Teeny Doses of Nostalgia - Mini Mini Chicles

I was grabbing some poster frames at Michel's and it turns out, their check-out aisle is lined with tons of nostalgic candy. Who knew? 

 

I grabbed two packs of these, one for me and one for my sister, because looking at them almost broke my brain. 

Familiar, and yet, wrong? Like that whole Berenstein vs. Berenstain bears debate. (I am one of the kids who swore it was "Stein.") The colors are right, the paper pouch feels right, but something about it looks wrong. I think it's the name? I'm pretty sure these were called, "Tinys," or something like that. Whatever they go by these days, it's still tiny bits of fruity gum in a paper envelope, and the child in me says, go for it! 

Go Phillies, Go Sports! - Big League Chew Triple Treat

I had a bizarre craving for grape Big League Chew out of nowhere. Super weird, since I've only had it maybe twice before in my life, ever. My 30+-year old body just decided that we needed it. I could only find original at Five Below, my least favorite flavor, but the foodie gods shined upon me. Because Lidl had a cardboard display at checkout with tons of flavors. I guess they have really expanded since I was like, 9. I grabbed grape, strawberry and the new-to-me blue raspberry. (I left original and sour apple on the cardboard stand where they belong. Apparently there is also watermelon, cotton candy, and hot cocoa versions?!) 

Time for a jaw workout! 

Jelly Donut and Banana Split Flavored Bubble Gum

Dubble Bubble Bubble Gum - Dollar Tree

As soon as Collecting Candy posted these jelly donut gumballs on Instagram, I knew I had to have them. 

I'm not sure how historically accurate this is, but in my mind, the 90's were all about bubble gum. We had Blow Pops, Bubble Tape, Big League Chew, and Bubblicious, but there was also a wonderful world of gumball machines to explore. At roller rinks and malls, I could buy seedlings, which were gumballs shaped like fruits filled with tiny candy sprinkle "seeds," Tongue Splashers, which would change your mouth to a different color, and tons of other novelties. I even lost a decent chunk of my hair, and a few articles of clothing, to childhood gum-chewing mishaps. Getting the chance to re-live that in my 30's, and only paying a dollar to do so? Priceless! (Being an adult and paying one dollar for an entire bag of gumballs makes you realize how messed up paying .25 cents just for one gumball actually was/is back in the day.) 

I went to Dollar tree to grab one bag, but left with two, so today's post isn't only Dubble Bubble, it's Dubble Trubble!

First up, the main event, Jelly Donut! 

Snow Cones in February

Project 7 Rainbow Ice Gum - Target 

I wasn't kidding when I said I picked up at least 6 new flavors of Project 7 during my blogging absence. Let's keep these reviews rolling! (It's still Tuesday, so technically I am still on time!)

So I don't know about the weather in your corner of the world, but it's been pretty crazy here in NJ. Last week it was 7 degrees Fahrenheit, this week? Sixty Five! I saw people wearing freaking shorts outside today! (I'm pretty sure the world is ending...) So since it, oddly enough, feels like it's spring, let's review something spring/summery. How about a snow cone?

Lime, Coconut, and Sunscreen?

Project 7 Coconut Lime Gum - Target

What can I say? Project 7 and I are in an unhealthy relationship. They keep burning me with bad flavors, and yet, I keep coming back for more. Since my blogging hiatus I've bought 5 new flavors. I just keep hoping that things will be different...and maybe they will be this time?

The packaging is sleek, the company tries to do some good in the world, and yet...the flavors rarely delivers on their yummy promises. (Then again I'm a blogger who doesn't blog, so maybe I shouldn't be throwing too many stones from my glass house.) 

Bubble-less Bubbly Bubblegum - Project 7 Champagne Dreams

Project 7 Champagne Dreams Gum - Target

Visually speaking, this would have been the ideal product for my big New Year comeback review, but given Project 7's history of disappointing products wrapped in pretty packaging...I opted for Oreos instead. 

I don't know what it is about Project 7 chewing gums. Even though they let me down time and time again, I can't stay away. 

While checking myself out in Target's self-service-lane, I spotted this flavor in the totally-effective impulse-buy section. I managed to ignore it, rung myself up, and was about to leave...and then turned back and made a separate transaction just to buy this gum. Why? I have no idea. I think I'm just a sucker for pretty packaging. Even though I hate chewing these flavored gums, I really do love photographing them. I mean, look at this! I have little twinkly lights in the background! Plus, Project 7 was a company I really liked, and their original line of mints were really fantastic. I want to love you Project 7!

Maybe this flavor will be the one to re-ignite the spark in our food-blogger-product romance...

Girl Scouts Project 7 Chewing Gum - Target $1.99 (each)

Girl Scouts Project 7 Chewing Gum - Target $1.99 (each)

Hello darkness, my old friend... 

I have a love/hate relationship with Project 7 products. They have great packaging, they support wonderful causes, and they had some really delicious products back when they were first introduced. Since their initial launch, they've branched out into all these trendy flavors of the week and, frankly, these new flavors have all been misses for me. They taste really fake and eating them is more like a chore than a joy. Every time I swear off their products, they drag me back in with intriguing items like this. I mean, it's Girl Scout Cookie GUM! (I am pretty sure they'd take away my non-existent food-blogger card if I skipped this one.) So, here we are again. I'll give Proect 7 the Benefit of a doubt...but my gut tells me this was a mistake.

Project 7 Build+A+Flavor - S'mores - Target

Project 7 Build+A+Flavor - S'mores - Target 

I've always been a big fan of Project 7's products (especially their branding and packaging), but I must admit, their newer flavors have left me cold. It's great that they're branching out and trying new things, like these multi-flavor packs, but these gimmicky flavors taste like fake sugar and disappointment. 

My favorites have been their Front Porch Lemonade, Watermelon-Grapefruit, and Vanilla Peppermints, but S'more flavored gum? I don't know...in all fairness the Key Lime Pie gum from Dessert Delights (which is now discontinued) managed to make a graham-cracker-flavoring work in gum-form, so maybe there's hope for this flavor yet...

Dubble Bubble Summer Splash Gumballs - Dollar Tree ($1.00)

Dubble Bubble Summer Splash Gumballs - Dollar Tree ($1.00)  

I hosted another painting even in Camden, NJ on Friday, and I needed some dollar store supplies, and no trip to the dollar store is complete without exploring the candy aisle. I posted a mini haul photo over on Instagram, and one of the items I picked up were these Summer Splash gumballs. I may be a HUGE Halloween nerd, but I am going into fall kicking and screaming. All the spooky skulls and bats warm my heart, but I'm not ready for sweater weather. I feel like my summer has only just begun and yet the stores are already lining the shelves with pumpkin spiced everything...hopefully these bright and summery gumballs will help me take my mind off the impending back-to-school season.

Project 7 Build A Flavor Half and Half -Target

Project 7 Build A Flavor Half and Half -Target

Okay, I've reviewed enough Project 7 products by now, you guys know I'm head over heels for the company's message, their packaging, and their aesthetic, but their products tend to be hit or miss when it comes to quality. The mints? Always awesome! The gum? Not so much. I've talked about the packaging and design in tons of other reviews, so I'm going to get right to it. How does this mix hold up? 

Play Bubble Cola Gum - Asian Food Market

Play Bubble Cola Gum -Asian Food Market

More old photos of products I never got around to reviewing! I was wandering around the Asian Food Market and I noticed they got a whole line of Taiwanese sports themed bubble gum! How can I resist a sparkly-eyed, bubblegum chewing, fire-pitching baseball player? (Plus it's cola flavored.)

More Build-A-Flavor Gum headed our way!

Photo © Confectionarynews.com

I'm a big fan of the packaging and the overall concept behind Project 7 mints and chewing gum, so I can't wait to try all of these new flavors! I already bought the 3 in the middle at Target, but I guess the ones on either ends are still headed our way? (They're the 2 I'm most excited for too! I can't wait!)

© Maria Smith http://poison-and-antidote.net
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Hubba Bubba Mystery Flavor Bubble Tape - Target

Hubba Bubba Mystery Flavor Bubble Tape - Target

I haven't had Bubble Tape in AGES, so when I saw that there was a "new mystery flavor" available, I had to have it. It's 6 feet of tooth-rotting goodness! I don't remember seeing this flavor around when I was a kid, but apparently this is some kind of re-release? This same exact flavor and packaging was released as "new" way back in 2011. Oh well, it may be old, but it's new to me!

Let's hope this flavor is as fun as my nostalgic bubble gum chewing brain is hyping it up to be!

Project 7 Red Velvet Cupcake Gum - Target

Project 7 Red Velvet Cupcake Gum - Target

Do any of you watch Orange is The New Black? If you do, you might remember THIS scene where prison guard, and fad-dieter, O'Neill goes on a tirade about the popularity of Red Velvet Cake and how he personally feels like it's a scam.

You tell 'em O'Neill! I grew up watching cooking shows, so even though I know that Red Velvet Cake is indeed a real thing, and a Southern tradition, I can't help but agree with him. The sudden surge of products and popularity we are seeing is a total scam coasting on tons of food dye and all of the food companies out there are getting in on it. We have Oreos, yogurts, m&m's, and now? Chewing gum. Even Project 7 isn't immune to the trendiness of this red-hued wannabe. I love this company and their concept, but I hate the trendiness of all this red velvet cake nonsense, so let's see if trying this gum will make any difference in my velvet-y stance.

Hubba Bubba Hot Cocoa Gum - Target

Hubba Bubba Hot Cocoa Gum - Target

When did gum become such a popular holiday item? First there's that Trident Layer's Candy Cane gum, then three seasonal flavors of Project 7, and now this? Did I miss some kind of "gum is the perfect stocking stuffer" memo?

Project 7 Front Porch Lemonade Gum - JoAnn Fabrics

Project 7 Front Porch Lemonade Gum - JoAnn Fabrics

I had been trying to track down these Project 7 chewing gums for almost a year. The packaging is so clean, and all the other food bloggers were posting about them, and I (like the foodie sheep that I am) wanted to check them out too. Since I try really hard not to buy food or candy online, I was scouring the grocery stores hoping to find these, and back in January I finally found them! At Jo Ann Fabrics of all places! I started out with the Birthday Cake version (which was reviewed here) but thankfully more and more flavors are popping up here in Jersey, so now I have this beautiful summery lemonade to review!

Swedish Fish Trident Layers Gum - Gift

Swedish Fish Trident Layers Gum - Gift

Okay, time to get back into the swing of things. I have a ton of posts related to the Summer Fancy Food Show coming up, but my brain (and legs) are basically pudding. It'll take me a day or two to recover and collect my thoughts. In the meantime, let's get back into the normal review routine.

This was one of the candy items I mentioned in the "Desperately Seeking" segment of Candyology101. I really wanted to try this chewing gum, and I had been looking for it everywhere, but I just couldn't find it. Right before I left for NY there was a pretty strong storm here in NJ (some argue it was a tornado) and a lot of people lost power. My bosses went out after the storm to grab some lighters and candles, and when they saw this gum, they bought it for me. (Thank you!)

Stride Sour Patch Watermelon Gum- Walmart: Berlin, NJ

Stride Sour Patch Watermelon Gum- Walmart: Berlin, NJ

Brand names collaborating on products is not a new concept, it's been around for ages, but lately these foodie collabs have resulted in some pretty great things! Instead of being a novelty gimmick to trick brand loyalists into spending money on repackaged products, newer products like the Reese's Oreos have been really well formulated! I feel like if this product had been released 10 years ago it would have been the normal PB filled Oreo cookie with the Reese's branding slapped on like a sticker, but companies have been putting more effort into the products, and the quality has really improved.

Take this gum as an example.

Project 7 Sugar Free Birthday Cake Gum - JoAnn Fabrics: Cherry Hill, NJ

Project 7 Sugar Free Birthday Cake Gum - JoAnn Fabrics: Cherry Hill, NJ

Birthday cake flavored gum? And it's not from the Dessert Delight's line? What madness is this?

I had been on the lookout for Project 7's products after seeing a few fellow foodie bloggers review a few of their items, and I finally found them in my area, at the crafty store of all places! I already reviewed the vanilla peppermints from this line, and I liked those quite a bit. They've been in my purse ever since and everyone I've shared them with has enjoyed them as well. Since the mints were such a hit, I decided to give this gum a try, even though I still feel like "Birthday Cake" is a subjective flavor. Come on! There is no one-way to make a birthday cake! It could be any flavor of cake and any flavor of icing, then again, I guess "vanilla cake and icing" doesn't have the same allure as "birthday cake."

Oh well, on to the review!

Candy Cane Trident Layers - Target: Marlton, NJ

Candy Cane Trident Layers - Target: Marlton, NJ

I'm running out of time! I'm going to knock out as many holiday reviews as I can this week! Next up, some seasonal gum! Will this really taste any different than all the other peppermint chewing gums out there?