Recent Brand Noticings and Taste Tests
Sometimes when I’m in stores I feel compelled to take pictures of certain products or packaging. I like to notice what brands are doing.
This brand “NatureLab” spotted at Target. The adorable lab equipment inspired bottles are sooo tempting. I’m sure anyone who made “potions” as a kid can see the appeal. Don’t you want a little ball?! I have never seen this brand before but that doesn’t mean it’s new. But it’s new to Target for sure. Thanks to the popularity of The Ordinary and Asian skincare. I didn’t buy any of it because I don’t need any new skincare products. I was tempted though.
I wanna say it started with Oreos or Lays Chips roughly ten years - the trend? of products constantly coming out with new flavors. Weird and wacky and fun and gluttonous. Whatever flavor you prefer. I don’t care about the m&m flavors too much. I remember trying the PB&J m&ms (I loveeee PB&J flavor!!!!) and they were boring. There’s not enough going on with an m&m to make different flavors worth it for me. I didn’t try either of these but I did take note of them. So watch out Mars candy. I know what you’re up to.
These HEB brand Fritos came out long before these Texas branded Fritos from the Lays corporation. I couldn’t help but wonder….was HEB becoming an issue in the Fritos market in Texas? I hope so!
Don’t you just want this big squirt bottle? I just had to pick it up and feel its girth. Lol. It’s just so big. And it’s got the bright color on bright color simple text branding that’s very popular right now and satisfying to my eye. Sooo tempting. But I have hair products I already use so I don’t need it. Maybe I’ll try it someday!
I’ve just never seen a real copy of The Onion before.
I love this shopping center and find it fascinating for a few reasons. See the tourette in the back ground? The castle thingy? It’s so funny to me to include that in a suburban shopping center. Wow it looks so regal and luxurious now. The main reason I took this picture - I was disappointed in the look of this “Thank You” sign. Designed the same as the list of stores. It didn’t feel warm, I didn’t feel a longing to return next time. I didn’t feel thanked. I felt shoved out of the castle.
I just like the phrase “tortillas for your lifestyle”
Here’s the taste test! And an exemplary 2026 on trend packaging. These were so yummy. I was shocked! I was scared to try dates. I’ve always seen people say they are healthy and sooo yummy I just couldn’t believe it. The texture worried me. The flavor worried me. But these opened my eyes!!!! And they were pb&j flavored. Omggg. So yummy. Maybe not something I’ll buy consistently but I did get some regular dates to put PB in myself. I must go have one now.
Jokes aside, brands bring us together. We wouldn’t have the lives we have without brands. So thank you to brands! Thank you for warming our hearts and our oceans. Thank you!