San Francisco

Last month one of my best friends, Michelle and I traveled to San Francisco. It was a beautiful time of rest for my since it was my first vacation since buying the coffee shop. We made it a quick trip visiting SF and then traveling to Visalia (near Fresno) to visit one of our dearest friends. Sheryl was married last year to Greg and they now live in Cali. We hadn't seen her in a year and it was so great to spend time with her and get to know her husband. They truly are the sweetest couple and it was special to see them as a married couple. Michelle and I would look at each other often and just smile at the way they complemented each other so well. God is good!

San Francisco fast became my new favorite place to visit. It's a beautiful city with friendly people and great places to visit. Definitely on my places to visit again. Michelle is also my new travel companion. The last few times I've traveled on my own or as a nanny so this was delightful being with my best friend. We would barely have to say much and the other would just know. Friends like that are priceless. Thanks for a great trip, Michelle!

Some highlights....

You would think I have nothing to talk about....

So I see I haven't posted since February! But life has been full during the last few months. The coffee shop is moving along fabulously and I'm still enjoying every moment. Even the low points, but they don't come too often.

June flew by. Seriously, it felt like I blinked and it was done. The highlight for me was taking part of my best friend Sarah Ann's wedding. She and Jeremy were married on June 13. It was beautiful ceremony and really couldn't have been more sweet. They shared their very FIRST kiss!

My friend Jen and I

Sarah Ann

Woohoo!

This month I'm looking forward to beach trips and a vacation to San Francisco! Yes, I am actually going on vacation... I can hardly believe it either. Hopefully my next blog will be about that trip!

A birthday and a few good men...

This week was my 23 birthday, and it was also a crazy week at work. So when I stepped in the door to open on my bday, this is what I found...

A huge banner and streamers everywhere courtesy of some of my employees.

Flowers from Kathy, a regular customer. How sweet!

Since the beginning of when I bought the shop, we (family and I) had grand plans on improving parts of the coffee shop. Little by little it started coming together and last weekend a major piece was built. Dad figured out how to move the counter out to add more seating and Matt, Merle, and Nat figured out how to build it. So after a LONG night of working, they got it done!

I am thrilled with the outcome as are all my customers. So that made me happy, knowing that the people who use it everyday also love it. I'm so thankful for my Dad, brothers, and Nat for taking care of all of this for me. They are definitely awesome :)

Working on the counter

The finished product!

We'll see what we'll come up with next!

The news is out

So the news that I couldn't really talk about last week is out! My brother and his wife and girls are moving back! To read how this happened read Andrea's blog.

So now that most of the excitement of last week is at a simmer, life has begun to get back to normal. Last Saturday, my friend Becky and I joined our brand new rec center that just opened earlier this month. It really is a beautiful place and I've enjoyed the perks of it so far!

The pool
I haven't tried it out yet, but I plan on it!

The Fitness Room
This is where I spend my time

It's also fun to be a part of it since the coffee shop has supported it. I have also gotten to know Alan, who is in charge of it all, from him coming into the coffee shop all the time. It's so great to hear about all the plans and ideas that they are formulating. I also feel I can relate somewhat, being that I am still in the beginning stages of running a business just as he and his colleagues are.

Alan Houck

So now I'm gearing up for the Race Against Racism that will be in the city on April 25. The race is a quick 5k and I really had a lot of fun doing it last year with a couple friends. It as my first race and I was NOT a runner before my friend Miss convinced me to try it. I'm a bit out of shape right now, but I'm sure it won't be long before I'm back in the swing of things.

If you are interested in the Race Against Racism check www.ywcalancaster.org. There wasn't info on the 2009 race the last time I checked, but I'm sure it will be soon.

Wow

So I haven't blogged lately because I don't have a lot to say, but I thought that this week I do. Each day this week something happened that affected me somehow. It's almost funny how each day had something.


Monday
Innocently going about my morning, waiting to hear from someone in the family about my new nephew. Call my mom to hear that she had just heard that Aimee had gone into labor in the middle of the night and we have a new baby in the family!

Meet Jack Benjamin Weaver

Tuesday

So I was scheduled to work Tuesday evening, so I thought I would be able to sleep in until at least 7:30 or 8. Well, one of my best friends decided she would give me a wake up call instead. I heard my phone ring around 7am and saw that it was my friend Becky. I ignored her call, being that I was still mostly asleep and wanted to remain that way! A few minutes later my mom comes in calling my name trying to wake me up.


Mom: Sara....Sara

Me: What??

Mom: Don't scream

Me: What???

Mom: Avery's sleeping, don't scream (avery was staying overnight)

Me: What????

So I open my eyes and I see Becky standing by my bed, her left hand raised with a shiny diamond on her ring finger. She got engaged!! After 2 1/2 years, she and Tyler are finally engaged. Needless to say, that woke me up! How exciting. I had told Becky only a couple weeks before that she has to tell me in person when she gets engaged. No funny calling to tell me business. So she listened. Such a good friend :). Tyler and Becky are one my most favorite couples and I'm so happy for them.

Wednesday

I don't know if I'm allowed much detail on this next one. Let's just say it's super great news that I will share when I'm allowed to.

How's that for informative?

Thursday

Found out that Wednesday's news was happening sooner than I thought. Yea!

So now I'm curious what Friday has in store.....

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

I hope you all had a great Christmas and New Years and that you have blessed 2009.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas...

I have this thing each year that I can't listen to Christmas music or have any thought of Christmas until Thanksgiving. I refuse to listen to all the radio stations that start to play Christmas music in October and no Christmas decorations should be put up. This year I'm definitly in the Christmas spirit. What better place to be then in a cozy coffee shop all day long, surrounded by Christmas decorations and playing holiday music? I listen to Christmas music all day long but I'm not sick of yet! So I decided to compile a list of my top ten favorite Holiday Songs. However, I couldn't stop at ten!

There are a millions different versions of the popular holiday songs, but I usually like to stick to the classics like Bing, Nat, Dean, Perry, and so on. But in this list there are a few newbie versions that I like and some silly ones thrown in there too (ahem, Mariah Carey and the Chipmunks to name a couple!)

Enjoy my list, maybe it will inspire you're own list or remind you of some songs you may have forgotten about.
In no particular order (except for the first one, because it's my favorite)

1. Mele Kalikimaka-Bing Crosby and The Andrew Sisters
2. Holly Jolly Christmas-Burl Ives
3. Sleigh Ride-Relient K
4. White Christmas-Bing Crosby
5. All I Want For Christmas Is You-Mariah Carey
6. Happy Holidays-Andy Williams
7. Blue Christmas-Elvis Presley
8. Last Christmas-Leigh Nash
9. Baby, It's Cold Outside-Dean Martin
10. Santa Baby-Eartha Kitt
11. Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree-Brenda Lee
12. Jingle Bell Rock-Bobby Helms and The Anita Kerr Singers
13. It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas-Perry Como
14. Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow-Dean Martin
15. Carol of the Bells-The Bird And The Bee
16. I'll Be Home For Christmas-Josh Groban
17. O Holy Night-Celine Dion
18.Believe-Josh Groban
19. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas-James Taylor
20. The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)-Nat King Cole
21. There's No Place Like (Home For The Holidays)-Perry Como
22. The Christmas Waltz-Frank Sinatra
23. Linus & Lucy-Vince Guaraldi Trio
24. Christmas Nights in Blue-Transiberian Orchestra
25.The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)

So many songs, I know, but I actually have more that I didn't put on (more from Transiberian, Mannheim Steamroller, and Vince Guaraldi).

Happy Singing!