There’s nothing better than sharing a conversation over a warm cup of hot cocoa on a winter’s day.
(Affiliate links are used for your convenience. Read my full disclosure here.)
I’m so excited to join Katherine’s Corner for my first time participating in one of her Decorated Tray Blog Hops. These seasonal hops are a fun way to get inspiration for your own homes.
Twenty four bloggers are participating. You can find links to all the posts at the bottom of mine.
If you are coming over from Katherine’s Corner, didn’t you love how she styled her tray? Now, welcome to my home in The Northwoods of Wisconsin, where our lakeside log cabin home is truly a Winter Wonderland.
One of the questions I get asked often is if I like living way Up North in the Winter. My quick answer is “Yes!”
There are so many reasons to love this snowy, cold season.
The main one, for me though, is the amount of time we spend cozied up by a roaring fire in the fireplace.
It’s the perfect spot to read, take a little nap or have a conversation connecting with family or friends.
Add a layer of special to the conversation by serving a warm drink like hot chocolate and serve it on a seasonally styled tray.
Listening
I’m really working on listening better, especially when I’m at home. It’s so easy these days to get wrapped up in our devices or other activities and not hear what others say to us. We are often thinking about what we want to say next, and not what the other person is saying.
The art of listening is lost and I want to really work on it personally in this season and in the year to come so that it truly becomes a gift that fills the heart of who I’m listening to and mine as well.
I read a great book about listening calledYou’re Not Listening, What Your Missing and Why it Matters by Kate Murphy. It’s an eye opening read to what has become an epidemic. The world is feeling even more isolated and lonely these days because even though we are talking, a lot, no one is truly listening. Murphy shares the psychology, neuroscience, and sociology of listening and tips from some of the greatest listeners and what we can learn from them.
Wooden Tray
For my tray, I used a cutting board I got when I visited the Magnolia Silos this past Spring for Spring at The Silos. It was one of the giveaways that weekend.
I love the shape of the tray and the size. Often I use it to serve snacks, a charcuterie or have it on the counter to style a vignette in the kitchen.
It worked beautifully to serve a cozy afternoon treat of hot chocolate with my daughter.
My inspiration comes from the nature right outside our windows. The snow falling down and the flocked pine trees of the forest surrounding the cabin are natural encouragements.
These sweet ornaments that look like they are covered in cable knit sweaters stole my heart instantly.
How do you like your hot chocolate? Or do you call it hot cocoa?
A ceramic snowflake is the final touch I gave to the simple Winter Wonderland tray.
These few easy pieces, the ornaments and snowflake took the tray from something plain to something special in seconds. The tray can even stay out after the cups are empty and look beautiful still on the table.
Next up you are heading to the blog Pure Happy Home. Thanks so much for stopping by my cabin. If you’d like to see more of my winter decor enjoy these posts.
More Winter Trays
Northwoods Living- Cozy Winter Nights
Cozy Cabin Full of Winter Warmth
More of my Winter Decor
Here’s our boathouse down by the lake behind our house. Our lake freezes solid in the Winter and we are able to skate and snowmobile on it, right where we swim and boat in the Summer.
I used the some of the same decor another year on my mantel for Winter. It was a great transition after Christmas.
Get the Look
Enjoy these posts from my friends with more Winter inspiration.
Take the Tour
FOLLOW ALONG
Instagram ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest ~ Twitter ~ YouTube ~ Tik Tok ~ Liketoknow.it
Kristin, your tray with the creamy whites works so well where you live. I appreciated that you included ways to really listen to others.
Merry Christmas!
Rachelle
Oh that’s beautiful Kristin! Your sweater ornaments are wonderful – a perfect accompaniment to those yummy mugs of chocolate! 🙂 SO nice to be touring with you. Happy Holidays!
Kristin,
Love your use of the wood tray and the cable knit sweater ornaments are just darling! You have definitely captured the beauty of winter outside of your beautiful home!! Thanks so much for sharing!! Have a great day!!
hugs,
Deb
Thanks so much Deb! Hope you had a wonderful Christmas!
Hi Kristin. It’s nice to be touring with you and I wanted to stop in and visit. You are so absolutely right about listening. I am going to get that book and try myself to be.a better listener. My 18 year old daughter always calls me out on it. Funny, not funny. Anyway, about the tray. Those cable knit ornaments are fabulous. I can see what they stole your heart. The mugs look like a knitting pattern as well so it all ties in beautifully. Your cabin should be in a Hallmark movie. Enjoy the season! XO- MaryJo
Kristin, I can just imagine sitting in such a warm and cozy space with snow piling outside the windows. Enjoying a cup of cocoa and some beautiful ornaments would be just perfect. Lovely to hop with you.
Lynne
Thanks so much Lynne!
It’s just beautiful Kristin! I love the sweater ornaments nestled with the cozy cups of cocoa and the ceramic snowflake is so pretty! I guess you will have a white Christmas for sure, we have to pretend in the South! How nice to relax by the fire sipping with your daughter. Have a wonderful holiday season!
Hi, Kristin; wow, your whole place is a winter wonderland!
Thanks so much Irene!
Beautiful cabin! You are right, nothing better than cocoa with a friend. Have a wonderful Christmas with those you love!
Thanks Melynda! Hope you had a wonderful holiday!
What a perfect tray for this winter blog hop…and for your home! I love those sweater ornaments. Great hopping with you!
Shelley
What a perfect tray for this winter blog hop…and for your home! I love those sweater ornaments. Great hopping with you!
Shelley
Kristin you truly live in a winter Wonderland. Everything is so lovely. I love seeing the snow. Your tray is so welcoming with mugs of hot cocoa and that large snowflakes. The sweater ornaments are so pretty. Your fireplace looks so inviting and those darling buffalo plaid slippers. slippers and pillows. A p[easure hopping along with you.
HI Kristin! You had me at the creamy whites and the wood tray/serving board. Gorgeous! Pinning! xo laura in Colorado
Kristin this is beautiful and so cozy! I love the look of those cable knit sweater ornaments! And your cabin looks like a dream! Loved linking up with you today! I invite you to come link up at my weekly link party every Wednesday! https://www.ourtinynest.com/2022/11/30/weekly-wednesday-link-party-324/
Have a great week!
What a great winter tray Kristin. Those ornaments are so beautiful and cosy looking. Your cabin looks stunning. Wonderful to tour with you.
Thanks so much! I hope your Christmas was wonderful!
Kristin, the whites are so crisp and pretty! Hope you have a lovely Christmas season!
Oh my goodness how beautiful and ultra cozy too! Thank you for joining in the fun. Pinned xo
Hi Kristin!!
I LOVE your whole part about listening. I too am working on that and not being on my phone or computer in the evening hours. Your tray is so pretty…I love that board from Magnolia!! Fun hopping with you! Happy Christmas!
Your warm and cozy tray is so pretty! I’m in love with those sweater ornaments. It was nice hopping with you.