New Year, New Look!

Happy New Year!! Since we are all about organizing, updating and freshening, we are going to be updating the blog the next few days...so don't be surprised if you see some things moving around! Check back soon for a new post!

3 days until Christmas ... The Elf is getting antsy...

It's almost time for Sam the elf to return home to the North Pole for the year, so he has been making sure to keep himself busy, and keep Connor entertained.  Here is our latest installment in the Elf on the Shelf story...

Sam had a play date with all of Connor's stuffed animals...

Just Chillin'

Playing with the Army men... It looks like Sam is outnumbered...

I'd rather be fishin'

 

Sam's Dad came back for a visit and the playable elf joined in for a little genealogy lesson and a look back at the history of The Elf on the Shelf...

 

Connor was NOT happy about this...

 A good elf is always available for emergency rescues...

Time for an elf update... Sam has been busy again...

Well, Sam the elf has been busy again this week.  The first few days were a little slow (hanging from the chandelier, hiding on a shelf) but as we get closer to Christmas, Sam has been having more fun.

Here are a few of his escapades...

He must have wanted Connor's room to look more like the North Pole, so he made some snowflakes...

 

A little adventure...

And the best one yet... Sam raided Connor's sock/underwear drawer and scattered socks all over his room, and underwear all over the tree... Gotta love his creativity...

Purex / Better Homes and Gardens Magazine Subscription Giveaway!

Who doesn't love fun mail in their mailbox?! We don't know about you, but Brian and I love getting anything besides bills in our mailbox these days! (We've managed to get everything but our new SUV paperless though -- WOO HOO!) We are all big readers in this house, so one of our favorite things to see in the mailbox every afternoon is our magazines!

With that in mind, we wanted to let our readers know that Purex is giving away 20,000 Better Homes and Gardens Magazine Subscriptions!!

Just go here to enter for your chance to win one of the 20,000 Better Homes and Gardens (a whole year's worth!)Subscriptions...have you checked them out lately? Such eye candy! I especially love the new recipes that they include each month, along with the really great photos! I always find something new to add to our monthly menu plan. You have until December 20th to enter, so go quick!

What do you like to get in your mailbox?

Sam the elf has returned for another Christmas season...

We are only a couple days into December and is appears that Sam, the Elf on the Shelf has returned to watch over Connor and cause some trouble.  I will try to document his escapades as he terrorizes the house and causes Connor (and us) grief.

Here are some of the highlights so far:

Nov. 25 - He Stopped in the day after Thanksgiving to toilet-paper the Christmas tree in the family room.  He saw we were slow to put up decorations, so he took on the task himself...

Nov. 27 - Sam saw we had the Christmas village set up and must have decided that he was home sick.  He spent the day there watching Connor (and getting watched by Connor)...

Dec. 1 - Sam delivered the first piece of Connor's LEGO Advent Calendar, nothing too exciting to see here...

Dec. 2 - Apparently sugar makes elves hyper, because Sam made a mess today...

Dec. 3 - I don't know if Sam is trying to say that Connor has too many toy trucks, or that he has some really cool trucks and enjoys playing with them...  Either way, Sam thought a parade would be a fun idea. 

Keep watching, we will be updating Sam's mischief every couple days...

Get a Melissa & Doug 25% Off Coupon When You Take the North "Poll"

Melissa & Doug want you to tell them which of their educational toys you think is the best! Just click on the image below to place your vote in the North "Poll!" You'll Get a Melissa & Doug 25% Off Coupon** to use at MelissaAndDoug.com just for voting!

We are going on vacation!

Soooo, for the last few years, my sweet momma's family has been begging her to come down to Florida (we live in NY, if you didn't know) during February for a family reunion. For whatever reason, it hasn't worked out until now. We finally decided that this was the year - we are going to Florida in February! Not only that, but due to the fact that Brian and I will be celebrating our 10th (Wow! 10th!!:)) Anniversary in 2012, and we spent part of our honeymoon at Disney World, we decided that it was time to return to the House of the Mouse with our boy! (Mom is spending the time with her family in Orlando!)

Photo from Yorkblogs.com

Now, don't go getting all impressed...if you've read our blog, you know that we (((big pink puffy heart))) LOVE a bargain and we are certainly on a budget! So, we are starting a new series here at the blog - Disney On a **Real** Budget!  I will be the first to admit that I read a mega ton of blogs - and I don't think I have seen a recent, real life Disney trip blogged about....but we would certainly love to read one if you know of any. So here's the scoop - we are going over February Break in 2012 (read - Peak Season at Disney) and we are driving (With the airfares that week at a consistent $3500 - $4000 round trip for four of us to fly...there is no other way.). Luckily we just got a new vehicle that is great on gas (for another post...um, Brian, that's all you!) and we are good with the driving, especially when we are looking to save that much cash. We literally are pulling this trip together in about three and a half months - no year long planning here, and we are paying cash for it all. We will be back with the details of our planning and booking as they occur...but know that we are looking to maximize our dollars and pack a ton of fun into the short time we have there (the downside of driving - less days to play!).

So, do you have any tips on saving money at the Happiest Place on Earth? Post them below!