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Facts About Autism (Arizona Edition)

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April 2, 2018
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I was asked to make a presentation to a local industry group in Arizona about autism. I love data and educating people, so I am sharing what I put together. I am attaching the picture files as well as the pdf, in case people want to pull information directly from it.

(P.S. I would have loved to have some more recent data around the cost pieces because it has only gotten worse since 2008, but alas, this is what I could pull from reputable sources at the time of publication.

P.P.S. You can shop the Autism Collection here: https://grammaticalart.com/product-category/autism-awareness/?show_products=all)

 

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Sister, Sister*

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March 29, 2018
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If you’re a longtime reader, you might remember Jess talking about her two younger sisters, and if you’re new here—awesome! I am, too.

I’m Kate, the youngest of Jess’s two sisters and the newest member of the Grammatical Art team. I have another sure-to-be adorable nephew on the way, so I’ll be helping out while Jess gets ready for baby no. 2 and filling in for her while she’s away on maternity leave.

I spent my time in undergrad as a copy editor then copy chief for the campus newspaper, taking as many writing courses as I could. But it only took one semester without a single science class for me to realize that I missed it, so I joined a lab and majored in biology. (I spent the rest of my free time in Harry Potter club. Yes, an actual, official club for everything and anything Harry Potter related. Living the dream, guys.)

Four years of splitting your time between hard science and creative writing means you get a lot of “If you like writing, why aren’t you an English major?” and “If you’re a biology major, why are you taking writing classes?” As if it only makes sense to do one or the other; as if the two are so unrelated they might as well exist in different dimensions.

My question was always: Why choose? If I love both, why not do both?

So when Jess and Natalie approached me about getting on board, it seemed like a no-brainer. Working with people who love all things nerdy? Who geek out about grammar and science in equal measure? Count me in.

Needless to say, I can’t wait to work with you all over the next few months, to talk books, talk science, and help keep you in all things grammar!

 

*Yes, this is in fact a shameless reference to the classic 90s sitcom starring Tia and Tamera Mowry.

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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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Let’s Talk About Audiobooks

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January 25, 2018
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There seems to be a big divide on the opinion of audiobooks. Many people don’t consider them a “real” way to “read” books, and they feel very strongly about it. Other people, like me, think they’re awesome and a great way to devour a good book.

Let me tell you why I love audiobooks and cringe when people so vehemently argue against them or outright dismiss them.

I love books in every form: book books, books on my Kindle, and books coming from my speakers. Sometimes, nothing can beat a tangible book in your hand: the gorgeous cover, the look of that perfect font, the smell. (What is that smell, by the way? Dead trees, inks, and dust? Whatever it is, it’s intoxicating.) Kindles are great when you’re traveling and don’t want to carry 5 books with you. The Kindle saves space and helps your terrible posture from lugging around too many physical books. I love my Kindle! Audiobooks can be listened to while doing many things you usually can’t do well while reading a physical book or Kindle: cooking, getting ready in the morning, driving, walking. This multitasking ability is why I am able to enjoy many more books per year than I would get to otherwise.

I live in Phoenix, a notoriously terrible commuting city. Trust me when I say it’s a parking lot during rush hour (although rush “hour” is a misnomer; it more like rush 4 hours) and everything is far away from everything else. Don’t believe me? Come out and visit during the winter when the snow birds are in town. After driving around, you will want to leave. Anyway, this isn’t a blog about driving in populated, spread-out cities. BACK TO BOOKS: Long story short, I spend A LOT of time in my car. Many people listen to the radio or listen to podcasts–I do, too–but I mainly spend the time listening to audiobooks and I love it. It’s like having a fun friend in the car with you, telling you an awesome story.

Isn’t that why we read? To fall into great stories? Listening to them shouldn’t be considered a weaker art; it’s just different. Listening and concentrating is DIFFICULT; this is why you shouldn’t dismiss your friend who’s listening to books instead of physically reading words on a page. We should celebrate people who are delving into the fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, and sci-fi all around them in any way they can.

Books are amazing, in every form. Let’s get them into everyone’s hands, any and every way we can.

P.S. You can buy sweet audiobooks from Audible OR you can borrow them for free from your library on an app like Overdrive!

 

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Tell Us How We’re Doing! Get a Coupon!

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January 16, 2018
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Grammatical Art is looking to expand in 2018 and we need your help to do it!

What kind of products would you like to see? What kind of designs? Do we ask too many questions? Use too many exclamation points in our blog titles?

Take a brief survey and let us know what you like, what you don’t like, and what we could be doing better and we’ll send you a 25% off coupon as a thank you.

C’mon, you know you’ve always wanted to give us a piece of your mind. Now’s your chance!

Click here to complete the survey and get your 25% off coupon!