How to be the Worst in a Drive-Thru

When I don't get to be at home making things, I work at Starbucks. I've spent years compiling a list of annoying things to do/say in a drive-thru. Here is a sampling.

1. Drive up fast, with your window down, and don't wait for someone to say hi to you. Don't even give them 2 seconds. Say, "Hellllooooo?!!" as though you were yelling at someone from a window, stories above them.

2. When you order, be vague. When asked a question, always answer with a question.

"Coffee, lots of sugar."

"How many sugars is 'lots'?"

"HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO KNOW!?"

or

"Would you like to try a blueberry scone today?"

"Is it free?"

At the very least, when you are asked, "Is that all?" don't answer. This is important, because it lets the window-worker know that you are in total control of the situation.

3. Spend forever looking for money, try and break a one hundred dollar bill first thing in the morning, and then pay with change and say, "I don't know how much that is, just count it."

4. When your drink comes, if it even MIGHT not be the right drink, recoil in terror. Literally, lean back, raise your hands and make your mouth look like you are making fish sounds. Say, "I wanted it COLD, not HOT." even if you forgot that part at the speaker, don't admit it. Suddenly become stricken with t-rex disease and refuse to reach more than your hand out of your car window for the drink. Do not extend your arm. Let the drive-thru worker lean out until their feet are just barely on the floor still, and they can basically just place the drink in your console drink holder for you.

5. Get on the phone and roll up your window and don't look to see if someone is standing there with your drink for at least 3 minutes.

6. Be on your cell phone the whole time.

Now, if you feel like following these rules, I invite you to come and visit me at the Starbucks in Spring, TX tomorrow from 5am-12pm. See you there!

Vintage Valentine Yard Sale Finds!

Aren't yard sales the best? I remember getting up early when I was a kid, and using a map - a real, paper, fold-me-if-you-can-map - to plot out a course for the morning with my Mom. In this area there is a suburb that holds a community garage sale twice a year. This spring some of our great finds were: a collapsible camping picnic table that folds up into a suitcase, a plush Cadillac of a baby stroller, an Anthropologie dust ruffle, and these two vintage snapshots:

Aren't they gorgeous?! I wish I knew where they were taken. The lady I bought them from said that she had just gotten them in a batch of old pictures from an estate sale. I think I paid a dollar each, so I couldn't get as many as I would have liked. These two were just so striking - especially the house on the lake. I'm going to put them in my journal and imagine myself living in them for years to come.

I also got this batch of vintage Valentine's Day cards. They are so quirky!!

No pressure here, right? I mean, times-a-ticking, say yes now, THIS is our hour, but ... no pressure.

Ah, the ever-romantic, "You're Unusual!" line. What girl doesn't love that? Also, nice job of the not-so-subtle suggestion that the recipient is unusual like, you know, carnival workers, unusual.

Is it just me or this this one a little threatening? I think that this valentine should probably be in an evidence box in some police precinct somewhere...

Don't even know what that means.

Open to interpretation. But I'm getting a bit of a desperate vibe from this one.

Nothing says, "I care" quite like condescension.

I had to pass up a set of Rescue Rangers Valentines that I had actually given out as a kid - but these were so much older! I ended up shelling out almost $40 for everything I bought from this lady, and I"m not quite sure what I'm going to do with all of them yet. There are a few more that aren't pictured here. I'm thinking that if my little one ever has a room of her own I'll frame them.

Each time we have a yard sale of our own I have this burning desire to make such amazing yard-sale signs that people will come because... how could they not after such signs? I always end up taking way too long to make them and really irritating my husband, but here are a few.

Since when was the Mona Lisa a native American? Good question. Also, remember not to makes promises you can't keep when advertising anything.

Nancy Drew and the Case of the Tiny, Shrivled, Hand!!!! This one was actually stolen. >:-(

For our last yard sale I made a Star Wars inspired sign. I was in a big hurry and didn't get to take pictures. I've vowed to make my signs WAY ahead of time in the future, so I won't be too busy to help price things.

Stationery Set

This was my first stationery set. It took me about two weeks to finish, and I'm pretty happy with the results. My inspiration comes from Rifle Paper Co. - if you aren't familiar with them, check out their stuff. The invitations, cards and stationery sets are wonderful.

http://riflepaperco.com/

I was pleased with the final impression of the two fonts I chose. I think that the combination is contemporary without being too trendy, and friendly without being too casual or silly.

The image is from an original I made using chalk pastel. I think that watercolor would probably work better, and I'll experiment with that next time. My sister has hinted numerous times that she wants a set like this, so I suppose I'll have plenty of opportunity to tweak that sort of thing.

I love the idea of a calling card. This particular calling card is anything BUT a business card, I feel. The graphic, the border and the cute shape make it so personable. Adding a fun nickname or smarmy quote is essential to keeping it approachable and engaging.

Here are some calling cards I found online that i love:

How fun is that card with the ring size? Love it!