Just me My Soldier and our 4 little chicks

wordless(ish??) wednesday

no one can make things better like daddy can.

so glad he's here to kiss the tears away.

because i'm really good at kissing away tears,too...but i tell you. there is magic in daddy kisses. :)

xo

S

Ciao Italia

So it's official...

This summer our family will embark on the adventure of a lifetime..

Vicenza, Italy here we COME!

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

2 Peas in a Pod- MME

I just got back a box full of My Mind's Eye layouts from CHA.

As I was sorting through them, this one brought a big grin to my face.

And I realized I never shared it here!

One day Sadie and I were bored, so we started playing around with my iPhone.

When I saw the results I cracked up. Guess I know where she gets her facial expressions. HA!

This layout uses papers and embellishments from the Collectable-Notable line.

It's the happiest collection of colors and patterns and I adore it.

I backed each strip with patterned paper and then put washi tape on the left and right borders of the photo mat (the arrow strips are tape).

A scattering of chipboard flowers, enamel dots, and stick pins complete the easy and quick layout.

For those of you wondering how I did the photobooth strips, I used the Incredibooth App (which I LOVE).

Happy Monday y'all!

oxox

Freebie Friday

Happy Friday, y'all!

I'm busy playing nurse to Jimmy...thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers.

He's recovering slowly but surely.

I wanted to quickly pop in and share a project life card with you.

You may remember I said that I'm doing things differently this year.

I ended up deciding to use a Studio Calico Handbook. As far as cards, I'm using up my stash, using digital elements I already own, and using free printables I find.

My Project Life board on Pinterest is HERE.

I realized I haven't included what I'm reading in my PL lately so I came up with a super simple card.

I plan on using this next to a 3x4 grid card listing what we are all reading.

To download it, click the link below the card.

To download this card, click here.

 

Enjoy and happy Friday!
Have a beautiful and blessed weekend.

xoxo

Stitch Fix

*note- this post is not sponsored by stitch fix and i am not affiliated with them in any way. i just really love this company and this idea.**

I have a new obsession.

And I honestly believe that this is a GENIUS idea for those of us too busy (or surrounded by small children) to shop.

As much fun as it is frantically flying through a store, grabbing pieces,and then speed-trying them on whilst sweating...

Stitch Fix is much more fun.

Here's a little blurb from the website:

Stitch Fix is a personal styling service. We get your style and size preferences, then send you a package of stylish goodies to try on at home. No two Fixes are alike. Each one is hand–picked just for you.

And here's how it works.

You sign up (using the invitation link shared below) and wait to be accepted. It took a bit for me to be accepted, but I can assure you it it totally worth the wait.

Next you fill out a style profile online. You answer tons of questions...from size to taste. There are collections that you look at and share your opinion:

Once I was accepted I set up a Stitch Fix date. You can get these as often as you wish, but I get a box once a month.

Each fix includes five items (clothing or accessories based on what you need/want) that are hand-picked just for you. You pay a $20 "styling fee" for each box, but if you buy any items it serves as a credit towards the item(s).

Once you receive the items, you have three days to decide what you want to keep. Everything else you send back in a prepaid envelope.

Here's why this idea rocks. I had time to try on everything slowly. And scrutinize it. And combine the pieces with things i already owned.

I wasn't stressed. I wasn't sweating. I wasn't having to keep two 2 year olds from ripping down the dressing room curtain and exposing me to the entire store.

Not that that's ever happened...

Anywho.

Each item comes with a card attached. The card describes the item and shows you two ways to style it. BRILLIANT. Just what this frazzled mommy needs.

This is the invoice that came in my box. I love the little note at the top.

Let's discuss the price point. Most of these items cost a little bit more than I'm used to spending. But I've recently had a little fashion come to Jesus talk with myself.

I'm at the point that I'm tired of my things falling apart. I'm going for quality over quantity. I finally learned that spending a little more is worth it.

Yes, I can spend $70 for two items at Old Navy...but those pieces are not holding up. They are fading and unraveling...

and it's a waste of money.

I love that you get a 25%discount if you buy all of the items. I doubt I'll ever do this...but still.

I didn't even try on the cowlneck top. That was the only complete miss in my box. It was not my style, I didn't like the color, I didn't like the fabric.

Here's what else I got in my fix (excuse the lack of makeup and the bad lighting).

  
I loved the star scarf. Soft, big,and the stars are too cute.
I kept it.

I can't even tell you how gorgeous the blue top was. But this was a month that I just couldn't get more than one item. I have so many blue tops that I couldn't justify another.

But it was GORGEOUS.

Here are the other 2 items I tried on. Again- sorry for the blurry images. Next month I think I'll use a real camera. :)

The colorblock sweater was lovely. The sleeves are grey and I loved the black/white. But the sleeves were way too short.

After this fix I actually went back and changed my sizes and noted to the stylist that my arms were long.

The brown owl top...well let's just say I almost didn't try it on. I might have laughed.

I did try it on though, and although I still didn't love it (I'm just not really a brown person or a birds-on-my-clothes person)...I have to say I'm glad I tried it. The peasant type fit was very flattering.

So that's my review of my first Stitch Fix. I have high hopes for next month, as I tweaked sizes, color choices, and added some thoughts for my stylist.

I will share how month 2 goes!

If you want to sign up, here is a referral code.

Have a beautiful and blessed Wednesday!!

xo

cate the great

I have another layout up on the Paper Party blog today.

To see tips on how to put this together quickly as well as a list of products i used... head on over that way.

In other news...I got my first Stitch Fix box last week and I am loving the idea behind this service.

Working on a Stitch Fix post for tomorrow. See you then...Jimmy is having shoulder surgery and 2 of my 4 have strep, so wish me luck. :)

xo

S

Personal Shopper for a 6 Year Old

It's no secret that I love shopping. I love fashion and I especially love spring fashion.

You know who else loves those things too? Miss Harper. :)

She is growing like a weed. Her legs and arms are growing a mile a minute and nothing fits her.

I'm waiting for the spring to take her on a little shopping spree, and of course I alread have her wardrobe planned!

Hey, can you blame me? She takes wonderful care of her clothes and really enjoys wearing them. She's a dream to shop with.

Sadie isn't really all that interested in what she wears just yet. I mean, she loves putting outfits together, but doesn't mind wearing hand me downs. So Harper's good taste benefits her, too.

Here's what I found:

1.Button Shoulder Stripe Sweater 2.Long Sleeve Dot Dress 3. Super Skinny Floral Jeans 4.Moto Sweater Jacket 5.Stripy Ruffle Dress 6.Belted Skinny Khakis 7.Striped Heart Tunic Sweater 8.White Denim Jacket 9.Intarsia Heart Sweater 10.Patterned High Tops 11.Ruffle Trim Polka Dot Top 12.Dot Button Skirt 13.Ruffle Tiered Jersey Skirt 14.Black Skinny Jeans 15.Striped Jersey Tie Belt Dress 16.Polka Dot Bow Tie Headband 17.Glitter Stripe Ballet Flat

Fun, no? I'd say God knew what he was doing when he made me a mama of all girls.

TeeHee!

Happy Monday!

xoxox

52 Lists

Today I just wanted to quickly share a new project I'm doing and how much I love it.

It's called 52 lists and you can read more about it HERE.

I bought this journal for 7 dollars at Marshalls. I'd been contemplating doing 52 lists and this journal convinced me to do it.

Here's why I love this project. I love the idea of having a journal.

However I NEVER...and i mean never keep up with them. I have dozens upon dozens of journals that I've started throughout my life. None of them have more than 10 pages filled in.

I love the idea of using lists as prompts for a journal. It will keep me motivated and give me something to write about.

It's a way for me to fit in being creative. Moorea has printable lists every week, you could easily just print them and jot down your thoughts...but I like adding stamps/bits of washi/etc to each page. It's a quick and easy way for me to fit in creative time.

So what do you think? Are you doing 52 lists? Are you going to start doing them?

xo

 

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day sweet friends! You all know how I feel about today.

It's not that I'm into the mushy-gushy stuff...because I'm not.
J and I don't really do Valentine's Day for each other. I don't care if he gets me anything, although I do agree with my friend Leigh, a love letter would be perfect.

No...I love celebrating this day with my children. I love using today to shower them (more than usual) with love.

Not to mention...you KNOW that any excuse to fill the house with pink and red hearts and doilies is my kind of a holiday. Glitter? Sequins? Hearts and flowers and lace? Don't mind if I do.

Here's a peek into a Valentine's Day in the Howell household.

No creative school valentines for us. Although I pinned a million ideas and love all of them. Nope, for us it's the $1.30 (and 50% off on top of that!) box Valentines. WOOHOO! No guilt.

Harper and Sadie also used my copious doily stash to make special valentines for their teachers.

I had to bring a dish for Sadie's Valentine's breakfast at school. I decided to do heart shaped cinnamon rolls. There are some great recipes on Pinterest, but I wanted easy and no fuss.

Canned cinnamon rolls it was. I simply formed them into hearts and baked them that way. I then added pink icing (I didn't get the food coloring right, so it was actually more like magenta icing) and Valentine's sprinkles.

I served them in some Hobby Lobby baskets on top of (natch) layered doilies.

As far as treats for the girls, I hit up the dollar spot at a local shop and got them each little treat baskets.

The babies got hairclips, Valentine's beanie babies,Elmo valentines, and a lollypop:

The big girls got erasers,badges,pens,pez, Hello Kitty heart boxes with candy necklaces inside, and heart socks.

I set everything up to surprise them when they get home from school today.

 
But my favorite thing (BY FAR) that we did for the girls was our 10 things envelopes.

Jimmy and I worked on these together last night and I love the way they came out.

More than that...you should have seen the the look on their faces when they read these notes. It was amazing.

Sometimes I forget to give each girl the special attention they so desire. It's hard when you have four kids. Really hard. But it's something we are really aware of.

This was the perfect way to accomplish a little one on one attention and praise.

Each envelope contained sequins, sweet little die cuts, and ten punched hearts. I used this punch.

On each heart was written something we love about each girl. Jimmy wrote half and I wrote the other half.

These envelopes really started the day off right and it was a joy to see Harper and Sadie's faces. Pure pride and happiness.

Gotta love a day to celebrate love. Come to think of it...every day is a little like Valentine's Day in our house!!

Love to you all!

xoxo

Snowed In

It started like this (on Friday)...

And snowed all day and all night and all day the next day. At first it was magical and beautiful and soft.

But soon the soft snow became great, billowing gusts that caused the house to creak and the power to flicker off and on incessantly.

Snow was blowing sideways and up...it was crazy.

Snow covered the windows and we couldn't see out.It was LOUD! I peeked out the front window and saw this:

It was actually all very fun and cozy until the power went out. Then it got cold pretty fast.

We all bundled up for the night and woke up to this:

I couldn't open the doors to take photos because with no power we were trying desperately to keep things warm.

Our house has so many windows..it honestly got very cold very quickly. Luckily we have a master fire maker in the house.

The Howell girls spent the day like this:

The babies had to take a nap like this:

Have you ever tried to get two 2 year olds to keep hats on their heads? It's a losing battle.

Meanwhile, J spent the day like this,bless his heart:

We had dinner by candlelight and witnessed one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen.

I started to get really worried about the babies because it was so cold.

I prayed a little prayer, tucked the babies in, and went to the basement to find the Christmas footsies for the big girls.

And...just like that...the lights came on! We totally had a dance party. HA!

It was 40 degrees upstairs and it would have gotten so much colder. I was so grateful.

I woke up early the next morning (yesterday), put on my winter gear, and went out and took some photographs.

Pretty, huh?

We are still snowed in today. Roads are pretty bad and there's no parking. Schools are closed so looks like it's another pajama day.

I have to say that I am so so dang grateful that Jimmy was here for this. I mean...I know I can do anything myself, but it's so nice to have him here.

He makes me feel safe. And that's something I don't ever want to take for granted.

And I have to tell you...now that we have electricity I'm really loving it.

I actually really loved it when the power was off (minus the being really cold part). We spent all day together with no electronic diversions and it was lovely.

And being in a cozy and warm home with beautiful snow outside? TOGETHER? That is the loveliest thing I can imagine.

Happy Monday!

See y'all soon. xoxo