Is this the most welcome, most celebrated New Year’s Day ever??? While I usually take my coffee with a splash of half-and-half, today might call for something extra. Deborah and I want to thank you all for helping us get through 2020 together, and encourage you to visit new blogs in the link up.
Cheers to 2021!
Grab the html code for the coffee date badge here:
Celebrating The New Year
If we were having coffee, I would wish you a Happy New Year! The new year doesn’t mean the pandemic is over or that the coronavirus has disappeared, but the approval of two vaccines does give me hope that 2021 will at least be less unprecedented than 2020.
If we were having coffee, I would tell you how grateful I am for the restaurants that offered new ways to enjoy their food without eating at their establishments–which my husband probably won’t do until he’s vaccinated. Our favorite wine and cheese shop, Cheesetique, started offering “Friday Night Cheese Boards” with optional wine pairings. We really enjoyed the Black Friday cheese board. It came with several cheeses (including that black cheddar!), different types of crackers (including those charcoal crackers), black pepper salami, and blackberry jam, and a bottle of red wine with blackberry notes.
I love how they worked with the theme!
After my husband asked for a white cake with white icing for his birthday (not the chocolate or pound cake I like to make), I clicked on a Facebook ad and discovered a local bakery (MB Bakery) that had pivoted from 100% commercial (baking for hotels and business events) to part direct-to-consumer. I was a bit apprehensive entering the shop through the industrial double doors, but was put at ease by one of the owners who was very welcoming and proud to explain how they had managed to stay open without laying off any employees.
My icing would never look that nice!
After all my holiday baking I won’t need any more sweets for a while, but they also sell wholesome breads and pizza dough ….
If we were having coffee, I would ask if you are making any New Year’s resolutions, or setting any new goals, or choosing a Word for the year? I am not making any New Year’s resolutions. I have vague work goals, but need to figure out how to make them SMART goals so I have a chance of achieving them. Since our fiscal year doesn’t start until February, I’ve got a bit more time to procrastinate come up with a plan. 😉
The word for 2021 that’s bubbled to the surface for me is HOPE, but 2020 has beat that down to “cautiously optimistic.”
In addition to expressing how I am feeling right now, it also captures how I intend to approach new situations and new challenges in the year ahead. I will give myself and others the benefit of the doubt and be cautiously optimistic that things will work out.
What are you looking forward to in 2021?Â
![The Ultimate Coffee Date](http://got2run4me.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ultimate-Coffee-Date.png" "The Ultimate Coffee Date")
Oh my goodness, I need a Cheesetique in my life! I think I would be their best customer.
I wonder how they made that black cheddar?
I love your motto for 2021. With the vaccine, there is hope, but it’s going to take a while. I’m trying to get my parents (in their 80’s) lined up for one, but it’s going to take weeks, if not months, until they get their shots. But at least there’s a silver lining!
Happy new year, Coco!
It’s called charcoal cheddar, so maybe there is charcoal in it? (I’ve learned from work that charcoal is used in some GI medicines so it’s quite safe!)
The reality of vaccination time lines is disappointing but hopefully our time will come!
That cheese board looks so good! There’s a cupcake store here that pivoted and became a “cakerie”. I hope it’s doing well without all the events happening when people would normally want fancy cakes. We’ve been so beaten down in 2020 I’m a little gun shy about a word. But you know what? We SURVIVED and that’s something!
Indeed. Perhaps resiliant would be a word to lean on in the months ahead?
Cautiously optimistic is not only a great mindset, but a great motto and strategy. I had been thinking of a 2021 word, when “Blissful Persistence” popped into my head and refused to leave. So, I embraced it 😉 OMG, that cheeseboard! I want one of those in my life!
Happy New Year, Coco! I am so grateful for the many essential, underpaid, overworked workers that have helped to keep us safe this year.
That cake! I hope it was as yummy as it looks!
My mom & I were discussing being hopeful for 2020, even though as with most storms, we know it is darkest before the dawn and I think that’s where we are right now. It’s just a matter of stay the course. Out of great tragedy can come great good, at least sometimes, and that’s what I am hopeful for.
My word for 2021 finally bubbled up yesterday. 🙂
No words, no goals, no resolutions–I’m just going to roll with the year and see how things turn out. There were so many disappointments last year with cancellations all over the place and I just can’t have that again! I do love how we were able to adapt to the situation–the cakerie is a perfect example! Fingers crossed for smoother seas.
Yes, I am gun shy about making plans that will be canceled. There’s only so much disappointment I can take!
The cake is gorgeous! Ooh I have never had black cheddar cheese but now I want some. I will have to check that out. Cautious optimism is always good. I am not really setting any running or mileage goals yet bc I have no idea what my race schedule will look like. I am aiming for injury prevention at the moment. Happy new year!
Injury prevention is always wise. I need to let my Achilles heal ….
I’ve never seen black cheese before. I’m curious how they make that.
I haven’t really thought of a word, I’m just hoping for a better year and being able to spend time with friends and family. We’re expecting another surge of COVID in the ER now that Christmas has come and now New Years celebrations. Honestly we can’t take much more.
Stay well and Happy New Year!
I am definitely hoping we are getting together in person by the end of this year! We are doing our part staying home. Instead of giving me FOMO, seeing more people going out makes me wants to stay home even more.
Thanks for stopping by. 😉
I have my word but no resolutions (I wouldn’t keep them) and my goals are cautious ones since who knows what 2021 will look like.
I’m excited that my hubby is an essential worker and got his shot!!
Happy New Year.
Great news for your husband! I hope your turn comes soon.
Me too.
It has been amazing to see how restaurants have adapted during the pandemic. Some have been so creative and I love that I’m still able to support them while still staying safe.
I’m still working on my word for 2021 – I’m going to give it some thought this weekend.
We didn’t go out much before and don’t get take-out much (usually once a week) but do care about supporting local restaurants. I’ve got so many new website accounts to manage passwords for!
That cheese board looks amazing!
I like your choice of word and mindset. I’m still mulling over mine. I got so thrown off my game in 2020 that I never really put last year’s word into practice.
Happy New Year Coco!
Yeah, 2020 did a number on us all! I do feel shell-shocked and a bit wary of the year ahead.
I’ve never picked a word for the year, but have occasionally set resolutions in the past. This year is going to be all about trying to stay healthy and injury-free.
Your husband’s cake is gorgeous! Bill and I usually get a Wegman’s ultimate white cake (white cake with white frosting) for our anniversary.
Thanks for the linkup and have a great weekend! Happy New Year!
For better or worse, there’s not a Wegman’s very close to us, but I’ve heard they are amazing.
Ha! I love your “cautiously optimistic” phrase of the year. That cake is beautiful, It is so cool how you have found ways to patronize local establishments during the pandemic. Restaurants in our state are shut down (except for take out) right now.
Ours are open with limited seating, but we’re not risking it.
All I can say is what a year it has been! I’m glad you have found some local eateries to make things seem a little normal. What crazy times.
Getting take-out is the most normal thing we can do!
This has been an interesting year, so I totally agree with the “cautiously optimistic” thinking. I’m not really setting goals this year. I feel like I need to just roll with things for now. Maybe later when life seems more normal.
Exactly!
“Unprecedented” is definitely a word I’ve heard all too much from last year. 😛
I’m still working on my 101 in 1001 but a lotttt of them got derailed in 2020 so I may have to make some new ones! “Cautiously optimistic” definitely sounds like a good one for this year — that’s where I’m at too!
There certainly are words I’d like to not hear again!
Cautiously optimistic is PERFECT! I am hopeful that the vaccine rollout will get better and that by the second half of 2021 we can be on the move again to see friends, enjoy the city and travel again! I sure hope so. I am impressed with Chicago businesses, too! I hope some of the creative solutions will carry on!
It will be interesting to see if the different states keep doing their own thing, or start learning from each other. I do hope we can get vaccinated by summer.
I love that cheese board with a theme. I have been in awe watching small businesses try to adapt to the current situation trying to keep their businesses going. So proud of them. And I really love your words for 2021. I think many of us are feeling the same way. Happy New Year!
Happy New Year! I don’t have a word for the year but in general I am looking forward to growth in 2021! That cake looks absolutely delicious! I’ve been going my best to support local businesses during this time.