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Nut Allergies

by Filed Under: Allergies, Nut Allergy, Nuts 1 Comment

I suffered from many allergies as a child.  Many of which have followed me into adulthood.  I took myself off all medicine and shots when I was eleven years old.  I was fed up with my adverse side affects to the medicine.  I learned at a early age to listen to my body and find natural ways of coping with my chronic condition.

I have experienced several improvements in my health since the inception of my lifestyle overhaul.  Just recently, I was able to eat raw almonds.  This is a huge milestone. I’m not ready to say that I’m completely free from my nut allergies but I am excited about this small step in that direction.

I am also excited to try some recipes that require almond flour/meal.

I’ll continue to take baby steps.

 

almonds

raw sliced almonds

these are the two forms of almonds that I have experimented with.

St. Bathildis ~ Patience ~ Lily of the Valley

by Filed Under: 01 January, 01 January Saints, Patience, St. Bathildis, Wreath III 1 Comment

P1140010I met for my fifth Little Flowers meeting for 2011-2012.  We had a wonderful time coming together to celebrate Mass, learn about a new saint and study a virtue.  Eleven of the girls were with Father L for preparation for First Holy Communion.  They joined us for the second half of the meeting.  Thirty-two girls were in attendance.
We did the normal routine; grace, snack, review last month’s saint and virtue, introduce the saint and virtue of the month, listen to a talk from Father L, receive a blessing, work on a related craft,  update LF binders, and close with a prayer.
This month’s saint was St. Bathildis.
saint-bathildes-queen

Feast Day – January 30
Paton: against bodily ills, against illness, against sickness, children, sick people, and widows.
Represented: crowned nun often performing menial tasks of giving alms to the poor, ladder extending into heaven, or standing before an altar of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The girls were intrigued by the story of St. Bathildis.  She was newLeonhard Beck (German, 1480-1552) . Sancta Bathildis (St. Bathilda). to us all.  I told the girls about how St. Bathildis was kidnapped in her youth.  When asked if they would be scared to be on a pirate ship without family, C replied, “No, I wouldn’t be alone.  I would have my guardian angel with me.”  Her words were such a beautiful testament to child-like faith.  The other girls agreed, God and the Blessed Virgin Mary are always with them.  The girls took turns guessing how St. Bathildis’s story unraveled from being a slave.  They were on the seat of their chairs to hear about the heroic virtue that St. Bathildis displayed.  Most noteable was St. Bathildis’s patience.

Patience – the virtue (Fruit of the Spirit) that prevents us from being disturbed by the evil around us.
We are not obliged to pray for crosses and sufferings, as some of the saints have done; but it is absolutely necessary that we should bear the trials which God sees fit to send us, with patience and loving confidence in Him.  ~ Father Lasance, Catholic Girls Guide

I extended the lesson of patience into the craft.  I chose something that would be new and a bit challenging—something that required a significant amount of patience.  I chose finger knitting.
P1140034
The girls were excited to learn finger knitting.  They caught on faster than I had anticipated.  The diligently worked on their knitting as they exercised the virtue of patience.  They did not complain, say “I can’t,” yell for help, ort all together give up.  It was a bit of a challenge at times but all the girls, including my five year olds, were able to successfully acquire the skill of finger knitting.
P1140030
Father L stopped by for a visit after his First Holy Communion lesson.  He reviewed the most recent feast days.  Then he quizzed the girls on St. Bathildis.  He, too, was intrigued by her story.  Father gave the girls their blessing before he departed.  Please keep father L in your prayers.

St. Bathilidis ~ ora pro nobis

Resources:st bathildis statue
Handouts:

Resources:



Finally, look up to heaven. Behold the eternal beauty and blessedness of paradise. If for a brief period you suffer here with courage and patience, you will after death be released from all suffering and enjoy unspeakable bliss for evermore. Such are the blessed fruits of patience.  ~ Father Lasance, Catholic Girls Guide


Finger Knitting


 by  Filed Under: Crafts 
finger knitted scarf
Sparkles took up knitting last year, thanks to Rose.  Sweetie didn’t have an interest at the time.  I desired for her to learn something in the way of knitting or crocheting.  This was the perfect opportunity, a Little Flowers lesson in patience.
Sweetie took to finger knitting.  It’s just her pace – fast craft with instant gratification.
She knitted a 49 in scarf in 30 min.  Now she is begging for more.


~~~


Finger Knitted Scarf


 P1140013
Supplies:


    

  • yarn*
    • 

  • scissors
    • 



P1140031
Directions:


    

  • prepare yarn (18 yards was enough for a 49 in scarf)
    • 

  • follow the directions in this video  (it’s the best video tutorial that I’ve seen)
    • 




Cost:


    

  • 18 yards of yarn for 49 in scarf
    • 

  • 1 skin of 300 yards – $10.99
    • 



Cost per scarf – $1.52 


~~~


P1140051
*My yarn supply is low and purchasing more is not an option.  So, I have been making my own yarn—t-shirt yarn.  I’ve raided my give-away piles for old shirts.  I followed this tutorial to cut my shirts for t-shirt yarn.  Be certain to give all family members fair warning.  This is so fun that one can tend to go a lil’ crazy and no shirt will be let untouched.  Dad has stashed away his favorites in fear that I might shred them.


tired me - post Mass & LF meeting






Word of the Year


 by  Filed Under: Motto, New Year, Prayer, Word of the Year 5 Comments
“Almighty Father, I place the Precious Blood of Jesus before my lips before I pray, that my prayers may be purified before they ascend to Your divine altar.” ~St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi


I desired to adopt a word for the year.  It was a fruitful exercise for me last year and felt that I could use a simple reminder of His call for me.


I struggled with coming up with a word.  Finally, I asked Dad to pick one for me.  He told me to go to my saint for the year, St. Mary Magdalen Pazzi.  Praise God for the headship of my family.  It was the exact place that I needed to go.  The word was immediately made known.  It’s not original or flashy–the word is PRAY.pray - crucifix


Everything starts with prayer.  Prayer is where I hear His voice.  Prayer in Adoration, in celebration of the Mass, in my work, in times of trials, in times of jubilation, in union with Dad, with my family, for others, united in sacrifice and penance, in the tears that I shed,….I must pray in all things at all times.

I desire to do all things for the greater glory of God and I trust that, through prayer, He will show me the way.


I’m not abandoning any of my previous words.  In fact, through this practice, they have been imprinted on my heart.  Perfection is not sought.  My goal is only to move closer to Him and do His will.




“Our prayer must be humble, fervent, resigned, persevering, and deeply reverent, for we must reflect that we are in the presence of a God and speaking with a Lord before Whom the Angels tremble out of respect and fear.” ~ St. Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi




~~~


2012 Motto


Be Charitable. 


Be Useful. 


Be Gentle. 


Be Joyful. 


Pray always.


Forget about yourself. 


ALL FOR!









In His JOY,


 


The Lettered Cottage


Resourceful


 by  Filed Under: Crafts, Frugal Living, Gifts, New Year, Simplicity 
Dad and I have made a pact, we will not be buying anything this year.  In other words, no shopping.  We will only purchase whole, clean food and personal necessities.  It’s a call that has been on our heart for sometime now but we I have resisted.  We are now cooperating with His grace and moving forward.
We are very limited with our financial resources and are facing some more difficult times.  All of which, have been answers to prayers.  The Good Lord is making it easy for us to know His will.
We have nothing to fear.  We are not going without and trust in His providence.  All of our needs are being met, praise God.




Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?  ~ Matthew 6:25-26




We pray that we grow to be better stewards of our blessings (monetary, physical, spiritual,–all things).


But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.   Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day’s own trouble be sufficient for the day. 


~ Matthew 6:33-34


~~~


No shopping doesn’t mean no crafting or gift giving.  The kids and I will use what we have on hand. Here are a few of our latest creations.   I did purchase some prints of the photos that I had taken. 
knitting
Sweetie is my focus group when it comes to all things Little Flowers.  I usually have her do a trial run of the LF craft for the month.  This gives me a good idea of the level of difficulty for the craft and about how long the craft will take.  This month’s craft has to do with knitting.
photo canvas
I took family photographs for Christmas gifts.  I used the photos to create photo canvases.  I printed enlargements at Costco and applied them to my stash of canvases.  (The canvases have been sitting in the bag for almost six years now.  I had intended to create personalized paintings.)
Photo CanvasPhot
Rose and I made personalized trinkets for Dad’s co-workers and her girlfriends.  The pictures below don’t do these creations justice.  They’re simple, fun and absolutely darling.
stamped metal tagsstamped washer


~~~


I hope to use up all my craft supplies this year.  I’ll be sharing my creations at the weekly Stash Bash and Pinning it Down.


What do you eat?


 by  Filed Under: Clean Eating, Dinner, Lunch 5 Comments


It’s a question that I get a lot when others find out about my family’s lifestyle change.  Here are a few pics of some of our latest dishes.  They’re tasty, easy meals—nothing fancy.




baked apple pork chopbaked apple pork chops


rose made this dish on her dinner night.  we loved it!  savory and sweet.




sweet potato soup


i love soups during all times of the year.  they’re perfect for meatless fridays.  this is so yummy that papi, my 4 year old, eats it hot or cold.




egg salad


here’s another friday meal, egg salad wraps.  sometimes we use cucumbers to dip in the egg salad.




tri-tip dinner


simple and cheap  dinner that we usually have once a week.  we generally make enough for left overs, lunch or snack.  here we served it up with baked sweet potato and a simple salad with home made dressing.  (this was the kid’s plate.  dad and I serve ourselves more meat and greens.)




oriental chicken salad


I used to make this salad with packaged seasoning and crunchy noodles.  this version is a healthier option.  we enjoy this for lunch, dinner, or snack.  the kids miss the crunchy noodles but are happy to have the crunch of the slivered almonds.




taco night


taco night doesn’t look the same these days and we’re loving it. seasoned ground beef with diced peppers and avocado, served up with organic salsa.  i prefer the lettuce shell but rose likes to turn it into taco salad.




pulled pork


dad needed a dish to take to a work party.  i wanted to be sure that he had a hearty option.  rose and i prepared this dish for dad in the mid-afternoon.  we slow cooked it in our wanna-be dutch oven.  it was ready six hours later, just in time for dad’s shift.


it was a hit and has become one of dad’s favorite.  papi ate the leftovers for lunch the next day.  it’s a bit spicy for me.


(next time i’ll remember to take an after picture.)


***
i’ve marked these meals in my new recipe book on pinterest and i’m sharing this post at the following parties.
 pinning it down
 pinterest to real life
***




***update*** 


here are the links to the recipes that i used or that inspired my dishes.







(I’ll post my dressing for the Oriental Salad when I take measurements, the next time I make it.) 












Curtain Aprons


 by  Filed Under: Crafts, Gifts, Little Flowers 
I held my fourth Little Flowers meeting in early December.  The girls made a simple Curtain Apron for their craft.  It was a lovely craft edition for the meeting since St. Martha is a patron saint of homemakers.  The apron was intended to be gifted for Christmas.


LF finished curtain apron


Curtain Apron


this is an up-cycle craft


Supplies:


    

  • valance style curtain (I purchased 18 valances from my local thrift store to create aprons for 36 girls)
    • 

  • ribbon (I used a min of 1.5 yards of ribbon for ea. apron)
    • 

  • scissors 
    • 

  • safety pin
    • 



Approximate cost of ea. apron (if items need to be purchased) – $2 


Approximate cost of ea. apron (if items are on hand) – FREE


 LF curtain aprons  


Directions:


    

  1. cut the valance vertically at a place that will yield enough coverage for your desired homemaker.
    2. 

  2. optional:  hem the cut side of the valance.
    3. 

  3. cut ribbon to the desired length.  long enough to tie around the waist of the intended homemaker.
    4. 

  4. attached safety pin to the end of the ribbon. 
    5. 

  5. thread the ribbon, safety pin first, into the top portion of the valance that was indented for a curtain rod.
    6. 

  6. remove the safety pin and prepare the Curtain Apron for presentation.
    7. 



~~~


lf threading ribbon


creating aprons


lf sparkles apron


preparing creations for presentation/wrapping


lf wrapping apron


finalizing packages


Less than 15min


 by  Filed Under: EPLifeFit, Work-outs 3 Comments
I completed my first official workout of the new year.  I’m taking it slow and using the easy days to concentrate on form.  I’m a stickler on form.  Dad worked out with me.  I trained Rose later in the day and the Littles will do their work-out at their daily park visit.  (I hope to be back with some pictures.)


    

  • warm-up
    • 

  • 10 squats
    • 

  • 10 push-ups
    • 

  • 10 sit-ups
    • 

  • stretches
    • 



The Feast of the Holy Family


 by  Filed Under: 01 January, 01 January Saints, Holy Family 1 Comment
clip_image002


 The special devotion which proposes the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph as the model of virtue of all Christian households began in the XVIIth century. It started almost simultaneously in Canada and France. — The Association of the Holy Family being founded in Montreal in 1663, and the Daughters of the Holy Family in Paris in 1674. Numerous other congregations and associations under the Patronage of the Holy Family have been established, since that time, and they are spread over the world. The Archconfraternity was established by Pius IX in 1847. In 1893 Leo XIII approved a feast for Canada, and Pope Benedict XV extended the Feast of the Holy Family to the whole Church and ordered its celebration to be kept on the Sunday after the Epiphany.


holyfamilyFIRST SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY     
The Feast of the Holy Family


O Lord Jesus Christ, who by thy wondrous holiness didst adorn a human home, and by thy subjection to Mary and Joseph didst consecrate the order of earthly families ; grant that we being enlightened by the example of their life with thee in thy Holy Family, and assisted by their prayers ; may at last be joined with them in thine eternal fellowship.  Who livest and reignest with the Father. Amen.


~~~


Mother Teresa’s Prayer for Families


Heavenly Father, you have given us the model of life in the Holy Family of Nazareth.  Help us, O Loving Father,to make our family another Nazareth where love, peace and joy reign.


May it be deeply contemplative, intensely EucharisNativity-Bicci-di-Lorenzo-detail1-300x225tic, revived with joy.  Help us to stay together in joy and sorrow in family prayer.


Teach us to see Jesus in the members of our families, especially in their distressing disguise.  


May the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus make our hearts humble like his and help us to carry out our family duties in a holy way.


May we love one another as God loves each one of us, more and more each day, and forgive each other’s faults as you forgive our sins.


Help us, O Loving Father, to take whatever you give and give whatever you take with a big smile. 


Immaculate Heart of Mary, cause of our joy, pray for us.  
St. Joseph, pray for us.     
Holy Guardian Angels, be always with us, guide and protect us.     
Amen.


~~~


Lesson V


To all fathers of families, Joseph is verily the best model of paternal vigilance and care.  In the most holy Virgin Mother of God, mothers may find an excellent example of love, modesty, resignation of spirit, and the perfecting of faith.  And in Jesus, who was subject to his parents, the children of the family have a divine pattern of obedience which they can admire, reverence, and imitate.  Those who are of noble birth may learn, from this Family of royal blood, how to live simply in times of prosperity, and how to retain their dignity in times of distress.  The rich may learn that moral worth is to be more highly esteemed than wealth.  Artisans, and all such as are bitterly grieved by the narrow and slender means of their families, if they would but consider the sublime holiness of the members of this domestic fellowship, cannot fail to find some cause for rejoicing in their lot, rather than for being merely dissatisfied with it.  In common with the Holy Family, they have to work, and to provide for the daily wants of life.  Joseph had to engage in trade, in order to live ; even the divine hands laboured at an artisan’s calling.  It is not to be wondered at, that the wealthiest men, if truly wise, have been willing to cast away their riches, and to embrace a life of poverty with Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.


~~~


Holy-family


Resources:



 


~~~


Prayer to the Holy Family


This prayer is taken from Prayer Book for Religious, compiled by Fr. F. X. Lasance, S.J. (Benziger Brothers, 1904)


O most loving Jesus, Who by Thy sublime and beautiful virtues of humility, obedience, poverty, modesty, charity, patience and gentleness, and by the example of Thy domestic life, didst bless with peace and happiness the family Thou didst choose on earth, in Thy clemency look down upon this household, humbly prostrate before Thee and imploring Thy mercy. Remember that this family belongs to Thee; for to Thee we have in a special way dedicated and devoted ourselves. Look upon us in Thy loving kindness; preserve us from danger; give us help in time of need, and grant us the grace to persevere to the end in the imitation of Thy Holy Family; that having revered Thee and loved Thee faithfully on earth, we may bless and praise Thee eternally in heaven. 


O Mary, most sweet Mother, to thy intercession we have recourse, knowing that thy Divine Son will hear thy prayers. 


And do thou, O glorious Patriarch, St. Joseph, assist us by thy powerful mediation, and offer, by the hands of Mary, our prayers to Jesus. Amen. 


~~~


Sancta Familia ~ ora pro nobis


Feast of the Epiphany


 by  Filed Under: 01 January, 01 January Saints, Epiphany Of Our Lord 3 Comments
We attended Mass as a family for the Feast of the Epiphany.  We picked up our blessed Epiphany water and chalk that was blessed on the Vigil of the Epiphany.


epiphany holy water and blessed chalk


Dad marked our home upon our return.dad blessing


~~~


Epiphany Chalk Blessing


The lintel of the main door of the house is marked with blessed chalk by the father of the household in the following manner:


20+C+M+B+12 while saying the following prayer:




The Three Wise Men


C  Caspar


M  Melchior


B  & Balthasaar, followed the star of God’s Son who became Man


20 Two-thousand


12 and twelve years ago


+ May Christ


+ Bless our home


+ and remain with us


+ through the new year.




Almighty God, incline Thine ear.  Bless us and all who are gathered here.  Send Thy holy angel who will defend us, and fill with grace all who dwell here.  Amen


~~~


epiphany blessing


We opted for a humble feast day celebration that represented the humility in which Christ was born.  Eating meat on a Friday was a simple treat that we enjoyed.  


We pray to continue to bring our gifts to Jesus, throughout the new year.


Happy feast of the Epiphany.


~~~


 First Friday Link Up






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