The Gift of Winter Fun

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MakeItMerrier #CollectiveBiasAs a kid growing up in Minnesota, I had my fair share of winter fun in the snow. From ice skating lessons at the nearby park to sledding at my favorite hill, there was never a dull moment once winter set in! We’d play outside for so long that eventually, despite my best efforts to ignore the cold, my nose would start to run and my fingers and toes would tingle, which meant it was time to go inside.First step? The laundry room, where my dad would swiftly peel off my soggy mittens, jacket, and super hip 1991-style suspender snowpants. If it was a really frigid day, he’d have the fireplace blazing in the family room where’d I’d cuddle up on the couch under the patchwork quilt and anxiously await the best part of the whole ordeal…sipping my cozy hot chocolate from a steaming mug. In between sips, I’d press the cup against my rosy red cheeks for an extra dose of warmth and comfort.Now that my kids have reached an age at which they’re no longer stiff, padded little beings stumbling around in the snow, they’re more than ready to brave the cold and enjoy all the Minnesota winter fun and the cups of hot cocoa at the end of course. Over the weekend, I heard my son say, “Let’s go outside and play in the snow so we can get a cup of hot chocolate when we come in!”Every Christmas, we do a gift exchange with our friends and family who now have children eager to hit the sledding hills. With my family’s outdoor winter fun routine in full swing, I’ve decided to gift the joy and treats to our loved ones this season to help them develop their own winter playtime traditions. I set out on a mission to Target in search of items for the ultimate winter fun gift basket. After stops at the outdoor toy, home, and $1 bin sections, we headed to the most exciting aisle: The coffee aisle, also known to me as the Starbucks aisle. For the holidays, Target actually has the Starbucks goodies in 2 locations: in the regular coffee/tea aisle and by the holiday treats and food gifts.Here, you’ll find warm winter drinks for the entire family to enjoy. If you’re not a straight up coffee drinker, I highly recommend the Starbucks VIA Peppermint Mocha packets, which I love adding to warm almond milk. In minutes, you can make your very own Starbucks specialty holiday drink in the comfort of your own home! Another amazing find? The hot chocolate K-cups! Cheers to no hot water on the stove or cocoa powder spills on the counter! 

Time to assemble the basket. Here’s a rundown of all the basket items:

To assemble the basket, follow these steps:

1. Spread the blanket out over the base of the snow saucer.
2. Place all the items in the basket, grouping like items together and ensuring the item titles are visible.
3. Wrap the basket in cellophane wrap and gather the excess wrap in a bunch at the top of the basket.
4. Tie the excess cellophane tight with a string or small ribbon.
5. Tie a gift tag and secure a decoration at the top.
6. Tie a larger, decorative ribbon around the bundled portion.

To get you started on your own winter fun gift basket, check out this great deal! Right now, you can get a $5 Starbucks Card e-gift when you purchase 3 or more qualifying Starbucks products. Give the gift of winter fun and warmth this holiday season with a gift basket full of Starbucks goodies the whole family will enjoy!