Elf on the Shelf Ideas: 25+ Days of Elf Shenanigans

As promised, I'm bringing you all more of my elf on the shelf ideas.

These were from this past christmas, and again, I had a ball prepping and setting up this little guy.

Lets jump right into it.

Day 1: He brought our annual North Pole Breakfast.  (You can read about it HERE)

Day 2: Someone got himself stuck in a glass.

Day 3: Keeping warm in the fridge.

Day 4: I'm pretty sure he's got all 4 Elf food groups covered.

Day 5: I think he's a tad confused on how the rainbow loom works.

Day 6:  Sneaking some cookies.

Day 7:  Cozy by the "fireplace".

Day 8:  Guess he made some friends.

Day 9:  Time for some christmas egg doodling.

Day 10:  Maybe he's really gotta go?

Day 12:  He's dreaming of a warm christmas.

Day 13: He may be rushing things a bit ...

                          

Day 14:  Hiding in the ornaments.

Day 15:  Ziplining.  It's on every elf's bucket list.

Day 16:  All about portion control.

Day 17: Popcorn roasting on an open fire.

Day 18:  Climbing up the chandelier.

Day 19: A relaxing marshmallow bath.

Day 20:  Feeding his friends.

Day 21:   Someone was a tad thirsty.

Day 22:  Hiding in the presents.

Day 23:  He hung his own stocking.

Day 24:  Reading to his friends.

Day 25:  Just hangin' around.

Day 26:  He can win a spelling bee for sure.

Day 27:  He's North Pole bound.  All packed up and ready to leave.

Hope this gives you some inspiration for the upcoming year!

And I hope everyone had the very merriest of Christmases and you're enjoying the new year!

You May Also Like:

• Elf on the Shelf Planning Guide -- 6 Tips for a Stress Free Elf Experience
• 25 Days of Elf on the Shelf -- Part 1

New Year's Eve Printables

Christmas has come and gone once again and in this house we're gearing up for our annual New Year's Eve party.

I created two printables for my table and I thought I'd share them both with you all to help make your table scape a little more festive!  Who doesn't love a good free chalkboard and subway art printable?  I know I do!

Just right click and save to your desktop and print.

Place in an 8x10 frame and enjoy!

Happy New Year Printable

Subway Art Printable

Wishing everyone a joyous and happy 2015!

Our Snowman Dinner

I wanted to post about our snowman dinner a few days ago, but with the holidays being here and wrapping everything up (pun intended) I just couldn't find enough time in the day to sit and blog about it.

Now with the holidays over and New Year's Eve quickly approaching, I have finally found a moment to catch my breath and share it here.

Last year, I planned a grinch dinner (which you can see HERE) but this year I wanted to do something a little different.

Side Note: If you check out my grinch dinner, apparently collage making was all the rage last year because I don't have one.single.picture.  

Anyway, I wanted our dinner to be just as special as the grinch dinner but with an entirely different theme.  So I looked through our Christmas movies and came across the idea to do a snowman themed dinner and finish off the night by watching Frosty the Snowman.

I searched all over for a snowman themed dinner but couldn't find anything.  So I just tried to create all different types of snowman themed food and smash them together to make one dinner theme.  I think it worked!

Our "main course" was a simple and delicious snowman pizza.

 Complete with olive eyes and a mouth, an orange pepper nose, and a bacon scarf.

For the dessert I made Snowflake Crunch Popcorn (you can find the recipe HERE)

 and I made these adorable snowman cupcakes that were almost too cute to eat.  Almost.

And to wash everything down, I made some White Chocolate Snowflake Cocoa (you can find the recipe HERE).

I think everything tied together very well and there was little preparation I had to do for this dinner.

Everything was kept fairly simple but the excitement of my kids was above and beyond.  What more can you want?  Little work and big smiles. Awesomeness.

I kept the decor pretty simple with a blue and white winter theme.

Download my Frosty Printable HERE

 You can download my Frosty the Doughman Label HERE

Hope everyone had a great Christmas and sending warm wishes for a happy new year!

Christmas Snowflake Crunch Popcorn--A Marshmallowy and Yummy Treat

I recently threw together a snowman themed dinner for my kids on Sunday night.  (I'll be posting that soon!)  I wanted all the food and decor to be winter themed, and I thought this was definitely fitting for that.

I love that it was so simple to make with ingredients I already had in my pantry, plus the colors remind me of winter.  And whenever you pair marshmallow with ANYTHING, that's okay with me.

Ingredients:

• 3/4 bag mini marshmallows
• 3 cups popped popcorn (can use microwaveable but I prefer to pop my own kernels)
• 1/4 cup butter
• blue M&M's (blue sprinkles are optional as well)

Directions:

1. Place popcorn in a large bowl.
2. In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.
3. Add in marshmallows to butter and stir until completely melted.
4. Pour butter/marshmallow mixture over popcorn.
5. Mix until popcorn in completely coated.
6. Add in blue M&Ms and stir to combine all ingredients together.
7. Serve within a few hours.

White Chocolate Snowflake Hot Cocoa

For my family, winter starts when the first cup of hot chocolate is made.  It's tradition.  We don't drink it any other time except for in the Winter.  And in Florida that means December.  (and usually not a day before).

But what could make hot chocolate even more exciting?  What can be even more decedent and creamy and has a completely different flavor but still brings a warmness to the winter?  White Hot Chocolate!

Yes, you heard me right.  Hot chocolate made with amazingly delicious white chocolate.  Talk about an amazing alternative to everyone's favorite classic holiday beverage.

Ingredients:

• 6 cups milk 
• 2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 1 bag white chocolate chips
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Add in all ingredients into a crock pot.
2. Turn on low.
3. Heat for 2-3 hours or until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is hot.
4. Enjoy with some whipped cream and marshmallows on top on a chilly day :)

Note: You can easily cut this recipe is half if you have a small family, or keep the recipe the way it is if you're serving a large crowd.  It makes around 10 servings.

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2 Ingredient Whipped Topping

Chewy Peanut Butter Fudge Cookies

If you're a peanut butter addict like myself, these yummy Christmas cookies might become your new obsession.

Please don't say I didn't warn you.

Some might be thinking, how are these a Christmas cookie?  For my family they are because I only make them around Christmas time.  Why?  Because that's what my mother did.  And I'm pretty sure we're the same person.

These are one of my favorite cookies of all time because as a peanut butter junkie, these fudgy chewy cookies are filled with peanut butter chips and that makes me want to sing.  And dance.

Crispy around the edges and soft and chewy in the middle.  That sounds like THE perfect cookie to me!

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cup butter

2 cups sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 cups flour

3/4 cup cocoa powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 bag Reeses Peanut Butter chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar.

3. Add in eggs and vanilla.  Mix well.

4. Add in dry ingredients.  Mix.

5. Stir in peanut butter chips.

6. Drop tablespoons of dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet.

7. Bake 8-9 minutes.  Cool on a wire rack.

8. Enjoy!

*Can store in an airtight container for up to 3 days*

*Makes around 4 1/2 dozen cookies*

To Print This Recipe Click Here