Admittedly, there isn’t a whole lot to do in our winter garden, but when the mercury starting rising to a high of 60 yesterday in middle Tennessee, I had to get out there and do something!


I started raking leaves out of the front flower beds again. That was a nice little job, since we have several large pin Oaks and Maple trees in our front yard. Actually, it was a good workout, even though I know I’ll never win the battle of the leaves.  Some of the trees are already showing signs of new growth. 


buds on trees in January #Nashville area MyWAHMPlan.com



Next, I swept the front porch and noticed some new growth coming up in my succulent. I never over winter this plant, she prefers to live year round on the front porch. She’ll be stunning by April again.


new growth in succulent planter MyWAHMPlan.com



Since I had out the broom, I cleared the corner of the flower bed that the rake never works in and swept the walkway.   I know this is another thankless task as the leaves are just going to blow over it again and right back into my flower beds, but it made me feel good knowing I’d done it.


swept walkway MyWAHMPlan.com


After I’d raked and swept up, I had played a nice round of pick up sticks. Some I walked to the burn pile, some I dragged, but I got them there, working up a nice, healthy sweat along the way and loving the feel of the warm sunshine on my face. 



I couldn’t help but notice on my many trips back and forth to a centralized spot in our vast back yard known as the burn pile, that our hedge line was teaming with birds.  I tried to capture the birds playing, but after a few failed attempts, I gave up stalking them and just stood and admired their beauty. It didn’t take much of a walk along the fence line to find the bird’s lunch spot.


berries for birds MyWAHMPlan.com



A few steps more and I was at our pond, which had lots of air bubbles on the top, letting me know our frog population hasn’t diminished by much in winter.



our pond in January MyWAHMPlan.com


Standing there feeling the sun on my face, the wind lightly blowing through the trees and bushes, the birds chatting at the berries, all was right in my world. This gardening ladies soul saw and felt the New Year in the best possible way. 



I knew I might be tempting fate, because the weather man assured us our warm weather wouldn’t last, but as I walked past the corner where my heirloom Iris’ bed is, I took a peak to see if there was any signs of life- and sure enough, there was Iris fronds staring back at me.


Iris fronds in January MyWAHMPlan.com


My stomach growled, letting me know my gardening time was done, so I stood up and  headed back towards my beautiful, perfectly imperfect red ranch house content.



Please share in comments:

How does your January garden look? What planting region do you live in? We are in a nice, temperate 7. Don’t know your planting zone? Reading my post here can help you find out. And hang in there, spring begins in just 58 days!

Colors play such an important role in our daily lives. I thought this would be a fun and creative way to share my love of colors with you. Each month, I'll choose a color that reflects the month's mood or theme as I see it. I'll set up a monthly Pinterest board and share it here with you, my awesome readers. 



This months color pick is Ice Blue.


Jan. 2015 color of the month #iceblue MyWAHMPlan.com



I've started the board and will add more pictures of this color all month. Got a pin or picture, you'd like me to add? Let me know in comments or catch up with me on Pinterest! 






Please share in comments: Look at my 4 photo collage above and tell me which photo you would most likely re-pin and why.


One of the things I love about receiving a complimentary box of goodies to review from Influenster is you never know exactly what products will be included in your box. They like to keep things fresh and exciting and they did just that with my most recent box. While I did receive the products mentioned below free of charge, all opinions and love of beauty products are my own.


#FrostyVoxBox #beauty #snacks #herbs


As you can see, there are several beauty items in my Influenster VoxBox (yay!) plus a Celestial green tea, fruit Vine bites and some Thyme. Yes, Thyme! See what I mean about Influenster keeping things fresh? Since there’s no thyme like the present (sorry, I couldn’t resist!), to share some product reviews with you, I’ll start with the kitchen staple:



McCormick Gourmet Thyme:




McCormick has updated the packaging on their herbs and spices, but you can rest assured, all the great flavor and quality you’ve come to expect from this brand is still there. I love adding Thyme to oven roasted chicken dishes, shaking it into soups, marinara sauces, stews and on sauteed vegetables. To learn more about McCormick Gourmet, visit them on Facebook @ #McCormickGourmet.




Fruit Vine Bites:


Fruit Vines #cherry #sweetside


Fruit Vines are a new, soft chewy fruit candy from the Red Vines family. They are available in two fruit flavors: strawberry and cherry. We received the cherry and my kids loved them! I'll be keeping these in the house for snacking when the kids have sleep-overs and parties.To learn more about Fruit Vines, visit them on Facebook.  #Sweetside.




Celestial Seasonings Candy Cane Lane Decaf Green Tea:


Celestial Seasonings Candy Cane Lane green tea


I love Celestial Seasonings teas! I love the very idea of a holiday inspired flavored tea, full of pepper-minty goodness!  I will keep this one in the house for myself and my kids! You can learn more about Celestial Seasonings by visiting them on Twitter – hashtag #CelestialTea. 



Now let’s move on to the beauty products in my #FrostyVoxBox. I love trying new makeup, skincare and beauty tools, so I was in my element with these products!



#7 Boots Beauty USA Protect & Perfect Advanced Serum:


#7 Boots Beauty USA Protect & Perfect Advanced Serum


Oh, how I wish I’d received a full size product instead of just a sample packet because this serum is nice. It’s got a light scent, goes on smooth on your face and really moisturizes. I like it a lot and will use the savings coupon I received to buy more, so I can decide where it helps with my fine lines.  You can learn more about #7 Boots products by visiting them on Facebook  #GetADVANCED .



EcoTools Brush:


EcoTools Brush


At our house, we all have different hair types and styles requiring different tools for the job. Ecotools says this brush is designed to leave your head and your hair happy. We agree! We can use this on dry or wet hair with great results. You can learn more about the EcoTools brush by following them on Twitter – hashtag #LoveMyEcoHairBrush .



NYC Expert Last Lip Color in Sugar Plum:


NYC Expert Last Lip Color in Sugar Plum


I love lipsticks, but most confess that I probably would have looked past this color while shopping in a store thinking it would be too orange-brown for me.  But, upon using it; I was pleasantly surprised how well Sugar Plum goes with my skin tone.  This lipstick glides on smoothly, and lasts about 6 hours on me. At only $1.99 this is a frugal ladies dream lipstick and I will be buying more NYC colors soon! You can learn more about NYC Color Cosmetics by following them on Twitter – hashtag #Sugarplum.


Last, but certainly not least or two products from Rimmel.  First up is their eyeliner.



Rimmel Scandal eyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal Eyeliner:


Rimmel Scandal eyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal Eyeliner:


Confession- I don’t wear a lot of Kohl eyeliner, finding it to be too dark on my eyes no matter how light I apply it. Such was the case with this eyeliner too. While I did like how it glides on with no pulling, I didn’t like the look on me. If you like a thicker, darker line on your eyes, you should give this one a try! You can learn more about Rimmel London US products by visiting them on Facebook  #Rimmel.


Rimmel Gentle Eye Makeup Remover:


Rimmel Gentle Eye Makeup Remover

I like using eye makeup removers that don’t sting or leave a greasy residue, so this Rimmel gets high marks from me there, but can it truly get off long lasting and waterproof makeup (like the above eyeliner) like Rimmel claims? 

Not really. 

Sorry, Rimmel, but your eye makeup remover was no match for your eyeliner. Nor was it a match for my waterproof mascara. And ladies, I only put on one light coat.  Still, you may want to give it a go yourself because it is reasonably priced and did take off some of my  eye makeup.  You can learn more about Rimmel London US products by  following them on Twitter hashtag #Rimmel.



As always, I hope you’ve found these reviews helpful and will keep them in mind the next time you’re shopping.


Please share in comments: Which product or brand are you most familiar with?


I received the Little Mermaid Legacy Collection CD as a member of the Entertainment New Media Network.  No further compensation was received and all opinions are my own.  This post may also contain affiliate links.



I can hardly believe that The Little Mermaid, that beloved Ariel, and all the under the sea characters are 25! I’ll admit it, 25 years ago; I wasn’t in to seeing a Disney animated movie at the theater because I was young and my kids were but day-dream’s. My love of this beautiful movie came years later when my oldest daughter was a toddler. She saw a commercial for The Little Mermaid on TV; and the rest, as they say, was history!


#Disney The Little Mermaid CD #Giveaway MyWAHMPlan.com
CD Front Cover

My daughters love of Ariel and Sebastian was immediate and permanent. Watching our daughter delight in this movie at such a young age holds precious memories for us; so when I got selected to review the Walt Disney Records The Legacy Collection CD honoring The Little Mermaid, I was thrilled! As were both my daughters.


#Disney The Little Mermaid CD #Giveaway MyWAHMPlan.com
CD back cover

About The Legacy Collection The Little Mermaid CD with collectible book:

"The label honors one of the most beloved soundtracks of all time with the 25th anniversary release of Walt Disney Records The Legacy Collection The Little Mermaid available today. The Little Mermaid collection features the songs and score from the film by Oscar®-winning composer Alan Menken and lyricist Howard Ashman on Disc One, twelve work tapes and song demos performed by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman on Disc Two, and a collectible 20-page booklet. Also included are liner notes by Alan Menken, John Musker (Co-writer, Director and Producer, “The Little Mermaid”), and Chris Montan (President of Walt Disney Music)."



Isn’t the CD cover beautiful? The CD and the artwork in the collectible book are lovingly drawn by Lorelay Bove, a visual development artist at Walt Disney Animation Studios. If you watch Disney animated movies, you might recognize her style from movies like Tangled, Winnie the Pooh or Wreck- It Ralph. 

I will treasure this book filled with insights, ideas and facts on the making of The Little Mermaid, including the film, animation and musical scores!  


#Disney The Little Mermaid collectible book #Giveaway MyWAHMPlan.com
Sneak Peek inside the collectible book

Here’s a cool fact I learned: The Little Mermaid was a milestone in Disney animation, being the first princess musical to be made at Disney since the 1959’s Sleeping Beauty! The book is filled with animation and includes lyrics so you can sing along with songs like Part of your World and Kiss the Girl. 



#Disney The Little Mermaid CD #Giveaway MyWAHMPlan.com
The Little Mermaid 2 disc CD set

My daughters and I loved listening to the sweeping musical numbers on the CD and singing along to our beloved favorite songs. Now that my oldest is 15; we found it a little challenging to visualize where the musical scores aligned with the movie. We thought it would be fun to buy The Little Mermaid on Blu-Ray, turn down the volume and listen to the CD while watching the movie. 



We loved this beautiful Legacy Collection and invite you to learn more about it and all the Disney music located at the new Disney Music Emporium. You can visit them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter as well. 



The Legacy Collection The Little Mermaid CD with collectible booklet is also available to purchase on Amazon if you’d like to add it to your collection it now.




Win It!
Thanks to the generosity of Disney music and New Media Entertainment Network, one lucky reader will receive one The Legacy Collection The Little Mermaid CD with collectible booklet.  Entering is easy using the Rafflecopter form below. 


Terms:
No purchase necessary to win. Must be 18+ years old and live in the United States. My WAHM Plan is not responsible for prize fulfillment. This giveaway is in no way endorsed affiliated or associated with Facebook, Twitter or any other Social Media Networking Site. This event will end on 12:00 AM (EST) 1/17/15. 
If it comes to this blogger’s attention that the winner of this giveaway has won on an additional blog for this same prize, this blog reserves the right to choose another winner.



It’s my first post of 2015 and I am excited to start this year off on a healthy note. Weight Watchers and General Mills know that for many people getting healthy in 2015 is a top priority. It certainly is for me! My thanks to General Mills for sponsoring today’s post. The information, products and Publix gift cards were provided by General Mills through Linqia. All opinions are my own.

There’s no sugaring coating it- getting healthy for me means I need a successful weight loss journey this year. No more gaining and losing the same 12 or 15 pounds. One of the ways I got off track last year was skipping breakfast several times a week. I know this is an unhealthy habit, so this year, I’m making sure I always have Yoplait Greek 100 calorie yogurts on hand.


#WeightLossJourney on MyWAHMPlan.com




Why Yoplait Greek Yogurt?

I will admit it- I’m picky when it comes to traditional breakfast foods. If a cereal is high in sugar (over 11 grams a serving for me) or high in carbs, I may eat it, but I’ll be starving soon after because of the way my body metabolizes that fuel. I have to have a healthy, tasty protein source and folks; it doesn’t get much taster that this peach Yoplait Greek 100 calorie, fat free yogurt with a small serving of high fiber granola on top and an apple. 


#NewYearsResolutions on MyWAHMPlan.com


With 11 grams of protein and just 8 grams of sugar, the peach Yoplait Greek 100 calorie yogurt is a tasty, healthy breakfast food or anytime snack that I know is going to have staying power. 

All of the Yoplait Greek 100 calorie yogurts are only 2 Weight Watcher endorsed points and come with real fruit on the bottom. I can’t wait to try the Apple pie, Blueberry and Strawberry Cheesecake in this line.  I just know they will be as creamy, tasty and thick as the peach flavor. Just look at how my spoon stands up in it. 


Choosing 100 calorie foods on MyWAHMPlan.com


If I start getting bored with my breakfast options again on #WeightLossJourney, I’ll just head on over to Yoplait’s recipe section. (insert link) Filled with recipes for all of Yoplait’s yogurt varieties, I’m sure to find many that look tempting, like the apple pie yogurt cup


More good for you and your waistline Foods:

General Mills and Weight Watchers want you to save while you lose and achieve your #NewYearsResolution by shopping with Publix this month and purchasing any of these General Mills, Weight Watchers-endorsed products:

  • Yoplait Greek 100 Calorie Yogurt
  • Progresso Light Soups
  • Yoplait Light Fat Free Yogurt
  • Green Giant Frozen Boxed and Canned Vegetables

Once I get my home stocked with a variety of soups, veggies and yogurts; it will be easier to serve up lighter, smarter meals and snacks for me and my family.  I’ll be visiting the ProgressoGreen Giant and Yoplait sites often for recipe and menu ideas and invite you to check them out too.
 



Save with Publix Coupons: (while supplies last)
  • Save $.40 when you buy SIX CUPS any variety Yoplait® Yogurt
  • Save $1.00 when you buy FIVE CUPS any variety Yoplait® Greek or Yoplait® Greek 100 yogurt
  •  Save $0.80 when you buy 4 any variety Green Giant® Frozen Boxed Vegetables

You can either print these out by going here, or put them directly on your Publix loyalty card by going here and say hello to some great BOGO's!



The#WeightLossJourney, #NewYearsResolution Giveaway:

Ready to kick start the New Year with a new, healthier you too? 

Weight Watchers Publix Gift Basket #Giveaway


Thanks to the generosity of General Mills, one lucky reader will receive a basket of Weight-Watchers endorsed products including salad tongs, a dressing emulsifier, and salad shears.


Terms:

Entering is easy using the Rafflecopter form below. No purchase necessary to win. My WAHM Plan is not responsible for prize fulfillment. General Mills will send gift package to winner. Must be 18+ to enter and reside in the United States. This giveaway is in no way endorsed affiliated or associated with Facebook, Twitter or any other Social Media Networking Site. This event will end on 12:00 AM (EST) 1/21/15. 

Good Luck! 


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclosure: 

My thanks to General Mills for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation, which I will receive in exchange for this review and post. I’m disclosing this in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
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