Discover artistic baby names

A name inspired by fine art gives your child a fascinating namesake. Didn’t pay attention in art history class? Don’t worry, we’ve put together a list of beautiful names from art and artists from around the globe.

As you peruse baby names to find the perfect name for your little one, have you considered browsing the halls of a museum? Art history provides beautiful names from the around the world and through the centuries. Draw inspiration from painters, sculptors, subjects and even the names of paintings. To save you a trip to the fine art museum , we’ve compiled a great list of baby names inspired by fine art.

Baby names inspired by the names of paintings

These baby names for girls are names drawn from the subjects of famous paintings from around the world.

Baby names from historical painters

These men and women are responsible for some of the most well-known paintings from history.

Get creative with fantasy-inspired baby names>>

Baby names from famous sculptors

Modern and classic sculptors lend their names to this list of unique baby names for boys and girls.

Baby names from modern artists

Draw inspiration for your baby boy names and baby girl names from artists from recent history and new media.

Check out this cool new trend: Boys' names for girls>>

Tips for baby names from fine art

When a name inspired by fine art catches your eye, take time to learn more about the artist or work of art behind it. You may find that you’re especially drawn to a certain painting or art piece. Your child may even grow up to take an interest in art. Imagine how special it would be to share that his or her name came from an influential artist?

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Space travel baby names that are out of this world
Cool and exotic girl names

Happy Birthday, Robert Downey Jr.!

Have you seen RDJ's crazy shoes?!

How do we love RDJ? Let us count the ways! From this spectacles to his... shoes, we love every inch of the actor in the Iron Man suit, the man in the Sherlock Holmes cap and the hottie in the... wait, what the heck does the birthday boy have on his feet?!

Our man Bob has some serious swagger. The 48-year-old is father to the adorable Indio, age 19 — and baby Exton! — but it's not just moms who swoon over the superhero detective. Teens are crushing hard on RDJ, too! He's funny, has a lady-friendly résumé and a very youthful spirit that starts with those expressive brows and goes all the way down to his shoes. In the last year alone, he's sported black- and silver-studded Christian Louboutin "Louis Strass" kicks  at the People's Choice Awards and some turquoise-and-orange Marc Jacobs high-tops at The Avengers premiere. The latter came at the bottom of some fairly loud dress pants, too. Could this style work on anyone else? Probably not.

His flashy footwear isn't a new fad. It goes back pretty far! Our personal favorite happened back in 2011, at the Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows premiere. His buddy/director Guy Ritchie wore boring brown dress shoes. Meanwhile, our yummy piece of man candy rocked some white sneakers that looked like they'd had the toes dipped in teal paint. While all the fashion police thought the shoes were unacceptable for a red carpet, we think they're pretty great. The black leather shoes he wore to the Due Date premiere were pretty tame for RDJ, even with the white caps. We guess he added the burgundy laces to help jazz 'em up!

The year 2010 was a busy one for Downey. When he hit up the Splice premiere with his buddy Adrien Brody, he opted for a little comfort in brown hiking boots. They wouldn't seem particularly wild out and about and with jeans. But with suit pants tucked into the tops for a red carpet premiere, they definitely caught our attention. It may have been a fashion faux pas, but we loved them. Plus, he made up for it earlier in the year when he wore the Lanvin "Zig Zag" high-tops to the Iron Man 2 premiere.

Junior must have hit a fashion rough patch in 2009. First, he was caught leaving Claridges Hotel in Adidas slip-ons and socks. Honestly, we're just glad they were black dress socks instead of white athletic socks. Still a rough choice, but not quite as noticeable. Later, he was spotted in a set of lime-green fuzzy sneakers. Our first thought: Were these made from the hide of a St. Patrick's Day teddy bear won from one of the claw machines? They're loud and... odd. But, we give RDJ props for being his normal, funky self!

In the early 2000s, RDJ saw some dramatic changes. Namely, he finally shook his drug problem. Around that time is when he landed an ad campaign with Skechers shoes. While he may have always loved wild and crazy shoes, we like to think it was the Skechers ad that set him on the road to foot-fashion icon. A couple of years later, he had divorced and remarried and was spotted outside Roxy in a pair of bright red kicks.

We can't say exactly what caused RDJ's fashion and life turnarounds. All we can say is that we're certainly glad they happened. This year, Downey is turning 48, and we think he's looking better than ever. We can't wait to see him in this summer's Iron Man 3! Happy birthday, boy!

Images courtesy of Apega/WENN.com, Adriana M. Barraza/WENN.com, WENN.com, Maria La Torre/WENN.com, Nikki Nelson/WENN.com, Apega/WENN.com, Apega/WENN.com, WENN.com, Joe Leonard/WENN.com, Dimitri Halkidis/WENN.com and Skechers/WENN.com

Celebrity cannibal Hannibal is back in the premiere of the new NBC crime drama and psychological thriller Hannibal. Feast your eyes on the latest blood-and-guts show airing on network television. Viewer discretion is advised. A hybrid of American HorrorStory and True Blood on NBC, Hannibal raises the bar for TV crime dramas.

Most TV crime shows portray the same procedures over and over again. However, the forensic team in Hannibal takes it a step further in solving the murders, giving a fresh angle to the psychology behind serial killers and their TV copycats. Without spoiling the premiere too much, here’s an aperitif to feed your appetite.

FBI agent William Graham is unlike most crime investigators. He's able to imagine and recreate the serial killer’s crime scene by rewinding the evidence in his mind to replay a murder. He takes on the physicality, emotional and psychological aspects of the killer, even sweating feverishly and hallucinating as he imagines the murder.

A former field agent, Graham got too emotionally involved in his cases, so he now teaches at the FBI academy training new officers. Agent Jack Crawford puts him back on crime-scene investigation as a consultant on a new series of killings. Colleague Dr. Alana Bloom warns Crawford not to let Graham get too close to the case. Using his gift to solve these new serial murders, Graham determines that in a string of eight murdered women, this particular killer doesn’t want his victims to suffer when he attacks them, leading Graham to believe that the killer has a daughter of his own.

Agent Crawford asks Dr. Hannibal Lecter to help Graham with the case, and they travel to Minnesota to uncover another woman’s body. Unaware that the real threat is staring him right in the face, William asks Hannibal what he thinks of him so far, and Hannibal describes him as “the mongoose under the house when the snake slipped by.”

Graham’s evidence leads him to the house of the serial killer, who cuts his daughter’s throat in front of him. Overwhelmed and unable to keep a steady hand, Graham fires numerous rounds at the killer. As a result, Crawford hires Hannibal to psychoanalyze Graham to make sure he can handle hunting down suspects.

So, who's in control and who's the crazy one? You’ll have to tune in tonight to learn more about the characters and their relationships with each other.

The premiere introduces a cast of both serious and comic characters. According to creator Bryan Fuller, the forensic team was cast with comic actors to balance out the bloody drama. Even William and Hannibal share a playful sense of humor.

Husband to award-winning actress Claire Danes, Hugh Dancy has capable acting chops. He delivers an impressive performance as a serial killer empathizer. The first episode portrays the possibility of William even going crazy himself. However, all we know so far is that he's a lovable but antisocial guy who takes in stray dogs. He also just happens to be a clairvoyant, gifted FBI agent who understands psychopaths.

Mads Mikkelsen is perfectly cast in the role of Hannibal Lecter as a sophisticated, cunning, chic psychologist by day and a cannibal by night.

Fuller brings his experience to the show as the writer and creator of such shows as Star Trek,Heroes,Wonderfalls, Dead Like Me and Pushing Daisies. Hannibal is expected to do extremely well, with 13 episodes in the making.

Although Hannibal is in competition with every other crime drama out there, and one might argue it's not an original story and is recycled from old ideas, it's expected to bring even more drama to network television as the newest psychological thriller.

Join Hannibal for the NBC premiere on April 4 at 10/9c.

Feed your TV appetite with the latest news from SheKnows >>

Photo credit: WENN.com

When it comes to motherhood, busy is a state of being, which in turn can lead to stress. This stress, combined with endless responsibilities and a hectic schedule, can easily lead to an addiction to anxiety. But moms can overcome stress addictions and come out stronger on the other side.

I am worth it

For Sheri Boyle, a mother of three, an addiction to stress began in college under the weight of a very demanding schedule and the need to feel worthy. "I became accustomed to working many hours taking little time for myself," she says. "I became a school psychologist right after I graduated and continued to carry the mindset that I had to prove my worth." Under this pressure, Boyle began to drink massive amounts of soda and coffee and was constantly thinking about her to-do list. It wasn’t until the birth of her first child that Boyle realized the extent of her stress addiction. "My life had come to a complete halt," says Boyle. "I was now sitting a lot and doing tasks that require[d] patience and moving at a slower pace. This was extremely difficult."

Read more: When did being busy become so cool?>>

Rest and relaxation

When Boyle began taking yoga in an effort to find some "me time" she couldn’t sit still during meditation. Rather than relax, she would look at her watch but she kept at it and eventually found the benefits of relaxation. Today, she helps others overcome stress addictions as a yoga instructor and encourages moms to address their own needs, emotionally, physically and nutritionally. "When you get up in the morning, feed yourself first," she says. "For me it works better that way. I fill my cup before I fill others and now it is filled with nutrients low in sugar."

Discover nutrition tips for busy moms>>

Stress = Balance

Gina Holmes, a mother and novelist, had a similar relationship with stress, but hers began at a much earlier age. Growing up with a feeling of instability due to family upheaval left Holmes with a skewed perspective of normal. "Stress became what I knew," she says. "I thought that was normal and if I wasn’t under stress, life seemed unbalanced." As a mom, Holmes recognized her tendency to take on more than she should after reading two eye-opening books, Codependent No More by Melody Beattie and Boundaries by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend. "As women, we are naturally the caretakers and created to be," she says. "But often we take on what others can and should do for themselves. Just like my childhood, we get used to feeling stressed out and when we're not, something feels off, we feel we're slacking in some area and take on more."

Read about four stress-less tips for working moms>>

The cycle of stress

For Holmes, like many moms, establishing and adhering to boundaries was key to letting go of stress. "Learning good boundaries, how to say no and why it's such an important word not just for myself but also for others to hear helped me end a cycle of stress," she says. In an effort to share her lessons learned with other women, Holmes tackles this topic in her new novel, Wings of Glass. She encourages other stress-addicted moms to learn the power of "no" and trust others to do their jobs rather than feeling the need to take everything on themselves.

Gina Holmes photo by Casey Blankenship

More about overcoming stress

Stress-busting tips for busy moms
Eat your way to less anxiety
5 Stress-busting snacks

When throwing a dinner party, accommodating all of your guests' needs is crucial. And no, we're not just talking about the picky eaters of the world . We're talking about those with food allergies.

Accommodating
food allergies

According to WebMD, only about 4 percent of people actually have a food allergy, but 15 percent believe they do. This means you have to accommodate those that have allergies and those that just say they do. If you do plan on hosting a dinner party, it's important to know your guests' diets. After all, what fun is it going to a dinner if there's nothing available for you to eat? Below are some guidelines to help you navigate the confusing land of food allergies before throwing your next dinner party.

Severe allergies

First and foremost, accommodating those with severe food allergies is a must at your dinner party. If someone is allergic to nuts, for example, you'll want to make sure to avoid cooking with nuts all together or separate the dishes containing nuts, making sure to wash everything between cooking to avoid cross-contamination.

• If you're sending out invites, ask guests to include in the RSVP any severe allergies.
• If you're simply inviting people via phone or text message, ask them about food allergies once they know whether or not they'll be coming.

Severe allergies are of highest importance when planning a dinner party.

Gluten-free guests

It seems like just about everyone is gluten-free these days. To accommodate those who avoid gluten, either prepare a meal that's naturally gluten-free or, if you're making a pasta dish, cook gluten-free pasta in addition to regular pasta and let your guests choose whichever they'd prefer. Naturally gluten-free dinners include meats, veggies, potatoes, brown rice, salads, hummus, quinoa and lettuce wraps. Typically, meals that are naturally gluten-free are healthier than their gluten-filled counterparts, which will accommodate the dieters of the group as well!

Check out this gluten-free recipe for warm lentil salad with grilled portabella mushrooms>>

Other food allergies

Other common diet issues you might encounter include lactose intolerance or even vegetarians. Those that are lactose-free are usually easy to accommodate during dinner, since most dinner items do not contain dairy. Dessert, on the other hand, can be tricky. We recommend fresh fruit with shaved dark chocolate, angel food cake or apple pie . For vegetarians, make a dish that's meat-free. Most likely, everyone will still eat the meat-free dish and the vegetarian of the group will be more than thankful!

Most importantly, try not to stress out about accommodating everyone. You can always ask for help. Your guests won't mind bringing a dish or two and will be happy you're putting forth the effort to accommodate them.

More on dinner parties

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Take your dinner party from drab to fab
In a pickle: What to do if your dinner party goes bad

Just a day after announcing his leave of absence from the Chicago Sun-Times, celebrated film critic Roger Ebert has passed away at the age of 70.

Ebert had battled thyroid cancer since 2002 and lost his voice in 2006 after surgical complications.

Once half of the critical duo Siskel and Ebert, he was known for his hilariously sharp-tongued reviews of the best and worst movies and everything in between.

"I had a colonoscopy once, and they let me watch it on TV. It was more entertaining than The Brown Bunny," he said of the 2003 flick starring Vincent Gallo.

10 most common cancers in the U.S.>>

Roger Ebert began his career in 1967 with his famous column in the Chicago Sun-Times, then rose to national prominence with TV shows Sneak Previews, At the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert and Siskel and Ebert at the Movies. He maintained their longtime partnership until Siskel's death in 1999 and reteamed with Richard Roeper for Ebert & Roeper & the Movies in 2000.

As the first film critic to win the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism, Ebert penned over 15 books, plus was an Emmy nominee and has his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

10 celebrity cancer survivors>>

Just yesterday Ebert announced he would be taking a "leave of presence" from the Sun-Times, saying that he planned "to continue to write selected reviews but to leave the rest to a talented team of writers handpicked and greatly admired by me."

Other than a short sentence about his cancer, the message did not give a hint of how sick he truly was and was full of future plans, including relaunching his website and new writing projects.

His last written words: "So on this day of reflection I say again, thank you for going on this journey with me. I'll see you at the movies."

Image courtesy WENN

Jada Pinkett-Smith

Jada Pinkett-Smith has been heating up the internet recently after talking to HuffPost Live about the rumors that she and her husband of 16 years, Will Smith, have an open relationship, saying that she has always told Will, “You can do whatever you want as long as you can look at yourself in the mirror and be OK.”

She stayed mum on that discussion on her Twitter feed, however she did open up about being a stepmom to Trey, Will’s son from a previous marriage to Sheree Zampino. Jada and Will also have two chldren together, Jaden and Willow.

“A letter to a friend,” she tweeted, with a link to her WhoSay account that had this family photo and continued her thoughts,

“Blended families are NEVER easy, but here's why I don't have a lot of sympathy for your situation because... we CHOOSE them. When I married Will, I knew Trey was part of the package...Period! If I didn't want that...I needed to marry someone else. Then I learned if I am going to love Trey...I had to learn to love the most important person in the world to him...his mother. And the two of us may not have always LIKED each other... but we have learned to LOVE each other.

I can't support any actions that keep a man from his children of a previous marriage. These are the situations that separate the women from the girls. Your behavior is that of an insecure child who needs to recognize her own weaknesses that MUST be strengthened to take on the task at hand. We can't say we love our man and then come in between him and his children. THAT'S selfishness...NOT love. WOMAN UP... I've been there...I know. My blended family made me a giant… Taught me so much about love, commitment and it has been the biggest ego death to date. It's time you let your blended family make you the giant you truly are.”

These are words of wisdom that some celebrity moms could possibly benefit from!

Heidi Klum ‏

“Frohe Ostern .....Happy Easter!” tweeted the German-born Heidi Klum, with this photo posted below of Easter eggs along the shores of Oahu, Hawaii, where she and her family were vacationing.

“Peaceful...” she later wrote, with a photo of a turtle on the sand.

Things quickly turned from peaceful to terrifying when a huge riptide pulled in her 7-year-old son, Henry, along with two nannies. Klum and her boyfriend Martin Kirsten were able to pull her son and the nannies to safety. How scary! Luckily the Project Runway star and her family are all safe and sound.

On a much lighter note, we also discovered who is Klum's favorite judge on The Voice from a posting on her timeline:

“I'm #TeamAdam all the way on @NBCTheVoice!!” she wrote.

Julie Bowen ‏

Modern Family star Julie Bowen is just as funny on Twitter as her character, Claire Dunphy, is onscreen!

“HAPPY EASTER! Lets reschedule the preachy talk about a sugar and gluten free diets until after the jelly bean gorging. #gluttonforgluten” she tweeted.

“Check it LA people. Amazing Vintage Show tomorrow. I'm gonna pop some tags until my kids tantrum,” she said, referring to the hit Macklemore song “Thrift Shop.”

“I did it. I bought drop-crotch pants 2 seasons past the trend. #manrepellant,” she later wrote.

“My kids didn’t think I could still do a handstand. Proved them wrong,” she wrote, with a link to her Lucky Magazine spread.

“The 3 day weekend with kids should be included in Dante's Inferno as the final ring of hell. @Kiwicrate and #houseofcards are saviors,” tweeted Bowen, who has three young boys named Oliver, Gus and John.

Hilary Duff

“Can't believe Luc will be 1 tomorrow!” tweeted Hilary Duff of her son Luca. “Time has flown by! So proud of my little man! very blessed 4 a strong healthy boy & many wonderful memories.”

“Gettin this party started early! #birthday #boy,” she later wrote, with this adorable photo of Luca walking through bubbles.

“Guys thank you for all the sweet birthday wishes to little Luc! Sweet to have so much love sent from all around the world his way,” she tweeted.

Duff also tweeted about her new role on Two and a Half Men.

“So excited to be joining the cast of @TwoHalfMen_CBS this week! I get to play a crazy drunk girl, funnnn!!!” she tweeted.

“Love working on @twohalfmen_CBS it's 2pm and I'm all finished with work for the day :) headed home to go kick it with Luc #dreamjob,” Duff wrote.

From Kristen Bell on her daughter Lincoln to Kim Kardashian, check out more celebrity mom tweets here>>

Photo credits: Jada Pinkett-Smith Twitter; Heidi Klum Twitter; Hilary Duff Twitter

It's been quite a while since we've seen a reunion this long overdue. Adding to the "cool factor" is that this reunion didn't happen on an Oprah stage but on the set of Hot in Cleveland. For any little girl who spent her sick days watching reruns of Mary Tyler Moore, this one is for you.

TV Land just can't get enough of Hot in Cleveland>>

The girl gang from Mary Tyler Moore — including Mare and Valerie Harper , as well as Georgia Engel and Cloris Leachman  — turned up on the set of Hot in Cleveland this week to reunite with each other, as well as Betty White and to film a very special, fun episode of the show.

The appearance comes on the heels of Valerie Harper's announcement that she has terminal cancer. Although the actress is still looking as gorgeous as ever and the Mary Tyler Moore and Hot in Cleveland crews appeared to be mostly in high spirits, there were quite a few teary moments on the set.

"The tears come up, but then they're part of the laughter," Harper said during a press conference. "Did you ever laugh till you cried? That's been happening a lot. It's been so full of life and joy and love. And fun!"

People's Choice Awards loved Betty White>>

According to the interview, the MTM ladies will play members of a bowling team called GLOB . The episode, titled "Love is All Around" , won't air until Sept. 4. However, it sounds like it will be worth waiting for as the ladies are all focused on making it memorable.

"I'm thinking of this moment and getting my lines right so I support my fellow players and serve the audience who are going to see this really funny show," Harper explained.

The women of Mary Tyler Moore are all in their mid 70s or older but most of them have continued to stay busy and at least somewhat in the limelight. None more than Betty White, though, whose sometimes naughty comedy has landed her front and center before a whole new generation of fans.

We can't wait to see how the Hot in Cleveland episode turns out.

Image courtesy of Valerie Bertinelli

If you were Chris Brown, you'd probably be really careful not to use the word "hitting" in the same conversation with "Rihanna." Chris Brown is not so conscious of his word choices, however.

The "Don't Wake Me Up" singer made a tasteless gaffe during a radio interview with Power 105.1, and although he was talking about something completely different, everyone's minds immediately went back to the night he left Rihanna bruised and bloody in the passenger's seat of his car.

Chris Brown is "humbled" now>>

In the interview, Brown was talking about being jealous while Rihanna is on tour without him and said, "I'm just a regular guy so I be thinking, man I hope nobody's hitting that."

The singer was using obviously using slang to say he hopes Rihanna won't cheat, but people picked up on the unfortunate undertone quickly.

"Don't worry Chris you are the only one who hits her," wrote Crazy Days and Nights blogger "Enty Lawyer" on Facebook.

It was just a few weeks ago that Brown rapped about owning his girlfriend, specifically a certain part of her anatomy.

What does Brown think of people constantly reminding him of what he called "the biggest regret of my life," the night he beat Rihanna? He DGAF anymore, quite frankly.

"I gotta take that on the chin, I can't expect people to forget, but at the end of the day I'm rich and I'm happy," he gloated.

But back to Rihanna cheating. "You can't be the jealous boyfriend," he said. "I can't be calling her constantly asking what she's doing so I just gotta put that trust out there and hope nothing happens."

"If it was another girl it would be cool, I ain't with that if it was another guy."

Typical dude.

Image courtesy Ivan Nikolov/WENN.com

Beloved film critic Roger Ebert died Thursday, and judging from the astonishing number of celebrities who tweeted their sadness at hearing the news, he was as popular with stars as he was with the public.

Comic Patton Oswalt wrote possibly the most touching tribute: "Roger, I hope you're in an infinite movie palace, watching every film the great directors only dreamed of making."

Many stars noted that they'd grown up reading Ebert's movie reviews.

"I started watching/reading @EbertChicago in 1984. He was a good man & a fierce advocate for great film," wrote Rainn Wilson.

Justin Long wrote "Reading Roger Ebert's reviews as a kid was instrumental in determining what I did w my life. He will be sorely missed."

Others wrote that they'd gotten bad Ebert reviews, but still loved the guy.

Roger Ebert apologizes for Ryan Dunn death tweet>>

"R.I.P. Roger Ebert. It was a privilege to interact with you. Thank you for the support, the criticism, and the true love for the movies," wrote Diablo Cody. Ebert was one of the few critics to give her movie Jennifer's Body a positive review and it looks like she didn't forget it.

Writer and director David Wain wrote, "Roger Ebert was an ongoing inspiration to me and I am truly truly saddened by his loss. I will miss him."

Ebert gave Wet Hot American Summer one star in 2001 and wrote his review to the tune of the classic camp song "Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh," admitted he hated it fiercely and that life's "too short for cinematic torture." Aw, Ebert, ouch.

Chris Weitz, a producer best known for About a Boy and American Pie, wrote "Rest in Peace, Roger Ebert. You were a gentleman. Sometimes loved my movies, sometimes hated them, but you were always fair."

Famed film critic Roger Ebert dead at 70>>

Cameron Crowe, who inspired one of Ebert's most positive reviews ever for Almost Famous , wrote "Roger Ebert. Clear-eyed dreamer, king of the written word…" and accompanied his tweet with a lovely picture of the young chubby-faced Ebert.

And Mia Farrow referenced Ebert's painful death and long battle with illness when she wrote, "If cancer came to take me piece by piece, I hope I could summon even a fraction of the grace Roger Ebert showed us, in such abundance."

See you at the movies, Roger Ebert.

Image courtesy FayesVision/WENN.com

Michelle Obama was a swingin' single this morning — for a hot second, anyway. The first lady had a little slip of the tongue during an interview with a local CBS station today, turning herself into a single mom!

FLOTUS was chatting with WCAX of Vermont about her "Let's Move" initiative when she made the embarrassing flub.

"Believe me, as a busy single mother — or, I shouldn't say single, as a busy mother," she quickly corrected herself.

"Sometimes, you know, when you've got a husband who is president, it can feel a little single," she joked. "But he's there."

Michelle Obama is into fashion recycling>>

President Obama actually makes a point of at least sitting down to dinner with his family every night in the White House private quarters before returning to the Oval Office to burn the midnight oil.

Before they came to Washington though, Michelle Obama had a high-powered career of her own and shared the same struggles as any mom who works outside the home.

Michelle Obama ditches the angry brows on cover of Vogue>>

"But as a busy working mom, and before coming to the White House, I was in that position, you know, as well," she said. "Working, driving kids to practice, you know not having enough time to shop or cook, not having the energy… resources weren't the issue but time and energy is key."

The "Let's Move" initiative that Mrs. Obama is promoting aims to give kids in underserved or underprivileged areas access to healthier food and help them become more active. She's not afraid to get her hands dirty herself.

On Wednesday, she and students from around the country planted veggies in the White House Kitchen Garden for the fifth year in a row, to be used in meals for the First Family and White House guests as well as being donated to local charities.

Image courtesy C.M. Wiggins/WENN.com

Don’t eat that, Mom!

You normally wouldn’t want to eat dirt, chalk, ice or clay, but since you’ve become pregnant it’s all you can think about. Learn more about pica, what it means and what you should do about it.

Are you pregnant? Do you find yourself craving unusual substances, such as laundry detergent or soap? What about a massive craving of ice, dirt or sand? If so, you may have the uncommon condition known as pica, but if you are experiencing it, you’re definitely not alone.

What is pica?

Pica is the word that describes the condition where a person craves non-food items. It’s more common in children than it is in adults, but it does crop up sometimes in pregnant women.

“The most common cravings for non-food items are for dirt, clay, laundry starch, chalk, ice, paint chips and even cigarette ashes,” explained Glade B. Curtis, M.D., the author of Your Pregnancy Week by Week. “I have not seen it very often in my patients, but have seen patients craving ice and paper most frequently."

Ice, ice baby

Rachael, pregnant with her third child, has craved ice with each of her pregnancies.

“I fill up glasses of ice, and eat them, one after the other, every day,” she told us. “I’m not really concerned about it because it is just ice. Technically it’s not a food item, but it's not like paint chips — ice isn’t going to hurt me or the baby."

Melissa, mom of three, had a similar craving. “I was so obsessed with eating ice that I used to keep a spoon in the freezer so I could scrape the sides and eat the ice shavings,” she shared.

Why does it happen?

The ultimate cause is unknown, but many think that it could be due to vitamin or mineral deficiencies in the mother. Dr. Curtis agreed. “Some think it is due to an iron deficiency, others believe it is an attempt to get minerals or vitamins not included in their diet,” he said. “Others have speculated it is due to an underlying physical or even a mental illness.”

Rachael has discussed her ice habit with her physicians and they told her it could be due to her iron deficiency, but once that was treated, the urge to eat ice did not go away. “Really, the only downside is that I want to eat it all day, and crunching on ice in public doesn’t really go down well, and my husband cringes at the sound!” she shared.

Treatment

Treatment focuses on determining if there are any underlying vitamin or mineral deficiencies and treating them. Consult with your physician if you find yourself drawn to any non-food item — even one as innocent as ice.

Kelly, mom of three boys, found the scent of raw meat very appealing during her pregnancy. While it is a food item, in uncooked form it could be dangerous, so she had to really teach herself to avoid it. “I loved the smell of it,” she remembered. “I was often tempted to eat it and it was literally mind over matter, telling myself it was gross. I never ate it, but it was a very odd experience. My midwife said I probably needed to eat more protein.”

“The best plan is to discuss this with your health care provider,” Dr. Curtis told us. “Pay close attention to vitamin and mineral intake, and make sure you are taking a prenatal vitamin. When cravings occur, substitute things like sugarless gum or vegetable sticks.”

More on pregnancy

Limiting obstetric ultrasounds
Too busy for childbirth classes? Think again
The royal pain of hyperemesis gravidarum

Packed with protein and dietary fiber, quinoa has exploded in popularity in the past few years! Quinoa is simple to prepare and can be used in a variety of sweet and savory dishes.

Herbed quinoa salad with toasted pine nuts and lemon

Serves 4-6

Ingredients:

• 1 cup quinoa, prepared according to package instructions, room temperature or cooled
• 1/2 cup onion, diced
• 1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
• 1/3 cup fresh mint, chopped
• 1/3 cup sundried tomatoes packed in oil, chopped
• 1/4 cup fresh dill, chopped
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Lightly coat the bottom of a frying pan with olive oil and heat the oil over medium heat for 1-2 minutes. Add onions to the pan and saute the onions until soft and translucent, about 8 minutes.
2. Place quinoa into a large bowl. Add sauteed onions, toasted pine nuts, mint, sundried tomatoes, dill and lemon juice and stir well. Salt and pepper to taste. Drizzle with a touch more olive oil right before serving.

More quinoa recipes

Quinoa pizza bites
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Comedy's superheroes Seth Rogen, Craig Robinson and Danny McBride, and writer and director Evan Goldberg recently attended the comic book convention Wondercon where they promoted their upcoming movie This is the End. A story about a house filled with celebrities during the apocalypse, the cast admitted to SheKnows who they would really like to spend it with.

Danny McBride was sentimental in claiming he'd stick with the cast of the movie: "This is a good crew to hang out with in the apocalypse," while Craig Robinson impartially said, "I’m very big on living in the moment." However, Rogen and Goldberg revealed they would spend their last days with David Beckham. At first Seth admitted it would be his wife in case she read this article, but then changed his answer, siding with Evan's suggestion. "OK, fine. David Beckham, then my wife."

Who knew these friendly fellas had a bromance for Beckham? Could the feeling be mutual? Maybe David should invite Seth to dinner? They could talk about making a sequel starring Beckham as the soccer star hero who bunks it up with a group of funny celebrities to survive the death of Hollywood.

So how did they come up with the idea of turning the apocalypse into a funny movie? Seth says the idea for This is the End began from a short film he and his buddy Jason Stone of USC made years ago. They played two friends stuck in a house during the apocalypse. From there they evolved the same idea to include a bunch of people who played themselves.

Danny McBride says that it is the perfect genre for Wondercon fans because "I think the apocalypse you don’t really see in a comedic way. I think it’s something that’s fresh for these guys." After all, he says, "Everyone knows that the apocalypse is very wonderful." Who knew the end of the world could be so funny!

Who would you spend the apocalypse with? Would it be with someone you know, or perhaps your favorite celebrity?

This is the End will be in theaters June 12.

More entertainment news from Wondercon>>

Photo credit: WENN.com

Some moms worry their breast milk supply dips more than they would like — so what can they do? Breastfeeding experts — and seasoned moms — share what works best.

Tried-and-true remedies

A little worry about your breast milk supply is normal — after all, your breasts don’t come with ounce markings like bottles do, so if your baby seems fussier than normal or doesn’t seem satisfied, you may think she’s not getting enough.

The good news is that most of the time she is, but if you're worried there are a few basic things you should try first.

Often, babies nurse more and fuss at the breast when they’re working on boosting your supply for an upcoming growth spurt. Breast milk production works on an as-needed basis — basically, the more a baby nurses, the more milk you will make. In other words, just because your baby acts hungrier than usual, it doesn’t mean you’re making less milk — it often means you’ll be making more.

It may not sound like it, but getting enough to drink may just be the magic solution you need. Anna-Jeannine Herman from Ohio says that often this is enough to do the trick — but you need to make sure that you are indeed drinking a lot of water. “Drinking 64 ounces of water per day is key,” she shared. She suggests drinking while you’re pumping or nursing as well. Always keep water on hand, and keep it refilled. You'll reap more benefits too, such as improved skin and an overall sense of well-being.

Rachelle is the owner of the popular breastfeeding support page Unlatched and is also studying to become a breastfeeding counselor. She says that extra nursing sessions and pumping can help up a mom’s supply.

“Because breastfeeding works on supply and demand, mothers should examine how they can increase nursing sessions or even adding pumping sessions into their day,” she explained.

Anna-Jeannine agreed. “Try pumping on one side while Baby nurses on other side and banking your milk,” she suggested. “Also — another idea is to pump halfway between feedings , especially when Baby is sleeping .”

Your diet may be key to helping maintain a good breast milk supply. Avoid overdoing sweets and treats and eat plenty of fruits and veggies, high-quality protein, dairy and some grains. Some moms swear by oats to help improve supply. They are terrific for you no matter what, so don’t hesitate to grab some oatmeal when you’re hungry.

The internet is littered with recommendations to try herbal remedies, such as fenugreek for milk supply issues, but experts caution against rushing to try something new before meeting with a physician or lactation consultant. “A lot of them can have serious effects if people have underlying conditions or allergies,” warned Rachelle. “I just feel underlying issues of low supply need to be examined first before running to supplements.”

More on breastfeeding

Why moms choose to breastfeed
Breastfeeding photos: Moms with their babies
How can Dad support the breastfeeding mom?

Photo credit: celebrationsathomeblog.com

Every bride chooses her colors based on personal preferences, but decorating in a garden space means nature has already done half the work for you! In order to complement the surroundings rather than compete with them, choose a palette that's floral based and occurs naturally.

Soft peach, warm yellow and pale pink is a pretty combination that mimics flowers and stands out from the greenery.

Photo credit: celebrationsathomeblog.com

One of the best ways to add interest to an area is to give it layers. This works in home decor as well as party decor and can be thought of in terms of height or depth.

Layering the table with a base cloth and a runner lengthwise is nice, but make it even more interesting by adding shorter, more decorative runners across the table, too. This not only adds color, but it visually connects place settings that are across from one another.

Using a combination of rustic burlap with floral fabric creates balance that has both a feminine and masculine quality.

Photo credit: celebrationsathomeblog.com

Continue the layering with place settings, too. Top dinner plates with a paper doily and small guest favors, and place menus on top of napkins.

Even the favors get a layered treatment. Fill a small tin with candies, wrap it with decorative washi tape and add a scrapbook embellishment that fits the theme on top.

Clusters of flower vases filled with simple arrangements are equally attractive from both sides of the table.

Photo credit: celebrationsathomeblog.com

There are many creative ideas for table numbers — this DIY project is both simple to do and works well for a garden theme.

Photo credit: celebrationsathomeblog.com

Printed paper items help an event look pulled together. Using a coordinating collection throughout the event can help tie in several different areas within one larger space.

Printed items can include programs, menu cards, place cards, table signs and direction signs. These printed pieces should complement the design of the event, not compete with it.

Photo credit: celebrationsathomeblog.com

Everyone knows the wedding cake is the pièce de résistance at a reception, but the current trend is to also have an auxiliary table set with other sweets and goodies. A twist on this idea is to set up a late-night snack table with an assortment of treats that guests can nibble on after dancing or pack up and take home.

Brownie pops and donuts are a great choice and can easily be made ahead or purchased. Add a few candies for variety and to impart more color into the display.

• Paper designs: Perideau Designs
• Floral straws: Petite Party Studio
• Fabric: Jo-Ann Fabric & Craft

More DIY wedding ideas

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DIY wedding favors
10 Wedding DIY projects we've seen on Pinterest lately

Dear Kate Middleton: Anything but King.

That's our one and only baby-name suggestion for expecting first-time mom Kate Middleton, who opened up about her pregnancy while visiting the Quarriers Stopover Project in Glasgow, Scotland with husband Prince William Thursday.

Us Weekly reports she had a nice chat with the project manager of the homeless shelter, which houses people aged 16 to 25. Maybe the duchess was thinking about her own teenage-child-to-be?

She revealed her due date: "It's around mid-July, but apparently babies have their own agenda," she said, tongue-in-cheek.

Middleton, who Us Weekly said kept her bump covered up in Scotland with a plaid wool coat, also said she was finding it difficult to pick a good baby name. She's also remained mum on the gender of the baby.

Royal baby name mystery solved: It's a big one!>>

"We have a short list for both [boy and girl] but it's very difficult," she said.

Her loved ones are also eager to help. "My friends keep texting me names," the duchess said.

After the duchess and prince left, Quarriers Chief Executive Paul Wood told reporters that "William and Kate were extremely relaxed and really in touch with the young people and understand the problems they face."

Sweet.

ABC News reported another nice story about the duchess this week, responding to the letter written to her by a young fan in the town of Grimsby in England, who was unable to meet Middleton during a March 5 appearance there.

What does Kate Middleton call her royal baby bump?>>

"My mum was so excited when it arrived at our house that she brought it into school and the teacher read it out to the class," said 10-year-old Isabella Clarkson.

Extra sweet!

Isabella was so thrilled by the letter that she compared Middleton to her late mother-in-law:

"I think Kate is doing all the good work that Princess Diana did and she seems very generous," she told the Grimsby Telegraph.

Image courtesy WENN.com

Even if you're not a fan of salad, you will love this dish! It uses hearty kale and is drizzled with a creamy homemade Caesar dressing and crispy croutons. It's a modern twist on a classic dish!

Kale Caesar salad recipe

Adapted from Fine Cooking

Yields 4 salads

Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 teaspoons anchovy paste
• 3 small cloves garlic, peeled
• 1 pasteurized egg yolk
• 1 tablespoon smooth Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 6 cups kale, cleaned and chopped
• 1 cup croutons

Directions:

1. In a blender add anchovy paste, garlic, egg yolk, mustard, lemon zest, salt and pepper. Blend until smooth and combined.
2. While the blender is running slowly drizzle in olive oil. The dressing will become creamy. Keep covered and refrigerated until ready to use.
3. Add 1-1/2 cups kale per bowl, drizzle with dressing and top with croutons.

More kale recipes

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Kale, apple and bacon salad recipe
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While everyone else was watching Halle Berry in her art-deco-meets-space-opera super-bada** Oscars dress and thinking she looked amazing, Halle Berry was feeling bloated and queasy.

Why? She was already gestating baby two, TMZ reports.

And it's a boy this time!

Berry is also of course the mom of 5-year-old stunner Nahla with ex-boyfriend Gabriel Aubry, with whom Berry's current fiancé Olivier Martinez famously came to blows this Thanksgiving during the holiday hand-off of Nahla from dad to mom.

Halle Berry battles with paparazzi as Nahla looks on>>

TMZ speculates that Berry's pregnancy is around three months along, and also that her condition may be the reason Martinez and Berry reacted so strongly when they and Nahla were photographed by paparazzi at LAX this week.

The family apparently took a delightful spring vacation in Maui , and had an egg hunt with Nahla on the beach.

Friday's Fashion Fails: Halle Berry and Sienna Miller>>

When upon their return the photographers swarmed, Berry shouted to keep away from Nahla, and Martinez was so protective that he apparently kicked a photographer; police were called and a report was made but the family was already long gone.

Berry and Martinez confirmed their engagement last year.

"It's definitely worth noting... Halle is 46, and Olivier is 47," TMZ says rather delicately.

I'm just going to leave that there.

Image courtesy revolutionpix/WENN.com

Pregnancy and taxes

What's tax deductible and what's not

Having a baby can be expensive. Fortunately, taxpayers can catch a few breaks under the Tax Code to make it a little more bearable.

The Internal Revenue Service allows a deduction for medical expenses for taxpayers who itemize on a Schedule A. The deduction is limited to those qualifying medical expenses that are greater than 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income . Take note: The percentage will increase to 10 percent for most taxpayers in 2013.

Here’s a quick example for the 2012 tax year. Let’s say your AGI is $20,000 and you have qualifying medical expenses of $5,000. Your deduction is limited to $3,500, or $5,000 less .

What are qualifying medical expenses? Generally, qualifying medical expenses include those for the “diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease and the costs for treatments affecting any part or function of the body.”

Doctor's visits

If you are pregnant, you can count on lots of doctor visits. The cost of your doctor visits is deductible to the extent that you pay out of pocket; any costs that are reimbursed to you or are paid by your insurer are not deductible.

Also deductible? The cost of getting to and from those visits, whether by car, public transit or taxi — as is parking. You’ll need to be able to document these expenses, so get receipts and keep good records .

Tests

You can also count on lots of testing, including blood tests and glucose tolerance tests. These tests, even though they are largely considered preventive care , are also deductible so long as they are ordered by your doctor as part of your prenatal care. Similarly, testing to determine potential birth defects or other abnormalities, including maternal serum tests, hCG testing, chorionic villus sampling, or amniocentesis are deductible.

During the later stages of pregnancy and during labor, your doctor may order fetal heart monitoring to check the rate and rhythm of the fetal heartbeat. Again, so long as these tests are ordered by a doctor for medical reasons, they are deductible.

Ultrasounds

Your doctor will also usually schedule an ultrasound between 18 to 20 weeks to check the growth of the baby, location of the placenta and determine any potential problems. The cost of this ultrasound, to the extent not covered by health insurance, would be deductible as a medical expense.

Around that same 18- to 20-week mark, it’s also sometimes possible to determine the gender of your baby. Of course, depending upon how cooperative the baby is, the ultrasound may be inconclusive. Since most medical professionals will only prescribe an ultrasound when medically necessary, it’s generally unlikely that your doctor will schedule another ultrasound simply to determine the gender.

Some parents are, however, pretty anxious to determine the gender and may schedule a private ultrasound outside of their regular medical care. If it is not a necessary part of prenatal care, you may not deduct the cost of a private ultrasound. The same rule applies to those extra ultrasounds, such as the 4-D ultrasound, which parents request for purposes of fun or photos. The key to deductibility is whether the ultrasound is prescribed as medically necessary.

Maternity clothes

As your pregnancy progresses and you get bigger, you’re going to need more clothes. Even though maternity clothes are a necessary part of being pregnant, they are specifically excluded as a deduction by the IRS.

Extra help

You may also find, as your pregnancy progresses, that you are in need of extra assistance around the house. You cannot deduct the cost of household help even if such help is recommended by a doctor; it’s considered a personal expense that is not deductible. However, to the extent that your doctor orders nursing care for you in house, those expenses are deductible.

And despite the obvious dilemma facing parents of small children while having another baby, you cannot include in medical expenses amounts you pay for the care of children, even if those expenses are strictly to allow you to go the doctor or to the hospital for medical care.

Childbirth classes

You can deduct the cost of getting ready to have your baby if you attend childbirth classes. Again, to the extent that you are reimbursed by your insurance company , you must exclude the reimbursement from your overall medical expenses.

Supplies

What about supplies for your new baby? Effective as of the 2010 tax year, the IRS has ruled that taxpayers may use pretax dollars in their FSAs to cover the cost of breastfeeding supplies. If you don’t have an FSA, breastfeeding supplies are considered deductible as a medical expense. Breastfeeding supplies, or “supplies that assist lactation” include breast pumps, bottles and pads.

However, be careful: Infant formula is not deductible, even if you can’t breastfeed. The IRS considers infant formula to be nutrition, like food for grown-ups, and therefore, not deductible.

Other supplies like diapers , lotions and baby shampoo are likewise not deductible. They are considered personal supplies.

And of course, once you go into labor, the cost of the hospital stay, doctor and nursing care, medications, ultrasounds and other monitoring are medical expenses for the purpose of claiming a deduction. If you opt to use a birthing center, the same rules apply.

At the end, you have a little bundle of joy... and an extra personal exemption!

More about family finances

Affording a baby
Tips for adding to your child's college fund
The kiddie tax: Does your child have to file?