For the love of Peppermint Mocha

Okay, so I realize that Peppermint Mochas are the product of a corporate ploy to coax people into buying expensive coffee (and not to mention, calories) in the spirit of the holidays...

But I happen to believe in Starbucks.

There is something about the smell of the peppermint and the gingerbread filling the room, the festive Christmas decorations and the gift packages and pastries all around that really does make me smile. I am a sucker for the holidays; to me, there is nothing better than walking through the Promenade (a shopping center with a movie theater and a Barnes & Noble...every city has one) with a Peppermint Mocha and gazing up at all the Christmas lights on the trees..not to mention the huge Christmas tree in the middle of everything.

My mom and I have always shared this sort of enthusiasm for the holidays (although I suppose I usually end up being more ridiculously excited) and it's a connecting thread for us when I'm away at school. The decorations will go up at Starbucks, the holiday cups will come out, and my mother and I are on the phone jabbering away about the incoming of presents, being merry and finally being able to enjoy a hot cuppa joe together instead of 3,000 miles apart.

So, I'll be spending my hard-earned cash on holiday-themed cups of coffee and gift cards with designs of kids sledding down a snow-covered hill...curling up in the cozy chairs and babbling about life with my mom or one of my friends :-)

Ahh...'tis the season.