Category Archives: Starbucks

Semester Numero Two

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Whoa. What a start to my second semester of college. I’m not going to lie, this semester started off noticeably harder than last semester. I got sick the second week and am still fighting off a sinus infection, classes are considerable harder (and more boring) than last semester, and I learned sometimes you must have tough conversations with people and these conversations could result in a good or bad fashion.

On the bright side, for Martin Luther King Day, I managed to plan a hiking trip and eighteen people came! It was a lot of fun and I wanted to sit at the top for hours (or forever). Afterwards, we went to went to Buffalo Wild Wings and refueled from the trek.

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It’s been quite chilly here so I have been wearing my new blue coat (from Christmas) quite often. I snapped this picture today in class as I realized I was wearing a blue coat, carrying a blue purse, and eating a blue breakfast.

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Tonight I made myself skip out on the usual Friday festivities (read: movie night) and camp out at Starbucks. This week I have:

Four tests.

Three musical practices.

Two hours of observing at an elementary school.

One paper due.

(And a partridge in a pear treeeeee) ;)

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I just finished writing my five-page paper so I rewarded myself with a long over due blog post. The paper was my educational autobiography so I actually enjoyed writing it. Plus, anything is better than working on 350 biology review questions.

I am slightly unsure of which test to start studying for since they all promise to be difficult. I’m not trying to rush life, but I really think I will be glad for this week to be over. My club has a painting function on Friday that I’m going to (with a blind date…what have I got myself into?) so that is my reward for the end of the week!

Have a Fabulous First week of February.

For all you other organizer junkies:

This is my organization wall. AKA I forgot to complete a math assignment, got a zero, freaked out, and created a reminder wall that will never let me forget to turn in an assignment again.

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I’m off to spring musical practice till midnight….

Holiday Ramblings

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This post is short and sweet because there are deadlines to meet. Finals looming next week cause feelings that only a skinny caramel latte can complete.

Starbucks Christmas Cups.

Holiday Concerts.

Tacky Christmas Sweaters.

Christmas music [everyday].

Holiday parties.

An excuse to be overly cheery everyday.

Yes, this is truly the best time of the year. And spending part of the holidays at my awesome college with fun new friends is the whipped cream to a perfectly frothed caramel latte.

Catch y’all on the other side.

Here’s some dorm room decoration inspiration for all the other professional decorators out there:

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Please, don’t ask how I do it. One word: Talent.

Merry Christmas! 

Friends, Family, & Fall

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Hey everybody! How is the last day of September treating you? I am currently enjoying a caramel latte, so I would say it’s been a pretty good day. :)

This weekend was “Family Weekend” at my college and my parents came up Friday-Sunday to spoil spend time with me and get to know the campus and my friends.

It was really great to see them and not eating in the cafeteria for an entire two days was stinkin’ awesome. (Especially considering the food is the worst on weekends.)

I wasn’t able to snap to many photos from the weekend but I’m happy to share the ones I did.

Our first meal out was at a Brick Oven pizza place in town with the best margarita pizza ever. I think I ate this in two minutes.

That night, we ate at Chick-fil-a (un-pictured) because I was craving fries and they have the best fries. We went to a magic show after dinner and then ended the night with frozen yogurt (pictured above). I was so excited I mixed everything together and it tasted like heaven in a cup. I don’t think I have ever gone almost two months without fro-yo in the past two years- needless to say, it tasted amazing. I’m in withdraws.

The next morning, we got some fuel for our hour drive to the city. It was the grand opening of the Starbucks on campus and we couldn’t miss out on all the excitement. Tall skinny caramel latte, please. Being in Starbucks with my dad brought back fun memories of when we would go there…I’m so glad they came to visit. :)

Once we had our fuel we drove into the city in search of the important things in life like Chipotle. Priorities, people. You know its going to be a good weekend if it includes frozen yogurt and Chipotle. I got the burrito bowl with brown rice, black beans, tomato salsa, cheese, lettuce, and guacamole. YUM.

After Chipotle, we went to Target because there isn’t one in my college town. And, let’s be serious…I get pretty much everything at Target- clothes, shoes, dark chocolate, room decorations…you name it and Target has it. If you are ever in doubt of what to get me for my birthday, a Target gift card will never go to waste.

So we did alittle a lot of shopping and my mom bought me a shirt, dress, and some workout clothes (since apparently you shouldn’t re-wear workout clothes but then that means I have to do more laundry…). Then we picked up some grocery necessities (Peanut butter, dark chocolate, Larabars- you know, priorities :) .

We then headed back to campus in order to go to the first home football game!!

We won, for the record. :) The weather was perfect and we managed to steal some seats during half-time since we got there a little late because we were *shocker* eating at Chilis.

This morning, we woke up bright and early to go to church and then headed to Ihop for my last good meal before it’s back to reality.

I was going to get something healthy because I think I managed to gain the freshmen 15 in one weekend, but then I saw Pumpkin Pancakes. Best decision ever. I have seen so many food bloggers make pumpkin pancakes and now that I have tried them, I am definitly making some over Thanksgiving break.

I am currently in the library sipping a caramel latte trying to get motivated to study for midterms coming up this week and next. Have I seriously already finished half of my first semester? I guess time really does fly when you’re having fun!

Thank you Dad and Mom for such a great weekend! You can visit any time. :)

Have a Happy Fall Day.

Tea Talk Time

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Two Thursdays back  was my last “study session” at the Starbucks by my school.

I went there probably too often to study with friends, cram for that impossible Philosophy test, meet my mom for our Wednesday lunch, or just sneak away on my off period when I needed a break from high school.

So Thursday I went with my friends to “study” (yeah, fat chance we were going to study on our second last day of high school) and ordered my  usual tall iced un-sweet green tea (it’s either that or a caramel latte).

When my drink was called, I noticed it was Grande (not a Tall) and was also made by the very nice but shy man I often see. I gave him a big smile and thank you and walked to my cozy chair filled with contentment. Sure it’s a little thing, but it’s also a very thoughtful thing. I love when people do little things to spread some happiness.

It also got me thinking. Yes, there is a lot of bad and evil in the world, BUT there is also a lot of good. We however, do not find the good “entertaining” enough and therefore do not often hear about it.

I think its time to start sharing the good news and not relishing and partaking in all the bad.

Remember, it’s the little things, folks.

What good thing happened in your day today?

Happy Memorial Weekend!

*Last day to enter the Larabar Giveaway!

Lately Loving

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Baked sweet potatoes with one egg and butter spray on top.

Iced chai tea lattes from Starbucks.

Jason’s Deli chicken club salad. I went to Jason’s Deli this past weekend for the first time in years and am completely obsessed with this salad. It even has avocados.

But what is Jason’s Deli without taking advantage of the free ice cream?

Well, it’s probably no surprise, but I think my biggest “food weakness” is potato chips. Sure eating a plain white potato with veggies would be better, but I just can’t resist potato chips. The good thing is, we rarely buy them (because somehow the bag is gone in one day) so I say they are fine the few times I eat them.

Speaking of white potatoes, why do they get such a bad rep? They actually have plenty of nutrients. So maybe a sweet potato is even more nutrient dense but there is nothing wrong with a white potato. (Sorry, fries don’t count….unless you bake them at home!) My theory is, God put it in the ground and people have been eating it for centuries so it’s ok to eat.

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This magazine. I squeal everytime I see it in the mail. I told my mom she has to send me all the issues in the mail when I go to college.

If you are looking for a straight to the point, practical way to learn about food and how to eat healthy, this is the best magazine out there. Hands down, not but’s about it.

What are you loving lately?

White or Sweet potatoes?

This Week.

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This week…

Workouts were replaced with naps.  [No joke. I rarely nap because I always am so unproductive afterwards, but this week I could barely stay awake after school.]

A trip to Sprouts on Saturday was the only cure to a rough week. (Ok, and chocolate happened to be on sale.)

Let’s not mention that this chocolate cost exactly how much I get paid for one hour (yay minimum wage!). But hey, it’s my singles awareness Valentine’s Day gift to myself. —> Please don’t mention how pathetic that is.

Starbucks with a friend to was in order. I wanted to try something other than my usual (Caramel Latte) so I went with an Iced Chai Latte.

Good choice. I drank it before I thought to take a picture of it.

And lastely, a childhood favorite….

Waffles (gluten-free) with lots of powdered sugar! I have so many great childhood memories and waffles with powder sugar is a special one! Often on Saturday mornings we would all sit around the table and enjoy copious amounts of sugar covered waffles. (I would always make sure there was an ample amount of sugar in each square.)

I actually had these as a midnight snack last night because my friend was completely shocked to know we had a waffle griddle! She said she has never known someone who owned one and was quite shocked to know I did. Kids these days!

She also informed me to never eat these on a date. Let’s just say half the powder sugar ended up all over my clothes.

And that was my weekend! Not the healthiest, but memorable to say the least. :)

What did you do this weekend? Any childhood memories that you remember fondly?

I also remember when we (me and my sisters) were in elementary, every Friday night was movie night at my house and we got the card tables out and set them up in the living room and got to eat dinner while watching a movie. That was a big deal because we never ate in front of the TV (and still don’t)! I love that my parents made it something special and not something we did every night but rather shared dinner around the table with each other. The family that eats together, stays together. ;)

Caramel Latte

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If you don’t know already, I love Starbucks. Yes, I am that American who loves walking into the quaint and heavenly smelling store, just to spend $3.50 for a tall drink. I love the over powering smell, the Christmas cups, the friendly faces, and most of all, the skinny Caramel Latte’s. Be still my heart, they are so good. Hot or iced, I will take it either way, any day.

However, since I work only 15 hours a week and make minimum wage, my Starbucks addiction only gets fulfilled two or three times a month. My friend the other day had the most brilliant suggestion, Why not make your own?? ….Duh…. Sure you don’t get the fun atmosphere or the cool cups, but you also don’t spend half your salary.

So, today was the day.

Well, really it started last week with the purchase of some Caramel syrup (sweetened with Splenda!)

To start off, place your syrup in the bottom of your mug (a Christmas one preferably). I used about a table-spoon; however, it was sweeter than I would have liked so next time I will use a bit less.

Next, measure 3/4 cup of milk

And place in a small sauce pan on medium heat. Next, whisk, whisk, whisk the milk for about a minute and a half to two minutes. Start off slowly whisking then gradually work up to mega-fast whisking.

Once your milk is frothy, pour it on the syrup in your cup. This was the first time I ever “frothed” milk and it totally makes a difference! Much sweeter and creamier. (Plus you don’t need a $100 machine to do the job, just a little bicep workout!)

Finally, take your coffee (yes, I realize latte’s are made with espresso but we don’t have any and coffee works just as fine, only a little less stronger in taste.)

Measure 1/3 cup (you probably could use more if you want it stronger) and pour it in your mug on top of the frothed milk….

 Stir, consume, and die a little inside because of the amazing-ness.

Ta-da! One skinny Caramel Latte for hardly any $$ coming right up.

Needless to say, I consumed this in about 2 minutes.

Plus, I think I started a new Sunday tradition.

Are you a fan of Starbucks? What is your favorite drink/drink combination?

I love Starbucks (and always will!); however, recently my friend and I have been trying out some different local coffee shops and they are amazing too….not to mention I found one that has chai shakes (my other love).

The Gift of Friendship

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Yesterday was one of those days.

Today however, was not.

After having a pretty rough day yesterday, I was pleasantly surprised to find a Caramel Latte from Starbucks (the best kind of drug ever!!) and a note in my locker from my very best friend.

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We have both been holding each other accountable for different  things this year and one is to always try to look at the positives in the day (which I failed miserably at yesterday).

So, in her note she put….

Today is going to be so much better than yesterday because, 

1. There is no college English class today

2. You don’t have to work again until Saturday

3. When girls act bratty, you always have me :)  

4. There’s chapel and worship today

5. Jesus (since Jesus is the answer to everything—-> inside joke alert!)

It’s also just going to be a good day because we will make it a greeeeeat day! :)

Needless to say, thanks to the espresso in my latte, my sweet note, and most importantly, my amazing best friend, today was a good day.

(Not to mention I finally made it to the gym…and I’m making cookies tonight!)

I love and thank you, best friend.

What is something spontaneous and nice has someone done for you lately?