Tag: Halloween

Posted in Moments and Musings

My top 5 Favorite Starbucks Drinks

Posted on by Vikki Lynn Sorensen

It’s that time of the year again. Starbucks has dropped their pumpkin menu today and from now until the end of the year, we will all be living our lives based on the Starbucks menu. Pumpkin spice everything will rule the day until they drop their holiday menu at which time everything will transition from pumpkin to peppermint. This will go on until the end of the year when we will all return to our regularly scheduled daily lives, broke from all the money we’ve given to the Starbucks corporation and sad to be drinking our free, homemade, boring coffees.

That being said, I thought I’d use this commemorative day to share my top 5 favorite Starbucks drinks, from my least favorite to my “usual”.

5. London Fog Latte (hot) – I reduce the pumps of vanilla syrup from 4 to 1 for a grande. I am a huge, huge fan of Earl Grey tea and just love the pairing of a milky tea and a latte.

4. Mint Majesty Tea (hot) – This is a must-have when I’m sick. There’s something about this specific mint tea that soothes my sinuses and just makes me feel like all is well in the world when I don’t feel well. I take this one black. It needs nothing.

3. Flat White (hot) – No modifications needed for this one. It’s light and while the whole milk may add calories, it also adds sweetness so nothing else is necessary.

2. Caffe Latte (hot) – The only change I make to this I substitute soy milk for regular milk. Again, this is all about adding a bit of sweetness without adding any sugar. No syrups or sweetener. The soy is plenty sweet for me.

1. Chocolate Cream Cold Brew – I use less ice (to get more drink). I add extra chocolate cream because Starbucks makes their own and it’s so delicious! And, of course, I reduce the number of pumps of vanilla from 2 to about half of one (if I can get away with it). I also will add a splash of milk to add a bit of sweetness without adding a bunch of sugar.

Now, you may have noticed there’s no pumpkin anything on here at all. I’m really not a fan of Starbucks pumpkin spice lattes. I know, I know! Gasp! Shock! Horror! But I’m not. Their spice blend is way too spicy and tends to burn my throat and is way too sweet no matter how little I put in. I don’t like my coffee or tea overly sweet. You may have noticed I modify the sugar right out of my favorites listed above.

Even though I have my favorites, I will take my life in my hands and say this; If you have to make multiple changes just to enjoy your coffee, maybe it’s time for a new coffee place. After all, it’s just coffee; it’s not who you are as a person. It’s not a life-altering moment. IT’S JUST COFFEE. People take the simple joys way too seriously and consider it a disparagement against their person should a barista get confused with multiple modifications. If you’re that picky about your coffee, perhaps you should spend some time on Pinterest and figure out how to make your own. You’ll probably save some money in the process.

I’m going to enjoy my chocolate cream cold brew now. Don’t forget to let me know what your favorite coffee is! Maybe, it’s not even Starbucks! (Say what???)

    Photo by Madeline Liu on Unsplash

    Posted in Moments and Musings

    Is Your TV Haunted?

    Posted on by Vikki Lynn Sorensen

    Anyone who knows me knows I love this time of year. I love the crisp chill in the air, the smell of burning firewood and cinnamon-flavored everything. (I say cinnamon because pumpkin is way overrated and I want to bring cinnamon back. I said what I said!) 

    Halloween is big around here. We even have a black cat, which the dog thanks us for on a daily basis. (Maybe!) My apartment is all decked out with ceramic ghosts, jack-o-lanterns and black cats all over. There’s pumpkins everywhere!! We even have a small Halloween tree. Pretty much anything Hobby Lobby and Wal-Mart have to offer in the way of decorating is in my home. (Yes, I’m a Wal-Mart girl!) 

    So, in the spirit of the season, I thought I’d share a few of my favorite Halloween movies/series sure to put the ghost in your TV and make you sleep with the lights on a night or two. Don’t worry – I’ll help you choose ones to watch with the family and which ones to wait until the kiddos are in bed. (These are in no particular order)

    1. It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown – Definitely fun to watch with the kids. No jump scares. Just a boy with his blanket in a pumpkin patch. I’ve loved this movie since I was a child and, at 55 years old, I still watch it each year. I believe in the Great Pumpkin.
    2. The Haunted Mansion (circa Eddie Murphy) – Another one that’s fun for the whole family. Gather on the couch with the biggest bowl of popcorn you can and enjoy! Only one jump scare and lots of laughs. 
    3. The Haunted Mansion (circa Rosario Dawson) – I’ve only seen this one once so I can’t remember if there’s any jump scares. It may be too intense for the super younger crowd. Strong themes of grief and loss but much closer to the actual Disney World ride. Very enjoyable. 
    4. The Craft – Not recommended for tweenagers or younger, in my opinion due to some very intense scenes. Witchcraft is a major theme in this story but this is a cult classic that cannot be ignored at this time of year. 
    5. Poltergeist – Not recommended at all for kids as there are a few jump scares and scary scenes. Also, the subject matter is way over their head. However, it is excellent to watch with all the lights off at night. Go ahead, I dare you!
    6. The Haunting of Hill House – This is a Netflix miniseries. I wouldn’t recommend it for tweens and younger. Some teens may be able to handle but there are strong themes of addiction and suicide. There are ghosts EVERYWHERE, lots of jump scares and it’s an incredible story. Keep a box of Kleenex available for the last episode. 
    7. The Haunting of Bly Manor – Another Netflix miniseries again not for the kiddos. Themes include LGBTQ+ among others. Several jump scares but the backstory is my favorite part of this whole series. Every good ghost story starts with a good story of something tragic that happened in the past. This delivers that history quite well!
    8. Crimson Peak – Now, as a story, this isn’t high up on my list. However, if you’re looking for gothic romance/horror, this delivers. It’s a visually beautiful film with a little ghost story sewn in. Some minor gore. There’s also some nudity and a quick sex scene so not for the younger crowd at all. But – Tom Hiddleston. Need I say more? 
    9. Twitches 1 and 2 – Let’s get back to stuff the kids can watch. These two cheese-soaked Disney movies are super campy but loads of fun. Strong family themes and excellent for post trick-or-treating on Halloween night. You know, after the costumes are all put away for another year and the candy has been thoroughly checked. Safety first! 
    10. Hocus Pocus 1 and 2 – More fun for the family. I honestly was skeptical about Hocus Pocus 2 but it was absolutely adorable! There’s even a black cat that talks. If that’s not fun, I don’t know what is! 

    Of course there are others that I didn’t include but are just as worthy, like the entire Harry Potter series but these are really my top ten watches. (Harry Potter is something I watch year round.) Not a Halloween goes by that I don’t curl up on my chair, with my fluffy, fleece tie blanket and a mug of tea and tuck into these movies. 

    Happy Haunting! 

    BTW – This idea was shamelessly stolen from my sweet sister, Liz, over at http://dippedinsparkles.blog/