Maria

Top 3 Favorite Holiday Coffee Drinks

I have spent this holiday season trying new coffees! Here are my top 3 that I recommend trying before the holidays are over.

1. Irish Cream Cold Brew at Starbucks

The Irish Cream Cold Brew is a stunning take on a cold brew drink. It’s everything cozy about winter and the holidays in a cup of cold brew. I love the smoothness of cold brew so the creamy taste of the Irish Cream and the sweet cold foam really makes this drink stand out. If you’re looking for a cold holiday drink or just something not traditional, I really recommend this drink at Starbucks!

If you want to make this drink at home I found a good looking recipe here: https://bakedbree.com/copycat-irish-cream-cold-brew

2. Eggnog Latte at Frisky Goat Coffee House

This drink took me by surprise. I enjoy going to Starbucks now and then but didn’t realize they had this. I tried it at this cool local coffee shop called the Frisky Goat Coffee House in Milford, Pennsylvania. I have never loved eggnog but with the holidays underway and the new year coming up thought that it would be a neat thing to try. I was blown away by this drink! The eggnog flavor was subtle and paired very well with the espresso. I must also compliment the craftsmanship of the barista for this latte too. It was extremely well made with the perfect amount if foam for a latte.

If you are no where near the Frisky Goat Coffee House, Starbucks also has this drink. I have never tried the Starbucks version though. So until I do, it doesn’t have my stamp of approval.

If you want to make this at home, here is a recipe that looks yummy: https://www.asweetpeachef.com/eggnog-latte/

3. Peppermint Mocha Latte at Kay’s Daily Grind

The classic peppermint mocha. This is my go to holiday drink at Kay’s Daily Grind in Daleville, Pennsylvania and Starbucks. I love peppermint, chocolate, and coffee so this really is a solid go to for me. I think is captures fresh, warm, and cozy in a cup. I love the local coffee shop Kay’s Daily Grind and that is typically where I get this drink. My recommendation is to get it with have the flavoring and sweetener wherever you get it. I don’t love super sweet drinks and think it can be too powerful with full flavor. I think this drink when half sweetened is delicious yet subtle.

If you want to be cozy at home and enjoy this drink, here is a recipe: https://lifemadesweeter.com/peppermint-mocha-latte/

Even though these are my favorites this season, there a so many good coffee options out right now. I have yet to try something that tastes like gingerbread this season but I’m hoping I will soon!

Comment your favorite holiday coffee drink below! 🎄☕️

Maria Obsesses Over Black Friday

I am currently obsessing over Black Friday deals for 2019!!

I am all about saving some $$$ while Christmas shopping. Last year I got some awesome deals online for Black Friday and I became determined this year to make sure I find all of the deals.

I’m going to review how I found out about many of these deals and some of my favs from these lists!!

My current Black Friday obsession has been fueled by this awesome app called Krazy Coupon Lady. The app has a comprehensive overview of all the Black Friday deals and a calendar with dates on when each stores Black Friday ads are most likely to be released. I am signed up to receive their emails and can tailor notifications in the app for what you care about.

Here is the calendar for the Black Friday ad release dates!! https://thekrazycouponlady.com/tips/money/how-to-shop-black-friday-cheat-sheet

Target and Old Navy are currently have my fav deals. I am (not patiently) waiting for Amazon’s deals to drop on the predicted date of November 22nd.

My favorite upcoming deals from Target are….

Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 Camera for $49.99
7th Generation 10.2 inch IPad for $249.99 ( this is $80 off original price!)
Threshold Sherpa or Chenille throw blankets for $10

My favorite upcoming deals from Old Navy are….

$1 cozy socks!!

I will continue to update this as we get closer to Black Friday!

Happy Shopping!!

How To Find A Good Local Coffee Shop While Traveling

Ever wonder, “how the heck do I find a local coffee shop while traveling?” Have you looked for coffee that isn’t Starbucks or Dunkin while you are out and about?

This guide will help you choose a local and unique coffee shop that will fit your coffee needs!

1. Ask yourself, ” what type of coffee drink am I looking for?”

Are you looking for just a stunning cup of regular drip coffee? Are you looking for a specialty drink like a latte, cappuccino, or even matcha? Deciding if you want food during your coffee run is important too. Knowing what you want will help you sort through your options when you start searching.

2. What you are going to be looking for when you search:

When I look for a local coffee shop, I tend to gravitate towards shops that roast their coffee. The coffee shop’s name typically says “roasting” in it if they roast their coffee. This is just a preference of mine because I like trying micro-roasters. Most local coffee shops use unique coffee beans from smaller roasters that will still taste great.
Usually, when you search for a coffee shop online, there are photos, reviews, menus, websites, etc. I typically look at the pictures of the shop and the menu. I see if the shop has the kind of coffee I want and if they sell food. I like coffee shops that sell some pastries and breakfast sandwiches at most. I try to avoid shops that look like they serve full breakfast or even lunch because they probably don’t have local coffee or unique coffee. I also check the photos to see what the vibe is inside of the coffee shop. Is there a place for me to work if I plan on staying for a while? Does it look like they have a good espresso machine if I’m looking for a latte or cappuccino? I also see if they have single-origin coffee options and pour-over coffee. These are forms of drip coffees that are specialized and something I love.

3. Search “coffee” in google maps or your maps app.

This task may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s what I do. I choose a coffee shop near where I am, on the way to my next destination, or near the location I am heading. It all depends on how soon I want my coffee and how much time I have. The shorter amount of time I have to get to my next destination is to find a coffee shop close to that destination. Once I search for the coffee shops, I use the above criteria to make my decision. Also, make sure to look at the parking situation at the coffee shop if it looks like metered parking and be prepared to need quarters if you can’t pay with an app or a card.

4. Head to your coffee shop and enjoy!

Feel free to switch up the order you thought you wanted when you get there. I tend to get to a new coffee shop and find something unique and go with that drink instead. Go out of your comfort zone with your drink and pastry order….you maybe be happy you did!

Warning!

There may not be a local coffee shop in the area you are traveling in. I have had that happen many times. The only options you may have are Starbucks or Dunkin. I try to look up coffee shops ahead of time enough to see if that is the case. If it is, pick your favorite coffee shop chain and enjoy it! I tend to pick Starbucks because of their specialty drinks and different yummy pastries.

Maria Tries Essential Oils (This isn’t a post trying to sell you something)

As I wrote this title, I could feel the eye rolls and skepticism from some of the potential readers. I am going to repeat this because it’s important: I AM NOT TRYING TO SELL YOU OILS OR ON THE CONCEPT OF THEM.

I am just here to share my experience and some of my favoriteS. If you already use oils, awesome! I hope you find this article helpful. If you don’t use them, I hope you find this helpful or you skip to another post of mine that is more up your alley.

( check out this neat traveling story if you don’t wish to continue learning about essential oils: )

I was introduced to essential oils over a year ago. I had friends tell me about them but finally found myself ordering a starter kit from Young Living last December. I liked the concept of their oils being so natural and safe. Also, Young Living owns their fields and works closely with the farmers of the fields they don’t own which I thought was neat.

I mainly used them as a candle replacement. In the starter kit I received a diffuser and from all the things I heard about candles not being good for you because of toxins, I decided to try the diffuser out. From the start, I loved mixing oils for yummy smelling blends.

In the first few months of having my kit, I got the flu, had a wild weeks long migraine, and got a severe double ear infection. In all of these scenarios the oils came to the rescue to help ease my symptoms. I used an oil called Raven for the flu and the ear infection. Raven is basically liquid Vicks that doesn’t have chemicals in it. I still used Vicks for the ear infection but it was nice swapping back and forth with something natural. Raven helped to ease ear pain and clear my sinus passages. It’s definitely not a cure for sickness but I love to use it as a Vicks replacement. It’s awesome using it in the diffuser and just straight on your chest. For my migraine, I could not get anything to actually relieve my pain. I thought scents were causing my migraine so I didn’t use my oils for two weeks. Excedrin was the only medication that gave me minor, temporary relieve. My migraine began right around the start of spring allergy season. I had heard of an allergy relieve blend of essential oils that are meant to be diffused. After a few weeks, tons of over the counter failures, and a visit to the doctor to make sure it wasn’t a sinus infection, I decided to experiment to see if my migraine was being caused by allergies. I came home from work, put the allergy blend in the diffuser ( equal parts peppermint, lemon, and lavender) and within an hour, I received the first non medication relief in weeks. After that night, my migraine decreased in intensity. Essential oils don’t always help my migraines but in some scenarios they have given me some relieve that nothing else could.

Currently, I am loving my essential oils and use them in creative and practical ways. I use a blend of oils to create a room spray to replace chemicals. I use this spray in my hotel rooms while traveling to decrease the amount of germs and as an insect repellent. I use Theives and Rosemary essential oils for immune boosting purposes during sick season. I love diffusing different oils in my office for mental stimulation like a lemon or peppermint. I also still use essential oils as a candle replacement and have done fall themed scents for my office and hotel rooms to make them feel more cozy!

Overall, oils have become a huge part of my life for natural replacements for products I have used in the past that have more unnatural ingredients. Keep a look out for some of my favorite diffuser blends article coming soon!

My favorite dessert place in Philly…actually my favorite dessert place ever!

I love walking around Chinatown in Philly and since I am a major foodie, I love finding new dessert places. A La Mouse, from the very first time I visited, has been my favorite dessert place ever.

They have the cutest little desserts. All desserts are made meticulously. My favorite dessert there is the matcha lava cake. I love matcha and the pairing with chocolate makes this dessert the best dessert ever! I have also tried the Lychee Panna Cotta and the Mango Mousse Cake and they did not disappoint! The natural ingredients they use make me love these Asian inspired desserts even more. They are open late into the night so it’s perfect for late night studying or for hanging out after spending your day walking around. I highly recommend stopping here if you are ever in Chinatown!

Coffee in New Jersey

Here are some of the coffee places I have been to and recommend that you try. All of these coffee shops have their own unique vibe and yummy coffee, tea, and even food!

Ahrre’s Coffee Roastery – Westfield, NJ

Cheech’s Own Coffee Company – Somerville, NJ

Factory Fuel Co. – Flemington, NJ

Citispot Tea & Coffee – Clinton, NJ

Riverside Coffee & Tea – Clinton, NJ

Scout’s Coffee Bar & Mercantile – High Bridge, NJ

Rook Coffee – Colts Neck, NJ

A Few of My Favorite Beaches

With winter (hopefully) winding down, I wanted to highlight some of my favorite beaches on the east coast!

Since I was old enough for my parents to take me to the beach, I have been soaking in the sun and playing in the sand. The beach has been a place of relaxation for me my entire life. I take any opportunity to go to the beach.

If you are planning a short day trip to the beach or want ideas for a week or two vacations, I hope this helps you plan!

(Note these beaches are not in order of my favorite to least favorite. I am going to just begin at the top of the east coast and make my way down)

Narragansett, Rhode Island

I went to the beach in Narragansett almost 9 years ago and it still stands out as one of my favorites. The little town around the beach is adorable and there are mesmerizing rocks and rock structures near and on the beach. Not only is this a great beach to spend the day, but it is also close to Newport which is one of my favorite towns! In Newport, you can hop on a sailboat and take a relaxing cruise to see beautiful homes along the shore.

Sea Bright, New Jersey

I just went here for the first time this past September and fell in love. This whole area is charming and quaint but the beach area was definitely stunning. There were cute shops and restaurants along the beach. The beach itself was lovely and there were restrooms near the parking area and beach area.

Wildwood Crest, New Jersey

This Beach really has it all! It’s a FREE New Jersey beach. Yes, you read that correctly! There are many hotels, motels, and rentals in the Wildwood Crest area. I have always lucked out and have gotten places about a block away from the beach! The reason why I love this location so much is that the beach is beautiful, not too crowded, and it’s close to all of my favorite evening beach hang out places! I love the Wildwood boardwalk and the vintage arcade there. I also love going to Stone Harbor and Cape May for dinner and shopping!

Cape May, New Jersey

Since I brought up Cape May, this beach is near and dear to my heart. I have grown up on this beach. Cape May is a beautiful old beach town with history, gorgeous beach vibes, and fun all in one place. I love the carriage ride you can take on a warm evening where you learn the history of Cape May. The Cape May beach is beautiful and the Washington Street Mall is the perfect place to hang out in the evening.

Lewes, Delaware

This is an area that I just recently visited. On the drive to the beach, there is a little street in Lewes that has the most delightful shops and restaurants. The Notting Hill Coffee Roastery has a really cool coffee shop vibes and is a great place to refuel. If you are really into coffee, this is definitely the place to go. They roast their own coffee and have a whole wall of bags of coffee to buy! This main street in Lewes has an old church, a unique book store, and a lighthouse boat nearby! In the Cape Henlopen State Park, there is a great beach for swimming and shelling in the summer!

Outer Banks, North Carolina

I’ve only been to the Outer Bank once but it was one of my most adored beach experiences! I stayed in one of those large beach houses that have great beachy vibes. It was walking distance to the beach and also to the little town of Duck. One of my favorite parts of this beach vacation was taking an open-air jeep tour. The jeep took us miles down the beach and saw wild horses near houses that were only accessible by driving on the beach! The Outer Banks is very unique and stunning.

St Augustine, Florida

This is by far my most treasured beaches on the east coast of Florida. The beach is beautiful and quiet. The town of St Augustine is beautiful, old, and historic. There are fun restaurants and shops. There is even the Fountain of Youth you can visit! I haven’t gotten to the Fountain of Youth but I cannot wait until I visit again! Also, Flagler College is in the town of St Augustine. I defeintely recommend stopping by to look around the campus. It is an impressive and historic campus.

Dunedin/ Honeymoon Island, Florida

Dunedin and Honeymoon Island are my favorite!!! Dunedin is a cute town! They have hip restaurants and coffee shops. Off the coast of Dunedin is Honeymoon Island State Park. This park is wonderful. It’s the perfect combination of wilderness and the beach. The ocean is clear and calm. There are walking trails which are fun and give you the opportunity to see Florida wildlife.

Siesta Key, Florida

Below the Tampa area is a rare beach with quartz sand. The sand stays cool even in the hot sun! The really cool part of lounging on the beach was during sunset when multiple weddings happened. I swear there must have been 4-5 weddings that happened at sunset. It was the perfect way to end a relaxing few hours at the beach.

Sanibel Island, Florida

Ah, Sanibel. This is the best beach on this list. Though I loved each one of the beaches I listed before, Sanibel and the area around Sanibel really impacted me. The beaches are so natural. Sea creatures are in their natural habitat and nature just exists that way its suppose to. There are so many opportunities to see wildlife there. I went to take a boat to Cabbage Key and there were a few manatees swimming around the harbor. Another time, I stopped at a beach right off the roadway and there was a dolphin showing off for the people on the beach. The shelling in the area is amazing as well. Full, remarkable, and unique shells are everywhere! Even though I have only vacationed here once, I plan on traveling here many more times throughout my life.

There are so many beaches on the east coast that I haven’t visited yet and that I am eager to get to. If you have a beach I should add to my list let me know and I’ll visit is ASAP!!
Hope this helps you plan your beach adventures in the future!

When Trips Do Not Go According to Plan

You never know what to expect when you’re traveling. You could have smooth traveling days and even smoother days at your location. Other trips can lead you to new and unexpected places. And other trips could leave you wanting to never return to the area.

I have had some trips that have moved smoothly. Every day goes according to plan and every activity meets all my expectations. Other trips though, do not follow this formula. I have had trips where there just isn’t enough time to see it all or some plans fall through. Trips like my most recent trip to Florida, nothing goes according to plan at all. I find these trips exciting and character building. These types trips make or break travelers.

I hope they make more then they break.

I have learned that with each trip that does not go according to plan, you just need to go with the flow. Seriously, do not resist where the trip is trying to take you. You may miss out on something great because you are disappointed. I am a natural planner and I admit, I definitely start feeling discouraged when every plan falls through or changes. IT’S OKAY TO FEEL THIS WAY! Just don’t let this feeling linger. Embrace the path that the universe is putting you on and go with it!

Like I said, this happened with my most recent trip to Florida. Looking back on the trip, it was so unique and eye-opening because I went with where the trip was trying to take me.

The best example would be that wherever I travel, I always need to go to a new coffee shop. I need to try a new, single origin coffee. I look for coffee shops that roast their own coffee and have a certain vibe. I found these two coffee shops that meet my criteria near downtown Orlando. Luckily, our plans had us driving by downtown Orlando a few times, which means we could stop! Every day, every time, our plans would fall through on our way to the coffee shops. We would have plans, leave early for these plans, and we would just happen to hit 30 minutes of traffic on the way. That would have been the 30 minutes we would have had to get coffee! I even tried looking at coffee shops along the routes we would be driving and one after another, our plans to stop would fall through.

On the 3rd day of the trip, plans fell through again to visit one of the coffee shops. I decided right there and then that I was done planning. This trip clearly had other plans for me. Later on the 3rd day, we visited a cute little town and we stumbled upon this tea shop called The Rosie Lee Co. They had loose teas lining the wall and a bar where you could order them. To the right of the bar, you could smell and buy the loose teas to brew on your own. I am obsessed with loose teas and love trying new ones. This place had a cool vibe and was like heaven! I was smelling the different loose teas and the barista started telling me about some of their specialty drinks. One was a turmeric latte with coconut milk and honey.

Fun fact about me: I love turmeric tea and I make lattes at home with turmeric tea.

I was dazzled about how amazing that sounded. I ordered one right away.

Honestly, it was one of the best turmeric lattes I have ever had!

If I had coffee earlier in the day, I might have not given that shop much of a glance. And if I did go in, I might have ended up passing on the turmeric latte. But since I just let the trip take me where I needed to be, I ended up with an amazing turmeric latte and some loose teas I could bring home.

So please please please don’t get discouraged if your trip does a 180 last minute. Go with the flow! It’s a part of the journey.

The Tale of the Quick Moving Ocean

Traveling Truths about Iceland

Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE traveling. The truth is though, traveling can be tough and isn’t always glamorous. Iceland was a magical and gorgeous place to explore but it did come with a slew of unexpected challenges.

The Tale of the Quick Moving Ocean

On the first full day in Iceland, our group traveled to the Snaefellness Peninsula to see some seals. After a long drive from Husafell, tired and excited, we walked out to the beach and moved quickly toward the seals lounging on the rocks. I had dreamed about this moment for a long time and couldn’t believe I was seeing these seals for the first time!! I spot three seals laying on rocks not too far from some rocks that jet out into the water. Wanting to see them up close and spotting a prime location for an Insta pic, I make my way out onto the rocks. I dragged my boyfriend along with me to see the seals. On our journey, we started crossing some rocks with crunchy seaweed and then through an inch of water left over from the tide.

As we made our way out, we started crossing over some slippery seaweed on top of the rocks so we had to be careful not to slip. Once we got all the way out to the edge, we were able to see the seals perfectly! I even had my boyfriend take a killer picture of me for Instagram! We could see my family looking at another seal far off in the distance. After a few minutes, we wanted to head where they were so we began to make our way back to the shore. As we made our way back, we noticed that the path we originally took was no longer the path back. In the 5 – 10 minutes we were out on the rocks, the tide had risen. As we started looking for a new path to take, we realized that the water had risen to over knee deep. Slightly panicked, my boyfriend and I took off our boots and rolled up our pants and waded through the knee-deep water.

Luckily, we made it through the water with only our pants wet. Had we been out on the rocks for even 2 more minutes, we might have been chest deep in cold Atlantic ocean water. When researching about traveling to Iceland, I had read a lot about tourists getting caught in waves that come up on the beaches rather quick. I had read many articles about the water being unpredictable on beaches in Iceland. Even though I did my homework, the excitement about the trip got the best of me on that first day and I almost ended up in a ton of trouble because of it.

Traveling can be wild, amazing, and awe-inspiring. When traveling, please keep in mind that cautions that come along with it. Listen to people who have traveled to the locations you are traveling to. Stay safe and keep on traveling!

Pittsburgh, PA

With my upcoming trip to Pittsburgh in October, I thought I would highlight some of my favorite places I have been while traveling there!

In June 2017 I traveled to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Even though this wasn’t my first time in Pittsburgh, I always find something new and exciting to do while visiting. I absolutely love Pittsburgh! I am going to give you guys my top five favorite things to do while visiting this beautiful city. Whether it’s your first time visiting or you have been there hundreds of times, this list will give you cool ideas to help plan your next trip to the Steel City!

The Strip District
The Strip District in Pittsburgh has to be one of my favorite places on this planet. It’s a lively strip that contains culture, great food, and awesome shopping. In my most recent visit, I had brunch on a Sunday, in a restaurant called DiAnoia’s Eatery. It was awesome! I had the lemon ricotta pancakes and they must have been the best pancakes I have ever had!
Right near DiAnoia’s Eatery, there is a cute little shop called Roxanne’s dried flowers. Roxanne’s has any plant you would ever need. They have a mix of dried and live plants and during the summer they have air plants!
Next stop in the Strip District is the Pennsylvania Macaroni Co. This place has everything your Italian taste could desire! I once found squid ink pasta there! They even have fresh bread in the back. My favorite is the olive bread!
One of my other favorite spots in the Strip District is Penzeys Spices. It’s the most amazing spice shop around! You can find anything from cinnamon from around the world to some of the best onion seasonings you’ll ever have!
Last but certainly not least, the Allegheny Coffee Exchange is a cool place to stop for a coffee pick me up! If you love coffee, this is the place for you. The back of this coffee shop is lined with various coffees from around the world and they are all available for purchase! Additionally, they have neat coffee and tea brewing methods and accessories. I usually look around in the back and then grab a coffee to go on my way out.If you’re looking for more to do when you visit the Strip District head to their website at: http://stripdistrictneighbors.com/ .
The Clipper
I have done the Gateway Clipper boat tour twice now and both times it was great! Spending a hot summer day out on the three rivers seeing the beautiful city is definitely a unique experience! The tour includes a mix of historical and cultural information about Pittsburgh. It’s a great way to snap a picture of downtown, the stadiums, and the fountain where the three rivers meet. They have a snack and drink bar where you can buy food and drinks (alcohol and non-alcohol). If you want more information on the tour, check out their website: https://www.gatewayclipper.com/activities/three-rivers-sightseeing-2/ .
Sports Game
I have had the opportunity to see a Pirates game at PNC Park and a Pitt game at Heinz Stadium. Both stadiums are sensational! The amount of pride that Pittsburgh has for their sports teams is incredible! Not only does the stadium illuminate with pride in their teams, but it also gives you an amazing view of downtown Pittsburgh. If you travel to Pittsburgh and its during football or baseball season, definitely go and see a game!
Coffee in Squirrel Hill
In Squirrel Hill there is a quaint little coffee shop that I have adored for years. It’s called the Commonplace Coffeehouse. The vibe in this coffee shop is relaxing and cozy with a touch of modernism. I have not been to this coffee shop since I have learned a lot about coffee but I am hoping to write a follow-up article on my coffee adventures in Pittsburgh after my trip in October!
Pitt and Carnegie Mellon
If you have never been on the University of Pittsburgh’s or Carnegie Mellon’s campuses, you must go! They are walking distance from each other and there are many cool shops and food places in that area. Both universities offer really beautiful and unique buildings and are home to some incredible intellectuals. My favorite place to visit on Pitt’s campus is the Cathedral of Learning. On Carnegie Mellon’s campus, I love the statues and just walking around the grounds of the campus.

I’m pumped to get back to Pittsburgh after not visiting for a year and a half! I cannot wait to try new coffee shops, food places, and finally, ride the incline on this trip! Stay tuned.