Sensuous Seconds
Can’t wait to try these sensuous seconds.
Addiction
Kickstart Your Morning with Mountain Dew
Orange Citrus and Fruit Punch Kickstart kicks off this new line starting on February 25, 2013. Each 16-ounce can serves up 92 milligrams of caffeine compared to 330 mg in a Starbucks grande coffee, and it’s only 80 calories to boot. But it’s the 5% fruit juice content that of course makes Kickstart healthier.
Mountain Dew was giving away free samples but that special was over in no time. I wonder if this idea spawned from the Mountain Dew A.M.?
Not Your Everyday Nikes or Are They?
Nike’s FlyKnit innovation was created for performance and FlyKnit running shoes were used during the Olympics. Could you see yourself wearing these knitted shoes that are ultra light? Perhaps, after taking a look at these FlyKnit Chukkas.
These shoes are environmentally conscious, cutting down on materials used, and are supposedly uber comfy. Some of the upcoming colorways are even more appealing too.
The Secret Menu at Starbucks
With all the additions to your drink, these secret menu items sound pricey making them good candidates for your Starbucks Rewards freebies?
Get the “Full” Starbucks Experience at Home
The full Starbucks experience extends beyond just the coffee. Sure, Starbucks triggers all your senses with coffee, but the ordering and delivery of your coffee is also part of the experience. Saturday Night Live spoofs this aspect by poking fun at an “enhanced” version of the home brewing Verismo. Apparently, you don’t need to be a wise guy with your name.
Me and My Starbucks Steel Separated
It was in my hands just for a moment, but I couldn’t convince myself that I needed a Starbucks Steel card.
I managed to order one of these rarities from gilt.com, but did I need this heavyweight in my wallet? Did I need that status symbol? Did I need $400 in Starbucks credit. No, no, and no, so me and my steel card went separate ways…
“Strawberry Blonde” This Morning
To start off this week and morning, my free Starbucks concoction is a “Strawberry Blonde.” No, there’s no actual strawberry or fruit in my coffee, just a mix of the Vanilla Blonde with an extra shot of espresso.
Since coffee with one shot added is a red eye, a blonde (roast) as the base of a red eye gives you a strawberry blonde. While tamer than a Black Eye Blonde, the single shot doesn’t give the drink that espresso creaminess. But then again, free is free!
One of My Favorite Starbucks
I’m not sure exactly why, but one of my favorite looking Starbucks in Hawaii is the one capping the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center. I think it’s the large exterior facade that is strikingly different from most other Starbucks locations. Maybe it’s the repeated box pattern that makes up the overall square shape of the store.
I just don’t know why this store appeals to me, but whenever I’m in the area (rarely), I have to take a peek.
A Black Eye Blonde
Hold up, did I just get myself a Black Eye Blonde from Starbucks? Yes, I did, and it was free! What’s a black eye blonde, you ask? Well, a black eye is brewed coffee juiced up with two shots of espresso. One extra shot equals “red eye,” and two shots added gives you a “black eye.” Staring with a base of blonde roast coffee and pumps of vanilla aka a “vanilla blonde,” add in those two shots of espresso to get what I call a Black Eye Blonde.
I was actually trying to modify my overly sweet Dirty Blonde by changing up the number of vanilla and caramel additions. However, the barista misunderstood me and instead of adjusting to two shots of vanilla and two shots of caramel, she added two shots of espresso (in addition to the vanilla pumps). So I ended up with a Black Eye Blonde.
The best part? Even with the extra shots of espresso, the drink was free by using my free-coffee-in-January tumbler. Was it supposed to be free? I don’t know, but after ringing up my drink, the cash register said $0.00.
Today’s Dirty Blonde is Free
On more than one occasion at different Starbucks locations, I’ve gotten Starbucks’ new Vanilla Blonde concoction free with my free-coffee tumbler. While this drink is just a blonde roast with vanilla syrup, there is normally an additional cost for the syrup. But to the surprise of most baristas, the cost of Vanilla Blonde is covered by the free-coffee-tumbler code.
Wanting to maximize the deal, I was thinking of adding even more flavored shots and pay for them to earn Starbucks Rewards stars on the cheap. So this morning, I dirtied my Vanilla Blonde by infusing golden caramel. Cost of this “Dirty Blonde?” Free.
Buying Syrup Shots for Starbucks Rewards?
Hmmm, is this a relatively cheap way of earning Starbucks Rewards stars? With the free-brewed-coffee-in-January tumbler, you get plain coffee for free (well, that’s not completely true since the newly promoted Vanilla Blonde is covered as a freebie). How about paying for flavored syrup shots added to your free coffee? What’s the cost of a syrup shot? A quarter, 50 cents? Not a bad price to pay to earn a rewards star.
I wonder how a Vanilla Blonde with caramel would taste…
Free Vanilla Blonde in January?
So you picked up your free-brewed-coffee-for-January tumbler from Starbucks right? Heck, I’m sure you still can find some around. Anyways, Starbucks is promoting the Vanilla Blonde combination to start off 2013. This is just the blonde roast tinted with vanilla syrup. Normally, you pay for any shots of flavoring, but you may want to check if your free coffee tumbler qualifies for the Vanilla Blonde.
Some stores are sampling the Vanilla Blonde, and if you try it, you might get a coupon for a free Vanilla Blonde drink. Nice! While you’re in the store, don’t forget to pick up your free episode of Gravity Falls.
