I used to read Design*Sponge mostly for its Sneak Peeks, that is, until I stumbled upon Stephanie Todaro’s D*S column, Human/House/Harvey, in which the L.A. blogger and creative director selects three items under one theme: for herself, her home and her adorable Sharperrier (Sharpei + terrier). Such a cute idea, no? Even more charming, I soon discovered, was her dog-focused blog, House of Harvey. It’s a blend of great design, crisp photos, and sweet stories about the beautiful and symbiotic relationship between dog and owner. Today Stephanie tells us about starting each morning with The Help and the power of Popsicle sticks.
Name: Stephanie Todaro
Age: 29
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Current City: Los Angeles, CA
Professional Title: Creative Director and Founder of S. Todaro Creative, author of House of Harvey, and contributing editor at Design*Sponge
Morning Grace
Every morning when I hop out of bed, I wake up my pup, Mr. Harvey (he likes to sleep in on most days), grab his fuzzy cheeks, look into his eyes and say, “You is kind, you is smart, you is important,” and then shower him with kisses. It’s just a wonderful way to get our day started together, and I truly think he gets a kick out of it. Aren’t all dogs a fan of the movie The Help?
De-stressing Hike
I love to hike. I’ll hike anywhere at anytime, but there is one trail near my parents house in the San Fernando Valley that has a special place in my heart. So once a week I will head out there, climb this “secret” hill off the guided path, and I’ll let out a giant scream at the top. It is beyond therapeutic and freeing.
Craft-a-thons
Whenever I get into a creative funk (which seems to happen on the daily now), I pull out my three massive crates of crafting supplies and have at it. It’s amazing what some hot glue, construction paper, Popsicle sticks and a bit of time can do for the mind.
Golden Girls Sundays
Guilty pleasure #32: I can’t get enough of The Golden Girls. I am a die-hard fan and just can’t get enough of that show. The humor, the cast, the amazing 80’s Miami décor…I just love it all! So I always make sure to catch an episode (or pop in the DVD, because yes, I own those) every Sunday. Those ladies were simply fabulous and you can’t deny it!
