Kasey Likes It [Magic Bullet]

Over the past few months I've developed the habit of drinking at least one (if not two) protein shakes each day. At home, I mix it (Dymatize Whey Protein) with 8 oz milk and ice in a blender, which makes it frothy, cold and yummy.

At work, I use a shaker cup and just blend it with milk. Not nearly as yummy, but it works, and usually counts as either breakfast or lunch.

I'd been thinking about a Magic Bullet to keep at my office, but didn't think it was worth $69. So, when I was able to get one for $29 with some discounts, I jumped on it and put it under the Christmas tree (more to unwrap!).
I've been using it at least once a day since Christmas and love these things about it:

1) It is so much smaller and easier to pull in and out of the cabinet to use.

2) The blender is also the cup and makes for fewer dishes.

3) It's super easy to clean.

In fact, I've grown so fond of it that I now the thought of leaving it at my office makes me sad, because I'll have to go back to using the blender at home. However, I certainly am not going to spend another $49 to get a second one.

So, I decided to start looking around for a cheap blender for the office....you know, the $15 - 20 kind. Proctor-Silex. Something like that.

I dragged Jimmie to about 8 different stores over 7 hours today, researching scratch & dent refrigerators, so we also looked at steam cleaners and blenders. I'd read about a Hamilton single serve blender on Walmart.com for $18 and Walmart was the last place we stopped.

They had it for $12.88. Score! This is the one I'll take to the office.

I mixed up a shake for a late dinner, only to discover that the $12.88 blender works SO. MUCH. BETTER. than the Magic Bullet! I was very surprised. Here's what I like about it:
1) Mixing time is about half that of the Magic Bullet

2) It didn't leave a single chip/chunk of ice (the Magic Bullet doesn't quite crush all the ice, leaving me spitting little ice cubes back into the cup)

3) It's just as easy to clean.

4) What's not to love about the price??

I'm going to return the Magic Bullet and get a second Hamilton. It rocks!

Kasey Likes It! [Tortillaz]

Today I decided to go straight from the office to visit a friend who'd just had a baby this morning. I needed to pick up a few things on the way, but didn't want to fight rush hour traffic on the main drag, so I drove out to Siloam Springs first and stopped at Walmart on my way to the hospital.

I didn't realize how hungry I was until I walked past the McDonalds at the entrance. Wow, I REALLY didn't want to eat McDonalds for dinner, but knew I needed something. I was headed toward the granola bar row for some Fiber Plus bars when this little cutie caught my eye:

I love guacamole. I love chips. A marriage made in heaven. Wow. A better tasting rice cake I have never experienced. They are ZESTY. Dare I say SPICY! (That's for you, Nat!) Garlic, lime, sugar, je ne sais quois, but I LIKE them! 4 grams of fat and 130 calories per serving (about 15 chips). So, I opted to try these and grabbed a banana on my way to the register. And then I got to snuggle the most beautiful, peaceful little baby and visit with my friend. It made me so happy to see she and her husband so happy with their healthy new little one. I hope she didn't notice my guacamole breath!

I'll admit I've eaten almost the entire (smaller size) bag tonight, but still under 12 grams of fat total. Not bad when compared to regular chips....not that I should be eating the whole bag. I'm just sayin' YuM. They also had a cheddar flavor. For those of you who don't like guacamole. Although, I can't imagine anyone that reads this blog doesn'nt like guacamole. Do you?

Kasey Likes It [Splenda PEEPS!]

I spotted a new PEEP at the grocery store: "Splenda Peeps" are sugar free!

I decided to give them a whirl.

Let me just say that if you love PEEPS, you will NOT love THESE PEEPS. They taste like nasty vanilla and butter. They also lack the crunchy coating of sugar on the outside. I'm kinda glad there were only 3 peeps included and that I only bought one package. I don't feel so bad throwing them away. And I will be picking up some of my FAVORITE PEEPS on my next shopping trip!

Here are some fun facts about PEEPS:

Each PEEPS chick has 32 calories and 0 grams of fat.

Just Born produces enough PEEPS in one year to circle the Earth twice.

It takes six minutes to create one PEEPS chick. In the 1950's it too 27 hours.

PEEPS has been the #1 non-chocolate Easter candy in the U.S. for more than a decade.

PEEPS chicks for Easter come in 6 colors--yellow, pink, lavender, blue, green, and red.

New for Easter 2008 are PEEPS Yellow Tulips, delivering the first new Spring shape since the1950s.

Yellow is America’s best selling color of PEEPS chicks and bunnies.

All PEEPS have 0 fat grams, are gluten free, and are nut free.

People like to do curious things with PEEPS ….eat them fresh or aged to perfection, microwave them, freeze them, roast them, and even cook with them!

Kasey Leaves It! [the sugar free version, that is.]

Kasey Likes It! [Lime Squeezer]

I used to live somewhere that did a segment on the news every week, where they tested out a new gadget and gave it a rating on whether or not it really did what it claimed to do. Many of the gadgets were of the 'As Seen On TV' variety. I can't remember the clever name for the segment, but they had one. I'm not that clever, so until I think of something better, I'm going to call this 'Kasey Likes It.' Because I like things often enough to share them with you on a regular basis. At least, I think about sharing things I like, whether or not I actually get around to sharing them. And if I don't like it.....hmm. Maybe I 'leave' it. What do you think?

Tonight I tested out my new lime squeezer, purchased at TJ Maxx about a week ago for $6.99. Maybe it's a lime 'juicer,' but I prefer lime 'squeezer.' Squeeze is such a visual word.

Another visual word is leverage. Let me just say that LEVERAGE is a wonderful thing. Nevah, nevah, nevah, have I squeezed so much juice out of one lime. Sonic should be concerned about their stock price.

I also LOVE that a ton of the pulp went in with the juice. Look, there's practically nothing left of that lime!

Kasey likes it!