Jumping the Gun to Some ---->---->

About a week ago when the girl at the McDonald's drive-thru handed me my coffee I was delighted to see it was in a Christmas cup! They had swapped out the boring yellow/orange combo for the pretty red cup with the white snow flakes. It was at that very instant I felt the Christmasy feeling begin to creep over me. I know there are a lot of folks that say "it's too early". Thanksgiving is still weeks away... I get that. But time goes by way.too.fast. For me and a lot of other people Christmas means added hours of work which is great but it doesn't allow for savoring the season. So I'm starting now before my schedule is full and I'm stressing over finding the perfect presents. By December 24th I will want to shoot my radio if I hear "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause" one more time just like everybody else. Until then it's Christmas-time. ♥

This morning I pulled up the blinds to find our first official snow. I unearthed my winter boots and snow brush. I also bought a FANTASTIC Ralph Lauren wool sweater at the Goodwill. I'm totally in love with it. No seriously: I like put it on and wrote a song. Tonight I'm snuggled in with Beulah (and my new sweater) sipping a cup of Maple Hot Chocolate. Yes. It is unreal. That's why I'm posting the recipe below  :) Hope your Tuesday was just as cheery. Happy middle of the week.

                                                        Maple Hot Chocolate --->--->

1/4 cup sugar
1/4 baking cocoa   }
1/8 tsp. salt

1/4 cup hot water  }
1 tbsp. butter

4 cups milk
1 tsp. maple flavoring
1 tsp. vanilla extract
8 large marshmallows

Combine sugar, cocoa, and salt in a sauce pan. Stir in water and butter; bring to a boil. Add milk, maple flavoring, vanilla extract, and marshmallows. Heat through, stirring occasionally.