Here’s Why A Coffee Date With Your Bestie Will Solve All Your Problems (At Least Temporarily)
Picture this: you’ve been swamped at work and have been struggling to juggle all the things that need to get done. Your to-do list seems to be never-ending, but there’s a small glimmer of hope penciled in towards the end of your week. It’s a coffee date with a friend, and it’s already providing a soothing balm to the craziness of your week. You’ve picked out an outfit that you love, and you’re headed to a cafe with great vibes. The environment makes you feel at ease, and you know the conversation you’re about to have over lattes and croissants will make you forget your troubles, one sip at a time.
We’re Kristen and Sadie, and we both know the magic of a cute fit, a matching mani and a coffee date with your girlfriends. So much so that we created the handle @manimeetscoffee on Instagram, as a way to explore DC area coffee shops, all while looking and feeling our best. Mani Meets Coffee is about the joy in connecting with your besties over a fun drink in a cute place, and we believe that carving out intentional time for yourself and your friends is essential to your own well-being. Listen — we’re pros at romanticizing life. We’re all about main character energy, and we want you to be too! Read on for a few of the reasons why we think a coffee date with your bestie will solve all your problems — at least temporarily.
Face-to-face time is better than texting
Staying connected to loved ones is now easier than ever. It takes two seconds to send a text or pick up the phone (do people even talk on the phone anymore?), but let’s be real — nothing compares to spending actual time, in-person with a friend. Texting is fun for quick communication, of course, but you miss things like body language and non-verbal cues that come with sitting across from someone, and you can’t compliment them on their cutie outfit and mani unless you see it! Do yourself a favor and take the convo that’s stuck in your phone out in the real world. Might we suggest a trip to Laduree Paris? The small cafe in Bethesda offers afternoon tea, and it’s the perfect spot for an extra special coffee date. You have the option of choosing coffee, tea or hot chocolate, and the teatime menu offers an array of macarons, tea sandwiches and pastries. The coffee and food are delicious and the cafe is beautifully decorated. It is quite small though, so be sure to make a reservation to ensure you snag a table!
Having an excuse to dress up and get out of the house is fun!
The difference between a phone catch-up with a friend and a coffee date is the coffee date can be an event. Don’t you love the feeling of wearing an outfit that makes you feel confident and put together? If you’re a stay at home mom, or just someone who works from home, you know how easy it is to stay cooped up inside. Having a date in the calendar gives you something to look forward to, and is a fun way to switch up your routine.
While dressing up is of course, optional, we totally recommend putting on an outfit that makes you feel great, and pairing it with painted nails. Whether it’s a dress with heels or a matching set and sneakers, taking the time to get ready always makes us feel good, and we always feel a bit more put together with manicured nails. You can even let the cafe you choose inspire your wardrobe! The rustic decor, floral accents and iconic blue and white plates and cups at Maman make us feel like pulling out our best French inspired wardrobe pieces, and pairing a classic fit with a neutral, clean mani, like Kristen’s sheer pink mani shown here, courtesy of Glosslabs.
Prioritizing friendships is good for your health
Believe it or not- making time for coffee dates with friends is good for your health and there are countless studies to back this up. UNC-Chapel Hill researchers have reported that social networks are as important as exercise and diet. According to the National Institute on Aging the health risks of prolonged isolation are equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day and similarly, isolation and loneliness have even been estimated to shorten a life span by up to 15 years. The CDC also states that research suggests strong social ties are linked to a longer life.
In this day and age so many people are struggling with the mental health effects of loneliness. Connecting with someone who you are close to and sharing your life- the good and the bad- can help reduce stress and anxiety, not to mention getting dressed up and having somewhere fun to go can release dopamine, “the feel-good hormone” resulting in a feeling of happiness. This means getting coffee with your bestie can literally make you happier and help you live a longer and healthier life!
It gives you an opportunity to try new things and discover new places
If you’re anything like us, you love exploring new places, discovering new hidden gems or finding a new specialty latte or trying a new pastry. One of the things we try to emphasize with Mani Meets Coffee is showcasing new things that excite us. Finding a new coffee shop or drink can help you step out of your routine and switch it up. This keeps life exciting and creates opportunity for the unexpected.
Seasonal menu items are a great way to try new things that you wouldn’t typically go for. Foxtrot’s summer specialty tiramisu latte was an unexpected favorite. On first glance it sounds like an espresso flavored latte, but we really loved how it was perfectly layered just like the espresso flavored dessert. It’s dusted with cocoa powder and the cold foam we swear tastes just like the delicious whipped vanilla-mascarpone. Each sip tastes like tiramisu itself. We don’t know how Foxtrot does it but this seasonal latte was such a delightful treat! Trying new things is a great way to keep life exciting and enjoy the little things in life.
Mani Meets Coffee is a lifestyle brand created by Kristen Garaffo and Sadie Albert. Born from their mutual love of drinking coffee and indulging in self-care, they love exploring coffee shops in the DMV area and romanticizing their experiences. Kristen and Sadie both write on their own, but Mani Meets Coffee gives them a space to use their friendship and shared interests to create something new. When Kristen isn’t sipping on iced coffee, you can usually find her crushing a Crossfit workout, designing her next dream space, and blasting Taylor Swift, while you can find Sadie hitting a new PR at the gym, making different niche playlists on Spotify and learning more about astrology.
