I am a huge fan of the 1985 version of ‘Fright Night’ about a teenage boy who learns he is living next door to a vampire. Chris Sarandon played the seductive vampire and Charlie was played by… I have no clue (just kidding). He was played by William Ragsdale, but I had to look that up. I loved the old version of the movie. When I heard there was a remake of ‘Fright Night’ with Colin Farrell – I was ready for something good because Mr. Farrell rarely makes a bad movie….but sigh…this movie was a big disappointment for me. I’m embarrassed to have told everyone “I can’t wait to see the new Fright Night.”

The Lows

• For starters, this movie was extremely campy and ridiculously slapstick in some parts. You’d think Mr. Farrell would have made a sexy vampire, but I just wasn’t buying it.
• The makeup job on Colin Farrell was overkill – he didn’t look like a member of the undead…he looked like he had a fight with a container of baby powder. Plus, I did not see the point in using distorted demon, computer-animated special effects for some of the vampire transformations. Farrell would have looked much better as a regular ol’ vampire (a la True Blood style).
• For me, Anton Yeltzin was a distraction. All I kept thinking of when I saw him was his young character in ‘Hearts in Atlantis.’

The Highs

• For me, Christopher Mintz-Plasse really made the movie, (McLovin from ‘Superbad’). He provided much-needed comic relief.
• Toni Collette (from ‘United States of Tara’) looks really good in this movie – she’s aging well.
• There is a guest appearance from an actor from the original film, which was an amusing surprise.

There’s a lot going on when you peer into a bowl of Kashi GoLean Crisp! Toasted Berry Crumble. You see granola, flecks of red and blue, and lots of interesting pieces that Kashi describes as a “naturally sweetened multigrain cluster cereal.”

Dotted with cranberries and wild blueberries, the combination of flavors, texture and healthy benefits makes this cereal an excellent option.

Highlights of the Cereal

Lower Calorie: The majority of granola cereals are typically more than 200 calories per serving, but this Kashi GoLean Crisp is only 180 calories per serving.

High Fiber and Protein: This is an incredibly high-fiber cereal (love it!) with twice as much fiber as a one-cup serving of blueberries and just as much protein as having one egg. There are also 18 grams of whole grains, which will satisfy one of the three servings recommended on a daily basis.

Easy on the Teeth: I took one look at the multigrain clusters and thought for sure they’d feel like I was chewing rocks, but the Kashi GoLean Crisp is just what it says – crispy. The light crunch is easy on the teeth.

Perfect for Breakfast and Snacking: Not only does the cereal jumpstart your morning, but it also provides a tasty snack for lunchboxes, hiking, camping, long car trips, and on-the-go energy. At times, I swear I detect a honey graham flavor.

By the Numbers

One ¾ cup serving equals 180 calories (35 calories from fat).

• 8 grams of fiber (a whopping 30% of your RDV)
• 9 grams of protein (14% RDV)
• Phosphorus – 15% RDV
• Magnesium – 10% RDV
• Iron – 8% RDV
• Potassium – 7% RDV

Barnes and Nobles tried to hide the clearance section of books from me, and I recently discovered it again. Could not resist “Smithsonian Presidents – Every Question Answered” by Carter Smith with its lovely extra 50% off the lowest price sticker. I paid $5 for the book.

The updated and revised edition of this book begins with The Founding Presidents (Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison and Monroe). We start off by learning that George Washington was 57 years old when he was inaugurated and that he personally had no children, but adopted two from his wife’s first marriage.

The book then groups the rest of the presidents into the following sections:

• Presidents of a Young Nation – (J.Q. Adams, Jackson, Van Buren, W.H. Harrison, Tyler, Polk, Taylor, Fillmore, Pierce, Buchanan, Lincoln, and A. Johnson)
• Presidents of the Gilded Age – (Grant, Hayes, Garfield, Arthur, Cleveland, B. Harrison, and McKinley)
• Presidents of the Early 20th Century – (T. Roosevelt, Taft, Wilson, Harding, Coolidge, Hoover, and F.D. Roosevelt)
• Presents of a Global Power – (Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, G.H. W. Bush, Clinton, and G.W. Bush)

There is also a section that displays all of the inaugural addresses of the Presidents – pretty interesting. The book is a little over 390 pages long and jam-packed with information.

Each President has an info box filled with biographical facts. Some of the details you will learn include their ancestry, parents’ occupations, their marriages and children, education, nicknames, and place of burial. A timeline is added that documents the life of the President against U.S. and world events. Their term, presidential achievements, influential quotes, and highlights of their elections are discussed. You will also learn a bit about the First Ladies and scandals associated with the President.

How can I resist a bag of giant Twizzlers? Weighing a whopping 25 ounces (1 lb 9 oz) , there are about 40 Twizzlers in the bag – each measuring more than 16 inches long. They are so long, you only need just one to satisfy a craving and they are really fun to look at. You will surely surprise your Twizzler-loving kiddies with a bag of these. For adults, the Twizzler website suggests that you can utilize the licorice by making a bow for a gift box. Kids often enjoy biting off the ends and using as a drinking straw. 1 extra long Twizzler equals 60 calories and the product is marketed as a low fat snack.

Cool Fact: According to the Guinness Book of Records, the longest licorice twist ever made measured 1,200 feet (370 m) and weighed 100 pounds (45 kg). It was made at the Y&S Candy Plant in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and was submitted into the record books in 1998. Y&S Candies, which manufactured Twizzlers candy is one of the oldest confectionery firms in the United States (dating back to 1845) and was acquired by Hershey Foods in 1977.

Have you ever seen someone put hot sauce on their potato chips? If so, then Pringles Roasted Garlic Hot Sauce is an ideal chip to try out – offering a little extra flavor (garlic) that will appeal to the rest of us. I find this Pringles flavor interesting. It’s not my favorite, but I’m strangely attracted to it. If I pass by the can, I will snag one or two, but I haven’t piled a short stack onto a plate. Both the garlic and hot sauce flavors come through with each bite.

One serving of 16 chips equals 150 calories with 80 calories from fat. You get 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein. A small amount of calcium, iron, and vitamin C is also found in one serving. However, total fat count equals 9 grams with 2.5 grams of saturated fat.

The coconut-caramel cookies with the chocolate drizzle known as Samoas in Girl Scout cookie world are one of my favorites, so naturally I jumped at the chance to try Edy’s Slow Churned Samoas Cookie ice cream. Caramel flavors (including ice cream) usually do not float my boat. I’m like *this close* to saying the Samoas Cookie is my current favorite Edy’s ice cream flavor, and as luck would have it – it’s a Limited Edition.

Generous pieces of Samoas Girl Scout cookies are scattered throughout the light vanilla and caramel flavored ice creams. There is no caramel (the ooey gooey stick kind) in this ice cream. It’s a delightful mixture of ingredients and flavors.

Edy’s Girl Scouts Samoas® Cookie Ice Cream offers rich, creamy flavor that doesn’t taste like it has 50% less fat and 30% fewer calories. You can easily mistake it for premium ice cream texture and flavor. A ½-cup serving is 120 calories (40 from fat) with 3 grams of protein. There is 6% of your daily recommended value of calcium.

This limited edition is only available from January to April.

Am I the only person in the world that has not tried Nutella yet? While I was waiting in line at Walmart, I spied with my little eye the Nutella & Go! package decorating the aisle shelves.

I truly believe Walmart never has enough lines open so that you are forced to stand there salivating over the chips, candy and other snacks. In the past couple of years, haven’t you noticed Walmart has even extended their lines with more shelves that surround you with tempting goodies and other products. Ok, I’m digressing here…back to the Nutella and breadsticks.

The Nutella & Go! package comes with 13 breadsticks and a side container of Nutella.

The crunchy breadsticks offer a slightly vanilla taste, but the real star of the show is the Nutella. It’s like I’ve fallen in a vat of Ferrero Rocher at Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. This is a premium splurge if there ever was one.

By the Numbers

(one unit)

• 260 calories
• 120 fat calories
• 2 grams fiber
• 4 grams protein

When you’re looking for a quick and easy dessert, doesn’t a bit of chocolate mousse sound divine? Tasty things really do come in small packages. Jello makes a line of tempting treats aptly called Jello Temptations – in both refrigerated ready-to-eat cups and easy-to-make dessert kits.

In the refrigerated section of your dairy aisle, you will find French Silk Pie, Double Chocolate Pie (which I sampled), Lemon Meringue Pie, Key Lime Pie, Raspberry Cheesecake, and Strawberry Cheesecake.

One Double Chocolate Pie (dark chocolate filling and milk chocolate mousse) refrigerated snack cup equals 120 calories and offers 3 grams protein and 1 gram of fiber. My favorite part is the dark chocolate filling (pudding) – it really is a rich, satisfying treat.

The Jello Chocolate Mousse Decadence dessert kit includes a filling mix and mousse mix. Only 110 calories per serving, you can prepare eight ½-cup servings with three cups of 2% milk. The chocolate filling paired with whipped chocolate mousse creates a delicious indulgence that you can make as creamy or thick as you want.  Other flavors include Chocolate Truffle Indulgence and Boston Crème Pie.

Up for grabs is 1  Chocolate Mousse Decadence Jello Temptations Dessert Kit.

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When I was younger, I used to eat raisins in the little red Sunmaid box, but then something happened and I can’t stand them anymore. BUT, then I discovered golden raisins and I love their taste. The colorful packaging of Raisels caught my eye one day. Advertised as a Sour Watermelon-flavored golden raisin, how could I resist?

Raisels have a sugary, sour-flavored coating that distinctly resembles a Sour Patch Kid. They are marketed as a healthy alternative to sour candy. One serving of 1/3 cup equals 130 calories. You get 100% of your daily recommended value for Vitamin C. There is also 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein thrown in for good measure.

Will Kids Eat It?

I asked my nephew if he wanted to try a couple of Raisels (he is super picky about the texture and look of food). At first, he said ‘no’ and then he said ‘yes’. When he took a second helping, I knew I had him won over…because he eats sour things (like pickles). Also, I repeat…Raisels taste like Sour Patch Kids.

Flavors

Raisels come in 5 different flavors – Sour Watermelon, Orange, Peach, Apple and Lemon. I really want to taste the peach flavor and wondering where they are hiding that flavor in my neck of the woods.

Up for grabs are 3 boxes of Raisels (2 Sour Watermelon & 1 Sour Orange).


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Christmas was just a sniffle away and out came the Valentine’s Day candy decorating the shelves at grocery stores and Walmart. It was the ‘tart & sassy’ that caught my eye on a bag of Brach’s Conversation Hearts. Filled with tangy flavors (cherry, grape, lemon, lime, orange and pineapple), the hearts have their signature sayings that fade into the background – “Awesome”, “You Rock”, “Guess Who”, “Marry Me”, and “Be Mine”.

There are a few phrases I’ve never seen before, like ‘Go Boy’– and I’m trying to figure out where “Don’t Tell” fits into the bag…that’s not very romantic if you ask me. I love the flavors and the texture…how most of them melt in your mouth with tarty sweetness. Then, you get one of those rock-hard ones that you have to suck on forever before it disappears.

All in all, I really like the tarty flavor. 11 pieces is only 60 calories, so if you are looking for a rush of fruity-flavored sugar – this could be a nice treat for you.