See You in the Piazza: New Places to Discover in Italy, book review

See You in the Piazza: New Places to Discover in Italy by Frances Mayes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.5 stars

Mayes brings her delectable writing style to the pages of this travelogue/memoir/guide for all of us who wish we could take two weeks to walk in her shoes. Italy isn't just a place but an attitude and way of living, something Mayes makes clear through gently describing the distinctions between one little town and another.

This is not a book you pick up with your map in hand to help you plan your trip to Italy so much as it is like a first date (or first date in a long time) with the Italian way to spend your day. Yes, she has the book organized in such a way that you could look up the province and town you want to visit to see her recommendations. However, she doesn't cover every little town (nor should she, as this isn't Frommer's) and she presents them in a well-organized tapestry of anecdotes of her experiences there. Mayes implies so much about what it means to be Italian and live like one without having to hold your hand to communicate it.

Read it because I have a feeling you'll learn how to appreciate Italy after you travel through it with her. Perhaps you'll even find a way to sit in a cafe around your own corner and ponder with peaceful quiet the way she can in Italy. You'll get both story and guide in this book. Thank you, Frances Mayes! Now I'm saving up for another trip to Italy!

View all my reviews

Bringing up Bébé

Bringing Up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting by Pamela Druckerman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**I'm updating this review to give it another star because I haven't been able to stop talking about, thinking about, mulling over, and agreeing with the philosophies I learned in reading this book.**

I came into the reading this book with a pretty firm understanding of how I want to raise my children. I was skeptical when my sister recommended it to me, because when I think of French people the label "not spoiled" does not seem to fit. But having just read French Women Don't Get Fat, I started to think deeper about how there is so much healthy delayed gratification in the culture of France. So I gave it a try!

So much about French living is that Le Pause that she speaks about in French parenting. I know I would do well to include such a pause in my own adult life. Druckerman does a fine job of explaining all of these concepts, which revolve around learning how to wait, and thinking critically about "educating" children to delay gratification.

When you break it down, it is basically the way that our great-grandparents would have preferred to raise children: adults are in charge, they know they're in charge, the children respect that, and the respect is mutual.

I'm giving it four stars as it's not a comprehensive book for me because it doesn't include faith in it (not a surprise), but I really enjoyed a lot of the takeaways I got.

View all my reviews

The Yellow Envelope, book review (memoir/travelogue)

Book review:

The Yellow Envelope
by Kim Dinan
Pub Date: 01 Apr 2017

I wanted to like this because I have had fantasies of doing the same thing as the author: give up virtually of my stuff and travel with my husband. The trouble here was that it just wasn't a compelling read. She has a popular blog and I can see how that would be true. Pictures might have spiced things up a bit. But the voice she used felt like she was dragging her former self around by a rope, inching the story out a bit at a time. I think it could have been pieced together differently to draw me in, or, at the least, there could have been some kind of literary element (repetition, consistently inserted anecdotes from others' perspectives, or a more playful tone) to prevent the book from being a little boring.

It was interesting to see the adventures, I just didn't enjoy the presentation.

★★

Photos from the journey

I doubt I would love this area if the country so much if I was here in February, but boy did God create a beautiful, peaceful place here!

The Mount

Moments that remind us God fully exists

"Let the Rain Fall" by Julie at The Corner with a View
"Little Moments" by Trista at Not a Minx, a Moron, or a Parasite

"The Mount" by Elizabeth at Startling the Day

The "Bright Maidens" were originally three from the oft-mentioned, widely-speculated upon demographic of young, twenty-something Catholic women. Now, we all take up the cross to dispel the myths and misconceptions. Welcome!

I blog.

Blogging is a lifestyle, not just a practice involving drafts, HTML, and comment boxes. When you blog, you start seeing life through the scope of your writing capabilities.

Bloggers get to a point wherein every lesson they learn must be assessed: can I share this with the world on my blog? Will I do it justice? Should I just jot down this thought on my napkin while no one is looking?

That point sneaks up on you until one day you have a really great cry, or your talking with your best friend about something you've never discussed with anyone, and you think, "I need to blog about this."

It's a similar problem that plagues Christians (the bloggers and non-bloggers alike) in their daily lives. I know my mind is littered with mental notes of the "perfect" analogy, or the "best" examples of Christian living, set aside to pull out in the middle of a discussion.

We get so wrapped up in the path we took to grow our relationship with Christ and want to share it with others that we forget that the Holy Spirit is at work all day, everyday. We start to judge, accuse, get comfortable, get lazy, and go through the motions.

In cases such as these, in His infinite wisdom, God provides for us His vast expanse of nature.

Mt. Rainier (I don't own this picture)

When I traveled to Seattle and my beau joined me for a four day Northwestern excursion, we spent an entire day around Mt. Rainier. Upon arrival, the day was chilly due to cloud cover, but not enough for a jacket on the hike.

It's no mistake that much of Jesus' greatest work was accomplished outside, e.g., feeding the 5000, Beatitudes, Crucifixion, etc. The great outdoors opens the scope for larger crowds and a reminder of Original Man's surroundings.

Rather than slipping into an 8th grade poem about crisp air, clear blue sky, white mountain tops and ... oops, we're already there.

There is no virtual reality game for hiking or walking around without the whuushhh of cars rushing by while you stare off the edge of a cliff in the presence of a snow-covered mountain in July.

It would be like trying to describe the vast experience of a conversion or enlightenment by explaining the wallpaper in the room one was sitting in when it happened.

"Then the LORD said: Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD; the LORD will pass by. There was a strong and violent wind rending the mountains and crushing rocks before the LORD—but the LORD was not in the wind; after the wind, an earthquake—but the LORD was not in the earthquake; after the earthquake, fire—but the LORD was not in the fire; after the fire, a light silent sound..." 1 Kings 19: 11-12

When we ascended the mountain, with the iconic Rainier peak to our left and green-carpeted mountain piles on our right, a warm wind picked up. It slowly nudged the clouds over our heads and beyond our sight.

The sun emerged without threat of straggling cloud when we started descending the other side of the trail, illuminating the landscape and strengthening the color contrasts. In one [panting] moment at the high point of the trail, I felt God in the wind.

I grabbed a pen (still not free of the blogger's crutch) and wrote this down, my leg as my clipboard:

He makes it so obvious to us and people still won't recognize Him. Post about spiritual dry spells vs dry rainforests. You don't realize how you could not see Him when it's wet. The opposite when it's dry.

I certainly don't have it figured out and my homage to the spiritual jump-start I got that day at Mt. Rainer is to avoid describing it. Rather than belittling it, I just encourage anyone who is physically able to climb away from daily life, to do so.

Go somewhere you can watch out for Him and listen for Him.

Ferris Bueller, You're My Hero - 7QT, Volume 50

Click to go to Jen's Blog

*1*

This one goes out to my lovely cousin who had to prod me a few times in the last few weeks due to lack of posts/quick takes. Normally I would post a picture of us as babies, but I forgot to ask permission.

Here's one I think she would appreciate:

(Owned by Focus Features)

*2*

I love my job because it allows me to travel to and fro and pays for hotels with views like this:

*3*

We were in Ft. Lauderdale last week and one of my co-worker buddies suggested we take the rest of the weekend to relax instead of flying out. Relax we did (with a minor hiccup on the way home).

We tried to go in the sun, but it was so windy and there were so many (albeit fast-moving) clouds that we ended up back in the hotel hot tub every few hours. It was glorious to sit and read outside, especially when I was in my ski jacket in the Virginia mountains just two weeks ago:

*4*

I'm obviously the one taking the picture and NOT standing on the waterfall above. A group of friends from college gathered at one friend's family house in a Virginia ski resort at the end of October. REUNION!


We were driving up the mountain, minding our own business, and it starts to snow. And it snowed and snowed. And snowed.


My beau was going to have to join on Saturday because he did something very impressive that Friday (big pat on the back, AGAIN, you-know-who-you-are) and took a big exam. I was worried it would be unsafe for him to come up after the snow, but come he did, just in time for the pumpkin-carving contest.

It's hard to see it, but ours is the cat next to the turtle.

*5*

It was during that trip that I realized I'm officially an adult.


You would have thought that might have happened at Confirmation, 18, 21, or any other year in the last six, but no. Half of the folks on our little reunion trip were married (to one of the other people on the trip). Adult.


Perhaps it negates the epiphany into adulthood when one points it out...


To distract you from that, I would like to urge you to read Scott Hahn's "A Father Who Keeps His Promises." I haven't done enough studying of the Bible, so the idea of walking through the entire Old Testament into the New Testament intimidated me.


Read it, you'll know what he means when he says our God really is a Father who keeps His promises. Over and over and over again. Especially when we don't deserve it.

*6*

Now for the reason for the title:


Liesl of "The Spiritual Workout Blog" is my hero.


She went to the doctor yesterday for something entirely unrelated to her face, yet the first thing the doctor mentioned was birth control treatments for acne. Liesl said her in-head reaction shouted, "Yes I would like to pollute my body in exchange for getting rid of a zit."


Later that night, Liesl constructed her words and called the doctor to leave a voicemail. She thanked the doctor for her time and attention that day and then confronted her about her rash suggestion for birth control. She asked her, as a patient, to consider the extremely harmful, carcinogenic side effects of The Pill before off-handedly prescribing it to the women who walk in her door.


How many of us stand up and raise our voices like that? Well, Liesl did and she wins the Catholic (really, this should apply to all women) Superhero award.

*7*

The Bright Maidens were *cough* unable to *cough cough* post this week. Thank you for your patience, but we're going to post on the topic, "Moments we realized God fully exists" on THIS Tuesday.


As Mary said, "Perfect for Thanksgiving week!"


Yes, yes, that's exactly why we're posting it late...

Traveling with Purpose

Tie your running shoes to the outside of your bag before the security lines to save space and wear slip off shoes for ease of removal. Keep your 3-1-1 liquids bag in an outside pocket. Have your ID and boarding pass in one hand and your laptop in the other, prepared to grab two plastic bins.

Fill this place with LIGHT

Much of the last two years of my life have been spent in airports or en route to a different location for work. The quirks of traveling have become habit. I am not as mechanical as Clooney in Up in the Air, but I'm good at the routine.

In the first few trips I took for my job, I concentrated on looking like a professional traveler instead of interacting with others along the way. I was always courteous and kind, I would even strike up a few chats:

"Is this seat taken?" "No, no, it's all yours!" or "I think I'm in the seat on the other side of you." "Okay, no problem, I'll get up!" I was really reaching people to the core.

Airplanes always seem like temporary time machines to me. I get on the plane, sit for X hours and then get off, knowing I might bump into that lady in the restroom or that guy in the line for coffee. We'll probably never see each other again.

It reminds me of how many people on Earth I will never know.

Read more at VirtuousPla.net....

Oasis week - 7QT, Volume 48

Click here to read the original post at ConversionDiary.com

*1*
How'd I do? Two weeks of a blog desert and then I hit you with five posts in one week!

*2*

Did you know that contraception is a 3000-year-old practice? Yeah, Ancient Egyptians would put animal dung inside a woman's body and use other methods to maker her womb uninhabitable. Centuries later, physicians concocted potions and spermicides that often sterilized or killed the woman. Talk about preventing pregnancy...

If you've ever wanted a bite-sized explanation of NFP spoken by the impressive Jason Evert, here you go.

Many people have staunchly challenged me by saying NFP is the same thing as contraception. I can never come up with a sufficient explanation to rebut this inaccuracy. Jason does a great job of explaining Dr. Janet Smith's analogy of bulimia and dieting as they reflect the difference between contraception and NFP. Check it out!

*3*

Haunted houses confuse me. You willfully enter a house with the promise that someone in there is PAID to scare the poo out of you. And then their co-worker does it again.

See some rockin-horrible faces from a haunted house scare!

*4*

I posted my first YouTube video this week!

And at the end of it I invite you (especially young women) to email the Bright Maidens with your own video, introducing yourself, and we'll post it to the channel. Then we can get this #Cathsorority project started, gathering young, female voices of triumph for Christ and His Church!

*5*

Guys, I didn't forget about you. Far from it, I actually called you out a little. I mean it well and I say it because Jesus trusted you with this message first:

"It is my wish, then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or argument." - 1 Timothy 2:8

*6*

You may have remembered that I traveled to the Seattle area a few weeks ago. Here is your first peek into what I did there! The lovely Allie Terrell has graciously hosted me on her blog where I wrote about a cathedral my beau and I visited in Victoria Canada.

Delight over the unique mesh of Native Canadian art and traditional Victorian decorations!

*7*

Next week the Bright Maidens will tackle the admittedly tough subject of scapulars. This is a very Catholic-specific topic and my research is leading me in some interesting directions. Whether you like them, hate the, don't understand them or make them in your spare time, I hope you join us on Tuesday!

Remember to visit this post if you would like to subscribe to our Google Calendar alerts and know about topics in advance!

Traveling within the Church

The lovely Allie of Here is the Church has graciously allowed me to post on her blog about a church I found in Victoria, British Columbia. Don't worry, I don't go overboard on my curious love for all things Canadian:

America is never more divided than on the topic of Canada.

Perhaps that was an overstatement, but I often laugh at the split opinion amongst Americans when speaking about Canada. The majority of the United States is ignorant about the Great White North, but that doesn't stop them from having opinions about it:

Why isn't it the 51st state in the union? Isn't that where snow comes from? Hockey, eh?

Personally, I have a fervent, yet random love for Canada. After all, the first novel I read was the Prince Edward Isle-set Anne of Green Gables. That can make a big impact on a girl. 

It has always fascinated me to think there is an English-speaking country just north of us. When I met several Canadian friends a few years ago, I realized they are so much different than Americans, despite our similar language. Eh?

This summer, I took my first step on Canadian soil and I wish I had a Bryan Adams song to sing for you to commemorate it. I traveled all the way to Seattle for work, where my boyfriend flew out and toured around with me.

We spent a full day on the ferries and in Victoria, British Columbia solidifying my opinion of Canada:

Canada is much like the offspring of America and Europe, while still having its own, unique atmosphere. 

After several hours of walking around the beautiful, tourist-filled city of Victoria, my boyfriend and I stepped into the first Catholic church we found to sit in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Lo and behold, I think we found one of Victoria's most popular and beautiful churches, St. Andrew's Cathedral.

According to their website, St. Andrew's Cathedral was dedicated on October 30th, 1892.

The red carpet gave it a homey, small church feel, but the size prevented that perspective from taking over. It was the perfect metaphor for the Catholic Church: not only could we walk in there, worshiping the same God, but we could sit in front of the same Sacrament in a busy city, and still feel a "small town" tug.

More pictures and WORDS at Allie's blog!

Pie-Crust Promises - 7QT, Volume 45

Click here to read the original post at ConversionDiary.com

*1*

Pie-crust promises.

Part delicious, part dangerous.

It's been about three weeks since I used my first "Sorry, I'll be back in full throttle soon, just hang in there," excuse card. Here is some "proof" that I really will be back in full throttle after my GRE. These are a few of the posts I'm working on right now:

*2*

Women, body image, and Christianity. In our pursuit of confronting major spiritual obstacles affecting Catholic women, we forgot about the things that affect us everyday! I know this has been a major tool in the Devil's toolbox against ME, so I'm writing about it.

*3*

Neither parties will do our job. Yeah, that's right, I'm going political for a second.

*4*

My Mt. Ranier epiphany.

I forgot to ask permission from his FACE.

*5*

Church facts I learned this year. This was fun to create and I'm still working on it for my one-year blogaversary.

*6*

A fresh take on NFP. No, really. I think it will be interesting, but I can't reveal the topic.

*7*

"Choose Life" vanity plates in Virginia. I see yellow everywhere.

Don't squeeze me until I'm yours - 7QT, Volume 41

Click here to read the original post at ConversionDiary.com

*1*

Folks, I'm traveling around the great Northwest right now. Therefore, I'm going to cop out and give you a photo tour of my last few days here...

*2*

Keep it classy, SkyMall. This is the adult equivalent of dental headgear. Part helmet, part Rogaine machine. You never get bored looking through the airline magazines.

*3*

Co-workers, ten pins, and a microbrewery. See your nearest channel guide for listings.

*4*

Yes, I worked on my Mac in the building across from Microsoft's headquarters. That one's for you, Steve Jobs!

*5*

My beau and I walked around Pike's Place Market where we found the most GORGEOUS bouquets of flowers I have ever seen. These could be bridal bouquets and they were between $5 and $15 a bundle! The picture doesn't do them justice.

*6*

Does anyone else see a TOB metaphor here?

*7*

Cell phone camera... booooo... this is Mt. Ranier. The mountain that contributed to one of the most beauty-filled days of my young life.

Gallivantisms

My wonderful employer has paid for me to take trips around the country to a handful of cities over the last two years. Washington, DC several times, Cleveland, Las Vegas (X2), Denver, Ashville, NC, and Seattle... I have learned a lot about how to travel and how to learn from travel.

I spent Saturday traveling and identified some of the lessons learned along the way:

• Travel chatting is a great forum for gentle evangelizing. Edward Norton's Narrator voice in Fight Club called them "single-serving friends," but we can make an impact on someone that lasts longer than a one-trip-serving. 

• Make an effort to be overtly kind. Some of the customer service representatives get yelled at every hour, on the hour, for no reason other that people are cranky when they travel. Sometimes I think people assume customer service representatives are feelingless, people-shaped computers. Treat them like they're your brothers and sisters.

• It’s easier to strike up a conversation with someone when en route than when you’re in your hometown. Travel makes good practice for staycation-evangelizing.

• When packing for a trip, pick a color palette so one pair of earrings will do and you can reuse some items. Not only is it way cool to be the one with the smallest luggage, but it’s less exhausting than pulling behind you a gigantic bag.

• One of the only times I use hand sanitizer is when traveling. And I make it count for the rest of the time I don't use it.

• Calories don’t count when you have to travel all day.

• The ratio of Hail Marys per hour increases when you feel the end is near... like during takeoff. Causation, not correlation.

• Airplane biscotti cookies are delicious. And free.

• For me, airplane rides and airports straddle the line between crack-cocaine and the shower-idea-compendium. I spent my entire Saturday traveling, which means I spent my entire Saturday writing.

• On every airplane trip, there is a moment (or fourteen) where I actually believe the flight will never end. This is when I must have faith.

• It has become entirely socially acceptable to text while walking, to my dismay (unless I need to do it and then it is to my delight).

• There is often a small part of me that expects to bump into a celebrity. I don't know why I feel that way, but it's a subconscious itch in the back of my mind. This time, it came true... even though I didn't actually see him. Apparently Detective Lassiter from Psych was in our hotel this weekend.

• I suspect airplanes are really teleportation portals. Sometimes.

• There's no place like home.

7 Quick Takes Friday, Volume 32

Click here to read the original post at ConversionDiary.com

*1*

As much as it pained me, I removed the Feedjit (live, who-is-here-now, creeper feed) from my blog. I know it made some people uncomfortable, as much joy as it brought to me. Farewell, old friend!

*2*

I was in Denver this week and saw some weird things in rooms that don't tend to shock their inhabitants. Another thing I forgot to mention about these wacky bathrooms is that they had loud music playing in them at all times.

I decided I liked the music. It eliminated the awkward "I just saw you close the stall while I'm washing my hands so I'll get out of here as fast as possible" moments and I heard several songs that made me dance... in a bathroom.

*3*

The wedding was a BLAST! I have never had so much fun at a wedding (each wedding gets better and better, so maybe it's the fresh memories that make them so fun). The bride was beautiful, the groom was handsome, the bridesmaids wore purple Converse low-tops at the reception... a good time was had by all!

I don't own the rights.

I love that Sacrament!!

One thing struck me today when I learned that my kindergarten teacher's husband died. When a woman marries a man, she commits to him as well as to the pain that she will most likely feel when he's gone.

It's a beautiful sacrifice for Love. When you marry someone in your 20s, chances are you're many years away from that pain. However, it comes with the Sacrament and with the commitment.

The vocation of marriage became even more beautiful to me after realizing that.

*4*

Speaking of the vocation of marriage...

Kendra, aka The Nerdy Wife, wrote an open letter to her fiance. Check it out!

For those who are married, do you wish you had written a letter like this before you got married? Did you write a letter like this?

*5*

Remember the sniglets from several months ago?

Too Kool. Holla city!

My sister has another contribution to make. My father has always said, "bummer," or "bummer city" instead of "that is a disappointing outcome." To those who say, "that is a disappointing outcome," please consider substitution.

Christine started saying "holler," or "holla" instead of saying "that excites me." To those who said, "that excites me," please see above.

She combined them. When you really want to celebrate, but you can't start singing Kool and the Gang in the middle of class or a meeting, consider "holler city." If you're really cool, please advance to "holla city."

*6*

Did you know no words in the English language rhyme with the words angel, angst, breadth, bulb, depth, eighth, month, ninth, orange, purple, scalp or twelfth? Me either.

For more Did-you-knows, click here.

*7*

Thanks for your participation and comments on this week's Bright Maidens posts!

I think we maintained our cool (mine and Trista's are here; Julie is still getting settled back in the US!) when conquering the issues with Mr. Lindenman's article, "On Dating Nice Catholic Girls."

We'll keep you updated on the next post! In the mean time, read these:

Christine, "On Dating Nice Catholic Girls
Clare, "Naughty or Nice…"
Emily, "Dating and Stereotypes"
Ciska, "On Dating Nice Catholic Girls."
Mary, "Heck yes, I'm Catholic."

Entertaining bathroom

That title could be a turn on or a turn off, depending on who you are. If you're reading this, you passed the test and your reward is... a tiny photo album from the coolest bathroom in the weirdest hotel I've ever been inside.

I'm in Denver for work and we're staying at a boutique hotel with the theme "fun." I have no idea how to better categorize that because there is no common theme between the 15 floors of hotel rooms. I'm on the "Big Hair" floor where Marge Simpson greets you at the elevator. Turn to the left and some generic big hair band stares at you.

I'm currently sitting in the "Rock" (next to Paper, and Scissors rooms) room, an hour ago I was in "Keep Away," and I ate my breakfast in "Dodgeball." The bathrooms are the most entertaining part. The lobby bathroom has a sign stating, "Wee, wee, wee all the way home," and a picture of Frank Sinatra's mugshot above the toilet.

Here are the photos from the bathroom on this floor:

This is actually very helpful.

"have a seat" and "go with the flow"

Good advice.

when the queen goes potty, is it a royal flush?

What do you think?

7 Quick Takes Friday, Volume 30

Click here to read the original post at ConversionDiary.com

*1*

Catholic World Missions just started following me on Twitter, so I checked 'em out. It looks like a great project! See what they're raising money for in Central America here!

*2*

It's not this bad.

Spring cleaning has taken over. Not in the "now I'm up to my elbows in efficiency and a crazy craving to clean," but the "I know I need to clean like a madwoman, but I just can't muster up the umpf to do it right now, thanks though" way.

I really need to get to that...

*3*

I'm inviting everyone, because the "rules" said I could only tag three in the post, to do your own "My favorite scripture verses" post. I know I could use some more time with my nose in a Bible and this was a great, quick exercise for that.

*4*

In one week, one of my best friends marries her best friend! This has been a beautiful love to witness from the sidelines and I can't wait to see them enter the Sacrament!

And PAR-TAY!

(I don't own the rights)

*5*

Speaking of weddings... I saw Bridesmaids this week. Maybe I'm turning into a huge prude (what's so wrong with that?), but it was so unbelievable gross and crude that I'm going to go ahead and recommend that no one go see it.

Did I laugh a bunch? Heck yes. Did I laugh to keep from crying? Heck yes.

Do I wish I could get some of the images and dialog out of my head? Oh, yeah, you got it.

*6*

Wow, do I have to say anything about this photo? The title is "Squirrel hit with snowball."

These guys own the rights.

*7*

The next Bright Maidens topic will be "On Dating Nice Catholic Girls." This is different than our dating post from a while ago because we're starting by reacting to this article on Patheos, which boiled our blood.

Watch out, y'all. Bright Maidens on a rampage. Join us!