I am a BzzAgent!

A while ago I got a letter in the mail from the grocery store chain Kroger.  I do most if not all of my shopping there.  The letter was an invitation to become a BzzAgent. The letter specifically invited me to get free coffee and if you know me you know I love my coffee. I thought what the hey, might as well log on to the website and see what it was about.  I logged on on found out that the BzzAgent website partners with one of my favorite survey sights MyPoints.  Besides earning MyPoints for filling out surveys you can be chosen to receive free items like coffee, shampoo, cereal you name it.  I filled out some very simple surveys that took me no time at all and earned a bunch of MyPoint points.

Shortly soon after I got an email from the BzzAgent website saying I was chosen to be part of the Green Mountain Fair Trade Coffee Bzz Campaign.  I was so excited! A few week later I got my little Bzz Box in the mail.  Not only did I receive free coffee I was happily greeted with a bunch of coupons! I also had a pamphlet on the Green Mountain Coffee company.

Now, I have to say that I am very accustomed to their coffee as I already buy it in the store before the campaign but I knew very little about what Fair Trade was.  Fair Trade goods are items that are purchased though farms and farmers who compensated fairly for their goods.  When you purchase a Fair trade certified product, like Green Mountain coffee, you are not only getting a great cup of Joe you are ensuring that the workers and farmers are paid a proper wage and then in-turn their communities and families thrive though keeping their businesses sustainable.  Fair Trade is also a non-profit organization they do not do charity but they teach disadvantaged communities how to use Free Trade to benefit their families and communities.  The latter is my favorite part about Fair trade it follows with the.."teach a man to fish and you feed him for life" idea. 

I really like their coffee and to be honest it is typically cheaper then other brands that cannot claim such high standards of practice. They have tons of flavors including Mountain Blue Berry...So, why don't you go get a cup and sit back and enjoy while feeling good about it :)


Want to know more about Free Trade click here



Want to know more about Green Mountain Free Trade Coffee...click below.

It's Fall! Bring on the Pumpkin...and Pumpkin Spice Lattes

Sweet Lord it is fall!  There are so many things about fall that I just love. Cool air, crisp leaves, sweaters, Ugg boots and.....pumpkins! Babies in pumpkins, pumpkin picking, pumpkin pie and PUMPKIN SPICE LATTES!  Every year I take Trey and now Aubrey to a pumpkin patch and we take pictures and pick out a pumpkin and I seriously can't wait for that.  I will add that I fully intend on buying a huge pumpkin hollowing it out and sticking my child in it and taking adorable pictures. I can't wait to share them with you all! I have already purchased two..yes two, pumpkin pies.  I usually would make my own but I was feeling extra lazy.

Now, on to my favorite part of life..coffee! I am a super coffeeholic. I have Keurig Special Edition Coffee Brewer that I get more use out of then my oven or refrigerator.  I have never been a huge Starbucks fan but who can afford 5$ for a latte (my favorite drink of choice) two times a day and I happen to think their coffee is bitter.  So, I started to make my own.  I purchased a milk frother and was good to go! So, I will share with you my tips to an awesome latte and my favorite homemade pumpkin spice latte recipe.

Regular latte

Brew a very strong 1 cup of coffee..On the Keurig I use the cup up from the espresso size.
Put 1 cup of milk in the micorwave and nuke it for a minute.  I give the milk a run though with my milk frothier and pour it into my coffee....Voile!

Now on to the Pumpkin Spice!!!!

Pumpkin Spice Latte

Ingredients:

1 cup whole milk
1 tablespoon unsweetened canned pumpkin puree or pumpkin flavored syrup
1 teaspoon packed light brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice *If you don't have pumpkin pie spice in your collection of spices, make your own! Mix equal parts of cinnamon, ginger, allspice and nutmeg- and measure from there.
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup hot brewed, strong coffee
2 tablespoons half & half cream
1 teaspoon granulated white sugar, or more to taste
whipped cream, optional
ground nutmeg

Directions:

All the yummy ingredients

Mix together

1. In a glass measuring cup or microwave-safe bowl, whisk together milk, pumpkin, brown sugar, spice and vanilla. It smells amazing BTW!

Whisk in Milk

 2. Pour the pumpkin milk into a tall mug or glass and microwave for 1 minute and run your milk frothier through the mix until foamy. Add hot coffee. Pour in the cream. Add a teaspoon of sugar(or more if you like your coffee really sweet like I do). Stir, and taste.
3. Optional, but oh so good... add whipped cream on top and a sprinkle of nutmeg. Serve immediately!

I multiply this recipe by 4 and put it in a airtight container in my fridge.  I use 1 cup at a time.  I also use lactose free milk and I don't like the whipped cream..but this is why it is so awesome to make your own.  You can adjust the recipe to your taste. ENJOY!

Tip: If the mixture is too thick for your liking or to thin add or cut back the amount of milk you use or you can use pumpkin flavored syrup instead.  I prefer the real pumpkin because I feel like it is healthier.  Also, my son LOVES this milk.  I will heat it up for him and he thinks he is a big boy drinking coffee just like mommy.

Left over pumpkin and my yummy pumpkin milk...sorry for the nasty fridge I swear it is on my todo list :)