To make for 2:

Keep two coffee mugs aside with two (regular tea)spoonfuls of sugar in each.

If you don’t have espresso coffee (like me) you can use regular coffee, just double the strength.

I fill the carafe with three cups of water (there’s only a 2 and 4 measurement on the carafe so I just use my own judgement for 3) and  I use about 6 spoonfuls of coffee (maxwell house colombian). Then I fill a coffee mug with milk and pour it into a saucepan on the stove, on medium high until it bubbles and froths up.

By the time the coffee is ready, the milk will be nice and bubbly. Don’t let it boil over!!

Pour the coffee in each mug only halfway, then fill it the rest of the way with the hot milk. Stir and enjoy!

This is no ordinary cup of coffee

The greens glide over the meadows with a tender brush while the sereneness of its quandry makes one relax. Such is the essence of Lake Charlesand its golf courses. Showing a surprising intensity of challenge that breaks down through three distinct play styles experienced in a variety of weather, the reality becomes one of style and smoothness.

The essential element of creating both a challenging and a visually pleasing course is always a distinctified divergence since different players like different challenges. Some relegate with water obstacles or long fairways. The key is making a balance of riches seem effortless.

At the inset, Gray Plantation Golf Course, which functions as a public course, intensifies immediately because of its difficulty. While wind, in distinct presence, creates other obstacles, the angle of the fairways themselves is what helps define the play here in addition to specifically placed water handicaps which leads to the incessant loss of accessories. Hole 2 begins with the inherent presence of an industrial backdrop against the bayou marked by an undulating green that prevents curve. Hole 6 is exceptional as a Par 3 banked on a rolling front that required a full water jump of nearly 200 yards. Hole 7 requires a long fairway shot but tricks with two water jumps that require short tandem shots to prevent landing in the brush. Hole 8 blinds in the best way as a Par 3 which basks in its irony with looming houses in the background, one of which has a stop sign right behind the drop point. Hole 11 allows for a bogie on the angle of a safe play instead of a long drive while Hole 16 incessant swallows shots with almost a complete lake along the side that requires replete strategy. Hole 18 brought the straight hit back home in the form of the club house which billowing through a stark vision of an oak tree gave an auspice of romantic vampire literature as the overhanging clouds gave a dim glow in the setting sun.

Where Gray Plantation’s Pars were more didactic and inherently strategic for the intermediate golfer ready for a bit of thinking, the National Golf Club, which is still fairly new, located in Westlake, offers more of a business approach to the ideal. While the clubhouse is hardly up to poise, the playability of the course allows for more conversational pursuits because many of its hole are so straightlace. The course itself has a streamlined beauty but is almost too angular in that the hits are predetermined in most cases. The driving range offers content warm up yet is removed from the street life. The front nine here offers a dexterity while still not overwhelming the player. Hole 5 is most unique with a Par 3 jump using almost church pew sand bunkers that either require clearance or chipping by experience to heaven while Hole 8 offers a split progression hit which can be deceiving in terms of the location of the hole. Hole 14 on the back nine offers a double back drive with water on either side of each hit culminating with a green titled at a heavy angle.

The Contraband Bayou Course, on the grounds of the L’aurberge Du Lac Resort, combines the necessities of both angles of business and playability into one specific vision. Having talked to the resident golf professional, who initially hailed from the Palm Beach Florida area, the adherence to a very specific guideline shows the building possibility of the area. The course, because of its flowing greens and perceptive visions of the resort area and grounds, make it extremely TV friendly offering the ability for it to become a tournament course which is only enhanced by the pro’s involvement with the PGA.

After ingratiating on the driving range, the first holes, despite a short onslaught of rain, offered a riveting play which in all weather offers both thinking and relaxation. With its position on the edge of the bayou, most of the water ponds, have been adopted each by a single alligator because of its close proximity to the wildlife refuge. While one was not seen, these reptiles are wonder to see and don’t mess with players unless they themselves are messed with. It simply adds another exotic element to the play. While the thought becomes right now to flip the nines because of a road barrier, either interfere with the exception that both the current 17th and 18th hole, offer great closure to the course.

Beginning on the current front, Hole 4 works well because of its water jump but slices undeniably to the right while Hole 9 offers a straight shot with a bending water obstacle looming on the left side heading towards the green. By comparison, Hole 17 on the back offers a satisfying alleeop shot off the tea direct on the green like a drive out of heaven allowing for a bogie curve despite a challenging green. Hole 18 is almost as good with a powerful drive to the front of the green using poised hits to land at double bogie.

One aspect that immensely enhances the possibilities of Contraband is its essential symbiosis with the L’Auberge Resort. Located on a wide swath of land right on Lake Charles, the abilities of the resort defy expectations in an exceptional way. Whereas many times, when one thinks of a riverboat resort, which is required for gambling in this area of Louisiana, there might be a stigma in terms of the level of service. The L’auberge in their prominence proves in their case that this is extremely false. The great aspect is that the casino’s presence does not overcome the rest of the experience as it does in most instances. The check in, shops and restaurants surround the casino but because of its closed construction in terms of the riverboat aspect, it creates a boundary which gives it a relaxed atmosphere without overcoming its guests.

From the guest room on the 14th Floor, which beyond offering a recessed reading area, a large and intriniscally decorated bathroom and uber comfortable beds, the landscape permeated below leads out from the fairways of the golf course to the flowing ebb of the lake to the distant industrial plants. From above, one can see the outline of the riverboat structure, perfectly symmetrical along the water floating effervescently along with the commerce surrounding it.

Before moving to the essence of food within the resort, the specific importance and effectiveness of the Spa Du Lac, located steps away from the guest elevators, is both easy to find and user friendly. Entering in, the Spa itself is not overly endowed with space but uses its possibility to wonderful conclusion. The Spa itself will be expanded next year in a new construction project billowing the resort by an additional 400 rooms. However in its current format, it is more than pliable. Functioning more as a health spa with an added elegance, the staff is very indicative. Arriving for a deep tissue massage, after 36 holes of golf where driving against the wind required more power than usual, the lower back and hamstrings on the back of the left leg screamed with tightness. The masseuse, understanding the problem areas, took a more sports medicine approach which allowed for relaxation of the muscle using both heat and segmented pressure. Afterwards the compacted space and easy accessibility of the jacuzzi in relation to the sauna offered a very precise progression. Sitting afterwards in the lounge area, watching the plasma, the lack of need to move showcased the effectiveness of said treatment in addition to the extended hours of the spa itself which is open until 9pm in an age where many similar places close nearly two hours before.

The diversity of food within the resort within easy walking distance of each other is undeniable. From the early morning viscosity of hot chocolate and a heavenly creme cheese pastry at Lattes to a late night expresso and creme brulee sorbet at Desserts, there is an angle for every kind of taste.

For high end fine dining, the Snake River Grill heightens by its selection of beef and wonderful appetizers. Starting off with the Peking Duck scallion enriched crepes, the paradox of the two possibilities melds in a very sound and hearty aftertaste. Reflecting in its barometric allowances, the richness of the bite size steak taco ensconced in avocado sauce binded with finger licking essences of small but succulent lamb chop lollipops prepares the progress for the Big Daddy. Rocking out at 22oz with very little fat, the Snake River Porterhouse, cooked medium well, fired with flavor on all cylinders vindicated in droves by the addition of a cognac and peppercorn sauce highlighted by a smatteriing of Louisiana crab meat and a loaded baked potato which settled the synpases into a virtual food coma. For those brave enough to venture on, the home made Eskimo Bars wrapping ice cream and a deep rich brownie into heavy chocolate for dipping in a caramel sauce need apply.

For the lighter in structure, two other establishments within the resort, again located in the circle realm around the riverboat frame, offer different libations for dinnertime.

At Asia, which is open late until 4am, the briskness of an early evening bowl of wonton soup looms large with a hearty bowl filled with a plethora of succulent dumplings in addition to pork and scallions, all of which can be made to order. Add a order of shrimp filled spring rolls with a light tangy peanut butter sauce and the time is right to saunter back to the tables for some early evening temptation.

For those with a latter appetite resting within the 10pm hour, the branded Jack Daniels Bar & Grill offers chill, roadhouse style hanging. Beginning with a couple draft Shock Tops (thanks to Michelob) which has the effervescent and encompassing taste of a citrus brewed Hiefeweisen, and blended in tandem with a JD Roadhouse burger lathered in swiss cheese and bacon along with a side of steak fries, contentment becomes a state of being. While finishing up the pint as a mosaic of beads creating the American Flag hangs above the bar, a rockabilly band, half Everclear/half Nirvana bust out everything from Pearl Jam to Sublime to Lynryd Skynyrd.

In keeping with the all night purveyance, Le Cafe is great for the early morning breakfasts, especially if one is in a hurry to hit a tee time. With an exceptionally efficient staff, even a hearty meal like country fried steak topped with gravy and sided with cheese scrambled eggs and butter topped grits comes out in a heartbeat, replete with flavor and a glass of milk.

Now dining is, of course, not only available within the resort, but as a “one stop shop”, L’auberge has the ground pretty well covered but the same progression can be experienced in the outside world with nary a little driving involved.

In terms of fine dining, Mazen’s offers a elegant, refined hoist of Southern hospitality while lingering with flavor and creativity in the aquatic culinary space. Beginning with a looking glass of Oysters, both Rockefeller and Bienville, glistening with shrimp, cheese and spinach, baked on the half shell with a spicy afterbite, the inset of “Kibbies”, a pasty type concoction filled with ground beef, pine nuts and onions, despite its wantonness, is quite delicious like a Southern calzone of sorts. The main course of Fish Aladdin, toasted for perfection, brings out numerous flavors in its lemon and butter sauces through the sheer preciseness of its preparation while still engulfed in rich crabmeat. After dinner, despite an absence of expresso, a Grand Mariner chocolate souffle hit the spot with dexterity, verve and a bit of sweetness.

A variety of other tastes populate the town in droves. Directly across from the Lake Charles Visitors Bureau across Interstate 10, the legendarySteamboat Bill’s waits to heaps its treasure of crawdads upon the willing. Armed with only napkins, sweet tea and wanton fingers, a tray replete with five pounds of critters along with potatoes and corn offer the dexterious a welcome challenges. Highlighted by their steaming broth that place the fires of Hell into the crustaceans with a mix of Creole seasoning and cayenne pepper, the aftermath is not for the faint of heart.

Chastain’s Seafood Shack jump starts the cables with the appropriate “Louisiana poppers” mixing shrimp and cream cheese before satisfying with a simmering bowl of savory chicken and sausage gumbo and a hilarious staff that leaves you with a family feeling and more than a joke or two. Darrell’s, for lunch as well, excels in the simple but nevertheless brilliant sandwich known as the “Surf N’ Turf” which seamlessly blends Louisiana roast beef and shrimp on a crispy hero roll with a rich tangy mayonaisse sauce peppered in jalapenos. The place was packed with good reason as revelers come from as far as 4 hours away to get their sandwiches.

On the lighter side of the dining outlay, Luna’s in downtown has a great bohemian feeling while being just cool enough to be unaware of it through its undeniably laid back staff and interesting culinary paradoxes. While the Abita Special Brew Pecan Harvest combined with a before dinner appetizer of spinach and artichoke dips with especially tasty and luscious crisps offered the semblance of recognizable bar food, the main course of Luna Tuna steak was a puzzling and ultimately gratifying outlay. Consisting of an encrusted slab of tuna, seared in one large swath, the taste remains consistent despite the distinct numbers of sauces and spices running through its electric center.

Not to be forgotten, breakfast is a meeting place of importance in this town with regular meetings among a variety of groups which keeps the conversations vivacious even in the morning hours. Southern Spice, like Le Cafe but with a little more grease, does it right with a rib eye seasoned to perfection surrounded by salty hash browns, cheese filled eggs and the requisite and always reliable butter honed grits.

Lake Charles is a bountiful area of work and play. If simply approaching for a golf getaway, within a small radius, the city offers undeniable access and value. In addition to the three courses played, there are an exceptional number of public courses with different range levels that have possibility. Mallard Cove, situated on the edge of the old Naval Base, has a great old school feel to it while arranging over a vast amount of land. Pine Shadows, aided by the steady hand of PGA Professional Todd Boudreaux, is great for beginners getting their first shot at golf or those intermediate enough who want a level of steady play. Last but not least, Frasch Park continually changes their perceptions of play with numerous grand obstacles to challenge the player masterminded with skill by Golf Pro George McInnis. Surrounding this course is a massive sports complex replete with aquatic center, softball fields and numerous other activities that make the intent of the area very family and sports friendly, highlighted by the fact that junior golf and training are very important to this area which gives the implement to the young in a sport that in cyclical fashion is now becoming cooler by the day.

With its food and sport is direct corrolation buoyed by an exceptional central resort complex in the form of L’Aurberge, Lake Charles is one of those secret golf hideaways that your friends want to hear about but didn’t know where to look.

The greens glide over the meadows with a tender brush while the sereneness of its quandry makes one relax. Such is the essence of Lake Charles and its golf courses. Showing a surprising intensity of challenge that breaks down through three distinct play styles experienced in a variety of weather, the reality becomes one of style and smoothness.

The essential element of creating both a challenging and a visually pleasing course is always a distinctified divergence since different players like different challenges. Some relegate with water obstacles or long fairways. The key is making a balance of riches seem effortless.

At the inset, Gray Plantation Golf Course, which functions as a public course, intensifies immediately because of its difficulty. While wind, in distinct presence, creates other obstacles, the angle of the fairways themselves is what helps define the play here in addition to specifically placed water handicaps which leads to the incessant loss of accessories. Hole 2 begins with the inherent presence of an industrial backdrop against the bayou marked by an undulating green that prevents curve. Hole 6 is exceptional as a Par 3 banked on a rolling front that required a full water jump of nearly 200 yards. Hole 7 requires a long fairway shot but tricks with two water jumps that require short tandem shots to prevent landing in the brush. Hole 8 blinds in the best way as a Par 3 which basks in its irony with looming houses in the background, one of which has a stop sign right behind the drop point. Hole 11 allows for a bogie on the angle of a safe play instead of a long drive while Hole 16 incessant swallows shots with almost a complete lake along the side that requires replete strategy. Hole 18 brought the straight hit back home in the form of the club house which billowing through a stark vision of an oak tree gave an auspice of romantic vampire literature as the overhanging clouds gave a dim glow in the setting sun.

Where Gray Plantation’s Pars were more didactic and inherently strategic for the intermediate golfer ready for a bit of thinking, the National Golf Club, which is still fairly new, located in Westlake, offers more of a business approach to the ideal. While the clubhouse is hardly up to poise, the playability of the course allows for more conversational pursuits because many of its hole are so straightlace. The course itself has a streamlined beauty but is almost too angular in that the hits are predetermined in most cases. The driving range offers content warm up yet is removed from the street life. The front nine here offers a dexterity while still not overwhelming the player. Hole 5 is most unique with a Par 3 jump using almost church pew sand bunkers that either require clearance or chipping by experience to heaven while Hole 8 offers a split progression hit which can be deceiving in terms of the location of the hole. Hole 14 on the back nine offers a double back drive with water on either side of each hit culminating with a green titled at a heavy angle.

The Contraband Bayou Course, on the grounds of the L’aurberge Du Lac Resort, combines the necessities of both angles of business and playability into one specific vision. Having talked to the resident golf professional, who initially hailed from the Palm Beach Florida area, the adherence to a very specific guideline shows the building possibility of the area. The course, because of its flowing greens and perceptive visions of the resort area and grounds, make it extremely TV friendly offering the ability for it to become a tournament course which is only enhanced by the pro’s involvement with the PGA.

After ingratiating on the driving range, the first holes, despite a short onslaught of rain, offered a riveting play which in all weather offers both thinking and relaxation. With its position on the edge of the bayou, most of the water ponds, have been adopted each by a single alligator because of its close proximity to the wildlife refuge. While one was not seen, these reptiles are wonder to see and don’t mess with players unless they themselves are messed with. It simply adds another exotic element to the play. While the thought becomes right now to flip the nines because of a road barrier, either interfere with the exception that both the current 17th and 18th hole, offer great closure to the course.

Beginning on the current front, Hole 4 works well because of its water jump but slices undeniably to the right while Hole 9 offers a straight shot with a bending water obstacle looming on the left side heading towards the green. By comparison, Hole 17 on the back offers a satisfying alleeop shot off the tea direct on the green like a drive out of heaven allowing for a bogie curve despite a challenging green. Hole 18 is almost as good with a powerful drive to the front of the green using poised hits to land at double bogie.

One aspect that immensely enhances the possibilities of Contraband is its essential symbiosis with the L’Auberge Resort. Located on a wide swath of land right on Lake Charles, the abilities of the resort defy expectations in an exceptional way. Whereas many times, when one thinks of a riverboat resort, which is required for gambling in this area of Louisiana, there might be a stigma in terms of the level of service. The L’auberge in their prominence proves in their case that this is extremely false. The great aspect is that the casino’s presence does not overcome the rest of the experience as it does in most instances. The check in, shops and restaurants surround the casino but because of its closed construction in terms of the riverboat aspect, it creates a boundary which gives it a relaxed atmosphere without overcoming its guests.

From the guest room on the 14th Floor, which beyond offering a recessed reading area, a large and intriniscally decorated bathroom and uber comfortable beds, the landscape permeated below leads out from the fairways of the golf course to the flowing ebb of the lake to the distant industrial plants. From above, one can see the outline of the riverboat structure, perfectly symmetrical along the water floating effervescently along with the commerce surrounding it.

Before moving to the essence of food within the resort, the specific importance and effectiveness of the Spa Du Lac, located steps away from the guest elevators, is both easy to find and user friendly. Entering in, the Spa itself is not overly endowed with space but uses its possibility to wonderful conclusion. The Spa itself will be expanded next year in a new construction project billowing the resort by an additional 400 rooms. However in its current format, it is more than pliable. Functioning more as a health spa with an added elegance, the staff is very indicative. Arriving for a deep tissue massage, after 36 holes of golf where driving against the wind required more power than usual, the lower back and hamstrings on the back of the left leg screamed with tightness. The masseuse, understanding the problem areas, took a more sports medicine approach which allowed for relaxation of the muscle using both heat and segmented pressure. Afterwards the compacted space and easy accessibility of the jacuzzi in relation to the sauna offered a very precise progression. Sitting afterwards in the lounge area, watching the plasma, the lack of need to move showcased the effectiveness of said treatment in addition to the extended hours of the spa itself which is open until 9pm in an age where many similar places close nearly two hours before.

The diversity of food within the resort within easy walking distance of each other is undeniable. From the early morning viscosity of hot chocolate and a heavenly creme cheese pastry at Lattes to a late night expresso and creme brulee sorbet at Desserts, there is an angle for every kind of taste.

For high end fine dining, the Snake River Grill heightens by its selection of beef and wonderful appetizers. Starting off with the Peking Duck scallion enriched crepes, the paradox of the two possibilities melds in a very sound and hearty aftertaste. Reflecting in its barometric allowances, the richness of the bite size steak taco ensconced in avocado sauce binded with finger licking essences of small but succulent lamb chop lollipops prepares the progress for the Big Daddy. Rocking out at 22oz with very little fat, the Snake River Porterhouse, cooked medium well, fired with flavor on all cylinders vindicated in droves by the addition of a cognac and peppercorn sauce highlighted by a smatteriing of Louisiana crab meat and a loaded baked potato which settled the synpases into a virtual food coma. For those brave enough to venture on, the home made Eskimo Bars wrapping ice cream and a deep rich brownie into heavy chocolate for dipping in a caramel sauce need apply.

For the lighter in structure, two other establishments within the resort, again located in the circle realm around the riverboat frame, offer different libations for dinnertime.

At Asia, which is open late until 4am, the briskness of an early evening bowl of wonton soup looms large with a hearty bowl filled with a plethora of succulent dumplings in addition to pork and scallions, all of which can be made to order. Add a order of shrimp filled spring rolls with a light tangy peanut butter sauce and the time is right to saunter back to the tables for some early evening temptation.

For those with a latter appetite resting within the 10pm hour, the branded Jack Daniels Bar & Grill offers chill, roadhouse style hanging. Beginning with a couple draft Shock Tops (thanks to Michelob) which has the effervescent and encompassing taste of a citrus brewed Hiefeweisen, and blended in tandem with a JD Roadhouse burger lathered in swiss cheese and bacon along with a side of steak fries, contentment becomes a state of being. While finishing up the pint as a mosaic of beads creating the American Flag hangs above the bar, a rockabilly band, half Everclear/half Nirvana bust out everything from Pearl Jam to Sublime to Lynryd Skynyrd.

In keeping with the all night purveyance, Le Cafe is great for the early morning breakfasts, especially if one is in a hurry to hit a tee time. With an exceptionally efficient staff, even a hearty meal like country fried steak topped with gravy and sided with cheese scrambled eggs and butter topped grits comes out in a heartbeat, replete with flavor and a glass of milk.

Now dining is, of course, not only available within the resort, but as a “one stop shop”, L’auberge has the ground pretty well covered but the same progression can be experienced in the outside world with nary a little driving involved.

In terms of fine dining, Mazen’s offers a elegant, refined hoist of Southern hospitality while lingering with flavor and creativity in the aquatic culinary space. Beginning with a looking glass of Oysters, both Rockefeller and Bienville, glistening with shrimp, cheese and spinach, baked on the half shell with a spicy afterbite, the inset of “Kibbies”, a pasty type concoction filled with ground beef, pine nuts and onions, despite its wantonness, is quite delicious like a Southern calzone of sorts. The main course of Fish Aladdin, toasted for perfection, brings out numerous flavors in its lemon and butter sauces through the sheer preciseness of its preparation while still engulfed in rich crabmeat. After dinner, despite an absence of expresso, a Grand Mariner chocolate souffle hit the spot with dexterity, verve and a bit of sweetness.

A variety of other tastes populate the town in droves. Directly across from the Lake Charles Visitors Bureau across Interstate 10, the legendary Steamboat Bill’s waits to heaps its treasure of crawdads upon the willing. Armed with only napkins, sweet tea and wanton fingers, a tray replete with five pounds of critters along with potatoes and corn offer the dexterious a welcome challenges. Highlighted by their steaming broth that place the fires of Hell into the crustaceans with a mix of Creole seasoning and cayenne pepper, the aftermath is not for the faint of heart.

Chastain’s Seafood Shack jump starts the cables with the appropriate “Louisiana poppers” mixing shrimp and cream cheese before satisfying with a simmering bowl of savory chicken and sausage gumbo and a hilarious staff that leaves you with a family feeling and more than a joke or two. Darrell’s, for lunch as well, excels in the simple but nevertheless brilliant sandwich known as the “Surf N’ Turf” which seamlessly blends Louisiana roast beef and shrimp on a crispy hero roll with a rich tangy mayonaisse sauce peppered in jalapenos. The place was packed with good reason as revelers come from as far as 4 hours away to get their sandwiches.

On the lighter side of the dining outlay, Luna’s in downtown has a great bohemian feeling while being just cool enough to be unaware of it through its undeniably laid back staff and interesting culinary paradoxes. While the Abita Special Brew Pecan Harvest combined with a before dinner appetizer of spinach and artichoke dips with especially tasty and luscious crisps offered the semblance of recognizable bar food, the main course of Luna Tuna steak was a puzzling and ultimately gratifying outlay. Consisting of an encrusted slab of tuna, seared in one large swath, the taste remains consistent despite the distinct numbers of sauces and spices running through its electric center.

Not to be forgotten, breakfast is a meeting place of importance in this town with regular meetings among a variety of groups which keeps the conversations vivacious even in the morning hours. Southern Spice, like Le Cafe but with a little more grease, does it right with a rib eye seasoned to perfection surrounded by salty hash browns, cheese filled eggs and the requisite and always reliable butter honed grits.

Lake Charles is a bountiful area of work and play. If simply approaching for a golf getaway, within a small radius, the city offers undeniable access and value. In addition to the three courses played, there are an exceptional number of public courses with different range levels that have possibility. Mallard Cove, situated on the edge of the old Naval Base, has a great old school feel to it while arranging over a vast amount of land. Pine Shadows, aided by the steady hand of PGA Professional Todd Boudreaux, is great for beginners getting their first shot at golf or those intermediate enough who want a level of steady play. Last but not least, Frasch Park continually changes their perceptions of play with numerous grand obstacles to challenge the player masterminded with skill by Golf Pro George McInnis. Surrounding this course is a massive sports complex replete with aquatic center, softball fields and numerous other activities that make the intent of the area very family and sports friendly, highlighted by the fact that junior golf and training are very important to this area which gives the implement to the young in a sport that in cyclical fashion is now becoming cooler by the day.

With its food and sport is direct corrolation buoyed by an exceptional central resort complex in the form of L’Aurberge, Lake Charles is one of those secret golf hideaways that your friends want to hear about but didn’t know where to look.

The other day my lil’ sister and I were waiting in the back of the Starbucks line. Not like 2 or 4 back—like 20 back! And, may I add that this was not even a Starbucks on a crowded city street. Rather, this was a Starbucks, inside a grocery store, in a semi-sleepy town. Interesting…

Being the “semi-snoop” I am, I listened to what people were ordering and peered at  the ready-to-drink cups cradled in their pebble brown sleeves marked with their “order code.” I realized everyone was buying the Holiday drinks!!! Interesting…

Personally, I always buy a Venti Tazo Passion tea—hot–with 2 tea bags. Hence, I am somewhat “out of sorts” when it comes to all these Holiday offerings. I remember the Pumpkin Spice latte—but the Caramel Brulee, Eggnog, Peppermint Mocha, and Gingerbread Lattes I was not on the nutrition “up and up” about.

Hence—I did some “nutrition research” on what the folks in that crazy line were waiting to buy. I took the most decadent way you can have one of these prepared—Venti (largest size), whipped cream, whole milk—and compared it to the “healthiest” way to have one prepared—Tall (smallest size), no whip, and non-fat milk. Also—I of course showcased my herbal infused natural tea and some plain ol’ Joe.

Shall we?

1. The Caramel Brulee Latte (Venti, whole milk, whipped cream)

• 580 calories
• 20 grams fat
• 12 grams saturated fat
• 0 grams trans fat
• 86 grams carbohydrate
• 66 grams sugar
• 14 grams protein

2. The Caramel Brulee Latte (Tall, non-fat milk, whipped cream)

• 240 calories
• 0 grams fat
• 0 grams saturated fat
• 0 grams trans fat
• 50 grams carbohydrate
• 38 grams sugar
• 9 grams of protein

3. Eggnog latte (Venti, whole milk)

• 630 calories
• 30 grams fat
• 17 grams saturated fat
• 0 grams trans fat
• 69 grams carbohydrate
• 64 grams sugar
• 21 grams protein

4. Eggnog latte (Tall, non-fat milk)

• 350 calories
• 15 grams fat
• 9 grams saturated fat
• 0 grams trans fat
• 42 grams carbohydrate
• 39 grams sugar
• 13 grams protein

5. Peppermint Mocha latte (Venti, whole milk, whip cream)

• 540 calories
• 22 grams fat
• 13 grams saturated fat
• 0 grams trans fat
• 78 grams carbohydrate
• 67 grams sugar
• 16 grams protein

6. Peppermint Mocha Latte (Tall, non-fat milk, no whip)

• 220 calories
• 2 grams fat
• 1 gram saturated fat
• 0 grams trans fat
• 46 grams carbohydrate
• 40 grams sugar
• 10 grams protein

7. Gingerbread Latte (Venti, whole milk, whipped cream)

• 440 calories
• 21 grams fat
• 12 grams saturated fat
• 0 grams trans fat
• 48 grams carbohydrate
• 46 grams sugar
• 15 grams protein

8. Gingerbread Latte  (Tall, non-fat milk, no whip)

• 150 calories
• 0 grams fat
• 0 grams saturated fat
• 0 grams trans fat
• 29 grams carbohydrate
• 29 grams sugar
• 9 grams protein

9. Venti Passion Tea (HOT)

• 0 calories
• 0 grams fat
• 0 grams saturated fat
• 0 grams trans fat
• 0 grams carbohydrate
• 0 grams sugar
• 0 grams protein

10. Venti Black Coffee

• 5 calories
• 0 grams fat
• 0 grams saturated fat
• 0 grams trans fat
• 0 grams carbohydrate
• 0 grams sugar
• 1 gram protein

WOWZA!!!

Some of these  Holiday favorites pack enough calories for a meal!!! And, beyond calories—some are loaded with not so heart healthy fat! To go even beyond the high calories and fat  in these beverages is the fact that they offer little nutrition. They offer a wee-bit to NO phytochemicals (those lil’ chemicals in plants that help protect us from disease), vitamins, minerals, complex carbohydrates, heart healthy fats, or fiber!!!

Hence, I advise you to limit these beverages NOT ONLY because they’re high in calories, added sugars, and perhaps fat BUT because they’re taking the place of nutritious wholesome foods in your diet! A SHAME, if you ask me!

Bottom line

Opt for tea, coffee, or a low-fat/non-fat regular ol’ cappuccino or latte instead of one of these drinks. But, if you insist on getting in the Starbucks Holiday Spirit—go ahead and have one. I’d suggest the Tall non-fat/low-fat version with no whip.  BUT, if you insist on going “all out,” have the “full-on” version… and savor every succulent drop!!! And, just a word of advice—I wouldn’t do this every day—your body and perhaps jeans, after awhile, won’t thank you. And, to be perfectly honest … neither will your bank account! Those suckers are expensive!!!

FYI!!! The lovely Jessica at A Fete for Food just informed you can order a “SHORT” for all these drinks–even smaller than the Tall. I wasn’t sure you could, but now I know! Thanks Jess! To get the info on the “shortie” visit Starbucks nutrition information page.

Happy Healthifying!

What’s your favorite Holiday beverage???

As 2009 draws to a close, I’d like to copy Jimmy Fallon, my favorite late-night TV host, who does a segment every Friday night in which he writes “thank-you notes” to different people, events, objects, places, etc.  They’re irreverent, sarcastic and hilarious.

Jimmy writing a thank-you note to Simon Cowell.

Since I can’t get a full video embedded into this post, here’s a sample of the thank-yous:

“Thank you, Oprah – for hosting a Christmas special at the White House this Sunday.  Not everyone gets to sit down with the undisputed leader of the free world…so I’m sure Obama’s really, really excited.”

“Thank you, screensaver that popped up while I thought I was doing work - for reminding me that, not only have I made zero progress, but I haven’t made a single keystroke or gently nudged my mouse for the past fifteen minutes.”

Now, a la Jimmy Fallon, I’d like to write my own thank-you cards for 2009:

Thank you, Liz Lemon – for being my new source of inspiration.  Since I started watching 30 Rock this summer, you have helped me embrace my inner nerd and not feel guilty about eating five donuts in one day, dressing up in a Princess Leia outfit to avoid jury duty and calling people “apple-faced goons.”  None of which I have actually done, but might be more inclined to do because Liz Lemon did it first.

Thank you, Oregon Ducks – for winning the Civil War and going to the Rose Bowl.  I can’t think of anything more wonderful than screaming my lungs out at one of your home games.  You’ve turned me into a huge college football fan and I can’t wait for next season.

Thank you, Twitter – for more or less changing my life – or at least the way I live it.  Now, when something cool happens, my first thought is how to condense awesome occurrences into 140 characters.  You’ve allowed me to connect with people all over the country and have forced me to come up with an explanation for why I use “tweet” in my daily vocabulary.

Thank you, skinny vanilla lattes – for always putting me in a good mood.  Also, thanks for giving me a good way to rationalize spending money; buying all these lattes, I have to be boosting the economy, right?

And last, but certainly not least, Thank you, my family – for giving me life advice, an education and for taking me on cool trips to places like New York City and Disneyland.  I mean, there’s more, of course, like food and a roof over my head, but I don’t want to get too sappy.

What thank-you notes will you be writing as 2009 comes to its end?  There are many more I could write, but I had to keep it relatively short.  I have to go finish my Christmas shopping.

“That’s a nice scarf you’ve got there.”

“Thanks, I like it. Keeps me warm and stylish. It’s a double win.”

“So you uh, you like scarves, eh?”

“I like this one.”

“Oh, that’s good. Good.”

“…. Why?”

“No reason.”

She eyed him suspiciously over her steamed milk. “There is always a reason.”

“Meh.”

“Meh? Really?”

“Yep. So I think I’m going to look at apartments later. Or get a puppy. Want to come?”

“No. I want to know why you were talking about my scarf.”

“I’m not anymore. Now I’m talking about apartments and puppies. Geez woman, keep up here!”

Oh, birthdays. By the by, today is my 24th birthday and I would generally feel ancient… but I am the youngest at my branch by several years and now feel lucky & young. Excellent.

I had this moment yesterday where I was drinking a latte, telling a friend about a “fantastic” article in the New York Times, and I realized that I was a liberal, latte-drinking, Times-reading elitist.

But phew! At least I’m a Catholic, so you can’t pigeonhole me completely.

Arbonne weight loss program

from The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf is 100 times better than an iced hazelnut latte from Starbucks.
Sorry my East Coast friends… the Coffee Bean kicks Starbucks ass!

Santiago’s post below made me think of just how much love I have for the Coffee Bean… I didn’t know what great coffee tasted like until I came to LA. :0)

I have an addiction to Egg Nog Lattes. Every year it starts my holiday season. Here’s my recipe for homemade Egg Nog Lattes.

I make mine with a Starbucks Barista here but you can also make this with a stovetop pot and espresso maker like this.

Egg Not Latte

Ingredients:

3/4 cup Egg Nog

1/4 cup Milk (Skim/2% etc.)

2 tbsp. Espresso (may need more or less with stove top version)

1 tsp. Brown Sugar

1 Drop Vanilla

Nutmeg

Cinnamon

Directions:

1. Put brown sugar and vanilla in mug. Set aside.

2. Mix Milk and Egg Nog together in carafe/pot. Steam Egg Nog mixture to 140 degrees and then froth by slowly lowering carafe to allow dense foam to form on top (Stove top: Whisk till frothy) until the temp. reaches 150 degrees and remove from heat. Set aside.

4. Place espresso into portafilter(espresso holder) press down with back of spoon or tamper till the espressos firmly packed in and place group in place on espresso machine. Start running shot (a perfect shot should take between 18 and 23 seconds)

5. Put espresso shot in mug with sugar/vanilla mix. Pour Egg Nog mix into mug with a spoon holding back the foam, leaving 1 inch to scoop foam on top of latte.

6. Sprinkle with nutmeg and/or Cinnamon.

Serves 1

Enjoy!

I substitute light Egg Nog to be more health conscience and place a Candy Cane in the latte to be more festive.

Lattes, stade de Fangouse  – Dimanche 22 novembre 2009

Exploit de l’AS Lattes face à Bayonne !

Les Héraultais exultent au coup de sifflet final (© N. Deltort)

Le club héraultais (34) évoluant en DH, soit trois divisions en dessous de leur adversaire du jour – Bayonne (National), a réussi l’exploit d’atteindre le 8e tour de coupe de France au bénéfice d’une victoire méritée (1-0) face aux Basques. Un air de féria flottait dans les vestiaires du stade de Fangouse après une rencontre ayant mobilisé de nombreux supporters, éducateurs et bénévoles du club “Sang et Or”…

© Nicolas Deltort

© Nicolas Deltort

© Nicolas Deltort

© Nicolas Deltort

© Nicolas Deltort

© Nicolas Deltort

© Nicolas Deltort

© Nicolas Deltort

Good morning/afternoon. It’s nearly lunchtime, and I’m just getting around to posting breakfast. Better late than never, right? This morning I went to my old dance studio, just down the street from my house, and took the DanceFit class. The class is 1 hour long – 45 minutes of it are fast-paced cardio dance routines and the other 15 minutes are for strengthening exercises and stretching. I absolutely love the class. I haven’t found another one like it. It’s a really fun way to wake you up in the morning…and a nice change from the gym or routine run.

As promised, I had to dig into a Butternut Harvest Loaf for breakfast, and what better to pair with it…an iced Pumpkin Spice latte! We didn’t have decaf in the house, so because I am super sensitive to caffeine, I am j-i-t-t-e-r-y!

Going to do some house cleaning today, as inspired by the queen of organization, Kath.

Happy Monday,

~ Hillary

CNPq lança uma nova versão do currículo Lattes, com um conjunto de implementos, novas funcionalidades e cruzamento de dados. O lançamento coincide com o aniversário de uma década da Plataforma Lattes.

Foram realizados acordos com a empresa Thomson&Reuters, cuja base “Web of Science” é uma das mais relevantes na área da Ciência, e com a Receita Federal do Brasil, no intuito de realizar a importação ou certificação de dados presentes nas bases dessas instituições, garantindo assim maior qualidade às informações fornecidas.

Outra nova funcionalidade interessante é a Rede de Colaboração, onde será possível visualizar graficamente a rede de co-autores de um pesquisador que tenham também o Currículo Lattes.

No mais, serão realizadas continuamente diversas alterações menores em várias áreas do currículo, como acréscimos de campos e do módulo “Patentes e Registros”, alterações no layout e na navegabilidade, implementos de apoio ao usuário e alterações de ordem técnica, bem como detalhamento e validação de dados para maior segurança.

No ano em que a Plataforma Lattes completa uma década de existência, o CNPq realiza ações contínuas de implementação do Currículo Lattes, visando cada vez mais a veracidade de dados, a interatividade e a adequação às necessidades do crescente sistema de Ciência e Tecnologia nacional.

Mais informações: http://lattes.cnpq.br

Let’s just say today could not have been a more perfect Sunday at home with my family. After breakfast I headed out to Redwood Roots Farm with my aunt and stomped around through the muddy crops, filling our bucket with whatever vegetables our hearts desired. With more lettuces and leafy greens than a turtle could dream of, we said goodbye to the farm cats and meandered down the street to an indie craft fair, bustling with Humboldt hippies.

I met up with my mom, and after a little grocery shopping, we came home and I made a latte with Pumpkin Spice soymilk, a seasonal Silk flavor. Thick foam and cinnamon on top…yum yum.

I picked some apples from the tree outside with the nifty fruit picker and then got to work in the kitchen making Butternut Harvest Loaves (see recipe page). The loaves are bursting with homemade butternut squash puree, pumpkin seeds, walnuts and pecans. I am so anxious to toast a piece in the morning.

Hmmm…I wonder what’s for dinner? More squash of course! My mom made a gorgeous savory galette with roasted butternut squash, chard, shallots, garlic and sage, and a sprinkling of fresh parmesan. My dad made a very colorful salad to go alongside. There were magnificent aromas coming from the oven all afternoon.

Morning run with friends, veggie harvesting, craft fair, apple picking, bread baking, dinner with the parents…I couldn’t have imagined a better way to spend the day.

Night,

~ Hillary

ugh. SO. just had a big scare! i had a whole post typed up.. just had to insert my photos~ and i get some black screen on my laptop saying there is some sort of error and something or other is corrupt.

eek.

i was sure all my files and photos were long gone. history.  i spent an hour recovering my system…

we all crossed our fingers (and paws) that everything would be safe and sound.

well.. lucky for me, it was! now i am going to go grab my portable hard drive and do some surrrious backing up!

the bad news? well, i lost my whole post.. grumble. it was so long!

i am afraid to say.. you are going to get the shortened version via a list. sorry charlies, i just don’t have it in me tonight.

1. thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for all the incredible comments, insight and wise words left on my last post. that is why i love blogging so much.. the feedback i get from all of you really impresses me and i feel so fortunate to be acquainted with all of you smart ladies! so yes, thanks much. xo

2. yesterday i mentioned that i got a new gadget! here it is:

meet “the baby computer” (as my mom and i call them) aka a netbook. this will make blogging away from home so much easier.. and if my laptop ever DOES bite the dust (as i was afraid it might tonight).. i have backup now

3. yesterday’s workout was rad. 12 minutes on the treadmill @ 15% incline at 4 MPH, 20 minutes HIIT on the treadmill ranging from 6.0 to 7.5 MPH and maxing out at 9 MPH on the final minute. 22 minutes on the bike while reading my new mags: oxygen and real simple. hooray for them FINALLY finding their way to my new address!

4. yesterday’s dinner was whole foods salad bar with a little added protein from the seafood counter~6 ounces of shrimp.. doused in TJ’s sesame ginger dressing of amazingness.

5. today has been an incredibly productive day! i got all but one box unpacked in my room! yesss. confession: i still have 5 or 6 boxes in the garage to unpack, but hey.. out of sight, out of mind, right? right.

6. i had not one but two almond milk lattes today. in a snowman mug. and there is no snow outside. i’m sad about that.

7. i had a fanfreakingtastic workout today! i did some research online and with some tips from susan’s blog and the oxygen website and a few ideas of my own, i put together a fun total body workout. here is how it went down:

i completed each exercise block 3 times through and then moved onto the next. in bold, after the move, i am going to list the main muscles the move worked.. of course, there were other muscles working (such as glutes during a step up) but i am just going to list the targeted muscles.

5 minutes/0.5 mile warm up on treadmill

block A:

• romanian deadlift to bent over row 15 reps hamstrings & upper/lower back
• step up with knee raise and dumbbell bicep curl (8# dbs) 24 reps (12 each leg) quads & biceps
• split squat with forward reach (8# dbs) 24 reps (12 each leg) quads, hamstrings, glutes & upper back

block B:

• dumbbell pullover to crunch 15 reps upper back & abs
• single leg bench dips 24 reps (12 each leg) triceps & quads + hip stabilization & core
• bridge with dumbbell chest press 15 reps chest, hamstrings & glutes

block C:

• oblique twists w/ 10# plate on decline bench 50 reps obliques
• lower abdominal crunches on decline bench 50 reps lower abs
• wide stance squat with front raise (8# dbs) 15 reps quads & shoulders

block D:

• seated calf raises @ 30# 15 reps calves
• walking lunge with 10# plate oblique twist 20 reps

10 minutes on stairmill

this workout took an hour including the warmup and stairmill. it was so awesome! i am going to do the same routine next saturday but try to up some of the weights to make it more challenging.  i loved combining the muscle groups during my workout. it was lots of fun it was a little rough as i have DOMS in my hamstrings (from last tuesday!) and my chest/triceps.

8. i made a yummy dinner tonight using some of my foodbuzz fest swag!!

i used some whole wheat linguine, 93% lean ground turkey, basil & oregano diced tomatoes & sliced mushrooms and tossed it all with the pesto.  served the pasta alongside some steamed broccoli with a side of bad lighting..

9. instead of doing anything exciting.. i spent the evening recovering my computer. bah. so happy it worked!

10. deb posted a really fantastic flashback friday post and you all need to go read it. now. please and thanks

11. tay also posted a fun disney flashback friday post, check it out!

12. i need to tell you guys about a little somethanggg called operation chocolate-covered kindness…

katie is raising money through page view compensation to donate to charity!  i have copied and pasted this from her post~

What can you do to help?

• Spread the word!  If you have a blog, please help me (Katie) get the word out by blogging about, or even just mentioning, the “Operation Chocolate-Covered Kindness” page view charity drive on your blog.  (Feel free to use the logo as well.)

• Throughout the month, blog about, and link to, ANY chocolatecoveredkatie.com post (such as a Chocolate-Covered Recipe).  Each time someone clicks on any link to my (Katie’s) blog, more money will be earned for the cause.  Good time to make Fudge Babies or Peanut Butter Babies, perhaps?  Or Banana Butter… or Melted Banana Trick oats?

• During the month, click on as many pages/links on my blog as you can.  Each post you click on, and each link you follow, earns more money for the charity drive.  Or, when you see my (Katie’s) posts in Google Reader, simply click on the posts instead of reading them in Google Reader format (which doesn’t translate to any page views).

• Browse the Chocolate-Covered Recipes, read up on processed foods or veganism for omnivores in the FAQ section, find every flavor oatmeal imaginable in All-things-Oatmeal, see “My Life in Cupcakes” in the About Me section, check out the Most Popular, or just peruse old posts. 

so please spread the word and click for some chocolate-covered fundraising love!

13. the incredible and beautiful quinn posted a RAD tidbit the other day.. there is actually a recipe analyzer that you can simply type the ingredients of a recipe into a post and it will quickly calculate the recipe stats and display a nutrition label AND give the recipe a letter grade! check quinn’s post out here and you can find the recipe analyzer here. thanks quinn!

14. my family is having thanksgiving dinner tomorrow!my sister and brother have off years as far as being at my parents’ house goes.. so we are celebrating early so we can all be together i am attempting six different recipes! including angharad’s savory mushroom bread pudding and a sweet potato & goat cheese galette. mmmm. can’t wait!

okay. soo.. that is the shortened version (can you even imagine what the original one was like?!) i hope you are all enjoying your weekend! i know i still have emails and blog posts to get to.. but for now, i have HAD IT with laptop land see you tomorrow!!

Qs~

1. where will you be spending thanksgiving this year? and with who? my fam is celebrating tomorrow but on actual thanksgiving i will be at my mom’s for round two turkey dinner! it will just be my mom, dad, grandma, marshall & me.

2. do you back up your files? what is your method? and how often? tonight’s debacle was a wake up call.. i need to back up my photos riiiight now! i have a portable hard drive that i use.

sorry this was not very entertaining! i was a little discouraged after losing post #1.. better luck next time

xo. janetha b.

Long time no talk post! I apologize. My week has been craaazy to say the least. I honestly can not remember what my last meal was, and that’s unusual! Thank goodness for pictures. I had to wake up real early again this morning…it was still dark out as I ate my breakfast.

plain nonfat Greek yogurt with pumpkin butter, 1/2 banana & walnuts

+ 1 Van’s Multigrain Waffle with my aunt’s homemade apricot jam

After lab, I hit up the gym for a quickie:

• 15 minutes stationary bike
• 15 minutes stairmaster
• 15 minutes strength training with 15lb. barbell

Next stop: Starbucks. I was rather hungry, and had been dreaming of a (decaf) soy latte all morning. It was the perfect treat to hold me over ’til lunch. I was so happy to see that Starbucks  had ‘decked their halls’ with seasonal specilities. Ahhh, I just love holidays…especially Christmas!

After I showered and got ready for the remainder of the day, I searched my bare fridge for something to put together for lunch. I have been trying to be semi-creative with the ingredients I’ve got since I will away for 10 days and am not about to go shopping. I found some veggies, hummus, and TJ’s sesame flatbread crackers – yum.

After round two of classes, my stomach was giving me a loud signal that I was hungry. Oddly enough, I was craving a hot bowl of oatmeal. So…at 4:00pm, I pulled out Mr. Quaker’s goodness, topping it off with cinnamon, brown sugar and walnuts. I also ate the last ripe banana – it was too lonesome by itself in the fruit bowl : )

Now that my tummy had some nutrients to play with, I was out the door again to run pre-road trip errands. I don’t prefer shopping in the dark (it just seems like a daytime activity), but some things had to get done. When I finally arrived back home, I was surprisingly not hungry for any type of dinner. Good thing my hearty snack held me over because I didn’t have much in the way for dinner anyway. I did fix myself a cup of Echinacea Complete Care tea to help unwind from the day, along with a couple Dove Peppermint Bark Dark Chocolates that I discovered at Target today.

I’m off to my “second home” in the morning, the beautiful Sonoma County. I will most likely be away from the blogosphere for 24-36 hours, but the Nutzo Nutrition Nut will return ASAP.

Sweet dreams,

~ Hillary

]]> http://diaryofarealgirl.com/2009/11/19/scatterbrain/ Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:51:18 +0000 Jen http://diaryofarealgirl.com/2009/11/19/scatterbrain/

This weekend started off on the WRONG foot!!! (You will see why on my video)…I was rushing on Monday morning and I made a mess and I didn’t have any papertowels…blah.

LUCKILY, I had a really fabulous day ahead of me at work, so I wasn’t about to be sitting around just thinking about what a crappy week it was starting out to be. So that helped a lot.

I didn’t really partake in my weekend…it just kind of passed me by for the most part…EXCEPT for the most fabulous part of it…I got to see the "Nutcracker" performed by the Moscow Ballet!!!

Ever since I was a little girl in ballet slippers I have wanted to see this production…I almost cried when the character Masha (who is actually Clara in the story, perhaps Masha for the Russian version?) danced to the "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies"…it was absolutely breathtaking!!! AND we got to get all dressed up which was super fun. I wore my "goddess gown" that I picked up from H&M during our trip to Toronto (yes, I have pictures, I just need to get them from my husbands camera!)

Then today, I felt like I was having a successful day overall, but then as I was sending off some packages, I realized that I forgot an integral part of it…bah!! I let the special person know and am sending it separate…but still, it’s frustrating how much I have forgetting stuff!!! I think I need to add organization to my "Spice up your life" project! I will have to go back and add that into the list of aspects.

I am definitely working on it…I am feeling a lot better in a lot of ways…I am really trying to think positively about everything too…I am keeping my fingers crossed for a few things that are left to luck. But really trying to put effort into those things that I can control myself.

Anyway, I don’t want this to get long…especially since my video is a few minutes long…this is me making a latte with all my fancy stuff!!

Hope you enjoy!! (oh and I made this video in a rush…I am NOT impressed with the angle and what not…but what can you do??) I am hoping to have another couple of videos posted later this week, I am loving my mini video camera and my computer actually has some great software – and I SHOULD have my Mac back next week…oh my god I cannot wait!!!

(For the record…Windows Live Writer is my saviour on this…I think I am going to have to bounce back and forth between my Mac and my laptop for videos…I already have another one ready…though we will see how long it takes me to get it working!!!)

sweet potato that is. i think i am turning into one. i ate sweet potatoes thursday, friday and saturday. and i am craving one today but i think i will refrain. oh and today i spotted a recipe for sweet potato cupcakes.. mmm.. those may have to be whipped up in my kitchen soon.

oh! first off do you want to know the winner of the oikos relaxation prize pack?  i bet you do…

number one! which was julia! she said: “My favorite way to rewind and relax is being outdoors, like in the woods or at the beach. When I can’t be outdoors, I like sitting in my chair and reading.”

congrats honey pie! send me your info and i will pass it along to the folks at stonyfield farms so you can get your loot!

okay. so.. long weekend. i can’t really recap everythang because this would turn into a novel but i will show you eighteen pounds of sweet potato fries the highlights!

friday night i met up with the ladies!  first off a few of us met up at the bohemian brewery for some food and drink action.

they serve bread alongside this incredible spread which is, from what i can decipher, just cream cheese mixed with green olives.  it’s super tasty.

my friend and i split the chicken pesto pizza~

this, times 3. delish.

after our meal we headed to the bayou to meet up with seven other lovely ladies.

we hung out while waiting for a table, which turned into an hour and a half long wait.. so glad i ate beforehand or i would have been staaarving.

once we finally sat down everyone was ordering food and i didn’t since i already ate i blurted out “sweet potato fries” to the waitress. gah, trust me.. they are so worth it

don’t worry, i had help.

i realized that i am old when the main topic of conversation all night was wedding details (no, not of MY wedding) and talk of buying houses and other adult related whatnot. ugh. can i please just go back to being 22? i also realized that i am old when we finished up at a bit past midnight and i was ready to go home. hah. it was super fun to hang out with everyone though.. i have been so busy with the move and then went straight to san fran, i have missed my ladies!

saturday i woke up to GLORIOUS, GLORIOUS SNOW!!!!!

snowgasm.

i made myself a latte with espresso+almond milk~

in a very weather-appropriate mug:

and whipped up a greek yogurt mess using some ingredients from a couple of my favorite gals..

i started with a bowl of oikos and added chocolate almond macaroons from deb and bulgarian nut butter from tina:

throw a little shredded spoonfuls into the mix and breakfast was served!

i spotted something on the back of the shredded spoonfuls box that reconfirmed the fact that it is indeed my favorite cereal..

they said “stellar” it was meant to be.

after devouring this amazing yogurt bowl, i spent the next 5 hours at ikea, bed bath & beyond and target. whew. i got a lot of good stuff which i will probably show y’all sometime or another!

at least my new subaru can hang with the winter conditions. i was so dang happy the whole time i was driving. I LOVE THE SNOW!

saturday night we went to mccool’s for a birthday dinner celebration.

i was going to get some black bean soup but the waiter basically told me that it was disgusting so i went with the turkey burger + sweet potato fries..

‘

the sweet potato fries were served with some sort of curry mustard and it was fabulous.  and i ate fries two days in a row. and i didn’t even care. but i probably should have.. i have been so lenient with my eating lately. bah.

today marshall & i made egg sandwiches for breakfast.  i served mine up on a winter wonderland plate.. still so excited about the snow

2 slices of nature’s path all natural 100% whole wheat bread, 1 slice tillamook cheddar, 1 egg+1 egg white (cage free eggs)~i felt better about this meal than i do about all the others over the weekend.

this afternoon i went to a baby shower for my beautiful friend katie.  she is having a girl in february!  so exciting.

i made fruit pizza..

‘

always a hit.

and my friend sabrina made strawberry cupcakes which were super cute!

i had a little bit of fruit pizza but not a cupcake. i also had some of the other food that was at the shower~

mayjuh lackage of protein.  but not too horrible i suppose.

SO..honestly.. i have got to get off the crappy eating wagon. there. i said it.

the way i feel tonight after this weekend reconfirms the fact that i need to get my butt back in gear.  i was really lax with my eating at the foodbuzz festival and the whole time i was in cali,  once i got back to utah i was SO busy at work that i didn’t make the best choices for lunch.. nothing horrible, just not enough protein and probably way too many carbs.  when i am stressed out and exhausted i eat lots of carbs. and then i feel like garbage. grumble.

i have also been a slack ass at working out.  i have only worked out 3 times in the past week.. all cardio, no weights.  well, i did do 20 squats while holding marshall today. hah. but i can feel my body telling me to stop being so lazy and get back into the weight room. i have not been gaining weight or getting fat or anything.. but i KNOW i am losing muscle, i can feel it, i don’t like it.

i also have not been eating enough veggies or protein and have not been drinking enough water. it is crazy that i have been so lenient with myself because i know what i should be doing.. and i am just not doing it. duhhh janetha.

i counted.. 81 days until i leave for jamaica.  that is a little over 11 weeks. plenty of time to get my body bikini ready   it will be hard since the holidays are just around the corner.. but i am bound and determined to be happy in my own skin come february 5th (the date we leave for jamaica).

SO.. for the next 81 days i have a few goals:

• at least 1 gallon of water a day
• 3 cardio workouts a week
• 3 weight training workouts a week
• abs 3 to 4 times a week
• focus on lots of veggies
• body for life style meals (balanced protein/carb ratio plus healthy fat)
• cut waaaay back on sugar.. only eat a treat if i REALLY want it, not just because it is there (this is big during the holidays.. so many treats are everywhere!)
• try to get at least 7 hours of sleep every night
• no fried foods. no excuses.

i think that this is a good list to start with.  it is important for me to have specific goals and not just tell myself to “do better”.. if i lay it out then i am better at sticking to it. lists are this girl’s best friend!

okkkkay so yeah, sorry to ramble on there for a bit. just had to reassess my situation and talking it out helps me stay accountable!

hope you all had a great weekend, i am going to try to catch up on some blogs but i think cuddle time with the pups+marshall just might make me end up closing the laptop

Qs~

1. how do you get motivated/get back on track after a lapse in regular exercise/clean eating (aka “vacation mode”)? let’s hear it people! i need a kick in the butt!

2. what is the best thing you ate this weekend? i love asking this question and hearing about all the deliciousness!

xo. janetha b.

It’s fine to pinch pennies. I  mean, I buy off-brand groceries whenever possible and last week, I even skipped my weekly case of beer. But when being frugal makes you an asshole, please. Just leave.

Tonight I fought a battle I’ve taken on probably two or three times before. Occasionally, there is an elderly couple who comes in and orders a twelve ounce latte split in two, and with an extra shot. And always, I take the realistic approach, charging them for two small (8 oz.) lattes with one shot a piece. Apparently, everyone else who waits on them takes the easy route and charges them for a medium latte, single-shot latte–the theoretical approach.

When I announced that their total was $4.75, I knew they were going to pitch a fit, and was surprised when the man calmly handed me a fiver. But then his dumbass wife opened her trap and began to protest the charge once I had set their drinks up on the bar and focused on finishing a shake that was in the blender.  I pretended to ignore them over the annoying whine and growl of the blender, but unfortunately they confronted me once I was finished.

Quickly, I tried to explain that they were paying for 16-ounces of milk and an extra shot of espresso, which is techinally a large latte. Using two cups adds a bit to the cost (which I think is a little stupid, the way our company has that whole thing set up….like how a double Americano is more expensive than a double espresso, but whatever) and voila, they should be charged for two small lattes, otherwise the small cups would only be semi-full, which they obviously would complain about. The man began to ask for his money back stating that they’ve been here “56 times before,” but this is when Beefcake stepped in to say he would fix it and I stomped off to pout in the back, not so upset by this incident as this fucking stupid job in general.

What drives me nuts is the unrealistic approach to fiscal matters this couple obviously takes. They live in a ritzy area, dress well, are basking in the glow of retirement, and yet they’re getting their panties in a twist over sixty cents worth of coffee. Don’t even come to a coffee shop in the year 2009 and expect two lattes for under $5. Please. I live in a shit apartment, drive a shit car, and am up to my armpits in student loan debt. If anyone needs to freak out over a couple of coins, it’s me.

Anyway, I’m off to bury my head under the covers and get ready to repeat this ridiculousness tomorrow night too. Because nothing is more fun on a Saturday night than slinging Sumatra.

Fuck.

**Demitasse.

it’s good to be here. reassurance and confidence as to why i am here has been stirring. rekindling.

destinations are no longer difficult to find. bus numbers are significant. the tube is still the T in my heart.

it has been a good week. some photogs went to the national portrait gallery where there was an incredible

exhibit of the twiggy. really fascinating to see a model’s career over the span of forty years. what a face.

the final step of mental reassurance of being in london was when the london eye peaked out

of the tall, fall foliage. rounding the corner, climbing the stairs. crossing the bridge.

we all stopped and drank in via camera for a long time. it felt good.

whenever i am in doubt, i’ll probably return to that spot.

classes have officially begun in week three. or so it seems.

things to hand in, topics to discuss. pages to read, PTL.

it has been good.

costa coffee gingerbread lattes have become the drink of choice

as of two saturdays ago. it’s horrible that a hot cup of liquid can

taste like christmas, all things beautiful, warmth, and pure joy

all during the same sip. it should be illegal, it’s that good.

but it is not, so we order them until london runs out of gingerbread syrup.

missing everyone. missing you. missing ski. missing family. missing john.

missing abi. missing jake. missing my gyra boys. missing home.

but it’s good to be here.

camden market today.

marina and the diamonds/local natives show this evening.

kels and i are winging it post-lectures and we’re going to

try to get tickets for tonight, and hang out in the market til then.

well, folks. friends. strangers. family.

this has been an out of character post that

results in a whole lot of fluff and nothing.

nonetheless, thanks for being here.

it truly has been good.

Ever notice little things about yourself that are a bit odd? Not necessarily quite ’strange’ or ‘unusual’, but just funny little details that help you set yourself apart from the rest of the herd on those depressing Monday mornings when you realize those cute shoes you bought are about as unique as the fake Louis Vuitton purses sported by the frumpy office moms who apparently also thought that sensible ballet flats were special and different this year?

*pause for breath*

Ugh. Nothing I love more than the constant reminder that to the average onlooker, I’m just part of the flock. I put on pants nice enough to qualify as ‘business’, avoid open toed shoes or tops that leave my shoulders bare.  But in reality, I fall into the category of apathetic gen-Y office dweller. I’m not quite the post high-school slacker just working hard enough to not get fired, uselessly pushing the dress code with black sneakers and nailpolish. I’m not the razor sharp, well dressed, killer heeled Career Woman with expensive accessories. I’m not a Frazzled Office Mom with a mismatched pantsuit and the wrong sandwich in my knockoff purse that isn’t fooling anyone. I don’ t have a kid and/or mortgage, and I’m not stuck here doing my frantic best to make it through to retirement, realizing that one day I’m going to wake up amidst sit-com reruns, wondering where my youth went.

No, I’m just paying my rent, happy enough that I usually like my job and get to work with my best friend, before secretly running away to live in the south and save up for a trailor.

This last option actually kind of terrifies me. No, no, not the trailor thing. I mean, that’s scary, but crazy exciting. No, it’s turning into a Frazzled Office Mom that scares me. Because Slacker Girl won’t be able to pay bills, but at least she’s hip and cares not for ‘the man’. Career Woman may not have her looks forever, but for now she kicks a lot of ass. But Frazzled Office Mom? There’s plenty of  ladies sporting kids and bellies and mortgages wandering around my office looking lovely and ridiculously pulled together, but somehow I don’t think I’d be able to pull this off. I’m already flying around by the seat of my pants without throwing kids and “caring about my career” in there. And I seriously do not want to turn into my cubicle dwelling mother, shouting at the kids to hurry the hell up and get in the minivan, poking my eyes with mascara at stoplights and hating every minute of it.

And so this is why my morning arrival into the elevator banks is often nothing short of a brief, dizzying bout of introspective crisis. If I see in my fellow ascenders enough terrifying glimpses into the possible future to remind me that it’s a slippery slope from ‘just paying the bills’ to ’stuck here for life’, it makes me want to throw down my latte and run, shrieking “I’m not one of you! I just have to wear these pants!”

Unfortunately, that probably wouldn’t be a good idea since while waiting to eventually say “Screw this noise!” and run away to the wilderness, I happen to enjoy at least electricity and a roof over my head. So I wear my pants and drink my latte and remind myself that aside from my crippling neuroses, I’ve got a few other traits that, at least internally, set me apart from the herd:

- I used to have eight barbells in the back of my neck. I didn’t take them out for my job, I took them out because it turned out I’m allergic to nickle and it would have cost an assload to have them plated in titanium and put back in (see: cost of roof and electricity). I still have the jewelery though – just in case.

- I get a sick kick knowing that even when I’m pushing the ‘doors close’ button on the elevator, it looks to the rushing fat guy that I’m pressing ‘doors open.’ The elevators are lined with mirrors, perfect for displaying the vaguely frantic expression of  ‘oh, so close!’

- I value my sleep enough that I’d rather show up with wet hair, put my makeup on at work and greet my clients blotchy-faced and blurry-eyed than show up looking professional and have someone ask me for stuff before 9am.

- Somehow, my ‘desk job’ involves an awful lot of ‘moving desks.’ Not sure how that happened. In fact, my ‘white collar’ job is actually about 25% blue collar. I feel this gives me the right to scratch and burp in a manner that would otherwise be deemed inappropriate for an office environment.

- At least once a day I belch fairly loudly at Talea. She usually belches back.

- I can pretend to give a shit in four different versions of engrish.

- While Josh enjoys my occasionally sexy corporate wear, he really wishes I’d dress like Joy from ‘My Name Is Earl.’ Secretly (in that ‘I just said it on the internet’ kind of way), I think I could pull it off.

- I get ridiculously annoyed at bathroom dwellers, like that ugly chick from across the hall who stands in front of the mirrors for upwards of ten excruciating minutes, morosely adjusting her ill-fitted clothes. I hate her. Yanking on your shirt will not make it fit, get out and let me pee in private!

- I consider corner cutting to be an efficient skill worthy of honing. Sort of along the same lines of “If you ignore it long enough, it will fix itself.” I’m also of the belief that sometimes, violence is the answer – particularly in relation to the Xerox machine.

- I sent one of my superiors the so NSFW links to ‘Like a Boss’, ‘I’m on a Boat’, ‘Powerthirst’ and ‘Powerthirst2′ because I felt he was not adequately in the cool kids club. I like my bosses to know when I’m making fun of them, or at least understand the humour of being ‘uncomfortably energetic’.

- Freaking out about something completely unnecessary is a part of my balanced breakfast.

There you have it. A little bit of me, myself and my brain. I hope this has been an enlightening or at least amusing adventure. At the very least, if any of you have the good fortune of meeting me in person, particularly at work, you may be less perturbed when I suddenly bust out with The Lonely Island. Because, you see, it’s very important to my peace of mind. So until I can kick this creased-pant habit and start wearing slutty tank tops, I’ll be here, drinking my latte, directing workflow.

(Like a boss.)

With rolling garage-style doors lining the front of the store open most days, Pajama Baking Co. has the best of both worlds: a cozy table to sit at with a mug of hot chocolate and a crisp breeze blowing in reminiscent of a romantic fall picnic. The corner store on South Peal Street brings together the entire community with a range of sweets, treats, and coffees that would make anyone – from a toddler to a business woman – swoon.

Walking in the front door or through the wide-open garage doors, the first thing you’ll see is a bright case of ice cream and a group of families deciding their favorite flavor. Just past the ice cream case is the espresso counter, with a full menu of classic espresso drinks. When I visited I ordered a decaf skinny latte with sugar-free caramel. I know what you’re thinking – none of that’s real. However, I am shocked and happy to say that this is the only “non-real” latte I’ve ever had that didn’t have the  unnaturally sweet taste that usually comes with sugar-free drinks.

After I ordered I asked Sammy, one of the baristas, what her favorite drink to make is. I was surprised to hear her say, “Regular ol’ lattes. cappuccinos are fun, too, but they waste a lot of milk.” Gavin, the other barista, walked over to us and they both agreed on another favorite – “Neal’s Mocha.” Not on their menu, Neal’s Mocha is what a regular – Neal – always orders. A mocha, in a mug ‘for here,’ with whipped cream – and if it’s to-go, no lid! “He never wants a lid,” Gavin said with a laugh. “And, I always draw an ‘N’ and a spider on top,” she added.

Pajama Baking Co. offers one extra that many coffee shops don’t – they have a wide selection of food without feeling like a restaurant. Half of the store is filled with baskets of breads, shelves of ready-to-heat foods made there, and cases of delicious desserts. “We have real food,” Gavin said. I had a turkey sandwich made to order and it tasted like a homemade sandwich from my mom’s house. It came out fast and was piled high with turkey, tomatoes, cheese, lettuce, and chipotle aioli. It had all of the flavor of a restaurant and the speed of a fast-food joint.

All food aside, there’s really only one thing that students, like myself, look for in a coffee house: study-ability. Is it quiet? Are there tables? Is there Internet? Are they friendly? The answer for Pajama Baking Company is yes. Despite the sometimes crowded atmosphere, it’s always quiet enough to study without feeling like a library. Soft music plays in the background, but it’s not overbearing. They have free Wi-Fi Internet and plenty of plugs for laptops. I asked Gavin what she thought of the atmosphere from a barista’s perspective. “Coffee houses can be a little exclusive,” she said, “but here, not so much.”

The only downfall is that the place is so popular it can be hard at times to find a big enough table for a study group, but there’s usually space for everyone. There are even low tables with kiddie chairs for the little ones if you bring them along. Overall, I’d give Pajama Baking Co. an A-. It’s a great place to eat, drink, and study – but you might have to fight for your place to sit!

Score: A-     Price for a latte: around $3     Wait time: 1 min.     Best Food: Coconut macaroon

The home of the upscale lattes launches a new brand of instant coffee called Via, that the high-end chain says “will change the way people drink coffee.”

Source:
http://money.cnn.com/2009/09/29/news/companies/Starbucks_Via/