Helpful Homemaking- New uses for your Lint Roller

in , , , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Friday, November 08, 2013

Picture the scene if you will- company is coming, you've cleaned the house, got changed into your company clothes and are ready to welcome guests when you notice your cat has been cleaning herself on the couch- again. It's not the cats fault, you allowed it... but company is coming! So do what I do. Break out your lint roller!


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This is how it works here, your methods may vary from mine:

1. Get out lint roller- make sure you've got a clean strip.
2. Move the cat off the couch. Pet the Cat.
3. Lint Roller the Cat. I kid you not, my cat loves this preferring it over brushing. And it works!

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4. Marvel at how well the lint roller works on grooming your cat.
5. Throw away gross lint roller strip. 
6. Clean the couch, then the lamp shade of free flying cat hair with clean strip.
7. Check time. 
8. Continue chasing errant cat hairs... until...

You notice the wooden blinds behind the couch are dusty! No problem I think! I've got 5 minutes to spare, I decide to try dusting my blinds with my lint roller!

And - it works! But only on wooden blinds.  Look (don't judge!)

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There you have it- two new uses for your lint roller. Do you have a unique use for lint roller too? Share in comments!

Learning about spiders with #Orkin

in , , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Thursday, November 07, 2013
This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Orkin Ecologist for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.


Recently we adopted a kitten and our lives have been forever changed by the energy and sweetness that Fiona has brought into our home. Our oldest kitty may disagree, but it sure is fun watching the antics of a 13 week old kitten. I will share pictures of her soon.

 One of the main reasons we waited until fall and cooler temperatures to adopt is we live in a semi-rural area that has lots of spiders. Not just any spider- we have brown recluse spiders!

It took me a long time not to be really afraid of these spiders. And while I still #bugout when I see one, I’ve learned to have a healthy respect for them and their place in our world. Actually, I’ve gained a healthy respect for a lot of bugs and insects by exploring Orkins The Ecologist site. Who knew Orkin was fascinated about bugs? I thought it was their business to just eradicate them. But no, listen to what they have to say about their site.


About Orkins The Ecologist Website:


 Insects. Bugs. Creepy, crawly creatures. Some people fear them, but at Orkin, we study them. We know that every creature has its place on the planet — whether they harm people or property, or help the environment thrive. We also know that the best way to control pests is to learn as much as we can about them in general, both the bad and the good. We’ve been studying bugs for 100 years — we even have scientists on our staff to ensure we keep science at the forefront of our work. We continuously take the insect insights we gain and apply them to our business, and we believe it’s made us better at what we do. In studying bugs to better control them, we’ve found we’re fascinated by them too — they’re curious little creatures full of unexpected complexity. And that’s why we created “The Ecologist” site, to celebrate science and uniqueness of bugs.”

It was easy for me to find more information about the Brown Recluse spider at The Ecologist; they are  on the list of scariest and deadliest bugs in the world


About Brown Recluse Spiders:



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Source


 "This spider likes to make its home near humans and with a bite that contains a necrotoxic venom its not a spider you want to mess with! You’ll know this guy by the dark violin-shaped marking on his abdomen." 

I’m so glad our Fiona was born later in the summer so she wouldn’t be tempted to “play” with this bad guy! 

I invite you and/or your budding Ecologists to check out Orkins The Ecologist website, where you can explore the science behind insects - and the vital role that insects have on our world. You can follow them on Facebook and Pinterest as well. Their pictures are stunning and the articles will keep you and your kids engaged. That’s a win-win!
So tell me, are you afraid of a certain spider or insect? Do you have a Bug Out moment? Please share it here by leaving a comment!




Disclosure: This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Orkin Ecologist for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

The Mother of All Meltdowns - a Must Read

in , , , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Monday, November 04, 2013

I am thrilled to share this book with you on a Monday. You know the day we Moms have to switch from weekend mode back to work mode, get everybody out of the house dressed, fed and on time. And we are supposed to do it without becoming a screaming shrew. Yeah, I don't like Monday's much either, in fact, I am running late right now getting my post up, but after reading The Mother of All Meltdowns- I know these wonderful Moms will forgive me.


About :The Mother of All Meltdowns:


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"Every mother, at some point, inevitably becomes her own worst enemy. In a millisecond, her halo crumbles and she has a moment so crazed it is forever known as the one…The Mother of All Meltdowns. 
This anthology was written by women who have had their moments. Together we have experienced the anguish and frustration of the adult-sized tantrum. We have shed the tears, dropped to our knees in agony, and asked the age-old question, “Why me?” From poop-decorated rooms to having our liquid gold scrutinized and confiscated by TSA, we’re not afraid to share our collection of thirty tell-all stories. We are survivalists and know that within every meltdown there is a silver lining."



I invite you to meet these honest, engaging women by visiting the website  HERE and following them on Facebook and Twitter. 


My Review: 

Reading this book was cathartic for me not only as a Mom, but as a multi-tasking Blogger much like these ladies. They open up and rip the band-aide off the "everything is FINE" scenario all Moms have tried to pass off. Truth: We have all had moments we would love to forget happened, so I stand up, applaud and say Brava! to each and every women who shared in The Mother of All Meltdowns. 
This book has a chapter for every age and stage of childhood, plus a diverse line up of Moms. You will find yourself laughing, crying and nodding in agreement as you read. 
The Mother of All Meltdowns shows you clearly that we are all just humans trying to do our best with several nods to wine, poop and sweat. Oh, and I can't forget to mention the LOVE. It is at the very heart of every story. 
I am so happy I got invited to read this book, I saw myself in the pages and I bet you will too! My favorite quote is: "The Greatest motherhood truth is to recognize you are not alone!" by Melissa Swedoski .

 Head on over to their website or purchase your copy at Amazon.




As always, I hope you found this review helpful. I hope you will enjoy reading this book and would love for you to stop back by and let me know your thoughts after you read it. Since it's selling like hot cakes- I would love to hear from you if you have already read the book too! Leave a comment and share your favorite meltdown in the book, or if you are brave share your own meltdown here. 



Disclosure: I received a free PDF copy of The Mother of All Meltdowns in the hopes that I would share my opinion of it on my blog. No other compensation was given, or asked for, I was only to happy to share this book with you because I felt it would interest you my readers as much as it did me. Note: The Amazon link above is my affiliate link, which may mean compensation for me should you choose to purchase via it. 

Bullying is a topic we parents hope we don’t have to look square in the eye. We hope that our kids never get bullied or become a bully.  

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But in today’s performance driven world, it seems it is less likely that all children won’t be touched in some way by bullying. Even if they just witness bullying.


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So how do we help our kids help themselves? How do we equip them with the necessary tools they need to survive and thrive? Green Giant’s Raise a Giant campaign offers wonderful tips and insights to help parents and kids face bullying together. 


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I chose not to publicly write a letter to my daughters because they have asked that I keep personal details about them and our lives to a minimum online, but I do talk about this tough subject with my girls.

I invite you to learn more by visiting Raise a Giant where you can read letters from parents, watch their helpful video and join in.

As always, I hope you found this post helpful. I invite you to share in comments if you've had to talk with your kids about bullying .


Disclosure: The information and prize pack have been provided by Green Giant® through MyBlogSpark. Thank you General Mills for making a $25 donation in MY WAHM Plan's name to the Pacer's Center for Bully Prevention.

Can’t Wait Willow by Christy Ziglar Giveaway

in , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Friday, November 01, 2013

Happy November. Let’s start it off right with a giveaway sure to please parents. My daughter and I have fallen in love with Can’t Wait Willow!, a book we received free to review as part of the FLYBY Promotions blogger team. We think you are going to fall in love too.


About Can’t Wait Willow! -  The first book in the series.

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"Willow is so excited that the Over-the-Top Circus has finally come to town! The only problem is that when left to her own devices, she can’t say “no” to some good things. On the way to the show, she is distracted by enticing treats and fun that she just can’t turn down. Willow arrives late and is sad to find that, not only has she has run out of time, but money, and she won’t be able to enjoy the pink cotton candy she’s been dreaming of. Willow is given valuable advice and a second chance and is ultimately taught the lesson that sometimes in life you have to say “no” to good things to end up with something great!"


About the Author:  (Recognize the last name Ziglar?)
Christy Ziglar, financial planner, mother of twins and niece of legendary motivator and the world’s original optimist, Zig Ziglar, is bringing the same timeless wisdom and ageless advice to an entirely new, younger audience through her new Shine Bright Kids picture book series. You can connect with Christy and purchase Can't Wait Willow HERE.

About Shine Bright Kids:
The Shine Bright Kids series provides children and their families with a relevant framework to help instill solid values and teach the importance of making good choices. The series teaches principles including: using good judgment, taking responsibility, self-control, having a positive attitude, and demonstrating perseverance.  Check out their website for free reward charts, activities and other parenting resources or follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.


Our Review:

This is such a sweet, beautifully illustrated story with great lessons and interactivity throughout that even though it was a little young for my 10 year old daughter- we still give it two thumbs up! Every parent I know wants to equip their children with the ability to make good choices during their day to day life. In Can’t Wait Willow, we see Willow making choices that aren’t the best for her, but in the end kindness and thoughtfulness save the day. This would be a PERFECT gift for your son or daughter 9 or under, so please do enter our giveaway below. 

About The Giveaway:

One lucky reader will win a copy of Can't Wait Willow!(Hardbound).  No purchase is necessary to enter. Open to US residents 18 or older. Full terms are available of Rafflecopter form below.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclosure: I received no compensation for this publication, however, I did receive a free copy of this book in hopes I would review it on my blog. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own. My WAHM Plan is not responsible for prize shipment. This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with Facebook.
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