But, in the spirit of the season and getting in step with the rest of the population, I have tried to at least give some thought to resolutions regarding my health and nutrition. So, I’m committing to eating more dark chocolate, good for the heart, no? And if it has nuts, I can look at it as more protein. And if I mix in a truffle now and then, I can cross dairy off my list of add ins. What else? How about more exercise. I can commit to making more trips to the factory store next door for these health-inspired goodies. That counts, right?

This is easy! I think I could really start to like making New Years Resoutions. The good thing is that I know these are the type of resolutions I could really keep up all year. Feel free to adopt my approach to ’08 as your own. No matter what else happens, these things will definitely feed my soul and when it comes right down to it, what else matters? Be happy, healthy and safe in ’08 and be sure to eat good chocolate!

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Leann -- 12/21/07 9:45am

Joy to the World!

Did you find yourself losing the spirit of the Season but getting caught up in the frustration and stress this year? I certainly hope not. In my rush to make things perfect for the holidays, I have to say, I didn’t feel the holiday low that often hits without warning. I didn’t find myself yelling at other drivers in the mall parking lot and I didn’t find myself weeping shamelessly in public out of exhaustion. 

For some reason, this Christmas feels a little extra special. It feels like a little bit of the wonder from Childhood has snuck back in. Sure it may be fleeting and I might find myself hurling fruitcake at my brother’s head at Christmas dinner but for the moment, I’m going to savor it and try to pass it on to others. I hope you get a little bit of it. And if you don’t, maybe you can take a second to make your own special holiday moment. Sit still, look at the holiday lights, snack on a good piece of chocolate and think good thoughts.

Peace, Love and Chocolate to you this season, no matter what holiday you celebrate!

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Allyson -- 12/7/07 10:30am

It's beginning to look (and sound) a lot like...

On a cold, 20-degree day here in Vermont there is nothing better than hot chocolate. And, although it was my day off from work (Sat), I came to LCC to take advantage of a free hot chocolate tasting and to hear a great group of local amateur musicians,The Hinesburg Brass Ensemble, perform holiday carols. Being a clarinet player, many of my colleagues asked why I wasn't playing; they didn't seem to understand that the clarinet is a wood-wind and doesn't qualify as a brass instrument. Worried at first that the acoustics of our factory store might not be ideal for seven brass players, I was pleasantly surprised - the sound was spectacular. The low notes of the tuba, french horn & trombone perfectly balanced out the trumpets. For nearly an hour and a half, the store was filled with festive holiday carols and shoppers sipping hot chocolate while they were tempted by dozens of gift options.
 
For me, it wasn't tough to pick a favorite Traditional, Aztec, and Old World Hot Chocolate. The traditional is your classic hot chocolate; just what you remember Grammie making for you after an afternoon of sledding. The spicy Aztec with its cinnamon & cayenne warmed my soul; reminding me of Christmas spice cookies.  But being the dark chocolate lover that I am, the Old World Hot Chocolate, made with 54% dark chocolate and milk, was hands-down my top choice.  Rich, chocolatey, and oh-so-satisfying on a cold (yup, still only Fall!!) day.    

Leann -- 12/5/07 3:15pm

Go ahead - bite my head off!

I have a chocolate Santa but I’m not sure which part to eat first. If he were an Easter Bunny, it’d be a no-brainer. Ears. Definitely the ears. If it were a peanut butter cup, I’d eat the edges first and then go for the peanutty middle. If it were a Five Star Bar, I’d slice it up and eat it like some exotic cheese. But it’s not. It’s this beautiful, hand-decorated milk chocolate Santa with a face that keeps staring at me when I’m about to bite into it.

A few years back, I gave my Dad one of our really large chocolate Santas. He stands about 18 inches high and weighs a ton. I thought he was just gorgeous and would look really lovely in the center of the table with pine boughs and candy canes around him. I watched as my Dad opened him, turned him around for everyone to see and then removed the cellophane wrapper. He walked into the kitchen where I thought he was going to place him on the dinner table. Moments later, we hear this loud banging. I go into the kitchen and there’s my Dad smashing Santa into bite size bits. Good thing he already got his presents or he might have been moved to the Naughty list.

Perhaps if I’m really careful, I can delicately nibble the toy sack on his back without making him look too mangled. Regardless, I’ll forgo the smashing and maybe think on it some more but I’m definitely open to suggestions.


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