Blog - It's Simply Lindsay

03/8/19

Why you need the HALO Bassinet

Thank you HALO for sending the swivel bassinet for me to try! This post contains affiliate links.

When my family was preparing for our third baby girl to arrive, we had a lot going on in our home – from moving around most of our major rooms and trying to figure out what new products to buy, we knew by now that babies don’t really need much.

But she would need a place to sleep.

We used a normal bassinet with my first two that worked fine, but I had hastily given it away to a painter when he was telling me he was getting ready to have his first.

But, it turns out it was a blessing in disguise because I always heard about the HALO Bassinets from mom friends and was thrilled to give the swivel model a try.

Spoiler alert – it’s amazing. I’m only sad I didn’t have it from the very start.

03/1/19

Why “girl power” isn’t actually empowering

As a feminist, mom to three little girls, and Spice Girls lover, you think I’d be the first one on board with the cutesy phrase “GIRL POWER,” right? I see this phrase on neon signs in play rooms, adorable pillows, graphic tees, and I want to like it – I want to join these other #girlmoms and feminists and get some cute GIRL POWER swag, but I can’t – I just can’t.

Let me explain. Well, let me start with what girl power means.

What is girl power?

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, girl power is ” the idea that women and girls should be confident, make decisions, and achieve things independently of men.” That all sounds good, right? How could you have a problem with “girl power?” you’re wondering.

Relax, I’m not a monster. I’ll start by acknowledging what is okay about this movement before I denounce it. Stay with me.

02/24/19

The one place you need to shop online as a mom

Thank you Pink Blush for sending me some clothes to review – all opinions are my own.

I see it every day in mom Facebook groups- where do you shop online? How do I dress my post partum body? Where can I find comfy, cute clothes that actually fit?

Enter Pink Blush to the rescue.

I’ve been shopping here for years, and they’re always my go-to pieces for date nights, everyday lounging, or casual yet stylish looks. Why? Because the fit is amazing, I always feel great wearing their clothes, and I know I’ll be comfortable- the perfect trifecta of mom fashion.

What’s even better is that they offer tons of nursing friendly options and everything is made with a woman’s body in mind. You can shop here all the way from pregnancy, post partum, when you’re nursing, and beyond – it’s not JUST for moms, but their stylish, comfortable fit makes it perfect for mommas.

02/13/19

Girls’ bedroom tour

During my third pregnancy, my husband and I spent a lot of time switching most of the major rooms in our home to accommodate our growing family. Our family room moved to the basement, the master bedroom moved to the first floor to replace the family room, Ginny moved into our old room, and luckily the nursery stayed the same. Thank goodness for having three little girls so our nursery decor didn’t have to change because all of the other changes took quite a lot of planning and time.

While I’ll never consider any of our rooms finished, I’m excited to share the progress of our oldest daughter’s new room – her “big girl room” will eventually be shared with our middle daughter and has everything I love in a room: pink, area rugs, a variety of patterns, wallpaper, and some whimsical details.

This is a space that we all spend a lot of time in now, that I feel happy with, and will probably continue to update until it’s *just* right.

01/29/19

Indoor Activities for Kids

Photo credit: Ashley Summers Photography

It’s colder than Antarctica in Chicago today; you better believe the kiddos and I are cooped up in jammies and robes all day. Whether you and your kids are feeling stir crazy in the icy winter months or don’t want to brave the rain, snow, or summer heat, it’s best to have an arsenal of fun indoor activities for kids.

Check out these mom and kid-approved activities for when you’re stuck up inside with your toddlers or preschool kiddos.

Marshmallow tinker toys

All you need is a bag of thin pretzel sticks and marshmallows to build a tee pee, house, or other fun, puffy creations. Simply show your child how to poke the marshmallow on the end of the pretzel to start creating masterpieces – feel free to bring in toy figurines to join in the fun.

Tee pee playtime

Adventure awaits as imaginations run free during tee pee playtime. My girls use their teepee as a reading nook, for puppet shows, and endless pretend play – we often have lions, dinosaurs, or lava running wild in our basement, our teepee offering the only protection from the dangers.

Be sure to throw in some comfy pillows and blankets to make it super cozy.

01/28/19

Ways to play with snow indoors

Snow days have a whole new meaning as an adult – as a kid, there was nothing better – snow days meant sledding, snowmen, hot cocoa, and time with friends.

But now, Snow Day means no preschool, unplowed streets, and most kid-friendly places closed or filled with germy kids, so this morning I thought, “oh shoot, what the heck are we going to do today?” With Chicago temps “colder than Mount Everest, Antarctica, and Siberia on Wednesday,” I decided to share ways to play with snow INside. With my babes cooped up and lots of illness going around, I decided to do some indoor snow activities to pass the time.

These are all free, easy, and really fun activities to try on those cold, snowy days – enjoy!

Snow Ice Cream
Mr./Mrs. Potato Head snow balls
Snow sensory bins
Snow paint