I Love Diet Soda

A special day for a special woman

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine) — Thu, 10 May 2012 02:15:00 +0000

You do know what Sunday is, right? if not, you'd better be prepared to grovel because it's Mothers Day...that one day of the year when you try to make it up to your mom for all that she's done throughout your life, from paying for swimming lessons, braces, music classes and college to dealing with teen angst.

Speaking of mothers, mine is actually coming to town this weekend - it will be the first time we've physically spent Mother's Day together in probably close to a decade. So instead of the usual flowers and chocolates sent by mail, I need to come up with a more creative gift. Any ideas? Mani/pedi/spa package, jewelry, food or gift card to one of her favorite stores?

For the rest of you folks who live with or near your mom, you might make Mom happy by letting her put her feet up for a change. Clean her house so she can watch some TV or delve into a new book. Then make her a nice meal. I'm thinking about whipping up a big Cajun dinner on Sunday to honor my mom's Louisiana roots - maybe some sausage and chicken jambalaya, bread pudding and a bottle of red wine. She's also a big ice tea and diet soda drinker so I'll have plenty of that on-hand this weekend, along with cheese, crackers, hummus, pita and other delicious snacks. Yay! So remember y'all to treat your mom like a queen for the day. She's the reason you're here, after all!

Let the good times roll...

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine) — Tue, 01 May 2012 02:13:00 +0000

Don't be haters, but guess where I'm heading on Thursday? NEW ORLEANS, baby!! Yup, I'm returning to the Big Easy - one of my fave cities in the whole word - for our third consecutive Jazz Fest. If you've never been, allow me to wax poetic...you will never find better festival food! From cochon de lait po boys to fried boudin balls, jambalaya and cracklins to spicy meat pie, the food is ri-donk-ulous. Thank goodness we will be walking everywhere! As for music, we've got our eyes on Jimmy Buffet, Florence & the Machine, James Cotton, Ani DiFranco, Dumpstaphunk, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Kermit Ruffins, Funky Meters, Galactic, Bonnie Raitt, Neville Brothers and more.
Can you tell I'm excited? And yes, I'm fully prepared to come back lugging a few extra pounds around my waistline, because let's be frank...NOLA is not a city for dieters. However, rather than drinking only light beer during my trip, I promise to wash down some of my favorite festival snacks with diet soda too. Happy?

Anyhoo, for all of you who sit by jealously as I enjoy my trip to the Crescent City, here are a few low-calorie variations of some of their most famous menu items.

CHICKEN JAMBALAYA
Ingredients:
1 spray non-fat cooking spray
2 1/2 oz raw turkey sausage, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
1 medium celery, stalk, chopped
1 small green pepper, chopped
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper, or to taste
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp table salt
1/2 tsp black pepper, ground
2 medium garlic cloves, minced
2 medium chicken breast, cooked, skinless, cubed (about 2 cups)
28 oz canned tomatoes, whole, plum, peeled with juice
2 cups fat-free chicken broth
1 cup uncooked white rice, long-grain

Directions:
1. Coat a large, nonstick saucepan with cooking spray. Over high heat, sauté sausage until crispy on edges. Add onion, celery and green pepper; sauté until tender.
Reduce heat and stir in cayenne, thyme, salt, pepper and garlic; sauté until garlic is fragrant.
2. Stir in chicken, tomatoes, broth and rice. Bring to a simmer, cover and let cook until rice is tender, about 20 minutes.
Flavor Booster: Popcorn rice, a specialty of Louisiana, is a delicious substitute for long-grain rice. The rice, which has a mild nutty taste like basmati rice, is available through gourmet food stores and Internet specialty shops

HURRICANE
Ingredients:
2 oz light rum
2 oz dark rum
* 2 oz passion fruit juice
1 oz orange juice
1/2 oz fresh lime juice
* 1 tbsp simple syrup
1 tbsp grenadine
* For a healthier recipe, use some V8 Splash Guava Passion and make sugar-free simple syrup combining 1 cup of sucralose with 1 cup of boiling water. Once it has cooled, strain the sucralose and water through a coffee filter.

Directions:
Shake all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice, pour into a hurricane glass and garnish with an orange slice and cherry.

BEIGNETS
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons granulated Splenda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup butter
1 cup water
1 1/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Vegetable oil for frying
Powdered sugar

Directions:
1. In a saucepan, combine Splenda, salt, butter, and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil.
2. Add flour and cook over medium heat, beating with spoon until dough forms a ball and leaves side of pan. Remove from heat.
3. Add eggs, one at a time, beating with electric mixer at medium speed after each addition. Continue beating until the mixture is smooth.
4. Mix in vanilla.
5. Roll dough on a floured surface and cut into 2-inch squares.
6. In skillet, heat 1 to 2-inches of oil. Then fry dough (three or four pieces at a time) until puffy and golden brown on both sides.
8. Remove beignets and drain on paper towels. While hot, sprinkle generously with powdered sugar.

Stealing Home

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 01:33:00 +0000

"There's nothing wrong with this team that more pitching, more fielding and more hitting couldn't help." Former Cub Bill Buckner

It's about time! I'm going to my first baseball game of the season this weekend. The weather is supposed to be gorgeous, the tickets are free, the beer will be cold and the baseball field is practically walking distance from our place. Needless to say, I can't find much to complain about! Well, I guess there's one small thing...I wish I was headed to Wrigley Field instead of Turner Field. As a lifelong fan of the Lovable Losers, I used to frequent Wrigley this time of year. Although I've grown to appreciate the Braves the past five years, my heart will always belong with my Chicago team - as in, the team that has not won the World Series in over a century, which is apparently the longest championship drought in American sports. How unfortunate, huh?

Anyhoo, I'm looking forward to some overpriced light beer and salty peanuts, along with lots of Diet Coke (hello, this is Atlanta!) and water...because that's how I roll while watching America's pastime.

To end things on the ultimate high note, here is a clip of infamous "Cub Fan, Bud Man" - aka Mr. Harry Caray - singing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game." Alright! Lemme hear ya! Ah-One! Ah-Two! Ah-Three!

Yet Another Study Tries (And Of Course Fails) to Link Diet Sodas to Strokes

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 21:43:00 +0000

Sitting here on my Friday afternoon, I was casually sipping on my zero calorie beverage of choice, when I saw a news story pop up that tries to link sodas in general to strokes. The last thing I need is more stress at the end of the week, right?

**gulp**

So I read further and found out that it's all just a big media hype. Typical. Way to yell fire in a hallway!

Here's what you need to know: the study was done observationally on men and women drinking regular and diet sodas -so that means it was designed to show an association, not prove cause and effect. And the findings as per usual fail to show that soda sweetened with low-calorie sweeteners leads to strokes.

You're totally safe to keep enjoying your diet sodas. Cheers!

View the Calorie Control Council's official response here.

In fact, a study released last month in Circulation by two of the same Harvard researchers also did not find a link between beverages sweetened with low-calorie sweeteners and coronary heart disease. In that study, the researchers again stated, “Our results highlight the need for cautious interpretation of studies reporting on positive associations between diet drinks and cardiometabolic and cardiovascular outcomes.”

So there, you have nothing to worry about. Do your best to eat right, exercise and cut calories safely, like drinking diet soda -and you'll be just fine.

Alright, time to head to dinner and a movie with my boyfriend. Now if I could just find a diet popcorn at the theater. Yeah, right. I'll have to smuggle some air-popped in.

Truer words were never spoken

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 22:55:00 +0000

As any of my loyal readers know, I've definitely got a "thing" for diet soda. I drink it on a daily basis, using it as one tool in my efforts to maintain a healthy lifestyle (and slim waistline.) And so far, it's been effective! Over the years, I've been criticized by more than one friend about my diet soda habit - with many claiming it's contributing to the obesity crisis. Well, I got news for them...Yet another study proves that diet soda can be part of a healthy diet - as long as you don't overcompensate with rich foods.
Researchers at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill have found that diet soda drinkers who ate a so-called "prudent" diet, rich in fruit, fish, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and milk, were significantly less likely to develop metabolic syndrome over 20 years than those who ate a "Western diet" heavy in fried foods, meats and sugars.
Metabolic syndrome is a condition characterized by excess abdominal fat, elevated blood sugar, high blood pressure, elevated triglycerides and low HDL cholesterol. About 32 percent of the participants in the "Western diet" cluster developed the condition. The study is published in the April edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
"What this suggests is that it's really the dietary pattern that's driving this association with health," says Kiyah Duffey, a study author. "This kind of helps to make things a little more clear that it's not necessarily the diet beverage that is the problem."
This is just the latest study to reveal that diet soda does not contribute to obesity. A large study published in the New England Journal of Medicine last year found that diet soda had no effect on weight. And many experts say the diet soda habit is a good alternative to sugar sweetened beverages that are clearly linked to diabetes, cardiovascular disease and increased health care costs.
Look, here is my opinion, for whatever it's worth. The safety of diet soda has been reaffirmed time and again by leading health and regulatory groups worldwide. Until research definitely proves otherwise, I'll keep drinking my diet soda. In fact, you'll have to pry the can from my cold, dead fingers. Take that, haters!

Puppy breath and sleep deprivation

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 03:38:00 +0000

Guess what we did recently? We adopted a rescue pup! Seriously, y'all. Nola (a nod to one of our favorite cities) is like the cutest thing EVER. I know, I know...I sound like one of those proud moms. But she's precious and we absolutely adore her. And I think she's actually pretty smart. In just a few day's time, she learned to go to the top of the steps and whine when she needs to use the bathroom. Not to say there hasn't been a single incident inside since then, but by George, I think she's catching on! Anyway, it's obviously a lot of hard work - we're trying to crate train and potty train her, as well as keep her from biting. Another downside - in addition to picking up poop - is that she hasn't learned how to sleep through the night yet. As a result, I haven't had a good night of sleep in more than a week. Yes, I'm exhausted. Needless to say, I've been drinking either a Sugar-free Red Bull or Diet Mountain Dew every day lately. Yay for caffeine! And a double yay for puppies!

Diet Coke - the budding fashionista

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 01:36:00 +0000

Looks like Diet Coke is getting yet another fashion makeover. After pairing up with fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld last year for a round of limited-edition bottles, Diet Coke has tagged major league French haute couture fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier to serve as the brand's newest Creative Director.
The renowned designer has dressed everyone from Lady GaGa to Madonna to Jessica Alba and will lend his considerable talents to contribute a limited design of the brand’s bottles and cans.
The Gaultier ad campaign recently launched with a batch of “Serial Designer” videos that show the designer injecting style into the lives of Diet Coke’s marionette/mascots. Check it out.
I can't wait to see what he does to liven up those bottles and cans. I'm sure it will be absolutely fabulous!

Staying on track and avoiding temptation

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine) — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 03:22:00 +0000

So every time I finally get into an ongoing, healthy eating routine, my schedule gets disrupted. I know, I know - sounds like I'm whining. I just feel like the past few weeks have been more difficult than usual, with long days at the office, lots of social outings and birthday dinners and other temptations driving me away from a healthy lifestyle. And tomorrow, I'll be heading out of town for a three-day, work-related conference, which will likely throw an even bigger a wrench in my eating routine.

Ever been to one of those things? The food they offer typically isn't healthy - and often times, not very good period. On the flip side, I'm packing my running shoes and exercise clothes (yay for nice weather and hotel fitness rooms), some snack bars and will be on the lookout for plenty of fruits and veggies at each meal. So here's to portion control and generous servings of diet soda! Fingers crossed.

Taste the Madness

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 03:53:00 +0000

Ahhh, March. It's that time of year when the weather starts to warm up (at least in the South), the pollen count reaches epic proportions, everyone pretends to be Irish for a day and college basketball becomes THE topic of all water cooler chatter.
I’m currently ranked somewhere in the middle of my NCAA basketball bracket...which could be a good sign. Typically, I'm in the top three until the very end - when my favored teams let me down. So as long as my final four stays true, I should be in good shape. Then again, that's the beauty of the Big Dance - it's always full of surprises. I’m keeping my fingers and toes crossed that I win the pool AND that my beloved Badgers go all the way this year. So until it all finishes, you'll probably find me hunkered down with a plate of chicken wings and a light beer or diet soda for the next few weekends, watching the games and rooting on my boys in red.
For any Coke Zero (and basketball) fans, the company has teamed up with Turner Sports and CBS Sports again to launch a Coke Zero Watch & Score interactive game, which rewards fans with the ability to win thousands of prizes when they catch a live televised or streamed broadcast of the tourney. How it works? Fans will be prompted to look for Coke Zero alerts and keywords during the broadcasts to text in for a chance to instantly win prizes including trips to the 2012 NCAA Men's Final Four and the 2013 NCAA Men's Final Four, roster spots at an Ultimate Basketball Fantasy Camp with legendary college basketball head coaches and home entertainment system makeovers.
And now I'm thirsty and in need of a Coke Zero!

Soft drinks and songs

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine) — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 00:53:00 +0000

Ever seen a commercial and then had a certain song stuck in your head for days? For example, every time I see those damn Kia hip-hop hamsters rocking out to "The Choice is Yours," I wind up sifting through my iTunes catalog to listen to the Black Sheep again. And just a few minutes ago, the Subaru "soccer mom" ad featuring the Pogues resulted in some serious head-bopping on my end. Because there are so many good commercial "soundtracks" in recent years - particularly from beverage brands - I think I just might have to create a new playlist to encompass some of my faves. Here are a few tunes that might go on that list...

What's next for Pepsi Next?

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 02:18:00 +0000

Just as the weather starts to warm up, PepsiCo Inc. will be unveiling a soda later this month with only 40 percent of the calories of its full-calorie Pepsi-Cola soft drink. The new beverage, called Pepsi Next, will have 60 calories per 355 mL can. Regular Pepsi, in comparison, has 150 calories per can.
So basically, they're offering real soda taste with the low-cal sensibility of the diet version.As I mentioned before, I don't really know what to think about this one. I'm definitely a diet soda gal (in case you hadn't figured that one out by now) so this drink isn't quite light enough for my taste. On the other hand, I think it's a great idea to offer other options - especially for all those who typically turn their nose up at diet drinks. What do you think? Would you prefer a mid-calorie drink to a full or low-calorie version? Either way, I'm willing to try one out for research sake.

Diet Soda and Weight Loss

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 05:56:00 +0000

And today's not even my birthday! Most of y'all know that I have a bit of a "thing" for diet soda. Okay, so it's more like an obsession, seeing as how I drink it frequently, it tastes delicious and it keeps me looking trim.
Anyhoo, new research reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that drinking diet soda can help shed pounds. For the study, conducted at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, researchers randomly assigned 318 overweight adults to one of three groups: one that drank water; one that drank diet beverages; and a control group (who only received dietary counseling, along with the other groups). After six months, both groups (water and diet soda) lost four or five pounds, on average. However, those consuming diet beverages had a greater calorie reduction and there was a decrease in calories from food intake as well. Hallelujah, talk about music to my ears! Although I've long touted the benefits of diet soda intake to friends, every now and then one would question the beverage's impact on the waistline.
This study adds to the growing body of scientific literature supporting the notion that consumption of low calorie foods and beverages can assist with weight loss in humans. At least 13 other studies have similar findings, including a literature review of 45 studies on low calorie sweeteners that found low calorie sweeteners helped control caloric intake, and body weight, by making low calorie foods tastier.
According to Beth Hubrich, a dietitian with the Calorie Control Council, this study is good news for people looking for simple, easy and effective ways to reduce calories and lose weight. “Making small, simple changes you can live with over a lifetime is a great way to reduce calories and ultimately lose weight. This study supports the notion that small changes, such as choosing a diet soda, can be helpful in overall weight loss."
Sweet!

Happy Fat (not really) Tuesday!

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 02:29:00 +0000

Any of you currently in New Orleans for all of the Mardi Gras-related mayhem? If so, I’m jealous! Unfortunately, I just don't have the finances or vacation days available to make it to the Big Easy for the festivities this year. Maybe in 2013! Or, maybe I'll make an even bigger trip out of it then and head to Rio for Carnival. Anyhoo, with the bulk of my extended family hailing from Louisiana, I've always been a sucker for a good Mardi Gras party. So I did a little celebrating today with a bowl of chicken-sausage gumbo, some crusty bread and an ice-cold Diet Barq's Root Beer. And now that I'm home, I'm jamming out to a few of my favorite NOLA band tunes. Want a taste? Here you go. Let the good times roll, chere!

A little pick me up...

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 22:34:00 +0000

I'm beat today. I don't know if it's the cool temperatures or stress or something in the air, but I can't seem to get much sleep lately. I toss and turn at night and goodness knows I've never been able to master the art of the afternoon nap. Seeing as how we're supposed to meet some friends for dinner and drinks tonight, I'm in search of a little pick-me-up.
Fortunately, I found a Diet Mountain Dew at the store earlier. Mountain Dew (and coffee, of course!) helped get me through college. I used to buy a 12-pack of the Dew every time I needed to pull a study-related all-nighter - not sure I would have made it through my courses without it.
Here's hoping it provides the energy boost I need to last the rest of the night!

Super Sunday!

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 16:14:00 +0000

Well, the big night is finally here! I love me some Super Bowl Sunday. Of course, it would be better if my beloved Bears were playing, but that doesn't happen too often so I typically just suck it up and enjoy the pomp of it all.

So I'll be celebrating the big game with several friends, chowing down on artichoke dip, buffalo wings, chips and salsa and brownies and sipping light beer and diet soda. While I'm looking forward to the actual game, I'm also eager to see if there are any good commercials this year. Here's hoping there's one as good as Terry Tate or last year's pint-sized Darth Vader ad.

Here are a few of my fave Super Bowl ads from years past.

And one more thing I'm excited about tonight? PUPPY BOWL! Squee! Too much cute.

Diet Soda Desserts!

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 04:03:00 +0000

We attended not one, not two, but three birthdays this weekend. That's a lot of cake and cupcakes to account for, which is not the best excuse when you're trying to stay healthy. Fortunately, one of my friends loves diet soda as much as I do and actually made a low-calorie birthday cake using Diet Sierra Mist. And let me tell ya - it was dee-lish! So here's my deal: when it comes to candy, I'm a chocoholic. When it comes to cake or milkshakes, I prefer vanilla and or fruit-flavored. So a white cake with whipped cream and strawberries made with diet soda? Hello heaven!

Here's the recipe she used, courtesy of sparkpeople. You better believe I will be whipping this up sometime very, very soon.

White Cake w/ Strawberries (Diet Soda Cake)

Minutes to Prepare: 10
Minutes to Cook: 30
Number of Servings: 15

Ingredients
1 pkg White Cake Mix
1 can Diet Sierra Mist
Cool Whip Sugar Free (or light cool whip)
Fresh Strawberries (sliced)

Directions
1. Mix together cake mix and sierra mist.
2. Coat 9x13 pan with cooking spray.
3. Pour cake mix into pan.
4. Bake at 350* for 25-35 minutes, until inserted toothpick comes out clean.
5. Let cake cool completely.
6. Top with whipped cream and strawberries.

Best of 2011?

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 21:36:00 +0000

Wow. I thought I was pretty "in the know" when it comes to the world of diet drinks, sports drinks and energy drinks, but in looking at BevNet's "Best of 2011" list, it seems there are a lot of new products I need to check out.

Both big and small companies had representatives among the winners. The "product of the year" award went to ZICO Chocolate flavored Coconut Water, while Monster Rehab took "best energy drink" honors. Mamma Chia won the "best non-carbonated beverage" category and "best social or interactive marketing" went to Coca-Cola Freestyle, the on-site soda delivery system that allows consumers to build custom tailored beverages. A few of the unfamiliar? Deluxe Honeydrop, Greater Than and Aloe Gloe. Looks like I've got some taste tests to do soon!

So it seems 2011 was another good year for beverages. What types of products would you like to see more of in 2012?

A glam can

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 14:34:00 +0000

Diet Coke has done it again! The beverage brand just keeps rolling out new high-fashion cans that I covet, because yes, I like shiny, cool things. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like these will be available in the US. The new cans were unveiled earlier this month in the UK as part of the product's "Love it Light" campaign and will be rolled out in seven European countries in the coming weeks. The campaign also includes new ads and a Facebook app that apparently helps female consumers ‘get glam.’

Sooo, if any of my readers are in Europe or UK, feel free to send me a can, strictly for research purposes! Seriously, though, how cool is that houndstooth can? J'adore! The new ads are pretty adorable as well. Check it out!

Simple steps to stay on track in the New Year

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:26:00 +0000

Bleh. Ate too many chicken wings and tater tots this weekend thanks to playoff games and birthday parties. But it's all good. I've been hitting the gym and eating healthy other than these "special" occasions. And I just came across some great advice in this article. Should help to keep me on that healthier path.

1) Take small bites: We don’t mean to literally take smaller bites; we mean start slow and simple when going for a lifestyle change. The whole idea of changing your entire diet is unrealistic. If you want to change the way you eat, change your breakfast – start with one thing, because it’s feasible and more often than not, if you change your breakfast, you’ll feel differently at lunch and make a healthier choice then. If you push too hard or make it extreme and different from your regular life, then you won’t continue it. So go slow and take small bites.

2) Make it fit: If the idea of getting up an hour early to go for a run or head to the gym makes you cringe now, you likely won’t actually get up and go when the alarm is blaring at 5am. Make your goals fit in with your lifestyle. If you don’t like waking up early then then try to tackle your workout after work. Buy free-weights and use them and do a few sets of crunches while you watch your favorite TV show if you can’t get the gym. Make working out a group activity. Go for a brisk walk with your friends or children.

3) Give it three weeks: Don’t buy a gym membership or start a crash diet thinking that after a week, you’ll have lost 10 pounds and gained a brand new set of abs. That’s just not how it happens. Wellness doesn’t happen overnight, lifestyle is something that is created. Habits get ingrained over 21 days, so you have to give something at least three weeks to stick.

Hmmm...simple steps to live by. I think I can handle it!

Dreaming of a vacation...already

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 02:01:00 +0000

I know, I know. I'm awful. It's been two full weeks since I've updated this blog. But in my defense, 2012 has been pretty insane so far. From holiday travel to moving into a new home, long hours at the office to furniture shopping, I've barely had any downtime. By the way, are any of you interior decorators? If so, holla! I'm at my whit's end trying to figure out what paint colors would work best, what pieces of art should go on the wall, what type of mattress is ideal for back support and where to find a sofa that is stylish yet comfortable. Who knew these decisions would be so difficult?!

Fortunately, life seems to be slowing down a bit, which is much needed, as far as my sanity is concerned. And thanks to the upcoming three-day weekend, I'll have a little more time to get my chores done. Other things we'll be doing this weekend? Hosting a little playoffs gathering so our buddies can check out the new pad. I've already got a bunch of Trader Joe's snacks, light beer, Diet Sunkist, Diet Coke and Fresca Black Cherry Citrus soda on-hand for the masses.

Anyway, I promise to be better about posting in the weeks to come, umkay? That's my resolution to all of you, dear readers. On a different note, since Martin Luther King Day is Monday, I'm attaching a video clip of the Reverend's famous "I have a Dream" speech from 1963. May his words continue to inspire generations of people worldwide.

Too much holiday food makes the belly rebel...

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 14:30:00 +0000

I've been in Chicago for nearly a week now, celebrating the holidays with family. Between all the rich holiday food and attempting to hit all of my favorite local restaurants, I've pretty much done nothing but eat and drink (and be merry) since we arrived. Seems my stomach is finally starting to rebel - I had to primarily stick to soup, crackers and toast yesterday. The worst part is, though, I had to watch while a bunch of friends ate takeout from one of my favorite Middle Eastern restaurants. At least someone picked up a liter of Diet Ginger Ale - I hit that bottle hard yesterday, along with some ginger tea that I found in my mom's cabinet. For those that don't know, ginger ale and ginger tea work wonders on a cramped, icky stomach.
Now, keep your fingers crossed that my tummy cooperates today. We're supposed to either get some deep dish pie or Greek food, and I definitely want to partake in that food celebration. Opa!

Jonesin' for the Jones

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 04:06:00 +0000

Another holiday season, another limited release of new products courtesy of Jones Soda. Known for its innovative marketing - and promotion of beverages with names like Turkey & Gravy Soda, Dinner Roll Soda, Antacid Flavored Soda and Pea Soda - Jones seemed to tone things down this go-round. The 2011 limited edition offerings star the holiday classics of Gingerbread, Pear Tree, Candy Cane and Sugar Plum. Here's the official description from the website:

Officially endorsed and distributed by local Elf Union 422, and run via extremely limited quantities deep in a hidden crater, buried beneath a glacier..(under a mountain) in the North Pole, we proudly present this virtual Holiday feast for the sophisticated sweet toothed aficionado. This year’s 4 Holiday flavors to include: 1) Ginger Bread: made from only the smiley faced heads of 100% organic, free range, gluten free gingerbread people. 2) Sugar Plum: fresh squeezed a la the aforementioned fruit of legend, and plucked from the only known remaining Sugar Plum tree in existence, nestled deep in the Foja Mountains of Indonesia. 3) Candy Cane: a drink so crisp and winter fresh, you’ll have no choice but to exclaim “By the beard of Santa!” in a crowded library, and finally 4) Pear Tree: a nectar so refreshing Zeus himself was known to sip it from his silver goblet, whilst wearing headband antlers. So drink up buckaroos, because this limited time offer will be gone before you can say “jet-pack reindeer.”

To determine this year's winning flavors, Jones reached out to fans via social media and tallied hundreds of votes. Each 12-ounce glass bottle is also emblazoned with a photo submitted by Jones Soda fans.

Looking for a unique holiday gift or commemorative memento? Fans can create their own customized Jones Soda bottle labels online. This allows people to pick a traditional Jones Soda flavor, upload a picture and message of their choice, and receive their own custom twelve-pack of soda bottles.

I love Jones. Not only do they provide some super tasty beverages, but I always enjoy their creative marketing. And for all my fellow calorie counters, the company offers a sugar-free product line. Jones Zilch includes Pomegranate, Black Cherry, Vanilla Bean and Cola. Drink up!

Paint Samples and Moving Dates

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 03:55:00 +0000

Well, for the first time in my life, I'm a homeowner. Does that mean I'm all grows up?! Seriously, though, after months and months of searching, we found ourselves a lovely town home in a fabulous neighborhood. And the best part is, it won't cost us much more than we've been paying in rent the past two years. Woohoo! But while the hard part is over, now comes a new set of challenges: finding new furniture to fill the extra space and some good paint for the walls. Any color suggestions? I'm leaning toward a cool green, blue or gray for the bedrooms but haven't made a decision yet. In the meantime, we're still in the process of packing up our apartment and preparing for the big move in a couple days. However, we've already started dropping off a few things, such as a box with DVDs and one of the TVs, a 12-pack of Diet Coke and some beer for the fridge and a few suitcases of clothes. Priorities, folks! Wish me luck. It's going to be a busy few weeks.

I give this a ten!

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 04:06:00 +0000

Great news! It appears Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc. will be offering up several new diet sodas in the near future. Starting as early as January, the company will begin testing 7 Up Ten, Sunkist Ten, A&W Ten, RC Ten and Canada Dry Ten in select markets. The decision followed promising early results from Dr Pepper Ten, a new 10-calorie version of the flagship soda. The company is trying to appeal to consumers who stopped drinking sodas because of the high calories, but didn't like the taste of diets. However, unlike Dr Pepper Ten - which was marketed primarily to men - these other new flavors will cater to a broader audience, targeting men and women ages 25 to 49.

Dr Pepper is not the only company unveiling new lower-cal products next year. Pepsi plans to launch Pepsi Next, a mid-calorie soda with about 40 calories per eight-ounce serving, as part of a stronger entry to attract lapsed soda drinkers.

So? What do you think? I say any addition in the diet soda product line is great news by me. Can't wait to try them out!

Road Trip Grub

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 03:30:00 +0000

I'm typically a creature of habit. I tend to be a healthy eater in my daily life, but when stuck in a car for more than four hours, I want something more junky. And that's why I found myself buying a bag of cheddar cheese cracker Combos and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups at a Pilot gas station in the middle of nowhere in south Georgia yesterday. I know, I know...what I should do is pack some light snacks such as string cheese, low-cal yogurt or carrot sticks - especially after gorging on high-cal Thanksgiving food all weekend. But nooooo! Once we step foot in a station, I find myself grabbing Funyuns or Cheetos or Chili Cheese Fritos or Haribo gummy candy. The more salty or sweet, the better. It's awful, I know. What is it about the open road and rural gas stations that brings out my bad eating habits? Fortunately, I still prefer the diet sodas to the full-calorie version so I washed down my Combos with Diet Sunkist yesterday. Hooray for having some control. What about you? Any guilty pleasure road trip snacks that you wish you could ditch?