too warm for fall

 we had some 80 degree days & the start of the month. with 30 or 40 degree nights.

it's in the 60s now, but it would be in the 50s at least. normally i would be getting out my fall/winter stuff by now. instead, i just take out pants when i need them.

aldi's cheeses

we need to be kept away from the aldi fancy cheese section. the last time we went, we got 5 cheeses.

coca cardona; goat milk cheese w/coca powder rind. mild coca flavor, mild cheese flavor.
mobay; layers of sheep & goat cheese w/grape vine ash pressed together. no ash taste, mild cheese flavor.
sage derby; mild derby cheese w/dried sage. unfortunate looking (looks moldy), sage give a medium-sharp flavor. some kind of limited halloween themed cheese.
1,000 day aged goulda; very dry, sharp flavor.
fontina de provence; fontina cheese rubbed w/savory herbes de provence blend. mild herb flavor, mild cheese flavor.

we also got aldi 6 cracker assortment (other stores call them entertainment crackers), which is still some good crackers. we went to target on the same day & got their version of entertainment crackers, because we're not sure if we had them before. and they have a few crackers that are a different variety then the aldi one. we will probably have to get more cheese for that.

Carlo's Bakery Every Buddy's Birthday Cake

we had seen this thing at wal-mart for awhile & finally tried it.

it's 3 desserts in 1; new york-style cheesecake, vanilla confetti cake & blondie with toffee pieces. each layer was nothing special, and the icing was way too sweet. we like sweets, but this was too much.

if you licked some of the icing then breathed on a diabetic, you'd put them into diabetic coma.

pecan snickers

 it's something new my brother spotted at wal-mart. i don't know if it's a limited time thing or not.

it was very meh. not as good at the almond one, which is just OK.

they've had their original peanut, almond, creamy peanut butter, a white one (limited time) & now pecan. what's next? walnut? macadamia?

halloween 2024

 everyone probably did their trick or treat-ing over the weekend. but if you're into the holiday how you had a nice one.

how you can fine discounted candy at the stores.

fall weather?

 last week it was the typical fall weather. overcast, some rain & temperatures in the 50s.

now it's sunny with temperatures in the high 70s.

baked shrimp chips

 well, they're more like whatever crunchy cheetos are made from than chips.

they're from a brand called calbee & are some kind of japanese snack. we got them from target.

when they were first opened the shrimp/fish smell was strong. not in a "ugh! fish market." type of smell, but you knew it was shrimp-y.

the taste was more muted though, which is good. but it's nothing to get again.

white cheddar cheetos bones

 it's a limited time thing for halloween. i've seen them for the past few years, but never managed to get them before they were gone.

sadly, they were not worth the anticipation. more like the puffs than the crunchy ones. and another case of if you blindfolded me & i ate them, i could not tell you the flavor.

they have cinnamon ones too, we're not interested. but i imagine they're like the cinnamon twists at taco bell. although i've never had those.

maple brown sugar chex

 my brother saw this at target & wanted to get it.

overwhelming maple smell & taste. not brown sugar whatsoever. will not get again. the honey nut & peanut butter ones are much better.

as an aside; maple (with or without brown sugar) is an overlooked fall flavor with everyone doing pumpkin spice or apple cinnamon.

aldi pizza

 my brother say this thing, indian style butter flavor chickpea pizza, at aldi the last time we were there.

we finally got around to making it a few days ago, it was not horrible. it had a bit for a dry taste/feeling that might have been the chickpeas or the crust. i don't eat chickpeas (garbanzo beans), unless they're made into hummus. or it was the crust.

aldi is the place for....unique pizza toppings/flavors. we've had mac & cheese, eggplant, cuban (sandwich) style & BBQ one with different kinds of meat.

jack link's chili

 saw this at wal-mart not long ago & decided to try it. this is from the jerky brand, or at least they licensed their name anyway.

they had original & peppered varieties (much like the jerky), we got both.

had the original for lunch today & while it was not bad, it was very pepper-y. so the "peppered" on will be a lot more pepper-y.

mom's birthday 2024

What does your Horoscope mean?
Your Result: Virgo
Summer's here, and as an inquisitive Virgo, you can't wait to read all of those books that have been piling up in your room. Parking yourself under a shade tree with a good novel is the perfect way for you to relax.

Result Breakdown:
100% Virgo
0% Taurus
0% Gemini
0% Cancer
0% Leo
0% Aries
0% Libra
0% Scorpio
0% Sagittarius
0% Capricorn

Quiz URL

aldi's pastry

 it's is some kind of filled crescent thing. almost like a danish, but different dough.

not too bad. cream cheese anything is usually decent.

s'mores brownies

 got these from aldi the other day.

not too dense with a good amount of chocolate, mini-marshmallows & graham cracker crumbles on top. but it didn't taste much like anything. smelled nice though.

what is your posh name?

Dorothea Peridot Ffion

some of these questions leave much to be desired.

link to the quiz.

pumpkin spice season

 ....is upon us once again.

had some pumpkin spice dunkin' donuts coffee cold brew concentrate, it was not bad.

the pumpkin spice oreos because we were not sure we had them before. looking at past posts, i wound out that we did.

also got pumpkin pie pop tarts, one of the few seasonal ones we liked. my brother was very reluctant to get them, but i agreed to strawberry as the second (always try to get 2 flavors, for variety. never had 2 of the same flavor at once). even though i do not care for the fruit ones, because he agreed to the pumpkin pie flavor.

dad's birthday 2024

What does your Horoscope mean?
Your Result: Virgo
Summer's here, and as an inquisitive Virgo, you can't wait to read all of those books that have been piling up in your room. Parking yourself under a shade tree with a good novel is the perfect way for you to relax.

Result Breakdown:
100% Virgo
0% Taurus
0% Gemini
0% Cancer
0% Leo
0% Aries
0% Libra
0% Scorpio
0% Sagittarius
0% Capricorn

Quiz URL

sweet ube bread

 picked this up from aldi (presliced loaf) not long ago.

ube is a purple tuber of some sort, if you didn't know.

anyway, we tried some with butter spread, i said it was "eh." brother replied; "it's not horrible, but not good either." i told him: "i think that's the definition of eh."

tropical burst powerade

found it in a convenience store yesterday.i think it's a temporary thing for the olympics. it is a golden color with a gold label.

split it with my brother today, it's OK. nothing to get again.

hot again

 more summer heat. well, it is august.

it doesn't rain often, but when it does it is too much at once.

more summer heat

 hot again this week, with temperatures in the high 90s. 

it's supposed to "cool off" next week to the low 80s.

still way too hot for my comfort.

brother's birthday 2024

What does your Horoscope mean?
Your Result: Cancer
Dream big when you blow out your birthday candles! The cosmos are moving in your favor, so expect your wishes to come true this summer--even ones that seem a little far-fetched. You're ruled by the moon, and it will make you super-sensitive in late June.

Result Breakdown:
100% Cancer
0% Taurus
0% Gemini
0% Aries
0% Leo
0% Virgo
0% Libra
0% Scorpio
0% Sagittarius
0% Capricorn

link to the quiz

fourth of july '24

 hope you have a nice holiday.

enjoy the cookouts & picnics, drink a lot of water if you will be outside all day and be careful with fireworks.

slightly better weather

 it has cooled off some. it rained for part of a day, which helped a bit. 

but it is still summer and the hot temperatures are not done with us yet.

way too hot

 today starts a 5 day stretch of "excessive heat" in the region.

i do not do well in the heat, it often makes me sick in some way. or i just melt.

it not even summer for a few days yet. i usually don't consider moving into the refrigerator until at least mid-july.

tried scrapple

 scrapple is this sausage-like thing popular with the pennsylvania dutch peoples. it's something we discovered on an episode of dirty jobs. a segment not for the faint of heart, or vegetarians/vegans.

it's something my brother wanted to try for awhile now & managed to buy last week.

it's not terrible, but not good. and not anything to get again.

my birthday '24

What does your Horoscope mean?
Your Result: Gemini
As a creative Gemini, you've got lost of artistic talent, and this summer, the planets will align to give you plenty of opportunities to put your gifts to good use.Whether you take an art class or enter a summer poetry contest, your talent will definitely get noticed!

Result Breakdown:
100% Gemini
0% Taurus
0% Aries
0% Cancer
0% Leo
0% Virgo
0% Libra
0% Scorpio
0% Sagittarius
0% Capricorn

Quiz URL

memorial day 2024

hope you had a good holiday. 

or maybe find something in the sales that are going on.

it's the start of BBQ season, so be careful when you cook out.

powerade sour

 found in wal-mart & my brother got 2; blue razz & green apple.

i didn't have any, as i do not like sour stuff. but he said the blue wasn't very sour. and the green was a bit more sour, but still not too bad.

but it may be different for other people.

what is you patronus?

 

Find out your Harry Potter Patronus
Your Result: Siamese cat
You are a shy but intelligent person. You care deeply about your hopes and dreams and love a good lol. You are cared for by many and you are ambitious. You are very wise and are a great person to turn to when there are problems.
Result Breakdown:
82% Siamese cat
76% Grey hound
76% Hare
65% Race horse
61% Stag
45% Hedgehog
45% Owl

link to quiz

i realize that it looks like 2004-10 again with these HP quizzes, but see this kind of thing again made me a bit happy for a moment.

which wand would you have in HP?

The Wand Chooses the Wizard
Your Result: 10 inch Holly with Unicorn Hair core
You have an average size, lightweight Holly wood wand. Holly wood has unique defense against The Dark Arts qualities, while the Unicorn hair core has strong healing powers derived from unicorn blood. You're a gentle and nurturing soul with a wand to match!
Result Breakdown:
90% 10 inch Holly with Unicorn Hair core
73% 12.5 inch Pine with Hippogriff Talon core
49% 11 inch Hornbeam with Augurey Tail Feather core
41% 9 1/2 inch Oak with Phoenix Tail Feather core
32% 12 inch Ash with Dragon Heartstring core

link to quiz

in-depth sorting hat quiz

TCUTS Sorting Quiz
Your Result: Hufflepuff
Hufflepuff is the house of those who value hard work, dedication, fair play, patience, and loyalty. You believe in justice and being true, especially to those closest to you. You value teamwork and enjoy making others happy. Often overlooked for their philosophy of doing what is kind, Hufflepuffs are stronger than they are given credit for. Welcome to Hufflepuff!
Result Breakdown:
60% Hufflepuff
54% Ravenclaw
46% Slytherin
34% Gryffindor

link to the quiz

flavored pringles

 it has been a long time since we got flavored pringles, we usually get plain. i had been thinking about them for a while now & since they were a lower price at wal-mart the other day, we got 2.

first was the chili cheese fries flavor that tastes like vinegar for some reason. there is some spice (heat mostly) & no cheese flavor.

second was the harvest blends farmhouse cheddar flavor which has a very light cheese taste, which isn't too bad. but a prefer a cheesier taste in my cheese flavored snacks.

i'm often tempted by pringles flavors & just as often disappointed by them.

What were you in a past life?

What were you in a past life?
Your Result: Common peasant A person who struggled day in and day out in a small village. You never wanted more and settled with what you had. You worked the fields and took side jobs as they came and was content with having a family. You focused on their wellbeing and providing food and shelter for them.
Result Breakdown:
74% Common peasant
65% Rebel
63% Pirate
49% Warrior or Knight
46% Hermit
32% Viking

link to quiz

the HTML result didn't look right here.

flavored cream cheese

 we decided to get some bagels and flavored cream cheese, because why not?

we got chive philadelphia cream cheese (they only had the whipped kind) & brown sugar cinnamon wal-mart brand.

we got plain bagels for the brown sugar cinnamon & double cheese for the chive.

both taste ok, the chive is not as strong tasting as i thought it might be. the whipped cream cheese is kind of odd, but i'm used to the regular cream cheese consistency. the BSC is the consistency of a butter spread.

we've had flavored cream cheeses before.  philadelphia cream cheese smoked salmon, which is good if you want a cheap lox & cream cheese bagel. mixed berry, also from PCC (or was it wal-mart brand?), very berry flavored. and PCC garden vegetable, good in small doses.

the spring weather

 it has been cool and very rainy the past few days.

it's supposed to warm up to nearly 80c next week, but still might be a bit rainy though.

tropical mix sprite

 my brother found this at a local convenience store the other day & decided to split it with him, in case it was bad.

according to the coca-cola site (they make it, if you don't know);

"An ode to our past for all the Sprite Remix fans from the early 2000s. Rediscover the combination of the crisp, familiar Sprite lemon-lime taste with delicious strawberry and pineapple flavors."

it smelled coconut-y when it was first opened & tasted a bit mango-ish. and later on i had a vague "fruity" taste in my mouth. 

not anything to get again.

easter 2024

 

hope you have a nice holiday.

and find a lot of discount candy tomorrow.

st. patrick day 2024

 

i decided to skip looking for irish soda bread this ear. too dry & too many raisins. 

anyway, don't drink too much green bee and watch out for this that do.

dollar general bbq potato chips

 when we went to dollar general several day back we also go their brand of bbq potato chips.

not a lot of flavor on them. which isn't all that bad, don't want to be overwhelmed like with the chili cheese corn chips. but still, not something to get again.

spiced coke

 my brother picked this up from a convenience store a few days ago because he thought it would be similar to the cinnamon coke he missed out on 3 or so years ago.

he didn't see the small print on the lower left of the label that it was raspberry & spice flavored.

we split it so it would too much to put up with. 

it smelled a little like raspberries when it was first opened, but not afterwards. and kind of tasted perfume-y, like you walked past someone with a lot of scent on & took a breath through your mouth. 

it is not anything we want to get again.

dollar general brand chili cheese corn chips

 haven't been in a dollar general in along time, so we went on tuesday.

discovered they had their store brand of chili cheese corn chips, so we got a bag. 

very spicy probably to cover up how cheap they are. cheap corn & stuff in the chips, fried in cheap oil.

super bowl food

 for the super bowel we had digiorno classic crust meet lovers pizza, wal-mart cheese bread sticks from the take & bake area near the deli, buffalo chicken dip, burnt ends dip (wal-mart) & pretzel sticks to tip in them.

the digiorno pizza was a disapointment. first; "classic crust" is no different than then. second it wasn't as good as the red barron pizza we had a week earlier. and it's more money. we used to get their rising crust, but then it was always really wet in the middle(?). d for disappointment.

the cheese bread stick produced a lot of oil, i'm so glad used the cooking sheet with the sides (jelly roll pan?) or it would've been everywhere in the bottom of the oven and maybe started a fire.

the dips were OK, but just a bit too much in terms of spices & "coming back" later.

the pretzels were fine, just basic stuff in a back from the chip section.

valentine's day 2024

 

hope you had a nice holiday, even if you spent it alone.

hopefully you can get some discounted candy tomorrow, before all of the easter stuff is put out. even tough some places have had a section of easter stuff since the beginning of january.

strawberry shake* M&Ms

 a limited time flavor thing for valentine's day we got from target.

not good, as is the case with most strawberry-flavored things. i should've said no when my brother suggested them. but he never agrees to it when i suggest getting limited time flavors of M&Ms.

 

*they can't be called "milkshake" because that  requires there be milk in them.

two more little debbie ice creams

 found apple pie & turtle brownie at wal-mart in the discounted frozen area. we had never seen them before, so i don't know why they were discounted. wal-mart will do that sometimes. you see stuff you never saw before in the reduced/discount areas and it's nearly expired, but you've never seen the product before in the regular prized area.

apple pie tastes cinnamon-y & no apple taste to be found.

turtle brownie is a nice chocolate-y ice cream, but i didn't notice any caramel & there were very few nuts.

cheesecake factory brown bread

 we've heard about this "famous" bread for years. wal-mart sells it and after years of going back and forth on getting it, we decided to try it.

nothing special. it really is just pumpernickel with a bit of molasses.

Chocolate Frosted Donut kit kat

 the latest kit kat flavor discovered at wal-mart.

not really good. kind of smelled like coffee, as happens with cheap chocolate.

they keep trying with these flavors & none have been that great.

it is cold!

 winter is finally here.

freezing temperatures with either snow or sleet.

it might warm up next week, but not as much as it has before.

Veggie Blends Cheerios

 a new cereal we discovered at wal-mart. we got the blueberry banana one.

it has a 1/4-cup of added fruit and vegetables per serving. and it doesn't taste good.

but if you're looking to eat more fruit and vegetables it might be helpful.