The Candy Basket

Long time, no see

2011-05-11T15:38:00.000-07:00

I suppose ten months is long enough to make you eager to read another blog post!
So much has happened...where to start?
I could bore you with details and go over every event, but I'll spare you the time, and let's just pick it up right here, right now...May 11, 2011!
We've had a great Spring so far, but today's weather was miserable...enough so that I found plenty of time to sit at the computer and write this blog!
Here's a display we did this week. Sometimes I don't understand why everyone doesn't love
some of our cool things as much as I do! These apple candles are a great example...
I loved them, had to have them, ordered them, got them in the store, and there's been basically zero interest in them:-(
I love that they're unscented, since we can't allow other aromas to mix with our chocolates/candies/coffee aromas.
I love that they're the cool color...they're like a permanent apple display for someone's kitchen, and they're still HERE...not on customers' kitchen counters! WTH?!

Anyway, Melissa never did like them and didn't want me to order them, but I was determined, and managed to spend a pretty penny buying so many. Oh well, maybe I'll just have to change the color scheme in my own kitchen!

That's the thing about owning a retail store....as one of my reps once said "It's all a crap shoot", and by golly, I think she was right! I'm amazed at how quickly some things sell, while others (like these glorious candles) just sit and collect dust!

Anyway, the dust-ables will hopefully be gone Friday, as it's our traditional "Triskaidekaphobia Sale" which we have every Friday, the 13th. Everything in the store is HALF PRICE (except food and drink), and we usually have a tremendous turnout.

So maybe, just maybe, our apple candles will appeal to SOMEONE....at half price!
Till next time,
Remember - an apple a day keeps the Dr. away!!!!
Gyan

Oddly delicious!

2010-07-31T15:41:00.000-07:00

We're always on the lookout for new and unusual chocolates, and the folks at Cocopotamus in New Mexico don't let us down....Woohoo!

New flavors of Coco-P. fudge ball truffles are here!

Their diabolical chocolatiers have been cooking up 4 fab new flavors of handmade dark chocolate fudge truffles for our awesome customers (that’s YOU!) Good news? They are yummy and they are in the house!

BO PEEP – Meet Bo Peep, the black sheep of the Cocopotamus family. Deeper, richer and of course darker. She’s a darling at a stunning 88% dark chocolate. Infused with a double dose of pure Mexican vanilla and just a sheepish hint of organic black raspberry.

Rolled in Swiss fort brut extra dark cocoa powder.

MANGO TANGO – Meet the extreme fruit around town, Mango Tango. It’s organic mango like you’ve never seen it before – the fruit flavor explodes! Enhanced by a pinch of lime and ancho chili (or chile, as they call it in Albuquerque).

Topped with a dollop of cute mango frosting.

LOVE POTION #10 – Meet their darling romantic, Love Potion #10. Inspired by Grandma’s pie, it is organic strawberry and a generous dose of Mexican cinnamon. Sweet, bashful, romantic. She’s a darling! What’s not to love?

Topped with a cute dollop of strawberry frosting.

COWGIRL – Meet the feisty new girl on the ranch, Cowgirl. She’s deep (infused with spices), she’s rich (kicked up by molasses), she’s sweet (that’s the organic honey talking!) Cowgirl is a Honey BBQ fudge truffle, mole poblano style. You’ve never tasted anything like it!

Topped with a drizzle of ancho chile frosting.

We'll continue to carry the most delicious, unusual chocolates from around the world, and we'll keep pursuing new avenues of culinary excellence! It's a challenge sometimes, especially when customers are a tad skeptical or assume it's too unusual. Our jobs...MY JOB...is to introduce Candy Basket customers to the best chocolates we can find!

Happy thoughts (of chocolate)...
Gyan

Ah, yes, I remember.....

2010-06-20T12:13:00.000-07:00

Since it's Father's Day, I've been thinking a lot about my Dad, Robert G. Summers. He was a great guy - very smart, an accomplished musician, disciplined, thrifty (in a good way), and devout.
My dear daughter-in-law sent me this, and it made me think of my days growing up in my Father's home. I think his thumbprint is on everything I do, from being a parent to being a shop proprietress. This one's for you, Dad.....I miss you.

How's This For Nostalgia?

All the girls had ugly gym uniforms?

It took three minutes for the TV to warm up?

Nobody owned a purebred dog?

When a quarter was a decent allowance?

You'd reach into a muddy gutter for a penny?

Your Mom wore nylons that came in two pieces?

You got your windshield cleaned, oil checked, and gas pumped, without asking, all for free, every time? And you didn't pay for air? And, you got trading stamps to boot?

Laundry detergent had free glasses, dishes or towels hidden inside the box?

They threatened to keep kids back a grade if they failed. . and they did it!

No one ever asked where the car keys were because they were always in the car, in the ignition, and the doors were never
locked?

Playing baseball with no adults to help kids with the rules of the game?

Stuff from the store came without safety caps and hermetic seals because no one had yet tried to poison a perfect stranger?

When being sent to the principal's office was nothing compared to the fate that awaited the student at home?

Basically we were in fear for our lives, but it wasn't because of drive-by shootings, drugs, gangs, etc. Our parents and grandparents were a much bigger threat! But we survived because their love was greater than the threat.

Summers filled with bike rides, Hula Hoops, and visits to the pool, and eating Kool-Aid powder with sugar.

Soda pop machines that dispensed glass bottles.

Coffee shops with Table Side Jukeboxes.

Blackjack, Clove and Teaberry chewing gum.

Hey, wait.....we still carry these nostalgic gums, but they're definitely more than a dime, or whatever they cost way back when!

Didn't that feel good, just to go back and say, 'Yeah, I remember that'?

And with all our progress, don't you just wish, just once, you could slip back in time and savor the slower pace, and share it with the children of today.

Happy Father's Day, fellas. Hope you enjoyed this trip down memory lane!

Until next time, I remain Bob's little girl,

Gyan

Initially Yours

2010-06-02T16:11:00.000-07:00

Welcome to June! June always brings Father's Day and weddings - lots of them! It's hard sometimes for me to think of a good gender-neutral gift for the newlyweds. But this year I have a store full of perfect gifts for both Dad and newlyweds, and I think you're going to like it when I tell you we're offering all of our Mud Pie glass initial gifts at HALF PRICE throughout the entire month of June! This includes this gorgeous barware you see here, plus lots of other great, functional pieces for the home...perfect for Dads and newlyweds!

The cool decanters pictured below are our favorites. Think outside the box with these - they're so versatile! Fill them with bath salts and put them in the bath...or load them up with peanuts or gumballs for a desk or side table! Do something creative with them now - the timing's great, because they're one of the initial glass gift items HALF PRICE!

Another great gift for throughout the home are our initial frames. They're heavy glass, hold a 4x6 horizontal picture, and feature the same bold font. UBER cool for men and women!

These great little bottle stoppers are not only useful, they're the perfect add-on gift to let someone know you're thinking just of them. Might as well think of yourself, too, since they're now HALF PRICED through June!

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these trays! I've personally given them as gifts on several occasions, and they look even more attractive at HALF PRICE, don't you think?! If you ever wanted to put out some cheese and crackers, add some grapes, and maybe some apple slices, these are the perfect serving pieces!

So we obviously have some great personalized gifts, and obviously I am ready to let them go HALF PRICE for a limited time, namely the month of June. It's a perfect match! I do hope y'all will take advantage and will come shop and stock up on these great gifts!

Gyan

Happily ever after.....

2010-05-22T15:22:00.000-07:00

We're smack-dab in the middle of wedding season! With so many things to think of, every Bride can use some assistance! We have a multitude of little things to help her with her journey to the BIG DAY! Everything you'll see here is from our gorgeous (Tiffany blue) Mindy Weiss collection.
Sometimes even Brides forget!Their brains become housing units for loads of information, and there's NO WAY to remember it all! This handy-dandy notebook is perfect to use to jot down all the necessary appointments, meetings, etc. PLUS, it includes a wedding schedule to keep Brides up-to-date on their planning.

No sweat over how to ask friends & family members to be a part of the special day AND let them know how much they mean. This darling little 'Wish' necklace has a sweet poem, a little silver heart, and is the perfect token for the gals who will be fair maidens!

Every Bride wants to cherish memories forever!
This triple photo-album set is a fantastic gift. There's an album for engagement photos, one for the actual wedding photos, and an album for all the pics from the honeymoon! This triple set is perfect for the Bride-to-be, and makes a wonderful shower gift.

As she's wrapping up all the loose ends, the Bride will need to be thinking about how to thank all those who helped her. We recommend this set of 8 Tip Envelopes, which includes note cards and decorative seals. Might as well share the 'love' with something chic, right?!

Finally, after a long day of wedding planning, every Bride deserves to slip her tootsies into something soft and snuggly at the end of the day. These "I DO" slippers will help her escape the planning and concentrate on feeling good!

There are still many more treats from our Mindy Weiss collection, but we just wanted to give you an idea of how we can help the Bride-to-be prepare for her special day in a special way!

Never Mother of the Bride, only the Groom....
Gyan

Cinco de Mayo

2010-04-29T08:39:00.000-07:00

Cinco de Mayo is just around the corner! We haven't had a chance to do anything special at the shop for a while, so we're celebrating the day with another "Sip & Shop"!

Festivities get underway at 5:00 next Wednesday. Several of our 'hot and spicy' foods will be served, as well as liquid refreshments.

Best of all, we're offering 25% off STOREWIDE (except coffee).

It's the perfect time for some last minute Mother's Day and Graduation gift shopping, as well as general "I Want it" shopping for all of us!

We're going to shut down at 7, so for two hours next Wednesday, we hope we have lots of celebrants who will join us with a little spicy sipping & shopping!

Mamasita Gyan

The French Connection

2010-04-22T16:06:00.000-07:00

Looks good, doesn't it? Guess what...it IS good! Tres' bien! It's straight from Paris, by a great chocolatier named Michel Cluizel. He's been creating artisan chocolates since 1948, so I guess he knows his stuff!
Enchante', Michel!

We're proud to announce the arrival (today!) of these terrific truffles and bonbons (bites).
The two featured here are the Cappucino cup, which features a dark chocolate cup filled with coffee and milk chocolate ganache, and the Champignon Caramel, a cute little mushroom filled with caramel croquant.

Other flavors we are now carrying include lots of fancy French names I can't read OR pronounce! Suffice it to say I'm going to give you a rundown on flavors and let you come in and try your hand at proper pronunciation!

Flavors include a dark chocolate cork filled with a Bordeaux ganache, dark chocolate with lemon marmalade, Cointreau with orange peel marmalade, a dark cup filled with hazelnut praline' and topped with gianduja, a huge raspberry truffle paste enrobed in dark chocolate, a dark chocolate piece filled with coffee ganache topped off with a speck of (edible) gold, Cointreau with dried fruit pieces, and one more dark chocolate with Los Ancones ganache.

We'd love to introduce you to these pieces! Michel Cluizel is basically the quintessential chocolate, and we feel we have a very pleasing assortment with this first order!

Bon soir,
Gyan

Administrative Professionals' Day

2010-04-17T15:00:00.000-07:00

Next Wednesday is the official Administrative Professional's Day, and we all know what happens when the boss forgets...that's why it's been broadened to include the entire week!!

These delicious Nam's Bits cookies will be a thoughtful way to thank your 'peeps' for all they do...and perhaps more importantly, there are plenty to share in each bag!! Yeah!

If one bag of delicious baby chocolate chip cookies seems inadequate, we'll be glad to help you give bigger thanks! How about adding a box of Godiva chocolate, perhaps some coffees or teas, a bag or two of candy, and other delicious treats? We'll put them all in a gift box/bag for you, add an enclosure card, and we'll even deliver to your office!

We also have a great assortment of Anne Taintor's outrageous office-related items, like coffee mugs, sticky-notes, file folders, notebooks, boxes of notes, even emery boards! Anne's off-beat humor is matched with vintage images, and brings howls of laughter to everyone who eyes it! Some of our favorite phrases are "Someone called about something", "Why, yes, I am over-qualified", and my personal fave "She rather enjoyed working for an idiot"!!!!!

Whatever you decide to do for your Ad-Pro, let her/him know how much you appreciate them!

The boss lady,

Gyan

Easter, be gone!

2010-04-12T13:47:00.000-07:00

Easter, you are my favorite time of year in our little store, but all good things must end. Sorry, but you gotta go!

We've reduced the price of ALL of our Easter merchandise, including CANDY!

Won't y'all be kind enough to drop by, look it over, and puh-leeeeze buy it! It's like we're paying you to take it off our hands at these prices!

It's adios to Easter for this year....we'll have a grand old time next year, I promise!

Gyan

Cuppa' Joe

2010-04-06T16:27:00.000-07:00

That's me in the morning>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Just give me a coffee I.V. and I'm okay.
Well...not exactly! See, I love the sound of the beans grinding, the aroma of the coffee brewing, the pouring of it so there's plenty of 'crema', and I love the taste of it!
Did you know we carry 100% Arabica whole bean coffee here at the shop? Yep - we have since we first opened our doors way back when (1983), and although there's a lot of competition now, we still sell what we consider to be some of the best coffees around!

We bring in most of our coffee in whole beans, but we are always glad to grind it for your coffee maker, and there's never a charge.
One of our favorite non-flavored coffees is from the La Minita Plantation in Costa Rica. We carry the La Minita coffee two ways - light (regular) roast, and Viennese roast, which is darker and has a more intense, pronounced flavor. We also blend the two. You'll never guess what we call it?! La Minita Blend! We're so stinkin' clever!

We carry coffee primarily from two suppliers - White House Coffee Company in New York, and Neighbors Coffee in good old Okie City! For years, Neighbors "Snickerdoodle" has been our best selling flavored coffee. We also love our White House Creme' de Noisette (Hazelnut), and when we blend the two, it's an incredible aroma and taste. We call it "Hazel-doodle"...again with the clever!!
We offer other blends, too, and several varieties of decaf.
Whole bean or ground, there's nothing like a good, fresh hot cuppa joe to get the morning (or afternoon) started.

As we always say in our 'tag line', we're more than just a candy store!

The spoiled sipper,
Gyan

Easter Egg Hunt, CB Style!

2010-04-01T19:05:00.000-07:00

Okay....here's our own special version of an Easter Egg Hunt!

Behind our counter is a basket full of special Easter eggs, each with a slip of paper offering a different discount amount.

When you come shop Friday and Saturday, let us know you saw this blog post, and we'll let you 'hunt' for your own egg!
We'll then take that discount of your entire purchase!!

Sweet treats for Easter are still available. Hop on in to The Candy Basket, where we're more than just a candy store!!

Mama Bunny

Sharin' of the Green!

2010-03-14T13:27:00.000-07:00

Okay, it's Sunday afternoon and I'm trying to think of something special to do for St. Patty's Day for our fantastic customers.
Here's the deal - When you come in next Wednesday, March 17th (St. Pat's Day), anything you want in the store that has green in it or on it will be 20% off... IF you tell us you read it here!
We frequently do a little something extra for our e-mail (Candygram) customers without giving away the store! I think 20% is pretty significant for nothing other than acknowledging the color GREEN!
BTW - if you'd like to receive our Candygrams, just let us know your e-mail address and we'll add you to our list.
It's a little electronic newsletter I write when I get around to it.
I'll let you know what's new, anything of a personal nature regarding The Candy Basket and/or our family/staff, and we try to offer a little special for our readers. We DON'T share the addresses, either. I bring them home, enter them in my personal home computer, and sit down (usually w/a glass of wine) and try to condense all I have to say into a reasonable read.
Have a great week.....come in Wednesday for St. Patty's Day sweets/treats, and if you buy something with green on/in it, we'll give you 20% off...IF you let us know you saw it here!
Top 'o the afternoon to ya...
Gyan

Choclatique is here!

2010-03-08T16:33:00.000-08:00

Our 'chocolate boutique' now features Choclatique chocolates! Made in California, they are a great new find for us! Marcy and Melissa are showing off four of the new flavors....What's Up, Doc? (Carrot cake), key lime creme, Tuxedo mousse, and Grand Marnier Creme.

The other new flavors we're proud to sell include Blue Ribbon Cherry Pie, Creme Brulee, Orangsicle, Root Beer Float, their Champagne truffle, made with Dom and adorned with (real) gold flecks, Cherry Creme, Strawberry Creme, and Blueberry Creme!

We love bringing in new and exciting flavors, and Choclatique is going to be a big hit!
If you 'dream in chocolate', come see us during your waking hours!
Madame Chocolate (a.k.a. Gyan)

For the love of chocolate!

2010-02-24T17:00:00.000-08:00

LOVE this stuff!!!
Right around Valentine's Day, I had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of the proprietress of a chocolate 'boutique' in Florida. We became fast friends, as we both loved doing what we do.....buying/selling fabulous chocolates!
She told me about this wonderful company up in Kansas (can you believe it?!?!), and I was able to get a big box of samples for our Chocolate Advisory Board meeting this afternoon. Unanimous thumbs up!
Their name says it all....Cocoa Dolce'! Indeed! Hopefully they'll be in stock by mid-March.
In the meantime, if your sweet tooth is acting up, y'all know where to shop! We got in fresh batches of Sweet Shop and Cocopotamus last week, and today our Godiva came in, so our chocolate cases are now fully stocked.
C'mon in...you deserve a treat today!

Gyan

Spring is coming!

2010-02-20T16:34:00.000-08:00

    The weather was so dreary today, it was easy to feel down and dreary. But something clever came in the mail to the shop today, and now I'm dreaming of spring in a big way.

Feast your eyes on these adorable edibles!
Are they not the cutest cupcakes you've ever seen?!?! They're regular cupcakes decorated with Jelly Bellies and other candies from the company to look like spring flowers!
The Jelly Belly company sent us a cute little cupcake flyer, and besides Christmas trees and Halloween pumpkins, this picture stopped me in my tracks!
The artists used bunny corn (candy corn in spring colors) and various pastel Jelly Bellies to create these precious cupcakes.
It's too bad my little grandson lives so far away.....this is enough to make me want to borrow somebody's grandkids and get creative in the kitchen!
Our spring/Easter candy will be arriving next Tuesday, and we're anxious to get it all out and displayed on our shelves.
Spring has always been my favorite season at the shop. By now, I'm so ready for bright colors and pretty pastels....it's such a refreshing change! Besides, candy just looks like spring to me....and I hope to be able to make some candy look like spring cupcakes like the ones above!
Happy, creative spring is just around the corner!
Gyan

CAB-Chocolate Advisory Board

2010-02-16T14:15:00.000-08:00

Not a joke! We take our chocolate offerings very seriously! We've now had two sessions with our appropriately named CAB.

It's Fat Tuesday, and what better way to celebrate the day than with taste-testing some incredible French chocolates! Our CAB met this morning and reactions from all staff and CAB members were favorable, indeed!

As you can see, Joe enjoyed his and Kay was letting a piece melt in her mouth while perusing their catalogue.

The 60 year old French company is called "Michel Cluizel", and we are getting ready to place our first order, based primarily on what we sampled today and how our CAB members reacted to certain flavors!

We'll make sure to let you know as soon as it hits the states and gets on our shelves!

One fat, sassy Mamma....
Gyan

Sweets for your Sweetie(s)

2010-02-07T16:30:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year again - time for LOVE!!
If you're wondering what to get your sweetheart for Valentine's Day, here's what I suggest.....

Yea, baby....that oughtta do the trick!
We bring in SO much candy and chocolate for what I affectionately refer to as "The Big VD", and it finally starts to sell about one week before the big day. That means it sits there and stares at us for weeks until the message is satisfactorily delivered!
The message here is, size DOES matter!!! Yea, sure, it's the thought that counts, but the BIGGER the thought, the more it counts!!!!!!
We have all sizes to offer, and for the non-chocolate lovers (yes, you know who you are), we have about 50-100 kinds of candies just for the special day.
I know anyone reading this blog is an intelligent, thoughtful person, so I KNOW you get the message!
See ya soon!
Gyan

Christmas be gone...

2010-01-07T16:33:00.000-08:00

Christmas merchandise, puhleeze go away....I adored you in the past, but frankly I've grown weary of your constant, albeit cheerful, presence, and I want you OUT of my life!

My affections have turned to more romantic visions!

Starting tomorrow (1-8-10), ALL Christmas and Hanukkah goods, confections, trees, ornaments, EVERYTHING will be 75% OFF!

Adios seasonal stuff....you're crampin' my style.

Git...go on, git outta here, ya hear? See if I care! I know you'll be back in about ten months, but until then, we're done, ya hear me? Finished.

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-24T10:06:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Here we all are, gathered around the fuse box at the back of Othello's, where we held our annual CB Christmas dinner/drinks/Dirty Santa party!
From left to right, Holly Forsyth (our newest, youngest CB family member), Sandy Clopton, behind them is Maurice Galoob, our fearless leader and my husband of 39+ years, Shannon Macko, Rachel Forsyth rubbing the shoulders of Marcy Gonzales, Melissa Dowling, our long time manager, and moi.
We have had a tremendous season, and the reason we all look so 'happy' is because we ARE!
Thank you to all of you who have helped us grow this year. We're looking forward to another record-setting year, and we appreciate each and every one of you.
We are continuing our tradition of closing the day after Christmas, which affords us atleast two days (in this case, three!) to spend relaxing with family.
We'll be open again Monday, the 28th, and we'll have our half price Christmas madness sale. Everything Christmas (from Godiva chocolates to pre-lit trees to holiday cards) will be half price. It's usually a madhouse for about three days, then things start to settle in back to normal. Sometimes I wish December lasted all year!
We're also going to close the entire weekend of New Year's. Inventory calls, and we're not immune to a good nap now and then! Regular biz hours will resume on Monday, January 4th, 2010!!!! My, my...where did this year go?!?!
Hope your holidays are merry....be safe and warm, and let the love from your families keep you warm throughout the season!

Sentimental old Gyan

Save as Draft

What every good kid wants for Christmas!

2009-11-16T12:09:00.000-08:00

I think every good boy and girl should get one of these in their stocking this Christmas! For four nears now, these Poo Pooing Reindeer have been a HUGE hit with parents (and especially Grandparents) for the kiddos!

Also, the past three years, this guy's been a bit hit.....

I feel sortof bad showing every child's beloved Santa in such a compromising position, but hey, if you gotta go.....well, you know!

Hopefully your little ones will get one of these in their stockings! They're in stock and hot right now at The Candy Basket, where we're more than just a candy store!!

Mrs. Claus (a.k.a. Gyan)

Long days!

2009-11-14T16:59:00.000-08:00

Boy, have these been a couple of long days!

We're overwhelmed with all the candy and freight that has come in this past week, and we can't seem to scratch the surface! We all have been unpacking, pricing, displaying and generally working like dogs all week long, and we've barely put a dent in the massive stacks of boxes in our back room! I'd invite you to come help unpack freight, but we don't pay very well...we just make you eat your weight in candy & chocolate!

Anyway, today is a short day - we're only open till 5 on Saturdays, and about 4:00 all three of us working just started to wilt! I can't remember the last time I spent my time 'watching the clock', but I sure did today!

5:00 couldn't get here fast enough...I want to go home and lean back in my chair, have an adult beverage, and watch the Sooners play! Sadly, I'll probably be asleep by second quarter! Hope the days next week just fly by!
Have a great weekend!
Gyan

2009-11-13T17:05:00.000-08:00

Harry & David's Moose Munch party drum....YUM! Great gift for an office staff - feeds a lot of people! Inside are a variety of different Moose Munch flavors, and there's enough to feed a large crowd.
We also have boxes of these terrific salty/sweet snacks in Milk chocolate, Dark chocolate, Milk with macadamia nuts, and Caramel with cashews & almonds.

This stuff is delicious and has been a great seller for us since we began carrying it several years ago.

FYI - hope you're checking our blog every day, because I'm going to try to blog daily until Christmas to give you gift-giving ideas....or atleast show you enough mouth-watering products that you decide to give YOURSELF a gift!

Later-
Santa Gyan

TRISKADEKAPHOBIA!

2009-11-12T16:39:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is Friday, the 13th......know what that means? That means we'll be putting everything in the store (except food, drink, and holiday items) on sale at HALF OFF!

I think I might have created a monster back when we started doing this years ago! I thought it would be fun to 'embrace' the dreaded date instead of hiding under covers!

Well, our wonderful, loyal customers certainly don't stay under the covers long on any given Friday, the 13th, because they've learned that they can save big if they come shop with us!

The only time we don't do it is when it's February 13th, which is actually our biggest day of the year! No way would we be able to conduct a sale...it's all we can do to keep up with the demand for Valentine's Day goodies on that day!

Anyway...back to tomorrow. I hope we're able to clear out a good deal of everyday stock, because we are stuffed to the brim and beyond in our back room, and simply have to make room for more great stuff!

If you're reading this, then I invite you to come shop/save tomorrow, Friday the 13th, at The Candy Basket.

Until then-

I remain your faithful candy lady, Lady Gy

Cocopotomus!

2009-11-11T17:19:00.000-08:00

So how do these suit your fancy?

These incredible truffles/fudge balls arrived today at The Candy Basket, and our taste-testers give them two thumbs up!! We brought in ten flavors of these New Mexico delicacies:

Ommm... - Organic Californian orange, rich Indian chai spices, and a generous jolt of Triple Sec orange liqueur. Feel the groove?!
Lemon Shiver - Bold, fresh & fruity, infused with pure organic lemon. An amazing taste sensation.
Santa's Addiction - Zingy mint meets extra dark chocolate. Two kinds of pure peppermint infuse this sweetie.
Blame Canada - AN amazing match of pure Vermont & Canadian maple with dark chocolate and the crunch of Turbinado sugar.
Cuppa Joe - An irresistible combo of espresso & chocolate. Rich, fragrant, and filled with deep flavors. Topped with an espresso bean.
Hang Loose - Fragrant coconut fudge. Pairing dark chocolate and white chocolate fudge.
Gilligan's Fave - Wild ginger fudge! It's sweet, floral, earthy, and spicy.
Yo-Ho-Ho - The boldness of darm rum with dark chocolate.
Hottie - Mexican cinnamon & New Mexican red hot chili fudge. Spicy!
Naked Hottie (MY FAVE!!!) - Rich Mexican canela cinnamon, with rich Mayan spices.

The good folks at Cocopotomus offer a smoother, less sweet, and more sophisticated fudge. These products are all natural - no preservatives, no corn syrup, no wheat or gluten.

The Candy Basket staff has decided these are our new favorites, and I sure hope you like them! Come in (and ask real nice!) and I just might give you a little sample! You'll LOVE 'em!

Promise!

Gyan

Tis the season!

2009-11-10T16:56:00.000-08:00

They're back!!! Our best ever candy -
SUGAR PLUMS!!!
We only have 500 pounds of them in the back room, right around the corner from our office. My goodness, is certainly smells good in here! And they taste better than they smell even - like fresh, sweet plums!
These candies are so sweet and special, we sell out every year, no matter how many we bring in.
However, sugar plums are not the only
candies that arrived today! We got a
total of over 2,800 pounds of candy!!
It takes a lot of elves to get that much candy checked in, unpacked, priced, displayed, bagged, etc.!

This is the time of year when our store starts to take on a special holiday aura....we love the colors, smells, and music of the season, and the whole store is alive with Christmas and Hanukkah!

Of course, you know we're more than just a candy store, so we have plenty of good gifts, too. So many, in fact, that we still have about 30 cases of goods in storage, waiting on space on our shelves!

Lots of work - lots of fun!! Come see us.....and if you ask nicely, I'll play like the Sugar Plum Fairy and give you some candy!!

S.P.F Gyan

2009-11-02T09:40:00.000-08:00

Oops! We have officially run out of room already! Our dilemma means a good deal for you! From now until Friday, the 13th, we are offering these beautiful sets of four initial tidbit trays at 20% off.
They are regularly $24.99, and from now till our Triskadekaphobia sale, they're only $19.99 a set. Come one, come all.....get 'em while the gettin's good! They are from the same company (Mud Pie) that we love so much, and today while re-arranging our display shelves to make room for all the Christmas merchandise, we realized we don't have enough room to show them off or store them, so they're on sale. Hope you'll be by to take a look at all the coordinating pieces, too! Happy November everyone!

Christmas Countdown

2009-11-01T16:00:00.000-08:00

Can you believe there are only 45 more shopping days till Christmas? That's if you don't go shopping on Sunday, which you probably won't this year, because The Candy Basket is not going to be open on Sundays this holiday season.

With our various health issues and over-worked staff, we decided to give ourselves a present this season - Sundays! A day to rest....yea!

BUT...when you want to shop Monday-Saturday at The Candy Basket, here are a couple of neat, inexpensive ideas for those folks who are hard to buy for.....

These super cool initial ornaments pictured above come packed in their own little houses! What a great gift for just about anyone! As long as you know the initial their names start with, we can fix you up with gifts for all those 'difficult' people!

Teachers, hostesses, family members...these are just some of the people for whom these ornaments would fit the bill.

These cute little packages are actually high-quality absorbent paper coasters, packaged to look like ornaments! They also perfect for hostess gifts, or for anyone that doesn't need a single thing!

Both of these are from one of our favorite companies - Mud Pie.
We've been buying from them for about 20 years, from when they were first selling gold leaf ceramics! Now they've emerged to be one of our top selling companies to work with, thanks in part to their impressive monogrammed selections. We're delighted to offer their fine products for everyday and for Holiday.

I did a post several months ago about the popularity of their vast initial items - glass trays, ceramic cheese trays, wooden cutting boards, glass decanters, wine glasses, etc.
Well, they've come out with way too many new cute holiday items, and we carefully selected these (plus a few others) for you to purchase this season.

They're affordable, tasteful, and ready to go. Packaging is top notch, and product is even better!

Remember - only 45 shopping days left at The Candy Basket, where we're more than just a candy store!

Sip & Shop

2009-10-26T21:06:00.000-07:00

It's our first ever "Sip & Shop" this Thurday night, October 29, from 6-8 at The Candy Basket!
Come sip champagne, shop at your leisure, and save! We're offering all of our Halloween stuff at HALF PRICE! Not only that, we're giving a 10% discount STOREWIDE! Yes, even candy and coffee this time! It's really a good time to get an early start on some great holiday gifts and save some moolah!
Bring your friends/family and come sip, shop, and save at The Candy Basket, where we're more than just a candy store!

Our big fat Jelly Belly Event!

2009-09-17T21:12:00.000-07:00

Mark your calendars -The Jelly Belly Van is coming to The Candy Basket on Monday, September 21 !!

The forty foot, fully wrapped Jelly Belly® on Tour Bus will be hosting a sampling event this coming Monday from 10 am-2 pm at our sweet little store!

We're inviting everyone to spin the Beanboozled™ Wheel and take the challenge to compare some of their tastier, most popular flavors with their craziest ones (grass? pepper?).

The good JB folks are offering prizes with purchases, free samples, a drawing, and Lots of Fun!

We look forward to this special event for everyone who can come by on Monday, September 21 from 10:00 to 2:00.

Goodness, do we feel fortunate to have this terrific visit! Hope to see you there!

Sweet Jelly Belly dreams!

Gyan

September Santa!

2009-09-14T17:09:00.000-07:00

Santa's coming for a September Sale! Starts Wednesday....runs through Saturday. Lots of Christmas items for sale...up to half off some! We hope you'll stop by and pick up some of these early bargains. We need to make room for more!

Gone in 60 Seconds!

2009-09-04T19:32:00.000-07:00

Actually, that's the name of a wonderful dip we are sampling all day Saturday!
The name says it all...it really is fab, and once you start eating it, it's hard to stop!

We got the recipe from the Prairie Gypsies, a trio of talented Oklahoma epicureans who have a thriving business in the metro area. They also produce the fantastic Red Hot Lover Pepper Jam. We have been selling their products, including this incredible hot jam for several years. It's great with cream cheese, too, but we like to go the extra mile and do the "Gone in 60 Seconds" dip.

Tomorrow (Saturday, the 5th), we're sampling this dip/jam combo until it's gone, and if you come in and mention that you saw this on our blog, we'll give you 20% off the price of the jam (regularly $6.99). This is just what you'll want to have on hand tomorrow evening for the OU season opener!

See y'all Saturday!

Gyan

2009-09-01T14:55:00.000-07:00

My mouth is watering just LOOKING at the pictures of these fabulous Godiva truffles which are arriving tomorrow!
They are the tried and true Pumpkin Spice truffle, which is like eating (really good) pumpkin pie in a Godiva chocolate crust.....the new Black Raspberry truffle, with a wonderful tart raspberry and sweet Godiva white and milk chocolate shell...and their newest Autumnal offering - a Cinnamon Pear truffle!
You'll have to wait for us to do some, um, quality control, of course! After our staff has sampled and deemed delicious, we'll have these fabulous fall truffles available to you by the piece or we can pack you a box.

Come and get 'em!
GG

Bee Happy!

2009-08-28T16:34:00.000-07:00

How can you help but smile?!?! These solar operated dancing flowers are sure to put a smile on anyone's face! We're thinking of lining them up in the front window and letting them dance all day! Although they are useful for nothing (other than smiles and good cheer), we feel these Bee Happy Dancing Flowers will be a hit on window sills in Metro area kitchens! They're on their way, and will cost under $10. Colors are assorted, and we're going to have a ball with them.
Speaking of smiles and good cheer, some of our favorite smiles come from customers who actually get a sample of our (current) favorite CFC chocolates. They're made in Oklahoma by a fabulous British chocolatier, and we are happy to sample out some of their sweet goodness. CFC stands for Champagne, Fragola, Chocolat (Champagne, Strawberries and chocolate), and we have their signature CFC piece in both milk and dark chocolates. It's okay to ask for a sample.....but we draw the line at begging for more!
More later......
Have a happy week, and come see us.
Gyan

Action figures-sometimes Yes, sometimes NO WAY!

2009-08-22T15:51:00.000-07:00

When you need that special gift for that special someone, try an action figure!!!
How 'bout that gal friend who has way too many cats? Try the Crazy Cat Lady action figure:

At The Candy Basket, we also have a lot of librarian customers and friends. We have added the following action figure to our lineup, and it's the perfect gift!

For your Holier-than-Thou friends, or pastor, or church buddy, try the Jesus action figure:

And for the strong, independent ladies in your life, we highly recommend Rosie....

All of these terrific action figures are available at The Candy Basket, and are perfect gifts for those hard-to-buy-for friends! Just what you would expect from a candy store, right?!?! Remember - we're MORE than JUST a candy store!
Come get 'em!

See you soon....
Gyan

We're rushing to RUSH!

2009-08-10T15:09:00.001-07:00

The problems with blogging occur when there's no time, creativity, or inclination to do so. That's what's going on with me right now! I've been busy, I'm not feeling creative, and I'd rather read others' blogs than work on my own! So....with that in mind, I'll go ahead and update y'all on what's happening at The Candy Basket.

We're knee-deep in Rush preparations. Rush is HUGE at OU, and for the past 10 years or so, we have had the opportunity to participate in the Recruitment Orientation, where the rushees and their parents are held captive in Lloyd Noble Center for an hour or so while officers of the Panhellenic Council describe the benefits of pledging a sorority and spelling out some rules and regulations.

So here we are - Rush Survival Kits are ready to go in three different versions; a big honker OU basket will show off what we can do for the new members; and we have some of our cutest stuff ready to show the girls....from koozies and bottle suits to hand-painted wall signs.

Now, all Melissa and I need to do is figure out if we're going to wear black or red!! Decisions, decisions! More later (when I'm feeling creative and productive)..... Madame G

Hey - Check us out!

2009-07-27T09:29:00.000-07:00

The warehouse sale was a tremendous success! We took ten boxes of merchandise for the sale, and came back home almost empty handed! YEA! Thanks to all of you who visited and shopped. I haven't checked with the other merchants yet, but judging from the crowd, everyone was pleased with the event.

A few weeks ago we were interviewed for an on-line production called "Uncovering Oklahoma". These two young guys were doing a story on sweets in Oklahoma, and they let me know today that the show is now airing!
Maurice and I are relatively pleased with the general outcome. However, mankind/womankind vanity afflicted us, and we critiqued ourselves.
His observations: He needs to smile more, and his voice is higher than he thought it was.
My observations: I need half of my neck liposuctioned out, and it's not necessary for me to stare adoringly at my husband the whole time, showing off my excessive neck fat!
Hope you enjoy the clip ( You might have to cut & paste):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kENvpsG_L6U

See ya -
GG

Warehouse Sale Weekend

2009-07-22T15:46:00.001-07:00

Every year, Melissa Kahn at Mel's Kloset organizes/orchestrates a wonderful warehouse sale that brings together about a dozen of Norman's 'boutique' merchants who need to move inventory. Well, we're having this sale this Sunday, the 26th, from 11-4 at The Holiday Inn in one of the ballrooms.
Some of the merchants are first-timers, and some of us have been around the block a time or two! This year, a dozen of us are going to be there......Savvy, Estella Ray's, Anita's Accessories, Tulips, Violet Avenue, The Tulip Tree, Appello, and several others will be setting up 'shop' for the day.

I remember last year's sale...it was CRAZY! A bunch of us retailers were setting up, getting ready for the doors to open, and chatting with each other, talking shop, and actually shopping for ourselves. At the appointed time, the doors were opened, and it was like a scene out of a movie...women were swarming the area, scouting out deals, grabbing things left and right, and having a genuine blast!

Yes, I have to say...it's a big ass sale! We're going to have stuff as low as $1, and we want to be empty-handed when we walk out of the Holiday Inn once the sale's over!
I can't wait to see what the other merchants have, too. Last year I got some great jewelry and purses, and I know other stores have some fantastic buys. Hope I can scope them out before the doors open (it's the advantage of being a shop keeper!).

C'mon in Sunday to the Holiday Inn. Melissa and Marcy will be manning (woman-ing?) our tables, and they'll give you some deals like you wouldn't believe!

Later....
Gyan

Party time!

2009-07-11T15:43:00.000-07:00

Our 20th Birthday Party! We had a great turnout for our after-hours party! We had invited a number of former employees to join us, and we had a good time taking pictures.

We had a huge cake, chocolate fondue, snacks, and lots of champagne. Customers had a good time and got to see some pictures of the store when we first opened....even our first (pitiful) front window display! We took lots of pictures and gave away some door prizes.

I would definitely say a good time was had by all!

In picture: clockwise, from upper left:
Wendy Norman, Maurice Galoob, Melissa Dowling, Sandy Clopton, Whitney Smith, Shannon Macko, Beth Baird, Marcy Gonzales, Alicia Boscarelli, Charlene Morgan, and moi.

Looking forward to another 20 years!
Gyan

Our 20th Birthday!

2009-07-08T18:32:00.000-07:00

Friday marks our 20th Birthday! We closed up our original shop, Jared's Ltd. in Moore, on the first of July, 1989, and moved all the boxes, merchandise, equipment, fixtures, and ourselves to our current location in beautiful Carriage Plaza. We worked like dogs for nine days, and re-opened as The Candy Basket on July 10, 1989!!! TWENTY YEARS!

That nine days were probably some of the hardest of our lives! We unpacked like crazy, tried to figure out how to fill our new 'vast' space, and tried to make some order out of mis-matched merchandise that had previously been in boxes, packed up for the move. We had deliberately set an opening date, so we had a deadline looming over our heads, and we were working long, hard days to make it happen by July 10th.
We did it!

We're having a two day celebration sale - 20% off everything in the store (except coffee), and I expect we'll have a pretty good turnout, judging from the customers who have been in 'scouting' out the new merchandise!

We've assembled a couple of picture boards showing the progress of the store when we first opened, our first pitiful window display, and a number of our fun after-hours get togethers and parties.

Friday night we're hosting a birthday party, and we've invited a number of our former staff members to join us. We're having champagne and birthday cake, and we've asked our former/current employees to dress alike so we can take some fun pictures. Of course, we'll post them on this blog later!

Maurice and I are pretty proud of our little shop, and we're looking forward to the weekend celebration. We are so grateful for our customers, friends, and family for helping us make it happen!

Here's to 20 more!

Hasta la vista,
Gyan

July 4th Holiday

2009-06-29T18:46:00.000-07:00

Independence Day is Saturday!

We're really looking forward to an actual two day weekend! Yep, The Candy Basket will be closed Saturday and we'll have two entire days to play!!

Let me tell you about some of the neat July 4th treats and decorative accessories we have.

See these cool martini glasses in the picture above? They have cute little red, blue, or clear stars on the stems, and are perfect for weekend beverages. Heck, even water tastes and looks better in these adorable glasses!

I like to put out a few things to decorate for the various holidays and seasons, and there are a lot of patriotic accessories to choose from this year at The Candy Basket.

Check out these handsome Jim Shore figurines below. I like to put this sort of decorative piece on a table by our front door, or on the buffet in the dining room in front of the big mirror, or in a bookcase in the den. I do the same with seasonal cookie jars - just one or two will make a big statement in our home and yours!

There's a terrific infused glass patriotic chip & dip, too. Pour some of our fantastic (Oklahoma made) peach salsa in that little glass bowl, and spread our tortilla chips, also Oklahoma made from red, white, and blue corn!

We're going to kick back, have some chips and salsa, and our enjoy our new favorite drink - Beer-tinis. Here's the (easy) recipe:

Empty one can of frozen limeade concentrate in a large pitcher. Fill that can with lemon vodka, and add to limeade. Stir, then add three 12 oz bottles of premium beer.

This sounded a little strange to me, but let me assure you - it's a great, refreshing cocktail you and your weekend guests will love, especially when served in those cute little red/white/blue star martini glasses!

My family loves this holiday - not only for the time off, but for the child it brings out in all of us. Cookouts, croquet, watermelon seed spitting contests, fireworks...all great memories of carefree summer days.

Hope y'all have a safe, fun-filled weekend!

Later -
Madame G

Initially Yours

2009-06-23T14:43:00.001-07:00

Since I own a candy/chocolate store, you'd think I'd be writing about candy, right?
Well, candy is dandy....but Mud Pie is definitely a winner with us!

We just got in yet more of their monogrammed glass pieces. This stuff is hot!
Customers are excited about the reasonable prices, the good looking packaging, and the variety of items from the line that make great gifts - perfect for weddings and showers, birthday and hostess gifts.
We did a little study and found that we've sold several hundred of their cutting boards and bottle stoppers. Next best seller - the cheese trays w/speaders. These aren't glass, they're ceramic. Maurice and I had a 'discussion' at market last year about which item (cutting boards or cheese trays) we would sell the most of. Neither of us would budge, so we bit the bullet and brought in the whole line which, at that time, just consisted of those two items.
Since then, we've brought in Mud Pie's monogrammed bottle stoppers, glass frames, square trays, tidbit dishes (s/4), tumblers (s/4), wine glasses (s/4), and decanters.
We've also ordered their initial Christmas hand towels, coasters, and ornaments that come in the cutest packaging we've seen in a long time!
The initial trend continues, and Mud Pie just keeps putting out more and better stuff!
Next time, I'll tell you about their adorable cosmetic bags, can coozies, triple notepads, card cases, etc.
Nice to know that some customers are realizing we really are more than just a candy store!

Dear old Dad

2009-06-18T11:34:00.000-07:00

Dear old Dad - what a guy!

For Father's Day, I used to give my Dad record albums of our favorite symphonies. He was a fabulous musician, and I inherited my love of music and any musical abilities I have from Dad.

Maurice's Dad is also gone now, but he was crazy about outdoor grilling, and boy, was he ever good at it! If he were still with us, his Father's Day gift would be something from the table you see here. Hamburger platters, bowls, plates, Oklahoma made chips/salsas/queso, grilling sauces, seasoning salt, and those adorable mustard and ketchup dispensers from Home, Etc.. All Practical and useful....just what he would have enjoyed!

A lot of people don't know what to do for their Dads for Father's Day. I love it when customers want to put together baskets or gift boxes for their Dads. They usually want the following: Horehound candy, chocolate covered espresso beans, coffees, old fashioned rootbeer barrels, lemon drops, and some sort of chocolate covered nut combination. Yup, we sell all of that good stuff, and we usually do a number of gifts that are specially selected for Dear old Dad...the guy who's hard to buy for. Hopefully this year, customers will also appreciate our efforts to focus on outdoor grilling.

Father's Day was born in memory and gratitude by a daughter who thought her father (and all good fathers) should be honored with a special day just like we honor our mothers on Mother's Day. Father's Day was officially recognized by Congress in 1956, and we've been paying tribute to our dear Dads, Grandfathers, husbands, brothers, sons, uncles, and father figures in our lives ever since. Here's to Bob Summers and Henry Galoob....may they rest in peace.

Sweets and treats

2009-06-13T14:17:00.000-07:00

Besides terrific chocolates, candies, and confections, we also have a number of mixes for things like pancakes, scones, cherry cobbler (my fave - not too sweet), lemon bars, breads, cakes and cupcakes.

Since I'm now getting better w/the picture thing, I took this cute pic of Rachel this afternoon at our little baking area in the front of the store. In case you can't tell, those are scone mixes she's showing off in her best Vanna White imitation.

I think my favorite mix is the cherry cobbler from Plentiful Pantry. To quote my favorite Food Network chef, Paula Dean, it's 'Slap your Mama' delicious. I put in a little cinnamon and a tad more butter than the recipe called for (again, Paula Dean!). We had a good healthy dinner first, so the guilt wasn't so intense when we topped the hot cobbler with vanilla ice cream.
It made enough for six large servings - you could get more if you were so inclined, but at the Galoob household, we don't believe in mamby-pamby servings!

This weekend I'm going for the chocolate orange pound cake mix, but I use the brownie recipe on the side of the box, and I do a trick I learned from...guess who? Paula-again. Arteries, prepare yourselves!
I pour half the brownie mixture in the baking dish, then add individual Van Lys orange truffles in the center of what would be each brownie, then top w/the remaining mix. OMG....talk about rich and delicious...they were fabulous, and my mouth is already watering.

As soon as I recuperate from the chocolate overload this weekend, I'll get back to biz and will write more later. Until then, sweet (chocolate) dreams!

Adios amigos....
Lady Gy

By the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea...

2009-06-09T16:10:00.000-07:00

I started thinking about water today....oceans, to be exact!
I learned that a young fellow we know is moving to Maui
in a couple of months, and another friend is moving to
California tomorrow! I think that's what made me yearn
for some ocean breezes and tropical drinks (with a little umbrella, please!)

I also learned how to download photos, so here's
what Melissa, Rachel and I did this afternoon.....how do you
like it? Does it make you want to pick up shells at the
seashore? Dip your tootsies in the cool ocean water?!

I've always been a sucker for shells, and in fact have a small,
handpicked selection of them in our home. The incredible brown leather/seashell frames and boxes are so gorgeous
that I want to re-do a room! That platter w/the deep sea
motif also has a little gold leaf on it...so beautiful!

I'll not bore y'all with any more pictures just yet. I will
work on this aspect of blogging, and see if I can be a little more creative in the future.
Besides, I'm tired from all that day-dreaming about the water, sand,palm trees, shells, sunsets and umbrella drinks!

Aloha....
Gyan

2009-06-07T15:44:00.000-07:00

Sunday is such a glorious day! We work hard all week, and sometimes we still have to go back to the store on Sundays (like today), but it's not like work at all. In fact, there' something deliciously naughty about being locked in a candy store!!!
We're gearing up for this sidewalk sale coming up the end of this week. We have SO MUCH stuff we want to get rid of...stuff I never should have ordered, stuff that sold well for a long time, then stopped selling, stuff that is just shop-worn or slightly damaged....SO MUCH STUFF!! I hope all of Norman shows up this weekend and helps us clear it out.
After that, the biggest thing we have going is our birthday celebration weekend July 10/11. I can hardly believe we've been residents of Carriage Plaza for twenty years!!! Geez, how time flies.
I will always remember the week we moved in from our former place of biz in Moore. After the boxes, fixtures, etc. were delivered to our Carriage Plaza store, I walked in on a (glorious) Sunday afternoon, saw a store stuffed w/boxes to unpack, and just sat down and cried! It was such an overwhelming challenge, but we made it! We brought our kids (Stephen & David) with us every day and made them open boxes and otherwise help us. We didn't feel right leaving a 10 & 12 year old home alone, and those of you who are parents can certainly understand that!
It took us ten days to get set up for business, which included the July 4th holiday. During that time, we also went to Dallas market to buy stuff for the new place, with no idea if we'd even have any new customers, let alone how they might like us. It was one of the most stressful times in our lives, but it paid off, and here we are, 20 years later! Certainly cause for celebration!
More later....
Madame G

Did it again!

2009-06-04T17:15:00.000-07:00

I did it again....I arrived here and am able to post again! Yea...

I'm sending out a Candygram tonight....can't wait to tell the readers about the nostalgia gum that just came back in...Blackjack, Clove, and everybody's favorite, Beeman's. Just smelling that stuff takes me back. Growing up, we always chewed those gums when we could find them. When I quit smoking twenty years (and 100 lbs.) ago, I ate a lot of horehound candy and chewed a lot of Clove & Beeman's gum, yet I still love them all!

The former manufacturers sold the recipes and product to Cadbury, who thought 'out of sight, out of mind' for over three years. They just stopped making it - figured it wasn't a big enough seller, and didn't add that much to their bottom line.

Well, let me tell you - enough hell was raised that they said "Uncle", and they've been promising to make it for over a year now. We had to order (last fall), and that's all we'll be able to get. We ordered over a thousand packs of the silly gum! Gosh, I hope a lot of people remember it and will 'come and get it'.

Anyway, the cases of it are stacked right around the corner from our office, and as I sit here typing this blog, I'm smelling those wonderful, spicy aromas!

Gotta go get me some GUM!

Later -
G

Okay - I'm here! Now what?

2009-06-03T14:56:00.001-07:00

I don't even know how I arrived here, but I think this will serve as the first ever Candy Basket blog!

For those of you stumbling across this blog, let me introduce myself - I'm Gyan, co-owner w/my husband Maurice, of a terrific little candy/gift shop in Norman, Oklahoma: The Candy Basket.

We've been in biz since we first opened in Moore, Ok. back in 1984, and we moved to Carriage Plaza in Norman back in July of 1989...yes, TWENTY years ago! Since then, we've expanded to twice the space we had then, and we're not expanding again, even though the space next to us is vacant right now! God forbid...Maurice would divorce me if I even so much as hinted that I wanted to expand again!

We are a great candy/chocolate/coffee/tea shop, but we specialize in 'chick gifts'...everything from engraved compacts to note pads, magnets, office stuff, tampon cases, martini & wine glasses, inital cosmetic bags, wallets, tableware....too much to mention.

We have an extensive mailing list - if you'd like to be added, just go to the 'contact us' section at our website:

www.candybasketok.com

We also have an electronic mailing list. We send out 'Candygrams' periodically, and we offer Candygram specials to our dear readers. If you'd like to be included, just send us your e-mail.

I assure you, your info will not be shared with anyone or sold to anyone! It's basically for my eyes only, as I'm the one who does the Candygrams....I think I do a better, more interesting job when I have a glass or two of wine before I sit down to compose at the computer!

We're having a sidewalk sale next weekend for three days - June 11, 12, & 13th. I hope the weather doesn't do bad things. Even so, we have a huge over-hang, and for the right price, anyone is probably willing to get a little damp if necessary!

I'll send updates later. Suffice it to say that for now, I'm growing out of the 'dinosaur' mode and trying to make friends w/my computer!!

Ta-ta everyone.....
Gyan