I don’t need any more candles, jewelry, baskets, plastic containers or sex toys, thanks!

It’s that uncomfortable moment every suburban woman has to face at least monthly – that invitation to yet another home party for overpriced stuff you don’t need or even want.  These invitations have become the modern-day litmus tests to friendship (the platonic equivalent to Elaine’s “Sponge-worthy.”)  At one end would be your good friends and naturally, you will be forced to attend the party and buy at least $50 worth of whatever it is she’s trying to hawk.  And of course, there are those whose tenuous aquaintance do not carry any particular weight with you - those invitations immediately get thrown in the recycle bin with a perfunctory RSVP making your excuses.  But what of those whose good graces mean something to you, the newer friends who you want to take to next level?  Attending her home party gives you entrée into that top tier of friendship and you will soon be programming her cell phone number into yours.

I am somewhat abashed to admit to perpetuating this latest scourge by hostessing my own party yesterday.  But wait – at least I was just forcing chocolate on my friends.  Yes, folks, the latest, most devilishly ingenious twist – Dove Chocolate at Home parties.  Instead of oohing and ahhing over candle scents or the latest in decorative wall lettering, you too can be scarfing down chocolates – milk, dark, truffled, hot, cold and everything in between.  Ok, so 2,500 calories later, as you’re writing out that check for $60 for your chocolate martini mix and sipping chocolate, at least you’ll have soothed the PMS beast for this month.  And besides, “death by Tupperware” just doesn’t have the same ring.

Ready for chocolate martinis?

Some dippables for the chocolate tempering machine

Homemade biscotti is fabulous dipped in chocolate (ok, what isn’t fabulous dipped in chocolate?)