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Shared Aug 24, 2019 comment

This Week’s $70 Grocery Budget + Our Menu Plan

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This Week’s $70 Grocery Budget + Our Menu Plan

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Want to see what we bought for this week’s $70 grocery budget? I’m currently challenging myself to stick with a $70 budget for our family of five. This includes almost all of our breakfasts, lunches, snacks, and dinners + most household products (toiletries, laundry soap, etc.).

For live updates, be sure to follow my Instagram Stories. See all posts on my $70 Grocery Budget here.

Kroger Shopping Trip #1

  • Ground Beef — marked down to $4.29
  • 2 bags of apples  — marked down to $0.99
  • 1 bag of onions — marked down to $0.99
  • Santa Cruz lemonade — $0.99 when you buy 5 participating items
  • 2 Nourish bowls — marked down to $1 each
  • 1 carton of Siggi’s — marked down to $0.99
  • Milk — $2.69
  • 3 boxes of Cheerios — $1.49 each when you buy 5 participating items, used $1.50/3 coupon = $0.99 each
  • Corn Chips — $0.99 when you buy 5 participating items, used $0.45/1 coupon that Kroger emailed me = $0.54
  • Diced tomatoes — $0.50
  • Teriyaki sauce — $2.29
  • Total with tax: $19.57

My Toilet Paper Order

I ordered the toilet paper deal and it came in this week. I paid just $19.49 for the equivalent of 128 regular rolls! We should be stocked up for awhile!

By the way, this deal is still available! Check out all of the details here.

I was excited about the Friday-Saturday deals at Kroger — including a stock-up price on butter ($1.99 per pound!) I bought 5 and stuck them in the freezer!

Kroger Shopping Trip #2:

  • 4 dozen Simple Truth Organic eggs — $1.99 each with Friday-Saturday coupon
  • 5 pounds butter — $1.99 each with Friday-Saturday coupon
  • Detergent — $1.49
  • Whole Wheat bread — marked down to $1.29
  • 1 bag of grapefruit — marked down to $0.99
  • Tomato puree — $0.89
  • Tomato sauce — $0.99
  • 1 bag of clementines — marked down to $0.99
  • Tub of Baby Spring Mix — marked down to $1.79
  • Total with tax $28.04

What We Ate This Past Week

Note: When you see the meals below, please remember this: I buy ahead often. Which means that when I find a great deal on something I know we’ll use, I buy as much as I can afford in our budget to have on hand.

This means that you aren’t going to see all of the groceries my shopping trip that I used to make all of the meals we ate.

Please also remember that I’m putting this out there and it’s not a perfectly balanced menu. This is just really what we ate — and I hope that it encourages you to see the real-ness and lack of perfection here.

Breakfasts:

Lunches:

  • Ham Sandwiches, Granola Bars, Yogurt, Capri Sun, Salad, Leftovers, Fruit

Snacks:

Dinners:

  • Sunday — Fend For Yourself
  • Monday —Tortilla Chicken Soup with crackers & cheese,  fruit
  • Tuesday — Slow Cooker Teriyaki BBQ Chicken over noodles, fruit
  • Wednesday — Instant Pot Chicken Sandwiches
  • Thursday — Slow Cooker King Ranch Chicken over noodles, green beans, fruit
  • Friday — Spaghetti, fruit
  • Saturday — Leftovers

Total spent on groceries: $67.04

Cashback earned this week: 50 points for submitting my receipts to Fetch rewards

Shared Aug 24, 2019 comment

Brigette’s $84 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6

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Brigette’s $84 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

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 48-oz bag Boneless Chicken Breasts – $5.39

1 pkg Pepperoni – $1.99

1 pkg Deli Sliced Cheese – $1.19

1 16-oz pkg Deli Meat – $2.85

1 pkg String Cheese – $1.95

1 16-oz bag Shredded Cheddar Cheese – $2.59

1 16-oz bag Shredded Mozzarella Cheese – $2.59

1 64-oz carton Unsweetened Almond Milk – $1.79

1 64-oz carton Orange Juice – $1.59

1 5-lb bag Flour – $1.15

1 large canister Quick Oats – $2.29

1 4-lb bag Sugar – $1.59

1 jar Baking Cocoa – $1.49

1 box Baking Soda – $0.45

1 jar Ground Black Pepper – $1.39

1 jar Chili Powder – $0.95

1 canister Table Salt – $0.35

1 32-oz box Elbow Macaroni – $1.09

4 cans Green Beans – $1.52

1 bag Mini Sweet Peppers – $2.25

1 pkg Romaine Hearts – $2.09

1 16-oz bag Mini Cucumbers – $1.69

1 bunch Bananas – $1.07

1 pkg Radishes – $0.89

1 pkg Carrots – $0.85

1 3-lb bag Mandarins – $2.99

1 bag Green Grapes (@$0.89/lb) – $2.04

1 carton Grape Tomatoes – $1.39

1 large tub Organic Spring Mix – $3.69

1 3-lb bag Pink Lady Apples – $3.49

2 Avocados – $1.38

1 Cauliflower – $1.99

1 box Rice Squares – $1.79

1 box Cinnamon Crunch Squares – $1.09

1 bag Gluten-Free Pretzels – $1.85

2 boxes Macaroni and Cheese – $0.50

1 32-oz carton Plain Nonfat Greek Yogurt – $3.39

4 Individual-Sized Flavored Green Yogurts – $2.36

1 1-lb box Butter Quarters – $2.74

3 dozen Eggs – $2.34

2 16-oz cartons Egg Whites – $3.38

1 pkg Rice Cakes – $1.45

1 loaf Sandwich Bread – $0.65

2 6-ct pkgs English Muffins – $1.90

1 pkg Hamburger Buns – $0.85

Grocery Total for the Week: $84.30

Weekly Menu Plan

Breakfasts

Everyone is responsible for making/cleaning up their own breakfasts. Choices include: 

Cereal, Oatmeal, Yogurt, Fruit, Scrambled/Boiled/Fried Eggs, Veggie Omelets

Lunches

Deli Meat/Cheese Sandwiches x 2, Carrots, Apples

Peanut Butter and Jelly on Rice Cakes, Grapes, Mini Sweet Peppers x 2

Pretzels, Cheese Sticks, Oranges, Cucumbers

Leftovers x 2

Dinners

Chicken Gravy Over Rice, Steamed Broccoli, Easy Whole Wheat Muffins

Homemade Pepperoni Pizza, Tossed Salad

Fried Egg/Cheese McMuffins, Roasted Cauliflower

The Best Homemade Chicken Pot Pie, Tossed Salad

Date Night Out (for my husband and me, Macaroni and Cheese for the kids)

Spaghetti, Green Beans, Homemade Breadsticks in the Bread Machine

Leftovers

Shared Aug 21, 2019 comment

10 Ways to Save on Visiting National Park with Kids

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10 Ways to Save on Visiting National Park with Kids

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

If you love visiting national parks or have always wanted to visit some, then be sure to check out these great ways to save on visiting National Parks with kids!

{Looking for more budget-friendly tips on vacationing as a family? Check out our posts on Creative Ways to Fund Family Vacations, Tips to Plan a Memorable Vacation Without Spending a Fortune, and Money-Saving Vacation Tips.}

Save on National Parks with Kids

Guest post from Brigitte of BrigitteBrulz.com

Did you know there are over 400 National Park Sites in the United States?!

This includes national historic sites, national recreational areas, national sea shores, national monuments, and just over 60 national parks that you can explore with your family. Check out the National Park Service’s website to find one near you (or for your next vacation).

If you love traveling and adventuring as a family, then be sure to check out these 10 ways to save on visiting National Parks with kids!

1. Purchase or Sign Up for an Annual Pass

Families who frequent national parks that charge a fee may benefit from an annual pass, which is good for 12 months from the purchase month.

Seniors (ages 62+) can take advantage of an annual pass (or even a lifetime pass) aimed specifically at them for an even steeper discount. The senior pass will cover the cost of everyone in a non-commercial vehicle if the site has a per vehicle charge. Great way to enjoy some time with grandkids!

Families with a fourth grader can enjoy free entry at hundreds of locations from September through August by getting a free annual pass through the Every Kid in a Park program. Even homeschooling families with a fourth grader can take advantage of this opportunity!

Active duty military members (and their dependents) can receive free annual passes for many sites. Just ask for a U.S. military annual pass.

Even if your family has an annual pass, it is still advisable to contact parks ahead of time to ensure the pass is accepted at that location.

View from Effigy Mounds

2. Go on Free Days

If you don’t plan to visit the national parks multiple times in a 12 month span, an annual pass may not make sense for your family.

Instead, check to see if they offer any free days. It’s suggested to arrive early and be prepared for large crowds of people on these days!

(NOTE: Some national sites are free all year round.)

3. Check the Events Calendar

Junior Ranger days, astronomy programs, family days, historic days, nature walks, sled dog demonstrations, movies, archaeology days, and photography walks are just a few of the low cost or even free events offered throughout the year at national sites.

Schedule your visits accordingly by checking the events calendar.

4. Check out the Junior Ranger Program

Kids may enjoy participating in the free Junior Ranger Program where they can complete fun yet educational activities and earn badges at each national park.

Even kids who don’t have an opportunity to visit many national parks can earn badges at home! They can complete booklets about bats, archaeology, caves, the Underground Railroad, and more.

National Parks Junior Ranger Badge

5. Create a Webrangers Account

Kids (and even interested adults) can earn virtual badges and rewards as they complete activities while learning about people, history, animals, nature, science, puzzles, and parks through the Webrangers program.

Registration is free and simple- just create a user ID and password. Once an account has been created, all of the completed activities are saved so progress can easily be tracked.

Kids can even have fun personalizing their own virtual ranger station! They get to choose a theme and customize the walls, shelves, chair, desk, floor, picture, and window view. What a great way to get kids excited about visiting National Parks and learning more!

6. Carpool

By carpooling with others, you can split the cost of the entrance fee if the site charges a per vehicle fee.

7. Stop by the Visitor’s Center

Visitor’s centers often provide free maps, guides, suggested tips, exhibits, and even videos to ensure you get the most out of your visit.

woods in a national park

8. Talk to Park Rangers

Park rangers are often quite knowledgeable about the area and can offer additional suggestions and information about the site.

You may even be able to get a personal tour if you ask (particularly on a non-busy day)!

9. Plan Ahead

Be sure to ceck out the site’s “plan your visit” section! It’s full of great information about fees, hours, things to do, suggestions, and more to make the most out of your visit. It’s helpful to have an idea of what you want to see ahead of time since some parks are so big!

Also, check the weather to ensure you are wearing weather-appropriate clothing for the day.

Walking Stick in a national park

10. Bring Supplies

Besides wearing weather-appropriate clothing, comfortable footwear, and a hat, it may be beneficial to bring water, a camera, sunglasses, bug spray, and sunscreen.

Finally, don’t take a bag for collecting specimens since it is illegal to remove items from national sites.

Instead, bring a bag for any trash you may have. And take pictures of all of the neat rocks, shells, and leaves if you want a record of them!

What other tips do you have for visiting National Parks with kids?

Brigitte Brulz is a homeschooling mom, creator of the Adventure Writing Prompt Journal, author of the book Pickles, Pickles, I Like Pickles, and freelance writer. She offers free coloring pages, activity ideas, and more on her website at BrigitteBrulz.com.

More Budget-Friendly Vacation Tips:

Shared Aug 20, 2019 comment

My Current Morning Routine

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My Current Morning Routine

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

I’m such a firm believer in the power of a morning routine! In this week’s episode, Jesse and I talk about our morning routines and why a morning routine can make such an impact on your life. 

Missed previous episodes of The Crystal Paine show? You can listen to them here.

(When you listen to the episode, this photo will have more meaning!)

The Power of a Morning Routine

We’re in the middle of getting back to the swing of things around here now that school has started back. One of the things that has made such a difference for us in jumping back in to getting everyone out the door early in the mornings is the fact that we had a great morning routine throughout the summer.

In this episode, we talk in-depth about our morning routines, what they look like, and why they work so well for us. Whether you love or loathe the idea of morning routines, I think this episode will inspire and encourage you! By the way, need some encouragement and accountability, to create a routine of your own? Check out my 5-Days to a Better Morning Challenge!

We also share details of something exciting Jesse got to do recently, our trip to Table Rock Lake, Jesse’s surprising discovery (I can’t WAIT for you to hear this one!), books we’ve recently finished, and the mascara I accidentally fell in love with.

Powered by RedCircle

In This Episode: 

[02:02] Jesse got to see Jocko Willink at a conference!

[06:27] Hear what’s saving our lives and why Jesse is eating crow… (hint: it involves audio)

[09:34] Want to know what we’re reading/listening to? 

[13:16] Learn why having a morning routine leads to success… not a lack of sleep!

[15:07] I share my current morning routine (yes, you can laugh because it’s fairly unconventional!)

[19:02] It’s Jesse’s turn! Hear about his morning routine.

[20:55] A morning routine impacts my life for the better because it:

  1. Helps me to consistently stick to important habits.
  2. Provides a solid foundation for my day.
  3. Sets me up for success.

[24:16] What works for me won’t necessarily work for you, but I hope this episode inspires you to be intentional with your mornings.

Links and Resources:

How to Listen to The Crystal Paine Show

The podcast is available on iTunes, Android, Stitcher, and Spotify. You can listen online through the direct player we’ll include in the show notes of each episode. OR, a much easier way to listen is by subscribing to the podcast through a free podcast app on your phone. (Find instructions for how to subscribe to a podcast here.)

Ready to dive in and listen? Hit the player above or search for “The Crystal Paine Show” on your favorite podcast app.

Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission — at no additional cost to you. Thank you so much for your support!

Shared Aug 19, 2019 comment

7 Books I Finished in July

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7 Books I Finished in July

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Want to know what books I finished in July? In 2019, I’m sharing the books I read each month and what my honest thoughts were on those books. If you love books, you don’t want to miss this post! (You can see all of my book reviews for this year here.)

I set a goal to finish 80 books in 2019 and a second goal that 40 of those books will be books I already own. (You can see which books I picked to read from those I already own here).

By the way, I’m truly loving using GoodReads to track my reading. You all were right! It is really motivational to see my progress! And I’ve been ahead on my goal for the last month!

I finished 7 books in June —- yay! Here’s what I read + my honest thoughts on each of the books:

Becoming Mrs. Lewis

I am so conflicted on what to say about this book. On the one hand, it was a very well-written story that was pretty captivating, but on the other hand, I struggled to like it.

It’s the unconventional love story of C.S. Lewis and his wife. It was both beautiful and tragic and not at all what I expected.

I wanted to like it, but I just couldn’t.

Some of that was because I think there was too much fiction woven in and I didn’t know what was fact and what was fiction — and that bothered me. Some of it was because I was concerned with Lewis’ relationship with Joy when she was still married. If it were true, from my vantage point, it felt like it crossed some lines of emotional attachment that shouldn’t happen between two people when one of them is married.

If I could tie up this review with a bow, I would. But I can’t. Because I just don’t know what to say or think about this book.

Have you read it? If so, please let me know what you thought of it. And please let me know if you disagree with me and why! I really wish I could be persuaded to like it.

Verdict: 3 stars

Begin Again

This book moved me at a deep level. While I felt like sometimes I wasn’t poetic enough to understand the depths of what was being communicated.

It felt so raw and honest and vulnerable and yet so beautiful and rich and inspiring. I didn’t want it to end.

Two of the quotes that were the most meaningful to me:

“We don’t get to the truth while we’re deeply invested in what’s false.”

“God’s story is a narrative of emancipation.”

Of all the books I read in July, this was my favorite… thus, the 4-star verdict.

Verdict: 4 stars

Preach to Yourself

I wanted to love this book and I did love many parts of it. But I felt like it was hard to slog through at times. Some of the chapters felt really long and drawn out.

And yet, some of the sections were so powerful and so important. For instance, this passage is GOLD:

“Many of us — maybe all of us — don’t live what we say we believe… We say we depend on God, but we act like we’ve got to make it happen on our own. We say we believe God can heal, but we’re walking around with decades-old wounds. We say we believe God is at work, but we’re asleep at the wheel of the one life He’s given us.”

So, despite some of the chapters feeling longer than necessary, this book has some very valuable stuff and is worth the read.

Verdicts: 3 stars

Last Christmas in Paris

This book had been recommended to me as one to read since I loved The Geurnsey Literary and Potato Peel Society. It’s the love story of a soldier at war and his friend’s sister at home.

They began writing letters just to keep each other company. But slowly, ever so slowly, it morphed into more. It’s a fairly slow-developing story, but there is a lot of history woven throughout and I learned quite a bit about World War I. (I realized I have read a lot about World War II, but very few books about World War I.)

The book is epistolary, which means the story is told through letters and telegrams. I found it fascinating in the afterward to discover that the authors wrote the bones of this book as actual letters back and forth.

Verdicts: 3 stars

It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way

Lysa always has a way with words to penetrate your heart and challenge you, while also drawing you in with her funny and authentic story-telling.

For some reason, though, unlike her others books I’ve read, I felt like this book was missing something. I’m not sure if it’s because she wrote it while still very much in the midst of the story that is a big story arc for the book or if it was something else. I couldn’t put a finger on it.

I do feel like the book would be a real encouragement to someone who is going through a difficult time when life feelings overwhelming, hard, and just doesn’t make sense.

Verdict: 3 stars

Kind is the New Classy

This is a quick read (or listen) and definitely had some valuable content. However, I have to admit that I was sort of turned off by how the author seemed to drop in unnecessary details that just felt kind of prideful.

I know that we all come at things differently and only God knows someone’s heart, however, I hadn’t said anything to Jesse about this and was listening to the book when he was in the room and he picked up on this same thing, too.

I think there is a lot of helpful inspiration in this book, I just struggled to love it because I kept getting hung up on the presentation.

Verdict: 3 stars

Beauty Maker

Monica asked me if I would write an endorsement for her brand-new book. Since I love her work, I said yes!
Here was the endorsement I wrote after reading it:
In Beauty Maker, Monica invites us on a journey to cultivating more beauty — in our surroundings and in our souls. Her words inspired me to prioritize taking time to create more beauty in our home and to prioritize taking time to be a noticer of the beauty that is all around me.
My favorite part of the book? The rich and yet simple photos that showcase how Monica lives out her message in her everyday life.

Verdict: 3 stars

Important & Super Honest Note:

I’m kind of not wanting to hit publish on this post. Why did I ever commit to writing honest reviews of all the books I read anyway?? I want to be truthful, but I also want to be kind and gracious… and I struggled with how to strike that balance well in my reviews today.

I want you to know that I’m not going to sugarcoat my feelings, but I also know that authors are real people who have put so much effort into their books that it’s hard for me to write reviews that feel like they lean toward being negative.

Ugh. This is the part of my job that is so hard sometimes.

If you felt I didn’t communicate graciously or you are the author of any of these books and you felt hurt by what I wrote, please let me know. This is an area where I’m still a big work in progress and I don’t want to offend or hurt anyone if I can help it!

What have you been reading recently? Any books you think I really need to read soon? I’d love to know!

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Shared Aug 19, 2019 comment

Gretchen’s $74 Weekly Grocery Shopping Trip and Menu Plan for 5

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Gretchen’s $74 Weekly Grocery Shopping Trip and Menu Plan for 5

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Dillons

5 pkg Kroger Cheese – $0.99 each after e-coupon (No longer available)

3 Simple Truth Greek Yogurt – Marked down to $0.49 each

2 Kellogg’s Fruit Snacks – $0.99 each, used $1/2 printable – $0.49 each after coupon

1 Hunts Ketchup – $2.99, used $1.50/1 e-coupon – $1.49 after coupon

3 Private Selection Pasta – $0.50 each (I forgot to include these in the picture.)

1 Moms Best Oatmeal – Marked down to $0.79

2 pkg Goldfish – $0.99 each

2 pkg Quaker Rice Cake Snacks – Marked down to $0.79 each

2 bags Kroger Frozen Veggies – $1 each, used $0.50/2 mailer coupon – $0.75 each after coupon

1.54 lbs Red Grapes – $1.51

2 GogoSqueeze Applesauce Pouches – $5.69 each

2 boxes Annie’s Crackers at $2.99 each – On Sale Buy One Get One Free, used $0.50/2 printable – $1 each after coupon

2.14 Bananas – $1.05

1 Kroger Peanut Butter – $1.79, used Free mailer coupon – Free after coupon

1 Oyster Crackers – $0.79

1 can Kroger Green Beans – Marked down to $0.29

1 can Refried Beans – Marked down to $0.39

1 bag Kroger Brown Rice – $0.89

1 bag Kroger Flour – $1.59, used $0.40/1 mailer coupon – $1.19 after coupon

2 Green Leaf Lettuce – $1.29 each

Total after coupons: $38.31

Aldi

1 bag Frozen Chicken Breasts – $5.99

1 pkg Chicken Thighs – $4.35

1 Half & Half – $1.59

1 bag Navel Oranges – $1.89

1 bag Organic Rice – $2.59

1 lb Butter – $2.89

1 pkg Tortillas – $1.19

1 loaf Bread – $0.99

1 Sour Cream – $1.49

1 bag Red Grapes – $2.23

1 bag Chocolate Chips – $1.89

1 Taco Seasoning Mix – $0.39

2 bag Tortilla Chips – $1.69 each

1 can Pineapple Chunks – $0.95

1 bag Roma Tomatoes – $0.79

1 gallon Milk – $1.49

1 pkg Strawberries – $1.99

Total: $36.08

Total for both stores: $74.39

Menu Plan for This Week

We are still getting lots of veggies from our garden which I will be using this week!

Breakfasts

Cereal, Eggs, Toast, Oatmeal, Donuts (at church)

Lunches

Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, Turkey Sandwiches, Cheese Quesadillas, Cheese/Crackers/Fruit/Veggies, Tossed Salads, Leftovers

Dinners

Homemade Cheese Pizza, Breadsticks

Out to eat for my birthday

Chicken, Rice & Beans

Game Night at our house (We are doing a Nacho Bar and I’m providing Chips, Sour Cream, Tomatoes, Meat and Lettuce.)

Pancakes, Eggs, Fruit Salad

BBQ Meatballs, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Rolls

Tossed Salad Bar with Grilled Chicken

Shared Aug 18, 2019 comment

This Week’s $70 Grocery Budget + Menu Plan

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This Week’s $70 Grocery Budget + Menu Plan

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Want to see what we bought for this week’s $70 grocery budget? I’m currently challenging myself to stick with a $70 budget for our family of five. This includes almost all of our breakfasts, lunches, snacks, and dinners + most household products (toiletries, laundry soap, etc.).

For live updates, be sure to follow my Instagram Stories. See all posts on my $70 Grocery Budget here.

Because of our traveling the last 4 weeks, I haven’t posted our grocery budget + menu plan posts. It feels good to be back to it now that school has started and we’re back into the swing of a more normal routine.

Speaking of school starting, here’s a real-life photo from the first day: Kathrynne headed out to a 4-day back to school camp (her school starts with an all-school 4-day camp!), Silas all ready for his first day in his uniform, and Kaitlynn sporting a thermometer because she had a low grade fever and had to stay home.

I couldn’t believe this HUGE cart full of egg noodles marked down to $0.69 each at Kroger this week!

But I didn’t buy them because Kroger has Private Selection on pasta for $0.50 when you buy 5 participating items.

Kroger Shopping Trip #1:

  • Kroger breakfast links — free with coupons from Kroger mailer
  • 2 canisters of breadcrumbs — on closeout for $0.47 each
  • Kroger peanut butter — free with coupons from Kroger mailer
  • A&W Cream Soda — free with coupon mailed to me
  • Quest bar — free with Freebie Friday coupon
  • 1 can Kroger green beans — marked down to $0.29
  • 2 cans of hominy — marked down to $0.29 each
  • Turkey Hill Tea — marked down to $0.39
  • Kroger broth — marked down to $0.69
  • 3 boxes of Kroger toaster pastries — marked down to $0.59 each
  • 1 bag of peppers — marked down to $0.99
  • 1 cantaloupe — marked down to $0.99
  • 1 bag of onions/avocados — marked down to $0.99
  • 1 can Simple Truth green beans — marked down to $0.49
  • 1 package of egg roll wraps — marked down to $0.49
  • 2 bags of Blue Corn chips — $0.99 each when you buy 5 participating items
  • 1 package of Oscar Mayer hot dogs — $0.99 each when you buy 5 participating items
  • 2 bags of Goldfish — $0.99 each when you buy 5 participating items
  • 4 packages of Private Selection pasta — $0.50 each when you buy 5 participating items
  • 1 box of oatmeal — used $0.40/1 Kroger digital coupon = $1.09 after coupon
  • Total with tax: $18.95

Kaitlynn and I flew to Portland, Maine for me to speak at the Food Allergy Blogger’s Conference. One of the best parts of speaking at food blogging conferences? The BEST gift sacks full of yummy food and snacks from sponsors!

Kroger Shopping Trip #2

  • Kroger whole wheat flour — marked down to $1.69
  • Brown rice — marked down to $1.19
  • 3 packages of Eckrich sausage — $1.69 each when you buy 5 participating items
  • 5 packages of cheese — $0.99 each with Friday-Saturday deal
  • 2 boxes of Cheerios — $1.49 when you buy 5 participating items — used $1/2 Kroger digital coupon = $0.99 each
  • Bag of grapefruit/lime juice — $0.99
  • Tub of lettuce — marked down to $1.79
  • 1 dozen cage-free eggs — $2.50
  • 1 back to school brownie bites — marked down to $2.49
  • Total with tax: $25.09

Sprouts Shopping Trip

  • Bartlett Pears — $0.95
  • 3 18-oz. cartons of blueberries — $1.98 each
  • Peaches — $1.09
  • Water — $1.98
  • Total with tax: $10.64

BigLots Shopping Trip

  • 2 bags of chips — $0.25 each
  • 2 double packs of English Muffins — $1.40 each
  • 4 packages of Keebler cookies — $0.25 each
  • 4 to-go cups — $0.25 each
  • 4 bags of peanuts — $0.25 each
  • Total with tax: $7.26

$70 Grocery Budget + Menu Plan

I couldn’t believe the great deals we found at BigLots! It reminded me of the Christian County Discount Freight & Grocery last week!

What We Ate This Past Week

Note: When you see the meals below, please remember this: I buy ahead often. Which means that when I find a great deal on something I know we’ll use, I buy as much as I can afford in our budget to have on hand.

This means that you aren’t going to see all of the groceries my shopping trip that I used to make all of the meals we ate.

Please also remember that I’m putting this out there and it’s not a perfectly balanced menu. This is just really what we ate — and I hope that it encourages you to see the real-ness and lack of perfection here.

Breakfasts:

Lunches:

  • Ham Sandwiches, Granola Bars, Yogurt, Capri Sun, Salad, Leftovers, Fruit,

Snacks:

  • Cookies, Popcorn, Ice Cream, Go-Gurts

Dinners:

  • Sunday — Chicken Noodle Soup, Oyster Crackers
  • Monday — Fend for Yourself
  • Tuesday — Chick-fil-A
  • Wednesday — Smoked Ribs
  • Thursday — Chicken Noodle Soup, Bran Muffins
  • Friday — Chicken Rice Casserole, Cantaloupe, Roasted Broccoli
  • Saturday — Leftovers

Total spent on groceries: $61.94

Cashback earned this week: 308 points for submitting my receipts to Fetch rewards

Shared Aug 17, 2019 comment

Brigette’s $95 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6

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Brigette’s $95 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

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 64-oz cartons Orange Juice – $3.18

2 64-oz cartons Whole Milk – $1.40

1 Can Whipping Cream – $1.99

1 32-oz carton Plain Nonfat Greek Yogurt – $3.39

4 single-serving sized cartos Flavored Greek Yogurts – $2.36

4 dozen Eggs – $3.12

2 16-oz cartons Egg Whites – $3.38

2 16-oz bags Shredded Mozzarella Cheese – $3.98

2 16-oz bags Shredded Cheddar Cheese – $3.98

1 8-oz pkg Colby Jack Sliced Cheese – $1.19

1 can Parmesan Cheese – $2.19

2 bags Riced Cauliflower – $3.78

1 48-oz bag Frozen Boneless Chicken Breasts – $5.39

1 16-oz pkg Sliced Deli Meat – $2.15

1 pkg Sliced Pepperoni – $1.99

2 cans Green Beans – $0.78

1 2-lb bag Red Onions – $1.79

1 bag Mini Sweet Peppers – $1.79

1 bag Baby Carrots – $0.85

1 bunch Bananas – $0.92

2 Avocados – $1.30

1 bag Radishes – $0.79

1 6-ct pkg Applesauce Cups – $1.25

1 16-oz bag Mini Cucumbers – $1.99

1 10-lb bag Russet Potatoes – $2.49

1 3-lb bag Sweet Potatoes – $1.69

1 can Garbanzo Beans – $0.38

1 pkg Zucchini – $1.19

2 pkgs Broccoli Crowns – $2.98

2 4-ct pkgs Sweet Corn – $3.38

1 large tub Organic Spring Mix – $3.39

1 3-lb bag Lemons – $1.69

1 carton Strawberries – $1.25

1 Cauliflower – $1.49

3 large bags Red Grapes (@ $0.89/lb) – $5.69

1 1-lb box Butter Quarters – $2.19

1 pkg Turkey Bacon – $1.89

1 loaf French Bread, reduced to $0.50

1 pkg Flour Tortillas – $0.65

1 loaf Sandwich Bread – $0.65

1 pkg Hot Dog Buns – $0.59

1 pkg Rice Cakes – $1.15

1 can Baking Powder – $0.99

1 jar Onion Powder – $0.95

1 can Olive Oil Cooking Spray – $1.35

1 jar Honey – $3.69

1 pkg Taco Seasoning Mix – $0.39

Grocery Total for the Week: $95.57 

(This is a little more than I usually spend – but this is our first real grocery trip since getting back from vacation, and the fridge was getting pretty bare!)

Weekly Menu Plan

Breakfasts

Everyone is responsible for making/cleaning up their own breakfasts. Choices include:

Fried/Scrambled/Boiled Eggs, Veggie Omelets, Cereal, Fruit, Yogurt, Smoothies, Oatmeal

Lunches

Rice Cakes with Peanut Butter and Honey, Bananas, Carrots

Cheese Quesadillas, Grapes, Mini Cucumbers x 2

Baked Sweet Potatoes, Cottage Cheese, Peaches (gift from friends who visited a local orchard), Carrots

Deli Meat/Cheese Sandwiches, Grapes, Mini Peppers x 2

Leftovers

Dinners

Spaghetti Carbonara (family recipe, very similar to this), Garlic Bread, Tossed Salad

Hot Dogs on the Grill, Baked French Fries, Corn on the Cob, Applesauce

Pour-A-Pan Pizza, (I will be omitting the sausage and the green pepper), Roasted Cauliflower, Grapes

Crockpot Italian Chicken, Green Beans, Biscuits

Build-Your-Own-Taco-Salad Bar (Seasoned Ground Beef, Lettuce, Shredded Cheddar Cheese, Salsa, Avocados, Plain Greek Yogurt, Fritos)

Lemon Chicken With Broccoli, Rice/Cauliflower Rice, Peaches

Leftovers

Shared Aug 15, 2019 comment

My Completely Honest Review of The Ultimate Productivity Bundle

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My Completely Honest Review of The Ultimate Productivity Bundle

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Wondering if The Ultimate Productivity Bundle is worth buying? Read my honest review below, and you can decide for yourself!

If you are on other blogger’s email lists, there’s a good chance you’ve gotten some emails or seen some blog posts or social media posts yesterday and today about The Ultimate Productivity Bundle.

I know a number of you have already purchased this bundle, but if you haven’t purchased The Ultimate Productivity Bundle yet this year, here are two things you need to know:

1) It is back again through midnight tonight for a Flash Sale! This is your last chance to grab it at this huge discount!

2) I went through every single resource in the bundle and went through it so I could give you my completely honest review.

Yes, you read that right. I literally signed up for every.single.course and downloaded every ebook and printable. My poor computer put in a lot of work!

While I didn’t read every word or listen to every single minute of video (that would have taken me a LONG time!), I went through and at least skimmed every single resource and decided to share my really honest thoughts…

Here were my honest thoughts:

The Negatives:

  1. Some of the products had an inflated price tag. This is a pet peeve of mine. Don’t put $29 on a product just to make it sound more impressive. While The Ultimately Productivity Bundle is supposedly valued at $1500, I’m going to be honest and say that I felt at least 25% of the products had an inflated price tag. And I likely wouldn’t use at least 60% of them, so for me, the value would be really and truly more like a few hundred dollars, not $1500.
  2. There weren’t as many products in it as I was expecting. I was surprised that there weren’t more like 60-70 products in it (there are only 46 products in it). I think I’m used to them having that many when it’s the Homemaking Bundle, so I thought the options weren’t as plentiful as I was hoping for.
  3. I wish there had been more ebooks. While courses are great, I often prefer ebooks because they are easier for me to read and digest — especially since I’m a fast reader and sometimes skim (Shh! Don’t tell anyone!). There are only 5 ebooks in this bundle and the rest of the products are printables or courses.
  4. Some of the printables were poorly designed. I know that we don’t always have the highest quality design on things we offer because of various reasons and I know sometimes you just do the best you can do, but I found that at least 30% of the printables were ones I would never consider using because they just looked like they were designed by someone who didn’t have a lot of design experience or it just was not my style at all.
  5. A few products felt very clunky to download. I noticed there were a number of .zip files as well as some courses that seemed to require multiple hoops to jump through to get them to download. It felt like it sort of flew in the face of productivity to have to go to quite a bit of effort to download a product in order to be able to use it.

The Positives:

  1. There were a number of really helpful and well-designed printables. I was impressed with how many different styles of printables this bundle offered. If you love printables, you will just adore this bundle! So many great options to choose from!
  2. I loved that many of the resources were created by people who aren’t naturally organized. It seems like many times, productivity classes and courses and ebooks are created by naturally organized people. This was not the case with many of the products in this bundle — many of the creators said they were more of a Type B, laid back personality —  and that’s why I feel like it has much wider appeal.
  3. The bundle offered a variety of printable planners. If you are looking for a planner for yourself and you’re okay with printing it yourself, you’ve got a wealth of choices in this bundle!
  4. There were some really high quality products. There were some really high quality products in the bundle that I felt would make it worth the price tag ($37) if you would use these and they would help your life be more organized. Like I said, I went through each and every product to pick out the ones I felt were the highest quality and value and something I would personally use or that I thought would be really helpful to other people.

Here were my top 4 favorites:

Family Chore Planner: The Complete Home Management System for Families ($17 value)

This PDF download not only offers some great tips for getting your kids to help around the house and suggested chore ideas for different ages, but you get customizable rotating chore chart systems for your family!

Child, It’s Time to Get Off Your Butt ($7 value)

This may have been one of my favorite resources in the bundle. It’s an inspirational ebook with very practical tips on how to get your kids to go from being couch potatoes to being assets in your home — without having some rigid system that was designed for Type A moms.

There are lots of helpful charts and hands-on examples in the book, like this:

If you’re frustrated that your kids aren’t more disciplined and diligent but you just don’t know where to start, you’ll find a lot of fantastic help in this short but highly actionable ebook.

Brilliant Baby Steps: Productivity Course ($47 value)

This course was one of the most beautiful and value-packed courses in the bundle and I couldn’t believe all you got for the price. It definitely was not one of the products that I felt had an inflated price tag.

One of the best parts of it is where Beth Anne shows you just how much you can get done in 10 minutes. She’s not a Type A personality, so her advice will work for pretty much every personality type.

How to Organize Your Life With Trello ($47 value)

Okay, so full disclosure here: I am not a Trello person and I don’t think I ever will be. BUT, I do believe that it can be an amazing organizational system for many people and I wanted to highlight this course because it was so well done and helpful for those who are looking for a better way to organize their life and thoughts and projects.

If you haven’t purchased The Ultimate Productivity Bundle yet, and you are still interested in purchasing after reading my honest review, you can click here to purchase it for just $37 through August 15, 2019!

You’ll get access to these 4 products + 42 other resources including a number of printable planners and other time management and organizational and goal-setting resources! Go here to read more.

Click here to purchase The Ultimate Productivity Bundle. Remember, this special flash sale price is only good through midnight tonight (August 15, 2019)!

P.S. Have you purchased The Ultimate Productivity Bundle? If so, I’d love to hear your honest thoughts on it!

Shared Aug 13, 2019 comment

Modesty, Legalism, and Grace

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Modesty, Legalism, and Grace

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Want to hear our thoughts on legalism and grace and how this plays out in our decisions and convictions? Be sure to listen to this week’s episode!

Missed previous episodes of The Crystal Paine show? You can listen to them here.

Ever since Jesse and I did our show on breaking free from legalism, we’ve received a lot emails, messages, and comments all asking similar questions.

The questions were all something like, “If you don’t adhere to legalism, what should you adhere to?” “How do you determine what you should believe and practice?” “What kind of convictions should a Christian have when it comes to dress, music, dating, a woman’s role, etc.?”

In this episode, Jesse and I dig into the concept of standards and how to know what to believe and practice in light of grace and the Gospel. We tackle some tough topics — like modesty — and share how we process through what is right and wrong when it comes to standards.

While I don’t expect you to agree with every thing we say, I hope that this episode will challenge you to think about what you believe and why you believe it and the choices you make and why you make them.

Powered by RedCircle

In This Episode: 

[00:26] – Welcome back to the show! This is a different show than we usually do because we’re going to take a deep dive into the topic of legalism.

[01:57] – Listen as I read the listener email that inspired us to do this show.

[03:28] – Jesse starts off with his thoughts on the email and the definition of standards.

[06:03] – Is your reason for doing something to please someone else or to “fit in”?

[07:09] – The basis of any standard should start with your heart.

[10:14] – Who do you believe God is? Your actions might show that it’s actually different than what you say.

[11:42] – I share my favorite phrase in the Bible that applies to this topic and how it has profoundly impacted my life.

[17:35] – So what standards should we set? How do we decide how we should act and what convictions we should hold?

Links and Resources:

Have feedback on the show or suggestions for future episodes or topics? Send me an email: [email protected]

How to Listen to The Crystal Paine Show

The podcast is available on iTunes, Android, Stitcher, and Spotify. You can listen online through the direct player we’ll include in the show notes of each episode. OR, a much easier way to listen is by subscribing to the podcast through a free podcast app on your phone. (Find instructions for how to subscribe to a podcast here.)

Ready to dive in and listen? Hit the player above or search for “The Crystal Paine Show” on your favorite podcast app.

Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission — at no additional cost to you. Thank you so much for your support!

OVER-SPENDING EVERY SINGLE MONTH?Grab these FREE Budgeting Sheets!

Click here to download!
Shared Aug 12, 2019 comment

Cheap Meals for a Crowd (Vacation Menu)

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Cheap Meals for a Crowd (Vacation Menu)

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Need some easy recipes or cheap meals for large groups? Here’s how we fed 27 people on our recently family vacation including the meals we made + how we divvied up the responsibilities.

Be sure to also check out these Easy Meals for 20 people + these Recipes for a Crowd of People. Both include full vacation menu plans!

Cheap Meals for Large Groups

Cheap Meals for Large Groups

Last week, we drove to Lampe, MO to spend a week at Table Rock Lake with almost all of my extended family. (This time around, it was my parents, 2 brothers, 3 sisters, and their spouses and kids. My youngest brother couldn’t come because he’s working at the Wild’s Christian Camp this summer).

My dad rented Caboose Junction Resort for us all (it has a main house and then 6 caboose that have been turned into small “cabins”).

In addition to spending lots of time skiing, boating, and swimming, we ate a lot of yummy meals. But in order to feed 27 people without it being too much work, we not only stuck with cheap meals for large groups, but we also all pitched in and helped with the food.

Since you all loved my other vacation menu plan posts about easy meals for 20+ people, I wanted to, once again, share what we ate and how we planned and divided up the responsibilities. This might give you some inspiration in case you need some suggestions for easy meals for 25+ people.

southwest roll-ups for large groups
salad and fruit for large groups
cheap meal ideas: Spaghetti pie
family gathering eating dinner together
takeout pizza sliced

How We Planned and Divvied Things Up

Like last time, my sister planned the menu with cheap meals for large groups and sent out a sign-up form using Perfect Potluck (it’s free and so easy to use!). Each family signed up for the main dishes and side dishes they wanted to be in charge of.

Perfect Potluck meal planning for large groups

(A screenshot of the sign up form on Perfect Potluck.)

Whatever meals or parts of meals you signed up for, you were in charge of bringing the ingredients for and cooking/baking.

We also had a sign-up for kitchen clean-up, too, so that one person didn’t have to do a bunch of the clean up and everyone could enjoy plenty of time for fun!

menu plan on fridge

Easy Breakfasts for Large Groups

Here’s what we served for breakfast:

easy french toast breakfast for large groups

Easy Lunches for Large Groups

For lunch, we had our usual huge Build-Your-Own Salad Bar (most all of my family loves salads!). We also had bread and meat/cheese for sandwiches for the kids and any adults who didn’t just want a salad. In addition, we set out any leftovers from breakfast or dinner.

Build-Your-Own Salad Bar Ingredients: A variety of Greens and Lettuce, Canned Salmon, Boiled Eggs, Raisins, Seeds/Nuts, Avocados, Bell Peppers, Cucumbers, Chickpeas, Cherry Tomatoes, Feta Cheese, Croutons, Dressings

easy meals for large groups: build your own taco bar
baked potato bar for dinner
easy meals for large groups: baked potatoes

Simple Dinners for Large Groups

If you’re looking for some really easy and cheap meals for large groups, here’s what we made for the dinners:

  • Spaghetti Pie, Lettuce Salad, Garlic Bread, Green Beans, Fruit
  • Southwest Rollups (Toppings: Shredded Lettuce, Sour Cream, Salsa), Mexican Rice, Fruit
  • Pizza & Soda Pop (We ordered from a local pizza place — we ordered it online and then my dad went and picked it up.)
  • Baked Potato Bar & Five Cup Salad (The toppings we had: Baked Potatoes, Taco Meat, Sour Cream, Cottage Cheese, Chopped Green Onions, Shredded Cheese, Bacon, Salsa, Chopped Tomatoes, Broccoli.)
  • Grilled Chicken, Lettuce Salad, Homemade Biscuits, Corn on the Cob, Fruit Salad, Steamed Veggies,  Twice Baked Potatoes. (I used the leftover baked potatoes to make these.)
  • Hamburgers/Hot Dogs, Homemade French Fries, Veggie Tray, Leftover Corn on the Cob, Leftover Fruit Salad

Cheap Meals to Feed a Crowd: Snacks & More!

  • Popcorn, kettle corn, caramel corn, etc.
  • Trail mix (use your favorite sweet/salty ingredients)
  • Chex Mix or Snack Mix
  • Grapes, bananas, apples, clementines
  • Baby Carrots and dip
  • Granola bars (or you can buy big packs at Costco and Sams for a good deal
  • Energy Balls (make them ahead of time and freeze them)
  • Hard boiled eggs (you can also make these a couple days in advance)

It’s amazing how it’s not too much work on any one person to feed 25+ people if we all pitch in and help!

What other ideas of easy recipes for 25+ people or cheap meals for large groups do you have? I’d love to hear!

Cut your grocery bill!

Want to cut your grocery budget? Go here and sign up (it’s free!) I’ll send you my 10 Easy Ways to Cut Your Grocery Bill By $50.

Shared Aug 12, 2019 comment

Gretchen’s Weekly Grocery Shopping Trip and Menu Plan for 5

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Gretchen’s Weekly Grocery Shopping Trip and Menu Plan for 5

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Aldi

1 pkgs Shredded Cheese – $2.69 each

2 pkg Frozen Chicken Breasts – $5.99 each

2 pints Blueberries – $1.39 each

2.18 lbs Green Grapes – $1.94

1 can Chili Beans – $0.65

1 box Fruit Squeezies – $1.49

3 pkg Strawberries – $1.29 each

1 pkg Frozen Corn – $0.95

1 pkg Frozen Peas – $0.99

1 pkg Frozen Broccoli – $0.95

1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup – $0.49

1 pkg Snack Crackers – $1.69

1 pkg Sliced Cheese – $1.99

1 gallon Milk – $1.49

1 bag Corn Chips – $1.25

1 pkg Applesauce Cups – $1.39

5 lbs Potatoes – $2.29

1 loaf Wheat Bread – $0.25

2 dozen Eggs – $0.58 each

Total: $42.98

Dillons

2 pkg Capri Sun – $0.99 after e-coupon (no longer available)

2 Cascadian Farms Cereal – $1.99 each, used $1/2 e-coupon – $1.49 each after coupon

5 Yoplait Go-Gurts – $0.99 after e-coupon (no longer available)

1 bag Tortilla Chips – $1.25, used 10% off e-coupon – $1.12 after coupon

2 cartons Private Selection Ice Cream – $1.99 each after e-coupon (no longer available)

1 Green Leaf Lettuce – $1.29

2 pkg Quaker Chewy Granola Bars – 2.29, used 2 $1/1 e-coupon AND $1/2 Ibotta rebate AND $1/2 Kroger Cash Back – $0.29 each after coupons and rebate

3 Smuckers Jams – $1.50 each

1 Kroger Salsa – $1.39, used 10% off e-coupon – $1.26 after coupon

2 Simply Popped Popcorn – $0.99 each, used 2 $0.60/1 printable – $0.39 each after coupon

1 Half & Half – $1.99, used 10% off e-coupon – $1.79 after coupon

1 Dunkin Donuts Creamer – $1.79, used $1.50/1 Ibotta rebate – $0.29 after rebate

1 pkg Nourish Granola Bites – $1.99, used $1/1 e-coupon – $0.99 after coupon

2 Yasso Frozen Yogurt – $2.99 each, used 2 $1/1 printable AND 2 $1/1 Ibotta rebate AND 2 $1/1 Kroger Cash Back – Free after coupons and rebates

4 Hillshire Farms Lunchmeat – $1.99 each after e-coupon (no longer available)

1 Sara Lee Bakery Bread – $2.49

2 pkg Chips Ahoy Cookies – $0.99 each after e-coupon (no longer available)

2 pkg Lindt Bars – $0.49 each after e-coupon (no longer available)

1 Quest Bar – $2.50, used Free e-coupon (no longer available) AND $0.25/1 Ibotta rebate – Free plus overage after coupon

Bananas – $1.25

Used $0.10 Ibotta rebate for any receipt

Total after coupons, rebates and cash back: $40.80

Total for both stores: $83.78

Menu Plan for This Week

Breakfasts

Cereal, Eggs, Toast, Oatmeal, Fruit, Yogurt

Lunches

Turkey Sandwiches, Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, Fruit/Cheese/Crackers, Tossed Salad, Leftovers

Dinners

Mac & Cheese, Chips & Salsa, Veggies (from our garden)

French Toast, Eggs, Fruit

Grilled Chicken, Biscuits, Steamed Broccoli

BBQ at kid’s school (Dinner is provided for this back to school event.)

Out to eat with our LifeGroup

Taco Salad Bar

Baked Chicken with Mushroom Gravy, Steamed Peas, Mashed Potatoes

Shared Aug 10, 2019 comment

Our Visit to Christian County Discount Freight & Grocery

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Our Visit to Christian County Discount Freight & Grocery

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Have you checked out Christian County Discount Freight & Grocery in Ozark, MO? In this post, I share about our recent trip there, the deals I found, and my honest thoughts on the store.

Deals at Christian County Discount Freight & Grocery

 

Visiting Christian County Discount Freight & Grocery

Our family met up with all of my extended family this past week in Lampe, MO for our annual week at the lake trip. On our way home, we stopped at Lambert’s Cafe in Ozark, MO for lunch.

I had mentioned this on Instagram stories and one of my followers messaged me and said we had to check out this discount store that was close to Lambert’s called Christian County Discount Freight & Grocery.

(Note: they don’t seem to have an actual website that I could find. They do have a very regularly-updated Facebook Page.)

It just so happened, that we were at the gas station right down the road when I read the message and it just so happened that we had some wiggle room in our day. So I asked Jesse if we could run into the store to check it out.

I Was So Impressed With the Deals!

Honestly, because of all of the great deals I often find at my local stores, it takes a lot to impress me when it comes to grocery deals. And when we first walked in and I looked at some of the prices, I figured that this might have a few good deals but probably most of the prices weren’t anything to get too excited about.

But then I kept looking and I started getting more and more excited. I should have known one of my followers wouldn’t steer me wrong!

I picked up a few boxes of $0.49 cookies and crackers and then a few more. Pretty soon, when I started dropping things because my arms were full, Jesse looked at me and said, “Um, I think you need to get a shopping basket.”

That was the point when I knew that I wasn’t going to make it out of this store with “just a few purchases” as I had initially planned on. I was quickly falling in love with Christian County Discount Freight & Grocery.

There were SO many, many good deals! I was especially impressed with the prices on crackers and cookies. They had boxes and boxes and boxes of name brands that were $0.49 to $0.99!

Also, I discovered that if you kept looking, there were many that were marked down to half price!

The Best Deals Were on Snack Items

Some of the prices were more than what I’d pay at my grocery stores when pairing coupons and sales. However, most of the snack prices were less expensive than I can ever find.

For instance, Jesse was thrilled to find Sunflower Seeds for $0.49/bag!

All of the protein bars — including RXbars — were $0.50 each!!

They even had this medicine area with $0.49 items!

I found a number of organic items at great prices, too!

And the candy prices were so good. My kids just couldn’t believe it!

So much for buying just a few things!

How Much I Spent at Christian County Discount Freight & Grocery

Jesse laughed as he saw me walking towards him with my precariously balanced basket. I couldn’t fit one more item in so I knew it was time to call it quits. (We didn’t have a lot of extra space in the car, otherwise I probably would have purchased 2-3 times as much!)

Guess how much we paid for this entire basket full of stuff? $14!!!

Basically, I felt like we were shopping at Dollar Tree! That said, since so many of the items were just $0.49 each, it felt even better than Dollar Tree!

If you are ever in or near Ozark, MO, I highly recommend checking out Christian County Discount Freight & Grocery!

Shared Aug 9, 2019 comment

17 Back to School Breakfast Recipes for Kids

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17 Back to School Breakfast Recipes for Kids

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Looking for some easy breakfast recipes for kids with back to school season almost in full swing? Try one of these healthy ideas!

Looking for more delicious breakfast ideas? Try our family’s favorite Bread Machine Cinnamon Rolls, this delicious Ice-Cream Soaked French Toast, these breakfast recipes using leftover potatoes, these easy Homemade Freezer Biscuits, this Homemade English Muffin Bread, or these Make-Ahead Freezer-Friendly Pancake Recipes!

Back to School Breakfast Recipes for Kids

Beat the School Morning Chaos with Easy Breakfast Ideas

Back to school season is upon us…and so are busy weekday mornings!

When trying to get your kids out the door on chaotic school mornings, it really helps to have simple breakfast ideas prepared.

And while cold cereal, pop-tarts, and granola bars are easy on-the-go breakfasts, you might be looking for something a little more filling to give your kids that extra boost of energy they need to get through those first long school days.

If you’re looking for healthy breakfast recipes for kids that are quick, easy, and budget-friendly, this list has you covered!

Psst! Looking for healthy afternoon snack ideas? Check out this list of 25+ Frugal and Healthy Snack Ideas for Kids!

This is our list of top breakfast recipes for kids that meet the following criteria:

  • Generally healthy — These recipes are packed with nutrition for lots of energy, use wholesome ingredients, or sneak in an extra dose of veggies/fruit! (But yes, many of the muffins, pancakes, and waffles DO contain sugar.)
  • Budget-friendly — These recipes won’t break your grocery budget. In fact, many of these recipes can be made from scratch with inexpensive ingredients ahead of time and stretched over multiple days of breakfasts!
  • Quick and easy — These recipes are easy for weekday school mornings because they’re really simple to make, have very little prep time (so you can pop them in the oven to bake while you’re getting the kids ready for school), can be made ahead of time, or are freezer-friendly recipes that can be frozen for later.

Quick & Easy Healthy Breakfast Recipes for Kids

Baked Egg Bites

1. Baked Egg Breakfast Bites

These are SO tasty and easy to make, and they’re packed with protein!

They also freeze really well, so feel free to make these ahead of time to have ready in the freezer for busy weekday school mornings.

Also, I find that using silicone muffin cups (affiliate link) makes clean-up so much easier! I love mine!

Homemade Breakfast Cookies

2. Healthy Homemade Breakfast Cookies

Cookies for breakfast? Yes, please! Kids will LOVE this one.

This recipe is delicious, healthy, and filling. And they’re great to make ahead of time and have ready to grab-and-go!

easy breakfast recipes for kids: Homemade Instant Oatmeal Packets

3. Easy Homemade Instant Oatmeal Packets

This is one of the easiest breakfast recipes for kids, and it’s really versatile!

Homemade instant oatmeal packets are so easy to put together ahead of time and customize. You can mix it up and use a variety of different add-ins, depending on what each family member loves.

And you can’t go wrong with whole grains!

Carrot Cake Waffles

4. Whole Wheat Carrot Cake Waffles

Need to use up carrots or want to sneak some extra veggies into your child’s diet? Try these Carrot Cake Waffles!

They’re a little dose of healthy and a whole lot of delicious!

Psst! If you have any allergies in your family, give these Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free Waffles a whirl!

Morning Glory Muffins

5. Morning Glory Muffins

Filled with apples, whole wheat flour, carrots, coconut, and raisins, these muffins are packed with nutrition.

And they’re super delicious, too!

Pumpkin Carrot Cake Muffins

6. Pumpkin Carrot Cake Muffins

These muffins are another great way to sneak in a dose of carrots! They are super easy, healthy, and a great way to start the morning.

You don’t have to frost them with the sweetened cream cheese. That’s just a little something to make them feel more special, but they are certainly just as good without it!

Super Easy Breakfast recipes for kids: Homemade Granola

7. Homemade Granola

This is another yummy breakfast recipe for kids that’s super quick and easy to make!

Eat a bowlful with milk or sprinkle it over yogurt and fresh fruit.

Blueberry Ginger Smoothie -- great for back to school breakfasts

8. Breakfast Smoothies

Smoothies are a great way to quickly get a big dose of fruits and veggies before the day even gets started!

Try one of these smoothies as an easy on-the-go breakfast recipe for kids:

Simple Breakfast Casserole

9. World’s Easiest Breakfast Casserole

This simple Breakfast Casserole is one we’ve loved for years. It’s a pared-down version of my mom’s Breakfast Casserole and one we ate often in our lean law school days.

While not super duper healthy, it is packed with protein and sure to give your kids energy and focus during long school mornings!

Just throw all the ingredients in a pan and pop it in the oven to bake while you’re getting the kids ready for school. Super easy!

Baked Oatmeal

10. Freezer-Friendly Baked Oatmeal 

This is so easy to make and freeze ahead of time! Then you can just pull it out to thaw overnight and bake the morning you need it.

This one willl be such a big hit with your family, you’ll almost feel guilty over how simple it is to pull off.

Not mention, whole grains are always a winner!

Breakfast Burritos

11. Freezer-Friendly Breakfast Burritos

These breakfast burritos are perfect for breakfast-on-the-go! They’re also frugal and delicious.

While these aren’t the absolutely healthiest of options, they can be made ahead of time and they’re super filling! Also, there’s some green pepper and onion snuck in there!

Psst! Be sure to also try these Homemade Hot Pockets — a great variation of the breakfast burrito!

Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Pancakes

12. Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Pancakes

These pancakes are one of our favorite breakfast recipes for kids! It’s been a family favorite for years, and it’s healthy and tastes amazing!

The best part is you can totally freeze these ahead of time and just pull them out on a busy weekday morning! (We even love these straight from the freezer. They’re SO good!)

Note: Not a fan of reheated pancakes (or eating them straight from the freezer the way we crazies do!)? Try this Make Ahead Pancake Batter method or this Homemade Baking Mix. These will at least takes a few steps out of the process, so that the mix is ready to go on those mornings you want pancakes.

Looking for something a little different? These Oatmeal Pecan Pancakes my sister makes are really tasty, too!

Delicious Breakfast Recipe for kids: Apple Butter Muffins

13. Apple Butter Muffins

Sometimes an ingredient substitution leads to a great discovery!

Apple butter gives these muffins a great, rich flavor. And they’re made with oats, giving you a dose of whole grains!

Freezer Banana Bread

14. Freezer-Friendly Banana Bread

This is our tried and true banana bread recipe, and it freezes beautifully.

Sometimes we decide to mix things up and add chocolate chips. Feel free to experiment with various mix-ins!

Breakfast Ideas for Kids: Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins

15. Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins

Can you tell we love chocolate chips? 😉

These muffins are hearty and filling. Not too sweet, but just the perfect blend of crunch and chocolate mixed together.

And again, the oats give your kids a good dose of whole grains!

Blueberry Muffins

16. Whole Wheat Blueberry Muffins

This recipe is super-simple, (practically) fool-proof, and makes you the “muffin hero” in less than a half-an-hour!

Even more, I love that this recipe is fairly healthy, using intentional ingredients to make a more nutritious muffin. It’s a great recipe to make when blueberries are on sale.

Whip up a batch of these at the beginning of a school week to have a week’s worth of delicious breakfasts at your fingertips!

Breakfast Recipes for Kids: Best Bran Muffins

17. The Best Bran Muffins

These muffins are absolutely packed with nutrition!

If you’ve been looking for a good bran muffin recipe that is also really good for you, try these out!

Looking for more breakfast recipes for kids?

These are some other great breakfast recipes that we didn’t include on this list due to their not-quite-as-nutritious content or the time it takes to make them on a busy weekday morning. 😉

{I highly recommend the Cinnamon Rolls and the Ice Cream French Toast. SO yummy — especially on a slower weekend morning with the family!}

What are some of your family’s favorite easy breakfast recipes for kids? Let us know in the comments!

50 Easy breakfast ideas

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Shared Aug 6, 2019 comment

How I Plan My Day to Stay Organized and Get More Done

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How I Plan My Day to Stay Organized and Get More Done

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Want to know how I plan my days? In this week’s episode of The Crystal Paine Show, Jesse and I share the apps and tools we use to plan our days and how this works for us.

Missed previous episodes of The Crystal Paine show? You can listen to them here.

The Apps and Tools We Use to Plan Our Days

A question I get asked often is, “How do you plan your day and keep track of everything in an organized manner?”

Well, in this week’s episode of The Crystal Paine Show, Jesse and I not only share what’s saving our lives and talk about books we are reading, but we also give you an insider look into how we each plan our days.

Jesse’s time management plan is a little more detailed than mine, but it works for him. He uses his Appigo app, his Michael Hyatt Full Focus Journal, and our family Google calendar to keep his tasks in order. For me, keeping three separate calendars would feel like overkill, but it works well for him.

I like using my Google Calendar to brain dump all of the tasks and the activities for those tasks into one place. I share how I use a hybrid system of Google calendar + a time-blocked to do list and talk about why this works so well for me.

Oh and I also talk about one tip that makes such a difference that I was a little embarrassed to admit until I saw that Cal Newport does it, too!

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In This Episode: 

[00:26] – Welcome back to the show! We share about our recent trip to Georgia, our time at Sweetwater Creek State Park, and my Mastermind one-day event.

[05:31] – What’s saving our lives? Jesse: Appigo, his to-do list app. Mine: our electric tea kettle!

[07:54] – Jesse’s reading The E-Myth Real Estate Investor. I just finished The Last Christmas in Paris.

[11:51] – Today we wanted to share how we plan our days, especially since summer is almost over!

[16:24] – With his 3 different calendars, how is Jesse not duplicating work/tasks? 

[17:25] – Learn why I love using Google Calendar to brain dump my day!

[19:00] – While I don’t usually use my calendar for everyday tasks when I’m developing a habit I set a daily reminder.

[20:39] – In the evening, I block out my time for the next day.

[21:48] – My one not-so-minimalist habit is re-writing my task list halfway through the day and I share the three reasons why I think this is so helpful.

[26:02] – Set realistic timeframes for the tasks on your list and start simple.

[27:35] – Download my PDF on how I plan my days with Google calendar.

Links and Resources:

Have feedback on the show or suggestions for future episodes or topics? Send me an email: [email protected]

How to Listen to The Crystal Paine Show

The podcast is available on iTunes, Android, Stitcher, and Spotify. You can listen online through the direct player we’ll include in the show notes of each episode. OR, a much easier way to listen is by subscribing to the podcast through a free podcast app on your phone. (Find instructions for how to subscribe to a podcast here.)

Ready to dive in and listen? Hit the player above or search for “The Crystal Paine Show” on your favorite podcast app.

Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission — at no additional cost to you. Thank you so much for your support!