#Build Your Own Box

[jpatricechocolatestudio]

J Patrice Treats: A Journey into Artisanal Bliss

Chocolate is more than a treat—it’s an experience that evokes joy, nostalgia, and connection. At J Patrice Chocolate Studio in Ann Arbor, Michigan, this experience is elevated to new heights with handcrafted treats that blend premium ingredients, global-inspired flavors, and stunning artistry. Founded by Jamie LeBoeuf, a chocolatier with a passion for innovation, J Patrice creates chocolates that…

[euphoriacakeslondon]

Create your perfect cookie box with Euphoria Cakes! Buy cookies online and mix & match your favorite flavors for a delicious treat. Order now for doorstep delivery!

[trekkerac]

tripping and falling and stumbling is how i code

[mantisgodsdomain]

More notes for Roach conlanging. Roach has grammatical gender, in which only Male, Female, and Object are grammatical genders, whereas Worker uses feminine grammar, Queen and King use a slight variant on feminine grammar, and Drone, and Queen-Alate use masculine grammar. This is because King is derived from Queen, due to their similar positions in a colony, and Queen-Alate is derived from Drone, as both are forms of alate.

Queen is an alteration of feminine grammar that functionally just adds a handful of extra syllables to it, and King is an offsprout of Queen that uses the same grammar with different pronouns. Queen-Alate, despite the name, is derived from Drone, as they are both for referring to different types of alate ant.

Most Roach dialects are intelligible to speakers of Snakemouth Den Cordyceps Roach, but Snakemouth Den Cordyceps Roach is not entirely intelligable to speakers of Roach dialects due to a mix of the excessively specialized vocabulary caused by the specific needs of its speakers, the fact that its speakers do not necessarily have Roach mouthparts and thus may not pronounce syllables in a similar way, and due to the fact that Inanimate Object is a full grammatical gender that does not exist in any other dialect of roach and replaces a decent chunk of terminology for things that previously had Other Words For Them.

[unopenablebox]

loom angst again sorry

>:( if that louet erica weren't 30cm it would be perfect. i could even go pick it up on the commuter rail line

is it stupid to buy a loom if i'm planning to replace it with the 50cm version of itself, possibly quite soon/as soon as i get frustrated with only making 9" wide fabric. i'd currently be getting a good deal on the loom + stand, but i'd have to resell the loom for pretty close to its original sale price in order to have meaningfully saved money on the accessories it comes with after buying a new one, & i really don't think that's realistic. so i'm going to go with "yes that is dumb" and may just buy a new loom at rhinebeck if no one's selling a table loom near here that i can get to and actually would want

[dexaroth]

its funny that i got into building and designing a website n such after i switched from 'digital creative' (with the intention of becoming a web designer) to compsci at college. i know deep down thats for the best bc id never find people who actually understand the artistic side of designing a website n all that but part of me wishes i wasnt so constrained by the personal website format.. theres only so much you can do with a landing page thats supposed to have the same boxes in a single screen so the user doesnt need to scroll to get updates n such. plus i dont even have that much to show and present differently anyways. sigh

look at this. fucking gorgeous as hell. i dont even have enough info to fill a single content box in a layout like this. god

[delta-lethonomia]

Spring has sprung, which means I am once again bowled over by a sudden need to consume as many vegetables as possible and start cooking again

is there even a place for food blogs on tumblr?

[despair-tea]

no one else can have your same experience. your memories are only your own, after all.

sharing something means creating a new memory - you don't know what kind of memory that will be. after all, we can't just conveniently implant other people with our own experiences (yet. hush now, pervert girls).

so part of being friends is accepting that things will be different, but they were valuable because we had each other by our side. does that make sense? it can be so easy to forget after you grow up once.

[bricksxbooks]

You could... possibly... actually... wear this???

I support this product idea on LEGO Ideas, and you should, too!

[nexus-nebulae]

another childhood bucket list item obtained: i finally have a snuggie

[floral-hex]

It’s hard to make music when you have no instruments or software or skills or talent and also you don’t actually know how to play anything or make music and you’re dumb as hell

[plaidcowboy]

clingy clark

( synopsis ) — after insecurely taking advice from jimmy and spending hours online, clark distances himself from you. scared he might’ve overwhelmed you with his clinginess. all for a crying clark to come back home to you.

( warnings ) — none! just an insecure, clingy clark.

( tags ) — @jordiemeow [to be added]

“Just leave them alone for a second, Clark!” Lois laughs, watching as Clark’s arms stay locked around your waist, his face practically buried in your shoulder like a big, needy golden retriever.

“Yeah, dude. Clinginess isn’t cute. I should know. I’m probably the best guy in the room when it comes to women,” Jimmy adds from beside Lois, nudging her playfully before he’s met with a sharp glare.

“Oh, shut up,” you say to Jimmy, leaning back into Clark’s hold. “Just give me a few minutes, baby. Lois and I are talking about the article.” You give his arm a quick pat before slipping out of his grip.

When you and Lois walk off toward the printing room, Clark stays behind. He frowns, glancing at Jimmy and leaning against the edge of the desk, his arms crossed.

“Do you think that’s true?” he mutters. “Do you think they get annoyed when I’m too… affectionate?”

Jimmy barely looks up. “Most definitely,” he says flatly. “I mean, come on, man. You’re like a big dog. Always all over them.. hugging, touching, laying your head on them. If I were dating you, I’d lose my mind.”

And that conversation sticks in Clark’s head longer than it should. Later that night, he’s alone in his cold, quiet room. The only light in the room comes from his computer screen. He’s slouched in front of it, arms crossed tightly over his chest as he stares at the headline on the screen:

“Are Clingy Boyfriends a Turn-Off?”

His eyes scan every word. Each line feels like a hit to the gut. And the comment section? Even worse.

voidsuites: “I dated someone like this once. It was suffocating. I couldn’t even stand next to them without their hands on me.”

jordiemeow: “Clingy partners are exhausting. So glad I got out of that relationship.”

hrtfilm: “Clingy usually means controlling. Red flag behavior, honestly. Be careful, guys.”

jclolz22: “It’s not bad at first.. but after a while, it gets annoying.”

Clark checks every box.

He was always touching you, his hands under your shirt, his chin on your shoulder, his arms around your waist, even in public. He’d pull you into his lap in front of anyone. You were a constant source of peace for him. A calm he never wanted to be without. But maybe that wasn’t how it felt to you. So he thought. So he stopped.

Over the next few weeks, he pulled back. He stopped bugging you at your desk. Stopped waiting outside the bathroom for you. Stopped finding excuses to pass by your apartment after work. No more arms slipping around your waist. No more hands brushing against yours. No more sudden, warm weight of him behind you while you were reading.

And of course, you noticed.

Clark might’ve thought he was giving you space, but you felt the shift immediately. He was always the one who made you feel grounded just when you got too lost in your own head, he’d appear out of nowhere and wrap you up in that warmth like a big blanket. Now, it felt like something important had been quietly taken away.

But being you, you didn’t say anything right away. You just kept thinking. Replaying things over and over.

Did you do something? Say something? Had you pushed him away without realizing? Why didn’t he want to hold you anymore? When was the last time he stayed over? It was driving you crazy. So you decided to fix it.

On your walk home one night, you nodded to yourself, already planning it out. You’d invite him over. Cook for him. Make his favorite, rhubarb pie, using Ma Kent’s recipe (which you were absolutely going to call her for).

But while you were lost in your head, something strange happened. A shadow passed over you. The sun was still high, the sky clear. No tall buildings around you. No trees. No reason for a shadow. So you looked up.

And there he was. Clark, flying overhead in full Superman gear, clearly trying to look casual. A blur in the sky, pretending he wasn’t watching you from above like some lovesick satellite.

You just smiled. Because you couldn’t exactly call him out in public. Superman was supposed to be busy saving people, not floating above his partner on their walk home like a weird, adorable stalker.

But the next day? That was different.

You had the day off. You were in your apartment, music playing quietly from the radio. You leaned against the counter, sliding a tray into the oven. Ma’s rhubarb pie. You were trying your absolute best to get it right before inviting Clark over for dinner.

And as you stood back and wiped your hands on your apron, your eyes drifted to the window. There it was again. That familiar blur of red and blue just outside.

You sighed, walked over to the window, and pushed it open.

“Clark,” you said dryly. “Get inside.”

He tried to pretend he hadn’t heard you at first, looking away dramatically. But eventually, he floated in, landing softly on your floor. He didn’t say much, just sat down on the couch, eyes glossy, face tight with emotion.

You stepped between his legs, placing your hands on his shoulders as he instinctively held your hips, his touch cautious.

“What happened?” you asked, gently.

“What do you mean?” he tried.

You raised your brows. Really?

“I just…” he started, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. “Jimmy said I was being too clingy. And then I read this article online. And all these comments. And I thought… maybe I was making you uncomfortable. I thought giving you space was the right thing.”

You lowered yourself into his lap, taking his hand from his face and wiping his wet cheeks with your thumbs.

“And you listened to Jimmy Olsen?” you teased softly, trying not to smile too hard.

He sniffled, nodding. “He said girls hate guys like that. And everyone online agreed. I just wanted to do right by you, baby.”

Your hands moved to cradle his face, your thumbs brushing his cheekbones as he looked up at you, big eyes full of guilt.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered.

“It’s okay, Clark,” you said, leaning in to press a kiss to his lips.

He kissed you back, slow and soft, holding onto you like he was afraid you’d disappear. When you pulled away, you stayed close, your foreheads pressed together, your breath mingling.

“I’m sorry,” he repeated, barely loud enough to hear.

“I told you it’s okay,” you murmured. “I’m not mad. I just wish you would’ve talked to me first before disappearing like that, alright?”

He nodded, still holding you close. Then suddenly, his eyes widened, nose scrunching.

“Wait… do you smell something burning?”

You blinked. “Shit. The pie.”

[j-patrice-chocolate-studio]

Build Your Own Chocolate Box: Custom Sweet Treats

Building your own chocolate box is a delightful way to craft a unique, heartfelt gift or indulge in a tailored treat that perfectly matches your tastes. This customizable approach allows you to select your favorite chocolates, flavors, and packaging, creating a one-of-a-kind experience that elevates the joy of chocolate. Whether for a special occasion, a thoughtful gesture, or personal enjoyment, a custom chocolate box is a creative and meaningful choice. In this blog, we’ll explore why building your own chocolate box is so special, the steps involved, its benefits, ideal occasions for gifting, and tips for making the most of the process. With headings, a conclusion, and FAQs, seamlessly integrated. Let’s dive into the sweet art of building your own chocolate box!

Why Build Your Own Chocolate Box?

Building your own chocolate box offers a level of personalization that transforms a simple treat into a memorable experience. Unlike pre-packaged boxes, a custom chocolate box lets you curate every detail, from the types of chocolates to the packaging design, ensuring it reflects your preferences or the recipient’s personality. This hands-on process adds a thoughtful touch, making it a perfect gift that shows care and attention.

The appeal lies in its flexibility and creativity. You can mix and match flavors, accommodate dietary needs, and choose packaging that suits the occasion, whether it’s a sleek gift box or a whimsical tin. The process is also fun and engaging, allowing you to experiment with combinations you might not find in standard assortments. Whether you’re a chocolate connoisseur or simply want to create something special, building your own chocolate box delivers a sense of ownership and joy that’s hard to beat.

Steps to Build Your Own Chocolate Box

Creating a custom chocolate box is a straightforward yet exciting process. Here’s how it typically works:

Choose Your Chocolates: Select from a variety of options, such as milk, dark, or white chocolate, and fillings like truffles, pralines, caramels, or fruit ganaches. Many chocolatiers offer vegan, gluten-free, or nut-free choices.

Pick Your Flavors: Experiment with classic flavors like hazelnut or bold infusions like sea salt, lavender, or chili. Some artisans allow you to mix and match for a diverse assortment.

Select the Quantity: Decide how many pieces you want, ranging from small boxes (6-12 pieces) to larger ones (24+ pieces), depending on your needs.

Customize the Packaging: Choose a box style, such as a ribbon-tied case, reusable tin, or themed design for holidays or events. Add personal touches like a custom message or logo.

Review and Order: Confirm your selections, check dietary specifications, and place your order. Many online platforms provide a preview of your box before finalizing.

This process, often guided by user-friendly online tools or in-store assistance, ensures your chocolate box is exactly as you envision it.

Benefits of Building Your Own Chocolate Box

Building your own chocolate box comes with a host of benefits that enhance both the gifting and enjoyment experience:

Personalization: Tailor the box to the recipient’s tastes or dietary needs, ensuring a thoughtful, inclusive gift.

Creativity: Experiment with unique flavor combinations and designs, making the box a reflection of your style or the occasion.

Inclusivity: Accommodate allergies or preferences with vegan, gluten-free, or nut-free options, making it suitable for diverse groups.

Memorability: A custom box feels special and unique, leaving a lasting impression compared to standard assortments.

Flexibility: Adjust the size, flavors, and packaging to fit your budget and purpose, from small tokens to lavish gifts.

These benefits make building your own chocolate box a rewarding process, blending practicality with emotional impact.

Occasions for a Custom Chocolate Box

A custom chocolate box is a versatile gift or treat, perfect for a wide range of occasions. Here are some ideal moments to share or enjoy one:

Birthdays: Create a box with the recipient’s favorite flavors, packaged in a festive design, for a personalized celebration.

Holidays: Build a themed box for Valentine’s Day, Christmas, or Easter, with seasonal flavors and packaging to spread festive cheer.

Weddings: Offer custom boxes as elegant favors or thank-you gifts, tailored with the couple’s initials or wedding colors.

Corporate Gifting: Design boxes with branded packaging for clients or employees, showcasing professionalism and thoughtfulness.

Anniversaries: Craft a romantic assortment with flavors like raspberry or champagne truffles, perfect for intimate moments.

Just Because: Surprise a friend or loved one with a bespoke box to brighten their day or say thank you.

The ability to customize makes a chocolate box a standout choice for any event, big or small.

Tips for Building the Best Chocolate Box

To create a truly exceptional chocolate box, consider these tips:

Know Your Preferences: Identify your or the recipient’s favorite chocolate types (milk, dark, white) and flavors (nuts, fruits, spices) to guide your selections.

Balance Flavors: Include a mix of sweet, savory, and bold flavors to keep the assortment exciting and varied.

Consider Dietary Needs: Check for vegan, gluten-free, or allergen-free options to ensure inclusivity, especially for group gifting.

Focus on Presentation: Choose elegant or themed packaging, like a ribbon-tied box or reusable tin, to enhance the unboxing experience. For a truly unique touch, opt for personalized chocolates from artisans like J. Patrice Chocolate Studio in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where you can build a vegan-friendly box with premium, ethically sourced cocoa and flavors like Lime Coconut or Arabic Coffee, tailored to your vision.

Check Quality: Select chocolatiers known for high-quality ingredients, such as organic cocoa or natural sweeteners, to ensure a premium taste.

Plan Ahead: Allow time for customization and shipping, especially for events, to ensure your box arrives fresh and on time.

With these tips, your custom chocolate box will be a delicious, memorable creation.

Conclusion

Building your own chocolate box is a sweet, creative journey that transforms a simple treat into a personalized masterpiece. Its flexibility, inclusivity, and emotional impact make it a perfect choice for gifting, celebrating, or indulging in a moment of joy. Whether you’re crafting a box for a holiday, a loved one, or yourself, the ability to choose flavors, designs, and packaging ensures a unique experience that resonates deeply. With the convenience of online platforms and the artistry of chocolatiers like J. Patrice, building a custom chocolate box has never been easier or more rewarding. Next time you’re seeking a gift that’s as special as the occasion, build your own chocolate box—it’s a sweet gesture with a lasting impression.

FAQs

What types of chocolates can I include in a custom box?You can choose from milk, dark, or white chocolates with fillings like truffles, pralines, caramels, or ganaches, often with vegan or gluten-free options.

Can I build a vegan chocolate box?Yes, many chocolatiers, like J. Patrice, offer vegan chocolates using plant-based milk alternatives, ensuring a cruelty-free, delicious assortment.

How long does a custom chocolate box last?Stored in a cool, dry place (60-70°F), most chocolates last several months—check the “best by” date for specifics.

Can I add a personal message or custom packaging?Most retailers allow you to include a gift note, logo, or themed packaging, like ribbons or tins, for a personalized touch.

How do I ensure my custom chocolate box arrives fresh?Choose retailers with insulated packaging and expedited shipping, and order in advance to account for customization and delivery times.

[meret118]

I assigned a writing prompt a few weeks ago that asked my students to reflect on a time when someone believed in them or when they believed in someone else. One of my students began to panic.

“I have to ask Google the prompt to get some ideas if I can’t just use AI,” she pleaded and then began typing into the search box on her screen, “A time when someone believed in you.”

“It’s about you,” I told her. “You’ve got your life experiences inside of your own mind.” It hadn’t occurred to her — even with my gentle reminder — to look within her own imagination to generate ideas. One of the reasons why I assigned the prompt is because learning to think for herself now, in high school, will help her build confidence and think through more complicated problems as she gets older — even when she’s no longer in a classroom situation.

She’s only in ninth grade, yet she’s already become accustomed to outsourcing her own mind to digital technologies, and it frightens me.

When I teach students how to write, I’m also teaching them how to think. Through fits and starts (a process that can be both frustrating and rewarding), high school English teachers like me help students get to know themselves better when they use language to figure out what they think and how they feel.

. . .

If you believe, as I do, that writing is thinking — and thinking is everything — things aren’t looking too good for our students or for the educators trying to teach them. In addition to teaching high school, I’m also a college instructor, and I see this behavior in my older students as well.

-----

This! This is what scares me the most about AI! Physical exertion is difficult if someone isn't used to it, and it gets easier the more often it's done. When it's done often enough, it becomes a habit. Mental exertion is exactly the same. Thinking is a learned skill just like a sport is, and an entire generation is growing up without that most critical skill.

An unthinking populace is a more easily controlled populace.

[inkskinned]

i got rickrolled today but it didn't work because i have adblocker installed, so youtube just told me i violated the terms of service. yesterday i was trying to edit a picture as a joke for my girlfriend, and google made me check a box to prove i'm human because i wasn't "searching normally".

it isn't just that capitalism is killing fun and whimsy, it is that any element of entertainment or joy is being fed upon by this mosquito body, one that will suck you dry at any vulnerability.

do you want to meet new friends in your city? download this app, visit our website, sign up for our email list. pay for this class on making a terrarium, on candlemaking, on cooking. it will be 90 dollars a session. you can go to group fitness, but only under our specific gym membership. solve the puzzle, sign up for our puzzle-of-the-month-club. what is a club if not just a paid opportunity - you are all paying for the same thing, which makes you a community.

but you're like me, i know it - you're careful, you try the library meetings and the stuff at the local school and all of that. the problem is that you kind of want really specific opportunities that used to exist. you are so grateful for libraries and the publicly-funded things: they are, however, an exception - and everything they have, they've fought tooth-and-nail to protect. you read a headline about how in many other states, libraries have virtually nothing left.

do you want to meet up with your friends afterwards? gift your friends the discord app. you can choose to go to a cafe (buy a coffee, at least), a bar (money, alcohol) or you can all stay in and catch a movie (streaming) or you can all stay in bed (rent. don't get me started) and scream (noise complaint. ticket at least).

you want to read a new book, but the book has to have 124 buzzwords from tiktok readers that are, like, weirdly horny. you can purchase this audiobook on audible! your podcast isn't on spotify, it's on its own server, pay for a different site. fuck, at least you're supporting artists you like. the art museum just raised their ticket price. once, they had a temporary exhibit that acknowledged that ~85% of their permanent art galleries were from cis white men, and that they had thousands of works by women (even famous women, like frida! georgia o'keefe!) just rotting in their basement. that exhibit lasted for 3 months and then they put everything away again.

walmart proudly supports this strip of land by the street! here are some flowers with wilting leaves. its employees have to pay out-of-pocket for their uniforms. my friend once got fined by the city because she organized a community pick-up of the riverfront, which was technically private property.

no, you cannot afford to take that dance class, neither can i. by the way - i'm a teacher. i'm absolutely not saying "educators shouldn't be paid fairly." i'm saying that when i taught classes, renting a studio went from 20 bucks an hour to 180 in the span of 6 months. no significant changes to the studio were made, except they now list the place as updated and friendly. the heat still doesn't work in the building. i have literally never seen the landlord who ignores my emails. recently they've been renting it out at night as an "unusual nightclub; a once-in-a-lifetime close-knit party." they spent some of those 180 dollars on LEDs and called it renovating. the high heels they invite in have been ruining the marley.

do you want to experience the old internet? do you want to play flash games or get back the temporary joy of club penguin? you can, you just need to pay for it. i have a weird, neurodivergent obsession with occasionally checking in to watch the downfall and NFT-ification of neopets. if i'm honest with you all - i never got into webkins, my family didn't have the money to buy me a pointless elephant. people forget that "being poor" can mean literally "if i buy you that toy, i can't afford rent."

you and i don't have time to make good food, and we don't have the budget for it. we are not gonna be able to host dinner parties, we're not made of money, kid. do you want some kind of 3rd space? a space that isn't home or work or school? you could try being online, but - what places actually exist for you? tiktok counts as social media because you see other people on it, not because they actually talk to you.

there was a local winter tradition of sledding down the hill at my school. kids would use pizza boxes and jackets and whatever worked, howling and laughing. back in september, they made a big announcement that this time, rules were changing, and everyone must pay 10 dollars to participate. when im not scared shitless, i kind of appreciate the environmental irony - it hasn't gone below 40. so much for snow & joyriding.

i saw a bulletin for a local dogwalking group and, nervous about making a good first impression, showed up early. the first guy there grimaced at me. "sorry," he said. "there's a 30-dollar buy-in fee." i thought he was joking. wait. for what? the group doesn't offer anything except friendship and people with whom to walk around the city.

he didn't know the answer. just shrugged at me. "you know," he said. "these days, everything costs money."