Friday Favorites – Elfin Memories

It’s December and if you are an Elf on the Shelf fan you have probably woken up in a cold sweat at least once realizing you forgot to move that little sucker!  I thought I would share some Elf memories and maybe give you a few fun, simple ideas that will make your kidos scream with JOY but also let you get some sleep!

I did a little research and found out the Elf on the Shelf made it’s debut in 2005. Thank goodness we didn’t find out about the little sucker until probably about 2010.  The Elf and I had a love hate relationship.  I loved the magic that arrived with the Elf but even when I had a slew of great ideas, there were days when the elf was not met with rave reviews (like when he didn’t MOVE).

Right after Thanksgiving Carly Jo began asking questions and decided she understood about the elf. I was so relieved friends! Now here we are I’m kind of missing the little guy. There is just something precious and sweet about that last little believer in the house!  Carly has now requested the elf come for a visit even with the knowledge!  So we took a little walk down memory lane and thought we would share how the elf kind of evolved over the 5 years he was with us.Elf on the Shelf - Holidays

We of course started small with a very basic elf who really did just move from place to place.  No funny antics, just new hiding places.  The kids had fun finding BJ (it’s short for Billy Jo and don’t think I haven’t caught heck) and we had fun reminding them the elf was watching and reporting to Santa.  Carly would get so worked up and start screaming at him to stop watching her. So fun!

Year 2 I decided to up my game because i’m a fun mom like that Pinterest. There were lots of antics and one morning when the kids could not find him we headed out to the car to find it parked horizontal across my driveway with BJ buckled in the front seat! It was seriously one of the most talked about moves by BJ the Elf.  It was also easy peasy.
Elf on the Shelf - Holidays
As we were leaving for Thanksgiving I ran back into the house to grab something I “forgot” and staged this for BJ’s return.  This was so easy and could be used at anytime.
Elf on the Shelf - Holidays
I seriously think this may be one of my all time faves!  All you need is a dryer, some painters tape or masking tape and a few barbie friends for some rollercoaster fun!  Bonus…YOU get the day off of laundry duty.
Elf on the Shelf - Holidays
All you need is a kitchen for these ideas.  Admittedly the silverware drawer is a little creepy!  Who says if your kids can’t find the elf that is your problem?  I mean maybe he got scared by their bad behavior and had to have an extra night away.  Totally guilty of letting a day go before helping my kids find him a time or two when they were a bit older.
Elf on the Shelf - Holidays
In 2014 I must have been feeling really motivated because I was extremely intentional about planning out the daily elf moves and even created some little cards for each day with a message.  This one is SO easy y’all and the kids thought it was hilarious.
Elf on the Shelf - Holidays
More easy fun!  The little sick elf also works well when you forget to move him one day and it’s an easy explanation…..he was sick!
Elf on the Shelf - Holidays
One of my personal favorites!  I ran a half marathon in 2014 and loved leaving this for my family to find before they came to cheer me on.  All moms rock so this is an easy win for any day!  Obviously you can spell anything with cheerios and m&ms.
Elf on the Shelf - Holidays
One of my all time favorites and as you can see Carly Jo thought it was pretty great too! Also…easy…except it may have been December 23rd before I got around to cleaning the marker off the toilet!
Last year I really wasn’t sure whether or not Carly would still be waiting for BJ so I held off.  Day after day she would wonder when he was returning and I knew I had to make it a big year!  So while these ideas are not super easy, with a little thoughtful planning we were able to turn our mischievous elf into a random acts of kindness elf!
Elf on the Shelf - Holidays
I worked with Carly’s 4th grade teacher and we set this up the night before.  It was such a fun day for her and her friends.  One of her friends even wrote a letter to BJ!!  The kids wrote notes and passed out candy canes to their favorite staff members around school and I loved receiving the pictures at the end of the day!
Elf on the Shelf - Holidays
I worked to incorporate all the things we already do each year into the daily elf moves; donating blankets, handing out goodies to the sanitary workers and then of course you have to give yourself a toast every now and then!
Elf on the Shelf - Holidays
Kids always have field trips this time of year so BJ left a lottery ticket for the kids to give to their bus driver.
Acts of Kindness
I mean…seriously….smiles all around y’all!
Elf on the Shelf - Holidays

Where was this when I needed it?  This is the latest in Elf marketing so if you are a mom who likes the excitement but needs the ease of a one stop shop, you might want to pick up Elves at Play. I’d like to say if I was not too lazy this would have been marketed my my friend Holly and I.  In 2014 we came up with the slogan Unshelf Yo Elf and totally had this idea but obviously not the gumption to carry through.  Ha!  You can see all the past years of elfing fun on instagram by checking out these hashtags or follow my friend Holly on instagram because the magic at her house is still alive and well.  #unshelfyoelf2014  #unshelfyoelf2015  #unshelfyoelf2016.

So all this to say, friends, whether you do the elf or not embracing the season and finding ways to share the Christmas magic with your kids is special.  They are only little once and I promise it won’t be long and you will sleeping in on Saturday and they will no longer think you are so cool.  (Don’t worry, they start to think you are cool again when they move out!)

I hope this brought you a few helpful ideas!  Relax and remember, they are not going to remember whether you moved the elf or not but instead will remember the joy you brought into your house.

Happy Friday and Merry Christmas!

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Unshelf Yo Elf #Christmas #Holidayfun
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