HELP! Major Valentine's Day gaffe

[AustinBoston]

My response to Valentine's Day over the years has been mixed.  Sometimes, I'll get her a simple card and it says and does just the right thing.  Other times, I'll get her some expensive gift, and it falls flat.  The best times are when we plan an evening out together - just the two of us, of course - and spend a fortune on fine wine and an expensive restaurant.  But this year, we have to be different places at the same time, so that's not going to work.

This year, the money is a bit tighter than in the past, and with so many celebrations going on (our first grandchild, our 25th anniversary, our second daughter graduating...and then getting married just a few weeks later, etc.) I think it's OK to go cheaper on Valentines, but it still has to be right.

I've given her chocolates before, and I know that dark chocolate is far superior (something she taught me).  Well, I can't just get her a Whitman Sampler - that is just too cheap for PJay - she's worth more than that.  So at lunch today, I stopped by the Godiva chocolate store in the IDS center near where I work.  Godiva chocolates are among the best (and most expensive) chocolates in the world.  They had an assortment of all dark chocolates, including various Truffels, Ganache's, Corials, and Caramels.  The box I picked out has a net weight of 10.75 oz., and a price tag of $32 ($47.63 per pound).  She's worth it, so how could I go wrong?

I got on the bus, and my heart sank.  I suddenly remembered that she's on a DIET.  I can't easily return the chocolates (she'd find out I bought them anyway and have some explaining to do, "Who's the girlfriend?" type explaining).  But if I just give them to her, it looks like I'm insensitive and trying to sabotage her diet.  Chocolates keep for a while, but not indefinitely.  She's planning on being on this diet for some time (at least until DD#2's wedding).  Asking these chocolates to sit around for five months is asking them to be wasted.  She might also decide I KNEW she wouldn't be eating them, and therefore bought them for myself -- another disaster.

I really can't afford to get another gift, what do I do?

HELP!

Austin

[AustinBoston]

I think I may have found an out - with the purchase of the chocolates is a chance at a $50,000 diamond shopping spree in New York City.  If she wins that, I am certain all will be forgiven.

"Honey, I really got it because you get a chance to win one of two $50,000 diamond shopping sprees in NYC."

Not bloody likely, but it's worth a try.

Austin

[brainpause]

Most diets, even low carb diets including South Beach and Atkins, allow an occasional treat. She can probably still eat the chocolates 2-3 times per week. Tell her Larry the nurse and unofficial dietitian said so.

Larry

[AustinBoston]

Most diets, even low carb diets including South Beach and Atkins, allow an occasional treat. She can probably still eat the chocolates 2-3 times per week. Tell her Larry the nurse and unofficial dietitian said so.

Larry

That won't work, but "Larry (a.k.a. brainpause), whom you remember meeting at the 2002 rally in Townsend, TN, the nurse and unofficial dietitian said so"  just might work.

Thanks - any more ideas?

Austin

[mountaindew]

You could tell your wife the Mountaindew family is new to poputimes and you wanted to get them a welcome present, well just a thought.


Keep the fire burning,
Mountaindew

[Rawhide Kid]

Tell her: "one chocolate a day keeps the blues away and you close to my heart."
 
AND volunteer (graciously) to assist in eating them.

[GrizzlyTaco]

Austin, diets never work unless you give in to temptation once in awhile. A real diet will work if you stick to it 80% of the time. Believe me I know, I'm on Weight Watchers and every Wednesday i eat what i want all day long and I still manage to lose 3 to 4 pounds a week. The rest of the week I eat right, and it gives me something to look forward to at the end on my week. I hope this helps........Ed

[HouseInABox]

you may not get this in time but she can freeze them and take 1 out at a time.... you could also write her love notes and leave them at different places - one year for our anniversary my dh left me a note on his pillow (he gets up for work really early) and one in the bathroom, one in the fridge, one in my car all over the house actually it was so very sweet - when he came home he came bearing flowers and another card...after 15 years that was so sweet to me and now at 20 years i wish he'd do it again.....if you get home before her stop and the store and pick up just rose petals and make a trail and show her how much you love her and still find her attractive.... just a suggestion......gl

[brainpause]

Oh yeah...I forgot to say in my previous post that Dark chocolate has been shown to be beneficial to the heart.

Larry

[AustinBoston]

you may not get this in time but she can freeze them and take 1 out at a time

No, you do NOT freeze Godiva Chocolates.  :yikes:  Most chocolate may do OK if frozen, but Godiva is the Rolls Royce of chocolates - there are some things you just don't do.  

Thanks for the other suggestions, though.

Austin

[ForestCreature]

No, you do NOT freeze Godiva Chocolates.  :yikes:  Most chocolate may do OK if frozen, but Godiva is the Rolls Royce of chocolates - there are some things you just don't do.  
 
 Thanks for the other suggestions, though.
 
 Austin

I can't belive this but ... I agree with AB!!

You shouldn't freeze chocolate, it causes the the fats to seperate and messes up the texture. Godiva or others.

[DiW]

From the Godiva website:

"How should chocolate be stored?
Often, chocolates are kept in the refrigerator which is not to be recommended. Chocolate keeps best at a temperature of 15 to 18 degrees Celsius. A dry, odourless cellar or unheated room is the ideal place. If possible, keep the chocolates in their original packaging (ballotin, box, etc.), or in a hermetically sealed or metallic box. And avoid storing them next to food with strong odours. Chocolates filled with fresh cream should always be consumed rapidly...
Sugar whitening is caused by re-crystallisation of the sugar in the chocolate. It is caused by condensation due to significant thermal shock and when the humidity level in the air is to high. To avoid this phenomenon, Godiva's storage standards are very demanding; constant temperature and permanent control of humidity levels. You must avoid storing your chocolates in the kitchen...

Does chocolate cause increased cholesterol?
On the contrary, it has a beneficial effect on cholesterolemy. Indeed, after assimilation, cocoa produces 72% unsaturated fatty acids, which reduce cholesterol levels and clean the arteries. And it contains only 20% saturated fatty acids which have the opposite effect. The amount of cholesterol in dark chocolate is negligible. In milk chocolate, it varies from 15 to 18 mg per 100 g which is insignificant. But of course we are talking only of chocolate whose fat content is 100% cocoa butter, like Godiva chocolate."

[AustinBoston]

[Quoting Godiva]...Chocolate keeps best at a temperature of 15 to 18 degrees Celsius...

Converts to 59 to 64

[canuck_girl]

Austin,

I know it is a little late now but I'm going to ask your question on my Weight Watchers board and see what they think.  The topic of Valentine's and chocolate is close to our hearts!

[canuck_girl]

I wish I had sought out help for you earlier.  Someone at Weight Watchers had a great idea.  Give her one a day with a little note about why you love her.  My husband would be in my good books forever with that one!!!