Raised Southern : 2013

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Under Construction!! - Re-opening January 2014

We're going Under Construction!!! Raised Southern is going to get a face lift and make some changes. Our blog will still be up and us posting but you will notice on some days things are being worked on and changed so we apologize for the Inconvenience.

Words for Wednesday

12 day of Christmas 9 DAYS LEFT - Down to Single digits!

The holiday rush is on!! - Do you still have presents to wrap, buy, haven't even started yet? Well if you haven't started yet I suggest you get started because Christmas is coming. Everyone else though don't panic, there is still plenty of time!! Get you a note pad, write you a to do list and began marking them off one by one! I absolutely need to take my own advice because I still have a ton of things to do too.

Gingerbread Fun

More Pictures from our Gingerbread House Decorating and check out our guest blog post with Mom It Forward

Guest Blogger for Mom It Forward!

We were guest blogger twice this month for Mom It Forward , where mom is a verb. If you have never visited them take some time and check out there wonderful site. They cover everything here from crafts to making a difference with you kids and also many ebooks available for you.

I guest blogged a craft to do this holiday season with your children and a family and friend tradition of Gingerbread decorating. Our Craft blog was Puzzle Piece Christmas Ornaments. This was such a fun craft to do with the kids. After we finished the ornaments for Mom It Forward we made some others.

Puzzle Piece Christmas Ornaments

We were also featured for our Gingerbread House and Gingerbread Men at Mom It Forward. This was also a lot of fun. My favorite thing about the holiday is all of the get together and time we get to spend with the ones we love. I invited my best friend and her family and my sister in law and nieces and nephew. It was great for all the kids to get together and have some fun eating some sweet treats and decorate their houses and gingerbread men together.

Family Tradition: Gingerbread House and Gingerbread Men

I was so honored to work with Mom It Forward this Holiday Season! I look forward to 2014! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Friday, December 13, 2013

Christmas Cards

Christmas Cards is a holiday tradition that is being done less and less. Do you send out hand written Christmas Cards? Ever since I could write I remember signing my name to Christmas Cards or when I became old enough I always filled ours out when I was growing up. I also remember we would receive a Christmas Card or more Every day. I still send Christmas Cards out every year even though I say I am not going to, because it is a chore. Now that my kids are bigger though they help. My family still sends Christmas Cards to my husband and I and then separate ones for the kids, the kids love receiving their own mail so this makes it extra special.

I have a ton of Christmas Cards in one of my Christmas Totes. There left overs from over the years or cute ones that were on sale after Christmas but there are plenty of them. I ordered pictures this year from our Disney Trip that was in February and added some cute clip art that is provided with the photopass that Disney offers. It was perfect for our holiday cards.I always like to fill the cards out with a nice saying. This year ours said, " From our family to yours, We wish you a --ha I wrote it our like 50 times, you would think, I would know what it was, let me get a card; -- " From our family to yours! Wishing you and yours a peaceful and joyful Christmas with the ones you love and a safe and prosperous New Year! The Scott Family! Do you write something special like that in all your cards or do you personalize each one?

Is sending Christmas Cards a tradition you are starting to see become less and less?

All our cards are ready and went out! I sent out something special for my sister! Confetti! She will love me after she opens that! Merry Christmas Everyone!

Thursday, December 12, 2013

12 days of Christmas - Day 12- Christmas around the world - Santa & Food Traditions

I thought this would be awesome to share with y'all so you could share with your kids and family, Christmas around the world and some Food Traditions in other countries. Enjoy!

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

12 days of Christmas- Day 11 - Glitter Chocolate Chip Cookies

After making Sprinkles yesterday I of course had to use them. I decided to make cookies for our Gingerbread house get together that we did with our family. I didn't have time to make homemade chocolate chip cookies by the time I thought about this ( I know, shame on me) BUT I did have cookie dough ( shhh... this can be our secret, however my sister in law and best friend read this... well it's no longer a secret) anywhoo...

All you need is:
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough: You can make your own (Recipe Below) or use a premade cookie dough roll (homemade is better, if you have the time of course)
- and your Sprinkles ( See Recipe HERE )

For Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies:
You will need:

-1 cupbutter, softened

-1 cupwhite sugar

-1 cuppacked brown sugar

-2eggs-2 teaspoons vanilla

-3 cups flour-1 teaspoonbaking soda

-2 teaspoons hot water

-1/2 teaspoon salt

-2 cups chocolate chips

Makes 3 dozen of medium size cookies, 4 dozen smaller regular sized cookies

Heat Oven to 350 degrees, Mix butter, white sugar, and brown sugar, beat eggs in, stir in vanilla, add baking soda, salt, and hot water. Still in flour and chocolate chips. Drop spoonfuls or roll into balls, drop onto ungreased cookie sheet.

-TO MAKE GLITTER CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES: >>>>>>
Roll the cookie dough into the sugar sprinkle before placing on the pan. Once you have them all rolled in sprinkles, bake as directed.

-*Bake for 10 min or until desired. ( Because some of us like them gooey-er then others)

Wreath Christmas Ornament

To Make you'll need:

- 13 Puzzle Pieces, you can use any size,

-Paint

-Glue

-Puff Paint

-Ribbon to make the ornament Hanger

-Jingle Bells

-Fishing Line, or you can use any type of string/ribbon

Paint your Pieces and allow to completely dry. You may have to add a couple coats depending on the pieces that you are using. Once completely dry, lay out to make sure you have the design you want. Glue the pieces together. Once all is together began decorating with the puff paint, in whatever design you would like. Tie Jingle Bells together and then to the ornament. Make the Ornament hanger. Glue the ornament hanger to the back of the ornament and your Christmas wreath is ready to hang on your beautiful Tree

We also were featured on www.momitforward.com for these beautiful traditional ornaments.
Puzzle Piece Christmas Ornaments

Words for Wednesday

I really need a Trip to Disney World! I am looking forward to 2014 to plan our next trip in Sept. to experience Halloween at Disney. It's going to be amazing.

I absolutely love this and think that this such a cute look and I absolutely love cowboy boots. I did this same type of decoration but with garland and ornaments and my daddys cowboots.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

12 Days of Christmas - Day 10 - Sugar Glitter / DIY Sprinkles - Greatfor Cookies,Gingerbread Houses, or Holiday Drinks

I will never buy Sprinkles again!!! All of us moms know that sprinkles for are overpriced. I don't think you should have to pay $3- $5 for a single bottle of sprinkles or the assorted set that is more like $7 - $9. I have seen this on Pinterest before of how to make editable glitter, well that didn't work and there was no link directly to it so I just had to follow the directions giving and that did not turn out well. So I went with my own and this is what we got and I will never buy sugar sprinkles again and neither will you after you make these and see how simple it is.

ALL YOU NEED:

- Sugar

-Food Coloring

That's It!

Take a 1/2 cup of Sugar and 1 teaspoon of food coloring and miss until there is no more white showing. And that's it!

It's ready to be used. It's amazing at how simple that is and how much money over the years I have wasted.

Can you believe how easy that was? ENJOY

Snowflake Ornament

To Make you'll need:

-14 Puzzle Pieces, you can use any size, we used a Medium size set of pieces

-Paint

-Glue

-Glitter

-Ribbon to make the ornament Hanger

Paint your Pieces and allow to completely dry. You may have to add a couple coats depending on the pieces that you are using. Once completely dry, lay out to make sure you have the design you want. Glue the pieces together. Make the Ornament hanger. Glue the ornament hanger to the back of the ornament and your Snowflake Ornament is ready to go on your beautiful tree.

We also were featured on www.momitforward.com for these beautiful traditional ornaments.
Puzzle Piece Christmas Ornaments

Autism Awareness Ornament

This is a special ornament, I think that Autism Awareness is very important for everyone to understand and know about and how it not only effects children but also adults and their families. I made this ornament to help support and spread awareness, you can make your own too or we can make one for you. Send your requests to raisedsouthern@raisedsouthern.com

You can even customize the ornament hanger you want on it to a different color or another print.

To Make you'll need:

-3 Puzzle Pieces, you can use any size, we used a Medium size set of pieces

-Paint

-Glue

-Ribbon to make the ornament Hanger

-Jingle Bells

-Fishing Line, or you can use any type of string/ribbon

Paint your Pieces and allow to completely dry. You may have to add a couple coats depending on the pieces that you are using. Once completely dry, lay out to make sure you have the design you want. Glue the pieces together. Tie Jingle Bells together and then to the ornament. Make the Ornament hanger. Glue the ornament hanger to the back of the ornament and your Autism Awareness Ornament is ready to go on your beautiful tree.

We also were featured on www.momitforward.com for these beautiful traditional ornaments.

Puzzle Piece Christmas Ornaments

FL Gator Candy Cane Ornament

FL Gator Candy Cane

You can also customize this and make it into any team you would like or any color theme.
To Make you'll need:

-13 Puzzle Pieces, you can use any size, we used a Medium size set of pieces

-Paint

-Glue

-Ribbon to make the ornament Hanger and the Bow

-Jingle Bells

-Fishing Line, or string of some kind to tie the Jingle Bells together and on.

Paint your Pieces and allow to completely dry. You may have to add a couple coats depending on the pieces that you are using. Once completely dry, lay out to make sure you have the design you want. Glue the pieces together.Tie the Jingle Bells Together and then onto to candy cane, once glue has dried . Make the Ornament hanger and the bow, if you would like to add a bow. Glue both on and you have your FL Gator (or whatever team you go for)Candy Cane Ornament!

We also were featured on www.momitforward.com for these beautiful traditional ornaments.
Puzzle Piece Christmas Ornaments

Monday, December 9, 2013

FL Gator Reindeer Ornament- DIY Ornament

FL Gator Reindeer Ornament

How cute is this little Reindeer? When I started this, I had planned on making it a Rudolph one, but then, I remembered we needed to decorate our FL Gator Blue & Orange Christmas tree and why not add some cute homemade FL ornaments to the tree and this little cutie was crafted! I know FL wasn't great this year, we had a tough season but I love my Orange & Blue regardless! So, if you are not a FL Gator Fan you can make this into any team you would like. Just switch up the colors.

To Make you'll need:

-3 Puzzle Pieces, you can use any size, we used a Medium size set of pieces

-Paint

-Ribbon to make the ornament Hanger and the Bow

-Googly Eyes

-Pom Pom for the nose

Paint your Pieces and allow to completely dry. You may have to add a couple coats depending on the pieces that you are using. Once completely dry, lay out to make sure you have the design you want. Glue the pieces together. Glue on the Eyes and Nose to the face, however you would like. Make the Ornament hanger and the bow, if you would like to add a bow. Glue both on and you have your FL Gator (or whatever team you go for) Reindeer Ornament!

Send us pics of your little ones Reindeer's.

We also were featured on www.momitforward.com for these beautiful traditional ornaments.
Puzzle Piece Christmas Ornaments

Monday Music - A Duck Dynasty Christmas - A Christmas album you're sure to love too!

For the past few years Duck Dynasty has become all the rage. This year they made a Christmas CD called Duck the Halls. Its a great CD with some great music on it and it is my new favorite Christmas CD. Here are some of my favorites! This is an album your sure to love too!

This is my favorite Christmas Song and I love this version! Baby It's Cold Outside

Uncle Si singing You're a Mean one Mr. Grinch is Great!!

& This is GEORGE STRAIT, Phil Robertson, & Mrs. Kay singing Christmas Cookies

Hairy Christmas - Robertson Men & Luke Bryan!

& The Night Before Christmas from good ole Uncle Si

12 Days of Christmas - Day 9 -12 days of a beach Christmas!

One thing you need to know about me.. I love the beach! We live on the water so I during the Spring and Summer, and here lately in December with it being in the 70's I love going to the beach. Even during the winter I like going down to the beach but not for long, luckily it's right there. I found this and thought HOW adorable! I am going to have to have this framed, and put in the living room.

Sunday, December 8, 2013

12 Days of Christmas - Day 8 - Christmas Wish List

Does your Child write a Christmas List to Santa? and how do you handle it? Every year our children write a Christmas wish to Santa. I was a only child so the majority of whatever was on my Christmas list and within reason I got that for Christmas. My husband on the other hand being 1 of 3 wasn't done that way and they made large lists and would get a few things they had wished for. We have always tried to make sure that the kids get everything they asked Santa for (with in reason), well last year I found a 4 Gift Rule Idea to not spoil your kids. I really liked this idea because Jesus is the reason for the season, not presents, and my bank account doesn't like all the deductions that happen this time a year. We tried to stick to this as much as possible but our impulses got the best with us and of course they ended up with more then 4 gifts, but not near as many useless, soon to be lost toys and pieces parts. This year I had the perfect list for the kids to fill out and this year were going to stick to their main gifts being their wish list items. I did pick up a couple of things that were on sale and things they had mentioned wanting previously. They will be looking at about 10 gifts a piece, minus what Santa Claus brings. I think that is a reasonable amount and keeps my bank account smiling.
How do you do wish lists with your kids? Do they write a letter or make a wish list? Do you usually get everything for them? Share with us how your family handles the gifts from the family and the gifts from Santa

Here is the wish list we used:

I found this on Pinterest but it did not have a link connected to it, ohhh how I love Pinterest.

Saturday, December 7, 2013

12 days of Christmas- Day 7 - Christmas Lights

Tonight we did one of our favorite Christmas Traditions, we went and rode around and looked at Christmas Lights. Yesterday it was in the 70's and then today and tonight in the 50's and were looking at back to 70's tomorrow, we figured this would be the best time to go at Christmas lights with our family and it actually feel like December. Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining, this beach girl loves warmer weather no matter what time of year it is.
We went out and around our small town looking at lights, we live out in the country so we didn't expect many people to have lights out but they did and we saw some great houses. It seems that the Christmas lights displays done by people in their home are less and less. I'm not sure if it's because they think people don't ride around and look at them anymore or if it is because they just aren't that interested in taking the time to put the lights up. If you are one that thinks people don't still ride around and look at Christmas lights you are sadly mistaken and please continue to put up your lights.

Here are some of the beautiful lights we saw last night here in Small town USA:

This was three house, side by side that were fully decorated!

Friday, December 6, 2013

12 Days of Christmas - Day 6 - O' Christmas Tree

I recently have fallen for Infographics. These graphics give some much useless knowledge of the craziest facts. It was an immediate idea for the blog though to share some useless important knowledge over the holiday season. I think my favorite Christmas decoration is our Christmas tree. It isn't Christmas to me if you don't have one, even if it is just a Charlie Brown Christmas tree.

Here are somethings you didn't know about Christmas Trees!