It’s been a couple of years since we had a real Christmas tree and one of things I miss the most is the heavenly scent of a fresh tree all season long. I was delighted to receive my first candle, Balsam Fir, from Goose Creek Candles just in time to enjoy at Christmas and beyond. I’ve been burning this candle all day and I have a delightfully scented home! I’m excited to partner with this made in America candle company as part of their blogger program for the next year and want to introduce them to you today and share my thoughts on my first candle from them.
Happy Friday and happy first day of winter. Our middle Tennessee
weather has decided to match the season by turning cold, wet and windy
overnight. There is even a slight chance of a flurry or two later today! We
love seeing the snow, but don’t care for the bone chilling temps. A week or two
before winter truly sets in, I get out my family’s winter coats, check them for
wear, missing buttons and stains. I usually have at least one coat I need to
run to the dry cleaners, but I got to save time and money this year by dry
cleaning them at home with Dryel.
Get organized with 2019-20 Reminder Binder Planner giveaway
in #ad planner, calendar, family, New Year, organization, pads, wahmtips, by Linda A Kinsman, Tuesday, December 11, 2018
Busy Moms need places to write things down and keep it with them at all time, and nobody knows that better than the planning queen Denise Albright! When I saw an opportunity to review her 2019 Reminder Binder planner set, I jumped at the chance and thankfully, I was chosen as one of the lucky bloggers to receive this amazing kit. And because I asked nicely, Denise agreed to sponsor my giveaway today so one lucky winner will receive a 2019 prize bundle! Read on to learn more.
Holiday Cleaning is easy with Mrs. Meyer's scents + Free Holiday Set
in #grovepartner #ad cleaning, free gift with purchase, holidays, homemaking, Mrs. Meyer's freebies, scents, by Linda A Kinsman, Wednesday, November 28, 2018
It's that time of year again. I bet your house is buzzing with activity,
just like mine. Thoughts of hosting out-of-town guests, throwing holiday
parties, cookie exchanges, and decorating the mantle has put me in complete
nesting mode!
Not surprisingly, my desire to
have a clean, welcoming home intensifies in November. Call me crazy, but there
is just something deeply satisfying when I step out of a just cleaned room that
sparkles and smells good.
New holiday scents from Mrs. Meyers at Grove Collaborative:
Help Maintain Your Blood Sugar Levels this Holiday Season
in #ad hydration, #FamilyCaregivingAtSC, blood sugar levels, drinks, holidays, nutrition, by Linda A Kinsman, Friday, November 16, 2018
This post is sponsored by Depend, Poise, Ensure, and Glucerna but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.
The countdown to the most wonderful time of the year has finally arrived! My fall and holiday baking season will truly begin now and requests for my family’s favorite pies, cobblers, loaves of bread and cookies coming in. I’ve already baked a Pumpkin Pie, brownies and a dozen cookies. While I love having sweet treats on hand, I want to be aware of my sugar intake and theirs. Some of my close family members had or have prediabetes and type 2 Diabetes, so I’ve learned the importance of being aware of your blood sugar levels throughout the day and how certain foods and drinks can help minimize blood sugar spikes now and throughout the holiday season.
Prep your holiday table linens with Biz Stain Fighter
in #AD, #Biz Ambassador, cleaning, holiday linens, homemaking, traditions, by Linda A Kinsman, Thursday, November 15, 2018
We are in the preliminary stages of planning our Thanksgiving day here and for me and my girls that means choosing which tablecloth and napkin set, we’ll use this year. We all have our favorites and it really won’t matter to me which ones we choose as long as they are clean and wrinkle-free. I love table linens and was fortunate enough to be gifted some vintage tablecloths from my Grandmother in Law and three handmade doilies from my Grandmother.
The fact that she crocheted these doilies herself make them even more special to me, so I decided early on to bring them out only during the holidays to preserve their beauty. Sadly, there was a staining mishap the last time I had them out. I didn’t realize there was a stain until the next day, so it set in and I was afraid it may never come out until I remembered, I’m a Biz Stain Fighter Ambassador! Read on to see how you can prep your holiday linens with Biz just like I did.
The fact that she crocheted these doilies herself make them even more special to me, so I decided early on to bring them out only during the holidays to preserve their beauty. Sadly, there was a staining mishap the last time I had them out. I didn’t realize there was a stain until the next day, so it set in and I was afraid it may never come out until I remembered, I’m a Biz Stain Fighter Ambassador! Read on to see how you can prep your holiday linens with Biz just like I did.
Serve this Parmigiano Reggiano cheese plate for any occasion
in #ad sides, #cheese, #ParmesanAmbassador, #ParmigianoReggiano, food, by Linda A Kinsman, Thursday, November 15, 2018
Long before I became a Parmesan Ambassador, I fell in love with the amazing taste and texture of the King of cheese. I absolutely love parmesan, but not all parmesan is true Parmigiano Reggiano. Read on to discover where true Parmigiano Reggiano cheese comes from, its ingredients and what to look for at your local store before buying. Plus, I’m sharing my super easy cheese plate idea that even kids will eat.
Parmigiano Reggiano cheese plate:
Wordless Wednesday: Birds of a Feather
in birds, FamilyLife, feathers Wordless Wednesday, Nashville, Zoo, by Linda A Kinsman, Wednesday, November 14, 2018
Prepare for cold and flu season by stocking up on essentials
in @lipton, #AD, #Kleenex, #Theraflu, cold, essentials @krogerco, FamilyLife, flu, prepare, by Linda A Kinsman, Tuesday, November 13, 2018
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias Inc., Kleenex, Lipton and Theraflu. All opinions are mine alone. #FluSeasonHacks #CollectiveBias
Wordless Wednesday: Night Lights
in bokehphotography, decor, homedecor, houses, illuminate, jackolanterns, lights, night, tree, wordless wednesday, by Linda A Kinsman, Wednesday, November 07, 2018
Happy November and Happy Friday my friends! October was such a beautiful month in my region of Tennessee that I’m still doing gardening chores outside, but the nights are starting to have that wonderful crisp November feel to them. That’s perfect book reading weather for me and I’ve just finished a really good book I want to share with you today. Since its Friday- I’m also giving away a copy of Good Better Best – The Rags to Riches story of the Upscale Resale Queen Sue McCarthy.
Cinnamon Banana Bread Recipe
in after school, baking, brunch, cinnamon banana bread, fall, Recipe, sides, snacks, by Linda A Kinsman, Tuesday, October 16, 2018
The temperatures are starting to fall here in middle Tennessee and I’m so ready for all things fall! This is a nesting season for me and lots of you I’m sure, which means I’ll be talking more about cleaning, cooking, decorating and baking! My oldest daughter was home for fall break this past weekend, and we had planned on baking pumpkin bread, so as I hurried through grocery shopping, I picked up a can of regular pumpkin. Or so I thought. Read on to see how this oops became a tasty recipe and a lot of fun!
Cinnamon Banana Bread:
Parenting our girls Then and Now
in #AD, #CPTC, #ThenAndNowKids, FamilyLife, help, parenting teens, resources, 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:
Make the switch to tree free sustainable paper products
in #AD, #grovepartner, cleaning, eco friendly, free products, paper products, sustainable, by Linda A Kinsman, Friday, October 05, 2018
Over the past few years, I've been working on transitioning my home to natural and environmentally friendly products. I love a clean and tidy home, and while I’m doing well with my cleaning products, there is one thing I've struggled with though, my continued use of paper products. Folks, not going to lie, I use a lot of paper towels and napkins! That's why I'm happy to partner with Grove Collabortive today to share a new eco-friendly product line with you.
Introducing: Seedling By Grove Collaborative
Yesterday found us at a family member’s home, enjoying family, the fantastic fall weather and of course, delicious food. The time for cookouts, corn mazes, pumpkins patches, hayrides, and bonfires has finally arrived! We are excited to dive into all the fun festivities, but I’ve learned from our previous cookouts and bonfires to expect lots of laundry stains. Don’t let laundry stains keep you from enjoying outdoor activities, simply use my secret weapon- Biz Stain Fighter!
This post is sponsored by Jigsaw Puzzle but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.
I got my love of Jigsaw puzzles from my Mom. I can remember coming home from school to find a puzzle in progress on our dining room table. My Mom would happily allow anyone who passed by the table to try adding a piece or two, as long as you followed her rules. It’s hard to say which I loved more, helping her lay out a brand new 1000 piece puzzle (corners first of course!), or helping her find the final piece. We had hours of fun together and now thanks to the Jigsaw Puzzle app I can take that fun with me and have fun anytime!
I got my love of Jigsaw puzzles from my Mom. I can remember coming home from school to find a puzzle in progress on our dining room table. My Mom would happily allow anyone who passed by the table to try adding a piece or two, as long as you followed her rules. It’s hard to say which I loved more, helping her lay out a brand new 1000 piece puzzle (corners first of course!), or helping her find the final piece. We had hours of fun together and now thanks to the Jigsaw Puzzle app I can take that fun with me and have fun anytime!
Little Women $25 Fandango movie ticket Giveaway: In theaters 9/28
in #AD, #LittleWomenL3, classic, entertainment, Little Women, movies, by Linda A Kinsman, Wednesday, September 26, 2018
Have you read Little Women? I did when I was a teen. It’s such a beloved classic. I am excited to see a modern day re-telling to help celebrate the 150th anniversary of Louisa May Alcott’s enduring story about family, love, hope, and sisterhood! I’m also excited to share this giveaway with you today. Read to see how you can win a $25 Fandango gift card to take you and maybe your sister to see Little Women.
Bathroom Baskets- A clever way to keep hygiene essentials on hand
in #AD, basket #FamilyCaregivingAtSC, bathroom, Caregiving, FamilyLife, hygiene essentials, by Linda A Kinsman, Saturday, September 22, 2018
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.
Wordless Wednesday- late summer nature finds
in Acorn, August, Garden, late summer, leaves, moth, seed pod, wildflowers, by Linda A Kinsman, Wednesday, September 19, 2018
Serve lunchtime smiles with Jif & Smuckers and Imagine If Contest
in #AD, contest, Imagine If, Jif, Smuckers, snacks, We are better together, by Linda A Kinsman, Wednesday, September 12, 2018
Eating Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch is as American as apple pie. I can remember picking out a different flavor of jam or jelly each week for my beloved PB&J’s. I was delighted when we found Jif peanut butter or Smuckers on sale that week because that meant my Mom would stock up on our favorite flavors. My go-to then and now is creamy Jif peanut butter with Smuckers Strawberry fruit spread. So, so good! I bet you have a favorite PB&J combo as well. I’m excited to be working with Jif and Smuckers today to share with you some new products and to let you know about the Imagine If with Jif Contest.
Send students back to school with a reusable notebook
in #AD, #GetRocketBook, back to school, eco, notebook, paper, reusable, students, tech, by Linda A Kinsman, Friday, September 07, 2018
By now, most kids across the country have either gone back to school or will be very shortly. While the kids get excited about a new school year, we parents may become a bit frazzled with all the necessary back to school supply shopping we must do. The supply lists seem to get longer and more costly each year, that’s why I’m so excited to share an innovated product with you today. Read on to see how you can send your students back to school with a reusable notebook too.
Healed by Grace 2- Ten Days of Grace Movie review & DVD's giveaway
in #AD, #HealedByGrace2L3 movie, faith, family, forgiveness, giveaway, horses, teens, by Linda A Kinsman, Friday, August 31, 2018
It’s the last Friday of the month and I couldn’t think of a better movie to talk about than the feel-good, family-friendly Healed by Grace 2. I wanted to review this movie today because I’m a mom of a teen daughter who loves horses like the main character does. While my girl has stopped asking for a pony for her birthday, I still found so many relatable scenes in this movie. If you love family-friendly movies about family, faith, forgiveness, and reconciliation, then please read on for my review and to enter our great giveaway for a DVD combo pack for Healed by Grace ( the original) and Healed by Grace 2 ( the sequel).
Keep toiletries organized when traveling with The Better Beauty Case
in #AD, beauty, case, family, organizing, toiletries, travel, by Linda A Kinsman, Wednesday, August 22, 2018
Last month we went on a wonderful family beach vacation where I got to try out this life-changing beauty case. You may be thinking, life-changing, really? I’m here to tell you, yes, it completely changed the way we packed and stored our toiletries for the better! I’ll never leave home without this roomy Better Beauty Case. Read on to learn how it can help you keep your toiletries organized when traveling.
The Better Beauty Case by Joy Mangano:
Wordless Wednesday: Summer Greens
in FamilyLife, greens, ocean, palm trees, summer, WordlessWednesday, by Linda A Kinsman, Wednesday, August 15, 2018
It’s that time of year again parents. The time we both dread and love- back to school time is here in middle Tennessee and in communities all around the south. This year will be a little easier for us with our oldest daughter since she will be a sophomore in college. We know better what to expect with her living on campus. We wanted to ensure she had cleaning drinking water when she moved into another dorm hall this year, and working with ZeroWater will ensure that.
Start your day off right with this hearty breakfast cereal
in @Cheerios, @SheSpeaksUp, @Walmart breakfast, #AD, #CheeriosOatCrunch, cereal, family, healthy, hearty, mealsandmains, by Linda A Kinsman, Tuesday, July 31, 2018
This post has been sponsored by SheSpeaks, Inc., General Mills, and Cheerios. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I’ve been trying to take better care of myself this summer by focusing on positive ways I can switch up my daily routine. I’ve been moving more, drinking more water and listening to my body when it says I need a break from work. These are all good ways to show myself some love and I’m feeling really good about my progress so far! I still need to work on eating breakfasts though. It’s a proven fact that a good way to start your day off right is with a hearty breakfast and I’m happy to share a new breakfast cereal I love and will eat most mornings!
How does one go about finding faith in ourselves or something bigger than ourselves? How do we step out in faith and believe in the whisper that some of us hear that says… do this instead of that? These questions and potentially finding the answers to my own nagging whisper had me happily agreeing to review a complimentary copy of The Hundred Story Home by Kathy Izard and to hosting a giveaway for 3 copies for you!
Abbott partnered with influencers such as me for its Ensure Program. As part of this Program, I received compensation for my time. Abbott/Ensure believes that consumers and influencers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. Abbott/Ensure policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.
This post is sponsored by Ensure®, but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle should be something we all strive for all year; and while I try to do my best most days, one look at me in last year’s swimsuit was enough to let me know I needed to revisit some of my healthy living habits. I’m not into fad diets, body shaming or negative self-talk, so my post today will focus on the positive actions I’ve taken in the past that have worked well. I think they will work for you too. Here are 3 ways to achieve your health goals this summer.
Have you ever washed off the day’s makeup only to find it isn’t rinsing off your washcloth? You rinse again, maybe try a little hand soap on the worse stains, but that waterproof mascara and stay forever lip gloss isn’t budging. With three ladies in the house removing makeup on the daily, it can become a hassle to pre-treat each and every washcloth, so I knew from the moment I became a Biz Ambassador that this was a stain challenge I wanted Biz to win! Here’s my simple to steps on getting makeup stains out of washcloths easily with Biz Stain Fighter.
Remove Makeup Stains:
Loving your hair in any season can be tricky, but when the temperatures rise and the great outdoors beckons, our relationship with our hair can become quite complicated. Depending on your hair type you may be trying to control frizz, add volume, combat dryness, keep your color longer, get your hair to grow, all why having fun in the sun. We all search for products to help us fix our most pressing hair concerns so when I was offered the opportunity to try 4 complimentary products I said yes, please!
Summer Hair Care Products Reviews:
Wordless Wednesday: Father's Day Dinner Ideas
in Celebrate, Father's Day, food, mealsandmains, WordlessWednesday, by Linda A Kinsman, Wednesday, June 13, 2018
Steps of Faith Movie review and DVD giveaway
in #AD, #StepsOfFaithL3, Christian, entertainment, faith, family movie night, horses, movies, by Linda A Kinsman, Thursday, June 07, 2018
Happy June my friends! Are you already in full summertime mode? We are here! We’ve been enjoying meals on the back deck are planning fun activities for this happy season. For us, summer means move family movie nights so I’m excited to share this movie review and giveaway with you today. Steps of Faith movie is perfect for all ages, making it a great addition to your movie collection.
Steps of Faith Movie:
Hello, my dear readers! It’s nice to be back with you after taking a few days off to celebrate my daughter’s successful completion of their freshman years at college and high school. We gearing up for a fun Memorial Day weekend, our unofficial start of summer and can’t wait to share all sorts of fun posts with you! First, though, I must share with you our updated privacy policy so that My WAHM Plan complies with the GDPR.
The warm spring days that feel more like summer have arrived in middle Tennessee. With our crazy cooler than average April temps, it is a welcome feeling to be wearing flip-flops instead of layers! My family and I are so ready to start spending our evenings outside. Unfortunately, warmer weather has brought out a legion of flying bugs and pests. Thanks to today’s sponsor, DynaTrap, I have a safer way to trap pests both inside and out this summer.
I love receiving homemade gifts any time of year, but most especially on Mother’s Day. We are a family of traditions and one that I adore is having the kids serve me breakfast they made themselves. When they were little, Daddy helped of course; but as they got older they wanted to take on more of the responsibility. I’ve been served everything from toast with jam to chocolate covered strawberries. I know my daughters would love whipping up this simple Blueberry loaf recipe from celeb chef Zipora Einav for me. Baked goods make a perfect Mother’s Day gift!
Blueberry Loaf - a perfect homemade Mother’s Day gift:
Christie Brinkley Authentic Beauty Products make perfect Mother’s Day Gifts
in #AD, beauty, eyeshadow, gifts, highlighter, lipstick, makeup, Mascara, Mother's Day, by Linda A Kinsman, Wednesday, May 02, 2018
Coming of age in the 80’s like I did, it was hard not to see and want to be more like Christie Brinkley. The woman was everywhere! She graced over 200 magazine covers, most notably for fashion, beauty, and swimsuits. It comes as no surprise to me that at 63, Christie is still active in these industries. In February, Christie added prestige color cosmetics to her Authentic Beauty line and as fate would have it; I finally get to be more like Christie when I received some of her Authentic Beauty products to share with you today. I think they would make perfect Mother’s Day Gifts!
Wordless Wednesday: Drive thru downtown Nashville
in Batman Building, Demos, downtown, horse carriage ride, Johnny Cash, Musician Hall of Fame, Nashville, TN, Union Station, by Linda A Kinsman, Wednesday, April 25, 2018
Find Paid Blogging Jobs with Get Blogged
in #AD, blogging, GetBlogged, Influencer, jobs, paid, wahmtips, by Linda A Kinsman, Monday, April 16, 2018
Are you a blogger looking for a more paid blogging jobs? I was when I recently read a referral post from a blogging buddy that introduced me to a brand new company called Get Blogged. I visited their site and liked what I saw. They offer paid writing jobs at every blogging level, depending on your domain authority first, rather than your social stats! I signed up and within one week, I received my first paid job! In fact, this introduction post is it. Read on if you would like an in-depth look into Get Blogged.
Last Saturday was a date day for the husband and me. We got invited to try a new to us pub in the heart of downtown Nashville in SoBro (South of Broadway) as it’s called locally. We’ve been working hard and haven’t been downtown in months, so this date was special. If you and your significant other need a day a day date too, read on! Come along with me as I show you how fun and tasty it is to eat and do a little day drinking at City Tap House in Nashville.
Welcome to City Tap House Nashville:
For many of us across the United States, it may still look and feel like winter with snow on the ground. Even here in the south, I’m covering my Clematis and Peony bushes while praying that we will see our last freeze or frost warning of the season soon. Our fickle spring weather may be keeping us from working in our gardens, but we can use this time to get our gardening tools in order. It’s time to clean those shovels and trowels and replace any worn tools. Here in my garden, I’m starting the growing season with a new garden hose nozzle sprayer from Gardenite.
Gardenite Garden Nozzle Hand Sprayer:
Healed- Health and Wellness for the 21st Century book review & giveaway
in #AD, 21st Century, book review, giveaways, Healed, health, wellness, by Linda A Kinsman, Friday, April 06, 2018
If you were to read a headline that announced a way to ditch the pharmacies and toxins and get “healed” the right way, would you be intrigued? I know I was when that very subject line appeared in my inbox a few weeks ago. I was offered a complimentary copy of Healed- Health and Wellness for the 21st Century written by integrative medicine expert Dr. Robin Miller and I’m so glad I accepted that offer. Not only am I learning how to heal of host of ailments for myself, family and friends, I’m able to gift one of you with your own copy.