Blog - It's Simply Lindsay

06/8/15

Family Sun Safety Guidelines

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As a child, my mom always slathered me with Coppertone SPF 30, and as I grew up through my high school and college years, my SPF went down. Now that I’m supposedly an adult (and especially as a mom), I’m very conscious about my skin health. Gone are the days of SPF 5 Australian Gold Tanning Oil and in are the days of daily sunscreen on my face and checking labels.

Though I won’t deny I’ll miss the beautiful bronzed look I could easily achieve and the coconut scented banana infused concoction that left a sparkle behind after greasing my body, I have larger concerns to protect myself and my family.

Consult these important guidelines from the American Skin Cancer Society before heading to the park, pool, vacation, or even out on a walk or picnic.

05/23/15

The Lone Bud

Every Saturday when my husband goes shopping, he comes home with flowers, and today was no exception. This morning he presented one bunch of purple tulips to me and one bunch of orange tulips to our four-month-old daughter. I love that she will grow up feeling loved and special as she sees her dad pick out flowers for his girls, and I also love that she’ll see it’s not just mom’s job to go grocery shopping.

As I was cutting and preparing the flowers, two of the stems broke, leaving them too short to include in the arrangement. I envy these adorable bud vases that my mom has, but I don’t have anything like that. I thought my tulip shaped juice glasses would be cute, but alas, even they were too big. I couldn’t bring myself to toss the sweet little buds; when I was little, I felt genuinely sad when I saw anything alone- I would bring the lone roly poly across the yard to his friends and ensure all of my stuffed animals had a partner to sit with in my room. This childhood sentiment (or compulsion) has stuck with me, which is why I felt for the poor little stems.

05/21/15

Baby undershirt trick (with bonus video!)

You did it- you created this perfect little bundle of joy. You grew a person in your body and now she’s here! When you’re pregnant, you’re able to keep your baby safe and close to you, only dealing with the physical discomforts the baby brings you. Now that your baby is out in the open world, you have millions of things to consider to make him happy and safe.

When I was pregnant, I read every new parent/new baby book I could get my hands on (which I don’t suggest – see 9 Tips for 9 Months), but nowhere in those books did it tell me the terrors of changing a newborn or poop explosions. I heard stories from my aunts and uncles of poop that went from the baby’s legs up to their necks. What?! I didn’t get it–what the heck were diapers for then? It didn’t matter because I certainly knew that wasn’t going to happen to my baby.

05/12/15

The Power of Hello

Hello.

Wow. See how easy that was? One little word. Five little letters. Try it yourself out loud- say it with me now- hello (you didn’t actually do it, did you? Say it now!).

I get it, we’re all busy. I’m a working first-time mom who practically loses my glasses when they’re on my face. The few times I’ve had the opportunity to leave the house for a non-work/non doctor’s appointment outing (I think there have been three times so far…), I’m disheveled and feeling out of sorts being detached from my 3.5 month old barnacle. Generally sporting a “natural” look without makeup, letting my not quite straight not quite curly but quite unmanageable hair do its thing, you will most likely catch me in a moment where even if you were my best friend, I would want to avoid you to avoid embarrassment.

Side note: I love that today’s generation of models are becoming very prominent household names off the runway. Ah, to be 20 and gallivanting the social scene with Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner, and Cara Delevingne, fresh faced and looking super cool with their effortless style. I, however, look like a sallow, untamed monster when going au naturel. This is not my look, and if you look pretty this way, congratulations. I truly mean it.

05/12/15

Faking Pregnancy Radiance

If you’re one of the lucky women to benefit from the 50% extra blood flow that actually enhances your pregnant body, giving you that beautiful ‘glow’ you always hear about, I am extremely jealous of you. Also, congrats! Each week, I keep waiting for my pale skin that continues to get sprinkled with breakouts to perk up and start giving me that gorgeous, luminous, dewy radiance that I’ve seen and read about in so many other women.

Unfortunately, at 37 weeks, the combination of continued nausea and vomiting throughout each trimester, insomnia, and debilitating pelvic girdle pain and sciatica has only further dulled my pallor. Even though I constantly feel like I’ve been hit by a train, I still love being pregnant and don’t want to: A. scare people with my sallow appearance and B. miss out on that classic womanly glowing sensation.

05/9/15

Coffee Table Styling Tips & Tricks

The first things that catch your eye when you enter any family or living room are the sofa and coffee table. Instead of letting your table collect coffee mug rings and food crumbs for standing in as your dining room table, it’s time to spice things up and learn how to master coffee table styling.

Let your style shine through when designing your coffee table just like any other part of your house. Do not think of it as the place to stash your multitude of remote controls; think of it as the heart and soul of your room, styling it with your personal flair and purpose.

If you need a place to store the odds and ends that you and your family use frequently that end up looking like a huge cluttered mess, opt for a wicker basket or small trunk with a lid tucked under your table that you can quickly stash away when guests come!