Stephanie Howell

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

S

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.

From J’s work Christmas party…the girls + Babbo Natale!

a. Yes, I let them dress themselves!

b. Lucy is NOT impressed. She said Santa was “cweepy” and “stinky”. That he smells like “cheese”. She has clearly been talking to Sadie, who has been known to tell Santa he sits on a throne of lies.

c. Speaking of Sadie…she’s totally feigning indifference here. Sister was PUMPED.

d. Harper? Uhh….Not sure what that grin is all about. Must be her missing teeth smile. She lost the other top tooth this weekend!

e. Cate was SO excited.

f. Thanks to the USO each girl got a DVD from Santa. How awesome is that? We LOVE the USO!

Oh- one more thing. I’m doing a flat rate box giveaway on Instagram! You can enter (you AND a friend!) HERE!

xoxo