Coffee is deemed by most Americans as more than a mere commodity. It’s considered a necessity. In fact, the average American spends over $1000 in coffee consumption per year. That’s a lot of coffee drinkin’! Coffee has been a feel-good, taste-good beverage for hundreds of years. However, it was not always as acceptable to consume as it is now. When coffee first made its debut into the Western world, it was initially met with skepticism. In some places, even the morality of drinking coffee was questioned. That is, until Pope Clement VII took a swig and put his seal of approval on the hot new beverage. Still in some countries, coffee was slow to be looked upon by leaders as “ok.” Like in Sweden. Coffee first arrived in Sweden sometime around 1674 but was used very little until the turn of the 18th century. Then it became in vogue among the wealthy. But, in 1746, an edict was issued by King Gustav III against coffee and tea due to “the misuse and excesses of tea and coffee drinking”. (What would ‘ole Gustav III think of us now days!?) Heavy taxes were levied on consumption. Failure to pay the tax resulted in fines and confiscation of cups and dishes. Later, coffee was banned completely. But, despite the ban, consumption continued. Convicts were forced to drink while watched by doctors to see who dies. It didn’t work. And, eventually, coffee became accepted. Now, we coffee drinkers can enjoy our favorite beverage without …
Category Archives: News
A Fresh, New Season
With Spring comes the sense of freshness, celebration, excitement as the promise of warmer weather and new life begins to slowly unfold, and a desire to start clean again as we see the world around us doing the same. This month, we’ll be featuring some great products to help you refresh, reset and start clean again. Everything from organization to cleaning supplies, we have what you need to get things in order for a new start. We’ll also be highlighting green products in honor of St. Patrick’s Day and special deals that will help you save some green! We think you’ll feel pretty lucky to cash in on current rebates and offers, some of which will also be featured this month. As we look forward to the newness that Spring “cleaning” brings, we want to share the following quotes to bring some inspiration to your day! “A fresh start isn’t a new place, it’s a new mindset.” -Unknown
Lessons Learned from 2020
2020. It felt like three years wrapped in one to many. Others felt it flew by. Some business continued to prosper in the crazy “new-normal-that’s-not-really-normal” brought on with the introduction of COVID. Other businesses struggled. Some had to close completely. As a company, we were thankful to be considered essential, to continue being able to help our customers navigate the murky waters of something none of us had ever faced before, meeting their needs and providing solutions for their businesses to continue to run safely and keep their people employed. But when we heard of customers, friends and neighbors, whose temporary closings ended up becoming permanent, our hearts were grieved. Together with the rest of the world, we were all brought face to face with the reality of life’s frailty and uncertainty, something we had been taking for granted before. As we look back on 2020 and look forward to 2021, let’s try to remember the lessons we’ve learned during the past year, taking them into this new year, and hopefully living wiser, happier and more hopeful lives. Here are a few lessons we feel are worth remembering: Nothing is guaranteed. Things can change very quickly, and things that we had thought would never change did. We aren’t promised tomorrow, and certainly not a tomorrow that will be just the same as today. Since nothing is guaranteed, we should take nothing for granted. Enjoy and be thankful for every moment, every friendship, every family member, every little thing. You sometimes …
A Cup of Cheer
It’s already been said, but this has been a tough year for everyone. People are ready for a bit of reprieve and some joy to relieve the stress of the uncertainties and restraints that have been weighing us all down in one way or another. Whether or not it’s been said with words, our actions have displayed we need a little Christmas. This year not only are stores marketing for Christmas early, but we’ve seen friends and neighbors start decorating for Christmas earlier than ever before- some people even decorating who never really decorated in the past! We’re all getting in line for that “cup of cheer” that Burle Ives sang about in “Holly, Jolly Christmas.” So, in response to that, and in the spirit of the season, we wanted to come up with some ideas for handing out cups of cheer and enjoying some warm mugs of your own, as well! Some of these ideas are more geared toward your community, while others are geared towards friends, and still others towards you and your families. But we think that all of these “cups of cheer” will help you to forget your own troubles, at least for a while, and have a hollier, jollier Christmas. 1. Decorate! (If you haven’t already.) Decorating and stringing lights not only brings cheer to you and your family, but everyone who goes by your house will feel their spirits lift when they see a festive display. It doesn’t have to be a huge display, …
Thankfulness
Needless to say, this year has been quite a wild ride for all of us. None of us entered into 2020 thinking that it would take such a drastic turn. Stress and frustration levels for many have risen as we’ve faced unexpected challenges from something that we’ve had little to no control over. There have been fears for the present and fears for the future in the wake of a pandemic that still carries somewhat of a sense of ambiguity with it and makes for continued uncertainty. Not to mention riots and unrest throughout our nation. With all these events compiling added stress in our personal lives and places of employment, how can we navigate through these uneasy waters and make it through to the other side without developing a dark outlook on life and work? How do we keep these things from closing in around us and casting a dark cloud over our home, work and mental environment? Embrace thankfulness. According to studies conducted by the University of Southern California, along with an article by Amy Morin in Psychology Today, thankfulness, or gratitude, seems to be linked with health and stress relief. Not only that, but gratitude can have a lasting positive effect on the brain and encourage the development of resilience, even after a traumatic experience. Perhaps you would not rate the events of this year and how they’ve affected you as “traumatic.” But then again, maybe you would. Regardless of our circumstances, thankfulness can help us to …
Pet Costume Contest!
It has been an interesting year for all of us so far. Sometimes, in the middle of all the craziness, you just gotta brighten things up a bit and have a little fun! Which is why we are super excited to announce our FIRST EVER Pet Costume Contest! First prize wins 8lbs of assorted chocolates! Second place wins 4lbs assorted chocolates Third place wins 55 packs assorted M&M’s How to enter: Send us a picture of your pet, along with your name, and the name of your company. (Pictures may be sent to us via email, mail, or by posting them on Facebook and tagging @MyOfficeEtc on the photo/post.) Rules: Only one pet picture per contestant. All entries must be received by midnight on October 26th. Winners will be announced on October 29th. If sending your photo via email, send to customerservice@myofficeetc.com If mailing your picture, send to the following address, My Office Etc. 671 Academy Ct, Unit C Windsor, CO 80550 Get creative and let’s have some fun!
Invest in your Community
What is your favorite thing about your community? Is it the friendliness of the people? The fact that you grew up there? The nostalgic feel of the little restaurant that a couple just opened up in an old building downtown? Or maybe the store that’s been owned by the same family for 15+ years and whenever you walk in you are greeted by your first name? Are there improvements you’d like to see happen in your community? Better roads or funding for schools? Nicer parks? Regardless of your answer, the fact is that you care about where you live. You want to see your neighborhood thrive as a safe and prosperous place. You want to see that the children in your area have a safe and pleasant place to grow-up before they make their debut into the world. You know you love your community and you want to support it in whatever way you can. We’ve all heard the popular “Go Local”, “Shop Local”, “Buy Local”, mantras promoting the growth of local, independently owned businesses. But what difference does that really make? Isn’t shopping at those businesses about the same as shopping at national chains? Not anywhere close! It seems that according to studies, the impact is greater than what might be imagined, and the results over time can be better than we think- not just for the local business owners, but for us and our communities, too. Did you know that when you spend money at a local business, …