Stephanie Howell

What I’m Reading | February 2015 Edition

February 10, 2015

What I'm #reading // Via Stephaniehowell.com
Hey y’all. 🙂

Yes, I’m here…I’m here. Sorry for going MIA lately, I’ve just been in a bit of a slump. But y’all know nothing gets my pulse racing and my mouth babbling like books do. So I thought this would be just the post to get me out of hiatus.

Still doing the Goodreads 2015 Reading Challenge. Jimmy was right…I under-challenged myself. I’ve read 11 (nearly 12) of 50 books. Oops. Next year I’ll aim higher, haha!

Okey dokey, here’s my February edition of What I’m Reading.

{What I’ve Read Recently}

1. Sharp Objects // So freaking creepy. Gillian Flynn is a weirdo or genius. I’m stuck between the two. It terrifies me how easily and believably she writes incredibly messed up scenarios. In my best Jimmy Fallon voice…EW.

2. Wedding in Provence // Light, fluffy, sweet. I needed more of that and less heavy this month. I went lighter in quite a few selections and this one was sweet. Made me long to visit France again.

3. I’ll Give You the Sun // This is YA. I read a lot of YA and I love it. Hands down my favorite read this month. Hands.Down. No contest. Get it and read it now. It broke my heart, made me laugh, cry, you name it. I couldn’t put it down. It’s beautiful.

4.Revival // Classic King. A creepy page turner. It literally gave me chills several times. He is so damn good.

5. They All Fall Down // More YA. This one requires some suspension of disbelief but I don’t care. I really loved it, sort of Gossip Girl-ish.

There are a couple more, but these are the ones I wanted to share. You can find all of my recently read books HERE.

I also tried and abandoned a bunch of books. My life got so much better the day I gave myself permission to abandon books I wasn’t enjoying!

{Up Next}

1. Lost Lake

2. Leaving Time

3. The Enchanted

4. Tell the Wolves I’m Home

There you have it!! What are you reading?

xoxo

seven.

February 2, 2015

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Sadie girl, today you are seven.

Seven! I can’t believe it. I still remember the day you were born. Waiting in that hospital room at Fort Hood, praying your daddy would make it home in time. Not sure if you were a Sadie or a Ben. The epidural didn’t work and oh how it HURT. You were determined even then.

Daddy didn’t make it home in time and you made your entrance into this world the way that you’ve lived ever since. Loudly and suddenly. When they told me you were a girl I can remember my heart feeling like it was going to explode.

I remember the cleft in your chin and the hair on your sweet head. I remember the way you felt on my chest. Just us.

Ever since that day you have tested me and challenged me. You have hugged me the tightest, fought me the hardest, and loved me the fiercest. You have been a lot of things to me,and easy has never been one of them. You make me laugh the hardest (even when you shouldn’t) and you teach me the most about being a parent.

You remind me so much of your daddy. Right down to the way you smirk when I’m angry with you. You aren’t impressed by much, but when I get a TRUE Sadie smile it’s a rare and special gift.

You will make one hell of a woman. You will be strong, outspoken, and confident. You won’t be told no and you won’t back down. God help the man that breaks your heart. Because you won’t stand for it. And he might not make it out alive.

On your seventh birthday I want you know that I couldn’t be prouder of you. I love to see you grow. You are reading like a rock star, solving math problems like a champ. You are strong and a wonderful gymnast. You are snarky and witty and unique. I love you so much it makes my heart ache.

Happy happy birthday, beautiful girl.

xoxo

Mommy

Miss // Don’t Miss

January 27, 2015

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I miss:

+ cars that stop for pedestrians

+ target

+ mexican food

+ efficiency

+ grocery stores that open early and close late

+ my family

+ fast internet

+ my friends

+ big/wide roads

+ being able to understand everything

+ book stores

+ american breakfasts

+ being able to find something the first time i try (this applies to things and places)

+ pad thai

+ the availability of size 10 shoes

+ big american bathtubs and hot water heaters that work.

+ big kitchens

+ american appliances

I don’t miss:

+ crap added to my foods

+ hurry hurry hurry, go go go

+ the news/media

+ the constant political arguing

+ cost of food

+ being scared of violent crime

+ chain restaurants and stores

+ the coffee

I’ll Ask For It.

January 26, 2015

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Source

Fair enough.

Here’s what I’m asking for.

+ I’d like to laugh until I cry once a week.

+ I’d like to read a new book every three days. One day I’d like to write a book too.

+ Id’ like to take a shower and pee in peace, for the love of God.

+ I want to go on dates with Jimmy until we are old and gray. I want to hold his hand, laugh at him until I lose my voice, and kiss him until I’m dizzy. Basically I want to always stay the same as we are.

+ I want to visit Provence, France when the lavender is blooming.

+ I want to geniunely learn to love, embrace, and accept my body just the way it is.

+ I want to be a librarian or own a book shop. There is nothing in this world that I’m as passionate about as I am about books and reading. Period.

+ I want to learn to make pasta from scratch.

+ I’d like to stop comparing myself to others. My worth is not determined by how perfect other people’s lives appear.

+ I’d like to learn Italian.

+ I want the superpower of being able to tell who my true friends are. The ones who have my back and don’t have any patience for people who don’t. The ones who make me laugh and call me out and “get” me. No more fakes. Only trues. I’m getting better at this the older I get by the way.

+ I want to learn calligraphy.

+ I’d like to host a creative get together when I move back to America. A weekend of making and bonding and laughing and drinking wine.

xoxo