http://for1yearofmylife.comMeet Beautiful Existence, a Seattle woman who is really named Beautiful Existence and who really pledged to eat and drink nothing but Starbucks products for all of 2013. And she did it.
She said so on her blog, For1YearOfMyLife.com: "I DID IT!"
Beautiful, who in the past has pledged to follow Parents magazine advice for a year or to only buy products from Goodwill for a year, picked Starbucks (and "Starbucks-inspired" brands like Roy Street Coffee, Tazo Tea and Evolution Fresh) because, "The company pays good benefits for part-time works. That's where my money is going."
"WHY? am I doing this challenge? Or WHY? will I do any challenge in the future? Because I LOVE being human and I LOVE the privilege of being able to ask the question WHY? in the first place!" she continued.
The 40-year-old mother of two and PhD spent at least $500 per month on her all-Starbucks diet, which is about $4,000 more annually than the average woman spends on food. (For the record, Beautiful shopped and cooked normal food for her children.)
'The first few months were extremely easy but as the months ticked by I had to really remain focused on getting to the end," Beautiful told Daily Mail. The biggest hiccup of the year came when she had to eat Starbucks crackers for Christmas because she "forgot to plan ahead."
Beautiful was so committed, she even dressed as the Starbucks siren for Halloween!
But she seems relieved that it's over, telling The New York Daily News, "In the last month, in the last couple weeks, it's been really difficult. People had pizza at the office last week and I was dying. I'm happy to be able to eat whatever I want."
Her first non-Starbucks meal? Fish and chips from a Seattle-based restaurant, Ivar's.
"My taste buds have been freaking out for the last 24 hours," she said.
Beautiful concludes, "During the year there's not been anything I have really hated, with a limited menu you learn not to be a picky eater pretty quick."
"I am fearless and wanted to explore new things in my life...I love to test the water and each time I challenge myself, I learn a lot."
And she already has her 2014 challenge picked out:
"Say ‘Hello' to the best employer in Washington state and a top-notch environmentally focused company… REI (Recreational Equipment Inc.) and my 365 challenge in 2014 to learn every recreational sport! (there are over 80 on my LIST)"
Good luck, Beautiful Existence! Don't forget to rehydrate with a refreshing Frappuccino®!