My Ode to Coke Zero

I don't think I've kept my love of Coke Zero a secret on this blog OR in real life.

I just heart my Coke Zero.

Source: images.google.com via Margi on Pinterest

A long time ago, I told myself - and anyone else who would listen that I'd rather give up soda than switch to Diet.

Then Coke Zero came along and changed my mind. It tastes just enough like Coke to fool me into thinking that I'm still drinking the regular stuff!

I know which restaurants and gas stations have fountain Coke Zero...there's nothing like a fountain soda, huh?

Did you know that Chick-fil-A and Chili's and Ruby Tuesday's all have Coke Zero? There's even a local restaurant near Cincinnati, Ohio that carries it but no one but me orders it (it was a bit flat)!

I even know when the McDonald's along I-65 in northern Indiana start offering Coke Zero...I know, it's an addiction.

Now the Steak 'n Shake right down the road from my work is my favorite haunt for a Coke Zero at lunch or on the way home (especially if it's Half Price Happy Hour). Nothing better than a cold Coke Zero on the long drive home.

Imagine my surprise earlier this week when I rolled up to the drive-thru and was told that they do NOT carry Coke Zero. I informed him that it was on the menu and I ordered one just last week but he was adamant.  Well, not so much adamant as blatantly unconcerned with my panicked voice.

This may just curb my stops at Steak 'n Shake, just sayin.

Starbucks better NEVER stop carrying peppermint syrup...not sure I could do without my Peppermint Mochas in the morning!

Gal Pals + Food + Fun = Girls Weekend!

For the last couple of years, my gal pals over at Going Jane and Bathtub Mama and I have been getting together at least once a year (maybe twice if we can swing it) to shop, scrapbook, talk and generally laugh our butts off at a Girls Weekend (GW).

Last year we TRIED to re-live our college days with a little too much rum, lots of chocolate, and some late-night crank calls to the hubbies (theirs, not my imaginary guy - he never answered). Unfortunately we re-lived the bad, as well as the good. WARNING: Never, ever drink rum from a Listerine bottle. Trust me on this one!

This time the gals are each bringing their daughters so there will probably be a little less re-living of the glory years, but still lots of fun.

Basically, I live smack dab in the middle - a four-hour drive for each - so this year GW is rocking my place.

Right now, I'm channeling the Pointer Sisters..."I'm So Excited and I Just Can't Hide It!!" (Imagine me singing and dancing through the house. OK, maybe you shouldn't.)

I already have some of our weekend planned.

Last GW just happened to fall while New Moon was in theaters. Since the new Twilight movie - Eclipse - won't be out until NEXT weekend, we have to fill our time with other activities.

I do have some movie theater gift certificates that I got a rockin' deal on recently at CVS and Toy Story 3 is in theaters so maybe we'll trade Edward and Jacob for Woody and Buzz.

Or there's always Redbox (I heart Redbox, as they say over at GOODEness Gracious) where we could go with Remember Me and still get our Edward fix!

In non-movie news...I was totally excited to learn that one of Bathtub Mama's and my favorite haunts when she's up from her southern home is having a monster of a sale this weekend! Half Price Books is having a huge clearance sale at the state fairgrounds on Saturday and Sunday and we are SOOO there. Everything is under $3. Awesome.

Add in some swimming time and all that left is figuring out how we'll feed ourselves!

I've been drooling over a multitude of recipes in the blogsphere and have decided to attempt at least one or two this weekend.

First, I've stocked up on biscuits so we can gorge ourselves on Going Jane's strawberry freezer jam. I'm also going to attempt a variation of The Pioneer Woman's cinnamon toast with English Muffins - an ode to my days out East. I also have a wide variety of cereals that I have gotten for a steal so we are good to go for breakfast.

I'm taking advantage of the homegrown ground beef (hamburger) in the freezer and doing tacos or spaghetti or maybe loaded nachos...dishes the wee ones will enjoy as much as we will.

For dessert, I've been craving these Grasshopper Cupcakes over at Sumo's Sweet Stuff since I joined the Cupcake Carnival earlier this week!

Of course, it wouldn't be a weekend visit to my house without going out at least once (usually more than that). Bathtub Mama and I always hit Ruby Tuesday's for their delish salad bar and I have a coupon so here we come.

I'm sure some Malibu will find its way into our Diet Cokes & Coke Zeros so maybe, just maybe, there will be some dancing as well..."to the windows, to the walls."