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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Kristin_Texas
This is adorable and FUN! It would make a great gift, too.
Kristin
Shauna@Satori Design for Living
Love the vintage appeal of your station. That lunch box is amazing, and your jars are just adorable!
Debra Oliver
LOVE it!! You have all the essentials!!
DaiseyJayne.com
I just love this! Every detail is wonderful and just says "cozy"!
Heather {The Lovely Cupboard}
This is just adorable! I love it so much I wish I had a whole room that felt like this.
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
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 🙂
Melinda
Love, love, love the lunch box!
Your station is great. The car
in a jar makes me smile.
M 🙂
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!
Ann
One of the most charming ideas ever, Pam. Snowing here today and this looks so inviting!
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:)
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 🙂
Vickie @ Ranger 911
Well, aren't you the clever one! I was drooling all over my keyboard over those vintage milk bottles with green caps when I read how you made them. Very cool! Your whole cocoa station is just perfect in my book, and I'll be over this afternoon for a cuppa.....well maybe it'll take 2 days to make the trip with slippery roads and all. 🙂
Musings from Kim K.
I've been collected plaid thermos all year at estate sales and have yet to find a plaid lunchbox. Love this vignette. Magazine worthy, Pam. PS. You can bring your hot cocoa station to our house. Chris and I put the final touches on the backyard ice rink last night and the hoses are running.
suzieQ
Wish I had known I was one of the cool kids...oh, the power I let slip through my little fingers.
Will be on the look out for those marshmallows. Wait, there is a store nearby and it sells the marshmallows that are in cereal. My daughter bought a huge bag to eat and brought some back with her to gift. Those? In hot chocolate? Something else to help me reach my goal of becoming a circus fat lady? The car in the jar is adorable.
Yana
Lovely! The red plaid makes it look so cozy.