Grande Cup of Sadness

I had the morning off from boot camp yesterday. On my way into the office, I decided to stop by my favorite ol’ Starbucks for a grande cup of frothy goodness… I parked the car and headed up the sidewalk to the door and it was locked! A small sign on the glass stated that this store was closed and to go to nearest location a mile or so down the street. WHAT? Are you kidding me? I was floored! Some couple had just pulled up and saw the sign too… they told me that the store must have closed overnight and without warning because they were just there over this past weekend! How can they close THE busiest Starbucks in Atlanta? This location is perfect too: corner location of a very busy intersection in east Cobb county… the tables on the inside and outside are full of patrons morning, afternoon and night! So how can they close it?! You see, the thing about the one down the street is that it is brand-new and it is a Drive Thru store. I had inquired several times in the past few months if my fave store was going to close with the opening of the new one down the street… their answer every time was NO. I just loved the fact that Helen, the wonderful lady at the cash register knew me by name and always asked about my work, my hubby, my travels, etc. She took an interest in ME. The barista Richard always, ALWAYS made me the BEST, most perfect non-fat lattes ever consumed by man…. So I called Hubby and griped about it…. and then after talking to him I finally decided to go to the new one and just see how it compared. And secretly hoping to find some of my favorite coffee-serving employees from the old one… Let’s just say the new store is about 4 times smaller, very few tables and chairs for enjoying your cup o’ joe in house. I only recognized one lady behind the counter and it was not Helen… this lady did recognize me though and even commented on my weight loss… she told me that the new landlord at their old location jacked the rent up double the usual payment and that they closed and packed up over the weekend. Richard was located at this new location but Helen was on down the way at one I do not frequent. Great! My coffee crew is now disbanded and we have to drive even further for perfect lattes! What a crock!

Half Caf For Me, Mr. Barista!

In my ongoing quest to find the smaller inner me, I am always looking for different foods, products, etc. that I can fit into my "fit"ness plan... I have read several articles over the past few months that all say that caffeine triggers hunger or at the least the thought that you might want to eat. And I do not need any thought-provoking when it comes to eating when I shouldn't be! So recently I have cut back on my caffeine intake. Unfortunately, I love coffee. Especially Starbucks coffee. And it is too bad that a latte a day is not on my food plan... so I have found the answer: Starbucks Coffee Half Caffeinated Breakfast Blend

I was already used to buying the regular Breakfast Blend at the grocery store... but, now they have it with HALF the Caffeine!! And it tastes wonderful. For only $7-$9 per bag, you cannot go wrong at all. One bag will brew at least 15+ pots of coffee.... 2 lattes at any Starbucks location costs more than ONE bag of this coffee. Go try it!

Donate a Bag of Joe

One morning this past week (before I left for Denver), I stopped by my favorite Starbucks on the way to work and ordered my usual venti cup of tasty frothiness. After I paid my bill, I walked over next to the barista and waited for my order. In those few minutes, I noticed a basket between the cash registers and the barista station… it was full of 1 lb bags of coffee. The sign above it stated something along the lines of: “Support Our Troops- Donate Coffee to The Soldiers”. Every bag in the basket had hand-written notes (w/ a marker) to the soldiers on the bags from the donors. I actually tear-ed up in the middle of Starbucks. I told Hubby about it that night. His response was, “well did you donate a bag?” I wanted to…but, the line was 10 deep by then and the basket was physically located where you will not see it until you have already paid for your cup of joe! I will make a point to go by there this week. So should you.

The Boot Camp Journal- Day 5

Wake up 4:35am- very sluggish this morning….
Got behind some idiot on Post Oak Tritt that stayed 5mph below the speed limit the entire way!
Finally arrived at 5:25am.
Issued a jump rope… Oh know… not jump roping!
Now I am worried- I despise the rope!
Warm-ups… Lord, I am sluggish this morning…
And then the inevitable… start your ropes….
I attempt to jump rope… I am good for about 25 seconds…
Keep jumping.
Keep tripping on the darn rope.
Jump. Jump. Jump. My calves and thighs are moo-ing.
My heart is about to burst out of my chest.
They keep saying, “Keep jumping! Don’t stop!”
More warm-ups.
More jump-roping again.
Run up driveway (which is a steep hill).
Now I am really hurting.
Legs and feet exercises at top of hill.
Run into clearing of woods-
Crunches. Bicycles. Scissors.
Run back up hill.
More legs and feet exercises.
Run back into woods.
Pushups. Planks. More pushups.
Run back down driveway zig-zagging the entire way in a sideways shuffle.
More legs and feet. Squats.
Stretches.
Hoorah.
The instructors took us out to Starbucks afterwards… Woohoo! Free non-fat latte!