It is not an EPIC fantasy

  If you like fantasy but not epic battles and saving the world this is for you.  The author describes it as high fantasy, low stakes. The main character will not be saving the world. Her coffee shop yes as that is her world.  There is a variety of characters weaved into Legends & Lattes.  

It is a novel, yes fantasy, about friendship, perseverance and following your dream.  That you can remake yourself at anytime.  It is a light read. Maybe it you haven't read fantasy before it might be a good place to start.

Summer Projects or anytime

 We were talking about feeling motivated or not. Needing something to focus on. Needless to say if we didn't blog for six months we were not motivated or focused. We came up with a few ideas to maybe jump start motivation this summer if you are looking for a summer (or anytime) project. Here goes.....

• Pick an item like rocks, trees, beaches, drinks and take pictures of that item. Again and again so that at the end of the season you have a collection. Pick something fun and that you know you will be seeing at least off and on this season.
• Gratitude journal - easy write down three things you were grateful for today. I know people always put this on the list. Likely because easy and it works.
• Rainy days purge or organize a cabinet or drawer. Note cabinet or drawer not closet. Not room. Don't get overwhelmed. One drawer done. 
• Paint or mod-podge plant pots. For mod-podge try pretty napkins.
• Walk / hike. What about walking your neighbourhood after supper.  If you have a front porch sit out there in the evenings and watch the world or at least your neighbours go by.
• Try something new. Check out classes or YouTube. What about line drawing? Tai Chi? Up to you.
• Try a new cocktail or beer or wine or cooler. Maybe write down, snap pic of them and note why you like or not for recommendations.
• Try a new restaurants.
• Send postcards from your city to away friends
• If relaxing catch up on your reading list. Make a plan with a friend that you are reading X many books this summer.    

If you have other ideas we'd love to hear them.  Happy summer / season.     

Summer to do list

 Summer to do list!

Better late then never!  Please add yours in the comments! Of course we will be adding more if anything comes up and catches our eyes!

• Week at the cottage
• Days at the beach
• Cocktails and Coolers (try new ones out for the summer)
• Drinks on a patio
• Camping
• Try a few new summer recipes - likely dips
• Pick out paint colour for bathroom (won't be painting until fall and cooler but would like the colour chosen so ready to go!)
• Summer reads - recommendations welcome
• Audiobooks (started a new series and soooo enjoying)
• Picnics
• Check out festivals
• Day drives down the coast

What has been happening!

 We are almost through the first half of the year and this is our first post!  No excuses just life got away from us. Other priorities and blogging fell down the list further and further. Then after a while we got so wrap up in other parts of our lives Coffee Cluster seemed so far down the list.

We could.... We should... We will....  We didn't.  We recently checked the blog and realized no posts since December 2022.  Yeah, we totally fell off the wagon. It wasn't like we did epic blog post to begin with. It was coffee cluster with friends showing up to share what was going on. 

The one thing we agreed on was no guilt. We are not beating ourselves up over not blogging. For not making this a priority. If just wasn't for any of us. Life happens and we live it. We don't need one more item to beat ourselves up with. Blogging is for fun, so no way are we taking on guilt over not blogging.

So fast summary to say we are okay. We managed to get through winter in one piece. Looking forward to summer.  

The time between the holidays

 Happy holidays.  It is the time between Christmas and New Year. Where some of us are breathing again and some of us are re-ramping up.  New Year's parties anyone?

Family gatherings. Packing and leaving the house or making space for incoming.  Trying not to stress over sleeping arrangements, flights arriving/leaving on time, enough food, family dynamics (who to sit next to who) and spending too much. Most of all expectations that might be met or not met. We put so much on ourselves over making the perfect holiday. It is even possible?

We had a talk before the holidays about expectations and lowering them. We can't make it perfect for everyone as we don't know what people expect or even how they will react. Some people love drama. Others detest. So we tried (emphasis that word) to not expect things to be perfect. We did our best and worked at letting it go. 

Okay place not as clean as I would want. Didn't get all my cards sent out. Can't control flights so not taking that on or apologizing like my fault. Saying yes if people offer to clean up or bring something. Leaving dishes in sink to talk to people now. Lowering what I expect - like behavior I have no control over especially adults. Big thing don't apologize for other adults' behaviour. That is on them not us. Learn to walk away if starting to feel stressed. That is what bathrooms and bedroom are for.

To start the year with lessons learned. Lower expectations for holidays and people. Enjoy them where they are coming from. Don't expect to fix them or fix everything around you. Learn to let stuff go. Don't take stuff on that doesn't concern us. Put ourselves higher on the priority list. This is what we want to head into the new year with. Lessons learned and put in place.

Word of the year

 We are taking the challenge and have started thinking about a word for the year.  you can always start now has a post on finding your word for the year.  Summary think about how you want to feel and what you want / need to do in the coming year.  Read the full post it is worth it.

There is no right or wrong word. It is your word. You can always start now says it keeps her focused and pushes and challenges her. We are so in for that! 

So we're over here thinking of feelings, projects and needs.  If you have a word for the year let us know! We'll keep you posted in the new year what our words are and why.  It is bring focus hello!!!!

The Holidays are here - how did that happen!

 Hello, it has been over a month since our last post.  Life has been happening and now a few of us are on panic mode.  A few not. The holidays shouldn't be stressful. What expectations have we put on ourselves and others? What can we change? Conversations to be had. We don't have to do it all and it shouldn't be expected that we do.

Put the brakes on expectations yours and others. People do not need expensive gifts. They need your time and attention. Give people experiences.  A walk, make soup together, a craft together, go out to supper and that is everyone present. Being together with no shopping or expectations just together.

It might be too late to start changing things up now - or maybe not. But it is time to start the conversation of what we can do different next year.  Have a family / friend conversation of making Christmas and/or holiday less commercial and more time and attention.

Happy Holidays