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


The excitement for the most wonderful day of the year is building all around my home. We’re busy wrapping gifts, mailing last minute cards and packages, baking more cookies and making memories along the way. This is such a happy time of year! Since this will be my last post before Christmas, I couldn’t think of a better way to say thank you for another great year, than hosting a giveaway for Yippee, a new streaming service for families. More info about the Yippee prize pack below.


Yippee has VeggieTales Christmas!

Yippee has VeggieTales Christmas #ad

Six ways to Give on Giving Tuesday

in , , , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Tuesday, December 03, 2019

Happy December!  It is a frosty morning here south of Nashville, TN. And I’m warm and toasty in my cozy home office. I know there are many, right here in my county that aren’t as fortunate. That’s top of mind as I put together this post for Giving Tuesday. This year I’m going to continue to help where I live. To that end, I’m donating food, toys, clothes, books, diapers, anything I can to help local community outreach programs and non profits. If you’d like to help out in your community and need some ideas on where to get started, read on for Six ways you can give on Giving Tuesday.



It's #GivingTuesday 2019



Recently my family and I enjoyed an evening full of holiday magic at the second annual Franktown Festival of Lights. I love the holidays and supporting local businesses and charities, so when the invitation to attend the media night right here in Franklin, TN., I happily said yes and started moving things around on my planner. I am so glad I did because we all enjoyed the Family Fun at Franktown Festival of Lights! If you are ready to get into the holiday spirit and can make the drive to Franklin, TN. Then read on to learn all about the Franktown Festival of lights.


Peace on Earth light display at Franktown Festival of lights #ad

The Tony Evans Study Bible review and Giveaway

in , , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Friday, November 22, 2019

I know I don’t need to remind any of you that it’s Friday after this crazy busy week. I’ve heard this refrain from everybody this week. Life before a major holiday is B.U.S.Y.! Which is why I thought to today would be a great time to share The Tony Evans Study Bible giveaway. You know how I love hosting giveaways anytime of year; but during the season of giving, I want to give you more chances to win great gifts and this beautiful study bible is a perfect gift idea.



Tony Evans Study Bible #giveaway #ad


I’m delighted to be working with two local companies today, both of which are small businesses just like me. As we head into the holiday season, I feel it is more important than ever to support local and small businesses whenever possible, so I’m thrilled to bring you a superbly scented opportunity to win a Holiday Candle Sampler 3 piece set from Amber Vale Home in partnership with a local digital company, Lev3l Digital. My love of candles keeps growing now that I’ve has an opportunity to try these delightful wood wick candles. Read on to learn all about them and the company that makes them and enter the Amber Vale Holiday Candle set giveaway too.

Holiday Candle Trio:



Amber Vale Holiday Candle set review & giveaway #ad

This may come as a surprise to some of you, but I love going to Home Depot! Especially with my husband. He knows all the local stores layouts like the back of his hand and can spot of great deal from a mile away. He waits for big ticket items like power tools to go on sale, much like I await furniture and home goods sales. Case in point, just last night, we were at Home Depot to purchase a new air compressor that was a pre-black Friday deal. While there, I started taking mental notes of other tools he was wishing he had. If shopping at Home Depot is on your radar this holiday season, my three tips to make the most of Black Friday shopping at The  Home Depot is for you.


Three tips to make the most of Black Friday shopping at Home Depot #ad


Middle Tennessee got down- right cold last night, bottoming out at 30. It will get down to 23 tonight, which means my outdoor gardening days are done for another season. I will miss my flowers and greenery until next growing season. I won’t fret too much since I have the perfect chilly night companion- ©The Leaf Supply Guide to creating your Indoor jungle book by Lauren Camilleri and Sophia Kaplan.  If you love houseplants and consider them a necessary part of your home’s decor, then read on to discover all the beautiful rooms and design ideas shared in this book. Plus, because I ladore my readers,  I’m hosting a giveaway too!



Indoor jungle book review & Giveaway


Have you ever been scrolling through your Instagram or Twitter feed and saw a beautiful aerial photo and wondered what type of equipment was necessary to capture that amazing shot? More often than not, the photographer used a drone. Drones are becoming fairly common in our lives these days with a host of professionals and hobbyists utilizing them. From wedding photographers to real estate agents, to everyday people like you and me; it seems the sky really is the limit on what a drone can help us capture. Today, I’d love to introduce you the DJ1 Mavic Mini Drone. This is an affordable option to help you create vivid aerial shots too.

DJ1 Mavic Mini Drone #ad




Happy Halloween and Merry Christmas! I have never had the opportunity to meld these two holidays together before, but I had to share this feel good movie before it opens in theaters Monday! I just finished watching the screener provided to me by Lev3l Digital as part of their blogger program and I in the merriest of moods! Are you ready for the holidays? Then read on to learn all about this family friendly movie and how you can win it on DVD.



                         Christmas Jars Movie #ad #giveaway


With Halloween one day away, I am honestly shaking my head and asking where to did October go? I blinked and it was fall break, I blinked again and boom- October is coming to a close! I can’t let the 31st roll on by without telling you about a great giveaway hosted by Keystone Meats, today’s post sponsor as part of the National Cookbook recipe month. Yep! It’s a thing and it is this month.  So, without further ado, I want to share all the great details of the giveaway and my easy weeknight dinner recipe; Chicken Ravioli bake. It turned out so good, my family ask for it two nights in a row!

Chicken Ravioli bake:


Chicken Ravioli Bake Recipe

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


Summer has finally faded into fall here in middle Tennessee! We are getting much needed rain, and we’ve really settled into our fall school/work/family time schedules. We love cozying up at night with a cup of hot cocoa or tea and a sweet treat to watch one of our favorite Fall shows together. I really enjoy baking for my family, but on those rare occasions I’m caught without a goodie for dessert, I love serving S’mores. You may remember my summer post introducing Stuffed Puffs. Today, I’m excited to share their S’mores Kits, which makes it so easy to enjoy S’mores indoors now and all year round.


S'mores Please! 


Enjoy S'mores Indoors #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


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



The fall decorating season is here and even though I’m in the midst of a major home renovation in much of my home and can’t go “all in” like I normally would, I can still greet Autumn with a few new decor pieces interspersed here and there. I always change out pillows, blankets, linens and candles this time of year as I’m sure most of you do; but this year I’m adding a fun new piece to our home- a beautiful metal photo print from Canvasdiscount.com. Have you shopped with them? This is my first experience with them and I’m so impressed! Read on for my review and grab a freebie!

Sunrise Photo:


Metal Photo Print #ad

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

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

We welcomed September in with a heat wave here in middle Tennessee, so instead of thinking all things “fall” this weekend, I was sipping on a crazy good Cold Brew iced coffee to cool off a bit. If you aren’t quite ready to say goodbye to summer either, this copycat Panera Vanilla cold brew coffee recipe is for you! Making it is so simple with just 6 ingredients! You may have everything you need on hand already. My thanks to today’s sponsor, Torani for providing the sweet vanilla goodness this recipe needs.



Cold Brew Goodness:



 Copycat Panera Vanilla #ToraniColdBrew Iced Coffee #recipe #ad



Do you have a student entering or returning to college this year? Our oldest daughter recently returned to Lipscomb University here in Nashville for her junior year. We love Lipscomb for a host of reasons and feel it's a great fit for our daughter and us, expect for parking! Nashville’s not a huge city yet, but it is growing by leaps and bounds, with an average of 100 people moving here per day. Our once quaint suburban streets where most local colleges are located, simply aren’t equipped to handle the traffic. Parking and getting to class on time is especially tricky at Lipscomb! I’m hoping they will implement a new policy allowing scooters on campus soon. I daresay parking and getting to class on time is a top concern for college students across America, which is why I think the Jetson Quest Electric Scooter would be a perfect way for college students to get around campus easily. 



Cool Scooter Alert! @ridejetson, #ad, @BestBuy


It’s another hot and sultry day here in middle Tennessee where I’m fortunate enough to be working inside with the gentle breeze from my ceiling fan assisting my overworked AC to keep our home cool. Soon enough though, I’ll be stepping outside to run after school errands with my daughter to get more necessary back to school class supplies. We’ll both “power through” our multiple store shopping trip until dinner time easily because we can fuel our day with a chilled Vanilla Huel, a complete food drink. I’d love to introduce you to this fast-growing nutrition brand today, so read on to learn about Huel and my thoughts on their products.



Fuel for busy days:



#ad Huel Vanilla drink

Avon Summer Romance Giveaway

in , , , , , , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Friday, August 09, 2019

Hello and happy Friday! Today was the first half day back at school for my youngest, who is a junior in high school. Agghh! How did we get this far down the road? To celebrate this milestone, and because it’s Friday; I wanted to share a nice giveaway from my other “job” as an Avon Representative. Every month Avon hosts a giveaway for anyone to enter. Whether you are a customer or a Rep. all everyone is welcome to enter if you are 18+ and live in the United States. 


Summer Romance:




Summer Romance Giveaway hosted by Avon #AvonRep


Happy Friday Eve everyone! Some of you reading this may know I love hosting giveaways that start on Fridays, but this giveaway is so cool, it simply can’t wait until tomorrow to share. I’m so happy to be working with an ultra-cool brand today, Jord Watches! I’ve had my eye on a few of their watches, so it is with great pleasure I share with you my first Jord watch with you today and tell you about a great giveaway I’m hosting over on Instagram that I’m sure you’ll want to enter so you too can add effortless style to your wardrobe with Jord Watches!


 Add Effortless Style:


Stylish Cassia Jord Watch in Walnut and Vintage Rose #ad


Wordless Wednesday: Midsummer Blooms

in , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Wednesday, July 17, 2019


Rose of Sharon bloom with raindrops



When was the last time you tried a pork rind? I’ll admit that pork rinds aren’t my favorite crunchy snack option, but since my husband loves snacking on a quality pork rind occasionally, I’ve acquired a taste for them. Sadly, not all pork rinds are created equally, and over the years we’ve tasted a few lack luster pork rinds. Imagine my delight when I was asked if I would like to try Southern Recipe Small Batch pork rinds. Southern Recipe? Small Batch? I’m in! They were kind enough to send me a complimentary snack bags of two of their tasty flavors that I’d like to share with you today. They are running a really fun summer snack packing giveaway too! Details below.



Southern Recipe Small Batch pork rinds #ad



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 Friday, the twenty-first is the official start to summer! Yay - (again ) since most of us with kids in school had the unofficial start of summer over Memorial Day weekend. Now that summer is really “officially” here; it’s time for more BBQ’s, pool days, camping, potlucks and bonfires. The one thing all of these fun summer activities have in common is good food and nothing says summer more than happy people with sticky fingers from their Smores.  If you and your family love Smores too, why not kick off summer with Stuffed Puffs? 

Smores! 


Kick off summer with a new take on Smores #ad

He Reads Truth Bible Giveaway

in , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Friday, June 14, 2019

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Lev3L Digital. I received information to facilitate today’s post as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation. 



Happy Friday friends! I think June has grown wings around here, because it is just flying by! If your days are zooming past too, you may still be on the hunt for a perfect Father’s Day gift idea, and I’ve got you covered. Be sure to check out my three smart gift ideas post here and today I’m adding one more (which would arrive a little belatedly due to the giveaway length) thanks to my partnership with Lev3L Digital. As a blog partner, I’m honored to be able to host this special giveaway today. 

 Bible giveaway #ad #HeReadsTruthL3

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


This is a sponsored post on behalf of Smile Health Dental Plans. I received information to facilitate today’s post as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation. 


I’m smiling while I type this because it’s Friday! Not just any Friday, it’s the Friday that kicks off the long Memorial Day weekend; helps me celebrate another amazing year on this planet and kicks off summer around here! There are so many good reasons to smile today! Another reason I’m smiling is I’ve partnered with Smile Health Dental Plans to share their eight tips to save your smile and your life. Plus, because it’s Friday and I want you to smile too, I’m hosting a giveaway for a Your Smile Health = Your Body Health Care Kit below.


Your Smile Health = Your Body Health Care Kit #giveaway #ad


It’s Friday and I have got to say, this week has been a bear. Between late nights, early mornings and crazy busy family schedules, this lady right here has been running on coffee; lots of coffee. In fact, I have a new coffee obsession I want to share with you today- Steeped Coffee! I’m sharing all the details on the company, Steeped Coffee, and the brewing method. Plus since it’s Friday and I know you love coffee too, there is a giveaway!


Enjoy Specialty Coffee anytime with Steeped Coffee #ad

This post was sponsored by Grove Collaborative as part of their affiliate program. The opinions are completely my own based on my experience.



Happy May! Spring is in full swing here in middle Tennessee with budding trees and riots of flowers dotting the landscape, including my flower beds. My Peonies and just gorgeous this year and I’m itching to be out in my garden more and more. With the days are getting longer, each week seems to be packed with more and more activities than the last. Before we know it, another school year will come to a close and we will be swept up into the busy summer season! Now is the perfect time for me to introduce you to the convenience of Grove Collaborative. They are a lifesaver and make my spring cleaning easy and eco-friendly!  I no longer waste time going to the store because I can get amazing products delivered right to my door and so can you.

Spring Is Here: 



In my garden Peonies after the rain

This post is sponsored by Dawn but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.


Everybody has their go-to pair of shoes. You know, the super comfortable, cute ones that just fit their personality and lifestyle. For me, that means more often than not, you’ll find me wearing sneakers. Like most people I know, I own multiple styles and types of sneakers I wear for different tasks. With the exception of my gardening sneaks, I care about how they look and try to keep them as clean as possible; especially if they are whited soled. I’ve recently discovered a cool cleaning hack where I can clean my favorite white soled sneakers quickly in less than 15 minutes with no drying time needed.

Cleaning Hack:



How to clean white soled sneakers quickly #ad #DawnatSamsClub


The beautiful spring weather has me opening windows and dreaming of the weekend on this fine May morning. I love this time year when the landscape is dotted with green fields and blooms around every corner. I’m ready for a long Sunday drive where I can feel fresh air on my face and the heavenly springtime scent surrounds me. Do you love spring drives too? Then this candle from Goose Creek Candles just may be the perfect candle for you! I'm an ambassador with Goose Creek this year, so to learn more about the company, please read my introductory post here



Goose Creek Candle Sunday Drive review #brandambassador #ad



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

If you have kids in elementary school or younger, you’ve probably been preparing for the Easter bunnies arrival for days now. Lines from the song Here Comes Peter Cottontail are on repeat in your brain. Sing along- here comes Peter Cottontail, hopping down the bunny trail, hippity, hoppity, Easter’s on its way! You’re welcome for that, and there’s plenty more Easter fun in this post as I share six fun ways to have an epic Easter, explain some traditions like why we dye eggs and more. Plus, we have a giveaway!

Happy Easter:



Score! Easter Egg Hunt in progress. #EasterTraditions #CatholicCentral #ad


Disclosure: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment provided me with a Blu-ray™ Combo Pack & DVD movie pack to facilitate this post. The opinions I share are my own.


If you are a Nancy Drew fan, you are going to love today’s post!  Mystery has met its match because the iconic mystery solving teenager from the classic Nancy Drew books is back with an all-new feature length film that will keep you guessing until the very end! I was happy to give away a Nancy Drew movie swag pack last month and I’ve partnered with Warner Bros. Home Entertainment for another giveaway! Read on to learn my thoughts on the movie and to enter.


Nancy Drew and the hidden Staircase Blu-ray/DVD/Digital movie giveaway #ad


When my husband and I moved to Nashville in the 90’s, downtown was a full on, old school country music scene. From the honky-tonks, Printer’s Alley and record label headquarters, it really was country. Today, you won't see the long gone Hard Rock Cafe and Fuddruckers of the 90's, you'll see high rises and construction sites and traffic!  To say Music City has changed in an understatement. Nashville has grown, and continues to grow at such an alarming pace that even locals like us need help navigating our day trips into Nashville, so today I’m sharing a new to me guide called Do615, this website is a fun way to make the most of a Nashville trip whether you have a day or a week.

Printers Alley 2014:


Nashville's Printers Alley 2014

We’ve all been there. We put on our favorite pair of sunglasses and notice one arm feels lose. We tell ourselves we will tighten up the hinge or screw when we get done doing the thing we put our sunglasses on to do, but truth is, most of us will simply forget to do that until we lose the screw! Today, I’m sharing an easy hack to replace lost sunglasses or any eyeglass screws in under three minutes, thanks to my partnership with SnapIt. And because it’s Friday, we’ve got a giveaway for you too!

Sunglasses Hack:


Easy Sunglasses hack to replace lost screws #ad #giveaway


Disclosure: Catholic Central provided me with product in giveaway to facilitate this post. The opinions I share are my own.

At this time of year, we all become a wee bit Irish (or more Irish!) we bring on all things green! We start looking for leprechauns, pots of gold at the end of each rainbow, and four leaf clovers too.  Even though I’m Scottish, I still feel a certain pull towards Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland and all the wonderful ways to celebrate the day. Much like Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of our summer here at casa Kinsman, St. Patrick’s Day is our unofficial start of spring. We have a wonderful Shamrockin’ St. Patrick’s Day and want you to as well, so read on for five ways to celebrate the day and win a Saint Patrick's Day Feast Kit!

Shamrockin' St. Patrick's Day:


Jade plant the perfect green for St. Patrick's Day


Disclosure: Warner Bros. provided me with a swag pack to facilitate this post. The opinions I share are my own.


Did you fancy yourself a super sleuth as a teen? My friends and I sure did back in the day, thanks in large part to our love of Nancy Drew books! Nancy showed us that girls could be just as good as boys at solving mysteries. Did I just call out the Hardy Boys? Maybe, just a little. If you love a good mystery, and really, who doesn’t?; you are going to love the new live action Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase movie coming to theaters March 15, 2019. The iconic mystery solving teenager from the classic Nancy Drew books is back with an all-new feature length film that will keep you guessing until the very end! 



Meet the New Nancy Drew:


Sophia Lillis is  #NancyDrew in #TheHiddenStaircase #movie #giveaway #ad


I can’t think of a better way to kick off March and the weekend than with a little celebration of all the great women who walked before me so that I can enjoy all the wonderful opportunities women have today. In many areas, there’s still plenty of work to do for women’s rights and equality, but I tend to look for the positive in all areas of my life, so on March, 8, 2019, I will stand with women all around the world with open minded optimism. Read on to see how you can get involved with my five easy take action ideas.

The Face of a Happy Work At Home Mom:


Selfie with smile for #BalanceForBetter #IWDNash2019 #IgniteYourLightNashville


Happy March and happy Friday! It’s the 60th day of the year and only 20 days until spring begins, so you may be thinking it’s too late in the year to start a new planner, but I say every single day is a fresh, new opportunity to move forward toward your goals! I was recently invited to review the 2019 Inkberry planner and host a giveaway for you today. I can’t think of a better way to help you stay organized and productive all year by offering you a chance to win an Inkberry Planner.

Stay organized and productive:



 Stay Organized and productive 2019 Inkberry Planner

Wordless Wednesday: February Flowers

in , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Wednesday, February 27, 2019
February Flowers Daffodils



Happy Friday friends! As I sit down to write this fun post, I realized that this is the last weekend we have before Valentine’s Day and I’m feeling a little behind in my preparations. Now, let me state right here at the beginning of my post that I don’t decorate our home for this celebration like I used to when the kids were little, so that makes things a little easier, but I still have shopping to do for my husband and teen daughters. We always include them in our Valentine’s Day celebrations to show them extra love and besides, I think that’s what Saint Valentine, the patron of love, young people and happy marriage wants us to do. Read on for tips to rock this Valentine’s Day and enter to win a fabulous St. Valentine Love Kit.


10 Tips to Rock St. Valentine's at home Red Rose #ad

Happy Friday my friends and welcome to my first giveaway of 2019. Hosting giveaways is something I truly love doing and today’s giveaway is simply perfect for the new year- a newly released bible that puts a fresh spin on how we interact with the bible in our daily lives. I think you’ll like it as much as I do, so read on to learn more, read my review and of course, enter the giveaway!


Day by Day Chronological Bible Giveaway #ad #csbBibleL3

Wordless Wednesday: Sunset drives

in , , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Wednesday, January 09, 2019

Here's our first Wordless Wednesday of 2019. I'm sharing my attempts to capture the sunset as we drive. My husband isn't going to pull over so I can snap a perfect pic, so these are candid shots from my passenger seat.


Wordless Wednesday: Sunset drives




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