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 would love to try to the Sea Salt or the Toffee!
Mmm…Toffee Interlude sounds heavenly!
I would love to try Sea Salt Soiree and Toffee Interlude.
Toffee Interlude!
Oh my gosh – I would love to try the Cabernet Matinee and the Sea Salt Soiree – sounds soooo good!
I would like to try the Sea Salt Soiree, Toffee Interlude and Twilight Delight.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
YUM! I’d love to try the hazelnut or twilight delight…or toffee…or any of them 🙂
Toffee interlude!
I want to try the sea salt and the toffee, but really any would be great!!
Ooh! I’d love to try Midnight Reverie and Toffee Interlude. Delicious!
I’d love to try them all! But if I had to pick just a couple, definitely the sea salt, hazelnut, toffee and/or twilight. What a fun girls night!!
Hazelnut. Or Sea Salt. Or really any of them!
I would love to try Evening Dream and Toffee Interlude!
Absolutely…Toffee Interlude!
My mouth is watering.
Sea Salt Soiree, love anything with sea salt!
I would like to try the toffee interlude. I am going to start planning a girls night. What a fun time and great little gift box.
Id love to try Cabernet Matinee, Sea Salt Soirée, and Toffee Interlude! Yum. This is my kind of giveaway!
I swoon for seal salt and chocolate! Sea Salt Soiree is the one for me, for sure.
Thank you both for the awesome blog! I just found it a couple weeks ago and have been back almost every day since looking around and making notes about all the delicious meals I want to try. I just made your Thai peanut noodles (better than from a restaurant my husband said) and plan on making the Coconut Lime cheesecake for Easter dessert. Can’t wait! You two are delightful and have made meal planning something I actually look forward to every week! I can’t thank you enough! Also, your ginger peeling technique has changed my life! I used to dread peeling it, not anymore! Thanks again!!
Oh wow, they all sound delicious! But I’ve gotta go with the Toffee Interlude!!
Twilight Delight and Toffee Interlude. I LOVE dark chocolate!!
Ooh, they all sound good but I would pick the Toffee Interlude.
If I had to pick just one, I’d choose the Midnight Reverie. No, Sea Salt Soiree. Err, I mean, well, any and/or all of them!
Toffee interlude sounds sooo good!!
I’d love to try the Hazelnut Heaven, Sea Salt Soiree, and Toffee Interlude.
What perfect timing. I was sitting here feeling sorry for myself on my b-day and thought… I am going to see what is going on OBB. You guys never fail to amaze me! Any of the chocolate sounds wonderful mmmmmmm! But sea salt and toffee those sounds amazing!
Toffee Interlude!
I’m a toffee junky!!!!!! Sounds wonderful!
Hazelnut Heaven and Toffee Interlude sounds absolutely divine!
Want some Toffee Interlude!
A girl’s night sounds fabulous! We used to get together and bring any crafts we were working on and have girls nights, but we haven’t done that in a long, long, time. I think some delicious chocolate might be the trick to get everyone together again. The hazelnut sounds great or the sea salt because I love the sweet and salty combo! Thanks for the great giveaway.