Sparkle Stories Blog
A home for Sparkle audio stories, crafts, recipes, and kind words!
Storybox Playlist: Stories of the Power of Advent
Advent is a powerful time. It is a time of waiting, patience, and quiet. It's also a time of transformation and looking inward. It's a powerful time when the year is coming to an end, the day are short and dark, and the natural world is moving into stillness.
Storybox Playlist: Giving Thanks the Sparkle Way
This playlist is filled with the different ways Sparkle characters celebrate Thanksgiving. From homegrown food to a feast in the junkyard to lots of Grandma's brownies, there are so many things to be grateful for and so many ways to say and show it.
It's Advent with Martin & Sylvia! Stories & Projects
December first is almost here and that means Advent is coming! Why not celebrate Advent with Martin and Sylvia and their holiday adventures? You'll not only enjoy stories but printables and project fun. We've gathered all the advent calendar stories and projects right here in one place.
It's a Junkyard Tales Advent! Stories & Projects
Celebrate Advent with the Junkyard crew! We've gathered all the Junkyard Tales Advent calendar stories and projects right here in one place so you can easily organize for Advent.
It's a Libby & Dish Holiday! Libby & Dish Good Deed a Day Club
Looking for something a little different this year for advent? Why not join Libby & Dish for their Good-Deed-a-Day Club? We've got everything right here to get you started!
Our Three Audio Advent Calendars (First Stories are FREE)
Learn all about our three Audio Advent Calendars!
This is No Norman Rockwell Holiday
Holidays can be hard. We humans are just so messy. There’s got to be a way to make this easier, right? Keep reading for advice on how best to practice self-care through the sometimes rough holiday season.
Storybox Playlist: Stories of Gratitude When Gathering Together
Thanksgiving is all about gathering together. It may be a small gathering of two or three people or an enormous gathering of 20 or more. This playlist is a mix of stories that help us to feel grateful for whatever kind of gathering we may encounter.
Storybox Playlist: Stories for Saying Thank You
This week, the playlist focuses on ways to say "thank you." It's not always easy to be grateful, especially when we are feeling a very strong emotion like anger or sadness or frustration.
Storybox Playlist: Stories of Simple Gratitude
We can find things every day to be grateful for — whether it's a hot breakfast, warm snow boots, a beautiful sunset, or even a wonderful laugh.
Martin & Sylvia Halloween Costume Paper Dolls!
A few weeks back we announced that we had Martin & Sylvia Paper dolls. Just in time for Halloween we have Martin & Sylvia's Halloween costumes.
sparkle kitchen: nine naturally sweet treats
This round-up is all about naturally sweet treats. These treats use honey or dried fruit to sweeten them and are a perfect way to have sweets at Halloween that are delicious and healthy too. Best of all, they don't have to be relegated to Halloween — they are great any time of the year when you might have lots of sugar to contend with.
Storybox Playlist: Stories for Managing Halloween Sugar Overload!
Whether your family indulges in sugar or not, we here at Sparkle want to encourage your family to take a moderate stance. Indulge if you like but also fill your bellies with lots of good whole food first. Or if you never indulge in sweets, maybe try making a naturally sweetened treat to branch out a little.
Halloween Round Up Extravaganza!
Here at Sparkle we take Halloween very seriously — meaning we put on silly wigs, big glasses, Halloween capes, and magic crowns. We make delicious treats and fun decorations.
Storybox Playlist: Five Favorite Halloween Stories!
Halloween is almost here! That means a whole lot of Sparkle magic. From tales of the Switch Witch to magic tricks and dragons, there is a story for everyone.
friday's kind words
"Thank you for this message, Lisabeth. I know I'm a great mama but I often find myself wishing it was as easy for me as it is for Martin and Sylvia's parents. They really have it together. Your message is a much-needed reminder that they are just imaginary people. Although they set a great example, going our own way is good too. ~ Leslie
sparkle kitchen: lavender and sweet orange sleepy spray
For anyone even remotely aware of herbal remedies, using lavender as a sleep aid is a no-brainer, but the addition of sweet orange oil makes this blend particularly lovely for children. Most other citrus scents can be overstimulating, but sweet orange is relaxing and soothing.
the wonder of halloween
David talks about why children actually want to dress in gory costumes of monsters, the undead and the maimed: they are still looking for wonder!
Helping Children with Fear at Halloween
We have found that stories are the most effective and enduring way to help children process — and then release — these images so they can enjoy all the magic and fun the season has to offer. Here are two stories that we think might help.
Storybox Playlist: Stories for Being with Fear
The stories in this playlist are all about being with fear, knowing where it comes from, and steps for managing it in a healthy, healing way. We hope these stories help anyone in your family who is feeling fear right now.
