Happy Thanksgiving...Two Days Late

Some blog I run here, right?  I'm supposed to cover the "Holidaze" and I totally missed Thanksgiving.  I apologize to anybody who checked out the site, but between work and family, I was just too busy over the holiday to write anything worth while.  However, I can't let it go without mentioning it at all!  They say it's always better late than never, so here comes a healthy helping of late headed your way. 

If you've paid attention to that big pie above (how could you miss it?) then you know we're about to talk about gum that tastes like dessert.  I made it as obvious as I possibly could without being creative at all.  Blame that on the fact I'm so late.  But see, I didn't want to come on here and talk about turkey and stuffing.  Everybody eats that on Thanksgiving and it's just not interesting.  No, today, we're going to talk about some of the odd things I found leading up to Turkey Day.  After that, we're going to forget all about Thanksgiving and get back into what really matters... Christmas!

Check that gum out, man!  Wrigley's Extra Dessert Delights introduces Apple Pie!! I've had the Mint Chocolate Chip, and it was okay, but this was just perfect for Thanksgiving.  My girlfriend found this but didn't buy it when she saw it.  I was like "whaaaaat?"  How do you see gum flavored like apple pie and not pick that up?  When I saw it, it was a no brainer.  My only complaint is that it's not blueberry.  It's not that I prefer blueberry over apple, because I don't, but I really wanted to make a Willy Wonka reference here.  Whenever you find a piece of gum that tastes like real food, just know that Willy Wonka was the originator.  Roast beef and blueberry pie would have given me so much more to talk about, but that's okay.  He still would have had us scour the streets for golden tickets if he made apple pie gum so that just goes to show how special this is!

"Have Your Dessert and Chew It Too!"  Not a bad slogan, right?  I'll take it.  I really like the design.  The multi-colored waves and apple pie graphics really remind me of Thanksgiving.  Unfortunately, I couldn't get a decent shot of the gum out of its wrapper.  It's a light green, which is awesome, but it kept coming out white.  It looked like a strip of paper and, no matter how far away I stood, I couldn't get it right.  I was going to tell you that I kept it a mystery on purpose, but you're too smart for that.  However, if you do want to see what this gum looks like, you're going to have to pick it up yourself.  And really, you should.  This tastes just like apple pie!  It's amazing.  It may not be blueberry pie, but you'll know exactly how Violet felt when she chewed Wonka's forbidden gum.  I can't even describe it well enough to do it justice.  All I can say is it surely blows that Mint Chocolate Chip out of the water.

If you've been reading long enough, then you may remember the corner store cupcakes I found down the block from my house.  They were themed for Halloween, and are here if you'd like to check them out again.  I don't know where they came from but, apparently, they're not alone.  Look at the Thanksgiving cupcakes my Dad found while he was out!  Who is making these?  My corner store isn't a bakery, it's an overpriced money stealer.  I'm sure they're buying these for a dollar and re-selling them for $5, but I need to know where they're getting them.  Not because they're good, because they're pretty crappy, but they look nice and I want to take more pictures when the next holiday rolls around.

This Reese's Peanut Butter Cup and chocolate chip concoction isn't really themed for Thanksgiving, but it's brown, white and black and I can only associate those colors with one holiday.  Other than that, I don't have much to say about this cupcake.  I just wanted to mention it before I talk about the cupcake it was next to.  That one is the reason why this one is being mentioned at all.

I love that Turkey!  The icing and sprinkles remind me of Halloween more than Thanksgiving, but that Turkey erases any doubts.  This cupcake is made for Turkey Day and picked the only mascot you can choose from to be their sugary wafer.  He's brown, red, yellow and has blue feathers.  I've never seen a Turkey with blue feathers, so he might actually be a peacock, but I get the point and that's all I care about.  Besides being with family, Thanksgiving is insanely boring, so I found a lot of excitement in this little guy.  That's pretty sad, but we're not talking about Christmas here.  There's not much to be excite over.  Thankful on T-Day?  Of course.  But excited?  Eh, not me.. Maybe that will change next year.

There are many different drinks to choose from on Thanksgiving.  At my Aunts house, you can pick from soda, beer, wine, coffee, tea, milk, juice.. you name it.  But one thing that isn't offered is seltzer.  That's probably because it's gross, but my Dad actually enjoys it and bought these for himself.  He said he bought them for blog purposes, but I'm not so sure.  He knows the rules -- don't open anything until it's photographed.  But look at that Candy Cane Seltzer.  That top has clearly been snapped.  Either he couldn't wait or doesn't want to admit that he loves himself some Seltzer.  I think it's disgusting, but is there actually a large fan base out there?  What's so great about it?  The only thing good about these two bottles are their flavors.  At least Polar --whoever that is--joined in on the festivities.

I love writing in the blog, and I've eaten a few things that I normally wouldn't just to review them here, but I can't bring myself to drink this.  There have been times in the past where I've been really thirsty and all we had in the kitchen was Seltzer.  That always pissed me off, but I would drink it anyway just to quench my thirst.  I fooled myself into believing that this time would be different and it would taste great and, every time, I would up spitting it down the drain.  There's no more fooling CK.  I'm never drinking Seltzer again, especially Pumpkin Spice (ughh).  But I'll give credit where credit is due and I love the fact that they cared about the holidays at all.  That's awesome.

Candy Cane definitely smells better.  It has a strong scent of peppermint and I thought, for a second, that maybe the minty flavor would overwhelm the seltzer after taste and I could review it, but I'm not taking the chance.  To me, seltzer is like poison.  I don't know why I hate it so much, but I do.  But, actually, to be fair, I haven't had a sip of Seltzer in years.  The last time I had it was well before my 21st birthday and I used to say I'd never drink vodka, too.  Perhaps this is an acquired taste?  Oh man, I'm going to regret this.. I'll be right back.. I'm going to go taste this in real time.

Here's another picture of the bottle to keep you busy while I drink this Candy Cane mess..

Blahh.. I gagged.  It's disgusting!  I'll admit, it's not as bad as I remembered and I'd take that over a shot of Jameson if we reached the same results, but it's definitely not drinkable.  No way I could drink that whole bottle.  That's horrible.  But it's minty and I assume you could mix it with something?  I have no idea how seltzer works.  Maybe you can pour it into your Coke and call it Coca-Cane.

I'm certainly not tasting the Pumpkin Spice, so we're going to end our belated Thanksgiving entry here.  I hope you enjoyed the random slew of nothing that would have been better suited for your liking two days ago.  I wish I had the time, but I usually write these things 3 or 4 at a time to make sure the countdown runs smoothly.  Now, let's put Turkey Day behind us (more than it already is) and continue the Countdown to Christmas.  I have a few layout changes to make soon.  That dinner table has to go, along with Charlie brown.  Stay tuned, Holidazers.  The big day is less than a month away now!!  Whoa..

A Hershey Christmas

When I think of Christmas candy, there are a few things that instantly come to mind.  The first are Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.  When I was a kid, the candy cane shaped tube of Reese's was always the first thing I pulled out from my Christmas stocking.  They're classic and, even today, they haven't changed a bit.  We'll discuss them sometime soon, but today we're talking about the second treat that comes to mind -- Hershey Kisses!  I'll admit, I'm not crazy for Kisses, but they're definitely traditional and have always been a part of the season.  I love the flavor, I've just always rathered candy bars over Kisses.  So, in this entry, we're going to look at both!

I'm tired of the boring, old, milk chocolate Hershey Kisses, so I decided to focus on two of the more unique bags out this season.  The first, pictured above, are Hershey's Kisses with Almonds.  The bag, much like the Hershey Kiss commercial, is absolutely perfect for Christmas.  Green, white, and red.  That either screams "ho ho ho" or Columbus Day.  Thanks to those tiny snow flakes, all confusion is erased and we're ready to dive into our bag of Christmas goodness.

What I've always liked about Hershey Kisses, especially around Christmas, is that they're exceptionally wrapped.  Look, Hershey could have won me over with all-green foil.  That would have been more than enough to make me happy.  But no, they added red and gold, too!  Now, when you pour these classics into a candy bowl, you actually have another decoration.  Up close, they look so good that you don't know if you should eat them or let them sit there for Santa to admire on Christmas Eve.  That's why Kisses have become so traditional in my family.  For years, they've been more about atmosphere than anything else.  Their imagery makes more of a memory than their flavor.

Just look at them for a second.  They're so Christmassy I could scream.  But I won't, because that would be girly and embarrassing.  The fact that I even wrote that knocks my man points down a few pegs, but I had to express my emotion and that was all I had.  I could go back and delete it, but then we wouldn't be able to laugh at how sad this paragraph is.  Anyway, admire them for another second before we begin to unwrap harder than Mark Summers.  Oh yeah..

The only difference between milk chocolate Hershey Kisses and Hershey Kisses with Almonds is.. you guessed it... the latter has almonds!  But don't scoff and X out of the Holidaze so quick!  That little almond makes all the difference.  Now every bite is different.  First, you may get all chocolate but, oh, wait, now I'm getting a little almond.  Now I have to actually chew more.  Yeah, now I'm on a roller coaster of flavor and emotion.  See, you can't discount that almond so fast.  That almond is like the unexpected.  Without it, life is just boring.

This bag is going second because I like it a lot better than the first and I always try to build up anticipation before disappointing you with the lack of anything important.  Here, we have Hershey Kisses Candy Cane.  Like the bag says, these little guys are mint candy with stripes and candy bits.  That, along with the unwrapped Kiss graphic, is just too awesome to pass up.  This bag is just yelling at you to buy it, experience a bit of winter, and, while you're at it, have an old-school barber cut your hair.

Unlike the bag of Hershey Kiss Almonds, the Hershey Kiss Candy Cane wrappers are all the same.  But that's not a bag thing, that's a good thing.  We're focusing on red and white stripes here so, really, anything else would just be stupid.  What they did with the traditional silver wrapper and red candy cane graphics is just enough to give you an illusion of a spiral.  As a fan of graphics, and somebody who appreciates the attention to detail, I really enjoy this bag of Kisses and their wrappers.

While the graphics and color scheme are great, I actually didn't know what to expect from their flavor.  I was thinking they'd fall somewhere between Junior Mints and Andes, but really wasn't sure.  However, I was pretty pumped to see what they looked like and give my taste buds a new sensation.  While you may have seen or tried these Kisses before, I haven't and I was looking forward to it.  Let's go!

Ehh... They're okay.  They're not great, but they're not bad.  My girlfriend said I should have taken a picture of a bitten Hershey Kiss Candy Cane so it would match the almond photo, but I didn't and, by the time she suggested it, I was too tired to take any more pictures.  Just trust me when I tell you that I tried these and wouldn't buy them again.  I liked the minty flavor, but I wasn't digging those candy bits.  What type of candy was that?  I thought they were candy cane pieces, because that made the most sense, but after looking closely, I can't be sure.  Either way, I'm done eating Hershey Kisses Candy Cane.  I'm just happy that they look awesome in, and out, of their wrapper.  I mean, really, look at how cool the Kisses are.  I'll knock how they taste, but no way will I knock that red and white design. 

As I mentioned, my favorite aspect of Hershey Kisses are the fact that they can be used to decorate your table.  They add an extra hint of Christmas that more extravagant decor doesn't deliver.  You can go out and buy the most expensive decorations you can find, but Hershey Kisses will always do their best to stand out even more.  Maybe that's the child, in all of us, who is still attracted to bright colors and candy.  I can't be sure, but I can bet you can't look at the above photo without feeling happy.  You're here because you love the holidays and, as the blog implies, Hershey Kisses will guarantee a Holidaze.

There are additional Hershey Kiss varieties that I've seen in stores since the time these photos were taken, but I've yet to pick them up.  I probably will, but haven't decided whether or not they're worth it yet.  If I do, you know they'll be here to check out.  For now, let's move on to my tongue's favorite.

We have two Hershey Bars to talk about here and, the first, is this milk chocolate Snowman.  Now, whenever I see a Christmas candy bar, I hesitate to buy it because I never know what to expect once it's unwrapped.  Even though I know what to expect in terms of taste, I've always enjoyed looking at the candy bar designs even more.  I used to hate opening a wrapper only to find the same, crappy, Hershey logo embedded into the bar.  But, if you wanted it, you had no other choice but to take the risk.  Either way, you were guaranteed a candy bar.

However, in this case, I never had to question the inside because the outside told me exactly what to expect.  This is where I really have to tip my Santa hat to Hershey.  They must be well aware that people, of all ages, appreciate the designs on candy bars because they advertised the fact that it was present right on their wrapper.  Way to go, Hershey people!

I just can't explain how happy that Snowman makes me.  He's the reason why I bought this bar at all and he was worth every penny.  Could you imagine how boring this would be without the design?  I love the wrapper, but no way will I support your product on a consistent basis if you're not willing to go the extra mile.  It's Christmas, guys!  It only comes once a year and is the greatest holiday of them all.  This snowman isn't really asking for much. 

I never tried the Cookies n Cream Hershey Bar before, but this Nutcracker enticed me with his mustache and seductive smile.  He wasn't taking no for an answer so, I knew, I just had to give this new flavor a shot.  I had always heard good things about Cookies n Cream candy and my girlfriends little brother goes crazy for it, so it was worth the minimal risk.  For the sake of the Nutcracker, it was time to get cracking.. poorly used pun intended.

Because it's white chocolate, you can't see the design as well as we could with the Snowman, but it's there and I'm happy about that more than whatever flavor I was about to experience.  After taking a bite, I'm pleasantly surprised.  I honestly didn't think I'd like it as much as I do.  It's not something I'd eat on a consistent basis, because I feel as though it's a bit overwhelming, but maybe that's because I'm new to white chocolate.  But overall, it's good and I'd recommend it to anybody who's never tried it.  I'm probably in the minority, but there may be a few nerds left out there.  If you're reading this blog, chances are it's you..

To conclude, I present to you a Christmas Tree I made out of Hershey Kisses.  Okay, I'll be honest, I was trying to make the Hershey Kisses look like one giant Kiss, but that wasn't working, so I'm calling it a tree instead.  Had I never told you, you'd never know, so now you know how honest I am.  So whenever I tell you to try something new, or buy a product you've never seen before, take my word for it and use this moment as your reference.  Now, check out my tree and enjoy your day!

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer Lip Balm

I remember seeing Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer Lip Balm last Christmas.  Featured then, we found Rudolph, Hermey, Clarice, and Bumble at Target.  They were all individually designed and colored.  They were really cool and, best of all, they were only a dollar each.  Now, I'm not a huge fan of chap stick, but I've always loved Rudolph so I knew they were a must-buy.  Luckily, we recently found two new 2011 packages of lip balm at Target and, once again, they just had to be bought.

I didn't have this blog last year, so I didn't take pictures of last year's lip balm, but I can tell you that this new packaging looks much better.  Once again, they're individually designed for each character and colored accordingly.  It's only fitting the Rudolph be decked out in red.  Any other color would just be silly.

Now, I'll admit, I don't know if there's a difference between lip balm and chapstick, but I don't think so.  If there is, then consider the following argument null and void, but I'm upset with the balm itself.  See, last year, the Rudolph chap stick was red.  What I mean is, the actual wax was a redish pink color.  That was the coolest part.  Rudolph was red, Hermey was yellow, Bumble was blue, and Clarice was pink.  That's how you do it!  But this year?  The lip balm is a pale blue..  Sure, I'll admit that pale blue works for a peppermint flavor, but I was expecting the red again.  Now, again, maybe that's because I have chap stick and lip balm mixed up.  I don't use either, so I wouldn't know, but I think somebody dropped the ball here.  However, the case is awesome and, for a dollar, I really can't complain when I never planned on using the balm anyway.

I used to always think that this little guy's name was Herbie, but it turns out I've been wrong all along.  His name is Hermey and he wants to be a dentist.  He doesn't really have a specific color, but I've always associated him with yellow because of his hair.  In this case, his package is all decked out in purple and I'll take that, too.  It looks cool and really brings out the character.  Of all the Rudolph characters, Hermey is in my top two.  It's a rat race between Hermey and Bumble for the top spot, but I'm unable to determine a clear winner.  It varies, but I can confidently knock Rudolph out of the top three.  Yukon owns the bronze in my book.

Unfortunately, the balm is still boring, but at least it gives me another opportunity to talk about it.  The one positive quality I'll point out is the fact that it's glittery.  I think the camera did a good job picking it up and I'm sure you can appreciate the shine.  However, with that positive comes a negative.  The peppermint flavor is disgusting.  It's like rubbing medicine on your lips.  I hate saying anything negative about these at all, because they're so cool looking, but I can't lie to you and say they taste great.  They don't, so if you're going to buy these, make sure you do it for the right reasons.

More than any other year, I've seen a vast variety of Rudolph merchandise in stores this season.  Since I've always been such a big fan of the Rankin-Bass classic, I love these two products and I can tell you this is only the beginning for the characters.  I'm sure I'll find more and write about it throughout the next month and a half.  In fact, I already have a few minor things that will probably be mentioned soon, if not this week.  It's great that these classic characters have been getting the star treatment more and more these past few years.  The Claymations are just as big of a part of Christmas as Santa Claus is for me and, every year, I look forward to their arrival.  This is a great start.

I don't know if there are any additional characters available, but I'd assume so.  Based on last year's experience, I'd bet that Bumble and Clarice were also released.  The dollar section at Target is so messy and unorganized that I was unable to find any lip balms other than these two, but I'll be sure to look again.  If you find any additional characters, let me know.  I could imagine them in my head, but seeing them in person would be much better.

Although I would have enjoyed finding Bumble Lip Balm, I did find something else..

Bumble Peppermint Glitter Body Lotion!

This was stranded all alone just waiting to be found.  I walked right by it, but my girlfriend saw it right away.  It's pretty cool and gives you a good idea as to what the Bumble Lip Balm would look like if it exists.  The lotion is obviously made by the same company and that company obviously loves peppermint.  I guess that's the most appropriate scent to give Bumble, as it reminds people of the cool air, but I appreciate originality much more.  Either way, I'm just happy to have it.  It doesn't smell good at all and, like the lip balm, should not be purchased for what's inside.  No, in this case, trust me, it's what's on the outside that counts.  Buy these because you love Rudolph and don't mind spending three bucks on Christmassy collectibles.

Andes Candies

I don't know if Andes are specifically released for Christmas, but I never see them in stores until November rolls around.  I could just be missing them, or they may simply be moved over to the Christmas section of Walgreens, but I've only ever eaten Andes Candies during the Holiday Season.  So, regardless of whether or not they're Christmas candy, they're still Christmassy to me, which is why they're being featured today.

Andes remind me of when I was a child.  I can't pinpoint exact moments in time, or pull out specific memories from my mind, but I know they were prevalent during the Christmas season.  I remember my Grandmother having them in and I think that may be why they're so important to the holidays.  There's just something about that chocolatey mint flavor that brings back a rush of Christmas.  For years, we've had them at Christmas parties and on the table during the chilly months of Fall and Winter.  The package isn't designed for Christmas at all, yet it means just as much to me as those that are completely decked out.

As soon as you take the box of Andes out from the bag, you're smacked in the face by the hand of Mint.  You can't see him, but he's there.  Mint awaits you inside that bag and as soon as you unleash the beast, he hits you hard.  But don't worry, that's a good thing.  The smell is strong and overwhelming.  It's a burst of December in a bag that I love so much.  So much, in fact, that we recently purchased a Mint Chocolate candle from Bath and Body Works to enhance the Holidaze even more.  However, I won't lie, this smell reminds me of a night club just as much as it does Christmas.  That's a memory I didn't have as a child, but I also had no idea what a Mojito was.

I try to take my own pictures and post them on the blog, but my camera, flash, and lighting were not cooperating with the unwrapped Andes candy.  So, credit for the photo above goes to Google Images.  While it may not be mine, my candy doesn't look any different.  It's exactly the same and tastes great.  Because Andes are so classic, I'd assume you already know what they taste like but, if not, you need to go out and buy these.  If you've ever had mint chocolate chip ice cream, then you know what to expect.  They're really good, but I won't lie and say that my personal memories don't make Andes even better.  They do, but they were a part of my family's tradition for a reason and, if you try, I'm sure you can make Andes a part of yours, too!

Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes

When it comes to cake, especially little cakes, Little Debbie always seems to be the first release of the season.  Back in September, the Fall Tree Cakes were one of my first topics of discussion for the Halloween Holidaze season.  Continuing with their tradition, Little Debbie has, once again, released their Christmas Tree Cakes and, believe it or not, I found these at Wal-Mart on October 29th.  Talk about early!

I'm loving the box.  It's very similar to the Fall Tree Cake box, but obviously a lot better.  Even though Christmas Tree's are traditionally green, I like the fact that these Tree Cakes are white.  They stand out so much more, especially against the red background.  Plus, what's better?  We have Santa Claus on the box!  In a day and age where so many production companies attempt to avoid being holiday specific, Little Debbie defies their logic.  This screams Christmas and it's why I love it so much.

When it comes to box art, I'm a big fan of the small things.  As with all holidays, it's the little things that stand out and leave the biggest impact.  In this case, look at what Santa is leaving under the Christmas Tree this year.  Yep, for all the good boys and girls, Santa is bringing you a box of Little Debbie Honey Buns!  I just think that's awesome.  I like the fact that somebody, somewhere, thought "Oh man, I'm gonna have Santa hold our own products!"  It's genius!  Now, if only we knew what was in the other box.  He wrapped that one for a reason and we may never know why.  Not knowing what else Santa has for us will have me up all night.

In person, the Christmas Tree Cake is exactly as pictured on the box.  Sometimes, you'll open up a box like this, and the cake will barley resemble the advertisement.  I guess that can be said for many products, but not this one.  This Christmas Tree Cake looks as if I took it right off the box.  There are no surprises and every one of them can be used as their own decoration.

As I've said in the past, I'm really not too fond of cake.  I've purchased a few varieties over the past three months for Holidaze purposes but, regularly, I'd avoid cake.  But, I gotta tell ya, these are really good.  Just like the Fall Tree Cakes, I could eat these all day.  I'm sure a lot of it has to do with the fact that I instantly associate this cake with Christmas, but overall, they taste great.  I have to give it up to Little Debbie.  They are, once again, the first to release Christmas themed products and, at the same time, were able to maintain flavor.  For that reason alone, you should go out an pick these up.  Trust me, if I'm suggesting cake, then it's gotta be pretty good!

If I haven't convinced you to go out and buy the Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes yet, then I doubt the back of the box is going to push you over the edge.  However, you know I have to show you these cool gift tags.  See, Little Debbie didn't have to do anything else.  They could have given us that Honey Bun Santa and called it a day, but they went the extra mile and gave us five gift tags to celebrate the season.  They all feature snow people who are more than happy to get the 15-minutes of fame.  I assume Little Debbie wants us to tag these to the Christmas Tree Cakes, but I'm definitely not going to do that.  But that's a great idea for kids who bring things into school for Christmas parties or those who want to give really crappy gifts.  That's up to you.  As for me, these probably won't be used, but I appreciate the effort, anyway.  Great job, Little Deb!

Winter Oreo Cookies

One of my most popular entries during the Halloween season was my post about Halloween Oreo Cookies.  I'm really not surprised, though.  Oreo's are classic, taste great, and it's always an awesome feeling to find that they've changed the creme filling color.  So, since that entry received the most hits, I'm going to bring out this big gun early.  Nabisco has done it again and, this time, it's for Christmas!

I actually like the Christmas package art much better than the Halloween art we discussed last month.  It's very Christmassy without being Christmassy at all.  They never mention the holiday, and stick with the "Winter" theme, which is obviously an attempt to make sure nobody is excluded.  I'm cool with that, because we all know what they're really thinking.  They don't have to say "Christmas" to let us know the deal.  We see them winking at us.  Everybody knows it's all about Christmas this time of year.  Even that jolly old snowman is smirking at us.

Except for the fact that I still see the Halloween Monster I drew last month, these Winter Oreo Cookies look amazing in their bag.  The red creme really stands out much more than the classic white or Halloween orange.  I think, when it comes to a Winter theme, they probably should have colored the creme blue, but I like the red better, anyway.  Again, they're giving you the inclination that this is for the Christmas lovers.  It's like they said "Hey, we can't be too obvious with red and green, so we'll meet ya halfway."  I see you, Nabisco!

You'll probably have to enlarge the photo to really get a good look at the "Four Fun Winter Shapes," but they are as follows -- The Gingerbread Man, a Snowflake, a pair of Ice Skates, and the Snowman.  Again, none are designated to any specific holiday so, if you're celebrating Kwanzaa, you're more than welcome to devour these Oreo cookies as long as you enjoy winter.  That's the only precondition.  I just set it.

I'm really loving the red creme.  The flavor is the same but the red is just so bright.  It's one of those things that I can just stare at for hours, or at least minutes, without getting bored.  Holiday Oreo Cookies are a great example of what puts you in a Holidaze.  They're mesmerizing and everything about them, from the bag to the creme, is perfect for the season.

Swiss Miss Marshmallow Madness

See how my banner is red and green?  See how it represents Christmas so well in it's scheme?  Well, good, because that's about as Christmassy as this entry is going to get.  See, Swiss Miss Marshmallow Madness has nothing to do with the holidays, but hot chocolate does.  In my family, hot chocolate (I refuse to call it cocoa or even spell coco) has become a traditional drink of choice around this time of year.  I'm not a big coffee drinker, except for Dunkin' Donuts iced coffee, so I look forward to having cups of hot chocolate and mini marshmallows every fall and winter.  That's what this entry is about.  However, unlike previous years, we're changing things up with this new special edition and, in a second, you'll see why..

Rainbow Marshmallows!!  Now you understand the madness!  This was just too cool to pass up, especially because my girlfriend wanted it so bad.  It's pretty awesome and, since the flavor doesn't change, it was an obvious upgrade over the boring, old, white marshmallows.  I just wish this box was themed for Christmas, anyway.  I know it wasn't intended for the season, but it would have been even better had the marshmallows been red and green.  Either way, we're satisfied

In an attempt to make things Christmassier, (which is now a word,) we had to use the gingerbread and candy canes coffee mug.  But that's simply not enough, so I'm making a story up in my head.  Here it is:  To enhance the Holidaze, Santa Claus and Swiss Miss join forces during the season.  In order to meet the high demand for hot chocolate every winter, Santa's elves work hard to keep up production.  Only, this year, something went wrong.  One of the elves, named Timmy, accidentally spilled food coloring into the batch of white marshmallows!  Santa was angry at first, but Swiss Miss loved the rainbow marshmallows so much that they decided to hire Timmy as their creative director and extend a deal with Santa for the next five years.  Thanks to Timmy, we get to enjoy our Swiss Miss Marshmallow Madness.

What a geek I am..

Whether you drink hot chocolate because it reminds you of Christmas, or just because it tastes good, this is definitely a box you should pick up.  Look at how colorful that cup of Ho' Cho' looks!  Rainbow marshmallows beat out white ones every time, so you have to try 'em.  Now, if you do, I bet you won't be able to forget about Timmy.  No matter how many times you tell yourself that you won't give that nerdy blog writer any credit, little Timmy the Elf will always be attached to your Swiss Miss Marshmallow Madness.  Mission accomplished :)  Enjoy, Holidazers..