Cyber Chocolate

Power Ball Winner - Why Not Me?

2011-12-15T14:14:00.000-08:00

You know they're out there, those people who win the Power Ball and spend all their money on booze, partying and drugs... So, why can't I win the Power Ball and do something good with the money? I would, you know!

I would help other people, buy a house to live in, help others accomplish their dreams and give to the greater need. I'd be constantly helping others, showing them the heart of one who loves to give, and sharing the blessed wealth I'd have. Why? Because that's who I am.

This past week, my daughter shared with me that she and her husband were invited to stay with a friend after they moved out of their military housing. The friend didn't indicate they owed them anything for staying there, until her husband was off to his duty in the Middle East. But now, she has to pay half of their housing allotment which she needed to buy her plane ticket home, to her friend for staying there, after already buying groceries, several meals and other benefits while she was there. It's okay, she paid up. Her plane ticket is purchased and she's on her way home with her little boy.

She said, "Mom, I'd invite anyone to stay in my home under these circumstances and never charge them a dime. I don't understand the thought process that goes through people's greedy minds. If you're spending it all to accomplish something of value, someone will decide they need it more than you - EVEN when you've already given something to help them."

We talked for a while, her realizing that she'd already given something more. We understand the concept of giving, and we do... constantly. It just seems we give more than our share, even with a grateful heart.

So... About that power ball thing? Why not me?

Joyful Moments-in the garden

2011-10-05T21:34:00.000-07:00

One of the most joyful ways to enjoy your garden is to simply let it be. Allow some areas to grow within their own boundaries, to spread, mix, and go wild :)

One place I allow this is just outside my drying barn...small beds on each side of the doors are never 'planted'...I use the space to sweep seed and cuttings from the barn floor-whatever germinates and grows is what we enjoy.

This year we have zinnias, parsley, fennel, and a grapevine, all happily living and growing together.

Take your joy where you find it....we often can't control the events or the outcome of a day, week, or year...but we can make or find one joyful moment in each and every day- and embrace it for good.

Have a joyful season~

Bea Rigsby-Kunz
Sage Hill Farms
http://www.sagehillfarmsandvintagestore.com

All your holiday herbs, seasonings, tisanes , and teas are available at the Sage Hill website...fresh dried and flavorful...and as always-chemical free~

Rich Delicious Decadence - Marketing the Life

2010-02-22T09:01:00.000-08:00

With all the sparkle and shine of Valentine's Day passing into distant history, the next holiday celebrating the decadent chocolate extravagance would be Easter?

Often, though we pick our favorite kind of chocolate bunny, there are many other kinds of chocolate that might be more decadent for this holiday. Consider a white chocolate cheese cake with raspberry sauce, or a 7 layer chocolate cake with white coconut frosting? How about a rack of lamb with savory chocolate sauce or hot cross buns with chocolate drizzle?

When I hear the many comments about chocolate, or dressing up for the parties, or hunting Easter eggs, I wonder if we've forgotten what Easter is all about. It's not the dress you wear, or the kind of hat you buy, or even whether or not you wear white shoes... It is about the risen Christ. Christ arose on the morning we now celebrate as Easter Sunday.

A savior, born on Christmas, raised by a carpenter, taught in the synagogues and walked the roads of Galilee, hung on a cross on Calvary and rose again, three days later, to save your soul from eternal damnation. That's what Easter is all about.

The Rich Delicious Decadence of lives well lived, where giving to others is greater than giving to self, where loving brings more reward than being loved. Marketing the lifestyle of Christianity brings satisfaction and gratitude. The understanding of gratitude and when to be grateful brings the delicious satisfaction of knowing you can have the miracle of salvation, forgiveness and gratitude.

Just invite the savior into your life and experience the wonder.

Take Action

2010-02-06T12:05:00.000-08:00

Small actions add up to large results.

We all breathe the same air, we should all work to get and maintain it.

Will you please sign this petition and make your voice part of the record.

Thanks so very much

Bea Kunz

Take Action

The Chocolate Trade Off - Calories Be Gone

2010-02-05T07:31:00.000-08:00

Has it truly been over a year since I posted about Oris George sucking up chocolate cake, and Danielle threatened to out me if I tattled? My gosh, it's been a busy year.

In the past year, chocolate has become a reality in my diet (as if it wasn't already) and I've learned that I can have a piece of chocolate and still enjoy a healthy life. (Someone told me dark chocolate is good for the heart, so I've given up milk chocolate for the cause.)

But then, there's that other story --- you know, the one about "one moment on the lips, forever on the hips". Yeah, that story. I knew you'd remember. Well, in the past year, ole Oris gave up chocolate (almost) for a short period of time and lost most of his excess weight (he still has that ugly thing hanging over his shoulders though) and has gotten back his perty trim bod - looks like a 17 year old girl overdressed in khakis and a white Sunday go to meeting shirt most of the time. (But he don't wear pink!)

Meanwhile, the rest of us accepted the fact that we've eaten a lot of chocolate over the years and it's stuck back there on our butt cheeks. Until... Well, that's the trade off.

If you're going to live in a high rise in Denver, loving every minute of the LoDo life style, you'd better get your face out of the chocolate wrapper and your butt into some jiggly coins and a belly dancer skirt (according to my daughter the belly dancing virtuoso of motherhood). So, I caved. I figured if I was going to sink my teeth into the chocolate, I'd have to work it off somehow, and well... belly dancing looks like fun. Jiggling jiggly coins all over the place looks a whole lot better than a bowl full of belly jelly. Come on, Santa, let's do the belly dancing jiggle!

Oris --- if you find this and repost, I may have to hurt you!!!

And that, my friends is the stroll through the Nature Trails of Chocolate Trade Offs.

One Chocolate Addict Coming Up...

2009-01-17T07:58:00.000-08:00

I've always been accused of being a chocolate addict, but... I've met someone who out does me, time over, hands down, and still has a chocolate smudged face. Last night at dinner, Oris George was caught eying the chocolate cake, long before it was set on the table. Then with his long stick he got the first piece, Danielle cut her piece in half and gave it to him. Esther asked him if he wanted half of hers and Jan announced unabashedly, he ain't getting half of mine!

Suck ups! They're all out to impress the Writer, just because he has elodes of stories published in that danged ole Brayer Magazine. I'm sure there's a ploy there somewhere, he's just out to get more chocolate cake!

Oh, yeah, I got on here to write about the meeting last night...

A bunch of writers got together as they do the first and third Friday of each month and gathered around the table for food and writer information. We reviewed a new article about being a motivated writer (sometimes leaders must use the whip) and looked over the magazine that instigated the article. The thought of publishing a similar magazine occasionally came to mind... I'm seriously thinking we need to consider it. Everyone else got excited too.

Then we worked on the Internet on Danielle's site and Oris George's site, and I showed them around a couple of my sites.

SEO - Cyber-Chocolate "The Chocolate Drop" Marketing Concepts

2009-01-10T14:39:00.000-08:00

When I started seeking my marketing experience on the Internet, I looked for quick easy ways to promote my websites, market my information, and climb to the top of Google.com's search engine. The Chocolate Drop became my symbol of success.

A chocolate drop isn't too sweet, it's just sweet enough. It isn't too much chocolate, it's just the right amount. A chocolate drop isn't too little, it's just right. The chocolate drop is the perfect symbol for success, because it's enough of the right stuff.

How many chocolate drops do you get when you reach the top? Enough.

If you're operating a business online and seeking success from your business operation, you might want to seriously consider what you're looking at. What does success look like to you?

The Law of Attraction says it's an abundance of wealth. Chocolate Drop Marketing Concepts say, it's enough. Based on the concept of plenty, Chocolate Drop Marketing offers you ENOUGH.

Once you've got what you need, you'll want enough more to keep you comfortable. Enough can mean many things to different people, but to most it means plenty. It means enough. An abundance of any given object is enough to do as you wish with that object. The blessing of ENOUGH means you'll never do without, you'll always have plenty.

The folks at The Chocolate Drop wish you ENOUGH!

Chocolate Marketing Concepts

2009-01-06T09:48:00.000-08:00

Double Dipping - Chocolate “Article” Marketing Concepts Maximize Profits

Double dipping is often recognized as a negative thing. Nobody wants you dipping your bitten off celery back in the cream cheese, and if you’re a retired school employee working in education is simply taboo. But Double dipping with your article marketing endeavors is a different story.

Let me tell you how to maximize your profits with a successful double dipping strategy that makes each article you write do double or triple duty. These chocolaty rich marketing strategies are sure to bring profits to your business online.

250 Word Summary

This is a key concept. When you’re writing articles, you must have a key concept or principle for which you’re writing. That key can be written in a few words, say… 250 - 300 words, the short form. In this format you recognize your key points and identify the purpose of your article, add a resource box that invites the reader to your website for more information and exit the article with a copyright symbol and your contact information.

5 - 10 Step Article

Usually, the first article I write beyond the summary on any given topic has 5 - 10 steps in a list of specifics I intend to talk about throughout a series of sorts that culminates into a group of articles profoundly capable of becoming much more than just a traffic driving article. Each of these pentacle steps become article fodder that I use in various steps of double dipping the article.

400 - 700 Word Content

This article will be most readily found at the end of the link in your resource box, perhaps through a squeeze page, or some other quick identification grabbing page where your reader can sign into your Marketing List. After all, if they’re really interested in that little tidbit enough to sign up for more, they’ll really be interested in what you offer them every week.

1000 Word Report

Add in those nasty statistics and offer them to your readers at the end of the article at a penance of a price, so they can actually use the information in the article. You’re really not writing an additional 1000 words, but rather adding in specific statistics and details your reader needs to apply the information in your article. Once the details are added, you format the report with a key title and post it as a .PDF online so your readers can download it.

Collaboration Ebook

This step may be the final dip for an article, or a jumping off point, where the article becomes a superfluous and poignant part of my business. The summary becomes an introduction, the step-by-step articles become chapters, a 1000 word report becomes a prolific motivational page with viable directives for attaining great results from the concepts within. Your ebook is done. It’s a collaboration of the articles you wrote for publication on an ezine article distribution site, and your readers now have access to the finished project.

This ebook can be marketed to your Marketing List along with various other markets on the Internet. For more information about Marketing your Articles and Double Dipping for Maximized Profits, go to http://advertizeyourbusiness.com/ and get your FREE Article Marketing Templates.

© 2009 - http://janverhoeff.com/

Chocolate Marketing Splurge - Drenched in Decadence

2009-01-02T20:28:00.000-08:00

Drench your new year in decadent rich chocolate marketing splurges and capture the attention of your audience. The beguiling truth is your niche can't resist the sinful decadence of chocolate rich marketing concepts, and you absolutely MUST entice them in for indulgent wealth and abundance.

No, of course, it won't be difficult.

Simply give them a hint of flavor, a promise of fulfillment and they'll follow wherever you lead. The best part of decadent rich enticements is that you buying audience can't resist.

Do you still wonder how to captivate them for more than the traditional 8 seconds?

Try seductive mystery.

Oh yes, you will bring them to the table lush, with unequalled desire to be touched with the delicate flavor of chocolate, but... they'll be more than ready for the devouring demise by the time they arrive. We've all been there:

The aroma tantilizes our nose and we begin to feel the hunger. Even before we hear he gentle tones of violins sucking at the wind, we know, we're about to surrender. The flavor calls. We must follow wherever chocolate leads. No matter that we'll never experiece the elegant flavor of rich, decadent dark chocolate wealth, our desire alone brings the ultimate satisfaction. The thrill of the chase will bring us swilling to our knees to be devoured by whatever fate befalls us. Decadence, the sinful revelation of our own weakness. We know we can't resist the aroma, the hint of mystery that sucks us down into the swirling abyss to be consumed by --- marketing.

The reality is, we seldom purchase a product because we want the product. More often we purchase a product because the marketing of the product appealed to our sense of style, our desire to be popular, our sense of security or our weakness to say no to the decadence and sensual appeal of the products marketing.

Marketing is about creating a sense of need around a mystical value applied to the product we're selling. Once that mystical value appeals to the buyer, nothing more need be done to sell the product.

Desire sells. If you can create a desire, a deep seated NEED to feel the way the marketing makes your reader feel, your product will sell. JV Marketing Concepts shares the Secret that reveals FRESH marketing concepts that will work for your business.

Issue De ‘Quillo

2009-01-01T09:21:00.001-08:00

Here it is --- the happy new year thingie --- again! Just do it - give something back.

Literary Dysfunction - the Writer dilema

2008-12-06T07:30:00.000-08:00

Writers ROCK!

After the writers meeting last night, I returned home to listen to my son picking out some new tune on his guitar, until his pick gave way and the tip found a new place to reside. A broken guitar pick ended practice for the night. I bet there are now moms who will go bend the picks for peace and quiet!

I'm not one of them, but the quiet was blissful until the furnace screamed into the silence.

Our house at the moment resembles New Orleans after Kitrina swept through, moving and moving back and moving is getting redundant. But, the writer thing... That's what has me moving down the road this morning.

Oris Reed, the hot and ready backroads of yesterday writer who depicts mules as intelligent creatures and birds as low life renters on the fly, complained heartily about blogging. He says he's not very skilled at it. I say he's just not very dedicated to it. I think his skill will come with dedication.

During the meeting Ole Oris gathered up enough strength to share his thoughts about writing in 2009 and a few goals too. He's contemplative enough to share his thoughts and private enough to keep something a secret. I know he's got a book he wants to publish come April.

Danielle Simone had organization on her mind... Guess we need to give her a space to use that outlet of skill and talent? Pehaps a blog??? Danielle?? Then there was that sunset thingie... My gosh Danielle, I felt like I was looking out over the water and enjoying it with you. Thanks for sharing that.

Esther shared her thoughts on writing a few historic books about her family history and genealogy during the session.

Ava Betz is concentrating on just moving back with her husband after many years of living separately and maintaining separate careers. The Tom & Ava Betz duo is best noted for their publication of Tom's book in recent years The Fleagle Gang - Betrayed by a Fingerprint as well as many other publication endeavors.

Dan Minor, a newbie to the writing world, shared his new career options and information about a move to Craig, Colorado. He'll be sharing notions and ideas with us via the Internet, more than in person, after the move. We're all looking forward to hearing about his book and the progress he makes on it. I've read several parts of the book. Besides the fact that I tear up with emotion during many of the segments, I believe his book is a political statement our children need an opportunity to read. I'll be promoting it, when he gets it written.

As for myself and why this blog post is titled, Literary Dysfunction...

Last night after I arrived home, I was thinking about all the writing I do and how little of it is actually time sustainable, such as Literature. Dan's book will be a Literary Success because it makes a decided statement about peace and quality of life. But, what about my work?

While my writing is valuable and I know there's great quality in the content of my writing, it isn't Pulitzer Prize winning stuff. At least it hasn't been yet. But, I'm thinking about a book that might actually be Pulitzer Prize winning content. And yet, I'm wondering if that's my purpose for writing. Should it be an actual goal in my life, to write a Pulitzer?

Is my writing, though high quality, viable for Pulitzer Prize winning material, or do I write such mundane, daily content that it's just not valuable enough?

My dilema... Perhaps, but I believe more. I seriously consider some of what I write connected and viable, but... do others?

Make A Million Online

2008-11-02T00:52:00.000-07:00

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Optimize your site for maximum visibility and you'll gain momentum in the profit war, and earn more of your business results. Grab the opportunity to build your business to wealth potential never before realized.

Create your own phrases and maximize your business using keyword phrases. I'll tell you how at Make a Million Online.

Rebuilding the Decadence in Life

2008-08-30T05:38:00.000-07:00

When those tough moments come and you wonder why you're struggling, you might want to consider your values...

While reading a commentary on www.buttsaboutit.com I realized that in my own life, I struggle to maintain the love of God for others. My values are strong, and sometimes I become judgemental about the way others live. But... Is it really about them?

We are called to unconditional love. That doesn't mean we're always sweet, ignorant and easy to please. It does mean that we're always kind and loving when we face the enemy.

I'm thinking this moment about my wonderful grandbaby. I wouldn't dream of not being kind and loving to her, but I also would not dream of allowing her to step over the line and do something that would injure her. There are times when unconditional love means I tell her "No!"

Building a truly decadent life where you indulge in loving and sharing with others may mean you have to present and maintain a boundary. Can you do that? Can you tell your friend, "I love you, but what you're doing is wrong, and I can't condone it by being with you right now?"

Can you tell your children, "I love you, but I'm not going to allow you to pursue this line of action. You're grounded."

Can you tell your spouse, "I love you. I love you enough to tell you that what you're doing right now is dangerous to our relationship. Please stop."

What about changing your own behavior to correct your own errant issues?

A most decadent and enriching life will be one where you follow the rules and stay on the side of right, no matter what your friends do. You can literally love the sinner and hate the sin. Be kind and loving when you tell them their behavior is an abomination!

ACE Writers - Conference

2008-08-20T15:28:00.000-07:00

Sponsered by:
A.C.E. Writers
www.acewriters.com
Lamar, Colorado
Fall into Publishing
“Publishing for Profit”
Writers Conference
August 23, 2008
8 AM until 4 PM
Otero Junior College
Humanities 113, LaJunta, Colorado
Conference Room by Cafeteria
>> Sherry Lynn Allen
>> Tom Betz
>> Marcia Lynn McClure
>> Jan Verhoeff
>> W. Jackson Wilson, R.Ed.D.
$50.00 Per Person
$35.00 pre-registration by August 15th, 2008
Students & Seniors w/ID $35.00
Registration & Coffee Greetings 8 AM August 23, 2008
For more information CONTACT:
Jan Verhoeff Danielle Simone Oris Reed
719.336.4036 719.829.4987 719.336.2361

Decadent Wealth - Marketing Revelations Bring Profit

2008-07-29T16:22:00.000-07:00

Decadent Marketing offers Massive Opportunities for Wealth Generation

If you're still out there looking for ways to make money on the Internet, you've probably stumbled onto a few great ideas, but don't know how to get where you need to be to put them into action. It's easy! But you must have the right tools.

1. A NICHE

This is the biggest first step you must find. Get a niche that you like. Find what you really want to do and do that. If you don't like it, you won't do it.

2. Find Resources

Locate resources you can use on the Internet to build your business. These are important, because you'll need specific steps to get where you want to go.

3. Put together a plan you can follow.

Take steps today to put together a plan you can follow and do everything on your plan.

Visit Bill Clarke at PLUS Agenda for more information about building your market online.

Decadent Marketing

2008-06-20T09:58:00.000-07:00

5 Crazy Reasons You're Not RICH

1. You don't have the skills.

You probably think I'm better than you and have more skill. Nope. Isn't true. You do HAVE the skills you need to get filthy rich on the Internet.

2. You don't take action.

You probably think it's too much work and just don't have any desire to spend all your time online. Nope, it isn't too much work. You could be wealthy in about four hours a day for just three or four days a week.

3. You have no resources.

WRONG! You have everything it takes to make money online if you're reading this blog. Seriously, it's a FREE blog.

4. You're a virgin.

Sorry, no excuse. Even if this is the first time you've ever seen this website, you could be making money on the Internet in a few short hours if you really want to be making money online.

5. You don't know the shortcuts.

Now you do! Go to Monster Money Maker and sign up right now to get all the information you need to Start making money online.

Lethal Attraction - Stalk & Rescue

2008-05-22T07:35:00.000-07:00

Heading out to the dating game again?

Recently while discussing the dating process with a friend, he mentioned that he often feels stalked by women whom he's been dating. They don't know when to go away. I've had the same experience with men, so I decided to look up some references and see how that works. It's scary.

People really become so attached after a few dates that they believe they own you.

Because there's no statistical dating pool, there's no way to check percentages. But there's a high rate of stalking among the dating crew. Are you a victim of date stalking?

The process seems to be:

One or two dates and one realizes the two aren't compatible.
Contact is ended without an END to the relationship.
One person feels stilted and begins to stalk the other.
Stalking includes everything from visits to the job site to drive by views of the person's home.
Stalking can include phoning the person and constantly checking to see if they're home.

Some cases have gone so far as to visit the person while they were on dates with other people, telling them they can't get away with that, or they're abandoning a relationship. One gentleman explained that his stalker actually contacted his new girlfriend and began stalking her to stop them from dating.

Stalking is illegal.

There are companies who literally set out to rescue stalking victims, because stalking is such a prominent issue. Stalkers are dangerous. Don't allow the situation to get out of hand. Stop them in the early stage of the game. Call the police. Get protection.

Copywriting Genius - Eloquent Decadence

2007-12-31T09:09:00.001-08:00

Copywriting Success - 5 Decadent Steps to Successful Copywriting

You’ve probably noticed the lack of eloquence in the written word over the past year or so. It seems the language isn’t as decisive or clear as it once appeared to be. There’s something missing. But we keep reading, looking for the missing components, and wondering what happened to the beautiful language we used to read.

1. Essential Headline Points

Chocolate is decadent, rich, and exquisite. It melts on the tongue, and we know that because it’s brown, lavishly topped by a swirl, and the aroma is sweet. The headline of your article must equally display the contents. Use keywords that effectively describe what’s inside your articles.

2. Quality Sub Headings

Would you eat a decadent rich chocolate all in one single bite? No. Of course not! You nibble at the edge, test the flavor, then just as that delicate wealth of flavor sinks into the proclivity you call your soul, you plunge the last of it inside and allow it to flow over your tongue. Quality Sub Headings should give your reader the same high-impact, power-charged experience.

3. Use of Impact Sources

Words, oh glorious words? Have you ever wondered how we communicated without words? Eloquence spoken, engendered, and tuned to the music of our hearts with a decadent beat. Words say what we want to say. Use them. Take honor in honing your language and increasing your vocabulary. Sing them out and give them the importance of EXISTANCE.

4. Dance of Eloquence

Purple prose can be bad. Or it can be good. Why waste time writing if you can’t dance the language of eloquence? Give yourself room to share the beauty of what you’re writing. Allow your soul to dance, and give your heart away in the process. The Dance of Eloquence in writing is sharing the language, information, and knowledge you’ve gained. Let the words flow!

5. Get to the Point

With all of that, you’d think the writer might have missed the point of the show? Perhaps, the writer lost a few logic and detail oriented folks, or not. But… There are those who appreciate the use of the language and can better comprehend the point if it comes along with a dance of eloquence. But there must be a point to your articles. Get there, before you sign off.

Are you ready for the final gleaning of information?

Go to http://advertizeyourbusiness.com and claim your two FREE article marketing templates, sign up for a FREE Subscription to ADvertiZe and learn the value of words.

Jan Verhoeff teaches the power of words and emotions. Learn more at http://janverhoeff.com and share the excitement of accomplished written words.

Make Money Online - Decadent Marketing Concept!

2007-11-10T08:50:00.000-08:00

Brilliant! The decadent logic of making money while working from home in your bathrobe? Who came up with that idea?

A decadent luxury has been overlooked far too long. You too could be at home making money in your bathrobe. Shall we say multiple income leveraging?

But instead, there you are, wishing you had the aptitude to do something different while you force yourself to get up every morning , leave the kids, and go work the long days building someone else's empire. Woe is you!

Just click on the picture on the left, or visit my website at Secret of Prosperity and see if you can't come up with a dynamic solution for you work at home woes?

Fill out the form there and you'll get an email with a link to your FREE Gift. From me to you, a Money Making Offer you can't resist!

Make Your First Million - Find your Dream

2007-10-21T12:48:00.000-07:00

The choice to live your dreams may not be the easiest decision you'll make, but it's one you'll never regret. Often as we get older, we begin to realize that our biggest mistakes weren't in making more money, or not making it, but rather in not spending the time our children desired with them.

Do we have regrets? You bet we do. In those moments when we realize that we should have spent more time doing what would last the longest, and leaving those chores and busy hours to others.

But then, if we'd had the choice, we would have done that, right?

Find your dream.

The concept is real. But have you found your dream yet? Do you know what it is you want to do? Or that you should do? Or that if you know your dream... Are you living your dream?

We each have choices.

When we know our dream, we can write it down and live it - abundantly.

If you're looking for great ways to live your dreams, I have a few clues. Go to Find Your Dream, and sign in for a clearer look at your dreams.

Yes You can make Decadent MONEY Online

2007-10-02T00:06:00.000-07:00

When I first ran into this guy, I thought his exuberance was a bit much, but then I really listened to him talk. He talks in philosophic rhetoric, but most of the time, he's right on target. I love sharing a moment of passionate conversation with him. The realities that seem so real, often disappear behind the cloud of smoke he creates. And then he says something so profoundly accurate that I have to stand up and take notice...

About the time that OJ Simpson got away with murder, Bill Clarke's son Nathan took a bullet from a man who thought he too could get away with murder. Nathan took a bullet to save the man's wife. A sad moment, and one that changed Bill forever. He understood that life isn't forever, there's a day of finality for each of us. Suddenly, the meaning of life changed and he started seeing a future he hadn't been aware of before. The future of 'others'. I've spent long hours talking to Bill Clarke about his dreams, the big ones, the little ones, and all the in between dreams.

He wants to help others. While he loves the sound of change jingling in his pocket, he wants everyone to experience that sound. It's not the money, it's the ability to help others. Visit his website at http://billclarkedbaplus.com and see if you can't share the possibilities of helping others!

Cyber Chocolate - Decadent Marketing

2007-08-18T19:39:00.000-07:00

Have you gone the extra mile lately?

Cyber chocolate implicates the extra bit of essence, going an extra mile to find the delicate flavor of decadence, and marketing the concept of wealth. How could cyber chocolate have anything to do with marketing?

Easy. The more you desire from life, the more you're willing to give. Can you give enough to surpass the gift of God? No. But you can make the attempt, try and see how much you can give, with God standing there giving every bit of all you give back, ten fold.

The generosity of God presents a kind of wealth that gives you more than you've ever had an attempt to gain from any other source. How can you possibly out give God. Who has the univers at his disposal.

Cyber Chocolate - Decadent Marketing from a source that understands the value of Generosity.

Decadent Living in Colorado Heatwave

2007-08-16T16:07:00.000-07:00

In late summer, as hot August winds dry out the prairie grasses, the land appears to be parched and barren, however... In the blink of an eye, a thunderstorm rises up on the horizon and buffalo grass that appeared to be dead, lifts bright spires to the sky in honor of moisture that comes all too infrequently.

The magnificent beauty of the prairie brings a miracle of life to the earth, and a smile to the hearts of those who live here. Our experience of life understands the triumph of a gentle rain, blessing the land, and the struggle of drought.

Life isn't about the result, it's how you face the event.

Blogs being restored?

2007-08-12T14:53:00.000-07:00

Amazing - some of my blogs are back online, and working okay. I guess complaining to management really does work. I'm not sure if I'll get all of them back or not - but it was nice to see this one back online!

I'll be back to posting normal stuff in a day or so, hopefully they'll restore the rest of my blogs back to accepted status!

Jan

Fine Arts - Ray Charles

2007-08-03T04:39:00.000-07:00

I've never enjoyed any piece of artwork this much, and I love to paint. I'll have to work on this style! I love the drama he includes in this piece. Incredible!

I just can't get over how fast he painted this and how easily it appeared on the canvas.

Jan

Cyber Chocolate - 100 Important Things About Me

2007-07-31T18:34:00.000-07:00

Recently, I got a message from a friend telling me 100 things about her, and I thought it was kind of fun. So, here goes:

1. I have four children.
2. I'm a grandma.
3. I absolutely love dark esspresso chocolate.
3. I can't buy esspresso chocolate anywhere in my home town.
4. I enjoy driving mini-vans.
5. I love wildflowers and I have a field of them in my front yard.
6. My neighbor keeps calling my wildflowers weeds.
7. I prefer to dress in comfy slacks and pretty blouses.
8. I wear the same size I did in high school.
9. I wasn't very skinny in high school.
10. I love wearing lip gloss.
11. I don't really like make up.
12. I like wearing mineral face powder.
13. I love watching the sunrise from my office.
14. I can't see the sunset from my house.
15. I miss watching sunsets.
16. My favorite summer drink is iced white chocolate mocha with caramel.
17. I love decorating my home in old country florals.
18. My home is more modern than old country.
19. I have three address books.
20. I still remember my first boyfriend's birthdate.
21. I love to cook in large streamlined kitchens.
22. My favorite food is strawberry freezes.
23. I like the smell of English Leather Men's Cologne.
24. I love rosehip tea and oatmeal crumpets.
25. If I ever buy a sports car, it will be a Thunderbird.
26. I like my steak medium rare with extra salt and pepper.
27. I love baked potatoes smothered in butter, sour cream, salt, and pepper.
28. I like salad with crunchies and real bacon bits.
29. My favorite desert is Purgatory Pie and the only place you can get it is Bent's Old Fort Inn on the Arkansas River Bridge north of Las Animas.
30. I enjoy promoting my community (http://lamarco.us).
31. I have a HUGE collection of Webshots on my screensaver.
32. I'm part Cherokee Indian.
33. I'm mostly Irish and English.
34. I'm 100% American.
35. I love Pizza - any kind, any time, any place.
36. My favorite flower arrangement is yellow roses, purple statis, and baby's breath.
37. My favorite flowers are yellow roses.
38. I like eating raspberry filled white powdered donuts because they give me a powder mustache.
39. I love to write adventure stories for children.
40. My kids inspire my adventure stories.
41. I love chocolate almonds.
42. Listening to the locust brings pleasant childhood memories.
43. My cousin and I really did eat a whole gallon of strawberry icecream and recover the tank, so it looked full.
44. We weren't hiding in the chicken house, we were at my house reading books under the air conditioner.
45. When I started college, I didn't want a career, I wanted to get married.
46. After I got married, I wished I'd gone to law school.
47. I had terrible tastes in men.
48. I have a great boyfriend now.
49. I love visiting with old people.
50. My favorite music includes river dancing.
51. I can't river dance.
52. I love to polka.
53. No matter how hard I try, I can't keep the polka beat.
54. I love to sing gospel hymns.
55. I always wanted to play the piano.
56. I love folk music.
57. I can't swim.
58. My kids think I hate water.
59. I don't hate water, I just can't swim.
60. I admire Lorri Morgan-Ferrero.
61. If I had the money, I'd be a professional student.
62. I love to learn.
63. My favorite painting is Two Buttes.
64. I'm the artist.
65. One of my paintings once sold for $368,000.00.
66. I didn't own it when it sold.
67. I painted that painting when I was in high school.
68. I gave it as a housewarming gift to an Art Collector.
69. Somebody famous bought my painting.
70. I read really fast.
71. I usually read about two books a week.
72. Now, I often read ebooks instead of real books.
73. I prefer snow to sunshine.
74. I really like the rain.
75. I love to drive in the rain.
76. My favorite salad is fresh pasta with fresh tomato and basil tossed with olive oil.
77. I graduated in 1977 and 7 is my favorite number.
78. I like fried eggs and whole wheat toast for breakfast.
79. My favorite color is a shade of red just darker than scarlet.
80. I always wanted to visit Vermont in September.
81. I love Spring in Michigan.
82. My favorite view is the Rocky Mountains.
83. I love to hear the doves coo in the morning.
84. My best friend is a guy.
85. I home school my kids.
86. I love home schooling my kids.
87. I hated school.
88. I loved college.
89. Marvin was my favorite boss.
90. I hated the job.
91. I designed wedding gowns.
92. I love decorating.
93. I love designing.
94. I like chocolate almond caramel Ice Cream.
95. I prefer brownies with walnuts.
96. I like nuts on almost everything.
97. I used to do Chinese Fire Drills and never got caught.
98. I once changed clothes 14 times before I was ready to go on a date.
99. I prefer my cola with real lime in it.
100. I could listen to Sam all night long and all day and all night and all day...

Chocolate Elephants & other indulgences...

2007-07-29T03:52:00.000-07:00

Regaled by stories of yesteryear, the elephant resumed it's rightful place among the living, and the day was good...

I'm certain there are those among us who view the elephant differently than I, but I have my reasons. When I was about twelve, I received my first elephant, a delightful gray beast of burden with pink accents that I carried with me for about seven years, gathering all manner of autographs. Loretta Lynn signed my Elephant's right front leg. TG Sheppard signed his trunk. Tanya Tucker signed his butt (we were the same age and thought it was risque)! President Nixon laughted about the signature on my elephant's butt and signed the left side shoulder. President Jerry Ford signed the pink portion of his right ear. And Jerry Lewis signed his left front leg. Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash signed my elephant's back right leg. And he became a treasure I wasn't likely to misplace.

Elephants have long been a treasure for me to collect, and this particular elephant is no different. I had to have him - since he was chocolate, so here he is.

Don't Quit Your Day Job - Sandy Lender

2007-07-19T21:26:00.000-07:00

Sandy Lender Doesn't Recommend Quitting Your Day Job
Or...the joy and insanity of being a writer

By Sandy Lender, fantasy author

Northeast Missouri State University, now Truman University, prides itself on offering a liberal arts education to graduates. I got out in four years with a degree in English and a liberal arts education that has garnered me a 15-year career in magazine publishing and public relations/marketing, but my true passion, the "career" I've nurtured since I was about six years old, is writing. And I don't mean journalism. Yes, journalism and editing are what have paid the bills the past 15 years (and will continue to do so), but fiction writing...oh...fiction writing is what has kept me alive.

It's probably going to be the death of me.

Let me explain. If you're visiting this site, you've probably been drawn here by an interest in books or authors or a writer's lifestyle or something along those lines. Let me give it to you straight. All writers have a touch of insanity about us (this is normal). We usually carry a muse around with us, but this is not always by choice. We complain about characters fighting for their rights, refusing to conform to our wishes in a scene. We go on writing binges that keep us up until 3 a.m. before collapsing next to our computers just to get up and start typing again when the sun blazes in to wake us around 7, skipping meals, showers, potty breaks and phone calls until some aspect of reality forces us out of the writing cocoon. We will tear a room to shreds looking for a pen if an idea has just struck us. And woe to the fool who gets between us and a piece of paper when we get hold of that pen...

Because I've experienced the insanity described above, I've been lifted up by hearing stories of people who have enjoyed my first published novel, Choices Meant for Gods. Now I get to read comments on my Amazon.com page of people claiming Nigel Taiman is "by far" their favorite character, or "I want to be just like Chariss when I grow up," and I feel this lump of pride in my darlings rise in my throat.

That's the joy and insanity of being a writer. You pour your heart and soul into the work; and pray that someone out there likes it, too. Now here's the hard part. People have to read it to like it. They have to know it exists to read it. So you have to get it to them.

Enter the marketing and promoting aspect of the new author's job. I attended the ArcheBooks Publishing's Professional Novelist Workshop about two weeks before receiving my contract for Choices Meant for Gods, and had attended the Naples Press Club Writers Workshop the week before that, so I thought I had a pretty good idea of the marketing nightmare new authors faced. I was ready. Lay it on me, I thought.

Now I'm on the last day of a two-month online book tour I organized myself, contemplating repeating a moderately successful instore book signing at the local Barnes & Noble that I organized myself, and managing six blogs (including www.todaythedragonwins.blogspot.com) for the promotion of my fantasy novel that I've organized myself, preparing a spate of press releases I've written myself that I'll spew forth like water from an erupting sprinkler next week, etc. Do you see a trend there?

New authors are on their own. Unless you have the few thousand dollars it takes to hire a publicity firm/PR agency to send out press releases for you, you're on your own. I don't have a few thousand stray dollars and I don't trust people who charge less than professional rates to do a professional job.

I take hope in the fact that even J.K. Rowling was once in the same boat I'm in now. She was down to her last food stamp as the story goes when that fateful call came: Her little story about a boy named Harry Potter had been picked up. I've already had my call. Choices Meant for Gods is published and out there. Now I need my lottery winning event to propel me into J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter status, but, for right now, I'm going to just keep writing deep into the night and reading those fabulous e-mails that praise Nigel and Chariss. Because making a living at this would be nice, but, truly, the writing binges that result in someone singing Chariss's praises are the real joy and insanity of being a writer.

I'd like to thank my host today for posting this guest blog article. And I'd like to thank everyone who made the CMFG Online Book Tour the raging success it's been. You know that paragraph above where I said new authors are one their own? I'd like to correct that. We actually have each other. Without each of you, the name Sandy Lender wouldn't be all over the internet right now, and readers wouldn't be one click away from http://www.amazon.com/Choices-Meant-Gods-Sandy-Lender/dp/1595071652/ref=dp_return_1/104-9089752-5140754?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books&qid=1175821346&sr=8-1 to pick up my epic fantasy novel. And new author Sandy Lender is grateful to every one of you.

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."

Tags: sandy lender, fantasy author, northeast missouri state university, truman university, liberal arts, journalism, fiction writing, writer's life, muse, choices meant for gods, nigel taiman, marketing and promotion, archebooks publishing, professional novelist workshop, naples press club, online book tour, today the dragon wins, fantasy novel, j.k. rowling, harry potter

Making Friends is like melting chocolate - makes you feel all gooey

2007-05-08T19:16:00.000-07:00

Making Friends - 5 Ways to Meet New Kids When You Home School

Everyone always asks me if I get lonely when I home school, since I don’t have any friends. But, I think it’s a silly question, because I have a lot of friends.

This is my 5 favorite ways about how to make friends when you home school. I’m going to tell you, so you won’t have to worry if I have enough social time, or not.

Favorite Way #1: Be active in your community.

Get involved in stuff that happens in your town. Join the Arbor Society, or at least show up when you have a chance to plant trees, and then really help out. Work hard so they’ll call you and invite you to come the next time. People remember you when you work real hard.

Favorite Way #2: When there’s a crisis, offer to help.

When the Tornado struck Holly, Colorado earlier this month, I went to help out. I wanted to help people who lost their homes. I helped pack lunches, carried boxes of water, loaded up trash, and helped wipe off tables after the people ate breakfast. Their homes were destroyed and they really appreciated having good food to eat.

Favorite Way #3: Go to Church.

Go to church, get to know Christ as your personal Savior, and invite everyone you meet to come to church too. Get involved in youth group, go on missions trips, and go to camp. Enjoy the activities and take leadership roles whenever possible.

Favorite Way #5: Join Boy Scouts and become an Eagle Scout.

If you’re a guy, join Boy Scouts and take it seriously. When I’m wearing my uniform I take my pledge to help others seriously, then when I take my uniform off, I still help others, because it’s a good thing to do. I am active in events the Boy Scouts do, and I try to attend every event. Like one weekend, we went skiing, I had a great time with my friends, got some exercise, and learned to ski on Monarch.

Do you want to know more about how to make friends?

Or would you like to know how to write articles like this?

I learned in home school and I signed up for my Mom’s FREE ebook “5 Simple Ways to Write Your Own Ebook” and a FREE Subscription to her ezine at http://ebookinfo.cn and now I’m working on my first ebook “How To Make Friends When You Home School.” Stay tuned in to my blog at http://kentonverhoeff.blogspot.com and I’ll tell you when I get it done.

© 2007 - Kenton Verhoeff All rights reserved.

Presentation Marketing

2007-05-07T15:24:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day is coming up shortly, and Mom's are notoriously aware of the presentation.

Quite often the actual gift is far less important than just receiving it in a manner that says, "I love you!" Mom's like knowing you took time to think about them and wanted them to feel special.

I remember many times when my children were little, helping them to create a gift, and then offering the wrapping paper, the ribbons, and some help with the card. I have some of the gifts, especially those that were made by hand. But the cards they created and signed are in my keepsake box and only come out when I'm feeling sentimental. Those are the times when I take a few moments to just remember how much my babies cared, and how hard it was for them to write those big words, the ones that say how much they loved me.

This Mother's Day, give your mom a special gift. The gift of Presentation, by showing her how much you love her when you fill in the details.

One possibility, if you live a ways off from your mother?

An ebook, you create using pictures, letters, and messages you wrote yourself. Presentation Marketing can present your Mom with an Instant Keepsake she can print and read anytime.

Visit Ebook Info.cn for more information.

Chocolate Leaping Frogs!

2007-05-05T21:26:00.000-07:00

We've all heard of leaping lizards, but Chocolate Leaping Frogs?

Hummm...

I was cruising the net, and found this happy little fellow. I couldn't resist sharing him on the Chocolate Blog.

I'm still wondering what a chocolate frog tastes like?

But... Not enough to try a bite? You?

Orgasmic Chocolate Marketing

2007-05-04T08:35:00.000-07:00

Decadent Chocolate Marketing - 5 Flavors of Decadent Marketing Concepts for Chocolate Lovers

What does chocolate have to do with marketing? Everything! Don’t you know that rich wealthy flavor of chocolate is addicting and once you gain addiction levels with marketing, your product can’t be resisted.

Have you ever experienced something so incredibly decadently wonderful you had to eat it again, go there again, or just experience it again? Have you ever seen a picture or a word ad and known you had to go wherever you had to go to get what was in the picture or the word ad? It’s the decadence that brings you into an emotional connection with the object.

Flavor #1

Enticement. The lingering essence of sucking a buyer into your fold for purpose of selling them product or services. When you use enticement marketing, you draw the customer in by giving them a sensual experience that brings them joy. Have you ever seen a succulent orange with juice spurting from each bite? You can’t resist, you must have some of that orange.

Marketing Concept: Appeal to their View of Delicious

Flavor #2

Stimulating. The ability to stir up action from a distance making an appeal to senses that results in clear cut gravitational pull. When you awaken in the morning to the bitter aroma of coffee perking, you feel a desire to awaken and find the aroma. You can’t resist the aromatic enticement of a stimulating cup of coffee.

Marketing Concept: Appeal to their Sense of Desire

Flavor #3

Magnetic. The compulsive appeal that lures your customer to your corner of the market and keeps them coming back for more. When you bite into that orgasmic cappuccino brownie and taste the decadent wealth of flavors melded in sweet accord, you hear angels singing, the trumpet sounds, and you know you’ve just arrived at heaven’s glorious gates. You can’t resist another bite, so you order more, you keep them on hand, and you never allow them to disappear from your life.

Marketing Concept: Appeal to their Addictions.

Flavor #4

Loyalty. The power to enrich their lives and saturate their ultimate desires with fulfillment brings a customer back faithfully. When your customer realizes you have their best interests at heart and understands that all you do is for their benefit you create a sense of loyalty. Because you fill their needs and keep them happy, they love you, so they come back to you.

Marketing Concept: Appeal to their desire to be loved.

Flavor #5

Abundance. The wealth that transcends time with the supreme sense of prosperity and treasure. When you give them more than what they asked for, satisfy their craving for gifts, appreciation, and profusion, they remember that you satisfied their needs graciously and they come back for more. Because you gave more than they expected, they experience excessive joy and return for more of those good feelings.

Marketing Concept: Appeal to their desire for excess.

Are you ready to capture your market with decadent grandeur?

You too can discover the wealth of excess with a FREE Subscription to The Chocolate Drop at http://chocolatemarketingconcepts.com, where Decadent Marketing Concepts reveal a wealth of information and ideas.

© 2007 - Jan Verhoeff. All rights reserved.

Silence, the Secret of Love

2007-05-01T17:10:00.000-07:00

The Secret.

From the Depths of Love a Secret prevails. When I seek to understand the ways of those who twist words and behaviors against me, their words like swords, slicing into my heart. Words of humble intentions were meaningless, when the behavior spoke of other intentions.

Anxiously, I looked for solutions, wondering how I could repair my part of a bad situation. No matter what I said or did at that point, there was no solution. I could only forgive and let go.

Occasionally, God gives us His answer to a prayer in ways we haven't thought about, and may not understand. When our good intentions go bad and become twisted by ill-meaning folks who have chosen to shatter a life due to their own selfish issues, silence is often the most effective answer.

I've learned that defending myself against people who have already formed opinions about me is useless. Rarely does a true opportunity to speak truth in these situastions happen, for the most part, God calls me to silence. Most often, gossip is simply maligning of an individual like a bunch of chickens attacking and pecking.

Therefore, silence is the most effective and valuable response.

Jesus, the God of the Universe, stood silent before His accusers. Silence is trust, that He alone is my defender.

No matter what one says, if someone has a negative opinion of you, you can't change anything.

My reward is in Heaven. I know that God will bless me, His child, even if I'm misunderstood ro maligned here. God sees and hears. He will bless my silence.

It's a Chocolate World - Sell It Decadently

2007-04-30T05:58:00.000-07:00

American's Love Affair with Chocolate
By Margene Petersen

You slowly unwrap a chocolate bar. Your mouth starts watering in anticipation. You place the piece of chocolate on your tongue as your eyes close. It begins to melt, giving your mind and body a wonderful sensation. Chocolate has the power to captivate like no other food.

Chocolate cravers need not fear death by chocolate. Chocolate cravers and chocoholics will be pleased to learn that there is a place for it in healthy eating patterns.

Chocolate's scientific name is Theobroma cacao ~ food of the gods. Studies show that Americans consumed over 3 billion pounds of chocolate which totaled $15 billion in sales last year. Americans spent $1.09 billion on chocolate this Valentine's Day. More than 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate were sold this year for Valentine's Day.

*71% of North American chocolate eaters prefer milk chocolate.

*22% of all chocolate consumption takes place between 8 pm and midnight.

*More chocolate is consumed in the winter than any other season.

*Today, Americans eat an average of 12 pounds of chocolate per person per year.

Recent studies have shown that cocoa or dark chocolate has potent health benefits for people. Dark chocolate is full of flavonoids and garlic acid, which are antioxidants that help protect blood vessels, promote cardiac health, and prevent cancer. It also has been effectively demonstrated to counteract mild hypertension. In fact, dark chocolate has more flavonoids than any other antioxidant-rich food such as red wine, green and black teas and blueberries.

This great news does not give us a license to consume as much dark chocolate as we'd like. Chocolate is also a calorie-rich food, with a high content of saturated fat, so daily intake of chocolate also requires reducing caloric intake of other foods. There is currently no established serving size of chocolate to reap the benefits. However, what is known is that you no longer need to feel guilty while enjoying a little bit of heaven.

How easily it seduces. How readily we succumb. A glimpse, a sniff, a flash of pleasures past, and all resistance melts ... we reach for another piece of chocolate.

My Chocolate Favors offers a large selection of unique and personalized chocolate wedding and party favors. Our specialty is personalized chocolate photos - your favorite photo printed right on the surface of delicious chocolate.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Margene_Petersen
http://EzineArticles.com/?Americans-Love-Affair-with-Chocolate&id=511290

Cherish the Moments of Success

2007-04-19T17:38:00.000-07:00

Dark Chocolate - Cherish the Moments of Success
By Jan Verhoeff

In the rush to accomplish more, we often forget to appreciate our successes. Dark Chocolate offers a moment to revel in the lush flavor of rich decadent chocolate. In much the same way, each successful moment in our journey to achieve should offer a reprieve from hard work and effort.

1. Take a Moment to plan your day.

Early morning offers a prime opportunity to take a break, recognize your successes, and plan for your accomplishments. Cherish a morsel of success with your favorite hot drink, and motivate yourself with enthusiasm.

2. Check your Future.

Are you on target? Do you need to adjust your goals and your to do list to acknowledge your achievements to this point? If you’re on target - Wooohooo - have some more chocolate! If not, adjust that schedule and make room for more abundance in your life.

3. Revel in your Success.

Now that you know, take a moment to visualize your success. A few seconds to accept what you’ve already received and a few more moments to allow yourself to receive what is coming. Open up the marketing gateway and just expand your horizons to hold all those successes and achievements.

4. Be Grateful.

This is the time to be grateful for what you’ve accomplished, received, and see coming. Each moment, remember to be grateful and appreciative of the miracle you experience. Blessings are not rare, but they are precious.

5. Share the Wealth

So often we see people who have achieved their goals and they sit up there on the summit all alone. It’s okay to share your accomplishments, tell your friends and encourage them to celebrate with you. You might even invite them to celebrate at your cost.

The Dark Chocolate of your life should be celebrated, savored, and shared.

Claim your award, a FREE Subscription to The Chocolate Drop at

Forgivable Wickedness

2007-04-13T07:19:00.000-07:00

Forgivable Wickedness - How Can You Not Marketing Your Business

By Jan Verhoeff

We’ve all had those moments when we forget to say something about our business. Ooops! We missed a grand opportunity to invite a new customer, or remind an old customer of some wonderful new delicacy we wanted to share with them.

You now have an opportunity to make a difference and do something about those oversights we’ll refer to as forgivable wickedness. Provided you promise to dip your fingers in the chocolate forgiveness and lick the delicious decadence off, while you exercise your marketing expertise in the future.

1) Gorge Yourself on Marketing Delicacies

Know your company. What do you do? Write it down. Edit your information until you develop a savory tidbit of RICH Chocolate Decadence you MUST share about your company. Most Marketers refer to this Delightful Morsel as an Elevator Speech. Must we?

2) Never Hide the Evidence of your Indulgences

Do NOT lick that mustache! While others may accuse you of Blatant Advertizing, and NOT so sweetly, at Chocolate Marketing Concepts your self indulgent behavior is rewarded with more Rich Dark Chocolate. Display the results of your effort proudly. Advertize!

3) Identify the Aroma

Before it even loses the wrapper, the sweet aroma of rich dark chocolate has be licking my lips and drooling in anticipation. The best chocolates always have elegant gold wrapping. Brand your business with elegance and repose in the luxury of success. There’s nothing wrong with glitter and glimmer! Elegance and grace go hand in hand with the Rich delicate flavor of darkest chocolate. Compare and Brand your Market with luxury.

4) Use Temptation

You’ve been there, standing at the counter, about to check out, and that gold wrapped dark chocolate coin is calling your name, tempting you to buy “just one”. Dazzle your customers with temptation. Just a morsel of indulgence wrapped in glitter, waiting for them at the check out counter. Don’t let them leave without just one more item. Some call it up selling.

5) Bring them back for more.

Make your product irresistible so they’ll come back for more. Remember the seven layer chocolate cheese cake that you could only eat four bites of, because it was so rich and sweet, but you desire another piece. You dream of Seven Layer Chocolate Cheese Cake. You want it. You know you can’t resist. Do you go back and get another piece, and take a friend to share it? Of course you do. Make your products and service irresistible! Give them more than they expected, and bring them back for more - with friends.

If you desire the forgivable wickedness of Decadent Chocolate Marketing Concepts - get your morsel of The Chocolate Drop - FREE at http://chocolatemarketingconcepts.com

© 2007 - Jan Verhoeff

Newly Established - Chocolate

2007-04-11T08:50:00.000-07:00

Decadent solutions to Internet Marketing issues based on solid profit principles of results-oriented marketing are found on this site. While the dark chocolate you know and love may be an affordable luxury, marketing your business online in today's growing world of Internet Marketing Strategies is required. What was a forgivable wickedness (not marketing your business) in yesterday's world of main street business centers where everyone walked past your market place, is today’s regrettable sin. Marketing your business requires an online presence with stability, longevity, and resources.

See Chocolate Marketing Concepts for more information.

Decadent Marketing Concepts - Article Marketing For Maximum Wealth

2007-03-28T21:13:00.000-07:00

Decadent Marketing Concepts revealed with the Orgasmic Pleasure of Rich Dark Chocolate are available at the Secret to Prosperity for FREE!

Yes, you read that right, CLAIM your FREE Subscription to The Secret To Prosperity Ezine and get your FREE COPY of the 3-Part Traffic Generating Report at Secret to Prosperity.

Using Web Content Marketing you can build a quality List and generate massive wealth building potential and I will share with you the SECRET!

Visit Secret to Prosperity Today!

Generate Traffic - Wealth Building Tips from Secret To Prosperity

2007-03-28T21:06:00.000-07:00

Where can you get a wealth of information, decadent marketing concepts, and an abundance of prosperity? The Secret to Prosperity of course!

If you're wondering how to make money online, let me show you with detailed tips that will bring prosperity to your door. Profound results come from minimum effort when you know the Secret to Prosperity.

Gain valuable information from FREE Promotional Ebooks that present added value training and ideas.

Go to Secret to Prosperity and claim your FREE Subscription to The Secret To Prosperity Ezine and FREE 3-Part Traffic Generating Report. You'll get more than you ever knew existed, just click here!

Chocolate Fudge Bars

2007-03-26T21:05:00.000-07:00

Not often do I find a local grocery store product that wrinkles my brow to the point that I comment on it, but this one did.

My son brought home a treat today, Weight Watchers Chocolate Fudge Bars. These were the creamiest most delicious ice cream bars I've had in years. Now, I'm particularly fond of the icy fudge bars, because I like the texture, but the creaminess of these captured my interest. I really and truly enjoyed licking the drips off and eating the mind numbing chocolaty bar.

Colorado is getting hot, after that round of snow all winter, and it's nice to have a cold treat when the weather gets warm. I'll be buying more of these chocolate dreams!

Roses, Tea Cups, and Chocolate

2007-02-28T12:07:00.000-08:00

Are you looking for a simple elegant gift?

Click on the photo at left, or the link Roses and Tea Cups for an elegantly simple gift for any occasion. Send one of these magnificent cups along with some Orgasmic Chocolate Brownies and you'll have a sure win extravagant gift for the one you care most about.

An idea for combining chocolate and tea, happened recently when a good friend of mine asked if we could have an Easter Tea Party for the girls in our church. All twenty of the wonderfully creative and talented young ladies who make up our youth group have made tremendous strides over the past year, and the ladies of our church wanted to honor them in some special way.

I started out searching the Internet for ways to celebrate and honor, offering something delicate and new to the usual options. When tea parties came up, I remembered my friend Nancy and her wonderful assortment of tea cups, and party services. So, I started searching her site. Lucky me, I found some of my other favorites there too.

Miss Gloria's Little Taste of Italy appeared on the party page, along with Ann Zuccardie's Vermont Shortbreads. We won't be lacking for gift ideas for the party, or wonderfully delicious delicacies to share.

Now to get those invitations sent!

Chocolate Marketing: Passionate Strategies

2007-02-25T08:18:00.000-08:00

I Love Chocolate Marketing Concepts: Passionate Invigorating Strategies Bring Satisfying Prosperity
By Jan Verhoeff

Decadent! Positively sinful, delicious chocolate offers a marketing concept that rocks the road to wealth and prosperity. When you get passionate about marketing your product, you share the flavor and concept with valuable clients and consumers, bringing them closer to the brink of exposure to your delicious treasure.

I love chocolate because it soothes the soul.

The rich decadent flavor of chocolate brings satisfaction to new highs with adrenaline increasing snap. The simple joy of chocolate enriches life. It is impossible to nibble on chocolate and feel sad or bad about your life and who you are. Chocolate brings a wealth of energy to your life. The value of good chocolate is immeasurable.

I love marketing because it breaths life into business.

Marketing reveals the value of a product or service. When you put together a marketing plan for your business and set out to fulfill that plan, you gain ground and find success. Marketing is the wealth of activity that brings prosperity to your business. The value of marketing your business is measurable in profits.

I love productive concepts because they breed enthusiasm.

Concepts encapsulate an idea making it viable and useful. With conceptual understanding of any idea comes distinct steps set into action that will enable you to achieve a goal at the end of the project. As concepts develop, enthusiasm grows and we become passionate about a project, giving wings of flight to the energy necessary for accomplishment. Concepts bring measurable profitability to your business.

Chocolate marketing concepts enrich the presentation of a product or service, creating dynamic energy in a paradigm of success. If you want to succeed abundantly, add chocolate marketing concepts to your visualization of success. The energy gained will rock your business strategies with triumph.

Chocolate Marketing Concepts envelop more than just food. These concepts breath life into the Marketing Dynamics presented by Marketing Guru, Jan Verhoeff. Visit http://brandyourmarket.com for more valuable marketing ideas and methods to promote your business with Chocolate Rich Enthusiasm.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jan_Verhoeff
http://EzineArticles.com/?I-Love-Chocolate-Marketing-Concepts:-Passionate-Invigorating-Strategies-Bring-Satisfying-Prosperity&id=437616

Looking for a Career - Take a Gander at this...

2007-02-24T20:06:00.000-08:00

Recently, I was asked to review a site online and found it quite interesting. So much content, detail, and information all sprinkled with valuable links and ideas. I was amazed at the value in a beginner site, and yet, thrilled by the depth of thought put into this site.

Occasionally, a site just works well, and this one works well for me.

Check it out and see what you think.

Paralegal Secretary

Soft Whispers...

2007-02-24T00:55:00.000-08:00

When you really want someone's attention, whisper.

It's long been a fact that the squeeky wheel gets the oil, but rarely the attention. As years of living have taught me, it's the one who quiets in the moment, waits for the opportunity and whispers who has the undivided attention of those around. That's also the person who truly has something to say.

Those who crank the loudest rarely have anything of value to exchange, they simply make noise because they want attention and demand you notice them. Their purpose is selfish and lacks value.

And yet...

The value of notice can be an achievement.

Recently, I became part of a group joining in and participating in the fun, and it was a popular position. But then, slowly, one member of the group became demanding and self oriented. When I stepped back long enough to watch, I realized the self centered issues this person spouted were rarely of any value for the rest of the group. A leader? No, simply the loudest member of the group. I'd aligned myself with one who cranked a lot, but rarely accomplished much on her own. She depended on others to accomplish for her while she took the credit.

Leadership brings along a valuable portion of responsibility. If you can't carry your own load, don't attempt the position.

The value of leadership is in the direction of travel. When you forget where you're going, and the leader of the pack isn't taking you where you want to go, there's something wrong. Fix it.

Slow down long enough to redirect, refocus, find your direction again and shift gears to move steadily in the direction that will meet your goals. When you're going the right direction in life, your momentum will take you there, you won't need the squeeky wheel.

Be sure the light of your focus is the true source of reality rather than a meer reflection of what you seek.

A Marriage Proposal To Share

2007-02-20T13:30:00.000-08:00

When I saw this proposal I had to share it here. What a wealth of affluence and abundance this is!

This proposal cost $2.5M and girls really do just wanna be loved!

Daycare Income Stream Ideas

2007-02-06T11:10:00.000-08:00

Maximize Daycare Income: Blog Daycare Activities, Menus, & Mom Tips For Passive Income

By Jan Verhoeff

When you run a daycare at home, you may think you’ve maxed out your time and effort, but - have you?

Every day you plan a daycare menu, child activities, and offer Mom’s tips for making the most of parenting time, because you have experience in those areas. Why not share your daycare experiences and have additional income?

Blog your daycare experiences, run an online forum for parents, and design a website with Tips for Mom’s and Toddlers, or After School Plans and make a bundle from your efforts with passive income streams. Use your daily child-loved meal plans as pages on your website, or blog the craziest stunt your most recently acquired two year old attempted, and you’ve got a winning site with frequent visitor miles.

When you share your day online, other moms become part of your community and you make a buck or two from an alternative source of business. The day is good. Your active income from running a daycare may only make a few dollars a day with all the deductions, but your alternative income streams may bring you a hundred dollars or more, depending on what kind of income streams you include.

You can Maximize your Daycare Income by sharing what you do, increasing your visibility, and making a name for yourself as an expert in your field of child care.

The daily events that make you laugh with joy or cry tears of distress can bring you fame and additional income if you blog it.

When you share your expert knowledge with other daycare moms through a forum, or website, you can offer benefits and bonuses that bring them more income options. Your ideas become valuable and people begin to look for your words of wisdom.

Jan Verhoeff enjoys additional Spring Income from operating a Tax Consulting Business from her home in Southeastern Colorado. IF you’re looking for information, need help with online filing, or just want to discuss your tax prep with a professional, Jan offers hourly consulting fees at reasonable rates. Or you may search http://taxprep101.blogspot.com for Tax Advice and Information at no cost to you.

If you choose to develop your business with additional income streams, Jan Verhoeff can help. Visit http://brandyourmarket.com for more information about business development and branding your market.

Rearranging the office ... Fun

2007-02-05T11:51:00.000-08:00

It's not all together, but it's getting there. Between tax clients, and new equipment arriving daily, the office is coming together. The secretary starts in a couple of weeks, and her office is almost complete.

Excitement runs over. And life is good - even in the snow!

Chocolate Marketing Concepts

2007-01-31T10:14:00.000-08:00

I Love Chocolate Marketing Concepts

Decadent! Positively sinful, delicious chocolate offers a marketing concept that rocks the road to wealth and prosperity. When you get passionate about marketing your product, you share the flavor and concept with valuable clients and consumers, bringing them closer to the brink of exposure to your delicious treasure.

I love chocolate because it soothes the soul.

The rich decadent flavor of chocolate brings satisfaction to new highs with adrenaline increasing snap. The simple joy of chocolate enriches life. It is impossible to nibble on chocolate and feel sad or bad about your life and who you are. Chocolate brings a wealth of energy to your life. The value of good chocolate is immeasurable.

I love marketing because it breaths life into business.

Marketing reveals the value of a product or service. When you put together a marketing plan for your business and set out to fulfill that plan, you gain ground and find success. Marketing is the wealth of activity that brings prosperity to your business. The value of marketing your business is measurable in profits.

I love productive concepts because they breed enthusiasm.

Concepts encapsulate an idea making it viable and useful. With conceptual understanding of any idea comes distinct steps set into action that will enable you to achieve a goal at the end of the project. As concepts develop, enthusiasm grows and we become passionate about a project, giving wings of flight to the energy necessary for accomplishment. Concepts bring measurable profitability to your business.

Chocolate marketing concepts enrich the presentation of a product or service, creating dynamic energy in a paradigm of success. If you want to succeed abundantly, add chocolate marketing concepts to your visualization of success. The energy gained will rock your business strategies with triumph.

Chocolate Marketing Concepts envelop more than just food. These concepts breath life into the Marketing Dynamics presented by Marketing Guru, Jan Verhoeff. Visit http://brandyourmarket.com for more valuable marketing ideas and methods to promote your business with Chocolate Rich Enthusiasm.

Yep, my day was better than that...

2007-01-30T11:07:00.000-08:00

SO, HOW DID YOU BREAK YOUR ARM?

Even if you aren't a skier, you'll be able to appreciate the humor of the
slopes as written by a New Orleans paper:

A friend just got back from a holiday skiing trip to Utah with the kind of
story that warms the cockles of anybody's heart.

Conditions were perfect...12 below, no feeling in the toes, basic numbness
all over...the "Tell me when we're having fun" kind of day.

One of the women in the group complained to her husband that she was in dire
need of a rest room. He told her not to worry, that he was sure there was
relief waiting at the top of the lift in the form of a powder room for female
skiers in distress. He was wrong, of course, and the pain did not go away. If
you've ever had nature hit its panic button in you, then you know that a
temperature of 12 below doesn't help matters. With time running out, the woman
weighed her options. Her husband, picking up on the intensity of the pain,
suggested that since she was wearing an all-white ski outfit, she should go off
in the woods and no one would even notice. He assured her, "The white will
provide more than adequate camouflage."

So she headed for the tree line, began lowering her ski pants and proceeded
to do her thing. If you've ever parked on the side of a slope, then you know
there is a right way and wrong way to
set your skis so you don't move.

Yup, you got it!!! She had them positioned the wrong way. Steep slopes are
not forgiving...even during the most embarrassing moments. Without warning,
the woman found herself skiing backward, out-of-control, racing through the
trees...somehow missing all of them and onto another slope. Her derriere and the
reverse side were still bare, her pants; down around her knees, and she was
picking up speed all the while. She continued backwards, totally
out-of-control, creating an unusual vista for the other skiers. The woman skied back
under the lift and finally collided violently with a pylon.

The bad news was that she broke her arm and was unable to pull up her ski
pants. At long last her husband arrived, putting an end to her nudie show, then
summoned the ski patrol. They transported
her to a hospital.

While in the emergency room, a man with an obviously broken leg was put in
the bed next to hers. "So, how'd you break your leg?" she asked, making small
talk. "It was the stupidest thing you ever
saw," he said. "I was riding up this ski lift and suddenly, I couldn't
believe my eyes! There was this crazy woman skiing backward, out-of-control, down
the mountain, with her bare bottom hanging out of her pants. I leaned over to
get a better look and fell out of the lift." .....

So, how'd you break your arm?

Orgasmic Chocolate --- Cards have fewer calories!

2007-01-25T09:53:00.000-08:00

Chocolate - An Aphrodisiac or Better Than Sex?
By Patricia Fason

The saying may go, "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach", but what about women? It is a long standing tradition to present a woman with a box of chocolate as a romantic gesture. Is it simply because women love chocolate or does the root of this tradition go deeper? Curiosity led me to do some research on the subject and here is what I found.

First of all I wanted to know if chocolate was truly an aphrodisiac. An aphrodisiac is reputed to "put you in the mood for love" and the name comes from the Greek goddess of love Aphrodite. It is possible that the aphrodisiacal qualities come from our own mindset and expectations. First of all, we get a certain amount of pleasure from consuming chocolate. For one, the melting point of chocolate is slightly below human body temperature so it melts in your mouth. That in itself is a stimulating experience but what about the substances found in chocolate? And what are the roots of chocolate as an aphrodisiac in history? I found a lot of useful information but as you would expect, I found conflicting arguments on whether or not it is an aphrodisiac, so I decided to come to my own conclusion and I urge you to do the same.

One report said that the Aztecs considered all chocolate an aphrodisiac. Because of this, all foods made with chocolate were strictly forbidden to women. However, another report stated that the Aztecs and Mayans were the first to recognize the potency of this food, celebrating the harvest with festivals of wild orgies. I guess both could be true (and may be) but it seems to me that if they were having wild orgies, they would want the women to eat it. I don't know, that's just my opinion, but in either case, the Aztecs apparently considered it an aphrodisiac.

There are people throughout history who also believed in the stimulating qualities of chocolate. In 1624 Johan Franciscus Rauch, a professor in Vienna, condemned chocolate as an inflamer of passions and urged monks not to drink it as he wanted to ban it in the monasteries. It is said that Madame du Barry, courtesan and mistress of Louis XV, always served her lovers a cup of chocolat before they were let in to her bedroom, and that the great lover and alchemist Casanova, who drank his cioccolata at Cafe Florian in Venice, considered chocolate more stimulating than champagne and called it the "elixir of love". Montezuma supposedly drank a cup of chocolate before entering his harem.

Ok, I am convinced that people in history have found chocolate to be an aphrodisiac, but why? Chocolate contains phenylethylamine, a naturally occurring amino-acid which some consider to have aphrodisiacal effects and is even said to be able to "cure" hangovers. Phenylethylamine is a substance which is released naturally in the human body when you're in love. Other stimulants present in chocolate are dopamine and serotonin, which alleviate pain and encourage a good mood. Serotonin produces feelings of pleasure in a similar way to sunlight. Chocolate also contains theobromine, a chemical stimulant frequently confused with caffeine, but has very different effects on the human body. It is a mild, lasting stimulant with a mood improving effect. Its presence is one of the causes for chocolate's mood-elevating effects. (Note - In chocolate, theobromine exists in doses that are safe for humans to consume in large quantities, but can be lethal for animals such as dogs and horses, as they metabolize theobromine more slowly.)

Wow, no wonder I love it so much! What more does a person need than a mood elevating, stimulating, pleasurable, not to mention, great tasting, experience? I must mention, however, that some sources state that there is no evidence of chocolate having a true aphrodisiac effect. My opinion, who cares? With all that happening, if it doesn't put you in the mood, it won't take much encouragement to get you there. Excuse me, I seem to be craving some chocolate......

Patricia Fason is a writer and poet whose main focus is relationships. To read more of her work, visit Sites O Web Romances You. There you will find relationship articles, poetry, romantic gifts and other tools to keep romance alive in your relationship.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patricia_Fason
http://EzineArticles.com/?Chocolate---An-Aphrodisiac-or-Better-Than-Sex?&id=70876

Rocky Road Chocolate Cake?

2007-01-25T09:44:00.000-08:00

Bring On The Chocolate Cake!
By Michelle Bery

When it comes to celebrating, food plays a critical and cross-cultural role. While it may consist of different cuisine depending on where you go, the meal around which families and friends gather unites the world on common ground. Different food comes to mean different things – a holiday meal, a weekly favorite, or a family recipe. But when it comes to celebrating sweetly – especially in the United States – nothing beats a chocolate cake.

For chocolate cake connoisseurs the preferences are as unique as the people themselves – chocolate cake frosted with vanilla icing, chocolate icing, whip cream, you name it. Each family may have a special recipe handed down from generation to generation or a favorite bakery where the chocolate cake can’t be missed. Today’s ever-increasing popularity of chocolate cake would surely have been a surprise to those who first attempted its creation.

The making of cakes in a general nature began shortly after flour was discovered. The recipe then was much less sweet than it is today – displaying more of a bread-like quality. Initially, added to the flour, were milk and yeast; honey or dried fruit were added to sweeten the mixture. Today, eggs are most often used in place of yeast, and, of course, sugar has become our sweetener of choice. Making cake prior to the Industrial Revolution was a complicated and pricey process. But with the advent of mass produced ingredients, cake making became affordable and easy for all levels of bakers.

Chocolate cake was first seen in the United States, the recipe for which was submitted to a Dallas, Texas newspaper in 1957. This particular recipe called for Baker’s German’s Sweet Chocolate which is how the chocolate cake received its name. The response to the printed recipe was immediate and astounding.

Today, the variations to this original recipe number into the thousands, with families adding their own special additions throughout the years. The advent of the boxed chocolate cake has given hope to elementary bakers everywhere whose only responsibility is to add egg and oil and bake. Even still, the most delicious of chocolate cake is that which originates in the homes of our families.

And regardless of whether the recipe calls for icing, nuts, or a variety of other ingredients, the truth remains that chocolate cake is just as popular as ever, starring in birthday parties and celebrations throughout the world.

For easy to understand, in depth information about chocolate visit our ezGuide 2 Chocolate.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michelle_Bery
http://EzineArticles.com/?Bring-On-The-Chocolate-Cake!&id=415070

Chocolate Satisfaction

2007-01-25T09:41:00.000-08:00

Chocolate-Sweet Ambrosia
By Terry Kaufman

Chocolate, sweet chocolate, the most sublime of tastes. Whatever other edible delicacies may tease our senses of taste and smell, I cannot think of a single one that has the power to lure as does chocolate.

There are several different tastes of chocolate. People have their personal preferences and will stand strong in their beliefs. Some of these forms of chocolate are as follows:

CHOCOLATE LIQUOR is made by grinding the center of the roasted cocoa bean (nib) to a smooth liquid known as chocolate liquor. After cooling, the chocolate liquor is molded into blocks known as unsweetened BAKING CHOCOLATE. There is approximately 53% cocoa butter in the liquor and blocks. Baking chocolate has no sugar but vanilla is sometimes used as a flavoring. Baking chocolate also goes by the name of BITTER CHOCOLATE.

SWEET or DARK CHOCOLATE is a generic name for chocolate with 15% to 35% chocolate liquor. It has a maximum of 12% milk solids. Cocoa butter, sugar, and vanilla are added as the beans come from the grinding mill. BITTERSWEET and SEMISWEET CHOCOLATE belong to this category. There must be a minimum of at least 35% chocolate liquor. Fat content is around 27%. Its flavor ranges from fruity to earthy with barely any milk or dairy flavor. The flavor is determined more by bean blend than its dairy components.

BITTERSWEET or SEMISWEET CHOCOLATE is the darkest of chocolate meant for eating. It has the highest percentage of chocolate liquor, at least 35%, with additional cocoa butter for easier melting. As above, flavor is more dependent upon the cocoa bean blend. This is my personal favorite of all categories of chocolate.

MILK CHOCOLATE is the most common taste of chocolate for consumption, consisting of chocolate liquor into which cocoa butter, milk, sweeteners, and flavorings have been added. It has minimums of at least 10% chocolate liquor and 12% milk solids with a strong milk and/or caramelized flavor. It is generally used for garnishes and candy coating.

COCOA is the powdery remains of chocolate liquor. Most of the cocoa butter is removed, making for the least fatty form of chocolate. Cocoa includes dutched chocolate. Its colors run the gamut from light tan to red to black.

DUTCH CHOCOLATE, in its chocolate liquor or cocoa powder forms, is treated with an approved alkalizing agent so that its color, flavor, and dispersability in liquids are modified. If it is given extreme treatments it will turn to a black cocoa powder.

CHOCOLATE FLAVORED COATING consists of vegetable fats other than cocoa butter that are blended in with cocoa powder. Like many chocolate products, chocolate flavored coating uses sugar, milk, and flavorings. The use of fats other than cocoa butter enables lower production expenses. On the other hand, it is easier to use than genuine chocolate. It might leave a waxy feel in your mouth. It is my least favorite form of chocolate flavoring because of its artificial texture.

WHITE CHOCOLATE is mostly used as a coating. It is not a true chocolate because it contains cocoa butter but no nonfat chocolate solids. Akin to milk chocolate in its basic makeup, it contains sugar, cocoa butter, milk solids, and flavorings. It has a sweet, milky taste, with colors varying from pure white to yellow white. I personally find white chocolate overpoweringly sweet.

Whatever form or taste it takes, chocolate remains an ambrosia from the gods.

Terry Kaufman is Chief Editorial Writer for Niftykitchen.com, Niftyhomebar.com, and Niftygarden.com.

©2007 Terry Kaufman.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Terry_Kaufman
http://EzineArticles.com/?Chocolate-Sweet-Ambrosia&id=425595

Introducing Chocolate

2007-01-25T08:41:00.000-08:00

Did you ever wonder where chocolate came from?

Are you interested in the history of chocolate?

It's all available right here on WHERE CHOCOLATE BEGINS

A delightful gift!

2007-01-18T18:43:00.000-08:00

Love in the Spring!

It's the start of a good thing. Just share what you feel inside with the one you're feeling it for. You won't regret that feeling of tenderness and caring.

Share it!

Just point and click to send a card that will make memories for years to come.

Send a Valentine's Card...

Valentine --- Be Mine

2007-01-18T18:28:00.000-08:00

The season has come again, when little boys hearts turn to what girls have been thinking about all winter long.

Ladies, it's time to impress your men. Tell them what they are now ready to hear in words you know they'll understand. In your own words, write a message that says "Be mine, Valentine."

Remember to send Greeting Cards!

Money Talks, Chocolate Sings

2007-01-18T18:00:00.000-08:00

Chocolate Sings

One day I had a date for lunch with friends. Mae, a little old "blue hair" about 80 years old, came along with them--All in all, a pleasant bunch. When the menus were presented, we ordered salads, sandwiches, and soups, except for Mae who said, "Ice Cream, please. Two scoops, chocolate."

I wasn't sure my ears heard right, and the others were aghast. "Along with heated apple pie," Mae added, completely unabashed. We tried to act quite nonchalant, as if people did this all the time. But when our orders were brought out, I didn't enjoy mine. I couldn't take my eyes off Mae as her pie a-la-mode went down. The other ladies showed dismay. They ate their lunches silently and frowned.

The next time I went out to eat, I called and invited Mae. I lunched on white meat tuna. She ordered a parfait. I smiled. She asked if she amused me. I answered, "Yes, you do, but also you confuse me. How come you order rich desserts, while I feel I must be sensible?

She laughed and said, with wanton mirth, "I'm tasting all that's Possible. I try to eat the food I need, and do the things I should. But life's so short, my friend, I hate missing out on something good. This year I realized how old I was. (She grinned) I haven't been this old before."

"So, before I die, I've got to try those things that for years I had ignored. I haven't smelled all the flowers yet. There are too many books I haven't read. There's more fudge sundaes to wolf down and kites to be flown overhead. There are many malls I haven't shopped. I've not laughed at all the jokes. I've missed a lot of Broadway hits and potato chips and cokes.

I want to wade again in water and feel ocean spray on my face. I want to sit in a country church once more and thank God for His grace. I want peanut butter every day spread on my morning toast. I want UN-timed long distance calls to the folks I love the most. I haven't cried at all the movies yet, or walked in the morning rain. I need to feel wind in my hair. I want to fall in love again. So, if I choose to have dessert, instead of having dinner, then should I die before night fall, I'd say I died a winner, because I missed out on nothing. I filled my heart's desire. I had that final chocolate mousse before my life expired."

With that, I called the waitress over. "I've changed my mind," I said. "I want what she is having, only add some more whipped cream!"

More to life...

2007-01-17T08:35:00.000-08:00

Let those you know in on how you feel about them.

Before those precious moments pass, tell them how much you care. Give them the blessing of understanding that you appreciate them, love them, and want to share your best with them. It isn't easy to know what to say, but when you open your mouth the words will appear.

Just say it!

If in doubt, send them a card to tell them how you feel. Write it down, get it straight, and send it out.

Send Out Cards can help!

Humble Pie - Must be Chocolate

2007-01-03T05:15:00.000-08:00

I received this in an email from a friend. An apology of sorts to start out New Year's Resolutions Right. I read it twice, first time from a point of Arrogance, the second from Humble Self-awareness. This friend has at times during our friendship been my mentor, and I at other times have been hers. Her acknowledgement that she has on occasion led me wrong, due to her own arrogance, gave me strength to accept the apology and eat my own slice of Humble Pie.

Relationships often wear a common thread. A person is either the teacher or the student. I find more often than not, although I feel I'm a very bright person, I'm the student. When I step back from a situation, I often find I've learned an important lesson, and often that lesson is to prepare for the fundamental foundation of understanding that the person I am trusting to teach me something may not be as smart as that person appears.

When I experience failure in myself, I can accept it readily, I'm human. When I experience failure from another person, one who points a jagged finger in my direction, I often have a harder time accepting their failures. I feel wounded and frustrated, particularly if it's left to me to confront that person. Confrontation is not my style. I have a tendancy to prefer to simply forgive the person and accept their weaknesses.

Humble Pie must be chocolate, it tastes rather good.

Tip: Arrogance and self-awareness seldom go hand-in-hand.

Over the years I have learned that there are some things that work really
well together. Peanut butter and jelly make a really good sandwich and so
does a hamburger with lettuce and tomato. However, I do not think that
putting lettuce and tomato on a peanut butter and jelly sandwich would
taste very good. You see, there are some things that work well together and
some that do not.

It has been my experience that when I meet someone who is actually aware of
the effect that their personality style and behavior has on others, they
seem to also be a humble and insightful person. However, when I meet an
arrogant person who is "full of themselves", I have observed that they lack
the skill to accurately assess their own behavior and abilities. Arrogance
just does not allow a person the ability to be very insightful or aware of
their own behavior.

The one who would be wise must first be humble. Everyone you meet knows at
least one thing that you do not know. Therefore, they can instantly become
your teacher. Even though you may be the most skilled professional in a
particular area, I can assure you that there are many areas about which you
know very little.

I once heard Zig Ziglar say that he got his car stuck and had to call a tow
truck to come pull it out of the mud. When the driver arrived, Zig noticed
that he was just a teenager. He thought to himself, "I don't know if this
kid possesses the necessary skill to pull my car out of this mud or not."
The young man asked Zig for his car keys. He jumped in the front seat,
turned the car on and "rocked" it back and forth a couple of times. Then he
drove it right out of the mud! He had done it with such ease that the young
man was embarrassed for Zig. In fact, the teenager began to make excuses
for him by saying, "Sir, sometimes these things really are easier than they
look and I just got lucky. I won't even charge you for this."

Zig said it was amazing to think that he is an expert in the area of
leadership training and motivational speaking yet knows very little about
getting a car out of a mud hole. That teenage boy knew very little about
motivational speaking but he knew everything about humility, kindness ? and
getting cars out of the mud!

I believe it is a fact of life that when a person demonstrates a spirit of
humility and is not arrogant, they become open to new ideas and insights.
On the other hand, when a person has a "know-it-all" attitude, the
possibilities for new insights and wisdom immediately evaporate. You cannot
expect to have good insight and self-awareness if you are an arrogant
person. The two just do not make a very good "sandwich" together.

I have been incredibly blessed in my lifetime to have had the opportunity
to graduate from five different colleges or universities. Yet, rather than
being arrogant about how much I know, I am truly humbled by how much there
is to know and how little of that vast body of knowledge I actually
possess. I am a life-long learner. That is a much better position to take
than being a "know-it-all."

Seek to raise your awareness of your own behaviors and the abilities of
others this week. Be open to learn from them things that perhaps you know
very little about. It will be an encouragement to them and a blessing to
you.

Tip: Arrogance and self-awareness seldom go hand-in-hand.

Have a great week! God bless you!
Robert Rohm Ph.D.
Personality Insights, Inc.

Boldly Go where No Man has Gone Before -- SMILE!

2006-12-19T08:56:00.000-08:00

YA GOTTA LOVE HER ATTITUDE!

This will make you smile.

A little girl walked to and from school daily.
Though the weather that morning was questionable and
clouds were forming, she made her daily trek to the elementary school.

As the afternoon progressed, the winds whipped up, along with thunder and
lightning.

The mother of the little girl felt concerned that her daughter would be
frightened as she walked home from school and she herself feared that
the electrical storm might harm her child. Following the roar of thunder,

lightning, like a flaming sword, would cut through the sky.

Full of concern, the mother quickly got into her car and drove along the
route to her child's school. As she did so, she saw her little girl walking along,

but at each flash of lightning, the child would stop, look up and smile.

Another and another were to follow quickly and with each the little girl would

look at the streak of light and smile.

When the mother's car drew up beside the child she lowered the window
and called to her, "What are you doing? Why do you keep stopping?"

The child answered, "I am trying to look pretty. God keeps taking my picture."

May God bless you today as you face the storms that come your way.

Cappuccino Brownies: Orgasmic Decadence

2006-12-14T07:03:00.000-08:00

Orgasmic Chocolate: The Ultimate Marketing Tool

By Jan Verhoeff

“Oh Lord, if I die tonight, let this chocolate be on my pillow in Heaven.” This Cappuccino Brownie is the closest I’ve been to Heaven in a while. Delectable, delightful, delicious… Orgasmic deep chocolate, so rich it must be refrigerated, and so luscious I need a chaperone to eat one. So, let me tell you what I want for Christmas!

A year’s supply of Orgasmic Cappuccino Brownies… But, you think that might be too much to ask? Well, I’m sure some may think so, but that’s the item on the top of my list. So, what’s a girl to do?

Are you looking for the perfect gift for your girl? Something guaranteed to please? A little something that will remind her that you are the ultimate, the best, the most perfect in the world person for her? Well, let me share this tiny little secret, hidden deep in the California Suburbs, that can be shipped the world over… Liz’s Cappuccino Brownies.

I’m offering a concept that will bring you closer to your ultimate goal of selling your product, a marketing technique that will emerge triumphant from any project you attempt. Are you ready? Here it is, “Fulfill your buyer’s expectations and overwhelm them with the bounty and flavor of your product.”

Whether you are My Little Taste of Italy (at http://mylittletasteofitaly.com) or some other vastly retainable company, your goal is to meet your buyer’s expectations with far more than your buyer thought possible.

When my Cappuccino Brownies arrived snuggly wrapped in cellophane looking, plump, delicious, and rich in their individual little paper cups, I enjoyed gazing on their texture, drooling over the aroma, and just simply viewing them brought on emotions I hadn’t experienced in a while. YUM! Sinking my teeth in for the first bite of velvety rich chocolate flavor and nibbling into that silky intense sweetness presented the most opulent experience of a lifetime.

Market your product with a flair and essence that presents your buying client with more than they expect. Give them orgasmic pleasure, sinful sensation, and opulent appeal; then fulfill their desire with decadence. Your business will expand, exponentially, because you’ve done more than was required.

Marketing Guru, Jan Verhoeff, represents decadence in marketing, with a Fresh approach. Add some life to your Marketing Plan with Refreshing Content created to SELL your product. Visit http://janverhoeff.com for a Fresh Marketing Approach that Works.

I wish you... A Merry Chocolate Christmas

2006-11-28T08:39:00.000-08:00

Have you been wondering what to get your most precious someone for Christmas?

I have a few solutions for you... Chocolate, White Chocolate, Cherry Chocolate, Apricot Chocolate, ummmm did I say Chocolate?

There are gifts galore in chocolate out there, you just want to know where to look. Well, my friend - I have a few links to suit your fancy.

For chocolate truffles and goodies you won't want to miss - visit Chocolate.com and see the selection of chocolate goodies meant for gift giving to your special sweet someone. Just make 'em sweeter with a gift of chocolate!

Got an irresistible diva on your Christmas list? Give her the Diva of chocolate Godiva Chocolate! Wrapped in a basket with a diva garment of your selection to go with it - she'll be yours for many Christmas's to come!

For the children on your list? Stuff their stockings with wholesome Hershey's and watch them come to life Christmas morning. Games and other gifts from Hershey's are a great option for the holidays!! Don't miss an opportunity to grab something chocolate for the little urchins that hang around your Christmas tree.

Or better yet... Chocolate you can share? A Chocolate Pecan Pie - to die for? Here it is, lush, rich, dark chocolate pie with the added crunch of plump pecans - oh yum! You'll want to bake an extra one of these for the freezer - Valentine's day is coming...

But then again... There's something better than all the rest. A treat you won't want to be without, you'll want a supply of these for every month of the year. You can put it on your Christmas wish list, add it to your stocking stuffers, and get an extra order for yourself. Straight from the Italian Mamma in California - created by Liz for special customers just like yourself - Orgasmic Cappuccino Brownies - Whoa, baby, I want more of these!!! Just My Little Taste of Italy will make your holiday fine!

Oh, and send me some too.

Dark Chocolate is Good for You

2006-11-15T20:10:00.000-08:00

Sometimes Science proves what women knew all along, dark chocolate is good for you!

~~~~~~~~~~

Some “chocoholics” who just couldn’t give up their favorite treat to comply with a study to test blood stickiness have inadvertently done their fellow chocolate lovers - and science - a big favor.

Their “offense,” say researchers at Johns Hopkins led to what is believed to be the first biochemical analysis to explain why just a few squares of chocolate a day can almost halve the risk of heart attack death in some men and women by decreasing the tendency of platelets to clot in narrow blood vessels.

“What these chocolate ‘offenders’ taught us is that the chemical in cocoa beans has a biochemical effect similar to aspirin in reducing platelet clumping, which can be fatal if a clot forms and blocks a blood vessel, causing a heart attack,” says Diane Becker, M.P.H., Sc.D., a professor at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Becker cautions that her work is not intended as a prescription to gobble up large amounts of chocolate candy, which often contains diet-busting amounts of sugar, butter and cream. But as little as 2 tablespoons a day of dark chocolate - the purest form of the candy, made from the dried extract of roasted cocoa beans - may be just what the doctor ordered.

Researchers have known for nearly two decades that dark chocolate, rich in chemicals called flavonoids, lowers blood pressure and has other beneficial effects on blood flow. The latest Hopkins findings, to be presented Nov. 14 at the American Heart Association’s annual Scientific Sessions in Chicago, identified the effect of normal, everyday doses of chocolate found in ordinary foods, unlike previous studies that found decreased platelet activity only at impractically high doses of flavonoids equivalent to eating several pounds of chocolate a day.

“Eating a little bit of chocolate or having a drink of hot cocoa as part of a regular diet is probably good for personal health, so long as people don’t eat too much of it, and too much of the kind with lots of butter and sugar,” says Becker.

Peace & Blessings,
Beverly Mahone
Author, Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age
http://www.talk2bev.com
24 HOURS AND COUNTING UNTIL BEST SELLING BOOK DAY

Rich and thick and choc-o-late

2006-10-14T04:15:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered how it looks to find the most awesome place on the planet, with the most awesome man in your life, and the most incredible food you can think of?

Just recently, I was asked that question.

I thought about it... I don't know any awesome men. They are all pretty real, have faults, and are a bit miss-aligned with life as I see it. Of course, they think I'm the one who is miss-aligned.

So, given that part of the equation, I have to wonder if the rest is possible?

Then, I realize that life is what it is, and we are each created in the masterful image of God, so I look about and see reality in the fact that I like who I am, I like what I do, and it's okay that I'm not perfect, because only Jesus was perfect and they hung him on the cross!

We went to the football game last night, in my hometown. It was awesome! We played Trinidad's Miners and had a great time. I may get flogged for this, but... Trinidad won, 18 - 13, and the game was awesome. They scored in the last five minutes of the game to bring their team ahead by five points. It's never great to loose a homecoming game... But the reality is, it's just a game and the guys played their hearts out, had a good time on the field, and got trampled in the last few minutes of the game.

That tells me they got a bit cocky. They might have thought they were done fighting, and the game was over, but it wasn't.

Life is like that. We get to a certain point in life and think it's all over, we've arrived at the finish line, and we're okay... But in reality, we're still in the game. It isn't over, and nothing we can do is going to finish it in our favor... It's there. The win is right there, just over the line, but we have to keep running, because we can't get there from here - we have to cross the finish line FIRST.

Gloria, send me some more of those awesome and wonderful Cappuccino Brownies and I'm going to grab a cup of coffee. It looks like a long weekend.

Happy Birthday to me!!!

2006-09-28T18:27:00.000-07:00

Chocolate may be a girls best friend - but right up there at the top of the heap is the better end of a treasure, the friend who GIVES the chocolate. I've always been an admirerer of dark rich chocolate, and it's a treasure best shared with those precious few who know you best.

So, who but my best buds would bring me chocolate?

Well, my kids provided me with a chocolate cake to keep my tastebuds tantalized for my birthday - and ... there's a promise of more on the horizon.

Could it be sunrise? Or sunset -- from California?

Smaller than a breadbox? Or maybe larger than a breadbox? Or maybe just a hint at something wonderful to fill that breadbox?

I'm loving the guessing game I'm playing and the thumbprints that are promised sound absolutely devine too.

Life after Chocolate

2006-09-18T17:32:00.000-07:00

A few months back - we all met over a truck load of Chocolate at the Spring Fling and Kim Emerson's been spreading 'it' around ever since.

What started out as a joke among the girls, became a website theme and more. The sisterhood emerged from the chocolate dipped fountain, friendships were formed, and life has evolved into an eruption of prosperity from a couple of hours of chatter, confusion, games, and over a thousand dollars worth of prizes.

And the very best part is ...

It's going to happen again in the FALL FLING!

Ginger Marks of Documeant and her Sisters have done it again!

Come see the bountiful Harvest at the Fall Fling!

You won't want to miss this Inspiration Event!

Choco-Choco-Choco-Chocolate

2006-08-28T21:41:00.000-07:00

When women gather, chocolate is bound to be close by. Why do we love chocolate?

A few reasons --- I'll give you some hints here:

It's better than sex! We can lick it off.
It's better than men! It doesn't complain about what we do all day.
It's more fun than Walt Disney! There's no mouse trail.
It sticks closer than a friend! And it looks really good on my backside.

Okay - so there are a few of the better reasons...

You want to share some?

Pencil Me In - I'm THERE!

2006-07-22T04:48:00.000-07:00

The best part of summer is smores on the campfire! A big piece of chocolate, a toasted marshmallow, and a graham cracker split into two squares all stacked up and ready to eat. The colder the chocolate bars the better the snack tastes!

My favorite kind of "Just like Smores Treat" is a cookie bar.

Crunch up the graham crackers and put them in the bottom of a bake dish with 1/3 cup sugar, 1/2 cup butter and stir it all up, smash it into the pan like a crust. Sprinkle on dark chocolate chips and miniature marshmallows to cover the 'crust' and drizzle over a can of Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk. Bake at 350 for about 12 minutes, until marshmallows are puffy and golden on top. Depending on how golden you want your marshmallows, you may need to bake it longer.

Let cool slightly, cut into bars, cool completely and serve with your favorite summer drink.

These are great for after school, afternoon snacks.

Enjoy!

Celebrate Chocolate!

2006-07-07T16:37:00.000-07:00

Chocolate Day is July 7th - Chocolate cafes or lounges are quickly becoming the rage all over the US , presenting themselves as a sweet and cozy alternative to corner coffee houses and bars. "The whole concept of a place to go and just be with your chocolate and celebrate the experience of chocolate is ... wonderful." said Joan Steuer, president of Chocolate Marketing. A chocolate lounge, with their overstuffed couches and an atmosphere that invites its patrons to linger, feels more like a coffeehouses than a candy stores. How can your company get on the bandwagon with this current trend – advertise in your local chocolate café, create a chocolate café corner in your retail establishment, hand out chocolate business cards…

~~~~

I stole this little snippit of information from my friend Heidi Richards over on Ryze.com. So, to be fair, I'm giving her business a little plug here - Visit her at WECAI

A new way to get chocolate?

2006-06-16T21:58:00.000-07:00

Intravenious Chocolate?

Okay - you might think I'm being silly, but... Spending a week in the hospital getting refueled gave me time to really think about life and abundance. Just being alive is an abundant source of wealth.

I'm grateful for every moment of life. Life is precious.

We often don't realize how valuable a moment is, until we are looking at the alternative ... Not having a moment.

While I was in the hospital, I realized that I have much to offer, and I began to think of all the miracles I've known in my life.

Yup - Chocolate, the epitome of abundance, comes intraveniously. I know the value of prosperity, wealth and true riches.

Promoting the Chocolate Clache

2006-05-28T20:33:00.000-07:00

There are times when I see a business that just needs some promotion. These boxes are created by my friend, Christina Lintz. They are well finished, inside and out with adornments appropriate to the fabric choices. I love the style.

She does more! Check out here site at Cyerra Rose Where she creates Boxes and Bags and markets Mama Gloria's devine Chocolate treats.

This photo was created by our very one Ginger Marks. See her work at DocUmeant.

You know it's amazing what happens when a bunch of women get together. The Winning Sisters of Ryze have created an incredible support group where everyone is welcome to participate and build your business.

Come join us and BRAND YOUR MARKET!

Magnificent yellow lilies were a BIG surprise!

2006-05-20T21:23:00.000-07:00

Summer is quickly arriving. I hadn't noticed how quickly until today after a trip to town for the Parade and Auto Show.

Afterward, we stopped by a friend's place to visit a moment and I noticed behind her barn a lot of 'green stuff growing'. We walked across a mostly barren spread of driveway to arrive at the area against the 'river woods' behind her barn. Tangled in the green were gorgeous yellow daylillies.

The lillies haven't bloomed in several years due to the drought here. Imagining it could be over is almost as wonderful a miracle as the view of lillies springing up from the barren sod along the path that leads to a still dry river.

Choco-Vendication

2006-05-14T20:53:00.000-07:00

Chocolate is my favorite thing - particularly when I'm in a place to savor the delicate rich flavor of a delightful dessert with a nice cup of hot tea.

The sweet aroma of lavender and roses blooming, and sunshine lighting the way while I sneek a moment of bliss and wonder - lavishly relaxing in the comfort of - ah...

Have you vendicated yourself lately? Have you savored a moment in your garden this year?

Cyber Chocolate: Chocolate Chat?

2006-04-30T22:53:00.000-07:00

That's a great title "Blogging and Search Engine Stuff"

Tell that Jan Verhoeff chic she should use it!

You think of the best stuff Kim!

Oh, you mean ME??? I'm the GUEST STAR? Whoa. I better shine up my chocolate and wash my face...

What will I do with my hair?

Oh my!!! What am I going to wear?

Will there be a spotlight?

Bea, you better hurry up and send that hat ---

OH my gosh, I better get my speech written. I have so much to do....

Get a sitter for the kids.
Hire a limo.
Get airline tickets.
Brush up on my grammar.

I don't have to do anything like cartwheels or a dance routine do I... Oh, what will I do about this cellulite?

I need new shoes!

Where is my girdle? Maybe I can pack all the cellulite in there? I'll bring a suitcase too.

What if I say the wrong thing? You don't think they'll laugh at me, do you?

Oh, while I'm standing there in the spot light... You don't think Diane would maybe send me one of those chocolate covered men, would she?

I'd be real happy about that...

Is Pierce Brosnan single? You think he might be available?

Well....

It was just an idea... I suppose Lucy and I can share Ricky, for a day. In chocolate he'd look a lot like Pierce Brosnan...

Jan Verhoeff
http://janverhoeff.com
http://cyber-chocolate.blogspot.com

Disclaimer: This post may be posted at Ryze for greater exposure... Duplicate posting is allowed only if chocolate is involved.

Chocolate Brunch Bread

2006-04-27T19:02:00.000-07:00

For a special brunch, breakfast or after school treat!

(Bread And Chocolate)

Makes 10 servings

3 lrg eggs
1 cup milk
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
10 slices firm white bread
2-3oz bars bittersweet chocolate
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp confectioner's sugar

1-Beat together the eggs, milk, granulated sugar, vanilla, and salt.
Trim crust from bread.

2- Into a 13X9" baking dish, pour half the egg mixture.
Arrange 5 bread slices in a single layer in the dish.
Break chocolate into rectangles as marked.
Divide chocolate among bread alices, leaving a 1/2" border of bread not covered with chocolate.
Top each with another slice of bread.
Pour remaining egg mixture over all. Set aside to absorb the egg. 15 to 20 min.

3-When ready to serve, heat oven to 200*
In a large non-stick skillet heat 1 tsp butter.
Carefully add the sandwiches , several at a time, and fry until brown on both sides.
Transfere to a baking sheet and keep warm in the oven.
Repeat until all sandwiches are cooked.
Sprinkle with the confectioner's sugar and cut diagonally in half.

Serve with fresh fruit, strawberrys being the favorite.

Enjoy

Bea Kunz

Just packin' it on!

2006-04-26T20:15:00.000-07:00

Today has been the day from, well... way down south where chocolate melts in split seconds.

You know the kind, you come in pull your shoes off sit down in your recliner, rest your sore doggies, and watch the world go spinning by.... But then you think.... I want chocolate!

But you KNOW there isn't one single chocolate chip in the entire house. The kids know every hiding place, and they always find them before you do.

But... you're in luck!

You remember just in the nick of time. Moments before you laps into a chocolate coma - the water boiling on the stove and you smell that delicious aroma. Chocolate Tea.

Thanks Bea. I bet I can keep that around without telling the kids. They don't touch my tea stash --- well, at least not until they know it's chocolate....

Jan Verhoeff,
Word Painter

Chocolate Toys? Oh yeah!

2006-04-26T20:11:00.000-07:00

Chocolate You Can Play With...

6 oz. bag of chocolate chips
5 tsp corn syrup

1 gallon size zip-top bag

rolling pin
cookie cutter
plastic knife

Melt chocolate chips in a double boiler and stir in corn syrup. Place the zip-top bag inside a wide mouth jar, making sure the top of the bag drapes over the outside of the jar. Pour the melted chocolate into the bag and zip closed. Let cool. Knead until the chocolate is well mixed, smooth, and sticks together. Optional: Add a few drops of water for a softer clay. Spray nonstick cooking spray on a countertop, your rolling pin, cookie cutter, and hands. The warmth from the kneading will make dough smooth and satiny as you knead the clay,. Cut, shape and sculpt your Chocolate Creations...Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.

Sherry Frewerd

Start Your Watkins Business Today!

Sage Hill Farms Chocolate? Vintage - even!

2006-04-26T20:02:00.000-07:00

Chocolate Tea~~~Chocolate What?~~~~Chocolate Tea!

I know you have all heard the term "This is not your mothers so and so." Well if we are speaking of tea and we are, it could very well be your mothers or your grandmothers.

Herbal teas have been around as long as the dirt they are grown in. Dating back to ancient times right along with the coca plant.

Now if your wondering what all this has to do with chocolate, well, I can answer that.
Growing in my garden is a lovely herb by the name of "chocolate mint" it smells like chocolate, taste like chocolate, so it must be chocolate!

The leaves can be used fresh in coffee or tea to impart a delicious chocolately aroma and taste.
Dried it can be crushed and used in cakes, cookies, ice cream and best of all in brownies.

Used in conjunction with other mints it makes some very interesting tea blends.

Just a side note: There is a "chocolate" scented Daisy also. (not edible) It's about the size of a quarter, has striking red undersides and a chocolate colored stamen. It grows about 18" high, makes a great border plant. The scent is in the stamen which drops with temperatures above 90*

Chocolate dreams everyone~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bea Kunz

http://www.sagehillfarmsandvintagestore.com

A Word For Chocolate

2006-04-24T15:25:00.000-07:00

By: Ginger Marks

Some of my most precious memories relate to chocolate; times of fellowship and fun and quiet times alike. Every once in a while even the movie makers realize that we true aficionados of chocolate need our fix. I can recall sitting transfixed while devouring titles such as “Like Water for Chocolate” a bittersweet love story, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” not once but twice created cinematic history and one of my all time favorites simply titled, “Chocolate” a wonderful story of my favorite confection at the heart of bucking the timeless traditions in a quaint French village.

What is it about that word that makes us all sit up and take notice? Why is it when a group of friends get together the mere mention of the word causes a frenzy of excitement? Who do you think invented the Valentines Day Card? A man? Ha! The fact is that in the 1840s Esther A. Howland designed elaborate creations with lace, ribbons and colorful pictures. Howland is known as the “Mother of the Valentine”. These tokens were an easy precursor to the giving of chocolate and so it is a noteworthy event in my book. Howland was a true visionary if there ever was one.

What is this news about “healthy chocolate”? Healthy Chocolate? Really, you might say. Is it even something you or I would consider trying? I personally have tried it and can avow to the fact that it is bitter and uninviting. I don’t know about you but I am quite content savoring the smell, the taste and the absolute pleasure of a rich, dark, bittersweet piece of my favorite confection as it melts on my tongue. I say leave my chocolate alone. I don’t need to invade my senses with thoughts of butterfat adhering to my thighs or blocked arteries; after all who wants to live forever? I would rather live in the blissful ignorance of pure delight as I savor every moment of every bite.

It wasn’t very long ago that I read that women NEED chocolate. The fact is that chocolate is made from the cocoa plant and contains the highest natural source for Magnesium. Magnesium deficiency is linked with hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, joint problems and pre-menstrual tension (PMT or PMS). Now how is that for a reason to NEED chocolate?

So, the next time some health nut attempts to dissuade me from enjoying a moment of pure bliss by telling me I should, “watch my calories” or even looks at me sideways I will turn politely to them and say, “Thank you for your concern, but did you notice your car is on fire?”

© Copyright 2005 Ginger Marks

Ginger Marks is the founder of DocUmeant, Your writing assistant. For more information, visit her website at http://www.documeant.net Currently she authors a column on business development and personal growth at ArticlesOn.com. Mrs. Marks has also written two eBooks that are available through her business site DocUmeant.net

Need an awesome mug?

2006-04-23T19:54:00.000-07:00

March Marketing Mania lasts all year long when you have this mug to remind you and serve your favorite chocolate drink.

To get your very own March Marketing Mania mug with a bit of Irish luck, visit March Mania.

Need a mug to keep that cocoa hot?

Check out this great 'heater mug' at Angel and Zebra along with many other choice products.

Decorator Chocolate... Anyone?

2006-04-21T17:46:00.000-07:00

The most awesome combinatioin of colors has surfaced recently in decor. I'm absolutely gaga over this combination. It's rich dark brown chocolate color with plenty of bright white and an icy cool tint of blue with chrome.

Okay, I know it's a little weird on a chocolate site, to be discussing decorator details, but it fits. I'm talking really dark RICH chocolate on the walls, with glacial blue furniture, white carpet, white curtains, and original framed artwork on the walls featuring snowy winter scenes on white backgrounds with glacial blue shadows.

Just imagine the cool summer ambiance of a dark chocolate room decorated in glacial blue and white?

Rich Chocolate

2006-04-21T17:40:00.000-07:00

There you are, sitting on the porch, it's a lazy hazy summer afternoon, and you're thinking - some rich dark chocolate brownies would taste so great with this lemonade.

Yup, that's it...

You can't imagine another moment without some wonderfully delicious brownies. Yum Yum. But where are you going to find brownies on a hot summer afternoon, when you're just not wanting to make them?

Well, you could drive to the store...

But, it's too hot to drive, and gas it $2.90.9 a gallon, so you don't really want to drive. You could go inside and make some, but that would mean you have to get up off the porch and actually move toward the kitchen.

Ahhhhh, the lemonade tastes so good...

Well, brownies are too much trouble for today.

We'll write that recipe tomorrow...

While you're waiting - check out my book store.

Cyber Chocolate has NO Calories

2006-04-21T17:18:00.000-07:00

You know the stuff, it's better than Mom's home cookin', you feel great after you melt a piece slowly in your mouth, and life just feels nicer because you had some.

Chocolate

There are those who condemn it. Shhhhhh (Don't tell THEM we're here!)

And, there are those who revel in their ability to suck it down, pound after pound, and never gain an ounce - for the shame of them...

Then, there are those who just love every single bite.

Those are the ones for whom this site is written.

Chocolate will take you where you want to go. And Cyber Chocolate, I assure you has no calories. You won't have to cyber-exercise it off either.

But, you'll make friends, you'll have fun, and you'll be the nicest person in the world - to this little circle of folks who share their chocolate and their lives.

Eat up ----