Cinderella: A Fairytale Come to Life

by Kelli Stuart | Mar 6, 2015 | Inspiration, Product Review

Reviewing movies is always a funny business to me, because opinions are so very subjective. What I find enjoyable, the next person finds laughable. I’ve found that most “critically acclaimed” films are not all that interesting to me, while the rest of society seems to find them wildly entertaining.

So maybe the problem is me?

I don’t know.

What I do know is that ever since I saw the trailer for the new Cinderella movie I have wanted to see it, and I’ve hoped that it would be as beautiful and magical as it seemed it could be. When I was offered the chance to take Tia to see an advance screening of the film, I jumped at the chance so that I could formulate my own opinion of the film before being told by others what to think and feel.

And I just really wanted to see the movie.

Friends, Cinderella did not disappoint. It is sweet, funny, engaging, sad, beautiful, and it has a happy ending. Directed by Kenneth Branagh (one of my all time favorites), the movie touches on the unbreakable human spirit in the face of cruelty and heartache.

Disney knocked it out of the park with this one. They stayed true to the original story of Cinderella that we all fell in love with as kids, while adding a few new poignant moments to round out the film as a whole. (If you have sensitive little ones, be prepared for tears because the scenes where Ella loses her parents are tough.)

The step sisters offer much needed comic relief to a sad plot, and the animals steal their own scenes, though they’re given a much smaller role in this film than they were in the cartoon.

And the costumes. Oh, my – the costumes. They are characters in and of themselves.

What I loved most, though, was Cinderella’s unbreakable spirit. With her mother’s voice as her constant guide, Cinderella endured her heartache by living out two charges, both given to her by her mom just before she died.

Have Courage.

And Be Kind.

With these as her motivators, Cinderella endures the torment of her stepmother. And when the time comes for her to attend the ball, and her resolve to be courageous wanes, in steps her Fairy Godmother, played deliciously by Helena Bonham Carter. With a flick of the wrist, and a single command of Bippity Boppity Boo, Cinderella is suddenly ready to meet her prince.

And, well, you know how the story ends.

This film is exactly as it should be. It’s sweet and engaging, and sprinkled with just a touch of magic. You will love it, your girls will love it, and I’m betting that your boys will also reluctantly love it. I’m going to take all my children to see it again when it officially releases on March 13.

So next weekend, if you’re looking for a little magic to kick things off, head to the movie theater and get lost, once again, in this magical, beautiful fairy tale.

Because, really. In a time when the world seems to be spiraling out of control, who couldn’t use a little magic and happily ever after, right?

Right.

Disclaimer: I was invited to a special prescreening for media. I was given two free tickets to the event. I was not compensated for this post. All opinions expressed are my own.

GRACO Swivi Seat: It’s Practically a Cadillac

by Kelli Stuart | Feb 11, 2015 | Baby, Baby Gear, Motherhood, Product Review

Yesterday I tripped on an exersaucer. It was easy enough to do since my house is now, once again, overrun by baby gear. I completely forgot how much stuff a fourteen pound baby accrues. Annika’s gadgets now have the run of the joint, and I shake my head in wonder multiple times a day that we are back in this place.

We have a baby!

Having hit the four moth milestone, our Pediatrician told us last month that it was time to introduce solids. And this meant it was time to get a high chair. Thankfully, GRACO stepped in to help.

We were sent the GRACO Swivi Seat high chair to review, and the box arrived at just the right time. The high chair is a perfect and necessary addition to our growing stash of baby gear. With a multi-position seat, I’m able to recline Annika to just the right level to support her still developing neck, while also allowing me to ~~shovel food into her mouth~~ gently feed her.

My favorite feature of the GRACO Swivi Seat is the swivel function. With a 360 degree swivel, Annika can face any direction, which is more helpful than you might think. Rather than having to lift and turn the entire seat to face me at the table, I can simply turn the chair toward me. And with a 5 point harness, I’m confident that she is secure leaving me free to feed her quickly and easily.

As easily as you can feed a four-month-old who doesn’t know how to swallow solids.

Truthfully, the high chair was one of the items I was looking forward to the least. I find them to be bulky, cumbersome, and an overall pain to have in the kitchen. But I am more than impressed with the GRACO Swivi Seat. It is sleek, stylish, functional, and not nearly as bulky as I feared it would be. It also helps that the top tray is removable and dishwasher safe, and the wipeable seating pad is machine washable, which will help in the months to come as she moves to more solid foods.

Over all, I would highly recommend the GRACE Swivi Seat for it’s functionality and it’s sleek style. The only thing I’ve found that this high chair canNOT do is make a baby like bananas.

So if you guys could figure out how to solve that problem over at GRACO, moms everywhere would be most appreciative.

Disclaimer: I was sent the GRACO Swivi-Seat High Chair to review. I was not compensated for this post. All opinions expressed are my own.