Having a blog can be a lot of work.

{Especially for someone like me who pours her heart into the things she loves}

…and this blog is definitely something I love.

I can easily put 30 hours a week into this.

Part because I am crazy.

Part because this is my passion.

Part because I have found my calling.

Part because I have fallen in love with all of you.

YOU ALL ARE FABULOUS.

You really are.

If we were in the same classroom,

I would give each and every one of you a Valentine’s Day card

with a piece of candy attached.

I got this idea from ehow.com however I used the recipe that requires corn syrup (yuck!). 3 attempts later, this is what I found that works easiest without that nasty syrup aftertaste.

Watermelon Hard Candy Recipe

Makes approx. 40 pieces

INGREDIENTS:

1 c. sugar

1 c. water

food coloring

fruit-flavored essence (or oil)–flavor of your choice (you can find this at Michael’s, JoAnn’s, or other cooking/baking stores)

DIRECTIONS:

Place parchment paper into a small pan (I used my 7″x5″ one) Place sugar and water into a saucepan. Bring to soft boil, stirring constantly. Cover and allow to boil for 3-5 minutes. Remove cover and place thermometer into saucepan. Do not stir anymore at this point. When it reaches 310 degrees, remove from heat. Allow the mix to sit for 30 seconds-1 minute. Place a couple of drops of coloring and essence/oil and stir. Pour into parchment-lined pan. Let it cool briefly for 4 minutes (you want the candy harden a little but still soft so you can cut through it). Using kitchen scissors, cut into desired shapes. Dust with powdered sugar (this keeps from the candy from sticking together).

Or if you wanna make them into lollipops, you can easily place a sheet of parchment paper down, lie a lollipop stick onto the paper, and proceed to pour the warm candy mix onto the stick. Allow to cool to harden.

I would sign the card,

“Thank you for brightening my day every day!”

And then I would inevitably break out in song,

singing the theme to “The Golden Girls”…