We found an Elf: Christopher Pop-In-Kins

A while ago, I was asking questions about a certain little elf on Facebook. I was asking questions because I liked the idea of the elf, but I had concerns. I want my son to learn holiday spirit, not commercial spirit. Also, that certain elf pretty much creeps me out. It turned out to be a pretty great conversation and Christopher Pop-In-Kins contacted me about his book/ doll. Pretty excited, I check out the site and was intrigued!

Isn't this little guy just adorable?! My son loves him and now says "elf" constantly.

Christopher Popinkins was sad because he wanted to meet the children he made toys for. He told Santa how badly he wanted to see the smiles on the children's faces so Santa gave him a very special assignment. He could go watch the children play and tell Santa how good they are. There was only one rule- Christopher had to hide up high so that the children couldn't touch him. If they do, he would lose his magic and have to go back to the North Pole to get more magic. Christopher even has a little sister!

In 2012, Christopher Pop-In-Kins celebrates his 27th year as "Santa's very first Children's Elf. His first-of-its-kind elf tradition remains a holiday favorite for generations of families across the U.S. and around the world. -About Christopher Pop-In-Kins

I love children's books and love the lessons inside. This book is no different. The beautiful artwork and adorable elf doll will make for a great tradition for years to come, and even a family heirloom. 

Their site is full of goodies for adults and children. Be sure to check them out on your favorite networks as well. 

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest (for hiding ideas)

YouTube

Flickr

If you are looking for an elf tradition to start with your own family, I hope you visit Christopher Pop-In-Kins at elffun.com. I could not be more happy with this set and look forward to enjoying it with my own family for years to come. 

Disclaimer: I did receive a copy of Christopher Pop-In-Kins to review. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review. I truly hope that you enjoy this book as much as me and my son do. 

90 Day Challenge: Day 11 to 18

I have had a crazy week and haven't done as good remembering to take my drops and I would have liked. I also ended up grabbing things to eat in a hurry instead of taking the time to think about what I was having for lunch. I seem to still be on track with the weight loss though, I think it is because I have managed to drink my 8 glasses of water a day (even 100 oz on some days). The 90 Day Challenge is going great!

Until now, getting water in me was my biggest challenge, but I figured out some tips to make it work!

- Keep your water in front of you- you'll remember to drink it.
- Take baby steps: Don't try to go from drinking no water to drinking 8 glasses.
- Put some lemon or other fruit in your water, it will taste better.
- Start drinking water in the morning, it will be much easier than trying to drink 8 glasses 2 hours before you go to bed.
- Label your water like this pinspiration:

Source: undressedskeleton.tumblr.com via Cari on Pinterest

I did mine a little differently, though. I put the first half of mine on one side of my bottle and the second half on the other side. I have a 32 oz bottle, so if I drink 2, I have all 8 cups. I will do another for when I am gone on a road trip or running errands all day. This has made all the difference for my water intake.

My amazing bloggy buddy Kristin has started the 7 Week Quest For Thinner Peace Holiday Challenge. I am so excited to be a part of this challenge. It doesn't officially start until Sunday, but there is already so much support going around in the group, that I know this challenge is going to be amazing! Each week there will be a different challenge to excite us all. If you are interested in joining, hop over to her blog and let her know you want in. Thank you Kristin!

I will continue to bring you tips and updates. Next week I will have tips from the program coordinator.

A Very Merry Christmas to You (And A Giveaway!)

After years of working retail, I eventually lost interest in all things Christmas. The retail world begins preparing for Christmas in July (and sometimes in January) and it tends to get boring early. Retail is not a very good environment to encourage holiday joy. The last Christmas I worked retail, I dreaded hearing the Christmas music every day at work. This is quite unusual for me- I LOVE music!

Now that I no longer work retail, and I have a family, I see Christmas differently. I welcome it and all that is involved. I love decorating, baking, shopping, volunteering, planning, and especially Christmas music. When I had the opportunity to hear A Very Merry Golden Records Christmas, I welcomed the opportunity with open arms.

Thanks to this cd, I am officially in Christmas planning mode. I have been listening to it all day for a week! I randomly catch myself singing along, then my little man starts dancing and trying his best to sing along. A Very Merry Golden Records Christmas is full of 20 classic Christmas songs performed by celebrities and is available for $9.99. Some of the celebrities include Ed Asner, Busy Phillips, Wallace Shawn, and Missi Pyle.

This is a really great album with a classic sound. There is just something special about classic Christmas music- I cannot wait to listen to it all season long.

I have even more goodies for you from Little Golden Records.

• Follow them on twitter for great Christmas updates. 
• "Like" them on Facebook for a free download. 
• Follow Golden Records on Pinterest for amazing Christmas inspiration.
• Subscribe on Youtube for Christmas Videos and more. 

A Very Merry Golden Christmas was released November 7, and you can get it here: 

• Amazon
• Itunes
• Walmart in store and online

So, head on over, check them out, download some music, and get in the Christmas spirit. I am enjoying as I write this! 

(Know someone who loves Christmas, this would make a great gift!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Traditional Values

One thing that has really frustrated me throughout this election and previous ones is the phrase "traditional values" (and "family values"). I promise this is not going to be republican vs democrat or Obama vs Romney. In all actuality, it has nothing to do with political parties or presidential candidates. It has everything to do with humanity. Traditional and family values should not be something that is debated at election time.

These values are the core beliefs that we all teach our children, regardless of socio-economic class, religion, political affiliations, or ethnicity. Te things like equality, work ethic, respect for others, compassion, and humility. These values are the base for our children to grow into amazing adults. These definitely describe traditional and family values more than how political campaigns use them.

There are many other traditional values that I want to teach my son. These are things I feel are important, but aren't necessarily core values. Things like self-reliance, manners, confidence, and self-respect. These are things my husband and I believe will only make him a better, more respectable human being.

What values do your family find important?

*When commenting, remember your manners and be respectful- rudeness will not be tolerated on The Palmetto Queen*

Competition, Family Time, Lessons for Children: Rack Room Shoes Has It All

I always love hearing when companies are stepping out of the expected runway model stereotype and using models that are "real." I'm not just talking about real body types, but also people who actually live in the brand. I was talking with Hannah from Rack Room Shoes this past week and found that they are doing exactly that! As a brander, I see it as a very smart brand move. As a mom and real world woman, I see it as a respectable action.

Although my child is a boy, I still worry about what he will think he should look like as he grows up. Along with this, I worry about his vision of what a woman is supposed to be. I love that if he sees an ad from Rack Room Shoes, I don't have to worry about the image being portrayed. They are stepping up with a unique technique for models in their brand.

At Rack Room Shoes, we feature real customers - rather than professional models - throughout our seasonal marketing campaigns. Every year, we host our Models Wanted contest where families have the chance to win a trip for a photo shoot and receive red carpet treatment, plenty of shoes and quality time together.

Are you interested in entering? Go HERE You can also enter by visiting your local Rack Room Shoes. They are looking in South Carolina as well, so you Palmetto people get on over there and enter. Your family will not only be featured in ads, but on the website, and in-store signs. Wouldn't it be great to go to buy shoes and see your family's faces hanging around? 

This is what you could win:

• Professional photo shoot with hair stylists and make-up artists to treat you like the "real" models you are
• A $250 Rack Room Shoes gift card for each model
• Commemorative book & DVD with behind the scenes photos, so you can share the memories of a fabulous experience

Meet More Models

This is the competition's 9th year. The contest ends on December 31, 2012 for models in 2013. 

This isn't just an opportunity to be a model and get a gift card, it is also a great opportunity for family time. You will accomplish something as a family and be unified as a team. The goodies are just an added bonus! There are 6 ad campaigns throughout the year, that is 6 chances for quality family time! 

I hope you guys decide to hop on over and enter your beautiful families- good luck to you all. 

*Feel free to tweet using the hashtag #modelswanted *

90 Day Challenge Update: Day 5 to 10

The 90 Day Challenge is going better than I thought it would. I'm amazed! I'm still looking to find the tools to help me track my progress, but I'll find them in due time. I am also looking at long term goals to figure out what I'm going to do after the challenge is over to keep the weight off, tone up, and really get in shape. I know that it isn't all about the weight, but that is the beginning for me.

I need to start tracking better, but this week, I really only focused on a few things. 

• Drinking more water
• Making sure I take all the drops as directed
• Not skipping meals and eating them at about the same time every day. 

I will be back next week with an update!