The Chocolate Season

Love is in the air...

2008-06-29T14:06:00.001-07:00

Well we sure have been busy with weddings this month! Seeing the requests for favors, wedding desserts and cakes have prompted me to re-write the wedding/catering page on the web site, http://www.thechocolateseason.com/wedding_event_catering.htm

The re-construction will continue with new product photos of favors and truffles featured on the bride's cake table as well as pricing options to order these cute lil' guys yourself on our shopping cart! So no matter if it is a wedding, baby shower, graduation, or just as a special thank you gift, these 1-piece, 2-piece and 4-piece options will be available for you!*personalized ribbon is available for any event

*custom box with wedding colors from our latest wedding this month

*my good friend Jess got married this June and gave out her favorite Chocolate Season treat...a mudball!

*4-piece boxes are always a great gift

*a new "purse" complete with handle, is one of my favorite boxes!

*seriously...how cute is this?

I am also narrowing down my choices for one or two more fun boxes to share with you (maybe "something blue"...a baby blue box with polka dots?) When they are available, I will be sure to announce our newest addition to the vast array of products already offered! :)

These are all new and exciting things, but bear with me, I won't be able to get the web site updated in the next day or two, but when those items are updated, I'll be sure to let you know!

On the home front, my husband Brad has officially become a full-time photographer! He's been shooting professionally for several years now, but always with a web design job as his "full-time" work. Well, it got to the point where is was soooo busy with photography, that he was working two full-time jobs. After much thought, he pursued his passion and we are so excited for this new stage of our lives!
http://www.bradleyjensen.com
Also at home, a new project is underway...the floors. 108-year-old floors are being sanded down, stained and "finished"....a task my husband is undertaking and wow...I'm impressed. I'll put up some before and after photos when he's done...it should be quite the project with great results!

I have another exciting announcement as well...but i will save that for a post later this week ;)

Best wishes to all!

Wine and Chocolate

2008-06-04T20:14:00.000-07:00

I'm back!!!
Europe was amazing and I can't even begin to tell you about all the places I went, chocolate I ate and people I met :0)
I will try to post very, very short stories after this one with random tidbits of information from Switzerland, France and Italy. But before I tell you about new chocolate flavor combinations, the most sinful drinking chocolate ever, or just about the beauty of Europe, I must tell you about an amazing small business owner I met while in wine country.
My friend Jonathan and I were out dining when we met David Clark, of Domaine David Clark, Vins fins de Bourgogne. He is a passionate man full of infinite wisdom regarding types of vineyards and soils, methods of growing grapes and the whole process of producing a fine bottle of wine. His wealth of knowledge is only surpassed by his kindness and genuine spirit.
Long story short (ok, not that short), David invited Jonathan and I out to his winery in Morey-Saint-Denis, in the heart of Burgundy, for a personal and informative tour. He is a native Englishman who started his own winery about 5 yrs ago. He produces 5 wines from his vineyards, (Bourgogne-Passetoutgrains, Bourgogne, Bourgogne-Grand Ordinaire, Cote-de-Nuits-Village, and Morey-St-Denis...all of which basically tell where his grapes are grown...) and this is where he hand prunes and personally tends to all 20,000 of his vines!!!

He is strictly organic and believes in old-style wine making, with no added enzymes for saturated color or other additives to change the most important part of the wine...the grape. David operates the whole winery himself, with added help during harvest. Fun fact about harvest, he will personally look over all the grapes and pick out any grapes with defects or bruising...using only the best for his wine....wow. :)

I could go on and on about David and they way he tends to his vines, but I also wanted to point out that he was even nice enough to not only explain the history of Burgundy wine making and about different soils and grapes, but he shared his very exciting 2007 vintage with us, which is currently aging in oak barrels. Yup, you're right...I was able to experience my very first pipette! Being the professional he was, David swirled and swished and spit...Jonathan and I...well...it was so great, we just swallowed! I couldn't get enough! Even though it was young, I could already see the differences and characteristics of the wines we tried!
And if that weren't enough, David even gave us a bottle of his 2006 Bourgogne Pinot Noir, which I think will age beautifully....if I can practice enough self-restraint to not open the bottle next week.

The only bummer is that David does not personally sell his wines, they are sold by other companies and stores. Lucky for us, he is sold in the USA, but sadly again, he isn't found in NE. So I am currently "googling" Domaine David Clark in hopes to snag more of his very special wines! (perfect for that family dinner or a relaxing night home...reading my favorite book as of yet...The Other Boleyn Girl...oh, the combination would be sinful!)

So please check out his web site, http://www.domainedavidclark.com
and drop him a line or read his blog, where you will learn a load of interesting wine information from a true source...perfect bits of info to impress your in-laws or your boss at the company party!

Lastly, I receive many requests about what wine to pair with chocolate. Personally, I have never tasted a wine I liked that would not compete with the different notes found in chocolate, so I often tell people to try a port or sherry. But, while in France, I tried a dessert wine that was phenomenal, and I can vouch that the source who recommended these two wines to me is top notch! (a writer for Robert Parker!)
So next time you're having a tasting party, try Mas Amiel- Maury and Dr Parce- Banyuls!

Best wishes to you all and more to come!!

And Baby Makes 3?

2008-04-16T07:19:00.000-07:00

Well, actually 4, in the case of my sister Amanda...who is now officially "expecting"! This will be Brad and Amanda's first child, but their first bundle of joy is Bosco, their lab mix. He's a 3-yr old who's full of energy and love...and is actually quite smart!

But my glowing sister is officially in her second trimester and I can't wait to keep you updated on baby details. A true Berg, she has suffered quite a bit of morning, afternoon, and evening sickness (thanks mom...) :0) but is on the upswing and says she can't wait to eat more Chocolate Season! (hee hee hee!)

I'm so excited to know the gender of the baby since I know whether a boy or girl, they will be showered in affection as well as "rocker" baby clothes. So if anyone knows where I can buy some baby Converse Chuck Taylors, drop me a line, since I want Baby Grout to match seamlessly with Mama and Papa Grout!

Sorry such a short post, but I just wanted to let everyone know how truly happy I am for my sister and I can't wait to rub the belly and *hopefully* be there for the delivery.

*just don't go into labor early amanda!!! i'm in a wedding the week before.....*
xoxo

PS- off to Switzerland, France and Italy today, so I will try to post, but if not, look for pictures and a chocolate adventure story to come once I get home!

An Easter Holiday

2008-03-24T18:32:00.000-07:00

So how was everyone's Easter weekend? My weekend started early with a Friday night dinner with Rod and Mary, my in-laws, who took us to a lil' country restaurant called "Around the Bend" I believe. Always wonderful catching up with them, after dinner they stopped home and saw "the kids," our dogs Barry and Leia...who were excited to see them (to say the least) but they were good sports and welcomed our pooches' affections with open arms :0)
Brad and I left home for Algona early Saturday morning, with Chocolate Season orders in tow for my loyal friends and customers in Algona. Also along for the ride...another cake! I've really been into making cakes lately, and I only hope to explore this wonderful art form more. This cake had dual purposes, serving as an Easter cake as well as a cake celebrating my brother Mike's birthday and my dad Ed's birthday. (we have a "birthday buddy" system in effect with the Berg family!)
It was a chocolate cake with whipped chocolate ganache and fruit preserves, covered in a layer of homemade buttercream and homemade marshmallow fondant. This was my first encounter with fondant...and wow...they should call it "Fun-dant"! (ok...that was cheesy...)
At home we had a fun time playing Mike's "Scene It" game, watching a movie (Berg tradition), as well as decorating eggs and having an indoor Easter egg hunt for my niece and nephew, Hannah and Ian. And it was super awesome seeing Amanda and Brad, my sister and brother-in-law...but sadly...we were missing one important family member...Sara. (miss you!) She's still in TX finishing her last clincal.
The weekend wrapped up with Easter service at First Baptist where Pastor Kevin's message is always inspiring and down-to-earth. All in all, a very fun and relaxing weekend and a great opportunity to see family once again...(thanks for hosting us mom and dad!)
I hope your Easter was full of Easter eggs and cookies, as well as family and friends, but lets not forget the real reason for Easter, which is to give thanks and rejoice in Jesus' resurrection and marvel at the sacrifice made so that we may have eternal hope and joy in our Savior!
Have a beautiful week!

Luck O' the Irish

2008-03-16T20:08:00.000-07:00

With St. Patty's Day just around the corner, I had just the right inspiration when playing around with cake the other day. My mother-in-law Mary is Irish, and her sister Sherrie, and husband Frank had been on my mind a lot lately, so I thought I would make them a cake! Knowing that Sherrie is very proud of her Irish heritage, a fun lil' shamrock cake would be a nice surprise for them, especially since I needed an excuse to see their smiling faces at Mulhalls...(where they are both floral geniuses!!!!!)
So this was the end product of my creative efforts...something cute and casual...nothing to serious...just fun with a couple tips and some way-sweet buttercream on a chocolate cake filled raspberry mousse! (Hope you enjoyed it Frank and Sherrie! It was wonderful seeing you!!!)
Also thoughts about St. Patty's Day brought up the idea of "lucky" and how lucky I am to have two awesome, beautiful, fabulous lil' sorority sisters. Though I'm alum now, I still continue the journey of getting to know and appreciate my Chi Omega family. The closest to me in my family is Julie, and most recently, her lil' sis Felicia.
Both girls have incredible hearts and a willingness to laugh and learn and be supportive...all of which came in handy this afternoon when I was teaching them some ins and outs of The Chocolate Season.
There were challenges (curling the gold ribbon and "sculpting" cellophane) and triumphs (learning the correct "nesting" technique and packaging those darn pretzels!) But the whole afternoon theses girls did nothing but laugh and ask questions and had such a willingness to learn about this side of my life, my passion for perfection and for really putting your heart into every little detail :)
So even though I am BEYOND "lucky" (or I prefer the word "blessed") with beautiful friends and supportive family, this afternoon with my two little sisters made me appreciate the little moments in life even more...so thank you girls for all you do and I only we hope we can hang out more! (no ribbon work or nesting required!)

New & Exciting?!

2008-03-07T17:56:00.000-08:00

I was able to experience a couple things this last week that were "New & Exciting!" I had the honor of "escorting" my sister Sara to her very last clinical in Texas. We met up with her friend Tara (fellow PT) and we caravaned to Oklahoma City. We spent the night and then finished the looooong journey to Abiline. Sounds like a smooth ride right? Well...there was one bump in the road.
Being 3 girls stuck in cars driving, we saw on the horizon a Dairy Queen sign...and had to stop. Pulled into a small town DQ and after talking a bit, we realized Tara's car was still running...and was locked. uh-oh. So after a call to the local police, we waited in the parking lot....sang the blues, played the guitar, sara hopped on her bike...you know, all the usual stuff you do when waiting for a locksmith. After a huge locksmith fee (poor Tara...) we got back on the road, blizzards in tow. *yum*
Once we arrived, my visit consisted of grocery shopping, a pizzeria, a southern Baptist church and an airplane delay...twice.
But a big "Thanks " to my two PT girls...I had tons of fun and wish you both luck in the next 8 weeks! :0)

Now, the second "New & Exciting" event this week....Artisan Marshmallows!!! These plush puffs of fun are made from all-natural ingredients and have been pre-released just for Easter. Our classic Vanilla Bean marshmallows are half-dipped in white chocolate, tinted with bright Easter colors...fun to nibble on yourself or stick in a loved one's Easter Basket.

Read the full description and see these sweet puffs here!
Special for March, the full line of flavors won't appear till the end of May...so snatch them up and try one before they're gone :)

I hope you all find something "New & Exciting" this upcoming week to spark your imagination or make a new memory...I sure did!

One Night as a Hopeless Romantic....

2008-02-25T19:35:00.000-08:00

I am a die-hard romantic. I was the little girl who wanted to grow up to be a princess. When reading any romantic books or watching romantic movies, I grew up thinking that every man gazed upon his lady love with a look only described best by writers like Jane Austen, and that every relationship began with letters dripping with romance, coy innuendos and formal requests to "call upon you again".
So when I received an invitation from my dear friend Amanda George, and her friend Heidi, to come to a "romantic girls' night," I jumped at the chance! My invitation was filled with rose petals and a tissue, as well as movie list including Emma, Sense & Sensibility, Pride & Prejudice as well as Anne of Green Gables and Little Women. I had my top pick, and all I had to do was RSVP.
Before arriving at the movie party, all us girls (about 12 of us I think) thought we were in for a night of homemade chili, snacks and a nice romantic movie...oh, and did I mention the dress code? Pajamas!
Upon entering Heidi's home, there was a trail of rose petals leading to her door, where I noticed a shelf of letters with various knick knacks partnered with each one. After a hearty chili dinner (yummm) our hostesses told us that before revealing the movie of choice, we were to watch a movie montage of different clips from all the movies. And that each girl had to read one of the "mysterious" letters which "appeared in Heidi's mailbox" that afternoon. The letters corresponded with each movie clip, featuring love sonnets from Mr. Darcy, Gilbert, Professor Behr etc....After gushing over the romantic writings of our fictional "gentleman callers" we popped in the movie of choice....Little Women. A quarter way into the movie we heard something hitting Heidi's french balcony doors. Snowballs? Who would be throwing snowballs? All of us girls ran over to the balcony doors and flung them open to find three, attractive, singing, men below us. They were serenading us, complete with guitar and the song, My Girl!The men (who turned out to be Heidi's brother and his two roomies, Arnie and Martin) proceeded to come up to the apartment and tell us how they saw us gorgeous girls from afar, and had to meet us in person! Cue the salsa music, and each gentleman picked a gal and started dancing! After dancing with all of us, we all received a red rose.
Then, the movie started up again and all of us looked around and said "did that really happen?" hearts a flutter, and cheeks rosy with a "puppy love" flush, we all looked like little girls, who just got done dreaming about their prince charming...only we had LIVED the romance!

After the movie, we sat around chatting about the night, the movie, our favorite characters and just relaxed. It was a fantastic Saturday night, and I could never be more in debt to my "very organized and super planner" hostesses than I am now...thank you for letting me live a romantic dream, to think that there really are Mr. Darcys still in this world and that though cheesy, and overdone by today's standards, our night of rose petals, love letters and dancing was just with this gal needed...and it was so much fun I wish I could re-live it night after night!

A Look at Valentine's....

2008-02-15T09:11:00.001-08:00

February 15th...a day of relaxation! The hustle and bustle and pick ups and deliveries during Valentine's Day are now over and it's time for a breather...
Valentine's Day was busy at The Chocolate Season, with lots of chocolate covered strawberries, truffles, gourmet apples and some special requests like peanut clusters, and uncommon Valentine goodies like cheesecake brownies, cheesecakes, cookies and other sweets for your sweetie :0)

Enjoy a couple pictures that show just a *tasting* of what we did this last week!

On the homefront, my husband was kind enough to cook a gourmet meal of feta cheese crusted top sirloins with merlot sauce, steamed asparagus and served it with my favorite wine, Vin du Bugey. He also picked up a pretty chocolate dome to share for dessert and we ended the night with a movie at home....which was perfect after a loooong day at work!
We also exchanged gifts after dessert and he picked out a top from my FAVORITE store, Francesca's Collection as well as made a homemade card, complete with pictures from the last year....*awwww*

What did everyone else do for Valentine's Day? Do you prefer to stay in or go out? Whatever you did, I hope that everyone ended the night with something delicious...because it just wouldn't be Valentine's without a little chocolate.....

Chocolate for Breakfast?

2008-02-04T08:20:00.000-08:00

What a fun weekend Brad and I had! We started off this Friday by attending Van and Bonnie's annual Chocolate Breakfast at the Living History Farms in Des Moines. A truly family affair, my mom came to Des Moines the night before to help set up my table and then that night my sister Amanda and husband Brad helped me cut fudge for samples. They both also stayed with me all morning, 4:30 am to 10:30 am, manning the table.
It was hard to keep count, but we're pretty sure we served 1,500-2,000 people that morning, with most people saying they had an hour wait outside....in the cold weather....just to browse through the Chocolate Breakfast. (those are truly chocolate fans!)
Another highlight that morning was getting the chance to talk on the Van and Bonnie show as well as to personally meet and chat with these radio superstars....
Later that night Brad and I attended and catered a First Baptist Church marriage retreat. The menu? A fondue dessert bar with angel food, cookies, pineapple, strawberries, dark and milk fondue and the the crowning touch....homemade marshmallows! The retreat was a lot of fun and a very worthwhile experience, and the response to the marshmallows was so strong, that i might start offering them on-line as a full-time product...what do you think?

Lastly, my sister Amanda and husband Brad (yes, there are two Brads in the family) hosted us for the weekend, letting us stay in their home and took us to dinner and church. To make the weekend complete, my brother Michael, wife Crystal, and niece and nephew Hannah and Ian came out to Granite City to share dinner with us, and it was truly a treat to see them (thanks for making the trip you guys!!!)
Thanks again to my wonderful family for such a fun and busy weekend, and thanks to Van and Bonnie for hosting such a unique event and letting us be a part of it!

Also...new specials at The Chocolate Season! While supplies last, you receive a 1/2 lb of assorted specialty bark with a $25 order, and there is a 25% discount on any Rocky Road popcorn size! Just enter in the coupon code, popcorn08 during check out!

Hope you enjoy these new specials, and check out a limited edition Valentine's Day box for your special someone this holiday! http://www.thechocolateseason.com/store/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=4

(just be sure to order by Feb. 10 if you'd like it shipped for the big day!)

Hmmm...what's new?

2008-01-17T21:28:00.001-08:00

Well, I know its been a couple weeks, but I promise I will be more faithful with blogging every week now that the holiday season is winding down!

Lots of fun stuff going on with the Jensen's...Bradley and I have recently remodeled our bedroom and I was able to be a part of Teresa's annual Bridal Show in Algona, IA. She has also done some remodeling to her bridal salon and it looks tres' chic!
Bradley and I support her business by being partnered with her on her "associated business" page. Brad took pictures of the show and I'm sure Teresa will put those up in a week or two. (check it out!) http://www.teresasbridals.com/associated_bus.htm
But the show was just tons of fun and I was so impressed by a fellow woman business owner...she is really quite savvy and has a such an evident passion and talent for what she does!

Something else fun last week was the celebration of Bradley's birthday! I made him a lemon-raspberry cake and had his family over for a chili supper. Then later that weekend we had some carrot cake with my family as we celebrated Bradley's birthday...again :0)

Next priority....Europe trip. If ANYONE has been to Switzerland, Italy or France, and has some helpful travel trips (in general) or tips for those countries...I would really appreciate it. I will be there close to 4 weeks taking notes on the culture, their views and reactions to chocolates and confections, as well as shadowing chocolatiers there. I hope to bring back the trends and time-honored practices put to use there!

Any comments or tips, please let me know!!

A New Year!

2007-12-30T23:12:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays! I hope you've had an enjoyable break from the workings of everyday life and have had time to reflect on your last year as well as get excited for the year ahead. I can't believe how fast 2007 flew by...a gazillion recipes, hundreds of orders and one chocolate school later we are making our way into 2008.

I'm so excited for the unknown opportunities that await us in this coming year and for the chance to offer new and innovative chocolate treats as well as time-honored favorites (including the possibilities of a small line of buttercreams, dipped dried fruit, cordial cherries and new ganache flavors!) Also new happenings may be a line of gift box towers, a more informative catering section for special events, easy to use features and updates to the shopping cart and specialized cakes. Look forward to new ideas to be brought back from Europe after I do chocolate/pastry shadowing in Italy, Switzerland and France in Spring '08.

Enough business talk though....I would love to hear how everyone's holiday was! I was lucky enough to spend time with my family in California as well as a mini-holiday with my other family, the Jensen's. Both holidays were full of fun, food and games, as well as adventures at Disneyland, the ocean while kayaking and at the airport....(gotta love traveling in the winter!) Thanks to my wonderful family for coordinating such a fun and memorable trip, and best wishes and all my love for your upcoming New Year!
As to my loyal clients and friends, thank you for your support this last year, as well as for all your sweet comments! (I hope to have some type of customer feedback page this year to highlight your kind thoughts...as I appreciate them dearly!) And a big thank you to my supportive and loving husband, as well as to my wonderful and uplifting family...without you this year would not have been as fun or as successful as it was!
Have a Happy New Year and take time to reflect on all that this year has to offer you!

Fun yet Hectic

2007-11-23T19:15:00.000-08:00

The last couple weeks have flown by in a haze...I guess that's what happens when the holiday season rolls around.

A couple weeks ago I had the pleasure of catering a dessert buffet for Sergeants Pet Care in Omaha for their quarterly celebration. What a wonderful company that's been around for over 100 years! They offer everything from flea and tick control, to treats and toys! They even offer health and grooming tips on their web site ( http://www.sergeants.com)

I worked with Karen, who was an absolute sweetheart...and had fun planning a menu full of goodies! (just a few shown below)
Also, you remember that sister of mine? I went to Norfolk to visit her for the weekend and stopped by her clinical site, went to a service at First Baptist Church, had fun in a kick-boxing class and went to a charming winery, Cuthills Vineyards in Pierce, NE....( http://www.cuthills.com)

We were able to chat with co-owner, Holly Swanson, and sample an assortment of red and white wines, all of which were fragrant and delicious.

After the weekend, we had a busy week of deliveries and shipments during the short holiday week, and now am enjoying Thanksgiving with my fabulous family in Algona.

I hope your holidays are off to an enjoyable start, but don't forget about the order deadline of December 12. If you would like your holiday orders ready to ship for Christmas, make sure to order before the 12th and write in the "comment" section that this is a holiday order, otherwise it will be processed as normal.
All orders after the 12th will be processed the first of January. If you'd like more information, click on the banner on our homepage
( http://www.thechocolateseason.com)

Enjoy your Turkey Day leftovers and have an awesome rest of the weekend!

Sister Sara

2007-10-29T18:08:00.000-07:00

So, I wasn't quite sure what to write about this week....I was thinking about the upcoming Legacy Ball in Algona that I'm donating to as well as attending...(it's a fundraiser for the hospital) then I thought about the new holiday keepsake boxes that will be appearing later this week...but all that was clouded by thoughts of my sister Sara.

Sara just started her rounds of clinicals for physical therapy school. She will graduate in May, but before she walks across the stage, she will have worked in Nebraska, Wisconsin and Texas. In the next 6 months she's gone, I'll probably only see her a couple of times.

This is quite a shock for me, considering she's been living with my husband and I for a couple months, but it seems much longer than that...(in a good way!) The house just doesn't seem the same without her, and I know the dogs are depressed and missing Aunt Sara :)

Who can live without her coming home at odd hours, leaving mounds of her PT books around the living room, or having to look at several outfits before she decides on the pink shoes with black sweater, instead of the red shoes with cream sweater....

All I can say is that my days seem just a little bit more lonely without her and my life doesn't seen as full without her REALLY random stories...and even though her stuff is still at my house (for now)...it just serves as a reminder that I will never again have those moments of her and I going to the grocery store or me coming home and seeing the dogs all over her on the couch while she tries to study on my laptop....
So this week I just want to remind you to appreciate the little things and really take a look at your life and those you love who are in it...because your life changes every day and you don't get a second chance to just stop and take it all in....so start today.

PS- Good Luck to Sara during this difficult and exciting time in her life! You'll do famously and I'm sure you'll make lots of friends and learn tons that will prepare you for your promising future....I'm so proud of you!

Are you ready for some....cookies?

2007-10-23T19:32:00.000-07:00

I don't know what's been going on this last week...but I guess everyone is in the mood for cookies! Of the several I've had already, two in particular stand out because they came from some very special people in my life.

One was from my best friend, Nicole. She, and the lovely people of Scottish Rite Park, had some fun contests last week and the ultimate winner received a custom basket. The winning team also receives something special this week...football shaped cookies, with the winning team's colors, gold and black, of the Iowa Hawkeyes.This proved to be slightly challenging in that the request was for a shaped chocolate chip cookie...and well, I found it's hard to shape a chocolate chip cookie because
A) the dough isn't stiff like a sugar cookie B) the chocolate chips cause the cookie shape to bake unevenly...causing the original oval shaped cookie to bake into a fatter, rounder, version of a football. :0)Well, I still think they turned out cute...especially with the finishing touch of detailing in white chocolate.

Another impressive cookie order was one from Priority Envelope. My sister Amanda and two of her sweet friends, Laurie and Jessica, placed an order of popcorn, ghoulish apples and cookies...lots of cookies....(taking advantage of the discount cookie special...smart girls!)It was fun making dozens of several varieties and packaging them with ribbon and just seeing tons of cookies...I hope they enjoy them as much I as enjoyed baking them (with love!)Hope you're all enjoying the final days of October and look forward to a new product in November...just in time for the holidays!!!

Two down...one to go!

2007-10-14T19:29:00.000-07:00

The countdown is on....of my favorite Fall things! I just recently had a wonderful day at Vala's Pumpkin Patch with my husband and the weekend before I enjoyed an authentic and wonderful s'more at the Chi Omega Alum exchange! (it was burnt and everything!) Now the last thing to accomplish? Eat some pumpkin pie! Mmmmmmm.......

This Saturday was tons of fun with my hubby....we started off going to the last official Farmers Market in the Old Market where we bought green beans, a couple squash, fresh tomatoes and.....enchiladas? Yes...only Brad and I would buy enchiladas at a Farmers Market! I also got to taste my first Pancrepe! Yum!!!

The rest of the afternoon was spent at the pumpkin patch...complete with afternoon rain showers! We ended our marvelous day with a movie at home....and all I can say is wow...i love my crazy, sweet, off-the-wall, kid at heart, handsome husband....who ate a really huge hot dog at the pumpkin patch! (off the topic...but seriously...it was huge) :0)
Hope you're all crossing off your favorite "to-do's" of Fall and I wish you an awesome week!

PS- a big shout out to the lovely ladies at Creighton's Gamma Phi Beta! Thanks for inviting me to speak about the world of chocolate...it was fun giving you a presentation and I hope you had as wonderful time as I did! You girls are super!

What a Fun Request!

2007-10-08T19:51:00.000-07:00

Last week I had tons of fun in the kitchen...especially with a certain order from my friend Kim! (this friend, actually, is semi-responsible for helping my husband and I meet..if she hadn't told him to leave his office and meet me out front...well...who knows what would have happened!)

So Kim and her beautiful girls must have been in the mood for some Halloween chow because that was the theme of their order. They were able to sample the cookies n' creme apple and ghoulish apple, which entitled them to free caramel corn. Since they got caramel corn, Kim ordered rocky road popcorn for her friend and some decorated sugar cookies and truffles for her friends and family (both of which, of course, were decorated to be like Halloween characters)

Making truffles look like a pumpkin, mummy and Frankenstein proved to be a fun, yet challenging request...but I was excited for this opportunity to deviate from the norm!

I hope you enjoy these pictures of my final creations for this wonderful family and a big thank you to Kim, Rick, Bailey, Riley and Samantha for allowing me to be artfully stimulated with these fun, fun projects! You guys are the best! xoxoxo

I Love Fall!

2007-10-04T08:04:00.000-07:00

Can you believe it's October? Wow, time has flown by...but how can I be sad about the passing of another year when I get to look out out huge windows to see the leaves changing and I get to feel the brisk morning air. This time of the year is always perfect...it feels cool during the morning and warms up to the mid to high 70's still by the afternoon...you get the best of both seasons right now!

Also with fall comes the excuse to eat s'mores (as if I ever needed an excuse!) eat caramel corn, caramel apples, pumpkin pie and break out the hot chocolate and spiced cider! Kids get excited about Halloween (My favorite costume was Peter Pan...I wanted to be a fairy, but my mom thought the Tinker Bell costume was to skimpy for a child my age!) I get excited about going to haunted houses, an apple orchard or pumpkin patch and eating pumpkin pie...(wait..did I say that already?!)

What are your favorite things about October? The weather? Food? Time with family? To help you celebrate all your favorite "Fall things", The Chocolate Season is featuring its Gourmet Apples.

Buy any 2 of your favorite apples and get a big ol' 8 oz bag of Sweet Caramel Corn for FREE! For the month of October only, you also get the chance to purchase a whimsical "Goulish Apple" (a white chocolate covered apple, tinted orange, and topped with dark chocolate)

And don't forget the cookie special, which will be extended till the end of October...Every cookie order is 20% off!
I hope the month of October is only the beginning of a Fall full of picture-worthy moments with friends and family, and I hope The Chocolate Season will help make every moment even sweeter!

Girls' Weekend!

2007-09-25T16:36:00.000-07:00

Well, this will be a short post, but I just wanted to tell you what a wonderful weekend I had in the great city of Omaha! My best bud from high school, Nicole, and my sister Amanda, drove to Omaha to spend some time with my twin Sara and myself.

We just wanted some time to catch up and hang out, and the weekend started out great with a wine and movie night, complete with some Rodney Strong Pinot Noir, bread, cheese and chocolate (of course!)

The weekend continued with a trip to the world-famous Omaha Zoo, some ice cream at Ted & Wally's and then a night out to Jazz (a wonderful restaurant at 14th and Farnam), and then meeting up with friends at Upstream.
Thanks girls for such a great time, wonderful talks and just an opportunity to reconnect!

Anniversary Weekend

2007-09-17T19:18:00.000-07:00

Hello all! I know it has been a couple weeks since I've written, it has just been a busy time getting back into the flow of things after being in New Hampshire and Georgia!

The last couple weeks have been spent completing orders and setting up meetings with new clients, one of which I'm very excited for. I'll be speaking at a Creighton sorority in October, educating them about the benefits of sorority life after graduation, (I'm a Chi Omega alum) the risks and rewards of starting up a new business and life as a business woman/chocolatier.

This past weekend was my one-year wedding anniversary with my darling husband Brad. Brad and I went to Algona to celebrate with my parents, but before the celebration, we both had a wedding to attend in Minnesota. Brad was the photographer and I provided truffles and bon bons for the dessert reception. Brandon and Ana (groom and bride) were super fun and their wedding was an intimate affair for close friends and family. We were both honored to be a part of their day! (here are some pictures of their chocolates!)

My anniversary was wonderful! Brad surprised me with a leather-bound storybook album of our wedding day...it was soooo beautiful! Mom and Dad cracked open a wine from their trip to Paris and shared our wedding cake with us....I was surprised at how NOT bad it was! (well...it wasn't awesome....but for being a year old....it wasn't to bad!)

I also got to catch up with some friends from Pharmacists Mutual, drop off some orders for a few employees, and also bring a gift basket for the folks at Kemna Auto Center, with whom I am now corporate partners with...buy a new car...get a customized chocolate basket with Kemna coffee mug! I'm very excited for this new adventure and love working with all the considerate employees at Kemna!

That's about it for this week...but more to come later! Have a wonderful week and check out the 20% cookie special at The Chocolate Season (good till October!)
http://www.thechocolateseason.com

Finally Back!

2007-08-29T12:34:00.000-07:00

I feel like the last couple weeks have been full of traveling....well...they have! First chocolate school at L.A. Burdicks and then a personal trip to Georgia to see my wonderful and very sweet best friend, Amanda.

At Burdick's we were immersed in gourmet food and chocolate goodies. Our instructor Michael is a culinary genius and the most down-to-earth person I've met in a long time. The class consisted of 10 strangers who became great friends by the end of the week, sharing pictures of kids and dogs and swapping stories from the week....I love that we still e-mail each other and I hope to stay good friends with everyone!

The knowledge and hands on learning experiences gained that week are indescribable and I would go back in a heartbeat.
*Look forward to brand new flavor combinations for chocolates...my creativity was unleashed and I can't wait to make brand new recipes for everyone! ex: burnt caramel chocolate, lavender vanilla and mojito...just to name a few!

As for GA, my best bud Amanda and her husband Nathaniel hosted Brad and I for a couple days and they were awesome hosts! We got to stay at a little apartment in Savannah and they took us out on the town, we went sightseeing, stayed at their house in Brunswick, smoked pork and chicken for us, made a good ol' Southern breakfast...complete with grits...and we had a whole day at the beach!

Thanks for the wonderful memories, inspiring conversations and just for a great, great time!!!

To New Hampshire....and Beyond!

2007-08-11T08:24:00.000-07:00

Well, actually I'm not going much beyond New Hampshire..but I thought the title sounded kind of fun!

I'll be going on a business trip to New Hampshire from today the 11th, till Sunday the 19th. I'll be studying some new chocolate techniques with world famous chocolatier...Larry Burdick! Always ranking in America's Top Ten Chocolate Shops, this will truly be a memorable experience and I can't wait to pass on all the *delicious* tips and trends in the chocolate business to you!

Any order or email received while I'm away will be processed and answered when I return in a timely manner. Have an enjoyable week and look for some fun pictures to go up on-line when I return home to Omaha!

Any Requests From the Crowd?

2007-08-06T19:45:00.000-07:00

Something I love providing for my customers is the ability for them to be able to "create". I offer many products at The Chocolate Season, but sometimes occasions call for something unique, or custom made just for that person. For example, your dad's birthday is around the corner and you want to have something made just for him....you search the bakeries and check Hy-Vee, but nothing seems quite right.

That's where The Chocolate Season comes in handy. So your dad loves cinnamon and bananas and hates chocolate....what's a girl to do? How about create a bananas and cream cake with vanilla bean and an Italian buttercream frosting with cinnamon, then top it off with baked banana slices and some whipped cream art? (Mmmmmmmmmm)

So was the case last week with a request for an anniversary cake. What does an anniversary mean to you? To me, it means wine and flowers, chocolate and fruit. So how about create a merlot chocolate cake, with chocolate raspberry frosting and top it with sugared rose petals? I loved this cake so much that I decided to add it to my product list!
http://www.thechocolateseason.com/store/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=39

What's the point of this particular journal post? Just letting you know that food is fun, and if you have ideas...let's try to create something fantastic together!

Lovin' Algona...

2007-08-01T08:30:00.000-07:00

I just went back to my hometown Algona for a couple days to meet with customers and enjoy some time with my parents.

It was a wonderful opportunity to deliver some orders to friends back home (thank you to the Tim and Barbara, Robin and Sandy!) as well as visit with some businesses about options they can use to show their customers appreciation, send holiday wishes or receive information on retail opportunities (great visiting ya'll at Interior Designs, Erpelding & Voigt, Northwest Federal, Iowa State Bank, Styles Salon, The Gallery, Kossuth County Hospital and Teresa's Bridal)

I know some say that people are just different in small towns, but sometimes, I think it's true! I was greeted with such warmth and enthusiasm, it made all my visits so pleasurable and it was very exciting talking with others about the products we have here at The Chocolate Season and all the options that are available for customization!

I can't wait to go back to personally deliver customer orders or to talk with others about The Chocolate Season, and I know I'll have an enjoyable time with the friendly people of Algona, as well as investigate the wealth of opportunities that lie there!

PS-thanks to my parents for putting up with me for a couple days, dad for taking me golfing (swing towards the hole!) and mom for the morning of bagels and cream cheese and the funny conversations with Sandy at The Daily Grind, among other countless moments!

Bridal Fun!

2007-07-22T18:36:00.000-07:00

This week was full of fun for brides. Earlier this week I had the chance to be a part of a beautifully planned bridal shower. Hosted by Ally Strobel, she had theme colors of pink, orange and green and every detail was accounted for...from an ironing board woman to suckers with coordinated ribbons and a 5 gallon bucket of margarita mix!
Here are a couple pictures showcasing just a few of the goodies I was able to bring to the shower!

Also this weekend was a combination wine tasting shower at Vino 100 and crazy fun bachelorette party for my sorority "big sis" Rachel! I brought some truffles to the wine tasting shower, because wine and chocolate are as perfect a pair as peanut butter and jelly!!!
(the bride, Rachel, is the good-lookin' gal on the left, then her mom, and her twin sister Renee, who was the brains behind the Rachel day o' fun!)

Lovely Weekend...

2007-07-16T21:29:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone's week is off to a good start! I've had a great couple of weeks...partially due to the fact that my sister Amanda from Boone, and my brother-in-law Mike was in town from Texas...it's always a fun and fantastic time when they're around...love those guys!!! (Can't wait for you both to visit again! Miss ya already!....we can have ice cream sundaes again when both, or either one of you guys, come back)

My weekend was full of some fun as well...starting with a date my husband Brad took me on....went to a lovely restaurant called Firebirds, where I know have my first official "favorite" meal! It was fantastic!!! He surprised me with a summer dress from a boutique and the night ended with a movie.

Brad, Sara, Leia (our puppy) and I also went to the Luis Palau Heartland Festival. A Christian festival, it had family-fun activities like characters from Veggie Tales, motorcycle and bike stuntmen, food tents, inflatable games, HUGE christian concerts, and tons of other fun stuff....not to mention the awesome Luis Palau....who gave inspirational messages to the hundred thousand people who attended.

To round out the last couple days, I now am the official owner of a new Apple Mac Book (my other lap top died...well, not quite dead yet...but it's definatly on life support...and dying quickly) Always a PC lover, my husband has converted me to the Apple...we'll see how it goes (as it is all a little bit foreign to me right now!) :0)

New happenings at The Chocolate Season, I'll be catering a beautiful bridal shower, hosted by a good friend, Ally Strobel, this week. She's requested a very delicious array of desserts and appetizers, and I can't wait to make her bright, beautiful cupcakes, with Italian buttercream frosting...mmmm....so light and airy...perfect!

Can't wait to blog again, and feel free to drop me a line regarding the new shopping cart options, like gift certificates, wish lists, and the ability to read and review products!

Have a great week!