SONIC

I can't believe it has taken me this long to post about my love of Sonic! All I need to say is:
Route 44 Diet Coke with Lime and Vanilla!!!!! Trust me; it is awesome.

My son takes his little play car, drives around the backyard until he gets to the "window" and then orders a himself a diet coke. Hilarious and totally ridiculous at the same time.

Bold assertions

There is a phrase I learned in law school that I think of often: "Bold assertions, persuasively maintained." I guess the point was that even if you weren't right, or weren't sure, you should state your position boldly and try to persuade others to your position.

I did a cursory search on google for the phrase, but I couldn't find it. So I figured I should put it out to the world.

You're welcome! :)

Ice Cream Sandwiches

I just made some fancy ice cream sandwiches thanks to Tovolo's Ice Cream Sandwich mold. Lovely. I have absolutely no talent for this sort of thing - but you would never know it from my creation.

I'm BaaaaAaaack!

Hello Ladies!

Sorry I have been gone for so long, but I have a good excuse. Umm, ok I don't, but I have felt really busy. However, I do have several reasons why I dropped off the grid:

1. DDW baby is now 14 months old and that is keeping me really busy. He has a hard time when I use any piece of tech (cell phone, computer, etc.) that he isn't allowed to use. Also, the only time I can do ANYTHING (it seems) is during his nap time. ANYTHING includes but is not limited to: cooking, cleaning, talking with friends and family, paying bills, organizing my crap, blah blah blah. That is a lot to squeeze into nap time.

2. DDW husband is totally against me posting any pictures of DDW baby. This really takes away the fun of the whole blog thing - especially for the mommy world. The whole point of blogging is so that I can prove - with photographic evidence - just how cute my baby is. I mean really, how else will I know that I am better than all of the other mom's out their blogging. ;) Ok, I know all of you have cute kids too, but it really is a bummer to not be able to post pics. I absolutely get DDWH's thinking on this one, but it is a bummer.

3. I have started teaching a class at a junior college where I live. Any time that I had during nap time, is now totally gone.

4. I may have watched too much Fox News, MTV, TLC, and other random cable channels. oops.

So there you have it; that's where I have been.

Live Mega Doppler 7000 HD

So it’s raining in SoCal, and by raining I mean snowing, raining, raining cats and dogs and cpk pizzas. People it is raining here. And that means only one thing:

LIVE MEGA DOPPLER 7000 HD

You heard me right, LIVE MEGA DOPPLER 7000 HD. This is the “thing” the local ABC station (channel 7) uses to tell the weather. The weather man, Danny Romero, must have said LIVE MEGA DOPPLER 7000 HD about a zillion times in 2 minutes. It seemed as though he was getting paid per mention of the LIVE MEGA DOPPLER 7000 HD. This instantly reminded of the classic George Clooney vehicle, Return of the Killer Tomatoes. Wherein, halfway through the movie the producers ran out of money and had to take on sponsors, one of which happened to be HONDA MOTORSCOOTERS. Clooney and crew mentioned HONDA MOTORSCOOTERS about a zillion times as well, and I still don’t think they mentioned Honda as much as Danny Romero said LIVE MEGA DOPPLER 7000 HD.

Apparently this “thing” (I just can’t bring myself to say it again) is so powerful that it can actually predict the weather! It works just like a satellite and a Doppler radar system, but it is SO MUCH BETTER. Does NASA know about this, Stephen Hawking, AL Gore? I am pretty sure that if anything could *spot* global warming it would the LIVE MEGA DOPPLER 7000 HD.

Now, DDW’s mom doesn’t think posts like this are related to diet drinks, but they are and I can prove it. I know many of you don’t live in LA and don’t have the privilege to hear Danny Romero say, “LIVE MEGA DOPPLER 7000 HD.” So this one’s for you mom:

Step One: drink your favorite diet.
Step Two: empty the cup.
Step Three: place the cup around your mouth, but leave a small opening on one side of your mouth.
Step Four: using your lowest and loudest voice possible say. “LIVE MEGA DOPPLER 7000 HD!”

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

DDW had a busy holiday. We spent Christmas with DDW's Nana ( my mom) and New Year's back at our home. If you had any doubts as to DDW's true dedication to diet drinks, let me put your mind at rest.

On Christmas day we took DDW's Grandma to Mass, and then......

WE WENT TO 7-11!!!!!!!!!!!! That's right nothing says Merry Christmas like 7-11. I got drinks for everyone and the 7-11 even had flavor shots. Diet Coke with a shot of vanilla - MERRRRRY CHRISTMAS HO HO HO! My mom was a bit horrified by the drink trip after Mass, but once she tasted her diet she agreed that it was totally worth it. The Double Big Gulps really helped the present-opening process go smoothly.

For New Year's Eve, I enjoyed about 5 Vanilla Coke Zeroes. Coke Zero really does taste more like regular Coke; I love the diet flavor, but it is not as close to regular Coke as Coke Zero.

I hope everyone in the DDW family has a great New Year!

Even a Diet Drink Can't Make this Better

This has been a pretty hard week for DDW. DDW's (and DDW's Husband's) good friend passed away this week in a skiing accident. Jason Coles was a total original, and no one will ever replace him in our life. I am working on a post about my experiences with Coles, and my feelings about his/our loss. He left behind a great wife and a 2 month-old baby girl.... it is hard to type this. I even feel odd expressing my loss when his wife must be so devastated, but I want to memorialize my feelings for Coles.

DDW's best friend has also had a horrible week. The matter is private, so I will leave it at that.

Christmas is a time for families, and two people with two great families I love are hurting so badly this Christmas. I have had a new perspective on what it means to have a "broken heart" this year. There is only one Person who can really fix a "broken heart" and we celebrate Him this season. I pray that He can fix my friends hearts who are so much more broken than mine.

I have cried so many tears this week for so many people. Even a diet drink, the biggest diet ever imagined, with tons of fresh ice, and a juicy lime can't make this better. Even a drink can't make this better.

Limes For Everyone

I bought a bunch of limes the last time I went to the grocery store. I meant to use them for a little get together DDW was having, but no one wanted them added to their drinks (I know it seems crazy). So I was left with about 7 limes with no home. What's a girl to do?

CUT THEM UP AND PUT THEM IN YOUR DRINK!!!!!

Every single Diet Coke I have had in the past week, has been enhanced with a fresh lime wedge. Oh my gosh, Christmas came early! A fresh lime squeezed, then dumped in your drink, is amazing! I know I have posted about the Lime before, but this week has really reminded me of the Lime's importance. If you do nothing else from reading this website, at least keep some limes on hand for your drinks. So my Christmas present to my readers is this: go get you some limes!

Letter to DDW Baby: 10 Months Old

This month you turned 10 months old; you are growing up my little peanut! This month you discovered the Kleenex box; it is soooo much fun to pull the Kleenex’s out! Every time you pull a Kleenex out, another one magically appears! Your love of Kleenex might be genetic because I always have to have some within reach; we will have to wait to see if you love diet coke as much as your mommy.

You are also really getting into your stuffed animals this month. I have caught you giggling and laughing at your stuffed mule, “Black Jack” (don’t tell your Grandma) and snuggling with your stuffed elephant. You thought I wasn’t there to see you since you were sitting in your playpen, but I was. You may love your stuffed animals, but I love your pack-n-play more (a mom has to go to the potty sometimes too)!

You have discovered FRANKIE (our not-so-friendly cat*). You think she is another stuffed animal for you to play with and chase around the house. You love to grab her fur and pull as much hair out as you can. FRANKIE does not take to this very kindly and she hisses and takes a swipe at you.

However, DDW baby is very brave; he laughs in the face of a hissing, angry cat, and he just gets ready for another grab. FRANKIE tries to run away and DDW baby just follows her through the house. This chasing of the cat through the house has led to another important development:

CRAWLING!!!!

You have been crawling for more than a month, but now you are really hitting your stride – literally. You take off with so much speed that it is hard for your mommy to keep up with you. When I have to grab you before you reach your destination (that inevitably includes something you shouldn’t grab – like cords or the cable to the TV) and bring you back to your starting point, you take off again and add a little giggle in just for good measure. You know I will just take off for you again, and this is the little game we play all day long, all day long, all day long. Well, you see to really enjoy it.

You have grown very attached to your mommy. Everyone has told me that separation anxiety starts around 9 to 10 months, and I think we are beginning to see it in our little home. I try to put you in your pack-n-play for a short period of time every day, so you can learn to play by yourself for a bit. You are able to entertain yourself, but you prefer if I am within crawling distance. If I have anything in my hands (computer, diet drink, mail, magazine, cloths, dishes, FRANKIE), you want to grab it, touch it, stuff it in your mouth, and just generally have it. I have had to start eating lunch standing up at the buffet table just to eat my food in peace. Whatever I am doing, you want to be doing. But that is ok, because I love you sooooooo much.

You are the cutest, sweetest, funniest baby I have ever had, and I smove you so much! Happy 10-months old!


*This is DDW Husband’s cat that DDW inherited when we got married. Shortly after getting married, I jokingly accused DDW Husband of loving his snowshoe kitty more than me. What was DDW Husband’s response to this loaded question, you ask? He stated flatly, “Well, I have known her longer.” Hmmmm.

Jones Soda - Jones'in for a New CEO

Jones Soda CEO is out. See this article for more info.

Featured Link

This is a new feature! I will start providing links to relevant articles or blogs that I think my readers might find interesting. This is a little different from the corporate news link as these links will be individual blogs or opinion pieces that I enjoy. Hope you enjoy them too! Check This Out!

DDW Baby & Kleenex

DDW baby discovered the Kleenex box today! He was pulling Kleenex after Kleenex out of the box with a mixture of amazement and amusement. DDW baby was cracking himself up the whole time; he really takes after me on this one, because I am the queen of being able to crack myself up. I decided not to stop him from demolishing the tissues because he was having so much fun.

However, when it comes to grabbing the straw out of my diet coke, I must stop him. He still wants the straw so badly that it just kills him to see me with a drink. Now, whenever I get a drink I always get a couple of extra straws: one for him to chew on and one to replace my straw when he rips the straw I am using out of my drink.

DDW family went to Costco tonight (much better to go at night than on a Saturday), and I got a diet coke. Costco has changed the cups for their drinks (but not to a larger size). The cups are Coke branded cups, but with a white background instead of a the usual red background, and the drink features the traditional coke bottle silhouette. So, what does this have to do with diet drinks? Nothing, but a true connoisseur would want to know.

Diet Drink Baby Gear

True diet drinkers know how important it is to influence the younger generations. If you are a real fan of diet drinks or know someone who is, then I have a great idea for a Christmas present: baby gear!

DDW baby has his very own diet coke burp cloths. I found some awesome flannel fabric with the official diet coke image, and I sewed it onto a cloth diaper for a very cool burpie. I have just enough fabric to make a few more. If you would like one, email me at dietdrinkworld@gmail.com, and I will let you know the price.

A diet drink burpie is the ultimate way to show your commitment to your fav diet drink. What do you get the baby who has everything?

New Look

Do ya like the new template? I will try it out for a bit and see how it goes. Leave your comments here.

Thanksgiving

DDW is feeling a bit blue lately. I have been out of town twice this month. While both trips were really great and tons of fun, I was pretty tired after both trips. On top of all the travel, I got a bad cold that made my asthma bad for a week. It was so bad that I had to opt out of the gym for a while.

My mom is out of town on another world trip. I think this is great for her, but it is a bit weird. I know that I wouldn't see her over the holiday (so it shouldn't bother me), but it is still odd to me that she is completely unreachable for 3 weeks. My dad passed away almost 4 years ago and I am usually fine with that, but the past few weeks I have been feeling it a bit more than usual. It might just be that my son is crawling and laughing and doing all of these fun things that I know my dad would love to see and be around -- but he's not here to see it. My family isn't the same since he died, but that is fine. It is just a change. My mom and my little family are getting to know this new world and things have really started to be fun again with DDW baby here.

So I will banish the blues, get back on my diet saddle, and embrace my diet drink. Lately, I am in love with good ol' diet coke in the plastic 1 liter bottles. YUM.

My Coke Rewards

If you drink diet coke products, like we do here at DDW, you should be registered with My Coke Rewards. I think this is a fun idea, and I am sure that in the end I will get something fun with my plethora of points, but I have a few problems with the system.

1. Number of Points - a fridge pack only gets you 10 points and that is really small given -
2. Stuff is 'spensive - it seems the only thing you can get with a small amount of points are magazine subscriptions or -
3. Points for Contest Entries - this is so lame. Come on, why don't I just enter the lottery; since when does it cost money to enter a contest? In my opinion the points approximate money b/c they are used to buy goods. They need to have more options for small point holders and not just magazine subscriptions, coupons or contest entries. The whole thing is called My Coke Rewards not My Coke Contest Entries.

Given all of this, I am still entering my points. Maybe next year I can finally get something!

Costco - Part 2

I just returned from a trip to costco to stock-up on huggies. I started my shopping trip the same way I start every shopping trip - with a purchase of a fountain diet coke. My sister-in-law assured me that costco has large cups. Unfortunately for me, the costco I go to only has the small cups you get with a hot dog. When I confidently asked for the large-size cup, the hair-net wearing apron-lady looked at me like I was crazy and slurred out, "we only have on size cup here." Okay. it is official: store with world's largest products has world's smallest drinks.

SoCal Fires

Last week, my very best girl friend called me up to inform me she had been evacuated from San Diego because of the fires, and that she was on her way to my place. About an hour later, she called back and told me the roads were closed and she wouldn't be coming after all. I am happy to report that her house as well as the houses of the rest of her family are all fine.

However, when I got the call I immediately took stock of my emergency supplies (I also wanted to make sure I had enough stuff for her if she came). I ran to the fridge and realized that my fridge pack was a little low - especially if we had two diet drinkers in the house. So, I ran to the store and bought a fridge pack of Diet Coke w/Splenda and Diet Dr. Pepper Cherry Vanilla. I am proud to say that I also filled up the minivan with gas. The important lesson learned here is that no 72-hour kit is complete without some sort of diet drink. And remember, diet drinks only have a shelf-life of a few months, so rotation is key!

Oprah, SchmOprah

So, I was drinking my Diet Coke w/ Splenda while watching the Oprah Show and today's show was all about menopause or peri-menopause (to be honest, I am not really sure). It might have even been about hormones in general - where is Suzanne Sommers when you need her? Either way, what struck me was not the topic, or Oprah's appearance, but the set. She wasn't at her usual, cavernous stage. Noooo, this set was very, hmmmmm, very , what's the word I am looking for.... FEMININE.

The set was basically all creams and pale blues with white lacquered and mirrored accessories. Oh, and lots of pillows thrown in for good measure. I was a little surprised she didn't do the show in her Nick and Nora pj's. I don't know about anyone else's hormone levels, but my estrogen levels went up just watching the show.

Diet Drink World On A Diet

Diet Drink World needs to lose a few pounds. I obviously gained weight when I had the DDW baby, and I still have just a few lbs to get rid of. The weird thing is that I fit into all of my clothes - even some I didn't fit into before I was pregnant, but I still have some extra pounds. What gives - besides my waist line???

So drastic measures are needed. I am trying to do a low-carb, high-protein diet. One of the diet books out there (I won't say which one and it doesn't matter) says you should not have any drinks sweetened with NutraSweet, but you can have splenda. Well guess who just happens to have a diet drink sweetened with Splenda - DIET COKE! It sells under the ubiquitous title, "Diet Coke with Splenda."

DCw/Splenda tastes a bit more like full-sugar coke than the average diet coke. The after taste is a tad heavier in your mouth, but I still like it. Hopefully, DCw/Splenda will be an integral part of my weight-loss plan. Wish me luck!