Spring is here! Spring is here! It’s the best time of the year! Those of us who love digging in the dirt have been waiting anxiously for planting time. We’ve dreamed of warmer days for months.
We’ve poured over seed catalogs, visited our favorite websites and sketched up our gardens and flower beds and got out our tools. Some of us who got warm weather last week have even bought some plants in preparation for our gardening season.
![]() |
Courtesy: USDA
2012 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is the
standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which plants are most
likely to thrive at a location. The map is based on the average annual minimum
winter temperature, divided into 10-degree F zones.
It's easy to check your zone: go HERE, type in your zip code and/or state to see your personalized map. This site puts my hardiness zone as a 7 as seen on the above map. |
This site puts me in a
zone 6.
What does this mean to
me? I’m going to follow both guidelines and ask lots of questions at my local
nursery if I fall in love with a plant I have not personally worked with
before.
What plants are you looking
forward to growing this year? My yen this year is Hollyhocks, Sunflowers. My
new addition, which according to my ever helpful Better Homes and Gardens
regional planting guide says will grow splendidly here, is Fleabane.
![]() |
Courtesy: B.H.G.com |
Fleabane Description and growing Information:
This tall wildflower
produces tiny, daisy-like flowers in great clouds in late summer into early
fall. It is often mistaken for an aster, but is easier to grow and isn't
plagued by fungal problems. Plants start blooming in midsummer and often
continue blooming until fall. The native forms are seldom grown in the garden
because they can be weedy, though they're great for naturalized areas and
prairie or meadow plantings. However, many well-behaved, beautiful hybrids are
available. All are beautiful when cut in big sprays and arranged in a vase.
Light:
Sun
Zones:
3-9
Plant Type:
Perennial
Plant Height:
18-30
inches tall
Plant Width:
18-24
inches wide
Landscape Uses:
Containers,Beds
& Borders
Special Features:
Flowers,
Cut Flowers, Attracts Butterflies, Drought Tolerant, Easy to Grow.
Isn't Fleabane pretty? If you have had experience with this plant, please let me know in the comments and happy spring!
Isn't Fleabane pretty? If you have had experience with this plant, please let me know in the comments and happy spring!
I have always enjoyed Dole fruit products, so I was
expecting good quality and great taste when I gave Dole Fruit Parfaits a try
recently. What I wasn't prepared for was the stick my finger in the cup to get
every last drop of goodness out taste!
Readers, be warned: you will want to stock up on all three flavors of the Dole Fruit Parfaits. At just $2.79 per 4 cup package, it won’t break your budget to do so.
Readers, be warned: you will want to stock up on all three flavors of the Dole Fruit Parfaits. At just $2.79 per 4 cup package, it won’t break your budget to do so.
![]() |
Courtesy: www.Dole.com |
About Dole Fruit Parfaits:
Dole Fruit Parfaits are available in three flavors:
Pineapple and Crème, Apples and Crème, Peaches and Crème. Each parfait package
contains 4 grab and go clear cups with easy peel off lids (so your kids can
open them by themselves). This is a plus for me because some fruit cups lids
are hard to open, leading to big messes, even for my bigger kids.
Another plus is that Dole Fruit Parfaits contain all natural
fruit with Vitamin C, are low in fat and sodium and cholesterol free.
And they score high marks on keeping calories
low. The Peaches and Crème cup and the Pineapple and Crème cup have 120
calories per serving and the Apples and Crème has 130 calories per
serving. Please visit www.dole.com for more information.
Here's what the Peaches and Creme Looks like:
![]() |
Cup before mixing |
![]() |
Cup after mixing |
My Review:
I love them! My kids love them! My husband loves them!
Seriously. I have never been able to give a 4 point Love to a product before
here on My WAHM Plan, but these fruit Parfaits deserve it.
We have tried all 3 flavors and found them to be a
refreshing treat. None of us had a clear favorite. All 3 flavors will be bought
again!
The fruit is naturally sweet,
like we have come to expect with Dole fruit and the crème is light-tasting, not
heavy. You can serve these parfaits room
temperature, cold, or add them to warm cereals like oatmeal for a quick and
easy way to dress up a morning staple.
Dole Fruit Parfaits are a snack we can feel good about
giving our whole family.
I highly recommend this product.
You can learn more about Dole Fruit Parfaits by visiting
their website HERE, liking them on Facebook and following them on Twitter.
I hope you found this review helpful. Do you have a favorite Dole Fruit product? Please share!
Disclosure I am part of the Mom It Forward blogger network. Mom
It Forward and DOLE partnered in support of this campaign. DOLE compensated me for participation in this campaign.
However, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
365 Days of Mickey Sweepstakes by Pixie Vacations
in # Walt Disney World, 365 days, Mickey, of, Pixie, sweepstakes, Vacations, by Linda A Kinsman, Monday, March 18, 2013
Just saying Mickey is somehow magical isn't it? What if you could win some Mickey magic? Well, thanks to Pixie Vacations you just may be a winner!
![]() |
Courtesy: Pixie Vacations |
About the 365 Days of Mickey Sweepstakes by Pixie Vacations:
Each week for the rest of 2013 one lucky winner will be drawn for a Magical Mickey. This is not an ordinary Mickey, each Mickey Mouse plush has a little extra magic!
The Prize:
One lucky winner of one of these 52 magical Mickeys will win a Four Day, Three Night stay at the Walt Disney World Resort with Four Days of Disney Park Admission for up to four adults. Now that is magical!
Enter To Win HERE!
About Pixie Vacations:
Pixie Vacations is owned and operated by Steve and Lisa, past Disney Cast members. They are Free to use and will help you every step of the way. If you are planning a trip to Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and Disney Cruise, or an Adventures by Disney Vacation, they will create the best Disney vacation package for you at the lowest possible price. Please take a minute to review all that Pixie Vacations offer before you book by clicking HERE.
Every week in 2013 Pixie Vacations® will be giving away prizes and magical surprises so be sure to return and enter weekly.
Also be sure to take advantage of the latest Disney Vacation Packages at Pixie Vacations and read some of their client testimonials HERE.
I would love to take advantage of their 4th of July at Walt Disney World Vacation Package Savings.
![]() |
Courtesy: Pixie Vacations |
From Pixie Vacations: "Book a Disney Vacation
Package for 5 nights / 6 days at select Disney, Value, Moderate, or Deluxe
Resorts and get a FREE Disney Water Park or DisneyQuest Ticket for each person in your
party.
Enjoy
Independence Week at Walt Disney World:
It’s red, white and blue as Disney Parks salutes America with a 4th of July
Fireworks Party — for an entire week, with patriotic lighting bathing the
Cinderella’s Castle. Mickey Mouse appears in his patriotic finest and you will
find special USA shirts, Ear Hats and other limited-edition souvenirs available
to purchase."
Booking
Window: 8/10/12 –
6/01/13
Travel Window: 7/1 – 7/8/13
Travel Window: 7/1 – 7/8/13
![]() |
Courtesy: Pixie Vacations |
As you can see, there is a wealth of information and prize winning potential at Pixie Vacations.
I hope you found this post helpful as you plan your next dream vacation.
Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post. As part of the USFG team, I was happy to help spread the word about this sweepstake. I may be eligible to win a prize for my participation.
There were several goals set and met here on my WAHM Plan this week.
![]() |
Courtesy:photos.com |
Mission Giveaway is a group of bloggers that like to give back, pay it forward and work as a team. I an honored to be a part of this amazing group, which leads me to my weekly round up.
I would like to introduce you to the bloggers I got to know this week via Mission Giveaway. They helped, supported, made me laugh, and provided me with food for thought on their posts. I hope you will take a minute and visit them.
Meet my new friends:
- Dina at My Unentitled Life has easy $5 or Less Easter Decorations that look fun to make.
- Check out Donna's re-make of Shamrock Pretzels over at Donna's Deals and More.
- Katrina at Enchanted Savings has a great re-make of Homemade Fish Sticks that I can't wait to try.
- Try out this Lemon-Lime Cupcakes recipe for St. Patrick's Day from Amber over at Living At The Whiteheads Zoo.
- Megan at Meg's Moxie shared an exercise option not to be missed free exercise options without leaving the house.
And as I said earlier, I was a busy bee here as well. Check out Kroger's Cart Buster Event to save today! My Pin It To Win it giveaway is underway! And before you leave to visit my friends, take a minute to meet Rusty Mechanism he is a recycled marvel!
I love meeting new bloggers and reading their take on all sorts of subjects. I would love to meet you (and add you to my weekly roundups), so please leave me a comment.
Kroger’s Cart Buster Savings Event Ends Soon
in #CGC, #SelectYourDeal, #spon, Cart Buster, event, http://clvr.li/WnCUVJ, Kroger's, savings, by Linda A Kinsman, Friday, March 15, 2013
Courtesy: Kroger |
Have you been shopping and saving this week during Kroger’s Cart Buster Savings event? I have gotten to take advantage of some really awesome deals. Don’t worry if you haven’t done your shopping just yet, there is still time! But not much: These deals go away on March 16th!
There are hundreds of products on sale throughout the store. Kroger always clearly marks sale items so you can shop more efficiently. During Kroger’s Cart Buster Savings event, you’ll find deals on Tide, Pampers, Bounty, Gatorade and many other favorites from P & G and Pepsi.
For a complete list of brands on sale, click HERE . Once you've looked over participating brands, set aside some time make your shopping list and organize your coupons. Your wallet will thank you.
For a complete list of brands on sale, click HERE . Once you've looked over participating brands, set aside some time make your shopping list and organize your coupons. Your wallet will thank you.
On Monday, I was able to stock up and save on Bounty paper towels and Tropicana orange juice. With Spring Break right around the corner for my kids, today I will stock up on some of their favorites like Tostitos and Gatorade.
I am planning ahead because I know there will be at least one sleep over in my future, so I want to save on these items that seem to evaporate around kids. I will also replenish our Pantene shampoo and conditioner supply during this savings event.
I am planning ahead because I know there will be at least one sleep over in my future, so I want to save on these items that seem to evaporate around kids. I will also replenish our Pantene shampoo and conditioner supply during this savings event.
Another fun element to Kroger’s Cart Buster Savings event is the Select Your Deal option.
![]() |
Courtesy: Kroger |
This is an easy and fun way to save even more! Head on over HERE today March, 15th, sign in to your Kroger account (you must have a Kroger.com account and sign in to get the coupons). Once you are signed in, Kroger will generate 3 random coupons for you to choose from. Then you just select your deal and it will be loaded onto your Kroger shopper card. This is a super easy way to really save on items. Today is the final day to take advantage of the Select Your Deal coupons.
I went first thing this morning and selected a $ 2.00 off Crest 3D White toothpaste!
![]() |
Courtesy: Kroger |
Since these are randomly selected deals, your deals will probably be different, but with products such as Tropicana orange juice, Secret deodorant, Pantene, DiGiorno pizza and more; I’m sure you will be served up a can’t miss deal.
I hope you will be able to shop and save during Kroger's Cart Buster Savings event.
What item do you plan to stock up on this week?
Disclosure: I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.