Chocolate and Snowmen

Brrrrr!! Winter has arrived with a vengeance! Here in North Georgia it's 15℉ with the wind chill bringing it down to 4℉. And forecast to be colder tomorrow. (I know a lot of you are experiencing much colder temps and many inches of snow, but we don't usually get truly wintry weather in the northern metro 'burbs.)

 

Our two black labs can't get enough of the outdoors!

 

So . . . what to do? Set up a hot cocoa station of course!

My sweet MIL indulged my obsession with all things hot chocolate with a wonderful gift for Christmas. The cute red box that was filled with a selection of hot cocoa mixes was accompanied by mini marshmallows, Hershey kisses and buttery shortbread cookies.

 

 I've not had the kisses before. They're milk chocolate filled with marshmallow cream. Yummy!

 

The box corrals the mixes and I love the bold red color!

She also surprised me with a striped mug (and matching candy canes). I added two mugs of a similar size and shape (you may remember them from Setting the Table with Art).

 

I set up the hot chocolate station on the corner of the kitchen island closest to the breakfast table. When we renovated the kitchen we more than doubled the size of the previous island, re-oriented it, and made it a single level. We now have plenty of room on the island to use it for decorative vignettes, buffet service for dinners or chocolate stations while while still being able to do meal prep and cook on the stove. To see all the changes we made to the kitchen after gutting it, you might want to visit our renovated kitchen.   

 

To set off the station on the island I used this wonderful tea towel I've had for a couple of years but never used. It's perfect for winter! There are pine boughs and holly leaves in shades of green and teal and three wonderfully sassy birds, one with a crown—

 

  

  and another with an elaborate hat!

   

  The birds all share colorful plumage with large doses of red!

  

Beyond the island is a wintry scene I designed several weeks ago hoping for a cold spell in the midst of unseasonably warm temps!

 

Though we're more likely to see coatings of ice rather than fluffy snow drifts, I've been enjoying the snowmen in the glassware cabinet!

  

  

I recently added these adorable salt and pepper shakers to the dinnerware set my sister gave me.

  

Snowmen, birds, goodies and hot chocolate!

  

There are touches of red on the plates, in the napkins, as a border on the tea towel, and even on the snowmen. Red ties it all together.

I love the candle glow as the sun sets.

  

Stay warm and drink hot chocolate!