Rudolph Day
Preparing for Christmas Throughout the Year!

Do you wonder about this Magic Elf thing? Well, there is plenty of Elf ish fun to be had! Here’s a picture of Magical Holiday Home member, momiilu’s elves as they are enjoying a bit of a camping trip. They are roasting marshmellows over a candle! These elves like to get into quite a bit of mischief during the night and you just NEVER know what they will get up to!  Their names are Trixie Twinkle, Skeeter Jingle, and Elvin Jingles. Check out more elfcapades: HERE

It’s August Rudolph Day. The elf fun will begin and run until September 24th.  I’m not much of a crafter but I’m always looking for simple and fun things that can add a special touch to the holidays. Here are two that you might like to try.

Elf Hugs: Fill some little bags with Hershey’s Hugs and attach a “hug” card to it. Leave it it a lunchbox, car seat, or on a pillow. Smile and Hugs for EVERYONE!

Elf Kisses: The same idea except using Hershey’s Kisses and a “kiss” card.

I’ll be doing a daily elf blog post from August 25th-September 24th at the Magic Elves blog. I invite you to visit and see the elf goodies I have accumulated to share with you! 

Enjoy your August Rudolph Day and then plan the month ahead so you can be one step closer to an organized and joyous Christmas!

Rudolph Day is designed to help you prepare for Christmas a little each month. By breaking it down into small steps Christmas prep is not only easy but fun too!  Each month we will be posting some tasks to complete on Rudolph Day and throughout the month.  The Rudolph Day month runs from the 25th of one month to the 25th of the next month!The items on the list are just suggestions.  Christmas prep is unique for each individual so one list will definately NOT fit all. Please use the list below to get you thinking about what you might accomplish this month.

1. Elfcapades:  We are declaring August to be the Month of the Elf!  It’s time to plan some Elf activities. Get out some planner sheets and jot down any “pranks” your elf might do and also check your elf gifts (did you pick up some items after Christmas for the elf to bring this year?) Don’t forget “experience gifts” are lots of fun with the elf. So be sure and include making cookies or going to the theater to take in the newest Christmas movie (the elf goes too, of course!) The elf can present the tickets as a surprise! If your elf is writing notes….get a jump start and craft a couple this month so they are all ready when the busy holiday season arrives! If you aren’t sure about this whole Elf Thing…..check out Magic Elves for information about kinds of elves and the whole elf experience. There are also stories, celebrations, and craft ideas!

2. Crafts: It’s time to check about any crafts you are making, whether as decor or for gifts!  How are you doing on the crafts and gifts? Do you still need to get some materials? Which ones are priorities? Work on those this month! Remember time is a factor, so don’t take on more than you can reasonably finish!

Can you believe it’s August already! The year is ticking by and it’s time for some serious holiday prep….so get busy and be ready for the best Christmas EVER.

If you have a little one at your house then having a visiting elf is something you might want to consider for this holiday season. Whether you pick a stuffed elf or an invisible imaginary elf, the mischief and excitement they bring to the holiday season is what the holiday season is all about. You can read more about elves at the Magic Elves site.

Many families enjoy creating an elf mailbox that they use throughout December to send and receive messages from their elf and even from the North Pole!  Magical Holiday Home member scrapbookmommy created the one pictured above, using a little mailbox from the Target Dollar spot. Hint: These little boxes are usually out in the dollar spot in February (for Valentine’s Day) and they come in red or white!  The mail box pictured below was created Christmas 2009 by my grandson Evan for his elf Ben!

The elves are coming to celebrate Christmas with families all over the world. The wonderful tradition of a visiting elf is a magical experience. Starting on August Rudolph Day we will be celebrating the Month of the Elf and sharing ideas about the elf experience.  In the meantime, here are my thoughts about Magic Elves…….

I have been pondering a bit lately about the popularity of the whole Magic Elves concept and I rather think that Magic Elves touch us on lots of different levels. They give us a chance to be kids again and they are a bit whimsical. But I really think it is a bit more than that. I think the Magic Elves reflect our heartfelt desires to be the people we truly were meant to be.

People that take time out from “business as usual” to enter an enchanted make believe world. Perhaps a world that in some ways is more representative of who we want to be rather than who we are right now. A world where a bit of mischief makes us smile rather than cringe, where we set examples for others about how to have fun, where time is no longer the enemy, and where we all care just a bit more about the small things in life that give us joy. Magic Elves capture our fancy because the true magic of the elves resides inside us; the creative, caring, nurturing part of us that delights at simple pleasures.

Magic Elf celebrations focus on ways to bring family and friends together for a joyous celebration of imagination and creativity. The visiting elves host parties, suggest crafts, leave notes and riddles, and get into a bit of mischief along the way. The Magic Elves allow each of us to have a bit of fun during the holiday season between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. For on Christmas Eve they hitch a ride back to the North Pole with Dear Old Santa.