Starbucks or bust

This is what a week in California on a 5-Day Clubs team along with Ms. Barista herself, Kelsey Harry, have done to me. I now drink coffee, know (for the most part) how to make a proper order and how to personlize my drink. I was hoping and didn't think that it would go beyond the Cali trip but I was wrong. I told myself I was just going to have one more coffee drink to sort of ween myself off of the stuff when I called Bekah up the other night and asked her if she wanted to meet at 'bucks for coffee. Then I realized this morning as I was ordering my grande house coffee with sf vanilla that I was hooked...dang it.

Now, I have been drinking at starbucks off and on now for awhile but I would definitely not call myself a regular. Two reasons why I have stayed away from ordering much coffee from starbucks (or anywhere for that matter) is 1) the caffeine and more importantly 2) that the majority of their drinks are chock full of sugar and cream, making them very calorie dense and nutritionally lacking. Now don't let my babbling deter you from enjoying you grande non-fat black and white mocha frappacino or whatever it is that you love to get. This is just my weird health concious behavior kicking in. I know I'm totally boring when it comes to what I order at Starbucks but my drink list has expanded to more than just their Green and Passion teas. Coffee is good and caffeine is not bad, in fact I think there are studies out there now that are saying its good to get a bit of caffeine on a daily basis. It is probably a bit better to get your caffeine from green tea since it has more antioxidants. All that to say, coffee is good so get out there and enjoy it. I have now discovered that I love to get their brewed coffee (iced on hot days and warm evenings) with sugar free vanilla and hazelnut and no milk. It can be a bit bitter but for some unknown reason I am just totally drawn to it.

Anyone feel like sharing their favorite drinks? Oh, I also think its fun to order drinks at starbucks, you get to say this whole list of things and (anther weird Tabs moment) it makes me feel cool, like I'm in a movie or something. Maybe thats why I like to drink coffee. Sometimes I can be such a follower, it just usually takes me awhile to catch on so very slow and following waaaaay behind everyone else.

I have to admit to something though. I feel kind of bad having Coffee People around and it being a northwest coffee shop and all. I feel like I should be supporting the local people, but none of my friends drink there. No one says, "Let's meet at Coffee People." It's always, "Let's meet at Starbucks" even if they have already been to Starbucks early that day or have plans to meet there later with someone else. But since starbucks is everywhere, I like knowing that I can go anywhere in the world, order my regular and know with confidence that it will be the same as if I had ordered it at the drive-thru in Gresham. So why bother going anywhere else when I am just fine with Starbucks? Okay, I feel better now that I have shared my feelings and talked through them with you (don't worry though, I don't mind going to those random hole-in-the-wall, off-the-beaten-path coffee shops that are just so cute that you can't pass up).

So, Anyone have any thoughts on that dilema that is no longer? Please share your fave drinks, I love to hear personalized coffee orders, they're just so fun. :)

Well, everyone, have a great day!!

Tabs
41 more days till "Hawaii, here we come!!!"

**Little side note: as I am sitting here typing and most definitely feeling the after-effects of my grande coffee, I realize from now on I should just stick with a tall coffee. Now that I am not drinking caffeine on a daily basis and am not using/needing it quite like I was in Cali, I don't need so much (not when I'm sitting at my desk for most of the day at least). It makes me a bit too jittery...hehehe