Tag Archives: Starbucks

West Coast Eats

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Ahh – so recovery from vacation is never fun. I’ve always been one to dread the day of getting back to reality – even since I was little.

This week has been especially difficult – adjusting to East Coast Time again with daylight savings on top of that has thrown me for a loop.

However, I think I’m finally back to myself – maybe not completely, in terms of sleep schedule, – but I’m definitely feeling better.

The best way to not let getting back to the grind let ya down? Relive vacation memories! haha

My week in Los Angeles was wonderful – of course I got to spend time with my best friend, who I rarely get to see, and enjoy sunshine and relaxation.

Plus…loads of good eats! I stuffed my face full of wonderful foods – and surprisingly didn’t pack on the pounds (you’ll see why this is surprising…)

We have a tradition of going to Hugo’s Restaurant. A lovely, relaxed eatery with tons of amazing food. You can go healthy (they do juices, eggs, vegan and veggie options) or you can indulge with comfort foods. I chose to go for both this time around with their veggie burger.

This was one of the best veggie burgers I’ve ever had . It was so delicious and so filling…and could have easily been lightened up had I not gotten the fries…but they were delicious, too. No regrets!!

I chose to top mine with cheddar cheese, grilled onions and avocado. Best lunch in a while.

Can I also mentioned how dangerous the free petites were at Starbucks?? I’m obsessed with the salted caramel square. Must. Recreate.

…multiple this petite by like 10…

We of course perused the Grove’s Farmer’s Market – and came out with Pinkberry.

While, yes, a Pinkberry has opened, practically in my backyard, in Boston – I still associate it with LA.

This one was an awesome combination of their limited-time blood orange flavor yogurt (loved), pineapple, kiwi, raspberries and coconut. I need to start doing their to-go pints here in Boston.

St. Patty’s day was spent touring Italy…and then jumping to the Irish festivities.

 

Who needs soup and salad when you have fonduta and calamari?

 

 

 

Classin' it up.

 

Of course, there was the obligatory churro at Disneyland. So delish.

Though my choice was fried dough, rolled in sugary goodness… I was impressed with Disney’s healthy options.

Lots of fresh fruit! ..and giant pickles.

The only semblance of fruit I consumed at Disney was in the form of strawberry flavoring for my margarita.

No shame.

Hey, it was vacation! :)

Missing in Action

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Hello, hello, loves!! Long time, no blog!

Although, of course, I left for vacation with the greatest of intentions to blog – my computer rarely saw the light of day. It deserves a vacation, too, right? :)

Where have I been this last week or so? I’ve been in Los Angeles visiting my best friend.  If you’ve followed the blog, I did this last year as well.

Of course, I had an amazing time. Great food, great friends and great times.

A quick recap??

 

Cookie baking and decorating

Lots of free petites...salted caramel square, please?

Pinkberry in my belly. Blood orange yogurt, pineapple, raspberries, kiwi and coconut.

Celeb spotting (Dave Coulier)

OG goodness.

 

Churro amazingness.

I met a great boy. haha

More details to come!!

How has everyone been?! What’ve I missed in the bloggie world?! Fill me in!

xoxo

You’re Turning Violet, Violet!

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click for source

Okay, so I may not be blowing up like a blueberry – buuuut I did receive a lovely blueberry treat in the mail from  Miss Leashie Loo!

What is happening, you ask?? Blueberry. Muffin. Lara.

I’ve been waiting to try this sucker, and this morning was the perfect opportunity. I was feeling lazy, I was craving carbs in a major way (umm, we’re not gonna talk about the multiple sandwich and/or bagel things consumed last night in the glow from my television…), and I was running late.

I don’t think I’d be finding a more perfect time for a bar.

I paired it with a nice hot cup of coffee….a mixture of the last bit of grounds of a free sample I received from Starbucks - their Natural Fusions Vanilla (which I really enjoyed and used up quickly!) and Archer Farms Cinnamon Vanilla Nut Coffee…and I figured they both were vanilla-y, and it was delish.

Okay – so let’s get down to business and talk about this blueberry bar! I assume some of you out there have tried it? I enjoyed it! ..I do have to say I haven’t met a Lara I didn’t like, but the fruit flavors have always come second to anything with peanut butter, chocolate or coconut (and any combination of the three). However, this is up there, and definitely one of my favorite fruit bars – to date (no pun intended, consider Laras are full of them)!

This bar also had a softer texture – which I really like. I’m not sure if that was a result of perhaps some squishing while in transit or if other people felt this way about the texture, too! It definitely lent itself to a more doughy consistency, which I found great.

This bar will definitely become a regular my ‘cookie jar’ – it’s good, filling aaaand has  fewer calories than all of my faves out there.

Plus, I love that it’s purple. :-) I’m a simple girl, really..haha

Thanks again to Alicia for sending it my way!

  • What are some of your fave new foods? What do you eat when you’re struggling to make it out the door on time?

You’re Getting Warmer

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You know those days when you’re not quite sick…but you just feel… Blah?

Is there a better way to describe it? I don’t think so.

Today is one of those “Blahh” days for me – I just haven’t been able to shake a headache and just an overall feeling of being a bit rundown.

My distraction? Hot.Cocoa. This was the year of hot cocoa for me…I got it from at least three people throughout the Christmas/Holiday season. I have yet to open any of them…and I decided that today would be the perfect day for it.

Enter: The Starbucks Holiday Cocoa Trio.

My best friend’s parents gave me this trio as a lil’ Christmas gift; such adorable packaging.

The “Toasted Marshmallow” option was calling my name. Mini-marshmallows? I’m in.

Mini-marshmallows?

There they are.

Love this mix – so tasty, and I actually think my headache is going away as I type. Ahhh, the magical powers of cocoa (or blogging?). Okay, it’s probably totally coincidental – but still. Delicious.

My only issue??

4, c'mon???

A lil’ stingy with the mini-marshmallows!!

I hope you all are having absolutely stellar weekends!!

Soaked

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Hello, hello loves! Today was yet another gorgeeous day in the city!

Sitting at my front windows and sipping on an iced coffee…it truly felt like a summer morning. Well…until I had to head to campus. hah.

The chunks you see are stubborn bits of cinnamon who refused to submerge themselves! haha

Lara. Staple of my life.

Unpictured crackers and fruit got me through the afternoon…as did this lovely caffe misto. (‘bucks on a budgetttt!!)

Dinner was very green!! Spinach & blue cheese Laughing Cow brown rice and haricots verts with garlic!

Plus – it’s all about Justin’s. …I think it’s time for OIAJ, no? haha

I was a busy girl today and all over the city. No gym today though…I think I might have tweaked my calf muscle just a bit…and rather than test fate…I decided it would be good to rest it. An epsom salt bath is totttttes in my future. :)

What do you do to soothe misbehaving muscles??

Well…I’m off to soak!! I hope you all are fabulous…we’re almost to the weekend!