The 2015 Holidaze Halloween Countdown Begins!

Ladies and gentlemen, boils and ghouls, there is a foreboding spirit among us.  There is a presence that has not been felt in quite some time which has returned to revel in the ominous atmosphere of October.  On this day, a ghoulish phantom resurrects in celebration of the most fantastic season of all.  Yes, my friends, the time has finally come.  Welcome, foolish mortals, to the 2015 Holidaze Halloween Countdown!

Fruit Punch Oreo Cookies

In the day and age of social media, new products are often discovered by Insta-friends and Twitter-buds before I ever knew they existed.  On one hand, it's amazing that we have such a connection that allows us the opportunity to share things we may have missed on our own.  But, on the other hand, the days of walking into a store and feeling as if you were the first to ever find something are fleeting.  It's been quite a while since I found a product and said, "Whoa, why have I never seen this before?"  Remember those days?  Well, last night was one of those nostalgic nights for me.  My girlfriend and I made a run to Wal-Mart, as if we were Maggie and Glen, in hopes of finding something unique for Easter.  My hopes weren't very high, but something immediately caught my eye (that rhymed!).  I moved passed the automatic doors, looked to my left, and saw those yellow Oreo bags that I've come to know and love.  No, not the "Golden Oreo" bags, but the much more special "limited edition" bags reserved for only the best of wild and crazy flavors.  But what was this?  I was a bit far away and hoped that it wasn't a Watermelon re-release or something else I've tried before, so I approached with caution.  I noticed a giant red ball behind the logo and as it got clearer, I knew exactly what this was -Fruit Punch!!  Yes, if the giant design above didn't already tip you off, there is yet another limited-edition Oreo flavor and it is, amazingly, FRUIT PUNCH!

The first thing that went through my mind was, "Wow, how the hell has this not been posted on Instagram yet?"  My second thought was, "Fruit punch? That's verrrry interesting and, oh yeah, you're coming home with me."  I was pumped!  Not only did I find something new without any type of heads up, but I absolutely love anything Fruit Punch flavored.  I can't tell you how many Frooties I've eaten in my life because I used to buy giant jars of the Fruit Punch flavored tootsie rolls.  Now, don't get me wrong, I had no idea how this would translate into a cookie, but I couldn't wait to find out and share it all with you.  So, the first thing I did was snap a picture and post it on Instagram.  I was so excited, I put it on both accounts - The Holidaze and my personal gram!

As expected, the photo received a lot of attention but, to my surprise, most of it was negative.  Many of you think that Nabisco has gone too far and may have lost their minds.  Others said that they need to quit it with these crazy flavors.  More said that this is enough and it needs to stop.  To be honest with you, this shocked me.  I've said it before and I'll say it again - I LOVE the limited edition Oreo flavors simply for the fact that they're always bringing us something new.  Don't get me wrong, not every one of their flavors have been a hit, but why in the world would I want Nabisco to stop?  At the end of the day, they're giving me a product that nobody else is offering and continues to change things up as the seasons change.  It's not like these cookies are replacing traditional Oreo cookies, so why are people complaining?  These are simply bonus additions to the flavors and varieties that Nabisco is already offering.  I'll never have a problem with that!  How many times have I asked a company to go above and beyond, to go that extra mile, to enhance the consumers' experience and give them something to talk about?  That's what Nabisco is doing and they're hitting a home run, at least in terms of reaction, each and every time.  So if anybody from Nabisco is reading this - Don't stop!  Keep 'em coming!

Open up the bag and, wow, the scent is undoubtedly the strongest of any limited edition Oreo cookies I've purchased thus far.  It's as if I just threw a silver pouch of Capri Sun on the floor and mixed the splatter with Fruit Punch Snapple.  That might not make any sense, but the Fruit Punch aroma and the strength that comes with it is so amazing that it doesn't need to!  Granted, it helps if you're a fan of Fruit Punch, but I am and can't get enough of the sweet smell!  To go with it, another one of our senses is rocked by the bright pink/red colored creme in the middle.  It could be the rise in temperature, but these remind me of Spring and are perfect for its arrival.

I've been writing about limited edition Oreo cookies since they first released the Candy Corn variety and, in that time, I've learned something very important.  So many consumers go into these experiences with false expectations.  When you hear the word "Oreo," you think of two chocolate wafers connected by a white, frosted, creme.  Traditional Oreos have a very distinct taste and flavor and many feel it shouldn't be tampered with.  If anything, you accept and draw the line at "Golden Oreo" cookies and call it a day.  I get it, I understand that, but that's not what these Oreo cookies are.  These are something entirely different and should be embraced for what they are, not what you think they should be or what you're comparing them to.  Look at it this way, if Nabisco didn't attach the Oreo brand with the Fruit Punch cookie flavor, would it still be "gross?"  I don't think so and it's because so many are diving in with preconceived notions.  From day one, I separated "tradition" from "limited-edition" and welcomed every new flavor in a different way.  Look at them as flavored cookies rather than flavored Oreos because, if you don't, you may always think that Nabisco is crossing the line and messing with a product you and I love so much.

Now, for as objective as I am when reviewing these limited-edition flavors, I knew I'd be a bit biased this time because, as I said, I love Fruit Punch flavored things.  I'm still hoping for a re-release of Cap'n Crunch Punch Crunch, but won't hold my breath.  For these cookies, I was skeptical, but believed they'd impress me and, thankfully, they lived up to my own hype.  These Fruit Punch Oreo cookies are simply awesome and, so far, they're my favorite of any limited-edition Oreo varieties I've reviewed in the past.  Yes, they're sweet - very sweet - but that's what separates them from the rest for me.  As you're chewing these cookies, your taste buds are taken for a ride as the levels of Fruit Punch intensity go up and down.  Okay, I might be getting a bit carried away over a damn cookie, but I'm very happy to have found these and even happier that Nabisco came up with this idea.  If you like Fruit Punch as much as I do, you're going to love these.

But the best way to describe the creme flavor?  What a perfect time for a segue way!

I'm willing to bet money that, as soon as you smell these Fruit Punch Oreo cookies and chomp into one, you're going to think of bubble gum.  For me, it was Bubblicious: Tropical Fruit.  I spent years of my childhood going down to the corner store and spending whatever little money I had on different packs of Bubblicious.  Tropical Fruit was always one of my favorites and is, without a doubt, extremely close to that of Fruit Punch Oreo.  Obviously you're not going to blow a bubble with creme so, again, don't let your preconceived notions misguide you into believing something that isn't true.  The flavor is close, but it's not like they threw a piece of gum in between two Oreo cookies.  It's a totally different experience but, ironically, I found a brand new (new to me) Hubba Bubba Hawaiian Punch pack near the cashier's line.  Fruit Punch was last night's theme and this was another must-buy.

Does this new Hubba Bubba Bubble Gum actually taste like Hawaiian Punch?  Oh yeeeeaaahhh!  Did you read that like the Kool-Aid Man?  No, two different brands, I wanted you to read that like Macho Man Randy Savage.  If you didn't, it's all good and that's on me for crossing the streams.  But look, if you try this gum and Fruit Punch Oreos in the same night, you're going to find that the flavor is exactly the same while the texture makes all the difference.  They're both delicious, but each provide different experiences.  Hawaiian Punch?  I'll take that in small and moderate doses.  But the Fruit Punch Oreos?  I'm eating them as I type this and am already planning on picking up another bag.  It's possible that I'm in the minority, but I love the Fruit Punch Oreo cookies and can't wait to see what else Nabisco has up their sleeves!

Cap'n Crunch - Sprinkled Donut Crunch

It's March 11th, it's absolutely beautiful outside and the snow is finally melting.  I think that's as good a reason as any to bounce back and write a new post for The Holidaze.  It's surely been a while - almost a month - and I hate when the downfalls take place.  It's common this time of year, but it aggravates me when I can't find new topics or the time to cover them.  If you follow me on Instagram @HolidazeBlog, you might have already seen today's topic posted and, surprisingly, it caught a lot of attention and increased my number of followers by more than expected.  So if you're not one of them yet, make sure you are one now!  During the "off-season," I find myself focusing more on social media and pictures than the site itself.  It's quick and easy!  Now.. Let's get into the crunch - Cap'n Crunch's Sprinkled Donut Crunch, that is!

Like many of the new products I cover and am interested in, I first discovered this on Instagram and was thrilled to find out it wasn't an elaborate hoax.  Why does new cereal intrigue me so much?  I think it's because I've never had a really bad cereal and they all bring something different to the breakfast table.  Growing up, it was all I ate.  Whether it was the early morning or a late night snack while watching Nick-at-Nite, nothing's better than a bowl of cereal and milk.  This past weekend, I was sick with a cold and didn't have an appetite for much, but cereal is something I've never not been in the mood for.  So yeah, new boxes and flavors will always attract my attention and, really, Cap'n Crunch always has something new up his sleeve to entice us with.

I knew Donut Crunch would look cool, but I didn't think it would look that awesome.  The tiny donuts, covered in rainbow sprinkles, look too good to be considered cereal.  They're also pretty big.  I was expecting them to be the size of Cheerios, but they're more like Cheerios on steroids.  I was impressed by them in every way and they were already living up to my expectations.  In terms of flavor, they're hard to describe, but there's definitely a distinct donut flavor.  They remind me plain and glazed Entenmann's donuts that come in variety boxes.  There's also a hint of birthday cake flavor thrown in that works really well.  I think we can attribute that to the sprinkles.  Overall, these little rings of Heaven are great and worth every penny.  It's your traditional Cap'n Crunch undertone covered in Donuttiness.  Not a word?  Now it is!

Before I conclude, I think this little bit of info is important for those interested in trying Sprinkled Donut Crunch.  According to various reviews I've read, especially on TheImpulsiveBuy, this new cereal is very similar to that of Sprinkle Spangles.  They were star-shaped sprinkled bits that I vaguelyyyy remember and most of my memory is sparked by Google images so I can't confirm or deny, but if you were a fan of Sprinkle Spangles, this may be the return you've been waiting for.  It's an added bonus to this limited-edition and it may be better than any premium they could have thrown in the box.

Based on my research, Cap'n Crunch has released a plethora of limited-edition flavors in the past and I'd absolutely love to give them a try if ever resurrected.  It looks like I missed out on a bunch before my time, but just look at these names - Punch Crunch, Vanilly Crunch, Polar Crunch, Choco Crunch, Deep Sea Crunch, and Volcano Crunch - whoaa!!  I remember a few, but never tried them.  I'm particularly intrigued by Fruit Punch flavored cereal, but they all sound awesome.  So if Sprinkle Spangles can come back for all of you, I'm holding out hope that a few others return for me.  In the meantime, Sprinkled Donut Crunch is a hit!

P.S.  St. Patrick's Day is less than a week away, so get ready for a few posts here and there celebrating the color green, shamrocks, leprechauns, beer, and - oh, right - my heritage :)

Marshmallow Crispy Oreo Cookies

Back again with part two of the new limited-edition Oreo flavor reviews.  Hopefully you enjoyed reading all about the Cookie Dough Oreo cookies because we're about to see how they match up against the new Marshmallow Crispy Oreo cookies.  When I first read about these, I overlooked the flavor name and thought they were "marshmallow" flavored.  That didn't entice me at all because I'm not a fan of marshmallows and usually only have them in the house when we're making marshmallow treats.  Well, what a perfect segue way, because that's exactly what these Oreo cookies really are.  There's a huge difference between "marshmallow" and "marshmallow crispy."  Once I actually took the time and paid attention to the name, I was pretty pumped for these, even more so than the Cookie Dough Oreos!

It wasn't even the name that turned my thoughts around, but that giant marshmallow treat in the background.  As soon as I saw that, I knew what these were supposed to be.  That's proper usage of graphic design and I appreciate that Nabisco went two different routes for two very different flavors.  While Cookie Dough was a chocolate cookie in a blue bag, Crispy Marshmallow is a golden cookie in a yellow bag.  I think that's the appropriate route for each respective flavor because the opposite just wouldn't work.  Besides, I personally like the traditional Golden Oreo cookies better, so this one raised my hopes pretty high.  Are they too high?  Will my expectations be met, exceeded, or will it all come dwindling down?

Open the bag and, whoa, these smell just like marshmallow treats.  Specifically, these smell like the pre-packaged Rice Krispie Treats that you can buy in stores.  That's exactly what I was hoping for so, already, we're going in the right direction.  The Cookie Dough Oreos started to fizzle as soon as we opened the bag and realized it wasn't living up to its name or the hype, but Marshmallow Crispy isn't disappointing, at least not yet, and that's a great sign for this limited-edition flavor.

The creme is thick and creamy, even more so than the Cookie Dough flavor or any other limited-edition that I can remember.  I'm not sure what those tiny pieces in the mix are supposed to be, but there are more than enough of them.  Are they pieces of marshmallow treats?  Are the Rice Krispies?  The bag doesn't state one way or the other, but I can only assume that they're supposed to make this cookie taste more like "Marshmallow Crispy" treats.  Let's find out!

The entire cookie practically falls apart when you bite into it, and I guess that's because there's so much creme, but the amount of creme really doesn't matter because this is a far stretch from a marshmallow treat.  This tastes like nothing more than a basic Golden Oreo cookie.  I mean, maybe you get little hints of marshmallow treats here and there, but that may just be me making things up in my head to justify this purchase.  Those little pieces in the center aren't even anything special, they're just tiny chunks of Golden Oreo cookies.  Even as somebody who isn't a fan of marshmallows, I would have hoped and expected for more of a marshmallow taste than this.  It just doesn't work.

Because I recommend purchasing every and all limited-edition Oreo cookies, just so they'll keep making more, I'm going to do the same for this one.  However, I think you'll agree that there's nothing special aside from the packaging and smell.  After that, it's just the same old cookie you could buy all year-round.  It's disappointing because I had such high hopes for each of these cookie flavors, but neither blew me away.  If I had to pick one over the other, Cookie Dough easily wins in terms of difference and novelty.  But in terms of flavor, I'm still picking Marshmallow Crispy Oreos just because I'd see myself eating more of these in the long run.

I'm sure we'll see more limited-edition Oreo cookies in the near future, and even when they're disappointing, that's never a bad thing.  I love the thrill of searching and finally finding these flavors.  I love the excitement that comes with tasting these and sharing my thoughts with all of you.  Whether they're a hit or a miss, I appreciate Nabisco trying new things with their famous brand of Oreo cookies and attempting to give us all something we never expected.  So, good or bad, keep 'em coming because, like it or not, I'm going to keep on buying.

Poppin' Pebbles Cereal

September and October are always my favorite months to write for The Holidaze.  There's a whole bunch of candy, junk, and fun events to cover that I just get lost in the sensation of it all.  Then, once it all comes to a rapid conclusion, I tend to lose my passion and overlook Christmas.  Thankfully, 2013 was different and I managed to get a few posts up and, overall, they were a lot of fun.  But because of my recent track record, I honestly didn't expect myself to write very often after New Year's Eve.  Even I figured, oh well, this is the time of year when Cliff checks out and leaves the tens of readers hanging.  In my unjustified defense, there's usually not much to talk about.  But this year is going to be different!  Like I said in my last post (and this past Summer,) 2014's goal is to make, and do, something to talk about and share it here on the site.  Plus, 8 days into the year and we're already seeing awesome new products, especially in the cereal aisle!  That's what we're talking about today!

 

Poppin' Pebbles Cereal!!

The power of social media is second to none and thanks to my buddy Chase, this brand new variety of Fruity Pebbles was brought to my attention.  While I've had my eyes on a few other cereal releases, to hopefully be discussed later, I somehow overlooked Poppin' Pebbles and almost missed out on such a cool concept.  Chase came up clutch with a  great find and an even better Instagram share which led me to scour the stores for this insanely creative box art.  Bam Bam and Pebbles popping pebbles?  I'll take that over Miley popping Mollies any day of the week.  But, alas, I came up short and couldn't find it.

Then, last night, my girlfriend texts me and says she has a surprise on the table for when I get out of work.  So many things ran through my mind, and cereal wasn't very high on the list of expectations, but man was I happy.  Definitely happier than a grown man should be over a hot pink cereal box, but not to the point where I care about being judged.  Do so if you must, but It's cereal that fizzes in your mouth!  Whaat?

Unlike Fruity Pebbles cereal, which is a favorite of mine, Poppin' Pebbles isn't rainbow colored.  Purple and pink are the primary Poppin' Pebbles colors and I'm so happy to have just been that alliterative.  I'm like the Jay-Z of cereal reviews and candy news.  Oh snap!  Okay, if I can be serious for a moment, I love the brightness and shades of colors incorporated here.  If they had waited another month to release this cereal, It could have easily passed for a Limited Valentine's Day Edition.  It's perfect for February 14th and I may just hold on to some for a future post.  Regardless, the berry flavored grains aren't what attracts me to this cereal and it's definitely not what kids will remember this for.  Nope, this is all about the little green balls of fizz!

I really like the berry taste because it reminds me of a lighter Boo Berry, but those green balls are amazing.  It's like the Green Goblin invaded Bedrock and dropped bombs on Fred and Barney for our edible enjoyment.  Does that make sense?  Nope, not at all, but when you put these in your mouth and bite down, you'll know exactly what I mean.  These things explode and pop like miniature Pop Rocks.  The more you chew them, the stronger and more intense they become.  I let the oats sit there and bounce around as if there were a tiny ice storm in my mouth.  Combine it with berry flavored Pebbles and you've got a hit on your hands.

There are not many Poppin' Pieces in the box of cereal, but no less than there are marshmallows in a box of Yummy Mummy.  You don't want an overload because these things are really strong and too many would ruin the magic.  The berry cereal is very good and just a few small bombs are enough to give you the best of both worlds.  I was very happy with the amount found in the box and I think kids will be, too.  I'm sure will be that one 8-year-old rebel who pours nothing but Poppin' Pieces into his bowl but.... actually, that's not a bad idea.  Leave it to the 26-year-old to think that's a good idea.  I'm not going to do it, but it'll make a memory for somebody and that's what I love about this Poppin' Pebbles cereal.  This is one that children are going to remember.  One day, when they're all grown up, two kids from today are going to talk and strike up a conversation about Poppin' Pebbles cereal.  "Ohh man, remember that?  Remember how they popped in your mouth?"  Embrace moments like this because they become the moments like that.  Makes this cereal worth every penny.

Peppermint M&M's

It just seems like they're constantly releasing new M&M flavors!  I'm sure you've seen these before, because I know I have, but The Holidaze is behind on the Christmas times so I want to cover as much as I can in the short amount of time we have left.  If we're going to celebrate the season, we need to talk about everything - big and little - even if they've been released in the past.  Because next year, if these are discontinued, we can say we mentioned them.  For example, did you know there were Sugar Cookie Twix, last year?  I sure as hell didn't and now I regret missing out on the now extinct greatness!

When I first heard about these white chocolate peppermint M&M's, I was searching the Internet for various Christmas products.  This stood out to me because I couldn't find them and, on Ebay, they were selling for $15 a bag.  Really?  Were they that rare?  Was I gonna have to splurge on a bag of candy that I may not even like?  The answer is... no.  They're easy to find and readily available, somebody was just trying to cash in.  I'm sure somebody, somewhere, was suckered into the trap.  If they're reading The Holidaze, I hope they know I found stacks and stacks of Peppermint M&M's at Target.  Sorry, bud.. I was almost you.

I like how much they're using the snarky, sarcastic, red M&M to sell their products.  Out of all their characters, he's the closest thing to a used car salesman.  He gives you a smirk, points out the beauty of his candy, throws on a Santa hat to welcome your friendship, then charges you $15 for a bag you could have had for $3.  Isn't that how it goes?  He's good, and I like him, but I'll say it again - he needs a name.  I'm tired of calling him "The Red M&M."  I don't even like "Red," I just want him to have a traditional name like Joe or Bob.  It's funnier.. What would you name Red?

These were obviously going to be red and white colored and anything different would have been a disappointment and epic fail.  We knew that wouldn't happen, and that's a good thing because these are perfect for the season.  Everything from the bag design to the candy coating is red and white and emits a true feeling of winter.  You'd think blue would do a better job than red, but not when it's paired with white.  Peppermint is probably the number one Christmas flavor and nothing does it better than the Candy Cane.  Hence, red and white M&M's.  How come this stuff was never mentioned in College?  I could write pages and pages on the color of candy but couldn't write a paragraph about "The Great Gatsby."  Grown up, baby!

Usually, whenever I try these white chocolate + random flavor concoctions, I don't taste anything out of the ordinary.  Use the Candy Corn M&M's as the perfect example.  However, this time, they really hit the nail on the head and did a great job!  These are, without a doubt, my favorite Holiday M&M's and it's with good reason - the truly taste like Peppermint!  Yeah, there's the subtle hint of white chocolate, and that's to be expected, but it's not overwhelming and walks the line perfectly.  

So if you're only going to buy one of the 472 M&M flavors this season, I'd make this the winner.  They look and taste like Christmas and that's enough to make up for those damn Pumpkin Spice M&M's last October.

Chips Ahoy Holiday Cookies

Well, Christmas is only 5 days away and I've hardly posted at all this holiday season.  Believe me, I tried.  I have a bunch of junk sitting in my kitchen that will probably never see the light of technological day.  But like I've said before, work is obviously my top priority and for as much as I would like this to be more than just a hobby, it unfortunately is nothing more.  Since my last post, I've worked over 134 hours and slept the rest away.  Needless to say, my own holiday season took a major hit, but cue the annoying Rebecca Black song because "It's Friday.. Friday.." and I wanna get down on The Holidaze!

These Chips Ahoy Holiday Cookies aren't anything new.  In fact, I can't remember a Christmas season without them and, for that reason, they're tradition.  There's just something about a bag of cookies, decked out in their best holiday outfit, that screams Christmas and enhances the season.  There are so many ways to go with the package design.  Red bag, green bag, gold bag, you name it.  But I like that they went with a classic white bag covered in light blue snowflakes because it makes everything else pop off the bag.  Most importantly, the logo and "Holiday" text need to be displayed and they are, perfectly.

As a kid, I was a big fan of and lured in by package design, I just didn't know it at the time.  Kids are attracted to shiny objects and bright colors.  They like anything that stands out and is different than the everyday products they're used to.  To this day, I swear that's why I became so obsessed with TMNT figures - the box art!  As an adult, I'm still just as attracted as I ever was, but I'm now aware of the fact that I'm being lured in by pretty designs and change in appearances.  Let's face it, there's nothing different about this cookie other than a bag and the red & green candy coated chips.  But do I want it? Oh hell yeah and that's exactly why Chips Ahoy placed their cookie so prominently on the bag.  Stupid kids, right?

I always have Halloween and Christmas battle it out for Holidaze supremacy but, in the case of Chips Ahoy cookies, I think Christmas steals the battle.  There's just something about a bag of chocolate chip cookies that represents the season so well.  After all, Santa doesn't come around looking for Candy Corn or Frankenberry, he wants cookies and lots of them.  If they're baked, fresh out from the oven and warm, then even better.  I think that's at least an extra four presents.  With this full bag, there's no way you're making the naughty list - just be sure to share with the man in red.

When it comes to holiday packaging, I honestly couldn't care less about what holiday they're celebrating, representing, or targeting.  I'm not one of those guys who believes religion should be ignored or prohibited, but I also understand why so many companies choose to be less specific.  So, when I saw the big "Merry Christmas" in the top right corner, I was surprised.

Then, I looked even closer and found "Happy Hanukkah."  I think that's absolutely awesome.  Instead of ignoring the two major holidays, Nabisco chose to celebrate them both and incorporate their traditional colors.  For somebody like me, who hates seeing the religious aspects of this season ignored, it means a lot to see them supported and recognized.  Good for you, Nabisco.  But those Kwanza peeps are going to be maaaaad!

Quick post, but anything I have left in the tank between now and Christmas probably will be, too.  I just don't have the time.  I have family parties, shopping to be done, wrapping, and my own personal Christmas traditions.  You know how it is!  It's a busy busy time of year!  But hopefully I can provide you with a few more posts featuring a whole lot of useless information.  Until next time, go buy these Chips Ahoy cookies and celebrate as many holidays as you can with every bite.

Gingerbread TWIX

First off, let me just say - Happy December!! Only 24 days to go, friends!

Now, when I first starting searching for new, and not-so-new, holiday items, the first two to pop out at me were pretty damn awesome.  The first were those ever-so popular Gingerbread M&M's.  But the second, and even more enticing to me than the former, were Gingerbread Twix!!

I'm a big fan of Twix cookie bars, and we'll get into that a bit more in a later post, so I was pumped to see that they were releasing a limited-edition Gingerbread variety.  I looked everywhere to find them and it seemed as though they were becoming more allusive than the yet-to-be found Gingerbread Oreo cookies.  I looked to Ebay, but couldn't justify spending so much money on a bag of candy during what's already such an expensive season.  So, I gave it some time, kept my fingers crossed, and eventually found these babies at Target.  At first, I walked right by them because they blended in so well with the traditional bag, but those smiling Gingerbread men didn't let me get far.

When you take a closer look at the packaging, it's very well done while remaining true to the traditional Twix color and style.  They've added a few swirls to represent the caramel and, of course, two very festive Gingerbread men all decked out in their decorative icing for the holidays.  Although I missed them at first, it's hard to imagine how I could.  As such a big fan of packaging and graphic design, this is something I shouldn't miss at all.

Besides design, I always talk about going the extra mile and, yes, Twix definitely added that little bit extra and it goes a long way.  Take a look at the metallic Twix wrapper.  Not only is it brown and shiny, which is to be expected from Twix, but they added tiny Gingerbread men to the design!  You have to look closely when you purchase your own bag, because this picture actually makes them pop much more than the human eye, but they're there and they're beautiful.  It adds so much to the season.  Now, I don't feel like I'm about to open a regular mini Twix bar, I feel like it's something special and for the holidays.  It doesn't take much to do what Twix did and takes even less to make this nerd happy :)

Looking at the Twix cookie bar, you wouldn't expect anything out of the ordinary.  It looks traditional, but there is a faint smell of Gingerbread and it's enough to let you know that the season is upon us.  Now, I'm a fan of Gingerbread, so I was expecting greatness, but if you like Gingerbread the way I like Pumpkin Spice, then you should probably stop reading right now ;)

Gingerbread is gingerbread, but there are different levels and varieties and this one falls very high on the list of "extreme" gingerbread.  At first, even I wasn't sure what to think.  I actually didn't like them after the first few bites and that surprised me.  But, I realized, it's because I was expecting a traditional Twix flavor and that was throwing me off.  I've never had any Twix outside of the classics, so it's odd biting into one and tasting something that your mind says shouldn't be there.  But believe me, once I had my tastebuds talk to my mind and convince him that this is all going to be okay, it was awesome.  I just had one as I typed this to re-affirm my love for Gingerbread Twix and we're in the clear.  They're a bit bitter, maybe taste more like cinnamon than gingerbread, but it works and it works wonderfully.  I'm not sure if I like these more than the Gingerbread M&M's, but if you like gingerbread, you really can't go wrong with either one of these brands.  Pick 'em both up, have a taste test, throw a party, and enjoy the new candy gifted to us this Christmas.  It's the little things, really :)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Fruit Snacks

When I was a kid, there was no cooler cartoon than the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  I've briefly talked about it in the past, but I was obsessed with them and my parents spoiled me with every piece of merchandise they released.  In the 90s, that meant a full line of TMNT action figures, clothes, games, cards, seasonal items, stickers, lunch boxes, cereal, pies, ice cream and fruit snacks.  That's just to name a few and, believe me, I had it all!  I am very fortunate to have had an amazing childhood, which probably explains why I never grew up, and appreciate the memories that came with the thousands of dollars my parents spent to make me happy.

Today, with the Ninja Turtles back and rising in popularity on Nickelodeon for a new generation of children (and 26-year-old losers,) it's time for the juggernaut machine to pump it all out again!

For the first time in years, there is a new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles food item out on shelves!  TMNT Fruit Snacks from Betty Crocker are out now and they were a pain in the ass to find!  As soon as I heard about them, via Top Hat Sasquatch, I knew I'd be on the hunt.  I read that they were stocked at Wal-Mart, but the one near me is horrible.  Then I checked Target, but they've been letting me down lately.  Finally, I went to Stop & Shop to see if they'd surprise me and, thankfully, they did!  I tried to keep cool and act like it was no big deal, but I just so happened to be wearing a TMNT T-Shirt that day so, who was I kidding?  Despite my crazy eyes, I was pumped.

I like the box and art a lot because it reminds me of the old school fruit snacks I used to eat as a kid.  For some reason, TMNT fruit snacks have always been released in a yellow box with Turtle graphics.  I guess the green pops against the yellow so well that they don't want to fix what's not broken.  You don't sell as much merchandise as the TMNT have over the course of 25+ years without knowing a thing or two about marketing.  Product and package design is largely responsible for the attraction.  Action figure packaging was just as cool, if not cooler, than the figure attached to it.  I've always admired the art associated with merchandise and the TMNT have never let me down.

As you can tell from the top of the box, we have 6 different snacks being offered to us within the 10 pouches.  We have Raphael, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, Master Splinter and Shredder.  Green is an odd color for Shred Head, right?  I would have chosen white and treated him like the elusive Great White Shark in "Shark Bites" fruit snacks.  They will always be my favorite because of the thrill I got out of finding the white shark.  Oh well, Shredder is green!

More proof that TMNT does an awesome job with their packaging.  The tiny pouches scream "Ninja Turtles" in every way.  Besides featuring the characters themselves, they're green with a yellow tint and contrast perfectly against the box.  As somebody who loves graphic design, it's art that I can appreciate. I'm going to keep one pouch unopened and keep it on my wall next to my 2007 TMNT Air Head wrapper. I also plan on buying a 2nd box to keep closed.  Maybe, 20 years from now, I'll sell it to today's young nerds in the making.

Okay, so, the detail on these fruit snacks doesn't really live up to the box art, but you can still make out the characters.  If they weren't colored, we'd probably have no idea which Ninja Turtle is which, but I'd at least be able to guarantee who Splinter and Shredder are.  If I remember correctly, the original fruit snacks released in the 90s were designed to be full-body models.  I don't know if it's fair to call fruit snacks "models," but they were highly detailed.  These are just the heads and could have used some extra time and effort.  But honestly, I couldn't care less!  These could have been shaped like Gushers and I would have loved them just because they're branded with TMNT.  That's the selling point and, judging by the amount left on the shelf, it's working.

I had to open three pouches to find Donatello.  Look at how many red, orange, and yellows there are in that pile.  Donnie was killing me.  I wasn't looking to eat so many fruit snacks just yet, I just wanted to get a picture of each one before I did the review.  Now I have no choice.. Ah, it's a tough job!

When it comes to the Ninja Turtles on Nickelodeon, I'm not the biggest fan of their appearance.  I still like 2-D animation, but get that technology has taken cartoons in a new direction.  But what I do love about the new Ninja Turtles is that it's sparked an interest with children and they're once again popular.  Nickelodeon is doing a great job marketing the show and, because of it, it's giving old school fans, like me, an opportunity to remember the past.  It's also ignited a wave of vintage merchandise that directly targets me and takes my money without question.  It'll eventually leave me broke, but it's hard for me to pass up on cool TMNT products.  The fruit snacks were a hit, but I'm hoping for cereal next.  If we get that, that's when you'll know the Ninja Turtles are officially back on top.  Maybe in 2014 when the new movie comes out.  For now, I'm a happy nerd eating some fruit snacks!