When a woman is pregnant, anything can happen. The cravings start, mood swings inevitable, and trips to the doctor increase dramatically. While this miraculous time is wonderful and exciting, it can also be dangerous and troublesome. Many women need to be put on a strict diet, both for their health and the baby’s; this usually means cutting down on caffeine, alcohol, shellfish, sweets, and many other items that pose a potential threat or health complication.

However, there’s good news out there for soon-to-be mommies. Chocolate is in! That’s right, not only are women allowed to eat chocolate, some doctors are encouraging women to eat chocolate. Why? Well apart from the theobromine in the chocolate promoting a better mood and stress relief, it has also shown to help prevent preeclampsia, a dangerous condition that can occur during pregnancy. Preeclampsia is associated with high blood pressure and increased protein in the urine. This condition can cause complications and later lead to eclampsia, which can cause still birth, seizures, comas, kidney failure, and even death. In a recent study, researchers asked over 2,200 women about their chocolate intake, and later took samples of umbilical chord serum to test for levels of theobromine.

So how does chocolate help prevent this? Well, we honestly don’t know. Whether eating chocolate has a direct correlation with prevention, we have yet to find out. There is major evidence, however, to suggest that ingesting higher amounts of chocolate during pregnancy can significantly reduce the chance of developing preeclampsia. The women who developed preeclampsia tended to report less chocolate intake during pregnancy.

Now, of course this doesn’t give a green light to go eat all the chocolate in the store (as delicious as that would be). Research suggests eating a higher percentage of good-quality chocolate several times a week, rather than lower percentages which contain more calories and fat.

So what are you waiting for? Let the cravings begin!

The heat is blazing through, and that can only mean one thing: melted chocolate. (Really?) There is nothing worse than coming back to your car after forgetting that chocolate bar on the seat, the one day you had to park in the sun. Sure, your car may smell great, but that chocolate seems less appetizing after being all mushy all over the seat. Not only can the chocolate look deformed, it can also “bloom” and become gritty or out of temper. So what is being done about this problem?

Besides the normal precautions like keeping chocolate in room temperature away from the sun, scientists have actually found a way to keep chocolate from melting so easily. This chocolate, which normally would melt at about 90-95°F, can withstand temperatures of over 104°F (for 3 hours) and still maintain its shape, texture, and consistency. It literally doesn’t melt.

Now, even though this was discovered early last December, chocolate that doesn’t melt has been around since the 1930s. Usually substituted with wax, preservatives, or other compounds such as oats, these chocolate bars would be issued to soldiers or people in warmer climates. (They have even been in space!) They didn’t really taste very good, and they were very brittle. These new bars, however, have the exact same ingredients and are only made a little bit differently. That’s one not so small step for man, ladies and gentlemen.

As for Peterbrooke? Well, we’re still working on it, and we will always do anything and everything we can to prevent those chocolate disasters from happening.

Now if only they could make a chocolate bar i could eat underwater, then id be set….

Dear Mothers Everywhere,

Thank you so much for all you do. From raising us by giving us chocolate, to taking us to the neighborhood chocolatier, to letting us drive there ourselves, we love you. Without you, we would be without guidance, love, affection, wisdom, hopes, or dreams. Thank you for putting up with everything we do, and loving us because of it. Even though some of us may have grown up, we will always be your kids.

From all of us at Peterbrooke, thank you Moms, for everything you do! We love you!

How did you celebrate Mother’s Day? Did you give the most important woman in your life flowers? How about a massage? And don’t forget about the chocolate. (You did remember the chocolate, right?) Don’t worry, we open tomorrow at 10 for all your belated needs!

Just remember that Moms deserve love (and chocolate) every day of the year. Happy Mother’s Day!

Since the dawn of time, people have been changing. Inventing new things, expanding their minds, learning. And as time progressed, we found it easier to pass on knowledge to future generations, rather than to have it rediscovered again and again. This job was passed on to the bravest of us all: the teachers. Without them, we would all be lost in a world of ignorance. (Not to mention we wouldn’t know nearly as much about chocolate.) We owe them everything.

Teachers come in all different forms; sometimes we have direct guidance in education, sometimes we are trained in a skill, and sometimes we even teach ourselves through experience. Either way, it is hard work and requires much dedication.

As the end of the year approaches, many students and parents consider giving gifts to their teachers and mentors. At Peterbrooke, we know that the best teachers deserve chocolate. We also know that we teach each other all the time. Everyone at Peterbrooke is constantly going through training and growth, whether it is in the art of chocolate, guest service, or even in life skills and achievements. We are thankful for our wonderful leaders, Kevin and Jami, as well as each and every one of our chocolatiers. We couldn’t have gotten this far without you! May chocolate forever course through your veins.

Since the first pair of pre-historic high heels to the glass era of Cinderella, every woman has been obsessed with shoes. Big ones, small ones, tiny ones, and fat ones, shoes have been covered in everything from polka dots to glitter. With all these different designs, patterns, and styles, it’s no wonder women (and men) love shoes.

But what woman deserves shoes the most? If you’re a good child, the answer better be your mother. Mothers stay on their feet almost 24/7, constantly straining themselves, and working their hardest for each and every one of us. And for that, we say thank you the best way we know how. With chocolate and shoes.

However, these are the best kind of shoes. These are shiny, all different colors, custom made, and 100% edible. Introducing: the Jami Shoo. What better way to say thank you to the most special woman in your life this Mother’s Day than a shoe made entirely of chocolate? Want a special message to mom? Design a custom label or design! Have fun, be creative, and give the most special, wonderful gift a woman could want.

The best part? She doesn’t even have to wear it.