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It seems that everywhere I go, I see Easter candy. I use this term loosely, for these days I classify anything wrapped in pastel colors as being “Easter.” These days M&M’s come in lavender and Reese Peanut Butter Cups are wrapped in green; and they’re everywhere. No matter how much pink, yellow, and light blue I see, the candy that represents this quintessential moment in spring the best are marshmallow chicks – Peeps. These colorful and squishy chicks have been around for decades. Ever since its debut in the 1920s, they have become an important part of Spring tradition. I remember chewing into its sticky goodness while hunting for Easter eggs when I was younger. That’s how important Peeps were to me and my friends (and probably to you too).

So you can imagine my surprise when I learned that people use Peeps for a purposes other than sugar highs. The Washington Post is hosting a competition for dioramas created with Peeps. They are encouraging their readers to recreate a famous event or scene and have the characters represented by Peeps marshmallow chicks. Apparently, they will announce the winners April 8, and I can’t wait to see actual photos of the submissions. Another use for Peeps involves a microwave, toothpicks, and a very bored individual or two. Called “Peeps Jousting,” you stick a toothpick into each Peep, arrange them to face each other in the microwave, turn it on, and watch as the toothpicks fly into the other chick. The winner is the Peep chick that does not deflate when hit with the opponent’s “lance.” (I’m not kidding. I found documented evidence that this is a real game.)

Whether you like Peeps for its sugar overload, jousting, or creative purposes, in the spirit of this Easter season it’s hard not to buy a couple of boxes of yellow, pink, and blue chicks to bring back home. I know I will be enjoying a few and sharing the rest. Will you?

The House of Representatives passed the ban on marijuana-flavored candy this past week. Apparently, some candy man thought it was a great idea to use hemp essential oil to create candy that taste like marijuana. And voila! Products like the Pot Sucker and Kronic Kandy are born. While the defenders of these products say these are harmless and for novelty purposes only, our government disagreed. Candy has great appeal to children, so what kind of message would we be sending to the trick-or-treater when we hand out a Pot Sucker along with a KitKat? Implicitly, we’re saying that the Pot Sucker is just as acceptable as the latter. I say that until we legalize marijuana in this country, there is no need for us to paint a picture that marijuana is okay to the kids. There is no need for this type of implicit endorsement.

Where did the good old days of innocent candy go? Novelty candies are supposed to be fun! Treats like Tulip Lollipops, Ring Pops, and Candy Lipstick have become an essential part of childhood and growing up. I remember exchanging the flower-shaped lollipops with my valentines in elementary school and rocking a big red Ring Pop on my finger as a fashion statement. There is no room or place in my childhood for a Pot Sucker or Kronic Kandy.

Whether you’re for the Vote Hemp camp or the other, since it is now that much harder for any of us to purchase such products, I recommend other novelty sweets.

I thought I’ve heard them all. Wear your lucky boxers, kiss the rabbit’s food, throw salt over your shoulder, take an Adderal, or pray to your god. Students relied on these various methods to perform better on their standardized tests. Though I’m not superstitious nor extremely religious, I remember when I had to take my SAT’s I was ready to try just about anything. But now there’s scientific evidence that all a student has to do to increase concentration in a test environment is to eat a peppermint!

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati have found that a whiff of peppermint helped their test subjects perform better on tasks that required prolonged concentration. Middle schools in Maryland’s Montgomery County have been distributing peppermint candies to their students during their state assessments ever since. Come to think of it, when I was taking my mandatory state assessment in 7th grade, my teacher handed out peppermint candies during our 5 minute break. I’m not sure if it helped, but I remembered welcoming and appreciating the gesture.

Of course, there are still others who roll their eyes at such research. Either way, it can’t hurt to supplement your studies with a peppermint as an extra boost when taking the exam.

Who knew? So next time you want to score high, take a peppermint.

Without a doubt, supermodel Tyra Banks knows a thing or two about fashion. On March 14, the girls from this season’s America’s Next Top Model had a photo shoot where they didn’t model clothes. Instead, they wore candy! This got me thinking about candy as clothes. Is it possible? Better yet, is this a revolutionary idea that the candy man has not yet explored?

Upon further reflection, I realized that wearing candy is not a new concept. There has even been a CandyBlog article about candy lingerie and jewelry before. And of course, pop media and soap operas have shown us that chocolate syrup is certainly a way of “wearing” confections as well, albeit one wouldn’t be able to do that tastefully in public. Even Jessica Simpson’s edible lotions called Desserts are a form of wearable candy designed to lure us to have a taste of what we’re wearing. It’s nothing new.

However, just for a moment indulge me in picturing a Chloe tunic embroidered with sprinkles or a Marc Jacobs trench decorated with jelly beans. Or even a pair of Gucci platforms layered with chocolate wafers instead of patent leather. Or instead of the It dog or bag of the moment, the fashionistas would sport a lollipop. Wouldn’t these pieces create a stir in the fashion world of haute couture? Perhaps Tyra Banks can bring back authenticity and tastefulness (literally) to ready-to-wear fashion next time she decides to incorporate candy into a photo shoot. In any case, at least she understands the importance of candy and the connections we all have with sweet decadence.

I spent the past five days in utter bliss. I left the blizzards of Pittsburgh behind and baked poolside in 90 degree weather in Acapulco, Mexico. The best part of my trip? The open bar, where I was able to sip Strawberry Daiquiris and Bahama Mamas all day and all night long.

You can only imagine my rude awakening when I walked out of the doors of Pittsburgh International Airport. Not only was it snowing, but the weather forecast warns us to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day indoors! I watched my golden tan fade away as I rotted indoors, and fervently wished there was a way for me to bring back the Mexico sun.

Thankfully I found a way to bring a small piece of Acapulco back with me. Liquor Lickers! We’ve all seen chocolates with a liquor center. I, for one, have never really enjoyed them. However, Liquor Lickers are different. They are lollipops with a fun-flavored alcoholic beverage that you can taste all throughout. Plus, they come in a variety of flavors: Margarita, Butter Rum, and Pina Colada. You’ll never get bored with these.

Since I can’t bring back a piece of that sun, at least I have the memories of the open bar to appease me. Go on and enjoy! Let’s pretend the summer days are here.

I am not a fan of big changes, especially when I’m comfortable with the current state of people, things, and situations. I’m wary when my favorite restaurant hands me a new menu. It even bothered me when Bazooka gum and Cracker Jacks both changed their original packaging. Sure they still taste the same, but why change something that’s been working for ages? Although I am resistant to change, one change in an existing product line both interested and enlightened me, so that even I have to admit this is an improvement of something that was already great.

Let me introduce (Drum roll please) Hershey’s Chocolate Bubble Yum. Yes, that’s right. A higher power combined the fun of gum-chewing and the sweetness of Hershey’s chocolate to produce a whole new take on chocolate candy. This may be old news to some of you, but I only recently discovered this new invention (probably since it’s so hard to find). I admit when I first heard about it, I was extremely skeptical. I wondered how such a combination would taste. I’m a huge fan of Bubble Yum, particularly watermelon and grape, and I enjoy all kinds of chocolates. As much as I love chocolate and fruity bubblegum individually, I couldn’t imagine how my tongue would receive it.

My verdict: it’s still distinctly Bubble Yum but chocolaty sweet. In fact, if you like Tootsie Rolls, this is the treat for you. Once you get over the initial shock of tasting chewy chocolate, it’s quite deliciously bubblicious. What will they think of next?

In light of the Academy Awards last night, I got to thinking about some of the great movies released in the past year. Yes, it’s been a great year for The Departed and DreamGirls, but I was thinking of the smaller films - the “surprise” hits. One such surprise was Thank You for Smoking, starring Aaron Eckhart. As I was reflecting on how the movie so skillfully mocked the tobacco industry’s knack of denial and lack of responsibility, I realized that there was a candy solution to the smoking problem. Why continue to smoke when more and more states are taking steps to ban smoking in restaurants and bars, cancer research is becoming harder to ignore, and you can’t go up a flight of stairs without wheezing? Why not turn to fun and great-tasting alternatives, like chocolate and licorice?

I’m not talking about a bland over-the-counter chocolate bar or Twizzler. I’m suggesting the Cigarette Candy Chocolate and Licorice Pipes. No, I’m not naïve. I know there are components like nicotine that you won’t find in the original Cigarette Candy and Bubblegum Cigars. Let’s give your lungs a break, and turn instead to rejuvenating your tastebuds.
Try one, and we will thank you for smoking.

Last summer, I got roped in to throwing a bachelorette party for one of my good friends, and man, it’s difficult to find fun party favors and games! I drove to a bunch of different places, looking for some racy/fun stuff to give her or do at the party, but the pickings were slim. If only I’d known about all the great stuff that was out there!

Start off by soothing the stressful bride-to-be by giving her some Chai Latte, Tai Tea or Milk Chocolate Body Wash. It’ll help her chill out in the crazy pre-wedding days. If I were a bachelorette, I’d love to receive a full-size chocolate champagne bottle. There’s always enough booze at a wedding; there should always be more chocolate!
I’ve always been a huge fan of candy jewelry, so I was delighted to find a risque line of candy “clothing” completely appropriate to give at a bachelorette party. It would be fun to have each guests buy and give one item: there are candy bras, candy g-strings, candy garters, candy suspenders, and even a candy “posing pouch,” so your friends’ fiancee can get in on the fun. If hard candy’s not your taste, there’s also the option of outfitting your friend with some gummie panties and bras. Even if that’s not your scene, pick up some gummi handcuffs for the adventurous couple in your life. And with gummi handcuffs, you don’t even need a safe word! If you don’t like what’s going on, just gnaw on through to freedom.

Finally, there’s candy designed for the party as a whole. Grab some risque Candy Hearts, but try not to blush if they’re a little more, say, adventurous than the candy hearts you’re used to. There are also some cinnamon Hot Lips to share with your friends.

When you add your girlfriends, lots of chocolate and a bit of raciness, well, there’s no better recipe for a night out than that.

Guess who’s back?
Back again.
Cadbury Crème Eggs Are Back.
Tell your friends!

What’s better than milk chocolate bars? Fun shaped milk chocolates! Not only are they egg-shaped, the crème filling is also colored in white and yellow to imitate the likeness of the egg yolk. An even more interesting thing about Cadbury Crème Eggs is that according to the manufacturer, Cadbury Schweppes, they’re made all year round but only sold from New Year’s Day to Easter. For those of you who don’t know, last Wednesday (Ash Wednesday) officially signaled the countdown to the Easter Holiday. Now that Lent has officially begun, it’s less than 40 days until Easter Sunday.

Cadbury Crème Eggs were as much a part of my childhood Easter preparations as egg dying. As I dipped an egg into the red or green egg dye, and stuck stickers for decoration, a Cadbury Crème Egg and a Marshmallow Peep would be within arm’s reach. I only associate good times with the fun eggs.

Since the next time you’ll be able to buy these yummy treats after April 8, 2007 is January 1, 2008, I suggest you stock up. If you’re as big of a fan of these tasty chocolate eggs as I am, I suggest you prepare a healthy stash and enjoy them year round with your family, friends, or just yourself.

Those of you who know of Nestle’s popular 100 Grand chocolate bars may be wary of the title of this very post. And I guess I don’t blame you. In the Summer of 2005, a radio DJ in Lexington, Kentucky hosted a contest for the tenth caller to win “100 Grand.” This WLTO-FM (Hot 92) DJ told the winner to wait at Central Bank the next day where she would receive her “100 Grand.” What did he really give her, you ask? The yummy 100 Grand chocolate bars! Though he was careful not to mention dollars in any of his phrasing, he was still promptly sued for his intention to “cheat, defraud, and play a malicious job upon the plaintiff.”

Now, I don’t know about you, but when I first heard about this lawsuit I couldn’t believe it. Yes, it was a malicious joke, but I can’t help but think that this lawsuit stemmed from disappointment above anything else. To get a chocolate bar instead of $100,000 can be disappointing to some people, but I just want to point out that I’m sure the DJ listeners got a kick out of listening to the joke afterwards and his job is to entertain them. Above all else, the winner didn’t lose anything and she did walk out of the bank with something more than she walked in with. I believe the lawsuit will not stick, but I haven’t found any followup articles to tell me so or otherwise.

100 Grand is simply delicious, and though others may take advantage of the name itself, I say we should all enjoy it for its rich combination of chocolate, caramel, and crisped rice taste. And instead of being greedy like our plaintiff, share the delicious wealth with someone else. You get two yummy bars for the price of one. Go on! Enjoy your 100 Grand and be that much richer in satisfaction.