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.
Toffee Interlude
All of them! Sea Salt Soiree sounds fun because I love alliteration and definitely the Toffee Interlude. I do love all chocolate though 🙂
Hazelnut heaven for me. The name says it all!
Fortunately, for us, we have a Ghiradelli chocolate factory just four miles from our home. And yes, we make frequent visits/purchases there. My husband is convinced that if he eats two squares of the 72% bars per day he will live a long healthy life. I sure hope he’s right!
Our daughter came home for a visit the other day, high on her list of things to do was to pick up a stash of Ghiradelli to take home with her. Apparently, our family can’t live without it now. 🙂
It’s a toss up between Hazelnut Heaven and Toffee Interlude or maybe…You can’t limit this to just one…that’s just torture!
I would love to try the sea salt soiree!! Yes, please?!?!
Can you really choose? I suppose I would start with Toffee Delight and Cabernet Matinee, followed closely by Twilight Delight and Sea Salt Soiree. Mmm.
YUMMY! I’m having sweet dreams already! I would love to try any of these – it’s so hard to decide. Probably the Sea Salt Soiree, and since I’m a true chocoholic (the darker the better!) I would adore the Midnight Reverie!
Midnight Reverie all the way, the darker the better!
I would love to try the Sea Salt Soiree and Toffee Interlude. Thanks 🙂
I would like to try the Sea Salt.
I would love to try the Midnight Reverie, Cabernet Matinee, Hazelnut Heaven, and Toffee Interlude. And that is only if I have to choose, I am sure I would love all of them.
Toffee Interlude sounds wonderful!
Midnight reverie sounds wonderful!
Sea salt soirée is definitely the most intriguing to me! I love things that are sweet but not too sweet, with a hint of salt…YUM
I would LOVE to try twilight, toffee or the sea salt one!! Yummy!!
I’d love to try the cabernet matinee. Wine and chocolate go so well together.
I would love to try Twilight Delight but they all sound good!
I LOVE the Ghiradelli dark chocolate bars- and Sea Salt Soiree tops my list!
I would love to try Midnight reverie. I associate really dark chocolate with my childhood and my dad, that is thousands of miles away and has cancer. When I was growing up, he used to eat dark chocolate in the evenings and share it with me. It is nice looking back at these memories, especially since I have to be so far away, while he is going through this difficult time and can not help him.
Toffee Interlude, baby! Yum 🙂
Toffee. And Sea Salt. And probably also the other two. I’m an equal opportunity chocolate lover.
I would love any of them! Hazelnut Heaven and Toffee Interlude sound delightful!!
I would like to try them all!
Toffee Interlude, baby! Yum:)
Toffee and Sea Salt. Both sound incredible!
Midnight Reverie (86% cacao), Twilight Delight (72% cacao), Evening Dream (60% cacao), and Toffee Interlude. I think these would be the ones to try. I have diabetes so sweet treats are limited, BUT I am allowed a square of dark chocolate once a day and that seems to satisfy that nasty demon inside of me that wants to cook pralines and fudge. So I would love to try some of these new ones to see which one would be my favorite and I have to say, Ghiardeli is one of my favs, especially their chips when cooking. Love the almost as much as I love the joy you girls bring to my life each day.
Twilight Delight, Evening Dream, and Hazelnut Heaven sound amazing!!
Hazelnut Heaven! (And all the others.)
Toffee interlude sounds great! All chocolate is wonderful!
I can’t get enough sweet and salty, so I would love to try the sea salt, and you can never have too much toffee!