Frugality for the Broke Barista (& Reflections from Year One)

Seeing as I'm working as a part-time barista in downtown Seattle while attending college at the University of Washington full-time, I am sure y'all can understand that I'm serious when I say that I'm an incredibly strange combination of broke and busy.

I recently finished my first year up here at UW and boy, was it much more difficult than I imagined. Luckily, I ended with about a 3.0, but I still need to take summer courses to raise my GPA and stay on track for getting the credits I need to get into my major (Architecture/Construction Management).

In reflection, I know that I need to put aside more focused time for studying rather than just cramming, as well as meeting more people to study in a group setting--oh, and attending every class and lecture will definitely be a helpful guideline in these coming terms. 

I lived in the dorm, which was an awesome experience when it comes to being close to classes, and getting to know complete strangers. I had a really sweet roommate--Stefhany-- who I

This is Stefhany, the day she was
moving out of the dorm.
Goodbye Terry 707!

already miss being around. I am really grateful for the small circle of friends I developed in the dorming system, as well as band.

Husky Marching Band was a great opportunity for me to make friendships that are lasting, and I am very glad that I made the decision to join the UW Husky Drumline my first year. We had auditions for next year already, and I'm on cymbals again. No disappointment here, because that means I can focus on my studies this summer and not have to worry about learning a bunch of new music on snare. (Doesn't mean I'm not going to try for it again next time around, though!) 

The new drums!

I am extremely excited for this next season with the marching band, because we are getting new everything! Dead serious. We just unpacked and assembled the new drums that we got from Pearl a week ago, and we will also be getting new uniforms this year to go handily with the newly renovated Husky Stadium! I couldn't be more jazzed for this coming year.

New Uniform Design.
I'm not sure if I'm allowed to show y'all this,
but consider it my treat since you viewed my blog. ;)

Speaking of new, I just moved into an apartment that I will be temporarily living in this summer, up on Queen Anne. It's extremely nice, and I am very thankful to the relative that is letting me stay there for these few months. 

Living completely alone is very different. Since I'm not in the dorm, I don't have a roommate, and least conveniently, I don't have a dining account. This means that I have to cook for myself, and do so as cheaply as possible. Additionally, I'm trying to eat much healthier after discovering that the freshman 15 really wasn't a myth. (Sidenote: I didn't gain 15 lbs, but enough to where I did notice!)

So far I have discovered this is pretty easy because of a mythical place Seattleites seem to covet: Trader Joe's. By jove, it's like Disneyland for the frugal, hungry, and healthy! I basically stocked my fridge and pantry with the essentials for the next week or so for only forty bucks, which I'd say is a great price point because everything I bought was fresh and organic. 

Today, I also purchased some fresh raspberries and pears from the Pike Place Market, which was a little more expensive, but I was craving something fresh and special for a fruit bowl.

The first meal I made in the Queen Anne apt.
Fried chicken and steamed sugar snap peas,
paired with a nice cup of orange juice. 

Tonight's dinner was a 5-layer fruit bowl, consisting of
cantaloupe, white peaches, grapes, golden pears, as well
as fresh raspberries. It was super good and filling!

I definitely have a long way to go to being a pro chef, but I'm very proud of my recent discoveries while living up here in Seattle. With this new-found independence and domesticity, I realize that I am really becoming an adult.