Game: Monument Valley

Ida - the faceless princess

Well look at this. Something that isn't food. Well golly gee!

So it's been a while that I've been eyeing this game in the app store. I'm a gamer, and even though I play practically all kinds, my favorite types of games are adventure/puzzle games.

Examples of adventure/puzzle games I have played (and enjoyed): Oddworld, Journeyman, 7th Guest, The Longest Journey, Dreamfall, Sanitarium, 9, Tesserae, Rebuzzle, Word Brain, Zuma, Intelligent Cube, Obsidian... and other games that have puzzle stuff in them like Tomb Raider.

When I check out the app store on my iPhone, I always check out the same two game types: Puzzle and Word. Rarely there is anything new that catches my eye. I've dabbled in the worlds of Fruit Ninja, Candy Crush, and Temple Run, but I can only play those for so long until I need a break from them... which is odd considering playing the game is supposed to be a break in itself.

"Hi! I'm addictive!"

One day I was checking out Monument Valley in the Google game store, and they had these "if you like this, then you'd like this" suggestions next to the game, and one of them was Skyward. It looked interesting enough, and it was free - so I downloaded it.

The environment design is essentially the same to Monument Valley (though MV's design is mind-blowing in its transformations.

Skyward starts off with a portion of track where you essentially have to alternating discs (which - to me - look like tiny Necco wafers) that you have to play leap frog throughout the maze. It reminds me a little of CrossyRoad in the respect that the game ends when you die. (So I guess you can say it's also a survival game, too?)

Monument Valley - from all the pics I saw online and in the app store - always made me think of the scene from Labyrinth where Sara is trying to find her little brother Toby in that Escher-type room of stairs.

The game is entirely like that.

Pretty

So remembering my iTunes gift card from back in the day, I said, "Frak it!" and used it.

THIS GAME IS AWESOMESAUCE!!!

It didn't take long to download the game, and as soon as I played the first level, I was hooked immediately. The worlds are so pretty. Each level, each structure, a piece of amazing art all on its own. (The two levels/puzzles that stick out in my mind from the game are "The Box" and "Observatory".) So pretty, and SO COOL! (And I really love her Totem friend. I want one!!!)

Over the course of the next few days, I finished the game in about a day's time (give or take). I had to force myself to not be an ass, put the phone away, and - ya know - be social and responsible. I downloaded the game Friday and finished it Saturday.

So Monument Valley only has 10 levels which made me sad since I wanted more.

Then after the credits were done and the game ad showed, it said "download Forgotten Shores" - WHICH I DID!!!

First I played "Ida's Dream" which was previously unreleased content. Very pretty.

And then it was off to Monument Valley: Forgotten Shores.

Ida & Totem

With this expansion, you get 8 more levels... which I finished quickly and then was whining inwardly like "WHYGAWDWHY?!?!? I WANT MORE MONUMENT VALLEY!!!"

Or something like that.

My favorite level in Forgotten Shores is "The Oubliette."

This level had me saying things like "WTF?" and "That's awesome!" and "SWEET!!!"

Now normally when playing puzzle games like this, there's usually a part in the process where I get stuck and can't figure out what to do or where to go. At that point, I get all tense, shut off the system and just walk away for a while.

I was surprised at how quickly I finished the game. Not to say that it was easy, but I was waiting for that "DAMMIT!" moment but most of those moments were from being at the office or driving or stuff like that.

I have since been playing the game over and over. Admittedly there were some things that I looked at and thought "I beat you dammit. Why can't I remember you?" - which is odd since once I've played a game, the muscle memory kicks in rather quickly.

Would I Ever Try This Again?: Of course, and I have! More, please? Thanks.

Monument Valley - Game Site:
http://www.monumentvalleygame.com/

ustwo
https://ustwo.com/

Diablito from Splash Fruits

I didn't drink him.

Today I went to the outlet mall to check out some hair products for my Fro-ness. I'm always on the search for anything that can tame "the beast" without damaging my hair. Usually when I find something that works, it gets discontinued or becomes uber expensive leaving me to search out other affordable methods.

But I digress.

On the way to the beauty supply store I passed what I thought was a fruit stand... in the mall. Literally. I thought it was just a bunch of dudes selling cut up fruit at the mall to people. I don't mind it. I love fruit. Thought it was fine idea to me. But I went for hair stuff first.

Achievement Unlocked: 

Acquired Paul Mitchell - Curls "Twist Around" and "Full Circle Leave-In Treatment"

Done in the beauty supply store, I headed back for some fruit. I thought I'd at least take a look, maybe get something, and then head to Cold Stone Creamery for a drink (they apparently have Boba Milk Tea there now - at least the one in mall did).

Stopping at what I thought was a fruit stand of sorts, I saw that the name on the little set up was called "Splash Fruits" - and it's mostly fruit. I saw giant trays of watermelon, passionfruit, mango, cantaloupe, honeydew... (I'm sure there are ones that I'm missing a lot more).

There wasn't too long of a line so I walked about the little set up and saw their menu.

Snapshot of menu - complete with my silhouette

In checking out the menu, I wanted to try it all, but I settled for the Diablito. 

I'm still craving spicy in my later years, which is odd since some foods I'm now able to take, but other spicy items still need a little work. I've also had this weird fascination with mango con chile. I LOVE mangos and wanted to have some, but I never pick them up at the store. I've made elote before, but for some reason, I have yet to muster up the gumption to try some mango con chile.

Maybe later... from these guys.

Now anything with "Diablo" in it is sure to kill me because it usually means - in the food world, at

I got the small size.

least - FIRE! FIRE! YOU'RE GOING TO DIE! (Or something like that.)In any case, I paid for my drink, he gave me my ticket, and I walked around to watch the fruit chef in action.

The dude took an entire watermelon and sliced it like a samurai. Damn! And it looked like a lot of things he was making were Coctel de Frutas (fruit cocktail), the second most popular item being the Tostilocos which also looked great.

My drink consisted of crushed ice, tamarind, chamoy, tajin, lemon and salt (though in looking up the recipe on the interwebs, there are many variations to the beverage, some of which are alcoholic making me think of the variations on Bloody Marys - another fave beverage of mine).. I tried watching him make it, but he was on the other side, his back blocking my view. All I really saw was him do was get the ice from the machine.

Then he called out my number, and I saw this delicious thing of shaved iceness, and I thought "Yes, of delicious refreshment of mine. Come to Mama... so mama may suck your innards out through a tamarind coated straw." 

Funny side note about tamarind - I've always been a little phobic of tamarind. Not sure that's the right word, but I would be of the mindset "OH! Something new! I want to try it!" and then this weird part of my mind would say "NOOOO!!! It looks weird. It's going to taste TERRIBLE! DON'T DO IT!

Hellooooo tasty treat!

FOR THE LOVE OF GAWD!" Then Alithea S flew in from Colorado for her grandfather's (mother's father) birthday. While she was here, Kathy W and I managed to sneak in some "basking" time with her. We spent almost all day Sunday with her, and stayed for dinner (BURGERS!!!) and family time. Some of the birthday party leftovers were offered up to me and Kathy, and I was gifted with the big unopened bottle of Tamarind Jarritos. When I asked what it tasted like, all Alithea could say was "it's sweet?" followed by "you'll just have to taste it."

So after drinking this drink, I'm SO going to try the soda (which is made with 100% sugar and NOT caffeinated - so sayeth the bottle).

In any case, I waited until I got back to the car before I took a sip, and I was literally sitting parked in my car in the parking garage saying aloud "Damn! That tastes amazing!"

Would I Ever Try This Again? WTF do you think? I just can't decide if I want to chance the mango or go for the fruit cocktail.

Lay's Chips - Southern Biscuits and Gravy & New York Reuben

So I'm trying to be a good girl and lose some weight. Not because I want to be anorexically thin. I know my body and know its shape, and that ain't ever gonna happen, y'all - mmmkay? Even if I wanted it - which I don't.

I have been rather proud of myself. I'll go to the store to pick up a few things, and I'll come across that impulsively want - like cheese or bread or something. But I've been good about walking way, reasoning with myself "Do I really want or need that?"

If you happened by me while I'm at the store, you might see me talking to myself. "Nope... you don't need anymore cheese. You have those two small blocks at home. You can get some later when you run out." That kind of thing.

There is also the whole "talking myself out of sweets" self-chat. I am amazed at the levels of NO I tell myself on a regular basis. Admittedly I will indulge in some kind of splurge like for ice cream or something, but I've also been good with "No... just a couple bites. You don't have to devour the whole thing in one sitting."

The fact that I'm listening to myself is MIND BLOWING!

One day while shopping for my oatmeal fixings (See? Healthy!), I went down the chip aisle and saw some Larry the Cable Guy's Biscuits & Gravy Chips. Now I love me some chips (PMS loves the salty goodness, and I just love chips and dip in general). I also love biscuits and gravy. But the bag was like $5.00, and I wasn't willing to spend that on something that I would most likely not enjoy. (Just had a feeling.) Still I was curious.

Fast forward to this past week when I was running errands with Jessie F. We did our thing and were heading back to her place and stopped by the store for dinner things when I walked right past some chips display extravaganza. And what did I find? Lay's Chips - 2/$5.00. And one of the flavors was biscuits and gravy.

Now the Lay's bags were a bit bigger than Larry's chip bags, and I could get two for the price of one of his. So I let it sit as we shopped for dinner.

I had completely forgot Lay's was doing the whole "Do Us A Flavor" again. This time around, the flavors are tastier. Granted I only had two so far, but still. In the same section of the display as the biscuits and gravy were the New York Reuben chips. Later at the end of our shopping spree, I decided to go back for the chips. Walking up in the opposite direction, the other side of the display had a third flavor - Greek Gyro (or something along those lines). Jessie was behind me, so I turned and asked her, "Reubens or gyros?" Loving the former, she immediately said REUBEN, and that was done.

Per our normal ritual, we ate, made cocktails and then sat on her couch to chit chat the night away. Me being me, before food, I whipped out the chips, opening biscuits and gravy first. DEAR GAWD! I love those things. I smelled the bag, and you could smell the faint scent of the breakfast treat, but once you bite into the chip? Dude. Lovely.

We ate a couple of those before I set that bag aside and opened the reuben bag. The smell from this bag was spot on sandwich goodness. The flavor was there, but we agreed it smelled more like the sandwich than it tasted.

The general consensus was that the biscuits and gravy won by a bit more, but the reuben bag was still pretty tasty. I am quite surprised in my current PMS "I want to eat everything covered in chocolate and salt" state that I didn't devour both bags completely, but I managed to display some willpower. Both flavors are quite addicting. Jessie would forget she was eating them and eventually push the bag to me begging me to take them away from her. In the end, I put them away, the bags and our friendship still in tact.

Willpower, people. The fact that I can control cravings while I'm PMS'ing the frak out?  Proof magic exists.

Well done Hailey Green (Southern Biscuits & Gravy) and Jeff Solensky (New York Reuben) with the help of Lay's. Y'all made some great chips.

Would I Ever Try This Again?: I say "yes". My PMS says "HELLS YEAH!!!"

https://www.dousaflavor.com/

Tasty Karma: Chickpea Truffles - Coconut Delight

pic "borrowed" from website

Every week barring complication or schedules conflicts, I head to my friend Geoff's for shows, snacks and drinks.

Since I'm usually leaving from work, I take side streets to avoid traffic and kept passing this little market near a lighted intersection. It was a cute hole-in-the-wall looking place, so that was the first thing that caught my eye. The second was the sign boasting that they had 1,000 craft beers.

While Geoff was away for the weekend recently, I had the night shift of cat-duty at his house. On the way there the first night he was away, I thought "Why not? I'll stop by the market, check out their wares, maybe grab a brew or two." It wasn't until I got to the register where I saw the sweets. They have your standard chocolate bars, etc, but on a rack of other sweets, I saw these.

I will admit, it was the cookie that caught my eye first. They sort of reminded me of Ferrero Rocher, and then when I read "Coconut Delight" - I immediately thought YUMMY! (I love coconut.)

Then I noticed the rest.

• TastyKarma? What a cute name. 
• Chickpea truffles? I'll give that a go. 
• And there was all this healthy stuff like gluten-free and vegan. 
• And the ingredients were all things I could read and pronounce: organic chickepea flour, organic coconut oil, coconut sugar, organic cane sugar, organic coconut shreds. 

Six truffles come to a box. One truffle equals a serving. 90 calories per serving. (I won't tell you how many I ate.)

If possible, I try to eat healthy. I like my veggies, I'm not much of a picky eater, and I don't always have to have meat. The sad thing is my luck with healthy food hasn't tasted so good. Maybe options have improved over the years or I've just been lucky and found better stuff. I honestly don't know, but whatever the reason, I'm happy about it.

These things are delicious... and even though the ingredients don't list it, it tastes a little peanut buttery to me (which just makes me love these things even more).

Looking their website, they don't have a lot of things listed there, but I know I want to try them all.

Would I Ever Try This Again?: Hells yeah! I want some more right now. (And that is not just the PMS talking.)

Tasty Karma
Tasty Karma Chickpea Truffles - Coconut Delights

Where I got my little box of goodies: The Willows Market in Menlo Park, CA.

El Mexicano Coconut Juice With Pulp

Went to WalMart today after work - and after a nap - because I needed to do some errandy things that could all be taken care of in one place and being lazy and tired... a-WallyMart-I-went.

Today at work we had our ALL HANDS MEETING which usually lasts about 30-45min, and we usually have a catered lunch. Today was pizza. I grabbed four slices, ate two, and saved the other two for later... which I ate after my nap. LOL!

While at WalMart, I was feeling snacky but not for a big meal type thing since I had the pizza. I grabbed some fruit and juice and while looking at cup of soup types of things (they used to have these packs by Lipton I had when I was sick as a kid... but I can't find them anymore... there's something about drinking soup out of a mug), behind me was the Mexican food part of the aisle, and I saw various cans of coconut juice.

So I got one.

I got the smaller one and not the one that looked like the size equivalent of a can of a Rockstar. You know, just in case I didn't like it very much.

The can says to served chilled and shake well before opening. Since the can had been in my car, and it was windy, rainy and cold, I felt it was perfectly chilled. So I then just shook it like a maraca and cracked it open.

Now let me state for the record I've had hit or miss experiences with coconut water (hence the smaller can). I usually get the water when it's mixed with another flavor like pineapple or mango - never original.

Also, it wasn't until I got home that I saw the can says "juice" and not "water" - so what's up with that?

The "juice" inside is essentially clear with a slight white hue in it. It also has tiny cubes of coconut pulp... which I like. The can says "natural flavor" - but then you read the ingredients and everything seems "natural"... until you get to preservative word that looks scientific and Russian.

Overall, I like it. It's not too sweet, and it's coconut (which is always a plus in my book). And of course my mind is thinking of all the boozey cocktails I can make with it.

Would I Ever Try This Again?: Um, yeah. It's tasty. And I need to make some cocktails. Yum yum yum!!!

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