The Hour I First Believed

FYI: Voting has opened in the Mommy Blog of the Year Contest. Vote for Veggie Mom and Aunt Julie...Pretty please? Thanks!

Now that my beach vacation is over, it's time to let you know what my choices were for beach reads. Many of you made suggestions, when I ran the great Everyone's a Winner POPrs Contest, everything from the Bible to teen vampire books.

These were my picks...


Lots of you suggested My Sister's Keeper, by Jodi Picoult. It will be released as a film, starring Cameron Diaz, soon, if it hasn't already been released. Loved it, and didn't see the ending coming. Wow! No matter how good the movie will be, READ THE BOOK FIRST.

I also read Three Dog Life, by Abigail Thomas. It is the story of how a woman adjusts and carries on after her husband was struck by a car, and is left with traumatic brain damage. It's relatively short and easy to read, and not as depressing as you might imagine. Rates as OK; it's not bad and not great either. Which leads us to...

My favorite is The Hour I First Believed, by Wally Lamb. It is a fictionalized story about the aftermath of Columbine for one family. It mixes fact and fiction beautifully, and also spans the time of the Civil War to the present. Sounds weird? Well, I loved it. It's long-725 pages-and I confess, I have about 50 pages more to go. Walking on the beach took precedence over reading.

This was not a suggested title, but I had read another book by Lamb and remembered liking that, so I gave it a shot. Loved it.

If you take my advice and read The Hour I First Believed, also try I Know This Much Is True. It has been reviewed as "the saga of the century. Best, most wonderful, most dramatic, most powerful..." It's the other novel by the same author I referred to above. Gee, maybe I need to read that one again!

And the Hits Just Keep on Comin'...

Thanks so much again to Tiffany and Heather over at The Secret is in the Sauce...I'll be getting back to all of you SITStas who left such lovely messages of support at My Place Yesterday. Hope you found something you loved over here, and that you all will be back again soon!

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If ya wanna know more about the Goats on the Roof from yesterday's post, click here. Al Johnson, who calls himself "chief cook and bottle-washer," says there are 5-7 goats on the roof of his restaurant in Sister Bay, Wisconsin, from May through October. Al has names for the goats and everything! He says he put his first goat, Oscar, on the roof in 1973.

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Thanks also to Amanda, who runs a blog that features Giveaways and lots of other Really Cool Stuff. She's hosting a Pop'rs Giveaway over at her place. Yes, Dear Friends, another Great Opportunity to win some Pop'rs, that Good-For-You and Fun seasoning that really encourages everyone to Eat Their Veggies! Amanda's Pop'rs Giveaway ends October 15, so get crackin!

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Also, please check out Melissa B's interview with Hot Tub Lizzy over at The Scholastic Scribe. This is the third Tuesday that Melissa B. has hosted Lizzy, in a Presidential Forum of sorts. Melissa and Lizzy intend to continue this "dialogue," if that's what you wanna call it, until Election Day. Many of you already know that Lizzy, a Blogger Par Excellence, is running for Prez as a member of The Plaid Party. Funny Stuff!

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Finally, can't get away without leaving you with another of Aunt Julie's Priceless Photos! As you may recall, Julie Eliz shot that Perfectly HighLARious Pic of Big Bear and the Alpaca for Candid Carrie's Friday Foto Fiesta Finish. Well, we've got yet another sweet Aunt Julie shot for ya today. This is Mark, one of the owners of the 10 Alpacas out in Southwestern Wisconsin, gettin' a little Critter Love down on the farm. Mark and his wife, Jan, are teachers who raise Alpacas on the side. Alpaca wool, apparently, makes really Soft and Comfy Sweaters. Gotta bundle up--the Wisconsin Winter is almost upon us!

JAWS, Part 2

When we left you last, Dear Readers, we were telling you a Big Shark Story. Let's catch back up with Aunt Julie, and see how the story ended.

"When Shark Boy’s big shark was pulled in, he was lying on the deck of the pontoon. Joey instructed him to keep his foot on this beast, which was fighting like all get out to get back into the ocean, 'Don’t let him wiggle back into the water!' Joey shouted. He then reached up into an overhead compartment while we were all focused on the shark."

Those of you who love real-life drama should read on. Those who are of sensitive dispositions should close your eyes for this next part. "All of a sudden, we heard a 'pop!' and looked up to see Joey holding a handgun," Aunt Julie says, picking up the narrative. "He’d shot the shark! Well, the girls were all screaming, and there was crazy pandemonium; way too much drama for a pontoon boat! Joey apologized, after a fashion, saying had to do it to kill the shark, because we wanted to keep him. Yikes!"

That night, Shark Boy and his girlfriend took some of the meat to a local restaurant, and the chef prepared it for them for dinner. "The Shark Adventure was easily the best single day of the trip," Julie enthuses. "We took the rest of the shark home frozen, and put in our basement freezer. The power went our briefly, and the fridge stopped. Days later, we were met with the pungent odor of melting shark. I am still trying to get the stink out of the fridge!"

Before The Pop'r Family left for the beach on Friday, Auntie J. scattered containers of charcoal throughout the fridge, in yet another attempt to freshen it up. Forty pounds of charcoal might do the trick!

Just a friendly reminder, Sports Fans. Today's the last day of the Great Pop'rs Giveaway! Make sure you get your entries in by 8 pm. EST today. Extra entries for comments on the past week's posts--be there or be square!

"I Think We're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat"

Remember that famous quote from "Jaws"? Well, Aunt Julie and Uncle Lynn were saying just that last year on vacation in Florida, when Shark Boy caught this monster.

"Last summer, we postponed our spring break until August, and still went to Florida," Aunt Julie explains. "Three of the boys brought along their girlfriends. Well, six 20-somethings aren’t happy walking the beach and shell hunting (there are none that time of year, anyway!), so we needed a plan. Not to mention that it was extremely HOT."

Aunt Julie got one of those ideas that come along with the cartoon lightbulb that goes on above your head. "I had taken a 'shuttle' across a narrow stretch of water to an island for shelling on previous trips. The shuttle was run by a college kid and his pontoon boat. He charged $10 and I am so cheap, I told Joey, the kid, that I could swim it and save the $10! He said he wouldn’t do that, because of the sharks. Yeah, right. Anyway, he also charged to take tourists fishing, so I set it up for early the next morning."

The Pop'r Boys were a little disappointed when they saw the pontoon boat the next day. "They were expecting a fancy fishing boat, but it was Joey and the pontoon that met us," Julie says. "One of my boys whispered, 'Mom, Joey isn't a college boy! I’m a college boy!” So I asked him how old he was. Turns out he was my age! I guess the folks down Florida way are better preserved than we are up north!"

What about the sharks, you ask? I'm getting to it! "Anyway, we followed a shrimp boat for a few minutes and saw lots of dolphins. About 10 minutes out, well within sight of the shore, we stopped and Joey went to work baiting the hooks. We asked what we were fishing for and he said 'sharks'. Great. We were out about 2 1/2 hours and it was constant action. Shark Boy caught this 6-foot, black-tipped reef shark, and everyone else caught at least two smaller sharks."

Even the GFs got caught up in the action. "There was a seat bolted to the front of the pontoon, where there was no railing, where you sat to reel," according to Aunt Julie. "Joey held onto the back of the girls' T-shirts, so they wouldn’t fall in. At one point, a hammerhead circled the boat, close enough to the surface that we could see him very well. Joey thought he must have been 15 feet long! He tried to catch him, but no luck. We would have had to drive to boat back in, dragging that huge shark!"

Even though the sharks were pretty scary, Julie's glad she went on the expedition. "It was exciting enough just to see such an amazing creature!" she says.

We'll have more of this Shark Story tomorrow. In the meantime, have you entered the Great Pop'rs Giveaway? You have until Monday at 8 p.m. EST; it's really easy--just click here--no gear or pontoon boat required!

You Asked? We Answered!

Unless you ask Veggie Mom and The Pop'r Family! You asked, we answered! Day 2 beachside with Aunt Julie and Uncle Lynn, who are answering Your Bloggy Questions today. Now, just 'cause we're on VAY-kay, doesn't mean that we're forgetting about our Great Pop'rs Giveaway, which ends on Monday. Please join the fun and enter today!

Ticopi, over at Nonchalantly Treading, wants to know about Pop'rs and dorm food. "How could college students use Pop'rs in college food to make it healthier/more appetizing? I do have a kitchen, but school is rapidly approaching and the meal plans are upon us!" Of course, Ticopi! As Aunt Julie likes to say, no kid’s too old for Popr’s!! They can jazz up any dorm-type food, from spaghetti to mac 'n' cheese to Jell-O—and don’t forget the frozen yogurt!

KKJD1, who has Farmgirl'inGa. Style, is concerned about diabetics eating Pop'rs. "My comment or question for the day is can a diabetic use the Pop'rs?" Uncle Lynn says that these fun and good-for-you seasonings have a sugar content of about 15 percent. He also says that since you'd be shaking Pop'rs on food, that would dilute the sugar content even more. And thanks for the positive thoughts as we commence our Beachy Week, KKJD1!

Lula, our gal over in Lulaville, says she's interested in Pop'rs, but has "Twilight" on the brain this week. "Here's my question: Have you started reading "Twilight" yet? It is THE summer beach read. You knew I was gonna ask..." Thanks, Lula! All I can say is, we're gettin' to it!

Betty, who's in charge of Betty's Blog, asked three Pop'rs -related questions. You know, those teachers try to be very precise! "Are they diff erent colors? Do they pop when you eat them? Also, are they used on all types of food?" Aunt Julie says that's why Pop'rs are so fun, Betty!Different colors, different flavors—these carbonated crystals pop on contact with moisture, so, of course, Pop'rs pop in your mouth, not (necessarily) in your hand! Yes, Betty, we use Pop’rs on veggies, ice cream, beverages—just use your imagination and let us know what new uses you can come up with!

Gina, who presides over at The Clan McLeod, has flavor-specific questions: "How about some Cheddar Popr's?! And Caramel!" Since Pop'rs are made in Wisconsin, Gina, cheddar sounds like it’s in our future. The company has just developed an intense lemon flavor that Aunt Julie cooked up, so Caramel wouldn’t be out of the question. We’d have to take that one to the lab!

Corey, who's Living and Loving Every Minute of It, says she's sometimes confused about the Pop'r Family Tree. "Okay...so have you explained who the author of this blog is? I sometimes feel lost with all the characters in this Popr's story. Point me in the right direction to figure who is who is who out. :)"

Corey, here’s the deal. Veggie Mom (that’s me!) writes the blog. My BIL, Uncle Lynn, makes the Pop’rs. Uncle Lynn is married to Aunt Julie, The Pop’r Queen. Their kids are Big Bear, Shark Boy, College Boy and Soccer Boy, and their furry children, Trouble Elizabeth and Moses, The World’s Best Dogs. Veggie Mom is married to Aunt Julie’s brother, Uncle Mark (we call him Moker). Our kids are College Girl and The Wild One. Does that help at all, Corey?

Mary Beth I., who's a Blogmaniac, is curious about Pop'rs availability. "Are Pop'rs available in the grocery stores?" she queries. "If not yet, any plans?" We’d love to get 'em there, Mary Beth. That’s the ultimate goal. Right now, though, the only place you can buy Pop’rs is from Uncle Lynn. To order yours, click here!

We're 50 Posts Young-A Bloggy Celebration is in Order!

When we started Eat Your Veggies! way back in June, we had no idea how many Bloggy Friends we'd make, what wonderful Bloggy Stories we'd get to share, or even How Darn Fun the Bloggy Community could be! But now, 50 posts later, we're still going strong, with great hopes for our future in cyberspace

As we commemorate this milestone, Aunt Julie and Uncle Lynn, Pop'rs Royalty that they are, would love for you all to help celebrate with us! So, please, leave us a post today, asking us any questions you'd like to ask. Remember that my family and The Pop'r Family are beach-bound, so we'll be on the road most of today; you have all day long to conjur cute questions to ask us!

And even you, Dear Readers, will get some Frequent Flyer Mileage out of this Bloggy Celebration! Everyone who comments today gets five more entries in our Great Pop'rs Giveaway! Ask a question, learn a little more about us and about Pop'rs and get extra entries in the contest. What could be sweeter?

We'll see you when we reach the beach. Wherever you're going today, we wish you safe traveling. And have fun, too, earning extra entries in the Great Pop'rs Giveaway!

This Pizza's Actually GOOD for You!

I've been trying so hard to get into good "beach shape" for our trip this weekend with The Pop'r Family down to North Carolina's Outer Banks. We've been going to the OBX in the summertime since College Girl was a toddler. Aunt Julie, Uncle Lynn and The Boys started sharing a beach house with our gang about 15 years ago.

Remember that even though we're going on VAY-kay, we'll never be far away from our Bloggy Friends! And don't forget to enter our newest Great Pop'rs Giveaway! The contest runs through Monday, August 11th, at 8 p.m. EST--be there, or be square!

While checking my e-mail the last couple of days, I found out that I'm a winner, too! Amanda, over at mommymandy.com, notified me that I won her Baskin-Robbins Coupon Giveaway, which is pretty darn cool! And IHChicky, over at Everything Up Close, just let me know I won The Ultimate Walking Workout DVD, in her First Ever Giveaway, which makes me feel pretty special! Don'tcha think those two prizes were meant for me? You know, they really go hand-in-hand!

Aunt Julie's sad that her Favorite All-Time Quarterback, Brett Favre, has been traded to the New York Jets. What's Lambeau Field gonna be like without Brett? But she collected herself long enough to send me this fresh and delish twist on an old standby. It all sort of works out with my workout routine, too. Thanks so much, Aunt Julie, and see ya soon at our Beach Rendezvous!

Aunt Julie's Fruit Pizza
1 roll Pillsbury sugar cookie dough
1 8 0z. package of cream cheese
12 oz container of Cool Whip (thawed)
Any fruit you like--pineapple, strawberries, grapes, blueberries, kiwi, bananas, etc.

Line a large pizza pan with the dough, pressed to form crust.
Bake the crust @350 degrees for 10-15 min. Cool. Mix Cool Whip and cream cheese, and spread on the crust. Arrange the fruit on top.

Glaze:
½ cup orange juice
¼ cup water
1 Tbsp. cornstarch
2 Tbsp lemon juice
½ cup sugar
Mix the glaze ingredients together, and heat this mixture on top of the stove until it thickens. Cool and pour over fruit. Keep in fridge.

Today's Guest Blogger: "Mr. Pops;" aka, Uncle Lynn!

Uncle Lynn, The Pop’r King, is guesting today on Eat Your Veggies! He wants all Our Bloggy Friends to know how his little ol’ family-run company got started. So here’s Chapter One: What to Do When a Good Idea Pops into Your Head! And Don't Forget to enter this week's Great Pop'rs Giveaway!

Hi there, Blogosphere! I’m Mr. Pops; aka, Uncle Lynn, The Pop’r King. Veggie Mom has asked me to write a bit of The Pop’rs Story, and while it is hard for me to write about me, it may be an interesting story to tell. What I plan to do is publish The Pop’rs Story every once in a while, and if Veggie Mom tells me it’s interesting, I’ll keep on going. Soooooooooo...

It all started at the end of a business trip in 1992. Our family then lived in a very small town in the Southwestern part of Wisconsin. On my way home, I stopped to fill up my car (probably for about $1.25 per gallon!) and noticed a sign advertising Pop Rocks. Remember those? Since I had not yet bought the “Look what I brought home for you!” present for the three kids, this jumped out at me and I was sure the three boys (this was before Soccer Boy came along) would think they were cool–problem solved.

I bought each boy a pack or two, and headed home. I got about a mile away, and that “light bulb” you sometimes hear about went off in my head, and I wondered out loud whether Pop Rocks could be put into Popsicles. I started to giggle a bit thinking about it, and then decided I would go back to the gas station, where I bought every Pop Rock packet they had! Over the next weeks I played around with the idea, and eventually got something that actually worked. This was a little tricky, since water sets Pop Rocks to popping, but when I got it going it made a very interesting experience for my kids and their friends.

I guess I have always been a bit entrepreneurial (I once tried to make a Trivial Pursuit-like game using a school's curriculum as a fun study aid, and pretty much lost all the little bit of money we had at that time trying to figure out how to market these games, but that is another Very. LONG. Story!), so once I had a sample Pop Rocks/Popsicle product that worked, I started doing some research.

If you remember, you couldn’t just Google an answer back then, so it was a bit of a test of my resolve to find a contact at the Pop Rocks company, but eventually I did. Turns out back then Pop Rocks were marketed in North America by a company named Carbonated Candy Ventures, which was managed by a fellow named Raul. I was able to convince Raul to let me come to Pennsylvania with my sample and let him try my idea.

When we met, he was blown away by the POPPING POPSICLE I let him try, and he immediately told me I would have to meet the owners of the company so they could check it out, and see what they might want to do. Thinking I could do this all in the same trip, I was ready to go. But, the owners I needed to meet were located in Barcelona, Spain. Hmmmmmmmmm. It turned out to be quite a long business trip!

Guess this is a good place to end this chapter–but you can see the fledgling idea that formed the basis of the Whole Pop’rs Story. More to come later!

PS: Isn’t Veggie Mom doing a great job over here at Eat Your Veggies? Make sure you enter her latest Great Pop’rs Giveaway, so that you can try some of these fun and good-for-you seasonings yourself!

Thanks for Sharing!

“Mr. Pops;" aka, Uncle Lynn

Brett's a Winner, and You. Can. Be. Too!

Looks like the Green Bay Packers, the best team in football, BTW, have come to their senses and welcomed NFL MVP Brett Favre back to the fold. To say that Aunt Julie and Uncle Lynn are ecstatic would be putting it mildly. These die-hard Packer Fans have been on the waiting list for season tickets since they got married. In all those years, they've moved up 22,000 spots, give or take a seat or two. And they still have about 2,500 places to go!

As The Pop'r Family grew, Auntie J. and Uncle Lynn added their boys to the season ticket waiting list. But those guys have a pretty long way to go. The youngest, Soccer Boy, is now 30,866th on the waiting list. At this rate, Soccer Boy will be pretty darn old and Brett will be retired for real before the lad gets a seat at Lambeau Field!

But let's not let the real news get lost in all of this NFL chatter! Uncle Lynn has authorized me to run another Great Pop'rs Giveaway. And it couldn't be easier to win!

All you have to do is leave a comment on this post. You probably already know that my family will be joining The Pop'r Family for a little VAY-cay at the beach later this week. Well, we like to read. A lot. Please leave me a comment recommending a good beach read. That's all ya gotta do, and You. Too. Can. Be. A. Winner!

The Great Pop'rs Giveaway runs from today through Monday, August 11, at 8 p.m. EST. We will pick Two Grand Prize Winners by random drawing at that time. What do you win? Why, and entire box of Pop'rs--all eight flavors!--that delightful seasoning that's not only fun, but good for you, too!

Of course, we're adding a few extra incentives for you, too! For each comment you leave on one of my posts this week, I'll give you an extra entry in the contest. How sweet is that?

Now, before I get away today, I'd like to Share the Comment Love with five of my Bloggy Friends out there. These ladies are doing some really great stuff on their blogs, and you should take a look!

• Megan, who presides at Reed's Home for Our Savior, recently blogged about urgent needs for our troops in the Middle East. Please drop by Megan's blog to see how you can help!
• Does Anybody Hear Me? over at Don't Get Married...You Won't Like It! picked up the Saturday Six *Meme*. Check out her answers--they're a hoot-and-a-half!
• Melissa B., who scribbles away at The Scholastic Scribe, is running her first contest ever! She just returned from Asbury Park, NJ, and is giving away AP souvenirs from the home of Springsteen, Bon Jovi, and The Jersey Sound. Melissa B.'s got three prizes, so visit her today!
• Shannon, the boss at Eight Crazy, is doing a Countdown to The Olympics, with a giveaway on Friday!
• And last but not least, Angela, who resides at Memoirs of a Chaotic Mommy, has figured out a way for all of you Lovely Bloggers out there to Yearbook Yourself, with five different and very "attractive" hairstyles. It's so funny--you should try it!

Well, that's all, folks! Hope to hear from you soon, and don't forget to enter The Great Pop'rs Giveaway!

They're Hot for Pop'rs! And YOU Can Be, Too!

Cyber-chatter continued over the weekend for Pop'rs, Uncle Lynn's cool new seasoning that's fun and good for you, too! The Pop'r King wants to Share the Pop'rs Love, and also let you know about a cool new Giveaway! And BTW, that's Soccer Boy, doin' a little Double-Dippin'. He's sprinkling Chocolate Pop'rs in his Chocolate Milk. Yummy in the tummy!

Veronica, who patrols the aisles at Supermarket Serenade, started us off on Friday with a Music and Pop'rs combo. She posted a pretty cool Music *Meme*, and paired it with a review of that fabulous seasoning that literally makes your food sing! I'm talking about Pop'rs, of course, available only from Uncle Lynn in eight awesome flavors!

And in what kind of Pop'rs Pleasure did Veronica and Family partake? Cinammon Pop'rs on pancakes and Colorburst Pop'rs on mango slices--sounds pretty delish and exotic to moi! Then Veronica. Just. Went. Crazy!

"Taco Pop'rs to popcorn, Butter Pop'rs to broccoli and green beans, Buffalo Pop'rs to our turkey sandwiches," Veronica blogs enthusiastically. "It says on the bottles that they have vitamins added, which is an extra bonus, but we (especially the kids) just liked the crackling! I don't think they are available in the supermarket yet, but I'm sure Veggie Mom will let us know when they are. Thanks for the fun treat, Veggie Mom!"

No, Pop'rs aren't in supermarket aisles. They're easy to get, though. Just click here to order your Pop'rs from Uncle Lynn, at new Recession-Proof Prices!

Saturday dawned bright and beautiful, with more Great Pop'rs News to report! Deanna, who's got our attention over in Deanna's Corner, had some Saturday Savings news on homemade popcorn topped, of course, by Pop'rs! Deanna's out to save her Bloggy Readers a buck or two, and increase their taste sensation at the same time. I'd say you're successful, D! "I highly recommend Butter and Taco" -flavored Pop'rs on the homemade popcorn, Deanna suggests.

Already Pumped Up on all this Pop'rs Love, imagine Uncle Lynn's glee when he took a gander at what Angie, The Ringmaster at SevEn cLoWn CirCuS had to say about his product. She enlisted her five kiddos as "Official Product Testers." What were they reviewing? Why, Pop'rs, of course! Let's let Angie explain:

"My kids really eat to live," Angie says. "Unless the article to be consumed has an enormous sugar content, they usually don't get very excited about it. Don't get me wrong. They are good eaters, but if they are not hungry, they won't eat, just to eat. Even if it is delicious."

Sounds like a Mom who needs to offer the Wee Ones a tad more encouragement. "So, I really wanted to try out Pop'rs. They are a new product that can only be purchased online and have gotten the nod from the likes of Rachael Ray. They sounded intriguing to me, so I felt especially lucky to win every flavor in a giveaway."

OK, Angie, but what are they like? "Basically, Pop'rs are like Pop Rocks in different flavors, but with vitamins. So, not only do they add flavor, they provide music in your mouth. Literally. They pop in your mouth (and in the sink if there are any remaining on the plate) and the effect is really quite enjoyable." I like the image of the popping plates in the sink, don't you?

Angie and Family went wild with the Pop'rs, and got wonderful results! "So far, we've added the berry flavor to a peanut butter sandwich, and the butter flavor to a grilled (with no butter on purpose) cheese and turkey sandwich, and I have big plans for dinner tonight," she says. "Taco and butter flavor on corn on the cob, and cinnamon on homemade applesauces for dessert. My kids won't eat cottage cheese, but I'm going to try a raspberry on that, too."

Our Bloggy Friend Angie was pretty pleased with the Pop'rs. "It seems that the possibilities are limitless," she says, "and I know we'll enjoy a little magic in our eating in the future. And, just in case anyone is wondering if I went commercial on you, let me reassure you that I rarely, rarely do product reviews. This is my way of saying thanks to Pop'rs and Veggie Mom at Eat Your Veggies for my free gift."

Wow! Uncle Lynn was pretty pleased himself, after all that good news about Pop'rs! So pleased, in fact, that he's running another Great Pop'rs Giveaway. It kicks off tomorrow, so make sure you're there, too, to Share the Pop'rs Love!

About True Beacons, Great Giveaways and Good Beach Reads

"Books are lighthouses erected in the great sea of time"

Edwin P. Whipple, 19th-Century American Essayist and Critic

Aunt Julie, The Pop'r Queen, took this photo of the Neenah, Wisconsin Lighthouse from the deck of Uncle Lynn's boat out on the lake. The lighthouse, which was built in 1945, "is really the symbol of our cute little picturesque Wisconsin town, " Julie says.

The Neenah Lighthouse was erected on the shore of Lake Winnebago, where the Menominee Indian Tribesmen met for pow-wows at the mouth of the Fox River 150 years ago. It is one of 36 lighthouses in the State of Wisconsin.

I was thinking about the Neenah Lighthouse and the role of books as "beacons" in our culture this morning after reading dozens and dozens of posts about Breaking Dawn, the fourth book in the "Twilight" series by Stephenie Meyer. All the Pop'r Cousins (that would be Julie's family and mine) are going on a Beach Vacation later this week, so we'll have time for lots 'n' lots o' reading. We're also going to run a Best Beach Reads Pop'rs Giveaway Contest, so stay tuned!

And speaking of photos, please cruise on over to see my Bloggy Friend Melissa B.'s post this a.m. She runs a Silly Sunday Sweepstakes every week, asking readers to write funny captions for even funnier photos. So, check it out!

Big Bird Hopes You Have Big Plans: Great Pop'rs Giveaway, Rehearsal Dinner, Contact Oprah!

Faithful Readers: We're featuring another of Aunt Julie's (The Pop'r Queen) gorgeous creations this morning. Meet Big Bird, a daylily par excellence!

This particular species of Hemerocallis is a hybrid introduced to those of us with green thumbs, like Aunt Julie, in 1978. Big Bird, whose plants grow up to three feet tall and should be located in full sun or partial shade two to three feet apart because of his girth, is one of those hardy souls that's darned difficult to kill.

"Just plant it, water it, and pick the dead blooms off ever day," Aunt Julie advises. "Daylilys are the easiest to cultivate!" This particular bloom, Dear Readers, measures seven inches across! And, but of course, the shot above is yet another of Aunt Julie's artistic endeavors. Don't you agree?

Aunt Julie also wishes to remind you all how easy-peasey it is to enter our Great Pop'rs Giveaway, which ends today! We're gonna continue to ask you to Contact Oprah on behalf of Uncle Lynn and Pop'rs. And, remember--Aunt Julie's busy planning a Rehearsal Dinner, so please join in the fun! We'll announce the winner of our Giveaway right here in tomorrow's post, so stay tuned!

More recipes, gardening tips, and Pop'rs Fun coming soon! After all, it's summer, and what could be better than that?

Pop'rs Quiz: The Jonas Brothers, Oprah, The Great Pop'rs Giveaway, and More!

1. Who are Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas?

2. Why would Pop’rs Inventor Uncle Lynn make a Great Guest on Oprah?

3. How can you help Uncle Lynn score big points with Oprah?

4. How can you help Aunt Julie plan for an Extra Special Rehearsal Dinner for Big Bear and Little Red?

5. How can you become a Big Winner in the Great Pop’rs Giveaway?

Now, because Uncle Lynn, The Pop’r King, believes in keeping his readers informed, everyone gets an “A” on this Pop’rs Quiz. Here, Faithful Readers, are your answers:

1. The Jonas Brothers, who performed on Oprah Thursday, are The Talk Show Diva’s Most Requested Guests of the Year. The reason they hold such a high honor? Because their fans absolutely deluged Oprah with online requests!

2. Uncle Lynn’s Pop’rs are good for you, add fun to family meals, and encourage you to Eat Your Veggies! An Oprah show featuring Uncle Lynn, Pop'rs, and kids like yours sampling this surprising seasoning on different kinds of food would be a hoot! In his e-mail to Oprah yesterday, Uncle Lynn even suggested adding a discussion with Dr. Oz about healthy eating into the mix!

3. Please post a note to Oprah on her Web site, encouraging her to build a show around Pop’rs and their Fun and Family Factor! Tell her about your children's eating habits and your concerns that they eat more healthy foods. Heck, send her a photo of your little darlin's, so she can include them on a Pop'rs Show! Click here to find out how you can help, plus get Extra Entries in the Great Pop’rs Giveaway!

4. Aunt Julie, The Pop'r Queen, has just two months to get ready for a 60-person rehearsal dinner at her house. Click here to offer suggestions, and enter the Great Pop’rs Giveaway at the same time!

5. The Great Pop’rs Giveaway runs through Monday, July 28. Click here to find out more, and remember: If you don’t enter, you can’t win!

On the Red Carpet? Well, Not Yet, But...

So many of you have been Blogging Up a Storm about Pop'rs that I just wanted to post a Big Group Hug this morning--and send a hearty "Thanks, guys!"

The question remains, Dear Readers: How do we get the word out about Pop'rs? Those of you who are avid fans of Eat Your Veggies! already know that this delightful seasoning is so fun and so good for you that it should be in splashed across the covers of all the great foodie mags and covered by everyone from Paula to Giada on The Food Network. So, how do we get started?

Well, we had what advertisers call a "bump" in May, when Every Day with Rachael Ray gave us some pretty good pub. Rachael said Pop'rs "...add pop to anything! We like the cinnamon on buttered toast. FIZZ FACTOR: full fireworks ..."

But you know, Faithful Readers, we're a small, family-owned company. Teeny-tiny. One mention from Rachael is wonderful, but we've got to--how do you say it?--keep the Big Mo (as in momentum) going. And that's where you come in!

The Blogosphere is abuzz about Pop'rs, and Uncle Lynn, The Pop'r King, couldn't be more pleased! Just yesterday, we received the biggest blog boosts yet.

Scary Mommy wants to know why we're not on "Unwrapped," of Food Network fame. Aunt Julie, The Pop'r Queen, says we'd love to be showcased, except that our Pop'rs process is a secret, and we don't want it getting out. Yup, we make 'em, market 'em, the whole shebang! And we're the only company that does! Scary, please help us find another way to Share the Pop'rs!

Lula, over in Lulaville (natch!), says "Y'all totally need to be on Food Network. And I totally need to be ordering some Pop'rs." Thanks for the endorsement, Lula! The only way you can get your Pop'rs fix, BTW, is to order online. And as for The Food Network: Do you know how to get us there?

Adiel, who says It's Because I Think Too Much, has given quite a bit of thought recently to Sharing the Comment Love. Thanks, Adiel--hope you think on it some more and spread the word!

Lisa, our insomniac friend from CA (did you notice that she's often first on the SITS Roll Call?), is all about The Pop'rs Love. Please help us Blog About Pop'rs, Lisa--you'll be glad you did!

Greedy Grace, our Bloggy Buddy from Just Lisa, No Filler, has questions galore about Big Bear, The Pilot, and the process for making Pop'rs. Yes, it's a secret, patented by Uncle Lynn. We're the only folks in the country who make Pop'rs. And you know where you can get 'em--online, but of course. And now Uncle Lynn is offering Pop'rs at new, reduced, recession-proof prices--so check 'em out!

Brandy, who is Not Your Average Soccer Mom, just received a fresh batch o' Pop'rs and plans to post about their yummy-ness soon. Thanks so much for the support, Brandy!

So, I guess what I'm asking you to do, Dear Readers, is Spread. The. Word. Pretty Please? Write Rachael Ray! Call the Food Network! E-mail Emeril! But above all, please keep on blogging about our fanTAbulous product! And remember--Our Great Pop'rs Giveaway is now underway, and every time you comment, you receive another entry! Aunt Julie needs tons of help planning the rehearsal dinner for Big Bear and Little Red, so don't delay--enter today!

Big Bear's the Pop'rs Pilot in Charge!

Thanks so much to all of you who have commented so far with suggestions for Big Bear and Little Red's Rehearsal Dinner. Aunt Julie, The Pop'r Queen, really appreciates the help! Remember, every comment this week earns you one additional entry in the Great Pop'rs Giveaway--for info on the Giveaway and ways to earn extra entries, click here.

Which brings me to our little tidbit for today. All of you winners out there are probably wondering how we concoct the delightful, fun and nutritious seasonings known as Pop'rs. Well, I'm here to testify!

The photo above shows Big Bear (on the right) with Pop'rs Operations Guru Jim, manning a contraption known as The Pilot. Attractive hairnets, fellas! See the steam coming off The Pilot? That's part of how Pop'rs begin life up at Uncle Lynn's plant.

Aunt Julie explains how all this works: "The Pilot machine makes a seven- to ten-pound batch and is used for experimentation. The first time we made sugar-free popping candy, we did it on The Pilot. It is used when we don’t want to experiment on a big batch of 20 to 30 pounds, because of the cost of ingredients. All of our products are started on The Pilot."

Because of the experimental nature involved in using The Pilot, Julie says, "We made once made Jalapeño Pops, a candy with jalapeño flavor, instead of, say, cherry. Not good! We also tried and flopped with a bacon-flavored Pop'rs." You see, Faithful Readers, it's a good thing that The Pop'r Family experiments with The Pilot before the product reaches the customer!

"Another little aside in the process," Aunt Julie continues, "is that we fill tubes, they cool, and are 'dropped' into a barrel, under pressure. The Pop'rs break into bits ranging from dust to golf ball-sized pieces. The bigger ones are a hoot to eat. It took guts the first time we tried this procedure; it will almost lift you off the ground!"

Auntie J. explains that since they are carbonated crystals, Pop'rs are made under a lot of pressure, which is the fun part of using them to season your veggies. "But we can't sell the big rock pieces," Julie says, "because they are so sensitive to the touch. I had some packed in a plastic jar with a screw top, and it got bumped. It blew up the jar, but the top was still screwed on!" By the time the product reaches the customer, though, it's reduced to tiny little pieces, so no worries there!

BTW, the word about our fun little ol' product is spreading! Megan, over at Reed's Home for Our Savior, says she's an "official" Pop'rs user now. "We enjoyed listening to our chimichangas 'talk' as I sprinkled on the Pop'rs," Megan writes in a recent post. "Even my hubby, who generally has a distaste for kiddie stuff, asked for some on his." Thanks for the endorsement, Megan!

And Smoochiefrog, she of In the Mind of a Thirty Something Mom, is celebrating her First Blogaversary this week by giving away a complete set of Pop'rs--all eight flavors! Her family has been trying Pop'rs on foods as varied as veggies, yogurt, ice cream and cinnamon rolls. She says she's gonna sprinkle some Color Burst Pop'rs on watermelon soon. "They really are fun to eat, and they give those extra vitamins that you totally can't tell are there. Fun and good for ya! Who knew?" Thanks, Smooch, and enjoy the celebration!

You, too, Dear Readers, can get in on the action. Big Bear's manning the Pilot, and is ready to put your Pop'rs into production! Please enter our Great Pop'rs Giveaway and join the fun!

Help Julie Elizabeth Plan a Rehearsal Dinner-And Win Some Pop'rs in the Bargain!

Those of you who visited yesterday know that Aunt Julie, The Pop'r Queen, has Big Bear and Little Red's Rehearsal Dinner to plan! She wants you, Dear Readers, to be part of the fun, and will give away a Free Box of Pop'rs (all eight flavors!) for your trouble.

Here's the deal: Aunt Julie is desperate for ideas, and she knows you've got 'em! If you saw her comment yesterday, she's even considering putting Pop'rs in the chocolate fountain at the Rehearsal Dinner! So here's what you gotta do to win.

Please send Aunt Julie a Rehearsal Dinner Idea today; just leave it in the comment box of this post, and she'll give you two entry credits for your trouble! Then, every time you comment on a daily post the rest of this week (through Monday, July 28), Auntie J. will give you two more credits. That means, Faithful Readers, that you could rack up 14 Great Pop'rs Giveaway Credits just for offering your opinion!

And it gets even better, folks: Link to Eat Your Veggies! and our Great Pop'rs Giveaway in a post on your own personal blog, and Aunt Julie will give you five more (count 'em) giveaway credits. And one final incentive: If you post the photo of the cute little guy and his mom shaking Pop'rs on their broccoli--with a link to the contest, of course--the extremely generous Aunt J. will give you an additional six credits! Why six? Because that will give you a Grand Total of 25 Great Pop'rs Giveaway Credits, if you choose to play, all the way!

Those of you who are new to Eat Your Veggies! should know that Pop'rs, which are available in eight flavors--Cinnamon, Color Burst, Chocolate, Strawberry, Raspberry, Butter, Taco and Buffalo—come in handy-dandy shakers so you can sprinkle these tasty and nutritious seasonings on everything from applesauce to broccoli to green beans to yogurt. And remember--not only are Pop’rs fun to eat, but they enhance your taste sensation and are infused with healthy vitamins--a great way to get you and your family to Eat Your Veggies!

We’re picking one Grand Prize Winner by random drawing. The Great Pop’rs Giveaway is open to everyone. The contest runs from Tuesday, July 22 (that's today!), through Monday, July 28 at 8 p.m. EST. So, Dear Readers, don't delay--play today!

Our Giveaway was a Bloomin' Success!

Congrats to M~, of The Suburban Farmer, and Veronica, of Supermarket Serenade, the Random Drawing Winners of our Great Pop'rs Giveaway! Uncle Lynn, The Pop'r King, will ship each gal a complete set of Pop'rs--that fun and actually good-for-you seasoning--to try with her family. Remember, Pop'rs come in eight fantabulous flavors--Cinnamon, Colorburst, Chocolate, Strawberry, Raspberry, Butter, Taco, and Buffalo--that can be sprinkled over all kinds of foods, from broccoli to yogurt--literally, To Infinity and Beyond!--as Soccer Boy and Buzz Lightyear used to say!

Uncle Lynn, Aunt Julie, Soccer Boy, and The Gang are really looking forward to what M~ and Veronica have to say about Pop'rs! Veronica asked in her entry post if Pop'rs are available in stores--right now, these vitamin-infused seasonings can be ordered exclusively online from Uncle Lynn, The Pop'r King. And The Pop'r King wants you to know that he's now offering Pop'rs at a new, reduced, recession-proof price--so just click on his name and order yours today!

Our Great Pop'rs Giveaway was so Bloomin' Successful that Aunt Julie, The Pop'r Queen, wanted to share a gardening photo and a tip with her Dear Bloggy Readers. Aunt Julie has been trying like mad to grow the Delphiniums pictured above for years. Trouble was, she planted these delightful perennials on the west side of the house, resulting in stringy, skinny, scrawny plants, with few blooms. In a nutshell, Auntie J. was frustrated. I'll let her explain the problem.

"They are one of my favorite flowers, and I have never had any luck with them coming back a second season," The Pop'r Queen laments. "I had an open spot in the east-facing garden this year, so I tried just one delphinium. It was a great success, so I moved the ones from the opposite side of the house there also. Some of the flowers are topping out at 53 inches now!" Aunt Julie will have to wait 'til next spring to see what happens, but for now, she's more than happy with this season's accomplishment!

That Aunt Julie is a pretty accomplished--but awfully modest--gal, isn't she? The thing she does brag on though, besides Uncle Lynn and her four boys, is Pop'rs. We'll be offering more Great Giveaways this summer, so drop in soon. And don't forget to Share the Comment Love!

You'll Get a Kick Out of This!

Today's the Cyberspace Roundup, folks! We knew you'd get a kick out of this picture of Aunt Julie and Uncle Lynn's youngest. He's really into soccer and it shows, doesn't it? I particularly like his "soccer boy" hair! I asked him about it the other day, because it's longer than it's been in awhile. Soccer Boy's response? "It's just the way I like it. That's all!" Auntie J., of course, took this fun photo!

Let's take a trip around the Blogosphere, and see what we can see.

• Of course, today is the last day of the Great Pop'rs Giveaway! You have until 6 p.m. EST today to enter. Make sure you get your entry in under the wire--the more the merrier!
• Michelle, over at Creative Writings 101, introduces us to a really neat idea--bags made out of bags! OK, let me explain--Michelle's friend collects the nasty plastic grocery bags and actually weaves them into cool and classy tote bags that you can use over and over again.
• Jillybean, of Post-It Place fame, is sad today because her printer just up and died on her. Any of you Bloggy Pals with suggestions should rush on over and give her a hand!
• Gina, who mans (womans?) the computer at The Clan McLeod, explains in a saucy post how you, too, can get a free bottle of Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce.
• And, last but not least, we have a couple of one-year Blogaversaries coming up. Tara R., over at If Mom Says OK, is answering any and all readers' questions in celebration of her one-year milestone on Wednesday, July 16. Smoochiefrog, from In the Mind of a Thirty Something Mom, is hosting daily giveaways to mark one year of hanging out in the Blogosphere in a series of contests, from July 21-25.

That's All, Folks! And don't forget the Great Pop'rs Giveaway!

Photo-FANTASTIC!

Got this from my Bloggy Friend Melissa B. over at The Scholastic Scribe. She received the inspiration for the photo fest from our Mutual Bloggy Pal tara r., who resides at If Mom Says OK. Tara says this artistic endeavor has been around the Blogosphere, and I can attest to the truthfulness of this statement, because I've also seen it on Regurgitated Alpha Bits, Dkzody's Weblog, and Art on a Limb. In fact, if you google "flickr mosaic meme" on the Web, you get an even 158,000 hits. Photo-fantastic!

I'm a dull-witted bore, Dear Readers, but you know that my sister-in-law Aunt Julie most certainly is not! So I recruited her to answer the following questions and create a Photo Mosaic of her own. The Pop'r Queen Herself is sharing said mosaic with you this very day! If you'd like to play along, too, here's what's what. And if you make this delightful creation on your very own blog, please Share the Comment Love with me and Auntie J.!

• Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
• Using only the first page, pick an image.
• Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into this Mosaic Maker. Follow the instructions, and presto! You have a synopsis of Who. You. Are
• Your questions, Julie's answers; click on the Mosaic to see the snaps Up Close & Personal

Aunt Julie's life in a nutshell, as told to The Author

1. What is your first name? Julie
2. What is your favorite food? Kid food
3. What high school did you go to? Chippewa Falls Sr. High
4. What is your favorite color? Blue
5. Who is your celebrity crush? Don’t have one! Am not impressed.
6. Favorite drink? Cold Leinies on a hot day, hot chocolate on a cold one
7. Dream vacation? Tahiti, in a hut at the end of a long pier
8. Favorite dessert? Strawberry shortcake (fresh strawberries that I picked, warm biscuits, and real whipped cream), eaten as dinner, not dessert. Seconds OK!
9. What do you want to be when you grow up? Grown up! I don’t feel like it yet.
10. What do you love most in life? My boys, Lynn, dogs, quilts, time spent at the beach with my brother’s family, seashells, photographs, people who like me!
11. One Word to describe you: pieceofwork!
12. Your (sister-in-law's) blog name: Eat Your Veggies!

PS: You have approximately 30 hours, give or take a nanosecond, to enter our Great Pop'rs Giveaway. Remember: You can't win if you don't enter!

More Than a Patchwork of Memories

With the beautiful photos of Trouble Elizabeth and his best bud, Moses, and the pelican cruising so far from the beach, we've already established that Aunt Julie is the artistic sort. Her amazing creative portfolio also includes quilting.

Aunt Julie, aka The Pop'r Queen, has done several quilts over the years, including a pink and white baby quilt for my youngest, and a beautiful blue and white creation for my oldest, when she went off to college. She stitched the gorgeous work of art featured above (the photo is one of Aunt Julie's, too!) when Son Number 3 left the nest for the university life.

Let's let Aunt Julie tell you about this quilt, which is all wrapped up in a couple of great family memories: "This particular pattern is called 'Texas Hold 'Em,' from a book titled Dealer’s Choice, by Atkinson Designs, copyright 2004. I chose it because the boys [remember: she's the proud Mama of Four!] are big poker fans, after attending a trade show in Las Vegas a few years ago. Not long after, my then 10-year-old was working on a speech in which he had to teach something. He was having a hard time choosing a topic, and my advice was to teach something he was familiar with and good at. The light went on, and he said, 'I know! I’ll show 'em how to play poker!' Maybe not such a good idea for4th grade. But that’s what comes from having brothers who are 18, 21 & 24, and who adore you!"

You heard it here first, folks. Straight from The Pop'r Queen! BTW, Aunt Julie also wants to remind everyone to enter this week's Great Pop'rs Giveaway. The contest runs until July 14; you, too, could be a winner!