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.
Yum! I would love to try the Toffee Interlude! Love Ghirardelli!
I think the Sea Salt Soirée sounds like a real treat for my tired taste buds!
Definitely Twilight Delight, Evening Dream, and Toffee Interlude. All three sound fabulous!
The Sea Salt Soiree and Toffee Interlude sound amazing!
I love chocolate and I am craving a good chocolate right now. I would love to try Sea Salt Soiree and Toffee Interlude.
Sounds lovely! What a fun night you planned. I think the Sea Salt or the Twilight ones sound delicious!!
I would love to try the sea salt and the toffee!
I would love to try Hazelnut Heaven and Toffee Interlude. I love Ghirardelli. They make amazing chocolate. I can’t buy any other brownie mix than Ghirardelli either.
Midnight Reverie – yum!
I think the Toffee sounds yummy, although I would try all of them! 😉 Looks like a fun party!
I am sure I would LOVE the sea salt soiree. The Hazelenut Heaven and Midnight dream also sound delicious!
Toffee Interlude Definitely would like to try that; I am already a lover of the darker stuff. (80%) Have gestational diabetes and have discovered that dark chocolate doesn’t elevate the glucose levels . . . yahoo!!!
I would love to try the sea salt soiree and toffee interlude. Sounds like a fun girls night was had!
I’m such a chocoholic (genetically inherited through my mom and grandma!), so all of them sound fabulous! If I have to choose, I’d go for Twilight Delight and Sea Salt Soiree……
I loved hearing about your girls night. Good for you for taking care of yourselves! I love Ghirardelli and all the flavors sound heavenly, but I LOVE toffee, so my first choice would definitely be Toffee Interlude. Thanks!
Hazelnut Heaven for sure! I’m one of those Costco-pack-of-Nutella buying women and will have to go out and try a bar (or more) of these goodies.
Dark chocolate rules! I might be needing to make a little stop off at the grocery store on my way home from an errand tonight to try the Twilight Delight. You know, something to tide me over until I win this giveaway . . . 🙂
toffee!
I am pretty sure I would love to try Midnight Reverie & Twilight Delight. MMM MMM MMM
I would love to try Toffee Interlude!
I want to try hazelnut heaven!
I wish I could just list all of them, but I will go with Evening Dream, Sea Salt Soiree, or Toffee Interlude.
The two that sounds good to me are the Sea Salt and the Toffee.
I’d love to try Hazelnut Heaven, Sea Salt Soiree and Toffee Interlude! Yum!
I love dark chocolate. I think I’ve had Twilight Delight and it was amazing. Sea Salt Soiree also sounds delicious.
hazelnut heaven!
Sea Salt Soirée sounds fun and maybe some Twilight Delight!
I love dark chocolate, so I’d love to try the Midnight Reverie.
I would love to try Evening Dream. Thanks!
Oh, my! Hazelnut Heaven and Toffee Interlude sound incredible!