Where I'm Shopping This Season

Advent is a meaningful time for our family.  We pray more, spend more time together as a family, try to do more community service, and just enjoy the "feeling" of the season.  We try not to focus too much on gifts.  The kids are allowed a modest list and get (at most) three small things to open Christmas morning.  We make alot of cookies and have many family traditions that I hope will continue for years to come.

In recent years I've tried to shop mostly at local merchants.  If you know me at all you know my favorite place to shop (for the entire family) is BABY BLISS.  It is located in Northville, MI (but ships all over the country).  They carry everything from cloth diapers and baby carriers to family board games(like our favorite - Ticket to Ride), wooden toys (HABA and Melissa and Doug are my favorites!!), unique clothing (like Zutano), and several brands of children's shoes (Robeez and Pediped just to name a couple).  Tights, nursing accessories, Burt's Bees...I could go on and on but please, if you're local, go and see for yourself.  If not you can order online and/or visit their sister store Natural Babies.  I used to buy a lot of (crap) plastic toys from Toys R Us for my kids but once I started buying less stuff and focused on buying more quality items,  it was impossible for me to go back.  It's made easier for me because our kids don't watch regular TV (no cable) so rarely, if ever, see commercials.  There's not alot of "I want that" going on, thank goodness!!  Because the plastic toys don't last.  (My) wood toys will be passed down for generations (I hope!!).  And they look really pretty sitting on my shelf ;)  Some of our favorite Baby Bliss toys..... And a picture of how FUN cloth diapering can be!  There's a special going now until 12/3 (or until supplies last) Buy 2 Happy Heiny One Size Diapers and Get One FREE!!

For good, solid, Catholic books one of my favorite places to shop is Bezalel Books.  They have books for all ages and you can be sure they will have good moral messages.  Having 10 kids leaves me less time than I'd like to totally review every single thing my kids read.  This site helps alleviate at least a little of my stress :)

A new business that just came to my attention is Modesty 4 Me Apparel.  What a great site with really cute clothing!  The owner has allowed me to share a discount of 15% off with you if you use the code FB11.  Check the site out if you get a chance.

One more of my favorite sites is Hairbows For Life.  I'm sure you've seen my girls sporting some of these fabulous bows in my pictures before.  They have hairbows of all shapes and sizes.  Our favorites are the ones with the saint medals on them.  Josie has a few bows featuring Our Lady of Guadalupe.  Mary, Cecilia, and Clare enjoy their bows with their patron Saints on them and Katie has one with St. Faustina on it.  This website also has plain bows and you can customize most orders.  They have fabulous customer service too!  And a portion of their profits go to support pro life causes.  You can't go wrong when you order from them!! Great stocking stuffers or toppers for wrapped gifts!  Here's Josie sporting one of her hair bows :)

This Moment

The day the seemed to go on forever. No sun. Being pelted with ice as we made our way into the homeschooling co op, crying, whining, fighting. Being hit by a wood toy compliments of Clare.

Laundry, cooking, schooling, dishes. Jesse worked today and is back to work tonight too. Hannah's at play practice. Faced with an evening of tired, cranky kids I pulled out our brand new copy of the Veggie Tales Little Drummer Boy. You know I don't love TV but this moment of not fighting was so worth it. The quiet as I sip my evening tea and nurse the baby is so worth it. Yes, the running time is only about 75 minutes but until then...I'll take this moment.

Today Around The House

Preparing for Jesus' birth in our family means extra prayer time. This APP from Magnificat is really handy!!


I'm trying to trade my afternoon cup of coffee for tea instead. The (seasonal) Vanilla and Cinnamon Tea from Trader Joe's has become a fast favorite of mine. Wow, that tea pot is filthy. Someone should really clean it....

The Nativities have made their way out of the basement. The kids are having a fabulous time playing with them. I started collecting children's Nativities a few years back. I figured having Nativities that no one could touch or play with wasn't fun or practical (in our home).

And I'll have to admit the Christmas Music has come out as well. There's nothing like a good Bing Crosby album to lighten the mood and make our home feel more festive and homey. I know there's some debate on when the Christmas music should be played but we usually start it around the beginning of Advent. And I don't stop playing it until well after the New Year.

Josie is enjoying this "gaming chair" that Brandon brought home this weekend. Jesse refers to it as a "giant bouncy seat". Speaking of giant - this baby is growing WAY too fast!!

I hope everyone is having a blessed Monday! Don't forget the Saint Andrew Novena begins on Nov. 30!!

Gratitude Sunday - Happy 9th Birthday Jackson - 1st Sunday of Advent!

Wow! What a day! So much to be thankful for!! Blessed Advent everyone! And Happy Birthday Jackson!
We celebrated some yesterday because Brandon was still here. We went to The Muppet Movie to kick off the celebration.

Orange scone after Mass at Panera....

A new yo yo

If you look really close you'll see Grandpa in a movie theater. This is a rare sighting!!

The traditional birthday sign with Daddy

With Brandon after Mass today at Panera

And now for the gratitude - for mostly healthy kids, a blessed weekend, Christmas shopping (almost) done!! Rain drops and sunshine, warm weather, laundry going, FRIENDS who listen and love me through the hardest times of my life, a new life born (a friend had her baby today!!), forgiveness, reconciliation, family and so.much.more.

Being Thankful

For smiling babies and silly turkey bibs....

Sisters.....

And brothers.....

And family......

Time together.....

For new friends.....

And silly faces....

Pumpkin pie.....

For home grown dinner music....

And the laughter that this game brings.....

For all of this and so much more.  Love, laughter, family, and friendship.  For God's Grace making it all possible.  For learning to make everyday a day of thanks and a day of gratitude.  

Gratitude Wednesday

Today I am grateful for my parents, Josephine, and Jesse (among other things and people, of course!!)


For Grandma and Grandpa and how they share so much of their lives with us. They even spend their vacations with us. Our kids are so blessed to have such generous and loving grandparents (and they live just up the street!!).

For Josephine. Last year at this time I could only dream of being blessed with another baby. I am so grateful that Josie is in our family. I am also REALLY grateful that her colic is gone :)

And last but certainly NOT least - for Jesse. Our journey together (so far) has taken us through many things but I couldn't ask for a better husband or a better father for our children. For all the board games and food shows that he endures with me, I am grateful. For our "date nights" to Trader Joe's and Target, I am grateful. For the life we've built together and for learning to follow God instead of the world. For all of this I am grateful.

"Joy's a function of gratitude. And gratitude's a function of perspective. Counting gifts changes my perspective - and my LIFE." - Ann Voskamp - One Thousand Gifts

Gratitude Tuesday

Today my focus of gratitude is on Mary, Cecilia, and Clare.


Mary is our only blue eyed child so far. She has beautiful curly hair, is getting really good at writing her letters
and is a fabulous color er.

Cecilia (Happy St. Cecilia's Feast Day!!) has a kind heart and is always willing to hold the baby or jump in and help pick up the mess. She's great at entertaining Clare too!!

Clare (Clare Bear/Clare Pia) is a handful at times but is a good cuddler and loves to listen to story books. Her favorite color is purple and she loves to "love" on Josie....

Books Anyone?

My Grandma (Jackson) used to say that people just don't buy books like they used to. Well, Grandma, I do....

And there's more bookshelves in my room and two bins of Advent/Christmas books downstairs :)