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
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
Since I have been so incredibly sick this fall (I keep reminding myself it's a good thing!) I decided to ask our kids to help me with this year's "Christmas Gift Ideas" post. I had them each list nine of their past favorite gifts for me to share with you all. Here are their answers:
(Note: Our children usually unwrap three gifts on Christmas morning - something they need, something they want, and one other gift which is usually faith based - along with a stack of books which I'm considering saving for Epiphany this year. The gifts listed below have been received over a number of different years/occasions.)
.: Captain's Picks - Age 16 :.
- 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)
.: Ranger's Picks - Age 14 :.
- 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!)
.: Twinkle Toes' Picks - Age 13 :.
- 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.)
.: A Sleighful of Giveaways :.
There will be one winner for each of the following 27 PRIZES from many of my generous sponsors here at Shower of Roses with a COMBINED VALUE OF OVER $1,500!
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)
Congratulations, Karen S!
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Prize #2 - The Illuminated Rosary Complete Set (Hardcover Edition) sponsored by Peanut Butter & Grace (value $100.00)
Congratulations, Laura B!
"Thanks for the giveaway!"
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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)
"Oh, how wonderful about your new little blessing! God's goodness knows no bounds. I will be praying for you for a safe and healthy pregnancy. Nothing like a little baby to keep our gaze on Heaven! Thanks for all the giveaway goodies. God bless you."
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Prize #4 - Nativity Set and Baby's First Christmas Ornament from Blessings from Heaven (value $79.95)
Congratulations, Carolyn L!
"All the prizes are wonderful. Thank you for the opportunity to win. I love following your job and your family! We too had a surprise this year.. #6 due May 17. I skipped my whole first trimester before I noticed! I was distracted and not very sick. Many prayers for a safe and healthy pregnancy/delivery for you!"
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Prize #5 - Winner's choice of (2) Windeatt Comprehension Sets sponsored by TAN Books (value $75.70)
Congratulations, Stacy G!
"What a wonderful giveaway! Congrats on the new blessing!"
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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
Congratulation, Tara!
"Thank you for offering this giveaway! Prayers for you and your baby."
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Prize #7 - CLSP Pro-Life Tote Bag filled with Educational Materials sponsored by Culture of Life Studies (value $60.00)
(Options: The winner can choose an elementary pack or a high school pack and the bag will be filled with an appropriate assortment.)
Congratulations, Deborah D!
"Congratulations! Praying for you and your baby!"
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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.
Congratulations, Kathleen C!
"We are SO happy for your blessed news! You will be in our prayers. Your giveaway is phenomenal. So many wonderful prizes. I love #8 (mass kit for kids) and #21 (Jesse Tree - on my wish list!). All wonderful choices."
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Prize #9 - Set of Four Books by Rev. Henry S. Spalding, S.J. sponsored by St. Augustine Academy Press (value $55.80)
Congratulations, Christine B!
"Congratulations, Jessica! Please be assured of my prayers for you and your baby. I am so happy for all of you. I've been hoping and praying that you will be blessed with a second round of babies like my husband and I have been. God bless all of you!"
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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.
Congratulations, Elizabeth S!
"Congratulations on your newest little one! You are in my prayers! I would love to win the Jesse Tree Ornaments, I've wanted those for years :) God bless you!"
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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
Congratulations, Heidi!
"Yea! Another baby! i'd love to win the Mass kit---my boys (and girls) would love it!"
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Prize #12 - $50 Gift Certificate sponsored by Catholic Folk Toys (value $50.00)
Congratulations, Michelle!
"So happy for you! May God's peace be with you!
All of the gifts sound wonderful. I'm drawn to any of the wooden Saints or books for kids, but #6, 13 and 27 also sound great too!"
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Prize #13 and Prize #14 - $50 Gift Certificate sponsored by Regina Martyrum Productions (two winners, value $50.00 each)
Congratulations, Judi S!
"Congratulations, what exciting news. I would love the book " The Virgin Mary around the World" or the Catholic Folk Toys. What a wonderful gift for Christmas. Thank you."
Congratulations, Susan S!
Wow! What a great list! Thank you!
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.)
Congratulations, Audrey S!
"We will be praying for you and your new little one! Thank you again for such a wonderful giveaway!"
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(value $46.00)
Congratulations, Susie M!
"Thank you for the opportunity! What a wonderful collection of Catholic gifts! I love them all! I would like the Jesse Tree set, the peg dolls, the 18"doll clothes... but the Shower of Roses mystery gift is so exciting!!!"
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Prize #17 - Precious Blood Bracelet sponsored by Gail's Designs (value $45.00)
FREE SHIPPING on all orders with coupon code: Christmas16
Congratulations, Cheryl G!
"I've had my eye on the Jesse Tree Treasures set for a couple of years so I would love to win it!"
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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
Congratulations, Tricia M!
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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!
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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
Congratulations, Stephanie L!
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Prize #21 - Jesse Tree Ornaments (or apply towards custom set of your choice) sponsored by Jesse Tree Treasures (value $42.95)
Congratulations, Jenny P!
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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)
Congratulations, Traci S!
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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
Congratulations, Teri!
Prize #24 - Complete Set of Gospel Trekkers sponsored by Pauline Books & Media (value $41.70)
You can find my review of these books here.
Congratulations, Christine C!
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Prizes #25 - Set of Three Books by Msgr. Raymond O'Brien sponsored by St. Augustine Academy Press (value $40.85)
Congratulations, Samantha L!
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Prize #26 - $40 Gift Certificate sponsored by Naturally Catholic (value $40.00)
Congratulations, Rebecca S!
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Prize #27 - Christmas Gift Package from Shower of Roses (value $40.00+) Contents still to be determined... It will be a surprise!
Congratulations, Marie B!
"Oh Jessica, I am so, so, SO happy for you and your family! Grow, baby, GROW!!! I am praising God tonight for new life!!! You were on my heart in a particular way a couple months ago and I offered up one of my Masses for you, maybe this was the reason you came to mind that particular day. :) Thank you again for the generous giveaway and all of your wonderful sponsors, I found a few tonight I want to look into more when I do some Christmas shopping. There are so many wonderful prizes to pick from, but I love both the Shining Light Doll prize and the Art Angel pendant prize.
Deo Gratias!!"
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