My schedule is booked solid for the month of February. I’m attending a number of events, including the premiere of Rosary Stars on the 7th. I will be recycling some cocktail gowns I haven’t worn in years for those events, but I’m probably going to have to buy something new for the 14th….Valentine’s Day!
No, I do not have a hot date, but we at Catholic Underground haveplanned a benefit party to insure that CU can continue on in the future. If you’re in the SoCal area, consider coming! Essentially at every CU event I have met at least one person who reads this blog or my other one CFS.
The theme color of the party is red (of course). Most of my cocktail dresses are form fitting, but their will be salsa and folk dancing at our party, so I want to be able to move in whatever I wear.
Some dresses currently in the running:
By AGB
This one’s from Lane Bryant.
This one isn’t black, it’s navy blue, which is why I love it!
I have been looking for an excuse to buy something from Pin Up Girl Clothing, and this dress might be it…
What are you wearing/doing on Valentine’s Day! (Coming to the CU RED Party, right?)
Is Obama backtracking on reversing the Mexico City Policy?
In a move to downplay his pro-abortion agenda, President Barack Obama has decided to wait a little longer to reverse a Bush policy preventing taxpayer funding of abortions overseas. The Mexico City Policy prevents sending public funds to groups that perform or promote abortions in other countries.
The new president could either issue an order tomorrow or in the near future to reverse the policy or allow Congress to do it.
Obama was expected to overturn the pro-life policy on his first or second full days in office and to possibly do so today, on the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision.
However, a CBN News report indicates Obama will not overturn the policy on a day that pro-life advocates mourn the Supreme Court allowing virtually unlimited abortions. Source
On this day 36 years ago, our country was changed forever. We legalized murder; we legalized the genocide of millions of boys and girls.
For those who may not know, on January 22, 1973 the court case Roe v. Wade legalized abortion in the United States of America. Years later, “Jane Roe” realized what she had done, and has since dedicated her life to pro-life activism:
This morning, our new president Barack Obama signed an executive order to federally fund international “family planning” services that will perform abortions. I think he needs to see this:
I’m really looking forward to the Walk For Life this weekend. Tomorrow’s posts will be dedicated to fashion, but next week I will be reflecting on what I will experience this Saturday.
I helped host the Louisiana-based band L’angelus this weekend for Catholic Underground (which was the reason I was too busy to make posts.) The band is made up of siblings Stephen, Katie, and Paige Rees, and may I just say that they were SUPER fun to hang out with for a few days.
They are genuinely nice people, authentically Catholic, and very talented! Throughout the weekend I kept noticing that Paige and Katie are super cute and dress very modestly!
Katie & Paige, right after I picked them up from LAX.
The girls packed into my car…
Katie during sound check.
The entire band: Stephen, Paige, and Katie.
Me with some of the core team; to the far left is Jessica Rey of Rey Swimwear.
Sorry there haven’t been any posts in the last few days, but I’m helping to host L’angelus, the band for this month’s Catholic Underground. Posts will resume Monday.
A pro-family advocate is calling the University of Chicago’s decision to allow coed dorm rooms troubling.
The university announced the decision to parents in a letter that was sent in mid-December. The change in boarding rules will allow students of the opposite sex to reside in the same room, and the school says the decision was born from a student-led initiative. Students who wish to have a coed roommate will not need parental consent.
My question is, why on earth would you want to live with a guy? Even if you are in a sexually active relationship, guys tend to be gross. I’m sure UC will be seeing an upswing in unplanned pregnancies and disputes between roommates. Good grief…
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, like you we are members of the Father’s family. We pray that our family love may reflect his love on its openness to all people. May we forgive even when not forgiven, and be patient with others’ weaknesses.
Jesus, give us peace, unit and strength to meet the difficulties of daily living. May we use our family resources to improve the quality of life for ourselves and all people. Let us show joy in serving, for whatever we do for others, we do for you.
Mary, inspire us, that our love may be strong but not possessive. Let our willingness to give depend on the needs of others rather than on the cost of giving.
Joseph, help us to be attentive to the Father’s will. Let us be ready, as you were, to act whenever he calls us.
I am in the process of being interviewed about Modestia and the overall topic of modesty for Faith and Family Magazine, and I was asked to define what John Paul II called the “feminine genius” in my own words. My answer was the following:
I think I would define the “feminine genius” as the innate quality of love within the woman, especially the Catholic woman, to sacrifice the desires of the self for the betterment of the self and society. A friar friend of mine preached a story about what he thought was the perfect example of the feminine genius:
He was eating dinner with some brother friars and one of his lay female friends when a group of young people in their 20s came into the restaurant. His female friend watched the group for a while and then turned to him to ask if he was going to go over to talk to them. It was late at night and he hadn’t finished his meal, so he sort of whined a “No, not right now.” She pushed him to get up and go talk to them…at this point in the story he exclaimed, “See, this is the feminine genius at work!” She pushed him a little more until he left their table to go talk to the group. After greeting them and giving them some holy cards, the topic of conversation turned to chastity, sex, and the nature of love. One of the girls at the table thought he was stupid, another girl at the table started crying and said he was right.
As simple as the story may seem, my friar friend would not have been able to present Christ to those young people had his female friend not listened to that innate quality of love and compassion, that feminine genius that told her someone at that other table needed to hear the Gospel. That’s the feminine genius!
Just to reiterate, the purpose of the new “Man of the Month” thread is to highlight different Catholic men in all walks of life who deserve a little recognition for their Catholic identity and service to the Church. If you would like me to highlight a certain gentleman (he doesn’t have to be famous), let me know.
Mario St. Francis is a model and actor who just so happens to spend his free time as a Catholic lay evangelist.
Once upon a time, Mario was named one of America’s most eligible bachelors (Cosmopolitan Magazine ‘99) and one of Pittsburgh’s 25 Most Beautiful People.
After an injury that landed him in the hospital only 30 minutes before signing his biggest contract Mario “began questioning the use of the fame he was seeking after.”
After a series of events that would follow over the next year, combined with a priest’s talk he attended, Mario’s life was flipped upside down and inside out! Never to be the same, Mario left it all behind and began a new work, as a “modern St Francis,” a Catholic still very public and in the spotlight. He works, speaks and travels in the public eye and is evangelizing using modern means such as the internet, television, film, radio, and whatever else “works”. His hope is that other “lost sheep” will come back Home to God.
I picked Mario for the first ever Modestia “Man of the Month” because I was touched by his conversion story that seems to be so similar to mine as well as the majority of Catholics I know working in the entertainment industry. It is TOUGH to stand up for truth in the land of smoke and mirrors…and for this, Mario we salute you and we will pray for you!
Below is an interview with Mario about his conversion. You can visit Mario’s website here. You can also book Mario to speak at your youth group or conference at CMG Booking, a really great resource for Catholic speakers and musicians.
Some tips on revamping your winter clothes during this transition into the spring season. Via ShopBop:
1. Switch out standard-issue tops, tees, and tanks. Styles with stripes, prints, or graphics make a big impact under cardigans or jackets, or try an au courant slouchy tee over skinny pants.
2. Rediscover the cardigan. A fashion-forward interpretation of this classic instantly ups the chic quotient of any look, while a belted style feels as polished as a jacket.
3. Find a new go-to jean or restyle an old favorite. Start the year with a fresh silhouette (like the slouchy skinny or boyfriend), try a buzz-worthy new brand, or give an old pair a new look by cuffing or rolling the hem.
If I may add some additions:
~ Exchange the pearls and heavy chain jewelry for lighter pieces.
~ I know it’s freezing in some parts of the country, but if it’s safe, exchange your cable knit scarves for linen and cotton ones.
~ Try a bright colored cardigan, in perhaps a green or blue over those fall tops and dresses.
~ Buy some cute rainboots.
For the first ten commenters on this post, I will send you an email invite to a personal online shopper website. I am a member of this particular website that sends me emails of items such as clothes, bags, and shoes at a discounted price around the internet. The emails are tailored to my personal style and designer preferences according to my shopper profile.
Just leave a comment on the post and be sure to fill out the email section.
Purple was the “it color” for the fall and winter seasons, but it seems that the color blue is now going to be the dominant color for spring.
Eshakti has put out an entire line of blue tops in their online boutique.
Myshape has a nice selection of dresses with blue accents.
Within the blue trend I’ve also noticed denim dresses making it back onto the racks. No, not the denim jumper your mother made you wear to youth group…*terrible flashbacks*…Everyone from Ann Taylor, Miss Sixty, Bebe, and French Connection have made some really cute denim dresses you may want to consider adding to your wardrobe for those laid back, casual spring days.
I try to research as many apparel resources for this site as I can.
Be advised that while most of the links in my "Modest Apparel" category are from designers who specifically design modest apparel, some of the websites include only a select amount of modest choices. Modest dress is dependent on styling. If it isn't modest, make it modest.
One asterisk (*) next to a link means it is a plus size site. Two asterisks (**) indicate that the site sells both plus size and average size apparel.
The university announced the decision to parents in a letter that was sent in mid-December. The change in boarding rules will allow students of the opposite sex to reside in the same room, and the school says the decision was born from a student-led initiative. Students who wish to have a coed roommate will not need parental consent.
I picked Mario for the first ever Modestia “Man of the Month” because I was touched by his conversion story that seems to be so similar to mine as well as the majority of Catholics I know working in the entertainment industry. It is TOUGH to stand up for truth in the land of smoke and mirrors…and for this, Mario we salute you and we will pray for you!
1. Switch out standard-issue tops, tees, and tanks. Styles with stripes, prints, or graphics make a big impact under cardigans or jackets, or try an au courant slouchy tee over skinny pants. 
