HOPE in a NOTE(book)
It has been a while since I shared one of my work blogs from Choco le`a, here on my personal blog site. These encouraging blogs go out weekly to my email list of chocolate friends. You can sign up to receive them HERE. Not getting them every Monday? It may be going to your Spam folder. Thanks so much for staying in touch. Enjoy:
Hi Chocolate Friend!
Ever dreamt, envisioned, hoped, then worked for something and when you saw it in the hands of others loving it, you wanted to cry?!
That’s what our new notebooks are to me! I had hoped to create this tool for others since reading, reflecting, and writing has really helped me process everything and find peace in the pandemic and in the progress. After all, from my journal writing is how our book came about! And now, we have a set of matching notebooks!!!
It’s your turn to start dreaming again and write down all of the things you hope for, for your life, your family and friends, your work, your community, and our world. Everything starts from a dream, a vision, and the hope inside. No one can tell you what to fill your pages with, but you.
We’ve been in the pandemic for so long that as we figure out how to not be so socially awkward, we are truly relying on our mission of connecting through chocolates to help us "get back out there" and sweeten relationships.
I texted 4 friends to meet me down the road from our shop at Manoa park. I brought some coffee from our neighbors at Morning Glass, some chocolates, our books and notebooks, blankets, and chairs, and my photographer friend Karen to capture an afternoon together.
My four friends, Alyssa, Stacey, Pam, and Lana, didn’t know each other, but quickly connected over a common love for our chocolates. As time went on, they began sharing what they would use their notebooks for and that quickly started sweetening these new relationships as they went deeper. We literally chatted, laughed, ate, and scribbled as Karen captured it all.
There, in the valley of the lush green Manoa mountains, on a very windy, cool, and beautiful day, we started emerging. Masks off, smiles showing again, chocolates being shoved in our mouths, real and true conversations shared, and some written words of the beginning of a new hope bubbling inside poured into their brand new notebooks.
It was truly a lifestyle photo shoot done for you, to capture how to use the notebooks and chocolates to connect so you can visualize it in YOUR life too. This kind-of planned, but honestly not really thought through shoot, ended up being way better than I expected. In the process, these ladies really lived out their life and the photos captured by Karen, is evidence that life is meant to be done together. We were made for relationships. Thank you to my chocolate models/chocolate friends. Seeing your smiles gave me hope that these notebooks I dreamt of, would be used for so much more than something cute to add to our collection. The possibilities are now in your hands and are limitless with God.
Thought
“Hope is a waking dream.” -Aristotle
“Where there is hope…there is life.” -Anne Frank
Tip
From our book, chapter #5, routine #5, #Hope. From our lesson learned, “...we must not isolate ourselves. It’s hard for us to feel hopeful all of the time. But when we stay connected and see it in others, it reminds us that we can have hope too.”
Routine
From our book, chapter #23, routine #3 #Value. Jot down in your notebook what your values are. As written as the our opportunity now, “ Think about your values to live by. Write them out. Ask your trusted family and friends to hold you accountable to those values and intentionally live them out.”
Scripture
“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” -1 Peter 5:10
With love always,
Erin + your chocolate family
Hope-Filled Notes From Chocolate Friends
“Just having a journal handy in my purse has helped me organize my thoughts and express my thoughts in a safe place. I like to write down goals in my journal and read them to myself later down the road. I’m always surprised as to what I’ve written and that I’ve achieved some of them!” “The delicious chocolates of Choco le’a are the perfect treat while doing self reflection in my journal. My favorites are the cookies and cream chocolate truffles and the chocolate covered gummy bears!” -Lana Growland, owner of Jules & Gem
"As a full-time mom and wife, full-time educator, and part-time PhD student, I wear a lot of hats! I love having notebooks on hand to jot down my ideas, thoughts and reflections to clear my head so I can be fully present in all my roles, especially my role as wife and mommy. And I love these beautiful notebooks! The package comes with one lined and one unlined notebook. My lined notebook houses my multiple to do lists. The unlined notebook lets me be free to do whatever I need to do in that moment. Create a mind map, draw a picture, doodle- the possibilities are endless. The beautifully designed covers bind quality paper together to house my notes. Choco le’a’s symbol on each page helps me feel grounded in my faith and serves as a gentle reminder that I don’t have to do it all." -Alyssa Kapa0na
"I love how journaling and being able to handwrite your thoughts on these clean, crisp white pages can simply ease your mind. Some say it even lowers stress and boosts your mental and physical health. 10-15 minutes of escaping the opinions and outwards pressures of the world, can seem like a bit of heaven on many days. Love all of the chocolates, the book, and the notebooks; and especially love the people supporting the mission and goal behind it all."-Pam Higa
"There is something to be said about a product that is created by people who genuinely care about the customers and community they serve. Whether it’s a delectable caramel truffle topped with the perfect pinch of sea salt - or a beautiful notebook adorned with the flower of compassion and love, I know that gifts from Choco le‘a will always be well-received." -Stacey Sakakihara
Chocolate Shop Open Tuesday & Saturday, 10:00am - 5:00pm
Our shop is just down the road from this exact spot in Manoa where all of these photos were taken! Pick up a few chocolates and our to-go cooler bag and ice, then have your own picnic in the park!
Shop Online Anytime, From Anywhere!
Pick Up Options:
In-Shop Pick Up:
Tuesday 10:00am - 5:00pm
Saturday 10:00am - 5:00pm
Walk-Up Pick Up:
Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday 3:00 - 5:00pm
Happy Easter Everyone!
Shop online and bring the hope of Jesus this Easter with our hope-filled, scripture packed book and matching notebook sets to fill with hope too!
Thank you Karen, for capturing all of the real, sweet, moments!
Photo Credits: Karen DB Photography!
“Bringing peace to our world, one chocolate, one book, one notebook, at a time.”