Catholic Girl Stuff

A Couple Winter Book Suggestions

I'm sure for a lot of you, especially those from the blogging world, needing to find a book to read in 2019 is the last thing you need. For the past 2 months, all the book bloggers have been posting their "Best Books of 2018" posts and their "Most Anticipated Books of 2019" posts...

But sometimes even they (gasp) just need to curl up on the couch with a fuzzy blanket, hot chocolate and a book...and they can't decide what to read.

. . .

So you want to read a series?
(I cannot read that without imaging Cpt. America reading it, lol)

Series I great because you read it and then don't have to start a new story! You already know all the characters, the world...You don't have to get to know new book people (characters) you can just dive right in!
My suggestion?

The Gallagher Girls by Ally Carter

This is a six book series (with two short stories and two more series set in the same universe ) about a young ladies boarding school that secretly trains them to be *gasp* SPIES

Yeah, I know. There are a TON of books that use this same idea...but Ally Carter actually makes it work. Also, I loved the friendships in this book and that there's no girl-on-girl hate. The girl's at the school are all "sisters." Granted, some occasionally get on the nerves of the main character, but don't all sisters? (*sticks tongue out @ any sisters reading this*)

Pros:
Everything I just said
CUTE ROMANCE *heart eyes*
Lia and I really like it and will scream about it with you in the comments
Its awesome

Cons:
May get you hooked on spy stuff and next thing you know you'll be reading about the OSS (WWII spies...basically) and your brothers will never be able to watch James Bond without you kicking down the war chanting SPIES! SPIES! SPIES! SPIES!

. . .

So you want to read a light and cute modern day story but don't want to read a series?

My Contemporary Suggestions: (From most romance based to least)
(Don't worry...They're all clean!)

PS I Like You by Kasie West

Do you know what my favorite romance type is? Love to Hate. Enemies to lovers. "We hate each other SOOO much (and banter! Don't forget the witty banter!)" to "You're not actually a bad person? GASP. I LOVE YOU WHERE DID THAT COME FROM (And then more banter)

And yes...As high school contemporary romance goes...this is pretty cliche and you'll see everything coming from a mile away. But who cares? Its cute!

Pros:
Everything I just said
MAN BRACELET! (No, I will not explain)
She writes songs!
The characters are interesting
Well written families
SO MANY HORRIBLY AWKWARD MOMENTS *squeals*

Cons:
Predictable

Love and Gelato by Jenna Evan Welch
(And no, I cant write her name without thinking about grape juice)

Trigger warning: (Maybe? IDK how this works) Her mom dies before the book starts from cancer

A girl (Lina) is forced to go to Italy to live with her father she's never met. Meets a boy who lives near by and they become friends! She gets her mom's journal from when her mom studied abroad in Italy and starts reading it to retrace her steps.

Pros:
Everything I just said
Gelato
Italy
Fake accent

Cons:
Creepy people

Love and Luck Jenna Evan Welch

(Trigger Warning: There is a nude picture that is taken of the main character. It happens before the story takes place, but is briefly talked about)

A spin off book about Lina's best friend, Addie. It's more of a book about healing and siblings then it is about romance. If you were looking for a book that had basically NO ROMANCE? Read this.
If that isn't what you're looking for, read it anyways. Because its good. Seriously. Read it just so you can read about her mom at the end.

Pros:
WELL WRITTEN FAMILY
Her mom!
IRELAND
Almost no romance what-so-ever...basically just two broken people healing together...but "they cute"
Road trips!
SO. FUNNY

Cons:
Less romance
Kind of serious
You can't punch whats-his-face because he's fictional

-KAT

We're Back!!!////Welcome to January 2019!

Yes that's us. WE'RE BACK!!! I'm sorry that we let this blog to die. So many things just started happening at once and it got really crazy. But now we are back and not going anywhere. (if we do end up abandoning this again, feel free to hunt us down :D)

Hopefully 2019 will be a big year for Catholic Girl Stuff!! Now I have to run but I'm turning it over to Kat so she can welcome you into January!! I'll be back soon!!

Lia

ENTER KAT

Allo.

*ahem*

WELCOME BACK to Catholic Girl Stuff

AND

WELCOME TO 2019!!!!!

We're probably going to post a recap of last year to catch you all up on the crazy things that have been happening, but here are some of the big points: Lia has been blogging away and since she didn't abandon you all (*looks slightly guilty*) you kind of already know what she's been up to. (She also posted a very nice 2018 recap on her personal blog, The Singing Writer.) I went to college! It was weird. I did good stuff. Ate 5+ dozen dounts by myself (Over the semester, not in one sitting) and also ate a embarassing amount of pizza... It was super weird to be living on my own, paying bills and shopping by myself. Like no. Stop. I cannot adult. And it was really sad going to church all by myself and never getting to see my besties. :(

BUT NO WORRIES! I'M BACK ON BREAK AND CATHOLIC GIRL STTUFF IS NOT. BUCKLE UP AND GET READING FOR A RIDE INTO CRAZY LAND BECAUSE HERE WE GO!

-K

Laying Low

Hey guys!

So I have a song to share with you!

I wanna put on a record

I never heard before

Shut off my phone and lock the door

Drink every word like a bottle of wine

Til my soul's so drunk it's passed out on the floor

Tonight I'm laying low

I'm laying low

In a world that moves so fast

We forget to take it slow

Don't wanna look in the mirror

Wonder where did she go

So I'm taking my time

Tonight I'm laying low

Don't wanna put on any make-up

Don't wanna brush my hair

Leave those high heels off my feet and just not care

Wanna dance to the rhythm of the raindrops

Falling on the rooftop now

They're easy to miss when everything's so loud

Tonight I'm laying low

I'm laying low

In a world that moves so fast

We forget to take it slow

Don't wanna look in the mirror

Wonder where did she go

So I'm taking my time

Tonight I'm laying low

Wanna take a deep breathe in

And just let it go

Laying Low by Danielle Bradbury

Lia

Happy Easter from Kat and Lia

Awkward and Awesome // Workouts, Exercise, But Mostly Running

________________AWKWARD________________

Long skirts get tangled up around your legs and trip you,

short skirts tend to fly up when you run,

denim skirts refuse to behave...

The price of running shoes O.O

When you're sick and can't run and its driving you crazy

Or even worse, when you twist your ankle or something so that you CAN'T run or lift or whatever, but you're still healthy and just have to sit around

People who walk to abreast on the trails and won't. get. over. to. let. you. through.

When you have your feet stuck under something so you can do situps and your foot slips out and you knee yourself in the face

When you're doing pushups and you underestimate how close the ground is and instead of having your chin up, you're looking down so you knock your forehead into the floor

...

And then the hollow clunk makes you laugh, so you drop onto the ground and your siblings find you lying face first on the floor laughing into the floorboards.

When someone you don't like can do more pushups then you and you sit there with mixed feelings of rage, annoyance, disgust, and slight respect

(Note, it has to be a fairly impressive amount of pushups to get the respect part since I can do about jack diddly in the push up area)

People who don't clean of the machine before they leave...Yay. Sweat. My favorite. :(

People who change the channel on the TV.

"Hey buddy. Trying to watch Cutthroat kitchen here, not CNN!"

But do we say that? No. Because that would be rude.

When you're having a lovely run and then step in a dip and twist your ankle. Not enough for it to be hurt, just enough to throw you off your run and make it achy

When you try and shower after a work out and your family decided to run laundry and the dishwasher and there. is. no. hot. water.....in December.

________________AWESOME________________

New socks

NEW RUNNING SHOES

The burn in your legs after a long run that makes you feel alive

Also the adrenaline rush after you've finished that makes you want to climb the side of the house and dance on the roof (PRO TIP: DON'T)

The pleasant ache of muscles after a good day

Also the feeling when you stretch and you start to feel your tendons burn

When someone says they can do more situps then you so you end up having a contest in the hallway... and some poor boys walk up to see all these girls crowded around counting...

"49..50...51..."

(And for your information I won...by a lot.)

Sweat.

I know, I know.

Its stinky, wet, and just generally disgusting.

But it means your out there, living life.

And that makes all the difference

Workout Playlists

*tightens ponytail*

Smoothies with Bananas in them. Or peaches and mangoes....

-KAT-

The Seven Sorrows of Our Lady

1133 best BLESSED VIRGIN MARY images on Pinterest ...

1. The Prophecy of Simeon

2. The Flight Into Egypt

3. The Loss of The Child Jesus In The Temple

4. Mary meets Jesus On The Way to Calvary

5. The Crucifixion

6. Mary Receives Jesus from The Cross

7. Jesus Is Placed In The Tomb