Wedding Fun! {NAS Summer}

We are now fully immersed in wedding season! What are your favorite parts of a wedding? Where do you find the best dresses for the occasion? Have any unique gift ideas? Share anything and all tips and tricks with us!

I've survived already attended the two weddings I have for this year, and let me tell you, after standing up in THREE of my friends' weddings last summer, I am very grateful for the low load. Especially since I have three friends who are gearing up for 2017 summer weddings. :)

I looove weddings, but the between the travel, accommodations, dress, gift, etc. it can get to be a lot! I thought it'd be fun this month to talk about tips and tricks for a smooth and enjoyable wedding guest experience!

(though, secretly, I'm hoping to hear some advice from you!)

The Dress

I know there are some weddings you can attend wearing jeans....or at least, I know that now after my very first Minnesotan wedding! But, I will forever be a dress kind of gal. 

Having the chance to dress dress-up and dance while doing it is an exciting opportunity....but where to find a suitable garment?

There are loads of dresses in my closet, but....well...not all of them fit...and not all of them are as modest as I'd like. (former decolletage bearing self, for shame!) So I've had to do some searching and let me tell you: as a tall lady who likes to cover her chest AND butt....I am apparently in the minority.

However! Never fear, for DressBarn has me covered. Literally. I've found several cute numbers there which are suitable for more than one occasion, as well as dancing-friendly!

Since I've been a bridesmaid in most of the weddings I've attended recently, I usually don't have to think about what I'll wear. One of the weddings this summer was formal enough for me to re-use one of these dresses! Cha-ching!

I've also perused ModCloth and will likely go there for a dress next time, but haven't yet bought from them yet.

The Travel

I'm fortunate that many of the weddings I attend are held within 2-3 hours of me. Thank you, friends, for living nearby.

Yet, the two I attended this year were not only back-to-back weekends, but also were in completely different parts of the country. We drove each time, which helped cut costs in travel, but overnight accommodations are expensive!

Not sure about you, but I'm not made of money! I save, yes, but when traveling with my boyfriend, we try to find separate sleeping quarters. And unless if we wanted to book two shady hotel rooms, we'd be looking at $100/night for each of us. Annoying.

Enter Airbnb! I'm sure I'm the last person to use Airbnb, but if you haven't, seriously! Check it out!!

We found an adorable place to stay in Knoxville, TN (our half-way point) and wow. I don't ever want to stay in a hotel again.

Perhaps not everyone is as wonderful as our host Jill was, but her home was a delight. Private entrance, separate living areas, huge bathroom, Keurig, snacks, AND homemade brownies!

I'm not sure if I'd do Airbnb as a solo traveler, but for the two of us, this was the perfect option!

The Gift

Now, yes. Most people have gift registries. And yes, they've hand-selected items they'd like to receive.

However, I've always been one to go against the grain. Sure, I could get a friend some bamboo cutting boards or dish towels or a gift card....all things I've bought friends. BUT lately, I've been going the more personal route.

This might not work for every couple, as not everyone is Catholic. (shocker, I know.) But in the event that they are, I like to get a crucifix (from the Holy Land, if possible) and a book on marriage.

Many of us have heard that the first year of marriage is the hardest, but no one really knows how true that is until they're in the midst of it. So, why not try to help as much as possible?

I recently got friends Just Married: The Catholic Guide to Surviving and Thriving in the First Five Years of Marriage by Dr. and Mrs. Gregory Popcak and already I've had great reviews.

Of course, you could also do the "frame the invitation" or "create a mason jar of date nights or sweet things to do for your spouse" (also gifts I've given), but this most recent gift of that book is my favorite so far.

So how about you? Any tips for where to get the perfect wedding-guest dress? Or gift ideas?

Write a post and link up below!

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The Not Alone Series is hosted by Lindsay and Laura!

Not Alone Series: Travel!

How do you travel as a single lady?! Any tips or tricks you'd like to share? Do you have anything fun planned for this year?

I loooove this topic, mainly because I'm so excited to read other peoples' perspectives!!

It was probably about 2 years ago when I was first bit by the travelling bug and my fever has only gotten worse. Not that I travel allll the time now, but I'm beginning to travel more and more.

Part of this is intentional, part of it is just that I've had great opportunities.

However, most of my travelling is with other people. Either roadtrips or occasionally flying, but almost always with others. Overall, I think I prefer to travel with others just in case something goes wrong so there's more than one brain to figure things out.

When Jen and I went to Boston in September, that was my first time ever flying alone! It was terrifying and exhilarating....mostly terrifying. I don't fly a ton, so that in itself is an experience...but my myself?! AH!

But it all went fine, even though my flight was almost cancelled during a layover, it all worked out!

So, I guess I don't have a ton of tips/tricks for travelling alone...

Though I will encourage everyone to seek out adventures. I've heard amazing stories lately about Yellowstone and The Bach has peaked my interest in exploring Mount Rushmore/SD. There's something about planning an exciting trip, even several months in advance! It gives you something to look forward to!

And on that note, TAKE YOUR VACATION DAYS! I know not every job is afforded the same luxuries, but un-taken vacation days are a special kind of travesty. My first year working full-time, I took only TWO vacation days. TWO! Since then, I've made a point of taking every day allotted to me. Even if it just means I take a long weekend to explore Chicago or St. Louis or Indianapolis...there's so much to be seen! Let's see it all!

I'm looking forward, this year, to a few trips I have planned....

The first being a work trip to Arkansas in April...not a hopping place necessarily, but I've never been there! So I'm excited :)

Then, of course, I'm over-the-moon pumped to go out to Philadelphia in September TO SEE POPE FRANCIS!!!! WEEEE!!!

Other than that, I'm not sure yet! Perhaps Yellowstone will be a trip this year or next, but either way, I have a lot to look forward to!

Well, since I didn't give much advice for traveling as a single person, would you share your own? Comment or link up your post below! Be sure to include a link in your post back to this post and Jen's!

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Next week's topic:

Dating Fast

We've all likely heard about them, but have you ever done one? If so, what was your experience? If you haven't, would you consider doing one? Why or why not?

3/10: Encouraging Men

We seem to always have something say about guys treating us right! Or, not right! But, what does that mean? Have you ever thought to share those insights so guys have a better idea on what to say/how to act? Well, let's do it! What are some good habits guys can take up when dealing with us ladies?

3/17: Challenge!

It's that time again! In the past, we've challenged ourselves to grow and/or take steps toward moving closer to our vocation. These challenges have come in all different forms! Trying online dating, getting more involved in our young adult ministry, and working on discipline have all been past personal challenges. What is one thing you want to challenge yourself to do that might help you along on your path toward God's will...or maybe just help you become more open to God's will?
Share what you're planning to challenge yourself with and why, then in 2 weeks we'll write on how this challenge went!!

Not Alone Series: "Typical" Day!

Hello, hello! Welcome back to another year of the Not Alone Series! I can't believe that it's 2015! AH!

Before we begin, there are a few "housekeeping" things that Jen and I want to go over!

• Topics: we have updated our NAS pages to reflect the entirety of our topic schedule, thus far. We are still sifting through many a great suggestion, and will be adding more very soon. The schedule IS subject to change (if we find there is something that seems more pressing to talk about), so be sure to look at the most recent NAS post which will have the next 4 weeks, as we have been doing anyway.   
• Linking up/commenting: when linking up, be sure to link back to BOTH Jen's and my page! And, since this entire series is about fostering community, please take time to read your fellow bloggers posts and leave some comment love. We always love your comments!                                                     
• On Facebook?! Make sure you are part of the NAS closed group. There have been some awesome discussions so far! Jen and I sometimes post quick updates and things, as well. So, be sure you request to join!                                                                                                                                   
• PATRON SAINT!! We have been praying about choosing a patron saint for Not Alone Series, and we would like your help!! Please comment here (or on the FB thread) if you have a suggestion! :)

Alrighty, then! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out :)

Let's get back in the swing by sharing what our typical day is like! Tell us however you like, minute by minute or a blurb about your day! Be sure to answer these questions: 

- What is your favorite part of your day?

- What is your least favorite part of your day?

- Are you making any changes to your daily routine now that the new year has begun?

Gosh....as you might have seen in the title of this post, I use the word "typical" very loosely. In my job, there is no typical day, as every day brings something different. BUT I'll try to give you an outline of a hypothetically typical day for me :)

If you've checked out my About page, you'd have seen that I work full-time in the pro-life movement. When I tell people that, I'm not sure what they envision my day-to-day is like...but I'm pretty sure it's different than my reality :) Many people who volunteer in the pro-life movement participate in the more active portions: praying outside a clinic, marching in D.C., folding clothes at a pregnancy resource center, perhaps attending a talk....I do some of these things, but not every day.

I work on college campuses in Illinois, and am based most of the time in Champaign-Urbana. About half of my time is devoted to managing the operations of our non-profit organization. Then the other half of my time is mentoring my students...having one-on-one meetings (lunches, coffee, or just in my office), small group hangouts, large group meetings, events, etc.

And then there are weeks like this one, where my students are on break, so my time is entirely devoted to planning upcoming events, getting caught up on taxes and donation processing, and preparing for another stretch of crazy weeks.

My students are the best!

It's funny because whenever someone asks how my week will be, I usually say crazy, and they reply with "aww why?!"....but I don't mean it in a bad way! My weeks are always crazy! I work long, unusual hours (some days 9-5 or later, others noon-9PM or later) but I wouldn't have it any other way! I know the day will come when I am no longer in a relatable age-range for college students, so I'm willing to give of myself now while I have the opportunity.

Ok, enough blabbering...just wanted to give some background :)
Here's my "typical" day:



MORNING

I always have big plans to get up early and be a bit productive before work...that's almost always far from what actually happens.

7:15AM - My alarm goes off at...depending on how tired I am, I snooze it once or twice. Get up, shower, make coffee, get dressed, you know...the usual girl things :) I've pared down my makeup routine to 10 mins, so it doesn't take me TOO long to get ready. But if I get myself stuck online, checking email or Facebook...ugh. Then I'll be running late.

8:45AM - leave my place to start work at 9AM

WORK DAY

9:15-20ish - arrive in the office after swinging by our P.O. box, buying stamps as needed

9:30 - 11:45AM - spend time on the operational side of my work: going through mail, working on accounting, paying taxes and filing reports, going to the bank, processing donations, and getting thank you notes out.

11:45ish - head up to the chapel for noon Mass (my office is in a Newman Center, so I'm really blessed to have Jesus so accessible!)

12:30ish - head to lunch, sometimes with students, sometimes in my office, sometimes I give in to the draw of Chipotle :)

1PM and on - my afternoons are the most unpredictable, if I have a lunch with students, they could go for an hour or more. But most afternoons are spent doing the mentor side of my work. Hanging with students, mentoring them in their different leadership responsibilities...I usually meet with at least one student each day, though there have been days when I have student appointments at 1PM, 2PM, and 3PM....just depends! I also have at least 3 meetings each week with my coworkers and boss, so certain days have 1.5 hr meetings in the afternoon. No day is the same!

5PMish - I end my work day...theoretically. On Monday this week, I stayed until 6:15, so it just depends on what's going on and whether or not I can pull myself away. I REALLY like to leave for home once I've wrapped things up, otherwise I'll be thinking about what I need to finish all night...so I often work late. But, if I didn't make noon Mass, I'll head across town to my parish for 5:30 Mass.

EVENINGS

Again, this all depends on what's happening...I get together with friends at least once a week, either for dinner or an event (we love Tuesday Triva Night!). But many of my evenings are spent at home, making dinner, catching up on shows, reading...just low key. Planning for the week's CCD class so I'm not scrambling at the last minute. And the days I work until 9PM...I come home and go to bed soon after :)

NIGHT

I try to start getting ready for bed by 11PM...I have this HORRIBLE habit of staying up way too late, and then that becomes routine. Bad bad bad. I wash my face, read a few pages of whatever I'm reading (currently, it's The Joy of the Gospel!), and go to sleep. I TRY not to be on my phone in bed, but again, bad habits.

WEEKENDS

Saturdays are usually pretty chill, getting up later and lounging around. Drink more coffee than usual... :) Finishing up my CCD lesson plan if I didn't do that earlier in the week. Maybe see friends in the evening. Most likely go to vigil Mass.

Sundays I teach 7th grade CCD beginning at 10:45AM, so I have to be there by 10:30AM. We're done at noon, so I'll go and do my rosary in the Adoration Chapel and afterward, grab brunch with one of my best friends (who's the DRE) and her fiance (6th grade catechist), or head over to a friends for brunch. We love Sunday brunch together! Then likely do my grocery shopping for the week in the afternoon. My students usually have their weekly Executive Board meeting Sunday afternoons around 4, so I'll go to that and then hit up 5:15PM Mass if I didn't go to the vigil.

PHEW! That's a lot! If you skimmed it, no worries...I'm sure not everyone's super interested! Ha! Now for the questions....

What is your favorite part of your day?

I love my Moka!

Hmmm probably right after my coffee is made and I take my first sip. I love that part of my day. It's just a minute or two of "me time" and I love it! Plus, I've become a bit obsessed with coffee, so there are a few different coffee contraptions in my apartment. The normal coffee maker comes out if I have people over, I use my French Press on a normal weekday morning, and then my Moka Express is for weekends when I have more time to prepare an at-home latte :)

What is your least favorite part of your day?

Going to bed? I mean, I love my sleep, but I have a hard time pulling myself away from...anything! Oh, or maybe the evenings when I need to clean my kitchen....things tend to pile up, so I hate having to do that. Maybe that's why dishes pile up...hmm.

Are you making any changes to your daily routine now that the new year has begun?

Yes! I am trying to actually wake up at a regular time to make more time in the mornings for me to work out. I haven't been making this a priority, and I want that to change. Also, being more disciplined with my sleep schedule and stopping screen time at least an hour before bed.

Well, that's it for me! Check out the other NAS ladies' days over at Jen's and join us next week for another topic! Schedule below!

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Next week's topic:

Looking Ahead to 2015

How are we going to make 2015 different than last year? What goals are you planning/making to be more YOU this year? These can be goals can be personal growth, spiritual life, physical/health, or even your love life! Maybe you don't have concrete ones yet, but it helps to talk them out and get motivated!

1/20: Children and Babes

Do you have children in your life? What is your relationship with them like? Do you have godchildren, and how do you form a relationship with them? Does having children in (or not in) your day-to-day life make you feel happy, wistful, or wary (of having your own someday)? 

Thanks to Lindsay!

1/27: Selfies

Do you support the selfie trend? Do you think it promotes self absorption, vanity and narcissism? Is there a way to incorporate selfies into the Church's teachings of modesty, authentic beauty, humility? 

Thanks to Hannah!

2015: A Look Ahead @ "Here I Am"

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

First off, hello! You didn't remember that I had a blog, eh? It's, ok...clearly I forgot too :)

I have many hopes for 2015, one of those being that I carve out time for the things that I enjoy, especially blogging!

But, with most good habits, it's hard to get started. Thankfully, Natalie helped us all out with her "2015: A Look Ahead" link-up, complete with questions! Hooray!

Without further adieu, here we go....

1. Do you think you will be going to school at any point in 2015? If so for what?

I don't anticipate taking any academic classes, but I do hope to start learning NFP (Creighton) from a practitioner in town. Perhaps that will take me to the Pope Paul VI Institute for more training? We'll see :)

2. Will there be a job change for you in 2015?
I'd like to confidently say "no"...but then again, you never know what God has in store! I don't have any plans to leave my current position this year.

3. What adventure or event are you most looking forward to during this coming year?
Oh man...this is hard. Definitely witnessing 3 of my best friends getting married AND having the honor of standing up in their weddings. I'm giddy just thinking about all the love and joy that is to come! And then, of course, I'm overwhelmed with anticipation of my trip to Philadelphia to see Pope Francis. Can't. Wait.

4. Do you think there will be a move to a new house/apartment/city/state/country in 2015?
I don't think I'll move this year. I HOPE I won't move this year. My current apartment is the fourth home I've had in the 2.5 years I've lived here, so....yeah. I hope to stay here for awhile :)

5. What do you see as the direction of your blog in 2015? Design update plans? Link-ups coming down the pipes? More or less posts?
Gosh, I hope I can get back on the blogging wagon. Fell off of it for awhile there. Writing is such a release for me, so I really want to be better about affording myself the time to write at least weekly. I have a few ideas for different topics that are exciting, so hopefully I can follow through :)

6. If you could guarantee that one thing could happen this coming year what would it be?

I'd really like to make some big changes in my spiritual and physical health, so I'd love a guarantee that I have the motivation and dedication necessary to make these changes. Normally, I would say that I'd love a guarantee that Mr. Right and I meet this year, but that's not my focus right now. I'd prefer some guaranteed trust in the journey :)

Happy 2015 to you! Head over to Natalie's for more 2015 hopes and plans, and to link up your own!

Single Women Making a Difference Interview!

Hey hey hey!!!

A few months back, through our NAS Facebook group, I learned of a blogger who specifically focuses on mentoring young women. Whaaat?! Awesome!

I'm always so excited to discover new single-lady bloggers...so discovering Brenda from Triple Braided Life was like discovering a gold mine. Why, you ask? Well, well, well.

Brenda launched this new series in October called 31 Days of Interviews with Single Women Making a Difference. Basically, every day in October, Brenda interviewed a different single gal who isn't wasting her single years being sad about her relationship status, but is embracing life and living these years to the fullest! It's really been incredible "meeting" all of these other women who are in this same boat!

I feel so blessed to be counted among these women and my interview was posted today! Head on over to Brenda's to check it out!

Be sure to read the other 30 interviews, as well!

#NASBoston Recap: Being Tourists! {part 2}

This second part is reeeeally long (but has a lot of pictures!) so my apologies in advance :)
{part 1 here}

After Jen and I finished up at CatholicTV, Bonnie dropped us back off at Shae's house. At this point it was sometime after noon...and we were STARVING. Probably because, duh, when you only have a half a cup of coffee for breakfast...you're gonna be hungry. Dumb.

We wanted to:
1. head towards downtown (we were staying out in Brighton, a good ways away)
2. get some fooood
3. enjoy the gorgeous weather

So we quickly changed, grabbed the sticky-note map Shae had left us and navigated ourselves toward the nearest bus stop. Now, let me just remind you that neither Jen nor I have ever been to Boston...heck I could barely tell you which way DT Boston was from Brighton. Add onto that attempting to decipher random bus stop signs AND my mounting hanger/hunger sickness....well, we were a lost cause. I'm pretty sure anytime Jen asked my opinion on where I thought we should be waiting, I just replied "Let's just find food."
Sorry, lady!

I'm gonna make a long story short because I'm sure Jen will be able to fill you in on the full story, basically, in trying to head downtown, we got on the bus going the wrong way...should have been standing on the other side of the street and we would have arrived at our destination 30ish minutes sooner. I probably would have thought this was a funny occurance if I wasn't so freaking hungry! Sorry again, Jen. I'm kind of a grump without food!!

We finally got near downtown and found a Bruegger's for lunch...by now it was probably 3PM? 2PM or 3PM I'd say.

But it was nice to sit and chat about our morning once I was back to being a functional human being AND THEN I realized that our interview had been posted on the CatholicTV website! But Jen had run to a shop next store for a new phone charger, so I had to wait for her to get back. AHHHH!

We had to search for our part of the show (around 22:27) but we sat right there in the bagel place and watched ourselves on TV!!! So fun. It was so surreal watching ourselves on TV...and honestly, while I thought the interview had gone really well, watching it back...shoot! We did awesome!! ha!

Reveling in our new found fame and success (kidding!), Jen and I made our way to where we thought the river would be...and wouldn't ya know? We found it without any transportation issues! ;)

Gorgeous view of the city!

Jen and I walked through THEE cutest park/trail area along the river and found a place to sit and relax in the sun. The weather was absolutely perfect: a touch of wind and sunny. Gorgeous! It was so fun just to relax and debrief from our day together! Since this was only our second time being together in person, and the first time we were with 6 other people, it was so nice just to sit and chat about life. Jen and I talk ALL THE TIME...like text, gchat, phone, etc. a few times a week, so we're pretty close friends and it's weird to remember that we've only ever been in the same location twice! How insane!
But I definitely consider her one of my best friends so it was great to spend some time just the two of us!

After lounging in the park for a bit, nearly getting run over by dogs, runners, and adorable children, we decided that going "home" was the best idea. I didn't want to be a wet blanket, but SO hoped Jen wanted to go back haha So when she suggested getting some New England clam chowder to go...AH. Best.

On our way back through the park, we came across this dude playing his upright bass beneath a willow tree...how hipster of him! We started taking pictures of him and others joined in. ha!

Upon returning back at Shae's, we got into our PJs, warmed up our "chowda", and may have watched our interview a few more times...

"Where is he?!"

I couldn't resist making a GIF out of this!!!

After our loooong day (it's exhausting being stars! ;) I had no shame in curling up for bed around 10PM. We wanted to do a lot on Saturday, so I needed my rest!!

No alarms set, no schedule planned, we woke up Saturday refreshed. And Shae, being THE BEST EVER, made us coffee and toast with HOMEMADE JAM. We decided to go to brunch on the South End and MAN OH MAN did it live up to my high expectations.

Ok, seriously. If you ever make it out to Boston, go to Aquitaine. Their pimento and ham omelette is to.die.for. And the cinnamon bun was delish. Aaaand their mimosas were amazing. It was all perfect.

After brunch, we had to walk off all of that deliciousness, so Shae showed us a bit of downtown, including the Boston Public Gardens.

Above group photo stolen from Jen's post....LOVE IT!!! We were so excited to wear fall clothes! ha!

We walked around in the park for awhile and when we came out of the other side, we saw this huge festival going on across the street! Now, I LOVE festivals. Love large crowds of people, love fair food, just love the energy that comes with a huge group of people joining together for one event. We heard music, saw tents, and since we were headed in that direction, I said "let's just go through here and see what's going on!"

We started walking through the crowd, glancing at different tables and booths...and I started noticing a theme.

"Hemp Brownie Mix"
"Northeastern Institute of Cannabis"
"Boston Pot Report"

....there's no way. Did we just stumble into modern day Woodstock?! By the time we realized that we were in the middle of a "Hemp Fest", it was too late. We were headed toward the food trucks and the crowd was taking us with them.

All we could do was try to stick together and crack up along the way. It was one of the most entertaining mishaps of our trip, by far.

We finally made our way out of the crowd and kept moving in the direction of the Boston Harbor. I told Jen when we were talking about what we hoped to see while in Boston that all I really wanted to see was the Boston Harbor....ya know, Boston Tea Party site?! I'm no history buff, but that kind of stuff is cool to me :)

We finally made it to the harbor and took in the general splendor...

It was all very cool and I was satisfied. About this time we began to head in the direction of Mass, where we were planning to meet up with Catherine!! So many blogger meet-ups in one weekend!!

We got to the chapel address and realized....wait, is mass INSIDE the shopping mall?!

After checking a map, yep! Looks like the St. Francis Chapel is right by the Dunkin' Donuts!

How cool is that?!

After mass, we met back up with Shae and grabbed some Starbucks before dinner (thanks for the giftcard, Bonnie!!) It was so fun getting to know Catherine! I hadn't been following her blog or twitter, so this was the first time we'd ever really interacted. But, we're a lot alike and got to talking about some of our mutual interests (namely, NFP haha) She is hilarious! And being from Toronto, who knows when this kind of meet-up will be able to happen again!

Shae had suggested this tapas restaurant "close by", so we headed that way, but first stopped by Perpetual Adoration at a parish Catherine and her husband visit often. So gorgeous! And how great to have Perpetual Adoration available in the middle of a busy city?!

On our way to dinner, we realized that Shae's version of "close by" is very different than our interpretation! But, this might have been influenced by the rain and our aching feet. It felt like we had to walk 5 miles. Mayyybe a slight exaggeration.

Unfortunately, the place we planned on eating had about a 2 hr wait (LITERALLY standing room only), so we went to a different restaurant nearby for authentic Venezuelan food. DELICIOUS! Orinoco was such a cute little place and it was the perfect setting to be able to hold a conversation. After going to the ladies room, Catherine reported back that there were religious candles in the bathroom!! What?!

So cool! Clearly, this was where we were meant to eat :) And, in talking to our server, we found out that his Grandfather had lived in Champaign! How crazy!!

Post-dinner and drinks, we were so stuffed, but every person we had talked to at CatholicTV said that we MUST go to the North End for cannolis. So after walking Catherine back to adoration where she would wait for her husband to finish with his music gig, we headed to the Italian neighborhood for dessert!

Can you believe it? I'd never eaten a cannoli! Apparently, there are two places that have the best cannolis in town, so we got a couple from each and cabbed it back to Brighton.

Wanting to give both Mike's and Modern an equal shot to win our vote, Jen and I tried cannolis from each...

I'll be honest, I wasn't a huge fan of the cannolis. Maybe it was because I was SO full from dinner, but the ricotta was just soooo rich. Between the two, I'd definitely be in the Modern camp, though the service was much quicker at Mike's, albeit less friendly.

After dessert, it was time to pack up and hit the hay since our cab was coming at *gasp* 5AM. UGH.

Waking up Sunday morning was rough, we hated saying goodbye, and I wish Jen and I could have hung out together before our flights, but whatcha gonna do.

Overall, travelling to Boston was an exhilarating experience. Between CatholicTV, hanging out with great friends, and experiencing a new city...you can't ask for much more! Jen and I parted saying "let's not wait too long before getting together again!!" so when/if we plan another trip and you're in the area, let's see each other!

The more people I meet who I've originally met through the NAS or other social media sites, the more I thank God for His hand in all of this. I know for a fact that Jen and I were called to the ministry that is the Not Alone Series and I can't wait to see where He takes us next!

If you've made it this far, thanks for reading! Stay tuned for an exciting giveaway opportunity on Tuesday!!!

Not Alone Series: Freebie!

Feel free to catch us up on life, talk about something that's on your heart or have a stream of conscience post! No rules here! :)

Hello hello!

Can you believe that it's already August?! It feels like only yesterday that the warm weather was rolling in! I've had a good and challenging summer, and looking forward to the fall!

I LOVE fall. It's one of my favorite seasons (after spring!), so much so that I even have a Pinterest board devoted to my favorite fall looks!

But I love fall also because the leaves are changing, school is starting (I like that much better now that I'm out!), and new things start rolling in....

What kinds of new things? Well, for one, we'll begin our second year of the Not Alone Series! Exciting! Weekly topics and posts will begin again on September 2nd! As always, PLEASE send me or send Jen topic ideas! Or better yet, join our Facebook community and post your suggestions there! This is as much your series as it is ours! We want to talk about whatever YOU want to talk about!

So, lots of new things! Exciting things!

But this fall gives me another reason to be anticipatory....because....

Jen and I are going to be on CatholicTV!!!!

That's right!! Jen and I are going to Boston, MA to be on CatholicTV!

Ok, ok, ok....so here's how it all went down....Bonnie from CatholicTV reached out to Jen, asking her to be on This is the Day to talk about the Not Alone Series. Well, as y'all know, the NAS has been a collaborative effort between Jen and myself, so she asked if we could both be interviewed and Bonnie agreed!

What is this life?! How is this real?!

So, after much freaking out, frantic phone calls and texts, it's official! Jen and I will be travelling to Boston to be on CatholicTV in SEPTEMBER!!

Actually, ONE MONTH from today!!!

Here are the details...I still cannot believe this is reality!

What: Jen and Morgan of the Not Alone Series community on This is the Day

When: Friday, September 12, 2014, 10:30AM EST

Watch: LIVE online at CatholicTV.com OR on the CatholicTV YouTube channel after original broadcast

Follow: We'll be posting throughout our weekend in Boston and using #NASBoston to track our travels!

Jen: Twitter | Instagram

Morgan: Twitter | Instagram

Jen and I will be interviewed by Fr. Robert Reed and Jay Fadden! We are so excited! Never in a million years did we think that we'd EVER have the opportunity to share the Not Alone Series with a larger audience! 

For those who have been participating and following along since the beginning, you know that we started the NAS as a way to build solidarity and community. We wanted you to know that you are not broken, lost, or left behind. We wanted to share in the struggle.

The opportunity to minister to others who feel this way...other people who might feel broken, lost, or left behind....this opportunity is beyond words. The Lord clearly had some big plans in store for the NAS, and I cannot wait to see what He continues to do!

Please pray for us as we prepare for our trip to Boston! And please pray for anyone who might witness our appearance, that our witness might touch just one more soul who is searching for hope.

I'm excited to FINALLY be able to share in this excitement with all of you!!! We've been holding this in since MAY!! AH! 

Help us to spread the word about our being on CatholicTV by using #NASBoston, and make sure to follow CatholicTV on Twitter!!

Link up your freebie post at Jen's!

Passion, sex, and the Church

I recently heard of a conversation a friend had with a young man who'd made some interesting remarks regarding sex and the Catholic church. This had been sparked by the question of "are you pro-life?" and quickly turned from a question of whether abortion was wrong to why the Church wants to deprive people from experiencing the pleasures of sex.

I've been thinking about this a lot lately and just want to respond to a couple of points that this young man made.


"It seems like the Church just wants to remove passion from sex..."

I can understand why, from the outside, it might look like this. The Church is very firm in her teaching that sex is only to be enjoyed within marriage. But, see what I just said? Enjoyed.

God created sex! And He created it to be pleasurable! He created it this way for us! Sex is pleasurable for a reason: because it is good. However, pleasure always has limits. Dr. Janet Smith gives a talk, Contraception: Why Not?, in which she explains why sex is a naturally good action.

Dr. Smith says:

"There are lots of things that have pleasure attached to them. Pleasure is not the purpose; pleasure is the motive; pleasure is the consequence; but it's not the purpose. As a matter of fact, God attached pleasure to the things that he really wants us to do, that are necessary for our survival and for our happiness. So, it's pleasurable to eat and it's pleasurable to drink and it's pleasurable to sleep and it's pleasurable to exercise, and it's pleasurable to have sexual intercourse. It's pleasurable. That's not the purpose."

And she goes on to say:

"So, God attached pleasure to everything he wanted us to do for, not our salvation, so much, as just our well-being. But we have to do it at the right time, and the right place, and in the right manner, with the right person, etc., etc. — in the right way. Sure, eating is pleasurable, but there are limits to what you should be eating. Sexual intercourse is pleasurable, but there are limits to what you should be doing, and you have to seek that pleasure in accord with the nature and reality of what you're dealing with."

So here's the thing: it's not that the Church is trying to remove pleasure or passion from sex, rather, she simply wants it to be experienced in an ordered fashion.

And who's to say that passion isn't a factor in married sex? Arleen Spenceley recently interviewed a sex therapist who noted that if you're saving sex for marriage, you're likely talking with your significant other about sex issues, and better communication can lead to better sex in the long run.

Sure, if you're aware that you're ovulating and are attempting to avoid pregnancy for a grave reason, being "in the mood" and abstaining is really difficult. This is where the argument for contraception (which is horrible for a woman's body - another topic for another time) comes into play...sex is never off limits and could be viewed as more spontaneous.

However, there's this thing called delayed gratification. Scientifically, depriving yourself from something that you really desire causes more appreciation and enjoyment when you finally are able to experience whatever you were avoiding.

The Natural Family Planning Teacher's Association says that NFP, "because of more frequent communication about intimate sexual matters, increases the relationship skills of love and affection - the expression and experience of love, warmth, and mutual attraction between the couple." 

Well that doesn't sound like the Church desires for married couples to remove passion from sex! Rather, by encouraging NFP and saving sex for marriage, it seems to me that the Church is trying to help married couples enjoy better sex! Interesting!


"But I'm still young...I'm just not sure if I want to give that up..."

Again, I can understand this, to a degree. Especially if one has already experienced the enjoyment of sex, the idea of locking it up until who-knows-when could seem like torture.

Here's something else to think about. Sex is pleasurable, yes? And sex was made to be pleasurable, yes?

Let's assume that I want to get married and intend to stay married for the rest of my life. Let's also assume that I've had a few sexual partners prior to marriage and have therefore experienced the pleasures of sex.

If I've had sex with many different men, if I've been *ahem* pleasured, by many different men, and view sex as simply a means to finding pleasure, who's to say that this attainment of pleasure should stay within marriage? If I see sex as merely a way to pleasure myself, and my husband is no longer pleasuring me, what should keep me from seeking that pleasure elsewhere?

I see this attitude toward sex as being potentially dangerous within a marriage. Society and the Church alike say that sex is an important part to a healthy marriage. However, the difference is that the Church doesn't see sex as the crux of a relationship.

If for some reason, whether it be illness, energy levels, available time, etc., sex doesn't occur as frequently as is ideal or perhaps isn't as pleasurable as one would like, this is not a reason to seek this pleasure elsewhere. Communication about barriers to a preferable enjoyment of sex within marriage is essential during these times!

I think a big part of accepting this teaching of the Church is personal maturity. Someone who is unwilling to "give up" sex is likely not mature enough to consider marriage.

Marriage requires sacrifice. It requires dying to oneself every single day. Someone who is unwilling to sacrifice prior to marriage is likely to be unwilling to sacrifice within marriage.

That's my two cents...what do you think? How would you respond to someone who makes these statements? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Not Alone Series: Single Life Bucket List!

What are those things that you want to do before you get married (or enter the religious life)? Is there anything that you're excited to do, accomplish, etc. before engagement, marriage, and babies come along? Even if you feel that you've done everything you wanted to do pre-marriage, dig deeper and see if there isn't anything else you'd like to do!

If you go on Pinterest and search "bucket list", you'll find a lot of different crazy boards. Some of the pins are silly and (in my opinion) stupid. Like:

umm.....ok? Set your sights high, sista.

or:

I mean, that would be pretty awesome, but since they're an endangered species and all...not very probable.

But hey, I'm not knocking bucket lists, heck, I even have one of my own over on le Pinterest! In fact, I've become a huge fan of goals and lists and deadlines, which is why I'm also a fan of bucket lists! (I just prefer goals that are actually achievable :)

The hard thing with the single life is you don't quite know when it's going to end. At least for my "Before I'm 30..." bucket list, I know I have X number of years to accomplish what I hope to do. For all I know, this time next year I could be engaged. OR I might not meet Mr. Right for several more years.

Either way, I think it's still important to....say it with me: Live in the NOW.
Very good :)

And since we never know what's going to come a year from now, or 2 years from now, etc...why not try to do some of the things we've been desiring to do right now?

That's the point of this bucket list idea...to encourage you to not wait around until you husband arrives to start living. Because I'll tell you what, I hope my future husband is out there living his life and doing things that make him a better person. I don't want him to wait until we find one another to start experiencing life to the fullest!

So here's my list! Some of it overlaps with my list on Pinterest...ah well, it's my single life bucket list, yeah?

1. Take a trip with my siblings and our best family friends.

2. Go on another best-friends-from-college road trip vacation.

3. Take a pottery class.

4. Learn to cook a wider array of meals. (one new per week?)

5. Get into a routine of regular exercise.

6. Go overseas for the first time!

7. Take a road trip by myself!

8. Pay off my student loans. (AHH please before I'm married!!!)

9. Fly somewhere by myself. Eeek!

10. Go on a trip with just my best girlfriends.

11. Take a trip with my sister.

12. Learn to travel like a minimalist (I'm sure my future hubby would appreciate this one :)

I KNOW there are more, but this is a start, eh?

What things to do hope to do while you're still single? Of course, once marriage comes, your life doesn't end, but focusing on where you're at now rather than what is to come God-only-knows-when is much better for you :)

Link up your bucket lists below and check out our next few topics! Thanks to everyone who contributed ideas on the Not Alone Series Facebook Page!

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Next week's topic:

Deal Breakers

We have all thought about our list of qualities for our future spouse (and maybe even religious community), but sometimes those can be pretty limiting on who God has planned for you. Instead, maybe think about the few things that are so important to you, that if a guy you were considering dating (or community you were entering) didn't have those things, you would have to move on. Why are those things important to you? 

April 1st: Beginning of the Year Goals + Lent!
Remember our first post this year? How are the goals you set going? Regardless of how your goals are going, how are you utilizing this Lent to continue to strive for those goals?

April 8th: Do's and Don'ts of First Dates
What are those things that we should be doing, and the things that we shouldn't be doing? They can be from the physical parts (clothes to wear, places to go, things to say) or emotional parts (talking about it all the time, planning the future, etc). We can all learn something in hindsight, so what are your tips to share?

April 15th: Selfish Singles
How do you combat being selfish with your time? As a single person, it's easy to get caught up in our own little independent world. There are those moments when we are needed for extra church things, hanging with our friend's kids, getting caught up with something on the one night you could stay in, etc. where we get frustrated that the needs of others are taking away from our own time. How do you avoid this selfish tendency and what do you do to avoid becoming frustrated with "sharing" you time with others?

April 22nd: Marriage
Most of us here feel called to the vocation of marriage...but what is it exactly that you're attracted to? What have you seen in others' marriages that you've learned from or would do differently? (maybe this is from married friends or your parents!)

Not Alone Series: Bachelorette Parties!

Hello and welcome back! Today we're talking about something fuuun: Bachelorette parties!

It's inevitable that we'll attend or plan a friend's Bachelorette party at some point or another, but how do we make them fun without all the raunch? Give us your ideas for fun things to do with a bridal party without all the crazy!

I love everything about celebrating weddings. 

The dress fittings, the bridal showers, the gift-giving, the last minute emergencies, EVERYTHING.

However, the prospect of a bachelorette party makes me slightly apprehensive. Don't get me wrong, I love parties...but depending on who plans the night, it could be potentially uncomfortable.

Thankfully, I've never been to a stereotypical bachelorette party, although one of my cousin's bridesmaids did send her a box of "goodies"....thank God she opened that after we all got home.

Why would anyone want to wear a necklace or headband with genitals on it? No thanks.

The one and only tip I have for planning a bachelorette party is to tailor the night for your bride. My vision for every bachelorette party I've planned is the ultimate girls night out, with the specific bride in mind.

My dear friend J got married when we were 20, so bars and other 21+ venues were out of the question. So we all took the train into the city (Chicago) for a day at the zoo and hanging out with one another. This certainly wasn't a classic bach party, but it was perfect for us at the time. And really, it was what J wanted...she loved it because we planned it for her.

K's bachelorette party was right after we graduated from college. But even while we were in school, going out to bars and dancing wasn't in her comfort zone. So, again, we went into the city for the day, hung out at Navy Pier at night, and staying in a lush hotel suite for the night. It was so fun and the perfect post-graduation pre-wedding celebration.

Before my cousin's wedding this summer, we celebrated with dinner and attending an improv show. Low-key and chill, exactly what she wanted.

And in 3 months, when we celebrate the upcoming nuptials of one of my best friends, we'll be opting for a classic GNO bar-hopping with nary an anatomical headband in sight. Because this is what she's asked for.

When it comes down to it, bachelorette parties don't have to live up to any particular standard, just make sure you plan the perfect night for your bride. Perhaps it isn't the perfect night for everyone in attendance, but what matters is that the bachelorette has the night with her girls that she wanted.

 What are your ideas for non-raunchy bachelorette parties? Link up your post below!

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Next week's topic:

Why not both?

We've been hearing a lot that "married people and single people can't relate to one another". What is your perspective on this? In what ways can we bridge the gap between singles and marrieds? 

March 18th: Single life bucket listWhat are those things that you want to do before you get married (or enter the religious life)? Is there anything that you're excited to do, accomplish, etc. before engagement, marriage, and babies come along? Even if you feel that you've done everything you wanted to do pre-marriage, dig deeper and see if there isn't anything else you'd like to do!

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Please email us any topic suggestions you have! Jen and I want to select topics that pertain to your life! Help us plan the next topic schedule! :)