Staying Warm & Tree Trimming
I love this time of year, when fall begins turning into winter. I’m not a huge fan of the cold, but any excuse to make hot chocolate is fine with me.
I’m now the proud owner of my first (fake) Christmas tree:
We decorated that bad boy on Monday night, and I think it looks pretty good. I’m allowed to say that, right?
It wouldn’t feel like the holiday’s without some sugar cookies, so these happened:
If you’re looking for a good sugar cookie recipe, I used this one from my roommate, and it’s quite good.
Also, did you know that basically every brand of regular store-bought frosting has hydrogenated oil? If there are “natural” brands out there, I couldn’t find them. Anyone have suggestions? So for the frosting, I thew this together:
Simple Butter Creme Frosting
- 1/2 cup butter, softend
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 -4 tbsp milk (I used almond milk)
- 2 tsp vanilla
- pinch of salt
As long as your butter is softened (but not melted) this is pretty easy. I didn’t even use an electric mixer. Just a fork, and some bicep (tricep?) muscles. Stir until smooth. Add sprinkles if you’re feeling extra festive.
Oh, and you know what goes well with cookies? Hot chocolate. Hey, I don’t make this stuff up.
Peppermint Hot Chocolate
- 3/4 cup water or milk
- 3 tbsp hot chocolate mix
- 2 tbsp peppermint schnapps (optional, obviously)
- Whipped cream + crushed candy canes
Heat up the first two ingredients, add some schnapps, (or peppermint extract!) and top with whipped creme and crushed candy canes. Doesn’t get more festive than that.
those cookies! that spiked hot chocolate! and yes, your tree looks adorable! 🙂
i love long-sleeved dresses, more sparkly stuff, nutcrackers, hot beverages, and sweaters. just adore the holiday season!
Yay for your first tree!! I totally agree that cookies go with hot chocolate 🙂
My favorite thing about cold weather is the ability to enjoy my fire place. But unfortuantely I live in an area where we may get to use the fire place for about a month or so during the winter season~!
What a perfect holiday post! Yum! Now I want hot chocolate!
The tree looks awesome and the cookies and hot chocolate too. Can’t believe people are still even producing products with hydrogenated oils in them, scary!
Oh. My. Goodness. So much holiday going on 😀 Your tree looks beautiful and both the cookies and hot chocolate sound divine… I really want a cup of cocoa now!
I love being able to bundle up and wear long sleeves. Pants and long sleeve shirts are my favorite, but taboo during the summer… kind for obvious reasons I guess. Haha.
I can’t wait to decorate our Christmas Tree at home this weekend and post pictures. We have a fake one too. Real trees are nice, but a big hassle with allergies, having to water them, pine needle droppings, and then the fact that you can’t leave them up as long as fake trees. On particularly lazy occasions we don’t take our fake tree down until Spring Break 😛
mmmmm that peppermint hot chocolate looks amazing, way better than starbucks! I think the peppermint schnapps is definitely a necessity to make everyone extra cheery for the holidays!
Snuggggling!!!! When you hot in bed and its freezing so the only thing to do is snuggle!! And I love comfy sweaters, sweat pants, and slippers. Oh the little things in life. The tree looks gorg!! Job well done.
Oooooo I forgot about schnapps hot chocolate. Thanks for the reminder!
I love this post (mainly because its so festive 🙂 ) I love this time of year too. The cold nights make a perfect setting for hot chocolate, warm blankets and a movie from my childhood (or another fun holiday movie of some sorts!) Those cookies look so delicious by the way- sugar cookies never get old. Love them!