National Chocolate Day Oct. 28th

Today is National Chocolate Day, Oct 28th. Chocolate was introduced to the Western world in the 16th century following the arrival of Spanish explorers. During that time, chocolate was used not only as a food, but also as a currency. All I know is that it is the sweetest thing on earth.

Find chocolate gifts on Sandyspider Gifts: Chocolate
Here are a couple samples of chocolate, plus raspberries (they always go good with chocolate.

by Sandyspider

To celebrate this delicious day, here are a few articles from Squidoo and Hubpages with chocolate. Please click on the links to read more on the articles.

Confessions of a Chocoholic
I am a chocoholic. I love chocolate. At times it is my best friend. Some times it is my only friend. I can eat it at any part of the day. There have been times when I have eaten an entire 16 oz. bag of chocolate, a small box of candy or a giant size bar of chocolate in one sitting. This hasn't happen in a long time. But the cravings for chocolate are always there. "My name is Sandy and I'm a chocoholic!"

Chocoholics Unite! Zazzle Gallery
No better way to say it than with chocolate. This is for all chocoholics. Chocolate interacts with brain chemistry. It is natures feel good drug. Men, but mostly women crave it. Some of us just can't get enough of it.

Chocolate comes in many different varieties. To name a few: there is solid milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate and even chocolate truffles.

Rich Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake
Rich, creamy, mouth watering, sinfully delightful, chocolate raspberry cheesecake. A pleasure for a chocoholic's taste buds. Slowly savor this guilt ridden desirable dessert of ecstasy. Blend together raspberries, chocolate and cream cheese for pure delight.

Unique Chocolate Gifts for Her
Give her the gift of chocolate. Chocolate can be candy, jewelry, vases, movies, recipes, spa treatments, bedding, liquor and chocolate shower gels with just the right scent to heighten the mood.

She would love a chocolate truffle mousepad, cocoa mug or truffle shoes These gifts are pleasantly soothing with no calories. Unless you add the cocoa to the mug.Be sure to check out the chocolate diamond ring.

Christmas Candy Recipes
I have been cooking since I was a little girl. I love to cook and create my own recipes. Or take a recipe and improve on it. I learned from my mother, who learned from her mother and so on.

The one thing I love about Christmas time is the candy. Oh I love candy! After all, isn't that one of the major food groups?

I have many candy recipes that have came from my grandmother and great grandmother. The fudge recipes are before the marshmallow fluff days of making candy. They are more sweat than the recipes of today. This is not diet food! Oh...we loved our sugar.

Enjoy these delicious treats.

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
Everyone loves oatmeal cookies. Some people add raisins, which is the typical ingredient in these cookies. But being a chocoholic, I prefer chocolate chips. Recently, I made these chocolate chip oatmeal cookies on the insistent from my husband. Actually, he asked for oatmeal cookies. After I had added all the ingredients, I happened to stumble upon a bag of chocolate chips.

Sunshine Cheesecake
The days of the plain old cheesecake are gone. My favorite is cherry cheesecake. But I like to try different recipes. Cheesecake can be made in a variety of favors and styles. The Sunshine Cheesecake is made with whole cranberry sauce in other recipes. Of course it is a personal preference. Often my recipes will come from my head and only written down when someone will ask me how to make it. There are many recipes which have been handed down in my family. I have made this cheesecake recipe a few times with my own twist of cherries. Taste great with dollops of whipped cream. My family loves it.

Black Forest Coffee Recipe and More
Remember the day when you ordered a cup of coffee and that is just what it was. Fresh ground brewed coffee or if you weren’t so lucky, instant coffee. Not that the taste of instant coffee is bad, but it doesn’t compare to home brewed coffee. Enjoy this coffee recipe with a touch of chocolate.

Antioxidants of Chocolate
Dark chocolate has four times as much antioxidant as compared to black tea. Dark chocolate may be higher than a cup of green tea, approximately 42 mg to 50 mg of catechins. Studies have found that dark chocolate had 53.5 mg of catechins (a polyphenolic antioxidant plant metabolite) per 100 gm.

Pumpkin Coffee Gift Sets and Politics

What does Pumpkin coffee gift sets and Politics have in common?

Nothing except the fact that they are both Squidoo lenses.

First time of the year that we think of pumpkins is around Halloween. Pumpkins are good anytime of the year. For Halloween we turn pumpkins into Jack o' lanterns. Holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, pumpkin pie is a favorite dessert.

We have sixteen pumpkins from my garden this year, fourteen of which are shown in front of my house. We had talked about selling some of them. But they look nice sitting out there.

What is not to love about pumpkins?

Read more about it on Pumpkin Mugs and Coffee Gift Baskets

Here are a few gift sets found:



Politics as Usual Merchandise
Whether you are a Democrat, Republican or belong to a different political party. These Zazzle and CafePress designs are about both parties having D.U.M.B. and those who have a blind eye of the WRONG party.

Find more Politics and D.U.M.B. products listed on Embracethehill.com Store for a list of my CafePress shops and a see the Canine National Party. These products carry over on Zazzle in Have D.U.M.B. Merchandise product line.

Taking a neutral stand here on the two main parties in America; Republicans and Democrats will be equally poked fun of. Not allowing my own convictions here on saying how one particular party has set this country back and pushed us further in debt or the fact that we will be forever mopping up many, many years of bad politics.

These bumper stickers, buttons, t-shirts, hats and more are good for anytime during and after an upcoming election. After all...it will always be Politics as usual.

The product for the intro image is Republicans Have D.U.M.B. Mouse Pad found in Funnyjokes Shop on Zazzle.

Read more about it here:
Politically Incorrect Gifts


Republicans Have D.U.M.B. T Shirts
Democrats Have D.U.M.B. Pull Over Sweatshirt

Monsters, Ferrets and Wall Clocks of Hawaii

Playing catch up as always, these are the latest articles of Sandyspider on Squidoo.

Starting out with the No Monsters. This is in regard to those party poopers who don't like to practice in giving out treats on Halloween. This article contains many Zazzle products of expressing your distaste for Halloween. Click on the links and images to go to the products and articles.

Alien Warning by funnyjokes
Design ceramic coffee mugs with zazzle.com

No Monsters for Halloween
Taking my daughter trick-or-treating when she was younger, we would pass by several homes where they refuse to participate in giving out candy to the children. What really got to me was the house up the block. Their children would dress up and go door to door. Yet when a child would go to their door, they would say that it was against their religion and they weren't participating.

For people who are against Halloween, they should wear a "No Monsters" t-shirt and hat and sit outside their door and throw out "No Monsters" stickers to make their Anti-Halloween statement clearer. (Read more by clicking on the link above).


We used to have an adorable albino ferret named Roxie Lady. If you go into the pet store and see ferrets, they are usually twice the size our petite ferret was. At her healthiest weight she weighed 1.6 lbs. When she was sick, she was under a pound. There two lenses are about Roxie, what you need for your ferret before bring one home and fun ferret toys and fashions.

White Baby Ferret by Sandyspider
Learn how to sell art on Zazzle.com

Bringing Home a Ferret
Before we had the dogs (Buddy and Trixie), there was Roxie Lady, our albino ferret. We bought her when she was a 6 week old kit from the breeder. Among the litter of 8 baby ferrets, she was one of two albinos and the runt of all the ferrets.

It hadn't been that long since we put our dog Wendy to sleep. Something we hoped to never have to go through again. We vowed not to have another pet. But for that short period, it wasn't the same in our household.

Our daughter kept reading up on ferrets and brought up all the information she learned to our attention. She finally broke me down and Roxie came home with us to my husband's surprise. (Read more by clicking on the link above).

Ferret Toys and Accessories
Ferrets are curious animals and want to discover everything. Our pet ferret, Roxie Lady loved her toys. Many of her toys were ferret and cat toys. She liked toys that had little bells and squeaky toys. She even had a toy ferret that made different sounds. Every time this toy would make a sound she would jump up and down as in a little dance.

One of Roxie's favorite toys was the tunnel toy. The longer the tunnel, the more she enjoyed it.

When we went camping, everyone loved the little white ferret on the leash. (Read more by clicking on the link above).


On 3drose.com they have personalized gifts from aprons, light switch covers, mugs, coffee gift sets, coasters, pen holders, wall clocks and more. From all these items, look under Sandy Mertens to find all my designs. Many of these same photos and images are also found on Sandyspider Gifts on Zazzle. Though there are exclusive design just on 3drose. Most of these items can be bought on Amazon as well Below are my top ten Hawaii Wall Clocks shown in the article.

Hawaii travel designs are featured on these beautiful handcrafted wall clocks. A stunning high gloss ceramic-like finish is applied, giving a brilliant shine to these one of a kind clocks shown on Amazon.

The photos are taken from my daughter's trip to the main island. The ocean is so beautiful and the black beach is amazing. My favorite of all the pictures is the dead tree that overlooks the ocean.
Wall Clocks of Hawaii
She will be going back to Hawaii again and taking more pictures. These photos on the wall clocks are my favorite that includes the ocean, sunset, dolphins and the Hawaiian tree. (Click on the link above to read more on these clocks and vote for your favorite one).

Calendars, Halloween and Funnyjokes Shop

Calendars make wonderful gifts. We use calendars everyday to keep track of appointments, Birthday, Anniversaries and just to know what day it is. Below are three calendar lenses, tow about the RocketMoms and one about the calendars on Sandyspider Gifts: Calendars.

Rocket Moms Rock Mousepad by Sandyspider
See other Rocket moms Mousepads

Mousepad Calendars of the RocketMoms
Inquiring about the calendar template for mousepads in my RocketMoms Zazzle group started an avalanche of new mousepad calendars. With all this excitement about mousepads, a RocketMoms lens was in order.

Zazzle custom mousepads are high quality, full of vibrant colors, and keep your mouse dust-free and sailing smooth. Enjoy these calendar mousepads from these talented women in a wide variety of designs from ships, butterflies, lighthouses, flowers, and a dove, chocolate, strawberry plant, fireworks, Christmas bells, Blue Mountains and more.

CARTOON ANIMALS 2011 by Sandyspider
Browse other Cartoon animals Calendars

Calendars of the RocketMoms

RocketMoms in my Zazzle group are so creative and talented. They were recently asked to share their calendars that can be bought on Zazzle. These calendars are made on high quality paper. Most products on Zazzle can be personalized for the customer to change the photos, text or add to it. There is no better place to shop online than Zazzle.

(Click on any of these images to go to the product)

Lilacs Flowers Calendar Mousepad by Sandyspider
Learn how to sell artwork online at Zazzle.com

Custom Calendars For Christmas
Why not give out a calendar for Christmas?

With the upcoming year just a week away from Christmas, it is the prefect gift. Zazzle calendars are made on high quality paper. Personalize the calendars using your own photographs, images, and text. Most pre-designed calendars can be customized this way.

How about a calendar right at your fingertips on a mousepad?

These mousepads are high quality. Durable cloth cover is dust and stain resistant with non-slip backing.

Don't send your little ones out to go trick-or-treating without their Halloween water bottle.

My Top 10 Halloween Water Bottles

Water bottles are a great prize to give out at your next Halloween party. Fill up a water bottle for your little goblins before they go trick-or-treating.

These are my top ten picks of the best Halloween water bottles on Amazon. Take the poll to pick out your favorite.

Sports bottles are a popular addition in today's busy world. Filling up a bottle with water is much healthier than drinking soda. It is fun to walk around trick-or-treating with your vintage witch water bottle.



Funnyjokes Shop

"Funny quotes, sayings, rude quotes, insults, funny jokes, insulting humor, jokes about memory lapse, funny phrases, silly sayings, elderly jokes and more humor to follow." This is the first line of Funnyjokes Shop on Zazzle.

With so many different product lines in my other shop Sandyspider Gifts, I felt the humorous quote part of it was getting unnoticed.

Funnyjokes Shop is not just quotes but anything I find (hopefully you do too) funny. Below are some of the product types with the product lines near the guestbook, click on the images and links to go to the items in the shop. This lens will be updated as it grows. More items are shown in Funnyjokes Shop on Zazzle.

Zazzle products include everything from t-shirts, greeting cards, post cards, Ked shoes, stamps, buttons, refrigerator magnets, mugs, hats, stickers, bumper stickers, keychains, skateboards, tote bags, aprons, binders, invitations, ties, posters and more. If there is a product type that you would like to see not shown in the product line just let me know. Special request are welcome too.

Have a Monster Squidoo Party

Won an award for the Squidoo Monster party challenge. My job was to help supply party favors and gifts to this challenge.

Here are the lenses that have been added. Please go to these lenses and vote on your favorite gifts.

My Top Ten Caps To Wear for Halloween
Modern and vintage Halloween caps for this magically and mysterious day are fun to wear. The Squdioo monsters asked me to pick out some caps to give away as prizes at the Halloween party.

These are my top 10 picks out of 30 Halloween caps located on Amazon that are also located on 3drose caps under Sandy Mertens.

Cast your vote below on which cap you like the best for the monsters to give out.

Ten Fun Halloween Stickers
Halloween stickers go great as trick-or-trick gifts. A great alternative to candy. These are also perfect to go with the Squidoo monsters Halloween party. The monsters asked me if I would help out with some party favors. The guest would love to wear one of these Halloween stickers. These are my top ten that I have chosen for this party.

All these stickers can be customized. You can change the image to one of your own and change the text or take it off completely. Change the background color too.

My Top 10 Halloween Pen Holders
Halloween pen holders go perfect with the Squidoo monsters Halloween party. The monsters asked me if I would help out with the party. There will be many games. Some games will be puzzle and guessing games involving filling in your answer on sheets of paper for prizes. Along with the paper, the monsters said they will need plenty of pens to pass out for the guess to play these games. I won't be supplying the pens, but I will be supplying the pen holders to go with the theme of the decorations. Help the Squidoo monsters decide which pen holder would look the best. Vote on my top ten that I have chosen for this party.

My Top Ten Vintage Halloween Pen Holders
Vintage Halloween button pins go perfect with the Squidoo monsters Halloween party. The monsters asked me if I would help out with some party favors. The guest would love to wear one of these vintage buttons. These are my top ten that I have chosen for this party.

All these vintage buttons can be customized. You can change the image to one of your own and change the text or take it off completely. Change the background color too.

My Top 10 Vintage Halloween Buttons
Vintage Halloween button pins go perfect with the Squidoo monsters Halloween party. The monsters asked me if I would help out with some party favors. The guest would love to wear one of these vintage buttons. These are my top ten that I have chosen for this party.

All these vintage buttons can be customized. You can change the image to one of your own and change the text or take it off completely. Change the background color too.

Ten Fun Halloween Stickers
Halloween stickers go great as trick-or-trick gifts. A great alternative to candy. These are also perfect to go with the Squidoo monsters Halloween party. The monsters asked me if I would help out with some party favors. The guest would love to wear one of these Halloween stickers. These are my top ten that I have chosen for this party.

All these stickers can be customized. You can change the image to one of your own and change the text or take it off completely. Change the background color too.

Halloween, Autumn, Thanksgiving and Pet and Articles

Many new articles (lenses) about dog toys, Buddy the German Shepherd, Halloween, Autumn, Thanksgiving and Pizza.

Here they are. See what you have missed.

Dog Toys for Halloween
Halloween toys for your dog are found in a wide selection of toys. From a "Plush & Crinkle Pumpkin Dog Toy" to a "Treat Boo Halloween Bungee Dog Toy"

My dog Buddy loves plush squeaky toys the best. He is a spoiled dog and has more toys than we know what to do with. For the most part, he is good with his toys, with maybe an occasional chewed up ear or two.

Birthday Wish List for My Dog
I'm a German Shepherd and behind me is my cousin Ringo. My birthday is February 2. Whether it is too early or too late for my big day doesn't mean you have to wait in fulfilling my birthday wish list quest.

Halloween Porcelain Snowflake Ornaments
Decorate your Halloween tree with beautiful porcelain snowflake ornaments. Christmas is no longer the only holiday where indoor trees are decorated. A Halloween tree can have spooky monsters or keep within a snowflake theme of jack o' lanterns, witches or black cats.

Halloween Greeting Cards on Amazon
Buying Halloween greeting cards is practical and easy. Amazon offers various payment methods from using your PayPal to a credit card.

On Zazzle you can buy individual cards or in groups. The more you purchase of a greeting card the better discount you will receive. These same cards you will find in Sandyspider Gifts on Zazzle.

Hawaiian Tile Napkin Holders
Hawaiian tile napkin holders are a first start to adding a theme to your kitchen or dining room accessories. An appreciation for travel photos from the Big Island of Hawaii.

Hosting a luau featuring a Hawaiian feast of roast pig, glazed pineapples, coconut milk beverage and entertainment; the décor adds to the mix. Make sure to have Hawaiian design napkins to go with the napkin holders. But why stop there! Add tablecloths, salt and pepper shakers and more Hawaiian decorations.

Growing Pumpkins and Recipes
Grow your own pumpkins is easy. Fresh pumpkins not only make funny or scary Jack o' lanterns for Halloween, but make delicious homemade pumpkin recipes too. Don't throw away the seeds, roast them in the oven for a tasty snack.

Autumn Posters and Prints
Beautiful autumn posters show the transition between Summer and Winter. The leaves begin to change color from green to colors of gold, brown, orange and red. It is a beautiful time of the year. Taking a brisk walk along an autumn trail is invigorating.

We love to drive up north (north eastern) where the leaves first change color. It is also there where there are an abundance of trees lining the water of Lake Michigan. The colors that reflect off the lake are nothing short of spectacular.

Non-Edible Cornucopia Gifts
Dating back to the 5th century, the cornucopia is a symbol of food and abundance. It is represented today as the horn of plenty in a harvest wicker basket shaped cone loaded with festive fruits and vegetables. In North America, the cornucopia has come to be associated with Thanksgiving and the Fall harvest. Whistler, British Columbia, Canada has their November Wine and Food celebration which is named Cornucopia.

Custom Thanksgiving Clothing on Zazzle
Thanksgiving clothing on Zazzle has never been more fun. So many different styles and sizes available of t-shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies to choose from, with just a few clicks you can change the design you like to any of the 65 different styles of women, mens, kids, toddlers and baby shirts, not to mention colors to choose from. All without having to leave the product page which you had selected. How many sites can you say have that option?