Remember Amber from one of most favorite sites, Giver’s Log?! She just opened a new online store selling hot chocolate on a stick…Genius! I have been so excited for Ticket Kitchen to open! You need to click over to see all the eye candy! What an adorable and classy site! Shelley and I were lucky enough to be in on the test group, sampling different flavors and offering feedback…if only I could do that full time! Let me be the first to tell you, this stuff is not an average cup of hot chocolate … WOW! SO YUMMY!
This would be the most creative Valentine present ever!
Your kids’ teachers will LOVE you!, and your parents, in-laws, grandparents, friends, hubby, kids, etc…
Okay enough, Amber tell us about your Romantic Picnic for Two…
Hello HowDoesShe readers! I’m AmberLee from Giverslog, and I’m so excited to be here doing a little show and tell today.
I am a lifetime chocolate fanatic and, as of two weeks ago, owner of an online hot chocolate shop called The Ticket Kitchen . So of course, I am here to share a favorite Valentines date idea that involves (you guessed it!) chocolate.
I hope you don’t mind if I start with a confession. Here it goes.
Valentine’s day always, I mean AL-WAYS sneaks up on me. I’m great at planning anniversaries and birthdays, but somehow, not Valentines.
For anyone out there like me (please, let there be at least one) I thought I’d share a super simple, super affordable last-minute Valentines date that has become a favorite of ours. It is a romantic winter picnic for two.
If you have never picnicked in the winter, and you think I’m crazy, just wait. This turns out so fun and romantic every time. I dare you to try to go on a winter picnic and not cuddle. It’s not actually possible. Do I have you on board then? Good. Here is the easy picnic how-to.
Simple Valentines Picnic How-To
The Menu
Start with gourmet sausages. Boil your favorite gourmet sausages before you go, and put them in a thermos, boiling water and all. Pick up a crusty loaf of bread and some gourmet mustard and you have a picnic to please almost any man (if your man is vegetarian, can I recommend this soup? It is a favorite.)
Pick a side. Potato salad goes great with gourmet dogs, but I usually just grab a couple juicy oranges.
Finish with gourmet hot chocolate. Pour steaming milk into a second thermous, and take along Hot Chocolate on a Stick. Stir your Hot Chocolate on a Stick into the milk and watch as it transforms into a decadent cup of gourmet hot chocolate. And yes, it’s okay to lick the stick.
The Mood
The setting can be simple. If you really want to go big, hit the slopes or some hot springs. But we’ve found we like people watching in a crowded spot, or dining in the cab of a truck just as much.
Don’t forget the details. A cozy blanket, a few candles, and a good playlist are absolute essentials. What good is Valentines Day without sappy love songs? The sappier, the better.
Try our French Dark Hot Chocolate on a Stick (we make the same gourmet hot chocolate you would get sitting streetside at a world class Parisian cafe), or get brave and try our 3-Chili Hot Chocolate on a Stick. (If you’ve never tried hot chocolate with chili peppers, you are in a for a good surprise.)
And don’t forget to stop by The Ticket Kitchen website. We’re offering free printables (!!) so you can add each guest’s name to a stick of hot chocolate. And while you’re there, suggest a hot chocolate flavor for us to make for next Valentine’s day.
Happy romancing!
All photographs by Stephanie Faye, styled by AmberLee Fawson.
Erin says
What a great idea! Thank you!
Catherine says
This looks yummy! How do we get the discount? And will my order arrive in time for Valentine’s day? Thanks!
Catherine says
This looks yummy! How do we get the discount? And will I get my order in time for Valentine’s day? Thanks!
Catherine says
Oh! I see you’ve updated the info. Thanks!
Alysha says
Mmmm that hot chocolate looks DIVINE. I love the idea of a romantic Valentine’s day picnic. Even if it’s in my living room. 🙂 Can’t wait for the deal tomorrow!!
stacy says
What a fun idea! Chocolate on a stick and I am loving the fun winter picnic idea. It actually feels like winter in Phoenix the past few days…so if it keeps up until Valentine’s Day I think I will try your fun ideas. Thanks!
stacy says
What a fun idea! Chocolate on a stick! I am also loving the fun winter picnic idea. It actually feels like winter in Phoenix the past few days…so if it keeps up until Valentine’s Day I will try your fun ideas. Thanks!
Peggy says
OH this sounds wonderful! I wonder how much caffeine it contains??? My hubby has been put on a caffeine restricted diet for the time being…. which normally means no chocolate! 🙁
Mindy says
I LOVE this concept…hot chocolate on a stick! Genius!! I can’t wait for the code tomorrow so I can get some. Also, I love the winter picnic idea. I just happen to have some gourmet sausages in my fridge right now that I was in need of an idea of what to do with them. Perfect.
PS if Missy says this hot chocolate is delicious then it really must be amazing because that girl KNOWS her hot chocolate. 🙂
Nesleirbag says
Talk about eye candy! What a clever idea to have hot chocolate on a stick! And I have a sister who is going to have, “She loved to picnic” put on her tombstone! Everywhere she goes, home or in her travels, she packs a picnic. Absolutely loves the things! Can’t wait ’til she reads this post!
Alison says
Holy cool pictures…what was that post about!?! HA! I really had to read it twice because I couldn’t stop looking at the pictures.
Em says
I love this post!!! I don’t know how I am going to stop myself from pretending they are suckers and just chomp them down.
Shelley says
🙂 So true.
Shelley says
I am 100% doing this for Valentines Day. Such a great idea!! –Amber, do you personally like the french vanilla or 3-chili better? I hope my husband doesn’t look at this post, because he is one of few men who actually follows HowDoesShe. 😉
Christina Kleiss says
Me parece genial esa idea, te deseo todo el éxito que te mereces. El colorido de los agarradores de ollas va muy bien con las fotos. Espero poder probar ese chocolate cuando vaya a visitarte, te quiero!
Sue harrison says
Thanks so much .want to adapt idea of hot chocolate on a stick for my birthday treat. Again thank you for idea.
Joan Morris says
I can’t wait to try those hot chocolate on a stick. What a great picnic idea 🙂