Is there someone in your life who makes things just a little bit easier for you in some way? It may be a parent, a neighbor, a co-worker or a good friend. Do you ever take the time to give them a token of your thanks, especially when it might not be expected (so, outside of a birthday or big holiday)? I try to do special things like that from time to time, though I could certainly improve. I know I have taken people for granted in my life who deserve my heartfelt thanks.

Some of those people I don’t even have a direct connection to, but they still impact my life in a very positive way. In my case, my husband’s co-workers are absolutely wonderful people who are flexible and understanding of the fact that Tim has 2 little girls at home and a wife with a rather unusual job. They have supported me by voting for me in contests, giving Tim days or half days away from the office when I need to head out of town, or working with him so that he can come in late or even come in early at times. These people, even though I rarely directly interact with them, have a profound impact on my overall quality of life.

In celebration of Starbucks’ month of service (April), when all Starbucks partners are encouraged to volunteer, I decided to take the opportunity to give back to the people that support us every day. This past week was also Administrative Assistants’ Week, so the timing was absolutely perfect to bring some special goodies to Tim’s co-workers. Giving back doesn’t have to mean that you spend all of your time or all of your paycheck, either. Small gestures, made with love, are some of the best. 

I headed over to my local Walmart to snag some Starbucks coffee and to get some baked goodies for the office. In the bakery section I found this signage:

It was really cool to see different roasts on display with basic descriptions of the type of flavor you would get. I will say that I wish the signage offered specific pairings suggestions, as Starbucks coffee really is sophisticated in its flavor profile. There are certain notes in each blend of coffee, and those notes pair particularly well with certain foods. I would have liked to have seen more signage explaining those pairings.

For example, I happen know that the Starbucks Veranda Blonde Roast pairs exceptionally well with milk chocolate, as well as with nuts. This is why I chose to pick up the banana nut muffins and some chocolate donuts, all made from scratch at the Walmart bakery. I braved this outing with little Layah in tow, and it was going absolutely wonderful until I realized that she had removed one of her shoes and dropped it on the floor. After an intense 30 minute search, I finally ran into an associate who had it at her register. Whew!

After that wild adventure, I was definitely ready for a little pick me up back at the house. And since I didn’t want to hand over these muffins and this coffee without making absolutely sure they tasted fantastic, I did a little taste test myself. Quality control, if you will.

First I tried some coffee. You will notice that I drink it iced. It tasted very light and yummy. I actually think the Blonde roasts are PERFECT for early afternoon coffee breaks, which is what I was having here.

Then I tasted the muffin. Since I’m “mostly” eating Paleo these days, bread and sugar are rare in my diet. So when I do have them, I REALLY enjoy them and savor them. This muffin was totally worth it, my friends. Moist, delicious, fresh. Well done, Walmart!

Then I took another sip of my coffee. And boom! Those complimentary flavor profiles came right out, making my coffee go from yummy to super duper yummy. What a treat it was to have both of these together. I highly recommend the pairing!

For those of you who haven’t purchased a bag of Starbucks coffee in a while, I wanted to make sure you that see this awesome offer on the side of the bag. When you’ve used up all your grounds for brewing at home, take that bag to your nearest Starbuks and get a free coffee! Woo hoo! That’s what I call taking good care of your customers! And while I brew my own coffee about 90% of the time, sometimes just having that Starbucks cup in your hand feels really special. And this way, it is free! 🙂 Starbucks is one of my very favorite brands to purchase for home brewing. The price is higher than store brands, but the taste, in my opinion, is worth the price difference. Plus, I find that the bags go on sale fairly regularly. That’s when I stock up!

Tim took the goodies I got at Walmart to work with him and let it be part of the big Administrative Assistant’s Day spread. He reported back to me that the 2 packages of muffins and two packages of donuts I picked up were gone in a flash. He also said that one of his colleagues made a point of telling him how absolutely THRILLED she was to see Starbucks coffee being offered. Evidently the office normally buys…let’s just say NOT Starbucks. Something much more economical. And even though this person LOVES LOVES LOVES coffee, she dislikes what the office has on hand so much that she never drinks it. So this was the pretty much the best day ever for her at the office. The entire bag of coffee was used up by day 2 in the office. I’m SO glad that everyone in the office loved the treats, and I’m glad I had the opportunity to express my gratitude for all the ways they help our family. It was nothing extravagant, but even so, it was still very special.

What about you? Are you a Starucks fan? Do you hit the coffee shops or brew at home? What is your favorite drink from the company? Ever tried the Blonde Roast line? And have you ever done a special coffee and bakery gift for someone as a thank you? Coffee is something I love to talk about, so please share!

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™. #cbias #SocialFabric. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.