elf on the shelf ideas

I love Christmas time! Teaching made it even better. I loved being around excited kiddos that help spread the Christmas spirit. I'm not quite ready to start the elf with Elle, so I thought I would share some ideas from when I used The Elf on the Shelf in my classroom.

He started out on our Christmas tree with his book wrapped underneath. My students loved it! We named him Elfis. Here are some places that he decided to hide throughout the month.

The reading room with a book of Christmas jokes.

Making snowflakes by the school supplies.

Making snowflakes by the school supplies.

Dressed up like Harry Potter flying on his paintbrush.

Playing Candyland with Mr. Sock Monkey.

Hanging around the lunch count.

Some students were getting a little stinky and were choosing not to believe. Elfis didn't like that and decided to take their pencils for a dive.

 He also helped keep the classroom clean.

Elfis was so loved in our classroom that the students even made things for him.

Needless to say, it was a great way to add a little fun to the Christmas season, and it was also a great classroom management tool. I can't wait to start this tradition with Elle! Next year she should be a lot more into it.

metallic geometric ornaments

I love adding something new to my Christmas decor every year. This year was no exception. I try to get a little creative so I don't break the bank. Here's what I came up with: 

                                             

                                               

I love how it's different than the usual ornaments you find. It was also very easy to make, which is always a bonus.

                                             

To make these ornaments you need cocktail straws (you can find them in the paper goods section at the store (I bought mine on Amazon)), 30 gauge wire, and some spray paint (metallic works best because it makes the ornaments look like they are made out of metal tubes instead of straws).

                                             

You'll need about 4' of wire and twelve 2.5" straws (I had to cut mine in half).

       

Thread the straws on the end of your wire and connect them by twisting your wire.

 

Add two more straws and connect them to a corner from your first triangle.

                                                

Add two more straws and connect them to the previous triangle.

 

Repeat that two more times until you have five triangles in a row.

   

Add one more straw and connect the straw with the far corner. This will make a pyramid with two flaps.

                                

Feed your wire though one of the straws on a flap so it is coming out of the point.

                                                 

Connect the flaps together and you have a diamond! Using your extra wire create a loop to hang your ornament from and spray paint. Easy peasy!

meatball mummies

I can't  believe how quickly Halloween is sneaking up on us. I feel like it was just the Fourth of July! I really wanted to make this year special for Elle because she's finally at the age where she gets excited about things. Tonight I made meatball sandwiches for Mister and me, and I decided to make something special for Elle. They were really easy to make, and she loved eating them.

Meatball Mummies

Ingredients - per one mummy

3 meatballs

1 Rhodes roll

1 uncooked spaghetti noodle or wooden skewer

Marinara sauce

Instructions

Defrost the Rhodes roll and meatballs (if they are frozen). Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Stick the three meatballs on the spaghetti noodle or skewer. With your hands form the dough into a very thin rope (about 1/4 inch). Wrap the dough around the meatballs to make it look like a mummy. Carefully take out the noodle or skewer and place the "mummy" on a baking sheet and bake for 17-20 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with marinara sauce on the side. Enjoy!