Hi there! Welcome back to this weeks Coffee Shop Diaries!
Ya'll this week was too crazy. I started my first week at an elementary school as a fourth grade bilingual permanent sub since I am still in the process of taking my state exams and WOOOOAAAHH. You guys, my heart is going crazy. For starters the school is located in the downtown San Antonio area and it's not the prettiest. I didn't grow up in a super pretty neighborhood but this area is one where cops are at all the time. It's not that they live in poverty but you could see that they are troubled humans. It's sad to witness, and I have never been so close to it like this before. The neighborhood is kind of like the movie the Blindside, where people are outside staring you down and you kinda feel frighten even if you are in your car. People are posted up outside and in some way you feel as if they will pull out a gun at any moment. It's not because you look at a person and decide that's who they are, it has nothing to do with profiling them, but everyone who works there receives an orientation from SAPD that let us know to be very cautious in that area due to drug, and gang violence.
The first time I drove to work, I made eye contact with some of the folks in the neighborhood and they stared me deep into my soul. Anyhow, first day of school I got yelled at by my fourth grader. I was like ok... and let him be. I took them to lunch and decided to let someone know about what had happened. The other teacher let me know that both his parents died at different times and he has been going through a very hard time. From that moment I told myself that kid could yell at me all he wants. Later that day, I tried helping out another student who told me when he got to high school he was going to drop out because he just wanted to work at H-E-B for the rest of his life and that he didn't need to go to school to work there. I couldn't help but think what they tell this kid at home... but it did bother me so I helped him as much as I can but it is hard to help those who don't want to be helped.
Each day I tried to incorporate something new to get to know my students, they are adorable, they just need love and motivation, someone to tell them "YES YOU CAN!" I have gotten along with many, but others still don't give two poops about school. It's sad but that is what they are learning at home and sadly I think they have become to much to handle for the staff themselves. I get it, that work environment is very depressing and overwhelming, I don't even know if i'd last a year.
This past Friday I talked to another troubled child, one who they surprisingly let be on his phone (I make him put it away because I think it's odd that the school allows it) we get along pretty well. He doesn't talk to anyone really but to me, he really opened up and his story sent me home crying.
To keep it short, he said "Miss, I hate my mom. She left me and my family to be with someone else. I am alone, no one cares about me and my dad comes home drunk almost everyday. My entire family has been to jail and I want to go too. They have free food there and they give you a bed." My heart sank and I want to make it my mission to help this child as much as I can as long as I am there.
It is eye opening to hear these child's stories because I never been exposed to this before. My heart really feels for them. About 10min after he told me this he started crunching up papers and hitting himself. I asked him to stop and he said no... I asked him why and he said "I have so much pain inside me... I need to let it out."
You can say my week was filled with new experiences and eye opening situations that are happening all around us but many don't even notice. I have always loved kids but I encourage you to always smile to anyone you see. Some children don't have it easy. We sometimes question why people are the way they are without even knowing what they have been through.
Being an educator isn't easy. You face battles everyday. Not just living in fear of potential shootings, or your students failing the STAAR exams, the biggest one is the fear of seeing the student you taught for over 180 days end up in misery or not getting to the age of 18.
I have been thinking a lot about it and my purpose in this world. No matter where I end up I know I will be helping children as much as I can.
Proverbs 3:5-6 MSG, Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.
High of the week: Working with a student who seems to hate everyone else because I got him off his phone and doing work. It felt amazing!
Low of the week: Hearing a lot of my students stories.
Coffee Shop: S3 Coffee Bar 6171 Mission Gorge Rd #102, San Diego, CA 92120
What we ordered: Available weekends only "Rainbow Coffee" the cute, adorable design that captured my eye! Yes, it may look too pretty to be true, but man does it also tastes so good! It definitely is sweet, so if you got that sweet tooth this drink will definitely hit the spot. There is so much to choose from and they all come in pretty colors! The inside of the coffee shop is totally going to look good on your Instagram feed! Cactus with a phone that says hello? Yes, please! Everything you order is going to not only look amazing but taste amazing too! I recommend going on the weekend so you can try out the rainbow latte and grab some of their delicious toast while your at it! Be sure to tag me in your pictures if you go :D
Happy Monday loves! Thanks for stopping by!
♥
𝙻𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊ys,
Jazz
Remember that when you dress up, you must feel yourself, your true fun & confident self!
♥
𝙻𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊ys,
Jazz
Hi there and welcome to my coffee shop diaries!
Every Monday, starting today, I will be sharing with you parts of my week including my highs and lows as I sit back and sip on some delicious ice coffee all while watching the spring season approach.
This past week was spring break and I decided to head over to Houston to visit my older sister.
I had the best time! We ate good food (one of my favorite places is pictured here Egg Haus, I recommend trying out their sandwiches YOU will fall in love!) went to the rodeo, saw Kings of Leon in concert and WOW they are amazing! I didn't know many of their songs, but the ones I did best believe I was going hard :D
We also went to the zoo, saw the beautiful animals, and snapped some gorgeous pictures! Other than that we were chillin because the weather was SO gloomy and you know it's so easy to just stay at home and watch movies and TV shows like the Bachelor (OMG DID YOU WATCH?) all day because if the sun is not out... Neither am I :p
I came back home on Wednesday and since then I have been relaxing, cleaning my apartment, and packing for my move! I am so excited to change my room, organize my drawers, and just feel fresh and declutter so much of my unnecessary items! :D
My thoughts for this week have been on how to improve my brand, who I am, and my relationships.
Every week I try and focus on something new, something I feel that could use some improvement, and focus only on that so I don't overwhelm myself with too much.
High: Going to visit my sister and spending time with her.
I don't see my sister often and every time we hang out we have a great time! She is so wise and inspiring I always learn so much and am in complete "Ahhhh" when we talk!
Low: Feeling bland with myself and those around me.
I don't know why, but I have been a little distant with the people I love, it's strange and I don't understand exactly how I feel so I have been reading a lot and researching things but google can only help so much. I have been praying about it and I hope what I feel passes by soon.
EXCITING NEWS... I START working tomorrow... Did you read I didn't get the job blog post?
If you haven't, you should! Being a fresh college graduate is not easy, I envy those who land a job straight out of college, but it takes a lot of patience and hard work to land something great!
I am doing an update about finally getting a job after my first week of work! I am so excited, and so nervous! I literally feel butterflies in my tummy! Wish me luck! :)
I hope you have a beautiful week! Look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself all the things you want, work hard and see them come true!
Food for thought,
"One small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day."
PS. Please feel comfortable to share a little about your week with me! I'd love to here about your highs and lows and even more if you want to share! It's a safe place to share a little about ourselves!
coffee shop: 2042 E T C Jester Blvd, Houston, TX 77008
What we ordered: I ordered the bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich (AMAZING) I literally wish I could eat this all the time! My sister ordered the "El Jefe" taco she loves it because who doesn't love barbacoa? I also recommend trying out their Nutella iced coffee! It is so yummy, it's very sweet, so if you need to satisfy your sweet tooth craving this is definitely the way to go!
For dessert we had the Lavender Croissant! It's was a delicious and fresh way to welcome spring!
For dessert we had the Lavender Croissant! It's was a delicious and fresh way to welcome spring!
♥
𝙻𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊ys,
Jazz
Hi there :) I hope you are doing amazing! Is it spring break where you are? It is here, and I have been resting way too much :p This past summer I checked out La Jolla, San Diego and I was all about finding the mysterious secret swings! At the beginning my girls were giving up, but I knew they had to be there because I had been keeping up with the hashtag posts for 3 months prior to visiting San Diego!
So... I could tell you my entire story, but I'm going to cut to the chase :p
1st you want to head over to Expedition Way in La Jolla, You will also find an actual Secret Swings location on maps, but it's really only helpful to get to the area not the actual swing.
Once you on the Expedition way before passing the Coast Apartments. There will be parking along the street go ahead a park there (it's an uphill street with a slight curve) You will be able to see the ocean from that view and you will want to cross the street to go more inland.
You will see an open area filled with trees, you will want to walk in that area. Then you will see where some swings got cut down BUT keep going!!! If you go the other way around you will hit a dead end! TRUST ME we tried :P lol! SO! As you continue down you will find a trail that you will be hiking for a while as you see on the map! I recommend taking shoes because your feet will end up all dirty and gray lol. You will reach a point where you will have to go either left or right, GO RIGHT! You can also venture left to see some gorgeous houses up close) It's a little hilly, so be safe, but keep going! Once you know it, you will look to the right and find a beautiful swing with a gorgeous view! If you find the area and take pictures, videos, and over all ENJOY the moment! Take a picnic basket and enjoy the view! ALSO! Please tag me on Instagram and hashtag #jazzexploringtips I'd love to see your images! :D
♥
𝙻𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊ys,
Jazz
Hi there loves! Here are some Spring Break ideas for you to do! :D
Myself you ask? I'll be in Houston for a couple of days and then head out to hike at Enchanted rock again! I love that place SO much! Here are a couple of my favorite things to do especially during this gorgeous weather! :D
Gardner State Park
One of my favorite places to go! I love the hiking here at the Frio River! This is a great place to explore at, swim, kayak, and Paddleboard. a! Let's not forget a great place to cook out at! Can't have a swimming day without the cookout!
My boyfriend, I love this place! We kayaked around the river and found some pretty cool spots! My boyfriend also jumped off a rope and into the water! I couldn't do it because let me just tell you... A couple years ago I got on the rope swing and it was pretty heavy I was ready, but it took me and instead of hitting a guy in the water I fell on a huge tree trunk! That **** HURT! Never again... I am scarred for life!!! Anyhow, I watched him jump off that rope swing looking fine as hell... Let's not get off topic though.. Anyhow, we also met a couple people during our hike and they told us about a cave in the mountain that was so cold it would dry all our sweat. Not only that, but it goes a couple miles in! We went inside just a little, but got out because we were very unprepared for that! I recommend taking bug spray, wearing long pants, socks, and a long sleeve top if you are going to go in the cave since you will be crawling a lot and there will be a lot of different kinds of bugs! Also, take a small backpack with you with food and water just in case.....
The water here is also very clear so feel free to bring you go pro for underwater adventures and enjoy your day! You can go for a day or camp out as well :)
Austin, TX Lady Bird Lake
If you are down for a picnic be sure to get some yummy food from any food truck (you simply can't go wrong) and head out to Zilker park for some beautiful views and fun! Bring your volleyball, water guns, water balloons, ANYTHING!
South Padre Island
Who doesn't like chill' by the beach? I love going to the beach to run and play in the sand and just enjoying the sound of the waves and the brightness of the sun and the way the ocean looks at night. The day/nightlife is always bumping and you can have an overall good time whether you are a homebody or not.... My girlfriends and I had such a great time! We ate a lot, watched the sunrise and it was the most beautiful thing! Air-bnb has got you covered if you aren't about that hotel life. Be sure to stop by for your goodies before getting to the island! There is a small grocery store and you may not find everything you need.
A hidden gem in Uvalde, TX is a place I have been going to twice a year for 3 years now... This place is a great place to come have fun with friends and family! You can choose to camp out or rent a cabin for a couple days! There is no hiking trail... You kind of have to find your own way, but WARNING be safe it is an amazing adventure but can be very dangerous! You are literally hiking.. so come prepared with gear and a first aid kit! Also... Go early not late! It's easy to get lost and get stuck there once the sun sets... it happened to us... other than that the park is beautiful! I had never seen so many stars in my life.. you can see everything! Not an empty spot in the sky... so romantic (wooo for all my lovebirds out there.) P.s. stop at the Walmart in Uvalde there is no corner stores or anything nearby!
Hamilton Pool
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5zVEkXaM3Y
Ya'll... This place is so BEAUTIFUL! The water is also ice cold! I was so pumped to come here. I finally checked it off my bucket list! My friends and I started off the day getting our food from H-E-B (grocery store) we got chips, sandwhiches and fruit because grills are not allowed in this area. (keep that in mind) Reservations are sometimes required so be sure to check their website for day to day updates! Some days you can swim others you can't so be sure to plan ahead! It is such a beautiful place. Make sure to have your picnic blankets prepared and sunscreen! Also, there is a hike you can take to a flowing river not too far of a walk from the natural pool area and lots of pretty nature areas as you walk to the river! Be cautious of your surroundings and especially if your going with little ones, the water is heavy since its a natural swimming pool so try to stay above water the deeper you go the heavier the water gets above you. I recommend bring floats with you as well. Nothing too big because its a good hike down to the pool area. Take pictures, swim lots, and enjoy!
Lost Maples
You may be wondering what I am doing with my hands... well I am wearing the world. I have been an ambassador for a company called Serengetee. They give back to the world with every purchase, not only that but each purchase you make comes from different places around the world. For example, the backpack I am wearing is from Peru. With this purchase, I give back to children who attended school so that they can buy school supplies. Here is the link... CHECK IT OUT!
This was our first time hiking together and WE LOVED IT! The views are gorgeous and the water was nice and cold! We went last year early January and it was the most perfect weather! However, during spring break you can get into the water comfortably!
Enchanted Rock
Not too far from the San Antonio Area you can find one of the cutest little towns! Besides having a cute downtown area to check out filled with boutiques and restaurants you can enjoy the great outdoors hiking at the enchanted rock! Doggy friendly as well for those dog parents out there! The hike isn't too crazy... but you do need to stay hydrated! There a tons of cute squirrels looking for friends and food! Make sure you don't feed them anything crazy :p they will chill around you and trick you into thinking they want to get closer to you just to get your food! Great photo opportunities and a good place for a picnic! I recommend bringing your picnic basket and blanket to chill at the top of the rock and have a good meal! Preferably fruits and sandwiches since it's the easiest thing to keep fresh during your hike! There are also different mountains you can hike and get an entire view of the area! BE SAFE! My boyfriend climbed a thin area at the top of the mountain and I got a heart attack because he slipped! So be cautious of what you are doing. Also, do bring you go pro or camera! I know you want to enjoy your day but its always good to document memories! It's a moment frozen in time that you will never lose! These were shot with my iPhone 7 plus, go pro and canon!
That's it for today explorers... I hope you all have a wonder SpringBreak! Ya'll stay safe out there!
Also, please comment below what you all plan on doing during your free time or if you have any ideas for me! SOOO excited to connect with you!
♥
𝙻𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊ys,
Jazz
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