Alex Reviews All

Author: Alex

  • Shadowblack

    Shadowblack

    I was iffy on the first book in this series, but it was interesting enough to want to continue. I have the whole series in paperback and while I’m not one afraid to DNF a book/series, it would be quite a shame to move on from those.

    Shadowblack focuses on the shadow black of course. We are introduced to a cast of new characters centered around a university in the middle of no where. The area isn’t recognized as official by the surrounding civilizations, but the school was built up and grew to be a place where the wealthy sent their brightest to learn.

    The main plot is pretty intriguing with the shadowblack infecting others in the area. Turns out that it was being planted in people to turn them into weapons that could be activated whenever they wanted. The idea was that all these children would go back to their influential parents and become hidden landmines. It’s a completely evil and genius strategy.

    However, even with this badass plot line it just felt like a chore to see everything play out. The YA felt extremely apparent and kept things dragging throughout. One example that made me especially groan was when Kellen was learning how to flirt with a girl and all the random kids around basically did the “and everyone clapped after” trope after a cheesy line.

    I finished the book, but I don’t think I’ll continue the series. While I am curious to see where things go, it’s just a little too kiddy for me with the dialogue and pacing.

    Rating: 307/1000

  • City of Thieves

    City of Thieves

    This is one of those books that is both human and inhumane. It somehow manages to show all these war atrocities within the eyes of a 17 year old boy who can’t help but have those teenager boyish thoughts even his life is in jeopardy throughout the story.

    Taking place in a besieged Russian town during WWII, main character Lev stumbles onto a dead body and loots it with a group of others. They are playing life on super hard mode where any kind of special food or gear is hard to come by, so they can’t help but look. Soldiers from his side see this and Lev ends up being the only one captured. Anything seen as a crime is pretty much a death sentence, so Lev is resigned to his fate. Surprisingly instead, he and one other are put on a quest to find a dozen eggs so the Colonel can have a cake baked for his daughter’s wedding. Not an easy task when food is scarce to begin with.

    What follows is Lev and his partner Koyla going all throughout town trying different methods to obtain these eggs. They encounter cannibals who eat others to survive, an elder who died protecting his chickens while his son is left unable to process what’s happening, captured Russians going through a literacy test unknowingly signing their death warrants if they can read, and a young girl being taken advantage of by soldiers having her legs sawed off for attempting to run away while the other girls had to watch.

    These are all absolute atrocities of war and it’s hard to imagine witnessing all these monstrous acts. Despite that, the book still manages to show the humanity of these two boys and their ways of coping together. They still talk and worry about things as simple as kissing a girl. The pacing allows enough time to breath in between moments and the tension when they’re captured at the end kept me on my toes with no idea how they’d succeed.

    In the end, Koyla dies by his own soldiers mistaking him as an enemy and when Lev delivers the eggs it wasn’t even the big deal he thought as there were already eggs on hand. It really brought home how unjust the whole situation was for these boys and how little thought was put into the human lives of these everyday people during the war. Hey, at least he got the girl in the end.

    Rating: 835/1000

  • Pistachios Coffee Shop

    Pistachios Coffee Shop

    Going on a camping trip with Amelia and what’s better than a coffee roadie! I’ve been dying to try this place out and there’s never been a better opportunity. Stay tunes to see if this make me go Pistachi-Woah or Pistachi-No!

    There’s a long hallway stretched with tables leading up to the barista counter. You can tell they put a lot of stock into being trendy and hip, but the vibe doesn’t make a big impact on me personally. The colors feel muted and I wanted to see more green. Still, it’s all about the coffee.

    You know the drill – I’m ordering the signature Pistachio latte. We ordered both the hot and cold version and after asking the barista, we went with the less sweet option.

    The aesthetic of the iced option is beautiful. It’s got that iced coffee look with beautiful green vine-like lines surrounding it. However, for such a trendy place with trendy prices I was surprised that the hot drink cup was plain and boring. We paid $20 with tip for our drinks, so it seemed a little weird that they wouldn’t splurge on better branding for people to share online.

    I had the iced option and my first thought was that half sweet was easily the right move. I couldn’t imagine the sugar punch if it had much more. For the flavor close your eyes for a few seconds and think of how pistachio milk would taste. Whatever you thought up probably wasn’t too far off from this “latte.” There wasn’t even a hint of espresso inside (even after swirling up a tornado.) It was either completely forgotten or it needs to be stronger. It still tasted fine and fun at first with the pistachio tasting incredibly authentic, but the more I drank the less I cared to. After halfway I couldn’t do my milk drink anymore which is the biggest bummer after shelling out high-end prices.

    Amelia’s hot version was nutty as expected. The espresso seemed a bit more prominent and the mix gave it a Dubai chocolate feel. Her main complaint was that the milk was foamy instead of that creaminess you’d expect. While she had a better experience, she still wasn’t too impressed.

    Rating: 187/1000

    Welp there goes my roadie. Good thing I can always count on an old friend when times get tough.

  • ART on Broadway

    ART on Broadway

    Me and Amelia went into this only knowing that it was a pretty stacked cast. Seeing Neil Patrick Harris, James Corden, and Bobby Cannavale live is hard to pass up. The theater was intimate and there wasn’t a bad seat in the house. Now let’s see if these three can create a masterpiece.

    The main premise is that Neil’s character buys an art piece that’s pretty much a white canvas. Bobby plays his friend who is absolutely incensed at the idea that his friend would spend an outrageous amount of money on something so “shit.” James plays the third friend who’s more of the mediator that just wants to hang with his friends and enjoy their company.

    At first I really couldn’t take Jame’s character seriously. It seemed like he was trying way too hard. Then it suddenly clicked. He had one scene where he shows up late and goes on a lengthy and heated dialogue about his fiancee and mom disagreeing about the names that should be on their wedding invitation. It was probably the highlight of the show and really emphasized how special James could be on the stage.

    The other two were also phenominal. The dialogue was always elevated and they never missed a beat. I was surprised at how many laughs it got out of me. There’s a reason all three of these guys have had storied careers and it was a treat to see them work in real time. What starts out as a disagreement on what art is becomes more nuanced as their whole friendship and history is put into question. It got extremely personal at times and I honestly don’t get how they stayed friends at the end. In a way it must have been cathartic for them to get so much off their chest and reach an understanding about their relationships.

    I do think the play lagged in a couple places. Overall though, it was a fun show to experience and remember. Afterwards, we were sad at how the curtains closed and we didn’t get to chat with them about their performances. We felt so close with them in that quaint little theater and that feeling highlighted just how special the night was.

    Rating: 844/1000

  • Tenfold Coffee

    Tenfold Coffee

    Tenfold is what happens when an owner uses their poker winnings to open a coffee shop. The story goes that in the final table he folded ten times in a row before bluffing to win big. Everyone thought he had something because of his prior folds, and thus he won his money back tenfold. Was this whole story a bluff? Checkmate.

    Tenfold is one of the Houston staples in my book. They always have extremely interesting pourovers with fun tasting notes to enjoy. It’s one of those pure coffee kinda joints that exudes hipness. They have both indoor and outdoor seating, but you have to be quick with snagging a table because this place fills up fast.

    I asked for the move and was given the “everything is good” answer. Having to fend for myself I decided to go with the Mexico Finca Fatima pour over. The tasting notes are Maraschino Cherry, Marzipan, and Cotton Candy. The buy-in was $10, but I was ready to play.

    My first thoughts are that it’s light and drinkable. There’s a tad bitterness, but I also get that hint of cherry to cut through that.  I can maybe get the cotton candy if I close my eyes and try really hard, but it wouldn’t be my first guess. It’s more of a nutty cherry blend with a bit of lemon sweetness. The further I get the more those fruity and acidic notes linger on my tongue. I got a little carafe with my cup that made it a marathon, not a sprint, with so much liquid. Very enjoyable to sip throughout a study session.

    Rating: 795/1000

  • Double Trouble Caffeine & Cocktails

    Double Trouble Caffeine & Cocktails

    Prepare for trouble and make it double! To protect the world from bad coffee! To unite all peoples within our blogfee! Alex! Amelia! Team Review blasts off at the speed of light!

    We stopped by after visiting Sigs Lagoon for some record shopping. After going crazy and buying four records we decided to keep that same energy with both coffee and shots.

    We ordered the double shot combo and two cappuccinos. The aesthetic inside is immaculate with the tropical modern look. After receiving our drinks we carried them outside and let me tell you, that front door is a pain to open with full hands. I ended up bumping my elbow on the way out and spilled a good bit of my cap 😦 At least that log fire burning will keep my spirits warm.

    This is ultimately a coffee review, so let’s start with just that!
    🎶If you liked this cappuccino put your hands up🎶
    🎶yeah yeah put those hands up🎶
    🧍🧍🏻🧍🏾🧍🏼‍♂️
    hmmmm I’m not noticing any hands

    Neither of us were too impressed with our caps. Not only did they taste weaker than SpongeBob lifting marshmallows, but they lacked that foaminess you’d usually expect. There was only one other patron when we came this fine morning, so our initial thought is that this place is meant to be more of a cocktail bar than your standard coffee spot. Good thing we still got those alcoholic bevvys to try.

    Cold brew, coconut, vanilla vodka, and cointreau make up our Too Loco for Coco shots. We opted to sip them instead of downing in one go to let the enjoyment last a little longer. It was a tropical easy drinker. Amelia said it was reminiscent of her college days drinking Malibu. I never drank that back in my heyday so I can’t comment, but I enjoyed the vanilla coconut notes. As a double shot combo it was a good deal, but it wasn’t good enough to want another of.

    As a coffee shop I wouldn’t recommend, but I have a feeling that an espresso martini enthusiast would find a spot here.

    Rating : 231/1000

  • Mercantile

    Mercantile

    Make sure you get your mom a card for mother’s day. Wait a second.. card… mom… cardamom! I’ll take the cardamom latte please.

    Mercantile is a neighborhood spot with locals hanging both inside and out. It’s open and spacious enough that people will walk their large dogs here and enjoy a cup while the pupper chills. The baristas here are also the friendliest I’ve encountered and wished me an enthusiastic hello and goodbye.

    Let’s start off a little differently this time with the mug. It was a wooden material that felt rough and grating on the skin. The actual liquid inside was made up of their house made cardamom syrup, white chocolate, and cinnamon.

    It was herbaceous in a way that felt like you brewed a mint tea and added espresso to it. I’d say the cardamom tasted in-between authentic and artificial. The white chocolate & cinnamon added a holiday-leaning twist that helped enhance the syrup. The mug was deeper than my enjoyment lasted, but it got the job done.

    Rating: 653/1000

  • Rental Family

    Rental Family

    There’s some movies you walk out of completely drained and spent. Then there’s other like Rental Family that leaves you feeling reinvigorated with a happy soul.

    First off, the cinematography was beautiful. It brought me back to my own Japan trip with waves of nostalgia constantly engulfing me. Brendan Fraser plays a struggling actor named Phillip who ends up employed with a rental family agency. We see him try and grasp the whole concept with his first employment at a wedding. He played the soon to be husband in a wedding for a woman to have her parents welcome him in the family. After, we learn that she is actually in a relationship with another woman and this was their way of coping with that as a family. It got me emotional right off the bat.

    The rest of the film mainly follows his relationship with a child and an old man close to losing his memory. I couldn’t see how they were gonna develop these storylines with everything being “fake” but it was handled beautifully. Especially taking the old man back to his home where he dug up old photos of his love. He was glad to see her one more time and said that even after so much time elapsing he still remembered her so vividly 😭

    It’s not a movie that is going to win awards, but regardless I adored it all.

    Rating: 856/1000

  • Eureka Heights Tinsel Trousers

    Eureka Heights Tinsel Trousers

    I recently had Shiner Holiday cheer and that got me in the festive beer spirit. A light night girl dinner run with my partner later and we “somehow” ended up in the HEB beer aisle. They had 3 holiday beers in their stand and I had to cop them all. Eureka states that this one is an ode to their favorite holiday cookie and brewed with Madagascar vanilla, cinnamon, and lactose. Good thing I’m not intolerant cause I want my trousers to stay blue.

    Surprisingly, it does taste just like a holiday cookie at first. However, they took the name of their can too literally. The tinsel is snickerdoodle-esque with the cinnamon and vanilla replicating those warm flavors. Then come those pesky trousers. I didn’t realize it was 7.3% ABV and that very bitter aftertaste brought me to the can logo. I was hoping I would get used to it over time, but a third of the way through I couldn’t take it anymore. Coal in my stocking because I hate to see beer go to waste.

    Does it feel like Christmas? Yes, it brings back those feelings of having some nice warm cookies straight out the oven. Then the oven catches on fire and burns down the kitchen.

    Rating: 102/1000

  • poppi – Cranberry Fizz

    poppi – Cranberry Fizz

    A while ago I tried the orange flavor of poppi and wasn’t a fan. I’d compare that experience to the time I learned that Santa isn’t real inside of an Olive Garden. I’m hoping for a different experience this season.

    I drank this while watching Champagne Problems and it fit the vibe nicely. That artificially produced flavor was replaced with a more realistic spiced cranberry feeling. It tasted like a cranberry limeade with hints of cinnamon that invokes the feeling of snow melting off a tree basking in the winter sun.

    I wouldn’t necessarily want more of this when the season is over, but I’m happy I bought a 4 pack for when I’m in the holiday mood. It brings the Xmas vibes and having only 5g of sugar is that cherry on top.

    Rating: 746/1000

  • Undercover Holiday Chocolate Quinoa Crisps

    Undercover Holiday Chocolate Quinoa Crisps

    I’m always so happy when I get an extremely mini bag of these on a plane and then sad with how quickly it’s finished. It’s a tease that should be illegal. When I saw this Christmas version with peppermint at Whole Foods I knew I had to try it.

    These crisps are made with premium chocolate, crispy quinoa, and crushed peppermints. I’m a fan of all three and can’t see how this could go wrong. The issue with high expectations is that the fall is long enough to hurt.

    I can’t put my finger on it, but these aren’t cravable. It doesn’t invoke that feeling you get with a bag of lays. Each bite sized crisp is okay – you get a ton of that crunchy peppermint with the dark chocolate lingering at the end. It’s a great combo with nothing necessarily wrong with it… just my indifference.

    The bag is small and they’re easy to eat. The bag includes 3 servings with each one being 8 pieces. 24 bites and you’re done. My mentality with sweets is usually that I can’t stop after starting. Therefore, I already accounted for the nutrition before indulging, but I was over it about halfway through. They just don’t have that oomph.

    Do they at least feel like Christmas? Eh, I guess. It has peppermint and that’s definitely Xmas. It just feels like I got something from the bottom of my wishlist.

    Rating: 391/1000

  • Shiner Holiday Cheer

    Shiner Holiday Cheer

    My first beer review ever and I’m ready to dive right in. The bottle states that it’s brewed with pecans and peaches. Unlike a wine, I was able to instantly hone in on that. Secondarily, does that photo look like Comet is behind the stable or hanging on Santas wall?

    Even with those flavor notes it manages to keeps that classic shiner flavor. It’s light and easy. I’d say that there’s a 5% artificial taste included in every sip, but it doesn’t hinder the beer too much. For the most part it stays true to their brewing process.

    Does it feel like Christmas? Oh yeah baby. If I was the only one drinking this, the a 6-pack would be perfect to enjoy through December. After that I’d be ready for a regular brewski.

    Rating: 747/1000

  • Champagne Problems

    Champagne Problems

    Another Christmas season means new Netflix releases. If that gets tiring to you, then turn that pain into Champagne.

    I was a Minka Kelley fan in Friday Night Lights and was excited to see starring here. The beginning of the movie was extremely cute and “before sunrise” esque. Sydney travels to Paris for a work presentation and spends her free night exploring the town. At a book store she thinks Henri is an employee and he becomes enamored with her and offers to show her around town. If they somehow made that the whole movie I would have been happy. However, we need some problems.

    They sleep together and the next morning she runs off to her meeting she overslept for. Sydney works for a corporation trying to buy a local vineyard and is competing with other buyers to make the best offer while staying true to the wine. In the meeting… surprise! Henri walks in and is actually the owners son. He learns who she is working for and instantly changes tunes.

    The movie was an easy watch for the most part and I enjoyed the tension between the two. I loved the shots of Paris and it brought me back to my visits. What really disappointed me was the amount of tropes they started shoving in our faces near the end. It felt original and unique, then they resorted to all the cheap tricks that I was hoping they’d deviate from.

    Cheap tricks:
    1. Sydney instantly knows how to fix the car of the owner who’s been trying for years.

    2. The vineyard is sold to the party guy who appreciates the wine and thinks $60 mil is a drop in the bucket.

    3. Henri overhears the conversation between Sydney and her colleague (that’s out in the open for some reason) about how the corporation is gonna cut out his dad and right before Sydney criticizes that he walks away.

    4. Sydney leaves in the morning and Henri is able to still catch her right when she’s leaving the bookstore.

    Maybe my expectations became too high because in the end it felt like your average light-hearted Christmas movie. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it, but I also wouldn’t dissuade you to check it out.

    Rating: 473/1000

  • Little Debbie Gingerbread Soft Cookies

    Little Debbie Gingerbread Soft Cookies

    Growing up these used to be my favorite treat of the holidays. Somehow, I’ve made it through 8 reviews with these at the ready, and now the floodgates are open.

    As a reviewer it’s my obligation to keep indulging until I can accurately review the product. If I have to individually unwrap four of these to correctly describe the tasting notes, then that’s my duty to both my fellow readers and little debbie.

    Eating my first one brought back waves of nostalgia. The last two years I can’t recount buying these and the time elapsed worried me. Those worries can be put to bed because of course they taste the same. They have the perfect amount of gingerbread flavoring that just breaks down in your mouth as you suck in all the flavors. It’s insanely cravable and the icing with those festive sprinkles just melds in like Santa going down the right sized chimney. I need an advent calendar with one of these in every door.

    The downside is that every gingerbread man has 90 calories with 7g of sugar. If I’m gonna eat the whole box in one sitting I have to be ok with those 56g. Obviously it’s not meant for that, but my self control is why I stay away from these things usually.

    The final question is if it feels like Christmas? Does Mariah Carey own the holidays?

    Rating: 902/1000

  • Zoa Energy Dwanta’s Holiday Punch

    Zoa Energy Dwanta’s Holiday Punch

    I recently got a visit from Dwanta clause and he gave me one of his zero sugar energy drinks. “Dwanta what is so special about this?” I asked. “Our energy fuels both the naughty and nice with 160mg of caffeine from green coffee & tea, electrolytes, amino acids, b & c vitamins, and camu camu extract” he replied. “Get out of my house you corporate shill” I responded.

    I enjoy the caffeine level as I find that 200mg is a little overkill for me and I feel that most energy drinks aim for that target since it sounds nice. Taking out that 40mg makes a difference.

    This is my second holiday energy drink of the season which is surprising to me. I saw Dwanta giving me that cheeky smile at my local HEB and I knew I had to respond. It’s holiday punch with fruit flavors which I was happy to see after my last energy drink being so secretive over its tasting profile.

    Yes, it does have that fruit flavor with it leaning heavily on the cranberry side. Unfortunately, it also features that classic artificial energy drink flavor that really hinders the enjoyability of making it through the whole can. The best comparison I can make is of a cranberry ginger ale mixed with Red Bull. If that sounds good then I’d encourage you to give this a shot.

    Does it feel like Christmas? Let’s just say I’m a believer in Dwanta Claus after today. I wouldn’t ask him for another gift, but I didn’t mind what he gave me.

    Rating: 541/1000

  • Trader Joe’s Peppermint Foaming Hand Soap

    Trader Joe’s Peppermint Foaming Hand Soap

    Walking through Trader Joe’s was like a Christmas wonderland… if you want a sweet treat. Most of the items were a little too snacky for me to go crazy buying, but I did find a few fun goodies such as this. The season of giving is perfect for my first hand soap review.

    Most of the hand soaps I keep on deck are more on the liquid side so it’s a treat to get that foamy consistency. It lathers well and does the job with each wash. That’s all pretty standard stuff you’d get with your average soap, so I want that peppermint to shine. I’m disappointed to say that it’s muted and doesn’t linger like I wished for on Santas lap. You can guess what it is with a smell test, but it’s not going to make you rave.

    I’d say that it does feel like Christmas with the branding and foam, but again it doesn’t scream it.

    Rating: 504/1000

  • Jingle Bell Heist

    Jingle Bell Heist

    My first Christmas movie of the year was a rom-com. However, this ain’t your usual big city moving to a small town story. We’re robbing the rich, baby.

    Sophie and Nick are both two people who have been wronged by the system. Sophie’s mom was impregnated by her boss, Sterling, and then fired. They had moved to the states before her mom got sick and then had to move back to England due to medical bills. Likewise, Nick was hired by Sterling to revamp his security system. Sterling framed Nick for breaking in after completing that system so his insurance would payout for his “stolen” goods and he could double up. Nicks marriage ended due to this and his ex is iffy on letting him continue to be around their daughter.

    Nick and Sophie end up teaming up to commit a heist that keeps getting more and more complicated. At the end of the day they end up teaming up with Sterlings wife to break into his safe and put his stolen goods in there. Then when Sterling hears that it was broken into he brings the police and is caught when they see the jewelry he used for insurance fraud. Everyone else gets their happy ending and a Merry Christmas was had by all.

    This is categorized as a romcom although I wouldn’t say I laughed at anything. I also didn’t really see much chemistry between the two protagonists and it felt shoehorned in there. You definitely need to suspend your belief on how the heists play out, but it’s mostly enjoyable. I’d get nervous throughout which is a good sign that I was invested. Overall it was an enjoyable mix-up of your average Netflix Christmas rom-com.

    Rating: 523/1000

  • Buying a Xmas Tree at Houston Garden Center

    Buying a Xmas Tree at Houston Garden Center

    It’s a cold, muggy, and rainy day but it’s also time to get a tree. Nothing can get in the way of Christmas spirit.

    I’ve always used a fake tree since moving into my apartment and have always been content. I’ve always felt it was a hassle both price and care wise to get a real one every year. However, my girlfriend really wanted one this year and it’s usually a romantic thing in the movies.

    I did some online scouting before I went and it wasn’t a good idea. I filtered reviews by “Christmas tree” and it was plagued with 1 stars. Trees not taking enough water in, bugs, and dead branches infected my thoughts. Maybe this isn’t a good idea? On the flip side, how many people are gonna take the time to write a 5 star review on having a normal Christmas tree? Only one way to find out.

    We walked in and they had rows of Christmas trees to check out. If we saw one we liked we’d take it out of the row to get the 360 view, stamp it down, and see what we thought. They’re all pretty light to move around, but I did wish I had a long sleeve or gloves on. We honestly didn’t take too long to find a tree that we both agreed on. The main things we sought out were having enough height, having branches fill in most of the space, and a pretty top. A lot of those trees are quite ugly when you look all the way up.

    After picking our tree a worker takes it to the front where we pay. We paid for both the fresh cut and water bucket attached to it. The tree was $90 and the add-on was another $20. All told it was about $120 which wasn’t as bad as I expected. The workers cut it, stabilize the base with wood so it stands straight, and then ties it to the top of our car. It was pretty seamless and after stopping at Home Depot for lights we headed home to set it up.

    Setting it up at home was just a matter of untying it off the car, carrying it up the stairs, and plopping it down where we wanted. Overall it was a chill experience and it’s nice having that real tree smell in the apartment.

    Rating: 852/1000

  • Skipping Christmas by John Grisham

    Skipping Christmas by John Grisham

    For some reason I thought Grisham wrote murder mystery or detective type books. Instead I got a wholesome hallmark movie about the spirit of Christmas.

    The story follows couple Luther and Nora Krank (just realized this is what “Christmas with the Kranks” is based on) after their daughter Blair goes off to Peru to work for the peace corps. Luther has that accountant brain and calculated that they spent $6,100 on Christmas last year. Why not skip out on the festivities and spend less money on a 10 day luxurious cruise? Their daughter won’t be there so what’s the point? Not as easy as it seems when you’re stubborn and you live in a festive neighborhood.

    People are shocked when they hear. Some are jealous, but most are just dumbfounded. The Krank’s are going all in with their no Christmas decisions. The Boy Scouts stop by to sell a tree, policemen and firefighters drop in to fundraise, and every house on the street puts a frosty on their roof (see book cover.) The Kranks decline absolutely everything. Luther tells people stuff like “hey come back in Spring and I’ll donate $100 to the cause.” People don’t care.

    A big chunk of the book is them trying to rationalize their decision and stay strong against all of their advisories. Their neighborhood loses the decorating competition and the local newspaper writes about the Kranks skipping out. Carolers stop by and sing outside their house while all the neighbors congregate and join in. They were getting harassed like crazy. Regardless, Luther kept doing things like walking around his neighborhood to prove a point. All they had to do was make it to Christmas and they were off on their cruise. When they return, who cares anymore?

    We all know that they aren’t getting on that cruise. Surprise! Blair calls them on Xmas eve with news that she’s flying in with her new partner. Double surprise! They’re engaged. She asks on the call if they’re doing their annual party and in her shock Nora says yes. Cue the frantic chaos.

    After reading so much about all the people they denied, the switch-up is incredibly awkward. They fail in every way possible getting the house decorated, food bought/prepared, and inviting guests to attend their last-minute party. The day was saved by none other than those pesky neighbors. Mr. Krank has a scary fall from his roof while trying to covertly put up his frosty and the cord saves him from splatting. The neighbors see and hear about Blair coming home. In a true Christmas miracle they all unite to scramble together one heck of a party.

    I have to say that summarizing the story really makes me hate the characters. Almost every single one. The neighbors were absolutely off the heezy with the way they treated the Kranks. There was a mention early on about a family who doesn’t celebrate Christmas moving out and I can see why. They probably got ran out of town. The Kranks were also pretty extreme with their no Xmas rules, but hey it’s their lives. If they want to go on a cruise then great. It’s also crazy that Blair come the day of with almost no notice… and with a fiancee!

    Overall not my favorite story or one I’d recommend, but the writing was great.

    Rating: 448/1000

  • Chobani Flip Peppermint Perfection

    Chobani Flip Peppermint Perfection

    In my spare time I love to do a casual front flip or backflip, so why not carry that same mindset into my yogurt? I’ve always been a huge yogurt fan and this excited me. For years I’ve ate a mix of yogurt, fruit and granola. It’s only the past month that I’ve switched to oatmeal. Time to flip back.

    Opening it up you get two compartments. The yogurt and the toppings to mix in. This includes dark chocolate cookie crumbles, peppermint chunks, and dark chocolate chunks. Double trouble with that dark cocoa.

    Pre flip
    Post flip

    The dark chocolate is most pronounced of the flavors. The cookie crumbles mix in with the yogurt compared to the solid components announcing themselves as I chew. The peppermint definitely takes a backseat to the chocolate chunks, but it’s still an involved passenger. What you end up getting in most bites is that classic creamy greek yogurt followed a half second later by a chocolate bark with peppermint crumbles on top. Just like the cover of the container depicts.

    Does it feel like Christmas? 100% yes. It leans more on the sweet treat side versus a normal breakfast item, but I think that’s pretty obvious to begin with. Although I wouldn’t seek this out again, it also left me feeling satisfied and guilt free on the indulgence. Now time to get back to the back flipping.

    Rating: 773/1000