Elf of the Shelf

My sister recommended this to me and now I am recommending this to you! It's a little a book called Elf of the Shelf. It retails for 29.95 (I got mine on ebay and it came with free shipping). The kit comes with the cutest rhyming Christmas story and a little elf doll.

The story is about this elf who watches you all day and flys home at night to report to Santa all your naughty and nice behavior. Each morning he is in a new place in your house and the kids find him in the morning. On Christmas Eve he flys home with Santa with promises to return next year around Thanksgiving.

Nothing like a mild case of paranoia to motivate good behavior! Whatever works :) xo, Brie

http://cgi.ebay.com/THE-ELF-ON-THE-SHELF-A-CHRISTMAS-TRADITION-NEW-IN-BOX_W0QQitemZ260315783399QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item260315783399&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318#ebayphotohosting

The Day After....

We are clearing out the kids' toy room. So many outgrown, broken, lost pieces everywhere.... it's gots to go! Should take hours (no kidding, it's really bad)... wish me luck and stay tuned for pics! xo, Brie

Happy Thanksgiving :)

Give thanks, eat lots, have fun! xo, Brie

If this weren't 250 dollars

I would have no choice than to host the holidays in this! xo, Brie

Only at Target!

http://www.target.com/Adults-Snowman-Suit/dp/B0010OFIF2/sr=1-24/qid=1227569818/ref=sr_1_24/178-9615404-2752659?ie=UTF8&index=target&rh=k:christmas%20suit&page=1

I love discount codes

A few people posted this and I want to keep it going.... who doesn't love a little percent off? xo, Brie

Vampires are having the best week EVER!

Keely and I went to see Twilight last night after our show. Holy smokes did I love it! I haven't even read the books, but now of course I will. Add this movie to your to do list!



Edward is Cedric from Harry Potter- so handsome... funny I never noticed that before! - the makeup was a touch distracting to me but all in all two thumbs up! xo, Brie

Guess What

I completely chickened out on the bangs..... but I did get my hair cut a lot shorter. I like it but I am still going through a little shock with the drastic change. When your 4 year old greets you at school pick up with a "you look weird" that tends to damage the psyche a bit. Keely is coming in tonight so I'll have her take a pic. I might go for the longer "side bangs" in January! xo, Brie

PS Kerry, you are the whole inspiration for wanting the bangs in the first place! Yours look great!

Time Waster to the Third Power

At least three people have recommended this site to me (knowing how easily amused I am :)

http://www.yearbookyourself.com/

How awesome is this? I am now contemplating a whole new world of hairdos now! xo, Brie

Every time I look at these I get giggling. The top one is my facebook profile and somebody asked me today when I had that picture taken? I guess she thinks I am older than I am? Maybe I should seriously consider those bangs!

Bangs or No Bangs?

That's a good question! I am seriously considering bringing the bangs back. I'm not the young filly that I used to be so they could offer some help in that dept. We went out this weekend to a bar that was carding - I honestly panicked a bit b/c I didn't have my id on me. That sent my husband and his friend into a fit of laughter. Needless to say we were waved right in with no id required. How sad!

On the other hand - I remember the pain in the neck bangs brought requiring frequent trimming not to mention the impulsive times I decided to take matters into my own hands and trim them myself (was not pretty!) I've never been a big fan of the "I just had my bangs cut" look either.

What to do, what to do. I have Friday to decide! Help me! xo, Brie

Archeutah :)

Guess who just bought David Archuleta's new single off itunes? That's right, me! I'm lovin it :) xo, Brie

A couple of tips for the Magic Kingdom

I have a huge show coming up starting Thursday and my head is still somewhere in Orlando. Forgive my blog neglect in both posting and reading, I'll be back on track soon!


Ms. C ready to hit the Magic Kingdom doing the stiff handed princess/beauty queen wave. Not sure where she learned this but boy did we all love it!

I wanted to share some HOT tips I found for the Magic Kingdom if you are planning a trip soon (I can't take credit for all of these b/c some are from Keely and my cousin Sara!)

• If you have a little girl go to Costco or BJ's and buy them a princess costume dress BEFORE your trip. MANY of the little girls are wandering the park in these dresses and look adorable. Caroline was Belle (thank you Keely!) This costume cost 30 dollars at BJ's wholesale club and was 65 and up at the park. All of the park staff would greet her saying - good morning princess, hello princess etc - she loved it! One staffer even asked for her autograph in their book - she ate it up.



• Go to the park in Sept, Oct, or Nov - the longest line we waited in was 25 minutes. We walked on almost everything (with the exception of Saturday which was noticeably more crowded)



• If a ride offers FASTPASS - get one and don't wait in the regular line. This is especially true for Peter Pan in Fantasy land- that line is slow as molasses and they definitely "favor" the fast pass line.



• You are only allowed one fast pass per time window per ticket so plan wisely! For example I knew some of my kids would do Thunder Mountain and others would not so we got 3 fast passes for that ride and Dave used the other 3 to get fast passes for Peter Pan



• Do Dumbo ride FIRST - this ride has no fast pass and is S L O W to load and unload causing for longer lines



• SKIP Stitch's escape. Seriously, horrible. The kids of all ages (including me) hated it.



• Go to the library and or buy the Unofficial Guide to Disney. It was a fantastic resource FULL of awesome tips!



• The kids loved having dinner at Pinocchio Village Haus with a table overlooking Small World. It's fast food but they loved waving to the people on the ride! It was a fun spot to take a break.



• I hate those autograph books ... they totally slow up the character picture line but we broke down and bought 2 books anyway.



• Disney's fireworks cannot be beat they are great, but NOT for everyone. Ms. C nearly had a nervous breakdown when they started - forcing us to flee from the park. They are beautiful but very loud.

• Take full advantage of the ride switch if they offer it. Tell the staffer at the front of the line you want to ride switch and they hand you a fast pass good anytime that day for up to 3 people. Total score and won't interfere with getting another fast pass since the one in your hand wasn't dispensed by a machine and therefore not in the system.

Best Ride for the whole family (our kids scare easily) = Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin

Best 3D movie of all the parks is here = Philharmagic

Best parade - 3pm down Main St = Disney Dreams Come True. All your favorites are in this - it's really cute! Slip into the gift ship Emporium on Main Street (gets my vote for best gift shop btw) and out their side door for secret FRONT ROW seats :)

We also had a "magical moment" at the park which I honestly thought wasn't "real" but it is. Free ice cream for Ms. C! Thanks Mickey! xo, Brie

Coming soon - tips for Epcot and Hollywood Studios along with my review of the Nickelodeon Suites hotel

Back to the Real World!

Boy oh boy did we have a GREAT time in Disney! I have so many tips and tricks to share and I promise to dish it all soon - I have about a bazillion loads of laundry waiting for me upstairs and I wish I could wiggle my nose and make it go away.

In the meantime - check out a pic from our princess lunch in Epcot. I put this up on facebook and said it was me with the kids heading out to the park! xo, Brie

C ya real soon 8:)

It's vacation time and in usual fashion, I am scrambling last minute. I had big hopes of putting up some entertaining posts while I was away, but never got to it. Time is tight, I hope you understand ;) See you when we get back!! xo, Brie

Clock Work

Don't forget to FALL BACK and turn your clocks back one hour tonight! I am super psyched for the extra hour of sleep! xo, Brie

Halloween 2008

The kids had a blast last night. I bought extra candy b/c I thought we'd really be swamped with trick or treaters being a Friday. NOT the case, maybe there were lots of Halloween parties?

We had a little ladybug, a zombie prom queen, a clone trooper (don't make the mistake I did and call him a storm trooper - he was insulted) and Harry Potter.

I am most proud of the Hedwig I made on Kev's shoulder... his nose is a cashew nut.

I liked Kay's makeup too and put some dead hydrangea blooms in her hair and made a wrist corsage out of them too.

Here's a tip if you have little ones... go to Old Navy TODAY - they have awesome costumes and I got this little ladybug last year on November 1st for 4.99!!!!!

Here is our million dollar pumpkin (before)

and after his makeover

I'm sad b/c there was not ONE Heath bar in all 4 bags. The kids hate them, but I love them :( Have a great Saturday, I'm off to vacuum approximately 2 million nerds off my family room rug!