A few months ago, I worried I’d never feature all of the mugs I own as Mug Moments™️ because I kept spotlighting guest mugs. I shouldn’t have worried - I bought more mugs.
Just like books, mugs are an endless source of joy for me. My mom gifted me a few Starbucks mugs1 when I went to college. Along with a small hot water heater (which was technically illegal whoops), I had a cup of tea in them every morning. I’ve never liked coffee; it’s always been tea.
It’s not that I have a vendetta against coffee; other warm beverages are similarly satisfying. Hot chocolate, hot apple cider, chai lattes, I am an equal opportunist warm beverage purveyor. I just have a wicked low caffeine tolerance. One time I drank 5 cups of green tea in one day (generously, 1 and a half cups of coffee) and thought I was going to die. Does this have something to do with my EDS? Probably. Who knows. I don’t really care at this point, and the only way it impacts me is that I can’t take more than 1 Excedrin at a time because of the aforementioned feeling like I’m going to die. And before you ask, I can’t drink black tea because of a tannin allergy,2 so herbal and green is where I’m at.
What, you ask yourself, does this have to do with books?
Well, I drink tea when I read. And obviously, I drink the tea in a mug. So books and round, warm beverages are inextricably linked in my mind. Sure, I might also drink tea while doing my actual job or reading email, but nothing brings me greater joy than sitting down on a comfy piece of furniture, wrapped in a fuzzy blanket, with a mug of tea and book in hand.
So today, I honor some of the unsung heroes of keeping me motivated and moving through books and words alike.
The Peace of the Stars Seemed Permanent - Owlcrate
Featuring a cameo from a ceramic Dalmatian piggy bank
This veritable MUG (basically a soup bowl) came from that time in July when I was dogsitting and discovered Owlcrate and welp they gave me a coupon and had mugs so. There really was no other option than to buy one, was there?
I like this one because it is gigantic. It really is about the right size if you wanted to use it as a soup bowl, if you do that sort of thing. (I do not do that sort of thing.) While it is winter themed and we are still summer adjacent, it matched both my outfit and my living room vibes. 10/10.Love you a Latte - FabFitFun
Featuring a cameo by the ‘Don’t Ban Me’ book sticker I got at the NYPL
I tend to try things at least once. And I did try the subscription box FabFitFun because, once again, I had a coupon. After a few boxes I realized it was just…extra stuff…and I canceled it, but not before getting this mug which is perfect.Fancy flower mug - Anthropologie
Featuring a cameo by the tealight spinner I got last winter and said I’d never be able to figure out how to assemble
I don’t shop at Anthropologie any more, but every year, they send me a coupon for my birthday. And every year, I am sucked back in to looking at their website to see what I could get on sale. This year, it was a very pretty, lilac lilypad. It is a little small, which is fine for using those Teavana cone tea bags.
I generally enjoy my ‘other’ desk, but I did wish it had a different view. I have it set up to be so atmospheric and it…overlooks a parking lot. No wonder I have my ‘work’ desk facing a wall.
Virgo Mug - Le Creuset
Featuring a cameo by a Trader Joe’s candle
First of all, did you know Trader Joe’s has candles? Trader Joe’s has candles. And they’re seasonal. One of their current scents, Harvest Apple, is my JAM. It smells so good. Very apply, but also tart. 10/10.
Normally, us Virgos are given the short end of the stick when given Zodiac drawings. We’re always portrayed as these flower maidens, which is fine, and ABSOLUTELY could be so much worse.3 But I generally don’t buy Virgo monogrammed things because a gal only needs so many flower clothes/accessories/accoutrements you know? So when I saw this Le Creuset mug I was pleasantly surprised by the imagery and that this wasn’t a Scorpion tale being depicted. Oh, just a lady with cool hair? Count me in!
Do not worry, my friends, there are many more mugs waiting their turn for their moment in the sun. Fear not that this was an elegy to my weekly series.
May your mugs be filled with your beverage of choice this week, and while I don’t understand iced coffee, I respect your right to drink it in a mug. Until next time, when I’ll have some thoughts on unreliable Polish lady (narrators), akin to my earlier examination of miserable Italian ladies.
They have yet to make an appearance in the Mug Moment of the week yet.
That I discovered when studying abroad because I’m allergic to wine. Yes, you read that correctly. No one will ever be sadder about this than whichever waiter I am explaining it to.
Condolences, Scorpios.