Slept in today. Much needed. I spent most of yesterday freezing… which meant my body was insanely tired.

Today it’s snowing! First time all month. Also a great day to spend planning menu for New Year’s Eve and doing some lite cleaning and laundry. Plus learning some of our new games.

Scott is working on learning Trash Pandas at the moment.

Third Cup Cheers

I was gifted a Ninja Speciality Coffee Maker for Christmas by my momma whose coffee love rivals mine. I was hesitant and scared to open and use on Christmas even though I’m crazy excited and asked specifically for this coffee maker… I don’t handle change well.

Yesterday Scott plugged in and I had my first cup. I have to say I wasn’t impressed. We brewed 3 pots…I think I’m having a hard time getting the ratio right… going from a 12 cup to 10 cup and using the permanent metal filter and not paper filters with grinds still in coffee had me semi distraught. Plus I could taste the metallic from the filter… yeah… I don’t use metal travel cups either. Not to mention it is loud like a beginning of a roar or growl as it is brewing and there is steam coming out from what looks like a mouth. Hence how it got its name… meet Dragon…

We stopped at one of my favorite places (Target) on our way to Star Wars yesterday and got filters.

So today… the coffee tastes less grind filled… still not my favorite cup… I’ll get there. I hope. Right now I’m doing just plain old classic brew. I told Ashlynn she can do the first of the frother ones.

I’m still not convinced this is a good change. My Mr. Coffee is still on the counter… ready to plug back in if needed.

Ultimately this is a lesson for me that change happens and I need to embrace. I can do this… and once I figure it out I’m sure it will be awesome. And Dragon and I will be the the best of friends.

Happy First Cups

It is almost always coffee o’clock in our house.

Coffee and cookies for breakfast? Yes please. Accompanied by a soft cuddly blanket and Christmas movies? Even better.

Today I’m going to stay comfy and binge watch Christmas movies until this afternoon when we finally are going to see Star Wars. I can’t wait!

Here’s hoping your day still has some Christmas Cheer.

Happy First Cups

My last of the Christmas mugs. Tried to post last night but technology was not my friend.

This cup is Santa’s cup. So I’ve never had coffee from it until this Christmas morning.

There was no shhhhh, keep quiet as we were filling stockings. A first in our house. Last year in her Santa note she told us she knew. So this year she got to be a part of the magic. Helping pick out items for stockings. Still super cute though… we still had to put out milk and cookies.

Ninja kitty helped eat the cookies.

From our coffee loving family to yours… I hope you had a wonderful Christmas.

Merry First Cups… the day after

Smooshed Snowman!

The last in my set of smooshed faces. I’m pretty sure this set was given to us by my father and mother in law, Ben and Gwen. A cup for each of us.

How can you not smile at the smooshedness (a word I just made up) of these cups.

I’m writing this as Scott is driving me to work… so that we can do our tradition of Hudson Gardens after I get off work.

Merry Christmas Eve my coffee lovers!

Happy First Cups

This one I had done a post with before Christmas. This one seems fitting that I waited and didn’t post it yesterday. This one was my grandparents mug… I have them… all 11. One of them broke.

I know, it’s not holding coffee… I had travel mugs yesterday. This was late last night. After sugar cookie decorating, after cleaning the kitchen… this has Scott’s egg nog as I made this White Chocolate Strawberry Tiramisu.

But this isn’t about the tiramisu. It’s about this mug and my memories since today is Christmas Eve… since I didn’t post this last night.

Every year I put up ornaments that remind me of my grandparents…

These 3… the 2 rocking chairs I gave my grandparents and the yellow one… well, that was my grandpa’s favorite. It spins with the heat of the light. I love these ornaments and my coffee mugs because it reminds me of them. It reminds me of my Minnesota family as well who on Christmas Eve get together… whomever can make it in our huge group… it’s been 20 years since I’ve been there for a Christmas. I’ve told Scott and Ashlynn of the traditions and games. I keep hoping one day we’ll make it back and they can experience the craziness.

So, today on Christmas Eve… embrace the memories. Some are sad and others might make you smile… and as always…

Happy First Cups

My last of the Coca-cola mugs.

Haddon paints Santa checking his list of good girls and boys. He’s just so Jolly. Makes you smile… and want a Coke… marketing for the win again… in my case… a Coffee.

So in the past few days we’ve celebrated my baby turning 16. What I didn’t mention is that she also got her very first Claddagh ring from mom and dad. A piece of her Irish heritage that I’m passing to her. She has necklaces and earrings but her first ring. My first ring was on my 18th given by my mom. We also went to an Avalanche game for her birthday. Where they lost… Ashlynn cried… it was very sweet. It’s the first game she’s attended that they have lost.

Ashlynn, my mom and I also baked cookies on Friday. Not as many as I had planned… I had a minor meltdown… stress and little sleep getting Ashlynn’s scrapbook ready had me on a hair trigger. Other than my meltdown it was fun.

Our cookie day start… funny pictures… because, why not.

And now there’s cookies in this guy. One of my new additions this Christmas.

So now, I’m off to work. Which I am hoping will be busy. Then tonight I am hoping to get some wrapping done.

Happy first cups

Tall Santa

We gave Ashlynn a Sweet 16 party today. It was wonderful. A time to celebrate my beautiful bright light.

I started today doing the last page of the scrapbook… I had finished early this morning,3ish, except for 1 page which I needed a fact checked with the husband. I then woke up the girl kid and we all started cleaning and getting ready. It was over 2 hours in when I realized I hadn’t made coffee. Don’t judge… it’s been a week of no sleep getting the scrapbook done so my brain hasn’t worked most of the week.

After a cup of much needed caffeine we finished up prep.

We had a selfie/photo area and made Ashlynn take pictures with everyone who came. It was amazing for us… she fained being annoyed by it but by the end I think she enjoyed it.

Forgive me my coffee lovers for no coffee insight just a recap of the day.

I hope you remembered to have your first cups… now bed… don’t judge… soooo tired.

Happy dreams of first cups

This Haddon Sundblom Coca-cola Santa painting mug. This one makes me giggle. Remember how I said I love these versions of Santa. Sundblom reimagined Santa as big kid at heart as he’s playing with the toys he delivers… a train in this case. I can totally envision this.

Today is cookie day. My mom, Ashlynn and I make lots and lots of cookies. I think I have 7 different ones on the agenda for today. Mom isn’t here yet and Ashlynn is still sleeping so I’m going to work more on her present for tomorrow.

I’m getting closer to being done.

Time to show this day that with coffee I can do all the things.

Happy First Cups

Today’s mug is completely overshadowed by someone’s 16th Birthday… that someone may be my sweet baby girl.

This now 16 year old outgrew her jersey over a year ago. So today she got one with her favorite player… Mi-kko Rantanen… I said a Mikko Rantanen.

She’s now off to her day of non-finals… she had all of hers yesterday. She’s lucky that this year she only had 3 classes that had finals and none landed on her birthday.

So today’s mug… this beautiful mistletoe with 2 very happy and tired parents of a 16 year old.

A sneak peak of Ashlynn’s birthday present that she’s getting Saturday at her party…

Happy Sweet 16 My Darling Girl!

And happy first cups my coffee lovers from this Momma.