"The shortest distance between two people is a cup of coffee."
— MOKHTAR ALKHANSHALI
Love yourself first
Guest post by Kylie Johnson “Before I love someone else, I’ve got to love myself.” Recognize that line from the song “Save Myself” by Ed Sheeran? Or maybe you have heard “Lose You To Love Me” by Selena Gomez? Those two songs talk about loving yourself before you get into a romantic relationship. But how do I love myself, and why is […]
Katherine’s Final Four of Gonzaga life lessons
A gust of palpably positive energy sweeps into Indaba, swirling into the espresso air to create something of a blissfully caffeinated breeze. Most eyes look up. As the door closes, there stands a woman clad in stylish jacket, hat and scarf, confidently beaming at everyone in the room like a Spokane Mary Poppins. As she makes her way to the counter, she […]
Can’t keep up the pace? Hope amidst burnout
Isaac Hebden is a runner, but I’m his friend anyway. The other day he told me this terrible story about a time he ran 12 miles in an unfamiliar neighborhood and decided it wasn’t far enough, so he swerved off his planned route with the intention of cutting back over to the area where his final destination waited. When his new path […]
5 spectacular hikes that may be closer than your gym
Rob Fischer has hiked throughout the West, from the Grand Canyon to the Chugach Mountains of Alaska. But the Spokane Valley resident hikes three to five times a week year-round, so his go-to trailheads are about as close as the nearest health club. “I love being outdoors,” Rob said. “I’ve never been a gym person. I’d rather endure the elements any day, […]
A ‘lost pause’? CVHS counselor is proactive about screens
Kara Twining remembers the day everything changed in her work as a high school counselor. It wasn’t connected to her first cyberbullying case or an embarrassing viral video. Those were still to come. Instead, it revolved around a routine change in a student’s class schedule. It was 2008, and she was working at Post Falls High School. Twining shared options with the […]
Three questions to ask your coffee
Insight from Gonzaga’s ‘Coffee Professor’ Professor Stacy Taninchev would love to talk to you about your cup of coffee. No, not about latte art or that crazy-amazing cappuccino that made your week — though as a former Liberty Lake coffee shop owner she would be all ears. Rather, Taninchev has a penchant for getting her Gonzaga University students to percolate on […]
Joe, Mike and the best advice in the Galaxy*
*Galaxy Grind, 12402 E. Saltese Road On Wednesdays, Mike and Joe confront Earth’s cosmic challenges at a Galaxy Grind not very far, far away. What’s wrong, Chewbacca? Not able to make that jump to hyperbole? Fine. Here’s how Mike puts it: “We meet for coffee and cream cheese cinnamon rolls and try to solve the world’s problems.” (The coffee shop is walking […]
The one where Rachel illuminates the Enneagram
Twos, I need your help. A friend of mine is trying to track down a specific T-shirt to wear to an upcoming Enneagram training at his workplace. It reads, “I’m whichever number doesn’t care about the Enneagram.” Yeah, he’s that guy. (Cough: What an Eight! … Or maybe a Four who doesn’t want to be put in a box?) By now, I […]
2019: Year of Positivity … and brain cancer
On New Year’s Day 2019, Scott Hendricks resolved to be more positive. That was before the kidney stone, the stroke and the grand mal seizures. Before doctors found the brain tumor. Before the brain surgery he was kept awake for. Before the chemo. Before the radiation. That was before two weeks ago, when the MRI showed no change. Before the chemo started […]
‘Pura Vida’ — and other lessons from Costa Rica
Three things a Valley trio learned opening a coffee shop far from home Before they wanted to quit 5,000 times, a trio of Spokane Valley residents set out to open a coffee shop in Costa Rica. Since that moment nearly three years ago, a combination of perseverance and “pura vida” resulted in the popular San Ramon destination, Elements Coffee House. It’s a […]
VSCO Girls, Unfiltered: A primer for the rest of us
This summer, I started experiencing symptoms of anxiety I have come to refer to as “Panic! At The VSCO.” But “Stranger Things” happened, and now I have high, high hopes. Yeah, maybe I should explain. It all started when my two daughters, ages teen and tween, began adopting the term, “VSCO Girl” (pronounced like “disco” with a “v”). Were they becoming VSCO […]