Abbey's Irish Coffee

If you follow me on Instagram, you've probably seen me post about these irish coffees. A few weeks ago we got our first really big cold front in Oklahoma. I think I ate chili and soup for every meal that week and had about 10 cups of tea. For a little warm fuzzy, my roommate Abbey texted our roommate group text saying she was on her way to the grocery store to get the things to make irish coffee. None of us complained, but instead hurried home. 

We might have made the coffee a leeeeetle strong the first go-around, I mean my hands were shaking after a few sips, but I still drank it to the last drop! The warm cup of coffee mixed with Baileys and sweetened with brown sugar makes for the most delicious winter happy hour drink!  

Abbey's Irish Coffee
recipe per cup of coffee

Ingredients:
1 cup of coffee
2 Tbsps. Baileys Irish Cream
1-2 tsps. brown sugar (depends on how sweet you like your coffee)
whipped cream*
chocolate shavings

Directions:
Brew a cup of coffee, stir in Baileys and brown sugar. Top with whipped cream and using a zester, shave chocolate over the top to garnish! 

*I suggest Reddi-Whip. Just give in and buy the cream-in-a-can. You know you love it plus who doesn't love spraying whipped cream directly into their mouth?

Silly Annie, I really skimped on the whipped cream in this one. Abbey's Irish Coffees are best served with whipped cream piling out of the cup and lots of chocolate shavings! And don't forget to #takeasip!

Annie

Coffee Talk

But first, coffee. I’m stealing one of my sister’s blog features and talking all about coffee today. I love coffee. Like really really love it. I wasn’t a coffee drinker until right before I came to college, and now it is a rare day if I don’t have a cup or two. Like most, I had to ease into coffee. I started with the sugary lattes and frappuccinos, but now my morning cup is black with half of a sweet n low.  
image via
My morning routine starts with waking up, grabbing my Caribou Coffee K-cup (I finally found a favorite) and my coffee mug then heading downstairs to make a cup of coffee in the Keurig. Living in a sorority house I am limited to the Keurig, so I can’t wait to have a house next year and have my own coffee pot filled with unlimited cups of coffee.
After my daily black coffee I often need a second afternoon pick-me up.  A run through the Starbucks drive thru usually cures it. Below are some of my favorite drink orders.
For something cold:
Hanson Iced Tea
What to ask for: half iced black tea/half iced coffee. Then add a splash of skim milk and a sweet n low.
This drink got its name from someone on Instagram who started hastagging his new creation. Some Starbucks may know what you are talking about if you call it that but I usually just ask for a half and half.
Sami Special
What to ask for: iced chai with skim milk, two pumps sugar-free vanilla syrup and two scoops protein powder.
They may look at you like your crazy, but this drink is seriously good. My sweet friend Sami gets all the credit for this one (hence the name).  It isn’t blended so make sure they stir it up well. The added protein gives it an extra creamy taste!
Iced Vanilla/Hazelnut/Caramel Macchiato
What to ask for: iced vanilla macchiato with skim milk and sugar-free syrup
I tried Starbucks new vanilla macchiato the other day and it was fab. I’m a big vanilla girl so I new I would love it. I actually ordered it hot, but I can’t wait to try the iced version.
For something hot:
Coffee with steamed milk
What to ask for: pikes place roast with steam skim or soymilk.
Kathleen introduced me to this one and now it is my new regular. The steamed milk gives your plain black coffee a little boost if you want something more exciting.
GSKVL
What to ask for: grande skinny vanilla latte
This is the classic order by most sorority girls. Yes I fall into the stereotype, but it never fails. One of my friends and I use to call them GSKVLs (just try to sound it out). That is the combination of letters they write on your cup when you order and it is funny to say.
Rooibos Tea:
What to ask for: hot rooibos tea
I’ve really become a lover as tea as well. My favorite Tazo tea has recently become vanilla rooibos. You don’t have to add any honey or sugar because it already has great flavor. It is also really cheap to only order hot tea. I was first introduced to rooibos over spring bread when I ordered the rooibos teal latte at Nordstrom’s eBar. It resembles an iced chai tea latte but use the vanilla rooibos tea instead.
Now that I’ve rambled on about my favorite coffee drinks, I think I’ll go make another cup of coffee! And, I think I may try this iced mint coffee recipe too!
Annie

Good Morning

I love mornings. I love mornings because it means the start of a new day, free of anything bad that may have happened the day before. I love mornings because I am most productive when the sun is out. When I wake up early I get the most done. I love mornings because it gives me time to myself. Most people don't like the morning as much as I do, so they sleep right through it. I hate sleeping through the morning because that means missing my most favorite part of the day. Breakfast. Breakfast is the best part of mornings and my favorite kind of food. 

{Good Morning Beautiful}

If you know me well you know how much I love the morning. On a good morning when I have extra time before class or anything else, my routine usually consists of waking up, making a cup of coffee, making breakfast, blogging or reading blogs, some time with the big man upstairs, and if I really have time, I try to squeeze in a little Kathy Lee and Hoda. 

mornings aren't complete without a cup of coffee

blogging is best when it takes place in the morning

a big bowl of warm oatmeal is the perfect addition to my morning

Good morning friends! I hope you love them as much as me!

Annie

DIY to-go Mason Jar

I love drinking out of mason jars. The other morning I switched up my usual hot cup of joe with some iced coffee, complete with coffee ice cubes I froze the day before. 

By creating a hole for a straw to go through in the lid of a mason jar, it makes for a perfect to-go cup! So efficient and easy to transport without any spillage.

This DIY is so easy. I literally put it together the other morning, right before I had to leave for work.

What you need:

  • mason jar
  • lid
  • hammer
  • philips screwdriver
  • straw

What to do:

1. Center the screw driver on the lid and hammer to create a hole.

2. Wiggle the screw driver around until you've made a hole big enough for your straw.

3. Hammer the edges down so around the hole is smooth.

4. Stick your straw through and screw on the lid! And there ya go, a to-go mason jar!

I'm sad to say I'm going to take about a two week hiatus from the blog. I start prep for sorority recruitment this weekend and I'm about to be busy busy. There might be a random post here and there, but I'll be back soon with a huge "bites of my life" post to catch up for lost time!

Annie

Bites of My Life

Another week has come and gone. School is quickly ending and summer is fast approaching! Last week consisted of the OKC Arts Festival, Barre3, date parties, lunch at my favorite burger place, quality time at home and the arrival of spring allergies...thankful for many cups of green tea to save my aching throat. 

{Bites from the Week}
Clockwise from the top left corner:
-Always a goodtime with my girl Betsy at our last date party of the semester.
-Channeling Contessa's post for Iced Almond Milk Caramel Lattes last week has me giddy for iced coffee season! Not to mention they are made with almond milk (I have a slight obsession).
-My favorite pesto pea salad, tilapia and summer squash with thyme and feta make for the perfect Sunday night dinner.
-A sweet friend of mine came running up to me this weekend excited to show me her freshly painted mint nails! She had her mom ship it to her after reading my "Mint" post. It's reassuring to know people are actually reading and taking in what I'm writing about.
 {Bites from Lunch}
Sunday's lunch gets its own highlight. What's not to love about a restaurant that share's your last name. Tucker's Onion Burgers uses all local ingredients which makes for the best burger in my opinion. This was my first time to their Classen Curve location and it didn't disappoint. 
Now back to the reality that finals are next week and the days ahead will consist of lots of studying and lots of coffee. Wish me luck!
xo annie