Happy Holidays- $100 Wilsons Leather Giveaway

in , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Monday, November 30, 2015
I couldn't wait to share this amazing giveaway with you dear readers! I've long been a fan of the high quality products from Wilsons Leather, so when I had a chance to join in with a great group of bloggers to spread this kind of Christmas cheer, I jumped at the chance!


Wilson Leather logo and giveaway


Sponsored by Wilsons Leather 


 About Wilsons Leather: 
Wilsons Leather is a leading specialty retailer of quality accessories and outerwear. They have some of the best selections in all kinds of formats. Their many categories include: outwear, handbags, briefcases and even travel items. They use many other fabrications other than leather, so you have a vast amount of options for your personal preference. Offering both Men and Women attire, Wilsons Leather is the choice to make.

The Plus Size Wilsons Leather Belted Leather Hipster w/Faux-Fur Lined Hood is one of many excellent selections from Wilsons Leather.  So why not make your loved one love you even more, make those sparks last longer.

This would be a more than amazing way to express your love towards your dearly beloved. So why not make this an even more special Christmas. Express your love the right way with the right choice in a gift. Check out the product above, you are sure to like what you see.

Wilson Leather Giveaway ends 12/20


Entering is easy using the form below. No purchase necessary to enter. 

Terms:

No purchase is necessary to enter using the form below.  My WAHM Plan is not responsible for prize fulfillment. Winners will be notified by email used on entry form and have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.  This giveaway is not associated with nor endorsed by Facebook, Twitter, or any other social channel. You must have a PayPal email account to enter. I was not compensated to share this giveaway. 

 Good Luck!

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Weekly Chore Prompt: Prep your foyer before holiday guests arrive

in , , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Are you hosting family and friends during the holidays this year? Naturally, you want to make them feel welcome from the moment they arrive.  All of a sudden the busiest spot in your home isn’t the kitchen; it’s the foyer. Before your guests arrive, think through what they will be wearing and carrying so you can provide a clean, functional space to help get them settled in quickly. This chore shouldn’t take more than 35 minutes.


Winter weather for the #holidays


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November is National Adoption month- can you help? #NAM15

in , , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Monday, November 16, 2015
For most of us, as soon as we turn our calendars to November, we start thinking about the big family style holidays coming up. Thanksgiving can be a stressful endeavor with some families, whether it is a logistics concern, or more often than not, the thought of multiple personalities clashing over the cranberries. Some of our family squabbles would seem silly to the thousands of kids here in the United States that need a home. 


November is national adoption month #NAM15 on MWP


Since November is National adoption month, I’m honored to work with today’s sponsor- the U.S.  Department of Health and Human Services, AdoptUSKids, and the Ad Council to help spread the word about this growing need and ask for your help as well. While this is a sponsored post, all opinions and love of children are my own.


As a Mom of two teen daughters, I was shocked and honestly heart-sore when I read the information sent to me to share with you today. For instance, did you know that there are 415,000 children in the U.S. foster care system and 108,000 are waiting to be adopted?

AdoptUSKids’ maintains a national photo listing service for children waiting to be adopted. Since the project launched in 2002, more than 25,000 children who were once photo listed on adoptuskids.org have been adopted and nearly 38,000 families have registered to adopt through the website.  

Nevertheless, older youth are disproportionately represented – approximately 41 percent of children and youth photo listed on adoptuskids.org are between 15 and 18 years old, but only 17 percent of those adopted have been in this age group. This just breaks my heart, because I don’t know what my world would be like if I didn’t have my two beautiful, vibrant, smart and funny teens in my life! 

Still, the fact is older youth and teens have lower adoption rates than younger children and often wait longer to be adopted. Can you imagine what they must feel at this time of year? 

All kids need a supportive, loving home and the teenage years are a critical period of growth. The theme for this year’s AdoptUSKids campaign is “We never outgrow the need for Family”. Doesn’t that hit you right in the heart? It did me! If you have ever considered adopting or fostering a child, now may be the perfect time to get started.  

Watch this cute video!




AdoptUSKids wants to remind you- “You don’t have to be perfect to be a #perfectparent”. 


Here are some facts worth considering.


Why Older Youth?

All of us – that includes older youth in foster care who are waiting to be adopted – need and want families throughout life to support us and to share important life events. Learning to drive a car, applying for higher education, and birthday and holiday celebrations are just a few examples of the times in life we need and want to share with family.
  • Older youth are overrepresented in the foster care population, as they generally wait longer to be adopted, and have lower overall adoption rates.    
  • On adoptuskids.org, roughly 41 percent of the children and youth actively photo listed are between the ages of 15 and 18 years old. About 58 percent are male. (Most recent stats as of May 31, 2015) 
  •  Families, who adopt older youth, are providing them with the support and stability of a family during a critical period of normal adolescent concerns and additional self-identity issues.
 
Some of the Misperceptions about Adoption from Foster Care:

Adoption is expensive. Unlike the private adoption of an infant or adopting internationally, there are virtually no costs associated with adoption from the US child welfare system. In addition, the vast majority of youth adopted from foster care are also eligible for monthly adoption assistance up to the level of the foster care rate. 

You have to be married. You do not have to be married to adopt in most states. Many children have been very successfully adopted by single parents. Single-parent families accounted for 29 percent of all adoptions from foster care in 2014 (AFCARS). 

You have to have a college degree. Having a high school diploma or college education is not required. What is important is that you are stable, flexible, and compassionate, and that you have a good sense of humor. Most importantly, you must have the support and commitment to raise a child and to be there for him throughout his life. 

You have to own a home and each child has to have their own room. You can rent your home or live in an apartment or a mobile home so long as your living situation is a stable one. 

You have to be of child-bearing age to adopt. Experienced parents and empty-nesters are encouraged to adopt. In most instances, you’re eligible to adopt regardless of age, income, marital status or sexual orientation.  

You can only adopt a child who is the same race and ethnicity as you. Federal law prohibits the delay or denial of an adoptive placement based on the race or ethnicity of a child in U.S. foster care and the prospective parent or parents who are seeking to adopt them. The only exception to this law is the adoption of Native American children where special considerations apply.  

You can’t adopt if you’re in the military. Military families stationed overseas and within the U.S. are eligible to adopt children from the U.S. foster care system. 


As we enter this season of thanks, kindness and giving, I invite you to learn about adoption, or about becoming an adoptive parent to a child from foster care, please visit www.adoptuskids.org or visit the campaign’s communities on Facebook and Twitter. You can also call 1-888-200-4005 (English) or 1-877-236-7831 (Spanish) to receive the latest information about the foster care system and the adoption process.



I thank you sincerely for reading this post to here. I would love if you would consider sharing this post, so that others can become aware of the overwhelming need to adopt older kids in the U.S.


Please share in comments: Do you have a positive/uplifting adoption story? I’d love to hear it! I’ll share your story on my Facebook page as well!

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All can be well with Amwell online Doctor Visits #sponsored

in , , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Sunday, November 15, 2015
As a busy work at home Mom of two busy teen daughters, it can sometimes be a challenge to find the time to visit a doctor when I’m not feeling well.  If it’s my daughter’s or my husband- I make the time, but for myself? 

This is a sponsored post with Mums the Word Network and Amwell. All opinions are my own.

Amwell #online #doctor #visits

The internal dialog starts- how will I find the time- or make up the time I’d spend waiting to be seen at a traditional doctor or urgent care office? What if I get somebody else sick for what could be “just a cold? What about the cost? I’m sure this internal dialog sounds familiar to several of my readers. I may have the perfect solution so all can be well for you and your family- online doctor visits with Amwell.



I recently was asked to try out Amwell and share my thoughts with you here and I must confess I was pleasantly surprised with how fresh and responsive the Amwell website is. It is very easy to navigate, which is a huge plus if you aren’t feeling your best- or worse- you’ve got a sick kiddo and you want answers ASAP.


set up an Amwell account



After you set up an account, Amwell will remember your information for your next visit. You will be prompted to enter your insurance on the next screen. I did run into a bit of a hiccup here- they didn’t list my exact Insurance carrier. I was able to skip that until later; which was such a relief because if I’m not well, or I’m in a high stress situation, the very last thing I want stopping me from getting help is an insurance number.


On the next screen, Amwell lets you choose who in your family has the problem. Once you choose an option, another screen will come up allowing you to either use their symptom checker (which I found very helpful), or move forward and choose a doctor to speak with.



Before you’re able to connect and talk with an online doctor, the site will ask you to check if your computer is able to see and hear the doctor. Please note- you may have to update your browser at this point, like I did, to get Amwell to work! That was a bit of a time set back, but a necessary one. 


Amwell diet and nutrition doctors



 Once you have your computer set up to ensure an optimum doctor visit, you’ll pick your doctor from the ones listed for your area of need. All Amwell doctors are board certified and educated in the United States.  I had a nutrition question, so several nutritionists were made available for me to choose from. You can read about each doctor’s expertise, education, and more.


Here’s a video to show you just how an online doctor visit at AmWell may work for you. 





I was thoroughly impressed with the process from beginning to end and think having an online doctor visit is an excellent option for those times when getting to your regular doctor isn’t a convenient option, like if you are your child has the flu, or your super senior has an ache or pain that they would like to discuss .



Another thing I really like about Amwell is their upfront pricing. They show you right on the homepage, what you can expect to pay for each of the services they provide. 


Amwell upfront pricing

I invite you to learn more about Amwell, and their mission to provide quality medical advice online by visiting their website here and following them on Facebook.


As we enter the dreaded cold and flu season, I’m pleased to be able to offer my readers a code for a $1.00 visit to an Amwell online doctor of your choosing. Just enter this code CARENOW14 at check out and you are set. 


Please share in comments: Who would you most likely use this service for- yourself so you don’t miss work, or a loved one?

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Get a jump on gifting at Opry Mills, Nashville $50 GC giveaway!

in , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Friday, November 13, 2015
Tonight is the first hard freeze of the season here in the Nashville, TN. area and nothing can make me ready for the holidays quicker than a chill in the air! That's why I'm happy to team up some wonderful local bloggers to share this giveaway with you!

With black Friday deals just around the corner, it's the perfect time to start your shopping lists now and I can't think of a better mall to go to than Opry Mills!

Ready to win $50 to Opry Mills Mall in Nashville, TN? 


Win a $50 gift card to Opry Mills Mall in Nashville, TN.


Entering is easy using the Rafflecopter form below. No purchase necessary to enter. Must be 18+ years to enter. Once you've entered to win let me know which store at Opry Mills is your favorite by leaving me a comment!

Terms:

Transportation is not provided to the Nashville, Tn mall. You must live within driving distance and can get yourself to the mall. Gift card will be mailed to winner.


Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway



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Color of the Month- November -Marigold Orange

in , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Friday, November 13, 2015
Happy Friday dear readers. We are finally going to get a hard freeze here in middle Tennessee, which has me scrambling to put up some of my containers that still have flowers blooming. Besides Mums on the front porch, I still have Marigold's blooming on the back deck. I love their vibrant, happy color! These are the inspiration for this month's color of the month.

Marigolds blooming on the deck MWP

As always, I hope you find color inspiration from my shares here and my Pinterest board collection.



The holiday's are knocking on our doors and it's hard to believe the year is winding down. Take a moment each day to look for color all around you. Maybe it's the blue of the sky, or the vibrant color of a person's coat. Living in the moment grounds us and helps restore our energy.


Please share in comments: Look straight ahead and tell me the color that caught your eye and what or who that color is on. 
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Cheesy Sausage Crescent Bites

in , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Monday, November 09, 2015

With Thanksgiving just a couple of weeks away, my family and I are talking food, family, and fun. We’re planning our meals, which will have our traditional favorites as well as a table full of appetizers. 
Each year when our families get together there is one delicious appetizer that all of us rave about and it then becomes a tradition too. 

This year, I think I just might be making a new family tradition when I serve my Cheesy Sausage Crescent Bites! These heavenly bites of yumminess all started with a simple Pillsbury Crescent dinner Roll recipe that I modified a bit. I think you’ll enjoy them as much as my family has and may want to #ThanksgivingWithPillsbury too!


Cheesy Sausage Crescent Bites




Cheesy Sausage Crescent Bites #recipe on mywahmplan.com




Serving up warm from the oven Pillsbury Crescent dinner rolls or buttermilk home-style biscuits is a given during the holidays and I’m happy to share that they are both on sale at Publix just in time for you to stock up. Go to readyplansave.com and upload the coupons to your loyalty card. If you don’t have a local Publix, be sure to check your newspaper coupons. I usually find Pillsbury coupons in my Sunday paper. 




Pillsbury Crescent dinner rolls #ThanksGivingWithPillsbury

 Here’s the list of ingredients you’ll need.


Ingredients:



Makes 40 bites (depending on size of bite you make)

  • 1 pound Roasted Red Pepper Sausage (or any bulk sausage flavor you like)
  • 2 cups (8oz.) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 can (8oz) Pillsbury crescent dinner rolls
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon dried rosemary leaves, crushed
 

Sausage and cheddar cheese #yummy



Directions:


  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with foil. Spray foil with cooking spray, set aside.
  • Cook sausage on medium heat until just brown, drain, and put in mixing bowl.
  • Add cheese and rosemary to bowl and mix with hands or spoon.
  • Unroll crescent dough onto floured work surface; coat each side of dough with flour.
  • Cut dough into about ¼ -inch pieces with a pizza cutter or knife.
  • Mix crescent dough pieces into bowl of sausage mixture in small amounts until well blended.
  • Shape mixture into 40 inch sized balls. Place on pan.
  • Bake 15 to 18 minutes or until golden brown.




Cheesy Sausage Crescent Bites



These Cheesy Sausage Crescent bites take about  45 minutes from start to finish but are well worth the time. They taste fantastic straight from the oven or at room temperature. If your family is a fan of finger foods, you’ve got to try these! Be sure to check out my other recipes by using this tab. 


Please share in comments: What is your favorite finger food to serve during the holidays?






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Smokey Bear wants our help with Fire Prevention

in , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Saturday, November 07, 2015
Even though October is the official Fire Prevention month is the United States, the beautiful fall weather has us camping out, hosting backyard bonfires and using our fireplaces in our homes.  I feel the that fire safety is an important message that we all need to be reminded of so, I’ve joined a group of bloggers to share this message on behalf of the Smokey Bear campaign, which is sponsored by the Ad Council, the National Association of State Foresters and the U.S. Forest Service. My thanks to all for sponsoring today’s important message. 


According to the Smokey Bear campaign, nearly 9 out of 10 wildfires are caused by humans! Here are some startling stats:

  • In 2014 there were 7,933 wildfires caused by lightning, but 55,679 wildfires caused by human error (as reported to the National Inter-agency Fire Center).


  • In 2014 more than 3.5 million acres burned due to wildfires in the U.S. of those, more than 1.5 million acres burned due to human-caused wildfires.


While most of us don’t behave in a careless way, each year we learn of devastating wildfires caused because we humans acted in a careless way, which can impact millions of acres of forest and thousands of homes.

During fire prevention month and all through the year, we should be more responsible in our homes as well. For instance, half of home fire deaths result from fires reported between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. when most people are asleep. Only one in five home fires was reported during these hours!

Smokey Bear is asking us to be smart outdoors and in their homes! Here are some important links for us to get and stay informed.

Learn how to build a SAFE campfire to prevent wildfires:
CampfireSafety

See how easily burning debris can start a wildfire:
DebrisBurning

Understand how proper equipment maintenance can reduce wildfires:
EquipmentMaintenance

Safety is not only important indoors, but also around your property and community:
Community Fire Safety

How to prevent and detect fires inside your home:
Home Fire Safety

How to make sure you don't cause a wildfire:
It could be You


Watch this Smokey Bear question video:





Take the Pledge!

Want to help Smokey Bear prevent wildfires? Join me by taking the pledge here and then go to the National Tally to see how many have joined you across the country here.

Thank you for reading and joining us in our effort to inform and help Smokey Bear prevent Wildfires. Please share this with your friends and family!


 Please share in comments: Has a wildfire or house fire impacted your life?
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Get your home holiday ready with Mrs. Meyer’s Seasonal Scents

in , , , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Friday, November 06, 2015
In my last post I admitted that I was behind on my fall cleaning. I’m putting in some domestic over-time to catch up and I’m seeing and smelling the results of my labor.  I fell in love with Mrs. Meyer’s Sweet Basil multi-purpose cleanser a month or so ago when I became an ambassador for ePantry and started using their green cleaning products.  As an ambassador, I am happy to share a great offer on Mrs. Meyer’s Seasonal Scents with you today so you can get your home holiday ready as well. 


Mrs. Meyer's seasonal scents soaps help me clean MWP

This post contains my ambassador affiliate link and I may receive a small commission should you make a purchase using it. However, I only share products and brands I feel are of benefit to you.  

The holidays are the most wonderful time of year for almost everyone I know. I love all the hustle and bustle, the planning, the warmth of an adorned home, the meals, but the cleaning? It’s a necessity that we all must tackle, so why not make your home sparkle with one or more of Mrs. Meyer’s Seasonal Scents line? This year they are available in Cranberry, Orange Clove and Iowa Pine. 

I have to admit it was hard for me to give up my Sweet Basil, but once I smelled the Cranberry- I have been using it every chance I get! I could use either scent as an air freshener they smell so good! My family always compliments the scent of our home each time I use a Mrs. Meyer’s product and they love to use the cranberry hand soap I put in the family bath as well.


Get a free dish soap and hand soap with Mrs. Meyer's


I am really excited to share ePantry’s exclusive offer just for my readers so that you can experience the magic of Mrs. Meyer’s seasonal scents for free. It’s easy to give yourself the gift of a cleaning and delightfully scented home!

Just sign up for ePantry this week and receive a free Mrs. Meyer’s seasonal hand soap, dish soap, a $5.00 credit and free shipping with a $20 minimum purchase. That’s a $20 value! Choose from any of Mrs. Meyer’s fantastic, festive scents ­­ Cranberry, Orange Clove or Iowa Pine ­­ or get creative and mix and match all three.
About ePantry:


I love ePantry because it makes getting the best, non­toxic cleaning and household products effortless and affordable. The first time you sign up, ePantry asks you a few questions to help predict what you and your family need and how often. Each month, ePantry sends a reminder email before your order ships so you can easily review and customize it. 

I’m using products that are good for my family, my budget and the environment. If you are ready to take advantage of the offer and learn more about ePantry, I invite you to sign up for ePantry today.  You’ll need to answer a few quick questions (takes about 30 seconds).  New customers who sign up receive your free Mrs. Meyer’s products and $5.00 account credit, but only by using my referral link here. Please hurry! This freebie offer is good for a very limited time.

Are you an ePantry customer already? Please claim one free seasonal hand soap on your next order by using this link. 



It's the season of giving

Another great reason to join ePantry: Give $10, Get $20! November - it's all about friends and family. At ePantry, it's also Double Referral Month.  Please use my referral link here and then pay it forward!  

Refer as many friends as you like. When they place their first order they'll get a $10 credit and a free Grove Collaborative soy candle. You’ll earn a $20 credit for your next order.
 
Refer 1 Friend, Get $20
Refer 5 Friends, Get $100
Refer 10 Friends, Get $200 

And to help you ring in this festive season, be sure to enter the Mrs. Meyer’s giveaway as well where you'll have a chance to win 16 products. 


If you do join ePantry today- thank you! I truly appreciate your help and support!

Please share in comments: Which scent makes you think of the holidays most? Cranberry, Orange Clove or Iowa Pine?
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Weekly Chore Prompt: Make a Holiday Hostess cleaning Checklist

in , , , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Wednesday, November 04, 2015
Here we are, just three short weeks away from Thanksgiving and I haven’t finished half my fall cleaning chores found on my checklists here and here.  Being a homemaker at heart, it’s tough for me to admit my home isn’t in “company ready” condition and I could share with you a handful of excuses, but instead- I’m going to swing into action and share my Holiday Hostess cleaning checklist that will help you and I be ready to greet family and friends in no time.

My WAHM Plan: Welcome Holiday Guests


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