Are you a Mary or a Martha?

{Bear with me...I'm going to ramble a bit, but there is a GIVEAWAY below and SHOPPING!}

I'm so lucky to have friends who invite me to things. It's actually LOVELY to get out of the kitchen, get away from the computer, visit with other women, see new things, and maybe learn a thing or two in the process.

Imagine...learning and growing and nurturing friendships without Instagram. It's revolutionary.

Last month, my friend Beverly invited several of us to go "into town" to the Houston Catholic Women's Conference. There was so much good that went on that day...lots of prayers, lots of inspiring speakers (including one of kiddo's teachers, a Dominican Sister, who is so full of joy and fun that she lights up every room she walks into), and lots of bonding with our van of ladies from out in the 'burbs.


This conference was also where I was introduced to a line of home goods that took my breath away, Mary & Martha.


The Gospel story of Mary and Martha always gets me. I'm so a Martha...convinced that I have to do "everything" all the while feeling anxious and wishing I was a Mary, being a true hostess and spending time with my guests. Lately, I've been trying to find a balance...not just with guests, but with my little family. Serving is a way to show love to them, but really listening and being present is the bigger part. It's also the part *I* need the most. Maybe we're called to be little of both...and I know I need to nurture that Mary side a bit more.

I had this inkling that you guys might love Mary & Martha, too. When I talked to the consultant, Stacey, about doing a giveaway on the blog, she said...Yes! And, how about a party, too?!?
Alrighty!

So, here is the piece that some lucky Bake at 350 reader will win...

...this beautiful, teal cake pedestal. I just love the detail, so elegant.
{I ate the cupcakes for you. You're welcome.}

You can access the entire Spring catalog here and place an order here if your heart desires, but I want to show you some of my other Mary & Martha favorites:


First, I am so getting this pizza tray. I mean...we have pizza night every Friday. Even a DiGiorno would look fancy on here.


Can we talk about this floral set? The way the flowers are painted...those speak to me. Oh! And see that "canvas" in the back behind the plate? Stacey had one like it at the conference. It is actually one of these tea towels:

...just stretched around a canvas. Genius!


Dishes! So pretty! How fabulous is that footed bowl?


These hospitality pieces are SO DARN smart! So much better that what I normally do...send food in a foil container covered with more foil and a Post-It note stuck on the top. Or worse, I forget that I have no disposable containers and send my dishes which just puts a burden on the person I'm bringing food to. Not good.
Yeah, I'm stocking up on these.

More of that teal cake pedestal...

If you'd like to order any Mary & Martha items, please click the link here.
Stacey, our consultant extraordinaire, is paying for all drop ship charges. (You'll still pay regular shipping, but not the extra drop ship fee.) How nice is that???

More info and larger pictures of the products are in the online catalog.
(If you have a touch screen computer and are having issues opening the catalog or flipping pages, try the touch screen rather than the mouse.)

To enter to win the beautiful cake stand,

• leave a comment on this post, telling me any of the products that strike your fancy.
• for an extra entry: tweet, pin, tell your sister...or something along those lines...and let me know you did (in a separate comment). 
• US addresses only. 

Both the shopping party and giveaway entries will end this Sunday, April 19th at 11:59CST.

Good luck and go embrace your inner Martha and Mary! ♥