Are you ready for this???? Sheaffer and I have been like Santa's little elves over the last 6 months planning the 12 Days of Christmas! We want it to be fun! We want it to be spectacular! We want to share our Christmas excitement with all of YOU! We will have giveaways, recipes, holiday ideas, traditions, and of course help you with your shopping. It's going to be FABULOUS! This is us celebrating the holidays with YOU!
Let me explain what I'll be doing...
First, I will be giving you a recipe a day for the 12 Days of Christmas. They'll be simple, festive, and fun recipes to make with your family, take to parties, help with your entertaining, or just to enjoy by the fire. Simple and festive are the keys! We will not be slaving away in the kitchen this holiday season! We will be making quick and fun treats while enjoy Bing Crosby on Pandora and cocoa with marshmallows. Repeat after me, I will not slave away in the kitchen this Christmas.
Second, the Shull family is FULL of Christmas traditions! We do something "Christmasy" every night. I will be sharing my Christmas traditions, ideas and creative ways to enjoy this season with your family (and once again, they're simple and often free...perfect for busy families!).
Third, our Elf on the Shelf is out and about, I will be posting pictures every morning on Instagram of what Buddy (our Elf) is up to. I'll also be showing you on here too. Need Elf ideas? This mama has you covered! Watch our Elf move about here or on Instagram @mixandmatchmama #whereourelfistoday
Fourth, I am the entertaining queen! I love hosting parties and having friends in my home. But I never make it complicated! Whether you're just having a few friends over, your entire family or a huge party...I'm going to share daily tips, tricks and advice for pulling off a holiday party without the stress. Don't stress people...tis the season to be merry, right?
And finally, every day, I will share with you great deals, good finds, gift giving ideas and such. It's that time of year when we're all shopping, so I'll be sharing with you my shopping ideas, style finds and more!
But don't worry...Fifty Two Shades of Shay and my Instagram pics of the week will still be incorporated...there is just too much fun ahead!
Plus, every day over on Sheaffer's blog, she will be sharing her 12 Days of Christmas joy too! Make sure you check all 3 of our blogs every day (this one, Sheaffer's and my food blog!). So much fun!
Let's get started!!
First things first...
...are you flipping out? Are you screaming? Yes! We're giving away one $500 Nordstrom gift card for our 1st day! (I hear the Hallelujah Chorus being sung right now...). That's how excited we are about spending the Christmas season with you...we're giving away $500 to our favorite store! (And...you don't have to have Face Book to enter to win...we made it easy so that everyone can participate!)
OK...calm down (if you can). Deep breaths. We have so much more fun ahead...
Every day, I'll be giving you ideas for your Elf on the Shelf...
Our elf is named Buddy and he made his annual debut on Friday morning! This year, we decided to do a donut breakfast with Buddy's arrival and give the kids two of their Christmas presents. My kids can get overwhelmed with their gifts on Christmas morning, so giving them two in advance gives them extra time to enjoy those two (plus, they think it's really neat that "Buddy" brought them gifts!). All you need is a strand of colorful lights, some donuts, your Elf on the Shelf book and a letter from Santa explaining your Elf's arrival. Simple and fun!
Over the weekend, we decided to take in the activities around our town. We live about 45 minutes from my parents but both of our towns host really fun Christmas activities and lights during the holidays. Make it a tradition to visit your city's Christmas festivities and lights each year! Here we are...
The weekend after Thanksgiving, our little town square hosts such a magical Christmas celebration! This year, they even borrowed some of Santa's reindeer!
Carousel rides, sledding, ice skating, a petting zoo, face painting, train rides...just too much to do!
My kiddos' favorite thing to do was the sledding!
They look forward to this every year!
My cuties :)
Shull family tradition...always participate in your community's Christmas activities!
And since we're giving away a $500 gift card to Nordstrom...I thought I would remind you of my favorite Nordstrom gifting ideas. $500 people! This is HUGE!!!
This is the perfect time to pick up quick gifts and stocking stuffers!
Click here to see all of the fun stuffers under $25!
And I know I keep repeating this...but seriously, grab each lady in your life a different pattern of the same set of pajamas! Click here for the flannel sets and here for the fleece bottoms.
And you know how much I love scarves as gifts! The perfect gift for every age, every size, every kind of girl you know...
Blue & Navy Scarf (in 3 other colors!), Colorful Infinity Scarf (in 2 other colors), Floral Infinity Scarf (in 2 other colors) Solid Infinity Scarf (in 13 colors!), Stripe Infinity Scarf (in 3 other colors)
Scarves are perfect for babysitters, teachers, sisters, friends, moms, daughters...every girl on your Christmas list!
Toms are such a fun way to give gifts! Pick out a fun color for each girl on your list! Plus, with Nordstrom's great free shipping and free return policy, if the shoe doesn't fit...she can take it back without any hassle whatsoever!
Click here to see all of the Toms.
Click here to see our recipe of the day! Today, I whipped up the cookie recipe you'll be using all season long! It's simple and oh so versatile! From start to finish, it only takes about 15 minutes to prepare and bake these little cookies. Plus, they are so simple to mix and match! You can actually use the same method all season but prepare a dozen or so different varieties. Fun!!
It's just the 1st Day of Christmas and we're already giving away a $500 Nordstrom gift card? Are you flipping out over the fun? We sure are!
Merry Christmas!
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