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!

Tag, You're It!

Faithful Readers:

I've been *tagged*! Although relatively new to the Blogosphere, I do believe this means that I should be a good sport, and play along! What do you think? The lovely Bloggy Pal who *tagged* me was none other than greedygrace over at Just Lisa, No Filler. Here are the rules; come join the fun, and play along, too!

The Rules:

• Link to the person(s) who tagged you.
• Mention the rules on your blog.
• Tell your readers about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours.
• Tag 6 fellow bloggers by linking them.
• Leave a comment on each of the *tagged* blogger’s site, letting her know she's been *tagged*.

As we've established before, I'm not the Quirky Kind. But Aunt Julie, The Pop'r Queen? She has enough quirks to fill a book, and then some! So, hold on to your seats--here we go!

1. Aunt Julie absolutely hates chewing noises--she won’t go to a movie because of all the popcorn crunching!
2. All Auntie J's neighbors are familiar with her doggy jammies--no, not jammies for dogs, but a cute little ensemble with a doggie print all over--since she is out every morning with her coffee in the front yard, checking her flower garden. BTW, did you see my post on Julie's fanTAbulously gorgeous delphiniums.
3. Julie will talk to anyone, and would probably try to make friends with a rock. And she has lots of funny stories to prove it! One time, while on a beach vacation with our two families, J. made friends with a random mom on the beach. The new friend's youngest and Soccer Boy had become beach buddies, so J. spent some time with the woman by the ocean, watching the kids. We returned home a week later, and a couple of days after that, my youngest received a birthday card from someone she didn't know. We figured out later that the card was from the family Julie Eliz (remember, lots of girls--and at least one boy--have the name Elizabeth in our family!) had befriended while we were at the beach!
4. Aunt Julie trusts absolutely anyone. I have more than enough stories to prove this, but one in particular stands out. My husband once worked in a big city. Julie flew in to visit, and had a couple of hours to kill before her brother--my husband--got off work. She took a cab downtown, and found a lovely park bench, occupied by another person. She became fast friends with this person, exchanging pleasantries about life, family, etc. My Hubby got off work and went to the nearby park to acquire Aunt J. before heading home. He said to her as they were leaving, "Why were you so friendly with that homeless man?"
5. Julie Eliz loves garage sales, and has a basement full of furniture for her kids, their friends or her nieces and nephews to choose from when moving into the dorms or their first apartments. She recently picked up (literally) a lovely sleeper sofa that she took from the curb last week. It’s nice enough to use in her house!
6. Julie, she of Pop'rs fame, reads in bed with 2 pairs of glasses on at the same time, "since I am clearly NOT old enough for bifocals!"

So, Dear Readers, those are Aunt Julie's little ol' quirks. What are yours? I'm *tagging* the following Bloggy Friends to find out!

• Michaela, over at Creative Writings 101
• Mannequin, of Fractured Toy fame
• LaskiGal, who blogs From the Cheap Seats
• Mamacita, whom I don't really know yet but who has a neat little ol' blog parked at Scheiss Weekly
• tnchick, of tnchick.com, who says in a recent post the technology has her all confused, but she loves that Comment Love anyway!
• Angie, who broadcasts at SevEn CloWn CirCuS

That's all I've got for a Sunday Morning, except to say, "Tag, You're It!" Oh, and one more thing: The Old Red Barn Co. is giving away a gorgeous hand-stitched quilt! Check out the link to see how you can enter!

And another thing: My Bloggy Buddy, Melissa B. from The Scholastic Scribe, is running a super-funny sweepstakes today! She borrow the photo for her contest from me--you should check it out!

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!

Keep Your Vay-Kay Safe!

This sign is kind of a scary sight isn't it? Aunt Julie took this photo during a Pop'rs Family Vacation near Port St. Joe, FL, last summer. Let's let her tell the story:

"I was lamenting to a local restaurant owner that I was having trouble finding sand dollars, and that the sand bar where we usually found them was no longer there. He gave me directions to the best place for shelling, so I headed out to explore. No one wanted to go along, so I went alone. "

OK, Auntie J., so far so good. Then what? "I pulled into a small parking lot at this secluded beach and was greeted by this sign. I called my family and told them that I was at this really cool beach, but that if I failed to return…And read them the sign. My college-aged boys pleaded with me to stay in the car and not to 'be stupid'. But I explored the beach anyway. And 10 minutes later, my entire family was there."

Obviously, The Pop'rs Family wasn't eaten by sharks, nor do they appear to have been afraid of the rip currents. The question, however, remains: Did they find any sand dollars?

This photo puts Vacation Safety in mind. Here are the Top 10 Things you should keep in mind when considering the safety of your Vay-Kay this summer, according to the Web site, Health A to Z:

• Collecting the first-aid supplies you need to take with you.
• Checking to make sure you have the proper immunizations.
• Will your health insurance be enough to cover you and your family during your trip?
• How can you keep your home safe while you're away?
• Considering measures to protect your family from poison ivy, rabies and other threats.
• Checking to make sure the water is safe to drink at your vacation spot.
• Making sure you investigate local cuisine; some native dishes might upset your tummy!
• Taking precautions to prevent motion sickness.
• If you're traveling outside the United States, reviewing the driving laws before you get behind the wheel.
• (OK, this last one is from me!) Following the directions on the sign above, and Paying Attention to All Hazards (including nude sunbathers)!

One more thing to remember: Please enter our Great Pop'rs Giveaway! The deadline is Monday at 6 p.m., EST, so don't delay! And don't forget to Share the Comment Love!

Try Something Cool and Delish for a Summer Potluck!

Aunt Julie and Uncle Lynn, The Pop'r Queen and King, live in a family-friendly neighborhood. That means lots of kids playing, lots of parents on the lawn chatting, lots and lots of potlucks.

Auntie J. spends some of this social time gathering recipes from the neighbors. Here's some simple summertime fare, which Aunt Julie calls a "real hit at our block party a few years ago."

Summer Block Party

Chicken Salad

2 ½ cups cooked chicken, cut in chunks
1 ½ cups cooked white rice (really!)
¾ cup red or green grapes, halved or whole
¾ cup diced celery

1/2 cup pineapple tidbits (drain)
½ cup mandarin oranges (drain)
Dressing:
½ cup Hellman’s mayo
1 cup ranch dressing

Top with Slivered Almonds.

I've never heard of ranch dressing in chicken salad, but my mouth's watering already! This is a delightful dish that would pair well with one of Aunt Julie's pies. Hope you've had a chance to try either her Scrumptious Blueberry Pie or Tasty Strawberry Rhubarb Pie, or even both--I know I have!

And hey, Pop'rs Pals: You've got all or part of Four Full Days to enter our Great Pop'rs Giveaway Contest! So get crackin', and let us know where you like to spend those Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer! We have a pretty funny photo--shot by the Talented Aunt Julie, of course!--for tomorrow's post. I know--you're on the edge of your seat, right? Well, folks, you should be--see ya then!

You Won't Wipe Out If You Enter Our Giveaway!

Where do you like to vacation! We're staying close to home this year, 'cause of gas prices, the economy and all. In fact, Aunt Julie, The Pop'r Queen, has been taking the family to the lake a lot recently, catching a little Vay-Kay in her own neck o' the woods.

They had a rousing good time up at the cottage over the Fourth. Auntie J. was soooooo proud when she was able to get up on waterskis, for the first time in ages. She was having a rolllicking good time until...well...see for yourself!

It's not too late to enter our Great Pop'rs Giveaway! Just click on this link and go from there. The contest runs through Monday, July 14 at 6 p.m. EST, so Get Poppin'! And don't forget to Share the Comment Love after you enter. Pretty Please?

PS, to All You Pop'rs Pals: Because the economy has us all in a bind, Uncle Lynn, The Pop'r King, has just reduced the price of Pop'rs! You can purchase a 4-pack of this fun seasoning for $7.69, while an 8-pack of Pop'rs now sells for $14.99. Please order your Pop'rs online by clicking here. Such a bargain!

Aunt Julie's agreed to send another yummy recipe our way tomorrow. Please join us, and don't forget: You can't win unless you enter--Today!

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!

Share the Comment Love-We'll Share the Pop'rs!

Lots of folks are staying close to home this summer, because of the price of gas and all. I know my family's taking shorter trips to save on gas and money! The photo above--which looks like a Florida Vacation Postcard to me--was snapped the other day by Aunt Julie, practically in her backyard. Who knew that pelicans flew anywhere near Northeastern Wisconsin, even in the summertime?

To lighten your mood a little, Uncle Lynn, the Pop'r King, thinks we need Another Giveaway. Here's the deal.

Let me know, in a comment on this post, where you like to vacation with your family. Whether it's the back porch at home or the back lot at Universal Studios, location doesn't matter. We'll collect all the comments and pick two Grand Prize Winners by random drawing.

What will you win? Why, a complete box of Pop'rs, of course! That's eight flavors--Cinnamon, Color Burst, Chocolate, Strawberry, Raspberry, Butter, Taco and Buffalo--that you can sprinkle 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 Two Grand Prize Winners, folks, so please share that Good Ol' Comment Love--and perhaps a link back to our blog from your blog--and You. Could. Be. A. Winner! The Giveaway starts today and runs until 6 p.m. EST, next Monday, July 14. What a great way to spend a summer afternoon!

About Best Friends and Families

The old saying, "Man's Best Friend" should be expanded to women and kids as well. Trouble and Moses, pictured above, are the beloved dogs of The Pop'r Family. They are the doggie sons of Aunt Julie and Uncle Lynn, the Pop'r King and Queen.

A funny story--"Elizabeth" has been a given name in Aunt Julie's family for generations. Most recently, Grandma Vera, Aunt Julie, and my oldest all have been christened with the middle name Elizabeth. Since Aunt Julie is the proud mama of four boys, she couldn't partake in this family tradition. She's taken to calling Trouble, her beloved 16-year-old Springer Spaniel (that's 112 in "dog years"), "Trouble Elizabeth" in his old age. Has a certain ring to it, doesn't it?

The Boys are nesting in Aunt Julie's fabulous flower garden. Auntie J. inherited her green thumb from Grandma Vera (we've already established that I have no green thumb, although my geraniums are doing so much better--thanks for asking!). As you recall, Julie also has a knack for baking pies--most recently, Blueberry and Strawberry Rhubarb. One more thing Aunt Julie learned from her mother--how to make quilts! But more on that later this week.

A PS From Veggie Mom: The newest edition of The Carnival of Family Life is posted now on All Rileyed Up. Today's Carnival features posts on everything a SAHM could possibly be interested in, from Education, to Cooking, to Crafts, to Travel, and beyond. Of course, Yours Truly's post on Aunt Julie's Strawberry Rhubarb Pie is part of the Carnival. And, if you wish to take part in next week's Carnival, to be hosted by Suzanne over at Adventures in Daily Living, use this handy-dandy submission form.

A PS From Uncle Lynn: We're running our Second Pop'rs Giveaway ever, starting tomorrow! Stay tuned for details. Remember--the more the merrier. You, too, can be a winner!

Congratulations!

Uncle Lynn, the Pop'r King, is pleased to announce the winners in our first-ever Pop'rs Giveaway! Each winner will receive two free flavors of Pop'rs.

• Megan, at Reed's Home for Our Savior, says her 2-year-old "won't touch anything green, and even turns down most fruits." We hope Pop'rs will help him Eat His Veggies!


• Cindi reports that her family could use more convincing to eat broccoli, cauliflower and peas. We're going to be sending some Buffalo and Taco Pop'rs her way, without delay!


• Elizabeth, who blogs at blueviolet, says her daughter "hates carrots and celery, and I can't figure out why." We hope Pop'rs will solve your conundrum, Elizabeth!


• Angie, aka John Deere Mom, informs us that her kids don't like most cooked veggies, but they do love BUTTER. We'll send some Pop'rs your way, Angie, and see if that does the trick!


• Sean, over at DC Sports Plus and one of two men to enter our contest (we're an equal opportunity blog, ya know!), tells us that his sisters hate most veggies, but if he snuck some chocolate-flavored Pop'rs into their meals, they might be agreeable. If not, Sean plans to keep the Pop'rs all for himself!


• Speaking of being KooKooForCocoaPuffs, Lynette laments that "If I could get my youngest to eat anything other than chocolate or sugar-coated stuff, I'd be living large, I tell you!!" We're sending Pop'rs to the Rescue!


• Deanna, proprietor of Deanna's Corner, says Her Hubby absolutely shuns green beans. Do we have a Pop'rs Surprise for him!


• Brandy, who definitely is Not Your Average Soccer Mom, blogged poetically about Pop'rs' ability to "spice up your food." She predicts that your kids will eat broccoli, for goodness sakes, if Pop'rs are involved. We're gonna put her family to the test!


• Sherri, over at Kaysville Momma, boasts of her "Random Ramblings" on her blog, but nothing was random about her Pop'rs Post. Hope Pop'rs help out in the veggies department, Sherri!


• Jena, who manages A Scrap in Time, tells us that her 5-year-old will only eat fruits, and that she'll Eat Her Veggies when she "gets older." As soon as the Pop'rs arrive, we expect Little Miss will be growing up mighty fast!

Thanks to all of you who entered our giveaway. We'll be running another Pop'rs Contest next week, so Stay Tuned!

Of Deadlines, Blueberry Pie & How to Play With Your Food

Ah, Summertime! Gotta love the long days, the cool (sometimes) nights & the extra time to spend with family & friends.

Because Summer is such a special time, with extra moments to cram between the nooks & crannies of our busy lives, I decided to start a blog. And to inaugurate my latest endeavor, Uncle Lynn, the Pop'r King (& my Most Esteemed brother-in-law, BTW) gave me the chance to thank all my Bloggy Friends by running a Contest.

If you tuned in a couple of days ago, you'll know that we launched Giveaway Tuesday #1. The Deadline has been extended to Sunday, so make sure you enter! As Uncle Lewie used to say, "Nothing is free, except when it is." And that's exactly Uncle Lynn's belief. So, make sure you ENTER TODAY! I'd love to win Free Pop'rs myself, except I imagine I'm not eligible. Well, ethics are a good thing, right?

And speaking of eligibility, I tried Aunt Julie's Blueberry Pie recipe. MMMMMMM....GOOD! Blueberry season lasts for a good long while, so hope you take advantage of all Mother Nature has to offer. I can't think of a better way to honor the Bounty of the Season!

One more thing, before I skedaddle. The Pop'r King and two of my nephews are on their way down to New Orleans on a business trip, of sorts. Pop'rs, a family-run company, is exhibiting at a trade show sponsored by The Institute of Food Technologists. As near as I can tell, it's a convention that pulls together the Greatest Minds in Food--including Pop'rs. Uncle Lynn's amazing product is part science & part art; he's one of the leaders in a wave aiming to improve the sensory & nutrition side of the business.

As some of you know, Pop'rs are the ultimate in sensory eating experiences. Uncle Lynn's product actually encourages kids to play with their food. Please enter our Contest to find out why!

Giveaway Tuesday #1!

OK, friends, here's the deal. Uncle Lynn, The Pop'r King, has given me permission to inaugurate Our First Ever Giveaway Tuesday. Here's how Giveaway Tuesday #1 will work.

If you're interested in winning 2 Free Jars of Pop'rs (you pick the flavors!), you need to follow these Five Easy Steps:

1. If you'd like to enter the contest, please e-mail us at sales@poprs.com . Please write the title of the contest (Giveaway Tuesday #1) in the subject line of your e-mail. In the body of the e-mail, please write your Name, Address, E-Mail, Blog Title (if you're a Blogger--you don't have to be a Blogger to enter!) & Phone Number (we FedEx in the summer, so the product arrives fresh and tasty at your doorstep!).
2. Then, please write a short post in the comment box for today's post, Giveaway Tuesday #1, explaining the food your kids or another member of your family dislikes the most and What Flavor of Pop'rs you would use to jazz it up to make it more appealing.
3. After you post on our blog, please post the same comment, with a reference & a link to Eat Your Veggies! on your blog. The way we see it, The More the Merrier!
4. Comments must be made on this post and your info sent to sales@poprs.com by Sunday, June 29! Uncle Lynn, The Pop'r King, says he'll send 2 Pop'rs Flavors of Your Choice to 10 contestants, selected at random.
5. When you win (yes, we believe that the glass is always half-full) & receive your Free Pop'rs, we'd be mighty pleased if you'd agree to try our product on several different foods, & Blog All About It.

Dear Readers: We Believe in Our Product & in Our Blogging Buddies! So, please, Put Your Thinking Caps On! Everyone knows there's No Free Lunch. But there are Free Pop'rs, & they're oh-so-easy to win!