Money Saving Mom®

I used to do a weekly post with a peek into the past week + lots of links. Many of you have missed this, so I’m bringing it back for 2026! I’ll be sharing some pictures and highlights from the past week + what I’m reading, watching, and listening to. I will also share links to posts or other interesting things I don’t want you to miss.

I did something I haven’t done in ages (I think since I was a child?) I water-colored using this Watercolor Workbook from Brighter Day Press that my friend, Whitney, had given to me. It was way harder than I expected, but so fun to challenge myself outside my comfort zone!

This box showed up at our house last week and the kids were so excited to open it — but I was even more excited. Can you guess what was inside?? See the answer here in this fun video!

This is my very favorite foundation and I’ve used it for years! I use it as both a concealer and foundation!

I started crocheting again this past week and have surprised myself with how much I’ve been loving it! I’m almost done with this scarf for Kierstyn that I started earlier this past week! I’ll share a pic with you of the finished scarf next week! By the way, if you’ve been wanting to learn how to crochet, be sure to check this out.

The mystery box!!

I went on a mission to try to find eggs before the winter storm and was thrilled to find Aldi fully stocked.

Meanwhile, Kroger had so many bare shelves that I had to make a funny video about it!

It’s that time of year when we spend hours in the stands watching Silas play basketball and I love it so much!!

The snow started falling Saturday morning and we ended up getting around 2 inches and then it turned into ice and sleet.

David was so excited to wake up on Saturday to the snow! He ran to the window and watched it for a really long time!

The roads were too icy to drive on after Saturday morning so we’ve been snowed/iced in for the past three days. Most everything is shut down and so many people here don’t have power right now. We prepped for ours to go out for at least a few days, but so far, it hasn’t.

We’ve been doing lots of LEGOs, puzzles, games, books, cooking, and watching some shows. It’s been fun to all be stuck at home together… they just cancelled school through Thursday and temperatures are supposed to continue to be pretty frigid, so we may have quite a few more days at home. We’ll see!

Top Instagram Post of the Week

This post sharing a funny (and embarrassing story!) was my top viewed Instagram reel of the week! I hope it makes you laugh!

Books I Finished This Week

Tiny Tweaks, Happy Life – This is a great read if you need some inspiration and motivation to simplify and streamline your life in order to focus on what matters most and have smoother, happier days. I especially loved the section on prioritizing happiness hours — time each day to do things that are life-giving to you. It was really good for me to consider what I’m doing in my day that is bringing joy and how I can make more time for that!

What I’m Listening To

I finished listening to the audiobook recommended by a follower — Under the Magnolias. It was really different than I expected and deeply moving in parts. I wasn’t sure where the story was going and it felt like it meandered in places, but I loved how the author wrapped it up in the end so beautifully. It is a raw and real look at mental illness and how it impacts people, but also how loving people wholeheartedly who so many consider misfits can make such a powerful impact.

My Current Morning Book Stack

The books I’m slowly reading through in the mornings + my Bible Study: She Reads Truth Acts Study, A Verse a Day for the Anxious Soul, New Morning Mercies, And She Got Up, and Words With God Prayer Journal.

What I’m Watching

I’m continuing to watch When Calls the Heart during some of my afternoon work time that I can easily do something else while working. I finished season one, two, and three last week (I wasn’t feeling well a few of the days and so spent more time in bed than usual!) and just started season 4!

Jesse and I also watched Skyscraper Live. Yikes, if you need to have a bit of an adrenaline rush, watch that one!! We did not watch it live, which I am so grateful for as I think that may have been too stressful for me!!

Q&A’s of the Week

I answered a number of questions on Instagram this past week and wanted to share two on here:

Question: I’m exhausted in every way, burn out I guess… what would you do? -Mom of 3

Answer: I’m so sorry you are feeling so exhausted. I’d start by making sure you are crying out to Jesus and asking Him for wisdom and strength to help you carry what He’s called you to carry and let go of what He’s called you to lay down. Secondly, what do you have to do right now – as in, things will truly fall apart if you don’t? Food, sleep, loving your kids and making sure they are fed and clothed… anything else? Begin with the basics and let go of everything else you can let go of for the next few weeks.

Then, prioritize sleep, life-giving activities, nourishing your body, and time with Jesus. If you can get a little time outside that can do wonders for your body and soul.

I’d also recommend doing a time audit to see where you’re spending your time + considering getting bloodwork done to see if something is out of whack. And ask those who know you well to give input into some solutions or strategies to help, too.

Question: Since you started lifting weights have you changed your diet at all? Any new easy meals?

Answer: Since I’m doing pretty intensive strength training four times a week right now, I’m tracking my macros again from a really healthy mental space – which I’m so thrilled about and which I find helps me fuel my body much better than when I don’t track.

I aim for 130 grams of carbs, 60 grams of fat, 25-30 grams of fiber, and 200+ grams of carbs daily + close to 7 hours of sleep or more. I usually hit most of these every day and am loving how it’s impacting my body recomping!

I usually then have two active recovery days (where I hit at least 10k steps) and one rest day where I try to really take it easy.

Right now, this plan is working super well and my Oura ring numbers are basically better than they ever been + I feel so strong and energetic.

I keep meals really simple and many would probably tink they are boring, but it’s what works for me right now! I’ll try to share more since so many have asked for meal ideas!

In Case You Missed It – Posts From This Week

20+ Best Board Games Under $30 — Whether you’re in search of the best family board games, the best 2 player board games, or even the best solo board games, this guide has you covered! We are huge board game lovers in our family and these are some of our very favorites that we have played over and over again for years!

Breakfast Sandwiches ($10 Family Dinner Idea) — This delicious breakfast sandwich recipe turns simple ingredients into a satisfying, budget-friendly meal everyone will love.

Brigette’s $79 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 4! — See what my sister, Brigette, bought this past week and what she’s feeding her family!

Is Amazon Prime Worth It? — Are you wondering if an Amazon Prime membership is worth it? In this post, we break down the key benefits of Amazon Prime — from fast, free shipping and easy access to Amazon deals to streaming and storage — to help you decide if Prime delivers real value for your money.

This Week’s Podcast Episode: One Man’s Journey from Abuse & Addiction to Forgiveness and Redemption with Stephen McWhirter

Trust me, you are not going to want to miss this episode’s honest and vulnerable conversation with Stephen McWhirter, author of the memoir Radically Restored: How Knowing Jesus Heals Our Brokenness.

I have really been looking forward to sharing this episode because his story is raw, unsettling at times, and deeply hopeful, and it challenged me in ways that I couldn’t have expected. Listen as Stephen opens up about growing up in a home where faith was loudly preached in public but painfully contradicted in private. We talk about what it does to a child when the person who represents God also causes pain and how that kind of hypocrisy can lead to anger, rebellion, and addiction for years.

Stephen openly shares his long road into substance abuse, the surprising moment when everything began to change, and how his encounter with Jesus didn’t happen in a church pew but rather alone, surrounded by darkness and drugs where grace met him anyway.

He walks us through forgiveness in a unique way, and we talk about abuse, safety, boundaries, and the very real cost of forgiving someone who caused deep wounds, especially when that person is a parent. His story of forgiving his father (not once but over a lifetime) is one of the best parts of the conversation.

We also spend some time talking directly to parents, friends, and loved ones who feel helpless watching someone they care about struggle, with Stephen offering hope for those carrying quiet shame, hidden addictions, or unanswered prayers, reminding us that repentance brings things into the light.

If you are wrestling with forgiveness, addiction, trust, or the question of whether God is actually good, then this episode is absolutely for you, and if you’re the one praying for someone else and wondering if it matters, I truly hope that this conversation gives you real hope that restoration is possible, sometimes even in ways that we could never expect or plan for ourselves. Be sure to grab a copy of his book as well!

Tell me about your week! Anything interesting happen? Did you read any good books, watch any good shows, or tackle any project?