Starbucks Winter Menu 2024 Predictions, According To A Former Barista

Daria & Jane

Daria and Jane were the two best friends I admired growing up so it would make so completely happy to see someone dress up as for them for Halloween. They were proof anyone can be sexy with the right attitude, and these two have ‘tude in spades.

Party Animals

Puns for days! You can hit a double whammy and be a sexy mouse (insert Mean Girls quote), but the choice is yours.

Cher & Dionne

You can pretend to be Clueless all evening, but the joke’s on them. Plus, real fans of the movie knew Cher and Dionne were actually smart underneath their Valley girl personas.

Bun In the Oven

Pregnant mamas can find funny and sexy Halloween costumes to wear too. While this one errs on the side of a joke about having a bun in the oven, at least you'll have someone to store your keys and phone while you're out!

The Simple Life

In honor of Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie reuniting for The Simple Life, get your denim overalls and flared miniskirt in order, because it’s about to be #hot out. (via Brit + Co)

Misty

Catch all the admirable stares and candy while wearing this cute Misty Halloween costume. You may even catch all the cuties at the party.

Netflix & Chill

This is on the sexy Halloween costumes that may actually lead to a little bun in the oven if you know what I mean. It literally takes the cake for couples who are looking for a different Netflix subscription package.

Super Bowl Katy Perry

The real humor lies in what the shark on your left side does all night. That poor guy has no clue what he’s doing, does he?

Mean Girls

Do you wear pink on Wednesdays? Do you have Kälteen bars in your purse? Excellent, the squad is ready to roll out.

Monsters Inc. Celia Costume

Dress as funny man, er monster, Mike Wazowski's girlfriend this Halloween. Heads won't stop turning to get a better look at your costume!

Zookeeper Costume

Who knew zookeepers could be this smart and sexy? Apparently this costume had this idea in mind when they created this tailored jumpsuit.

Mad Hatter Costume

The Mad Hatter may be known for coming up with silly yet intriguing sentences, but this costume adds an irresistible appeal to a hilarious persona.

Karen Smith from Mean Girls Mouse Costume

"I'm a mouse, duh" is one line from Mean Girls we find ourselves quoting. It only makes sense we add the infamous costume to the list!

Harley Quinn Costume

You won't be able to resist saying, "I may be twisted but at least I make it interesting" once you slip into this funny, sexy costume.

Tweedle Dee Costume

Only this costume could bring out Tweedle Dee's charm. Put your own sexy spin on it and keep the fun going.

Lola Bunny Costume

Turns out Lola Bunny had sex appeal and stellar basketball skills in Space Jam. Even if you don't plan on hitting the court to score points in this costume, you'll at least look the part.

Sexy Pirate Costume

Pirates haven't always been known for their immense sex appeal but Captain Jack Sparrow changed that. Invoke his swagger and witty sense of humor with this Halloween costume.

Sexy Cheshire Cat Costume

The cheshire cat from Alice In Wonderland proved to be mysteriously alluring with a dose of humor that we came to love. Wear this costume to see if a bit of his charisma rubs off on you.

Sassy Scarecrow Costume

Channel your inner scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz with this fun costume.

80's Workout Costume

Get physical with this fun Halloween costume that reminds us of Jane Fonda during her VHS workout tapes era.

Galactic Alien Costume

I love science fiction movies that involve aliens, but this galactic costume makes them seem less scary. Of course you're free to be as funny as you want, but you'll still look great while speaking your own special language.

Britney Spears Costume

Britney Spears is having the last laugh with the release of her new memoir and we're here for it - hence this fun costume.

Plus Size Popcorn Costume

This costume is for everyone who's ever giggled while listening to popcorn kernels popping in the microwave. Your secret is safe with us and this popcorn costume.

Mushroom Costume

People won't be able to stop saying, "Aw, look at the cute mushroom" when they see you in this costume.

Candy Maker Costume

Make Willy Wonka proud by leading the candy brigade this Halloween. Who wouldn't want to follow you once they see this sexy Halloween costume?

I traveled to four of the most popular coffee chains that got ahead of the PSL game this season: Starbucks, Dunkin’, Krispy Kreme, and Dutch Bros. Not only did I set out to find the best-tasting PSL (though taste is a huge factor), I also wanted to see how they measured up in terms of price. Coffee is not always cheap these days! Scroll on to discover the best PSL you can order, according to my taste test.

Starbucks

Order: Tall hot PSL

Cost: $5.75

If there’s one thing I can count on from a Starbucks PSL, it’s comfort. Maybe it’s the nostalgia in me, but that first sip is always soothing. Starbucks’ classic PSL is perfectly sweet, but there’s not a ton of spice. I do really enjoy how creamy the pumpkin spice flavor is – likely because they use a thick pumpkin sauce as opposed to a syrup.

I ordered a hot PSL in a tall size for my taste test (because I knew my stomach couldn’t, well, stomach three more standard-sized PSLs), though I wished I had requested a grande. Larger sizes at Starbucks are crafted with more espresso, so I didn’t get a ton of coffee notes from the tall swig that only had one shot. After a solid 5-minute sip session, I have to grant Starbucks’ PSL 3.5/5 stars. The lack of a caffeinated coffee punch and a wild abundance of orange (the drink’s color is quite jarring) left me no choice but to knock off some points.

Dunkin’

Order: Small hot PSL

Cost: $5.19

Dunkin’s PSL is definitely worth skipping. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m a Dunkin’ girly through and through (their Dunkalatte is bangin’), but upon first sip of their PSL, I gagged – I can’t lie. Their PSL is way too sweet and literally just tastes like syrup. Transparently, I tasted a lot more vanilla than pumpkin flavor (and a hint of candle fragrance), which was disappointing, given the drink is literally called Pumpkin Spice Latte.

I felt like I needed to take a big breath and touch grass after drinking it. To top it off, the little espresso I detected the drink tasted very bitter and burnt. For the money I spent, I can definitively say it’s not worth it. It’s gonna be 1/5 stars for me, thanks!

Dutch Bros

Order: Small hot PSL

Cost: $4.85

Next on my taste test was Dutch Bros. I don’t often make a beeline to this coffee chain, but I was pretty loyal to them in college (for the Cocomo alone), so my hopes were fairly high. I ordered a small hot PSL – and it was definitely pumpkiny. Concerningly pumpkiny, even. Their pumpkin flavor read more savory than sweet in my opinion, which I think could offer a fun and refreshing sip when you’re tired of downing super-sweet drinks.

At this point in the taste test, I was tweaking hard from all the sugar and caffeine I had consumed, but the depth of flavor with Dutch Bros’ PSL ultimately impressed me. The best part was I wasn’t missing out on the espresso at all! The espresso was extremely prevalent even in the small-sized drink. I’m not sure I would order it again since my nearest Dutch Bros is 20 minutes from home, but it certainly earned my stamp of approval. That’s a 4/5 star rating for you, Dutch.

Krispy Kreme

Order: Small hot PSL

Cost: $2.59

@athenaspud#traderjoes#totebag♬ O Fortuna - Epic Trailer Version - Hidden Citizens

The Trader Joe’s mini tote bags first dropped at the grocer in March, and shoppers went absolutely crazy for them. Some stores were totally flooded with a frenzy of customers hoping to add one to their cart. They were sold for a limited time, and there’s since been hundreds of eBay listings marking the bags up 3 to 4 (and even 6) times their original price.

According to the Trader Joe’s website, the canvas mini tote bags are crafted from a “heavy duty” blend of 65% cotton and 35% polyester. Made to be a scaled-down version of their original canvas totes, the mini bags still boast “long, comfortable handles” to help you carry your grocery hauls comfortably.

They come in four “vibrant” colors: navy, yellow, red, or forest green, and measure about 13 inches long, 11 inches tall, and 6 inches wide. The Trader Joe’s mini tote bags also feature a single side pocket to set aside certain items. They retail for just $2.99.

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Trader Joe’s mini tote bags are rumored to return to stores on September 18, but right now, there’s really no telling if there will be another crazy customer frenzy for buying them. Based on previous drops, these limited-time items will certainly stir up some substantial hype, so if you want to snag one, it might be a good idea to stop in at your closest TJ’s the minute they open on September 18.

Many stores typically open around 8am, but make sure to check your local location’s hours beforehand. More importantly, when you arrive, act appropriately and ensure you’re respecting the workers there!