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Gifts for St. Nicholas

by Filed Under: 12 December, 12 December Saints, Gifts, St. Nicholas 1 Comment

St. Nicholas is the patron saint of many things, one of which is bakers. 

Here is a gift basket that I put together for a St. Nicholas birthday boy.

st nicholas gift basket

The gift basket included the following:

  • melamine mixing bowl – $2.50 (Target dollar spobaking sett)
  • 2 wooden mixing spoons – $1.59
  • measuring cups and spoons – $2.09
  • chef apron & hat – $2.48* (*I found this set and accessories on clearance several years ago. Reg $9.99)
  • matching placemat – $0.34* (reg $1.99)
  • matching tablecloth – $0.74* (reg $2.99)
  • recipe cards – $1 (Target dollar spot)
  • play dough recipe – free
    • magnetic clip – $0.17 ($1/pack of 6 at Target dollar spot.  I used this to display the recipe card on the bowl.) PC072354
    • small bag of flour – $1.77
    • salt – $0.77
    • cream of tartar – $2.79
    • 2 Kool Aid packs – $0.54 (.27 ea)
    • 4 ziploc containers – $1 ($1.99/pack of 6)
  • Lindt chocolate St. Nicholas – $3
    • red glitter foam – $0.20 ($1/pack of 5 at Target dollar spot)
    • gold glitter pipe cleaner – $0.04 ($2/pack of 50 at Target art aisle)
    • printable miter template – FREE from St. Nicholas Center

Total – $21.02 (without tax)

 

St. Nicholas ~ ora pro nobis

 

Celebrating St. Nicholas Linky Party ~ Catholic Cuisine

Food for the Baby

by Filed Under: Baby, Breakfast Leave a Comment

I’m sad to say that I got my lil’ guy on the wrong path.  Things started great when he was an infant.  My babies get their teeth early and I start to introduce whole foods to them once I see the first tooth and there is interest.  I start them on avocado and work from there.  My lil’ guy caught on quick and soon became a good eater.  (My family was following the SAD at the time.)  Things took a drastic turn when my lil’ guy got sick with a stomach flu.  From that point on, he became a picky eater.  I think he correlated his illness with food.  I became worried but trusted that he was getting enough nutrients from nursing.  Then, I found the golden ticket, a food that he would eat—oatmeal (in all forms).  Terrible mistake, I know.  But at the time I was just happy that he was eating something. 

 

Finally, the time has come, we are ready to toss the oatmeal for good!  In the past, this was tough for me because I hate to see me lil’ guy cry for something to eat.  However, I ‘m convinced that he will not starve and now I have an alternative to his favorite meal—Oatmeal without the oats.  I saw the idea on other sites before but passed on them.  There was no way that my lil’ guy would ever try such a dish, or so I thought.  I made the non-oatmeal this morning and guess what, he loved it!!!

Non-oatmeal

I added frozen blueberries to his serving and he dug in.  Praise the Lord!

Good bye oatmeal!

Preciousness of Silence

by Filed Under: Blessed Mother Teresa, Humility, LMC, Missionaries of Charity, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Prayer 5 Comments

Preciousness of Silence

"Lord, set a guard over my mouth;  keep watch at the door of my lips." Ps 141:3

"But Jesus was silent." Mt 26:63

The Silence is Meekness.
When you do not defend yourself against offenses;
When you do not claim your rights;
When you let God defend you;
The Silence is Meekness.

The Silence is Mercy.
When you do not reveal the faults of your brothers to others;
When you readily forgive without inquiring into the past;
When you do not judge, but pray in your heart;
The Silence is Mercy.

The Silence is Patience.
When you accept suffering not with grumbling but joyfully;
When you do not look for human consolations;
When you do not become too anxious, but wait in patience for the seed to germinate;
The Silence is Patience.

The Silence is Humility.
When there is no competition;
When you consider the other person to be better than yourself;
When you let your brothers emerge, grow and mature;
When you joyfully abandon all to the Lord;
When your actions may be misinterpreted;
When you leave to others the glory of the enterprise;
The Silence is Humility.

The Silence is Faith.
When you keep quiet because you know that the Lord will act;
When you renounce the voice of the world to remain in the presence of the Lord;
When you do not labour yourself to be understood;
because it is enough for you to know that the Lord understands you;
The Silence is Faith.

The Silence is Adoration.
When you embrace the cross without asking "Why?";
The Silence is Adoration.

"But Jesus was silent."

~MC & LMC Prayer Book

Christmas Novena

by Filed Under: 12 December, 12 December Saints, Advent, Christmas, Novena, St. Andrew 21 Comments

Starts on St. Andrew’s Feast Day – November 30 ~ Ends on Christmas Eve – December 24
~~~
St. Andrew Christmas Novena
Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. In that hour, vouchsafe, O my God! to hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother. Amen.
~~~
I created a printable novena card.  You may print and share, freely.
***UPDATE***

Be Watchful! Be Alert!

by Filed Under: Advent 4 Comments

“ Be Watchful! Be Alert!…to receive Christ, in whatever form he may come to us…As we know neither the day nor the hour, let us keep our hearts clean and free and ready to meet Jesus when He comes…”

~Bl. Teresa of Calcutta

advent wreath week 1

Let us allow the Virgin Mary, Mother of the God-who-comes and Mother of Hope, to guide us in this waiting.

May She whom we will celebrate as Immaculate in a few days obtain for us that we be found holy and immaculate in love at the coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ. 

~Pope Benedict XVI

New Pancakes

by Filed Under: Breakfast, Recipes

The kids needed a break from eggs for breakfast.  Dad and I decided to try three recipes this morning.  We wanted to find a go to pancake recipe for our new family recipe book.

We have a winner!!!

~~~

The Best Paleo Pancake Recipe

the best paleo pancake recipe

This was our winning recipe.  The consistency and taste was perfection.

 

Coconut Flour Pancakes

coconut flour pancakes

This was our second fav.  They were tasty but the consistency was a bit off for us.

 

Almond Meal Griddle Cakes

almond meal griddle cakes

This was our least favorite recipe.  Perhaps its because we substituted the almond meal with coconut flour.  We couldn’t even cook these babies.  My eldest daughter used this batch for her pie crust.  It worked great as a pie crust.

Little PEACE of Italy

by Filed Under: Birthday, Marriage, Retreat

Mom and Dad
we escaped for the weekend in celebration of dad’s birthday.  it was a last minute getaway that came together within four days and managed to stay within our very limited budget.  praise God!
Castillo de Amirosa
we traveled to a near-by getaway that seemed like we were in another country—Castillo de Amorosa in Napa, CA.
it was a first for us, on many levels.  we haven’t taken a weekend getaway (without kids) in 6 six years, first trip to napa as a couple, and first wine tasting.
King and Queen
we were a king and queen for the weekend while rose manned the home front.
Mass at the Castle
our trip started with sun. Mass (in the Extraordinary Form)at the castle’s chapel.
castellodiamorosa collage
then we ventured on for a full tour and wine tasting.  we were blessed to have a semi-private tour.  there was only one other couple in our group.  dad and I did not want to leave the authentic, medieval castle.
napa misc collage
we laid low after our visit to the castle.  we had no plans and winged the rest of the trip with whatever our hearts desired–simple food and relaxed days.
we thoroughly enjoyed discussing our date night questions.
it was a blessed weekend.  we give all thanks and glory to the GOOD LORD!
Dad in the castle
Happy Birthday, my love.  May you continue to seek the intercession of the Holy family and surrender to His will.

New Pancakes

by Filed Under: Breakfast, Recipes 2 Comments

The kids needed a break from eggs for breakfast.  Dad and I decided to try three recipes this morning.  We wanted to find a go to pancake recipe for our new family recipe book.

We have a winner!!!

~~~

The Best Paleo Pancake Recipe

the best paleo pancake recipe

This was our winning recipe.  The consistency and taste was perfection.

 

Coconut Flour Pancakes

coconut flour pancakes

This was our second fav.  They were tasty but the consistency was a bit off for us.

 

Almond Meal Griddle Cakes

almond meal griddle cakes

This was our least favorite recipe.  Perhaps its because we substituted the almond meal with coconut flour.  We couldn’t even cook these babies.  My eldest daughter used this batch for her pie crust.  It worked great as a pie crust.

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