Good afternoon, blog friends! I am blogging from the Café Gato Rojo in Harvard Yard. I’ve decided that it is the perfect place for an afternoon post– cozy, laid-back, quiet, but not too quiet, and it’s super close to my office, so I can easily escape for an hour, eat my lunch, and catch-up with my second job! Bloggers: do you consider your blog to be a hobby or part-time job or something else?
Lunch
Today’s lunch was a homemade salad with lettuce, mushrooms, tomatoes, and carrots, topped with shredded Kerrygold Dubliner cheese, which added a nice, little “punch” to my not-so-exciting salad. The Dubliner cheese was sharp, somewhat sweet, and somewhat nutty with a hard texture. It would be excellent served with a glass of full-bodied wine, which sounds like a wonderful idea to me right now! 
On the side, I also had some red grapes…
…and a vanilla-flavored Chobani Greek yogurt with Peace cereal mixed in.
All together with an Adora disk and a Sigg full of H20…
Starbucks Instant Coffee Review
I’m not going to lie, I didn’t expect much from Starbucks new line of instant coffee: VIA Ready Brew Instant Coffee. I’m not really a coffee snob, but I know what tastes good to me and what doesn’t, and usually, instant coffee is weak, watered-down, and just gross. So, obviously, I was pleasantly surprised when I tried Starbucks’ Colombia instant coffee this morning and it tasted GOOD!
Instant coffee grinds + 8 ounces of hot water = a tasty cup of coffee!
When adding the hot water to the instant coffee grinds, I was careful not to add more than the recommended 8 ounces– mostly because I was worried that I would end up with watered-down, nasty cup of coffee. After tasting the 8-ounce mug of coffee that I just made, I was shocked that I needed to add more water because it was too strong for me! When does that ever happen with instant coffee!?! With another couple of ounces of hot water, my cup of coffee was deliciously rich, smooth, and full-flavored.
So, overall, the VIA Ready Brew makes a nice cup of coffee. I’ll likely stick to regular brewed coffee for my daily dose, but I could see myself taking these packets with me on a vacation since they are easily transportable and perhaps better than coffee I might find in my travels. I’m not sure I will purchase these online, but it’s nice to know it’s a good option for instant coffee on-the-go.
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Mmm…Chobani. Hmm, I consider my blog a small part of my larger life-coaching business. It’s a way for people to get an idea of what idea that’s completely free, so it definitely relates to my job overall. But it’s fun, too! I had another blog that was not at all business related, that was more of a hobby, so I’d keep blogging either way.
Ah, the Kerrygold cheese are the best. Dubliner is my absolute fav. Salad looks fab.
job, for sure. i started it as a job, it’s definitely not a hobby.
got to get back in the adora habit!
I still have to try my VIA samples! I’m way more excited about it now that I read your review, though!
I still haven’t tried Chobani! I love Oikos — is it very similar?
mmm the cheese on your salad is so pretty.
blogging = hobby money-wise but part-time job time-wise, ahhhhhh!
we have the same SIGG, but mine is blue
blogging = hobby, but it takes a lot of time!
Great lunch! And nice review on the VIA. I haven’t tried mine yet, mostly because I thought they were going to be gross, but now I have something to look forward to.
My blog is a tool in my recovery from binge eating disorder but the little money it makes is nice, too.
Yummy lunch! Blogging is the best of both worlds, a hobby and a job!
I’d like to think of it as a hobby but it can feel like a 2nd job at times! That’s a good idea to take on vacation – hotel coffee is just horrid!
OMG – that instant coffee made me feel like I had just stabbed my heart with a syringe full of adrenaline, it was that strong/caffeinated. Watch out for the Italian roast – it’s even more potent!
The blog is definitely just hobby that way I can feel no pressure to “perform” like a responsible adult
My blog is definitely a hobby but I wish I were a part-time job! I’m not making enough money on it (yet?) to consider it a job. But I think, like Andrea, it’s better that way because the pressure isn’t there to be perfect with it…although I still put pressure on myself to give my 3 readers good stuff…so I guess it’s too bad I’m not making more dough
I’m not much of a coffee drinker but that coffe sounds kind of nice and convenient. I could see having little instant coffee packets like that for the rare occassions I do drink coffee. Your salad looks so nice and those grapes look lovely, I need to pick up some grapes next time I go grocery shopping!
I think starbucks coffee is good in any form! I think the instant stuff would be great for making iced coffee.
I just had my Starbucks instant sample this morning and I too was pleasantly surprised! I definitely plan on stocking up for emergency hurried mornings – or when my coffee tastes too weak. I also think that it would be a good sub when recipes call for espresso powder!
We recently got those samples too, and I thought they tasted so similar to starbucks brewed coffee. I’m not a huge fan of their coffee, but I thought it was great for instant.
I love how you blog from all these locations near your work
Sounds like there are a lot of options to choose from!
I spend enough time blogging to make it a part-time job. The problem is I don’t always have the time I need to put what I want into it….I hope to someday do more.
Hi Tina! I love your review on the Kerrygold cheese (which I have yet to sample)…hope to meet you one day at one of the blogger dinners!
Hi Tina
For me, blogging is a hobby. It’s something I love to do!!
I love adding some shredded cheese on top of salads. Especially cheeses that give the salad that extra “punch”. I just love that!!
Glad to hear that the Starbucks instant coffee is worth buying. Thanks for the review!!
Have a great Tuesday!
Love Kerrygold products. What a nice lunch, time for me to find some:)
Love your lunch outside! I’d call it more of a hobby even though I wish it could be considered a part-time job! It keeps me busy at my real job at least!
Thanks for the review — I really want that instant coffee now!
I consider my blog a building block for the book I will eventually write. I would like to get my writing out there and guage interest on topics people like to read so I can have focus — and material — for my nonfiction book.
I love Kerrygold Cheese, I had it at a food & wine tasting once and ws hooked.
I’ve heard other good things about Via from some of my friends too…I think I’ll have to buy some to add to my morning protein shakes.
My blog is definitely a hobby…hopefully one day I’ll bring it up to “part-time” status!
Ohh I love the whole feeling of being around Harvard! I am originally from the east coast, so I love to visit! I consider my blog just something I do to fuel my passion for cooking and food. If I get more readers and it gets bigger, I would like to consider it a part-time job =) But we all have to start somewhere. Have a great rest of your day!
Thanks for the review! I love super strong coffee and always grind my own (i think i use some ridiculous amount like 1 T for 1 oz), so its nice to know there’s an instant coffee I might like!
YAY for lunchtime blogging
thanks for the review of the instant coffee…it sounds like something my bf would really like because of the convenience…i’ll have to look out for it.
Yum! Dubliner is one of my favorite cheeses!
Hi Tina! FYI Barney Butter is sending out free samples on their website. Whoop Whoop!
Hmm, good question about blogging. I guess technically it’s a hobby because it’s unrelated to my paying job, but considering the amount of time I spend on the blog and related reading/maintenance, it’s more like a part-time job! I consider it a time investment that should pay off down the line, for various reasons.
The blog is for sure work, but since I don’t actually get paid to do it I look at it more as required volunteer work like high school kids have to do now!
It is a lot of fun though, I just have to work it into my day to day life a bit better.
Lunchtime is definately my favorite time to blog! The midday light just makes my dining room look so pretty and inviting and the house is normally quiet.
I’m so glad you liked the instant coffee. I am not a coffee person (even though I work in the Starbucks cafe at Barnes and Noble), but I know how it SHOULD taste. Glad to know we lived up to the standard!
With Love,
Emily
the starbucks instant looks so cool, and your lonchie looks yummie as always!
definitely a hobby. a fun one. and a great release from my actual job, which can be very stressful.
thanks for the review! I’m one of the weirdos who actually likes Starbucks coffee so I kind of want to buy this product!
Thanks for the review, my grandparents drink instant coffee and I always hated it because it was so watered down, good to know there’s an option out there that isn’t!
I have GOT to get my hands on Chobani!!
I just started my blog – so we’ll see how much of a time committment it turns out to be. So far, I’m having fun!!
Hi Tina! I just wanted to write you a quick note to thank you for your write-up about your wine tasting! I was in Whole Foods tonight, looking for a celebratory bottle of wine (to celebrate a recent acceptance to graduate school
and came across the 2008 Crios that you had at your tasting. I remembered that you bought a bottle, so I decided to try it out and I LOVE it! Thank you so much for your recommendation!
I have samples of the VIA i need to try, too. But I’m glad you like it!!
And I consider my blogging to be a hobby… Maybe after maintaining it longer it will feel more like a job.
I am much more excited to try my instant coffee samples now. I hate watererd down coffee.
I consider my blog a hobby.
I loved the Starbucks instant coffee. It would be perfect for taking on vacation.
I consider it more of a hobby. I think that’s because I’m not doing it everyday like a lot of you are. It’s a tough job and very time consuming! But oh so worth it when you get lotsa love from your readers!
I totally want to pick some of that instant coffee up…I heard it’s really similar in taste to regular brewed Starbucks, and after your nice review, I just might have to see for myself too!
I looove that artsy water bottle you have there! Does it make drinking water more fun?!?!? hehehehe
Blogging is a hobby but is semi-job-like because I definitely take it seriously!!
I had some vanilla Chobani today too–it must have been that kind of day:)
Love your Sigg! I can’t live without mine!
I consider blogging a part-time job at times. Especially when companies send out samples. I feel like I owe something to the companies that send my products!
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