Author: Maria

👩🏻‍💼Higher Education Professional ☕️ Coffee Connoisseur 🗺 Traveler

Maria Does Coffee: Why is Grind Size So Important?

So does the infamous question “does size really matter” apply to coffee grounds? Oh yeah, it does!

Brewing next level coffee at home requires patience and dedication. But many don’t have the time nor the patience for coffee brewing. One way to help increase the taste and flavor of coffee without adding too much extra work is considering your grind size.

Each coffee brewing method requires a specific grind size for optimal flavor. This allows the coffee and water and brewing method to work in unison to create the best cup of coffee possible.

Luckily, most ground coffee you get in the store is more likely to be a medium ground, which is perfect for your automatic coffee maker at home! If you’re looking to up your automatic brewing game, try grinding your coffee at home!

If you are interested in brewing with other brewing methods, grinding your coffee is easier than locating specific grind sizes of coffee beans to brew with. Like I stated before, most bag coffee in grocery stores is a medium grind, which isn’t optimal for other brewing methods. This makes finding the specific grind size you need harder. If you were to buy whole beans and grind the coffee yourself, you could use your favorite beans in any brewing method you choose!

Here are the steps you need to take to level up your coffee brewing by choosing the right grind size.

Step One: choose your coffee brewing method. Grab yourself a $10 French press or dust off the percolator your grandmother passed down to you!

Step Two: research what grind size is needed for optimal brewing. For cold brew and French press, you’ll need a coarser grind size. For espresso and aero press, you’ll need a finer grind size.

Step Three: look into buying a coffee grinder. You don’t need an expensive grinder to get started. I began brewing coffee with a $15 coffee/spice grinder. Even though I recommend grinding your coffee, if your grind size is supposed to be a medium grind, you’re in luck that you can grab some grounds from the grocery store no problem!

Step Four: choose your favorite coffee beans – make sure to grab them whole if you’re grinding them yourself.

Step Five: figure out the grind setting on your grinder and grind that coffee! I always recommend grinding it right before you brew it to have the freshest coffee, but you definitely can grind ahead of time if you need to!

Step Six: brew your coffee with your newly ground coffee and enjoy!

& it’s that easy to have a better cup of coffee! Brewing extra delicious coffee doesn’t need to happen overnight, nor does it require fancy equipment. Do what you can, where you can, however you can. Small steps collected over time lead to stellar coffee!

If you have any questions about grind size, drop them in the comments! & if you like this guide, keep an eye out for more in the future!

Happy Brewing!

Virtually Traveling

Anyone else craving adventure and ready to travel?

I have been stuck within my state borders because of the pandemic, so naturally, I am itching to travel.

There has been one thing keeping my wanderlust at bay, virtual traveling! I know it doesn’t sound as exciting as packing a bag and getting out there, but I have been loving seeing new places worldwide. I have found places I never knew I wanted to travel to!

Here are my favorite ways to travel virtually right now!

Ariel America

It began with my dad turning this on during slow Sunday mornings and has turned into me finding episodes on YouTube with states I am eager to learn about. Ariel America is the perfect blend of telling their audience about the state’s nature, history, culture, landmarks, etc.! If you are interested in learning about the United States of America, check out Ariel America!

Rick Steves‘ Europe

Rick Steves’ Europe shows are fantastic! He is just a regular guy touring beautiful places all over Europe. He takes you along on realistic trips all over Europe. Some of my favorites have been the Greek Isles, Palermo, Sicily, and Southeast England. I find his show on YouTube! If you’re craving some European adventure, check out Rick Steves!

Down to Earth with Zac Efron

This show was unexpectedly great. It was incredibly informative and showed places I have had my eye on traveling to for awhile. I found it neat that the show focuses on finding healthy and more sustainable ways of living. If you’re looking for a unique way to virtually travel, check out Down to Earth!

Happy Traveling!

Stepping Into 2021

I think I am among the majority who think it’s not a good idea to create resolutions or extensive goals for 2021.
2020 has been very difficult in many ways. I have accomplished almost none of my goals I planned this time last year. In 2020 I focused on surviving and taking care of myself. And that is enough.
I am a planner, though, and see the mark of a new year as an opportunity to evaluate where I am in life and where I would like to be in the future.

I am proud that I survived in 2020 and that I have the chance to create a better 2021. 2020 put much into perspective for me and made me question everything. My new perspective gave me a new way of approaching setting goals for 2021 and the future. It’s hard for anyone to set goals and reach them in uncertain times.
One of my favorite podcasts, “Happier,” talks about their lists of goals “20 for 20” and “21 for 21”. They also always talk about a word of the year. The podcast has inspired my goals in the past and has inspired me this year as well.

I decided to choose a word for 2021. This word is something I will use as an intention. Something that will help me through whatever 2021 brings. It will help guide my actions, goals, and the way I carry myself. I found picking a word to focus on gives me a sense of being intentional with my actions without setting structured goals.
The word I chose for myself is Balance. I wish to create balance in my life during 2021. I want to apply my word to my personal life, work-life, health, etc. I want to find balance in every corner of my life, whatever that means. I want to make decisions each day that create balance. 2020 provides a lot of imbalance, and choosing this word makes me feel like I will actively choose balance in each step I take in 2021.

I have chosen to create a few things to help inspire my desire for balance and help me use my word daily. I have created a vision board to help inspire me daily to strive for balance in my life. I also got myself a Lokai bracelet in the Pantone colors of the year. Lokai bracelets have water from Mt Everest, the highest point on earth, and mud from the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth. They are created to help one find the balance of highs and lows in life. Pantone’s colors this year are PANTONE 17-5104 Ultimate Gray + PANTONE 13-0647 Illuminating. These colors, yellow and gray, are to show how elements come together to support each other. These colors represent warmth, optimism, strength, and positivity.
I hope that wearing the Lokai bracelet and seeing my vision board daily inspire me to create balance in my life.

I am striving to be optimistic about 2021 while still understanding that there are hardships ahead of us. I am eager to use my word to create more happiness and wholeness in my life during these strange times. I hope this encourages you to use something, whether it’s a word or a song or a book, to guide you through this upcoming year. We should be intentional with our actions and strive to be kind and caring towards others in the new year.

Cheers to a new year!

2020 Christmas Gift Guide

Christmas is easily my favorite holiday. Every year, I spend hours and hours researching the perfect gifts for each person in my life. This year, I wanted to share some of my favorite ideas from years past and news ideas! These ideas for those in your life you may be struggling to find the perfect gift for.

* I do include links to products; some are affiliated with my account with the company because they are products I genuinely love. They are not sponsored links. *

For the Work Secret Santa

Since WFH is the primary way people are working right now, you may not be doing a regular work Secret Santa. My office is doing a socially distant zoom Secret Santa this year. We are dropping our gifts in the office the week before and having a date to pick them up by. Then, we have a zoom meeting scheduled where we will all open our presents.
Even in these WFH times, I would recommend a fun desk calendar! You can put them anywhere, your desk at work, desk at home, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, etc.!
They have some neat desk calendars with fun facts or quotes. You can find just about any theme of calendar for anyone’s interests. I found these cool The Office and Friend themed ones on amazon!



https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08GV2VKQX/ref=sspa_dk_detail_1?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B08GV2VKQX&pd_rd_w=kb2Vg&pf_rd_p=7d37a48b-2b1a-4373-8c1a-bdcc5da66be9&pd_rd_wg=AdIp4&pf_rd_r=KKFHHV9TWB0WN56C0AZN&pd_rd_r=4ca2cfa6-8019-4302-8712-11007a916b4d&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFGM0NLUjRNREwwQk8mZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA2MDEwNTUzVlVJVVRYUEdVTThNJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA5MjA1MTJBQTRPQ1pTVVQzWUcmd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWwmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl

https://www.amazon.com/Friends-2021-Calendar-Bundle-Day-at/dp/B08DH9F7LR/ref=zg_bs_1069470_3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=ATBR09X89FNGRTG8YVQQ

For the Family Grab Bag Gift
Looking for something inexpensive yet useful for the family grab bag? Check out this Wallet Ninja. It is a credit-card size multitool that can be stored in your wallet or car for any tool emergencies!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JJVBGU4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabt1_cTAVFbFVGBGB2

For the Dog in Your Life
If you have a pet in your life, most likely you have heard of chewy! They have great deals going on for the holidays and carry my favorite brand of dog toys. Our dog tends to chew toys up and beat them up, so we always get him more durable toys. I love the brand CHUCKIT! and their flying squirrel is one of his favorite toys ever! He hasn’t destroyed it, and it has stood the test of time!
https://www.chewy.com/chuckit-indoor-flying-squirrel-dog/dp/49696

For the Coffee Lover
As a coffee lover myself, I always love getting a new brewing method for the holidays! Having a way to brew great coffee at home is such a delightful gift.
French Presses are an easy and quick way to brew coffee at home. I love the brand Bodum, but you can get a French Press at Target, Home Goods, etc.
Here is a link to a cool Bodum French Press: https://www.bodum.com/us/en/coffee/coffee-makers?___store=us_en&price=9-27

Since Cold Brew is becoming more popular, I highly recommend this Cold Brew brewer. I have one, and I love it. It’s durable, easy to clean, and makes a few cups! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0776ZSV8P?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

A great addition to a brewing method would be delicious beans! I love grabbing some local beans, or you could add a coffee subscription from Atlas Coffee Club. I love this subscription and highly recommend it! If you are getting ground beans, make sure to get them coarse for the French Press and Cold Brew!
Here is a link to Atlas Coffee Club: https://atlas.coffee/SHARE-HT8B9

For the Sustainable Friend
Grove collaborative is a cool website with tons of items for those in your life who are focused on using sustainable products.
I would recommend a tool or item that isn’t a cleaner or other product with a scent. Wool Dryer Balls, Soap Dispenser and Brush, or even a nice Glass Bottle. Here are some links to items I like on the Grove Collaborative website.

https://www.grove.co/catalog/product/wool-dryer-balls-3-pack/?v=1624&attrsrc=22&attrpg=catalog&attrpos=13

https://www.grove.co/catalog/product/bubble-dish-brush-set/?v=1271&attrsrc=22&attrpg=catalog&attrpos=0

https://www.grove.co/catalog/product/silicone-spray-bottle-set-3/?v=1667&attrsrc=22&attrpg=catalog&attrpos=3

For the Social Justice Friend
Have that friend or family member who is passionate about socially just products?
Ten Thousand Villages is a great place to pick up some fair trade gifts at a reasonable price. They have a little bit of everything from jewelry to baskets to kitchen items. Check them out here: https://www.tenthousandvillages.com/

If you have someone in your life that is passionate about social justice issues, there are a few books that could be informational yet appreciated! I recommend finding a book that applies to their profession or personal life!

Check Out:

How To Be An Anti-Racist: https://www.amazon.com/How-Be-Antiracist-Ibram-Kendi/dp/0525509283/ref=sr_1_3?crid=210L2EU5DGOYL&dchild=1&keywords=how+to+be+an+antiracist&qid=1605482468&sprefix=how+to+be+a%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-3

Color of Law: https://www.amazon.com/Color-Law-Forgotten-Government-Segregated/dp/1631494538/ref=sr_1_1?crid=LP0P90G7WC3Q&dchild=1&keywords=the+color+of+law&qid=1605482504&sprefix=the+color+of+law%2Caps%2C215&sr=8-1

Superior: The Return of Race Science: https://www.amazon.com/Superior-Return-Science-Angela-Saini/dp/0807028428/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=superior&qid=1605482522&sr=8-1

For the Family Member Who Loves To Cook
I absolutely love Pampered Chef products! They have some inexpensive yet unique kitchen products to level up anyone’s kitchen.
I personally recommend these flexible cutting mats, this coated utility knife, and this excellent brownie pan.

https://www.pamperedchef.com/shop/Featured+Collections/Everything+You+Never+Knew+You+Needed/Flexible+Cutting+Mat+Set/1519

https://www.pamperedchef.com/shop/Kitchen+Tools/Cutlery/Coated+Utility+Knife/1508

https://www.pamperedchef.com/shop/%2425_00+%26+Under/%2425_00+%26+Under+Our+Top+Picks/Brownie+Pan/1544

For the Friend Who is into Essential Oils and Crystals
Any of your friends interested in essential oils would definitely love a new oil for Christmas! I highly recommend figuring out their favorite brand and grabbing them an oil from their brand. If you don’t know their favorite brand, I recommend buying an essential oil from Young Living or DoTerra since they are known for having excellent quality oils.
Many times, companies have fun blends like Christmas Spirit that would make a great gift.
Check out Young Living Here: https://yl.pe/mariatemples

Any friends who love crystals and gemstones will most likely care about where their crystals are coming from. There are plenty of places to get crystals and gemstones, but they aren’t always ethically sourced. I have heard fantastic things about https://mymetaphysicalmaven.com/ and how their items are ethically sourced. Wearable crystals and gemstones are a good idea instead of giving just a rock!

For the Book Worm
There is a graphics novel series that just about any book worm would fancy, even if they are not generally into graphics novels. The series is called papers girls. The graphics are stunning, and the story is exhilarating. There are 6 books in the series, and they are quick reads.
Here is a link to the first book in the series: https://www.amazon.com/Paper-Girls-1-Brian-Vaughan/dp/1632156741

For the Minimalist
Don’t we all have someone in our lives who just doesn’t want stuff? I have found experiences are the best gift option for people who don’t want actual things. https://www.groupon.com/ is a great place to find inexpensive, local experiences. I have found neat wine tastings, cider tastings, and even museum experiences on Groupon.

For the Lover of Cozy Things
WEIGHTED BLANKET! Everyone raves about weighted blankets and all of their benefits. If you have someone who loves cozy things, get them a weighted blanket this year!
If they already have a weighted blanket, grab them an Icelandic wool blanket. Iceland is known for its cozy and warm wool blankets! You can find some good Icelandic wool blankets Here: https://www.icewear.is/us/wool-blankets?gclid=CjwKCAiAnvj9BRA4EiwAuUMDf-T3onWrh_9t2YsaSMQEfXTTFaLSNOOeISAITb06D4dvR5K4mppkzBoCrTkQAvD_BwE

For the Traveler
The traveler in your life will be looking for help financially with traveling or adventure gear.
If you aren’t able to grab them a travel-themed gift card, I recommend adding to their adventure gear collection.
Passport covers, adventure clothing, and other fun travel accessories would be good gift options.
I highly recommend checking out the company Serengetee. They have really great clothing for traveling, and they have cool adventure accessories. I really love this passport cover they have!
https://www.serengetee.com/collections/passport-holders/products/let-go-passport-holder

For the Family Member Who Loves Christmas
Since I am that family member, I can definitely give some good advice on this gift! Christmas lovers appreciate a special version of their favorite Christmas item. My favorite is collecting unique and meaningful ornaments. I know people who love nutcrackers, snowmen, and more! Find what Christmas item they love and get them a meaningful version of it!

Happy Shopping!

Christmas Gifts for the 5 Love Languages

Using the 5 Love Languages to guide your Christmas shopping is a powerful way to show people you love them. I have created a guide to learn more about the 5 Love Languages and gift ideas for each of the 5 Love Languages.

If you are not familiar with the 5 Love Languages, they are 5 categories in which people feel and give love. The 5 Love Languages is not just for couples learning how to better love each other; it’s for yourself, your kids, etc. The 5 categories are Quality Time, Acts of Service, Physical Touch, Words of Affirmation, and Receiving Gifts. These categories aren’t black and white. For example, Receiving Gifts does not necessarily mean you can bring your loved one a gift, and they would be happy. People who score high in the Receiving Gift category enjoy receiving thoughtful gifts. They feel appreciated and love when you pick up their favorite candy bar when you stop grabbing some gas. Each category is the same; they aren’t cut and dry. If you would like more information about the 5 love languages, there is a quiz, book, and other resources. You can find those resources here: https://www.5lovelanguages.com/quizzes/

5 Love Languages Gift Guide

Quality Time

People who score high in the Quality Time category just simply want to spend time with you! They want your attention on them, doing something you both love. 
If you share a passion for wine, grab a wine tasting that the two of you could do. 
Experiences are key when it comes to giving gifts to someone in this category. Find a museum you can go to together, find a cool local event to take them to, find something they love, and go with them to the event. 
If you both love staying in, grab take out from your favorite restaurant and plan a night in. Chat over dinner, watch their favorite movie together, play their favorite board game. 
The key in all of these recommendations is your attention. Make the night you spend with them unplugged. 
Show them you are present and in the moment with them.

Acts of Service

People who fall into the category of Acts of Service would like tasks done. This is a very action-oriented way of giving gifts. They feel most love when their loved one does a chore around the house that they usually wouldn’t or stops at the grocery store, so their partner doesn’t have to. 
Great gifts ideas for people in this category aren’t physical gifts. This doesn’t mean you can get away with not getting them a physicals gift, but there are ways for the holidays you can make their holidays the best. 
Great ideas would be making them breakfast and coffee on Christmas morning. Bring it to them in bed! It will set an excellent mood for the rest of the day. Offer to cook or clean for big holiday meals; pick whichever task your partner likes doing least. 
Great actual gifts you can give are gifts of tasks being completed. So if your partner hates cutting the lawn, give them the gift of a lawn service coming to do it. If they are busy and don’t have a ton of time to clean their house, give them the gift of a cleaning service. If you are looking to save a few bucks, make coupons with tasks you are willing to do for them that can be started immediately. Let them know that they can use their coupon at any time, for any reason. If they don’t use their coupons – help them use them. If they have a long day and typically are the ones to do the dishes, suggest before dinner that tonight would be a good night to use their dishwashing coupon. 
The key with this gift is to do tasks for them, especially ones they do not like to do. 

Physical Touch

People who score high in the Physical Touch category don’t just want to be hugged all the time! There are some great physical and platonic gifts that can be given to this category. 
If you are in a platonic relationship with someone in this category, think of the sense of touch when shopping for a gift. You can get them blankets, slippers, massage certificates, and anything cozy to the touch! 
If you are in a romantic relationship, cozy things and massage certificates are great but, consider planning an evening to give them a back of foot massage. Give them some extra cuddle time on Christmas morning before getting out of bed! 
The important thing to realize with Physical Touch is to give them something that appeals to their sense of touch! 

Words of Affirmation

People who score high in the Words of Affirmation category enjoy hearing and reading loving words from you. For a gift, creating some type of written word to physically give them would be perfect. Write them a love letter! Send your best friend a letter or postcard with loving words. Grab a Fill in the Love Book, which is a fill in the blank journal, and you can get one for each Words of Affirmation person in your life. You can create a book for a graphic novel digitally or physically with important and loving words. There are books to help you write letters for a letter time capsule. You can create a box of “read when ___” letters for happy, sad, or random moments they might go through. Having your words written somewhere that they can return to is key for this gift. Also, make sure you tell them how wonderful you think they are – in your own way during the holidays. Filling them up with loving words will make their confidence soar during this holiday season. 

Receiving Gifts

As I mentioned in the intro, people who score high in receiving gifts do not just want random gifts; they want meaningful gifts. These people want meaningful, physical gifts.
Focus on finding gifts that are meaningful and tailored to the person you are buying for. Grab them their favorite flower, make them a collage of their favorite photos, buy them their favorite coffee from their favorite coffee shop. Gifts do not have to be expensive, it just needs to be meaningful to them. 
The key thing is to find gifts that are their favorite physical things!

Happy Shopping!

7 Cozy Fall Coffee Shop Drinks

I have been trying a bunch of different fall drinks this fall season! I have rounded up my top 7 fall drinks for you to try at your local or favorite chain coffee shop!
These drinks range from more classic pumpkin spice flavored drinks to apple flavors to spice flavors!

#1 Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew

I typically grab this drink at Starbucks but I know some other coffee shops have tried to create a similar drink. I highly recommend trying this drink at Starbucks!
It tastes like pumpkin pie in a cup! It is cold, creamy, and sweet. If you are looking for a new spin on pumpkin drinks, definitely try this one!

#2 Harvest Spice Latte

This was such a fun and unique fall drink! I got this drink from Scout’s Café in High Bridge, NJ. This drink was light, creamy, sweet, and a hint of spice. They use an excellent espresso for their espresso-based drinks, which made this drink even more stunning—a perfect option for those looking for a fall drink that doesn’t contain pumpkin, haha.

#3 Candy Apple Chai

I got this drink at a cute little coffee shop in Dunmore, PA called Henry’s on Clay. Dang, this was a delicious drink. This drink was sweet and spicy at the same time. It tasted almost exactly like a candy apple. If you’re an apple fan over pumpkin, you need to try this drink asap!

The drink below isn’t the Candy Apple Chai!
(I couldn’t find a picture of it. But here is another one of their gorgeous drinks!)

#4 Apple Cider Steamer

Holy Moly, this drink was stunning. It tasted like a caramel apple. I got this drink at Electric City Roasting Co. in Peckville, PA.
If you are looking for a caffeine-free fall drink, THIS IS IT! This drink wowed me, and it was perfect before a full day of fall activities!

#5 Pumpkin Matcha

We can’t forget about matcha in the fall! I recommend adding a few pumps of pumpkin spice flavoring to your matcha drink. I tried this at Starbucks and was pleasantly surprised. I gravitate towards this drink on chilly mornings when I don’t want a ton of caffeine and when I want a more subtle drink.

#6 Pumpkin Spice Chai

This has been a go-to at my local coffee shop, Kay’s Daily Grind in Daleville, PA. I love the spicy flavors of chai during the fall. Adding pumpkin to chai brings it to another level. I like this drink as a cozy, everyday drink. If you are looking for a fall-themed drink with less caffeine, try this!

#7 Pumpkin Spice Latte

Classic. I’ve gotten a few PSL from my local coffee shop, Kay’s Daily Grind, in Daleville, PA. For a new spin on this classic, try a PSL at a local coffee shop instead of a chain coffee shop. Each local coffee shop has their own spin on PSL, and it will give you some variety.

3 Fun Facts About Iceland

The Book Flood
I learned about this tradition one year when I was researching Icelandic Christmas traditions. Books and reading are a large part of the Icelandic culture. Leading up to Christmas many books are published and books sales increase drastically. Every Christmas Eve, Icelanders must receive a new books and chocolates to take to bed with them. After, it is common for Icelanders to discuss and critique the books they read over the holidays.
Check out this comprehensive article to learn more about this tradition: https://www.npr.org/2012/12/25/167537939/literary-iceland-revels-in-its-annual-christmas-book-flood#:~:text=But%20in%20Iceland%2C%20the%20best,published%20for%20every%201%2C000%20Icelanders.&text=It’s%20a%20national%20tradition%2C%20and,the%20%22Christmas%20Book%20Flood.%22

Icelandic Horses
Icelandic Horses are like no other horse on the planet. They have luscious manes and are quite majestic. Before 1000 AD, Iceland put into law that no other horses can be brought to Iceland and once a horse leaves, it cannot return to Iceland. Because of that, they are one of the purest horse breeds in the world. These horses are coveted and well taken care of. Their average life span is 40 years. They are truly stunning to see in person and the photos you see do not do them justices.
You can take a look at some I saw when I was in Iceland here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CDaD-G_n_Kn/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Icelandic Hot Dogs
Believe it or not, Icelanders love hot dogs. Hot dogs are wildly popular and a must have when you visit. They are made a bit different than American hot dogs. Lamb, pork, and beef are used to make Icelandic hot dogs instead of the pork and beef we are used to. In Iceland, it is common to add lots of toppings! When I was in Iceland I ordered one with everything on it and it was delicious!
If you want to learn more about Iceland hots dogs check out this article: https://www.cntraveler.com/stories/2014-08-21/the-one-dish-to-eat-in-iceland

I fell in love with a coffee shop in Selfoss, Iceland.

In the South of Iceland, on route 1, is a little town called Selfoss. We stayed at an Airbnb a few miles from Selfoss. Selfoss quickly grasped my heart. This town had everything we could have asked for; grocery stores, nature, gas stations, shops, and a coffee shop.

Bokakaffid is a book store and coffee shop rolled into one. There are little tables tucked in every corner of this quaint book store. They shelves are lined with Icelandic and English books of all sorts.

It was a dream sitting in this coffee shop/ book store relaxing on the days we weren’t driving all over. I ordered my favorite espresso drink, a cappuccino, and paroozed the bookshelves. I also was able to grab Kleinur, which is an Icelandic donut. I quickly fell in love with this coffee shop.

There were many coffee shops in Iceland that had great coffee and that I enjoyed their atmosphere, but Bokakaffid really topped them all.

I cannot wait to return to Selfoss one day and spend an afternoon drinking coffee and relaxing there.

You can learn more about Selfoss here: https://www.south.is/en/inspiration/towns/selfoss

You can learn more about Bokakaffid here: https://bokakaffid.business.site/

You can learn more about Kleinur here: https://www.biteoficeland.com/kleinur-icelandic-doughnuts/

5 Places You Should Visit In Iceland

Since it is the anniversary of my trip to Iceland, I felt inspired to highlight some of my favorite places I visited on my trip. I would highly recommend all of these places if you plan a trip to Iceland. I fell in love with each of these places for different reasons. Here are the 5 places you should add to your itinerary.

Diamond Beach and Glacier Lagoon It was a dream of mine to see icebergs in real life. Not only did this experience meet my expectations, but it also exceeded them. We did the boat tour in glacier lagoon, and it was definitely a once in a lifetime experience. Seeing the icebergs up close and learning about them was a surreal experience. The tour guide had a huge chunk of an iceberg on the boat and gave pieces to all of us to see how clear the ice is. You could even lick it to taste some of the freshest water on the planet.
Right next to the lagoon is diamond beach. Small ice chunks float and rest on the beach there. You can walk along the soft black sand beach and see the ice sparkling like diamonds on the shore. I highly recommend adding this to your itinerary. Make sure you give yourself enough time for the tour and walking on the beach. You will not regret it.

Blue Lagoon
I know many would deem this location as too touristy, but I would beg to differ. The Blue Lagoon is a stunning example of Iceland’s geothermal power. Additionally, the healing benefits of its water are incredibly unique. See more about that here: https://www.bluelagoon.com/about/water.

I went in the later evening during the summer, so the sun was still shining the entire time. It also was not crowded. I loved face mask options and swim-up drink bar. The few hours we were there were rejuvenating. Our trip was jam-packed, and this gave us some much-needed relaxation time. Overall, I definitely recommend the blue lagoon. If you are worried about crowds, go during a time of day that isn’t as popular as in the later evening like I did.

Reykjavík The capital city of Iceland was one of my favorite places to explore. The city is smaller and walk-able. We spent a day walking around and was able to see all the main tourist sites while visiting little shops, and eating is cute restaurants. I really recommend spending a day here without an itinerary. It was a blessing being able to just go where the wind took me. If you do want to plan some activities, they have some local walking tours available that might be an excellent way to see the city!

Snæfellsnes Peninsula
This area of Iceland is out of this world. This peninsula is where I saw a seal in its natural habitat, rock arches created by the sea, and a stunning pointy mountain called Kirkjufell. Exploring this area of Iceland is definitely a must if you have time. Arnarstapi, the little village where the rock arches were, captured my heart. It has a quiet beauty unparalleled to many places on earth. This peninsula really feels untouched and raw. Really, the best way to explain this area of Iceland is out of this world.

Westman Islands
Last but certainly not least the Westman Islands. Also known as Heimaey, the Westman Islands are definitely a hidden gem of Iceland. We traveled to the main island called Heimaey by ferry from the mainland of Iceland. We spent the day exploring this little island. We grabbed breakfast and coffee at a cute little cafe, hiked an extinct volcano, walked around the small town, and visited little shops. This quaint town is influenced by the history of the Eldfell volcano eruption in the 1970s. It erupted for months. The hardened lava from the eruption created a barrier on the one side of town. On this island, you can see puffins and explore stunning nature. My day here was one of my most relaxing and coveted days of the trip.

Hiraeth

Maybe it’s the fact that this week marks 3 years since my trip to Iceland. Maybe Taylor Swift’s new Folklore album has me in my feels. This week I have felt Hiraeth intensely.

I have always felt a longing to travel. A longing to go to certain places. A longing to return to a place after a vacation to somewhere I can’t seem to get out of my head.

I felt this longing before I even traveled to Iceland. I felt connected to a county I had never been to. I have felt it every day since—a longing to return to a place that feels out of this world to my heart and soul.
I tried to put this feeling into words many times and could never say it just right.

I came across the word Hiraeth, and it seems to fit this feeling pretty well. I connected with this section of the definition “It’s an unattainable longing for a place, a person, a figure, even a national history that may never have actually existed. To feel hiraeth is to feel a deep incompleteness and recognize it as familiar.”
I found this definition on this website that describes the word in-depth: https://peterwarski.com/longing-for-a-home-ive-never-been-to-9ce208aa384c
Also, the way you pronounce it is “here-eyeth”.

Hiraeth more accurately describes what many call post-vacation blues for me. Many times it isn’t just sadness of leaving a beautiful place. I connect to certain places and yearn to return and experience them again.

Traveling is stunning, exciting, and fun, but not many people talk about how you feel after you return from a trip. The longing to return to the place that captured your heart. In this time of not traveling as much as you typically would, please take care of yourself if you are experiencing hiraeth. You will travel soon again and see all of the places you long for.