Coffeegirl

The Help

2012-02-06T20:56:00.003-06:00

First of all, I want to explain my silence.

I was in a car accident two weeks ago.

I am fine, but my car went to great junkyard in the sky,

and finally, three weeks later, I have wheels again.

And life is starting to return to normal.

You may recall my list of "2012 Dreams."

One was to read more,

and I am happy to report I have finished my first book of 2012:

The Help by Katherine Stockett.

I personally adored the book,

but I love anything about the Civil Rights Movement,

even fiction inspired by the movement.

The general plot is that a young, aspiring writer, Miss Skeeter, moves back to Jackson, Mississippi, after graduating from Ole Miss. She applies for a job at Harper & Row that she is not qualified for in any way. One editor admires her blind self-confidence and gives her an opportunity to write one book. After pitching many droll ideas, she suggests interviewing some maids around town to tell their story of what it is like working for white people.

And the adventure begins...

The books is filled with

racism

hate

bitterness

injustice

friendship

class systems

love

family

courage

and

hope

Picture found here.

I have seen many criticisms of this book/movie because it was written by a white woman about a white woman "saving" black women from her racist neighbors. While I understand this critique of the book and I giggle slightly at the satirical poster above, I do not believe that was the heart of the author in any shape or form.

I choose to believe this book is more than

white vs. black.

It is about unlikely women coming together to do something good and creating a beautiful friendship in the process.

My favorite line from the book is this:

"We are just two people. Not that much separates us.

Not nearly as much as I thought."

From official website

I believe everyone needs to learn that lesson, even today.

Friendship can come in the most unlikely packages.

Keep your heart open always

and have courage to do the right thing every day.

We are all just people after all.

What did you think about the book/movie?

-Coffeegirl

Barista Wardrobe Problems

2012-01-13T16:33:00.001-06:00

Today is my last official day getting paid to make coffee for other people.

a.k.a. being a barista

In honor of that fact, I thought I would share with you some issues that are common among baristas.

First, the barista wardrobe is a challenge. My two former roommates used to poke fun at me and my other former roommate because we both could wear up to three outfits a day.

We were both baristas.

Here is the thing. You want to look nice to get tips and so people take you seriously as a coffee professional, but there are so many little stain monsters lurking around every corner of a coffee shop waiting to pounce on your precious clothes.

I am especially known for my stain magnetism whether it be bleach, espresso or black ink for stamping sleeves. If there is a mess to be had, odds are it will find me and my favorite cardigan.

So what ends up happening to us serious baristas that have lives outside of the coffee shop is that we begin to accumulate a mini wardrobe for each section of our lives. I have shirts, jeans and cardigans that I only where to make coffee in. Clothes that are cute, but I am not emotionally attached to at all because in one moment, they could be stained forever! Also, there is a certain "look" a barista is supposed to have including flannel shirts, vintage screen tees, poet hats and cardigans.

After my shift is over, I smell like espresso and dish water, and I want to change usually into clothes that make me feel pretty. Hence the beginning of the ever ending "Barista Wardrobe Problem" cycle.

Even though I am sad to be leaving the coffee industry for now, I am looking forward to giving away my flannel shirts. :)

-Coffeegirl

2012 Dreams

2012-01-08T13:31:00.001-06:00

It's a new year!

And I have a new look.

I hope you like it.

I don't normally make New Year's Resolutions, mostly because no one keeps them. However, there are some dreams I want to commit to this year, and this blog post is my way to keep myself accountable.

I need to read more books.

I have started The Help, and I am excited to make myself read for fun again.

I am open to any book suggestions!

It is so easy to have a caffeine iv, grabbing coffee to go any chance possible.

I want to start enjoying my daily joe more in a ceramic mug.

It is good for the soul.

I work in child care at Balance Fitness Studio, which gives me a free membership that I do not take advantage of enough. This semester, my classes allow me to take three a week, but I am going to promise myself two a week.

Life without roommates means less spontaneous socializing.

I want to be more intentional about being with friends.

I started today by making chocolate muffins!

There is just something about baking that makes you feel warm inside.

As I am about to embark on my career as a PR professional, I need to practice, practice, practice. I need to look for every excuse to write and hone in my writing skills.

Listening is important,

whether it be listening to your loved ones or your heart.

Taking time to stop and truly listen is something I want to get better at.

Do you have any resolutions or book suggestions? :)

-Coffeegirl

Reflecting the Adventure Bug: Part Uno

2011-12-31T11:30:00.000-06:00

I spent a good portion of this morning reading some of my blog posts from 2010. I love that about blogging! I can see where I was this time last year: my dreams, my passions and my accomplishments. I had almost forgotten about my Adventure Bug bucket lists I had made, and I thought I should revisit them to review everything I did in 2011.

2011 was an adventurous year for me. It is amazing all I was able to do, and I am so thankful for the opportunities I was given. I did not complete everything off my bucket list of course, but I crossed off a few.

Seattle: The Coffee Capitol of the World
My first adventure of the year was going to Seattle to represent my student organization at the National Assembly. It was a life-changing venture. It was my first solo flight, my first National event to attend and my first time on the West coast.

I met so many wonderful people in PRSSA, Public Relations Student Society of America. Because of that trip, I made lasting connections with people across the States and jumpstarted my passion for PRSSA. Now, I am vp of our university's Chapter, and I am loving every minute of it.

My favorite moments from Seattle were:

Realizing we took pictures in the WRONG Starbucks thinking it was the original.
Seeing the fun coffee sights with Robbie and Katie.
Watching the new PRSSA committee get elected!

Pittsburgh: The City with a Front Door
My next adventure was driving across the country to Pittsburgh, Pa. with the beau to visit our lovely friends Jay and Amber. This was an awesome way to spend my Spring Break. It was my first true road trip, my first time in the New England area and my first real adventure with the beau.

We drove all 14 hours through the night and arrived early in the morning. It was great to see our friends and how they were living in a community. Everyone was so sweet and welcoming. The city itself was so fun and historic. I loved everything about it!

My favorite moments of Pittsburgh were:

Driving through the "front door" of Pittsburgh. It took my breath away.
Exploring an awesome used book store.
Watching Jay and Travis build a giant snow man in March.

Quito: Te extraño mucho
My biggest adventure of the year was spending four weeks in Quito, Ecuador, studying Spanish. It truly was an adventure of a lifetime, and I miss it so much. It was my first time in South America, first time traveling abroad without my parents or longer than one week, and my first time traveling with my university.

Traveling to Ecuador was a different experience for me because every other trip abroad had been with my church, so it was definitely different traveling with college students. Occasionally, I got annoyed with being a "tourist" because I just wanted to emerge myself. However, I made friends that I would have never expected and made memories that will last a lifetime.

My favorite moments in Quito were:

The weekend spent on the beach in Puerto Lopez. It was so unexpectedly wonderful.
Sliding down the side of Cotopaxi, the largest active volcano in the world.
Watching movies and eating pizza with my three roomies and host mom instead of going to the party because one of them twisted her ankle.
Discovering a tiny coffee shop called El Ristretto.
Visiting the art museum of Oswaldo Guayasamin called "La Capilla del Hombre."

There were so many other wonderful moments on all of these adventures, and I took other small ventures on the way to Kansas City and St. Louis. Even though I got to experience many new adventures, they only deepened my adventure bug, so I am excited to see where 2012 takes me!

Happy New Year,

Beth

All I Want for Christmas is You

2011-12-24T15:24:00.000-06:00

All I want for Christmas is you...

I have a Christmas gift for all of you lovely people reading my blog. My friends and I made a fun music video to Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You" song. We started at about 10 pm at night and edited it until about 4 in the morning. This is what we do for fun.

So enjoy our Christmas gift to everyone special in our lives, including you, because all we want for Christmas is to be surrounded by you.

Merry Christmas!

-Beth

Hillson Photoshoot

2011-12-23T09:08:00.002-06:00

I recently had the privelege of being photographed by one of my lovely friends from Cape Town, Stacey Hill. She has a very unique style of photography, and I have always loved her photos of my friend, Suzie. I told her I was looking to redesign my blog with some new fun pictures, and she got really excited.

So here is a sneak peek, and some of the photos Stacey took of me:

She and her husband, Landon, just recently started a photography business. Be sure to go check out their Facebook page and website and see some of their artistic photos!

Thanks again, Stacey!

And be looking forward to some fun changes. :)

Merry Christmas!

-Beth

Could I Ask You a Favor?

2011-12-20T14:44:00.000-06:00

With Christmas only six days away, it is beginning to finally feel like Christmas. I have finished buying, making and wrapping my gifts; I have redesigned my blog and seen one children's pageant; and I am home.

In the spirit of Christmas, I have a favor to ask of you lovely readers. I have recently entered the beau and I in a little contest, where the winner receives a free photo shoot. I would be forever grateful if you took one minute of your time to go vote for us. The contest closes on Christmas Eve, and "The Cutest Couple" will be announced on Christmas!

You can vote once a day, so feel free to vote every day this week, and share with your friends via Twitter and Facebook. Here is the full link to share: http://loveandluxephoto.blogspot.com/2011/12/love-luxes-cutest-couple-contest-vote.html. If you need more convincing, here is a video documenting our five year relationship. Enjoy!

Thank you for all of your help and support!

Merry Christmas!

-Beth

Askinosie Chocolate Meringue Pie

2011-12-12T08:30:00.000-06:00

Over Thanksgiving, I made one of my favorite desserts with a new twist.

I made chocolate meringue pie with an Askinosie single origin chocolate bar from Ecuador.

It. Was. De-li-cious!

And super simple...

Pie Crust Recipe from Fanny Farmer Cookbook

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups of unbleached flour
3/4 cup of butter
1/2 teaspoon of Kosher salt
6-7 Tablespoons of water

Directions:

Mix all the dry ingredients.
Cut in the fat. (A pastry cutter works lovely!)
Add the water one Tablespoon at a time so that it just sticky as a ball.
Roll the dough out into a thin circle.
Place the dough in the pie pan and flute the edges.
Bake in the oven for 17 minutes at 425 degrees Fahrenheit.

Recipe for the Chocolate Custard from Green & Black

Ingredients:

4 large free-range egg yolks
45 g of sugar
20 g plain flour
350 mL of milk
70 g of Askinosie chocolate bar (save the left over for the top)

Directions:

Whisk together the egg yolks & sugar.
Sift in the flour & whisk that in.
Heat milk to boiling point.
Pour onto the egg mixture, whisking constantly.
Return the mixture to the saucepan & bring to a boil over LOW heat. You want it to be thick and smooth.
Remove from heat and add the chocolate until fully mixed.

Recipe for the Meringue TexasCooking.com

Ingredients:

3 egg whites from large eggs
6 Tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

Directions:

Beat the egg whites at high speed with an electric mixer until soft peaks form.
With mixer running, add the cream of tartar.
Then gradually add the sugar, a Tablespoon at a time, and beat until stiff peaks form.
Beat in the vanilla.
Pie atop pie and seal the edges to the crust.
Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 to 15 minutes, or until lightly browned.

Let your pie cool before you put into the fridge to keep it from dewing.

And enjoy!

-Beth

The PR Belle

2011-12-08T19:13:00.000-06:00

So I have a new blog...

Coffee, Culture and Community is NOT going anywhere, though. I started The PR Belle for my public relations social media class earlier this semester, and for now, I am going to keep maintaining both of my blogs.

The PR Belle focuses solely on social media, public relations, marketing, the job hunt, etc. In other words, I will no longer be blogging about public relations or my career on this blog. Over the next couple of months, I may be changing some things up a bit, but I want this blog to focus on my passions: traveling, culture, coffee and non-profit organizations I care about with a little dash of personal stuff thrown in.

If you are following this blog for PR and social media tips, feel free to check out The PR Belle. Otherwise, thank you for stopping by and supporting me! We will continue our journey through the coffee world, traveling chums.

-Beth

The Trevor Wedding

2011-12-05T00:18:00.000-06:00

Looking back at some previous posts, I realized I never got around to sharing Lizzy's wedding with you, and I apologize greatly because it was a beautiful occasion. I was so honored to be a part of this lovely couple's special day.

I went up to St. Louis about once a month helping Lizzy with wedding details, so even though I did not spend a whole week with her, I was there a lot. Lizzy's friends became my friends. I realized how incredible weddings are because they bring so many different people together who all love the same couple.

Lizzy's wedding was vintage inspired. If anyone knows Lizzy, you know that she was born in the wrong time period. She does not have Facebook, she just broke down to get a cell phone, she does not have a TV, etc.

She looked like an old photograph coming to life.

Gorgeous. Glamorous. Poised.

All of the bridesmaids wore navy dresses they picked out themselves with Lizzy's approval. She wanted them all to have a vintage, unique feel. I bought my simple, lace-backed dress in mall in Quito, and some amazing, vintage-laced heels in a local shop in St. Louis. My pearl cluster necklace was my bridesmaid's gift from Lizzy, which perfectly matched my pearl earrings from a tiny coastal shop in Puerto Lopez. I bought my gorgeous vintage clutch (not pictured here) at Vintage Vice in Springfield.

My beau was such a huge help, and I loved having him there.

Right before the ceremony, it began to rain. It was emotional and heart-breaking, but everyone came together in a beautiful way to save all the decorations with tarps. When the rain passed about 15 minutes later, we reset like it never happened, and the ceremony was perfect.

I loved the little boys carrying the "Here Comes the Bride" sign, such a precious idea!

It was great to be a part of the wedding party. I had never been in a wedding of such a close friend up close in the action. I bawled like a little baby and had goosebumps all over because there was something about that moment that was

magical.

I wish them best the best! And I will treasure these memories forever.

-Beth

Brighter than the Sun

2011-12-02T08:30:00.000-06:00

So over Thanksgiving break, my friend, Suzie, and I made a music video to Colbie Caillat's "Brighter Than the Sun."

Why you ask?

Because that is what every 20 something girl does when she visits high school friends.

Well, maybe not,

but that's what my friends do.

I thought I would share my silly side with your all:

P.S. I am loving the new YouTube look!

-Beth

Tableya: Hot Chocolate with a Cause

2011-11-30T08:30:00.000-06:00

Two weeks ago, I visited Askinosie Chocolate Factory onCommercial Street for their free Tableya tasting event. After hearing the storybehind the product, I am just so excited to share this story with everyone. Itis such a neat process.

First ofall, Askinosie Chocolate Factory is a factory in Springfield, Mo., that istrying to make a difference in the chocolate industry by making direct traderelationships with the farmers and giving them a portion of the profits. Everybar has a photo and autograph of the lead farmer of that specific cacao farm. Ijust heart their mission!

Theirnewest product, Tableya, is a traditional Filipino hot chocolate drink andmeans “tablet.” They source cacao beans in a town called Davao, and theystarted noticing a malnutrition problem at a nearby elementary school, so theybrainstormed a way to help.

The PTA ofthe elementary school creates these tablets from the cacao beans and sells themto Shawn Askinosie for $1. Shawn sells in the US for $10. The $9 profit is ALLgiven to Convoy of Hope, a local non-profit that focuses on feeding initiativesand disaster relief all over the world—including the Philippines, which fundsthe food program at the elementary school.

So the parents have a “stake in theoutcome” of their child’s health, and the program is dependent on the sales ofproduct instead of donations. There are over 500 students at this elementaryschool, and they are measuring the students overall health to see the successof the program.

I am just so excited for thisbrilliant idea that is win, win for everyone! I am pretty sure that many peoplein my life are going to this in their stockings this year for Christmas! Whodoesn’t love yummy hot chocolate that helps give Filipino children thenutrition they need to survive?!

-Beth

Bloom: A New Coffee Brewing App

2011-11-09T21:30:00.000-06:00

I have some exciting news in the world of coffee!

Recently, a new iPhone app was released called Bloom, which aids manual coffee brewing. It is essentially a glorified timer that is customizable.

The opening screen looks like this:

It comes with basic specs for the most common manual coffee brewers: Beehouse, Chemex, Clever, French Press, Siphon and V60. So when you click on one of the brewers, it gives you how much coffee and water to use and how much time to let the water be with the coffee.

It even dings when your coffee is done brewing!

What sets Bloom apart from other coffee brewing apps is that it is customizable. You can change the basic settings to whatever you like. You can also add extra settings. So maybe you like to use 24 grams of coffee with your favorite coffee from El Salvador, but for your Sumatra coffee you like 25 grams.

It is all up to YOU!

I love this new app because it satisfies the needs of a coffee explorer, who does not know what do yet with their new coffee toys, and the needs of a coffee scientist, who likes to experiment various ways to make coffee. AND you can store any notes you want to remind the you that is not fully awake because you have not had your coffee yet.

I also love this app because Jeremy Boles, a Coffee Ethic regular and spouse of a Coffee Ethic employee, designed it. Yeah, for awesome Springfield people making stuff happen!

If you want to download the app, check it out in the iTunes store, and if this sounds like a foreign language, feel free to shoot me any questions! :)

My at home coffee station

Happy coffee making!

-Beth

Pumpkins, Birthdays & Flash Mobs

2011-11-01T21:54:00.000-05:00

This past weekend was my birthday!

And two of my lovely friends from high school and my friend from SBU and her husband came to visit me for the weekend.

It was perfect!

We caught up, ate at my favorite restaurant, Nonna's, drank lots of coffee, carved pumpkins, watched a Thriller Flash Mob, went vintage shopping, toured Askinosie Chocolate Factory, took pictures in a creep book store and ate cupcakes.

Probably the highlight of the entire weekend was my friend Whitney joining the Thriller Flash Mob on C-Street. She knew the dance, and Travis and Suzie convinced her to join the encore.

Here is the video for your enjoyment:

Happy Belated Halloween from Daphne!

Springfield's First Food Day Celebration

2011-10-26T08:00:00.000-05:00

This Saturday, the Springfield community came together to celebrate National Food Day for the first time. It was $2 to get in and all the proceeds went to Ozarks Food Harvest. It was the perfect match for fundraising and fun!

I volunteered with the beau's pre-professional society and happened to be paired with some PRSSA members too. We had fun selling Smart chicken sandwiches and Quinoa salad from Momma Jean's.

The Wilhoit Plaza was a great place for an outdoor event downtown! And the weather was beautiful, even in the middle of October.

I absolutely adored chatting with those girls. That is why I love volunteering. You never know who you will meet.

Every moment is a moment for networking!

And Ozarks Food Harvest is such a good cause! I interned their the summer before last, and I just keep coming back because they are such a great community organization!

Do you have a place you always volunteer at?

-Beth

My First Mug

2011-10-20T22:25:00.002-05:00

Here is another story about a coffee mug in my cupboard. :)

I got this mug right before I left for college at Barnes and Noble. I remember realizing out of the blue that I did not have a coffee mug to drink my cup of joe every morning. I immediately went on a hunt to solve this problem.

It was my first mug, so a lot of thought went into the purchase. Today, it is still one of my favorite mugs in my cupboard. Who knew it would one day match the colors of The Coffee Ethic, where I work?

Do you remember the first mug you bought?

-Beth

Kitty's First Road Trip

2011-10-17T22:17:00.004-05:00

So this weekend was Fall Break for MSU, and I had the privilege of going home with my beau and my kitty.

It is a four hour drive to the City of Roses, but we all made it in one piece. Thankfully!

She liked hanging out on my beau's shoulder, and on the way home it was so hot she was panting like a dog. Did not foresee that problem in the middle of October...

The whole weekend was great!
I got a lovely bday gift from my lovely friend
(personalized Jones soda):

I got to visit my younger sister at her university SIU for the first time. She is a very dedicated athlete, even willing to wear the Saluki mascot head.
(She is on the right.)

I also got a new computer!
I am a Mac girl from here on out, which hopefully means more reliable posting! ;)

Have a lovely week!

-Beth

What is a Macchiato?

2011-10-13T23:35:00.001-05:00

A common drink ordered in coffee shops is a

macchiato.

There is a lot of confusion about what a macchiato actually is, but that is because there is actually two types of a macchiato.

What most people think of when they think of macchiato is a caramel macchiato. However, a caramel macchiato is not the original macchiato.

Macchiato is Italian for marked with.

A traditional cafe macchiato is espresso "marked with" foam.

The drink is served in a small cup around 2 oz.

The temperature of the drink is a bit cooler than a cappuccino.
The milk helps cut the power of the shot just a little bit for a small but powerful drink.

Americans invented something called a latte macchiato, which means milk "marked with" espresso. It is essentially a latte, but the milk is put in the cup first and then the shots of espresso last. This is what has become the caramel macchiato.

So next time you go to order a macchiate, be sure to clarify if the shop does traditional cafe macchiatos or latte macchiatos.

Here's a hint:

If they put syrup in it, it is probably not a traditional one.

If you are looking for a caramel macchiato at a shop that only serves traditional ones, order a caramel latte. It is pretty much the same thing.

-Beth

Sledding is More Fun on a Volcano

2011-10-09T22:22:00.000-05:00

My most favorite memory from Ecuador this summer is probably climbing the tallest active volcano in the world, Cotopaxi.

Only 7 of the 25 took the challenge. It was the most difficult thing I have ever done in my life. We all squeezed in a tiny van and drove out on a what some people call a road for about an hour. After that, we decided to climb to the hacienda.

After about an two hours, we made it to the hacienda (tiny little yellow house in the above picture). The path does not seem long, but it was.

The combination of the altitude, strong winds with sand and snow blowing in your face, and sand for your foundation made it feel like eternity. Every step you made, you slide two steps back. About every other minute, I would take a 30 second break.

There were moments that I could not breathe.

After getting hot chocolate in our systems and resting in the hacienda, we decided we had to play in the snow. So we hiked another hour or so up the snow.

We each took turns sliding on our behinds down the snow.

It was so fun and rewarding!

The view was break-taking.

The feeling of accomplishment was overwhelming.

If I didn't have these pictures, I don't know if I would believe I really did it.

We even saw some foxes in the mountain.

I do not think any of us regretted taking the challenge.

It was definitely more fun to sled on a volcano.

That day is something I will never forget!

-Beth

A Mug Story: South Korean Gift

2011-10-05T07:00:00.000-05:00

So I have a weakness..

coffee mugs.

I have a cupboard full of them after only 3 years living on my own.

Some might call that a problem,

but each has a story,

so it seems impossible to part with any one of them.

Some people blog about the contents of their purse.

I decided to start a blog series about the contents of my cupboard.

So here is my first mug story:

This lovely mug is my most recent addition to my coffee mug family. My friend, Suzie, brought it back for me from South Korea this summer. It is a handmade, beautiful piece of pottery that I adore. It even matches my bowls. :)

My favorite part about it is the small handle.

I feel like it was made for my little fingers.

I love it!

Perfect for my morning coffee or evening tea!

-Beth

"After the Harvest" Film at The Coffee Ethic

2011-10-01T17:25:00.000-05:00

Last week, I attended a special event at The Coffee Ethic and Park Central Library in downtown Springfield, Missouri. They showed the film "After the Harvest" with a discussion led by Shawn Askinosie of Askinosie Chocolate and Jeff Taylor of PT's Coffee Roasting Company.

The movie asked viewers to think about the people who grow the coffee we drink every day and what their life is when coffee is not in season or 'after the harvest'. Some of the nonprofits featured focus on how to make the farmers' lives more sustainable by getting them more than fair prices for their product and teaching them how to grow other crops so they are not depended on just coffee.

So many farmers face what the video calls food insecurity, or not enough access to nutritious food.

Mallory Roth, event planner, listens to Jeff Taylor, co-owner of PT's Coffee discuss his experiences with coffee farmers.

Jeff started out the discussion explaining the coffee crisis of the late 1990's. He said that it was costing $1.50 for a farmer to produce a pound of coffee, and they only received about $0.50 per pound. Fair Trade rescued the coffee industry by creating a standard to pay farmers about $1.25 a pound.

The problem is that Fair Trade has not raised its price in a decade, but now the C-market value of coffee is between $2 and $3. So farmers are making more money when they sell to coffee producers that are not certified Fair Trade.

He wanted PT's Coffee Roasting Company to go up and beyond Fair Trade, so they established a Direct Trade program. In order to be a Direct Trade program, the coffee has to be the best of the best, a representative from the roaster must visit the farm annually, and they farmer must be paid at least 25% above C-market price. Taylor said often times they may pay closed to double C-market price. As you could expect, his farmers are doing well.

Shawn Askinosie, owner of Askinosie Chocolate, talks about the struggles in the cocoa industry.

Shawn had a parallel but different experience in the cocoa industry. He said that the chocolate industry is about 15 years behind the coffee industry. Often times, farmers sell to someone, who turns to sell it to someone else, who sells it to a big company, who sells to an large chocolate factory, so the original farmer gets no where near the C-market value and the big chocolate company does not know all the behind the scenes. It can often turn into a chocolate mafia, where the farmers are in debt to people in the village who buy their cacao beans.

Shawn takes a different approach. He goes directly to a farmer to negotiate a price. He said the first time he went to Tanzania he offered the farmer so much more than normal, when he returned the entire country's market value had increased.

Askinosie also has a program called Chocolate University where they teach students in the Springfield area about cacao farmers struggles in other countries. He said that he feels it is his responsibility to help the consumer resonate and connect with the product they are buying.

He asked the question with all of the stories of farmers in mind:

"How much would YOU pay for chocolate or a cup of coffee?"

-Beth

Daphne Pants

2011-09-12T13:27:00.000-05:00

I got a new kitty three weeks ago to cure a long time fever.

I adopted her from the Humane Society.

Her name is Daphne Jo,

and I may be a bit obsessed with her.

This is her favorite toy,

whoever invented it should be a millionaire

because it is the absolute perfect cat toy I have ever seen.

She is spunky, sassy, and sweet.

She loves to cuddle and nuzzle her head against yours.

It is nice having a furry companion around.

Any other furry companion lovers out there?

-Beth

What is a Cappuccino?

2011-09-06T16:24:00.000-05:00

Drink made and Photo Taken by Jacque Desmarais

"Cappuccino" is a fairly common drink to order at your local coffee shop,

but what is a REAL cappuccino?

It is...

...unlike most gas stations would have you believe.

"Cappuccino" literally means "a small cap" in Italian.

The traditional Italian drink is made with:

This is very similar to a latte.

The main difference is that a cappuccino is served cooler, has more foam, and higher milk to espresso ratio.

In other words, this little 6 oz. drink has a kick.

Crafting the perfect cappuccino is no easy task.

Temperature is important.

The espresso shot is paramount.

The amount of foam is crucial.

And the presentation seals the deal.

One way to test a "perfect cappuccino" is the spoon test.

Lightly, scoop the spoon over the foam.

This should reveal about 1 cm of foam..

...if it is perfect!

Traditional cappuccinos, or cappes, are definitely my favorite drink.

Mine are usually gone in an instant!

Good luck to your coffee endeavors!

-Beth

Cappuccino made and photos taken by Bethany Parry at The Coffee Ethic in AG Headquarters.

I Like Mud

2011-08-18T22:27:00.000-05:00

One weekend in Ecuador, we had the opportunity to go to The Cloud Forest in Bella Vista.

To be honest, I am not an "outdoorsy" kind of girl,
so I was not looking forward to mosquitoes and hiking.
It did not help that some strange group dynamics unraveled that day,
but I decided I was in
freaking Ecuador in
the Cloud Forest
with monkeys, tropical birds, and awesome plants,
so NOTHING was going to rain on my parade.

We took the hard hike.
I may have taken my happiness
a bit too far.

I literally ran to stay ahead with my goofy galoshes.
I leaped in mud puddles while I waited for the group to catch up.

We trekked through a creek.
Yes, we hiked in water up to our knees/waist.
It was exhilarating.

Once I got a taste for the mud,
it was all over...
me anyway.

At the end of our hike, there was a gorgeous waterfall that signified We Made It!
But we still had to hike back,
and I just kept piling on the mud.

My vocab word of the day was barro,
which means mud.
I thought it was appropriate
because I like mud.

-Beth

This Will Be An Everlasting Love

2011-08-14T20:35:00.000-05:00

First off, many apologies for being so absent this summer. Technology has kind of hated me. Between broken computers and finicky internet, I have found little time to blog.

Today is a special day, however. It is my 5 year anniversary with my lovely beau, Travis. We made dinner together, went to the zoo, and just spent as much time as possible together.

I made him this little video that I wanted to share with you.

Have a lovely day!

-Beth

El Ristretto Espresso Bar

2011-07-13T19:48:00.000-05:00

In Ecuador, good coffee was hard to come by.

The most common drink was cafe con leche.

(Strong coffee with warm milk)

It was very good, but definitely weaker than my normal choice.

My host family was shocked when my roommate and I wanted only black coffee, which some days were better than others.

I tried a cappuccino at Corfu, which was served with a delicious chocolate truffle.

I loved those truffles.

The cappuccino was not a traditional one, but it was still alright.

Juan Valdez was a common coffee chain there, with coffee from Colombia.

They had yummy iced coffee and a fun atmosphere.

But my favorite coffee spot in Quito was El Ristretto Espresso Bar.

After a mall shopping excursion at El Jardin, I spotted this little shop out of the corner of my eye, and I immediately new I would love it.

I have a sixth sense for good coffee shops. ;)

Thankfully, Brandi is also a coffee lover, so we set out to try this shop one afternoon, and it was just as cute as I expected.

We both ordered cappuccinos.

It was a good choice.

I had never seen a cappuccino like this.

It was layered with coffee and foam with cinnamon on top.

It was not a traditional cappuccino,

but it was so delicious!

It also came with chocolate covered espresso beans.

I like chocolate with my cappes.

What can I say?

We went back a second time, and I ordered an espresso.

It was different.

I think they must of added hot water or something,

but it was still good.

Brandi got a cortado the second time around.

"Cortado" means cut in Spanish.

It is a Spanish drink that is in between the strength of a macchiato and a cappuccino, but the milk is more like latte milk and is served at a cooler temperature.

I was excited to try this since it is a Spanish drink and we were in a Spanish speaking country.

It was yummy,

but it looked more like a macchiato than a cortado.

I still loved it.

Another funny fact about coffee in Ecuador is that at every coffee shop there is also alcohol.

Even in the mall, you could get an Irish coffee.

It was such a foreign concept to me to see it everywhere.

I could have stayed there forever.

-Beth

A Red Velvet Weekend

2011-07-12T23:57:00.000-05:00

First of all, I want to apologize for the crazy absences. I have had some technology issues when I got back to the States everything from a lost phone to a dead computer. I promise to get back into the swing of things soon and share more Ecuador stories.

This past weekend was filled with another road trip to Tulsa with the beau to see his momma. We had a fabulous time with:

a random creek

skipping stones and dropping them

(he is full of many hidden talents)

a proper homemade spa treatment

red velvet ice cream

(is anyone else blown away by this concept? It was delicious!)

All in all, it was great spending time with the beau and his momma.

Is everyone else having a fun summer so far?

-Beth

A House is Not a Home

2011-07-11T00:35:00.001-05:00

I said my official good-bye to The Fremont House about a week ago

So many emotions

running

through

my head

I am happy

to be rid of

ANTS

I am exhausted

from cleaning and

MOVING

I am anxious

to start a new

CHAPTER

I am sad

to loose my

ROOMIES

I will miss

Pippie greeting me

each morning

My neighbor saving me

from my bad cooking skills

Always having someone

different to entertain

I will miss

Walking to class

Walking to Homegrown Foods

Walking just walking on Fremont

I have so many fond memories

of those three other crazy

Fremont House Girls

from the Snowpocalypse

to Christmas dinner

to parking each other in

They say a house is not a home,

but The Fremont House was my home for one year.

I will miss it,

but now it is time to make a new home.

-Beth

p.s. I am going to miss small children trick or treating at my house during Halloween. :)

What is home to you?

An Inconvenience Rightly Considered

2011-06-21T22:15:00.001-05:00

First of all, I want to apologize for the absence.

Quito kept calling my name making it hard to stand still at a computer for too long.

Second of all, I want to thank everyone again who guested blogged for me while I was away. I hoped you all enjoyed hearing from different people this month.

I want to share with you about my month in Ecuador little by little.

First, I want to take about a tiny little coastal town called Puerto Lopez.

It was so charming and refreshingly simple.

That was not my first response, however.

I read a quote in my journal that said:

"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered."

That pretty much sums up the weekend at Puerto Lopez.

We were told we were going to the beach and staying in a hotel.

Well, apparently, a hotel/resort on the beach is the same thing as a dirt floor hostel with mosquito nets in the middle of nowhere.

I had my first miniature freak out at this point because I was not prepared for "roughing it" that weekend.

I had my good little cry, washed up in our sink that fell off the wall, and dried off with towels that did not cover all the important parts.

(If you know what I mean.)

I gave it a chance though,

and I am so glad I did.

Our group fell in love with this tiny coastal town.

Tiki huts lining the beach created a super fun night life,

and even though we had a ghetto hostel,

it turned out to be a charming little place.

We ate all our meals at this cute little restaurant called Restaurant Spondylus for every meal.

It was so delicious and fabulous to have seafood right from the ocean,

and to have soda in glass bottles with fun straws.

the little things

We went to Isla de la Plata by boat,

which was an experience.

It is nicknamed a "Poor Man's Galapagos".

We went on a hike to see some wild life,

and then plunged right into the ocean for snorkeling.

This was a huge feat for me,

because I am not a very good swimmer.

But I did it

with the help of my lovely friends Molly and Amy.

What started as an inconvenience truly turned into a charming adventure,

and I have four dresses to prove it.

;)

-Beth

Social Media for PRSSA Chapters-- Lauren K Gray

2011-06-09T08:29:00.000-05:00

In public relations, we know that social media is one of the top tools for PR today. With that, PRSSA National has many social media platforms to communicate with members around the country and out of the country!

Social media pages for Chapters are very beneficial. My Chapter, the Western Carolina University Chapter @WCUPRSSA, uses Twitter, Facebook, blogging and LinkedIn to post industry news, Chapters news, National news and other updates as they surface.

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Our Chapter also uses the Facebook page for events and discussions. We post job and internship opportunities at least once a week, which is beneficial for our members who could be searching for jobs and internships. Events on Facebook are useful because members get a reminder of the upcoming event and they can RSVP to the event and get more details about the event.

Twitter seems to be a PRSSA favorite lately! @PRSSANational posts job and internship opportunities as they arrive on the PRSSA Internship Center. For your Chapter, you can tweet individuals to remind them of meetings, thank people for coming to meetings and more. I think Twitter is more personal than just a mass message on Facebook. It’s very useful! A lot of Chapters retweet @PRSSANational posts and posts by other Chapters. 2010-2011 PRSSA President Nick Lucido even created a list of Chapters on Twitter: http://twitter.com/nicklucido/prssa-chapters.

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Twitter and Facebook are also great ways to communicate with other Chapters. I know our Chapter has gotten a few ideas from other Chapters for events and meeting topics, we are all here to help each other!

A lot of Chapters also have a blog or a website to talk about industry news and PRSSA topics. For example, the WCU PRSSA Chapter has our blog http://wcuprssa.wordpress.com where members can get information about our point system, meeting calendar, blog updates and more. We posted notes from a few different conferences our members attended and more.

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I think it’s important for Chapters to use social media to communicate with members because while email is very important, emails rack up quickly and are easily overlooked. College students are on their social media sites every single day. Does that mean they will check the Facebook and Twitter pages? No, but it is another method of communication for reaching more people.

As the 2011-2012 PRSSA National Vice President of Public Relations, I will communicate to members through our social media channels, the bi-weekly update and the PRSSA President phone and email tree. It’s very important to check these channels for PRSSA news and updates! Here are our links to our social media sites:

PRSSA National Facebook Fan Page

PRSSA National LinkedIn

PRSSA National’s YouTube channel

PRSSA National Facebook Group

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Something new we will be doing will be adding videos to the YouTube channel from the National Committee members! We will add introduction videos to tell you more about us and our initiatives. I will also ask Chapters to submit Chapter news via video so we can upload Chapter news to our YouTube channel as well! We want to utilize all our social media channels to their fullest potential.

If you have any questions about starting social media for your Chapter or social media for PRSSA as a whole, please feel free to reach out to me! Tweet me on Twitter @laurenkgray or email me at laurenkgray2@gmail.com.

Louise from Coffee & a Cardigan

2011-06-05T10:51:00.001-05:00

Greeting, coffee-lovers! This is Louise from Coffee & a Cardigan!

I love coffee... I can't go a day without it. I became officially addicted about seven years ago, when I managed a coffee-shop in college, called St. Drogo's. (St. Drogo is the patron saint of coffee-houses and unattractive people. Go figure.) A certain teacher (I call him 'He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named') caused me grief in the form of a term-paper, and coffee was a great comfort to me. Now that I'm graduated, married to a super-cool guy, and raising an incredible daughter, I still turn to my favorite coffee-shop Dutch Brothers in my time of need... and in times of joy... and anger... and whenever I have a spare few bucks, really.

My adored Minnetonka boots have the most wonderful rich brown coffee color... it's what drew me to them in the first place! Paired with a comfy unbelted dress, assorted bracelets, and my parrot ring, this ensemble was perfect for running errands and walking about town.

Thanks so much for reading, everyone-- I hope you have a lovely day!

Why Live in Community // Adventure in Togetherness

2011-06-02T10:57:00.000-05:00

Greetings! This is Amber here and Bethany has asked me to do a guest blog post for her for some reason. She is pretty cool like that. Just a little background on me – I currently live in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania with my handsome husband Jay (who is also guest blogged) and three other couples in a huge house. That’s right, there are eight of us sharing life together in the same house. Does that sound crazy to you? Well, let me explain why we do it.

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Experiences in Community

Let’s begin with our experiences of living in community with other people. Both of us have had many positive experiences living with other people, and our fair share of challenges. We both lived in the dorms of Missouri State University for at least a year.

My most significant adventure with community happened my junior year. I moved once again to a bigger house that was more inviting to community than the small apartment. I lived with my sister Emily and two other girls who challenged and sharpened me. The house, which we affectionately call “Florida” for the street that it was on, quickly became a place of refuge, good times, and deep conversations. There were often times when people just wanted to hang out somewhere, so they came to Florida for hot chocolate and board games. Florida is where three of us realized that we were going to marry our wonderful husbands.

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For the first time, I felt like I was able to use my home as a ministry and that is because of the community that existed inside the walls of that house. We challenged one another and spurred one another on towards love and good deeds. There is a Proverb that says “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” That is what Florida did for me. It sharpened me and I like to think that it sharpened the other three girls as well. Going home to people who love you and want to challenge you to become the person God has designed you to be was a constant source of growth spiritually.

Ever since my time in Florida, I have been hungry for community. I have lived with an incredible family from my church, my sweet oldest sister and now I live with my beloved whom I married about two ago. All three of those living arrangements have been wonderful and blessed. However, they lacked community that Florida had. They lacked the iron sharpening iron.

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Benefits of Community Dwelling

The apostles in Acts were of “one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. There was not a needy person among them.” (Acts 4:32 & 34) Jay and I feel like that is the best way to live our lives. To be of one accord and share your possessions with those who are in need and with brothers and sisters in the Lord. You may say that you can be in one accord with just a husband and wife, and we completely agree. However, for us, we choose to live in harmony with multiple people from different backgrounds with different gifts.

Another benefit of community has little to do with faith. It is simply a bonus benefit of community dwellers. It seems easier to live an “organic life” in community. What I mean by that, is it is easier to grow your own garden and make your own clothes and live off the natural goodness of the Lord through relying on other people. Putting a range of people together under one roof is like taking a cornucopia of skills and talents and putting them together to work toward a common goal. It is more effective to work together to make that happen.

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We don’t live in community so that it can change us into people that we are not. We desire community so that we can change the world to bridge the gap between what is and what should be. We don’t want to live in community because it is easier. We desire community because it is challenging. We don’t want to live in community to avoid the church. We desire community because we are the church. We don’t want to live in community simply because it is permissible. We desire community because it is beneficial. We don’t want to live in community to escape any person or thing. Will you join us?

If you want to learn more about our community or would like to read more about our adventures, check

out our blog at www.jayandamber.wordpress.com.

Jay and Amber's Community

Ecuadorian Eats

2011-06-01T17:54:00.001-05:00

This post is dedicated to all the food I have been eating in Ecuador.

Yes, I know it is about dinner time, so you should probably not read this if you are super hungry... :)

This is the first meal they served us that I LOVED!

It was ham and llapingachos.

What in the world is a llapingacho?

It's okay I didn't know either.

It is a potato and cheese pancake looking thing,

and it is SOO good!

Last Tuesday, the group went to a restaurant called "La Boca del Lobo".

It was such a cute place.

(I will share more pics later of the decor,

but now here is the delicious food we had):

I had chicken kabobs wrapped in bacon dipped in dijon mustard with bread.

Yes, I was in heaven.

My lovely friend Morgan had this stuffed mushroom dish that looked scrumptious.

Fruit is more than a staple here in Ecuador.

We eat fruit at just about every meal.

I am not much of a fruit person,

but I am adjusting.

In the Middle of the World, we saw these baby bananas that are supposed to be super sweet.

Aren't they adorable?

This is called Rambutan.

It is a red spikey fruit with a juice white center.

There are also seeds inside...

which you are NOT supposed to eat,

learned that the hard way.

Okay, do you see that chocolate bar in the background?

It is called Pacari,

and I am addicted now.

The first thing I craved from the US was Askinosie chocolate.

My craving has been satisfied with this single origin chocolate from the Esmeraldas region of Ecuador.

I have already bought like 5 bars.

At the beach this weekend, we had amazing seafood!

And soda pop in adorable glass bottles. :)

This is dessert from that restaurant on the beach,

which is called Spondylus...

weird, I know.

Brandi discovered this adorable bakery called Corfu.

I think I may go every day.

The pastries are absolutely incredible.

Yesterday, I felt a bit under the weather,

so we played it safe and tried a deli.

I had an amazing Caesar salad with a cheese empanada.

My food adventures are certainly not over.

This weekend we are trying "Cuy",

which is guinea pig.

I am a little scared,

but it is a traditional dish here,

so I have to try at least a bite.

Tenga un buen dia!

-Beth

Que Tenga Un Buen Día

2011-05-31T09:42:00.002-05:00

I have two phrases to share with you this week!

The first is: ¡Que chévere!

which means "how cool or exciting".

It has been a common phrase used this week.

It is also fun to say.

The second is: ¡Que tenga un buen día!

which means "Have a good day!"

I try to say this as often as I can because it always seems to make someone smile.

Make someone smile today by telling them to have a lovely day in whatever language you want!

-Beth

The Middle of the World

2011-05-30T14:41:00.000-05:00

Last Wednesday, we took a field trip to the middle of the world, or "El Mitad del Mundo". The museum was full of neat indigenous huts and information about the people who originally inhabited (and some tribes still do) Ecuador like the Inca and the Jivaro.

If you are eating something right now, don't read the next sentence.

Some like the Jivaro used to cut off the heads of their capturers and shrink their heads. It was pretty gruesome.

We all took turns straddling the equator and taking pictures just like tourists would. :)

There were also a lot of crazy experiments to try. For example, water turns counter-clockwise in the Northern hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern hemisphere, but on the equator there is no whirlpool. You have to see it to believe it!

This is the original monument created by the early settlers, but they were a little off come to find out when GPS was invented. It was neat to see such an antique museum even if it wasn't exactly on the equator.

It was a cool trip. Something "you have to do in Ecuador". I must admit though touristy things such as this are not my favorite, but I still wanted to shared the cool photos.

Have a lovely day!

-Beth

Hannah- Wonderment in Neverland

2011-05-29T10:48:00.000-05:00

I left my heart in Uganda, Africa.

When Beth asked me to guest blog, she mentioned Africa, and it seemed appropriate considering I’m heading back over in three weeks. Revisiting some of my journal entries and thoughts brought back a huge flood of memories and nostalgia.

Three weeks can’t pass fast enough.

When I went to Africa last summer, I won't lie, there weren't any gigantic shocks about the living conditions. This sounds heartless, but I had seen so many pictures and documentaries, it was hard to be shocked.

There was one thing that did shock me though.

Joyfulness.

The unhappiest time for me there was leaving.

You can't help but be joyful in this place.

People wave at you on the street and smile.

Any child will laugh when you tickle them, and a piece of candy is the greatest gift they've ever received.

Even though there are 9 kids shoved into one hospital room, if you paint their nails...

When people hug you there they mean it.

They look at you right in the eyes and then embrace you into themselves.

Some of the kids I hugged had never been hugged before, so when I hugged them, they didn't let go.

People have always told me that these are the most joyful people you will ever meet.

But I know some pretty joyful people here at home.

I thought maybe people just weren't looking for joy in the right places here in the states.

These are the most joyful people you will ever meet.

Again I say, three weeks can’t come soon enough.

-Hannah Elizabeth

Check out Hannah's awesome blog Wonderment in Neverland!

Be Jealous

2011-05-28T09:51:00.001-05:00

Okay, so I might never come home.

I am on the beach right now.

Be jealous.

;)

Here is my awesome room:

Our view is incredible,

but the walk up the mountain to our house is killer.

My group is having a good time,

and enjoying the great food.

My host family is incredible.

They are so sweet and instructive.

I think I learn about 10 new words a meal!

¡No broma!

(no joke)

Just to let you know, next week, there will be two more guest bloggers: Hannah and Amber. Both are dear friends of mine. Hannah is my roommate and writes a blog called "Wonderment in Neverland". She is going to share with you about her upcoming adventure to Africa. Amber is Jay's wife from this week's post. She writes a blog with Jay called "Adventures in Togetherness". She is always writing about her experience in community from a different perspective.

I am trying to blog as much as possible,

because I have so many fun stories to tell,

but finding time for a computer is harder than expected.

¡Hasta Pronto!

-Beth

La Plaza Grande

2011-05-27T10:45:00.007-05:00

Hello from Ecuador!

I am having a blast.

I have already fallen in love with the city of Quito.

There are not words to describe it, so I have a bunch of pictures to share. :)

On Monday, we went to "La Plaza Grande".

It is essentially their equivalent to a historic downtown.

It is where the Spanish organized the city of Quito.

Oh my goodness, it was so beautiful!

I can't wait to go back.

I know it was only our first excursion,

but I have a feeling this may be my favorite spot in Quito.

This is me and Brandi, my awesome roommate!

While we were there, there was a demonstration in the square called "La Cambia Guardia", or the changing of the guards.

It was so neat to see all of them come together with their president to sing the national anthem.

This was my absolute favorite photo!

I loved the statue of Virgin Mary in the hills contrasting with the busy street.

We also went into La Iglesia La Academia.

The inside was covered with 23 carat gold and took over 150 years to build.

It was magnificent!

This was my happy place.

I can't wait to share more later!

This weekend we are going to the beach!

-Beth

Jay Howard on Community

2011-05-26T10:40:00.021-05:00

Hi everybody! First, thank you Bethany for inviting me to write a guest post for your super-cool blog. My focus in this post will be on the last part of the coffeeculturecommunity triad. (The only part I know anything about!) Specifically, I would like to talk a little about what I have learned from this of year living in an intentional community.

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First, Some Background

I recently graduated from college and got married. Then, motivated by a vague-but-persistent interest in “togetherness,” Amber and I decided that we wanted learn a little bit about intentional communities. To accomplish this goal, we moved to Pittsburgh, PA where a brand new intentional community called Formation House was just starting up. We have lived here almost a year.

“What is an intentional community,” you ask?

In the most basic terms, an intentional community is a planned residential community designed to have a higher degree of teamwork than other communities. The members of an intentional community typically hold a common vision, and they typically also share responsibilities and resources.

This year has been about fleshing out the details of what that means. As we have journeyed through this year we have found that living in intentional community is pretty darn cool. Formation House is a one year program, and because we have enjoyed this year so much Amber and I are already exploring ways to continue incorporating the practice of community into our lives in the future. Here in Pittsburgh we have forged close friendships, learned best-practices for community life, and eaten a lot of awesome, home-cooked meals.

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Charisms and Focus

One of the things I have learned this year is that different communities have different focuses, or “charisms” as they are called. (http://www.mattpritchard.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Charisms.pdf) Examples of charisms in intentional communities are:

meals together
self-sufficiency
voluntary simplicity
interpersonal growth
egalitarian values
prayer or spirituality

Many communities make the mistake of biting off more than they can chew.

It is common at the beginning stages to say, “Let’s pray together every night, eat breakfast together, plant a garden, get involved with the local church, practice hospitality with all our neighbors, build a park in the vacant lot across from our house, and raise chickens!”

Nobody thinks about cleaning the bathroom. But trust me, it will come up! People who are older and wiser than me recommend “doing one thing well,” and then adding more stuff after the community has established some norms.

Formation House was created to be a training ground for how to do intentional community. I would say
Formation House has three charisms.

We eat meals together 5 nights a week,
we pray together 5 nights a week, and
we meet roughly once a week to go over a curriculum which focuses on interpersonal growth.

By “interpersonal growth” I mean communication, listening skills, conflict resolution, leadership, group decision making. That sort of thing.

Those three things keep is pretty busy as a community because all three call for a good chunk of time and effort. But we still have plenty of time to do other things. For example, we each work full time. And we each have our own personal interests and hobbies.

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Skill Sharing

A big part of the fun of this year has been sharing our hobbies and interests with each other. We have quite an assortment of fun occupations between the eight of us. Some examples:

Gardening
Bee Keeping
Bird Watching
Chess
Sewing
Home Brewing
Accounting
Painting
Yoga
Bicycle Co-Op
Crocheting
Taking care of/playing with a golden retreater
Watching the science fiction television show Firefly

When eight people share their lives together, there is almost always going to be somebody around who is interested in what you are interested in. How awesome is that? When I get share my enthusiasm for chess, for example, or when somebody takes me bird watching for the first time, it is rewarding for everyone involved.

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Further Reading

In conclusion, I still have a lot to learn about community. That said, if you have any questions or are interested in reading more about community, check out my and Amber’s blog, Adventures in Togetherness, or email me at jayhoward1ATgmailDOTcom. I would love to hear from you. Thank you for reading my post about intentional community.

Disclaimer: The chipmunks have no significance. :)

Everyday Spanish

2011-05-24T17:00:00.000-05:00

This week I want to share a couple of important phrases to know when you are travelling in a Spanish speaking country.

First: "Mucho gusto en conocerlo/la".

This means "Very pleased to meet you", and you use "lo" for a male and "la" for female. This is great to say when you meet someone for the first time and flash your Spanish skills.

Second: "¿Cuánto se debe?" or "¿Cuánto cuesta esto?"

This means "How much is owed?" or "How much does this cost?" This is a very important phrase to in the market place and when you are buying anything.

Third: "¿Qué hora es?"

This means "What time is it?" and people usually respond with "Son..." or "Es..." followed by the number "uno, dos, tres, etc." If "y media" is added, that means 30 minutes after the hour.

So excited to use these phrases everyday this week in Quito!

New York, New York

2011-05-23T07:21:00.000-05:00

Is anyone else excited about the Glee finale tomorrow?

It has been two years in the making,

and it is in New York, the city where dreams come true.

What could be better?

However, I am in Ecuador,

so we will see if Hulu will allow me to enjoy this pure bliss on Wednesday.

I saw some adorable photos from New York shooting I wanted to share:

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Raspberry Iced Coffee by: Emma

2011-05-22T11:01:00.008-05:00

Hi everyone, I'm Emma of Food Coma. And Bethany was kind enough to allow me to share a little coffee drink with you all. Here's one of the ways that I like to enjoy iced coffee at home.

I cold brew coffee over night in my french press. I use more coarsely ground coffee than I normally would for hot coffee, as iced coffee will eventually be enjoyed with ice so it gets watered down anyway.

After 8-10 hours my cold brew coffee is ready and I like to serve it with a scant 1/4 cup half and half or whole milk, 1/2 teaspoon raspberry extract and frozen raspberries (and a few ice cubes).

It's a homemade raspberry iced coffee-perfect for summer!

Thanks so much!
xo. Emma

5 Travel Packing Tips

2011-05-21T13:15:00.000-05:00

So it is the day before I embark on my adventure, and I am surprisingly not freaking out. Maybe, it is because I am packed and ready to go...almost. Yesterday, I finished up packing and encountered some humbling set backs. I thought I knew everything about travelling...ha that's funny.

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Anyway, I thought I would share some packing tips for all you fellow adventurers out there.

1. Know Thy Airline Guidelines: So I thought I knew all the airline guidelines, no liquids over 4 oz. in carry on and all in a quart bag, ya ya. However, little did I know, that now you also have a limit on total liquid items in your checked bag of 70 oz. and no one bottle can be more than 16 oz. (there goes my shampoo bottle). For most trips, this limit is no big deal, but when you are staying somewhere for 4 weeks, you have to be intentional about what shampoo, sunscreen, and make-up you pack.

2. Share The Load With Friends: That leads into my next tip. If you are traveling in a group consider sharing personal care items. My roommate is brilliant and came up with a solution to the 70 oz. limit. She is taking shampoo, sunscreen, and moisturizer, and I am bringing conditioner, contact solution, and face wash. We both made it under 70 oz. this way, and really there is no reason to have doubles of everything.

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3. Split The Cost With Your Suitcases: Money is a touchy issue. In my opinion, it is best to separate everything you are taking with you in different suitcases (but NOT your checked bag). Have some in your purse, some in your carry-on, maybe some in your shoe or front pocket. This way if your purse or carry-on gets stolen, you are not stranded penniless.

4. Keep Your Purse Close To Your Heart: Also, on that note, find a bag or money holder that you can keep close to your body at all times. I bought a cute leather purse that slings over my should, so I can keep an eye on it.

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5. Attach Cute Luggage Tags: This is just for fun, but I bought some adorable luggage tags that I am super excited about. On a practical note, it will also help you find your baggage in the baggage claim. :)

P.S. Don't freak out. Odds are wherever you are going has shampoo, toothpaste, and underwear, which is really all you need. Don't pack too much stuff because you don't what to burden your group with being unable to carry your own luggage.

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Also, you may be wondering about if I will be blogging in Ecuador. The answer is YES, but I also have some super sweet guest bloggers lined up for you. Some are dear friends and some are bloggers I greatly admire. I am so honored each of them are taking time out of their busy schedule to share their life with you on this blog.

This week, I have two guest bloggers lined up for you. Tomorrow, Emma from Food Coma and Red Velvet (remember I wrote an article about her and her sister Elsie, you can find here). She has a delicious coffee recipe to share. Later this week, my dear friend, Jay Howard from Adventures in Togetherness is going to share about community (remember I visited him and his wife in Pittsburgh, here).

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(I couldn't resist the UP reference.)

I will pop in with Spanish lessons and fun pictures as well!

Hope you enjoy. :)

Stay Adventurous,

Beth

A Coffee Thingamabob Showcase

2011-05-19T23:58:00.000-05:00

Exciting coffee news!

If you live in the Springfield area and have nothing to do on Sunday night, I have the perfect thing for you. Robbie, my friend who works at Espresso Parts, is doing a demonstration of a foam knife at The Coffee Ethic.

What is a foam knife you ask?

Beats me.

Hence the title a "coffee thingamabob" showcase.

Since I will be out of the country, you guys will have to check it out on Sunday at 7pm and let me know, because it sounds super cool.

Anything to make the life of a Barista easier and make the coffee in the life of a customer taste better is a good thing. :)

In other news, my little sister graduated high school tonight. It was super cool to return to my alma mater and see my high school teachers. My drama teacher, Bobby Clubbs, gave a splendid speech. And yes, the band played Star Wars music for his entrance. Got to love the Clubbs!

I Do...

2011-05-18T11:03:00.000-05:00

small confession

One thing that I am obsessed with outside of coffee, culture, and community, is weddings.

I. Heart. Weddings.

Everything about them.

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I have thought about becoming a wedding planner before, and I would love to work in a bridal boutique. One of my favorite shows is "Say Yes to the Dress", (in fact I am watching it right now) and I am currently drooling over Miss Indie's "I Do Sundays" posts. They are simply marvelous!

I especially love the "UP-Inspired" Wedding post from Miss Indie. That movie means so much to me, and this couple really brought it to life.

(Photos from Miss Indie's blog post found here)

I bring this all up because my beautiful friend Lizzy is getting hitched in September, and I am honored to be one of her bridesmaids. Monday, I visited her and we went dress shopping with the other bridesmaids. Her wedding is vintage inspired on a beautiful farm outside of St. Louis. We are all wearing navy dresses with hopefully an antique or unique feel.

Spending all this time in wedding shops and thinking about bridesmaid's dresses rekindled my wedding passion. I am one of those girls who has been picturing her wedding day since she was a flower girl in many weddings growing up.

But the most important part of the wedding is saying "I Do" to the perfect person, and I love Colbie Caillat's new song "I Do".

Do you ever dream of your wedding day?

World Peace is in our Hands

2011-05-17T23:01:00.001-05:00

Ecuador is 5 days away!

Oh my goodness,

I went shopping today with my mamma to get things like first aid kits and other important traveling stuff. It is really about to happen. :)

This week I am going to share a phrase on the wall I saw in El Salvador one time:

"La Paz del Mundo Esta en Nuestas Manos".

It means "World Peace is in our Hands" or "The Peace of the World is in our Hands". It was painted on the side wall of an elementary school, and I just thought it was so lovely.

Next week, I will have phrases I actually learn in Ecuador! YEAH!

#BringBackKaldis

2011-05-11T11:29:00.002-05:00

Today, I ate my last mocha muffin and drank my last cup of coffee at the Kaldi's cart on Missouri State's campus. At the end of this semester, Sodexo is going out and a new food company is coming in. And they have a contract with Starbucks.

Don't get me wrong, I am stoked that Missouri State is getting new food options such as Chick-fil-A, but it saddens me to see something so unique such as Kaldi's leave MSU campus.

I try make my morning cup at home, but some days I am running late or some nights I am stuck in the library working on homework, and it is nice to have a little extra pick me up on campus. However, Starbucks is not my favorite. Not trying to knock anyone who likes it, but to me, the coffee is always either too bitter or too sweet. Beyond the taste, Starbucks is a global corporation, whereas Kaldi's is a coffee company housed right here in Missouri. It is special, and if you recall previous posts. The South Regional Barista Champion this year was Joe Marrocco, from Kaldi's, so it is legit.

I learned something very important at PRSSA National Assembly this year from the lovely Rachel Sprung. If you don't like something, hashtag it on Twitter. She started the hashtag #bringbackken when tweeting about anything negative about arranging flights for PRSSA because a guy named ken used to take care of it for them.

I am stealing her idea. I encourage you to use the hashtag #BringBackKaldis on Twitter if you are disappointed in seeing them leave MSU campus.

Who knows maybe President Cofer will hear our cries of wanting good, local coffee and #bringbackkaldis?

Simply Spanish

2011-05-10T10:59:00.000-05:00

Since I will be in Ecuador in 12 days, I thought it would be fun to start a little series called "Simply Spanish", where I share a little Spanish phrase with you all. When I am in Ecuador, I can share phrases I learn. :) Hope you learn something new!

This week's phrase is:

"Haz Todo Sin Quejarse" means "Do Everything Without Complaining".

I chose this phrase because I translated the phrase myself in high school, so when my teacher said it was completely correct, I was over the moon!

Also, this phrase is an important phrase for travelers. When you are in a new place, with different food and smells, it is easy to want to complain all the time. However, that takes away from your trip and ruins the mood for everyone else, so it is best to do everything without complaining, especially abroad.

4 PR Tips from Andrea Harp

2011-05-09T01:22:00.002-05:00

Through PRSSA, I recently job shadowed Andrea Harp, Social Media and Marketing Coordinator at Ozarks Community Hospital. It was a fun experience. I was so thankful that Andrea took time out of her busy schedule to let me get to know her better and learn more about PR in the real world.

I thought I would share with you 4 of my favorite tips she gave me:

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1. Never Underestimate the Power of Tagging:
Andrea manages the blog, and she said that since OCH started using social media, they now come up before Cox Hospital (a super large hospital in Springfield) in the Google search engine. She said to tag every blog post well because it truly increases your SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and therefore your online presence and traffic.

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2. Introduce Yourself to Your Co-workers as a New Employee:
As a PR professional, it is important to get to know your co-workers in all departments right away. Don't be afraid to go around and introduce yourself. To quote Andrea, "everybody poops", so don't let titles intimidate you. Knowing your co-workers on a personal level helps you professionally especially if you need their cooperation to generate social media content like for a blog.

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3. Be Aware of Rules in Your Industry:
Andrea works in a for-profit hospital and health care provider. Because of this, there is a lot of red tape and procedures she must take to follow the law. For example, HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) restricts release of patient permission. Everything is confidential. They must not even email about a patient's condition because the lack of security. In order for Andrea to gather patient testimonials, she has to ask for permission in advance, so it is not harassing the patient. Also, they have to be careful that no patients are accidentally photographed when taking pictures. These are some of the rules for the health industry, but every industry has their own set of rules, and it important to know them.

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4. Ask People How They Want to Contribute:
When Andrea came on, she introduced herself to her co-workers asked them if there was a specific way they would like to contribute to social media content. For example, some of the doctors like to write blogs for Andrea, while others are comfortable talking with reporters, and other go on camera for YouTube videos. By getting others in the organizations involved, it gives the community an expert and takes pressure off you.

I had a fabulous time chatting with Andrea and her boss Carrie. Everyone at OCH was so friendly. I highly recommending shadowing someone with a job your would like to have one day. For me, it only solidified my passion for PR and social media!

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14 days...

2011-05-08T13:00:00.001-05:00

I will be here in 14 days! ;)

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Quito, Ecuador, here I come!

I have started the packing process, and I have a lot to do before I leave the country, but I am getting more and more excited everyday! :)

Coffee News: USBC 2011

2011-05-07T22:23:00.000-05:00

So last weekend was the big event in the coffee industry:

the USBC 2011

(United States Barista Championship).

As you know if you follow my blog, I had three friends qualify to compete in this prestigious competition:

Robbie Britt

Jacque Desmarais, and

Joe Marrocco.

I also knew of a couple of competitors including:

Laila Ghambari, who made my espresso at Stumptown,

Sarah Dooley, who made my morning coffee at Olympia Coffee Roasters, and

Pete Licata, who Jacque knew and talked about.

For more info, on the actual competition check out my last blog post.

The Coffee Ethic had a viewing party on Friday in the library to watch Jacque compete,
so fun. :)

Everyone I knew made it through to the semi-finals.
Making them one of 26 top Baristas in the semi-finals!
I was getting ready for work while I was watching the semi-final announcements on my computer, and I think I screamed when they called Jacque's name (even though they mispronounced it).

I was unable to watch the semi-finals because my lovely friend Lizzy was in town,
but here are the results:

6th place: Kevin Bohlin, Ritual, San Francisco
5th place: Lorenzo Perkins, Caffe Medici, Austin, Texas
4th place: Trevor Corlett, MadCap Coffee, Grand Rapids, Michigan
3rd place: Ryan Knapp, MadCap Coffee, Grand Rapids, Michigan
2nd place: Nik Krankl, Gelato Bar & Espresso Cafe, Los Angeles
1st place: Pete Licata, Honolulu Coffee Co., Hawaii

(Yes, Pete, Jacque's friend!)

Needless to say, Jacque brought home a lot of awarding winning coffee from Pete. I am so proud of how well my fellow Baristas did at this competition. And I hope I didn't bore you TOO much with all this coffee talk.

Here is a video that helps you better understand coffee nerds:

The craft from Inkognito on Vimeo.

Coffee News: South Central Barista Competition

2011-05-01T23:16:00.000-05:00

So this post is a little late, but you know what they say better late than never, or in this case, "better latte than never". The South Central Barista Competition was 3 weekends ago, and my co-worker Jacque Desmarais competed in it.

Jacque in her element!

She was on FIRE!

We were so pumped at The Coffee Ethic when we found out she made finals, and even more pumped when we found out she got THIRD PLACE!!! This was only our second year represented at this competition, and it was exciting to have The Coffee Ethic win a trophy.

For some background, the South Central Barista Competition is a regional competition for Baristas, or professional makers of coffee drinks. The competition is fierce and prestigious. Competitors make 4 shots of espresso, 4 cappuccinos, and 4 signature espresso based drinks in under 15 minutes. Competitors are judged by 4 sensory judges, 2 technical judges, and a head judge. The top 6 make it to finals and qualify for the United States Barista Competition, or the USBC, which is this weekend in Houton, Texas.

Joe's Awesome Mustache

The top 3 finalists of the South Central Barista Competition were all from Missouri and include:

#3 Jacque DesMarais, The Coffee Ethic (Springfield, MO)

#2 Stephen Schuh, Kaldi’s Coffee Roasting (St. Louis, MO)

#1 Joe Marrocco, Kaldi’s Coffee Roasting (St. Louis, MO)

(By the way, Joe like Robbie used to work at my mom's cafe in Cape Girardeau. So I am SUPER pumped about 3 current and past co-workers competing at the USBC this weekend.)

Here is a video I made in honor of Jacque competing this weekend at the USBC:

Here is a video Kaldi's made to introduce Joe. It is pretty funny:

I will post the results for the USBC soon!

MSU iPALs

2011-04-27T21:53:00.002-05:00

This year I have been working on a large project with the Distinction in Public Affairs pilot program.

I was put in a group balanced with different strengths with the goal to learn more about the Public Affairs Mission at Missouri State.
(Which involves three parts: Cultural Competence, Community Engagement, and Ethical Leadership)

This Spring, we had to put together a project focusing on Awareness or Action.
My group decided to do research on how to better integrate International Students onto MSU's campus, and how that would benefit the Springfield community as a whole.

We called ourselves iPALs, or International Public Affairs Leaders, and we presented out findings at the Public Affairs Conference a couple of weeks ago. That was a nerve-wracking experience all on its own.

Now, that all the stress has passed, I want to share it with you all. :)

Here is our presentation:

Distinction In Public Affairs: IPALs on Prezi

Our conclusion from many interviews and focus groups with students, faculty, staff, and community members was essentially MSU is doing their best, but there is still a lot of work to be done. Most of this work relies on the local students reaching out to the international student community. We came up with a mentor program that we think would be really great.

One of our team members, Scott Turk, was just elected student body president, so who knows, maybe our dream will become a reality next year!

Remember we can all make a difference! Reaching out to one person different than you may impact their life in ways you will never know.

Diversity starts with an attitude of curiosity and acceptance. :)

As Gandhi said, "Be the change you want to see in the world."

Here are some interviews from our project:

Coffee Tour of Olympia, WA

2011-04-25T16:49:00.000-05:00

I unexpectedly got stuck in Seattle for an extra day.

Thankfully, Robbie and Katie let me stay with them,

and I got an extra "coffee tour" of Olympia, Washington's capitol city.

First, we got our morning coffee at Olympia Coffee Roasting Company next to Robbie's job, Espresso Parts.

Olympia had a unique set up with a beautiful espresso machine, a La Marzocco.

The baristas were super sweet, and made me some yummy coffee on the Clover.

LOVE this door handle!

Then we hopped on over to Espresso Parts.

This was a sight for a coffee nerd like me.

Coffee gadgets in every corner.

It was like a warehouse, but a lot smaller than I ever imagined.

I definitely feel like I am a cooler Barista now that I have seen where they make all the coffee making machines.

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T14:45:00.000-05:00

Happy Easter, everyone!

I am spending some time in the City of Roses with the family,

and reminiscing on Easters past.

I often think of my late kitty cat, Georgianne, around Easter.

Probably because in 4th grade,

she scratched my lip on Easter weekend,

and I was rushed to the hospital.

I got over 30 stitches

and was MORTIFIED to take Easter photos,

but I did.

My mom shared with me this old picture of Georgianne,

and it sparked my interest.

I started pillaging through old photos,

and I thought I would share some photos from Easters past. :)

Me and my sis, Tori.

The year Georgianne scratched me.

Yes, I held her in the family photo.

Did you have a tradition of buying a new Easter dress every year with your mom?

I did.

I specifically remember being in the store to pick out the pink dress for me and the green dress for Tori.

I remember the first year we stopped this tradition.

At first it made me sad, now I am over it.

Have a wonderful day with your family!

The Coffee Capitol of the World

2011-04-23T18:28:00.002-05:00

Seattle, WA, also known as the "Coffee Capitol of the World".

It is also the place where Starbucks was founded in 1971.

As you know I visited, a "fake original" Starbucks, first.

Of course, being in Seattle, I visited EVERY coffee place I could.

I was in coffee heaven. :)

The first place (besides a Starbucks) I visited was Victrola.

Robbie, my former coffee manager, took me on my coffee tour.

It was a lovely little shop.

I ordered a cappuccino and a homemade coffee truffle.

YUM!

It was scrumptious.

A little background on the coffee shop, it was founded in 2000.

The name comes from the popular phonograph during the 1920's.

The really emphasized this theme with a 1920's jazz feel in the overall atmosphere of the shop.

I also could not resist this fair trade coffee bar from Theo Chocolate Factory.

First off, it had a cat on it.

I LOVE kitty cats.

Second, it reminded me of good'ole Springfield's Askinosie Chocolate Company.

Then I headed straight over to the infamous Stumptown Coffee Roasters.

It was smaller than Victrola,

but had a very distinct, clean feel.

The Baristas knew Robbie, so we chatted for awhile.

They were super nice.

We both got an espresso,

and I got some Burundi beans (on the house).

Thanks, Stumptown!

Last and probably least, I did go to the "original Starbucks"

because you have to as a tourist in Seattle.

However, I was not impressed.

The coffee was worse than the coffee served at my conference,

and the shop was small and had no chairs.

What is the point of a coffee shop if you can't cozy up in a chair?

Overall, Seattle's coffee scene was everything I anticipated.

Great shops mixed in with 1,000 Starbucks.

I am glad I have been to the "Coffee Capitol of the World"!

Barbara Bush and Global Health Corps

2011-04-13T22:15:00.001-05:00

This week at Missouri State University we are having our 7th annual Public Affairs Conference. I have been doing a lot this week with it, and I will share more later, but I am just so excited about tonight's presentation, I have to share NOW.

In a nutshell, the Public Affairs Conference is a chance for Missouri State to put the Public Affairs Mission into action. The three components of the Public Affairs Mission are Community Engagement, Cultural Competence, and Ethical Leadership. Missouri State brings together speakers from all over the world to offer their expertise and spark conversation about Public Affairs. This year the theme is "Leading in a Global Society" and the chair of the conference is my advisor, Dr. Gloria Galanes. She has done such a fabulous job putting this conference together.

Well, back to tonight.

I attended the plenary address of Barbara Pierce Bush, daughter of former President George W. Bush and founder and president of Global Health Corps.

Essentially, what Global Health Corps does is act as a hub for recently graduated students to connect their expertise to a non-profit working in global health. Bush said that the program seeks to show young people that no matter their background, they can be a part of the solution for global health problems.

Her story was inspiring. Now, I want to be a "fellow", and go to Africa for one year.

The neatest thing about the program is they partner up a foreign "fellow" with a local "fellow. My favorite story she shared was of a young man who was born in Rwanda. His family fled the genocide, and he returned to Rwanda to go to a university. He worked with Global Health Corps and an American fellow to create the first state of the art hospital for that region. Now, he serves his home country under the minister of Health.

Seriously, everyone should check out her program!

Reflecting on PRSSA National Assembly 2011

2011-04-13T16:25:00.001-05:00

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Last week was a blur. Coming back from Seattle had me hitting the ground running leaving little time for blogging, which makes me sad because I have so many exciting things to share with you lovely people. :)

First of all, I was absolutely honored to represent my Missouri State Chapter at PRSSA National Assembly 2011 in Seattle, WA. As you all probably know, I was a bit apprehensive going to a National PRSSA event for the first time on my own with no context for the event, riding in an airplane for the first time on my own, and being with some of the top PR students in the nation.

All of my fears and worries were unneeded. I had a fabulous time as you can tell by all my photos. I want to really share and process this amazing opportunity with you all. Bear with me as I still am experiencing jet lag and sleep deprivation.

I do not know how to describe the instant connection I seemed to make with people there. Making friends seemed effortless. We all had many things in common: we are passionate about PR, love PRSSA, and want to succeed in our education and careers. And PR people LOVE people!

Friday was incredible. A lot of it was simply talking to other PRSSA members and seeing how they do things differently. I asked everyone "How do you set up your eboard?" "How do you organize your firm?", etc. Often conferences can be so jammed packed with important speakers, it leaves little time to engage with your peers at the conference. This was not the case at National Assembly.

People were oozing at the seams with ideas, and it was contagious to be around such passionate people.

Some ideas I have for my Chapter include:

Having a fundraiser expo on campus charging businesses to be there,
Going to more National activities,
Having a social media calendar to give our Chapter a specific voice,
Creating committees to support the e-board instead of having specific chairs,
Establish lasting connections with our supporting PRSA chapter by possibly having a Professional Advisor.

The one item I took away from the entire experience is being a part of the election process. Watching my peers run for office, voting for them, and then see them become our new National Committee was priceless. I feel comfortable contacting any one of them about my Chapter because I established a personal relationship with many of them at Assembly.

As great as Seattle was, coming back to Springfield was harder than I anticipated. This past week it is almost as if I have experienced reverse culture shock. After being surrounded by such passionate PR people, it is difficult to come back to a diverse group of people and try to explain my experience and my ideas. Everyone has a listening ear, but some experiences have no words to describe them.

And jet lag doesn't help. :)

But I am feeling more like myself again, and ready to tackle the end of the semester!

Sleepless in Seattle Literally

2011-04-03T21:26:00.001-05:00

Wow,

this Seattle trip has truly been an adventure with little sleep.

I thought I would share as overview of my trip with you guys,

and I will share more details of what I learned later this week.

To start off with, I successfully rode in an air plane alone for the first time.

It was scary,

but I am awesome. ;)

I had a great time with my roommate, Veronica, from Austin, Texas at St. Edward's University, and we hung out with her Texas friends and their roommates as well.

Friday started with a open forum with different Chapters.

I gained so much from this time just asking how other people do their PRSSA Chapters. I even got an very viable solution to a problem in our Chapter from a National Committee member.

Then we had some leadership sessions.

I especially appreciated the session on how Chapters can get involved at the National level.

That afternoon was free.

It was filled with exploring Pike Place Market, eating good food, and of course going to the wrong Starbucks.

That night we had a networking function with Edelman, a large PR firm.

Later, we went to dinner at the Fox Sports Bar

and went to bed early.

Saturday was all about National Assembly.

We started at 7: 45 am and ended at 5: 30 pm with only an hour break for lunch.

It definitely hailed over lunch.

It was all worth it to vote the 2011-2012 PRSSA National Committee:

That night I visited some coffee shops with Robbie and Katie, my youth minister and his wife at my church back home. It was so good to see them and drink coffee other than Starbucks.

The morning involved a speaker from Microsoft, Frank X. Shaw, Corporate Vice President, Corporate Communications, saying good bye to last year's National Committee, and getting pumped for National Conference in Orlando, Florida.

I am so excited about National Conference this year,

and I hope to convince other people in my chapter to be as well!

It was a great weekend.

It was incredibly refreshing to be surrounded by people as passionate as PR and school as I am.

I will not easily forget all the wonderful people I met in Seattle,

and I can't wait to get to know them more this year.

I loved my adventure in Seattle!!!

I will definitely be catching up on my sleep for a while...

The Original Starbucks #AprilFools

2011-04-03T00:58:00.000-05:00

I am a very festive person.

I love holidays.

However, I hate April Fools Day.

Growing up my mom and sister always liked to prey on my dad's and my gullibility. It was always a source of conflict in our family. Looking back, I often overreacted to my sister's antics, but I am still not fond of April Fool's Day.

This year, I figured being in Seattle would secure me from any April Fool's jokes.

Who was I kidding?

No distance is too far for my sister.

This year she convinced our family that she had torn a hamstring at a pivotal track race and had to pull out. It was a brilliant devious joke because it was believable and incredibly scary for my family thinking she could be done with track and lose her scholarship next year.

I also managed to April Fool's myself.

A big group of us at PRSSA National Assembly definitely went to a Starbucks thinking it was the original Starbucks, and it was not. We took such touristy photos that must have made us look crazy.

When we found out, we all felt like idiots,

but I thought I would share photos anyway:

I had a coffee made on the Clover, which was actually yummy, and Veronica and I plan to visit the REAL original Starbucks tomorrow morning. Also, my coffee shops I visited tonight made up for that mistake.

I will share more about my coffee adventures and PR tips from Seattle later!

5 Ghetto Tips on Looking Professional

2011-04-01T00:58:00.004-05:00

While I was packing for PRSSA National Assembly in Seattle,

I started to realize lots of little shortcuts I take to make myself appear professional.

Let's face it.

I am a college student.

I am working on developing a professional wardrobe,

but sometimes the cash is just not there.

So I thought I would share 5 of my Ghetto Tips to Looking Professional:

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1. Sharpie Shoeshine:

Do you ever have scuffed black pumps? I am super clumsy, so I have this problem frequently. I should probably buy some shoe shine, but right now I am satisfied with black sharpie. Just color in the scuffed marks with black sharpie, and your shoes will look as good as new. This tip actually came from Dr. Wood in Communication Careers.

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2. Safety Pins Fix Everything:
"Dang it! My button fell off my pants!" Never fear, safety pins fix everything from necklaces to black pants. Just safety pin, your pants together and wear a belt over it. No one will know the difference.

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3. Steamy Shower Straightens Fabric:

If your shirt is wrinkled and no iron or dryer is to be found, a shower will work. Yes, you heard me. I actually heard this tip from my roommate at Assembly, Veronica Adamcik. Hang up your wrinkled article of clothing in the bathroom and let the shower on hot. (Not in the water!) Occasionally, pull the clothing to make it straighter.

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4. Fill Holes in Hose:
This tip is more common, but if you rip your hoes ladies, never fear clear nail polish can fix it in a jiffy. A small tip that can save your life.

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5. Hiding the Melted Mess of a Shirt:
Have you ever ironed anything that wasn't supposed to be ironed? I have. At a Speech and Debate tournament. I freaked about it for a while until I realized my cardigan covered up the crazy mess. No one was the wiser.

Hope these tips help you navigate disasters at professional conferences!

I will keep you updated on the Assembly as well!

Confessions of a Wannabe Vagabond

2011-03-27T01:07:00.001-05:00

Here comes another confessional blog post.

I talk about adventure and travel all the time,

but really I can be quite the chicken.

I desire to be that woman who

knows 7 languages

has traveled the globe

and

always has a story to tell.

I want to be

"Marie" off of the movie "Dan in Real Life",

"Belle" from "Beauty and the Beast",

Elizabeth Gilbert author of "Eat, Pray, Love".

I want to "want adventure in the great wide somewhere"

I want to "want it more than I can tell".

But the truth is,

I am not a risk-taker.

I like to play things safe.

Roller Coasters terrify me.

I will be boarding my first solo flight in 4 days,

and I am freaking out a little bit.

I will be living in another country for 4 weeks this summer,

and I am freaking out a little bit.

Don't get me wrong,

I am SO excited about these trips,

but I am an unexperienced traveler

about to embark on some adventures that put me out of my comfort zone.

But then again it wouldn't be an adventure

if I wasn't out of my comfort zone.

So this wannabe vagabond is about to

jump in head first into the great wide somewhere.

Pray for Japan

2011-03-25T14:00:00.002-05:00

I am writing an article about Springfield's relief efforts with the recent Japan disaster.

Can I be honest with you all for a moment?

With Spring Break and school and work,

I kind of avoided the whole suffering in Japan thing.

I know, it is a terrible disaster,

but I didn't let myself come to grip with the incredible reality that so many people were suffering.

Then I talked to Jeff Nene, the PR Directer at Convoy of Hope.

I watched their video

and

listened to horrific stories

and

was confronted with the faces of despair.

Here is what Jeff had to say:

“We’ve have never faced anything like that before in our disaster response history,” Nene said. “Japan didn’t suffer a disaster. They suffered three disasters one right on top of the other. You have the earthquake then you have the tsunami, which has caused much greater loss of life and loss of buildings and property than the earthquake did, and then you have the nuclear problem on top of that, which just hampers the response. We have people in those zones that can’t come out of their houses. We are afraid to send a team to those areas for fear of radiation exposure, so we have had to step out of our comfort zone and do things differently than we are accustomed to.”

Japan's disasters are so great relief has been done from afar.

Jeff said that 350,000 people are still left homeless.

It is incredible to think about those in Japan,

but there is hope.

There are people everywhere pulling together for Japan's sake--

including Japan.

They are fighters.

Springfield is doing their share of relief as well.

Next Monday, Springfield's Nakato is donating all their sales they make that night to Japan.

Since Isesaki, Japan, has been Springfield's sister city for 25 years, the city is sending funds to them to help them through this tough time just like they did for us in Ice Storm 2007.

Don't ignore it like I did at first

avoiding the hurt.

Empathize with our brothers and sisters across the globe.

Pray for Japan.

Pray For Japan from Convoy of Hope on Vimeo.

If you want more information on how you can be a part of relief work in Japan, check out my Ozarks News Journal feature.