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! 

Tastes like Soap, but in a Good Way?

Choward's Violet Mints

I have a LOT of hobbies. There's this blog, my Etsy shop, feeding (and hopefully trapping) a few local feral cats, sewing, cooking, baking, art/drawing, watching/collecting movies, and on top of all that...I collect vintage goods. Mostly vintage cameras and projectors, but I also collect vintage books, records, 45's, and other knick-knacks. This summer in particular I went down a strange rabbit hole and found myself obsessed with vintage metal trivets. Why? How? I have no idea, but it happened, and now I am the proud owner of 5 of them hanging in my kitchen. So why not add vintage candy to the mix?  

#TBT 90's Marketing was No Joke - DunkAroos

DunkAroos - 7-Eleven 

Looking back, the 90's were pretty damn indulgent. I remember eating lunchables, canned Spiderman Chef Boyardee, Pringles, DunkAroos, String-Thing, SqueezIt, Toaster Strudels, Pizza Bagels and all kinds of junk...and even if I didn't eat it very often, I can still remember the commercials vividly in my head. (Especially String Thing.)

I don't know if that's a testament to my memory, or if advertising companies in the 90's were just that intent on marketing to children. (It's evil, but it totally worked.)  

Planter's Cheez Balls - Typing "Balls" This Many Times Made Me Uncomfortable

 

 Planter's Original Cheez Balls - CVS

Historically I'm very picky when it comes to cheese-based snacks. I like crunchy-style Cheetos, but only the Cheeto's brand version. (Love you Aldi, but your "Cheetos" are sad.) I don't like Cheese Curls, or Cheddar Fries, or Nacho Cheese Doritos. (I'm a Cool-Ranch girl through-and-through with a side of Spicy Sweet Chili.) So I only really like Crunchy Cheetos and White Cheddar Smartfood Popcorn. And yet, I just couldn't ignore this tiny can of retro Cheez Balls at CVS. 

I remember eating cheese balls out of a similar container as a little kid, like single-digit-age-young, and I think it was this brand? I'm not entirely sure because it was so long ago, but something about the retro feel and the pseudo-nostalgia just won me over. (It didn't hurt they they were tiny, cute, and cheap either.) Into my cart they went!

Spice Girls Lollipop from 1997 - Should I? OR Shouldn't I?

Spice Girls lollipop from 1997... dare I? 🍭🍭🍭 #spiceupyourlife #spicegirls #90s #sometimesfoodie #babyspicewasmyfav #tbt #chupachups #spiceworld #sportyspice #girlpower

A photo posted by Sometimes Foodie (@sometimesfoodie) on Sep 4, 2016 at 2:57pm PDT

What do you guys think? Should I eat it? Or leave it in the package? 

Pac-Man Arcade Cabinet Candy - Five Below

Pac-Man Arcade Cabinet Candy - Five Below

It's a nostalgic novelty product-filled weekend! After having the moment earlier ranting about The Real Ghostbusters animated series and Twinkies, I'm back with another retro throw back, this time it's gaming related!

Growing up my mother and grandmother each had a NES. That's right, they were cool like that, and I used to watch them play all kinds of games. (Well mostly my mom. Grandma only played the original Mario and Duck Hunt and never tried anything else.) This was long before the Let's Play days on YouTube, for me, my mom was the original Markiplier. She'd play Megaman 4, Q*bert, Mario 1, 2 & 3, Tetris and Pac-man. I would play a little here and there, but I really got into Pac-Man and Tetris somewhere in my teens.

Candyology 101 Episode 37 - Lemonhead

Candyology 101 - Lemonhead

Here's another throwback candy that's one of a kind, Lemonheads! On today's Candyology 101 Cybele and I talk about the history behind this unique fruity sweet and revisit some of it's...questionable packaging choices. What am I referring to? Tune in to find out, and click THIS link for the show notes so you can see it with your own eyes.

Subscribe to the show via iTunes, Stitcher, or RSS.

Plus, we're now available in the Google Play Music Store!

Or you can download today's MP3 file HERE. 

© Maria Smith http://poison-and-antidote.net

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Candyology 101 Episode 35 - Whatchamacallit (and review!)

 

Whatchamacallit - Walmart

On today's Candyology 101 we're munching on the Whatchamacallit bar, A Hershey's bar that never quite took off. It has a loyal following, and some fun marketing, but I don't think I've ever had one...until now! Tune in to learn more about this under the radar bar, and then check out my first impression review below!

Subscribe to the show via iTunes, Stitcher, or RSS.
Plus, we're now available in the Google Play Music Store!

Or you can download today's MP3 file HERE. 

Don't forget to check out my review under the cut!

Mike and Ike Cotton Candy - Dollar Tree

Mike and Ike Cotton Candy - Dollar Tree

In preparation for our next Candyology 101 recording, I grabbed a few different flavors of Mike and Ike candies from the Dollar Tree, which carries a pretty wide variety of flavors. I'm a sucker for cute retro stuff, and my mother loves cotton candy sweets, so picking this one from the lineup was a no brainer!

Teaberry Gum - Wegman's: Cherry Hill, NJ

Teaberry Gum - Wegman's: Cherry Hill, NJ

Here's a little something we were discussing over on Candyology101, Teaberry gum! This retro little candy was really popular in the 1960's, when my mom was born, and she remembered chewing on it as a kid, while I remember seeing it on grocery shelves as a child of the late 80's. It didn't seem super popular at the time, and I don't recall chewing it when I was little, but it's still being produced and carried by a few candy shops and grocery stores today! (Although it's become a little hard to find.) Thankfully I found a pack at Wegman's, so I thought I'd write up a little review for those of you who have never heard of this sweet chewable treat before.

Monster Cereals are returning with a new look thanks to DC Comic Artists

Comic Book Makeovers for the Classic Cereal Monsters 

Halloween fan rejoice! The monster cereals we all know and love will be returning to the shelves very soon, and with some nice, new, art to boot. Although there is no news on the return of Fruit Brute and Yummy Mummy, it seems like the berry and chocolate trio will be returning this year with a fresh coat of paint. 

Just like last year, Target will be releasing exclusive retro-cereal box designs, this year the designs will be similar to the ones released in 1979-1980, but normal grocery store shelves will be getting these snazzy new boxes.

Franken Berry is my fav of the whole bunch

As a fan of comics and horror movie monsters, I really love the new box art. (Especially the Count and Franken Berry. Sorry Jim Lee, the Boo Berry Box just isn't my style.)

The boxes are designed by DC Artists:

Franken Berry- Dave Johnson
Count Chocula- Terry and Rachel Dodson
Boo Berry- Jim Lee

I might have to pick up Franken Berry and the Count this year, but I'll be torn between these fresh new designs and the fun retro ones that feature a mask. Which will you be buying?

Photos © http://www.dccomics.com/blog/press

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