steamed milk and drizzling of cinnamon. That'll wake you up if the plate of churros didn't do it.

All of these countries have their own spin on coffee, but were most interested in the Turkish king. A tablespoon of coffee and a cup of water is topped with a cardamom pod, a type of Indian spice that's loaded with health benefits. Maybe they've figure out the way to have the best of both worlds.

In Hong Kong, the yuanyang mixes both black tea and coffee for the ultimate caffeine boost. That sounds like a bit too much, but Mexico's cafe de olla sounds delicious with its mix of cinnamon, water and coffee.