Category: Holiday

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. At no cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. 

There are so many fun Elf on the Shelf ideas that you can do with your elf for your kids in the holiday season.

This post has a lot of ideas for you to get inspired from and to make the process simpler.

These elf ideas are easy, DIY, cute, and festive.

These pictures feature our Elf on the Shelf, Jovie, inspired by the movie Elf.

If you don’t have an Elf on the Shelf yet, then hurry and order yours. We have the blue-eyed girl scout elf, but there are a lot of options.

• Girl scout elf with blue eyes here
• Girl scout elf with brown eyes here
• Boy scout elf with blue eyes here
• Boy scout elf with brown eyes here

Your kids are sure to love them and this post has enough ideas to get you through the month of December until Christmas day.

Take a look at them and see which ones you want to copy for your cute elf this year.

1. On A Swing

Shop this idea:

• Tape here

This elf on a swing is easy to make and was a huge hit with my kids.

I used an empty toilet paper roll and put a glittery piece of string through it.

I taped the ends of the string to the top of a walkway, then used small pieces of tape to secure the elf’s hands to the string.

I also added a folded up piece of tape under her bum so she’d stay on her seat better.

2. Elf brings new toys

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• Elf Pets Saint Bernard dog here
• Elf Pets Arctic Fox here

Our elf usually brings some new plushes for my kids once during December.

The Elf Pets that Elf on the Shelf makes are so fun for this.

3. Elf tied up with bandaids

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• Band-aids here
• Similar Mickey plush here

Mickey made our elf get stuck to the bathroom mirror.

He used band-aids to get her to stay up.

4. Elf Pooped

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• Chocolate chips here

Our elf was being silly and left some elf sized poop.

I put her in a roll of toilet paper with a few chocolate chips under her.

5. Elf hiding in the Christmas tree

This idea is great for when you need something super easy and quick.

Just stick your elf in the tree and they can hang out in there.

6. Elf in a magnet tile house

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• Magna-tiles here

My kids love playing with Magnatiles, so they thought this was so funny.

I built a simple house around her and used some that have windows so you could still see her face.

7. Spa Treatment

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• Mini marshmallows here
• Similar glass dish here

Elves need rest too, so send your elf on a spa day.

I used tiny pieces of cucumber on her eyes, put her feet in a foot bath made with mini marshmallows, and made her a towels to wear using paper towels and tape.

8. Putting up Christmas lights

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• Gingerbread house here
• Lights here

Our elf put up lights on our cardboard gingerbread house. I used some chip clips to make them stay.

You could have your elf put lights on anything.

9. Snowman

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• Sharpie permanent markers here

The elf hiding in the snowman is a favorite of my kids every year.

You need 3 rolls of toilet paper and draw on them to look like a snowman.

10. Elf Drawing herself

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• Colored pencils here

Our elf was caught drawing a self portrait.

Set them up with colored pencils to show that they are the one who did the drawing.

11. Elf in the fridge

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• Small red towel here

Have your elf hide out in the fridge.

It’s cold in there, so get them wrapped up in a blanket or towel to stay warm.

12. Elf on a reindeer

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• Elf Pets reindeer here

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13. Elf drawing on bananas

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• Sharpie permanent markers here

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14. Disney Elf on the shelf

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15. Elf built a gingerbread house

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• Ginger here

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16. Elf drinking coffee

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• K-Cups here
• Straws here
• Keurig here

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17. Prankster Elf

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18. Elf in wrapping paper

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• Similar Grinch wrapping paper here

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19. Elf stuck in undies

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• Similar magnetic chip clips here

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20. Elf baking cookies

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• Similar baking props here
• Green dress here
• Similar dress here

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21. Elf coffee shop

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• Similar props here
• Similar pink dress here

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22. Elf with an advent calendar

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• Similar advent calendar here

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23. Elf gingerbread costume

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• Similar gingerbread outfit here

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24. Elf on a hammock

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25. Elf taped to the wall

Shop this idea:

• Tape here

This idea is super simple and very quick to do one night when you’re tired and don’t want to spend a lot of time setting up your elf.

All you need is some tape. Tape their arms and legs to a wall.

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Holidays are more than just dates on the calendar, they are the heartbeats of family traditions, joy, and togetherness. From festive dinners and cozy gatherings to laughter-filled vacations and cultural celebrations, these moments become cherished memories that shape our stories.

Yet, as years pass, many of these details fade away unless we intentionally preserve them. That’s where holiday memory books come in, a creative and meaningful way to capture the essence of the holidays for a lifetime.

What Is a Holiday Memory Book?

A holiday memory book is a keepsake journal, scrapbook, or photo album designed specifically to record holiday traditions, events, and family experiences. Unlike a typical photo album, it goes beyond pictures. It may include written reflections, children’s drawings, recipes, ticket stubs, holiday cards, and even letters to future generations.

Think of it as a time capsule of holiday joy, one you can revisit year after year to relive the warmth, laughter, and traditions that make your family unique.

Why Holiday Memory Books Matter

In today’s fast-paced digital world, most of our photos and videos sit on phones, hard drives, or cloud storage, often forgotten. A memory book provides something tangible, a treasure you can flip through by the fireplace, pass around at family gatherings, or hand down to your children.

Some key reasons why holiday memory books are special:

• Preservation of Traditions: Favorite recipes, rituals, and decorations don’t get lost over time.
  
• Family Bonding: Working together to create the book becomes a joyful activity in itself.
  
• A Gift for Future Generations: Children and grandchildren will cherish seeing how holidays were celebrated before them.
  
• Mindful Reflection: Writing about each holiday experience helps us slow down and truly appreciate the moments.
  

What to Include in Your Holiday Memory Book

The beauty of a memory book lies in its personalization. Here are a few elements you can add:

• Photos: Capture candid moments as well as posed family portraits.
  
• Stories & Reflections: Write about the highlights of the holiday, funny moments, or lessons learned.
  
• Recipes: Record family-favorite holiday dishes, grandma’s pie, dad’s spiced cider, or mom’s signature cookies.
  
• Mementos: Add ticket stubs, gift tags, greeting cards, or small keepsakes.
  
• Artwork & Crafts: Children’s drawings or handmade decorations make the book more meaningful.
  
• Quotes or Gratitude Lists: Note what each family member felt thankful for during that season.
  

Tips for Creating a Holiday Memory Book

1. Choose the Right Format: Pick between a traditional scrapbook, a printed photo book, or even a digital journal.
   
2. Stay Consistent: Dedicate a section for each year so that you can build a timeline over time.
   
3. Get the Whole Family Involved: Encourage children to add their drawings or short reflections.
   
4. Keep It Accessible: Place it somewhere easy to find so you can update it right after the holiday while the memories are fresh.
   
5. Make It Fun: Add stickers, washi tape, or creative layouts to bring the pages to life.
   

The Joy of Looking Back

One of the most heartwarming aspects of keeping a holiday memory book is flipping through past entries. Seeing children grow, noticing how traditions evolve, and reminiscing about loved ones who may no longer be with you makes the book priceless. It serves as a reminder that while holidays change, the love and joy remain constant.

A Legacy of Love and Laughter

Ultimately, a holiday memory book is more than just a collection of photos and notes, it’s a family legacy. It’s a way to preserve not only events but also emotions, connections, and traditions. When passed down, it becomes a treasured heirloom that tells the story of who you are as a family.

So, this holiday season, instead of letting those joyful moments slip away into forgotten digital files, start creating a memory book. Each page you fill will be a lasting reminder of laughter shared, traditions honored, and the love that makes holidays so special.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. At no cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. 

Trunk or Treats are fun trick or treating events where kids go from car trunk to car trunk instead of going to houses to go trick or treating.

A lot of churches, groups, and communities hold trunk or treats. Some people love to go all out decorating their cars.

These are trunk or treat ideas that you’re going to love and want to copy.

1. Super Mario Car

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This car did a whole Super Mario theme. The rainbow road is so iconic.

The car has a Super Mario sign and King Boo lanterns. Outside of the car there are powerups, mushrooms, and flowers.

2. Hocus Pocus Trunk

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Shop this look:

• Similar tombstones here
• Similar banner here

This Hocus Pocus trunk is spooky and cool for Halloween.

It has headstones of Hocus Pocus characters, a banner that says Hocus Pocus, and more decor.

3. Jurassic Park Trunk

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Shop this look:

• Similar dinosaur balloons here

This Jurassic Park trunk is so cool, especially if you do Jurassic park costumes.

The trunk has plants, a dinosaur balloon, and a banner that says Jurassic Park.

4. Quidditch Trunk

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Shop this look:

• Similar quidditch flags here
• Similar quidditch rings here

If you love Harry Potter, then this is the trunk for you.

It’s all setup for a quidditch game.

5. Beetlejuice Trunk

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Shop this look:

• Similar Beetlejuice sign here

This Beetlejuice trunk is more simple and fun to DIY.

It has drapes and Beetlejuice signs.

6. Yellow Brick Road Trunk

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Shop this look:

• Yellow brick road here
• Similar rainbow balloon here

This Wizard of Oz inspired trunk is so creative.

It has a yellow brick road, a rainbow, a dog in a basket, and more.

7. Pirate Ship Car

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Shop this look:

• Sharks here
• Pirate skeletons here
• Blue tarp here

This pirate ship setup is mainly in front of the trunk and not so much in the trunk.

It has wood to look like a ship, a blue tarp for the water with shark plushes on it, pirate skeletons, and more.

8. Barbie Car

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Shop this look:

• Skeleton here
• Pink floor runner here

This Barbie car is so perfect if you’re a fan of Barbie.

It has big Barbie boxes, a skeleton in one of the boxes, a pink walkway, and more.

9. Toy Story Trunk

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Shop this look:

• Balloons here
• Toy Story characters here

This Toy Story trunk is perfect for Disney and Pixar lovers.

It has a big Woody, Jessie, blocks, banners, and balloons.

10. Halloween Balloon Trunk

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Shop this look:

• Similar balloon arch kit here

This trunk went all out with amazing Halloween balloons.

It also has a big banner that says boo.

11. Star Wars Trunk

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Shop this look:

• Chewbacca here
• R2-D2 here

If your family loves Star Wars, then consider decorating your car like this.

They have Chewey, R2-D2, and C-3P0, a Death Star, and more.

12. Minions Trunk

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Shop this look:

• Similar inflatable minion here
• Eyeball balloons here

This car turned into a Minion for their trunk or treat.

They also have an inflatable minion, minion decor, and more.

13. The Sandlot Trunk

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This Sandlot car is so cool and detailed.

They have a fence with a dog and more.

14. Skeleton Trunk

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Shop this look:

• Big skeleton here
• Big skeleton dog here

This car is so spooky with big skeletons.

They have a skeleton waving, a skeleton dog, pumpkins, gravestones, and more.

15. Encanto Car

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Shop this look:

• Encanto backdrop here

This Encanto car is so detailed and cool.

They have an Encanto backdrop, butterflies, flowers, balloons, and more.

16. Cocomelon Trunk

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Shop this look:

• Cocomelon backdrop here

This Cocomelon car is so cute and sure to be a hit with little ones.

They have a Cocomelon backdrop, banners, and more.

17. It’s The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown Car

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Shop this look:

• Similar ghosts here

It’s The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown is such a classic film.

This car has Linus, a sign that says “Welcome great pumpkin”, decor of characters dressed as ghosts, and more.

18. Cow Car

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Shop this look:

• Bale of hay here

Cows are so cute and fun, and this car did a great job decorating.

It has a sign that says “Happy Cow-loween”, hay, and pumpkins painted like cows.

19. Pokemon Trunk

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Shop this look:

• Similar pokeballs here
• Similar Pikachu here

This Pokemon trunk is fun and pretty simple.

They have Pokeballs, Pikachu, and more.

20. Monster Trunk

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Shop this look:

• Similar monsters here

Monsters are a classic thing to decorate with at Halloween time.

This trunk has lots of monsters decor and balloons.

21. Camping Trunk Setup

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Shop this look:

• Similar tent here
• Similar campfire here
• Camping signs here

This car transformed their trunk into a campsite.

They have a tent, signs, mountains, a campfire, and more.

22. Classic Halloween Trunk 

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This trunk is super decorated with classic things.

It has pumpkins, ghosts, witches, and more.

23. Candyland Trunk

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Shop this look:

• Backdrop here
• Similar banner here

If you love the game Candyland, then this is the car to get inspo from.

They hung a Candyland backdrop and have giant lollipops, a banner, and more.

24. The Addams Family Car

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Shop this look:

• Similar Cousin It here

The Addams Family are so spooky and perfect for Halloween things.

This car has Cousin It, pictures of the family, signs and more.

25. Circus Trunk

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Shop this look:

• Circus tent decor here
• Popcorn balloons here

This trunk went all out to look like a circus.

They have signs, animals, popcorn, and more.

26. Mickey Pumpkin Trunk

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If you’re a Disney fan, then this is a cute idea for you.

This trunk has a Mickey ghost, Minnie pumpkin, Mickey pumpkin, and more.

27. Cemetery Trunk

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Shop this look:

• Big skeleton here
• Similar tombstones here

This trunk transformed into a cemetery.

It has a skeleton, bones, and gravestones.

28. Pirate Ship Trunk

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Shop this look:

• Pirate skeletons here
• Big skeleton here

This pirate ship trunk went all out and looks so cool.

They made a makeshift ship, have lots of pirate skeletons, and a mermaid skeleton in the blue on the ground.

29. Queen of Hearts Car

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Shop this look:

• Big cards here

This car was inspired by the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland.

It has a table, big cards, and more.

30. Fortnite Trunk or Treat Car

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This car is decorated for Fortnite.

It has balloons, pumpkins, and Fortnite decor.

31. Under the Sea Trunk

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Shop this look:

• Similar fish here

This car has an under the sea themed trunk.

They have hanging fish, jellyfish, and stuff on the ground to look like water.

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Have you ever wondered why coastal vacations feel so refreshing? There’s something about the sound of waves, the salty breeze, and the endless ocean view that instantly calms the mind. Isn’t it?

Well, if you’re planning a coastal getaway, Los Angeles should be at the top of your list. This place isn’t just about movie stars and traffic jams.

Instead, it’s also home to some of the most exciting ocean adventures.

Whether you’re an adrenaline junkie or someone who loves to unwind by the sea, the LA coastline offers everything. Want to know more?

So, this article has got you fully covered. Dive in and discover the best coastal activities you can do in LA!

Go Whale Watching

If you want to experience something truly magical, try a whale-watching tour. Seeing these massive creatures up close is an experience you won’t forget.

Some trusted companies offer the best seasonal tours there. Even finding such companies has become easier ever since.

You can search for them online by using simple keywords like “whale watching Los Angeles” or “best whale watching company in LA.”

The good news is that their experienced crew knows exactly where to find whales and will make sure you have the best view possible.

They also offer you a comprehensive narration of all the whales and other marine life you encounter along the way.

Try Surfing or Paddleboarding

LA is famous for its surf culture. If you’ve never tried surfing before, now’s your chance! Beaches like Venice Beach, Malibu, and Manhattan Beach are perfect for both beginners and experienced surfers.

Many surf schools offer lessons for beginners, and you can rent a board right on the beach. If surfing feels a bit too intense, you can try paddleboarding instead.

It’s a more relaxed way to enjoy the ocean while still getting a workout.

Moreover, the best time to surf is in the morning when the waves are calmer and the beaches are less crowded. And finally, don’t worry if you wipe out a few times — it’s all part of the experience!

Take a Sunset Cruise

There’s nothing more relaxing than watching the sunset from the water. A sunset cruise gives you a front row seat to one of nature’s best shows.

As the sun sets, you’ll see the sky light up with shades of orange, pink, and purple. It’s the perfect way to unwind after a busy day of exploring.

For couples, a sunset cruise can be a romantic date night idea. For families, it’s a peaceful way to enjoy time together on the water.

Explore the Tide Pools

If you’re curious about marine life, exploring tide pools is a must. Los Angeles has several great spots where you can see starfish, sea anemones, and small crabs up close.

The Palos Verdes Peninsula is one of the best places to explore tide pools. Head there during low tide, and you’ll find all kinds of colorful marine creatures clinging to the rocks.

However, wear sturdy shoes with a good grip since the rocks can be slippery. Also, remember to be gentle — these are delicate ecosystems, and disturbing them can harm the creatures living there.

Go Snorkeling or Scuba Diving

The waters off the coast of LA are full of life. Snorkeling and scuba diving let you explore this hidden world beneath the surface.

Catalina Island is one of the best spots for diving. You’ll see bright orange Garibaldi fish, kelp forests, and maybe even a curious seal or two.

If you’re not scuba-certified, many tour companies offer guided snorkeling trips that don’t require any experience.

But make sure to wear a wetsuit, especially if you’re diving in colder months. The water can be
chilly even when the sun is shining.

Hike Along the Coastal Trails

If you prefer to stay on dry land, hiking along the coast is a great way to take in the ocean views.

The Los Liones Trail and the Point Dume State Beach Trail are two popular options. Both offer breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and are relatively easy hikes suitable for most fitness levels.

To Sum It All Up!

A coastal vacation in Los Angeles is more than just lying on the beach. From exploring marine life and surfing to sunset cruises, there’s something for everyone.

However, never forget to find comfort before you go for an exciting adventure. How? Well, that is possible when your accommodation does not ditch you. This is why you need to check out the Miami Beach luxury rentals for the perfect coastal retreat.

Whether you’re seeking adventure or relaxation, the ocean has a way of making you feel connected to something bigger. So, pack your bags, hit the coast, and get ready for an unforgettable experience.