Merry Christmas from Raising Arrows!
Category Archives: Holidays
Manly Christmas Mantel
I shared with you our manly autumn mantel earlier this year. Well, as we were taking it down to do our Christmas decorating, my husband asked if I would put together something using the antlers for Christmas too.
Last year, we attended a family Christmas party as a cousin’s house that was decorated with a beautiful array of burnt oranges, golds, and pheasant feathers. I’ve wanted to recreate that all year, but wasn’t sure I could pull it off. But, with my husband blessings and a trip to Hobby Lobby, I managed to pull together something that incorporated the wildlife my husband enjoys and the beauty of the season!
At Hobby Lobby, I bought 2 groupings of burnt orange poinsettias and 2 groupings of gold with berries and pinecones. I also bought several pheasant feathers. My husband cut all the poinsettias from their stem so I could easily work with them. I had this oval basket on hand and liked how it went with the colors in the arrangement.
Above the fireplace, I took what poinsettias I had leftover from the basket along with a few pheasant feathers, a bit of garland, and an antler or two to make a simple display.
As you have surely noticed from other photos, I have a very 60′s mantel with 3 stairstep stones jutting out of the wall. While this is not your ordinary mantel, you could most definitely incorporate this look into a traditional mantel quite easily.
Even though not every man is into hunting the way my husband is, I’d encourage you to find a way to incorporate the uniqueness of your family into the decor of your home. If you are looking for some ideas on how to do this, I have a series of posts about creating beauty in your bedroom and brainstorming how to combine your tastes with your husband’s tastes that can help you decorate throughout your home.
34 Weeks – Declaring No School Until Baby Arrives!
This is about the point in pregnancy when I switch gears. I become clingy and hate for my husband to go anywhere without me. I begin sleeping very strange hours. Going out in public becomes a chore. And my every day routine completely changes to accommodate how I’m feeling each day.
Even though I usually school right through December, this year I won’t be doing that. (Remember, we homeschool year round so I CAN take off like this without any sense of guilt!) I have decided to declare a long holiday and wait to pick back up until after baby arrives.
There is still tons of learning going on around here, but nothing formal and very little Mommy-led. We are doing our Truth in the Tinsel Advent Devotional, we are enjoying the sights, sounds, and tastes of the season, we are hosting friends and family, and on Christmas Eve, we will be doing our annual Family Christmas Eve Service.
You can get a copy of this service by becoming a Raising Arrows subscriber either through EMAIL or RSS. The next time one of my posts comes out, you’ll see a link at the bottom where you can download a copy. I hope you will be blessed as our family has been blessed. You can read more about our Christmas Eve tradition here.
So, how about you? Are you schooling through December or are you taking off this time of year?
A Little House on the Prairie Christmas
My 6 year old son gave me a wonderful idea last week when he brought me our Little House Cookbook and asked if we could make some of the Christmas recipes from it.
Our absolute favorite Little House book is Farmer Boy and Christmas is so descriptively protrayed in this book, I would highly recommend it as a December read aloud for any family. (Or better yet, get A Little House Christmas Treasury as a way to pull out only the Christmas stories from each of the Little House books!) My little son had not forgotten the wonderful recipes made by Almanzo and his family and he wanted to recapture those stories. I am always willing to oblige any fun that doubles as a homeschool lesson.
(My children also LOVE the Little House on the Prairie Paper Dolls they received last year for Christmas…these are fun to play with while you read.)
A few nights ago, I got to snooping around on the internet trying to find some things that revolved around the idea of a Little House on the Prairie Christmas theme. I found some really neat ideas and I wanted to share those with you. I doubt I’ll be able to do everything listed here, but I wanted to make this a good resources I could come back and reference (so, feel free to share any resources you have, so I can add them to my list!).
*Make a Handkerchief Pioneer Doll – While this isn’t the rag doll Laura received for Christmas as a child, it is still a good representation of what some children would have received during that era. In fact, a few years back, I made these for my girls for Christmas. They were much loved.
*Make Pioneer Taffy – This is one recipe I am bound and determined to try this year! I have wanted to do this for many, many years with the children, and now I have so many taffy-pullers, it ought to prove to be quite a fun project!
*Make an Old Fashioned Christmas Garland – You always read about children sitting around threading cranberries and popcorn, but I’ve never taken the time to actually do this with my children. This week we sat down and did this and then decorated the house with our creations.
*Make a Clove-Apple Pomander – I love the smell of cloves, and this craft comes right from the pages of Little House in the Big Woods!
*Make Little House on the Prairie Christmas Cakes – This is a super-easy recipe that will bring lots of smiles to little faces! I’m considering having my girls make these for Christmas morning!
*Make Hand-Dipped Candles – This is one of those “someday projects”, but at least this tutorial makes it look somewhat simple. She does say it isn’t a fast project (and I seriously hate melting wax), but surely I can manage one round of this project at some point if for no other reason than the memory.
*Try crafts from My Little House Crafts – We don’t own this book, but it would be a neat resource to have on hand. (If you do own this book, leave a comment telling me what you think of it!)
*Watch this Little House on the Prairie Christmas episode -
They don’t shy away from speaking Jesus’ name. Refreshing!
I’m pinning this to my Christmas board on Pinterest, so I don’t forget to try some of these things. Won’t you join us in a few Little House on the Prairie projects this Christmas?!
Free Advent Devotionals for Children
I’ve already told you about the Advent Devotionals we will be using this year, but I also wanted to give you links to a few FREE Advent resources.
Celebrate Jesus with a Jesse Tree from Feels Like Home
Advent Calendar Countdown & Printable from Kerry Beck (you receive this when you sign up for her free Christmas webinar)
Jesse Tree Advent Family Devotional from A Holy Experience (must be a subscriber to her blog)
Reasons for the Season from Toddler Bites shared on Women Living Well
2012 Jesse Tree Advent Devotional from Tired, Need Sleep
Advent Blessings from Raising Arrows (explanation of how we use these can be found here)
Teach the True Story of Christmas Advent Calendar from Sweeter Than Sweets
Advent Boxes from I Can Teach My Child
Black Friday Deals From Some Raising Arrows Favorites!
I am not a fan of crowded stores with people scrambling to grab up the latest toy or electronic gadget. I have never stood in line waiting for store doors to open the day after Christmas (or Thanksgiving night for that matter!) However, I do like to shop online. I guess you could say it is more my speed. So, today I thought I would let you know about some of the specials from Raising Arrows advertisers, affiliates, and friends. These are all products I use and love! (Click on blue links or graphics to go to company website)
Vision Forum
Up to 60% off
Daily Mystery Deals
FREE SHIPPING on orders over $95
Deborah & Co.
Full length layering shell = $14.99
Custom women’s and maternity skirts 15% off
(these include the Ruffle, A-line, and the new Belle skirt)
FREE SHIPPING on Orders over $100
. This is from Black Friday through Cyber Monday.
(the winner of the Deborah & Co. giveaway can be found here!)
*don’t forget you can sign up as an affiliate!
Truth in the Tinsel
FREE printable ornaments with purchase of the ebook.
(cannot be combined w/ coupon codes – Black Friday only)
*NOTE: Do not add the ornaments to your shopping cart
they will be automatically to your download page.
Bulk Herb Store
15% off entire order
FREE DOWNLOAD of Making Herbs Simple Vol 1
(Black Friday only – CST – not valid with other offers or on Berkeys)
Modern Alternative Mama
Complete Collection 35% off code HOLIDAYCOLLECTION
All books 50% off (first 50 books): BLACKFRIDAY50
All books 30% off (after first 50 are gone): BLACKFRIDAY30
(Black Friday only)
Modern Alternative Mama is also launching a brand new ebook today!Festive Traditions: A Real Food Guide to the Holidays
50% off code (first 50 sales): FESTIVE50
25% off code (11/23 – 11/25): FESTIVELAUNCH25
(Black Friday only)
Christmas Celebrations from Kerry Beck
50% off each book
Christmas Celebrations ebook Around the World: A Unit Study ebook
and
FREE Advent Calendar & Printable
(you receive this when you sign up for her FREE webinar)
Lilla Rose
20% off all orders
FREE SHIPPING on orders over $50
(This link is to my friend Misty’s Lilla Rose business. Her family is going through some tough times right now and I would love to bless her this Christmas season.)
Teach Them Diligently Homeschool Convention
$8 off Family Registration
($47 instead of $55)
(Friday – Sunday only)