Thrilled to Upgrade Our Keurig - 2.0 Is the Way to Go!

It is no secret that I love a good cup of coffee.

Getting our Keurig changed my world from pots of lukewarm or stale coffee to fresh cups of just what I wanted. We have been through 2, and I wouldn't be without a Keurig and my K-Cups.

So when I learned about the Keurig 2.0, I talked my husband into getting one. Jumping with both feet into the improvements that had me all excited. A chance to have the coffee my way, with even more options.

First of all, after a little online research I decided to go with the Keurig 2.0 K560. This is the model available right now at Costco.  One of the big differences between the different models is the water reservoir. The K550 and K560 both have an 80oz water reservoir. These models also both have a customizable night-light in the water reservoir. Okay, this was not a big selling feature for us but I did set ours to display green for our beloved Ducks.  Both come with a variety of K-Cups and K-Carafe packs, but the one at Costco was a better overall price.

You can also find the Walmart version, the K500 with the same model features, just a smaller pack of K-Cup and K-Carafe samples. Overall, the price was between Costo and the Keurig brand site.

I really liked the new look of the 2.0. Though aesthetics are such a small part of a coffee maker, I thought they really improved the look of a machine that will be gracing my counter top.

The water reservoir redesign was fabulous! I loved how the top lifted up for easy refills. The other big bonus was the water filter that will keep me from having to wait for our water to filter before adding it to my machine. We are on well water and there is fine sediment that wreaked havoc on our past machines. Now my Keurig has a filter and even has a program (which you don't have to enable) that will tell me when maintenance is needed.

Oh, and that 80oz. means I don't have to keep refilling throughout the day.

Another big difference is the base completely pulls out for easier cleaning and to fit in the carafe. Keurig boasts that the machine can tell if you are brewing a single cup or a carafe and this is why. Do you notice the notch in back?

That is where the carafe fits in. It has a magnet so it fits snugly into place.

Our machine came with a plastic carafe. We decided to do the upgrade to the stainless Thermal Carafe to help keep our pots of coffee warmer longer. This is a feature I plan to use more for our Sunday morning breakfasts. That is when we are more likely to use regular mugs and take a little longer to enjoy our morning coffee.

The display has also been redesigned. One of the biggest reasons why my husband and I chose to upgrade right away was the strength feature. Both my husband and I prefer a stronger brew than usually Keurig has to offer. This allows us to make our favorites stronger. And yes, it works!  As the machine brews, it sounds different. The water is put through in intervals instead of straight through.

As always, select the size cup you want and now you can even choose hot cocoa or "other". Then push the button for the water to dispense.

Another great feature is hot water dispensing. My old machine would dispense water, but without a K-Cup the water went all over and wasn't directed down. I even tried putting in a reusable, empty K-Cup, but wasn't thrilled with the results. Now I have taken my hot water pot off the counter because the Keurig 2.0 now will dispense without problems.

If you are a current Keurig owner, you will notice that the biggest change is you must use a Keurig licensed K-Cup. They have changed the packaging and generic pods are no longer accepted by the system.

I would say that is the biggest downside of this new product. But take heart, there are some hacks out there online. I haven't tried them myself, so I won't go into detail. The biggest grumble I had was for the leftover K-Cups in my pantry (yes, even licensed ones) that didn't have the new packaging. My stores, even in rural OR, are now carrying the newer acceptable version.

Overall I love the new machine! We ended up giving away our old Keurig. It still had some life left, but my new Keurig 2.0 now fits my family's needs better. Even with the larger water reservior, the machine didn't take up much more counter space. It is taller, and overall better than the original.

Do you own a Keurig? Will you make the upgrade?

Etching for Spring - Mug Personalization for the April Silhouette Challenge

Please don't bother me before my cup of coffee. With Spring here the days are starting out even earlier. Hello, Spring, hello caffeine. As the sun pours into my bedroom, I face the day by shuffling downstairs to the magnetic pull of my Keurig.

So it is only natural that this month I wanted to dress up my favorite mug. Yes, this simple glass mug not only holds an ample reservoir of caffeine to help me face the day and  three demanding children, but the clean, simplicity makes me smile. I have been wanting to try out the Silhouette stencil vinyl and learn how to use etching cream. This was the perfect chance.

Okay, this is what I used for my etching project:

• Silhouette, or die cut machine
• stencil vinyl - I  used the Silhouette stencil material that comes on a roll
• transfer tape
• etching cream
• hook tool - for weeding the stencil 
• scraper tool - to make sure the stencil vinyl doesn't have any bumps or bubbles
• rubber gloves
• an object to etch

I poked around the Silhouette site looking for an image that I wanted on my mug. I finally settled on a "Hello Sunshine" phrase. I just deleted the points in the "o" and replaced them with a cute flower.

After selecting the Silhouette stencil vinyl cut setting on my machine, I cut the stencil material and then used my hook tool to weed out the sections I wanted to etch.

The transfer tape was backed on brown paper. I lifted up an edge to apply the adhesive surface over my stencil. I cut the transfer tape to just cover my stencil.

With the scraper tool I made sure the transfer tape picked up every peice of my stencil. Then I peeled it off the stencil backing and placed it onto my mug.

Starting at the middle, I used my fingers to smooth the stencil outward. I tried to flatten all the edges around the letters onto the mug. Then I went over it again with the scraper. Any peices sticking up, or bubbles will allow the etching cream to get underneath the stencil. I wanted nice clean edges to my letters so I spent a little extra time making sure it was smoothed out.

See the bubbles in the right-hand corner? I worked those out with my fingers since the mug is rounded.

Then I removed the transfer tape and got my etching cream all ready to use.

Etching cream can settle as it sits. Give it a good shake before opening, and then I suggest giving it a good stir before using. I keep old popsicle sticks on hand just for projects like this one. Grab those protective gloves (because who wants to etch their skin, right?) and give it a good stir.

I applied my etching cream to the glass with Q-tips. I tried to keep the cream even and thick enough. With the scraper tool I wiped away the excess.

After 30 seconds, I wiped the cream clean and then washed the surface to remove any remaining cream.

I had a little moment of terror while washing my mug because it looked like my etching had washed off. *Gasp* Okay, it isn't as dark as frosted glass, etching is much more subtle. Once dried my "Hello Sunshine" showed right back up.

Overall I had a lot of fun. It is much faster than I would have imagined to complete an etching project. Now I just have to decide what I am going to etch next.

Okay, now I am finally ready to start my day. What do you think?

Want to Check Out More Silhouette Projects?

My Silhouette Challenge buddies and I are all sharing projects on our blogs today, so peruse the projects below for a wealth of Silhouette inspiration!

 
1. Dream a Little Bigger // 2. So Much Better With Age // 3. Adventures in All Things Food // 4. Creative Carnival // 5. The Kim Six Fix // 6. feto soap // 7. One Dog Woof // 8. The Experimental Home // 9. From Wine to Whine // 10. Architecture of a Mom // 11. Grey Luster Girl // 12. Minted Strawberry // 13. Designed Decor // 14. Tried & True // 15. Silhouette School // 16. Bringing Creativity 2 Life // 17. Weekend Craft // 18. Practically Functional // 19. Please Excuse My Craftermath... // 20. McCall Manor // 21. unOriginal Mom // 22. Creative Ramblings // 23. A Tossed Salad Life // 24. A Glimpse Into Barb's Life // 25. Kate's Paper Creations // 26. Simply Kelly Designs // 27. Cutesy Crafts // 28. Persia Lou // 29. Whats Next Ma // 30. Two Purple Couches // 31. The Frill of Life // 32. Nearly Handmade // 33. Get Silvered // 34. Ginger Snap Crafts // 35. Life After Laundry // 36. The Sensory Emporium // 37. Monograms & Cake // 38. The Thinking Closet // 39. My Paper Craze // 40. Chicken Scratch NY

Chillin' Out With Keurig Brew Over Ice Review + Giveaway

*Disclaimer - I was sent a welcome kit as part of the Keurig Brew Crew blogger program for my review. All opinions and experiences are my own. 

Life on the farm gets awfully hot, awfully fast around here. Today my husband is out cutting hay and I know when he comes in the first thing he will reach for is a tall drink of something cold.

Me? I think Summer is the perfect reason to keep a tall, cold cup of iced tea or iced coffee handy. Of course, I have the tendency to knock back an entire pitcher myself so when my husband comes home I am hard pressed to have any to share.

That was one reason why we bought our Keurig. My husband and I are never ready for our cup of coffee at the same time, so now we can make it fresh on demand. With the growing selection of brew over ice K-cups from Keurig, our cold tea, coffee and vitamin drinks have gotten even faster to make.

Just put a K-Cup in the brewer as usual, fill up an insulated cup with ice and dispense the brew into the cup. I gave mine a few stirs to cool it down and then I was good to sip.

I was not only delighted to see more cold options, but my husband was thrilled to see his favorite Snapple flavored iced teas were in on the fun. Now we don't have to agree on what to drink. I can have my iced coffee, if I choose, and he can have his Snapple.

The vitamin burst, strawberry pomegranate was delicious! It was my first time trying one of these. It makes a fun alternative to the standard coffee or tea from the Keurig.

The Doughnut Shop Sweet and Creamy iced coffee was delicious. Just the perfect way to perk up my busy Summer afternoon. It really was smooth and flavorful enough for me to want to savor every sip.

Brew Over Ice Sweepstakes

Currently Keurig® is hosting an awesome $10,000 cash instant sweepstakes!  You could win one of many daily prizes instantly just by playing. Head over to the Brew Over Ice Sweepstakes to play today.

Ready to try the brew over ice flavors? Grab a $2 off product coupon by visiting Cool Way To Brew and check out the fun video.

And, would you like to win a pack like I reviewed?

Brew Over Ice Giveaway

One lucky reader will win 3 Brew Over Ice K-Cup samples, 1 Brew Over Ice Tumbler, 4 Brew Over Ice Coasters, 1 Brew Over Ice light-up ice bucket with tongs to get those brewed drinks cooled down fast. Winner must be 18 years or older. This giveaway will end Sept. 2, 2013. Good luck!

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Mom Survival: Fresh Single Serve Coffee is a Must!

As a busy mom I look forward to my cup of coffee in the morning. Of, course I use the term "morning" loosely. By the time the kids are awake, beds are made, everyone is dressed and presentable and the first morning chores are completed my "morning" cup may not make it to my lips till 10 a.m. or later.

My husband, on the other hand, is a farmer. His day begins early and always with a cup of coffee. Back when we used a drip coffee maker this meant I was reheating a rather stale pot of bitter brew. But, something is better than nothing, right?

Here is the thing. I used to be a night person, or a morning person depending upon my schedule and what I was doing. I was pretty flexible as long as I had a regular routine. As a mom that flexibility kinda vanished. Being "on-call" for anytime of day with frequent night interruptions leaves me dragging most of the time. My little bit of happiness comes from a good cup of warm, strong coffee. I don't mind adding in flavor, but a cup of plain old black coffee also suits me just fine.

I had a few favorite brands, including Gevalia Kaffe, before we bought our Keurig® K-Cup Brewer®, but after we made the switch my choices were limited. My local stores may carry a large selection of K-Cup options now, but when we got our machine, over a year ago, the options were much slimmer. Don't even get me started on the fill-your-own cups. I was always having to clean a pile of them left by my husband. Not what you call fast or convenient.

Learning that Walmart was now carrying my #CupOfKaffe for use in the Keurig® K-Cup Brewer®, I decided to celebrate with a little trip to my local store to stock up. I was sure to print off a coupon for my Gevalia purchase. Grab your own $1 off coupon for your next trip.

See the box on the top shelf? I almost missed it, but the golden box is pretty distinct. I was also able to find the Signature Blend at another location. Currently you can find Gevalia for Keurig® in 3 different blends: Signature Blend, Colombia and Dark Royal Roast.

This weekend I tried out the Colombia, a medium roast. These are grown high in the Colombian Andes, and the beans produce a rich, bright and well-bodied Colombian coffee. This brew is big on flavor, but doesn't leave me with a bitter after taste. I can easily enjoy this coffee black or with just a little milk.

For me good coffee doesn't need to be dressed up. I really do enjoy the flavor of well-brewed coffee and Gevalia always exceeds my expectations. It is good quality coffee at a price I appreciate.

Do you want to know why single serve coffee is #1 on my Mom's Survival List? Well, it doesn't matter when I finally get around to having my cup of coffee, it is always warm, fresh and made just as I like it.

What else is on my list?  Here is what I think every mom needs daily to retain her sanity, or at least my goals for each day:

Mom's Survival List

1. Gevalia single serve coffee
2. A shower
3. Hugs, Kisses and 'Thank you'
4. A sweet treat to savor in silence
5. Adult conversation at least once a day

Okay, I don't get all those things everyday, but a girl can dream, right? This weekend I had at least got 3 of those things crossed off the list by 10 a.m., that is a great day. I am already feeling just a little more human this weekend.

Connect with Gevalia on Facebook for product announcements and promotions.

*Disclaimer - I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias®  and Kraft Foods #CupOfKaffe #cbias #SocialFabric. All opinions and experiences are my own.

Homemade Pumpkin Syrup for Pumpkin Lattes - #SRC recipe

Has the Winter chill hit your area yet? Wouldn't you love to curl up in front of a crackling fire with one of these?

I will admit to having an unnatural weakness to pumpkin. I don't wait for the holidays to bake or cook with it, but the cold weather tends to make my normal cravings even stronger. From bread to pancakes, pumpkin rolls to bars, I am a bit of a pumpkin nut.

Now, since I am also 2 months pregnant, this means my pumpkin desire might just borderline on crazy. When browsing Wholesome RD, I may or may not have had heart flutters when I saw this recipe for Homemade Pumpkin Syrup for coffee drinks. I also may or may not have also added this syrup to my hot cocoa... yeah, it was ah-mazing!

 

Erin has a great site!  She is a Registered Dietitian dishing up her favorite recipes, a runner, mom and photography enthusiast. Just take a peak around her site, I am sure there are many things that will catch your eye.

This recipe is super simple! Tweak it to your own tastes and never have to splurge on a coffee stand pumpkin flavored coffee again. As you know, I am a country girl so making things at home is a necessity and my guilty pleasure. I went ahead and added a bit more spices to my syrup mixture and found it the perfect way to start a cold morning.

With the holidays coming up, this would also make a fabulous hostess gift. Just wrap it up with some sparkly kitchen twine or a big seasonal bow. As a side benefit, making this will make your whole home smell fabulous and inviting.

Homemade Pumpkin Syrup
adapted from Wholesome RD

You Will Need:
1/2 cup sugar
3 Tablespoons canned pumpkin
1/2 cup water
3 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Combine all ingredients in a small, heavy bottom saucepan. Simmer till reduced by half, whisking constantly to keep it from burning.

Remove from the heat when it reaches the consistency of maple syrup. Let it cool slightly, then pour into a heat proof container and store in the fridge. Keeps for 2-3 weeks.

*Note - If using mason jars, be sure to warm the glass slightly under warm water before pouring in a hot liquid.

Now check out all the other great Secret Recipe Club recipes for November:

It's National Coffee Day! Celebrate with International Delight

Have you had your coffee today?

Well, if for some crazy chance you missed your cup of 'joe' this morning, here is another reason to grab a cup - celebrate National Coffee Day with the rest of us! Be sure to drop by the International Delight Facebook page and say, "hello". Let them know how you enjoyed National Coffee Day. While you are there check out the products and recipes.

So what did we do to celebrate National Coffee Day?

We stocked up!

I grabbed my cartons at our local Walmart, but I have noticed they are sold at most of our local grocery stores. You can find them near the chocolate milk, or milk alternatives like soy or rice milk. They are not usually in the case with coffee creamers because these are ready to shake and drink.

Some fun coffee facts:

• Think iced coffee is just for Summer? 62% of iced coffee drinkers drink it during Winter months
• Iced coffee servings have doubled since 2005
• 78% of people purchase their iced coffee on the go (you could all save with read-to-go mixes!)
• International Delight Iced Coffee is made with 100% Arabica coffee

Then we threw a coffee party. 

It is always fun to create reasons for a coffee break, right? My table was laid out with fun signs, chalkboard quote (some prepared and others were available to write your own), iced coffee, and freshly made blueberry coffee cake.

My favorite flavor is the original but you can also find International Delight Iced Coffee in mocha and vanilla flavors

Of course, we had to share with our friends who were busy working and couldn't join the party. Farm work happens 7 days a week, but they deserved a coffee break, too! A sweet little pick-me-up and then back to things. My son enjoyed helping  hand out cups of iced coffee.

I would love to share a cup with everyone, but...

Whatever you do, don't wait till next year to celebrate coffee day. Grab some International Delight Iced Coffee today, next week or whenever the mood suits you. Sometimes it is fun to celebrate with a coffee break just because. And Moms, you know we could always use a pick-me-up!

Happy National Coffee Day everyone!


*Disclaimer - I wrote this review while participating in an In Home Party campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of International Delight and received product samples to facilitate my party and review, and a promotional item to thank me for participating.

Do You Like Coffee? Show it Off #RedCupShowdown

The days are hot and my cup of coffee is cold! Well, if you make a mean cup of coffee... and I know you do! Seattle's Best is inviting you to show off your best coffee creation.

I took that challenge and headed to my local Walmart to pick up some Seattle's Best coffee and supplies for my own drink.

Many coffee choices to choose from here, but being a West Coast girl I love Seattle's Best.

I chose level 5, dark and intense. We like our coffee strong here and done with a cold brew Toddy Coffee maker this will be perfect for my recipe. You can see my entire shopping trip in search of Seattle's Best Coffee and other ingredients in my Google+ album.

Have you ever tried cold brew coffee? It takes a little longer, but doesn't include as much of the bean oils as hot brewed cups do. This is much gentler on my stomach.  Just put the grounds and water in a pitcher overnight (we steep it for a full 24 hours), then filter and store till needed.

My creation inspiration comes from the flavors of Summer. I love fruit and the blueberries here are getting dark and juicy. So why not make a blueberry pie cold coffee treat?

My Blueberry Pie Blended Coffee 

You Will Need:

• 1 c. Seattle's Best Coffee Level 5, cold brewed and divided.
• 1/4 c. blueberry syrup
• 1 c. milk
• 1-2 Tbsp. evaporated milk, to the sweetness you prefer
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/4 c. frozen blueberries, save a few for garnish
• 1 Tbsp. crushed pie crust
• Whipped cream for topping

Fill an ice cube tray with cold brew coffee. Let this freeze for a few hours or overnight. You will only need half the tray, but save the rest for more coffee drinks later on.

When ready to make your drink add all the ingredients, except for a few blueberries, pie crust and whipped cream, to a blender. Pulse till frothy. Pour into glasses and garnish with whipped cream and top with pie crust crumbs and blueberries.

You might be surprised, but the blueberries went very well with the dark, intense flavor of the level 5 coffee. I couldn't have been happier with my concoction. It was the perfect afternoon treat.

I hope you enjoy it, too!

Now, onot the Red Cup Showdown:
I hope my drink got you thinking about your favorite coffee drink and what you can enter for the  #RedCupShowdown. Seattle's Best has partnered up with Jeff Mauro, Sandwich King from Food Network, to go coast-to-coast looking for the next best coffee drink! Drawing on the food creativity showcased at state fairs, they will be taking a state fair tour for entries as well as taking submission on their Facebook page. If you are lucky enough to attend a state fair they visit, there will also be iced coffee samples. Yum! More information is posted on their Facebook page.


Don't be shy. Let your love of java shine. You could win a chance to compete in New York for a $10,000 prize and a spot on the Seattle's Best Coffee Menu. You have until July 27th to get your entry in, so start creating and taste testing away!

Connect with Seattle's Best on Twitter and Facebook. Also be sure to check all the fun going on at the Red Cup Showdown app. Be sure to see what imaginative coffee drinks people have submitted and don't forget to upload your own! Good luck.

*Disclaimer - I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community. This content has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™. #CBias #SocialFabric All opinions are my own.