An ode to baristas...

Perhaps it is because this lovely new kimono is the color of mocha (my Sbux drink of choice) or the fact that there's a Starbucks across the parking lot from where I took these snaps, but I feel the need to give a shoutout to all the groovy baristas out there! 

When I was in high school, I drank coffee to be cool.  I felt fancy carrying around a hot drink on a cold day, and didn't really think about the people who delivered this experience to me.  In college, I was on a super budget and only interacted with coffee if it was purchased for me or if I had a gift card.  I was never in the same place long enough to develop a relationship with any barista.  When I lived in Paris, it was more of the same.  When I lived in NYC, I was on the biggest budget I'd ever been on in my life, but when I moved back home and ended up working two full-time jobs, I got myself a barista. 

Rather, an entire shop full of them.  They were wonderful.  They knew when to expect me.  They knew just the hit I needed and had it ready for me when I swung through on my 30 minutes between occupations.  We became Facebook friends.  I'd hang out at Starbucks for hours and hours and hours and would chat with each of them when they took their breaks.  And then I realized that I was addicted to espresso and quit cold turkey! 

It wasn't until I worked at Barnes and Noble and they tried to train me in the café that I finally wrapped my head around how difficult it is to be a barista!  Seriously!  There are codes for every drink, but everyone and their mother has their own spin on "their" drink and the morning and fika (snagged this word from Sweden... it's the equivalent of an afternoon jolt) rushes can leave baristas feeling totally, completely drained.  Since many coffee chains are super prevalent, people expect their drink to taste like their drink no matter where they are. I could go on all day about how difficult it is to be a barista, but I'll stop.  

I recently realized that the people I spend the most time with/talking to/texting are baristas and it hit me that it must take a certain sort of person to work in a coffee shop... and I am explicably drawn to said type of person (although, when I think of two of said people, they're actually really different from one another).  

Meh... I'm rambling (haven't had my coffee today).  I guess what I'm trying to say is that baristas are awesome and they have a tough job, so make friends with them and be nice! 

What's sustainable about this outfit? 

: the t-shirt is made from organic hemp

: the earrings are fair trade

: the bracelet is fair trade

Coffee henna kimono c/o The Pinkwell

Treasure trunk earrings c/o Mata Traders

Bengal bangle c/o Sudara

Lotus ring c/o Limbo Jewelry