Seeking Intern, Apprentice, or Volunteer for Special Project

Read on if you fit ALL of these criteria:

• You want to build your resume with social media marketing, web design or online community building experience.
• You have at least 10 hours per week for 2-3 months to devote to this.
• You work well with a team and enjoy collaboration.
• You love to be creative and learn quickly.
• You are looking for a way to give back and change the world (starting with the South Loop).

We are preparing to complete a super special secret project!  All we can publish online is that it involves "online community building."  To be successful, we need some extra hands that fit the above criteria.  

We are willing to barter in exchange for your efforts.  Bartering includes giving you coffee, food, gas money (or CTA passes), and/or self-fulfillment.  

If you're interested, please call (312) 674-0001.  Email inquiries will be ignored.

Now Hiring: Administrative Assistant

We're hiring an administrative assistant to join the Overflow team.  This is NOT a barista position.  For details, download the job description. 

Marathon in Review

The marathon is over... Let's summarize.

I ended up working 54.5 hours during the week with some time I had to stay late.  I've finally recovered physically and emotionally.  But I'm still working on getting caught up with my to-do list.

With all the contributions in, we raise $10,832.32.  That's 72% of our $15,000 goal. This money will go toward the electrical and plumbing work being done within the next month.  Whatever is left over will be put toward purchasing the cabinets and counter top that will make up the coffee bar.

While we didn't raise our full goal and I won't get to shave Brandon's head, he is thinking of getting it cut... Be sure to tell him what you think he should do with it!

If you weren't able to give but wanted to, you can use the chip in to the right or send us a contribution.  Just message us for the address. 

Thanks to all you who gave. We got the full matching gift because of your help!

Day 4, Hours 23 - 31: Flexibility

Today was one of those days where I got a good reminder of just how flexible a coffee shop manager needs to be.  We gotta roll with the punches, just take one thing after the other and get 'er done.  The important thing is that, at the end of the day, we can say we got everything done we needed to get done, kept the customers happy, and maintained our own sanity.  I can definitely say that I got done what needed to be done today and kept the customers happy.  I'm now having some chocolate so as to restore my sanity.  :) Therefore, regardless of how crazy it was, today is marked as a success. 

We're still taking gifts toward this coffee shop marathon.  Check out the website: http://www.overflowcoffeebar.org/marathon.html.  If you're thinking of mailing a check, you probably want to get it in the mail by tomorrow to make sure we receive it by Monday (8-9-10).  Thanks in advance for your gift. 

Day 3, hours 16-22

Today I worked from 2-9pm... a.k.a. "the closing shift." The closing shift is nice. Customers are fewer and fartheer between but the interaction is longer b/c neither they or you are in a hurry. Plus, there are lots of routine things to get done so muscle memory kicks in rather than having to think hard.

One fun story from tonight: this older gentleman kept talking about how attractive women's knees are. He kept asking why god made women so attractive that men pine over them. Then he showed me photos of his fiance... a much, much younger woman! Inbetween conversation he used his laptop and sipped his coffee.

I have a day off tomorrow. Another case of the Mondays except mine will be much different than most of yours.

By the way, check out the updates I made to http://www.overflowcoffeebar.org/marathon.html. Please consider giving a gift to help Overflow get started. Thanks for considering.

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hours 9-15 of 54: day 2

day 2: somewhat uneventful, typical Saturday.

Each Saturday morning there's a children's story hour at the shop. Most orders include a box of organic chocolate milk. After the storytime is over, the back room is a wreck... no exception today.

Discovery of the day: I need to get better at making banana bread. It was just out of the oven when I left so I haven't gotten to taste it but it didn't have its normal shape and had flowed over the side of the pan... Note to self: get bananas just to let them ripen and make banana bread at home until I get it perfected.

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hours 1-8 of 54: day one.

Day one can be summarized as construction, flirting and coffee shop gossip.

Construction: the city chose today as the day to tear up the sidewalk directly in front of the shop. This meant loud noise and customers complaining about lack of sleep... both decreased and increased sales. The city is thinking of re-doing the sidewalks outside Overflow's location so I know to target the neighbors who are already being disturbed by the loud noises. :)

Flirting: Briefly, let me just say that every coffee shop should have a sign that reads: "Barista wants your tips, not for you to fall in love with them."

Gossip: There's lots of it but I won't pass it on. ;)

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hour 0 of 54

The marathon begins tomorrow! Mostly, I'm very excited. My largest forseeable hurdle: the health department...

The health dept. has been expected to stop in at any time for the last few weeks to complete their annual review. But they haven't done it yet... This means they could stop in while I'm the one in charge. We keep a mean, clean coffee-making machine at the shop and have already been working extra hard to make sure everything is in tip-top shape. But there's one thing I've definitely learned about the health dept.: they'll find something you can improve on, then they could stop back at any time to see if you've put it into action.

I'm sure everything will be fine but here's to hoping they delay their yearly review a couple more weeks. :)

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Brandon's Long Hair: Saying Good-bye? Here's how.

Brandon's been growing his hair out for about a year and a half.  It's gotta pretty long, probably a little too long.  Take a look...

But Amanda convinced him to part ways with the hair if they reach the $15,000 goal for the Coffee Shop Marathon by her birthday: 8-9-10.  Want to see Amanda shave Brandon's head?  Give TODAY at http://www.overflowcoffeebar.org/marathon.html!  If they reach the goal, we'll post a video of Amanda shaving Brandon's hair on her birthday! 

Running a Marathon!

Okay, that's figurative. Literally speaking, I'm managing a coffee shop while the owner is away... but to me, it's like running a marathon. Just like a marathon runner, I've been training and preparing for the day when I'll be put to the ultimate test. I'm going to be stretching and pushing myself to endure beyond anything I've done before. This coffee shop marathon will show me my greatest strengths and weaknesses as I prepare for the day when Overflow opens its doors. All my training comes down to this. I plan to prove myself capable and emerge victorious!


This marathon comes at great timing too. Construction on the Daystar Center in scheduled to begin in July. Overflow has the opportunity to tag-on our electric and plumbing requirements with the construction that's already taking place. This will save lots of money and time in the long run. Our goal is to raise $15,000 by my birthday August 9 (or 8/9/10!!!) to put toward the installation of the electric and plumbing required for running Overflow properly.

Read the rest of the story at: http://bit.ly/dgKDVK.

10 Things I'm Thankful For

I've seen others do this and thought it'd be a good exercise.  I'm listing them as I think of them (not in order of importance).

1. Friends and Family - YOU are a huge encouragement as we take risks.  I can't begin to express how much you mean to me.
2. Our donors - YOU are helping to make Overflow a reality.  Every little bit counts!
3. Mercedes (my cat) - She helps me have fun when I get stressed out.
4. Books - I've learned so much this year from reading.
5. The Common Cup - My internship there was invaluable.
6. The American Heart Association - I learned so much from the people there and miss them.
7. The South Loop - for inspiring me each and every day to live life on purpose
8. Coffee - I wouldn't be where I am without you.
9. Facebook - for helping me keep in touch with old friends and get to know new friends.
10. Jesus - I was debating whether to put Him on here because it seems cliche but I can't stop thinking about all the things He's done in my life and done through me to impact others this past year.  I can truly say I'm a better (but not yet perfect) person on 11/23/2009 than I was on 11/23/2008 because of what He's been doing in my life.

Writing from the South Loop...

I'm currently sitting at the Caribou Coffee at 8th and Wabash. I am NOT condoning Caribou - this just highlights the fact that there are no independently owned coffee shops in the South Loop. But that is changing...

In the past week:
(1) we moved into our new home in the heart of the south loop (we unpacked already!);
(2) I visited 3 local banks to find out information about opening a business account (at one bank I talked with a lady for 30+ minutes about everything from banking to religion - very cool);
(3) felt like a real *barista* while working at the Common Cup; and
(4) had an awesome prayer meeting at the new apartment.

There's much more to do:
(a) I have a rough draft of the Bylaws to finish.
(b) I have a few pages of the 501(c)3 application completed.
(c) There's lots of money to raise.
(d) The business plan still has a couple holes to fill in.

Most urgent prayer request: God has put it on my heart to pray for $250,000 from wherever/whomever He'd like to provide from... I've committed to audaciously praying for this provision while still working very hard to raise it from various places over time. Will you join me in praying that God will provide for this venture with $250,000??? (I know how crazy this sounds.)

Transitions This Week (June 29-July 4)

This week...

Monday and Tuesday are my last days of work at my 9-5 job.

On Wednesday, Brandon and I celebrate our 3 year anniversary and become no longer newly-weds. Okay, we're really celebrating all week long.

Wednesday and Thursday, I start the internship at the Common Cup from 9am to 4pm. Come visit! 1501 W Morse Avenue, www.commoncupchicago.com

Moving forward

Developments within the past five days...

• The Articles of Incorporation are being mailed to the IL Secretary of State tomorrow, complete with Board of Directors.
• Amanda officially has arranged an internship starting July 1 at The Common Cup (www.commoncupchicago.com).
• We met with a local coffee roaster and learned a lot about what they do and who they are. They rock! (www.coffeeambassadors.com).

Things are moving! Very exciting.