Scholastic Book Fair

Have I mentioned that SWE PTA's Craftacular Craft & Vendor Fair is coming up on Saturday, November 15 from 9 to 2 at 2320 Cook Rd. in Durham? I have? Oh, well have I mentioned that on that day we will also have our Scholastic Book Fair open to the public while the craft fair is going on? Yep.
In the school's media center you will be able to purchase books from Scholastic. There are a number of books that are available only in hardback at your regular bookstore but Scholastic sells paperback versions. Your purchases at the book fair also directly benefit our school as a portion of those sales gets donated back to us.
Stop in. Check it out. Tell your friends.

Meet the Vendor: Tam Schellenberg

Today I get to introduce you to one of my best friends who has a knack for doing EVERYTHING brilliantly. I kid you not, you could give her some Popsicle sticks and pipe cleaners and she would come up with the best looking porch swing you've ever seen!
I'm thrilled to tell you folks with pooches that she has been dedicating her time to making healthy treats for pups. Here's what she says:

I started making these treats for my own dogs as a healthy alternative to the chemical-laden store bought treats. My Homemade Dog Treats are baked in my kitchen from only human grade ingredients. You wont find any ingredients that you wouldn't use for yourself, so there are no mystery ingredients. 

This year I will have three different flavors that will be sold by weight so you can mix and match to meet your pups palate.

 Perfect stocking stuffers for your pooch!

Meet the Vendor: A Crafty Pear

I am excited to introduce yet another vendor that will be attending our 2nd SWE PTA's Craftacular Craft & Vendor Fair this Saturday, November 15 from 9 to 2 at 2320 Cook Rd. in Durham.
Ladies and Germs: A Crafty Pear!
"The ladies of A Crafty Pear love to craft! We have crafts and gifts for all ages. Teacher gifts; stocking stuffers; bows and bow ties; treasure boxes; felted handbags and soap; burlap utensil holders, table runners, wreaths and more is what you will find at A Crafty Pear."

Look at all that adorableness. I am going to be next to this booth. That doesn't bode well for my wallet!
Make sure you stop by their booth and say hi!

Book Harvest

Book Harvest will be joining us at SWE PTA's Craftacular Craft & Vendor Fair on Saturday, Nov. 15 from 9 to 2. If you live in the Durham area and are not familiar with Book Harvest you should be. It is a great organization dedicated to getting new and gently used books into the hands of kids from low-income families who may not otherwise have access to books in their own homes. These kids are even given the chance to choose what books they want for themselves. The books aren't chosen for them. This can give a kid a real sense of power and an eagerness to read what they, themselves have picked out.
Book Harvest has a variety of programs available to help disperse the books. They have Book Babies, Books on Break and Community Book Banks. You can find out more about these programs HERE. The thing is, they actually need books to be able to GIVE books. If you have them, feel free to bring your gently used children's books with you to the Craftacular event to donate to Book Harvest. They take books of all reading levels as they give books to kids of all ages.
This is truly a great way to help out the community right here in Durham.
Stop by the Craft Fair and say hello!

We Love Our Libraries!

I love libraries. I think they are wonderful places. They give people chances to read things they may not be able to otherwise. I know I couldn't afford to buy all of the books my kiddos and I are interested in. It's very important for kids to have access to books of all sorts to help inspire that love of reading. While you are visiting SWE PTA's Craftacular Craft & Vendor Fair on Saturday, Nov. 15 from 9am to 2pm, please stop by the table that will be set up by the Southwest Regional Library and check out what your Durham County Library has to offer people of all ages.
Here is a link you can check out if you are too excited to wait until Nov. 15 to see their offerings.
http://durhamcountylibrary.org/location/southwest/