Great Camping Destinations Around The Country
Best Illustrated Children’s Books
When you look at books for kids, you can’t help but be amazed at the artistry that goes into every page. Some incredible talent is working in the field of children’s book illustration. Here is a selection of the most visually stunning illustrated children’s books of all time.
The Polar Express
Made into a major motion picture, the incredibly realistic art in Chris Van Allsburg’s modern holiday classic bewitches the eye, hiding incredible amounts of detail and expression on every page.
Where The Wild Things Are
Maurice Sendak’s classic is drawn in a style that manages to be both expressive and incredibly detailed. Every element of Max’s nighttime wanderings is rendered perfectly. Truly a monumental achievement.
Over and Over
Written by Charlotte Zolotow, it’s the astounding illustrations by storybook master Garth Williams that really sell this simple, charming story of a young girl learning about the passage of the seasons.
Anansi The Spider
Gerald McDermott’s brightly-colored, geometric illustrations are a perfect complement to this West African folktale. They’re deceptively blocky at first, but soon you realize the incredible care that went into creating them.
Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs
This timeless classic by Ron and Judi Barrett is jam-packed with detail and tons of funny sight gags that go perfectly with the surreal story of a town where food falls from the sky.
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Never Arrive Empty Handed: Great Housewarming Gifts
When a family member or friend moves into a new place, it's nice to help them celebrate with a great housewarming gift! It need not be expensive, just a little something to add to their new home or to celebrate the hard work and stress that went into moving in. If you're wondering what to get, check out our list of favorites that will make you welcome in their new home!
For the first-time homeowner, it's a great idea to put together a tool kit of useful items — things such as screwdrivers, a hammer, a flashlight, a tape measure, and the like. Especially if they came from apartment living, having their own tools will be a welcome gift!
The same idea can be used for kitchen utensils as well—a new can opener; a spice rack with spices, mixing and baking tools like a spatula, whisk, and cooking trays; or some nice dish towels will all be welcome additions to a new kitchen.
Or, a safe bet is to offer a nice bottle of wine or champagne, or fresh baked goodies. These are always welcome in a new home! Most likely they'll be opened or eaten at the first housewarming party, or your friends will have your gift to savor just for themselves.
And lastly, if you can’t think of anything they really need, gift cards to stores like Crate and Barrel, Williams Sonoma, or The Home Depot will help the new homemakers furnish their new place in style.
10 Ways To Save Money At The Grocery Store
With the prices of food and household items going up, it's essential to do all you can to cut costs while food shopping. Whether you’re shopping for yourself or a large family, below are a few easy ways to fill your belly without emptying your wallet.
1. Make a list and stick to it. Go to the store with a list and a budget, and do not deviate!
2. Don’t go shopping when you’re hungry. If you're hungry, you're bound to buy more than you need.
3. Use coupons and bonus cards. Coupons are one of the most effective ways to cut costs — check out the circular coupons, or use Google to find coupons for your favorite brands. Also, register at the customer service counter for a free bonus card so that you can enjoy members-only prices.
4. Before you head to the check out, look at your cart. Do you really need every single thing?
5. Use brand substitutions. If another brand or the store brand is on sale, try it. You may find a new favorite, plus you'll save some money!
6. Only go down the aisles you need. Be purposeful with your shopping — don't tempt yourself by walking down unnecessary aisles.
7. When possible, go alone. If you can, don't take the kids. They will distract you from getting what you need, and ask for things that weren't on your list.
8. When it makes sense, buy in bulk/buy ahead. If an item you love is on sale, stock up. But, if it's perishable, be sure you only buy the amount that you can use before the expiration date.
Tips For Taking Better Pictures With Your Digital Camera
Digital photography has all but eclipsed traditional film in recent years, and the technology has advanced to the level where you can do just about anything. But there are still a few things to keep in mind to make sure that your digital pictures are the best they can possibly be.
Check your white balance settings
Most digital cameras default to an automatic white balance, which can make images look a little cooler. By switching to the “cloudy” setting, warm colors will be enhanced, with reds and yellows more vibrant.
Take multiple pictures
The onboard memory of most modern digital cameras is big enough that you can shoot freely without worrying about running out of space. The more shots you take, the greater the chance that one will be good. Just make sure to empty your internal memory onto your computer or a hard drive in between photo sessions.
Keep it steady
One of the most common photography mistake is movement of the camera during shooting. It’s worth looking into a wrist brace to make holding your camera steady, but even if you don’t want to do that, try to use two hands to keep it stable.
Use the Rule of Thirds
By drawing invisible lines horizontally and vertically across your viewfinder to divide it into nine equal shapes, you get a great tool to compose your shots. Put important elements at one of the four intersecting points towards the middle.
Don’t be afraid to practice!
It doesn’t cost anything to take more digital pictures. A strange idea can sometimes translate into a really cool image
Fun Film History Facts
Movies have given us so much entertainment and education, but did you know the long and convoluted road they had to travel to get where they are today? Here are some interesting facts about the torrid history of motion pictures.
The earliest ancestor to what we consider modern film is the photography of Edweard Muybridge, who rigged a special array of cameras to take multiple still pictures of a galloping horse. The images were then developed and put into a rotating drum that, when spun, caused the illusion of motion.
The motion picture camera was invented in the 1880s. Early silent films shocked and amazed audiences, who had never experienced anything like it before. Producers like Georges Melies created incredible narratives with early special effects that still dazzle to this day.
A number of people experimented with adding sound to movies, but it wasn’t until the 1920s that a soundtrack was directly attached to the film itself, opening a whole new world to artists.
The introduction of digital technology in the 1990s has radically changed the way people produce and view film, with new 3D projection methods being the latest example. Who knows what the future will bring?
Bird Is The Word: Five Quick Chicken Dinners
Chicken is one of the most versatile proteins available to the home cook, and it can be prepared in so many different, delectable ways. In this article, we’ll share five of our favorite recipes that come out of the kitchen in a hurry without skimping on flavor.
Stuff a chicken breast with onions caramelized in a pan until they are golden brown and soft Fontina cheese. Bake in an pan until the meat is cooked through and deglaze the pan with white wine and rosemary to make a sauce. Serve over rice pilaf or quinoa.
Lemon chicken is a classic dish that never fails to impress. Marinate chunks of chicken in soy sauce for a little bit, then dredge it in a batter made from egg yolk and cornstarch. Quickly fry in a skillet and mix with a simple sauce created from lemon juice, water, sugar and a little more cornstarch. Serve over white rice.
Cut a chicken breast into rectangles and bread them with panko, the Japanese-style bread crumbs. Cover with Romano cheese and quickly fry them until the outside is crispy, then serve with a tangy marinara sauce for an upscale take on chicken fingers.
For a simple, hearty meal that will make you think of campfire days, make tinfoil “hobo bundles” with chicken and sturdy vegetables that roast well – try small tomatoes, green beans, and sliced potatoes. Put a little butter or olive oil inside, some fragrant herbs, seal them up and put them in the oven until everything cooks. Unwrap and serve.
For a light, healthy chicken dish, batter chicken cutlets in flour and quickly fry but do not cook through. Then sautee chunks of onion and ginger in the pan drippings. Add chicken broth and bring it to a simmer, then add the chicken and slices of pear for a unique and tasty meal.