I'm missing you like... (candy)

Today is one of THOSE days. You know THOSE days. You can’t bring yourself to get out of bed, and so you hit the snooze button one (or three) too many times. Your boss asks you to do a task you would normally undertake with little effort or pressure but you just can’t find it in your soul to even start. It’s not even 10 AM and you’re already thinking about doing something really bad for lunch… like eating three doughnuts and the rest of the bag of candy you started from yesterday.

And so, in an effort to make the apparent 9 servings of candy in one bag last for at least two days… I give to you a list of the best holiday candy.  It's the candy you pine for all year long.  It's the candy that makes you feel like it's a holiday, and then drops you on your face when the holiday is past and you can't get it anymore.

• Cherry JuJu Hearts by Brach’s. Valentine’s Day.

Mock me not, this is my favorite holiday candy. Yum Yum Yum… They’re chewy. They’re sweet. They only kindof stick to your teeth (as an added bonus, my husband doesn’t like the “teeth sticking” factor of this candy, so I always know there will be some left… unless I eat it all... which seems to be happening a lot recently). This candy also comes in chocolate covered. If you can find it – buy it. It tastes like Turkish Delight. And I think we all know what a person will do for some more Turkish Delight (Edmond).

Ooh, but don’t forget just the plain old naked ones, too. They’re like two totally different candies. (in fact, I’m a little embarrassed I gave them the same bullet point and not two “sub-points” but that sounds a little nerdy – even for me.)

• Gobstopper Heartbreakers. Valentine’s Day.

I find regular Gobstoppers to be… well… I just don’t have the patience to wait until they’re the proper consistency to chew them. It takes SO long. Plus, I don’t really get too much of the “flavor change” the box says is supposed to happen. NOT SO with the hearts. Not only does the change in size help out on days I’m a little impatient, but also the flavor REALLY DOES change if you suck on them. It’s genius! The taste of these also makes me want to play Lego Star Wars… because I’ve eaten a lot of these playing Lego Star Wars… (Also, I have no less than 10 bags of these in storage right now. You’ve got to stock-up for the year.)

• SweetTarts Chickens, Ducks and Bunnies. Easter.

SweetTarts are generally pretty good. I like the “tart” (please see my fall-on-the-floor-excitement for a little thing called Sour Patch Watermelons). But the change in texture putting them in the Chickens, Ducks and Bunnies for Easter – BRILLIANT! Take an “okay” candy and turn them into “awesome.” It also takes a holiday that I don’t believe should be commercialized (we never had Easter baskets or other such commercialization in my house for this one, and I have to say that I agree with my father…) and helps me see the up-side of commercialization.

• Candy Corns. Halloween.

Let’s get first things first, I am talking about REGULAR candy corns. The candy pumpkin things are gross beyond all reason. Sure, it might be straight sugar (umm… what thing on this list ISN’T straight sugar…) but these little candies make my autumn-times some happy-times. They are pre-sectioned to make me eat slowly (because, yes, I eat one candy corn in three bites) and remind me of my favorite season.

• Orange Sticks. Christmas.

As a child, my father would freeze them and give us orders to leave them alone. I can distinctly remember being punished for not listening to that order. They’re just so good. (especially frozen.) Chocolate on the outside. Orange jell on the inside. (sure, they come in other flavors like “raspberry” but who needs that?) They taste like Christmas (and you don’t have to bake, or bribe your mother to bake, them).

• Lifesaver's Sweet Story Book (aka "The Sweetest Story Ever Told").  Christmas.

Sure, you can buy lifesavers at any time of the year.  But not all pre-packaged to make you try new flavors and have superfluous candy sitting around your room!  To be honest, if I buy LifeSavers in non-book form, it's rare.  In fact, I don't believe I've done it for years.  But the novelty, tradition and awesomeness (not to mention activity-included) of this little stocking-stuffer brings LifeSavers into my year.  And every year I vow to buy more through the year.  And 9 years out of 10 I fail.  (Don't worry, ButterScotch!  I'll remember you this year!)

Alright… all this talk of candy has got me thinking productive thoughts – I’m off to start doing something with my day. I hope you do likewise. And brush your teeth after all this gooey wonder. Mmm…

What are your favorite holiday candy selections?