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Shared Feb 26, 2018 comment

What I Read & Watched This Past Week

Published: by Crystal Paine on February 26, 2018 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Welcome to my weekly Book-ish post where I share what I’ve been reading and watching recently. If you missed it, you can see my Reading Goals for 2018 and 44 Books I Plan to Read This Year.

Since we were in the middle of moving, I didn’t do much reading or watching this past week. But I did stay up too late a few nights watching the Olympics (I think I’m too old for the Olympics — especially if they are going to be showing all of the best stuff LIVE at 10-11:30 p.m.!) and I also read 5 Months Apart: Facing Infertility With Faith and Grace.

Someone in my life is currently walking through some of the things in this book and I thought it would be insightful to read. While the book kind of skips around in the storyline and I think it could have used tighter editing, I still think it would be a valuable read if you are facing unexplained infertility, in the middle of fertility treatments or the adoption process, and/or know someone who is.

The author doesn’t sugarcoat struggle involved with infertility and fertility treatments, as well as the adoption process. She doesn’t give pat answers or cliche phrases. She addresses the very real and raw pain that infertility causes and miscarriage can cause and gives you better understanding for women who are walking this road.

How I Find Time to Read

People are always asking me how I find time to read. Honestly, it’s because I love to read, because I’ve chosen to prioritize it, because I don’t have a lot of other hobbies, and because I can’t not read. Also, when you love something, you usually can find ways to get creative to find time to fit it in — even if it’s in the little nooks and crannies of life.

I wrote a post on 3 ways to find more time to read — even when life is busy. And here are 7 more ways to find time to read.

What did you read and watch this past week? Any books or movies you really think I need to read or watch?

(Note: The links in this post are affiliate links, and we will be compensated when you make a purchase by clicking through our links. Read our disclosure policy here.)

Shared Feb 25, 2018 comment

A Peek Into Our Lives This Past Week (+ an update my goals for 2018)

Published: by Crystal Paine on February 25, 2018 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Welcome to my weekly post I share a peek into our lives, talk about things I’m loving, share links to interesting articles or helpful ideas I’ve collected throughout the past week, and just talk about whatever is on my heart! ?

3 1/2 years ago, when we made the huge move from Kansas to Tennessee, it felt like we were starting over from scratch — and it was scary!

We had lived in Kansas all our lives, our parents and grandparents and most all our siblings and their families were there. Because of this, we had people we could call and we knew they’d help us at the drop of a hat.

We knew only a handful of people when we moved to TN, we didn’t have any family here, and there were a lot of days when it felt lonely and sad and we wondered if we’d made a big mistake in uprooting our family to move here.

And yet, we truly felt God had led us to this state, to this city, to make this move.

So we forged ahead in faith that He had called us to this and He was going to provide community and support and friendship for us in this new city.

It hasn’t been easy. It’s meant putting ourselves out there — a lot. It’s meant pursuing friendships that we’d hoped would pan out that haven’t. It’s meant continuing to reach out and invite and show up, even when it was awkward.

But it’s been so worth it. Because this week — as moved to our new house — and we had friend after friend reach out and show up: to bring food, to offer to help clean, to help us load and unload, to invite us over for a meal, to let us borrow their vehicles, to text and see if we needed anything, to come over and help us with decorating, to offer to hang pictures, to come over and just celebrate with us… we realized just how much community and friendship and support we have here. That we truly have those people in our lives that will help us at the drop of the hat.

And we’re reminded once again that you have to experience the awkward in friendship in order to experience the awesome in friendship.

We’re so inspired to look for more ways to be that same kind of friend and support to others. To be willing to take risks. To not wait for an invite, but to be the initiator. To be okay if someone says no or a relationship doesn’t turn out like you hoped. Because all those seeds of friendship, when watered and nurtured and fostered and tended to, will grow into strong relationships and friendships that are SO worth the effort!

Jesse found these pictures as we were packing up for the move this past week.

If I could go back to the young couple we were in these pictures, I would have so much I would want to say.

Superficial things like, “Don’t wear white, girl. It’s not your color.” And, “For the love of all that is good and right, please keep your brows and don’t decide soon after these pictures are taken that you should over-twease them for 5 years!”

But also, much more weighty things like, “The next 7 years are going to be rough. They are going to stretch you far beyond what you feel capable of handling. You’re going to want to give up.

“Your idealistic visions of what marriage and family and life are supposed to be are going to come crashing down in pieces. You’re going to feel confused and scared and angry.

“But you’re going to be okay. In fact, you’re going to be more than okay.

“All those broken pieces are going to turn into something more beautiful and meaningful and deeply fulfilling than you could ever imagine.

“You’re going to learn about how much your Heavenly Father loves you. You’re going to begin to understand the depths of grace.

“You’re going to fall more in love with this man than you ever dreamed you could on your wedding day. You’re going to have three kids who are going to bring so much amazing life into your life.

“And you’re going to experience depths of joy and life you had no idea were possible.

“So when those hard times come — and they are coming! — don’t give up. Hold on. The best is yet to come. God is going to redeem those hard and humbling places in a more incredible way than you can ever imagine!”

I posted this on Instagram this past week:

Last night was not one of our finer family moments. There was tension and anger and unkind words and hurt — on all sides.

When things had cooled down and the kids had gone to bed, Jesse and I stayed up late trying to work through our own frustrations at each other. We finally did — and I’m grateful because it turned into a really healthy and productive conversation about some current fears we both have.

A few years ago, after a night like last night, I would have gone to bed and struggled to sleep — beating myself up over how I had failed. Last night, I acknowledged where I had made mistakes, apologized, and then rested in the truth of the Gospel: Jesus doesn’t expect me to be a perfect mom or wife or person. He knows I will fall short in my own strength.

The Gospel isn’t for perfect people; it’s for sinners. Christianity isn’t about what I need to do for God; it’s about what He’s already done for me.

So when I make mistakes, it’s a reminder of how much I need to remember and rely on Jesus. Instead of beating myself up or living in shame, I can acknowledge my sin, ask for forgiveness, rest in God’s unshakeable love for me, and ask the Holy Spirit to empower as I go throughout my day.

Today is a new day, a fresh start, another opportunity to remember how much I’ve been forgiven, to walk in His Spirit instead of my own strength, to rest in His finished work on the Cross, and to live as loved!

I felt led to share this with you all because I thought maybe some of you needed this reminder, too?

2018 Goals Update

Personal Goals

1. Read 100 non-self-help books that will build me up/encourage me/inspire me/recharge me. (Fiction/story-driven/biographies/inspirational living books/devotionals.) See the list of 44 books I plan to read this year.

**Progress: 13 books read so far this year

2. Read through the entire Bible.

**Progress: I’m using the Robert Murray M’Cheyne plan and am all caught up— yay!

3. Write one handwritten note to someone every week.

**Progress: 10 notes written so far this year

4. Run 500 miles.

**Progress: 80 miles run so far

Marriage Goal

~~5. Go on an overnight trip with Jesse without the kids.~~Jesse and I went to NYC together in January.

Family Goals

6. Read 10 books aloud with the kids.

**Progress: I’ve finished one book so far.

7. Take the kids to South Africa.

**Progress: We nailed down dates for our trip!

8. Go on a family road trip.

Financial Goals

9. Save up to pay cash to finish off an office for me and workout room for Jesse and me in the basement in our new house.

10. Replenish our Emergency Fund (we dipped into it to replace my car when it got totaled because of the carpet beetle infestation.)

Business Goals

11. Increase our gross income from the business by 8%.

12. Launch 5 new courses.

**Progress: 4 Weeks to a More Productive Life launched in January and Content Creation 101 launched in February. We’re currently working on a new YourBloggingUniversity.com course that we hope to launch in March and we’re also launching another Blog Coaching opportunity next week!

Shared Feb 24, 2018 comment

Slow Day: Week 8

Published: by Crystal Paine on February 24, 2018 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Welcome to my weekly Slow Day post, inspired by Monica from The Homespun Heart. My Word for 2018 is Slow and, in the spirit of that word, I’m taking one day each week (Wednesday) off — I’ll be unplugged and offline and plan to move at a slower pace, take time to do things that refresh me, and just really focus on being present and savoring the moment.

Each Saturday, I’ll be sharing a photographic peek into my Slow Day — and I’ll let the pictures almost 100% speak for themselves, instead of giving many explanations. Enjoy a little peek into our lives!

My morning started on the treadmill — like usual!

These girls… always being crazy together! They have so many inside jokes and I just love it!

After Discipleship Group, I worked on moving projects and listened to this episode of the The Chalene Show.

Then, I went and picked Silas up from school and we went on a little Starbucks date.

Next, I picked the girls up and we headed over to the new house to unload and unpack some things.

And then Kaitlynn and I made charcoal facial masks while we watched the Olympics!

Shared Feb 24, 2018 comment

Large Family Freezer Cooking Day | 15 Dozen Oatmeal Muffins, Burgers, and more!

Published: by crystal on February 24, 2018 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Jamerrill has a great post up sharing about her Large Family Freezer Cooking Day.

If you have a large family, I think you’ll be inspired by this post! She made 15 dozen oatmeal muffins, burgers, tuna cakes, and much more!!

Shared Feb 23, 2018 comment

Brigette’s $80 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6

Published: by Brigette on February 23, 2018 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Aldi

2 pkgs Romaine Hearts – $3.18

2 3-ct pkgs Multi-Colored Peppers – $2.70

1 pkg Kiwi – $0.99

1 bag Fresh Green Beans – $1.39

1 pkg Blueberries – $1.79

1 pkg Strawberries – $1.95

3 Avocados – $1.17

1 pkg Grape Tomatoes – $0.99

1 3-head pkg Garlic – $0.79

1 bunch Bananas (2.72lbs @ $0.34/lb) – $0.93

2 heads Cauliflower – $3.58

1 bag Mini Cucumber – $0.75

1 can Parmesan Cheese – $2.29

1 pkg Bagels – $1.79

1 loaf Bread – $0.65

3 pkgs English Muffins – $2.97

4 dozen Eggs – $3.92

2 16-oz cartons Egg Whites – $3.98

1 16-oz carton Whipping Cream – $1.55

1 can Black Olives – $1.05

1 canister Decaf Coffee – $2.99

1 carton Quick Oats – $2.29

2 64-oz cartons Orange Juice – $3.18

2 gallons Whole Milk – $2.72

1 4-ct pkg Applesauce Pouches – $1.85

1 jar Strawberry Jam – $1.79

1 canister Baking Cocoa – $1.75

1 large jar Salsa – $1.89

1 pkg String Cheese – $1.99

2 16-oz bags Shredded Mozzarella Cheese – $4.98

1 pkg Sliced Pepperoni – $1.95

1 Chocolate Cake mix – $0.85

Total: $66.64

Harris Teeter

5 boxes Rice Krispies – $8.95, used $3.00/5 printable – $5.95/5 after coupons

4 boxes Kraft Macaroni and Cheese – $1.08

2 pkgs Tortillas – $1.29

1 Turkey Hill Ice Cream – $1.97

1 5-lb bag Pillsbury Bread Flour – $3.39

Total: $13.68

Grocery Total for the Week: $80.32

Weekly Menu Plan

Breakfasts

Lazy Monkey Bread, Scrambled Eggs, Bacon (Birthday Breakfast Choice for my 4-yr old)

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

Cereal, Toast, Breakfast Burrito, Bagels with Strawberry Cream Cheese (I got this free with a coupon last week), Oatmeal, Fruit, Fried/Scrambled/Hard Boiled Eggs, Veggie Omelets

Lunches

Macaroni and Cheese, Applesauce Pouches (Birthday Lunch Choice)

Build-Your-Own-Salad Bar (Romaine, Assorted Chopped Fresh Veggies, Olives, Shredded Cheese, Craisins, Avocados, Chopped Fried Bacon, Hard Boiled Eggs, Dressing) x 3

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Peppers, Fruit

Leftovers x 2

Dinners

McDonalds, Chocolate cake with Sprinkles, Ice Cream (Birthday Dinner Choice)

Dinner at a Friend’s House (I’m bringing Butterhorns and Fruit Salad)

Finger Food Fellowship (I’m hosting a large group of church friends. Everyone is contributing by bringing finger foods. I’m making English Muffin Pepperoni Pizzas, Strawberry Bars – recipe from a Taste of Home Cookbook, a Raw Veggie Plate with Dip, and No Bake Cookies)

Burritos (Tortillas, Seasoned Venison Meat, Shredded Cheese Salsa, Shredded Lettuce, Black Olives, Homemade Guacamole. We don’t like sour cream. 🙂), Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower

Turkey Gravy over Rice (using up my last package of cooked turkey in the freezer – I always roast several turkeys over Thanksgiving when we can buy them at low prices), Green Beans, Butterhorns

Venison Roast in the Crockpot, Baked Potatoes, Easy Whole Wheat Muffins (double recipe), Steamed Carrots

Baked Potatoes topped with Fried Bacon and Shredded Cheese, Green Beans, Leftover Easy Whole Wheat Muffins

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Shared Feb 22, 2018 comment

Whole Wheat Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

Published: by Crystal Paine on February 22, 2018 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Looking for a hearty snack or delicious addition to your breakfast table? Look no further than these fabulous whole-wheat banana chocolate chip muffins!

whole wheat banana chocolate chip muffins

Whole wheat banana muffins are the best snack!

Last week, I wanted to use up a bunch of over-ripe bananas. So I took our favorite Banana Bread recipe and made it into muffins instead.

I used whole wheat flour and added chocolate chips — because everything’s better with chocolate, of course! (If you’ve been following for any length of time, you know who much I love to add chocolate to everything!) 😉

They were so delicious… though I won’t tell you how many I ate over the course of a few days! At least I made them with all whole-wheat flour and bananas… so they are totally healthy, right?? 😂

My only regret is that I didn’t make more because they freeze so well!

Ingredients for Banana Muffins

2 cups flour (I used whole-wheat, but you could use all-purpose)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 bananas, mashed
1 cup sugar (I used turbinado)
1/2 cup oil (I used melted coconut oil)
2 eggs
3 Tablespoons milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chocolate chips (optional)

How to Make Whole Wheat Banana Muffins

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF.

2. Grease a 12-cup muffin tin or use paper liners.

3. In a medium bowl, stir together dry ingredients.

4. In a smaller bowl mix sugar, oil, eggs, milk, and vanilla.

5. In another bowl, mash the bananas.

6. Add wet ingredients and mashed bananas to dry ingredients and stir until just combined.

7. Stir in chocolate chips, if desired.

8. Pour mixture into muffin tins and bake in preheated oven for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the bread comes out clean.

9. Cool in pan for a few minutes and then transfer to a wire rack.

10. Enjoy your warm muffins, or cool completely and place in a food storage container for later.

Frequently Asked Questions About Banana Muffins

Can you freeze whole-wheat banana muffins?

Yes, simply let them cool completely and place them in a zip-top bag.

How do you defrost whole-wheat banana muffins after freezing them?

Pull out as many muffins as desired and thaw on the counter for a few hours or defrost them in the microwave for 20-45 seconds.

How ripe should the bananas be for muffins?

Your bananas should be covered all over in brown spots that smell very fragrant. You can wait longer until the bananas are completely brown or even black on the outside for the most flavor.

What are the health benefits of banana muffins?

Banana muffins are a good source of vitamin E, iron, omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, and essential minerals. They also have a good amount of carbohydrates for extra energy!

Recipe

Whole Wheat Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

Author Crystal Paine

Course Breakfast

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 18

Looking for a hearty snack or delicious addition to your breakfast table? Look no further than these fabulous whole-wheat banana chocolate chip muffins!

Ingredients

2 cups whole wheat flour or all purpose
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
4 bananas mashed
1 cup sugar
½ cup coconut oil or vegetable oil
2 eggs
3 Tbsp milk
½ tsp vanilla extract
1 cup chocolate chips optional

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350ºF.
Grease a 12-cup muffin tin or use paper liners.
In a medium bowl, stir together dry ingredients.
In a smaller bowl mix sugar, oil, eggs, vanilla, and milk.
In another bowl, mash the bananas.
Add wet ingredients and mashed bananas to dry ingredients and stir until just combined.
Stir in chocolate chips, if desired.
Pour mixture into muffin tins and bake in preheated oven for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the bread comes out clean.
Cool in pan for a few minutes and then transfer to a wire rack.
Enjoy your warm muffins, or cool completely and place in a food storage container for later.

Notes

Feel free to make a double or triple batch if you have a bunch of bananas

These muffins freeze wonderfully — just let them cool completely and pop them into a freezer bag or storage container with a tight-fitting lid.

Nutrition

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Looking for more ways to use up ripe bananas?

Check out this LONG list of some of my very favorite ideas.

Shared Feb 21, 2018 comment

“I never expected we’d still be living on the same budget — 9 years later!”

Published: by Crystal Paine on February 21, 2018 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Guest post by Katie of Embracing a Simpler Life

Early in our marriage, my husband and I used the cash-envelope system to carefully track each dollar we spent.

I was in grad school, and we were saving to buy a house.

When I quit my job two years later to become a stay-at-home mom we also quit shopping (except for Aldi and clearance at the thrift store), so a simple spreadsheet was an easy budgeting solution.

As one child became two, and as two children became three, we continued working hard to budget, save, earn extra income, and plan. We were thrifty, and yes, it was a strain.

Last year, we moved to a new place, became debt-free, started homeschooling, and my husband gave up the predictability of a salary in favor of pursuing his own businesses. There is less security and much more potential for him now. All our past diligence has opened the door for this move, but it has also put us right back where we’ve always been — on a careful budget.

Currently, we use a budgeting app to track all our spending. We are thrifty, and, if I’m honest, it’s still a strain.

The truth is, I did not expect to be on the exact same budget 9 years into our marriage.

I thought that all our hard work and diligence would have lead to some sort of breakthrough in our monthly spending.
I thought I would be picking out cute clothes for my kids at Target instead of relying on consignment trade-ins.
I thought I would have my house all set up with decorations, organizers, and furnishings, not balancing on the edge of the bathtub to get a near-full-length view of my outfit and shoving kids’ shoes into broken plastic drawers.

However, as I’ve grappled with contentment again (for the umpteenth time) in recent months, I see that my concept of contentment has been rooted in the belief that it would be temporary. I wasn’t prepared to be grateful and happy tracking every dollar for the long haul, I was just sort-of holding my breath until things would be different.

That day hasn’t come.

And so I’ve been thinking. What does it mean to be content, really content, in a socially-connected world filled with beautiful farmhouse kitchens, backyard patios draped with string lights, and beautiful beach vacation photos?

What does it look like to be grateful when life doesn’t meet the perceived status quo?

And actually, I think I’ve figured something out.

For me, I’ve realized that true contentment flows from believing in God for His unseen, eternal promises. You see, when I set my heart on heaven, I am trusting that God has prepared something unspeakably better than anything I could have on this earth.

Ecclesiastes 4:6 says, “Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.” (NIV)

In this life, I run the risk of becoming consumed with the accumulation of more, bigger, and better.

If I’m not careful, the desire for possessions can pull me in like an ocean current, and which could cause me to unintentionally devote my life to acquiring things that could never replace the peace, hope, and joy I’ve found through my contentment in Christ.

I feel the undertow every day.

But here’s the truth:

“More” focused living leads us to encumber ourselves with debt, which in turn prevents us from giving generously to the needs of others. We work extra jobs to afford that mortgage and those upgrades on that new vehicle. We feel we must have two handfuls because they look oh-so appealing, so we toil and chase the wind to have them.

“More” focused living leads us to consume our minds with what we want and how we are going to get it. We devote hours upon hours to dreaming and shopping, either browsing in stores or online. What do we really gain from all our striving after so many wants and desires?

They might make us happy for the moment (they’re not bad in and of themselves at all), but all the pleasure we take in our possessions and experiences is as fleeting as the wind. That new car will soon be stained and scratched; that new furniture will be nicked; that new outfit will cease to delight us, and that vacation, a distant memory.

So, I’m learning what it means to find tranquility in what I do have, and to thank God for it! And I’m learning to allow God to be the guardian of my desires and to trust Him as He guides us down a path of simplicity and trust right now.

Katie Bennett is a blogger and podcaster at Embracing a Simpler Life, and author. Her newly released devotional, Heavenly Minded Mom: 90 Days to Embrace what Matters Most, calls mothers to a new way of seeing life, by seeing it in light of eternity. Get Katie’s free scripture writing plan here: 30 Days to a Heart Set on Heaven.

Shared Feb 20, 2018 comment

Gretchen’s $54 Grocery Shopping Trip and Menu Plan for 4

Published: by Gretchen on February 20, 2018 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Aldi

1 frozen Orange Juice Concentrate – $1.19

1 Unsweetened Applesauce – $1.89

1 Chunk Cheese – $1.79

1 tub Oven Roasted Turkey – $2.39

1 Half & Half – $1.99

1 Oyster Crackers – $0.79

1 Ranch Dressing – $1.29

1 Spaghetti Sauce – $0.99

1 bag Spinach – $1.49

1 pkg Green Peppers – $1.69

1 bag Frozen Chicken Breasts – $5.99

1 pkg Flour Tortillas – $0.99

2 dozen Eggs – $1.55 each

1 bag Green Leaf Lettuce – $1.29

1 bag Potatoes – $2.49

1 box Breakfast Bars – $1.79

1 bag Baby Carrots – $0.99

1 bag Vine Tomatoes – $1.49

2 pkg Strawberries – $1.49 each

1 lb Butter – $2.45

1 loaf Bread – $0.89

1 bag Shredded Cheese – $2.99

3.14 lbs Bananas – $1.38

2 Cucumbers – $0.49 each

1 gallon Milk – $2.08

Total: $46.89

Dillons

1 Simple Truth Breakfast Bars – $1.50

1 Old El Paso Dinner Kit – $2.99, used Free e-coupon – Free after coupon

1 Breakstone Cottage Doubles – $1.25 each, used Buy One, Get One Free e-coupon – $0.62 each after coupon

2 Chobani Yogurts – $1.25, used Free printable (no longer available) and Free e-coupon – Free after coupons

1 Hershey’s Gold Bar – $1, used Free e-coupon (no longer available) – Free after coupon

1 Kroger Frozen Cauliflower – $1.19, used Free e-coupon – Free after coupon

2 Kroger Snack Medleys – $1 each, used $0.50/2 e-coupon – $0.75 each after coupon

1 Kroger Potato Chips – $1.25

1 Kroger Kettle Chips – $1.39 used $0.50/1 e-coupon – $0.89 after coupon

1 Kroger Brown Sugar – $0.99

1 Kroger Unbleached Flour – $1.29, used $0.40/1 e-coupon – $0.89 after coupon

1 Old El Paso Green Chilies – $1.49, used Free e-coupon – Free after coupon

1 Old El Paso Taco Seasoning – $0.85, used Free e-coupon – Free after coupon

1 Old El Paso Refried Beans – $1.59, used Free e-coupon – Free after coupon

Used $0.25/1 Ibotta rebate

Total after coupons and rebate: $8.01

Total for both stores: $54.90

Menu Plan for This Week

Breakfasts

Cereal x 3

Eggs & Spinach x 3

Waffles, Eggs, Juice

Lunches

Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, Veggies, Chips x 2

Cheese, Crackers, Fruit, Veggies x 2

Cheese Quesadillas, Applesauce, Carrots

Leftovers x 2

Dinners

Snacks (We’re having friends over for a game night and everyone is bringing snack food. I’m making chocolate chip cookies, cupcakes, a veggie tray, tortilla roll-ups and chips.)

Spaghetti, Homemade Bread, Green Beans

Salad Bar, Banana Muffins

Papa John’s Pizza (We’re having friends for dinner and I decided to just make it easy on myself.):)

Venison Roast, Potatoes, Carrots

Tacos, Steamed Cauliflower

Grilled Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Steamed Peas

Shared Feb 19, 2018 comment

What I Read & Watched This Past Week

Published: by Crystal Paine on February 19, 2018 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Welcome to my weekly Book-ish post where I share what I’ve been reading and watching recently. If you missed it, you can see my Reading Goals for 2018 and 44 Books I Plan to Read This Year.

What I Read Last Week

I read Sisters First — the story of Jenna and Barbara Bush. I found their accounts of growing up as the granddaughters of a President and then the daughters of a President to be really fascinating. They did a great job of sharing stories of the wonderful things, hard things, and crazy things that come along with being in this position.

The book also did a great job of shying away from politics and just focusing on telling the stories of what it was actually like to grow up in their world. I found it interesting, intriguing, and inspiring and was glad I read the book.

What I Watched Last Week

Jesse and I went on a date and saw Black Panther. It was very different from the other Marvel movies and we didn’t enjoy it as much. It was okay, but definitely not one that I would say is worth seeing in the theater — unless you have MoviePass! 😉 It was fun to see all of the African undertones, since we love South Africa and the people there.

We also went to see The Post — a movie I have wanted to see for some time. It was a fascinating look at some parts in history that I actually didn’t know a whole lot about (Jesse, on the other hand, knew pretty much ALL of it… but I call him a walking encyclopedia ;)). While it wasn’t 100% historically accurate, there was a lot of truth and accuracy in it and I thought the film was well done. Not a must-see movie, but well done and one that I was happy I watched.

(By the way, we got MoviePasses for Christmas and we have fallen in love with them. You just can’t beat $10 per month to be able to see one movie of your choice every single day. Read my in-depth review of MoviePass here.)

How I Find Time to Read

People are always asking me how I find time to read. Honestly, it’s because I love to read, because I’ve chosen to prioritize it, because I don’t have a lot of other hobbies, and because I can’t not read. Also, when you love something, you usually can find ways to get creative to find time to fit it in — even if it’s in the little nooks and crannies of life.

I wrote a post on 3 ways to find more time to read — even when life is busy. And here are 7 more ways to find time to read.

What did you read and watch this past week? Any books or movies you really think I need to read or watch?

(Note: The links in this post are affiliate links, and we will be compensated when you make a purchase by clicking through our links. Read our disclosure policy here.)

Shared Feb 19, 2018 comment

Ever dreamed of starting a blog? Sign up for my FREE class!

Published: by Crystal Paine on February 19, 2018 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Do you want to start a blog but you feel overwhelmed by all the steps involved? Do you wish someone could hold your hand and walk you though the process?

I’m SO excited that I’ll be offering another highly popular LIVE online blogging class on Tuesday, February 20, 2018!

In this class, I’ll teach you:

The one habit you should begin today if you want to set up a successful blog (it might surprise you!)
The few key things you need to have in place to get your blog up and running (it’s a much shorter list than you might expect!)
5 simple ways people are making a part-time or full-time income from blogging (& how you can, too!)
Plus, I’ll be hosting a LIVE Q&A at the end of the class to answer your burning questions!

This class will be packed with information, instruction, and inspiration. If you’ve ever thought about starting a blog or you are in the process of setting up a blog, this class is for you!

I’ll be hosting one LIVE class at 12 p.m. CT/1 p.m. EST on February 20, 2018. The class will be around 45 minutes long (plus the time for live Q&A at the end!).

Register for my LIVE Blogging Class for FREE here!

P.S. Can’t make the live class? Go ahead and register because I’ll send you a replay link once the class is finished!

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

Click here to download!

Shared Feb 18, 2018 comment

A Peek Into Our Life This Past Week (+ an update on our goals for 2018)

Published: by Crystal Paine on February 18, 2018 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Welcome to my weekly post I share a peek into our lives, talk about things I’m loving, share links to interesting articles or helpful ideas I’ve collected throughout the past week, and just talk about whatever is on my heart! ?

It was a full week — prepping to move this Friday, I taught on Family of Origin and Genograms at large group at Discipleship Group, it was History Week at Kaitlynn’s school, Science Fair at Kathrynne’s school, Jesse was sick, we had guests over, Jesse and I had a date night, I went out for an evening with a friend, we’re in the middle of some big blog projects, and one of my team members resigned which required some effort and extra hours on my part to re-arrange things and find a temporary replacement.

And yet, my heart felt calm. Because even though my house might not be as clean as I’d like, even though I might have moments that feel overwhelming, I know that God’s got this!

And over and over again, He continues to show up and show Himself strong.

Also, I’m making sure to do the best I can to savor some quiet every day, accept help, give myself grace, and take time to replenish & refresh myself.

“Lord, thank you that even when I don’t feel like I am enough, thank you that You are enough. That in You I am enough and that I can rest in You and Your Enough-ness even when life feels a little on the crazy side.”

Kaitlynn and I have been writing notes back and forth this week and leaving them in different places in the house! 🙂

This boy, I love him and his cheerful attitude and extroverted energy so much!

We move this week so we had fun going furniture shopping/looking this past week!

We had friends over for dinner on Friday night and made this Crockpot Taco Soup — it was so easy to make and it was really yummy! We served it with cheese and sour cream and chips.

Kathrynne was awarded Student of the Month at Jiu Jitsu this month!

Kathrynne made the decision to switch to a different Christian school in January.

Switching schools in the middle of the year as a 7th grader is hard enough, but the change also meant she was saying goodbye to some of her very closest friends at her old school.

I’ve watched her walk through this season with so much maturity. She has grown in her trust, in her walk with God, and in her confidence through this.

And we couldn’t be prouder of the young woman she is becoming! I loved watching her ROCK her Tornado Simulator booth at the Science Fair.

The last picture above is my favorite — Kathrynne hugging her Daddy as we were getting ready to leave the Science Fair.

I’m just loving having a teenager! ❤️

Want to try out Rockbox — a jewelry rental service? Watch my latest unboxing video and learn how to sign up for a completely free month!

Have you always wanted to start a blog? Well, maybe it’s time to stop dreaming and just begin! To help you out, I’m hosting a FREE online blogging class on Tuesday and I’d love for you to come!

This class is specifically for you if you are thinking of starting a blog, want to start a blog, or are in the process of starting a blog. In this class, I’ll teach you:

*The one habit you should begin today if you want to set up a successful blog (it might surprise you!)
*The few key things you need to have in place to get your blog up and running (it’s a much shorter list than you might expect!)
*5 simple ways people are making a part-time or full-time income from blogging (& how you can, too!)
*Plus, I’ll be hosting a LIVE Q&A at the end of the class to answer your burning questions!

This class will be packed with information, instruction, and inspiration. If you’ve ever thought about starting a blog or you are in the process of setting up a blog, this class is for you! Sign up for this free class here.

2018 Goals Update

Personal Goals

1. Read 100 non-self-help books that will build me up/encourage me/inspire me/recharge me. (Fiction/story-driven/biographies/inspirational living books/devotionals.) See the list of 44 books I plan to read this year.

**Progress: 12 books read so far this year

2. Read through the entire Bible.

**Progress: I’m using the Robert Murray M’Cheyne plan and am all caught up— yay!

3. Write one handwritten note to someone every week.

**Progress: 9 notes written so far this year

4. Run 500 miles.

**Progress: 70 miles run so far

Marriage Goal

~~5. Go on an overnight trip with Jesse without the kids.~~Jesse and I went to NYC together in January.

Family Goals

6. Read 10 books aloud with the kids.

**Progress: I’ve finished one book so far.

7. Take the kids to South Africa.

**Progress: We nailed down dates for our trip this past week.

8. Go on a family road trip.

Financial Goals

9. Save up to pay cash to finish off an office for me and workout room for Jesse and me in the basement in our new house.

10. Replenish our Emergency Fund (we dipped into it to replace my car when it got totaled because of the carpet beetle infestation.)

Business Goals

11. Increase our gross income from the business by 8%.

12. Launch 5 new courses.

**Progress: 4 Weeks to a More Productive Life launched in January and Content Creation 101 launched in February.

Links You Should Check Out:

Hosting My First Come As You Are Night for Local Women — I got so many emails from people asking for more information about the Come As You Are Night I hosted at my house last week, so I wrote a really detailed post about the entire night, including the invitation I sent out, the agenda of the evening, and more.

What I Read & Watched This Past Week — I read one book that I’m positive is going to make it to my Top 10 list for 2018!

Why I Started Doing 10 Push-Ups a Day — “I thought it was a great idea and something I might enjoy doing… but the reality is that 50 push-ups is a whole lot of push-ups, especially for someone like me who hasn’t really done many push-ups in the last year or two. (Okay, who am I kidding? I don’t think I’ve done ANY push-ups this past year!)”

Shared Feb 17, 2018 comment

Slow Day: Week 7

Published: by Crystal Paine on February 17, 2018 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Welcome to my weekly Slow Day post, inspired by Monica from The Homespun Heart. My Word for 2018 is Slow and, in the spirit of that word, I’m taking one day each week (Wednesday) off — I’ll be unplugged and offline and plan to move at a slower pace, take time to do things that refresh me, and just really focus on being present and savoring the moment.

Each Saturday, I’ll be sharing a photographic peek into my Slow Day — and I’ll let the pictures almost 100% speak for themselves, instead of giving many explanations. Enjoy a little peek into our lives!

I spoke at Discipleship Group on Wednesday morning about Family of Origin and Genograms. Here were some of my notes/my genogram poster board that I brought as an example. I had them set out the night before so I would remember to bring everything I needed to bring.

Kaitlynn and I have been leaving little notes to each other around the house. 🙂 I woke up to find this one on the mirror.

I love this man so much! Here he is helping make lunches for the kids before school.

We kept Valentine’s Day super simple this year — and we just bought Dollar Tree Valentine’s this year.

Silas made this beautiful Valentine for Jesse and I and gave it to us on Valentine’s morning.

I made Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins using this Banana Bread recipe.

It was a perfect evening snuggling and watching Olympic figure skating.

Shared Feb 17, 2018 comment

Brigette’s $71 Grocery Shopping Trip, Zaycon Order and Weekly Menu Plan for 6

Published: by Brigette on February 17, 2018 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Aldi

1 pkg Smoked Turkey – $2.25

1 pkg Sliced Pepperoni – $1.95

1 jug Pancake Syrup – $1.29

2 gallons Whole Milk – $2.72

1 32-oz carton Half and Half – $1.59

1 8-oz carton Heavy Whipping Cream – $1.55

1 32-oz carton Greek Yogurt (for some reason, this isn’t on my receipt)

2 64-oz cartons Orange Juice – $3.18

1 pkg Applesauce Cups – $1.15

1 can Olive Oil Cooking Spray – $1.35

2 cans Chicken Breast – $3.10

1 12-oz bag Shredded Cheddar Cheese – $2.15

1 pkg Strawberries – $1.49

1 bag Broccoli Crowns – $1.05

1 3-lb bag Lemons – $1.89

2 pkgs Romaine Hearts – $3.58

1 bag Zucchini – $1.45

2 pkgs Baby Carrots – $1.50

1 2-lb bag Carrots – $0.79

1 bunch Bananas (2.39lbs @ $0.25/lb) – $0.60

1 16-oz bag Mini Cucumbers – $1.75

2 Pineapple – $1.78

1 bag Mini Sweet Peppers – $1.69

2 16-oz cartons Egg Whites – $3.98

1 bag Pretzels – $0.85

1 jar Onion Powder – $0.99

1 jar Garlic Powder – $0.99

1 24-oz carton Cottage Cheese – $1.75

1 pkg Hot Dog Buns – $0.59

1 pkg Hamburger Buns – $0.59

1 loaf Sandwich Bread – $0.65

1 Dark Chocolate Bar – $1.99

1 32-oz pkg Spaghetti – $1.09

Total: $53.32

Zaycon

For several years now, I have been buying almost all of my chicken, ground beef, and ground turkey from Zaycon. It’s no secret I’m in love with their quality meat and affordable prices!

This is my first time purchasing their Premium Hickory Smoked Bacon, and it is fantastic! I’ve been wanting to “splurge” on buying their bacon for awhile, but I’ve been waiting to save up enough referral credits. It did not disappoint! 🙂 It comes frozen in 12 3-lb packages, which makes it super easy to throw in the freezer with no packaging work on my end. We love the hickory flavor of the thick-cut slices.

If you haven’t tried Zaycon before, I highly recommend it! As an added bonus, they offer regular sales and promotions, as well as a wonderful referral program.

36lbs of Bacon (@$3.79lb) = $136.44, minus $27.29 (a promo/sale code they were offering) = $109.15

~Used $109.15 of Referral Credits

Total: FREE

Harris Teeter

1 28-oz pkg Seapak Popcorn Shrimp – $3.49, used $0.75/1 Seapak Product – 2-11-18 SS; Includes 8 oz or Larger Only (exp. 04/08/18) (doubled) – $1.99 after coupon

1 pkg Fresh Spinach, reduced – $1.00

1 head Cauliflower – $1.99

1 tub Spring Mix, reduced – $1.00

1 jar Peanut Butter – $1.00

1 bag Eight O’ Clock Coffee Beans – $2.89, used $1.00/1 printable – $1.89 after coupon

1 tub Arla Cream Cheese Spread – $2.99, used $2.99 evic coupon – FREE after coupon

1 24-oz tub Cottage Cheese – $2.69

5 cans Libby’s Green Beans (B2G3) – $2.78

1 bag Red Grapes (2.50lbs @ $0.99/lb) – $2.48

1 64-oz carton Almond Breeze – $2.50, used $0.75/1 Blue Diamond Chilled Almond Breeze Almondmilk – 2-11-18 SS; Includes 64 oz or Larger Only (exp. 04/15/18) – $1.00 after coupon

Total after Coupons: $17.82

Grocery Total for the Week: $71.14

Weekly Menu Plan

Breakfasts

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

Fried/Scrambled/Boiled Eggs, Cereal, Oatmeal, Fruit, Yogurt, Toast

(I didn’t buy any cereal or eggs this week in hopes that we will use up some of the random half-empty cereal boxes that have been regularly ignored for weeks now, as well as a few dozen eggs that have past their “sell-by” date!)

Lunches

Turkey Sandwiches, Carrots, Pineapple x 2

Baked Potato Bar (Broccoli, Bacon, Cottage Cheese, Shredded Cheese, Butter), Grapes x 2

Build-Your-Own-Tossed Salad (Romaine, Spring Mix, Fresh Spinach, Chopped Fresh Veggies, Craisins, Chicken, Shredded Cheese, Hard Boiled Eggs, Homemade Dressing) x 2

Leftovers

Dinners

Popcorn Shrimp, Mashed Potatoes, Tossed Salad

Spaghetti Alla Carbonara (family recipe that is similar to this), Homemade French Bread, Green Beans

Venison Roast in the Crockpot, Steamed Carrots, Baked Potatoes, Fluffy Cream Cheese Biscuits

Grilled Chicken, Roasted Cauliflower, Easy Whole Wheat Muffins, Strawberries

Night out with Girl Friends (for me; the rest of the family will probably use McDonald’s gift cards the children got from their grandparents for Valentine’s Day)

Homemade Pepperoni Pizza, Tossed Salad

Venison Bacon Burgers, Macaroni and Cheese, Sauteed Zucchini

Shared Feb 16, 2018 comment

GetReferred.com: Earn more money from referrals on your rewards sites!

Published: by Crystal Paine on February 16, 2018 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Do you love rewards sites and wish you could get more people to sign up underneath you — so that you can ultimately earn more credit or money?

Referrals are one of the easiest and quickest ways to quickly accrue points or credits on rewards sites. And if you’re not a blogger or someone with a large online presence/following, it can sometimes be difficult to take advantage of referral credits.

I’ve had dozens of readers come to me over the years asking how they can earn more through referrals without being a blogger. And that’s why I am SO excited to tell you about GetReferred.com!

{This is not a sponsored post, and I do not get referral or affiliate credit when you sign up. I’m just genuinely excited about this opportunity for my readers, so I wanted to share it with you!}

I think GetReferred.com could be a game changer for earning referral credits to sites like Swagbucks, Stitch Fix, Birchbox, Ibotta, Rakuten (formerly Ebates), Groupon, and SO many more!

Here’s how to get more referrals:

Go here to register for a GetReferred.com account.
Once you’re logged in, click on the “submit a code” button up top.
Select the company from the dropdown menu.
Paste your referral link in the box and hit the “submit” button.
Do this as many times as you’d like for all of the various websites/companies you have referral links for. (They offer a HUGE selection of companies!)
Look under “my account” to see all of the codes you’ve submitted, plus how many times they’ve been viewed by other users.

But that’s not all! If you’re looking to sign up for a website or service that you know has referral perks, but you don’t have anyone to sign up under, you can use GetReferred.com to sign up under a stranger.

Here’s how to find a referral to sign up under:

Log-in to your GetReferred.com account.
Search for the company, website, or service you’d like to sign up for.
Click on “get referral” once the site pops up.
It will auto-populate a referral link for you to sign up under, so that you get your sign-up bonus for that particular site (and that person gets a random referral bonus, too!)

In a nutshell, GetReferred.com is a community sharing website for referral links. It’s a win-win! You can find referrals to sign up under plus get credit for people who sign up under you.

There are some tricks to getting “seen” more often when people are searching for referral links to sign up under. Once you’re logged in, you can click on the little trophy icon up top to see how often your codes are being seen and complete achievements to be seen more often.

Go here to sign up for GetReferred.com and start earning referral rewards at your favorite sites!

I’d love to know! Have any of you ever tried this site? What has your experience been?

Building community and making new friendships can be scary! But overcoming that fear and stepping out bravely can lead to beautiful relationships in life!

Shared Feb 15, 2018 comment

Hosting My First Come as You Are Night for Local Women

Published: by Crystal Paine on February 15, 2018 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

One of my big hopes for 2018 was that I would get brave enough to stop waiting for the invitations, and start being the initiator.

Because of past rejection and insecurities, initiation is outside my comfort zone and there are a lot of fears involved for me. But I’m tired of sitting on the sidelines of community and missing out on beautiful relationships. I’m ready to start reaching out, initiating, and opening the door of my heart and home more — despite the awkwardness and fear that is there for me.

So, with this in mind, I put it out there on the internet the first week of January asking if anyone lived in the Nashville area who was craving community with other women who wanted to live intentionally. If so, I asked them to message me.

The Invitation

I had no idea if I’d hear from anyone at all or maybe a dozen people, but I was excited to see where it led.

Well, guess what? I ended up hearing from at least 100 women!! Because so many women responded, I asked everyone who contacted me to fill out a form to share more details about themselves and had them sign a commitment form, as well. (I did this because I wanted to narrow down the list to people who really wanted to go deep in relationships and were willing to put themselves out there and take initiative, as well.)

Here’s what the commitment statement said:

Yes, I am interested in being part of a community of women who are committed to authentic relationship.

In this spirit I commit to the following:

√ I’m willing to be honest and vulnerable.
√ To go first.
√ To reach out.
√ To trust other women.
√ To not gossip.
√ To keep conversations confidential.
√ To love extravagantly.
√ To believe the best.
√ To listen and ask questions.
√ To be gracious when there are differences of opinion and belief.
√ To show up fully and bravely.
√ To be a safe space for other women.

Of the initial 100+ people who contacted me, 50 women filled out the form! I invited those women to a Come As You Are Night. (I shamelessly stole this idea from the pre-release copy I got to read of Just Open the Door by Jen Schmidt.)

The Email

Here’s part of the email invite I sent out:

Because of the incredible and overwhelming response, my vision for what this is going to look like has changed some. I had initially pictured that maybe 5-10 women might be interested. Instead, there were dozens and dozens and dozens of women who answered my initial post and over 40 of you who filled out the Google form.

I realize that God might have something bigger here than my initial idea of one small gathering of women who meet on a monthly basis; I think maybe He’s opening the door for there to be multiple groups (maybe one hosted by you!) across the Nashville area!

So here’s what I’m thinking: I’d like to invite all of you who signed up on the Google form to a Come As You Are Night on February 9, 2018 at 7 p.m. It’s going to be hosted at XXXX.

Wear your comfy clothes (yoga pants or sweats or whatever you feel comfortable in!), bring a super easy snack or drink (whatever you have on hand or something that’s super simple), and come just as you are — without needing to pretend or perform or please or impress. Just be exactly who are, short-comings and struggles and all. 🙂

We’ll gather and get to know one another and we’ll share our hearts and we’ll talk about community and friendship. And yes, there will be questions and conversation starters that everyone will be asked and I’ll encourage you to share vulnerably with the women who are there. (You filled out the Google form saying you were willing to be authentic and vulnerable and go first so I’m going to hold you all to that! ;))

My desire for this evening is that we’ll all be brave and be willing to share openly and, that by doing so, we’ll find some connections and community with other women. Ultimately, my hope is that we’ll all leave with the names and numbers of at least a few new friends that we will plan to connect with on a deeper level in the weeks and months to come.

And 23 women (most whom I had never met and who had never met each other!) showed up at our house for the first Come As You Are night. These brave women showed up not know what to expect or who was going to be there.

The Agenda

The night was filled laughter, good food, amazing conversations, and incredible openness.

For those who have asked for details on the agenda, I started the evening by sharing my vision to connect women, to encourage women to get to know people in their local area, to encourage women to build authentic community, to be intentional and vulnerable.

I shared how my hope for this night was that people would connect with at least a few women in a deeper way and that they might even leave with the names and contact information of at few women that they would plan to reach out to personally and invite over to their home or invite out to coffee in the next week or two — and maybe that become good friends in the coming months!

I then had everyone go around and introduce themselves — sharing their name, where they live in the Nashville area, and telling us one interesting thing about themselves.

The Questions

After everyone introduced themselves, I had a list of 8 questions that I put together and we broke into groups of two and talked about one of the questions for 5 minutes and then moved on to a different person/different question.

Here are the details of this from my notes (for those who like specifics! And yes, I had very specific notes for the evening — because that’s how I roll!)

7:50 p.m. — In an effort to help us all go deeper in relationships tonight and start being a little more authentic and vulnerable, we’re going to do a fun exercise — I have a few questions that I am going to have each of you answer… however, instead of having you share with the entire group — because I know that can be scary and intimidating, I’m going to have you turn the to person next to you and answer the question.

I’ll give you a few minutes and I want to encourage you to ask followup questions, if you have time. Ask why, dig deeper, encourage the person next to you to share as much as you feel like they are comfortable sharing. Don’t be afraid to step a little out of your comfort zone in the questions that you ask.

Remember: This is a safe place. And the more you are willing to share authentically, the more opportunity there is to develop relationships. And great questions are the way to open doors to stronger relationships.

Question #1: Where did you live in grade school and what was your house like? (I went first and demonstrated how I could answer this question. I did this with the first few questions so that women had a little bit of time to think of their answers!)

Trade places with people

Question #2: What is your favorite thing to do in your free time?

Trade places with people

Question #3: What is one of the wildest things you’ve done as an adult?

Trade places with people

Question #4: What is your greatest fear?

Trade places with people

Question #5: What was one of the happiest moments of your life?

Trade places with people

Question #6: What is one of the biggest obstacles you’ve had to overcome in your life?

Trade places with people

Question #7: When was the last time you cried and why?

Trade places with people

Question #8: What are you celebrating right now?

We ended up going over the 5-minute mark for most of the question/answer time (I love that I had trouble getting the women to stop talking!), so we only got through 7 of the questions before it was past 9 p.m. and I wanted to make sure to respect everyone’s time. It was a great way to go deep in relationships pretty quickly and to get to know a number of women in the room in a short span of time.

A big thank you to my friend, Melissa, for all her help with pulling last night off and being my extroverted sidekick! And thank you so much to Jen for inspiring me to stop waiting to be invited and to start being the initiator!

I had no idea how much I was going to fall in love with this hospitality thing! I’m already looking forward to planning another night soon!

Tshanina Peterson attended the event and made a video sharing about how it impacted her life and she gave me permission to share it here in hopes that it would challenge some of you to step outside your comfort zone and stretch yourself, too!

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How I Find Time to Read

What did you read and watch this past week? Any books or movies you really think I need to read or watch?

2018 Goals Update

Personal Goals

Marriage Goal

Family Goals

Financial Goals

Business Goals

Aldi

Harris Teeter

Weekly Menu Plan

Breakfasts

Lunches

Dinners

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Whole wheat banana muffins are the best snack!

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Whole Wheat Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

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Aldi

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Menu Plan for This Week

Breakfasts

Lunches

Dinners

What I Read Last Week

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How I Find Time to Read

What did you read and watch this past week? Any books or movies you really think I need to read or watch?

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

2018 Goals Update

Personal Goals

Marriage Goal

Family Goals

Financial Goals

Business Goals

Links You Should Check Out:

Aldi

Harris Teeter

Weekly Menu Plan

Breakfasts

Lunches

Dinners

Here’s how to get more referrals:

Here’s how to find a referral to sign up under:

The Invitation

The Email

The Agenda

The Questions

It’s amazing what happens when you just open the door! Who can you reach out to today?

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