A Quiet Coffee Shop Morning and Some Work Wins

Hey everyone, I hope your week is going as smoothly as a fresh jar of Skippy peanut butter. I’ve been a little MIA on here lately, mostly because work has been a whirlwind and I’ve been trying to keep my houseplants from staging a full-on rebellion. But I wanted to pop in with a little update about my morning today and a small win that’s got me feeling pretty good.

This morning, I decided to treat myself to a quiet hour at Brew & Bloom, that little coffee shop on Elm Street that I’m pretty sure I’ve mentioned a dozen times. It’s my go-to when I need to get out of the house but don’t feel like dealing with the chaos of a Starbucks. I got there right as they opened at 7, snagged my favorite corner table by the window, and ordered a lavender latte. Yes, I’m that person who orders the fancy drinks, even though half the time I spill them on myself. The place was mostly empty, just me, a guy with a laptop who looked like he hadn’t slept since 2023, and the barista who always remembers my name, which is honestly the kind of small-town vibe I live for in this city.

I brought my sketchbook with me to brainstorm some ideas for a client’s living room redesign. I’m working on this project for a couple who just moved into a fixer-upper, and they want something “modern but cozy,” which is basically interior design code for “we have no idea what we want, please help.” I spent about 45 minutes doodling furniture layouts and sipping my latte, watching the early morning joggers go by outside. There’s something so peaceful about those first few hours of the day, before the world remembers it’s supposed to be loud and stressful. Oh, and I couldn’t help but notice the first hints of fall out there—some of the trees are already getting that rusty orange glow they always do around mid-August in the three Virginias. I know, it’s way too early, but I’m already dreaming of sweater weather.

After my coffee shop escape, I headed into the office for a meeting with my boss about the project. And here’s the win I mentioned: she loved the initial concepts I pitched! I was so nervous showing her the mood boards because I went a little bold with the color palette—think deep teal walls with burnt orange accents—but she was all about it. She even said she might use one of the ideas for a bigger client pitch next month, which is basically the equivalent of getting an Oscar in my world. I’m still riding that high, even though I celebrated by eating a sad desk salad for lunch. One step at a time, right?

The rest of the day was pretty uneventful. I got home, made a quick dinner of Trader Joe’s frozen ravioli with some marinara (I’m not winning any chef awards this week), and Ren and I watched an episode of The Bear on Hulu. I swear that show stresses me out more than my actual job, but I can’t stop watching. Ren keeps saying we should try making one of the recipes from it, but I’m pretty sure my kitchen skills would just end in tears and a burned countertop.

Anyway, that’s my little midweek update. I’m hoping to get out for a hike this weekend if the weather holds up—maybe I’ll drag Lissa along and we can pretend we’re outdoorsy for a few hours. I’d love to hear what’s been giving you a small win lately, whether it’s work stuff or just finally getting your laundry done. Drop a comment if you’ve got a minute—I always love reading them, even if I’m slow to reply sometimes.

Until next time,
Maren