Wholesale Candy, Penny Candy, Retro & Nostalgia Candy ...

Atlanta Women’s Network (AWN) is delighted to announce nine Atlanta women from the culinary arts and food provisioning to be showcased at the Savory Networking and Dessert & Coffee portions the WomenUP 2008 conference to be held Thursday, March 6 at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta:

Fayette County author and consultant Nea Anna Simone hosted a coffee klatch Wednesday to kick off a 10-city “Whistle Stop Tour” by Momseasychair.com, an online magazine and community for moms.

The group included Sal Kibler of Ansley Park, publisher of www.momseasychair.com; and MaryJayne Lambert Carter, whose “Sweet M’s Candy World” signature milk chocolate bars lent a sweet touch to the gathering. Financing.

What are your favorite candy memories?
Maryjayne Carter, owner of Sweet M’s Candy World in Atlanta, shares the stories of customers who enjoy finding nostalgic candies on her Web site, www.sweetms.com. Their memories are mouth-watering.

Opening Sweet M’s satisfied a life-long dream for Carter. “I kept files on candies and chocolate while I did the corporate thing,” she says. About eight years ago, Carter began attending courses at the Decatur SBDC at the invitation of Area Director Eric Bonaparte. In 2001 she attended a new seminar developed by Bonaparte, who had moved to direct SBDC’s Minority Business Division: Myths and Realities of Minority Small Business Financing.

It's not exactly what you'd expect from a 6-foot-8, 254-pound former NFL offensive lineman.

But for more than a decade, Kent Hill, who played for seven years with the Los Angeles Rams, has shattered a stereotype by going door to door in his neighborhood at Christmastime, greeting his neighbors with a bag of homemade cookies and a hearty "Merry Christmas."

Now, Hill offers his cookies —- all a variation of chocolate chip —- through the business venture he launched last April, Kent's Country Cookies. The online gourmet cookie company (www.kentscookies.com) bakes its treats at Southland Country Club in Stone Mountain.

Besides Internet orders, Hill, who owns the business with his fiancee, Nea Anna Simone, generates sales through foundations, corporations and nonprofit organizations. Sweet Ms, a candy store inside Northlake Mall, also carries the cookies

While men make the most purchases, the survey found that everyone buys a little something on Valentine’s Day. Therefore, to guide consumers through the wonders of Valentine’s Day shopping, NCA has developed the ultimate shopping tool. Designed specifically for the gift giving-challenged, is a one-stop gift-idea resource to pinpoint the perfect present for anyone on your list.

Price: $59.99

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Sweet Facts

Single Celebration? Try a Wine and Chocolate Party
What are some fun ways for singles to celebrate Valentine’s Day?

Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be a holiday that only couples can enjoy. There are many ways singles, friends and even groups of couples can get together and celebrate.

One idea is to host a chocolate tasting party or a chocolate and wine pairing party. Of course, with such a wide variety of chocolates to choose from, it helps to have a sense of people’s preferences. According to a recent survey by the National Confectioner’s Association (NCA), men consider specialty chocolates such as truffles, pralines and caramels the sexiest Valentine’s Day treat. On the other hand, women gravitated towards milk chocolate as the sexiest sweet to share on Valentine’s Day.

If you choose to host a chocolate and wine pairing party, make sure not to overpower either the chocolate or the wine. Dark chocolate, a heart-healthy treat and men’s second choice for sexiest sweet according to NCA’s survey, is usually the best match for wine because it has many flavors that are similar to wine. The bolder, more full-bodied wines work best with dark chocolate, such as Syrah, Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet.

Our friends at the Chocolate Manufacturers Association share this fun fact: