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Shared Nov 18, 2019 comment

Christmas Gifts for Expecting Moms Under $30

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Christmas Gifts for Expecting Moms Under $30

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

I had so much fun putting together this Expecting Mothers’ Gift Guide! In addition to thinking of things I have found to be helpful and fun to have when I’ve been pregnant, I also asked my followers on Instagram Stories to share their best suggestions.

As I made this list, I decided to stick with items that were specifically for moms, not something they would use for their baby. Sometimes I think we can easily gravitate toward buying baby gifts for moms-to-be, instead of buying her something to pamper her, help her enjoy the pregnancy more, or make her life easier or better. I hope you find something she’ll enjoy! And, all these ideas are under $30 to help you stick to your gift budget!

Gifts for Expecting Mothers

Psst! Be sure to sign up for our hot deals newsletter to make sure you don’t miss any of the hottest deals each day this holiday season!

Best Gifts for Expecting Moms

pregnancy tracker gifts for expecting mothers

Christmas Gifts for Expecting Moms

1. Pregnancy and Baby Milestone Tracker — If the mama-to-be you’re buying for is the type that would want to take weekly photos to document her pregnancy, this would be the perfect backdrop. I’ve seen multiple people use this on Instagram and they usually mark off the weeks with a Sharpie. If you got creative and figured out a reusable way to mark the weeks off, you could also re-use this for baby photos.

pregnancy journal gift ideas for expecting mothers

2. Pregnancy Journal — A memorable way to capture all the details of your pregnancy so your child can read it one day. (Or, just so you don’t forget!) There are many different journals available, but this one has really good reviews and ratings.

sonogram photo frame best gifts for expecting mothers

3. Sonogram Keepsake Photoframe — We were gifted a sonogram photo frame and it’s one of my favorite things. This is also a cool way to display your baby’s growth and development!

mama bear shirt gifts for expecting mothers

4. Cute Tee or Sweatshirt — For the newer pregnant mama, here’s a cute non-maternity sweatshirt (I got this recently and love it!) Here are a few maternity tees and sweatshirts I saw that were very reasonably priced: Snowman tee, Floral Mama/Baby, and Pregnancy Countdown Tee.

exercise ball

5. Exercise Ball — I cannot sing the praises of exercise balls enough. If you have back pain or hip pain in pregnancy, this will provide incredible relief if you sit on it for at least an hour or two each day (I usually sit on it while working at my computer for part of the day). I also usually use a ball during labor and have even used it during delivery!

cozy slippers

6. Slippers — This is a great gift for moms-to-be to wear around the house in the last few months when their feet might be swollen and for those first few days after delivery when you just want to hang out in the comfiest clothes. Also, these might be great to bring with you to the hospital for the delivery.

cozy pajamas best gifts for expecting mothers

7. Comfy Pajamas — PJs are often not something that most moms will spend money on because they can seem extravagant when you can just wear a t-shirt and sweatpants. But there’s nothing quite like a new pair of pajamas to make you feel so pampered. I think this Pajama Set looks especially cozy and it has great reviews.

living proof dry shampoo

8. Living Proof Dry Shampoo — I love this dry shampoo so much and it is perfect on those days when you just don’t have the energy or time to wash your hair. I actually put it in the roots of my hair before bed every night and then put my hair up in a really high ponytail with a scrunchie. This allows me to only wash my hair once a week and to be able to fix my hair in just a few minutes every day.

water bottles Christmas gifts for expecting mothers

9. A Good Water Bottle — Expecting mamas need to drink a lot of liquid! A fun water bottle or cup can make water-drinking a lot more fun and easy to do!

practical help for expecting mothers

10. Practical Help — One way to bless a pregnant mom is to give her a coupon she can redeem for some kind of practical help — such as bringing over a hot dinner or that you’ll do their laundry one week or clean their house. You could also make some frozen dinners, lunch items, healthy snacks, or breakfast items.

Christmas Gifts for Pregnant Women: Stocking Stuffers

mama to be necklace gift idea

11. Jewelry — There are a lot of really beautiful jewelry pieces for moms to be such as bracelets and necklaces. Or, you could just give her some pretty earrings or a necklace that she’ll love.

lavender foot soak

12. Foot Soak — A pregnant mama’s feet can get so tired and swollen, especially near the end of pregnancy. Foot soaks can be soothing and also reviving.

Burt's Bees Care Package gifts for expecting mothers

13. Hand Repair Kit — My hands are so much more dry when I’m pregnant, so I think something like this Hand Repair Kit from Burt’s Bees would be a great stocking stuffer for expecting moms.

pregnancy socks

14. Cute Socks — Socks are always a great gift! I thought these were especially fun if the mama is planning a natural birth!

pregnancy tea

15. Pregnancy Tea (or other non-caffeinated tea that is safe for pregnancy) — There are so many different teas out there that are formulated for pregnancy! (Note: I always recommend that you do your research before drinking and talk to your doctor if you’re not sure. Also, some teas should only be consumed in the third trimester.)

Bonus Expecting Mom Gifts (Over $30)

Have a little extra wiggle room in your Christmas budget and willing to spend a bit more? Try one of these bonus Christmas gifts for expecting mothers:

Motherhood Maternity gift card

16. Gift Card to a Maternity Store — My parents gave me a gift card to Motherhood Maternity for my birthday and it was such a great gift!

spa treatment gifts for expecting mothers

17. Pedicure or Massage Gift Card — What mama-to-be wouldn’t love a pedicure or massage? (Note: If you’re giving a gift card for a massage, make sure that the place offers prenatal massages as not all places do.)

Instacart Delivery for expecting mothers

18. Annual Subscription for Grocery Delivery — Someone on Instagram recommended this and I thought it was a brilliant idea! This way, you can order groceries from home and have them delivered! A Walmart+ membership lets her get unlimited free grocery delivery from her local Walmart! You could also pay for a monthly or quarterly house-cleaning service.

Salads for expecting mothers

19. Restaurant Gift Cards — So many people on Instagram suggested this one. Find out what the pregnant mom’s favorite restaurants are (bonus points if they offer takeout/delivery!) and buy her some gift cards so she doesn’t have to worry about some meals in upcoming months!

Preggie Pops for gift basket for mothers

20. Pampering Pregnancy or Postpartum Gift Basket (depending on when the mom to be’s due date is) — Early Pregnancy Gift Basket Ideas: preggi pops/drops, crackers, ginger ale, lotion, belly butter, restaurant gift cards, a good book, etc. Late Pregnancy Gift Basket Ideas: nursing tea, healthy snacks for late night feedings, under-eye cream, dry shampoo, cute hair scrunchies, dark chocolate, etc.

Looking for more ideas? Check out this list of Best Gifts for New Moms and this list of Best Beauty Gifts for Her.

More Holiday Gift Guides

Looking for other budget-friendly holiday gift guides? Don’t miss these:

And, check out all our budget-friendly holiday gift guides here!

Can you think of any other great Christmas gifts for expecting mothers? I’d love to hear in the comments!

FREE DOWNLOAD:

Christmas Budget Boost Cheatsheet!

20 Simple Ways to Easily Add $100+ To Your Gift Budget Before Christmas! 🥳

Download Now

Build Your Own Birchbox
Shared Nov 18, 2019 comment

Birchbox is coming to Walgreens!

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Birchbox is coming to Walgreens!

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

Birchbox is coming to Walgreens!

Build Your Own Birchbox

Have you been wanting to try Birchbox but you’re not quite sure if it’s worth subscribing? Great news!! Birchbox is coming to Walgreens stores, so you’ll be able to check out the products in person!

Right now it looks like this is only available in select stores, but they’ll slowly be rolling this out at more stores in the coming months.

Birchbox Holiday Box

With this new Birchbox partnership, Walgreens stores will have an entire section of the store dedicated to Birchbox — where you’ll be able to build your own Birchbox, check out some of the most popular Birchbox products, and even buy limited edition holiday boxes!

This looks SO cool! Have you seen these at any Walgreens stores near you? Let us know!

Shared Nov 18, 2019 comment

Gretchen’s Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan

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Gretchen’s Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan

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

Aldi

1 box Crisp Rice Cereal – $1.39

1 Cheese Deli Pizza – $4.99 (not pictured)

1 pkg Applesauce Cups – $1.25

2 pkg Frozen Strawberries – $1.89 each

1 lb Butter – $1.99

1 gallon Milk – $1.49

1 Flour Tortillas – $0.99

1 bag Sugar – $1.57

1 box Granola Bars – $1.15

2.39 lbs Red Grapes – $2.13

1 Sour Cream – $0.89

1 box Snack Crackers – $1.59

2 dozen Eggs – $0.58 each

1 bag Shredded Cheese – $2.79

1 bag Oyster Crackers – $0.79

1 bag Spinach – $1.59

1 pkg Chunk Cheese – $1.69

1 pkg Grape Tomatoes – $1.49

1 pkg Hot Dog Buns – $0.85

1 pkg Chocolate Chips – $1.29

1 Frozen Broccoli – $0.95

1 Half & Half – $1.55

1 box Cheese Crackers – $1.49

3 Cucumbers – $0.49 each

1 box Thin Wheat Crackers – $0.99

1 bag Frozen Peas – $0.79

1 pkg Cinnamon Bagels – $1.49

1 bag White Tortilla Chips – $0.89

1 loaf Bread – $1.29

Total: $47.01

Dillons

1 Kroger Honey Nut Cereal – $1.49

1 Honey Nut Chex Cereal – $2.50

1 loaf French Bread – $1.99

1 pkg Steak – Marked down to $7.24 (This was originally $21 so I was super excited!)

2.56 lbs Bananas – $1.25

1 Kroger Peanut Butter – $1.79

1 Oscar Meyer Franks – $2.50

Total: $18.76

Total for both stores: $65.77

Menu Plan for This Week

Breakfasts

Cereal, Eggs, Toast, Oatmeal, Fruit Smoothies

Lunches

Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, Turkey Sandwiches, Cheese/Crackers/Fruit, Cheese Quesadillas, Leftovers, Hot Dogs, Spinach Salads (for me)

Dinners

Aldi Pizza, Fruit

Grilled Steak, French Bread, Mashed Potatoes

Chicken & Rice, Pumpkin Muffins, Steamed Broccoli

Nacho Bar, Fruit Salad

Cheese, Crackers, Grapes, Sliced Cucumbers

Spaghetti, Biscuits Steamed Peas

Baked Sour Cream Mushroom Chicken, Steamed Corn (from freezer), Homemade Bread

Shared Nov 17, 2019 comment

Life Update: Pregnancy (week 16), a trip to Wichita, the Blissdom blogging conference

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Life Update: Pregnancy (week 16), a trip to Wichita, the Blissdom blogging conference

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

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

16 weeks!! (And excuse the sort of goofy pose/facial expression. I was hanging out with some good blogging friends after the Blissdom conference on Friday night and we were all laughing over something right before this photo was taken and I couldn’t stop laughing enough to take a more normal looking photo!)

Jami Balmet is pregnant with baby #6 (she had two sets of twin boys in two years and then she had a little girl!) and we are both due on the same day so we had to get a belly shot! We were teasing her that she’s so chill about her pregnancy because she’s so experienced that she rarely ever talks about it online. Whereas I’m over here documenting everything like a first-time mom!

HIGHLIGHTS

I can feel the baby moving a lot more — especially in the last few days. The kids are so hopeful they’ll be able to feel movement on my tummy soon. I keep telling them it likely won’t be for another few weeks, but they are super excited about it.

NOTABLE

I have finally been able to start drinking more water again after weeks and weeks of having to get super creative in getting in liquids since water made me sick. As someone who used to drink a gallon of water everyday, this has been a challenge and I’m so happy to be back to my water-guzzling habits!

CRAVINGS

I have been ravenously hungry this past week! It seems the baby is going through a big growth spurt or something. I am so grateful that I have been able to get back to eating much healthier now, even if I do still crave pizza and tacos and (now) desserts. But hey, being able to eat and enjoy salads after so many weeks of just eating whatever I thought I could keep down has been so nice!!

WEIGHT GAIN: 9 lbs.

How are the rest of you pregnant mamas doing??

I got to fly down to Wichita, KS for my mom’s 66th birthday this past weekend. Unfortunately, I only got one picture (the one above of my parents) because I was so focused on just hanging out with my family.

I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to go. Since we’ll likely be opening up our home soon to a child (or children) in foster care and I’m having a baby in the spring, I know that I probably won’t be able to just hop on a plane and go somewhere by myself in the coming months and years!

I love these three more than words can describe — but I kinda wish that they had a little more personality. 😉

We went to get their passports renewed over lunch break on Tuesday. (Kathrynne is going to Suriname in the Spring so we renewed them all while we were at it!)

In my usual desire to document life so I don’t forget, I asked them all to stand under the passport sign so I could take a cute picture of them. I said, “Smile!” and this was the result.

Of course I could have said something like, “C’mon guys, actually smile for me!” (And I do say that sometimes!!) But I also love having photos like this that show their personalities way more than a perfectly staged smiling picture ever would.

I’m trying to soak up these days, these moments, these personalities, these people who are growing up so quickly. It’s hard to think they were once tiny babes in my womb!

Also, this current tiny human in my womb has no idea what they are in for when they arrive into this world!! These three already have a host of plans, ideas, and dreams for how they will be loving on, nurturing, teaching, and spending time with the baby and I can hardly wait to get to watch them all interact together (though I’m wondering if I’m ever going to get to hold the baby myself! Maybe at the midnight feedings?!?)

I got to speak at the Blissdom blogging conference on Friday on the topic of live video (one of my favorite topics!). It was so good to get to meet some of you there!

While I love getting to speak, one of the best parts of conferences is getting to connect individually with people after I speak! I love hearing stories and providing individual encouragement and cheerleading!

I loved getting to meet and do an interview with Jo Saxton on leadership.

One of the best parts of the conference was getting to see so many longtime blogging friends! A bunch of these women had gotten an AirBnB together and they invited me to come over afterwards for dinner. I haven’t laughed as hard as we laughed in a really long time. It was such a gift for my soul!

What I’m Currently…

Reading: Families Where Grace is in Place and The Killing Tide

Watching: You’ve Got Mail (I haven’t watched this in ages! We had a discussion about AOL recently as a family and I remembered this movie so I watched it with the girls to give them a better understanding of what email was like when we were teenagers!)

Listening to: Christmas Music!

Loving: The fact that I’ve finished all my business travel + speaking engagements for 2019! I’ve loved getting to travel and speak and meet so many of you this year, but I’m also grateful that I get to stay home now and just enjoy my family and making special memories together for the holidays (plus begin work on the new book I’m writing in 2020!)

In Case You Missed It…

Shared Nov 16, 2019 comment

This Week’s Kroger Shopping Trip + Amazon Order = $63 spent!

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This Week’s Kroger Shopping Trip + Amazon Order = $63 spent!

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

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

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

I only ended up going to Kroger once this past week, but I got some great deals and markdowns!

The Cream of Chicken soup was in the markdown section and it was just $0.49 each + it was part of the Buy 10, Get $5 off deal which meant that I got $0.50 off each — making them free!

I was super excited about finding the Yoplait 8-count packs of yogurt for just $0.99 and also the Off the Grid Waffles for just $0.99 each! There is a $0.50/1 iBotta rebate with a limit of 5 so I got back $2.50 for buy 5 boxes!

And finally, I was super thrilled to find eggs marked down! We were down to our last few eggs so it was perfect timing!

Kroger Shopping Trip:

  • 5 Campbell’s Soup — marked down to $0.49, got $0.50 off each because they were part of the buy 10, Get $5 off deal
  • 2 cans of Swanson broth — $0.49 each when you buy 10 participating items
  • 4 cans of Green Beans — $0.49 each when you buy 10 participating items
  • 2 pounds Land O Lakes butter — $2.49 each when you buy 10 participating items
  • 3 boxes Creamette Pasta — $0.49 each when you buy 10 participating items, used $1/3 coupon from a Kroger mailer = $0.50 for all three
  • 2 cartons cottage cheese — $1.49 each when you buy 10 participating items
  • 3 boxes of Swiss Miss hot cocoa — $0.99 each when you buy 10 participating items
  • Annie’s Mac & Cheese — marked down to $0.45
  • 5 boxes Off the Grid Waffles — marked down to $0.99 each, plus I got $0.50 back per box from iBotta
  • Old El Pasa Taco Shells — marked down to $0.39
  • 2 boxes SO Right frozen burrito bowls — marked down to $0.89 each
  • 1 dozen Kroger eggs — marked down to $0.59
  • 5 dozen cage-free brown eggs — marked down to $1.29 each
  • 2 Chobani yogurt flips — marked down to $0.19 each
  • Kroger peanut butter — free with Kroger coupon from the Kroger mailer
  • Kroger water — $0.89
  • 2 Dannon Oikos yogurt — marked down to $0.49 each
  • 2 packages Roasted Turkey — marked down to $1.79 each
  • Broccoli crowns — $0.70
  • Kroger smoked sausage — free with Kroger mailer coupon
  • 2 8-count packages of Yoplait yogurt — marked down to $0.99 each
  • 1 bunch of green leaf lettuce — $1.79
  • Bag of 3 apples — marked down to $0.99
  • Bananas — marked down to $0.50
  • Dole Salad Kit — $1.79
  • 4-lb bag of oranges — $3.99
  • Milk — $2.99
  • Total with tax: $53.28

Since I had some extra wiggle room in the grocery budget, I went ahead and ordered this great deal off of Amazon.

Dinners This Past Week

Rebates earned: $2.75 back from iBotta + 225 points from Fetch Rewards

Budget-Friendly Gift GuidesGift Great Gifts Without Overspending!

Browse Our Gift Guides!
Shared Nov 16, 2019 comment

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

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

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

Aldi

1 5-lb roll 73/27 Fresh Ground Beef – $8.95

1 3-lb bag frozen Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts – $5.85

1 16-oz pkg Deli Meat – $2.85

1-lb Premium Sausage – $1.89

1 pkg String Cheese – $1.95

1 8-oz pkg Deli Sliced Cheese – $1.79

1 gallon Whole Milk – $0.97

1 gallon 1% Milk – $0.97

1 64-oz carton Unsweetened Almond Milk – $1.65

1 pkg Zucchini ($0.95/lb) – $1.54

1 pkg Romaine Hearts – $1.99

1 Cauliflower – $1.99

2 pkgs Broccoli Crowns – $3.38

2 Avocados – $0.58

1 large tub Organic Spring Mix – $3.49

1 bag Red Grapes ($0.95/lb) – $1.92

1 carton Grapes Tomatoes – $1.59

1 bag Mini Cucumbers -$2.09

3 cans Green Beans – $1.14

1 bunch Bananas ($0.38/lb) – $1.24

1 10-lb bag Russet Potatoes – $3.49

2 boxes Honey Crispy Oats – $2.38

2 64-oz cartons Orange Juice – $3.28

1 can Whipped Topping – $2.65

1 32-oz carton Half and Half – $1.55

1 box Pumpkin Pecan Instant Oatmeal – $1.99

1 bottle Pumpkin Spice Almond Milk Creamer – $1.99 (yes, I’m *that* person who buys everything pumpkin🙂)

1 jar Pasta Sauce – $0.85

1 pkg Crème Brulee Coffee – $3.79

1 pkg Tortillas – $0.65

3 dozen Eggs – $2.31

1 32-oz bag Shredded Cheddar Cheese – $4.99

2 loaves Sandwich Bread, reduced – $0.50

1 bag Gluten-Free Pretzels – $1.85

Total: $80.09

Harris Teeter

8 cans Beans – $2.72

1 bag Pretzel Crisps – $1.99, used $1.00/1 printable – $0.99 after coupon

1 pkg Hidden Valley Ranch Dip – $1.25, used $0.50/1 Hidden Valley Ranch Dry Dip or Seasoning Mix Exp 12/10/19 (SS 11/10/19 R) (doubled) – $0.25 after coupon

1 pkg Bridgford Parkerhouse Style Rolls – $1.84, used $0.75/1 printable (doubled) – $0.34 after coupon

Total after Coupons: $4.30

Grocery Total for the Week: $84.39

Weekly Menu Plan

Breakfasts

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

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

Lunches

Cheese Quesadillas, Grapes, Carrots x 2

Pretzels with Peanut Butter, Cheese Sticks, Apples, Cucumbers

Baked Potatoes with Shredded Cheese, Bananas, Grape Tomatoes

Leftovers x 3

Dinners

Chili, World’s Best Honey Cornbread

Lasagna Casserole, Homemade Breadsticks, Tossed Salad, Green Beans

Cheesy Hamburger Soup, Pumpkin Crescent Rolls

Leftover Chili over Baked Potatoes, Tossed Salad, Broccoli

Date Night Out (macaroni and cheese for the kids at home)

Crockpot Italian Chicken, Roasted Broccoli, Rolls, Creamy Milk Rice

Venison Roast in the Crockpot, Rolls, Green Beans, Garlic Mashed Cauliflower, Tossed Salad

Shared Nov 13, 2019 comment

Join the #BodyBeThankful Bootcamp

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Join the #BodyBeThankful Bootcamp

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

Want some motivation to work out this month + be reminded of how much you have to be thankful for? Join the #BodyBeThankful bootcamp that my friend and fitness mama, Sara Haley, is hosting November 18-22, 2019.

This will be my first bootcamp to do in weeks (I’ve just been walking on the treadmill through most of my first trimester. I’m so happy to be feeling well enough to get back to something a little more rigorous now that I’m feeling better. Also, Sara includes ways to modify the workouts if you’re pregnant or postpartum.

Want to join me? I’d love to have you join me in this! It’s $4.99 to sign up and you’ll get:

  • Downloadable Workout Videos to follow along with. Each of the workout represents a specific part of the body to focus on and be thankful for.
  • A calendar to help you keep track of your progress.
  • Healthy Recipes to nourish your body from 6 of my favorite food bloggers:
  • A gratitude journal to help you focus your energy on WHAT your body can do for you (not what it looks like).
  • Daily accountability through check-ins on the private Facebook Group where you can share your progress and struggles with all the participants.

By the way, the workouts are on average about 15 minutes, however, if you’re feeling ambitious, you can do them twice each day.

Go here to sign up for the #BodyBeThankful Bootcamp.

Shared Nov 12, 2019 comment

The Enneagram and Marriage

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The Enneagram and Marriage

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

We had a lot of fun with this episode — and we learned a few things about each other in the process of recording it! What’s today’s podcast episode topic? The Enneagram and marriage.

Whether you love all things Enneagram, are skeptical of it, or don’t even know what it is, I think you’ll enjoy this candid conversation about our differences, how we have worked through them, and what it looks like to love and respect someone who is the complete opposite of you in many ways.

Pull up a chair (or a load of laundry!) and listen in as we chat about our big foster care news, grilling meat, my favorite makeup cleaner (and I make a confession that I might get some flack for), a book I’m reading, and marriage and the Enneagram!

In This Episode:  

[01:55] What’s saving our lives? Butcher Box and Mary Kay 3-in-1 Timewise Cleanser.

[07:20] I’ve been reading Come Matter Here by Hannah Brencher.

[11:28] How do marriage and the Enneagram tie in with one another?

[14:37] Jesse talks about what it’s like to be married to a very strong Enneagram 8.

[18:30] On the flip side, I share what it is like being married an inquisitive Enneagram 5.

[25:34] How do we reconcile our differences?

[30:19] Learning more about our personality types has helped us to build a stronger marriage through understanding.

[33:57] Choose to see differences as strengths and it will change your perspective — and maybe your relationship!

Links and Resources:

How to Listen to The Crystal Paine Show

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

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

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

Shared Nov 11, 2019 comment

Gifts for Lego Lovers: Perfect For Kids and Adults

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Gifts for Lego Lovers: Perfect For Kids and Adults

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

Do you have a LEGO lover in your life? Sometimes finding the perfect set to give as a gift can be challenging. To help you choose, Sarah and Gretchen from the MoneySavingMom team have compiled a list of their favorite LEGO sets in a variety of themes.

As moms of LEGO lovers, they enjoy building both on their own and with their kids — and have plenty of favorites to recommend!

Even better, these sets are all under $30 to help you stick to your gift budget. (And be sure to follow along as we post the hottest LEGO deals throughout the season!)

Best LEGO Gifts: LEGO Friends

My daughter has been playing with LEGO Friends sets for years. She loves interacting with the sets and rebuilding them with her own creative imagination. – Sarah

LEGO Friends Friendship Road-Trip Travel Car

This set includes a super cute road-trip car and trailer, plus a kayak for lots of imaginative adventures.

LEGO Friends Panda Sanctuary Animal Care Set

This LEGO Friends Panda Sanctuary Animal Care Set is perfect for someone who loves pandas! It includes a treehouse, ATV, 3 pandas, and 2 minidolls.

Best LEGO Gifts: Star Wars

LEGO and Star Wars go together like Han Solo and Chewbacca. If your recipient loves both, they’re sure to enjoy these sets, and there are a variety of options that span ages and difficulty levels.

The Mandalorian and Grogu’s Speeder Bike

This little set is perfect for a stocking stuffer and includes both the Mandalorian and Grogu mini figure.

LEGO Star Wars Yoda Bust

This set is perfect for Star Wars fans because you can display the bust on your shelf or dresser once you are done building it. It’s so cute!

Best LEGO Gifts: Creator

The LEGO Creator 3-in-1 sets are great because they help teach kids to look at new ways of assembling the pieces to create something entirely new! This can help develop their imagination and allow them to combine all sorts of sets to build anything they can think of. It’s also sort of like getting three sets for the price on one.

LEGO Creator 3-in-1 Retro Roller Skate Set

We love these LEGO Creator 3-in-1 sets, and this LEGO Creator 3-in-1 Retro Roller Skate Set is such a fun one! A perfect gift for any 80s kid, it lets you build a retro roller skate, boombox, or skateboard — all in fun, vibrant colors!

LEGO Creator 3-in-1 Typewriter with Flowers

I was gifted this LEGO Creator 3-in-1 Typewriter with Flowers a few years ago and love it! I built it and displayed it in my office next to my computer desk.

Best LEGO Gifts: Technic

LEGO Technic beams connect to make sturdier builds and can even work with gears to create simple engines. They help LEGO builders learn the basics of physics and engineering and they’re great for play because they’re sturdier than typical builds. Some are even pullback or work with a remote control!

LEGO Technic Bush Plane

This fun zebra-striped bush plane has a lever you can push to spin the pistons and propellor. Children who loves planes will particularly enjoy this set!

LEGO Technic Monster Jam Fire and Ice

Kids who love Monster Jam will love building and playing with this “fire and ice” monster truck. Once it’s built, they can recreate tricks from the arena and send it speeding by pulling it back to launch it forward.

Best LEGO Gifts: Botanicals

This line of LEGO is perfect for teens (and adults!) who want to slow down and relax by building LEGO and then enjoy displaying it. The detail is amazing and they’re so pretty!

LEGO Botanicals Water Lilies

This LEGO Botanicals Water Lilies set was just released this year and makes such a beautiful addition to any LEGO Botanicals collection!

LEGO Botanicals Flowering Cactus

This LEGO Botanicals Flowering Cactus is so cute!

Best LEGO Gifts: City

LEGO City sets provide hours of play after they’re built and are especially fun to combine with other sets to make a realistic town. Whether your LEGO lover enjoys construction, vehicles, emergency services, or buildings, they’ll enjoy creating, imagining, and displaying these sets.

LEGO City Yellow Backhoe Loader

This construction set will delight any construction truck aficionado. And check out the fun Lego “boulders” that can break apart to reveal a gem inside!

LEGO City Fire Rescue Boat

This LEGO City Fire Rescue Boat Building Set is such a fun set for kids to play with once they are finished building it.

Best LEGO Gifts: Harry Potter

There are so many cool LEGO sets for Harry Potter fans! They often include clever hidden details from the books and movies that are magical surprises for Potterheads to discover.

LEGO Harry Potter Flying Ford Anglia

This fun Harry Potter flying car comes with Harry, Ron, Scabbers, and Hedwig. 

LEGO Harry Potter Dobby the Free Elf

This sculpted Dobby the Free Elf (formerly Dobby the House Elf) can be displayed sitting, standing, or walking and would make such a fun addition to your bookshelf… right next to your Harry Potter books! He also can be rebuilt into a LEGO brick figure of Kreacher.

Best LEGO Gifts: Duplo

LEGO DUPLO bricks are perfect for young children, because these blocks are larger and don’t present as much of a choking hazard. They also help young children develop fine motor skills, while teaching them basic STEM concepts like pattern recognition, simple mathematics, and spatial awareness. Our kids loved DUPLO starting from about 18 months old and we enjoyed building with our kids before they were old enough for regular LEGO brick sets. 

LEGO DUPLO Classic Brick Box Building Set

This fun classic brick box comes with two DUPLO people, a car, a few flowers, and a whole lot of colorful bricks! It’s perfect for starting or expanding a DUPLO collection.

LEGO DUPLO 3-in-1 Construction Vehicles

Your young LEGO lover will be thrilled to play with this construction vehicle set where they can build 6 possible trucks out of 22 bricks.

Best LEGO Gifts: Speed Champions

LEGO Speed Champions sets are really fun for anyone who loves vehicles (cars, planes, motorcycles, etc).

LEGO Speed Champions Mercedes 2-Car Set

My teen son has built several of these and this set is probably his favorite.

LEGO Speed Champions BMW M3

How fun is this special edition 40th anniversary set? It’s perfect for any BMW fan or model car lover.

Best LEGO Gifts: Christmas Sets

LEGO Advent Calendars

You can’t go wrong with LEGO Advent Calendars! This is something fun you can do each night in December leading up to Christmas. Each day comes with a mini build to put together. We recommend giving it as an early Christmas gift so they can use it throughout the season. Choose from a few different varieties!

LEGO Christmas Table Decoration

This table decoration set is so pretty and makes a fun addition to your holiday decor!

Stocking Stuffers for LEGO Lovers:

Free LEGO Life Magazine

This is such a fun (and FREE!) stocking stuffer for kids ages 5-9. And it’s so much fun for kids to get their own mail throughout the year! This magazine comes four times per year. If the first issue doesn’t arrive in time for Christmas, just print off a photo of the magazine cover to roll up and stick it in the stocking!

Display of 18 LEGO Disney Minifigures Stocking Stuffers

LEGO Mini-Figure

This is a great surprise stocking stuffer because you don’t know which character you’ll get. There are tons to choose from, but this Disney series is especially unique and fun!

More Gifts for LEGO Lovers:

LEGO Minifigure Wallet Stocking Stuffer

LEGO Mini-Figure Wallet

This LEGO themed wallet would be a fun gift so they can save up to pick out their own LEGO set!

LEGO Store Gift Card Stocking Stuffer Idea

LEGO Store Gift Card

Maybe all these options are overwhelming and you just aren’t sure what to get your LEGO lover. Gift them a LEGO gift card! They’ll love picking out their own set either in a LEGO Store or online! If they live near a LEGO Store, we suggest a $10 or $20 gift card and the idea to fill a box with unique pieces at the Pick-a-Brick wall.

Bonus Gifts for LEGO Lovers (Over $30):

Have a little extra wiggle room in your Christmas budget and willing to spend a bit more? Try one of these bonus recommendations:

LEGO Architecture Sets

These LEGO architecture sets are classic and fun for adults to assemble and display! They can be purchased to remember a trip or maybe as a goal for a place to visit one day. Either way your LEGO fan will love putting together these models. The skylines like this London one are the more affordable options.

LEGO Technic NANA Mars Rover Perseverance assembled set with box.

LEGO Technic NASA Mars Rover Perseverance

For any lover of space and NASA, this scale model of the Mars Perseverance Rover will be sure to delight!

LEGO Ideas Insect Collection with butterflies, praying mantis, and more.

LEGO Ideas Insect Collection

Nature Sets like this Insect Collection are absolutely gorgeous and so much fun for a seasoned builder! You might also check out the Kingfisher Bird.

More Holiday Gift Guides

Looking for other budget-friendly holiday gift guides? Don’t miss these:

And, check out all our budget-friendly holiday gift guides here!

Psst! Be sure to follow along as we post the best LEGO deals each day! And sign up for our hot deals newsletter to make sure you don’t miss any of the hottest deals each day!

Do you have any other fun ideas for unique gifts for LEGO lovers? Let us know in the comments!

Need Gift Ideas That Won’t Break The Bank?

We’ve rounded up our favorite affordable gifts to make shopping easier!

Browse Gift Ideas
Shared Nov 11, 2019 comment

Gretchen’s $55 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan

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Gretchen’s $55 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan

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

Aldi

1 loaf Bread – $0.95

1 pkg Frozen Broccoli – $0.95

1 bag Frozen Peas – $0.79

2 pkg Red Grapes – $4.93

1 pkg Fruit & Grain Bars – $1.35

1 pkg Chocolate Chips – $1.29

1 pkg Flour Tortillas – $0.99

2 Unsweetened Applesauce – $1.95

1 can Pumpkin – $0.85

1 bag Green Peppers – $1.49

1 gallon Milk – $1.49

1 pkg MooTubes – $1.55 (I bought this before I went to Dillons and saw the markdowns on Go-Gurts!)

2 dozen Eggs – $0.58 each

1 bag Tortilla Chips – $0.89

1 pkg Oven Roasted Turkey – $3.99

1 pkg Peanut Butter Crackers – $0.89

3 bags Spinach – $1.59 each

1 box Thin Wheat Crackers – $0.99

1 can Pineapple – $0.89

1 lb Butter – $2.89

1 Grape Tomatoes – $1.89

Total: $38.89

Dillons

1 Land O Lakes Half & Half – $2.28 (This didn’t make it into the picture for some reason.)

4 pkg Yoplait Go-Gurt – Marked down to $0.99 each

3 boxes Annie’s Mac & Cheese – $0.99 each

1 Mom’s Best Cereal – $1.99, used $1/1 e-coupon – $0.99 after coupon

3 boxes Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes – $1.49 each, used $1/3 e-coupon – $1.16 each after coupon

1 box Brownie Mix – $0.99

1 box Kroger Instant Oatmeal – $1.49

Total after coupons: $16.16

Total for both stores: $55.05

Menu Plan for This Week

We ended up doing a lot of snack dinners last week (popcorn, crackers, cheese, etc) due to an unexpectedly busy week. So I will be using meat and leftovers from last week for this week’s menu plan.

Breakfasts

Cereal, Eggs, Oatmeal, Spinach, Yogurt

Lunches

Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, Turkey Sandwiches, Tossed Salad, Baked Potatoes, Cheese/Crackers/Fruit/Yogurt, Mac & Cheese, Lunch at my parents (I’m bringing spinach for the salad bar and bread.)

Dinners

Leftovers

Hawaiian Haystacks

Chili, Biscuits, Fruit Salad

Bean Burritos, Chips & Salsa, Steamed Peas

Homemade Pizza, Breadsticks, Spinach Salad

Hamburgers, Steamed Broccoli, Homemade French Fries

Out to eat

Ready to stress less about money?Start with our FREE 5-Day Budget Makeover!

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Shared Nov 9, 2019 comment

Life Update: Pregnancy (week 15) + our big foster care news!

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Life Update: Pregnancy (week 15) + our big foster care news!

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

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

15 weeks and I’m not going to be able to camouflage this bump much longer. 😉

HIGHLIGHTS

I had another doctor’s appointment. It was super routine, but my doctor was so encouraging about how healthy I am, how healthy the baby is, and how well I am doing. That was such a blessing! In 5 weeks, I go back for my big 20-week anatomy scan!

NOTABLE

I had one really rough day this past week but other than that I had a few hours of most days where I felt so good that I sort of forgot I was pregnant! I started sitting on the exercise ball this past week because I can tell that these hips are starting to feel the usual aches and pains of pregnancy.

I discovered the power of sitting a few hours per day on an exercise ball and how much relief it provided for my tailbone/hip pain, so I’m trying to be proactive and start this early this time — especially since my hips are 11 years older than they were last time I was pregnant! 😉

CRAVINGS

This week, it was all about meat and carbs. Seriously, I craved roast, chicken, and noodles. And I’m still totally into cheese and cottage cheese!

WEIGHT GAIN: 7 pounds

Our Big Foster Care News!

After months and months of classes, homework, meetings, paperwork and more paperwork, doctor’s visits, TB testing, home visits, interviews, and hours and hours spent getting our home all set up and childproofed, we found out this past week that we our home is officially licensed as a foster home in TN!!

We have no idea what the future holds for us when it comes to foster care, but we are excited to continue on in this step of faith and obedience. We’ve been praying for the children who will be placed in our home and trusting God that He’s got a beautiful plan that we can’t really dream or imagine right now.

Obviously, there’s a lot I won’t be able to share about this journey in order to protect other family’s and kids’ privacy, but I will definitely share what I can while protecting the kids/families first and foremost (as that is one of our number one priorities as a foster home: to provide a safe place for kids and to pave the way for reunification).

We know this is going to be stretching and we have no idea what to expect, but we are looking forward to seeing what God has for us in this and how He’s going to use it to grow our family and change our lives.

In Case You Missed It:

Shared Nov 9, 2019 comment

This Week’s $70 Grocery Budget + What We Ate For Dinner

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This Week’s $70 Grocery Budget + What We Ate For Dinner

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

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

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

I was excited about the deals we found this week and we ate some really yummy food!

Kroger Shopping Trip #1

Some of the apples in the markdown bag above were Granny Smith, which none of us are fond of eating raw. So I made Cinnamon Apples in the Instant Pot with them.

These were a HUGE hit with the kids and they ate them up in just a few minutes. Next time, I definitely need to double the recipe!

I was so excited about a few of the Weekend Deals at Kroger — especially the cheese deal!

Kroger Shopping Trip #2:

  • La Croix — $1.99 per 8-pack with Friday-Sunday deals
  • Classico Pasta Sauce — $0.99 each with Friday-Sunday deals
  • 5 Simple Truth Greek yogurts — marked down to $0.49 each
  • 2 bags of Quaker Rice Snacks — $0.99 when you buy 10 participating items
  • 3 boxes Swiss Miss — $0.99 when you buy 10 participating items
  • 5 bags/packages Kroger cheese — $1.29 with Friday-Sunday deals
  • 2 containers cottage cheese — $1.49 each when you buy 10 participating items
  • Coconut sugar — marked down to $0.99
  • 3 boxes pasta — $0.49 each when you buy 10 participating items
  • 1 box pasta — marked down to $0.39
  • Taco Kit — marked down to $0.99
  • Half & Half — $1.49
  • 5 cans Green Giant veggies — $0.49 each when you buy 10 participating items
  • Grapes — $0.99/lb.
  • 2 packages meat — marked down to $2.50 each
  • Milk — $2.79
  • Honeycrisp apples — 3 lb. bag for $2.99
  • 4 cans Swanson broth — $0.49 each when buy 10 participating items
  • Total with tax: $48.34

Dinners From This Past Week

What did you eat at your house this week? Any winner frugal recipes you tried that you think we should try?

Shared Nov 9, 2019 comment

Holiday Shopping Guide

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Holiday Shopping Guide

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

Holiday shopping season doesn’t have to be a stressful time! If you find the holiday shopping season to be stressful, this post is for you. Eliminate mental, emotional, and financial stress with this Holiday Shopping Survival Guide!

Psst! Want access to all the HOTTEST deals this holiday season? Be sure to sign up for our Hot Deals Newsletter to make sure you don’t miss any of the hottest Black Friday and holiday deals!

Holiday Shopping Survival Guide

Holiday Shopping Guide: 4 Easy Steps to Follow when Holiday Season Shopping on a Budget!

If you find the holiday shopping season to be stressful, this post is for you! Eliminate mental, emotional, and financial stress with this Holiday Shopping Survival Guide!

Simplify holiday shopping and have a more peaceful Christmas season with these four quick & easy tips that will keep you organized and help you save more money:

1. Make your Holiday Shopping list ahead of time

If you wait until the last minute to make your shopping list, you’re sure to add stress to your life and extra expense to your gift budget!

Not only will making a list ahead of time help you feel more organized and have a more peaceful holiday season, but it will also give you more time to find the best price for each product on your list!

(And we’re here to help you find the best deals all season long. Follow along on Facebook or Instagram, join our Facebook group, or sign up for our hot deals newsletter to be sure to you don’t miss any of the hottest deals!)

Psst! Struggling to come up with gift ideas? Be sure to check out all the different holiday gift guides we’re putting together this year! We already have several live, and we’ll be rolling out more over the next week or two!

2. Determine a Holiday Shopping Season budget

Once you have your shopping list created, be sure to set a realistic gift budget. Keyword — realistic.

That means examining your current monthly budget and setting aside an amount of money you can actually afford without going into debt.

If you’re having a difficult time coming up with the money you need to buy all the gifts on your list, consider:

3. Start your Holiday Season Shopping early!

One of the biggest secrets to having a less stressful, more peaceful Christmas season is to get everything done earlier!

A lot of the best deals you’ll find are during the month of November, anyway! So why not shop early, get everything checked off your list, and take the month of December to just BE and enjoy!?

You’ll also avoid the last-minute rush of holiday crowds by shopping earlier.

Did you see Black Friday Ads are already rolling out? Also, be sure to sign up for our Hot Deals newsletter to get notified of the best deals each day!

4. Holiday Shopping Tips: Take advantage of coupon codes and cash back!

If you do most of your shopping online, don’t forget to check for coupon codes and cash back!

You can stretch your holiday gift budget so much further by combing coupon savings and getting cash back on your purchases.

Before making a purchase, check RetailMeNot or do a quick Google search for a coupon code. It can’t hurt, and more often than not, you’ll find a coupon code to use!

We especially love and recommend Rakuten for cash back on your online purchases.

Related:

Do you have any other holiday shopping tips? Let us know in the comments!

Shared Nov 9, 2019 comment

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

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

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

Aldi

1 gallon 1% Milk – $0.97

1 gallon Whole Milk – $0.97

1 16-oz carton Heavy Whipping Cream – $1.55

1 24-oz container Cottage Cheese – $1.59

1 1-lb box Butter – $2.29

2 boxes Honey Nut Crispy Oats – $2.38

1 box Crispy Rice – $0.99

4 bags Frozen Broccoli Florets – $3.80

1 bag Mini Cucumbers – $1.99

1 carton Grape Tomatoes – $1.49

1 bag Red Grapes ($0.89/lb) – $2.13

1 bag Mini Peppers – $1.99

2 Avocados – $0.98

1 bag Baby Carrots – $0.69

1 large carton Organic Spring Mix – $3.49

1 bag Romaine Hearts – $1.99

2 3-lb bags Gala Apples – $2.98

1 carton Strawberries – $1.29

1 carton Blackberries – $1.19

1 Pineapple – $1.49

1 Cauliflower – $1.99

4 cans Green Beans – $1.54

1 bag Cheese Sticks – $1.65

1 bunch Bananas ($0.39/lb) – $0.96

1 8-oz pkg Sliced Cheese – $1.49

1 16-oz pkg Deli Meat – $2.89

1 pkg Flour Tortillas – $0.99

1 loaf Sandwich Bread – $0.65

1 bag Gluten-Free Pretzels – $1.49

1 bag Pecans – $3.99

1 bag Chocolate Chips – $1.19

1 32-oz bag Shredded Cheddar Cheese – $4.99

2 cans Condensed Tomato Soup – $0.76

1 bag Nacho Cheese Chips – $0.85

1 bag Pea Crisps – $1.19

1 large canister Oats – $2.19

3 dozen Eggs – $2.34

1 can Whipping Cream – $2.49

1 jar Barbeque Sauce – $0.99

1 jar Ketchup – $0.99

1 jar Green Olives – $1.19

2 boxes Macaroni and Cheese – $0.50

1 2-lb bag Precooked Sausage Patties – $4.47

1 carton Vanilla Ice Cream (not pictured) – $2.49

Weekly Grocery Total: $80.51

Weekly Menu Plan

Breakfasts

Scrambled Eggs, Sausage (Birthday Breakfast Choice for my 13-year old)

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

Cereal, Fruit, Oatmeal, Toast, Boiled/Fried/Scrambled Eggs, Veggie Omelets, Gluten-Free Oatmeal Spice Muffins

Lunches

Deli Meat/Cheese Sandwiches, Apples, Carrots x 2

Pretzels with Peanut Butter, Cheese Sticks, Bananas, Cucumbers

Cheese Quesadillas, Grapes, Mini Peppers x 2

Leftovers x 2

Dinners

Shepherd’s Pie, Make-Ahead Butterhorns, Tossed Salad, Ice Cream Pie (Birthday Dinner Request)

Meatloaf, Fruit Salad, Relish Plate, Green Beans

Date Night Out (Macaroni and Cheese for kids at home)

Crispy Baked Chicken (I stuck the rest of the 10-lb bag I bought last week in the freezer), Roasted Cauliflower, Biscuits

Pancakes, Sausage, Broccoli (I had pancakes on my menu last week and we didn’t end up needing them)

Lasagna Casserole, Broccoli, Tossed Salad, Homemade Breadsticks in the Bread Machine

Leftovers

Shared Nov 6, 2019 comment

Bloggers: My mastermind is open to new members until Friday!

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Bloggers: My mastermind is open to new members until Friday!

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

I’m thrilled to let you know that — after months of having it closed — we are opening up Your Blogging Mastermind to new members this week only! I know many of you have been patiently waiting for when we would open up the Mastermind to new members — and now you don’t have to wait any more!

I want to see you succeed as a blogger. I want to teach you the lessons I’ve learned from failure and success, share secrets I’ve uncovered for building traffic and monetizing your blog, give you encouragement and motivation for when you’re feeling exhausted and burnt out, and provide accountability and cheerleading to help you live out the purpose for which you were created.

BONUS! Sign Up in Next 24 Hours & Get My Two LIVE Black Friday Coaching Sessions!

If you sign up for the Mastermind in the next 24 hours, you’ll get access to two LIVE one-hour live coaching sessions I’m teaching to my Mastermind members on how to effectively maximize earnings for Black Friday/Cyber Monday and Christmas sales!

Here are details on the two sessions you’ll get access to right away this week:

  • The first Live Coaching Session will be tomorrow night (Thursday, November 7, 2019 at 7 p.m. CT/8 p.m. EST) We’ll be talking about how to plan and prep for a successful Black Friday/Cyber Monday and how to be the most strategic over those two weeks. We’ll also talk a little about considering offering a special sale on whatever products/services you offer for Black Friday week.
  • The second Live Coaching Session will be on Saturday, November 9, 2019 at 10 a.m. CT/11 a.m. EST and we’ll be discussing more about how to make the most of affiliates during the Christmas season. I also want to talk a gift guides and how to be strategic with them.

Want to get invite to join these sessions or watch the replay? Just sign up for my Mastermind group in the next 24 hours!

Go here to sign up (Psst! You’ll get a FREE 7-day trial!)

Who is This Mastermind For?

This Mastermind is for you if you are:

  • A newer blogger who wants to learn how to better monetize your blog, produce consistent and inspiring content and grow your readership.
  • A intermediate blogger who wants real, actionable advice to help you increase your income and develop a more effective social media strategy, all while having a great work-life balance.
  • A more advanced blogger who is stuck in a blogging rut and paralyzed by the overwhelming noise of advice from “online experts” — who wants clarity and tangible steps to move forward and reach their blogging goals.

What Do I Get When I Register?

Signing up for Your Blogging Mastermind gives you an opportunity to interact with me and a network of like-minded bloggers and get answers to the pressing questions that matter to you and your business.

Your membership gives you:

  • 2 one-hour LIVE group coaching video sessions with me every month. These are a mix of me teaching, me bringing on members to share feedback (sort of like a “hot seat”), me critiquing your blogs and posts (I’ll give you opportunities to submit yours for some of the live video critique sessions), and me answering your burning blog-related questions. I may bring on an expert from time-to-time to guest teach on a topic where I don’t have a lot of experience.
  • Access to monthly office hours with me. I have open office hours for two hours each month where you can log on and chat with me via video about any specific questions you have related to blogging.
  • An invitation to an exclusive private social media platform (on Mighty Networks) for interacting with me and other Mastermind members. I’ll be in this forum a lot — answering your questions and engaging with you. Plus, it will be a place for you to ask your questions, get feedback, get to know other bloggers, possibly cross-promote each other, and share you blogging struggles and victories.
  • Access to all previous live coaching videos. You’ll get 9 months’ worth of live coaching sessions on topics that include how to monetize your blog through freebies and tripwires, how to write affiliate posts/product emails/launch pages that convert, how to effectively use instagram to explode your engagement, and so much more!
  • A free ticket to a yearly one day Blog Mastermind in Nashville with me and other members of the group (you’ll just need to cover your travel costs; there will be no cost for the event!) Our next event will be March 27-28, 2020.

For just $47 per month, you’ll get ALL of that! My hope is that this is an investment that will pay for itself again and again.

Don’t take my word for it! Here’s what Bridget from Sunshine and Rainy Days says:

Crystal is the REAL DEAL! I joined Your Blogging Mastermind a few months ago and have learned so much from the live sessions, group members, and Crystal herself!

One of my tripwire pages wasn’t converting well so I asked for feedback in the group. Guess what? The feedback I was given has helped my tripwire convert at a higher rate!

Crystal isn’t afraid to get in there, right along with us, and figure stuff out. She lets us in on her own blogging challenges and uses them as teaching opportunities. She is easy to talk to and is super active in the group! I’m thankful I have an awesome place to go to learn from a pro! – Bridget, Sunshine And Rainy Days”

Ready to take your blog to the next level?

Go sign up for Your Blogging Mastermind so you won’t miss out on the two live coaching sessions this week! (Psst! You’ll get a FREE 7-day trial!)