Grace's Bookshelf - For Ages 1 - 2

We believe that reading to children is a vital activity.  Not only does it empower children to learn, it is also a tremendous bonding activity.

Every night, we read two books with Grace.  Most night she begs for more!  Grace would rather have a book to carry around than a toy.  I hope that she will continue to have a love for books and reading.  It will carry her well in her future.

Grace's bookshelf runs over. (Mommy has a weakness for book-buying.)  I wanted to share a few of her favorites from over the past year.


1. Brown Bear, Brown Bear by Eric Carle

2. Sheep in a Jeep by Nancy Shaw

3. That's Not My Puppy by Fiona Watt

4. Baby Cakes by Karma Wilson

5. Goodnight Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann

6. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

7. Do You Want to be My Friend? by Eric Carle

8. God Gave Us You by Lisa Tawn Bergren

9. ABC by Charley Harper

10. International Children's Story Bible by WORD Kids! Publishing

Friday Find: Bake & Decorate Cupcake Set

Melissa & Doug Bake & Decorate Cupcake Set, Amazon, $15.33

Friday Find: Gislev Rug

Gislev Rug, Ikea, $19.99

Northern Lights

"Northern Lights" by Bowerbirds:

Friday Find: Berry Soap Pump

Berry Soap Pump, Crate & Barrel, $6.95

Artist Spotlight: We the Kings

We the Kings is an alternative band out of Florida, together since 2003.  I recently came across an acoustic version of their song, "Skyway Avenue" from their first album, We the Kings.



Full version:


"Check Yes Juliet":

Inspiration: Snow & Ice

Winter beauty lies all around us today.  From the depths in our woods to the tops of the trees, snow and ice drape tenderly as far as the eyes can see.  Tomorrow we will deal with the residual damage caused by melting snow and being stranded in, but for today, we will enjoy the purity of our landscape - the untouched white wonderland.

Here's a couple of shots from my collection:

Flickr Roundup:

Nigel Blake

jaki good

lakewentworth

Miriam Ramos

Amy Constantine

fotofreq

BradenJ.T.

Friday Find: Blossom Stockholm Paper Drawers

Blossom Stockholm Paper Drawers, The Container Store, $19.99

Amateurs

This video, put together by a talented local filmmaker, Sawyer Frye, was a submission to the "Crash the Superbowl" contest.  The "seasoned pro" here is my sister-in-law's dad.  He was a perfect choice for this role!

Book Releases - January 2011

Releasing this month:

• Crais, Robert - The Sentry (Joe Pike). (1/11)
• Grant, Barry - Sherlock Holmes and the Shakespeare Letter. (1/1)
• Harris, Charlaine - Sweet and Deadly. (1/1)
• Higgins, Jack - The Judas Gate (Sean Dillon). (1/4)
• Koontz, Dean - Nevermore (Comic). (1/19)
• Koryta, Michael - The Cypress House. (1/24)
• Lescroart, John - Damage. (1/4)
• Meltzer, Brad - The Inner Circle. (1/11)
• Patterson, James & Michael Ledwidge - Tick Tock (Michael Bennett). 1/24
• Roslund, Anders & Borge Hellstrom - Three Seconds. (1/4)
• Todd, Charles - A Lonely Death (Inspector Ian Rutledge). (1/1)
• Woods, Stuart - Strategic Moves (Stone Barrington). (1/18)