Pumpkin Spice Latte: Life's Perfect Treat

**Reminder! If you like beer and you love free stuff, there’s still time to enter the giveaway on Lucas’s blog, A Night at the Hops!

Fall is definitely in the air — not so much here in Florida, although it has dropped to highs in the 80s instead of the 90s, which is nice. When you’re a runner, every degree counts.

But I’m starting to notice the shift from some of the bloggers I check in on daily — including my mom, who says it was 45 degrees in MA today! Brrrrr.

Like Kath, I’ve started to shift my morning routine from smoothies and cold cereal to oatmeal and eggs. Things that will keep me warm through the day. Today, that meant strawberry oatmeal.

We stock up on strawberries in nearby Plant City every year, and freeze bags and bags of the sweet treats, so I can use them all year long. And since so much liquid comes out when I cook them, I throw a handful of frozen strawberries in a bowl with oats, almond extract, cinnamon and some stevia, and I don’t have to add anything else. It’s super-strawberry-y.

What else keeps me warm and puts a smile on my face?

And that’s not just any Starbucks cup. No, my friends, this holds the holy grail of fall coffee treats. Pumpkin Spice Latte.

My friend Jackie and I took our lunch break out of the office (rare!) to indulge in the lattes. It’s always a mystery when these will appear in stores, so when I saw people on Twitter talking about it yesterday, I knew I needed to get one for myself.

Look at the smiles on our faces! My bosses have never had them, so I promised to bring some in tomorrow morning.

Lunch was good, although the tortillas that were so wonderful last night did not do so well on day 2. I tried to reheat one in the microwave today, between some damp paper towels, but they were crispy and crumbly. So instead of an egg sammie, I made egg nachos. On the side, some blueberry Oikos with one of the coupons I snagged at the Healthy Living Summit:

As well as some carrots and sweet peas. Nommmmmm.

Didn’t hold me over, though, so I was quick to get tonight’s feast cooking. Tofu, cabbage and potatoes. In the oven and Le Creuset as we speak:

Poor Laila — she, like her mother, seems to be especially sensitive to onions, so when I chopped the tear-jerkers up for the cabbage, Lucas snapped this picture:

She had tears coming out of her eyes and couldn’t stop sneezing!

Tonight’s shoutouts:

• Matt from No Meat Athlete has started a new site for food bloggers: Health Blog Helper. It’s got great advice, especially for bloggers who are looking to move from hosted to self-hosted sites. Plus, he lists giveaways!
• Did you know that September is both Hunger Action Month and Prostate Cancer Awareness month? They’re two causes that are passionate and very personal causes of mine, and I’m doing whatever I can to mark both.
  • Lucas and I went to Taste of the Nation, which donates 100% of ticket prices to programs that help children and families in need.
  • Lucas and I are taking part in the Autumn Rock ‘n’ Run next weekend, which supports the Prostate Cancer Foundation.

What causes are you most passionate about, and why?

Tagged as: Food, Jackie, Pets, Silly Tater Tot, Starbucks