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Stephanie Howell

reading, organizing, shopping, momming too close to the sun. Home is wherever the Army sends us.

What I’m Reading | July 2015 Edition

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Hey y’all! Welcome to the July edition of what I’m reading!

As per usual I’m constant updating my reading only Instagram account  (@whatstephreads) and through my Goodreads page.

 

Here’s what I’ve read lately and what I’ve got coming up.

 

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1. We Were Liars | by E Lockhart – This book totally surprised me. And that rarely happens these days. The writing style takes a little getting used to (and it annoyed me at times) but it’s a quick and captivating read. I have other books by this author on order because I’m now a fan.

 

2. Sweet Forgiveness | by Lori Nelson Spielman – This one was a pretty easy chick-lit type of read. But I had some serious problems with the way that the author handled certain issues…mainly abuse. It just left a bad taste in my mouth. I also never really connected with the main character.

 

3. A Man Called Ove | by Fredrick Backman – I mentioned this one already in a previous post. I LOVED this one and it was my only five star this book. Try to tell me you don’t fall in love with Ove after reading this book. He’s the most lovable curmudgeon EVER. This book made me laugh and cry in equal measures and it captivated me from the very beginning.

 

4. That Night | by Chevy Stevens- I thought this was a really interesting premise for a book but by the end I had lost interest. Not sure why, it just happens sometimes.

 

5. The Animals | by Christian Kiefer – This was definitely not an easy-breezy summer read and it’s probably not for everyone but I thought this book was so freaking interesting. A man (who’s made serious mistakes in his past) moves to the middle of nowhere to run a wildlife rescue. I loved the parts from his past and from his present equally and I loved his relationship with the animals. This book is pretty violent and raw so if you don’t like that then you won’t like this book. One of the strangest books I’ve read in a while but I mean that in a really good way.

 

6. Luckiest Girl Alive | by Jessica Knoll- There’s been a ton of buzz about this book and while it was worth the read, I have to tell you I HATED the main character. Despised her. There was nothing redeeming about her to me. That said, it’s worth a read.

 

7. You |by Caroline Kepnes- Y’all. This book FREAKED me OUT. The creepiest grossest book I’ve read in a long time. Listen. It’s graphic. I warned you. And I don’t even know what I thought about it. I still shudder thinking about it. I honestly didn’t know how to rate it. Obsession, stalking…yeah. Disturbing.

 

 

Currently Reading

1. The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared |Jonas Jonasson

 


UpNext

 

1. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks | E Lockhart

2. Since You’ve Been Gone | Morgan Matson

3. The Book of Speculation | Erika Swyler

4. The Royal We | Heather Cocks

5. The Summer of Good Intentions | Wendy Francis

 

 

Whew! That’s it for this month! As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts + recommendations.

 

 

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True Tales From Italy : How to Renew Your Registration in 16 Easy Steps!

 

So if you read my 15 Confessions on the 15th post last week you may have noticed # 4.

 

4. There is no such thing as ordered line waiting. It’s all just basically a clusterF*&#. There are no straight lines, just groups where everyone is breathing down your back and stepping on your toes. There is no personal space. You will wait for an hour and once you get to the front they will send you to another line where you will wait for another hour. When you get to the front of that line, they will be closed for riposo. You will come back later and start the whole process again, but the person at the front will act like they’ve never seen you before and then they will put up the “Chiuso” sign and go drink coffee.

 

If you are thinking to yourself…”Self- is this really true? Or is she exaggerating? What does she mean exactly?” Then today is your lucky day!

I’ve got a little story for you. But before I begin my story I think we need a picture to accompany it.

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There we go. That’s the best I can do. This photo adequately portrays how I felt during the incident I’m about to describe.

Moving on.

Every year I have to renew the registration on our cars. Since my van is 2010, I have to have it inspected every year… (newer vehicles can skip this part.)

Note: There is one place to get my vehicle inspected and one place to register it.

Last year my van failed inspection. The guy told me to get new rear tires and pop out a dent in my bumper. So I did it. And passed.

 

This year here’s how it went. Let me break it down for you.

 

1. I got into line to have my car inspected and waited 2 hours. I got to the front of the line and was promptly sent away because I didn’t have the right copy of my current/about to lapse registration.

 

2. I went to the registration office and waited an hour to get a copy. I was sent away because they couldn’t just make me a copy. I had to go to the carabinieri (Italian police) and file a lost document report. They needed to sign it and then I could come back to get a copy.

 

3. I went to the translator who did not know what form I was talking about. I finally found someone who could figure it out and this person gave me the lost document form. They then sent me to the carabinieri.

 

 

4. The one guy that could sign the form wasn’t there. I was told he might be getting coffee or getting his hair cut but no one really knew. I stood outside his door for an hour and then gave up and went home.

 

 

5. I came back later that day and everyone was gone for riposo.

 

 

6. I returned the next morning and the guy still wasn’t there. I had someone call him but he didn’t answer. No one else knew what this form was and therefore no one could sign it. I waited an hour and finally someone felt bad for me and signed the form.

 

 

7. I went back to the registration office and waited for an hour or so to get a copy of my registration.

 

 

8. I went back and tried to get in line for the inspection (it was about 10 am in the morning) but they were not taking any more cars before lunch.

 

 

9. I came back to inspection again the next day, waited almost an hour and a half, and failed inspection. They wanted new front tires, me to knock a dent out of the bumper, and they told me my front license plate was not properly attached (or in the right place or something). I asked if this was a new law, since my car’s license plate had passed inspection the prior two years. I was told that it was NOT a new law. Ummm, okay.

 

 

10. In the next 2 weeks I ordered new tires online, had body work done and the new tires put on, and dropped the van off at another place (that was recommended by the inspection guys) to have an oil change and the plate put on properly.

 

 

11. The next day I went to have the van inspected. I got in line behind 3 cars (no one behind me) and showed a guy my “failed” papers. He said “Oh- redoing an inspection? Just wait right here”. We waited for two hours. I got to the front of the line and the guy failed me.

Because the license plate was not properly attached.

Even thought I dropped it off to have it fixed- apparently the guy forgot and the plate wasn’t attached any differently.

Also- he told me you never have to wait to have a car re-inspected and that I could have circumvented the wait by coming around to the back and bypassing the line.

I did the slow blink at the other guy (the one that told me to wait) and he said -I’m paraphrasing here- WHAT?? (Shrug). You were already in line!

And then- I am not proud of this- I.LOST.IT. Like I had a crying meltdown. So embarrassing. Let’s call it frustration + pregnancy + 100 degree temps.

 

 

12. I went to another car place and had them fix the plate. It wasn’t open until noon so I left and went home.

 

13. I came back at noon and had them fix the plate.

 

 

14. I went back to inspection, skipped the line and passed. I also apologized for my behavior and hugged the inspection guy. Hahaha.

 

 

15. Back to registration office to finish the paperwork. There were 20 people in line. I went home.

 

 

16. Back the next day, waited for 1.5 hours, finished the paperwork.

 

And just like that… in 16 simple steps…my van is registered in an Italy for another year.

Easy peasy, yes?

And by the way- I couldn’t even drink prosecco to make it better!!!

 

Wish me luck as I get J’s car done this week. And oh yes, I will have to pay a 500 euro road tax too!

 

Allora,aspetta,domani.

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What Motherhood Has Taught Me.

9 years and nearly five kids into this motherhood gig…I can say I’ve learned a thing or two. I am NOT even close to being an expert. I still have NO idea what I’m doing. To be honest I’m making it up day to day, moment to moment.

Today I want to tell you what motherhood has taught me. These things might not work for you. But these are the truths that I’ve accepted. And some of them have been a bitter pill to swallow. Here we go. 🙂

What #Motherhood Has Taught Me // via Stephanie Howell

 

1. If someone asks you “Is this chocolate?” don’t smell what they are showing you. Because it is never chocolate.

 

2. Don’t pray for patience. God will give you patience but will then test the heck out of you. Pray for grace or kindness. Or just pray that you won’t lose your ever-loving mind.

 

3. Try not to be a sanctimommy. Don’t judge baby leashes or moms who are letting their kids eat straight out of a box of (non organic!) cereal in the grocery store. One day it will be you and you will wish you could go back and punch your judgmental self in the smug face.

 

4. Sometimes you just have to say yes to staying in PJs all day, watching nonstop movies, and eating cereal for dinner. Ain’t no shame in the survival mode game.

 

5. Anything you say will be repeated back to you later. Don’t be surprised if you hear one of your kids say something, think “Where did she hear THAT and why is she being so snarky?” and then realize – oh….

I

said

that.

 

6. Nothing is ever going to go the way you planned it or imagined it. Just let it happen.

What #Motherhood Has Taught Me // via Stephanie Howell

7. You are going to screw up. You are going to scream, lose your patience, lose your sh&*. You are going to cry and that is okay. Learn how to say “I’m sorry.” This is the best lesson you can teach your children. Tell them you are not perfect, that you messed up, that you weren’t kind, and ask for their forgiveness. Let me repeat, you are NOT perfect.  They will understand and they will remember this later they they lose their sh&*.

 

8. Bribery is okay. Really. If you have to give your kid a tootsie roll pop to get through the grocery store in peace it is OKAY. Do whatever works for YOU.

 

9. Don’t ever judge another woman on her birth story, whether she works or stays at home, whether she breast feeds or bottle feeds. All of us are doing what is best for us and our family and other people have no right to judge or remark on that. Be supportive of other women and other mothers. If you see someone who is struggling, offer to help. Tell her she is doing a GOOD JOB. Just be kind.

 

10. Be gentle with yourself. Don’t beat yourself up. You are doing the best you can and tomorrow is a new day. Treat yourself with the respect and kindness that you expect and demand from others.

 

11. Choose your battles. Decide what is worth standing your ground about. Letting your littles wear a princess dress out of the house or allowing them to wear their shoes on the wrong feet for a little bit is not a battle. It’s just not.

 

12. Always say yes when someone wants to snuggle, hug, or cuddle.  But you don’t have to say yes when someone wants to get in your bed. It’s okay to want to sleep and it’s okay to want to have your bed to yourself.

 

13. You don’t have to do it all. A school bought lunch is not going to permanently scar your child. Store bought Valentines won’t either. But if you want to do it all…then do it! Do whatever brings you the most joy and the least amount of stress.

What #Motherhood Has Taught Me // via Stephanie Howell

14. Let your kids see you be silly.

 

15. Let your kids see you fail.

 

16. Let your kids see you pray.

 

17. Let your kids see you argue + make up.

 

18. Let your kids see you read.

 

19. Let your kids see you love their daddy. Hold his hand, kiss him, love on him. When they say EWWWWW tell them they will appreciate it one day.

 

20. Let your kids get dirty. Clothes can be washed and showers can be taken.

 

21. If you overschedule your kids they will be stressed and you will be stressed. Decide how many activities work best for you and your children and stick with this number.

 

22. Some days you will want to be anywhere but where you are. You will want to pee in peace, shower in peace, and you will want to be able to sleep uninterrupted. You will want silence instead of mommymommymommymommymommy You will need a break. When this happens it is okay to do something for YOU. This does not make you any less of a mother. This does not mean you don’t appreciate or treasure your children and their fleeting little-ness. Don’t let anyone convince you otherwise. Take care of you so you can take care of them.

What #Motherhood Has Taught Me // via Stephanie Howell

23. Ask for help if you need it. Admit you are struggling if you are struggling. Reach out if you are drowning.

 

24. Take your children on adventures. These adventures can be to the park, to the library, to France, or to Italy. You can take them to Target, to the movies, or to the pool. Get out of the house and GO. You can do it. I promise. It will be good for all of you.

 

25. Get a planner. USE it. This will change your life.

 

26. Let your children go. Let them climb on their own and let them fall. Pick them up and kiss them when they fall and teach them to shake it off. Don’t hover, don’t overdo it. Let them fail and recover gracefully. This is one of the greatest gifts you can give them. Falling will teach them to fly.

 

27. Whatever you are going through is not the end of the world. Babies stop crying, children potty train. They WILL eventually sleep, lose the binkie, stop crying every time you turn on the vacuum. This is not the hardest thing you will go through. Every season changes and every day is a new one.

 

28. Prepare to feel love like you’ve never felt it. The kind of love that physically hurts. The kind of love that will terrify you and empower you and knock you right over. The kind of love that will simultaneously turn you into a raging mama bear and a melting puddle of goo.

What #Motherhood Has Taught Me // via Stephanie Howell

 

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My 20 Favorite Movies + Shows Streaming on Netflix

So if there’s one thing I’m good at when it’s miserably hot and when I’m hugely pregnant…it’s watching Netflix. Let’s call it a talent.

I thought that today I’d share my 20 favorite TV shows and movies that are streaming on Netflix as we speak. Hopefully some of you are addicts like I am and you will find this helpful!

#netflix recommendations // via stephanie howell

 

1. Short Term 12 – This movie really got to me. I think of it often and recommend it every time someone says they’ve watched everything on Netflix

 

2. Chef – If you’ve read this blog for a while, you’ve heard me talk about this movie. It’s excellent.

 

3. Parenthood– One of the best written shows…period. I’m so sad it’s over. I love the Braverman family and miss them terribly.

 

4. Breakfast at Tiffany’s- some Holly Golightly is always good for the soul. This is the movie that made me first fall in love with Audrey Hepburn

 

5. Roman Holiday- My very favorite Audrey Hepburn movie. I never get tired of it and I cry every time.

 

6. Finding Neverland- Saw this in the theater when it was first released. It’s the story of JM Barrie, who wrote Peter Pan. Great film.

 

7. Planes, Trains, & Automobiles- Gosh, I miss John Candy so much. This movie is often quoted in our house and makes me laugh until I cry every time.

 

8. Amelie- Also on my favorite movies list. A gem of a French movie. Quirky and heartwarming.

 

9. Beginners- I love a good independent film. This one has great character arcs.

 

10. Breaking Bad- The best series of all time. Period.

 

11. Beyond the Lights- Just watched this one the other day and loved it. If you liked Love and Basketball you will enjoy this one.

 

12. Punch Drunk Love – This one gets me right in the heart every time.

 

13. The Queen of Versailles- I really don’t know how to explain this documentary. It’s unbelievable…I think I had my mouth open the whole time I watched it. Just watch it.

 

14. (Three listed as one) Mean Girls,Legally Blond,Clueless Three of my favorite “chick flick” comedy classics.

 

15. Hugo – We watched this for family movie night but every single one of us ended up loving it.

 

16. Silver Linings Playbook – quirky, okay seriously weird, and just plain entertaining.

 

17.House of Cards 18. Orange is the New Black 19. The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt- all of these Netflix original series are great. Probably wouldn’t watch them if bad language and adult content upsets you.

 

20. Ever After:a Cinderella Story– I don’t care if it’s cheesy…i have ALWAYS loved this version of the Cinderella story. Luckily my love has been passed on to the girls. 🙂

 

So there you have it- my absolute favorite films and shows streaming on Netflix right now. Enjoy…go forth and BINGE !

 

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15 Confessions on the 15th | 2 Years in Italy Edition!!!

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Today is a very special edition of 15 Confessions on the 15th because today my family has been living in Italy for TWO YEARS!!! That’s right…it’s our Italianversary!

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I can’t believe it. It has been the best two years of my life and the most frustrating 2 years of my life. I truly wish we could live in Europe forever. This has been the greatest gift to our girls and I will be grateful forever.

In celebration of this special day, I thought I’d share fifteen lessons I’ve learned since moving to (Northern) Italy.

 

1. Sometimes you just have to slow down. Allora, aspetta, domani. Things aren’t getting to get done today. Or tomorrow. Or possibly even this month. And that’s okay. Just breathe, pour a glass of prosecco, and relax.

 

2. Everything tastes better here. This is not an exaggeration. Wine, cheese, truffles, meat, tomatoes, pasta, gelato…I am ruined on these things for life. They will never ever taste as good as they taste here.

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3. You will get lost every.single.time. You will never get anywhere the first time you try. There are no such things as street signs, and thank God for GPS- but that doesn’t even work most of the time. Just go with the flow.

 

4. There is no such thing as ordered line waiting. It’s all just basically a clusterF*&#. There are no straight lines, just groups where everyone is breathing down your back and stepping on your toes. There is no personal space. You will wait for an hour and once you get to the front they will send you to another line where you will wait for another hour. When you get to the front of that line, they will be closed for riposo. You will come back later and start the whole process again, but the person at the front will act like they’ve never seen you before and then they will put up the “Chiuso” sign and go drink coffee.

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5. It’s never too early to have a drink. Day drinking is a sacred art. But no one ever gets wild or drunk or sloppy. Bella figura is a real thing, y’all.

 

6. Italians love big families. But no one has them. Remember, this is NORTHERN Italy I’m talking about. Things are different in Sicily, for example. Most families here only have one child. And they don’t start having children until their late 30’s or early 40’s. My big family gets a LOT of attention. We get stopped everywhere and I also get lots of compliments for being such a young mom. Ha!

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7. Driving is serious business here. Don’t ever try to pause for one second to turn left and don’t you dare hesitate at ALL when the light turns green…or you WILL get honked at. Aggressively.

 

8. Women dress to the nines here. All the time, no matter the hour of day or the occasion. You will NOT see yoga pants, workout clothes, or flip flops. And you WILL feel like a slob when you wear these things. After 2 years I’ve let it go. I cannot always look perfect! But the Italian women manage. You should see them rock the high heels on their bikes. Also? They are all TINY. No clothes or shoes fit me here.

 

9. It’s not considered rude to stare. Culturally, it’s very different than the US. It’s not considered rude to openly stare. At first I was very taken aback by it, now it doesn’t bother me. I just like to smile and wave.

 

10. Produce here is incredible. Affordable, fresh, and free of GMOs and all that added crap. But don’t you dare touch it without putting on gloves first!

6a00e551ef15fe883401b8d1384c01970c-800wi11. You can get milk from vending machines and wine from the tap/ gas station type pumps at special stores. I still get very excited every time I see these things.

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12. There are bicycles EVERYWHERE. This is not an exaggeration. It is common to drive down the street with bikes completely surrounding your car. And lets just say that many of the cyclists don’t abide by traffic rules. I have to be on high alert every single time I drive. I’ve gotten crazy good at dodging people.

 

13. ‘Latte’ is milk and ‘pepperoni’ means peppers. If you ask for a latte you are getting a milk and if you ask for pepperoni pizza you are getting pizza with papers. Ask for a diavola and a caffe con latte. Macchiato literally means “spotted”. If you ask for a macchiato here you will get an espresso with a dollop of cream (j’s fave). Not a sugary drink like at Starbucks. For me? ALWAYS cappuccino.

 

14. Don’t expect to find a hearty breakfast here. It’s coffee and a pastry every morning. And that’s about it.

 

15. It’s every bit as dreamy as it seems. Yes, it can be frustrating. Efficiency doesn’t exist and the language barrier can make you feel vulnerable. But every day here is a gift and I’ve loved every single second.

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Thanks for helping me celebrate our two year Italianversary. And thank you for always joining me on this crazy ride!

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