Hello! I've missed writing to you over the past few weeks while I had the extraordinary experience of going to Ghana with some lovely staff people with Cadbury Canada.

It was an absolutely amazing experience. We visited two cocoa farming villages north of Kumasi and I got to see, first hand, where chocolate comes from.

When I told my two daughters about it they said, "You mean chocolate really does grow on trees!" So sweet (no pun intended). And, well yes, it starts out in cocoa pods that do indeed grow on trees.

Cadbury's is going fair trade with all the chocolate in its Dairy Milk line, which will help the farmers in Ghana tremendously and allow them to earn a more stable and predictable living from their work. And if you're a chocoholic like me, you'll enjoy the fruits of their labours!

FYI: I am putting together a story and photographs on chocolate and fair trade cocoa for our web site - canadianliving.com - and I'll let you know when it's up.

Me with some kids in Ghana - aren't they adorable?!

The highlight of the trip was bicycles. Back in the spring, Cadbury developed a great program called the Bicycle Factory and they are shipping 5,000 bikes to cocoa farming communities in Ghana. I had the wonderful chance to see the first of the bikes being delivered. They are for kids who have to walk more than three kilometres (one way!) to school each day. The expression on the children's faces was pure joy — their spirit and tenacity just warms your heart.

FYI: I'll be writing a story about the Bicycle Factory and how it is helping more kids in rural Ghana get an education in a spring issue of Canadian Living magazine. I'll let you know when it's out.

While I loved the opportunity of visiting Ghana, I'd glad to be back in Canada. Sometimes you have to travel half way around the world to be reminded that everything you really need is right here at home ... well, except for cocoa trees growing in my backyard.

Talk to you soon. Watch for a new contest on my blog tomorrow! Kathryn

Hello, isn't it nice to have an extra hour sleep thanks to the time change?

I hope everyone had a great Halloween. My two girls were sick - cough and colds - but managed to get out trick or treating for almost an hour. I know they were disappointed but I think they have enough loot to last them to Christmas!

Liv was trick or treating with a friend, Vivi, when she started to feel unwell and needed to go home. I took her back and then stayed out with Vivi.

I felt a kid again, going door to door with Vivi and treat or treating along side her, saying I was collecting the candies for my sick daughter who had to pack it in early. "Honest, this isn't for me!" I emphasized. What us moms won't do for our kids!

Well, I am off on an amazing work assignment until Nov 13th. Heading to Ghana with Cadbury's to see their fair trade chocolate operations and the delivery of hundreds of bicycles to children in rural villages who will use them to get to school. Very inspiring and exciting. I will miss my kids terribly, though.

I'll tell you all about it when I get back ... and there will be more contests.

Take care.