Don't Panic!!! A Simple Solution to a Manic Monday!

Image Courtesy of Local Coffee

Every Monday without fail I hit the snooze button a few too many times. When I finally come to terms that it's another work week the first thing that pops into my mind is COFFEE. Yes, that's right I'm a coffee fiend-ask any of my friends. I love coffee so much I registered for not only 1 but 2 different coffee makers on my wedding registry (a Keurig & a Nespresso). 

Part of my journey to unravel SA is to find the very best local coffee shops in the area. Many of you know my love of a certain chain coffee store that shall remain nameless, but as I recently found out, one of the best lattes I have had wasn't from the name brand chain, but from a great local coffee shop off Sonterra (other location off Broadway in Alamo Heights). 

Image Courtesy of Local Coffee

Local Coffee

Head over to Local Coffee for one of the very best lattes you will find. This hipster joint is complete with a great barista staff, delish baked goods, and comfy couches. If you're not a coffee addict like myself, that's okay! Local Coffee offers a huge selection of hot or cold teas too! I haven't seen more than a handful of people inside at a time, so whether you're looking for a place to grab a cup and curl up on the couch and read or if you're catching up with an old friend this is the place to be! Their prices are bit higher than chain places, but who doesn't want to support a local business?!?

Image Courtesy of Local Coffee

Location: 
700 East Sonterra Blvd, Ste 1113, 78258

OR

5903 Broadway, 78209

Hours:

Monday-Sunday

Price:
$$ ($4-$6 for a latte)

Going to the Chapel- Part 2

Image Courtesy of You've Got Paper!

Finding the perfect save the date, shower invite, or formal wedding invitations can be incredibly stressful  and time consuming, but I hope my latest blog post will ease some worries for any San Antonio brides. I found the most amazing stationary shop in the Alon Market Center a few months ago and fell absolutely in LOVE with You've Got Paper! You've Got Paper!, is a family owned and operated small business with the perfect location to serve the brides of San Antonio.  They have an extensive inventory of paper brands and invitations that range from Crane & Co. to Vera Wang to Lily Pulitzer.  All the employees are extremely friendly and helpful and will take as much time as needed to make sure you find the perfect paper or stationary for your event.  Also, their customer service is just outstanding!!!  So far I've purchased "Thank You" cards and my formal wedding invitations from You've Got Paper!,  as well as used one of their templates for a bridal shower invitation. 

You've Got Paper! also carries a variety of fun gifts with a wide range of prices and is a great place to pick up a little something nice for you hostess(s).   I hope that all my readers have some time to stop by You've Got Paper! and let their saleswomen make your wedding invitation experience SO MUCH EASIER!

Location:

The Alon Towne Center | 210.479.4100

10003 NW Military Hwy #2114

San Antonio, Texas, 78231

Prices: 

Range Depending on Brand of Paper/Style/Font etc. 

Ciao!

Sarah

Image Courtesy of You've Got Paper!

 

Costa Pacifica Seafood SA Style

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A shortcut to the Mexican Pacific is exactly what you will find at Costa Pacifica.  Located off of loop 1604 between Blanco and Stone Oak Parkway lies a lovely Pacific Mexican restaurant  that offers great seafood dishes with a Mexican flair. A trio of dipping sauces is provided to each table while patrons skim the menu for their favorite seafood dish. The red and green salsas were my favorites (the yellow salsa is EXTREMELY spicey).  

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Although, I am not a big seafood fan my friends absolutely loved Costa Pacifica's tostada entrees. The tostadas were a huge hit amongst the table as everyone ordered a different kind.  The Norwegian Tostada seemed to be the table favorite (see image left image). Thankfully there is a little something for everyone on the menu.  For anyone, like myself, that isn't a big seafood fan I don't want to deter you from experiencing Costa Pacifica as their menu has many non-seafood items like the black bean fajita nachos (YUM).

I was slightly disappointed that Costa Pacifica does not have a queso on their menu; a staple on Mexican restaurant menus, but perhaps not a staple on Pacific Coast Mexican food?? Clearly I really wanted queso that night.

Overall, I think Costa Pacifica is worth a try and although it was not my favorite restaurant you can't beat their happy hour specials...especially on Mondays. 

Location:

434 N Loop 1604 W  

San Antonio, TX 78232

Price:

$10-$20 

*Mondays-all day Happy Hour*


Dine On!

-Sarah

Going to the Chapel-Part 1

Image Courtesy of The Ultimate Cheesecake Bakery

Well....I'm headed to the chapel in about 4 months and I wanted to share with my readers some of the AMAZING businesses I've found in San Antonio for my wedding or showers.  So, let's start with something sweet-CAKE. Everyone loves cake!! It's almost always one of my favorite parts of a wedding. I wanted to let my readers in on a little gem bakery in SA, the Ultimate Cheesecake Bakery. With two convenient locations in San Antonio, as well as in Austin and Corpus Christi, the Ultimate Cheesecake Bakery offers cakes in a variety of flavors and styles. Founded in Corpus Christi, this small business expanded to San Antonio in 1984 has as easily made a name for itself as one of the best cake places in town. 

I recently had one of their amazing cakes at my bridal shower.  This yummy sheet cake had extremely moist white cake with raspberry filling; delicately iced, my cake completed matched the floral arrangement on my shower invitation. Let's all take a moment and marvel at this cake............time's up. This cake was probably the second most delicious cake I've ever had; the first being my cherry almond bridal cake (YUM). Unfortunately there wasn't ANY cake leftover for me to take home.....it's safe to say even the non-sweet lovers loved this cake.

Locations:

Lincoln Heights Shopping Center
999 E. Basse, Suite 194
San Antonio, Texas 78232
210.826.1505

The Arbor Park Shopping Center
17700 Hwy. 281 N., Suite 308
San Antonio, Texas 78232
210.494.5496

Check out their website for cake listings and order information.  


Cheers!

-Sarah

Ein Prosit-Schilo's Delicatessen

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Ich liebe Schilo's!! That's about all the German I know after taking 4 college German classes, but that's okay!!! If you're looking for some authentic German food and drink head down to Schilo's Delicatessen on Commerce; located in the heart of downtown San Antonio, Schilo's offers an array of mainland German dishes from bratwurst to potato pancakes to Leberkäse and  knockwurst. 

Schilo's takes its patrons on a trip through time; framed along the walls of the old deli you will find pictures and photos of the past.  Old German ads align the walls and sprinkled throughout you will find photos of San Antonio over 100 years old. Never remodeled, Schilo's offer's guests a feel for a deli scene from 70 years ago.   

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Ordering off a German inspired menu can become daunting for someone unsure of what to order, as many aren't fans of bratwurst or knockwurst. For those that are looking for an authentic German meal, without sausage, might I suggest the potato pancakes or the split pea soup and deviled egg.  I am a soup fiend and love trying new kinds of soups and this split pea is one of my favorite restaurant soups of all time. Made from scratch daily this soup offers a warm creamy soup that will fill you up for the rest of the evening. Sprinkled atop with pepper, this soup is wonderful year around. I always order my soup with a side of deviled eggs. These eggs rival my own deviled egg creation that only make an appearance on Easter.  Schilo’s potato pancakes are rich in flavor, light and fluffy to the touch. Accompanied by apple sauce, the pancake’s taste has the right amount flavor with a hint of sweetness. 

Diners daring enough to fancy an authentic German wurst have the option to choose from either red or white sausage, bratwurst or knockwurst.  Born of German heritage, I am always excited to try all different types of wurst, but my personal opinion is bratwurst is far better than knockwurst- patrons should try both as everyone has a different pallet. 

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Homemade root beer should always be ordered when eating at Schilo’s.  This root beer is by far the  very best soft drink ever created; made with natural sugar and brewed in a whiskey style barrel, this root beer is reminiscent of old soda fountains from the 1950’s.  Adorned in a frosty mug and complete with a free refill, this drink is an absolute must for everyone! For those looking for an authentic adult beverage, Schilo’s also offers a few beers on tap including Spaten, Shiner Boch, and seasonal surprises.

Next time you find yourself in downtown San Antonio make sure to stop by for a quick bite of lunch or dinner from the most wonderful diner of the past.    

Location:

424 East Commerce Street  

San Antonio, TX 78205

Price:

$5.00-$15.00

 Prosit!

-Sarah 

Check out Schilo's website!

Deals & Steals- CarpetMasters SA

Image Courtesy of CarpetMasters SA

Not all great deals & steals come from Groupon or LivingSocial, but by word of mouth. Today's deal & steal is carpet cleaning. Okay, I know what you're probably thinking...carpet cleaning really?? Yes, REALLY! Summer is the season of moving, whether you're buying a house or moving into an apartment  it's an absolute must to get your carpets cleaned. I recently moved into a new house and being the germophob that I am, I had every inch of that new house cleaned from top to bottom. In my research of companies, I found that the best company in SA with the best price was CarpetMasters SA. Right now, they are offering a great deal- 3 rooms for $99.95. I spoke with their lead technician, Doug, and he explained their carpet cleaning process and why they are the best in SA. Doug has over 20 years of carpet cleaning experience, which would make me 5 years old when he began his trade.  I think one of the best things about CarpetMasters SA is that they are a locally owned and operated small business run by a dynamic husband and wife duo that also own a disaster restoration company - FloodMaster Restoration . What really impressed me about both Doug and the owners is their love for their customers.  Although their hours consist of normal business hours of 8:00a-5:00p they are frequently cleaning carpets before or after that time with little to no extra charges.  

Location: 
13127 Lookout Way
San Antonio, Texas
78233

Hours of Operation:
M-F 8:00a-5:00p (Can make special appointments between business hours)

Contact: 
210-650-0500


Check back soon to read about FloodMaster Restoration and what to do if disaster strikes!

Team Bright Pink Quilt Raffle

Image Courtesy of Kali Chatham

I am so excited to be a part of Bright Pink San Antonio this year!! One of my dear friends will be running the Chicago Marathon to benefit Team Bright Pink and is raffling off an amazing hand stitched quilt to benefit the organization. I would love for all of my readers to donate at least $5 to Kali's cause and help her reach her goal of  $1,500; and as an added plus you could possibly win a lovely quilt.  


I recently spoke with Kali about why she is running the Chicago Marathon to benefit Team Bright Pink. For Kali breast cancer hit close to home, "I’ll never forget the shock I felt when I learned my mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer. She was too young, too healthy, and too full of life to have cancer thrown into her path. Why my mother?" Kali soon decided that she wanted to dedicate her life to helping families affected by breast and ovarian cancer. "In the years following her [Mother's] diagnosis and treatment, my search for understanding, hope, and answers to these questions combined with my passion for science to lead me into the field of genetic counseling. I knew that as I prepared to become genetic counselor I wanted to specialize in cancer genetics and help families affected by hereditary cancer syndromes. I discovered Bright Pink in graduate school while familiarizing myself with the valuable resources and organizations available to my future patients. This incredible organization has helped countless young women and I feel so fortunate (both as a now practicing genetic counselor and as a patient) to have Bright Pink as an invaluable resource." 


Kali strives everyday to help educate others about breast and ovarian cancers. As one of only a few genetic counselors in the San Antonio area, she is able to spearhead a growing industry while continuing to work for her passion. 


Please make sure to check out Bright Pink's national website.