You wouldn’t believe how stressful last week has been. We were on our final leg of packing our things to move to another house and it dawned on me how exhausting it is to be a constantly-on-the-move family. We’re gypsies owing to my husband’s line of work. Last week, also meant the final week of completion of my graduate school requirements so I was hell bent to finish working on a language and literacy package with my group mates.
And then… I crashed.
Fatigue, exhaustion, stress got the better of me.
Managing a home with a husband and three kids below three years old are no easy tasks. Dump in academic responsibilities and I was a ticking time bomb waiting to explode any time. Last week, I went kaboom!
So I declared that I’m going to spend three days alone… in a hotel… no children’s screams… no husband to deal with… just ME and MYSELF.
At the back of my mind, I was worried though. Not for child care because my husband immediately took his days off when I declared my need for hermit time plus he is great at managing the kids. I was concerned because the package from Moms Meet containing Santa Cruz Organic Agua Fresca products would arrive anytime that week and I didn’t want to leave it out in the box.
I told my husband we need to check the mailbox for boxes in case my package arrived. And… it was there! Two 32 oz bottles of pomegranate and lemonade, four pouches of Santa Cruz Organic apple sauce, and a branded Santa Cruz Organic tumbler.
The (Previous) Experience
This was not the first time I tasted Santa Cruz Organic juices. My family and I shop at Smith’s most of the time. They had a special deal a month ago where Santa Cruz Organic lemonade (in a variety of flavor upgrades) were sold for two bottles at four dollars. We bought some — the lemonade flavored with ginger and lemongrass was my favorite! — and we have since bought them even without the deal because they are not-too sweet, a factor we considered because my husband loves lemonade but he has Type 2 diabetes.
When my free treat arrived, I brought them with me to the hotel where I checked in and lived on that along with hotel food and fastfood delivery for three days. Not exactly a physically healthy getaway but it was just what I needed after one whole year of being Mommy.
On agua frescas
Literally translated as fresh water, agua frescas are non-alcoholic beverages made from water mixed with sugar, fruits, and flowers. Inspired by the agua frescas popular in Mexico, the US, Central America, and the Caribbean, Santa Cruz Organic came out with their Agua Fresca line made from the core ingredients of organic fruit juice, sugar, and a hint of lemon juice.
Advertised to be lightly sweetened and refreshing drinks, the Santa Cruz Organic Agua Fresca products are Non-GMO Project Verified and Gluten Free. They’re available in three varieties: Mango Passionfruit, Grapefruit, and Pomegranate.
Each 32 oz bottle is sold between $3.20 to $3.49 depending on the location and the store where you brought it.
Back to my self-imposed hermit life, I placed the bottles of agua frescas in the refrigerator, arranged my personal effects, and fell asleep. I reckoned if this alone time is all about relaxing and regaining energy, I should take things slow since my life is all about speed and getting tasks done pronto.
When I woke up, I was ready to work on my paper. I took out the chilled pomegranate agua fresca from the refrigerator, filled the tumbler with ice, and mixed the organic blend with ice for a refreshing drink.
Yes, the juice was lightly sweetened like the lemonade varieties I previously tasted. You know how overly-sweet, diabetes-inducing, sugar-laden fruit drinks hurt your throat? This one is not one of them. It’s just refreshing, smooth, with a distinct taste that makes you smile.
Why?
Because you know that Santa Cruz Organic is true to its promise of being an organic brand that only uses ingredients that are made without the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. You’ll know it when you taste it.
It is also comforting to know that “organic” is not just a buzzword that this company floats in the marketing world just to get attention. To them, it is a commitment to support environmentally sound growing methods for farmers, families, and the planet where we live.
Santa Cruz Organic products have earned the USDA Organic seal.
Conclusion
I previously mentioned that my husband is diabetic but loved the taste of the lemonade. However, please know that he only drinks a measured amount of this drink and only drinks it once a month. If you’re diabetic, please check the nutrition facts, it contains 22 grams of sugar so check before you drink. Apply the same conscious effort to any product you buy.
Otherwise, it’s a drink to enjoy with your family especially as the summer season is just around the corner.
Or… if you’re like me, who was in a desperate need to be away from the busy, fast-paced life, bring these agua frescas with you to cool yourself down and keep you company.
I went home after three days visibly refreshed and energized and ready to round up packing boxes and moving to another home.
Enjoy your agua frescas with a bag of potato chips, brownies, or whatever pairing you deem tasty and delightful.
The options are as wide as the Pacific Ocean.
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet program (greenmomsmeet.com), May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agree to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of this product.
