Person in Charge of Getting the Word Out

I'm starting to settle into my new job at Askinosie Chocolate,

and I'm just smitten.

It is the perfect job for me.

However, I am constantly asked:

So what do you actually DO?

Do you get to eat chocolate all day?

Are there oompa loompas involved?

Well, 

I am a public relations professional for an artisan bean-to-bar chocolate factory, where I do get to eat chocolate frequently and there are not oompa loompas.

I adore my actual title:

Person in Charge of Getting the Word Out.

I think that pretty much sums it up.

I'm a storyteller,

an event coordinator,

a social media peep,

a listening ear for customers,

a idea factory for journalists

and simply an advocate for the company.

A wise professor once described PR as three things:

reading,

writing &

relationships.

I love all of those things.

My outfit for my first day of work!

Being the Person in Charge of Getting the Word Out,

you all will be hearing much more of Askinosie's story in posts to come,

but for now that is all.

Hopefully, you understand what I do a little better than before.

Indulge in yummy chocolate always,

Coffeegirl

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La Capilla del Hombre

This week, I have called Quito, Ecuador, twice for work, and we got our shipment of cocoa beans from Ecuador this morning.

All this has me reminiscing over being in that lovely Latin city this time last year.

Photo from Askinosie Instagram.

One of my favorite experiences of the entire trip, I have yet to share with my fellow traveling chums: 

Visiting la Capilla del Hombre.

Found on Flickr

La Capilla del Hombre, or the Cathedral of Man, is an art gallery dedicate to one of Ecuador's most famous artists: Oswaldo Guayasamin. The gallery was actually designed by Guayasamin, but he did not live to see out his final masterpiece's completion.

"I cried because I had no shoes until I saw a child with no feet."

Guayasamin had a very unique style born out of his friend's death in a political demonstration and his travels to indigenous people along the Amazon. 

He became obsessed with human suffering and injustice in the world. 

His work reflects that greatly.

The cathedral of man is showcases man's suffering and greatness in that suffering.

Like in religious depictions, there are three levels:

heaven,

purgatory &

hell.

However, it is more about man than a higher being because Guayasamin was not a religious man.

Found on Flickr.

My favorite of his paintings is called "El mestizaje," or mixing of cultures and races. The blue and yellow hues represent the clashing of the Spanish people with the indigenous people of South America.

I love how he represents this concept.

I hung a copy of this painting up in my Askinosie office this week because I love it so much.

I enjoyed our group tour of La Capilla Del Hombre so much,

I made an independent trip back to the gallery and bought three paintings.

One is in my office.

One is hanging in my new apartment.

One still needs a home.

Does art about social injustice excite anyone else? 

Or just me? :)

Safe travels,

-Coffeegirl

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What is a Cortado?

One of my favorite espresso drinks is one that you cannot find everywhere.

It is perfect for fall and spring

(those in between weather seasons)

because it is a warm drink served cooler than most.

It is a cortado.

Cortado means "cut" in Spanish.

So in essence, the drink is espresso "cut" with milk.

The drink is hard to come by,

but my favorite local shop, The Coffee Ethic, let me invade their space so I could write about one of my favorite drinks right now.

The drink is comes in a 4 oz. shot glass with two shots of espresso and steamed milk.

This makes it in between the size and strength of a macchiato and a cappuccino. 

The milk is steamed a little cooler than a macchiato

but with the consistency of milk in a latte.

This basically means that it is thinner or has less foam

but served at a low temp.

I LOVE cortados!

They are beautiful, Spanish and yummy,

and they are perfect for those days when you cannot decide between hot and iced coffee.

I highly recommend them.

(especially from The Coffee Ethic)

-Coffeegirl

All photos were taken by me, and the drink was made by Mallory McWilliams, Barista at The Coffee Ethic.

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Closing a Chapter

Today, I am officially closing a chapter in my life:

SCHOOL.

I graduated from Missouri State on Friday morning 

with a B.S. in Public Relations and Spanish.

All the work has finally paid off.

Although I never plan to stop learning,

after tomorrow,

my life will not be the same.

I will be a professional

not a student.

On Friday, I had a lovely time with my and the beau's families. 

It was great to have their love and support on a special day.

I would not be where I am at now without them.

I had the privilege of sitting next to two of my awesome PRSSA buddies, Doug and Chelly, who were of course live-tweeting the whole time.

I also had the privilege of having my new boss, Shawn Askinosie, give my commencement address after receiving his honorary doctorate in Public Affairs.

His words were both honest and inspiring.

He shared his post-grad struggles and how that shaped him as well as the lessons he has learned from farmers in poverty-stricken areas of the world.

I could not help being moved to tears thinking about the people I have encountered myself in Latin America over the years.

My thoughts wandered to their

 love,

sacrifice,

and joy.

I feel so honored to begin making a difference in some of those people's lives starting tomorrow at Askinosie Chocolate.

One of my special guests was my Aunt Pam Parry, who drove nearly EIGHT hours to see me graduate. 

She is a public relations professor at Belmont University, 

and one of the reasons I decided to pursue PR and join PRSSA. 

She has been such a great support and resource throughout these four years.

After graduation, I got to watch the beau graduate as well.

It was just too perfect to share that day with him.

I am so proud of all he has accomplished in his college career.

After two graduation ceremonies, I took my family to the chocolate factory and gave my first tour. 

It was great to share this next part of my life with them, 

and I think everyone had a blast trying all the chocolate. :)

Tomorrow is my first day at Askinosie, and a million emotions are running through my mind, but I am mostly excited. 

Because I have no other point of reference, I am treating tomorrow as if it were the first day of school.

I went to Staples and bought supplies.

I picked out my outfit.

I have packed my little briefcase,

and now, I am just waiting for tomorrow to come.

The sermon at church this morning was about Elijah passing his job on to Elisha, which was so fitting.

It is time for me to close this chapter and fill some big professional shoes tomorrow.

Here's to NEW beginnings!

-Coffeegirl

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Chocolate Girl

This Coffeegirl is about to become a Chocolate Girl, too!

If you keep up with my blog, you may have heard of this wonderful local chocolate factory in Springfield that I adore,

Askinosie Chocolate.

In fact, I counted earlier this week, and I have mentioned them in 7 blog posts.

I may be a bit obsessed.

Askinosie Chocolate is a small batch chocolate manufacturer located in Springfield, Mo., that sources all of their beans directly from the farmers. Shawn Askinosie, the founder, works directly with the farmers and source cocoa beans for his yummy chocolate. They also go above and beyond Direct Trade by investing the farming communities and the Springfield community. They have dug wells, set up food programs and taken high school students to Africa.

Well, this week, I was offered the opportunity of a lifetime.

Starting the Monday after graduation, 

I will be the new PR girl for Askinosie Chocolate.

Words cannot express my joy over this new adventure.
I cannot wait to learn more about the chocolate industry
and to make the world a little better by telling Askinosie's story.

This job combines everything that I love:
PR, Spanish, Speciality Food and making a GLOBAL impact.
It could not be more perfect for me.

Mallory and me celebrating with lunch on C-Street!

On a personal note, Shawn will be receiving an honorary doctorate from MSU as I graduate in TWO short weeks as well as giving my graduation commencement speech, which is really exciting for me.

I will also have the lovely opportunity to work with one of my lovely friends, Mallory Roth.

I'm about to enter the professional world, and I could not be more thrilled. 

I promise to share lots of fun chocolate tidbits as I learn them!

-Coffeegirl

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