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2020 Holiday Gift Guide

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November 23, 2020
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2020 hasn’t been the kindest, and it’s certainly been a fight to the finish. Let’s wrap up this hellacious year by celebrating the positive outcome of the presidential election and fighting the good fight! Check out these awesome items from our activism collection. There’s something for everyone on your list.

 

 

Frankly, this one speaks for itself. Buy one for everyone you know.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We get it. It’s been a long year. Consider this one for anyone who needs a little encouragement not to give up the fight. Plus this cozy hoodie will perk them right up.

 

 

 

 

 

2020 took RBG, but her death galvanized the country. This one makes a great gift for the stylish activist in your life, sparkles included.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That’s right, “she” did. All the way to the Vice-Presidency and more women than ever before in Congress. This is perfect for all the women in your life who have always persisted.

 

 

 

 

Repeat. All the way to the midterms clear through to 2024. This tote makes a great gift for a new parent–it’s big enough to carry all of their kid’s gear along with their hope for the future.

 

 

 

 

 

Trans rights. A nod to science and a statement of support. Snag this one for the ally in your life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not sure about the perfect gift? We get it. There’s so much awesomeness, it’s hard to choose! A gift card can easily solve all of your problems. Available here.

 

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Holiday Shopping Gift Guide

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November 26, 2019
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The turkey’s about to be in the oven, the lists are ever-growing. The hustle and bustle of the holiday season is officially here. You can rest easy, though, because we’ve got just the right gift for all the hard-to-shop-for folks on your list! Read on for inspiration; click an image to shop.

 

 

The Tough-to-Please Coworker
Your colleague is awesome, but has impossibly high standards. So do you! You’re a grammar nerd. Here’s a nod to everyone’s Monday morning need for coffee and your work buddy’s eye for excellence.

 

 

 

 

Your Politically-Involved Neighbor
Thank goodness your politics align, seeing as you share a sidewalk. This one encourages them to keep fighting the good fight, doubling as a something stylish and practical.

 

 

 

The Pregnant Friend at Book Club
I mean, the picture speaks for itself. What’s sweeter than imagining a little peanut all snuggled up in a lap reading books? It’s available in a range of sizes so you can get one for every growth milestone.

 

 

 

 

 

Your Dino-Obsessed Niece
Kids sure do love flexing their brain muscles, reciting all the names and factoids about dinosaurs. Lean into their love, and snag one of these that they can hang in their bedroom or playroom. Available as small as 5×7 up to 30×40.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your Fit Brother
He’s got all the gear, and he’s super proud of his most recent half marathon PR. This is the perfect, customizable gift that he can proudly show off display.

 

 

 

 

 

Your Child’s Teacher
It’s personalized, and it holds a ton of stuff! You know teachers are always hauling around papers, supplies, books, and everything they need to be a rock star for your kiddo year-round. We can hand letter it for you (super duper custom) or pick one with a stunning background.

 

 

 

Your Significant Other
(Or Yourself)
It’s a wink wink, a classic, timeless. Available in a variety of styles, cuts, and sizes. You can’t go wrong with this one.

 

 

 

When in doubt, grab a gift card. Because we’ve got something for everyone, there’s a gift for anyone on your list.

 

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Graduation & End-of-the-Year Gift Guide

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April 25, 2019
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What do you give someone who just survived years of term papers, exams and sleep deprivation? Super cool Grammatical Art stuff, of course. Keep reading for ideas for grads and the teachers who helped get them across the finish line.

This is probably the best graduation card ever and an absolute must to accompany any gift.

Since going topless under a graduation gown is generally frowned upon, here’s the perfect tee for the big day. It’s even ON SALE. Talk about a no-brainer.

*Also available in v-neck, women’s crew neck, and as a tote bag.

Obviously, your grad knows everything so maybe they’d like to pick out their own gift? If so, a Grammatical Art gift card is perfect. Available in varying amounts.

Giving a teacher gift? Smart move.

Without teachers, we’d all be dumb. Not only do the amazing educators in our lives deserve a ginormous “Thank You!” they deserve some rad stuff.

“What we learn becomes part of who we are.” –Kathy R. Jeffords

It’s a daily reminder that a little learnin’ goes a long way. Check out our NEW kitchen towel. This design is also available on a v-neck shirt, crew neck shirt, tote bag, and as a print.

If this doesn’t say it all, I don’t know what does. Those of us who are grammar-correcting fiends sure do have our awesome teachers to thank for our skills. Grab this on a tote, v-neck, crew neck shirt, or as a print.

Our personalized pencils are lovingly stamped by hand so they’re one-of-a-kind. Just like your favorite teacher. Don’t miss our other pencil sets, too!

Even if the kids have them losing their minds, your favorite teachers should never lose their stuff. Check out these personalized totes. You can even choose the background color.

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Sometimes, the Movie Is Just Better

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March 23, 2018
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It’s time for part 2 of our book-to-movie adaptation discussion. Last week, I talked about three of my favorite adaptations where the movie actually did right by the book. This week, I’m bringing you three movies I think did it better than the book. Yep. You read that right! Truthfully, some books just aren’t great and a film format allows for a more appropriate fit for the story. That’s certainly true of the three listed here.

Julie & Julia by Julie Powell and Julie & Julia, 2009

I’m sorry, but Julie Powell is annoying. In the book, she’s pretentious and whiny, and her whole cook-your-way-through-mastering-the-art-of-french-cooking thing doesn’t read as anything more than a way she wants to make herself famous. It felt far away from a love of cooking and experimentation in the kitchen. The very opposite of Julia Child. Yuck.

In the movie, Meryl Streep steals the show as an authentic, lovable, complicated Julia Child. And who could ever accuse Amy Adams of being pretentious and whiny? She’s actually pretty charming as she fails her way through the cookbook. Would that we all could cast someone to play us in the movie of our lives. Goodness knows it helped poor Julie Powell. And how darling and adorable is Stanley Tucci? This is a great move to catch 45 minutes of on TV on a lazy Saturday.

The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger and The Devil Wears Prada, 2006

Speaking of whiny characters. Andrea Sachs is just that. I found her really hard to like, and if you’re not rooting for the main character, what else is there? I mean, I even cheer on Dexter, y’all. Miranda is truly the devil with little that redeems her. What she really needs is a Meryl Streep interpretation.

This is completely convenient because in Streep’s hands, the movie’s Miranda is complicated, emotional, and somehow, I daresay, a little bit likeable. Anne Hathaway is perfectly cast. She’s just a little annoying and fake, but also has enough redeeming qualities that she’s palatable. The movie is well-paced, fun, and let’s not discount everything that Emily Blunt and her snarky quips bring to the table.

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks and The Notebook, 2004

It’s a book by Nicholas Sparks. Do I need to write any more of a review? The writing is about what a crafty 8th grader can handle. Sparks’s stories are designed to blatantly pull at the heartstrings, which is to say that they are both predictable and sad. There’s not a lot of depth, because, again, an 8th grader is writing it, and much of it could benefit from a good editor and better pacing.

I’ll acknowledge that the movie isn’t award-winning cinema. It certainly has its flaws. But let’s remember that this isn’t a list of the Best Movies Ever, but rather movies that are better than the book, and this certainly fits the bill. Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling really are sparkly. There is so much emotion, so much pretty and handsome, and so much that takes you back t your own first experience falling in love. It really has shades of gray and more complicated feelings than is ever conveyed in the book. I credit that to McAdams and Gosling and a screenplay that’s at least one step up from the book.

So there you have it, friends. Agree or disagree? Do you have any others to add to this list? Be honest, do I have too many movies including Meryl Streep?

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Sometimes, the Movie Is Good, Too

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March 16, 2018
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It’s an age-old debate: is it better to read the book first or see the movie?

I’ll save the debating. Read the damn book first. Always.

Personally, I don’t adhere to this rule, even though I aspire to. This is because I’m both pregnant and raising a toddler, so I weigh it like this: do I have time to watch a 120-minute movie or read a 400-page book first? Well. We know how this one ends. That said, I do hold sacred the “Read Before Viewing” rule, so let’s just pretend I’ve always read everything first, deal?

Since I’ve shut down the debate on which to do first, let’s talk about the debatable: are books always better than their movie adaptations? Can movies improve upon sub-par books? Are there great books that truly become great movies?

In my opinion, books aren’t always better than their movie adaptations. Some movies definitely improve on some not-so-good books. And there are absolutely great books that become great movies.

Trying to pick my favorite book-to-movie adaptations of all time is overwhelming, so what I’ll do for you is give you 3 of my favorites (yes, there are a lot more awesome ones out there!). They’re books I’ve turned to over and over, and they’re movies I never get tired of watching. That’s pretty much my standout criteria.

Wild by Cheryl Strayed and Wild, 2014 starring Reese Witherspoon

I’m putting this one up first because it’s probably my most controversial. Even Natalie has blogged about how she felt the book was overrated. But for some reason, this story speaks to my soul. Strayed’s writing is poetic and honest, and I underlined and highlighted so much of it that it may as well be yellow through. Sometimes books just hit you because of your time and space in the world, and maybe that was it for me.

I’ve seen the movie maybe once every 2 months since it came out. I’m surprised by how often I revisit it. Reese Witherspoon is tough and vulnerable in her portrayal of Strayed, and director Jean-Marc Vallée’s vision is perfection. The wilderness is beautiful, the pain very real, and its universality touching.

Emma by Jane Austen and Clueless, 1995 starring Alicia Silverstone

I won’t get into it with you about my love of Jane Austen. Just know that when I studied abroad, I visited her hometown, the house she grew up in, and her gravesite, because it’s that serious. Austen isn’t for everyone, I get it, but I love her stories and I love Emma.

I might have gone with the Gwyneth Paltrow adaptation on this one, but it just isn’t as amazing (or timeless!) as Clueless. Many write this one off as a chick flick, or dismiss it as another cheesy 90s movie, but come on. It’s amazing. This movie manages to take a story from the 1800s, update it, and make it relevant still some 20+ years later after its debut. The cast is funny and silly, but completely sincere. And Paul Rudd is stunningly handsome. I’ll end there.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1, 2010 starring Daniel Radcliffe

What is there to say about Harry Potter that hasn’t been said? The storytelling is above all else; the writing is timeless; the world and its characters are rich and compelling. It’s engrossing. It’s unforgettable. I love it, okay? I’ll stop convincing you now.

Let’s just get this out of the way: the movies as a set are uneven and inconsistent. There are some changes that aren’t so great and others that had to be made for the sake of time and format. Accepting these things as reality allows for some of the missteps (ahem…Goblet of Fire…ahem). But Part 1 of Deathly Hallows? Gorgeous and haunting. The mood, the scenes, the acting: it’s perfect. I’ve re-watched that particular movie in the series over and over again. It’s that well done.

There you have it: three of my favorite book-to-movie adaptations! Next post, I’ll tell you about my picks for crappy books that became better movies.

What are your favorite book-to-movie adaptations? Do you go for classics like To Kill a Mockingbird? Or do you allow for a Clueless in your list?

 

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Advocating for Science Literacy

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March 9, 2018
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Even though I’ve spent my career focused on literacy, my sister blew my mind a few years back when she mentioned to me the problem with “science literacy” in our country. As an admittedly non-science minded person, this phrase surprised me. The problem with science literacy is that, well, people are illiterate.

You don’t have to look far to see that science illiteracy is an issue. Let’s start with the recent EPA deregulation of coal ash waste. If you want to keep looking, you can start down the path of controversial issues (that shouldn’t be controversial) like vaccinating children and climate change. I balked at a post in a Facebook group recently where a mother asked that we respect her “choice” regarding vaccines.

In my hunt for a good definition of science literacy, I found this one from Discover: “Scientific literacy is the knowledge and understanding of scientific concepts and processes required for personal decision making, participation in civic and cultural affairs, and economic productivity. It also includes specific types of abilities.” There’s a lot more to it that you can read about here. There are lots of different definitions, of course, and schools and test-makers define it with a more academic bent.

What strikes me most about Discover’s definition is that it specifies that the knowledge is required for “personal decision making, participation in civic and cultural affairs, and economic productivity.” Truly, this applies to every facet of living life in a society. Whether or not you vaccinate, wash your hands regularly, recycle, believe in homeopathic remedies and the “healing” properties of essential oils is based on your level of scientific understanding. Even topics like infant sleep and organic produce are fraught with misinformation, misleading “studies,” and misinterpretation from people who aren’t science literate.

The danger in all of this comes from Dr. Google. I’m astounded when people like me think they know more than someone who’s spent their career in medicine or studying climate change. I’m not saying that a healthy questioning or second opinion is bad, but you still need to know what you’re asking, how to ask it, and of whom you’re asking it.

As a parent, I think about how important science literacy is to my family and to my children. I want them to experiment, to try things, to learn on a basic level. But I also want them to think critically, to look at sources, to make informed decisions in their lives. They need to be able to read, sure, but they really need to be able to reason. Here’s to advocating for science literacy, too.

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Pi Day: A Guide to Celebrating in Style

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March 1, 2018
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Move over St. Patrick’s Day, because March 14 is taking over. Pi Day is perhaps one of the most fun “days” of the whole year. Sure, there’s one for cookies, quirky country music song titles, and old stuff (yes, these are all real), but Pi Day has to rank pretty high up there. It’s a celebration of math (and also kind of about food)? Sign me up.

The 111th Congress made Pi Day official back in 2009. This was largely in response to lagging math test scores of American students when compared with other countries: a hope that making it official might bring attention to the issue and in turn positively affect public education. I don’t know about all of that, but any time Congress is actively talking about something that is based in mathematical or scientific fact, I’m here for it.

You all already know what ? is and why it’s important, so I won’t waste your time (but just in case you don’t and are afraid to admit it, I’ll let the official Pi Day folks explain it here). What I really want to know is: have you thought long and hard about how you’re going to celebrate Pi Day‽

Allow me to assist.

  • Invite your friends over. Be sure that you are properly dressed for the occasion. I highly recommend one of our awesome pi designs on a t-shirt (available for men and women!).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Include pie. This is a must. Consider a mini pie bar! Or perhaps a pizza pie with the pepperoni making a giant ? in the middle?
  • Host a contest to see who can memorize and recite the most digits. Level up: Pi Day scavenger hunt. Make a fool of everyone and play the Pie Face Game! As a prize, the winner gets to take home this awesome tote bag!

  • Don’t forget the cocktail. And may I suggest a little Pi Day beer pong: set up the cups in a pi shape instead of a pyramid. You’re welcome.

No matter how you choose to celebrate it, here’s to hoping you don’t act too irrationally on Pi Day. 😉

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Exploring the World of Self-Help Books

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February 22, 2018
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Truth be told, even though I’m a librarian and read pretty widely, I haven’t really ever truly explored the world of self-help books. To me, they always seemed a little hokey, and also, who are these people that write these books? I mean, really. Lately, though, I’ve spent time gleaning tidbits from a few of the self-helpers, and though I haven’t become an evangelist of any one person or methodology, I’ve taken something away from each that makes the books worth mentioning.

My journey down this rabbit hole began when two friends invited me to join their self-care book club. As a mom, this concept meant something to me, so I decided to participate. Our first book was Brené Brown’s The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are. I’m sure you’ve heard of Brown before. She’s given some pretty internet-famous TED talks, has written a slew of books, and has some sound advice to share. I dig her. What’s most interesting about this book is Brown’s ability to frame her advice so warmly and with acceptance. This book is for: people who struggle with perfectionism and people pleasing.

 

I may be betraying a bit too much of my own personal struggles with this next one, but hell, if I learned anything from Brown’s book it’s that being honest and vulnerable is a strength, not a weakness. In Food: The Good Girl’s Drug: How to Stop Using Food to Control Your Feelings, Sunny Sea Gold talks openly about the complexities of food issues that range on a scale from an unhealthy relationship with food to a full-blown eating disorder. Gold focuses mainly on binge eating disorder which has received a lot less media attention than either anorexia or bulimia and yet affects millions. This book is for: anyone who believes they’re using food to cope or who has body image issues. Bonus points for tangible suggestions for change and for posing thoughtful questions meant to encourage journaling and reflection.

 

Natalie gave me this one, and I’m so glad she did! It’s The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck: How to Stop Spending Time You Don’t Have with People You Don’t Like Doing Things You Don’t Want to Do by Sarah Knight. I’m sure you’re familiar with Marie Kondo’s tidying up book, and Knight’s take is a parody of that one. We’re talking mental clutter in this book instead of physical clutter, and Knight’s love of the word “fuck” is pretty perfect (and pretty Grammatical-Art-aligned). This book is for: anyone who has no fucks left to give and wants to laugh out loud while reading about how to be okay with giving zero fucks.

 

The books I’m exploring next: Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself by Kristen Neff, The Food Therapist: Break Bad Habits, Eat with Intention, and Indulge Without Worry by Shira Lenchewski, and You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life by Jen Sincero. Ever read any good self-help books? Do tell!

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Life’s Too Short to Read a Bad Book and Other Advice for Reading with Kids

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February 13, 2018
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It’s no secret that at Grammatical Art, we’re huge book lovers. Look no further than our “I Heart Books” totes, tees, and prints for evidence. Our book-obsessed leader Natalie has blogged about her massive reading list from 2017 (read her posts here, here, and here for some awesome recommendations), and she has lofty goals for 2018.

As a former (and still passionate) children’s librarian, I’m an advocate for putting books in the hands of kids. The thing is, not just any old book will do, and that’s a misunderstanding that a lot of people have about little kids and reading. I’m not implying that the only acceptable literature for children has a gold seal on it; award-winners are great, but not necessarily for everyone. So I’ve put together some guiding principles for choosing books for the children in your lives.

Here goes:

  • Make reading fun and loving. Try not to ever force a child to sit down and read, especially one under the age of five. Choose snuggly moments and good moods to introduce books rather than mid-tantrum (I’m exaggerating, but you get my point). If they resist you, try another book or try another time. It’s totally okay.
  • Follow the child’s lead. Are they currently mermaid obsessed? In an all-dinosaurs-all-the-time phase? Find books that relate to their interests, and they’ll be more inclined to enjoy them. The same is true of adults, right?
  • Try to flip through a book yourself first before you hand it to a kid (or read reviews of it online if it’s lengthy). This has absolutely nothing to do with censorship (another post for another time) and everything to do with making sure the reading level and material is on par with the child. The artwork might be too scary, the book too wordy, or the content way over the child’s head. You get to be the gatekeeper as the adult. After all, don’t we do this for ourselves when making book selections?
  • It’s perfectly acceptable to start a book and not finish it. It’s also perfectly acceptable for your child to be more interested in holding and playing with the book than reading it, or in the case of older children, flipping through to look at specific pictures or read only certain passages. For kids (especially little ones) the majority of their experiences are new. They’re getting to know what a book is and how it works. All of this is building literacy and it has nothing to do with reading a book cover to cover. Embrace the play!
  • Graphic novels, comic books, ebooks, and audiobooks all count as real books (yes! really!), and they absolutely enhance and develop literacy skills just as “traditional” books do. I can send you research if you’re curious, but I just want to say it once and for all. Adults: they all count. Now let’s move on.
  • Model reading for children. Kids want to be like the important grown-ups in their lives. They want to do things just like you (it’s true!). If they see you reading and enjoying books, they’re more inclined to want to read, too.
  • My cardinal rule for every person in the world: LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO READ A BAD BOOK. You, too, grown-ups! If a kid is disinterested in the book, who cares? Chances are they may come around later (hours, days, weeks, months, years, whenever!), but if they never do, who cares? There’s always another book. Let go of your completion attitude, and let the book go. Forcing children to read something (in a non-school setting, of course), that they hate is only going to make them hate reading and books. Let the book go. Life is just too short. Some books just aren’t that interesting, aren’t that well-written, aren’t that colorful, or aren’t right for some odd reason, and that’s perfectly okay.

We’d love to know what your favorite books were as children. Maybe they’re still your favorites today? How do you go about choosing books for the children in your life or for yourself? Are you guilty of having a completion attitude about books?

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An Ode to the Public Library

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September 15, 2017
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In my life before my son and Grammatical Art, I was a career public librarian. I’m probably not who you imagine a librarian to be since I got into libraries when I was 23 and not gray-haired. I was lucky to appreciate libraries, having grown up with a librarian mom, but it wasn’t something that it seemed like my peers gave much thought to beyond needing their college library for research.

I’m here to tell you that in my (pretty biased) opinion, public libraries are amazing. There is so much good there, and pretty much 99.9% of it is available to you for free. If you don’t want to take my word for it, you can read Wil Wheaton’s post about libraries here or Neil Gaiman’s lecture on their awesomeness.

Here are a few of the reasons public libraries are so great:

  • Free wifi.
  • Quiet working spaces (just throwing some shade at your fav coffee shop).
  • Free materials to borrow (you’re not still in 1984, so you know you can borrow TV and movies on DVD and blu-ray, right? Also video games, toys, and some even lend tools!).
  • Free e-books for your Kindle or favorite digital reading device. The best part is: no fines or fees! The book automatically disappears from your device when it’s due. You can even check out a Kindle if you don’t own one at most libraries.
  • Classes galore: yoga, computer programming, small business info, gardening, line dancing, movie nights, storytimes, sleepovers, gaming, foreign language, maker workshops, and on and on and on.
  • Meeting spaces for community gatherings, non-profits, workshops, you name it.
  • Free help! Librarians are paid to help you with everything and anything you need. They’re available in the building, by phone, even online through email and chat.
  • Books for days, y’all. Books for days.

These things are all phenomenal, of course, but they are really all pieces of a whole. The most wonderful thing about libraries is that they are community spaces free of politics, religion, and judgment. They provide access for all and to all. Your right to freedom of information is a founding principle of our country and one that libraries and librarians fiercely, devotedly, doggedly protect, even in the face of the PATRIOT Act and as privacy becomes more vague and elusive.

At Grammatical Art, we love our books and we love our libraries. Show your library pride with our awesome tees, totes, and prints!