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Stephanie Howell

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

Fioreria Pasqualin | Downtown Vicenza Florist

I get a good amount of emails from people who found my blog by googling “living in downtown Vicenza”. So so cool. If you are one of those people, then pay attention to today’s post.

Let me introduce you to my favorite flower shop (fioreria) of all time…Fioreria Pasqualin.

Here’s the front of the shop. It sits on Palladio, a few shops down from Zara.

#fioreriapasqualin #downtownvicenza // via Stephanie Howell

My girls and I stop in the shop about once a week. We don’t always buy something, sometimes we just pop in and say bongiorno and come va.

The owner (pictured above) always has something for the girls. Baby roses, a sprig of baby’s breath, a butterfly clip, or a ribbon for their hair.

Every time we walk in the owner and his wife stop what they are doing to fawn over the girls.

Last time we were in, he told us we were “cinque bellissimi fiori” (5 beautiful flowers) that added to his shop’s beauty.’

#fioreriapasqualin #downtownvicenza // via Stephanie Howell

Yep, he’s a charmer. And to top that off.. his flowers are the absolute BEST.

A few weeks ago I stopped by and bought a bouquet. I took the girls to get a cafe and gelato after and then wandered back towards my car.

The owner came out of his shop when he saw me and shook his finger at me. In Italian he told me that I should have gone directly home and that these flowers should NOT have been in the sun. He had a smile on his face but he was not happy with me. Hahahah! I love Italy. 🙂

Okay- that’s it for today. Just wanted to share one of my favorite things in Vicenza.

xoxo

S

 

 

here i staaaaand and here i STAY

yeah. sorry for getting that song stuck in your head. kind of a jackass move. HA! especially if you are like me and hear this song all #*%$ day long. 🙂

so anyway…

the point is i’m here.

but not as much as i used to be and i wanted to acknowledge that and apologize too. 🙂

i just can’t seem to fit it in right now. it’s funny. when the girls were all itty bitty everyone said (and some seemed to find joy in saying it) oh! just wait until they are older. it just gets harder.

and i always thought they were full of crap. but you know what? it does. in some ways. well i take that back. it doesn’t get harder but it gets even crazier.

always going, coming, dropping off, picking up, coordinating. and since j isn’t here, i obviously don’t have hands to help. and i love it. i love the craziness and the whirlwind. i do.

but i’m tired.

and at the end of the day i don’t want to type a blog post. i want to sleeeeep.

i have so many things i want to type and say. and they are all in my head. or my draft folder. because i get two sentences in or so and have to stop. every time.

so there it is. i’m still instagramming a ton. i think that’s the way i’m documenting for now. it’s quick. and easy. and it doesn’t take an hour to upload photos the way my italian internet does when i’m blogging!

i’m surprising sadie with a trip to venice today, just the 2 of us. harper is on a girl scout trip and i don’t think i’ve ever done anything with just sadie. so i will definitely be blogging this weekend. or soon, at least.

but i’m totally still here.

and thanks for hanging around…i promise things will even out soon. maybe this summer? maybe not. but i won’t ever stop blogging- this place is my heart!

xoxo

 

 

As We Speak…

Constantly buying peonies from a little shop downtown that I’ve fallen in love with. The photo above was taken in the store.

I’m planning two summer trips. One here and one here. Advice and input are greatly welcome!

Thinking of how I’m ready for my sweet husband to come home. Missing him ridiculous amounts.

Feeling disbelief that I will soon have a first grader, a third grader, and two preschoolers!

Wishing I was back in Paris today thanks to this fabulous lady‘s Insta feed. If you don’t follow her, follow her NOW. I have a feeling this summer is going to be legendary.

Reading The Storied Life of AJ Fikry.

Grinning because LeVar Burton’s Kickstarter campaign worked. BRING ON THE READING RAINBOW! It was an honor to donate.

Starting the 30 day shred. Yet again. Le Sigh. Let’s hope I make it past the 10 day shred. Which is my personal record. Don’t act like you’re not impressed… Today the littles were watching me do the video and they were yelling WHY YOUR FACE SO WED? YOU SWEATY MAMA! YOU NEED TO GO TO SWEEP? MAMA? YOU CWYING??? Um, thanks girls.

Watching Nashville. Obsessively.  Finally caught up. Oh Deacon…I love you so. Listening to the Nashville soundtrack. Also obsessively.

Picking up freaking Rainbow Loom bands all.day.long.

Wearing Zara. Almost every day. How did I live pre-Zara?

Learning more and more Italian, thanks to Duolingo.

Smelling jasmine on the breeze. Daily.

Wanting a new camera. But I have no idea where to start.

Loving this time of year in Italia.

What about y’all? What are you up to?

 

Exploring Italy | Piazzola Sul Brenta

This past weekend I went to the one of the largest antique market in Northern Italy…in Piazzola sul Brenta.

It takes place the last Sunday of each month and this was my first time visiting in the 10 months we’ve been here.

AMAZING.

and overwhelming. and MAGICAL.

Vendor after vendor after vendor. And the best hotdogs and chilled red wine I’ve had in a long time.

#PiazzolaSulBrenta #antique market #Italy // via Stephanie Howell

#PiazzolaSulBrenta #antique market #Italy // via Stephanie Howell

#PiazzolaSulBrenta #antique market #Italy // via Stephanie Howell
I came home with this bad boy. I knew that if I didn’t I’d be thinking about it for a LONG time. And that was a mistake I wasn’t willing to make.


I wish I would have had cash left for this, but it wasn’t in the cards. Next time?

This is going to be another future purchase. I can just see it on the wall of a girlie bedroom or playroom.


I  went with my friend who has 9 month old twins. She only had one with her and ended up wearing the baby so that we could use her stroller for our swag. HA! The Italians were molto confusi.

I also scooped up a couple of alarm clocks.

I honestly think we saw mayyyyybe 1/3 of the entire market. It is decided that I must go back every month.

Happy Thursday, y’all!

xoxo

 

Maggio in Italia

roses//herbs//tulips//caprese//jasmine//poppies//sandals//cherries//amazing fruit//peonies

I wish I could describe the way it smells here right now. But there are no words. It’s how I imagine heaven must smell. A combination of jasmine and fresh fruit. Sigh. Can you all come visit?

xoxo

S