TFT: Non-Alcoholic Beverage Treats

Whoa..... a TFT two weeks in a row!
This week I wanted to talk about yummy alcohol-free drinks that we treat ourselves to on occasion.  While I have blogged before about my caffeine-free lifestyle, I have to admit that something has changed since then.  I have taken a liking to the hot chocolate at my local Holiday Gas Station and have been stopping about once per week on my way to work for this special treat (its so creamy and chocolatey!).  I feel like such a hypocrite because I never used to understand how people can crave a drink so much and give in to such indulgences (especially when they can get expensive at places like Starbucks, Caribou, etc.)  Does the fact that I stop at least once per week make me one of these beverage-addicts? The fact that I literally crave that hot chocolate makes me think that YES, I am now one of those people.  Dear Lord, I never thought it would happen to me! Good thing that hot chocolate only costs me $1.26 including tax.  Another beverage treat that I love on rare occasion is the iced chai tea at Caribou (but that is $4!)

Now that I am "out" about my beverage indulgence, I would like you all to come out too!

What is your favorite beverage-treat indulgence and where do you get it? How much are you willing to spend for your favorite beverage?  How far are you willing to go to get it?  How often do you indulge? Does your craving change with the seasons?

Comments

[Steph]

I have a caffeine-intolerance. Therefore cannot drink any coffee, tea, or anything chocolate, and even some kind of pop. I could drink the decaffeineated (sp?) drinks, but I've never tried any. I used to buy steamed milk drinks at Starbucks and whatnot, but I never crave it. Other than that... I'll crave 'slushies' in the summer time, and that's about it for my cravings!

[Michelle Sauer]

I crave lattes at Starbucks and I used to indulge every day when I worked downtown. Soooo bad on the pocket book. Now I usually just stop on the way out to your parent's every wednesday. It's the only Starbucks close to me and "on the way" to where I'm going. I spend $3.74 once a week on this indulgence. Not bad considering I once did that 5 times a week! That is almost $20 on coffee! Ridiculous. Caribou is even more expensive, same drink is like 50 cents more! Sad.

[Robyn]

I used to love those Starbucks iced fappuccinos in the glass bottle and would buy them in 4 packs for 4 dollars they are now like $6 i think, I gave them up. For me it is really diet coke. I love Panera's iced green tea and starbucks passion tea lemonade but I don't really have either one close enough to have an addiction.

[anne]

I also love chai, but there really isn't any drink that I crave that I MUST have on a daily basis. In winter I drink hot chai as a treat, in summer I switch it to iced chai:) I also crave a good old classic Coke every once in awhile...there's just something about it that's so refreshing!

[denise]

I enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning! And at work it is free and they provide "flavored creamers" so every work morning up to the break room to get me a cup of coffee/vanilla creamer....perfect way to start the day and it's FREE! can't beat that. I don't think that there is a drink that I must absolutely have....:) I do enjoy cherry coke on weekends as a treat.

[Dana Leigh]

I'm not huge on drinks either but when I did drink caffeine, I loved the gas station Freedom's french vanilla cappuccino. Every once in a while for warm months, I treat myself to Dunn Bros. Caramel Mocha Ice Crema coffee drink and in the winter, Caribou's warm Caramel High Rise, both decaf. Other than that, I don't like getting calories from drinks!

[Jeff]

I love Scotch, Scotchy Scotch Scotch

[Julie]

A Carmel High Rise from Caribou is always a treat. I crave them quite a bit, but they are expensive so I don't induldge very often. However, I do NOT enjoy the 19 grams of fat in a large regular high rise... I always go to skim milk and skip the whip cream (you know that adds 11 grams of fat to a drink?!)... it doesn't taste exactly the same, but it's still good. :)

While I was pregnant I had to have a fountain Coke everyday the last couple of months. Now I can't seem to shake craving one everyday. I don't give in to the craving, I just keep a 2 liter of Diet Dew at work and allow myself 1 cup per day and that seems to hold off my craving. I really want to get back to being caffine free... once my daughter starts sleeping through the night I will try it. lol

[Samara]

I don't think that makes you "one of those people" at all. Especially at that price. I think it's nice to have something you enjoy, that's comforting to look forward to like that. I have cut way, way back on the expensive coffee drinks. I used to justify a venti latte from Starbucks every single day. Granted, that was when I worked full time and passed one on my way to the office at 7:00am every morning. Now, I go to Starbucks once a quarter, if that. I have been going to this other place called The Human Bean about once a week. Same price range but they pay fair trade prices for their beans unlike Starbucks. So, I think it's a better deal. :) I was ordering lattes -- large, nonfat to 130 degrees -- but lately I've been getting their large iced black tea with one splena. Perfect for summer and so, so good. At $3, it's kind of a waste, but when I'm too lazy to make it or in a bit of a hurry, I can justify it without a second thought. Otherwise, I don't spend a lot on drinks. At home, I mostly drink water. My husband on the other hand -- he drinks a 2 liter a day. Plus, he gets a large fountain pop from the gas station at least once a day!

p.s Your new blog look and profile photo look fabulous. Great job!

[Rolana]

I love frappacinnos, especially the caramel ones at Starbucks. There aren't any Carabous down here in FL. I'm pretty much caffeine free too due to my tachycardia. The hospital I work at has a small coffee stand in their atrium and their Snickers Frappacino is delicious, but they are super expensive.