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.
Fantastic giveaway! I’d love to try the toffee interlude.
Not that I LOVE chocolate or anything but I would die to taste Evening Dream, Hazelnut Heaven, Sea Salt Soiree, and Toffee Interlud! Just a couple!!
Mmm…I would want to try evening dream, or the one with toffee (can’t remember the name and I don’t want to scroll up :)!)
I love this idea!!!!! Those are super cute!
Hazelnut heaven and toffee interlude! Yum!
I would love to try HazleNut Heaven, Sea Salt Soire, and Twilight Delight. Being a military wife, I know how important it is to take time for ourselves. I am currently proudly supporting my husband on his third deployment overseas. Chocolate was sounding so good today-I have not bought it yet. I then came home, and saw flowers my husband had sent. I just need the chocolates to go with it. 🙂 That would mean a lot to my husband and I to win the chocolates!
Thanks in advance for considering me!
Sarah P.S. Added benefit-I have the same name as Sara, only mine has an ‘h’. 😉
My Chocolate dream starts off with Hazelnut Heaven…drifting into Sea Salt Soiree..melding into Twilight Delight…onto Evening Dream..then the grand finale of Midnight Reverie…the perfect end to an Chocolate dream come true. 🙂
Hazelnut for sure! Um, now I’m going to have to just go out and buy some because even if I win, I’m not waiting that long.
I would love to try the toffee. Sounds yummy!
I want to put the hazelnut and toffee bars together! I think that sounds divine.
I’d love to try the Sea Salt Soiree or Hazelnut Heaven!
I love dark chocolate! We don’t even buy milk chocolate at our house! I would love to try the twilight delight and toffee interlude, but they all sound good 🙂
The toffee interlude sounds delightful. I’m glad you had a fun chocolate party. Sounds fun. Thanks for the giveaway!
Would like to definitely try the Hazelnut Heaven & the Sea Salt Soiree!
Yumm!
I’d love to try the Hazelnut Heaven. Sounds delish!
Sea salt soiree sounds yummy to me!
I have had a few of the flavors already (and love them all!) but have not yet tried Cabernet Matinee! Thanks for the giveaway.
Oh, um, gee I have to pick one? I would have to go with the Midnight reverie, no wait! The toffee interlude, yeah the toffee inter…no I meant the Midnight reverie. Although the cabernet one and the sea salt sound awesome too:) Oh well, just send me any flavor nom, nom, nom. Must have chocolate, must have choclate<3
I am entering my wife who works 2 jobs, helps me with school and work, and is raising 4 great kids(while i am gone so much working and going to school) She is a big time chocolate freak, and I know that toffee would be her best choice.
The sea salt soiree sounds quite intriguing! I love chocolate and salt mixed together.!!
The toffee and sea salt flavored ones sound awesome. Glad you got to have a fun night with the girls. Hopefully I can do the same!
Ooh, what a sucker for chocolate I am! Those all sound delish!! I want to try the toffee or the midnight.
I would love to try the Toffee Interlude although they all look awesome. I am newly pregnant and have been craving chocolate like crazy!
I’d love to try the toffee and sea salt!
Sea Salt Soirée for sure!! Yummmm
I want to try them all!! I have already had the Sea Salt Soiree and it is AWESOME!! I ate the whole huge bar by myself!
Hmmm I want to try them all but Hazelnut heaven sounds heavenly!
I love dark chocolate. And I love toffee. So I would start there. Then the sea salt one and then the Reverie.
Oh wow! I need to try Twilight Delight, Hazelnut Heaven and Sea Salt Soiree!
I’d love to try sea salt soiree and the toffee one for eating plain. The others sound awesome for ganache.