In my last three #CBias posts, I chronicled my attempts to hunt down Equal Sweetener. Although Tundra Restaurant and Tim Hortons were a bust, I was able to find the sweetener – prominently displayed no less – at Starbucks.

Think I’d stop there? No way! The fun has just begun!

Yesterday morning, I had one of those awesome opportunities to meet up with an online friend. I love discovering that someone you engage with regularly actually lives just steps away. @InfoSara and I were long overdue for a coffee, and since our local McDonald’s in Mississauga is the type of restaurant where you can just sit back and relax, we agreed it would be the perfect spot for a mid-morning rendezvous.

I’m actually quite impressed with just how easy McDonald’s makes it for you to loiter. Gone are the days of hard benches, crowded tables and the smell of grease permeating the restaurant. Instead, we were treated to a soft, comfy booth that rivals any upscale coffee shop; had plenty of space to enjoy our meal, and on this particular morning, the scent of freshly brewed coffee hung heavy in the air. (more…)

In my last two #CBias posts, my attempts to hunt down Equal Sweetener at both Tundra Restaurant and Tim Hortons were a bust.

Third time’s a charm?

Today I hauled my two ever-ready coffee dates, Ryder and Reid, on a shopping expedition with mommy. We grabbed a few bargain books for Ryder, a new pair of mittens for Reid, and I found the *perfect* present for my darling husband – whose birthday is in just two days. So all in all, we were in a happy, relaxed mood – the perfect time to sit down to my preferred weekend treat with my preferred guys. (more…)

… the Number 6. That’s how many times, on average, I re-heat my morning cup of coffee. I’ve realized that between getting Ryder’s breakfast ready and plated, breastfeeding Reid, feeding Reid his morning cereal, and squeezing in a slice of toast for myself… plus a few blog posts… it takes me about 1.5 hours to finish a cup of joe.

What would I do without my microwave?

I can’t believe I forgot to blog this awesome freebie sooner, but for those who love Ronnie’s delicious brew as much as I do, chances are you’ve already seen the drive thru at least once!

(My husband just looked over my shoulder, read the post title and bolted out the door.)

This week, February 28th to March 6th, enjoy a FREE small coffee from McDonald’s! Their Premium Roast coffee is made with 100 per cent Arabica beans that are hand-picked and fire-roasted for a full-bodied flavour. It’s my very favourite coffee-to-go – try it once and you’ll be hooked too :)

The delicious freebie is limited to one per person, per visit. Enjoy!

Thanks to everyone who entered the Lena Loves… Bosch TASSIMO giveaway. I’m so happy to be able to give away three (3) Home Brewing Systems today! Thanks TASSIMO!

Now if you didn’t win, do check flyers this week – the TASSIMO system has been discounted at several retailers lately (Zellers had it on sale for $88 last week!) just in time for holiday gift giving.

And what a wonderful gift – delicious warm beverages with the touch of a button!

Without further ado, the winners are:

Rubex Cube, ksceviour and Helen! Congratulations!

Please send me an e-mail so that I can have a TASSIMO Home Brewing System placed under your tree! Thanks to everyone who participated, and to TASSIMO Canada!

Here’s a flash giveaway – only one week to enter this one peeps! Drawing for a winner on the 10th! 

Let’s face it – I don’t get out a lot. I’m a stay at home mom, equate a trip to the grocery store as “getting fresh air” and often apply a full face of makeup to rake leaves – simply because I want to use up my mascara before it goes bad.

I’m pretty happy with the trade off, however, if it means that I get to spend all my time with my two little guys. But what I miss most… what I really find it hard to live without… is the daily trip to Starbucks. A short mild in a tall cup. A latte (insert fancy customization here). Even the ever-cheerful, slightly over caffeinated employees who always spell my name “Lina.”

At first, I thought it would be a long time before I once again experienced the daily rush of a Starbucks’ brew, until I received the Bosch TASSIMO Home Brewing System. Yes, you can purchases Starbucks T DISCS, and yes, it tastes like the real thing – in the comfort of your own home!

The TASSIMO features:

- Innovative barcode technology
- Mavea MAXTRA water filtration system
- Removable 1.8 litre water tank
- Innovative lift cup stand
- Noise reduction system
- Immediately ready to brew drinks
- No taste transfer between drinks
- Low energy consumption
- Fully automatic one-button operation
- Automatic cleaning and descaling program

Watch the TASSIMO interactive demo.

I love that I can enjoy an authentic café experience without leaving my kitchen. I can be in the mood for a coffee, tea, latte, cappuccino, espresso or hot chocolate – really, whatever I please – and it will be brewed instantly, piping hot and incredibly delicious. The TASSIMO is also a MUST if you do a lot of entertaining – with no taste transfer between drinks, you can be your own barista!

It’s all down to the T DISC. Brands like Starbucks trust TASSIMO with their coffee because it’s brewed right, every time. T DISCs have been developed to contain the correct proportion of coffee to water, so you can enjoy rich, full taste with every cup.

“While other single serve coffee makers treat all drinks the same way, TASSIMO understands that each beverage requires a specific brew process. Using barcode technology, the system reads every T DISC individually and adjusts the temperature, water volume and brew time. This way every coffee, tea, latte and cappuccino is made exactly the way it’s meant to be – perfect.”

Translation: no settling for stale grounds or coffee that’s been hanging around all day –  and for a third of the price of a coffee-house order (just $0.58 per cup when purchased from Costco), you’ll swear off drive-thrus as well.

Not a fan of Starbucks? That’s okay, because you can also enjoy goodies from The NABOB Coffee Company, Maxwell House, Twinings, Suchard and more. TASSIMO T DISCS can be found at many popular retailers nationwide, and do keep your eyes peeled for promotions like Future Shop’s recent buy one, get one free deal on Starbucks House and Café Verona T DISCS.

Click here to visit TASSIMO online.

WIN IT!

THREE (yes, three!) lucky Listen to Lena! readers will win their very own TASSIMO Home Brewing System (value $199.99). To enter, simply visit the recipes section and pick out your favourite concoction – then come back here and leave a comment, telling us about it. Cross your fingers – you may be able to make it for your holiday guests!

You can also qualify for extra entries! Remember, you must leave a separate comment for each. You can:

(1) Follow my blog, Listen to Lena!
(2) “Like” Listen to Lena! on Facebook (Yay! Finally!)
(3) “Like” TASSIMO Canada on Facebook
(4) Follow TASSIMO Canada on Twitter
(5) Tweet about this giveaway (tiny URL: http://tinyurl.com/39enymr)
(6) You may Tweet daily.

I’ll draw for a winner on December 10th… so the TASSIMO will arrive in time for Christmas! Good luck everybody!

If you’re a Bosch Tassimo or Keurig coffee machine user, you’ll want to jump on this deal tout suite!

Future Shop currently has a HOT deal – select brands and flavours for both types of machines are Buy One, Get One FREE! Some varieties have already sold out but you do have the option to buy now and they’ll ship when available. I scooped up 10 Caffe Veronas and 10 House Blends for hubby – all for $99.90! Don’t forget orders over $39 ship for free :)

Mother’s Day is coming up… which mama doesn’t like some quality caffeine?

This week at Zellers, April 23rd thru 29th, the Bosch Tassimo coffee maker is just $99.00 (a savings of $70 – regular price $169.97).

We’ve had our Tassimo for a long time now (ever since Bosch bought it from Braun), and I can honestly say it’s the best thing to happen to our mornings EVER.

I can’t tell you how much I miss my morning coffee now that I’m pregnant (though I have been falling off the wagon lately and indulging in an Iced Capp here and there… plus a cappuccino at home once a week).

Why we love it:

Mike loves that he can have Starbucks coffee on demand. I love that the Starbucks T Disc only costs $0.75 per cup (or $0.58 per cup if you purchase the 4-pack from Costco). Available in House, Cafe Verona, Breakfast Blend and African Kitamu, I don’t begrudge Mike having more than a cup a day (and he does).

I love that I can enjoy rich, frothy cappuccinos made to just the right strength and sweetness. And since February, you can purchase Starbucks cappuccino pods! They’re divine. Mike loves that I don’t force him to bark complicated instructions at a barrista in order to get my cappuccino just right.

I think the Bosch Tassimo is the perfect gift for YOU. A bonus: when you register your machine online or by calling the customer service number, they’ll send you two coupons for FREE T Discs (alas, the promo does not include Starbucks T Discs, but you can still choose from a great selection of Nabob, Maxwell House and Twinnings products).

Visit your local Starbucks on Thursday, April 15th – they’re celebrating Earth Day by giving away a FREE coffee to anyone who brings in their own travel mug (or as our American counterparts call it – “reusable tumbler”).

Curiously, Earth Day is the following Thursday (April 22nd), but whatevs. Free coffee is free coffee.

The promo applies to their freshly brewed coffee only; not your fancy Grande-2 Pump Vanilla-Non-Fat-Extra Hot-Latte.

Did you grab your FREE coffee from McD’s yesterday and Monday? If not, you’re missing out! Their Premium Roast Coffee is delish!

Just a friendly reminder to take advantage of this wonderful promo before March 14th. And remember – this time the freebie is valid all day long! So if you’re sitting in your cube wondering how to spend your 3:00pm break, how about grabbing a friend and “treating” them to some java?

Oh, Ronald, always sticking it to Timmy, aren’t ya?

March 1st is the first day of Tim Horton’s Roll Up the Rim promo. And McDonald’s just happens to have a pretty hot promo starting the same day. Hmmm….

From March 1st through 14th, visit any participating McD’s and enjoy a FREE small coffee – any time of day! Limit one coffee per customer, but unless they stamp the back of your hand or chalk your tires at the drive thru, I don’t see why you can’t grab a free cup on your way to work, your coffee break(s), drive home, after dinner…

McDonald’s Premium Roast Coffee is the bomb. FREE coffee is bombtastic.