The thought has crossed my mind lately that while I love the idea of pregnancy, the practical aspects feel nightmarish right now. At 36 weeks pregnant with my fourth baby, all the pregnancy discomforts are here in full force: the aches, extreme fatigue, pressure, acid reflux, feeling that I can’t take a real breath because baby is pushing up against my lungs, lightheadedness in the July Texas … [Read more...]
Liturgical Living at a Glance: July 2018
I’m always trying to figure out how to make it easier for families to observe the Christian Year because we felt so overwhelmed when we first started that journey (which is why we wrote the book we wish we had then). I thought it might be helpful for our family to have resources compiled for the month ahead so that we can plan in advance which special saints days we want to observe and I hope … [Read more...]
“So Are You Done Having Kids?”
“So are you done having kids? Is this your last pregnancy?” I’ve been asked this after each one of my pregnancies. And until this one (my 4th), I have always responded with a resounding “no!” (with the caveat that none of us are entitled to a baby and we can’t always predict secondary infertility). But keep the babies coming! No plans to stop! Enough for a quidditch team! But this time my … [Read more...]
This Is My Body, Broken for You
I was staring up at the crucifix during Mass. I was too sick to kneel, so I was just sitting in the pew while everyone knelt around me. I was desperately trying not to throw up, the pregnancy nausea coming in waves, impossible to ignore. It was my first Mass in a month. I had been too sick with hyperemesis gravidarum to leave the house for weeks. The previous week I had tried to get out of bed … [Read more...]
Tyler Blanski’s An Immovable Feast Is the Spiritual Memoir of Our Generation
(For our podcast conversation with Tyler Blanski for the Fountains of Carrots podcast, click here). Tyler Blanski is one of my favorite living writers, so his spiritual memoir An Immovable Feast: How I Gave Up Spirituality for a Life of Religious Abundance being published by Ignatius Press has been my most anticipated read of 2018. A few years back I reviewed his fantastic book When Donkeys … [Read more...]
40+ Resources for Lent and February Liturgical Traditions (for 2018 Calendar)
I'm always trying to figure out how to make it easier for families to observe the Christian Year because we felt so overwhelmed when we first started that journey (which is why we wrote the book we wish we had then). I thought it might be helpful for our family to have resources compiled for the month ahead so that we can plan in advance which special saints days we want to observe and I hope … [Read more...]
Liturgical Living at a Glance: December 2017
I’m always trying to figure out how to make it easier for families to observe the Christian Year because we felt so overwhelmed when we first started that journey (which is why we wrote the book we wish we had then). I thought it might be helpful for our family to have resources compiled for the month ahead so that we can plan in advance which special saints days we want to observe and I hope … [Read more...]
The 2017 Carrots Christmas Gift Guide (with Discount Codes)!
I usually don't even leave the couch on Black Friday. But this year we had brunch plans with my brother and his fiancee. So we brunched and we brunched well. But fighting the crowds for deals is the last thing I want to do between slices of leftover pie. So want to join me in finding some great deals from the couch? Great! I've collected coupon codes when possible well as some pretty great … [Read more...]
Confessions of a Liturgical Stickler Who Wants to Skip Advent This Year {And Advent Candle Giveaway}
This post is sponsored by Toadily Handmade Beeswax Candles. My name is Haley ("Hi, Haley") and I am an insufferable liturgical year stickler. I have spent the last 10 years doing Advent PROPERLY and not jumping the gun on Christmas until the actual season of Christmas. I have Advent playlists so we don’t start listening to Christmas music until the actual season. We save all the Christmas … [Read more...]
Liturgical Living at a Glance: November 2017
I’m always trying to figure out how to make it easier for families to observe the Christian Year because we felt so overwhelmed when we first started that journey (which is why we wrote the book we wish we had then). I thought it might be helpful for our family to have resources compiled for the month ahead so that we can plan in advance which special saints days we want to observe and I hope … [Read more...]
