Want a Smart Kid?

Read to them!  Studies have shown that children who read well do better in school.  But, as a mom, the point is not to 'make them read well'.  The best thing is to give them a love for reading.

When my children were very young we read "Bedtime Stories", most parents have.  For the kids it was a way to put off going to sleep a little longer.  But if you choose interesting books for their age, they will get interested.

However, since I was an avid reader, I never quit reading the "Bedtime Stories".  When my children started first grade we 'graduated' in our reading choices.  (Well, actually, I did-- I wasn't reading any more Berenstain Bears!  They are great little books, but I'd had enough of Brother and Sister Bear.)

So I dug out all the wonderful books I had read as a child.  Now they call them Children's Classics, and they are, but they are still wonderful books.  We did start with Winnie The Pooh (the real book by A. A. Milne) just to sort of break them in.  But we continued on with Little Women, Pilgrims Progress, Huckleberry Finn, and many more.  Actually, I read to both of my daughters every classic book I could find.

At half a chapter a night, and sometimes the whole chapter, we had gone through the children's classics by the third or fourth grade.  The amazing thing was... they were asking for more!

Yes, my throughly modern children who lived in a world of advanced technology, had learned to love those books.  Kidnapped, Heidi, The Three Musketeers, even David Copperfield (the one by Charles Dickens) and Great Expectations .

We then turned to more recent authors until finally, the year they started junior high, Mom said, "No more bedtime reading".  They whined a week or two but soon got over it.

I had done my job, they loved and enjoyed reading, and still do.  And even though I'm the one saying it, they became very intelligent people.

Fall Decorating Idea

Tuesday was the first day of Fall, or Autumn, for most of the country.  Here in the Deep South it is "Still Summer" and probably will be until November 1st (or sometimes December 15th).  However, we still pretend it is Fall and decorate accordingly.  

 Need a little glamor on the cheap? Here is a great idea for adding glamor to your Fall table setting.  We purchased these ordinary items from a dollar store for fifty cents each.  You can probably get them from Goodwill even cheaper.

Then, just use glue.  We used hot glue so we could take it apart and use the items again.  If you would like it to be permanent, use glass glue, which you can get in a department store.

Now it becomes an elegant footed candleholder for only $1.50!  You can make a pair of these for $3.00 in less than ten minutes.  Several different styles of votive holders were available besides the square one we used here.

We added the tapestry table runner, another dollar store find at $4.00.  

If you live where the trees are turning colors, add some some of the leaves and any other natural elements you can get free.  This is a simple project with a big return.

Giveaway!

We are having our first giveaway... and such an adorable little gift! These are Candy Corn Guest Soaps. They come in a set of three guest soaps individually wrapped.

These little guest soaps look just like traditional candy corn. They weigh 1.4 ounces each, for a total of 4.2 ounces and are approximately 1 1/2 inches tall. Set them in a decorative dish in your bathroom during the holiday season, or use them for gifts. Kids will love these-- and might even want to take a bath!

The Giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada.

How to Enter: (Required) Visit our store, The Gingham Grasshopper, and leave us a comment here telling us what your favorite product is. Please leave your email address in your post so that we can contact you if you win.

Additional Entries:

1. Follow our blog and leave a separate comment and your email address. (1 extra)

2. Fan us on our Facebook page and leave a separate comment plus your email address. (1 extra)

The winner will be chosen in a random drawing and will be notified by email. The winner has 2 days to claim their prize. If unclaimed, another winner will be chosen.

The giveaway closes Monday, September 28th (CST)

Good luck and have fun!


This Giveaway is now closed-- thanks to everyone who entered!

The winner is Angela!

Christening and Baptism Bracelets

Christenings, Baptisms, and Baby Dedications are all special times shared by families. Choose a special keepsake that can be worn and passed on to future generations.

Sweet little Christening bracelets are a favorite with mothers and Godparents alike. Our most popular sellers for August have been"Little Blessing" and "My Hope".

The "Little Blessing" bracelet is made with pearls and clear crystals and comes with a delicate cross charm. It is available with or without a name.


"My Hope" has been another favorite. This sweet little Christening or Baptism bracelet is made with white freshwater pearls and has a beautiful rounded cross bead in the center. This style is especially good for infants because there is no attached charm. These precious little bracelets are perfect for passing on to future generations of little ones.

At The Gingham Grasshopper, all of our jewelry comes with free gift packaging and free gift cards; we even offer free shipping! We have a large selection of Christening and Baptism bracelets for you to choose from.

**Send us your photos of your little ones wearing their bracelets so we can display them here! We would love to see them.

Back to School!

It's back-to-school time and back to packing lunches. Your child has picked out that cool new lunch box that he or she will be using every day-- so why not try some cool new lunch ideas!

You've heard the stories about all the 'lunch-trading' that goes on at school. The best way to ensure that your children eat the healthy lunch you pack for them is
to include them in the process. Let them help with the menu planning.

Kids don't have a lot of time for eating lunch, so try smaller portions but include more options. A smaller sandwich (bottom right) using a healthier wheat roll may actually be gobbled up! If you child only eats white bread, cut it into four sections; you can even share these among siblings. Then tuck in
some veggie sticks and dip, pretzels or trail mix, and the all-important dessert!

The turkey wrap (top right) is made with shredded turkey, thin sliced cantaloupe, and lettuce. The sweet cantaloupe makes this a real hit. Click to see the recipe for the mini quiches (left), from "Notebook: magazine". They're made with whole grain bread, shredded ham, and cheddar cheese.

If you're not sure your child will eat a new sandwich or recipe, try it out at home first. The weekend is a good time for trying something new.

And don't forget to tuck in a special note to your child. You can download these free lunch box notes, and more, by going to www.alphamom.com.

A New Beginning

Welcome to The Gingham Grasshopper's new blog!

This is where we will be posting all the events and happenings going on at The Gingham Grasshopper. We will give you sneak previews of new items such as baby bracelets or Christening gifts that will be available in our store (so you will get the first look!) We will also keep you informed of any sales events or coupons that our store is running. So be sure to check in often to see what is happening! And if you have some new items you would like to see, just let us know.

A new baby and children's bracelet we will have soon is "Alluring". This is an all sterling silver bracelet with an engraved medallion. The medallion is small and will look best with names that are 6 letters or less. The engraving is done in an upright script. It will be available in sizes 4 inchs - 6.5 inches, and of course, it comes with a free 1/2 inch extender.

Also, we will have a new Christening or Baptism bracelet, "Sweet Stardust". So many customers have loved our "Silver Shimmer" bracelet made with white freshwater pearls and stardust beads, that we thought we would see if a Christening bracelet made entirely with stardust beads would be as popular. This little bracelet has a rounded cross bead as the focal point of the design.

Let us know how you like the new designs, and be sure to check out all the other great designs in our store. www.theginghamgrasshopper.com

P.S. For all of you attorneys following-- we will have some new jewelry coming for you, too. Plus, our first brooch in a design made just for lawyers!