Hot Chocolate or Hot Cocoa?

Is there a difference?

Well, if you Google it, there is a difference and for chocolate connoisseurs it is a big deal (apparently!) I'm basically in it for warmth and whipped cream so what do I know?

If you want to know more about the differences (and similarities) then this article can clear things up for you!

Whichever you prefer, this warm chocolate-y drink is a holiday favorite.

And the part I'm up to speed on is all the "stuff" you can add to a big steamy mug!

I love to set up a Hot Chocolate Bar for Christmas parties at home and at church and we keep a small Hot Chocolate "corner" (it's not a full blown Hot Chocolate bar!) ready and waiting at home through the cold months!

There are a lot of delicious hot chocolate recipes all over Pinterest and recipe sites.

I have made hot chocolate from scratch but my "secret weapon" for large groups is this...

I buy already made chocolate milk in the gallon jug (cold) from the grocery store.

 It's yummy and creamy and for a big group of people it just works!

I put it in crock pots with plenty of time to warm up slowly and then when its warm I pour in a can of Sweetened Condensed Milk and mix it in well. It's outrageous!
For individual servings at home we use our Keurig and K-cups.

That's it. But the "extras" are where you can have fun
 and impress visitors to your Hot Chocolate Bar. 

Whipped Cream!! No. 1 item hands down. And in the cans with a nozzle, please! If you are having an event then fill a bowl or champagne bucket with ice and put the cans in it to stay cold. Easy.

Peppermint Syrup with a pump nozzle is a nice touch. 
If peppermint isn't your fave then there are a ton of flavored syrups available - salted caramel, vanilla, raspberry! You name it.

Then gather some small bowls or other cute serving containers and add chocolate chips.  marshmallows (which come in a zillion flavors and shapes!), sprinkles, crushed peppermints, candy canes, m and m's and even cinnamon sticks! Get creative. 

Add some spoons and cute napkins and it's a party!

Such a fun way to celebrate the season! 

You say Hot Cocoa, I say Hot Chocolate 
but as long as we all get a warm cup with whipped cream 
then everyone is right in my book!

We will keep this little corner stocked through January and February so stay tuned over on IG to see how I change it up once I put away the Christmas decor!

Red, White, Blue and Bamboo.

The Fourth of July.

It's all about the Red, White and Blue.

And bamboo.


(Just add blue checked napkins and this combo from February works for July!!)

And it's all about the food and fun.
How fun are these straws?? They would make even a glass of water fun to sip!

(From the Dollar Tree!)

For years we did the Marietta Square Parade, checked out the craft and food booths, went home to cool off in the pool and then to a friends' home in the Marietta Historic District for a cookout and fireworks. The kids were young and ran around and had so much fun. 

As Mollie got older our plans became more flexible. 

We have rented cabins, joined friends at their places, traveled home from Hawaii one year on July 4th and spent one Fourth of July in England.

One of our favorite travel quotes comes from that trip.

We were in a pub in Reading, England waiting for our next train. 

We popped in the pub to have a ploughman's lunch. 

When we went to pay the tab I noticed the date and said, "Oh, it's July 4th!" 

(You lose track of the dates when you travel!)

 The bartender said, "Happy Independence Day!"  

We said thank you 

and then he paused, got  funny look on his face and said, "We lost, you know!!"

We laugh about that all the time.

But, I still miss it when we don't start the  July 4th celebrations with a parade!!

Do you love a parade?

Do you decorate?
This house went all out. 
I'm at the other end of the holiday decorations  spectrum.



And this patriotic little pooch is adorable
( but my two Golden's think July 4th is awful once the fireworks start.)


We do love sparklers though!! 
We always do a few packs of sparklers since they don't make a big, loud noise!


So, however you celebrate - have a safe Fourth of July holiday and maybe have some cake!







#bestuseofsparklers

*all images from google images except the dinner plate and Mollie with sparklers

Hello Yellow!

February can be a gray and dreary month - even in the "sunny" South.

So, hello yellow.
#tryingtoovercome
#februaryblahs

This cheery color sampler came from Country Living's website.

(I've talked about their color forecasts before.)

They call it Marigold and the article says it is

 "the color that is taking over" homes this Spring!

I like yellow, 

and it is Mollie's favorite color (she had a yellow room when she was young!),

 but I don't have a ton of it in my house.

Most of the yellow I DO have is on my porch.

I discovered this new Rustoleum golden-y yellow spray paint late last Summer 

and freshened up a few items from the screened porch using it!

It's called "Tuscan Sun" and since I love the book by Frances Mayes 

and the movie starring Diane Lane, I figured it was a good color to try. 

It's amazing how I make some of my design decisions :)

Then I decided to give a bamboo mirror I found while thrifting a coat of my favorite Sherwin Williams gold-y yellow paint to freshen it up!

I love when I stock up on citrus - especially during the Winter.

In the interest of cheering up a gray February day

 I found some more  inspiration pics that may have us all thinking

 about using yellow ASAP!!

Forsythia is a favorite of mine - it blooms so early here and it gives me hope that Spring is close!! And in that blue and white jar?? Perfect.

And I actually saw daffodils blooming today in Atlanta! 

This article is from Town and Country mag and explains that every house needs Buffalo Checks. I agree. And those drapes are fabulous. So check, check!

Y'all know by now I loooove anything bamboo.
#doubletrouble



And if you want to walk around and spread the cheer, 
how about this cuuuute top from Boden.


So, are you embracing yellow this Spring?