Boba translates to “big pearls” in Taiwanese and is often referred to as bubble tea. The “pearls” are tapioca that is boiled, soaked in something sweet such a sugar or honey and placed in a fruity green or black tea beverage. Yep, I thought it was odd at first too.

Then I tried it and fell in love!

Tapioca pearls are little bundles of goodness that I can only describe as a gummy bear in the shape of a tiny ball - smaller than a marble but, bigger than a BB. The texture is pleasing and rather than pop; they are slightly chewy. I am willing to bet that a Boba tea shop has opened in your neighborhood or will be soon. Although it seems to be a recent phenomenon, it has been around for years, originating in Asia nearly thirty years ago.

I was on a road trip last week and survived thirteen hours in the car thanks solely to McDonald's coffee. I thought I was sacrificing by resorting to a fast food cup of joe but that was a galaxy away from the truth. Instead, I found myself back at the drive-thru for a second cup of McCafe.

Several of Starbucks®  famous coffee roasts are available in the Keurig®  K-Cup®  pod format including French Roast, Pike Place, Breakfast Blend, Veranda, Cafe Verona, and Caramel. For my fellow Starbucks junkies, this has been a dream come true as we can now feed our habit right in our own home- any time of day. No more searching for a 24 hour Starbucks®  or wishing they delivered! The only thing missing in the pod format is an espresso. Keurig®  brewers are not capable of brewing a true espresso but, using the lowest water setting of the machine is close enough for me. 

Purchase Starbucks®  K-Cup®  coffee pods here:>>

Coffee is without a doubt one of the best simple pleasures in life. Perhaps only second to a hot shower or binging a great show on Netflix. It is well worth any cost but, I am sure you have all asked, " Where is the best place to get cheap K-Cup® pods?" I would add, without sacrificing quality. After all, life is far too short for bad coffee and with a little know-how and online savvy, gourmet coffee pods can fit any budget. 

After ten years in the industry, we have found the best place to get a good deal on Keurig® brewers and coffee is through online distributors. There are a variety of reasons that all add up to time and money saved.

Hosting family and friends for the holidays can be stressful, to say the least. Whether they are visiting for a few hours or a few days, the experience may leave you looking at Canadian real estate. You have already heard all of the cliche advice, live in the moment, appreciate the time you have with the loved ones, blah, blah, and more blah.

No matter how true the cliches are at the core, they are hard to follow and may leave you feeling guilty about the natural tension that occurs with holiday guests. What you need my friend is tangible advice, and to that end, I would like to offer three words: keep it simple. You do not need to wow your visitors with extravagant holiday decor nor do you need to do everything yourself.