Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte Return Date- Confirmed!

Oh happy day! This morning at my local Starbucks, I was able to confirm my previously estimated PSL return date I had told you about- it WILL be back the day after Labor Day on Tuesday, September 3rd! YAAAY! Just 2 weeks away! Why is the PSL return date so special, you ask? Well for me, the return of the Pumpkin Spice Latte marks the unofficial beginning of fall.

Labor Day, the last summer holiday, has passed, kids around the country (not just here in AZ) are all back in school, cooler temperatures and sweater weather is on its way in, and sweaty weather on its way out! It brings to mind the anticipation of apple cider, warm scarves, crisp air, crunchy leaves and time spent with family. Isn't it so comforting that the best time of year is just around the corner?

I had quite the pep in my step the rest of the day having heard the wonderful news. After confirming the suspected date with my barista, I whispered, "Is the syrup here? Is it back there? I know we can't have it yet, but is it there?". This question was one that I already knew the answer to, but just had to ask anyway to put my holiday-filled mind at ease. I exhaled a sigh of relief when she smiled and shook her head 'yes'. Alright, it's really happening! Just hearing the confirmation that yes, indeed it IS there, sitting in that lonely back room anxiously awaiting its arrival in stores, was all I needed to feel comforted :-) Simply knowing that the shipment successfully made it to my Starbucks is almost more exciting to me than the day that it comes out... almost!

So there you have it. Tuesday, September 3, 2013 is the big day! Some stores will have a "soft-opening" during Labor Day Weekend. So if on Saturday, August 31st you happen to go to Starbucks, ask if you can have a PSL. The worst they can say is no, and the best they can say is yes, you can have the spicy orange drink a few days early :-) Also, the past 2 years they've had a competition on Facebook to give the city with the most "Pumpkin Spice Spirit" the drink a week early, so I'll be keeping my eye on that for you and updating as necessary! Last year Chicago won, and I think they won the year before, too. I would love if Arizona could give them a run for their money, but I don't think we have the population to compete, lol. Oh well. I guess I can wait 15 days ;-)

Thanks for reading! Have a wonderful day!

Music Choice: Sounds of the Seasons

This time of year, I always start getting anxious to hear festive music. One of my favorite ways to incorporate seasonal songs in my home is by listening to Music Choice: Sounds of the Seasons on my TV! They play a wide variety of songs, ad-free, 24/7 during seasonal timeframes. And they start early and keep it going for a little after the holiday passes, which pleases me very much as I like to celebrate the full season, not just the day :-)

Music Choice is available to many different cable TV users, so tune-in if you have Cox Cable, Time Warner, Comcast, Charter, Cablevision, Verizon FiOS, AT&T U-Verse, Grande, Service Electric Cable TV, CenturyLink, or Bright House Networks. I have Cox Cable, so for me,it is on channel 1933. Not quite sure what channel for other users, but I am sure you could easily look it up.

Here is the upcoming music schedule for 2013. Oktoberfest is coming up next, about a month away :-)

Sounds of the Seasons- Special music that plays to celebrate various holidays and seasons. The 2013 schedule includes:

• Mardi Gras (first week of February)
• Valentine's Day (second week of February)
• St. Patrick's Day (third week of March)
• Cinco De Mayo (first week of May)
• Patriotic music (first week of July)
• Christmas in July (third week of July)
• Oktoberfest (late September through October 7)
• Halloween (October 8 to November 1)
• Christmas (runs from November 2 through January 6)
• The Pulse (periods without a specific widely-celebrated holiday such as April, June and August, etc.) <-- For the record, The Pulse is NOT my favorite, LOL

Hope you join me in September to make your home sound festive and seasonal. Thanks for stopping by, have a great day!

Back-to-School!

 

Oh, how this time of year makes me reminisce about the smell of new school supplies… that papery, waxy first waft when you open a new box of crayons, the smell of flexible plastic pencil pouches, the bright, clean fabric of a new backpack, the freshly ground wood grain and lead from bouquets of freshly sharpened pencils… you get the idea :-) Yesterday in Arizona, school started again! Summer vacation seemed to go by really fast. I hope these kids are going back feeling like they had a long enough break. I remember always having major butterflies in my stomach when the first day of school was approaching. However, back-to-school supply shopping helped out with that because I always thought it was so fun. Don’t you just love walking into places like Target during this time of year and seeing school supply galore all around you? As much as I am sad for kids having to start school again, the prep for it makes me really happy.

 

The school year starting this week and this overcast, rainy weather has me wanting to curl up in bed and watch You’ve Got Mail and put up my fall decorations :D I can hardly wait for autumn to be here! And Arizona starting the school year early does not help with that, lol! I know once school is back in session fall just around the corner, so I am trying my hardest to be patient.

 

http://adiamondinthestuff.com/2012/01/year-of-mantels.html

 

As I am sure you can tell, I love decorating for all seasons. I thought this mantel from A Diamond in the Stuff was so perfect for today! I mean, how often do you see décor done for back-to-school? Pretty much never. It would not be a bad idea to do start doing things like this once I have my own children to make this transition happier, more exciting one. Do any of you do any decorating or have traditions of your own for starting the school year? I'd love to hear about it if you do!

 

Here’s to hoping the first day back at school went well for teachers and students and for a great year ahead! Have a great day!