It's Hot Chocolate Time!

as the temps dip to the teens & twenties here it is time to pack the cocoa into the ski basket. I thought I would share a recipe I got from a ski friend for a homemade coca mix...plain & simple, no corn syrup...just 3 ingredients!



4c powdered milk
1c sugar
1/2c cocoa powder

mix together - add hot milk and marshmallows and enjoy! I store the extra in a tupperware and bring it along with our lunch to the ski area!

Ski Season is Here!

it is that time of year again to start thinking about packing our luggage sets and hitting the road for the downhill ski race circuit.

All 3 kids are racing this year and my husband is coaching which means someone is on the snow 7 days a week so we live a life on the go - often at freezing temperatures.

I decided this year that I need to invest in some good cold weather clothing so I have asked Santa for a long down jacket - kind of like wearing a sleeping bag on the hill!



doesn't that look toasty warm?? I also figured my feet need some new boots to keep them warm too so when CSN stores offered me the opportunity to review a product from their shops I decided to order a pair of BOG boots from them and test them out on the slopes.



look for my review here in a few weeks once they arrive and ski season gets underway!

March Madness - downhill style!

Yesterday we celebrated our own version of March Madness at our local ski area. A number of fun activities were planned that provided entertainment for one & all....

First, there were the costumes...



then the cardboard box sleds for the derby....





and then the race.....down the halfpipe.....and for some, through the safety fencing!!














yes...CARDBOARD boxes! Can you believe some of the designs...amazing and so fun to watch fly down the hill. The grand finale - at least for us - was the award ceremony where Little Man won the 1st place trophy for the race series for boys 6 & under! He was SO excited!! He actually took off the tutu to get his trophy!



one more event before the day was done - skiing over the slush pond....one of the 1st to go was Little Man's 7 year old friend!



she scored big on the style points! So the season ends. It was a lot of fun - no better way to pass a wintry day than with friends & family on the slopes! Already looking forward to next season!

One Proud Mama!

Today was the start of the local ski racing season.

I was more than a bit nervous as I watched my sweet little 8 year old daughter join her class at the top of the hill for a GS race down a black diamond slope!

As is typical with East Coast skiing it was ICY! I had barely gotten down the hill gracefully myself in order to get to the finish for some photos and could not imagine her little body hurtling down the hill.

Last year she only had to ski from the mid-point down - this year she moved up to the big league!






She looked FABULOUS! and oh so brave! I was so proud....then my 6 year old lined up for his first official start of the season. He only had to start from the mid-point but I think he would have preferred to ski the whole course!

He was a rocket ship!


fastest boy aged 6 and under and second fastest for the boys 7-8 years old! reminds me of his papa!



acting like one of the kids!

ETSY find #2 of the week...

I think I will carry on with this theme of sharing my latest loves on ETSY...I have a fondness for snowmen at this time of year and LOVE these funky snowladies I found at Miss Bea Haven Originals...personally I would love anything from her store...makes me want to get out the flour & water and take up papier mache!