Every day I want a hot latte with cinnamon and cream and a toasted blueberry bagel with 2 strawberry cream cheeses from my fave coffee shop, Brew Haven in Butler, Missouri. I eat one half the bagel and save it for the next day, because I read on a website that too many bagels make you fat. I could eat FIVE bagels and drink the lattes every day (or two or three of them), but I don’t.
First, I don’t do this because it’s more expensive than making coffee at home and (2) that many bagels can make you fat. I don’t want to be fat again. I used to be. I still need to lose 10 or 15 pounds, but at least I’ve lost 20 pounds since last year by:
- cutting high carbs;
- greatly reducing sugar;
- eating salads every day for lunch
- adding fresh veggies and fruit to my diet;
- walking almost every day on my treadmill;
- adding strength-training to my regimen.
I’ve been trying to get healthier the last few years. Fitter, not fatter. Eating better, exercising, all that drudgery jazz. My PA and my dietician/nutritionist told me that I can have two “coffee treats” a week – “real” coffee with caffeine and real cream instead of the stevia creamer I use at home, and the bagels with the strawberry cream cheese. It’s nice to get permission to indulge.
Sometimes I cheat. I order a cappuccino from McDonald’s by Door Dash so I can have more than two coffees. This isn’t nearly as good. It also makes me feel guilty! I don’t want to lie to my PA or my nutritionist, so I tell them the truth. Yes, I’ve had more than two this week. Yes, I know this isn’t good for my health. Yes, Door Dash is expensive (but so convenient).
And Brew Haven’s hot lattes reign. If I’m going to spend too much money, I’d rather it be there! They also have great iced coffees – specialty cold brews with whipped cream on top and chocolate, hazelnut, or other types of yummy sauces and/or added coconut flakes or colored sprinkles for fun. It’s a different specialty coffee each month. They do this to make you want to come there even more–and it works! Here’s a funny sign in their restroom.
I’m not opposed to visiting other coffee shops. Actually, I love to do this to do something new and fun. Recently, I went with Ray to a new shop in Lee’s Summit, MO. The coffee was quite tasty. I ordered this hot latte with cream and hazelnut to do something new. Ray got one, too, and liked it. As usual, he was scrolling his phone, while I took random pics.
When I was cat-sitting for our daughter Leah in Belton, Missouri in July, I visited a coffee shop on Main Street called Random. Their hot latte was pretty good, too. I bought a little logo sticker, which I’ve been collecting.
I thought their retro decorations were interesting – funky art, bright yellow chairs, a Persian rug.
Their red brick wall reminded me of our daughter Leah’s red brick fireplace in her new townhouse. I think it would look great with Christmas decorations on the mantel. The fireplace actually works – nice! I’m sure it will be cozy this cold winter.
She has this ceramic flower pot on it right now, that belonged to her Mimi Judy. I think it looks pretty there. She’s still unpacking and decorating, but has most of it done now.
While I was at her townhouse cat-sitting, most of the time I worked on my laptop on her kitchen table. It was a peaceful “staycation” for me with her kitties, while she traveled to Omaha, Nebraska with her boyfriend to see the Omaha zoo, a botanical garden, a science museum, and an aquarium. They also ate out for Mexican food, sushi, and IHOP for a breakfast supper.
Leah has a mulberry tree and a little patio in her back yard. There’s lots of trees with birds and squirrels back there. It was very peaceful, and I enjoyed staying outside in the sunshine for vitamin D for a few minutes each morning, listening to the birds sing and praying.
On the last morning I was there, a red cardinal bird landed on the fence by her back yard, singing. They are very special to me, a sign of God’s love. I felt it was a sign for Leah and me both, of how much God loves us. I showed the pictures and the video clip to Leah. She smiled and said, “Pretty.”
Her cats Astrid and Jax enjoy watching out the glass back door at the birds and the squirrels, too. Here was Astrid looking out the glass door.
Life is just much better with lattes and bagels – and Jesus, our children, cats, and travel!
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