Keurig

Let's take a coffee break, shall we?  

For Christmas this year, The Pink Mixer found their very own Keurig Elite 40 Brewing System sitting under the tree.  An admitted skeptic before ("How lazy can people be?  What's wrong with a good old fashioned coffee pot?") we are writing to tell you that after the first few initial brews we were singing a very different tune.  ("How fabulous that I can brew myself a single cup of coffee in minutes whenever I want!  I hit a button, I pop in a pod, and voila!")

Oh, wait. You want tea?  hot chocolate instead?  Easy-peasy. 

I like my coffee strong, so I go with the "medium" option when brewing -- it took a little bit of trial and error to figure that out, and I'm still trying to decide what my favorite coffee K-Cup is (top contender these days is Newman's Own Extra Bold) but wow, all in all, I gotta say I'm a fan, particularly since it's made brewing for one so darn easy.  No more feeling guilty if I brewed too much coffee from the get-go and have to pour it all down the drain, virtually no clean up at all either.

When I opened my gift I never, ever anticipated putting away my cute little 4-cup Mr. Coffee brewer.  Honest, I didn't.  Fast forward to now, when Mr. Coffee sits all stacked away in my pantry, ready for the day when I'm brewing for more than just me.  Turns out, maybe you can teach The Pink Mixer a new trick now and then...

Average Price: $119   

Rating: 4 out of 5

Bigelow French Vanilla Tea

We don't often post about food or drink on The Pink Mixer, mostly because - be it wise or not - we tend to spend more of our precious pennies on products (more products! always with the product!) than we do on food. Still, we couldn't help but share our love for Bigelow's French Vanilla Tea. The Pink Mixer is a huge advocate of the - large - AM coffee drink; but later in the afternoon or on a cozy weekend we gladly give a nod to that other warm beverage that the UK holds in such high esteem.

There is simply something soothing and luxurious about pouring oneself a cup of tea. Make it a French Vanilla, and you can't help but have a winner. This tea has a smooth and mild flavor, with just a hint of sweetness. Personally, we like it with a dash of sugar and a dollop of milk. Though we think you might be won over by the calming aroma alone.

Average Rating: 5 out of 5
Average Price: $3.29/box

Dud of the Month: Vivanno Smoothies at Starbucks

As the temps soar higher and higher and the beaches, pools, and lakes call us away from the hot mess of the city, a few of us poor working stiffs remain stuck among the buildings and pavement, schlepping to and from the office.

This does not make us happy.

We work any angle we can to make it feel just a bit more like the lazy, hazy, dog days of summer we remember from our youth – popsicles, ice cream, sunburns, ponytails, and when we’re too hot to handle a lunch but need something to get us through the rest of the workday? Smoothies.

Have you ever noticed there aren’t enough smoothie joints in Boston?

In a desperate attempt to fill this smoothie craving last week we headed toward Starbucks, the only smoothie selling store for miles around. We realize Starbucks IS a coffee shop and we know we shouldn’t have expected the worlds greatest smoothie. But still. If you put it on the menu you best be able to deliver right?

Well, let’s just say after trying the Vivanno Smoothies, we’d love our $4.20 back.

We opted for the orange/mango/banana smoothie. Sounds light and refreshing, right? Try again. The banana taste is far to over powering, thus making it feel like you’re sipping nothing more than a liquid banana. The after taste? Ugh. Like we said, we’ll take our $4.20 back. And we’ll carry on as usual, slogging through the sweltering streets just praying a Jamba Juice appears before us.

Average Price: Around $4.00

Rating: 1 out of 5

Kennebunkport Blueberry Wheat Ale

We don’t usually blog about food or beverages here at The Pink Mixer.

It’s not that we’re against either, of course, it’s just that well, we’re a tad obsessed with product. Consumerism. And did somebody mention make-up? Still, after a very long day at the office (and it’s only Monday!) I came home, plopped down on a chair on my porch and cracked open a beer. Sure, I felt like a cliché – right until I had my first sip.

Blueberry beer has always been one of my favorites, but lately, it’s been the specific brand Kennepunkport Blueberry Wheat Ale that I spend my cash on. Sold at Trader Joes, it's not pricey nor is it too sugary. The blueberry taste is subtle enough not to over-power. In fact, I’d say those folks at the Kennebunkport Brewing Company get it just about 100% right, which makes a working girl who refuses to say goodbye to the summery routine of a cold beer while watching the sunset on her porch pretty darn happy.

Average Price: $7.99/6pack
Rating: 4 out of 5