Something different

Time to mix things up a little. I've written about all things candy: candy-scented perfume, candy jewelry, and candy vodka. But here's something totally new: sweet-flavored body creme. The folks at Yume Blush offered to send me some samples of their product which they describe as, "A luscious edible treatment (all in one) flavored body butter, massage oil, body cream and lip care." The stuff is 100% vegan and doesn't contain anything funky, unnatural, synthetic or from the center of the earth's core. What the heck? I figured I'd give it a shot. I was particularly intrigued because they said it smooths wrinkles, which are quickly becoming a major problem in my life.
I've got to say, I'm impressed. I'm always wary of beauty products that are "edible." Something about that just freaks me out. But these creams are very light, not at all sticky and, best of all, taste really good. I used the Lavender Lemon as a lip balm and had to stop myself from putting too much on. Another thing that usually bothers me: chocolate-scented anything. More often than not, the chocolate aroma is overpowering and artificial. The Yume Chocolate Raspberry cream, however, smells like a good-quality truffle.
Check it out at www.yumeblush.com. 

Please Do Not Eat the Glass Chocolates

In my last post, I asked for your help with a gift. Shopping-savvy Alexandra sent me this link for these wonderful little glass chocolates from Hulet & Hulet Art Glass Confections. Aren't they cool? I didn't even realize they were glass at first. I love these. Not as tasty as the real thing, of course, but at least they won't melt!

Cute candy jar crafts

Just sitting around, waiting for Irene to come knockin' on the door. In the midst of some mindless surfing, I found this at This Old Chair:

Don't you just love these? They're candlesticks that have jars hot-glued to the top of them. So fun!

Nine out of ten dentists approve!

When this shows up on your doorstep, you know it's going to be a good day:

Last week I received a sample of Enstrom Almond Toffee. There are people who are totally gaga for toffee; I am not one of them. In general, I can take it or leave it. However, when toffee is really good, then I turn to hoarding mode. This, as you might guess, is really good toffee. Here's what makes it a winner: 1) There's a good balance of chocolate to toffee. Just enough chocolate to get the meltiness and the taste, while not overpowering the toffee; 2) the almonds are big and whole, which is always a good thing; and 3) the toffee doesn't stick in your teeth. I'm not sure how they managed to produce a toffee that I don't later have to pick out of my fillings, but they've done it.
The toffee came packaged in a sturdy, elegant box, so this would make a great gift. (And good price point, too: $19.95 for a one pound box, which goes a long way.) www.enstrom.com

Holiday Gift #4: American Heritage Chocolate

Here's something fun for the chocolate snob who thinks he's tried everything. MARS created a Historic Division through which they re-create old tyme-y chocolates. The American Heritage Chocolate line includes chocolate sticks, blocks and finely grated chocolate drink. The packaging is fun and is likely to impress the chocoholic in your life. The American Heritage Chocolate website says you can buy the products there, although I couldn't figure out exactly where. They do, however, list gift shops at historic sites that will ship the products.
Because the chocolate is made using 17th- and 18th-century recipes, there's definitely a heavy spice aspect to it. You're not just getting chocolate; you're also getting cinnamon, nutmeg, anise, annatto, red pepper, orange, salt and vanilla. It's a fun gift and would make a great stocking stuffer.

Holiday Gifts #2 & 3: Stocking Stuffers

I love the new Wonka Exceptionals products. It's like they take a typical candy and tweak it just a bit to make it different. Such is the case with their Peppermint Shortbread Chocolate Pieces. Each little piece is wrapped in foil like a present and the candy is milk chocolate with shortbread cookie and peppermint candy pieces. A new twist on peppermint bark.
I was very excited to see these limited edition Paul Frank Nestle Crunch bars. Who doesn't love a monkey with their chocolate? The package is actually a cardboard box/card. The only disappointing thing is that I expected the actual chocolate to have a monkey on it, but it was just a regular King Size Crunch. Still fun though. Love the packaging. The Paul Frank bars are only available at Target, by the way.

Holiday Gift #1: Lindt Ornament Boxes

There's no denying it. We're officially into "that" time of year when we buy gifts for everyone-- the teachers, the mailman, the garbageman, the coach, the hairdresser, the mean bus driver-- and we get squat the joy that comes from giving. And so we kick off the Candy Yum Yum Holiday Gift Guide, full of great ideas for all those people in your life whom you'd like to give a little treat to.
Idea #1: These cute Lindt ornament boxes. Hang the little ones on the tree and they're at-hand when your father's second cousin twice-removed shows up on Christmas Eve. The bigger ones are perfect for someone you'll actually see again.

Candy. Candy. More Candy. Did I Say Candy?

This weekend was my birthday. The big one. I tried to take it in stride and I think I did pretty well. Of course, I had lots of chocolate to help me through it. And an Oompa Loompa in the driveway.
On Saturday, I had a big birthday bash with all my friends from grammar school, middle school, high school, and my one college friend. It was a blast, and of course, there was a candy buffet. So where's the picture? Well, not on my camera. I'm waiting for pictures from the Baroness who, thankfully, was documenting it all. In the meantime, check out Part I of the cute gifts I received. Above, a selection of fun candy from Alexandra. Below, a tray and coaster that say, "There's nothing better than a good friend except a good friend with chocolate." (Missing from photo: mug with same sentiment); an adorable fabric reusable bag with a cupcake theme; a box of candies that were popular in the 1980's; some hand-crafted fun things including a ring and necklace, which I believe are made out of Starburst wrappers; and a package of lip balms in different candy flavors, which the Sugar Baby has had his eye on for days now.
As soon as I get more pictures, I'll fill you in on all the wonderful things from my party, including the candy buffet, the favors and the cakes!

OUQT! Some Random Sweethearts Stuff

Auntie Ice Cube Queen sent the Sugar Baby a box of Necco Sweethearts Smoothies for Valentine's Day. I decided to go wild and let him eat them all in one sitting. He wolfed them down without a word, and then, when he got to the last one, he said, "What does this say?"
Appropriately enough, it said "I love you." (Note the following items in the picture: Necco Sweethearts, plastic chocolate truffle, and a book called "Sweet!")

This year, the new phrases on Sweethearts are "Tweet Me," "Text Me," "You Rock," "Soul Mate," "Love Bug," and "Me + You." Alas, the obsolete "Fax Me" has been discontinued. Maybe next year they'll add "Super Poke!" or "Friend Request."

And, if you just can't get enough of that sweet Valentine's aroma, check this out. Demeter Fragrance Library has introduced three new scents to their collection: Be My Valentine, Love Me and Call Me. You can get them at Sephora.

Last Minute Gifts: Candy Cane Vodka!

Hey kids! Want a cheap, easy, last-minute gift? Well No-Nuts did, so just follow her lead:
1) Tell Aunt you need to have four gifts by tomorrow
2) Look around and see what Aunt has
3) Assemble stuff gathered from around Aunt's house into coffee mugs and wrap with Aunt's festive cellophane bags while simultaneously texting, talking and baking cookies

Actually, her gifts came out really cute. She filled coffee mugs with candy canes (mine), hot chocolate (mine), Hershey Kisses (hers) and little bottles of my homemade Candy Cane Vodka* (mine). The vodka looked really pretty-- it was a nice pink color, and I even had some peppermint candy labels that were perfect. ("Candy Cane Vodka?" you're saying.) Why yes. Here's the recipe:

Candy Cane Vodka
Crush up five to ten mini candy canes and combine in a container with plain vodka. Note: do not use bottom-shelf vodka, or you'll end up with something that smells like a cross between Christmas trees and divey bars. Let vodka sit until candy canes disintegrate (a couple of days). Strain using a sifter and a coffee filter. Pour into bottles and attach cute labels. Add to hot chocolate, or make a martini rimmed with crushed candy canes.

*Yes, she's 21.

Candy Jewelry and Ornaments

Please stand by while we here at Candy Yum Yum suffer through a bout of pink eye. In the meantime, check out these goodies I found on Etsy. I just love that website; do you think I can do all my Christmas shopping there?


Tootsie Roll Pop broach from Candy Calamity
Starburst bracelet from Butterfly Gem
Reese's Cup Ball Gown ornament from Toomuch

A Chocolate CSA!

I don't know how things are where you live, but around here, CSA's (Community Supported Agriculture) are all the rage. Basically you pay a certain amount to a local farm and all summer long you get boxes of delicious local produce. We've been trying to get into one, but they've been booked for two years in a row.
What does this have to do with candy, you ask? Well, check out this cool idea: Laughing Moon Chocolates, located in Stowe, Vermont (a little slice of heaven in New England) has created a CSCS: a Community Supported Chocolate Subscription. They're trying to raise money to paint their building so they've come up with this cool idea. For $250, you get a coupon worth $275 which you can spend on any of their yummy chocolates, truffles, fudge, candy canes and more. Check out their website at www.laughingmoonchocolates.com.

O Candy Tree, O Candy Tree

In addition to all the other cool candy ornaments I've amassed over the years, Alexandra gave me these two cool ones: a bucket of lollipops and candy canes, and a Candy Land arrow pointing to the "Lollipop Woods." (There's a double entredre there for those who know me.)

In any case, I've decided to scout out a nice, sturdy indoor tree to decorate with all my lovely ornaments. Stay posted! I'll be sure to post an over-exposed, fuzzy photo!

Totally Cool Gift!

I was going to write, "If I was a kid, I'd love to receive one of these kits," but the fact of the matter is, I'd love to receive one now! I think these make-your-own-candy kits are way cool. They come in chocolate, gum and gummie and are made by the folks at Glee Gum.

When I first saw this, I thought it would be a kit where you melt down already-made chocolate and just put it into molds, but no! The kit contains organic cocoa butter, cocoa powder, confectioner's sugar, starter crystals, a temperature indicator, paper candy liners, instructions, and the story of chocolate. So cool!

The gummie kit includes: sour mix, colored and flavored sugar, powdered seaweed, seaweed, molding starch, instructions and the story of carrageenan.

The chewing gum kit includes: chewing gum base (containing natural chicle), confectioner's sugar, corn syrup, natural peppermint and tutti fruiti flavors, a pan for softening the chicle gum base, instructions and the story of chicle.

At $13, I think these would make great gifts for Tweens, who are incredibly difficult to buy for!

It's in the Bag!

Here's a cutiepie gift that would be great for your babysitter, mailman, hair dresser or BFF, or just a really cute stocking stuffer: it's three tins of Sweetriot Cacao Nibs in a little Santa bag. Cacao nibs are, of course, all the rage. I'd say they're similar to espresso beans, but not as crunchy or dry. In any case, these are YUM! But what I like best is that, because they come in tins, you can carry chocolate with you at all times-- a very important thing!

Nifty Gifties

In our ever-continuing Gift Guide 2007, here's a cute candy bib from Foodie Style.

And--

I love, love, love this candy matching game. (Hint! Hint!)

And You Thought Diamonds Were a Girl's Best Friend?

Today's gift idea comes to you from a website called Glitter Lime and it's a very exciting candy product-- jewelry made from REAL candy! They have Conversation Heart rings, candy corn pins, all sorts of stuff! Apparently they're coated in some sort of super space age high tech glossy stuff so they won't disintegrate, but they do recommend keeping your jewelry away from water. Also, there was a warning that the color on the Peeps may fade over time. I love these!

Today's Gift Idea

I just love Etsy, the website where people can sell their handmade arts and crafts. And I especially love the idea of buying Christmas gifts there. Let's stick it to the man this year and buy all our gifts from artisans! Whaddya say?

Here's a funky wallet made out of a Skittles wrapper. Perfect for the candy lover in your life. It's from Duct on You.

Gift Guide '07

If I was more organized, I'd put all the candy gift ideas into one entry and call it a day. But I'm not that organized, as we determined in a previous entry, so I'm going to give you some great gift ideas all throughout the month.

First we have the Fill -N- Spill Candy Jar. Very cute soft toys perfect for the toddler on your list! Unfortunately I don't know if this is made in China or not, so Caveat Emptor. It's available lots of places, including Barnes & Noble.

Next, we have this adorable little lollipop tree. How cute is that? I totally want one. I can see using it like an advent calendar-- you get one pop a day til Christmas. This is from the Gardener's catalog.