2019 year in Review

Here we are 2020, still seems crazy to write that!  This past year was filled with concerts, travel and lots of new adventures!

2019 started off with a Jesse McCartney concert that was so much fun!  Check out my post here.

Celebrated my birthday with my first Kendra Scott necklace!

Vegas was such a great experience!  So cool to see all the sights both city and nature.

The Hoover Dam was beautiful!

Wanna see more from Vegas?  Check out my post here.

I made a change and chopped off a chunk of my hair last spring.

Spring brought a trip to Disney and what a trip it was!  ALL the pictures were taken, so much food and Disney magic abounded! 

So many pictures and fun memories from this trip!  See more here.

Another concert, Kyle and I went to see Eli Young Band for his birthday.  We were pretty much front row and had such a great time getting to see our favorite band together.

See more here.

I made my first trip to Texas this year.  We went to the Dallas market and had a great time experiencing some of what Texas had to offer.

We made a trip to NC and had such a great time visiting family.

My brother was deployed this year so we were super thankful to get to spend some time with him.  Continually praying for his safety and the safety of all the troops in service. 

I was super lucky this year to win a few concert tickets this year, first off was Brad Paisley.  Kyle and I really enjoyed this one together, he was so funny!

 

 Check out more on this concert here.

Second concert was Dierks Bently.  He performed with Jon Pardi and Tenielle Towns and we had such a great time!  Check out more on the concert here.

Stepped into character as Lucy for Halloween. 

Kyle and I visited a special church service with a friend and had a great time of worship and fellowship.

Thanksgiving was spent surrounded by family and friends.  My family and Kyle's family all spent Thanksgiving together for the first time and we all had a great time enjoying time together.  

With my brother deployed holidays were a little different, we made the best of it by spending time all together thanks to the wonders of technology ;)  See more on this trip here.

I feel like Christmas flew by in a hurry this year.  We spent it with friends, family and celebrating the birth of Jesus.  

Annual Ugly Christmas Sweat competition with Kyle's family...p.s. I totally won this year ;)

This year was truly a joy and we are so excited to see where 2020 takes us.

Taste Test: Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew

It's September and Starbucks pumpkin spice is back, fall is pretty much here right??  I had to try out the new Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew to see what all the fuss is about.

Starbucks website says it is made with cold brew sweetened with vanilla syrup, topped with pumpkin cream cold foam and sprinkled with pumpkin spice.  I am a big fan of the cold brew cold foam drinks so I had high hopes for this one.

First of all don't be surprised to find it orange, I happen to love the fact.  First sip I am a fan.  It is not too sweet and not overly spicy or cinnamony.  The pumpkin cold foam is just subtly pumpkin but it has a really good flavor.  Overall if you like Starbucks iced coffee and especially if you are a fan of their seasonal drinks I'd say it is worth a go for sure.

Have you tried this one yet?  Let me know your thoughts and your favorite Starbucks drink!

Starbucks Cold Foam Cascara Cold Brew Review

I had heard and seen so many people talk about the new cold foam drinks at Starbucks and figured I would give it a go.  Honestly, I didn't have high expectations.  I felt like it was gimicky and was going to be weird...I was so wrong!

I got the Cold Foam Cascara Cold Brew Iced Coffee and it was delicious!!

Starbucks describes it as: "Sweetened cold foam flavored with Cascara syrup (subtle notes of dark brown sugar and luscious maple) atop our bold, smooth Starbucks Cold Brew, and finished with just a hint of vanilla syrup."

The flavor was delicious, not too sweet but with a deep rich flavor.  The foam was a really good addition.  The only problem was that the foam sits on the top and you end up with a cup full of foam at the end.  It might help to mix it when you are close to the bottom so you don't end up with only foam.  

Overall I am definitely a fan and will be trying it again!

Have you tried the new cold foam drinks?  What did you think?

New Favorite Starbucks Drink: White Toffee Iced Coffee

Thanks to Wendy or thetrendyschoolcounselor on instagram I have a new favorite Starbucks order and I am OBSESSED!!

I am a big fan of the Coconut Milk Mocha Macchiato, if I get Starbucks that is pretty much my choice but this one is just as good and cheaper (which is always good).

I call it the White Toffee Iced Coffee.  

How to order:

Iced Coffee, no classic syrup, add white mocha and toffee nut to your liking, light cream

I like to actually taste the coffee so I don't want it too sweet my syrup breakdown is:

Tall: 1 pump White Mocha, 1 pump Toffee Nut

Grande: 1 pump White Mocha, 2 pumps Toffee Nut

Venti: 2 pumps White Mocha, 3 pumps Toffee Nut

If you like it sweeter add a pump more of syrup or add more cream.  I love the creamy rich flavor of the White Mocha and the Toffee Nut adds depth, it is my new favorite.

Bonus a venti comes out to less than $4...which for Starbucks is a steal.

If you try it let me know what you think!  Let me know your favorite Starbucks drink or concoction you have made up.

Starbucks Toasted White Chocolate Latte Review

I'm pretty sure coffee is my love language...buy me coffee and I'll love you forever.  Seriously though coffee is my favorite.  Holiday coffee now that is another level, I have been a fan of the Chestnut Praline Latte from Starbucks for years but I just may have found a new favorite.

  

Starbucks released a new holiday drink this year the Toasted White Chocolate Latte.  They proclaim it is caramelized white chocolate topped with whipped cream and candied cranberry sugar.

I am a fan of the basic white mocha so I figured I would give this one a whirl.  

I ended up getting mine with coconut milk but everything else regular.

If you like the white mocha you will love this one!  It is very similar but has a deeper, richer flavor.  The sugar topping didn't really add anything as far as flavor goes.  I really enjoyed this one.  It was sweet but not too sweet and the flavor paired really well with espresso.  Definitely a new favorite and possibly my number one...

Have you tried this one?  What did you think?  What is your favorite Starbucks drink?  

Five Things Friday

Folgers Coffeehouse Ground Coffee: I have been really enjoying making a pot of coffee and having a few cups in the morning.  I used to use the Keurig everyday but the coffee wasn't what I wanted (sometimes watery and not as strong) and I didn't want to have to use another k-cup to top off my cup.  I picked this coffee up at Publix and it is my new favorite!  Strong but not too bitter.  If you are looking for a good ground coffee this one is the best!  

Monogram Necklace: I am a southern girl and with that comes a love of monograms.  I have always loved the classic look of a monogram necklace.  I found my new favorite one from Classic Prep Monograms.  This one is the perfect size, I love the size, enough to be a statement but not overwhelming.  I can't wait to pair it with sweaters for the fall.      

Mulled Cider Candle: This candle is amazing!!  It smells just like a Bath & Bodyworks candle, the throw is great, it doesn't burn too fast and it is less than $4!!  It smells delicious and my husband loves it, he said it smelled like fall.  Next time you are in a Wal-Mart go smell it and see what I mean. 

SmallTownNC Stickers: I am an NC girl born and raised.  Right now my husband and I live in Alabama so we definitely miss home.  I have always loved stickers.  They are so cute to decorate your notebooks, computer, planner, etc.  I randomly discovered this shop on etsy and fell in love with all her NC mountain stickers.  She was sweet and sent me four and I am in love with them!  My favorite is the NC state outline with a beautiful watercolor mountain print.  I love them so much I almost don't want to use them.  

Fall Treats: Fall is here and that means it is time for pumpkin EVERYTHING!  I love pumpkin baked goods so when I discovered Kay's Simply Homemade treats I fell in love.  She has a bakery on etsy where she sells all kinds of delicious goodies.  My husband and I had the chance to try three things: Apple Pie Cookies, Bourbon Pumpkin Pie Bars, and Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls.  They were awesome!  My favorite were the pumpkin cinnamon rolls!  So good and so easy to have fall treats delivered to your house instead of having to go to the trouble to make them.  Check out Kay's store and let her know I sent you!  

What have you been loving this week? 

Trying Out McDonald's New Coffee

You may have seen the commercials promoting the new McDonad's espresso beverages.  I am a total coffee addict so I was really excited to try out their new options.  They have always had lattes and frappes but the new line offers macchiatos, cappuccinos and iced versions.

I decided to try out the caramel macchiato.  P.S. if you aren't on the McDonad's app you need to, they have deals for coffee all the time.

So I ordered the macchiato but I'm honestly not sure what I ended up with.  The lady who gave me the coffee called it a cappuccino so...not sure.  It looked pretty normal, nice foam.  Honestly mine was disgusting.  It had a strange burnt, chemical taste that was just bad.  Now I can sometimes be a coffee snob but I like gas station cappuccinos so I figured it might be something along those lines.  I was really disappointed in the flavor but again I'm not completely sure what I ended up with.  I'm not giving up on it completely yet but I would say I am going to trust my normal coffee shops for fancy coffee.

I am a fan of their new cups though, looking good!  Have you tried the new coffees?  What did you think?