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 LOVE CHOCOLATE! Would love to try Cabernet Matinee, Hazelnut Heaven, Sea Salt Soiree, and Toffee Interlude!
I’d love to try Hazelnut Heaven, Sea Salt Soiree, and Toffee Interlude!
They all sound delicious, especially Sea Salt Soirée and Toffee Interlude.
I would love to try wither the Sea Salt Soiree, or the Toffee Interlude both sound yummy. A girls night with my girls would be heaven.
I would love to try Sea Salt Soirée or Toffee Interlude!!
I would like to try either the Toffee, Hazelnut or the Cabernet one. Really anything with chocolate is good.:)
Yum! I want to try the sea salt soiree and toffee interlude or all of them 🙂
Sea salt soi-whatever…:)
I love chocolate!!! So I would try any of them, but if I have to pick, it would probably be the toffee and the sea salt. What cute gift baskets. You guys always have such cute and simple ideas. Love your postings.
That is a hard choice 🙂 but I’d go with the Toffee Interlude, I love Toffee & Chocolate!
I would love to try the Sea Salt Soiree.
Twilight delight. I am not a fan of fruit in chocolate.
Give me dark chocolate! Midnight Reverie
Sea Salt Soiree sounds delious! 🙂
YUMMY! Toffee interlude sounds sooo good and so does the sea salt one!!
FUN! I’d like to try the Twilight Delight, Sea Salt Soiree, and the Hazelnut Heaven.
Toffee Interlude sounds amazing!
Definitely Toffee Interlude.
Twilight Delight and Cabernet Matinee sound good
Oh please I want the Sea Salt and Toffee flavors!
Hazelnut Heaven and Twilight Delight both sound so yummy!
I would love to try all of them, but the Sea Salt one really intrigues me!
I’ve heard of this choc, but have never tried it! My Mom raves about it. I’ve looked and can’t find any in local stores here. I’d love to try the Toffee Interlude
I love chocolate, I’d love them all. But I’d be most excited about the toffee or sea salt!
I LOVE dark chocolate!! Oh YUM! I’d love to try almost all of them – Midnight Reverie, Twilight Delight, Evening Dream, Hazelnut Heaven, and Toffee Interlude (no Sea Salt for me).
I love Ghiradelli and I love Our Best Bites! I’d love to try Hazelnut Heaven and Sea Salt Soiree.
It is really hard to choose! I have been wanting to try the intense dark flavors for a while. 🙂 Thanks!
Midnight Reverie, Sea Salt Soiree, and Toffee Interlude are the flavors I would try.
We love our chocolate dark. I would try the Midnight Reverie. After that, we are in love with toffee bits in our chocolate, so Toffee Interlude would be next.
Yumm! What a great party! I am partial to Sea Salt anything, so that gets my vote. Also Twilight Delight. Again yumm!