After having surgery in February I was only able to have decaf coffee. A couple of weeks following the surgery I went to Chromatic Coffee Co. for the first time. I mentioned to the lady working there that I also can’t have any dairy and she recommended a decaf latte with almond milk which was really delicious. She also gave me a complimentary bag of decaf coffee to try at home as well. As I sat outside and enjoyed my latte I was inspired to create a gift box for Mother’s Day that would include Chromatic Coffee Co. I decided that the Build a Take Care Box would offer choices of items from small businesses in San Jose around the theme of taking care of yourself and the environment.
The first item offered in the Take Care Box was a 12 oz. bag of Columbia Sugar Cane decaf coffee from Chromatic Coffee Co. with notes of nectarine, toffee, & cookies. Chromatic Coffee Co. blends meticulous craft coffee-making with a friendly and accessible approach with their customers. Located at Midtown Artist Mercantile Building in downtown San Jose.
To go along with the bag of coffee was a Chromatic Coffee Co. Gamut Bar included from Charlotte Truffles, for enjoying some chocolate time. The Gamut Bar is a collaboration bar with Chromatic's Gamut Coffee beans. Charolette Truffles is about creating diversity with flavors.
The next item offered was a Bee-Cause Mini Travel Bar in a cute metal tin by Philanthrobee for taking care of your skin. The BeeCause Body Bar works with your body heat to melt into your skin, using the power of natural bee products to soothe, replenish moisture, promote skin health, and protect against damage. Philanthrobee Skincare products have been hand crafted with raw ingredients derived from our honey bee apiaries in San Jose. The "Farm to Table" concept has never been better achieved. Sold at Three Sisters in the Willow Glen.
For keeping your lips moisturized I offered a Primal Well Milkshake lip balm from The Source Zero. Made with beeswax, cocoa butter, shea butter, avocado butter, jojoba oil, almond oil, coconut oil, and essential oils. In biodegradable and compostable cardboard packaging, these lip balms are the best choice you could make for your lips and the ocean! The Source Zero is a soap refill bar with other daily essentials that are earth conscious, locally made, and well crafted for longevity. Located at the Moment Pop-Up Shops in downtown San Jose.
I also inlcuded this lovely Basil Sage Mint Hand-Poured Soy Candle by Lighten Up Shoppe Candle from Fractal Flora. Lighten Up Shoppe candles are made with soy wax and cotton wicks. They are whimsically scented with a blend of essential oils and fragrance oils. They are fragrant, but not overwhelming or overpowering, for lighting a candle and enjoying some bath time! Fractal Flora is where people and plants coexist and they benefit richly from one another. This florist has created a place of exploration for people to come and nurture their curiosity for plant life. They encourage whimsical, mystical, and eternal storytelling through their customizable terrariums allowing customers to escape to places they have visited. Check out their new location in the Rose Garden neighborhood in San Jose.
The last item offered in the Take Care Box for taking a break and enjoying a treat! This delicious Organic Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie with 66% chocolate from Christine’s Cookie Co. is consciously made in small batches right here in San Jose. Also known as Simply by Christine @simplybychristine author of the book Sustainable Home, who I met in 2018 when I did my “Viva La San Jose” event in Downtown San Jose. SInce then she has started an organic cookie company. I went to one of her first pop-up shop events at the The Source Zero. I tried her Organic Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie. We chatted about how her cookies would be a perfect addition for the Take Care Box. She even hand delivered the fresh baked cookies to my home.
To continue with the theme of taking care of yourself, I am currently working on a Zen Day event in Saratoga Village for Spring 2022. I was inspired by Hakone Gardens in Saratoga and my Zen Area in our backyard. Stay tuned, it will be a nice and relaxing day!
