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It’s never too early to start planning for the holidays, so I’m excited to be sharing with you some fun traditions that my kids and I enjoy during the most wonderful time of the year. Hallmark’s “Once Upon a Northpole Christmas”, Snowball Cookies, and hot chocolate with peppermint candy cane marshmallow stirrers are included in our festivities, so be sure to read on for all the exciting details!
I know it’s not even Halloween, but my little ones are already getting excited for Christmas! Yes, the trick-or-treat buckets are out and ready to roll, I’ve stocked up on candy and the costumes are just waiting to be donned, and yet the hot chocolate, along with the candy cane stirrers and snowball cookies have already made their first debut. Ha! We just couldn’t help it. 🙂
Every year, we can’t wait to make our delicious hot chocolate, accompanied by some homemade candy cane chocolate marshmallow stirrers. Don’t they just scream “Christmas!”?
Simply unwrap a few peppermint candy canes, dip in melted chocolate, let set, then pop a jumbo marshmallow on the end. The chocolate dip and marshmallow will melt to perfection while stirring in the hot chocolate, creating a dreamy holiday drink! Mmmmmm….!!!
Since we don’t see snow very often here, we like to bring it into our home in a the form of a dessert with these Snowball Cookies. The kids love helping me make them, and they come together in a jiff!
{SNOWBALL COOKIES}
1/2 c. salted butter, softened but cooled
1/2 c. granulated sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp. vanilla or almond extract
2 c. all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 c. pecans, chopped
Powdered sugar for rolling and sprinkling
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together butter, sugar, egg and vanilla or almond extract. Add flour, salt, and chopped pecans and mix until blended. Form dough into 1″ balls and arrange on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Remove from oven and immediately roll in powdered sugar. Let cool completely, then roll in additional powdered sugar if desired. Makes approximately 15 cookies.
Hot chocolate and cookies aside, quite possibly the highlight of our holiday season each year is our book advent. Each evening in December leading up to Christmas, the kids get to unwrap a festive story and read it by the glow of the tree while in their pajamas. Most of the books are from our collection that we’ve built up over the years, but the kids just beam when they get the occasional surprise of one with crisp pages and the amazing “new book” smell.
So you can imagine the scene when the kids opened Hallmark’s “Once Upon a Northpole Christmas” this past weekend. We’ll be adding it to our book advent rotation in December.
It comes with a pretty snowflake ornament that glows to let Santa know where to visit on the night of Christmas Eve. We haven’t decided who will get to put their name on it. 🙂
I have to tell you about the adorable Northpole Communicator device that Santa and his elves sent too. Each day in December, the kids get to “dial in” to the North Pole and speak to some special friends there. The kids have been trying to cheat the system, but when they turn the knob, an elf relays a message to check back later on December 1st. 🙂 We’re working on the patience thing.
These items from Hallmark are based off of a new movie coming out and will be launching exclusively in Walmart stores on November 1st!
“Once Upon a Northpole Christmas” is a heartwarming tale and reminder of a huge part of what the holidays are all about…the happiness that comes from enjoying family and loved ones.
It’s a rhyming story about finding true joy during the holiday season, a magical snowfall, and the importance of a close-knit family.
The kids were completely drawn to the bold, beautiful illustrations and of course the cute story involving Santa and his elves and children just like them.
My son has been attached to the snowflake. He even sleeps with it. 🙂 When we set up the tree, it will earn a special place there until Christmas Eve when the kids will take it to their room and set it to glow all night as a beacon for Santa and his reindeer.
We are looking forward to our book advent and including Hallmark’s “Once Upon a Northpole Christmas”! I hope you enjoyed reading about some of our family’s favorite holiday traditions. I’d love to hear about yours in the comments below!
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My kids would love the book and star!
~ Ashley