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3 Cool Ideas for Giving Great Gifts

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I think I like giving gifts more than receiving them. Just, like, slightly more though, so if you bought me something, don’t return it. Anyway, I have three favorite ways to shop for gifts, and I think you should take notice because I’m a pretty good gift giver. I said it.
giving gifts

Etsy Recommendations

UPDATE: I can’t find this feature anymore. Is it gone? Did you take it? Am I missing something? Fill a blogger in, please.

On the left sidebar, there is a box called “Ways to Shop.” Click on “Gift Ideas” and it will take you to a page with all of your Facebook friends that have their accounts connected to Etsy. It suggests awesome, handmade gifts for your friends based on their interests and likes. How cool is that? I think my hubby really needs this:

“Push Birthday” Lists

This is a really simple app on my iPhone. It lists everyone’s birthday that I buy for, and it has a space to keep notes for each person. Whenever I am with someone and they mention something they love or an interest they have, I make a little note in my app later on in the day. Then, when that person’s birthday comes around, I have been keeping a list all year of cool things she might like. I love this idea because it is fun to get someone a gift and have them say, “O my gosh!  I can’t believe you remembered that!” It just makes that person feel even more special on her special day.

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OMg, this is back when I had an iPhone 4. LOL brb ttyl ttfn abcdefg

Pinterest Boards

This is my favorite way to shop for gifts. I have so many friends on Pinterest now, and they have all sorts of cool pins that they drool over. So, when it is time to give a gift, I just peruse that person’s boards and look for something totally unique and fun. I mean, come on (say that like Gob Bluth, please)! Wouldn’t you LOVE to see one of your pretty pins all wrapped up and handed to you to own forever and ever?? I know, right? My dad even used this tip for Christmas and scored these hand-painted wine glasses for my mom. If you know her, you know she loves these. Gross, mom.

What are your favorite ways to shop for gifts? What do you plan to do for your mother this year? Tell me in the comment section below!

Luck O’ the Cupcake

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Look what I made today! Mike’s coworkers are going to love them! They were so simple. I’m sure I’m not the first person to think of this idea, but who cares. I wanted to share it with you anyway.

Need:
Funfetti cake mix
Vanilla frosting
Cupcake liners
Blue food coloring
Airheads Berry Rainbow Belts
Rollos

The assembly is pretty self-explanatory, but I’m sure there are a million things you could do to make them your own. Any ideas? Tell me in the comment section below.

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Leap!

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I’m sure there have been times in your life when you wished you had more hours in the day. I know I never feel like I can get it all done, let alone find time to do things I enjoy. So, I always make an effort to have time for myself every day so that I am a better mom, wife and human.
This year, we get a rare opportunity: and extra 24 hours! An extra 24 hours to get things done, to have some me-time, to take chances, to relax.
With this extra day today, here is my plan:
1. Because I can’t relax unless I have a clean home, I will finish the laundry and make the bed. That’s it though.
2. I will make something new for dinner: Golden Chicken and Rice
3. I’m going to bake scones…because I’m obsessed with them, and I’ve never made them before
4. I am going to get dressed as usual, but I am also going to put on makeup and do my hair (which I rarely do…)
5. I’m going to start putting all of our cds on our external hard drive because I have been putting this off for “when I have more time.”
In the comment section below, tell me one thing you plan to do with an extra 24 hours!

Sleepy Love

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There’s nothing this momma loves more than having her family snuggle up on her. Happy Valentine’s Day!
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Starting a Family. Starting a Tradition.

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Our first Christmas as a married couple was a bittersweet one. More sweet than bitter, but bittersweet nonetheless. Having our own Christmas was something that had not dawned on me when we were saying “I do”. I was used to Christmas happening rather than having to create a Christmas. Each year growing up, I would run down the stairs with my brother (yes, even in our twenties) to see a beautiful Christmas scene complete with carols, coffee and Stollen decking the halls of our Christmas brains. The year my husband and I got married, all of this went away. I realized I was going to wake up next to Mike and I would have to create the magic this year. For weeks, I mourned the loss of this childhood view of the holiday. I will even shamefully admit that I cried. What did I have to be sad about, you may ask? I had just married the love of my life, we had just found out we were expecting a baby that coming July, and it was Christmas time! Maybe it was the pregnancy hormones or maybe it was me just being a big ol’ baby, but the fact that Christmas was no longer going to be an anticipated mystery really took a hold of me.
One day while wrapping presents with my mom, I broke into tears again and said, “It’s just not going to be the same. I’m going to miss you, mom.” She looked at me with sympathy and told me something that changed my mind about the subject forever. My mom told me about her first Christmas with my dad. How they were so poor, but she wanted to make it special. How she woke up early to brush her teeth so she would have nice breath to wake him up. How she had strawberries ready for them to eat as a special treat. How she had Christmas music playing when they went downstairs. Her knack for creating traditions grew as she got older and my brother and I entered the picture. My mom said to me, “It’s time you start making your own traditions for you, your husband and your baby. It will be fun!”
You know what readers, she was right (as usual…). I thought to myself, “Yeah. I am creative. I can have fun with this,” and I did.
So, as our second Christmas is approaching, I am excited to turn what I did last year into real traditions. You know, because it takes at least two years to call it a tradition, right? So, what makes our Christmas “Our Christmas”? I used the book The Catholic Home by Meredith Gould to incorporate our Catholic faith into the holiday (because after all, Jesus is the reason for the season!).
  • On Christmas Eve, we read Luke 1:1-24 before bed so we can hear the story of Christmas.
  • On Christmas morning, I wake up early to make breakfast casserole and toast the Stollen. I make coffee, open champagne and wash strawberries. I put on Christmas music and light candles for ambiance. 
  • After “creating Christmas”, I wake Mike and we go out to the tree together. Then, we sprinkle birdseed outside so we can watch the birds while we open gifts. We also do this to honor St. Francis’ idea of joining all creation in rejoicing on Jesus’ birthday. Then, we sing “Happy Birthday” and open presents. Afterward, we watch A Christmas Story before getting ready for Mass and visiting family.
Check out our ridiculously dinky tree!
There are plenty of other traditions I am looking forward to adding to MY family as the years go on. A whole new world of Christmas fun has been opened up to me with the birth of our daughter. But, I am taking it slowly and adding things one at a time so I can keep it fun rather than stressful.

If you’re looking to add more traditions of your own, Gould recommends gradually adding customs, planning traditions that align with your lifestyle, and choosing activities that speak to your heart rather than ones that create stress.

How have you made Christmas your own? Tell me your family traditions in the comment section below.

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Younger Men

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Younger men are immature and don’t want to commit.

Younger men are afraid of starting a family.

Younger men would rather go out on the weekends and party.
Younger men aren’t responsible.

Younger men don’t know how to make a home.

Not my younger man.
Happy 24th birthday, Michael! I thank God for you every day.
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Thanksgiving Warm-Up

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Mike and I have a tradition around these parts. Each year, about a week before Thanksgiving, we do a Thanksgiving warm-up. We pick a night the week before the holiday, and I cook a makeshift feast to expand our stomachs and make room for the big show. Gross, right? We don’t care; it’s tradition!
So, what do we eat during our warm-up feast? We keep it really, super simple. We give our microwave and can opener a work out!

  • Chicken breast cooked with mushrooms and onions (Did you really think I was going to roast a turkey??)
  • Canned cranberry jelly
  • Microwave steamed green beans
  • Stove Top Stuffing
  • Canned potatoes sauteed with rosemary, garlic and pepper (Really not as bad as they sound…)
You guys, this literally took me about 40 minutes to make. I usually like to throw some kind of pumpkin dessert in there for good measure, but Ellen had other plans for me (hence the hasty photo).
We ate like it was the real deal, and I feel sorry for anyone sitting next to us tomorrow. We are prepared and ready to eat. Watch out!

And of course, Thanksgiving is really about being thankful. What am I most thankful for this year? I will give you one guess.


In one word, what are you most thankful for? Tell me in the comment section below :)

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30 Years

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My parents are celebrating 30 years today! Now that I am married, anniversaries are so much more special to me. I have realized the work it takes to keep a marriage loving and faith-centered. My parents have been such a wonderful example of that. The hard work they have put into their years together have made my marriage even easier. We are blessed to have such wonderful examples. 
 

So, in honor of their anniversary, I would like to share 30 things I have learned from my parents about life, love and marriage:

1. Never go to bed angry
2. Falling in love is easy; staying in love takes work
3. Love is a choice you make each day
4. Sometimes marriage is about doing something you don’t want to for love of another
5. The time to talk about a problem is not when you are angry
6. When cutting bagels, let the knife do the work
7. After a day of shopping, only bring in a couple of bags; the rest stay in the trunk
8. There is always something to worry about, so don’t
9. There’s never a “right time” to start a family
10. Family time comes before Stanley Cup Playoff tickets
11. Moms and dads are smarter than you, and I don’t know everything
12. Some things just aren’t worth getting angry over
13. Always keep your eye on the ball
14. There are no coincidences in life, just God-instances
15. If the light is green, go; if the light is yellow, slow down; if the light is red, check your lipstick
16. Always honor your commitments
17. Don’t be afraid to talk to strangers, but use your instincts
18. Not going to college is not an option
19. Trust in the Lord
20. Our futures are not guaranteed
21. Never, never, never smoke
22. Things will always get better
23. Sometimes junk food IS for dinner
24. Respect life, no matter how small
25. Poison and Stevie Ray Vaughn are appropriate lullaby music
26. Do what you love, and the money will follow
27. Sometimes moms and dads can be wrong too
28. Pray. Pray. Pray.
29. Use your time to serve others
30. Raising a family is sacrificial work; thank God you are able to sacrifice for them

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad! Thank you for all of your wonderful advice and for always leading by example. We love you! Here’s to 30 more!

What is the best advice you have ever received on life, love or marriage? Tell me in the comment section below.

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Dia de los Muertos

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This is one of my favorite days of the year. Dia de los Muertos. The idea of it, the execution of it, everything is beautiful. It’s also my birthday. Because of this connection, I have always felt a strong calling to pray for all of the souls in purgatory. For my birthday, will you join me?
God told St. Gertrude that anyone who prays this prayer will release a vast number of souls from purgatory:

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the most precious blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls  in purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen.

Source: tumblr.com via Polly on Pinterest

Please let me pray for the loved ones you have lost. Leave their names in the comment section below.
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My Halloween Team

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Ellen celebrated her first Halloween yesterday, and what a perfect Halloween it was! The weather was the best it has ever been in my life, Ellen got to trick-or-treat with her cousins Emma and Lucy, and our costumes turned out great!
Mike has an adorable habit of carrying Ellen around like a football. That is where our inspiration came from. Take a look at how the night turned out:


We hope you had a spooky Halloween, and Happy All Saints’ Day!
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