Coffee Talk & Tea Time

I usually try to make my own coffee each morning and then use the office coffee pot for my refills. As much as I would like to visit a coffee shop each morning, I know that my budget and morning timeline could not handle it. With coffee shop java costing me an average of $3 per trip, plus standing in line behind the mix of high schoolers and corporate crowd, a daily trip just isn't in the cards for me. 

This week was a little different and I admit that I have visited a coffee shop almost everyday. With the weather constantly changing in Oklahoma, that means I have also had very different drinks this week. Depending on the weather I have two caffeine-boosting drinks that I can't get enough of. As of recently I have given up most dairy products (ice cream is my favorite exception) and have been staying away from milk as much as possible. I don't enjoy drinking my coffee or tea plain so I have been using milk alternatives and truly believe they make the drinks so much better.

While basking in the beautiful weather (78 degrees!) on Tuesday, I ordered an iced almond milk chai tea latte (from Whole Foods) to keep me cool and refreshed while running errands for work. There is nothing better than a chai tea latter when it is warm out and the almond milk only makes it more delicious.

On Wednesday morning the weather was cooler so I ordered my new, favorite cold-weather drink. A regular coffee with steamed soy milk (or more specifically at Starbucks, a "grande pike with steamed soy for Kathleen" in which they always spell 'Cathline').  I have been ordering this all winter and I think it is close to the perfect cup of coffee. I definitely like a little "cream" in my coffee with just a hint of sweet and that is exactly what the soy milk adds to the coffee. 

If you are looking for a new cold or warm-weather drink or need a great dairy-alternative cup of caffeine I would recommend both of these!

Keeping you caffeinated, no matter what the weather.

Coffee Talk

Being the avid Starbucks customer that I am, of course I receive notifications and emails and tweets when the coffee house releases a new drink. This week when I heard about the new Hazelnut Macchiato I immediately wanted to drive to the closest Starbucks to try it out. I attempted to get one on Wednesday morning but made the mature decision to skip Starbucks to avoid being late to work- how grown up of me. Thursday, I planned a little better and was able to purchase my tall non-fat hazelnut macchiato and still make it to work three minutes early. Not only was I feeling great because I made it to work on time, I also loved my outfit, and was drinking a great cup of coffee.

This macchiato doesn't need any cream or sugar since it is already pretty sweet, but perfectly sweet. I was disappointed to drink the last sip and seriously thought about getting another after work. Instead I will get one Friday morning, and probably Saturday, and Sunday before I insist on going back to regular coffee to save my wallet. 

Coffee is my addiction. 

Giving Back, Thanks, and Treats

I am typing from the comfort of my own bed, at my parents house, and I couldn't be happier. I am in full Thanksgiving mode and even though I am technically not on break yet, I had to come home to prepare myself for the food and family festivities this week. 

Being thankful is what this time is all about and even Birchbox got in the holiday mood with their November box. Along with giving me treats this month, Birchbox gave me the opportunity to give back to someone that I love.

The morning that I received my monthly Birchbox in the mail, there was another package in my little mailbox for me. You can imagine my excitement to have not one, but two surprises in the mail, especially when I realized that the second package was from my little sister. I opened her package first to discover that the sweetest gift that was inspired by her own Birchbox.

In this month's Birchbox came a small, purple box thats sole-purpose is to regift to someone else. It originally came filled with the monthly beauty samples, but can be filled with anything else to give to someone else. In the case of my sister, she stuffed it with the ultimate gift-- a Starbucks gift card. 

Thanks sis, you made my whole week!

Now I can't wait to give this polka-dot box away to "make that special someone smile". In fact this whole concept makes me wish that I had more purple boxes to give out!

Along with a wonderful reminder to give thanks and give treats was my monthly dose of beauty happiness.

{Masqueology Revitalizing Eye} 

An under-eye gel mask that can hide even the dark bags after an all-nighter. It brightens while giving the illusion that you slept a full 12-hours. Sounds like a miracle worker to me. Now if I could just find a product that actually let me sleep a full 12 hours each night. 

{MCMC Fragrances in Phoenix}

It is another miracle! A perfume sample that I love! I am so hard to please because I am picky when it comes to perfume, but this scent from the Brooklyn perfumer is warm and feminine and I am happy!

{One Love Organics Body Serum}

A skin serum that smells wonderful and keeps skin hydrated and feeling soft. I have put it on the last couple of days and the scent lasts hours and makes my hands feel wonderful.

{stila All Over Liquid Luminizer}

My favorite Birchbox product is stila, so I am always thrilled to receive another sample from the beauty brand. This month it is a liquid shimmer that you can add to any makeup to add a bit of shine and sparkle for every day or special occasions. 

Swoon.

{Masqueology Masque Cleanse and 7 Day Moisture Cream}

The moisture cream was the first thing that I opened this month. With the colder weather my skin has been crying out for something like this and I am a big fan. The tiny sample has already lasted me four days and there is more left. 

Better to give than receive. 

Coffee Talk

I definitely cannot complain about this beautiful weather we have been experiencing in Oklahoma. It doesn't quite feel like early November outside when it is in the high 70's but I am enjoying the warmer fall weather. Although I will expect much colder temperatures for Christmas (it's only right).

Usually in the fall I crave a warm drink in my hand each morning, and afternoon...

but these warmer temperatures are throwing off my afternoon coffee break. The thought of hot coffee just doesn't always sound too appealing, and therefore I have been ordering one of my favorite cold drinks instead. 

When it is warm outside but you want a fall drink, order a...

Venti black iced tea with 2 pumps vanilla and 1 pump classic syrup.

It tastes like Christmas ice tea and it has been one of my favorites since high school.

Tea time. 

Something to Talk About

Oh the joys of being at home and being able to watch the Today Show. It really is the little things in life. 

This morning on the Today Show, iVillage released the "Most Talked About" topics of the year. Most of the events and people on the list aren't things I would normally blog about but I promise there is a reason for exposing this list.

8. Kardashians...

7. High-profile infidelity 

6. The Royal Wedding

5. Amanda Knox verdict

4. Steve Jobs

3. Casey Anthony trial and verdict

2. Penn State scandal 

1. The economy 

After hearing this list I started thinking about the things I have talked about the most on this blog. I went back through the past year's posts and did some research on my most popular rants and raves. I wasn't too surprised by what I found, I know what I love and I love sharing those things with you.

10. Holidays

9. Cupcakes

8. Weddings

7. Shoes

6. Coffee/Starbucks

5. Kate Spade

4. J. Crew

3. Essie

2. Fall

1. Nail Polish

Surprising? Not one bit. I like my list much more than the one from iVillage; a little most positive. There is too much crummy stuff in the world to let it leak into my blog. I would much rather continue believing in true love and the goodness in people. 

Until next time.

Some things in life are too sweet not to be shared.  

Pumpkin Spice Latte in my Kitchen

Almost everything is better homemade. Nothing beats the taste of a chocolate chip cookie warm out of the oven that you spent precious minutes watching form in the oven. No restaurant can make eggs better than me and that is a fact (but maybe that is just because I am so picky and I don't like any eggs that I don't personally make.) I can now say that I might make better lattes than Starbucks as well, which will not stop me from happily handing over $3.65 to my barista five times a week for my grande extra-hot nonfat latte, because I am saving the homemade one for special occasions, and days that I am not in a rush...which would be never.

Tuesday morning I did find myself with extra time to sit down and catch up on blogs and Pinterest when I remembered that I had pinned the recipe for these lattes awhile back but had been waiting for the perfect day. Well a perfect day to me sounds like having class at the art museum and getting home with enough time to sit and look at blogs on my computer screen rather than on my phone screen while speed walking to class. Homemade pumpkin spice lattes it is!

Ingredients

1/8 cup pumpkin puree

3/4 cup milk

1/2 tbsp sugar

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

1 cup STRONG coffee (see how I capitalized strong, that means it's important!)

Over medium heat, warm the pumpkin and spices for a few minutes.

Add the milk and whisk until smooth. Be careful to continue whisking so that the milk doesn't burn on the bottom.

Fill a mug almost half way and top off with your STRONG coffee. Stir together and enjoy!

Until next time.

Perfectly pumpkin.

Fall DIY

After one of the greatest weekends that fall provides me, I was happy to be home where I could curl up on the couch with Starbucks, rain on the window, and the most recent episode of Gossip Girl (guilty, you know you love me). How is it that rain has this effect on people that makes them want to do absolutely nothing productive? Rather than homework and cleaning my room, I will browse Pinterest searching for fall outfits, like this, this, and this.

Other than hours of Pinterest, rainy days, overflowing mugs of hot coffee and football games, my favorite thing about fall is finding that perfect sweater that you know you are going to live in all season. 

This fall, my favorite sweater happens to be in my favorite fall colors as well, crimson and cream. There is just something missing from this perfect sweater that I found out I can add myself.

via. Elsea Chelsea

How easy could this be? Just a pair of brown, leather patches, a perfectly warm striped sweater, a needle and thread and I am trending for fall in no time. 

Until next time.

Caramel Apple Spice warms my soul.

Things I Love

I feel like Things I Love Thursday's have just become Tumblr Thrusdays because it always ends up being a mass amount of pictures that I have collected on my desktop that I have been obsessing over for the past week, or five weeks.

No explanation necessary. 

This outfit. 

This girl. Anh.

Her blog. 9 to 5 Chic.

That cape. 

I love this hair. And if you run into me today there is a good chance that I have attempted it. 

Found here:The Empty Apartment

How-to here: Refinery 29

Nude and Navy.

Loving this collage of wonderful chicness by Could I Have That

It's just that time of the year when this is necessary every day of the week.

I am loving the salted caramel americano.

It's under $3 and americano's only have 15 calories regularly so I feel like adding the salted caramel can't make it too bad.

This room.

Swoon.

I love Dilly Dallas.

Until next time.

I love fall. And bouquets of freshly sharpened pencils.

Things I Love

For some reason I have been looking forward to this post all week long (well more than usual). Could it be that there are so many things to love this week or just because one of my summer school classes ends today and I am on cloud nine?

I love new Essie nail polish colors

Nice is Nice and Jamaica Me Crazy

I knew it would be a problem when Target started carrying Essie in their beauty department because now I can't even go in to buy a bag of coffee without picking up a new shade of polish as well. Speaking of coffee, I just remembered that I am completely out... I guess that means breakfast at Starbucks.
Add a grande extra hot triple non-fat latte and a perfect oatmeal to the things I love today.

I love the new July Matchbook Magazine Edition! It's not quite July yet but who likes waiting anyway?

This months edition is so patriotic which only makes me that much more excited for the Fourth of July weekend. Still debating between making the traditional family Flag Cake or branching out and trying a new version.

Other things in the mag that I love!

bikini- page 23

color chip mug- page 49

peach and blueberry shortbread bars- page 110

and Rebecca Minkoff on the front cover!

(remember this post?)

A Rebecca Minkoff girl "is a downtown romantic. She's not into logos and labels... She's confident and sexy. She likes to be classic with a twist."

Until next time. 

A matchbook girl always remembers sunscreen. 45 SPF!

Quote of the Day

More like "Quote of my Life"

“The whole purpose of places like Starbucks is for people with no decision-making ability whatsoever to make six decisions just to buy one cup of coffee. Short, tall, light, dark, caf, decaf, low-fat, non-fat, etc. So people who don’t know what the heck they’re doing or who on earth they are can, for only $2.95, get not just a cup of coffee but an absolutely defining sense of self: Tall. Decaf. Cappuccino.”

Tom Hanks- You’ve Got Mail

Until next time.

Grande Cinnamon Dolce Soy Upside Down Latte