The past few weeks have been busy for Nathan and I, and with an upcoming trip, time seems to not be enough these days. I leave for the Dominican Republic next week, and Nathan is joining me two weeks later. Although we live together, we want to make sure to spend some extra time together before I depart. Doing some fun activities we both enjoy also helps avoid feeling frustrated and overwhelmed.

So on that note, our Tuesday morning looked a little different this week; we went on a cute breakfast date at our local coffee shop before work, and I am upset we hadn’t gone before!

Johnson Hall Coffee House, a boutique coffee shop in historic Hulmeville Borough, opened its doors in March 2019. The atmosphere was so welcoming and peaceful when we walked in around 8:05 a.m. — as someone who worked at a coffee shop, I can tell you not feeling the stress or frustration of the people behind the counter is one of the first things you notice when entering a business this early.

Nathan and I both ordered a breakfast sandwich (ham, egg and cheese on sourdough for me and on a sesame bagel for him). He opted for a cold brew and I chose a matcha latte for my morning pick-me-up. Originally, we were going to grab our items to go, but it was such a tranquil space that we decided to stay and soak up the beautiful start to the day. We sat at a corner table by the window and admired the warmth of the sunlight coming through, the art by Joshua Adair on the walls and the amazing energy both the guests and team exuded.

What I loved the most about this place is the city vibe it brings; I felt like I was in an artsy Brooklyn coffee shop only three minutes from home.

Although mornings can be rushed and stressful — maybe you hit “snooze” one too many times or you just couldn’t sleep right the night before, maybe you just want to get to work already before traffic — but taking the time to start on your own terms can set the mood for the whole day. Whether it’s catching some morning sun while taking a walk or treating yourself to a breakfast treat, nothing beats starting the day feeling productive.

— Yasser Ogando, production & advertising coordinator