Monday, February 12, 2024

Rice Krispy Peeps - Walmart




Has it always been, "Rice Krispies Treats?" The dual pluralization feels wrong to me. 

Actually, I don't think I've ever purchased the name-brand cereal or the official treats. I always used store branded cereal to make them at home, and since the no-frills boxes always call them, "Marshmallow Treats," or "Marshmallow Squares," I've always called them, "Rice Krispy Treats." I guess that's wrong? 

Whatever you call them, I make them quite often. (I've mentioned this before, but I have a little cousin with a gluten and dairy allergy, and if I swap the butter out for an alternative, they make for an easy allergy-free snack!) So when I saw these Peeps, which are also gluten-free, I actually let myself get excited.

Thursday, December 7, 2023

I'm a Dude, He's a Dude, She's a Dude, 'Cause we're all Dudes! - Good Burger (Arby's)


"Welcome to Good Burger Arby's, home of The Good Burger, can I take your order?" 

In the year 2023 you can go to Arby's (of all places), and get a real-life Good Burger just in time to watch the sequel, Good Burger 2, on Paramount+. I don't know about you, but that definitely wasn't on my year end bingo card. (Not that I'm complaining.)

I adore the original movie. It's highly quotable, nostalgic, and features George Clinton AND Abe Vigoda for absolutely no reason. It's unhinged and I love it. That said, I don't have Paramount+, so I won't be watching the sequel. (Sorry, Kenan and Kel.) But there is a (subscription-free) tie-in meal!

It's surprising that we never had a mash-up for Good Burger like this before. Sure, Ed's food safety practices left a lot to be desired (strawberry jacuzzi!), but the food always looked GOOD. Especially Ed's mysterious orange-colored sauce. That sauce was what I was most excited for. How will it be translated into real life? I guess we'll see!

Wednesday, December 6, 2023

Creations Y3000: A future worth ranting for?


Even when I wasn't completely in love with a particular flavor, Creations' themes kept me coming back for more. It's all fun and games, until now. 

Y3000. A name that evokes Y2K nostalgia while promising the future. It's fun, it's colorful, it's made with AI. That's right! Artificial Intelligence collaborated with humans to create what might be the most pretentious descriptor of all time. 

This is taken verbatim from their website

Coca‑Cola® Y3000 [Zero Sugar] was co-created with human and artificial intelligence by understanding how fans envision the future through emotions, aspirations, colors, flavors and more. Fans’ perspectives from around the world, combined with insights gathered from artificial intelligence, helped inspire Coca‑Cola to create the unique taste of Y3000.  

Wait, it gets better! (Or worse?)

Tuesday, December 5, 2023

Marshmallow Mash-Up


Jet-Puffed Gummies
- Dollar Tree

I love marshmallows, and I love gummies, but will I love these? 

Monday, December 4, 2023

Hot Cocoa Hoax


Hot Cocoa Cookie Thins - Lidl

What happened? I blinked and it went from being Halloween to December.

I spotted these at Lidl and since it's a little too-soon to get started on all my holiday cookie baking, I got these as a little treat for myself. Little did I know, the "tricks" aren't contained to spooky season. 

Friday, November 3, 2023

Ranting & Retail Therapy - Halloween Clearance 2023


I trick-or-treated-myself to clearance candy. A LOT of clearance candy. Even by my standards.

Originally I wanted to find some pillows and décor, but it was slim pickin's. That's what you get when Christmas items roll out on October 1st. (RIP Thanksgiving, you're problematic, but I love your food.)

Upon reflection, Christmas isn't to blame. (Although I will make angry Instagram Reels about winter products encroaching upon my spooky season.) No matter what seasonal-flavor you subscribe to, it's all the same consumerism, and our consumer-clock is completely out of whack. 

Back to school sales were popping up as early as June, when some kids were still in school. Halloween was rolling out in July. Christmas by the end of September. Forget Daylight Savings, this is what needs adjusting! Sticking with a Christmas metaphor, we're opening our gifts too early. By the time the actual event rolls around, we're celebration-fatigued and the magic is gone.

How do we get it back? At some point, will we skew so far that we loop back into appropriate seasonal time frames?  Like when something is so lame it's cool? Probably not. And I definitely can't control when the Pumpkin Spice Lattes or Mariah Carey anthems hit the masses. 

Spotting skeletons on shelves in July is bittersweet. I'm spooky-season through-and-through but I also love summer, and if I want the "good" Halloween stuff, I need to grab it before the end of August or I'll have nothing come October! The justified fear of missing out because I didn't conform to accelerated consumption stops me from attempting a more appropriate self-imposed timeline.

I am but one little blogger in a sea of nonsense on the internet, and I am screaming into the void, "let us savor our seasons!" But I don't know how to make it stop.  

Dramatics aside...here's what I bought on the clearance racks this year. 

Tuesday, October 31, 2023

Monday, October 30, 2023

Trick or Treat: Favorite Day Filled Gumballs



Normally I try to go in and write these with a first-taste experience, but I cracked into these the second I bought them, they're great! Probably my favorite Favorite Day product I've ever had. 

You get three flavors, and each have a unique filling.