Supporting Small Business Saturday

in , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Saturday, November 30, 2013


Later today my family and I will be shopping at several small businesses to do our part in supporting our community. My husband and I are small business owners and while his business isn't holiday sales driven - unless you are in the market for custom furniture and cabinets, my small business is. As an Avon Lady- Holiday sales make up much of my 4th quarter revenue.  I invite you to shop with me and Avon today!


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We have sales galore and are offering FREE shipping through December 2nd! Just go to my website HERE and enter coupon code : CODEBLACK at checkout.



Here are a few of my favorites all on sale! 


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Glimmersticks



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Ever Lasting Foundation



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Skin So Soft




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Avon Jewelry!

I thank you in advance for your support. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. I wish you a happy Saturday full of fun and bargains. 


Do you have a favorite Avon product? Please share in comments! 



Disclosure: I am an active Avon Lady who will earn a commission on sales should you shop with me via the links provided above. I very much appreciate your support!

Happy Thanksgiving!

in , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Tuesday, November 26, 2013

A Simple


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From Our Home To Yours. 



Things to remember to be Thankful For:


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And I am Thankful for you! 

Have a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving!

1 Girl Nation CD Giveaway

in , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Friday, November 22, 2013

Got a tween or pre-tween in your life? Do you want to encourage them to listen to uplifting music that is Christian based with clean lyrics?


Yes?

Then you are going to want to enter my Giveaway for the 1GN CD, which is being sponsored by FlyBy Promotions. FlyBy sent me a free CD to listen to with my daughters and all opinions expressed below are ours and may differ from yours. Before we get to our review or giveaway, I'd like to share a little bit about them. 


About 1 Girl Nation:  


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“Landing in the space where One Direction meets Toby Mac, 1 girl nation is an exciting blend of upbeat pop music, with lyrics that are focused on living for God, even while you’re young.” 

Their current single While We’re Young is getting a lot of radio play, so you may have already heard them. You can learn all about 1 Girl Nation by visiting their website, following them on Facebook and Twitter or watching them on YouTube.



Our Review:

Talk about a trendy looking all girl group! The 5 young ladies in 1GN have trendy covered.  They may dress to impress (what tween doesn’t like sparkles?) but what these 5 girls really want to share is their passion for Christ through their music. And they do that on each track on this CD. 
Their lyrics are heartfelt, if not a little predictable and I found myself humming along to a track or two. On the flip side- some songs are sung in such a way that I want to leave the room. These ladies have gusto and talent. 
My daughters liked this CD much more than me- which is the point after all. Teens and Tweens are their target audience.  Having said that, both my daughters agreed, a little 1GN is all you need so they play one or two songs at a time, not the whole CD. This CD would make a perfect stocking stuffer!



The Giveaway:

One reader will win the 1 Girl Nation CD which has a mini-size poster on the back side of the lyrics. 
Entering is easy using the Rafflecopter form below. Just do the first task on the form and then other options will open up for you to do. No purchase necessary. Open to US residents 18+.  My WAHM Plan is not responsible for prize shipment. See full terms available on Rafflecopter form.


Good luck! 




Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be a good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

#TBT- Blogger Style

by Linda A Kinsman, Thursday, November 21, 2013

Happy Thursday, or as I like to say- Happy Friday Eve Dear readers! As you may or may not have noticed, I've been real quite this week. The reason is quite simple- cold and flu season is here and the girls brought home something gnarly and shared the love. 

When I got the idea to do a throw back Thursday post- I laughed and went into a coughing fit when I searched my archives and saw what I was talking about this time last year. Oh- the irony of it!



It was a review for Halo oral Antiseptic Spray. 

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Why oh why didn't I remember this product and the great review I gave it? 

Do I suffer from short term memory loss? Was I too sick to remember this stuff helped me not get sick last year?? It could have saved us from this funk- which wasn't the flu thankfully- but still, made us all feel really bad. 

The answer to these questions are in fact a mystery- but having Halo at the ready is not. I've got some now and will spray each family member as they come through the door this afternoon and evening. 

You may want to click on over to my review here and see if Halo may be a good fit for your family too.  If you do decide you'd like to give Halo a try- visit their website first and print yourself a $4.00 off coupon

Saving and staying well. How's that for a cool #TBT post?

Disclosure- I wasn't compensated to share this information and no affiliate links are included in this post. Just helpful information. 

Helpful Homemaking- Baking Prep

in , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Friday, November 15, 2013

It’s getting close to total de-clutter and clean time here at my house in preparation of the Holidays, so before I share some of my sanity saver tips on de-cluttering, I wanted to share a tip sure to please all you bakers out there, which includes yours truly. :)


A Handy use for Lemons past their prime:


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 Okay, so the pretty Lemons above certainly aren't past their prime- but I just couldn't bring myself to snap a picture of my old Lemons and put them here on the blog- so you'll just have to go into your kitchen and find your own old Lemon and before you chuck it- cut it up instead and use it to clean! 


My Tip:

Quickly get odors out of wooden bowls, cutting boards and rolling pins by  rubbing them with a piece of lemon. Don’t rinse off the juice! The wood will absorb the lemon juice. And you are good to go. Easy-Peasy, Lemon Squeezy.

The kitchen will smell so good; your family may think you’ve made lemon bars! Mmm… lemon bars. I just may whip some up. Do you have a great lemon bar recipe to share with me? Let me know in comments!

Happy Holidays!

November Finds Me- Many Things

in , , , , , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Thursday, November 14, 2013

Happy Friday Eve! This has been a growing sort of month for me and I wanted to share a little of it here with you in my monthly “feelings” post.


November finds me:

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I know some of you are thinking that these feelings aren’t news worthy, or maybe even post worthy since practically everybody who has an online account on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest are sharing their hearts out. You could be right- maybe this type of sharing is being done too much- but today, this is where my heart is because of recent interactions with friends, family, acquaintances and complete strangers.

1. I have so much to be thankful for that I couldn’t possibly list them all here, but today I am especially thankful for: My own car that runs anytime I need it. This week I’ve chatted with a lady who doesn’t own her own car (or her own home for that matter) and has to schedule her day around others to get around. Another lady, who is a stay at home Mom is a one car family, so she’s stuck at home all day- everyday while her husband goes to work.

2. I’m happy that my life is an amalgamation of domestic know -how and business savvy which allows me to continue being a work at home Mom.  I don’t earn a whole lot of money- but I save us a lot!  With the rising cost of childcare- I am so very happy I can be at home for my kids and family.  
Look at these startling stats:
In 31 states plus D.C., the cost of center-based care for an infant is higher than a year's tuition at a four-year public university.- The average annual cost for two children (an infant and a 4-year-old) in a childcare center ranged from about $10,000 in Mississippi to nearly $30,000 in Massachusetts! You can read the full report here

3. I’m peace with my age and stage in life. I’m officially a Tween! I’ve moved past having children and I’m nowhere near ready to be a Grandma- so I’m a tween right along with my tween. 

4. I’m hopeful for what next year will bring. We are on the cusp of good, good things.  I can feel it.

5. I am blessed with the ability to be me. I’ve gone throw some growing pains this year and my wonderful husband- my best friend for well over 20 years, has remained my constant and true biggest fan, as have my daughters. To be honest- this blog would not still be here if not for their unwavering support. Blogging is a creative endeavor with a whole lot of moving parts. Growing a blog is like gardening, it is never ending, but with each season you see fruits of your labor. Some seasons are sweeter and more bountiful than others.  


6. I am loved. And I know it. I am secure in it. If all the material things our society seems to covet fell away and I had to face my tomorrows with nothing but this love I have and those that bestow it, I would be A-Okay.  


So as we edge ever closer to the end of November, I ask you – how does November find you?

Wordless Wednesday- Fiona!

in , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Wednesday, November 13, 2013

As promised in this post about my #bugout insect- I'd like to share our newest fur baby with you. 



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Fiona loves sunbathing.


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And stretching out to her full length in the kitchen when I'm cooking.


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Fiona really loves taking her older fur-sisters favorite toy- Eeek.



But chirping, talking, loving and purring is one of Fiona's Favorite past times.

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Love time with Daddy.
We adore Fiona and she us! She is one happy, social kitty. Are you a cat or dog family? Or both?

Make School Lunches Fun with pop Chef

in , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Tuesday, November 12, 2013

We are almost to school winter break here in middle Tennessee, which means my daughters have eaten their fair share of from home lunches that normally include sandwiches. So when Pop Chef approached me to sponsor today’s post by sending me a free set to try, I happily agreed to check them out.


About Pop Chef:

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“Pop Chef is a new, fast and easy way to make fabulous edible creations. The secret is its 3-in-1 action- which shapes, pops and creates stars, circles, hearts and more without the mess or hassle of knives or cookie cutters. It’s a snack-tivity that’s even safe for kids to use.


With Pop Chef you can make:

  • Snacks
  • Party Platters
  • Meals
  • Gifts



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Pop Chef sounds fun doesn't it? Not just for us Moms, but for our kids too. My teen and tween (who make their own snacks and the occasional lunch)- were eager to give Pop Chef a try. 



The Review:

While Pop Chef does work and it really is fun to use- we didn’t find it as easy as 
  1. 1- Push, 
  2. 2- Pop 
  3. 3- Ta-da your piece comes out perfect. 

Nope. 

My daughter had to “coax” her piece of bread out. It still looked cute according to her, but it wasn’t in the perfect sun shape she hoped. She still said it was fun though.

I found the same to be true when I attempted to make flower ham and cheese sandwich bites for their lunches. Since my sandwich was over the recommended 1 inch thickness, it took a little bit of sweet talking to get the pieces out (see below) they didn’t “pop” out, but like my daughter I was having fun, so I continued.

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Pop Chef works perfectly with firm fruit I’m happy to report! We all wish we’d gotten this at the height of summer fruit season because once we’d had success with our Bananas, we were eager to give other fruits a try. We’ll just have to wait for more fruit to come in season and then we are going to make a fruit Bouquet.

All in all, this is a cute, fun way to enjoy time with your kids and let them play with their food. It is well worth the $10 price tag to us. You may even want to pick one up for your teen or tween for a gift.

You can find out more about Pop Chef and other products by visiting them here and you can use my affiliate link below if you would like to purchase Pop Chef on Amazon.





I hope you found this review helpful. Please let me know in comments if you have ever used Pop Chef or if you'd like to.


Disclosure:

I received a free set of Pop Chef in the hopes that I would share my opinion of it on my blog. No other compensation was given as I felt it would interest my readers. Note: The Amazon link above is my affiliate link, which may mean compensation for me should you choose to purchase via it. 


Helpful Homemaking- New uses for your Lint Roller

in , , , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Friday, November 08, 2013

Picture the scene if you will- company is coming, you've cleaned the house, got changed into your company clothes and are ready to welcome guests when you notice your cat has been cleaning herself on the couch- again. It's not the cats fault, you allowed it... but company is coming! So do what I do. Break out your lint roller!


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This is how it works here, your methods may vary from mine:

1. Get out lint roller- make sure you've got a clean strip.
2. Move the cat off the couch. Pet the Cat.
3. Lint Roller the Cat. I kid you not, my cat loves this preferring it over brushing. And it works!

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4. Marvel at how well the lint roller works on grooming your cat.
5. Throw away gross lint roller strip. 
6. Clean the couch, then the lamp shade of free flying cat hair with clean strip.
7. Check time. 
8. Continue chasing errant cat hairs... until...

You notice the wooden blinds behind the couch are dusty! No problem I think! I've got 5 minutes to spare, I decide to try dusting my blinds with my lint roller!

And - it works! But only on wooden blinds.  Look (don't judge!)

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There you have it- two new uses for your lint roller. Do you have a unique use for lint roller too? Share in comments!

Learning about spiders with #Orkin

in , , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Thursday, November 07, 2013
This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Orkin Ecologist for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.


Recently we adopted a kitten and our lives have been forever changed by the energy and sweetness that Fiona has brought into our home. Our oldest kitty may disagree, but it sure is fun watching the antics of a 13 week old kitten. I will share pictures of her soon.

 One of the main reasons we waited until fall and cooler temperatures to adopt is we live in a semi-rural area that has lots of spiders. Not just any spider- we have brown recluse spiders!

It took me a long time not to be really afraid of these spiders. And while I still #bugout when I see one, I’ve learned to have a healthy respect for them and their place in our world. Actually, I’ve gained a healthy respect for a lot of bugs and insects by exploring Orkins The Ecologist site. Who knew Orkin was fascinated about bugs? I thought it was their business to just eradicate them. But no, listen to what they have to say about their site.


About Orkins The Ecologist Website:


 Insects. Bugs. Creepy, crawly creatures. Some people fear them, but at Orkin, we study them. We know that every creature has its place on the planet — whether they harm people or property, or help the environment thrive. We also know that the best way to control pests is to learn as much as we can about them in general, both the bad and the good. We’ve been studying bugs for 100 years — we even have scientists on our staff to ensure we keep science at the forefront of our work. We continuously take the insect insights we gain and apply them to our business, and we believe it’s made us better at what we do. In studying bugs to better control them, we’ve found we’re fascinated by them too — they’re curious little creatures full of unexpected complexity. And that’s why we created “The Ecologist” site, to celebrate science and uniqueness of bugs.”

It was easy for me to find more information about the Brown Recluse spider at The Ecologist; they are  on the list of scariest and deadliest bugs in the world


About Brown Recluse Spiders:



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 "This spider likes to make its home near humans and with a bite that contains a necrotoxic venom its not a spider you want to mess with! You’ll know this guy by the dark violin-shaped marking on his abdomen." 

I’m so glad our Fiona was born later in the summer so she wouldn’t be tempted to “play” with this bad guy! 

I invite you and/or your budding Ecologists to check out Orkins The Ecologist website, where you can explore the science behind insects - and the vital role that insects have on our world. You can follow them on Facebook and Pinterest as well. Their pictures are stunning and the articles will keep you and your kids engaged. That’s a win-win!
So tell me, are you afraid of a certain spider or insect? Do you have a Bug Out moment? Please share it here by leaving a comment!




Disclosure: This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Orkin Ecologist for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

The Mother of All Meltdowns - a Must Read

in , , , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Monday, November 04, 2013

I am thrilled to share this book with you on a Monday. You know the day we Moms have to switch from weekend mode back to work mode, get everybody out of the house dressed, fed and on time. And we are supposed to do it without becoming a screaming shrew. Yeah, I don't like Monday's much either, in fact, I am running late right now getting my post up, but after reading The Mother of All Meltdowns- I know these wonderful Moms will forgive me.


About :The Mother of All Meltdowns:


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"Every mother, at some point, inevitably becomes her own worst enemy. In a millisecond, her halo crumbles and she has a moment so crazed it is forever known as the one…The Mother of All Meltdowns. 
This anthology was written by women who have had their moments. Together we have experienced the anguish and frustration of the adult-sized tantrum. We have shed the tears, dropped to our knees in agony, and asked the age-old question, “Why me?” From poop-decorated rooms to having our liquid gold scrutinized and confiscated by TSA, we’re not afraid to share our collection of thirty tell-all stories. We are survivalists and know that within every meltdown there is a silver lining."



I invite you to meet these honest, engaging women by visiting the website  HERE and following them on Facebook and Twitter. 


My Review: 

Reading this book was cathartic for me not only as a Mom, but as a multi-tasking Blogger much like these ladies. They open up and rip the band-aide off the "everything is FINE" scenario all Moms have tried to pass off. Truth: We have all had moments we would love to forget happened, so I stand up, applaud and say Brava! to each and every women who shared in The Mother of All Meltdowns. 
This book has a chapter for every age and stage of childhood, plus a diverse line up of Moms. You will find yourself laughing, crying and nodding in agreement as you read. 
The Mother of All Meltdowns shows you clearly that we are all just humans trying to do our best with several nods to wine, poop and sweat. Oh, and I can't forget to mention the LOVE. It is at the very heart of every story. 
I am so happy I got invited to read this book, I saw myself in the pages and I bet you will too! My favorite quote is: "The Greatest motherhood truth is to recognize you are not alone!" by Melissa Swedoski .

 Head on over to their website or purchase your copy at Amazon.




As always, I hope you found this review helpful. I hope you will enjoy reading this book and would love for you to stop back by and let me know your thoughts after you read it. Since it's selling like hot cakes- I would love to hear from you if you have already read the book too! Leave a comment and share your favorite meltdown in the book, or if you are brave share your own meltdown here. 



Disclosure: I received a free PDF copy of The Mother of All Meltdowns in the hopes that I would share my opinion of it on my blog. No other compensation was given, or asked for, I was only to happy to share this book with you because I felt it would interest you my readers as much as it did me. Note: The Amazon link above is my affiliate link, which may mean compensation for me should you choose to purchase via it. 

Bullying is a topic we parents hope we don’t have to look square in the eye. We hope that our kids never get bullied or become a bully.  

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But in today’s performance driven world, it seems it is less likely that all children won’t be touched in some way by bullying. Even if they just witness bullying.


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So how do we help our kids help themselves? How do we equip them with the necessary tools they need to survive and thrive? Green Giant’s Raise a Giant campaign offers wonderful tips and insights to help parents and kids face bullying together. 


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I chose not to publicly write a letter to my daughters because they have asked that I keep personal details about them and our lives to a minimum online, but I do talk about this tough subject with my girls.

I invite you to learn more by visiting Raise a Giant where you can read letters from parents, watch their helpful video and join in.

As always, I hope you found this post helpful. I invite you to share in comments if you've had to talk with your kids about bullying .


Disclosure: The information and prize pack have been provided by Green Giant® through MyBlogSpark. Thank you General Mills for making a $25 donation in MY WAHM Plan's name to the Pacer's Center for Bully Prevention.

Can’t Wait Willow by Christy Ziglar Giveaway

in , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Friday, November 01, 2013

Happy November. Let’s start it off right with a giveaway sure to please parents. My daughter and I have fallen in love with Can’t Wait Willow!, a book we received free to review as part of the FLYBY Promotions blogger team. We think you are going to fall in love too.


About Can’t Wait Willow! -  The first book in the series.

MyWAHMPlan.com


"Willow is so excited that the Over-the-Top Circus has finally come to town! The only problem is that when left to her own devices, she can’t say “no” to some good things. On the way to the show, she is distracted by enticing treats and fun that she just can’t turn down. Willow arrives late and is sad to find that, not only has she has run out of time, but money, and she won’t be able to enjoy the pink cotton candy she’s been dreaming of. Willow is given valuable advice and a second chance and is ultimately taught the lesson that sometimes in life you have to say “no” to good things to end up with something great!"


About the Author:  (Recognize the last name Ziglar?)
Christy Ziglar, financial planner, mother of twins and niece of legendary motivator and the world’s original optimist, Zig Ziglar, is bringing the same timeless wisdom and ageless advice to an entirely new, younger audience through her new Shine Bright Kids picture book series. You can connect with Christy and purchase Can't Wait Willow HERE.

About Shine Bright Kids:
The Shine Bright Kids series provides children and their families with a relevant framework to help instill solid values and teach the importance of making good choices. The series teaches principles including: using good judgment, taking responsibility, self-control, having a positive attitude, and demonstrating perseverance.  Check out their website for free reward charts, activities and other parenting resources or follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.


Our Review:

This is such a sweet, beautifully illustrated story with great lessons and interactivity throughout that even though it was a little young for my 10 year old daughter- we still give it two thumbs up! Every parent I know wants to equip their children with the ability to make good choices during their day to day life. In Can’t Wait Willow, we see Willow making choices that aren’t the best for her, but in the end kindness and thoughtfulness save the day. This would be a PERFECT gift for your son or daughter 9 or under, so please do enter our giveaway below. 

About The Giveaway:

One lucky reader will win a copy of Can't Wait Willow!(Hardbound).  No purchase is necessary to enter. Open to US residents 18 or older. Full terms are available of Rafflecopter form below.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclosure: I received no compensation for this publication, however, I did receive a free copy of this book in hopes I would review it on my blog. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own. My WAHM Plan is not responsible for prize shipment. This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with Facebook.
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