I’m a sucker for flavored varieties, and it’s rare that I find a cup of plain coffee that doesn’t require my “doctoring” process. Some of my faves include Donut House, Panera and Dunkin Donuts. While I love my fancy Starbucks drinks, their regular coffee tastes like battery acid.

So when I saw the big announcement, I was intrigued. The Blonde Roast promised a “lighter-bodied” alternative to Starbucks’ other blends.

This past weekend, on one of our many drives-without-a-destination — i.e. Bean’s nap — I had the Mister stop so I could give it a try.

Verdict? Drinkable!

That may not sound like a glowing review, but for me, that’s all I look for in a coffee. Coffee that tastes like…coffee! And doesn’t put hair on my chest. Smooth, mellow and light, this blend is one of my new favorites.

Is it better than Dunkin? Definitely not for the price — but there are also less Dunkins than Starbucks and it’s comforting to know that I can find a good cup of coffee within any 5 mile radius

Have you tried the Blonde roast? What did you think?

So I know that I was rambling on about enjoying one holiday at a time last week, but something happened.

Maybe it was the Christmas Carols, the decorations on my street and cooler weather, but something tells me this guy had something to do with it…

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Skinny Peppermint Mocha

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice.

Move over pumpkin, there’s a new gal in town.

You should know that I’m not the biggest mint fan. But this latte? It’s Christmas in a cup, I tell you, Christmas in a cup. A chocolatey, creamy cup sent straight from the Christmas Angels.

Did I mention that a tall is only 100 calories?

Amen.

To my new co-workers, I apologize in advance for all the Christmas carols I’ll be humming today. Because it certainly is the most wonderful time of the year.

Don’t forget to enter in the Shabby Apple Jewelry Giveaway !

So when I saw this segment on the news this morning, my ears perked up.

Always looking to share the wealth, I’ve highlighted my favorite tips below…

(The Golden Rule). Never ever pay with cash or a credit card. Use a REGISTERED Starbucks Card! Starbucks Cards are free. It takes 10 seconds to register one online. A registered Starbucks card can save you up to $1.20 on a drink by giving you free flavor shots, like vanilla or hazelnut, and also giving you free modifiers, like milk, which would otherwise cost you 60 cents. The Starbucks Card, which works the same as cash, also gets you every 15th drink free.

Easy on the ice, please. Starbucks will overload every drink you order with Ice. In fact, a “light ice” medium size beverage is almost equal to a large iced drink. Order the smaller drink, but ask your barista for light ice. It’s just as cold, but you’re not wasting your cash on cube filler.

“Make friends with the free condiments!” You can easily save yourself a dollar almost every time by doing a few seconds of dirty work yourself. Instead of getting a latté, order two shots of espresso and then pour in your own milk. It’s waiting for you right there on the condiment stand and cheaper if you do it yourself. Also, the Starbucks condiment bar has free cinnamon, vanilla and mocha powder. Save yourself the cash — and calories — and flavor the drink yourself rather than paying for a Starbucks flavor shot.

Get short. It’s not listed on the menu, but you can order a short-sized beverage instead of the tall. Yes, it’s a little smaller, but chances are, it will satisfy you and for the folks going to Starbucks twice a day, this is a way to save on at least one of your visits.

Bring your own cup! It will save you 10 cents, which may seem like nothing, but in addition to benefitting the environment, there are savings over time. (My favorite travel mug)

Split a Venti. Starbucks does not charge for cups. If you go with a friend and you both want banana-chocolate smoothies, order a Venti and split it into two tall cups or two cups of your own. You’ll be saving $2.50 a visit, which adds up quickly if you car pool with someone or have a regular Starbucks partner that appreciates the same drink you do.

Stay in the store! A customer comes into the store, buys a cup of coffee with cash and then leaves, comes back an hour later and buys another cup. Considering you can enjoy free net access at Starbucks, just sit there for the hour and work on your laptop or smartphone. Register your Starbucks Card, stay in-store and the refills are free.

Consider a Misto. For many of the regular latté drinkers that can’t live without a latté, expand your horizons. Although a Café Misto has a little more milk than a latté, it is $2.85 for a Venti, while a latte is $3.90. Considering the drink might taste almost the same to you, or you might like it better, the $1.05 savings per beverage is significant, especially every day.

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What are your coffee money saving tips?

I also may or may not have a countdown started on when Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Lattes are available. But despite my daily wishes for a money tree, I’m still not made of gold and daily lattes might prove to be a bit… excessive.

I’ve mentioned my love for the Keurig, as well, no? Ah yes, of course I have.

I’m sure you can imagine my delight when I spotted this at Giant Eagle this past weekend…

Green Mountain Coffee – Pumpkin Spice K-cups

Let the heavens rejoice.

If 3rd degree burns weren’t a threat. I’d take a bath in this coffee every day. In fact, the burns might just be worth it. With a splash of milk and a bit of sweetener, this coffee rivals Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Lattes. And did I mention that my k-cup concoction is practically calorie-free?

If you need me, I’ll be researching treatment of 3rd degree burns because that bath is so happening.

What are your favorite coffee flavors for fall?

Consider this my proclamation to you all that it is one of my favorite restaurants ever. Home of many birthday dinners and celebratory occasions, the Blue Canyon has a cozy and inviting atmosphere, much like an upscale, rustic retreat – and its food is even better. I’ve never met a dish I didn’t love.

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The Mister and I have shared so many incredible dinners, laughs and conversations at Blue Canyon - in fact, we first talked about getting married “one day” over lunch on the restaurant’s beautiful patio!

So you can imagine my excitement when I learned the owner and chef, Brandt Evans was opening a new restaurant in downtown Cleveland.

From the website:

“Pure Life.” Not just words, but a philosophy. Chef Brandt Evans is proud to offer his latest vision – Pura Vida Restaurant, located in downtown Cleveland, on Public Square. Pura Vida offers a unique and inspired atmosphere serving dishes that Chef Evans says “live for today.” Chef Evans uses the finest and freshest local ingredients from a myriad of trusted sources – many of which are exclusive to Pura Vida.

The Mister and I met my dad, my brother and his girlfriend for dinner before an Indians game earlier this summer.

I could immediately tell that Pura Vida was going to be a bit different from Blue Canyon.

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So modern and sleek! The lighting changed colors with the music, creating new ambiances with each fade in/out.

After enjoying a delicious summer salad featuring fresh berries, goat cheese and sunflower seed brittle, I realized I forgot to snap a photo.

Luckily, I still had my main course to capture.

One of the most innovative dishes I’ve had to date, what you see here is a “jar.”

Duh.

Let me elaborate. Pura Vida offers several jar selections, which are served with grilled bread. Each jar is layered with different ingredients, creating the perfect combination of flavors and forming a unique “spread” to enjoy with the grilled bread. I chose the bbq tofu & vegan chorizo jar, which was also layered with grilled scallion pesto and roasted tomatoes.

It is a new goal of mine to sample every single jar that pura vida has to offer. This was so fun to eat and incredibly delicious.

So while pura vida looked sleeker and more trendy than Blue Canyon, they certainly have one major thing in common — mind-blowing food.

Now if only I could make up my mind on where to celebrate my next big occasion…

Take a look at Pura Vida’s extensive menu, what would you have ordered? What jar should I try next? IAnd how can I con the Mister to take me there for breakfast one morning this week?

The concept is simple — you fill your cup, you select your toppings and then you pay. With 20 different flavors making their rotations and more than 40 topping selections, the combinations are truly endless.

Can you spot the Mister?

One of the things I really appreciated about Yogurt Vi was the opportunity to sample – this ensured that you wouldn’t end up with a flavor you didn’t like. I ended up going with Cake Batter — good choice, no?

My toppings included fresh strawberries, vanilla wafers and vanilla chips.

I returned for the same exact thing the following day. And something tells me that tomorrow won’t come and go without another trip to Yogurt Vi

Have you been to Yogurt Vi — or a similar yogurt joint? What was your flavor combination like?

I scuffled behind him, trying to hold my snowman mug steady so that my coffee wouldn’t spill all over my awesome outfit. It always would. Always. 9 times out of 10 it would also end up in my hair. Colleagues would always comment on smelling freshly brewed coffee and I never had the heart to tell them, no, not the case, that “hair gel” you think I’m sporting is actually dried, crusty coffee. Attractive.

But when I’m used to camflouging spit up, what’s a little bit of ‘jo? No, I wasn’t getting mad that it was getting on my outfits — I was just sick of seeing my precious K-cups go to waste.

Something had to be done.

Meet Sippy

Formerly known as Thermos Sipp, “the Sipp Thermos line of products combines sleek style with unique functional features. The TherMax double wall vacuum stainless steel tumbler will keep hot for 5 hours and cold for 9 hours. The Eastman Tritan lids are BPA free and have a built- in tea hook for tea bags or most loose leaf infusers. Leak-proof lid with one hand push button operation; dishwasher safe; 16 ounce capacity. Stainless Steel tumbler with black lid.”

Bingo.

I SCOURED the web and I assure you this is the very best you can buy for the money. Sure, it was a little more than $20, but if it’s gonna keep coffee outta my hair and protect my pricey k-cups, it’s worth every penny.

Now if you’ll excuse me, Sippy and I are off to a meeting. Clean hair, and all.

I’m the person who waits until the last minute to start a paper, pack for a trip or clean the house for a big event. What can I say, I thrive under pressure — or am just really lazy

Unfortunately, my procrastination got the best of me this past weekend in regards to grocery shopping. I knew I should have gone Saturday morning, but I had a big day planned! (and I knew I’d be eating carrot cake). So of course Sunday morning rolls around and we have nothing and I mean NOTHING to assemble a breakfast. Sure, I had some cereal, but no milk. I had bread, but no eggs. I had frozen strawberries, but nothing to pair them with. At one point, I heavily considered making chicken noodle soup with bread and cheese.

After scrounging the kitchen, I found what I thought would make my morning bearable.

And the instructions didn’t even require milk – score! I added the recommended 1 cup of water, as well as a few strawberries — just to liven things up a bit

The result? A smooth, thick and creamy chocolatey delight.

Unless, of course, you have taste buds.

This was by far the WORST shake/smoothie I’ve ever encountered. Come on, Tony Horton, I mean I love ya for P90x, but this beachbody creation is unacceptable.

It tasted like rancid chocolate pudding.

Naturally I thought that the pregnancy might be turning on me, so I asked the Mister to try it and he did indeed confirm: it was horrid.

Lesson learned. Let’s just say that this past shopping trip I stocked up on extra bananas and peanut butter - and milk, of course! ;)

What was your last kitchen/foodie failure?!

See, most can’t help but smile because children are the masters of play. They play with their food, in the bath, and even while doing chores. They are constantly and continually creating, pretending, moving, and manipulating objects in accepted and unconventional ways. But what about us adults? Do we grow up because we stop playing, or do we stop playing because we grow up?

Well, as it turns out, neglecting play has repercussions for our health and well-being. As responsibilities mount with age, playing often gets put on the back burner, or completely forgotten. And, because we live in a society that values progress, purposefulness and achievement, adult play is frequently looked upon as frivolous at best, self-indulgent at worst. Which to me, a true child at heart, is not only ridiculous, but also sad.

Recent (and older!) clinical studies of humans and decades of animal research find that play is quantitatively good for you. According to the National Institute for Play, playing builds creativity, boosts immunity, unearths hidden talents, increases joy, fosters community, combats stress and keeps the mind sharp and nimble.

In addition, a life void of play can have dramatic consequences. Dr. Stuart Brown, clinical psychologist, founder of the National Institute for Play, became interested in the significance of play after researching the play histories of similar men, some of whom became violent criminals. Lack of play, it turns out, proved to be a “stark and dramatic correlation” among those who became violent criminals. Other researchers have been quoted saying that the opposite of play isn’t work–it’s depression.

Are you convinced yet? Good, now lets talk about HOW we get back to playing. Turn to the experts – the children or animals in your life. Watch them, interact with them, be inspired by their commitment to playing.

Adults turn everything into work, kids turn everything into play. Let’s learn something from these, kiddos! Reconnect with your inner kid and strive to bring play into every task, every conversation, every thought. It may seem silly, but I promise you have nothing to lose, just so much to gain.

Another tip: take a walk down memory lane! Review some cherished memories of your childhood. Ask yourself, “what did I enjoy most?” Well, what were some of you favorite PLAYING memories?

I loved playing hopscotch, “witches,” spy, making up dances and playing in the woods.

Kumquats. Kumqwhat?!

No, not a little critter from Star Wars

but almost as cute!

Seriously, how cute are they? They are a little larger than BIG grapes.

For those of you who are fond of sour patch kids, kumquats would make the perfect treat!

These bite-sized fruits pack a juicy, sour punch with a hint of sweetness. Great for a refreshing snack or salad mix-in. Naturally, kumquats contain vitamin C (related to the orange), but because the peel is supposed to be eaten, kumquats provide a great source of fiber, as well.

TIP: Before you pop your quat,  you should roll it around in your hand gently. This will release essential oils from the skin of the fruit into the pulp, adding to its taste.

Have you tried kumquats? How do you enjoy them? What is your favorite exotic fruit?