When life gets rough….there is always Chocolate!

With the daily doses of jittery (to say the least) financial markets, dismal economic news and the constant barrage of news from hotly contested elections, it is natural to want to seek comfort and calm in our homes (if you can escape campaign commercials). Providing a cozy home environment is what we at Haven Home are all about….we have a little bit of everything…all for the home, but we have added something new to help stave off the blues and brighten your outlook – Chocolate! Chocolate, especially dark chocolate contains flavonoids which can help relax blood pressure, seratonins which act as an antidepressant, and it stimulates endorphin production which gives a feeling of pleasure….ok…this last one is not really “news” to dedicated chocoholics.

From now through the Holidays, we will be offering (and taking special orders for) delicious and wonderful treats from Fiori Chocolatiers of Bellvue, Washington. Fiori makes small batches of unique Italian-styled artisan chocolates with only the finest ingredients. We will be offering Fiori’s:

Tortinis - chocolate rounds with roasted pistachios, hazlenuts or candied orange;

Chocolate Dipped Figs – figs marinated in rum and Tahitian Vanilla, filled with 65% cacao ganache, covered with 71% cacao chocolate, and finally dusted with 100% pure cacao powder and organic cinnamon;

Chocolate Bars – featuring dark and extra dark cacao (did I mention these are wonderful with a glass of Merlot?); and

Peperoncino Spicy Drinking Chocolate - a wonderful blend of cacao and spices with undertones of cinnamon, allspice and hot pepper…the perfect beverage to sip in front of the fire on a cold winter evening.

And for those that prefer to enjoy their chocolate calorie free….have you experienced our Chocolate Candles yet? Our first orders went so fast we had to order more….and it is often one of the first things our customers notice when the come into the store “It smells so good in here….is that chocolate?” These come in a variety of sizes from votives to pillars, and while they may not provide the antioxidants, the scent definitely kicks in the endorphins.

So….before opening that 401K statement….light a candle…and have a bar of dark chocolate or mug of Peperoncino drinking chocolate by your side……