Happy To Design

It's Snow Much Fun.....Hot Cocoa Anyone?
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Hello and Happy Friday!!! We're not only counting down the days till the weekend but we're counting down the days till Christmas! There is always so much "hustle and bustle" this time of the year....but I'm ready....as ready as I'll ever be! Christmas shopping is finished....Christmas decor is finished....it's time to just sit back and relax and enjoy!!! Sooooo....how about grabbing a snowman cup full of hot steaming cocoa and take a little tour of my "Winter Wonderland"!!!

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Aren't these just the cutest little snowmen cups....I just have a "thing" for snowmen!!! I found this cute little ceramic snowman set at the Dollar General. The big snowman in the center is a canister.....just right for holding my homemade hot cocoa mix! It was only $3....the snowmen cups were only $2 ea. One of the reasons they caught my attention is that they are really 3 dimensional....I just love em'!!!
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This is a corner in my kitchen! I just love this little table...it's old...naturally distressed...hehe! I love the big chunky table legs (as you can see the paint is peeling...I love it!) The table top is metal. Our home was built in the 1920's....when my honey bought it, it hadn't been lived in since the 50's....this little table was left in the house and my honey had it outside on the back patio when I came to live here....I quickly rescued it and brought it into my kitchen...hehe!!! My snowmen seem to be very happy here...see their smiles? Oh yes....as you can probably see....I just love green plants....this one is monster sized and has just about taken over the corner but I don't have the nerve to cut it! It sits in one of those old copper pots....I know they have a name, I bet my friend Gloria could tell you what they were used for!
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"Welcome to our Winter Wonderland"
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This photo was taken from our back door. The lamp post is pretty old....I don't know how old exactly, it was already here when my honey bought the house! I know that it's very, very heavy cast iron! Our back yard looks out into a large field....we live way out in the sticks....for you city folk....that means country...hehe!!! Our yard is surrounded by big old pine trees! Isn't the snow pretty? Okay, I must confess....these photos were taken last winter. We've had 3 or 4 snows this winter but I really haven't taken any pictures!
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Another view from our back door....
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Just beyond the pine trees.....lies this big ol' field....it's always so pretty in snow!!!
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This photo was taken of the west side of our house.....
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This is really one of my favorite winter photos....doesn't the tree all dressed in it's winter finery look pretty? The photo just doesn't capture the beauty....I remember the day I took the photo, the tree just sparkled....it was like millions of little cyrstal jewels hung from the branches....and against that blue sky.....Oooooh!!!
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Our little black furbabies....hehe!!! They don't seem to mind the cold snow at all....hehe!!!
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Well....after all of that trampling through the snow....I know that you're ready for a cup of hot cocoa!!! Let me fix you a cup!!!
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I know that there are many hot cocoa recipes....this is the one that I like to make! I just prefer homemade hot cocoa....it tastes so much better than that ol' boxed mix stuff. I make a big batch of it every winter at Christmas time....then I put it pretty Christmas canisters and give it as gifts!
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Hot Cocoa Mix
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1 - 8 qt. box of Carnation's dry powdered milk mix (25.6 oz. box)
2 lb. box of Nestle's Quick
6 oz. Coffee Mate coffee creamer
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar

It's really so easy! I like to use about 1/3 cup of cocoa mix to a mug of boiling water. This recipe makes 28 cups of hot cocoa. Sometimes I get adventurous and I add different flavored coffee creamers to the mix....like Amaretto or Irish Cream....it's really good!!!
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Well my friends....thank you for stopping by today....I've had snow much fun!!! Hehe!!! I sure enjoyed taking you on my Winter Wonderland tour....and warming up with a little hot cocoa!!!
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Love ya'll....