Wordless Wednesday

More New Products at Catholic Artworks and a Giveaway!

Yesterday afternoon we were very excited to receive a couple packages containing samples of some of the new products at Catholic Artworks:

Here at Nippert & Co Artworks, we are proud to present to you our full line of Look & Learn Catholic Visuals! Check out our website to see our exciting new line. With 52 sets to offer, there is sure to be something for everyone – Elementary level, Teens and many set available in Spanish! These high quality visuals are printed on durable 100# Glossy cardstock that will allow you to create a colorful classroom environment while teaching the basics of our vibrant Catholic faith! The price is right too, our special introductory prices will go until the end of the month – Please check it out & tell us what you think!

Please help us my forwarding this to anyone you think may be interested! Thank You!

Click here to see our full line of Look & Learn Catholic Visuals!

I know I have mentioned Catholic Artworks before, but since we love using some of their products on a weekly basis (particularly with the Alphabet Path), I thought it would be fun to host a giveaway in an effort to help them spread the work about their new products.  

All you need to do to enter is leave a comment with your contact email and tell me which of the new products is your favorite.  

There is SO much to choose from, but I think my favorites are the St. Therese - God Bless our Little Ways kit, the Alphabet of Saints Border, and the May Crowning kit.  Hubby's favorite was the larger size of the Vessels & Vestment cards since he thinks they'll be great to use when training Altar boys.

I also really like the idea of Father Nick, especially since we have never gotten around to making our own, but with three brother-in-laws in the FSSP, I'd LOVE to see a traditional version with Fiddleback vestments perhaps... Wouldn't that be neat!?!  

Anyhow, go and take a peek and then come back and leave a comment.  I will close comments Sunday afternoon (March 14th, Rose Sunday!) and then draw a name.

The winner will receive a set of Catholic Artworks Vessels & Vestments Flashcards (perfect to include in an Easter Basket!) and one of my Hand-painted Wooden Saint Therese Dolls.

My Daybook :: March 8, 2010

Outside my window... it is surprisingly sunny right now, considering our forecast. Apparently it is going to be the coldest it has been since December and we are even supposed to get snow.  Wouldn't that be a great way to start "S" week!  I guess we will see!

2:16 PM UPDATE:  We were suppose to have "Snow Showers mainly before 4 pm."  Yet, here's what it looks like "outside my window..."

I am listening to... the boys singing Hockey Songs.  They have been having so much fun learning how to play on Saturdays.  They have played a few scrimmages after their lessons, and once in between periods at a game, but (since they are picking it up quickly) they were invited to participate in a game yesterday afternoon and had so much fun!  I wish I would have sent the camera with Hubby!

I am thinking... about yesterday!  I didn't attend the boys Hockey game since it was my sisters (the twins) 18th birthday.  Our boys and my youngest brother went with Hubby to the rink, Twinkle Toes and Chiquita went home with their Grandpa, and Rose and I went out for a delicious Brunch with my mom and 3 of my sisters.  It was so nice!  Originally it was just going to be the twins, mom and I, but my sister Jennifer drove most of the night to surprise the twins for their birthday.

 

I am thankful that... everything is coming together for our remodel/addition.  I spent most of Friday afternoon on the phone with the Mortgage Company, Appraiser and Appliance Store, but I made quite a bit of progress.

I am hoping and praying... that the county approves our plans.  We ran into yet another hurdle last week when Hubby tried to apply for the permits...  Originally our plan was to add on to the left side (looking up from the road) of our home, but the county would not allow us to add any more living space (we can build a detached garage) any closer to that property line due to zoning restrictions for "Woodland Resource." NOW, after finally figuring out how to go through our kitchen (thankfully it hadn't been remodeled yet) they have recently added another zoning restriction which won't let us build within 100 feet of the other property line on the other side.  Argh!!   We do live on three acres, but it is long and rather narrow.  This gives us a small are directly off the back and we weren't sure if the plans we just had made would fit into this area.  Hubby came home to measure and it is exactly 100 feet, from where we think our property line is located.  Praying!!!!

Anyhow, here is a peek at the finished plans.  Our existing kitchen and laundry room/bathroom will be completely remodeled (making my kitchen wider and the existing bathroom narrower, with a pocket door going into a new laundry room) and we will be adding on a dining area and living room!  It will add about 560 sq feet to our home.

* The sink and toilet are actually switched around in our final plans, with the sink immediately inside the bathroom door.

From the kitchen... dreaming about the good things to come in the not too distant future!  Yay!!!

From the learning rooms...  still working on that schedule.

The girls will slowly start "S" week Along the Alphabet Path.  I have a feeling we may be here for a few weeks with everything else that is going on... We'll see.  I'm not going to stress out about it! ;)

I also need to schedule the mandatory state testing for Captain.  This will be a first for us, since testing isn't required until 3rd grade.  I am so nervous!

Living the Liturgical Year at Home... still focusing on our Lenten Activities and looking forward to Laetare Sunday next weekend (and remembering how special last Laetare Sunday was for me!), followed by the feasts of St. Patrick and St. Joseph.

I am creating... a clean and organized home.  All of my craft projects are on hold as I work on filling those 40 bags and organizing the rest.

I am wearing... a nursing top handed down from my cousin.  Thank you Bethany!

I am reading... lots of picture books including Little Rose of Sharon (A Story of Self Sacrifice), Children's Stations of the Cross, and The Story of the Cross: The Stations of the Cross for Children.  All beautiful books to read during Lent and perfect for "S" week!

Pondering these words... from St. John Vianney.

"Oh! How easily we could win Heaven day by day just by doing what we have to do--but doing it for God!"

Our little Rose... is rolling over!!!  I noticed her on her tummy last night and thought perhaps I left her on her side (I had just finished nursing her), but then this morning she was clearly on her back when I left and once again I found her on her tummy (crying, since she hates being on her tummy).   Slow down baby girl!  I'm not ready for you to start growing up already...

Noticing that... I never did have a chance on Friday to participate in Emily's March Favorite Fives.  I've been thinking about it though and am noticing that their are so many little things in my day to day life that make me smile.  It is going to be hard to narrow it down to just five.

Towards personal care... I'm still working on that mile per day.  I usually take Sundays off, but since I was a mile behind walked with my mom at her house yesterday afternoon.   My parents live on 10 acres and there is a trail/road which goes around the whole property.  It is beautiful to walk.   I also did a workout Saturday morning using EA Sports Active.  I am still having a hard time standing up from the Squats.  Ouch!

Around the house... lots of candles!  Now that some of the surfaces (ie: bathroom counters and coffee tables) have been de-cluttered I am lighting my candles a bit more often and just love how they warm up a room and make it feel so much more cozy!

On keeping home... I filled up one more bag for the 40 Bag Challenge with a few more of my own clothing items and a number of puzzles from the school room.  Nine more to go!

One of my favorite things... RAINBOWS!!  We were hoping to get to see one during "R" week and ended up seeing quite a few.  Here is a picture (taken by Hubby) of one of the rainbows we saw at my parents home yesterday afternoon.

A few plans for the rest of the week:

Monday :: Home Appraisal (the Appraiser just left)
Tuesday :: Bunco
Wednesday :: Doctors appointment for Rose
Thursday :: Little Flowers;  Pro-Life Dinner/Fundraiser
Saturday :: Hockey Lessons
Sunday :: Mass (Don't forget to Spring Forward!)

A Picture thought I am sharing:

40 Bags in 40 Days :: UPDATE

I can't believe that it has been a month since we started the 40 Bags in 40 Days Challenge!  (I started early so that we could be finished before Holy Week.)  We actually have been able to make better progress than I thought we would and, after the 2 bags I filled in the kitchen this afternoon, we are already up to 35 bags (including trash)!

To make it a bit more challenging I am considering not counting the 5 bags of trash and try to fill another 10 bags, instead of five.   It's getting harder, but is so refreshing to let go of some of this "stuff" that I've hung on to for way too long.

Here's a quick look at what we've bagged up so far:

Boys Bedroom ::
4 bags of clothing
1 bag of trash

Girls Bedroom ::
2 bags of clothing and shoes
1 bag of toys
1 bag of trash

Hall Closets ::

2 bags of blankets
3 bags of baby blankets

1 bag of table linens

The Nursery ::
2 bags of baby clothing
2 bags of toys

Master Bedroom and Closets ::
1 bag of men's clothing
2 bags of women's clothing
3 bags of maternity clothing
1 bag of misc. items
1 rebounder
2 bags of trash

Bathrooms and Laundry Room::
1 bag of misc. items
1 big plastic drying rack
1 rug

Kitchen ::
2 bags of Kitchen Items

School Room ::
1 bag of trash

Living Room ::

Overall ::
27 bags of Stuff
3 Large Items
5 bags of Trash
For a Total of = 35 bags

It looks like I've saved the hardest areas for last:

• School Room (I tend to hang on to everything here... including these two puzzles which drive me crazy and will probably be the first to go.) 
• Bookshelves (This is even harder, since I tend to save everything until I have time to resell it on Cathswap... Which hasn't happened since I started blogging! lol!) 
• Board Games (I've stopped buying more at least!) 
• Entertainment Center (Movies, CD's, etc... I got rid of a ton last year, but still have plenty more to go though.) 
• I also have more to work to do in my closet. (This is where most of our craft supplies are kept.)

With all that stuff to choose from it shouldn't be too hard to fill up 10 more bags. Yet then again...

So, how is the 40 Bag Challenge going for you? 

Favorite Fives :: Kitchen

I'm just a little bit late in participating in Emily's Kitchen edition of her Favorite Fives, especially considering her next edition is coming up tomorrow...  I just thought that since I am often overwhelmed by my kitchen, it would be fun to focus on the favorites!

~ One ~

First on my list of favorites is my Pampered Chef Stoneware.  I have almost all of the different stones,  and love them all.  In fact, the Rectangle Baker, Rectangle Stone, Large Bar Pan, Pizza Stone, and Muffin Pan could easily be listed as all five of my kitchen favorites, so I am grouping them all together.  ;)  The stoneware does an excellent job of evenly distributing the heat from my least favorite item lovely oven, and prevents me from burning everything.

~ Two ~

I also LOVE my Pampered Chef Garlic Press.  It works so great that you don't even need to peel the garlic cloves first (though I usually do anyways.).  Gosh, I could just go on and on when it comes to Pampered Chef... I love my Coffee & More Mugs, Batter Bowls, Mixing Bowls, Prep Bowls,  Trifle Bowl, Scoops, Timer, Food Chopper, Pizza Cutter, Ice Cream Scoop, Cheese Knife, and Scrapers to name a few.  Just don't ever purchase one of their can openers, unless you need to work on the virtue of patience, and maybe not even then! ;) 

~ Three ~

I'm sure there is probably a better one out there, but I just love my little Cocoa-Latte Maker.  I use it nearly everyday to make Soy Chai Tea.  Yum!  

~ Four ~

I guess, my Vita-Mix would come next.  (Mine is a 5000, which I splurged purchased years ago from Costco)  Have you ever used one?  It's awesome for making smoothies, of course, but also makes great ice cream, soups, salsas, and even baby food.  Not to mention, it is super easy to clean.  A huge bonus since I already spend too much time washing dishes.

~ Five ~

It's a toss up between my griddle and my crock pot, but I use the Griddle quite a bit more, so it wins.  I use it multiple times each week, especially considering I only have three working burners on my range.  (It is truly time for our kitchen remodel...  I couldn't be more excited to be at least starting the process!)

~ Bonus :: On my Wishlist ~

I'd love to hear any feedback from you all on these kitchen items which I have on my wish list, though I don't plan to purchase any of them (except perhaps the cake mold) until we've completed our kitchen remodel...

• Nordic Ware Spring Lamb 3-D Cake Mold (for Easter)
• Fox Run 36 Piece Alphabet and Number Cookie Cutter Set (my alphabet letters are pretty small)
• A Crown Shaped Cookie Cutter (Does anyone have a favorite to recommend?)
• One more place setting of our wedding china (So I'll have 12 place settings)
• A Tea Kettle, since I constantly forget when I have water heating on the stove. (Emily has me eying one like hers in kiwi!) 
• Panini and Sandwich Press
• Prego Nonstick Pizzelle Baker and Cone Roller
• Keurig Home Brewing System (I've been wanting one of these for a long time!  Perhaps once our remodel is completed and we have somewhere to put it!)

Well, now that I have spent way too much time focusing on my favorites, I am off to the kitchen to see if I can fill another bag (or two!) towards that 40 bag challenge... 

Wordless Wednesday ~ Outside my Window...

Saint Joseph Lap Book

Last March Rascal made a 3-D Cut & Color St. Joseph Altar and started making a Lap Book in honor of St. Joseph.  That same week my Grandfather passed away and we ended up spending March 19th, the feast of St. Joseph, in the car traveling out of state to attend his funeral.  Needless to say, Rascal's Lap Book never was completed.  A year later (I can't believe it has been a year!) I finally pulled it back off the shelf so he could finish it up in time for this year's feast!

I've included links (and uploaded any of our own documents) in case anyone would like to use them as well.

~ Books read ~

Good St. Joseph

Father and Son: A Nativity Story

Song of the Swallows

Other Resources:
From An Angel in a Dream: The Story of St. Joseph
Favorite Prayers to St. Joseph
The Virtual St. Joseph Altar
SQPN

~ Cover ~

For the cover Rascal colored this picture of St. Joseph. (Charlotte also has a lovely coloring page and you can find even more options here.)

~ Inside First Folder ~

For the left flap of the first folder we pasted the Litany of St. Joseph.  (Here is my document to download.)

In the middle, a the top, we included a 2 Flap Flap Book for the two "Feasts of St. Joseph."  (You can download my file here - the font is different since it was originally made on my other computer.  Rascal completed this part of the lapbook last year, otherwise I probably would have had him write it in himself.) 

• On the outside of the first flap we pasted placed a picture of St. Joseph holding the baby Jesus and on the inside it says  "March 19th ~ St. Joseph, Spouse of the Virgin Mary".
• On the outside of the second flap we pasted a picture of St. Joseph working, and on the inside it says "May 1st ~ St. Joseph the Worker".
  

Next we printed out a "Petal Pentagon" and wrote five things that St. Joseph is the patron of on the five different "petals," and "St. Joseph, Patron of..." in the center.  Although St. Joseph is patron of many things, we choose the ones he is most known for:  1) Universal Church; 2) Workers; 3) Families; 4) Fathers; and 5) the Dying / Holy Death.   Rascal added illustrations as well. 

We then added a 2 Flap Book to list the two main symbols used by The Church for St. Joseph.  On the outside we wrote "Symbols of St. Joseph."  On the inside flaps we wrote "The Lily" on one, and "Carpenter's Square" on the other.  In the very middle we have an image of St. Joseph holding both.   (Here is my document to download.) 

At the bottom of the page Rascal wanted to write his Blue Knights prayer to St. Joseph:

"Dear St. Joseph, who took such good care of the baby Jesus and His Holy Mother Mary be our protector too.  Guide us on a path that is safe and sure and be with us all the way to heaven.  Amen."

For the right side flap of the first folder, we made a Nine Layer, Layered Book for the Nine Day Novena to St. Joseph.  We pasted this image on the cover and titled it "Nine Day Novena".  We then placed the nine days of prayers, in order, on each of the nine layers and added "Day One, Day Two, etc..." on the bottom of each layer.  (And here is this document. You'll need to make the Layer Book yourself, though you can use the 7-Layer Book at this link to get you started.) 

~ Inside Second Folder ~ 

On the left flap we included the Blessing of the St. Joseph Altar.

In the center we included a picture of our mini St. Joseph Altar, which Rascal made using this pdf.  I printed out this image (at 150%) to frame our picture.

Beneath our picture of our homemade St. Joesph Altar, we printed out and added the history of the Saint Joseph Altar from Viva San Giuseppe by St. Joseph Guild.

On the right flap we placed a couple pockets for our St. Joseph Memory Match Playing Cards.

~ Back Cover ~ 

Rascal colored a beautiful stained glass coloring page (pdf here) and glued it to a piece of cardstock.  We glued the side and bottom edges of the cardstock and attached it to the back cover creating a pocket.

We used the pocket to store the St. Joseph Paper Doll we downloaded, colored, and cut out, from Paper Dali.

~ Additional Activities ~ 

Since Rascal still has a little room on the outside of the two end flaps, we are planning on using a few of the ideas from Domestic-Church's Exploring Saint Joseph.   Our favorites were: 

• Interview your Dad about his childhood (Prepare a list of questions in advance and use a cassette tape recorder to record the interview. This could be a real treasure in the coming years. -- They provide a list of suggestions.)
• Complete the Sentence  (Have the children complete that following sentence in as many ways as they can. Saint Joseph.... Some suggestions: was a hard worker, was a virtuous man, taught Jesus, was a loving father.)
• Saint Joseph and Dad (Discuss with your siblings how Saint Joseph and Dad are alike. How are they not alike? Is Dad getting more and more like Saint Joseph?)

Participate in the 1st Annual St. Joseph Altar Blog Fest.  You can find all the information here.

Bake!  Lots of recipes for the feast of St. Joseph can be found at Catholic Cuisine.

Oh, St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God. I place in you all my interests and desires. Oh, St. Joseph, do assist me by your powerful intercession, and obtain for me from your devine Son all spiritual blessings, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. So that, having engaged here below your heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of Fathers.

Oh, St. Joseph, I never weary of contemplating you, and Jesus asleep in your arms; I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine head for me and ask him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath. 

St. Joseph, Patron of departing souls - Pray for me.