Happy Thanksgiving
Christmas Gift Ideas & A Special Prayer Request {Plus Another Sleighful of Giveaways}
It’s time for this year’s list of “Christmas Gift Ideas” and another “Sleighful of Giveaways” from my amazing sponsors! (You can find last year’s list here, as well as even more Catholic gift ideas listed in my past Easter posts as well: 100+ Easter Basket Stuffers & Catholic Gift Ideas and Easter Symbols: Catholic Gift Ideas.)
Before I get started, I have another little favor to ask this year… Could you please offer a prayer for the newest addition to our family? We had quite the surprise at the end of October! In fact, it wasn’t until our oldest son asked, “Are you sure you aren’t pregnant? This isn’t your usual sick… this is how sick you get when you are pregnant!” that I finally took a test… He knows me well and has seen me pregnant a few times! 😉 I truly thought I was just having another one of my long cycles, I was sick because my hormones have been so off for so long, and that our soon-to-be-five-year-old “baby” was going to be the last! (We even got rid of most of the baby stuff just last summer…) But, he was right! My husband and I were so excited to see our little baby’s tiny heart beating during a dating ultrasound on the morning of the elections (we never did see heartbeats with our miscarried babies) and then I got another little peek at the baby during my first appointment with my new doctor last Monday afternoon. So far everything looks perfect! I wasn’t going to say anything yet, but I have such a hard time keeping secrets… I’ll be going in a week from Monday for some more blood tests and another ultrasound and would really appreciate prayers. Thank you!
When I started coordinating all the weekly giveaways leading up to Advent this year, I knew it might be overly ambitious, especially considering I’m homeschooling all seven on top of my work schedule this year, but I had no idea just how challenging it was going to be to get out of bed each day! pull off… It’s all coming together though and has been a lot of fun! I plan to host one last giveaway for you all next weekend focusing on the O Antiphons.
Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Links to Amazon, St. Augustine Academy Press, Etsy, Holy Heroes, ChewsLife and SocksReligoius are affiliate links.
.: Fun Finds for Advent & Christmas 2016 :.
- 100% Beeswax Advent Taper Candles (Our candles from have sold out for this year. Other options include: Toadily Handmade Beeswax Candles, Honey Candles, or these from Big Dipper Wax Works. I’ll be using these pillar candles in pink and purple for our large wreath. If you are looking for less expensive candles, these might be a good option.)
- Lavender Pearl and Bronze St. Andrew Chaplet from Mary Devotions (A beautiful new addition to our collection of St. Andrew Chaplets.)
- Christmastime in New Orleans (CD) and the Special Edition (DVD)
- A Gospel Advent Calendar (Also available from Catholic Child! I’ve added this to our 2016 Advent Book Basket. The kids also have a few toy Advent Calendars again this year, one in each bedroom: LEGO City for the older boys, LEGO Friends for the girls and NHL Playmobil for the little boys.)
- Caroling at Ephesus is brand new from the Benedictines of Mary Queen of Apostles
- Baby’s First Christmas Ornament from Blessings from Heaven*
- Christmas Tree Creche Candle from The Cloister Shoppe
- DIY: Christmas Chocolate Coins (I originally shared these back in 2010, but finally moved the FREE printable document over to Dropbox for easy access. You’ll also find printable documents for St. Nicholas Chocolate Coins, Jesse Tree Coins, and O Antiphon Coins!)
- Three Kings Wise Men Puzzle Scene (This will be one of our O Antiphon gifts this year! I’m hoping to share more about the rest of our O Antiphon picks, along with one last giveaway, next weekend.)
- Key Chain (Tiny Saints are his favorite. He also has this Captain America LEGO Keychain.)
- Favorite Sports Team Clothing (In his case it’s the NHL Penguins and Beavers for College Golf – go Uncle Kevin! Last year the boys each got these NHL Fleece Pullovers.)
- FOOD (Beef Jerky, Trail Mix, Clif Bars, Coffee and Restaurant Gift Cards)
- ENO Hammock with Suspension System (He has the 2016 National Park Service Centennial DoubleNest Hammock in Forest Green – I’m hoping to get hammocks for our other teens this Christmas or for their next birthdays.)
- T-Shirts (He has some great Catholic T-shirts including St. Benedict Medal, The Lord Be With You T-Shirt, and St. Patrick.)
- Super Hero Anything, except costumes… (T-Shirts, Slippers, Movies, LEGO, Metal Earth, etc. He’d love these Marvel Golf Balls.)
- Music CDs (Celtic Thunder, Michael Buble Christmas)
- Audiobooks or Audible Credits (The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings narrated by Rob Ingles, etc)
- Strategic Board Games (Axis & Allies, Settlers of Catan, Stratego, Risk, Battleship)
- Metal Earth Model Kits (Note: These are challenging to assemble.)
- Headphones (Particularly the Bose QuietComfort 25 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones. His older brother won a pair from the 2015 NPLTW Contest and he has been borrowing them for his online Latin class. He’d love a pair of his own! If you have a favorite/more affordable option I’d love to hear about them! He also loves the Bose Mini BlueTooth Speaker he won.)
- Sports Gear (Hockey Sticks, Golf Clubs, etc – Last year he received a new Hockey stick and we were able to get an amazing deal on these Golf Clubs for our oldest son. This year we are watching for another great deal on golf clubs so they each have their own set. Last season we borrowed an extra set from the high school.)
- Movies (The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings, Avengers)
- Weapons (Swiss Army Knives, Bow, BB gun, etc… He also loves making things using these books: Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction: Build Implements of Spitball Warfare and Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction 2: Build a Secret Agent Arsenal. He recently raided his sisters sewing box for supplies to make the darts pictured above. On his wish list: Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction 3: Build Siege Weapons of the Dark Ages and Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction Targets: 100+ Tear-Out Targets, Plus 5 New Mini Weapons)
- LEGO (Architecture, Creator, and Modular sets are his faves – the Lincoln Memorial provided some of the pieces for his recent Ancient History Mini City. I need to share pictures of the Mini Vatican he has been working on building!)
- Swiss Army Backpack (His is similar to this one.)
- Clothing (American Eagle Flannel Shirts, Dress Shirts, Slim Straight Jeans, etc – Watch for sales and I always make sure to click over from Ebates first to earn cash back on purchases! I was able to get the boys AEO Extreme Flex Slim Straight Jeans for less than $20 a pair recently.)
- The Brotherband Chronicles and Ranger’s Apprentice Books (He doesn’t know about the brand new release of The Battle of Hackhan Heath (Ranger’s Apprentice: The Early Years) coming out this month… I have already pre-ordered a copy. Shhhh!)
- Baking Supplies & Cookbooks (She received this Apron, Sweethearts Pot Mitt and Heart Cakelet Baking Pan for her 13th Birthday, celebrated with a When Calls the Heart party!)
- iTouch Gold (Last Christmas we went back and forth between getting her a digital camera and the iTouch and ultimately picked the iTouch. She keeps it in a Pink Survivor case.)
- Books (Some current favorites include The Paradise Project, A Single Bead, Anne of Green Gables. On her Wish List: This set of Jane Austen books and this Literary Mug. I also want to get her this Anne of Green Gables coloring book.)
- Clothing (For her… or for her dolls! She especially loves the saint outfits from The Little Habit, before these were an option the girls loved making their own.)
- Stationary & Gel Pens (similar to these, check Costco for fun and affordable sets in stands – You can see hers pictured with her gifts from her Molly Birthday)
- Journals & Colored Pencils (She has been enjoying these Seasonal Planners lately.)
- When Calls the Heart DVDs (She has the Collector’s Editions of Season 1 and Season 2
… maybe she’ll receive Season 3 for Christmas!) - Klutz Tiny Stitches book and Other Sewing Supplies
- Beauty Supplies (Hair Brush, Curling Iron, Chi Straightener, Manicure Sets, Burt’s Bees Lip Balm and Lip Shimmer, etc – some of these she has, a few she borrows from me.)
- Sewing Basket & Supplies (Last Christmas one of her gifts was a darling sewing basket, picked up at Michaels using a 50% off coupon, filled with sewing supplies including: embroidery thread, scissors, a small purple embroidery hoop and this book.)
- Dolls and Accessories (She loves all the Historic American Girl dolls and accessories that she has collected over the years. One favorite is Josefina’s Holiday Gown, complete with her lace mantilla for Mass!)
- Puffin In Bloom Collection (and so many other books!)
- Paint-by-Number Kits (Her past sets include: Chickadees and Lilacs and Goldfinches.)
- Make Your Own Washi Tape Stickers
- Bow and Arrows (She has this Genesis kit with this case.)
- LEGO Christmas Creator Sets (The girls have this Winter Toy Shop and Santa’s Workshop.)
- Chapel Veils from Robin Nest Lane
- Sketch Book & Art Supplies (Her favorite is the eeBoo Nature and Observations Notebook.
- Outdoor Hockey Set (preferably two sets)
- Leather Swords and Shields from Made by Alejandro
- LEGO City and Creator Sets (Lakeside Lodge and the Van & Caravan are a couple favorites!)
- Miniature Mass Kit and Baptism Set from Our Father’s House
- White Vestment Set from Interior Castle Goods
- Safari Army Guys: Continental Army, British Army, Civil War Union #1, Civil War Union #2, Civil War Confederate #1, and Civil War Confederate #2
- The Hobbit: Illustrated Edition (still one of his favorite books)
- Playmobil (all sorts, especially soldiers and boats: Soldier Boat, Viking Longboat, Royal Ship of Egypt, and Roman Galley)
- St. Michael the Archangel Prayer Pillowcase
- Calico Critters (Hopper Kangaroo Family is one of her favorites.)
- Seri’s Dollhouse (This was given to the older girls Christmas morning 2011 and it’s still played with every week. They love using it for their Calico Critters.)
- Play Silks in a Variety of Colors
- Dolls, Clothing & Accessories (Saint Habits and Accessories from The Little Habit are favorites! She’ll be receiving this St. Therese Doll for either Christmas or her birthday next month! I posted a review here.)
- Shining Light Dolls (Mother Teresa and St. Therese are two new favorites!)
- “ALL of my St. Therese St. Dolls!” (includes this Saint Therese from Trendzilly and a Saints n’ Stitches pattern available here)
- Grimm’s Wooden Fairy Tale Village (and the rest of our stacking blocks… I blogged more about them here.)
- Dress Up Clothes (I’ve found some great deals on Gymboree’s clearance racks after Halloween in the past, including her Peacock dress up.)
- Enchanted Forest and Frozen Surprise Slides are two of her favorite games. See more of our family’s favorites in this post.
- Games (Bug Bingo, Animal Tracks Memory, etc)
- Swen and “Little Swen” (These live on his bed along with all the Pillow Saints from his Godmother and a few other favorite toys.)
- Barn and Schleich Animals (Our fabulous wooden barn is ridiculously expensive now, but this might be a nice alternative. Add a Blessed Sacrament and St. Anthony Blessing Block to reenact the story of St. Anthony of Padua and the Hungry Gray Mule.)
- Wooden Mass Kit from Almond Rod Toys
- Saints on the Go! and Shining Light Dolls (St. Joseph, St. Nicholas, St. Patrick, St. Francis, St. Martin, St. Pio)
- Naturally Catholic toys and Hand Painted Wooden Saints from Catholic Folk Toys (You can see our Our Lady of Fatima set here. The 100th Anniversary of the apparitions is coming up in May! The Pope and Swiss Guard Set is another one of his favorites.)
- Wooden Trains (Thomas)
- Melissa & Doug Car Carrier and Car Loader (He also loves the Log Truck, but it doesn’t look like it’s available.)
- Mini Hockey Set
- 2017 Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter Liturgical Calendar (FSSP – Extraordinary Form)
- 2017 Catholic Calendar – Dedicated to the 100th Anniversary of the Apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima (Saints Galore)
- Saints – A Year in Faith and Art (This one is a book, not a calendar, but it’s one of our favorites to have out year round.)
- 2017 Saints Calendar & 16 Month Planner (TAN)
- 2017 Catholic Daily Planner™ (Michele Quigley)
- Holy Heroes Spiritual Diary (for children)
- Mary and the Saints 2017 Wall Calendar (TAN)
- The Life of Our Lord 2017 Wall Calendar (TAN)
- The Angels 2017 Wall Calendar (TAN)
Prize #1 – $50 Gift Certificate for Custom Missal & Breviary Covers, Nativity Finger Puppet Set, and Catholic Cuisine Apron sponsored by MissalCovers.com (value $110.00)
Prize #2 – The Illuminated Rosary Complete Set (Hardcover Edition) sponsored by Peanut Butter & Grace (value $100.00)
Prize #3 – The Virgin Mary Around the World! A Pilgrimage of Faith and Winner’s Choice of Six Marian Shining Light Dolls sponsored by Shining Light Dolls (value $87.93)
Prize #4 – Nativity Set and Baby’s First Christmas Ornament from Blessings from Heaven (value $79.95)
Prize #6 – Set of two To Know the Savior Prayer Guide & Journal books, Give Him 5 Coffee Mug, Prayer Bag and Bracelet sponsored by Give Him 5 (value $63.00) SAVE 10% off all orders with coupon code: Roses
Prize #7 – CLSP Pro-Life Tote Bag filled with Educational Materials sponsored by Culture of Life Studies (value $60.00)
“Congratulations! Praying for you and your baby!”
Prize #8 – Wooden Mass Kit sponsored by Almond Rod Toys (value $56.00) Until Dec 18th, if you say a Hail Mary for the conversion of sinners and type in FOUNT OF MERCY in the comments section of check out you will receive an extra patron saint block of your choice with your order.
Prize #9 – Set of Four Books by Rev. Henry S. Spalding, S.J. sponsored by St. Augustine Academy Press (value $55.80)
Prize #10 – Heroes of Grace, Compendium Primary Edition and In Depth Edition sponsored by Sacred Heart Books and Gifts (value $53.90) FREE SHIPPING for orders over $40 now until December 10th with promo code JMJFS. They also have almost 200 items on special from 5-30% off.
Prize #11 – Set of Three Pendant Necklaces sponsored by Art Angel Gallery (Includes: The Immaculate Heart pendant, Madonna and Child pendant, and double-sided Sts. Therese/Zelie/Louis pendant. value $52.00) SAVE 10% off any purchase with coupon code: SAVE10
Prize #12 – $50 Gift Certificate sponsored by Catholic Folk Toys (value $50.00)
Prize #13 and Prize #14 – $50 Gift Certificate sponsored by Regina Martyrum Productions (two winners, value $50.00 each)
Prize #15 – Therese’s Sunday Best Outfit, “I am Therese” Book, and “She is Joan of Arc” Book sponsored by Dolls From Heaven (value $48.00, Doll not included.)
“We will be praying for you and your new little one! Thank you again for such a wonderful giveaway!”
Prize #16 – Mary’s White Dress with Blue Cape & Lace Veil and Blue Rose Wreath sponsored by The Little Habit (value $46.00)
Prize #17 – Precious Blood Bracelet sponsored by Gail’s Designs (value $45.00) FREE SHIPPING on all orders with coupon code: Christmas16
Prize #18 – Red Carnelian Rosary Bracelet with Miraculous Medal sponsored by Et Corde Rosaries (value $44.95) Until Christmas you can save 15% off with coupon code: ROSES15
Prize #19 – Two copies of Christmastime in New Orleans (CD) & one copy of Christmastime in New Orleans (DVD) sponsored by AimHigher Recordings (value $44.93)
Congratulations, Theresa N!
Prize #20 – A Trio of Marian Pillowcases from Prayer Pillowcases (value $44.85) FREE PERSONALIZATION on Prayer Pillowcases through November 2016 with coupon code: Name4Free
Prize #21 – Jesse Tree Ornaments (or apply towards custom set of your choice) sponsored by Jesse Tree Treasures (value $42.95)
Prize #22 – Christmas puzzles for young and old & some merry background music sponsored by Catholic Child (Includes: value $42.85) SAVE 15% through November with coupon code: CmasRoses (one time use)
Prize #23 – Soft Peach Convertible Covering and Girl’s White Veil with Ties sponsored by Robin Nest Lane (combined value – $42.70) SAVE 20% off your order with coupon code: ADORATION2016
Prize #24 – Complete Set of Gospel Trekkers sponsored by Pauline Books & Media (value $41.70) You can find my review of these books here.
Prizes #25 – Set of Three Books by Msgr. Raymond O’Brien sponsored by St. Augustine Academy Press (value $40.85)
Prize #26 – $40 Gift Certificate sponsored by Naturally Catholic (value $40.00)
Prize #27 – Christmas Gift Package from Shower of Roses (value $40.00+) Contents still to be determined… It will be a surprise!
Bargain Priced Toys :: LEGO Lakeside Lodge
Our 2016 Advent Book Basket and Printable Labels {Plus Christmas Mosaic & Picture Book Giveaway!}
Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
For More Details About Christmas Mosaic:
Christmas Mosaic :: A Review & Featured Book List
I’m hosting giveaways every weekend of November this year, leading up to the first Sunday of Advent on November 27th. This weekend I have five prizes to give away, all perfect to help build your own family’s Advent and Christmas book collection!
Congratulations, JoAnn B!
Congratulations, Laura G!
Congratulations, Heidi O!
Prize #4: The Three Gifts of Christmas
Congratulations, Jessica K!
Congratulations, Trisha S!
U.S. Elections Lap Book
U.S. Elections Lap Book
This month we have been learning about U.S. Elections and we are working on the final details of our U.S. Elections Lap Books today as we wait for the polls to close this evening…
Four years ago we completed these Presidential Election Lap Books and Unit Study and this year we used the excellent U.S. Elections Lap-Pak from Homeschool in the Woods, as I mentioned in our 2016-2017 Curriculum Plans last month. We’ve all learned so much and have had a great time creating all the mini-books.
In addition to the resources provided in the Lap-Pak, we’ve added in some books, videos, and this Pro-Life Citizenship Unit Study (for the teens) as well.
We still have a few things to finish… The kids are each writing their personal policies (social, economic, and foreign) and working on coming up with their own campaign ads and slogans.
Left Flap:
- Suffrage
- The Presidential Campaign: Stump Speaking
- Election Day
- The Electoral College
- National Conventions
- Terms of Office
- The Presidential Campaign: Platform
- The Presidential Campaign: Campaign Advertising — Spreading the Word!
- The Presidential Campaign: Media — News Source
- Inauguration Day
- Definition of “Election”
- The “Vocabinet”
- Raising Money
- Different Forms of Government
- A “Handful” of Political Parties
- Statistics
- Who Do We Vote For?
- The Electoral Race!
- Caucuses & Primaries (Choosing the Candidate)
- The Three Branches of Government
- The American Experiment
Books:
See How They Run: Campaign Dreams, Election Schemes, and the Race to the White House
Presidential Elections and Other Cool Facts
Thanksgiving in the White House
Elections in the U.S.A. Activity Book
Electoral College for Kids from Waltzing Matilda
Misc other resources and videos (I’m out of time to link to them all right now!)
They also want to add the election prayer/novena we have been praying to the back of their Lap Books as well:
New Christmas Books for the Feast of St. Nicholas {and a St. Nicholas Giveaway!}
The feast of St. Nicholas is one month from today! Every year on December 6th our children wake up to find new slippers (or sometimes as new pair of shoes for winter) filled with little treats, chocolate gold coins, candy canes, and new Christmas books.
I realized after wrapping all the books that I completely forgot to take pictures of the inside pages…
Here is the list of books my husband and I picked out for our children this year:
It’s getting so hard to choose books for our older boys… Not sure how much longer I’ll be able to keep it up, but this year our oldest son is getting this coloring book based on one of his favorite Christmas stories. Coloring while listening to music or audio books is one of favorite ways to relax. I think he will love it!
– OR –
For additional Christmas book suggestions you can find some of our lists in the archives:
Saint Nicholas & the Nine Gold Coins {Beautiful book!}
Christmas Mosaic: A Review & Featured Book List
35 Favorite Christmas Picture Books for Children
Feasts & Seasons :: Advent & Christmas Collection
Our 2015 Advent Book Basket and Printable Labels {I’m planning to share our 2016 Basket and Labels next weekend!}
New Christmas Books for the Feast of St. Nicholas: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
Even more St. Nicholas themed gifts can be found in last year’s post filled with Christmas Gift Ideas & Stocking Stuffers
I’m hosting giveaways every weekend of November this year, leading up to the first Sunday of Advent on November 27th. This weekend I have six prizes to give away, all perfect for Advent and the feast of St. Nicholas, from some of my sponsors here at Shower of Roses!
Prize #1 – Saint to Santa: How St. Nicholas Became Santa Claus
sponsored by Pauline Books & Media (combined value $30.90)
Congratulations, Janette M!
Prize #2 – St. Nicholas Natural Wood Handmade Saint
sponsored by Naturally Catholic (value $30.00)
Congratulations, Erin M!
Prize #3 – MISSION:CHRISTIAN Advent+Christmas 2016
and The Children’s Little Advent Book sponsored by Peanut Butter & Grace (combined value $21.99)
Congratulations, Kathleen F!
Prize #4 – Ishtar’s Odyssey: A Storybook for Advent
sponsored by Sacred Heart Books and Gifts (value $13.69)
Congratulations, Courtney S!
Prize #5 – St. Nicholas
sponsored by Shining Light Dolls (value $12.99)
Congratulations, Lindsay K!
Prize #6 – Nicholas of Myra, Giver of Many Gifts
sponsored by Catholic Child (value $4.95)
Congratulations, Elizabeth S!
Saints on the Go!
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| November 3rd – Feast of St. Martin de Porres |
Today is the last day to enter the giveaway for a chance to win a copy of Saints on the Go! along with three of the Shining Light Dolls featured in the book: Saint Martin de Porres, Saint Teresa of Calcutta, and Saint Padre Pio. You can enter the giveaway here!
I’ll be back later today with the list of books we’ve picked out for this year’s feast of St. Nicholas (only one month from today!) along with another great giveaway!
All Souls’ Day Mass at the Cemetery
Sponsor Love:: Quarterly Update & Current Specials {scroll to the bottom for a giveaway!}
Happy Feast of All Saints! We just got home from Mass and I finished filling Our November Book Basket along with another basket with more fall/Thanksgiving themed picture books. Later today we’ll fill out our November calendars with the names of all the departed souls we will pray for this month. (You can find the printable here: Ora Pro Nobis Candy Boxes.) Oh, and Advent is coming up at the end of this month! Have you ordered your Advent candles yet?
I have some awesome giveaways planned for the next four weekends, in preparation for Christmas next month, but first I want to share another quarterly update on all my sponsors here at Shower of Roses, along with quite a few coupon codes! Be sure to scroll to the bottom for a chance to win one of two sets of beautiful and saintly coloring books from Peanut Butter & Grace and St. Augustine Academy Press!
Please welcome my new (and returning!) sponsors:
Naturally Catholic
Authentically Catholic…Naturally Beautiful
“This started out as a homeschooling project. I made some gifts for family and friends, took some pictures, and launched my shop. Then orders started pouring in!
Our whole family is involved. We all come up with the designs (usually during dinner conversations!). I do the sawing, painting, and woodburning, my brother helps sand, my sister sews the bags, my Mom is the artist, my little brother and sisters test the toys, and Dad is “quality control”!” Read more here…
Art Angel Gallery
Art Angel jewelry designs are born of a love for art and faith. Owner and designer Raphael Fitzgerald holds an M.A. in Art History and specializes in vintage holy card jewelry.
with coupon code: SAVE10
Give Him 5
“Give Him 5 Ministries is about falling in love with Jesus! Just as Jesus Christ is the center of our Catholic faith, He is also meant to be the center of our daily lives. Give Him 5 provides people with the encouragement and tools they need to ignite their prayer life and to fall deeply in love with the Lord. Give Him 5 Prayer bags make wonderful gifts.”
Free online fundraising!
#1 crowdfunding for faith, family, and friends
+ + +
A special THANK YOU
to all my continuing sponsors!
Prayer Pillowcases
… more than just a pretty place to lay your head! They’re a unique way to bring Catholic art and prayer into your home. And a practical way to share the Faith with your family and friends. Our distinctive line combines original art and favorite Catholic prayers that appeal to all ages and transform pillows from the ordinary to the divine! Honor a special occasion or make any occasion special with the gift of a joyful, lasting (and personalizable) Prayer Pillowcase. We’re always working on new designs and hope you’ll visit again soon to see even more ways to help your loved ones begin and each day with a prayerful heart.
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| Don’t miss the brand new Circle of Friends designs! |
“Our goal is to help you find the finest resources to help you nurture the faith of your Catholic child and strengthen him or her for the challenges of the journey ahead. Each one of the hundreds of items you find here has been chosen by us with care, reviewed for faith and quality, and has been child and parent approved. When you buy from Catholic Child Catalog you are supporting an independently owned, personally run business that remains committed to searching out products to guide, inspire and delight the young Catholics in your life.”
American Life League’s Culture of Life Studies Program (CLSP)
We help parents and teachers weave the beauty of the pro-life message throughout all areas of study. Our program is comprehensive, easy to teach and brings the expertise of pro-life leaders from around the world right into your classroom. Covering a range of subjects that includes foreign language, religion, history, science and more, we have something to help your students embrace the dignity of all human beings from the moment of creation onward. This fall we released an engaging lesson for elementary students on the life and works of St. Teresa of Calcutta focused on her dedication to the preborn. For middle schoolers, we released a study on the beauty of the developing human person, and another on the fascinating life and pro-life contributions of Dr. Jerome Lejeune. High school students now have the opportunity to learn the truth about Margaret Sanger through our multimedia unit study uncovering the impact of her legacy on this generation and beyond. And just in time for the election, we released a lesson on pro-life citizenship which views the election process through a Catholic lens. Endorsed by Cardinal Burke, the Culture of Life Studies Program is helping parents, teachers and students build a culture of life.
Christmastime in New Orleans
A big band jazz orchestra composed of 18 of New Orleans finest jazz and classical musicians, The NOLA Players came together to honor their beloved city through this musical Christmas card, Christmastime in New Orleans. The latest offering from AimHigher Recordings/Verve and The NOLA Players’ first collaboration, this gorgeous and merry recording contains 14 tracks of brand new original arrangements of holiday favorites and is sure to be a Christmas classic for this season and many to come.
Gail’s Designs has been creating unique, elegant jewelry and cherished rosaries since 2009. Gail has been an artist for most of her life and is grateful for her faith and being able to make elegant jewelry and cherished rosaries for people of the Catholic faith.
Behold Publications, LLC
“Behold Publications, LLC is more than just a publisher! Family owned and operated since its founding in 1999, we have developed great Catholic clubs like the Little Flowers Girls’ Club and Blue Knights Catholic Boys’ Clubs for Catholic girls and boys ages 5 and up. What makes these clubs unique is that they are at their core faithfully Catholic. We don’t “tack on” Catholic identity as other clubs might, but begin and end with a Catholic world view. We also believe that local clubs best operate the way they see fit, so there is no national organization, policies, registration or dues. Groups can easily adjust the program to fit their local needs. Behold Publications also produce a line of historical fiction based on American history and American saints for ages 7-15.”
Regina Martyrum Productions
“Regina Martyrum Productions produces the finest works of Catholic audio theatre. With emphasis on the lives of the Saints, these products are edifying, and entertaining.”
Be sure to subscribe for emails or follow on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google+, and Instagram for sales and updates.
“The mission of Peanut Butter & Grace is to help Catholic parents raise children who know and love Christ and his Church. We do this by providing digital and print resources that assist parents in forming their children in the faith within the daily life of their family. All of our products are made for Catholic parents—either to use themselves (think of 77 Ways to Pray with Your Kids), or to hand to their kids (think of the Illuminated Rosary prayer books). Our primary audience is “middle pew Catholics”—parents who attend Mass regularly and want to do more to integrate the faith into their family life, but don’t know where to begin. They might even say, “I can’t teach my children about the faith because I don’t know how.” These parents are probably both working to support their family, living the crazy-busy lifestyle of the typical working- and middle-class American family.”
Enter the giveaway at the bottom of this post for a chance to win a set of two coloring books!
“Shining Light Dolls is dedicated to bringing high quality religious dolls to children of all ages! At Shining Light Dolls, we believe children deserve to have beautiful toys with a contemporary aesthetic and meaningful message.”
“Our shop provides families ornaments and tools to share the traditions of the different seasons of the church year, like the Jesse Tree, O Antiphons, Advent, Lent, Easter and other aspects inspired by Jesus. We create ornaments that would help others share their faith with their children and last for years to come.”
Visit Catholic Folk Toys for beautiful hand painted wooden saint dolls and more! Custom orders are welcome! In addition to the hand painted wooden dolls and jewelry, Tammy is also making silver rosaries, rosary bracelets, and painting wedding and baptismal gowns. Custom paintings are available and also prints and cards of paintings. They make lovely “save the date” cards, thank you notes or invitations. Please contact for availability and details.
Kolbe Academy
“Kolbe Academy was founded in 1980 by three families who experienced first-hand the rapid decline of the public school system and who were looking for a wholesome, academically challenging educational environment. The founders anticipated the need to form young Catholic citizens who could effectively defend their Faith through a thorough understanding of doctrine and regular reception of the Sacraments. They also foresaw the growing need for better, more individualized and intensive instruction in basic education. Kolbe Academy Home School became an outgrowth of the day school in 1993 when parents who lived too far away to commute asked for our help with home schooling their children. Recently Kolbe Academy merged with Trinity Grammar and Prep to become Kolbe Academy/Trinity Prep, which educates students from Pre K through high school. With a focus on providing an education that is Ignatian in Method, Classical in Content and Loyal to the Magisterium in a small-class size environment or at home, Kolbe Academy continues to thrive.”
on November 3-6, 2016
for orders over $40
with coupon code: FSJMJ
Robin Nest Lane
Robin Nest Lane has recently released a new line of convertible head coverings! This collection of modest coverings, available in an array of colors, is well suited for those seeking an inconspicuous veiling option and is perfect for those who are newer to veiling!
Almond Rod Toys
Almond Rod Toys makes Saint Blocks that are just the right size for little hands and can be used for imaginative play, building, stacking or collecting. The front has a print of original watercolor artwork. The back has a quote or a prayer chosen to inspire little ones and the one that cleans up behind them. The saint’s name, feast day and patronage are also listed; just enough to be a reminder and an inspiration for further learning.
Visit Almond Roy Toys at Etsy and follow the Facebook page!
“Et Corde means “open heart”. I create rosaries, bracelets and necklaces using the hand wire wrap technique with beautiful antique reproduction medals. I hope that my pieces can be an heirloom that can be passed down in your family.”
So many darling little habits and accessories to choose from… Be sure to check out the new Missionaries of Charity habit. My girls love it!
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Catholic Cuisine Aprons
As you are shopping for Christmas gifts this year, don’t forget the beautiful Catholic Aprons available over at Catholic Cuisine! All of our aprons are embroidered, not screen printed, giving them a rich, elegant, look! Our durable 100% cotton-twill aprons, with soil-release finish for added stain protection, provide ultimate full length cover and comfort. Designed with two large pockets and 1″ wide neck and waist ties, with adjustable neck strap, they measure 22”W by 30”L.
Prize #2:
Win a set of two coloring books from St. Augustine Academy Press:
A Feast of Saints Coloring Book and Feasts of Our Lord and Our Lady Coloring Book
Enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter Box below:
I have one small ad left for November through January!
Celebrating the Saints :: Our 2016 Costumes
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| St. Olaf, St. Philomena, St. Elizabeth of Hungary, St. Teresa of Calcutta, and St. Andrew the Apostle All Saints in Heaven, Pray for us! |
I took these pictures on our way to our parish’s Trunk-or-Treat and Carnival last Friday night and our children will be wearing them again this evening when we head out to my parents home for the evening. This is the first year in many years that I won’t be hosting our annual All Hallows’ Eve party… I’m really sad that I had to cancel it, but I’ve between working on my health and working so many extra hours, I just don’t have the energy this year. Our kids all understand and are very excited to go out to Grandpa and Grandma’s. I just got off the phone with my mom and she is busy in the kitchen making Soup, Chili, Spice Cake, Rice Krispies Treats, and even Caramel Apples! I’ll be bringing along a few games including Saints Bingo and some new All Saints Guessing Jars.
Other than ordering a new St. Teresa costume for our oldest daughter, following the canonization of Mother Teresa, we hadn’t put any thought or energy into this year’s costumes… Friday afternoon we finally pulled out our two costume boxes and threw together costumes before heading to the church. This is one of those years when I’ve been very grateful to have a nice collection to choose from!
Twinkle Toes (age 13) dressed as St. Teresa of Calcutta
(Over the years we have built a well-loved collection of costumes from Our Coats of Many Colors.)
This was a repeat of her 2010 Costume… She was so little back then!
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