Weekend Learning's

I enjoy, every little thing.

First sober weekend of the year. If you have been a dedicated Coco reader for over a year, or two… or three (and I greatly thank you for this!). You will know that I always refrain from drinking in January. It is my 'clean slate' start to the year. This year I am enjoying it more than ever and finding it so easy. It might be the fact that I am not doing it alone and my partner-in-crime slash hero slash boyfriend is sticking to it with me or maybe it is the simple fact that I am just loving the cold hard fact that I wake up every morning feeling amazing ready to seize the day and boy do I get a full weekend this way! This is what I learned;

• Retrouvailles (French) The happiness of meeting again after a long time. This weekend was a great 'catch up with friends' weekend.
• The first week back at work is always the longest.
• "There are all kinds of love in this world but never the same love twice." - F Scott Fitzgerald. And I am very, VERY thankful for this blessing.
• I love my new Nespresso! Now that I have mastered the cappuccino, I can call myself the Mini Barista! Well kinda.
• Be kind. Speak truth. Love others. Show grace. Work hard. Be grateful. Follow faith.
• I think I have a little of what I like to call "beginning year blues". It is when the year begins and you miss the holidays and Coco's travel feet start to itch and the pressure starts to push and the wallet has moths… thank goodness I look okay in blue, always the optimist this Coco!
• "When someone else's happiness is your happiness, that is love." - Lana Del Rey.
• There is a kind of strange human truth about the real reason why I love my automatic Merc. I love her because I get to hold your hand instead of changing gears. Better, much better.
• Moemas new breakfast is probably one of the best menus in Jozi. And do you know what they do which is totally magical? The serve macarons with their cappuccinos… yes, OMG! You spoil us Moemas!
• Be careful if you make a woman cry because God counts her tears. The woman came out from his ribs, not from his feet to be walked on, not from his head to be a superior, but from his side to be equal, under the arm to be protected and next to the heart to be loved… perfect quote!
• I like Dog Friendly venues. That is all.
• If you carry bricks from your past relationship you will end up building the same house.
• A little hot summers braai with friends on a Sunday is a great wind down to the weekend, blissful summer months!
• Actually I just woke up one day and decided I didn't want to feel like that anymore, or ever again so I changed. Just like that. 

• There are two people you’ll meet in your life. One will run a finger down the index of who you are and jump straight to the parts of you that peak their interest. The other will take his or her time reading through every one of your chapters and maybe fold corners of you that inspired them most. You will meet these two people; it is a given. It is the third that you’ll never see coming. That one person who not only finishes your sentences, but keeps the book. - I love this so much!

Have a good first week to all of you back at work! And to the rest of you on your second week, the worst is over!

xoxo

PS. The simple pleasure of watching you potter around the kitchen, making me tea. 

5 precious points.

1 comment Barista, boyfriend, coffee, F Scott Fitzgerald, Lana Del Rey, Life Quote, love, Macaroons, Mercedes-Benz, Moemas, Nespresso, quote, weekend

Weekend Learning's

Fairy dust a weekend to be almost perfect...

Doing something random and something you know you probably shouldn’t do on the weekend often leads to a better weekend that expected. Quietly becoming a recluse doesn’t necessarily mean that I’m not leaving the house, it just means I’m not leaving the house with the usual people. This is what I learned;

• I need to spend a Friday night in sometimes in order to get over the ridiculous 70 hour work week I achieved. Sleeping 14 hours is evidence alone that I was... drained.
• Flu will not leave the body until it feels you deserve to be left alone. Two weeks of it was my punishment I guess.
• Holding a banana peel over a bruise for 10 to 30 minutes will remove it's colour... I have yet to try this out.
• I don't forgive people because I'm weak, I forgive them because I am strong enough to know people make mistakes.
• My heart is a beehive, every person I love has their own little hexagon. Sometimes you have to be brave enough to know that some people my not be in your life, but they'll always be in your heart.
• I like, love espresso. The shakes that come with it might be annoying but are definitely worth it.
• Washing my sisters hair because she just had her nails done resulted in uncontrollable laughter, armpit in face and a lot of wet items of clothing. Hysterical, good times.
• Traffic on a Saturday is like having to wear a uniform... or a bra, its just uncomfortable.
• Sometimes you do not realise how lost you really were until you feel like you’ve been found again.
• In "Pinky and the Brain," Brain’s name is supposed to be an acronym for “Biological Recombinant Algorithmic Intelligence Nexus”
• The cure for anything is salt water; sweat, tears, or the ocean. I’ve done the other two, cannot wait to go to the ocean.

Have an amazing two day week loves! Hope you celebrate your Human Rights Day with love.

Xoxo

PS. You make me smile all over my face. 

 

Leave a Comment coffee, Pinky and the Brain, quote, weekend

Weekend Learning's

Swans, Lauren Withrow and making changes, or just painting yourself another colour.

When you spend the weekend being sober and squeezing every waking hour of the weekend doing something constructive you really get one hell of a lengthy weekend. Don’t get me wrong I would love a twelve day weekend but two days might actually be enough.

• The more I detox the more I hate alcohol. Drunk people, I only want to be around my own drunk people, stranger drunks are just annoying. My drunk people are gorgeous! Giggle!
• If only closed minds came with closed mouths.
• I am leaning more and more towards vegetarian, I don’t know what is happening to me either.
• Dancing my sober ass off at Movida for my favourite January babies birthdays is one hell of a workout and a lot of fun.
• I’ve realised that sleeping soundly is often all in the mattress. If I do not like the mattress I probably wont catch a wink... All I want to do is sleeeep.
• Doubleshot Coffee in town on Juta Street has amazing coffee, its a really great location and has an amazing taste. Sippy sippy.
• Running in the morning is one thing. Running in the morning with sore feet from dancing the night before is another. Running with both these thing and anger AND uphill is an entire form or self punishment... I’m feeling it today... Ouch!
• It surprises me when I see people I used to know a long time ago and how they have grown and changed and how beautiful they have become. I am surrounded by swans.
• I’m loving the dark romantic photography of Lauren Withrow. Portfolio two is definitely my favourite. Check it out.
• There are often days when I wish I could wear a “do not disturb” round my neck. Specifically Sundays.
• I found myself doodling on this specific Sunday... Art is the solution to chaos.
• If you’re feeling blue try painting yourself a different colour.
• “She stood in the storm, and when the wind did not blow her way, she adjusted her sails.” Elizabeth Edwards. I am in love with this... I am adjusting my sails.

A good week to all and to all a er... A good night! Ha ha! And Happy Birthday Mummy :) xx

xoxo

PS. You loved me at my best. You left me at my worst. 

I'm thankful...

Leave a Comment coffee, Doubleshot, Juta Street, Lauren Withrow, Movida, photography, quote, running, Sharon Sampson Studio, sleep, vegetarian

Coffee Kids

Is that a Twitter bird on that Soy cup...? Found at {here}

This is so cute! A coffee cup with a little facie. I do not think I would be able to drink out of any of them, that does not mean that I cannot put them on my blog. I still have not found a great coffee place in Jozi which I truly, madly, deeply love. Any hints?

I do know that I am mad about that cute little espresso! Did you know that an espresso has less caffeine than a cup of coffee

A cup of drip brewed coffee has about 115 milligrams of caffeine, an espresso (and percolated coffee) about 80mg, while instant coffee has about 65mg of caffeine. Decaffeinated coffee is not totally caffeine free, containing about 3mg of caffeine. A 8oz can of Coca-Cola has about 23mg of caffeine, Pepsi Cola 25mg, Mountain Dew 36mg, and TAB 31mg. Tea has about 40mg of caffeine, while an ounce of chocolate contains about 20mg.

The first Espresso machine was introduced in 1822 by the French, but it was the Italians who perfected and distributed it.

Crazy! Happy drinking!

Xoxo

PS. I like you percolated ;)

Leave a Comment coffee, Did you know?

Weekend Learnings

It is amazing how Cape Town even looks gorgeous in a collage

I dream of a time when I won't have to say goodbye.

I spent the weekend in Cape Town with my love, celebrating our 4 year anniversary (congrats… thanks!). It was another perfect weekend and even though the weather wasn’t too great (I know right! After my seeking sunshine post… fail) we managed to have the best time. This is what I learned.     

• The more I fly the more I hate it. This is due to the fact that I do not think I have had one flight on time this entire year… and I fly a lot!
• Capetonians seem to be loving the multiple fabric bangle trend… hmmm
• I love virtually unknown discovery and 'Hemelhuis' restaurant is the most surprisingly fantastic little revelation in Waterkant Street. I love their bread served in a wooden bowl.
• Another hole-in-the-wall is the decedent Deluxe Coffee Works. Heavenly, R10, double-shot coffee which is mouth-watering and moreish!
• ‘Despicable Me’ is my animated movie of the year. I laughed through most of it, highly underrated, highly recommended.
• IF watermelon juice is on the menu, it gets a gold star!
• When I am in Jozi, I miss the boyfriend and when I am in Cape Town I miss the puppy… C'est la vie.  
• Even if a place has great reviews, bad service is a big red cross in my book. Sorry.
• I downloaded this awesome app on my BlackBerry called ‘Runtastic’. It uses GPS to track your walk. We walked the Promenade roughly 7km, awesome!
• I still do not understand those little swimmers and dragonfly statues on the Promenade… they’re fun to imitate though.
• Blonde is another fantastic restaurant in Cape Town, their service is great and the menu is out of this world delicious! Warm Chocolate Fondant, mmm!
• When the weather is cold and cloudy the perfect thing to do is wine tastings in Stellenbosch and Waterford Estate is a stunning stop!
• Gino’s (also in Stellenbosch) has the yummiest pizza’s!
• After watching ‘The Social Network’ I now think Mark Zuckerberg is a (insert bad word). I will not tarnish my blog with blasphemy.
• No matter how many times I have them, I still love Café Neo (Greek breakfast) and Arnold's (Brie, Pepperdew and bacon croissant) divine breakfasts!
• 4 years seems like a long time, life flies when you’re having fun, or just in love.
• I’m happier now than I’ve been in a long time.
  

Xoxo

PS.  Life is too short to always be wishing for what you had, rather appreciate what you have because it’s beautiful.

3 comments Cape Town, coffee, Deluxe, Hemelhuis, love, movies, restaurant, The Social Network, Waterford Estate, weekend

A Tally of Two Cities

I'll take both!

Views from the top.

 I love New York. And I love Paris. Even though I've only visited New York, Paris is one of my Bucket list cities. Thus I was highly interested when I was pointed to a comparison of both.

Wonderful Mr Berncreative pointed me in the direction of this modernist design juxtapose between two of the worlds most loved cities. Being a designer who takes to simplicity, these effortless almost cut-out graphics are more than just attractive, they are inspirational!

Two cites which are so different and so complex have been summarized into basic shapes and vectors which dual against each other with charm and swarve. Their almost refined art deco gets the point right across with delicate joy and smiles. 

The artist Vahram says;

"A friendly visual match between those two cities, as seen by a Parisian-based-and-lover on New York: details, clichés and contradictions. This way, please."

Cocobutton loves it.

Check out more here.

xoxo

PS. Mmmm, delicious cities!

Paris and NY, looove coffee!

Simple yet powerful design.

1 comment architecture, cake, coffee, design, New York, Paris

Weekend Learnings

Weekends are few and far between. C'est la vie

Due to major workload and hectic deadlines I missed a whole week of blogging, *cringe! 

I feel as though someone stole my hobby and held it too high above my head so when I jumped to grab it I could not reach. Mean. Anyway! So here are my (one day) weekend learning's! 

Things this weekend taught me:

• I love pretty flowers in brown paper wrapping.
• I’m still in love with Truth Coffee, my favourtie is Dondes Chaos.
• I also love drinking it out of thin, white, porcelain mugs with frothy milk on a Sunday morning.
• Working overtime might be nice if you do not have a life but missing South African Heritage/ Braai Day is not cool.
• This weekend I went to a fabulous New York themed Kitchen Tea and another friend got engaged, love is in the air.
• My garden is growing! Seeing those little shoots with all their different personalities is the most rewarding feeling I have had in a long time.
• You should roast a chicken at 190°C and 45 minutes for every kg... Easy! *tip, add par boiled potatoes and cut onions to the same baking tray 30 mins before you take it out... Nom...

PS. Rest that chickie for 10 mins out of the oven!

xoxo

1 comment coffee, flowers, food, garden, love, New York, recipe, weekend

Bean There, want to do it again!

Logo and cute little shelves full of coffee goodies

Delicious coffee shops who take pride in their trade are rare and far between. And this kind of real coffee is a comfort that I find hard to ignore. Bean There, is a roast to be desired!

She is deep and comforting, warm and alluring and above all should not, in my opinion, be bought off the shelf at P&P. So when discovering Bean There, I could not wait to get my taste buds around one of their exclusive optimal roasts.

Stepping into the the spacious corner store, she’s tucked away at the curious 44 Stanley, I never expected the creative area. The décor is a juxtapose of vintage couches, lampshades and modern photos against the backdrop of shiny metal coffee pots, tall wooden ceilings and shutters and tarty cupcakes under glass bells.

I like buttery, rich and luxurious coffee. I like coffee that tastes like it travelled the world just to find me and make me ‘mmmmmm’ with happy coffee sippings. Bean There does this perfectly! It is relaxed and comfortable enough that you want to stay a little longer. Not like the rush and ‘fast food’ feeling most coffee shops have these days. You can borrow a newspaper and sink into the vintage couch while you wait for your cup o’ Jo.

“With a love for coffee and a passion for the African adventure, Bean There Coffee Company acquires, through direct fair trade, the world’s finest single origin coffee, which is hand-roasted to produce an exclusive optimal roast.” - Bean There Website

Visit the Bean There Coffee Roastery at 44 Stanley for a delicious blend of African coffee and sit and soak in the unique decorations and inspiring design!

Xoxo

PS. Try the iced coffee, she’s blended seduction and yum!! 

Lampshades and bicycle,  i love vintage beauty

Rustic cupcakes, so cute but mad delicious

Couch of dreams

Menu, note: the new iced latte shooter and the marshmallows

A real bean roaster, you cannot imagine the smell, mmm

 

3 comments coffee, Johannesburg, restaurant

Coco & Coffee

I try not to drink coffee. Its bad for you, and it gives me migraines. But like red wine, cheese and chocolate, you cannot honestly expect me to decaffeinate my life of all the good stuff?

The bigger problem is when I discover adorable little perfectly designed guides like this one. *shew.

A Ciitizen’s Guide to the Perfect Pour can only mean one thing, Cocobutton is going to try, rate and find every cup on this list... Cocobutton’s might be schizophrenic and the other blogger in her might infact be Coffeebutton.

I am even considering printing it out, making a little book and and taking it around with me. It will be my guide to discovering the best of each classic little diagram... Hmmm I am brewing over a new project... Watch this pot!

Xoxo

PS. Bringing out the little Barista in me!

2 comments coffee, design, Drink