Weekend minutia.

I attempted to take more of my own photos today, but unfortunately my life isn't very exciting. So I mostly photographed books and food. Here's a quick recap of my Saturday:

Breakfast: A homemade breakfast burrito and Texas Turtle coffee on the deck finishing The Catcher in the Rye. I even wore a strapless top in an attempt to get some color, but my skin only knows two colors: white and red. 
 

Lunch: A venti Java chip frappuccino at Starbucks and Beasts, which I started and finished while I was there. The purse was a gift from my boyfriend after he went to Ghana last summer.

Working off all that food: This bike path runs along the riverbed and gives me a very convenient route to pretty much all my regular places: libraries, coffee shops, grocery stores, etc.

Dinner: Whole Foods had beef patties on sale for $1 yesterday, so I picked up two for guacamole burgers! I don't really measure when I cook, but here's a basic approximation of my recipe:

Guacamole
1 avocado, mashed
1 jalapeno
1/2 small tomato
1/8 onion
Cilantro
Cayenne pepper
Salt
Pepper
Lime juice

I lightly toasted a piece of bread, spread 1/4 of the guacamole on it (the recipe above makes one small Tupperware worth—sorry, I told you I don't measure!), then added a cooked burger and 1/8 cup of shredded mozzarella. I put the whole thing in the toaster oven to melt the cheese, and voila! Easy guacamole burger. And if I can make it, you know it's easy. :)

What did you do this weekend? If you did any reading this week, be sure to check back in tomorrow (Sunday) at 2 p.m. EST for the third Semi-Charmed Book Challenge check-in!

Things that make me go "hmm."

Happy weekend, everyone! I was pretty busy at work this week (making cool stuff like this), so I don't have as many fun links from the week as I usually do, but I hope you enjoy what I've found!

Source: adayinthelifeofblakey.tumblr.com via Megan on Pinterest

Random picture of the week: Did you ever play airplane with your parents when you were little? I think this is such a cute reminder of that (but not with your parents, obviously).

The world's first ski-in/ski-out Starbucks opened at Squaw Valley last week! (You have to scroll down the page a little to find the story.)

A sweet love letter from my new favorite website.

Robots riding camels? Yes, it's true. And has been since 2005.

Introducing: The best (and easiest!) egg sandwich you'll ever have.

Is sportsmanship dead?

Man has heart attack at Heart Attack Grill. You can't make this stuff up.

The new, environmentally friendly slogan for Mardi Gras beads? "Catch and release."

By the Numbers: 2011

I'm not one for New Year's Resolutions, normally. I figure if I want to do something, I'll set a goal and do it; I don't need it to be January 1st to feel motivated. However, reading all my lovely fellow bloggers New Year's Resolutions posts has gotten me in the mood to set a few goals for myself. Before I do that, though, I think it's important to see what I've accomplished in the past year. So here's a rundown of 2011, by the numbers.

Increasing your Starbucks efficiency.

Source: stylescrapbook.com via Megan on Pinterest

Unfortunately, this is not me. I am not this fashionable.

Back when I thought I could make a name for myself being a college advice blogger (a.k.a. last year), I always wanted to write about how college students can save money. If you know me at all, you probably know I'm a cheapskate. (Also appropriate: n: Tightwad, scrooge, penny-pincher. adj: Stingy, frugal.) One particular money-saver I always wanted to write about was Starbucks.

Now, you're probably wondering how on earth Starbucks could be a money-saver. My favorite drink is $4.24, for cryin' out loud! I'm not saying Starbucks will save you money over coffee from home or the grocery store or even the gas station. What I am saying is that a registered gift card on starbucks.com can save you a lot of money if you insist on buying a non-fat, no-whip, grande Peppermint Mocha before your 5 p.m. class every Thursday.

I am currently the proud owner of a Starbucks gold card. It's a fancy gift card with my name on it and says, "Cardholder Since 2009." As my friend likes to say, I'm like the Jay-Z of Starbucks. Impressive, huh? I love my card because I get my peppermint syrup free (a whopping 50 cent savings!), and after every 15 drinks I buy on my card, I get a free coupon in the mail! Of course, this coupon is always saved for that day when I really need a venti to get me through the day, because the coupon is good for any drink with any special additions. Score! Needless to say, I can't remember the last time I bought a Starbucks drink without my card. Why would I, when I get so many great benefits with it? (See the full list here, including free refills on regular tea and coffee.)

After reading this, you might be nonplussed, considering I still spend an exorbitant amount on Starbucks coffee. And I will admit, if I didn't have my registered card (with automatic reloading capabilities), I might not be able to justify the amount of drinks I buy. But if you're an addict like me, and you're going to buy the overpriced skinny vanilla latte anyway, I highly encourage you to get a gift card and register it online. Really, any other form of payment is just silly.

Source: ohsocrafty.blogspot.com via Beth on Pinterest