Stephanie Howell

Exploring Italy | Bolzano Christmas Market

This year I made it a point to go to a couple of Christmas markets. We didn't get to any at all last year and next year I hope to go to German Christmas markets (Nürnberg is at the very top of my list). So this year it was all about the Italian markets.

First we went to the market in Verona. It was super cute and quaint but very small.

The second market we attended was in Bolzano. It's the biggest Christmas market in Italy. Bolzano is in Northern Italy, really close to Austria. The town looks much more German than Italian. It's very Bavarian and I love it. It's only been an Italian town since WW1!

I love everything about Christmas markets. They are quaint and cozy and they just ooze Christmas spirit. Exploring with a cup of vin brulé warming my hands...well it just made me happy.

Warning: This post is really photo heavy. I've read all sorts of articles about how blog posts shouldn't contain more than a few shots to get your point across - but I don't care. This post deserves a million photos. :)

Bolzano is nestled at the base of the Alps. It's just magical there, there's really no other way to describe it. I fell in love with it the first time we visited and I still feel the same way.

We experienced the market during the daytime and at night...here are some shots from when the sun was still up. The market was full of all sorts of treasures. Some kitschy, some classy. There were giant pretzels and paninis. White hot chocolate, hot chocolate, vin brule. It just smelled delicious.

The best part is that everything is handmade and made with love. No crap.

We rode the cable car up the mountain to explore for a bit. At the top we found a big drink tent.

The drink tent served vin brulé -aka mulled wine/glugwein (both white and red) as well as apple cider. It was FREEZING so we lingered for a while so we could warm up.

 

By the time we got back down to the bottom it was dark. I have to say that I think the market was even more magical at night.

 

This was such a great experience for our family and I am now so ready to experience the German markets!

Happy Monday!

 

xoxo

S

 

Christmas 2013 in Photos

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.

 

santa came! :

pigs in a blanket-a christmas morning tradition:

the aftermath:

cutest stuffed frogs from bb!

santa knows 'ashion...yes?

princess dresses+t rexes+ dragons=a 3 year old's dream christmas:

overwhelmed with gratitude that he was here:

i was a VERY good girl. santa brought me a leather bag from firenze. sneaky santa!!

giant kinder eggs from their stockings:

santa brought me something else...pneumonia. BOOOO!

hope your day was beautiful and bright. love you all!

Christmas Vignettes

I just wanted to quickly share some photos of the Christmas decorating happening in our little Italian apartment.

My favorite thing about this apartment is the ceilings. The thing that's taken the most getting used to? Italian marble floors. They are COLD. And hard.

When I purchased these OOOOOLLLLLD cubbies from the antique market downtown, I had no idea what to do with them. Turns out they are perfect for the Christmas treasures I've gathered over the years! :)

A few detail shots:

Well, that's it for today. It's beginning to look (and feel) a lot like Christmas around here and I can't tell you how happy that makes me.

Haven't done a single page in my December Daily, didn't get around to wrapping the 25 Christmas books this year, and I don't have a mantel to hang my stockings on (they are on our coat tree).

But you know what?

I am okay with it. More than okay. Because none of that really matters. I'll get to it when/if I get to it.

My heart is full.

xoxo

S

 

p.s. I'll be back tomorrow with the giveaway winner from last week!

December Daily Share

Hey y'all. :)

I wanted to share a December Daily post today.

For those of you who are part of the Boot Camp class and have been checking for updates...thanks for your patience! I didn't want to share every day (can you say DD overload??:) and thought weekly would be better!

To recap...I used the Gossamer Blue kit (which is now sold out) but I linked almost all the products I used below.

For the ones I didn't link, check the GB page.Lori has all the products listed there (under the photos).

 

Dec 5- This is a 2 page spread b/c Dec 4. had an extra insert for our Christmas card.

A fun accent is the circle on the bottom of the left page.

Jimmy and I went out to dinner and on top of the butter dish was a vellum circle with the restaurant's name on it.

Yes, I put it in my purse. And no, it didn't have any butter on it. HA!

Dec. 6/7

Dec. 8/9

Dec 10/11

Dec. 12/13

Dec. 14/15

I did not want to gloss over the tragedy on the 14th. But I didn't want to put anything scary in either.

I was so confused what to do, but I did my best. Still not sure what I should have said...I notice that many people haven't mentioned it at all. But I wanted to.

Dec. 16/17

And one more quick share...I used my MME goodies to make gift card holders for Sadie's teachers.

All you need is glassline envelopes, doilies, washi tape, and sticker accents. Easy peasy.

Each envelope holds Amazon gift cards.

I LOVE her teachers and one of them is interested in Project Life for 2013, so I thought Amazon was the way to go. :)

Have a beautiful day. xoxo

InLinkz.com

Scrappy Sunday-Martha Stewart Crafty Goodness

Happy Sunday! Today I have some really fun stuff from the folks at Martha Stewart Crafts!

You might remember a while back I got to review the Doily Circle Edge punch...well this time I've been sent some fun holiday products to share with you.

And make sure to read the promo info under each product...MS is sharing a fun discount code for all of you, not to mention a fun contest!

Rich Essentials Glitter Set

you should have seen harper and sadie's EYES when they saw this big box of glitter!

it's beautiful.

you should have seen MY eyes when i thought about what would happen if the babies got their grubby mitts on it. HAHAHA!

i waited for naptime yesterday and we made some pretty holiday ornaments.

here's a couple of close-ups...these are just the super cheap plaster ornaments (on clearance!) from Michaels:

aren't they so pretty? and YES, it was messy. but the glitter trays helped. and also...

i don't get too worked up about stuff like that. it's just glitter. and the bigs had a BALL.

next i decided it was time for mama to have craft time. here's what i made:

don't you just love these? and i had so much FUN making them.

i have big plans to make lots more of these to adorn holiday gift boxes.

here's some info from martha stewart crafts:

Bling On The Holidays with a Glitter Girl Party!

The holidays are the perfect time to add some sparkle to your life. Create a glitter wonderland with help from Martha Stewart Crafts! Their glitter collections and project ideas will help you add dash of glitz to just about anything – from holiday decorations to party invitations. Why not share the fun and hose a Glitter Girl Party to get to glittering?! Invite your girlfriends over for some wine, snacks and an evening full of bedazzling creativity.
 
Try starting with the “Rich Essentials Glitter Set” from MarthaStewartCrafts.com. The rich array of 24 elegant colors lets you shine on the sophisticated side, whatever you’re glittering. Creating party invitations or sending out holiday greeting cards? Another glitter get is the “Essential Christmas Glitter Glue” pack – perfect for writing on cards and scrapbook pages, and the fine tips are ideal for detailed and dimensional designs.
 
The Martha Stewart Crafts “Decorative Boxes,” in designs like stars, poinsettia and pine cones, can be covered in glitter and used as ornaments, decorations or unique gift boxes. One fabulously simple décor idea: glitter a group of them and then cluster together as a table centerpiece.
 
Worried about the mess from your Glitter Girl Party? Martha Stewart Crafts has the solution! Keep crafting surfaces clean by using the “Glitter Tray and Rack,” which features an opening in one corner to easily brush excess glitter back into its container. And, if something does spill, the “Glitter Cleanup Roller” makes removing it a cinch. Plus, the roller remains sticky even after washing!
 
So go ahead and add a sparkly sprinkle to your holiday cards, decorations, party invitations, place cards or gift tags! For project ideas and glitter guidance – and to find the items mentioned above – visit MarthaStewartCrafts.com.  Order by 12/31/12 and save 20% when you enter Coupon Code BLOG20 at checkout!
 
Feeling inspired? Save 20% at MarthaStewartCrafts.com when you enter BLOG20 at checkout through 12/31/12 – and enter the Martha Stewart Crafts "Bag Your Holiday Bills" Contest for your chance to win $2,500! Contest entry & details: Enter here  -- or for mobile, here!

and one more share...

Doily Lace Loaf Trays

love these new baking packages. this is what i will use to package pumpkin bread or gingerbread for the h&s's teachers.

my favorite part is that they've included the sweet little tags and ribbons.and DOILY trays? i know. love.

confession- i tried baking a loaf of bread to show you how it will look, but a.i burned it and b.it was TOTALLY the wrong size.

HAHAHA!

but here's a look:

and some info:

You put so much goodness into your holiday cookies, why settle for boring packaging? Ditch those old beat-up tins! Decorative treat bags, boxes and wrappers from Martha Stewart Crafts add the finishing festive touch to your homemade gifts – so they’ll look as good as they taste!
 
Martha Stewart Crafts can even dress up your breads and fruitcakes with the “Wonderland Bakeable Trays.” Beautiful and functional, you can bake right in these trays – then use the cellophane bags, ribbon and labels to turn your confections into gifting perfection.

Feeling inspired? Save 20% at MarthaStewartCrafts.com when you enter BLOG20 at checkout through 12/31/12 – and enter the Martha Stewart Crafts "Bag Your Holiday Bills" Contest for your chance to win $2,500! Contest entry & details HERE.

 

sorry about the L   O   N   G post y'all! but hopefully you found it inspiring.

make sure to take advantage of those discount codes!

xoxo

disclosure: baking trays and glitter are c/o martha stewart crafts. so grateful for their generosity and kindess! :)

Christmas in Newport

I love living in New England this time of year.

It's just magical. Don't get me wrong...Christmas was magical when I lived in the South,too.

But there's just something about Rhode Island in December.

Autumn flew by in a windy,leaf-filled gust. I didn't get to do half of what I wanted to do.

It's a shame we only have one year here. I love it so and there's so much more I want to experience.

I feel like I'm trying to cram everything in and I'm missing so much!

Because of that I'm determined to really experience the holiday season here.

This is what Newport looks like in December:

a pretty little (and old) town by the sea...covered in twinkle lights. It's lovely to witness.

There are wonderful traditions here. Last week Santa came down our street on a float pulled by the Fire Department.

Down at the Yachting Center they make an ice skating rink for the season:

And we attended the Newport Christmas Tree Lighting there last night:

Afterwards we wandered down the street to look at lights and get some coffee/hot chocolate.

We saw a bar bouncer Santa on the sidewalk and thought he was HILARIOUS.

He was clearly wearing the worst costume ever, with the fakest beard ever known to man.

I told him "you sit on a throne of LIES" and he laughed himself into a coughing fit and told me "AWESOME reference".

side note: i am NOT wearing white hammer pants here. those are baby blankets.bahaha!

And then we climbed in the car and went to look at the Christmas house...it's famous for having a CRAZY amount of lights.

And MAN...though this time in our lives is full of diaper changes,

double fit throwing,

getting frustrated because it takes us SO LONG to leave the house (no matter how early we start),

so much dirty laundry,

a million papers to sign,lunches to make,messes to mop...

it's also full of so much magic.

trying hard to embrace more of the magic and less of the MESS.

xoxo

 

the day after

happy monday!!

i love the day after christmas...i always have! it's still lazy,we are all still together, and there's just a peaceful feel about it don't you think? well except for the TORNADO that apparently swept through my house yesterday! i keep telling myself it's a sign of a happy day and that it shouldn't stress me out. it seems to be working (kind of?).

 

christmas was wonderful.

 

h wrote santa a note all by herself:

dear santa- these are your milk and cookies.merry christmas! we love you.

p.s. be safe!!

santa brought harper an american girl (molly):

and sadie got a "big girl bike":

we played, laughed, and napped:

watched the wizard of oz together for the first time ever (j and i teared up at the exact same part- when dorothy wakes up and sees everyone she loves...what IS it about the end of that movie??).

and then had a delicous dinner. we all stayed in our pjs all day long. and i don't think it escaped any of us that we were TOGETHER. such a delicious (and sometimes foreign) feeling.

the only gift i really ever want. and that's the honest truth. all the other stuff is secondary.

today we are wearing pjs again. eating lots of left over snickerdoodles and rib roast.

and i am working on this:

i've decided to do project life this year. and i could NOT possibly be more excited. it's actually a little bit out of control how excited i am!

jimmy and i were talking about how when he's deployed (8th deployment coming this year) he never has access to the "day to day". ever. we have limited time to speak and when we do i'm not telling him the little things.

our conversations are dominated by the big things. news from family, car problems, financial issues, sick kids,pressing issues, etc.

this is going to be a game changer. jimmy will be able to see all the things he misses.

he misses them even when he's not "gone"...he leaves before dawn every day and often comes back after sunset.

he's just as excited as i am about this project.

can i get started NOW??? :)
happy day after christmas y'all!

xoxo

have yourself a merry little christmas

 

oh, i hope it's full of magic.

and happiness and health

love.

that it's joyful and triumphant.

i hope it's full of peace.

whether it's white or silent...

i hope that it is beautiful.

i love and appreciate you all so so very much.

thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything. for every word, every comment, every prayer.

i hope it's merry.

oh night divine

oh night when christ was born

oh night divine

oh night divine.

led by the light of faith serenely beaming

with glowing hearts by his cradle we stand...

from my family to yours...

have a merry,blessed christmas.

xoxoxo

how we use elf on a shelf

some of the above ideas are from pinterest (syrup,snow angel)

meet turtle the elf. we bought turtle...um ahem...i mean turtle came to us??...when harper was one.

we found turtle at a junior league event in tyler texas. it was a random very small booth and kind of a weird looking elf, but we thought it would be a fun tradition for our family to hide him every day and have harper look for him.

at that time we certainly didn't know we'd have four kiddos. haah!

we read the book to miss h and she promptly named him "turtle". or TUTTLE!!! this was her favorite word at one and a half.

here's harper looking for turtle the first christmas we started the tradition:

 

how cute was she? and how heavily was i breathing? hahah! can you tell i was big time pregnant with miss sadie? :)

turtle is a tradition that our family has so enjoyed over the years.

i've seen a lot of weird comments re: elf on a shelf on the internet lately.

things like:

people that do it are lame !??!

people that don't do it aren't creating a fun childhood for their children ?!?!?!

people that do it need to get a life

it's stupid to get creative with your elf

why is the elf being naughty if he is supposed to be used to make your children behave

if i use this elf it's defeating the true purpose of christmas.(this one? i don't get AT ALL. I'm pretty sure i'm not telling them to worship turtle)

the elf is too popular right now, why would you want to do it

your children are missing out on something if you don't do this.

 

here are my thoughts on the subject. and btw, who know an elf could be so controversial??? i've never seen such a thing!

DO WHATEVER MAKES YOUR FAMILY HAPPY.

if the elf creeps you out (he is kind of creepy) and you don't want one, go for it.

if you want to put your elf in intricate settings, go for it. if you want to forget to move him and make up strange stories about a snowstorm making it impossible for him to get back to the north pole (i may have done this) then go for it.

if your baby (lucy??) eats his hat and you have to let the babysitter move him for his safety, go for it.

it's just a fun tradition for us. we don't use it to threaten, we don't use it for behavior. that wouldn't work here anyway.

but...sometimes if the girls are throwing fits and being ridiculous they will look at turtle and get embarrased that he's watching. HEEEE!

it has turn into a competition of sorts between jimmy+stephanie to see who can put him in the funniest place.

last year j put him in the oven, staring out the door in a creepy way. it FREAKED the girls out. it made me VERY HAPPY b/c i didn't have to cook! haaaaaaaa!

exhibit a:

i may or may not have had a nightmare starring turtle that night.

the girls wake up wanting to look for him every single day.

gosh, this post is rambling and random.

i just think the elf is fun. and i don't think my kids are going to know that the internet was saturated with him in 2011.

just like they won't know that butterflies and doilies were the big trend in scrapbooking, and that everyone used them on their pages just like i do.

just like they won't know that i don't use visual triangles and design principles when scrapbooking.

just like they wouldn't know if we DIDN'T have him.

they don't care. they just want to have fun. and the elf brings joy to our home.

bottom line. :)

hope today is joyful for YOU.

xoxo

s

quick holiday share

i threw a little party last night, a cookie swap for the wives in my FRG (family readiness group).

it was fun to eat some delicious cookies, talk to some amazing women, and listen to a little christmas music.

but here's what i really want to share with you guys...

the cookies i made were so good!

HAHAH! no...not these. i wanted to show you guys my FIRST attempt. these.were.disgusting.

and jimmy keeps asking me what happened to the middle. I DON'T KNOW JIMMY. I DON'T KNOW. they disappeared. horrible, massive fail.

but then i found these:

and oh my goodness gracious are they amazing. and easy. they taste like snickerdoodles but with an almond flavor. and brown butter drizzle on top. mmmm.

here you go:

almond cinnamon cookies

make them.eat them. and report back.

happy wednesday y'all!

xxo