The combination of a warm beverage and a deep conversation is one that I treasure most in life. Coffee dates could be as short as 30 minutes or as long as 3 hours, but every moment is important and worth remembering. When I'm at school, I try to meet someone for coffee/tea/beverage of choice at least once a day because it's a great way to catch up and a great way to communicate.

Whether the coffee shop is the Barnes and Noble Starbucks at school, the Starbucks off campus, Tandem, Methodical, or any one of my favorite places, there are many parts to the coffee date. There's the standing in line deciding what to order (my favorite Starbucks drink is a tall white mocha with a pump of raspberry), there's the sitting and waiting for the drinks to come, and then there's the best part: the connection made through the simplicity of a drink and a friend.

While I enjoy the taste of coffee and the many different options that these providers of caffeine can offer me, the best part about a coffee date is the person. I am a proponent of individual attention, and I love to interact with one person at a time to really understand and work through life with someone else. These situations allow me to be in my element to listen and absorb another's story and goals without the distraction of multiple conversations.

Comfort is essential to the coffee shop experience, and it is only when I or the other person feel at ease in a space that we can truly relate. This is why coffee shops are aesthetically pleasing to me, from the clean lines of Methodical to the pleasant atmosphere of Starbucks. This adds to the appeal because not only do I have the opportunity to hear and talk through someone else's life, the setting is perfect for any amount of time.

Coffee dates are one of my favorite activities, and I relish the time spent sipping and chatting. I love to discover new shops, new drinks, and new friends. Whether I am talking to someone I've known my whole life or someone I've met that day, I cherish the conversation and the coffee, both of which teach me about myself and my interest in establishing and confirming relationships with other people.

For the Greenville readers, here are some of my favorite coffee shops and drinks:

Starbucks: tall white mocha with a pump of raspberry

Tandem: maple vanilla latte

Coffee Underground: carmanilla

Due South: mocha (or any signature drink)

Methodical: tres leches

Tres Leches at Methodical Coffee in downtown Greenville, SC.

For a new twist on the blog, I will be introducing a Lucky Strike of the Day, every time I post something new. This will be a serendipitous event that happened to me the day of the posting.

Lucky Strike of the Day: My sister and I went on a spontaneous afternoon adventure to Strossner's for coffee, club sandwiches, and cupcakes.