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I’m sorry.
I had so much on my mind.
I didn’t really forget, I just forgot to acknowledge it…
My blog is not speaking to me. I didn’t do anything for my first bloggy anniversary last week.
No week of reposting old favorites.
No giveaways.
No blog party.
No wonder it’s mad at me.
For the record, it was January 31. And I am doing a little giveaway, but, um, not here.
It’s on my review blog.
And it has nothing to do with my blogiversary.
I know it’s probably too little too late, but let’s have an impromptu party. You bring the snacks, I provide the drinks. Looks like Newt has already cracked one open. You go girl!
Now, before you call CPS on me you should know that Newt is not drinking just any kind of beer.
It’s Henry Weinhards.
Or Henry’s, as we affectionatly call it.
Henry’s Root Beer.
Go on, have some. Isn’t that the best root beer you’ve ever had? And it’s only available in the western USA, unless you order it by mail. Which we were mighty tempted to do when we lived in Maryland.
So to my blog, thank you for a year of laughs, tears, and new friends. This one’s for you, the Root Beer we moved 3000 miles for:
Please forgive me.
You complete me.
For more unscrapbookable pictures, check out We are THAT Family.
Today’s review caused huge a stir of excitement when it arrived at my door.
Newt: Why is someone sending you juice?
Me: So we can try it out and tell people what we think about it.
Newt: Like who?
Me: The people who read my blog.
Newt: People read your blog?
Me: Um, go make your bed.
Welch’s Aqua Juice is being marketed to moms as a lower calorie alternative to plain juice or soft drinks. With the problem of childhood obesity growing ever larger each year (pun intended), I commend Welch’s for creating healthier choices.
But how does it taste?
I assembled an expert panel of kids to try it out.
Starting on the left we have:
S - boy, aged 8 and 3/4: Able to run faster and jump higher than anyone else. Don’t believe me? Just ask him.
Newt - girl, aged 8 and 1/4: Has recently discovered the thrill of talking on the phone to friends. Oh joy.
J - boy, aged 5 and 3/4: Serious middle child, does not like to be called J-Dog. So I call him that all the time.
Wasn’t there another expert? Where’d he go? Oh, there he is:
This one is also called s, but he’s little.
s - boy, aged two and 1/2: Likes firetrucks. And pretty much anything else with wheels.
Panel Qualifications: They’re kids and they’re thirsty.
I poured the juice and asked for their reactions.
S: It smells like nothing. I think it’s great but I can’t get any taste of it. I mean I can only taste it when it’s in my mouth. I think he is stating that the product has no discernible aftertaste. S was the only expert who did not finish his juice.
Newt: I really like it. It has a good flavor, kinda like apple cider with a hint of water. It’s clearer than the other kind of juice. Tasty. Newt asked for, and finished a second glass.
S: I think the same as Newt.
J: I can taste it when I swallow. Good for you, sweetie!
s: Dooce. Has he been reading blogs?
When asked which they preferred, regular apple juice or Aqua Juice, the panel replied:
S: This.
Newt: This. It’s so tasty.
J: This ‘cuz it’s so sweet.
s: Fwire-twuck.
So, there you have it. The kids loved it.
But, when I tried it, I was less enthusiastic. Though it was smooth and went down easy (think Gatorade), it had a sweet floral taste that I didn’t care for. I don’t think I’ll purchase this product. If calories from juice consumption are a concern, I’d recommend diluting your regular juice with water. It would be more economical and (in my opinion) better tasting.
But I’m no expert.
Welch’s would like for you to try this product out and see for yourself. They have offered to ship a bottle to one of my readers. You will recieve a 52 oz. bottle in either Fruit Punch, Strawberry Kiwi, or Apple flavor.
Leave me a comment and I will randomly choose a winner February 11th at 9:00 pm, PST.
More Wordless Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Mom
The great gray beast February had eaten Harvey Swick alive. Here he was buried in the belly of that smothering month, wondering if he would ever find his way through the cold coils that lay between here and Easter.
It was a monstrous month, that was for sure. A dire and dreary month. The pleasures of Christmas, both sharp and sweet, were already dimming in Harvey’s memory, and the promise of summer was so remote as to be mythical.
-Clive Barker, The Thief of Always
When I first read about Harvey Swick’s dreary existence inside the dreary month of February, I was sure that Clive Barker might secretly be an Oregonian.
Oregon Februarys (Februaries?) are usually painful.
Cold. Wet. Gray.
I’ve often asked myself how a month with only 28(ish) days can last so incredibly long?
Readers, I have discovered that this guy is to blame:
No, not that guy.
The cute little chubby guy.
Um…the cute little chubby guy with no hat.
Once again he has seen his shadow, dooming the world to six more week of cold and wet.
But here in Oregon, we’ve had enough. No longer will we sit content under his tiny clawed thumb of tyranny. We say spring is here now!
To prove it, here are a few shots taken this weekend:
What say you, other weary sufferers of winter? Will you stand with me to throw off the shackles of this overgrown rat? Will you, like us, dare to demand a return of the sun?
We have won the first battle, but the war is far from over. Should Punxsutawney Phil marshal his troops and hit us with more snow, sleet, ice and cold, cold rain I’ll unleash this on him:
GROUNDHOG AND SWEET POTATOES
1 Groundhog
Cold water
Salt
Pepper
Sweet potatoes or white potatoes
Cornbread
The animal should be dressed as soon as possible and well soaked for several hours in cold, salty water. All excess fat may be trimmed off after the meat is cold. Parboil to remove and remaining fat and drain well. Place in a moderate oven and pack sweet potatoes or even white
potatoes all around. Salt and pepper the meat and bake unti brown. Be sure the potatoes are thoroughly cooked. Serve with cornbread and use the heavy gravy that forms during baking.
Recipe found on gamecalls.net
You’re going down Phil. It’s on.
