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Shared Jun 22, 2016 comment

Change doesn’t just drop in your lap

Published: by Crystal Paine on June 22, 2016 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

There are a few areas in my life right now that I really want to see change in. But I’ve been kind of hoping the change would just miraculously happen.

Change rarely just drops in your lap, though. Instead, it’s the result of intentional, consistent effort.

So today, I’m committed to getting up and taking the first step. And the next step. And the next step.

Wednesday, I’m showing up for you today. I’m not going to coast through you; I’m going to be intentional about playing full out, taking intentional baby steps, loving well, and making the most of you.

Shared Jun 21, 2016 comment

My Struggle With Fear & Anxiety (+ 3 practical ways to overcome it!)

Published: by Crystal Paine on June 21, 2016 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

One of the things I’ve struggled with most in life has been anxiety. I’ve had anxiety over new situations, anxiety over the unknown, anxiety over what other people will think of me, anxiety over failure, anxiety over abandonment, anxiety over not measuring up, anxiety over rejection… and on and on the list goes. To make matters worse, I’ve even had anxiety over my acute anxiety.

Many times, I’ve wished this wasn’t my story. I’ve wished I could be one of those people who just didn’t care about what other people thought, who loved new situations, who loved meeting new people, who let things roll off their back, and who didn’t spend hours of every week sick to their stomach with heart-palpitations and shortness of breath because of anxiety.

Starting a blog and being on social media has opened up many doors for me. It’s been an amazing journey for me — far beyond my wildest imaginations or dreams. And it’s given me literally thousands of opportunities to have to come face-to-face with my fears.

There are so many days when it would be easier to not share my words with the world, to not get on Periscope or Facebook Live, and to say “no” to opportunities that I know in my heart I should say “yes” to. It would be safe. It would be comfortable. And it would be {mostly} free from criticism.

But it would also mean I’d miss out on so much. I wouldn’t have built the beautiful relationships I have with other bloggers and readers. I wouldn’t get to hear your amazing stories. I wouldn’t get to work alongside my husband. I wouldn’t get to make a difference in South Africa. I wouldn’t get to inspire other women to use their gifts and skills to impact the world.

And most importantly, I wouldn’t have ever moved past the debilitating fear and into whole-hearted living.

{See all those empty seats? Those are a great way to make a speaker feel like a failure before she even steps foot on stage!}

I had to face those anxiety-inducing situations — like live video, speaking opportunities, media opportunities, live coaching, meeting with company executives, critical comments — and I’ve had to push past the fear and keep going. Because it was either fight through or flee.

Even when I wanted to run away, I made myself stay and punch fear in the face. Trust me, that sounds more noble than it’s often been.

Some days, I felt like I didn’t even have the courage to turn on the camera or leave my hotel room or pick up the phone and dial that number. I’m often literally visibly shaking and sweating.

But I’ve learned that the more I face my fears, the more I confront the anxiety, the less I focus on myself, and the more I believe the truth and replace the lies with truth, the more I experience joy from these experiences.

These 3 strategies have helped me push through the fear and anxiety and experience joy, fulfillment, and (yes!) even confidence:

1. Say Yes and Do it Scared

You have to be willing to accept that opportunity, even if you are scared to do it. Maybe, for you, it is hitting publish on a blog post or going live on Facebook Live video. It could be that you are scared of talking to the new person you’ve never met or volunteering for something at church.

Whatever the opportunity is that causes you fear and anxiety, if you know deep down in your heart it’s something you’re supposed to do, say yes — even if you’re terrified of it. That’s the first step to pushing past fear.

If you never accept any opportunities that scare you, you’ll never know the exhilarating feeling that comes from punching fear in the face. Say yes and do it scared!

2. Remind Yourself of the Truth

It’s so easy to let fear consume you after you have said yes to that thing that scares you. You start to feel anxious about the situation and wonder if you are good enough or if you will fail. When those lies start swimming around in your brain, remind yourself of the truth.

When you tell yourself lies for long enough, you start to believe them. Then, you start living under those lies so when you show up for the opportunity, you feel awkward and insecure. It’s time to reverse this trend!

The best way to develop confidence is to stop the negative messaging and replace it with positive truth. Instead of feeling like you don’t belong or you don’t have what it takes or you’re not enough, begin telling yourself the truth. Maybe you don’t feel it right now, but the more you tell yourself the truth, the more you will begin to believe it and live under it.

3. Fake Confidence Until You Feel It

This trick has been the thing that has helped me the most. When I go to step on a stage or go on live camera or walk into a situation that I know will cause me to feel anxious, I always rehearse the first two sentences of what I’m going to say in my head.

I will often visualize it and rehearse it multiple times. I sometimes practice how I’m going to say it, the voice inflections I’ll use, where I’ll stand, the hand motions I’ll use, and the confidence I’m going to fake.

Yes, I said fake. Because I’ve discovered that the more I fake confidence in the beginning, the more I actually start to feel it and live out of it. If you can fake it in those first few seconds, then a lot of times, you get over your fear and begin to actually FEEL confident. It’s amazing what a difference this has made for me!

What helps you push through fear and anxiety? I’d love to hear!

P.S. Need some extra encouragement? I highly recommend the book, Presence, by Amy Cuddy. I also encourage you to watch my YouTube video on How I Stopped Feeling Like I Wasn’t Good Enough.

Shared Jun 20, 2016 comment

If mama’s cup is empty, everyone suffers

Published: by Crystal Paine on June 20, 2016 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

The kids are asleep. The house is quiet. The kitchen is clean. What should I do??

24-year-old Crystal would have taken that as a sign it’s time to dive into the project list and tackle as many things as I possibly could before my eyes wouldn’t stay open any longer.

34-year-old Crystal sees that as a sign to set aside the to do list and instead do something to wind down, refuel her tank, and then go to bed early.

Maybe I’m just getting older and less energetic, but I hope it’s more so because I’m becoming wiser and recognize that there will be time tomorrow to tackle the to do list. For now, I need to take care of ME so that I’ll be able to take care of others well in the morning.

If mama’s cup is empty, everyone suffers.

(I’m just starting this book tonight. Have you read it??)

Shared Jun 20, 2016 comment

Southwestern Chicken Casserole

Published: by Crystal Paine on June 20, 2016 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

This Southwest Chicken Casserole is super delicious and SO simple to make! It’s a ridiculously easy recipe to wow guests and it freezes really well!

This Southwest Chicken Casserole is the easiest recipe ever and it's SO delicious! It will quickly become a family favorite -- especially one that the kids love!

I told you all that during my last freezer cooking session, I got creative (er, lazy) with our usual Southwest Roll-Ups recipe and turned it into a lasagna-like casserole. I wasn’t sure how we would like it, but I was curious to see!

Well, we pulled it out of the freezer and ate it recently and the verdict is in: it was a HUGE success! The whole family loved it!

In fact, we loved it better than the regular roll-ups recipe — which is saying a lot since those have been a family favorite for a long time.

Why You’ll Love this Southwest Chicken Casserole Recipe!

This recipe is SO much quicker to make than the roll-ups! It also seems a little fancier than the individual roll-ups, making it a great meal to serve to guests. Also, it’s just plan delicious!!

The only drawback to making it in a big batch like this is that if you’re freezing it, the thaw time is a lot longer. I had to let it thaw in the fridge for 24 hours after freezing it. (Just remember to plan ahead and you’ll be fine!)

Southwest Casserole Ingredients

2 cans refried beans (you can make your own Refried Beans with this recipe)
1/2 cup salsa
2-3 cups cooked chicken, chopped
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
6 tortillas (you can make your own Homemade Tortillas with this recipe)

How to Make Southwest Chicken Casserole

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF.

2. In a medium bowl, mix together beans, salsa, and chicken.

3. Spread 1/4th of the mixture on the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish.

4. Sprinkle with cheese and layer two tortillas on top.

5. Repeat these layers twice.

6. Top with a final layer of beans and sprinkle the rest of the cheese over the top.

7. Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until heated through.

Easy Southwest Chicken Casserole Recipe Tips

Try this recipe in the slow cooker if you don’t want to heat up your kitchen… simply layer it in your slow cooker and cook on low for 2-3 hours.

You can also freeze this dish before baking. Simply cover the pan with foil and freeze for up to 3 months. When you want to bake it, let it defrost overnight in the refrigerator then bake at350º for 45 minutes (or until heated through).

It’s also great for lunch leftovers throughout the week — just warm up single servings in the microwave for 30-60 seconds.

How to Serve Southwestern Casserole

The more toppings the better with this dish! It’s so yummy when topped with chopped lettuce, sour cream, salsa, guacamole, black olives, and maybe a little more cheese!

And don’t forget the tortilla chips!

How to store Southwestern Chicken Casserole

This casserole tastes great as leftovers — simply refrigerate it in a food storage container with a tight-fitting lid and it should last all week in the fridge (if you don’t eat it first!)

Recipe

Southwestern Casserole

Author Crystal Paine

Course Main Course

Cuisine Mexican

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 30

Ingredients

2 cans refried beans 16-oz each
1/2 cup salsa
3 cups cooked chicken chopped
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
6 tortillas

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350ºF.
In a medium bowl, mix together beans, salsa, and chicken.
Spread 1/4th of the mixture on the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish.
Sprinkle with cheese and layer two tortillas on top.
Repeat these layers twice.
Top with a final layer of beans and sprinkle the rest of the cheese over the top.
Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until heated through.

Notes

You can make your own refried beans with this recipe.

You can make your own tortillas with this recipe.

This recipe is freezer-friendly and could also be made in a slow cooker (layer ingredients and cook on low for 2-3 hours.

Nutrition

Love this recipe?

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Shared Jun 20, 2016 comment

8 Ways To Save Money on Meat

Published: by Crystal Paine on June 20, 2016 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Guest post from Sarah of Sidetracked Sarah

Unless you’re a vegetarian, you most likely buy meat on a regular basis — and those meat prices can add up quickly! It can be hard to find ways to save money on meat, as you typically just have to pay the going price.

We have a busy and hungry family of 9 people, and buying enough meat to feed us all can be VERY expensive, especially now that we have a few teenagers in the house. Here are a few ways that we’ve saved money on meat for our family throughout the years:

1. Buy in Bulk

While this can be pricey up front, it will likely save you lots of money in the long run. We’ve bought meat in bulk in a number of ways.

Shop Sam’s Club
You can buy a case of ground beef at the meat counter and the price is reduced more than it normally is. You just have to have a plan in place of how you are going to store it and/or use it. For instance, you could plan to have a Crockpot Freezer Meals cooking day, using these hamburger recipes. Or you could plan to separate it into 1-2 pound packs and freeze it.
Buy a Side of Beef From a Local Farmer
You can purchase a whole cow, half a cow, or even a quarter of a cow from a farmer and have it processed at a meat processing plant.

Typically, the beef you get from this tastes much better than the store bought kind AND you get those expensive cuts of meat that you typically don’t buy because of how outrageously priced they are. I recently ate T-bone steaks for $3.50 a pound!

2. Shop the Sales Circulars

Stores tend to go in cycles of when they lower the price of certain cuts of meat. Watch the cycles and prices and buy them when they’re at their lowest.

3. Find Creative Replacements

Here are two simple ideas for replacing expensive meat with less expensive options:

Decrease the amount of meat a dish calls for and add beans or other ingredients in its place.
Mix a less expensive cut of meat with ground beef. We commonly have done this with venison.

4. Eat Venison

Do you have a deer hunter in the family? Or maybe a hunting friend? Ask them if you pay for their hunting tag if they would let you keep the meat from the deer and have it processed.

If you have a hard time with the wild game flavor, mix it with hamburger meat or use it in dishes that require heavy seasoning, like chili.

Here in Southeast Kansas, if you call the Sheriff’s office, they will put you on a list of people who would like to pick up roadkill deer in good enough condition to be processed. If you get the call, you simply go out and pick up the deer right after it happens and then transport it to the local meat processing plant.

5. Use Food Buying Clubs

Recently, I was able to buy 40 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts from Zaycon Foods for $1.69 a pound. They don’t offer deals like this very often, but it’s well worth it to stock up when they offer it.

There may be other food buying clubs in your area that you could join that have great meat prices, too. Ask your friends and family to see if they’ve heard of anything in your area.

6. Raise a Cow

I hear what you’re saying,”But, we don’t have land!” I realize, I live in Kansas, where there are lots of farms all over the place, so this may be much more applicable to me than to you, but I couldn’t leave it out.

I’m writing this list because I want you to think a little outside of the box. Some of our friends live on 80 acres and they have cows on it. They offered to let us put a cow out there, too. All we really have to do is provide any feed that it may need.

Now, I realize you may not have a friend out there who will do this, but is there a farmer who would accept a fee from you to do this, still making the meat less expensive? It’s worth a shot.

7. Go Fishing

My husband loves to fish but he doesn’t love to clean the fish. If, however, someone offered to take any fish that he caught and clean them, so they could eat them, I’m sure he would gladly hand them over.

There are probably plenty of fisherman who would do this. Of course, you could be even more adventurous and go cast your rod in and catch the fish yourself. Yes, that would be much more fun!

8. Shop the Markdowns

Every store handles their soon-to-be expired meat differently. I’ve seen Dillon’s freeze it and offer it for sale for cheaper in a special section. Walmart immediately marks it down when it’s getting closer. Other stores probably do similar things.

Get to know your store. When do they mark their meat down? For us, it’s first thing in the morning, so it pays to be an early shopper. If you can’t figure it out, go and ask the meat manager when the best time to buy meat that is close to expiration. I’m sure they’ll happily pass this information on, as it will help them get rid of the meat faster.

How do YOU save on meat?

Sarah Robinson, busy mom of 7, blogs regularly about feeding her busy family on her blog Sidetracked Sarah. She’s discovered the secret to having stress-free dinner times by regularly using Crockpot Freezer Meals. She would love to give you a free Freezer to Slow Cooker one week meal plan when you visit her here.

WANT TO SAVE $100 FAST?!Join the FREE 14-Day Savings Challenge!

Click here to sign up!

Shared Jun 20, 2016 comment

Today: Your response is your responsibility

Published: by Crystal Paine on June 20, 2016 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Maybe you needed this reminder today, too?

Monday, we’re not going to let you get us down! We’re going to choose love, choose joy, choose gratitude, choose courage, and choose to do the next right thing.

Shared Jun 19, 2016 comment

5 Things I’m Loving This Week

Published: by Crystal Paine on June 19, 2016 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

1. A Funny Introvert Quote

This made me laugh this week. And judging from the comments and likes on the post, I’m not alone there.

2. A Choose Joy Banner

I met Mandy from Happy Hoot Parties at the Business Boutique event. She was SO sweet to send me one of her adorable products recently — this Choose Joy banner. I love it and love the constant reminder it gives to choose a positive outlook during the day!

3. Volunteering in the Childrens’ Ministry at Church

I started volunteering in the Girls’ Class at church on Sundays — much to Kathrynne and Kaitlynn’s great excitement. (I had no idea they would think it was the coolest thing ever or I would have volunteered sooner!!) I’m so grateful to have a much quieter schedule these days with a lot less travel — which means I can be involved in volunteer opportunities like this!

{Last Sunday, the girls were supposed to journal and decorate a page of things they were thankful for. The teachers/volunteers joined in and it was so good to sit and just document a page of gratitude to the Lord.}

4. Camp in the City

Our kids went to Camp in the City hosted by Pinecove/our church this week. They had so much fun! This is their second year to participate in this camp and they just absolutely love it.

Plus, Jesse and I got to have some great quality time together — including a lunch/movie date one afternoon plus have lots of good conversation and get a number of work projects completed, too.

5. Poldark

Multiple readers suggested we should watch this show since I loved Downton Abbey. I was leery of it, because it’s not one of my favorite time periods and it was hard to imagine anything could top my love for Downton.

But we’re finished the first season this week and we’ve fallen in love. Jesse and I both think this show is very, very well done, highly engaging, and the character development is rich and deep. There are a few parts that are a little edge-y, but all in all, we’re finding it fantastic and such a fun show to watch together. (Best of all, Season 2 is supposed to be coming out soon!)

What are YOU loving this week? Tell us in the comments!

Shared Jun 18, 2016 comment

5 Tips to Start an Online Business While Working Full-Time

Published: by Crystal Paine on June 18, 2016 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Guest post from Monica of Redefining Mom

As a mom who had a stressful corporate career, I learned really fast that trying to build an online business while maintaining my full-time job was going to be extremely difficult.

I started blogging in 2013, as an outlet to vent my frustration about how hard it was to maintain a corporate career and be a mom after I had my daughter in October 2012. As I became invested in the online business and blogging community, I was blown away by other moms making a full-time income while being at home with their kids. It seemed like the answer to my prayers!

But how would I ever find the time?

I spent at least 10-11 hours of my day commuting to work and sitting in a poorly lit cubicle where working on my blog was not considered acceptable. On top of that, when I wasn’t at work, I wanted to spend as much quality time as I could with my family.

I quickly learned that to be successful and earn an income from my blog, I was going to have to become a time management ninja!

Here are three tips I’ve implemented in my online business that enabled me to bring in a part-time income from my home while working full-time at my day job:

1. Schedule dedicated time to work on your business.

The most important part of scheduling the time to work on your business is to write it down on the calendar, let your family know, and set proper expectations for this time being uninterrupted work time. Here are some ways you can do that:

Wake up 30-minutes earlier
Schedule a night in a hotel room by yourself
Escape to a coffee shop on a Saturday morning
Go to a networking event for entrepreneurs or a blogging conference

2. Find an accountability buddy or mastermind group.

We’ve all heard the saying, “it takes a village”. Well, online business is no different. Trying to do it alone will set you back months, if not years.

This is one piece of advice I wish I had listened to early on in my blogging career. I always hated networking in my corporate career. I thought making the time to network with other bloggers would only take up more time that I didn’t have.

This couldn’t be further from the truth! The online business community thrives on partnerships and you’ll come to learn that it truly is WHO you know.

Put yourself out there. Join Facebook groups, lend your expertise, ask questions, and get to know your fellow business owners!

3. Realize that you can’t be everything to everyone.

When I started blogging, I talked about a lot of random topics. One day I was talking about the business trip I just went on and the next I was giving advice on how to lose weight.

While there is nothing wrong with writing about a lot of different topics, it’s not an effective way to build a business. If you want people to keep coming back to read what you have to say, they need to identify with you. That means your topics need to be dialed in and your messaging needs to be clear.

While it may seem counterintuitive, the less you focus on, the more people will come! That’s because the people who do come will feel emotionally invested in what you have to say.

4. Consider Yourself a Business Owner from Day 1

Don’t downplay what you are building when you are talking to family and friends! The best way to succeed in your business is to believe in it. That confidence will help you to believe in yourself even when it gets hard and you feel like quitting.

5. Don’t be afraid to get started.

I know that finding time to work on an online business while you have a full-time job can be intimidating, but it’s also so much fun. Don’t let fear of the unknown stop you!

You have something amazing to offer, so let’s see it!

Monica Froese is a mom, wife, marketing director, and entrepreneur. She has an MBA degree in finance and blogs at Redefining Mom, a site for empowering working moms. Her passion is to help other moms build online businesses through her free 7-day e-course, Busy Moms Building Online Businesses.

Note from Crystal: Want to start your own business? Check out my FREE 5-day course on How I Make a Full-Time Income From Home.

photo source

Shared Jun 17, 2016 comment

How to Avoid Fast Food on Busy Nights (and Save Big!)

Published: by Crystal Paine on June 17, 2016 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Guest post from Jamie of Medium Sized Family

When you have five children like my Hubby and I do, you can expect to be busy a lot of the time. For our family, baseball season is especially hectic. We have kids playing on four different teams, so we are running to practice or games more often than not.

In the past, this has meant hitting a lot of fast food places for a quick meal.

But this year, that isn’t an option. Our family is in the middle of paying off a big debt, and we are spending every penny carefully. We are calling it the #YearofNo; and that means no fast food.

Last year during baseball season, we spent hundreds of dollars on fast food. So far this year we have spent $5! Here’s how we are avoiding fast food in our busy season:

Meal Prepping

Whether you call it supper or dinner, this meal can be stressful. You are often trying to scarf down food and get out the door. Often, that stress is what makes me want to give up on the thought of putting together a meal and just join the drive thru line instead.

Here are a few simple meals that lessen the stress:

1 Burritos in the Freezer

I printed out Crystal’s Brown Bag Burrito recipe years ago. Our family loves the taste of them. I love the fact that I can put together a batch of them without taking up too much time. They wait in our freezer, ready to warm up at a moment’s notice.

Not only that, but you can easily take them along with you if you have to be extra fast.

I have also made burritos out of leftover chicken I had made for a different meal. This can be a great way to use up leftovers, especially if you made a meal with a bit of a Mexican flair. Just be sure to label your bags so you know which ingredients are inside!

2. Slow Cooker Meals

Collect as many simple but great Crock Pot ideas as you can handle. Keep them simple, so that you can throw them together whenever you have the time.

You can deal with a different Crock Pot meal each morning. Or you can take one day to compile seven meals into bags that you can just drop into the pot on the morning you need them. Do what fits your schedule best.

The great part about the Crock Pot is that you don’t have to be in the kitchen when you really need to be finding cleats. You can also eat the moment everyone is ready to sit down instead of waiting for something to finish cooking.

3. Sandwiches

Hot or cold, sandwiches are a great option for on the go eating.

Pair it with a crock pot recipe for sandwich fillings and you’re in great shape! Add variety by using buns, sandwich bread, tortillas or wraps, french bread loaves cut into individual portions, pretzel bread, or whatever you can find in your local grocery store.

4. Mac & Cheese in a Cup

Whether you make homemade mac & cheese or use the blue box (you’ll get no judgement from me!), take it along in a cup for a little variety.

Plan Ahead for School Lunches

Buying a school lunch always costs more than one we can pack from home. Here’s how we make packing a lunch easier.

Make It Easy to Pack Lunches the Night Before

Our family prefers to pack lunches the night before. We place cold things in a basket in the fridge. Room temperature items wait in the lunch boxes for the next morning.

But getting home late from sporting events makes it tough to keep up with school lunches.

I try to prepare for that by having easy to grab foods close at hand. Making a sandwich can take more time than you want to spend after being at a ball game all night. Hard boiled eggs, muffins, or cold pizza slices are all great choices.

Bring Snacks and Drinks On the Go

If your kids are like mine, they probably spend a lot of time begging for things from the concession stand. I try to anticipate this and head it off as much as possible.

I do that by bringing our own snacks and drinks along to the games. Water coolers or even a pack of juice boxes are cheaper at the grocery store. I bring along cut up fruit (grapes, melons, and berries keep pretty well), raisins, trail mix, breakfast bars, and even some fun candy.

You can avoid pricey convenience food and make great strides in paying off debt with a plan.

Following these tips will make your life a little easier and a lot less stressful. Not to mention the money you’ll save by planning ahead!

What are your favorite recipes and tips for avoiding fast food on busy nights?

Jamie Jeffers can be found on a baseball field almost daily. But you might find it easier to visit her via her blog, Medium Sized Family. That’s where she gives her best money saving tips. Follow along as her family continues their BHAG (big, hairy, audacious goal) of paying off a big debt this year.

Shared Jun 17, 2016 comment

Brigette’s $61 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6

Published: by Brigette on June 17, 2016 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Aldi

1 bunch Bananas (2.85lbs @ $0.39/lb) – $1.11

10-lb bag Russet Potatoes – $3.49

1 64-oz carton Orange Juice – $1.69

1 Cauliflower – $2.49

7 ears Sweet Corn – $1.40

1 jar Gourmet Pasta Sauce – $1.99

1 jar Meat Sauce – $0.99 (My husband did the shopping this week. I wrote “pasta sauce” on the list, and he came home with the “gourmet” and the “regular.” If he is unsure of what to buy – I usually end of with multiple brands/flavors of the same thing. :))

2 bags Sliced Pepperoni – $4.38

3lbs frozen Ground Turkey – $5.67

2lbs Green Grapes – $1.58

6lbs fresh Ground Beef – $14.27 (Since we still have leftover produce and eggs from last week to use up, I used the extra money to buy ground beef and turkey to freeze.)

1 3-lb bag Lemons – $2.49

1 bag Mini Sweet Peppers – $1.99

2lbs fresh Asparagus – $3.98

1 4-pk Zucchini – $1.49

1 3-ct pkg Romaine Hearts – $1.99

1 Cream Cheese – $1.29

1 24-oz carton Cottage Cheese – $2.29

2 16-oz cartons Egg Whites – $3.98

1 gallon Milk – $2.99

Total: $61.55

Weekly Menu Plan

Breakfasts

Cereal x 2

Oatmeal x 2

Oatmeal Waffles (recipe from a church cookbook)

Eggs, Toast, Fruit

Cinnamon Rolls, Eggs

Lunches

Almond Butter and Jelly Sandwiches, Bananas, Carrots x 2

Veggie Omelets with Cheese, Fruit x 2

Baked Potatoes with Broccoli and Cheese, Grapes

Leftovers x 2

Dinners

Taco Salad, Cornbread, Spanish Rice

Hotdogs, Grilled Corn on the Cob, Macaroni and Cheese, Fruit Salad

Spaghizza, Quick Soft Breadsticks, Tossed Salad

Grilled Chicken, Roasted Cauliflower and Zucchini, Grilled Corn on the Cob

Venison Roast in the Crockpot, Twice Baked Potatoes, Asparagus, Cottage Cheese Pie (Father’s Day)

Leftovers x 2

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Click here to download!

Shared Jun 16, 2016 comment

Gretchen’s $54.20 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan

Published: by Crystal Paine on June 16, 2016 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Aldi

1 bag Green Grapes – $1.58

2 pints Blueberries – $0.99 each

2 cartons Strawberries – $1.99 each

1 gallon Milk – $1.89

1 Graham Pie Crust – $1.19

1 loaf Bread – $1.39

2 dozen Eggs – $1.38 each

1 pkg Celery – $1.29

1 pkg Frozen Tilapia – $3.39

1 lb Ground Beef – $2.99

1 pkg Summer Sausage – $3.79

1 pkg Carrots – $0.99

2 Cucumbers – $0.49 each

1 pkg Rice Cakes – $1.29

1 Cauliflower – $1.89

1 pkg Tomatoes – $1.49

1 pkg Chocolate Chips – $1.79

1 Frosted Flakes – $1.29

Total: $34.57

Dillons

1 pkg Frozen Chicken Breasts – $6.99, used $1.45/1 e-coupon – $5.54 after coupon

1 bag frozen Broccoli – $1, used $0.50/1 e-coupon – $0.50 after coupon

1 bag frozen Peas – $1

2 bags Shredded Cheese – $1.88 each, used $0.25/1 Ibotta rebate – $1.75 each after rebate

1 pkg Cream Cheese – $1.25

2 Cottage Cheese – $1 each, used $0.75/2 catalina coupon – $0.62 each after coupon

1 Kroger Sliced Cheese – $1.67

1 box Cheerios – $2, used $0.75/1 printable – $1.25 after coupon

1 Kroger Jelly – $1.79

0.91 lbs Peaches – $0.90

1 Romaine Lettuce – $0.99

Total after coupons and rebate: $19.63

Total for both stores: $54.20

Menu Plan for This Week

Breakfasts

Eggs and Toast x 3

Cereal x 3

Oatmeal and Fruit

Lunches

Tossed Salad Bar x 2

Mac & Cheese, Veggies

Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, Fruit

Cheese Quesadillas, Carrot Sticks

Lunch at my parents

Leftovers

Dinners

Grilled Tilapia, Steamed Peas, Toast, Pudding Pie

Summer Sausage, Crackers, Cheese, Veggies

French Toast, Eggs, Fruit

Spaghetti, Biscuits, Steamed Broccoli

Build Your Own Haystacks

Chicken Pockets, Steamed Peas

Leftovers

Shared Jun 16, 2016 comment

How I Do It All (my top 2 time management principles)

Published: by Crystal Paine on June 16, 2016 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

People ask me all the time, “How do you do it all?” Well, it’s safe to say that the most accurate answer is, “I don’t do it all. I’ve selectively chosen to only do a few things and to aim to do those well. And there are plenty of times when I feel like I’m failing at even those few things.”

Practically speaking, I have 2 time management principles I live my life by:

1) You are not a slave to your calendar.

You can choose to say yes or to say no. If you’re overwhelmed and busy, you can almost always choose to make changes to simplify. (I did a scope on this last night, if you’re interested.)

2) In the absence of a plan, there is chaos.

A builder would never build a house without blueprints. A pilot would never fly somewhere without a flight plan. And so, if we want order and focus in our lives — and we want to actually make progress in the right direction — we need to create a plan for our days.

This can be as simple as 3-4 items that are your priorities for the day on a whiteboard or a long list with 30-minute time blocks. Do what works for you and your family.

{Many of you have asked what my daily plans look like. Shown above is a real-life example of my plan for today to give you an idea. My kids are at camp during the day this week and today is a really heavy project/work day so this is reflected in the list.}

Links to items shown in the picture: The Book I’m Reading — Loving My Actual Life, My Gratitude Journal, She Reads Truth, Erin Condren Journal

Shared Jun 15, 2016 comment

Choosing joy… and extra coffee!

Published: by Crystal Paine on June 15, 2016 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

I had planned to go to bed early last night and then unexpected thing after unexpected thing happened which meant I went to bed way later than I had planned… So then I woke up later than I would have liked this morning (because I am working hard to make sleep a priority so I let myself sleep in some).

I felt tired and behind, the kids were already up and snapping at each other, and I wished I could just crawl back into bed. But I needed to get the kids fed and out the door for camp and I needed to get on with my other responsibilities for the day.

So I have a choice: I can go through my day snapping at everyone, feeling stressed, and complaining about being tired. Or, I can choose to be grateful for the sleep I got, choose to be thankful for the opportunity to be flexible, and choose to embrace the moment right in front of me.

I’m going to choose the latter. And also, I think I might choose some extra coffee, too. 😉

Let’s choose joy today — no matter what our circumstances or struggles are. They don’t have the power to ruin our attitude.

{The banner was a gift from Mandy at Happy Hoot Parties. I adore it!}

Shared Jun 14, 2016 comment

A baseball, a broken window, and the best way to break free from guilt & shame

Published: by Crystal Paine on June 14, 2016 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

I heard the crash.

It almost sounded like a gunshot.

I knew something had broken. Possibly a window. Possibly worse.

Silas was outside and my mother’s intuition knew that it wasn’t good. I immediately went to see what had happened… even though I was a little scared to see what it was.

He met me at the bottom of the stairs, before I had a chance to investigate. His head was down, his voice quivering, “Mom, it’s really b-a-d.”

I could tell he was really upset. Shame was written all over his face.

He had done something bad and he felt terrible about it.

He pointed to the large window above our front door and I saw the big hole his baseball had left.

Instead of frustration, I instantly felt compassion. It had been an accident. He had been throwing his baseball against the garage door and it had ricocheted off the door and hit the window and busted right through it.

Was he throwing it too close to the window? Possibly. Was he being a little careless? Maybe.

But he knew that he had caused damage and he felt so upset about it. He wanted to make it right, he was extremely apologetic, and felt very repentant over his actions.

This was not the time for harsh words or lectures. Instead, I wrapped my arms around him and told him that I loved him, that I wasn’t upset with him, and that it could easily be fixed.

I talked to him about how I was grateful no one had gotten hurt, I was glad it was our window, and how this would be a reminder to be more careful with baseballs in the future.

He still looked scared and upset, so I asked him, “Want to know what I did when I was 17?” And then I proceeded to tell him the story of when I accidentally crashed our family’s van into the front of the garage — permanently damaging some of the brick and requiring a lot of creativity by my dad to patch up the area with extra trim.

I was upset at myself for months over that accident. I replayed it over and over in my head again — wishing I wouldn’t have been careless, wishing my reflexes would have kicked in faster, wishing I just wouldn’t have been driving that day. It was very embarrassing — especially since I felt I was old enough that I shouldn’t have made a dumb mistake like that.

But last week, when Silas broke the front window, I was grateful for that seemingly “dumb” mistake. It gave me the ability to be more compassionate with my son and to remember the shame I felt over a careless action.

Earlier this week, I shared the story in our Financial Peace University class (we just started facilitating the course with a small group of friends). One of the class participants was sharing how they were so frustrated with themselves over some “stupid” financial mistakes they had made. They wished they could go back and re-do the last few years and not make the same decisions.

I encouraged this individual by reminding them of three things:

We all make mistakes. Mistakes don’t make us failures; they make us human. There is no such thing as a person who hasn’t experienced failure or setbacks or made mistakes that cost them in some way or another.
Carrying guilt accomplishes nothing. There is never anything good that comes from carrying around guilt over our mistakes. Remind yourself of what the truth is when you want to beat yourself up over your failures.
Making mistakes makes us more compassionate. Just like I was able to be more compassionate toward Silas because of my own garage door accident, so the mistakes you make will give you the ability to have more empathy and understanding toward others in your life.

So, instead of beating yourself up over the mistakes you’ve made, remember that we’re all human, replace the guilt with the truth, and look for opportunities to extend grace and kindness toward others when they make mistakes.

It will not only allow you to move on from the shame and guilt, but you never know how your compassion toward another in the midst of their own dark place might be the hope they need to keep moving forward when they want to give up.

Your turn: Tell us about a mistake you made in your life & how you’ve moved on from it in a healthy manner.

Shared Jun 13, 2016 comment

Seven Ways We Lowered Our Gluten-Free Grocery Bill

Published: by Crystal Paine on June 13, 2016 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Guest post from Jen of Working At Homeschool

Our grocery budget was unprepared when my oldest daughter was diagnosed with Celiac disease three years ago.

At the time, I was caught off-guard – I didn’t know anyone who had Celiac disease who could give us advice, and the grocery stores were filled with brightly colored gluten-free packaged foods that seemed like necessities (they weren’t).

My first shopping trip post-diagnosis was a total failure. I spent my entire monthly budget for food on one week of groceries! How could a family who had heavily relied on pastas, breads, and tortillas survive financially when the gluten-free counterparts were triple the cost?

We didn’t plan well and overspent immediately after her diagnosis; however, we have finally figured it out, and now our grocery budget (and our family) is healthier than ever!

Here are the 7 main ways we have lowered our grocery bill while eating gluten-free:

1. We use naturally gluten-free foods.

We plan our meals and snacks around foods that are naturally gluten-free like meats, eggs, dairy, vegetables, rice, quinoa, fruit, and nuts. We used to buy Goldfish crackers and granola bars, but my kids are just as happy with cheese sticks, almonds, and sliced veggies – which are a fraction of the cost!

2. We don’t buy pre-packaged gluten-free “replacement” foods.

Instead of pricey packages of gluten-free substitutes for pasta, tortillas, bread, and desserts, we substitute spaghetti squash, regular corn tortillas, and the kids’ favorite ice cream.

3. We buy in bulk.

We buy gluten-free flour in bulk when we find it at a decent price.

Most gluten-free foods are full of ingredients that aren’t very good for you, and gluten-free flours are no exception. But my daughter has cravings for yummy, homemade bread (and I don’t blame her!) so we stock up on gluten-free flour and make it as a special treat from time to time.

4. We don’t waste!

When we do make gluten-free bread, we use the heel ends or leftovers to make croutons or crackers.

5. We avoid more expensive “natural” stores.

If we do need to buy gluten-free, we make sure to buy online or at the local grocery store.

We’ve compared prices multiple times over the years and discovered that the staples can be found at Kroger or Trader Joe’s for a far better price than a specialty store known for gluten-free foods.

6. We buy regular cereals instead of specialty cereal.

My kids love cereal, and while we used to have to buy a separate box for my daughter because it was so expensive, now many cereals that have coupons available are going gluten-free. We can buy Chex, Cheerios, and several others without breaking the bank.

7. We research specially labeled “gluten-free” products before we buy them.

Some products (pure vanilla extract, for one) are naturally gluten-free – but some are marketed as a gluten-free product unnecessarily. A quick Google search revealed that most, if not all, pure vanilla extracts are completely gluten-free and there is no reason for me to spend an extra $4 on a specially-marked bottle.

These are just 7 ways we’ve saved money as a gluten-free family.

Have you cut out gluten? How do you save money?

Jen is a work-at-home homeschooling mom who works part-time on her website, workingathomeschool.com, part-time for a non-profit ministry, and full-time wrangling her 5 young kids. Jen writes passionately about Bible-based homeschooling, organization, healthy gluten-free food, and meal planning. While acknowledging that meal planning is an incredibly boring hobby to have, she is thankful that it works to the benefit of her readers as she provides monthly free printable healthy menus, meal plans, and shopping lists.

Summer Bucket List

Summer Bucket List

FREE Summer Bucket List!!

1. Say Yes and Do it Scared

2. Remind Yourself of the Truth

3. Fake Confidence Until You Feel It

What helps you push through fear and anxiety? I’d love to hear!

Why You’ll Love this Southwest Chicken Casserole Recipe!

Southwest Casserole Ingredients

How to Make Southwest Chicken Casserole

Easy Southwest Chicken Casserole Recipe Tips

How to Serve Southwestern Casserole

How to store Southwestern Chicken Casserole

Southwestern Casserole

Ingredients 1x2x3x

Instructions

Notes

Nutrition

Love this recipe?

FREE DOWNLOAD: 60 Meals To Help You Avoid Takeout!

1. Buy in Bulk

2. Shop the Sales Circulars

3. Find Creative Replacements

4. Eat Venison

5. Use Food Buying Clubs

6. Raise a Cow

7. Go Fishing

8. Shop the Markdowns

How do YOU save on meat?

WANT TO SAVE $100 FAST?!Join the FREE 14-Day Savings Challenge!

1. A Funny Introvert Quote

2. A Choose Joy Banner

3. Volunteering in the Childrens’ Ministry at Church

4. Camp in the City

5. Poldark

What are YOU loving this week? Tell us in the comments!

1. Schedule dedicated time to work on your business.

2. Find an accountability buddy or mastermind group.

3. Realize that you can’t be everything to everyone.

4. Consider Yourself a Business Owner from Day 1

5. Don’t be afraid to get started.

Meal Prepping

Plan Ahead for School Lunches

What are your favorite recipes and tips for avoiding fast food on busy nights?

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