she tastes like lipstick and tanqueray...

date arrived in bayview: July 22nd, 2020.

area(s) lived in: Green Acres

relationship history & status: moved to Bayview after a rough and messy split with her ex-husband Joe King. After taking time and building up, she fell madly in love with Zach again. They took it slow building on who they were now, not who they were years ago and slowly became this magical thing that Candice didn’t even know was possible anymore. 

family: Florence May 

career 10 years ago: actress, future shop owner. 

THE NOW:

date left bayview: N/A

past residence: N/A

current residence: Still in Green Acres but she moved into Zach’s farmhouse when they decided to take the next step. 

relationship status: In a happily committed relationship with Zach for the last ten years. Candice often jokes that they’re basically married. There are plans to get married but as always, they’re going to do it on their terms and their terms only. 

family: No new little ones! She had her hands full raising Florence! She did get the pleasure of being deemed the coolest step-mom ever to Gracie, Jason, Harper and Ryan. Even if not in traditional status, she knows they lover her as that bonus mom, Candice feeling like she got her house full of kids after all. 

current career:  Podcast producer and shop owner. In the last week of August 2021 Candice jewelry store opened. Partnering with different projects to make that a portion of her sales were donated to those charities that meant a lot to her, Zach, and others close to her. While she did dabble in acting a little bit through the years she hasn’t worked on anything related to that in over five years and she’s perfectly content leaving that part behind. For now she’s considering her career the shop that she spends a lot of time in, often Zach needs to come drag her home some nights, and you know they do have a house filled with four teenagers! 

FUN STUFF:

favorite location in bayview: The farms, both Zach’s and her’s OR the lake.

favorite food spot in bayview: Tree Tops. 

favorite drink (alcoholic or non-alcoholic!) spot in bayview: Any ice cream shop — yes it’s cheating but she gets water… it just means she also gets ice cream! Duh. 

favorite event or party: the Rodeo

best memory in bayview: The moving to Bayview and realizing she could build whatever life she wanted on her own. 

favorite project involved in: Christmas Movie she worked on that Claire and Katie produced. 

favorite sport played: Volleyball!

favorite trip taken: traveling to Montana. 

It was fun! It’s nice to be outside and run around. We’re just here in town so there’s really no worry if we end up forgetting something! Oh, I’m so grateful for those because I’ve been taking so many pictures on my phone and I need the charge! It was a good time, getting out there and roasting marshmallows with everyone!

Does that mean you’ve been out soaking up the last bits of summer with the Getaway closing. Feels like that kind of solidifies that summer is coming to an end. Which is always heartbreaking. Hopefully you’ve been getting lots of photos though! 

It is! I was raised with the idea that you should always give back, and the fact that we do it while also having fun is such a great way to bring awareness to causes that are not always put forward. I would hate to be on a team opposing you, like sure make me fight my boyfriend, but you? Never ever. We should totally do a just us hang out one of those days! That way we don’t have to bring those two along. But I’m sure they’d feel so lonely without us, we might get back to a real disaster. I’m always wanting more girl friends, and when I met you I immediately knew we would be a great match. 

It’s really the best way to give back. Not that people shouldn’t want to give back without having to play some charity event, it’s just a win win for everyone. Think it’s always easier to fight the boyfriend than someone super competitive. Like sure your boyfriend might be competitive but they love you, they’re not going to be too bad! Having more girl friends around town is so important. Who else are we going to get that proper girl talk in with? Plus I’m sure our guys will appreciate not making them having said girl talk. 

So that is quite the fun change. It’s always nice to be away from being connected and plugged in. We did a bit of hanging out with everyone and just going home, so it was still nice to be able to participate! The marshmallows were so yummy. Finley had a good time, most of it ended up on her face rather than her mouth.

It was, I was a little apprehensive at first. I always feel like I have my phone with me an connected to me. Realize sometimes it’s good to let those bits get away from us. Oof marshmallow all over the face, that makes for a sticky clean up but at least you had a good time. Something tells me Finley probably did too! What little kid is ever going to be disappointed with sugar and messes. 

I’m pretty damn sure that we make a good team like that, yeah. What, you don’t want men coming into buy jewelry when they’re actually just checking you out and not actually purchasing anything? It’s like you’re taking all of the fun out of life, babe. Besides, we both know that’s my job. Thursday it is, I’ll clear my non-existent calendar and we’ll make a thing of it. You’re gonna go with me to the Getaway this weekend, too, right? Have to get some time in there before summer comes to an end, that’s hard to believe. But it’s like you said, at least if you go by the technical side of things, we have until later in September… that counts, that totally counts. But you’re right, I know the moment the kids get on the bus to go to school, it feels like summer’s officially done. Sorta like, if the first leaf fell right at that moment, I wouldn’t be surprised at all, you know? Oh God, no, what if you waited and then went to the store with her and they didn’t have any cute lunch boxes left? Besides, I’m sure it’ll be fun for her to come home and see everything waiting for her, too. Like Christmas in August. Way too fast, and yet… how good did that bed feel once we did get home? Not to mention the long ass hot shower, too.

That’s pretty much what I’m looking to avoid! While it’s a technique that might work for Hooters -- and I have all the respect for making that business work! -- I have a feeling I can’t enforce the whole if you stare you have to buy rule. Pretty sure my investors would love for me to make money too but hey we can do a weekly woman in bikinis for you to live out your fantasy. Would I dare miss the closing of the Getaway? Even though it’s also so sad to say that it’s closing because ugh, no. We need like a good six more weeks of summer. All we can hope is for a delayed summer, that it lasts into September and buys us some more nice nights out by the fire together. Though I guess you can enjoy some nice nights by the fire in the beginning of fall too. Though it does feel like that, once you put the kids off to school it’s officially time to pack in all the summer things. Exactly! Florence would never forgive me, obviously. I’d just be a basket case so it’s like I’ll go, pick out stuff, pick out some extra so she can ‘choose’ herself a few bits and pieces. Either way I think I’ll impress. Okay the bed is always great, coming back home to a bed that feels like home? Is amazing but the shower? A real good shower? That was actual bliss. 

Who ever thought that we would be pitting places against each other in the battle of tacos the same way that some people pit the coasts against each other when it comes to pizza! Me neither, it does make it a lot easier to re-pack your bags and head to the airport when you know that there are going to be sandy shores and a gorgeous ocean waiting for you. I wonder if all of the Monopoly pieces would start sparking and end up being even more dangerous than the game itself? I don’t want anyone to get more hurt than impassioned game play already causes! It totally was, completely like paradise, honestly! And made for a nice break before camping, although boy… my bed is gonna feel good tonight!

Now I love me some pizza but I do think regardless you can find a good slice wherever you go! Might not be your preferred choice but you can find something pretty damn good. Pizza is hard to mess up. Though I will say I’m pretty firm on the no pineapple debate... that can ruin a pizza. Tacos though? Paco’s just has it so well done that other than maybe a street taco from Southern California or Mexico / Spain itself wouldn’t win. Oh... that’s a good point, I like to think the metal pieces would just... melt. Like if it’s hot enough? The plastic pieces... those might start popping out and flying at people. Getting back to a regular bed is always nice and definitely after sleeping on the ground! A spa trip might be needed to just... massage out those muscles. 

We are pretty good about that, aren’t we? Okay, I didn’t think so. I mean, I might not stop you if you wanted to, because you are your own boss and have every right to run around the shop in whatever you want to wear, but I think you’ll sell things a lot easier if you just keep your clothes on while you’re in there. That’s what I figured, so we’ll make it happen. Just pick a day this week that you want to go and I’m yours. Good, because I would do it, don’t get me wrong, but we might get kind of exhausted if we spent the entire time out here searching for your keys and nothing else. But you’re right, that’s probably a lot smarter, and a lot less time consuming, too, not to mention less of a headache in the long run. We’re nearing the end of summer, but we’re not quite there yet, which means we should enjoy the time before school kicks in and the kids are driving us nuts with needing to buy new backpacks and shoes. I’m very proud of you, surviving without a generator and everything! You don’t have to thank me, though. Just have to enjoy a few more marshmallows with me and one more night in the woods before we head home tomorrow.

Know I’ve said it before, and I’ll probably say it again someday, but think we make a pretty good team like that. Something tells me that’s not the kind of business I’d want to be attracting anyway, you know the kind that just shows up because I’m wandering around in skimpy clothes or bikini in this scenario. How about Thursday? How’s that work for you? Thankfully we managed to successfully not have to search for keys -- or really anything. Does help when you’re living by the minimal things less chance for needing a bunch of this or that. Really glad that we have some summer time left, and it’s not like September is officially fall until towards the end! Think people just associate September 1st with fall because the whole going back to school and all of that. I’m kind of going to miss that, taking Florence for her school supplies but since she’ll not be returning till two nights before -- and I can NOT wait that long I’ll be doing her back to school shopping by myself! Would definitely do it again, you were right, it was kind of nice to unplug, unwind, as much as I love nature I’ve always had that security of my phone and whatever else. Did go by too fast though. 

Last year did have a few slow months. This year just seems to be zooming by. Next thing you know, it’s going to be Christmas. And I’m a late shopper so I’m already stressing about it. I forgot Halloween! Should I not say it out loud? You think I’m going to get tackled by some of the Halloweenist? Think that’s the term for them. Los Angeles might as well be its own country at this point. It’s too much going on. I lived there for a few months and never again. At least they’ll have enough space to run around during the weekend! Yeah, Payton’s spending her time going from tent to tent, thinking that it’s a big sleepover so she’s having the time of her life. 

Definitely a few slow months, which makes me happy in some ways it’s picked up a touch. Oh I know! Was just saying we’re going to blink and it’ll be Christmas everything -- which loving Christmas as much as I do, isn’t a bad thing in my book. Mean there’s Halloween decorations out everywhere already. Though you will probably be hunted down by some Halloween purist for mentioning Christmas first. Keep an eye out everywhere! That’s adorable and at the very least Payton isn’t above making herself at home wherever she goes! 

Much, much, easier. I think we all managed to sleep a little better in a bed or a crib. She managed to get comfy pretty quickly, and really did love being outside. I’m glad you all had a great time as well! I think we might be. I’ll have to check in with Richard, since Finley might be a bit fussy at night, but for the fun with everyone, we’ll certainly join in. I hear there’s a campfire?

There was definitely a ton of luxury and comfort in where we were staying. Now this time? Definitely the opposite, though I am enjoying unplugging from the world. Did you end up camping out or did you more just come down, hang out, before heading back? There’s a campfire tonight! Lots of marshmallows to roast so hopefully at the very least you’re coming out for that!

Exactly, because it comes down to that point where you have to decide if you want to continue living one way because you were told to, or if you want to live another way because that’s the way that the world is. Or sometimes you can be lucky enough to combine both, and neither is really wrong. But you’re absolutely right, eventually we have to step outside our box and learn to live for ourselves, just as much. It really is, you can shake so many bad feelings – not to mention bad people! – and just move on to the really good things that a person deserves to have. That does kind of make things a little easier, doesn’t it? I am! We’re out here, roughin’ it, just the big kids this time around, since James in the woods… you know. But still!

It does! It’s something so many people have to learn, you can’t always hide behind the excuse of how you were raised. We all grow and learn -- at least I hope that’s how it works, and we just hope more learn in the positive than not. Plus living for ourselves is kind of a great freeing feeling. Let go of people that were holding you back, realizing who is / isn’t your friends. Feel like we all kind of go through that in our lives at least once! Probably more than we realize. Makes sense I’m sure James appreciates not having to deal with none of the finer things of life at his age! Plus it’s nice to just have the older kids to give a little extra attention to. Going to be out eating your weight in s’mores? 

Couldn’t agree more! Do you know how cold and meaningless life would be if we didn’t have tacos whenever we wanted? Pretty damn meaningless, I can tell you that right now. I completely know what you mean, it’s the kind of thing that you don’t realize how much you miss it until you dig your toes into the sand and inhale that salty sea air, right? And then you never want to leave it again. You could always bring that Monopoly money to the bonfire on Sunday and burn it! Who’s going to know where it came from, right? Absolutely, we took a brief trip to Mexico for some R&R, so now we are all about enjoying the great outdoors here with everyone!

Would be incredibly horrible. While I’m sure you can get tacos in Montana, something tells me you cannot get tacos like you get on the east coast. Plus I definitely don’t want to give up the beach so I’ll leave those places as reminders that I want to go back to as long as I get to come home. Just seeing random pieces of metal melting at the bottom of the bonfire! It’ll be a warning sign, mess with monopoly at your own risk! Though honestly I’m just here trying to get my s’more game on. Ugh Mexico looked absolutely beautiful! Was it wonderful and relaxing? All the things you needed to rest up with?

That’s what I was about to say. Most of the time, whether it is on the calendar or through the pictures, you only get reminded of nice things. As much as I love Christmas, I’m not sure it would have been a great idea to move around that time – things are always so crazy during the holidays. I am! We came back from our Tulum trip a bit early so we could enjoy sleeping in wilderness with the rest of the group. Have you been having fun?

Which is probably a good thing! I think those bad things we remember are kind of big enough you don’t need to be setting reminders. Moving during Christmas would have been rough, I couldn’t have imagined it. So at least you were able to get in afterwards and just enjoy the calm of the winter to begin with. It’s been pretty great so far, though I am looking forward to roasting marshmallows tonight and seeing if I can get my s’mores game on. 

The fun little things that people close to us can pick up and know us for! Oh yes, like Wing It has been pretty fun to work on, I’m excited for that to be released. I am! I’m excited to pitch up a tent, eat camp food from a metal mug and pretend like I know what I’m doing.

How’ve you been with the last few days in the woods? Still managing to enjoy without any of the luxury extras? I’ve finally gotten pretty cozy and good and haven’t even been stressing with my portable chargers. Are you going to be out roasting marshmallows with the rest of us tonight? 

The older we get, I think the more appreciative we become of those victories, too, and the fact that we’re able to do things like that. And you are right, sometimes we get so tangled up in all of the big things that we forget to stop and enjoy the little things along the way, and how good they can really be, too. I mean, I don’t necessarily fantasize you running around the shop in a bikini, so I’m not sure the boss part plays into it full stop, but you on the boat in a bikini being bossy to people does resonate pretty well, yeah. Okay, yeah, but there’s still time. Just… don’t lose them now, okay? I’m not saying that you’re on your own looking for a set of keys in the woods, but I am also maybe saying that. I know, I feel like I’m still pretty firmly on team ‘I want to just eat fresh fruit and enjoy lemonade,’ and now people are pushing pumpkins at me? Seems like a little bit of a rush, if you ask me! But fine, I will allow you your early Christmas celebration… just this once. Do you think they would’ve kicked us out for it? I have a feeling there are some people out here completely loaded to the gills with portable chargers, as it is. If my phone dies, it dies, this is heaven.

Good thing about both of us, we can at least remember to remind each other to appreciate the small things if we’re going a little too far off course! ... To be fair I wasn’t planning on running around the shop in a bikini either. I’m pretty sure that might scare away at least SOME of the customers that I’d like to get in the door first, babe. Though I can fulfill the other of being on a boat in said bikini giving orders. That I can definitely swing. Hey! The keys stayed home nice and safe where we won’t have to be digging through endless amounts of land in attempt to find them. Learned that once, do not let that happen. If I had and lost them, I would have definitely just said I’d hire someone to come unlock the door and make me new keys / get a new lock. Work smarter not harder! Though you don’t have to worry I’m most definitely not trying to rush through the fall to get to winter. If we can have a few more weeks of summer I’ll be a happy lady. It’s been an absolute amazing weekend and I even learned I didn’t need to have my phone charging the whole time with one of those said portable chargers. Thanks for helping me relax a bit, kind of needed that. A lot. 

Sometimes you gotta take just as much pride in the little things as you do the big things, right? Otherwise, what’s the point in doing them and achieving absolutely anything? You’ve already got a really good, solid thing going here, and you have amazing people helping you out. If you think of something that needs done, you pick up the phone, you text them, you ask them to do it, then you go back to lounging around on the boat in a bikini. Which might also be a fantasy of mine, yes, but that’s okay. Well… you’ll give me the keys if you don’t lose them first – sorry, sorry! I was working on some new wooden pumpkin ideas in the shop the other day and Jane was talking about that, how excited she was to have some pumpkin spice latte, and I couldn’t believe how close we were to that season. God, you would start thinking about Christmas this early! But I know that the candy is out already, which… feels a bit like you’re pushing it. That’s still not a whole lot of fun, babe, I like my fingertips! I use them for work. That’s not a horrible idea, actually… a little cruel, maybe. But not horrible. Go for it, put whatever you want in there, better to have more than we need than get there and forget something.

You do, little victories are still victories, even if it’s just filling your fridge for the week. Think we get wrapped up in the big things too often and only see them as wins that we don’t realize all the other good things happening around us. Always chasing that high. So is the fantasy me on a boat in a bikini or me being a boss lady in a bikini? Or both? Because you know we could probably make that happen. Say the right thing and I could dig out a bikini that might be a tad to small in all the right places. Plus we all have fantasies, babe. Hey! Hey! We’ve been home what? Like a week or something and I haven’t so ha! So we’ll just let you keep track of them. It’s crazy and I’m most definitely not ready for all things pumpkin. As delicious as it is. Excuse me, if people can have Halloween things since the end of July I can have my Christmas stuff starting November 1st, Zachary! And I won’t even feel bad about it. As long as you don’t go sticking your fingers when they don’t belong they’d be fine. Maybe but would they be tempted to look again? Probably not. Be happy I’m not trying to pack a full generator, I debated it.... 

If nothing else, we can be proud of that, right? We have big kitchens stocked full of all the groceries we could ever hope for. And don’t have to break our backs getting up and down the steps. No, it’s not wrong, it’s what you deserve! It gets to a point where you’ve got everything set up, ready to go, and have nothing else that you can really do, you know? And honestly, it’ll be good to give yourself a little bit of a mental break, too. Which means that if you need me to hold you back from going in, then I will. I’ll keep you busy, we’ll go out on the boat, take the bike out, whatever it takes to make sure that you’re not sneaking off to the Grove, okay? Might as well fit as much of the fun stuff in as possible, it’s hard to believe summer’s coming to an end already. Ish. We’re not there yet. I was going to say, what’s the worst that could happen with alligators? Bites. Lots of bites, maybe even a lost finger or something? You could just like… put stuff in the dresser and stay whenever you want, you know. I don’t mind, I like having you around. Oh, trust me, we are set. I’ve got all the supplies that we need, including food and water, we’re gonna have a blast, trust me.

Of course! Think we’ve a lot to be proud of the little homes we’ve built for ourselves here. And you know, it’s okay to celebrate that we’ve done this. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure there’s things I could do, but in the grand scheme of just life -- they’re not going to make or break the business at the end of the day. I’ve got to learn that or there’s without a doubt I’ll go in too deep. So I have full plans to give it a break for the next week or so! That’s my absolutely promise. Should I get the itch I’m just going to give you the keys to hide them. So you’ve got yourself a deal, especially if you’re promising a bike ride. Summer is slowly coming to an end, it’s almost sad, to see that part already coming to an end. Though there’s a whole new season waiting for us soon enough, but I can hold off on all things pumpkin spice and fall colors a little longer. Come September all the Fall nuts can have their fun but I’m telling you now, come November 1st no one better stop me when I’m ready for all things Christmas! I’ve already seen Halloween things in stores. Yeah like at the worst maybe a lost tip of a finger, or toe... it’s not the worst thing in the world! Gosh! Hide them in the places you want to hide the Christmas gifts for the kids, let them get chased by tiny alligators to keep them away! ... I mean that might not be on the normal parents list but you know, who said I’m normal! Good, good! I just have a few things to slip into those bags, don’t worry, just a few extras! 

That’s the thing. We kinda force them to agree because they know they would look bad if they were arguing about charity. We are so smart. Plus we would really do it, we really would give money. I feel like we are going to miss those luxury tents and cabins sooo much tomorrow, when we are camping in the middle of nowhere with no power. The trip is going to look like paradise next to it – although it truly was paradise in nature. 

Right?! Honestly, who is going to argue about charity, and if they are, well -- you’ve got your answer! We’re just brilliant, we’re those ladies who can’t be stopped. The town should be scared! I’ve no doubt I’m going to miss those beautiful cabins, as excited as I am about camping. I’m not even going to be ashamed of the amount of power banks I’ve been slipping into the bags Zach has packed... Though connecting with nature is always a good thing.