It's Simply Lindsay

11/6/16

Beauty and the Beast Brings Belle to Life with Updated Twists

Since its summer trailer teaser, I’ve been waiting anxiously for more details on the 2017 adaptation of the Disney animated tale, Beauty and the Beast, starring Emma Watson and co-starring Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey) as the Beast and Luke Evans (The Hobbit) as Gaston. Set to release on March 17, 2017, this classic story takes a much-needed modern turn by giving the leading lady more substance, updating the original costumes, and filming on a UK-based set .

Belle’s Backstory

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Emma Watson explains that since Belle was never really given a backstory in the animated movie, it only made sense to give her more dimension and an explanation as to why she never quite fit in, “other than she liked books. Also what is she doing with her time?’ So, we created a backstory for her, which was that she had invented a kind of washing machine, so that, instead of doing laundry, she could sit and use that time to read instead. So, yeah, we made Belle an inventor.”

11/2/16

No-Toy Gift Guide

*Post contains affiliate links.*

What’s on your gift wish list?

Actually, what’s on your kids’ wish list?

Or better yet, what do you wish was on your kids’ wish list? Do your lists seem to match? Do they impulsively want every toy that comes on a commercial? Do you impulsively buy all the bright and fun-looking items in the toy aisle when you’re out shopping?

We’ve all been there, but how many toys do kids actually need and use? Isn’t there a point where the toys become excess and even overwhelming, where the kids don’t even appreciate the items that they have?

11/2/16

Holiday Gift Guide for Her

*Some affiliate links included in this post*

Gift giving is my favorite part of the holiday season – I love finding the perfect treasures for my recipients and feel so much joy in the whole process. I’ve never had much success when I “have to” find a gift for someone on a given shopping outing because I like the searching process to be more organic – I may buy you a gift in July for Christmas just because I happened to stumble across it one day.

I also find that shopping online is HUGELY convenient, but it can be overwhelming with the infinite searching options. If searching for the right gift stresses you out, look no further than my holiday gift guide. I make it really simple for you.

No matter what kind of woman you’re buying for, you’ll be sure to find just what you’re looking for. (And let’s face it, there’s no harm in indulging in a few little goodies for yourself – I’ll be doing some shopping off of this list as well.)

What’s on your wish list?

What is your favorite part of the holidays?

Be sure to pin and share this post to give your family or friends a gentle hint in the right direction.

10/27/16

In Defense of Toddler Tantrums

“Momma.”

“What?”

“Momma, momma, choooose.”

“Yes? What?” (Grabbing shoes.)

“MOMMA, MOMMA, MOMMAAAAAA, chooooooose.” (Pulling with all her 21-month-old might at my hand, which I must admit, is strong enough to move me.)

“What! What! What?!” (Trying fervently to strap shoes on a thrashing toddler as she tries to rip them off.)

At this point, all hell breaks loose, I lose my patience, feel guilty for wanting to just yell SHUT UP (a term I was raised is as serious as swearing and is a huge no-no), and the whining toddler is now inconsolable.

Perfect.

Oh, she said juice, not shoes.

10/23/16

Easy Crescent Roll Desserts

This post is sponsored by Acorn Influence.

Whether you’re looking to impress your guests or spend time with your family, I have the perfect dessert for you. It involves 3 ingredients, 5 minutes of prep, 10 minutes of baking, and will probably last seconds before you devour it. Can’t get any easier than that, right?

What I love about these easy Pillsbury crescent roll desserts is that you can customize them to your exact taste, which makes it a fun dessert to prepare with the whole family or with your friends.

I like to get my little one involved by adding her own crescent fillings, and the customization possibilities are truly endless! I’ll share my favorite fillings below, but you’re welcome to add in any fun flavors that you like. You can see the preparation, baking, and tasting process in the video below. Enjoy.

10/23/16

The Best Maternity Clothing Stores

When you’re pregnant, it can be a struggle to add new clothes to your closet – your body is changing, you don’t feel like trying clothes on, and you definitely don’t want your clothes to feel snug or uncomfortable – so where does that leave you? Wearing shapeless garments that make you feel like a potato sack?

No, no, no! Maternity clothing has come a long way; no longer do you have to sacrifice comfort and fit for style, and in fact, many maternity clothes can even be worn when you’re not pregnant. I love when people ask, “Is that outfit maternity?” because to me, that says I’m doing something right with my wardrobe. Not all of my clothes come from maternity stores, and many of my maternity outfits are some of my favorites that can be worn after the baby comes without screaming I’M MATERNITY!