Lemon Oreos- Target: Cherry Hill, NJ

Lemon Oreos- Target: Cherry Hill, NJ

Most of you have seen this already, but Oreo has released two new limited edition flavors, Cookie Dough and Marshmallow Crispy. Unlike other specialty flavors, these two were heavily marketed with ads, Twitter giveaways, and a jingle created by (two of my favorite musicians) Tegan and Sara! Despite all this hype, the reviews seem to be pretty lack-luster.

In the midst of all this limited edition madness, it seems like Lemon has finally found it's way into the traditional Oreo line-up.

I picked up a package at my local Target and there doesn't seem to be any "seasonal" or "limited edition" labels, so I can only assume that Oreo has finally come to their senses and made this a permanent addition.

The packaging is a bright yellow, which is the same as all vanilla based Oreos, so there's nothing new there. Actually there's nothing new at all. This is just like any other vanilla based Oreo package, there are just a few lemon slices tossed around. I feel like Oreo packaging has gotten stagnant. All of the bags, even limited edition ones, follow the same design formula and they are all sold in the same peel-open bags. It's become a bit boring.

Gum Variety Pack (banana) - SunSeung Market: Pennsauken, NJ

Gum Variety Pack (banana) - SunSeung Market: Pennsauken, NJ

This is the last box! Check out THIS post to read about the overall packaging. 

So far the ramune gum was (surprisingly) my favorite, but it wasn't enough to redeem this mediocre variety pack. At this point, even if I really enjoy this banana flavor, I wouldn't repurchase this gum.

Either way, I am still excited to give this a try.

Unlike the other boxes, I had a bit of trouble trying to identify this specific animal. It looks like a mixture of the cat and monkey characters, but I'm pretty sure it's a tiger. (Any other guesses?) Out of the five box designs, this one is my favorite. The bright yellow and blue color combination stands out, and the little banana illustration is absolutely precious. (I'm obsessed with banana, I don't know what's gotten into me. I used to hate banana flavored candies.)

Time to open the box!

Victoria's Kitchen Sweet Almond Water - Whole Foods: Mt Laurel, NJ

Victoria's Kitchen Sweet Almond Water - Whole Foods: Mt Laurel, NJ

Return of the black background! Some of you might recognize this bottle from yesterday's video.

I don't shop at Whole Foods. It's not that I'm opposed to the company, or organic foods, it's just really inconvenient. The closest location is on a very busy highway filled with traffic (and the parking lot is a deathtrap). Driving all that way just doesn't make sense when I have 6 different grocery stores close to home with organic options. (Some are even walking distance.) So when I went to Whole Foods for a lunch date I took advantage of the situation and explored the entire store.
There weren't any food items that caught my eye. (Although I did find more flavors of Brad's RAW Kale chips!)I feel like a lot of the foods I have been reviewing lately have been mediocre, and I really wanted to try something new and different, so I picked up a few beverages that I had never seen before. One of them was this Sweet Almond Water.

Sweet is the perfect way to describe this design. Just look at it! The product looks simple, inviting, and a bit rustic.

Talking to a Camera is Weird: Mini Haul Video

I got a fancy new video camera!

I'm no expert, I obviously need to play with the white balance, but I can make much sharper videos now. (Yay!)

Check out the video above to see a little haul of the items that will be reviewed later this week.

Funnel Cake Kit- Home Goods: Moorestown, NJ

Funnel Cake Kit- Home Goods: Moorestown, NJ

Here's another post that is a bit different than my typical product reviews. A funnel cake making kit! 

My family bought this kit a few years ago and never used it. In an effort to clean house and get rid of things we aren't using, we decided to finally crack this kit open and give it a try. (If it's an absolute fail, off to the goodwill you go!)

Funnel cake holds a special place in my heart. My grandfather used to own a small hotel in Wildwood, so my entire family would pack up and stay there for a few weeks in the summer. I would go to the beach with my cousins, eat boardwalk food, and we'd go swimming in the hotel pool. Sadly, as my grandpa got older it was harder and harder to keep the hotel up and running, so it was sold just as I entered high school. 

I'm all grown up now, and the hotel has been turned into condos (like everything else in WIldwood), but I still drive down a few times every summer with friends. It's bittersweet, but when I am in Wildwood I indulge in all sorts of terrible junk food from my childhood. Which means funnel cake.

Panera Lobster Bisque- Target: Cherry Hill, NJ

Panera Lobster Bisque- Target: Cherry Hill, NJ

I have mentioned this in several posts, so a lot of you know this already, but I used to work at Panera Bread. Food service jobs can be stressful and difficult, but I really loved working there and it was a fantastic job while I was in college. Not only was I able to work with really fun people, but I was surrounded by yummy food. During my time there I tried every single soup we served, but I had never seen this one before. I am guessing this is a new offering for the Panera grocery store line, since I haven't seen this served in any restaurant, but I am not 100% sure. (It might be served at specific locations.)

I was really curious about this flavor, so I picked up a container and headed to the checkout line.

When compared to other heat-and-eat soups on the market, the packaging is simple but sophisticated. The clear plastic tub allows you to see the product while still serving it's purpose, and the designs are bold but simple. Text is kept to a minimum while a large appetizing photo does all the talking. I have to say I was hungry while I was shopping, which is always a bad idea, and this photo really sealed the deal on this purchase. I was cold and hungry, so a warm bowl of buttery soup was a welcome sight. I may be a little biased, due to my love of Panera, but I feel like this is a pretty nice packaging design.

Accidentally deleted all my photos from my phone

Welp, I'm a genius.

I went to delete just one photo from my phone and I accidentally deleted the entire album. (Just my luck right?) My Droid has two albums, one tied to my SD card and Dropbox, and another that uses my phone's memory. Guess which one I deleted?

I tried a few different programs to try and salvage the photo files, but the recovered images were ones I deleted over a year ago, nothing recent. This means that I lost all my photos from Target the other day. It isn't the end of the world, and I'm actually not too bummed about it since all my sentimental photos are taken with a real camera and stored on an external drive, but it stinks because I photographed some things I wanted to show all of you.

Thankfully I bought a few of the more of the interesting items I saw, so I am going to try and make a haul video tomorrow. (I actually got a decent video camera, so I am excited to be making more videos in the near future.)


I'll be positing a new food review in just a few minutes. I just wanted to give all of you a heads up as to why my Spotted on the Shelves entry post is caput.  

FYI HERE'S A LITTLE INFO FOR TARGET SHOPPERS: 

Target has put all of it's pumpkin spice items on clearance. The Pumpkin Spiced Chai syrup I loved is on clearance for about $2.50. There were also pumpkin spiced coffees and pumpkin Starbucks VIA on sale. There are a few seasonal Archer Farms products on clearance too, like instant cranberry oatmeal.

Gingerbread flavored K-Cups are also on clearance.

Pecan Pie Pringles are on clearance for .75 cents. If you read my review, you'd know I wasn't a fan, but if you were curious you can pick up a can for less than a dollar.

Gum Variety Pack (ramune) - SunSeung Market: Pennsauken, NJ

Gum Variety Pack (ramune) - SunSeung Market: Pennsauken, NJ

Annnd we're back! Blogger was acting really odd yesterday and kept giving me errors, so I decided to unplug and go out into the real world for a bit. I've become a bit of a hermit these days, so it was nice to get out even if it was just to run some errands. I ended up going to Target, so tomorrow I'll be posting some photos of what I saw while I was there (I always submit these to The Impulsive Buy, but a lot of the things I spot never make it in).

Okay, we're almost done with this variety pack. So far I have reviewed three different flavors, more than halfway done, and I have to say this candy is pretty mediocre. I've had much better, and I've had much worse.  There are two flavors left, so my opinion might change, but right now I think most of you can pass this one by if you see it on the shelves. With things as they are, I wouldn't buy this again.

Check out THIS post to read about the overall packaging.  

So far I have seen a pirate-styled monkey, a cute little bunny, and a panda bear, all with a generic design that is reminiscent of Hello Kitty. What's left? A cat of course. This kitty totally looks like a design you would find at a dollar store, but it is pretty cute, and it looks kind of genderless. Other than a bow and skirt on the panda bear there aren't too many gender-specific designs. Which is pretty interesting. (I think the bunny is meant to be a girl as well, but I like that there are no obvious cartoon-y feminine traits like eye lashes.) 

Kabaya Ju-C Gold Mix tablets- Asian Food Market: Cherry Hill, NJ

Kabaya Ju-C Gold Mix tablets- Asian Food Market: Cherry Hill, NJ

This is my last container of Ju-C tablets. (Until I find some more.) Also, sorry for today's delay. If you follow me on Instagram you'll see that my dog has been wearing a cone and he is utterly miserable. It's like having a new born baby. Although the cone properly fits, he refuses to eat, drink, or go potty while wearing it. So he requires a LOT of assistance, and I need to take it off and supervise him when he eats or goes outside. It's a mixture of being a new mom and a member of the secret service. Thankfully it was a minor injury and he should be cone-free as of this weekend. 

Anyway, let's get this candy review started!

So far I have already reviewed the watermelon variety (HERE) and a citrus mix (HERE). Although the orange candies weren't as good as the others, I haven't been disappointed by Kabaya yet. I think Ju-C is a really great candy, so I grabbed another tube to review.

Gum Variety Pack (Mixed Fruits) - SunSeung Market: Pennsauken, NJ

Gum Variety Pack (apple) - SunSeung Market: Pennsauken, NJ

Back to my normal candy reviews! I really want to finish this gum variety pack, so I might post one of these every other day. (I could just post one each day, but I want to keep things interesting.) There's only two packs left, so I'll try and post those reviews Friday and Sunday.

Check out THIS post to read about the overall packaging.  

So far, this variety pack has been pretty mediocre. I wasn't expecting much from this candy, since it looks like some kind of dollar store knock off, but the gum has tasted better than I thought it would. (Although that doesn't say much. I had really low hopes for this candy.)

Sticking with the cute animal theme, this specific flavor features a Panda (that looks a lot like a Hello Kitty character), and itty bitty Chiclet-style gum pieces.

Check out my Sometimes Foodie Instagram

I finally made an instagram account!

I post photos from my daily life, food, and various arts and crafts I am making and working on. Check out some of my photos below. These are a few foodie items that haven't been in blog posts.

Organic Milk -VS- Grocery Store Milk

Trickling Springs Organic Milk - Whole Foods: Mt Laurel, NJ

Whoa! Black background is black. As you can see, I finally had to switch my white background out for a black one. (Or else none of you could see this product.) The black creates a bold and graphic look, which I like, but I also feel like it makes the food look dark and gloomy. I think I'll stick with the white background and use the black when I have to.

This post is a little bit different than my typical reviews. Normally I find items I have never had before, taste them, and review their packaging. Well, I think most of you know what this is, it's just a bottle of cow's milk. I have been drinking cow's milk since I was a toddler, so this is nothing new, but it is a bit different than what I'm used to.  

I usually buy the big, generic, plastic jug of milk from the grocery store, but what we have here is a beautiful glass bottle filled with organic milk from grass fed cows. The milk I traditionally buy at the grocery store doesn't boast that it's organic or grassfed, and I very much doubt it is, so I was wondering if this would really taste any different.

Time for a milk-based experiment. 

Does organic milk taste any different from grocery store brand milk?

(I'm utterly excited to find out. I'm sorry.)

Shane Confectionery #3 - Philadelphia, PA

 Shane Confectionery - Philadelphia, PA

This is my last post on Shane Confectionery. (Until I go visit the Oh Sugar exhibit in Philadelphia.)

I have already reviewed 6 classic butter-cream chocolates, read those posts HERE and HERE, which were all made on site in Philadelphia using classic candy making equipment. Today I'll be reviewing this gourmet lollipop and showing you a few photos of the store itself. 

Shane Confectionery is a little candy shop that makes you feel as if you've gone back in time. Advertized as the oldest continuously-run candy store in America, it has been producing sweets for a little over a century! The current owners have done their best to recreate a candy eating experience worthy of the early 1900's, and they have done a splendid job. Looking around the store you can see that everything, from the decor, to the cash registers, is vintage.

Shane Confectionery #2 - Philadelphia, PA

 Shane Confectionery - Philadelphia, PA

I have already reviewed the walnut, lemon, and mint butter-cream candies, which were quite impressive. (Check out the first three chocolates HERE.)  I hope the next three flavors won't disappoint.

All of the chocolates I'll be reviewing today have the same dark chocolate coating, which I already covered in yesterday's review, so I'll focus on the flavored fondant centers.

Shane Confectionery - Philadelphia, PA

 Shane Confectionery - Philadelphia, PA

This started out as one HUGE post but it quickly got out of hand. So I split it up into three! Why three? Because I have 6 different truffles, 1 handmade lollipop, and the store itself to discuss.

Shane Confectionery, produces delicious sweets that are just as beautiful as they are tasty, and I'm not just talking about the packaging. Walking into the shop is just like walking back in time. The owners and staff dress in retro clothing, they use vintage silver cash registers, and the decor is covered in decorations and signs from the early 1900's. With everything being so visually interesting, I took a LOT of photos.

Just look at the chocolate packaging! Everything is so lovely and detailed.

The candy box is white with blue printing, but it also has this lovely textured semi-gloss finish that gives it a pearl-like sheen. It was really difficult to capture that in photographs, but I liken it to the shiny white jewelry boxes from department stores. I don't think I took any photos of the fluted paper wrappers, but each one features the Shane logo and a circular ornate print. Although the candies are the stars of the show, the packaging on it's own is still very well designed and thought out.

The attention to detail doesn't stop at the chocolate box.

When I made my purchase, I received an adorable, blue striped, paper shopping bag, which was tricky to photograph due to the soft sheen of the texturing, but in person it is really lovely. On the front there is a little distressed sticker featuring the company logo, and to be honest I wasn't sure if the sticker was purposefully distressed of not. Either way, it added to the vintage experience.

Enough about the packaging, although it is beautiful, let's eat some chocolate!

Oh Sugar! Philadelphia Candy Exhibit

Image © http://www.phillyseaport.org/OhSugar

I just wanted to let all of you know that there is an awesome exhibition going on in Philadelphia right now, and it features classic candy making equipment! I plan on seeing it later this month, and hopefully blogging about it, but I figured the sooner I could spread the word the better. Hopefully some of you that are close to Philadelphia can come and see it for yourself!

The Berley Brothers, who own The Franklin Fountain (reviewed here, here, and here) and Shane Confectionery in Philadelphia have put over 100 artifacts of candy making history out on display. I don't know about the rest of you, but I am pretty excited.

Check out http://www.phillyseaport.org/OhSugar for more information.

 

Gum Variety Pack (apple) - SunSeung Market: Pennsauken, NJ

Gum Variety Pack (apple) - SunSeung Market: Pennsauken, NJ

Check out THIS post to read about the packaging.

Okay, so yesterday I tried the grape bubble gum, and it wasn't bad, but I have to say Marukawa's version is a lot better.

I don't remember trying any apple gum before, so this might be something completely new to me. (Unless I'm wrong.)

This time, instead of a monkey, the package features a little bunny character that looks like some kind of Hello Kitty knock-off, which gives me the same generic dollar store feel as the rest of the packaging. All in all, the box art could use a bit more attention.

I opened the box and instead of being little spheres, like the grape version, this one contains small green rectangles.

Gum Variety Pack (grape) - SunSeung Market: Pennsauken, NJ

 

Gum Variety Pack (grape) - SunSeung Market: Pennsauken, NJ

A new little sampler!


Does anyone know what brand this is? There was absolutely no English on the package and nothing turned up on Google. (Although I wasn't really sure what to search.) The only thing I do know is that this package contains different styles and flavors of chewing gum.

Similar to Meiji's samplers, this set features adorable mascots and bright colors. The packaging was really childish and playful, so this would definitely appeal to kids, but to adult eyes it looks like some kind of knock-off. (It might be. I'm not sure.) The designs are cute but generic, like something you might find in a dollar store. Although the art itself is simple, there are little reminders to dispose of your trash and recycle the box, as well as little indicators of flavor. In short, this design looks kind of cheap but it touches on all the important points that packaging should.

I decided to start with the grape.

Kabaya Ju-C Lemon and Orange tablets- Asian Food Market: Cherry Hill, NJ

Kabaya Ju-C Lemon and Orange tablets- Asian Food Market: Cherry Hill, NJ

I finally found more Ju-C tablets!

I reviewed the watermelon variety about a year ago (read the review HERE) and they were absolutely addicting. I wanted to see if the rest of the Ju-C line was as flavorful, but it was tricky to find more of this candy in my area. (My local Asian grocery stores are a bit like Aldi, things come and go at random, so you can buy it once and it may never been seen again.) FINALLY I found two new tubes with 3 different flavors!

Other than the obvious visual clues, like what flavor this is, I can't read much of the packaging, so I looked up the official website. (I used Google's translationg service to help me make odds and ends of things.) Like a lot of Japanese candies, the flavors are always changing. This specific flavor combination and package seems to be from Kabaya's 45th anniversary...which was back in 2010. So this candy I have is a little old, but I'm sure it's still good. (I hope. ;_;)

Honey Garlic Meatballs - Pinterest Recipe Review

Honey Garlic Meatballs -  Pinterest Recipe Review : The Pin The Recipe

Okay, so I didn't follow the whole recipe, I only made the sauce, but that was because I had a huge bag of frozen meatballs from Sam's Club in my freezer. I have already made meatballs in tomato sauce for pasta and meatball subs, but I wanted to try something new. 

Lunch at Houlihans

Late Lunch at Houlihan's - Houlihan's: Cherry Hill, NJ

My mother wanted to treat me to a late lunch/early dinner, to celebrate my completion of the teacher prep program, so I let her pick the place.

It's been a while since I've eaten at Houlihan's, so I'm not sure how new this is, but they have an early bird dinner menu. You get a fountain drink, soup (or salad), an entree, and a dessert for under twenty bucks. Not too shabby.

I ordered:

• Cream of Broccoli Soup (The soup of the day)
• Chicken Stir-fry
• Crème Brûlée

White-Gourd Drink - SunSeung Market: Pennsauken, NJ

White-Gourd Drink - SunSeung Market: Pennsauken, NJ

I remember seeing a can of White-Gourd Drink on an episode of Cult Moo, one of my favorite youtube channels ever. I seem to recall Herr Pink saying this was "downright delicious," but I could be mistaken. (I've seen all of their videos so I might have mixed up my memories.) Either way, I was intrigued.

The best place to start my search was the SunSeung Market, since it's so close to my house, and I found it! As it turns out, a lot of Asian companies produce a White-Gourd Drink, so I just picked the prettiest can.

As you can see, the can is a pale green color with swirls of vines and green leaves. I am not a big Disney fan, but the design makes me think of Cinderella and her pumpkin carriage, or a shōjo manga. (Seriously. It has tons of little white highlights and sparkles.) This design stood out from all of the others, so it's quite successful.

Candy Cane Cotton Candy - Wegman's - Cherry Hill, NJ

Candy Cane Cotton Candy  - Wegman's - Cherry Hill, NJ

GASP! Another holiday candy? Has the Grinch Sometimes Foodie's heart grown 3 sizes? No way, I just wanted something sweet and minty. (BONUS: Since it's after the holidays, I got them very cheap)

Fun Sweets, a novelty cotton candy company I have reviewed several times before, has released two holiday flavors: Vanilla Snow, and Candy Cane. After being so disappointed in last year's Candy Cane Pop rocks, I was looking for a new minty candy that wouldn't leave me disappointed.

I can't speak for the rest of you, but I had never seen a mint flavored cotton candy before, so I immediately tossed a tub into my cart. (I also picked up a tub of the vanilla snow for my mother.)

I won't be reviewing the vanilla version, since it was a gift, but for those interested...it was pure white and it smelled just like the vanilla sugar I bought at Ikea. My vanilla addicted mother really seemed to like it.

As for the mint version, the plastic container is covered in red and green candy canes. The design is very festive, and a bit obnoxious, but this is a novelty product, so it's to be expected. This design is no masterpiece, but it could definitely be much worse. (The Halloween design Fun Sweets released in fall 2013 was monochromatic and quite sophisticated. I really think this brand should keep going in that direction.)

Inside the container are two colors of cotton candy, a pure white, and a pink. This color combination is obviously meant to mimic the red and white stripes of candy canes, but it made me a little nervous. I really hope this isn't another fruity candy pretending to be a candy cane.

The Pop Shop - Collingswood, NJ

The Pop Shop  - Collingswood, NJ

I'm trying out a new watermark, instead of using both my Poison & Antidote and a sometimes foodies logos, I made a new blogspot watermark to replace them both. Don't worry, I'll still be posting everything here on tumblr account, as well as my blog, but the blog seems to be a better platform for my content. (And my posts don't get eaten while I am writing all the time, which is nice.) 

I feel like it has been a while since I posted something from an actual restaurant. This cold weather makes me want to stay indoors like a recluse, but I braved the cold to go to The Pop Shop in Collingswood with my boyfriend.
Apparently we picked a bad night, because a water-pipe burst in the main restaurant and forced customers to go to the side, party-shed, area that is usually reserved for kids birthday parties. Thankfully, the party area was practically the same as the normal dining area, so that didn't both us at all. (It just stinks for the workers and owners.)

I was originally going to order some french fries and a chicken pot pie, but they were out. So I opted for my favorite giant salad.

I ordered:

• Foghorn Country Chicken Salad 
  Crispy chicken fingers, Applewood smoked bacon, tomato, and Jack cheese over romaine with honey-mustard dressing.
• Pop Shop Fries (as a side.)

Peppermint Roca - Target - Cherry Hill, NJ

Peppermint Roca  - Target - Cherry Hill, NJ

Some of you might have noticed, but I haven't been posting any winter and holiday themed candy. Truth is, I'm a bit of a Scrooge. Right after Thanksgiving the stores become insane, radio stations play nonstop Christmas music, and lawns are covered in giant inflatable snowmen. It's just not my cup of tea. (Plus I hate winter and cold weather.) Don't get me wrong, I love baking sweets and giving gifts to my loved ones, but I'm more of a Halloween kinda girl.

Although I have been avoiding stores and holiday candies, I just had to pick this up. Apparently I have been living under a rock, because I had no idea that Almond Roca came in new flavors. (It seems like I've been under this rock a long time, since this flavor came out in 2003. Whoops.)

The packaging is very shiny, so it catches your eye easily, but that made it difficult to photograph. (So. Much. Glare.) Simple, but retro, the design is a mixture of white, silver, and red. I feel like the stripes give me more of a mint-y feeling than a Christmas-y one, but I'm not sure if this the standard packaging, or a seasonal one. (Does anyone know?) Either way, I like that it is festive while being nostalgic and classy.

Contract? Making my own Kyubey Curry

Making my own Kyubey Curry

Today's post is a little bit special (and nerdy). A few days ago I came across THIS POST about a Madoka Magica themed cafe in Japan. (If you follow me on Instagram, you got a little sneak peak of this last night.)

My boyfriend introduced me to the Madoka Magica series a few years ago, and at first I thought it was a silly moe-blob kind of show. I was pretty disinterested...until episode 3. No spoilers, but after that episode I fell in love with Charlotte the witch and all of the collage-styled art used for witch sequences. (I seem to deviate from Charlotte's traditional fans, instead of liking her adorable dolly form, I love her crazy eye'd snake form.)

Anyway, anime themed cafes are typical in Japan, but they are not permanent fixtures. Pop-up anime cafes are a great way to promote new a series or movie, so they usually attract a lot of fans and they don't last for very long. The one featured in this post was from 2011, so I'm sure these menu items are long gone by now.  

Since there is no way for me to buy any of these Madoka menu items, I decided that I wanted to make my own here in the states. I started things off with the Kyubey Curry!

Spicy Thai Instant Noodles - Aldi : Moorestown, NJ

Spicy Thai Instant Noodles - Aldi : Moorestown, NJ

I don't know what the weather is like in your area, but right now it's cold, snowy, and miserable in southern NJ. I figure that this is the perfect time to review some spicy instant soup!

The packaging is simple, and typical for a instant soup product. All we have is a cardboard cup (with some waxy/plastic coating) and a paper lid. Nothing fancy, but it works. As for the design, the color scheme and layout are pretty sophisticated, but it feels more like an American or European product than a Thai one. I have had Thai instant noodles before, and the packaging is usually very bold with bright colors and imagery. If this design is meant to appeal to the American market, I feel like it's a success. If not, Aldi needs to spice this product up a bit to better represent the origin of the product. 

Pokka Sapporo Black (coffee) - Asian Food Market: Cherry Hill, NJ

Pokka Sapporo BLACK (coffee) - Asian Food Market: Cherry Hill, NJ

Every time I go to the Asian Food Market, I buy a different canned (or bottled) coffee for my caffeine-addicted boyfriend. He went on a trip to Japan a few years ago and, while there, he was addicted to vending machine coffee. There was one brand he really liked, Boss Café au Lait, but I haven't been unable to find it in NJ. Until I do, he seems to enjoy trying all the different canned/bottled coffees I scrounge up for him.

This time I was able to find some Pokka Sapporo BLACK. I really liked the small, but bold, packaging, so I grabbed one for myself. (Even though I am not a big coffee drinker.)

As far as I can tell, Pokka and Sapporo were two different beverage companies. Pokka was well known for it's canned coffees and teas, while Sapporo was a very popular beer producer. The two companies merged as of 2013 and are looking forward to adding new flavors and food items to their lineup.

On to the packaging!

Gouda Cheese Bites - Aldi: Moorestown, NJ

Gouda Cheese Bites - Aldi: Moorestown, NJ

Although these cheese bites aren't as pretty as the honeycomb slab I reviewed yesterday, they are stinking cute. (Look at them! They look like little slices of swiss cheese!)
If you've been reading this blog for a while, you know I love Aldi. That store gets the craziest stuff, from pickled beets to snow blowers. (A snow blower would have come in handy today. We got a few inches last night. Did it snow in your area?)

This little bag of cheese snacks was in Aldi's special buy section, and there were two varieties. Sadly, I forgot what the other flavor was, (Swiss?) but I remember I preferred Gouda, so that's the bag I went with. The packaging is a typical heat-sealed plastic bag, which keeps the product fresh, and the design fits in with the rest of the Specially Selected label. There's lots of black in the background, white text, and a lovely product photo. As always, I like the general idea and layout, and for a no frills brand, this is quite frilly. The design might not be spectacular, but it is leaps and bounds better than it's rival no frills companies.

Honestly, I didn't know what to expect with this product. I mean, Gouda is delicious! It's basically the bacon of cheeses! Just because I love the flavor concept, doesn't mean it will automatically taste good. I have been burned so much in the past that I am finally becoming a bit more skeptical. These days it's rare that something tastes like it says it will. (I'm looking at you Archer Farms! Your potato chips have grandiose names that your flavors do not deliver!)

Pure Honey - Mill Creek Apiary: Medford Lakes, NJ

Pure Honey - Mill Creek Apiary: Medford Lakes, NJ

To kick off the new year I wanted to photograph something that was really beautiful, and what's prettier than honeycomb?

I absolutely love honey, but that fake, syrupy nonsense that comes in a plastic bear just won't cut it for me. I need the good stuff. I usually buy jars of organic, unprocessed, honey, but my boyfriend totally one-upped me. He picked up this beautiful package of local honey and it includes a HUGE chunk of honeycomb! (I think he might of picked it up at Whole Foods, but I'm not sure.)

This slab of honeycomb is so beautiful that it doesn't need any fancy packaging. The clear plastic container works just fine. Although, I will say that the product sticker is in need of a major makeover. The label looks like the generic mailing address stickers you can order out of catalogs. When compared to some of the more trendy packaged honey products, this could easily be overlooked.