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Staying Home Sawyer

Real Life Living on a Real Life Budget

DIY, Holidays!

He’s Baaackkk….

12.02.2016

Elf on the Shelf - Clark Griswold Christmas VacationReaders Beware:

In case you aren’t familiar with my elf, Reuben, I will give you a quick highlight. He is sassy, a little dirty, and quite offensive. Because of this, if you tend to be someone who is easily offended, I’d say you should think twice before finishing this post. If you’re not easily offended, welcome to Reuben’s world!

If you’d like to catch up with Reuben, you should check this post from last year. You’ll get quickly acquainted with his style and personality. And then you can return to this post to see what Reuben was up to last year. And in case you want to follow along with him this year, I’ll be posting all of his experiences on Instagram, either my personal page or my blog page. He has his own hashtag, clearly, #reubentheelf.

Here are my favorites from last year, in no particular order. Remember, I have warned you.

Elf on the Shelf - We Can Do It!
Reuben standing tall with Feminists everywhere!
Elf on the Shelf - Victoria's Secret Fashion Show Peeping Tom
Reuben may have been escorted from the fashion show for inappropriate behavior!
Elf on the Shelf - Vanity Fair
Reuben wanted to see if he liked being Roberta better than Reuben.
Elf on the Shelf - Hillary Clinton
Hey, if Bill can do it?
Elf on the Shelf - Fight for 15
Fighting for $15 with the Locals
Elf on the Shelf - Donald Trump builds a wall
Building “THE WALL.”
Elf on the Shelf - Tom Brady and DeflateGate
Deflate Gate.
Elf on the Shelf - Is the dress blue or gold?
Is the dress blue or gold?

 

I’d also like to call attention to the fact that clearly Reuben is a psychic. Somehow he knew last Christmas who the two final Presidential candidates would be this year. I always knew there was something special about him.

What’s been your favorite Reuben?

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Comments

  1. B says

    12.03.2016 at 12:42 am

    The Ray Rice elevator one, was that not posted? I love Reuben and his genius creator!

    • shauna841505@yahoo.com says

      12.03.2016 at 2:08 pm

      Of course that was not posted!! Hahaha and I think that was two years ago now… 🙂

  2. Kathy Bligh says

    12.03.2016 at 8:26 am

    It’s got to be Clark Griswold!!! Welcome back Reuben!

    • shauna841505@yahoo.com says

      12.03.2016 at 2:10 pm

      Of course! Brendan’s favorite movie!!

  3. Bobbie Beckman says

    12.03.2016 at 10:56 am

    Forgot how sassy he is.

    • shauna841505@yahoo.com says

      12.03.2016 at 2:10 pm

      Oh like you forget!!

  4. Liz says

    12.11.2016 at 7:49 pm

    How?!?!?! Did you make the deflategate set up?!?! I have an elf that desperately needs to copycat Reuben on that one!!!

    • shauna841505@yahoo.com says

      12.12.2016 at 9:38 am

      Hi Liz!! It’s actually pretty easy, I just printed the footballs on a colored printer. Just Google “Deflated Football” and all you need is a needle of some sort! Good luck!! Tag me if you post it so I can see it!

About Me

About Me

Hi Mamas! My name is Shauna, a 30-something (big emphasis on the 'something') new mama and wife living in Southern California. I've become a Stay At Home Mom to Sawyer, and I would do it forever if I could! I'm originally from Wisconsin and am a total Cheesehead! I'm here to share DIY's, travel tips, and baby stuff I'm sure!

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stayinghomesawyer

Something I tell my little girls all the time, yet Something I tell my little girls all the time, yet wish most grown women understood too. I see so many adults actively TRYING to fit in…work, church, neighborhood, sports, etc. 

You shouldn’t have to try. If you’re trying to be someone you’re not, it’s not right. For you, or for them. Your tribe will come along, I promise you. Even if that tribe is one person, it’ll be better than a hundred women who just don’t get you.
Listen. I’m all about having a good time. I love t Listen. I’m all about having a good time. I love to travel, I love to go out for dinner, I love having new clothes. But somewhere along the way, we’ve lost the ability to just say “No, I don’t want to spend the money on that.” 

Our budgets don’t always allow for the same experiences that our friend or neighbors may have, and that is perfectly okay. We need to stop overspending and start saving. We need to be financially secure before buying more junk that isn’t fulfilling, or going out for another dinner. 

Do you feel comfortable telling someone you don’t have the budget for something?
Somewhere along the way we forget to find the joy Somewhere along the way we forget to find the joy in all the little things. The little joys in twirling in a flower field. Stopping to smell the flowers. 

If we want our children to enjoy all of the little joys, we need to make sure we are doing it too. What little joy did you enjoy today?
Growing up, I dreamed of living by the beach and p Growing up, I dreamed of living by the beach and palm trees. It was magical to me. I never felt like my soul belonged in a landlocked state. A cold state. Were there beautiful things about it? Of course. Summer in Wisconsin will always have my heart. But living by the ocean will always be where my soul feels at home.

Over twenty years ago I got in a car and drove across the country to San Diego with a few friends. I’ve now lived here longer than I lived in Wisconsin. And even though I’ll always “be” from Wisconsin, my girls will always be from San Diego. And that’s a crazy concept to me. Raising the girls at the beach was something out of my dreams. So now I can teach them firsthand that we CAN make our dreams come true!
I remember when my oldest was little and someone t I remember when my oldest was little and someone told me that she NEEDED to go to preschool or she’d never catch up. I feel the same way today that I felt then, six years ago. My daughters never NEEDED preschool. Is it a good option for some parents (or the only option for others)? Yes. Is it BAD? No. But kids don’t NEED it. They need outdoor spaces, they need playgrounds and parks and beaches. They need free play with neighbors and friends and family. And yes, if none of those are options, of course preschool is not a bad idea, but can we stop pretending kids that don’t go are going to be irreparably harmed?
There’s just something about that second child. Th There’s just something about that second child. They pick up everything so quickly. They’re unstoppable. They want to do everything and they want to do it now. 

Second child life.
The day my husband looked at me and said, “I’m so The day my husband looked at me and said, “I’m so glad we have daughters,” I just about melted. Because like most men, he always envisioned a son. Someone he could pass his useless sports knowledge to, someone he could play mediocre golf with. Maybe someone to watch the hockey playoffs with (that doesn’t complain like I do). 

When we found out our second girl was coming, he famously said he watched the pink smoke hoping it would turn to purple and then blue. The first thing out of his mouth after he really digested it was, “now I have to pay for two weddings.”

And then one day, not long after the second came along, he realized why he’s a a girl dad. Because he couldn’t be more perfect for them. And they are exactly what he needed.
After seeing the beauty of this world, I just don’ After seeing the beauty of this world, I just don’t see how there’s any other option. God’s beauty is in everything, and sometimes I feel sad that I’ll never be able to see it all.
My husband and I never thought we’d be the homesch My husband and I never thought we’d be the homeschooling family, but here we are. What started as a few things here and there that we didn’t like, exploded into not liking much of anything in a traditional school, and liking just about everything about homeschooling. 

So now, here we are, on a random weekday, exploring our city. Picking up shells and learning about science. Meeting new people and gaining new friends. There’s so much more than doing lessons at home (although those happen too, don’t worry). There’s a whole big word out there to explore.
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