Recommended read: How Starbucks Saved My Life

I can't go into Barnes and Noble without buying a book. I walk in to waste a little time and leave with at least one new book that I don't have time to read. It's beginning to be a little bit of a problem, but oh well.

I went in the other day, and saw this book - How Starbucks Saved My Life - and it got my attention. I love Starbucks, I [now] love coffee (my ability to grow an addiction in such a short period of time is actually kind of impressive), but to claim it saved my life? I clearly had to investigate further.

The tagline is A son of privilege learns to live like everyone else, so I'm giving it a try (reading it, that is)... and it's actually pretty good. Michael Gates Gill basically tumbles from his spot on top of the world, loses it all, and then grows by becoming a barista at Starbucks. Interesting, definitely. His writing is conversational and it gives you just a little more insight into the people behind the bar serving you your morning latte. Check it out!

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Recipe feature: Starbucks' mocha raspberry brownies

These. Are. Delicious. Food Makes Fun Fuel is a new partner at springpad (the company I intern for), and I get to spend all day looking at Evan's recipes - and they're great! I tried this one and it was, well... wonderful. I'd definitely suggest it.

Starbucks' Mocha Raspberry Brownies by Food Makes Fun Fuel

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Ingredients:

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 applesauce

1/4 cup coffee yogurt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 eggs

2/3 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 cup cocoa powder

2 teaspoon instant coffee granules

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup raspberry preserves

 

Get the full recipe and directions here!

What's your favorite coffee-inspired dessert?

Can you imagine?

Things I learned today on Twitter: there are 24 hour Starbucks. Seriously, what a great idea. I mean, I wish they had one (or more!) in Boston, but still... can you imagine? Tall skinny vanilla latte whenever I wanted. I would spend hours there, especially come finals period.

There are at least 4 Starbucks on BU campus... if one of those were open all night (maybe the one in SMG?), they'd get whole lot more business. What do you think?


Is there a 24 hour Starbucks near you? Check it out!

The most wonderful time of the year

I know this blog has been a little bit of a Starbucks lovefest (really just because it's the closest coffee place), but  I was so excited to see their holiday cups out when I went for my coffee today. The holiday drinks (peppermint mocha, eggnog latte, caramel apple cider... yummm) are being made, the gift sets are out, and the stores are playing Christmas songs... and I love it!

Experimenting with the color highlight on my camera.

Even though I don't celebrate Christmas (and it is pretty early to kick off), I love the holiday season. The holiday parties, the annual tree lighting in the Commons, and the cheer - it really is one of my favorite times of the year. Sigh. And the holiday cups at Starbucks are the first sign. Here we go...

My coffee date

I'm a creature of habit. I spend my time between classes on the same couch at Hillel every Tuesday and Thursday with whoever's around the building at the time. But since I've started on this coffee bit, my friend Stephanie and I have made Tuesdays and Thursdays our coffee date days - we head to the Starbucks under Warren Towers and we drink lattes (or Americanos, in her case), catch up on life, and do a little gossiping.

It's the perfect break from class and a good way to keep up during an otherwise crazy busy day... plus, I reward myself for making it through my first class of the day with a Skinny Vanilla Latte - my favorite. Plus, it gets me one step closer to my secret dream of becoming a regular at a coffee shop. My goal by the end of the semester: for the barista (it's always the same one) to know my drink. We'll see how it goes!

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Movin' on up

Today I made the leap to lattes. And it was a success! I finally decided it was time to move up from mochas, and I'm glad I did. The skinny vanilla latte from Starbucks is my new favorite... and it's a great way to get my calcium in (helpful, because I've never really liked milk).

Anyway, I'd call that an accomplishment. Moving onwards and upwards.