For about 2 months now I have been working at Starbucks. I actually was a rehire though. Last year around October I got hired at Starbucks but then around Christmas time I quit. My schedule was just way to busy to have a job. I was at school til about 5:30 because I was in the plays, then I’d work til about 9:45 and still would have to do homework. It all was a little too much for me then, but I’m glad I was able to get rehired because know I love it!

I am working at the Starbucks on 168th and Washington. I was a little scared to start working there at first but I am happy I am. It has been a good experience so far. First off I love all the people I work with. Everyone is very friendly and nice, and very easy to get along with. We all like to joke around together and overall it’s just a good environment all around. Yes we do have fun but everyone is hard-working and we always want the best for our customer’s and store. Like some people who dread to go to work, I don’t dread it. I always look forward to going to work because I know it’s going to be fun and that’ll have a good time working. Yeah it is a little tough on those early mornings when I have to be there at 4:30am or 5:30am but it’s not too bad I’m getting use to it. Haha.

Another thing I like is being able to connect with the customers. Everyone is different and everyone’s drinks are different and unique to fit them. In the mornings I usually work around the same hours so I see the same people almost everyday. There is the lady that gets a grande caramel macchiato with extra caramel, the guy that gets a triple grande SOY latte, and the lady that visits on her break from work to get something to eat or her usual iced green tea. Also the guy that comes in the lobby that gets a tall coffee with two honey’s, then goes to his same chair and reads his book.  They are always happy when you know there drink and it’s fun to be able to chat with them real quick and see how they’re doing. Just the other day I commented on a lady’s purse which she then told me it was from Mary Kay. I told I use to use Mary Kay but stopped. Then I talked a little about what I do and my other job and just chatted. Then she asked for my number so she could call me about Mary Kay stuff. Well I ended up having a Mary Kay session with a facial cleanser and lip and hand softening  just this morning. Her name is Dawn and is a very sweet kind lady and who knew I would find my Mary Kay lady at Starbucks.

I think there is only one down fall to this job…I drink way to much Starbucks now. Haha. During work you are allowed to make drinks for yourself so I usually do. Then you can make yourself one before you leave. You basically get to make as many drinks as you want while you’re on the clock. Then the pastries and breakfast sandwiches are there and they always look so good. I especially love the pumpkin loaf. Sometimes I eat the pastries because I do get a discount off. But I think if I don’t be careful I am going to end up weighing 802 pounds soon. I try to be a little healthy here and there though. Like drinking tea or a smaller size or something. Haha. Maybe I’ll jut start working out a lot.  I usually drink at the most two drinks while i’m there. It is usually coffee then a tea or something. I’ve been trying to drink more water while I’m there though so we’ll see how that works. Hehe!

Here are some of my favorite drinks there:

~ Toffee Nut White Mocha - it’s good cold or hot! Delicious!

~Pumpkin Spice Chai - I only like it cold, I don’t really like chai hot

~Caramel Machiatto with extra caramel

~Peppermint White Mocha – I only drink it around Christmas time though.

~ Vanilla Bean Frapp with 2 shots on top and caramel sauce – my dad introduced me to this : ]

Those are my favorite drinks right now, but who know’s, maybe I’ll invent some drink that becomes my new favorite!

I love knitting! Whenever I saw my mom or sister Robbin knitting I was always jealous of them because I didn’t know how to knit. I decided I needed to fix that, so I went to the perfect person who could help me out…my Grandma Maxine. I called her up and off we went to Michael’s to get everything I would need. Knitting needles and yarn, that’s it. My Gma proceeded to teach me step by step how to knit. At first it was a little hard to do, but in no time I was a pro at knitting, at least I thought so. Then I finished my first scarf and realized I needed a little more practice to be at the level that my Grandma, Mom and sister were at.

Now I’ve been knitting for a few years and I’d have to say that I have improved. Although I can only make scarfs I guess there is more practice that needs to be done. But for now I am content with just making scarfs. I have jazzed up the scarfs thought. I’ve made a couple stripped scarfs for my dear friend VJ and a couple with little hangy downy things at the ends.  The next steps in my knitting adventures is to learn how to knit hats, gloves, socks, a blanket is probably easy, and maybe even attempt a sweater. haha I might have to turn to my Grandma Maxine again because she knows how to do everything!

Some people do make fun of me because I knit. They think old people just knit and that it is boring. Well I don’t think so. I enjoy knitting, it is very relaxing. I usually carry my knitting with me in my purse and knit at work and then it is with me outside of work whenever I want to do it. I was thinking though the best invention would be to find a way where you can read and knit at the same time. Because you use both your hands for knitting it’s a little hard to hold a book too and turn pages, unless you use your feet. That can look a little awkward though and be a little challenging. So I thought what if a machine was made where it will hold your book for you and turn the pages for you. But it is difficult to knit without looking sometimes. So if anyone has a way where you can knit and read at the same time, let me know!

There are a few of my friends at work and just friends that are jealous of my knitting just like I was jealous of my mother and sister. I am going to teach them how to knit. Maybe I’ll have a knitting club. I already am having a knitting party with my friend Nikki and her boyfriend Geoff and we’re going to bake some cookies. It’ll be a fun-filled event! Maybe I’ll start charging people for my services. Just kidding, all I’m saying is yes, I am a knitter!

I know I know! Its been forever since I blogged, but I’m gonna try to start doing it again. We’ll see what happens. : ] But I’ll take this time to tell you what I’ve been up to  since it has been oh so long.

Let’s see, I graduated High School in May which was a very exciting time. There was an awesome graduation party in my honor, so thank you all who came and helped me celebrate. Now at first it was really wierd realizing that I didn’t ever have to go to school again if I didn’t want to. Such a strange feeling.  This summer I worked at a place called Goals Inc. where I got to hang out with little kids all day. My cup of tea! I loved working there so much and all the kids that I decided to stay there for the school year as well. So I am still working there as of now. About mid July I had a friend wanting me to move out with her, so I said why not. I spread my wings and moved out all on my own. I then realized that I would need a second job to afford it. : ) Not really sure about where I wanted to work I got a job at Starbucks, and I LOVE it! It is a lot of fun there and I love everyone I work with. Being apprehensive at first about working there it has been and good thing and I am happy I’m working there. I stay pretty busy working two jobs. My day consists of me working in the morning at Starbucks usually between a 4 hour or 8 hour shift. Then I have an hour between job and I’m at goals for 4 hours. Some people may think I’m crazy for working two jobs but I am loving it…so far. ; ]

Alright now many of you may be wondering if I’m going to school. As of right now I am not. I was originally going to go to Metro State in the fall, but I decided to take a semester off. I am going to start taking online classes in January through the summer. Then the plan right now is to attend Metro State in the fall and try to live downtown. My plan for what I want to get my degree in hasn’t changed.  Teaching is still calling my name and possibly a minor in business so then I can start plans to open my bakery. I never thought I’d hear myself say that I miss school, but I won’t lie I do miss school. Working at Goals I help the kids with their homework and I always think I wish I had homework to do. : ] Yes I am sure though once I start school again I’ll hear myself say, “I miss the days when I didn’t go to school.” haha.  I am excited for the future and to see what will happens. Yes I do have plans of what I want to do with my life and what I want to do. But really it is all up to God and what he wants me to do with my life. He might have completely different plans for me. I’ll have to wait and see. : ] Life is an adventure, that’s for sure.

That is where my life is right now. Just staying busy busy busy. : )

(Jenny Freyta! I finally blogged! Just for you! : ) I still hope you’ve been checking it everyday and will continue to because I’m back! : ])

Nickeldeon

1.) Clarissa Explains it All – when there is a brother named Ferguson it’s worth watching.  Then there is Sam who must have been afraid to use to front door because he always came in through Clarissa’s window with a ladder. Strange.

2.) AAAHH!!! Real Monsters – I think this show was close to my favortie. You had the long skinny monster named Oblina she was the smart one. Then there was the trouble maker Ickis red, short, with long big ears. Then there was Krumm he just smelled bad. But Krumm was my favorite because his eyeballs weren’t attached to his body so he held them up with his hands. I thought it was cool.

3.) The Secret World of Alex Mack – This show was awesome! Alex Mack was doused with a mysterious chemical called GC-161. So Alex was able to turn herself in to a glob of silvery liquid and move around. She could squeeze through doors and could listen in on conversations. What an awesome show… being able to turn into a silvery glob of liquid because of GC-161… AWESOME!

4.) Legends of the Hidden Temple – My favorite game show of all time! You have contestants that not only have a cool outfit but cool names like Blue Barracudas! The outfits for the blue barracudas was brightly colored sweat pants and t-shirt that’s always too big and a bright gold helmet. And you can forget the best parts… the talking head thing.. and the ooga booga people that scare you.

5.) Doug – do do doo do doo do… the theme song was always so great! It was cool that all the characters where different colors; Roger the mean one was greenish yellowish, and his best friend Skeeter was blue. Doug’s dog’s name was Porkchop… what a great name for a dog.

6.) Rocket Power- this was a great show! I always felt bad for the really smart guy.

7.) Hey Arnold! – “Move it football head” One of my favorite shows. The one episode I distinctly remember is when he was in a food eating contest and had to eat a lot of ice cream. And how Helga or whatever her name was, was in love with Arnold and had shrine of him in her closet. ha!

8.) Saved by the Bell – Who doesn’t like Mr. Belding?! Favorite episode when Jessie gets hooked on caffeine pills and Zach comes to her rescue, but she is all for still singing and busts out in song, “I’m so excited and I just can’t…” then breaks down. classic. (I can’t remember if this was a nickelodeon show, but it was a still a show I loved)

9.)Rugrats - Phil and Lil always pulled lint out of there belly button, Tommy always had a screwdriver in his diaper to bust out of their play pin, and Chuckie was afraid of the toilet when he was being potty trained, Angelica was just mean, and they had a cool dog named Spike. Probably my favorite show growing up.

10.) The Angry Beavers - it was a good show, made me laugh!

11.) Salute your Shorts - I don’t remember this as much as the others, but I remember the theme song…

“We run. We jump. We swim and play. We row and go on trips
But the things that last forever… are our dear friendships
Camp Anawanna, we hold you in our hearts.
And when we think about you (it makes me wanna fart!)
It’s ‘I hope we never part’. Now get it right or pay the price.
Now we will share a lifetime of the fondest memories.
By the lakes of Anawanna.. Sat in the old pine trees.
Camp Anawa-.., we hold you in our hearts.
And when we think ab-.. (this thing came apart)
Think Anawanna-wanna, speak Anawanna-wanna..
Live Anawanna-wanna! Ugh!”

12.) Are you Afraid of the Dark? – No this show I actually never really watched because it always scared me when I was little. Too much to handle! : )

13.) The Wildthornberry’s – Traveling around in a RV looking for rare animals… now that’s one way to live your life.

14.) As Told by Ginger – “Some one once told me the grass was much greener on the other side…”

Some shows I liked on Nick t Nite: Full House (cute little Michelle), Fresh Prince of Bel- Air, Home Improvement, Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie, Growing Pains, The Facts of Life (they had a movie at one point), I Love Lucy (Lucy I’m Home), and The Brady Bunch. At least some of these shows are still on TV.

Disney

1.) Boy Meets World- A wonderful show! It was so funny and I’m glad there were so many seasons. Eric was very funny… I liked when he hid in different places trying to scare Topanga like in the couch. haha Probably my favorite disney show.  I am totally going to get the seasons on Netflix so I can watch them… oh yeah!

2.) Lizzie McGuire – Yes I did watch this show sadly. haha!

3.) Even Stevens – Funny stuff. This is when I first saw Shia LaBeouf, he was so little.

4.) Smart Guy – A 10 year old or however old he was in high school… crazy!

5.) Sister Sister – I like the newer theme song they made. They also had many seasons where it showed them all the way in college… must of been a good show.

Now I’m sure I am forgetting many shows, but there are some of my favorites! I just wish Nickelodeon and Disney could be just as good now as it was back then. These show were pretty awesome, so sad most of them aren’t on TV anymore.

Usually on Wednesday’s I meet with my friend Sam to have a Bible study. Well we had the Bible study as usual and actually had a really good study. We are studying Romans and studied chapter 2 tonight. I had to get home quickly because I had to bake some brownies and get ready to watch Lost!

Sam lives in kinda by Brighton. To get to his house I take 120th to Brighton road. Now I was on my way home and turned on Brighton road to get back to 120th. Well as I was driving this car coming towards me and kept flashing their brights at me. My first thought was okay my brights are on, turn them off. Nope my brights weren’t on. Well the car kept flashing them at me and I was like what the heck my brights aren’t on. They kept doing it and I didn’t know why. Well after they passed me I was so confused and focused on why the stupid car was flashing there lights at me. I looked to my left and it looked like this two big bulls were running towards me. I was like oh crap. So I floored it just in time so they wouldn’t hit me. It was a close call!

As I was driving the rest of the way home I was thinking that maybe I was just seeing things and there was really anything there. I decided to call Sam.

“Hey Sam, I have a strange question to ask you. On this back road by your house, is there a farm?”

“There use to be one but not anymore, why?”

“Well like two bulls or cows or something just rammed me!”

“It was probably deer.”

I continue to explain to Sam how the car wouldn’t stop flashing there brights at me and it was annoying. Sam then tells me “That’s why they were flashing their brights at you, to tell you to slow down!” Then it all clicked, flashing their brights at me to tell me to slow down because there was deer. Duh Elise!

I’m pretty sure the deer looked like this:

I just can’t imagine if the deer actually rammed me! All I know is that I almost had a Rory Gilmore moment that’s for sure!

Word of advice: When a car is flashing there brights at you wise to think that your brights are on, but also consider that there could be the possibility of a deer down the road… so slow down!

On Wednesday January, 7th I turned 18. My birthday week though started on Sunday the 4th. I went to church like usual, then to lunch, and then I had to go buy a book for school with my dad (he was paying). Well earlier Robbin called me because she wanted to hang out. I love Robbin and all but I didn’t want to hang out because it was my last day before school started back up again after break and it felt like I had so much to do. Well my mom and dad kept saying “you really should hang out with Robbin, she really wants to hang out with you”. So I gave in and said fine. Robbin picked me up at 5 and we didn’t really know what to do. Finally we decided to go to this cute cupcake bakery downtown by the Denver Zoo. When we got there the door was open but they were closed. They lady work still let us get cupcakes but we weren’t able to sit down and talk. Back on the highway we went to look for a Starbucks. Found one went through the drive through and then sat in the parking lot to eat our cupcakes and drink our Starbucks. We finished up by going to Target for a little bit. When we were leaving I started to realize that Robbin was texting and driving a lot. I glanced over at her and saw that she was texting we’re on 120th and sent it to my mom. hmmmmmmm….. Well earlier Sam and Heather Holmes invited me to come over and watch a movie or something. Being the kind person I am, I invited Robbin to come along. She said “sure, but lets go home so you can drive also in case I want to leave early”. Whatever. So we get home and Robbin says lets just run inside real quick. We walk in the door and I hear a little chatting and then some shhhhs. Turn the corner of the kitchen and SURPRISE!! There was a surprise party waiting for me! It was a lot of fun and I got to play Apples to Apples one of my favorite games. I also got some really cool gifts too! Thanks all that came!!

Then Wednesday rolled around my actual birthday day and my parents were so kind to excuse me from school. : ] Unfortunately both my parents had to work on that day but my plan was to get my nose pierced! I planned to go out to breakfast with Sam and Heather because Heather was going to get her nose pierced as well with me. Well things came up so they came a little later to pick me up which was fine so went and got Starbucks real quick. Robbin was paying for my nose so we met her at her work during her lunch and my mom and Alex tagged along too. Off we all went to Mile Hi tattoo place. The whole car ride there Robbin kept saying “it’s gonna hurt really bad, your gonna cry,” and I kept getting more and more nervous!  We arrive at the tattoo place and right away Heather and I fill out this question sheet before we actually got it done. My favorite question was – Do you realize getting a tattoo or piercing will change your appearance?- ha no duh! After we we’re done I made Heather go first because I was too nervous! I was convinced that it was going to hurt extremely bad!! The guy said you better not watch then, so Robbin and I stayed out of the room and looked at tattoo pictures. Then it was my turn! Yikes! I walk into the room and my heart is pounding, I was thinking it was going to come out of my chest! I sit down and right away I ask  “Can I hold someones hand,” I grab Robbin’s hand and start squeezing right away even though nothing has happened. The guy kept telling me just to relax, but it’s kinda hard to when a needle is going to get put through your nose! He cleans of the side of my nose and I close my eyes immediately so I won’t know it’s coming! And before I know it’s over. My eyes watered some just because that’s what they did naturally but the first words out of my mouth were, “Guys I didn’t cry, my eyes are just watering, I promise  I didn’t cry!” In the end it actually didn’t hurt all that bad and no I have a cute little nose! Afterwards Sam and Heather surprised me by taking me to PF Changs for lunch.I love that place!  It was delicious! I had a very awesome birthday day!!

Then on Saturday the 10th I had a shopping day! My parents gift for my birthday was money so that I could get new clothes. I originally planned to go with Jenny and Jovan. Well early that morning Jenny texted me and said she couldn’t go because she was sick. I thought that’s okay it’ll still be fun with Jovan. Then Jovan texted me and said she couldn’t go because Averi was sick. Shoot! I still wanted to go so it ended up being a mother daughter day! We went to the Cherry Creek Mall and I got a lot of cute stuff!! I mean they even had a parade for me from noon to one, even though I didn’t make and appearance! ; ] To top it all off and the end of our shopping day I saw Chris Anderson aka the bird (Nuggets player) It was hilarious! My mom and I are walking through the mall and then this couple gets my attention because of there appearance. There was this SUPER tall guy with this short little girl. I thought huh that looks kinda of funny. I just glance at them and the guy is wearing sunglasses and a hat. We kept walking right past them the I turn around all the sudden. I glance back at the guy’s tattoo’s and suddenly realize who it was. I said to my mom. ” Mom that’s Chris Anderson!!” She said, ” I thought he looked like a basketball player.” I didn’t get to talk to him, but it was still cool to see him! : ]

Well my birthday week was more like 3 days but it was still fun. Thanks everybody who helped to make my 18th birthday so special!!

Well I found out today some more news about Spectrum on the radio. At 6:40am all the songs that we recorded will be played straight in a row. Then from 12 to midnight our songs will be played throughout the rotation of the songs that day. So by some chance you miss them in the morning you’ll be able to tune in in the afternoon as well!

Tune in to KOSI 101.1 on Christmas Eve!

Going down to KOSI took a little longer than planned. We were suppose to leave are school by 7:15am to be able to make it there on time, but of course that was the day the buses decided not to work.  Our principal made a few phone calls and had it planned that these vans that Admas 12 owns would come and get us. Well that didn’t work cause they had to go pick up little kids that were standing in the cold. Finally a few members of Spectrum just drove and my ride was with VJ.

Now finally we were on the radio all of us very excited…. except that it took forever to get there. On I-25 we were bumper to bumper the whole way there. Now our exit was 199 and it felt like 5hrs til we got to the Belleview exit but we made there. When we got off the Belleview exit was a sheet of ice. Uh oh! Well we were following a couple of fellow Spectrum members and we saw that they were getting over towards the left. We continued to follow them until we started to slide. The back end of the drivers side almost hit Sarah’s car in front of us then barely missed her then turned again were the passenger side the side I was on almost hit the wall. All of a sudden then I was facing the wrong direction looking at other cars coming towards us. After making about three complete circles we finally got facing the right way and were back on track.

We arrived at KOSI safely and in we went ready to record. We started right when we got there because we were a little late. Dang buses! We sang our first song and Murphy seemed very impressed. We then proceeded to sing our other two songs because they told us only three songs, but then Murphy told our choir director Mr. Meerdink to record one more because we were that good! After we finished recording we were able to hear what it sounded like and how he was going to mix everything. Murphy also let us know that we were one of the top 3 choirs that has come in. There was a total of 12 choirs that came in. It was a really cool and fun experience!

We are going to be on the radio Christmas Eve…. the stinky part, kinda, is that it’s going to be between 6:30 and 8:30 in the morning. A little early but hey at least its not like 3 in the morning.. it’s at a some what decent hour. So be listening and let me know what you think! I’m already planning to set my alarm stay up for those 2hrs the back to sleep for me! : ]

When my sisters and I were younger we were all sitting with my Dad in a chair telling knock knock jokes. We were having a good ol time when it kinda started to smell, so my little mind went to work and I decided to make up my own knock knock joke. So here it is…

Elise: Knock knock?

Family: Who’s there?

Elise: Pincher Bug

Family: Pincher Bug who?

Elise: Pincher Bug tooted!

There ya go that was my cleaver joke… I’m sure if you use it it’ll be a knee slapper!

On Thursday afternoon the choir I’m in Spectrum got the news that we are going to be on the radio! Some of the Secretaries called Kosi 101 and said that they had this awesome group that they thought they should put on the radio. At first they said they were all booked but by some chance they called back and told us to come on in.  So tomorrow morning we are going down to the studio to record 4 songs that they said will play through out the Christmas season. Lets just hope they actually play us in the decent hours of the day and not like at 2 or 3 in the morning, but hey I’d still set my alarm so I could get up to hear us. Lets think about this could be my big break… soon everyone will be asking for my autograph. Not really… just kidding. I think this will be a good experience and now I can say I’ve been on the radio! I will keep you all updated once I know and if I know what times we’ll be on. Just thought I’d share the good news with you all! : ]