My gifter and I were in touch about the types of j/u/n/k/ snack foods I might enjoy. "Salty or sweet," sez I. "Either is great!"

So what to my wondering eyes did appear, but a very, very large bag (nearly 2 lb.!) of something that was both. The gi-normous bag of M&Ms' snack mix includes M&Ms (obviously), pretzels, almonds, and little shortbread cookies. It is not getting opened right away, because it has too many of the things in it that both I and my husband love.

Don't like the flavor? Then grab the little envelope of "magic berries," and eat one of them. Suddenly, nothing tastes like it did a minute ago! Salty is sweet is weird is tart is...strange.

Once my tastebuds are all in a dither, I can pop in one of the wasabi gumballs (cruel, Santa, cruel) and watch flame shoot out of my mouth. (Actually, the gumballs would probably be perfect for clearing stuffed sinuses!)

Many, many thanks for this fun box of snacks. I'm looking forward to trying them. :-) Here's hoping everyone's Santa sends them such interesting bits!