Let's Celebrate 30 years of Cotton Island!!

This little treasure on Hillcrest Avenue (and in Plano) has been like a second home and family to me. I worked there after college, and it has been a blessing for reasons beyond what words could describe. Not to mention, the customers become such sweet friends, the moms are darling (there are even some that come in to talk several mornings a week), and the clothes inside are so beautiful. Warning to your bank account: you are bound to always find something adorable!A spot like this is rare these days, and it reflects the leadership of these precious people: Founder Patty Feinstein and the precious Sheila Harris. They have both been there from the beginning three decades ago, and they still work oh so hard to make this place what it is today. I could never forget to mention Rachel Gutierrez as well, who is such a sweetheart and has invested so much heart into the people here for years!

Go check out the fun things they have going on this month in celebration of 30 wonderful years!!

P.S. One of my favorite things: your purchases will smell like there classic Patchouli scent when you leave!

A Newly Opened Local Treasure: Coffee House Cafe

If you live in the suburbs, you understand the difficulty in finding a cool-atmosphere coffee house that doesn't require driving thirty minutes to the heart of the Big D. All we seem to have is a Starbucks on every corner. Well, suburbanites and city-dwellers (it's worth driving North), I am excited to introduce you to the Coffee House Cafe. It quaintly sits on the corner of Frankford and Preston, and it's starting to gain some notice. This little nook is my new "home" to work from, the perfect place to have a business meeting, and an excellent choice for a brunch date.

Why I love it so much:

1. On a beautiful day, you can sit on the big patio next to the gigantic fire place and sip on some coffee or work on a new business idea.2. You quickly become a regular. The servers learn your name and order. Who doesn't love this?3. They have the best cinnamon tea in the world. The best part: they bring it out to you in the cutest mini teapot.4. The espresso and house blend is 100% certified organic, fair trade, and shade grown, and the coffee flavors are all house made with no preservatives, additives, high fructose corn syrup or other crazy scientific words that are too hard to pronounce. Cool beans!Did I mention their breakfast is sublime? Sitting at the espresso bar, reading the paper, and eating a scrumptious Saturday morning meal has become my family's favorite weekend ritual. What we order: their signature lemon pancakes, eggs and the best gluten free pancakes on the planet. No wonder the hype is high. Check out their extraordinary lunch and dinner menu too. I hope to see you there!