Thursday, December 4, 2008

Bliss and a miss...

Ooooooo I LOVE this time of year! So many things really...the sparkle of white lights, snow covered trees, 32 years of Christmas ornaments, the songs, the movies (Rudolph, Frosty, a Christmas Story, Christmas Vacation, even Alvin and the Chipmunks), the smells, the anticipation, the Hope, the Promise...all of it, I love all of it.

I ESPECIALLY love two things about this time of year - and they are nothing spiritual, though I'm convinced both must be in Heaven - served just after my Granddaddy's tomatoes and Grandmother's green beans.

The first is Cranberry Bliss Bars from Starbucks. I'm not sure if they are from Heaven or Hell because really sin is so pretty and tasty - but so is all that is good too. So let's just give 'em the benefit of the doubt and say if He could have served them at the last supper, Jesus would be breaking Bliss bars instead of bread. Yum, yum, yum.

And we could end the whole alcohol debate with Christians if He'd only chased those bars with Williams-Sonoma Hot Cocoa. Seriously. It really is sin in a cup. Makes wine look tame. I am intoxicated just thinking about the shaved delight in a can. I think it has more calories per cup - when made with their hand-cut marshmallows - than Willy Wonka had in the whole factory.

I'm just gonna tell you - with today's economy, the second one is definitely a luxury item. At $19.50 a can, you might need to eat Spam for the main course.

Now the miss - I'm sorry to report that McDonald's "premium" hot chocolate is nothing more than whole milk with Hershey's syrup. Don't get me wrong - I'm a Hershey's girl - when it's in a bar form with almonds or a tiny silver-kissed wrapper - or even atop a bowl of vanilla ice cream. BUT having experienced "premium," EXQUISITE hot chocolate from my own kitchen (with the help of aforementioned W.S.), I was sadly disappointed. Don't waste your $1.99 - take it to Starbucks for the Cranberry Bliss. Just don't go to the one on 14 in Barrington, as I want them to have an ample supply for me. =)

2 comments:

Shanan said...

Sandy, I am just now catching up on my blog reading! Your birthday pictures are great! Would you mind to tell me what program you use to edit your pics??

Also, thanks for reminding me about the WS hot chocolate! I used to work there back in the day and have forgotten how good it was! I am going to have to pick some up this weekend!

the ruffhouse said...

Thanks Shanan! I am a devoted user of Adobe Lightroom. It's much cheaper than Photoshop and has lots of beautiful presets.

I worked at Pottery Barn Kids, which is owned by Williams Sonoma, so I became addicted to my hot cocoa when I could get it at 40% off!