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Jungle Madness Friday…Easter bunny style!

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In celebration of this Easter weekend, I decided to offer some yummy, yet elegant chocolate truffles for this week’s Jungle Madness prize! Check these out:

The ultimate indulgence, chocolate has become a favorite Easter treat. These festive spring-themed truffles are a celebratory addition to their Easter basket or holiday table. Nine truffles include three of each variety—extra bittersweet with a yellow flower; toffee with an orange flower; and milk-chocolate ganache with spring flowers. Poured and decorated by hand by Oregon’s Moonstruck Chocolate Company, which uses only the freshest ingredients in all of its fine confections. (Or so the advertisement says! They look yummy, yes?)

All you have to do is post a comment! Check back Sunday when you’re done hunting Easter eggs (if you’re into that sort of thing…which I am!) and find out the name of the winner. Continental US only, for obvious reasons. Oh, and if you answer the following question in your comment, I’ll throw in a copy of DOUBLE THE PLEASURE, an old Blaze of mine (a favorite!) that I recently got extra copies of!

What do you like best about Spring?

Me, the tulips. Lying on my hammock under my big camphor tree without sweating profusely. Our yearly trip to Chicago, this year to see the Cubs, who will be coached by a hometown hero, Lou Pinella, who grew up two blocks from where I grew up and whose parents used to sit on their porch and watch us kids play at the park across the street…sweet people.

Spring always reminds me of my childhood.

This entry was posted on Friday, April 6th, 2007 at 6:00 am and is filed under Julie. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

74 Comments »

  1. My favorite part of Spring is seeing my plants come back to life. I hope everyone who celebrates Easter has a happy one.

    Comment by Maureen — April 6, 2007 @ 6:13 am

  2. I love seeing all the hummingbirds coming back to our garden Have a great weekend!

    Comment by Marie — April 6, 2007 @ 6:28 am

  3. Oh I love how everything comes alive. The deep green grass, the lovely smell of lilacs, the blooming flowers and buds on the trees and the more mild temps before it gets unbearably hot. The days are getting longer and I just feel all happy inside LOL.

    Happy Easter everyone!

    Comment by Stacy ~ — April 6, 2007 @ 6:29 am

  4. All the flowers coming up and the end (soon I hope) of the cold weather and the promise of all things new. And the longer days and vacation time.

    Comment by PC — April 6, 2007 @ 7:26 am

  5. Yummy prize! I love Spring because of all the flowers that start coming up and because it’s not cold.

    Comment by Amy S. — April 6, 2007 @ 7:54 am

  6. Tulips too.
    Can I add my least favorite thing about spring? The tease of warm weather and then the sudden drop back to freezing after I’ve put the heaviest coats and boots in the basement!

    Comment by Carly — April 6, 2007 @ 7:58 am

  7. Yummy prize. I live in Florida so there is not much of a spring but i love Spring Break, I love the weather during this time, the lovely breezes and I love looking at my students and seeing how far they have come since the beginning of the year.

    Comment by Kris — April 6, 2007 @ 8:05 am

  8. The thing I like best about Spring is that it starts to warm up outside and the snow is gone. I’m able to sit out on my front porch in the morning with a cup of coffee and read. Happy Easter everyone.

    Comment by Teresa W. — April 6, 2007 @ 8:06 am

  9. My favorite part of spring yesterday was watching the snow fall most every day…and this was in Kansas! lol

    My fave part is the smell of newly mowed grass and tilled ground for a garden.

    Comment by Darla — April 6, 2007 @ 8:14 am

  10. No flowers in CT yet. Got some snow last night:cry:
    I love the easter egg hunting.
    Happy Easter!

    Comment by BarbaraV — April 6, 2007 @ 8:29 am

  11. Yummy prize. My favorite part of spring is everything turning green with the promise of renewed life.

    Comment by Cheryl S. — April 6, 2007 @ 8:31 am

  12. My favorite part of spring is going to Chicago to visit one of my best friends. This year we are either going to go see the Cubs play or the Sox play(never seen the Sox play, but love watching the Cubs). I also love tulips…They were my mom’s favorite flower and mine too. I hope they all make it through this cold weather we are having this weekend. Happy Friday everyone!!!

    Comment by Liza — April 6, 2007 @ 8:33 am

  13. What a great prize ~ I love spring! My favorite flower is the daffodil. Ours came up this week and bloomed in our very warm weather in the early week. Now they are hanging over in the snow ~ we got about a foot of snow on Friday. Gotta love Ohio Weather!!

    Comment by Shelley — April 6, 2007 @ 8:42 am

  14. Since I live in Ohio - Spring means the end of snow and cold weather. It’s my favorite time of year with the trees flowering, the daffodils & crocuses & tulips in bloom & the forsythia with riot of yellow! Love it!

    Comment by Nina — April 6, 2007 @ 8:48 am

  15. MMM I love spring because I can wear my flip flops allllll the time! I’m not a shoe kind of girl! Great prize!!

    Comment by Melissa — April 6, 2007 @ 8:50 am

  16. Those chocolates look to die for. I agree, TULIPS!! And there is nothing like a Cubs game in the spring. Although it’s a requirement that you have to go to Murphy’s for a beer before the game. I’ll tell you the worst thing about spring, too — here in Florida it means the heat is coming and I’m not going to want to step out my door in another month.

    Comment by Kelly R. — April 6, 2007 @ 8:56 am

  17. Great prize. My favorite part of spring is the smell of all the flowers. And all the things you can do outside in warm weather. Happy Easter everyone.

    Comment by Stacy S — April 6, 2007 @ 8:56 am

  18. My favorite part of spring is the return of the birds to my feeders.
    Songbirds, woodpeckers, hummingbirds all my flying friends.:doggie:

    Comment by Gigi — April 6, 2007 @ 8:58 am

  19. Those look yummy.

    My favorite part of spring is being able to take a walk on the beach and not have a winter coat on or have to try manuvering around all the sunbathers. LOL!

    Comment by Kelly F. — April 6, 2007 @ 9:00 am

  20. Liza, we saw the Sox play one time…on the weekend I found out I was pregnant with my daughter. All I remember about that stadium is that it is STEEP in the nose-bleed seats. As someone who is deathly afraid of heights, I had a hard time climbing up there!

    Kelly R…so true. In a month, we’ll be bound to our air conditioners!

    Comment by Julie Leto — April 6, 2007 @ 9:10 am

  21. Spring reminds me of tornadoes and allergy medicine.

    Comment by Heather Harper — April 6, 2007 @ 9:36 am

  22. I love driving down the street and and seeing green trees for the first time in months. And that first weekend that the grass needs mowing and everyone on the street gets it done and the whole street smells like freshly cut grass. Happy Easter everyone!

    Comment by Shannon T. — April 6, 2007 @ 9:37 am

  23. I love Tulips they are my favorite part of spring. I hate living in Cincinnati though in spring where up until Tuesday we had beautiful weather with temps in the high 70’s to 80’s. Now just a few days later our high today is 39 and we have snow flurries forcasted for tomorrow. My sister lives in Bradenton, FL. I’m thinking its about time to pay her a visit.

    Comment by Jennifer C — April 6, 2007 @ 9:38 am

  24. Ah, the beginning of Spring. I love to plant all the little flowers that are blooming this time of year out in the front of my house. Of course with the heat that will be here in a month (Kelly R. reminded me of this) the flowers will then begin to wilt unless we have much rain or I water them which I tend to forget to do.

    This is also the time when we start going to beach to watch the sunsets again. The weather is just perfect to sit out there and enjoy the sound of the water while watching the sun change the colors in the sky. I love it.

    Comment by Vicki — April 6, 2007 @ 9:44 am

  25. My favorite part of spring is the warmer weather. You get to shed the winter coats (or supposed t).

    Comment by BadBarb — April 6, 2007 @ 9:45 am

  26. Did someone say chocolate? At this time of year I love the scent of blooming jasmine. Our old house had a pergola in the back yard built by previous owners, and it was smothered with jasmine that bloomed every April. I loved to go in and just breathe.

    Someone mentioned lilacs–I loved them growing up in WA, they’re so pretty, but have never seen them here in FL and I miss them.

    Comment by Karen Lingefelt — April 6, 2007 @ 9:53 am

  27. Great prize! I have a few favorite things about Spring. I LOVE it when the trees sprout brand new baby leaves. I love all the flowers that bloom; daffodils, hyacinths, lilacs, my list is endless! I’m here daydreaming about the joys of Spring while watching it spit and sputter snow outside.

    Comment by Shari — April 6, 2007 @ 9:54 am

  28. I love spring because
    the temperatures rise
    and the tulips bloom
    right before our eyes

    The winter snow melts
    toward it’s very last days
    Summer’s coming soon
    with sun’s warming rays

    I’ll sit on the yard glider
    a romance book in hand
    deeply enthralled in a story
    As spring warms the land

    Happy Easter!

    Comment by jeannie — April 6, 2007 @ 10:11 am

  29. I love so much about spring i dont know where to start.. the flowers, the grass greening up after a hard Iowa winter.. the farmers starting to buzz and plant their fields soon.. watching those crops sprout.. i willl soon be getting ready to plant my garden.. cant wait for those first ripe tomatos..
    and i suffer from seasonal depression.. spring to me means that my mood will soon be better.. i think thats my hubbys favorite part about spring too..

    Comment by Jolene — April 6, 2007 @ 10:12 am

  30. What do I like about Spring? Well I love the flowers! The only thing I don’t like about spring is the pollen. I just bought a new jeep and I have to keep washing the pollen off every night. Oh, Well.

    Great Prizes! Happy Friday!

    Comment by Shannon Upright — April 6, 2007 @ 10:19 am

  31. Ohhh! Those chocolates look so delicious!
    I love Spring after a drab, colorless Winter in Minnesota. It is so wonderful to see the green grass, the buds on the trees and the flowers and shrubs starting to come to life in the yards. Everything looks so full of life again and it makes me feel so much happier and excited to want to get out in the yard and get the garden going and the flowers in the pots, etc…put I know I have to wait a while as it is too early for these things to happen in this part of the country.

    Comment by chis0289 — April 6, 2007 @ 10:34 am

  32. Those truffles look amazing Julie! Would love to try them!

    My favorite thing about Spring is when everything starts to bloom - the flowers and the trees. Winter gets a little dull and gray, but Spring brightens everything up with gorgeous splashes of color!

    In Massachusetts we got some snow a couple of days ago, but the flower bulbs are trying to peek out of the ground. I can’t wait for Spring!!

    Happy Easter everyone!

    Comment by Carolyn A. — April 6, 2007 @ 10:48 am

  33. Cool Prize! I love the weather in the spring…usually it is not too hot or too cold…I say usually because we have some really high temps lately and now it is really cool (went down to freezing last night…very unusual in Georgia this time of year).

    Comment by Jennifer Y. — April 6, 2007 @ 10:48 am

  34. I love the variety of flowers that bloom this time of year! Have a Happy Easter everyone! Tomorrow hubby and I are taking are toddler out for his first Easter Egg Hunt. I am so excited!

    Comment by Cherie Japp — April 6, 2007 @ 11:16 am

  35. My favorite part of spring is when the lilacs bloom and watching the mama’s with their new cubs, kits and other youngster playing in the forest that surrounds our home.

    Comment by Susan — April 6, 2007 @ 11:19 am

  36. I love Spring because of all of the flowers blooming and I get the yard cleaned up and then, summer is here and we hang outside (okay, that was a run on sentence, but you catch my drift).

    Awesome prize…this has my neck of the woods all over it. Lou Pinella used to manage the MARINERS (my old hometown of Seattle). I now live near where they make Moonstruck chocolates (okay, I have yet to try them, but I have heard they are divine….they are handmade, I believe). and, I have very few books of Julie’s (I kinda got into a no book slump, lately and if I do read books, they are Janelle’s and Leslie’s…I have read most of Carly’s!). Also, this weekend is a busy one….my folks are coming and I sort of ‘pumped up’ the whole Easter egg hunt thing, so they are expecting a big party (ooops!)Hope everyone has a great weekend and to the East Coasters….stay safe and warm. I just saw pictures on the news! You poor things….it’s 76 here today!

    Comment by katie — April 6, 2007 @ 11:23 am

  37. I’m with you–I love the tulips, and they’re such an uniquely spring flower…
    and mmm… yummy looking eggs for Easter celebrating

    Comment by Fedora — April 6, 2007 @ 11:34 am

  38. I love it when my iris begin to bloom. They are so beautiful! Especially my purple ruffle with white edges…

    Ummm Chocolate! Can’t go wrong there.:thumbsup2:

    Comment by Lynn Matherly — April 6, 2007 @ 11:51 am

  39. Add me too please! Alas, no egg hunting here. . . just hoping I can get one last Cadbury Creme Egg before they’re out of the stores! LOL

    Lois

    Comment by Lois — April 6, 2007 @ 12:08 pm

  40. Fabulous prize! I love when the eather starts to warm up in Spring. It’s not too hot and not too cold. Perfect weather. Although now we are in a cold wave again . . . it always happens around Easter.

    Comment by Stephanie S. — April 6, 2007 @ 12:12 pm

  41. The only thing that I like about spring is that the weather is comfortable. I live in Alabama and it gets very hot here during the summer and you cannot enjoy going outside then. I am allergic to pollen and it seems like everything else that blooms during spring. It causes me to constantly have migraines so I am always glad when it’s over.

    Janelle - I read your story in “Bad Boys with Red Roses” last night. I really enjoyed it! :thumbsup2:

    Comment by Claudia — April 6, 2007 @ 12:22 pm

  42. The best thing about a Canadian spring is watching the snow melt, finally getting the patio furniture out (I took mine out last weekend and we’ve had scattered flurries on and off ever since…fortunately the snow hasn’t stayed on the ground) I like to see leaves back on the trees, especially those with blossoms. But the main reason I love Spring is that the hot shirtless men reappear!

    Comment by Dayle — April 6, 2007 @ 12:56 pm

  43. Super yum! Um I’m not too big on spring because of my allergies and b/c I’m also illergic to most sinus medication too but I do so enjoy the warm weather!

    Comment by Jen — April 6, 2007 @ 1:54 pm

  44. I LIKE SPRING, ESPECIALLY THIS ONE, AS MY CLIMBING ROSES ARE
    ALREADY BLOOMING IN MY BACKYARD–THE BUSH IS OVER 40 YEARS
    OLD. I FEEL SORRY FOR THOSE WITH ALLERGIES–I AM LUCKY THERE
    AS THEY DON’T BOTHER ME, THANK HEAVENS.
    CHOCOLATES LOOK TOO PRETTY TO EAT.
    ALICE IN TEXAS

    Comment by ALICE — April 6, 2007 @ 2:07 pm

  45. Those truffles look amazing–yum! Loved that book of yours Julie.
    Spring here in my corner of northern California start sometime in February, just a teaser of what is to come! Right now so much is blooming it is beautiful & everything is green, again it is so beautiful. When I am out on my walk it is a pleasure to look at people’s yards & see all the flowers. It is warm without being hot, how can you not like Spring? I know it is bad for the people with allergies I’m sorry they can’t enjoy it.
    TO ALL THE PLOTMONKEYS & THEIR FAMILIES, HAPPY EASTER. Enjoy your weekend.

    Comment by Donna M — April 6, 2007 @ 2:31 pm

  46. I love the flowers blooming especially tulips and daffodils. The pink dogwood trees have always been a favorite of mine too. After a long cold winter in Philadelphia Spring is something we look forward to!! Great prize!
    They look delicious.

    Comment by Tina — April 6, 2007 @ 2:44 pm

  47. Spring means sunshine, blue skies and beautiful days. The lilacs, and colorful flowers and taking lovely walks in the evening. Love it because of the warmth and beauty.

    Comment by ellie — April 6, 2007 @ 3:19 pm

  48. The truffles look truly orgasmic.

    I just got back from vacation in FL…I’m originally from there, so leaving was SO hard. Walking on the sand and hearing the seagulls was my favorite part. Now, it’s back to the grind in ATL….

    Comment by ~ Leslie in GA~ — April 6, 2007 @ 3:46 pm

  49. My favorite thing about Spring is watching the long process of watching my Lily’s root up to leaves from shoots to blosoms. I also love the great kite flying weather. Yummy prize.

    Comment by Sue Mont — April 6, 2007 @ 3:52 pm

  50. Happy Spring….Happy Easter…enjoy everyone:cocktail:

    Comment by Tina Martinesi — April 6, 2007 @ 4:52 pm

  51. Can’t go wrong with chocolate! My favorite thing about the spring is the smell in the air!

    Comment by Liz — April 6, 2007 @ 5:03 pm

  52. Yummy! Chocolates and such pretty ones at that.

    I have to say the thing I love most about Spring is the smell of the grass after a rain. The flowers starting to bloom are nice too. Have a Happy Easter!

    Comment by JT — April 6, 2007 @ 5:03 pm

  53. Yum :present: chocolates lol. I no longer buy easter candy since my two girls are grown. They were both born in the spring so that’s my favorite thing.

    Comment by catslady — April 6, 2007 @ 6:32 pm

  54. I never got the hang of planting bulbs, though I do love watching them bloom this time of year. My spring passion is planting flowers thru out my yard. I know its spring when the frost has passed and I get to check out my favorite nursery and come home with a trunk full of flowers to plant.

    Comment by cathy — April 6, 2007 @ 6:32 pm

  55. The thing I like best about spring is that everything feels so fresh and new. And, oh yeah, baseball season. I’m a Braves fan myself, Julie, but the Cubs are right up there, too!

    Comment by Carol R — April 6, 2007 @ 6:37 pm

  56. I love the spring because i know right around the corner is Summer. Julie knows that our Spring really only lasts about a month if that and then were into Summer.
    This year is going to be even better, since i went a head and had Lasik surgery last week. no more worrying about losing my contacts at the beach or pool. No more worrying about then popping out while i’m out and about!!!!

    I’m still amazed that a surgery that takes a total of 12 minutes has restored my vision from 20/400(i was blind as a bat) to 20/15 in one eye and 20/20 in the other!!!

    sorry if i’m gushing I’m just still so excited!!!!

    I hope everyone has a great weekend and Easter/Passover

    Comment by Tricia — April 6, 2007 @ 6:44 pm

  57. Chocolate sounds perfect for Easter! A yummy prize.

    Comment by Michelle — April 6, 2007 @ 7:43 pm

  58. YUMO Truffles

    I love Spring because everything is strating to turn green from the drab brown. The robins returning and the plowmen are no where to be found

    HAPPY EASTER

    Comment by Cherylann — April 6, 2007 @ 7:53 pm

  59. Spring is my favorite season. Walks in the park, sunny days that are ideal for outings and flowers blooming.

    Comment by alissa — April 6, 2007 @ 8:19 pm

  60. Julie, my mother-in-law has a huge profusion of tulips. I instantly thought of you when I saw them last night. Not sure what the freeze will do to them, but they were beautiful.

    My favorite thing about spring is the green. Everything coming back alive after the long cold winter. However, I want to know what the hell happened to spring? Freeze warnings and chance of snow tonight.
    I’m not happy!!

    Hope everyone has a great weekend!

    Comment by Jodie — April 6, 2007 @ 8:51 pm

  61. What a cool way to celebrate Easter with the yummy chocolates… Have a great Easter everyone! By the way Julie, we are expecting snow in Maryland tomorrow… Yucky… :cry: not a good way to celebrate spring.

    Comment by Elisa Varey — April 6, 2007 @ 10:03 pm

  62. What a great Easter present for someone!!!

    Comment by Kathleen — April 6, 2007 @ 10:18 pm

  63. my favorite thing about spring is the flowers come back and the leaves on the trees come back
    nancy

    Comment by nancy — April 6, 2007 @ 11:10 pm

  64. i like that the weather is getting warmer. the chocolate and book sounds lovely.

    Comment by Melissa V — April 6, 2007 @ 11:30 pm

  65. I love all the flowers blooming, the comfortable weather, the road trips to flea markets, and not having to wear a big old winter coat!

    Comment by Rachael — April 7, 2007 @ 12:22 am

  66. right now is 30 degrees and snowing but my favorite thing about spring means my garden can be planted

    Comment by doris — April 7, 2007 @ 2:01 am

  67. My favorite thing about spring is the blooming of the daffodils! My second favorite thing, when you can leave the house without a sweater for the first time. Always nice.

    Comment by Samantha — April 7, 2007 @ 2:35 am

  68. Happy Easter everyone!! And wasn’t it just Passover? Along with the Greek Orthodox Easter coming up??

    too confused- need chocolate!!!

    Comment by ev — April 7, 2007 @ 9:04 am

  69. Nice Prize.It is so cold here in New York.It’s hard to beleive its Easter tomorrow.Happy Easter Everyone.

    Anne

    Comment by Anne — April 7, 2007 @ 10:17 am

  70. The smells, the colors, thinking of getting into shorts. And Easter. I love watching the kids get excited about the Easter Egg Hunt. Choclate is the best around this time of year though.
    I hope everyone has a great Easter.

    Comment by Kimberly Lane — April 7, 2007 @ 11:44 am

  71. Geez - I just drolled all over my keyboard…. I love having more daylight, opening the doors and windows, listening to the birds, seeing things green-up, and visiting with my neighbors as we all head outdoors after a long winter. So, when is spring coming, anyways? It’s +15 in MN.

    Comment by Karen B — April 7, 2007 @ 12:09 pm

  72. We don’t get much Spring here in South Florida but the cooler weather is nice. This morning it was 60 and felt great. It has been in the 80s during the day. Unfortunately, we can’t grow daffodils, hyacinths, narcissus, tulips, etc. but I remember them from living in PA when I was little. The lilacs in my neighnor’s yard were gorgeous and smelled wonderful. I still love that smell.

    Julie, my daughter is in school at Northwestern outside of Chicago, so I get to hear about the Spring flowers around campus. She’s my Easter bunny since she was born on Easter, so this has always been a favorite holiday for us.

    Comment by Susan P. — April 7, 2007 @ 1:20 pm

  73. Warmth. I hate the cold. Unfortunately Spring also brings pollen, which I hate.

    Comment by Tamara — April 7, 2007 @ 9:17 pm

  74. For me the best thing about spring is the Trilliums. They remind me of my father who worked in the woods, and every spring, he would bring my mother a handpicked bunch of trilliums. That has always marked the beginning of spring in our family. Every time I see one in bloom, I think of my parents, their love and smile.

    Comment by Lois — April 8, 2007 @ 12:21 am

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