In the midst of the Black Friday craziness, an hour into me already spending way too much money, and my mom and brother way too into collecting points for her ShopKick app, I felt like a coffee break was very very necessary.

I did not go out on this wild “holiday” with the intention of shopping. I just love the energy of the malls. The desperation to get out of the long, winding lines. The smell of tired children that were forced to tag along. The intensity to catch the sales. I love the whole vibe of it all. It makes me feel invigorated.

However, this year I was one of the them. I was one of the people hopping from store to store to grab the best deal I can find, and expand my closet even though I don’t have the space or the money to do so. Therefore a coffee break was needed to calm me down. It didn’t work but the intention was there.

The Toasted White Chocolate Mocha with an add-in of Peppermint, is my elevated version of the White Peppermint Mocha because why not combine the two best seasonal drinks together. Nothing would have made me feel better after waiting in a 45 minute Forever 21 line than the mix of toasted white chocolate flakes and candy cane sprinkles on top of a wonderful cup of hot coffee. And yes, HOT. This is just another one of those drinks that I would insist on drinking hot despite my indulgence to and slight obsession with iced coffee.