May 21 2013

La Boulange is HERE!

Last week I was gratiously invited to attend a private La Boulange tasting at Starbucks corporate offices. I literally almost jumped right out of my seat in pure excitement!

Not only have I been enjoying the new Starbucks food releases this month… Chicken & Greens Caesar Salad Bowl, Zesty Chicken & Black Bean Salad Bowl, etc. but I’ve been enjoying new creations all month during this Make It Yours May, now an entire new line of food too? And by Pascal?? Be still my beating HEART!! (no seriously)

I immediately started to plan my daily work-out routine (so I could try everything without calorie-guilt afterwards!) and to contact some of the partners that I’ve been communicating with online so I could have the pleasure of actually meeting them face to face!

I did a bit of research and found out a lot about my host, Pascal Rigo, about his inspiration in baking all the lovely pastries that his infamous brand La Boulange is known for, but even with all this I still knew that I needed to keep my senses open to the experience to understand the passion behind these two world-renown brands merging into a great heavenly bliss of deliciousness at a Starbucks near you soon!

So with little pause… I give you the experience I’ve had today at this exclusive tasting bite by lovely bite!

I first went through a wonderful tour of Starbucks HQ and met a wonderful table full of tasting partners.

Then between bites of pastry after pastry of buttery, savory or sweet loveliness… I was engaged in Pascal’s amazing passion about a life full of delicious experiences that is coming into Starbucks world!

So many wonderful things to focus on the La Boulange roll-out for the next 16 months… More quality options for drive-through, children’s focus with grilled cheese. I’m loving these new options AND the focus for a busy mom that wants quality for my family!

What an absolutely lovely afternoon it was with Pascal, my tasting companions (like Starbucks Melody) and of course the corporate partners who we so gracious to invite me to the wonderful event!

May 20 2013

Weekend Wrap Up May 20

I’ve been all sorts of busy creating Make It Yours ideas this weekend!

This Tazo Calm Tea (iced) mixed with the Evolution Fresh Pineapple Coconut Water was refreshing…

But I think the Passion mix I did on Friday was my favorite.

But this new Make It Yours salad creation was a hit! I took the almonds, apples and lemon from these packages and pureed them together for the dressing…

And VOILA! This apple salad was a great with hints of nuts & fruit, what a treat!

On Sunday we had a birthday party to attend s0 I started the morning with my Starbucks mug-o’ coffee and made a Birthday card.

And of course another round of Starbucks Birthday Cake Pops were in order and I also tried a recipe that was Tweeted by @MichelleXXII that sounded too good not to #SipForMyself…

What a great little recipe she shared and one I’m sure I’ll be enjoying again, THANKS @MichelleXXII for sharing your Make It Yours creation!

Then on Sunday I thought I’d try out a Make It Yours Starbucks Evening dish…. so I took a couple of orders Starbucks Parmeasan-Crusted Chicken Skewers and filleted them onto a couple of toasted Starbucks Asiago & Cheddar, Bavarian-Style Pretzels, added some brie from a Starbucks Cheese & Fruit bistro box and topped with the Honey Dijon Sauce from the chicken skewers, OMG… Starbucks you might want to consider making this one!

Well, I’m looking forward to some new amazing creations going into the Memorial Day weekend.

Tazo Shaken Passion Iced Tea… your always my #StarbucksSummerLove, and I’m thinking there might be lots of PINK this week!

May 18 2013

In the Drink

In the “drink” of creativity around Starbucks on the Internet, there are endless options to be able to Make It Yours that I have found.

Here are a couple Make It Yours drinks that I’ve been creating this week and others I have found all over the Internet…

Tazo Shaken Iced Passion Tea- unsweetened mixed with Evolution Fresh Pineapple Coconut Water = A light and refreshing version of Tropical Punch!

I’ve really been into Tazo Tea lately (I really need another store visit SOON!) and have been enjoying fusing their offerings into other Starbucks products like this Tazo Tea decaf chai latte that I mixed into my Green Tea Frappuccino yesterday = #MyTEAFine #sipface!

After adding more “invites” to my Starbucks Pinterest page I came across this lovely looking drink made from Starbucks VIA Cool Lime Refresher…

Over on Instagram I’m trying to keep up with all the Frappuccino creations spilling over (pun intended) from the huge #sipface campaign…

And for still more inspiration… check out the official Starbucks Flickr group! There are so many Starbucks images there that my Pinterest account is about to explode!

Have a GREAT WEEKEND everybody!

I hope you get to Make It Yours this weekend, you can find inspiration all over the Internet!

May 15 2013

Mid Week MUNCH May 15

For this weeks’ Mid Week MUNCH I’m going to go over the current Evolution Fresh juice cleanse that I’m in my third day of…

Evolution Fresh has a very extensive list of juices that you can purchase in the bottled form in a Starbucks near you or now, in a good amount of grocery stores like Whole Foods, QFC and others. While the grocery chains might carry the core juices… OJ, Super Green, Apple Berry Fiber it is the Evolution Fresh stores in Seattle, Bellevue, University Village and San Francisco that have the juices on tap to mix, can make you a smoothie on the spot and where you can really Make It Yours with your creativity!

For those that have the Evolution Fresh juices at their local Starbucks or grocery store only, there are a number of variations you can mix n’ match to help give you some variety for a 2 or 3 days juice cleanse such as…

Mix OJ with the Apple Berry Fiber juice, this combo I would call the #TartyTangy

Or you can get a banana from your local Starbucks and add it to an Evolution Fresh Pineapple Coconut water and a Mango Fiber to blend a really great smoothie!

Of course, with the Evolution Fresh juice cleanse you will want to make sure that a green drink (Super Green, Essential Greens) is the core of your cleanse and adding these smoothies is an extra “treat” during your regimen.

There have been a couple of great blog posts out there about the Evolution Fresh juice cleanses that go into the breakdown of how (and why) to do one, the first is from Simply Real Health or the post by Jamie of all Trades. Both are great ways to learn HOW to do a cleanse, Jamie has great visuals Simply Real Health is a post FULL of information!

But here is where the Make It Yours comes in different… 3 days of only juice is a LONG TIME for most people who are not accustomed to doing a juicing cleanse, and I might even suggest making it a 2 day for super-new beginners. Just know that whatever length of commitment you make to juicing and cleansing your body (believe me you will have LOTS of energy afterwards!) you can always try to Make It Yours by custom-designing your juices and/or even making them a smoothie so that the time just flies by and the next thing you know your signing up for the next marathon in town! (or not, walks along Alki or Greenlake with the pooch are good too!)

Next up this week… the end of my Make It Yours juice cleanse and onto my personal-bowl-designs from Evolution Fresh #YumInABottle “evolves” to #TheBeautifulBowl :-)

May 13 2013

Weekend Wrap Up May 13

This weekend we enjoyed a nice leisurely Mothers Day weekend down at the farm…

First on Friday we decided to visit the Seattle waterfront before taking a train ride south.

Then we brought our Starbucks dinner onboard the train… what a beautiful ride it was along the Puget Sound!

Then on Saturday with the nice weather staying for awhile we pulled out the 68′ convertible bug and enjoyed the sunshine! We all enjoyed another Frappuccino Happy Hour at the newly remodeled Chehalis, WA store…

Sunday was a traditional pancake breakfast at the Grange Hall, and yes I brought my own Starbucks Spinach and Feta breakfast wrap but boy did those swedish pancakes look good!

We also exchanged Mother’s Day presents…

Later on Sunday we hung out at the farm’s creek and started a nice bonfire, and while the boys roasted hotdogs… mommy enjoyed her Starbucks Zesty Chicken & Black Bean salad bowl.

We hope that everybody enjoyed Mother’s Day weekend and remember… Frappuccino Happy Hour might be over but we have a whole month to Make It Yours so keep those creations coming in!

May 10 2013

Mix n Match

I started reaching out to partners and Starbucks customers last week when I started my Make It Yours May focus and I’ve been getting GREAT response so far! It seems when it comes to making new creations with food, everybody’s game for some mix n match!

This week I started off the conversations with an online friend via Instagram, TheDoctor31 (aka Sergio) because well, he LOVES Starbucks too…

and he had a beautiful photo of a favorite store of ours… Starbucks Store that I just have to share I love it so much!

I might make a whole month on just Starbucks Art! I’m really getting into the creativity that’s captured through the Mermaid’s eye(s) in the world!

Art isn’t the only thing going on in the Starbucks Tweet-iverse, I also commented on a Twitter feed from @LaxFittie13 this week…

because she posted this mouth-watering Tweet about her Tazo Passion Tea over homemade lemonade ice cubes… a brilliant Make It Yours creation!

I had been viewing the Tazo Tea feeds a lot more this week because of The Washington Apple Frappuccino I made earlier with Tazo Tea’s Baked Cinnamon Apple tea, which got me thinking… what kind of blends can I do with an Evolution Fresh smoothie and a Starbucks Frappuccino to enhance my #sipface even more????

So I went through the menus’… and put together what I think might be another true first in the world of Make It Yours Starbucks Frappuccinos…

First I went to the Bellevue Square Evolution Fresh and picked up my Smooth Carrot, then walked next door to the Bellevue Starbucks…

Then I asked the partners for a big favor to blend 1/4 of my Smooth Carrot into a Vanilla Bean Frappuccino (add two pumps of Cinnamon Dolce syrup)… the result?

The Carrot Cake Frappuccino!

I’m telling you this sucker is GOOD! I really wanted to put Oatmeal cookies crumbled on the top but the store didn’t have any, but the next time I try this I’m getting the Starbucks Outrageous Oatmeal cookie because I think it’s the cherry on the top of this creation for sure!

My oldest has had many Frappuccinos and when I let him taste this his first words were “Your NOT getting this back!“… that’s some serious #sipface cred from your teenage target market Starbucks! Oh, and I’ve been talking about this creation on Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and FB since I posted it 24 hours ago….

I’m telling you, you gotta try it!

May 8 2013

Mid Week MUNCH

I have established a regular posting after my weekend adventures called the “Weekend Wrap Up” so now I’m going to start posting a 1/2 way mark too that I’m calling the “Mid Week MUNCH” because well, this year is all about eating/drinking. Next year’s adventure in 2014? I’ll title my mid-weeks with another clever moniker but for now the MUNCH is what I’m going with. Follow these on Twitter with (what else?) hashtag #MidWeekMUNCH

For the first Mid Week MUNCH I’m starting with a Twitter exchange I had with @Tiffany_Clute about my Cinco de Mayo “Make It Yours” creation, a blended Cool Lime Refresher…

But as good as my original blended creation was Tiffany suggested adding Lemonade to it which I tried and BOY! was it PERFECT for the hot, sunny day we had in Seattle!

When I ordered this drink it was at a new Starbucks store for me on Lake City Way I put together another Vine video of it up… I have started amassing a Starbucks Store Vimeo collection now, check it out!

Also, when I was there I owed a local DJ Richard J Dalton a Chocolate Cookie Crumble Frappuccino for helping out with the Dining Out for Life event I Tweet-casted last week so I decided to Frapp-bomb the C89.5 studios…

Richard and the staff were incredibly sweet and showed their Starbucks appreciation (as well as their current Pledge Drive) with some perfect product placement! And YES, Richard you can start using the hashtag #FrappBomb but ONLY if you start #FrappBomb -ing others too! (share the LOVE, share the Frappuccino LOVE!)

I was on the run all day so I grabbed one of the new Stoneground Dijon, Bavarian-Style Pretzels… yep, another great item Starbucks Corporate! and wonderful for a girl-on-the-go!

As if this level of activity wasn’t already a blast, I’ve heard through the Tweet-iverse about some Starbucks Secret Menu that would showcase the “Make It Yours May” theme that I’m focusing on but I hadn’t looked or found such things until I befriended an online coffee expert lately… @Coffee With_E (Eliot).

@CoffeeWith_E and I started chatting after I posted my own Frappuccino creation last week called “The Beautiful Blueberry Frappuccino” and from there we started chatting about coffee and next thing I know I’m getting these fabulous partner creations sent to me from @CoffeeWith_E for everybody else’s #FrappuccinoHappyHour inspiration! Just check out these wonderful creations popping up in Starbucks around Richmond, Virginia!

Captain Crunch Frappuccino? Brown Sugar & Nut Frappuccino? YES. PLEASE! I’ve gotten so wrapped up in the whole #sipface launch this week that I decided to make a second Make It Yours May creation… The Washington Apple Frappuccino!

I took the fabulous Baked Cinnamon Apple Tazo Tea, steeped and iced it…

Then I went to Starbucks and ordered an Apple Pie Frappuccino from the Starbucks Secret Menu. I nicely asked the partners to leave space at the top for me to add the two together (which they did, thanks!) and VOILA! The Washington Apple Frappuccino was born! I named it that because, well I LOVE Washington state… we have LOTS of apples, and Starbucks, Tazo Tea and me are all from Washington state so what better way to honor the creation than naming it after our home!

And yes… it was DELICIOUS! The tea adds extra apple UMPH to it but also gives the drink a nice tea-blend, sort of like you would find in a traditional Thai-iced tea.

and then if The Washington Apple Frappuccino wasn’t enough to tempt your #sipface cravings….

Then @CoffeeWith_E had to post one of my all-time favorite desserts… Strawberry Cheesecake Frappuccino (from Hannah Q)?!! OMG…I have so MANY GREAT Frappuccinos to try now! This is NOT helping me get ready for bikini weather AT ALL Starbucks! :-)

But, one awesome new creation from Starbucks that DOES help your waistline is the Zesty Chicken & black bean salad bowl that I tried for the first time. Yep, I am officially in LOVE with almost every new Starbucks meal they have put out this week, including this amazing dish with less than 400 calories! The “zesty” sauce is so yummy… I want to put it on anything & everything! (okay, NOT on the Strawberry Cheesecake Frappuccino but you get the picture)

I’ve been working on many more partner and customer Make It Yours recipes and creations and will have more Starbucks and Evolution Fresh up by the weekend, just in time for Mother’s Day!

May 6 2013

Weekend Wrap Up May 6th

Boy, oh boy… do I have a LOT to share from this weekend!

First, on Friday I released my first year’s video (taken by my filmmaker friends, thanks!) for “The Beautiful Blueberry Frappuccino” which also happens to be The LONGEST Starbucks drink order in the world! I launched this drink in honor of Starbucks Frappuccino Happy Hour which started on Friday as well! #sipface

After a long day Friday we decided to go with our cousins and aunt & uncle to see Ironman 3 and guess what? They had Starbucks at the theatre! I enjoyed my second Frappuccino that day while watching the movie… it was a good thing I was so busy all day that I could afford the extra calories!

Then on Saturday we enjoyed the sunny, Seattle weather and went to the opening of boating day & of course we brought Starbucks Cake Pops and #sipface to the event!

After an afternoon in the sun we went to a friends Birthday BBQ pot-luck and what did we bring? Starbucks Cake pops for everybody! They were the hit and looked FABULOUS next to all the beautiful flowers, birthday presents and colorful cards! They were a BIG HIT with the guests and everybody had to grab one to try as soon as I could get the picture taken… always a good sign!

Then on Sunday it was Cinco de May0! Or as Starbucks put it… Feliz Frappuccino! (quite brilliant marketing slogan by the way!) So in honor I did two things…

First I decorated my coffee of the morning…

Then I ordered what might be a go-to drink for me this summer, a Cool Lime Refresher but blended! OMG… I loved it so much and was it a perfect, sort-of Cinco de Mayo drink. I actually had twitter conversations with people after I posted it on Instagram and will be trying another variation to showcase for “Make It Yours May”.

We spent the day down at the farm and all enjoyed the quiet, relaxed & sunny afternoon at the river having a Starbucks lunch and climbing on tractors, playing fetch with our dog and riding on the quads!

On the way back up to Seattle I had a free Gold Card meal so we stopped at what is becoming our south Puget Sound go-to Starbucks drive-through in Dupont and I grabbed a second (yes, I totally went there) Cool Lime Refresher blended and a new Hearty Veggie & brown rice salad bowl.

The salad bowl was filling and delicious! It reminded me of the Kevin’s Quinoa Bowl at Evolution Fresh… I am starting to see a merging of the two stores in their new foods which is not a bad thing since Evolution Fresh is such a wonderful & natural choice and the bowl was a wonderful end to our busy weekend!

I hope you all enjoyed your weekend too… lots of recipes coming in from partners, customers and next weekend is Mother’s Day! Another week, another Starbucks!

May 3 2013

The Beautiful Blueberry Frappuccino

Today starts Starbucks Frappuccino Happy Hour from 3-5pm May 3rd through May 12th you get 1/2 off these wonderful drinks!

In honor of Make It Yours May and the Starbucks Frappuccino Happy Hour (#sipface) I announce my creation of…

The Beautiful Blueberry Frappuccino!

**Oh, and this drink just happens to be the LONGEST Starbucks Drink Order in the World!**

Kids DO NOT try this during Starbucks Frappuccino Happy Hour, partners will thank you!

May 2 2013

Best. Lunch. Ever.

I normally don’t post an “off-the-cuff” article but today I absolutely have to because right at this moment I am enjoying what is my BEST. LUNCH. EVER!

I’ve been trying the latest new menu items from Starbucks the past two days and today I finally got my hands on two items that have been SOLD OUT by 2 and 3pm… I finally tried the Chicken BLT Salad Deli Sandwich and the Chicken & Greens Caesar Salad Bowl.

OMGG… and I mean that in the best possible reference, and YES, I mean GG!

This photo doesn’t do the TASTE of these two items justice at all… the salad is a lovely mix of Kale and Romaine lettuce with dressing on the side so you can put in as much as you want… and then top it off with a fresh lemon wedge and VOILA! Light & Delicious!

The sandwich is, well anything with bacon and chicken is absolutely wonderful but this sandwich is a Mouth-Watering-MUST-HAVE! Pair these two items with some Evolution Fresh OJ and a nice bit of Tribute blend and I’m seriously in LOVE Starbucks!

No, seriously… I am IN LOVE!

My sandwich “saying” was Deliciously ever after… but Starbucks corporate, PLEASE make a new saying for your sandwiches that says BEST. LUNCH. EVER. because that is just what my taste buds experienced bar none!

1 Woman, 1 Year, 1 Challenge

Welcome to my year of challenge living!