Stephanie Howell

What I’m Reading 2014 // January 2014 Edition

January 7, 2014

One of my goals for 2014 is to be more intentional about reading. To track my books via Goodreads, to pay attention to what I read and didn’t read, to share what I’m reading here.

I hope this will be a monthly feature, but I’ve learned by now never to say anything for sure. HA!!

Let me share how I devour read and choose books.

My favorite thing about the end of the year is the “Best Of” lists you can find. I’ve pinned several of them to my Books Pinterest board HERE.

As I read the lists I add books to my Goodreads “to read” list.

The other day I added a bunch of books from the Kirkus Best Fiction of 2013 list…and when I got to the library I pulled up my Goodreads app and went from there.

When I go to the library I check out all the books that catch my eye. I don’t expect that I’ll read them all, but I’m not sure which ones will and won’t get read. I take a stack and return the ones that I’m not feeling.

January List:

1.Wild by Cheryl Strayed

2. The Returned by Jason Mott

3. Canada by Richard Ford

4. The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker

5. Very Bad Men by Harry Dolan (just noticed this one is 2nd in a series I haven’t read the 1st of…probably won’t be reading it).

6. The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes

7. The Last Letter from Your Lover by Jojo Moyes

Books I completed last month:

1. State of Wonder by Ann Patchett- Didn’t like this one. Ann Patchett is a beautiful, poetic author but I really disliked this book. It bored me (no matter HOW MUCH I wanted to like it) and the ending ticked me off.

2. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon- Loved it. Beautiful, lyrical, spine-tingling and mesmerizing. Makes me want to visit Barcelona badly.

3. Christmas Bliss by Mary Kay Andrews- Devoured it in a few hours. It’s another Weezie/BeBe Savannah book and it was adorable. I didn’t want it to end. My only complaint is that it made me miss Savannah terribly.

4. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes- I fell in love with this and never wanted it to end. I haven’t stopped thinking about it since.

5. The Paris Wife by Paula McLain- Thanks to Paula, I’m now obsessed with the Lost Generation and the Jazz Age. I’ve always been intrigued by Hemingway/Fitzgerald/Stein/Joyce etc…and this book sealed the deal. Highly recommend.

6. Beautiful Day by Elin Hilderbrand- It was okay. Highly forgettable but passed the time just fine. I’ve already forgotten about it.

Okay, there you go!

Hopefully I can keep up with this all year!

What are YOU reading?

xoxo

❤❤

January 2, 2014

Recently I read a message board post. The author was asking if personal blogs were a thing of the past.

My first thought? I sure hope not!

My second thought? I have no idea.

I mean…I initially wanted to shout NO WAY!

But then I realized that I honestly don’t know.

There aren’t as many comments anymore. But that extends to all blogs. All galleries. Things just aren’t the same. Sometimes I feel like I’m talking to myself.

One of my creative resolutions for 2014 (besides MAKE MORE) is to comment on blogs more often.

I feel like Feedly makes it easy to just look…but not to look through and comment.

I’m a lazy blog reader. I like to read, take inspiration, and leave.

And that’s okay sometimes. But not all the time. Blogging is a lot of work. It’s the best kind of work in the world, if you ask me. But it’s work nonetheless. And this year I resolve to leave more comments.

Back to the matter at hand. I know I’m not the only “lazy” blog reader. 🙂 I think most people are like I am.

And it’s totally FINE. I don’t do this for the comments. That would be kind of gross, anyway. Though I do see how that would be really easy to get caught up in/sucked in to.

I blog because (as I’ve said a million times before) I LOVE IT. It is my therapy. My voice and my saving grace. There have been many lonely times where it has been my only connection.

But I often wonder if I should be sharing more crafty projects. Those take the most (and best!) work, but seem to get the least feedback. Travel posts are the same.

I think Instagram and Pinterest are a big deal right now. And I LOVE those two places. Facebook? Not so much. I’m pretty disenchanted with FB these days.

Okay. Rambling over.

With that being said…who are you?

If you are reading today, tell me about yourself. Where are you from? How long have you been reading? Tell me anything.

Tell me if you think blogging is a dying art form. Do people still read? Do you just look at photos? Do you just immediately press that “x” on your browser or feedly feed?

I’d love it if you’d join my roll call today. 🙂

xoxo

Favorite Projects of 2013

January 1, 2014

Okay, okay. There were probably slim pickings. I had less creative time (and at times, less inclination) this past year than I have in a really long time.

But that doesn’t mean I didn’t make some things that make my heart sing.

After looking over these…I (still) clearly really love:

enamel dots

doilies

sequins

tape

garlands

clusters.

Here’s my list (in no particular order)

1. Why? It makes me happy.

2. Why? Had so much fun making that heart.

3. Why? This is when I really started to fall in love with Project Life. And with Gossamer Blue.

4. Why? This project made me really want to do more minis. I LOVED the process. You can see the entire album HERE.

5. Why? I loved doing a layout about me+J. Plus, this was just fun product to use.

6. Why? The design. I was really pleased with the way the little photos fit the polaroid paper.

7. Why? I had so much fun playing around with PL sizes this past year. Also- loved discovering (and USING) so many free printables for my PL. You can see them all compiled HERE.

8. Why? Simple. Good.

9. Why? Um, DUH. Only the most awesome moment. EVER.

10. Why? Fun layout. Fun memories.

Yay! Putting that post together made me all kinds of happy.

Creative resolutions for 2014?

1. MAKE MORE.

2. MAKE MORE.

3. MAKE MORE.

xoxoxo

One Little Word // 2014

December 31, 2013

So it’s been a while since I’ve chosen One Little Word. I don’t even remember the last one I chose.

And you know what? Even when I have chosen a word, I haven’t followed through on making it meaningful. On using it with intention.

And I want this year to be different.

So I sat down to think (and think) about the word I wanted to choose.

And I thought about something that happened when we were in Florence.

The owner of the apartment we were renting came by to meet with us. He was just lovely. We chatted about Italy and about our big family. I was telling him how in America people make interesting (?!?!?) -read thoughtless at times- comments about large families.

And how plenty of people think we are just nuts.

Recently someone said to me “I don’t know why someone would want to have four kids!”. Uhhh….what’s the proper response to that? I’ll tell you what. The slow blink.

Anyway…

He said crazy? Oh no! Coraggioso.

Courageous.

And you know what? It was one of the most beautiful words I’ve ever heard. Most words tend to be prettier in Italian…but this one just went straight to my heart.

I want to be courageous.

And that’s my word for 2014.Coraggioso.

1. I want to be courageous by standing up for myself. In saying no thank you. In saying yes,please. In saying what I want and need to say.

2. I want to make decisions that aren’t always the easiest and the safest. I’m sick and tired of censoring myself based on whether someone else may or may not agree with what I have to say.

3. I want to show my girls how to live life courageously.

4. I want to try new things professionally this year, things I’ve been scared of.

5. I want to explore this world.

6. I want to be able to ask for what I want. What I need.

7. I want to be honest with myself.

8. I want to love courageously and completely.

9. I want to immerse myself in this culture and language without worrying about making a fool of myself.

10. I want to be strong. Physically, spiritually, emotionally, and mentally.

I want to live life courageously. I want this year to mean something. I don’t want it to slip through my fingers or pass in a flurry of not remembering.

That’s my OLW. What’s yours?

xoxo

What is One Little Word?

It’s a wonderful concept that the amazing Ali came up with.

You can read all about it here.

Ali is also offering a class that you can join here.

Christmas 2013 in Photos

December 27, 2013

my vintage santa collection:

prosecco by the tree:

where you hang your stockings when there is no mantel:

cate’s christmas eve excitement:

new jammies by the tree. note to self: italy doesn’t “do” christmas pajamas. don’t count on gap. you will order four sets of matching pajamas EARLY. you will think you are on top of your game. the gap will only deliver the 2 sets of 3ts. NOT HELPFUL. next year…be prepared.