Whole Foods Parking Lot

Blended Peppermint Mocha Recipe

So I am constantly on the search for new iced coffee recipes. When I got an Amazon gift card for Christmas I knew I wanted to buy an espresso machine but didn't want to spend a load of money. So I bought this one on the cheap.

 It does a pretty good job of brewing up small amounts of espresso, 4 oz to be exact. When I started making espresso I had no clue what I was doing! I went out and bought a special espresso, but to be honest, the Starbucks espresso roast is amazing and not too expensive.Of course, my goal in all of this was to save a little money on my coffee addiction. Plus, even if I bought only 1 Mocha Frappe a day from McDonalds, a cheaper alternative, I still will have spent $105 by the end of the month!

So as much as love McDonald's crack, I really need to save some moo-la on my coffee addiction! I also LOVE peppermint. All.year.round. Yep, I'm one of those people! 

So my next addition to my coffee arsenal was Starbucks Peppermint Syrup.  You can also buy this right from Starbucks if you go in store. However, they are a little stingy with their pumps. I've had the same one for three bottles because they don't like to give them out. You can also buy whatever flavor floats your fancy (like that alliteration? :)

Of course, I also love chocolate! So next on my list was Chocolate sauce. I buy both mocha and white chocolate. The white chocolate has a thinner consistency and is really sweet, so I don't use as much.

So  to do a blended Peppermint Mocha here is my recipe:

• Espresso, brewed
• Ice
• Milk
• Syrup of your choice-I use peppermint
• White Chocolate and Mocha sauce

1. Brew 2 oz of espresso according to the manufacturer's directions.
2. In your blender, add ice to the halfway point. 
3. Pour milk until the ice floats in the blender (I use 1% because that's what we drink, but use whatever you want).
4. I like a lot of peppermint flavor, so I use 7 pumps of peppermint. Adjust to your taste.
5. Add 3 T of white mocha sauce and 4 T of mocha sauce. Again, adjust to your taste.
6. Add in your 2 oz espresso, blend, pour into cup with straw and ENJOY!

Paris

Want to go to Paris? Go here: http://ohhappyday.com/2011/06/goes-to-paris/

Or don't, because I REALLY want to win!!! :)

Friend Makin' Monday

I'm joining Friend Makin' Monday today! Join with Kenz over at All The Weigh!


FMM: Today I....

Today I felt...rested, particularly after coming back to work after Spring Break!


Today I saw....the sun rise! Yesterday, I celebrated the Son rising!



Today I ate...Steak and Corn for lunch, from last night's dinner on the grill :)


Today I kissed...my puppy on the head before I left for work.


Today I bought...A Mocha Frappe from McDonald's


Today I heard...my students running through the halls.



Today I lost...my keys, more than once!


Today I decided...kick myself into gear for the final five weeks of school before the EOC's!


Today I need...to relax with my husband.



Today I wish...tomorrow was Saturday :)

Introducing Luna!

My dream of finally getting a dog came true last week. It all started with a Freecycle ad. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Freecycle it is a group list for your area where people can list things for free that they don't want anymore. You can read an awesome post about Freecycle here! Now sometimes it's absolute CRAP that you find on freecycle (read: half a can of Similac). Other times there is some good stuff! Bring in our new puppy!

I get a listing emailed to me about an abandoned puppy needing a home. This puppy was found, taken to the local shelter, unclaimed, and then taken home by the woman who found her so she could be fostered. I had been trying to talk to BlueBoyscout about getting a dog for MONTHS! He finally agreed we could get one after he graduates (this summer). Well, summer is a long time away folks! I started looking promptly, just in case our dream dog got away :)


I wanted an adult dog so I wouldn't necessarily have to potty train. Also, adult dogs tend to be more laid back because their puppy-ness is out of them. After inquiring about a few dogs at our local shelters, they either had heartworms or were in the process of being adopted already, I was all but defeated. Blue Boyscout wanted a smaller dog. I wanted a lab or retriever. BlueBoyscout had never had pets growing up. A few years ago he saved me from an agressive dog that chased us while its owner looked on. He got bitten in three places, and needed stitches, even though he refused to get them. I knew this had to be HIS dog and that we were going to have to ease into it.


Enter this sweet face:





We prayed about it, talked about it for two days and then finally decided to meet her. She had been with this family for almost three months, lived on a farm, and was around two other dogs. She was wild! In fact, the son had named her Lunatic! Wow. Blueboyscout was nervous, deservedly so! But we just loved her. She was sweet and got along with kids and cats, which was a MUST for us. We went home, talked, prayed, lost sleep and then finally decided to give her a chance!

Last week we brought her home and she has just fit right into our family!



She is house and crate trained, argues with the cat on a regular basis, and loves on us unconditionally! She even likes to be held like a lap dog, even though she weighs in at about 45 lbs!



We kept her name, but shortened it to Luna, like Luna Lovegood from our beloved Harry Potter books!

Our Luna girl is getting spayed today. It was so hard! I was calling Blue-Boyscout every 10 minutes, checking up on her progress. The vet finally called and said she did great, so I'm super relieved! This dog is like our child! Yep, we're THOSE people! Look for many more posts starring our Plott Hound/Pit Bull/Lab!

eShakti Discount!

I got some exciting news today! eShakti, my favorite custom dress company, is offering a $20 discount to anyone who uses the code sarahragan10 until the end of March! I can't say enough good things about eShakti. They have excellent customer service, beautiful clothes than can be custom-fitted to your body type, and they are pretty inexpensive for the quality of clothing you get!

I have two dresses from eShakti that I adore! The first is a dress that I bought to wear for Christmas, however, it has short sleeves so I'll be dressing it down this summer and wearing it throughout the season!





The second dress is my purple birthday dress! I love this dress more than any other piece of clothing I own. It makes me feel beautiful, and isn't that what clothing is supposed to do?






Anyway, if you haven't shopped at eShakti yet, head on over and take a peek at what they have. You'll be surprised and very, very happy!

Here a few items that popped out at me as I was browsing if you need an excuse to shop :)

Bird Print Poplin
Fancy Birdcage Pleated Dress
Smocked Waist Print Shirt

Don't forget to use the code sarahragan10 at checkout for your $20 discount!

ABC's of Me!

Jen over at Following the Footsteps did this cute ABC thing and I thought I'd join in!
So here are the ABC's of Me!

Age: 30 (so far my 30's are way better than my 20's!)



Bed size: queen

Chore you dislike: Scooping the litter box
 (This litter box cake totally grosses me out!)

Dogs: Luna Lovegood <3

Essential start to your day: coffee!!!

 

Favorite color: Green

Gold or silver: silver

Height: 5'9
Instruments you play(ed): I played the alto and Bari saxophones through high school. I also took piano lessons for two years and don't remember a thing!

Job title: Reading Specialist/Interventionist


Kids: one day!

Live: North Carolina

Mom’s name: Linda Lisa (True story!)

Nicknames: Sar, Sarita, Ita, Shoog

Overnight hospital stays: A couple times, once when I was 5 and cut the artery on my right hand on a glass soda bottle! I had to have surgery to repair the artery.

Pet peeve: SMOKING! It just irks me.

Quote from a movie TV Show: El Nino! Means 'The Nino!' LOL!

Righty or Lefty: Right


Siblings: Nate-27, Grant-19, Jake-18, Reed-17, Hannah-16, Ava-10, Leon-4, Shay-7, Cameron-3

Time you wake up: 5 freakin o'clock! I have to be to school at 7 and I have a half hour commute! And I'm usually running late!

Underwear: yes, please!


Vegetables you don’t like: Lima beans and brussel sprouts!

What makes you run late: Stupid drivers that don't know there is a slow and a fast lane!

X-Rays you’ve had: I broke a few fingers and my ankle playing basketball in middle school, so yes, I've had my fair share :)

 

Yummy food you make: Breakfast Casserole and Ultimate Grilled Cheese :)