Host Coffee With Friends the EASY Way

Being a blogger has opened up so many doors for me, and I'm so grateful for the chances to partner with brands I love and to build online friendships with people who get me.

Being a blogger also, however, means sinking into an online existence of social media, hours spent behind the camera and in front of my laptop, and solitary afternoons working on my latest projects.

And there is a part of me that loves all that.

But there is also a part of me that misses the face-to-face time with real-life friends, the casual mornings at home before I was a blogger when a few friends and their little ones would come over and we would drink coffee and catch up.

I've had this swirling in my head for awhile now but kept putting it off, thinking my house was too messy, I wouldn't have time to clean, I didn't have time to bake anything...etc.

And then I had this sort of epiphany.  No one cares if my house is a little messy.  No one cares if I set out purchased food instead of something freshly baked.  All any of us really want is a chance to hang out in person, no communicating over text or e-mail, no dropping off for playdates and running right out to do errands, but simple time together catching up.

So I did just that last week.  And it was so easy.  All I made was a pot of coffee.  I set up a tray in the kitchen with mugs, sugar, cream, and spoons and let everyone help themselves.

I put together a tray the night before loaded with Taste of Nature bars, some sparkling water, and a little bowl of lemons.  Again, self-serve, no-stress, easy entertaining.

I set the coffee to brew before I left for preschool drop-off and when I got home I placed the tray on the coffee table and sat back to sip my own coffee.

It doesn't get much easier than that and chatting with friends in such a laid-back way reminded me how much I miss this kind of thing.  And also that I should make the little bit of effort it takes to do this more often!

I loved using Taste of Nature bars as the snack for this gathering for so many reasons.  They fit perfectly into my overall food philosophy - healthy and delicious!  Their motto is "Real Tastes Good," and I mean...this could be my motto when it comes to eating and feeding my family.  I never buy food for us with artificial ingredients and I only share products here with you that I truly love.

All Taste of Nature bars are certified organic, gluten-free, certified non-GMO project verified, and include nuts, fruits and grains.  Nothing artificial, no fillers, no chemicals.

The flavors we taste-tested were Brazilian Nut Festival, California Almond Valley, Quebec Cranberry Carnival, Canadian Maple Forest (my favorite!), Himalayan Goji Summit, and Persian Pomegranate Garden.

The Taste of Nature bars retail for $1.99 each and you can search for places to buy them HERE.  If you're around Boston like I am, you can get them at Cambridge Naturals and Pemberton Farms, both in Cambridge, MA.

This was a great reminder for me that in our, and perhaps my in particular, increasingly digital, online world, it is such a needed recharge to sit down with friends in person and just talk over coffee.  And with something as delicious and healthy as Taste of Nature bars available, you can have a snack set out that you feel great about AND only requires you to open a box :)

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!  And thank you for supporting the companies that make this blog possible!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

* * * * * * *

 LET'S STAY IN TOUCH!