Welcome to my weekly post I share a peek into our lives, talk about things I’m loving, share links to interesting articles or helpful ideas I’ve collected throughout the past week, and just talk about whatever is on my heart! ?
It was a BIG week at our house! We not only went to NYC for the New York Stock Exchange Closing Bell Ceremony with Inspire Investing (I’ll share a detailed post on our whole experience we had there later this week), but we also closed on our new house!
I also came down with a head cold in NYC and was pretty miserable the rest of the week and spent most of the time resting and reading and trying to get healthy. Gratefully, I was able to get out for an hour to go to the house closing and then I started getting my energy back this weekend and am hoping to be back to normal by tomorrow.
I got a box from Stitch Fix last week and thought it was going to be a dud… until I tried this outfit on. And I promptly fell in love. In fact, I have already worn it twice in the last five days!! It’s so comfy and fits me like a glove!
By the way, it looks like Stitch Fix may have again extended their amazing offer to get the styling fee waived on your first order. Be sure that there’s a turquoise bar at the top of the page when you go to StitchFix.com that shows this offer.
(You can also watch my latest Stitch Fix unboxing here. This was before I had tried on the above outfit and I thought I wasn’t going to like anything in my box.)
Did you see my post all about how you can get free books from My Reader Rewards? If not, be sure to check it out here.
I just thought you needed some more Quill pictures! 😉
Kaitlynn decided to teach herself a new kind of drawing yesterday. She watched some YouTube videos and then freehanded these… she constantly surprises me with the things she teaches herself!
Since we closed on our house on Friday, I started working on decluttering/packing on Saturday.
Our lease isn’t up for two more months and we were unable to get out of it, so we decided to just have a slow-paced move over the course of the month and then be all moved by the end of February/beginning of March. I’m planning to just slowly go through sections of our house over the next three weeks and decluttering… because there’s nothing like a move to motivate you to declutter!
Our plan is to not pack any boxes — but to just slowly move things over to the new place in little loads at a time and then move all of the furniture/large items one day near the end of February. We’re starting with storage items and things we only use every few months. Then we’ll move on to items we can’t survive for a week or two without.
We’ve never moved slowly like this before, but my hope is that it makes it simple and means we’re able to pretty well live our normal lives without having to take a lot of time off to pack or unpack. We’ll see how it goes!
A Word of Encouragement on Fear
At the beginning of this year, God called me to step out in faith, let go of an area in my life that I’d been holding with clenched fists trying to control, and face a big fear head on.
Y’all, I was scared. Sick scared.
But I’m here to tell you that none of my fears and worries about how this might have disastrous consequences and how I might get hurt came to fruition. In fact, the opposite happened: this thing I was terrified of has become an amazing blessing and gift to my life and to our family.
I miss out on so much when I cling tightly to what feels safe and secure, when I try to control my life and my circumstances and the outcomes.
“Lord, give me the courage to live with my hands outstretched — fully relying upon You. Let me be willing to jump from what I think feels like comfort and security and let You be my Comfort and Security — even when I’m scared and there are so many unknowns.”
2018 Goals Update
Personal Goals
1. Read 100 non-self-help books that will build me up/encourage me/inspire me/recharge me. (Fiction/story-driven/biographies/inspirational living books/devotionals.) See the list of 44 books I plan to read this year.
**Progress: I think I’ll be at 10 books read so far by tomorrow (look for a book update coming tomorrow)
2. Read through the entire Bible.
**Progress: I’m using the Robert Murray M’Cheyne plan and am on Day 28 — yay!
3. Write one handwritten note to someone every week.
**Progress: 6 notes written total this year so far
4. Run 500 miles.
**Progress: 51 miles run so far
Marriage Goal
5. Go on an overnight trip with Jesse without the kids.Jesse and I went to NYC together in January.Family Goals
6. Read 10 books aloud with the kids.
7. Take the kids to South Africa.
8. Go on a family road trip.
Financial Goals
9. Save up to pay cash to finish off an office for me and workout room for Jesse and me in the basement in our new house.
10. Replenish our Emergency Fund (we dipped into it to replace my car when it got totaled because of the carpet beetle infestation.)
Business Goals
11. Increase our gross income from the business by 8%.
12. Launch 5 new courses.
**Progress: 4 Weeks to a More Productive Life launched in January and we’re currently working on finishing Content Creation 101 — a new YourBloggingUniversity course!
Nikki says
The portion on fear really spoke to me. Check out Zack Williams Song “fear is a liar”. I’m in a place where I’m letting go, one finger @ a time, so that I can rely on Him & the better things that are ahead. & @ times, the fear is paralyzing.
Crystal Paine says
I’m so grateful that it encouraged you!
Kelley Stone says
A slow move sounds AMAZING!! I have really enjoyed “watching” your process of becoming homeowners…thank you for the honesty and inspiration you provide. To be honest, I think I started following you several years ago for budgeting tips, but mostly enjoy your insight on parenting and intentional living now! Blessings on your new home!
Crystal Paine says
Thank you so much for your kind words of encouragement! Your comment really blessed me!
JJ says
We moved slowly from a townhouse to a house. It was wonderful! And it really allowed me to think about where I wanted to put things. We used laundry baskets. Best wishes on your move! Oh, and if you have friends who have diaper boxes, they work well to move books. Especially Up and Up boxes. Haha!
Crystal Paine says
I’m so glad to hear that worked well for you!
Diane says
Your family is so blessed to be able to take it slow as you move to your new home. You can enjoy the process instead of feeling overwhelmed and exhausted.
Crystal Paine says
Yes! We feel like it’s such a gift!
Krystal @ Simple Finance Mom says
We love NYC! Some of our family is right outside of the city so we try to make a trip once every other year or so. Also, congrats on the new home!! So exciting!
Crystal Paine says
Thank you so much!
Emily says
We moved slowly like that into our house for much the same reason. The last couple days in the old place we used paper plates and low prep meals or take out. It was a beautiful thing to have the kitchen already to go for our very first meals in our new house.
Congratulations on the new house and best wishes for a smooth move!
Crystal Paine says
I’m so glad to hear that it worked well for you!
Luba @ Healthy with Luba says
What a great way to move. I trust it will be a stress-free and smooth process for your family.
Congratulations on the new home!
Crystal Paine says
Thank you so much!
Jamie | Medium Sized Family says
Congratulations both on the house and the stock market day! What a whirlwind week for you. 🙂
I’ve decided to make reading a priority this year, and I’m striving to read through 52 books. I had forgotten how much I loved reading, and I really need the down time it provides. I’m trying to force myself to break up my bend towards non-fiction with some interesting fiction reads.
Crystal Paine says
Yay! I LOVE that you’re making reading more of a priority!!
Wanda Polderman says
SO happy you finally closed on your new home. Enjoy it!!
Crystal Paine says
We are so grateful, too! We had to move the closing date because of delays in the repair work… but it ended up all working out since we couldn’t get out of our lease anyway!