CHOCOLATE...

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, this week I thought I would talk about...CHOCOLATE.

Before I do dive in, I wanted to mention that I was honored with the Queen of the Quill Blog Award by Victoria Lindstrom! Victoria is a pre-publishied writer of picture books, middle grade novels, and she's a published poet to boot! Her hubby is a gallery repped oil painter. Together they enjoy the arts as they proceed as partners on the path of  life. Ooooh, ROMANTIC! 

Do visit her website and blog : http://writofwhimsy.blogspot.com

By the way, Victoria designed the award. Isn't it awesome?

This award is given to a writer/blogger who possesses these three attributes:
1- The writer has been recognized for the excellence of her "quill" by being agent-represented and/or published.
2- She has reached out and generously encouraged others in blogosphere, while maintaining a quality blog.

3- The integrity of her character is of such a high level that her very life inspires others.

I am humbled! I love this award -  a sweet nod and a gift. Thank you, Victoria! I will be passing this award along to 2 other inspiring bloggers next week.

NOW ON WITH THE CHOCOLATE TALK!

In recent years, it has been reported that chocolate, in moderation, is beneficial to our health, especially the heart. They call chocolate the Love Drug. Cocoa is rich in anti-oxident polyphenols. Chocolate contains caffeine, keeping us alert with no fatigue. Chocolate also raises our serotonin, making us feel good.

I'm not an chocolate expert, but I love the stuff. It does make me happy. Hubby and I have started a chocolate experiment. We are eating a piece of good, dark chocolate a day up to Valentine's day. Hey, this is my kind of experiment! I'm going to see if it really does elevate my mood, and if it gives us the enhanced lovey dovey feeling. I'll let you know how it goes...

Do you believe chocolate is beneficial to your health?

Does eating chocolate change your mood? Make you happy?

What's your favorite chocolate?

Below - I found a few quotes on chocolate. Enjoy!

Between you, me and the gatepost,

Loree 

“There is nothing better than a friend, unless it is a friend with chocolate.” -  Linda Grayson

"There are four basic food groups: milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, and chocolate truffles." - Anonymous

"The 12-step chocoholics program: Never be more than 12 steps away from chocolate!" - Terry Moore

"Strength is the ability to break a Hershey bar into four pieces with your bare hands - and then eat just one of those pieces." - Judith Viorst

"I owe it all to little chocolate donuts." - John Belushi

"Make a list of important things to do today. At the top of your list, put "eat chocolate." Now, you'll get at least one thing done today." - Gina Hayes

"Nine out of ten people like chocolate. The tenth person always lies." - John Q. Tullius

"Chocolate is a perfect food, as wholesome as it is delicious, a beneficent restorer of exhausted power. It is the best friend of those engaged in literary pursuits." - Baron Justus von Liebig

"My therapist told me the way to achieve true inner peace is to finish what I start. So far today, I have finished 2 bags of M&M's and a chocolate cake. I feel better already." - Dave Barry

"There’s more to life than chocolate, but not right now." - Anonymous

"Chocolate remedies adversity." - Jareb Teague

"A little chocolate is like a love affair - an occasional sweet release that lightens the spirit. A lot of chocolate is like marriage - it seems so good at first but before you know it you've got chunky hips and a waddle-walk." - Linda Solegato

"I never met a chocolate I didn't like." - Deanna Troi, Star Trek: The Next Generation

"Other things are just food. But chocolate’s chocolate." - Patrick Skene Catling

"Chocolate is nature’s way of making up for Mondays." - Anonymous

"All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt." - Charles M. Schulz

"Chocolate makes everyone smile-even bankers." - Benneville Strohecker, chocolatier

"God gave the angels wings, and he gave humans chocolate." - Anonymous

"Once in a while I say, 'Go for it' and I eat chocolate." - Claudia Schiffer

"Chocolate is a divine, celestial drink, the sweat of the stars, the vital seed, divine nectar, the drink of the gods, panacea and universal medicine." - Geronimo Piperni, quoted by Antonio Lavedán, Spanish army surgeon,1796

"What you see before you, my friend, is the result of a lifetime of chocolate." - Katherine Hepburn

"Love is like swallowing hot chocolate before it has cooled off. It takes you by surprise at first, but keeps you warm for a long time." - Anonymous

"Forget love ... I'd rather fall in chocolate!" - Anonymous

"It has been shown as proof positive that carefully prepared chocolate is as healthful a food as it is pleasant; that it is nourishing and easily digested... that it is above all helpful to people who must do a great deal of mental work." - Anthelme Brillat-Savarin

"Chocolate: Here today ... Gone today!" - Anonymous

"Life is like a box of chocolates ... You never know what you're gonna get." - Forrest Gump

“Caramels are only a fad. Chocolate is a permanent thing.” - Milton Snavely Hershey

“When we don't have the words chocolate can speak volumes.” - Joan Bauer

“Coffee and chocolate—the inventor of mocha should be sainted.” - Cherise Sinclair

“When life gives you lemons, throw them back and demand chocolate!” - Unknown