Since today is supposed to be a snowy day here in Ohio, I put together a cozy little hot cocoa station to help keep me warm. Or hot chocolate station. Not sure what the difference is?
I set it up on my enamel topped cabinet in my new 1960's Aladdin plaid lunch box.
Yes, this could have been my lunch box when I was in elementary school. If not for the fact that my mom packed my lunch in brown paper bags.
I so wanted to be one of the cool kids with a lunch box though. And now I am!
I've got your typical Nestle hot cocoa in packets (just add water) and in the little can next to the bottle brush tree is salted caramel hot cocoa.
Who knew you could throw salt onto sticky caramel and create a little slice of Heaven? That stuff is to die for!
I've got candy cane sticks to stir the cocoa with. Along with tiny chocolate chips and tiny marshmallow bits to sprinkle on top.
The marshmallows are called Jet-Puffed Mallow Bits and are even tinier than typical mini marshmallows. And they're hard.
Think of Lucky Charms minus the nasty Cheerios type things.
The little milk bottle looking things are actually the 9.5 oz bottles of Starbucks' chilled Mocha Frappuccino that you can buy at the grocery or convenience store. I just peeled the plastic Starbucks labels off them and spray painted the caps green.
I purchased two of these Santa mugs at the thrift store for $1 last week (you can find very authentic looking reproductions HERE, if you can't find the originals).
The only worthwhile Christmas stuff I have found at the thrifts this year!!!
I added my newest vintage camera to the vignette. The Kodak Duaflex III camera, manufactured from 1954-1957. It's not a super thrifty find, since I bought it at an antique mall, but I thought it was in pretty good shape for the $15 price tag.
Normally I don't like to spend more than $5 on a camera.
It's one of those cameras that you hold at your waist and look down in to. The viewfinder is folded back into the down position in this photo.
I also added my car in a jar.
Same car, same tree, but different jar from last year's Christmas Kitchen Tour.
They were expecting so much snow here today that they called off school. Problem is that, as of right now, there is NO snow on the ground and I'm beginning to think they were reading the wrong forecast.
And not to be nit-picky or anything, but I had two barn sales and one new thrift store to check out today and now I'm just sitting here getting fat on hot cocoa.
Oops, my chocolate chips have all melted, can you pass me the bottle?
Have a wonderful, snow free, hot cocoa filled weekend!
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Faye
This is just too cute! You came up with a super nice display that you can actually use. I have that same lunch box from a flea market sale and it's just sitting in the basement. I have my old Santa mug from when I was little. Hummm....might have to get that stuff out and see if I can set up something like yours. Love those peppermint sticks, one of my favorites! Enjoy your hot chocolate! Freezing up here in Minnesota plus now it's snowing...staying home today and drinking lots of hot chocolate or cocoa...never understood the difference either 🙂
Anonymous
So cute! Did one last year... but didn't know about the tiny marshmallows and never thought to add in chocolate chips. Great ideas... going to add these to mine...thanks! Also...to help keep the calories down, I add little basketof tea bags for me while the kids drink cocoa:)
Ann
One of the most charming ideas ever, Pam. Snowing here today and this looks so inviting!
Faye
Pam, I tried to find a way to contact you but could not see anything. I was so inspired by this post of yours that I cleaned all the counter tops in my kitchen today and made up a little cocoa station like yours. I hope you don't mind, I will give you full credit for this super cool idea and a link to your post. I just couldn't help myself! Mine is not as nice as yours and my Santa mug is nowhere to be found but it's still looks fun and even the husband thought it was cool. Thank you!!!! I'm going to start on the post now.
Pam Kessler
It looks awesome Faye! So glad I could inspire you!
Melinda
Love, love, love the lunch box!
Your station is great. The car
in a jar makes me smile.
M 🙂
Anonymous
This is so fun. I need this, too. We had 8 inches of snow on Tuesday and another 6 on Saturday. Such an adorable idea. I love the plaid lunch box, where did you find it? Thanks for the fun idea.
Pam Kessler
I found it stuffed into a booth at a little antique mall here. Wasn't looking for a lunch box at all, but when I saw the plaid corner poking out of a pile of stuff, I knew I could do something with it 🙂
Olive
Just too cute. Love the lunch box. The truck in the jar could be mailed to a friend easily-hint hint. But not one like me who seldom appears these days-it is a long story but involves CC. xo, olive
Heather {The Lovely Cupboard}
This is just adorable! I love it so much I wish I had a whole room that felt like this.
DaiseyJayne.com
I just love this! Every detail is wonderful and just says "cozy"!
Debra Oliver
LOVE it!! You have all the essentials!!
Shauna@Satori Design for Living
Love the vintage appeal of your station. That lunch box is amazing, and your jars are just adorable!
Kristin_Texas
This is adorable and FUN! It would make a great gift, too.
Kristin
Patty Antle
very very cute! Ingenious how you used the Starbucks bottles and painted the caps!
LivingVintage
I drink so much hot chocolate during the wintertime, it ain't even funny, and I don't even live anywhere near as cold as Ohio. Love your idea! I'm definitely wanting to replicate it especially when we have company. I also love your little diorama. So cute!
Robin Johnson
What a fun thing to do on cold snowy day. It's perfect. Oh, and by the way I still want to snatch that enamel table away from you. If ever it's mysteriously missing, I may just have gotten a wild hair, jumped in my car, drove to Ohio from Minnesota and smuggled it home to my house for safe keeping. LOL.
Pink Roses and Teacups
Oh I am just loving your hot cocoa station! Love the lunch box, and the car in the jar! Too cute! Where may I ask did you find that cool car?
Happy New Year!
Debbie
Amy Stafford
I love this! Very cute and colorful.
Pamela Groppe
I love the car in the jar with the faux snow. The entire vignette is so cozy and warming to look at.
Dee Sewell
Absolutely gorgeous, what a lovely gift idea too and love the little car in a jar 🙂
Patti
I have this exact lunch box from my first grade year in 1964. As an adult, I've used it with Christmas decor every year. Last year, I set up a hot chocolate/coffee station very similar to yours!
Pam
I've been thinking of maybe putting a snowy scene in it this year. Throw some of that fake snow in the bottom and put some deer and bottle brush trees on top of it 🙂