Cinnabon Lattes - Mocha Latte

I'm a bit of an insomniac and just started a job that gets me up really early. Now in previous posts, I've mentioned my saving-energy-grace known as Redline, and aside from one passing Chevron gas station/mini-mart, I've only been able to find them in 7-Elevens. So in my ever-tired weekday mornings, I've tried to stop by a 7-Eleven on the way to work to grab a breakfast bar and a Redline.

On one morning, I walked in the door and immediately headed down the first aisle to the wall of cooler doors and low and behold I pass the coffee drinks... and there looking at me through the glass door within its taunting can is the lovely drink this post is about.

The folks at Cinnabon have created drinks (which I believe they sell at their kiosk wherever you happen to find them). Now, like Starbucks, they seem to have broadened their horizons, creating goodies you can buy in the grocery store (or in this case, 7-Eleven) instead of trekking to their place to buy their yummy drinks.

I bought one (they had only two flavors available: Mocha Latte and Espresso Cream... I went for the Mocha!) and with my Redline and breakfast bar, headed on out to work. Between getting their and lunch, I tried my Cinnabon Mocha Latte.

Quite yummy, must I say. It was tasty and pleasant. In all honesty, it reminded me of the Starbucks fair of Frappucino goodness, but there was something slightly different tasting about Cinnabon mocha versus Starbucks mocha. I think I would have to say that I like them both... I favor the Cinnabon mocha. From what I can recall, it was sweet without being too sweet. It just tasted better.

The drink went down smooth, it didn't upset my stomach, and was (as I have previously stated) tasty.

Would I try it again?: Oh yeah, I think so. Besides, there are three other yummy flavors out there that I'm curious about trying.

http://www.cinnabonlattes.com/

Clamato Tortilla Chips

Oh yes... yes... the foulness of the world has reached new heights, ladies and gentlemen.

So a month or so ago, I was headed out of town to spend the day with friends. I stopped off at a gas station mini-mart to grab an energy drink, some water, and some snacks for the road (I think I was PMS'ing and craving salty goodness). I usually pick up some of the TGIFridays chips, but this little blue bag in the midst of other plain white ones... well, curiosity got the better of me so I bought it (not without buying other snacks since there is always a chance of non-enjoyment of other snacks... so that's what you do - or *I* do - I get at least ONE snack I know I'll enjoy and get something else as well that I might like... nothing wrong with extra snacks, my friend).

Well, I went on my friend excursion and ended up not eating the chips. I took them home and after a few days, I saw them in the kitchen on the snacks shelf and thought, "Hey, I might as well try these."

My friends... listen to me... JUST SAY NO TO CLAMATO TORTILLA CHIPS!

I held the bag... I opened the bag... and I picked a chip... I put that chip in my mouth... and I made myself finish chewing and swallowed. Oh goodness. Not good. Admittedly I ate a total of two chips to make sure, but really... one was enough. How the FUCK can you make a chip taste exactly like the drink? I think the only time I've had Clamato was mixed with Puccin (did I spell that right?), and for some reason my tastebuds didn't gag. The chips, however... after the two, I tossed the bag in the trash.

They don't even LOOK a tasty color. YUCK!

Would I try it again?: Hell no!

http://www.taquitos.net/snacks.php?snack_code=3328

Bossa Nova Acai Juice

Now I'm strictly a pomegranate gal, myself, but like this blog states, I like trying new things.

In all honesty, I have tried acai-fruit juice before... but as I had observed before about how pomegranate becoming the next IN-fruit (before it was the cranberry I believe with its anti-oxidant madness), now... it's the acai berry.

And this post brings to you... BOSSA NOVA ACAI FRUIT JUICE.

What is açai? Açai (ah-sci-ee) is a rainforest berry - a small, dark purple fruit that grows on palm trees on the floodplains of the Amazon basin. Recent scientific study has earned it the enviable title of “world’s healthiest fruit” in part, because it is likely to be the world’s highest antioxidant fruit.
~courtesy of the Bossa Nova website - FAQ section

Now, in looking at the bottles, I'm forced to think of POM (pomegranate juice, straight and mixed with other flavors). Bossa Nova is doing the same thing. There is straight up acai-juice... then there are mixes (I only tried mango and raspberry). I have to say that even though I enjoy me some acai-juice, I love me my POM better. (And you get to keep the snazzy glass the drinks come in... I have a nice collection.)

Acai-juice is tart... and purple... and yummy... but I still like pomegranate more.

Would I try it again?: Yeah, of course. It's still good juice, but it just wouldn't be my first choice.

http://www.bossausa.com/

Vosges Chocolate - Mo's Bacon Bar

So last night was me and my friends's monthly drink night (August's drink - mai tai's... oh Captain Jack Sparrow, this is where all the rum has gone).

During the evening's festivities, Kathy and Alithea had been snacking on some sweet potato chips and were commenting on the sweet and salty aspect of the snack making it addictive and so appealing. There were references to another snack to what I thought I had heard "bacon", but I wasn't sure.

Sure enough, that IS what I heard.

Kathy had gone with some friends up to Oregon to see a friend of ours graduate college. Upon someone asking her what she wanted as a gift, the graduate (Erin) said "chocolate" - so the gift giver (Janise) decided to buy her an array of chocolate.

One of which was a chocolate bacon bar.

Yes kids, you heard mommy correctly.

In case you can't read the picture attached to this post, let me translate. It says Vosges Haut Chocolat - exotic candy bar - Mo's Bacon Bar: applewood smoked bacon, Alderwood smoked salt, deep milk chocolate, 41% cacao.

Kathy had brought some home with her... just a little bit, but it melted a little in her car, so she had stuck it in the freezer. We all tried it, and let me say... it was REALLY good. It was so good, I wanted more than I actually had. I wanted a whole bar to myself.

Neither flavor was overwhelming or overpowering the other - the flavors complimented each other very nicely.

Looking on the website, they have other 'exotic' chocolate bars that I'm interested in trying - hell, I think ALL of them (especially since I saw the movie "Chocolat"... the Red Fire bar looks really tempting to me).

Would I try it again?: If you didn't get the inferred "Hell yeah" from reading the post, I will clarify this last with an absolute HELL YEAH I'd try it again. I want to eat the website, that's how yummy all the stuff looks on it.

http://www.vosgeschocolate.com/

Monster Energy Drink - Green

At the lovely gas station down the street from the Togo's I used to go to for lunch, I was craving any sort of 'something' that would help get me through the day and wake my ass up. Usually I drink AMP or Redline... or even a Starbucks Espresso Shot, but unfortunately they did not have any. Instead from the selection of energy drinks that they had, I chose Monster - since I never had it and was curious... and because it looked the least threatening.

Now I have to say right now that I was going to use a simple picture of the can, but seeing as my review of this drink is not favorable, I thought I'd make the picture a little more pleasant on the eyes since the drink was not pleasant on my palate. And I even made the picture bigger to make up for how much I 'disliked' this drink.

I thought the lady in the picture had a nice figure, but now I realize that even this picture agrees that Monster is ass juice.

Now with all energy drinks, they are best served cold. I waited until I got back to the office to crack it open and start chugging. It was still cold, but oh my heavens... the TASTE!!! Now, it wasn't as vile as the Upshot, but it was definitely FAR WORSE than the good old fashioned Redline. It was so icky, I didn't even finish the can. (Yeah, but you finish the Upshot. Sure I did, but that was due to a momentary lapse in higher brain activity... and I couldn't let Kathy suffer alone. We shared in our stupidity together... with cappucino cookie chasers.) A co-worker said, "The blue is better." And my reply was something along the lines of, "As if I'm putting another can of this shit to my lips regardless of what color or flavor it is."

Would I try it again? I would sooner drink a smoothie made from tapioca, liver and gizzard.

http://www.monsterenergy.com/

Hansen's Green Tea Soda - Pomegranite

During a Safeway trip with Chris, we strolled down the beverages aisle for him to get some Pepsi, me some 7Up, and us a flat of water.

That's when I noticed the new Hansen's drinks. (I like me some Hansen's.) Also what caught my eye was that it was not only green tea... but pomegranite. I will try anything pomegranite - food of the Underworld is yummy!)

They come in four packs and four flavors: green tea, ginger, pomegranite, and Tangerine. (They even had Diet Pomegranite which is just wrong. I mean, come on now. Diet Juice of the Underworld? Hello?!)

Being a soda, it's carbonated (those sensitive to the bubbles, prepare for impending burpage). There was a distinct presence of green tea and just a sweet/tart hint of pomegranite. No one flavor dominated the beverage which is good. Certain flavors can do that, and it takes away from the enjoyment of whatever you're eating/drinking. (For me olives and blueberries have the tendency to take over whatever dish they are in if added to excess.)

All in all, I find this drink to be quite refreshing and yummy. I'm curious to see what the other flavors taste like (not so much the ginger, but my friend Alithea LOVES ginger... I'll try it with her and see what she thinks).

Would I try it again? Hell yeah! When I get paid again, and we go to the store, I shall get me another four pack. The only negative I can say about this drink is that it doesn't come in larger quanities.

http://www.hansens.com/products/products.php?subcat=20&color=soda

5 Gum (by Wrigley - for teens)

So recently I went to the San Diego Comic-Con with my friend Kathy. On the home, we made a pit stop at her parents' place (so we might actually sleep in actual beds and not have to answer to an alarm or a six-foot redheaded crack fraggle looming over us so early in the morning.

After having a yummy lunch (yes, we slept in that late) and packed the car with tidbits Kathy got from her parents, we headed to a gas station to top of my tank before our long trek home, and while the gas was a-pumpin', we stopped off inside the mini-mart for snacks and beverage-y goodness. When I brought my items to the cashier, I saw these interesting packages of what was apparently gum. What caught my eye, aside from the black packaging and the giant number 5 on them, were the names of the flavors.

Now normally when you get gum, you get flavors that range from the relatively normal (like peppermint or cinnamon) to things that sound almost like gibberish and plucked straight out of the Wonkaverse.

The names of these flavors: cobalt, rain, and flare.

I almost placed the back of my wrist to my forehead in dramatic, sarcastic response.

This is GUM people. I welcome Wonkaverse names over... these.

Upon searching the internet, apparently the gum is put out by Wrigley and focused toward teens who, per an article I read, chew "one-third of the gum sold in the U.S.". It's supposed to appeal to the five senses - hence the name.

My reaction to each gum?

• Cobalt - this is peppermint, bright blue in color, and tastes just like any usual pepperminty gum.
• Rain - this is spearmint, they claim it 'tingles', but really it's just bright green with a nice spearminty flavor.
• Flare - ah yes, the cinnamon. Well, it's red. (Kind of obvious there, wasn't it?) I don't really care for this flavor. It starts off fine... nice and cinnamony like it should be, but like with some cinnamon gums, the flavor aftertaste after having been chewed for a while (not really a long while for me either) starts to get this taste, and I can't really describe it well. It borders on rubbery, mediciney, and just downright not good.

Would I try it again? Not the cinnamon. The flavor morphs into this other flavor that I personally do NOT care for. The cobalt/peppermint and the rain/spearmint taste just dandy and actually have long-lasting (good) flavor. They need to work on the cinnamon. I mean, these are the people that put out Big Red. Couldn't they make it taste more like that?

http://promomagazine.com/news/wrigley_targets_teens_5_gum_031907/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5_%28gum%29

Basils Bavarian Bakery Premium Cookies with Cappuccino and Chocolate Chips

The last post... those lovely cookies I spoke of that took the nasty energy drink aftertaste out of my mouth?

Well THESE are them.

Currently, I am temp'ing at a place where I'm doing collections for them. It's an all right gig, but unlike the last place I temp'd at, these guys don't provide drinks and snacks for free. Instead they have vending machines: one soda and one snacks.

These lovely little creatures called out to me the other day. They were cookies... so of course, being fluent in cookie-ese, I listened. Everyday I passed by the machine... and everyday they yelled for my attention. Trying to be a good girl who desperately wants to lose some weight and inches off my mid-section, I acknowledged them, said hello... even stopped to chat for a bit (you know, just to be nice).

Eventually I gave in.

Now let me say right up front that I'm very wary when it comes to vending machines. I always wonder how often they've been maintained, how old the stuff in the machine actually is... what actually AM I eating?

Well, let me just say that the cookies were wonderful. They weren't old, but they were a brand I'd never heard of before or had never seen in stores. Granted, I only shop at Safeway and the like, but still. In any case, the cookies are wonderful, and I have been tempted to get them again, but my waist, common sense, and lack of motivation to excercise as much as I should holds me back.

But yes, they were quite yummy. Sweet but not too sweet. They weren't chewy (which I normally like in a cookie), but they weren't crisp like a potato chip. And they were bite-size which made snacking on them while working easy and wonderful. (Makes the day go by better when you've got yummy snacks that make you happy and distract you from actually being at the office.)

Would I try it again? Hell yeah. Now if they could just create a diet that involved eating yummy junk food while you still lose weight, I'd be even happier.

http://www.discountcoffee.com/cookie_cappuccino.htm

UPSHOT Energy Shot

So recently my friend Kathy and I drove to San Diego for the annual comic book convention. To start off our journey, we stopped off at a gas station to fuel up. While filling up my tank, we stepped into the mini-mart of the station, we each got an energy drink, and since my PMS was screaming at me, I ended up getting three 99-cent bags of salty chip goodness. When I finally got to the front of the line, I saw an array of the little bottles of energy drinks - one shot deals. I thought I'd get one since I'd always been curious about them. Kathy got one, too. We decided on the pink one (which CLAIMS to be Fruit flavored).

So on the freeway we went, and Kathy was waiting for me to drink mine so we could 'shoot' them together. I opted to wait for a straightaway to open mine, and by the time we hit Interstate 5, it was time.

Now, I realize that I have expressed that the Redline energy drink is evil... but no, I have found something FAR worse.

It's as if the smaller the bottle, the worse the aftertaste.

Oh for the love of nasty... this little drink is so gross that I think the only way it would give you energy is to keep you awake long enough to either find a way to get the vile taste out of your mouth or to seek out the bastard who made the shit and have him/her die a horribly slow and painful death.

We opened the bottle and downed a quick sip and immediately made faces of disgust. With most energy drinks, it has that residual caffine aftertaste that's lingering effects depends on which drink you've just consumed. Usually, at least for me, that taste lingers toward the back of my throat and can usually be chased away with a quick chug of water. This concoction, however, is far worse than any other drink labeled as an energy drink.

The first sip right away was gross. Swallowing was even more so. The disgusting taste lingered after the first sip and gradually made its way toward the front of our mouths, down our tongues. Hoping it was a matter of just getting used to it, we tried it again and didn't get very far. It got worse with each drink. Being stupid sports of the whole venture, we drank all of what was in our respective bottles and quickly after swallowing the funktastic juice of whatever evil overlord conjured it up, made the appropriate faces to display what words could not.

Even the words I type here don't do its foulness justice.

Now, at the time, we had just discussed how energy drinks are best served cold, and these were luke warm after having been on display on the counter at the register. I was thinking perhaps they'd taste better if they were cold. I think perhaps at first Kathy was willing to agree with me, but then later, upon retrospect, she said no... there was nothing that would make that grossness taste any better.

Upon my own retrospect, yeah... I'd have to agree.

The only thing that helped take the taste away were some cookies I got from work that day. (Thank the heavens for those cookies!!!)

Would I try it again? I think a HELL NO! would suffice. Granted, I'm all for what others think of this blasted concoction of putrescence... having other willing victims... er, I mean volunteers try the brew-that-shall-not-be-named and share their stories?... I'm all for it. But me? I'm SO done.

http://www.energyfiend.com/caffeine-content/upshot

Redline Energy Drink

Oh the joys of evil... in a can.

Actually, would you call it a can? I guess it's a little bottle... a squishy little blue bottle... filled with EVIL!

Okay... storytime!

So one night my best friend/roommate Chris and I decided to catch a midnight showing of some movie (the title of which escapes me at the moment), and we ended going home first... and on the way stopping by a 7-Eleven and looked at energy drinks. Chris wanted the one that had the most caffine in it (since he hadn't slept well the night before and was running off fumes). He ended up getting a bottle of Redline... I think because it "looked good" (and he was probably tired of looking). So he paid for the bottle (I declined the offer for one since I was fine... at the time). So we went home (I think so he could shower after a long day of work and before the movie). While waiting for him, I got tired and lazy and blah. So on the way back to the theatre, we stopped off at the same 7-Eleven and purchased me a Redline. We found a place to park and toasted to us surviving our new drink and gulped it down the hatches.

Now I must say, the direction suggest for first timers to drink like half of it at first and then the rest later or something like that. Nah, we shot it down (or at least as much as we could take before, you know, having to breathe.)

It smelled a little like Kool-Aid... and looked like Kool-Aid (tropical punch). It was sweet going down, but after you swallow, the aftertaste... oh for the love bad aftertaste! It was all that caffine. It coated the back of my tongue and the beginning of my throat. (Chris bought a Pepsi upon my suggestion for a chaser of some kind in case the Redline tasted like crap. Needless to say that we partook of said Pepsi, but for me, I could still taste the Redline... although fainter, I could still taste it.)

We went to the movie (since I can't recall the movie at the moment, I'm going to assume that since it was most definitely NOT Battlefield Earth, we had fun), and then went home... where Chris wound down a bit and then buggered off to sleep while I, the insomniac as well as odd reactions to certain meds, was still awake and had even more issues getting to bed and then getting up the next day.

Redline is, for me, a reliable source of "wake the fuck up - you have no choice in the matter" when I need it. On the bottle it says "the utlimate energy rush" as well as "fat incinerator". I cannot see myself drinking that in combination of going to the gym and working out. The taste alone would drive me nuts.

I have only found these lovely little blue bottles of death at 7-Elevens where they have bred into other flavors and colors (such as Green Apple - which is clear, and Grape - which I believe is also clear). Of those three, the original is best.

Chris mentioned a newer uber-butch one... that we're both hesitant to try ever since we read some possible "side effects" that can occur after too much constant consumption of Redline. (Perhaps I'll find some for my road trip next week. Could prove for happy times... or psychedelic 'the car is flying, I don't care what the cop behind us says' possible trip to the emergency room road trip happy times.)

Wow! I have no idea where that came from. Try saying THAT ten times real fast.

Would I try it again? I would, and I do... whenever I need that fatal pick-me-up. I just wouldn't suggest more than one in at least a 12-hour period. Wow!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redline_%28drink%29