Happy Monday!

This is late, but it’s still Monday—so that has to count for something!

This weekend was a little nutty, we went to Ave Maria, FL for a workshop that the organization I work for was putting on.

Despite the business, some stress, and a LOT of sleep deprivation, it was good. And I love going on adventures with my family! Stephen is still working a lot. This has been hard on both of us—any advice??

I hope your weekend was a good one.

Here’s my five things:

FEAST DAYS

Feast days in Lent are extra special, you really have to live it up! And this week there are two big ones: St. Patrick and St. Joseph. Of course, St. Patty’s Day has become a somewhat tawdry affair that somehow surrounds a leprechaun. But the REAL St. Patrick is far from cartoonish. And St. Joseph is one of my dear favorites. He has heard from me PLENTY and is probably happy that I will be too busy celebrating on Saturday to bother him to much other than to thank him. For St. Patrick’s we are making an Irish meal called The Dublin Coddle, and for St. Joseph’s we are making spaghetti and meatballs (the Italians have a big devotion to St. Joe) and hopefully we will get donuts as well (my personal favorite way to celebrate the Sts.)

LORD OF THE RINGS DAY

Speaking of Feast Days… March 25 is the feast of the Annunciation, AND it’s the day Bilbo Baggins set out on the journey to defeat Smaug AND the day that the ring was finally destroyed. J.R.R. Tolkien, a devout Catholic, did this on purpose which is super cool! We are most certainly going to celebrate. Any LOTR festivity ideas are welcome.

PREGNANCY AND POSTPARTUM TV

I stumbled across this channel while I was pregnant and continue to do some of her postpartum videos. I like them because they are challenging without a lot of jumping around, and she has a calm, happy way about her. She also has a TON of videos, so I’m always able to try new ones.

SIENA BATHING SUIT COMPANY

I found this company thanks to a podcast and I actually think they have some stylish, modest suits—which are hard to find. The founder was inspired by St. Catharine of Siena (my patroness!), and the women she met when she went to Siena, Italy. This is just in time as the weather is starting to get warmer!

REFORM WELLNESS

I found out about this company over the weekend and am so excited! They are a Catholic company committed to helping other live well, physically and spiritually. Their holistic approach helps you find ways to feel better and grow as a person. I think this was much-needed in the Catholic world and I’m excited to get more of their content.

That’s all for today.

Peace,

Miranda