Okay, I sent my wife to the store with my post-op grocery list (which was WAY shorter than the normal lists I send her to the store with. It's amazing when you take Doritos and Dr. Pepper off the list how light it gets.)

Anyway, I had on there sugar-free Kool-Aid. Now, she did what any normal person would have done and got 5 packets of regular Kool-Aid (which says UNSWEETENED on the packet). This was not, of course, what I wanted so I went back to the store and got the right stuff.

Now, hopefully someone has a trick here because 5 packets of regular Kool-Aid were 5 for a Dollar. 5 Packets (1 box) of Kool-Aid sugar free was about $2.75.

I'm going to blow through millions of dollars drinking this crap unless I find something cheaper. (okay, that was hyperbole, but you get my meaning.) It's either this or Water and I'm about tired of water and need some taste!!!!!!

What types of tea do you like best? I love plain Ceylon tea, as well as Assam.

Right now I'm hooked on Twinnings lady grey. It's an earl grey with a dash of citrus. I also love black current tea. My girlfriend just got me some died hybiscus flowers, they make great tea too. I always have a few twinnings packets in my bag, and several more in my car. A dash of cream and some splenda and I'm in heaven. ~Mandy

At restaurants, when I didn't want to spend money I'd get water with lots of lemon.. squeeze it into the water and add a sweet-n-low.. makes a really good lemonade!

I've never made it at home for lack of lemons, but lemon in water is a good drink too.

Right now I'm hooked on Twinnings lady grey. It's an earl grey with a dash of citrus. I also love black current tea. My girlfriend just got me some died hybiscus flowers, they make great tea too. I always have a few twinnings packets in my bag, and several more in my car. A dash of cream and some splenda and I'm in heaven. ~Mandy

Mmm, I LOVE Twinnings Prince of Wales tea. Their Darjeeling is good, too. I'm not fond of teas with citrus flavors, though, like Earl Grey.

Right now I'm hooked on Twinnings lady grey. It's an earl grey with a dash of citrus. I also love black current tea. My girlfriend just got me some died hybiscus flowers, they make great tea too. I always have a few twinnings packets in my bag, and several more in my car. A dash of cream and some splenda and I'm in heaven. ~Mandy

Darn it, I was out of Twinings, and you made me crave it! I had to go online and buy some more from their website. I wound up with Prince of Wales, Christmas, 300 Year Celebration, African Rooibos, and a cherry/cinnamon herbal tea. Oh well, it will be good! And I'll have enough tea for several months!

Darn it, I was out of Twinings, and you made me crave it! I had to go online and buy some more from their website. I wound up with Prince of Wales, Christmas, 300 Year Celebration, African Rooibos, and a cherry/cinnamon herbal tea. Oh well, it will be good! And I'll have enough tea for several months!

That would last me about a month. How is the 300 year celebration? I'll have to try that. Regular Earl grey has no citrus, just black tea and bergamot. Really warm and tasty. The Lady grey has the citrus in it, but is very very light. ~Mandy

That would last me about a month. How is the 300 year celebration? I'll have to try that. Regular Earl grey has no citrus, just black tea and bergamot. Really warm and tasty. The Lady grey has the citrus in it, but is very very light. ~Mandy

I haven't tried it yet. It sounded really good, though. Bergamot tastes like lemon to me. I can barely choke it down. The only time I ever drink it is when I'm offered tea at someone's house and they don't tell me that it's Earl Grey before they make it. I used to LOVE orange pekoe, but I've just gotten to the point where the only things I like to taste like citrus are citrus.

Have you ever tried Tea Forte teas? I've tried some of them, and they're really good. They're the original pyramid teas. Expensive, though.

I actually prefer to buy tea in bulk and either bag it myself or use a tea ball. At christmas time a local tea merchant sells a blend called Chistmas in your mouth, it's really spicy and has whole cloves in it, it's the best. I'm lucky I live near "China Town" in Chicago so I can get some pretty rare tea reasonably priced. There is a tea shop there that makes custom blends in the pyramids yum! I also recently found that a french press (for coffee) makes great strong tea. My mom calls me a tea snob, I tell her that since I USED to pay $70 a bottle for good scotch, I can afford good tea for myself now. And if you figure what a can of coke or pepsi cost, I am getting off pretty cheap with my gourmet tea. I do splenda most of the time, but I also LOVE fresh honey in my tea. I get my honey from a local bee keeper, he has plain and also creamed honey. That's just about a perfect afternoon, fresh honey in a warm cup of good tea, give me a good book and life is good. ~Mandy

A few weeks ago I happended upon Wal-Mart's version of Crystal Light in the grape flavor. It's awesome! Tastes just like grape Kool-Aid to me.

I actually prefer to buy tea in bulk and either bag it myself or use a tea ball. At christmas time a local tea merchant sells a blend called Chistmas in your mouth, it's really spicy and has whole cloves in it, it's the best. I'm lucky I live near "China Town" in Chicago so I can get some pretty rare tea reasonably priced. There is a tea shop there that makes custom blends in the pyramids yum! I also recently found that a french press (for coffee) makes great strong tea. My mom calls me a tea snob, I tell her that since I USED to pay $70 a bottle for good scotch, I can afford good tea for myself now. And if you figure what a can of coke or pepsi cost, I am getting off pretty cheap with my gourmet tea. I do splenda most of the time, but I also LOVE fresh honey in my tea. I get my honey from a local bee keeper, he has plain and also creamed honey. That's just about a perfect afternoon, fresh honey in a warm cup of good tea, give me a good book and life is good. ~Mandy

I got the Prince of Wales in loose-leaf form. I've never tried making tea without a tea bag before, but my new 2-cup tea pot has a built in filter, so I figured that I'd try it. How much are you supposed to use per cup of tea?

I have gotten to where I just drink my tea unsweetened. I used to use sugar, but I don't want the calories. I can't stand artificial sweeteners. They taste like metal to me. Apparently, I have a very sensitive sense of taste. I've not sweetened it with honey before, I'll have to try it.

I would LOVE to find a good tea store. Unfortunately, this is the rural south, so tea stores come few and far between. The best I can do is order online. Harney and Sons has an amazing selection of teas.

A few weeks ago I happended upon Wal-Mart's version of Crystal Light in the grape flavor. It's awesome! Tastes just like grape Kool-Aid to me.

They've got a strawberry version that's pretty good, too (for a diet drink, at least). I had some at my brother's house once, but I haven't been able to find it since then.

Mandy, could you tell me when that store has the Christmas tea? If you could pick some up for me, I'll send you money to pay for it and shipping.

That would last me about a month. How is the 300 year celebration? I'll have to try that. Regular Earl grey has no citrus, just black tea and bergamot. Really warm and tasty. The Lady grey has the citrus in it, but is very very light. ~Mandy

I tried the 300 year celebration this morning. It's very good.

Lauren, is there a Cost Plus world market near you? They sell bulk tea, and usually have a good selection. As for how much tea to use, it depends on what the mix consists of. If it's dried fruits and flowers, use a bit more and allow it to steep slightly longer. For actual leaves, you can get away with less and a shorter steep time. I do the honey thing and it works really well. Have you tried stevia? It's a natural sweetner and is really good. I'll ask if she is going to get the christmas tea in again this season, if so I'll get you some. ~Mandy

Lauren, is there a Cost Plus world market near you? They sell bulk tea, and usually have a good selection. As for how much tea to use, it depends on what the mix consists of. If it's dried fruits and flowers, use a bit more and allow it to steep slightly longer. For actual leaves, you can get away with less and a shorter steep time. I do the honey thing and it works really well. Have you tried stevia? It's a natural sweetner and is really good. I'll ask if she is going to get the christmas tea in again this season, if so I'll get you some. ~Mandy

Unfortunately, there isn't one near me. I'm basically stuck buying stuff at Kroger or ordering online. I haven't tried Stevia. I've really gotten used to drinking tea unsweetened, so adding sugar or other sweeteners really makes it too sweet for me, in most cases.

Okay, I sent my wife to the store with my post-op grocery list (which was WAY shorter than the normal lists I send her to the store with. It's amazing when you take Doritos and Dr. Pepper off the list how light it gets.)

Anyway, I had on there sugar-free Kool-Aid. Now, she did what any normal person would have done and got 5 packets of regular Kool-Aid (which says UNSWEETENED on the packet). This was not, of course, what I wanted so I went back to the store and got the right stuff.

Now, hopefully someone has a trick here because 5 packets of regular Kool-Aid were 5 for a Dollar. 5 Packets (1 box) of Kool-Aid sugar free was about $2.75.

I'm going to blow through millions of dollars drinking this crap unless I find something cheaper. (okay, that was hyperbole, but you get my meaning.) It's either this or Water and I'm about tired of water and need some taste!!!!!!

Have you tried splenda - use it instead of sugar... I like water so i guess i am lucky - i get sick of all that sweet stuff - i usually add more water than what they call for - plus my doc has a flavored clear Protein drinks - I can't find them on the web - Proti 15 - but here is a site that sell something very similar - i like the grape & peach mango - punch is ok too... http://www.bariatricchoice.com/

The grape taste like grape Koolaid... and you get 15 grms protein - not cheap but you get your protein - I ususally drink one a day - but the way i look at it - what i am saving on junk I am spending on stuff that's good for me - Also I think Albertson's sells their own brand of crystal lite and it's cheaper....

Gook Luck....