MY NEW ESPRESSO MACHINE!!!

GUYS, I CAN'T EVEN EXPLAIN HOW EXCITED I AM!!!!

JUST LOOK AT MY LOVELY...

La Pavoni EPC-8 Europiccola 8-Cup Lever Style Espresso Machine

And this is the grinder we are waiting for...

Mazzer Mini Espresso Grinder

And where would we be without accessories...

Stainless Steel Frothing Pitcher Pitchers Thermometer Set & Tamper

 I'm so excited to use it!!!!!  This work day cannot go fast enough!!

Mona and I spent a pretty penny on this beauty, but it's well worth it! We justify it by calling it an "investment in our future". Which is legit because we plan on opening up a coffee shop in the next couple of years.  

Now we just need  that grinder to come and we will be golden! 

Vacation Station

I have off of my Medical Receptionist job this week. And let me tell you after the zipper incident last week I need it.

I love my job, but if I didn't get a break every now and then I would go crazy....it could already be to late.

I'm still glad to have off.

Last night I got to turn off my six am alarm and sleep until nine. Too bad I was rudely awoken by my second alarm, that I forgot to shut off, at six thirty.

I won't make that mistake again.

Once Mona and I got up and got ready, we went and explored the health food store across the street. We don't shop there much because it's super pricey, but we are splurging this week.

We got freshly made carrot juice and the "eye opener" special of the month. I'm not really sure what's all in it, but it was good. Mona also picked up a ten dollar jar of Vanilla Espresso Almond Butter to try.

It was really good, but it was a strange consistency. Almost like really oily peanut butter that doesn't mix well.

After that we headed to the coffee shop.

Mona's working at the coffee shop today and i'm just chilling here (while I'm trying to do homework, but let's not think about that right now) and I'm making her serve me coffee.

It's wonderful (besides the homework)

Also, my friend, Beth, and her kids stopped by for a coffee date and my friend, Becky, brought Mona and I lunch.

I wish I could get paid to do nothing all the time, because I could get very much used to this.

What are you trying to say Mona?

There was a very personal offense committed against me today! 

So, I went into the coffee shop this morning, like I do every morning, to get my coffee. Mona was working. I was running late and still half asleep, so I told her to make me whatever she wanted.

She handed me my drink and as I grabbed it to run (as I said before I was running late) I asked her what it was. She said "Just try it and text me what you think".

Guys, it always makes me a little weary when Mona doesn't tell me what it is I am putting in my mouth. One time she made Easy Mac with Code Red and wanted me to eat it. It was weird. Let's just say she likes to "experiment" with her food or rather my food. 

As I backed out of the coffee shop I  gave her my squinty suspicious eyes. Normally I refuse to put anything in my mouth from Mona unless she tells me what it is, but I was late and it was coffee. 

Once I got to work I went to take my first sip. 

It was...different. 

It just tasted a little off. I couldn't put my finger on exactly what was off about it, but I didn't think I liked it. 

I messaged Mona to see what weird thing I was drinking. 

----

Me: What is it?

Mona: Do you like it or no?

Me: I don't know

Me I don't think it is my favorite  (this was me trying to be nice and not hurt Mona's feelings)

Mona: Lol

Me: what is it?

Mona: Sugar free, fat free vanilla latte! haha

Me: THAT'S IT! YOU TOOK OUT ALL THE SUGAR!!

Me: i don't like it

Mona: Lololololol

Me: ya creep 

Mona: I was hoping you would like it

Me: why...so I don't drink sugar all day?

Me: I'm not even a fan of regular vanilla all the time.

Mona: Lol okay we'll try caramel tomorrow Hahaaaaaaahahah

Me: Meow.

----

SHE TOOK ALL THE SUGAR OUT OF MY COFFEE!!!

First of all, it is a sin to take the sugar out of someone's coffee, especially without asking or telling them.

Second, what is she trying to say about me? 

I don't like it. 

• 
  

How did I end up with three jobs?

Guys. I'm tired of working two jobs.

I know I've only been doing this two weeks, but it's exhausting. 

And, not only am I working two jobs, I somehow I find myself actually working three jobs. 

www.zazzle.com

Get this, I know it's going to sound weird, but the coffee shop is inside a Mexican restaurant!

It's one of the strangest things I have ever seen or heard! But they make it work...I guess?

The coffee shop owner and the Mexican restaurant owner are business partners. They are in one little building in a strip mall and split the space. There are two separate counters and they share the seating area.

This is all kinds of unusual and I find it very intriguing, except for the part where I have to be a Barista and a waitress at the same time. 

Do you know how hard it is to be a Barista and a waitress at the same time!?! 

Pretty darn difficult if you ask me!

Making the fancy coffee takes some time and when you have a line of coffee people and even one or two tables it's very hard to keep up and take care of everyone in a timely manor (It's near impossible).

You would think, with it technically being two separate businesses (They have different names and different counters), they would have two separate workers, but that is not the case. Luna gets all the work!

I know I'm complaining little (okay maybe a lot) here because I'm tired, but I really do like the job and it pays for my coffee habit (I think, even with my discount, I am paying them to work there). 

It may be a a slightly unusual situation that is a lot of work, but it's all good. I got this. I'm super woman. I'll make it work! 

...right after my nap. 

Barista Update

You guys are probably wondering how my first day as a Barista went...I told you I was starting last week and never gave you any type of update!

You're probably asking what kind of blogger is this Luna LaBlue? She just left us hanging like this? She left us wondering if she hated being a Barista or if she up and quit after the first ten minuets or if she died from a fatal steamed milk accident?!? Who knows? Not us!

Well guys, good news! I did not die in a fatal steamed milk accident!

I actually kinda love it! I was practically running the place after the first hour (slightly over-exaggerated statement)!

My First Cup Of Coffee

Look at my picture and you can see my first cup of coffee! Mona says it looks like I didn't measure the right amount of milk because the cup isn't full, but I was so excited I had to take a drink before I took the picture. I had been up since 5:30 AM I needed a sip of my HappyCappi before I could think properly and take a picture!

As you can clearly see I perfected the coffee art. What do you mean you don't see it? It's a cloud people! 

Anyways, back to what I was saying. I think I am picking it up rather well. I have the main base of coffee drinks down (lattes and cappuccinos) and now I just have to remember how to make all the specialty drinks they serve.

I really do enjoy the atmosphere of working in a coffee shop and chatting with the customers (do not call them patients-this is not my hospital job) and I think I will keep it for awhile.

I am helping them plan a fall open house for this Saturday. We will be introducing all of our new fall drinks and we will have tastings and drawings for prizes and fun!

I will tell you guys all about it next week! I promise! I won't forget! Just remind me if I haven't posted anything by next Thursday...

Barista In Training

Tonight I start training to become a Barista! For those of you who have no idea what a Barista is, let me tell you.

You know that wonderful person who makes your triple, soy, sugar-free, caramel macchiato, with extra whipped cream (or "fancy coffee" if your not hip on your coffee lingo) every morning? Well, that person is now going to be me! (I can also get you a plain cup of joe, but that's not as exciting to talk about).

I will learn how to pull espresso to get a perfect crema. I will see just the right way to stretch milk to get it smooth and foamy, but not bubbly. I will learn to prefect the art of coffee to make it not only taste good, but look good as well. 

Boy, I think I am already starting to sound like a professional Barista! Look what reading the Barista instruction manual can getcha!

Now all I need is to do is learn exactly what my new Barista vocabulary means!

Thankfully I do have some knowledge of coffee.

First off, I drink a LOT of coffee, so I think that gives me a good advantage.

Secondly, Mona and I, are thinking about opening our own coffee shop in the next few years, (you may have heard me talk about this before in my HappyCappi Post) so I have done some research.

Working at this local coffee shop does kinda make me feel like a top secret double agent! I will learn all of her tips and tricks, just to pull the rug out from under her and become her competition.

The fact that I want to open my own coffee shop did not come up in the job interview.

This does make me feel a little guilty.

But healthy competition is good and she does need help and who better than someone who loves coffee and is going to be the best Barista then can and what if the new shop never works out? This is a good thing. I don't need to feel guilty...right?

cranky luna

Cranky

Normally, I am not a cranky person. I have a really slow temper. I like to make excuses for other people's bad behavior and let it roll of my back. Normally, I can handle just about anything and anybody. Especially at work. I can handle the rude and the mean. I can even handle someone who threatens to come and beat me up over a pair of shoes.

But, today was not a normal day for me. One of the girls in our building did not show up for work today, so this had me doing double the work. This was a normal thing. People were a little snippy. This was a normal thing. There was no where to fit people in our schedule. This was a normal thing. The unnormal thing was me. I was cranky and irritable.

Don't Mess With Me Today!!

I was instantly cranky with any and every person. I don't think I smiled all day. Oh I did the fake, professional, I don't really mean it smiles. But as soon as the person turned away the smile was gone. I was short with people, didn't go out of my way to be helpful, and wished that everyone would just go away.

As the day went on it only got worse. I  got worse. I couldn't believe I was responding this way, I didn't know what was wrong. I don't like being cranky. Irrationally cranky. I don't like my emotions to control me. I like to be in control of how I respond to things and I was out of control (I may have some control issues).

By the time I got home I had a massive headache, I was mad at the world, and mad at myself for not being able to not be mad.

That's when it hit me like a brick wall. This was my "withdrawal symptoms". I had been so busy all day I didn't even notice. I didn't get my fix. I WENT A WHOLE DAY WITHOUT MY HAPPYCAPPI! I went a whole day without any caffeine!

I nearly passed out from the realization. How could I have not noticed? It's my HappyCappi! The source of my happiness! It even has the word HAPPY in the name! (I think I may have to reevaluate my caffeine addiction)

I thought about going and finding some caffeine to put into my system and get my fix to make me feel better, but I was too cranky to even bother. I just went to bed. Yes, that's right. I went to bed at 8:00 PM that's 6 hours earlier than normal. In my defense I have also been a little sleep deprived on top of being caffeine deprived (a 2-6 AM sleep schedule is not always effective). I hit my pillow and was out like a light. I slept for ten hours and it was wonderful!

A Crazy Kinda Happy

I have to admit the first thing I thought about when I woke up was coffee. I have it now and I am happy. That's all that really matters right?

Next on my lowercase life...how to get your priorities straight: Coffee is not the source of all your happiness.

HappyCappi

Welcome to Friday! I love Friday's that start with a piece of White Chocolate Raspberry Coffee Cake and a cup of Colectivo Coffee (Colecivo is the new Altera. My coffee shop is just behind the times with their cups). Coffee just makes my day a little brighter (I am a crazy coffee addict, so I would go through major withdrawal symptoms if I didn't get my coffee and you do not want to be around me during withdrawal symptoms) Mona and I call coffee our HappyCappi because it makes us instantly happy.

Anyways, while I was waiting for my HappyCappi today, I was chatting it up with the Batista and apparently she is going to school to be a Forensic Investigator (And yes I envisaged her on CSI right away).

I just think this is brilliant!  I  thought about becoming a Forensic Scientist for a minute, but sadly I did not end up following that path. So you could say that I had a moment of jealousy.

Instead of Forensics I am studying Business Management. I find it to have way too much math, but the end goal is going to be worth it! Mona and I want to open up our own coffee shop!

At one point we did talk about becoming Private investigators and combining the Coffee Shop and PI business together. PI Coffee has a nice ring to it...don't you think? Or Crime-Scene Coffee?

Mona and I have a problem with wanting to do everything, from opening a Coffee shop to being Rock Stars, from becoming PIs to being gypsters (I went to type gypsies, but it corrected to gypsters. I like the idea of gypsters more, so that is now what I want to be instead), but right now we are focusing on just the coffee shop. We still have a few years to work it out, so who knows what we will end up being when we grow up...maybe we will be PI, Baton twirling, gypsters who run a zoo that serves coffee!  Anything is possible right?