Looking for good non-caffeinated drinks or trying to stop drinking coffee? I’ve tried many coffee alternatives, and this has become my favorite non-coffee drink! It gives me energy naturally, lets me continue the ritual of savoring a hot drink while prepping for my day, and it’s oh-so-delicious!
{Psst! You might also like this Decaf Chai Tea Latte Recipe!}
This is the Best Coffee Alternative
I stopped drinking coffee almost four years ago. And while I love drinking decaf teas (see some of my favorite decaf teas here), I’ve also had fun coming up with some other creative non-caffeinated coffee alternatives.
One of them that I concocted last year was a mix of The Morning Motivator and Dandy Blend. I had purchased both of these from Amazon since people told me that were yummy and great substitutes for coffee.
When I tried The Morning Motivator by itself, it tasted too chalky to me. And Dandy Blend tasted too strong by itself. But then I had the crazy idea to mix them together — and I fell instantly in love!
This is sort of like a fancy mocha drink — that’s packed with nutritional value AND it’s caffeine free! Here’s how I make it…
How to Make This Healthy Alternative to Coffee
1. Add 1 to 1 1/2 generous teaspoons of Dandy Blend to a large mug.
2. Add 1 heaping teaspoon of The Morning Motivator.
3. Mix together.
4. Pour boiling water over.
5. Stir until blended.
6. Top with a very generous amount of half & half (if you’re a cream person like me!)
7. Stir and enjoy!
This is the perfect morning or afternoon pick-me-up drink!
My Favorite Way to Drink This Coffee Alternative
Want to make it really fancy? Top it with whipped cream (and maybe chocolate shavings!)
Or go all gourmet and use Reddi-Whip Sweet Foam! (Note: This whipped cream is really sweet… so if you don’t like sugar-y things, you won’t like it.)
Why I Switched to This Healthy Alternative to Coffee
Honestly, I never ever wanted to be a person who didn’t drink coffee!
It all started back in 2016 when I began working with a nutritionist to help clear up some acne and eczema. One of the very first things he told me was to stop drinking coffee.
So… I very reluctantly quit drinking coffee cold turkey. It was hard.
I slept all the time, I had headaches every day, I felt super lethargic, and I missed my morning ritual of sipping a steaming cup (or 3) of coffee to start my day.
After a couple of months, I finally stopped craving coffee and realized that my life had been transformed!
I actually felt rested each day, I didn’t struggle with anxiety, I was happier, and physically healthier too.
Now I drink this yummy coffee alternative each morning… so I still get to start my mornings with a lovely hot drink!
(Read the full story of how I stopped drinking coffee.)
Where to Find the Best Coffee Alternatives
Looking for more coffee alternatives? Check out these links:
- My Favorite Decaf Teas
- Decaf Chai Tea Latte Recipe (this recipe is SO yummy!)
- The Morning Motivator is available directly from The Maca Team website.
- Dandy Blend is available on Amazon.
- Any other mix-ins or add-ins can usually be found on Amazon, too!
My Favorite Coffee Alternative Drink
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 tsp Dandy Blend
- 1 tsp The Morning Motivator
- Boiling water
- Half & Half optional
- Whipped cream or Sweet Foam optional
Instructions
- Mix together The Morning Motivator and Dandy Blend in a large mug.
- Pour boiling water over.
- Stir.
- Add half & half to taste.
- Top with whipped cream.
- Enjoy!
Love this recipe?
Make sure to share and save it on your favorite platform below!
FREE DOWNLOAD: 60 Meals To Help You Avoid Takeout!
Meal time just got so much easier!
How to Save on Snacks: Minimize The Cost Per Serving
Does your family love snacks? This is such a simple tip to save money on snacks!
{Psst! Check out how making your own snacks can save you over $100 per year! And read about how we afford snacks for our kids on a tight grocery budget.
Guest post from Margaux of A Momma and Her Flock:
We are a snacking family. Typically, we find a way to squeeze four snacks into the lunchboxes on top of the main lunch item.
But a healthy snacking appetite can be bad news for the grocery bill. That is why I started calculating the cost per snack serving, so that I could try to find cheaper alternatives.
The True Cost of Snacks:
I like to believe that I am reasonably thrifty with my grocery spending, but some snack habits can catch me off guard.
For instance, grapes and Honeycrisp apples both cost $2 per pound, but my husband eats more grapes at a time than the equivalent of a single apple.
To calculate the ‘cost per serving’ of a snack, I base it on the actual amount I or my family would eat in a sitting. A “serving” is what fills up the person eating the snack, not necessarily the recommended portion on the box.
One snack my husband likes to devour after his morning workout is hard-boiled eggs. Since he eats three eggs at a time, I divide the cost of 12 dozen eggs to get $0.37 per 3-egg serving.
My personal rule of thumb is to keep any individual snack under $1 per serving. The closer to $0.50 or less per serving, the better!
How to Minimize the Cost per Serving:
If you can minimize the cost per serving on snack foods, you can save quite a bit of money!
With this cost per serving goal in mind, here are 3 ways I satisfy my family’s “snack tooth” without breaking the bank…
1. Find the most filling snacks.
Occasionally I find myself munching through an entire bag of chips. Some snacks are not as good at satisfying hunger.
I search for snacks high in fiber and protein that will still appeal to our taste. When comparing items in the grocery store, I ensure there are at least 150 calories and 3 grams of protein per serving.
Nutritionists recommend pairing proteins with carbs for the ultimate filling combo – like grapes and cheese, or apple slices and peanut butter.
When I eat denser and more filling snacks, I find that I need fewer snacks throughout the day — which ultimately saves money.
2. Avoid pre-packaged snacks.
Many foods are now available in snack packaging, but the convenience comes at a high markup. Think of mini hummus cups, snack cracker packs, pre-cut cheese squares, and more.
The difference in cost is striking in the example of homemade versus pre-packaged peanut butter snack cups.
JIF To-Go peanut butter is priced at about $0.40 per 1.5-ounce cup. If I make my own to-go cups by spooning out 1.5 ounces from a full-size jar of JIF peanut butter, each serving costs only $0.24 for 1.5 ounces. And if I use store-brand peanut butter instead of JIF, the serving cost drops to $0.14 for 1.5 ounces. (Note: These prices are based off what I find in my region: $3.19 for an 8-count pack of JIF To-Go, $2.39 per full size jar of JIF, and $1.50 per jar of store brand peanut butter.)
You can easily make single-servings on your own by dividing a regular size item into individual containers.
For reusable containers, I like the Rubbermaid Brilliance storage containers. Alternatively, disposable containers can be purchased in bulk from a store like Gordon Food Service.
If you are unsure about finding time to make your own snack packs or wash the resulting containers, try starting out with one of these simple solutions:
- Cut your own cheese slices or cubes from a block
- Slice your own salami or pepperoni from a large roll
- Dish out peanut butter, hummus, yogurt, or crackers from a full-size container
3. Mix in cheaper substitutes
I go through seasons where I eat primarily dairy-free, and the challenge is that the dairy alternatives are more expensive.
The way I justify purchasing dairy-free yogurts, ready-made snacks, and other items above my target cost per serving is by mixing in low-cost substitutes.
For my husband and daughter who enjoy Greek yogurt, I find that cottage cheese is less than half the price for the same calorie and protein content. So sometimes we forgo a day of yogurt and eat cottage cheese instead.
Also, consider swapping out these pricey snacks:
- Almond butter -> Peanut butter
- Greek yogurt -> Cottage cheese
- Berries -> Apples, Bananas, or Oranges
- Bell peppers -> Carrots or Celery sticks
- Rice crackers -> Tortilla chips
Start Saving!
I recommend doing a personal snack-spending inventory this week.
Calculate the ‘cost per serving’ of the most popular snacks in your household. Do not worry if the cost is higher than you thought. Set a cost target and work on lowering snack spending gradually.
Want a jump start on snack savings? Try these ideas:
- Over 25 Frugal & Healthy Snack Ideas for Kids
- 10 Healthy & Cheap Vegan Snacks for Kids
- Quick & Healthy High Protein Snack Ideas
- Healthy Snacks Under $1 per Serving
Margaux is a full-time mom, wife, and engineer who firmly believes there are not enough hours in a day. She is a fan of schedules, to-do lists, and mom hacks. Above all, she tries to keep God at the center of everything. She writes at A Momma and her Flock.
FREE DOWNLOAD: 60 Meals To Help You Avoid Takeout!
Meal time just got so much easier!
Our Favorite TV Shows
One of the things our family loves to do together is watch shows and movies. Recently, someone asked what our favorite shows are to watch together as a family. So, we all talked together as a family and compiled a list of some of the shows we’ve most enjoyed together.
On this week’s podcast episode, we share that list + we talk about why we don’t have a TV in our living room and how we approach being intentional and careful in our TV-watching.
We also talk about a book we’re finishing together as a family, the Panera unlimited coffee subscription, and a YouTube video I’ve rewatched multiple times.
Powered by RedCircle
In This Episode:
[00:36] Welcome back to the show… and a semi-apology from Jesse. 😉
[02:46] Panera Bread’s unlimited coffee subscription is saving Jesse’s life.
[06:28] The Squirrel Ninja Obstacle Course is something I’ve been loving!
[09:33] We’ve been reading Job in the Bible together and Jesse is excited about the next Brad Thor book, Near Dark.
[11:49] The kids and I have been reading The Boy on the Wooden Box.
[15:25] This week we’re talking about our favorite TV shows!
[16:35] Why we don’t have a TV in our living room.
[19:14] Our TV is in our bedroom but we pretty much only watch it as a family.
[20:57] Do your research before watching shows with your kids.
[22:33] Why we loved Timeless and are sad that it was cancelled.
[24:58] Our family loves This Is Us as well, but we started this one off with just us before sharing with our kids.
[27:03] We’re just starting watching some seasons of Survivor together.
[28:15] We used to watch The Apprentice way back when Kathrynne was little, so we’ve enjoyed introducing our kids to it.
[29:15] The Amazing Race is another one of our favorites because we love to travel.
[30:25] Last, but not least, is Designated Survivor. (Please only watch the first two seasons!)
Links and Resources:
- Panera Bread’s Coffee Subscription
- Mark Rober’s Squirrel Ninja Obstacle Course
- Near Dark by Brad Thor
- The Boy on the Wooden Box by Leon Leyson
- Jocko Willink Podcast Episode 219 w/ Rose Schindler: Auschwitz Survivor
- Plugged In
- Common Sense Media
- MoneySavingMom.com
- YourBloggingMentor.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: [email protected]
Gretchen’s $81 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 5
Gretchen’s $81 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 5
Aldi
3 dozen Eggs – $0.97 each
1 bag Kettle Chips – $0.97
1 jar Mayonnaise – $1.89
1 Unsweetened Applesauce – $1.95
2 Half & Half – $1.55 each
1 pkg Chicken Drumsticks – $4.41 (This was supposed to be $1 off but I didn’t realize until I got home that they didn’t take the extra dollar off.)
1 can Tuna – $0.79
2.52 lbs Red Grapes – $1.99
1 jar Ketchup – $1.19
1 pkg Tomatoes – $1.89
1 bag Gala Apples – $2.99
1 pkg Flour – $1.15
1 bag Chocolate Chips – $1.69
1 pkg Tortillas – $1.25
3 pkg Chunk Cheese – $1.45 each
1 pkg Hot Dogs – $0.79
1 pkg Sliced Deli Cheese – $1.79
1 bag Tortilla Chips – $0.89
3 boxes Mac & Cheese – $0.33 each
1 Peanut Butter – $1.15
2 pkg Strawberries – $0.99 each
1 loaf Bread – $0.95
1 lb Oven Roasted Turkey Breast – $3.99
1 lb Ground Beef – $3.29
1 bag Spinach – $0.99
1 jar Spaghetti Sauce – $0.85
1 can Black Beans – $0.48
1 lb Butter – $2.89
1 box Snack Crackers – $1.59
1 box Cheese Crackers – $1.49
1 box Graham Crackers – $0.85
1 bag Mini Cucumbers – $2.19
1 gallon Milk – $2.19
1 bag Frozen Chicken Breasts – $5.59
Total: $67.77
Kroger
1 Green Leaf Lettuce – $1.49
2.40 lbs Bananas – $1.18
1 Kroger Yogurt Tubes – $1.79, used $0.50/1 e-coupon – $1.29 after coupon
1 Kroger Mini Sandwich Cookies – $1.50, used $0.75/1 e-coupon – $0.75 after coupon
1 box Kroger Popcorn – $1
2 cans Rise Cold Brew Coffee – $2.99 each, used Buy One, Get One Free Ibotta rebate AND Buy One, Get One Free Kroger Cash Back – Free after rebates
1 Yasso Frozen Bars – $2.49, used $1/1 Ibotta rebate – $1.49 after rebate
1 Mom’s Best Cereal – $1.99
1 pkg Kroger Cookies – $1.29 (Once again, the $1/1 e-coupon did not work for these. I can’t figure out why.)
1 Coke Energy – $1, used Free e-coupon – Free after e-coupon
8 Stonyfield Yogurts – Marked down to $0.25 each, used $1/2 Ibotta rebate – $0.12 each after rebate
1 bag Chia Rye Bread – Marked down to $1.29
1 loaf Italian Bread – Marked down to $0.49
1 box Raisin Bran – Marked down to $1.19
2 cans Tomato Sauce – Marked down to $0.25 each
1 Core Organic Water – $1.67, used Free Ibotta rebate – Free after rebate
Total after coupons and rebates: $13.95
Total for both stores: $81.72
Menu Plan for This Week
Breakfasts
Cereal, Eggs, Spinach Smoothies, Oatmeal, Fruit, Toast
Lunches
Papa John’s Pizza (company for lunch), Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, Mac & Cheese, Tossed Salad Bar, Fruit/Crackers/Cheese, Leftovers x2
Dinners
Baked Chicken Drumsticks, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Biscuits
Taco Bar, Chips & Salsa
Turkey Sandwiches, Chips, Fruit Salad
Grilled Chicken & Hot Dogs, Steamed Broccoli, Baked Potatoes
Pancakes, Eggs, Fruit
Homemade Cheese Pizza
Leftovers
My 10 Goals For This Week (+ an update on how I did on last week’s goals)
My 10 Goals For This Week (+ an update on how I did on last week’s goals)
This past week was another great week! Every day is full at our house, but we’re slowly getting into a good groove and I’m seeking to savor the beauty in each day. I was thrilled with the progress I was able to make on my goals for this past week…
Here’s an update on how I did on my goals last week:
Last Week’s Goals
Personal Goals
1. Take 5 morning walks in our neighborhood.2. Finish The Librarian of Auschwitz.
Read 3 chapters of Show Up for Your Life. Read 6 chapters of Get Out of Your Head.
3. Do pelvic floor exercises at least three times.
4. Prep for leading the girls’ youth group Bible Study.Home/Family Goals
5. Finish reading The Boy on the Wooden Box aloud to the kids.
6. Go on a date with Jesse.
7. Spend one-on-one time with each of the three older kids doing something they love doing.
8. Finish final Foster Care training for this year.Work/Blog Goals
9. Work on content for my Mastermind live coaching sessions this month on building your email list and creating a welcome series.Word of the Year Goals
10. Make a yummy snack and have a family movie night together.
And here’s my plan for this week…
This Week’s Goals
Personal Goals
1. Take 5 morning walks in our neighborhood.
2. Finish The Librarian of Auschwitz. Read 3 chapters of Show Up for Your Life. Read 6 chapters of Get Out of Your Head.
3. Do pelvic floor exercises at least four times.
Home/Family Goals
4. Read 3 chapters of The Giver aloud to the kids.
5. Go on a date with Jesse.
6. Spend one-on-one time with each of the three older kids doing something they love.
7. Help Kaitlynn with prep for her birthday party.
Work/Blog Goals
8. Work on my final book edits before I turn it into the publisher on July 1.
9. Work on content for my Mastermind live coaching sessions this month on building your email list and creating a welcome series.
Word of the Year Goals
10. Attend an outdoor Night of Worship as a family.
What are YOUR goals for this week? Tell me in the comments! I’d love to hear and be able to cheer for you!
We Spent $68.87 on Groceries This Past Week (Kroger, Aldi, Big Lots)
We Spent $68.87 on Groceries This Past Week (Kroger, Aldi, Big Lots)
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 seven. 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.
I’m loving getting back into the swing of bargain shopping again! This week, I went to Kroger twice plus Aldi and Big Lots. Here’s what I got…
Kroger Shopping Trip #1:
- Salad Greens — marked down to $1.79
- Greek Salad Kit — marked down to $1.69
- 2 jars peanut butter — $1.50 each
- Peppers — marked down to $0.99
- Grapes — $1.52
- Total with tax: $9.53
I went to another Kroger later in the week and found crazy egg markdowns!
Kroger Shopping Trip #2:
- 5 boxes Kellogg’s cereal — $1.69 each when you buy 6 or more participating items + get $0.75 back from iBotta = $0.94 each after iBotta rebate
- Godiva Pudding — marked down to $0.79
- 2 Yoplait Yogurt 8-packs — marked down to $2.19 each
- 5 blocks/bags cheese — $1.49 each when you buy 6 or more participating items
- 2 Nourish bowls — marked down to $0.99 each
- 3 cans Pringles — $0.99 each when you buy 6 or more participating items
- Capri-Sun — $1.79 when you buy 6 or more participating items
- Dole Spinach — marked down to $0.79
- 2 30-count eggs — marked down to $0.69 each
- Kroger brown eggs — $0.99
- 3 bags avocados — marked down to $0.99 each
- 2 bags nectarines — marked down to $0.99 each
- Milk — $2.59
- Kroger cookies — $1.29, used $1/1 digital coupon = $0.29
- 3 2-lb packs of strawberries — $1.88 each
- Total with tax: $47.22
BigLots Shopping Trip:
- 2 loaves bread — $1.40 each
- 1 pack hot dog buns
- Total with tax: $4.48
ALDI Shopping Trip:
- Oats — $2.39
- 3-lb bag of Fuji Apples — $2.99
- Tortilla Chips — $0.89
- Bananas — $0.89
- Total with tax: $7.64
Total spent on groceries: $68.87
Our Menu Plan This 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.
Dinners:
Sunday — Sausage, Scrambled Eggs, Toast
Monday — Crockpot Rotisserie Chicken, Twice Baked Potatoes, Salad, Grapes
Tuesday — Chicken & Noodles, Oranges, Cheesy Garlic Bread
Wednesday — Sausage/Potatoes/Peppers in the Crockpot, Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
Thursday — Breakfast Casserole, Roasted Potatoes, Grapes
Friday — Leftovers, Fruit Salad
Saturday — Peanut Butter & Honey Sandwiches, Strawberries, Pringles (we are taking a short little in-state road trip this weekend to visit my sister and her family who currently live in Johnson City so we’re eating this on the road!)
Brigette’s $86.13 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6
Brigette’s $86.13 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 pkg fresh Chicken Thighs/Drumsticks ($0.89) – $5.00
1 jar Salsa – $0.89
1 large jar Unsweetened Applesauce – $1.95
1 3-lb Yellow Onions – $1.69
2 pkgs Zucchini ($0.89/lb) – $4.04
1 Cauliflower – $2.19
1 3-ct pkg fresh Garlic – $0.85
1 bunch Bananas – $1.15
1 pkg Broccoli Crowns – $1.95
2 Avocados – $1.38
1 bag Spinach – $0.99
2 4-ct pkgs Corn on the Cob – $3.38
1 pkg Fresh Cilantro – $0.75
Roma Tomatoes ($0.85/lb) – $0.86
Pineapple – $1.49
2 pkgs Asparagus – $3.78
2 bags Red Grapes ($0.79/lb) – $2.64
1 pkg Romaine Hearts – $2.19
1 carton Grape Tomatoes – $1.49
4 cartons Strawberries – $3.96
1 3-lb bag Lemons – $2.89
2 half gallons 1% Milk – $1.48
1 gallon Whole Milk – $1.24
1 jar Garlic Powder – $0.69
1 16-oz pkg Deli Meat – $2.85
1 pkg Turkey Bacon – $1.89
1 pkg Uncured Turkey Franks – $2.09
1 large canister Quick Oats – $2.36
1 large canister Old Fashioned Oats – $2.29
1 8-oz pkg Sliced Cheese – $1.33
2 16-oz bags Shredded Mozzarella Cheese – $5.50
1 16-oz bag Shredded Cheddar Cheese – $2.75
1 24-oz carton Cottage Cheese – $1.59
1 bag Organic Blue Corn Chips – $1.37
1 pkg Rice Cakes – $1.75
1 box Crisp Rice – $1.36
1 jar Organic Salsa – $1.38
1 32-oz carton Egg Whites – $2.95
4 dozen Eggs – $2.80
5 single-serve flavored Green Yogurts – $2.95
Weekly Grocery Total: $86.13
Weekly Menu Plan
Breakfasts
Everyone is responsible for making/cleaning up their own breakfast. Choices include:
Cereal, Oatmeal, Smoothies, Scrambled/Boiled/Fried Eggs, Veggie Omelets, Fruit, Yogurt
Lunches
Rice Cakes with Peanut Butter, Bananas, Carrots
Pancakes (recipe from Trim Healthy Mama cookbook), Strawberries, Mini Cucumbers x 2
Build-Your-Own-Salad-Bar x 2, Grapes
Leftovers x 2
Dinners
Hot Dogs on the Grill, Corn on the Cob, Strawberries, Grilled Zucchini/Onions
Taco Salad, Grapes
Venison Roast in the Instant Pot, Roasted Cauliflower, Tossed Salad, Homemade Biscuits
Grilled Chicken, Asparagus, Baked Potato Wedges
Pancakes, Scrambled with Cheese, Bacon, Pineapple
Meatloaf (using ground venison), Broccoli, Creamy Milk Rice
Leftovers
The One Book I Finished Last Week
Welcome to my weekly book update post where I share what books I read this past week + my honest thoughts and star ratings of them.
A Word on My Star Ratings
The star ratings I give the books I read are based on a 5-star rating system. I rarely will ever give a book a 1-star rating (maybe never?), because my philosophy is that if a book is only worthy of one star, I’m more than likely going to quit reading it. 🙂 In the same vein, you’ll also notice that I’ll rarely give a 5-star rating as I reserve those for only my very, very favorite books.
Want to see all of the books I’ve read so far this year? Check out my Good Reads page.
Last week, I finished one book and here’s my review…
Heartfelt Discipline
This book has been on my radar and one I’ve heard about for a number of years. While I’ve been a fan of Sally Clarkson’s books and have read almost all of them, for some reason, I had never read this one by her husband.
I think this quote from the book, sums up the heart of its message: “We often aim our disciplinary efforts at the wrong target. We set our sights on stopping and changing a child’s wrong behavior and we miss the real target of shaping and influencing the heart, which is the source of the wrong behavior.”
A big portion of this book centers on the topic of physical discipline and whether it is Biblical or not. I appreciated the way that the author brought in a lot of different verses and cultural context to explain his position. Whether you agree with his conclusions or not, it will make you think and examine the way that you approach discipline in your parenting.
Overall, I felt there were a lot of worthwhile sections in the book. However, while the book promises to not be prescriptive, I felt that the section on media and entertainment was pretty black and white and bordering on prescriptive.
While I definitely think we should be careful and prayerful about what influences we allow in our home and in our kids’ lives, I don’t think we can make hard and fast rules about what all families should do when it comes to media. I believe it really depends upon the family, the child, the situation, and the form of media. I also feel that if we set up hard and fast rules for what is right and wrong in this area, we can become very critical and judgmental of other families who don’t adhere to our personal convictions.
Note: The book I read was an older edition. Some of these things could have been changed in the newer additions.
Verdict: 3 stars
What have you read recently? I’d love to hear! Tell us in the comments!
A Day in My Life (with two babies!)
Just for fun, one day two weeks ago, I again took pictures and shared in real-time on Instagram a peek into a pretty normal day in our lives. This was when our city was still just starting to open up from being locked down for COVID-19, so we were home all day this day.
Psst! If you missed my earlier Day in My Life posts, you can read them here and here.
6:00 a.m. — The babies woke up (and we do, too!) Jesse fed Champ while I nursed Kierstyn. We sat in the living room and talked together.
6:30 a.m. — We put the babies back to bed and I enjoyed one of my favorite self care things to start the morning: a bath with this bath soak from Loyal Tea Company.
7:00 a.m. — Bible, prayer, and reading time. I usually read a chapter from the Bible, a passage from a devotional, and at least a chapter or two from another book. I also spend a few minutes praying over the events of my day, praying for my family, and praying for other needs on my heart.
Look who woke back up and wanted to join me?? 🙂
7:30 a.m. — Since Kierstyn woke up, I held her while working on answering post comments, posting on Instagram, and sending out an email to my newsletter.
8:15 a.m. — Champ woke up. I changed his diaper and made bottles for both babies. Kaitlynn fed Kierstyn and Jesse fed Champ.
8:45 a.m. — While the babies were getting fed, I finished putting on my makeup and fixing my hair. Then I made my breakfast: oatmeal with strawberries. I put the babies back to bed and then worked on writing that day’s post for the blog + some projects for my Mastermind group.
10 a.m. — Time to pump! I’ve discovered I can do all sorts of things while pumping! Today, I worked on a post, social media, and writing an email newsletter to go out to my blogging list.
10:30 a.m. — The babies woke up. I made their bottles and Jesse and Kathrynne fed them while I cleaned up the kitchen.
Oh, how I love a clean kitchen!!
11:15 a.m. — I made some Peanut Butter Banana Toast for Jesse while he was holding Champ. (Kathrynne was taking care of Kierstyn.)
11:30 a.m. — I changed Champ’s diaper and he peed all over his clothes in the process. So I decided to go ahead and give the babies baths — since it was on my list for the day anyway!
This electric nail trimmer is SO much better than regular nail clippers for babies!
All clean!
12:20 p.m. — I took both babies out for a walk in the double stroller (we got this frame for $10 from someone selling it locally! Our car seats just lock right into it!)
12:45 p.m. — Kathrynne fed Champ while I nursed Kierstyn and then Jesse did a workout with all three kids while I took care of the babies.
1:30 p.m. — I changed both babies’ diapers and then they had Tummy Time and Bible/Singing Time. (I read them a Bible story and then sing a hymn to them.)
2:15 p.m. — Both babies are down for naps. I make myself a salad and knock out as much work as I can.
3:00 p.m. — I take my pills, make some whole wheat toast with butter, and nurse Kierstyn while someone else feeds Champ (I think maybe it was Silas?) and we all talk and hang out as a family for awhile.
4:00 p.m. — Jesse, Kathrynne, and I take turns holding the babies while watching a show together.
5:00 p.m. — Champ goes down for a nap. I held Kierstyn and worked on getting some work done for my Mastermind group as well as clearing out my inbox (I try to get to inbox zero most every day.)
5:45 p.m. — Kierstyn fell asleep on my lap, so I put her in bed. Champ was still asleep, so I did a quick FB live for my Facebook Page on the best deals of the day.
6:15 p.m. — Jesse picked up our Kroger Clicklist order and we put the groceries away. Both babies woke up so I feed Champ his bottle and Jesse fed Kierstyn a bottle.
6:45 p.m. — I slaved away on dinner. 😉 (Actually, I’d planned to make breakfast for dinner, but at 6 p.m., I decided to pull frozen pizzas out of the freezer and call that a win!)
The rest of the evening we spent doing a quick house clean up, watching an episode of Survivor, hanging out as a family, and taking care of the babies. I think we went to bed around 10 p.m.
And there you have it: A peek into a day in our lives!
10 Reasons You Shouldn’t Get a Costco Membership
Wondering if a Costco membership is worth it? Check out these reasons why a Costco membership might not be a great fit for your family!
A few weeks ago, we posted about why a Costco membership might be worth having. And just to keep things balanced, we thought it’d be fun to put together a list of why a Costco membership might NOT be worth having.
This list of ideas comes from MSM readers a couple years back when I was trying to decide whether or not a Costco membership would be beneficial to our family.
10 Reason You Shouldn’t Get a Costco Membership
Thank you to all my readers who submitted these ideas HERE, HERE, and HERE!
1. Shop with a friend who has a membership first.
Costco allows friends to shop with you when you’re together in the store. If you have a friend who has a membership, it might be worth going shopping with her a few times!
This will give you a better idea of the prices and items they offer, so that you can see if it’s actually worth it for you.
Or if you’ll only use Costco for a select few items, you can always ask a friend to pick those items up for you when she goes.
2. You can use Instacart instead.
Did you know that anyone can order products from Costco through Instacart? I had no idea!
While this may not help much with saving money because of Instacart delivery fees, it might be worth it to just do one big order once or twice per year and pay the delivery fee instead of a membership fee!
3. You can shop there with a gift card.
This is another trick I didn’t know about! You can shop at Costco with a gift card even if you don’t have a membership!
So you could always give your friend money to load up a gift card for you while she’s there, and then use the gift card a few times to see if a membership would be worth it to you.
Or if you really love Costco and can’t afford the membership, you could always tell family members that a Costco gift card is a great gift idea for you! 🙂
4. You can use the pharmacy without a membership in some states.
You do not have to be a Costco member to use the pharmacy in many states. Just tell the person at the door you are going to the pharmacy.
Obviously the down side is that you can’t buy anything else while you’re inside the store, but the pharmacy savings are really great!
5. Sam’s or BJ’s might be a better fit for you.
I think it’s important to experiment with the various warehouses in your area and figure out what works best for your family.
Maybe one is closer to you or maybe one has products that are a better fit for you!
The memberships are also priced differently at each store, so it’s important to figure out which one is best for you.
6. Factor in travel time and gas.
If the nearest Costco is two hours away, you might not end up saving that much by the time you pay for gas. And it’s always important to factor in how valuable your time is!
On the other hand, if you live in a really rural area with not many grocery store options, it might be worth it to you to travel a long way to the nearest Costco.
Or if you have one really close to you and love the products, it might be a great way to save for your family!
7. Sales differ from region to region.
Savings do differ by region, so it really comes down to what products you’re looking for and what products your region sells at what price.
For example, the gas savings are significant in some regions and not so great in other regions.
8. The savings might not be as good as other grocery stores.
Depending on what grocery stores you have in your area, the savings might not be nearly as good at Costco.
If you have a lot of options in your area — like ALDI or Kroger markdowns — then you probably won’t find better prices at Costco. (And if you shop sales or use coupons, you’ll definitely do better at your local grocery store!)
It’s really important to know your price list and know what a good deal actually is, so that when you first trial shop at Costco, you’ll know if it’s worth the membership price for you.
9. Buying in bulk can increase spending habits.
Costco strives to be the cheapest price per pound or unit, so their sizes are even bigger than Sam’s Club. What this means is that as a general rule, nothing is less than $10-$15.
So if you add just a handful of items to your cart, you’re quickly over $100. If you have the willpower to just grab the few things that your family actually needs and is a great deal, that’s great. But it’s really easy to walk in and end up spending hundreds of dollars before you realize it.
10. You can shop through their website instead.
Another secret is that many items can be purchased online at Costco.com without a membership and still take advantage of some of their great deals.
You can even order online and pick up in-store!
For Further Reading:
Still on the fence and not sure if a Costco membership is worth it? Try these resources:
- 25+ Reasons a Costco Membership is Worth It
- Can a Warehouse Membership Save You Money?
- Does a Warehouse Membership Make Sense For Your Family?
- Cost Comparison between Warehouse Membership and Amazon Subscribe & Save
Note: If you are interested in getting a membership, be sure to check out this Costco membership deal to get a free $10 gift card when you sign up!
Do you have any other reasons that you think a Costco membership isn’t worth the money? Let us know in the comments!
OVER-SPENDING EVERY SINGLE MONTH?Grab these FREE Budgeting Sheets!
Click here to download!
Kierstyn’s Birth Story
We’re back! Jesse and I have really missed recording podcasts, but it was also nice to take a break and figure out a good rhythm of having three older kids and two babies.
In this episode, we not only share Kierstyn’s birth store but we also answer the questions many of you have asked over and over (such as why we chose to go with an OBGYN versus a midwife, what was different about this birth compared to the other births, if COVID-19 impacted the birth/hospital experience in any way, etc.)
This episode is a little more relaxed and less edited than usual… we wanted it to be more like sitting down and just having conversation with us at our kitchen table — complete with rabbit trails. 🙂
If you enjoy birth stories or are curious about more of the behind-the-scenes of our life, I think you’ll enjoy it.
Welcome to the world, Kierstyn! (By the way, since she was on my lap while we recorded, if you listen in really well, you’ll hear her talking to you!)
Powered by RedCircle
In This Episode:
[03:19] Why we chose to have a hospital birth rather than a midwife birth.
[06:36] Some of the highlights from our first three births.
[09:54] When I first discovered I had postpartum depression
[12:15] Our experience with midwives versus having an OBGyn.
[14:09] How COVID-19 impacted the birth.
[19:02] We were so surprised when my body started showing signs of labor two weeks before my due date!
[22:20] Most of my labor was very uneventful and fast — up until it was time to push!
[26:38] Why the pushing part of labor was so much harder this time around.
[30:57] All about those first few moments after the birth!
[33:24] It’s been so fun to see the differences in her personality and how the kids have stepped up.
Links and Resources:
- MoneySavingMom.com
- YourBloggingMentor.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: [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 here. 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.
Gretchen’s $67 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 5
Gretchen’s $67 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 5
Kroger
2 Yoplait Go-Gurts – $1.50 each, used $1.50/2 e-coupon – $0.75 each after coupon
1 Danimals Smoothie – $1.50
1 Kroger Eggs – $1.09
2.01 lbs Bananas – $0.98
1 can Kroger Pineapple Tidbits – $1.29
2 Green Leaf Lettuce – $1.49 each
1 pkg Kroger Oven Roasted Turkey Breasts – $2.79
1.86 lbs Red Grapes – $1.84
2 boxes General Mills Cereal – $1.99 each, used $1/2 e-coupon – $1.49 each after coupon
2 loaves French Bread – Marked down to $0.99 (This is in the Aldi picture.)
1 loaf Wheat Bread – Marked down to $0.49 (This is in the Aldi picture.)
Total: $19.42
Aldi
1 bag Frozen Chicken Breasts – $5.59
1 bag Frozen Broccoli – $0.89
1 gallon Milk – $2.19
1 bag Frozen Peas – $0.99
1 lb Ground Beef – $3.29
1 Grape Jelly – $1.29
2 Half & Half – $1.55 each
1 Unsweetened Applesauce – $1.95
1 bag Mandarins – $2.99
1 Ranch Dressing – $0.89
1 bag Baby Carrots – $0.49
1 bag Spinach – $0.99
1 bag Tomatoes – $1.99
4 pkg Strawberries – $0.99 each
1 jar Pasta Sauce – $0.85
1 can Black Beans – $0.48
2.67 lbs Green Grapes – $2.64
2 cans Green Beans – $0.49 each
1 bag Asparagus – $1.89
1 bag Mini Cucumbers – $2.19
1 can Tuna – $0.79
1 box Cheese Crackers – $1.49
1 box Thin Wheat Crackers – $0.98
1 pkg Hot Dog Buns – $0.95
1 pkg Cinnamon Raisin Bagels – $1.49
1 bag Peaches – $1.58
1 pkg Hot Dogs – $0.79
Total: $47.70
Total for both stores: $67.12
Menu Plan for This Week
Breakfasts
Cereal, Eggs, Spinach Smoothies, Oatmeal, Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins, Bagels
Lunches
Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, Turkey Sandwiches, Cheese/Crackers/Fruit/Veggies, Tossed Salad with Tuna, Mac & Cheese, Hard Boiled Eggs/Sliced Fruit with Peanut Butter, Leftovers
Dinners
Tossed Salad Bar with Chicken
Grilled Chicken & Hot Dogs, Mashed Potatoes, French Bread
Sweet & Sour Meatballs, Rice, Steamed Peas
Soft Tacos, Fruit Salad
Lasagna, French Bread, Green Beans
Pancakes/Waffles, Eggs, Sliced Strawberries
Homemade Cheese Pizza, Breadsticks
My 10 Goals For This Week (+ an update on last week’s goals)
As I mentioned in the weekly update post, I’m so grateful to be feeling so much more energetic now that I’m not pregnant, I’m mostly recovered from the birth, and my hemoglobin is back up. And it’s been so fun to get back to goal-setting!
Some of you wrote in concerned that I’m doing too much or pushing myself too hard. I really appreciate your concern, but I want you to know that I am pacing myself. However, setting goals (when I have energy!) is something that gives me so much life! It motivates me but in a really life-giving and fulfilling way.
I know not everyone is the same way and it’s not like this in every season, but right now, I’m having fun setting goals and being intentional about working on them. And I promise I am pacing myself and taking plenty of time to savor the very full and wonderful season of life I’m in!
Here’s an update on how I did on my goals last week:
This Week’s Goals
Personal Goals
1. Walk on the treadmill for at least 10 minutes five times.
2. Finish reading Heartfelt Discipline. Read at least 10 chapters of The Librarian of Auschwitz. Read 6 chapters of Get Out of Your Head.
3. Write a handwritten card and mail it.Home/Family Goals
4. Read 3 chapters of The Boy on the Wooden Box aloud to the kids.
5. Go on a date with Jesse.
6. Spend one-on-one time with each of the three older kids doing something they love doing.Work/Blog Goals
7. Get back into a good work rhythm after five weeks of maternity leave.Word of the Year Goals
8. Have a family night and do an at-home Escape Game together.
And here’s my plan for this week…
This Week’s Goals
Personal Goals
1. Take 5 morning walks in our neighborhood.
2. Finish The Librarian of Auschwitz. Read 3 chapters of Show Up for Your Life. Read 6 chapters of Get Out of Your Head.
3. Do pelvic floor exercises at least three times.
4. Prep for leading the girls’ youth group Bible Study.
Home/Family Goals
5. Finish reading The Boy on the Wooden Box aloud to the kids.
6. Go on a date with Jesse.
7. Spend one-on-one time with each of the three older kids doing something they love doing.
8. Finish final Foster Care training for this year.
Work/Blog Goals
9. Work on content for my Mastermind live coaching sessions this month on building your email list and creating a welcome series.
Word of the Year Goals
10. Make a yummy snack and have a family movie night together.
What are YOUR goals for this week? Tell me in the comments! I’d love to hear and be able to cheer for you!
A Peek Into Last Week: Baby Pictures, At Home Escape Game, & an update on postpartum depression
A Peek Into Last Week: Baby Pictures, At Home Escape Game, & an update on postpartum depression
Kierstyn is 6 weeks old!! And I look at her every day and still can’t believe she’s ours.
She is smiling and interacting and cooing at us so much now — and it’s really fun to see her personality starting to blossom. She has a very sweet demeanor and rarely cries except for when she’s hungry.
She continues to do really well with sleeping at night and (usually) with napping during the day. She loves to have a long nursing session when she first wakes up and before she goes to bed (and by really long, I’m talking an hour and a half — it seems to be more of a comfort thing than anything, but I’m savoring it!)
She went to the grocery with me for the first time this week (which also happened to be my first time back grocery shopping in 12 weeks!!). I also had my 6-week postpartum check and am grateful that I am feeling really close to being back to full steam! I forgot how much energy I used to have — it’s amazing how much better you feel when your hemoglobin isn’t low!
This past week was my first week off maternity leave and back to more normal work hours. Overall, it went well, though we’re still figuring out our rhythm with summer, three older kids, Kathrynne’s new job, and two babies. But I’m giving myself lots of grace and we’re just taking one day at a time.
I’m trying to focus on the things that will matter most in 25 years from now (relationships, marriage, my health, etc.) and letting a lot of other things go. I’m also learning to hold my plans very loosely because things often go very differently and a cheerful, adaptable mom is much more important than a checked off to do list.
We love escape games, so when Jesse saw that a local escape game business was offering at-home escape game packages while they were closed for quarantine, he bought it and we did it as a family one night this past week. It was a lot harder than a traditional escape game, but thanks to Jesse and Kaitlynn’s tireless work, they solved the mystery!
Champ (the sweet baby boy we are fostering) has started holding onto our fingers when we feed him.
And when he’s not holding onto our fingers, he’s trying to hold his own bottle. It’s the sweetest!
Postpartum Depression/Anxiety
I had pretty severe postpartum depression and anxiety after our first three were born. I didn’t even realize that’s what it was until after Silas born.
The dark oppressive cloud hanging over me all day. The panic attacks. The constant feeling that I was going to lose it. The feelings of harming myself. The inability to be excited about anything in life. The lack of motivation.
As I approached this 4th birth/postpartum period, I wondered if all those feelings of depression and anxiety were going to come crashing down on me again. Jesse and I had some really honest talks on what we could do as a family to prevent it as much as possible.
I’m 6 weeks postpartum today, and I am absolutely thrilled to say I haven’t had PPD or PPA this time!! In fact, the pediatrician had me fill out a form last week that asked a lot of questions on how I’m doing. I could genuinely answer I wasn’t experiencing any of the PPD symptoms!
Here are some of the things that have helped:
- Being honest with Jesse about what I need. I don’t like to be needy and I’m the kind who wants to just find a way to push on and power through. But I’ve learned that’s a recipe for unhealthy. So, when I’ve started to feel twinges of overwhelm or anxiety the past 6 weeks, I’ve been honest in asking for help so I can get more sleep or get some alone time (even a 30-minute nap or an hour of quiet can do wonders!)
- Taking a real maternity leave (something I’ve never done) and then giving myself lots of grace and breathing room as I ease back into more normal work hours.
- Getting a shower/dressed every day — even if I’m staying home all day.
- Being honest with my OB and promising to call if I felt any signs of PPD.
- Starting my day with time in God’s Word and recounting my blessings.
- Eating a healthful diet, drinking a gallon of water, and prioritizing rest.
- Fresh air and sunshine.
- Taking magnesium daily.
- Making time for fun every day.
Note: I know everyone is different and what works for me won’t necessarily work for you. I also believe there is 100% a time and place for medication. My philosophy is that you need to do whatever you need to do to take care of you.
A Lesson in Parenting I’m Learning
I shared this on Instagram this past week…
One of our kids was frustrated about something on Saturday morning. There was a lot going on, so instead of really listening to them or engaging them in conversation, I just said rather tersely, “You need you change your attitude right now!”
I’ve been so convicted of how often I do this! Instead of taking a little time to lean in, love and listen, I just tell them, in effect, “Get over it!” Or “Snap out of it!” Or “Change your attitude!”
I know in my own life, when I’m frustrated over something, it’s typically not just about that thing, but it’s often much deeper. I want to remember this for my kids, as well.
Maybe they are acting frustrated because they are sad or hurt or scared or overwhelmed — and it’s coming out sideways as irritation/anger.
Think about it: if you’re feeling frustrated or stressed, would you want someone to tell you to, “Stop acting like that and change your attitude!!” I know that, for me, if someone said this to me while I was already feeling on edge, it would just make me feel more frustrated.
In addition, this communicates, “Your feelings don’t matter. So stuff them down and move on!”
When my kids express their irritability or stress, I don’t want to shut them down. But I want to see it as an opportunity to take then time to lean in and love, look for ways I can come alongside them, and ask how I can help them. To sit with them and love them well through whatever they are feeling.
Yes, it requires more time and effort than saying, “Change your attitude!” But I think it’s going to make a huge difference for them (and our relationship!) in the future!
Note: This can also apply to adults in our life, too! If you encounter someone who seems really irritated or frustrated, remember that there is probably something much deeper there and see it as an opportunity to lean in and love them well instead of just feeling frustrated or hurt by their frustration and/irritability!
We spent $66 on groceries this week!
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 seven. 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.
Well, it’s been a LONG time since I’ve done a grocery post! I actually didn’t step foot into a store for around 12 weeks! (We’ve been doing Kroger pickup instead.)
How I have missed shopping and looking for markdowns! It was so good — and a little weird! — to be back to shopping. I ended up going shopping twice this past week.
Here’s what I got:
Kroger Shopping Trip #1:
- 5 boxes Quaker Granola Bars — $0.99 each when you buy 5 or more participating items
- 4 bottles of Dove shampoo/conditioner — $2.49 each when you buy 5 or more participating items, used $1.50/1 Kroger digital coupon = $0.99 each after coupon
- Kroger coconut oil — $3.99
- Happy Eggs dozen eggs — marked down to $1.99
- 2 dozen Simple Truth — marked down to $1.49 each
- Yoplait Oui yogurt — marked down to $0.69
- Yoplait yogurt — marked down to $0.25
- 5 bags of Chex Mix — $0.99 each when you buy 5 or more participating items
- Kroger Cake Mix — marked down to $0.50
- Kroger Peanut Butter — used FREE coupon that I got in a Kroger mailer
- Bob’s Flaxseed — on closeout for $1.09 each
- Milk — $2.59
- 2 bags of coconut — $1.27 each
- Cheerios — $1.79 when you buy 5 or more participating items
- 3 boxes — on closeout for $1.40 each
- Gallon of water — $0.79
- Quinoa Bread — marked down to $2.29
- Salad — $1.69
- Salad greens — $1.79
- Total with tax: $49.87
Kroger Shopping Trip #2:
- Honey — $3.99
- 2 packages Kroger Sausage — marked down to $1.29 each
- Whole chicken — marked down to $5.37
- Bananas — marked down to $0.39 each — $1.18 total
- Total with tax: $16.69
I’m freezing the bananas and I think I’m going to use them for Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins or Banana Bread.
Total spent on groceries: $66.56
Our Menu Plan This 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.
Dinners:
Sunday — Mac & Cheese
Monday — Sweet Potatoes/Apples/Sausage in the Crockpot, English Muffin Bread, Steamed Peas
Tuesday — Breakfast Casserole, Instant Pot Cinnamon Apples
Wednesday — BBQ Chicken in the Crockpot, Cheesy Hashbrown Potatoes, Peas, English Muffin Bread, Salad
Thursday — Leftovers
Friday — I had planned that we were going to get takeout, but the night got away from us and that didn’t happen. I had a salad with hard boiled eggs and toast, everyone else had cereal and other odds and ends (hey, I’m just keeping it real here!)
Saturday — Takeout