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 think it’s a toss-up between Hazelnut Heaven and Toffee Interlude. But then, why choose?
Toffee Interlude!! They all sound fabulous
I could go for the toffee and hazelnut tonight.
I love dark chocolate, so I would love to try any of them, but since you recommended Twilight Delight, I will start there!
I would like the toffee, but really, any would be great! We loooooove dark chocolate in this house!
Wow, what a fun night! I’m glad you got to do something to make yourself happy.
This might be asking for trouble, but I’d really like to try that Midnight one.
I would love both toffee interlude and sea salt soiree. I love the mix of toffee.caramel with chocolate and sea salt just brings out the best taste of everything – especially chocolate. I would love to win !!
You can never go wrong with Ghiradelli! I would love to try the Hazelnut Heaven. (And, really, every single one of them.)
Twilight delight and Evening Dream both look amazing. I love dark chocolate, especially in the 60-70% cacao range. I would love to win!
Since everyone liked toffee interlude I would like to try that one!
After a week of cleaning up after 3 sick kids (literally coming out of both ends) I would LOVE a chocolate night! I would have my husband take the kids, tell him the girls are coming over, invite no one, and eat it all myself! 🙂 but seriously, I’d love the toffee one or the sea salt one. or all of them 🙂
I love anything and everything with hazelnuts, so Hazelnut Heaven sounds perfect to me!
Would love to try the sea salt soirée! Chocolate and salt are a fabulous combination.
I’m thinking Hazelnut Heaven sounds divine! I LOVE Dark Chocolate!!
I would love to try the hazelnut or the toffee. Thanks!
Midnight Reverie! Anything that has so much cocoa that it’s almost bitter is a winner in my book (that sounds weird, but it’s true).
Fun! I would love to try Sea Salt Soiree — actually I think I’ve tried it before and it’s delicious!
I’d take your advice and try twilight…you have never steered me wrong!
The Toffee interlude sounds fantastic, though, how do you choose just one, you can’t really go wrong with Ghirardelli!
Sea salt soiree and toffee interlude sound amazing!
Sea Salt Soiree and Twilight Delight. Just the names say “Delicious!”
We recently moved from Utah to Texas. My four children are trying to get used to a lot of new things. So we have had lots of extra crying, whining, fighting and longings for home. So I have has little time to unpack or do anything for myself, so I would love to try the Twilight Delight and Toffee Interlude.
This is so nice of y’all! The gift baskets look awesome 🙂 I’d love to try the Cabernet Matinee, Hazelnut Heaven, and Toffee Interlude. They sound luscious!
Definitely Midnight Reverie – the darker the better, right! The toffee one also sounds delicious too.
OOOOooohhh! I LOVE Dark chocolate so I would go with the Midnight Reverie, and probably the Hazelnut Heaven and Sea Salt Soiree for a different twist on good old Ghirardelli.
Sounds like such a fun evening! I love toffee and hazelnuts, so I would love to try those two flavors.
I’m with your friends – the toffee interlude and sea salt would have been at the top of my list for sure!
Oh I would love to try the Sea Salt Soirée and the toffee!!
Toffee interlude 🙂
What can be better than chocolate with sea salt??!! Love the gift idea and i think I will be giving away a similar one!