Happy Site Friday

Hope you all have plans for a fun weekend!

I am having my first ever 'sleep-over' with Addie. Complete with movie and ice cream in bed, but only after we paint our nails and have a dance party. This is the life I live for.

Here are some places to go that will make you smile, if you aren't already happy on this happy friday.

Enjoy your weekend!

The Smallish Library.

We moved into our first home about 3 months ago. We have done hardly any decorating...mostly fixing up the place to make it livable (it was quite the fixer upper!) But the first things we did do were to establish the reading corners throughout the home. We read a lot.  And I realized just now as I am writing this that we have 6 designated reading spots in the house. I love that several times a day, I'll find the kids reading in one of our book nooks. My office has large book case full of mostly children's books, we have a library room (it's really the living room with a wall to wall bookcases), the kids have bedside books, Ken and I have bedside books with books for the whole family, and we have a basement bookcase full of children's books. That's a lot of books! So that makes 5.

But the 6th place was added a few weeks ago when we purchased these picture frame shelves from IKEA and made a display book case. It was an interesting thing: For as many books we had through out the house, so many of the picture books that were crammed into bookcases just weren't getting read unless I displayed them in baskets, or pulled them out for their reading piles.Think of it like browsing in the bookstore and not having any books on display, and only getting the spine to entice you to pull it down.

This bookcase has solved that problem! We rotate the books every other day or so, and the kids pull them down so much more often than before.

And besides that, it's just pretty. It's really like displaying art! Really good art at that!

There are so many ways to make display bookcases.

Here are some other ideas if IKEA isn't available (although, I hear Target has the same kinda thing)

A MacGyvered bookcase from old wire and such.

These bookcases are actually a rain gutters, painted white and cut to size. Seen on Small Notebook Blog and Tiny Decor Blog and Satori Smiles.

Clever IKEA hack that keeps the books from falling off but still give the visual punch.

We have plans to do more....like make the closet next to the shelving into a reading cave complete with curtains and flashlights to make for a dark cozy reading spot ...but more on that later.

So question: How have you made reading time fun at your house?

From the Archives: Golden Shoes.

This is a post from last year's Easter weekend. Moving has thwarted our festivities a bit, but The Country Bunny still remains a tradition.

This weekend we celebrated Easter, and it was our best yet. Easter egg hunts, cake decorating, a wonderful morning at church, candy eating, family gathering and really, really great memories.

One activity we did I think will turn into a yearly tradition: reading of "The Country Bunny and the Little Golden Shoes".

(If this book is new to you, here is the one sentence recap: A country bunny with 21 children to tend to, is able to maintain her status as one of the 5 Easter bunnies, because of her mothering skills in the home, and the extra help of a special pair of magical golden shoes. Message: As long as you always try your best, you will get the help you need to do great things.)

My children have read this before, and my husband and I grew up on this story. It is one of my ALL TIME favorites. But this year, we made it even more special.

On Easter Eve, we walked over to my Grandmother's house where she was waiting for us...ready to read her very own copy of this story (she is the Country Bunny to a "T"). She read it aloud in her own words (which we audio recorded) and then at the end, I pulled out a wrapped box with a real pair of golden shoes to hang up on the wall as a reminder of the amazing message in this book. The kids were tickled to think they had their very own pair to look at.

I wish I could have posted this before Easter, but alas...it was a last minute idea. I had bought a pair of old vintage toddler shoes at an antique store years ago, and I spray painted them gold. I laced them up with leather lacing, and VOILA. A family heirloom to pull out every Easter.

If you haven't ever read this book, you may be a bit confused. You need to go read it...it is worth reading ANY time of the year!

Retro Line.

It's crazy. Ideas come when you don't expect them, and for me....when you don't have time to do anything about them (like when you are moving, living in boxes, making a book and fixing up a house all at the same time). But I am excited about this one. Sarah Jane Studios will be getting a Spring Makeover with new prints and items perfect for the retro kid. New prints will trickle in slowly but surely...so stay tuned! If you haven't signed up for the newsletter, you can do that on the sidebar to be the first to know when new prints are in the shop!

Your Corner Children's Bookstore.

Do you remember the first time you saw You've Got Mail, and you stepped into Meg Ryan's bookstore with the darling children's section and the reading corner? I was swept away. Every town need's a children's bookstore. Barnes and Noble and Borders are great...don't get me wrong. I spend enough time in there for sure. But what about the "ma and pop" children's bookstore you dream for your neighborhood? Good news for Utah readers: There will be a wonderful new bookstore just like that one in Utah very soon! But this store needs your support.

Michelle has a dream....an active dream to open a children's bookstore in Utah. She has a space, and has spent hours getting it all ready. But she needs a lot of help to finish it up and open the doors.  She needs a bit more support from the community and I want to help spread the word.  To start up a business takes an incredible amount of intertia, motivation and energy, and Michelle has given her all to this children's book store. She has promised to put in so much! Here is her plan:

*Story time for young children *A gathering place for book clubs, writing groups, and other small organizations that need a free place to meet *Book clubs specifically for tweens and teens *Writing classes for children, for teens, and for adults who write for children and teens *Visits from some of the most outstanding authors in children's and young adult literature, which will include readings, signings, lectures, and other social events *Prominent placement of books by local authors and those published by smaller, independent presses *A network and community for all those who love books and want to share their love of reading with coming generations

Don't you just want to move to Utah if you aren't here already?

So here is what you need to do:

Come over and BID on my $100 gift certificate to her shop.

You can start under price of course...just start bidding! Do I here $25? $30?

And how's this: if you BID at all.....you will receive a $5 gift certificate to the shop.  Just email me at the time of your order to verify.

And make sure to bid on more items on her site....there is plenty for the book lover to enjoy. Just click on the link and leave a comment.

Here's to happy book reading time with children and fostering a wonderful dream of a very ambitious woman!

So head on over and bid!

You can read more of her story here and see more ways to support here.

But hurry: the bidding ends Saturday March 20th at midnight!

Enjoy!

Inspiring spaces & some excuses

Let it be known that I have officially let my email inbox tower beyond reason (Sarah Cynthia Sylvia stout hights) and my house it currently a tornado zone. Well, there is usually an element of tornado-ness on a daily basis, but we have now reached danger zone. The move is under way, and is going slowly but surely as we are also remodeling the new place before we move in. I am so thrilled. We are loving the neighbors and the neighborhood. The new house is getting a new fresh coat of paint (no more purple red and green walls) and it's all starting to come together. The art studio is coming along, and should be done this week!

That said.....

If you have been trying to email me, I WILL respond. I promise. I am just super behind! And if you are thinking that the blog will slow down...it won't I still have some pretty exciting things going on behind the scenes. Things don't ever really slow down here. The book is nearly done, and there are some fun shop updates coming soon!

In the mean time, I am dreaming about these spaces, how lovely they are, and the reality that I will have a place to call my own soon.

Oh, and Happy St. Pat's! Corn beef and cabbage on the menu tonight....yum.

Happy Site Friday

Happy Friday all!

This is my effort to bring back Happy Site Friday. It's been a while.

My weekend is filled with filling tall trash cans with stuff that I don't want to move, and cleaning out storage bins in the basement. Oh, and do some laundry...maybe. We are moving in a week!

This is my list of distractions when the boredom is just too much:

* This girl's room was featured a while back here and I am in love.  Her blog is amazing and check it out here.

* Listening to this song is sunshine to my soul right now: I am transformed to a dancing fool.

* Loving this rocker and wishing it fit in the budget right now

*  This article on getting back to the orderly way with kids. It will happen someday...I just know it.

* This art piece. I had an imaginary friend, did you?

* This print makes me miss living back East. And her art gives me warm happy chills...have you read her books?

* Tell me you aren't transformed when you see this. I can't wait for summer.

Happy Friday everyone! My weekend is filled with filling tall trash cans with stuff that I don't want to move,and cleaning out storage to get ready for the move.

What's making you smile this weekend?

xo

sarah

ALT Wrap up

OK. If you weren't there at ALT, you really need to go next year. Like, really.

It was that much fun. Packed full of info, meeting my favorite bloggers, networking and sharing experiences. I learned so much at this conference and it really helped to solidify in my mind the importance of this new wave of information sharing we have created: Blogging for design. Is my blog a "design" blog? No... well kinda, maybe. But all in attendance had a common bond: We love blogging. We love writing. We love sharing. We love visuals. And we can't stay away from design elements to communicate daily to others over the web.

It was a party. Everyone was so generous, open, warm and really....it was like we had a big family reunion for all these people who only communicate over a keyboard and monitor. I made a lot of great new friends, and even had the chance to say "Thank You" to some of my hero bloggers.  We were in a super fancy-shmancy hotel, and the whole event was so put together. I just loved the fact that I got to leave home and have a day away to spend with people who were hungry for the same information. And I must say, having the chance to speak was incredible. It was a great opportunity to collect, in a small pocket of time, so many of the things I have learned over the past 2 years!

Here is an inconclusive list of Bloggers who came to speak, to give you an idea for what to expect for next year.

  • Nicole Balch of Making It Lovely
  • Allison Czarnecki of Petit Elefant
  • Jaime Derringer of Design Milk
  • Karey Mackin of Mackin Ink
  • Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan of Apartment Therapy
  • Heather Armstrong of Dooce
  • Grace Bonney of Design Sponge
  • Kelly Beall of Design Crush
  • Joy Deangdeelert Cho of Oh Joy!
  • Rachel Jones of Black Eiffel
  • Emily Goligoski of The SanFranista
  • Victoria Smith of SFGirlbyBay
  • Gayla Trail of You Grow Girl
  • Sarah Jane Wright of Sarah Jane Studios
  • Erin Loechner of Design for Mankind
  • Megan Reardon of NotMartha
  • Kathryn Storke of Snippet & Ink
  • Joslyn Taylor of Simple Lovely
  • Stephanie Brubaker of Stephmodo
  • Sheila Bernus Dowd of Lookiloos
  • Chelsea Fuss of Frolic
  • Maggie Mason of Mighty Girl
  • Justin Hackworth of Justin Hackworth Photography
    • {list compliments of Apartment Therapy}
    Really, if you are a blogger with a desire to learn more about branding, building an audience, photography for the web, advertising, designing for the web, and the applications of social media, I hope to see you next year! I will for sure be coming again. Thanks ALT Design Summit!