Kraft Extra Cheddar Cheese short review

 This was a bit pricier than regular Kraft Single Cheese slices but it is worth it! It is a delightful blend of regular cheddar slices and Kraft processed cheese.   It boasts the deliciousness of Kraft processed cheese while maintaining the sturdy texture and rich flavour of regular cheddar slices :) 

You can definitely taste the higher quality of them.

The only complaint is that these extra cheddar-sliced cheeses are not individually packaged into sleeves like the typical Kraft single cheese slices but just piled on top of each other like regular cheddar cheese slices with no paper barrier in between them. 

Kneaded Eraser short review

I'm not artsy, but I have always wanted a kneaded eraser! How cool is it to have an eraser you can knead and mould!

thoughts and impressions:

• It is very firm and quite hard (not soft and mouldable as I thought it would be)
• no scent
• erases, but not super well (which is understandable given its use)
• doesn't leave any eraser shavings
• sticky but does not stick to paper
• not made to erase a large area
• picks up on granite
• can be washed

picks up on lead/granite 

While this eraser is fun to play with (especially when you like to fiddle while writing) I don't think it is practical for writing, it does a good job as an art tool especially when you are drawing and need to erase small mistakes or fade out outlines or fine lines.

Score: 8/10

Website: no website

O'Keeffe's Working Hands Hand Cream review

a newer version of O'Keeffe's Working Hands Hand Cream

It has been over three years since I wrote a review on O'Keeffe's Hand Cream, and I didn't like it. I can't say whether it was a quality control issue or if I just stumbled upon a terrible faulty version of this product.

I bought this newer version by accident. I had an emergency hand cream issue (I needed to use a hand cream and forgot to bring some with me, so I rushed into a nearby drugstore)... I didn't realize I picked up this brand and same product again (I didn't recognize it because of the new packaging) however, to my surprise, it did a much better job than the previous tube had.

My hands are in better condition (I was in a pandemic during the last review) so please factor in this when you compare this review to my previous one.

thoughts and impressions:

• very creamy (like the previous version)
• unscented (like the previous version)
• hands absorbed this cream instantly
• you need more than a pea-size, maybe 1.5-2.0 pea-sized amounts
• protected my hands up to 2 washes
• didn't do a good job moisturizing

It is thick, but unlike the previous version (or previous container I had) it did not do a reverse and instead of pulling water and moisture from my skin, it protected my hands from drying and chapping but didn't moisturize as it claims it should.

score: 6.5/10

website: https://okeeffes.ca/products/working-hands?utm_id=go_cmp-193473816_adg-9002795256_ad-302025413458_kwd-84349096118_dev-c_ext-_prd-_sig-CjwKCAiAloavBhBOEiwAbtAJO8-M1kUBuqFx5J8_HE4FijFsZs0LZrmvTz3e4lvhbb78tTXPluf_iBoCBPsQAvD_BwE&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAloavBhBOEiwAbtAJO8-M1kUBuqFx5J8_HE4FijFsZs0LZrmvTz3e4lvhbb78tTXPluf_iBoCBPsQAvD_BwE

Rohto Cooling Eye Drops Max Strength review

 

Aside from dry skin, our dry weather makes my eyes extremely dry and red. I wanted to get Lumify eye drops but they were sold out everywhere!! 😢 I went on iHerb and found these Rohto Cooling Eye Drops Max Strength Maximum Redness relief. 

Rohto is a multinational company based in Japan (specifically Osaka) and throughout the years, their products have been good, so I was hopeful these eyedrops would be good.

I have used Rohto eyedrops for years (in Japan), and I am glad they are available in North America. They were good, but I always felt they needed to be stronger... so I wanted to see what this Max Strength would be like.

These eye drops do two things: Redness relief and lubricate the eyes.

I got these to see if they work as well as Lumify eye drops, and also since they are almost half the price, if they are as effective, I would have found a good product.

thoughts and impressions:

• slightly minty sensation (but wasn't irritating)
• easy to control the amount of drops
• I like the safety feature on the lid
• didn't have an immediate effect
• this formula easily crystallizes, please make sure there aren't any "salt" disposits on the applicator before dispensing the drops in your eyes (I did once and it hurt my eye!!)

Mint/Cooling effect:

First, the level of the mint cooling effect is not comparable to the Japanese version. This can be a good or bad thing depending on your preferences, if you have sensitive eyes, the cooling level might be tolerable for you. However, if you are looking for that burst of refreshing sensation, this might not satisfy your needs.

packaging and lid's safety feature:
I appreciated the ergonomic shape of the container as it allowed my fingers to properly grasp it. The firmness of the container also allows me to properly dispense the needed amount of eye drops. I also really liked the lid's safety feature (to remove the lid, you need to push down and twist open). It addresses the common issue of accidental spillage and contamination, especially when carrying the eyedrops in a purse.

effectiveness of the product:
While the product is effective, it does not deliver an immediate outcome as claimed. To reduce redness, one must apply the product and wait for at least 30 minutes for noticeable results. However, if the goal is to lubricate and moisten the eyes, the effects are nearly immediate and the effectiveness lasts for up to 8 hours.

Score: 8/10
Website: https://rohtoeyedrops.com/products/rohto-max-strength-redness-relief-eye-drops

Cheetos Ketchup short review

I saw these at Costco, and there were only a few remaining, I was very fortunate to even get a bag, the moment I got a bag, 3 other people came and snatched a few bags. There were none left after that. People were snatching these up like hotcakes!

This combines two of my favourite snacks, ketchup chips and Cheetos. I misunderstood the packaging and thought there was a cheesy underlay to these Cheetos, so I was surprised on the first bite, that these are purely ketchup-flavoured. I can't say I'm disappointed though, the ketchup flavour is very delicious, even better than Lay's. It has the right amount of tanginess but is not too tangy to the point it can be sour.

thoughts and impressions:

• no cheesy taste at all
• mild and perfect ketchup taste
• no sour vinegar taste (like Lay's Ketchup chips)
• very crunchy
• addictive

I was pleasantly surprised by the taste and I couldn't stop munching on them. I highly recommend them! However, if you are looking for a sharp tanginess, than these are not for you.

Score: 9.5/10
Website: no website (product couldn't be found on any of the Cheetos official websites! 🤔 )

McDonald's McRib short review

McRib

Pork is hardly ever my first choice of meat. I have always missed the McRib limited-time offering, so I could never understand the craze over it. 

After a 10-year hiatus, the McRib finally made its way back to Toronto, and this time, I can finally taste it! (And it is good 👍 )

impressions:

• cute packaging ❤️ 
• bigger than I thought it would be
• lots of BBQ sauce
• only 5 ingredients: the bread, barbeque sauce, raw onions, rib steak (without the bones, of course),  and the pickles.
• it is super tender, smooth ribby, meaty and delicious

it's not like I haven't seen it in pictures, but it definitely looked bigger than I thought it would be. 

One of the reasons why pork is hardly my first choice of meat is because it is tougher and "rougher" than others, but McRib's pork is tender, soft and smooth.

The combination works so well. It is simple, but they all complement each other so well :D

score: 10/10
website: https://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en-us/product/mcrib.html

Twinings Prince of Wales pure black tea review

During my trip to New Orleans, I came across this tea. This is the first I have heard of it. I searched for it online and learned it is only available in the US rather than Canada. This was strange for me because Canada, as a Commonwealth, I would expect this tea to be a bit more popular, so I did some digging. 

It turns out that this tea was crafted and created by Twinings for King Edward VIII in 1921, back when he held the title of the Prince of Wales.

However, in light of the historical context, considering King Edward VIII's later actions leading to his abdication, it's not surprising that this association could be seen as taboo and saddening and therefore, not available in a country as close to the UK as Canada.

It is sad to hear that, allegedly, we aren't able to enjoy this tea, because of its connection to a controversial chapter in British/English history. 

Prince of Wales Tea

Before I share my impressions, it's worth noting that this tea is a special blend that brings together tea leaves from the Jiangxi, Anhui, and Yunnan provinces in China. These leaves were carefully chosen from the high altitudes and mountainous regions of these provinces. The advantage of these elevated terrains is that the mountain mists act as a natural shield, protecting the tea bushes from excessive sunlight. This, in turn, allows the tea leaves and buds to develop optimally.

Prince of Wales tea

These tea leaves are artfully combined with tea leaves sourced from Hunan. (Hunan province is famous for its Pu'er tea leaves).

The tea's aromatic notes have a slight woodiness to them.

thoughts and impressions:

• a distinct Chinese tea flavour!
• it is exceptionally smooth and velvety
• accommodates the addition of milk.
• has a brownish-red colour
• delicate mild taste
• hints of a woody taste

It is evident that this black tea had incorporated Chinese tea leaves into the blend, but unlike most Chinese teas it has an incredibly smooth and velvety texture. The thoughtfully crafted blend allows for the addition of milk without compromising the taste. 

I'm very fortunate to be able to purchase this online (via iHerb). It's truly a pleasure to savor this smooth Chinese tea blend.

Score: 10/10

Website: https://twiningsusa.com/products/prince-of-wales