chocolate hazelnut caramel ganache

I’m a big believer that amazing things come in little packages.
And when things are little, I can eat more of them.  Right?

If you knew me in college, or in LA, or if you know me now!…you know that I always have a bag of little chocolates stashed somewhere in the kitchen, for those times when I just need a little treat.  Sometimes there’s a bag in the fridge (cause some chocolate is better cold). And sometimes there’s a bag of chocolate chips half-opened and half-eaten (cause they’re great on crackers with peanut butter).

But in general–Life is like a box of chocolates.  And every day should include a small bit of it….with all the caramel strings attached.

Seriously.  I may or may not be eating chocolate AS I’m writing this post.  But what is one to do, when this is their job for the day??? My kids watched me editing these photos and said, Mom, your job is to talk about chocolate?? (this is going to take career day to a whole new level)

But yesss.  I was contacted by Godiva Masterpieces to share a little story.  And to share their cute indulgent chocolates, which you can now buy in a bag at the grocery store! Woohoo! They’re individually wrapped (perfect)
((and easy to give away in goodie bags or gifts))
(((and would be so fun in a guest room)))

But I’m getting ahead of myself here.  Let’s jump back to 1992.
Yep. That’s me with those awesome eyebrows.

And when Godiva asked me to share their new Godiva Masterpieces I was like….ummm. Yes! I worked at a Godiva shop in high school!  It was blogging destiny.

I don’t know why I have a photo of me in my Godiva apron, working at the store, when I was 16?  My mom must have stopped by the mall that day. But I’m glad I do. It’s fun to see these pics side-by-side, 20 (+) years apart.
I can still remember that first day on the job when we tried some of the famous Godiva flavors, which is what the Masterpieces are based on–their most decadent, legendary pieces.  Like the Milk Chocolate Hazelnut Oyster:

Guys.  Up until this point in my short life I had never tasted hazelnut before.  How is that possible?
And when I bit into that thing, it was like piece of my life had been found.  And now I think of it in two parts–life before hazelnut chocolate filling; and life after.  Mmmm.  So delicious.

Of course there’s also the famous Milk Chocolate Caramel Lion (which also comes individually wrapped in the Masterpieces bags).  And I love how easy it is to purchase high-end chocolates, right at the grocery store, and have a little treat when I need it.

They’re the perfect little size.
We “heart” dark chocolate ganache. Heh heh.

So for this post, Godiva asked me to come up with a fun way to use their new Masterpieces for the holidays, and every day.

And since my family loves to sit around the table and chat and share stories and laugh (that’s my brother and his wife in the photos above), I immediately thought of a dinner party.

I grabbed a bag of Godiva Masterpieces, wrote some mixer-game questions on pieces of paper, and taped them to the back of each individually-wrapped chocolate.

You could do this so many different ways…as an appetizer or as a post-dinner sweet treat.  But the idea is to pass the basket around, each person picks a chocolate and has to answer the question on the back before they can eat the chocolate.

Share two truths and one lie.
Where would you like to travel to most?
What was your best grade in school? Your worst grade?
Three things you’re thankful for?
The craziest thing you did as a teenager?
Share something you love about the person on your left?

Obviously the questions can be modified to include children in the game too. And you can mix it up with “questions” like, steal the candy of the person on your right and answer their question.  And then that person gets another piece of chocolate.  I really love this kind of conversation, even with family that I’ve known for years.  You always find out things you still don’t know about a person–even your spouse.

And, You get to eat chocolate.
Win-win.

Want to try out some Godiva Masterpieces for your own holiday party?
Today we’re giving away a $100 Visa gift card so you can purchase your own Godiva Masterpieces at your local grocery store! (and p.s. they sell Godiva chocolate bars too. Mmmm)

To enter, leave a comment and share your favorite mixer game question!  One lucky entry will be chosen to win.

Entry Instructions:

No duplicate comments. You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post

3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post

4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from SheKnows via sweeps@sheknows.com email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected. The Official Rules are available here. This sweepstakes runs from 11/21/17-12/31/17.

  1. 1) Diana

    One of my favorite questions is what was the best gift someone has given you?

  2. 2) Bailey

    What’s your earliest memory?

  3. 3) mami2jcn

    Where is your dream vacation?

    • 4) Holly

      Skiing in Colorado with family

  4. 5) mami2jcn

    tweet–https://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/933432232236154880

  5. 6) Jessica To

    I like the question of if you could be any super hero, who would you be and why?

  6. 7) heather

    My favorite mixer game question is what is your partner’s favorite drink.

  7. 9) Ryann Cheung

    What’s the first concert you ever attended?

  8. 10) Kelly D

    My favorite is, if you could be any animal, which would you choose?

  9. 12) shelly peterson

    My favorite question is “Share something you love about the person on your left?”
    cshell090869 at aol dot com

  10. 14) Kristi Andres

    hmm… my favorite mixer game questions is “do you like you toilet paper to roll over or under”? People are surprisingly passionate about which way. Mine is over, or course!

  11. 15) c williams

    Free Godiva Chocolate?? Have I died and gone to sweepstakes heaven?? lol Game question: What fad or trend do you hope comes back?

  12. 16) Meghan D

    My favorite question is “What musical instrument did you play?”

  13. 17) rita

    They are dependable

  14. 18) Michelle

    If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

  15. 19) Laura

    My favorite question would be: Tell us about a first experience: a first job, a first date, the first time you drove a car, etc.

  16. 20) Tiffany

    I most want to travel to Japan! It’s totally my No. 1 bucket list item! And I love these new masterpieces! The caramel & the hazelnut ones are to die for!

  17. 21) Marilyn

    What is the best advice your parent(s) ever gave you ?

  18. 22) Julie Wood

    My favorite question is-Where did you take your first vacation.

  19. 23) Julie Wood

    tweet-https://twitter.com/JewelWood/status/933668190583799808

  20. 24) Ashley Beckett

    What is on your nightstand right now?

  21. 25) Lisa c.

    What was your first job?

  22. 26) Cheryl B

    My favorite question is is you could travel anywhere, where would it be….. Alaska!

  23. 27) Shanna

    Describe the best vacation you ever went on.

  24. 28) Andrea

    Who made you feel special today, and why? (Good for little kids)

  25. 29) Katie

    Who was your teen years celebrity crush?

  26. 30) Tara

    What was a time or memory when you had to be brave?

  27. 31) Shelly

    Oh goodness, I must be totally boring. I just ask regular questions, like: Where did you grow up? How many siblings do you have? Where does your family live now?

  28. 32) Julie

    My question: What is the first item you eat on your Thanksgiving plate?

  29. 33) Tiffany B

    What was the best part of your day ?

  30. 34) Ellen A.

    Favorite question – what animal are you most like, and why? ????????????????????????????????????????????

  31. 35) Jessie C.

    My favorite is “say something good about the person next to you”.
    tcarolinep at gmail dot com

  32. 37) Melissa

    What were you Iike in high school?

  33. 38) Nicole Winegardner

    what a fun giveaway! I love Godiva chocolate. mmmm!

  34. 39) Bridgit

    What’s your proudest moment?

  35. 40) Ariel

    What was your first trip you remember?

  36. 41) saraH f

    favorite mixer question- what is your favorite childhood memory?

  37. 42) Mary

    If you were writing a book about your life, what would the title be? 🙂

  38. 43) Kelly Paulson

    Tell me about the best trip you ever have taken.

  39. 44) Tonya

    How were you brave today/this week?

  40. 45) abigael

    Awesome! I love chocolate. I love Godiva chocolate. Yummmmm.
    Two truth and one like?

  41. 46) Allyson

    I love chocolate! A fun question- What color describes your personality best?

  42. 47) Natalie

    If you were to go back in time, what would you change about your life?

  43. 49) Will G

    What’s your favorite movie?

  44. 51) Angie

    Share about the strangest job you ever had.

  45. 52) Elena

    What country would you like to visit most?

  46. 53) Elena

    tweet-https://twitter.com/ElenaIstomina/status/934994864286003200

  47. 54) Mary Ann

    Mixer question: what’s your favorite comfort food and why?

  48. 55) bdaiss

    Oh Godiva…so yummy. Thanks for the chance. My favorite mixer questions are usually entertainment related – what’s your favorite movie/actor/song/tv show and why?

  49. 56) Tama

    I always use the two truths and a lie!

  50. 57) Barbara Montag

    My favorite is Three Things You Are Thankful for.
    thank you

  51. 58) Julie C

    What hidden talent do you have that others do not know about ?

  52. 59) Elle

    My question is, ‘name 3 things we should absolutely know about you.’

  53. 61) Lorie

    If you could have dinner with anyone, alive or dead, who would it be and what would you talk about.

  54. 62) Heather Phillips

    I really like two truths and a lie. It challenges people to think of facts about themselves people don’t already know as well as showcase their creativity and silliness with conjuring up the lie.

    PS: I super heart Godiva dark chocolate ganache. I have only one heart left in the pantry.

  55. 63) Theresa C.

    What was your first car?

  56. 64) Stacey

    My favorite question – what animal would you want to be and why?

  57. 65) Jennifer

    My favorite is – if you could have any super power, what would it be? People can get crazy creative and have really funny reasons. It also works to include kids.

  58. 66) Demarae

    What gives you hope?

  59. 67) Lisa Brown

    If you were a flower, which one would you be?
    jslbrown2009 at aol dot com

  60. 69) Jennifer

    What’s your favorite book?

  61. 70) Rachel B

    If you could meet any fictional character, who would it be and what would you talk about? (The English teacher in me might amend that to any literary character!) 🙂

  62. 71) AllisOn Barraco

    If you could do any job and not worry about how much money you made, what would it be?

  63. 72) Elizabeth Steiner

    What’s your favorite flower?

  64. 73) sAMINA

    Are you dog person or cat person?

  65. 74) Lisa

    Mmmmmm chocolate! Question: who do you admire and why?

  66. 75) Jeanette Georgiadis

    What is something you have done, that if you were caught, you would be in jail?

  67. 76) latanya

    What was the first thing you ate today?

  68. 78) R Hobbs

    Make a prediction for the future 20 years from now.

  69. 79) Madeline

    One question I like is “Who would play you in a film?”

  70. 81) Shelley

    What is your favorite trip that you ever took?

  71. 84) Judy

    If you had a million dollars what would you do with it?

  72. 85) Erika

    Yum. Mine would be, “Who would you like to sit on a bench and chat with for an hour?”

    chambanachik(at)gmail(dot)com

  73. 86) Ellie Wright

    What’s your favorite book genre?

  74. 88) Amy Tong

    My favorite question: What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?

    amy [at] uTry [dot] it

  75. 90) NIQUE

    If you could have any superpower what would it be and why?

    Thanks for the opportunity

  76. 91) Heidi V

    What is your earliest memory?

  77. 92) Anastasia

    I’ve never played mixer games before 🙂 I like the ultimate dream job question. It’d be interesting to see what people really want to do 🙂

  78. 94) Rachel

    My favorite mixer question is, what irritates you most and why?

  79. 96) LYNNE weinberger

    My favorite mixer game question is, “where would you most like to travel?” Godiva is always part of our Christmas Eve gathering…now we can enjoy Masterpieces!

  80. 97) Chrissy

    My favorite question is if you could have the perfect day what would that be for you? It really helps me get to know what someone likes!

  81. 99) C

    What would you do if you had 1 hour of freetime?

  82. 100) Nikki

    I love chocolate–probably too much (if that’s even possible!) And as a chocolate lover, I feel it is my solemn duty to enter. 🙂 One question I always ask is “What is your earliest childhood memory?” Mine is sitting in/on a red farm implement with my cousin on a porch that I can’t really place, but I’ve seen a photo of it, so I know it happened.

  83. 101) Margaret Smith

    What is the most adventurous thing that you’ve ever done?
    Thanks so much.

  84. 103) AmyL

    What super hero power would you want to have?

  85. 104) DeB

    Who was your first crush, celebrity or otherwise?

  86. 105) vincent

    What would you try if you knew you could not fail?

  87. 107) Susan Smith

    My question would be “if you could live anywhere in the World where would you choose?”

  88. 109) NicolE

    Favorite icebreaker question?
    Favorite memory of _____ (person, place…tailor to the situation). I randomly ask my son his favorite memories. It’s usually a little thing. Always surprises me with what he cherishes.

  89. 110) Rebecca W

    My husband and I enjoy playing games with trivia questions. I think that asking someone about their favorite food or favorite place to travel can really say a lot about someone. It’s fun to find things in common at parties.

  90. 112) Jeffrey

    My favorite Mixer Game Question is…What is your favorite meal? I especially like to hear answers from my family because when its their birthday I like to make them that food!

  91. 115) OFG

    Who would you like to dine with if you could choose anyone living or dead.

  92. 116) LAMusing

    I’ve never played this game, but I think I’d ask “if you were not limited by time, money or talents, what would you do in life? “

  93. 118) Linda C

    My favorite is Which three words describe you best?

  94. 120) Ellie Wright

    My favorite is what was your first car.

  95. 122) kathy Persons

    What is your favorite meal

  96. 124) BIRDIE SKOLFIELD

    my fave mixer game ? is What year and make ws your first car.

  97. 126) Kathryn c

    #SweepstakesEntry- comment

    favorite game/ice breaker question:

    If, in retrospect, you could have been nicer to one person in your life, who would it be?

    Kathryn C
    kacor7@hotmail.com

  98. 128) Stephanie Phelps

    If you could be anything what would you be? That is one of my favorites!

  99. 130) Elizabeth pergande

    What is your biggest accomplishment

  100. 132) Cynthia C

    I like to ask “What is your favorite musical group or singer?”

  101. 134) Thomas Murphy

    Where would you love to travel?

  102. 136) Tabathia B

    Have you ever made out in the back seat?

    tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

  103. 138) Jennifer f

    If money didn’t matter, what job would you have?

  104. 139) DEbbie

    If you could send a message back in time to yourself at age 18, what would you say?

  105. 140) Susan Christy

    Who is your celebrity crush?

  106. 141) KELLI

    What are you most proud of doing this week?

  107. 142) Betty Curran

    What is your favorite city to visit?

  108. 144) Stefanie G

    What is your dream job?

  109. 146) Erica Best

    I like the Five of Anything Ice Breaker

  110. 148) Sarah

    Godiva is my favorite! Mmmm

    If given the chance, which life event would you re-do? Why?

  111. 149) Jerry Marquardt

    I just truly love the Dark Chocolate Cherry Cordials as my Godiva Masterpiece and would love to present it at my own holiday party.

  112. 151) Debbie b

    if you could travel anywhere and money was no object – where would it be ?

  113. 153) Somer

    During family dinner we usually play best, worst, and funniest. With my kids I find that while I like to hear their best and funniest, their worst often gives me the most insight into their day.

  114. 154) Alisa

    What is your guilty pleasure TV show?

  115. 155) Christa

    My favorite mixer question is if you could travel back in time what era would you visit?

  116. 156) Emily

    If you could have any super power what would it be?

  117. 157) Ru

    What is your number 1 pet peeve?

  118. 158) Angie

    Everyone gets a penny at their place setting and they have to tell something significant that happened or a memory they have from the year that’s on the penny. Pretty fun!