The one with Christmas Songs

Today I was feeling Festive! So I put on a darling little outfit (seen below save for my patterned stockings & black booties) & listened to Christmas music on my drive to work.

I wore a black pencil skirt, with a black ruffled shirt; patterned black stockings, a white lace-backed open sweater, a Cranberry red thick belt, & black stiletto booties! Fun.

Despite being a grown woman, I get giddy excited around the Holidays, & Christmas music really gets me to the it-is-the-most-wonderful-time-of-the-year place. Here are some of my favourites, I hope you have a wonderful Holiday, & that these bring a warm smile to your face!

My all-time favourite Christmas song is "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" as sung by Katie Meula or Frank Sinatra; they both get it. There are deep levels of emotions inherent in this song which are too often overlooked when a performer approaches this song. It's touching in a very solemn way. My absolute favourite.

The Trans-Siberian Orchestra is a mighty & impressive thing to behold! Even on their most docile of tunes they bring immense presence which shakes you. Their Carol of the Bells is fantastic & riveting in that it brings Rock to Christmas in a beautifully elegant way! As a juxtaposition, their Christmas Canon is peaceful to a tee - it quite truly makes my heart break with joy!

Now Rob Thomas does a song which is just feel-good Christmas Spirit & I Love it for that! Merry New York City Christmas in guaranteed to bring a smile to my face EVERY time!

And now we come to a man who quite possibly may be the most gorgeous voice I have ever had the pleasure to hear: Bing Crosby. His White Christmas is a classic; also a movie which I can't get through the holidays without seeing! Bing's voice is like Burgundy, in all its forms: wine, wood, colour. It fills the room, warms, comforts & calms. It is slow & purposeful -- from a different time we've forgotten. This is seen perfectly in Do You Hear What I Hear? This song fills you with the hope of a greater belief...that anyone can have an effect on the world. Finally la piece de la resistance: Bing & David Bowie, The Little Drummer Boy - Peace on Earth. Encompasses everything the Holidays are about.

Wishing you the most happy of Christmases!

The one with an Aerator

Today was exciting in a way which multiplied! One of the Mortgage Planners in my office came in & brought each of us a bottle of wine as a Christmas gift! (Huge Wine Enthusiast if I haven't before mentioned it). It was quite a busy day, & I was looking forward to relaxing with a glass of wine. When I arrived home, my cousin begged my Aunt to let her give me my Christmas present early. I was nearly certain I knew what she got me, & her excitement to give it to me when I mentioned having wine confirmed my suspicions. I was thrilled when I was proved entirely correct: she had gotten me a Vinturi Aerator!

Now, what an aerator does is allow red wine to breath instantaneously, to 'breath' is simply to get air into the wine. As the wine pours, it gains velocity at which point two small air tubes on each side of the devise allow air to be pulled into the wine, making a little bubbily noise. This allows a wine which would normally decant for an hour to be ready to drink in seconds! Decanters (& now aerators) are used with older & more complex red wines due to the need to balance out the tannins in them. Tannis are acquired from the skins of grapes, which also give the wine its beautiful color; they're the dryness or slightly bitter taste that you run into most predominantly in the wines of Italy. Decanting or aerating allows the tannis to balance out, as well as lets the wine fully develop so that you can experience the wider range of the olfactory, gustatory, & tactile subtleties it has to offer. Swirling wine in the glass also allows it to better breathe, which is one of the reasons you see the in-the-know crowd doing so. Vinturi is one of the top brand of Aerators available currently!

Thank goodness I has suspected it, or my excitement would have been completely uncontained!

The bottle I was gifted, was from the Central Valley of Chile. Chile is a wonderful source of new & exciting wines! Granted, it has been "discovered" within the last 3 years or so, it is still providing intriguing & bold wines of good integrity at a fantastic price to quality ratio! The estate is Agustos, a 2007 vintage Merlot Reserve. Unfortunately, this wine is at the very cut-off of being considered a Reserve, & I prefer them with quite a bit more time to develop; however, I was pleasantly surprised. It has that piercing darkness of the Merlot with shining glimpses of ruby around the edges. In typical Merlot style, it's soft & easy to contemplate over. It's fruity, like cooked Blackberries or plums, with hints of mint & herbs on the nose. It is fruity on the palat, though still needs a few years to truly balance out. Perhaps I'll try it again in 2012? Today presented two nicely complimenting presents, which I'm happily enjoying!

The one with greek yogurt...

I Love breakfast, I've said it before, but I absolutely LOVE it! Most mornings I'm eager to get ou the door & have some fruit or a quick omelette; however, this morning I had an overwhelming urge for yogurt. And not just any yogurt: greek yogurt! My favourite producer is Stony Field Farms. Oikos is Stony Field Farms' label for Greek yogurt; their plain is to die for!

The simple joy of greek yogurt & honey....that creamy & tart taste with unbelievable smoothness & subtle sweet. It is the perfect balance of sweet & tart, pure healthy simplicity & decadence. I only ever discovered Stony Field Farms because it's very nearby one of my good friend's hometown; she convinced me to try it, & I was HOOKED! StonyField Farms is all organic; if you don't understand that, check out the FAQ. What you need to know, is it's better for you & better for the environment -- read sustainability -- everyone wins!!


The site quotes "Greek yogurt has an incredibly rich & creamy texture, about twice the protein
of regular yogurt, less lactose, and fewer carbs. So it's no wonder Greek is flying off the shelves".
I couldn't agree more, it's filling, it's an incredible source of lean protein, adds creaminess to dishes without adding fat (did I mention it's Fat FREE!) The texture, creaminess, & taste of Greek yogurt are comprable to none!



The fabulous thing is that yogurt can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be. As Simple as just Honey (how adorable is the Honey Jar below!) Or add some nice Strawberries or Mango!

Another favourite addtion is Kashi Go Lean cereal! Another wonderful source of pure goodness & protein!

The Oikos website had dozens of recipes which are tantalizing & healthy; such being smoked salmon spread, spicy flatbread pizza, Tazatziki (YUMMM), Cheesecake with lemon curd, and so much more! Check out their recipe section & discover the joy of Greek yogurt yourself!

The one with a Handmaid

I recently finished reading Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale; it is an incredible book about the human spirit which begs us to question our own character. It was one of those books where I begin reading & have tear away from it because though it's enthralling, I can't waste away a day simply reading. The novel was written in 1985 & has since won over 1/2 a dozen highly acclaimed awards as well as being adapted to every form of theatrical entertainment. I watched bits & pieces of the movie; however, as is so often the case, it could not do justice to print.

The plot is of an alternative US which has become a Military Dictatorship, The Republic of Gilead, formed after the assassination of the President & the successive restructuring of society which results in the elimination of rights to any form of freedom for 90% of the population. In this society dress-code references a person's social function, from the Commander, Wife, Handmaid, Martha's, Aunts, Angels, Etc. The Sons of Jacob, are the Jewish men who more or less rule The Republic of Gilead. What is interesting however, is that while the rulers of the nation were supposed to be Jewish, they used many Biblical stories as justification for strict rules, being closely tied to the stories as they were. This in & of itself is not strange when concerning extremists; that is, until you realize that half of the time, they're using stories from the New Testament, which of course is there Christianity separates from Judaism. (This is the one factor which the movie does in fact fix.) Fore it is only in the Old Testament that Judaism and Christianity are in agreement. I wonder if this was a detail which was overlooked by the Author, or some other rather strange twist in plot.

The diction, & discrimination when it comes to which details to focus into are impeccable. They get at how truly we take our freedoms for granted. "I looked at the cigarette with longing. For me, like liquor & coffee, they are forbidden" (14). The main character is constantly flashing back to her previous life, what they call 'the other time', she sums up the existence of a Handmaid as such: "We lived in the gaps between stories" (57).

One of my favorite lines is "We lived, as usual, by ignoring. Ignoring isn't the same as ignorance, you have to work at it" (56). It brings to light our nature, ignoring the things which bother us yet we cannot change; however, she brings this to the ultimate. A place where she has no choice but to ignore the complete loss of her constitutional rights. I begs the question, what evils do we ignore? Are there things we should take the stand to change?

Questions continued to circle my mind as I continued reading to better understand her world. What would I do? Would I have the integrity, the austerity of spirit, the defiance of her friend Moira? Would I eventually crumble? Would I forget the freedom I now enjoy? Would I forget my current life, the people in it? Would I still look for Love in such desolate circumstances? Would I join the injustice? Would I know how to spell Hope?

As I said, it was an outstanding & provoking book! Even in such a seriously based book, I found an eerily funny note at the end. It is only in the end notes that you find out the book was based around the city of Bangor, Maine. Why this is incredible & funny to me, is that from the 1st paragraph I read, I was picturing the center of Bangor, where I went to High School & grew up. I went to a private school of the same ear in the center of the city which down to each brick and old window fits the "red center". There is no University, but as one walks from the school down into the downtown you pass a large wall, several chruches, a grand library further into the downtown, dozens of glass-front shops, and eventually the river. It's breathtaking becuase I don't know why it struck me as such, but from the weather to the buildings I could see it, almost feel it as being in Bangor. Despite having lived in New Jersey now for over a year, that is exactly what came to mind when I was reading the pages of The Handmaid's Tale.

Here are some pictures of Bangor, as well as final quote to consider:

"its barren landscape, yet perfect; it's the sort of desert the saints went into, so their minds would not be distracted by profusion. I think this is what God must look like: an egg. The life of the moon may be be on the surface, but inside" (110)

The one with a hair cut

There are few things in the world which make you feel as fresh, fiesty, & vibrant as a new hair cut! From the wash, to the cut, to the blowdry, it's simply about making you feel Fantastic! My favorite part without a single hesitation is the head massage I get while they're washing my hair. It's only a five minute massage, nothing compared to the 15 minute massage I used to get from my hair dresser in Italy who truly had blessed hands! Still it's intoxicatingly relaxing, clears you mind entirley so that gaiety and pleasure are the only things you can focus upon.

When I first arrived in Italy, I had long hair, half way down my back, but on a spur my first time getting my hair cut in Italy, I told him to do whatever he thought would best suit me. He gave me this fabulous bob cut which was shaggy & playful, while still unambiguously sophisticated.

Here's a few picutres from that night when we were out at our across-the-street bar "The Red Garter" -- Lots of fun!!

Since then I've kept it short, mixing it up from fun bobs to even a few pixie cuts. My new favorite cut which everyone seems to agree compliments me the best is very simialar to the Victoria Beckham cut shown below.

Whatever you do with your hair, I think it's important to remember that no matter how much you do or don't like any particular cut you get, HAIR GROWS BACK. :) It's there to play with, which I highly encourage!!

The one with a CrackBerry

Today a terrible thing happened....I was washing my hands, since I didnt' have pockets I was holding the corner of my BlackBerry between my lips, & it slipped. The 1/2 second where it was falling & my soaking hands tried to save my phone felt like cinimatic slow-motion. I can still play the heart-breaking scene in my head. I didn't save it, & it was caught under a rush of water. I frevently tore off the back & battery as I dried my phone & hands, but as I shook it, water continued to come out. :(

This was the first time I've thus destroyed a phone, & I can tell you it is not fun in any way. Firstly, if you're like me, you'll have to take your break early so you can go run to the nearest grocery store to buy rice & plastic baggies. Yes, my co-workers convinced me that the only way to save my phone would be my sealing it in rice (since it's so naturally absorbent) for 24 hours & praying all the water is rightly absorbed.

Once my phone was packed away & surrounded by rice (which I stood in the aisle for about 5 minutes asking the question "Which brand of rice will work the most efficiently for THIS application?") the full feeling of being perplexed & lost set in. I was shaky simply at the thought that if I got into an accident, I couldn't call the police. As I continued to drive these realizations became worse. I couldn't call my friends to tell them how ridiculous I was, I couldn't call my cousins (who I'm babysitting for the week) to tell them they couldn't call me, I couldn't text my boss when he asks for updates. I couldn't check Facebook, or TFLN! As I drove to get the one thing which is assured to bring me relax & satisfaction (Starbucks) I realized I couldn't check the balance on my gold card, or reload it, because that is one of my phone's apps! I couldn't even take notes about these revelations because I've stopped carrying pen & paper because my BlackBerry takes care of that! These revelations rushed over me as I looked down at the baggie of rice sitting on my passenger seat, knowing my phone was within & I truly came into fruition that CrackBerry is a very accurate phrase. I was nearly shaking at the anxiety the loss of this little device which keeps me connected in so many ways.

I used to love the ability to be disconnected when I lived in Italy & my phone (which only made phone calls) was the ONLY way anyone could reach me. If I left it at my apartment or its battery ran out, NO ONE outside friends in Florence which I happened to stumble upon could reach me -- period! Now I found myself addicted to my smart phone. OH, & another one, when my co-worker thought it would be funny to sit in the IT bin we use to move heavy equipment from one side of the office to another, & got STUCK -- I couldn't take a picture.

What they don't tell you is that the bits of rice find their way into your phone! Yes, I could hear it rattling in my phone & had to shake every last piece out before attempting to turn on my phone. When I did, the lights flickered & the hour-glass turned for about 5 minutes before I gave up complete hope. Off to the Veriozon store I go...

The one where it's casual

Yesterday our corporate office sent out an email to all, it was rather simple, but very exciting: "Casual dress for the remainder of the week". Pause for extreme excitement!!! The one other announcement which could top a break from business attire is the elusive Adult Snow Day, & even the chance for that is still months away. You may laugh, but in the moment, those two informative emails may be more conducive to an "F'ing Right!" than a raise.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE dressing up in pretty dresses, pencil skirts, & my work-appropriate stilettos....but every once in a while it's just FUN to break the cycle!

So today---though I rarely wear them, it was a jeans day. I threw on my favorite Citizens (I swear brand was made to hug my body) with a long-sleeve black Ralph Lauren knit top, my armani exchange slate-grey army-style cropped jacket & slouchy Steve Madden leather flat boots pulled over my jeans. Leaving the jacket open, I turned a long multi-layered necklace into a short even more dynamic necklace by looping it. I was ready to rock!

The one with Jersey Boys

So today my Aunt surprised my cousins & I with tickets to go see Jersey Boys on Broadway! I Love, Love Broadway, so I was excited, & we simply had to get dressed for the occasion! (may have played with the color-editing just a lil...)

Now, Jersey Boys is the story of Frank Valli & The Four Seasons. It's an entirely hilarious musical; no one in the audience could stop laughing, least of all me!! It made jest of Jersey in the most perfect way! What was really weird is I'm living near a lot of the towns /bars they mention, which is way too surreal...I don't really live in New Jersey do I?!? A little ingenious subtlety of the play was that they made four 'seasons' by having each member of the original band narrate a section to create the four seasons of their career: Spring was Tommy, Summer was Bob, Fall was Nick, & Winter was Frank. Another fun twist was that they had 3 screens above/integrated into the stage which flashed different 1960's Pop Art style, such as the Lichtenstein seen below, on them throughout the performance. So FUN!

I have to admit, I didn't recognize the name Four Seasons going into it, but they are all songs you've heard: Oh What a Night, Big Girls Don't Cry, Walk like a Man, Beggin', My eyes adored you, Working my way back to you, Will you Love me tomorrow, My Boyfriend's back, Stay & Frank Valli even did You're too good to be true! That high pitched male singer who dominated the 60's, that was Frank Valli.

My favorite character was by far Nick! He was this very quite person who didn't often, but had fantastic one liners every time he opened his mouth! He had an almost grumpy demeanor, in that he didn't smile, he also looked like Patrick Swayze. You wondered at times if he slightly slow, but it made him even more funny & lovable! He wasn't the star of the show, but rather the one you couldn't get enough of, the one you wanted to see more of! His last line of the show was something to the effect of, "If you're in a four person band & you're Ringo......" pause for laughter "well....." My type of comedy!

If you don't know the secret to Oh What a Night, see it, I promise you'll enjoy it!

Now during the play, acutally right before intermission, they mention the British Invasion of the mid 1960's. In a flash of rapid thought-process-jumping, I realized that we're currently going through another British Invasion -- which I entirley welcome, Love those accents! But think about it, in the 90's Muse, Coldplay, Radiohead were all over. More recently, Bring me the Horizon, Leona Lewis & Joss Stone have been huge. Now Taio Cruz is topping the charts! Not to mention countless others! I know that we're now much more used to artwork & music from around the world -- Hell Euro-pop is some of my fav! Have we simply become immune to it due to the speed & availability of information in our fast-pace, high-tech world?

In any case, wonderful day! Now I'm off to rock-out to some particularly fun music!

The one with a puppy!

It's so funny that most terrible of days (read: severe frustration at work) can suddenly turn to utter joy & excitement when you return home to find this:

Meet Freddie! The newest member of the family! He is a Shiba Inu, as with the other dogs in the house, which is an ancient breed from Japan dating back to the 3rd century BC! They are very similar to the Akita but much, MUCH smaller, around 17-23 pounds on average.

We played with him & the other dogs for a long while until he go tired out (as shown below). It absolutely amazed me how intrinsically happy a puppy can make you. They're spunky & fully of life, clumsy as they trip over their own big paws, cuddly & so soft! They give you unconditional love & excitement every time they see you, & they're cute!

But how could I forget to introduce the other puppies! The first picture above is Freddie meeting Daphne (6), below is a picture of Scrappy (8) who is my favorite, he's so Handsome, & Scooby (10) who sleeps in a manner which often scares me that he's passed.... Can you guess the theme of their names?!?

Now I ask you, what better end to the day can you ask for than a puppy?

The one with Lil Weezy

As many know, Lil Wayne has been set free from jail today!!! It has provided me with bursts of excitement throughout the day. I've said before how much I admire & fully LOVE Lil Wayne's musical genius, but I don't believe it's something I can say enough!

Today I was sporting an outfit which was sexy to say the least, but I realized half way through the day, it reminded me of one of those Hell's Angels themes you see in the On Fire music video-- a little more professional for work of course! I had a tight black pencil skirt a few inches above the knee, a black Cami tucked into the skirt, black patterned stockings, black knee-high leather stilettos, & a cobalt blue shoulder sweater & dainty jewelry -- so much fun!

The On Fire video is dynamic, sexy, & ROCK, you must see it!

Back to Mr. Carter, the respect I have for him simply for the pure integrity of MAKING his career happen; I can only aspire! Apparently, when he was trying to get his name out, he would call record companies & leave rap-messages on their voicemail -- fantastic! The fact that he has become such an iconic artist, & has made a Rap-Rock fusion, that is an accomplishment enough, yet we all know he has so much more in store for his career! The brilliance of his time in jail is a true testament that the sky is not even the limit. He lost NO momentum during his eight months in jail...if anything, he may have gotten hotter!

Rebirth has been my favorite album thus far...I can blast & rock out to it in my car ANY day! I'm sad to say I have yet to check out I am not a Human Being, but I will very shortly be diving deep into it & will get back on my analysis ;) What I love about Rebirth is that it is dynamic, homogeneous in its juxtapositions, lyrically intelligent, & displays a superior level of music execution which is generally overlooked & underrated. I am adamently anticipating what is in store for the next few months!

My full dedication & Love goes to Dwayne Michael Carter today!

Below are some of the very well known songs I love as well as some of the slightly more obscure, check 'em out!

The Obvious: Down, Duffel Bag Boy, Every Girl, Forever, Hey DJ, Lollipop

Others I truly LOVE: American Star, I'm at war, Miss me, Mrs. Officer, No Love, One Way Trip, Runnin, See you in my Nightmare, Something you forgot

The one at I Soldi

Earlier this evening, I met my friend Liz for dinner in the West Village. Liz & I first became friends when we studied together in Firenze, Italia. Liz found this wonderful little place where the Restaurateur, is a woman from Florence who decided to leave the world of fashion to open a restaurant based on the traditional Tuscan dishes she grew up with -- I Soldi

If you've ever been to Christopher Street, you know it's right at the edge of the village which begins to get very quite...you could easily walk past & not even know you've missed anything! I Soldi is based upon simple elegance, something I LOVE!

An incredibly small space, really only enough seating for maybe 30 people, but as a consequence it has a very intimate ambiance; like you're favorite hometown spot. The wait-staff is quick to greet you but in a very reserved manner, they check you coat and purse if you'd like & seat you at either a small table or the bar. Liz & I sat at the bar, a monumental thing of beautiful dark wood, with a vast number of familiar Italian wines & spirits displayed behind it. The bartender who looked as though he was a part of the restaurant told us about the night's specials while pouring us some especially crisp water in very cheque-low glasses which felt as though they may be Riedel. We settled on a Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (one of my favorite Tuscans!) & then had to decide what to get to eat! Everything looked amazing....all the classic Tuscan dishes of the season -- another fact I love! Seasonality is far underrated!! We settled on a Fegato di Turchia (warm seasoned turkey pate) to share & each had to try the Lasagne Al Carciofi (Artichoke Lasagna).

Soon after ordering a plate of olives, a plate of EVOO (extra virgin olive oil), & a small basket of bread was brought to us. The bread was fresh baked & whole grain -- Yum. The olive oil though, I could have died over! I found out later, via the website (click on I Soldi above), that this was olive oil which was from the first cold press of the season of her family's farm outside Florence. It was intensely fruity & dynamic, the plate had a small amount of cracked pepper on it, & was the perfect additive. You could smell this EVOO as soon as it was placed before you, that wonderful smooth earthiness -- be still my heart! Soon after, though not too soon (this is an authentic Italian place), our antipasti came. I could smell the warm spice on it, the pate was generously spooned over a thick slice of their bread; it was smooth, reminiscent of Tuscan autumn, & entirely satisfying. It was quite a filling dish, so I'm glad they allowed a good amount of time before I Primi! We sipped wine & chatted easily as the noise level was well maintained simply by the size of the establishment. When our Lasagna came I could not have been more enthralled! This was a mountain of fresh made pasta, cream, and artichokes all blended together with the most perfect spices of subtle pepper, nutmeg, and sage. It was exactly what great Tuscan lasagna should be, subtle, gorgeous, creamy, & NO tomato sauce! As a whole it was incredibly smooth and creamy: I could have eaten two portions of this had it not been so filling!

I was most impressed at how much I felt as though I was in Florence. The dining was relaxed & sophisticated in a subdued way. New York Magazine said of Rita Sodi, "the platinum-spike-haired proprietress, is often at the bar, treating it like her kitchen table...". This is so true...As Liz & I were seated as the bar, we saw her come out of the kitchen several times incredibly as unpretentious as you would expect from a true Florentine. All I can say, Grazie mille!

I knew I had to wear something fabulous to this dinner, but I was also coming straight from work, so it was a balance of fashion & Business attire. I started with my favorite black pencil skirt from White House Black Market, the Elyse, which has some fantastic details if you blow up the picture & a fabulous sexy little slit in the back. I am a huge fan of pattered stockings -- especially of the lacy persuasion -- so I added a pair of my Givenchy burgundy colored stockings. A fun little BCBG billowy gold-yellow top tucked into the skirt, & fabulous little black booties with a fun ruffle on the back. I didn't know they came in other colors, but now I seriously want the cobalt blue! For accessories, I went simple: added a delicate double-gold-chain necklace & fun gold, pearl, & gem earings (pictured below).

It was a wonderful night out, which I would highly suggest making happen for yourself. A great little Italian Proverb which came up over the night:

"Old Wines & Friends get better with Age"

The one with Starbucks

What is it about Starbucks which fuels my LOVE.....Is it the intoxicating smell of the best espresso west of Italy roasting as I walk in, the unmistakable relaxing decor, the brilliantly strong integrity of the brand, or the friendly & knowledgeable Barista? I honestly believe it's a combination of it all; that unique experience I can get only at Starbucks!

My obsession (note the bumper sticker I received above) is to the point that at the Starbucks near work, they begin making my latte when they see me walking through the door. Half of the staff knows me & EXACTLY what I get, since I come on a daily basis, & 90% of the time, get the same thing. What is that you may ask? A Tall Skim Latte....perfect espresso & steamed milk, it is beautiful. The strong robust espresso tasting subtly of oak & chocolate with a slight fruitiness which reminds me of Italy. One of my favorite Da Vinci quotes goes "Simplicity is the ultimate Sophistication", that theory comes through here as well as in other aspects of my life.

A cafe I frequented in Florence, Moyo, always served their latte with some fun design such as this & a small chocolate-covered hazelnut

Simply needing my caffeine fix every afternoon does not fully explain my addiction. To continue, I signed up last year for the Starbucks MyRewards. This originally meant that I used a gift card which was registered online to get a "star" every time I purchased. After 60 stars, I was upgraded to the Gold level: read free Birthday drink, free trials, a free drink every additional 15 stars, & a Gold card with my name engraved upon it!! But was that enough? Oh no, I also discovered that my Blackberry had a "Starbucks Card Mobile" Application. This fun little toy allows me to view my rewards, my card balance, reload my card based on debit cards I have stored within the app, & even pay at Starbucks locations within Target stores. If Starbucks' espresso was available via intravenous drip....I'd take it! I am certifiably hooked, I know this, & accept it.

This was posted on the Facebook "Starbucks" fan-page, better believe when I have children they will be dressed as this!

This is not however, a blind addiction. Before I became the Starbucks-crazed-woman I am today, I was an infrequent patron, & read the book "Pour Your Heart Into It". This is a book written by Howard Schultz, the owner of Starbucks, which illuminates the essence of Starbucks from a single shot of espresso, to each store, to the international Brand. I read this book while studying for my undergrad in International Business & Marketing; we had to choose from a list a book to read, & I jumped from my seat when I saw this one. It's a fantastic book which dives not into the marketing or business side, but rather into the Starbucks Brand, its roots, its integrity, its vision. I developed a respect & affinity towards Starbucks which was only reinforced as I continued to study it. If you want to know anything from a basic FAQ, to their current specials & nutrition, to a full history, or what their consumers are saying about them, visit their website. Starbucks.com is fully encompassing in every sense.

When I get a chance to use an example of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility), I usually choose Starbucks. So many people criticized them when they began closing over a thousands locations nationwide; however, I was thoroughly impressed. Starbucks believed that they were losing quality control, which wasn't something they were willing to sacrifice; they closed all those stores, took tens of thousands of lost profits simply to protect the strength of their brand! What stronger show of integrity is there? Another Example I particularly like is the campaign they sponsored for Earth Day 2010. A few weeks beforehand, they asked people to "pledge" on the website the number of disposable cups they would save weekly by using reusable cups when they went to Starbucks (which also gets you a $0.10 discount). After you pledged, they showed you how many trees you would save yearly if you followed-through. Having one latte a day, I had the potential to save 7 trees. (!!!) I immediately went to buy my reusable mugs & have been using them since. I forget what the pledge Total was by Earth Day; however, in 2009, Starbucks served 26.3 Million drinks in reusable mugs -- that's quite impressive.

Another feat of integrity which is Love, is that no matter what Starbucks you go to, you will get the same drink which you know & love, hand made exactly the same way. I'm not just speaking about within the US either. I've been to Starbucks in London, Barcelona, Paris, Madrid, & Prague, as well as countless cities around the US, & I have yet to be disappointed once. The exciting thing too is that while all the drinks are the same, & the decor is unmistakably familiar, each countrie's Starbucks has their own colloquial pastries & goodies. There have been discussions on the forums to bring special items from other countries to our domestic Starbucks, & I sincerely hope they do, it's one of my favorite parts of trying international Starbucks\....well that & the simple trill of seeing Starbucks there!

Starbucks in Barcelona

I could go on for hours about my devotion to Starbucks, but I hardly believe that would be fitting. Let me know your thoughts on the brand, & of course any points of discussion would be highly encouraged!