Crazy. Jump. Can't Live Without You!

BEFORE:
I'm a kindergarten teacher and my day starts the second I walk into school. I prepare everything for the days' lessons, running around like a chicken with my head cut off. I'm focused but scatter-brained at times while I'm getting ready for the kids.
Once the 8:55AM bell rings, my 25 kindergartens are balls full of energy streaming into the classroom. Attendance and lunch, our February songs, calendar and morning routine get the day started. The kids are all working at their tables and it starts... He said, she said, ____'s not my friend, my tummy hurts, I need a pencil, I need more glue, I wasn't listening, what do I do? When is lunch? Do we have gym today? Ahhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!! They are driving my crazy!!!!!!!!

Britney Spears - "Crazy!"

My head is spinning like a merry-go-round at a theme park on school field trip day. It's 10:55AM and thank goodness its time to spend the constant questioners to lunch. Its my first opportunity of the day to hear my own thoughts clearly instead of theirs. Pick. Me. Up. Now!!!!!!

DURING:
Skittles to the rescue. I thought it would always be my students who would turn to candy for a sugar rush pick me up. I can't get up to my classroom, particularly my tucked away office, to start my lunch and to devour sweets quick enough. I, Ms. Newell, turn to Skittles Original candies. I rip open the top of the wrapper and pour the bite size fruity candies into the palm of my hand. I notice the colors and amount of each color that spills out. I grab for the flavors I like least, green and yellow, to save my favorites for last, purple, orange, and red. After popping the Skittles into my mouth, the sweetness attacks my taste buds, then my cheeks, down my throat to spread to my stomach. It makes me what to JUMP around my office and hope no one walks in. Hello sugar high!!!!

Van Halen - "Jump!"

AFTER:
My sugar high has got me revved up and ready to pick up my kids from lunch and to make it through the afternoon to 2:45PM. My kids seem quieter, calmer, transformed by their full tummies and social time. Is it them or the Skittles?! I think it's a little bit of both. I'm quieter, calmer, and transformed by the sweetness of the fruit flavors still lingering on my tongue. My day is brighter and bubblier making my kids' game of 100 questions more bearable. Thank you Skittles, you saved my day and my voice!!!!! I wouldn't be able to get through the second half of my day without candy.

Glee - "My Life Would Suck Without You!"

007 and The Scientist

Brand One: Skittles
Why: I chose this candy because out of the entire package, these are one of my favorites!
How to describe them: Skittles are bite size pieces that are crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside. They come in fruity flavors like lime (green), lemon (yellow), strawberry (red), grape (purple) and orange.
The perfect occasion for eating skittles is... when you're on the go, perfect to pop in your mouth.
When I think of skittles, it reminds me of... going to the movies.
Eating this candy makes me feel... happy and excited :)
The kind of people who eat this brand the most are... kids and people who enjoy really sweet things.
The music that goes along with eating this brand is... pop music, especially teeny bopper music.

Brand Two: Spree Chewys
Why: I wanted to open the package and eat them. They looked appealing.
How to describe them: Spree Chewys are circular discs with a crunchy outside and grainy/chewy inside. The taste is a mix or sweet, tart and sour.
The perfect occasion for eating Spree Chewy is... a picnic
When I think of Spree Chewys, it reminds me of... being over at a childhood friend's house. Sweet nostalgia :)
Eating this candy makes me feel... thirsty because of its grainy inside.
The kind of people who eat this brand the most are... loyal to the Spree brand. Because Sprees aren't a well known brand, those people that already like it and buy it would continue to do so.
The music that goes along with eating this brand is... alternative, rock.

Brand Three: Sour Patch Kids
Why: I thought of the hilarious commercials and the gummy mascots and wanted to open them.
How to describe them: Sour Patch Kids are candies shaped like little cartoon kids that are soft and chewy coated in sour sugar. Yum!
The perfect occasion for eating Sour Patch Kids is... at a movie theater
When I think of Sour Patch Kids, it reminds me of... the great commercials, "first they're sour, then sweet!"
Eating this candy makes me feel... silly!
The kind of people who eat this brand the most are... silly, sweet, and have a good sense of humor.
The music that goes along with eating this brand is... carnival music.

Brand Four: Starbursts
Why: Because I want to eat the strawberry pinks.
How to describe them: Starbursts candies are thick squares that are chewy and juicy. The original pack comes in strawberry (pink), cherry (red), lemon (yellow), and orange.
The perfect occasion for eating Starbursts is... at anytime!
When I think of Starbursts, it reminds me of... going to the grocery store with my mom who always threw a pack in the cart without even asking, because she knew how much I liked them.
Eating this candy makes me feel... hungry because my mouth always starts watering when I think of Starbursts.
The kind of people who eat this brand the most are... those with lots of energy.
The music that goes along with eating this brand is... country.

Which one do you want to eat the most, right now?!
Sour Patch Kids

Which candy would be the last one left in the box and why?
Baby Bottle Pop! I wouldn't eat this because its pure sugar!!! Way too sweet.

Life Saver Gummies vs. Sour Patch Kids

What is your initial reaction to these two grands?
* Life Saver Gummies: I think of the hard candy life savers. I didn't know they made gummies.
* Sour Patch Kids: I think of something sour and sweet.

Which of these two brnads do you prefer and why?
I prefer Sour Patch Kids. I immediately think of their cartoon mascots. They are really clever and help to translate what you're getting before eating them.

Likes and dislikes
* Life Save Gummies - Like: sour flavoring. Dislike: the really sour initial taste that makes my cheeks pucker.
* Sour Patch Kids - Like: Soft and chewy and easy to eat. Dislike - no dislikes, I love them!

Where are you? What are you doing when you eat them?
* Life Saver Gummies: I don't eat these...
* Sour Patch Kids: I usually eat these when I'm at a movie theater, watching a movie.

Care Package - Part 1

When I received my care package in the mail, I told my sister that I felt like 007! Mission: Candy!!

Care Package - Part 2

Some of this stuff I haven't seen since I was a little kid!!! My Grandpa worked for a candy distributor and we were some of the first to see the newest candies. Baby Bottle Pop and Push Pops were among some of our sneak previews.

Eat & Enjoy!

I went to the grocery store to do my weekly shopping as I was comleting this assignment. Normally, when I'm not carrying 5 grocery bags, I can't wait to get up to the counter, pay, out the door, and rip the packaging open and start enjoying it. Today was a little different. I waited until I got home and unpacked all of my groceries before sitting down to enjoy my M&Ms.

I didn't share any of these tasty chocolate treats. I kept it all to myself and every piece was delicious. The combination of the sweet chocolate and salty peanuts definitely fills my craving for sweet and salty. I'm happy and in need of water, haha. Peanuts make my thirsty.

I'm holding off on the Starburst Jelly Beans for later. I look forward to having something sweet after dinner time. I anticipate I'll dive into that bag then and share it with my sister.

Watch and See - Part 2

Its about that time! I need to make a decision and fast. My mouth is watering with all of this candy talk.



My $5 is spent and I ended up going with my go-to buy. I bought Starburst Jelly Beans and Peanut M&Ms. My decision making process came down to me always going back to what I know as familiar and what tastes good. I don't normally go outside of my norm when buying candy because I know what I like. I know exactly what these candies taste like, how it makes me feel (happy!), and that I'll be satisfied once its all gone.

Watch and See - Part 1

Watch as I search for my candy. Thinking out loud, I discuss what I'm looking for and what catches my eye.