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  • Decorate for Christmas while enjoying a Peeps® Hot Cocoa Bar + WIN a Package of Holiday PEEPS®

    Decorate for Christmas while enjoying a Peeps® Hot Cocoa Bar + WIN a Package of Holiday PEEPS®

    This is a sponsored post. The PEEPS® and PEEPS & COMPANY® products, information, and additional gift pack have been provided by PEEPS® and PEEPS & COMPANY®. All opinions are 100% my own.

    Decorate for the holidays, or go caroling  and invite everyone back to your place for a hot cocoa bar, made all the more merry with Holiday Peeps®. It’s an easy no stress party, you just have to set out! 

    Decorate for Christmas while enjoying a Peeps® Hot Cocoa Bar + WIN a Package of Holiday PEEPS®

    I was looking outside last week and realized we’d kind of neglected our outdoor space. We’ve been so busy, there just hasn’t been time to care for it like I’d like. Knowing we had a fairly nice day coming up on Saturday I started making plans. I had my package of Holiday PEEPS® on hand, and Mark the day off. Friday night I made sure the inside of the house was clean, so Saturday we could spend the whole day outside! 

    I sent the kids out with rakes and trash bags to work on the leaves, gave Mark the job of hanging some Christmas lights up, and I took to preparing the Hot Cocoa bar. The kids kept running over to check out each package of PEEPS® I pulled out, and therefore got very little yard work actually done. 

    Decorate for Christmas while enjoying a Peeps® Hot Cocoa Bar + WIN a Package of Holiday PEEPS®

    Christmas trees, Reindeer, Snowmen, Gingerbread Men that smell amazing, and Peppermint covered PEEPS®! The kids could NOT wait to get started on this party. “I want that one! Can I have 2? How about one of each!?” I worked as fast as I could, but I also wanted them to get yard work done, so I definitely made this a party worth waiting for. Adding a touch of red ribbon around the styrofoam cups added a perfect holiday feel without being over board or too complicated. I matched them with green straws for a well rounded Christmas look. 

    Decorate for Christmas while enjoying a Peeps® Hot Cocoa Bar + WIN a Package of Holiday PEEPS®

    The Hot Cocoa was finally warm – but not too hot – the cups were ready, and our PEEPS® were looking fabulous. All the kids had to do was pick their favorite creamer flavor, and which PEEPS® they wanted on top. Then the fun really began. 

    Decorate for Christmas while enjoying a Peeps® Hot Cocoa Bar + WIN a Package of Holiday PEEPS®

    Later this week, or possibly next I plan on doing some caroling. It’s a great way to get the kids learning some Christmas songs, and the perfect opportunity to meet our neighbors and take them some little gifts I made. Who knows maybe some of them will come caroling with us creating a snowball effect, and then we’ll all come back here for more hot cocoa and PEEPS®! This could also be fun to do for an early morning teachers meeting, or work party. 

    Decorate for Christmas while enjoying a Peeps® Hot Cocoa Bar + WIN a Package of Holiday PEEPS®

    Want to win a package of PEEPS® for your own Hot Cocoa Party? 1 Winner will receive a package of 5 Holiday PEEPS®.

    Enter on the Rafflecopter below. Open to US 18+ Ends 12/14/15

    Can’t wait?! Use SWEETINGS15 to get 20% Off your next purchase

    a Rafflecopter giveaway

    Liked this? Try Creamy Pumpkin Spice Hot Cocoa

    Creamy Pumpkin Spice Hot Cocoa

     

  • Creamy Pumpkin Spice Hot Cocoa

    Creamy Pumpkin Spice Hot Cocoa

    Creamy Milk Chocolate combined with Pumpkin Spice make the perfect mug of Hot Cocoa to warm up with this season. 

    Creamy Pumpkin Spice Hot Cocoa

    I’m sitting on the couch right now, watching my son play Just Dance, and notice that it appears to be half snowing half raining outside. I start to feel the chill in my bones that cold brings and the excitement just builds from there. 

    I LOVE SNOW! It’s cold, it’s wet, the sun rarely shines during these months – what could there possibly be to love about this weather? Perhaps most of my childhood memories are rooted around winter time. Building forts with my brothers, throwing snowballs with friends, and sledding down the hill into the forest with my parents. 

    Creamy Pumpkin Spice Hot Cocoa

    Maybe it’s the clean beauty white adds to our world. From a green summer, to a colorful fall – winter brings us a fresh canvas to restart and refresh. I may not spend as much time outdoors as I did as a kid these days, but my ideal spot would be curled under a blanket with a cup of hot cocoa next to a window facing a winter wonderland. 

    Creamy Pumpkin Spice Hot Cocoa

    Enjoy this Creamy Pumpkin Spice Hot Cocoa, and smile at the beauty that comes with winter. All you need is your favorite chocolate bar, some Pumpkin Spice Syrup (affiliate), milk and whipped cream for a delicious warming drink.

    Creamy Pumpkin Spice Hot Cocoa
    Serves 1
    Your favorite chocolate bar + Pumpkin Spice lead to a cozy mug of this Creamy Pumpkin Spice Hot Cocoa
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    Ingredients
    1. 2.5oz favorite chocolate bar
    2. 1 cup milk
    3. Whipped Cream
    4. Pumpkin Spice Syrup
    Instructions
    1. Over low heat, mix the milk and chocolate bar until chocolate is completely melted.
    2. Pour into your favorite mug.
    3. Top with Whipped Cream and Pumpkin Spice Syrup.
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  • Mint or Cinnamon Hot Chocolate {Foodie Friday}

    Mint or Cinnamon Hot Chocolate {Foodie Friday}

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    It got nice and cold out here this week. We had a pretty big snowstorm blow through. And by big, I mean big for this area. There’s a couple inches on the ground, and it’s melting pretty fast. The temperature however, has stayed nice and freezing, meaning lots of hot cocoa.
     
    We are in the middle of moving into our new home, on top of Christmas, yes. So I’ve been trying to make do with what we have in our fridge and pantry. I created the following two Hot Chocolate recipes on a whim when the girls came screaming in from the cold.
     
    
     
     

    Mint Hot Chocolate

    Ingredients
    4 1/2 cups milk
    4.67oz (or 28 pieces) Andes Mints
    1 tsp Dutch Processed Cocoa powder
     
    Directions
    Heat milk over medium high heat until warm. Add mints and cocoa powder, turn heat to medium. Stir frequently until chocolate is all melted. Serve in mugs, and enjoy.
    If I had had Whipped Cream it would have been that much better with some chopped Andes on top as well.
     

    Cinnamon Hot Chocolate

    Ingredients
    4 cups milk
    1 cinnamon stick
    1/4 cup Dutch Processed Cocoa powder
    2 TBS sugar
    Handful semi-sweet chocolate chips
     
    Directions
    Heat milk over medium high heat until warm. Add the rest of the ingredients. Stir frequently until chips are melted and powder is mixed in. Turn the heat to medium-low for another 5-10minutes. Enjoy a nice cinnamony chocolate drink.
     
     
    ~Features~
     
    Copycat Panera Bread Cheddar Broccoli Soup
    You can’t go wrong with cheddar and brocolli. This soup is sure to warm you right up this winter.
     
     
    Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate
    Minimal ingredients, make for another quick and easy hot chocolate I’m sure my kids will enjoy.
     
    Lady Behind The Curtain - Snowball Fight-Cake Balls
    Snowball Fight Cake Balls
    What a fun name! We’ve been having some real snowball fights around here. I think these are probably yummier though.
     
     *We will not be having Foodie Friday next week. Diane and I will be spending the time with our families, and getting ready for a new year. We do hope to see you again in January!

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  • Hot Cocoa or Apple Cider? {Think About It}

    Hot Cocoa or Apple Cider? {Think About It}

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    Last week we talked about the Stress of the Holidays, and I told you how I’m having a Stress Free Holiday.
    After such a deep and though provoking topic, I wanted to lighten things up a bit. So this week curious minds want to know
     
    Hot Cocoa or Apple Cider?
     
    I know right?! What a conundrum you face when the choice is placed in front of you. There they are staring you in the face…a packet of Hot Cocoa with mini marshmallows, or that wonderfully harvest taste of hot apple cider! 
     
    Which do you choose?  How can you choose?  You definitely can’t have both. Cocoa and Cider do not mix (hmmm, though that does give me an experiment to try later).
     
    The answer is simple. Two mugs. But now what? Do you start with the cocoa or the cider?  It’s like we’re back to square one.
     
    I love both these drinks, especially this time of year. Could you tell?
    I think they are for separate moods though. When I think Hot Cocoa, I’m snuggling under a blanket, my kids are snuggled up next to me, and we all have a steaming mug with a favorite story being read. It’s cozy, it’s warm, and definitely a good sleep aid. So I guess if it’s night time, I’d prefer Hot Cocoa.
     
    Apple Cider. Oh what do I say about you!  When we took a trip in my 1st grade class to the Apple Orchard, and they let us try you so fresh from the apples, I was hooked. You’ve been my friend ever since. Store bought, Big Name Label “Apple Cider” just isn’t you.  You’re my Adult drink; my sophisticated feeling, harvest loving, tree hugger, fashionable drink.  To change a catchy tune to fit me and you “The best part of waking up, is Apple Cider in my cup”.
     
    Admittedly, I do drink the powdered stuff, and enjoy it. When I can get the real stuff straight from the orchards though, that is good. A nice warm cup of apple cider wakes my taste buds and my senses up, and just warms me throughout the day.
     
    Now tell me, what about you? Are you like me, and can’t choose; or do you have a favorite?

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