Seattle's Early Summer Teaser and The Schaub's Plans

Summer seemed to arrive in May, and the farmers markets started to fill up. Tiny's Organic is a regular attendee of the Pike Place Market farmers market, and Josh kindly modeled the great customer service one can receive from them. They sell fruit from all over Washington as well as fruit smoothies and fruit preserves. 

May is a significant month for the Schaub family, and we are developing some new traditions. First, we kicked off the month by celebrating Matt's birthday with 20 of his closest friends. We went to our first Sounders game, and I think the fan bug has bitten. We might try become committed fans! 

We enjoyed dinner at the Elysian Brewery on Capitol Hill and then went to some dive bar for drinks. It was a fun day! 

In May, we also remembered Nathan, Josh and Matt's eldest brother. Bill and Carol brought a beautifully framed collage of pictures and some significant items of his. It was a nice family day to remember loved ones and to reflect on the fragility and value of life.  

May also brought about the Cheese Festival, which is any cheese-lovers dream. Cheese companies including Organic Valley and Cypress Grove were represented, and the best part was the sheer volume of cheese samples! We had to stand in some pretty long lines to taste the cheese, and we only lasted for two-and-a-half cheese booths. I also had a chance to see Chef Daisley Gordon prepare Pommes Aligot, a cheese and potato dish that defies the simplicity of the title. Exquisite. 

School is almost over; the final exam is June 15th. I am teaching a summer session at PCC, but Seattle Community College is almost done. It hasn't really felt like summer, since the weather has gone back and forth between party sunny days and rain. 

In addition to working at REI, Joshua has started volunteering with Outdoors for All. This seems to be a great way to pair his problem-solving skills and therapy knowledge with his love for the outdoors and recreation. The organization works to help disabled individuals get out and enjoy outdoor recreation within their means.  

I am writing like a maniac for Demand Studios. I am also working on my blog, Peas on Moss, and have been recently approved for writing as an Examiner.  More details are available on Peas.  I still hope to attend culinary school this fall and get the official knowledge needed for some career and business ideas I have.  

Day by Day Gourmet has shuttered its doors for the time being, though Graham has shared that he believes an idea of replacing quick dinners with wholesome, easily prepared meals is still one that will sell. He has encouraged me to look towards some other projects for the time being, and the experience and learning I've gained from the project has helped develop my interest in R&D in nutritional products. 

We have also begun looking towards a mission trip in Hong Kong, so details might be coming for that, soon. Before we "settle" down and start our own family, we thought it would be wonderful to give back to the organization and vision that helped make it possible for children to be adopted or for pregnant mothers to develop the abilities to raise healthy, loved children. 

Back to School!

I'm back in school -- I have been teaching at Pueblo Community College for a semester-and-a-half now, and I'm taking some classes through their employment benefits program. I'm taking Anatomy and Physiology I and ServSafe/Food Sanitation 101. These are great - and greatly time consuming! Between teaching and studying, I have 11 credits. I'm ALMOST full time :) I'm also still working with That's Natural and with the Colorado Farm to Fork Grant project.

I spend most of my days studying - mostly at Solar Roast Coffee, The Loft, and Wireworks. On occasion, I'll bend and go to the green national coffee chain, but I try to support the local businesses on a poor teacher/poorer student's income. And I think it would be more accurate to call it an out-go than an in-come. My cashflow is provided by Dr. Donna Hinders who has me come and file for her on occasion. She has also tutored me through my first Axial skeleton quiz (skull and vertebrae).

Today it was actually cold, so the fireplace is burning, and I'm sipping a lovely cup of Solaris coffee. I'm obviously taking a break from studying...

There is something inspiring about smelling ground coffee and brewing smells in a coffee shop. I think it opens up my blood vessels or something. :)

The other nice thing about studying at coffee shops is that you meet great friends here. I've struck up friendships with several of the staff and owners of the shops, which brings me to the random statement about having relationships with businesses. These relationships are WHY living is worth it! So thanks to my coffee shop friends who feed my addiction!

Back to School

Well, after several months of discussing - and lots and lots of thoughts and prayer - I've decided to go back to school.  Joshua has gotten closer and closer to finishing his hours to get fully licensed as a practitioner in Colorado, and as he ticked hours off, I began to look forward to what we would be doing next.  I still hadn't gotten my RD, and that's been on my mind lately, so in August, Josh and I decided that I should apply for some dietetic internship programs and see if I got into any.  

I've been working on applications to several programs in a few states, and we'll find out in the end of April - April 20th - whether or not I am accepted into any of the programs.  I'm nervous for a few reasons: I spent a majority of my Pepperdine time volunteering with different groups, working on Coffee House and for the Nutrition Science division, and attending ROTC classes, and I didn't spend much time working to get A's.  So... I feel quite a bit less competitive than other applicants.  I'm hoping that my last two years of extremely involved activities, paired with my military experiences and college experiences, will give me an edge over the 4.0's.  

To refresh my education and my memory, I'm taking some classes at Pueblo Community College - where I'm teaching.  I'm taking ServSafe, the National Restaurant Association course with exam, and Anatomy and Physiology I.  I haven't had any biology or anatomy classes in a while - okay 4 years - so I'm feeling the fear that most students probably experience when they go back to school!  

Joshua received his full license in December!   Now he can practice under his own license without a supervisor.  I'm really happy he persevered and got his hours in!  I think in the end it results in more paperwork and "independence," but now it's official.  He's a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist!  Congrats to Joshua! :)

Joining the Blogging World

Well, here goes nothing! Joshua and I have joined the blogging world -- mostly because now a few of our friends-far-flung have blogs, and we LOVE reading about their lives.

Oh, and I am working at a coffee house -- Perky Tea and Coffee (perkyteaandcoffee.bravehost.com) and have so much time on my hands among working there, running a slowly dying nutrition counseling business (thrivelifestyles.com), writing presentations, contributing articles to That's Natural (thatsnatural.biz) and other magazines or newspapers, teaching a nutrition class at PCC, teaching an Intro to Health Care Professions at the District 60 Health Academy, volunteering with the Junior League... Oh, and we're still married. Josh only works 40+ hours a week, commuting 60+ miles per day, counseling families and boys at the CBR Youth Connect. No worries at all.

Actually, truth be told, I like to write, I wanted to still have a website, and I want to cancel the one I'm paying for. Hmmm... So here it is. Our Blog.

Enjoy!