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.
Absolutely the Hazelnut; nothing better than amazing dark chocolate AND hazelnut!
Do you see how many comments you get when you post about chocolate?! Wow! Ok, I have to confess that I’ve tried all of the intense dark ones, except the Cabernet one. I actually have the evening dream bar hiding in my underwear drawer so that no one knows I’m eating chocolate and asks me for a piece. 😉 It’s MINE! =) So maybe because I’ve tried them, you wouldn’t want to pick me, but then on the other hand, maybe because I have already tried them, it shows my deep love for all things dark chocolate? Ok, so if I had to pick, it has to be the sea salt. There is something about the salty and sweet that just-mmm! It gets me!
Toffee Interlude sounds yummy!
I absolutely LOVE dark chocolate. I don’t like any fancy flavors, just the pure genuine good stuff. I would love to try Midnight Reverie, Twilight Delight, and Evening Dream. The sea salt is also a front runner after seeing your post! Mmmmm….now I’m hungry…..
Sounds like a fun time! I’d love to try the Twilight Delight, Evening Dream and Toffee Interlude.
Sea salt and Toffee. Yum!!! Thanks for sharing your cute ideas.
How fun! I think evening dream, hazelnut heaven, and sea salt soiree sound yummy. To be honest, I would eat them all!!
Hmmmm…Sea Salt Soiree would satisfy all my cravings! Salty and sweet together in a chocolate bar – genius!
I’m new to the dark chocolate scene, but as I’ve given it a chance, I have found that I really like it. I think the toffee or sea salt types sound very intriguing!
This sounds like a great idea for getting the girls together!!! I would eat all of the different flavors of chocolate but today Sea Salt Soiree, Toffee Interlude, and/or Twilight Delight is sounding especially yummy to me!!
Twilight and sea salt. They are all bound to be wonderful.
I would choose Twilight Delight (for myself) and the Sea Salt Soiree (for my BFF). Thanks for the AWESOME giveaway!!
I would like to try Sea Salt Soiree and Toffee. Yum!
Hazelnut Heaven!
I’d love to try Hazelnut Heaven and Toffee Interlude. Thanks!
They all sound wonderful…..but Cabernet Matinee and Toffee Interlude would be my 1st to try.
Hazelnut Haven sounds wonderful!
They all sound delicious! I’d love to try the Twilight Delight, Toffee Interlude or Sea Salt Soiree.
Evening Dream. My sister’s husband just passed away suddenly last week leaving her with two young kids and a few of us were just talking about a girls night out to help give her something fun. This is a great idea – and the timing was perfect. Thank you.
I would love to try the Toffee Interlude. 🙂
Hazelnut Heaven sounds so yummy.
I think Evening Dream sounds super yummy and anything with hazelnuts is so good too so Hazelnut Dream!! Sounds like lots of fun
This reminds me of trips to San Francisco, visiting Ghirardelli Square! . . . making me want to go again! I want to try a bite of each of them . . . but Toffee Interlude comes out on top.
Hazelnut Heaven would be my first choice, but they all sound terrific.
Hazelnut Heaven or Toffee Interlude sound yummy!
hazelnut heaven 🙂
Midnight Reverie and Hazelnut Heaven
All of them!!! But, especially Midnight Reverie, Evening Dream, and Toffee Interlude.
I would love to try the toffee or sea salt. Sounds so delicious!
Proper email address. Sorry.
Hazelnut heaven, toffee interlude…where to start?