Hot Chocolate Time!

On a day that gave us a record temperature for November, what was I doing?  Setting up a hot chocolate bar of course!  Even though it was a little on the warm side, the weather couldn’t have been more perfect in the evening for enjoying some cocoa and goodies with friends on the patio!  Honestly, I just couldn’t wait any longer to start setting up some Christmas cheer in my home!  And being blessed with such wonderful weather, on a weekend no less, gave us the opportunity to have the best of both worlds!  And then the very next day…it snowed!  I don’t know about you but I have to admit I loved both days!  But the reality is that hot cocoa weather is now here to stay and it’s easy to warm up with some…

cookies and cocoa!

my boys love hot cocoa!  so needless to say, i have the fixins for the chocolatey drink on hand the second the first cool night of the fall arrives!  and last year my family got turned onto the little cocoa pods for the Keurig…a REALLY easy way to whip up a cup or two in no time!  so even though i still have the traditional powders to stir into hot milk on the stove…the Keurig sure comes in handy!  for the first cocoa bar of the season, my hot water dispenser found its way to my patio buffet…along with plenty of goodies to go with it!

setting up a cocoa station is really an easy thing to do!  just fill a tray with some mugs, some spoons…

…and favorite toppings!  since i was using my Keurig, i filled a vintage lunch box with a variety of cocoa pods and holiday napkins!  what looks like crushed candy canes is really white chocolate & peppermint baking bits…they’ll easily melt in the cocoa and add some holiday flavor!  and we HAD to have some traditional favorites…marshmallows and little ginger bread men! (if you don’t have a Keurig or want to serve up a homemade variety, just fill a thermos with your chocolatey drink and let your guests add the toppings!)

i made a simple banner with a fabric bunting from Target and some items from my favorite craft stores!  the little gingerbread men are now magnets to hold the banner above the goodies!

even though the warm winds were blowing…it sure was fun to enjoy this treat in the great outdoors!

but i can bet we’ll all be happy to warm our bones with this toasty drink all winter long!

how do you hot cocoa?