Well, friends, happy 4th. I manage to keep my mouth (mostly) shut on social media but Substack feels new and freeing for me so I’m just going to go out on a limb here and say I’m very upset and disappointed about what is going on in our country right now. The current government has me feeling sick to my stomach. I am undoubtably pro-life but what is happening right now is not pro-life. As Catholics, we value human dignity above all else and right now, the opposite is happening. None of what is going on right now is “pro-life” and it’s very upsetting.
Yes, of course I care about abortion but I also care very deeply about the families getting ripped apart by deportation and accessible health care for all. I care about humans and I care about the planet and I pray for the future. I have never voted for Trump and I never could vote for Trump. I may lose a lot of readers by saying that but the thing is - I have to answer to my own moral conscious at the end of the day. It feels trite to me to talk about pizza and linen pants right now as so many people are hurting, so know this is where my heart is.
On a lighter note, here’s some of the good stuff from this week. The first thing being that gorgeous burrata pizza from a local spot here in Greenville. Wow, it’s good. Super thin crust, tangy tomato sauce and just tons of creamy fresh burrata. It’s what dreams are made of, people.
The $39 European linen pants from Quince! My mom wore a khaki colored pair to my house last week and I immediately ordered two colors (khaki and black!). For the money, you really just can’t get better and they look so great in the summer. I have another linen dress from the brand that I got last summer and wear on repeat. When you use my code, you will get $20 if your first purchase of $100 or more. If you need even more inspiration, I also have the linen tank top and love it. It’s structured and great quality!
I’m going to have to give a big A+ to pasta all norma this week because eggplants are in season and it’s darn delicious. You really don’t need a fancy recipe for this. Just roast 2-3 eggplants and toss it with a quick tomato sauce made from a few cans of organic whole tomatoes, some oregano sprigs, garlic and a spoonful of sugar. We can’t get enough of this easy meal!
Wow, I’m starting the fourth novel in the Gamache series and I’m so addicted. I keep saying this, but mystery is really not my genre. These books are different though!!! I even have my mom reading them now.
My kids are in VBS this week at our parish and I’m doing a deep clean / purge. Thank you for all the kind thoughts last week; they are doing much better!
I think it needs to be said, as a practicing Catholic myself, that the church is neither liberal nor conservative, according to what that means politically in the US. It makes it really hard to vote in this country if you are trying your best to live out those teachings.
As a liberal Catholic, I appreciate your transparency and vulnerability. Sometimes I sit in Mass and look around wondering - am I alone? (Majority of Catholics voted for Trump). Thanks to your post, it’s a small but beautiful reminder that I am not.