FAST FOOD NEWS: Sonic Hearty Chili Bowl

Sonic Hearty Chili Bowl

Sonic wants to warm you up this winter with its new Hearty Chili Bowl.

The menu item features hearty beef, onions, bell peppers, beans, and bold seasonings. There’s also a Loaded Hearty Chili Bowl that comes with Fritos, shredded cheese, and diced onions on top a serving of chili. The regular version is available for $2.49, while the loaded version goes for $2.99.

Both are available for a limited time at participating Sonic locations, while supplies last.

If you’ve tried the Sonic Hearty Chili Bowl, let us know what you think of it in the comments.

(Image via Sonic.)

SPOTTED: Limited Edition Love, Oreo Cookies

Limited Edition Love Oreo Cookies

I’m not sure I’m in love, with the sweet and tangy creme. Also, the wafers look like cookie billboards for Dunkin’. (Spotted by Dorothy at Giant Eagle)

Thank you to all the photo contributors! If you’re out shopping and see an interesting new product on the shelf, snap a picture of it, and send us an email ([email protected]) with where you found it and “Spotted” in the subject line. Or reply to us (@theimpulsivebuy) on Twitter with the photo, where you spotted it, and the hashtag #spotted. If you do so, you might see your picture in our next Spotted on Shelves post.

Also, if you want to send in photos and are wondering if we’ve already covered something or if the product is old, don’t worry about it. Let us worry about it.

REVIEW: Oreo Music Box

Oreo Music Box 1

Oreo ended 2018 in peak novelty fashion with the release of the Oreo Music Box – a tiny turntable that “plays” Oreo cookies. Place any regulation-size Oreo on the disc and you’ll hear a selection of pre-loaded music. You can also record your own audio that subsequently gets tacked onto the start of the music. It comes in a tin with a selection of Oreos inside (as if anyone who would buy this doesn’t already have a stash?)

Oreo Music Box 2

I was really happy to see an Oreo holiday item that wasn’t flavor-related. I love the flavor releases, but I appreciate it when well-known brands go deep with imagination and whimsy. This product debuted in China in Fall of 2017. I was thrilled to hear it was landing on our shores and even more so to find one under my Christmas tree.

Oreo Music Box 3

The music box itself felt surprisingly sturdy, despite the cardboard and plastic exterior. When I placed an Oreo on and moved the stylus into place, it did “play” music. The volume was decent, and audio quality was exactly what I expected – not great, but not bad for what was essentially a novelty toy.

Oreo Music Box 4

As promised, as I bit chunks from the cookie, the music tracks changed. Each cut was a slightly different take on a vaguely familiar tune I think I’d heard in past Oreo campaigns. Adorable! I was a little disappointed there was no way to program your own music or audio beyond the 30-second record feature.

Oreo Music Box 5

The record feature also worked fine, although the volume was a notch lower than the pre-loaded music and the instructions had error in them. (The double red light never appeared – it went right to green and was recording.)

Oreo Music Box 6

I say “play” in quotes because this music box doesn’t work like a record player. It’s not reading information stored in the cookie. It’s reading the presence and position of an object on the turntable to trigger a programmed audio clip.

As best I can tell, it works based on five sensors on the turntable. As long as one of them is covered by a solid object, it will spin and “play.” I tried it with various objects – a Wheat Thin, a pat of butter, a quarter and a tiny slip of paper. The only one that didn’t work was the paper, I suspect because the light in the stylus could shine through to the sensor.

Oreo Music Box 7

This is a great gift for an Oreo-lover or toy for a child. It’s cute and does exactly what it says. I loved it. It’s well-made and could last, but the limited audio options make it something that may not hold attention long. The price point is a bit high for a novelty you use a handful of times, but possibly worth it in sheer delight.

Music Courtesy of Loyalty Freak Music.

Purchased Price: $19.99
Size: N/A
Purchased at: Amazon
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: N/A

SPOTTED – 1/4/2019

Here are some interesting new and limited edition products found on store shelves by your fellow readers. If you’ve tried any of the products, share your thoughts about them in the comments.

Sun Maid Watermelon Sour Raisin Snacks

Sun Maid Watermelon Sour Raisin Snacks

(Spotted by Robbie at Walmart Neighborhood Market.)

Sun Maid Strawberry Sour Raisin Snacks

Sun Maid Strawberry Sour Raisin Snacks

(Spotted by Amanda Y at Walmart.)

Fiber One Strawberries  Vanilla Clusters Cereal

Fiber One Strawberries & Vanilla Clusters Cereal

(Spotted by Amanda Y at Walmart.)

ICON Meals Protein Popcorn Cotton Candy Krunch

ICON Meals Protein Popcorn Cotton Candy Krunch

(Spotted by Caitlin J at GNC.)

Nature Valley Granola Fruit  Nut Cranberry Raisin Almond

Nature Valley Granola Fruit & Nut Cranberry Raisin Almond

(Spotted by Amanda Y at Walmart.)

Safeway Signature Select 50 Less Sugar  Calories Orange Juice

Safeway Signature Select 50% Less Sugar & Calories Orange Juice

(Spotted by Sarah R at Safeway.)

Alexia Loaded Cauliflower and Mexican Style Street Corn

Alexia Loaded Cauliflower and Mexican-Style Street Corn

(Spotted by Daniel N at Kroger.)

Spaans Peppermint Meringue Cookies

Spaans Peppermint Meringue Cookies

(Spotted by Sarah R at Safeway.)

Spongebob Squarepants Frozen Fruit

Spongebob Squarepants Frozen Fruit

(Spotted by Meghan at Walmart.)

Just Desserts Mint Brownie Bites and Red Velvet Bites

Just Desserts Mint Brownie Bites and Red Velvet Bites

(Spotted by Sarah R at Safeway.)

The Swiss Colony Handcrafted Cake Bites

The Swiss Colony Handcrafted Cake Bites

(Spotted by Sarah R at Safeway.)

If you’re out shopping and see an interesting new product on the shelf, snap a picture of it, and send us an email ([email protected]) with where you found it and “Spotted” in the subject line. Or reply to us (@theimpulsivebuy) on Twitter with the photo, where you spotted it, and the hashtag #spotted. If you’ve tried the product, share your thoughts about it in the comments.

Also, if you want to send in photos and are wondering if we’ve already covered something or if the product is old, don’t worry about it. Let us worry about it.

FAST FOOD NEWS: Baskin-Robbins Brownie Bar Mashup

Baskin-Robbins Brownie Bar Mashup

Baskin-Robbins Flavor of the Month for January 2019 is Brownie Bar Mashup.

The description on the Baskin-Robbins site is kind of vague: “A delicious combination of traditional chocolate and blonde brownies. It delivers on two delicious brownie flavors in one bite.” But, a look through the ingredients list gives somewhat of a clearer picture.

The flavor appears to have a combination of chocolate and blonde brownies with a brownie batter ribbon, brownie pieces, chocolate chips, chocolate and buttery cake flavored ice creams.

A 2.5 oz. scoop has 160 calories, 8 grams of fat, 5 grams of saturated fat, 0 gram of trans fat, 30 milligrams of cholesterol, 75 milligrams of sodium, 20 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 14 grams of sugar, and 3 grams of protein.

If you’ve tried it, let us know what you think of it in the comments.

(Image via Baskin-Robbins.)

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