Affiliate Links / Product Sample: Starbucks sent me some products for review, but my coffee/chocolate addiction and thoughts are my own. Just Four Kicks also sent me a copy of their game as a gift.
What do you do when you have leftover Christmas candy, Valentine’s candy, and a bunch of Starbucks Hot Cocoa calling your name? You create a DIY Hot Cocoa Bar, obviously. We have dinner with my side of the family every other Sunday, and I thought it would be fun to have a little hot cocoa over a new-to-me card game called Just Four Kicks. I’d kept seeing pins for these DIY hot cocoa bars, and while I did not create anything nearly as fancy, it probably tasted just as good!
With a few boxes of Starbucks Hot Cocoa and VIA instant coffee for those with a craving for caffeine, we had the base for our bar. Add in a couple of handfuls of candy, some marshmallows, and your favorite whipped topping you can create a fun hot cocoa toppings bar for a special Valentine’s Day treat. Obviously if everyone is of age, feel free to throw in some extra special ingredients if you get my drift. We opted to stick to keep it PG on this particular night, however. ;)
What You’ll Need
- Milk
- Hot cocoa (We used Starbucks Cinnamon Dolce and Peppermint)
- Starbucks VIA (We used White Chocolate Mocha Latte & Peppermint Mocha Latte)
- Leftover candy of your choice (I used candy canes, red hots, and Sweethearts)
- Mini chocolate chips or chocolate shavings
- Sprinkles
- Whipped topping
- Marshmallows
- Mugs
- Small serving dishes
- Mini mugs for Puppiccinos ;)
How to Make It
- Heat milk according to hot cocoa package directions on the stove top
- While milk is heating, crush up candy canes (and other candy, if applicable) in a plastic baggie
- In your small serving dishes, place enough servings of candy and toppings for each guest
- When milk is bubbling slightly, turn off heat and pour a serving into each mug for your guests
- Allow your guests to go hog wild with the toppings, and of course, enjoy!
While we sipped our hot cocoa, we had fun playing a new-to-us game called Just Four Kicks. It reminded me of what it would be like if Head’s Up and Cards Against Humanity were combined. Just Four Kicks is a multi-round game that involves embarrassing topics like farting during a yoga class, silly situations like being hangry, and pop culture references or slang like swag. Each round involves a different task. During round 1, you have to describe the phrase or word without using any of the words. In round 2, you need to act it out. Then in round 3, you’re only able to use one word to describe your card. And in the final round, you’re to do charades again but with a member of the opposing team as a prop.
It’s always fun to try playing a new game, and trying Just Four Kicks was no different. The rules were pretty simple and straight to the point. It didn’t take long to read through the rules and understand them, plus since it’s all card based, it was super easy to travel with.
To be completely honest, however, we did find it was a bit challenging to play with my parents. While Dave and I knew the majority of the pop culture and slang phrases, playing it with an older generation like my parents was pretty hilarious to us, but unfortunately sometimes perplexing to them. My dad surprised me by knowing exactly what “swag” meant while my mom was a bit clueless. We’d recommend playing this with your millennial friends, and next time we have friends and Dave’s siblings over we’re going to be playing this again.
If you want to play more than one game, Dave and I have a few game recommendations that might fit your shindig. If card games are your thing, check out Cards Against Humanity (but only if you’re playing with an open minded group), Dominion, Munchkin, or Apples to Apples. If it’s a board game you’re after, try Ticket to Ride, Settlers of Catan, Dixit, or Scattergories. All are fun to play in small to medium sized groups!
And now, because Valentine’s Day is nearly upon us and I want to show you the love, I thought it was only fitting to throw a little giveaway! One lucky winner will receive a fun Valentine’s Day Prize Package including a Burberry Kisses Lipstick in Military Red, a few beauty surprises, my favorite local chocolate (just let me know if you like dark or milk!), and of course, a little selection of my favorite Starbucks Goodies to try! Because I’ll be shipping food, this giveaway will be open to the US only. I’ll catch you next time international friends. Giveaway will end 2/10 at midnight EST. Good luck!
Have you set up a DIY Hot Cocoa bar before? What are your favorite toppings? And of course, I want to know if you’ve heard about Just Four Kicks and what your favorite board/card games are! I look forward to reading your comments below. :)
Such a cool idea!
Thanks so much, Kay!
This is adorable! And seems so affordable/easy to create for a fun night. Thanks for sharing! Definitely doing this sometime soon. Also, I may have easily missed this, but how do you enter the giveaway?
Thanks so much Anna! You should be able to enter via the Rafflecopter widget that’s right below the text about the giveaway. If you can’t see it, you can go to the widget directly here: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/91d2be3372/
OH! Thank you! I was on a work computer before and I believe the whole widget was blocked. But now I am on my personal and I entered the giveaway, yay! – thanks for getting back!
Of course! Glad you were able to enter. :)
I would add some mint to my hot chocolate
Sounds delicious! Thanks for entering, Sandra!
you can never go wrong with mini marshmallows in your hot coco:)
So true! Thanks for entering, Mel!
Just cocoa & marshmallows! I like milk chocolate!
Thanks for entering, Miranda!
I would love dark chocolate hot cocoa with whipped cream (the good thick kind), and caramel. YUM!
Yum, that sounds delicious!
I think my favorite is just milk chocolate cocoa with marshmallows if i’m making it at home! If I’m at a restaurant or something I like whipped cream on top…they always have better whipped cream than what you get at the store, I swear!
Haha, right?! I feel like even Starbucks Whipped Cream is better than the grocery store kind!
salted caramel. add that to anything, and i’m in!
thanks!
b
Yum! Salted caramel is the best.
I’d add LOTS of whipped cream :)
Sounds delish! Thanks for entering, Edye!
Caramel!
Thanks for entering, Tabitha!
I just like plain marshmallows!
Always a great choice! Thanks for entering, Shelley!
I would add raspberry.
That sounds delicious! Thanks for entering, Holly!
My favorite card game is Apples to Apples.
Thanks for entering, Colleen!
I would definitely add some caramel :)
Sounds yummy! Thanks for entering, Sara!
I used to get this amazing Belgian White Hot Chocolate and it is absolutely my favorite, but I haven’t found it anywhere in years….
Oh that sounds delicious! I hope you can find it again soon!
I would add marshmellows(:
Sounds good! Thanks for entering, Ashley!
I love apples to apples, but really want to try cards against humanity
Cards Against Humanity is a ton of fun! Thanks for entering, Tara!
I’d add dark chocolate shavings and tons of marshmallows! I’d maybe even add toasted marshmallows! Yum!
Yum, toasted marshmallows sounds amazing! Thanks for entering, Katy!
Reese’s everything!
Yum! Great pick, Michelle!
Such a cute bar idea! And now I have to try out that game!
xo Kylie
http://www.dressinsparkles.com
Thanks so much, Kylie!
I like candy land game.
Thanks for entering!
I would add a sliver of vanilla ice cream to my hot cocoa.
Sounds delicious! Thanks for entering, Cindy!
I like whipped cream in my cocoa!
Thanks for entering, Deborah!
I’d add chocolate and caramel. Have you tried Dunkin Donuts Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate? To die for!
I haven’t! We actually don’t have a Dunkin Donuts on the West Coast :( It sounds yummy though!