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Holiday Gift Guide 2014: Surge Soda

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Wow, just wow. Thanks to the social media push of the Surge Movement, Coca Cola is bringing back Surge for a limited time. From 1996, Surge battled Mountain Dew in the citrus soda space but eventually lost out when Surge was discontinued in the early 2000’s.

Available only from Amazon, the return of Surge was met with high demand as inventory is already wiped out. Surge is sold in twelve packs of 16-oz cans for $14. Surge does quality for Amazon Super Saver Shipping if you spend $35 or more.

Why include Surge on Pulpconnection’s 2014 Holiday Gift Guide? Family nostalgia that’s why. I’ll let you in on a little secret. In past family Christmas parties, I made the punch using Malolo’s lime syrup, ice, water, sherbert, and my secret ingredient of Surge. Forget the uncaffeinated Sprite or 7-Up. Surge was the draw. It was a perfect complement to the drink and during those times, I would have several 2-liter bottles of Surge ready to mix with. Such memories. Maybe my Surge-powered punch will make a reappearance this holiday season…

Dashing the Latest Starbucks Rewards Dash

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dash5locationsStarbucks latest Rewards promotion is literally a dash. The challenge? Visit a specified number of different Starbucks locations and receive bonus stars. The number of locations varies based on your personal Starbucks habits. I got a dash challenge to visit five locations for five stars, and I’ve seen a challenge of visiting two locations for three stars.

This dash ain’t so bad since I already visit a variety of locations.

Starbucks Aina Haina Get Ka`u

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With only 600 bags available for online purchase, the limited Starbucks Reserve Hawaii Ka’u has since sold out. But the Ka`u is making an appearance at the new Aina Haina Starbucks. This location is evidently going to be the premiere Starbucks on Oahu with this rare coffee available in-store along with the (non-functioning) Clover brewing system.

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Thanks again to @yoda808 for the pictures.

Update: I stand corrected. Wayne’s World said the Ka`u reserve is still available online, and he is correct. I must have been using an old link or product code. Anyways, I updated the link in the post.

Having Fun with the miZX FLUX App

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Hand this one to Adidas. Their new mobile app, miZX FLUX, is a ton of fun. The app simply overlays pictures on a blank silhouette of the Adidas ZX Flux to create your own design (to purchase). Sounds simple but the end results could be stunning. Changing the orientation of the image can get yourself a whole new design. Zoom in, zoom out, have fun.

Orange creamsicle snow flake dessert.

Morning breakfast package “warmly served.”

Windmills.

The stairs of the Diamond Head trail. Looks like an organic exoskeleton, right?

Even Hanauma Bay.

Just wait until different color laces, heel counter, and stripes are available!

Inside Peet’s Kailua

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Whoops, sorry. I forgot to post these pics inside of the new Peet’s in Kailua. Last time, I only posted pics of the outside of Peet’s. This time I actually went inside to buy a drink.

The inside is small with only a few seats and a table or two. And a very industrial-looking stainless steel table it is. The outside swivel seats are kinda interesting since they’re so huge. I don’t get it. Are you supposed to lounge in them? Seat two in a chair? Surprisingly, they are pretty comfy.

One point of improvement is the efficiency of the drink preparation. While the group in front of me took some time to finish up their transaction with the cashier, the barista could have started on my drink. So my raspberry mocha could have been ready immediately after payment, but nope, the barista stood idle. Live and learn I say. Not enough to deter my future visits.

Starbucks Clover Comes to Oahu

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The special Starbucks Clover brewing system has finally arrived in Hawaii, and it’s been here for two or three weeks. If you visit the newest Starbucks location in Aina Haina, you’ll find the first Clover on Oahu. Thanks to @yoda808 for the recon.

Clover Brewing in Aina Haina
Clover Brewing in Aina Haina

clover-store-locatorUsing the Starbucks store locator confirms that store 1009038 is the only Clover system in Hawaii. What’s so good about the Clover? I’m going to really, really dumb it down, but it makes fancy coffee even fancier. Taste a Clover prepared coffee, and you’ll taste a difference.

Just let it be known that only stores that meet certain specifications have Clovers installed. Now, I’m really surprised that this new (untested) location in Aina Haina has a Clover instead of seeing one at a high traffic location like Ward, but Starbucks must have done their research. Or maybe just the potential of (wealthy) Hawaii Kai commuters needing an exquisite pick-me-up for the drive to town would justify the Clover placement. Who knows, but I do know Aina Haina is a far drive from the Windward side. 🙁

Now Starbucksmelody.com can finally show an entry for Hawaii for Clover locations.

La Boulange in Starbucks Hawaii

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You’ve seen the foretelling signs at local Starbucks, and now La Boulange pastries and goodies have debuted in Hawaii Starbucks last week. Along with the yumminess, stores were highlighted in matching pink accents.

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I’ve tried a cheese danish and cranberry orange scone (at different visits), and interestingly both we’re heated up. Previously, you had the option of warming up your food. Now warming seems like a La Boulange mandate. What did I think? The pastries were a step up from previous offerings though I’ve had better elsewhere. Sorry, but that’s my honest opinion. Have you found a La Boulange favorite? There are a lot of new offerings so maybe I’ll find a personal favorite in the new lineup.

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Threes! Starbucks App of the Week

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Threes!
Threes!
If you haven’t caught the “mathematical” game craze, here’s your chance. Starbucks is giving away copies of Threes! as their App of the Week.

The premise of the game is simple. Maneuver numbered tiles and add up pairs to get bigger and bigger numbers. It’s a great mind challenger, and in my opinion, the gameplay is more understandable than the similar 2048 game.

I Need a Bigger Cup Holder

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This new, large size Starbucks Iced Coffee is now available at grocery stores. And yes, you need a bigger cup holder in your car to hold this 48-oz container. I mean this is a one-time drink right? Like a super-sized iced coffee?

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Starbucks Iced Coffee

This iced coffee comes in three flavors, unsweetened, lightly sweetened, and caramel and is 50-60 calories per 8 fl oz (depends on the flavor). As a size comparison, here is the iced coffee bottle next to a Starbucks refrigerated latte boxed drink.

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Size comparison

The oddest aspect of this bottle is the girth of the cap. It’s huge, or so you think. When you unscrew the cap, you might be underwhelmed with its actual size.

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