Ramblings – Page 12

Wordless (ish?!?) Wednesday

June 28, 2017

Summer // via Stephanie Howell

Last Friday was their last day of school and we are in full SUMMMERRRRR mode around here. Water balloon fights, homeade bubbles, squirtguns, science experiments, staying up late and movies galore.

This week is Vacation Bible School- I’m the teacher for the 4 year olds. They are SO SO CUTE but man am I exhausted when I get home.

Promise I’m not disappearing again..just adjusting to the madness.

Be on the lookout for a June reading post soon. I have so much goodness to share with you!

Happy Wednesday-

xoxo

Warning: I never do a truly “wordless” Wednesday. If you have been following my blog for a while you know that’s not my bag. I like to talk a lot. So I started “wordless (ish?!?) ” posts where I talk about the photos but less (ish) that I usually do. Y’all knowwwww I love me some talking.

So anyway, today’s post is one that I specifically waited until a Wednesday to do.

Because there are no words.

Well, there are no words that can properly do this justice.

A couple of weeks ago Jimmy was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. And I got to see my amazing (and painfully humble!) husband get some of the recognition his biggest fan (me) know he deserves.

I cried a lot. A LOT. And I am too tired to cry today, so I’m not really going to. I’m just going to let the photos talk. I’m not going to go on and on and on because I’d never stop.

Suffice it to say: JIMMY HOWELL WE ARE SO DAMN PROUD OF YOU.

The coolest part is the connection and love you will see in these photos.

We were joined by:

family- his parents, my parents, his brother and my brother and his family

old friends – Dan, Jimmy’s West Point buddy and husband and dad extraordinaire

even older friends- David, my friend since high school- side brag…he just happens to be a Pulitzer Prize winner, rock star reporter, and all-around nice guy with a family I adore (that’s his cutie daughter with him)

new friends- Cannon came to represent for her husband (another West Point friend) but stayed because she’s one of my absolute favorite new friends…fearless,quick-witted, and fierce. Our beloved friends from across the street were also there but HOW DID WE NOT GET ANY PICTURES TOGETHER??

previously internet only friends- We’ve known Koko and Quincy online only for years. There has been some mentoring, lots of encouraging and commiserating, and endless inspiration (K is an amazing chef and fashionista). We had NEVER met in person until this day and as Jimmy said… ” I really like them, Steph! Good thing they aren’t creepy internet stalkers.” HAHAHA! Felt like we had been friends for years. Because we have! And my girls are now obsessed with Koko.

We were missing some of our nearest and dearest friends and family, but that’s one of the bad things about this life. We are so far from so many people we love.

To all of you (those who were there and those who weren’t) we love you all so much and we couldn’t have done ANY of this without you.

xoxo

My Favorite Things // Paperless Post

May 31, 2017

So now and then I want to share with you my favorites. Whether paper, digital, home, fashion, books, gadgets, baby or kid gear or whatever crosses my mind and floats my boat. Today I wanted to talk about the way I send all of my online invitations… Paperless Post.

Disclosure time– Paperless Post reached out to me and asked me to do this feature. I’m not being compensated monetarily in any way, but they did give me some credits to create invitations with. I would not have agreed if this wasn’t a company I’ve been using for 5 plus years and truly love! I just looked back at my account, the very first invitation I sent with PP was in 2012. I’m a major fan so this was a no-brainer partnership for me.

Here’s how Paperless Post works. You create digital invitations and cards and send them using coins that you have purchased. Most need coins, but some actually are completely free. So no, this is not a truly totally free service. BUT there is a major difference in the elegance and chic-factor. In other words, I love throwing parties. I love designing invitations to match the theme, but let’s be honest. Mostly everything is digital these days. And the good news is…that’s much more affordable than printing high-end paper invitations. I have found that I can easily design cute invitations matching my theme and they look SO nice even though they are digital. Oh, and PP also offers paper cards, invitations (including wedding!) too! So basically, if you want fancy (and who doesn’t?) this is an awesome fit.

The reason I first discovered this website was that they collaborate with my favorite designers including Kate Spade, Rifle Paper Co. and Emily McDowell. I own so many paper/letterpress products by these women, I KNEW I’d love the digital versions, too. And my instinct was right.

I’ve used this company for cocktail parties, birthday parties (adult and child), thank you cards, and military spouse events. I had fun creating some mock invitations for this post. And I fully plan to REALLY use these for the true events, I just put fake info on them because you know…internet safety and creepers.

Rifle Paper Company Cards – these are basically my go-to cards. You can find me in Paper Source weekly looking at the real deal Rifle Paper Co. so of course I love the online version, too.

I’m definitely TRULY going to have this party. Y’all wanna come? Prosecco is on me!!

Planning ahead:

August y’all. I’ll be 40 in August. Can I get a simultaneous WOOHOO and HOLY CRAP? Please read the last line on the invite below. You know it!!

And another version:

HOW CUTE IS THIS CARD? GAH!

Kate Spade Cards: Those of y’all who know me know that I LOVE the Kate Spade aesthetic. Here are some of my favorite PP + KS cards.

How cute for a housewarming party?

Love this simple and elegant floral border:

I send out a ton of digital thank you cards so I’m digging this template:

Emily McDowell Cards- Emily McDowell is the perfect marriage of snark and style. I’ve loved her for so long and collect her cards religiously. These online versions are just as awesome

I’ve thought this exact thing so many times:

SO TRUE. And so hard to remember:

HAHAHAHA!!

Misc Faves: And here are just a couple of other random cards that I had fun playing with:

Obsessed with this theme. Adult beverages and Thirty One bags. Hallelujah.

I have so many women I want to send this to:

That was FUN, for real. Now I’m off to plan some REAL parties. I’ve got my 40th and Jimmy’s promotion coming up. OMG!

Out of all of these imaginary parties I planned, which one would YOU most like to come to? And let me know if you use online invites. I’m curious!

Happy Wednesday, y’all!!!

xoxo

The Adventure Continues…

March 14, 2017

Alaska // via Stephanie Howell

First there was upstate NY

then the PNW

then Columbus, GA

then Texas

then Columbus again

then Savannah.

Next came Newport, Rhode Island

then Italy

and Virginia.

Now we can add Alaska to the list!

Jimmy will be taking command of a battalion at Fort Wainwright in June 2018. We are SO PROUD of him and so thrilled about this journey. I cannot believe or wrap my brain around the gift we’ve been able to give our sweet girls.

The absolute best thing about the internet is the connections I’ve made. I’ve received so many encouraging, and advice-giving messages and emails the last few days. If you have ideas or thoughts or advice, I’d love to hear.

Love to all of you!

xoxo

What Matters?

January 24, 2017

This is taken from a post I made on Facebook, but I wanted to share it here too. I’ve felt so down lately. Afraid to share my heart, feeling that I will be judged or rebuked or corrected. That others will say they are disappointed in my for not saying what they think I should say.

Here’s what I shared today:

I wasn’t going to say anything. Because everyone else is saying plenty. But as I thought about it this morning, I realized that I actually do want to say something. I feel compelled to say something.

The words are spilling out of my heart and my mouth like the tears that have constantly been in my eyes lately.And y’all KNOW I’m a big blabbermouth.

I grew up conservative and I’m very proud of my upbringing. I pretty much had the best childhood and parents ever. I’m terribly proud of my roots and of my family and I respect every one of them more than I can say. They are incredible. Until my adult life, I mainly only knew very conservative people.

Then I married Jimmy and left the state and eventually the country. I got to know LOTS of different people. Different faiths, different backgrounds, different political leanings. For the first time I got to know women and men that were more liberal.

I was shocked to see that I could identify with many of them and that I could have excellent and respectful conversations. I changed and evolved and grew. Still me, same heart. Still on my sleeve as always. I just moved a bit more towards the center, where I sit today. I don’t lean either way.

Sorry, I digress.

My point is, I have friends ALL over the political spectrum. And most of the time that makes a beautiful dichotomy. I love it. I truly believe life would be horribly boring if we were all cookie cutter replicas of one another.

Recently, though…recently it’s turned into something else.

1/2 of my friends marched.

1/2 didn’t.

1/2 are republican

1/2 are democrat.

Many are telling each other to suck it up and shut up and to stop posting certain things.

Someone will post a photo of something they believe in and are proud of and others will tell them they are disappointed.

Condemnation from both sides.

YOU ARE EVIL IF YOU ARE A CONSERVATIVE.

I DON’T TRUST LIBERALS!

IF YOU MARCHED YOU ARE STUPID!

IF YOU DIDN’T MARCH YOU ARE STUPID!

I’m disappointed…

unfriend me if you disagree…

I’m unfriending anyone who xxxx

and on

and on.

Finger Pointing.

Mud Slinging.

Open Letters.

Call-Outs.

Pettiness.

Superiority.

Condemnation.

What’ s up with this need to publicly decry anyone you don’t agree with?

I mean…it *is* possible to have beliefs without belittling anyone who might feel differently. Condemning others and their beliefs doesn’t make yours more valid.

And not only that… But how in the world do you expect someone to see your point of view if you’re mocking theirs?

Telling people to shut up when they are sharing their hearts….doesn’t that seem counterproductive?

Can you imagine if people acted like this face to face?

Girl one: I love coffee

Girl two: YOU ARE AN IDIOT FOR LIKING COFFEE AND I’M GOING TO TELL EVERYONE I KNOW YOU ARE AN IDIOT. I’M GOING TO TELL THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE!

I mean, really.

NONE of these little petty details matter. At the end of my life I’m not going to worry about what people said on Facebook. I’m not going to worry which daughter or friend or family member has which political affiliation. Or who they voted for in which election. Because that’s not what matters.

What matters?

The big details.

Love. Faith. Kindness. Respect. Compassion. Empathy. Service. Connection. The ability to listen. The ability to leave the world a better place than it was when you entered it. Doing the good work. Enacting the changes you want to see through your actions.

LOVE.

I’m friends with all of you because I LOVE you.

Whether I have ridiculous, immature, and HILARIOUS memories of you from high school or college, or if you held my hand through one of J’s deployments or held my babies like your own. Whether we taught together, met each other in an elevator, worked out together or met through the crazy online world of blogging, or if I met you and you forgave my horrendous Italian and loved me in spite of it.

I’m friends with you because you are important to me and because I respect you. I will defend you and be loyal to you. I don’t care about the other crap. And I won’t post about being better than you. Ever. I will have your back.

Okay. That’s all. Sorry for the novel. I warned you. I’m a blabbermouth. 🙂

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