Menu Plan Monday: December 12- December 18 {FREE Recipe Book and Giveaway}

This is the last full week of Autumn, although we have already received some wintery weather this past week. This is also the middle of Advent! We have two more weeks (including this one) to prepare for the coming of Christ! Cleaning, cooking and preparing our hearts will be main focuses in this house.

In honor of the Rejoicing that will be done this week, I am offering a FREE Christmas Recipes collected by The Zelie Group for anyone that likes and shares my Pinot Noir and Prayers Facebook Page starting this Wednesday. Make sure to message me your email so I can send you the beautiful PDF file put together by Kerry! I am also going to be hosting a Giveaway soon for a gorgeous printed bracelet made by my incredibly talented friend, Jen, over at Faith and Fabric. I'll be sharing more information on this later!

We will be celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Saint Lucy, Saint John of the Cross, the O Antiphons and the Fourth Sunday of Advent! We also have THREE Christmas parties to attend! It is never too late to revamp your Advent so check out my Advent Bucket Lists and post on the O Antiphons for ideas. Here is our menu for this fun and exciting Third Week of Advent on Menu Plan Monday:

Monday: Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Chicken Fajitas with Spanish Rice and Black Beans

Tuesday: Feast of Saint Lucy

Turkey Burgers

Wednesday: Feast of Saint John of the Cross

Leftovers

Thursday:

Chicken Nugget Salad

Friday: Ugly Sweater Football Party

Potluck Style Dinner with our Football Family

Saturday: O Antiphons Begin

Spaghetti

Sunday: Fourth Sunday of Advent, My Birthday and Cookie Exchange

We will be eating at TWO Christmas Parties tonight

Are you participating in any Cookie Exchanges this year? Still looking for the perfect Christmas cookie recipe? I decided to share Starlight Cookies with both Cookie Exchanges I am participating in this year. The Starlight Cookie tells the story of the Nativity and is a beautiful and yummy reminder of the reason for the season. This is the Recipe that was sent to me by a friend. It was originally found at the blog Shower of Roses. They offer a printable and a great way to gift these cookies in a mason jar so make sure to check them out and thank her for such an amazing recipe idea! I will be baking mine this Saturday for our Christmas Parties!

Starlight Cookies:

1/2 Cup Chopped Walnuts

1/2 Cup White Chocolate Chips

1/2 Cup Dried Cranberries

1/3 Cup Brown Sugar

1/3 Cup Sugar

1/2 Cup Rolled Oats

1 1/4 C All-Purpose Flour

1/2 Tsp Baking Soda

1/2 Tsp Sea Salt

1/2 Cup Softened Butter

1 Egg

1 Tsp Vanilla Extract

Chopped Walnuts: Represents the rocky road the holy family traveled to Bethlehem

White Chocolate Chips: Represents the stars, especially the one that led the Wise Men to Jesus

Dried Cranberries: Represents the tartness of the doors that were closed because they refused to host the holy family that cold night

Brown Sugar: Represents the brown hills of Bethlehem

Sugar: Represents snow

Rolled Oats: Represents the animals that were present in the stable where Jesus was born

Flour: Represent the wholesome goodness of the shepherds in the fields

Baking Soda and Sea Salt: Represents the Joyful tears that were shared on the holy night Jesus was born of the Most Pure Virgin Mary.

Vanilla Extract: Represents the sweet happiness that the Savior was born

One Egg: Represents the baby Jesus

To make the cookies:

Think of the preparation St. Joseph and Our Blessed Mother must have made for this journey to Bethlehem:

Heat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a cookie sheet or line it with parchment paper.

For the light of Heaven:

In a medium bowl, beat together 1/2 cup softened butter, 1 egg, and 1 tsp of vanilla until fluffy.

Add the hardships of the journey to the light of Heaven:

Add all the other ingredients and mix together until well blended. Drop by heaping spoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheets

Remember the hardships of Jesus' life on earth and His Passion:

Bake for 8 - 10 minutes, or until edges brown.

Anticipate His coming:

Cool on baking sheets or remove to cool on wire racks.

Appreciate the joy and promise of His birth:

Enjoy eating them!

Menu Plan Monday: October 17- October 23

This Autumn season has been insanely busy for my family and I have to admit I haven't been able to stick to the stricter Clean eating diet we prefer. After this week things should calm down. We have several Liturgical Feasts, Goalie's Birthday, Little Man's last week of football and tons of Family Fun Activities. Although life has been busy, I wouldn't have it any other way! How is the Autumn season treating you? I am really excited to make some more soups, stews and other easy crockpot meals next week. For now, I guess I'll just enjoy my last week of eating too many carbs and not super healthy dinner options.  Here is my menu for this week's Menu Plan Monday:

Monday: Feast of Saint Ignatius of Antioch

Nacho Mac and Cheese

Tuesday: Feast of Saint Luke

Apple Pork Roast

Wednesday:

Chicken Thighs with Quinoa and Green Beans

Thursday: 

Goalie's 6TH Birthday and Feast of Saint Paul of the Cross

Baked Fish with Rice and Veggies

Friday:

Goalie's Birthday Dinner

Saturday: Saint John Paul II

Pizza or Leftovers

Sunday:

Football Banquet

Transformers Party!

I finally finished this post about Little Man's 5th Birthday and Going Away Party! Little Man's Birthday Celebration was actually spread out into 2 days so he was excited to extend the Birthday Boy spoiling for an extra day :o) He even wore his Transformer Birthday Ribbon both days. We started the excitement last Friday on his actual Birthday. The Birthday boy requested to have strawberry-blueberry pancakes with whipped cream... they were delicious!

A quick side note: I mentioned in an earlier post that Squishy broke my camera ( a Nikon Powershot ) Well I was unable to get a new digital camera before the party of the same quality. I bought a $20 camera and the picture quality shows! Its not the best but at least I was able to snap a few pictures of the big day. I also have some pictures on my phone but I still haven't found the USB cord that goes with a Pantech Phone. Does anyone know where I can find one?

Sorry about that...continuing on with the party now...

After breakfast Little Man opened a few gifts that came from family and put together puzzles all afternoon while I worked a short shift. My parents took us all out to see Disney's new movie Brave. Little Man has wanted to see this movie since he saw the first preview on Cars 2 so it was a great way to end the first day of his Birthday Celebration!

The following day, Saturday, we had a party with about 16 kids in honor of Little Man's big day. I am so glad that his friends from school, soccer and church were able to make it out to see him. We set the location at a local park that has a water park inside the slides and jungle gyms. I was super nervous that Tropical Storm Debbie was going to rain it out. God blessed us with an amazing sunny morning with a light breeze for the party and a few rain clouds came in later in the afternoon, when the party was finished. The party was Transformer themed with  red and blue as the colors and a gorgeous Transformers cake that Publix was able to make in less than 24 hours notice (Another blessing). The pictures of the cake are among the pictures I need to download off my camera... sorry for the suspense until I get a USB cord. 

The kids were very helpful getting Little Man to open his presents. Some kids get upset with help unwrapping gifts but Little Man welcomes it knowing he can see what's inside sooner. 

Little Man received Transformers... Transformers and some more Transformers!

I'm glad my husband was excited about trying to figure out how to "transform" the toys because it looks pretty complicated to me. I think he feels like he's reliving his childhood. 

Little Man was proudly showing off his new movie How to Train Your Dragon to everyone. We actually owned a copy about a year ago but it was broken when Little Man was trying to take it out of the case. 

God showered us with so many blessings on this day it was amazing! No rain although there was a Tropical Storm. We were able to get a cake with less than 24 hour notice.

If you were starting to wonder why there are hardly any pictures with Squishy in them that is because he was having a blast running around, trying to eat dirt and chasing the stray cats around the picnic area. At one point he jumped off the picnic table into the dirt and rolled around in it. He was a muddy mess because he had run through the water park several times before he decided to roll around in the dirt. Little Man thought this behavior was hilarious and was continuously laughing at Squishy. I, on the other hand, was exhausted! Chasing Squishy around was a serious workout for me! But my Squishy marches to the beat of his own drum and continued with his craziness until the party ended. He passed out in the car on the way home. We didn't even reverse out of the parking lot and he was already asleep. 

Little Man was sad to tell everyone goodbye. He was especially sad to say goodbye to a sweet little girl he met at Spring Soccer this year. 

Here is the sweetest picture from the Two-day celebration. Little Man telling Squishy goodbye as he was taking his nap after the party. Little Man went to spend some time with his Ga Ga and Pop Pop in Central Florida. He kissed his little brother on the head and said, "Don't be sad Baby, I love you and I will come back in 100 days!" LOL

Children are truly a gift from God and his way of saying that the world should go on. The innocence and pure love that pours from their hearts is enough to make the most calloused heart melt. My Little Man is no different. He is turning into such a little gentleman! I think his party was everything he could have hoped for and imagined. 

Happy 5th Birthday Little Man!

Happy 5th Birthday Little Man!

Five years ago today I was given the amazing gift of Motherhood! My first born little boy weighed 5lbs. 14oz and was 18 inches long. Tomorrow is the party but today was one of the happiest moments in my life! We love you my sweet boy!

A Special Birthday and Feast Day

First of all let me start by saying...



Happy 85th Birthday Pope Benedict XVI!

PRAYERS FOR BENEDICT XVI:

V. Let us pray for Benedict, our Pope.

R. May the Lord preserve him, and give him life, and make him blessed upon the earth, and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies. [Ps 40:3]

Our Father, Hail Mary.

O God, Shepherd and Ruler of all Thy faithful people, look mercifully upon Thy servant Benedict, whom Thou hast chosen as shepherd to preside over Thy Church. Grant him, we beseech Thee, that by his word and example, he may edify those over whom he hath charge, so that together with the flock committed to him, may he attain everlasting life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

— Excerpted from the Roman Missal. A partial indulgence is attached to the versicle and response.~ Catholic Culture

In honor of the Pope's Birthday I discussed his Coat of Arms with the boys. I printed this coloring page but we didn't have time to color them today. We will continue celebrating the Pope's Birthday tomorrow with some cupcakes and  coloring pages. Another great way to make today feel special is to bring yellow roses into your home. I wish I knew where to find some near my home but I am thinking about planting some maybe next year?

In addition to Pope Benedict's Birthday it is also the Feast day of Saint Bernadette Soubirous (My Confirmation Patron Saint) Today is a very special day for our family! There are actual several feast days that commemorate Saint Bernadette but we celebrate them all. Who doesn't love a reason to have a celebration with friends and family? Saint Bernadette has always had a special place in my heart and in my faith as I grew as a young adult. I admired the strength of heart that she possessed although her health and body were weak. I hope that one day every person can feel the love of Jesus and Mary, our blessed Mother the way Bernadette could. I am striving to be more like Saint Bernadette, to offer my sufferings as reparations for my sins and those of the whole world, to love God in such a way that it emits from me and my family and have patience and understandings that this world is not our real home.

You can place your petitions at the Grotto of Lourdes through this website here. The Grotto is where Bernadette dug into the mud and created a spring that is a special place of pilgrimage in Lourdes, France. It is a place that many miracles of healing has occurred.

Some of my most favorite quotes from Saint Bernadette are...

"O Jesus and Mary, let my entire consolation in this world be to love you and to suffer for sinners."

"O Jesus, I would rather die a thousand deaths than be unfaithful to you!"

"I must die to myself continually and accept trials without complaining. I work, I suffer and I love with no other witness than his heart. Anyone who is not prepared to suffer all for the Beloved and to do his will in all things is not worthy of the sweet name of Friend, for here below, Love without suffering does not exist."

"I shall spend every moment loving. One who loves does not notice her trials; or perhaps more accurately, she is able to love them."

"O my Mother, to you I sacrifice all other attachments so that my heart may belong entirely to you and to my Jesus."

"I shall do everything for Heaven, my true home. There I shall find my Mother in all the splendor of her glory. I shall delight with her in the joy of Jesus himself in perfect safety."

"From this moment on, anything concerning me is no longer of any interest to me. I must belong entirely to God and God alone. Never to myself."

"Love overcomes, love delights"

"Those who love the Sacred Heart rejoice."

"Jesus, my God, I love you above all things."

If you are interested in learning more about this special woman you can read A Holy Life: The Writings of St. Bernadette of Lourdes. I have never been able to finish this book but I hope to read it fully very soon. I will be watching The Song of Bernadette tonight with my boys. My husband will even be home in time to join in the showing. We will be praying a Rosary together as a family and hopefully get back into the routine of reciting it together as a family each night. Today was definitely fun and spiritually strengthening!

Our Lady of Lourdes, Pray for us!

Saint Bernadette, Pray for us!

Celebrating All Day

Today we are celebrating Saint Joseph and my Dad's 50th Birthday!

Did you know that in Europe it is custom to wear red in honor of the Solemnity of Saint Joseph just like it is to wear green on Saint Patrick's Day?
We had plans to make our first Saint Joseph Altar but time got away from us while we celebrated at my Grandfather's farm. We were able to color a few pictures of Saint Joseph and enjoy some Minestrone soup with Italian bread for dinner.
I need to start preparations for the Feast of the Annunciation, Holy Week and the Easter Season! I was thinking sometime this week would be an awesome time to complete my Spring Cleaning since my kids will be visiting the in-laws and donate everything we no longer need. I hope to keep everyone posted.
Any suggestions? I am all ears!