I is for I

Welcome to December - it is here - whether you like it or not. The countdown is on to Christmas and many people spend a lot of time running around, purchasing gifts for others and running themselves ragged.

If you missed converting November into Me-vember, where you spend each day doing something just for you, then now is the time to spoil yourself and make you feel special. There's no point sitting around waiting until December 25 when someone may or may not surprise you; you can do it yourself, today.

Whether it is buying one of our delicious and decadent boxes of chocolate or lollies, or sending yourself one of our gift hampers, we encourage it. Whether it is going to get that much needed haircut or going to a coffee shop (alone or with friends), we say do it. Whether it is buying that outfit you have your eye on or picking up a few of your favourite DVDs in preparation for an awesome tv-fueled weekend, we recommend it wholeheartedly!

You deserve it - you totally do. It's around this time of year when we our to-do list increases and if we don't watch it, we can really let the stress and business of the festive season get to us.

So find some time for you. Think about something that you want to do; maybe it's something you haven't done in ages, or maybe it's something you want to try for the first time. Sometimes we put things off because we don't want to appear selfish but truly, when was the last time you said no to everyone else around you and did something just for you.

So buy yourself those flowers, take that walk, purchase those earrings or go for that cocktail with your girlfriend, what's the harm? Those chores will still be waiting for you when you are done.  Trust me!

Sweets For My Sweet

"Sweets for my sweet, sugar for my honey

Your first sweet kiss thrilled me so

Sweets for my sweet, sugar for my honey

I'll never ever let you go"

- Sweets For My Sweet, Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman

When it comes to your sweetheart, it is always a great time to buy them a little something.  It doesn't need to be a particular occasion - when was the last time you got them a "just because" gift?

We have lots of great gift ideas for that special someone - don't wait for Valentine's Day or their birthday, today is a great day to show them how wonderful or respected they are.  Or you could order a gift and keep it hidden until the day deserves a little pick-me-up; we all definitely need those from time to time.

What do I recommend?  Well that's a tough question, however I am happy to share some of my particular favourites which have created many a special moment for our customers.

Love You More Than Chocolate

There is no denying how you feel with our Love You More Than Chocolate gift.  Choose from your choice of lollies or chocolates to accompany our cute teddy bear.

Big Chocolate Box

Our Big Chocolate Box is one of the most popular gifts we have on offer and is perfect for cuddling up on the sofa and watching your favourite sports game or a movie on a Friday evening. 

Because You're Sweet

The name says it all!  A scrumptious mix of chocolates, fudge, rocky road, gems and party mix all housed in a practical cake tin which you can use over and over again.

These are of course just some of our suggestions.  Browse our extensive list of lolly and chocolate gifts that will suit that special someone.  We have licorice, fudge, rocky road, gluten free and many others to choose from.

Our sweet range from Rainbow Designs is just another way to show "I Love You".

Caramel Cravings

Do you ever get those caramel cravings? There is something about the sweet centre of a Caramello Koala or the filling of a Cadbury Dairy Milk Caramel chocolate bar that has me searching the cupboard for my next caramel fix. And jersey caramels are the stuff dreams are made of...so delicious.

So if I told you, you could get a whole tin of caramel goodness in a caramel coloured reusable tin for only $50 including shipping, how would that make you feel? Extremely happy if you love the taste and texture of caramel as much as I do, I would imagine.

Chock-a-block full of caramel confectionary, this Caramel Confectionary Mix gift includes caramel buds, jersey caramels, caramel kisses, Cobbers, Fantales, Caramello Koalas, caramel fudge, Mars Bars and a Caramel Dairy Milk bar.

That should be enough to stop those cravings for a while. And the good thing is you can keep the tin stocked up with your favourite goodies for when those unexpected guests pop round for tea.

Chocolate is good but there is something so decadent about the mix of caramel and chocolate that makes it hard to stop just after one. I know that from experience!

This tin is just one of the new arrivals that has appeared on our website recently and already it looks to be very popular among the caramel fans. Hip hip hooray for caramel!  

Back To Business

Well the Christmas wine disappeared in a flash and the gifts were opened.  Then the New Year wine disappeared just as quick and we celebrated the start of 2014.  And in between we enjoyed our downtime and spent the holiday doing as very little as possible.  We hope you too managed to find some time to relax and unwind.  What did you get up to?

Today however we are back to business as usual.  And a good thing really as I was starting to experience withdrawal symptoms from Rainbow Designs or maybe that was just the reduction in chocolate talking!  Either way I am glad to be back.

Our Christmas gifts may have been retired but we still have plenty of quality lolly and chocolate gift boxes on offer.  Take our ever popular Big Sweet Tooth Gift Box as an example.  A drooly 1kg (that's right!) of lollies and chocolates all presented in a hamper style white noodle box.

Or for the little sweetie we have the Little Sweetie Gift Hamper which features white chocolate raspberry bullets, snakes, mini meringue bursts, jelly beans, party mix, giant lollipop and aniseed rock candy.

And one of most popular gifts from last year is still available - our Fudge It gift set; three types of scrumptious fudge presented in three delightful tins to use even when the fudge is gone.

Even though I thoroughly enjoyed my holidays I can't help but feel they went by very quickly...before I know it we will be talking Valentine's Day.

Chocolate Gift Hamper

Another NEW gift hamper has been added to our yummy collection and it has Chocolate Coated Lollies!! Includes chocolate coated raspberries, pineapples, strawberry & creams, chicos, raspberry bullets plus milk chocolate freckles and chocolate caramel popcorn. All made in Australia using delicious Belgium chocolate. I am hoping it is going to be a winner as I want to be able to keep ordering these delicious lolly chocolates (so I can taste test them ensuring the quality is just right!).


Chocolate, Chocolate and More Chocolate - $65 delivered

I love being able to order from small producers and suppliers within Australia who try and use Aussie ingredients not everything is Australian made but everything is of wonderful quality and taste. If something isn't up to standard we will look for another item to takes it's place. In general I've been pretty lucky with my suppliers I think the main thing I've had problems with has been with the boxes. Noodle boxes, in particular the large noodle boxes, are becoming harder and harder to find. The design was changed a couple of years ago and not as many companies stock them. I have also found that sometimes the quality isn't quite right - the sides of the boxes aren't stuck very well so when I receive a carton I invariably have to get rid of 10-15. What a waste of money! I'm now having issues with the supplier of my patterned boxes (eg cravings, spotty box etc). They are the only ones in Australia who carry these boxes and they carry VERY little quantities and at the moment a lot of the designs I carry they don't have ANY of! Very disappointing and frustrating as they are not going to place an order for them until later in the year - not too helpful to me now though! I have been lokking around for another supplier plus have also contacted the USA company that make them, will wait and see what they have to say!

Mother's Day is over for another year, which I have to say is flying by, and going by the first few months of 2013 it wasn't too bad. Not great but not bad. The next main occasion coming up is Father's Day and then, scarey as it is to think about, it's Christmas!

Until next time,

eat some M&M's!

Jacqui