Bec Claus

09/06/2026

Early bday gifts for me from me. 😬

How bout these glasses?! 🤓
These earrings?! 😍
This shirt?! 🙃


Hope everyone’s weekend is breezy. 🩵

08/01/2026

Summer reads and thoughts…

1. 📸 Artivist by Nikkolas Smith (a new favorite ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
2. 📸 An Indigenous Peoples’ History of The United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
3. 📸 Recitatif by Toni Morrison
4. 📸 Straight - the Surprisingly Short History of Heterosexuality by Hanne Blank
5. 📸 Crip Kinship by Shayda Kafai
6. 📸 Safeguarding Autistic Girls by Carly Jones
7. 📸 Swift River by Essie Chambers (fiction)
8. 📸 The Feminist Financial Handbook by Brynne Conroy (about much more than financials)

…every white person, at least every white person I know, and all of us in the US..have white privilege. There’s still confusion over what it means so to clarify:

* It does not mean you haven’t worked hard to get wherever you are.
* It does not mean you haven’t had a difficult life.
* It does not imply you are financially privileged (but it might be that you have a higher likelihood of also having financial privilege or generational wealth)

You can’t choose white privilege; it is inherent because what it does mean is…

* You (probably) don’t need to fear for your life if you are getting pulled over by a police officer. You are also less likely be pulled over.
* You and your white family and friends haven’t faced generations of racism—directly, systemically and on a broad-scale—because our ancestors were not stolen and horrendously, violently forced into labor and submission to advance colonialism.
* It (probably) also means you haven’t been violently separated from your family and your children haven’t had to suffer imprisonment.

There are many things that could be said of what white privilege is and isn’t, but denying it holds us all back. If you are a denier and haven’t learned how history influences privileges, I hope you choose education. It may be that your privileges have shielded you from needing to know, but ignorance isn’t blissful to those being harmed.

Understanding our privileges and examining how we’ve implicitly contributed to marginalization in our past is essential for individual and community growth. I’m still learning how to be a part of work that advances the most marginalized and invite you to join me in learning and sharing ideas.

☮️

07/15/2026

Disability Pride Month, hey. 🌈

This book, Demystifying Disability, by Emily Ladau Emily Ladau | Demystifying Disability is a banger and it’s one of those makes-the-world-better type books (IMHO).

Here are some takeaways from my readings and experience:

* Do not assume people don’t want their disability.
* Do not assume an individual with a physical disability needs or wants your help in public spaces. Always ask first. (This is a takeaway from the author who has firsthand perspective on this).
* How people choose to identify, whether through person-first language or identity-first language is their prerogative. I remember being taught in college (so it’s outdated!) that person-first language was the “right” way, but thinking that is the only way reduces autonomy of the person. We don’t speak for each other but we can speak up for each other. I am autistic and I have non-apparent disabilities.
* Don’t infantilize disabled adults. Speak to them in the same tone you would any adult.
* In the medical model of disability, there is a general implication: seek to fix the person…
* The social model of disability seeks to serve the person’s needs, to fix society and improve accessibility for all humans. Why wouldn’t we all want that?
* Human worth is not dependent on functioning status, but our capitalistic society has implanted cut-throat unkindness and privilege blinders. The U.S. demands high function or casts aside or forces an unjust fight for one’s needs and rights. Anyone can become disabled at any moment. I am fortunate and I do not need to seek disability funding, but I’ve learned they make it H-E 🏒🏒 to acquire for those who truly need it.

I believe we are here to help each other thrive and that cannot happen with a supremacy mindset, nor while this sadministration promotes ableism and cuts funds/programs for those with highest needs.

I am not a medical professional. Views are mine, informed by books and experience. Happy Disability Pride month. 🫶

📚 The rest are some summer reads I’ve liked for the kids. ➡️

This is How We Talk by Caroline Cupp and Jessica Slice.

Talking is Not My Thing by

06/05/2026

Catching up on some solid/important reads lately that I’d recommend for one reason or another…

📸 1. The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson
📸 2. I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
📸3. Freedom is a Constant Struggle…
Angela Davis
📸4. Parable of the Sower 🫣 by Octavia Butler
📸5. So you want to talk about race by Ijeoma Oluo
📸6. The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
📸7. The Handmaid’s Tale 🫠 by Margaret Atwood
📸8. How to Know a Person…by David Brooks
📸9. Disability Visibility edited by Alice Wong
📸10. New From Here by Kelly Yang.. great for your kids getting into chapter books/good story for kids learning to confront racism

Bonus 📸 page from The Anti-ableist Manifesto by Tiffany Yu and Parable of the Sower

I know some of these are classics in their right and I am late to read them but love how reading preferences shift over time. I’ve learnt I can stay voracious with a proper pairing and I have developed a love for historical fiction.

What are your recent favs? Any historical fiction recommendations, friends? TIA!

Happy Friday, happy reading, and have I mentioned I love our libraries? ♥️

05/29/2026

05/27/2026

Save the date for storytime! +

July 25th
10 am - 12 pm
Ruckus Cafe

I’m excited to partner with Ruckus Cafe and Persuit Church for a fun and festive summer breakfast! We’ll have storytime, a craft, and games.

Tickets for Christmas in July at Ruckus are available now at ruckuscafe.com.

Hope to see you there❣️

04/25/2026

I ♥️ Millvale Community Library and I love “everyone is welcome here” signs.. such a simple, but meaningful gesture. 💛

There are still a few more hours left of Millvale’s Spring Market. Come check it out! 🛍️

04/23/2026

Joy is resistance, finding it is a privilege, nature is necessary, and the right to play and rest are human rights! There’s not much that makes me happier than riding my bike on a beautiful day. 🌳😌🚴‍♀️

It is World Book Day and I’m offering the deepest online discount yet on my first book, How to Have Holiday Cheer All Year. 🙂

Give the gift of cheer any time of year. 🎁♥️
Links in stories. 📚 Happy spring! I hope you all find the time and spirit to play.🌷☀️💓



Ps. I adore these illustrations by Jess Bircham. 🥰