Update: The giveaway is now officially closed. The winners have been emailed and have 24 hours to respond. Thanks to everyone for playing along. I hope you all had fun and got some great shopping ideas for your loved ones. Please do use this as a gift guide and be sure to tell the makers and sellers that you found them through A Knotted Life!
Welcome to the 2016 Advent Care Package Giveaway. Over thirty amazingly talented artists, crafters, and vendors have donated gifts which have a combined value of over $1000. (!!!)
This is all for you, dear blog readers, and I sincerely hope you love it.
Two winners will be chosen and each will receive a Care Package worth over $500. The winners can keep every blessed thing for themselves or they can divvy everything up, put up their feet, and call their Christmas shopping done.
There is something for everyone. Books for children and adults, jewelry, and skin care products. Practical gifts like an apron, a planner, notecards, and beard balm. Fun gifts like dolls, cd's, and an Advent Mass Box craft kit subscription. Some are religious, some are not. All of it is beautiful, much of it is handmade, and every item is gleefully special.
To round things off, and to hopefully make your Advent a bit easier, I'm going to throw in chocolate coins for your St. Nick tradition. Hope it helps!
So here's how this works:
Each gift is listed with links to where you can buy the product or see more items by the same person. I give an honest mini summary of each product and I link to the item's image on my Instagram account, where I have shared (and continue to share) each individually with a little review.
I know a lot of you will use this as a gift guide and so I'm really happy that several of the makers and vendors have included coupon codes for you to use. The discount information is always the last thing listed under each item so that it is easy for you to find. Also, if you could do me a favor: if you buy something included in this giveaway will you please let the seller know that you learned about their item from my blog / giveaway? That kind of feedback is powerful and will mean I can do this again next year. Thanks!
Hopefully you've been following along on Instagram and the A Knotted Life Facebook page as I have highlighted each item with the hashtag #adventgiveawayAKL. If you click on the hashtag you can see more details of each gift.
Directions and fine print stuff: You'll enter using the Raffelcopter entry form below and all I'm asking for is one simple blog comment. One entry per person. All Amazon links are affiliate links for me, meaning I earn a small commission through my referral at no cost to you. Open only to people 18 or older and those living in the continental United States. (Sorry everyone else, my budget just can't afford the shipping!) The winners will be picked at random by Rafflecopter. After the winners are announced they will have 24 hours to provide me with their mailing addresses and if they do not they forfeit the win and a new winner will be drawn. The giveaway closes on Wednesday, November 16th.
Okay, let's get going, shall we?!
10 Tips for a Happy Life Pope Francis quote prints + Christmas car magnets from Just Love Prints
The prints are 5"x 7" and made with amazing color. The magnets are lovely, with great illustrations. Beautiful.
Buy the print here
Buy the Wise Men Still Seek Him magnet here
Buy the Keep Christ in Christmas magnet here
Read my review here
Coupon Code JUSTLOVE10 good through Christmas
Gaudete Sunday Pink Infinity Scarf + Handstamped Christmas Cards by Katie
Be liturgically correct on the third Sunday of Advent with the pink scarf and impress all (or four) of your friends with these gorgeous hand-stamped Christmas cards. Gorgeous.
Katie's blog: Look to Him and Be Radiant
Follow Katie on IG here
Read my review of the scarf here and the cards here
Advent Charm Bracelet from Faith and Fabric by Jen Frost
Delicate, pretty, hand-stamped with Advent colors. Made from aluminum for sensitive skin. It's charming!
Buy the charm bracelet here
Faith and Fabric Etsy Shop
Jen's website: Faith and Fabric
See the bracelet in detail and read more about it here
Advent Purple LuLaRoe Leggings from Megan Stevenart
Be comfortable, stylish, cute, and liturgically appropriate! You know I love me some LuLaRoe!
Shop Megan's pop-ups
Read my review of LuLaRoe here
See more about the leggings here
Christmas Prints from Printable Prayers by Kendra Tierney
These prints are thick and sturdy, bold and colorful. One is sassy, one is classy, and one is a gorgeous prayer. So much to love.
Printable Prayers Etsy Store
Kendra's blog: Catholic All Year
O Come O Come Emmanuel print
Christmas Anticipation Prayer print
You Better Not Cry print
Read more about the prints here
Africa Sleeps Holiday Gift Set by Karen H
The Holiday Set includes body wash, lip balm, and exfoliating gloves and it smells amazing. All Africa Sleeps products are made from organic, fair trade ingredients. The products are made for children of African heritage but are great for anyone with dry skin.
Africa Sleeps website
Buy the Holiday Set here
Read more about it here
Liturgical Prints from Hatch Prints by Katrina Harrington
Gorgeous, colorful, and high quality. These prints are perfect for enhancing the liturgical decorations in a home and setting a tone of peace and joy.
Shop Hatch Prints here
Advent Candle with Josemaria Escriva quote
Christmas Joy B16 quote
Pause in Silence B16 quote
See all three and read more about them here
The Catholic Woman's Companion Planner by Nancy B
Planner comes with it all: monthly calendars, weekly pages, grocery lists and meal planning, coloring pages!, student / child info, and more! A great resource for a busy mom.
Nancy's blog + website: Do Small Things with Love
Buy the planner here
Read more about the planner here
Breathe doTERRA Roller from Sarah Williams
The Breathe Roller is perfect for adding a little bit of calm to your personal space. It's pre-diluted and perfect for helping with winter's respiratory issues.
Sarah's doTERRA site
Contact Sarah
Get in touch with Sarah on Facebook
Read my review here
The Breathe Roller is perfect for adding a little bit of calm to your personal space. It's pre-diluted and perfect for helping with winter's respiratory issues.
Sarah's doTERRA site
Contact Sarah
Get in touch with Sarah on Facebook
Read my review here
Crocheted Baskets by Theresa B
These baskets are soft, sturdy, and incredibly handsome. My eight year old and I both have heart eye emojis for days.
Buy the baskets here
Theresa's blog: Ordinary Lovely
Read more about the baskets and see them closer here
Coupon Code AKLREADERS10 good until December 1st.
Divine Mercy and Sacred Heart prints from Thomas Valle Studio
These prints literally took my breath away, they are so gorgeous. The Divine Mercy and Sacred Heart prints are both from original artwork by Thomas Valle.
Buy prints here
Read more about the prints and see them better here
Handmade Necklace + Earring Set and Bracelet + Earring Set from Annery's Handmade by Annie
Both sets of jewelry are inspired by chain-mail - so think St. Joan of Arc. They are incredibly beautiful and both delicate and statement pieces. Lovely.
Buy religious jewelry, rosary roses, and more here
Follow Annie on Instagram
See a close-up of the jewelry and read more about them here
Handmade Leather Bound Journal by Wild Things Adventures
This journal is made from soft leather, and thick, cream-colored paper. It is completely unique and the perfect gift for an artist, adventurer, dreamer, or Middle Earth lover.
Buy a journal here
Sarah's blog: Wild Things Farm
Read more about the journal here
Glory to the Newborn King Girl's Hairbow by Polka Dot Bowlevard
We own several of these bows and they are well made and beautiful. This particular bow is sparkly and sweet and lovely. Navy, white, and gold - a perfect way to top off a little girl's Christmas outfit.
Buy a bow, key fob, or non-slip hairband here
Check out Polka Dot Bowlevard on Facebook
Read more about the bow and see a close up here
She Be Fierce and All for You Necklaces by Signs of Love from Rakstar Designs
Each necklace is handmade, on a long chain, and absolutely stunning. She Be Fierce includes a St. Joan of Arc medal and All for You includes a St. Teresa of Calcutta medal along with various charms related to each saint.
Shop the Signs of Love Etsy Store
Buy the She Be Fierce Joan of Arc Necklace
Buy the All for You Teresa of Calcutta Necklace
See more of Rakstar Designs on Instagram
See close ups of both necklaces and read more about them here
Coupon code of KNOTTYXMAS16 good for 15% off a purchase of $30 or more
The Bethlehem Collection Dolls by Fitz Knitz
These dolls are adorable and the apple of my four year old's eye. Joseph's body stands about 10" and is made from a deep brown yarn and the Baby Jesus is securely attached to Mary's arm. Soft, cuddly, big enough to love and small enough to fit in a stocking.
Contact Rachael directly at rachaelfitzknitz@gmail.com
Buy a hat, doll set, or mermaid blanket here
Read my review here
Coupon Code: KNOTTED10 - 10% off a purchase of $25 or more, expires 11/30/16
Catholic Beard Balm, Beard Brush, and Bottle Opener from Catholic Balm Co.
The Beard Balm is St. Joseph scented - a mix of cedar, frankenscense, and the lightest hint of rose - and will go to one lucky winner. The other winner will get the handsome and useful beardvangelization bottle opener and beard brush, with its wooden handle and manly wooden case (okay, I wanted to say adorable. How about super neat? Let's stick with manly.)
Buy balms, brushes, lip gloss, and more here
Read my review here
The Gospels of Luke and John from Sacred Art Series
This leather bound book includes the Gospels of St. Luke and St. John along with beautiful, full-colored illustrations from the classics. Gorgeous.
Sacred Art Series website
Buy the Gospels here
The the book and read more about it here
This book is discounted by 20% on Amazon just for the duration of this giveaway!
O Emmanuel Christmas album by JJ Wright from Dynamic Catholic
This Christmas album is unlike anything I've ever heard before - and I like it! Think of the jazz music from Charlie Brown Christmas and then combine that with lush, heavenly high church choral music. Interesting and beautiful.
Buy the album here
Learn more about JJ Wright here
Check out Dynamic Catholic here
Read more about the album here
Juniper Headbands from Christine Coots by Trades of Hope
Handmade in India, empowering women around the world. These are beautiful and a great way to dress up a messy bun.
Buy the headbands here
Shop Trades of Hope here
Follow Christine's Trades of Hope Facebook page
Read my review here
But First, Coffee Mug from Be a Heart Design by Erica Tighe
White and navy with black calligraphy that reads "But first coffee." Big to fit your coffee and metal so no one can break your favorite mug. It's hip and classic.
Be a Heart website
Get the mug here
Follow Erica on Instagram
See the mug up close and read more about it here
Chime Travelers Books 1-5 by Lisa Hendey
These chapter books are great for first-third graders to jump into. Great stories, great saints, likable characters, sweet illustrations. Whoever the winner is: my kids are jealous of your kids.
Lisa's website
Buy any of Lisa's great books here
PS - Lisa's O Radiant Dawn book is what my family uses with our Advent Wreath at dinner each night and it's only $1.25.
Read my review here
White and navy with black calligraphy that reads "But first coffee." Big to fit your coffee and metal so no one can break your favorite mug. It's hip and classic.
Be a Heart website
Get the mug here
Follow Erica on Instagram
See the mug up close and read more about it here
Chime Travelers Books 1-5 by Lisa Hendey
These chapter books are great for first-third graders to jump into. Great stories, great saints, likable characters, sweet illustrations. Whoever the winner is: my kids are jealous of your kids.
Lisa's website
Buy any of Lisa's great books here
PS - Lisa's O Radiant Dawn book is what my family uses with our Advent Wreath at dinner each night and it's only $1.25.
Read my review here
Liturgical Apron from Uphill Goods by Megan Whitmore
The apron is two-sided and made with beautiful fabrics and sturdy seams. The apron is approximately 29" long from top to bottom, 25" wide at its widest, and will fit up to a 45" waist / chest with its ties.
Design your own apron or buy a pre-made one here
Read more about the apron here
The Bernadette Book Series 1-3 by Emily Grace Ortega
We love these books in our family! Great for readers in grades 1-3. These stories focus on the children in a loving, realistic Catholic family and are well written with the sweetest illustrations.
Buy the Bernadette Books here or on Amazon
Read my review for I'm Bernadette, See more about all three books here
Advent Mass Box Subscription
Four weeks of crafts based on the Sunday Mass readings. A great way to interact with your kids to emphasize the liturgical season, Mass, Scripture, and the domestic church.
Buy your subscription of the Mass Box here.
Use the coupon code ADVENT10 for 10% off the December Mass Box subscription.
Read my review here
Lilla Rose Hair Clip from Mandi Richards
Pretty and practical, these clips are great for putting your hair up and looking beautiful. I use mine all the time.
Shop Mandi's Lila Rose site
Read about how much I love these things here
See the clip and read more about it here
Sacred and Immaculate Hearts Hand Painted Wooden Signs by Honeychild Forest
Each sign is handpainted, completely unique, and the perfect mix of whimsy, reverence, and beauty. These are going on my Christmas wishlist.
Shop Honeychild Forest
Read more about the signs here
Catholic Mom Challenge by Sterling Jaquith
Sterling is one of my favorite Catholic speakers and her book is filled with the same wit and wisdom as her talks. This book has practical tips for "striving for sainthood in everyday mom life" delivered in a personable, easy-to-read style.
Buy the book here
Sterling's website
Sterling's podcast, Coffee and Pearls
Read more about the book here
Advent Rosary by Ave Maria Faithcrafts
The Our Father beads have little Infant Christs and the Salve bead has a beautiful depiction of the Holy Family. The other beads are a rich, Advent purple color and the whole rosary is amazing. It's a great weight, too.
Buy a rosary or jewelry here
Check out the Facebook page
Follow on Instagram
See a close up and read more about it here
Meditations 01 by Reverb Culture
The first book of a four set series that walks its readers through thirty days of meditating on the Creed using Scripture and the Catechism. Wonderful for teens and adults, men and women.
Buy the book here
Check out the website
Read more about the book here
Watercolor Hedgehog notecards, 4 pack by Pebble Creek Prints
Super cute and high quality. These are incredibly versatile and incredibly sweet.
Rachel's blog: Efficient Momma
Buy the notecards here
See a close up and read more here
Coupon Code BONNIE good for free shipping in the US, good until November 30th
Receiving Blanket backed in Organic Flannel from Whole Parenting Goods
High quality, beautiful fabric, backed with organic flannel. This receiving blanket is perfect for keeping a little warm and has the sweetest scalloped seam.
Buy the blankets, bibs, and leggings here
Follow Nell and WPG on Instagram
Read my review here
FYI: I've been getting some emails and messages about comments not showing up. Don't worry. I will trust you that you comment and have even seen some of the ones I've been emailed about. The important thing is that you successfully complete the Rafflecopter form below. I will pick the winner and have your contact info through the form so as long as that takes we'll be good to go!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good luck and God bless!
Our favorite tradition is baking our Happy Birthday Baby Jesus birthday cake on Christmas eve!
ReplyDeleteThese are amazing products - what an awesome giveaway!
ReplyDeleteThis is an amazing giveaway, Bonnie! I've been seeing your Instagram posts and looking forward to this.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Christmas tradition in my family is how we do our Santa gifts. Each child has a "spot" somewhere in the living room, and Santa leaves the presents there in a pile unwrapped. 😊
Oh man, your IG posts have been so tantalizing! My mom is difficult to shop for (she's too awesome), and there are some great gifts in this giveaway that I could see her loving! This being my first Christmas as a newlywed, I'm looking forward to starting to form our own family traditions! -Allison C.
ReplyDeleteI've been waiting for this post. Everything looks great! :)
ReplyDeleteThese products look fantastic! Favorite Christmas Song is Dominic the Donkey!
ReplyDeleteThese are all such thoughtful and BEAUTIFUL gifts, Bonnie! I'm so grateful to the vendors who are participating. They will be spreading so much joy to the winners and their families and friends this Christmas season! Also, I love the community and support of motherhood you are building with your gifts on this Blog! I'm so grateful for it and all the work you put in! God bless!
ReplyDeleteThese all look amazing!
ReplyDeleteI'm very much looking forward to this advent season with my little one.
There's nothing quite like the excitement of children in this season. :)
This is so awesome! Thank you for your hard work to pull this together! Not only is it a great giveaway, but a wonderful list of great vendors to check out when looking for gifts this Christmas!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite holiday tradition is having Mickey Mouse pancakes for Christmas morning breakfast! Thanks so much for this giveaway.. so excited!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great selection.
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I stay up late after Christmas Eve mass, assembling presents, eating cookies, and watching Love Actually.
Thank you for this awesome gift guide and giveaway, Bonnie! Looking forward to Advent already :) God bless you and your family!
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to a couple of new Christmas books - The Third Gift, and a Tomie dePaola compilation.
ReplyDeleteMy fav tradition is we wrap up the Baby Jesus from our nativity scene in the most beautiful box under the tree. Then, He is the first gift the children open on Christmas morning and we place him in the manger. Such a simple thing but even knowing there are surprise toys and books, etc in the other boxes, they still so excited to start with Him and take their time with Him.
ReplyDeleteMy MIL makes the BEST cookies, we look forward to getting them every year!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite tradition is Christmas eve: mass, dinner, music, movies and family in their Jammies all snuggled up
ReplyDeleteSo excited for this. I've been drooling as I've read your posts. We are excited to celebrate our first Christmas as a family of 5 this year (I was very pregnant at Christmas last year).
ReplyDeleteI have listened to the Oak Ridge Boys "Christmas" album for my entire life (it came out the year of my birth!). I don't think it would be Christmas without it. My sister loves it too and it makes my mom giggle that were so fond of it.
ReplyDeleteLast year I bought "Advent at Ephasus" and I'm looking forward to playing that a lot this Advent.
Wow what a fabulous post! Awesome vendors. I hope to win Especially for the planner. I've had my eye on it :) thank you!
ReplyDeleteThis is so wonderful! Thank you for the opportunity to win some awesome gifts!
ReplyDeleteThis looks like an amazing giveaway... as a recent convert I love learning about all these new products created by fellow Catholics! Thank you so much for the chance to win!
ReplyDeleteGreat gift package.
ReplyDeleteThank you to all those who donated & thank you Bonnie, it really is a lot of work.
Traditions, I'm not big on them. We used to do Mass as a big family, but as people get married and move further away it's a lot harder. I do love it when we are all together for that. :)
Andrea Summers @ mommainflipflops@gmail.com
Would love to win this!
ReplyDeleteOur traditions are going to vigil mass and staying up late wrapping gifts and watching our favorite Christmas movies:)
I enjoy your blog! Good luck to all the entries! :)
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Christmas cookies are pizelles. They remind me of my family & now that I have my own maker I can make them for everyone.
ReplyDeleteI love "Mary Did You Know" *ducks*
ReplyDeleteLOL! Don't worry, I like the song, too.
DeleteThis is such a great gift guide and I can't believe you are giving all of this away! I'm so excited!
ReplyDeleteOur favorite Christmas tradition is going to midnight mass even though it is so hard with the kids, it's worth it.
So many wonderful gifting ideas for Christmas! Love it!
ReplyDeleteMy all time favorite Christmas song is silent night. I have loved it since I was little and it makes me happy ��
ReplyDeleteI love Christmas vigil Mass. Seeing everyone dressed up and always joyful and happy is wonderful. I even love seeing all those people who only got to Christmas Mass.
ReplyDeleteWow!!! This is amazing, Bonnie. Thank you for the chance and for all the makers who donated!
ReplyDeleteI have so many traditions I love but my favorite is Matching Christmas Pajamas on Christmas Eve. The kids are just soo excited that the pictures always turn out the best of the whole year.
ReplyDeleteLo How A Rose E'er Blooming (Es ist ein Ros entsprungen) is a favorite holiday song. I've used it as my audition song for choir throughout my life and walked down the aisle at my wedding to it as well. It is beautiful in every language and instrument I've ever heard.
ReplyDeleteThis giveaway is incredible, Bonnie!
ReplyDeleteOur traditions are a little mixed up because every other year we travel out of state to see family, but our kids are really starting to enjoy watching the Muppets Christmas Carol!
Love It's A Wonderful Life! Best holiday movie of all time
ReplyDeleteSad I cant enter from Cabada, I wish I could enter my sister in Laws name! She's in the states and could use this!
ReplyDeleteI know, sorry. My original plan was to have it open to Canadians, too, but then our water heater broke and we had issues with our van, completely wiping out our savings. I know the shipping would just be way too much. Sorry. :(
DeleteBut please share the post with your sister-in-law. If she wins maybe she'll split the package with you!
We finish our Christmas Eve caroling with a procession of silent night as the youngest child lays baby Jesus in the manger.
ReplyDeleteHow beautiful these gifts are!! My babies and I love baking a birthday cake on Christmas eve. We sing 'Happy Birthday' to Jesus first thing on Christmas morning.
ReplyDeleteI love Advent! It's my favorite liturgical season. In a world filled with instant rewards, it's so refreshing to take some time to "wait," especially for the best present the world ever received! I love the song "Maranatha, Lord Messiah."
ReplyDeleteMy favorite holiday cookies are biscochitos which are traditional New Mexican sugar cookies with anise in them. My grandmother is hispanic and from New Mexico and they are such a comfort food for me. I make them only at Christmas time and cut them into Christmas shapes like regular sugar cookies. I also really like making (and eating) Bourbon balls for the holidays!
ReplyDeleteI love to watch Elf with my family, while eating peppermint meltaways my favorite holiday cookies!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Christmas album is A Charlie Brown Christmas by Vince Guardali. It makes me so happy I enjoy listening to it all year long.
ReplyDeleteI love sugar cookies!
ReplyDeleteAnnual cookie bake with all of the women on my mom's side of the family. Been doing it since I was little and now I'm hosting this year!
ReplyDeleteWow, I can't imagine winnings this. What a blessing it would be! My favorite Christmas song is Oh Holy Night, and our family's favorite movie is a toss-up between The Santa Clause and Elf. Thank you for this opportunity, Bonnie!
ReplyDeleteWe decorate our tree Christmas Eve and go to the late Mass or midnight Mass even though we still have small children :)
ReplyDeleteSo many neat things!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great collection of gifts, wow!
ReplyDeleteMolasses cookies are my favorite, and during Christmas time I try to watch all my favorite Christmas movies:It's a Wonderful Life, Love Actually, Christmas Vacation and Elf.
Lots of favorites for Advent & Christmas..."Let All Mortal Flesh" is such a powerful hymn 🎶✨
ReplyDeleteWe do gifts for the entire octave of Christmas. I refuse to allow Christmas activities during Advent, but then I make sure we go all out once Christmas truly arrives!
ReplyDeleteWow this is amazing and must have taken you forever to post! My husband and I wrap the kids' gifts while watching Elf and drinking wine...that's one of my fave traditions :)
ReplyDeleteOnly another blogger would have said that, but yes! It did! lol
DeleteOur favorite tradition is wrapping up all our Christmas movies and books individually and then opening a present (of things we already own!) every day of Advent and Christmas.
ReplyDeleteSo many neat things and I can never choose just one favorite, but growing up we always watched "It's a Wonderful Life" and "A Christmas Story". My mom and I loved making candies and thumbprint cookies are my fav!
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool set of gifts! Lots of places to look for gift ideas now! :) A favorite family tradit ion is to sit around the tree drinking eggnog on Christmas Eve with just the lights of the tree. Then, each person picks one gift out to give someone from under the tree so that each person has one to give and one to open. It's a fun "anticipation" :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool set of gifts! Lots of places to look for gift ideas now! :) A favorite family tradit ion is to sit around the tree drinking eggnog on Christmas Eve with just the lights of the tree. Then, each person picks one gift out to give someone from under the tree so that each person has one to give and one to open. It's a fun "anticipation" :)
ReplyDeleteMy kids are 2 and 1 and I can't wait to start traditions with them. White Christmas is my favorite movie!
ReplyDeleteThere are so many amazing products abd great Christmas gift ideas here. I tried to pick a favorite but couldn't decide. Favorite Christmas movie is "A Christmas Story".
ReplyDeleteMy favorite tradition is going to late Christmas Eve mass.
ReplyDeleteWe watch A Muppet Family Christmas which is fabulous because it has muppets from all of Jim Henson's television shows.
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I have been married for almost 3 years, and one of the things we have tried to do each Christmas is to watch Holiday Inn. After our daughter was born two years ago, we started doing a Jesse tree during advent, adding an ornament each day, and on Christmas Eve we put her to bed, take down our Jesse Tree ornaments, and decorate the tree without Christmas ornaments. Now that she's 2+, we are looking forward to her reactions this year.
ReplyDeleteThanks for giving us this opportunity to enter and for all the awesome gift links with discount codes. Such a great gift!
Favorite movie is "It's a Wonderful Life" but my favorite part of Christmas is singing "Joy to the World" at the end of mass. It's always sung so triumphantly. :)
ReplyDeleteWe do a little play throughout the house on Christmas Eve. The kids all dress up in nativity costumes. I read the Christmas story while "Mary and Joseph" travel through the house knocking on doors and the "inn keepers" tell them there's no room until they arrive at the tree where they place baby Jesus in the crèche. It's always super sweet and the kids talk about it all year long :)
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing giveaway! I love traveling to my inlaws for Christmas!
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing giveaway! I honestly can't make it thought "Mary did you know" without bawling like a baby!
ReplyDeleteWe have a scavenger hunt to find our stalkings!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a wonderful thing to do. And all of the products are so ok lovely.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great bunch of goodies! Thanks for doing all this- may the lucky winner win!
ReplyDeleteWe love celebrating the 12 days of Christmas! Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing idea. Thanks for doing this. :) This year, our favorite Advent activity will be waiting for our precious first child to make her appearance around Christmastime!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great give away! Last year on Christmas Eve morning we decorated the tree while drinking hot chocolate and watching The Bells of St. Mary's and I think that will be our new tradition.
ReplyDeleteAmazing giveaway! Thanks for putting in all the legwork to get this together! My favourite carol is A Cradle in Bethlehem; it makes me feel so very close to Mother Mary and helps me remember that wonder and awe are often clad in a very humble, everyday skin.
ReplyDeleteOur favorite tradition is making gingerbread cookies. We have a hippopotamus cookie cutter that we used one year because we only had a little bit of dough left. The kids loved it so now the "Christmas Hippo" is a very important part of our tradition.
ReplyDeleteThank you for hosting this! My new favorite Advent tradition is cutting down our own Christmas tree! They're always Charlie Brown trees and they make me happy. 💛
ReplyDeleteHi Bonnie! What a wonderful giveaway! We get new pajamas for the kids on st. Nicholas and that evening decorate the Christmas tree 🎄! And I love to watch the hallmark channel during advent and Christmas 😊.
ReplyDeleteWow, you've really outdone yourself this year! These gifts are amazing 💕
ReplyDeleteAnd I didn't read the directions before I commented 😬 We've been waiting till Christmas Eve to decorate the tree for a big Christmas morning reveal for the past couple of tears and it's been really fun!
DeleteWe are newlyweds so our traditions are still forming! Last year we were living in Poland and there are so many beautiful Polish traditions I hope we keep, especially the observance of Advent before the full Christmas feast starting on the 25th and a vigil feast of twelve dishes for each apostle and the sharing of wafers with one another with tidings for the season :)
ReplyDeleteMy favorite song is "What Child Is This".
ReplyDeleteThis is an amazing gift! My children are very young so we are figuring out new traditions :-)
ReplyDeleteFirst thing we do Christmas morning is out baby Jesus in the manger.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Christmas recipe is the cream cheese cookies my mom makes, a really simple recipe but one that's been passed down through generations. I'll be sharing the recipe with my kids when they're old enough.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy having my family home and baking cookies to bring to the neighborhood on Christmas Eve. I also enjoy going to Christmas Eve Mass.
ReplyDeleteMy family eats this special recipe spaghetti for Christmas each year. When my grandfather was a child he lived about an Italian restaurant and this was the house specialty. His mom always made it, and my mom always had it growing up, and that continued all through my childhood. My grandparents died two years ago (on the same day, after 70 years of marriage...of natural causes...that's another incredible story but we still will make and have this. It is one of those once a year meals and it is jut the best way to remember the gift they were to my family, to my life of faith, and everything else.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite holiday song is "Carol of the Bells" because it's majestic.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWow! What an impressive list! I will have to take more time to go through it. My favorite Christmas movie remains as, "It's a Wonderful Life." Thanks for the chance to win. (Sorry for the removed comment, I made a spelling error.)
ReplyDeleteThis is such a cool package! Thanks for putting it together. During the Christmas season, I love praying by the light of the Christmas tree-it's so peaceful!
ReplyDeleteAmazing give away, and the perfect gift giving guide! My favorite Christmas activity is making gingerbread houses.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing giveaway! Our favorite Christmas activity is Christmas Eve children's mass at our parish.
ReplyDeleteWow! Thank you for putting this together!
ReplyDeleteThanks for putting all these products together! Such a great resource for gifts :) My husband and I enjoy making our own Advent wreath with cedar or pine branches we find outside.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite Christmas Carols is Angels we have Heard on High.
ReplyDeleteOur favorite holiday tradition is to drive around at night, looking at Christmas lights while drinking hot chocolate. Thank you for such a wonderful giveaway!
ReplyDeleteBuying a tree. I've never found "the perfect" advent wreath.
ReplyDeletewow. these all sound awesome! I love watching Christmas movies and snuggling with hot chocolate with the kids. Putting up the Nativity and Christmas lights around the window is a fun tradition too :)
ReplyDeleteMy favorite holiday tradition is making cookies with my mom, and signing along with Christmas music. I haven't done it in years, and I really miss it. I wish I lived closer to family so we can continue to share our traditions.
ReplyDeleteTell me about your favorite holiday movie, cookie, tradition, or song?
ReplyDelete(1) A Christmas Story (2) Bourbon balls (for some reason, my family always had these for Christmas and only for Christmas) (3) Picking out the tree, and (4) O Come, O Come Emmanuel
My favorite holiday tradition is the puppet show my dad puts on for St. Nick's day, using puppets his mom made and used each St. Nicholas' Day as well. As us kids have gotten older and some have left the house, we still Skype in to see the puppet show every year. St. Nick meets a little boy named Peter who has been very mischevious all year but is vey excited to see St. Nick, who instructs him to be better next year, and each year Peter's tales of mischief get more and more outrageous.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite tradition is going "home" to my parents' house for a few days, despite the fact it's only about 50 minutes drive!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite holiday movie is It's a Wonderful Life; song, In the Bleak Midwinter; cookie, all of them; and tradition...I'm not sure, my kids are young so we're just building our traditions, but I love Christmas Eve with my parents and sisters and their families.
ReplyDeleteThis is amazing! Thank you for sharing your love of the Faith with all!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Christmas song is 'what child is this' gets me every time!
ReplyDeleteThank you for organizing this giveaway!
Thanks for this awesome giveaway. I enjoy following your blog. God Bless
ReplyDeleteElf is a family favorite to watch with the kids. Also It's A Wonderful Life -- such a classic
DeleteMy favorite holiday song is Silent Night. I love thinking about our sweet Blessed Mother and the tiny baby Jesus.
ReplyDeleteRachael Resendiz
What a great giveaway! One of my favorite Christmas traditions/memories was that growing up, my family made Christmas Eve all about Jesus. We went to Christmas Eve mass together, and then when we came home, we hung up stockings,sang "Happy Birthday" to Jesus, and then went to bed. It was a very quiet but joyful way to celebrate the night and I hope to continue the tradition with my own children when they're a little bit older.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Christmas song, O Holy Night.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful giveaway! Super excitd to see all these wonderfully made gifts!
ReplyDeleteSusie Marshall susiemark6@yahoo.com:
ReplyDeleteOur favorite tradition is now a ministry: FB The Marshall Family Christmas Lights We have our lights synchronized to music and collect donations at the curb for St Anthony Family Shelter and the Lord's Dinner. Last year, the good people watching donated $5,800 which we donated evenly to the two charities.
We are so looking forward to Advent over here what with the election and aftermath. Can't wait to "trim the hearth and set the table"!
ReplyDeletePeople Look East is one of my favorite Advent hymns :)
DeleteThank you for this amazing giveaway and gift guide. :)
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Advent tradition is praying the St. Andrew Novena by our fireplace with my family.
I've been looking for new ideas for Advent traditions. Thank you. God bless.
ReplyDeleteits a wonderful life is definitely a fav! and christmas vacation :)
ReplyDeleteWe make a special breakfast on Christmas morning!
ReplyDeleteOh Holy Night is what I look forward to all year long. Sure, its a hard song to sing, but it gives me all the feels. :)
ReplyDeleteAll such beautiful gifts.
ReplyDeleteSuch an awesome giveaway!! I think our favorite tradition is reading a new picture book each night before bed.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite tradition is St. Nick's and lighting our Advent wreath every night during family dinners.
ReplyDeleteSo excited for this giveaway!! Our Christmas traditions have been growing ever since we had our first child :) But my personal favorite is new pajamas for Christmas Eve and eating shortbread cookies (now that I finally figured out my mom's recipe!!) Thanks for putting all this together.
ReplyDeleteMy family's favorite cookies (not mine though) have always been my grandma's famous sugar cookies. Since she passed on this year it is supposedly going to be a new tradition that everyone tries to follow her recipe and we vote on who's cookie was closest to grandma's!
ReplyDeleteThis looks amazing! My favorite tradition is the empty manger in our home that we fill with the straws of our good deeds and sacrifices to make a soft bed for Jesus.
ReplyDeleteWe love Elf!
ReplyDeleteI always loved celebrating St. Nicholas day growing up. It was something that none of the kids I knew in my public school did, so that made it really special, even before I knew the significance of it. We also celebrated 12 days of Christmas, getting just one or two gifts (even though they usually ended up being really little things by Epiphany) each day, because my mom never liked the Christmas day overload. These are traditions I hope to continue when I start my own family.
ReplyDeleteWow! What a giveaway! My favorite tradition is mass with the family and then returning to my in-laws house to share a traditional Canadian meat pie for dinner and drinks too!
ReplyDeleteAmazing! I'm seeing a lot of gifts for the godchildren, here! Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteThis is such an amazing giveaway, thank you for it! My favorite Christmas tradition is slowly decorating the house and (eventually) the tree ready for Jesus' birth! And I love Christmas Eve snuggles in front of the tree, sipping hot chocolate and singing carols with my family (sometimes in Ohio and sometimes in Texas!).
ReplyDeleteOur favorite tradition is Christmas karaoke. Basically loudly singing off key in the living room with the kids :-)
ReplyDeleteThis is perfect for Christmas shopping!!
ReplyDeleteI love cutting down our own Christmas Tree!
ReplyDeleteAdvent is already my favorite time of year, but I think you just made it even better!! Honestly, after 2+ decades of marriage and parenting, we have a lot of advent traditions, but my favorite is probably our nightly reading of The Advent Book (sadly out of print) and the joy and delight on each of my kids' faces as they take turns opening a new "door" in the book. This is just lovely, Bonnie.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Christmas cookie has to be a soft chewy sugar cookie decorated with colorful frosting!!!
ReplyDeletemy favorite advent tradition is making cookies on saint Nicholas day and having the kids give them to the neighbors
ReplyDeleteI caught myself humming a Christmas carol today. So excited for Advent and for the night all of my college kids are home and we go pick out a tree. Usually the weather is awful, subzero ice storms are typical, and we can never agree on a tree until we've debated every single tree in the lot. Then we always pick something crooked or with a bald spot. Thanks for offering this giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI love it all! There is a (free) light show set to the Trans Siberian Orchestra music where I'm from that always makes me so happy. And now that we have a little one who will finally be able to understand more at 2, I'm looking forward to teaching her all about baby Jesus' birthday this year :)
ReplyDeleteMy favorite is listening to Christmas Music.. Especially Andy Williams. We start now and don't stop listening until the end of January! My husband and I also watch Christmas movies together (our kids do not share in the joy of watching A Christmas Story or National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation..we hope they come around eventually) just about every single night from Thanksgiving thru December.
ReplyDeleteLove this, Bonnie! I love going to my parents' house Christmas morning and leisurely opening presents, followed by just hanging out and doing whatever. It's only been in the last couple years that our bigger family things got moved off of Christmas Day, and I love it this way!
ReplyDeletewe love doing our secret santa exchanges with friends and family!
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing and generous giveaway!
ReplyDeleteLove following your blog, Bonnie!
I entered as Leatrice Ynostrosa (oops forgot my Google is kandle, my middl name! Anyway, I love to make bisquichitos, a New Mexican cookies with lots of anise and cinnamon, and I love to watch Elf, the happiest Christmas movie ever!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite tradition is celebrating our Polish heritage on Christmas Eve. Before eating we all wish each other a Merry Christmas and share a piece of our oplatki wafer. It is a special time to celebrate our family and friends and the reason for the season
ReplyDeleteMy favorite tradition has been buying a real tree each year with my husband. I grew up with a fake and have come to really love the character a real tree brings, needles and all! ��
ReplyDeleteMy favorite tradition is making pumpkin bread for all the neighbors.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing list of gifts!
ReplyDeleteO holy night is my fav Christmas song!
One of my favorite Christmas traditions is baking cookies whilst listening to lots of favorite Christmas carols....some include Julie Andrews, Orla Fallon and Moya Brenan's Christmas albums.
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting such an amazing giveaway! Joy and peace to you!
Even though I'm the only one who wants to sit it through it, my favorite Christmas movie is "It's a Wonderful Life". That scene on the bridge gets me every time.
ReplyDeleteThis is the giveaway to end all giveaways Bonnie, nicely done!
ReplyDeleteI love O Holy Night myself, though James Taylor's rendition of "In the Bleak Midwinter" makes me tear up :)
I love baking Spritz cookies, using my Mom's recipe. The smell = Christmas for me. I also look forward to listening to Christmas music by the glow of the tree lights and watching Elf with the kids!
ReplyDeleteI love praying the St. Andrew Novena 💜
ReplyDeleteThese look awesome! My husband would love the beard balm and I am drooling over the planner:-) I am looking forward to putting out our manager scene "calendar". The kids have fun putting a felt piece up every day.
ReplyDeleteWe try to keep Advent simple, but I still love decorating our house. My kids are finally old enough to help :-)
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Christmas cookie is the Mint Chocolate Pinwheel. A lot of work, but soooo good!
ReplyDeleteWow, kudos to you for organizing all this! My some of my favorite traditions are making my late grandma's molasses sugar cookies and gingerbread men. And my favorite movie is National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, which is always on at our extended family get together.
ReplyDeleteWhoa, this is just amazing! I really love decorating my house for Advent by adding a little more each Sunday until it is all ready and beautiful for Christmas! :)
ReplyDeleteSuch a pretty and soulful giveaway! Thanks for the opportunity to win!
ReplyDeleteSo fun that you did this! I'll definitely be using this for Christmas!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the amazing giveaway! Wonderful gift ideas, too. My favorite Christmas song is Oh Holy Night, and my fav tradition from recent years is praying the St. Andrew novena--so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI love going to midnight Mass!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love everything about Christmas! ❄️ I love the cheesy Halmark movies, the classics: Home Alone, Christmas Vacation, It's a Wonderful Life.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite cookie to bake are almond thumbprints with raspberry preserves! ❤️
beth_costigan@yahoo.com
Thank you!!!!
My favorite Christmas tradition that i started a few years ago was to have a Christmas Piano Recital the week after Christmas (during the actual season of Christmas!) for all my piano students and their families. We turn it into a fun Christmas party and it also gives my students a chance to shine!
ReplyDeletei watch "a christmas story" over and over every year
ReplyDeleteMy family loves lighting the advent wreath, reading the meditation, and singing O come, O come Emmanuel
ReplyDeleteMy favorite holiday tradition is our celebrations of St Nick's Day and the Epiphany to bookend the season.
ReplyDeleteWe get our Christmas tree on the first Sunday of Advent and then each Sunday until Christmas decorate it a little more. By Christmas day its ready to go with the lights and all the ornaments.
ReplyDeleteMy dads side of the family is German, and we always make German cookies called lebkuchen for Christmas. Packed with molasses and spice and honey- not for everyone but I've always loved them!
ReplyDeleteMy fave holiday song is "Wood of the Cradle, Wood of the Cross" (I think it's a religious Christmas song, but I guess you could sing it any time?). It's really beautiful.
ReplyDeleteSo excited for this giveaway and can't wait to check out everyone's items and make Christmas lists from them!
ReplyDeleteOh and my favorite new tradition is the Jesse Tree. This year I'm making felt ornaments that I got from Faith and Fabric by Jen Frost last year
DeleteSo many beautiful goodies! I even have the perfect fella for the beard prize!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Christmas traditions are attending midnight mass on Christmas Eve and taking a walk in the woods with family after Christmas dinner. Thank you for this wonderful giveaway!
ReplyDeleteFound your blog because of this giveaway! Glad I did! God Bless.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite holiday cookie is a molasses spice cookie. Too many favorite movies to list! my favorite tradition is Midnight Mass, but we don't go to that anymore because our kids are jerks when we do.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Advent/Christmas tradition is my family's annual "cookie bake." All the cousins get together and every lady prepares her traditional recipe. Mine is mint chocolate chip snow caps, which I inherited from my grandmother.
ReplyDeleteOur favorite tradition is having our 3 wisemen wandering around the house during Advent in search of Baby Jesus. What a wonderful giveaway!
ReplyDeleteMy mom's butter cookies! The best!
ReplyDeleteAll of the traditions! I was raised in a family with many wonderful traditions and now it is so fun to carry on some of those old traditions and create new ones with my own family!
ReplyDeleteMy family bakes cheese braids to give to friends and neighbors - a fun and delicious tradition. We listen to Christmas songs while baking -I love singing Christmas carols, and "Adeste Fideles" is my favorite.
ReplyDeleteBonnie, you are amazing. Thank you! My favorite tradition is driving around the neighborhood, looking at all the Christmas lights while blasting Christmas music. Some of the homes near us go all out and it is so much fun.
ReplyDeleteI love going to the Community of St. John every Christmas Eve for the Midnight mass. The mass is always long and then we sing carols around the Nativity scene and then have cookies and hot chocolate afterwards. We don't usually get home until 3 am but it is the best way to bring in Christmas!
ReplyDeleteThis is amazing!! This is our first Christmas as Catholics and I'm so excited. Winning this would definitely be extra exciting!!!
ReplyDeleteAdvent is a favorite season for me. I love the music and the time of preparation.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite tradition is going to Midnight Mass (or as I call it the Midnight Mass at 10 o clock pm) It is a moving and beautiful experience!!
ReplyDeleteWe love putting together St. Nick bags and ding-dong-ditching our neighbors after we put the surprises on their front porches :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful giveaway, Bonnie! Huzzah! One of my favorite things about our family Christmas is just spending more time with each other - after Mass and gifts, we usually don't have any plans but to just hang out and enjoy the "present." :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you for putting this gift guide together. It gives so many ideas and supports wonderful small catholic businesses! Winning this giveaway would be incredible!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Christmas treat are chocolate chip bars. It's super easy and I can easily eat way too many. :)
ReplyDeleteLooks fantastic! My favorite movie is It's a Wonderful Life
ReplyDeleteAdvent is my favorite time of the year! I love the advent wreath and the joy if the season which all leads up to Christmas Eve mass��
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Christmas song is O Come O Come Emannuel by Matt Maher...his version is just. so. good. !!! I also love One Last Christmas by Matthew West if I need a cry :)
ReplyDeleteFavorite tradition is Mass on Christmas morning with my family. This would be an awesome prize to win!
ReplyDeleteWe sing happy birthday to Jesus first thing when we wake up!
ReplyDeleteLove this!! I have been so inspired by your blog and blogs like yours that encourage other moms to celebrate the liturgical year. My favorite Christmas tradition is waiting until right before Christmas to decorate...we get to wait during advent and then BAM, all the Christmas stuff comes out!!
ReplyDeleteFavorite tradition, well one of the favorites, is the advent wreath and the "fight" for who will snuff the candles out each night :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great giveaway! We use the Radient Dawn meditation book around the Advent wreath, and aspire to make it through all of the Jesse Tree readings!
ReplyDeleteI love the song O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. I will listen on repeat for hours :)
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite traditions is the Christmas novena.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite treat at Christmas are pizelles! My Great Aunt Mary always had them made when we visited at Christmas time!
ReplyDelete