My Perfect Coffee
After many months of perfecting Panera Bread's coffee, I finally mastered my favorite coffee. Here are the ingredients that truly match my picky taste buds:
• Large cup with 3 ice cubes
• 2 packets of Sweet 'N Low
• ~3-4 ounces of half & half cream
• Half cup of hazelnut coffee
• Half cup of decaffeinated coffee
Stores I Routinely Love
I'm a huge fan of routine - things that are consistent and predictable. I love these stores not only for their great customer service but also product availability and consistency, great prices, and easy access. These stores are also constantly updating their mobile UI (user interface), further enhancing my pleasant shopping experience. Kudos to Panera Bread for their generous unlimited coffee subscription - only $8.99 per month! And Chick-fil-A for the ability to have stored dollar amount already in the app.
Logo Changes
While it's true I don't like change, I know it's necessary. Change is inevitable and unavoidable yet vital to keep businesses up-to-date and survive in this ever-changing economy. So from a consumer's point of view, what better way to change than updating your business logo? It's giving your business the respect it deserves. Being the owner of a small freelance design firm myself, I knew it's vital I change my logo occasionally to help my business stand out among others.
Thinking about changing your business logo? There's a great article written by Marisa Belger that covers five key things to ask when thinking about redesigning your existing business logo. Click here for access.
“There is nothing permanent except change.”
- Heraclitus
Time to Develop a New Hobby!
In our modern life, it is easy to forget to take some time out while juggling family commitments with a 9-5 job in this Covid world. As we all know, having a healthy mental state is linked to having a healthy body. So creating a new hobby is a great way to help with that. In fact, research shows that people with hobbies are less likely to suffer from stress, low mood, and depression. Activities that get you out and about can make you feel happier and more relaxed. It might even help with your career. Hobbies aren’t just about fun and games, they range from learning how to change your car oil, discussing your latest book, cooking that perfect steak, and more. Regardless of your new hobby, create an event on your calendar and go have fun with it!
Why you need a hobby:
• Helps you structure your time
• Promotes flow
• Fosters new social connections
• Makes you interesting
• Helps you cope with stress
• Spills over into other aspects of your life
You can find more information on this topic by visiting this article written by Jaime Kurtz, an associate professor of psychology at James Madison University. It was published on "Psychology Today."
So what's MY newest hobby?
Woodworking! It's an expensive hobby, but I absolutely love it. I've completely re-arranged my garage to effectively display my Ryobi tools and actually use them to create new things. I've created my garage workbench (shown in photo above), a rolling table for my Ryobi saw table, some planters, a whiskey tray, 2 night stands, and a clothes rack hanger. And I'll have more projects to create over the next few months. I'm constantly learning new things by watching helpful YouTube videos (Steve Ramsey is fantastic) and frequent visits to local hardware stores. I highly recommend woodworking!
More Random Thoughts Coming Soon...
