Looking for ideas to make your christening party or baby shower extra memorable? Here’s a fast & easy way to bring a lasting personal touch to your plans: print your favorite version of our ‘For This Child I Prayed’ free printable, place it in a frame with a simple white mat, then invite guests to sign and/or share notes of love for the little guest of honor.

We want to give one lucky reader one of these elegant black frames along with a clean white mat ($29.99 value) and a $25 gift code to our store.

To enter to win, leave a comment on this post: what is your favorite way to make parties special? If you don’t have one, how about sharing what upcoming celebrations you’re looking forward to? An additional entry can be gained by liking us on Facebook.

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Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about this idea: every day is a special occasion. It’s true–time is a gift we have only so much of, and when we take the opportunity to be aware of it, we find that there is value to be found in everything we do.

The ‘mundane’ things of everyday life are special. If I take the time to look out the window while I’m processing that never-ending pile of dishes, I can appreciate the beautiful world outside, and the miraculous changes of the seasons. If I stop whatever busy-work I’m doing when my seven-year-old demands attention and look her in the eye, I can feel the deep privilege it is to be her mother and marvel at the gorgeous child she is. If I put a little effort into going for a walk or creating artwork or reading with my children, we will not only learn together, but we will create memories. These are special occasions. Each one builds on the next to create the texture of a beautiful life.

With that in mind, we’ve been putting a lot of thought into highlighting ways you can celebrate your every day special occasions, as well as offering meaningful ideas you can use to make more significant events (such as christenings, blessings, baptisms) truly memorable. We recently produced a christening party photo shoot with some amazing collaborators. I’m looking forward to sharing the details with you, and hopefully helping you find mindful ways of incorporating little bits of yourself into the many special occasions that are part of your life. More to come!

Formatted in a 5×7 print size, this print would be great incorporated into a baby shower, christening party, or as meaningful wall art in a nursery; and in two different designs with six different color ways, there’s one perfect for your special event–hope you enjoy!

Click on the thumbnails below to download individual pdf files.

Design #1:

Design #2:

1-Think about the recipient: what do you want them to remember & feel when they see or use your gift?

2-Think about the purpose of the gift: do you want it to be snuggled? Viewed? Worn? Carried?

3-Think about the type of gift: do you want to give something soft & cuddly, extra-ordinary or fancy, neutral or long-lasting, a personalized keepsake?

4-Think about the message you want to send with your gift: Love? Faith? Comfort? Thoughtfulness?

5-Think about how you’d like to present the gift: in a pretty bag, carefully wrapped, with a special letter or note?

When all is said and done, the gift should really be a symbol of the relationship you intend to nurture with your gift recipient: for that is what truly matters.

I’m working on uploading several new items to the site this week, and find myself feeling particularly nostalgic about this one.

Maybe it’s that my own children are growing up (ages 6, 8, 11)…and that I read this post yesterday, which reminded me that they are no longer babies.

Maybe it’s that I had the chance to snuggle this little model last night, and cannot help but feel a tug at my heart whenever I raise a tiny curled-up newborn to my shoulder.

Maybe it’s that I can literally see the closeness between this sweet boy and his lovely Mama in the photos I’ve been editing.

At any rate, it has me thinking a lot about the bond that grows between a precious child and the important women in his/her life. I love this gorgeous pearl cross necklace set as a symbol of that bond…a poignant token of the connection between a mother/godmother/grandmother and a beloved child.

Just for fun, here’s a sweet grouping of our lovely Kennedy Christening Gown with all the trimmings:

One of my favorite family traditions as I was growing up was popcorn on Sunday evenings. This is one of our go-to recipes, and is definitely at the top of my comfort food list. It’s fast, easy, and seriously addicting!

Ingredients:
-1 cup brown sugar
-1 cup white corn syrup
-1 cup peanut butter
-12 cups popcorn, popped

In a medium-sized saucepan, over medium heat, combine the brown sugar, corn syrup, and peanut butter. Stir frequently until the mixture boils. Remove from heat, pour over popped corn, and mix well. ENJOY!

As a ‘thank you’ to our wonderful customers, we’re offering a FREE BODYSUIT with any order over $75!

To receive your free gift, simply add the baby bodysuit of your choice (an $11.50 value) to your cart totaling more than $75, and enter promo code GIFT12 during the last step in your checkout process.

Offer is good now through December 25th. Does not apply to previous purchases.