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.
Impossible to pick just one. My daughters and I are huge fans of dark chocolate. They even prefer dark chocolate in their Easter Baskets : )
I’d like to try the Toffee Interlude. I’ve had the sea salt one several times and love it!
They all sound great but Toffee Interlude is something that I would like to try.
Where did you find those lids and straws? I’ve been looking for some.
I’d like to try, Cabernet Matinee, Hazelnut Heaven, and Sea Salt Soiree.
Walmart, of all places!
the hazelnut and toffee sound delish!
Definitely the sea salt one! I recently bought it and gave it to a friend who loved it!
Dark chocolate is my FAVORITE. I would love to try them all, but Cabernet Matinee and Toffee Interlude sound especially good to me.
I’d love to try the Sea Salt Soiree!
The toffee and sea salt sound really good! What an awesome giveaway!
They all sound so good!! I love toffee, hazelnut, and anything with sea salt!
Toffee Interlude sounds like something I need RIGHT NOW! Chocolate makes everything better!
Your chocolate party sounds so fun! What a great idea. We love Ghirardelli, too. My current favorite is the dark chocolate and caramel but I would love to try Toffee Interlude.
Sea Salt Soiree would be my first choice. Anything chocolate would be my next choice.
What a fun idea and I love those mugs! Where did you get those? I would love to try the sea salt or the toffee.
Walmart of all places! 🙂
The Sea Salt Soiree would be my first choice followed by the toffee – really would there be a bad choice?!?
Oh, I’d love to try Sea Salt Soiree!
I’d like to try to Midnight Reverie and Twilight Delight.
The Sea Salt Soiree sounds like a real winner to me!
The darker the better. Yum
What a great idea for a party! I love the gift baskets and may steal that idea for myself 🙂 I love anything hazelnut, but, of course, all of those sound amazing!
Toffee interlude sounds really good!
I would love the toffee!
Definitely the sea salt one–yum!
I would love to try the toffee one and the sea salt one. YUMMY!
Sea Salt Soiree sounds perfect!
I would like to try the sea salt soir̩e РI love anything with sea salt!!!
The Cabernet Matinee Chocolate. Sounds interesting!
Definitely the toffee interlude!!
I’d love to try the Sea Salt Soiree, but they all sound terrific.
I love the Sea Salt Soiree – but would really love to try the toffee interlude! I almost picked it up at the store the other day.