My "Big Girl" Coffee Adventure

(Part 2 of "College Girl Meets Southern Boy" will resume shortly.)

Before
 Big Girl Coffee Adventure

I consider myself a bit of a boring coffee drinker. I like my 2 cups in the morning and maybe a decaf in the evening. However, I do not like sweet coffee. My preferred cup is a robust or extra bold coffee with a splash of real cream.

Take me to a coffee house and I get anxious. It seems everyone around me knows how to order a frappe, latte, mocha, ccino-thingy and I stare blankly at the menu board and ask about the "house coffee."

At the Tampa airport a few weeks ago, I asked for my usual "robust" and ended up walking out with a Tall Italian. (I still laugh to myself about that one. I just think that's funny.)

On facebook I kept seeing references to Starbuck's Pumpkin Spice Latte. Apparently Sbux fans wait all year for this seasonal offering of pumpkin pie with whipped cream in a cup!

Never do I, rarely have Isometimes I don't back down from a challenge and for someone like me who is menu-challenged, ordering a mixed coffee would be quite the personal accomplishment!

I know some of you really don't get it. But you would have to be in my head (a scary place at times) to understand how BIG is this idea of marching up to the barista and casually rattling off my coffee order that included more than ONE ingredient.

Last night I decided that this morning would be THE MORNING.
There is a Starbucks 7 minutes from my house and after studying the online menu many times, I was ready. By the way, do you know that a blueberry scone from Sbux has 460 calories?!

I was amazed at the calorie counts of the blended coffees and realized that my simple cup o' joe has saved me millions of calories over my coffee drinking years. Sure, I enjoy a delicious coconut cream pie and I know a lady who makes the best up in Baltimore. But I guess I enjoy chewing my calories!

That being said, a new friend of mine who knows all about barista-ing at Sbux suggested I actually converse with the expert at mixing coffee flavors behind the counter. Hey...there's a concept worth pursuing. And that's exactly what I did.

But first, to arm myself with caffeinated courage this morning, I fixed myself a cup of coffee. Robust with a splash of cream (20 calories). Yes, I had a cup of coffee BEFORE going to Starbucks for coffee. That just sounds so wrong. But I enjoyed it so much.

And then I gathered up various and sundry items for my errands that I would run with my PSL (that's how we coffee connoisseurs refer to Pumpkin Spice Latte) in the cupholder of my Terraza. (That's my Mom van.) Latte. Terraza. I'm suddenly feeling very Italian. Prego. (Not the spaghetti sauce; they say that a lot in Italy and it means lots of things.)

When I arrived at Sbux and parked the Terraza, I took a deep breath and I think I actually said to myself, "You're a big girl now. You can do this. Go get your latte! And don't forget your purse. And double check that you lock your door."

I marched right in and hovered between disappointment and relief that no one was in line. I told Mr. Barista Man that I had heard tell of these pumpkin drinks and I wanted one. But not too sweet.

And he said, "Ok. Then I'll put fewer pumps in it."
Yeah...that's what I'm talkin' 'bout. Fewer pumps. Which is exactly what my Baltimore Barista FB Friend told me I should request.

Wow. That was easy.
And then he asked what size. I could have gotten nervous here.
But I was cool. I had studied the menu, remember.
Cool as a cucumber or an Iced Caramel Macchiato, I remember my Tall Italian in the airport ~ Ciao, Baby ~ and I reply, "Tall."

And then he hit me below the belt. He offered to give me my drink for free if I purchased the new Via. Did he know who he was talking to? I am the queen of the Publix BOGO. Of course, I'll buy the Via if he is going to buy my Big Girl Coffee! Hook me up, baby. And then he admitted to me that he, too, prefers the flavor I picked ~ cinnamon spice! And I think he meant it.

It was a good deal.

And that was it. Well, almost. I hovered at the ordering place instead of the pick it up place and another barista had to wave me toward the tall round counter. Hey, I was wearing running shoes...and at 5'2 1/2"...all the counters are tall.

I got my PSL and headed toward the Terraza. I sipped and drove and sipped and drove and felt very much like a Big Girl. And for the record, I enjoyed every calorie of my Pumpkin Spice Latte from the Starbucks! I may have even tried to chew a little. Ciao for now!

After
I'm a Big Girl now!

Come On In...Coffee?

I have a very sweet story to tell but it is not for today. Something happened Sunday afternoon and I want to share that very soon.

Today I am just going to open my home to you and invite you in for a cup of my new favorite coffee: Tully's Extra Bold French Roast.

(There is a story behind that coffee cup, too.)

Audra is swimming, biking and running...registering for lots of spring 5k's.

She is my favorite song writer!

(HS graduation party '08 ~ Andrew in the background)

Avery is leaving for a school mission trip to Montana this Saturday. They will be serving at a reservation under the leadership of missionaries.

(photo ~ 2010)

They will have a day planned for skiing, too. I'm sure my boy will enjoy showing off his snowboarding skills and I will be praying, praying, praying...
(photo ~ 12/08)

Andrew is enjoying Eternal Life in Heaven...I saw his face so clearly in my dreams last night. I love his face. I love him. I miss him so much. Next month we will celebrate his birthday (13). I am planning to make his favorite dessert.

(photo ~ '07)

My husband is THE BEST. I have a story in my head about him that I have never written. I'm looking forward to getting it on paper.

(photo ~ 12/08)

Ted is a spoiled little dog. Andrew used to ask me if I had kissed Ted on the head for the day. I only did it when Andrew insisted on it. But now I do it everyday. I kiss Ted on the top of his warm little head and I say, "This is for Andrew, Ted."

(video of Ted below)

We have friends coming in a couple of weeks. I am looking forward to it. They are "family kind of friends."

Every Wednesday I walk with one of the most Jenuine of women I have ever had the privilege of knowing. We walk at a local park or trail. Avery says that he is part of her family. Isn't that great? I love that!

She makes delicious banana pudding for us.

Yesterday while walking, my friend and I saw an alligator at the water's edge. We decided to pet the gator.

photo ~ http://www.mthurricane.com/alligator.htm




(Just kidding!) She doesn't make banana pudding for us.











(Just kidding!!!)We didn't get that close to the alligator. And she DOES make banana pudding for us.

I videotaped Ted today. That always makes Andrew happy...videos and pictures of Ted.
Be forewarned: I am guilty of "baby talk" to Ted. He is a widdle baby.

Thumbs Up 2 - Get-a-ways, Coffee & Conversation with a Pal!

(House Blend and Mocha Frappy)

In the spring of this year, I met my long-time pal from college days in Charleston, SC, for a weekend get-a-way. What fun we had eating, talking, drinking coffee, and eating and talking and drinking more coffee.
Oh yeah...there was a plantation and a walking tour in there, too!

We have a lot in common - our faith, same number of kids, both PK's, singers, and stories from our younger years that only the two of us know about (I hope!). Both of us have degrees in Communications and were in many of the same classes together at Lee University. Once we even traded pants with one another! Now, that's a friend. I liked her black pants better than mine and she preferred my pair! So we switched then and there! She was also an enabler to my addiction to TWIX. (I'm over that now-really I am.)

Though we have much in common, we also have pursued different interests. She is an actor and is in Real Estate. She and her husband visit NY where they enjoy jazz, and comedy & East Coast beach trips w/the kids.

I am a teacher and a speaker. My husband and I (our kids, too) enjoy winter ski trips in Colorado and white water rafting in the summer.

But on our get-a-way our most obvious difference was our choice of coffee.
She is a Starbucks afficionado who orders those frappy, carmy, mochy things while I always order a house blend 2 creams on the side, please!

Hey Mocha~Frappy Friend, if you are reading this, I'm up for another spring weekend, how 'bout you?

Love & Coffee,

From your House Blend Friend.

What about you? Do you and your friends ever take get-a-way weekends, or a girls' night out? Do Tell, preferably over coffee!