Livin' La Vida Mocha: Seattle's Best Coffee Shops

Anyone who knows much of anything about Seattle knows three things: our football team rocks, our weather is crap, and we make a damn good cup of coffee.

Home to Starbucks, Seattle's Best Coffee, and Tully's, most visitors and Seattle transplants (yes I was guilty of this at one time) believe that it's the major players that drive the coffee scene, but that is far from the truth. I mean how could we convince the hipsters to stay if we didn't have obscure, independent, mom n' pop coffee shops that no one has ever heard of? 

My husband was a barista for a number of years and we have a bit of a love affair with coffee and quite literally in coffee shops. We had our first date and got engaged while sipping coffee. I've tried my fair share of excellent coffee and since I work from home I spend at least one or two days a week exploring different coffee shops to get a change of scenery.

I've made a list of favorite coffee shops around Seattle. Whether you're on the go, settling in to work for a few hours, or catching up with a friend, each of these places has something great to offer any coffee lover. I'm taking several things into consideration but mainly the quality of the coffee, ambiance, workability, and customer service. 

1. Cafe Fiore

This organic, French-inspired coffee shop is so charming. They ensure that their beans come from organic farms and they roast them to perfection. Their vibe and decor is one of my favorites. 

The seating is not very comfortable, but it's a small price to pay for the ambiance. The Ballard location is convenient, but I actually prefer the Queen Anne spot. It's tucked away on top of Queen Anne hill and I really like the set up. There are a few more seating options there, so it's usually my coffee shop of choice when I am trying to decide where I want to hunker down and work for a few hours.

I've had mixed experiences with the staff. Generally the baristas there are really friendly, but I've had a few not-so-great interactions, which of course could just be chalked up to a bad day.

2. Storyville Coffee Company

I've had several friends work at different Storyville locations at various times and so this particular coffee shop feels like home to me. It also helps that they have amazingly comfortable chairs and couches with a roaring fire to keep warm on those cold winter days. They have several locations around the city now. I usually frequent the Queen Anne store because it's closer, but the original location in Pike's Place market is pretty fantastic. 

The owner and founder is a friend of a friend so I know that as a company they value community and craftsmanship. Their tagline is "Love everybody. Never hurt anybody." Who can argue with that?

The staff is always phenomenal. I've never gone there without being greeted with a smile and baristas almost always personally clear my table and offer me a glass of water. Their customer care is unprecedented and they make an incredible cup of jo. I can vouch for their quality beans too because my husband works with the head roasters wife. :) 

3. Espresso Vivace

With a few different locations around town, this great spot also roasts their own beans that they import from Italy. My favorite shop is in South Lake Union right across the street from REI. Their lattes are delicious and they have a pretty varied menu from tea to hot chocolate along with some pretty tasty pastries.

My favorite feature of the SLU location is the little nook in the back of the shop. If you want a break from the noise you can close the door behind you. I always take my car into a shop that's close by just so that I can have an excuse to spend a few hours reading and sipping my latte at this popular spot. 

The staff is always friendly, though they are almost always swamped when I visit, so there's not much time for chit chat.  

4. Zoka Coffee Roaster and Tea Company

This place will always hold a special place in my heart because it is where my husband asked me to be his girlfriend. This local roaster has been my husband's favorite coffee shop for a number of years. Several retailers around the city sell their beans, so you can grab a bag to take home even if you can't make it in to the shop.

I've only ever been to the Tangletown location, but I haven't felt like I need to branch out because it's so cool. The space is pretty big and the baristas are always really friendly. It's usually packed out with people working and hanging out when I go. The only downside is not being able to find a spot near an outlet if you need to bust out your laptop. 

5. Cafe Umbria

This is a relatively new spot for me. Their original location in Pioneer square has been around for a while now, but I just discovered this lovely place when they opened a Ballard location just down the street from where JD works. The bar and decor is super chic and their dishes are adorable.

They always include a small piece of chocolate with your drink which is a win and I've always really appreciated the friendliness of the staff. I just discovered my favorite new pastry there too: the raspberry croissant. So heavenly. You will definitely want to stop in here if you are in Ballard.

I can't forget a couple of honorable mentions: The Anchored Ship is a relatively new spot on Old Ballard Ave that I have really been loving lately. It's a small shop but they have great coffee and a sweet little loft that I like to escape to every now and then.

 Chocolati was my roommate's favorite place to flee to during finals week. Their speciality is chocolate, but they serve great coffee too, and this place might take the cake when it comes to working spaces. The Wallingford location has a huge loft with chairs lining the windows that look out over the busy street below. It's the perfect late night date spot if you want something sweet to sip in a romantic setting. 

What are your favorite Seattle coffee shops for work or play? 

My Favorite Oscars Moments and My Mini Oscars Party

It hasn't been until the last couple of years that I've watched award shows. And since I'm a newbie to the world of award shows and ceremonies it wasn't until recently that I realized that people actually throw Oscar watching parties (any excuse to throw a party is cool with me).

I decided to throw a mini Oscar watching party myself and invited some of my favorite people. Sadly my husband is NOT a fan of award shows so he made himself scarce, but my adorable friends, Cassie and Rachael joined me for some snacks, fashion critiquing, and a few laughs (no thanks to Neil Patrick Harris) It was pretty fantastic. 

Here are my favorite moments from the Oscars this year and my attempt at a viewing party...



That moment when Melanie Griffith and daughter, Dakota Johnson almost had it out over the fact that Melanie said she wouldn't be seeing 50 Shades of Grey... pretty awkward.

That moment when Reese Witherspoon wore this dress (Tom Ford)

That moment when J.K. Simmons scolded everyone in his acceptance speech for not calling their moms.

That moment when Anna Kendrick wore this dress (Thakoon) -- Definitely my favorite overall look of the night!

That moment when John Travolta tried to recover from last year's embarrassing Oscars moment by creating yet another awkward scene. Maybe take a break from The Oscars next year, John. 

That moment I made THIS browned butter, rosemary, and lemon popcorn recipe. It was a hit.

That moment when Lady Gaga gave a breathtaking performance and tribute to Julie Andrews. I knew she had it in her.

That moment when Rosamund Pike wore this dress (Givenchy)

That moment when Mexico native, Alejandro González Iñárritu won best director for Birdman. This is the second year in a row that a Mexican has won best director. I'm pretty psyched about that.

That moment when I broke out my fancy dishes and cheeses for some snacking bliss.... yum. 

That moment when Zoe Saldana wore this stunning Versace gown (just three months after having a baby!)

Maybe next year I will step up my game and go all out with a big party.

What were your favorite (or least favorite) moments from The Oscars this year? Do you have any Oscars viewing party tips to share?

Media Roundup: 5 Things Successful People Do, Oscar-Inspired Cocktails, and More

It's the end of a short week, but I feel like I barely made it across the finish line. Maybe it's a lack of sleep or the grey clouds rolling in yesterday or both, but I made it! I came across some great content on the Web this week that either made me laugh, inspired me to do something new, or helped me to see something from a different perspective. I hope something here catches your eye too! 

1. "Feel" Your Way to Motivation

I don't know about you, but sometimes it seems like no matter how organized my week is or how much coffee I drink I just cannot find the motivation to do everything that needs to get done. Here's an interesting thought: take your emotions into account more. According to this article we can find the motivation we need to be more productive if we realize how powerful our feelings can be.

With some scientific studies to back it up, these tips to avoid procrastination might be the boost you need for greater motivation. Sounds simple enough. Now if I could only figure out what it is that I'm feeling half the time I'd be good.

2. Films to Fuel your Wanderlust

If you love film and travel as much as me, you will love this article! There are a ton of great movies to look forward to this year, but why not let your movie watching experiences inspire a trip or two?!

From the French Alps to coastal cities in Japan, there are some great destination ideas here for anyone who has "have more adventures" on their list of things to do. Even if you don't have the budget for an extravagant trip like the ones mentioned here you can at least keep an eye out for some of these great films set to release this year. A chase thriller featuring Anthony Hopkins and Sir Ben Kingsley? Yes please!

3. 5 Things Successful People Do to End Their Days Right

Do you have an end-of-day ritual? I don't. This article made me re-think my whole life. Well, maybe not anything that drastic, but it turns out that actually giving the end of your day as much thought as the beginning can help you be more healthy and productive.

4. Celebrity-Inspired Cocktails for your Oscar Viewing Party

I'm planning a small Oscar viewing party this weekend so I was pretty pumped when I came across this article with some fun drink ideas inspired by some very interesting celebrities. 

Check it out and mix away!

5.  Ingrid Michaelson's hilariously adorable new music video: Time Machine

Huge props to Ingrid Michaelson on her amazing new music video that was released this week. I was pleasantly surprised by her creative use of cameos and the song's not half bad either. I'm using it as an anthem of sorts to kick off my weekend. 

Do yourself a favor and take a 5 minute break to watch this video.

What jumps out at you from this week's media roundup? I want to hear about it in the comments below!

A Resolve Against Resolutions

So.... it's the end of February. And instead of strong-arming myself into keeping all of my New Year's resolutions, I am enjoying some cookie dough and skipping the gym for the second day in a row. I am all about setting and reaching goals, making healthier life choices, and I love all of the new opportunities waiting to be explored at the start of a new year, but January is always so heavy with expectations that I usually feel completely weary by the time Groundhog Day rolls around.

So far 2015 has been pretty eventful. While finishing up a project for a great company called Booktrope, I have also been looking for a new full time job, building a website, and training a puppy. I also negotiated my freelance rate for the first time, have simultaneously binge watched Gilmore Girls and Parenthood and started getting into Yoga for the first time ever. 

With all of the uncertainty with my schedule and crazy curve ball that is my life lately, I decided not to make any resolutions this year, and instead take what comes and handle it with as much grace as possible. It's been kind of refreshing to skip the calorie counting and impossible diet regimen this year. My approach to tackle the new year and new challenges has evolved into reminding myself what my priorities are and then making decisions based on those priorities, which are as follows...

1. Nurturing my relationship with God
2. Loving and serving my husband
3. Helping and spending time with family and friends
4. Being a good steward of the gifts I've been given including health, home, and relationships
5. Enjoying life and not freaking out when things don't go as planned

I took this picture when we visited Pike's Peak in Colorado Springs last year. Every time I look at it I breathe a deep sigh of relief because there wasn't much filling my mind when I looked out at this beautiful landscape. Sometimes I think we need to simplify instead of making more rules and restrictions for ourselves (this coming from a girl who loves structure!) There's already enough pressures in life to deal with without adding unrealistic and unreasonable resolutions on top of it. 

What are your thoughts on New Years resolutions? Hurtful or helpful?