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.
I would love to try the Sea Salt version! I loved eating Ghirardelli’s dark chocolate while I was pregnant because it satisfied my sweet tooth without going too overboard on sugars and stuff, but I never tried the sea salt!
I think Twilight Delight, Evening Dream, Sea Salt Soiree, and Toffee Interlude sound the best. Would love to try any of them tho.
I love dark chocolate and I love girl’s night out! Sounds like a perfect night to me! It would be fun to try any flavor – but anything with dark chocolate, mint and or toffee in it – would be amazing! Thanks for the fun.
Hazelnut would be my first choice, followed by the Sea Salt, and then all the others.
The Toffee sounds so good! Hazelnut, and the sea salt one also sound devine!
Evening Dream and/or Seasalt Soiree. I adore me some dark chocolate.
I would love the hazelnut heaven, mmmmmm those look delicious!!
I already love the Evening Dream and would love to try the sea salt soirée. Salt and chocolate is such a delicious combination!!
I would love to try the Toffee Interlude first. And then the Sea Salt Soiree, and then the Hazelnut, and then… They all sound wonderful!
Hazelnut Heaven for sure!
Toffee and Hazelnut both sound wonderful. What a fun idea.
Agreed- who wouldn’t like to try them all! But I must try Twilight Delight and Toffee Interlude 🙂
Hazelnut Heaven!!!
I think the Hazelnut Heaven and Toffee Interlude sound great! We’re hitting up the Ghiradelli factory store tomorrow for some yummy ice cream sundaes!
Twilight delight for me!!!
They all sound delicious, but I think the toffee interlude would be my favorite!
Hazelnut Heaven, please! Yum!!!
hazelnut heaven sounds yummy!
Ohhhh, Hazelnut Heaven would be just that…….heaven!
Thanks for the give away. Glad you had a good time in chocolate heaven!
I would love some Hazelnut Heaven and toffee interlude.
Sea salt soiree would be awesome!
Do I have to choose?!? Toffee Interlude and Twilight Delight would be my two first picks. But I would totally try them all! Those gift baskets are SO CUTE!!
I would love to try the Sea Salt and Toffee chocolate! Thanks for this chance to win some!!
Hazelnut!
I’d like to try Toffee Interlude!
I would love to try Evening Dream, Cabernet Matinee, Hazelnut Heaven, Sea Salt Soiree and Toffee Interlude. I’m pretty sure that Toffee Interlude would be my fav but I’d need to sample the rest, just to be sure. 😉
Sea salt for sure, but only because the toffee has almonds. My husband would want the 86%, but that’s the only one I’d share. 🙂
Wow…so hard but fun to pick!!! I would say the sea salt would be my first choice. Just the perfect mix of salt and sweet especially when you have PMS!
I would love to try the Sea Salt Soiree! Thank you!
What a fun idea! I would love to try Evening Dream. I’m a huge Ghiradelli Chocolate fan so I’m sure all the flavors are to die for!