In which I admit to doing something stereotypically female

I like chocolate. Sigh. I know, I know. and I cut my hair short when I had a kid and I like to shop. I should request power tools for Christmas just to counteract all the stereotypes I'm currently channelling. Anyway, I swore off sugar when I got pregnant with Beck. Then I decided I needed an escape clause so I didn't kill someone. That escape was a little dark chocolate every once in a while. Now that Beck's here, I still try not to eat sugary things, but my love of dark chocolate has only gotten stronger. Since it's pretty much my only sweet, I have a ranking system for the chocolate I consume:

Hersheys: Only to be eaten in situations of DIRE hunger. Such as, I don't have the usual apple or other snack in my bag, I'm far from home and STARVING and I forget that Hershey's isn't all that great and might make the chocolate lover in me die a little on the inside.

M &M's in moments of weakness... I'm not going to lie, someone who really knows their chocolate stuff may rate them on the same level as a Hershey's bar, but these little babies are TASTY! I think it's a guilty pleasure, like loving gourmet cheese but still loving Cheetos (I am guilty of both).

Ghiradelli - Good, not the most amazing, but I can't eat it right now. I think it makes Beck gassy.

Lindt - the standby. The war horse. The chocolate I can count on. The taste is always satisfying. Their dark chocolate has the right amount of creamy bitter and sweet that I love.

Green and Blacks - Splurge. Mmmmm. Has a bit more of a subtle flavor, but VERY satisfying.

Lady Godiva - Another splurge. May be better than Green and Blacks but I'd have to do a side by side test. Points to anyone who sets up said side by side test, by the way. So yummy that I had one piece two weeks ago and I've thought about it probably every day at least once since. I don't have a problem. Stop judging me.

This chocolate shop on the 7th floor (I think) of of Saks Fifth Avenue - Oh-my-word-this-is-amazing-I-may-need-to-sit-down-while-I-eat-this-and-I-may-make-soft-moaning-sounds-while-I-do-so-don't-stand-so-close-you-may-get-creeped-out. This chocolate is oh so heavenly.

Last week I found a new love. Lindt dark chocolate with a touch of sea salt. Sounds weird I know. But salt's a flavor enhancer, right? I makes that chocolate flavor snuggle up to your tastebuds like a cheap prom date. It's Ha-maz-ing.