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Published: by Gretchen on | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.
Looking for some good books to read this summer? Check out these deals!
Wow! Amazon is having a huge book sale and offering up to 65% off this week! There are so many favorites included at some of the lowest prices ever. Choose from popular authors like Kristin Hannah, Frieda McFadden, Kelly Rimmer, Lysa Terkeurst and more!
Published: by Crystal Paine on | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.
Want some creative ideas to help your teen earn their own money? Download this free list of 10 Genius Side Hustles for Teens that no one is talking about!
Want to help your teen earn their own money — but mowing lawns and babysitting aren’t really their thing?
Most teens only hear about the same few money-making ideas (hello babysitting and lawn mowing!), but there are SO many other creative (and higher-paying!) ways for them to earn — and build real-world skills while they’re at it. That’s why I created this free download with 10 Genius Side Hustles for Teens.
Whether your teen is saving for something big, wants to start learning financial independence, or just loves a good challenge — this list will help get the wheels turning!
As a mom of 6 (including 2 teens and a college student!), I’ve seen firsthand how valuable it is to encourage teens to start earning early. Not only does it teach them the value of a dollar — it sets them up for long-term success.
How to start making some spending money with little to no upfront costs.
Some creative ways to turn their skills (yes, things they ALREADY enjoy doing!) into extra cash!
If you’ve ever thought, “I want to help my teen earn money… I just don’t know where to start!” — this freebie is for you (and them!).
Learning how to earn money is about so much more than just a few extra dollars — it’s about helping your teen step into their potential. These side hustles build essential life skills (like confidence, communication, time management, and goal-setting)!
Let’s help your teen learn some SMART ways to earn their own money!
Published: by Crystal Paine on | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.
I have been working on a new product to help those who find it hard to save money or who feel like you just don’t know what to prioritize when it comes to saving money.
And I’d love your help!
If you find saving money challenging, would you take an anonymous survey sharing honestly about why you struggle with it, what is hardest about it, and what your road blocks and hang-ups to saving money are? This will help me be able to better create a product to serve you and help you!
I know saving money can feel overwhelming, confusing, or even downright impossible at times — especially when life is busy and budgets are tight. This quick survey will help me understand what you’re walking through so I can create something that truly helps. Thanks for being honest — there’s no shame here, only support and practical hope!
For March, my goal was to finish 6 books and I’m thrilled to report that I finished 6 books! And I finished a fiction book (and I’m over halfway through another!!)
My sister gently encouraged me to just try reading a little fiction every day before bed. Pretty soon, not only was I regularly doing that, but I’ve usually been finding a few little pockets throughout the day to get a little more reading in! I’ve been loving it and it’s been so good for my brain and my soul!
Each month, I plan to share reviews on the books I finished the month before since many of you have begged for me to bring back my book posts here on the blog. I’ll also be sharing more about what I’m reading in real-time over on Instagram stories, on the podcast, and in my personal email newsletter.
The 6 Books I Read in March
The Frozen River — This was a really interesting historical novel based upon a true story. I found it heartbreaking to hear how women didn’t have much of a voice at all during this time period. If you enjoy historical fiction, I definitely recommend this book.
How Great is Our God — I read this devotional aloud to the younger kids and they LOVED it!! It’s fascinating and really captured their attention. Definitely recommended if you have kids who like science!
Building True Intimacy — I read this in preparation for a podcast interview and loved that it challenged me — especially when it comes to my long-held belief that a strong marriage requires compromise. The authors make a case for why compromise actually hurts marriage and relationships in the long run and what to do instead. I have a podcast episode dropping soon where we discuss this, plus many more things they shared in their book!
The Fight For Us – Yes! I read two marriage books this month. Both were in prep for podcast episodes, but I said yes to the podcast interviews because I needed the encouragement. This is an area that I really want to grow in this year because I feel like, after 23 years of marriage, I’ve gotten into ruts that are unhealthy and am working to get out of those and build healthier rhythms and patterns. This book deeply impacted my life and I will likely be sharing more soon on the podcast — once I have some time to process it more with Jesse. And look for an upcoming episode where I get to sit down and ask some honest questions of the authors!
You’re Not Too Late – Rebecca George was a new-to-me author, but I was so blessed by reading her words and getting to interview her on the podcast. If you’re feeling like you are left behind, left out, or late to your life, I think this book and our podcast episode together will encourage you.
Celebrating Around the Table – I loved getting to know Trillia a little bit when she came for her podcast episode. She is so kind and wise and my conversation with her is a podcast episode I believe everyone will be challenged and encouraged by listening to. Her book guides you through history lessons and devotionals and provides yummy recipes to help you celebrate Black Christians.
For those who ask when I read: I always have a few books going at once and I usually read a chapter or two of a Christian inspiration book + a business book every morning. Then, my goal is to read a fiction/story-driven book for at least 15 minutes at night.
What books have you finished recently? I’d love to hear!
FREE Goal Setting Worksheets!
Let me help you set, track, and actually accomplish your goals this year!
Published: by Crystal Paine on | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.
If you’re wondering how to make homemade mayo, I found the perfect recipe and it was ridiculously EASY! It turned out SO good!
Earlier this year, I added “Make Homemade Mayo” to my 12 Things to Attempt in 2025 list. It felt a sort of random at the time, but it’s one of those skills I’ve wanted to try for a long time. It seemed like it couldn’t be too hard to do and it was something outside my usual kitchen skills.
And guess what? I tried it, and it worked!
Once I decided to try making mayo from scratch, I did what most of us do — I searched online for a recipe that felt doable. That’s when I stumbled across this article and recipe from Inspired Taste. It promised creamy, fresh-tasting mayo in just a few minutes using ingredients I already had on hand.
I figured I had nothing to lose, so I pulled out my food processor.
Emulsification is Key
This homemade mayo recipe I found has just a few ingredients:
1 large egg
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar or white wine vinegar
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt, or more to taste
1 cup (240ml) safflower oil or vegetable oil
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, optional
You’ll also need a food processor or something similar to mix everything up but you can prepare a batch of homemade mayo pretty quickly. (Many people highly recommend using an immersion blender for homemade mayo but my little food processor worked just fine!)
One of the big things this recipe emphasized was something called emulsification. If you’re like me and hadn’t heard of that before, here’s the short version: It’s the process of blending two things that don’t normally mix, like oil and vinegar or oil and egg, into a smooth, thick, uniform sauce. In this case, it’s what turns your runny ingredients into fluffy, creamy mayo.
The first few minutes of making it, I honestly thought I had messed up. I slowly drizzled in the oil just like the recipe said, but it didn’t seem like anything was happening. But then, little by little, the texture changed. It started to whip and thicken… and suddenly I had actual mayonnaise!
(Note: It would be easier to have a food processor that has a spout at the top that you can drizzle the oil through while still blending. But I just used what I had — my food processor doesn’t have a spout — and it meant I had to keep taking the lid off, adding a tiny bit of oil, putting the lid back on, and so on and so forth. It worked, but it definitely wasn’t very efficient!)
Farm Fresh and Flavorful
One thing I did differently from the original recipe was use a farm-fresh egg and a dollop of mustard, which gave it a lovely yellow hue and a rich, tangy flavor. It was definitely more vibrant than the mayo you buy at the store, and I think that made it even more fun… er, maybe some people would say weird. (My husband was like, “What is THAT in the fridge?” But then he was very impressed when I told him I’d made homemade mayo!)
Some people might prefer the neutral color and flavor of store-bought brands, but I loved how real and fresh this tasted. And I loved knowing exactly what went into it — no preservatives or additives.
Depending upon what kind of oil and vinegar and mustard you use, you can really change up the flavors of the mayo and find a combo that you love!
Is It Really Cheaper to Make Your Own?
Now, I wouldn’t necessarily call homemade mayo a money-saving must. A jar of store-bought mayonnaise is usually affordable (Kroger just had them on a crazy sale of $0.99 per smaller container!), and it lasts quite a while. That said, if you already have the ingredients or you’re someone who likes to avoid certain oils, preservatives, or allergens, this could be a fantastic alternative.
And beyond the practical side of things, I’ll just say this: there’s something really satisfying about making something from scratch. I felt so proud when it all came together (and yes, I might have done a little happy dance in the kitchen).
What I Want to Try Next
Now that I’ve dipped my toe into the world of emulsification, I’m curious what else I can make! Salad dressings? Aioli? Hollandaise sauce? I’d love to try a few more recipes that build on this same technique.
Have you ever tried a homemade mayo recipe? Or tried any other recipes that use emulsification? I’d love to hear your favorites in the comments. If you’ve ever done something new that made you feel more confident and creative in the kitchen, I’d love to hear about that, too!
Don’t Miss My Other Homemade Attempts from 2025 So Far!
