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.
Mmm! Midnight Reverie sounds like my kind of chocolate–dark is best! Oh wait, they all sound like my kind of chocolate! That’s why I have to work out so hard. But my oh my is it worth it!
Evening Dream (60% cacao), Hazelnut Heaven, Sea Salt Soiree, and Toffee Interlude sound fabulous!
I am already addicted to Sea Salt Soiree–I would love to try Twilight Delight.
Um all of them! Love dark chocolate… Fun party idea.
Oh how I love love love dark chocolate. I want to try all of them!!
I would love to try the toffee interlude!!
I’d love to try Midnight Reverie. Trying to cut back on sugar 🙁
I would love to try the favorites of the night, Toffee Interlude and Sea Salt Soiree. And I’d love to try Midnight Reverie.
I really need a girls’ night!! I would love to try Twilight Delight and Hazelnut Heaven – sounds amazing!
Well, I will TRY anything chocolate! But the hazelnut, toffee, midnight reverie and twilight all sound extra yummy. Thanks!
Mmmm, dark chocolate! What an awesome little gift box and how nice it would be to have an adult time-out. I think I’d most like to try the Sea Salt or the Toffee.
Sounds like such a fun night! I would love to try the toffee, sea salt or twilight one. Actually they all sound fabulous but when it comes down to it-I’m a toffee girl:)
The toffee interlude sounds fab!
Evening Dream – yum!
What a fun evening! One year my friends threw me a chocolate party for my birthday because they knew I have a serious obsession/addiction to chocolate. I love Ghiradelli chocolate. I use their chocolate in S’mores when camping. Such a better flavor to me than Hershey’s. I would love to try all their flavors but I’m fairly certain that Midnight Reverie would be my favorite. Thank you!
Twilight Delight, Evening Dream, and Hazelnut Heaven sound good.
I’d like to try the Twilight Delight!
Toffee interlude!
Ok, I have to be honest here… I want to try ALL the flavors. I LOVE chocolate! But if, and I mean if I truly had to narrow it down to one it would be the Toffee because my husband adores Skor bars. He works so hard and has unbelievable stress at work right now…. huge inspection coming up in a couple of weeks, waiting to find out if he was granted career status (which determines whether or not he can stay in the military past March 14), promotion board if he is granted career status, and a course which will take him away from home for 6 weeks this summer. So it would be the perfect treat for him… just a little something to say thank you and I love you!
Who wouldn’t like to try them all? I would especially like to try the Sea Salt soiree and toffee interlude. Fingers crossed!
The sea salt soiree and toffee interlude both sound delicious. I am a HUGE chocolate fan and would really love to try them all!
They all sound divine, but I would love to try Hazelnut Heaven, Sea Salt Soiree, and Toffee Interlude :).
The toffee interlude and sea salt soiree sound the best to me, but in all honesty, I’m a milk chocolate girl. My sister, however LOVES her some dark chocolate, so if I won I’d give most of it to her. 🙂
I have a confession. I have tried almost all of these flavors already! I lived in France for a time, and came back with a serious love of good chocolate. I haven’t tried Cabernet Matinee and it sounds amazing that would be top on my list.
I love those chocolate bars, Sea Salt is my favorite. I have never tried the toffee and would love too.
I would love to try Hazelnut Heaven and Toffee Interlude
ooooo yummy!! I love Ghirardelli and dark chocolate is my favorite!! I would love to try all of the intense dark flavors!! Yummo! Thanks for the giveaway!
I’d try the Evening Dream or Sea Salt kind!
OMG the Toffee Interlude sounds way too good.
Toffee, toffee, toffee. definitely!
Um…all of them? I guess the first one I would open would be the Hazelnut Dream. Then I would have a Toffee Interlude followed by some yummy sea salt.