Favorite Find: Three Wisemen Statues

I had to share one more favorite find today!

I was given some money for Christmas, and decided to use it to purchase a nice statue or statue set.  I realized that I didn't have any "three wisemen" statues to display for Epiphany, except a small one that had seen better days (one of the king's heads had broken off and refused to stay on despite multiple applications of Gorilla Glue!)

I noticed that the Catholic Company of St. Louis has an after-Christmas sale right now, and although many of their Nativity sets are sold out, I was able to find this lovely set of three wisemen:

My photo really doesn't do them justice, so here's a photo from the store website:

I ordered after Epiphany so we weren't able to use them on the feast, but they are so gorgeous I couldn't resist displaying them for at least a week!  The colors are so vibrant and the details so wonderful.  Best of all, each of the three wisemen holds a container that can be opened and filled with frankincense or myrrh.  (See the small inset photo above).  The gold container opens too, but the gold is already in it.  It comes with packets of frankincense and myrrh for filling the other two containers.  These are heirloom quality statues that I'm sure will become a part of our Epiphany every year!  I purchased the "standard set;" the larger set is already sold out.  Originally the set cost $49.95; now it is priced at $24.98.

(Note:  the links in this article are not affiliate links and I receive no compensation for purchases resulting from clicking on the links.  I just wanted to share my excitement over finding these beautiful statues!)

Favorite Finds: Liturgical Meals

As you can tell from my last few posts, I'm really enthused about using food and mealtime to teach my kids more about their faith, especially since our days are so full with school and sports practices.  Themed food provides a natural conversation starter about various traditions and teachings in the Catholic faith.  The kids really seem to enjoy it, too.

Although I can't make a themed meal every day, I'm hoping to create a meal at least once a week, usually on Sundays, which I'm trying to make a "sports free" day.  At least, I've been able to keep all outside activities (except for Mass) off the calendar on Sunday for the winter months.

It will also be a fun way to celebrate the start of the new week and give us something special to look forward to, since we're all missing my husband/the kids' dad, who is on a four-month field assignment in another state and can only come home one weekend a month. 

Sometimes the special meal will include many things; sometimes it will just be dessert.  Sometimes I'll just use a special tablecloth or centerpiece if I'm really tight on time.  I'm currently planning the calendar (since it won't happen unless I plan in advance!)  I'll share that at a later date.  I'm also trying to organize my cookie cutters and other supplies that can be used to make the special touches on the meal.  I'll try to share photos of that later, too.

I recently found a few things at Target's Dollar Spot that I thought would be perfect for liturgically themed meals.   Here are my "favorite finds":

 Ice cube trays shaped like apples.  I'll use these to make shape candies or cookies for Jesse tea meals (to represent Adam and Eve) and for  "fruit of the spirit" themed food.

Ice cube trays shaped like berries.  Also to be used for "fruit of the spirit" themed food.

Butterfly sandwich cutter, perhaps for a post-Easter lunch?

Not really liturgical, but I couldn't resist these toast stamps that say "Smile" and "I Heart You" on them.  Nice little surprise for the kids for a St. Valentine's Day breakfast!

Silicone heart shaped cupcake pan.  For any feast relating to the heart of Jesus or Mary (like the Sacred Heart of Jesus), and obviously, for St. Valentine's Day. 

String lights shaped like roses.  I saw these and immediately pictured them around our Mary statue for Marion feast days.  Only $3 and so pretty!

Do you have any special accessories, pans, molds, etc. that you use to give your meals a "liturgical" touch?  If so, please share your ideas in the comments section!

Our Epiphany Treats

Wanted to share a photo of the little bundt cakes that I whipped up for dessert with our Epiphany dinner last Sunday.   I made a bunch of mini bundt cakes for our "O Rex Gentium/O King of Nations" dinner during the O Antiphons.  I used this cake pan:

I saved three of the undecorated cakes in the freezer, then pulled them out on Saturday evening and decorated them with white frosting, gold sprinkles and small pieces of dried apricots (to represent jewels).  Here is the result:

Added a few Brach's chocolate stars, too.  It was a quick and easy dessert to celebrate Three Kings Day!