Dog Days

Happy Dogs Rule Day!

I'll go ahead and say it up front. This post is completely photo-related. And yes, I'm obsessed with my dog, Tucker.

And since today is Dogs Rule Day, I figure it's totally appropriate to flood you with pictures of my dog, who does indeed rule.

So, Tucker and I, we like to hang out on our balcony from time to time. I think Tucker still finds it totally awesome that he can see so far, since normally he's eye level with my knees.

The other day while we were chillin' out there, I brought my camera.

These are the resulting pictures.

Seein' the sees.

Tuck in profile.

"What are YOU doing?"

Tucker. <3

"We don't have to go back in yet, do we?"

All photos taken with my Nikon Coolpix P90.

Starbucks Introduces Flavored VIA

Mail from Starbucks!
The best kind of mail? I think so.

Usually my trips to the mailbox aren't particularly fun—Nothing much to anticipate besides bills. Bills or junk mail. But Tuesday, not so! On Tuesday, my mailbox contained no bills, no junk, just a free sample of Starbucks newest addition to its popular Via Ready Brew coffee line. As of October 5, four new flavors are available in Starbucks stores: Vanilla, Caramel, Cinnamon Spice, and Mocha!

Should I admit to you all that I initially typo'd "addition" to read, "addiction"? Now there's a cosmic irony for ya.

I love the idea of Starbucks VIA. Because quite frankly, sometimes I really need want some coffee but I don't have time to make a Starbucks run. When I found out MyStarbucksIdea.com was giving out free samples to the first 100 people to comment with which flavor they'd like, I jumped at the chance!

What flavor did I choose? Mocha, of course!

Thanks for the free coffee, Starbucks!!!

I didn't actually get around to trying the Mocha VIA until today—which is when I really needed it most! I was so sleepy during by break between classes, I decided it was the perfect time.

It was super simple. Heat 8 ounces of water, find the appropriate cup, and add the VIA. The whole process took way less than five minutes.

You can heat your water on the oven, or you can be a lazy American like me and pop it in the microwave for thirty seconds.

Step One
Acquire adorable cup and packet of Starbucks VIA.
Halloween cats are optional.

Step Two
Measure out 8oz of water and heat it up!
Don't worry—Your Starbucks VIA will wait patiently.
:-)

Step Three
Pour your Starbucks VIA your cup, then add your hot water.
STIR!
Yes, I did mine out of order. Oops...

Step Four
Enjoy!

See? Look at that. Super easy. And I was too lazy to do anything to it, but I've been told it's yummy with  steamed milk. So if you try that and LOVE it, you can thank StarbucksMelody.com for that tip!

Personally, I still prefer myself my mochas direct from a Starbucks barista, but I'm definitely going to try this again with some steamed milk. I'm also interested in trying the other three flavors!

Check them out at your local Starbucks, or at Starbucks.com!

Waiting Sucks.

One of my current obsessions is True Blood. I have Matt to thank for this delightful new TV show love of mine, since he’s the one who watched it and told me I should check it out. And then leant me the first and second season so that I could do just that.

Sookie and Vampire Bill

It was love at first, uh…episode. I was instantly hooked. I flew through the first two seasons just in time for season three to premiere.

Trouble is, I don’t have HBO. Big trouble. But, as my obsessions tend to kind of rule my life, especially upon first infatuating me, this was an obstacle I was eager to overcome.

I searched online. And I mean, I SEARCHED online. I can’t tell you how many hours I spent sifting through sites that wanted me to complete surveys to gain access, pay monthly fees, offer up my first born child. Obsessed as I was, I didn’t feel like jumping through all of those ridiculous hoops.

But finally, my persistence paid off. I stumbled across a website that, in one convenient place, listed each episode from each season AND sub-listed links to sites that had the episodes online. Not all of the links would work, but usually at least one out of the several would.

So I kept up with season three that way. True Blood would air on Sunday nights, and I would avoid Twitter like the plague—too many spoilers, people! Ugh!—and then Monday afternoon or evening, I’d pull up that episode and squee to my hearts content whilst watching my favorite vampires and mind-reading waitress embark on their highly entertaining adventures.

Can I have Pam's pink Uggs? Thanks.

But then, as quick as it began, it was over.

Sadly, True Blood is a summer series, so it has a much shorter season life-span than I would like. And you know what the worst part is?

I have to wait until NEXT YEAR to find out what happens after season three’s finale.

I have one word for this.

Unacceptable.

What in the world am I supposed to do for a miserable 9 months of waiting? Have a baby? No. Definitely not. But excuse me, if a break between seasons is equivalent to the amount of time it would take me to birth a child, that is simply TOO LONG, people!

So I rant about it here.

And I coo and fawn over my fanged fellas and overload you guys with pictures to make myself feel better.

Because waiting SUCKS, you guys. And not in the cool I’m-a-vampire, I-suck-your-blood kind of way. Because only Eric and Bill, and other awesome vamps get to do that.

So don’t be surprised if you see a scattering of True Blood related posts turn up on this blog. I just can’t help myself. I gotta share the True Blood love.

And now, for your viewing pleasure, behold! The shamelessly sexy cast of True Blood.

The stars. Alexander Skarsgård, Anna Paquin, and Stephen Moyer

Ryan Kwanten plays Jason Stackhouse, Sookie's brother.

Sam Merlotte and Tara Thornton.
Otherwise known as Sookie's boss and her best friend.

Sookie's Gran, because I LOVE her.

Eric is the hottest Viking vampire basically ever. Yum.

Godric. <3

Pam, because she is amazing.

Lafayette and Tara

Arlene, Sheriff Dearborn, and Deputy Bellefleur

Two of my season 3 favs, Russell and Talbot.

Okay. That's all for now. I'm doing my best to resist flooding you with way more images than I already have. I'm trying to be good! See? It's sort of working...