What I’m wearing: | Olive Green Cutoff Shorts – Similar, Similar, Similar | Grey Quarter Length Tee – Similar, Similar, Similar | White Slip On Sneaks + Similar, Similar, Smiliar |                                                                                                                          

Sweet Sweet Summertime

Rise and shine friends! Happy Saturday!

I thought I’d switch things up this morning with a fun post all about my favorite Starbucks drinks! As you probably already know, I’m quite the coffee lover so I thought it would be fun to share 10 of my favorite drink orders. If you’re heading out this morning to grab some brew, why not try something new?!

Because it’s summer time (and because I love iced coffee all year round), the below list are all iced drinks but you can definitely order them hot as well! *All Grande size orders – may need to adjust sweetness based on other sizes.

Oh and make sure you check out the end of this post for a fun surprise!

1. Iced Matcha Green Tea Latte

• No Classic, Add 2 Pumps SF Vanilla
• Almond Milk

If you’re a matcha lover, try ordering a Matcha Water with 1 Pump Classic – it’s essentially a Matcha Iced Tea. So refreshing for summer time and green tea/matcha powder has some great health benefits!

2. Toffee Nut Iced Coffee

• 2 Pumps Toffee Nut + 1 Pump SF Vanilla
• Splash of Almond Milk

3. Half Price Latte

This is like ordering a Latte but paying about half the price – such a good hack! 

• Iced Double Espresso (Doppio) Shot – in a Grande Cup
• 2 Pumps Vanilla
• Almond Milk

4. Starbucks Double Shot on Ice

• No Classic, Add 2 Pumps Vanilla
• Almond Milk

While it sounds similar, this is quite different than the above. This Grande size menu item automatically comes with 3 Espresso Shots, 3 Pumps Classic, and topped with milk… then shaken to create a frothy goodness on the top. It’s more of a bold espresso taste as opposed to the more creamy latte option above. It’s generally two sweet for me so I ask for 2 pumps vanilla instead. 

5. Iced Shaken Teas

If I’m ordering an iced tea I like to keep it simple/not add a ton of extra sweetener so I order them plain/as is!

• Iced Passion Tango Tea – a great caffeine-free option
• Iced Black Tea with Pineapple Infusion
• Iced Peach Green Tea

6. Cold Brew with Caramel Cold Foam

Super tasty as is – no sweetener needed!

7. Iced Vanilla Bean Coconut Milk Latte

This is served with 2 shots of espresso and 2 scoops of Vanilla Bean Powder, with coconut milk. I think it’s delicious how it is!

8. Iced Skinny Caramel Macchiato

• 2 Pumps Toffee Nut + 1 Pump SF Vanilla
• Splash of Almond Milk

9. Blonde Iced Americano – Size Tall

If you’re like me and enjoy the bold taste of espresso, opt for an Americano. Order the Blonde Espresso for a more of a smooth and slightly sweet. A Tall size comes with 2 shots.

10. Pink Drink, Purple Drink, Dragon Drink

• Pink Drink – Strawberry Refresher with Coconut Milk
  • Ask for extra strawberries!
• Purple Drink – Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher with Coconut Milk
  • Ask for extra blackberries!
• Dragon Drink – Mango Dragonfruit Refresher + Coconut Milk
  • This one is much sweeter/more tart than the others.

These refresher drinks are not a common order for me however they are a great option if you’re looking for a tiny caffeine boost but don’t want coffee. 

All of the items above I’ve ordered, tried and loved so I would highly recommend!

To say thank you to all of you, I”ll be giving away a Starbucks gift card so you can enjoy something for yourself! Just head back to my Instagram post and either tell me your go-to Starbucks order or something new from this list you want to try!

Have a great weekend!

xoxo

 

 

 

What I’m wearing: | AvocadoHolic Tee Shirt | Leggings – Similar |                                                                                                                           

New Series on the Blog – Wellness Wednesday

I’ve had some health and wellness questions come in lately – what I eat during the week, how I stay motivated to workout, how I balance blogging and working full-time etc. etc., so, today I’m launching a Wellness Wednesday series to talk about all things health and wellness!

To kick off the series, today we’re beginning with one of my favorite ways to start the day – my quick and easy, go-to Avocado Green Smoothie Recipe!

I’ve always been a smoothie fan! It’s an easy and quick way to add in additional fruits/veggies/nutrients into your diet and of course, perfect for the on-the-go gal, like myself.

And I’ve never been one to fear the green smoothie either – I actually prefer them! Because fruit can be high in sugar, it’s best in my opinion, to balance with greens or veggies and protein to get the most out of your smoothie intake. (I promise, if you have the right fruit to spinach ratio, you won’t even taste it in your smoothie!)

In the last year or so I’ve been focusing on adding the healthy fats found in avocados into my smoothies and never looked back! I generally prepare a smoothie for breakfast or times when I’m not feeling hungry enough for a full meal.

And now on to the recipe!

| Kate Spade Dot Cups|

Everyday Raleigh Tay’s Avocado Green Smoothie

• 1/2 Ripe Avocado
• 1 Small Banana
• 1/2 Cup Frozen Pineapple Chunks
• 1/2 Cup Frozen Mango Chunks
• 1 Cup Silk Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk (or liquid base of your choice)
• 1 Large Handful of Organic Spinach (can substitute leafy greens/kale but spinach has more of a mild taste)
• Add-ins: Vega Protein & Greens Protein Powder – Vanilla, Flax Seed, Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides

Blend everything until smooth and creamy. Enjoy!

Quick Tip: Add everything into your blender, let it sit for a few minutes to allow the frozen fruit thaw a bit. It makes it blend together so much easier and quicker! 

I use the Nutri Ninja and it works wonders!

Know that there are multiple ways to adjust and substitute based on your preferences. Like a thicker smoothie? Add less liquid and don’t blend as long. Prefer kale over spinach? Add that instead. Just find out what you like/what works best for you!

Let me know what you think if you give this a try!

Talk soon! xoxo

Raleigh Tay

Funny Story:

My husband prefers fruit smoothies and more classic blends like Strawberry Banana (and does *not like spinach). I wanted to really put the “green” to the test and actually snuck some spinach into one of the smoothies I made for him to see if I could mask it with fruit and it TOTALLY worked! Haha. He didn’t even notice! T, if you’re reading this, just know I did you a favor in adding some additional nutrients to your diet that day 🙂

After the joys of the weekend, by the time Monday rolls around we can likely find ourselves dreading it more than looking forward to it. Personally, I’ve devoted changing my perspective on Mondays in 2019 and now I’m more motivated by them than ever! I use Mondays to re-focus my goals and to-dos, schedule some “me” time and overall enjoy the day a little more!

Here are some ways to start your week off on the right foot!

Change Your Perspective

The ‘Sunday scaries’ are real, but they don’t have to be! Try changing your perspective. Instead of dreading Monday, think of it as a fresh start, the opportunity to begin the week off on a positive note, and get motivated about all that you’re going to accomplish this week!

Have an Attitude of Gratitude

Along with shifting your perspective, being intentional about having a grateful attitude will help your outlook on the week. I try to spend quiet time in the morning reading a devotional, spending time in the Bible or filling out a thankful journal to re-set my mind and focus on what matters most. Checkout my post 9 Books to Add to Your Reading List for details on a few devotionals I’m recently loving.

And when I don’t have the extra time to sit down in the morning, I still make it a priority to run through a list of things I’m thankful/grateful for… the job that I’m going to, my health, my husband, the opportunity to inspire others, and even the simple things like a new pair of work pants I’m excited about. Girl, whatever is ahead of you, you’ve got this! (And have so much to be thankful for!)

I challenge you to create your own list!

Create Something to Look Forward To

Whether it’s treating yourself to your favorite latte on the way into work, making a habit of scheduling a fun lunch date, or devoting your evening to some self-care time, having something to look forward to on Mondays makes the day that much better! Whatever you choose, try making it a habit for the next month and see how you feel after.

There’s a Starbucks in the building where I work and I love going in a few minutes early on Mondays, grabbing my favorite coffee and spending a few minutes catching up on my daily reads (Everygirl.com, The Newsette). It’s nice to spend a few moments to myself and I always look forward to it.

Have Your Weekly To-Do List Already Complete

Setting aside some time on Sunday (or even the Friday before) to set your intensions for Monday and the week ahead, and having that ready before Monday morning comes, can ease some stress of understanding what you need to accomplish for the day/week.

Each week at the top of my planner I write two-three small goals I want to accomplish and focus on for the week. It may be completing a blog post, working out every day that week, drinking more water, or even seeing a friend I’ve meant to schedule a lunch date with.

Start Your Monday with a Workout

I’ve recently starting hitting my workout class in the mornings and even though it can sometimes be a struggle not to stay an extra hour in the warm covers, I always feel amazing after! Getting your body moving in the morning, even if it’s just a 30 minute walk can boost your energy and get your mind refreshed for the day and week ahead.

Get the Not So Fun Stuff Out of the Way

Although Monday can sometimes seem daunting, it’s also a great opportunity to get those not-so-fun chores out of the way. Laundry. Meal prepping. Cleaning. Getting it out of the way on Monday (or better yet, Sunday) so your to-do list doesn’t pile up as much throughout the week.

Gather Some Inspiration

What better way to start your week than by fueling with some inspiration?! My favorite way to do so is via Pinterest! Gather a few motivational quotes, look up some ideas for your new home office project, find some Summer outfit ideas… whatever it may be, exercising the creative part of your mind can give you a jumpstart of energy and re-fuel your inspiration!

I’d love to know if you’re motivated about Mondays too! What are some ways you get your week going? Let me know below!

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