M&M's Coconut flavored chocolate candies

PROS: the candy you love with a hint of coconut.
CONS: limited time only.

OK so I have been seeing these at my grocery store for a while now but I never actually thought to buy them. Well, I finally gave in and here is my review, as requested :D

So this new 'tropical' flavor is promoted by the sassy Green M&M which I find appropriate. I couldn't see Red or Blue promoting it.. that's just weird. Anyway, the bag suggests the the colors inside are green, brown, and white which accentuates the coconut them.

My initials thought were that these would have a strong coconut taste, like that of Almond Joy without the coconut pieces. The first piece I tried had a small but evident burst of coconut which was very pleasant. It had more of a 'beginning taste' than an 'after taste' of coconut. I really appreciated this because most snacks have the flavors come in last. I also noticed some new designs in replace of the "m" on a few of the M&M pieces. I only noticed the palm tree but the bag suggests there are umbrellas, flowers, and suns as well.

A few more pieces later, the coconut flavor faded away or to be more scientific, my taste buds habituated to the taste. I knew that it just didn't disappear but I was sad. It just tasted like regular M&M's at this point so I closed the bag and saved them for later. Long and behold, that burst of coconut was apparent again and it was refreshingly smooth.

In conclusion, these are great if you love all things coconut. The flavor is a quick burst at first then followed by a smooth chocolate finish which compliments the tropical taste. However, your taste buds quickly get used to the coconut flavor and it just tastes like plain M&M's soon after. I really suggest eating only a few at a time throughout the day so the coconut burst keeps coming back. The only downside is that this are for a limited time so get them while they still last.

DORITOS Stadium Nacho

PROS: actually tastes like nachos.
CONS: limited time only.

I saw this intriguing little bag at the store and for some reason, the orange helmet on the bag really caught my eye. Maybe I was really hungry or I was just really hungry for football season again. Anyway, I bought the $.99 bag and gave it a try.

What I thought while opening the bag was if it was just going to taste like the original 'nacho cheese' flavor since the name 'nacho' was tacked on the bag. The chips were less red than the 'nacho cheese' flavor a a bit more orange. Of course, the original Dorito triangle stayed the same plus the broken bits at the bottom of the bag.

I had one full chip to determine if the flavor lived up to its name. At first, it had no 'stadium nacho' taste and all I could really endure was the tortilla chip flavor but after a second or two, the 'stadium nacho' flavor really came through and strong. It was no wimpy hint of flavor but really tasted like a tortilla chip dipped in cheese sauce. I enjoyed the rest of the bag happily.

In conclusion, this chips really live up to its name. For those of you who prefer cheese sauce over 'nacho' cheese sauce will really enjoy this over the original Doritos flavor. Personally, I would rather have tortilla chips and hot, boiling cheese but these are pretty go especially on the go. Give these a try, nacho lovers!

TACO BELL Cantina Tacos

PROS: they give you a lime wedge.
CONS: authenticity aside, worse tacos ever at Taco Bell.

Well, it has been awhile since I reviewed anything because I have had exams coming up for summer classes. During one of my break sessions, I saw this ad on TV for these new Cantina tacos sold at taco bell. I personally love Taco Bell and enjoy trying the new products and promotions they put out every so often.

The pictures advertised all over really made the tacos look appealing. Three kinds of meat to choose from (chicken, steak, or pork), served in two soft taco shells with an onion and cilantro topping. Also, a lime wedge is served with each taco.. something small yet different.

Now I am no specialist when it comes to authentic Mexican/Spanish food but I think these tacos are base off of small taco stands sold in the respective countries. I picture stands and carts selling these small tacos curbside in busy streets for passer-byers to enjoy a quick bite. Well, Taco Bell would be the closest and fastest place to getting these Cantina tacos. Despite their small size, they were priced maybe a bit too much at around $2 a piece. The three taco combo with drink was almost $7. Regardless, I had to give these a try.

I got my order, which had each taco wrapped in foil rather than the paper wrapper I am used to. "Cool," I thought, and brought my tray over to my seat. I opened it up and they looked like someone just threw the ingredients into the soggy tortilla shells. I had the pork first, and I must say, it was the best out of the three because the pork juice acted as a "sauce," despite me adding lime juice to it. Now, I have had cilantro in many foods but it in particular is not my favorite. I did however thought the onion and cilantro mix would be great and fresh. It was not. It was overall soggy and mushy and with the soggy taco shells, it was worse.

The chicken and steak were extremely dry. I guess they hide this in their other tacos by putting sauces to mask it. Either way, it was a completely dry, soggy, lifeless mess. As you can notice, I am speedily rushing though this review because I cannot bare thinking about them again.

WARNING: If you do not like cilantro, I highly recommend NOT trying these. The mixture of Taco Bell's onions with it leaves an after taste which will leave you begging for something to cover it. Well that's what happened to me, so I bought my favorite Baja Chalupa. I consider myself to have a tough stomach and I can tolerate many tastes but the not-so-freshness of onion and cilantro really made my mouth feel uneasy.

Seriously, I am not sure how the authentic Cantina tacos are supposed to taste like but Taco Bell's version is a big let down. The cilantro and onion after taste will make those with sensitive palettes and stomachs feel uneasy until the next meal. The lack of any type of sauce really shows the true dry and lifeless taste of the chicken and steak. I wouldn't try these again unless they were free. Maybe.

NECCO Sky Bar

PROS: 5 different flavors (if you count the chocolate body as well).
CONS: can be messy to the point where you have to eat it all at once.

This review is part of my “What’s in My Backpack?” feature where I will be reviewing most things inside my backpack. I have disregarded many items because I have either reviewed them already (like the actual backpack) or they were just too simple (like a rubberband). This is review #7.

I have seen this candy bar so so so many times on the Food Network show, Unwrapped. It really intrigued me so see such a creation baring four different fillings all in one convenient convoy of hallowed out chocolate nuggets.

I finally noticed it yesterday at my local supermarket and bought a bar. The design looked old school so I guess kids born in the in the 1980's and on would rather buy candy with shiny wrappers and flashy designs. This candy bar however was sitting in a full box which seemed to be untouched my passer-byers.Well, I picked up one of those bars and took it home and saved it for the next day as a small snack during class.

There are four kinds of fillings: caramel, vanilla, peanut. fudge. Each are housed in a small chocolately compartment. Pretty cool if you ask me. I really wanted to try the fudge first but I had no idea which end it was on since the two ends were either caramel or fudge based on the description of the wrapper. Well I tried one end and it was caramel. Pretty good... it tasted sweeter and "real" in a way because you can actually taste the caramel flavor without interruption of peanuts or nuget.

The problem I had was that though each "block" was creased for easier breaking (think the valleys of a KitKat bar). Some of the vanilla block has broken as well which made the filling ooze out. I had to quickly eat that one before it got really messy. It tasted vanilla-y but I had nothing really to compare it to since I don't think I ever had a vanilla flavored candy. Well my luck went worse (depends if your a candy-holic) because the peanut block was broken into as well so I had to quickly eat it. It has the consistency of the caramel and not like a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup which you would assume. It was very tasty but the peanut flavor did not come through initially. The fudge block remained in tack but I thought I just might as well eat it because I had eaten the rest anyway. I don't even remember how it tasted like but it was pretty good.

In conclusion, this old school candy bar is pretty awesome with varying flavors. There are no real negatives except that you might have to end up eating the whole thing in one sitting. I could have sworn that the original flavor included a marshmallow filling.. that would have been tasty. Oh well, still a good product and sure to bring back memories to many people since this was introduced in 1938.

AND THAT... ladies and gentlemen, was my Sky Bar experience.

Texas Instruments TI-83 Plus Graphic Calculator

PROS: advanced calculator features.
CONS: sort of expensive considering most people don’t know its full potential.

This review is part of my “What’s in My Backpack?” feature where I will be reviewing most things inside my backpack. I have disregarded many items because I have either reviewed them already (like the actual backpack) or they were just too simple (like a rubberband). This is review #6.

I have had this calculator since high school and it still works just fine. I barely use it now since I am done with my math courses in college but I always have it in my backpack… just in case.

I do not remember how much this cost years ago but it was almost $100. It is really expensive when you first buy it but after a few years, you may realize how powerful this calculator can be especially when you fool around with the settings and stumble upon the features that your teachers/professors never taught you in high school.

Anyway, this is a big step up from your elementary school basic function calculator. It has all of that and then some. There are about 50 buttons which is basically 150 total “buttons” because there are a “2nd” and “ALPHA” button which designates secondary and tertiary buttons. There are so so so many different options and features that I do not even know what they do even after many years of messing around with this thing. I will only talk about the most important and apparent features.

The most important feature is the graph feature, hence the name graphing calculator. By entering data, a graph is drawn out in front of you, the kinds you could never accurately draw out by hand. There are more complex features like sine, cosine, tangent options as well which are generally used for algebra and calculus.

On a side note, you can also have some fun on this calculator. The only fun on those basic calculators is doing the old “53778008” upside down joke. On these graphing calculators, you have the whole alphabet available so you can send “digital notes” to friends during class. The link port is very useful for the more technological advanced student. With it, you can import many favorite games like Tetris, Super Mario, Snood, and many others. Of course, they are going to be in low resolution. You can also import many “calculators” into the calculator which can help you. For example, you can download a unit converter that convert cups into liters and centimeters into miles.

In conclusion, most students end up using a Ti-83 or higher in high school. Some schools make in mandatory while others let you borrow one during class. I really suggest buying a Ti graphing calculator so you can do math homework at home. There are many newer models and versions but I just remember needing the Ti-83 Plus to get by just fine. It may seem very expensive at first but I think it is a good investment in the long run.

LifeSavers Wint-O-Green Mints, 0.84-Ounce Rolls (Pack of 20)

PROS: pocket friendly, keeps breath fresh.
CONS: personal preference of flavor.

This review is part of my “What’s in My Backpack?” feature where I will be reviewing most things inside my backpack. I have disregarded many items because I have either reviewed them already (like the actual backpack) or they were just too simple (like a rubberband). This is review #5.

I try to keep a small pack of Life Savers (the one that is rolled up into a cylinder, not the individual wrapped ones) in my backpack just in case I eat something with tons of garlic, onions, or anything that would make my breath smell. My favorite “breath mint” flavor of all time is wintergreen or in this case, “Wint-O-Green.”

There are so many options for breath fresheners and they usually are either a candy or gum. I personally prefer the candy mints because they usually just dissolve instead of you having to keep chewing gum depending on the setting. These are very pocket friendly and you really do not have to worry about crushing them. A pack of these are a lot cheaper than a pack of the upscale gum today so that is a plus.

This is really just a silly review because candy or mints are basically just based on preference. I have always liked the wintergreen mints. The fun plus to this is that they spark in the dark when you bite them. There’s a whole chemical reaction going on but that’s another story.

NORCOM 3 Subject Notebook 120 Sheets College Ruled

PROS: very cheap price, practical.
CONS: somewhat flimsy.

This review is part of my “What’s in My Backpack?” feature where I will be reviewing most things inside my backpack. I have disregarded many items because I have either reviewed them already (like the actual backpack) or they were just too simple (like a rubberband). This is review #4.

This is the current notebook I am using for my summer course. By description, it is a 3 subject, 120 sheet, college ruled notebook. It is very simple and it was very cheap. I think it ran me just a dollar if not then just a few cents more. It was definitely cheaper than a Five Star notebook.

This notebook is really simply: a back and front cover and notebook paper inside binded all together by a metal wire spiral. Since it is a 3 subject notebook, a big plus are the dividers that separate the notebook into three sections with paper for each (assuming 40 sheets per section). The dividers also have pockets so you can keep some lose sheets or handouts inside as well.

A negative I have about this notebook is the flimsy cardboard back cover. It is fine writing on a hard flat surface but it makes it difficult if you are the type of person that likes to write on their laps in lecture halls.

In conclusion, if you are looking for a cheap notebook for taking simple notes then this is the notebook for you. It has three sections divided by pocketed dividers. If you need a notebook for a more “upscale” class or simply prefer a more rigid notebook, I suggest upgrading to a Five Star notebook or similar brands for a couple more bucks.

i-Clicker

PROS: sleek design, fits easily in your backpack.
CONS: required for some classes.

This review is part of my “What’s in My Backpack?” feature where I will be reviewing most things inside my backpack. I have disregarded many items because I have either reviewed them already (like the actual backpack) or they were just too simple (like a rubberband). This is review #3.

I have had this thing since freshman year for several classes. For those of you that don’t know, an i-Clicker is a handheld device that lets you “answer” questions that the professor posts on an overhead, projector, etc. There are six buttons, A-E and on/off. There are three lights, power, low battery, and vote status (red for the signal did not go through; green if the signal went through).

The design is nice, it is almost like a remote and easily fits in the hand like a candy bar. This also means it fits nicely in your back without being too bulky or in the way so you can keep it in your bag and forget about it until you need it. It is also very light and an attractive white color.

The only thing that I can think that is negative (besides the fact that you “or someone else” has to be present in class) is that it runs on 3 AAA batteries. Most battery packs come in four which leaves one lonely battery. Not a big deal though. Also to neglect this, you barely use the device for a minute and it has an automatic shutoff feature if it accidentally turns on.

RAY BANS Hard Case (black)

PROS: simple design.
CONS: not pocket friendly.

This review is part of my “What’s in My Backpack?” feature where I will be reviewing most things inside my backpack. I have disregarded many items because I have either reviewed them already (like the actual backpack) or they were just too simple (like a rubberband). This is review #2.

I got this case along with my Ray Ban eyeglasses. I really like the fact that this is a hard case because I accidently broke an old pair in a softer case along time ago.

Your glasses, whether eye or sunglasses will be safe inside this case from harder drops and crushing in bags. It is large enough to hold small to small-medium sunglasses but don’t count on it holding large designer glasses. I am sure it can hold the actually frames but folding sunglasses usually make it bulkier… which might be a tight fit inside.

However, it can still hold typical eyeglasses and then some so if you want, you can store other things for well. I personally put my contact case and a travel size contact solution. Another plus about this is that it comes with a cleaning cloth. It is very convenient when you get smudges on your glasses.

The downside is that you probably wouldn’t want to keep this in your pocket unless you have cargo pockets or something. And of course, it is not waterproof but I think it keeps a pretty tight seal so I think it is OK in that department.

In conclusion, this is a nice case to keep in your backpack but not in your back pocket.

TOTES Umbrella (black)

PROS: simple design, practical, automatic open button.
CONS: nothing really, standard umbrella.

This review is part of my “What’s in My Backpack?” feature where I will be reviewing most things inside my backpack. I have disregarded many items because I have either reviewed them already (like the actual backpack) or they were just too simple (like a rubberband). This is review #1.

When I look for an umbrella, I look for an umbrella with a simple design, portable, not too big or too small, and no flashy colors. This one is just it.

Now the umbrella I have is an older model of this one but it pretty much is the same style. The handle is a good size with a simple cylinder shape to it. The thing I like about my umbrella is that there are two black rubber grips along the side of the handle which helps holding on those windy days. There is also an easy button opening which automatically opens the umbrella when pressed; no need to get fingers pinched when opening manual umbrellas.

The ‘umbrella’ part is black and opens like a typical well… umbrella. It is a nice size that it covers my body and backpack without being too large. The thing I noticed is that the neck joint is a bit “flimsy” but does not pose any problems with the stability of the actual umbrella. This might have been due to the years of use.

I have yet to have the umbrella turn inside-out due to windy days. I have been through several but it holds strong. This reason, along with the design and easy open button should be enough reason for this product to get great reviews.

STRIDE Shift: Berry and Mint

PROS: Really "shifts" from berry to mint.
CONS: nothing really? I mean... it's gum.

I saw these ridiculous Stride Shift commercials so when I saw this at the stand near the checkout counter. I decided to give these a try. I had to choose berry-mint or citrus-mint and I decided to give berry-mint the first go.

OK, so it does "shift." The gum tasted berry at first and then "shifted" to mint. Before I go any further, I do not link mint candy or gum and I would prefer wintergreen. However, this wasn't that strong mint flavor and bunch from say... mint breathsavers. It was subtle yet prominent.

The thing I noticed was that the only two "Shift" flavors have mint as the secondary flavor. Is there some secret that only mint can be "shifted" to? Well, I don't know but I would really like it if they had other flavors besides mint.

Would I buy this again? Only if they go on sale. I mean, gum is cheap but I don't feel like paying more than a dollar for gum. 4/5 because I like the concept, but I would rather have something besides mint.

Grown Ups (2010)

PROS: nice to see some old favorite comics working together.
CONS: poor development and storyline.

I saw the preview for this movie awhile ago and thought to myself, "hey, a movie with all these well-known comedians, I'm going to watch that." Well, I did.

**I will try to write this review without spoiling much but I might give away some details so you have been warned.

My first impression of the movie was "Gee Wizz, Batman!" because there were all these comics working together so it had to be a very funny movie right? I mean, Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade, Rob Scneider, plus Salma Hayek... I mean you can't go wrong with that cast.

Well, the movie pretty much lacked the spirit that these actors usually provide in their older movies. Adam Sandler wasn't the same old Happy Gilmore or Mr. Deeds, Chris Rock wasn't his eccentric self, etc. It seemed like throughout the whole movie, these guys were just having conversations with each other. This was immediately evident when they first all met at the church. The characters were introduced to each other one by one after so many years and they all had a bunch of one-liners for each other like, "oh here comes so-and-so, he's still fat" (OK so no one really said that but that's how the movie practically went). It went something like this:

(enter Person B)
Person B to Person A: Hey, long time no see! (enter joke here)
(enter Person C)
Person C to Person A and Person B: Hey! (insert joke here)
(enter Person D)
Person D to Person A, Person B, Person C: Hello! (insert joke here)

and so on...

As for the plot, it had so much potential. There were side stories going on but they never really developed into anything big. You would see one scene (one with Chris Rock's character) where it could have led to a possible bigger argument between characters but it doesn't and the two just make up in an instant, basically wasting time and film. What I mean, why shoot a scene that would foreshadow a possible mini-climax alongside the main storyline if it never develops into anything big.

There were many quick funny parts but nothing that had you ROFL'ing. The funniest parts were mostly disgusting scenes that made the audience went "ew" rather than laughing at what the characters had to say. There were even some jokes that NO ONE in the audience got despite the audience ranged from all ages. It you could tell the jokes were supposed to be funny because they were the last lines of the scenes.

The movie lacked an ending that was anticipated from these famous comedians. Heart-felt.. maybe a little but I could not really understand why Adam Sandler's character did what he did at the end. He explains in the movie of why he did what he did but there was no side story to even back it up... it was just assumed.

Overall, it was a disappointing movie regarding this once-used-to-be cast. I fell like these comedians are now washed up and lack the performance and spirit that they had at their prime. I do not think these comedians can put out any blockbuster hits at this stage in their career but I hope they prove me wrong. Maybe having this great cast was the reason for this disappointing movie. Like they say, "too many chefs in the kitchen ruin the soup" but in this case, "too many comedians ruin the film." ...or something like that.

CHEEZ-IT Pepper Jack

PROS: present pepper jack taste without a kick in the face.
CONS: flavor very very slightly just a tiny bit off-putting.

Well, well, well.. its been awhile since a had a Cheez-It attack but I soon had that urge once I saw these new Cheez-it Pepper Jack crackers. I love Cheez-It and pepper jack cheese so only marrying the two together would be perfect harmony. There were other unique flavors that caught my eye but I definitely wanted to give this a try first.

Once you open the bag, the pepper jack aroma was evident. It wasn't a smell you get from fresh pepper jack cheese but a quick whiff of peppery goodness. I tried one cautiously at first, thinking it would be a bit spicy but it wasn't. This was actually a good thing at once because the pepper jack taste was very mild yet appealing to me, someone who loves spicy food.

Eating one chip at a time makes the pepper jack taste slightly unnoticeable but as you continue eating the flavor will constantly build up. My favorite thing to do with Cheez-It is to grab a handful and stuff it all in my mouth (I usually do this when a catch myself eating the whole box and think, "OK this is my last reach into the box, let's make it good!"). I love this technique, especially with this flavor. While you crunch and munch all the crackers in your mouth, you taste the pepper jack flavor slowly developing.

In conclusion, I love this flavor. However, being a little older and more conscious about my weight, I'm not going to buy these on a regular basis but if they are on sale, they will definitely be in my shopping cart. I cannot think of any flaws except that one time, the flavor tasted weird after eating something else after my Cheez-It session (I can't remember what it was). I plan on trying the Parmesan Garlic Cheez-It next.