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Stephanie Howell

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

Now and Then | She Is + She Isn’t

 

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Sadie at 6 and Sadie at 3…not much has changed.

This kid. She’s the funniest and the most infuriating. I have no doubt that she will rule the world one day. This kid is going to move mountains.

She is:

+ stubborn

+ quick-witted

+ smart as a whip

+ easily frustrated

+ snuggly

+ prickly

+ funny

+ observant

+ logical

+ defiant

+ an instigator

+ thoughtful

+ prone to verbal outburts (she’s loud, she’s proud get used to it)

+ a hand holder

+ strong-willed

+ a gymnast

+loyal

 

 

She is not:

+ easily impressed

+ easily swayed

+ openly emotional

+ good at taking no for an answer

+ patient

+ extroverted

+ quiet

+ interested in hugging you if she doesn’t truly know you

+ a doormat

+ a girlie girl

+ shy to tell you what she thinks

 

She is going to be one hell of a woman. Now if we can just survive to get there. Ha! I love being her mama, but it is not easy. It’s a constant struggle between spunky (cute) and sassy (not cute) and we toe that line every day.

I adore this girl. And oh man…I cannot wait to see what giants+dragons she slays one day.

xo

s

What I’m Reading // What are YOU reading?

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Ehhh…a whole bunch of nothing.

I’m still attempting to read, but nothing is holding my interest. Truly. The only book I remember reading lately is Jojo Moyes’ new book.

And it was sweet and lovely…but just okay. I wanted the magic of Me Before You. Sigh.

Other than that I’ve read crap. Crap that I don’t even want to record on Goodreads because it doesn’t matter.

And I’ve been checking out books from the library, but they don’t even interest me enough to read them.

I guess you could say I’m in a reading slump. Or maybe exercise has taken my reading time. And that’s okay, but I would love to read a good book.

So it’s your turn. What have you read lately that you loved? I want something that will grab me and pull me in. I want something that I will immerse myself in. I want something GOOD. I don’t want to struggle. I want to be consumed.

Whoa. That’s quite the laundry list, no?

Go!

xo

s

 

 

Ode to Italy

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I think this is one of my all-time favorite photographs I’ve taken in Italy.

 

It is SO representative of this place I’ve grown to love. How FABULOUS is the granny in the sequins and sunnies? I love her.

 

After a year and 2 months in Italy here’s what I know.

 

1. I now drive with the best (worst??) of them. Yielding? What’s that??? TAKE THE ROTARY!

 

2. I find myself feeling chilly when it’s under 70 degrees. I have,however,fought the urge to put on a puffer jacket.

 

3. I talk with my hands a lot more.

 

4. I end conversations with “si si si si si si si si!”

 

5. I savor the taste of a spritz aperol.

 

6. I don’t find it at all strange that strangers try to hold Cate and Lucy routinely.

 

7. I use the word “allora” on the reg.

 

8. I will never be able to eat tomatoes, pasta, gelato, produce, or cheese when I move home. Or drink wine or coffee. I am ruined for life and destined to be a horrible snob.

 

9. I wear gloves when I handle produce.

 

10. I eat as soon as my food comes to the table. No waiting for everyone else.

 

11. I am used to no central air. I feel like it is going to be COLD all the time when we go back to the US.

 

12. I can fit my van through ridiculously narrow spaces.

 

13. I don’t expect anything to happen the first time I try. I expect to get lost. If I don’t it’s a pleasant surprise.

 

14. I eat dinner a lot later and drink coffee a lot more.

 

15. I am used to the feel of marble under my feet. Carpet…what’s that?

 

16. I still hate the taste of licorice, even though Italians adore it.

 

17. I have grown accustomed to the sound of church bells ringing.

 

18. I have forgotten what the American media is like. No news on the TV here, no 24/7 mentality. No talking heads, no sensationalism. I do not miss it at all and dread having to return to it.

 

19. I consume meat and produce that was on a farm hours before.

 

20. I have discovered la bella vita.

 

Even when it’s infuriating and nonsensical, I love it here. I don’t ever want to leave. I love the sounds, the smells, the views. I love the people and the mentality. I don’t ever want to leave.

Buona giornata,amici miei.

xoxo

 

Whole Life Challenge | Week 0- Thoughts Before I Begin

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So I am now three days away from starting the Whole Life Challenge.

I plan to blog about my experience and I thought this week was a good place to start. I want to talk about my fears, my expectations, and my thoughts in general.

 

What is the WLC? The Whole Life Challenge is an eight week challenge that works by identifying the areas that almost everyone wants to change, and then making a daily game out of creating new habits in each of those areas. The game is designed around the five key areas that every person can identify with. Relying on their more than forty years of combined personal coaching experience, the founders created a system of play focused on implementing new habits in each of the five key areas.

 

What are the different components?
1. Diet (similar to Whole 30)  2. Exercise(10 min a day) 3. Water Intake (take 1/3 of your body weight and drink 1 ounce per pound)4. Stretching (10 minutes) 5. Supplements (I’m taking fish oil) 6. Lifestyle (this changes weekly- sleep,meditation,etc) 7.Daily Reflection

Each component is worth a certain amount of points. You lose points for breaking the rules.

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So. Yeah. I’m pretty nervous but also really, truly excited to experience these eight weeks.

Saturday is the first day.

 

What am I scared about? No bread, pasta, sugar, dairy, cheese, milk. ESPECIALLY the cheese. I love cheese. Drinking my coffee black. I will miss gelato soooo much.

 

What am I most excited about? Changing my life. Does that sound dramatic? Maybe. But it’s true. I’m tired of being tired. I’m tired of my back hurting and my stomach aching and I’m tired of being out of breath. I’m tired of not feeling strong. I’m tired of making bad choices because they are the easy choices. I’m tired of making excuses and I’m tired of not feeling good about myself.

 

What’s my plan? Exercise every day. CrossFit, Body Pump, Yoga, Swimming, Walking, Running, Elliptical, Hiking. Backup Plan at home= 30 Day Shred, TurboFire.

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I’m on week four of almost daily exercise and y’all- I feel GOOD. And strong. And I’m happier. I can’t wait to add in the nutrition piece.

My plan is to make good choices and to make changes. I know that I will mess up and slip up and I’m okay with that. I’m not aiming for perfection.

My plan is to do prep every Sunday. Eggs boiled, Chicken baked. Vegetables and fruit chopped and sliced. I am going to buy a small freezer so that I can make and prep meals as well.

 

What level am I doing? Lifestyle/intermediate. One glass of wine a day? SOLD.

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What am I stocking up on? Recipes and ideas. I have a Pinterest board HERE. I am going to make my own sriracha sauce and some other seasonings. I intend to try to make my own Lara bars. We’ll see…

I’m stocking up on almond and cashew butters, Lara bars, and quinoa. Coconut oil, almond and coconut flours, almond and coconut milks. Raw cacao powder, a big water bottle, coconut flakes, and dates are all in my cupboard.

Each week I will visit a farmer’s market or local shop and load up on fresh fruit and veggies. I have to teach myself to like sweet potatoes. VOM. Hahaha!

 

What about my family? Jimmy supports me 100 percent and is joining me in the challenge. I’m so excited to see the impact this makes on my family. For the record, I will not remove dairy, etc. from the house. My girls will still have these things, but dinners are for everyone. I make it, you eat it. No other choices. 🙂

 

This Friday I take the workout assessment. I will compare my times/scores before and after the challenge. I had my photos taken (in my sports bra-EEEK) and measurements taken on Monday. It was a scary experience for me but I really believe the end results will make it worthwhile.

It’s eight weeks. I can do anything for eight weeks. After the challenge is over I want to decide what components to keep.

Let’s be honest. Life is too short to not have pasta, or pizza, or gelato. Life’s too short to not taste the wine. But I need to cut down on these things. I’m not taking care of myself and it’s time for that to change.

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I am determined to become stronger than my strongest excuse.

Let’s do this!

xoxo

S

Love | Scrapbook Layout

I think it’s safe to say that I’ve got my creative mojo back. For the first time in a really long time I’m wanting to make stuff.

Every day I feel the desire to at least step in my craft room and do something…even if it’s just sorting and organizing.

It’s a great feeling!

Here’s a new page I recently made:

6a00e551ef15fe883401a73e125cda970d-800wiSupplies: Gossamer Blue September kits, My Mind’s Eye Market Street stickers, My Mind’s Eye enamel dots, doily from stash

These kits were so “me” that I just couldn’t stop making stuff. The colors are pure happiness.
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Journaling reads: At 3 1/2 you scatter sunshine everywhere you go. And gelato. You scatter that, too.

It feels so good to be making and creating again. Here’s to getting my creative groove back. WOOHOO!

xoxo

S