Want to encourage your kids to be more creative this summer? Head over to Education Possible and download a free 30-Day Summer Art Plan.
Get a FREE book from Barnes & Noble
The Barnes & Noble summer reading program is back!
If your children read eight books between May 19 and September 7, 2015, and track them on the Barnes & Noble Reading Journal, they can get a FREE book at any Barnes & Noble store!
Looking for more summer reading programs for kids? Click here!
Oh my goodness! You all have BLOWN me away!
Instagram photo by MandyJHoffman
Once again, you all have blown. me. away! Thank you for your excitement about my new Make Over Your Mornings course. Your phone calls, tweets, emails, texts, comments, blog posts, and social media shares have humbled and blessed me.
You all are some of the most encouraging, kind-hearted, generous, and sweet people on the planet and I’m honored to have you as part of this community.
Thank you for believing in me, being excited about this project, and spreading the word like crazy! I am humbly grateful and in awe of you all and your love for me!
I cannot wait to announce our final totals raised for South Africa… I think that there is a very good chance we just might hit the $14,000 goal!!!
Instagram photo from RealFoodKelly
Some of you haven’t purchased a copy of Make Over Your Mornings yet and you are on the fence about whether this is course that is right for you or not.
I totally get that and I love how you are careful and thoughtful in your purchases. I never want you to spend money on something that you can’t afford, don’t need, or that won’t be helpful for you in the season of life you’re in.
With this in mind, I wanted to share 9 reasons why I think the Make Over Your Mornings course might be a great deal for you:
1. It Will Make Your Mornings Much Smoother
I designed this 14-day course to help you have smoother, more productive, more fulfilling mornings. Throughout the course, I’ll teach you how to develop a morning routine and before bed routine that actually works—and that sets you up for amazing success!
These routines will help everyone in your family have mornings that are calmer, saner, and happier. And it will set up your whole day for success.
2. It Won’t Shame You Into Feeling You “Must” Get Up Early
Contrary to what some might think, this is not a course about getting up earlier. Instead, it’s about using your morning intentionally — whether you get up at 4:30 a.m. or at 9:00 a.m.
In this course, I emphasize the critical importance of rest, adequate sleep, and doing what works best for you and your family.
Instagram photo from KatieRamsey
3. It Will Help You Define Your Priorities & Live Them Out
Through the videos and handbook, I’ll teach you how to streamline your morning tasks so that the biggest priorities are accomplished first. This will set up your entire day for better efficiency, productivity, and success.
In addition, I share with you tips and suggestions on how to make to-do lists that support your day, instead of strangle your life.
4. It Only Takes 15 Minutes Each Day
You might be thinking, “I totally want to make over my mornings but I just don’t have any extra time to go through a course.”
I specifically set up this course so that each day’s assignment could be completed in 15 minutes or less. That’s it!
Each day you’ll read a short chapter in the handbook, watch a short video I’ve recorded for you with practical tips and encouragement + an inside peek in my home and family life, and you’ll have a simple but impactful project to complete.
In total, these three things were designed to be completed in 15 minutes or less. This small investment—just 15 minutes of your day—can yield potentially amazing results for yourself and your family.
5. It’s Not Just For Stay-At-Home Moms
When writing and filming this course, one of my biggest goals was to make it applicable across the board to women in a variety of circumstances and life seasons.
So whether you are a full-time working woman, a single mom, a stay-at-home mom, a part-time work-from-home grandma, or a single girl, I believe that this course will be beneficial and helpful.
Not all of the stories or applications will directly speak to your unique situation, but the principles shared can be implemented and make a big difference regardless of your current life circumstances, marital status, or work hours.
Instagram photo from AllOurDays
6. It Will Give You a Peek Into Our Every Day Lives
One of the most fun parts of filming this course was filming the daily behind-the-scenes footage of our own home and lives. If you’ve ever wanted to be a fly on the wall in our home, this course gives you the opportunity to do just that!
My whole family agreed to let camera crews come in and film us going about our daily lives and routines. And I love how the final product gives you a true peek into our ordinary, real life.
You’ll see my husband, our three kids, and me working through our normal morning routines. You’ll see me going about my morning routine, planning for the day, exercise, preparing breakfast in our kitchen (still in our pajamas!), starting off the day with our chores, goal-setting with my husband, reading together, and much more.
I hope that you will be encouraged by seeing that while it’s not perfect in our household (or in anyone else’s!), the routines we have set in place really do bless our family!
7. It’s Almost Like Having Coffee With Me
I wish I could meet each of you for coffee personally. I love getting to have face-to-face time with readers and encouraging them in their endeavors.
I want you to succeed. I want you to live with intention, passion, and purpose. While I can’t sit down and personally encourage each of you in real-life, this course is one way I hope to be able to support and cheerlead you in your journey.
Every day for 14 days, you’ll get to watch a short upbeat video from me and get some practical tips, motivational ideas, as well as just a general boost to keep pressing forward.
Note: If you want to join other women around the country who are going through the course, there’s a Facebook Group started here by my friend, Caroline.
Instagram photo by hlcollea
8. It Helps Make a Big Difference in South Africa
Through midnight tonight (June 2, 2015), during our Launch Sale, we will be donating 25% of ALL direct purchases from our site to the ministry we support in South Africa.
The greatest needs right now are for a two-classroom facility and two Enviro-Loo toilets at the Reagoboka Centre (read more about our visit there here). The cost of both of these combined is $14,000.
And since I’m a big, big dreamer, I am praying that, with the sales through our site, we’ll raise $14,000 for South Africa. We are well on our way to accomplishing this and I can’t wait to share the final numbers with you tomorrow!
9. It’s a Risk-Free Purchase!
Because I want to help you use your money as wisely as possible, we are offering a 100% money-back guarantee for 30 days.
If you are still sitting on the fence right now wondering whether or not you should take the plunge and buy the Make Over Your Mornings Course, here’s why you should: it’s a risk-free purchase.
That’s right! There’s a 100% money-back guarantee on it for up to 30 days!
So if you purchase it and then decide it’s not as helpful as you’d hoped or that it’s not worth the price you paid, you can get a full refund — no questions asked.
So what are you waiting for? Click here to purchase the Make Over Your Mornings Course for just $13!
P.S. Remember, at midnight tonight, the price goes up to $17. So get in on this special price while you can!
BIG NEWS… and a crazy deal that you don’t want to miss!
After months of planning, brainstorming, writing, editing, tweaking, filming, more editing, more tweaking, and lots and lots of effort, I couldn’t be more excited to finally be announcing the launch of my brand-new course — Make Over Your Mornings!
I’ve never invested so much $$ or time into any project as far as I can remember. But it was worth it, because the finished product is amazing. Truly. I’ve never been more excited about something we’ve put together.
What Is Make Over Your Mornings?
Make Over Your Mornings is a 14-day online course that includes videos, a workbook, and step-by-step projects.
This 14-day course is designed to help you revolutionize your productivity, streamline your routines, invest your time in things that truly matter, and find more joy and peace in the process.
If you’ve ever wished that you could figure out how to get more done, have more organization in your life, and find time to spend on things you love, the Make Over Your Mornings Course is for you.
It’s not about following a one-size-fits-all system (because every woman and family is different!), but about creating a morning that is in line with your life, your strengths, your family’s needs, and your unique situation.
What Do I Get When I Purchase This Course?
When you purchase this course, you’ll get immediate access to all of the following:
- 14 high-quality videos with motivational encouragement from me — one for each day of the course.
- A behind-the-scenes peek into our everyday home and lives via short video clips throughout the course.
- A comprehensive workbook with 14 chapters filled with practical ideas and inspirational encouragement.
- Daily projects to guide you on your 14-day journey and help you implement and apply what you learned from the daily video and chapter.
- Printable worksheets to walk you step-by-step through some of the projects and motivate you to follow through.
- Additional links and resources for each day, if you’d like to dig deeper on a subject.
The course videos and materials can be accessed via any desktop computer, laptop computer, smartphone, or mobile device. You can choose to print the workbook or download it to your computer or phone.
This course is self-paced and you have lifetime access to all course downloads. You can begin it at any time and you can go at your own pace!
How Much Does It Cost?
In all honesty, knowing how much we invested in this course, my team wanted to charge more for the course. And I know we could. But I am very committed to making this course affordable and accessible for every woman — not just those who have a lot of wiggle room in their budgets to invest in online courses.
So, the course — including all the videos, the workbook, and the projects — will regularly retail for just $17. However, through midnight tonight, it’s just $13 — $4 off the retail price!
25% Of All Sales From Our Site Today Will Be Donated to South Africa!
You all know that when I visited South Africa in January, I left part of my heart there. But I also came back so stoked because I realized that we could use opportunities like this Make Over Your Mornings course launch to make a huge impact in the poorest communities there.
So here’s the deal: the greatest needs right now are for a two-classroom facility and two Enviro-Loo toilets at the Reagoboka Centre (read more about our visit there here). The cost of both of these combined is $14,000.
For 24 hours, beginning at midnight tonight (June 2, 2015), during this crazy, once-in-a-lifetime deal, we will be donating 25% of ALL direct purchases from our site to the the ministry in South Africa.
And since I’m a big, big dreamer, I am praying that, with the sales through our site, we’ll raise $14,000 for South Africa. Will you join me in praying for this?
That will make every single long hour and day poured into this project so very worth it. Best of all, I hope it encourages you to know that by purchase the course, you’re not just making a difference in your own life — you’re helping provide basic necessities for some of the neediest children in South Africa, many of whom don’t have parents and are barely eeking by.
What Are You Waiting For?
Go over to MakeOverYourMornings.com to find out all the details on this course and then be sure to take advantage of the crazy low-low-low prices we’re offering today only!
P.S. Not sure if this course is for you? We designed it with every woman in mind — whether you’re working, stay at home, married, single, or have kids or not. If you purchase it and find it’s not what you expected or doesn’t live up to your expectations in any way, we are offering a 30-day money-back guarantee, no questions asked! So, there’s literally zero risk in purchasing this! Go pick up your copy here.
33 Ways to Have a Better Day
Want to have a good or great day? Read my top tips on how to have a better day and simple ways to make the most of your every day!
Crystal, how do you stay motivated to get up and get moving each day? Do you generally have a positive attitude about your days? May I ask how you cope or stay on task when you’re tired or discouraged? -a reader
Why Should We Make the Most of Every Day?
We only have one life to live, so why not make the most of it and enjoy each day to the fullest?!
I want to wake up each morning ready to take on life and all its blessings. I’m a firm believer that if we choose to see the beauty, we will find it. So that’s what I strive for to help me have a good day.
What Does It Mean to Make The Most of Your Day?
This will look different for each person, but for me, trying to have a better day means:
- I try to choose to go through life looking for blessings, even when there are hard and heavy burdens.
- I aim to choose to go through life looking for the good to praise, instead of pointing out the things there are to criticize.
- I always try to choose to believe the best about others, even when I sometimes want to be frustrated and hurt.
I don’t always do a great job of this. There are days when I wake up feeling overwhelmed. When I feel tired and behind before my feet even hit the floor. When I just want to roll over and go back to sleep because my to-do list is too long and the night was too short.
33 Things I do to Have a Better Day!
When I wake up feeling discouraged and tired or when I start feeling down or want to wallow in frustration, I’ve found a number of solutions to help me get back on track and have more of a cheerful, upbeat attitude.
Over the past few days, I compiled a list of 33 different things I do almost daily to help me have a better day! If you’re looking for ways to make the most of your day, I hope some of these small suggestions help…
1. Get Up a Little Earlier — Even if I can’t get up really early, I have found that getting up just 15 minutes before my children do makes a world of difference in my day. I start the day out with more clarity and purpose, I’m more organized, and I’m a much more cheerful and relaxed mom. This is a huge key for me to have a good day!
2. Make a Cup of Coffee — Need I say more? I love me my fresh-brewed coffee with half and half. And I look forward to waking up every morning so I can drink my piping hot cup!
3. Light a Candle — I love the look and smell of a candle burning, so I light one just about every morning when I come downstairs to brew my coffee. It’s often the little things that can make such a difference!
4. Take Time to Brain Dump — Either at night before I go to bed or first thing in the morning, I write down everything I need to do that day or feel like I need to do. Getting it all out of my head onto paper is such a helpful exercise, and it really helps me make the most of every day!
5. Create Time Blocks for Tasks — Once I create my “brain dump list” of what I think I need to do during the day, then I go back and put those tasks into time blocks. Which basically means assigning times for each tasks — such as do x, y, and z from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m., etc. I try to also schedule in at least 2 hours of margin each day.
6. Delete Some Unnecessary Tasks From My Day — By creating time blocks for the tasks of my day, it helps me to figure out whether the tasks I think I need to do during that day are realistic or not. Often times, I’ll have more tasks than time, so I will cull some of the unnecessary items from the list freeing me to focus on the most important tasks for the day.
7. Write Down My Blessings — The practice of recording my blessings each day has transformed my attitude. I dare you to try it! Start your day with listing 1-3 things you are thankful for and I can almost guarantee that it will help you begin your day with a boost.
8. Read My Bible — As a Christian, spending time in God’s Word feeds my soul and encourages my heart. I’m loving doing the She Reads Truth studies right now and spending time digging deeper into God’s Word as a result.
9. Turn on Music — I love music and, never fails, if I’m feeling down or discouraged, when I turn on uplifting music, within 10-15 minutes or less, I’m smiling and humming along.
10. Clean Out My Inbox — I’m kind of a fanatic about keeping my inbox cleaned out, so I usually start my morning blogging time by quickly going through the emails in there and dealing with them — either responding, filing, delegating, or deleting them. This helps me to make sure I don’t get behind on tasks and stay organized as a business owner.
11. Find Something to Smile About — I love to laugh, so I’m always looking for funny stories and cartoons to share to make other people smile, too. I usually post a few of my favorites on the Money Saving Mom® Facebook Page each day.
12. Write a Blog Post — Writing is cathartic for me, so I’ve made a habit of writing something every single day. Sundays are the only day I take off from blogging, so every other day, I usually write at least part of a post or a full post. I often outline the post one day and then come back to it the next day or a few days later to finish the bones of it.
13. Hug My Kiddos — We’re generous with the physical affection at our house and I know everyone benefits as a result. Plus, it’s hard to be frustrated with someone for long if you are hugging them regularly! 🙂
14. Kiss My Husband — I’ve read things about the importance of a 15-second kiss at least once every day. We aim to go above and beyond that every day… and we’re big fans of not keeping things G-rated. 😉
15. Get My Heart Pounding — Exercise stimulates my brain, makes me feel more energetic, and helps me stay fit and healthy. Even if it’s just a brisk walk at a store or stair-climbing or a quick 5-minute run, I try to do a little something every single day. A little bit is better than nothing at all!
16. Take a Shower — I’m a grouch if I don’t take a shower and shave my legs every. single. day. There, now you know more than you needed to know about me. 🙂
17. Dress in Something I Love — Take a little time to put on an outfit you love, a little jewelry, and a little makeup. It’s amazing the difference this can make in your energy and productivity. This is something I used to underestimate, but it really helps me make the most of every day — even though it’s something small!
18. Read Aloud with My Kids — I love, love, love reading aloud to my kids. So I try to read at least a few pages — if not a few chapters — every day with them. It fills me up and they love it, too!
19. Do Something for Someone Else — The less you can think about yourself and the more you can invest in others, the more fulfilled you’ll be. Look for ways to bless others — whether that’s a word of encouragement, a quick text to tell someone you’re thinking about them, sending a card in the mail, or just stopping to listen to someone when you run into them at the store.
20. Take Some Time to Breathe — I try to take a little time each day — even if it’s just a few minutes — to do something that fills up my soul. Whether this is soaking up quiet while driving, meeting a friend for coffee, reading a little bit from a book, or watching a movie with my husband.
21. Savor Another Cup of Coffee — And yup, this is highly important. I love my afternoon cup of coffee, too. Almost as much, or maybe even more, than my morning cup of coffee.
22. Eat Healthy Food — I try to eat at least 5 servings of fruits and veggies plus good protein every single day. This gives me fuel and helps me feel more energetic.
23. Drink Plenty of Water — Water is one of the best liquids you can give your body. Many of us don’t drink enough on a regular basis, so I try to always have a glass of water or water bottle handy to encourage myself to drink plenty of water and stay hydrated.
24. Take My Vitamins — I take a few different vitamins every day and can tell a pretty marked difference in how I feel and in my energy levels when I don’t take them.
25. Clean Up the Main Living Areas — We do a quick clean up of our main living areas twice a day — once in the mornings after breakfast and in the evenings after dinner. This helps our home always stay pretty tidy and never get out of control or become too overwhelming.
26. Do a Load of Laundry — Doing a load of laundry from start to finish every day helps me to stay {mostly} on top of the laundry and never get too far behind. This is a practice I’m still working on, but have made huge strides in over the last few months. Yay!
27. Listen to or Read Something that Makes Me Think — I think it’s important to be stimulating our brains on a daily basis, so I try to read at least a little from a book or listen to part of a podcast.
28. Post on Instagram — I try to post at least one post {almost} every day on Instagram. I love documenting our life this way and it’s a great way for me to also focus on the good and beautiful things in our daily lives.
29. Text a Friend — I love texting — it’s a great way to keep up with people on a regular basis and to share a little of what’s going on in our lives. I have a few friends that I text with at least a few times per week and we often share funny and encouraging things which make me smile.
30. Have at Least One Meaningful Conversation — I’m a huge fan of deep, meaningful conversations and don’t last very long without them. So I make it a point to have at least one every day — whether that’s with my husband, with my kids, with a friend over coffee, or on the phone.
31. Clean Up the Kitchen — A clean kitchen makes me so happy. So I make it a point to go to bed with it clean and then to have it completely cleaned after breakfast, too.
32. Hang Out With My Family — I love spending time with my people so much. I just can’t get enough of them. So we try to spend at least a little time every day just hanging out — talking, laughing, teasing, working together, and/or doing something fun together.
33. Go to Bed at a Decent Hour — This is highly important. Turn off the electronics, wind down early, and go to bed. A good night’s sleep will do wonders for your energy, productivity, stress levels, and overall mood.
How to Pick Something to Make the Most of Your Day
There are so many ideas here, so I’ll go with my usual advice to just start somewhere! Don’t try to overhaul your life all at once, but start small and build on daily habits.
Try something tomorrow that might help you have a better day, and then the next day try something else to help you have a good day, and then the day after that try adding something else that will help you have a great day!
Over time, you’ll see the fruits of your efforts and these small habits will add up to a changed life!
Inspirational Quotes To Help You Have a Better Day
I have saved many of my favorite inspirational quotes over the years to my Pinterest board here, but here are just a few of my faves that encourage me to have a better day…
“Jealousy is when you count someone else’s blessings instead of your own.”
“Contentment is a state of the heart, unaffected by outward circumstances.”
“Remember, no matter what difficulties you might be dealing with today, somebody else would love to be in your shoes.”
“There is always something to be grateful for.”
As you can tell, I’m a big believer in contentment and being grateful for the life you’re living! Make the most of every day by living the life you’re called to live.
Want some practical help with setting up your day for success? Be sure to grab a copy of my online course, Make Over Your Mornings.
This 14-day online course includes videos, a workbook, and step-by-step projects and is designed to help you revolutionize your productivity, streamline your routines, invest your time in things that truly matter, and find more joy and peace in the process.
If you’ve ever wished that you could figure out how to get more done, have more organization in your life, and find time to spend on things you love, the Make Over Your Mornings Course is for you. Find out more about it here.
Psst! I’d love to hear your suggestions or tips on how to have a good day! Let us know in the comments what you do to help you make the most of your day.
Why We’re Ditching Mainstream for an Airstream
Heather from Queen Bee Coupons shared a post today on why they are ditching mainstream for an Airstream. I think some of you will really enjoy reading it. Here’s a snippet:
In just a couple week my family and I will say goodbye to our traditional home and move into a 180-ish square foot Airstream trailer. Not just for a weekend camping trip – but for a year. And we’ll take that shiny, tiny home all around this beautiful country.
That’s right. We’re ditching mainstream. . .for an adventure in an Airstream.
I know this sounds crazy. Let me explain. . . .
We’ve spent the last 12 years pursuing the American Dream – a 2,000 square foot house, two cars, two full-time jobs, a couple vacations a year, kids in public school and preschool – we worked extremely hard and were very happy, grateful and blessed.
Life was good but we wanted something else. Something different.
We were sick of the stuff, the excess, the clutter. A life dictated by a 9-5 job. A rat race that had us thinking if only we had a bigger house, more storage, more money – things would be easier and/or we would be happier.
We spent the last year talking about buying a new house or moving to a new part of the country. We spent a year looking at big, beautiful houses – dream houses, really, but nothing felt just right. Even if we could afford it, we kept asking ourselves – will that gourmet kitchen really make us happy? Will that waterfront property really bring us joy? Maybe. But for how long? And how hard will we have to keep working to keep up with that dream house?
Free audiobook: Being a Dad Who Leads by John MacArthur
During the month of June, you can download a free copy of John MacArthur’s audiobook, Being a Dad Who Leads.
Free printable & editable June Cleaning Calendar
Need some motivation to get your home in better order this month? Download a free printable & editable June Cleaning Calendar.
5 Things I’m Loving This Week
So many, many of you said you loved the 5 Things I’m Loving This Week Feature from last week. And I loved how you shared your things that you’re loving, too.
Here’s this week’s installment of my 5 things I’ve been loving this past week:
1. Peanut Butter & Chocolate Chips — I love me some peanut butter and chocolate chips on a spoon. Or, if I’m being completely honest, sometimes straight from the jar and bag. Anyone else do this, too? It’s one of my favorite quick snacks or pick-me-ups!
{The Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips or the Lily’s Chocolate Chips are my favorite “healthy” brands. Both are very expensive, so they are only an occasionally-purchased treat using Amazon gift cards earned through Swagbucks.}
2. The Make Over Your Mornings Site — It is so incredibly rewarding to see months and months of hard work, brainstorming, tweaking, and editing come together and to be just two days away from the biggest product launch we’ve ever had on my site.
Today, I spent a number of hours finalizing things and getting the Make Over Your Mornings site almost all finished (no, I didn’t touch the design part of it, I just wanted to make quite a few edits and tweaks — and try not to break anything in the process! 🙂
You can head over here for a sneak peek of it. And then don’t forget to set your alarms or reminders to get in on the crazy low sale prices (hello, $5!) we’re offering for the launch on Tuesday for those who are fast enough to scoop them up! Read all about the sale prices and times here.
3. Becoming a Sports Mom — At Silas’ request, I wore my Game Day tee from Cents of Style (it’s no longer available on their site that I could find) for his baseball game today. And it made me realize something: much to my surprise, I think I may be turning into a full-fledged sports mom.
I never would have pictured myself as such, but I’m completely loving the character and life skills our kids are developing as a result of being involved in sports that I can’t help myself. It’s amazing how much your children’s interests and passions change and impact you as a parent!
4. Turquoise Jeans — Also notice in the above picture that I have on turquoise jeans, which is definitely stepping out of my “fashion comfort zone”. I’ve long wanted to try to find a pair that fit me well, but it felt like it was a hopeless search and I begin to think I should just stick with regular denim.
However, I found a deal online on these on RueLaLa and took a chance and bought them using credit I’d earned months ago. I’m so glad I did, because I love them… they are so bright and cheery and comfy and fit me perfectly. Plus, I love that they can be dressed up or down.
5. Rain — It’s rained a lot this week and I’ve loved it as it’s been so refreshing and peaceful. (I kind of feel badly being happy for the rain, though, when so many areas are experiencing flooding as a result.)
It rained at Silas’ baseball game today, so while everyone else huddled under shelter, the girls had a dance party. I love how these girls inspire me to embrace and delight in the everyday moments!
What about YOU? What 5 things are YOU loving this week? Tell us in the comments.
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Guest post from Jennifer of The Intentional Mom
While growing up, I experienced what many would consider a privileged life filled with numerous niceties… like a 34-foot power boat, annual vacations, and a closet full of clothes and various things.
I was not given everything though. I had a regular job by the time I was in eighth grade since my parents instilled within me a strong work ethic and required me to work for some of the extras I desired. My parents also taught me the importance of budgeting and saving; but growing up with this privileged lifestyle provided me with a false sense of security and a warped idea of what I needed to feel satisfied.
As a young newlywed I was working 60 to 70 hours a week as a hairdresser while my husband made a career in retail sales. A few years later, we were able to build a house and began looking toward having children.
After being married for nearly seven years, we became parents and I reduced my work hours to just two short evenings a week. Shortly after our third child turned one, I left my job completely.
Fast forward several years to this past fall as I sat surrounded by the bins of clothing that have passed down from one to the other among our now seven children.
I opened the box of boys clothes labeled “4T/5T” and was taken aback. The tears began to flow like Niagara Falls, which soon gave way to heaving sobs. Inside the box were three neatly folded shirts on top of three neatly folded pairs of pants with one pair of pants covered in soot from the fireplace in our old house.
Those clothes were worn in 2008 and 2009 — when we could only afford to buy our four young children three pairs of pants and three shirts that were mix and match styles so it wouldn’t be obvious that we were… poor. It was during this time that we put a few measly Christmas ornaments on a large potted plant because we couldn’t afford a Christmas tree. I also had only five dollars to spend on each child that year for Christmas.
You see, it was shortly after I stopped working that the financial crisis hit, and my husband’s well paying job in retail sales was no longer well paying. Not in the least.
With an eight-year gap between my first and second sons, I hadn’t seen the clothes in this bin since 2008. Those soot-covered pants were free from stains when I put them in the box, but over time old stains have a way of seeping from the fabric and becoming new stains again.
Much like the deeply stained threads that had emerged once again, the emotions of the heart-wrenching journey we traveled rose to the surface again that day. During that time in my life, I learned to become humble and to swallow my pride, and I was forced to graciously embrace the gifts others gave us to help keep us afloat.
I wept over the nearly empty box of clothes that day last fall because that season in my life was not an easy one, but it is the season of my life that I miss the most. This sounds completely counter-intuitive, I realize, but it was the season in my life when I lived, breathed, and learned to internalize the words of Paul when he speaks in Philippians 4:12 saying, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”
As a family, we were incredibly blessed during that drought that lasted for more than two years. We didn’t lose our house, we always had food to put on the table, and we even had $1200 show up in our checking account completely out of the blue. We once opened the front door to find a gift bag with cash inside, we were given grocery money from a family member, and we had a different family member contribute toward car repairs that could no longer wait.
It was the lessons I learned during this time in my life, however, that made my heart bleed red all over the inside of the box of clothes that day. I learned what it means to truly be content even while in that valley.
Although losing our financial security felt like the rug had been pulled out from under me, I learned to find security in the faces of the little people I had been given to raise, love, and nurture. Traveling through the crisis of financial distress taught me that contentment cannot be found in what we have, but in who we are when our current securities are ripped away, leaving us completely raw and vulnerable.
I discovered that my contentment is found in the unconditional love and acceptance of my God, my husband, my children, and the loved ones who extended a helping hand along that rocky path.
I cherish that season of my life because it was then that I learned what I truly need to be satisfied, which is a lesson that could only have been grasped while in the valley.
Do you find yourself in a valley today? Do not be anxious, do not fear. The lessons you learn while in your own valley just may be the lessons you will one day treasure the most.
Jennifer is a busy, homeschooling mom of seven who enjoys keeping a home, living an active lifestyle, and loving the little and not so little people in her life. Her mission is helping other moms find contentment in living intentionally every day over at her blog, The Intentional Mom.
How I find time to invest in things I love
I’m so honored to be featured in this month’s edition of The Fringe newsletter that just went out today. In this issue, I share about things I’m passionate about, how I find time to invest in things I love, plus three things I’m really digging right now.
You can go here to read it. Psst! My Instagram link is incorrect in the issue. It’s actually Instagram.com/themoneysavingmom — I’d love to have you follow me there, if you aren’t already!
By the way, if you want to sign up for future editions of The Fringe newsletter, you can go here to sign up. I’ve loved the issues I’ve received!
Chore Chart Door Hangers
Want to encourage kids to get their chores and other projects done this summer? Check out this Chore Chart Door Hanger system from Whisk Together. Her post is full of lots of practical ideas!
How to Get Free Products In Exchange for an Amazon Review
Kelly emailed in the following tip:
I recently discovered something I think others should know about…
There are several FREE groups you can be a part of that allow you to buy products on Amazon for free or highly discounted as long as you leave an honest review on Amazon in return. This works best for prime members, otherwise you may have to pay for shipping. I have received several amazing beauty products and kitchen products for free or nearly free!
My favorite groups are:
— SnagShout.com
— EliteDealClub.com
— AmazingDealsGroup.comYou can also sign up for emails at OzNaturals.com & InstaNatural.com and they will send you opportunities to try their full size beauty products in exchange for an honest reviews.
Brigette’s $54 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan
Aldi
(I didn’t buy as much at Aldi this week since we still have a lot of leftover produce from last week that needs to be used up.)
1 16-oz bag Mini Sweet Peppers – $2.29
2 16-oz bags Baby Carrots – $1.98
1 6-oz can Tomato Paste – $0.39
1 8-oz carton Heavy Whipping Cream – $1.89
1 32-oz tub Nonfat Greek Yogurt – $3.69
2 16-oz pkgs Ground Turkey (which ended up in the wrong picture :)) – $3.78
1 head Cauliflower – $1.99
1 20-oz box Raisin Bran – $1.79
1 Dijon Mustard – $0.79
2 16-oz cartons Egg Whites – $3.98
2 18-oz boxes Corn Flakes – $2.98
1 15.3 box Honey Wheat Puffs – $1.79
2 3-ct pkgs Romaine Hearts – $3.98, plus receive $0.25 back from Checkout 51 – $3.73 after rebate
Total after Rebate: $30.07
Harris Teeter
2 dozen Eggs – $2.50, plus receive $0.30 back from Ibotta – $2.20/2 after rebate
1 24-ct box Lipton Iced Tea Bags – $1.49, used $0.75/1 Lipton Tea Bags, K-Cup, Tea & Honey or Iced Tea Mix, exp. 6/14/15 (RP 05/17/15 R) (doubled), plus $0.40/1 Harris Teeter evic – $0.40MM after coupons
1 40-ct box Tetley Tea – $1.59, used $1/1 coupon (this was an insert coupon, although I can’t find it in the database for some reason), plus $0.75/1 Harris Teeter evic – $0.16MM after coupons
2 boxes Cookie Crisp – $4.00, used 2 $0.75/1 printable (doubled), plus receive $0.75 back from SavingStar and $0.30 from Ibotta – $0.05MM after coupons and rebates
2 12.25-oz jars Smuckers Ice Cream Topping – $4.00, used 2 $0.55/1 printable (doubled) – $1.80/2 after coupons
4 64-oz cartons Silk (2 Almond, 2 Cashew) – $10.00 (must buy 4 to get this price), used 2 $0.75/1 Silk Half Gallon, exp. 6/30/15 (RP 05/17/15 #2) (doubled), plus 2 $0.75/1 printable (doubled) – $4.00/4 after coupons
2 6-ct pkgs Cobblestone Bagels – $3.98, used 2 $0.55/1 printable (doubled) – $1.78/2 after coupons
2 8-oz pkgs Kraft Shredded Cheese – $3.65, used $1/2 Kraft Natural Cheese, exp. 6/10/15 (RP 05/10/15 R) – $2.65/2 after coupon
1 5.5-oz bag RiceWorks – $1.49, used $1/1 Riceworks Gourmet Rice Snacks, exp. 6/20/15 (SS 05/10/15 R) – $0.49 after coupon
2 8-ct pkgs Gwaltney Hotdogs – $1.94, used $0.75/2 Gwaltney Hot Dogs, exp. 6/20/15 (SS 05/10/15 R) (doubled) – $0.44/2 after coupon
1 1-lb bag Lemons – $0.99
1 gallon Milk – $2.99, plus receive $0.30 back from Ibotta – $2.69 after rebate
Total after all Coupons and Rebates: $16.43
Farm Market
1 huge box of Zucchini, reduced – $5.00
1 large bunch of Rhubarb, reduced – $2.99
Total: $7.99
Weekly Total: $54.49
Weekly Menu Plan
Breakfasts
Zucchini bread, Oranges x 2
Toasted Cinnamon Raisin Bagels, Hard Boiled Eggs
Oatmeal and Strawberries (from the freezer) x 2
Cereal x 2
Lunches
Baked Zucchini Fries, Apples, Sliced Cheese
Baked Potato Bar (Cottage Cheese, Shredded Cheese, Butter), Sautéed Zucchini
Pick-Me-Up Smoothies, Raw Veggies, Easy Whole Wheat Bread
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches on Easy Whole Wheat Bread, Watermelon (we are still working on eating up the watermelon I bought last week), Carrot Sticks
Veggie Omelettes, Oranges, Easy Whole Wheat Bread
Leftovers x 2
Dinners
Fried Egg/Cheese Bagel Sandwiches (meatless meal), Orange Smoothies, Steamed Broccoli
Three Cheese Baked Spaghetti (I had this on my menu last week, but ended up not making it), Roasted Cauliflower, Tossed Salad, Homemade Garlic Bread
Baked Chicken and Zucchini, Brown Rice, Orange Slices, Rhubarb Crisp
Chicken Gravy over Homemade Biscuits, Green Beans, Watermelon
Build-Your-Own-Burritos (using homemade tortillas), Tossed Salad, Fruit
Leftovers x 2
Snacks
Zucchini Bread, Rhubarb Crisp, Frozen Grapes, Raw Veggies and Ranch Dressing, Easy Peasy Chocolate Torte (bringing this to the reception after my children’s piano recital)