Posted by Julie at Jul 18, 2012 6:00 am
First, the winners from last week’s contest…each of the five winners will receive a paperback copy of TOO WICKED TO KEEP, my October 2011 Blaze that introduces Erica Holt, the heroine of my novella, “A Moment Like This,” available NOW in THE GUY MOST LIKELY TO…collection!
Check last week’s post for winner numbers!
#3 Sara McDaniel
#13 CrystalGB
#29 Laura
#32 Joanne B
#35 Emma
Email me at julie @ julie leto . com (no spaces) with your US shipping address and thanks for playing!
Now…onto coffee.
I know some people worship it and can’t start the day without it. Shortly after I had my daughter, I gave up caffeine. I’d already done it while pregnant, though not entirely, because I’m a “moderation” girl myself. But I have issues with anxiety and my doctor suggested I get off caffeine as a way to deal with it. For over eight years, I was clean. No caffeine, except what was in chocolate, passed my lips.
About three years ago (about the time I started homeschooling my daughter, which I’m sure is no coincidence), I made the move from decaf to half-caff. I’ve noticed, recently, though that I often make a whole pot (which is only a 4 cupper) and I only drink one mug full (2 cups)…if that. My unfinished coffee from this morning is sitting on my desk right now. (Yea, I know, that’s gross, but I’ll take it to the kitchen after posting this blog.) I’m pretty sure I microwaved it at least twice. I guess when you’re not getting any real jolts of caffeine, drinking the coffee isn’t actually compelling!
I grew up on cafe con leche. That’s Cuban coffee (a strong espresso roast) with milk and lots of sugar. And by “grow up,” I mean I probably had it when I was younger than eight, though I’m sure it was much more “leche” than “cafe.” I distinctly remember, during the few winter months, toasting Cuban bread with butter on the grate of my grandmother’s floor heater (again, that’s probably disgusting, but hey, it was cool beans when I was a child and something I’d NEVER allow my daughter to do now!) and dunking it in Cuban coffee. That’s still my absolutely favorite breakfast.
Now, I drink half-caff with four Splenda (I know…it’s bad for me, but it is what it is) and half-n-half. What about you? How do you take your joe? Or are you a tea drinker? Or soda? What beverage is your morning choice?
ah…a too be continued?? But, that reminded me that I need to make some if I am going to survive today. ;) with three kids home for the summer (7,5,4) and no central ac by the end of the day I feel like this
I grew up in the military so of course I’m a coffee drinker. I also spent part of that time in Brazil so I grew up on cafezinho which is a deep Brazilian roast that is an acquired taste. But I love it! It’s 100 degrees outside but I’m still drinking my coffee (by the pool).
Every morning I make my one cup of coffee and 2 pieces of wheat toast, sit in front of the computer, and catch up on life! I like my coffee with just a little milk..no sugar.
I started drinking coffee when I was 9. My mom thought I’d hate it and she was wrong. I can’t say I have to have it every day…but I do just enjoy it.
If I want anything later in the day that is hot, then I switch to tea. Lemon is my favorite!
I’m not a big coffee drinker. Only like it with lots of splenda and flavored creamer if I drink it at all. Usually start my day with Diet Dr. Pepper or water.
I am a tea drinker all the way. Love the smell of coffee though.
Coming on to PM is my ‘coffee”….I love my once a week Starbuck’s sugar free, fat free, ‘why bother?” drink (be it a frappacino in the summer or hot in the winter). Not a daily coffee drinker. Used to drink a lot of diet Coke, but kidney stones kinda ruined that (I need to drink water, not coffee/diet coke). I am usually a good water drinker, but during the summer, life gets busy.
I have never been a coffee person nor tea. I guess I don’t like hot drinks. When pregnant I started drinking only water and kept that up for years. But a couple of years ago I started drinking diet coke for the caffeine. A can could last 2 to 3 days as I wouldn’t drink much. I guess I just got tired of drinking only water. Now that McD has $1 drinks I’ve been drinking diet cokes more often. Not sure why this is happening but not ready to stop either.
Love this subject today Julie. Keep enjoying your coffee.
Congratulations to all those winners. Lucky you.
I take my morning coffee with Splenda and powdered creamer.
Congrats to the winners!
I have one cup of coffee a day. Heavy on the coffee mate and one packet of sweet n low. I know it is probably bad for me but I am a type one diabetic and have used sweet n low since 1980 and am still doing okay so I will stick with it.
:yuk: No coffee for me. I never could develop a taste for it although I do like the smell when a fresh can is opened. I have a cup of hot tea every morning at work. After that it’s either water, iced T or an occasional Diet Dr Pepper.
Love the aroma of coffee but don’t drink it. My preference is tea and the flavors change with the seasons.
Congrats to the winners!!! I used to drink Vanilla Lattes or White Chocolate Mochas all the time, back when I worked night shift and went to school during the day. In Sep. 2008, I was diagnosed with ITP (an autoimmune disease involving platlets) and was placed on several meds, which has caused my heart-rate to speed up. Which means no more caffeine for me.
On a rare day, I still have cravings for some good coffee. I hope everyone enjoys there choice of caffeine!
Congratulations!
Doctor took me off coffee a few years back so I’m down to one coffee of half decaf with 1% milk and one sugar. On weekend though I splurge, Tim Horton’s with cream and two sugars!
Not a coffee or tea drinker. I love the smell of fresh brewed coffee but that is as far as it goes. I am a big Diet Coke fan. I got hooked on the DC right after I gave birth to our second child. I was experiencing spinal headaches and the anathesiologist told me to drink DC with my meds and I have been hooked ever since. I can’t make it thru the morning without cracking open the top (I can hear it now). My daughter has been ragging on me for years to give it up. I know how bad it is but I am trying very hard to ween myself off. I can say that I am down to one a day instead of 4 or more a day.
Julie, I’ve been drinking “cawfee” (as they say in RI) since I was a baby. Seriously, I think it was in a baby bottle! The state drink in RI is coffee milk — no joke — and Autocrat Coffee makes coffee syrup. I’ve been drinking coffee a verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy long time. Just regular coffee, nothing special. I’ve long since stopped using sugar and add skim milk. I cut back to three mugs a day about 10 years ago so I’m pretty happy with me. Doctors tell me that “it’s bad for me” but I say, you do NOT want to see me without my coffee. [shudder!] It’s ugly. So first thing in the morning, it’s one cuppa. If not, I’ll drown in the shower. :D And my favorite brand is Dunkin’ Donuts coffee.
Coke! Every night I say I am going to quit tomorrow. Every morning, I have to have it! I don’t like coffee or tea, so this is my caffeine fix.
Julie,
My grandpa used to give me milk and sugar with a little coffee whenever we visited (mainly ’cause it drove my mother nuts, I think!)
I didn’t start drinking coffee in any quantity until I joined the Navy. I quickly found that ‘coffee breaks’ were a ready excuse. I was always being assigned extra assignments because my co-workers were on a coffee or cig break. Since I was not really fond of the taste, I always used cream and sugar (and still do). Since this was the late 70′s, there weren’t many women serving and I got a lot of flack about my coffee. The old chiefs were especially bad. They would say, “I like my coffee like my women, hot, strong and black.” (Definitely not into politically correct, were they?) One day it really annoyed me and I snapped back, “I like my coffee like my men. Hot, white and sweet!) Needless to say, I never had any more comments about how I drank my coffee.
I am really spoiled now since my DIL is a barista for Starbucks (we call her our Coffee Fairy since she gives us coffee beans). My DH brews a pot to take to work and leaves me a cup or two in a carafe for my daily fix.
I may actually be a coffee addict. I suspect this because in the morning I make it all the way down the stairs to my kitchen and find myself standing directly in front of the espresso machine before I have both eyes open. Most mornings my husband has left the machine on for me, so it is already primed and heated – he is real hero material! And then, there is the moment when I press the button and thin streams of creamy brown espresso pour into the crystal shot glasses and I take my first real breath of the day and breathe out – “Ah, sweet elixir of life.”
*sigh* The hard part is waiting for the milk to steam before I pour it all into my favorite dragon cup and sip that first mouthful of coffee and milk and foam.