Monster in my Peru

Monster in My Pocket was an incredible little line of keshi that made every day feel a little like Halloween. I'm pretty amazed by this commercial from Peru advertising a chocolate candy promotion. Not just for the stickers (that I love), but for the production itself. More like Monster Movie in My Pocket!

Meet and Treat Yourself

This old PSA from the 70's advises it's best to trick or treat in groups. That's not the worst idea, though I can't help but to notice all the Tootsie branded candy. That's because Tootsie sponsored this spot. I guess they felt the need since so many of their products are handed out on Halloween night. Come to think of it, I never saw Tootsie Rolls outside of Halloween and Christmas as a kid. These days it's in every waiting room I see, their full of Tootsie Rolls candy. They should really make a waiting room safety tape.

Silent Cries of your Teeth

The ADA is very concerned about your Halloween candy and the business it will bring them.

Halfway 2 Halloween~ Spook Sticks And Wrapped Candy

Before Spirit or Party City, the best place to get your Halloween on was a small store. Halloween in the old days was tailor fit for a smaller store like a Woolworth or your local drugstore. Those old smock and mask costumes always looked at home in the middle of the store where seasonal items usually would reside. Places like Dollar General and CVS are still well regarded by those who bleed pumpkin spice.

They're almost a tradition for me. I'll make a point to pop in and out of them and check out the wares. Admittedly these days the luster isn't as bright as it was back then. What was once a wonderland of seasonal spooky shit these days is generally a few pumpkins with 'live, laugh, love' on them and maybe some dollar hockey masks. The bullshit ones with a circle shaped vent pattern on the mouth instead of holes. Lame.

originally posted 8/27/2020

Trick or 'healthy' Treat

When I was in elementary school, we were allowed to bring a 'healthy' snack for a scheduled snack time. Guess what constituted a 'healthy' snack accouring to the teacher? Fruit snacks and granola bars. While there definitely are some heahtly ones availible, a lot of the times they're just outright candy. Granola Dipps for example... that's a freaking candy bar. It's covered in chocaolate and full of caramel, peanut butter, honey, and chocolate chips. They could sell it next to Snickers and nobody would complain. Hell, they might sell more. It's only natural that they'd sell them as a potential treat to hand out at Halloween. Kids love them... they're really good. Not to mention 'healthy', as that box of candy alternatives in the trick or treat candy ailse at target would lead you too believe.

Halfway 2 Halloween~ Why so Glum?

Ultimately, Halloween is all about candy to some folks. Which is a big part of the night I suppose. Our little cowboy here sadly lost his before finding a new friend who offers to share a full sized bounty. But wait a minute... that a ghost! It's hard to make fun of this commercial, literally a perfect taste of Halloween. Since we're halfway there, it's a little of that scary flavor we all savor. With it our Halfway 2 Halloween special event comes to a close. Thanks to everyone that read along for some spooky fun. With code orange alerts to be going off soon in the summer before the Zone Base Halloween goes into full scary swing in August... I don't know what I was going to say. Happy Halfway 2 Halloween!

Frankenbutter

 

For a long time, Reese's was very adamant that chocolate and peanut butter combined needed to be explained. One thing that doesn't need to be explained is how integral Reese's is to the Halloween experience. We all know how coveted those peanut butter cups are in your trick or treat bag. I'd share some of those Tootsie Rolls, trade a Jolly Rancher... but you'd likely get stabbed over a Reese's. It's such a part of the holiday that the annual bat, pumpkin, and ghosts editions are a tradition almost as important as plastic fangs. There's no mystery as to why the package is orange.

Have a Magic New Week

 

It's Monday and you know what that means! It's a new week here on Planet Zone! This past weekend was pretty good. It was the Mrs's birthday and I took her out shopping to celebrate it. While out I picked up a Pop Warduke I'd been hoping to find. We also stopped by Rocket Fizz, a candy store, and while there I grabbed a giant bag of Pez. All unwrapped, all too perfect. Not to mention some other wonderful candy was bought.

I also grabbed the new Battle Cat from He-Man and the Masters of the Universe as well as the Core Class Snake Eyes. Still no luck on Studio Series Soundwave which might just be my white whale. I also got a pack of pens for work, I know you're excited about that. In the upcoming weeks my department at work will be moving into a new office space and I'm excited. Brand new cubicle!

I've got a fun week in mind. I know Zone Base isn't some big site, but the fact that you all continue to support it is really flattering. Thank you so much for reading my nonsense! Please don't forget to share with your friends! Y'all sure it's not Halloween yet? No... well... 

Damn That's Sour

Skittles is a long standing star of the trick or treating experience. So much so that they're no stranger to putting out special Halloween varieties of the beloved candy just for the occasion. A few years ago Skittles upped their Halloween game with Zombie Skittles. A bag of spooky themed candy with mystery zombie pieces that tasted like shit in the mix. They were really gross too. Last year as we were cleaning up after the trick or treating was over, I was sharing a bag with my Mom. My mother who was raised by working poor parents whom survived the Great Depression. Parents who drove home the belief that you do not waste food. EVER!

Such a deep rooted belief that she even quit a job working at a hospital cafeteria because she couldn't stand to see them waste food by throwing away what was left at the end of the day. Mom got a Zombie Skittle and the look of pure disgust had the wife and myself telling her to just spit it out. You could see the battle going on in her head. A lifetime of programming battling it out. She spit that candy out with a look of victory. It was just that nasty, nasty enough to defeat 70 years of a belief system. That's just how gross they were. 

So maybe they were a little too icky. Skittles replaced the Zombie Skittles this year with the brand new Skittles Shriekers! candy. It's an improvement to say the least. Instead of the gawd awful Zombie mystery pieces, you get the super sour Shriekers! mystery pieces. Same idea, just a different surprise experience. For the record, they're pretty dang sour too. I've got a bag and honestly like them quite a lot. The regular candy is really good,and the sour... is a new kind of pain. Leave it to Skittles, one of the best Halloween candies, to deliver a solid trick in your treat.

Trick Or Treat, Your Breath Stinks

Whenever I'd get gum in my treat bag, it was usually some Double Bubble or Bazooka. Hubba Bubba or Bubble Yum if I was lucky. Wrigley's thought to throw their hat in the Halloween ...hat pile... and pitched some good old fashioned Wrigley's Chewing gum as a more 'wholesome' treat to give out. I can't fault them for it. It's a standby of the candy stand, everyone loves it. Even inside the pack, each stick is individually wrapped and the stuff is cheap. At least 5 sticks for a quarter. Starting to think about handing out Juicy Fruit myself!

Not As Brightly Lit: Spooky Treats

Listen and Download Here!

Nothing says 'right now' like a look into some of this years upcoming Halloween food items!

Nevermind The Ghost, What House Did He Go To?

I haven't been having a great day. Which means a Halloween post in March. MARCHOWEEN! I know I post Halloween stuff randomly as is, but to be honest... I'm just coming up with some introductory text. Somehow this cowboy lost all of his Halloween candy. Fortunately when he decided to take a break at the obviously haunted house, another friendly kid offers to share his. Whatever house he hit had full sized bars, but plot twist, the other kid is a ghost. I'm guessing the cowboy didn't notice it was a haunted house, or maybe the candy was poisoned and the ghost kid died a little earlier. If that's the case, our little cowpoke is doomed. 

At least it wasn't a peanut butter chew.

Not As Brightly Lit: Plastic Vampire Fangs

Like pumpkins and spider webs, nothing say's Halloween as much as a pair of plastic vampire fangs. This week, Rob talks about the holiday stand by and it's many uses.

Optimus's Chocolate Surprise

Candy with a surprise toy is a tried and true delivery system for blind bag toys. Hershey's has recently entered the arena with their new Hershey's Treasure Surprise line. For $2 (what I've been paying anyway) you get a tiny blue treasure chest with a blind packed mini figure and four Hershey's Kisses.

While a bag of Kisses at the same Walmart is about $2, it's still a candy I've always liked in the little box. Usually with these surprise things you either get some generic sugar candy that's maybe shaped like the characters or that stuff inside Kinder Surprise Eggs. It tastes great usually, but that's not the issue. If you get one of these occasionally, you'll probably eat the candy not long after. If you buy up a bunch... you're going to have a small stockpile. That will eventually get thrown away. 

I still remember finding that forgotten zip lock of bubble twist gum that had went bad and melted into a weird goo. Gross. A Hershey's Kiss however tends to vanish almost instantly. If you end up with a stockpile of Hershey's Kisses, they'll get eaten. It's one of the world's most popular candies. At worst the little packs will end up in your lunch for a work time snack. I had a few from these this weekend while watching TV.

 

The actual reason you buy the chest is the toy. Right now these chests have Transformers and My Little Pony surprise toys. I'm trying to collect all the Transformers. You may have guessed. I was waiting to get them all before I did a post, but doing so has been a challenge. I'll probably do a post on them all once I do so. Right now I just kind of want to talk about the hunt. 

 

Which is a mother fucker. 

 

So far I cannot physically find the packs. What I can do is add them to my grocery order and wait for it to be delivered to see if the employee pulling said order could find them. Which half the time they can. I've tried using the Walmart app to find them in the store. So far it's taking me to everything aside from these. I do know where the motor oil is now though. I'll just have to be patient for more to show up at other stores at this rate since they haven't sent any in about two weeks. 

So far I've got Optimus Prime, Starscream and Grimlock. The only other two left is Bumblebee and Megatron. At this rate it's probably going to be until they show up at Five Below before I find anymore. I must have cleared out the shelf box mine were picked from. Which resulted in a bunch of Primes, a bunch of Starscreams, and two Grimlocks. I can't tell if there's a code system or not, which would be useless right now anyway. Usually the random nature of a blind bag toy is fun... but not when you're waiting for a delivery and see that item wasn't in stock when you get your receipt email. 

Dammit. 

The Last Halloween (bullshit)

In 1991 Hanna-Barbera took a dump upon the face of released this live action/CGI Halloween special. In it a group of Martians are on a mission to gather what we call candy to bring back to Mars. 

Well, golly shucks, good thing it happens on Halloween. 

The name of the special comes from the sub plot that the towns lake has dried up. Said lake generates the local candy factory which now will have to close down. I guess nobody buys Skittles at Walmart there. 

At least the lake is named Crystal Lake and I can't help but to dream a sequel where Jason exacts his revenge. Revenge for the gall of one business to try and cancel Halloween. We all know all that place only makes crappy peanut butter chews to begin with. Utter bullshit.

The Aliens also appear in Halloween commercials for Mars candy... which Mars branded candy isn't featured in the special... which likely the town was giving out instead of the factories brand to begin with... the call candy coobi. Did I mention that? It's uh... it's not good.

Robots In Chocolate Disguise

Hershey’s Kisses Transformers Milk Chocolate Treasure Surprise https://t.co/B7QJXqo4Es pic.twitter.com/OrjldjN4lo

— TFW2005 (@tfw2005) September 9, 2020

This was an unexpected surprise. Readers know how this is specifically something I'd go nuts for, so you can be sure that I'll be hunting for these. It doesn't hurt that I specifically prefer Hershey's chocolate to supposedly superior fancy brands. 

Spook Sticks And Wrapped Candy

Before Spirit or Party City, the best place to get your Halloween on was a small store. Halloween in the old days was tailor fit for a smaller store like a Woolworth or your local drugstore. Those old smock and mask costumes always looked at home in the middle of the store where seasonal items usually would reside. Places like Dollar General and CVS are still well regarded by those who bleed pumpkin spice. 

They're almost a tradition for me. I'll make a point to pop in and out of them and check out the wares. Admittedly these days the luster isn't as bright as it was back then. What was once a wonderland of seasonal spooky shit these days is generally a few pumpkins with 'live, laugh, love' on them and maybe some dollar hockey masks. The bullshit ones with a circle shaped vent pattern on the mouth instead of holes. Lame.

Treat Yourself With The Video Vampire

Nothing better on Halloween than watching some scary movies while giving out candy to trick or treaters. Good thing you've got all that candy, the USA Friday the 13th marathon has shown part 5 for the 6th consecutive time in a row and you're starting to get the munchies. You've stocked up on Kit Kats and ... HOLY CRAP YOU COULD WIN A VCR! THANKS VIDEO VAMPIRE!

Safety Tips From... Mel-Mac?

If you hear it once, you'll hear it a thousand times. Have an adult check your candy after trick or treating. This is very important, because there could be a needle in a slo poke or CBD edibles in your bag. Which is kinda impressive seeing how expensive they are at the Circle K. 

Locally produced spots like this are always special because you can hardly hear the narrator over the spooky sound tape. Admittedly I learned something, apparently Alf's home planet is a shoe store. Which explains everything.

Spooky Snacks For 2020!

New Franken-Cup Reese's are expected to be out for Halloween 2020! From the graphics, these appear to have the classic peanut butter center and a shell made with milk chocolate on top and green crème on the bottom. https://t.co/VAEwk5rCkW pic.twitter.com/d1fmrJnk6I

— Candy Hunting (@CandyHunting) March 3, 2020

As the season changes to spring we get some of the first looks at some upcoming Halloween candy. While it may seem early to some of you, it's pretty much right on time. Halloween is big business and the companies start working on the following year literally on November 1st. It's around nowtime that they start airing them out for stores to get those orders in.

Franken-Cup Reese's look positively divine. Themed after Frankenstein, these peanut butter cups have a green creme layer at the bottom of the cup. I'm sure it's just colored white chocolate, but that's enough to add to spooky up a peanut butter cup for the season. Actually Reese's brings the noise every year, so this is just them showing off. When you show the level of dedication they do, it's allowed.

New Chocolate Popcorn M&M's will be out for the Halloween season! As a kid, my friends and I would eat popcorn with M&M's mixed in while watching movies. I hope this captures that great combination of sweet chocolate and salty, buttery popcorn. https://t.co/rEgihPnSiH pic.twitter.com/hhk83voBZt

— Candy Hunting (@CandyHunting) March 4, 2020

I can't say I'm super excited for the Chocolate Popcorn M&M's. Not because it sounds bad, it doesn't, it sounds pretty good actually. It. I just have a hard time getting excited for M&M's. Yes, they're good and all. Just... shrug emoji. While you may be asking yourself why would Chocolate Popcorn M&M's be for the Halloween season? Well for starters, with the metric ton of other M&M' varieties released every half second... why not? Most appropriately though, imagine all the horror movie marathons and Halloween specials you'll be taking in during the season. So what's the stereotypical snack for movie watching?