Saturday, February 1, 2014

Usborne Books {Sponsored Review & Giveaway}



Are you familiar with Usborne Books & More?  

Marie, an Independent Usborne Consultant from Joy Beyond the Cross,  offered to let me choose some books to share here at Shower of Roses!  We have always had Usborne books on our shelves and they are often some of the children's favorites.  Years ago I actually signed up as a consultant (mainly for the discount), but stopped selling/purchasing the books from Usborne when I realized that the books were cheaper on Amazon than I could buy them as a consultant.  This was the first concern I brought up to Marie, but she let me know that a couple years ago Usborne stopped selling the books through Amazon (some new/used copies are still available through Amazon marketplace) and they have since made it really easy for moms to be consultants (no monthly requirements anymore)! I was so glad to hear that, and really enjoyed putting together my order! :)

I will share some of our favorites below, but also want to point out real quick that, as is the case with every secular book store, not all of the books that Usborne sells are books that I want on our bookshelves.  We have always loved the books in the See Inside series, but I recently returned the copies of See Inside Planet Earth and See Inside Space since they had some definite agendas they were pushing... I've also taken a marker to a couple of the History books adding a little more coverings (e.g. "Roman Bathtime") and some of the Art books we own include lots of anatomy as well (e.g. Sistine Chapel paintings).

For this post I thought it would be fun to ask each of my children to pick a favortie for me to share with you all.  The links in this post will take you directly to Marie's Usborne Store.  I've also included Amazon Affiliate links so you can read additional reviews for each book if you are interested.



This year we have been studying art using Meet the Masters (I'll be posting another art project soon!) and the Usborne Art books have been an excellent addition to our collection!  The Usborne Book of Famous Paintings (Amazon reviews) is pictured above with Art Treasury (Amazon reviews), The Children's Book of Art (Amazon reviews), Famous Artists, and the Impressionist Sticker Book.



Time Traveler, Ancient World (Amazon Reviews) and The Usborne Encyclopedia of the Ancient World (Amazon Reviews) are incorporated into RC History's curriculum and they are always greatly enjoyed, especially by my boys.



Captain's Pick (age 13) :: Time Traveler
"Discover what life was really like in this action-packed adventure through history. Visit a castle during the Crusades, meet a ferocious band of Viking raiders, explore Rome when the Roman empire was at its height and take a trip down the Nile at a time when pharaohs ruled Egypt. Informative and amusing, this fully illustrated book contains four updated Usborne classics: Knights & Castles, Viking Raiders, Rome & Romans, Pharaohs & Pyramids."

Rascal's Pick (age 11) :: See Inside The Second World War
"With vivid illustrations and flaps to lift, the book takes you into the action of the Second World War."

Twinkle Toes' Pick (age 10) :: Illustrated Stories from Shakespeare
"From lively comedy to dark tragedy, with clowns, witches and a doomed romance, this wonderful collection has six of Shakespeare's best-loved plays. Discover the stories of Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Hamlet, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, and the Tempest, all beautifully retold for easy reading."

Chiquita's Pick (age 8) :: I can draw people
"Even very young children will be able to achieve delightful results when they follow the clear step-by-step picture instructions in this book. Packed with attractive drawings, each double page spread shows children how to draw a different type of person, from a soccer player to a ballerina. Precise hand-control is not required, and lots of ideas for adding details and backgrounds guarantee satisfying results for adults and children alike."

Snuggles' Pick (age 6) ::  Illustrated Stories from Aesop
"This timeless collection of over thirty fables is filled with Aesop's best-loved characters. Meet the lion who becomes friends with a mouse, a clever fox, a foolish crow and a wolf dressed up as a sheep. Enchantingly illustrated and retold, these stories are the perfect introduction to Aesop and will be enjoyed for years to come."

Rose's Pick (age 4) :: 1001 Things to Spot in Fairyland
"Discover the magic of fairyland in this enchanting picture book, which will provide hours of puzzle-solving fun. Search for pretty flower fairies in a secret garden, look for frog princes at fairy school and see if you can find bluebirds flying somewhere over the rainbow."

Bud's Pick (age 2) ::  That's not my reindeer...
"This delightful series of board books is aimed at very young children. The bright pictures, with their patches of different textures, are designed to develop sensory and language awareness. Babies and toddlers will love turning the pages and touching the feely patches."



A little more about Marie and a couple specials for you: 

My name is Marie Bauman and I am a Catholic, SAHM married to Greg (aka Mr. B) and have a 2 year-old daughter named Elizabeth. I blog at Joy Beyond the Cross. We live in the great state of Minnesota, also known as the frozen tundra. We are currently expecting another little Baby B in August 2014. Mr. B and I love to read anything and everything and enjoy sharing this passion with Elizabeth, our little bookworm.

 I originally became a consultant with Usborne as a way to get discounts on the books (hey, honesty is the best policy!). However, I realized quickly how truly great the books were and I started branching out to my friends and family as I knew they would love the books just as much as we did. There are books on a large variety of topics and many of the books are great for homeschooling curriculums.

 Being an Usborne consultant has been a perfect fit for me because it is 100% flexible and there are no sales quotas or high pressured sales tactics involved. Which is a good thing, because I absolutely detest selling anything and I vowed I never would sell anything again after a traumatic experience at age 10. True story!

 I love being able to put this side business down and pick it up when I want to.  Right now, I am picking it back up to help fund "Baby B's HCG and Progesterone Supplementation Fund" or aka "The poke Marie in the hip multiple times per week fundraising effort". I am offering a couple of Winter 2014 incentives including the following:

Offer #1 - Free shipping on all retail orders > $50
Offer #2 - 10% off retail orders > $100

Note: The offers can be combined. Since I am offering them directly, I will refund you the amounts via paypal or check immediately after your order is placed. Offer #2 excludes taxes. Usborne offers a lifetime guarantee on all books. Go forth and read a good book!

Order from Marie online at Usborne Books & More.


And I have a couple Usborne books to give to one of my visitors here at Shower of Roses:

(Retail Value $19.99)

(Retail Value $10.99)

Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter box below:


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Friday, January 31, 2014

Sponsor Love: Quarterly Update & Current Specials

Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to all of my new (and returning) sponsors for the next quarter (February/March/April) here at Shower of Roses! Despite turning down requests for a number of years, last November I finally decided to start accepting sponsors. What a blessing! Last month we opened a new savings account for our "van fund" and our dream of purchasing a larger van, one that will fit our growing family - currently just in age/size, not in quantity ;) - is starting to become more of a reality with the extra income from my awesome sponsors here at Shower of Roses.  All of the sponsors are wonderful Catholic businesses who have blessed our family in the past with their lovely and inspiring products, books, and creations!

Please consider visiting and supporting these online Catholic Shops and Small Businesses, and be sure to watch for some upcoming giveaways. I have quite a few planned for this spring! 


.: Holy Heroes :.


Lent will be here before you know it!  Holy Heroes is currently offering the "Roadmap to Easter" for 30-50% off until February 3rd! 

Visit Holy Heroes and be sure to check out the Deal of the Day.

 You can also order a Free CD!
(One per customer. S/H will be added to the cost of the free CD.)



.: Prayer Pillowcases :.

Prayer Pillowcases are 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.


Watch for the upcoming spring debut of the Pope John Paul II Prayer Pillowcases!


.: Catholic Embroidery :.

Catholic Embroidery (a division of Precision Embroidery LLC) was established by the Serafino Family in 2007 and is dedicated to providing Catholic items for both every day life and for the service of the Altar. Our family business strives to offer products that bring beautiful representations of our Faith into the homes and hearts of Catholics across the globe. To do this, we have worked with only the finest Catholic graphic artists to create exclusive signature embroidery designs that display the true beauty and symbolism of our Faith, and applying them to useful items (ie. aprons, handkerchiefs, afghans) to uplift Catholics in their daily lives.

In keeping with celebrating the upcoming feast of St. Joseph of March 19th, we've designed a limited edition St. Joseph Apron and Applique for the occasion! Deck your kitchen and St. Joseph altar with these exclusive embroidered treasures featuring our St. Joseph Portrait design and Viva San Giuseppe! monogram in traditional Italian colors. 

Take advantage of our Pre-Order special of free shipping on all St. Joseph item pre-orders from now until February 12th with coupon code STJOSEPH.

Also keep warm an beat winter blues with our embroidered St. Benedict Fleece Embroidered Throw - 100% fleecy warmness for your home, office, school room, or car! 


.: Mama's Notebooks :.

Mama's Notebooks brings you helpful notebooks to organize your family life.

All of our notebooks are designed from the ground up by a Mom for other Moms, and feature simple and effective charts, lists, and ideas to help your family life run more smoothly! Our notebooks are spiral bound for your convenience.




.: Jesse Tree Treasures :.


Jesse Tree Treasures offers some beautiful resources for Lent and Easter including their Stations of the Cross Ornaments and the Holy Week Easter Ornaments.


Be sure to visit the Etsy shop and check out their brand new


.: Gail Giron Designs :.

Gail Giron Designs offers gorgeous handmade
Rosaries, Tenners, Jewelry, Sacramentals and more. Special orders are welcome!




.: Catholic Child :.

Catholic Child Catalog is the place to find teachings and treasures for Catholic youth of all ages, toddler through young adult. Our faith-enriching product line includes traditional Catholic items such as rosaries, bibles, devotional jewelry and books on the lives of the saints alongside card games, board games, audio stories, teen fiction and apologetics, movies, music, posters and framed art.

Catholic Child is currently having a Flash Sale this weekend with savings up to 50% off! Orders over $50 also qualify for Free Shipping with promo code #189012


.: Holy Heroes Lenten Adventure :.

Lent begins on March 5th this year.   Once again Holy Heroes is offering their free Lenten Adventure! 

This includes: FREE video, music, and fun activities delivered to your email inbox all through Lent! Join the Holy Heroes Adventure Guides for your Best Lent Ever!

Sign up for Lenten Adventure today!



.: Sacred Heart Books and Gifts :.

At Sacred Heart Books and Gifts we strive to keep our products at the lowest prices possible. We do not mark up a product and then provide a "discount." We do not throw in any gimmicks to create an illusion of steep discounts. Keep in mind that we discount 365 days a year. Items not discounted are due to publishers' requests or because of low discounts given to us by our suppliers. Our mission is to bring to you the finest products at a fair cost. We have worked hard to maintain the highest levels of quality and service.


Sacred Heart Books and Gifts discount the majority of their books and other media products by 15% off publishers prices.
Sacred Heart Books and Gifts also offers a low, flat shipping rate of $5.95 
for all orders totaling over $15.00, regardless of size! 


.: St. Luke's Brush :.

St. Luke’s Brush is an Etsy shop that specializes in hand-painted Catholic Saint Dolls, religious education play sets and religious art and gifts. These are high quality, one of a kind toys and gifts guaranteed to inspire a greater love and understanding of the Catholic Faith. Garry and his wife Amy opened the shop in September of 2010 with the hope of bringing handmade Catholic toys to small hands. More than three years later the art of St. Luke’s Brush has delighted children and adults alike. “One of the things we realized along the way is truly what a small number of saints and religious figures are represented in Catholic statuary. So in addition to providing patron saints as toys for children, adults were finding they could obtain a three dimensional representation of any saint they wanted.” As an artist Garry takes inspiration in the many forms of Catholic art and distills it into his own unique vision with each piece having an original and spontaneous quality. In addition to creating atrium materials for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, we offer a great selection of gifts, perfect for Christmas, Feast Days, Easter, Sacrament Gifts and other special occasions. Custom orders welcome!
Visit St. Luke's Brush over at Etsy!


.: Sew Sweet by Shannon :.

Sew Sweet by Shannon is a small homebased business in the heart of the US that sells lovingly handmade clothing, accessories, and toys for little girls and women.

Visit Sew Sweet by Shannon over at Etsy!


.: Sew Many Booties :.

Sew Many Booties offers unique, affordable and adorable home-sewn baby booties and toddler slippers in 4 sizes up to 24 months.

Be sure to check out Angela's shop
Sew Many Booties over at Etsy!


.: Marie Bauman :.

My name is Marie Bauman and I am a Catholic, SAHM married to Greg (aka Mr. B) and have a 2 year-old daughter named Elizabeth. I blog at Joy Beyond the Cross. We live in the great state of Minnesota, also known as the frozen tundra. We are currently expecting another little Baby B in August 2014. Mr. B and I love to read anything and everything and enjoy sharing this passion with Elizabeth, our little bookworm. I originally became a consultant with Usborne as a way to get discounts on the books (hey, honesty is the best policy!). However, I realized quickly how truly great the books were and I started branching out to my friends and family as I knew they would love the books just as much as we did. There are books on a large variety of topics and many of the books are great for homeschooling curriculums. Being an Usborne consultant has been a perfect fit for me because it is 100% flexible and there are no sales quotas or high pressured sales tactics involved. Which is a good thing, because I absolutely detest selling anything and I vowed I never would sell anything again after a traumatic experience at age 10. True story! I love being able to put this side business down and pick it up when I want to. Right now, I am picking it back up to help fund "Baby B's HCG and Progesterone Supplementation Fund" or aka "The poke Marie in the hip multiple times per week fundraising effort". I am offering a couple of Winter 2014 incentives including the following:

Offer #1 - Free shipping on all retail orders > $50
Offer #2 - 10% off retail orders > $100

Note: The offers can be combined. Since I am offering them directly, I will refund you the amounts via paypal or check immediately after your order is placed. Offer excludes taxes and s/h. Usborne offers a lifetime guarantee on all books. Go forth and read a good book!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Our family is very grateful for the support of both my sponsors and visitors!
If you are interested in advertising at Shower of Roses,
click here for my current rates and policies.

Thank you and May God bless you all!

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Thursday, January 30, 2014

The Fragua Course :: Donate and Help Change Lives!

This post is shared at the request of my little sister JoAnn, who is currently one of my two siblings studying at Oregon State University.  JoAnn is a table discussion leader - teamed with Juan Pablo, a seminarian from Argentina - for The Fragua Course.  They are struggling to raise the funds needed to continue this program, and she has asked if I could pass on the request for donations to my visitors here at Shower of Roses.  All donations are tax deductible and will go directly to the St. John's Society, the organization of priests who help run the Newman Center and Campus ministry at Oregon State.  


Help Change Lives 

The Fragua Course is a program that is run through the Newman Center at Oregon State University. The course is designed for those curious minds wanting to seek more in life. It is for those who have not been to church in long time, have questions, or just want to explore more of the Catholic faith. Each session includes a free dinner, a short talk, and time for discussion in small groups where participants can openly discuss and share their thoughts.

Experience a night at the Fragua Course:



Why you should give:
  1. Your gift will go towards supporting the Fragua Course.
  2. Fragua’s vision is the evangelization of college students for the transformation of society.
  3. Fragua is geared toward college-age students who are at a key time in their lives.
  4. Fragua takes participants wherever they are in their faith, and transforms them.
  5. Your gift always goes further. Volunteers and prayers of others make your gift touch many lives and have a significant impact.

Fragua is only possible through generous gifts from people like you, who support the new evangelization and the transformation of our society.

The OSU Newman Center is a non-profit organization, so your donation is tax-deductable.

Make sure your write “FRAGUA” in the comments so we know your donation is specifically for Fragua.


If you prefer to write a check and mail it, Make payable to St. Mary’s Parish and in the notes write “Newman Center/Fragua”. Mail to: St. Mary’s Catholic Church 501 NW 25th St Corvallis, OR 97330 Any Questions? Please call us at (541) 752-6818 or Contact us. Thank you!

Please keep The Fragua Course in your prayers! 


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Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Feasts & Seasons :: Our February Book Basket


At the beginning of each month I fill a basket with books featuring the the various saints whose feast days will be celebrated during the month and place it in the living room. Throughout the month I will find the children curled up on the couch reading books they have chosen from the basket, either on their own or to their younger siblings.  I also choose books from the basket for some of our afternoon family read-alouds. Our collection started very small and we have continued adding additional books over the years which we have either purchased or have been given as gifts. Some are picture books, some are chapter books, and some are collections of saint stories. This post is a work in progress and I will continue adding links as I sort through our collection. Here is a list of our current books for February:



February 1st, St. Brigid of Ireland (Hist.):

The Life of St. Brigid: Abbess of Kildare

February 2nd, Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Trad.) and Presentation of the Lord (New) also known as Candlemas:

Anna from Tapestries: Stories of Women in the Bible

February 3rd, St. Blaise (New, Trad.):

Saint Blaise and the Animals from Brother Wolf, Sister Sparrow

February 5th, St. Agatha (New, Trad.):

February 6th, St. Paul Miki & Comps. (New):

February 6th, St. Dorothy (Trad.):

February 8th, St. Josephine Bakhita (New):

February 9th, St. Apollonia (Trad.):

Apollonia from Lives and Legends of Saints

February 10th, St. Scholastica (New, Trad.)

February 10th, St. Jose Sanchez del Rio:

Blessed Jose Sanchez del Rio and Secrets from Heaven Glory Stories CD's

February 11th, Our Lady of Lourdes (New, Trad.):

Bernadette: The Little Girl from Lourdes

February 13th, St. Modomnoc:



February 14th, St. Valentine (Trad.):

Saint Valentine

Our additional St. Valentine's Day picture books:


February 18th, St. Bernadette Soubirous (New/some places; Trad./some places) (Trad./some places – April 16th):

February 20th, Bls. Francisco Marto & Jacinta Marto (New/some places):



February 22nd, Chair of St. Peter (at Antioch) (New/Trad.):

The Chair of Saint Peter from Our Holy Father the Pope: The Papacy from St. Peter to Present

February 24th, St. Matthias (Trad.) (New – May 14th):



February 25th, Bl. Sebastian of Aparicio:

Blessed Sebastian and the Oxen - Now back in print and also available from TAN!

February 27th, St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows (Trad.):
  • St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows from Saints for Young People Every Day of the Year (I haven't included all the stories from this book in my lists.  My husband usually reads these inspiring stories to the children each night during dinner.)
Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows from Saints for Young People Every Day of the Year
This book has been revised and reprinted here, but we do not own a copy of the newer edition. 

Other Links for February:
Links for February :: Month Dedicated to the Most Holy Name of Jesus


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Sunday, January 26, 2014

The Catechism in Pictures


I love incorporating our beautiful Catholic Faith in the gifts that I give, including gifts for my husband. One year I gave him a beautiful crucifix for our bedroom and another year I found the Antique Vintage French Crucifix at a local antique store for him.  The two-tone St. Benedict Crucifix that is in our "new" (hard to believe it's been nearly four years since we began our remodel/addition!)  addition was another gift I purchased for him.  Last year on Father's Day I was so excited to give him a copy of The Catechism in Pictures which I had ordered during the Adoremus Books annual Easter sale!  I mentioned it last December but wanted to share a few more pictures with you all.

This book is gorgeous!

Originally published in 1909 and reprinted in 2009, The Catechism in Pictures is a large hardcover book, measuring 13 x 10 1/2 inches.  It has 125 pages, 69 of which are full-color traditional and inspiring pictures.   The page ends are gold gilled and there is even a red ribbon page marker.


It includes 66 chapters covering many topics including: the Creed, the Sacraments, the Ten Commandments, the Commandments of the Church, Prayer, the Last Things, Sin, Virtue, and the Works of Mercy.


The pictures are packed with symbolism, which is explained on the opposite page along with the Church's teaching on the matter.  We love using this book as a resource when teaching our children about the faith, preparing them for First Holy Communion, and, with a whole section on The Virtues,  I am sure I will be referencing this book in the future for Little Flowers meetings as well. At least once we begin a new group for Rose in a year or two!
  
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Friday, January 24, 2014

Lord of the Rings Hand-Painted Action Figures


Back in November, when I was busy painting Jesse Tree Angels, Rascal asked if he could try painting some dolls action figures to give as a Christmas gift to his older brother.  I was more than happy to share my supplies and was totally impressed with his creations!  


Here is a little list of his supplies:

  • 1 - 3 1/2" Doll Body 
  • 3 - 3 9/16" Man Body
  • 4 - 2 3/8" Dad
  • 1 - Dwarf (I can't seem to find the link for this peg doll)
  • Brown Sculpey
  • Modeling Wax
  • Various acrylic paints and brushes
  • Mod Podge
I ordered these Little Wooden People from CraftParts.com. 


He is hoping to add to the collection this year and I'm looking forward to see what he paints next!


* * * * * * * * * * * *

Speaking of Rascal... His birthday is coming up at the beginning of February.   It always sneaks up on me and I just realized I need to hurry if I plan on ordering any gifts for him online and wondered if any of you have any ideas?

He loves The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings, and Ranger's Apprentice (he just finished reading Book 12 which he received on Christmas).  We have the paperback version of The Hobbit, so I've been considering possibly ordering him The Hobbit: Illustrated Edition, to give him along with a copy of The Art of the Hobbit.

I've also been considering a LOTR/Ranger Cloak from Etsy, and whether or not I should attempt to make this myself. . . I'm just not very good (at all! - or very patient) when it comes to sewing.   I also love this shield and sword set, but it's way too expensive.  And I sure wish just the Ent was available from LEGO, without having to buy The Tower of Orthanc (I need to check ebay).   Perhaps he'd like a box of art supplies with some new little people to paint. . . Hmmmm.

Anyways, if you happen to have a suggestion for a great gift for a soon-to-be 12 year old boy, who especially loves playing outdoors, creating with legos, and building models, I'd love to hear about it in the comment box below. Thanks!

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Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Celebrating the Saints :: St. Agnes of Rome


January 21st is the memorial of St. Agnes of Rome and Our Lady of Altagracia! 



.: STORY TIME :.


Saint Agnes by M.R. Berardi

Additional Stories can be found in the following books:
St. Agnes (Saints and Angels) by Claire Llewellyn
Saint Agnes (Saints for Girls - also available from TAN/Neumann Press) by Father Gales
Beautiful Saint Agnes in The Golden Legend of Young Saints


(study guide in Catholic Mosaic and coloring page in Fenestrae Fidei)


.: COLORING PAGES :. 






 
Did you happen to notice anything missing from that picture of Snuggles?  
He lost his first tooth late last night! 


.: SNACK TIME :. 




(St. Agnes Cookies)
We saved these cookies for after dinner. 



.: PRAYER :. 

O glorious St. Agnes, you served God in humility and confidence on earth and are now in the enjoyment of His beatific Vision in heaven because you persevered till death and gained the crown of eternal life. Remember now the dangers that surround me in the vale of tears, and intercede for me in my needs and troubles. 
Amen.

 St. Agnes, Ora Pro Nobis! 

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