I'm so ready for fall! Usually I'm sad to see the warm summer days coming to an end, but this year I'm really craving some crisp fall weather. In part because I can't wait to start jeans and sweaters again. And jackets! I'm a bit of a jacket hoarder - as evidenced by my coat closet.
My other favorite part of fall is sipping on a hot drink on a cool day. It makes me feel all warm and cozy, and always seems like a special treat. I'm really not much of a coffee person, but give me an apple cider or maple flavored steamer and I'm a very happy girl! Especially if I can sip on it while taking a stroll around the neighborhood with the crunch of leaves underfoot.
A couple of years ago I created a hot chocolate bar in our kitchen for the holidays and so enjoyed creating lots of tasty concoctions throughout the season. This year, I decided to create a hot drink station for all of my favorite fall drink flavors. My friends at Pastel Trail even custom designed an adorable sign for my beverage station that pulls the whole thing together! At the end of the post {after the recipes} you can enter to win an 8x10 poster print of your choice from their fabulous shop!
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The idea for a fall hot beverage station actually started because I spotted a set of jewel-toned stacking mugs that I just had to have!
Next, I picked out syrups in some of my very favorite fall flavors - caramel, maple, pumpkin pie, and bourbon caramel. I also found pumpkin spice cocoa mix {seriously yummy!}, and some pumpkin and maple "candy spoons" with cinnamon stick handles that are perfect for stirring into a steaming cup of apple cider, hot chocolate, or tea.
I shopped the house for the perfect tray to display all of my fall drink mix-ins, and after trying a few options, I discovered that the wood farmer's market boxes that I had filled with flowers for spring and summer were just the right size for all of the syrup bottles! I poured the pumpkin spice cocoa mix into a mason jar and added, and placed all of the candy spoons into cup to keep them corralled.
We recently upgraded our Keurig to the newer machine that can make full carafes in addition to individual servings. It sits atop a drawer that holds all of our K Cups, but I thought the black top of the drawer could use a little dressing up for fall. A standard 12x12 piece of scrapbook paper wasn't quite large enough to cover the top of the drawer, so I picked up some over-sized Mambi Sheets and selected a striped paper in jewel-tones that coordinates with the colors of the stacking mugs.
One quarter of a sheet of Mambi paper was large enough to cover the top of the K Cup drawer, so if it gets dripped on or stained, I can quickly replace it throughout the season. I keep my drawer stocked with my fall favorites - cider, cocoa, and salted caramel hot chocolate - as well as coffee for guests.
I'm a big fan of the fact that with my Keurig it only takes a minute or so to make a hot drink, and then everyone can choose their favorite flavors to customize their beverages.
I just love the way my fall hot drink station looks on the kitchen counter!
Of course, it's that custom sign from Pastel Trail that really pulls the whole thing together! They have now added that sign to their shop so you can now get your very own if a hot drink on a cold day is your idea of happiness, too! Be sure to enter the giveaway at the end of this post for your chance to win any 8x10 print of your choice from their collection!
SHOP THE LOOK & THE FLAVORS
20 HOT DRINK RECIPES FOR FALL
I have already been enjoying the flavors of fall, even though the weather around here isn't quite cooperating with me quite yet. I've found some great recipes to try, and thought I'd share some of my favorites with you...
Ok, now it's time to get cozy with a mug of your favorite fall beverage and browse the Pastel Trail collection to decide which poster print you'd pick if you win the giveaway!