Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Easter Isn't For Two Months, People!

I was all set to post this morning about the luscious steak, roasted yams, asparagus with almondine sauce, chocolate-dipped strawberries and bruschetta I served for Valentine's Day dinner. Or at least about the wonderful day we spent just an hour north of Crater Lake snowshoeing, relaxing and snowball fighting in the mountains for President's Day. Or about speaking too soon about not having any illness since before Thanksgiving and waking up to a coughing baby several times last night. Or about how (most of) my letter was actually published.
But, alas, more pressing matters occupy my thoughts now.

I was at the grocery store very early this morning, thinking how grateful I was that the only Valentine's Day paraphernalia remaining are four day-old brownie bites that look extremely disgusting, and how I might actually be able to stay away from the chocolate now that the New and Improved holiday season is over. (You haven't heard of this holiday? It is called Hallothankschrisnewval Day. What it celebrates, apparently, is copious amounts of festively wrapped chocolate and special edition Hershey Kisses and the gaining of 10 pounds. )

And then I saw them.

Box after purple box filled with "big" bags of Cadbury Mini Eggs. "Big" must be Cadbury's subliminal marketing campaign this year. The bag, in fact, appears to be half the size of last year's and costs at least a dollar more. I walked past the display three times, repeating to myself, "Don't do it, don't do it, don't do it." You see, if I get them then I will eat all of them. Plantboy doesn't like them (I know, I know he's hardly human); and the kids, well, it doesn't seem right to share with them when they honestly believe the Mini Eggs are just funny shaped M & M's.

And then, oh then, I saw the tiny bag. $.52. I picked it up--dare I say reverently? It was so light; what are they, a nickel apiece? I stared into my cart full of fruits and vegetables and whole wheat English muffins and low-fat yogurt and two kinds of beans and skim milk and uber-lean meat and I knew I had to have them. I threw the little bag on the top of the righteous groceries and practically ran to the checkout, as if I had stolen something, forgetting the remaining three items on my list in my haste to be away.

As I bagged my groceries the tempting purple pouch came closer and closer. "Just bag it with the rest of the groceries," I told myself. I continued repeating such until I slipped it into the side pocket of my purse. I had to; the well-behaved purchases didn't seem to want the dangerously tempting Mini Eggs anywhere near them.

I loaded the car and sat down, staring at the purse telling myself, "It isn't even seven in the morning yet; it is really not the time for chocolate." And I swear I heard a seductive whisper from the depths of my innocent-looking bag, "Oh, STM, it's always time for chocolate. Especially this chocolate."

Just one, or maybe two then. Three is a nice round number; no, wait, FIVE is better.

Half the bag was eaten before I made it out of the parking lot. I folded the top over carefully, vowing to save the rest of the chocolaty goodness for later. . .

Half a mile up the road is later. It is. And it was really such a tiny bag.

I am so going to look like the Easter bunny in two months. I mean, except I won't be completely covered in hair or have really big ears.

11 comments:

FoxyJ said...

Congrats on getting the letter printed! It's fun to see your writing be officially recognized (and maybe it will motivate me to get off my buns and put something together for an upcoming Sunstone West conference).

Anywho, I totally agree with you about the chocolate thing. I think the only months they don't market specialty chocolates are during the summer. Thankfully my hubby gave me a box of chocolates for V-Day this year, and a friend gave me a giant bag of raspberry Ghiradelli squares, so I've been able to stave off the mini eggs. But only for a few more weeks until I eat through my new stash, LOL.

Doreen said...

I'm not going to tell you that I looked for those eggs when I went shopping last week. And there weren't any yet, because, you know, it was still VDay stuff. Now I'm going to have to go back to the store. I think I need milk...

Sunnie said...

oh i love those. thank goodness my chocolate aversion is lifting. i just may have to purchase some on my next grocery trip.

emandtrev said...

I almost didn't get past your first sentence. Wow, that sounds good! I must say that there should be room for at least a little chocolate EVERY day!

emandtrev said...

Oh, and for me, "a little" can mean a small bag or family-sized bag. Just depending on my mood, stress and hunger levels, etc. :)

Christy said...

You crack me up!

They are delicious... my sister is absolutely addicted and stores bags in the freezer since they aren't available year round.

Slim said...

LOL! Those are the worst kind of temptation!!!! Just don't go to the store for the next two months. And by the way, though they didn't publish the whole thing, they did publish the best one-two punch. Great job!

Janssen said...

And. . . time to break out some chocolate.

Courtni said...

I just have to say that it is a good thing for my waist line that those only appear at Easter time! yum! Also, good work on only getting the small bag...I would get the big one and then rationalize eating it all by myself :-)

Christie said...

"Righteous groceries." I loved everything about this post: the link to your letter in TNY, the account of your fall from grace with the mini Cadbury chocolate eggs. But most of all I loved the term, "righteous groceries." So funny and true. I've found myself easing up on the righteousness of my grocery list. Sigh. Maybe spring will motivate me to watch what I eat. Or not.

chicagosapps said...

Though I love the mini eggs, they are not my absolute favorite. I think chocolate just isn't complete without nuts and/or (preferably and) carmel. Trader Joe's has these dark chocolate-covered carmels that are to die for. I eat them with almonds and think that I'm being good. I'm not. I eat almost the whole container in one day. I have a sickness. I try not to even go down that aisle, but sometimes I am emotionally pulled and no amount of rational thought can stop me.

So I understand your obsession. Just try not to spend all your paper route money on mini eggs.