Cupcakes with Coffee - Back to School Season

You know what I love about back-to-school season? It’s the school supplies—and I make zero apologies for it. Even if my once young school-aged child is now a grown-up too, I still get giddy in the back-to-school section of my local stores.

There’s just something magical about a fresh notebook/journal (hint, hint this one or this one). New pens that glide like a dream. Highlighters that make me feel like I’ve got my life together (even when I absolutely don’t). And those beloved Crayola Crayons - oh, how your scent makes my heart soar. Back-to-school aisles are my happy place. Give me a cart, a latte, and thirty minutes alone in the Target stationery section and I’m practically healed.

Here’s the thing: School supplies don’t care how old you are. You can be 9, 19, or 49 and still get excited over stickers, planners, and perfectly sharp pencils. Back-to-school season is for anyone who wants a fresh start—a permission slip to reset, organize (or pretend to), and believe for a hot second that maybe THIS fall will be your productive era.

It’s not about perfection—it's about the feeling of possibility.

So buy the notebook, grab the cute pens, and romanticize your to-do list. Because sometimes a little stationery self-care is exactly what you need to get back on track. New pens won’t fix your life… but they sure make the mess look prettier.

And when in doubt? Do it anyway. Messy handwriting and all because stationery is cheaper than therapy…

Let’s do it anyway.

Love, Kate

P.S. And just between us? I went in for one pen and left with enough supplies to open a small office. Zero regrets. 

Now, onto cupcakes.

Cupcakes with Coffee Style:

Cupcakes are tiny acts of joy—soft, sweet reminders that life doesn’t have to be big or perfect to be worth celebrating. They’re the reward after a hard day (mid-day, if necessary), the comfort during a messy one, and pure bliss in edible form. Paired with a good cup of coffee, they’re not just dessert—they’re a moment of pause, a little cheer, and sometimes, the reason you keep going.

For this cupcake, pair it with a strong shot of espresso. You deserve it after all that back-to-school shopping. Try Colombian beans.

Click here for some really good tips & details for picking the best coffee beans for espresso.

A little tidbit:

A shot of espresso is a concentrated coffee beverage made by forcing hot water through finely-ground coffee under pressure. A single shot is typically 1 ounce and contains 7 to 9 grams of coffee. Espresso is known for its rich flavor, velvety texture, and a layer of creamy crema on top. It serves as the base for many popular coffee drinks, such as lattes and cappuccinos.

Back-to-school season isn’t just for kids—it’s for anyone who loves a fresh start and a cute notebook. You don’t have to have your life perfectly organized, but you can have a killer set of pens and a planner that makes you feel like you do. New season, new supplies, same messy magic. Do it anyway—and make it look adorable while you’re at it.