Showing posts with label FamilyLife

I still remember exactly what I was doing and who I was with on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. It was just a little before nine am and my then 2- year old daughter and I were preparing to watch Sesame Street when I got the call from my husband who was on his way to work. That call changed our day and world forever. Do you remember where you were on that tragic day in American history? This year, I’ve been invited to join Wreaths Across America for a special remembrance to honor the Freeport Flag Ladies and those affected by 9/11 and wanted to share their story and extend the invitation to you.


Raise your Flag on 9/11


Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Greg Landry's Homeschool Labs.


Happy Saturday friends. The term homeschool has taken on a whole new meaning for so many over the last few weeks hasn't it? In our home, we have Juniors. One in college and one in high school. Fortunately, they are self- starters who do all their assignments independently and have continued to do all assignments provided by their respective schools. When I was asked if I'd like to collaborate with Greg Landry (a homeschool STEM pioneer) to share his free Homeschool Labs Student COVID-19 Printable Lesson & Worksheet I said yes, because I feel science is an important subject and this is a timely topic that can help our middle and high school students better understand the COVID-19 virus.


Daughter doing homework

For most families, spring break has come and gone in a blink. This March looks vastly different than last year where spring break vacations and camps were the norm. Today, I’m welcoming a guest post from the American Camp Association on their virtual camps starting this week. I hope you'll find this list of ten free ACA virtual camps helpful. All camps listed below are available to join and enjoy immediately.




Ten Free ACA Virtual Camps for Kids:


Boys smiling at camp





Happy Monday and happy almost Christmas! I know some of you are ready for the big day and aren’t sweating the crowds for last minute gifts, but if you are like me and found herself in need of last-minute gifts for kids, then this post is for you! Here are some last-minute holiday gift ideas for kids that won’t feel or worse, look last minute when found tucked under your tree, or handed out at a gift exchange.



Merry Christmas gifts under the tree


Something magical happens when you bring your kids into the kitchen with you. From the time my girls were able to stand on a stool to help me prepare sweet treats or just their afternoon snack, I’ve loved watching their faces as they work in the kitchen. Sure, there will be messes and plenty of patience testing minutes- but all that is well worth all the fun you’ll have in the kitchen. I received my first box from Kidstir, a cooking kit subscription company recently and I wanted to share it with you today.



Kidstir Spooky Celebration kit #ad


It’s been so hot and dry here in middle Tennessee that we’ve broken records. We are in a drought situation and burn bans are in place, so I felt there was no better time than now to share tips and resources for fire prevention week. There are several easy steps you can start or put in place this weekend to keep you and your loved ones safe. In fact, I’ll be working on our new safety plan on the back deck this evening.  My thanks to the Red Cross for sending this information along so I could share it with you.

enjoying our back deck this Fall


Before we know it, the mid-September heat wave will give way to cool mornings and evenings so pleasant we’ll want to open the windows to let some fresh air in. Fall is a magical time. A cool respite from the summer heat and a perfect time to do a little home maintenance and maybe a few upgrades you’ve had on your to-do list. If you’ve been thinking of adding smart technology and appliances to your home, but are unsure of where to start, don’t fret! You can get all the advice you need on new tech for your home with the Best Buy free in-home consultation. Read on for details. 



#ad, Ring Video 2 doorbell @BestBuy


Deciding which colleges to visit can be a fun and exciting time for parents and kids, but it can also be a stressful time with a lot of unknowns to contend with. There are hundreds of potential students and families vying for the same parking spots, dorm room tours and more. Looking back on the whole process with our oldest daughter, who will be going into her Junior year at Lipscomb University in the fall, we could have saved ourselves a few headaches had we known about Collegewise and their helpful admissions and applications assistance. Today I'm happy to share this guest post by Casey Near of Collegewise on the best questions to ask on college visits I think you’ll find very helpful.




Lipscomb University Nashville, Tennessee
source

This is a sponsored post on behalf of KeySmart and Ekster. I received information to facilitate today’s post as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation. 


Happy June everyone! I’ve been a little quiet around here because we are in starting a major home renovation project. We had a water leak in the kitchen overnight that led to water damage in roughly half our home! Everything from flooring to cabinets will need to be replaced, so I’ve decided to share the process here on the blog. Today though, I want to start a new tradition here on the blog- gift guides! Brands have been asking me for years if I do then, so I decided to seize the day and start with Father’s Day! I’m sharing three smart and useful gift ideas I think the men in your life will love. 


Three smart Father’s Day Gift Ideas #ad

Wordless Wednesday: Birds of a Feather

in , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Wednesday, November 14, 2018

Wordless Wednesday Birds of a feather








Wordless Wednesday: Birds of a Feather







Wordless Wednesday: Birds of a Feather



Please share in comments: Have you ever went to your local zoo in November?

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias Inc., Kleenex, Lipton and Theraflu. All opinions are mine alone. #FluSeasonHacks #CollectiveBias


It’s hard to believe that in ten short days, my daughters will be on fall break from school. For my family, this break marks the official end of summer and the slow and steady descent into holiday mode. It starts with Halloween prep and party fun and slowly gains momentum from there. We all love this time of year, but one thing we don’t love is getting sick. Coughs, colds, runny noses, sore throats, strep and the biggie- Flu are no joke. They can enter your home easily and linger for days or weeks. The dreaded “bug” season is upon us! It’s time to think ahead and prepare for cold and flu season by stocking up on essentials. 



#ad Prepare for cold and flu season #FluSeasonHacks #CollectiveBias

Parenting our girls Then and Now

in , , , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Tuesday, October 09, 2018
This post is sponsored by the Center for Parent and Teen Communication.  All opinions and total Mom moments are my own.


My laptop has been acting up the last few weeks, which forced me to work on the family desktop computer. She may be a bit of a dinosaur, but she is as reliable as the day is long. As soon as I sat down to work and started downloading needed photos for a campaign, I was swept up in nostalgia and found myself going back down memory lane. My girls have grown and changed so much from the early years of parenting, but their bond remains strong. 

Then: 



#ad after school playtime then




This post is sponsored by Depend, Poise, Ensure, and Glucerna but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.



My role as a homemaker is one I treasure. I try my best to think of the wants and needs of not only my family but of all who may visit and spend time in our home so they will feel welcomed and comfortable. When planning for company, there is one room in the home that deserves a little more time and attention than others. No, it’s not the kitchen or the living room. Today I want to focus on the bathroom. Ever since I helped take care of my mother in law, I've looked at what is available in bathrooms from a caregivers perspective, so  I’ve made a quick and easy hygiene essentials basket perfect for every guest, including seniors. 


#ad Poise Liners hygiene essentials basket #FamilyCaregivingAtSC



















Wordless Wednesday: Summer Greens

in , , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Wednesday, August 15, 2018


Summer on the water of the gulf coast





Food and water, two resources most of us in America; especially in suburbia, take for granted. I know that I do. Turning on the tap for clean water, or opening my pantry for food is something I’m so accustomed to doing; I’ve become spoiled. Sure, my family and I give to our local food pantries, Goodwill store, and local shelter and we do our best not to waste water by turning off taps and conserving water when gardening, but there is so much more we can and should do to help protect our natural resources and help end hunger. I’m thrilled to partner with General Mills on their hunger relief scholars program for teens today. I think it’s a fantastic program! If you have teens, please read on!




How would you feed the future scholars contest #ad

Be Prepared- Flu may strike you or a loved one

in , , , , , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Tuesday, February 06, 2018
With six more weeks of winter to go, we all must take every precaution to keep ourselves and our families well since the flu shows no signs of slowing down. This strain is nothing to trifle with as reports of hospitalizations and sadly, even deaths are on the evening news day after day. 

I’ve already succumbed to this nasty virus around Christmas time so I can attest to this virus’ strength. I was lucky I didn’t have to be hospitalized, so I was only too happy to partner with Mucinex and help spread the word about their maximum strength products. Stocking up on these products now will help you be prepared in case flu strikes you or a loved one. 


Care tray for loved one be prepared in case flu strikes #ad

Take time to be creative this month

in , , , , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Wednesday, January 03, 2018
I adore January for a multitude of reasons. My youngest daughter was born this month.  Linens and home goods are on sale this month. I get to plan and organize a lot of things in January. Filling out new calendars and planners for the year is time well spent in my opinion. As I was organizing my stack of planners and notebooks, I noticed I had several craft and hobby books I needed to find a home for as well. That’s when I realized that unless I made time to be creative this month (and every month of the year), I would need to block out time to allow myself to enjoy hobbies and creative endeavors.  January is the perfect time to be creative! Dust off one of your hobbies, or start a new one. Read on for some creative ideas.


take time to be creative this month





This Christmas was hard. I was really sick with the flu and I had to rely on my husband and daughters to do the lion’s share of holiday preparations.  When you are so sick you can do little more than take medicine, rest and accept the loving help your family is providing; you have a lot of time to pray and reflect on your life and the year coming to an end. One of the greatest sorrows of 2017 was losing my mother in law. Not having her sweet presence with us this Christmas was a challenge.  She was missed!  I feel like I honor her by sharing today's tips. They come from personal experience of helping my family navigate the stresses and challenges of family caregiving while we helped care for my mother in law before her passing earlier this year.



Put love into the doing.- Mother Teresa #ad #FamilyCaregiving



Wordless Wednesday: Steam Train

in , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Wednesday, September 06, 2017



Steam train in Nashville TN.


For over 130 years, Avon has been a company that cares about women, our families our communities, our health and our livelihoods. Today Avon is offering two ways to help with hurricane Harvey relief. As a proud Avon Representative, I naturally wanted to help, but that isn’t my only reason for this post. I’m also a flood survivor.  As a teenager, my family lost everything in a flood. Our home, our cars, our clothes, our food, our security.  My heart goes out to each and every single person who has been touched by hurricane Harvey. This post is for you. Avon is here to help you. I am here to help you. My family and I stand strong with you.  If you would like to learn how you can partner with Avon today, read on please.  


Avon hurricane Harvey relief donations

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