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Stephanie Howell

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

I’ll Ask For It.

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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

S

Valentine’s Tags

I wanted to share some fun and simple tags I created using the Gossamer Blue February kits.

Most of these items are Dear Lizzy and Crate Paper, I believe. I also added some doilies from my own stash. Shocking, I know. 😉

Not really many words needed…because, as always, I’m a pretty simple crafter.

Happy Wednesday!

xoxo


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For Him : Valentine’s Day

How are we already halfway through January ? I have no idea what’s happening lately, but time is doing that warp-speed thing…and I don’t like it.

Since Valentine’s Day is now less than a month away, I thought I’d share some of my favorite finds for him.

Now if you are the type of person who things Valentine’s Day is stupid, then you’ve come to the wrong place. If you’ve read my blog for any amount of time, you know I LOVE February. Hearts, flowers, the whole shebang. I can’t help it and I’m not ashamed.:)

Here are some of my absolute favorites that I’ve stumbled on this year. Links are under the photo!

 

 

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1. Hot and Spicy Man Crate//2.XOXO Boxers //3. F-Bomb Paperweight

4. Bourbon Barrel//5. Secret Wash Shirt //6. Emily McDowell Card

7.  Personalized Guitar Pick //8. Dollar Shave Club Subscription

 

So, how about you? What are you getting the guy in your life for Valentine’s Day?

 

xoxo

S

Loving Lately | January 18

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1. 27 Diagrams That Make Cooking So Much Easier. YES!!!

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2. 23 Words For Book Lovers That Should Exist – Loved this and nodded my head at much of it. Book Sniffing? Guilty!

 

3. The History of Tina and Amy’s Friendship – I loved reading this, way more than I probably should have. I’m slightly obsessed.

 

4. I’d like this sweatshirt please.

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5. Compilation of “100 Books to Read Before You Die” lists. Looks like I’ve got my work cut out for me.

 

6. Maggie’s new Confetti collection for Crate Paper. I need every.single.last.bit. Is she in my BRAIN?

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7. Speaking of hitting it out of the park…have you seen MME’s new collections? I can honestly say they are the best they have ever been. WOW. What a joy it’s been to watch the success of this company. They are the NICEST and most talented people.

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8. How I Learned to Fall Asleep in Under 1 Minute– So I was skeptical but this totally works. Every time.

 

9. 13 Travel Hacks You Should Know (but probably don’t) – NOTED.

 

10. I Am the Memory Keeper – Her friends are lucky to have her. What a gal. ♡♡

 

Happy Weekend, y’all!

 

xo

15 Confessions on the 15th | January Edition

15 confessions on the 15th


1. Yesterday a lady asked me for directions. In really, really rapid-fire Italian. I said “Piano! Sono Americana!”…which means slow the crap down, I’m an American!

And she was SO nice and I got so flummoxed that I just said “SiSiSiSiSi!” to her question. Even though I honestly had not a single dang idea what she was saying. I didn’t understand a word of it. I just got flustered and couldn’t stop saying SI! OMG.

 

2. I ran up a large hill with Jimmy the other day. It involved many stairs and I was a hot mess. HOT.MESS. I am so out of shape.

 

3. I watched the latest Parenthood the other day (how can it almost get OVER) and ugly cried my way through the entire damn thing. What is it about Parenthood and CRYING?

 

4. Just started season one of Parks and Recreation. Yes, I know I’m really behind but I’m super pumped.

 

5. I am so happy to be blogging more regularly. It feeds my soul. I know that this is cheesy, but it’s true.

 

6. I talked about this recently on Instagram and it amazed me how many women could identify/commiserate. I have major hair loss and you can actually see my scalp in several places. I’ve had my blood checked and everything is fine. It’s probably genetic. I’ve started a new regimen involving oils, this shampoo, biotin, this hair powder (it darkens the scalp), and this root volumizing foam.

I have plans to crop it soon. Short. I think that’s my best bet. It’s embarrasing and I worry about it, but it is what it is. I’m just trying to make the best of it.

 

7. I bite my fingernails. I have my entire life. I wish I didn’t.

 

8. I’m posting this on the 16th. I won’t even tell you how long it took me to write it.

 

9. I sneeze every time I pluck my eyebrows. Is this weird?

 

10. I was almost late for a meeting today because I couldn’t stop reading. Seriously. I read the entire thing even though my hair was wet and drying rapidly. Even though I knew I needed to leave soon. I have the “just one more page!” syndrome. Do any of y’all suffer from this affliction too?

 

11. I break glasses constantly. It’s really embarassing. I chalk it up to awkwardness and flailing limbs. At our New Year’s Eve party my friend knocked over a champagne flute and instead of gracefully catching it I karate chopped it to the floor. Literally. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.

 

12. I am terrible at meal planning. I have the best of intentions but then I am too lazy for a big grocery store trip, or I forget the items I need, or I’m not home all day and forget to prep and run out of time to cook. It doesn’t help that the food here is SO GOOD and fresh and healthy. Takeout for the win. Sigh.

 

13. It is 3 pm and I’m drinking a glass of prosecco. Judge if you must. It’s ITALY dammit!

 

14. I hate doing laundry. I started the same three times yesterday because I left it too long in the washer and it almost mildewed. Again…what.is.wrong.with.me

 

15.If I’m not lying, but someone thinks I am…I completely panic. Instead of rationally stating my case I act like I am, indeed, lying. My voice gets VERY loud and high-pitched and I talk really, really fast. Jimmy is sitting next to me now and he’d like to add that I also make a really awkward face. Like I’ve smelled something stinky.

 

That is all. More proof that I am weird.

Now back to the prosecco.

xoxo

 

S