Coffeehouse Craziness

Who doesn't love a good   Starbucks   coffee or tea? Or take your local brand and fill it in the blank.... MMMMMM.. Especially for a month like January. I can almost smell that distinct coffeehouse smell that I love so much!

Personal Background...
I hate coffee (too bitter), but I love the smell. Buy me a coffee-scented candle any day of the week, and I'm happy!!
Despite turning down coffee after coffee from well-meaning friends, I DO LOVE me some tea.. hot tea! YUM...
Bag tea = good. Chai from Starbucks with all the calories = deliciousness (and trying to buy only Monday mornings).

So, a little history...
Where did the coffeehouse begin?
I found this book that peaked my curiosity: The Coffee House: A Cultural History. Click on title to connect to Amazon where you can purchase. So, below, I am copying the synopsis, which I found fascinating... The reviews have made me even more curious to learn more...
"When the first coffeehouse opened in London in 1652, customers were bewildered by this strange new drink from Turkey—hot, bitter, and black as soot. But those who tried coffee were soon won over, and more coffee-houses were opened across London, America, and Europe. For a hundred years the coffeehouse occupied the center of urban life, creating a distinctive social culture. They played a key role in the explosion of political, financial, scientific, and literary change in the 18th century, as people gathered, discussed, and debated issues within their walls."
It was mentioned that the coffeehouse started in homes in England in actual parlours. Men often used the spot for discussing politics, their work, or common topics of the day. There's also mention of it even as a setting to meet future women for courting purposes... Doesn't sound a whole lot different than coffeehouses of today! It just slowly transitioned out of people's homes into their own establishments, and wah-la! We are junkies for a good coffeehouse vibe...

From a real Starbucks barista...
Just for the fun of it, check out this interview and laugh your head off! You might have already seen this, but even if you have, see again here.
Take a look at why they misspell your name and its effectiveness! Please excuse the language... Cover your kiddos', pets', and any other innocent creatures' ears first!! Yikes! Sorry!

Coffee - Popping out all over! Or POOPing(?) out all over!!?!? 
Check these facts out from NPR here, friends... Again, another reason to convert to tea - immediately!
The article is short, but in even shorter form: Elephants eat coffee beans, poop them out, and workers collect them, then selling them to you as Black Ivory Coffee! Yes, indeed. In the link above, you can even see pictures! They say "The aroma is floral"! Oh really? For some reason, I'm just not buying that - figuratively or literally!
Here's the big guy helping this process along:

A goal... (or two)
I mentioned that it's only Monday mornings that I indulge in my favorite non-fat, no water, no foam Chai Tea Latte from Starbucks...ONLY Mondays is the goal... I am cutting back to that NOW. What I've been doing is starting the work day about 2-3x/week with one of those aforementioned Chai Latte - non-fat, but not non-calorie! Gotta cut back... Who is with me?! Is there a Caffeine Anonymous created out there somewhere? I'm sure I'll have withdrawals!

Coffeehouse-inspired fashion...
Take a look at this, ladies... She is on the runway with a coffee cup!! No joking!! Thinking I need to walk in my local Starbucks in this outfit on Monday (and only Monday!) and strut my stuff all the way to the counter!! You in?!?

And, at your local Macy's...
I'm not sure why this is "coffeehouse", but it's right there in the name of this sweet little jacket, and it's only $49!! Yep, and it's cute! I like that color! It's in my cart... click here to grab it too!

Looking up...
So, I know that the Lord is my strength (and shield)!! The Bible tells me so, and I have countless of personal experiences to back that up... So, if He is really my strength, I am interested in tapping into that -- every day! Sunday through Saturday, and particularly, all days not Monday when NO caffeine will be involved for a strength boost! Thank you, Lord, for powering me up and getting me through!! Click here to read more about that verse!

Lang May Yer Lum Reek!!

That title sounds really negative, right? Well, I found out that lum = chimney and reek = smoke, and that this is a Scottish greeting meaning "May you have a prosperous future!" or "Long may you have smoke in your chimney"!!  I like that!!!

So, Scottish, Irish, English, Roman??? Who do you think of when you hear the word "bagpipes"?? Or maybe, like me, you just think of one of our Friends, Ross (click here for reference - ha)!

Personal Background...
Not really any... Though it's rumored I have Irish, English, and Scottish ancestors, and I'm sure at least one of them could play a tune on one of these babies!! I did dress up as a Scottish bagpiper two Halloweens ago! So fun!!

So, a little history... 
I certainly don't think of Romans, but with a little checking, it appears the Romans introduced the instrument to this part of the world. Not a real shock... The shock for me was that it didn't catch on right away. And that the Irish took hold of it and then let it go once they were more an indoor society (since it was loud and I guess, better set for the outdoors?). Anyway, the Irish felt the Scottish had taken it and run with it (not literally), as well as other parts of the Irish traditional culture, and so when they took it back on, they wanted to do it differently than those Scots... So, the Scottish played with the middle of their fingers (sounds so hard), therefore the Irish adopted the tips of their fingers (as had been done by their flute players - easier adjustment).

It was also mentioned that the outfit must be different than the Scots while playing this majestic instrument... Irish apparently needed to draw on their uniqueness here... Tartan was connected with the Scots, and so saffron was introduced to the pattern to make it uniquely Irish. (Their armies were the ones who were playing these instruments by the way, so rather than outfit, I suppose I should say "uniform")...

Tartan and Saffron, not your "every day" words...
What is tartan? Click here to see the many styles of pattern. *all colors
What is saffron? Click here. Apparently, the distinction is the color.
Don't worry. I had to research too!

For even more about the history from the Irish perspective of the bagpipe, click here.

From some real bagpipers... 
Here's a quick clip you might like from France at the International Bagpipe Festival of '57. How are they playing that base while walking with two people?!. Click here.
And if you are one of those who doesn't like this instrument at all (and I know you exist!), try this version of Thunderstruck, and see if you change your mind... Complete with flames and "dancing" here. Is he really playing???

A goal...(or two)
You might've thought I would say "play a bagpipe"... I've tried on a kid's one, and you have to have lungs of steel!! I think that counts enough... I will just make my goal to watch the movie Made of Honor again in the next few weeks!! You remember, right? Who can forget McDreamy in a kilt??? If you did, see below... And yes, good sirs, I clap along with you!!

Bagpipe-inspired fashion...
And let's translate our bagpipe lore into fashion of today...
What do you think?!

My boss would definitely send me home if I wore this to work, but it's kind of impressive in its own way!! Enjoy!!

And, at your local Macy's...
Bringing it to the commoners' level with my friend, Macy's... Check out this rich color with great reviews and to buy right here. "Dressed to Kilt" is a perfect compliment to any outfit...

And now, while speaking of instruments and making music!!

Looking up...
A Bible reference to start your day with joy:
"Make a joyful noise unto the Lord..." PLEASE read all of Psalm 100 right here. 
It's a delight!! And I've noticed, even when I don't feel like being thankful, when I stop and give thanks, my soul starts feel light again... Try it out!!

Why not start with ballet??

So here we go! My goals are to learn more about things I normally wouldn't take time to learn and then get creative with it - maybe even set some goals! Maybe this came to me first after seeing the Nutcracker performed by the Russian Ballet Company over the break.

Personal Background...
Ballet was introduced to me at the age of 4, and I didn't stop until about 12! It was a love/hate relationship with the art... Yet, I kept coming back to it every year, and now, I miss it. It took so much thought to do it correctly. Constant feedback to all of us young ballerinas was - "shoulders back, stomach in, and hips under"... Hips under?? I still don't understand that one!! Ha!!
Please someone explain!

Anyone remember this, by the way?!! Hilarious, hilarious, hilarious!!

So, a little history...

1400s – Northern Italy and then in France – Ballet immerges at equestrian or other sporting events by members of the court. There were teachers on hand to give instruction about how to properly dance: including positions and particular bows.

1500s – Ballet was performed as a series of dances for the first time, though these were not yet woven together to create one story per performance.

Ballet-mascarade was created by Louis the XIII and introduced more dramatics and costume – even acrobatics to the scene.

 

Ballet à entrée  was first to introduce a storyline to the series of dances. And by the late 1500s, ballet had caught on for more individuals past the noble court members (if they had proper training) and they were hired on. At the end of this style of dance, the audience members would dance along with the performers (except for the commoners)… Side note: I wish we did that now – even us commoners!! That’s all I wanted to do after seeing The Nutcracker was find some proper shoes and DANCE!!

1600s – Ballet-melodramatique – Introduce song to the whole production which further led to opera! Who knew?!? (Not me!)

And by 1630, the ballet dancers were drawing paying customers!! Not just royals either!

There you have it... A synopsis with the help of this site.

From a real ballerina...
Veronica Part of the American Ballet Theater (from Russia and then moved to the US) on David Letterman (2009) here. Found this fascinating!


Construction of those shoes...
Always fascinated with those remarkable pointe shoes. Here's how they come to be... Heard there's even burlap in there... Burlap? Just doesn't go, does it?
Look here for a view from the Freed Pointe Shoe Factory in London

A goal... (or two)
Barre (how do you say it? Like ballet sounds like "bough-lay" in TX speak, is Barre like "bear-ray" or is it just "bar"? Somebody help me!) Anyway, would love to take a class... Know those are really popular now! First, find out how to pronounce it!!

Ballet inspired fashion...
Isn't this lovely?! But where do you wear this? ha! And not thinking it would look the same on me!

And, at your local Macy's...
(Note: I do not work for Macy's or have any affiliation. I just thought it would be fun to "bring it home" to us that don't have the means to go high fashion. And I read one person's blog faithfully who is actually paid by Nordstrom, though her blog is about much more... Nordstrom is not my normal stop, but me - a plain jane gal from TX - I can do Macy's! And I love Macy's... I mean, Miracle on 34th Street?!? Who doesn't love Macy's after that?! Including their "throw back" commercial a few years back: Remember this?) I'm an old school girl, anyway... Lucille Ball featured - can't miss that!)

Some cute (yes?) ballet-inspired flats... A little pricier than I would tpyically go for, but look how dainty those are... Want to go to the ballet again and wear these!! Maybe with the outfit above??? Nope, would likely get a few too many stares!
Well, website says 10% off of these today as well... Thinking about hitting "Add to Cart"... How about you? See them here.


Looking up...
And since, another goal of mine is to honor the Lord in all I do... Here's a little section of scripture on dancing... But not us... Thank you, Lord for dancing over us because you love us, though we don't deserve it!

Zephaniah 3:17 (NLT): For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

Zeph. 3:17 – “rejoice over you” – literally means “dance, skip, leap, and spin around in joy” 

Read more of Zephaniah here, and don't just take my word for it. 

Intention of this Blog

I have a passion to write... Even if I am the only reader! Expression through words is therapy. I love learning, and so using the two together creativity, I would like to delve into topics that span as far away from each other as architecture and mud pies or fashion and the life of a police officer. I believe some posts may be personal, while others more removed. This may not make sense, but the outlet toward the creative will be fun for me... and hopefully for you!

I will delete negative blog comments. I welcome any constructive and/or creative commentary.