Mugs and What Goes in Them

     I don't have a vast mug collection, but rather an assortment of mismatched items bought by myself or someone else travelling. I have a few given as gifts, tucked in with a pound of coffee or holding a gift card. During the enhanced telework period, my team has been sharing our  Mug of the Day, just a little prompt to start our mornings. I started the ritual accidentally by having a different mug over three meetings in a short period, noticed by one of my team. It just became a meeting ice breaker that builds a little work life connection that is not intrusive. So many of mine are Christmas mugs, but are also of the right size to be able to fill and drink through a full hour meeting. 

     If I had more storage, I think I'd like to expand my mug collection so I have more variety to fit my mood and my beverage of choice. For my first coffee of the day, I like a nice wide and deep mug, enough to get a robust and strong coffee, but plenty of room for  cream, or at least milk as I tend to have at home. It needs to be big because I carry it to a comfy spot and am apt to slosh. Not great for carpet or comfy furniture. My Dollar Tree big white mug is preferred, but the Canada mug the girls brought me last summer, or a red mug from my  nephew are next options.

     When I take an honest to goodness tea break, either late morning or mid afternoon, I like to use a mug from somewhere I have or would like to travel. I often use a Chicago or Puerto Rico mug, gifted to me by coworkers, their places of home. I've been to Chicago airports more times than I can count, had a two day meeting outside of Chicago, drove through Chicago on a college visit road tour, and even did a fly in and out same day, but with less than an hour to wonder in the theatre district near the hotel. Why we have not gone to Chicago for plain travel, I don't really know. I suspect we will be road tripping more the next few years, so maybe in our plans. 





     I've had several friendly colleagues over the years who hail from Puerto Rico, and if they are examples of the hospitality shown, I'd love to visit myself. Here's some of the tea we've been enjoying. The box from Fortnum and Mason is long gone but I keep the box and put plain black tea in it. I know, odd, but it reminds me of London.

     My niece had my name for Christmas and this gem came holding some coffee sachets. It's not so obvious Christmas that I'll use ear round. It's another of those nice deep and wide ones. I like the idea of it for a hot cocktail. I'm not a cider drinker, but have decided mulled wine, or even the  fast track version of just warmed wine that has become more available the past few years. Of course the mug is way to big to fill, but cozy for the hand. I wouldn't judge anyone if they did fill it with mulled wine though. 




     My older daughter has been buying me coffee for a while as gift. She knows her mama! In college it was little portions of flavored coffees bought either in Milwaukee or on route home. Here last few international trips she has brought me coffee from Iceland and New Zealand. I guess it has become our thing and I like it. I have an idea for a crafty project with the bags, which is why I still have the Iceland one, long since drank. As you start your day, what do yo gravitate towards? Do you gift mugs and beverages? Are mugs one of your travel memory take homes or simply more clutter?