It seemed just like any other day as I sat on my couch after school. That was until a man came on the television, confidently walking down the street while greeting all he encountered. Adorned with black-rimmed glasses and flashing a pair of finger guns, I watched closely with furrowed brow as he stopped dead in his tracks.

“Little Hungry… Little Hungry.”

He uttered it only twice but it must have echoed through my head hundreds of times in a mere instant. I too was a little hungry. I felt heard. I felt seen. It would take me years to come to terms with it, but this man would have a profound influence on the course of my life. Eddie “The Echo” might have been a character in a McDonald’s ad to introduce its new McDouble. But it awoke a beast in me that has yet to be fully satiated.

“How Ya Doing… How Ya Doing?” fellow perusers of The Impulsive Buy, my name is Brandon. And while I was alone that afternoon in California, I know that all who read this were with me in spirit. We all venture to taste that new combination of flavors and share a passion for all that is limited edition.

From that couch I would journey on to get a college degree, graduate from culinary school, get married, and have children. But never did I lose that yearning to discover. And as a new item hits the store shelves or pops up on the drive-thru menu board, the timeless words of Eddie still echo in my mind.

“Sounds Good… Sounds Good.”

(EDITOR’S NOTE: So, um, this Brandon is not the Brandon who we’ve been posting reviews from recently. He’s a different Brandon who I brought on in 2016 and, unfortunately, had to stop reviewing later that year. But that Brandon is back! And this Brandon is a completely different person.)

Hi! I’m Sonia! I’m a liiiiiittle bit of a food nerd… ok, ok. I’m a super-mega-hyper-gigantic food nerd.

Basically, I’m the kind of person you can ask what the difference is between shoyu and tamari (shoyu has wheat in it, tamari doesn’t), or what that weird-looking fruit you found at the local Asian market is (rambutan, probably), or maybe what on Earth to do with a surplus of tomatoes from your garden (pickle them!)?

Ahem.

I’ve been called “the perfect consumer,” but really, I just love to try new things. If the label says “New!” or “Limited Edition!” on it, I am *so* there! Few things make me as school-girl giddy as the seasonal displays at my local grocery store.

From red, white, and blue gummies to eggnog flavored jelly beans, pink and red snack cakes shaped like hearts to Christmas tree-shaped everything, the best part of every season is the magical selection of thematic treats that accompany it. (I’m especially fond of McDonald’s Holiday pie and have been known to cross state lines in search of them come the day after Thanksgiving).

Every year for Halloween, I make a Quest List (TM) of seasonally appropriate items, mostly of the edible variety, to hunt down between September and October. Those searches, some fruitful, some not, have resulted in some of my favorite memories.

As much as I love to buy (and of course, eat!) things, I love to make them, too. I’m an avid cook and baker, and I can’t remember a birthday or holiday where a new cookbook wasn’t at the top of my list.

Given those facts, it should come as no surprise at all that I have some *very strong opinions* about food in general. I know what I like and what I don’t, and I’m more than happy to share my reasons with anyone who will listen.

That’s precisely why I’m so excited to become a reviewer for The Impulsive Buy. Now you can join my dog in being subjected to my rantings and ravings about the newest flavor of Blizzard or the latest trendy pizza topping.

So grab a can of your favorite soft drink and get comfortable. We’re going to have some fun!