Today, Disney Store celebrated the opening of its award-winning new concept store at Pembroke Lakes Mall in Pembroke Pines, Florida. Pembroke Lakes is the third newly-designed Disney Store to open in Florida, providing an interactive shopping experience for Disney fans of all ages. Disney Store’s new design aims to deliver “the best 30 minutes of a child’s day” through immersive experiences, including a Disney Princess castle with magic mirror, translucent magical trees, Disney∙Pixar CARS neighborhood, and the Disney Store Theatre, featuring the latest in Disney entertainment.

“The newly-designed Disney Store provides the local community with a uniquely Disney experience,” said Molly Adams, senior vice president of Disney Store North America, “More than a store, we’ve created a family destination where we bring the magic of Disney to Pembroke Pines every day.”

Disney Store at Pembroke Lakes Mall opens just as the holiday season kicks off and will carry an array of holiday gifts for everyone on your list. Guests will find the hottest holiday toys of the season, including the recently launched Disney Animators’ Collection princess toddler dolls. A Family Fun Magazine Toy of the Year Award winner, the Disney Animators’ Collection was designed by legendary animators Glen Keane and Mark Henn, who have animated 7 of the 10 Disney Princess characters between them. The Disney Animators’ Collection includes all 10 Disney Princess characters and is the first doll collection co-branded by Disney Store, Disney Animation Studios, and Disney Parks and Resorts.

The Pembroke store joins the growing list of newly-designed stores already opened around the world, and by the end of 2011, the Disney Store will have 60 new concept stores in 16 major cities in North America and eight countries.

With each new store opening in the United States and Canada in 2011, Disney Store will donate 10 percent of the first day’s sales to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

To find a Disney Store location, guests can visit www.DisneyStore.com/storelocator or call (866) 902-2798. Guests can also sign up for email alerts at www.DisneyStore.com/Updates , become a fan on www.facebook.com/DisneyStore  or follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/DisneyStore to stay connected to your favorite destination.

For more information, please visit www.disneyconsumerproducts.com/press/us.

I’ve recently discovered the book The Elf on the Shelf  and cannot wait to start this tradition with my family. The timeless Christmas story tells of how Santa knows who is naughty and nice by sending one of his elves to the homes of children around the world. Once the elf is in your home he will be acting as Santa’s “eyes and ears” and reports messages back to the North Pole. The fun part of this tradition is the placement of the elf in a new location of your home everyday until Christmas Eve. Usually the elf is brought out at Thanksgiving but when I was at the The Elf on the Shelf book signing earlier this week the author told me to be creative and make my own tradition. I’m still not sure if I will bring it out earlier. I hope you all purchase the book & elf and start this tradition with your family. If you would rather had a girl elf they sell the cutest little skirt to put on your elf.

Once I bring the elf out I will be posting pictures of all the creative spots that I place the elf. I would love to see your photos on our Facebook Page.

The Tradition:

The tradition begins when Santa sends his scout elves out to Elf Adoption Centers. Waiting for their families to bring them home, these patient elves hibernate until their family reads The Elf on the Shelf, gives their elf a very special name, and registers their adoption online. Once named, each scout elf will receive its Christmas magic and become a part of the family’s Christmas each and every year.

Excellent listeners and even better observers, these scout elves are the eyes and ears of Santa Claus. Although they cannot be touched, or else they may lose their magic, the elf will always listen and relay messages back to Santa. Taking in all the day-to-day activities around the house, no good deed goes unnoticed; these scout elves take their job seriously.

Each night, after the family goes to bed, the scout elf uses his magical Christmas powers to fly back to the North Pole. Once there, the elf will make his or her daily report to Santa and visit with elf friends where they will tell stories about their beloved families, play with the reindeer, and of course, sneak some of Mrs. Claus’ cookies!

Before the family awakes each morning, their special scout elf will fly back to their home from the North Pole. However, since these elves like to play games, don’t expect to find them in the same spot!  While some like to hide in the freezer (probably because it reminds them of the North Pole) and others prefer to sit on the fireplace mantle or hang from the chandelier, these elves love to play hide-and-seek with their families.

On Christmas Eve, the scout elf will listen for Santa’s bell and then fly back to the North Pole until the next season, wishing every girl and each boy a Christmas of peace and a year full of joy.

– www.elfontheshelf.com

www.anthonyslight.org

Christmas is a time to spend with our family and friends and also a time to help those in need. There is no better way to teach our children the joy of giving than by giving to children in need.

The Samaritan’s Purse Christian Relief Organization coordinates Operation Christmas Child every year. The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to needy children around the world, and together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.

If you want to get involved please go to the link below. National Collection Week is November 14- 21, 2011, so get packing! Toys, school supplies and hygiene items are perfect to send along with a loving note. Get your family and friends together and have a packing party! Your children will learn by example that giving is always better than receiving.

Pack a Box instructions

Follow Operation Christmas Child on Facebook