My Adventures and Places Life Takes Me: Figgy does Retro

Last year was kind of wonky as far as the holidays went plus I didn't think my unit at work would appreciate Figgy as much so I didn't bring him out. This year I had more time to bring him out and my new unit I thought would appreciate him more, so I gambled.

I brought him to work one day as a decoration. I had no intention on using him until Rachelle asked me if that was an elf on the shelf. I said yes, his name is Figgy. She got super excited about it and basically told me that I had to use him how he was intended to be used. I told her okay...you're going to be first!

Since Rachelle left early that day, Liz and I decided to definitely make her the first target. We needed a quick idea...

Instagram post: Figgy was very naughty on Wednesday and made snow angels on Rachelle's desk with hole punch dots. He made a huge mess but nonetheless put a smile on our faces. #elfontheshelf, #retro

The next morning she was super excited that Figgy visited her first.

Liz and I though we should do one for everyone! We would have to come up with something creative that fit everyone (to the best of our knowledge) and when we knew they were going to be at work.

Our next victim was Alicia Maria and since she had some decorations on her desk I decided to make it look like he was stealing bulbs off her mini Christmas tree. I had set it up to look like he had been caught in a booby trap. We didn't have time the day before to set it up so we hustled getting it ready because she would be in the office soon.

Instagram post: Yesterday, Figgy got caught stealing bulbs off of Alicia Maria's Christmas tree and found himself upside down. #elfontheshelf, #retro

When she did arrive she was really excited that Figgy chose her that day. There was a lot of giggling and smiling. She saw that it was a WSU Cougar elf, she made sure to point out her purse was purple. She is a Husky fan by default due to one of her kids.

Nancy, our world traveler, was next on our list to make smile. Again, since we didn't plan the night before we had to get it done in the morning before she got to her desk. Liz and I decided on an Italy theme since she had just gotten back from that in September. We found a small bowl and cut up string to make it look like spaghetti, Liz had some Tapatio we poured on top of it, I had a small pizza, a small baguette and decorated it with some lights and an Italian flag.

Instagram post: Today, Figgy visited with Nancy and reminisced on their days while touring Italy, complete with spaghetti, pizza and a baguette. #elfontheshelf, #retro

When she got into the office she was smiling from ear to ear. We knew we just made her day. She thanked us for thinking of her and handed back everything. I told her she could keep the Italian flag and she kept that in her cubicle.

This was starting a Figgy trend and I had to come up with some more ideas and supplies so I didn't have to repeat any. I started getting on the internet to check out some of the ideas and came up with a few of my own.

I took a day off to get a nail out of my tire so Liz was in charge of moving Figgy to another person's desk. She couldn't think of anyone nor did she have any supplies so she stuck him in the front of our unit in one of our small Christmas trees.

Instagram post: Figgy, as inappropriate as he is, decided to climb the tree like a cat yesterday. My cat doesn't even climb the tree! Luckily, none of the decorations came off. #elfontheshelf, #retro

Julie was our next target. One of the things Julie and I have in common is that we both went to WSU. I gathered all I could to make my football scene awesome! That morning I got there a little earlier and set it all up. Julie usually comes in after 8 so I had plenty of time to get it all ready.

Instagram post: Apple Cup rematch at Julie's desk today. Instead of the football being kicked through the upright, the husky mascot was kicked through the uprights instead! Cougs win! #elfontheshelf, #retro, #gocougs, #wavetheflag

Julie smiled when she saw her desk. Figgy strikes again!

I really couldn't figure out anything for Alicia so I just made it as weird as I could to get a laugh out of her. The night before I went through all of my weird toys and artifacts and came up with an idea. Alicia also comes in after 7 so we had some time to set it up before she got into the office.

Instagram post: A nine duck open penguin? Where's the horses? The sleigh? Figgy has definitely gotten to the holiday sprit very uniquely. #elfontheshelf, #retro

She got to her desk and laughed. She thanked me for the funny surprise.

Jess was Figgy's next individual and he wanted to premier his band for her. That morning I assembled his drum kit at her desk. With much anticipation, I present to you, The Figgy Puddin Band!!

Instagram post: Forget Rock Band and Guitar Hero, I present to you The Figgy Puddin Band! Jess had him play for her all day and he even had time for an encore! #elfontheshelf, #retro

Later on that day Jess came up to me and thanked me for such a creative use of the elf on the shelf. She said her kids are going to love the pictures.

I chose Ashley for the next one because she really loves the Seahawks and they play the Rams this next Sunday. I had Liz get some of her Seahawk stuff from home. I had some stuff with me already and we used some of Ashley's Seahawk memorabilia from her desk. Liz and I set this one up in the morning before Ashley got to her desk.

Instagram post: Blue Friday! Figgy was joined by the 12th elf today to support the Seahawks for their battle with the Rams this Sunday. Ashley was pretty stoked to find out this morning she had been "elffed." #elfontheshelf, #retro, #gohawks

Ashley absolutely loved it and appreciated the 12th man spirit in the office. We had fun setting it up for her.

I found some extra props at the store. I heard Leslie loves to bake so with the help of Alicia Maria's props and Figgy, we made Leslie some gingerbread cookies when she returned to the office.

Instagram post: Figgy decided he would bake Leslie and the rest of Retro some gingerbread cookies today. He sure knows his way around a kitchen. #retro, #elfontheshelf, #gingerbreadcookies

I told Connie that she was next and told me she wanted something simple and not messy. I told her I would let Figgy know. That evening Figgy went to work on his surprise for Connie. The next morning Connie was happy to get a homemade Christmas card from him.

Instagram post: Figgy pulled out his arts and crafts and decided to share his hand made card with Connie this morning. And he didn't even make a mess! #retro, #elfontheshelf, #artsandcrafts

The next day as soon as Taja left for the day, Liz helped me set up Figgy's next scene. With all the cookies and arts and crafts the past few days he needed a relaxing atmosphere so he went camping!

Instagram post: After all the holiday hustle and bustle, Figgy decided to take it easy yesterday camping out and doing some star gazing. He said it was relaxing and he is charged up for the new year. #retro, #elfontheshelf, #campout

I had to wait until after the new year to finish the rest of our team because a lot of people were out of the office. The next one on my list was Mark. Mark is our expert on nerdy things such as Star Wars, Star Trek, Dr. Who and Battle Star Galactica...to name a few. I got together my Star Wars stuff and Figgy was the center of attention.

Instagram post: While Mark was away for the holidays, Figgy was probably somewhere where he shouldn't have been and got caught! I'm sure with the help of Chewbacca, Yoda and R2-D2 he can escape the grip of Darth Vader and his light saber. #elfontheshelf, #retro, #starwars, #maytheforcebewithyou

Mark came up to me and asked if he could keep it up for the rest of the day and I said of course you can! He told me this was THE.BEST.EVER!

Marnee was the next person on the list and her interests were hard to find. I wanted to do a hunting theme but I had to settle with a back yard BBQ scene instead.

Instagram post: Figgy bringing in the new year by grilling burgers and hotdogs for his Retro peeps. He gave Marnee first dibs on the food choices and made her smile when she came into work this morning. #retro, #elfontheshelf, #burgers, #hotdogs, #grillin

She was very surprised yet smiley when she handed the stuff back to me. I was glad I could put a smile on her face.

Tim grew up near Chicago and loved the Cubs. I pulled out my mitt, Figgy also had a mitt and I printed out a few Cub logos online. Liz helped me get the stuff up on his desk before he walked in.

Instagram post: With spring training fast approaching and football season on the brink of being over, Figgy decided to bust out his mitt and baseball to support Tim for his love of the Chicago Cubs. #retro, #elfontheshelf, #gocubsgo

Tim came in and immediately smiled at his desk. He took a picture with his phone and sent it to his wife Stephanie. She was pretty stoked about it too.

We were running out of ideas and days so I did a flamingo who ate all the hashbrowns to Liz and she had Figgy climbing up the Christmas tree trying to steal my 12th man flag with a shark booby trap. We had some good laughs and it was fun posing him around the office doing random things that made people smile.