Halloween with Hershey's Review!

I can’t believe that it’s almost time for Halloween. We got our pumpkins yesterday and we are getting excited about trick or treating. Noah keeps talking about going trick or treating and dressing up. He is definitely like his momma and loves candy. I do limit his candy consumption though. The best part of Halloween to me is the candy. I don’t care for scary movies and that is one of the things I dread when it comes to Halloween time is that there are scary movies on. I am the biggest wimp when it comes to scary stuff. I used to get so excited when I would go Trick or Treating, hello free candy! Any child’s dream come true right?

I had the opportunity to try out some of Hershey’s Halloween candies. They have a few new mixes out there. I think that the success of a good trick or treat bowl is the mix of candy you have and none of those little orange and black wrapped peanut butter things. I was lucky enough to receive the mix of Kit-Kats, York Peppermint Patties, Whoppers and Mr. Goodbars. I think that is a great assortment because I love York Peppermint Patties, I have claimed those for my own.

Noah has been enjoying the Kit Kats. He has actually been sneaking them. He can’t open them too well so he asks me to and gets busted. Kit Kats remind me of my Grandpa Jim because that was his favorite candy. We would bring him one when we would walk to the store. I really like Kit Kats too and I have had one or two. My mom loves Mr. Goodbars which I will share with her. I love Whoppers too. Yes I am a candy junkie. I always have been. I also received some Hershey’s Cookies n Crème bars those look good too. I love that these are all fun sized. It helps when you are a parent and are trying to limit your child’s candy intake or just want a little snack.

Here are all of the new varieties you can get:
• NEW – Twizzlers Assortment 120 Snack Size Pieces (Mini Bars Candy Strawberry, Pull n’ Peel Candy Wildberry and Pull n’ Peel Candy Green Apple)
• NEW – Hershey’s Cookies ‘N’ Crème Jumbo Bag Snack Size Treats
• NEW – Hershey’s Chocolate Assortment with 100 Snack Size Pieces (Kit Kat Crisp Wafers, York Peppermint Patties, Hershey’s Mr. Goodbar Candy Bars, Reese’s Pieces Candy, Hershey’s Chocolate Lollipops, Milk Duds Candy, Jolly Rancher Doubles Candy and Whoppers Malted Milk Balls)
• NEW – Hershey’s Candy Assortment with 100 Snack Size Packages (Reese’s Pieces Candy, Whoppers Malted Milk Balls, Milk Duds Candy and Jolly Rancher Lollipops)



My favorite Halloween candy is Reese’s pumpkins hands down. You don’t normally get those from trick or treating although I wish we did. I buy some of those every year. I love any of the Reese’s holiday shaped candy. They have so much more peanut butter in them it just makes them so good. Maybe it is because you can only get them at certain times of the year but that is top on my Halloween candy list.

So, as you are preparing your little goblins for Halloween in between your carving pumpkins, buying costumes, and making Halloween treats. Don’t forget to pick up some Hershey’s Candy for your trick or treat bowl at your local store and some extra for you. You know, so you don't run out. It just might make your house the most spookatacular house in the neighborhood.

You can also check out a bunch of cool ideas to enhance your Halloween at the Hershey’s Celebrates Website. There you can find more information on Hershey’s Halloween products, as well as costume ideas, spooky screensavers, desktop wallpapers, delicious recipes, craft activities and party invitations.

Thank you to Hershey’s who sent me some complimentary Halloween Candy to try out and review.

I Smell Chocolate!

I am sure most parents are guilty of this. I know I am. What is the charge? Sneaking treats and candy behind your child’s back. It is not that you don’t want to share, well maybe sometimes you don’t but usually it is you don’t want your child to have anymore treats. You might hide in your bedroom, your closet, or maybe the car to enjoy a little treat without little hands and faces begging for some. I am somewhat of a pushover when it comes to treats. I don’t go overboard though. I feed my son very healthy foods but I am a firm believer that everyone needs a treat sometimes. Most of the time, I am eating something sweet around Noah I will share a little bit. Sharing is important after all. I don’t let him eat a lot of candy or treats. I make sure he has had a meal first or if it is the middle of the afternoon it is a small amount. I am teaching him about healthy eating because it is best for his growing little body and it is my job to make sure he gets the nutrients that he needs. Thankfully, for snacks he is happy with something healthy versus having a bowl of candy or chips.

When I was little, I loved treats and candy. That has not changed much. I don’t think I eat nearly as much as I used to. My cousins used to tease me about how I would buy pounds of candy but I would always share with them. My mom would used to have a little treat when I was little, she knew that as any child would I wanted some. Occasionally she would wait until I was upstairs or in another room. Her plan would fail because I would come running yelling I smell chocolate! It wouldn’t matter where I was in the house I would always smell it. We have always lived in nice sized houses too. I just had the scent for chocolate.

Do you have me time when it comes to treats? Do you have any good hiding places?

What I have learned from Dollar Stores

I love shopping at dollar stores. Everything is a dollar or under. No need to check price tags or ask how much something is. It’s really easy to go crazy in them though. I have been known to come out with 13 rolls of double sided tape or other random items that they sell. They always seem to have that hard to find candy like Now and Laters or Ring Pops. Throughout my many years of dollar store shopping I have learned some things I thought I would share with you all.

1. Just because it is a dollar doesn’t mean you have to buy it just to buy it. I have stopped doing that now. I used to find things I thought I would want and then never ended up using like picture frames.

2. Everything looks so much cooler in the dollar store. I think it is the lighting but once you purchase something and get it home or out in the sun it loses it’s wow appeal and you realize that wasn’t as cool as you thought.

3. You can find some really cute stuff sometimes at the dollar store. When Noah was born or heck I might have been pregnant with him I went to the dollar store and bought a package of plastic squeaky whales. They are some of Noah’s favorite toys. I have many pictures of him when he was a baby chewing on them. I wish I would of bought more.

4. The merchandise is always changing and varies from location to location. If you go and look for something and find it, it might be a good idea to get it while it’s there.

5. Just because it claims to be a dollar store, that might not be the case at all. There are stores out there that say they are dollar stores like Deals but not everything is a dollar. I classify stores like Deals, Dollar General and Family Dollar as discount stores. So, be careful when you go in to a store that claims to be a dollar store. It’s better to get clarification and know what you are getting in to. I didn’t do that the first time I went in to Deals and I looked like an idiot. So, I am saving you my disgrace.

6. This is the most important one of all. All dollar stores smell the same. They have their own Dollar Store odor. It is as if it is pumped in through the vents like an air freshener. It stinks. It doesn’t matter how old the store is, it can be the store’s grand opening and it still smells that way. It doesn’t matter if they are a Dollar Tree, a Dollar palace or a Mom and Pop locally owned Dollar store. It doesn’t matter where it is, even in other states dollar stores stink. Even the ones in malls. I have no idea why that is. It’s weird. I could be blindfolded and have on ear muffs and I would still know if I were in a dollar store.

I hope my post about what I have learned from Dollar stores will help you on the next trip you take to one. I think I will start wearing nose plugs because the smell gives me a headache. I remember my old best friend and I would go to the dollar store all the time and before we went in we would take a big breath of fresh air. If you have any other dollar store tips I would love to hear them so leave me a comment!

A taffy lovers dream--- Taffy Tree review and giveaway!

I LOVE candy. I love the sugary goodness. One of my favorite types of candy is Taffy. Not the taffy you buy in the store but the freshly made kind. I have traveled three hours before to buy taffy. Any time I go to the Ocean I get fresh made Salt water taffy. I remember when I was a small child. We went to Gatlinburg Tennessee. I watched in amazement while they made taffy in one of the local candy shops. I tried to make taffy once. It didn’t come out right. I remember it was a gooey mess. I guess the trick is the Taffy pulling machine. I have fond memories of taffy in my childhood. I know there are a lot of taffy lovers out there like me. I know first hand how hard it is to find good quality, great tasting taffy. Look no further the mystery is SOLVED!

I had the opportunity to try some cinnamon taffy and Cinnamon roll taffy from Taffy Tree. My son and I first tried the Cinnamon Roll Taffy. We both love it. It tasted like I was actually eating a cinnamon roll. Noah said “It’s Yummy” and I definitely agreed. Then we tried the Cinnamon. We both thought the Cinnamon was good as well. I personally think that the cinnamon wasn’t as hot as what I am used to. Noah loved the Taffy so much that he kept asking me for more . He was chasing me around the house so I would give him some more taffy. I hid in the bathroom and he started knocking on the door saying Mommy Mommy more treats more candy. He definitely got his mommy’s love of candy.

Taffy Tree is an awesome website that sells many flavors of taffy. They have all the usual suspects and some of their own creations. This is a taffy lover’s dream store. They have over 80 flavors. All of the flavors have humorous descriptions. They sell mixes that have themed flavors or you can create your own mix. I think that is pure genius! I can’t tell you how many times I have picked out my favorites from a mix and then never ate the flavors I didn’t care for. One of the mixes is called So much spice oh so nice. The flavors of taffy are Cinnamon, Citrus Spice, Gingerbread, Black licorice swirl, Peppermint, Pumpkin Pie, and Spearmint. If you just want to get your favorite flavor you can order it that way too.

All of the taffy made by Taffy Tree is Gluten Free, Nut Free, Peanut and Tree Nut Free and is made with certified Kosher Dairy. All Items are also manufactured in a Gluten and Nut Free factory. So this is a treat that everyone can enjoy. That includes those with allergies and Celiac Disease. There are also 9 Sugar Free taffy flavors. Even Diabetics can indulge in this delish treat.

I have a couple coupon codes for you guys. Who doesn’t love a great coupon?

The first one is buy two pounds of taffy, receive one pound free. Add 3 flavors to
the cart and add Coupon Code: ENJOY

The Second one is FREE shipping on orders over $25 Code: SHIPME

You add the coupon code in the shopping cart.

Every order receives ¼ of a pound of taffy and a flavor chart. The taffy is a mix that is selected by Taffy Tree.

Thank you to Taffy Tree for giving me the chance to review their taffy.

I have a ½ a pound of taffy of the winner’s choice of flavor or mix to give away to one lucky person.

Here are the rules.

Mandatory Entry: Go to Taffy Tree's website and check out all the delicious looking flavors and tell me what your favorite is

Remember that you must do the mandatory entry for your extra entries to count.

Please remember to leave your email address in your comment or make it accessible on you blog profile.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS OPEN TO PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN US ONLY.

Extra Entries: Each of the following is worth one entry.

Sign up for the Taffy Tree http://www.taffytree.com newsletter and receive coupons every other week. It is at the bottom left corner.

Become a member of the Taffy Tree's Facebook page where they hold monthly taffy giveaways.

Subscribe to my blog

Follow my blog

This giveaway will end on September 2, 2009 at 11:59 pm

Good Luck Everyone!