7 Quick Takes Friday

For more quick takes, visit Jen at Conversion Diary!

*** 1 ***

I’ve been thinking about Christmas, specifically how I can be as prepared as possible before Christmas arrives, so I don’t have to be running around buying gifts, making cookies, etc. when I’m just weeks from delivering.

After reading some great ideas online, I think we’re going to be doing a lot of gourmet type food gifts for people. They are relatively inexpensive, but a fun gift to receive because it’s the kind of thing you’d never buy for yourself, but can enjoy immensely as a little indulgence. Also, easy to wrap. Slap a bow on that puppy, and it’s done!

Some of my favorite ideas so far are:

Scone mixes from King Arthur Flour (particularly apple cinnamon, cinnamon pecan, ginger bread, cranberry orange, and french toast — hmmmmm).

Anything from Williams and Sonoma

What are your ideas for Christmas gifts? Have you started planning for the holidays yet?

*** 2 ***

I’m now participating in a Catholic Women’s book club! My friend Caitlin proposed the idea, and I’m so excited for it! Some women in her family who live out of town pick one book a month from a list of Vatican recommended Catholic books, and they read it, then get together to drink wine and chat discuss the book. She proposed that a group of us here in Indy do something similar. The book for October is St. Teresa of Avila’s Interior Castle. Nothing like getting started with some light reading, right? 🙂

I finally got the book yesterday, and it’s only the 6th, so I think I’m doing o.k.! Let’s see if I can actually read and comprehend any with my baby-addled brain.

In any case, I’m so looking forward to spending time with some Catholic women who are all in similar, but unique places in life. One of us has two children, one is engaged, two are married with no children yet, and then there is me, expecting baby #1.  A good mix I think.

Have you read Interior Castle? Is it as intimidating as it seems?

*** 3 ***

Has anyone who has kids bought a Baby Bjorn secondhand? We got a Moby wrap last week (on sale!) but I’d like to get a Baby Bjorn so we have an alternative carrier, just in case. But, I really don’t want to pay $80 for it. I’ve seen a few on Craigslist secondhand, but I’m somewhat wary of buying it used, mostly for safety reasons.

If you’ve gotten one secondhand, did you have any issues with it? Do you think it’s worth it to buy it new for full price?

*** 4 ***

Our baby needs this:

And by “our baby” I might mean me. I mean, she’d play with it eventually, but really, it’d be for me to play with now. 🙂

Seriously though, isn’t that one of the cutest things you’ve ever seen? The Saintly Silver Etsy shop has about 100 or so of these little Catholic “felt softies.” I love them!

*** 5 ***

Life as We Know It? I think this movie looks really cute. Yeah, it’s a typical rom-com, with a baby thrown in, but let’s be real. I like rom-com’s, and I obviously like babies, so there you go. Atticus has Monday off (yay for state holidays!) so our plan as of now is to (1) go to the Zoo! and then (2) go see this movie.

What do you think?

*** 6 ***

Faith and Family Live! has a great post today on resources for praying the Rosary. It’s really worth checking out!

*** 7 ***

Have a great weekend folks!