The “little of this, little of that” feature from Like Mother, Like Daughter!
This week's giveaway is a fabulous $250 gift certificate at Embroidered Heirlooms, “honoring the beauty and innocence of childhood”!
The details are at the end of this post, and you won't want to miss the lovely First Communion and Baptism gowns, accessories, and veils that they offer.
I made my cranberry sauce, so I am 1/30th prepared, I figure.
Today I will tackle the pie crusts and the rolls.
Monday was so dark that I almost cried, but after seeing the mountains of snow that a good many of you endured, the silver lining was apparent to me.
Kale kale kale kale kale kale…
Habou and I wrestled with the kale (not all of it — there's a limit, people!). (Note the large bowl to her left there, almost out of the picture.)
While it is astonishing how much it cooks down — as in, that whole sink-load on the left there ended up in one quart-sized ziploc (well, two, but only because I couldn't admit that kind of defeat), while fresh it takes up quite a bit of space. I divided it up between bigger leaves for soups and other cookery and small young leaves for salads. Of which we will partake quite a few, if the bundle in my fridge is any indication.
On to this week's links!
- You must read this address from Lord Jonathan Sacks, former Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom. The Humanum colloquium seems to have brought together many people of different faiths and given rise to an exploration of what we lose if we let go of God's plan for mankind, marriage.
- I found this video to be particularly moving. The Chief complained that everyone in it walks tremendously slowly (and apparently in a subsequent video they move very quickly), but honestly, those moments are needed so that you can adequately ponder the deep points that are being made.
- Here's a nice round-up of Advent reading. You know, spiritual preparation and all!
- Interesting article about colors in stained glass windows, and why they are difficult to replicate today.
- Dear Teresa sent me this link, which is just a simple meditation on the beauty of the celebration of Mass in a hospital room. I may have shed a tear. Heaven and earth, meeting.
- We love our readers and commenters. You are so interesting. David popped in to take exception to my characterization in a recent post of the New Urbanism, although perhaps his own profession led him defensively to apply my critical words to the movement rather than to the implementation by our unimaginative bureaucratic processes. Perhaps I could have been more precise. I do try, but you know me, flinging my opinions around sometimes recklessly. But David sent this link which I want to share with you: The Pink Zone: Why Detroit is the New Brooklyn. The devastation Detroit has wrought and suffered can't be lightly dismissed. It's a real tragedy and many lives have been ruined. But where the spirit of freedom can be unleashed, there is hope.
So that was all very heavy, so here is this bit of what I hope is not irreverence but merely light amusement, but you never know with me:
- The entire Bible explained, FB-style. Nailed it.
Now, onto our giveaway!
Dear Janet is offering $250 to spend on Embroidered Heirlooms!
They have beautiful First Communion gowns, and they also have lovely baptism gowns and veils. What a great gift for a family you know who are celebrating an important occasion! Or maybe you'd like to start your own tradition for your own baby or daughter.
Some of you have asked me about our veil that I wore at my wedding and my daughters at their First Holy Communions and then at their own weddings (and our daughter-in-law too!). Well, it isn't easy to find just this kind of longer mantilla — I know, I've looked! Check out the ones at Embroidered Heirlooms — maybe you will find one at last to start your own tradition.
(FYI, you are asked for your email *only* so that you can be contacted if you win! So do not fear the “registration.” If you are entering the drawing with a comment, don’t forget to come back up here and click on the Rafflecopter thingy to get your entries!)
Janet is also offering 10% off for our readers, good until December 31! Just use the code Leila to get your discount on anything in the shop. For instance, this lovely doll dress, which would make a great keepsake for your First Communicant.
Good luck and thanks for stopping by!
~We’d like to be clear that, when we direct you to a site via one of our links, we’re not necessarily endorsing the whole site, but rather just referring you to the individual post in question (unless we state otherwise).~
Miranda says
love it! thank you for the opportunity!
Delores says
Well, I could not find a place to comment on their website, so I hope I am supposed to comment here. (For the first entry.) Their gowns are gorgeous and with my daughter’s first communion coming up, this is perfect timing!
Marianne says
beautiful dress!
Shyla says
Wow, absolutely beautiful dresses!!
Sarah King says
I am always astonished at how my giant pile of greens always turns into only 2 or 3 servings, but what beautiful kale!
And such a great giveaway. I have a 7 year old coming upon her first Communion next year so this would be great timing for me.
Thanks for all the loveliness!
Catherine says
Dreaming of baptizing a daughter in the Marie christening gown.
RevelyC says
I’m always inspired by your tiny steps methods of getting ready for holidays, so thanks for keeping us updated. If I concentrate I can probably just about get one thing done today that will help make the week easier. Maybe.
Gorgeous give away, too.
Ami says
I love, love this dress! My daughter will receive her first Holy Communion soon and I would love to see her in this dress and veil 🙂
Cassandra Brungardt says
What lovely things. I love the First Communion dresses! A new grandchild in the family so the baptismal gowns would make a lovely gift.
Mamabearjd (Michelle) says
My daughter wore that very dress! I splurged for one of EH’s baptism gowns for my fifth child this year, because we didn’t have a family gown and I wanted one to pass down. He was a little overdressed for our rural parish, but he IS named after our priest, so why not?
I also had the privelege of exchanging emails with Janet and she is a super sweet lady making gorgeous family heirlooms. I can’t endorse her enough!
Ellie Fitzpatrick says
Wow! Such beautiful dresses. With 2 girls, 4 and 2 years, this would be a wonderful preparation for their First Communion! Thanks!
Cathy says
Beautiful
Dianna says
How lovely! And at the same time, much simpler and classic than other such dresses I’ve seen.
Christi says
Would love to win some veils! Thank you for the opportunity!
Taryn B says
Gorgeous! My third babe is due at the end of May and we’d love a christening gown.
Stacy W says
thank you Leila!
Anne says
I’ve known Janet since I was a girl, she was a friend of my mom’s and now I get to call her a friend of my own. So glad you are featuring her lovely and timeless creations!
Laura says
How lovely!
Cynthia Twetten says
Absolutely gorgeous!!!
Cristina says
There are so many beautiful things on this website! The links to the baby gifts aren’t working for me right now, but if they are anything like the gorgeous gowns I’m sure I could find something my new baby girl needs 🙂
Kathleen says
The Communion Dresses are stunning! Thank you!
Adele says
The dresses are beautiful and would certainly get used as we are baptizing our third girl tomorrow.
S. Kate Kiener says
OH! How Beautiful! We are in need of an heirloom worthy baptismal gown!
Laurel says
What beautiful pieces of handiwork!
Emily says
Wow! The veil and the dress are just beautiful! Thank you for the giveaway!
KB says
I am so glad that Embroidered Heirlooms is carrying on the tradition of such beautiful handwork. It is rare to find such high quality these days! Exquisite pieces!
Danielle says
Absolutely beautiful!
Jennie says
Beautiful!
Meredith K says
Was just talking to a colleague at work about getting a veil together for her daughter’s first communion! What timing to find this post.
Katherine says
Lovely! And I have a daughter who will be making her First Holy Communion in the Spring too. Thanks for the Opportunity!
Stephanie in Germany says
I must admit, that I buy my kale already chopped up at the farmers market!
What a beautiful dress! What a beautiful veil!
Amy says
Such pretty dresses!
Laura says
I need to get a baptism outfit for my son, due in January, and this would be perfect!!!!
Heather says
Such beautiful, beautiful things! And I have a daughter making her first communion next year, so I would really love to win this!!!
Meghan says
Beautiful dresses and gowns. (And your cranberry sauce is looking pretty gorgeous too!)
Claire says
For YEARS, this website has been the inspiration for me to learn how to sew. Her dresses are exquisite, and since my oldest’s First Communion will be this May, and since my sewing skills presently rely on the use of a hot glue gun, I would say I am a prime candidate to win this raffle!
Grete says
What a generous giveaway. My daughter will be receiving her First Communion this spring.
Kiera says
So lovely! I would love a veil for my daughters’ wedding days! Thank you.
Amy says
We ordered a veil from Embroidered Heirlooms for our eldest daughter’s First Holy Communion last year. It was simple, elegant and beautifully crafted. With three more First Holy Communions coming in our family and a birth — and baptism — due this spring, I would love to order from this vendor again. Thank you for the chance!
Anna says
What gorgeous dresses! I would love one for my daughter, set to have her first commuion next year.
Ruthie says
Absolutely beautiful!
Jennifer says
Beautiful dresses! I have three girls: 6,4, and 1! How wonderful would it be to have such a beautiful dress for them to wear for their first communion!
Catherine says
What a wonderful service she is offering! These gowns are absolutely lovely!
Karla P. says
Thank you for the opportunity to enter this giveaway ! The dress and veil are beautiful!
Jenny says
Just lovely!
Kathryn Jones says
I have always wanted an heirloom baptismal gown to pass down after I read about yours 🙂
Nicole Bradica says
So beautiful!! Excited to peruse to prepare for my oldest daughter’s First Holy Communion next year.
Ann says
The First Communion Dress pictured is exquisite! I’ve never seen one so lovely.
Michelle says
The dresses are beautiful!
Melanie says
Beautiful. Makes me want to learn to sew.
Nicole says
Beautiful dresses. We do first communion at the baptism in the Orthodox church, so I guess I’m late for my own child, but some of those first communion dresses would make lovely Easter dresses too!
Karen says
Beautiful dresses and veils. This is a fabulous give-away. Thank you.
Sophie says
These are such lovely dresses!
Mary Ann Van Atta says
I would love a baptism gown for our new grandchild!
Julia R. says
Gorgeous dresses!
Lisa says
baptism gown for my future grandbabies!
Danielle says
Would love to win a dress for my daughters 1st HC in May!!
Calee says
We were just asked to be godparents (and in the Greek Orthodox tradition, we buy the gown) so this would be fantastic.
Salome Ellen says
Beautiful!!
Celeste says
I can’t get over how gorgeous that FHC dress is.
Rosie says
My daughters would love a first communion dress for their dolls, and this is such a good site to remember for when my oldest makes her first communion next year!
Gwenny says
I never win these things, but I am so glad you featured this lovely store. I’ve been pinning and pinning similar communion gowns, but so many of the links are broken or don’t tell where the down was purchased. This is exactly like what I want for my daughter (sleeves are a MUST, am I right?). I am saving the link to come back to. Thank you!
Emily b says
I love these first communion dresses! My daughter will be taking her first communion next year, so this is perfect timing for us! Thank you!
Donna says
Beautiful handwork!
Thank you for the advent reading list.
We are blessed to have those quality videos. Grateful. Hope everyone watches them!
Elizabeth says
Beautiful!
Lynn says
This would be perfect for my daughter next year.
Karen says
How beautiful! My Anna will be receiving her First Holy Communion this spring. I can’t wait to show her these lovely dresses.
Elizabeth says
How beautiful!
Rhiannon says
Just beautiful dress and veil. A very special occasion celebrated memorably.
Jess says
Beautiful and so modest — a perfect First Holy Communion dress.
Valerie says
I love all of their items! I have been looking at heirloom communion dresses, thinking of my daughter’s first communion. I have been admiring the ones from embroidered heirlooms.
Jacqueline says
So beautiful. The baptism gowns are the loveliest I’ve ever seen
Mary says
The dresses are so stunning! What beauty!
Kate says
Wow. Stunning dresses!!
Sarah C. says
Wow, those dresses are incredible! *Almost* makes me excited to see my daughter grow into a young lady, but since she’s only 18 months right now, the rest of me wants to see her stay small forever!
Molly says
I would love to have a new baby (baptized in one of those beautiful gowns)!
Laura D says
Lovely dresses. We have our first 1st Communion this spring!
Cheryl says
Beautiful dresses!
Julie says
I want to have another baby as an excuse for one of those beautiful baptismal gowns!
Hannelore says
Oh, those dresses are beautiful. I know where I’ll be ordering my daughter’s dress for First Communion next year!
Karyn says
So beautiful. Thanks for introducing this lovely site!
Molly R says
Oh my goodness!! My daughter is making her a First Holy Communion next May, and I have been looking longingly at these dresses. So beautiful!
Margaret Schay says
I love the baby booties–and all of the products. So lovely!
Liz says
I love Embroidered Heirlooms!
Mary H. says
I bought one of these baptism gowns for my daughter 3 years ago and it is just gorgeous. I would love to get (a less girly) one for my son who will be born next year.
Mary says
So beautiful!
Amelia W. says
They are beautiful dress! My oldest daughter will be making her First Communion next year.
Natalie says
Thanks for the beautiful giveaway!
E.R. says
My niece is celebrating her First Communion in May, and I would love to buy her dress/veil from this site. Their products are absolutely beautiful!
Meg says
Wow, these are beautiful! Love to win for my little girl!
Jen G says
What beautiful items! I would love to have heirloom quality items to add to my daughters’ hope chests!
Lynn says
The Anne communion dress is beautiful (they all are!) and would be perfect for my daughter. (Or maybe several smaller items and include my God-daughters!)
Morgan says
Beautiful! Thank you for providing the opportunity to learn about a beautiful and business and also, perhaps, win something! 🙂
julianne says
Four girls. Oldest one’s first communion is coming up. This is such a beautiful heirloom (not to repeat everyone else but that describes it!).
Donna L. says
These are just breathtakingly beautiful! I wish I had known I was going to have children….then I would have splurged on one for our first of several! Thank you for the opportunity to win!
Donna L. says
Thank you for the opportunity to win!
If I had only known we would have a few little darlings—I would have bought one like this so that all the kids could have worn it!
Karen Kalna says
Beautiful work! thank you for the giveaway and sharing this wonderful website!
Betsy M says
Beautiful! Thanks for the chance to win!
Ashley says
The Baptismal Gowns are all beautiful. Thanks for the giveaway!
Veronica Guajardo says
I am going to be godmother to my niece next month for her baptism this would be great!!!
Ann Brodeur says
I would love to have one of these dresses to help my Lily celebrate her First Holy Communion! Lily is on the autism spectrum and has worked so hard to prepare to receive Jesus. I would love for her dress to be as lovely as her heart!
Veronica Guajardo says
These gowns are beautiful!
Erin says
We have a First Communion and a Baptism int eh first half of 2015!
taryn says
What stunning gowns! At this point I only have sons, but I’d order one of those First Communion dresses with the hope of future daughters (and, failing that, granddaughters)!
Ngofamilyfarm says
Wow, these are truly beautiful!! Would love to win for my two daughters, thanks for the chance!
-jaime
Beth F says
I really love the Emma First Communion dress, it’s classic and simple.
Maria says
Truly stunning! My daughter’s First Communion is this Spring; thank you for such a generous giveaway.
Allison says
Love bits & pieces! And the Embroidered Heirlooms are beautiful!
CMerie says
I love the Elizabeth First Communion dress.
Maggie says
Such beautiful and modest dresses and veils — I’m so grateful this type of artwork is still being created! Thank you for your efforts to keep this craft alive in our culture of “quick and easy.”
Thank you, Auntie Leila, for your links in this post. Great Advent reading suggestions and the video on marriage is moving and gives much to ponder.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Mimi says
Those dresses are lovely!
Meg says
Would love to be able to get one of these gowns for my daughter!
Aunty Leila–could you share sometime any ideas for spiritual preparation for a young child for First Communion?
Leila says
Dear Megan,
Maybe I will write about this eventually. I do highly recommend that you read this decree from Pope St. Pius X: http://www.papalencyclicals.net/Pius10/p10quam.htm
It’s very simple! In a delicate and simple way, you just make sure that your child understands the 10 Commandments (use the St. Joseph Catechism #1 but just as a guide — use a light touch, read the scriptures suggested very slowly and lovingly, and have conversations about what is taught there) and knows that it is truly Jesus present on the altar, under the appearances of bread and wine.
If he is ready for his confession, take him to a good confessor who is used to hearing the confessions of children, and then he’s ready! The decree makes it clear that YOU are the ones to ascertain that he has reached this very minimal level of preparation. Remember that it is not necessary for him to have any complicated knowledge of the catechism.
Read and meditate on the decree and the Holy Spirit will guide you! God bless!
Susan says
So beautiful, and modest, and classic — simply the loveliest I’ve ever seen…. thank you for a wonderful give- away!
Jenna O says
So beautiful dresses! 🙂 I´m in love!
Betsy says
So beautiful! I would love a baptismal gown for any future babies 🙂
Hannelore says
Oh, I’m so excited to have won! Thank you!