Pio Prints: Set the World on Fire

I received a workout tank top from Pio Prints in exchange for an honest review of their product. The opinions shared in this post are my own.

As a mommy, I wear a lot of hats. Chef, accountant, secretary, chauffeur and many more. Wearing all these hats can be difficult but is necessary. I am a mommy and taking care of my family is the biggest blessing the Lord has given me. It is easy to get lost in the responsibilities that come with raising a family. Since we are responsible for so much, it is important that we care for ourselves: mind, body and soul. How can we help raise the future if we are not mindful of the present?

Scripture says:

"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies."
1 Corinthians 6:19-20

"For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come."
1 Timothy 4:8

Working out is a great way to treat yourself right. It keeps your body working properly, helps eliminate stress and you can experience some of those amazing "feel good" endorphins that are released when you work out. I think the BEST part of working out is the clothing! I love wearing clothes that are comfortable and allow me to move. There are many jokes about people who rock their workout clothes all day long but if you have found something that is comfortable and doesn't get in your way while you are setting the world on fire, I say wear it for as long as you like.

Pio Prints clothing materials are extremely soft and do not "cling" to you while you are moving. The material allows air to circulate and fits nicely. I love that I can wear this to run, lift weights or even to my son's football or soccer games so I can keep up with the team on the field and take pictures. It is versatile and high quality. The "Set the World on Fire" tank has already become my most favorite workout shirt. My husband has been warned because I will definitely be placing an order for some more of these tanks soon!

Inspiration comes in many different forms and these shirts are not only motivational to those who are working out but they also help to spread our beautiful Catholic faith. These could make the perfect gift to share with a First Communicant or someone newly Confirmed. How about just getting one for yourself so you can rock one of your favorite saint's quotes? Pio Prints offers different styles, sizes and a large assortment of quotes to chose. Whatever your reason, you should try this wonderful clothing out at least once. 

If you decide to try out this amazing clothing line, I would love to hear about how much you love it too! Share your #PioPrintSelfie with me. Tag @PinotNoirPrayers and @PioPrints on Instagram! It's only fair that I share my #PioPrintSelfie with you too...so here's mine!

God Bless!

#WorthRevisit: Easter Calendar Craft

The Easter season is underway and there are so many fun and exciting things to do with your families to bring it to life! How are you celebrating the 50 days leading up to Pentacost?

Here is my #WorthRevisit with Reconciled to You and Theology is a Verb.

Easter Calendar Craft

Decorating my home with the colors and smells of the season make me so happy! Easter is definitely one of my favorites because it symbolizes a renewal and cleanness that extends throughout the house. I also love that we have 40 days of fasting, praying and alms giving that ends with 50 days of Easter celebrations! To aid in our celebrating I created an Easter calendar that has something fun for the family to do everyday during the Easter Season.

Here are the 50 ideas I came up with for this Easter Season, Day 1 starts on Sunday, March 27, 2016:

1. Easter: Hang the Alleluia Banner and have a Resurrection Party

2. Dyngus Day: Slovakian tradition on Easter Monday to celebrate with a water fight (snowball fight here because it is still SNOWING!)

3. Make some White Hot Chocolate

4. National Take a Walk in a Park Day: Let's go to a local park we have never been to before

5. National Agricultural Day: Let's checkout a local farmer's market today

6. April Fools Day: Dress up in something silly

7. International Childrens' Book Day: Go to the Library and find some good books to read together

8. Divine Mercy Sunday: Celebrate with the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3pm and color a Divine Mercy Coloring page

9. Annunciation of the Lord: also known as "Waffle Day"! Have a Blueberry Waffle breakfast

10. Feast of Vincent Ferrer and National Deep Dish Pizza Day: St. Vincent is the patron saint of brick makers and construction workers so let's build something with Legos and enjoy some pizza!

11. Family Game Night

12. Feast of Saint John the Baptist de la Salle and National Beer Day: Bring your teacher a special treat and drink a Root beer in honor of today

13. No School Today! Mommy and Sons Date :) 

14. National Chicken Little Awareness Day: Read and watch the story of Chicken Little

15. National Siblings Day: Do something EXTRA nice for your siblings!

16. National Pet Day: Get Lemon and Felix a special treat like catnip to celebrate them today

17. Scrabble Day: Tomorrow is actually National Scrabble Day but we have something extra special planned for tomorrow, so lets play it today.

18. Friends and Family Night at Daddy's Restaurant

19. National Pecan Day: Enjoy some pecan ice cream 

20. Movie Night complete with candy, popcorn and soda

21. Historical Feast of Saint Bernadette: Watch Saint Bernadette cartoon and enjoy a jello "spring" snack 

22. National Haiku Poetry Day: Let's write a beautiful poem together

23. The Boston Marathon is today! Go on a Family Run

24. Breakfast for Dinner tonight

25. Feast of Saint Bueno: He is the patron saint of sick children. Let's bring a special treat to the children at Memorial Hospital

26. Ice Cream Sundays for dessert tonight

27. Earth Day: Let's plant some flowers on our patio and watch the Lorax!

28. Feast of Saint George the Dragon Slayer: Enjoy some fish and chips while we learn about this really amazing Saint

29. Let's go to the zoo today. Don't forget your zoo passports!

30. Feast of Saint Mark: Enjoy a bowl of cherries like Saint Gregory the Great and read about Saint Mark and the legend of the cherries

31. Our Lady of Good Counsel: Learn about the Battle of Lepanto today 

32. Feast of Saint Zita "The Little Cook": Let's bake some bread in honor of this little saint

33. Feast of Saint Gianna: Let's have an Italian dinner in honor of this Italian mother

34. Feast of Saint Catherine of Siena: Saint Catherine had her hair cut for respecting her chastity. Today is a good day to honor her with some new haircuts

35. Feast of Saint Walburga: Celebrate Walpurgis Night with a fire, sparkling juice and prayers for the summer season to come

36. Saint Joseph the Workman: Let's do something special for daddy today

37. Send letters/ cards to friends and family! Remember Mother's Day is coming too!

38. Saint James: Saint James is the patron saint of hat makers! Its the perfect day to create our Kentucky Derby Hats and chose our bowties for this Saturday

39. Star Wars Day: May the 4th be with you and watch some Star Wars Shows

40. Ascension Thursday: Enjoy an Ascension Picnic Dinner

41. Cinco de mayo was yesterday but let's have a Mexican Fiesta for dinner tonight

42. Kentucky Derby: Ladies wear your big hats and boys your bows! Time for a Derby Party!

43. Mother's Day: Let's have a May Crowning Celebration in honor of our Blessed Mother

44. Celebrate this beautiful spring day with a delicious smoothie 

45. Blessed Damien of Moloka'i: Have a Hawaiian Luau and call Papa D today because Saint Damien is one of his patron saints

46. Start writing a summer bucket list in preparation for the end of the Easter Season

47. Blessed Imelda Lambertini: Listen to the Holy Heroes Blessed Imelda CD and reminisce about our family's First Holy Communion

48. Feast of Our Lady of Fatima and Friday the 13th: Pray a rosary together as a family and watch a Tim Burton Movie for a movie night

49. Letter Carriers Food Drive Day: Donate canned goods through this food drive or at a shelter

50. Pentecost: Celebrate the Church's Birthday with a party

I wrote all these ideas on individual blank egg shaped paper I found at coloring-page-art.blogspot.com  and I am going to cut them out and decorate a white poster board throughout Easter. It is still a work in progress so I will post about the final product later :)

Sunday, March 27, 2016
Easter Calendar Craft
Decorating my home with the colors and smells of the season make me so happy! Easter is definitely one of my favorites because it symbolizes a renewal and cleanness that extends throughout the house. I also love that we have 40 days of fasting, praying and alms giving that ends with 50 days of Easter celebrations! To aid in our celebrating I created an Easter calendar that has something fun for the family to do everyday during the Easter Season.
Here are the 50 ideas I came up with for this Easter Season, Day 1 starts on Sunday, March 27, 2016:
1. Easter: Hang the Alleluia Banner and have a Resurrection Party
2. Dyngus Day: Slovakian tradition on Easter Monday to celebrate with a water fight (snowball fight here because it is still SNOWING!)
3. Make some White Hot Chocolate
4. National Take a Walk in a Park Day: Let's go to a local park we have never been to before
5. National Agricultural Day: Let's checkout a local farmer's market today
6. April Fools Day: Dress up in something silly
7. International Childrens' Book Day: Go to the Library and find some good books to read together
8. Divine Mercy Sunday: Celebrate with the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3pm and color a Divine Mercy Coloring page
9. Annunciation of the Lord: also known as "Waffle Day"! Have a Blueberry Waffle breakfast
10. Feast of Vincent Ferrer and National Deep Dish Pizza Day: St. Vincent is the patron saint of brick makers and construction workers so let's build something with Legos and enjoy some pizza!
11. Family Game Night
12. Feast of Saint John the Baptist de la Salle and National Beer Day: Bring your teacher a special treat and drink a Root beer in honor of today
13. No School Today! Mommy and Sons Date :) 
14. National Chicken Little Awareness Day: Read and watch the story of Chicken Little
15. National Siblings Day: Do something EXTRA nice for your siblings!
16. National Pet Day: Get Lemon and Felix a special treat like catnip to celebrate them today
17. Scrabble Day: Tomorrow is actually National Scrabble Day but we have something extra special planned for tomorrow, so lets play it today.
18. Friends and Family Night at Daddy's Restaurant
19. National Pecan Day: Enjoy some pecan ice cream 
20. Movie Night complete with candy, popcorn and soda
21. Historical Feast of Saint Bernadette: Watch Saint Bernadette cartoon and enjoy a jello "spring" snack 
22. National Haiku Poetry Day: Let's write a beautiful poem together
23. The Boston Marathon is today! Go on a Family Run
24. Breakfast for Dinner tonight
25. Feast of Saint Bueno: He is the patron saint of sick children. Let's bring a special treat to the children at Memorial Hospital
26. Ice Cream Sundays for dessert tonight
27. Earth Day: Let's plant some flowers on our patio and watch the Lorax!
28. Feast of Saint George the Dragon Slayer: Enjoy some fish and chips while we learn about this really amazing Saint
29. Let's go to the zoo today. Don't forget your zoo passports!
30. Feast of Saint Mark: Enjoy a bowl of cherries like Saint Gregory the Great and read about Saint Mark and the legend of the cherries
31. Our Lady of Good Counsel: Learn about the Battle of Lepanto today 
32. Feast of Saint Zita "The Little Cook": Let's bake some bread in honor of this little saint
33. Feast of Saint Gianna: Let's have an Italian dinner in honor of this Italian mother
34. Feast of Saint Catherine of Siena: Saint Catherine had her hair cut for respecting her chastity. Today is a good day to honor her with some new haircuts
35. Feast of Saint Walburga: Celebrate Walpurgis Night with a fire, sparkling juice and prayers for the summer season to come
36. Saint Joseph the Workman: Let's do something special for daddy today
37. Send letters/ cards to friends and family! Remember Mother's Day is coming too!
38. Saint James: Saint James is the patron saint of hat makers! Its the perfect day to create our Kentucky Derby Hats and chose our bowties for this Saturday
39. Star Wars Day: May the 4th be with you and watch some Star Wars Shows
40. Ascension Thursday: Enjoy an Ascension Picnic Dinner
41. Cinco de mayo was yesterday but let's have a Mexican Fiesta for dinner tonight
42. Kentucky Derby: Ladies wear your big hats and boys your bows! Time for a Derby Party!
43. Mother's Day: Let's have a May Crowning Celebration in honor of our Blessed Mother
44. Celebrate this beautiful spring day with a delicious smoothie 
45. Blessed Damien of Moloka'i: Have a Hawaiian Luau and call Papa D today because Saint Damien is one of his patron saints
46. Start writing a summer bucket list in preparation for the end of the Easter Season
47. Blessed Imelda Lambertini: Listen to the Holy Heroes Blessed Imelda CD and reminisce about our family's First Holy Communion
48. Feast of Our Lady of Fatima and Friday the 13th: Pray a rosary together as a family and watch a Tim Burton Movie for a movie night
49. Letter Carriers Food Drive Day: Donate canned goods through this food drive or at a shelter
50. Pentecost: Celebrate the Church's Birthday with a party


I wrote all these ideas on individual blank egg shaped paper I found at coloring-page-art.blogspot.com  and I am going to cut them out and decorate a white poster board throughout Easter. It is still a work in progress so I will post about the final product later :)

My Sunday Best: Divine Mercy Sunday

This post may contain affiliate links that I receive a small commission. It does not change the price for you but it is a small blessing to my family. All opinions are my own.

Today is one of my most favorite days in the Liturgical year! Divine Mercy Sunday. I have always had a deep love of this Feast day, especially after I read Saint Faustina's Diary:Divine Mercy in my Heart. It is one of those books that talks to your soul. As I grew older, I also became attached to the Divine Mercy Chaplet. If you haven't had the pleasure of chanting this mesmerizing prayer, today would be the best day to try it out! 

I especially love that the portrait of Divine Mercy is placed near the altar for all to see. The portrait of Divine Mercy is among my favorite painting of Jesus. The symbolism and simplicity of the portrait speak to my heart. 

“The two rays denote Blood and Water. The pale ray stands for the Water which makes souls righteous. The red ray stands for the Blood which is the life of souls... These two rays issued forth from the very depths of My tender mercy when My agonized Heart was opened by a lance on the Cross. These rays shield souls from the wrath of My Father. Happy is the one who will dwell in their shelter, for the just hand of God shall not lay hold of him”. (Diary 299)

I have always struggled with Reconciliation. It scares me. I do not feel I deserve pardon from my sins. I fight myself each time I participate in this Sacrament. I am a sinner. I always will be because I am human but I am so grateful that God has given me a way to clean my soul, even when I don't deserve it. Divine Mercy Sunday is one of the best days to participate in Reconciliation because of the special graces that you can receive today. 

Our Lord Jesus said, "The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day all the divine floodgates through which graces flow are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet.... Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My Mercy." (699) The plenary indulgence that was issued for Divine Mercy Sunday does not change the promises of Our Lord. Rather it provides the Church's highest mark of approval and endorsement and gives souls more time to go to Confession.

Now for some exciting news! For the past few years I have been praying about whether or not to veil. Today I made the jump and wore my first mantilla to Reconciliation, Adoration and Mass. It was an amazing experience. I felt more reverent and I felt a deeper love and connection between myself and Christ today. Do you Veil? Or perhaps know someone who does? If you have been feeling the pull to try out this beautiful and meaningful devotion, I feel you should give it a try. 

The Mantilla I am wearing I purchased from an adorable Catholic shop in Manitou Springs called Windows of Heaven. It is a Mantilla made by Veils by Lily and I think it is gorgeous. I love the design and the contrast of colors. Goalie, my youngest, kept telling me I looked like Mary. That was the biggest compliment he could have ever given me and I'm sure he doesn't understand that looking like Mary... reverent, modest and and all those wholesome things is part of the reason to veil.

Here are some scripture and quotes to consider during your decision about whether or not to veil:

Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head.

1 Corinthians 11:4

Every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head.

1 Corinthians 11:5

A man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man.

1 Corinthians 11:7

The woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.

1 Corinthians 11:10

St. John Chrysostom also spoke both of angels and the veiling of women:

“The angels are present here . . . Open the eyes of faith and look upon this sight. For if the very air is filled with angels, how much more so the Church! . . . Hear the Apostle teaching this, when he bids the women to cover their heads with a veil because of the presence of the angels.”

 Today was an amazing day and I feel blessed that I was able to receive absolution from my sins, receive Communion and pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy with my children. I began a new devotion that makes me grow in my relationship with our Lord and I feel renewed after a hard Lent. I hope the blessings of today have touched you the way they have me. I am linking this with Rosie over at A Blog for my Mom.

If you have a portrait of the Divine Mercy in your home, here is a blessing that you could do to end your Divine Mercy Sunday:

Image Blessing on Mercy Sunday

Almighty and Eternal Father, in your goodness, bless and sanctify this Image of The Divine Mercy, Your dearly beloved Son, which has been fashioned to reveal to us the great love of our Crucified and Risen Savior, The Divine Mercy Personified. Help us recall to our minds the streams of Blood and Water that had gushed forth from His pierced Heart to be for us a continuous fount of mercy.  Grant to all who invoke Your Mercy with this Image before their eyes, the grace of true repentance, pardon and peace.  Shield them from every danger to soul and body in this life.

Jesus, our loving Savior, establish in this Image the Throne of Your Mercy.  Pour out upon all of us, who approach it with faith and trust, the purifying, healing and sanctifying rays of grace ever emanating from it as a blazing star.  Gaze upon us as you did from the Cross with your great love and mercy so that we may be filled with your grace.

Through this Image, may Your Divine Mercy triumph over all the powers of evil.  May all who venerate this Image never perish.  May it be their joy in life, their hope in death, and their glory in eternity for ever and ever.

This we ask through Jesus Christ Our Lord.  Amen!