The Consumer’s Corner

Not only do I write consumer reviews, I read a lot of them as well. Especially soda & soft drink news and reviews; it’s just an industry I’ve enjoyed following for a long time. There are lots of little cliques of people too; small mom & pop companies vs. the Big Two, Pepsi vs. Coke, and sugar vs. high fructose corn syrup. That natural sugar debate has always intrigued me, as I’ve rarely been able to obtain access to a steady supply of beverages that have been sweetened that way. An occasional Latin beverage, but nothing made by Coke or Pepsi.

Pepsi apparently took notice of this little clique of consumers, and released a couple of new beverages just for them. Mountain Dew Throwback, which I’ll review later, and what I have now, Pepsi Cola Throwback.

Pepsi Throwback generally tastes like regular Pepsi, the only things that I noticed was that it was a bit less sweet, and slightly less carbonated. ‘Mouth feel’ is somewhat cleaner and less sticky. Naturally, all those combined make it significantly ’smoother.’

To be perfectly honest, the only reason that I would consider picking this up over corn syrup Pepsi is that I think sugar is ‘healthier’ for you. Rather, both are bad, but I’m of the belief that pure sugar is the lesser of two evils.

Pepsi is saying this is a limited time product, and I’d tend to believe them. My gut tells me that there are not enough people that truly care about the differences, and certainly not enough to keep a spinoff brand profitable. If you like it, and it certainly isn’t bad, I’d stock up. Mildly recommended.

Official Site

–Jeremy Hobbs

A product title that truly reflects what is in the bag; ‘Buttery Garlic Goodness’ indeed! During these last couple years writing consumer reviews, I have had dozens of food product samples arrive on my doorstep. Most are decent, a few found their way to my garbage can with a quickness, but I don’t think any were ever as well loved as Twisted Grandma pretzels.

I’ve always enjoyed a good bag of pretzels; they’re kind of a secret ‘diet’ food. Low in calorie, fibrous, very little if any fat, very filling. Relatively guilt free, I think. Being the simple fellow that I am, I’ve never steered far away from your basic ’salted’ variety. The flavored versions of my favorite brands haven’t did anything for me, except make my fingers feels gross. I was expecting the same out of ‘Twisted Grandma,’ but I was oh-so-pleasantly surprised.

Everything was just perfect. The garlic was just zingy enough, but not over powering. The salt and butter simple made my mouth water. Delicious, every which way you look at it. One of the most addicting snacks that I’ve ever tried. The ten ounce bag wag devoured in relatively short order. When I reorder, I’ll definitely be picking up the ‘Pounder!’

Hits you in the tummy a bit (well a lot), more than the average twist. A one ounce serving, or a good handful, nets you 140 calories, 7 grams of fat, and 380 mg of sodium. Health food they ain’t, but if you’re going to ‘cheat’ on a diet, you can’t really go wrong here.

The price is bit steep, but this is a product that could be considered a ’boutique’ item. The quality and flavor is just heads and shoulders above what can be purchased on the mass market. I wholeheartedly recommend these. I certainly can’t wait to get my hands on another bag or two!

Official Site

–Jeremy Hobbs

My, it sure has been awhile since we saw any major extensions to the national soda brands. The last one that I remember was also a Dr. Pepper product, Diet Cherry Chocolate. If my memory serves me correctly, I said it was doomed to fail. Well, it failed. But major kudos for trying Doc!

They went back to the drawing board and came out with this; just regular Dr. Pepper with a bit of cherry flavor added in. Those of you with good memories might recall Dr. Pepper Red Fusion from a few years ago, and that’s pretty much what Dr. Pepper Cherry is. Red Fusion with a different color, and a diet sibling.

In all honesty, if you’re a fan of Dr. Pepper (or Diet Dr. Pepper), you’re more than likely going to enjoy the Cherry variants. It’s a bit hard to tell the difference, and I’m not entirely sure that I could in a blind taste test. Do I recommend trying it? I say; ‘Sure, why not?’ It isn’t something so unique and different that you should run right out for it, but if you see it somewhere and you’re thirsty, I would give it a shot. Enjoy Pepper-heads!

Official Site

–Jeremy Hobbs

Digital camcorders are dropping in price every week, and the feature sets on consumer level models continue to expand. Combine that with free video hosting services like YouTube, it’s now not only possible to produce something of decent quality, but develop an audience as well.  The problem is, unless you have an uncanny eye and sense of production, you’re going to need to edit these videos before posting!

Mac users have iMovie, and I’m incredibly happy for them. I’ve used it, found it to be a very productive program, but I’m a PC guy. Steve Jobs doesn’t care about me. And that’s fine, I’m not his biggest fan either. He produces over priced equipment, and cares more for form than function.

Windows Movie Maker is a cute little program that I’ve used to create some nice looking pieces, but the feature set is a bit limited. Works great in a pinch though, and syncs well with Windows DVD Maker. It’s very intuitive, and is great to learn with before you invest in more advanced software. I recommend it for absolute beginners.

But I found that I needed something more, but not too much. Adobe was great, but it’s really geared towards the professional. I just kind of got lost in it. After hours of careful research, I found that Sony Vegas Movie Studio might be firmly anchored in that ‘middle ground’ between ‘beginner’ and ‘pro.’ For under $100, you can be well on your way to producing some snazzy looking stuff.

The are three different versions, and I recommend purchasing the most full featured one you can afford; with things like this it’s best to have more than you need, and not the other way around. The package includes software to make royalty free sound tracks, a package of sound effects, a DVD suite, and some other cool goodies. Best part is, everything is up-gradable, so you’re not locked into a feature set.

There is room to grow as well. Once you become a master editor, Vegas offers a ‘Pro’ suite for experts. Everything you learn should transfer over. All thing considered, I think Vegas Movie Studio may be your best bet for balance between features, ease of use, and cost. (I’d try eBay if you’re considering purchasing, it’s often cheaper)

Official Site

–Jeremy Hobbs

Alright,‭ ‬here’s something for the deserted female readers.‭ (‬Males pass by freely.‭) ‬Any woman who wears make-up knows that to actually get a decent foundation is like trying to find a specific road sign in a foreign country.‭ ‬The majority of the commercial make-ups sold at Walgreens,‭ ‬CVS,‭ ‬Target and other similar stores are never quite the shade of your skin tone,‭ ‬or the make-up it self always seems to have problems.

Those problems include being the wrong texture,‭ ‬too oily or sometimes creating the always attractive‭ “‬orange‭” ‬face.‭ ‬I know some of this comes from technique,‭ ‬but you need to have the right materials to even have a chance at proper application.‭ ‬Now I,‭ ‬like most women,‭ ‬have tried many a product and have had them all fail on me in one way or another.‭ ‬I think though,‭ ‬I might have finally found something that actually works‭!

Clinique Clarifying Make-up actually covers your skin well and isn’t bad to put on.‭ ‬I know I may sound like an annoying infomercial,‭ ‬but this make-up actually works.‭ ‬It goes on smoothly,‭ ‬doesn’t leave streaks,‭ ‬and doesn’t cake on like most other foundations.‭ ‬It covers those gross areas you don’t want showing,‭ ‬and I know there is one other huge problem with foundation as well.‭ ‬Zits.‭ ‬Often times,‭ ‬though make-ups job is to cover up zits,‭ ‬it creates them as well.‭ ‬Clinique’s‭ “‬clear skin formula‭” ‬actually does what it says.‭ ‬It doesn’t exactly gets rid of zits,‭ ‬but it doesn’t cause them either,‭ ‬and for someone like me,‭ ‬who’s skin breaks out with the contact of simply air,‭ ‬this product is some kind of phenomenon.‭

Alright,‭ ‬I won’t say it is a miracle worker,‭ ‬but it is a product that keeps your skin even,‭ ‬doesn’t streak,‭ ‬appear orange or make you break out.‭ ‬This product may be two or three dollars more than the average foundation,‭ ‬but it lasts long and is worth the deal‭!

‭Official Site

-Milly Lass

If you happen to be on a diet, I do not recommend reading this review. You’ll probably gain weight just by digesting the words on the page. Should you be searching for the perfect snack food item to CHEAT your diet plan with, Tim Tam’s by Pepperidge Farms would be an excellent candidate.

Apparently these are super popular in Australia, and they sells tons and tons of these Down Under. Pepperidge Farm, being the kind folks that they are, thought that us Americans might appreciate them as well. That would be a correct assumption.

Tim Tams are two chocolate cookies, sandwiching chocolate cream, and all of that is covered in an outer layer of chocolate. Not too hard to see that if you love chocolate, these are a safe bet for you. The scent you’re greeted with upon opening the package is simply intoxicating, and the flavor does not disappoint in the least.

Calories add up quickly; but it is a cookie. Each of the little buggers costs you 95 caloric units, with a recommended serving size of two cookies. Good luck just eating two though. Go ahead, try it. I dare you.

This is one of the easiest ‘recommended’ articles I’ve ever had to write, Tim Tam’s are just pure, rich, chocolate-y goodness. Look for them in the cookie & cracker aisle in a well stocked grocery store. And buy some bigger pants while you’re out, you’ll need them!

Official Site

–Jeremy Hobbs

Today I bring you a new twist on the energy mint idea, and that is Buzz Bites Chocolate Energy chews. All of the other energy mints I’ve brought to you have been, more or less, caffeinated breath mints. Vroom Foods, who also produce the previously reviewed Foosh mints, are breaking the mold a bit, and sending out something a bit different.

Are these for the hardcore chocolate connoisseur? Nah. Never going to replace your specialized confections. This is a functional food, designed with a goal in mind, and a hope that it tastes satisfactory in the process. I think Buzz Bites accomplish that, and maybe a little more. It wont replace my Hershey bars, but it can earn a spot in my energy mint rotation.

The flavor is a smidge on the bitter side, but that is going to happen when you squeeze the equivalent of a cup of coffee into a half inch cube. Are Buzz Bites overly bitter? I don’t think so. The texture is also nice;  soft, dare I say creamy? Didn’t stick in my teeth either, a major plus for me.

Buzz Bites provide a noticeable energy boost, and as of this writing, I wish I had waited until morning to write this review; I feel a restless night coming on. Certainly enough to get you moving in the morning.

These are perfect to keep in your pocket, purse, desk, etc for when you need that extra pick-me-up, and can’t get to your usual fix. Nice change of pace too, if your usual fix happens to be energy mints. I feel comfortable giving them my all important recommendation!

Official Site

–Jeremy Hobbs

A couple months ago, McDonalds made the news by announcing they were going to make an effort to go toe to toe with Starbucks in the premium coffee business. When I first tread that, my initial reaction was, ‘Yeah, good luck with that.’ Then, being my analytical self (especially when it comes to other people’s business), I started looking at the numbers and possibilities. McDs is already making a killing with their budget priced ‘food’ in this troubled economy, and Starbucks has taken such a blow in sales to their line of coffee drinks. The sales decline has been so sharp that Starbucks has been forced to close down once profitable stores, and let go a measureable portion of their employees.

The folks that used to frequent those boarded up Starbucks locations didn’t suddenly develop a distaste for designer coffees, they simply found those coffees to be a luxury they could live without. McDonalds saw an opportunity to offer a similar product at a far cheaper price-point, and hopefully build a new business within their preexisting stores. They already have the infrastructure needed to be an instantaneous competitor, as well as the monetary motivation. It’s all for nothing though if the new line of drinks amount to foul tasting bile, so what is the verdict?

I ordered my favorite drink, a caramel flavored latte. Sugar and cream. What they gave me was quite more than satisfactory; it was delicious! I found it to be competitive with Starbucks at any price point, and if you put any weight in the savings, I can see myself driving past a Starbucks to hit McDonalds’ drive-thru.

Your results may vary, I understand that coffee is one of those products where heavily trained taste buds can really tell a difference in quality, but I think average-Joe is going to be pretty happy with the McCafe line! Recommended!

Official Site

–Jeremy Hobbs

This one is for my often neglected female readers. Guys can just move right along, unless you like wearing women’s clothing (which is fine, I don’t judge). Not too much to say really, except Mandee offers some really cute clothes at EXCEPTIONAL prices. The deal is even sweeter if you use the ‘bailout’ code that they so kindly provided. With these prices, and this level of style, I kind of wish they had a guys line!

Try them out, then come back here and leave your impressions in a comment. Curious what you girls think!

Official Site

–Jeremy Hobbs

Around my house, these are affectionately known as ‘Crystal Light for men.’ Those little to-go packs were great ideas, but no man with even an ounce of machismo could be seen in public emptying one of those packets into his bottle of water. Granted, from a distance, these don’t look much different. But at least you’ll have a leg to stand on when your buddies call you out on how much of a sissy you have become.

Power Edge Energy Drink Mix is a non-carbonated energy drink that mixes into 16 ounces of water. The flavor I’ve tried, Mixed Berry, tastes really good, and will offer you a decent pick me up. I really dislike sipping on ‘virgin’ water, and these do the trick for me. Flavor is plenty strong, even when mixed into 20 ounces of water. Something else I’ve done with them; mix them with sodas. They dissolve well, and you can get some interesting flavor combinations.

These can be purchased in boxes of ten at most Wal-Mart stores; I have yet to see them on anyone else’s shelves. If I remember correctly, they were only $1.99, so you get a decent bang for your buck. Power Edge is something I’ll be keeping in the house with me at all times. Recommended!

Official Site

–Jeremy Hobbs