Art!

I've had a flood! A flood of art, that is. I'm running out of wall space to hang it all, but I will definitely manage! It all looks so good! I've gotten LOTS of new stuff from Sandra Cassibry like mosaic crosses, button crosses, Stone County art, and original prints. I'm betting that her mosaic crosses are the next big hit in Stone County. They are beautiful. I have so much stuff, I've had to completely redo the back room to accommodate all the new pretties!

The weather is getting warmer (thank God), and the drinks are getting colder! If a latte or coffee sound too warm for you, try one of our smoothies, iced lattes, or frappes (frozen coffee drinks). We have lots of flavors and combinations. We also serve an Italian Soda that is to DIE FOR. It's so simple, yet SO good. My favorite cold drink is an iced Blondie. White chocolate with just a hint of hazelnut, espresso, and milk...on ice?! Yes ma'am. It's yummy.

For all my fellow book readers, we are getting more and more books all the time. We have everything from Christian fiction to whimsy and journals. Come check out our growing book inventory!

(Mosaic crosses by Sandra Cassibry)

Pine Hill Celebration

I've been brainstorming about what can bring people in Mocha Giraffe on Pine Hill Day. Here's what I've come up with...

First of all, who doesn't love free stuff? Saturday only, we will be serving FREE frozen lattes. We will be featuring 3 different flavors...Mocha, Java Chip, and Caramel Latte. For those of you who don't like the taste of coffee, we will also have smoothies. And of course, we will lots of PAUL'S PASTRY!!

One of the things that makes Mocha Giraffe stand out among coffee drinkers is the coffee company we use. Jelks Coffee Company has been roasting coffee beans in Shreveport, LA since 1896. Customers seem to love the coffee...I know I do. The 12 ounce bags of Jelks coffee will be on sale for Pine Hill Day. There will be a table set up outside with the coffee and other sale items.

Art lovers will appreciate this next part. I've expressed my love for art and my desire to fill the walls with all kinds of art. If you're thinking of displaying your art in Mocha Giraffe, come take a look at what we already have at our first ever Art Walk. Who knows? You may find yourself inspired.

Regular customers already know the punch card system. You buy a drink, I punch your card, and after 9 purchases, you get the 10th drink free. Saturday only, we will be double punching cards. If you don't already have a card, stop by and get a drink, and you can start out with TWO holes in your card. Simple, right?!

So...summary. Free frozen lattes, sale items, art walk, double punched cards. Sounds like a winner to me.

I'm so excited about Pine Hill Day, and I'm preparing for a huge success! I hope to see you there!

Pine Hill Day!!!

Next weekend is Pine Hill Day, which is always a huge hit for downtown Wiggins. Read more about events and entertainment here: http://www.stonecounty.com/PineHillFestivalOverview.htm

Mocha Giraffe will be OPEN all day, so come see us! We will have sale items, half off lattes, and I'm sure I'll think of more fun specials as the day draws nearer. :)

Book Signing!

We are very pleased to be hosting a book signing this weekend for the authors of "The Longleaf and Me A-Z." Authors Sandra Cassibry, Jeffery Jones, and Kathryn Lewis will be signing their collaborative book this Saturday (March 20) from 12-2pm.

In celebration of this event, we will have half off lattes that day! So come by, buy a book, and drink a latte! We look forward to seeing you!

Also...We have new stock of Sandra Cassibry art. Trust me...it's good stuff. :)

New drinks and a spiffy new layout

If you haven't been by the Mocha Giraffe lately, you're missing out on some major changes! We're adding new drinks left and right...they're definitely worth a try! For instance, new on the shelf today is Creme de Menthe syrup that makes a pretty tasty latte. I know you're probably thinking, "Mint in my coffee? Yuck." BUT...hear me out...it's actually very good. Today I tried the Shamrock Mocha latte which is a chocolate and mint latte. I was doubtful, but I was pleasantly surprised. And with St Patty's day coming up, I smell a new drink of the day in the near future!

We are also featuring a new line of teas in our growing drink repertoire. The Republic of Tea Wellness line has a tea to promote skin clarity, weight loss, hair and nail growth, mood boosting, and even energy. Useful AND yummy! And at $2.50 a cup, you can feel even better about helping yourself.

You may notice upon visiting Mocha Giraffe that the layout has changed a little. We're adding merchandise, changing the arrangement of displays, and making the store feel more cozy. So far, the new layout has been met with positive reviews. But don't take my word for it...come see for yourself!

Hope to see you soon!

The art at Mocha Giraffe

There are many different definitions of "art." You can't just google "art" and expect to find a sufficient result right away. The best definition I found is "The conscious production or arrangement of sounds, colors, forms, movements, or other elements in a manner that affects the sense of beauty." But can you really define art? People study art every day...or rather they study artists and trends in art. But what is it really? Some debate that art cannot be defined at all. I tend to agree.
Art always begins internally. An idea, an emotion, a thought, a feeling, a mood. With the right medium and know-how, these internal stirrings eventually bubble up into something tangible. Into art. In my opinion, art can be anything from a simple macaroni necklace to an extravagant sculpture...and everything in between.
I love art, but not only that...I appreciate it. I appreciate every aspect of the process. That is why I want a wide scope of art at the Mocha Giraffe. I don't want just one style or one medium. I want it all! I hope through my appreciation and the talent of local artists, together we can fill Mocha Giraffe to the brim with art of all kinds.
I believe I have an excellent start to the art collection already at Mocha Giraffe. From paintings by Shanna Luke, barbed wire sculptures by Cydnee Scarborough, jewelry by Lori Storrs, drawings by Sandra Cassibry, to pottery by Christie Ruff and Kathy Myers, yes, we have a lot, but I would LOVE to incorporate more! I challenge all you talented folks out there to show your stuff.
Paintings, sculptures, jewelry, photography, pottery, collages...you name it, I want it. Please let me know if you're interested in putting your art in Mocha Giraffe!

What's going on now

The Mocha Giraffe Coffee Shoppe and Gift Gallery is now owned by yours truly. I figured updating everything that's currently going on at the Mocha G on Facebook would be a little overwhelming. A blog is much more doable. So let's begin...

We are still taking orders for Paul's Pastry and as far as I'm concerned, good ole Paul will be a permanent fixture in Mocha Giraffe. We have been ordering lots of king cakes, but we can order other pastry items, too. Cakes, cookies, cupcakes...you name it. We usually place the orders on Wednesday and pick up on Thursday. If you'd like to place an order, call 928.528.5137.

With new owners come new menu items. Check out our complete drink menu (located at the counter at Mocha Giraffe. And soon to be online, I hope). One big hit new drink is the Mocha Blondie. A latte made with white chocolate sauce and hazelnut...this drink is absolutely de-lish. Hot, cold, or frozen...it's very versatile and verrrrrry good. It's probably my favorite.

Before I became the owner of Mocha Giraffe, one of my favorite aspects of the store was the local artistry. I never dreamed our little town was so jam-packed with such awesome talent. I definitely want to keep the local flair alive and thriving. If you're interested in showing items in our gallery, please contact us! Or if you just want to take a peak at local talent, some names you might see are Shanna Luke, Lori Storrs, Kimberly Davion, Elizabeth Huffmaster, Christie Ruff, Cydnee Scarborough, Sandra Cassibry, and lots more! Our art does not disappoint!

I'll keep you updated as things keep happening. There's lots going on and lots to do, so if I don't post frequently, feel free to call or facebook me questions.

Darci Brewer