For Fellow Coffee Aficionados

I was very impressed to find that Seaside is home to a small batch coffee roasting company, Acme Coffee. Their coffee is used all over Monterey but you can get coffee and beans right from their roasting factory. The staff is a bunch of guys who look like bikers and talk about rock music. They are very cool. With every purchase of coffee beans or ground, you get a free small cup of coffee. I always use the free cup to try a different blend for the next visit. We are totally addicted to their coffee. Their place is tucked away between DelMonte and Freemont. The best way to get in is to turn onto Broadway from DelMonte and make a quick right onto Contra Costa. Acme parking is fenced in an there is room for four to five cars. They are open from 0630-1600 Monday to Friday, and from 0700 to 1600 Saturdays. They are closed on Sundays. Their vibe is definitely to support local merchants. The only down side is that there isn't a lot of indoor seating. There are only a few lawn chairs out in the parking lot which doesn't make for a good view. However, the coffee is definitely worth it! Here is a map of how to get there from their website.














All images from www.acmecoffeeroasting.com

Big Box Retail Breakdown

For those that move to the area and want to get oriented, here is a map with all the big box in the area. Within fifteen minutes, there is a WalMart, Home Depot, two Targets, and a World Market. I find that most of these places have cheaper prices than the PX. The PX will match any price for things, but sometimes it is more of a hassle to go and prove you paid less money for something else. Plus, some of the stores open really early, which was helpful for me when I would drop off my husband to work between 5 and 6am. There's nothing like getting an early start to the day. So if you need to run out and get some things, I hope this map helps. Also, there's a Dollar Tree on Freemont which I found very helpful, especially during Christmas time! Happy shopping :)

Perfect Gifts for that Special Someone

Valentine's Day is just around the corner and if you are stumped for what to get for a certain special lady, I just found a precious place out in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Ajne Perfumerie is an adorable boutique perfume house using only all natural ingredients. After a long (and I mean 5 year) search for a fragrance I could stick with, I spent half an hour with Jane, the owner of the store, trying different fragrances and finding one that is just perfect for me. Larger perfume bottles (0.5-1 oz) do run a bit of money (about $100-125) but there are a variety of gifts that are more reasonable. There are $50 perfume necklaces, featured in a number of beauty magazines, as well as shower gel, solid lotions, and candles. Peruse the collection at http://www.ajne.com/. The store is located in Carmel, in the Court of the Fountains (Mission at 7th behind Anton & Michel). Hurry over there for a gift that will be sure to tell her she's special.