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Dec 21, 2015
Life· The Little Things· Wine and Chocolate

Last Minute Gifts for “Impossible” People!

Two disclosures before I start: first, this post contains affiliate links; second, I am one of those “impossible” people!

Only how many days until Christmas??  It’s crunch time!  Here are some gift ideas if you feel stuck!

  1.  A soft, comfy, throw blanket.  I bought one for myself the first time I went Christmas shopping this year.  My mother-in-law bought me one last year and it’s the softest blanket ever! I have slept with it every night this year!  I have gotten throw blankets for my husband in the past, and he says that I “always get the softest blankets”.  I got one for my grandmother last year.  One size fits all!  And look – here’s one on sale on Amazon – and Prime shipping! throwblanketamazon
  2. A whole lot of Lottery tickets! My grandmother LOVES the scratch off lottery tickets.  So this year, I bought her a bunch of them, and I am using clothes pins to “hang” them on a piece of yarn.  I will wrap the string of yarn in a box and I’m pretty sure it will be her favorite present.  I certainly hopes she wins big!lotterytix
  3. GIFT CARDS – I feel like we love to get them, but don’t love giving them.  We fear that it looks lazy.  But who doesn’t LOVE a gift card?  There’s always something we wish we had gotten, but didn’t.  With a gift card, we can go get it.  Visa gift cards are great, but so are “store” specific ones.  I love a Barnes and Nobles gift card.  If I get one, I have an excuse to walk around that store for an hour – by myself.  I might even finish a whole cup of coffee while it’s hot.  And if you are shopping for a woman, and know where she gets her hair done – JACKPOT.  Get her a gift certificate to her salon.  Getting your hair done is so expensive – but we all get it done!  T.J Maxx . . .another store that is so fun to shop at . . . I could go on.  I will suggest some “add ons” next if you feel like you can’t just give a gift card.
  4. Gift Card with some “add ons” – For men, skip the tie and tools.  If the man likes tools, give him a gift card to Home Depot.  I feel like giving a man tools is like giving a woman make up.  They’re not all the same, let them pick it out.  However, a nice add on for a man is a scarf, coffee (if they have a Keurig, k-cups are awesome gifts), and chocolate.  Also, if a man loves to golf, find out where they golf the most and get them a gift certificate for that course!  Add ons for women can include socks (as add ons, please don’t give this as a gift and that’s all)!  We all have the sock problem – we can’t find matches!  I’m wearing socks that don’t match as I type!  Other add ons are of course wine, and chocolate.  Add a Christmas ornament to hang on the wine bottle – one that reminds you of that person to make the gift personal.  And remember, if you would like it, most likely someone else would too!godivachoc
  5. A photo album with pictures in it – The dollar store sells the little ones that fit in a pocket book! You can also get bigger, nicer albums on amazon (still time for 2-day shipping).  People love pictures of themselves – the selfie stick is a thing – need I say more??  If you are on Facebook, you can easily get pics of you and this certain someone.  Go to your friend’s page, click the 3 dots next to “message” and click “see friendship”.  You’ll then see a bunch of pics that you are both tagged in!  Most places will let you print pictures out from Facebook (CVS, Target, Walgreens, etc.).
  6. An experience –  This can be written in a card, no prep work has to be done (besides, you’ll have to find a date that works best for both of you).  Write in the card that you would love to spend a day together, so you’ll pay for lunch and a movie.  You can probably think of many other ideas, but here are a few:* wine tasting; *a live show; * shopping; *out for coffee and lunch,*do something “touristy”; paint and drink wine night; hike; etc.
  7. Anything Fair Trade – These gifts are mainly crafts, coffee and chocolate – but with an added bonus of doing a good deed for those in need.  Bread for Life is another fair trade organization that offers many gift options and expedited shipping, since time is running out!

What did I miss?  If you have an idea, please comment!  There are people reading this that need help 🙂 !  Remember to stay Merry and Jolly!!!

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Comments

  1. Annie says

    December 21, 2015 at 10:49 pm

    My grandfather loved lottery tickets, too! It might seem strange, but we buried him with a few… He always bought them and always gave them away as presents. He’d say, and my mom kept the tradition, that, “You can’t win the lottery if you don’t buy a ticket.” 😉 So sweet! It’s a cute gift.

    • Amy says

      December 21, 2015 at 11:02 pm

      True – you can’t play if you don’t win! Merry Christmas Annie! I hope you are doing well!

  2. barbara@HomeroomAtHome says

    December 22, 2015 at 12:45 pm

    Love the lottery idea. Perfect. I think I might snag a couple now that you’ve mentioned. Awesome!!

    • Amy says

      December 22, 2015 at 2:09 pm

      So glad you like the idea – I will have fun telling my Grandmom how popular her idea is on Christmas!

  3. Sarah Honey says

    December 22, 2015 at 2:33 pm

    Love the lottery ticket idea! That’s a great one!

  4. Crystal says

    December 29, 2015 at 4:13 pm

    Where were you in my life 10 days ago? I’m so glad I found you and this post for next time!

    • Amy says

      December 29, 2015 at 8:56 pm

      Awww man! I’m sorry this list didn’t get to you sooner Crystal! Next time definitely :)!!

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Striving for Sainthood can be as simple as this… Striving for Sainthood can be as simple as this… 

This type of advice can be really helpful for all of us… especially for a young girl navigating middle school or her early teens.

This advice would have helped me.
Why?

Because it takes some pressure off the high expectations often felt by us as individuals.

It makes God’s will for us feel achievable and realistic.

It’s totally relevant to a student in junior high
(And a slightly stressed out adult)

This page in the Be Yourself embraces scrapbooking fun- just like the back cover. Only this page encourages photographs. Yes, actual printed ones 🎞️📸

Take a deep breath.
Love the next person that comes near you.
#Catholicmom #Catholicsaints #middleschool #juniorhigh #Catholicquotes #inspirationalquotes
A prayer and the story behind the picture… Oh S A prayer and the story behind the picture…

Oh St. Joseph whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, 

I place in you all my interests and desires. Oh St. Joseph do assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your divine son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, our Lord; 

so that having engaged here below your heavenly power I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of fathers. 

Oh St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms. I dare not approach while he reposes near your heart. Press him in my name and kiss his fine head for me, and ask him to return the kiss when I draw my dying breath. 

St. Joseph, patron of departing souls, pray for us.
Amen.

My children had off from school on Friday. I had committed to an hour of Eucharistic Adoration on Fridays from to 2 to 3 during Lent… so since they had off, they had to come with me.
It was stressful.
They CAN NOT sit still.
Once I got one to stop walking around or talking, another one started.
But in the middle of all this… I witnessed a sweet moment.
I hesitated to pull out my phone because I really try not to during Adoration.
But, the beauty of the moment struck me, and I had to capture it.
📸 
Motherhood is hard. Parenting is difficult.
But I’m often reminded it’s like farming… and I’m planting seeds.

I just hope and pray I’m planting more good seeds then bad ones.

Thank goodness we can pray and ask for prayers from others!

Saint Joseph, pray for us!
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THANK YOU! Thank you! Thank you! If you have left THANK YOU! Thank you!
Thank you!

If you have left a review on Amazon for either of the Be Yourself Journals… thank you from the bottom of my heart!

When you leave a review on Amazon it makes me SO HAPPY… plus it sends a signal to Amazon to show more people these books!
I’d love for more girls to get this book in their Easter Basket this year!

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Tag someone with a 10 or 11 year old girl!

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I can’t believe in the past week I’ve posted 4 I can’t believe in the past week I’ve posted 4 videos on YouTube!

And last week’s interview with Dr. Matthew Breuninger (@askacatholictherapist ) still has me thinking about the “psychology of prayer journaling “!

The last 4 videos posted consist of two new interviews (Jessica Castillo from @athrivingcatholic and Dr. John Spitzer @johnspitzermd ); 

a box opening of @pinksaltriot ‘s latest JOY BOX and finally 

a “how to” video that demonstrates how girls can design the back cover of Be Yourself: a Journal for Catholic Girls!
Whew!

Dr. John Spitzer shared parenting advice for moms and dads of tweens;

Jessica Castillo shared how our physical and spiritual health are connected;

The Joy Box had some fun surprises… one will be going in my daughter’s Easter Basket;
And my friend’s daughter was the perfect co-host in the “how to design “ video!

Tell me which topic interests you the most… maybe I’ll dedicate an Instagram post highlighting that content!

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Review left on Amazon about Be Yourself:a Journal for Catholic Girls
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I adore you Jesus, true God, and true man, pres I  adore you Jesus, 
true God, and true man, 
present in the Holy Eucharist, 
kneeling before you 
and united in spirit 
with all the faithful on earth 
and all the saints in heaven. 

In gratitude for so great a blessing, 
I love you with all my heart, 
for you are worthy of all praise 
and adoration. 

Lord Jesus Christ, may I never offend you with my lack of love. 

May your Eucharistic presence refresh me in body and soul. 

Mary, Mother of the Eucharistic Lord, pray for me 
and obtain for me a greater love for Jesus. Amen.

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Have you ever seen a statistic and thought… thes Have you ever seen a statistic and thought… these numbers are NOT in my favor?

Years ago, I was lonely, depressed and wondering if I would ever not be lonely and depressed.

I dreamed of falling in love and getting married.

But, I wanted to marry a faithful Catholic man… and I believe I saw that only 22% (?) of Americans were Catholic.

And then I thought…
Half of them aren’t men, a large percentage are not practicing and … also how many are BOOMERS?

Lucky for me, God math goes like this…
5 loaves 
2 fish
=
5,000 meals and leftovers 

This is my handsome husband and our awesome nephew with the Bishop that Confirmed him on Friday.
Matt was -and is- such a proud Sponsor and Uncle!
God bless Grayson Patrick FRANCIS!

Thank you God for all of your gifts!!!
“You pay God a compliment when you ask big things of Him.” ~ Saint Teresa of Avila

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Don’t you love when a plan comes together for a Don’t you love when a plan comes together for a retreat and you see joyful faces! 

Listen, this is the best retreat hack for Catholic girls!
****The Be Yourself Journal Scrapbooking activity.****

Give each girl a Be Yourself Journal.
Explain how, “We are all called to holiness but we take different paths.” ~ Saint Katharine Drexel.

Have each girl pick out a Holy card and two Catholic stickers.

Put scrapbooking paper and Catholic washi-tape (thank you @thestumpofjesse ) on the tables and get them started with decorating the back of their journals.

As they work add more stickers and quote cards to their table.

Point out that they were all given the same set of instructions… yet each cover design is unique.

The same is true for their calling!
God has a unique mission for each individual.

He calls us to follow the Commandments, embrace His Word and trust the teachings of the Church…
same set of basic instructions, different yet BEAUTIFUL results when followed!
“Be who God meant you to be and you’ll set the world on fire!” ~Saint Catherine of Siena
Huge thank you to the women who donated journals and holy cards!!!
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Not sure what to do with all those prayer cards? Not sure what to do with all those prayer cards? 

Holy cards can be a fantastic prayer journal prompt. 

Copy the prayer off the back and glue the card to the page ;next to, underneath or above where you wrote the prayer).

Follow me for more prayer journaling tips!
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Getting ready for a Confirmation Retreat this week Getting ready for a Confirmation Retreat this weekend!

So excited to help these young Catholics see that each is called to holiness… but each mission is unique and unrepeatable!

Huge thank you to the women who donated journals for the retreat (11 donated!!!) and the women from my Bible study group who donated Holy cards!

If you would like to donate a Journal for one of the girls attending the retreat this weekend… send me a private message and I’ll explain how!

Holy cards are GREAT prayer journal prompts!

Which Holy card would you put in your prayer journal?
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Keep at it!!! Don’t give up and Don’t give in! Keep at it!!! Don’t give up and Don’t give in!!! “The world offers you comfort… but you were not made for comfort, you were made for GREATNESS!”
Pope Benedict XVI
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New post up on the blog!! I found some awesome Hol New post up on the blog!!
I found some awesome Holy Spirit themed gift ideas!
Link in bio!
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Holy Spirit activate!!! New gift guide up!!! One m Holy Spirit activate!!!
New gift guide up!!!
One might say … these gifts are on FIRE!!!!
Check it out… link in bio!!!
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Need Lent? #Catholicreels #Catholics #CatholicChri Need Lent?
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