Make a Difference Giveaway
First a little bloggy business…
Thanks to Jen who offered to host the check in for the Looking Fine challenge.
I’ve been fighting off a cold this past week and that means that I have been eating and drinking non-stop. This is what I do when I get sick. I like using the flushing out method because it gives me an excuse to overindulge in copious amounts tea, juice and cookies. I don’t think it is working because I still feel achy, tired, feverish, and not surprisingly, I managed to gain 2 pounds. 
Not only have I been sick, but my blog hasn’t been feeling well either. Over the past couple of weeks I have been having a ton of issues. I even got an email from Blake asking me if my blog had really been possessed by some sort of ghost from the Gettysburg tour. Oh, how I wish that were the case. I think an exorcism would have been a much easier fix than the nightmare that I’ve been having.
I feel terrible about Melanie’s Friday Eye Candy List. She only received a couple of comments because of the fact that my blog was down all weekend. If you didn’t comment, please go to this post or her blog and leave her some comment love.
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Now onto the giveaway. I’ve been meaning to do this Make a Difference post for weeks, but because of the aforementioned trials and tribulations of my blog, I have been putting it off. What better time to do it than the Bloggy Giveaways Quarterly Carnival.
By now you’ve probably seen or at least heard of the movie Blood Diamond. If not, it really is a must-see movie. For one reason, it exposes the fact that many diamonds are mined and sold to fund the unlawful and illegal operations of rebel, military and terrorist groups in Africa.
If that doesn’t give you enough reason to want to watch it, then there’s always this reason:
Oh Leo, you rock my world.
Now, this giveaway has nothing to do with diamonds. Or Leo.
It has to do with one of my other favorite guilty pleasures. Chocolate.
Here are some facts about chocolate that you may not be aware of. Did you know:
- Two thirds of the world’s cocoa bean production comes from Africa (Ghana, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, etc.)
- More than 109,000 children in Africa work in the cocoa industry.
- As many as 10,000 are victims of human trafficking or enslavement.
- Many of these children are lured into slavery by promises of living wages, only to be beaten, forced to work for no pay, and confined to prevent escape.
- Others come from impoverished communities where they are removed from school because their help is needed on family farms.
- Enslaved children typically work over 12 hours a day harvesting cocoa beans and have no idea what chocolate tastes like.
Why is this happening?
Cocoa farmers are not paid living wages for their crops. Companies such as Mars, Hershey’s, Nestle, and Cadbury purchase the cocoa cheap, take enormous profits, and sell it for less than its real market value around the world.
How can you help?
Consider buying candy other than chocolate for Halloween. If you must buy chocolate, look for brands that are labeled “Fair Trade” chocolate.
To help try to raise awareness about this problem, I’m giving away a bar of chocolate from one of my favorite brands–Endangered Species Chocolate.
Endangered Species Chocolate not only donates 10% of their net profits to environmental organizations that work to help endangered species and their habitats, but it also makes sure that its cacao beans are sourced and harvested from small family-owned properties and are ethically traded.
I’ve purchased Endangered Species Chocolate at Target in the past and have been very pleased with their quality and taste. My favorite flavor is the Supreme Dark Chocolate–yum!
To enter the giveaway, leave me a comment letting me know what flavor of chocolate bar you would like if you win the contest. Visit this page to see all the flavors.
If you plan on making an effort to buy only fair-trade chocolate please leave that in the comments section as well. I will be sending this page along with all of the comments to the big chocolate corporations.
You may also consider sending a letter or email letting them know you will be boycotting them until they support better fair trade practices. Visit this site for sample letters and addresses.
The giveaway will stay open until Friday at 5pm EST and is open to everyone.
To enter some more bloggy giveaways, click here.
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Comments
125 Responses to “Make a Difference Giveaway”
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i love that movie. It truly opened my eyes to so many things… In fact, when my wedding ring was stolen in Los Angeles, and we had to replace it, I refused to get a diamond. I just, in good conscience, couldn’t do it. I had no way of knowing…
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YES! way to go. I plan on buying fair trade.
ANg
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I’m so glad you’re back so I can get my daily dose of mish mash!
I had no idea about the controversy surround chocolate…I had a Butterfinger tonight, now I feel guilty.
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Oh, I’m also dedicated to only buy fair trade chocolate from now on.
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I can’t believe I didn’t know that. I’m kind of feeling guilty for years of choclate indulgence. Of course you know I love winning free chocolate so I’ll throw my name in the hat for a bar of Milk Chocolate With Cherries – I know dark chocolate is better but that just sounds yummy (2nd fave would go to dark chocolate with raspberries – yum).
I’m pretty seriously planning to only buy fair trade chocolate. Seeing as I do most of my grocery shopping at Trader Joes, I’m hoping this won’t be difficult. Thanks for posting this, never even minding the giveaway!
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have followed this for years..thanks for the awareness
3beez at bellsouth dot net
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I *love* endangered species chocolate, especially the dark chocolate! I’m trying to be more conscious of the fair trade issues, so ES is my preferred brand.
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Smooth Milk Chocolate or Milk Chocolate and Almonds!
Great giveaway, really. It was enlightening.
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Dark chocolate with mint sounds yummo.
I honestly had no idea the issues of Big Chocolate Co’s. I guess sadly it doesn’t surprise me. I will certainly be much more aware of what chocolate I buy and the chocolate from the site had reasonable prices and I’m sure tastes just as good if not better. Thanks for heads up!
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Milk chocolate with Almonds for me please!
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Dark chocolate with hazelnut toffee sounds fantastic.
My favorite chocolate is fair trade. Green & Black’s Maya Gold.
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Dark chocolate with deep forest mint – YUM!!!
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Smooth milk chocolate – yum!
sjbraun at hotmail dot com
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Milk choc with almonds. Fair trade rocks!
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I always try to buy local and fair trade. Thank you for this great post
Please enter me in the contest!
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I love this chocolate. I’d like to try the dark with raspberries since I can never find it around here.
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I loved Blood Diamond and was so happy it was so mainstream so that so many people were able to learn about diamonds. While I was in college, I had a professor from Africa whose family mined diamonds under slave conditions and since then, I’ve never wanted a diamond. Thanks for informing me about cocoa! I had NO idea. I think i’d like to try Dark Chocolate with Deep Forest Mint.
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Dark chocolate with blueberries sounds great.
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The dark chocolate with espresso beans!!!
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I was naive and ignorant. sigh. Fair trade it is to be. Now that I know I will look for fair trade.
For evil to exist it takes a good person to do nothing. I will not allow that.
Thank you for the offer and the information.
oh- Organic Dark Chocolate with Blueberries. lol almost forgot. Thank you.
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I had no idea about the plight of children working in the cocoa fields. What a tragedy. Thank you for sharing this – I will Definitely be keeping this in mind next time I buy chocolate.
I’d love to try the Extreme Dark or the Dark with Expresso. Yummy.
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I buy fair trade coffee but never thought about cocoa/chocolate. Thanks for sharing this information. Wow, it is hard to pick just one flavor they all sound so yummy, but I think the dark chocolate with deep forest mint sounds yummy. Thanks for the chance.
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I’d go with the Extreme Dark Chocolate!
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Definitely the dark chocolate with cranberries and almonds. But then again any flavor is good.
Thanks,
Christy
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I had no idea about all of this. It’s like the sugar cane fields in the 1700-1800s. My goodness.
I have tried the Endangered chocolate, and it is good. Based on what I have learned here, I will only be buying Free Trade Chocolate from now on.
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WOW I never know anything about this. I think I would try the dark chocolate with cranberries and nuts.
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Extreme Dark Chocolate! wow! sounds yummy!
I have seen Blood Diamond and it made me cry. Thank you for spreading the word about the issues with chocolate and Ghana. It’s heartbreaking and something most people have no idea about. I didn’t that’s for sure. I will be looking for fair trade chocolates.
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[...] never bothered to READ about it because I never knew any of the following things until Jen @ Daily Mish Mash posted about it. Leave it to Jen to put it in words I can understand, right? Words [...]
Thank you so much for sharing this info. I had no idea. I already bought some candy, but I will definitely think twice from now on.
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I didn’t even KNOW there was fair trade chocolate. I’ll keep my eyes open for it from now on. I’d pick the dark chocolate mint!
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Dark chocolate with mint please! Thanks for the great chance to win! chattyhousewife(at)gmail.com
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I haven’t seen the movie, but will definitely put it on my list. We pretty much only buy fair trade chocolate already, as well as only fair trade coffee. Thanks for the giveaway!
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Good thing I haven’t bought any halloween treats yet o.o I didn’t know these companys put those poor children through such tragedy. I’ll be on the look out for fair-trade chocolates to hand out on Halloween.
As for flavour, I’d like the Dark Chocolate with Cranberries and Almonds
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Milk chocolate with cherries and a 3 carat rock for me please. Ah hem NO, NO I was listening.
Good for you, I had now idea this was happening. I like to think all chocolate comes from heaven.
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It’s sad that chocolate is bringing people anything other than happiness. That just seems wrong somehow.
I like either the smooth milk chocolate or the organic chocolate and peanut butter. I can’t decide.
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I’d like dark chocolate with mint. I honestly didn’t know that the chocolate trade was like that. I’ll definitely be changing my views on chocolate.
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Thank you for sharing this. I’ve never heard about it before.
I like to try Dark Chocolate with Espresso Beans.
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I love chocolate and I did NOT know this – I’m going to read up more on it. I would love to try their dark chocolate mint bar and going to see if these are available locally for us. Thank you!
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Thank you for this Jen. We all need to raise awareness about these things, there are so many people out there who just don’t have any idea that this kind of thing goes on.
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Wow. I had no idea..thank you for that info. I will be on the lookout for these bars and give them a try. The dark chocolate with raspberry seems to be calling my name.
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Dark Chocolate with cranberries and almonds. And Leo!
quitecontrary1977@hotmail.com
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The Organic Milk Chocolate with Peanut Butter is my choice.
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I actually just bought one of these bars tonight at Walgreens… the dark Chocolate blueberry looks delicious. I know i like the milk chocolate with almonds
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Dark chocolate with cocoa nibs!
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This is terrible! Not the blog giveaway, but the info about chocolate. I have a friend who is aware of this situation and now only buys fair trade chocolate (when she can).
Thanks for caring!
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WOW!!!! Thank you for opening my eyes! I never knew this! Gee… I feel horrible about the candy I bought for Halloween now.
Thank you for educating me on this. I plan on telling everyone I know about this too!!!
Thanks for the giveaway too. Dark chocolate is my personal favorite and I love any chocolate with nuts too.
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Dark Chocolate with Hazelnut Toffee…YUM!! Thanks for the chance to win! And for pointing out such a worthy cause.
give_me_a_latte at yahoo
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Wow thank you for sharing info with me! And what a great cause. I think the Dark Chocolate with Cranberries and Almonds sounds yummy.
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I am a purist and would love a bar of just smooth milk chocolate. Thanks so much for the information. As with many practices that go on around this world, I had no idea what the situation was like.
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I would choose the milk chocolate with cherries..YUM!!
amitymatthia [at] hotmail.com
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I would like the dark chocolate with blueberries.
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My choice would be the smooth milk chocolate with cherries. Thanks for the giveaway.
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Wow, I had no idea, I will definetely be looking for “Fair Trade” chocolate from now on.
I would choose the Smooth Milk Chocolate bar, thanks for the giveaway and the information.
mattandjen[at]gmail.com
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Wow they all look so good, I am a sucker for Milk chocolate with almonds or with cherry!
You know, I didn’t even think about only buying FT for food items such as chocolate, I have recently had my eyes opened about clothing items and found a great woman who sells only fair trade purses and bags- thanks for also opening up my eyes!
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Good movie, Great chocolate…
Smooth milk chocolate for me please!
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I’d love the Milk Chocolate with Almonds candy bar. Fair Trade chocolate ROCKS!
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Milk Chocolate with Almonds
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i’d love to try the dark chocolate with hazelnut toffees.
bebemiqui82(at)yahoo(dot)com
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Wow, I had no idea about the chocolate controversy. I love the movie “Blood Diamond” (and Leo, he’s so hot). After watching it I did some research on conflict diamonds and how to ensure that I didn’t buy any, but was unaware of the chocolate. Thanks for the information and for the great contest.
Happy Halloween.
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Also milk chocolate with almonds! I don’t consider myself naive, but I had no idea that that’s how we get most of our cocoa/chocolate. Thanks for the info!
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I love any flavour! But milk or white would be nice!
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I will try to make more of an effort to only support fair trade! I had no idea it was happening. I would love the dark chocolate with deep forest mint!
Thanks for offering it!
princesslimey (at) gmail (dot) com
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I will definately make an effort to buy fair trade. I have already done that when there has been an option…it is often difficult to do in our remote town. Thanks for educating us all.
owatz (AT)telus (DOT) net
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Milk Chocolate with Cherries
Thank you for the great giveaway!
kerin0874 (at) yahoo (dot) com
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extreme dark chocolate for me!
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I would love to try the dark chocolate with cranberries and almonds
thanks for sharing
ceashark at aol dot com
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Dark Chocolate with raspberries. Thanks for the eye opening info.
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Great information. I would love to try the smooth milk chocolate.
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I’d love the dark chocolate with cranberries and almonds.
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wow milk chocolate with cherries…. thanks for the easy words and terms…I am in- thanks- please enter me thankyou..mrs.mommyyatgmail.com
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i’d like the milk chocolate with almonds.
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I loved that movie! I’ve never had this brand but would love to try the chocolate and peanut butter!
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I wish they made milk chocolate with cranberries and almonds, but since they don’t, I’ll just wish for the milk chocolate with almonds!
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I would go for milk chocolate with almonds.
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[...] Make a Difference Giveaway [...]
The dark chocolate with raspberries sounds yummy. I have purchased one of these before but I don’t recall from where.
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I would say that the Dark Choc with Cocoa nibs sounds super good! I will have to look for these at Target next time I’m there.
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Wow! Thank you for the information. I think the Organic Smooth Milk Chocolate sounds good. Thanks for the give-away! Stacy
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Dark chocolate with hazelnut toffee sounds great to me!
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Dark Chocolate with cranberries and almonds sounds delicious!
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dark chocolate w/raspberries!
To be honest I have never heard of fair trade chocolates! Thanks for spreading the word and enlightening some of us out here! I will be on the look out for this from now on though.
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I absolutely love the godiva dark chocolate raspberry bar!! Come check out my giveaways!!
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the movie sounds good
Milk Chocolate with Cherries
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Okay I can’t promise to buy *only* fair trade chocolate, but I can promise to choose it more often.
The Smooth Milk Chocolate looks great. Thanks for raising awareness, and thanks for the great giveaway.
oinkmoobaa (at) yahoo(.)com
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I didn’t know that about the chocolate industry! That’s terrible
I’m glad to know there is fair trade chcolate out there!
Thanks for the great and informative contest
If I win, I’d like the Milk Chocolate with Cherries 
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Darl chocolate with english toffee.
I have only recently become aware of the slave child labor used in cocoa harvesting. I think it’s really important to support fair trade – I have for a long time in coffee, and in the she butter I use. I will also be doing it with chocolate.
We have a small chocolate company in the larger town near us, and he is fair trade. It’s gonna cost me to make chocolate chip cookies with his chips, but it’s worth it to know my habits aren’t destroying childrens lives. I have4 of my own. I want the best for all of them.
Thank you for using this giveaway to bring this to peoples attention.
Lalycairn (at) gmail.com
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I would love to win the extreme dark chocolate with forest mint, it sounds amazing.
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Dark Chocolate with Cranberries and Almonds for me please!!
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That Supreme Dark Chocolate sounds good! And I’m going to try to buy Fair Trade chocolate whenever possible!
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Dark chocolate with hazelnut toffee sounds absolutely perfect to me! thanks!
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I can’t believe this is the first I’m hearing of this. So sad. I”ll be doing some more research about it before I make a decision, but I’m sickened at the thought!
If I won, I would like the Dark Chocolate with Cranberries and Almonds
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I would choose Dark Chocolate with Hazelnut Toffee for my hubby. His fave.
jubys1mom(at)yahoo(dot)com
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Oh yum! The Dark Chocolate with Mint is right up my alley! How fantastic! Thank you for this giveaway; I hope I win
eyeslikesugar (at) gmail (dot) com
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The Tee Party Limeade Tunic looks comfy!! How fantastic! Thank you for this giveaway; I hope I win
eyeslikesugar (at) gmail (dot) com
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I Dugg this giveaway, too!
eyeslikesugar (at) gmail (dot) com
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I think the extreme dark chocolate looks the tastiest.
akreese (at) hotmail (dot) com
I am glad that you are raising awareness about this issue!
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Milk or dark chocolate is my favorite…Love both. Thanks for the giveaway. semtaylor(at)yahoo(dot)com
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Organic Milk Chocolate with Peanut Butter
txhottie_86 at yahoo dot com
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Dark chocolate with hazelnut toffee for me.
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I’d like to try the Dark Chocolate with Hazelnut Toffee.
I’ve been trying to support fair trade for a while, but my budget doesn’t allow it for Halloween treats yet (I’m a student). I’ll be away from home tomorrow, though, so that’s one thing I don’t have to worry about this year.
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Dark chocolate with mint sounds great to me.
Thanks for the info about chocolate and Thanks for the great giveaway.
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I had no idea about those things, thanks for the info, I will have to follow it more closely now, as for the kind of chocolate, I would choose dark supreme, thanks for the very tasty giveaway, and GLTA
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I would love to sink my teeth in to the dark chocolate with deep forest mint.
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The organic dark chocolate with cacao nibs, acai and something else…
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dark chocolate w/ deep forest mint
vanillacreme at gmail dot com
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Milk chocolate with almonds please. Thanks!
What a great cause to help endangered species.
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Dark Chocolate with Hazelnut Toffee!!
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Dark Chocolate with Cocoa Nibs looks yummy, thanks!
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The dark chocolate with deep forest mint sounds yummy! Thanks so much for doing this giveaway!
ahiltzy@yahoo(dot)com
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Dark chocolate with mint! or blueberries! or raspberries! Yum!
I wish there were places here where I knew I was buying fair trade chocolate. I totally would! I’m sure it tastes better than *big name company* chocolate that usually tastes like wax anyway!
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I’d love to try the Dark Chocolate with Blueberries.
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Dark chocolate with raspberries. Yum
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Great post, I’d love to try the Smooth Milk Chocolate
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I’d like to try the dark chocolate with raspberries. I will absolutely look for this at my target…probably tastes better just for being respectful!
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Dark chocolate with cranberries and almonds… sounds so good!
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Ooh that Supreme Dark sounds heavenly!
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Dark chocolate with blueberries.
)
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I love the Dark chocolate with mint!
cjnedrow@gmail.com
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Smooth milk chocolate for me!
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I would love to try the Dark Chocolate with Deep Forest Mint. Sounds delicious!
Kathy
bigfamily8(at)yahoo(dot)com
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I’ve need seen this will have to look for it I’d like the Dark Chocolate with Raspberries–I’d be in heaven
Bonnie in FL
blday50@yahoo.com
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The Supreme Dark Chocolate
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Milk chocolate with cherries Thanks!
braaisjo at gmail dot com
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I love this companies chocolate it is good Milk Chocolate with Almonds for me
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I had no idea. Thank you so much for opening my eyes. I love chocolate myself but honestly, this makes me sick.
Thanks for the chance to win some chocolate that is much more human-concious. And I love pretty much ANY dark chocolate!
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