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Do you get a special gift box sometime during December? Growing up we always got a Christmas gift box on Christmas Eve. I loved receiving a new pair of pajamas and a small gift from my parents and definitely wanted to do something similar with my family! As we began to create traditions of our own, I took my family’s idea but brought it earlier in the season: December 1st – mostly because I just love celebrating as soon as possible! With our holiday advent calendar book countdown in place, I wanted to kick everything off with a bang, so I’m excited to share with you our December 1st holiday box, an alternative to the Christmas Eve box.
This post was also inspired by Haley Wynn from Haley Wynn Designs! She does the sweetest Christmas Eve holiday boxes (such a FUN tradition with her hubby, Brett!) and I am always so excited to hear about her amazing ideas for the holidays!
So what four items are in our December 1st Box this year?
Our Elf on the Shelf
This is also Day 1 of our book countdown! I’ve owned this sweet elf since my days in the classroom and love having him grace our fireplace every year. I don’t know if I’ll get hardcore into moving him every night as Lachlan gets older, but he’ll definitely make a presence around our home every year in December.
New Christmas Jammies
I snagged a set of the Dear Deer jammies from Hanna Andersson for everyone in our family during the 40% off sale back in October. Use my link and receive 20% off your own order!
Holly Jolly Oil Blend
I heard about a mom that creates a new diffuser blend for each family vacation they take. I love this idea and decided to create one for the holiday season. Every time we use it in the future, it will take us back to this season of life. Which is a pretty stinking good season, if you ask me.
Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix
This recipe is a family favorite. My mom has been making it as far back as I can remember; It’s graced every Christmas morning and frigid snow day. It’s so easy and makes a TON. I would love to try out a dairy-free alternative, however, so if you know of one, please let me know!
Print Recipe
Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix
This recipe is a family favorite. My mom has been making it as far back as I can remember; It's graced every Christmas morning and frigid snow day. It's so easy and makes a ton.
Ingredients
- 15 oz powdered coffee creamer
- 9 oz instant dry milk
- 8 oz unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
Mix everything thoroughly in a large bowl and store in a Tupperware container.
Fill a mug with half hot chocolate mix and half hot water – or milk!
Stir until blended and enjoy!
Notes
To make a gift jar, pour half the hot chocolate mix into a mason jar, top with your favorite hot chocolate mix-ins – like chocolate chips and marshmallows! Add one of my gift tags and enjoy!
Grab your free hot chocolate gift tags here!Download
Will it remain the same every year?
Nope! With three young children, money is tight right now, so I don’t want to purchase anything new if I don’t have to. But I still love the idea of “kicking off the holidays” with a fun box full of goodies on the first of December. So, even though nothing in the box is NEW, it will still all be special. This year we’re including…
- Our elf on the shelf (he moves some days but not every day)
- Our Elf on the Shelf book (Book #1 of our Book Advent Calendar)
- Hot chocolate mix
- Holiday pajamas (that we already have)
- A fun holiday movie to watch together (probably the cartoon version of the Grinch)
- And popcorn! (For those 3 or older)
After dinner, we’ll pull out our basket, open up the book, read together, and get cozy in our pajamas. After the babies go to bed, Lachlan will stay up and snuggle on the couch with us while we watch our movie together. It’s simple but special and is creating that bit of magic that comes with the holiday season.
So I’d love to know – do you create a December First Box? What would you include?
