not everyday can be a revelation. where you experience a life-altering epiphany. a defining milestone. a brush with death. or unexpected kindness.
sometimes—most of the time—it’s just plain ordinary. status quo.
wake up. slog through the day. clock it at 5pm. make dinner. put the kids down. take the dog out. pass out. lather. rinse. repeat.
like “fred the baker” in these classic dunkin donuts commercials, it sometimes feels like we’re shutting off and going rote. autopilot. same thing, different day.
when i get that feeling, i turn to one of my best, most reliable friends: chocolate.
what is better with chocolate, you ask? well, everything, of course. if you’re having a bad day, chocolate is a scientifically proven pick me up. if it’s a special occasion, chocolate says “i love you”—did you know consumers buy more than 58 million pounds of chocolate during valentine’s week? for your kid’s first ice cream cone, tell me it wasn’t chocolate? have family in town: then the go-to pan of classic chocolate brownies never disappoints. a favorite decadent dessert: melty lava cake oozing with chocolate goodness.
but who says we can only spread the (chocolate) love on special occasions? in fact, during the day to day drudgery is often when you need it most. many of us think of wine in much the same way, but this is a pocket-sized pick-me-up—without the throbbing headache the next morning :)
“take me away”: when i really want to splurge, i spring for a $26 box of exotic truffles from vosges, an haut chocolatier in chicago. wrapped in a gorgeous purple box and satin bow that puts even the iconic robin’s egg blue tiffany box to shame, this collection of truffles aims to transcend with tastes of exotic lands and indigenous cultures. chocolate paired with curry, wasabi, macademia nuts, cointreau, paprika and crunchy hazelnut praline is served up with whimsical names like gianduia, ambrosia, absinthe, naga, black pearl, budapest, woolloomooloo and my favorite, wink of the rabbit.
“a nugget of goodness”: if you’re not buying the opulent spin and yuppified version of this delicious treat, then do as i do most days: kiss—keep it simple stupid. chocolate, nearly any kind of chocolate, can do the trick. it doesn’t have to be fancy to be fabulous. i often keep a little stash of hershey’s kisses in my purse. when the going gets tough, the chocolate gets going: out of my bag and straight into my mouth. it’s not about gorging and then feeling guilty later. rather, just a little taste, a nugget of goodness in an otherwise blah day. that simple. that delicious.
vosges’ tagline perfectly sums it up. “one love, one chocolate.” words to live by. love yourself. treat yourself. everyday bliss is just a bite away :P