Meet Bridget!

Can I just say I think Bridget is amazing? I came across Bridget's website (www.bakeat350.net) so many years ago. I never thought I would actually get to, one day, interview her.  Her cookies are incredible and baking tips invaluable.  I have so much respect for this baker extraordinaire.  Honestly, it is because of her that I really got into baking and made more of an effort with the little raw talent I had.  I can't say enough about her and her website.  She is a total inspiration and all kindness and loveliness.  I would love to meet Bridget in real life one day; until then, I have this to share with y'all:

Okay so we usually start with a little bio of you: where you were raised, your schooling, how long you've been married, kids and their ages, hobbies etc. 

Born in Oklahoma but was raised in Texas

Bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Oklahoma

Married 23 years

20-year-old son who is attending the University of Notre Dame  

1. Cradle Catholic, Convert, or Revert? (feel free to expound) I'm a Cradle Catholic, but I've really grown in my faith...and am continuing to learn and grow...over the past 10-15 years. Probably the best decision we made as a family was for Jack to attend Frassati Catholic High School in north Houston. It's run by the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia. That experience strengthened and encouraged our family's faith in so many ways. It's an incredible place. 

2. You are the creator of the wonderful blog Bake@350, tell us, how that came to be and where you learned your mad skills? Who/What inspired you to bake like a boss? My inspiration was to simply EAT MORE COOKIES. When my son was born, I quit my job, but I would think back fondly on the decorated cookies they would send us as treats or have at meetings. I missed those cookies. I learned to decorate through trial and error...mainly error. The good thing about cookies is, you can eat your mistakes. 

3. What skill do you struggle with the most? At the moment, crocheting. I'm trying to learn, but it does not come naturally to me. 

4. What are some things you avoid (either personally or as family) NOTE: For example, as a family, we avoid T.V. and the mall;  and personally I try to avoid gossiping, using bad language and entertainment news. When Jack was younger, we made a point to avoid overscheduling. The three of us were home and eating dinner together most every night.

5.  What book (s) are you currently reading or would like to read? I'm reading the four "Summer Series" books by Lisa Wingate. She's become a new favorite of mine. Her book The Prayer Box got me hooked. I just finished Ray Guarendi's Thinking Like Jesus. Lots of highlighted passages in there! 

6. What is your favorite read-aloud? Looking back to when Jack was younger, reading was our jam. Ha. We loved read-alouds, and he loved to read on his own. He loved everything...I fondly remember Kevin Henkes books, Ferdinand, and of course, Dr. Seuss. We read all of the Harry Potter books aloud when he was older. I cried my way through the last one, both from the story and also from knowing that our special time together reading them was coming to an end. 

7. What's your favorite product (i.e. personal,  kitchen-related or otherwise)? 

I'm going to go the food route here: 

Almost anything from Trader Joe's

Ghirardelli bittersweet chocolate chips

Guittard milk chocolate chips

Amarena cherries

Justin's vanilla almond butter

8. What's your best parenting tip for a young mama? ENJOY it. It goes by so fast. Everyone says that...as the parent of a 20-year-old, I can tell you it's true. The hard days, the boring days, the frustrating days....trust me, you'll want to have them all back. Also, don't ever stop with the hugs and the kisses. They need them as teens and young adults, too. 

9. You're hosting a wonderful dinner party,  Name any three people you would invite.

Oh, this is a tough one.  I know this - I'd love to have my mom here for one more dinner. I miss her like crazy. 

10. What does the menu look like at said party?

My mom always made lasagna for company, so that's frequently my go-to. I'm picturing going a different way, though, with Frito Chili Pie and White Texas Sheet Cake

THANK YOU Bridget!!

Meet Elisha!

1. You're the first non-Catholic mama I have ever interviewed.  Help me out a little...tell us what it means exactly to be non-denominational? I always thought that it meant you didn't ascribe to any one religious tenet but neither do agnostics or atheists.  What's the difference? First, thanks for asking me to do this! Honored to be the first non-Catholic mama you've interviewed! I didn't go to seminary so hopefully I don't offend anyone who did or mess up this answer for anyone who is wiser than I... But, my understanding is that a non-denominational Christian is one who doesn't go to a church or ministry that is specifically designated denominational church... Like Catholicism, Southern Baptist, Methodist etc. Sometimes I joke that there are "non denominational denominations" because you have churches like Hillsong, Four Square etc who have multiple plants around the world. But, they're not a part of an orchestrated denomination with the historical past of say Calvinists. Hope this makes sense. 

2. You're originally from Oklahoma (we live in OK!), how does an Okie gal end up in California? I was born in Miami, FL when my dad was in the USCG and then we moved to OK when I was very young... So I grew up in SE OK (the pretty part of the state btw!) and call it my hometown. I ended up in CA by way of NY/HI/MI and back to OK. Weird, I know. I moved to NYC at 18 to attend the King's college and I worked in talk radio there for seven years. After my husband and I left NYC we took a sabbatical (it's Biblical) in HI for a couple of months. After that I checked off a bucket list item of running a Congressional campaign in my home district back in OK in 2012. When my candidate lost the runoff we headed to where my hubs is from, MI, to figure out where we wanted to go next. That's when I got the call to fly out to LA to audition to be a conservative female voice on a morning show with a liberal host and another guy named Ben Shapiro. So, 5 months pregnant my husband and I got a car, packed up our earthly belongings and moved to LA to take the gig. 

3. Growing up, you were homeschooled all 12 years.  What did you enjoy about being homeschooled and what did you not like about it? My dad was an airline pilot and always worked odd days/holidays etc. I loved the freedom of doing school on our time so when he was home we could have family time. Because we could fly standby we'd also take family vacation during "off times" when other kids were still in school. This ensured less waiting for available flights and more flexibility. The one thing I regret is not being a good test taker... This stressed me out in the college prep/ ACT stage of my teen years and then later when I was, albeit briefly, in college. 

4. You're now a producer (correction: host and contributor) at The Daily Wire, were you always interested in politics? Oh yeah, I've always been a political nerd. My grandfather was a judge and my mom owned and operated small businesses my entire childhood, all while homeschooling us and holding down the household while my dad was off flying. She ran for office twice when I was a kid/teenager and those experiences and campaigning and meeting/seeing constituents and learning about the different branches of government with that on the ground perspective changed me. 

5. Do you bring your work home with you? In other words, do you talk politics at home (with your hubby or kiddos)? I've often joked I should video tape my husband and I when we have political conversations. He's obviously conservative, in fact, I think since becoming a dad he's become even more conservative... But he isn't' as in the news cycle as I am. Some days when the girls are in bed he'll ask me what the craziest story of the day was and when I tell him I think he thinks I'm playing a game of "bs" with him. We do not talk politics with our girls... They know people don't like Uncle Ben (because they see security at our events) and they know mommy is on "radio and tv" but that's it. We talk about "team USA" (the Olympics were perfect for that), how we're blessed to live in the US, and how we should honor military and respect/support FD and PD etc. As they get older they ask questions like how America is different and why... and we try to answer them in a filtered way that a 6 yr old can understand. We also obviously emulate and try to teach them things that some might view as inherently political... Like, just because you want something doesn't mean you get it. And if you work hard and smart you too can have a house with a pool one day. And that not everyone can go to Disneyland and Papa and Nana sacrifice a lot to take you etc. 

6. What are some things you avoid  as a family or otherwise? (and  don't say Michael Knowles ;) Drama! I mean, life is dramatic enough... So really unnecessary drama. We don't gossip or trash talk or engage in hurtful comments/sarcasm. Girls are so tender and sensitive and kids are like sponges. I don't want them to hear negativity or critiques of others in our home. I guess one day when they can read my Twitter stream they'll see I go after people all the time! 

7. Is there a skill you, as a working mama, struggle with or wish you had more time to do? I seriously cherish our family time, and water is so wonderful to me. So poolside family time is relaxing and rejuvenating for me. I wish there was more of that... always more pool time. I also love yoga, spin and hiking and two of the three can be done with the girls so that's always a nice release/work out I wish I had more time for. 

8.As a working mama. how do you balance or prioritize your life...how do you stay healthy and happy? I'm currently 35 weeks pregnant with our third so drinking a lot of water and trying to ingest a ton of protein in these final days before she arrives is where my head is at. I have an incredibly supportive husband who works from home and does a LOT of the household chores/cooking/cleaning etc. He is like a tornado of speed when it comes to things that would take me all day. Ya know that meme about a mom working on the same load of laundry for three days? That's me -- he can do it in 30 mins, put away and all! As much as CA gets a bad rap and ppl make fun of her residents... It truly is a lovely place to live because we can spend so much time, year-round, outside. Just being in the fresh air is wonderful and keeps me happy. 

9.What's your favorite product? For home - anything I can find at a garage or estate sale. For me - Rent the Runway! For the girls - Cotton On Kids. For the Hubs - Random things at Costco or on Amazon I know he'd love for grilling/house projects/his office. For gifts - I LOVE the LA Flower market and making friends succulent gardens, potted plants and floral arrangements.

10. Who inspires you? Any woman who goes against the grain and speaks her mind/defends her beliefs especially if it's not a part of what the "cool crowd" likes.

BONUS QUESTION: Your due date is not too far away, do you know what you're having?? Another girl! We love girls... So much dress up and dance parties.

Meet Kaitlyn!

1. Cradle Catholic, Convert or Revert?

I’m a somewhat recent convert, actually! My husband and I were both raised in Protestant families and we converted together after our first daughter was born -- so a little more than 5 years ago.

2. You recently suffered a miscarriage. I am so sorry.  Could you tell us what has helped you cope with this loss?

Thank you so much. It feels so bleak to say, but the way grief weighs on you after the loss of a child is so heavy, and for a long time there wasn’t anything I could really do to help myself cope. It’s been over a month now, and the days have become easier -- but this isn’t the kind of pain that will ever leave me. That being said, there were a few things that carried me through. First, whenever I was able to leave the kids with my husband, I would run to our parish’s perpetual Adoration chapel. It felt, to me, like running to the emergency room when everything is crashing down. I also feel like reading Tolkien helped a lot because grief is one of the primary themes of his work and so seeing his understanding of it, and his depiction of hope amidst grief, was encouraging. I also don’t know what I would’ve done without my husband’s help, my mom friends locally, and the prayers of the Catholic Twitter community online. Just knowing I wasn’t going through this alone, that my baby was known and grieved over, that I was prayed for and taken care of -- these small things helped more than I think people could imagine.

3.When did you first discover J.R.R. Tolkien and was it love at first hobbit?

I’ll admit that my first introduction to Tolkien was one of the Lord of the Rings movies! One of my dad’s friends had given him one of the movies for his birthday and when I saw the DVD case, I was instantly intrigued. After that, I began reading the books, teaching myself Elvish (this was junior high and I totally don’t remember it anymore unfortunately), and immersing myself in Middle-Earth to the point where everyone around me thought I was weird (and they probably still do hahaah).

4. Beside Tolkien, are there other authors you really enjoy? If so, which ones?

I just finished reading Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset and she is incredible! Every so often there would be a passage that just took my breath away or pierced my heart. And the way she weaves the story of a family helped me understand my own family better in a lot of ways.

5.You're obviously a talented writer, what skill do you struggle with the most?

Staying organized! I feel like everything is always all over the place, both physically (as in, my house is always chaotic) and mentally.  

6.You have three little ones, you are active on social media, you wrote a book, you have a (beautiful) website AND a podcast, how do you balance your life? In other words, how do you make it all work for you?

While mothering and marriage are my primary vocations, I feel like what I’m doing with Tea with Tolkien is truly what I was born to do. It brings me so much joy whenever I am able to sit down and write something or come up with another idea or book club, that all the late nights and busy days are worth it. I’ve been blessed over the past few years to have my best friend living nearby and we’ve taken turns watching each other’s kids for a few hours each week -- so that’s been when I’ve been able to get a lot of work done. On top of that, my husband usually comes home with a few hours of work every night and so staying up late getting some of my own work done while sitting next to him is also one of my most productive times.

7. What book (s) are you currently reading (to your kids and for yourself)?

Well like I mentioned before I just finished Kristin Lavransdatter, and so right now I’m switching back to Tolkien and prepping for our autumn book club where we’ll be reading The Silmarillion. And I’ve been reading the Little House on the Prairie books with the kids lately as well!

8.You have a podcast, are there podcasts you like to listen to? If so, which ones?

I *love* podcasts! I spend several hours driving everyday because we live somewhat far out in the country, so I’m almost always listening to a podcast. My favorite ones are: Fountains of Carrots, Roman Circus Podcast, The Word on Fire Show, CNA Newsroom, Clerically Speaking, Every Knee Shall Bow, The Electric Waffle, Pints with Jack, and The Tolkien Road. And my kids love Catholic Sprouts!

9. Tolkien is coming to your house for a dinner party you are hosting; name three other people you would 'admit' on 'party business' ?  

Can it be anyone?! Ever since I learned that Padre Pio and Therese of Lisieux were alive at the same time as Tolkien, I always wish I would’ve been able to see them interact. So them, and then also maybe Bishop Barron? THANK YOU KAITLYN!

Meet Kirby!

Hi!I'm Kirby Hoberg. I'm from Dallas, Texas, spent almost a decade in the SF Bay Area, and just passed two years in the Twin Cities of Minnesota! I've been married to my husband Matt for 8 years this summer and we are raising 3 kids (almost 7, 4.5, and 1.5). I'm a second generation homeschooler, and I pursue my own acting/dancing/singing by night. I write at Under Thy Roof where I talk about Catholicism, womanhood, parenting, and the performing arts.

1. Cradle Catholic, Convert or Revert? 

Cradle Catholic but my mom converted when I was about 2, so I was raised with convert fever. 

2.  Tell us how you met your hubby.

Online! Back in the day, catholicsingles.com was free for college aged people. I went to an all women college, and he had just moved to the Bay Area for grad school. Without the internet, I'm not sure our paths would have crossed!

3. On your IG profile, you mention you're fixing up an 1875 farmhouse (#ameliahillhouse).  Walk us through the lead up to that and the present situation with 3 little ones under foot.  

When we found this house, it had not been lived in for a good few years. The owner was a much older woman who had been living out in California recently. The information on the deed said the house dated from 1901. It needed a lot of work (new electric, insulation improvements, a kitchen and downstairs bath remodel) but it was cheap enough to be possible. My husband found a letter in the house from the family of the original owners. That gave me enough information to history sleuth the house. I've found it on old maps as far back as 1873, but it was likely built during the Civil War years - making more specific dating difficult to impossible.

We had a small fire in the kitchen electric box this winter due to a melting ice dam, but being out of the house led me to accidentally meet the great-granddaughter of the original builder! She's 90 years old, and we go to the same Y.  Through her I'm learning a lot about the original family and the evolution of the house. Hopefully we'll also have many decades to enjoy this beautiful farmhouse!

4. You homeschool, could you tell us what a typical homeschool day looks like for your family?

This year I just have a 1st grader, preschooler, and tag along toddler. We get most of our sit down schooling done during toddler naps. We use Mother of Divine Grace to provide the structure, and I've thoroughly enjoyed their read aloud booklists and the emphasis on the good, true, and beautiful. I include a lot of nature time, exploration, experimentation, and movement in our day. The kids take ballet lessons starting at 3 or 4 years old, and I include that as part of our schooling.

5.  You are also a performing artist, can you tell us how you balance life as working artist and motherhood?

It is a challenge! It is difficult to be in a field that likes to pretend everyone is perpetually single and has no lives off stage. 

When I'm in an auditioning season (which is most of the time), the challenge is keeping up morale. The performing arts involve a LOT of rejection. 

When I'm in production, the challenge is keeping up energy! It is hard to be scheduled for rehearsals until 10:30pm and then get up with the kids in the morning. I've had to be serious about making myself take a midday rest. My non-nappers know the selection of things they can choose to do from when the toddler goes down at noon-something to 2pm. Unless someone is bleeding, they are self sufficient. 

6.What skill do you struggle with the most?

Realistic calls on my limits. There are many tasks and situations that I CAN handle, however I struggle to remember to ask if I should. I don't HAVE to run all the things or bring every project idea to fruition.

7. What are some things you avoid, as a family or otherwise?

Wasting time on things that aren't working. I'm allowed to quit reading a book if it can't grab me by page 50. I can re-evaluate using a something in our homeschool that is just resulting in frustration. Adaptability to the realities of my life today is more important than checking boxes.

8. What book(s) are you currently reading (for yourself and to your kids)?

Well I like to read many books at once, so currently: The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis, Something Other Than God by Jennifer Fulwiler, the fourth Harry Potter, A Landscape with Dragons by Michael O'Brian, and I just finished The Seven Story Mountain by Thomas Merton.

The kids and I loving the Mitchell Family books (Canadian Summer, Friendly Gables, etc.) Probably our favorite read alouds this year, up there with All-of-a-Kind Family.

9. What's your favorite product?

Toe tape, my Ergo baby carrier, and my crockpot are what make my daily life possible.

10. Who inspires you?

So many people on a daily basis! I'm one of those people who loves social media because I love to see other people doing well. I love to know how you did that thing you're proud of, and to see what is possible. Even if I'm not good at that thing at all, I'm jazzed by other's beautiful!

THANK YOU KIRBY!!