Bruno Mars Starbucks Song of the Week
Starbucks Pick of the Week features a single from Bruno Mar’s latest, Unorthodox Jukebox. Stop by your nearest Starbucks for If I Knew.
Gee Why
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LEGO Year of the Snake Exclusive
The Year of the Snake is fast approaching and to commemorate, LEGO is selling an exclusive set in the Asian markets. If you’re lucky or have contacts, you can find the authentic LEGO Year of the Snake, Set #10250.
Fortunately, now that the instructions have been published, you can also build your own snake if you have the right parts or own the LEGO Creator Prehistoric Hunters, Set #6914
“Strawberry Blonde” This Morning
To start off this week and morning, my free Starbucks concoction is a “Strawberry Blonde.” No, there’s no actual strawberry or fruit in my coffee, just a mix of the Vanilla Blonde with an extra shot of espresso.
Since coffee with one shot added is a red eye, a blonde (roast) as the base of a red eye gives you a strawberry blonde. While tamer than a Black Eye Blonde, the single shot doesn’t give the drink that espresso creaminess. But then again, free is free!
One of My Favorite Starbucks
I’m not sure exactly why, but one of my favorite looking Starbucks in Hawaii is the one capping the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center. I think it’s the large exterior facade that is strikingly different from most other Starbucks locations. Maybe it’s the repeated box pattern that makes up the overall square shape of the store.
I just don’t know why this store appeals to me, but whenever I’m in the area (rarely), I have to take a peek.
Stuffing a LEGO Brick Box
With all our LEGO purchases over the Holidays, it was inevitable we’d be eligible for 2012’s Brick Box promotion. If you had spent over $75 at a LEGO Store starting on Black Friday, you received a small card board box to fill with LEGOs from the part wall. Pretty cool right?
Here’s the box I filled.
This was the first pick-a-brick activity I’ve ever done and didn’t realize that it’s actually harder than it seems. At least the container is an easier-to-fill square box, not the usual cylindrical container. I targeted the bigger, heftier pieces, not the small dainty ones that you eventually accumulate as extras. There weren’t any real cool pieces, probably the “rarest” piece for me was the larger windshields. Okay, I don’t think I had any LEGO barrels so I had to get some. Other than that, I tried not to have any space available to maximize the loot. At the end, my box barely closed and actually ripped while checking out.
At the Coach Outlet
I think I’ve only been inside the Coach Outlet at Waikele once or twice since they’ve been in business, so I didn’t know what to expect. I found some interesting things.
Everyone needs one of these in your wardrobe
Love the overall look of the store’s interoir
What costs more, the hat or the mittens?
Only had iPhone 4 cases
A $10 vs $60 umbrella
Overall, I was flabbergasted by the prices. I expected expensive handbags and wallets but was blown away by the cost of the accessories. How much better can a $60 umbrella protect you from rain? A basic iPhone case on sale for $48?! And it’s only for the older iPhone 4/4S, not the newer 5. What costs more, a colorful hat or a pair of mittens with a leather strap? It’s a trick question; they cost the same at nearly $100 each! I need to get that fur lined hat – just because everyone in Hawaii needs one in his wardrobe.
Okay, the store’s interior is great. It’s clean, sleek, spacious, organized well, and very bright. I have to give kudos to the store’s “deejay.” I loved all the upbeat songs played which (I think) helps get people in the buying mindset. I had never heard of Surfer Blood or I Blame Coco before, but listen to these songs to convince yourself you need that $60 umbrella.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSeAwowu8GE&w=480&h=360]
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0j6VoW6vv9Y&w=480&h=270]
A Black Eye Blonde
Hold up, did I just get myself a Black Eye Blonde from Starbucks? Yes, I did, and it was free! What’s a black eye blonde, you ask? Well, a black eye is brewed coffee juiced up with two shots of espresso. One extra shot equals “red eye,” and two shots added gives you a “black eye.” Staring with a base of blonde roast coffee and pumps of vanilla aka a “vanilla blonde,” add in those two shots of espresso to get what I call a Black Eye Blonde.
I was actually trying to modify my overly sweet Dirty Blonde by changing up the number of vanilla and caramel additions. However, the barista misunderstood me and instead of adjusting to two shots of vanilla and two shots of caramel, she added two shots of espresso (in addition to the vanilla pumps). So I ended up with a Black Eye Blonde.
The best part? Even with the extra shots of espresso, the drink was free by using my free-coffee-in-January tumbler. Was it supposed to be free? I don’t know, but after ringing up my drink, the cash register said $0.00.
No Dupes
So far, so good with no duplicates of LEGO Minifigs Series 9. Don’t need or want the entire set.
Even Spoons Get Tired
Seemingly even spoons get tired and need a rest every now and then. I’m guessing that’s why products like this exist, Tumbleweed Spoon Rest
Today’s Dirty Blonde is Free
On more than one occasion at different Starbucks locations, I’ve gotten Starbucks’ new Vanilla Blonde concoction free with my free-coffee tumbler. While this drink is just a blonde roast with vanilla syrup, there is normally an additional cost for the syrup. But to the surprise of most baristas, the cost of Vanilla Blonde is covered by the free-coffee-tumbler code.
Wanting to maximize the deal, I was thinking of adding even more flavored shots and pay for them to earn Starbucks Rewards stars on the cheap. So this morning, I dirtied my Vanilla Blonde by infusing golden caramel. Cost of this “Dirty Blonde?” Free.
Buying Syrup Shots for Starbucks Rewards?
Hmmm, is this a relatively cheap way of earning Starbucks Rewards stars? With the free-brewed-coffee-in-January tumbler, you get plain coffee for free (well, that’s not completely true since the newly promoted Vanilla Blonde is covered as a freebie). How about paying for flavored syrup shots added to your free coffee? What’s the cost of a syrup shot? A quarter, 50 cents? Not a bad price to pay to earn a rewards star.
I wonder how a Vanilla Blonde with caramel would taste…
Agnes’ Bakery Is Tough
Agnes’ Bakery in Kailua is one tough bakery! These pictures are old but shows the resiliency of this local business. After a car crashed through one of the bakery’s walls, they opened the next day without missing a beat. And they did it with a sense of humor.
New exterior wall
Interior view
Yes, we are open!
But the bread is not tough 🙂
This tough local bakery makes some pillowy soft pastries though. Be sure to go early or pre-order your goodies so you don’t leave empty handed.