Studies show that babies who are read to and sung to at an early age will demonstrate higher reading skills than other children. While many parents don't think a newborn is paying attention to the texts in their early days, getting them into a routine of reading will be worth the time spent in their infancy. These are 10 books every newborn nursery should have on the shelves.
Before there was Buzz Lightyear or Shrek, there was Mrs. Hannigan and the Cowardly Lion. Movies made for small audiences have come a long way in terms of animation and imagination earning them an entirely separate category at major award shows, but when it comes to the classics, the old artists relied on their voices, costumes, and acting skills to create some irreplaceable masterpieces that every tot should enjoy. Check out the list of these movies, and tell me which one is your (or your child's) favorite.
My favorite New Year's resolutions are cultural ones — they take determination, but are also kind of indulgent. Last week I asked which books you were determined to read in 2011, and the majority of you named classic works of literature. Here are 15 books you plan to read in 2011.
Have any to add?
When it comes to giving books as gifts, you can judge them by the covers. I asked what books make good gifts for the holidays, and OnSugar user Roaring Silence suggested Oscar Wilde's Picture of Dorian Gray, reminding me no book lover could dislike a favorite classic bound into an old-school hardback.
Penguin Classics republished popular classics, like Jane Eyre, Oliver Twist, and Wuthering Heights, with traditional cloth-bound backs and modern design, creating art from the inside out.
What classic would you like a copy of?
One of the things I love the most about cooking is how you can take a couple of very simple ingredients, say butter, garlic, and bread, and turn them into something absolutely extraordinary.
You may not think that the word extraordinary should be used to describe garlic bread, but when you realize that everyone has their own variation and everyone enjoys eating it, extraordinary is a perfectly fitting word.
There are two essentials to a deliciously crisp and buttery garlic bread. The first is good-quality bread and the second is room-temperature butter. I like to make a paste with butter and garlic before generously slathering it on the bread. For even toasting, I bake it, then broil it. Get my exact recipe — and please share your method in the comments — after the break.
I'm not afraid to admit I love a good potato salad, especially when paired with a burger or hot dog at a barbecue on a hot Summer day. As long as it's fresh from the fridge and has a generous sprinkle of ground black pepper, I'm perfectly happy eating a heaping bowl of potato salad. However, I know not everyone is a fan of the mayonnaise-based dish, and I'm wondering: how do you feel about it?
Source: Flickr User stu_spivack
There's a reason classic storybooks continue to resonate with lil ones. The sweet tales, with their fun characters, colorful story lines and ultimate morals, have educated generations of tots.
Getting tykes interested in the classic characters can be a tough sell. Given all of the products associated with the movies, television and video games they watch, it can be hard to convince a wee one to follow a classic tale like Goldilocks. With EQD's storybook mask sets ($12), traditional books and songs come alive. Each set includes four or five foam masks that can be used to act out the traditional tales or sing along to the nursery rhymes. Perfect for dress-up, impromptu plays and even classroom story times, the sets include such beloved stories as Cinderella, Three Little Pigs and The Ugly Duckling.
Michael Kors Fall 2010 was full of soft, luxurious fabrics like fur, cashmere and mohair in warm tones. Showing a trend of longer skirts and relaxed trousers, his show at New York Fashion Week featured versatile and comfortable pieces that can be worn season after season.
We chatted with Michael Kors, who has dressed Angelina Jolie, Blake Lively, and Michelle Obama amongst others, behind the scenes at his runway show to hear his thoughts on the Michael Kors Fall 2010 collection. Siting a shift to a more "relaxed glam" mix of luxurious and comfortable pieces, Kors emphasizes his line is about being versatile and sexy.
Sometimes, older is better. Toys do not have to be powered by batteries, controllers, and electricity to be a lot of fun. In fact, many knickknacks that current moms and dads grew up with required nothing more than a hearty imagination. Take a nostalgic look at some classic playthings that have stood the test of time and would make memorable additions to any modern day toy box.
