Hello and welcome to the 2016 Holiday Party Hop hosted by the talented Deanna from Mirabelle Creations!

I am so excited to be teaming up with 18 other amazing party stylists to bring you lots of holiday party inspiration this season! We kicked off the holiday hop on Monday with Mirabelle Creations unique spin on a hot cocoa bar. To see her party and all the party sites in the 2016 Holiday Party Hop, please start here!

If you are stopping by from Sarah Sofia Productions, welcome! Doesn’t she have the most beautiful holiday party ideas and inspiration?! So stunning!

So let’s get hoppin’! To kick things off today, I am so thrilled to be able to share with you my rustic and vintage inspired Hot Cocoa Sweets and Treats holiday party. This time of year is such a busy time for all of us. There is just so much to see and do! But in the midst of all the activities and to do lists, it’s so important to stop and take a moment to relax and enjoy time spent with our loved ones during the holiday season. For a fun and intimate setting, I created this warm and cozy hot cocoa sweets and treats bar.

Many items you see here I found at my happy place; Target! Not only are the items affordable but you can mix these items with other decor/party supplies you already have or that you buy from another store. I love mixing new items with vintage pieces. Some of the items at I found at Target include the garland, red truck pillow, the pine trees, the deer, skis, JOY sign, bottle brush trees, our cute little reindeer friend, and mini chalkboard.

I am definitely a lover of vintage pieces and enjoy going to estate sales, thrift stores, garage sales, and antique markets to look for vintage pieces I can use in my party and home styling. Some of the vintage pieces you see here include the wire basket, thermos, coca-cola crate, scale, and the bar cart! Can you believe my neighbor was going to throw away this amazing vintage cart?! She now knows to ask me before she plans on throwing any vintage pieces away. And I think it’s safe to say I am slightly obsessed with plaid and little red truck with christmas trees this season. Too much cuteness!

As guests arrived, I gave them a mug to make their own hot cocoa. I placed individual Ghiradelli hot cocoa packets in this plaid tin I found at Homegoods.  I already had steamed milk going on the stove so the guests just had to add their packet of cocoa to the steamed milk and the toppings of choice. So delicious! I set up the hot cocoa station in the kitchen complete with whipped cream, ghiradelli chocolate sauce and marshmallows. The other sweet treats were on the dessert table.

Hot Cocoa prettiness! Red and white striped straws, “be merry” stir stick and a mini candy cane, it’s all about the details!

For the dessert bar, I picked up some cupcakes from my local bakery and added some DIY cupcake toppers. This counts as semi-homemade right? (I’ll show you how I made these quick and easy toppers later in the post)

I didn’t want to stress about making all the desserts so I  purchased the cupcakes and added some candy, marshmallows, mini candy canes, and toasted marshmallow and candy cane Milano cookies to the dessert bar. If you are low on time or just not a baker, feel free to buy what you need.

I found these adorable ball jars with red lids at Target, perfect for the holidays! I hot glued a mini brush tree to the top, I just love how they look. These would be so cute as teacher gifts too. Just fill with a sweet treat and/or gift card and add a little gift tag and you are all set.

I found these little mini sleds at Target too. How cute are they to fill with treats?! I love finding unique ways to display desserts. I filled these little sleds with Milano cookies.

More little red truck decor. This is actually an ornament but I used it decorate my table. When putting together a styled dessert table, look around your home and see what you have; you will be surprised at what you find and what you can use in in different way.

For the cupcake toppers, I realized I had everything on hand to make my own. I had some extra plaid place cards from a pack I purchased at Target. I punched out a circle from the back (that way I can still use the cards if I need them) and attached a cute sticker. I then adhered the circle to a wooden stick and there you go! So easy and they turned out so adorable.

The finished topper! I added some plaid ribbon to this one, love the added detail!

As our guests were leaving, they were given a little favor treat bag. I love giving a small party favor to guests. I think it’s a nice gesture to thank your loved ones for coming. I simply used some red and white favor bags I had on hand and filled them with candy cane dove chocolates from the dessert bar. I attached a cute little tag and added some washi tape and baker’s twine.

All ready for the guests to take one home!

It was such a fun and festive party and the most important thing is that we were able to spend quality time with our friends and family! My boys had so much fun and even let me take a picture of them at the end of the party! Their sweet smiles make my heart melt! This is what the holiday season is all about! Being surrounded by those we love, having fun, and making memories.

Thank you so much for hopping on by The Party Porch and letting me share with you my rustic hot cocoa sweets and treats party!

Be sure to head on over to the next stop on the holiday hop, the super talented Kim from The Celebration Shoppe!

Wishing you and your family a bright and merry holiday season and Happy New Year!

XOXO,

Nicole

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The post Rustic Hot Cocoa Sweets and Treats Holiday Party appeared first on The Party Porch.