Craving Connection? It's only natural! What do coffee shops, cookies, birthdays and boba have in common? Besides being a few of my favorite things, I'm going to explain how these things CONNECT us! Coffee shops are like the hub of a neighborhood, where people meet for all sorts of reasons, with all sorts of stories... Good Coffee, a hopping spot in Cedar Hills, where the doors stay open and the people flow in! One of many favorite coffee shops where I can enjoy the "buzz" while I get some...
4 months agoΒ β’Β 10 min read
Breathe, Read, REPEAT! 'Tis the season to remember to breathe, read more, and do it all again! Holidays, election results, everyday life... there is no better time than NOW for the parenting hack of all hacks that will help bring more calm into your life. In this final issue of "Read More" for 2024, I'm reminding you of the benefits of reading, why this simple act is so effective, and how to encourage a culture of reading in your home for the next several months. Need to refresh your...
9 months agoΒ β’Β 6 min read
Ready or Not, it's BACK-TO-SCHOOL time! A new school year means back-to-school shopping. What's on YOUR list? And how the heck can you afford it all?! Read more about my TOP 3 must-haves for back-to-school time, plus how to help afford all that shopping (and why book OWNERSHIP is important too)! The year my kids went back to in-person school (post-pandemic) I wrote short affirmations on their #2 pencils. I saw a friend do this for her daughter, and thought it was just the cutest idea. A...
12 months agoΒ β’Β 7 min read
BFFs: Book Friends Forever! "Book people are the best people" is a common thing you'll hear if you ever come to Tulsa, Oklahoma during the PaperPie National Convention in June. And it couldn't be more true! My absolute favorite picture from this year's PaperPie National Convention in Tulsa, June 2024. Book people are the best people, and these are the best of the best! Always laughing and having fun when we gather together. You might also hear that "we do this business FOR our families, not...
about 1 year agoΒ β’Β 9 min read
Books Take You Places... Quite Literally! Not only can a book transport you into a world within a story, but they can also quite literally be the vehicle that gets you to places you never thought you'd go! My first day in Savannah, GA, at the Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort and Spa! I'm not a "Bucket List" type of person. Probably because I just haven't spent the time to sit down and think of all the places I'd love to go, things I'd love to do, or see, or experience. But if you asked me...
about 1 year agoΒ β’Β 9 min read
Read Between the Lines "I don't like to read." "I hate reading..." "Books are boring." What can you do when you hear these words? Get curious and read between the lines. I'll tell you how, but first I want to share a picture of the kid who made those statements. This is a picture of my 8 year old son, Lucas, who claims he doesn't like to read. Yep, this kid who I often find with his nose in a book about aliens, zombies, robots, or anything silly was "caught" reading. And this is a fairly...
over 1 year agoΒ β’Β 8 min read
New Blooms and New Reads this Spring! Spring is nearly here! Are you headed on vacation this Spring Break or staying close to home? As the daffodils and crocuses begin to bloom in our neighborhood, I'm reminded to stock up on activity books for my kids to enjoy over the upcoming school break. Even though my family plans to stay local this year, I still like to be prepared with "Boredom Busters" aka "Mom's Sanity Savers"! I always keep a few new books hidden away, or save a SmartLab kit, and...
over 1 year agoΒ β’Β 5 min read
What if developing a love of reading could be easy? For some kids it is... others, not so much! One of my kids is an avid reader and loves it. She will choose to pick up a book during her free time, without me saying a word. Another one of my kiddos, my preschooler, loves to read books together, but screens have begun to pull her attention. And my middle kiddo is what I call a "picky" reader, and that's the biggest challenge. I understand the struggle when a kiddo says "I don't like reading."...
over 1 year agoΒ β’Β 4 min read
Hello Reader! In my 6+ years as a literacy advocate with PaperPie, I have learned a lot of helpful strategies to engage kids with books. How amazing would it be to share these literacy tidbits with other grown-ups and connect more one-on-one?! Cue this first-ever newsletter from Jen's Little Bookstore! I'm Jen, your personal book guide, and I can't wait to connect with you more this year! In my time with PaperPie I've grown a lot as a mom, individual, business owner, mentor/coach and the...
over 1 year agoΒ β’Β 3 min read