If you’ve got a few minutes to spare while you’re online today, you’ve just got to go “elf yourself” and your family. One of my relatives made an elf video of me and my family for Christmas, and we have watched this thing a zillion times. The kids think it’s hilarious. Just click RIGHT HERE to see the example of the Rockwood family elf video. (It may take about 10 seconds to load, but trust me, it’s worth the wait.) This link will also give you the opportunity to make an elf video for yourself. There are different options to choose from. Then you can send it to your address book to share a laugh or two. Have fun!

Christmas tip for those music lovers among us:

The Arkansas Winds Community Concert Band, with conductor Michael Ferguson, will present “A Musical Holiday Concert for All Ages” on Saturday, December 20 at 3:00pm at the Arts Center of the Ozarks, 214 South Main, Springdale. Children’s favorites such as “Peter and the Wolf” and “Carnival of the Animals” will showcase the concert. The concert will feature the First-Chimers, a youth hand bell choir. Holiday favorites including “Sleigh Ride”, “Christmas Festival”, “Carol of the Bells” and more. Free admission. For more information, www.arkansaswinds.org or 751-5441.

It’s better to give than receive, right? Well, in the spirit of Christmas giving, we wanted to tell you about a few opportunities around town to help out your Northwest Arkansas neighbors.

This week, go through all your books — kids, teens, adult — and gather them up to give to families spending the holiday at the local women’s shelter, Peace at Home.

You can drop the books off at the shelter’s thrift store, located at 614 W. Sycamore. Peace at Home Director Judi Selle said the shelter, for victims of domestic violence, is always in need of books because families are encouraged to take special books with them when they leave. While they can always use books there, this is a special book drive for the holidays. Click here to see the thrift store’s hours and more info about other donation items.

And here’s another way to help women and children at the shelter: attend the Top Chefs & Rock Stars event at the Fayetteville Town Center on Monday, Dec. 15, from 5:30-10 p.m. Proceeds from the chef’s competition and concert auction will go to the Peace at Home Family Shelter.

Tickets to the second annual event are $50, which includes food and drink from 15 of Northwest Arkansas’ best chefs.

“I’ve heard all about the menu and I can tell you it’s fantabulous,” Selle said.

You can watch the chefs compete while visiting and listening to live performances from local rock bands. There will also be an opportunity to bid on private performances from the area’s most rockin’ groups. Click here to purchase Top Chefs & Rock Stars tickets.

99-cent Pizzas! Eureka Pizza is hosting a food drive all day at all locations on Wednesday, Dec. 10. You donate one non-perishable food item (owner Rolf says more than one will be gladly accepted!) and they’ll sell you a large, one-topping pizza for only 99 cents (limit one 99-cent pizza per household).

Local food banks are really under a lot of pressure right now and Eureka Pizza wants to help. ALL food collected will go to area food banks: River Valley Regional Food Bank in Fort Smith, CEO in Fayetteville, Northwest Arkansas Food Bank and the Manna Center in Siloam Springs.

Food banks need the following items: cereal; tuna (packed in water); fruit and vegetable juices; canned beans, fruits and vegetables; peanut butter; toilet/facial tissue; diapers (infant through adult sizes); mac ‘n cheese; and crackers.

Other ways to help: The United Way of Northwest Arkansas asked non-profits around the region to list their top volunteer needs right now. Click here to find volunteer opportunities.

Hi! Just wanted to let you know there’s a (free) live, drive-through Nativity at a Fayetteville church that’s really neat. It’s only tonight and Sunday night from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., though!

I heard about the live Nativity yesterday afternoon and another mom friend and I took our kids to check it out last night. I really just expected the manger scene: Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus and a few farm animals. That would have been plenty for us.

But Calvary Baptist Church at 1410 North Porter Road had gone all out! They had a series of seven scenes with real animals, including donkeys, a horse, sheep and adorable little goats. They even give you a CD to listen to as you drive through, explaining each scene from the Bible. More than 60 volunteers (including a real baby!) helped bring the scenes to life.

Our girls really loved it and so did the moms. It’s short, but packed with the powerful message of Jesus’ birth. For more information, click HERE.