Starbucks or bust

This is what a week in California on a 5-Day Clubs team along with Ms. Barista herself, Kelsey Harry, have done to me. I now drink coffee, know (for the most part) how to make a proper order and how to personlize my drink. I was hoping and didn't think that it would go beyond the Cali trip but I was wrong. I told myself I was just going to have one more coffee drink to sort of ween myself off of the stuff when I called Bekah up the other night and asked her if she wanted to meet at 'bucks for coffee. Then I realized this morning as I was ordering my grande house coffee with sf vanilla that I was hooked...dang it.

Now, I have been drinking at starbucks off and on now for awhile but I would definitely not call myself a regular. Two reasons why I have stayed away from ordering much coffee from starbucks (or anywhere for that matter) is 1) the caffeine and more importantly 2) that the majority of their drinks are chock full of sugar and cream, making them very calorie dense and nutritionally lacking. Now don't let my babbling deter you from enjoying you grande non-fat black and white mocha frappacino or whatever it is that you love to get. This is just my weird health concious behavior kicking in. I know I'm totally boring when it comes to what I order at Starbucks but my drink list has expanded to more than just their Green and Passion teas. Coffee is good and caffeine is not bad, in fact I think there are studies out there now that are saying its good to get a bit of caffeine on a daily basis. It is probably a bit better to get your caffeine from green tea since it has more antioxidants. All that to say, coffee is good so get out there and enjoy it. I have now discovered that I love to get their brewed coffee (iced on hot days and warm evenings) with sugar free vanilla and hazelnut and no milk. It can be a bit bitter but for some unknown reason I am just totally drawn to it.

Anyone feel like sharing their favorite drinks? Oh, I also think its fun to order drinks at starbucks, you get to say this whole list of things and (anther weird Tabs moment) it makes me feel cool, like I'm in a movie or something. Maybe thats why I like to drink coffee. Sometimes I can be such a follower, it just usually takes me awhile to catch on so very slow and following waaaaay behind everyone else.

I have to admit to something though. I feel kind of bad having Coffee People around and it being a northwest coffee shop and all. I feel like I should be supporting the local people, but none of my friends drink there. No one says, "Let's meet at Coffee People." It's always, "Let's meet at Starbucks" even if they have already been to Starbucks early that day or have plans to meet there later with someone else. But since starbucks is everywhere, I like knowing that I can go anywhere in the world, order my regular and know with confidence that it will be the same as if I had ordered it at the drive-thru in Gresham. So why bother going anywhere else when I am just fine with Starbucks? Okay, I feel better now that I have shared my feelings and talked through them with you (don't worry though, I don't mind going to those random hole-in-the-wall, off-the-beaten-path coffee shops that are just so cute that you can't pass up).

So, Anyone have any thoughts on that dilema that is no longer? Please share your fave drinks, I love to hear personalized coffee orders, they're just so fun. :)

Well, everyone, have a great day!!

Tabs
41 more days till "Hawaii, here we come!!!"

**Little side note: as I am sitting here typing and most definitely feeling the after-effects of my grande coffee, I realize from now on I should just stick with a tall coffee. Now that I am not drinking caffeine on a daily basis and am not using/needing it quite like I was in Cali, I don't need so much (not when I'm sitting at my desk for most of the day at least). It makes me a bit too jittery...hehehe

TOTALLY AWESOME, DUDE!

I just saw the coolest thing that has me very excited for the new year...the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle movie. Its a cartoon this time but it looks like its going to be good and I can't wait to see it!

I sure did love those movies. Those turtles were awesome! Anyone else remember them? I had this totally cool green camera that put a little outline of a ninja turtle on every picture it took. Loved that camera!

Hey everyone!

Sorry I have sort of fallen off the face of the planet for awhile. I haven't had the time, pictures, or the energy to post anything lately. But I'm starting to not check other's blogs because I'm so embarrassed about my lack of posting, so I know it's time to at least write a few words to my captive audience and let you know that I am still alive and maybe give a small insight into things that are happening right now.

We are leaving for Out of Town 5-Day clubs on Friday (at the butt-crack of dawn) and heading down to Southern California for 10 days. We'll do vacation bible school type stuff, a service project or two, hit the beach and go to Disneyland so it will be a busy, fun pack time. But with this trip comes lots of planning and preperation so it's been rather crazy around here (especially for me since this is my first time to do ANYTHING with 5-day clubs). These last few weeks had had their share of crazy hectic moments (figuring out the teams over and over and over and....you get the picture; reserving white topped/tinted windowed school buses for us all to ride in down to Cali, that should be interesting...but fun of course; and my favorite: calling Disneyland and Hertz roughly 5,000 times and asking about that many questions and in the process, becoming best friends with Gus and Jared, respectively). The thing with big events like this or any other, the world doesn't stop so that you can get everything taken care of for this event and then move onto something else. There are still other things that are going on that need attention and that is where the fun really sets in. :) Oh well, that's the joys of having a job. Thank the wonderful Lord that I love my job and work with absolutely fabulous people!. Besides all of that, I am so excited and nervous and aprehensive and just a jumble of all sorts of emotions about going to California. I know its going to be a blast but then I know also that I'm going to be a leader so that makes it a little different for me. I've never been a leader for something like this so it throws a whole new spin on the experience and the nervousness I'm feeling. If you don't mind, could you say a prayer for all the teams (there are 4) that will be going to Cali this Friday? That would be greatly appreciated! Just pray for safety, compatability, and that the Lord will work through these kids (and that they allow the Lord to work through them) and that lives are touched through what we go down there and do. Also, please pray for me as I step once again out of my comfort zone and do something that is very different for me. Thank you all so much, you are awesome!

The other thing that is going on right now is that I'm moving at the end of the month. Fun times! I get back from Cali, have to go to work and then move. Yay me! That should be interesting. I'm house sitting for a month (August) and then I don't know what I'm going to be doing. But don't you worry, I'll keep you updated on that situation.

Bekah is finally home and that is so awesome! I got to go to the airport and see her come home which was really fun! She definitely cried (sorry Bekah, but I had to tell). We've gotten to hang out a few times since she's been home and it has been so much fun to hear all her stories and ask all the questions that I've been wanting ask all year long. Unfortunately we haven't gotten a picture together yet but she's thinking of stopping by the office today so we'll see if we can remedy that.

I think that's all I have for right now. I hope things are going well with all of you! You won't hear from me for a while (I'll be in Cali next week) but hopefully when I get back I'll be able to post a few pictures from our trip.

Love you all! God Bless!

Tabs

A few pictures for ya

Here are a few pictures from highlights of my last few weeks:
These first few are from went I went with a group of my churches high school students to do 5-day clubs in the inner city. I had a blast and I know the students and kids did to. It was also great to watch the students play with the kids and do the lessons. They did a great job and the kids just loved them!

Here are Bobby and Laura, who are expecting their first baby in just weeks (oh my goodness, I can't believe it). Bobby is my friend Krista's little brother and Laura is my friend Rachel's little sister....I had a strange social circle. But aren't they cute? And isn't Laura and her belly cute? Of course I had to get a picture with her little boy (he is nameless at the moment).

Well, thats all I got for now (at least that's all the pics my stupid computer will let me put into this post). Hope you all have a fun, safe and happy fourth!

Love to all!

Tabs