Happy Friday and happy September everyone! September is a month of promise and new beginnings for me. We have settled into our school routines, the weather will finally turn cooler and I start my fall busy work schedule. Actually, this blog will turn 7 years old later this month. That is worth celebrating!
With all the positives in this month, there is one event that I will never forget- September 11, 2001. I was at home with my two year old daughter when my husband called to tell me the news. I was stunned and horrified and scared, right along with the rest of America. We will always remember 9/11!
I happily teamed up with TetherGroup to bring you this amazing giveaway today. I will receive the prize pack offered in the giveaway to thank me for my time. No other compensation given. All opinions are my own.
Avon offers two ways to help with Hurricane Harvey Relief
in Avon, care packages, donate, FamilyLife, help, hurricane Harvey, Red Cross, by Linda A Kinsman, Thursday, August 31, 2017
For over 130 years, Avon has been
a company that cares about women, our families our communities, our health and
our livelihoods. Today Avon is offering two ways to help with hurricane Harvey
relief. As a proud Avon Representative, I naturally wanted to help, but that
isn’t my only reason for this post. I’m also a flood survivor. As a teenager, my family lost everything in a
flood. Our home, our cars, our clothes, our food, our security. My heart goes out to each and every single
person who has been touched by hurricane Harvey. This post is for you. Avon is
here to help you. I am here to help you. My family and I stand strong with you.
If you would like to learn how you can
partner with Avon today, read on please.
Send college kids care packages that nourishes body and soul
in AD, care package, college, FamilyLife, love, students, support., by Linda A Kinsman, Friday, August 25, 2017
August is a bittersweet month for families with college bound kids. While we are extremely proud of their hard work and scholastic accomplishments that got them accepted into their college of choice; the thought of actually leaving our kids in a dorm room can be heart-wrenching.
We moved our daughter to a local university campus two weeks ago and I’m still adjusting to not having her sweet presence at home every night! I know that we are lucky to have her attend a local college, but like many parents, we were searching for a way to offer our support and encouragement in a tangible way and I found it with SoulFeed. Read on to discover how you can send care packages that nourish body and soul.
We did a lot of back to school and dorm room shopping over the last few weeks, which led to my color of the month post being shared a little later than I wanted. The upside is I discovered the perfect color of the month to share because we saw it everywhere! From velveteen throw pillows to cute dresses, a deep, rich, warm and inviting Burgundy has me longing for crisp fall days.
Is your skin feeling the effects of summer heat? If you live someplace that's hot (and most all of us do now that it's August), it may be time to change up your beauty and skincare routine. During the summer, I find myself using fewer products and spending less time primping and prepping. In fact, if you were to drop by my house, you’d most likely find me running around barefaced. Letting your skin breath is the first step to a better beauty day, the second is to pick multi-tasking products that are easy to use. Burt’s Bees + Grove Collaborative make it easy to find fuss-free natural products.
Happy August and happy Wordless Wednesday! This post isn't going to be wordless though, since it needs a little explanation. Since I've been on a summer schedule here on the blog, posting about once a week, I thought it would be fun to show you what I've been doing offline besides being with my family.
Ah, summer, how we love you! The season full of family traditions like road trips and sleeping in since there’s no school; eating ripe, juicy, summer fruits that drip down your chin and eating out instead of cooking in a hot kitchen. Recently when we got hungry for a good home-style meal we didn’t have to cook, we headed to our local Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen to let them do the cooking while we cooled off.
Happy Saturday readers! Someday's are just too hot to be outside for long now that we've reached the dog days of summer. Why not stay cool inside and check out some cool shows on Netflix? Don't have it you say? Well today is your lucky day then. I've partnered up with a great group of bloggers to bring you this awesome giveaway for 6 months of Netflix! That will help you beat summer boredom.
Nanny to Mommy is a member of the Netflix #StreamTeam and receives complimentary products as such. All opinions are her own.
Six Months of Netflix Giveaway Event!
Hosted By: Nanny to Mommy
Sponsored By: Netflix
"Netflix is the world's leading Internet television network with over 44 million members in more than 40 countries enjoying more than one billion hours of TV shows and movies per month, including original series. For one low monthly price, Netflix members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on nearly any Internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments."
Did
you know that Avon, the iconic beauty brand has a line of gorgeous home decor?
If you answered no, you are not alone! Most people categorize the Avon name
with beauty, skincare and maybe fragrances, but the New Avon LLC offers
savvy shoppers so much more. That’s why I’m excited to share their current
sweepstakes for gorgeous dinnerware and decorative accents with you.
source |
July is a hot and humid month here in the southeast so wearing breathable cotton clothing is a must and my go to color? All white. According to Farrow & Ball, the craftsmen in paint & paper:
“All White is exactly what it says! Unusually, it contains no other pigment except for white, creating the softest most sympathetic color without the colder blue undertones of a brilliant white.”
When you live in a house for almost a decade, you tend to
accumulate a lot of stuff. Not just new stuff, either. With every home my
husband and I have purchased, we’ve brought boxes from our previous home to go
through later. Later is now for me!
Buying a new vehicle is a long and sometimes, highly frustrating task. Beyond all the hype of TV commercials and radio spots from local car dealers, we all want a place that will answer all of our questions quickly and honestly. After a recent trip to the shop, we are thinking it may be time to trade in my beloved minivan and so starts our questions.
This is a sponsored post on behalf of Cars.com I will receive a promotional item to thank me for my time. All opinions are mine.
source |
Give your grad a gift card for stock with Stockpile + $5 freebie
in #AD, #HappyInvesting #GiveStockpile #GiveStock #Investor #honestreview, card, FamilyLife, gift, grad, by Linda A Kinsman, Friday, June 30, 2017
Talks about money, whether the topic is earning it, saving
it, or spending it have been in heavy rotation the last couple of weeks here at
our home because oldest has graduated from high school and will be attending a
nearby university in the fall.
Change your look and hairstyle without cutting your hair
in #AD, #Divatress, beauty, family life, FamilyLife, Hair, hairstyles, wigs, by Linda A Kinsman, Thursday, June 29, 2017
The hair we were born with can bring on a complex set of
feelings. We love it or hate it by
turns. Get 5 women or girls in a room and ask them to talk about what they like
or dislike about their hair and you’ve got a fantastic conversation starter. That conversation could last for an hour as
each takes her turn sharing a hair story. Until recently, I hadn’t considered adding
a wig to my hairstyle story, but thanks to today’s sponsor, Divatress, I’ve
learned their products make it easy to change your look and hairstyle without
cutting your hair.
This is a sponsored post on behalf of Divatress. I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation.
Color of the Month- June 2017- True Red
in color, decor, design, diy, fruit, inspiration, Red, strawberries, summer, watermelon, by Linda A Kinsman, Tuesday, June 20, 2017
Hello my friends! I've missed you. I took some much needed time off from writing and creating here to get my family and I prepped for summer, which officially starts tonight. Hello summer! Today I'm seeing red, a beautiful true red inspired from crazy good summer fruit like strawberries and watermelon. Take a look at my Color of the month for June inspiration and collab board below.
Wordless Wednesday: Night Lights
in bonfire, deck lights, decor, FamilyLife, lights, moon, night, by Linda A Kinsman, Wednesday, June 07, 2017
Max, an all American hero dog is back again to save the day in a new adventure film for the whole family in Max 2: White House Hero. This movie is out on Blu-ray from Warner Bros Home Entertainment on DVD, Blu-ray™ Combo Pack On May 23, 2017 & Digital HD now. I’m excited to be able to share this movie and giveaway with you today thanks to my partnership with TetherGroup and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.
Please note: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment provided me with a free copy of the Blu-ray I reviewed in this blog post. The opinions I share are my own and no further compensation was given. It is my pleasure to share great movies and giveaways with you.
Two unique ways the USO supports military families
in baby showers, Memorial Day, military, reading, support, USO, by Linda A Kinsman, Tuesday, May 30, 2017
Host a fun and tasty movie night with G.H. Cretors popped corn
in #AD, Arrival, family, food, G.H. Cretors, Moonlight, movies, night, Oscar nominated, popped corn, snacks, teens, by Linda A Kinsman, Tuesday, May 23, 2017
Our schedules have been fairly non-stop this month with both
of our daughter’s graduating from either middle or high school. When we do get
to spend time together at home, one of our favorite ways to spend family time
is watching movies.
Independent film Urban Hymn movie review
in coming of age, drama, Independent film, lifestyle, movies, music, review, Urban Hymn, by Linda A Kinsman, Saturday, May 20, 2017
We love watching movies from a variety of genres, everything from Sci-Fi to Disney animations we will watch with an open mind. In my opinion, having an open mind is necessary when reviewing any movie; most especially when the film is a un- rated independent film like Urban Hymn. Thanks to my partnership with Level 33 Entertainment, I received a complimentary early screener copy of Urban Hymn to facilitate today’s review. No further compensation was provided. All opinions are my own.
Organize your closet in an afternoon with simple accessories
in #AD, closet, decor, homemaking, organization, parenting teens, Style, by Linda A Kinsman, Thursday, May 18, 2017
Spring cleaning
continues this month at Casa Kinsman and while I feel like I’m making headway
in some areas (hello recycling bins
filled to the brim!), I’ve just started on closets. Oh, closet organization, how I avoid you, until now. When my friends
over at Tidy Living ask if I would like to work with them on their May
Madness spring cleaning sale, I
happily said yes because I knew I couldn’t let my closets stay messy. With the
help of two cool clothing accessories I received from today’s sponsor, I was
able to organize the messiest closet in one afternoon. Here’s how I did it.
This is a sponsored
post on behalf of Tidy Living. I received information/product to facilitate
my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.
Color of the Month - May 2017 - Fern Green
in Color of the month, decor, Fern Green, Garden, May, mood boards, Pinterest boards, by Linda A Kinsman, Friday, May 12, 2017
May is a beautiful month for anyone who loves nature. Flowers are blooming, birds are singing, bees are buzzing and there is greenery everywhere and in a myriad of shades to adore.
A tote bag that gives hope this Mother’s Day
in Avon, FamilyLife, gift idea, give hope, kids, mom boss, moms, Mother's Day, sanctuary, support locally, wahm, by Linda A Kinsman, Monday, May 08, 2017
Mother’s Day is almost here and I just had to share a great
gift idea that I recently discovered while working my other job as an Avon
Representative. I know most of you have heard of this iconic beauty brand, but
do you know the giving side of Avon?
The Avon Foundation for Women
launched its Speak out against Domestic Violence program back in 2004. One
of its main pillars is to fund shelters across the United States that provide safe spaces for women and children in imminent danger where
they can heal emotionally and physically, move toward self-sufficiency, and
learn positive coping skills.
Source |
5 ways to help on National Shelter Pet Day April 30th
in dogs, donate, free adoption, help cats, Nashville, National Shelter Pet Day, pets, volunteer, by Linda A Kinsman, Friday, April 28, 2017
Having pets and treating them like family is fairly common
all across America and yet, our shelters are at capacity year round; especially
no-kill shelters, which is where we adopted both our indoor cats. We love and adore
our fur babies and we couldn’t imagine our lives without them. While we can’t
adopt another animal at this time, we are going to help on national shelter pet
day, which is on Sunday April 30th this year. Here are some ways to help in your community.
Happy Earth Day readers! It’s a grey, semi-rainy day here in
middle Tennessee, but that won’t stop us from doing a few things in our own
piece of good earth. I’m weeding my front flower beds in between rain drops
while enjoying my Primroses and thinking about how best my family can reduce
our footprint for our Earth Day cause this year.
Easy Al Fresco Dining with Good Food Made Simple
in #AD, Al Fresco, dining, family, fun, Good Food Made Simple, mealsandmains, by Linda A Kinsman, Tuesday, April 18, 2017
April is the perfect time of year to clean off your deck, porch or patio and take mealtime outside. In the south, the first burst of pollen has subsided, it’s not too hot and the bugs aren’t matching us bite for bite yet, so we call that a win. Today, I want to share how easy Al Fresco dining can be with our sponsor, Good Food Made Simple combined with a healthy dose of spontaneity. There’s a giveaway too!
This is a sponsored post on behalf of Good Food Made Simple. I received information to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.
Color of the Month - April 2017 - Lilac
in Color of the Month - April 2017 - Lilac, flowers, Garden, by Linda A Kinsman, Tuesday, April 11, 2017
I adore lilacs of all colors and varieties, but there is just something so nostalgic and perfect about the classic light purple lilac. I'm singing its praises for my April color of the month once more.
Pan seared Potato, Bacon and Green onion Salad recipe
in bacon, bbq, bonfire, food, graduation party, green onion, potato salad, Recipe, spring, by Linda A Kinsman, Tuesday, April 04, 2017
My daughters and I are in the midst of planning their graduation parties. In May, my oldest will graduate from high school and my youngest will graduate from middle school. While both are causes for celebration on their own, my girls have decided to have a combo BBQ/Bonfire with both sets of their friends. That means cooking good food and lots of it, but we don't mind that. You can’t have a BBQ without serving salads, so I’m going to make this tasty no mayo potato salad recipe I’ve been perfecting for a decade. I think you are going to like my pan seared potato, bacon and green onion salad as much as we do!
It may be hard to believe, but the Smurfs will be 36 years old this September. I can remember watching the Smurfs cartoon on Saturday mornings with my nieces. While they liked Papa Smurf, it was Smurfette that my little nieces adored. Fast forward to 2017 and Smurfette is getting ready to go on an epic adventure in Sony Pictures Animation 3D movie SMURFS: The Lost Village coming to theaters April 7th.
This is a sponsored post on behalf of Review Wire Media for Sony Pictures. I received information to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.
We live south of the newest “IT” city, Nashville Tennessee.
Our local news station has a series on the boom in growth Nashville is having
and one of the most interesting area of growth to me is the plethora of new
places to eat. From fine dining to food trucks; Nashville is making a name for itself
as a foodie city.
Spring is knocking on the door here, not only in the beautiful Tennessee landscape I adore, but in my heart as well. To me, spring is always a time of renewal, reflection and rebirth. As a Christian family, it is an important time in our lives with Lent and soon, Easter. I'm glad I was given the opportunity to share a Christian based movie with you today.
This is a sponsored post on behalf of Review Wire Media for The Lumo Project. I received information to facilitate my review and will receive a copy of movie to thank me for my participation.
I am really excited to have an opportunity to watch The Gospel of Mark, but as luck would have it, my package hasn't arrived yet. Since the movie became available March 14th, I'm choosing to host my giveaway first and come back and share my review later.
Got clutter? Tidy Living organizers can help
in #AD, clutter, decor, help, home, homemaking, organizers, spring cleaning, storage, by Linda A Kinsman, Tuesday, March 07, 2017
Have you ever taken a step back and looked at your home the way a stranger might view it for the first time? What do you see? Do you see a warm, clean and organized home- you know, the type of home we all strive for? Or, do you see a home that needs a bit of help with clutter control?
The days are slowly getting longer and warmer. It won't be long until we're enjoying sunny days poolside, or playing in the sprinklers. Can you imagine all the fun your kids (and you!) could have with a waterproof camera? I'm happy to be teaming up with a great group of bloggers to bring you this giveaway today.
Welcome to the Hamswan F60 Waterproof HD Action Camera Giveaway!
Sponsored by: Hamswan
Hosted by: Southern Mom Loves
Co-Hosted by: Ann Again and Again Reviews & MyStyleSpot
Sponsored by: Hamswan
Hosted by: Southern Mom Loves
Co-Hosted by: Ann Again and Again Reviews & MyStyleSpot
Learn about the Hamswan F60 Waterproof HD Camera Here:
Hi! Holly from Southern Mom Loves recently got the chance to try out the Hamswan F60 HD Action Camera; A wifi-enabled video and still camera with a huge range of accessories, like a waterproof case and a wide range of mounts. She put it through its paces and she wants to give one of our readers the chance to win one for themselves! Check out her review here, then enter below and good luck!
One winner will receive a Hamswan F60 Waterproof HD Action Camera!
I love that this camera is wifi-enabled. Perfect for when you or your kids capture a great moment and want to share a photo or video to their favorite social channels.
Terms:
Giveaway begins on 3/6/17 at 1:00 am CST and ends on 4/6/17 at 11:59 pm CST. Must be 18 years or older, open to entrants in the US, UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and Japan (void where prohibited.) Once winners are confirmed, they will be added to the Winner's List here.
Good Luck!
Disclaimer: The participating bloggers were not compensated for this post. No purchase is necessary to enter. One entrant per household, per IP address. All entries will be verified. Void where prohibited by law. Winner will be contacted by email; Please add southernmomloves@gmail.com to your whitelist. Southern Mom Loves/Save-A-Lot will be responsible for prize delivery to the winner. This giveaway is in no way administered, sponsored, endorsed by, or associated with Facebook and/or Twitter, Google, Pinterest, or any other social media platform.
Contact Holly at southernmomloves@gmail.com if you have any additional questions or comments, or would like Southern Mom Loves to organize your next giveaway.
Contact Holly at southernmomloves@gmail.com if you have any additional questions or comments, or would like Southern Mom Loves to organize your next giveaway.
3 Free gardening apps to try this spring
in bees, butterflies, flowers, Garden, gardening app, growing season, hummingbirds, spring, vegetables, by Linda A Kinsman, Friday, March 03, 2017
I am counting down the days until spring officially arrives
later this month. I know I’m not alone in this count- down to March 20th. My friends and I are watching for and taking
note of all the markers that spring is on its way. Here in the south, there is a riot of
beautiful Daffodils in yards everywhere, the Tulip trees are blooming and the
Bradford Pear trees are budding. Since
we gardeners are in a bit of a holding pattern for now, I thought I’d share 3
free (and fun!) gardening apps I’m going to try out this spring to help us pass
the time until we can really get out there and garden!
1. My first app choice will help all of us who have ever walked
through a park or lovely garden setting and thought what is that flower? Aptly
named- What’s that flower, this app
will help you identify flowers by color, habitat, and even number of petals.
Cool right?
source |
What’s that flower app will narrow down your options to a
couple dozen, and then you just scroll through that list until you find the
right flower. Once your flower is found,
you can read about it and see if it will work in your garden space/home. Android users can download app here. This app isn’t available on IOS yet, so I
suggest trying Garden Answers app. It looks like it has similar features. Download
here.
2. My second app just may add a
serious amount of phone time to my schedule because it covers so many topics I
find interesting. The DIY Gardening Tips app helps you find great gardening and
DIY tips that you can easily use. Plus
it has tons of useful information for vegetable gardens, something I want to
explore more this year. There’s tips on flowers and herbs and even garden
design! This app is available for
Android here and IOS here.
3. My third choice is Bee Smart App. In a time when our bee populations are
dwindling at an alarming rate, I know all gardeners share my concern and
passion to help aide the bee by planting flowers and shrubs they like. What
attracted me (pun intended) to this app was their mission statement: The
BeeSmart™ Pollinator Gardener is your comprehensive guide to selecting plants
for pollinators specific to your area. Never get caught wondering what plants
to buy again! I like the sound of that and it looks so easy to
use. Just plug in your zip code and hit enter! If you want to get bees, hummingbirds
and butterflies in your garden this spring, download Bee Smart here for Android
and here for IOS.
I hope you'll give at least one of 3 free gardening apps a try this spring. If you do, please come back here and let me know your thoughts in comments and be sure to share a gardening app you like in comments too!
Which app do you think you are mostly likely to try and why?