Talking {Coffee} Shop

We all know my love of coffee shops.  Here is a few things happening in and around the coffee shop before I head of to work...

Hearing Conversations About:

The free cup of coffee when buying  a bag of beans and the amount of people who don't redeem it

An older woman who doesn't have her usual seat, "It's such a busy morning..."

A group from the company down the street on the different type of men's v-neck t-shirts

"I don't remember what I did last week, soccer?  Yes, it was soccer non-stop..."

Camp Galileo and the cool {overwhelmingly so} science projects

Cranberry scones and "Are you allergic to almonds?"

House blend, they have to brew a new pot

Laughs

Pinching children's cheeks, they are just so dang adorable!

Business deals

Weekend plans

Seeing:

Empty cups

Red walls

Breakfast scattered tables

Business clothes

Casual clothes

Bright bags

Pouring liquids

Computers

Specially brewed coffee

Brown coffee bags

It is a busy day!  Happy Friday!

Coffee Shop thinking

I’ve said it before and I will say it again, I love coffee shops. 

And you know what I love is that there is a coffee like beverage that is a part of almost every culture.  Ok, so some cultures its tea.  But when I think about some of the best conversations I’ve had with complete strangers have been the ones that take place in a coffee shop, at a park, or while riding public transportation. 

These days I’m loving the coffee shop because it is a place to stop, sit, talk, and think.

I recently moved back to the bay area.  That would be due to graduating and going with the assumption that living at home is the best option right now.  It’s been a transition, and it will continue to be.

I’m back on the central coast for brief weekend trips this summer.  And as I sat in one of my favorite college coffee shops I was sitting enjoying the surroundings.  There are the most beautiful paintings up on the wall. 

This particular shop has revolving art displays.  Some I have enjoyed, but others aren’t my favorite.  This one, I moved seats just to be able to look up and see two specific pieces.  We all know that in Europe I was the art junkie that went to museums and learned about the history and the times.  I could walk around art shows most days.  {I also like the outdoors}  I’m feeling inspired to ride a bike and find a huge oak, thanks to these paintings.  I love that something indoors can move you to be outdoors. 

I encourage you to go sit in a coffee shop soon.  No agenda.  Simply taking it as it comes.

Conversations of Joy

I've been away for awhile.  Blogging could not be a priority.  And even in the midst of that, I was still writing.  My thoughts still poured out on a page.  Nothing bad happened, there was no catastrophe, I just wasn't posting.  There were things in life that were more important and those things took time and attention.

This was written awhile ago, but I can express these sediments today as well.  Happy Sunday!  Happy Cinco de Mayo!

How do we discover joy?  I think as others have said before me that joy is found in the little things, the things in which we stop and are thankful.  And if it true that we find joy in the things we are thankful for then I am thankful for conversations.  Conversations bring me joy; especially conversations that come from nowhere, in a coffee shop, in the park, on the bus.  They are of an introductory nature.  A catching up on life and the things that make it beautiful.   A way to see the world as a place where passion and discovery grows.  People know things.  They know what makes their world tick.  They know what makes them excited.  They know more than I will ever know.  And they can do more things than I will ever learn to do.

Oh life is beautiful.  Have a conversation and discover joy in relationship.

I couldn't resist...

Here is a review of some of the places in "my city." 

Enjoy!

 

NYtimes

Coffee Shop Time

The joy of the Lord has been so sweet this last week.  Yesterday was rainy and cold.  I was meeting up with a sweet girl and in our text conversation I asked her if we could cozy up at a coffee shop.  I got there a few minutes early to do some things on my own.  I love a warm beverage, the bible or a good book, and being wrapped up in a sweater.

The days of Italy came back to me.   I didn’t really take my bible and read it out in public when I was there, except for a few times.  It wasn’t because I didn’t want to talk about it, {which is a great conversation starter} but because my hands would get too cold while reading!

One of my favorite things to do was to make my own cappuccino in the apartment and curl up in a down blanket on my bed.  I would be in my grey wool knit sweater, and sweats with 2 pairs of socks covering my feet.  My room was always incredible cold.  I claim that that is the reason I spent so much time in the kitchen!

For a few minutes today I was transported back to Italy.

I love being in Slo, but I miss the places I’ve been.  I’ve left a piece of my heart in each place.  I hope that I will have the opportunity to go back, but for now I am content to enjoy my coffee and time in a little local coffee shop.

Days with Momma

It's spring break and yet I am going to have a mellow week. I am hoping that it is
productive. It doesn’t have to be a whirlwind, just get some things done. Live with a purpose.

Yesterday I got to spend the day with my mom. I think one of the things I love about being home is that my spring break doesn’t match up with my family’s. It’s a plus and minus situation {aren’t most situations that way?} I got to spend some time giving her input on the mission trip she’s helping to lead a team for. And then she went to tutor and I did some catch up work. And then we went and I got to help out at the local middle school selling lunch. She and Elizabeth do it every Monday. They make Mondays, Manners Mondays. Then all three of us went out to lunch and just had fun coming up with creative questions and ideas. There was a quick coffee break in there and then just hanging out with my momma. She made sure my sister had a ride home from
school. Again she tutored and then she went go to my brother’s volleyball game. She supports us so well.
I was and still am so blessed to be able to grow up with parents that invested in me daily. I love spending these days with my momma and that she got to be a stay-at-home mom. I love that she gets to not only be in the lives of her children but others’ children as well. I know when I was younger I wouldn’t get to do something so I would think to myself “When I have
kids I’m going to do …differently.” And now I don’t think I would.

Thanks Momma for investing in my life! I love you!

Shell Shocked

So Rome day 2 is coming. With the lovely epic Christmas Eve service story. But this is just to tell you that I am still here. I am thinking in blogging terms as I go through my day.
This week I have been going to classes, making a new schedule and seeing old friends. My first day of school I think I had every emotion. But in a way it didn’t even matter. It was a good day. I’m still settling in and having some culture shock.
The cars are bigger, the houses and buildings shorter and everyone speaks English. I know it’s crazy that people would generally speak English!
Those are just a few of the things I think of when I ride the bus or walk down the street.

I made my first homemade cappuccino today. There were multiples. They were a hit with the roomies.

Putting the Study in Study Abroad

San Luis Obispo, California is home to numerous coffee shops. It’s a college town and students flock to the different places to study. Each shop has a unique feeling even if it is has expanded to multiple locations. One shop in particular is called Linnaea’s Café. I’ve been there a couple of times for some studying. They regularly have local musicians come and play. The place has a fun vibe.
A couple of weeks ago I went with a friend to her favorite coffee shop in Torino. She claimed that it was the “Linnaea’s of Torino”. And so it is. They serve breakfast and lunch, have an amazing cappuccino and the lady behind the counter is sure to welcome you with a smile. {It helps that they have free wifi!}

So today, even though I want to talk about my weekend, I’m studying. I have a final in a couple of hours and an important presentation tomorrow. Here are some pictures of the beautiful, bright and cheery café that I’ve spent my morning at. And yes, it’s true… you do have to study when you study abroad!