Saving Families Money Since 2007
Sara in Shanghai has put together the ultimate list of 50+ boredom busters with 8 household items. As long as you have her list of 8 essential items in stock, you’ll be ready to combat your children’s boredom with these fun ideas.
UPDATE: The Sale Page for this was down for close to an hour last night for many people — myself included — so they’ve extended the sale through noon today for those who tried to buy last night and couldn’t get it to work.
So, the Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle sale ends TONIGHT and I feel badly that I flaked on you all. Okay, well, I did mention it a few times this past week, but not at all like I’d planned to…
Instead, I spent the last few weeks dealing with a cancer scare, prepping for surgery, and recovering from surgery. And all my great intentions went out the window.
While I didn’t get a chance to invest all of the time into reviewing the products and writing those posts, I did spend the last day really going over all of the material in-depth and I just have to write this post. Because the Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle offer is only good through midnight tonight (September 14, 2015).
After tonight, it’s gone and you won’t be able to order it. If you wake up tomorrow morning and try to order it, your chance is over.
So even though almost none of my great intentions panned out, since I have the energy today to finally put into writing a lengthy post about it, I’m going to give it what I’ve got!
I believe strongly in the value of this bundle. And I’m going to pull out all the stops in this post to show you why I think it’s such an amazing value. But I need you to do something for me.
You see, I am here to help you spend your money in the wisest manner possible. I turn down many opportunities on a daily basis to promote things because I only want to promote the best of the best here.
So here’s what I need you to do: If you are not in a financial place to purchase the Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle, will you do me a huge favor and just skip this post? The last thing I want to do is to encourage you to buy something that you can’t afford.
For the rest of you, though, I want you to carefully consider whether purchasing the Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle is a good deal for you. And I want to share a few compelling reasons why I can rubber-stamp this deal and stand behind it:
Do you want to help your family eat better and feel better but you’re just overwhelmed by all of the information out there? The Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle comes with hands-on help ebooks like the Detox Your Home Handbook, Three Weeks to Vitality, Eating for Energy, and Your Grace-Filled Journey to Real Foods.
Value: These 4 resources mentioned are worth more separately than you’ll pay for the entire bundle. And the money you could potentially save on doctor’s visits and medication could be substantial. But not only that, think of the gift you’ll be giving your family by helping them live healthier lives!
There are a lot of confusing and conflicting viewpoints about essential oils out there with different people telling you different brands are superior to others or the only safe ones to use. Going through the Essential Oils for Families course will educate you on why essential oils work and how to use them. Best of all, the course is done from a completely non-biased perspective when it comes to essential oil brands.
Value: The Essential Oils course is a value of $135! And you get it + all of the other resources in this bundle for just $29.97! That’s definitely what I call a deal!
3. It Will Help You Sleep BetterOkay, so I can’t completely guarantee this one, but it’s been true for me! One of the bonuses you get with the purchase of the Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle is a choice of a free 2-oz liquid herbal formula from Trilight Health. I’ve ordered the Peace Treaty as a bonus with a previous bundle and I have quickly decided this stuff really, really works. In fact, if you need to get up really early for some reason, don’t take it before bed, because it truly knocks you out.
I experimented with taking it and can tell a significant difference in how well and how deeply I sleep when I take it as compared to when I don’t. Your results may differ from mine, but for me, I think this stuff rocks!
Value: You do have to pay shipping — which is around $3-5 per order — but getting a bottle of this herbal formula for just a few dollar was very worth it to me. I likely would have never tried it and discovered how well it worked had it not come as a bonus with the bundle!
Do you wish you could find a way to stick with exercise goals and actually lose those persistent pounds? There are 13 different fitness and weight loss products included in this bundle — close to a total of a $400 value!
The Fit2B course in this bundle might be a great help to you! It contains 5 lessons with 5 videos outlining 5 days of different routines containing 5 exercises done 5 times for 5 sets! And best of all, you can do these lessons in 10-15 minutes!
The 7-Day Diet Plan will teach you how to drop a dress size while enjoying filling, delicious green smoothies.
The Thrive 90 course is a step-by-step program in the comfort of your own home for only 15-30 minutes per day and immediately start to enjoy renewed energy, watch stubborn flab melt away, develop lean, toned muscle, and more.
Plus, you’ll get access to the Mash Up 45-Day Challenge Digital Bundle — 21 Mind/Body, Agility & Strength, and High-Intensity Interval workouts you can add to your exercise routine.
And I think that the book, Love Your Body, looks especially worth reading and it’s one I can’t wait to dive into.
Value: These resources are regularly priced at more than the cost of the entire bundle! Plus, you won’t have to pay for a gym membership or any fancy workout equipment.
One of my very favorite things about the Healthy Living Bundle is that you are allowed to gift any resources or bonuses you don’t plan on using or reading. Yes, you read that right! So if you only are interested in 10 of the ebooks, 2 of the courses, and 2 of the bonuses, you can give all the others away!
You could use these as gifts for a friend’s birthday or an upcoming special occasion. You could split them up as gifts for multiple friends. Or, you could just share them as a way to bless someone who is interested in healthy living.
The bonuses would especially make great gifts! The Lexie Naturals Gift Set would make a really fun and unique gift for a friend who loves all-natural things. Shipping is only a few dollars and it’s well worth it for these high-quality products!
Value: If you used three of the bonuses/ebooks as gifts for friends for upcoming occasions, that could pay for the cost of the bundle itself — because you wouldn’t need to spend any money on gifts for those three occasions!
If you have a child or another family member who is gluten-free, diary-free, Paleo, or diabetic, this bundle is a goldmine of great resources and help! If you need recipes, encouragement, or inspiration for how to cook, bake, freezer cook, and menu plan when you have allergies, you’ll find a plethora of help in the ebooks like: Beyond the Cereal Box: Gluten-Free and Family-Friendly Recipes for Breakfast, The Grain-Free Lunchbox, The Grain-Free Snacker, Go Grain-Free e-Course ($199 value!), and more!
Value: Not only will you no longer have to scratch your head and throw up your hands in despair wondering what you’re going to cook or bake, but you’ll no longer feel so alone. These ebooks will come alongside you and help you to feel like you can do this! You can find recipes to cook and meals to make — even with strict diet restrictions!
Do you struggle to stick with meal-planning and wish someone could help you get a better handle on it?
The Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle comes with some fantastic menu-planning resources including an ebook I have especially loved for a long time — Plan It, Don’t Panic. Plus, you’ll get access to the Tired & Hungry Cook’s Companion which gives you two free months to a comprehensive meal plan, including 65+ meals each month!
You also get a $32 credit to Once a Month Meals — a site that offers everything you need to plan your freezer cooking and once a month cooking sessions! They offer done-for-you menus, shopping lists, instructions, and more in the following categories: Paleo, Traditional, Whole Foods, Gluten/Dairy Free, Baby Food, Vegetarian, Diet, and others.
Value: If you end up eating at home instead of eating out one or two nights as a result of the menu-planning helps offered in the Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle, this bundle will have paid for itself and then some!
Have you had your eye on essential oils for awhile and weren’t sure what to order first? Well, help is on the way!
When you purchase the Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle, one of the free bonuses you’ll get is 3 bottles of Essential Oils from Plant Therapy, one of my favorite essential oil companies. You’ll just pay $6.95 shipping — which is a steal of a deal!
If you are still sitting on the fence right now wondering whether or not you should take the plunge and buy the Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle, here’s why you should: it’s a risk-free purchase.
That’s right! There’s a 100% money-back guarantee on it for up 30 days! So if you purchase it and then decide it’s not as helpful as you’d hoped or that it’s not worth the price you paid, you can get a full refund — no questions asked.
So what are you waiting for? Click below to purchase your Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle while there’s still time!
P.S. Remember, this offer ends tonight — September 14, 2014 — at midnight! Get it while you can!
(Note: The link in this post is my referral link. Read my disclosure policy here.)
After reading the first section of Simply Tuesday (pages 1-67), I feel like my soul just took a big gulp of fresh air.
Life has been full recently. Maybe more than full? Crammed might be a better word.
I didn’t realize how out-of-breath my soul felt. Squeezed. Pressed. Bordering on hyperventilating.
So I savored that fresh air. And I savored the words that spoke life into my heart and soul.
The words that challenged me to slow down. To embrace small. To let go of hurry.
I read a section on my Morning Motivation Show this morning that really challenged me. You can watch it here.
Of that entire section, this line was probably my favorite: “If the light of a Tuesday morning candle isn’t bright enough to light the room, a spotlight won’t be either.”
We tend to think the spotlight is where it’s at. That spotlights equal success.
But success comes in many shapes and forms. It might be serving your neighbor. Or putting a healthy meal on the table. Or rocking your baby. Or reading to a child. Or helping a co-worker. Or working in the garden. Or writing that blog post.
“When I want to climb the ladder, what if instead, I tore the ladder apart and used the wood to build a bench?“
Don’t chase after the spotlights and the success ladders. Invest in the work right in front of you. Invest in the people right next to you — in your home, in your child’s class, at your community center, at your church, at the office, on your block.
“But people don’t need fancy and flashy, they probably just want regular. They don’t need a fixer, they need a journeyer. They just need to sit on a bench with someone else so they know they’re not alone. I know this, because it’s what I need, too.”
This challenged me. Because I tend to want to be a fixer. I’m a person who loves to practically help. I like to trouble-shoot and problem-solve. But I’m learning that often people don’t need solutions; they just need a listening ear.
“What if we stopped asking God for big ways to serve Him and started walking with our friend Jesus into the next simple moment in front of us.”
Did you read the first section of Simply Tuesday? If so, I’d love to hear what sections impacted you or challenged you. Tomorrow, we’ll read section 2 (pages 67-116).
So, as I shared about in my Morning Motivation Show this morning, last week was a hard week for me. But it was also a good week because I learned more about giving myself grace and not listening to the inner critic.
I’m feeling a lot better this week, but I’m intentionally deciding to continue to take it slow and get plenty of rest.
Last week’s goals:
Marriage/Mothering/Homemaking Goals
1. Finish reading one read aloud book with the kids.
2. Write a love note to Jesse.
3. Have an at-home Movie Date with Jesse.Personal Goals
4. Get at least 7+ hours of sleep every night.5. Finish reading one fiction book.
6. Do the 5-Day Homemaking Challenge.
This week’s goals:
Marriage/Mothering/Homemaking Goals
1. Write a love note to Jesse.
2. Have an at-home Movie Date with Jesse.
Personal Goals
3. Get at least 7.5+ hours of sleep every night.
4. Read and blog through Simply Tuesday.
5. Finish special downloads for my book launch.
6. Speak at MomCon (are you going to be there! If so, I’d LOVE to meet you at one of my two sessions!)
How did you do on last week’s goals? What are your goals for this week? I’d love to have you share your progress on last week’s goals and your goals for this coming week in the comments. Of, if you’ve blogged about it, leave your direct link below. Let’s cheer each other on to live purposeful and productive lives! You can download a free customizable weekly goal-planning sheet here.
Guest post from Jennifer of The Intentional Mom
If we are not careful, the money we earn can slip right through our fingers. Hidden fees, a lack of planning, or even failing to do our homework before purchasing something, in addition to many other things can be to blame.
If you are looking to keep more of your hard earned cash in your pocket, examine this list closely to see where your money could be going on a regular basis:
Using an ATM machine is a painless, often thoughtless, and an oh-so-convenient way to get access to our money at all hours of the day or night. This is rarely a good thing.
When it comes to where your money is going, ignorance is not bliss.
If you don’t need to answer to anyone about the money you spend, it is much easier to spend it. Make your money more difficult to spend by asking someone to be your financial accountability partner.
Much like using the ATM machine, getting cash back when using your debit card is a silent budget killer. This is especially tempting because we are usually asked in person and on the card machine itself. The power of suggestion in this case is quite powerful.
This can be anything from late fees, to convenience fees, to choosing to be billed monthly rather than quarterly or yearly. Pay attention to what fees you are paying for what, and then eliminate whatever you can.
Knowing you need to live more frugally but choosing not to pay attention to this concept as though this is not a reality will get you nowhere fast.
Cash back apps, money offered by your employer for a 401K match, or having a loyalty card to various stores all qualify here.
This applies to everything you actually purchase to discounts offered by your doctor’s office. Asking for these things in everything you do could save you some serious dough.
Bank statements, credit card statements, billing statements, pay statements, and everything in between. Read every single one of them every single time.
Running your sprinklers in the rain, magazine subscriptions you don’t read, and keeping your heating and cooling set higher or lower than you really need it are just a few examples. Only pay for what you truly are using or need.
This can be unexpected things or even the expected things that we just choose to pretend aren’t really happening.
Even if you don’t buy on Amazon, it is a great place to read reviews on things BEFORE you buy them.
There are so many places that our money has to go, which is why it is so important to be aware of how we can lose it without even knowing it. Check this list to see why you may have less money in your pocket.
Jennifer is a busy homeschooling mom of seven who enjoys keeping a home, living an active lifestyle, and loving the little and not so little people in her life. Her mission is helping other moms find contentment in living intentionally every day. Check out her blog, The Intentional Mom.
Who wants to win a Vitamix and a $500 Amazon gift card?!?!
I love my Vitamix and we use it almost daily — to make smoothies, frappes, iced coffee, sauces, and much more. It’s a great appliance to have in your kitchen to aid you in preparing yummy and healthful recipes.
And who wouldn’t want to win a $500 Amazon gift card? You can use it to by groceries, household items, Christmas gifts, books, or even a large ticket item.
I’m giving away a Vitamix AND a $500 Amazon gift card to one reader this weekend who helps me spread the word about the Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle.
(Psst! Have you gotten your Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle yet? If not, what are you waiting for? Go read all about this special offer here — it’s only available through Monday!)
Enter to Win a FREE Vitamix + a $500 Amazon Gift Card
It’s really simple to enter to win and will take you just a minute or two to do so…
Step 1: Choose one or more options to complete below. The more options you choose, the more entries you’ll receive!
Option #1: Post on Facebook.
Post on Facebook. Click here to share this post on Facebook on Why I Quit Trim Healthy Mama.
Option #2: Post on Pinterest.
Post on Pinterest. Click here to repin this pin on essential oils & the Healthy Living Bundle on Pinterest.
Option #3: Post on Twitter.
Post about the Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle on Twitter. Click here to retweet this tweet on Twitter.
Option #4: Leave a comment.
Leave a comment on this post letting me know whether you’d prefer to win a Vitamix or the $500 Amazon gift card.Step 2: Leave a comment on this post letting me know which options you completed to confirm your entry to win a Vitamix and a $500 Amazon Gift Card! Leave one comment per option, up to 4 separate comments.
The winner of the Vitamix is Amy (amy.j.sexton@). The winner of the Amazon gift card is Laura (montana.jayhawk@). You should have both received emails with details on claiming your prize.
I was reminded again how grateful I am for this man. He has loved and cared for me so much while I’ve been recovering from surgery this past week.
And then he spent part of his 35th birthday at the doctor’s office with me. {I had been experiencing a lot of pain so he said I had to call the doctor and they wanted me to come in. And then he worked his schedule so he could take me to the doctor.}
This is what love looks like after 12 1/2 years of marriage. He loves well, serves sacrificially, and gives generously. He completes me, challenges me, listens to me, inspires me, believes in me, and still makes me utterly twitterpated. I love you, Jesse, and would marry you all over again!!
{By the way, the pain was from a small infection that they are now treating. After one day of antibiotics and a LOT of sleep, I feel worlds better. But I’m going to take it really, really easy for the next few days so that I can give my body time to completely recover!}
I was nauseous for a few days because of the anesthesia and smoothies were one of the few things that tasted good to me. And I was so grateful for them!
Our friends, Stephanie and Ryan (who are currently in Nashville for two months with their kids), brought me a smoothie on two different days. Just because. They also brought our family dinner and took our kids to the skate park. And this week was one of the busiest weeks of the year for them since they are running the Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle.
This is just one example of the many, many friends who reached out, made big sacrifices, and poured into us this week. Local friends brought meals, friends from across the country paid to have dinner delivered, other friends sent flowers, other friends watched our kids, other friends sent cards, so many friends prayed, or sent texts, or listened to me vent when I was discouraged, or sent me texts to make me laugh, or offered to do anything we needed done…
It has been humbling, overwhelming, and deeply moving.
This is our first year to do Sonlight and we are just loving it so, so much! I am teaching Sonlight Core D to the kids in the morning and Jesse is teaching Math, Language Arts, and Science to the kids in the afternoon (we’re using Monarch from Alpha & Omega for those subjects).
Jesse and I spent a lot of time looking at curriculum this year and thinking through what would be a good fit for our kids and our teaching styles and what we landed on has just been such a great fit. I’m also grateful for Sarah Mackenzie’s book, Teaching From Rest, as it really infused new enthusiasm in me as I approached homeschooling this year.
So while I told you that I thought some of the parts of this book were weird, I was so inspired by so many of the other parts.
The first two sections of the book were especially good and thought-provoking. I’ve been looking at things around our house in a new light. Does this thing on my wall, this thing on my shelf, this thing in my pantry, this book, this shirt: does it spark joy?
Jesse asked me what “spark joy” meant to me and I told him it was something that uplifted me instead of bringing me down. Something that encouraged me, something that sparked creativity in me, something that made me feel happy and inspired.
I realized that one thing in my life that was not “sparking joy” at all was the big stack of books I have had next to my bed for months. This stack of books was making me feel defeated. Every time I looked at it, I would think about how I should be reading more, how I wished I had more time to read, and on how many books I want to read!
So what did I do this week when I discovered this? I got rid of the book pile! As in, I moved all of the books, save a few, back to the book shelf. It was such a simple thing, but it was so liberating for me! Now, when I see the little pile, it feels doable and realistic, and I find myself wanting to read more!
As I mentioned earlier, it’s been a week of lots of resting and learning to give myself grace as I recover from surgery. I’ve discovered I’m not really good at this resting thing — especially when it’s taken me days longer to feel better than we had expected it would.
I’m impatient. I don’t like to be needy. I don’t like to take it easy.
But I’ve learned a lot through it. I’m developing new compassion for people who struggle with chronic fatigue or chronic illness. I’m learning to gratefully and willingly receive from others instead of saying, “I’m fine” or “I can do it myself.”
I’m learning that it’s hard to admit weakness but that doing so encourages others who are also struggling. And most of all, I’m realizing how much I have to be grateful for.
So even though part of me wishes that I had bounced right back from surgery and that anesthesia hadn’t done such a number on me, the other part of me is so grateful for the lessons I’ve learned while being “down and out.” I hope I don’t soon forget them.
So I know I’ve been mentioning this a lot, but I am just LOVING this new way of connecting with you all. I love that I get to interact with you live. I love that it’s raw and real and unedited. I love that it allows me to go deeper and foster much closer connection with you all. And it’s just fun!
Here’s a sample of one of my live shows from this past week (you can’t see the comments on this video so if I’m referring to something randomly, it’s a comment someone just left):
You can see replays of all of last week’s Morning Motivation Shows here.
And be sure to download the Periscope app and search for @MoneySavingMom or Crystal Paine and follow me so that you can be notified each morning when I go live (it’s usually around 7 to 7:15 a.m.-ish CT). You can also watch the replays from the app on your phone for 24 hours after the live broadcast.
What are YOU loving this week? Tell us in the comments.
If you’ve been reading here in the last year or two, you know that I love me some essential oils. I slowly started dabbling with using them after rave reviews from people I trust.
While I think some of the claims about them you’ll read on the internet are way over-dramatized (i.e. “MY DOG WAS CURED OF CANCER BECAUSE OF OILS!!!”), I have fallen madly in love with a number of different oils and we use them on a very regular basis.
Here are three reasons I especially love essential oils:
1. I Love That They Last Seemingly Forever
Okay, so technically I have used up a few bottles of essential oils over the past two years, but because you only need a few drops (or less than that!), one bottle can last for months and months and months.
2. I Love That They Have Multiple Uses
I love that one bottle of essential oils can be used for dozens of different things. You can mix it with coconut oil and rub it on the bottom of your feet, you can diffuse it, you can put a few drops in your bath, you can make homemade cleaners with it, you can use it in homemade personal care products, and on and on it goes.
3. I Love That They Are So Inexpensive
Because they have multiple uses and because they seem to last just about forever, essential oils truly can be a very frugal alternative to paying for over-the-counter drugs or other herbal remedies.
Some of the bottles and brands can be quite pricey. But there are other kinds and brands on the market that are very reasonably priced.
With my self-proclaimed love of essential oils, so many people have been shocked to discover I have no interest in selling them. I have been strongly encouraged over and over again by various consultants of essential oil companies to sign up under them and sell oils.
But unless some major something or other swoops in and completely and drastically alters my life, I don’t foresee myself ever selling oils.
There are a number of reasons why I don’t sell oils:
I don’t need to start another business. My life is plenty full without me signing up with a company and then having to mess with all the details involved with running that oil business.
I know that it’s been a great business for some of my friends, but most of them only do oils as their business — not oils plus writing and speaking and blogging. I may sometimes try to push too hard, but I do know my limits on this one.
I am not passionate enough about oils to sell them. I think that it’s fantastic that some of my friends are making an amazing income selling oils, but almost every single one of them who is, is intensely passionate about essential oils.
They love them fiercely. They love talking about them. They can’t not talk about them. I like essential oils, but not enough to live and breathe them as a business.
I don’t think anyone should sign up to sell something just to make money. Unfortunately, one of the big reasons people have tried to get me to sign up to sell essential oils is so I can make “a lot of money”. I’ve had people tell me I am just throwing money away to not sell them.
I’ve had people even yell at me saying I was being ridiculous to not sell them because I could make so much money to give away. If you have a choice, I don’t think you should ever do something just to make money. Period.
If there’s not heart and passion behind it, there’s no fulfillment that comes from that. And it’s a very quick way to set yourself up for being miserable and exhausted.
I love my friends too much — and wouldn’t want to hurt relationships. So here’s one of the big reasons I don’t sell essential oils: I have good friends who sell different brands. I’m not brand loyal and like multiple brands. So how would I ever be able to choose which brand to sign up under?
Regardless of what brand I signed up with and who I signed up under, I think it could potentially hurt relationships or cause awkwardness. Like I were playing favorites with people I love dearly. It’s not worth it for me to hurt relationships I hold dear just for the sake of earning an income.
I am not brand loyal. I mentioned it above, but it deserves it’s own paragraph. I could never choose which brand to sign up with, because I like some of the oils from some brands and other oils from other brands.
I like to be able to pick and choose my favorites from among the brands instead of feeling like I can only stick with one brand because that’s the brand I sell.
Would you like to try out essential oils and you’re wondering how to get started with them? Well, I’ve got GREAT news for you!
Through Monday only, you can download The Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle at the low, low price of $29.97. That is 97% off the $1900+ value!
This bundle is filled with inspirational ebooks, e-courses, and free bonuses to help you feed your family better, get healthier, and feel more energetic.
Best of all, there are some fantastic resources on essential oils, including:
- Essential Oils for Families e-Course — $135 value
- How to Protect Your Family From Colds & Flus With Essential Oils e-Course — $50 value
- Detox Your Home Handbook — $19 value
- The Beginner’s Book of Essential Oils — $9.97 value
- The Truth About Essential Oil Safety — $9.97 value
- FREE Lemon, Lavender, and Peppermint Essential Oil Set — $25 value (just pay $6.95 shipping!)
And yes, I am promoting a Healthy Living Bundle that I will make money off of if you click through my link and purchase. My ebook is a part of this bundle, so that’s one reason.
But I am not just promoting this bundle because I make money off of it… I really and truly believe it is an AMAZING collection of resources.
Even if you only download the e-courses on essential oils + grab the three free essential oils (just pay $6.95 shipping!), it is every bit worth the low, low price of $29.97!
Go download your Healthy Living Bundle here.
Do you have a Safeway nearby? If so, be sure to read this post from Queen Bee Coupons on 11 Ways to Save at Safeway.
Homeland
1 Sunbelt Bakery Granola Bars – $2.24, used $0.55/1 coupon from the 8/23 SmartSource insert (doubled) – $1.14 after coupon
1 Zone Perfect Bar – $1.25, used $0.50/1 printable (doubled) – $0.25 after coupon
1 Del Monte Fruit & Veggie Fusions – $2.39, used $1/1 printable (doubled) – $0.39 after coupon
2 Ragu Sauce – $1.34 each, used $1/2 printable (doubled) – $0.34 each after coupon
2 Grands Biscuits – $1.14 each, used $1/2 printable (doubled) – $0.14 each after coupon
Total after coupons: $2.74
Dillons
1 Calypso Lemonade – $1.25, used Free e-coupon (no longer available) – $1.25 after coupon
1 Psst Buns – Marked down to $0.49
1 pkg Grapes – $3.83
2 Bumble Bee Tuna – $0.50 each, used $0.75/2 Mobisave Rebate – 2/$0.25 after rebate
4 Muller Yogurts – $1 each
1 pkg Egg Patties – Marked down to $0.49
1 Hormel Natural Turkey Meat – $3.99, used $0.50/1 printable – $3.49 after coupon
1 Kroger Frozen Orange Juice – $1.59
1 Psst Cream of Mushroom Soup – $0.79
1 Dillons Eggs – $3.29, used $0.20 Ibotta rebate – $3.09 after rebate
1 box Kroger Rotoni – $1, used $0.40/1 mailer coupon – $0.60 after coupon
4 Gala Apples – $1.98, used $0.25 Checkout 51 rebate – $1.73 after rebate
2 Romaine Lettuce – $0.99 each
1 Green Bell Pepper – $0.89
1.73 lbs Bananas – $1.02, used $0.20 Ibotta rebate – $0.82 after rebate
2 Cucumbers – $0.79 each
1 Kroger Tortillas – $1.50
1 gallon Dillons Milk – $2.50
Items a part of the Mega Sale (Buy 5, Get $5 off):
2 Apple & Eve Fruitables Juice – $1.99 each, used $1.50/2 coupon from the 7/26 SmartSource insert – $1.24 after coupon
2 Kraft Cheese – $1.99 each, used $0.50/2 printable – $1.74 each after coupon
2 Boca Chicken Nuggets – $1.99 each, used 2 $1/1 printable – $0.99 each after coupons
2 Zone Perfect Kids Bars – $2.49 each, used 2 $1/1 printable – $1.49 each after coupon
2 MultiGrain Cheerios – $1.49 each, used $1/2 printable AND $0.20 Ibotta rebate AND $1/2 SavingStar.com rebate – $0.39 each after coupon and rebate
Total after sales, coupons and rebates: $41.32
Total for both grocery stores: $44.06
Oatmeal with Frozen Fruit x 3
Cereal x 2
Scrambled Eggs and Fruit x 2
Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, Fruit
Chicken Nuggets, Tossed Salad
Macaroni & Cheese, Veggies
Turkey, Crackers, Cheese, Veggies
Tossed Salad with Tuna
Tuna Sandwiches, Homemade Applesauce
Leftovers
Build Your Own Haystacks (using leftover Chili from last week)
Poor Man’s Steak (using venison), Rolls, Tossed Salad
Enchiladas, Tossed Salad
Venison Stew, Fruit
Spaghetti, Tossed Salad, Biscuits
Salad Bar with Grilled Chicken, Toasted Buns
Date Night (Yay!)
I’m skipping out on the Homemaking Challenge again today. I have had some post-surgery pain the past two days that I didn’t feel was right. I called my doctor about it this morning and she wanted me to come in to get it checked out.
Turns out, I have a small infection. So, they’re treating that and I’m supposed to take it really easy this weekend. It seems that’s the story of my life right now, but it’s good for me to slow down, give myself grace, and learn so much compassion for people who chronically struggle with health issues.
I finished reading The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up today. Honestly, I think that I loved the first 2 or 3 sections the most. The final section was a little on the weird side again (greeting your home, feng shui, and more).
The sections on why you should declutter and how decluttering can impact other areas of your life was good and thought-provoking.
I especially loved this quote: “The question of what you own is actually the question of how you want to live your life.”
So I didn’t intend to start a “Book Club” here and I don’t really know that I am. But I really and truly enjoyed reading through The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up and blogging through it here, so I thought it would be fun to pick another book to blog through next week.
I picked three books and then asked on Periscope yesterday for the viewers to vote on which book they’d like for me to blog through next week and talk about on my daily Morning Motivation show on Periscope (I’m MoneySavingMom on there, if you’re not already following me!).
The votes are in and I’ll be going through Emily Freeman’s book, Simply Tuesday. I can’t wait to dive into this book — it looks so good!
If you’d like to join me, you can pick up a copy this weekend or borrow one from a friend. We’ll be reading one section per weekday next week.
Chime In!
I’d love to hear from you: would you be interested in me blogging through more books like I did this week? If so, which types of books would you most enjoy me going through?
It’s FRIDAY! And I’m celebrating! And I’m keeping the assignment very simple today:
Today’s Assignment
1. Get dressed in something that makes you feel great.
2. Make a short to-do list for the day.
3. Tidy up your kitchen — do the dishes and wipe the counter tops off.
4. Make your bed.
5. Straighten the main living areas of your home and celebrate the progress you made this week on de-cluttering!
I’m finishing up the last section of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up (pages 174 to 206) and will blog my thoughts on it later today.
Who’s joining me? Leave a comment to let me know if you’re planning to participate!
So, these pictures might make book-lovers want to weep, but I can’t tell you how liberating these pictures are to me. I had a revelation about books yesterday and it was so eye-opening and pretty life-changing for me that if this is the one thing that sticks with me from reading The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up it’s going to make a big difference in my life.
I just recently had gone through our books and pared them down, so I was shocked that I felt inspired and motivated to pare down so much more! Instead of being overwhelmed by all the books I “should be reading”, my bookshelves now inspire and empower me.
I look at them and think about the memories that some of the books on them hold for me and then I look at those I have yet to read and am excited to read one or two each week over the next few months. They spark hope and life and joy in me, instead of speaking the message that I am not reading enough, am so far behind on reading, and should find a way to read more each day.
You can watch a little video I did on my bookshelves here, if you’re interested. What a difference perspective (and paring down!) can make!
I also went through my clothes and got rid of a few things. Plus, I toyed with trying the whole stand things up in the dresser drawers idea. And I decided that apparently it’s a learned art and I think I’m doing it all wrong.
But I snapped a picture so that at least you could see that I had tried. 🙂
Did you clean out your books today? Or do any other cleaning? Tell us about it in the comments.
So this section of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up was probably the one that was the least helpful or inspirational to me.
In fact, I sort of speed-read through some of the sections.
I felt the most important quote was this one: “Designate a spot for every last thing you own.”
And this is why: “The reason every item must have a designated place is because the existence of an item without a home multiplies the chances that your space will become cluttered again.”
I’ve always said I’m a big believer in “A place for everything and everything in its place.” However, as I read through this section of the book, I realized how many things I have that don’t truly have a designated place.
Or, that sort of have a designated place, but I’ve been so lax about actually putting them in that place that I might as well have not assigned them a place in the first place!
Marie Kondo also makes a strong case for why you should empty your purse/bag every day. I’m really torn on this one, personally.
I see the value in cleaning out your purse/bag daily so that it doesn’t become a traveling trash can (ahem), but it also feels like extra effort — especially since I only use one bag and don’t swap between multiple handbags.
I would worry that I’d forgot to put something in it (like my wallet or something) when filling it each day and it also just feels like extra effort to pack and unpack it each day. What do you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Did you read along with section 4 today? If so, I’d love to hear your thoughts on it or on what I shared above.
P.S. If you have a few minutes, you might enjoy watching my latest Periscope video from this morning. I shared more in-depth how reading this book has impacted me and talk about what “spark joy” really means to me and why reading this book is inspiring me to get rid of my massive book pile next to my bed. Watch it here.
Someone emailed me last week to ask if I were still following Trim Healthy Mama and I realized I probably should write a post about the subject. I’ve kind of been avoiding it for a few months because, well, I’m not one to be a quitter.
But I also want to be honest here. And since I raved about Trim Healthy Mama, I figured I should also tell you why I quit Trim Healthy Mama.
First, though, let me tell you why I didn’t quit it:
So many of the THM recipes can be made very economically. Plus, I used Amazon gift cards earned free from Swagbucks to purchase a few of the specialty items.
There are SO many great recipes that are THM-friendly. I fell in love with many of them and we still eat some of them just because we loved them so much. The THM Facebook Page shares all sorts of amazing recipes daily in case you need more inspiration.
Yes, I had to learn how to eat this way and yes, I had to make some adjustments — especially when traveling. But overall, I found it to be very, very simple to eat this way.
Why did I quit, then? Well, it might surprise you, but it’s true:
I quit because I was losing TOO much weight!
For real.
I had lost a few pounds when I first started Trim Healthy Mama — a few pounds that had crept on over the past year and needed to come off. I was at my ideal weight and I felt great!
But then, after about five or six months of eating this way, I started struggling with feeling hungry all the time. And I couldn’t seem to eat enough.
Even with Crossover Meals. Even with cheats. I kept losing weight. Until I was a few pounds underweight. Since I’m short and small-framed, a few pounds make a big difference for me.
I felt tired and lethargic and hungry all the time. Jesse suggested I start tracking how many carbs and fats and proteins I was eating every day and we quickly realized that I was eating way too much good fat. But I was reaching for the good fat and the S meals because the E meals weren’t filling me up.
Unfortunately, all that good fat just revved up my metabolism even more. So, after agonizing about it for a few months and trying so hard to make it work without success, I finally just quit.
I learned so much while eating THM. I learned that I could live without sugar. I learned that I loved protein more than I realized. I learned that I don’t need to always be reaching for homemade sugar-y carbs like I used to.
I stopped using sugar in my coffee. I learned to savor flavors more. I tried a lot of new recipes. And I am guessing I will forever eat better as a result of eating this way for so many months. I crave much healthier foods and I find that I don’t enjoy super sweet desserts like I once did.
If you are struggling with your weight and looking for a great plan to help you slim down and feel good, I definitely recommend reading Trim Healthy Mama. You can also follow their Facebook Page for more inspiration and encouragement.
I can attest to the fact that this plan really works. In fact, in my case, it ended up working too well! 🙂
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Update: Since I published this post, there is a new & revised Trim Healthy Mama book out. It’s much better written, much more concise, and much easier to follow. I would highly recommend it over the original book pictured in this post. Also, there is also a new Trim Healthy Mama cookbook available that is filled with really yummy-looking recipes.
