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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

How to keep a clean home-doing a little each day.

The holidays are going to be here before we know it. As soon as Labor Day comes and goes, most of us will start decorating for Fall and then before you know it, it will be Thanksgiving! This isn’t just a holiday cleaning list though. It is a simple to follow daily cleaning list to keep your house clean any time of the year. BUT especially as the holidays approach so that there is no need to scramble around cleaning like a crazy person when guests say they are stopping by.

Now I know there are different types of people. Some people enjoy cleaning like I do, or maybe I just really enjoy a clean house. Either way, there are us daily cleaners and those who hate it and avoid it at all costs. I would say this list is more so for someone who doesn’t mind cleaning and enjoys a clean home. But if you aren’t a fan of cleaning daily, I do suggest at least trying to stick to this schedule during the next few months as friends and family come and go throughout the holidays.

Tip: Making your bed as soon as you get up, helps get your day started on a productive note. I make mine every day!

DAILY TASKS

Kitchen; load and unload dishwasher. Sanitize sink and counters.

Pick up & put away anything out of place in all rooms.

Take out kitchen garbage.

Laundry is pretty much daily, because I never want it to pile up.

Sweep kitchen & dinning room.

MONDAY

Clean all floors: Sweep & Mop. Vacuum.

TUESDAY

Clean bathrooms: Disinfect all surfaces. Clean toilet. Wash towels & bathmats. 

WEDNESDAY

Dust entire house. Dust all windowsills/shutters and baseboards.

THURSDAY

Wipe down walls, cabinets, built-ins. Clean appliances in kitchen; oven, microwave, etc. 

FRIDAY

Clean mirrors/windows/glass. Straighten up bedrooms/offices/closets. Anything that didn’t get finished during the week.

WEEKEND

Wash sheets.

ONCE A MONTH

Wash all bedding (sheets get washed weekly.) Comforters/duvets/blankets. Wash all couch blankets and pillows. (if washable)

Tip: When you have the time, I encourage you to pick one thing in your home and organize it. It doesn’t have to be a big project. When I organized my spice drawer I just wanted to stare at it. You would be surprised how a simple thing can help so much.

I hope this list helps you get started with creating a cleaning routine. I truly believe that when things are clean and in their place, everything seems to go a little smoother each day.

xo, Elizabeth

Elizabeth’s Cold Brew Coffee {Recipe}

Elizabeth’s Cold Brew Recipe:

8 cup French Press (I have a few different ones, but this one is great and inexpensive!)

8 Tablespoons of Coarsely ground coffee

Filtered Water

1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

3 tsp. brown sugar {optional}

In your French Press add 8 Tablespoons of your favorite coffee. Sprinkle 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon (adds flavor & has a lot of health benefits!) and 3 tsp. brown sugar. I add this if I’m wanting to sweeten it up a little more, though cold brew coffee is naturally sweeter than regular coffee. If you are going to use store bought flavored creamers, you can omit this step.

Once you have added your coffee, cinnamon and brown sugar, fill the French press almost to the top with filtered water. (leaving a little bit of room for the top to be put back on.) Stir carefully (I usually just use a straw) to combine and cover with foil or the top to the French press. Make sure not to press it down though! Store in the refrigerator for at least 12 hours. Not more than 24. 12-15 hours is best. I usually do this in the evening before bed so it is ready to enjoy in the morning! 

Serve over ice. Some people like to dilute the cold brew with water, though I personally don’t suggest doing so. I do love to add a splash of creamer though. One of my favorites is this one.

 

Tips for Success! 

Use filtered water if possible. Cold brew or not, it’s always a good idea to use filtered water when making any sort of coffee or espresso drink.

Don’t Rush the process. Make sure you steep it at least 12 hours, which is why I make it the evening before and let it sit overnight. But on the other hand, don’t leave it in the fridge too long. 12-15 hours is perfect!

Cool Beans. Ok I just wanted to say “cool beans.” haha! But seriously, I always suggest buying whole beans and then grinding them yourself as you need them. BUT, make sure your beans are coarsely ground for perfect results. 

Ratio to make a bigger batch. 4:1– 4 Cups of Water to 1 Cup of Coffee. 

Best if: Stored in the fridge in an air tight container, like a mason jar. Use within a week for best taste. But let’s be real, it’s never lasted that long in my house. haha. The best way to enjoy it is to, invite a friend over on a warm afternoon and enjoy it together! :)

Any questions on changing this recipe up? Feel free to email me or send me a message on Instagram.

xo,

Elizabeth :)

2016 Holiday Gift Guide

gift-guide

Can you believe it’s the end of November already? Maybe you’re on top of things and have already bought and wrapped your presents this year. {overachiever. haha just kidding!} BUT, maybe you are like me, and are way behind on Christmas shopping. Ok, Ok….I’ll level with you. I haven’t even started! But in my defense, I do my best work under pressure. hehe ;) So for all of you who haven’t finished (or started) here are a few things I think would make a perfect gift for any women in your life. Your friends, your sister, your hair stylist,  your mom or hey….maybe your favorite blogger ;) wink-wink. I am especially loving my JORD watch this season! See that mint beauty, smack dab in the middle. It is totally adding a pop of color and fun to my holiday outfits! Want to win one? Of course you do!

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Salted Caramel Latte Recipe

saltedcaramel

 

Coffee is my love language. I mean really though, coffee just gets me. ;) Anyone else feel this way? I love my espresso machine and don’t know what I’d do with out this swell guy. Yes, I called my machine a guy. He’s my friend. haha. Ok, actually I do know what I would do without him errr, I mean it. ;) I love making up new fun and delicious espresso drinks to enjoy myself as well as to serve to friends and family that come over. This salted caramel is perfect for your homemade lattes but I’ve also used it for chocolate salted caramel cupcakes. Yum! They are so good. But that’s for another day! 

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Summer Favorites Vol. 1

summerfavorites1

Summer is here! Can you believe it? I can’t. Heck, I’m still thinking it’s 2015. ;) I decided to start a new series here on Grace in His Beauty with some of my favorite things in different categories. I will be sharing monthly with favorites ranging from beauty products to kitchen tools and every thing in between. This month I am sharing a few favorites to get you feeling fresh and ready for Summer and all it has to offer!  Continue reading →