I think one of the hardest things for me to do is to remember to take time for myself. It’s really easy to say, “I’m busy and stressed and my 8-year-old and 5-year-old have homework and school projects on a level that I seriously don’t remember having until I was 13 and my husband is working 12 hours a day, 7 days a week and I haven’t slept more than 5 hours in a row in the last 8 1/2 months, so I’m going on an online shopping spree and hitting up the drive through between dance class and the second grade musical.” The problem is, no matter how fun it is to get a package in the mail or not clean up after dinner, I still kind of feel like I’m not actually doing anything for myself.
And since, in their own ways, pretty much all of my friends’ lives are as hectic as mine, I decided that we needed a grown-up time out. With grown-up food and drinks and grown-up chocolate.
Sara and I are huge fans of Ghirardelli, so we jumped at the chance to try their Intense Dark chocolate. And then I was so excited that I made my friends try it, too (trust me, if you’re ever having a hard time getting your group of friends together, mention the words “kid-free” and “chocolate party.” Everyone’s plans magically fall into place.)
To make the escape complete, I put together little gift baskets for everyone with some of my favorite things that make me happy.
I put in some cute reusable mugs, toe separators, nail polish, a mini candle, a pumice stone, bath salts, a mud mask, a headband to keep the mud mask out of their hair, lip balm, and a couple big bars of the Ghirardelli Intense Dark chocolate.
When they came over, I made our chocolate ganache by mixing 2 bars of the chocolate (I used the Midnight Reverie, which is super dark at 86% cacao, Twilight Delight, which is 72% cacao, and Cabernet Matinee, which is kind of fruity) with 6 ounces of heavy cream and heating it in the microwave for about a minute (in 20-30 second increments). I served the three pots of different chocolate with a big tray of fruit.
I think the general consensus was that Twilight Delight was the favorite for dipping.
I also had a cake stand loaded with bars of chocolate for us to try out.
Toffee Interlude was probably the favorite of the night, followed by Sea Salt Soiree.
No, this picture was not staged…they were genuinely staring at the square of Sea Salt Soiree in awe.
We had lots and lots of laughs.
and when my kids came home a few hours later, we were genuinely excited to see each other, which was a giant win for everyone.
Since we wish we could invite everyone to a chocolatey escape from reality, we’re doing the next best thing–we’re giving away 3 of the gift baskets from the party, loaded up with  big bars of Ghirardelli Intense Dark chocolate along with a whole bunch of our favorite things to make you feel special!
To enter, tell us what flavors you’d love to try–they are Midnight Reverie (86% cacao), Twilight Delight (72% cacao), Evening Dream (60% cacao), Cabernet Matinee, Hazelnut Heaven, Sea Salt Soiree, and Toffee Interlude. The giveaway will run now through April 2 and the 3 winners will be announced on April 3.
This post was sponsored by Ghirardelli Intense Dark Chocolate. Create your escape here.
The giveaway is sponsored by Our Best Bites. As always, all opinions are completely our own.
Oh I would love any of the really dark chocolates or hazelnut! I always said that Calgon couldn’t take me far enough away!! but chocolate would!!! 🙂
I would love to try the sea salt chocolate!!!
Hmmm, toffee interlude!
Well,really all of them! But Cabernet Matinee and Toffee Interlude sound amazing.
I would LOVE to try all of them. They all sound so delish!
Oh my goodness, look at all that chocolate! I would love to try the Toffee Interlude, yummmmm!
I’m not normally a chocolate eater, but being pregnant always change my tastes. The Sea Salt Soiree sounds the best right now, but give me an hour and I’m sure I’ll get a craving for any of them.
Sea salt soiree, please:)
I love Cabernet Matinee and Sea Salt Soiree! I have been promising the girls that this would be one of our next get-togethers complete with wine and food for pairing! You can go on Ghirardelli.com to get pairing suggestions for the intense dark chocolate!
Midnight reverie and twilight delight sound awesome! I love dark chocolate.
Love me some chocolate! Either twilight delight, toffee interlude, or evening dream!
I would love to try Twilight Delight, Cabernet Matinee, and Sea Salt Soiree.
I’d like to to try Sea salt soiree! Sounds delicious!
How fun is that!! I would love to try the toffee and the sea salt one. Sounds Yummy!!
I am a dark chocolate girl so I would want to try Midnight Reverie (86% cacao), Twilight Delight (72% cacao), Evening Dream (60% cacao).
I’d love to try toffee interlude.
Hi, I would LOVE to try the Cabernet Matinee as I am trying to abstain from the real cabernet and shed some lbs…but a little chocolate now and then cannot hurt me!! What a great Easter present this would be!
I would love to try the sea salt soirée and the toffee. Sounds so yummy, and I love Ghirardelli chocolate!
Sea Salt Soiree
I’d love to try the Hazelnut Heaven or the Twilight Delight…or any of the others, really. They all sound too delicious to choose just one!
I’d love to try the Hazelnut Heaven, since I’m a huge fan of Baci Perugina candies as well.
Toffee interlude sounds amazing!!!
How delish!! I would love to try the twilight delight, sea salt soirée and the toffee interlude. Oh heck, I’d try them all!!
I would love to try the sea salt or toffee interlude. They both sound delicious.
I would love to try the hazelnut heaven and sea salt soiree! But honestly, they would all be delicious!
Really you can’t go wrong with dark chocolate! Or chocolate in general! The flavors that sounded the most intriguing to me were: Twilight Delight, Evening Dream, Hazelnut Heaven, and Sea Salt Soiree. They all sound delicious…now I am tempted to go to the store and get one for my gift from the Easter bunny!
I want to try Hazelnut Heaven and Sea Salt Soiree!
Definitely Sea Salt and Toffee…. Oh my! I LOVE chocolate!
I love dark chocolate! I would love the try the toffee interlude
What a great idea, I’d love to try Sea Salt and the Toffee.