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The family voted to bring back the snickerdoodle hot cocoa flavor this year for our annual family hot cocoa bar..and I certainly wasn't going to argue. It's hands-down one of our favorite flavors we've come up with.

It's creamy and delicious, and absolutely "cozy in a cup"...or mug in this case.

I promise, once you've had a mug of this...I'm not certain you'll ever go back to classic hot cocoa mix again - recipe linked at bottom of post.

Since I'd done the "Boho Snickerdoodle Hot Cocoa Bar" previously, I knew I had to come up with ways to make this one unique and a little different.

FOUR DISTINCT DIFFERENCES

Four specific, intentional things I decided to do differently this year was the addition of snickerdoodle cookies to the bar, the creation of cinnamon marshmallows, splurging on some beautiful handmade mugs and plates and the creation of a bulk recipe for Snickerdoodle Hot Cocoa Mix - eliminating the need to add brown sugar and ground cinnamon to your mug like we did last time. Bulk recipe linked at the bottom of post.

THE SIGN

Believe it or not, I started designing the background of this sign November 2018...

I just never had time to finish it for our 2018 hot cocoa season. (just one more reason I had my Christmas decor up by Halloween night this year...so I could ENJOY the holidays this go around). Lol.

Anyway, good thing because the whole vibe of the sign compliments the snickerdoodle theme this year. I'm in love with the subtle snowflake details and the Old World charm. (sign tutorial coming)

Framing out the sign with fresh cedar gives a subtle nod to the Christmas season, which I adore.

Knowing we'd be keeping the hot cocoa bar up through February, as in previous years, I wanted something that would transition seamlessly from Christmas and throughout the winter season. (and allow me to use it for Valentine's Day with a few simple changes - that idea is coming soon).

You'll notice in some of the images, I originally only had greenery on the sign and the hot cocoa mix jar but later decided to add it to the glass dome on the cookies and also chose to lay a piece on the small cake stand holding the wood spoons, paper straws, cinnamon sugar shaker, and the cinnamon sticks used for garnish + decor.  It's simple little touches like that that make the overall look feel finished and cohesive. I'm so happy with it.

Sit back and enjoy the imagery...I'm hoping it will inspire you to create your own Snickerdoodle Hot Cocoa + Cookies Bar this winter season. Resources listed at the bottom of the post.

I love when home decor doubles as a family treat - don't you?
But seriously, could you see a version of this used at a wedding. Gasp!!

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OTHER BLOG POSTS YOU MAY ENJOY

Snickerdoodle Hot Cocoa Mix Recipe - Bulk

Cinnamon Marshmallows Recipe

PS - Let's stay cozy + connected in-between posts...find me on Instagram for daily inspiration.

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RESOURCES:
Glass Dome + Cake Stand - TJ Maxx
Small Marble-Topped Cake Stand - Tuesday Morning
Handmade Mugs + Plates
Cabinet with drawers
Table Runner
Sign - Pen + Paper Flowers
Copper Spoons - Tuesday Morning
Striped Straws - couldn't find striped but here's another option
Marshmallow Jar - juicer jar I had...removed the juicing components.
Glass and Wood Jar for Hot Cocoa Mix
Mini Wooden Scoop for Hot Cocoa Mix
Wood Spoons - Amazon

KEEPING IT REAL
I may or may not have devoured sipped on a ridiculous amount of mugs of snickerdoodle hot cocoa during the month of December. It's just sooooo good.

STYLING | Neutral + Natural Gift Wrapping Ideas

I've got 4 gifts wrapped and under the tree my friends!
That's a feat for me with it only being the third day of December.

Admittedly, I'm usually wrapping gifts on Christmas Eve...always with regret for not doing it sooner so I could enjoy all of the pretty details for more than 8-10 hours.

I promised myself to break that unintentional tradition this year and so far so good.

Along with my rolls of Kraft paper and some fresh eucalyptus, I put together a tray of pretty ribbons, tags, strings, twine, yarn, dried oranges, scissors and tape. Having the supplies gathered together makes it really easy, and convenient, to quickly wrap additional gifts leading up to Christmas.

My gift wrapping usually always starts with either brown kraft or white wrapping paper.
I like to keep it pretty neutral to allow the pretty ribbons, fabrics, greenery and tags to be the stars of the "gift wrapping show". I'm using dried oranges again from last year's Christmas decor and gift wrapping. I love them.

TIP: I also love spritzing the dried oranges with orange and clove essential oils. Makes them deliciously fragrant and adds another special element to the gift giving experience.

This year, my gifts will be adorned with an extra special detail...
...these beautiful "fa-la-la-la-la" gift tags hand-lettered by my sweet friend Aedriel.
She collaborated with Sugar Paper LA to create some gorgeous holiday pretties for Target.
These tags are even more gorgeous in real life because the card stock is nice and thick and
the finish of the lettering mimics letterpress. I'm completely smitten.

This neutral style of gift wrapping reaches far beyond Christmas too. 

The combination of cotton lace, sheer ribbon and fresh eucalyptus makes it versatile enough for a wedding birthday, or any other special occasion gift. 

I'll leave you to soak in the rest of the gift wrapping details. 

Look for the resource list at the bottom to find some of the pretties I'm using this year. 

I love gift wrapping.

If you aren't excited about it, I hope this inspires you.

Adding some fresh, natural elements to your gift wrapping is easy, beautiful and fun!

And the receiver will adore and appreciate the extra effort.

Love you guys!!

PS - Let's stay cozy + connected in-between posts...find me on Instagram for daily inspiration.

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RESOURCES

Linen Ribbon

Fa-la-la-la Tags

Wide Cotton Lace Ribbon - linked something similar

Dried Oranges

Frayed Chiffon Ribbon

Cotton Twine

Brown Kraft Paper - 2pk

Fresh Eucalyptus - Trader Joe's

KEEPING IT REAL
Don't leave your dried oranges out if you have animals.
I caught my dog, Hamilton, devouring the oranges right off the packages.
But he's 18 years old...so maybe your pets won't be intrigued in the least. *wink*

CHRISTMAS | Pretty Woods + Whites hand-painted ornaments

The reason I chose to have my house decorated for Christmas by November 1st??

Time. 

Time to enjoy the little things the Christmas season brings with it.

I didn't have time last year.

Or rather, I didn't plan and prioritize to ensure I had the time.

Perfect example: these little wood ornaments. 

I purchased these hand-crafted beauties at TJMaxx last year with the intention of repainting them and restringing them. The silver details and red ribbon (see below) weren't the woods + whites I was craving. 

I knew all I needed was a little time to sit down and paint over the silver details and restring them with a creamy white ribbon to make them exactly what our woods + whites tree needed.

I just didn't have the time.

So they sat in the bag, tags still on them, unpainted. 

I resented never having hung them...never having time.

With intentional planning and a little goal setting...they are officially painted...and hanging.

And I love them so much.

It's amazing how much a little paint, a little ribbon, and a little time makes!

I really LOVE how they turned out!

However, I especially love that I made the time this year.

It feels so good.

It feels so right.

I encourage you to find ways to find more time to enjoy the little things that bring you joy this holiday season my friends.

xoxo,

Jess

PS - Let's stay cozy + connected in-between posts...find me on Instagram for daily inspiration.

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KEEPING IT REAL

So I still have one left to paint - the one I left unpainted to be able to take these pics to show the before and after. But hey...guess what? I actually have time to do it! *wink*