Showing posts with label coffee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label coffee. Show all posts

1/25/12

Purging


One of the great things about moving is the opportunity it gives you to get rid of stuff. I did so when we moved in June, and I did it again when we moved to Denver. This time, I even got W to part with some of his things. It's funny, he's such a simple guy - wears the same 2 fleeces and jeans every day - but he doesn't like getting rid of stuff.

This year I'm trying to get into the practice of owning a few simple, quality items that I love and will get a lot of use:

Clothing: I've come to the realization that for me it's all about comfort. I'm trying to limit my closet to things I will wear regularly, and not buy the occasional use clothes.

Kitchen: I'm refraining from buying ingredients (oils, spices, sauces, canned goods, etc...) that I will not use regularly. If a recipe calls for something I don't have, I try to use a substitute. I want to cook simply but start with fresh ingredients. What we use regularly is: soy sauce, garlic, sesame oil, mirin, salt, fresh ground pepper, olive oil and peanut oil. Right now our refrigerator is filled with mostly produce and I want to keep it that way.

Books: I haven't bought books for personal use in a few years. Most of the books on the shelf belong to W. I love borrowing books from the library, and recently began downloading them onto my phone for free from the library. I rarely read books twice so this works for me.

Above is a photo of one of my favorite kitchen items, a pour over ceramic coffee dripper - we use it almost every day. I love its simple design, and it makes the best coffee.

2/2/09

coffee + spice

after my photography class on saturday, i hopped on the bus and went over to the coffee & tea exchange in lakeview.  they sell coffee, tea and spices by the lb or oz.  


the coffee beans are kept in barrels, like so...


the coffee averages $8/lb.  and the spices you can buy by ounce, averaging about $1/oz, which is amazing considering prices of spices at the supermarket.

i picked up some spices and fair trade organic coffee from mexico.  will and i used our coffee grinder for the first time that day. 

being in lakeview brought back some good memories.  will and i came to chicago over memorial day weekend in 2007 to visit friends, and they lived in lakeview at the time.  i remember walking down broadway and even going into the coffee exchange with will back then.  sometimes i still can't believe i'm actually living here!

although it's been cold and lonely at times, overall i am loving life here!  it's a special time for me and will, making a home and family together in a new city, building new relationships and figuring out life together.

1/17/09

chicago at sunset

my friend hanna has been here for the last few days, out for an interview.  she took these shots by uic.




we went to intelligentsia coffee last night...