I know it's the 4th...

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But better late than never right?

The Advent Calendar is up! Inspiration here. It was so easy. Brown paper bags, clothespins, and plenty of goodies. (24 presents for 4 kids is a lot. Everything came from the dollar store.) I also added a few "family activities" (envelopes) in addition to little presents. 

I just put little circle labels on the bags and added a few boxwood greens for color. (Don't tell Carl that I snipped the hedge!)

So simple. It came together in day!

Coffee Mocha

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The days are getting so much shorter aren't they? Snow is predicted to fall here by the end of the week. I'm not sure I'm ready for that.

I don't know why, but this time of year I get a little homesick. The other day I was thinking about how I used to go to my grandma's house between ballet rehearsals on Saturdays. I remembered how the November afternoons in the Northwest could be dark, and dreary, and wet. My Grandma would meet me at the door and usher me in out of the rain. Still in my tights and leotard, I would prop my sore feet up by the fire. Then, she would make me warm drink. Coffee mocha. It was rich, and choclatey, and spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg-- all the flavors that grandmas are good at cultivating. Better than marshmallows and cocoa, it was a cozy treat to warm me up and make me feel loved. 

I've continued to make this same coffee mocha and drink it from time to time over the years. It always brings comfort as well as warm memories of those rainy afternoons with my gram.

As we near the Christmas Giving Season I thought I would share the recipe with you as it makes a wonderful gift. The best part about it is that you can make it now, and give it later. No baking, wrapping, freezing, thawing... just mix it up and pour it into a cute jar. Easy!

Coffee Mocha

2 Cups Hot Cocoa

2 Cups Powdered Creamer

1  1/2 Cups Sugar

1 Cup Instant Coffee

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

This will yield 6 1/2 cups of mix. You may wish to double or triple this if you plan to fill several jars.

Guess what? You can even download the little tag that I made! I printed it on label sheets and just stuck it to some card stock. Ta Dah. There you go!