{A Book Review}

We at {simply} are excited for a book review by our

friend and guest blogger

Kimberly Brower of

Book Reader Chronicles!

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The book world has been hit hard with bestseller after bestseller this past month. 

In this months post, I’m going to be talking a bit about a few

different books that have recently come out that I recommend you look into.

Please visit my blog for more book recommendations,

reviews, author interviews, excerpts, giveaways and more!

www.bookreaderchronicles.com.

You can also connect with me on Facebook:

www.facebook.com/bookreaderchronicles.

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gone girl book review

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

This book took you on a roller coaster ride that you didn’t know if you wanted to get off or not. It had you questioning who you believed and who you sympathized with. It had you asking yourself what the heck was going on. We meet Nick on the day of his 5th wedding anniversary with his wife, Amy. Everything is routine, until Amy disappears from their house with signs of a struggle. Nick, not being the most likeable or sympathetic husband, starts lying to everyone and acts in a way a grieving husband normally would not act given the circumstances. We also get a glimpse into Nick and Amy’s past through entries from Amy’s journal entries, which paint the picture of a wife who desperately loved her husband.

This book did start a little slow for me, mainly because I was not a fan of Nick – at all. He just seemed uncaring, guilty and unemotional; however, he was determined to find out what exactly happened to his wife. However, as the plot of the story thickened and the twists came, you started getting a sense that things were not what they seemed. You were constantly kept at the edge of your seat trying to figure out who to believe and what was going to happen next. If you want a mystery thriller, this is definitely the book for you. 

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{weekend} lovelies

 We are just days away from the official start of Spring!

As much as I was praying for cold, rainy weather a short while ago…

I am now looking forward to the longer sunny days ahead!

With Spring on my mind…

I chose the following links & images to share with you

for this weekend’s lovelies!

Hope they make you feel all warm, cheerful & sunny inside!

xo  

 

 

 

>>> Lil Crabe Breakdancing // yourBuddi <<<

It’s been a while since I’ve shared a YouTube video with you. This one has been on my list for a while! Husby & I both LOVE music… it’s always on in our house. Well… breakdancing also has a fun place in our hearts! It just makes you happy, right?!! Super talented… this young man! 

 

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Trader Joe’s Favorites + Recipe

   

>>> Trader Joe’s Favorites + Recipe <<<

 

  

We are quite fortunate to have Trader Joe’s stores here in California!

Luckily for the rest of the country, they seem to be spreading quickly!

Once you have the opportunity to shop there,

you will have a hard time returning to your usual market.

The selection of food is great…

especially for healthy items & specialty foods.

I love that they carry & label food products for people with special diets

{such as vegan or gluten-free}.

As a family, we do about 90% of our weekly shopping at Trader’s.

I personally love their produce & vegetarian options,

while the kids love their snacks,

& Husby loves their dried fruit, nuts & trail mixes!

Trader Joe’s seems so much more affordable for healthier food products.

I walk out of there weekly,

with my cart overflowing with groceries, for what I consider to be a fair price.

Although I have shopped there for years,

I still find new favorites all of the time!

I thought it would be fun to share with you several of the items

that make it into my cart each week,

along with a simple, yet scrumptious, dinner recipe {see below}! 

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Chocolate Marshmallow Cake

chocolate marshmallow cake

This mocha rich fluffy Chocolate Marshmallow Cake recipe

has been a faithful friend of mine for the past 10 years.

I found this lovely recipe in Cooking Light when

Shane and I first got married and

it remains a staple in our household.

So when I signed up to bring a dessert to Grandparent’s Day at

Madeline’s school, I knew boring brownies just wouldn’t do.

This rich and dense chocolate cake is a LIGHT recipe,

but you wouldn’t know it by the looks and taste of this

yummy surprise.

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Bow Bun Hair Tutorial {Guest Post}

 

 >>> Bow Bun Hair Tutorial <<<

 

 One of the greatest joys in having our blog

is the opportunity to share with you 

businesses, products, & expertise,

from trusted friends & companies that we believe in!

We are so excited about this post…

as it is our very first hair tutorial on {simply}!

It comes to you as a guest post

from one of our dear friends, Lynne!

She owns a small business

selling beautiful, high-quality, handmade… hair accessories!

She also designs custom hair accessories to match & compliment

fabric swatches, uniforms & recital outfits!

You can reach Lynne and view her items for sale through her

 

 Lavish Lulu website,

Etsy Shop,

&/or

Facebook page!

 

A big “thank you” to Lynne for this darling hair tutorial!

She seriously makes everything look so easy!

Her daughter is one lucky little girl to have such a talented mama!!

 

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Hi, my name is Lynne!

I am a former teacher

and now a stay-at-home mom to my two beautiful children.

I’m also own a small business,

{Lavish Lulu}!

Growing up, my mom kept my hair short…

the “Dorothy Hammel,”

and I always envied my friends with long hair.

I swore my daughter

{if blessed with one},

would have long, beautiful hair!

I have been having fun experimenting with her hair,

and I have been asked to share one of our favorites with you!

One of my daughter’s favorite hairstyles to wear to school and dance is the

“Bow Bun!”

 

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{weekend} lovelies

Happy Weekend!

For this edition of {Weekend} Lovelies,

I thought I would create our Lovelies based on a need in my home.

I am a guilty Mama of constantly doing EVERYTHING for my kids.

Shoe tying, dressing, teeth brushing,

all while trying to get out the door on time.

It is time to rise to the occasion to the fact that Mason and Madeline

are old enough to be doing most of these

responsibilities on their own.

If I don’t make a change, I am doomed……

or their wife and husband will be………

 

 

{Organize your your home>><< Tidy Mom}

If Mama is not organized then how can I expect the kids to listen.

Having items labeled and put away in a tidy manner

can help the kids to identify their placement

as well as it allows others {such as husbands} to help. 

Creating more “Family Time” and less yelling…..

Tips to organize your home

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Happy Birthday, Miss Blue!

 

 Happy 5th Birthday, Miss Blue!

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Before we get started on this trot down memory lane, can I just say that normally my motto is that “simple is best”…. well clearly, I had a really hard time narrowing down my photo choices! Bear with me! Sophia is my only girl… and she turns 5 tomorrow…. 5! I’m still in a state of disbelief that she could really be that old…. I realize it’s all relative, but I honestly still think of her as a baby… my baby girl.

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Banana Oatmeal Smoothie

banana oatmeal smoothie

This banana oatmeal smoothie

is a weekly staple in my morning routine.

Angela’s motivational post on Monday,

made me think of ways in which I try to

stay healthy all why being satisfied 

by the food I eat.

This smoothie is a protein packed meal

with a boost of energy.

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{Simply} Muffins

 {Simply} Muffins

basic batter + your choice of add-ins = pure yumminess!  

Who doesn’t love a tasty muffin?

This is the perfect recipe…

a simple muffin batter, with endless flavor possibilities!

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Fighting Off The Fitness Cliff {Guest Post}

We thought we would kick off this Monday

with a motivational guest post from our friend

Angela Kraber.

 

Angela

Angela Kraber not only understands where moms are coming from,

as a fitness expert she also understands their bodies.

After her two daughters were born,

she rekindled her passion for running and eventually started

her own running club and fitness program, Moms On The Run Fitness.

 Angela also has an active personal training roster

with a focus on empowerment and accountability.

She is a member of IDEA, an ACE Certified Personal Trainer,

a Stroller Strides franchisee-owner,

and certified pre-natal and post-natal instructor,

as well as a certified boot camp instructor for Body Back and P90X Group X.

 Whew…..Angela is one motivated MAMA!

With most of us heading out to the pool or beaches in the near future,

It’s time to get back on track, no excuses!

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