Jamerrill has a great post up sharing about her Large Family Freezer Cooking Session.
If you have a large family, I think you’ll be inspired by this post! She made 57 meals in 20 hours of freezer cooking!
Summer Bucket List
Classic View
Grid View
I’m changing my morning routine… again! :)
I think I need to overhaul my morning routine… or at least give it a great big tweak. (The word “tweak” feels a lot more doable and grace-filled than “overhaul”, so I think we’ll go with that!)
You see, my mornings have changed a lot this past year since our kids are in three different schools with three different start times. In addition, we recently moved around 10 minutes further away from their schools.
So, I feel like I’ve been re-learning what works for mornings for us and I’m finding a lot of things that aren’t working and a lot of things that are. And now it’s time to go to the drawing board and map out a plan for the rest of the school year and for summer.
Great morning routines never just happen; they require intention and thought and effort. But they are SO worth the effort because a great morning routine starts your well and a day that starts well often continues and ends well.
One of the things that helps me to plan a good morning routine is to decide how much time I have to invest (when do I want to/need to be up by) and what the most important tasks are that I want to accomplish.
For me, I know that I can’t get up any earlier than 5:30 a.m. (I need 7+ hours of sleep every single night) and we need to be out the door by 7:15 a.m. with lunches, backpacks, homework ready, in order to comfortably get to all three schools by their drop-off times.
I also know that, ideally, I want to have my workout done, my Bible read, my shower taken, and my hair fixed before then. I also know that I want to allow 15 minutes or so to be available to the kids for whatever they might need — a listening ear, help with making a lunch, help with a last-minute project, help finding shoes, etc.
So, over the course of the next 2 weeks, I’m going to be working on tweaking my routine and our family’s routine so that it serves us better. We are all craving a little more consistency in the morning and I know that a good morning routine is what will do it for us.
Would you like to join me in this journey? Could your mornings use some tweaking, too?
Well, in case you missed my earlier announcement, beginning on Monday, I’m going to be hosting a private Facebook Community dedicated to helping you (and ME!) structure our mornings so that we start our days more calmly and successfully.
This coaching group is called Make Over Your Mornings LIVE and we’ll be walking through my entire Make Over Your Mornings course but in a live format.
Click here to read more about it.
Each day, we’ll watch the video of the day (included with the course) and read the workbook section for the day (also included with the course) and then we’ll check in on Facebook with the results from the daily project (listed in your workbook & also on Facebook).
I’ll be journeying through this with you and cheerleading you, as well as sharing how I’m working on tweaking our morning routine, as well.
This private Facebook Community be a place for daily accountability and cheerleading for all of us and I can’t wait to get to interact with you in a more personal way there and cheer you on as you overhaul your mornings (or just tweak them a bit!).
In addition to the daily accountability on in the Facebook Community, I’m also going to be doing 3 one-hour LIVE coaching sessions.
We’ll go deeper into the material, I’ll share some of my best time management tricks and tips, I’ll share what I’m learning as I’m seeking to tweak our mornings, and I’ll answer your questions and give you feedback and encouragement tailored to your specific situation.
It’s going to be amazing and I can’t wait to go through this together — not only so I can encourage you as you work on your mornings, but so that our family’s morning can improve, as well!
So, to recap, when you sign up, you’ll get:
- Lifetime access to Make Over Your Mornings, including the PDF workbook, daily lessons, and daily videos!
- Exclusive access to the Make Over Your Mornings LIVE Facebook group where you can collaborate with others who are making over their mornings, too!
- LIVE access to me during our 2 weekly Facebook Live coaching sessions designated to help walk you through the course!
- PLUS, 1 bonus Ask Me Anything live session so you can get all of your burning questions answered!
How Much Does It Cost?
I wanted to make this opportunity really affordable, so we’re offering it for just $15 if you’ve purchased Make Over Your Mornings in the past (making it just about $1 per day!) or just $25 if you’ve not purchased the course before (that’s a $7 discount off the usual price!).
So, what are you waiting for? It all starts on Monday and I don’t want you to miss out! Plus, I’m excited to have your accountability as I work on tweaking my mornings, too!
>> Sign up for Make Over Your Mornings LIVE! <<
I hope you can join us! Registration closes on Monday evening!
P.S. In this coaching group, I’m not going to give you formulas or one-size-fits-all plans… because I just don’t think it’s possible to fit everyone into one sort of box or plan. Instead, I’ll be teaching you how you can take the principles and apply them to your real, everyday life — no matter what your season or circumstance!
How I Overcame My Fear of Hospitality
(Note: This post was sponsored by (in)courage. All opinions are my own. Read our disclosure policy here.)
In fact, I told myself for a long time that I’m an introverted person who is a homebody and who doesn’t host things or initiate. And by telling myself this, I had convinced myself that hosting and initiating weren’t my gifts or my personality.
It was safer to wait to let other people do the inviting. It was safer to convince myself I wasn’t the type to step out, step up, initiate, or lead.
But all that changed when I read Just Open the Door by Jen Schmidt. It’s a book written specifically for people like me who feel so awkward about the whole hospitality thing.
If you feel like you aren’t a good cook or you think your house isn’t nice enough or you don’t feel like you’re organized enough or you think you don’t have room to host people or a dozen other excuses… and yet you are also craving deep community and authentic relationships, this book is for you.
Just Open the Door will show you that no matter the size of your home or your budget and no matter your current season of life, there is a way to show hospitality. And, you’ll learn just how big of an impact opening your home and door and life can have — not just in other’s lives, not just in your kids’ lives, but in your own heart and life.
That has definitely been true for me! Let me tell you a little about it…
The Big Commitment I Made in 2018
After reading a pre-release copy of Just Open the Door in December of 2017, I felt stirred to step way outside my comfort zone and commit to opening up our home every single week in 2018.
I had no idea how that was going to transform my life!
Just for fun, I counted up and, since January 1, we have hosted at least 135 people in our home and have opened up our home at least 22 different times! All of that in three months — and we moved during that time period, too!
(And that doesn’t count the many lunches and coffees and dinners we’ve initiated or said yes to or initiated with new friends that didn’t happen at our house!)
Some of these were people we knew well. Some we had never met before. But in every case, I didn’t regret opening up our door and saying, “Come as you are.”
I’ve fostered many new and beautiful relationships. I’ve deepened old relationships. I’ve learned a lot of new hospitality tips and tricks… and had some funny and memorable fails.
Hospitality Can Look Like Many Different Things
I’m learning that when I start looking for opportunities to exercise hospitality, I begin to see them all around me.
So far, it’s looked like:
- Having my mom and sister stay with us while Jesse was in Peru
- Taking my daughter and her friend out window shopping
- Inviting a number of different friends to coffee and/or lunch while our kids are at school
- Having a friend over for tea
- Planning a sleepover for my daughter and some of her closest friends
- Inviting my blog readers and Instagram followers (most that I had never met!) to come over for a ladies’ get-together
- Ordering pizza and asking friends to come over and join us
- Letting my kids invite their friends over for a playdate
- Inviting friends we’ve known for awhile over for dinner
- Offering to babysit for friends so they can have a date
- Coordinating a dinner out with new friends
- Asking new friends over for dinner
- Inviting my Discipleship Small Group to come over after dinner
- Hosting our Community Group
- Volunteering to open our home to host a get-together someone was planning
- Hosting a birthday party
- Inviting friends with kids the same ages as my kids over to play for the afternoon
For you, it might look completely different. But no matter your stage or circumstance or season of life, there is a way that you can reach out and open your door — even if it’s just opening up the door of your heart by inviting friends to have a picnic at the park or inviting a friend to join you for a walk (see more of my ideas for Hospitality on a Budget here).
You Don’t Have to Be a Great Cook to Be Hospitable!
I’ve discovered that I don’t have to be a great cook or decorator or party planner to be great at welcoming people into our home. Some nights, I didn’t have time to offer much more than takeout pizza or a simple crockpot meal. But we still had a great evening!
As I’m learning, hospitality isn’t about the food you serve or the home you have or the table decor or the seating arrangement, it’s about opening the door and welcoming people into your real, imperfect life.
It’s about letting people know that they are seen, heard, cared for, and loved. It’s about just opening your door!
I’m learning that it begins with a simple willingness to say yes and go first. To be the one to get brave and say, “Hey, I don’t know you very well, but would you like to grab coffee with me?”
OR, “I know you don’t know me that well, but you just moved here and don’t have a lot of support. Can I babysit your kids so you could have a date night with your husband?”
OR, “My daughter is loving getting to know your daughter at school. Could I pick her up to come over to our house for the afternoon after school?”
Be Willing to Go First & Be the Initiator
The more that I open up my door, the more that I want to open it up. And the more I’m realizing how much THIS is where real relationships and community develops.
You have to experience the awkward in friendship in order to experience the awesome in friendship.
You have 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.
Those seeds of friendship, when watered and nurtured and fostered and tended to, will grow into a least some strong relationships and friendships. It’s so worth the effort!
Stop Feeling Awkward About Hospitality
Because of how much Just Open The Door has changed my life and changed me as a person, so many of you have asked me how you can get your hands on this book. I am thrilled to let you know that it is finally available to order!
This book is SO encouraging for those fearful of hospitality and hosting. It shows you how hospitality is so much more than a physical space and starts with simply opening up your heart to let people in.
It gives you practical ways to open up your door and show hospitality — even when you feel like your home is too small or you can’t afford to prepare a fancy four-course meal.
Here’s more about the book from the description:
For many of us, inviting people into our lives and homes feels more like inviting judgment on our entertaining skills and stress on our already maxed-out schedules. But what if you knew that opening your front door had the power to radically change the world? To make an impact and leave a legacy with everyday invitations?
Jen Schmidt has set out to reframe how we think about hospitality and to equip us to walk a road of welcome in our daily lives. Jen knows that every time we choose open-door living—whether in our homes or by taking hospitality on the road just like Jesus—those we invite in get to experience the lived-out Gospel, our kids grow up in a life-lab of generosity, and we trade insecurity for connection.
Just Open the Door is a personal yes-you-can guide to offering the life-changing gift of invitation. Whether you’re a seasoned host looking for renewed inspiration or a nervous newbie not sure where to begin, these personal stories, practical ideas, and poignant insights will give you the confidence you need to see your home as the most likely location for changing the world around you, one open door at a time.
So if you’ve been wanting to open your home (and heart) to others more, but you’ve held back out of fear, I can’t recommend this book enough!
Go here to get your copy of Just Open The Door!
5 Tips For When You Can’t Stop Spending
Guest post from Ashlee of Mom Life Together:
My family keeps close track of our finances. We tithe. We save for our daughter’s education, our retirement and other future expenses. Except for our home, we make every purchase is in cash. In short, we do almost almost everything “right.”
The biggest factor in my financial health is not being able to do all the items listed above… it’s the spending that occurs when I am not emotionally or spiritually healthy.
When too many Amazon boxes show up at our door, my husband will ask why I am upset. It’s obvious to both us that when there is a hole in one area of my life, I try to fill it with new things. Instead of dealing with the issues, I turn to shopping.
Through my journey I have learned a few ways to deal with the hurt/spend connection.
1. Have a written budget.
It’s so important to have a plan for your money. We are fortunate enough that our monthly budget includes a small fund for each family member to use for whatever he or she might need/want. This fund allows me to make extra purchases in moderation. Therefore, I don’t feel deprived or controlled by the budget.
We also have separate categories for items like clothing. I won’t even venture into certain stores if I haven’t saved enough to make a purchase. I am more likely to look at discount or thrift stores so I am not tempted to overspend.
2. Talk to someone about how you are feeling.
I tend to shop more when I’m holding something inside and not letting my feelings come to the surface. I feel less alone and more likely to seek out healthier methods of coping when I can talk to someone — my spouse, a friend, or another support person.
3. Find other activities you enjoy.
One reason I started blogging was because I found myself clicking on promotional emails and shopping whenever I got online. Now, when I get on my computer I have a stronger desire to write than to shop.
I’ve also noticed that my friends and I tend to shop when we get some kid free time. Of course it’s always easier to do the grocery shopping or other errands with that time. However, it’s also easier to go to department or big box stores, too.
Coffee shops have become my favorite kid-free time destination too. Yes, this does involve spending some money, but a $3 coffee fits in my budget a lot easier than a $100+ Target trip!
4. Don’t actually make a purchase.
NOTE: I only recommend this if you have a lot of self control!
Sometimes I enjoy just looking at my favorite websites to see what is available. I will put items in my cart that I never intend to purchase. However, you should know that in a few days you will probably start to receive emails with extra discounts to motivate you to complete your purchase.
5. Find the real solution.
All of the ideas above are just coping mechanisms for over-spending. You need to work on whatever heart issue you are experiencing to really make progress.
Spend time with God, reflecting on the hurt and seek the appropriate help.
If shopping has become an addiction for you (much like drugs or alcohol) it is important that you take your healing journey seriously.
You can be doing all the “right” things financially and on paper but if you are have a hurt that is leading you to overspend, you will never fully achieve financial health without finding a real solution.
Ashlee writes at Mom Life Together. Her hope is that all mothers will find a safe place to share authentically about their journeys without the fear of judgement.
Shared Apr 3, 2018
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Gretchen’s $103 Grocery Shopping Trip & Weekly Menu Plan + Freezer Cooking Day Plan
Gretchen’s $103 Grocery Shopping Trip & Weekly Menu Plan + Freezer Cooking Day Plan
I spent extra money this week as I’m planning to do a big freezer cooking day! I’m hoping to make at least 15 meals to freeze as well as some bread/snack items. I also used Clicklist as I had a bunch of free coupons that were expiring.
Dillons
1 Franks Hot Sauce – $1.49, used Free e-coupon – Free after coupon
1 Kinder Joy Egg – $0.80, used Free e-coupon (no longer available) – Free after coupon
2 bags Kroger Flour – $1.39 each
1 Kellogg’s Pop Tarts – $1.67, used Free e-coupon – Free after coupon
1 Green Salsa – $1.97
2 pkg Chicken Gravy – $0.49 each
1 bag Kroger Brown Rice – $0.89, used $0.40/1 e-coupon – $0.49 after coupon
1 Kroger Ketchup – $1, used $0.40/1 e-coupon – $0.60 after coupon
1 PopChips Nutter Puffs – $2.99, used Free e-coupon AND $4/1 Checkout 51 rebate – Free plus overage after coupon and rebate
1 Promised Land Milk – $3.29, used Free e-coupon – Free after coupon
4 bags (8 oz) Kroger Shredded Cheese – $1.67 each, used 2 $0.85/2 e-coupons – $1.24 each after coupon
1 bag (16 oz) Kroger Shredded Cheese – $3.49, used $0.70/1 e-coupon – $2.79 after coupon
1 Fage Yogurt – $1, used $1/1 e-coupon – Free after coupon
2 Family Size boxes Reese’s Puffs Cereal – $1.79 each
2 Sour Cream – $0.79 each, used $0.50/2 e-coupon – $0.54 each after coupon
1 pkg Blackberries – $0.99
2 pkg Annie’s Mac & Cheese – $1 each
4 pkg Butter – $2.29 each
4.43 lbs Bananas – $2.17
Clicklist Fee: $4.95
Total after coupons and rebates: $34.25
Aldi
2 loaves Bread – $0.85 each
1 pkg Pork Chops – $3.69
1 pkg Hashbrowns – $1.65
3 cans Refried Beans – $0.79 each
4 cans Cream of Chicken/Mushroom Soup – $0.49 each
3 pkg Frozen Chicken Breasts – $5.99 each
1 jar Salsa – $1.49
2 cans Green Beans – $0.44 each
1 can Enchilada Sauce – $1.89
1 can Black Beans – $0.69
1 pkg Grapes – $2.70
7 pkg Flour Tortillas – $0.99 each
1 box Crisp Rice Cereal – $1.19
2 dozen Eggs – $1.77 each, used $0.15 Checkout 51 rebate – $1.69 after rebate
1 bag Baby Carrots – $0.99
2 pkg Steamed Peas – $0.79 each
1 gallon Milk – $1.88
1 pkg English Muffins – $0.99
1 Half & Half – $1.99
1 box Cereal Bars – $1.79
2 Cucumbers – $0.49 each
1 Pineapple – $1.29
1 pkg Frozen Broccoli – $1.19
1 bag Chocolate Chips – $2.79
1 Moo Tubes – $1.55
1 pkg Cream Cheese – $1.29
1 can Pumpkin – $0.79
10 lbs Potatoes – $1.99, used $0.15 Checkout 51 rebate – $1.84 after rebate
Total after rebates: $69.44
Total for all groceries: $103.69
Menu Plan for This Week
Breakfasts
Eggs & Toast x 3
Cereal x 3
English Muffins, Bananas
Lunches
Mac & Cheese, Veggies, PopChips
Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, Fruit x 2
Cheese, Crackers, Fruit, Veggies x 2
Baked Potato Bar
Leftovers
Dinners
Minute Steaks (from my mom), Biscuits, Green Beans
Spaghetti, Steamed Peas, Homemade Bread
Date night (out to eat)
Pancakes, Eggs, Orange Juice
Dinner at friend’s house
Hashbrown Ham Casserole, Steamed Veggies, Fruit Salad
Freezer Cooking Plan
Chicken Black Bean Enchilada Stack
Cool Ranch Shredded Chicken Tacos
Sour Cream Enchiladas
Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
Chocolate Chip Cookies
What I Read & Watched This Past Week
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 This Past Week
I got a beautiful package in the mail right around the time we moved into our new house. In it, was this handwritten note from Dan Miller and this book — Giftology — he highly recommended from John Ruhlin.
I’d never heard of it before, but I have now proceeded to recommend it to multiple people since I finished it. It’s a very quick read, but it packs a punch!
If you have a business, if you are in sales, if you are thinking of building a business, if you are in leadership in your company, or you know someone who is any of those things, I’d recommend checking out this book. The ideas are so good, so inspiring, and so outside-the-box.
A big thank you to Dan Miller for introducing me to John Ruhlin. This is a book I will be thinking about, seeking to put into practice, and recommending to others again and again!
What I Watched This Past Week
Well, I didn’t watch much this past week — other than basketball. And I’m totally cheering for Villanova tonight since I chose them to win the National Championship on our family bracket challenge! 😉
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.)
BLOGGERS: Get our brand-new blogging course!
Just a reminder that the price on this course will go up by $10 at midnight tonight!
People often ask me what I would have done differently if I could go back and start my business again.
In all honesty, the first thing I always say is that I wish I would have set up an email list and starting encouraging people to sign up for it.
By not setting up an email list for many years, I missed out on the opportunity to nurture relationships with hundreds of thousands of people who came to my site. And that meant so much lost revenue and growth for the business.
Then, when I did set up an email newsletter, I didn’t have a good strategy or system in place for it! So again, I missed out on big opportunities to grow my business from my email list.
It’s only been in the last few years that I’ve really gotten intentional about email newsletters and building my email list — and it has paid off in BIG, BIG ways!
I don’t want you to make the same mistake!
I don’t want you to make the same mistakes that I did — and that’s why I created Email List Setup 101!
The goal of this brand-new course is to remove the confusion from the technical side of building your email list so you can start growing your list and increasing your income earning potential — all while building a more personal relationship with your readers.
As one of our beginning blogger courses, Email List Setup 101 includes lessons and video tutorials to teach you how to:
- Choose an email service provider that fits your needs (and your budget!)
- Add an opt-in form on your site so your audience can subscribe to your newsletter!
- Build an email campaign that welcomes your subscriber and increases engagement!
- Create a freebie offer that will increase your sign-ups!
- Foster best practices so your email marketing complies with the CAN-SPAM Act!
- …and much more!
If you would like step-by-step help to get all the technical aspects of your email newsletter set up and running, this course is for you!
LAUNCH WEEK SPECIAL!
Through Monday (April 2, 2018) at midnight, you can get Email List Setup 101 for just $27! After that, the price goes up to $37!
Hurry! This discount is only good for a few days!
Go here to read more and sign up for just $27!
Top Things to Stock Up On in April
Slow Day: Week 13
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!
We don’t have our room set up yet (it’s on the LONG list of house to-do’s!), but at least the bed is made! 😉
Making dinner in the Crock-Pot.
This book has been fantastic so far!
The girls were on Spring Break this past week so we all went to Dave & Buster’s as a family for half price games Wednesday and we had a fierce guys versus girls competition. Sadly, the guys won! 🙁
Not pictured: Dinner with my Discipleship small group girls and tea at Frothy Monkey with a friend. I forgot to get a picture of both!
Shared Mar 31, 2018
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Brigette’s $53 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6
Brigette’s $53 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6
Aldi
1 32-oz carton Half and Half – $1.59
1 gallon Whole Milk – $1.36
1 64-oz carton Unsweetened Almond Milk – $1.89
1 64-oz carton Orange Juice – $1.49
2 16-oz pkgs Egg Whites – $3.98
2 dozen Eggs – $1.96
1 pkg Zucchini – $1.45
1 Cauliflower – $1.89
1 pkg Radishes – $0.59
1 pkg Brussel Sprouts – $1.09
1 Pineapple – $0.79
1 bunch Bananas (3.20lbs @ $0.31/lb) – $0.99
1 3-lb bag Sweet Potatoes – $0.99
1 3-pk Multi-Colored Peppers – $2.49
2 pkgs Romaine Hearts – $3.18
1 16-oz bag Mini Cucumbers – $1.69
1 pkg Baby Carrots – $0.58
2 16-oz bags Fresh Green Beans – $1.88
1 pint Grape Tomatoes – $1.29
1 2-lb bag Shredded Mozzarella Cheese – $4.89
2 16-oz bag Shredded Cheddar Cheese – $4.30
3 1-lb pkgs Butter Quarters – $5.97
1 pkg Hamburger Buns – $0.65
1 pkg Sandwich Bread – $0.65
Total: $46.62
Harris Teeter
1 18-ct pkg Eggs (I was planning on buying the Eggland’s Best eggs which were on sale – but my coupons didn’t end up being a match; so I just picked up the cheapest eggs there as I knew we’d need more than the 2 dozen I bought at Aldi) – $1.79
2 16-oz pkgs Mueller Elbows Pasta – $1.68, used $0.55/2 Mueller’s Pasta or Noodles – 3-18-18 SS; Includes 12 oz or Larger (exp. 04/28/18) (doubled) – $0.58/2 after coupons
2 boxes Mayfield Frozen Ice Cream Treats – $2.98, used 2 $1.00/1 Mayfield Novelty – 3-25-18 RP; Includes 4 ct or Larger (exp. 05/31/18) – $0.82/2 after coupons
1 jar Mrs. Butterworth’s Pancake Syrup – $1.64, used $0.50/1 Mrs. Butterworth’s Lite, Original Or Sugar Free Syrup – 1-7-18 SS (exp. 04/07/18) – $0.64 after coupon
1 box Zing Stevia Packets – $2.00, used $1.50/1 printable – $0.50 after coupon
1 bag Red Grapes (2.65lbs @ $0.99/lb) – $2.62
Total – $6.95
Grocery Total for the Week: $53.57
Weekly Menu Plan
Breakfasts
Everyone is responsible for making/cleaning up their own breakfasts. Choices include:
Cereal, Fruit, Scrambled/Fried/Boiled Eggs, Toast, Veggie Omelets
Bacon, Eggs, Pancakes (First Day of Spring Breakfast)
Lunches
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Pineapple and Grapes, Fresh Veggies x 2
Salad Bar (Romaine, Baked Chicken, Cheese, Craisins, Fresh Veggies and Fruits chopped, Hard Boiled Eggs) x 2
Leftovers
Dinners
Since next week is Spring Break, my husband and I are going on a 2-day getaway while my children stay with friends. We will be eating out, and our children’s meals will be provided, so I’ve only planned five days of meals for this week.
Dinner with Friends (I’m making Make-Ahead Butterhorns)
Pan-Fried Catfish (from the freezer – I posted about how a friend had given us a large amount of catfish last week), Roasted Cauliflower and Brussel Spouts, Tossed Salad, Sweet Potato Fries
Cheesy Hamburger Macaroni Bake, Green Beans, Make-Ahead Butterhorns
Build-Your-Own-Burritos (Seasoned Ground Turkey Meat, Shredded cheese, Tomatoes, Avocados from last week, Shredded romaine, Salsa, Homemade Tortillas)
Hot Ham and Cheese Sandwiches (ham is from the large ham I purchased last week), Sweet Potato Fries, Roasted Parmesan Zucchini, Green Beans
OVER-SPENDING EVERY SINGLE MONTH?Grab these FREE Budgeting Sheets!
Click here to download!
3 Things to Do When You’re Discouraged About Your Finances
Are you feeling discouraged about your finances? Do you feel like you’ll never get in a better financial place as a family? Does the future seem hopeless because of how difficult things are financially right now?
If that’s how you’re feeling today, I just want to encourage you today with 3 simple things you can do…
1. Remember you’re not alone.
There are millions of other people out there who are struggling financially and find themselves in a difficult place. Even if it feels like you’re the only one in your friend group who is struggling, you are not alone.
I encourage you to find other people you can connect with and identify with. Seek out community locally or find some spaces online — maybe Facebook groups or blogs — where you can connect with other people who are struggling financially.
Doing this will help remind you that you’re not alone, plus you’ll get encouragement and practical tips along the way!
2. Do the best you can do.
It’s so easy to look at someone else and let comparison take root.
I recently shared how we paid cash for our house. It was 15 years in the making of struggling and saving and working hard, but maybe you’ve been struggling for all of those 15 years and still feel just as stuck as ever.
It’s so important to do the best that you can do. Not the best someone else can do. Or the best you could have done 10 years ago. It’s the best you can do right now, in the season of life you’re in.
And then figure out what that looks like for you — this week, today, this hour.
3. Change your perspective.
Instead of thinking about how much you’re struggling, try thinking about what you can do with what you have. Get creative!
I remember when Jesse was in law school, our money was SO tight, and we had no wiggle room in our budget. We had maybe a few extra dollars every few months.
We spent lots of time at the library or park, because it was free. We checked out books and movies. We didn’t even have the money to go to the thrift store, but the library made me feel like I got a chance to shop a little — even though I really wasn’t!
We also worked so hard to stretch our grocery budget as far as we possibly could. Some weeks, we only had $17 to cover groceries for our family. I tried to find anything for free that could help us make a meal.
I turned it into a game and got really, really creative. We found free ways to do things that made us feel like we had breathing room, even when we didn’t.
(I still remember eating PB&J Sandwiches from ingredients we bought at the Dollar Store while we were on our honeymoon! We couldn’t afford to go out to eat, but we still remember our time together and how creative we had to be to make it work — even on our honeymoon!)
I say this to encourage you to find ways to enjoy what you do have during this season!
I can tell you 15 years later that all of the struggle was worth it. And that perspective has given me so much perspective today. I always think, “What can I do where I’m at right now?” I use this perspective to run my business, teach my kids, and live my life.
Changing your perspective can change your entire outlook on life.
Don’t give up. The best is yet to come!
What is your best advice for someone who is discouraged about their finances?
3 Ways to Rock Meatless Meals
Guest post from Steph of Cheapskate Cook:
You probably know that serving at least one meatless meal every week will help save you a lot of grocery money over time. Unfortunately, our family members might not be on-board with a plant-based dinner.
How do you serve meatless meals and still keep the troops happy?
I’ve found 3 easy ways.
1. Add Cheese
I know it’s the easy way out, but adding cheese is almost always a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
Who can resist melting cheese?
We serve it with Meatless Nacho Dip, 5-minute Lentils & Rice, and Cheesy Lentil Pie.
Don’t forget classics like homemade pizza and 1-Pot Macaroni & Cheese.
2. Cook What Your Family Loves
If you try a meatless recipe that your family loves, SAVE IT. In many cases, you can rotate through their top 3-5 meals once or twice a week without anyone getting tired of them.
For example, my kids love Cumin Beans & Cornbread, vegetarian Homemade Chimichangas, and anything made with lentils. If I plan at least 1-2 of those meals every week, everyone is happy.
3. Make it “Mostly” Meatless
Maybe you or a family member just doesn’t like a meal without a little bit of meat — if that’s the case, try making a mostly-meatless meal.
This can be Hamburger Soup with most of the meat substituted with beans or lentils, Chicken Noodle Soup with a few more vegetables (or some white beans) and a little less chicken, or a pan of Mostly Meatless Nacho Dip.
Bonus Tip: Suck it up, Buttercup
When money is tight, we all have to make sacrifices. Certainly, we want the loved ones at our table to be happy with their meals, meatless or no. However, learning to do without builds character and keeps the bills paid.
Sometimes, we just have to suck it up and add a little extra cheese!
Find Steph at Cheapskate Cook, where you’ll get quick meal hacks, frugal recipes, free menu plans, and the tools to save money and eat healthy even without a health food store.
FREE One Week Menu Plan!
Done-For-You Dinner Recipes With Simple Ingredients and a Grocery Shopping List!
10 Ways I’m Taking Care of Me Right Now
Mamas, sisters, ladies… actually, all y’all: you need to make time to take care of YOU.
I know that there are a hundred other things pulling you in three dozen other directions. But you’re not going to be able to show up well for your life if you don’t show up to take care of you.
Taking care of you will look different for different people in different seasons. And it’s looked vastly different for me in my different seasons of life.
But I thought it might be fun (and hopefully helpful) for me to share 10 ways I’m taking care of me right now (remember, that I’m in a season of life where my kids sleep through the night and are very independent and now they mostly just need me to have long conversations with them and take them places!):
- Making 7+ hours of sleep a priority. And taking a nap on the days when I get less than that amount.
- Drinking a gallon of lemon water every day. Yes, for real. Here’s how I do it.
- Starting my day with exercise, prayer, and Bible reading. (Most days, I combine the three. I read my Bible while I do my walking warm up on the treadmill and, while I run, I pray over every aspect of my day, spend time thanking God for blessings, and pray for Jesse and the kids in earnest. I love starting my day in this way of filling myself up with Jesus, getting in a good workout, and praying over my day! I always feel so refreshed and ready for the day once I’m done!)
- Scheduling time for fun and down time everyday.
- Making sure I spend at least a few hours hanging out with a friend once or twice a week.
- Eating a big salad every day.
- Drinking decaf/herbal tea instead of coffee.
- Guarding my schedule so that I have time to be alone and recharge through quiet.
- Having a few truth tellers in my life who regularly check-in with me to make sure I’m not overloading my plate (something I am prone to do) and am taking care of my soul and health and marriage and priorities.
- Paying for help — with the business and with our home. This allows me to work full-time and run a successful business, while also freeing up the time to have space to nurture myself, my family, relationships, and other areas I’m passionate about.
Most importantly, I’m learning to give myself a lot of grace. To not be too hard on myself when I fail, when I disappoint someone, or when we have rough patches. Nobody does it perfectly and nobody has it all figured out!
How are YOU taking care of you in the season of life you’re in? I’d love to hear!
Gretchen’s $51 Grocery Shopping Trip and Menu Plan
Dillons
2 bags Kroger Potato Chips – Marked down to $0.25 each
1.94 lbs Bananas – $0.95
2 American Beauty Spaghetti – $0.49 each
4 cans Green Giant Green Beans – $0.49 each
1 Think Thin Bar – $1, used Free e-coupon (no longer available) – Free after coupon
1 Kroger Cottage Cheese – $0.79, used $0.40/1 e-coupon – $0.39 after coupon
2 Green Apples – $0.80, used $0.25/1 Ibotta rebate – $0.55 after coupon
1 PopChips Nutter Puffs – $2.49, used $4/1 Checkout 51 rebate – Free plus overage after rebate
2 Ragu Pasta Sauce – $1.29 each, used $1/2 printable – $0.79 each after coupon
2 Chobani Flip Yogurt – $1.25 each, used 2 $0.50/1 printable that was emailed to me – $0.75 each after coupon
Used $0.25/1 Ibotta rebate for any receipt
Total after coupons and rebates: $6.65
Aldi
1 dozen Eggs – $1.44, used $0.15/1 Checkout 51 rebate – $1.29 after rebate
1 pkg Chicken Breasts – Marked down to $2.07
1 bag Mandarins – $2.49
1 Unsweetened Applesauce – $1.89
2 Cantaloupes – $0.99 each
1 pkg Flour Tortillas – $0.99
1.83 bag Green Grapes – $1.81
1 Frozen Orange Juice Concentrate – $1.19
1 pkg English Muffins – $0.99
1 Half & Half – $1.99
1 bag Green Peppers – $1.49
2.92 lbs Bananas – $1.28
1 loaf Bread – $1.49
1 bag Potato Chips – $1.79 (I bought these before I went to Dillons and saw the marked down chips.)
1 pkg Chewy Granola Bars – $1.49
1 Grape Jelly – $1.39
1 pkg Oyster Crackers – $0.79
1 gallon Milk – $1.88
1 Sour Cream – $0.95
1 bag Frozen Peas – $0.79
1 lb Butter – $1.99
1 Cucumber – $0.49
1 bag (16 oz) Cheddar Cheese – $3.29
1 Spiral Ham – $6.88 ($0.95/lb)
1 pkg Chocolate Chips – $1.69
Total after rebate: $44.37
Total for both stores: $51.02
Menu Plan for This Week
Breakfasts
English Muffins and Eggs x 2
Toast x 2
Cereal x 3
Lunches
Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, Veggies, Grapes x 2
Mac & Cheese, Mandarins
Cheese Quesadillas, Steamed Peas, Fruit
Cheese, Crackers, Veggies, Fruit x 2
Leftovers
Dinners
Out to eat (I’ll be gone on a girl’s overnight so my husband and kids are eating out!)
Venison Roast, Biscuits, Carrots, Mashed Potatoes & Gravy, Sliced Cantaloupe (We’ll be having company for dinner!)
Oven Baked Ham (I’ll be freezing the leftovers to use in casseroles and breakfast dishes the next several weeks.), Homemade Bread, Green Beans
Spaghetti, Spinach Salad (using leftover spinach from last week), Banana Muffins
Dinner with Lifegroup
Chicken Fajitas, Rice, Fruit Salad
Bring-Your-Own-Meat Grill Out with friends here (Everyone is bringing some meat to throw on the grill and a side dish. I’ll be grilling chicken and doing chips and chocolate chip cookies.)
What I Read & Watched This Past Week
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 This Past Week
I read A Place to Land this past week and loved it. In fact, the story was so moving and beautiful that I had trouble putting it down. I’m not usually a huge memoir person, but this one was well-written and captivating.
Plus, I had a big personal connection to it since the author spent 10 years in South Africa! (You all know how much my heart loves that country!) Her descriptions of the food and terrain and people and even little bits of the language she threw in made my heart miss that country so much! (Gratefully, we get to go back in July! I can hardly wait!)
When I got finished with the book, I was thrilled to see that the author had sent me a message via Instagram with pictures of her family so I could put faces to the names and stories in the book. (She had seen me reading the book in a little mention and had reached out and thanked me. I told her that I loved her story so much that I had stalked her online to see pictures of her family — she was so kind to send me pictures because there aren’t many of her kids/family online!)
I loved the author’s realness and rawness to share how hard it was to live cross-culturally, to adopt unexpectedly, and to see her mom slowly lose her battle to cancer — all while she lived on the other side of the globe. If you love well-written memoirs and stories of God’s faithfulness even in the midst of the hardships of life, I think you’ll really enjoy this book!
What I Watched This Past Week
Jesse and I binge-watched the last three episodes of This is Us. (So good! But I’m sad we have to wait so long for Season 3. The mentions of their dad at the wedding had both Jesse and I in tears since he lost his mom to cancer when he was young and not having her at our wedding was hard.)
And then, of course we watched basketball. We had a friendly bracket competition going on amongst all five of us and I’m happy to report that, by some sheer miracle, I WON! Everyone else’s brackets are busted, but I chose Kansas and Villanova to go to the Final Four, so my bracket is still standing strong! 🙂
Poor Silas was not too happy to have been whooped in this competition by his mother who is not the most sports-savvy person — especially compared to himself! 🙁
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?
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