The 23 Best Picture Books Of 2014

Posted by Unknown at 12:25 AM 0 comments

You’ll love them just as much as the kids will. Ranked in no particular order.

BuzzFeed

A Lion in Paris by Beatrice Alemagna

A dissatisfied lion ventures to Paris on a quest to find fulfillment. After exploring the city (and viewing many famous sights along the way) he finds where he belongs: as a statue at Place Denfert-Rochereau.

What kind of reader is it for? Someone who knows how it feels to be a stranger in a new city; anyone who would enjoy paging through a large, beautifully illustrated book.

Find it here.

Tate Publishing

Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker by Patricia Hruby Powell, illustrated by Christian Robinson

A portrait of Josephine Baker told in verse by Patricia Hruby Powell (and splendidly illustrated by Christian Robinson).

What kind of reader is it for? Anyone interested in learning about the performer and civil rights advocate who was both a spectacle and an inspiration.

Find it here.

talesforallages.com

The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend by Dan Santat

Did you ever wonder where imaginary friends come from? This book is the origin story of one such friend: Beekle.

What kind of reader is it for? Anyone who has ever had a friend that only they could see.

Find it here.

hachettebookgroup.com

View Entire List ›

10 Insanely Fun Holiday Projects To Make With Kids

Posted by Unknown at 10:56 PM 0 comments

And they’re not-so-secretly just as fun for adults.

Crayon Melt Ornaments

Just a few crayon shavings and a hair dryer and you've got some gallery-worty tree baubles.

The Swell Designer / Via theswelldesigner.com

Cross Stitched Gift Tags

Simple cross stitched tags are an adorable way to decipher gift recipients. Unless you have too many people in your family who look alike...

Whimsy Love / Via whimsy-love.com

Snowy Scenes

Create pretty wintery mason jar scenes with small toys and cotton batting.

Girls in the Garage / Via girlinthegarage.net

Party Crackers

Little ones will love helping you makes these party crackers. Stuff them with candy or small gifts and POW!

Tan // Squirrelly Minds / Via kollabora.com

View Entire List ›

Here's What Happened When I Lived According To Pinterest For A Week

Posted by Unknown at 10:06 PM 0 comments

As someone who has defended the site against its critics, I decided to dive in to try to find out if its reputation is deserved.

Chris Ritter for BuzzFeed

Since its launch in 2010, Pinterest has earned a reputation as a site for Mormon housewives, mommy bloggers, and basic white girls. I am a woman of color with a full-time job, I spend less than 30 minutes getting ready in the morning, and I still like Pinterest. Characterizations of the site as a "a churning cycle of interest, hope, inspiration, jealousy, desperation, despair and depression" always irked me because I think Pinterest is a useful bookmarking tool. The site had never made me feel bad about myself.

Then I discovered Pinterest's "most popular" page, which is essentially a collage of white girls with impossibly great hair, superhuman nail art skills, and apparently enough free time to create a tidy basket of "postpartum supplies" for "every bathroom" in the house. Suddenly I could see where Pinterest got its reputation.

As someone who has defended the site but doesn't really love Mason jars (though I do own a glue gun), I wondered what would happen if I tried to live according to the stereotype. Would it even be possible? Would it just be a series of Pinterest fails? Would living by the example of a site accused of putting too much pressure on women make me more or less happy?

- I cooked the most popular recipes.

- I used the most popular hair and makeup tutorials.

- I dressed in the style of the most popular fashion pins (wearing purchased, borrowed, or dug-from-the-box-labeled-"college" clothes).

- I spent my free time crafting, per the most popular DIY pins.

- I kept my home looking Pinterest-perfect using the most popular cleaning and organizing tips.

The pins I used had been repinned anywhere from 300 to 20,000 times and were all similar in style to other popular pins. I did these activities during traditional nonworking, noncommuting hours (so never between 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. on weekdays), plus two full weekend days.

Here are some things that happened — not in order by day, or even everything that happened, because trust me...it was a LONG week.

I spent one morning contouring my face. My husband couldn't tell the difference.

Rachel W. Miller for BuzzFeed

View Entire List ›

Here's Why Getting In Shape and Joining OKCupid Are Basically The Same Thing

Posted by Unknown at 1:05 AM 0 comments

Ugh.

Tenacious Videos

But that's where your friends come in...

rapidpulsemk / Via youtube.com

With tips and advice from their own lives.

"Seriously, though, juicing will change your life!"

Fox / Via youtube.com

View Entire List ›

Curl Up With The BuzzFeed Books Newsletter In 2015!

Posted by Unknown at 12:48 AM 0 comments

Want more books in your life in the new year? Then the BuzzFeed Books newsletter is for you!

Chris Ritter / BuzzFeed

Who it's for: People who get lost in books for days at a time, and who turn to their favorite authors for inspiration. Anyone who's always looking for something amazing to read.

What you'll get: Great reading recommendations like these books you need to read in your 20s or when you're going through a breakup, plus books to read if you loved other books, like The Fault in Our Stars , The Hunger Games , or these childhood favorites. All the Harry Potter you can handle. Looks in the mirror like the signs you're suffering a book hangover. Clever book quizzes, powerful essays, and much more!

When you'll get it: Wednesday and Sunday.