15 Simple Elf on the Shelf Ideas

Our Elf on the Shelf,  Gum Drop, is such a hit in my home. Every morning Neacel comes running down the stairs reminding me that we have to find Gum Drop. Moods have been better, listening has been amazing, and I will be extremely sad to see him leave. One thing I do is move him around the area the kids found him that morning...he might be found hanging on a picture, a couple of hrs later when kids are playing upstairs, I move him to the lamp. It helps that my oldest thinks he is moving around when we aren't looking. Neacel no longer thinks he is fake...thank goodness for the movie Toy Story! I will admit, when 11pm rolls around and I haven't thought about what Gum Drop will do that night I want to throw a fit. It's late and I'm tired, I don't want to think of something clever at that point. Gum Drop showed up on the 1st of Dec during naps and has been a family friend since and I have been able to come up with some fun thing for him to do. Here is a little list of 15 simple ideas that we have done, or that I plan on doing:

1. Make North Pole brownies (add Christmas sprinkles) and egg nog to drink. It's Christmas time you know you can make some brownies quickly.

2. Have him write the kids a note. I did this after a horrible day. The note explained that Santa was sad and because they were naughty that they needed to do something nice for 2 people in order to get on the Nice list again. My oldest is coloring pictures for a friend and his Sunday school teacher...plus some cookies for them too. He has even talked about doing something nice for everyone he knows (YES! This mom is proud of that!)

3. Dye milk green. North Pole Elf Milk, of course its from North Pole cows

4. Hide him in the Christmas shelf display. I have a ton of Christmas things on a shelf, we just hid him and told the boys he is probably playing hide n seek

5. Draw on pictures with a dye erase marker.

6. Cut out snowflakes and hang them around the living room, or you can use extra Christmas tree ornaments.

7. Wrap pictures for Christmas. Glad the elf will do this and not me....sigh.

8. Snowball fight with action guys and barbies (mini marshmallows)

9. Bring special cups from the North Pole (.87 at Walmart, Christmas cups) fill with hot cocoa packets and marshmallows.

10. Snow Angel in powdered sugar

11. TP the Christmas tree (I can't wait for this one)

12. Red party streamers in front of their bedroom doors so they have to break through (Do on Christmas morning)

13. Roast marshmallows over a candle. (Obviously, roast when kids are sleeping keep on tooth pick and blow out candle. We don't want a fire!)

14. Red lipstick on noses while sleeping....you have been Rudolphed! Every participates, even you and husbands!

15. Empty ice cream container in the freezer, while the elf is sitting next to it with a spoon. Elves love ice cream!

These are simple oops I forgot ideas of mine. If you want to see what else I come up with follow me on instagram: MandyBurt86. I post my Gum Drop elf ideas everyday.

I love what Gum Drop has done to my kids so far and we still have about 2 weeks left with him. I think I need to come up with something for the rest of the year, maybe an angel?

Kids Drawing Key Chain

via Formia Design by Mia Van Beek

I came across this on pinterest, and had to share it with everyone. Who wouldn't want a kids drawing on a key chain? It's the perfect gift for any family member. I know I would love for my husband to get one of these done. What a perfect way to keep a loved drawing with you for years. That first drawing that they are beyond excited to show you. The first one that they spent so much time on, just perfecting every little feature. If you get the drawing on a key chain, it can't get ruined like that paper that it was originally on. Now I'm all for original being best, but if the original was ruined, I would be heartbroken. So if you haven't found a Christmas present for your hubby, wife or grandparents, hurry and have your kiddo draw a picture and get this key chain ordered before it's too late!

eDiaperCakes.com Gift Card Giveaway!

I was thrilled to be contacted about doing a giveaway. eDiaperCakes.com is offering 2 of you $25 gift cards! How awesome is that? eDiaperCakes.com is a mom-owned business that started in April of 2012.They sell a variety of diaper cakes that are designed with children’s books, stuff animals and baby products. All their diaper cakes are assembled by hand and they use brand name products to embellish them.

Here are my personal favorites:

Giveaway will run for 1 week and is for US residents only! Use the Rafflecopter form below to enter.

Good Luck!




a Rafflecopter giveaway

Best Carrot Cake Ever!

Came across this gem on pinterest. Look at the picture, who wouldn't want to slave away in the kitchen to make this dreamy cake? Believe me, I let the kids go a little more crazy then usual just to make this cake. It does not disappoint. Thanks Cooking the Amazing

via Cooking the Amazing

2 c   All Purpose Flour

1 1/2 c   Sugar

1/4 c   Brown Sugar, packed (dark or light)

1  1/2 t   Baking Soda

1 t   Baking Powder

1 t  Salt

4 t  Cinnamon

1/4 t  Nutmeg

1/8 t  Ground Cloves 

1/4 t  Ground Ginger

2 c  Finely Grated Peeled Carrot, packed

1 c  Coconut Flakes, sweetened

1 c  Raisins (Optional)

1 can 8 oz  Crushed Pineapple, drained

       (reserve 1 T of drained Pineapple juice)

1 1/2 c  Walnuts or Pecans, chopped small pieces

1 c  Vegetable Oil

2 t  Vanilla Extract

1 T  Finely Grated Fresh Orange Zest 

3  Eggs, extra large

Pam non stick Cooking Spray

Total Prep and cooking time approx. 1 1/4 hr.

Total Cooling and Icing time approx. 2 1/2 hrs

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Prepare two 9 inch cake pans by spraying with Vegetable non-stick spray (like Pam Spray) and line with a parchment paper round on the bottom then spray the top of the parchment.  Or spray a 9 X 13 baking pan with Vegetable non stick spray (like Pam Spray) or use 20 jumbo Cupcake liners in a Muffin tin without using Pam spray.
3. In a large bowl whisk well:  Flour, Sugar, Brown Sugar, Baking Soda, Baking Powder, Salt, all Spices.
4. Peel then Grate approx 5-6 medium Carrots to yield 2 cups packed.  Grate Carrots finely to no more than 1/4 inch pieces.  Or process in a food processor until finely grated but not mush.  It isimportant that you peel the Carrots before grating.  You do not want the tough skins in your cake.
5. In a medium bowl or KitchenAid bowl add Carrots, Grated Fresh Orange Peel, Drained Pineapple, Raisins (optional), Coconut Flakes, Walnuts or Pecans and mix well with a big spoon.
6. To this mixture add the Vegetable Oil, Vanilla Extract and Eggs one at a time mixing in well then add 1 T of the reserved Pineapple juice and mix well.  Scrape down bowl often.
7. Slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix with a hand mixer or Kitchen Aid for  about 1 minute until well mixed.  Do not over mix.
8. Pour divided into prepared (as above) 9 inch cake pans, or 9 X 13 pan, or approximately 20 Cupcake liners filled 3/4 full or a 9 X 13 baking sheet sprayed with Pam but no parchment paper needed. 
9. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 mins for Cupcakes,  35-40 minutes for 9 inch layer cakes and 45-50 mins for 9 X 13 in the center of the oven.  Half way through cooking rotate the pans for even cooking.  A toothpick will come out clean when done.  All ovens vary in timing so check at lowest time first and if not done put back in oven and recheck in 2- 3 minutes.
10. Allow to cool completely in pan for 1-2 hrs. before removing to ice with Cream Cheese Icing.  Recipe below.  Place 1/4 of icing between the two layers and when placing the top cake layer on, put the flat side of the cake (the bottom when it was in the cake pan) facing up for a flat top which makes a more attractive cake and easier to ice.
    
    
    
    
    And to top it off here is the amazing Cream Cheese Frosting!
    
    2 sticks Butter, unsalted, softened
    16 oz. Cream Cheese, softened (2 bars)
    3 c Powdered Sugar
    4 t Vanilla Extract
    1/4 t Almond Extract
    1 small pinch Salt (very small pinch)
    
    Total Prep Time: 7 minutes (except time to soften butter and cream cheese.)
    

    1. Allow Butter and Cream Cheese to sit out until at room temperature and softened.
    2. In a large bowl, place the softened Butter.
    3. Cream the Butter with a hand mixer for 2 minutes. Then add the Cream Cheese and cream for 2 minutes or so more until well mixed.
    4. 1 cup at a time, add the Powdered Sugar and blend well.
    5. Add Salt, Vanilla and Almond Extracts and mix well.  Taste and add more Powdered Sugar to be mnore sweet or more Cream Cheese to suit your taste.
    6. Keep Cream Cheese Icing at room temperature for the best consistency to ice Cakes.
    7. Refrigerate unused icing. To use again, bring to room temperature then mix with a hand mixer for about 1 minute before using.
    8. OPTION: For those that like a very strong Cream Cheese taste add another 4 oz. of Cream Cheese for a more intense flavor.

Opinions Wanted

Students Criticize Michelle Obama's School Lunch Regulations.

The other night I was talking to my husband and he was telling me about one of the kids he visits. We were talking about food in schools. This kid who will be named "Fred" and is a football player was saying that his school watches his calories now. Before for school breakfast he got a pint of milk, a pop tart and oatmeal. Not the healthiest but was food that he ate. Now that schools had changed their food he gets less then a pint of milk and a granola bar, and spends the day starving. People, I eat more then that, and I'm on a diet! Lunch is just as bad, Fred was saying that before kids would eat what they wanted, now its fruits, veggies and a main course but very very small portions. Many kids trash their food because they don't like it. Meaning, many kids go hungry throughout the school day because they don't have options at lunch, and the ones they do have, aren't ones that they like. Schools even got rid of salad bars! My husband remembers having one, I remember having one but according to Fred, schools aren't allowed to have them any more. Fred, as mentioned before is a football player. He needs calories... apparently, he is in a computer system that counts his daily intake. Poor Fred can't even have a small cookie at lunch because his food intake is watched so much at school. I think its with the school, but don't quote me on it. His parents also watch what he eats, because according to the system, our healthy, very active friend Fred, is obese! WHAT? According to my husband, Fred is a smaller guy, tall and very thin. It broke my heart to hear that his calories are being counted and that his food at school isn't enough. Food is needed to make the body function correctly, right? So why are schools controlling what children eat to this point? Sure we want our children healthy but I want them to have options to pick from that they like instead of starving. My opinion is that sure, they are thin and healthy now, but don't you think this will backfire? That as soon as kids are out of school and intake for a meal or 2 isn't controlled that they are going to binge on everything they haven't had before. Then we are really going to be dealing with obese people.

So I want your opinion on this situation. Do you agree that schools should continue controlling meals, or that kids should have more options? I understand Michelle Obama wants healthier lunches for kids, and that children won't always pick healthier options, but am I the only one who would rather my kids eat something unhealthy, then to throw away their lunch because they don't like it? I want healthy kids just like any mom, but I want them to learn to eat healthy, not be forced to eat healthy.