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I love gifts. I’m a gift person. I love making them, giving them, receiving them. It’s one my main love languages. In high school I discovered this store that sold small artisan, small maker goods. Way back then, I found a moonlight in a jar that one of their collaborators made. I loved it and gave it as a special gift. Imagine my surprise some 15+ years later when Uncommon Goods contacted me about doing a shared gift guide post for you. {sponsored post!} I love that Unique Goods gives back to the community with an opt-in donation when you check out, and I love how sustainably made their curated products are. There’s a story behind every good and that’s unique, too. I dove into their website and fantasy shopped just about every category, looking with the eye of no, no longer a bride wanting decorative stuff for her house that now at the stage I know what I don’t care about and what can my kids play with and not destroy and what is my taste, really, now that I’m a full-grown, house-owning, mom-of-three adult? And here’s what I’ve garnered for you, gentle readers. A complete, unique gift guide for all your gift giving needs. Kids I’m a more practical gift giver to my kids now. I buy toys that can last, are educational, and that don’t have a zillion small pieces because the sound of all those pieces hitting the hard wood floors of our house causes me tiny teeny panic attacks as cleaner-in-chief. They…
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My friend Shannon is a Brooklyn mama of two, and an amazing designer. She and her husband launched this gorgeous line called Natti Natti which means nighty night in Swedish. It’s organic, hand designed, and so soft. She was kind enough to send over this. And we swooned. And swooned hard. She has designed pocket duvets, regular duvets, pillows, blankets, and art prints. Her home in Brooklyn is one where you never want to leave because every wall has something thoughtful and interesting on it, but in a simple, clean, modern Swedish style so it’s not overwhelming. My daughter will not stop. She will not relent. She is in love with her duvet. To her core. Even though it was for her baby brother’s toddler bed! She’s hiding the special pillow. Because . . ?? When we switch the kids’ rooms up this summer and hopefully the boys are happy in one room and she’s happily established in her own palatial girl room (requests for her wall paint have ranged from gold stars to purple polka dots to wallpaper of dogs–we’ll probably go less exciting), I am getting this or maybe this for her big girl bed. Her teddy (my old teddy) desperately needed this bread stuffed into his pocket on the duvet, just in case he needed late night toast. Clearly, he’s hungry. If you have a babe moving into toddlerhood, you probably need this snuggler for him or her. Or if you need to swaddle, skip on over for this because my…
Read MoreNot that kind of retreat–as in, pulling back from combat or your small army of children, but actually, yes, kinda like that. I’m going on my very first religious retreat in March. March 12. Phoenix. Blessed is She! But Nell, you’ve been a Catholic for 32 years. You mean you’ve never done a retreat? Nope. Not that I can remember. I’ve gone to mornings of reflection for Lent sponsored by our Archdiocese and heard wonderful speakers, but a full day retreat? Nope. I’ve never traveled to another place to specifically go deeper and sit in silence to listen to God. And to listen to speakers like Heather. And to finally meet friends like Jenna. And to meet other Blessed is She women. My work for Blessed is She in the past year and a half has been the first time as a cradle Catholic I’ve done something in ministry with Scripture. Maybe the ease of being culturally Catholic my whole life made me feel less urgent about actually being active in my faith community. Something along the lines of oh that kind of thing is great but I don’t really need it because I’ve always been Catholic. What a falsehood. My notion that I could rest on my laurels, as it were, to just skate through my adult life without actually making the decision to engage. Blessed is She has forced me (in the best of senses) to read Scripture daily. To contemplate where I am on my journey and where…
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Midwest falls are gorgeous. They’re the reason we live through 4-6 months of winter (6 if you’re in Minnesota). And this fall I really wanted to be mindful of selecting a few outfits (no pants cutting off circulation in my mamabelly!) and accessories that can go with my #mamacasual trend. Forever. We are just coming off a weekend away at the Lodge, our family country home an hour away, and this time I didn’t have to pack a ton of sweatpants because I had this small stack of fall capsule wardrobe musts that could roam around outside with the kids, lounge inside, and even go to church. wrist watch c/o JORD I’m working on not being on my phone all the time (especially out at the Lodge), but haven’t had a wrist watch since the 10th grade. That one was definitely plastic and rubber and for timing track meets. I hadn’t found a watch that wasn’t clunky and looked like I was an investment banker (sorry, big metal watches: not my look). JORD (pronounced “y-ord”) sent this watch. Insta-love. The wrist size is custom-measured and the lightweight wood doesn’t chafe or rub when I rotated my wrist (every two seconds to pick someone or something up). I have received so many compliments! It’s really beautiful. I chose the Cora with Zebrawood & Turqoise. But it was a close tie with the Fieldcrest Green Sandalwood one. And I kinda want to get this one from their men’s selection for my husband because a percentage…
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My junior high friend, Cynthia, has become one of my favorite adult mama Catholic world friends. She was actually Molly’s friend first, but I coopted her now as we go to the same parish, have kids around the same ages, and our husbands like to hang together too. We share of love of crafting and cooking, though I think she’s better at both than I am! Today I’m sharing with you about the vestments she’s hand-made for the little aspiring priests in your life. Of course, my mom bought three of these for her grandkids last year so I’m pretty partial to them, too. My oldest is five now and has had a serious hankering to become a priest since about 2. He’s fallen a bit out of this holy stage as piety swapped out for knighthood attempts (now it’s all honor and valor, so really similar, right?). BUT then I brought home Cynthia’s vestment for him and VOILA. Back to the altar making we go. But she also sells an entire KIT, people. Not just the vestments. And the three year old wears a few blue outfits and is playing “Holy Nun Mother of God Mary Jesus.” Cynthia’s going to tell you a little about herself and her work. And every single one of you is going have a 20% off coupon code for your shopping delights–use coupon code NELL20! SHOP HERE at Interior Castle Goods to support this sweet mama of five. — I know so many Catholic families who’ve…
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If you aren’t into giveaways of books, skip to my last post on shouting at your kids. If you never shout at your kids, skip to my friend Abbey’s awesome story about being okay with quitting a field trip with her kids. Loved it. Two books to share about today. One is a compilation of essays by many of my friends who are excellent writers, the other is a unique children’s book that encourages exploration of feelings and verbalizing them through word art. The first book, Rosaries Aren’t Just for Teething, was compiled by my friend Michele, a lovely blogger & writer. We met at a conference earlier this year and was struck by how comfortable she was in her own skin, and how genuinely interested in reaching out to others she was. All at the same time. A beautiful combination. She brings together twenty authors whose essays are reflections on each mystery of the Rosary through the lenses of their experiences as mothers. Let me just say 180ish pages and I was one weepy lady. So much packed in joy & beauty & suffering. A must read for the woman interested in the life of Jesus’ mother. Just. Must. If you aren’t the winner, or you like paperback instead of e-books, head to amazon & get it. The second book, Happy, Too, by Victoria Marie Hamaty and illustrated by Kiara A. Sanchez, is one my kids can’t put down. Perhaps it is the last page, entitled “talk time, by your side” which…
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