We all have our weaknesses, and for me it’s chocolate (the good stuff!), and Starbucks. It all started a few years ago, when Starbucks was just beginning to gain popularity (boy do I ever wish I’d bought stock in the company back then!!!). A friend of mine took me there for a caramel latte, and after one sip I was hooked. However, I’m a real wimp when it comes to the strength of my coffee (or at least I was back then), and I drank my large caramel lattes with only one shot of espresso. So, basically, I was drinking warmed milk with lots of caramel syrup and a splash of espresso. It was super-duper sweet, but hey, that was my drink of choice.
Eventually, that one shot of espresso just wasn’t doing anything for me. I needed more pizzazz and oomph in my drink. I increased to two shots, then three, and am now at four shots of espresso in my drink! Before long, I fear I’ll make the jump to five shots of the caffeine juice! The good news is, I’ve traded in that very fattening large caramel latte for my current drink of choice: an iced venti quad latte with three equals. That’s Starbucks lingo for a large four shot of espresso latte, and that’s exactly how I order my drink – every time. I don’t even have to think about it – it’s an automatic order that rolls off my tongue with too much ease.
I really do love Starbucks. Sometimes, once a day isn’t enough for me, and I have to have it twice. (I’m sure my husband wishes I was talking about something else, LOL!) I know having that much caffeine in a day isn’t good for me, but I swear I’m addicted to the taste, the aroma, the buzz of a quad latte made with such care. However, I soothe my conscience by telling myself this is how I get my daily dose of calcium, because after all there *is* milk in my iced latte! LOL.
There seems to be a Starbucks on every corner, and my car has a way of turning into those drive-throughs with ease. And how sad is it that Carly can attest to this addiction of mine, since I’m usually on the cellphone with her when I place my order at Starbucks!
Yes, I’ve tried kicking the habit, but like a junkie needing that next fix, it’s only a matter of time before I cave and I’m back off the wagon. It’s truly a vicious cycle. And if my addiction isn’t bad enough, now my two teenagers have their favorite Starbucks drinks, too. And now, I’m secretly hoping that one of them will get a job at Starbucks during their college years, because I hear that each employee gets a pound of Starbucks coffee every week! *swoon* Heck, if I didn’t write for a living, *I’d* get a job at Starbucks just to be around all that rich, espresso aroma all day long!
I wonder if anyone has started a SA (Starbucks Anonymous) organization yet, because surely I’m not the only one addicted to the stuff!
So, what is your greatest weakness? The one thing you can’t resist? Come on, you can tell us! *g*
Janelle Denison finds it hard to believe that it’s been nearly 25 years since she first started writing romance novels. At first, it was a way to pass idle time while her husband worked swing shift, but before long it became an obsession to get published. Luckily, she kept at it (it took her over 5 years to get that first book published!) and is now a Waldenbooks, Barnes & Noble, and USA Today Bestselling author! Now, after selling over 45 plus novels, she finds that her Plotmonkey pals help to keep her stories fresh and unique, and she can’t imagine writing a story without their input. Janelle lives in Oregon with her husband, Don, along with two teenage daughters that keep life interesting.
Destiny
Dirty Little Secrets
Once Upon A Valentine
Through The Night
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Morning Janelle,
I have never been to a Starbucks. There might be one about 50 miles away in Tallahasse ,but I’ve never been. I do buy the Starbucks coffee by the bag in the grocery store.
You are one smart woman to be able to feed your addiction and get your recomended daily allowance of calcium for the day.
My addiction is dark chocolate. The darker the better. I have always loved dark chocolate from way, way back when the only choice was the special dark bars in the Hershey’s minatures bag. Now I have more choices, but I always keep a Big bar of Special Dark Hershey around the house. Hidden of course. :d If I didn’t hide it my girls would eat it all up. My other addiction is peanut M&M’s for me that is another food for the gods. My hubby tried to get me to try the larger M&Ms they have out now and I told him that I just couldn’t because the ratio of candy shell to milk chocolate and peanut was perfect now. You know you should never try to change perfection. :)
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Oh, Gigi…how cruel of you to mention dark chocolate so early in the morning! I’m now munching on my absolute favorite dark chocolate–Pernigotti Black. I’ve only been able to buy it in the Italian pavillion at EPCOT (you’re in Florida, right?) and it is divine. Doesn’t have any bitterness at all and is amazing when paired with Rosa Regale, a red sparkling wine.
My greatest weakness is simply food. I love to eat, I love to cook. I love to cook because I love to eat. My weaknesses change on a daily basis, depending what I’m in the mood for. I think my biggest weakness is likely the scaciatta (pizza) at my favorite Italian bakery. Forunately, the bakery is across town and I don’t go there often. Unfortunately, the bakery owner’s nephew opened a restaurant two minutes from my house that serves a very similar pizza…similar enough that I’ve been there twice in two weeks. But not this week! I. Will. Be. Strong.
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Oh, Janelle’s Starbucks addiction. She turned me on to Starbucks back at a National conference that had a Starbucks in the hotel. At that time she was doing her one shot of espresso (I didn’t know until now she was up to 4 – UNEHALTHY, JANELLE!. (n) I came home from taht conference and every time I went to Starbucks, I stumbled over the order. My husband’s coffee would be served to him immediately and I’d be waiting. And waiting. And then I’d get it and it would be wrong b/c they served me a Caramel Macchiato. Don’t ask me the difference but there is one. THEN I decided it was too fattening. So now I get a DECAF NONFAT SKIM LATTE WITH SUGAR FREE VANILLA SYRUP and THAT is my Starbucks addiction. Still courtesy of Janelle! (n)
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That second down turn thumb was a mistake. I thought it was an thumbs up. I’m still groggy from the migraine meds. And I forgot to mention that we pathetic New Yorkers DO NOT HAVE drive throughs. So Janelle’s doubly spoiled.
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Starbucks — eh…I’m not a coffee girl. You guys know me, Diet Coke by the gallon.
Chocolate…hmm…sometimes, yes, I can definitely get into chocolate.
But if I had my choice I would always pick gummy candies. I know, they’re awful for my teeth and they’re packaged for 12 year olds, but I just love Starburst, Skittles, Swedish Fish, jelly beans. Even Now & Laters. (My first “real” boyfriend back in 5th grade asked me to “go” with him by sliding a pack of grape Now & Later’s across the lunch table to me and smiling. Ahh…young love. Now 5th graders probably pass their Blackberries with “will you go with me on the screen.
Oh, and I have to try this because she looks like my little Cassie… (&)
Leslie
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I have two addictions. Dunkin Donuts coffee, and Ice cream. New Englanders have a Dunkin Donuts (DD’s) on just about every block. At least 1/2 of which are drive thru’s! Thank God!! And just any brand of ice cream will not do! Again, another New England company. Brighams. Guess my favorite flavor? Yep…coffee, followed by peppermint stick, then vanilla, then maple walnut. Are you sure coffee and ice are not major food groups by themselves?
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Peanut M&Ms. It’s very very hard to resist buying a bag every Sunday when I go grocery shopping. *must resist candy*
Oooh….gummy candies. Love those.
Man, this isn’t good. I need to stop thinking about candy.
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I’m not a coffee drinker, either. I loves me Classic Coke. *g*
Can’t resist chocolate and bad boys. :p
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Addictions…Diet Mt Dew and Sonic Ice. I *love* Diet Dew and drink it instead of anything else. No water, no milk, no nothing. It’s smooth and, though I’m not proud, I have been known to slug it directly from the 2 liter bottle. (I’m the only one who drinks it, though, so I tell myself that it’s okay.)
As for the Sonic Ice, I’m a regular at the drivethu for that. It’s small and soft and perfectly formed for crunching. There are days that I eat ice as opposed to a meal. (And this would be good for me if I could lay off the rest of the food, but….)
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I have too many addictions. My Starbucks addiction used to be out of control, but it’s not so bad anymore. Ok, ok, I think I’m trying to convince myself it’s not that bad, cos it kinda is. Thank goodness I don’t live close to one or I’d go every day, a couple of times a day. I swear, they put crack in that stuff…
I also have a Diet Coke addiction, as well as an addiction to candles. Can’t stop buying the buggers! I have a whole cabinet full of them! Ridiculous.
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The most acute Starbucks addiction I’ve ever seen has got to be Jeannie London’s. Have you seen that woman in action? Unreal. She’s like a commerical, the way she orders… (c)
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A coffee-lover’s fantasy is going to Starbucks with Julie Kenner, Jeanie London and Janelle Denison. I’ve had the experience with all of them and they all must have expresso running through their veins.
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My weaknesses are books, diet coke, and George Clooney
. Oops, I meant hubby. How did George Clooney and those lips get there lol? All you girls vices sound enticing. In the interest of research, I’ll have to try one of each 
.
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My greatest weakness is books. Between you four, Jennifer Crusie, Rachel Gibson and Jill Shalvis (to name a few) I’m going to go broke! :)
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I also have a big addiction to BOOKS! I buy them all the time. I don’t have time to read them like I used to, but I can’t walk into a bookstore without buying at least 3-4 books. If I can’t read them, I love being surrounded by them, LOL! So, I do understand that weakness.
I have to agree that Starbucks must put something very, very addicting in their coffee. Oh, yeah, that would be CAFFEINE! :d
Peanut M&M’s — oh, I do love those too. There is just something about that crunchy shell, creamy chocolate, and the taste of those peanuts! YUM! Must pick up a bag of those today — to drink with my Iced Venti Quad Latte with Three Equals! (*)
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I work p/t at B&N in the cafe, so I make all those Starbucks drinks. I am addicted to the white chocolate mocha. But for my daily fix, I love the mix of regular coffee & french vanilla cappuccino at my local Speedway gas station (I have such high brow tastes).
Janelle I love your mention of the cafe in your Wilde books and chuckle whenever I think of that caramel drink
The Take 5 bars are deadly, and I love this really simple taco dip I make – I could eat the whole thing myself!
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I wish I were addicted to vegetables! Does that count? Instead, I’m hooked on expensive coffee drinks, sugary candy and carbs. (^) My latest addiction are these nestle toll house cookie ice cream sandwiches – I’d like to hug whoever invented those evil things.
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Okay, Stacy, I’ve never had a Take 5 Bar before — Is this something I *must* have? *g*
JulieS: Ohmigod, those Toll House Cookie ice cream sandwiches are to DIE for. *swoon* Everytime I do get them, I hide them from the kids, LOL!
Janelle
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LOL Janelle – I only allow myself to buy them one at a time, and only when I’m angry or stressed out, because I do believe they have medicinal qualities.
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I am not a coffee drinker. I guess soft drinks and books are my weaknesses. Can never get enough of either.
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Books are probably one of my biggest vices–not a bad addiction!! :)
I love chocolate, the milk chocolate please, my grandkids (they should be #1!), food, eating, cooking are on my list, Peanut M & M’s are a must when I travel by car, I’m addicted to Mocha’s, Starbucks or other’s (c) . Sometimes there is no Starbucks nearby so I will settle for others. Oh yea, hot weather, you have to have a Frappucino–yum, yum! One of my very favorite things is Haagen Daz, Rocky Road ice cream. Other brands won’t do because Haagen Daz has marshmallow creme instead of marshmallow–much better. :)
Okay, that is enough vices, but I’m sure I’m forgetting something.
To the Plotmonkeys, love the blog. Keep up the good work.
Donna M :)
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I’m not a fan of Starbucks coffee, I get my daily fix from Dunkin’ Donuts, though I do like Starbucks cold Vanilla Frappucino’s. Also addicted to Classic Coke – the best is when I travel down south and get it in a glass bottle.
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chocalates and i love starbucks :d
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Hey Janelle–
I love this post…very interesting.
I have to admit I have an addiction to Starbucks as well…..most weeks visit almost every day during the workweek. I alternate between Iced Venti Peppermint Latte and Iced Venti Toffee Nut Latte.
On special occasions I will have my absolute favorite Venti Iced Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha.
another addiction is really good ice cream…Haggen Das coffee is a favorite of mind…don’t indulge in that too often but when I do I can eat the whole pint myself….lol
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My addictions are chocolate and books. I love both and gotta have them all the time. I’m not a coffee drinker, but I LOVE HOT CHOCOLATE any time of the year. I usually like to have a mug of it while I’m reading in the evening. I can’t go to the mall without stopping in the bookstore. I love browsing but it’s even better to buy – I have quite a TBR pile. :)
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Oh, Barbara — your lattes sound absolutely, positively DECADENT! I’m going to have to try those. YUM! :)
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We have these little ice cream shops here in Ga called Bruster’s.. and they make this ice cream called coffee toffee. Yup.
Coffee flavored ice cream with chunks of Heath toffee candy mixed in. Dear Lord!! It is to die for!
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Janelle, Take 5 bars have pretzels, caramel, peanut butter, and a bunch of other similar (required) ingredients covered in chocolate. I ate like 12 of those suckers in 3 days! Now I’m trying to eat healthy but I had a white mocha today
‘nite everyone….
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Did anyone say chocolate???? I LUV chocolate – hersheys is my fav, even better than Godiva. Also LUV Lindt dk choc and mint choc truffles. Also I LUV ice cream – carvel, friendlys, cold stone creamery’s banana is to die for, starbucks, ben and jerry’s. Dont get me started on dessert topics.
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I have an addiction to Maxwell House Roasted coffee. Gotta have it every morning or I get a headache, or become cranky and shout at the pets whether they needed it or not and of course they just look at me as if I’ve lost my mind, which I probably have and have no desire to go looking for it. Now Starbucks is my 19 yo daughter’s favorite place to go now. She’s made the frappacinos there a daily food requirement and of course her Dad sends her the extra funds each month to cover the cost of it. She works sooo hard to get those top college grades of hers so what’s a Starbucks coffee a day hurt? But me, I settle for the nice ol flavor of Maxwell House Roasted coffee – I know, I’m weird, but I wouldn’t be me if I wasn’t! hahaha
Joni
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I really had to chuckle when you described your first Starbucks– I order a Carmel Macchiata(sp?) Venti but with only one shot…They look at me funny and my friends tease me but they love getting my other shot in their drink.
Soda– I’m a Diet Pepsi Girl– The best is Wild Cherry Diet Pepsi. LOVE IT!! OK that and Iced Tea with Dinner out, gotta have it.
I am craving a Starbucks now~~
Lynda
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The plotmonky’s are AWESOME
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WOW MY FIRST ADDICTION WAS HONEYCOMB CANDY IT HAD NO CHOCOLATE JUST THE HONEYCOMB I WAS IN A FOSTER HOME AND ON WEEKENDS I WENT TO MY DADS AND HE LIVED IN THE CITY SO I GOT TO WALK TO SEES AND GET HONEYCOMB.,THEN LIFE WENT ON AND GODIVAS GOT ADDED TO THE MIX, WELL AFTER A FEW HUSBANDS I GOT TURNED ONTO HOT CHOCOLATE FROM STARBUCKS SO YOU PUT IT ALL TOGETHER I STILL HAVE MY ADDICTIONS AND I FINALLY FOUND A MAN THAT I AM TOTALLY IN LOVE WITH…AND HE DOESN’T MIND ALL OF THE ADDICTIONS……