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We are so thrilled to have the wonderful Karen Edmisten with us on the show today talking about miscarriage, writing, marriage, conversion, books, homeschooling, and more. Karen is a writer and has authored several wonderful books. She’s also a wife, mother, and convert to Catholicism.

Karen has been one of our favorite bloggers for years, so getting to chat with her was a dream come true. You can check out her blog: Karen Edmisten.

We highly recommend all of Karen’s books including The Rosary: Keeping Company with Mary and Jesus, Through the Year with Mary: 365 Reflections, After Miscarriage, and her latest Deathbed Conversions: Finding Faith at the Finish Line.

Things we talked about today:

Karen’s article: A Good Catholic Family

Elizabeth Ministry

What we’ve been reading:

Catholic by Choice by Richard Cole

Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset

A Year of No Sugar: A Memoir by Eve Schaub

Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham

Abandonment to Divine Providence by Jean-Pierre de Caussade

In This House of Brede by Rumer Godden

Deep Conversion, Deep Prayer by Fr. Thomas Dubay

Gilead by Marilynne Robinson

Les Miserables by Victory Hugo

Catherine of Siena by Sigrid Undset

Lent and Easter Wisdom from G.K. Chesterton

Lent and Easter Wisdom from St. Benedict

To connect with Karen:

• her blog
• Twitter
• Instagram

You can listen to us on iTunes, and we’d love a quick rating or review. If you have an android device we’re also on Stitcher. And as always, you can find all links, show notes, upcoming guests, and listen to all episodes at Fountains of Carrots.com.

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Today we’re excited to have Tyler Blanski with us discussing the sacred and sacramental. Tyler is a writer and author of two books, a husband and father, as well as a youth minister who recently converted to the Catholic Church from Anglicanism.

We chat about his conversion, his family, the importance of a sacramental attitude towards everyday living, the themes of holiness and death in Kristin Lavransdatter, as well as the sacred role of mothers and family. We cover a lot of ground in this thought-provoking conversation.

Tyler’s books are entitled Mud and Poetry: Love, Sex, and the Sacred and When Donkeys Talk: A Quest to Rediscover the Mystery and Wonder of Christianity.

Things we talked about today:

Tyler’s recent articles on Kristen Lavransdatter: Death in Kristen Lavransdatter and Kristen Lavransdatter and Your Nordic Medieval Catholic Heart.

Rome Sweet Home: Our Journey to Catholicism by Scott and Kimberley Hahn.

Everyday Sacrament: The Messy Grace of Parenting by Laura Kelly Fanucci.

Clan Donaldson recaps of The Walking Dead.

Haley’s post: Rob Bell’s “Tribe”, MacLaren’s Pub, and the Homeless Guy I Have (Almost) Nothing in Common With.

To connect with Tyler:

• his website
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram

(Apparently he is on social media!)

You can listen to us on iTunes, and we’d love a quick rating or review. If you have an android device we’re also on Stitcher. And as always, you can find all links, show notes, upcoming guests, and listen to all episodes at Fountains of Carrots.com.

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As we’re both fans of her art, we thought it would be fun to talk with Heather Sleightholm, the artist behind Audrey Eclectic Folk Art.

In our conversation we talk about how Heather finds inspiration for her original work, her love of literature, New England, and Scandinavia, how she finds time as a mom to pursue her art, how she feels about running a business, how religious art is created, as well as her own faith and family.

It was a wonderful chat and so interesting to learn about the artist behind the art – we hope you enjoy it!

Books we mentioned:

•  Hitty Her First Hundred Years
• Away Off Shore: Nantucket Island and Its People, 1602-1890
• The Lace Reader and author Brunonia Barry.

To purchase Heather’s work please visit her Etsy shop, Audrey Eclectic Folk Art. She also blogs about art, faith, and her many interests, (as well as her beautiful home), at Audrey Eclectic.

To connect with Heather:

• Etsy Shop
• Blog
• Instagram
• Twitter
• Facebook

You can listen to us on iTunes, and we’d love a quick rating or review. If you have an android device we’re also on Stitcher. And as always, you can find all links, show notes, upcoming guests, and listen to all episodes at Fountains of Carrots.com.

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We are chatting motherhood and finding your parenting style today with Kathy Helgemo, author, blogger, wife, mom, and Catholic convert.

We loved Kathy’s book she co-authored with Melinda Means: Mothering from Scratch: Finding the Best Parenting Style for You and Your Family and asked her to share all about how she was inspired to write the book. She has so much wisdom to share, including the one thing you will never regret doing as a mother.

In this episode we discuss how as moms we expect to be able to do it all (but can’t) and how to ask for help and find mentors to encourage us in our vocation as mothers.

Moms Together is the Facebook mentoring community started by Kathy and her writing partner Melinda.

We also mention the idea of productivity and efficiency being words that simply don’t mesh with mothering small children which reminded us of Haley’s post about that:

I’m a Mother, Not the CEO of My Household

You can find Kathy:

• at her blog, Mothering from Scratch
• Facebook
• Twitter

You can listen to us on iTunes, and we’d love a quick rating or review. If you have an android device we’re also on Stitcher. And as always, you can find all links, show notes, upcoming guests, and listen to all episodes at Fountains of Carrots.com

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We’re talking all things Lent today with our good friend Bonnie Engstrom, blogger at A Knotted Life. We talk about how we approach lent in general, simple ways to help our young kids learn about Lent, how to focus a bit more on prayer as a family, as well as fitting in confession when the kids should be in bed.

We cover a lot of ground while laughing a lot so we think this will help ease any Lent-stress you may be feeling as Ash Wednesday looms around the corner.

Some things we mentioned in today’s episode:

40 Bags in 40 Days Decluttering Challenge at White House Black Shutters

Printable Lenten Calendar for Kids from Catholic Icing

Bonnie’s post on making a Stations of the Cross Box for kids

Bonnie’s Knot Bad video on getting ready for Lent

Haley’s post, Preparing for Lent

Haley’s post, Bury the Alleluia

Christy’s post on great books to read for Lent

Lent and Easter Wisdom from G.K. Chesterton: Daily Scripture and Prayers Together With G. K. Chesterton’s Own Words (Lent & Easter Wisdom)

Life of Christ by Fulton Sheen

You can find Bonnie:

• A Knotted Life
• Facebook
• Instagram

You can listen to us on iTunes, and we’d love a quick rating or review. If you have an android device we’re also on Stitcher. And as always, you can find all links, show notes, upcoming guests, and listen to all episodes at Fountains of Carrots.com

This episode is brought to you by Holy Heroes.

And be sure to check out the fantastic Lent resources from this episode’s sponsor: Holy Heroes!  You can find  CDs, children’s books, coloring books, and the free Lenten Adventure and free Mass Prep at www.holyheroesfun.com.  And to get 10% off your purchase, just type in podcast10  into the coupon box at checkout to get your discount!

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In this episode we talk with Jenna Guizar, the founder of the scripture devotional site for Catholic women: Blessed Is She. We talk about how she felt called to begin this online ministry, how she took a step out in faith while joining together with other women, her journey through blogging, living a missionary life, and how she balances her work, home, and ministry.

If you haven’t already checked out Blessed is She head on over and sign up for the daily emails of scripture and devotions. You’ll love having this beautiful gift of scripture in your inbox! You can also join the regional groups to get connected with other Catholic women. Blessed Is She is also on Facebook, Instagram (with the hashtag #projectblessed), and Twitter.

Only One Thing, the 2015 Lenten Journal is for sale now and you can order for delivery before Ash Wednesday!

Where you can find Jenna:

• website
• Instagram
• Twitter
• Facebook

We also mentioned Tsh’s recent podcast with The Blog Maven, you can find that podcast here.

You can listen to us on iTunes, and we’d love a quick rating or review. If you have an android device we’re also on Stitcher. And as always, you can find all links, show notes, upcoming guests, and listen to all episodes at Fountains of Carrots.com

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Hallie Lord is one of the loveliest bloggers around and if you’re married chances are you’ve read her inspiring posts on marriage at one time or another. Hallie is the author of two books and at least three blogs, a wife and mom to six with one on the way, a speaker, conference creator and planner, as well as a lovely lady with style for miles.

Today we have a great chat with Hallie about a gamut of things including blogging, how she met her husband, the seasons of marriage and what we can do to keep our marriages a priority as well as take care of our spouses, her spicy ebook, and her newest project The Edel Gathering. We really think you’re going to feel like you’re having coffee with Hallie, it’s a great conversation.

In this episode we talk about Hallie’s blogs. She currently writes at hallielord.com, but previously focused on marriage at the blog Moxie Wife. Her post which sparked a lot of discussion on how to spice up your sex life with your husband is entitled 15 Ways to Spice Up Your Marriage (Without 50 Shades of Grey).

Hallie’s books Style, Sex, and Substance: 10 Catholic Women Consider the Things that Really Matter and Spice Up Your Marriage: A 28-Day Adventure are great reads, pick them up if you can!

Follow Hallie:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter

Also, more tickets have become available for The Edel Gathering this summer, and you can check out the website for all the good info about this wonderful conference.

You can listen to us on iTunes, and we’d love a quick rating or review. If you have an android device we’re also on Stitcher. And as always, you can find all links, show notes, upcoming guests, and listen to all episodes at Fountains of Carrots.com

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You’re in for a treat today (and a good laugh) because Kelly Mantoan is here discussing her new planner to help you organize the New Year!

Kelly is the hilarious and honest voice behind the popular blog This Ain’t The Lyceum. She’s recently released a yearly planner, The Best Laid Plans, that includes weekly reflections with her characteristic humour and insight.

We talk about how to get a handle on the daily chaos of being a mom, scheduling homeschooling/school activities and extracurriculars for our kids, Kelly’s time machine, hosting Seven Quick Takes, Kelly’s speaking engagement at Edel this summer and how you can get her to speak at your next event, her legendary robe, as well as compare accents! And just a warning – we laugh a lot.

Here are some of Kelly’s many hilarious posts we talk about in today’s episode:

Livin’ Magazine

Stitch Fixings

The Homeschool Mom Capsule Wardrobe

Jennifer Fulwiler’s podcast of her radio show in which she talks about Kelly’s performance at Edel 2014 (the episode is entitled Jen’s Opening Monologue from 11/06).

The YouTube version of Kelly’s epic rapping performance.

Kelly’s blog, as well as the hugely popular link-up Seven Quick Takes, can be found at thisaintthelyceum.org. Kelly can also be found on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You know you wanna follow her!

You can listen to us on iTunes, and we’d love a quick rating or review. If you have an android device we’re also on Stitcher. And as always, you can find all links, show notes, upcoming episodes, and listen to all episodes at Fountains of Carrots.com

Coming next week: