Stephanie Howell

Reading Recap // September 2017

October 2, 2017

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This was a weird reading month. I had a lot of vacation time (a week away with Jimmy alone PLUS a weekend with him in DC for my birthday) and I thought I’d read way more than I did.

But with a couple of exceptions, I didn’t truly connect with much this month. It was kind of odd. Anyway, I’m officially close to meeting my Goodreads 2017 goal. I wanted to read 95 books and I’ve completed 82. Wondering if I’ll meet my goal in October! Hmmm.

As always, you can follow me on Goodreads to see what I’m reading in real time.

So here’s what I read in September:

Little Fires Everywhere // Celeste Ng

I love Celeste Ng. I do. I love her uncanny ability to dissect the mundane and the every day. I love how she explores the nuances of mother daughter relationships. I’m shocked I didn’t love this more and I’m not sure I can even explain why I didn’t. It just D R A G G E D on and on for me. I got a bit more into it by the end but it never truly got its’ hooks into me.

☆☆☆

The Arrangement // Sarah Dunn

Good Lord this one just ended up annoying the crap out of me. Everyone just came across as so self-involved and narcissistic. I knew how this was going to end up from page one and I wasn’t wrong. I have to say that I did love reading about something so foreign to me. It was a little bit naughty and salacious without being smutty.

☆☆ 1/2

Saints for All Occasions // J. Courtney Sullivan

I expected to love this one more than I did. I found it very slow, borderline tedious. It did beautifully examine guilt, obligation, and the ties that bind when it comes to family.

☆☆☆

The Garden of Small Beginnings // Abbi Waxman

Abbi Waxman made me laugh out loud throughout this entire novel. I loved her so much I immediately found and followed her on Twitter. She writes very similarly to how I think about motherhood. I read several passages out loud to Jimmy. This is a sweet gem of a book that covers loss and love and starting over. I also really enjoyed learning more about gardening.

☆☆☆☆

The Names They Gave Us // Emery Lord

I grew up super active in the church and could really identify with Lucy. I loved this sweet YA book. I think it perfectly captured the mixture of fear, love, confusion, sadness and faith in Lucy’s life. It hit that nostalgic sweet spot for me . I didn’t have a sick mother growing up, but I identified very much with the rest of Lucy’s story. The characters were very vividly written and I fell in love with each of them a little bit.

☆☆☆☆1/2

Before the Storm // Diane Chamberlain

This one’s just a generic mehhh for me. I mean, it was just fine. But it wasn’t anything special. I did read it really quickly and there was *something* that kept me reading, but I’m not sure what it was. It was perfectly okay.

☆☆

Be Frank with Me // Julia Claiborne Johnson

Oh this book…this book. The perfect mix of wit, heartbreak, quirk, and magic. It won me over from page one. This gave me the same feels that The Rosie Project and Eleanor Oliphant gave me. It’s the story of one amazing kid and the people who love him. It warmed my heart big time.

“‘Frank will be okay, Alice,’ Mr. Vargas said. ‘He’s an odd duck, but brilliant children often are. It may take him a while, but someday he’ll figure out how to live in the world of ordinary mortals.’”

☆☆☆☆☆

Caraval // Stephanie Garber

At times I found myself really swept away by this one. I found it similar to The Night Circus in that I could completely envision the world that Garber described. However. I found a few things realllly annoying. The way Scarlett used colors to describe feelings was completely unneccessary and got annoying fast. I’m also kinda over the damsel in distress trope. I could have used more “tough chick” and less helpless.

☆☆☆

I chose Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance by Ruth Emmie Lang. I have read and heard SO much about this one so I’m really excited to dig in. It sounds magical. I also added Stephen and Owen King’s new book to my box.

DEALS:

+ Try 1, 2, or 3 months for just $9.99 each

+ Get John Green’s new novel FREE when you join Book of the Month

+ Get Sleeping Beauties by Stephen King FREE when you join Book of the Month

Sold // On Second Thought // Forest Dark // One Perfect Lie // Love and Other Consolation Prizes // The Alice Network // The Secret Keeper

So there you have it! September in a nutshell. So what about YOU! What did you love, hate, feel meh about?

xoxo

My Top Eleven Bags from Thirty-One

September 28, 2017

The reason I started working with Thirty-One wasn’t because I wanted the money. Or because someone asked me to sign up or because I thought it was something I should pursue. I didn’t sign up because I had ANY interest in doing direct sales. I signed up because I was obsessed with the bags.

I started using Thirty-One throughout our time in Italy. I used the bags to keep our small apartment organized and I especially used them when we traveled. I quickly realized that a Large Utility Tote was indispensable when we traveled. I used one in the back of the van for snacks, drinks, trash bags, and food (since we exclusively stayed in Airbnb homes). I realized that using multiple Zipper Pouches was a more efficient idea than having Ziplocs in my mom bag.

Aaaaand I was hooked. I hosted a party and got a TON of freebies and my addiction deepened.

Along the way I started thinking I like this stuff and I want to get a bunch of it for free. And the rest is history. I now have a double hope chest JAMMED FULL of Thirty-One. It’s kind of ridiculous. AND I LOVE IT. Jimmy loves it too. He became a convert the minute he realized how much easier this stuff made our lives. We are both massive organization nerds.

Soooo with that said, I thought I’d narrow all of the choices down for you and share the top eleven organizing solutions I use and love daily. These are all my photos because it’s important to me to show that I own and love this stuff.

1. Retro Metro ($58) – This is my current “mom” bag. It is H U G E and holds a ton. It has two big outer/side pockets and interior pockets too. I love the lobster claw hook on the side, I usually just hook my keys right on. I am also mildly obsessed with the twill stripe pattern. Black and white for the win. Always.

2. Tall Organizing Tote ($35)– I think at last count I had five of these. They are great for a library bag, gym bag, post office bag, and craft bag (they have awesome exterior pockets for scissors, pens, knitting needles,etc). Here’s a video I made about this bag.

3. All About the Benjamins Wallet ($48)– I love love love my wallets. They hold a zillion cards, a checkbook and can even hold an iPhone. I’ve tried the other wallets but always come back to this one. These also make great gifts. Here’s a video I did comparing all 31 wallets.

4. Zipper Pouches ($15)– I use these when I pack for trips. Pouch packing for the win! They are great for diapers (I use one for a diaper bag at the gym), iPads, books, planner and craft supplies, toiletries, makeup, etc. The photo below is a shot of my teacher gifts from last year. How CUTE are those?

5. Zip-Top Organizing Utility Tote ($35)– This is my basic grab and go mom bag. I’ve used it for the gym, pool, library, and for a kiddo weekend bag. It has pockets all around the outside, zips on top, and has interior pockets too. The ZOUT is the number one teacher and nurse bag. This one is on special this month too. Spend $35 and get a ZOUT for $10.

6. Swap-It Pocket ($25)– Right now this one is in my Retro Metro being used as it was designed to be used …I have all of my pens, makeup, notebooks, etc inside. Then I just move the entire thing to a new bag instead of having to dump out all of my crap. In the past though I’ve used it for planner supplies (see below). It’s a great size for personal sized planners and TNs with supplies.

7. Double Duty Caddy ($25)– I have a bunch of these too. The one below is our art supplies/ paint holder. I have one for my devotional supplies too. It holds my bible, devotionals, notebook and pens/highlighters (love those mesh pockets on the side). My friends also love this one for a diaper caddy/shower gift.

8. New Day Tote ($68)– This is my ride or die gym bag. No contest. I stick my water bottle in the side pocket, a towel and clothes and toiletries and a zipper pouch (Cora’s diaper bag for childcare) inside. It’s easily wipeable, has a zipper top, and the straps rock. Enough said.

9. Mini Zipper Pouch ($12)– Good Lord I have a bazillion of these. I use them for makeup, feminine products, H’s epipen, etc. A super easy way to organize your purse!

10. Lunch Bags– Okay. I’m cheating here. This isn’t just one bag. BUTTT we love our thermals for school lunches. Harper has the Lunch Break, Sadie has the Going Places (she loves it b/c she says it looks like a purse) , and Cate and Lucy have a Go-To Thermal. The Go-To is machine washable and Jimmy even carries one to work. In, ahem, masculine gray. These suckers are durable and cute and keep the girls’ food cold. We are all obsessed.

11. My Aldi Bags– Yes. That’s how I refer to these suckers. GAME CHANGER. I go to Aldi every week and take these and I find an immense, unnatural sense of JOY in fitting all of my groceries into these beauties. It’s like Tetris. SOOOO SATISFYING. I use the Large Utility Totes for dry goods, and the Fresh Market Thermals and Tote-ally Thermals for frozen and cold foods.

So yeah. I use the stuff. Nonstop. And I love it. If I didn’t I wouldn’t share it or sell it. For real. So there you have it!!

Hope this was useful and helpful! Like I said I’m obsessed with organizing, so let me know if you have ANY questions!

xoxo

Wordless(ish?!?!) Wednesday

September 27, 2017

This photo is of my “You Got This” big Happy Planner. Currently on sale!!

Hey you! Yes…YOU!

You are capable and strong and amazing and worthy and beautiful.

You are cherished and needed and important and enough.

If you are feeling lonely or sad or scared today, listen to me.

I see you.

You are capable of amazing things.

Top Ten Reasons I Love This Is Us

September 26, 2017

THAT’S RIGHT!!! THE DAY IS FINALLY HERE!

Grab your giant wine glass, chocolate, snot rags, and cozy blanket. This Is Us Season 2 premieres tonight on NBC. I spent every Tuesday in a glass cage of emotion last season.

And Jimmy loves it too! It’s turned into a great weekly “date night” for us. We love watching together and then talking about it afterwards.

Now…my love for this masterpiece is not new. You guys have heard me rant, rave, and blabber about this show since it was created. I love it so much I even memorialized it in my planner this week!

I remember watching the pilot, and grinnning/sobbing at the same time at the end. I knew it was going to be something special and it hasn’t let me down yet!

In honor of tonight’s episode, I thought I’d talk about why I love this show so much. And yes. If you aren’t watching it…YOU SHOULD BE! You can catch up on Hulu.

Okay, in no particular order, here are the top ten reasons I love This Is Us.

1. The depiction of parenthood- I haven’t loved a show this much since…well…Parenthood. This is the first show in a long time that just nails what it’s like to be a parent. And a child. And a sibling. The dialogue is pure perfection. Witty, flawed, self-deprecating, and emotionally convicting. I nod my head almost the entire time.

2. The depiction of adoption- I identify with Randall in so many ways. I identified with William in so many ways. And you bet I can identify with Rebecca and her fear. Such a great depiction of adoption without making it something negative.

3. The flaws- No one is perfect. They all mess up. Rebecca lied to William. She says not very nice things to Jack. She can be selfish. Jack drank too much. Kevin can be self-absorbed and needy. Kate can be a mess. Toby can be a jerk. Randall battles anxiety. I could go on and on…but it’s real. No one is perfect. And it can be maddening to watch in the most dead-on way.

4. Randall and Beth- Oh my goodness I LOVE these two together. At least once an episode Jimmy and I look at each other and say “They are so us!”. My favorite scene (and one that might have been stolen from my actual life, minus the outcome) was when Randall and Beth were on the bathroom floor taking a pregnancy test. Again. Written perfectly.

5. Kate- Chrissy Metz deserved an Emmy for her depiction of Kate. Watching her struggles with self-worth, happiness, and watching her come to terms with the fact that she deserves to be happy…it’s been a joy to watch. And it also quite often leaves me feeling raw. And like I’ve watched something so private, something I wasn’t meant to witness. One of the hardest moments for me in Season 1 was the episode where Kate watched football with her dad every week. I had a swollen face for hours.

6. Jack- Ohhhh Jack. Jack Jack Jack. Jack reminds me so much of Jimmy Howell and the way he is as a dad. He speaks to his daughter with so much conviction, love, and protection. He would do anything for his kids. He approaches parenthood with a sense of humor and yeah…he messes up too. Sometimes I see some hero worship for Jack and some painting Rebecca as the shrew. I don’t think that’s right or fair. He messed up too. And although he was by no means perfect…he was the best dad and husband he could be and I adore him.

7. The time period- I was born at the end of the 70’s and the Big 3 actually have my birthday- August 31! Although they are a few years younger than me, I identify so much with their childhood and have lots of flashbacks watching the show.

8. Randall. Randall. RANDALL.- I can say it a million times and it will never be enough to let y’all know how much I love Sterling K. Brown. I’ve been a super fan every since his days as Roland on Army Wives. The man.can.ACT. And break my heart into a million pieces. There is nothing emotionally manipulative about him. He plays every emotion in a way that is simply just right on. And I swear you can see his heart in his eyes. He is magic.

9. The casting- It goes without saying that this show is perfectly cast. The ONLY character I don’t like is Miguel, and I have to say he was growing on me by the end of season one. The supporting characters are also incredible. Gerald McRaney and Ron Cephas Jones specifically. To be perfectly honest I’m still not happy with the fact that they age Rebecca and Miguel with makeup to play them in the present day. I find it distracting every single time. BUT. I know that no one else could have played those characters.

10. The love- There are so many relationships in this show. And they are all depicted so beautifully. When Kevin left his debut to comfort Randall on the floor, the bond that Kevin and Kate share, the complicated and tenous relationship between Randall and Rebecca…the pure love Rebecca and Jack had for each other…yeah. That’s what it’s all about.

I know this season is going to wreck me. I’m not quite as fixated on how Jack died as everyone else seems to be, but I’m still dreading finding out. I’m most looking forward to watching Randall’s journey. I’m least interested in Toby and Kate. I hope she learns that she is worthy whether or not someone loves her.

What about y’all? What are you most looking forward to?? ? HAPPY THIS IS US DAY!

xoxo

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