Give the gift of peace and comfort this holiday season with Headspace + Askinosie chocolate

This time of year, we seems to get everything but what we really need. The holidays can be much more about the stress than the jolly. Time is short, patience is short. Our expectations of what the holidays should be create pressures when they don't jive with what is. Bundled up and frenzied, we lose touch with who we are. This year, there's a gift for your besties -- including yourself -- that will take things back to the fundamentals of self: a year's Headspace app that comes with a limited edition of Askinosie chocolate! I was very happy to be hosted to experience it.

Headspace is a meditation app that you can download to your favorite device. Meditation star Andy Puddicombe leads you through guided meditation session that last from a few minutes to much longer, as you "train" yourself. There are different categories you can select from, with instructions to give yourself 10 minutes at a time, the same time each day, to help with such areas as relationships, sports, health and even SOS, for those very difficult times in your life. Puddicombe highly recommends starting out your day with the app, to set yourself and your mind up for success.

All of my life, it has been against my nature to be still, to just tune in. I figured -- from pop culture -- that meditating meant having the perfect setting (quiet, bland and neutral setting or the most majestic and solitary natural background), the right clothes (something like a yoga outfit, perhaps?) and the correct pose (I imagine cross-legged on a mat). I felt like the meditation practice must be all or nothing. Puddicombe isn't so strict and recommends situations and postures that are realistic.

Chocolate has been scientifically proven to help with stress and boosting moods. So, it's not a surprise that Headspace teamed with Askinosie for a unique holiday partnership. Askinosie was created by a stressed-out former criminal defense attorney -- just like I was! They source and work with cocoa beans all over the world. Though he has lots of varieties and collaborations (such as with famed Jeni's ice cream founder), this particular bar has been designed just for the gift package. Though some high cocoa content dark chocolate bars can taste too acidic or just dusty, but at Askinosie, there's great balance in the candy. I detected richness and a true chocolate flavor without being overly sweet.