Seriously.

I work from home. I relax at home. I eat at home. Basically, I do everything at home. Honestly, I am getting a little stir crazy. 

Today is the day I am going to shake things up. I will work from the cute café I saw on Instagram and have wanted to go to for ages. 

After performing my morning rituals; meditation, journaling, drinking hot water with lemon, walking the pup, and yoga. I showered and contemplated my wardrobe.  I was just going to a café, but it felt like a momentous occasion. I decided to wear a tuxedo… a Canadian tuxedo (denim on denim), that is.

I am currently in love with these dark wide-leg denim trousers. I paired them with a denim shirt, almost the same shade of blue. I pulled my waist-length blonde braids back into a low ponytail that really framed my face and showed off the stunning lapis lazuli and gold herringbone earrings my bestie had just given me for my birthday. The trousers were long, so I had to wear heels, which were not the most practical for navigating the cobblestone streets in the old town, but I would make it work.  I entered my shoe closet and found the perfect pair of rarely-worn Prince of Wales checkered print ankle boots with a gold kitten heel and colorful jewels covering the toe box. Perfect. To complete the outfit, I threw on a beige sleeveless trench coat and grabbed a white leather cross-body bag for my personal affairs while I threw my computer and notebook into grey leather tote. I 

Almost forgot that no outfit is complete without sunglasses and a good lipstick. I was more than happy to use my newest lipstick Ruby New for this special occasion, and last but not least, I added a pair of pale pink sunnies.

I figured Lucky, my adorable beige and grey Bichon Havanese and constant companion, was also eager to leave the house. I put on his cute red harness and loaded him into the car, and off we went. The seven-minute drive into town was uneventful. I parked easily, attached Lucky’s leash, and made my way to the café. It had been quite some time since I had been in that part of town. It was a lovely sunny morning, and I wasn’t the only one out.  The cafes in the square were filled with their regulars sipping their morning coffee. I continued and passed new boutiques and a few art galleries, making a mental note of the ones I would visit later. 

I couldn’t help but notice that strangers were smiling and saying bonjour to me as I passed. And I returned their greetings even though I was caught off guard; because people usually never talk to strangers here. When I happened to catch my reflection in a shop window, I was stunned. I was grinning from ear to ear. You could tell my smile reached my eyes even though I was wearing shades. I looked genuinely content. I couldn’t help but wonder if that was why people were seemingly speaking to me out of nowhere. 

Still wearing my smile, I finally arrived at my destination, a glorious English bookstore and café called Pages & Sips. The smell of blueberry scones, fresh brewing coffee, and a chorus of hellos greeted me as I crossed the threshold. It was a feast for the senses. I didn’t know if I should start at the counter to examine the delectable treats on offer or if I should start with the books. I could already see a few of my favorites lining the shelves. 

Lucky and I decided to explore what was sure to be my new favorite café in town. We walked to the back of the brightly lit place; comfy chairs and tables were tucked away in all the corners. The walls that were not covered with bookshelves were covered with a lovely turquoise wallpaper covered with exotic birds. From the ceiling hung a lavish crystal chandelier. Upstairs there were more cozy couches and tables so that you could really lounge and get lost in a book or work as you saw fit.

Now that I had taken the tour, it was time for me to find my place to get lost in a book or work. It wasn’t the most comfortable chair, but it was in a prime location, next to the bar with all its delicious distractions and in front of a huge picture window facing the street, prime for people watching. I find inspiration wherever I can; I am a writer, after all.

One thing was certain: I needed to get out of the house more.