Video of my day

A friend of mine wanted to see a little bit of my life here in the Mid West...so I threw together a little video today.  It's random and boring, but I enjoy living in it!

Starbucks

I have a lot of blog reading to catch up on, I haven't logged on in quite a while!!  There isn't much new with me!  Last time I updated was right after I had been hired to work at Starbucks, but I didn't really talk about it!

You pretty much all know I don't drink coffee at all.  I never have, and even though it smells nice and homey...I find the flavor repulsive.  I get free drinks on the clock, and I thought that would be a waste of a benefit since I would never make myself a latte.  I didn't realize how many amazing, non-coffee, fattening drinks they had there!!  If you think about getting a job there, be prepared to gain 5 lbs in the first 2 months.  Literally!  I had to diet for a little bit to get myself under control!  I thought I'd post my favorite non-coffee drinks!

Since it's getting "warm" (here that means...40-50 degrees), I'll start with cold drinks!!

Frappuccinos!  These particular fraps contain no coffee (although you can really order any flavor and just ask for no coffee base.  These are specifically creme based, non-coffee drinks).  All are delicious.  When I make them for myself, I typically use non-fat milk and I don't use whipped cream.  I will admit that using whole milk and adding whipped cream makes them FAR more delicious, though.

Double Chocolately Chip.  

Strawberries and Cream

Vanilla Bean 

Then there are iced teas for all you disgusting tea drinkers out there.  If I had to drink one though, it would be the passion fruit iced tea.  It's the only one that doesn't smell like grass clippings when I pour it.

There is also this blended strawberry lemon drink, that is good but SUPER sweet!

Okay, now for HOT drinks...I actually don't' really like their hot chocolate.  The chocolate is just a little too bitter for me (I'm a milk chocolate girl if anything).  I LOVE their white chocolate though. MMMMMM.

White Hot Chocolate.  Hello.

My favorite winter drink is by far the Caramel Apple Spice.  I make it with sugar free syrup, because otherwise it's just a little too sweet for me.  I do NOT skip the whipped cream on this drink, it is not the same without it.

I sometimes blend this into a frappuchino, and it has more of a slushie texture.  My oh my...so yummy either way.

OH, I forgot to mention that I occasionally get "steamers", which are just steamed milk with flavored syrup (I get the Cinnimon Dolce syrup, the same kind used in the Caramel Apple Spice), and whipped cream or caramel drizzle.  Yum...I haven't made one of those in a while.  

Oh!  I almost forgot the "healthy" choice, which are the Vivanno Smoothies.  They only contain fruit preserves, milk (you can substitute soy for any drink, by the way), protein, and a whole banana.  The flavors are strawberry, orange mango, and chocolate.  I think chocolate is nasty.  I have these for lunch sometimes and they are wonderful.

This is not me trying to pimp out Starbucks.  I think they're doing alright.  I just used to go there with friends and I only knew two non-coffee drinks to order.  Now I'm craving them all at once.  

Shoveling etc...in the snow

I might make a better video of the snow, but I recorded part of my BlogTV broadcast I was calling "Blizzard Watch."  There is supposed to be a crazy storm tonight so I wanted to capture it in the making.  Web cams like mine...don't capture the falling snow very well.  So I decided to go shovel and play in the snow, which of course is wildly entertaining.  No sound...heh.  So exciting.


playing in the snow - Broadcast your self LIVE

2010

I personally always enjoy reading year recaps, so I'm going to go ahead and recap the year in this blog.  A lot of these are cell phone pictures, so I apologize.


I went to four states I hadn't been to before (IL,LA,AR, and OK), bringing my state count up to 10!

In Arkansas

I saw some awesome shows! Wicked, Tegan and Sara, Miss Saigon, and Paramore

I joined the Sears family. 

I owned my first car (though it's rough trying to get rid of it!!)

                                      

My niece Dottie was born!!!!!!!

This is not the best picture of her, I just love it!

I got to watch Duggle become an adorable toddler.

I read over 20 books, which I hope to continue to do every year!

I went to the gym religiously for MOST of the year.

Don't remember why I took this...

I saw Sarah and Ryan graduate college!

I auditioned for Glee and nothing came of it, but I got a ton of votes and it was so fun!

Screenshot of my final vote count.  I felt loved!

I decided my next move would be to Glenview, Illinois.  I will be living with a family I adore (temporarily), in a place that is different from anywhere I've lived before.  I'm very excited to see what this adventure brings!!

Bean Reflection

Got to spend the holidays at home with the family, I was very lucky!

I'm an obscenely lucky human being, and I hope 2011 is half as awesome as 2010.  It wasn't a perfect year, I don't mean to imply that at all.  When I step back and look at a FEW of the highlights (this is just a small grab bag) of my year, I feel very privileged to have my life.  I don't deserve it!  I hope everybody has a great new year, and I encourage you to at least write down some highlights.  I guarantee everybody has a hand full of blessings from 2010.

I'm not huge on New Years resolutions, but I don't mind setting goals for myself.  I will read over 20 books (I'd like to be at 25) this year.  I will take some classes.  I will also see at LEAST two more states this year, but I'm aiming for 4.  I will continue to be active and not over eat.  I will have a good time and be responsible!  I will, I will, I will!

I Want to See Americaaaaa!

If you've spoken to me at all within the past week, you've probably heard about my new goal!  That is to go to all 50 states!  Most items on my life list involve travel, and I saw a few videos from people who have done this and I knew it would be worth the time and the effort.  I'm not going to try and do this all in one shot, I'd like to do it over time and not just run over the state line and run back.  There are a lot of international places I'd love to visit as well, so if I can, I'd like to complete my goal in under 10 years.  I don't exactly have an endless amount of money so there will be gaps, haha.



I made my first trip specifically to fulfill this goal yesterday.  I drove a little under 3 hours to Lake Charles, Louisiana and spent a few hours there.  For some place so close, it definitely had it's own separate identity!  It was pretty old and very Southern, I loved it.  I would've enjoyed going to New Orleans, but it was a LOT cheaper to go somewhere closer (the grand total was around $60.  Gas and a meal.) and I still liked it.  So this is my current map I'm using to keep track.  I have a long way to go! (I'm not sure whether or not to include PA and NJ, because I literally ONLY drove through there from those airports.)