Stephanie Howell

My Week in the Life™ Title Page + Kit

Hey y'all and happy Monday!

I just wanted to pop in quickly today and share what I'm planning on doing for Week in the Life™ this year. If you're not familiar with the concept (and I'm pretty sure everyone is) then click on the link above. It's one of Ali's concepts and it's marvelous.

I've ALWAYS wanted to do this project and I've never gotten around to it. I've always had a million excuses. This isn't a good week for me, it would be too repetitive...heck I even had an excuse this year. I wanted to order Ali's kit and I didn't have time. I also wanted to do the project next week instead of this week.

NEWSFLASH! Those aren't good reasons to not do this. I made my own kit and I am doing it next week instead of this week. This week the bigs are in camp all week. Next week is our last week of summer vacation, our last week of summer vacation as a family of six! Why was I so hung up on these issues when they really weren't issues??

I'm so weird.

Anyway, here's my title page.

 

I'm using a 6x8 Studio Calico Handbook for the album. For the supplies I basically just dug through my stash. Almost all of these embellishments are ones I received in my Gossamer Blue kits.

Some of my favorite manufacturers (the ones I use over and over and over) that you will see in my album are :

Dear Lizzy

Seven Paper

Liz Tamanaha for Gossamer Blue

Jen Hadfield for Pebbles

Crate Paper

Maggie Holmes

Freckled Fawn

Elise Blaha Cripe badges

sequins and doilies from my stash

 

The cards are all:

Gossamer Blue

Studio Calico

Paislee Press (digital cards)

Digital Design Essentials (digital cards)

One Little Bird (digital cards)

 

Here's a closeup look at some of the things I've gathered.

I look forward to continuing to prep this week and then starting the project next Monday!

What about you...are you in?

xoxo

S

Summer Tag Set

I know that many of you are "back to school" but we still have a couple of weeks left of summer vacation and I'm savoring every moment.

Today I wanted to share some fun and simple summer tags. Honestly, I realize I'm a bit behind the curve on these.

I probably should have made them in hmmmmm. June perhaps? But honestly, I wanted to make them. And they make me happy! They'd be great in a mini album or on top of a gift.

I've been hoarding all of these super cute summer embellishments and I figured it was time to use them!

Here's what I came up with.

 

Beach Babe Tag:

Supplies: Freckled Fawn felt doilies, Maggie Holmes tags, Fancy Pants Designs flair, Simple Stories chipboard

 

Sun & Fun Tag:

Supplies: Maggie Holmes tag, Freckled Fawn felt doily, Freckled Fawn wood summer shapes, Crate Paper phrase sticker.

 

Good Times Tag:

Supplies: Freckled Fawn felt doily, Maggie Holmes Tag, Simple Stories chipboard, Crate Paper Poolside standout sticker

 

Hello Summer Tag:

Supplies: Martha Stewart doily, Maggie Holmes Tag, Crate Paper Poolside standout stickers, Simple Stories chipboard

 

Flip Flops Tag:

Supplies: Freckled Fawn felt doily, Maggie Holmes Tag, Simple Stories chipboard, Crate Paper sticker, Maggie Holmes floral ephemera

There you have it! Hope these fun+simple tags brought some sunshine to your day!

xoxo

S

Stitch Fix Maternity Review

If you've read here for a while then you know I'm a big, huge fan of Stitch Fix.

I have been using this service for years and I still think it's 100 percent totally worth it. Especially now that they have maternity offerings!

Let me tell you a little story about trying to shop for clothes in Italy.

I am not a size 00000. And all clothes in Italy are made for tiny women. I am not a tiny woman. I am tall. And I have big feet. I gave up trying to squeeze into Italian clothes about a year ago.

There are barely any maternity clothes here and the ones that do exist...again...are TINY.

One of my Italian friends told me that there is a sort of joke about clothing in Europe. There are European sizes...and then there are Italian sizes. Yep. I might have fit in them when I was 13, but I certainly don't now. :)

 

Enter Stitch Fix. Thank goodness.

 

Stitch Fix has outfitted me this entire pregnancy and I love what they've been sending me.

 

My Top Stitch Fix Tips:

 

1. Start a Pinterest Board. Link it in your profile. Use this board to pin outfits and looks you love. I pin photos from bloggers and their reviews as well as photos from the Stitch Fix Instagram Feed. Here's my Stitch Fix Pinterest Board.

 

2. Be specific, be specific, be specific. Use up every single character in that box they give you to give notes to your stylist. Tell them what you like and what you do not want. Tell them exactly how much you want to spend. Name your style icons. Tell them the parts of your body you want to flaunt and the parts you want to keep hidden. Don't mince words. Be specific in the feedback you give on your boxes. If you hate something, don't just say you hate it. Tell them why. Tell them how it made you feel and how it made you look. Share your blog, your Instagram. This helps your stylist get a feel for YOU.

 

3. Be patient. Rome wasn't built in a day. It's going to take a bit for your stylist to get a hang of what makes you tick and what works on your body. Remember, this is a virtual service. Your stylist isn't in the room with you so it's tricky.

 

4. Don't be afraid to request a stylist you love.Or conversely, don't be afraid to request that a certain stylist is NOT assigned to you.

 

Stitch Fix is for you if:

1. You don't have the time to shop right now. Kids, work, illness, whatever it is. For me...I don't have the time to really CONCENTRATE when I shop. Does that make sense? I'm usually sweating and trying to get in and out. HA!

2. You don't like shopping.

3. You don't have easy access that quality clothes that fit you.

4. You have a hard time finding maternity clothes.

5. You just like the ease of someone else dressing you.

 

It's probably not for you if:

1. You are a bargain hunter.

2. You aren't patient.

3. You prefer choosing one of a kind pieces for yourself.

One of my favorite things about Stitch Fix is that it's such a thoughtfully personalized, genuine service. The stylists take their time to really get to know you and your heart.

Here's my latest card, how sweet is this?

And here are the contents of my latest box, which I pretty much consider a home run.

Note: I lost the receipt so this post I can't share how much each item cost. Boooo for preggers brain. So sorry!

 

1. Gabre Maternity Dress by Eight Sixty Maternity.

Status: Kept it. It's so comfortable, classic, and chic. It fit like a dream and I know it will work post-pregnancy too. I loved the eyelet detail and how the back is a bit lower than the front.

 

2. Bethanie Striped Maxi Skirt by Market & Spruce.

Status: Sent back. I'm pretty much out of my chevron phase and this skirt was a bit too tight/clingy for me. But I do love me some maxis!

 

3. Barker Lace Detail Maternity Knit Tank by Loveappella Maternity.

Status: Kept it. It is ADORABLE. The perfect color, the perfect light material. I love the lace detail on the straps and the ruching is perfect for my big ole belly.

 

4. Maria Maternity Strech Eyelet Detail Top by Collective Concepts Maternity.

Status: Returned it. Not cute on me, though I think it would be adorable on someone way shorter than me (I'm 5'8"). It was an awkward length on me but I think it would work as a dress if you are more petite than I am. I can say that it was super comfy!

 

5. Eloise Maxi Dress by Gilli.

Status: Kept it. It's stunning. The color is gorgeous and it's so soft and comfortable. The back is the best part. Super sexy but also classic + classy. I have no doubt I'll be able to wear this post pregnancy. It's timeless, which is why I also purchased Item #1. I love buying things that I would have loved 15 years ago and that I will still love in 15 years from now.

 

So there you go! My latest maternity Stitch Fix.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments.

If you'd like to sign up, here is my personalized link.

Thanks so much for stopping by today, Happy Wednesday!

xoxo

 

Disclosure: I get a small affiliate commission if you use the provided link to sign up.

Exploring Italy : Day Trip to Asiago

On Sunday we decided to take a day trip to Asiago. The reasons were twofold.

1. CHEEEEESE. Duh.

2. It is 20 degrees cooler up in the mountains. Yes, please.

 

We'd also heard about a cute little park called Gnome Village and we thought the girls would enjoy it so we got in the car and headed up the mountain. It's about an hour away.

NOTE: If you drive to Asiago make sure to take Dramamine with you. The switchbacks are pretty brutal and I always have one or two girls with a white face and a tummyache.

 

The first thing on our itinerary was Gnome Village. Or in Italian...Villagio degli Gnomi.

In short? It was adorable. I don't know how much fun it would be for anyone much older than Harper's age, but the girls loved it.

We hiked through the woods for a bit. There were balance games and mini adventures along the way. At the end of the hike we found the gnome village.

The scenery was magical. It reminded me of the PNW (we lived in Washington State years ago.)

These little houses were so cute. One had a troll trap around it, one had smoke billowing out of the roof...

And according to the girls, the best ones were the homes that talked to you. Seriously. There's a dude hanging out in an office somewhere with a microphone and he talks back to kids all day. Bahaha!

You should have seen Cate and Lucy's eyes when he said Ciao and asked their names. Good thing they know Italian!

Cate! Lucy! SIAMO GEMELLE!!! (Cate, Lucy, we are twins!)

So cute.

After we explored the village, we drove through some beautiful countryside (see all the cows everywhere?) to find Mom and Dad's magical village...a cheese factory!!!

We stopped in at Caseificio Pennar and spent some time sampling cheeses and decision making. And it was NOT an easy decision to make! We ended up with some fresh milk, butter, and a big ole wedge of traditional Asiago.

The guys there are so friendly and helpful...they were concerned about me being pregnant and waved me away from the cheeses I shouldn't be eating.

You need to know some Italian to visit here, no one really speaks English. I know you can call ahead and schedule tours, too.

After the cheeeeeese we just walked around and explored Asiago.

All in all it was a perfect day trip. Nice and cool, beautiful scenery, gnomes, and amazing cheese.

What more could a girl want?? :)
xoxo

S

Insta- Inspiration

 

I have been experiencing a resurgence in my craftiness lately and I completely owe this to the ladies that I'm following on Instagram (I'm @stephaniehowell) .

My feed is full of creativity and color every day...and better than that, it's full of a genuine love of creating. This has really put me in a good place. It makes me want to make!

Sidenote: Instagram has really truly become my happy place. No drama, no politics, no arguing. Just happiness.

I thought I'd share some of my recent favorites with you. When a layout or project really inspires me, I capture it via screen shot.

You can see I love similar type artists. White backgrounds, bright pops of color. It's what I'm drawn to and what I create.

Simply put...these women bring me joy. Their work makes me happy, their feeds make me happy. You will definitely see inspiration in my work from each of these women.

Below are some of my favorite ladies I'm following on IG these days. Leave them a comment and some love ---> I bet it would make their day!

 

 

Janna Werner

elsemariechen159

aimee_dow

umichka

jcchris

hellotodaycreate

retrohipmama

paintpaperstudio

emeraldradio

xoxo

S

BYH Summer+Pregnancy Edition

Hey y'all! It's long past time for a Blog Your Heart. Here's what it's all about.

1. Blog whatever is authentic. Whatever is truly on your mind and in your heart.

2. It can be serious, silly, short, long. NOTE:No one said it has to be serious. But it should be authentic.

3. No judging allowed no snarky comments, no making fun, no passive agressive digs.If you are going to read the blogs linked below, don't be mean. Nothing here is whining, though I can't help it if you perceive it that way. It's me honestly sharing my feelings. if you feel that it's whining, then you don't have to read. :)

4. If you BYH, link back here. I'll add an Inlinkz tool at the end of the post. I always read and comment on every single post.

5. Feel free to use the graphic above. Just make sure to link back to me.

 

 

Okay, here goes.

1. I'm terrified to have baby #5. You'd think I'd know what to do by now but it feels like I'm starting all over in so many ways. I'm scared about everything, from trying a new childbirth technique to adding a 5th child. I know it will be okay, but I'm feeling really overwhelmed. At the same time... I know this baby will be loved beyond all measure and spoiled ROTTEN.

 

2. I sneezed while walking and peed my pants twice yesterday. Pregnancy is very glamorous.

 

3. We have our names picked and I love both of them so much. They are both family names. The girl name has a witty Italian connection that I love.

 

4. People keep assuming I hope it's a boy and that's just not the case.

 

5. In America, I'd be classified as advanced maternal age (I turn 38 this month)...but here in Italy they have literally never even mentioned it once. This is the age most women are having their first child.

 

apparently this is my face when jimmy is taking my picture. he probably said or did something pervy.

 

6. I really don't like hearing "Any day now!" or the worst ---> "You are about to POP!!!" I sure hope not. I'm 32 weeks pregnant. I don't know if I've said these things to pregnant women before. I sure as hell hope not, but I for sure won't ever make that mistake now.

 

7. I love that I'm having a  baby in Italy. I'm curious to see how the experience is in the Italian hospital. I have heard that they are very receptive to the mother's wishes and that they are minimally invasive. I like that lots.

 

8. My mom is coming at the end of September and that makes me so happy. Everyone needs their mom. :)

 

9. My Italian plumber calls me anguria which means watermelon in Italian. He always points at my stomach when he says it and I love it so much.

 

10. At the ultrasound yesterday the OB told me she could see lots of hair on the baby's head. This fills me with joy because all four of my girls were born with full heads of black hair and I think there is nothing cuter than a new baby with hair.

 

11. My heart is overjoyed at the thought of seeing the girls be big sisters. They are going to be SO AMAZING.

 

xoxo

S

 

 

 

An InLinkz Link-up

R. Riveter {Sale Code!!!}

I've been meaning to write this post for a long while and something kept getting in the way. Mainly...preggers brain kept making me forget. HA!
Today I finally remembered and I also have a great sale to share, so that helps.

A while back I started working as a brand rep for R. Riveter. It's a huge honor because I'm a big fan of their bags.

There are two reasons I think this is a really great and innovative company...one worth supporting.

1. All of their merchandise is upcycled from military materials. And this is done in a NON cheesy way...which is really unique and hard to find.

2. All of their merchandise is handmade my military spouses.

How awesome is that?

Here's a bit more about the company:

 

Seriously, what's not to love?

Here's a picture of the bag I own:

It's called Finn and it's made from reclaimed US Army Canvas.

Before I go on, I have to say something. These bags aren't cheap. But there are couple of things I believe in investing in. And handbags is one of them. I'd rather buy one nice and expensive bag vs. twenty $10 handbags.

R. Riveter bags are incredibly sturdy and well made. They are timeless and months and months later my bag still looks brand new.

Here's a shot of the inside:

 

 

Okay, so here's the fun part. Because I'm a brand rep I have a special code to share with you. It's a unique code that gets you 20 percent off a crossbody bag:

The code is RR-howell

And it's good for all of August. Here's the direct link to the crossbody collection.

I hope you love this company as much as I do. I really try not to do a ton of "advertising" type posts here (I think it comes across as disingenuous)  and if you've been reading my blog for any amount of time then you know I only share companies I really truly love and believe in. Especially ones owned and run by women. I love supporting and empowering small business owners.

Again- here's the code:

So there you have it! Let me know if you take advantage of the sale...share what you got in the comments, I'd love to see!

I hope y'all are having a beautiful week.

 

xoxo

S

Grrr.

 

 

Disclaimer: This photo has nothing at all to do with this post but it does help me focus on the things I love about Italy.

So-

Just as I officially get on a blogging kick, my lovely Italian internet decides to go out.

For no reason and for four days now.

No one really seems to understand why as per usual so no blogging for me. I thought I'd pop into the library today and say hi.

So hi.

I hope y'all have a beautiful and blessed weekend!

 

xoxo

S

Exploring Italy : Downtown Vicenza Picture Walk

In August Italians take their holidays. They go to the beach for the most part. Businesses close down and homes are shuttered. They take it very seriously.

This weekend the exodus had already started and we were able to get out and go for a walk to explore our city...and we didn't really have to share it with anyone!

It was slightly eerie / zombie apocolypse-esque but really perfect for photos.

I thought I'd share our typical neighborhood walk with y'all. We take this walk most weekends...we LOVE getting out and experiencing our city. We often stop for vegetables and fruit, a full liter at the milk machine, bread, coffee, and spritz aperol. Gelato is mandatory!

All photos are in order from when we walk out our door and as the walk progresses.

Enjoy!

xoxo

What I'm Reading | July 2015 Edition

How gorgeous are these Puffin in Bloom books by Rifle Paper Co.? I just had to treat myself to this set. I'm in love.

 

Hey y'all! Welcome to the July edition of what I'm reading!

As per usual I'm constant updating my reading only Instagram account  (@whatstephreads) and through my Goodreads page.

 

Here's what I've read lately and what I've got coming up.

 

Read

1. We Were Liars | by E Lockhart - This book totally surprised me. And that rarely happens these days. The writing style takes a little getting used to (and it annoyed me at times) but it's a quick and captivating read. I have other books by this author on order because I'm now a fan.

 

2. Sweet Forgiveness | by Lori Nelson Spielman - This one was a pretty easy chick-lit type of read. But I had some serious problems with the way that the author handled certain issues...mainly abuse. It just left a bad taste in my mouth. I also never really connected with the main character.

 

3. A Man Called Ove | by Fredrick Backman - I mentioned this one already in a previous post. I LOVED this one and it was my only five star this book. Try to tell me you don't fall in love with Ove after reading this book. He's the most lovable curmudgeon EVER. This book made me laugh and cry in equal measures and it captivated me from the very beginning.

 

4. That Night | by Chevy Stevens- I thought this was a really interesting premise for a book but by the end I had lost interest. Not sure why, it just happens sometimes.

 

5. The Animals | by Christian Kiefer - This was definitely not an easy-breezy summer read and it's probably not for everyone but I thought this book was so freaking interesting. A man (who's made serious mistakes in his past) moves to the middle of nowhere to run a wildlife rescue. I loved the parts from his past and from his present equally and I loved his relationship with the animals. This book is pretty violent and raw so if you don't like that then you won't like this book. One of the strangest books I've read in a while but I mean that in a really good way.

 

6. Luckiest Girl Alive | by Jessica Knoll- There's been a ton of buzz about this book and while it was worth the read, I have to tell you I HATED the main character. Despised her. There was nothing redeeming about her to me. That said, it's worth a read.

 

7. You |by Caroline Kepnes- Y'all. This book FREAKED me OUT. The creepiest grossest book I've read in a long time. Listen. It's graphic. I warned you. And I don't even know what I thought about it. I still shudder thinking about it. I honestly didn't know how to rate it. Obsession, stalking...yeah. Disturbing.

 

 

Currently Reading

 

1. The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared |Jonas Jonasson

 

On My Radar/On Order at the Library

 

1. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks | E Lockhart

2. Since You've Been Gone | Morgan Matson

3. The Book of Speculation | Erika Swyler

4. The Royal We | Heather Cocks

5. The Summer of Good Intentions | Wendy Francis

 

 

Whew! That's it for this month! As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts + recommendations.

Happy Reading.

xoxo

s