As loyal readers will know, my family of five is currently on a six week road trip around the United States before we begin our new life in Texas. We’re in week three and it’s been 90% wonderful and 10% sibling bickering, unexpected traffic, and unreasonable requests for snacks. We’ve camped, been hosted by friends, and stayed in hotels over the past 17 days. We’ve visited national parks, big … [Read more...]
This Week’s Miscellany: Vol. 131 (Road Trip Beginnings!)
Well, here we are. We really did it. We set out on our insane ambitious road trip with three small children in tow a week ago and so far it's been wonderful. In fact, it's been so good that we haven't even had to bust out the DVD player for the car. We headed north to Atlanta, GA where we stayed at one of our best friend's apartments. The kids did great on the drive even though we were … [Read more...]
NFP Should Be a Part of Parish Life
I have a proposal. It’s about bringing NFP out of the shadows and into parish life. Because as young Catholic married folk, we need help. We love and embrace the teachings of the Church on marriage, fertility, and openness to life. We desire to be faithful to these teachings by choosing not to contracept and acknowledging the truth that sex and babies are designed to go together. And we are … [Read more...]
NFP Post Extravaganza
We're one week into our crazy 6 week family road trip, folks! And it's going great. We hit Atlanta, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and Grandfather Mountain, NC, and Beech Mountain, NC. But I haven't had much time with an internet connection so I didn't realize it was NFP Awareness Week this week. There's been a good many posts about NFP at Carrots over the years, so I thought I'd link … [Read more...]
Edel Gathering Recap (Or, that time I had to emcee and had laryngitis)
Okay. I'm completely overwhelmed with the idea of recapping Edel 2015 because it was a jam-packed whirlwind of awesome. Here's some highlights: I rented a car like a real grown up woman. For real. AND I learned how to use the cruise control. My friend Alyssa and I road tripped it to Charleston, SC on Thursday morning to meet up with my bestie and podcast co-host Christy Isinger Thursday … [Read more...]
Friday Fashion Frivolity: Summer! (And Why I Should Never Wear Rompers)
Every so often, we chat fashion at Carrots. I hope it feels like going shopping with a friend, but not having to try on jeans….or leave your couch. So here's the drill. I share a new box of Stitch Fix items, tell ya my thoughts, get my husband Daniel's take, and share what I kept and what I sent back. (I’m not gonna go into the details of the personal styling service Stitch Fix in this post, … [Read more...]
This Week’s Miscellany: Vol. 130 (Fourth of July Edition!)
Happy Fourth! We're taking it easy today since the kids seem to be a little under the weather. As we get closer to our departure date, the goodbyes and "lasts" have begun and that's hard. My little circle of Catholic mom friends organized a send off for me last night. We talked for hours sitting by my friend Kaitlin's pool in the dark and it really hit me how much I will miss these amazing … [Read more...]
That Time I Cut Gwen’s Hair (!)
So I did something this morning. Kind of on a whim. I cut my baby girl's hair. First hair cuts are always a pretty big deal but not everyone's barely 2-year-old has hair down to her hips. So it was a SUPER big deal. I've been pulling for a cute summer bob for awhile but Daniel wasn't ready to say goodbye to her baby curls. So I put him on hair washing/conditioning/detangling duty which he … [Read more...]
This Week’s Miscellany: Vol. 129 (Moving out!)
Ta da! I give you the cube that is now housing all our earthly goods except for the clothes and necessities we'll need for the next nine weeks (including six weeks of road trip/camping/speaking). It feels good that all our stuff actually fits in that little POD. Here's something I learned about moving out of a place you've been living for five years.....just when you think you're almost done … [Read more...]
What Don Draper Could Learn from Pa Ingalls and Wendell Berry
I love Mad Men. The writing, the aesthetic, everything. It’s a brilliant show and it gave me a sense of what it must have been like to live in that era. One of the fascinating themes of the show is the rise of the women in the workplace. Whether it’s the working mom like Joan Harris or the ambitious career woman, Peggy Olson, we see the struggles and challenges of balancing family, work, and … [Read more...]
