Let wonder replace worry

Starbucks Value Meals

I remember a local news station profiling Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz 5 or 6 years ago and hearing him vow that Starbucks would never have value meals. He also talked about how many people laughed in his face when he asked them to invest in a company selling coffee drinks for $5.

This was also back when they were opening stores literally across the street from each other with no plans of slowing down. Boy have things changed.

This week, Starbucks introduced "breakfast pairings" but they might as well call them what they are - value meals. For $3.95 you can get a drip coffee and a one of four hot sandwich or a latte with oatmeal or coffee cake.

The ironic thing: McDonald's has been copying Starbucks for the last few years, and stealing many of their customers with good coffee at half the price. Now Starbucks is emulating McDonalds.

Why in the world would Starbucks do that? Store sales are down 10% and net income down 69%. Even when the economy turns around, I doubt we'll ever see $5 coffee drinks selling in record numbers again. Especially now that people know they can get them same thing for half the price.

Here is the USA Today article about all of this.

Nicole's Garden

About 2 months ago Nicole came across 4 tomato plants and for our first time, we decided to try our hand at gardening.

Here is Jaxson and the plants the day she brought them home:

Now, just about 8 weeks later, here is where we are in the tomato growing process:

Although no tomatoes yet, we are pretty proud of ourselves.

This gardening thing is pretty fun.

Is Your Favorite Starbucks Closing?

Starbucks will be shutting down 600 stores and as many as 12,000 workers will lose their jobs when the closings begin this summer.

Many in Seattle are saying it serves Howard Schultz right for selling the Supersonics to an Oklahoma City investment group whose motive was clearly to get the team playing in Oklahoma as quick as possible.

It is said that there have been massive boycotts of Starbucks in Seattle since the move was officially announced last week.

I'm not boycotting though. I find it surprising that everyone is just now upset about this. I knew this was happening the day he sold the team to a group of people who have never lived in Washington State and had no intention of ever moving here.

Anyway, the Seattle Times is compiling a list of the known stores that will be getting the axe this summer.

Is your favorite coffee hangout closing?