I'm Back - Sort Of...

Dear Folks,

So, it's been a month since I last spoke with you. This has been a wild and crazy four weeks. I was out of town the first 10 days, taking a fun vacation with my husband. ROAD TRIP! We covered nearly 2,000 miles between here, Idaho, Washington and Oregon. We visited with family, saw a spectacular fireworks display from a yacht on Puget Sound, walked the beach at Haystack Rock and were totally awed by the grandeur of Crater Lake. We had a great time but you know what happens when you return from vacation...catch up time at work and home.

I'm really excited about my new project. I have created a new packaging program that will, hopefully, be available towards the end of this month. We will be offering the new products online on our website, thanks to a newly developed shopping cart (still in progress). We will have at least 12 different flavors of fudge in 8 oz. tubs, 12 varieties of some of our most favorite candies in 8 oz. bags and some fun gifts for seasonal gift giving. We are also developing our own line of chocolate covered popcorn. These great new and very convenient goodies will be available in-store and online. I'd show you a photo, but I don't have any yet.

You are all probably waiting for your next secret photo. Here goes...

It's a hard one. Here's a clue...In and out, round about, come in, go out and give a shout.

Have fun.

Keepin' it sweet,

Anne

sweetaftons@xmission.com

Happy 4TH!!

Hi Everybody,

Happy 4th of July!  What a beautiful day.  I hope you are all spending the day with family, friends and lots of fun activities.  I am taking a few days off to visit with family in Idaho and Washington.  David and I have traveled through some spectacular countryside.  We have seen Balanced Rock, west of Buehl, Idaho, marveled at the Thousand Springs of Hagerman Valley and walked the banks of a fantastic lake in Couer d' Alene, ID.  Tonight, we plan on watching the fireworks from a boat out in Puget Sound, WA.  Sounds pretty fun, doesn't it?  You know, holidays are meant to be spent with those we love and I, for one, am thankful to live in a country where I am free to travel about without fear of interference or detainment.  A sincere thanks goes out to all those who have served and sacrificed for my liberty.  And, let's not let this day go by without taking a moment to thank God for His every blessing.

God Bless America

Keepin' it sweet,

Anne

sweetaftons@xmission.com

sweetaftons.blogspot.com

I'm Back...

Greetings Folks!

Wow, it's been nearly two weeks since my last entry. Sorry about that. Sweet Afton's has been pretty busy, what with Father's Day, our NASCAR event and FINALLY some beautiful weather. And, it doesn't stop there. This weekend is our Moonlight Madness Beach Party. I hope you are all planning to come on down and enjoy the festivities. Gardner Village is also having our annual Summer Sale - now thru July 18th. Great savings on great stuff.

I hope your summer is going well. Are you looking for some fun things to do with the kids? How about a day in the kitchen making some creative and tasty treats? The picture is a little fuzzy but I think you can get the idea.

Hamburger Cupcakes

2 vanilla wafer cookies

1 Keebler Grasshopper cookie

Yellow and red icing in tubes

Green tinted coconut

Slices of green gumdrop (optional)

Orange juice or lemonade concentrate

Sesame seeds

1 baked cupcake

White icing

Multicolored nonpareils

Hot Dog Cupcakes

1 circus peanut

1 caramel square

Yellow icing in a tube

Green tinted coconut

Cut-up green gumdrop (optional)

Orange juice or lemonade concentrate

1 baked cupcake

White icing

Step 1

For Hamburger: To build the hamburger, start with an upside-down vanilla wafer. Add a dab of icing to attach the Grasshopper cookie, then a squirt of yellow icing, a squirt of red icing, a sprinkle of tinted coconut, and 2 thin slices of a green gumdrop for pickles (optional).

Step 2

Top with the second vanilla wafer cookie, right side up (glue on with icing if needed). Rub the top "bun with juice concentrate, then sprinkle with sesame seeds. Frost the cupcake with white icing, place the "burger" on top, and sprinkle on nonpareils.

Step 3

For Hotdog: For the bun, cut a wedge in the circus peanut. If the caramel is soft, roll it into a hot dog shape. If it's hard, first soften it in your hand or in a microwave for a few seconds.

Step 4

Caution: the caramel can get hot! Place the "hot dog" in the bun and squirt on a squiggly line of yellow icing.

Step 5

Garnish with green gumdrop "relish," if you wish. Frost the cupcake with white icing, place the hotdog on top, and sprinkle on nonpareils.

These hot dogs and hamburgers are absolutely adorable when made up. Everyone will be so impressed with your creativity. Last but not least....your next secret photo. Come in and identify the location of this item and you will receive 1/4 lb. of your favorite fresh fudge.

Have a great weekend. Don't forget....Hawaiian Shaved Ice at Sweet Afton's this Saturday night, June 27th, from 6pm to midnight!!!!

Keepin' it sweet,

Anne

sweetaftons@xmission.com

sweetaftons.blogspot.com

Ready, Set, GO!

Howdy Everybody!

Well, race day is in progress, as we speak. We are having a lot of fun changing tires. The girls are outdoing the boys BIGTIME. Well, not really, the girls do get a little help lifting the tire. But, everyone is having fun and being great sports. So far, the fastest girl time is 15.08 seconds. The fastest boy time is 18 seconds flat. The boys have to lift there own tires. I'm looking forward to even faster times as the day goes on.

We had fun with Casey Scott on Channel 2 News, Wednesday morning. Casey changed the tire, but got beat out by Emily, our graphic designer here at Gardner Village. You might say there was a lot of trash talk going on. A big thank you goes out to Trever and Dixon from Miller Motorsports Park for helping us put on this fun event. Check out some of our photos...

We've put together some great Father's Day gifts. We have a cardboard 18 wheeler filled with goodies...a $25 gift card to Miller Motorsports Park, a MMP T-shirt, 1/2 pound of fresh fudge, 1/2 pound of Jelly Belly jelly beans and a fresh Gary's Original Popcorn Ball. All for just $56.99 and wrapped up with a pretty (handsome) bow. That's just one of a bunch of terrific Father's Day gifts for you to come choose from.

Our Moonlight Madness Beach Party is coming up June 27th. Hawaiian Shaved Ice, live music, coupons and games. It's one of our favorite events. Hope to see you here.

Keepin' it sweet,

Anne

sweetaftons@xmission.com

sweetaftons.blogspot.com

Happy Summer Everyone!

Don't you just love the beginnings of summer? It's still cool in the early mornings and evenings, but it warms up just lovely during the better part of the day. And the rain...I love the sweet, fresh smell of a summer rain. And, if you come into Sweet Afton's, you'll find that it's raining candy. Have you taken a good look at our 17 foot hand painted wall mural? It's one of my favorite things in the store.

Here's a quick reminder about our NASCAR event next week. Watch me on Channel 2 news in the morning on Wednesday, June 10th. Casey and I will be talking about our Father's Day NASCAR Challenge and Casey will see just how fast he can change the tire. The event days are Friday, June 12th from 4-8 pm and Saturday, June 13th from 11 am to 6 pm. Casey and I will also be creating some fun Father's Day candy gifts, including fresh FUDGE ties. Any dad will love to wear these...all over his face! I'm looking forward to seeing you all at our big event!

Coming up next....our Gardner Village Moonlight Madness Beach Party. Held June 27th from 6 pm to midnight, this event is crammed full of fun, frolic, coupons, special savings, games and delicious Hawaiian Shaved Ice. Don't let this fun evening get away from you. Put on your flip flops, straw hat and hula skirt and come join in the festivities.

Lots of fun stuff going on at Sweet Afton's and Gardner Village this month. I hope to see you all, at least a couple of times. Come flex your muscles this weekend, grab some Father's Day goodies and enjoy exciting live music, dancing and Hawaiian Shaved Ice at our annual Beach Party Moonlight Madness. Summer is off to a rip roaring start!

Keepin' it sweet,

Anne

sweetaftons@xmission.com

sweetaftons.blogspot.com

Time Flies...

Hello Friends,

Wow, I can't believe it has been so long since I last chatted with you. I guess the holiday took up more of my time than I expected. We are heading full speed into Spring now, with Summer racing up fast. The days are just roaring by and it's time to hang on to your hat! Are you getting all the racing references? Our Father's Day NASCAR Challenge is just around the corner, so gear up. Here's a photo of me and the Jelly Belly NASCAR from last year's race. It was an exciting race. The Jelly Belly car was leading right up until the very end of the race, when it ran out of gas just about 1/2 mile from the finish line. Ohhhhh what a heartbreak. Fun time though!

Sweet Afton's is going to have a birthday party and everyone is invited! We are celebrating our 19th year at Gardner Village this summer and we're planning to jam July full of fun activities, sales, games and a special contest. So far, Sweet Afton's has developed 106 different flavors of our delicious fresh fudge. We want to see if our customers and friends can come up with a prize winning original flavor of their own. Over the next six weeks or so, we are going to be taking suggestions for new flavors of fudge. The most original and scrumptious wins. Wins what you ask...I don't know yet. I haven't gotten that far in our plans. I have yet to solidify all of the details. Let's just say that more detail will follow. Keep checking our blog for updates.

Let's see if you can find this one...

Keepin' it sweet,
Anne
sweetaftons@xmission.com
sweetaftons.blogspot.com

You know it's Spring when...

Dear Family and Friends,

I feel like a new Grandma. We have had a momma duck nesting just outside our Sweet Afton's front door for the past week. Either late last night or early this morning the eggs hatched. Momma's staying right on top of the chicks so I don't know how many there are, but we have seen three or four new little ducklings. We think there are a few more. There is also a nest of new little baby robins in the decor over Anastasia's Attic front porch. It's fun to watch nature at work and be front row participants in the miracle of creation. You definitely know it's Spring when the grass greens up, the flowers bloom and new life is chirping all around you. Of all days to leave my camera at home. I'll try and get some pictures for you on Monday.

Health News:

The market for gluten-free products grew to $1.6 billion last year, an annual growth rate of 28% in the last four years, according to Packaged Facts report. This explosive growth has been making waves in the food business.

Gluten is a composite of proteins found in grains such as wheat, barley, rye and some food additives. Approximately 3 million Americans (including my husband), suffer from celiac disease, an inflammatory disorder associated with gluten consumption. Millions more claim gluten allergies and sensitivities, driving the growth of gluten-free food products. At Sweet Afton's, we are very sensitive to the health needs of our customers and we want to provide everyone with the "sweetest" possible experience here. Therefore, we have many candies available that are gluten-free. Some of our gluten-free sweets are: Jelly Belly jelly beans, our Sweet Afton's fudge, Taffy Town Salt Water Taffy, Rabbit Creek mixes and many candy bars and novelty candies. We also carry a pretty good selection of sugar-free candies and chocolates. If you have a food allergy or similar concern, please let us know and we will do all we can to accomodate your needs.

Secret photo of the week:


Come on down, see the new ducklings, find the photo and enjoy some free fudge. I'm off to the LaMans race at Miller Motorsports Park tomorrow. Have a great weekend and I'll talk to you soon.

Keepin' it sweet,
Anne
sweetaftons@xmission.com
http://www.sweetaftons.com/
sweetaftons.blogspot.com