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Shared Jan 27, 2020 comment

My 5 Goals for This Week (and why I’m not setting very many goals)

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My 5 Goals for This Week (and why I’m not setting very many goals)

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

(By the way, I did, indeed, move the rug from in front of the toilet to in front of the sink. I thought that the hundreds of you who wrote in grossed out by this would be happy to hear that!)

Last week was a really productive and great week. And I’m continuing to be so happy with my choice to set weekly goals instead of yearly goals in 2020. It seems like it’s keeping me a lot more accountable and making me more motivated!

Here’s an update on how I did on my goals for last week…

2020: Week 4 — Goals

Personal Goals

1. Get in 54,000 steps total. (I use the FitBit Ulta HR to track my steps every day.) 

2. Finish reading 100 Ways to Love Your Husband, 100 Ways to Love Your Wife,The Whole-Brain Child, and Live Love Now. Finish listening to Before and After.

3. Get up at 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

4. Go to bed by 10 p.m. Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

5. Drink a gallon of water every day. (I almost hit this goal, but fell short a few days.)

Home/Family Goals

6. Get new shower curtain, rug, and towels for upstairs bathroom.

7. Read 40 pages of Carry a Big Stick aloud as a family.

8. Get a crib and bedding. (I’m chipping away at my To Do Before Baby Comes list a little bit per week.)

Work/Blog Goals

9. Finish chapter 2 and write chapter 3 of my manuscript.

Word of the Year Goals

10. Pop popcorn and watch another classic movie as a family.

11. Take Kathrynne out on a date for her birthday.

12. Light candle and write notes to our Compassion children.

I’m only setting 5 goals this week. We are doing respite care for another foster family this week so we’re hosting a sweet 10-year-old girl all week long, we have activities/commitments every night, Kathrynne turns 15, and I’m launching another 4-week Blog Coaching Group. 

So I decided I’d be very realistic in my goal-setting for this week and not try to bite off more than I could chew! That’s the beauty of taking things week by week, isn’t it?

2020: Week 5 — Goals

Personal Goals

1. Get in 54,000 steps total. (I use the FitBit Ulta HR to track my steps every day.) 

2. Finish reading The Path Between Us and Not So Perfect Mom. Finish listening to Originals: How Non-Conformist Move the World.

Home/Family Goals

3. Read 40 pages of Carry a Big Stick aloud as a family.

Work/Blog Goals

4. Edit introduction through chapter 3 of my manuscript.

Word of the Year Goals

5. Pop popcorn and watch another classic movie as a family.

What are YOUR goals for this week? How did you do on last week’s goals? Tell us in the comments!

Shared Jan 27, 2020 comment

Gretchen’s $82 Grocery Shopping Trip and Menu Plan for 5

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Gretchen’s $82 Grocery Shopping Trip and Menu Plan for 5

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Aldi

2 dozen Eggs – $0.90 each

1 pkg Chicken Thighs – Marked down to $3.03

2 pkg Shredded Cheese – $2.79 each

2 pkg Hot Dogs – $0.79 each

1 Chunk Cheese – $1.69

1 pkg Oyster Crackers – $0.79

1 pkg Tortilla Chips – $0.89

1 Half & Half – $1.55

1 Cottage Cheese – $1.59

1 lb Butter – $2.89

2 gallon Milk – $2.41 each

1 jar Dill Pickles – $0.95

1 pkg Flour Tortillas – $1.19

2 pkg Yeast – $0.89 each

1 bag Spinach – $1.39

1 can Diced Tomatoes – $0.45

1 pkg Hot Dog Buns – $0.85

2 pkg Frozen Peas/Corn – $0.79 each

1 pkg MooTubes – $1.55

1 box Crisp Rice Cereal – $1.45

1 loaf Bread – $0.95

2 Cucumbers – $0.49 each

2 pkg Strawberries – $1.79 each

1 pkg Frozen Broccoli – $0.99

1 pkg Blueberries – $1.49

1 jar Marinara Sauce – $0.85

1 can Refried Beans – $0.75

2 cans Cream of Mushroom/Chicken Soup – $0.49 each

Total: $55.15

Kroger

1 Mom’s Best Cereal – $2.49, used $1/1 e-coupon AND $0.25/1 Ibotta rebate – $1.24 after coupon and rebate

1 box Zone Perfect Kidz Bars – Marked down to $2.57 (My son LOVES these and I rarely buy them because they are so expensive. I was super excited to find these marked down to surprise him!)

1 Vero Gusto by Barilla Sauce – $3.99, used $6/1 Ibotta rebate – $2.01 moneymaker after rebate

2 The GFB Bars – $0.99 each, used $2.19/1 Ibotta rebate – $0.21 moneymaker after rebate

1 Smucker’s Grape Jelly – $1.29

1 Private Selection Chips – $0.99 after e-coupon (no longer available)

1 Pace Picante Sauce – $0.99 after e-coupon (no longer available)

1 Love Grown Cereal – $2.49, used $1.50/1 e-coupon – $0.99 after coupon

2 Annie’s Mac & Cheese – $1.49 each, used $1/2 e-coupon – $0.99 each after coupon

3 Kashi GO Cereal – $1.79 each, used 3 $0.65/1 Ibotta rebate AND 3 $0.50/1 Kroger Cash Back – $0.64 each after rebates

1 box Larabars – Marked down to $2.99, used $0.50/1 e-coupon – $2.49 after coupon

2 pkg Strawberries – $1.67 each (I didn’t realized these were cheaper than Aldi until I saw the sale while shopping so I ended up picking up 2 more packages.)

2.78 lbs Bananas – $1.64

Used $0.10/1 Ibotta rebate for any receipt

Total after coupons and rebates: $17.12

Food City

1 bag Romaine Lettuce Hearts – $2

2 bags Golden Potatoes – $2 each

2 bags Navel Oranges – $2 each

Total: $10

Publix

The MOST exciting discovery of the week was that there is a Publix in my new town as well! I’ve never shopped at Publix before but I see so many good deals there on the blogs I follow so I am thrilled.

2 Nivea Men’s Shaving Foam – $1.75 each, used 2 $1.80/1 Ibotta rebate – $0.10 moneymaker after rebates

2 GoGo Blastz at $3.29 – On Sale Buy One, Get One Free, used $3.29/1 Ibotta rebate – Free after rebate

1 Oikos Pro-Fuel Yogurt – $2.50, used Free e-coupon – Free after coupon

Total: $0.10 moneymaker after coupon and rebates

Total for all stores: $82.17

Menu Plan for This Week

Breakfasts

Cereal, Oatmeal, Toast, Yogurt, Fruit, Brown Sugar Biscuit Twists

Lunches

Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, Cheese/Crackers/Fruit, Hot Dogs, Hard Boiled Eggs/Fruit/Cheese, Tossed Salad Bar, Baked Potatoes, Mac & Cheese

Dinners

Cheese Pizza

Oven Fried Chicken Thighs, Mashed Potatoes, Biscuits

Southwest Rollups, Chips & Salsa

Eggs, Biscuits (leftover), Fruit

Baked Ziti, Steamed Broccoli, Homemade Bread

Chicken Tetrazzini, Steamed Peas, Tossed Salad

Beef & Gravy over Rice, Sliced Oranges

Shared Jan 26, 2020 comment

A Peek Into Our Week: Pregnancy update (week 26), bathroom redo, books, & romance

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A Peek Into Our Week: Pregnancy update (week 26), bathroom redo, books, & romance

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

Welcome to my weekly life update where I share about my pregnancy & give you a peek into our life this past week. If you want to follow a lot more behind-the-scenes and real-time updates every week, be sure to follow my stories and posts on Instagram.

26 weeks!! This past week FLEW by and I can’t believe it’s time for another pregnancy picture and update.

Highlights

I’m continuing to feel so well overall. Yes, there are the normal uncomfortable parts and the fact that I have to lay down and rest/nap and move more slowly than my usual pace, but I cannot believe how well I’m doing compared to previous pregnancies!

It just goes to show that prioritizing healthy food, sleep, hydration, and exercise really can make a difference! (It may also help that every day has a lot going on so I not have a lot of time to sit around and think about how I feel!)

Notable

My belly is definitely popping out more and the baby is kicking a lot stronger and harder these days! It’s still so surreal for me… but feeling the elbows and knees protruding out make it more and more real.

Cravings

My diet is pretty limited these days in order to avoid heartburn triggers, but some of my standby’s right now are cereal/milk, apples with peanut butter, and a big salad with chicken and hard boiled eggs.

This basically makes up most of my eating right now — and I’m grateful that it tastes good, is nourishing, and doesn’t make me sick. Every day that I’m not experiencing extreme acid reflux like I did in my previous pregnancies is a gift.

Weight gain: 18 pounds

Check out my honest reviews on the 5 Books I Read This Past Week (+ 1 Classic Movie We Watched).

Did you see how we spruced up our upstairs bathroom on a budget? See the before and after pictures here.

The podcast episode this week on 10 Ways to Keep the Romance Alive was one of our most-downloaded episodes in a long time. Have you listened to it yet?

Shared Jan 25, 2020 comment

We Spent $71.30 on Groceries This Week (+ our dinner menu)

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We Spent $71.30 on Groceries This Week (+ our dinner menu)

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.

Last week, I only spent $60 on groceries, so I went a little bit over this week. Here’s what we bought…

Kroger Shopping Trip #1

  • 2 bags of apples —  marked down to $0.99 each
  • 5 bags of Chicken Breasts — $4.99 per bag with Kroger digital coupon
  • Total with tax = $28.61

Kroger Shopping Trip #2

Kroger Shopping Trip #3

  • 2 Tyson Anytizer Chicken — $3.99 each with Kroger weekend digital coupon
  • 3 dozen eggs — marked down to $0.39 each
  • Strawberries — $1.67
  • Carrots — $0.99
  • 1 bag avocados — marked down to $0.99
  • Milk — $2.89
  • Cage-free eggs — marked down to $1.29
  • Tortillas — $1.50
  • 2 Private Selection Chips — $0.99 each with Kroger weekend digital coupon
  • Refried beans — marked down to $0.49
  • 4 jars Pace salsa — $0.99 each when Kroger weekend digital coupon
  • Refried beans — $0.79
  • Total with tax: $28.89

Dinners This Past Week

By the way, what are your best tips for keeping lettuce fresh? I don’t want all the lettuce I bought to go to waste before we can use it, but it will probably take us at least 5-7 more days to eat through all that. Any great suggestions?

Shared Jan 25, 2020 comment

Brigette’s $89 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6

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Brigette’s $89 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

3 bags Frozen Broccoli Florets – $2.85

2 cans Green Beans – $0.76

1 8-oz tub Baby Bella Mushrooms – $1.19

1 bunch Bananas – $0.66

1 pkg Cherub Tomatoes – $1.79

2 Avocados – $0.78

1 3-lb bag Pink Lady Apples – $3.89

1 plg Fresh Zucchini – $1.68

1 bag Baby Carrots – $0.89

1 bag Mini Cucumbers – $2.09

1 pkg Broccoli Crowns – $1.59

1 10-lb bag Russet Potatoes – $3.49

1 large tub Organic Spring Mix – $3.69

1 bag Mini Sweet Peppers – $2.79

1 bag Romaine Hearts – $2.39

1 head Cauliflower – $1.79

2 dozen Eggs – $1.96

1 pkg Cheese Sticks – $1.99

1 8-oz pkg Sliced Deli Cheese – $1.79

1 pkg Goat Cheese Crumbles – $2.39

4 Single-Serving Greek Yogurts – $2.36

1 2-lb bag Shredded Cheddar Cheese – $5.19

1 2-lb bag Shredded Mozzarella Cheese – $5.19

1 jar Organic Ketchup – $1.65

1 16-oz pkg Deli Meat – $2.85

1 pkg Fresh Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs ($1.69/lb)– $6.30

1 3-lb bag Frozen Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts – $5.89

1 pkg Turkey Bacon – $1.89

1 64-oz carton Orange Juice – $1.64

1 32-oz carton Half and Half – $1.55

1 gallon Skim Milk – $0.97

1 64-oz carton Unsweetened Almond Milk – $1.65

1 gallon Whole Milk – $0.97

1 jar Spaghetti Sauce – $0.85

1 carton Table Salt – $0.35

1 large can Black Olives – $1.05

1 Family-Size Box Honey Nut Crisp Oats – $2.45

1 box Raisin Bran – $1.59

1 32-oz box Spaghetti Noodles – $1.12

1 bag Pretzels – $0.82

1 bag Gluten-Free Pretzels – $1.85

2 loaves Sandwich Bread – $1.34

Grocery Total for the Week: $89.97

Weekly Menu Plan

Breakfasts

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

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

Lunches

Pretzels and Peanut Butter, Cheese Sticks, Apples, Cucumbers x 2

Deli Meat and Cheese Sandwiches, Bananas, Mini Sweet Peppers x 2

Leftovers x 3

Dinners

White Chicken Chili, World’s Best Honey Cornbread (I bought the ingredients to make this last week, but then our stove wasn’t working all week, so we ended up doing grilled chicken instead! Since our stove is fixed now, this Chili is back on the menu this week – all I needed to buy to make it was chicken.)

Barbecued Meatballs (I make these using a mixture of ground venison and ground beef), Twice-Baked Potatoes, Broccoli, Tossed Salad

Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs, Roasted Cauliflower, Tossed Salad, Biscuits

Dinners at a Friend’s House

Venison Roast in the Crockpot, Baked Potatoes, Green Beans, Tossed Salad

Spaghetti Carbonara, Easy Italian Breadsticks, Broccoli

Date Night Out (kids eat Grilled Cheese at home)

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Shared Jan 24, 2020 comment

Sprucing Up Our Bathroom on a Budget

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Sprucing Up Our Bathroom on a Budget

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

Note: This post is sponsored by At Home, but all opinions are my own. Read our disclosure policy here.

Refreshing Our Bathroom on a Budget

Have a space in your home that could use a refresh but don’t have a big budget to do so? I thought it would be fun to show you how I spruced up our upstairs bathroom — in just minutes and on a small budget!

Our upstairs bathroom has been a rather neglected room in our house ever since we moved in about two years ago. It was the bathroom that ended up getting all the rejects — the random towels, the red rug that was castoff from another bathroom, and a white shower curtain that we didn’t need in any other bathroom.

While this bathroom is primarily Kathrynne and Silas’ bathroom, it’s also often used by overnight guests who stay in Kathrynne’s room or by the kids’ friends or adults when we host groups and they are upstairs in our Bonus Room.

Despite it usually having quite a bit of foot traffic, I just hadn’t prioritized doing anything with it. So when At Home contacted me and asked me if I could write a post on refreshing a bedroom or bathroom on a budget, I knew exactly which space I should choose!

At Home’s Bed & Bath Event & Clearance Specials

By the way, At Home is currently running a huge Bed and Bath sale. If you’ve not been into this store before, it is a goldmine of deals.

Not only do they have weekly and monthly specials, but they also have incredible clearance deals. (For instance, right now, our store had over three full aisles’ worth of Christmas decor that was marked down 75% off!!)

One of my favorite things that At Home offers is their weekly Flash Finds. These are often deeply discounted deals for the week and are usually advertised right at the front of the store.

They have so many items that are available as part of the Bed and Bath Event — and many of them are under $30!

Jesse came with me to shop today. Want to know a true confession? We only do fancy restaurant date nights about 1-2 times per year (and usually with gift cards that our parents have given to us for birthdays or Christmas!).

However, we love going on frugal dates where we go grocery shopping and to other stores looking for deals!

I ended up deciding to keep it simple and get new towels, hand towels, and wash cloths. Plus, a rug and shower curtain set.

Before & After Pictures

I’m a little embarrassed to show you these pictures! Since I’m all about keeping it real, here’s the before of the bathroom. Like I said, it was badly neglected!

Speaking of keeping it real, notice that there aren’t any towels on the towel rack? Well, when I went to take the before pictures, the towel rack was completely empty! (I promise that my kids do actually take showers! ;))

Usually, the towel rack has some hodge podge of random towels — and they never match! Again, because this poor bathroom has just always gotten the leftovers.

Just 15 minutes and a few tiny changes later, the bathroom looks so much more inviting.

(And yes, the shower curtain probably needs to be ironed. However, there are two problems. 1) I don’t have an iron. 2) I figured that the steam from the shower would get those wrinkles out quickly!)

P.S. I’m torn on keeping the smaller rug in front of the toilet. Does it look weird there? I can’t decide. I thought about moving it to in front of the sink area instead. Also, I’d love suggestions for other simple ways to spruce up this bathroom.

Shared Jan 23, 2020 comment

5 Books I Read This Week (+ 1 classic movie we watched)

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5 Books I Read This Week (+ 1 classic movie we watched)

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

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.

If you want to see what I’m currently reading or what I’ve read so far this year, you can check out my GoodReads account.

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.

Here are the 5 books I finished last week…

No Better Mom for the Job

I really loved this book! While it was written more for moms of younger kids, it was great to read as I gear up to be the mom of a baby and toddler and preschooler again!

If you sometimes question whether you are really cut out to be a mom or you sometimes wonder if your kids are getting short-changed because your mothering style and strengths are so different than other moms you know, I think this book will really encourage your heart.

Becky writes from the trenches as a mom who has experienced the exhausting stage of mothering three young boys who were very close in age. In this book, she shares what she has learned as a mom. She shares her story to embrace her gifts, lean into her strengths, and rely on the Lord in the middle of the mundane and messes of motherhood.

For more on how this book inspired me, read this post I wrote based upon one of the quotes in the book.

Verdict: 4 stars

100 Words of Affirmation Your Wife/Husband Needs to Hear

These books, by Matt and Lisa Jacobson, are a quick but impactful read. If you need some practical ideas and encouragement to speak words of life to your spouse or you just would love to glean from the wisdom of a couple who have raised 8 kids and been married for 27 years, I think you’ll find these books insightful.

I think it would be especially fun to read them together as a couple and to compare notes. (Some of their suggestions sparked good conversations between Jesse and me the past two weeks!)

These books were a good reminder to me of how important it can be to take the little bit of extra time to express how much we appreciate our spouse. It doesn’t cost any money, it takes very little extra effort, but it could make a huge difference in our marriage.

My only complaint? They were really short and I wished they had been a little more in-depth.

Verdict: 3 stars

Great Escapes of World War II

I read this book aloud to the family last week. It’s fairly short and each chapter covers one specific story of POW escape during World War II.

While some of us knew parts of some of the stories, we all learned new things. And it was one of those books that made you want to dig deeper into the stories shared.

It also was interesting to read at the same time I was listening to Killing the Rising Sun. The contrast between how different countries treated POWs was really sad and fascinating.

I think the thing I was most struck with was how much effort the POWs expended to try to escape. And in almost every case, dozens (or even hundreds!) of POWs worked together for just a few to escape. It was an inspiration to think of their sacrifices on behalf of others.

Verdict: 3 stars

Killing the Rising Sun

Last week, I told you how I didn’t enjoy Killing Patton. Well, this book certainly redeemed that reading experience.

I listened to this book on the free Libby app and am so glad I did. It is well worth listening to — especially if you enjoy history.

This book chronicles the backstory leading up to the end of World War II. A lot of the content surrounds the creating and dropping the atomic bombs.

While it mostly focuses on facts and history, it does bring up a lot of valuable ethical questions surrounding the use of atomic bombs. It made me think long and hard about these decisions people made and the longterm ramifications of them.

Verdict: 4 stars

Classic Movie We Watched This Week

The kids decided — all on their own — that they want to start watching one old classic movie per week together as a family in 2020. They are helping me choose the list of movies and I’ll be reporting here what we watch each week and their thoughts on it.

I plan to do a big classic movie round-up post at the end of the year with their verdict on the best and favorites of the ones we watched. (Thank you for all the great suggestions for must-watch classic movies!)

The Sound of Music

This movie was on our list from the get-go this year. I have watched it a few times in my life, but it’s been a long time.

The girls had watched it once before, but they had forgotten parts of it. Silas just kept having his eyes grow wide when they’d start singing one of the songs. “Whoa! That song came from this movie, too??” he’d say. (I think the songs were actually originally from the musical that was turned into the movie, right?)

Many years ago, I read the true story account that the movie/musical was based on. The kids enjoyed hearing me share what I remember was fact and what was added to the storyline.

While the movie is long and a little slow moving in parts, we overall enjoyed it. And now I’ve had all the Sound of Music songs in my head all week!

What did you read this past week? Any books you think I really need to add to my long to-read list??

Shared Jan 21, 2020 comment

10 FREE Ways to Keep the Romance Alive

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10 FREE Ways to Keep the Romance Alive

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

Keeping the Romance Alive

I reached over last night and took his hand and said, “I really like you.”

It might seem like such a simple gesture, but after 17 years of marriage, I’m so grateful that we don’t just love each, we LIKE each other, too.

A good marriage doesn’t just happen; it requires two very different people to be willing to put forth time, effort, and sacrifice.

To choose their spouse everyday — on the good days and the bad days.

Faithfulness and leaning in and loving on the dark and difficult days.

To look for the good, to appreciate your differences, to ask forgiveness, and to be willing to extend forgiveness.

To stay when it’s hard, to persevere when it’s exhausting, to be a champion and cheerleader instead of a comparer and complainer.

A good marriage is work, but it’s worth it.

This week, on the podcast, Jesse and I share candidly about romance and intimacy and give you 10 ideas that have helped us keep the sparks flying (some of them are probably not what you’d expect!).

Powered by RedCircle

In This Episode:

[01:12] In light of last week’s episode, I had to tell you that I literally broke up with my phone — unintentionally. 🙂

[03:11] What’s saving our lives? A percussion massage gun and drinking a gallon of water.

[09:18] I’m reading Killing the Rising Sun and Jesse is reading the He Reads Truth daily devotional.

[13:38] Romance and intimacy… let’s talk about some ways we’ve found to keep the spark alive.

[15:29] Jesse shares 5 of his suggestions.

[21:16] My 5 ideas — and we had to laugh at how my first idea correlated to his 5th idea!

[29:10] What would you add to our list? 

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 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.

Shared Jan 20, 2020 comment

This Week’s $60 ALDI and Kroger Shopping Trips (+ a different way of grocery shopping!)

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This Week’s $60 ALDI and Kroger Shopping Trips (+ a different way of grocery shopping!)

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.

Look at this price on eggs! WOW!

I saw these Tearless Onions at Aldi last week. Have you purchased these before?? I’d never heard of them. Do they actually work and not make you cry when you cut an onion??

Aldi Shopping Trip — $42.75

Kroger Shopping Trip — $17.04

Dinners This Week

  • Sunday — marked down rotisserie chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans
  • Monday  —  grapefruit, Pumpkin Waffles, bacon
  • Tuesday — oranges, Broccoli Cheese Egg Casserole, Banana Muffins
  • Wednesday —  Slow Cooker Italian Chicken/Potatoes, Banana Muffins, green beans
  • Thursday — Slow Cooker Chicken a la King, Biscuits
  • Friday — Dinner out since Kathrynne had an out of town basketball game
  • Saturday — The kids had leftovers, Jesse and I went out with friends
  • Sunday —  Slow Cooker Cheeseburgers, Sweet Potato Fries
Shared Jan 20, 2020 comment

My Goals For This Week

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My Goals For This Week

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

This year, I’m doing weekly goals in 2020 instead of yearly goals. And I’m thrilled to report that it’s going so well!

While at first glance, it might seem like I didn’t accomplish that much on my goals list this past week (and I certainly didn’t accomplish as much as I have the last two weeks), I had a really productive and great week.

There was breathing room and laughter and memories made. There was a lot of forward momentum on projects. And there was a lot of time spent with Jesse, the kids, and friends.

To me, that’s what’s way more important than checking everything off my list!

One of my goals was to go through these tubs of mementos we have in the basement.

They have kind of gotten pretty disorganized over the years (and multiple moves) as we’ve just stuffed things in them.

I only made it through one tub, but it felt good to at least make some headway!

Here’s my update on last week’s goals:

2020: Week 3 Goals Update

Personal Goals

1. Get in 53,000 steps total. (I use the FitBit Ulta HR to track my steps every day.) 

2. Finish reading 100 Ways to Love Your Husband, 100 Ways to Love Your Wife, 100 Words of Affirmation Your Wife Needs to Hear, 100 Words of Affirmation Your Husband Needs to Hear, Live Love Now, and No Better Mom for the Job. Finish listening to Killing the Rising Sun.

3. Get up at 5:30 a.m. every week day.

4. Go to bed by 10 p.m. Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. (I did this every night but one night when Jesse was out of town!)

5. Drink a gallon of water every day. (I did this 5 of the days, so I’m excited about that!)

Home/Family Goals

6. Decluttering: Boxes of mementos, under bathroom sinks, and kitchen cupboards.  (I did some decluttering, but I didn’t end up finishing all of this.)

7. Finish reading Great Escapes of World War II aloud as a family.

8. Buy hats and coming home outfit for baby. (I’m chipping away at my To Do Before Baby Comes list a little bit per week.)

Work/Blog Goals

9. Write chapter 2 of my manuscript. (Chapter 2 is really close to being done, but I want to sit with it for a few more days and rearrange and rework some things before I officially say that the first draft is done.)

Word of the Year Goals

10. Pop popcorn and watch another classic movie as a family.

11. Go to a movie with Jesse.

12. Go out to dinner with friends.

2020: Week 4 — Goals

Personal Goals

1. Get in 54,000 steps total. (I use the FitBit Ulta HR to track my steps every day.) 

2. Finish reading 100 Ways to Love Your Husband, 100 Ways to Love Your Wife,The Whole-Brain Child, and Live Love Now. Finish listening to Before and After.

3. Get up at 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

4. Go to bed by 10 p.m. Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

5. Drink a gallon of water every day.

Home/Family Goals

6. Get new shower curtain, rug, and towels for upstairs bathroom.

7. Read 40 pages of Carry a Big Stick aloud as a family.

8. Get a crib and bedding. (I’m chipping away at my To Do Before Baby Comes list a little bit per week.)

Work/Blog Goals

9. Finish chapter 2 and write chapter 3 of my manuscript.

Word of the Year Goals

10. Pop popcorn and watch another classic movie as a family.

11. Take Kathrynne out on a date for her birthday.

12. Light candle and write notes to our Compassion children.

What are YOUR goals for this week? How did you do on last week’s goals? Tell us in the comments!

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

Click here to download!
Shared Jan 20, 2020 comment

Gretchen’s $89 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 5

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Gretchen’s $89 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 5

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

Aldi

1 bag Tortilla Chips – $0.89

1 Grape Jelly – $1.29

2 Blueberries – $1.49 each

1 Crisp Rice Cereal – $1.45

2 gallons Milk – $2.38 each

1 lb Butter – $2.61

2 Half & Half – $1.55 each

1 Unsweetened Applesauce – $1.95

1 Sour Cream – $0.89

1 bag Shredded Mexican Cheese – $2.49

1 Taco Seasoning – $0.39

1 bag Shredded Cheddar Cheese – $2.79

2 cans Green Beans – $0.49 each

1 MooTubes – $1.55

1 box Granola Bars – $1.15

2 bags Steamed Peas/Corn – $0.79 each

3 Cucumbers – $0.49 each

1 pkg Yeast – $0.89 (not pictured)

1 Cream Cheese – $0.79

3 dozen Eggs – $0.99 each

1 loaf Bread – $0.95

1 pkg Tortillas – $1.19

1 pkg Hot Dog Buns – $0.85

0.95 lbs Roma Tomatoes – $0.47

1 pkg Hot Dogs – $0.79

1 Peanut Butter – $1.15

1 lb Turkey Breast – $3.99

1 box Cheese Crackers – $1.49

1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup – $0.49

Total: $48.34

Kroger

2 boxes Mom’s Best Cereal – $2.49 each, used 2 $1/1 e-coupon AND 2 $0.25/1 Ibotta rebate AND 2 $0.25/1 Kroger Cash Back – $0.99 each after coupons and cash back

1 box Kroger Graham Crackers – $1.79, used $0.50/1 e-coupon – $1.29 after coupon

1 Kroger Apple Juice – $1.49, used $0.45/1 Ibotta rebate AND $0.45/1 Kroger Cash Back – $0.59 after cash back

2 Mott’s Fruit Snacks – $1.99, used $1/2 e-coupon – $1.49 after coupon

2 Kettle Chips – $2 each, used 2 $1/1 printable – $1 each after coupons

1 Kroger Peanut Butter – $1.79

1 Zia Pasta Sauce – $1

1 Mexican Salsa – $1.50, used $0.25/1 Ibotta rebate – $1.25 after rebate

2 The GFB Bar – $1.50 each, used 20% off e-coupon (no longer available) AND $2.19 Ibotta rebate – $0.10 each after coupon and rebate

4 Kroger Frozen Chicken Breasts (3 lbs each) – $4.99 each

2 pkg Frozen Broccoli – $1 each

3 lbs Ground Beef – Marked down to $4.99 each

1 Kroger Hot Cocoa – $1.25, used $0.50/1 Ibotta rebate AND $0.50/1 Kroger Cash Back – $0.25 after cash back

3.72 lbs Bananas – $2.19

1 Lettuce – $1.69

1 Kroger Ketchup – $1

2 RX Peanut Butter – $6.79 each, used 2 $2.50/1 printable AND 2 $2/1 Ibotta rebate AND $2/1 Kroger Cash Back – $0.29 each after coupons and cash back (I LOVE this peanut butter so I was thrilled to get it for almost free!)

5 Simple Truth Little Cubs Crackers – Marked down to $1.24 each, used 5 $1/1 e-coupon – $0.24 each after coupon

1 Simple Truth Hot Sauce – $1.89, used $0.30/1 e-coupon – $1.59 after coupon

Used $0.10/1 Ibotta rebate for any receipt

Total after coupons, rebates and cash back: $39.46

Food City

I ventured into Food City this week! I only grabbed cereal as we didn’t have anything left in our grocery budget for more, but I found marked down fruits and veggies and lots of decent markdowns on meat as well. I’ll definitely be popping in there to check out markdowns each week!

2 Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes – $1.99 each, used 2 $1/1 printable – $0.99 each after coupons

Total: $1.98

Total for all stores: $89.78

Menu Plan for This Week

Breakfasts

Cereal, Toast, Eggs, Oatmeal, Yogurt

Lunches

Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, Turkey Sandwiches, Hot Dogs, Hard Boiled Eggs, Tossed Salad, Cheese/Crackers/Fruit, Chips, Leftovers

Dinners

Homemade Cheese Pizza, Breadsticks, Brownies

Cream of Mushroom Gravy and Beef over Noodles, Steamed Peas

Grilled Chicken, Biscuits, Mashed Potatoes, Steamed Corn

Nachos, Sliced Apples (leftover from last week)

French Toast, Eggs

Chicken Taquitos, Rice, Steamed Broccoli

Pasta Goulash in the Slow Cooker, Oatmeal Spice Muffins, Tossed Salad

Shared Jan 19, 2020 comment

Life Update: Pregnancy (week 25), decluttering, and a basketball tournament

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Life Update: Pregnancy (week 25), decluttering, and a basketball tournament

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

Welcome to my weekly life update where I share about my pregnancy & give you a peek into our life this past week. If you want to follow a lot more behind-the-scenes and real-time updates every week, be sure to follow my stories and posts on Instagram.


25 weeks!! And I’ve officially switched over to maternity clothes pretty much full-time.

Side note: I know some people are big fans of just sizing up in clothes instead of wearing maternity clothes. I tried that and things just fit me super weird. So maternity clothes it is. It’s not the hip and trendy influencer thing to do, but since I’m an “advanced maternal age” mama at 38, I just don’t really care. Comfort over trendy all the way!

Highlights

This week I had almost zero heartburn!!! As someone whose acid reflux got progressively worse with each pregnancy in the past and who often threw up from acid reflux and spent many nights sitting up in misery because of the fire going on inside of me, I just don’t even know what to say other than, “Thank You, Jesus!”

I’ve been super careful about what I’m eating to avoid all triggers, have been trying to drink a gallon of water every day, am exercising every day, and am trying to really pace myself and not overdo it. I have no idea if these things are contributing, but they certainly can’t be hurting anything, right?!

Notable

I’m starting to feel much more pregnant. I’m noticing a lot more pelvic pressure and the normal aches and pains related to getting closer to the third trimester. Plus, my bladder seems to be shrinking, the Braxton-Hicks are picking up, and I’m just having to move at a slower pace overall.

Time continues to be moving along quickly and I’m all *bring it on*! I know that it will likely slow down the closer I get to the finish line, but I’m loving that the weeks currently feel like they are mostly flying by! We’ve got a lot going on the next 9 weeks and I’m grateful!

Cravings

Lots and lots of dairy cravings this week! I seem to vacillate from feeling like there’s not a lot of room in my stomach to eat and having no appetite to being ravenously hungry. But overall, I’m noticing that my appetite is picking up as I near the third trimester. I guess baby is getting ready to gain weight!

Speaking of weight gain, I’ve gained 17 pounds so far — right on track with my usual 30-lb. pregnancy weight gain.

How are the rest of you pregnant mamas doing?

This week, I worked on decluttering the memento tubs we have in our basement storage room. Oh the memories these tubs contain!

Kathrynne had a basketball tournament in Springfield, TN on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. So we spent a lot of time driving and at games! Their team ended up coming in third place!

From My Heart…

I shared this on Instagram earlier this week:

There was a knock on our bedroom door late one night last week. A child couldn’t sleep and was struggling with feeling anxious so they wanted to come in and talk with us.

Honestly, I was tired, it had been a long day, and it was late. But before I could respond, Jesse was inviting this child into our room and wrapping his arms around them.

“What’s going on? Tell me about it.” I heard him soothingly comfort. And then this child poured out struggles and sadness they were feeling.

As I watched all of this unfold, it was a beautiful picture of the Heavenly Father’s love. No matter what time of day or night it is, we can go to Him and pour out our big feelings, hurts, heartaches, struggles, and sadness to Him.

He is there, waiting to wrap His arms around us, comfort us, listen to us, and be WITH us. We are never a burden or a bother to Him.

He loves us deeply and wholeheartedly. And He will never leave or forsake us — even on the darkest of days.

Note: Over Christmas break, we stayed at the Gaylord Opryland as a family. We were walking around the huge hotel complex together and I looked ahead and saw Jesse and Silas talking and walking and holding hands.

While a lot of people disagreed with my list, this week, I shared 10 Foods You Should Never Freeze.

I also shared before and after pictures of decluttering Kathrynne’s closet.

Did you see my post on the 3 books I read last week and the classic movie we watched?

Shared Jan 18, 2020 comment

Decluttering Kathrynne’s Closet (before and after pictures)

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Decluttering Kathrynne’s Closet (before and after pictures)

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

Need some motivation to declutter your home? We’ve been working on decluttering our home in January and here’s a peek at Kathrynne’s closet (shared with her permission):

Decluttering Kathrynne’s Closet

Kathrynne spent a number of hours over Christmas break going through her entire room and decluttering and re-organizing it.

We realized, after she had decluttered everything, that she really needed some storage tubs and baskets to be able to better organize and store the items she was keeping in her closet.

So she and I headed to At Home last Saturday to pick some items out. (They have SO many storage options and clearance items to choose from!)

Her only dilemma was trying to pick from all the many options! She finally settled on some items and we headed back home where she spent a few hours tackling her closet.

Doesn’t it look so much better?? She’s so happy with the end results. Also, it’s much easier for her to find what she is looking for, too!

Note: You’ll notice there’s a lot of empty space in her closet. We have intentionally kept it that way because her room has the extra bunk beds in it for hosting kids from foster care (we are licensed for two kids so we are required to have two empty beds . open in our house). We are also required to have empty closet space for them as part of the rules of our home licensing. Where kids sleep depends upon the ages and genders and particulars of the case, but when our home is open — as it is right now — we have to have these things in place.

Shared Jan 18, 2020 comment

Brigette’s $73 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6

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Brigette’s $73 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6

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Aldi

2 pkgs Frozen Broccoli Florets – $1.98

1 Cauliflower – $2.25

2 cartons Blueberries – $2.98

1 bunch Bananas – $0.77

1 carton Snacking Tomatoes – $1.99

1 3-ct pkg Garlic Heads – $0.79

1 large head Cabbage – $1.59

1 pkg Baby Carrots – $0.89

1 pkg Romaine Hearts – $2.39

1 large tub Organic Spring Mix – $3.49

1 pkg Zucchini – $1.77

2 3-lb bags Jazz Apples – $5.58

1 16-oz bag Mini Cucumbers – $2.19

1 pkg Fresh Cilantro – $0.75

2 64-oz cartons Orange Juice – $3.28

1 gallon Whole Milk – $0.97

5 single-serving cups Greek Yogurt – $2.94

1 can Whipped Cream – $2.65

1 2-lb bag Brown Sugar – $1.29

1 5-lb bag Flour – $1.15

1 16-oz bag Navy Beans – $0.69

1 12-oz pkg Chocolate Chips – $1.29

1 3-lb bag Long Grain Rice – $1.15

1 pkg Sliced Pepperoni – $2.19

1 pkg Turkey Bacon – $1.89

1 1-lb pkg Country Sausage – $2.99

1 16-oz pkg Deli Meat – $2.85

1 8-oz pkg Deli Sliced Cheese – $1.79

1 pkg String Cheese – $1.99

1 pkg Crackers Sticks with Cheese Dip – $1.09

1 pkg Butternut Squash Crackers – $2.99

1 box Rice Squares – $1.49

1 Family-Size box Honey Nut Crispy Oats – $2.45

1 pkg Taco Mix Seasoning – $0.29

1 log Goat Cheese – $1.55

1 16-oz carton Egg Whites – $1.69

3 dozen Eggs – $2.94

Grocery Total for the Week: $73.01

Weekly Menu Plan

Breakfasts

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

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

Lunches

Deli Meat/Sliced Cheese Sandwiches on Homemade Rolls, Apples, Mini Cucumbers x 2

Butternut Squash Crackers, Cheese Sticks, Bananas and Peanut Butter

Leftovers x 4

Dinners

Egg Roll in a Bowl, Rice, Apples

White Chicken Chili, Cornbread, Tossed Salad

Venison Roast in the Crockpot, Baked Potatoes, Steamed Broccoli

Belgian Waffles, Turkey Bacon, Roasted Cauliflower, Scrambled Eggs

Pepperoni Rolls, Tossed Salad

Taco Salad, Spanish Rice, Broccoli

Date Night Out (kids eat leftovers at home)

Shared Jan 17, 2020 comment

10 Foods You Should Never Freeze

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10 Foods You Should Never Freeze

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

What foods should you never freeze? Welcome to my weekly post where I answer one of your questions you’ve submitted. This week’s question is what foods you can’t or shouldn’t freeze.

Foods you should never freeze

Are there foods you can’t or shouldn’t freeze? – a reader

As you likely know, I love using my freezer for all kinds and sorts of things. And I freeze a lot of items like flour, cottage cheese, butter, milk that most people don’t think of being things you can freeze. (Check out my post on 10 Things You Didn’t Know You Can Freeze.)

But there are some things I don’t recommend you try freezing. Here’s a list of the top 10 things I think you should never freeze:

1. Lettuce

While I’ve frozen spinach to use in smoothies (and it works!), most lettuce will get limp and soggy if frozen, due to the high water content.

2. Blocks of Cheese

You can freeze shredded cheese without a problem, but if you freeze block cheese, it will be very crumbly when thawed (you can use it if you are planning to melt it, but it won’t work for slicing and snacking on).

3. Raw Eggs

I have heard from some people that they successfully freeze raw eggs, but I’ve never had success with doing so. However, I’ve frozen cooked eggs (such as in a Breakfast Casserole) without any issues.

4. Cream Cheese

If you plan to use the cream cheese in baked goods, you should be okay. However, if you plan to spread it on bagels or something, I wouldn’t recommend freezing it as it will end up very crumbly after it’s frozen.

5. Potatoes — raw or mashed.

You can freeze mashed potatoes, but they are usually water-y if you don’t add cream cheese and/or sour cream to them. And raw potatoes will usually turn a dark color when frozen.

6. Cucumbers

Cucumbers have high water content, so they will be mushy and soggy if frozen.

7. Milk you plan to drink.

You can freeze milk (and I do it often!), but I only recommend using it in baking. It separates and has sort of a lumpy consistency  when thawed — which isn’t very appetizing!

8. Raw meat that has been frozen and then thawed.

If you freeze meat raw and then thaw it, it needs to be cooked if you are going to re-freeze it. If meat is already cooked, I recommend not thawing it and re-freezing it as it will usually affect the quality of the meat.

9. Jell-O

Okay, this might seem like a crazy one to put on the list, but we tried freezing Jell-O as an experiment a few weeks ago and it did not work at all. It was all soupy and water-y when thawed!

10. Celery

When thawed, frozen celery will be very limp. However, if it’s diced up in small pieces before frozen, you can use it in a casserole and it will probably be okay. But don’t freeze whole celery stalks with the intent to thaw and snack on them! 🙂

What else would you add to my list? Anything on my list that you’ve had success freezing?

P.S. Have a question you’d love for me to answer in a future Q&A post? Send me an email through the contact form here.