Warm Holiday Fun...Coffee Lovers' Blog Hop

*Whew*  It's been 'one of those weeks'...I need a coffee, strong and black (or several...). And I want to know when the old, but my absolute favourite, animated Rudolph, the Red Nose Reindeer is on. I want to be a 'kid' for a bit...

Anyway, I'm dashing in to share my two little contributions to the AWESOME 

hosted by our charming Amy, along with Maureen, Lesley and Chaitali. 

Have you seen the incredibly dazzling delights in the gallery? We're talking 275+ here! Way to spark the inspiration, ladies!! 

Actually, I had another four other tags to show you, each one "supposed" to be sporting a Via coffee from Starbucks (first time I've ever bought those). In a random act of 'what the heck', I was taking them across the counter (remember, my craft zone is on one side of the counter, between the sink and the fridge...mini space. Very mini.) to put the coffee packets in, when, for some unknown reason, my foot caught the edge of the floor mat and, frantically grabbing the counter edge to maintain my balance: kersplash. Dropped the tags. In the sink. That had water in it. *hangs head* 

I usually keep the sink empty while crafting, but I was soaking the cookie sheet and...'nuff said.  Soooo...four tags gone. On the plus side, I wasn't particularly happy with them anyway.  Recycle bin! No guilt!

 I ate two cookies to make myself feel better, though, just in case. It worked.

My 'surviving' projects I do like; they're 'technically' not coffee-themed, but they're wearing a coffee cup, so hope that counts. They're attached to hot chocolate packages, which will become part of my stocking stuffers for my niece and nephew.  Tags, hot chocolate:  I know which one will impress them more...

Amy suggested we share a recipe so I'm passing along a link to one of my husband's Christmas favourites. He baked them for me on our first Christmas together. If I had any doubts about whether or not he was 'the one', he removed them all with those tasty treats *grin*)...Chocolate Espresso Black Pepper Cookies.   The recipe 'appears' to come from Martha Stewart, I guess, but my husband has it from an old, now yellowing, newspaper clipping)  Don't let the pepper turn you away; they are amazing. I'm incredibly picky, and I love them! In fact, perhaps I'll bake them during the week to surprise him when he comes back from Ottawa, where's he's heading on Monday. At least he's home for the weekend...

Thanks so much for dropping by; your visit and comments add sparkle to my day!