Buy Gourmet Chocolate Christmas Gifts Online -- Chocolate Covered Potato Chips And More

Hi, my name is NaomiR and I'm a chocoholic. I have at least one chocolate item every day and often think about it when it's not around. I also enjoy using items that have a chocolate "essence" like chocolate candles or chocolate spa products; I even had an eraser that looked like a candy bar and smelled like chocolate!

As it turns out, though, I'm not that insane because chocolate can actually be good for you (in small quantities, of course). Dark chocolate contains antioxidants, lowers your blood pressure and cholesterol, stimulates endorphin production (those are the feel-good hormones) and contains the anti-depressant, serotonin. No wonder I always feel so happy when I eat it!

But beyond that, it just tastes and smells good. Even if I'm not actually eating it, I'll feel good just catching a whiff of it as I walk past a display in a bakery or if someone happens to be eating some near me on the train.

That said, I'm always looking for new and exciting ways to enjoy my chocolate. Here are a few of my favorites.

I first sampled these babies at the International Chocolate Show in New York City. The idea seemed odd to me — chocolate and potato, really? — but then again, chocolate covered pretzels are delicious and follow that same sweet/salty conceit. Once I tried a few, though, man was I hooked! I ended up buying a couple of containers to bring to Thanksgiving dinner. My family's reaction was similar to mine when I put the chips out — "That sounds weird, Naomi!" — but within about five minutes (and that's not an exaggeration), every chip had been eaten. They're just that good. Needless to say, everyone was mad at me for not bringing more!

I looooove the Philosophy bath products, the chocolate-scented ones in particular. Who'd ever think of washing with chocolate, right? But they really make your skin and hair soft, and smell so good, I have to stop myself from eating them.

I also like Bath & Body Works chocolate bath products, as well as Sephora's. Obviously, you have to bathe every day, but turning your shower into a little "candy store" just makes it so much more fun. It's kind of like the adult version of having a rubber ducky — only these actually get you clean. My husband likes it when I smell all chocolaty, too, which is an added bonus.

If you really want to go all out when it comes to chocolate, you can use a cocoa-scented perfume. Personally, I found this to be overkill (blasphemous from a self-admitted chocolate freak, I know). I guess I'm just traditional in that I think perfume that you wear all day smells best when it's a more subtle floral scent. But if you have a sweet tooth and want to try something different, you can wear fragrances that smell like chocolate, cinnamon and even bread.

I initially purchased the Spicy Maya candy bar for my husband when I was at the chocolate show because our cat's name is Maya and she's kind of spicy. But once I tried it, I realized that chocolate and chilies really go well together. They don't put so much in that your mouth is on fire. When you eat it, first you taste the sweetness, then you feel a little kick from the spice at the end. It's just enough to punch up the flavor, but not ruin it. So don't be afraid — the next time someone offers you a chili-infused chocolate, go for it.