Taking Time for Monthly Reflections

Over the summer, I started sharing monthly reflections in the form of social media posts. Coincidentally, this happened right around the time I wrote my last blog post (and, I realize, the only other one I’ve written for the year.. oops!). I’m not sure what prompted me to begin right at that time, but it’s become a tradition I look forward to, similarly to my end-of-year blog post which I will follow up with a few days from now. This post is a catch-up of sorts as well, seeing that my writing has taken on a shorter format due to other priorities lately.

We moved to Harford County at the end of April, and I attended my first in-person networking event in Harford County in early July. The first few months after moving were spent getting settled in, navigating new routines and schedules, and then heading to the beach for two weeks in June. The summer was a bit slower for my business, so I figured it was the perfect opportunity to get out and about in the community. I joined the Harford County Chamber of Commerce and began seeking out local networking events that fit in my schedule. 

Fast-forward to the end of the calendar year, and I’ve made so many local connections with individuals from different businesses and organizations. I’m grateful for such a supportive community, especially being relatively new to the area (moved about 25 minutes north of Perry Hall). In addition to running my own business, I took on the role as publisher for Macaroni KID Bel Air, a hyper-local digital publication in the area, at the end of July. This role has provided me with another platform to promote local family-friendly businesses and organizations, which pairs well with my work at A Marvelous Spark, LLC. Although I haven’t been writing here as much, I have been keeping up with writing articles through the Macaroni KID Bel Air website, including a few ‘Notes from the Publisher’, which began in October. Same concept for those- a quick recap of recent events and updates, especially since some website viewers aren’t email subscribers, so it’s helpful to have information shared in numerous places.

Since this summer, I have also been on two podcasts (one is on YouTube), having the opportunity to discuss various aspects of branding and marketing. Interestingly, I don’t think AI was touched on in either conversation, so now I’d love to do a follow-up to dig into that topic a bit more… especially as it pertains to authentic marketing, brand voice, and keeping the humanistic qualities in business despite the desire for efficiency. I’ve seen a few ‘predictions’ for the new year as they relate to the future of marketing, and it’s pretty clear that people are craving human-created content because AI has been so prominent this year (not to mention sucking up so many resources). 

Another exciting update is I now have my very own office/studio space at home! With a door! This has been a game-charger for my productivity throughout the day, since I have a designated space to work, away from other distractions in the house. Although it is my office, I also love that it serves as my studio space to create art and to close off when necessary so my unfinished projects aren’t all over the place. There’s still some work to do with organizing, but it’s getting there!

If you’ve been reading my blog for a bit, or even if you haven’t, then I think it’s worth noting that I am still keeping up with highlighting local coffee shops! This all started in the summer of 2023 when I realized I needed some alternative spaces to work. Local coffee shops and cafés have also become my favorite meeting spots for one-to-one meetings, just another perk of having local clients and partnerships. I recently learned how to create my own Google maps, and here are the places I've been over the past 2 years!

On that note, below are a few (new to me) coffee shops from 2025. I included photos, addresses, websites (linked in the name), and a quick recap for each.

Catalog Coffee

914 W 36th St.

Baltimore, MD 21211

This cozy spot is right on the Avenue in Hampden, Baltimore. In addition to great coffee, they have an awesome food menu. In my experience, the tables fill up fast, but I've always managed to snag a spot after a few minutes when meeting here.

Morning Mugs

15 W Hughes St.

Baltimore, MD 21230

I stopped in here for the first time over the summer after a CreativeMornings event (hence posing with my Good Baltimorning bag!). Since I'm not in Baltimore regularly anymore, I made a point to check this place out. I had originally heard about it on Instagram (side note: their social media presence is hilarious). Coincidentally, the podcast I was on right around this same time had previously interviewed the owner of Morning Mugs. He had an interesting story as to how he started his business, which included more about the "Guess the Color" game. IYKYK. View the episode here.

Z Vault

201 S. Main St.

Bel Air, MD 21014

Z Vault in Bel Air has become one of my go-to local spots for in-person meetings. Not only is it just minutes from my house, I also really like the atmosphere. The staff is friendly, there are plenty of places to sit, and they have a great menu. 

Coffee Coffee

5 Bel Air S Pkwy #117

Bel Air, MD 21015

I love the atmosphere of Coffee Coffee, and it's also very close to my house. They have a great food and drink selection, and they also have assorted gift items from local vendors. In my experience, it did get a bit crowded during the times I met people here (mornings during the week).

Aveley Farms Coffee Roasters - The Roastery

9490 Deereco Rd.

Timonium, MD 21093

This is a second location of Aveley Farms, with the other in downtown Towson. I didn't get any other photos because there were a lot of people around when I was there, and I wanted to be mindful of their privacy. Although the indoor space is very large, in my experience, the tables along the walls tend to fill up fast because that's where all the outlets are! It's a great spot for meetings, and there is also outdoor seating available.

The Screaming Bean

3700 Churchville Rd Unit B

Aberdeen, MD 21001

The Screaming Bean has become another favorite local spot in Harford County. It's a little further away from me, but it's a great community spot for meetings and to sit and work. There are some great signs in their bathroom, and yes I'm the weirdo who took the time to take a bunch of photographs. The longer I live in Harford County (8 months ago, to the day!), the more I run into people I know or have met before. This has happened already at this location and the other two Bel Air locations I previously mentioned!

The Comfy Cup

25 Eastern Blvd Suite 98B

Essex, MD 21221

The Comfy Cup opened just a few months ago! When I heard about it recently, I knew I had to pay a visit. I had the opportunity to check it out a few weeks ago since it was a half-way point between my location and those I was meeting with. After living in Perry Hall for the past 9 years, I realized that there weren't/aren't many coffee shops or cafés besides the larger corporations like Dunkin' and Starbucks. The Roast is probably one of the closest. There's something to be said about unique, individually-owned places that have their own personalities and atmosphere. As a small business owner who specializes in visual branding and marketing, I believe that these unique characteristics are crucial for standing out amongst other businesses in the same industry.

I look forward to exploring more local coffee shop & cafés in 2026 and supporting more local businesses/organizations in Harford County!