Alternating Passion Tea and Verona :)

If you have guessed we're still not up to par wellness-wise being that my last post was hoping my Starbucks goods would heal completely, well you're right. We're sort of a mess. :) Typically, we're well and winter posses minor challenges. Well, 2008 is challenging us. The boys and I seem to be trading off strands of whatever old man winter has sent along. One child well, another down. Mama hanging in in-between. Meds are helping some and then switcharoo. So nothing new to report but that it's more Tazo tea lately than lattes or house coffees. That's a good thing right now especially when you alternate between Wild Sweet Orange and Wild Passion Fruit. yummy. My son who was home today with the flu must be starting to feel better - his request was Starbucks' Sour Cream Doughnut. Okay. Just when we're feeling better a blast of sugar, no wonder.

Starbucks Healing

Y'all we've got it bad. Old man winter is here in this household with Starbucks Mama and Her Buck-A-Roos. Half of us were in today and at the doctors. The upside is we didn't have to be at the doctor's except Starbucks Mama has good intuition, on of the Tigers had lodged part of an eraser in his ear - thus the "hot ears Mama, hot ears." Imagine that! So we were totally thankful that we got that shall we say 'cared for' this morning. And if you offer up your Morning Latte or Tazo, tomorrow, please think of us. We're still 'working out' that last trace of an eraser.

Of course, the only healing in Starbucks Mama's mind was get to the drive-through asap. Really y'all, they're so good to us. My usual Barista surprised me with noticing that yesterday I ventured to a Venti Tazo Tea launching right past all my usual latte and house blends. So as I fumble at the window and start with I'll take a Venti Wild... she picked right up where I left off yesterday. Venti Wild Sweet Orange Tazo Hot Tea. Yes! Just what the doctor ordered. Then I got a bag of Odwalla's good stuff - large Orange Juice, large AntioxiDance. Ahhh... life is good.

Then it was off to the Drive Thru at our local CVS for some Motrin for Children. And you know, it did take them a second since I didn't have a perscription. But they really rebounded and got what we needed without my little Tiger even having to get out of the car with mama in his "Let It Snow" long johns.

Starbucks Supporting Our Troops

Again, Starbucks makes good. I found this over on the Army.com website shouting out to Starbucks for their continued support of our troops overseas. I know my local store continues to have a full basket of many pounds of the good stuff heading that way. I know if I were in the Military at home or abroad, I would want a nice cup of Sumatra, House Blend, Yukon, etc. And even if I am not in the Military, etc.

See the story below. And for the record, today, I had my lovely just right Grande Yukon w/room add three raw sugars (I know, I'm back up to three raw sugars. Well, the two lasted about two weeks. Aren't I good!) and a substantial amount of cream.

Starbucks Donates Coffee to Deployed Troops



Coffee has always been an integral part of military life, and the recent coffee craze in America just whet the appetite of soldiers, sailors airmen and Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan. Starbucks Coffee Company employees have responded by donating thousands of pounds of coffee and other items over the past several years.

“We kept getting cards and e-mails from troops deployed overseas saying how much they missed our coffee,” said Julie Shelton, a consumer relations partner at Starbucks Coffee Company in Seattle. “It was great we were able to get support from the military.”

To find out more information on organizations that are helping to support the troops go to www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil. America Supports You is an organization that connects the general public with a means to provide support for the military community.

Read the Full Story - http://www.army.com/blog/item/2930

Wild Passion and Me

Many trips to our local Starbucks later, I visit with my Wild Passion Hot Tea in hand. It is the perfect night-cap for Mama as we watch for snow in our part of the country. We're all eager. So no we haven't been shoveling snow for three months. For us, it's a novel idea. Get snow, go sledding, make snow angels, make a fire, eat snowcream, etc. Enjoy!

Ya'll I'm happy to report that I was the first to sign up for the "Starbucks Valentine's Cupcake Boxes!" Sounds fun doesn't it. As always Starbucks has something going on to make the season bright. I linked right up for my Valentine's Day Box of Chocolate Cupcakes for this household. Now what to pair along. I'll just have to ask my favorite Baristas evah!

Otherwise, I blissfully report my utter joy when I happened upon a fresh pot of Christmas Brew at my local shop. Yes, one last of the famous and elusive Christmas Blend. And I have to tell you, it taste just like 'it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas... did I tell you we're expecting snow!

Skinny Cinnamon Dolce Latte

My new latest goodness is a Skinny Cinnamon Dolce Latte 180. Can you tell I like it hot? 180 seems just right for me. I need it hot not warm. Let's face it, I may drink double the intake if I have it so warm I can just guzzle it down. I love to sip on my favorite and truly enjoy.

The Cinnamon Dolce done Skinny does the trick for me. It's the "new Hazelnut Latte" in my book. :)

Otherwise, I've just been a faithful customer the past couple of days. Now there was that situation with the M&M Cookie with the mini M&Ms....

McDonad's Is No Starbucks...You Get What You Pay For And More

Let's just say you get what you pay for and more! Right! Seriously, would I get my favorite latte at the McDonald's? Would I buy my makeup at Coach? Would I get my favorite bubble bath @ Gap? Would I get gasoline @ the drugstore? That is the problem when everyone tries to specialize in everyone else's specialty. There are no specialties. And it's not a specialty at all. Micky D's can just stick to their big and fast. And let Starbucks handle the rest. The clientelle that would go to McDonald's and order a fries with that latte is just not Starbucks clientelle. So who's to worry? McDonald's must be if they're trying to keep up.

Now excuse me, I have to go and indulge in my new favorite drink which I tried yesterday... Black Apron French Press w/cream. Let the New Year continue. Let Starbucks continue to woo me and you.

Starbucks Is Still The One

... With A Huge Welcome Back Mister Schultz! After seventeen years of patronage, I just want to offer a very warm welcome to Mister Schultz to whom Starbucks is most grateful.

Starbucks is still number one! And will soon have her complete latte loving mojo back similar to the moment Mr. Schultz first walked into Starbucks.

Go to Starbucks.com to see his letter to rest assured that everything is going to be alright - every cup, every day!

In the words of Mr. Howard Schultz himself, "Onward!" Personally, this customer is very much looking forward to the days ahead. In my case, that's one Grande Verona w/Room add cream and raw sugar at a time! Depending on the day, one SF Hazelnut Latte No Whip 180 at a time. May the experience continue...

Starbucks Mom and Her Buck-A-Roos

Starbucks Mom and Her Buck-A-Roos have kicked off another great year! Cheers to 2008! Today we were welcomed as locals and my young son and I were given our orders on the house. Never a dull day at our local Starbucks. I had a lovely Grande Christmas Blend w/room cream and two raw sugars. It was especially exciting to still see Christmas Blend on this 6th day of the New Year. Epiphany! Nice. And my little buck-a-roo had an Odwalla Orange Juice. Then we enjoyed several rounds of Tick-Tack-Toe. Nothing like a mini-date at Starbucks with one of my favorite guys on the planet.

Worst Starbucks spill e.v.e.r!

Just another day at our local Starbucks, not exactly.

Today, my sweet son and I were going through the drive up. We had just dropped his twin brother at school. And because he has been sick, we were going through the drive through at Starbucks on the way home. His order, Kids Apple Juice "In the cup with the straw," and mine, the usual, Grande Sumatra w/Room add Cream and two Raw Sugars. Well, we considered going to walk up (what after my big post about that 'high road' of walk through) except my little Tiger does not need to be in the cold elements and so we opted for the very busy drive up.

Things rolled along quickly, things were good and then as I received my coffee and reached to set it in my cup holder. There goes the coffee right out of my hand. Yes, I totally dropped the whole thing. We're talking the worst coffee spill this Starbucks drinker since 1992 has e.v.e.r made!

The Barista was magnificant and didn't miss a beat, next thing you know, I had a perfectly new drink. Except I had nowhere to put it. I had to pull over and request a half ream of paper towels. My patient little son encouraged me the whole way. Finally, life was restored and that first sip of coffee was divine! As I mentioned, I can't believe the coffee spill, my little Tiger says, "Mom, the coffee is over!" And that is our day in the life at Starbucks all. Hey, no one upping out there! It wasn't pretty.

Today I have a sick one at home. Starbucks did what it did for me in those early days of raising twins. The ticket for me after carline to drop one child was my corner Starbucks' Grande Sumatra w/Room. An old favorite and just perfect with cream and two raw sugars.

I took the 'high road' ;) here and parked and walked inside during 20 degree temps, rather than enjoying the busy drive up convenience. Amazing how I was the first one in line today. The drive up with popular with our cold weather. It was fun to drop in as my husband was home with our sick child. Nice to see my Barista's again. I'll admit, I have been on a bit of a 'drive-thru' mania lately.

OK, in order to give full disclosure, after a doctor's appointment and x-ray with my little cherub. I was in the 'drive-thru' about five hours for my Venti Shaken Black Iced Tea w/a splash of Lemonade! Perked me right up so that I could get my little one his meds, etc. and comfortably asleep.

Thank heavens for good doctors and good friends like Starbucks from this Starbucks Mama and her little sick Buck-A-Roo! What's your favorite drink?

Happy New Year! One thing I thought I would do is continue the journey that was meant to be for Starbucks Mom And Her Buck-A-Roos! Just to start off the year with more Starbucks greatness. Here's the latest Starbucks is doing to reaching the world for good:

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Police Reward Good Drivers With Coffee
1 day ago

RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. (AP) — Happy holidays. Now pull over to the side of the road.

Motorists may be in for a surprise if they spot flashing red lights in their rearview mirrors in this Sacramento suburb during the holiday season.

Police are stopping law-abiding motorists and rewarding their good driving with $5 Starbucks gift cards.

A traffic officer came up with the idea to “promote the holiday spirit and enhance goodwill between the traffic unit and the motoring public,” police Sgt. Tim Curran said.

Local businesses donated money to buy the gift cards.

“They raised a substantial amount of money,” Curran said. “They’ll be pulling over a lot of people.”
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Anyone else saying, "Road Trip?!" Are you with me!