grace grits and gardening

ramblings from an arkansas farm girl

Ultimate Hot Chocolate

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Ultimate Hot Chocolate

I believe if you’re going to drink hot chocolate, drink hot chocolate. The real deal. Go big and luscious with toppings and add-ons, what I like to call the ultimate hot chocolate. ‘Tis the season to do things right, after all.

If you live in Northwest Arkansas, pick up a bag of Loblolly Creamery‘s Spicy Hot Chocolate at Ozark Natural Foods. If spicy isn’t your thing, Loblolly makes regular and peppermint as well. Or, use whatever hot chocolate mix or recipe you prefer. One thing I know—it will be creamier if you whip it up with hot milk rather than water.

Oh the toppings!

The hot chocolate is only the beginning. Next, the fun part.Continue Reading

Sunday Letter: 12.16.18

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Sunday Letter

Dear Sunday Letter friends,

Nine days until Christmas. Who’s ready?

Not me.

But I’m getting there. I’ve done a little shopping. I’ve decorated my house as much as I’m going to. I’ve been listening to Christmas music and wrapping presents and watching holiday movies.

I even saw the Grinch in person!Continue Reading

How to Hibernate

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Hibernation Mode

This time of year all I want to do is hibernate. I wish I could disappear underneath a cozy quilt and read book after book after book with breaks to snooze along to Christmas movies, old ones like White Christmas, and maybe drink steaming hot soup from a coffee mug. Even though I LOVE winter and wouldn’t dare want to miss it, I’m a little envious of the animals who burrow inside toasty dens and wake to spring.

True animal hibernation is about conservation of energy, not sleep. My version of hibernation is about self care—sleeping and resting and escaping. It’s a time-out away from the busy-ness of life, especially during the holidays when invitations and commitments seem to align one after another.

Last weekend I hibernated on Saturday. And I plan to do it again whenever I can, an afternoon here or a snow day there. I would love to have an entire WEEK of hibernation, preferably in a well-stocked cabin in the woods (with high thread count sheets and a fireplace). Hibernation is not about roughing it. Not in my world.Continue Reading

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