Looking for some easy dinner ideas? This Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Chicken is so simple, budget-friendly, and can be used in many different ways!
{Struggle with feeling like there’s nothing to cook? Try this huge list of 50+ easy family dinner recipes!}
The following is a guest post by Danielle Miller from BorrowedBites.com:
Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken
You may remember me from my first post where I wrote all about my deep love for the Sunday Dinner Tradition we have with family, but that is not the only thing I have a deep love of. I also love quick dinners. I mean I do enjoy spending hours in the kitchen cooking, but only when I want to. Haha!
Enter this quick and easy, inexpensive, no-brainer Mexican Chicken recipe that can be used many different ways. It’s the kind you plop in the slow cooker and use all week. Or you can make a large batch and freeze the leftovers into smaller portions for a quick meal whenever.
The best part? It takes just 4 ingredients and a slow cooker. The perfect answer when you need something simple and quick. Can I get an amen?
Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Chicken Ingredients
Like I said, you only need a few ingredients for this very simple Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Chicken! Here’s what you’ll need:
- 4 chicken breasts
- Oil, salt, and pepper: These are traditionally considered “free” in a recipe.
- A jar of your favorite green salsa. Herdez is my go-to, but I also like the Walmart brand and Trader Joes also makes a delicious one.
- Chipotle Chile Powder*: This ingredient is the real secret to the flavor in this recipe, so do not skip it! If you are not familiar with this ingredient, it is made of smoked jalapeños that have been ground into a powder. It adds smokiness and a touch of spice. Each brand has a different heat level, so I would start with a little less and increase until the desired heat level is reached. I usually get mine at Smith’s (a Kroger store) when they do BOGO sales. I love it so much and put it in a lot of different recipes — including this White Chicken Chili and these Skillet Chicken Fajitas.
- Brown Sugar: For just a touch of sweet. Feel free to substitute with honey if you want a more natural option.
*If you really don’t want any heat in your Mexican Chicken then you can substitute with smoked paprika (not regular), but the flavor won’t be quite the same. Delicious but not quite as developed.
How to Make Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Chicken
1. Coat every inch of the chicken breasts in oil and place them in the slow cooker.
2. Season with salt and pepper.
3. In a bowl or measuring cup, mix the salsa, chipotle chili powder, and brown sugar. Stir to combine.
4. Pour salsa mixture over the chicken breasts and turn the slow cooker on low for 3-4 hours.
5. At the three-hour mark, check to see if the breasts are shreddable. If they are not, leave them in the slow cooker for another hour.
6. If they are ready to shred, use two forks to pull them completely apart.
7. Keep the shredded chicken breasts and juices in the slow cooker on low for an extra hour to soak up all the flavorful juice.
8. Serve immediately or turn the slow cooker to “keep warm” for up to two hours.
(Scroll to the bottom of this post for more detailed directions and a printable recipe!)
Mexican Shredded Chicken – Slow Cooker Tips
- First, coat the chicken breasts in a bit of oil. My favorite is olive oil, but your favorite cooking oil will work just fine. Chicken breasts are very lean and therefore can dry out easily. The oil helps keep them from drying out during the cooking process.
- Second, once the chicken breasts are shredded, let them soak up the juices that are in the slow cooker for an hour. Then the inside is just as flavorful and juicy as the outside!
How to Use Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken
After cooking your Mexican Shredded Chicken in the slow cooker, there are endless options for ways to use it. Here are just a few ideas:
- As a part of a build-your-own burrito bowl or taco bar. Everyone gets exactly what they want in their own bowl or taco. Options might include cilantro rice, black beans, lettuce, cheese, salsa, avocado, cilantro, etc. (You could also use this in place of the ground beef in these Build-Your-Own Haystacks!)
- Add to a bagged Southwestern salad mix for a quick and easy protein choice. It’s such an easy way to spruce of a salad and provide some variety!
- Put inside enchilada burritos (aka wet burritos).
- Add it to these 15 minute corn tortilla quesadillas. A great way to use up tortillas and whatever melty cheese you have on hand.
- Use as a filling in enchiladas, burritos, tacos, or taquitos.
Mexican Chicken Slow Cooker Recipe
Ingredients
- Olive Oil
- 4 Chicken Breasts trimmed
- Salt
- Pepper
- 16 ounces Green Salsa Herdez or similar
- 3 Tbsp Chipotle Chile Powder
- 2 Tbsp Brown Sugar
Instructions
- Coat every inch of the chicken breasts in oil and place them in the slow cooker.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- In a bowl or measuring cup, mix the salsa, chipotle chili powder, and brown sugar. Stir to combine.
- Pour salsa mixture over the chicken breasts and turn the slow cooker on low for 3-4 hours.
- At the three-hour mark, check to see if the breasts are shreddable. If they are not, leave them in the slow cooker for another hour.
- If they are ready to shred, use two forks to pull them completely apart.
- Keep the shredded chicken breasts and juices in the slow cooker on low for an extra hour to soak up all the flavorful juice.
- Serve immediately or turn the slow cooker to “keep warm” for up to two hours.
Notes
- If making a large batch be sure that your slow cooker is large enough and note that it might take longer to cook.
- If you don’t want to use chipotle chili powder you can substitute with smoked paprika. It will not have the same depth of flavor, but it is still tasty.
Nutrition
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How to Store Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Chicken
If you have any leftovers, simply place them in a tightly sealed food storage container and refrigerate for up to a week.
You can also portion this out for the freezer. We recommend dividing it up into 2-cup portions (or whatever your family would eat in one meal) in zip-top bags and freezing them flat.
Pulled Chicken Slow Cooker Mexican FAQs
You may not have used enough liquid, or maybe you just haven’t cooked it long enough for it to become “pull-apart tender”.
No, it would be extremely difficult, if no impossible to shred raw chicken. It would also create VERY tough, dry meat by trying to shred it before as all the juices would escape during the cooking process.
If you need to shred a large amount of chicken, put the cooked chicken in a bowl of your stand mixer and turn it on. It will shred perfectly in seconds! You can also use a large bowl and hand mixer if you don’t have a stand mixer.
More like this Mexican Chicken Slow Cooker Recipe
Recipes with just a few ingredients can be a lifesaver when things are busy or the pantry and refrigerator are looking a bit empty. Here are a few other favorite dinner ideas that are super simple:
- Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Tortellini Soup — This recipe is so simple to make and it’s a fun twist on traditional chicken noodle soup. Plus, it can be made ahead in the crock pot!
- Super Simple Sheet Pan Dinner — This recipe is so versatile, comforting, filling, and easy. Plus, you can switch it up easily depending on what ingredients you have on hand.
- Crockpot Taco Soup — This one is super simple to make and really versatile!
- 4 Ingredient Potato Soup — A consistent favorite on the blog. It’s a recipe passed down from my grandma that’s easy on the wallet and yummy on the tummy!
- 4 Ingredient White Chocolate Churro Popcorn – This is great to up your movie night snacks, but it is also fantastic for taking to a party. Plus it is easily customizable; just toss in a few sprinkles that match the holiday or team you’re celebrating!
- 4 Ingredient Chicken Marinade — Perfect for loading up the freezer ahead of grilling season. This chicken is great on its own or chopped up and tossed in a salad for lunch.
- Over 50 Cheap and Easy Dinner Ideas — When it seems like there’s nothing to cook, look in your pantry and see if you can whip up one of these simple ideas!
- 20 Quick & Easy Make-Ahead Dinners — These freezer-friendly dinner recipes are SO easy to make ahead of time and have ready when you need them! So many delicious options!!
Have you ever tried making Mexican Shredded Chicken in the Slow Cooker? Any other great ideas? Let’s hear!
A Peek Into This Past Week (+ my 6 goals for this week)
She crawled up onto me one morning this past week and fell back to sleep.
I can’t get enough of these baby snuggles.
Kathrynne and Kaitlynn were gone on high school trips last week, so he and I got to spend more one-on-one time together… which was so fun!
She’s loving taking care of her babydoll these days. It’s so sweet to watch!
She’s perfected the art of finger-wagging and it’s so funny!
He’s all into books right now. He sits and turns the pages and “reads” them. It’s the cutest!
He looks so grown up in this little chair at therapy!
I posted this on Instagram last week…
Earlier this week, I took Kierstyn out for a walk in our neighborhood. It was raining a little bit, so we bundled up in our jackets before we left. I took this picture about a quarter mile into a walk. I was thinking how refreshing the light rain was.
Not ten minutes later, the floodgates of heaven opened up on us and it started pouring rain. We were about 3/4ths of a mile away from home, the wind was whipping around us and blowing the rain around so it made visibility and pushing a stroller really difficult. Kierstyn and I were both soaked and she started crying.
I wasn’t sure what to do. I knew we needed to get back home and get her dry ASAP. But I was pushing the stroller as quickly as I could and not making much progress at all because of the wind and the rain.
I was feeling so badly that I had taken her out on a walk and wondering what on earth to do (all while she was crying and we were both getting more and more soaked and cold), when I see a car approaching us. As the car comes closer, I about jump for joy to recognize that it’s Jesse! I hadn’t even thought to try to text him (not sure if I could have with how wet everything was!), but he had realized we were out in the rain and had come to find and rescue us.
Not only was it basically one of the most romantic gestures ever — especially in my cold and soaked state! — but it was such a picture to me of my Heavenly Father.
How often God rescues me — before I even think to ask for help or even know I need help! (Isaiah 65:24)
It reminds me of a quote from @branthansen’s book, Unoffendable: “The goodness of God is not dependent upon my attentiveness to it.”
God is always working on our behalf — often behind the scenes in ways we don’t even see or know!
It reminds me of two specific instances this past week where God worked out a bunch of details on my behalf for things I didn’t even know were so important ahead of time. I saw His hand so clearly in the details afterwards — when I didn’t even think or know to pray about it!
He is good. He is faithful. He is trustworthy. And even on the stormy days, He is working on our behalf to watch out for us, carry us, and rescue us.
My 6 Goals for Last Week
Personal Goals
Delete 1000 photos and videos from my phone.Do one extra house-cleaning project every day (follow along on Instagram for details!)Do a craft project.
Reading Goals
Finish listening to The London Houseand The Four Winds.Finish reading Jesus Everlasting.
Business/Blogging Goals
- Write a post on 50 Things You Don’t Have to Pay For.
My 6 Goals for This Week
Personal Goals
- Delete 1000 photos and videos from my phone.
- Do one extra house-cleaning project every day (follow along on Instagram for details!)
Reading Goals
- Finish listening to The Last Bookshop in London.
- Finish reading Hero on a Mission.
Business/Blogging Goals
- Write a post on 50 Things You Don’t Have to Pay For.
- Rewrite/edit chapters 1 and 2 of my next book.
Jesse’s $60 Kroger Shopping Trip (I thought he did so well!)
If you follow me on Instagram stories, you know I’ve been struggling with a lot of pregnancy-related fatigue and nausea recently. On Saturday, when I was gearing up to go to the store, I just didn’t feel up to it. Jesse said, “Just let me go!”
So I gave him my list and away he went. A little while later, I got a text with a picture of the Clearance/Markdown section:
I inwardly about flipped with excitement and called him right away! There were chocolate chips marked down to $0.89/bag!!! And brownie mix for $0.49/box and more! He definitely hit the motherlode of markdowns — especially since this section has been pretty bare the past few weeks!
Here’s what he got for $60.18 (yes, he was under-budget!!)
The strawberries are on sale for $1.57 each with the weekly digital coupon!
And the Danimals are $1.99 each with the weekly digital coupon!
The cookie mixes were marked down to $0.69 each. We’re sticking all these goodies in the freezer and pantry and we should be set on desserts for quite a good long while!
Speaking of desserts, the ice cream was just $1.97 per gallon with the weekly digital coupon, too!
He got extra milk, so it inspired me to make Homemade Yogurt in the Crock Pot.
And I also made 4-Ingredient Peanut Butter Granola to go with the yogurt.
I am thinking it will be delicious topped with some strawberries and sprinkled with chocolate chips!
My Current Morning Routine
“What does your morning routine look like right now?” “How are you able to fit in the 5 things you do every morning?”
We got a number of questions and follow-up responses to the episode we recorded recently on 5 Things I Do Every Morning, so we did a follow-up episode this week answering your questions and sharing more details on what our morning routine looks like right now.
Also on today’s episode, I talk about my mixed feelings on a book I finished, Jesse shares about something that he did this past week that really impressed me, and I share about something we’ve been using for Baby D that has been so helpful!
Powered by RedCircle
In This Episode
[00:34] – Welcome to another episode of The Crystal Paine Show.
[01:25] – What dates look like sometimes at this season of life.
[02:54] – Today we are talking about mornings and some follow up questions from a previous podcast episode.
[03:33] – I just finished a book that kind of goes along with today’s topic.
[06:09] – I don’t need the motivation to get more done, I need the reminders to slow down.
[07:02] – Jesse did something this past week that really impressed me.
[09:44] – It just reminds you of how much we have to be grateful for.
[10:38] – I share what has been saving my life.
[12:27] – Little things sometimes, that can make a big difference.
[15:45] – Let’s talk about what our mornings look like.
[16:50] – We have had many different renditions, and just get creative every season.
[18:18] – Jesse suggests habit stacking to help set up your routine.
[21:46] – But what does it actually look like?
[23:42] – It helps that we do this divide and conquer thing.
[24:38] – Your nights can set your days up for so much success. A successful day begins the night before.
[25:20] – Jesse shares explains why I consider sleeping in until about 6:45 in the morning.
[28:20] – This is an easy season for us, but you have to make it work for whatever season you are in.
Links & Resources
- Books
- Win The Day by Mark Batterson
- Beneath the Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan
- Special Mentions
- 5 Things I Do Every Morning
- Pre-Spoon: NumNum or Nuk
- Libby/Overdrive, free public library app
- Other Links
- Love-Centered Parenting
- 10 Days to Be a Happier Mom
- Sign up for the Hot Deals Email List
- MoneySavingMom.com
- My Instagram account (I’d love for you to follow me there! I usually hop on at least a few times per day and share behind-the-scenes photos and videos, my grocery store hauls, funny stories, or just anything I’m pondering or would like your advice or feedback on!)
- Have feedback on the show or suggestions for future episodes or topics? Send me an email: crystal @ moneysavingmom.com
Sponsor Spotlight: Twigby
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Go here to get started with Twigby.
5 Books I Finished Recently
In 2022, I’m setting monthly reading goals. You can see the 9 books I picked to read in March here. Here are 5 books I finished recently…
Note: You can follow along with the books I finish this year and my star ratings over on GoodReads. Also, books are rated on a 1-5 star scale. I basically won’t finish a book if it’s one star (not worth my time!) and I’ll rarely give a book a 5-star rating unless it was just absolutely amazing or life-changing.
Win the Day: 7 Daily Habits to Help You Stress Less & Accomplish More
I have mixed feelings on this book. On the one hand, I felt it was packed with a lot of practical ideas and actionable tips. On the other hand, I feel like books on productivity like this aren’t the best for someone with my personality to read because it makes you feel like you need to be pushing harder and doing more.
There are some people who need the extra motivation to get up and get things done, but I think it’s important we balance that desire to do with a healthy understanding that doing isn’t all that matters. Sometimes, sitting and being with someone or slowing down and doing less so that we can invest in people… these things can be what matters most.
So while I took some inspiration away from the book, I wish there had been more of a balance in it of prioritizing those things that will matter in Eternity and that rest is highly beneficial, too.
Verdict: 3 stars
The Woman They Could Not Silence
I am not 100% sure what I think of this book, either. I found parts of it maddening… like, I wanted to shake the woman and tell her to stand up and find a way to escape!! But then I also was reminded of how much our culture has changed and how blessed we are that women nowadays have a voice and a vote.
This book was written from one perspective only and I would have loved to have heard more from the other side (even if I very much disagreed with them!) Why did they do what they did? Why did her husband feel so adamantly that he was right? Was he a narcissistic? I had so many unanswered questions.
In addition, I felt like the book drug on in many parts and kind of had to be slogged through. I noticed there were a number of reviews online that felt like the writing of this book wasn’t as tight as The Radium Girls (I’ve not read that book yet; it’s on my stack!)
Have you read this book? If so, I’d love to hear your thoughts on it.
Verdict: 3 stars
Unoffendable: How Just One Change Can Make All of Life Better
This is my first 5-star read of 2022! I’m giving it that rating because I have not been able to stop recommending it, thinking about it, or talking about it. That is the mark of a 5-star read in my opinion.
In a society where it feels like we are wired to find offense everywhere we look, what would it be like to choose to not be offended? (We do have a choice, you know?)
Some of you may be thinking, “But how do I even do that? You don’t know what this person has done or said (or not done or not said).” I don’t, but I do know this: We get to choose how we respond. We can’t choose how other people treat us or respond to us or what they say to us or do to us, but we can choose our response.
This doesn’t mean that we let people walk all over us or that we don’t set boundaries, but it does mean that we can choose to either be a victim or a victor. We can choose to either be offended and hurt and upset, or we can acknowledge our feelings, grieve our loss, and choose to forgive.
I highly recommend that every Christian read this book! Jesse and I did an entire podcast episode centered on it because I found it so helpful!
Everyone is Beautiful
I almost didn’t finish this audiobook because it felt so fluffy. But I ended up sticking with it and there were a few thought-provoking parts (plus some laugh-out-loud funny parts!)
While there was a lot of fluff and this novel is by no means written from a Christian perspective, I did appreciate how it drove home the fact that you never know someone’s story or what they have walked through and also the importance of putting your marriage above your kids — even in really full seasons.
Verdict: 2 stars
Also I finished reading The Jesus Storybook Bible aloud to Kierstyn. This is our favorite Bible Story book and I highly recommend it!
Brigette’s $111 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6
Brigette’s $111 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6
My older sister, Brigette, shares her shopping trips and menu plans every week! You can go HERE to see all of her weekly menu plans and you can go HERE to read all about her family!
Aldi
2 loaves Sandwich Bread – $1.00
1 pkg Corn Tortillas – $1.25
3 dozen Eggs – $3.60
1 5-lb bag Red Potatoes – $1.99
6 bags frozen Broccoli – $5.10
1 large jar Applesauce – $2.35
1 Cabbage – $2.17
3 cartons Strawberries – $4.17
1 pkg Zucchini – $2.27
1 large Organic Kale – $2.49
2 pkgs Romaine – $3.98
1 bag Spinach – $0.99
1 3-lb bag Red Onions – $2.09
2 bags Red Grapes (reduced to $0.89/lb) – $3.64
4 cans Green Beans – $1.62
1 bag Radishes – $0.89
1 3-ct pkg fresh Garlic – $0.99
1 carton Grape Tomatoes – $1.19
1 3-lb bag Fuji Apples – $2.79
1 bag Mini Sweet Peppers – $2.59
2 2-lb Carrots – $1.78
1 bunch Bananas – $0.78
1 bag Steak Fries – $1.65
1 pkg Deli Ham – $2.49
1 pkg Chicken Drumsticks, reduced – $2.91
1 pkg Chicken Breasts ($1.89/lb) – $10.24
1 32-oz carton Half and Half – $1.39
1/2 gallon Unsweetened Almond Milk – $1.49
1 gallon Orange Juice – $3.49
1 jar organic Olive Oil – $3.99
2 boxes Crisp Rice – $2.78
4 single-serving cartons Greek Yogurt – $2.36
1 40-oz jar Peanut Butter – $2.79
1 8-oz pkg Deli Sliced Cheese – $1.25
1 bag Chocolate Chips – $1.19
2 bags Mini Marshmallows $1.78
1 bag Kettle Chips – $1.23
1 bag Tortilla Chips – $1.25
1 bag Corn Chips – $1.19
Total: $93.19
Lidl
I also stopped by Lidl (right next to Aldi) to pick up a few things Aldi was out of or had limits on (like eggs).
1 bag Sweet Long Peppers – $2.49
2 dozen Eggs – $2.40
1 32-oz carton Egg Whites – $2.95
1 bag Brussel Sprouts – $0.95
4 Cucumbers – $2.00
1 16-oz carton Heavy Whipping Cream – $1.60
1 family-size bag frozen Blueberries – $5.98
Total: $18.37
Grocery Total for the Week: $111.56 (This is more than I usually spend, but inflation here is no joke! 🙁 It’s just not realistic for us to spend much less than $100 a week with current prices – and that’s with using free venison for many of our meals [my husband and son are avid hunters and get 5-8 deer every season]. Some of these things will last us through the end of next week, so in theory I’ll spend a little less next week.)
Weekly Menu Plan
Breakfasts
Oatmeal, Yogurt, Fruit, Toast, Veggie Omelets, Fried/Boiled/Scrambled Eggs, Blueberry Muffins, Smooothies
Lunches
Peanut Butter Sandwiches, Strawberries, Peppers, Chips x 2
Deli Meat/Cheese Sandwiches, Cucumbers, Grapes, Chips x 2
Leftovers x 3
Dinners
Pancakes, Scrambled Eggs, Venison Sausage, Broccoli, Strawberries
Chicken Noodle Soup with Homemade Noodles, Breadsticks, Apples
Venison Meatloaf, Tossed Salad, Broccoli, Steak Fries
Grilled Chicken Legs, Boiled Red Potatoes, Grilled Zucchini/Onions/Peppers, Tossed Salad
Chicken Gravy over Rice, Biscuits, Green Beans, Tossed Salad, Bananas
Diiner at a Friend’s House (I’m bringing Rice Krispy Treats)
Leftovers
A Peek Into This Past Week (+ my 6 goals for this week)
I’ve been so grateful for some warmer days recently so we can take some walks outside!
I can’t believe I’m almost 25 weeks pregnant! It feels like time is really flying by!
Since I’ve had some different pregnancy complications (ongoing spotting and bleeding and placenta issues) + I’m 40, I’ve gotten to have extra appointments and sonograms. Last week, Jesse and I had a little parking lot breakfast date before my sonogram and specialist appointment. We’ve learned to not wait for the perfect moments, but to take the moments you do have and make them special.
(The kids were home from school, so Jesse got to come with me for the first time this pregnancy and see baby on the sonogram! It was fun to get to share that with Jesse after having all my appointments and sonograms so far by myself! And we are so incredibly grateful that the baby continues to be very, very healthy!)
Kaitlynn left for a week-long high school trip on Saturday, so I took her out for a date to the nail salon on Friday. She got her nails done and I got my toes done.
Kierstyn is constantly bringing so much joy to our home. She’s obsessed with stacking and her ABC’s right now and is trying to learn all of the letters and their sounds. It’s so funny because she’s so self-motivated and wants to learn everything she possibly can — maybe because she’s being raised with so many adults?? 🙂
I’ve been doing a little house project every day. This week, I’ve been working in the kitchen and one of the projects was to re-organize the baking cupboard.
He came home from school two days ago and handed me this necklace with my name on it and said, “I bought this for you today!”
Come to find out, on their field trip to the Science Center today, they were all given $10 in spending money to use at the gift shop. He chose to spend his money ÷////=≠p-=;\]to buy me a necklace.
There are many hard days as a mom. Days when you want to wave the white flag of surrender. Days when you feel like you aren’t cut out for this. Days when you think you are totally missing the mark.
There are seasons when you wonder if your efforts are making any difference. There are many monotonous and mundane weeks. There are times when you want to throw in the towel — if only you could find a clean one!
But then, there are sparkling, shimmering necklace moments like this. When your child’s kindness and thoughtfulness makes you want to cry. When you’re reminded that all those little seemingly mundane and monotonous moments matter.
Mamas: it’s worth it. It really and truly is. Even on the really hard days. Even in the difficult seasons. Even when you feel like your prayers and your efforts are going nowhere.
Don’t give up. Keep pressing on. And may there be many necklace moments to come in your future!
My 6 Goals for Last Week
I didn’t make a lot of progress on my goals last week, for a long list of reasons, but I’m grateful I crossed some things off! And here’s to hoping for more success this week!
Personal Goals
Delete 1000 photos and videos from my phone.Do one extra house-cleaning project every day(follow along on Instagram for details!)- Do a craft project.
Reading Goals
Finish one book.
Family Goals
Go on a date with Jesse.
Business/Blogging Goals
- Write a post on 50 Things You Don’t Have to Pay For.
My 6 Goals for This Week
Personal Goals
- Delete 1000 photos and videos from my phone.
- Do one extra house-cleaning project every day (follow along on Instagram for details!)
- Do a craft project.
Reading Goals
- Finish listening to The London House and The Four Winds.
- Finish reading Jesus Everlasting.
Business/Blogging Goals
- Write a post on 50 Things You Don’t Have to Pay For.
Last Week’s $69 Grocery Shopping Trip (+ what we ate!)
I posted this on Instagram and wanted to share here, too:
This might just look like a dirty bowl to you. To me, it represents a HUGE answer to many, many prayers.
After 8+ months of weekly feeding therapy and so many, many, many failed and discouraging attempts at trying to feed Baby D, tonight he ate his entire dinner and wanted all of it!!!!!!
It was only about a fourth cup of macaroni & cheese and applesauce — which might not seem like a big deal — but this was a massive accomplishment for our sweet boy who has never been able to/wanted to swallow more than 2-4 bites of anything that wasn’t puréed at any one meal.
This is your reminder that even if it feels like you’re not making any progress, even if it feels like all your efforts aren’t going anywhere, even if it feels like nothing you are doing is making a difference, keep going, keep believing, don’t give up! ❤️
Note: If you have a child who is capable of and willingly eats and drinks at each meal and who can suck out of a bottle or sippy cup and/or who easily gains weight, please never take it for granted! I never knew what a gift that was as a parent until the last two years with Champ and Baby D!
One of my favorite snacks — peanut butter and chocolate chips!
I made a version of this Black Bean Soup for dinner one night last night, using what I had on hand.
Lori Cooks sent me a bundle of her seasoning packets to try out so I made this yummy rotisserie chicken in the slow cooker with one of them.
It was delicious!!
Kroger has an 8-lb bag of navel oranges on sale for $5.99 this week!
And Nathan’s Franks are $3.47/package with the weekly digital coupon (you can get up to five packages).
Last week, I found SO many great deals and markdowns. This week, it was slimmer pickings, so I am grateful for all the great deals we’ve gotten in previous weeks because our fridge and freezer is well-stocked. I ended up spending $69 on all the above groceries.
This is what we’re having for dinner tonight. Can you guess what we’re using these ingredients to make?
I got caught in the comparison trap!
Recently, I was scrolling on my phone and came across the social media account of someone I used to follow years ago. They are in a similar niche as me and back when I followed them, they had a lot fewer followers than me.
But in the last few years, their account has clearly blown up and they had hundreds of thousands more followers than me. Plus, as I was scrolling through their account, I saw that they had super high engagement numbers and interaction.
Instead of being immediately excited for them, I confess I started thinking about how I’m really dropping the ball in being strategic and creative in what I’m posting & that I need to step up my game so I can be growing more online and seeing more engagement like this other person.
And then it hit me: God has called me to be building into and growing other things the past few years — my home, growing as a person, nurturing and loving on the people in my home (and even growing tiny humans!)
I might not have seen a huge increase in followers the past few years, but I’ve spent hours and hours rocking little babies and speaking life to them… and that is very important work.
I might not have seen the crazy engagement numbers that other people have, but I’ve spent the last few years building deep relationships with my older kids and loving two birth mamas and their babies… and that is very important work.
The work that God has called me to right now might not be measurable in numbers that society and experts would consider important (such as accolades, income, awards, product sales, follower count, etc.)… but it matters far more than any of those measurable numbers.
No matter what we’re doing (or not doing), it’s easy to look around and compare our lives to others.
But God hasn’t called you or me to her life. He’s called us to our life.
We’re not supposed to do what she’s doing. We’re called to be faithful where God has us — even if no one sees or notices or thanks us. He sees. He notices. That’s what matters.
All the awards and applause and accolades, all the numbers and name recognition, all the income and opportunities in the world… they don’t hold a candle to faithfulness.
In this week’s episode of The Crystal Paine Show, I share more about some of the lessons I’m learning when it comes to comparison, success, and faithfulness. Jesse and also share about books we’re reading, a Spotify playlist I’ve been loving, and a meal-service we’ve been loving.
Powered by RedCircle
In This Episode
[00:34] – Welcome to another episode of The Crystal Paine Show.
[01:15] – We talk about books we’re reading and one I recently read that I just don’t know what I think of it.
[06:44] – A Spotify playlist I recently put together with Truths to Remember.
[09:30] – Switching to Spotify and listening to podcasts has freed up a lot of Jesse’s phone space.
[10:17] – Jesse shares about a meal service he’s been enjoying.
[16:13] – My experience with comparison.
[17:58] – I should have been excited and celebrating this person’s success, instead I went to a negative space.
[20:43] – It was just such a reminder to me that no matter what we’re doing, or not doing, it’s easy to look around and compare our lives to others.
[22:30] – A seemingly small thing done in love, faithfulness, and consistency — it’s not small!
Links & Resources
- Books
- The Woman They Could Not Silence: One Woman, Her Incredible Fight For Freedom, and the Men Who Tried to Make Her Disappear by Kate Moore
- The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women by Kate Moore
- Total Power by Vince Flynn
- Special Mentions
- Truths to Remember, Spotify Playlist
- Eat to Evolve, meal plans (use coupon code MSM to save 20% off your first order)
- Libby/Overdrive, free public library app
- Other Links
- Love-Centered Parenting
- 10 Days to Be a Happier Mom
- Sign up for the Hot Deals Email List
- MoneySavingMom.com
- My Instagram account (I’d love for you to follow me there! I usually hop on at least a few times per day and share behind-the-scenes photos and videos, my grocery store hauls, funny stories, or just anything I’m pondering or would like your advice or feedback on!)
- Have feedback on the show or suggestions for future episodes or topics? Send me an email: crystal @ moneysavingmom.com
Sponsor Spotlight: Twigby
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Note: This $15 credit will be applied to your account when you purchase a new phone, get a free SIM card from Twigby with a new service, or bring your own phone to use.
Valid through March 31, 2022.
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Go here to get started with Twigby.
2022 Goals: February Update
I spent some time the past few days reviewing my goals for 2022 and was so thrilled with the progress I made in February! Here’s an update on each goal:
Myself
1. Go through 5 She Reads Truth studies for the year. (I’ve been loving going through these studies again this past year, but I realized that it’s better for me to go through much more slowly than what they designate the pace should be. I usually take 2-4 days on each day and that’s worked out well for me so that I’m really soaking the verses and learning from the passages.)
February update: So far this year, I’ve finished the Old Testament study and am halfway through the New Testament book. I hope to have finished it by the end of March or so.
2. Finish at least 4 books a month. (Last year, I set the audacious goal of reading three books per week. I ended up falling very short of that. So this year, I decided to set a much more realistic goal. I hope to exceed this goal by a lot, but we’ll see! And if you missed it, I’m setting monthly goals instead of yearly goals for reading — and I’m really excited about this approach!)
February update: I finished 9 books in January and 6 books in February — yay! You can see all my book review posts here. And here’s my list of books I plan to read in March.
3. Complete at least 1 craft per month. (I plan to use some of the craft kits that I’ve gotten from Annie’s Creative Girls’ Club and Annie’s Creative Woman Craft Club. Since so many of you purchased the fantastic deals I posted from them, they signed me up for both subscriptions as a thank you! While crafting is not something I’m really gifted at, I find that it is relaxing for me and something that challenges creative parts of my brain that I don’t use very often!)
February update: I made stacking bracelets in January and a pillow in February.
Motherhood
4. Have a monthly date with each of the three older kids. (I’m planning on having the kids help me decide what they’d like to do each month. I love hanging out with my kids and I cherish our time together even more as they get older.)
February update: I took all three kids out to a movie in February.
5. Read 10 chapter books aloud to Kierstyn and Baby D. (I’ve been reading a Bible story from The Jesus Storybook Bible and a chapter from a read-aloud book each afternoon before their naps. While they are little and much of it is over their heads, I love to establish this habit when my kids are tiny so that it becomes an important part of their family culture for the most formative years of their life. Plus, it’s fun for me!)
February update: We finished The Jesus Storybook Bible.
Marriage
6. Have a monthly date with Jesse. (While we hope to occasionally get an actual date night out, with multiple little kids, we want to be realistic… so we plan to at least do one Date Night in a Box kit at home every month — even if we can’t get out for a real date every month).
February update: Jesse and I went out on a date to a new local shop.
MoneySavingMom
7. Finish my next book draft. (The first draft is due to my publisher mid-February. Then, we’ll be going through multiple rounds of edits before it goes to the printers. It’s slated to release in spring 2023!)
February update: I turned in my book draft!!!
OVER-SPENDING EVERY SINGLE MONTH?Grab these FREE Budgeting Sheets!
Click here to download!
Brigette’s $88 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6
Brigette’s $88 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6
My older sister, Brigette, shares her shopping trips and menu plans every week! You can go HERE to see all of her weekly menu plans and you can go HERE to read all about her family!
Aldi
1 32-oz box Spaghetti Pasta – $1.55
1 6-oz bag Organic Quinoa Pasta – $2.95
1 bag plain Rice Cakes – $2.39
1 bag Veggie Straws – $1.92
1 box Crisp Rice – $1.39
1 gallon Whole Milk $2.68
1/2 gallon Unsweetened Almond Milk – $1.65
1 32-oz carton Half and Half – $1.39
1 gallon Orange Juice – $3.19
1 large canister Quick Oats – $2.19
1 32-oz carton Egg Whites – $2.95
4 dozen Eggs – $3.08
2 large cans Crushed Tomatoes – $1.74
4 cans Green Beans – $1.76
2 cans Tuna – $1.38
1 bag Tater Tots – $1.65
2 bags frozen California Medley Veggies -$1.96
2 bags frozen Peas – $1.14
2 bags frozen Mixed Vegetables – $1.14
2 3-lb bags Fuji Apples – $5.98
1 bag Mini Sweet Peppers – $2.79
1 3-lb bag Lemons – $2.19
1 pkg Artisan Lettuce – $2.89
1 bag Organic Romaine Hearts – $2.99
1 bunch Bananas ($0.38/lb) – $0.62
1 bag Red Grapes ($1.29/lb) – $2.61
2 Cucumbers – $0.98
1 Cabbage – $1.63
1 jar Pasta Sauce – $0.87
1 can Cooking Spray – $1.97
1 14-oz jar Organic Coconut Oil – $4.99
1 24-oz jar Honey – $5.59
1 pkg fresh Chicken Drumsticks – $4.82
1 16-oz pkg Turkey Bacon – $2.35
1 16-oz pkg Deli Meat – $2.99
1 32-oz carton Plain Greek Yogurt – $3.65
Grocery Total for the Week: $88.01
Weekly Menu Plan
Breakfasts
Oatmeal, Scrambled/Boiled/Fried Eggs, Veggie Omelets, Yogurt, Smoothies, Cereal, Fruit
Lunches
Deli Meat/Tuna on Rice Cakes/Bread, Grapes, Cucumbers x 2
Veggie Straws, Hard Boiled Eggs, Peppers, Apples with Peanut Butter x 2
Leftovers x 3
Snacks: Chewy No Bake Granola Bars
Dinners
Venison Roast in the Crockpot, Baked Potatoes, Tossed Salad, Peas
Spaghetti (using ground venison), Tossed Salad, Mixed Vegetables
Pancakes, Bacon, Fried Potatoes, Green Beans
Venison Meatloaf, Green Beans, Biscuits
Grilled Chicken Drumsticks, Green Beans, Tater Tots
Hamburger Vegetable Soup, Easy Italian Breadsticks
Date Night Out
My Reading Goals for March
In previous years, I’ve picked a long list and big stack of books I want to read that year. I’ve found that I struggle to stick with that list because I always find so many other books I want to read and that initial list makes me feel kind of guilty that I’m not following through.
Instead of trying that approach again, I’m experimenting with something different in 2022: I’m going to set monthly reading goals. At the beginning of the month, I’ll pick a stack of books I want to read that month and I’ll focus on reading those books throughout the month.
This way, I can make room for the many new or new-to-me titles I discover throughout the year. Plus, I can pick fewer books to read on the months that I know there is a lot going on.
My Book List for March
Here is my book list for March and why I chose each title. I didn’t finish five books from my February list, so I carried these over to March and plan to read them first. (Note: Inclusion on this list does not mean I am recommending or endorsing the book as I haven’t read it yet! So read at your own discretion and look for my weekly book review post to hear my honest thoughts on each title!)
Beneath a Scarlet Sky
So many of you have highly recommended this book and it’s high time I finally read it. I wanted to pick a really good fiction book to start the year off with!
Hero on a Mission
I’ve loved other books by Donald Miller, so I’m excited to read this one! It has mixed reviews… so we’ll see what I think!
Forgiving Paris
This fiction book was highly recommended to me by multiple people. I’ve really enjoyed other Karen Kingsbury books in the past, so I can’t wait to dive into this.
Forever Boy
The author sent me this book and it looks like a beautiful story of what it’s like to mother a child who is autistic.
Jesus Everlasting
I am reading this book in consideration for a possible podcast topic/guest, but I’m also just excited to read it for myself.
Gentle & Lowly
This book has been recommended again and again to me, so I’m looking forward to reading and being encouraged by this book!
What If It’s Wonderful?
This book was sent to me for a possible interview with the author on my podcast. The title and description were intriguing enough to convince me to read it!
Also on my stack: two pre-release copies of books I’m reading to possibly write an endorsement for.
What are you planning to/hoping to read in March? I’d love to hear!
A Peek Into the Last Two Weeks (+ my 6 goals for this week)
I didn’t get a peek into our week/goals update post posted last week, so here’s an update from the past two weeks…
This girl is just constant joy and smiles! She brings so much laughter to our home!
Jesse and I went on a date to Urban Sips & Sweets. (I found out later that it’s owned by a well-known instagrammer! I had no idea!)
Our church had a movie night and we got to bring Champ with us since we were babysitting him that day!
Watching Jesse and Baby D play and laugh together is just the best!
Silas had Science Fair at school. He did an experiment with Elephant Toothpaste and did it all almost 100% by himself this time!
I loved watching him man his booth and present to the different judges that came by to hear his presentation and ask questions!
Farmhouse Teas sent me some of their Not Coffees to try out after they saw my reel on Instagram about how I stopped drinking coffee.
I loved getting to try them out!
Kaitlynn fixed Kierstyn’s hair in a Dutch Braid. Is this not the best photo ever?!
This is Baby D’s very favorite thing to play with right now — the toilet paper holder in our bathroom!
I’ve been checking out a stack of books from the library to correspond with what we’re learning about in preschool and she LOVES looking at the books and having them read to her!
We’ve been studying about love and the color red and the shape of a heart the past three weeks. She cannot get enough of learning and is constantly trying to figure out new things and asking us questions to teach her more.
Can you spot three children in this picture? This was one night when we were taking care of Champ and I loved seeing all three play together!
Champ is doing SO well and we are thrilled we get to continue to be involved in his life!
We’ve been studying about rabbits, so we’ve been reading lots of books about rabbits and we cut out rabbit shapes with play-doh.
Kaitlynn bought some flowers for her room and gave Kierstyn one of the flowers from the bouquet — which Kierstyn was very excited about!
My 10 Goals for Two Weeks Ago
Personal Goals
Delete 1000 photos and videos from my phone.Do one extra house-cleaning project every day(follow along on Instagram for details!)Do a craft project.
Reading Goals
Finish reading Unoffendable and The Woman They Could Not Silence.- Finish listening to The Four Winds. (My 7-day loan from the library was up before I could finish this — I’m hoping it becomes available again soon from Libby!)
Family Goals
Watch the Olympics together as a family.Go on a date with Jesse.
Business/Blogging Goals
Write a post sharing a recipe for Sheetpan Dinner.Make two reels.- Write devotional for Proverbs31.org.
My 6 Goals for This Week
Personal Goals
- Delete 1000 photos and videos from my phone.
- Do one extra house-cleaning project every day (follow along on Instagram for details!)
- Do a craft project.
Reading Goals
- Finish one book.
Family Goals
- Go on a date with Jesse.
Business/Blogging Goals
- Write a post on 50 Things You Don’t Have to Pay For.
Last Week’s $79 Grocery Shopping Trip (+ what we ate)
I had been under budget multiple weeks over the past few months and had been hoping for a week with great deals so I could use some of the extra money I had set aside from being under budget. I was so excited that I found some great deals this past week — perfect to be able to use up that extra money!
I was excited about the Post cereal deal and the cheese deal this week!
I also found lots and lots of markdowns — including all of these Probiotic drinks marked down to $0.99!
Here’s what I ended up getting — for $79 total!
These Ground Up snacks were marked down to $0.69 each and are yummy!
I was excited to find some meat markdowns!
Lunch!
I used what I had on hand to make Spaghetti Pies.
We hadn’t had this recipe in awhile and I forgot how delicious it was!
I bought these marked down and we added chicken to them for dinner one night.
And, of course, we had breakfast for dinner one night — waffles and bacon!
I used what I had on hand to make a Chicken Tetrazinni of sorts.
Instead of cream soup, I made a white sauce. And instead of spaghetti noodles, I used veggie rotini.
I layered it all in a pan and baked it. It was so good!
I’ve been using marked down spinach I got last week to make Green Smoothies (I’ve been subbing milk instead of yogurt and almond milk).
Instead of a salad, I had fried eggs, avocado, cheese, blueberries, and toast today. Yum!
What To Do When You Are Offended
Have you noticed how in this modern age of social media, people are so easily hurt, upset, and offended? I know that I’ve fallen prey to knee jerk reactions when scrolling online.
In this week’s episode of The Crystal Paine Show, Jesse and I talk about this book I’m reading by Brant Hansen called Unoffendable: How Just One Change Can Make All of Life Better. Hansen challenges us to ask the question, “How would it change my life if I chose not to be offended by others?”
Some of you may be thinking, “But how do I even do that? You don’t know what this person has done or said (or not done or not said).” I don’t, but I do know this: We get to choose how we respond. We can’t choose how other people treat us or respond to us or what they say to us or do to us, but we can choose our response.
This doesn’t mean that we let people walk all over us or that we don’t set boundaries, but it does mean that we can choose to either be a victim or a victor. We can choose to either be offended and hurt and upset, or we can acknowledge our feelings, grieve our loss, and choose to forgive.
In this episode, we dive into this topic + we talk about Silas’ recent Science Fair, an early preschool curriculum we started with Kierstyn and are loving, and what’s saving our lives.
Powered by RedCircle
In This Episode
[00:34] – Welcome to another episode of The Crystal Paine Show.
[01:03] – Today is the first time we have recorded a podcast — in PJs!
[05:58] – Speaking of PJ’s, we are excited to finally be sleeping through the night again!
[08:07] – But that has come with some crazy dreams for me.
[10:11] – What’s saving our life.
[11:31] – Yesterday we made Oobleck, if you haven’t done that with your kids it is so much fun.
[12:28] – We have been getting a lot of kind feedback from our audience.
[12:54] – I read a couple of notes from our audience.
[15:50] – There are no perfect families, no perfect parents, and no perfect children.
[16:29] – Sponsored Ad: Twigby
[18:46] – Today’s topic is inspired by Brant Hansen’s book, Unoffendable.
[20:47] – Years and years of being on the internet has confirmed this: it’s hard to say anything without offending someone.
[22:41] – I feel like there is some much that we can learn from people on the internet. But it’s so easy for a little thing to turn into a really big thing.
[25:43] – We get to choose how we respond.
[27:58] – It’s okay to acknowledge anger, but it’s what we do with it.
[28:08] – Before rashly reacting, stop… take a breath, and really ask God to help us love others well.
[31:31] – Jesse shares a concept about backing away from an issue when you have an immediate emotional response.
Links & Resources
- Books
- Unoffendable: How Just One Change Can Make All of Life Better by Brant Hansen
- Special Mentions
- Homemade Oobleck
- My Father’s World, preschool curriculum
- Other Links
- Love-Centered Parenting
- 10 Days to Be a Happier Mom
- Sign up for the Hot Deals Email List
- MoneySavingMom.com
- My Instagram account (I’d love for you to follow me there! I usually hop on at least a few times per day and share behind-the-scenes photos and videos, my grocery store hauls, funny stories, or just anything I’m pondering or would like your advice or feedback on!)
- Have feedback on the show or suggestions for future episodes or topics? Send me an email: crystal @ moneysavingmom.com
Sponsor Spotlight: Twigby
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Note: This $15 credit will be applied to your account when you purchase a new phone, get a free SIM card from Twigby with a new service, or bring your own phone to use.
Valid through March 31, 2022.
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