Mommy's 2-hours of heaven

My husband and I have a deal.  Well, we have more deals, but this one is the one I want to write about today: every week I take a 2-hour block that is for me.  For me as in ME.  No husband, no kids, I get to do what I want relax and take a break.  David had been gone for 3 days for work, so what better time to take my Mommy Break than the morning after his return?  (It was great timing for me, not so sure if it was for him...)

At 11am I had a massage that went anywhere from making me almost fall asleep to kicking my butt as I had a wee more tension in my back than I had expected.  How naive of me.  That was 1 hour, which left 1 more hour and I was definitely going to use it to my advantage.

I had brought a book and decided to go to Starbucks to just sit in the sun, sip my Frappuccino and read a book.  In the back of my mind there was that little annoying voice that reminded me of the fact that it was Sunday noon and that the weather was perfect for being out, which probably meant that I wasn't going to be the only one at Starbucks.  I hate that voice.  It manages to often ruin ideas or plans I have.  For all I care, it can take a hike, bother someone else, or just simply shut up.  I went anyways, I wasn't going to let it dissuade me.

I must have been in a happy and good place, because: parking karma!!!  A spot, right in front of my favorite addiction house.  (Side Note: I DO NOT LIKE coffee, except in the form of a Caramel Frappuccino or Tiramisu.)  Mommy parks the car and indeed notices that the whole outdoor seating area is packed.  That sure wasn't gonna keep me from enjoying my hour, even if that meant sitting on the ground in the sun.  I was going to get my drink, sit outside and read.  No one was gonna keep me from doing that.

So, I get my Decaf Caramel Frappuccino with extra caramel and whipped cream (hey, the one time I get one of these, I do it RIGHT!!), walk outside and shebang!!!  Karma hits me again.  Good karma that is.  A family gets up, opening up a table and chairs for me to spend the rest of my Mommy Break.

Besides reading, coming up with a great idea for this week's date night with my hubby, finding out about the book I want to bring on my Mom's Weekend Out in August and deciding that I am going to transform the little grassy area outside our front door into a vegetable / herb garden, I got to enjoy my Frappuccino.

Now, you have to understand that there is a science to drinking a Caramel Frappuccino with whipped cream and extra caramel.  You don't just drink it through the straw!  No people, no!!  There is a science to it.  It requires 100% attention (I put the book down for that) and commitment.  But it tastes so darn good, that it's all worth it.  Never mind what people around me think.  That'll be something along the lines of "what the heck is she doing?  She goes about drinking that like a kid!" Answer: "Enjoying my drink and yes I am!  So what?!?!"

Here it goes: before taking the lid off,you take 2 sips through the straw to make sure the drink doesn't spill.  Then you take the lid off.  You pull the straw out and ... this is the best part...: you use the straw to 'spoon' the whipped cream covered in caramel sauce into your mouth.  It is such a delicacy, it should almost be illegal.  By the time your whipped cream and caramel from the top are either consumed or are covering your face, you return the straw into the drink.  Now, you don't just drink the rest of your drink through the straw!  No, there is more to it.  The picture here doesn't show any extra caramel, but when you order it with extra caramel, they cover the sides of the cup with this delicious substance before pouring the drink in.  With the straw you scrape the caramel off the side before sucking the coffee in.  That way, with every sip of coffee you experience a little caramel explosion in your mouth.  Did I say DELICIOUS??  You continue to do this until your drink is (sadly) finished.  At that point you resist buying a 2nd one and move on to water to clear out all the bad crap and insurmountable amounts of sugar you just put in your body.

There you have it.  The science of drinking the Caramel Frappuccino with extra caramel and whipped cream.  With a book in the sun, after a massage...it doesn't get any better than that. 

I returned home completely relaxed, calm and soothed.  It was beautiful and it promised to be a nice and 'centered' afternoon.

Then I opened the front door...

...and was welcomed by the sound of a screaming toddler.  He wasn't quite in agreement with Daddy about the whole 'nap-thing'.

He's asleep now.  Ah, the magic of a calm and centered Mommy...

I should do this more often than once a week.  Seriously.