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As parents, we know that reading with and to our children is extremely important. I have always known that reading was important- in my own life and in the lives of my children- but now that my boys are in school, I see what a push there is from the teachers to read to them every day! I think it is an integral part of any good curriculum plan. Reading is not important only as its own subject, but it really helps in all other aspects of education as well! There is no way I could have succeeded in my college courses if I had not been a strong reader.

Studies show that the more children read, the better readers they become. In one study, children who read 20 or more minutes per day scored in or above the 90th percentile; those who read less than 10 minutes scored below the 75th percentile. I am so grateful that the school my children attend, pay such attention to this. They have a program each year where the kids get a chart and if they read 20 minutes per day at the end of the month they get a prize. It has really helped to draw my attention to how much reading we do.

In honor of Reading Month, LeapFrog is donating $2 million of books to America’s schools, and you can help! Go to Facebook and share the “Read 20 Minutes a Day”pledge, and LeapFrog will donate 5 books for every pledge! Also be sure to visit LeapFrog's Reading Month page where you can get all sorts of tips, videos, activities, and printables to help your own children get engaged in reading! It is such an important part of our children's learning and we all need to get involved and get kids reading each day.


LeapFrog is offering special deals on reading products all through March, in honor of Reading Month, including $3 off of Tag and Tag Junior books. Here’s the link to print/redeem this offer.

I love the Tag products. My son loves using them and I love that he can just tap the pen onto a word and he can learn what it is! It really helps him learn new words and helps him become a stronger reader.

LeapFrog is offering a giveaway of one Leapfrog prize pack ($50 approximate value) to one of our U.S. readers! Leave a comment on this post letting us know what you do to incorporate reading into your children's day/routine. For a second entry, you can share this giveaway on Twitter or Facebook (leave us a link!). This giveaway will end on March 21st, at 11:59pm PT.

I was selected for this opportunity by Clever Girls Collective but content and opinions expressed here are my own. To take the LeapFrog Reading Month pledge, please visit their Facebook page.

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I finally got a little hope this weekend that Spring might actually be coming! I ran 6 miles on the trail (instead of on the treadmill) and it was glorious. I am so ready to get outside again!

I told you at Valentine's that my chairs looked naked after the Christmas wreaths were off the backs of my bar stools, so when I bought my Valentine's wreaths I also picked up these spring wreaths to use for the Easter season. (Please try not to notice the piles of mail, etc. on the counter--I was too lazy to clean it up!) They make my kitchen feel so much sunnier!

I was determined to use a ribbon I had on hand (I have a bit of a ribbon hoarding problem), so I picked this green and white gingham. I wanted pink, but it just didn't feel right with my other decor. The green is a nice pop of spring, I think.


Adding a wreath to the backs of dining chairs or bar stools is such a quick and easy way to decorate for the seasons. These make me smile every time I walk into the kitchen!

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I am still relatively furniture-less (why am I so indecisive?), so I have been relying on my kitchen table to satisfy my need to decorate with seasonal tablescapes. (Love that word, by the way, if it really is a word. Sometimes I make things up.) Anyway, here are a few ideas to get your creative "tablescaping" juices flowing (now I know I made that word up).

Instead of a tablecloth, which might have fought with the display, I used a long piece of kraft wrapping paper as a table runner. This is one of my favorite ways to dress up a tablescape because it doesn't matter if it gets dirty, and it's waaay cheaper than a good tablecloth!

Next, pull out all those apothecary jars you have left over from that candy centerpiece you did for your last birthday party or shower. I love using these for every season--just fill it with something colorful or symbolic of the time of year. Depending on how many you have, that could be your centerpiece right there. I filled this one with Robin Eggs candy. Dangerous, I know, but so colorful and cute!

I "filled" this apothecary jar with a decorative bird's nest with the sweetest blue robins eggs in it (non-candy variety). I stacked it on a few books to give it some height.


And, since I"m completely incapable of simplicity, I added a few embellishments, like yellow pom-pom trim. . .
Ta-da!

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Have you heard of the CRE8TIME Campaign? The Craft and Hobby Association recently launched its new campaign CRE8TIME, dedicated to reclaiming your creativity, and Michaels is joining the movement. 

CRE8TIME is a movement, a movement supported by a group of people who want to make a positive social change. As our lives become increasingly crowded with “responsibilities,” we tend to ignore ourselves and find it difficult to justify creative pursuits; they seem “selfish” and are often the first things we discard. It’s time to reclaim our creativity! It is designed to help people recover eight hours a month and devote it to their particular craft, and to create a place for them to share their experiences – the joys, lessons, and results – with the creative community at large.

So, with a challenge from Michaels,  I am reclaiming my creativity and challenging myself to find more time to create. It doesn't have to be some major project and there doesn't have to be a bunch of pressure on myself to do it perfectly but just to carve out more time to create some things I love! One of the first things on my list is to make a bunch of cards. My handmade card stash is seriously dwindling and I need to re-stock! Here are some cards I plan on using as inspiration...




I also went to Michaels and bought a bunch of supplies to get another craft project started....


You will get to see the full project next week after I have finished. Creating really is an important part of my life and there is something special about spending some time after my boys are in bed to lose my mind in a project that fulfills me. I feel more relaxed and happy as a I create and that quiet time to clear my head is so necessary. I hope you will be able to carve out some time in your day to reclaim your creativity as well!

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Last weekend I attended a fabulous craft retreat called "An Artsy Weekend" with a very dear friend. It was food for my creative soul. It stretched me and inspired me and I learned a few new tricks. Like how to make goat cheese. And how not to stamp letters backwards in leather (sometimes I learn better by experience). Plus I got to hang with some fabulous people you may know like Rhonna Farrer, Margie Romney-Aslett, Jen from Tatertots and Jello, Tausha of Sassy Style Redesign, Shelley from The House of Smiths, Becki from Whippycake, and other fabulous bloggers, artists, and teachers. It was all put together by the darling Marci Welker of Fallow Field Farm, and yes, I hear she will be doing more of these intimate crafting weekends in the near future! I'll be sure to let you know.


Before the retreat we were asked to make ourselves a name tag. I had just received a pack of Silhouette's Double-Sided Adhesive paper in the mail, so I decided to find a way to use it on mine.

If you haven't used this stuff before, be prepared to get glittery. It is hands down the easiest (and least messy) way to adhere glitter, and the best part is that you can use your Silhouette images to cut custom shapes out of it! I wanted my name to stand out, but instead of glitter I ended up going with these silver micro beads. Here's how:

1. Cut your shape with your Silhouette (or any die cut machine) out of the double-sided adhesive paper.
2. My design did not cut completely through (time for a new blade), but I was glad. With most designs, you would simply remove the yellow backing and place your shape in place. But was hoping to keep the letters of my name spaced and in line, so the fact that they were still connected worked for me! Either way, remove the yellow backing and place where you want your design.
3. Peel the white paper off the front of the shape. In my case, I pressed down on the letters a little and weeded the outside and inside of letters out, leaving the letters of my name centered and in line. Woo hoo!

4. Pour your micro beads or glitter (or flocking or what-have-you) on your image. Press down over image to ensure it sticks well. Dump off the excess and there you are--covered in bling.
I did lose a few beads over the course of the weekend, but all-in-all I was surprised at how well they held on to the adhesive!

For more images of our artsy weekend projects and fun, follow me on Instagram (ID: sybrowsky) and check out #anartsyweekend.

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Little Hawthorne is an online, handmade store featuring colorful and trendy jewelry, clothing and home accessories. Founded in 2012, Little Hawthorne was intially created to provide everyday trendy jewelry for the fashionista and woman on-the-go and has recently branched out into clothing and home decor to encompass the entire life style of today's woman.






Today, Little Hawthorne is giving one of our readers the chance to win two pairs of earrings of their choice! To enter, visit Little Hawthorne and find your two favorite pairs of earrings. Then come back and tell us in a comment what they are! For a second entry, visit the Little Hawthorne blog and become a follower. Then leave us a comment saying you followed! Good Luck! This giveaway will end on March 7th at 11:59pm PT.

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