I spent most of this past week in Arlington taking in the amazing Catholic Writer’s Guild Live! Conference, that took place in the same place as the Catholic New Media Conference, and the Catholic Marketing Network Trade Show. WOW!!! It has taken me nearly three days of recovery to even begin to absorb all that I attended. First, the good. I loved meeting people whose blogs and books I have read, am reading, or would like to read. That was so very very FUN I can barely handle it yet. Give me time. I’m a mite slow in managing input … Continue reading
Tag Archives: books
Compact efficient spaces are important because of the decreased cost needed to own and maintain them. Important also because they challenge the idea that every home must be huge. Today’s post is inspired by the Tiny House Talk Blog discussion about the tiny house movement (under 200 square feet) and why people have left it. These super tiny houses inspire me. I’ve been a pack-rat and found I was not happy. I owned all sorts of stuff, the sorts of things you are supposed to own but which I don’t use. So during a particularly chaotic period of my life, … Continue reading
Christ commanded that we be salt and light [Matt 5:13-16] and often we ponder this admonition without a clue how to fulfill it. The Catholic Briefcase by Randy Hain can help. The Catholic Briefcase would be an excellent choice for an individual or a group study. The questions gently encourage discussion and reflection. An individual working alone will find them easy to use in prayer or writing in a journal. A group would find them an easy start for group discussion. Each chapter stands as part of the whole but also as its own unit– this means if the book is used in … Continue reading
I used to think that candy and decorated eggs were essential for Easter. I’m not so sure about that anymore. From my childhood, I recall with great fondness the baskets of candy at Easter, but the BEST gifts were the books. Some Easter Sundays we would come to the breakfast table and find, on our chairs, lovely hard-bound copies of classic children’s books. One year there was a white bound copy of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm on my chair. It has an inscription in it from my parents to me with the date. I still have that book. I think … Continue reading
My kids were rather radically different one from another and learning to parent each individual has certainly had it challenges. It is a particular challenge for those of us whose vocations include parenting to find advice that works for our families. I heartily recommend the book by T. Berry Brazelton titled, INFANTS AND MOTHERS. His book Toddlers and Parents is another excellent book. The best part about his books is that he recognizes that not all children are the same and not all children need the same things from their parents. Sadly the paperback version is out of print but … Continue reading
Here is a really useful web page of advice for the beginning home school person: At home with the Gabois Family. I dislike music on a blog page because it slows down the loading speed and clashes with the music so often on in our home. Turning off the speakers on the computer solved that problem. She uses the same sort of mix of educational materials I use and a few that I plan to go look up since I suspect I will love those too. The great books approach is always sound, solid and worthy. There are books missing … Continue reading
We are delighted to announce that our blog has been accepted as an affiliate of Ignatius Press and when you go to their web site by way of one of the Ignatius icons on this blog and make a purchase you help to support this blog. Ignatius carries MANY excellent books. Following are a few examples: Didache series: If you look under Catechesis: Didache you will find an excellent series of exceptionally well done texts for teenage catechesis. I recommend these books because I’ve purchased them and found them colorful and filled with orthodoxy and plenty of it. Not light … Continue reading
It can be done! You can be dressed modestly and also be appropriate for the office. You can be dressed modestly and avoid being frumpy. Just think about the various styles that have existed over the history of clothing and realize that today there is a wider variety of styles in fashion than ever before– it can be very exciting and confusing. One delightful book about modest style is IT’S SO YOU by Mary Sheehan Warren, which is about finding your personal style and colors and being frugal and stylish by buying only what works for YOU; another is THE … Continue reading
I recall the library in Wapakoneta Ohio as a kid, it was wonderful with lots of books and a librarian who would help you find something if you simply couldn’t find it. I remember the smell, the quiet peace, the card catalogs I loved so much, the wonder of books. The pleasures of a library can get deep into your mind and stay with you for life. My collection started with books given to me as a child, or books chosen from bookstores or book order forms sent home from school. The books multiplied and my mom humored me and … Continue reading