Welcome back friends! Who wants some warm and comforting hot cocoa on a cold winter morning or evening? Maybe with some homemade marshmallows and a good book or movie? I know I do, so let’s make some mix!
HOT COCOA MIX
3/4 cup of natural unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups of dry nonfat or whole milk powder
1 cup of powdered sugar
3/4 cup of white chocolate chips
1/4 teaspoon of salt
INSTRUCTIONS
Whisk together the cocoa powder, milk powder, powdered sugar and salt in a large bowl, then add the white chocolate chips and stir again to evenly distribute them.
Add the mixture to a food processor and pulse until everything is finely ground and smooth.
This dry cocoa mix can be store in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
To make hot cocoa, put 1/4 to 1/3 cup of the cocoa mix in a mug and stir in 1 cup of hot milk (whichever milk you prefer).
Top with whipped cream or miniature marshmallows, if desired and enjoy!
Christmas is nearly here and we love celebrating every moment!
What better way to celebrate than having a Christmas box! Now when I first heard of these, they were and are referred to as Christmas Eve boxes and presented on Christmas Eve for the family to enjoy, but then some of the items can only be enjoyed for one to two nights before Christmas is technically over, so I’ve decided to just call it a Christmas box and we can present it a week before Christmas to really enjoy its contents!
SUPPLIES
Wood crate
White acrylic paint
Red acrylic paint
Foam paint brushes
Painter’s tape
Matte varnish
Embellishments (optional)
Hot glue (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS
Paint every other beam of the crate (outside and inside) with white paint and then allow it to dry.
Repeat step 1 until the desired brightness of the paint is reached.
Once the paint is dry, use painters tape to tape up and protect the edges of the white beams or anywhere else where the red paint may drip or bleed.
Paint the remaining beams and the sides of the crate (outside and inside) with red paint and then allow it to dry.
Repeat step 4 until the desired brightness of the paint is reached.
Carefully peel off the painter’s tape and coat the whole crate with varnish, this may take two coats to reach the desired coverage.
If you have any embellishments like an ornament or two, carefully glue them on with a hot glue gun and allow it to dry.
Fill it up and enjoy!
If you’re looking for ideas to fill your new Christmas box with here are a few to spark your imagination!
Welcome to the cozy and magical month of December my friends!
My family and I have created a list of family friendly Christmas movies and specials for you and yours! Christmas may be celebrated a little differently this year, but that doesn’t mean we can’t kindle a little Christmas spirit!
This year we’ve decided to focus on movies and specials that are rated PG for parental guidance suggested; some material may not be suitable for children. If you are looking for movies and specials that are rated G for general audience and good for all ages, please visit last year’s list – Family Friendly Christmas Movies and Specials Rated G.
Please let us know if we missed or left out any of your family friendly (PG-rated) Christmas favorites you feel should be included! We’d love to hear from you!
Welcome to the cozy and magical month of December my friends!
To inspire you and your little ones into the Holiday mood, I’ve curated a list of Christmas-themed books for ages five and under! These selections are simple and festive, while remaining short and sweet for the younger audience.
There are a handful of books on this list with a reading age that start under the age of five and peak at the age of 7 or 8.
If you have a favorite Children’s book for children ages 5 and under that you do not see here, please let me know! I would love to add it to this list!
Welcome to the cozy and magical month of December my friends!
My family and I have created a playlist of family friendly Christmas music for you and yours! Christmas may be celebrated a little differently this year, but that doesn’t mean we can’t kindle a little Christmas spirit!
This year we’ve decided to focus more on music from all our favorite Christmas children’s movies and specials, with a few other songs sprinkled in that fit the mood.
Please let us know if we missed or left out any of your family friendly Christmas favorites you feel should be included! We’d love to hear from you!
THE POLAR EXPRESS
Spirit of the Season
When Christmas Comes to Town
The Polar Express
Hot Chocolate
Suite from the Polar Express
RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER
A Holly Jolly Christmas
Jingle Jingle Jingle
We are Santa’s Elves
Silver and Gold
The Most Wonderful Day of the Year
Christmas Medley: The Night Before Christmas
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
There’s Always Tomorrow
FROSTY THE SNOWMAN | Frosty the Snowman
THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY |The Little Drummer Boy
OLAF’S FROZEN ADVENTURE
Ring in the Season
That Time of Year
When We’re Together
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST: THE ENCHANTED CHRISTMAS
Belle’s Magical Gift
As Long As There’s Christmas
A Cut Above The Rest
Deck the Halls
Do You Hear What I Hear?
O Christmas Tree
O Come, O Come Emmanuel / Joy To The World
Silent Night
The First Noel
The Twelve Days of Christmas
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
What Child Is This?
A MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL
Overture
Good King Wenceslas
It Feels Like Christmas
Thankful Heart
Bless Us All
Christmas Scat
Christmas Morning
THE NUTCRACKER BALLET
Overture
March
Waltz of the Snowflakes
Sugarplum Fairy
Hot Chocolate
Coffee
Tea
Candy Cane
Marzipan
Mother Ginger and Her Polichinelles
Waltz of the Flowers
Sugarplum Fairy and Cavalier Coda
Finale
BABES IN TOYLAND
Babes in Toyland Overture
Toy Land
March of the Toys
EMMET OTTER’S JUGBAND CHRISTMAS | Our World / Brothers
KERMIT THE FROG |Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
My family and I have created a playlist of cozy, classic Christmas music for you and yours! Christmas may be celebrated a little differently this year, but that doesn’t mean we can’t kindle a little Christmas spirit!
This year we’ve decided to focus on the “tried and true” classic Christmas songs that leave a cozy feeling in your heart and soul. Primarily Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters, with a few other artists sprinkled in, including Seth Macfarlane who, although a modern artist, fits in handsomely!
Please let us know if we missed or left out any of your classic Christmas favorites you feel should be included! We’d love to hear from you!
Cozy Classic Christmas Playlist 2020
CHRISTMASTIME IS HERE| Vince Guaraldi Trio
IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS|Perry Como & The Fontane Sisters
THE CHRISTMAS SONG |Nat King Cole
IT’S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF YEAR | Andy Williams
MISTLETOE AND HOLLY | Frank Sinatra
SILVER BELLS | Bing Crosby & Carol Richards
WHITE CHRISTMAS | Rosemary Clooney
SNOW | Seth MacFarlane
THE FIRST SNOWFALL | Bing Crosby
LOOKS LIKE A COLD, COLD WINTER | Bing Crosby
BABY, IT’S COLD OUTSIDE | Seth MacFarlane & Sara Bareilles
A WINTER ROMANCE | Dean Martin
I’VE GOT MY LOVE TO KEEP ME WARM | Dean Martin
YOU’RE ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS| Bing Crosby
SLEIGH RIDE| Ella Fitzgerald
LET IT SNOW! LET IT SNOW! LET IT SNOW! | Seth MacFarlane
WINTER WONDERLAND | Bing Crosby
A MARSHMALLOW WORLD | Seth MacFarlane
LITTLE JACK FROST GET LOST | Seth MacFarlane & Norah Jones
FROSTY THE SNOW MAN | Bing Crosby
WARM IN DECEMBER | Seth MacFarlane
CHRISTMAS DREAMING | Seth MacFarlane
I’LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS | Seth MacFarlane
O TANNENBAUM | Vince Guaraldi Trio
O FIR TREE DARK | Bing Crosby
THE CHRISTMAS TREE ANGEL | The Andrews Sisters
IS CHRISTMAS ONLY A TREE | Bing Crosby
DECK THE HALL | Nat King Cole
CHRISTMAS CANDLES | The Andrews Sisters
THE CHRISTMAS SONG | Seth MacFarlane
HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS | Judy Garland
A HOLLY JOLLY CHRISTMAS | Burl Ives
(EVERYBODY’S WAITIN’ FOR) THE MAN WITH THE BAG | Seth MacFarlane
SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN’ TO TOWN | Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters
HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS | Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters
JINGLE BELLS | Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters
I’D LIKE TO HITCH A RIDE WITH SANTA CLAUS | The Andrews Sisters
JING-A-LING, JING-A-LING | The Andrews Sisters
CHRISTMAS DINNER, COUNTRY STYLE | Bing Crosby
CHRISTMAS ISLAND | The Andrews Sisters
MERRY CHRISTMAS POLKA | The Andrews Sisters
TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS |Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters
I WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS |Bing Crosby
DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR? | Bing Crosby
THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY | Bing Crosby
MY LITTLE DRUM | Vince Guaraldi Trio
HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING | Bing Crosby
THE LITTLEST ANGEL | Bing Crosby
O HOLY NIGHT | Bing Crosby
WHAT ARE YOU DOING NEW YEARS EVE? | Seth MacFarlane
Welcome to the cozy and magical month of December my friends!
My family and I have created a list of family friendly Christmas movies and specials for you and yours! Christmas may be celebrated a little differently this year, but that doesn’t mean we can’t kindle a little Christmas spirit!
This year we’ve decided to focus on movies and specials that are rated G for general audiences, or good for all ages. Some of the older content has never been rated, but they were created under the Motion Picture Production Code, which was a set of moral guidelines used by motion picture studios from 1934 to 1968, and are thus pretty tame.
Please let us know if we missed or left out any of your family friendly (G-rated) Christmas favorites you feel should be included! We’d love to hear from you!
Whole Heartily 