August 16th, 2026
Welcome to the Maria Does Things newsletter!
Here, I share what I have been up to, coffee I’ve been drinking, places I have been exploring, and things on my mind!
Coffee of the week
The standout coffee I had this week was from Gaia in Lewes, DE! I loved it so much, I went twice while I was down in Delaware! Their cold brew was incredible, and I tried a salty maple cinnamon latte that was delicious! I ended up buying a bag of Colombian coffee to brew at home! I love how their coffee is ethically sourced and thoughtfully roasted and brewed!
What I’ve been reading
I just finished Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune. I waited until I was on vacation to read Carley’s new book because her books feel like summer bottled up & there is just something about reading a new Carley Fortune book on the beach that is elite! Our Perfect Storm is definitely my favorite Carley Fortune book so far! I was lusting after Tofino even though I barely knew what it looked like before googling. The love story gave me butterflies and was so beautifully written! 5 Stars, 10/10!
Places I’ve explored recently
Chesapeake Bay
Last week was the first time I really ever spent time on the coast of the Chesapeake Bay, and I really enjoyed my time! We visited Point Lookout State Park and the Point Lookout Lighthouse! The weather was hot and beautiful. I loved collecting shells and rocks, staring at the yellow-orange sand and the blues of the water. We also found a restaurant where we sat back, relaxed, and ate blue crab. Needless to say, I love crab now! Our trip was peaceful and full of nature, great food, and delicious coffee!
Summer coming to an end…
I get really nostalgic this time of year, especially coming fresh off our summer vacation. I love summer and do not want it to end, but I also love fall and cannot wait for all the fall activities. I am trying to ground myself and savor the last of the slow summer days we still have while also planning my fall. Fall is always a busier work season for me, and I am trying to be intentional not to lose sight of doing all the simple fall things I love to do – trying fall drinks at local coffee shops, apple cider donuts, fall lake trips, taking long walks to see fall foliage…the list is almost endless!
The next few weeks, I am going to try hard to embrace all the summer activities I can and enjoy the warm weather before August slips away.
Thank you for reading the Maria Does Things newsletter!
I hope to write a newsletter each week with what I am up to. I am doing this as a way to stay connected while planning to take a social media break soon. If you would like to share with me what you are up to, what coffee you’ve been loving, what book you are reading, etc., please reach out!
