Hi guys! It’s Wednesday and the day before Thanksgiving here in America. I’ve been reflecting a lot on life over the last year, reading your survey answers and taking them to heart (if you haven’t yet, you can still answer here– just 6 questions!), and am honestly trying to get a sense of where I am right now, so I created a free printable that encourages me and you to keep pressing on. I wanted to also take this moment to show you my less breakable french press, which inspired this print! (I received this press from Uncommon Goods in exchange for this post today; all opinions are my own.)
A month ago, I was washing my glass French press in the sink, when it slipped from my hands and shattered. At another time this past year, Chris had broken the glass press, so this was our second… what can I say? Delicate items are not meant for us. I decided it was time to get one that would be a little more durable and came across this clay press from Uncommon Goods. I fell in love with the look of it with its dark earthy clay and organic feeling wooden accents. And as I mentioned Monday, I love everything that their company stands for.
Their website states, “Made with Yixing clay–an ancient material native to China–this modernist coffee set is steeped in history and culture. This lovely violet clay was discovered around Taihu in Jiangsu during the Northern Song Dynasty, around 1,000–1,200 A.D. When fired, it assumes a fine and sandy texture that maintains the temperature of hot drinks longer than ordinary ceramics. Teapots made out of Yixing, or Zisha, clay are highly prized because their unglazed surface absorbs traces of the beverage, creating a more complex flavor.” I wasn’t sure it would affect my coffee’s flavor, but I liked the look and thickness of it. Sidenote: It is clay so still breakable… just not as fragile and as delicate as thin glass!
I’ve now been using this press exclusively for my coffee for a few weeks and can honestly say that I can taste a difference and my coffee is more flavorful. As someone who drinks it black, I would notice the difference. It’s also so pretty that I keep it out on my counter at all times. You may have spied it last week when I shared my open shelving in their new earthier tones.
Now, let’s get back to that free printable… With the new press in place and Fall decor coming to an end (I had previously had my “Fall is My Jam” printable here), it was time to update the print in the frame. I wanted to create my own and wasn’t quite ready to transition to Christmas so I decided that a coffee print would be just the thing.
I’m also feeling that I am at a very “weird” place in life right now, to be perfectly honest. I am so happy that I am not a shop owner anymore and don’t miss it, but I am feeling slightly lost and unsure of which direction I am heading. The joy I feel in being home for my kids more, and to not be stressing about getting furniture or vintage pieces for the barn at this season of my life is tremendous. I honestly don’t miss the work, but I feel sort of a “What now?” looming around me. Being completely transparent with you, I would really like to make more of a career out of this blog, but I am feeling slightly discouraged with the way things have been going over the last couple months. All of these awkward feelings coupled with my new press lead me to create a “Keep on pressing on” printable for myself and for you. It’s a reminder to myself to keep trying and keep going for it… so for now, that’s what I will do.
I have created this printable and have made it available for free to you! Click here to download your copy.
And I hope that wherever you are in life, you will also keep pressing on. We can all encourage one another to continue pushing forward to get through these times. But don’t forget to stop and smell the coffee along the way! 😉
If you are shopping for the coffee lover in your life, check out my gift guide here!
Thank you to Uncommon Goods for providing me with this coffee press!
