Privacy Policy

Who We Are

The Story Sprout is an independent lifestyle journal written and edited by Elena Marchetti, based in Porto, Portugal. This site covers slow living, home, fashion, travel, food, health, and personal reflection. No team, no editorial board. Just one person writing about the things she actually lives with.

Disclosure & Compensation

This blog occasionally participates in affiliate programmes and sponsored content. Where compensation has been received (whether in the form of payment, gifted products, or complimentary experiences), it is clearly disclosed within the relevant post.

Compensation does not influence editorial opinion. If something isn't worth recommending, it doesn't appear here. Every opinion, finding, and verdict on this site reflects Elena's honest experience after real use, typically a minimum of three weeks before writing begins.

The Story Sprout does not contain content that presents a conflict of interest between editorial integrity and commercial relationships. Any product claims or statistics should be independently verified with the manufacturer or provider in question.

What Information We Collect

This site collects minimal data. When you subscribe to the weekly newsletter, your email address is stored solely for the purpose of sending that letter. It is never sold, shared with third parties, or used for any other purpose.

Standard server logs may record your IP address, browser type, operating system, and pages visited. This data is used only in aggregate to understand how the site is being read, never to identify individual visitors.

Cookies

This site uses only essential cookies required for basic site functionality. No advertising cookies, tracking pixels, or third-party analytics cookies are used without your knowledge.

You can manage or disable cookies at any time through your browser settings. Disabling cookies will not affect your ability to read any content on this site.

Third-Party Links

Posts on The Story Sprout may link to external websites, retailers, and services. Once you leave this site, this Privacy Policy no longer applies. Elena is not responsible for the privacy practices or content of external sites and encourages you to read their policies independently.

Newsletter

The weekly notes letter goes out on Sundays. It is strictly editorial: no sponsored insertions, no affiliate links embedded in the email itself. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link at the bottom of any letter, and your address will be permanently removed within 48 hours.

Your Rights

If you have subscribed to the newsletter and wish to access, correct, or delete your personal data, you can write to Elena directly via the contact page. Requests are handled personally, usually within a few days.

Changes to This Policy

This policy may be updated occasionally. Any meaningful changes will be noted at the top of this page with a revised date. Continuing to use the site after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

Contact

Questions about this policy or how your data is handled can be directed to Elena Marchetti via the contact page. This site is run by one person. Responses are personal, not automated.