family traditions

Christmas in July Frozen Hot Chocolate Bar

Every year when Halloween is over, I start decorating for Christmas. Too soon you say. Not for me. :) I know there are strong opinions on decorating for Christmas before Thanksgiving, but I just can’t help myself. (Especially when the weather gets cooler and they’re playing Christmas movies on tv!) No matter what season it is, I love all things cozy and I try to make every space in our home just that. Cozy. And what says “cozy” more than a cup of hot chocolate with lots of marshmallows?

The first thing I do each year before any decorations go up, is make up a batch of hot chocolate mix. I know you can just go to the store and buy already made hot chocolate powder, but I love knowing exactly what is in the foods we eat and drink. You could search “homemade hot chocolate mix” and get a ton of recipes that I am sure are delicious, but this recipe is SO simple you won’t even need to write it down. So here it is. Ready?!

SUPER SIMPLE HOT CHOCOLATE MIX RECIPE:

Unsweetened Cocoa Powder, White Sugar and Cinnamon. Is your mind blown? haha. No seriously though. Trust me. It is really good. I typically do about 1/2 cup of Cocoa powder (I love Droste Cocoa. It’s imported from Holland.) to 3/4 cup of sugar. In a bowl, mix the cocoa powder & sugar together and then add a few dashes of cinnamon and whisk together. That’s all. Simple and yummy. Store it in a mason jar. It will stay fresh all season long! When you are ready to make your hot chocolate, just warm up some milk (if you want it more creamy, I highly recommend using half and half) on the stove and when it starts to heat up, whisk in your hot chocolate mix.

Now for the fun part! All the extra goodies. Front and center you see my favorite Santa Mugs filled with cute holiday straws and candy canes. If you’ve been around Grace in His Beauty for awhile, perhaps you already know that I am obsessed with mason jars and use them for literally everything. And you can’t have hot chocolate without marshmallows. (*edited 11/2022, this was originally written a few years ago) This picture is from last year and I got festive tree marshmallows and peppermint ones. They aren’t the best for you, but they are super cute. (The ones we typically use in our hot chocolate are the ones from Trader Joe’s. There is something magical about them.) I also always have sprinkles because sprinkles make everything better. Next is my favorite white chocolate peppermint chunks. (see the picture below.) –(*edited 11/2022 they have since stopped making the white chocolate peppermint chunks. They were so good! But you can make your own with white chocolate and crushed up peppermint pieces.) You can also add little bottles of flavored syrups like; peppermint and hazelnut to add another fun twist. Get creative and have fun!

The fun of this set up is not only does it double as a cute display, but also that it can be easily switched up to accommodate your family’s favorite things. You can make it into a self serve station for parties with a carafe of hot milk ready to go. Or you can make it for a fun family movie night and then let the kids top with their own mix-ins. 

I hope this inspires you to add a little magic to your next cup of Christmas hot chocolate!

xo, Elizabeth

BEST Hallmark Christmas Movies, Ever!

*EDITED 11/2022 This was written in 2019 and I don’t think Hallmark movies, especially Christmas movies are as good anymore. But these are all great oldie but goodies ;)* I get asked often, what my favorite Hallmark movies are. So I thought I’d share some of my favorite Christmas movies from the last few years, for you to keep your eye out for them on your TV this Christmas season.

There are several things I look for in a Hallmark movie for it to be on this list. Most importantly is, “Would I watch this again?” and every movie on this list I would and have watched several times. In fact, a few of them I have probably watched at least 10 times. Yes, haha seriously!

I not only look for a movie that is cute and romantic, but a fun story line. I love when the story takes a different twist. Also, humorous. I love to laugh, so when a movie has me laughing that is even better! But, of course there are times you just want a more heart felt movie and I have a few of those on this list too.

All of the movies I picked for this list are ones I watch year after year (with the exception of Christmas under the Stars, which is from this year 2019.) Several of them are on my DVR all year long and I watch them when I’m longing for the Holidays. I broke the movies down into two categories but no category outweighs the other. They are all cute and funny and heartfelt movies.


Top 5 in no particular order:


Window Wonderland. –Super cute and funny! Paul Campbell is in this one and he is one of my favorites! He is such an authentic character. You really find yourself feeling like he genuinely cares about the people he is acting with. He and Chyler Leigh are store employees, both going after the window dressing job at a big department store during Christmastime. You are taken along with them during the holidays and family time all while watching them both create their window displays leading up to the big Christmas window display. I highly recommend this movie.


A Very Merry Mix-Up. –I don’t want to spoil this for you. Even though if you look up this movie, it will tell you what happens. Haha. :) But if you don’t know, don’t spoil it by reading what happens. Just watch it. You won’t be disappointed. It is different from other Christmas movies because of the “mix-up” and that mix up reminds you that, timing is everything! It is a super sweet story and I watch this every year. I actually just watched this the other day.


Christmas Getaway. –The actors are both from the show, The Last Ship which my husband and I used to watch. Travis Van Winkle and Bridget Regan. They are both great actors which helps make this a great movie. A travel writer and a widower and his daughter end up at the same Christmas lodge due to being double booked and the travel writer finds herself living out a good old fashioned Christmas for the first time since she was a child, thanks to a Christmas check-list the widower’s daughter is working on. Super cute movie.


Debbie Macomber’s Trading Christmas. –This one is an oldie, but a goodie. It’s from 2011 and the actors are a little older, but they are all really funny and great established actors outside of Hallmark. I watch this movie like clockwork at the start of every Christmas season. The story line is super cute with a widowed mom (Faith Ford) who tries to surprise her daughter in college by flying across the country to visit her for Christmas but when she gets there her daughter is out of town with her friends. She does a house swap and she meets a new love interest (her house swap guy’s brother.) Simultaneously Faith Ford’s friend travels across the country to visit her, but finds out she is doing a house swap and meets the house swap tenant and love unfolds…..Super cute!


The Christmas Ornament. This is a heartfelt and sweet movie. It stars Kellie Martin which I love and Cameron Mathison. Kathy (Kellie Martin) plans to avoid any holiday traditions that bring back memories of her late husband until she receives an ornament from a handsome shop owner. She keeps looking for signs from her late husband on what to do, as its her first Christmas without him and through a very sweet friend and a new budding romance, she finds that you can open your heart to love after loss. It has cookie baking and Christmas trees and ice skating and love. Everything you could ask for in a Christmas movie. Just watched this one. So sweet!


CUTE. These movies are all plain old sweet. Classically cute, and funny Hallmark Christmas movies.

Crown for Christmas. -Danica McKeller is one of my favorites so naturally this is on my list. A maid (Danica) in a fancy hotel gets fired right before Christmas. One of the King’s servants who was staying there at the time, overheard what happened and offers her a job as a governess to the King’s daughter. The girl is opposed to her being her governess at first, but then starts warming up to her and decides that she would be a better match for her father than the Countess who he is supposed to marry.

Christmas Getaway.

Coming Home for Christmas. -Danica McKeller stars in this sweet movie as well and is about a family coming together for Christmas, thanks to Danica’s character who reminds them of some of their favorite Christmas memories and traditions. There is also a little love triangle going on. Two brothers fighting for her affection.

Help for the Holidays – This is one we all watch together as a family every year. It is about one of Santa’s elves that goes to a family disguised as a nanny at Christmastime and helps them remember the meaning of Christmas and the importance of family. Grab a cup of hot chocolate and your family and cozy up to watch this one!

One Starry Christmas -An older one, but a favorite for sure. Reminding you to take a chance and not be afraid. And my favorite story line of all, timing is everything!

A Very Merry Mix-Up.

A Christmas Melody. -Lacy Chabert is a single mother who moves back to her hometown and reconnects with her past. Mariah Carey is one of the (not so friendly) mom’s at the new school her daughter goes to. There is music, love, Christmas magic and Santa. Really cute!

Love you like Christmas. – Timing is everything! Let’s just leave it at that. Love this one!

Holiday Engagement. -Another oldie but goodie! 2011, Bonnie Somerville gets dumped just before Christmas and she is going home for the holidays so she hires an actor to stand in as her boyfriend….little does she know, he is actually falling in love with her.

Debbie Macomber’s Dashing through the Snow. -Totally different story line. Really cute with two great actors. My favorite, Andrew Walker and Meghan Ory. She gets stranded at the airport at Christmastime and accepts a ride from Andrew Walker who isn’t honest about who he is…..

Debbie Macomber’s Trading Christmas.

Christmas Next Door.

A Christmas Detour. -Candace Cameron Bure and Paul Greene are traveling during the holidays and become stranded. They don’t like each other much because she is stressed about getting to her fiance’s home for Christmas in time to meet his family before their upcoming wedding and Paul Greene is trying to do anything but get home for Christmas because he is hurt about something in the past….

Window Wonderland.


HEARTFELT. These are all a little more sentimental and tug at your heart strings.

Christmas in Evergreen (there is also a Christmas in Evergreen, Letters to Santa. Both are cute.)

Christmas in Angel Falls. 

Miss Christmas.

A Christmas to Remember

A Bramble House Christmas.

Christmas under the Stars.

The Christmas Ornament.

I hope this list helps you get your Christmas movie watching off too a great start. There are more movies I could probably add to this list, but these are my all time favorites, that never disappoint! If you watch any of these, I’d love to hear what you think.

Make sure you are subscribed to my blog to be in the know for my next Hallmark movie list.

Happy Hallmark Watching! Elizabeth

Thirty-Six Things About ME!

I thought in honor of my birthday tomorrow, I would share a little bit more about myself…and by a little bit, I mean 36 facts since I am turning 36. Yes I’m old. Let’s just agree to pretend I’m not. Mmmkay?  Good. Now that we got that out of the way….haha. I’m sure if you have followed along for awhile on my Instagram, you already know the basics, like I can’t go a day without Jesus and Coffee! But did you know….   Continue reading →

Dutch Apple Pie {Recipe}

Dutch Apple Pie is my love language. Sorry coffee. You are my first love, but Dutch Apple Pie comes in second for sure. Now I’m not just talking about your every day apple pie. I am talking about the sweet and delicious, crispy, crumbly topping making it thee best dessert ever! If you know me, then you know that every year on my birthday {October 27th} I say, no thank you to birthday cake and yes please to Dutch Apple Pie and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream.

I have a super simple pie recipe for anyone who is in the mood to start their Autumn baking off on a high note. Pie can seem intimidating, but don’t let it be. Start out simple with an already made pie crust if you’ve never made a crust from scratch before and then work your way up to making your own. You’ll be a professional before you know it. ;)   Continue reading →

Gingerbread Cookie Recipe

gingerbread-men

Gingerbread cookies are definitely one of my family’s favorite Christmas cookies! Not only are they delicious, but the smell of all the spices just warms up the house and makes it feel so Christmas-y! I like to add a little extra kick with candied ginger, but you can omit this ingredient if you’re making these for little kids who might not like the extra spice. Alexander’s favorite part is decorating them, so don’t forget to whip up a batch of Royal Icing to decorate these. Get creative and have fun! They don’t have to just be “gingerbread men.” I like to switch it up with gingerbread angels along with the typical gingerbread men.

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