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.
My husband just came home from a business trip to San Fransico with two of these. I would love to try the Sea Salt!
Oh my! My jaw was dropped through the whole reading of your post. What a fantastic day in with the girls. Wish I was so clever! Where did you find the colored mason jar lids? Too cute!
I’d love to try the toffee and Cabernet Matinee! They all sound so good. Thanks for sharing!
They all sound good to me but Toffee sounds the best!
I am also a HUUUUUUUUUUGE Ghirardelli fan…they are the only chocolate I buy, except maybe Lindt specialty chocolates occasionally. I think I would most like to try Toffee Interlude, because I’m not usually a dark chocolate fan, and I think the toffee sweetness would really hook me in 😉
yummmmmm!!!! I love sea salt and chocolate so sea salt soiree and toffe interlude would def be my choices to try.
Toffee Interlude has my name written all over it. My mouth is watering.
I would love to try the Revire, Evening dream, and Toffee , what a fun night it would be with my girlfriends!!
So many to choose from! I would love to try Sea Salt, Toffee and Hazelnut! The Sea Salt is very intriguing to me.
Toffee and Sea Salt both sound delicious!
sea salt soiree all the way!! sounds delish!
Man, I wish I was your friend! That party sounds like great fun and such awesome favors, too!
I would love to try the Hazelnut Heaven and Toffee Interlude. I wouldn’t say “no” to any of them, though!
Evening Dream sounds delicious! Well, they all do.
Toffee and hazelnut, sounds like a fun girls night
I recently discovered sea salt caramel and fell in love! I am dying to try the Sea Salt Soiree. Sounds heavenly!
I would love to try them all, but especially the Twilight Delight and the Sea Salt Soiree.
My 2 favorites are the Toffee Interlude and the Cabernet Matinee. I’d love to try this gift box out–I have a 17 month old and am preggo with #2–me time is pretty much non-existent right now.
Twilight delight please. Your party looked like fun and a nice time with friends.
Cabernet Matinee would be my first to try. Wine and chocolate are a definite win! Any dark chocolate is awesome.
Evening Dream sounds sexy, and Toffee Interlude, heavenly!
I’d like to try the Hazelnut Heaven, and Toffee Interlude. Hazelnut and chocolate is one of my favorite combos!
For my boss’s birthday I got him the Cabernet Matinee and he really liked it.
That sounds like so much fun!!! I definitely need this so I can plan a night for my girlfriends!!! I think I would pick the Midnight Reverie, Twilight Delight and Evening Dream, YUMMMM!!!
Evening Dream
Is there a sea salt/toffee? That’s what I would want. What a delightful mix!
Anything with dark chocolate is my favorite! But I definitely love the sound of the Sea Salt Soiree… delicious!
I would like to try Sea Salt Soiree and Toffee Interlude.
YUM!!!
Hazelnut or sea salt!
I need a girls’ night! And it would be even better with Toffee Interlude bars, I’m sure.
This sounds like so much fun! I haveto say they all sound fabulous. I want to try all of them!
Have always loved milk choc and discovered that love of dark depends on the brand. Anything toffee or nuts is a plus to me! Years ago I bought the 10 lb bars and dipped chocolates every Christmas for gifts. ALWAYS got Ghiraradelli, it’s the best.
I love it all.