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.
Twilight Delight & Sea Salt Soiree! The older I get, the more I adore chocolate!! Must be the changing hormones from birthing 4 kiddos…..!!
Toffee interlude! What a great night it looks like y’all had, so fun!
Ahhh girls’ night in! Sounds delightful. I, too, have an 8 year old and a 5 year old! The sea salt soiree and the hazelnut one sound so good right now!
I am definitely a Toffee Interlude girl!
Cabernet Matinee sounds like fun, but as long as it is DARK chocolate and from
Ghiardelli, it’s got to be good!
Honestly, I’d love to try any and all! Such a fun idea!!!
I’d give them all a go, yet I would totally open the Hazelnut first!
I want every dairy free version they’ve got! And I think I’ll try that dipping sauce, except I’ll make mine with coconut milk. Mmmmm.
Hazelnut heaven sounds awesome!
sounds like such a fun night! Will have to have a chocolate event of my own. Would love to try the sea salt soirre. Sounds yummy!
Dark chocolate and giveaway in the same sentence? Awesome! I think I would love the hazelnut and the toffee. But let’s be honest, I would love any of them.
The hazelnut and toffee flavors sound delicious. I love dark chocolate!
Sea Salt!! I can’t get enough of the salty and sweet combination. I’d love to try them all…
Toffee Interlude sounds AMAZING!!!!
Um seriously, I have to choose ONE I’d like to try? They all sound amazing, but I would choose the toffee interlude.
All of them sound delicious! How can I choose…um…toffee interlude. 🙂
Twilight delight! The giveaway sound delightful!
Toffee Interlude, definitely!!!
Yum. I need to attend a chocolate party. I would love to try the Toffee Interlude… I am a sucker for anything with toffee in it!
I LOVE chocolate in any shape or form so to pick favorites to try would be too hard. Therefore, I will tell you what I would least like to try — the 60% (my taste runs the darker the better) and the Hazelnut as I don’t do nuts. Other than that any would be a HUGE treat!!
toffee interlude sounds good to me 😀
I indulge in eating Ghiradelli dark chocolate often. However, I have not yet tried the midnight reverie or twilight soirée and so I would like to try those
Hazelnut Heaven and/or Toffee Interlude!
I’d love to try the Twilight Delight! Love love love dark chocolate!!
Um, yes please… Any and all would be my choice 😉 I recently discovered Ghirardelli’s dark and orange bars…. To. Die. For. I shared the first one with my teenage daughter and hid the rest, so I wouldn’t have to share. I am such a great mother ha ha!
Sea salt soirée and hazelnut heaven. Oh. My. They sound delightful.
I’d love to try Toffee Interlude.
All them ok its chocolate right? but mostly Hazelnut Heaven and Sea Salt. Both sound wonderful.. cute giveaway
Hazelnut Heaven & Toffee Interlude ~ MMMMM!! Just the names intrigue me!! Nutty flavors always win out with me!
Your party sounds divine! THANK YOU for the inspiration and encouragement to create a similar “special time” with my friends! Our late winter days are getting ever so LONG, so this would seem just what we need!! OH YAY!!
Sweet Spring blessings….~Sandie
You had me at “sea salt”!