From middle school through college I eagerly anticipated each new HP book release but I don’t think I could have even articulated what drew me in. Looking back, it was more than compelling plots and endearing characters. What I found alluring was the magical world Rowling created. A world full of traditions that brought people together into a strong community where you belonged. I recently saw … [Read more...]
10 MORE Books You Must Read to Your Daughter (Semi-Inspired by Kathleen Kelly)
"When you read a book as a child, it becomes a part of your identity in a way that no other reading in your whole life does." - Kathleen Kelly, You've Got Mail Three years ago one of my posts went viral for the first time. I shared about using good literature to raise strong daughters. I featured heroines that had a lot more backbone and a lot less vampire-obsession than Twilight's Bella Swan … [Read more...]
A Pioneer Girl Wannabe’s Dream Come True
“Are you sitting down?” my husband asked over the phone a few months ago. “Is something wrong?” I answered, panicking slightly. Daniel and I usually communicate via text or google chat during the day, so I was curious to see what kind of news merited a phone call. “No, it’s good news. Just…you should probably sit down. I found out that the Ingalls Homestead in De Smet, South Dakota is … [Read more...]
It’s May! Let’s Celebrate!
It's the month of May when we especially honor Our Lady. And lucky for you, the beautiful book I got to contribute a chapter to, Rosaries Aren't (Just) for Teething, is being released and I have THREE ecopies to giveaway! So enter with the rafflecopter, it's open until Wedneday night at midnight, EST. All ya gotta do is leave a comment and the winners will get a PDF of the book in their … [Read more...]
13 Reasons Why This Is Awesome
*Oops! Looks like you missed the 2015 Ultimate Homemaking Bundle! To find out about future bundles click here. Well, this is it. Less than 24 hours to go. The Ultimate Homemaking Bundle Sale--a library of homemaking resources, ebooks, and ecourses--ends tonight at midnight (Monday, April 27th)! It’s been awesome hearing from readers about how much you … [Read more...]
When You Feel Like You’re Drowning in Survival Mode (And a Library for a Song)
I got married at age 20 the summer before my junior year in college. I accepted a full-time job in publications at the university just before graduation and found out a couple of weeks later that I was pregnant with our first child. Two years later we tacked on a cross country move, a brief stint in grad school, two more babies after increasingly debilitating pregnancies (hyperemesis … [Read more...]
Daniel and I Each Snuck Into a Book
Guess what! A few months ago, I was asked to contribute to a book of reflections on the mysteries of the Rosary and motherhood. And it's almost out! I wrote about the Visitation which is my favorite mystery. Edited by Michele Chronister of My Domestic Monastery! With contributors including: Amy of Go Forth and Mother Kelly of This Ain't the Lyceum Cari of Clan … [Read more...]
Charity Has Power and How Disney Didn’t Ruin Cinderella
Image source: Disney “Where there is kindness, there is goodness. Where there is goodness, there is magic.” I took my daughter to her first real movie last weekend to see Disney’s new live action Cinderella starring Lily James. I was intrigued by the trailer, but once I heard that Kenneth Branagh was directing, I had very high hopes. Any review will tell you that the film is … [Read more...]
8 Picture Books for Lent and Easter
I'm usually on the ball with having great picture books to read during Advent, but this is the first year I've intentionally sought out Lent and Easter reads for the kids. So head on over to your local library and check 'em out! 1. Tomie dePaola's Book of Bible Stories Lent is a great time to read passages about the life of Jesus. We usually read a bit of the New Testament section of this … [Read more...]
You Don’t Have to Go to Grad School (to have a life of the mind)
“If you quit this program, you’ll become intellectually stagnant,” warned a professor, and fellow mom, who was urging me to finish my art history grad program instead of stay home with my 18-month-old son. After graduation, almost all of my college friends went on to grad school. I took two years off while my husband Daniel finished his degree and we had our first child. It never really occured … [Read more...]
