{Sugar Bee} Have a Merry Sweet Christmas!

Once again inspired by The Sweet Adventures of Sugarbelle and her Mrs. Claus cookies, I decided that I wanted Mrs. Claus to have her day to be recognized. After all, Santa is always getting all the hype and attention, well it was Mrs. Claus' turn (I am sure she is doing all of the preparation and organizing for Santa anyway)! So I created Mrs. Claus sugar cookies! 

I thought, what would be more fitting than accompanying the sugar cookies with chocolate covered Oreos to look like chocolate chip cookies....those are Mrs. Claus' specialty after all. This cookie duo will look lovely tonight on a platter ready for the little ones to dig in!

From my family (and Mrs. Claus) to yours, Have a Merry Sweet Christmas!

{Sugar Bee} Santa's Workshop Lumps of Coal

Looking for ideas for a small and funny gift for a friend, coworker, or neighbor? Or do you need inspiration for a party favor for a holiday party? Well this year I created a sweet treat that also works as a gag gift, so it is fun but still a treat! They are lumps of "coal" straight from Santa's Workshop! Each tag has Santa's official postage stamp and logo, and of course the "Naughty" box is checked! These will surely put a smile on those who receive them! The best part of these treats is that they are SUPER easy to make and I am offering the tags as a FREEBIE to my readers!

Ingredients needed:

Marshmallows

Chocolate or Candy Melts

Oreos (standard size or mini)

Step 1: In a gallon size plastic storage bag place several Oreos inside. Using the backside of a large spoon, crush the Oreos. You can also crush the Oreos using a food processor. 

Step 2: Melt the chocolate or candy melts in a dish or coffee mug. Stir frequently.

Step 3: Take a toothpick and insert it into a marshmallow then dip 3/4 of the marshmallow into the chocolate. Let the excess chocolate drip off. 

Step 4: Immediately after dipping the marshmallow into chocolate, roll the marshmallow in the crushed Oreos and cover as much surface as you can.

(If you want to have plain chocolate covered marshmallows, eliminate this step)

Step 5: Place on a tray covered with wax paper and place into the refrigerator to harden for 3 to 5 minutes. 

Step 6: Take the toothpick out of the side with the exposed marshmallow and dip into the chocolate and then roll into the crushed Oreos. Place into fridge and let harden.

Step 7: Put "coal" into the plastic bags and tie tags with ribbon.

Now they are ready for gifting! 

Everyone will want to be on the naughty list for this treat!

To download the Lumps of Coal Tags click HERE!

{Sugar Bee} RUN RUN as Fast as You Can, You Can't Catch Me I'm the Gingerbread Man!

I don't think that these sweet treats will make it far! Straight into the mouths and tummies they will surely go!

 

{Party Bee} Hot Cocoa Bar Printable Collection

Add a "Cup of Cheer" to your holiday gatherings this season by including a Hot Cocoa Bar! This printable collection is rustic in feel and compliments the party collection, Home for the Holidays. Your guests will feel toasty and warm gathered by the fire drinking a hot cup of cocoa!

This collection is $10 and comes with the following:

- 5x7" Invitation (envelope not included) (double sided optional), if an invitation isn't needed the back side works lovely as a sign for a frame.
- "Hot Cocoa Bar" Banner
- "Cup of Cheer" circle tags
- "Baby it's Cold Outside, Warm up Here" 8x10" sign
- Menu tent cards/Place cards
- "Please enjoy your hot cocoa by the fire" 4x6" sign
- Square tags for hot cocoa ingredients (ex. Cocoa Mix, Mini Marshmallows, Candy Canes, Chocolate Sprinkles)

To order this collection, just send me an email with the party information (i.e. date, time, place, RSVP, etc.), receive the files electronically, print out what you need, then cut and assemble!

Have questions? Refer to my FAQ's page or send me an email!

{Party Bee} Baby It's Cold Outside, have a Hot Cocoa Bar!

December is finally here and I just love the feeling of this time of year and how the season just brings everyone together.  With the arrival of the month also begins the many Holiday parties!

This year we hosted a neighborhood block party so that we could meet all of our neighbors and get to know each other better. I wanted to really incorporate a rustic vibe to my decor because I think it exudes a warm and inviting feeling and it was important to me that our guestsfeel comfortable and at home in our house. My rustic decorations consisted mostly of natural elements such as wood, greenery, pine cones, and burlap. But I wanted to add a pop of color so I included red elements throughout the room to brighten up the table.    

When I was planning the party I thought, what is more cozy than drinking hot cocoa outside in the cold by a warm fire...so I decided I needed to have a hot cocoa bar. Not only do children love drinking hot chocolate but adults appreciate this warm beverage as well, especially this time of year!

Last year you may recall that I designed a printable collection called Home For the Holidays which had a rustic look. So this year I created a Hot Cocoa Bar collection based on that design! This additional printable collection works well entirely on its own, but looks quite lovely paired with the party collection. 

 

I designed a "Hot Cocoa Bar" banner so that guests knew what the table was all about....if they didn't already know by looking at everything! I also added a couple of sweets to pair nicely with hot cocoa.  I created sugar cookies in the shape of wreaths with bows on top, and mint chocolate covered Oreos with a simple bow to look like little presents.

The hot cocoa bar featured the chalkboard sign letting guests know that they could warm up right there with some hot chocolate. Guests were equipped with disposable cups and sleeves decorated with a printable tag that read "Cup of Cheer", and they also had wooden spoons to use to mix their cocoa powder and yummy toppings. 

Each guest had the option to customize their cup of cocoa by adding, peppermint candy, mini marshmallows, or chocolate sprinkles....or all three if they have a sweet tooth!

Overall the hot cocoa bar was a hit and the kids definitely loved this table! The hot cocoa bar could also be nice with the option of an espresso shot or a shot of Baileys....but that would be for an adult only party of course!

This year if you are hosting a holiday party, try including a hot cocoa bar, your guests will be filled with cheer...even better, a "Cup of Cheer"!