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Shared Mar 1, 2016 comment

4 Steps to Create an Amazing Evening Routine

Published: by Crystal Paine on March 1, 2016 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

During the Go To Bed Early Challenge, I have really been working on winding down earlier and setting up my evenings with a good routine. I believe a productive morning starts the night before.

If you’re following along and working on an evening routine, here are my tips on how to create an amazing evening routine…

1. Make a list of all your ideas.

Write down every single thing you can think of that you would love to do before you go to bed. Brain dumping help me with stress reduction so much!

Just getting everything that’s swirling around in my head out of my head and onto paper makes me feel better almost instantly.

2. Prioritize your list.

Once you have it written down, go through the list and star the most important priorities that will make a huge impact on your life. Keep in mind that you can’t realistically do everything.

Look for what Charles Duhigg calls “keystone habits“. These are habits have a positive trickle down effect on all other areas.

One of my keystone habits is spending one-on-one devotional and conversation time with each of my kids for 10 minutes every night. It’s an opportunity for my kids to know they have my complete attention.

I want to hear my kids’ hearts, know their struggles, and listen to them. This is a keystone habit for me, because I know that it will have a lifelong impact on my children.

It also has a trickle down effect for the next day. It fills up my kids’ love tanks and helps them feel secure, and it affects so many areas of their lives.

Another habit I really want to focus on is taking my vitamins before bed. So many times, I get tired and want to skip this. When I make it a priority, though, I sleep better and feel so much better on a daily basis.

These are my top two priorities. Secondary priorities for me include a quick pick-up of the house, cleaning up the kitchen, and laying out my clothes for the next day.

3. Pick two to five things to do every night.

Decide which priorities you will choose to do in the same order every night. Make sure you put them in order of priority. Right now, I am focusing on taking my vitamins and doing devotionals with the kids every single night. If I have time and energy after that, I do the secondary priorities.

If it helps you, time blocks might even be a really good idea to make sure you stick to it and get in bed at the same time each night. Figure out your bed time, and work backwards to figure out what time you realistically need to start your wind-down and evening routine.

4. Commit to stick with it for 21 days.

When you stick with something for three weeks, it’s much more likely that it will become habit. It becomes a part of your life and something you don’t even have to think about!

What priorities are you planning to stick with for the next 21 days? Tell me in the comments, so that we can encourage each other in public accountability!

Want some practical help with setting up your day for success? It all starts the night before! Be sure to grab a copy of my brand-new online course, Make Over Your Evenings.

This 14-day online course includes videos, a workbook, and step-by-step projects and is designed to help you maximize your evenings in order to experience more success in your life, more order in your home, and more joy in your soul.

It’s time to stop sleep-walking through life and wake up to the amazing excitement and fulfillment that comes when you follow my simple plan to Make Over Your Evenings.

Find out more about it here.

Shared Feb 29, 2016 comment

How to Get Up Early — Even With a Crazy, Ever-Changing Schedule

Published: by Crystal Paine on February 29, 2016 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

I’m a homeschool mom of 4 with a wonderful husband who has a weird work schedule. For three days in a row, he has to be up and out the door by 4:30 a.m. Then he gets three days off with no set wakeup time. So, we all sleep in to catch up on what we missed the previous three days.

Every two months, he switches to being out by 5:15 p.m., working all night long and arriving an hour before the kids get up. I stay up late to see him over his “lunch” break at 11 p.m. The problem is, I’m tired the next day.

It seems once we finally get a rhythm of going to bed and getting up at a regular time, it gets switched. Do you have any advice on how to get up early when we have such a weird and ever-changing schedule? -a reader

This was such a great question — and I think it’s one that probably many people struggle with and I thought it’d be great to address it in a post.

Now, full disclosure here, I’ve never had a husband who was on a second shift. However, Jesse was in school and working part-time for the first few years of our marriage. When we were in Kansas City, he had a long commute. And when we moved back to Kansas, he had ever-changing hours and night court multiple times per week as part of running his own law firm.

Now that we both work together from home and homeschool our kids and travel regularly, our schedule is always changing and no two days are alike. So, even though Jesse hasn’t worked second shift, I have experienced what it’s like to have irregular work hours and a constantly changing schedule.

With this in mind, here are a few thoughts and words of encouragement:

1. Don’t Compare

I think it is so easy for us to think: “If only I had a husband who worked an 8-5 job.” Or, “If only my kids would sleep through the night.” Or, “If only I didn’t have to work.”

It’s so easy to think that if we were in someone else’s shoes, we could get some sense of normalcy in our lives or we could get more organized or we could get on a better schedule. But here’s the truth: These thoughts will only lead to dissatisfaction in our lives and beat us down.

Embrace where you are. Stop wishing you were in a different place or had a different life. Stop waiting until you make it to a different season. Start right where you are to make changes in the right direction.

As it has well been said, “If we wait for perfect conditions, we’ll never get started at all.”

2. Get on the Same Page as Your Spouse

Learning to communicate with your spouse and getting on the same page with them is key to not only having a great marriage, but also to being able to find a routine and rhythm that works for your own unique family and situation.

Again, the comparisons have to stop. Don’t look at the way another couple is handling a situation and think, “Look how they do their life! We should do our life like that!”

I’ve done this before… and I’ve nagged and dragged Jesse into changing our schedule in a way that isn’t right for us. The end result is tension and frustration. Do what works best for YOUR family — that’s all the matters!

Hear me clearly on this: Your marriage is so much more important than having the perfect go to bed/get up schedule. Do what you can to get on the same page with your spouse and stop chasing someone else’s perfect schedule. Relationships are so much more important than schedules.

3. Focus on a Routine

I know how easy it is to stress out about having the perfect schedule. Instead of that, I want to challenge you to stop stressing over getting it perfect. Life happens, there are hard things that come up, and there are a whole lot of imperfect circumstances that are going to take place.

Stop worrying about getting up at the perfect time each day or going to bed at the perfect time each night. Instead, focus on implementing a good bedtime routine and wake-up routine. No matter what time you go to bed or get up, do the same few things before bed and the same few things when you get up.

Figure out what you want to accomplish the first two hours you are awake. Then, challenge yourself to do the same 3-5 things each morning no matter what time you get up. This can make such a HUGE difference in your day — even if you get up at completely different times every morning.

Sure, I have issued the go to bed early challenge and the get up early challenge to you all, but that doesn’t mean I expect all of my readers to participate in the challenge or be shooting for the same times that we are trying to go to bed and get up. This is what Jesse and I have determined is a priority for our family, but it may not be the season for your family to be focusing on it. Again, do what is best for your family in the season of life you are in.

4. Plan Two to Three Different Kinds of Morning Routines

Here is another place where you have to stop trying to reach perfection: Instead of trying to come up with the perfect routine that will work every single morning, come up with a few different morning routines based upon the common variations in your schedule.

Plan one morning routine for when you are on one shift. Plan one for the other shift. And so on. Then, whenever you and your family roll out of bed and get going, you can choose which routine to go with and you aren’t “off plan”.

Planning for the interruptions in life will help you deal with what life throws at you. Instead of feeling like the constantly changing schedules are constantly throwing you off, you have planned for the variations and can just roll with punches!

What advice and suggestions do you have for this reader?

Want some practical help with setting up your day for success? Be sure to grab a copy of my brand-new online course, Make Over Your Mornings.

This 14-day online course includes videos, a workbook, and step-by-step projects and is designed to help you revolutionize your productivity, streamline your routines, invest your time in things that truly matter, and find more joy and peace in the process.

If you’ve ever wished that you could figure out how to get more done, have more organization in your life, and find time to spend on things you love, the Make Over Your Mornings Course is for you. Find out more about it here.

Shared Feb 29, 2016 comment

5 Ways to Save with Suburban and Urban Homesteading

Published: by Crystal Paine on February 29, 2016 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Guest post from Valerie of Our Healthy Foodie Life

First things first: You may be asking, “What on earth is suburban/urban homesteading?”

To put it simply, suburban or urban homesteading is using practical, self-sufficiency skills to create what you consume at home. This can include growing your own food, making your own shampoo and body wash, sewing your own clothes, and much more.

I first began suburban homesteading last year when my husband and I bought our house. As new homeowners, we needed to save money wherever we could.

I started by growing our fruits and vegetables, and since then, I’ve started making our own cleaning supplies, bath and beauty products, and the list continues to grow.

As a result of my efforts over the past year, we have saved hundreds of dollars, and I’ve acquired new skills and hobbies in the process. Suburban homesteading has become a hobby and money-saving technique two-in-one.

If you’re thinking of trying suburban/urban homesteading yourself, here are five ways homesteading can save you hundreds every year:

1. Grow your own garden

Whether you live in a 600 sq. foot apartment in the city, or a 2200 sq. foot home in the suburbs with a large backyard, anyone can have a garden. You will obviously be able to plant more or less depending on size limitations, but everyone can have at least a small garden.

To get the most money-saving potential out of your garden, focus on growing high-value items. For example, herbs such as mint and basil can cost $3+ for one small clamshell container at the store. When grown at home, these herbs only cost pennies for the same quantity.

2. Make your own cleaning supplies

If you haven’t already made DIY cleaning products, you might be surprised to find how inexpensive and easy it is to make almost any cleaner you need. A quick search on Google or Pinterest will lead you to plenty of DIY cleaning product “recipes.”

Another added benefit? Nearly all DIY cleaning supplies are made with all-natural ingredients. That means in addition to saving money, you’ll avoid bringing harsh chemicals in to your home.

3. Mix your own bath and beauty products

Again, one quick search online and you’ll find ideas for nearly every bath or beauty product you could want to create! Body scrub, facial toner, moisturizers, and more.

Much like I mentioned with DIY cleaning supply “recipes,” you’ll find that DIY bath and beauty products are almost always free of harsh chemicals, and they are incredibly inexpensive to make.

4. Make simple home health remedies

While there is obviously no replacement for going to the doctor, there are a lot of wonderful DIY home health remedies that you can make. One example is elderberry syrup (my favorite DIY health remedy), which is said to help support the immune system.

If you buy pre-made elderberry syrup at the health store, prepare yourself to spend upwards of $15/bottle. When I make elderberry syrup at home, I spend about $3 per batch.

5. Create your own DIY home decor items

Even if you’re not super creative, there are plenty of easy, step-by-step instructional articles on how to create DIY home decor items. This can be as simple as assembling your own picture frame, or as complicated as building your own dining room table and beyond.

No matter what you decide to make, putting together your own home decor items can save you $10’s – $100’s per project.

Suburban/urban homesteading is NOT a radical, inconvenient, all-or-nothing way of life. You can make this concept your own, and do what works best for you and your life.

Do you practice any urban or suburban homesteading techniques?

Valerie Jacobsen is the creator and writer for Our Healthy Foodie Life. She lives in Charleston, South Carolina with her husband and two dogs.

photo source

Shared Feb 29, 2016 comment

Two things I do every morning to start my day well…

Published: by Crystal Paine on February 29, 2016 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Two things I start every day with:

1) making a good cup of coffee with lots of half & half in one of my favorite mugs

2) lighting a yummy-smelling candle.

These two things are morning rituals that I absolutely love. They quiet my heart, they put a smile on my face, and they get my day started off on a good foot.

(It’s Day 21 of the Go to Bed Early Challenge and I actually got to bed on time last night — yay!! And then I woke up at 5:30 am without an alarm!)

What are simple things you do most mornings to start your day well?

P.S. Read more about the Go to Bed Early Challenge here. Need some help and inspiration to go to bed early so you can get up and use your mornings well? Download Day 1 of Make Over Your Mornings for free (scroll to the bottom of this page to sign up for it!)

Shared Feb 27, 2016 comment

5 Things I’m Loving This Week

Published: by Crystal Paine on February 27, 2016 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

1. Periscoping With My 6-Year-Old Sidekick

This little guy loves to show up to my daily #MorningMotivation LIVE show on Periscope and it’s become a fun thing for the two of us to do together.

He usually just pops in for a few minutes every day to say “hi!” and share a tidbit from his life. Periscope is real-time and non-staged and non-edited, so I love that it allows me to share a little real-life peek into our home!

{If you’re not already joining us, I’d love to invite you to tune in — download the Periscope app and then follow @MoneySavingMom. I usually go live sometime between 8:15 and 9:15 am CT. (I know, that’s a big range, but I’m staying very flexible and giving myself grace during #TheYearofRest!) You can have Periscope notify you when I’m live so you can watch and interact/ask questions in the comments. Or, you can watch the replays on the app or at Katch.me/MoneySavingMom.}

2. My Husband

I absolutely adore this shot from our filming this week. I love this man so much.

He has stood by my side through thick and thin. We’ve walked through some deep waters over the last year and he has carried me, prayed with me, loved me, listened to me, encouraged me, and been a safe place for me to fall apart.

We struggle. We argue. We snap at each other. But we fight through and fight for our marriage.
Because we know it’s worth fighting for… even on the rough days.

3. A To Do List That Made Me Laugh

I found this to-do list somewhere online awhile back and I came across it again this week and it made me laugh! 🙂

4. My Current Book Stack

What are you reading right now? My current reads are: A Broken Kind of Beautiful, Four Seasons in Rome, & Roots & Sky.

I’m reading more stories and “quieter” books during #TheYearofRest — fewer books telling me what I should do as a person or business owner or parent or homeschooler and more books that just give my soul space to exhale.

There’s nothing wrong with non-fiction or so-called “self-help” books (I wrote some myself, after all!), but I’ve just felt that spending time getting caught up in good stories has been so restorative and relaxing for me.

5. TOMS Shoes

After years and years of hearing how amazing these shoes were, I finally ordered my very first pair of TOMs in a recent sale. And I am in LOVE! Totally smitten!

I think these are going to be absolutely perfect for travel and everyday wear and I love that I can dress them up and dress them down — and that they are crazy comfortable!

I’m usually not someone who follows trends, but this is one “trend” I wish I would have jumped on earlier!

What are YOU loving this week?

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

Click here to sign up!

Shared Feb 27, 2016 comment

What to Do When You’re Not Happy With Your Home

Published: by Crystal Paine on February 27, 2016 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Guest post from Alicia of Turquoise Grace

It’s 5:30 a.m. I’m looking around my house and everything that needs to be done.

The walls need to be repainted. The baseboards need to be replaced. My kitchen is seriously outdated (well, my whole house is, actually).

My furniture is shabby (not shabby chic), inexpensive, or hand-me-downs. My house is small, and with three boys, space is tight.

Some days this really bothers me. Some days I long for a beautiful, put-together house, or nicer things. A place that feels cozy and lived-in, yet lovely.

So I let myself pout for a minute or two. Then I decide something needs to be done to change my attitude. Because I can pout all I want, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s not in our budget to fix these things right now.

And for now, that’s okay.

Here are a few of the things I do when I’m having one of those days, and need to be reminded how truly blessed I am:

1. I rearrange the furniture.

I am the queen of arranging and rearranging… just ask my husband! At times it drives him crazy. (Mostly because he’s the one who ends up doing all the rearranging!)

This is typically the first thing I do when I become discontent. I search for ways to make my small space more usable. I move rugs around, change the furniture from room to room, and find new practical ways to utilize the space we do have.

I also love switching things up on my walls to give my home a fresh feel. It’s another simple way to update the look and feel of a home.

It’s amazing the difference this free “update” can make.

2. I paint.

This is actually on my to-do list for several areas of my home right now. It’s a great, cost-effective way to spruce up any living area, or piece of furniture. Paint easily gives a dated, well-worn area a fresh, clean, new look.

Some ideas of things you could paint to spruce up your house:

Furniture
Kitchen cabinets
Walls
Picture Frames
Wall Décor

3. I clean.

I don’t know about you, but cleaning out the dust bunnies, deep cleaning the bathroom, or scrubbing the kitchen goes a long way for my attitude towards my home.

Sometimes I notice I begin to feel dissatisfied with the appearance of my home when all I really need to do is give it a good, thorough cleaning. Pull out the vacuum and vacuum under the couches, scrub the bathroom floors, wash the cabinets and walls — these can all make such a huge difference in how I feel about my home.

4. I reorganize and purge.

Confession: I’m not the most organized person… however, I seriously dislike clutter.

I organize closets, my kitchen cupboards, under the bathroom sinks, etc. When I start feeling dissatisfied with my home, I’ve found that a good organizing project helps clear the “mental clutter” and allows for a fresh feel in my home.

5. I make a list of what I’m thankful for.

This should really go at the top of the list. This is something I do almost daily, and it really does a number on my outlook on life. It truly helps me to put things in perspective when I realize how blessed I am and how much I actually do have.

If you’re feeling dissatisfied with your home, and maybe rightly so, take a minute and write out every single thing you have to be thankful for. You’ll be amazed how quickly your attitude might change! I know I am.

For example, my 1400-square-foot house is feeling more cramped by the day with 3 active boys and my husband. Our furniture is roughly used, spilled on, wiped on, jumped on, barfed on, slept on…you get the idea.

However, then I remember how blessed I am to even have a house. And really, 1400 square feet is pretty large compared to a good majority of the people living in the world. I’m thankful that I have furniture, comfy beds for my children, a kitchen to cook in, and a house with heat and electricity.

I really have it pretty good, and I’m so very thankful.

When it’s just not in the budget, when there’s simply no wiggle room, and when even spending $20 on used furniture isn’t going to happen, I hope these tips can help you think outside the box.

What do you do when you start to feel dissatisfied with your home?

Alicia is first and foremost a Jesus follower, wife to one amazing guy, and #boymom of three. She’s also a coffee-lover, avid reader, chocolate addict, and self-proclaimed health enthusiast. You can visit her at Turquoise Grace, where she writes about everyday life as a wife and mother of three, offering real-life encouragement and grace-filled living from one mom to another.

Shared Feb 27, 2016 comment

Gretchen’s $52 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan

Published: by Crystal Paine on February 27, 2016 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Aldi

1 bag Gala Apples – $1.49, used $0.25 MobiSave rebate – $1.24 after rebate

1 gallon Milk – $1.89

1 Pineapple – $1.29

1 bag Spinach – $1.49

1 Celery – $1.49

1 bag Mandarin Oranges – $2.39

1 Half & Half – $1.89

1 Frozen Orange – $1.19

5 Grapefruit – $0.39 each, used $0.25 Checkout 51 rebate – $0.34 each after rebate

Total after rebates: $14.57

Homeland

2 pkg Best Choice Shredded Cheese – $1.50 each

1 quart Hiland Chocolate Milk – $1, used Free text coupon – Free after coupon

3 Jolly Time Popcorn – $1 each, used $0.50/1 coupon from the 1/10 SmartSource insert (doubled) and $1/2 printable (doubled) – Free after coupons

1 Vlassic Pickles – $2.69, used $1/1 printable (doubled) – $0.69 after coupon

2 French’s Mustard – $1.39, used $1/2 coupon from the 1/24 SmartSource insert (doubled) – $0.39 each after coupon

2 Yoplait Greek Yogurt – $1 each, used $0.50/2 printable (doubled) – $0.50 each after coupon

2 Hiland Cottage Cheese – $1 each

4 Plenti Yogurt – $1 each, used $0.35/1 printable (doubled) and $0.75/3 mailer coupon (doubled) – $0.45 each after coupons (I’m not sure what to think of these yet. They are very different than the yogurt we are used to eating!)

1 dozen Eggs – $1.09, used $0.25 Mobisave rebate – $0.84 after rebate

2 Chicken of the Sea Salmon – $0.89 each

Total after coupons and rebates: $11.89

Dillons

2 pkg Kroger Tortillas – Marked down to $0.89 each

1 Romaine Lettuce – $0.99, used $0.25 Mobisave rebate – $0.74 after rebate

3 Moms Best Cereal – $1.67 each

1 Nature’s Path Toaster Pastries – Marked down to $1.49

1 Thomas Bagels – $1.99

2 Avocados – $0.99 each, used $0.50/2 e-coupon AND $0.25 Ibotta rebate – $0.61 each after coupon and rebate

1 Lindt Chocolate Bar – $2.50, used Free Shopmium rebate – Free after rebate

3 Larabars – $1 each, used $0.75/3 printable – $0.75 each after coupon

1 Kroger Butter – $2.50, used $0.40/1 mailer coupon – $2.10 after coupon

1 Thomas’ English Muffins – $1.59

1.53 lbs Bananas – $0.90, used $0.25 Ibotta rebate AND $0.25 Mobisave rebate – $0.40 after rebates

1 Kroger Tortilla Chips – $1, used $0.40/1 mailer coupon – $0.60 after coupon

1 Tennessee Pride Sausage – Marked down to $1.89

1 pkg Pork Steak – Marked down to $3.96

1 Kroger Peanut Butter – $1, used $0.45/1 mailer coupon – $0.55 after coupon

Total after coupons and rebates: $25.56

Total for all grocery stores: $52.02

Menu Plan for This Week

Breakfasts

Eggs, Spinach, English Muffins x 3

Cereal x 2

Bagels, Fruit x 2

Lunches

Tossed Salad Bar

Baked Potato Bar

Cheese Quesadillas, Veggies

Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, Apple Slices, Celery

Cheese, Crackers, Fruit, Veggies

Leftovers x 2

Dinner

Grilled Steak, Green Beans, Spinach Salad

French Toast, Sausage, Eggs, Orange Juice

Baked Ziti, Biscuits, Fruit Salad

Ribs (from my mom), Steamed Broccoli from freezer, Rolls

Grilled Tilapia, Tossed Salad, Fruit

Bean Burritos, Chips and Salsa, Steamed Peas

Out to Eat

Shared Feb 26, 2016 comment

How to Get More Sleep

Published: by Crystal Paine on February 26, 2016 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

I’ve said this before and I say it often: “Burning the candle at both ends does not make your superwoman; it makes you exhausted.”

Sleep is so important, and I know we all struggle with getting more sleep and getting quality sleep. I have discovered that if I don’t get enough sleep, it affects every other area of my life.

When I get enough sleep, I am more productive, happier each day, and have so much energy! When I don’t get enough sleep, I am exhausted, stressed, unmotivated, and not nearly as productive.

Struggling to get more sleep? Here are 5 suggestions:

1. Go to bed earlier.

This is a no-brainer, but it’s one of the harder ones to do — and something I’m still working on! This is why I’ve been doing the go to bed early challenge!

Are you feeling exhausted when you wake up in the morning, struggling to keep your eyes open after lunch, or hitting a productivity wall in the afternoon? If you feel any of these things, you are most likely not getting enough sleep and need an earlier bed time.

If you’re having a difficult time going to bed early, you can try the shock technique or the gradual technique. The shock technique involves getting up earlier a couple days in a row, until you’re so exhausted that you can’t wait to fall into bed earlier than usual. (This is actually why I did the get up early challenge first, so that I could force myself to get used to an earlier bed time.)

The gradual technique involves gradually teaching your body to adapt by choosing an earlier bedtime by 5 minutes each evening until you’ve reset your bedtime to what you want it to be. Once you’ve reset your bed time, try to go to bed at the same time each night.

Most importantly, learn how to go to bed when you’re tired. Don’t wait for your body to catch that second, third, or fourth wind.

2. Plan ahead for great sleep.

Start getting ready for bed at least an hour before you want to go to bed. Having an evening routine can really help you get in the mindset for going to bed.

Think about what helps you relax. Maybe it’s reading a book, taking a bath, or listening to music.

You can also prep your environment for a great night’s sleep. Here are just a few suggestions from my Say Goodbye to Survival Mode book:

Make sure your room is cool and dark.
Dim the lights early.
Have white noise in the background as you fall asleep.
Try using an eye mask or ear plugs to block out sight and sound.
Diffuse or apply lavender essential oils.

I personally love drinking Sleepy Time Tea as part of my evening routine and applying Badger Sleep Balm to my feet before bed.

3. Drink less caffeine.

I love my coffee, and I will not be giving it up any time soon. I do limit myself to two cups per day, and I try not to drink it after 3 p.m. each day.

If you’re struggling with falling asleep at night, limiting your caffeine intake might be something worth trying.

4. Turn off the electronics.

Turn off the electronics at least an hour before bed time. Taking e-mail off of my phone helped me so much. I used to instinctively check my e-mail right before bed and feel like I needed to deal with it right away, which always prevented me from winding down and relaxing because my brain wouldn’t shut down properly.

Now I try to shut down the computer after dinner and not turn it back on until the following day. This helps my mind stay calm so that I can wind down, relax, and wind down at night.

I’ve also found that when my mind is racing, it helps me so much to write down anything that’s keeping me awake. This is why I love brain dumping and planning out the following day before I go to bed each night. It makes for a much more peaceful night’s sleep, knowing everything is out of my brain and onto paper.

5. Give yourself grace.

Sometimes you don’t get a good night’s rest, and that’s okay. Choose to make the most of the day and try again tonight, even if last night didn’t go well!

What helps you calm down, feel relaxed, and get in bed on time each night? I’d love to hear!

Want some practical help with setting up your day for success? It all starts the night before! Be sure to grab a copy of my brand-new online course, Make Over Your Evenings.

It’s time to stop sleep-walking through life and wake up to the amazing excitement and fulfillment that comes when you follow my simple plan to Make Over Your Evenings.

Find out more about it here.

Shared Feb 26, 2016 comment

When Paying Off Debt is Discouraging

Published: by Crystal Paine on February 26, 2016 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Guest post from Jamie of Medium Sized Family

It’s a big thing to decide to get serious about paying down debt. It takes commitment and dedication.

Our family has a BHAG (Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal) of paying down a debt that amounts to 19% of our take-home pay. Everyone in the family is on board with doing the work it will take to get this goal accomplished. We’re making different choices, and sometimes just saying “no” to help us meet our bigger goal.

We did so many things right. But it turned out that this month, the money we had saved wound up being needed for an unexpected expense instead.

It’s discouraging to work so hard and not see any improvement!

The worst part about discouragement like that is that it can derail your hopes before they even get any real traction. So rather than letting myself wallow in that disappointment, I made some different choices.

If you have been discouraged by the lack of progress you’re making towards various goals, here are a few things you can try:

Look for the good.

If you try hard enough, you can usually find that silver lining — even in a moment of disappointment. While we weren’t able to put money toward our debt this time, the fact that we didn’t have to dig into our savings account or pay with credit is still a big win.

Learn from it.

“Unexpected” expenses happen to all of us. You might not know where the unexpected expense is going to come from or what moment it might happen in, but you can bet your cookies that it is going to come along some time!

I’d rather not touch our savings account if we can help it, and if we do touch it, the next dollar earmarked towards debt will have to refund the savings account instead. But at least it is there if we need it!

Revisit the goal.

If you find that you are discouraged by your debt month after month, it might be that your goal is not realistic. We had to take another look at our big goal to see if we still considered it to be doable. Once we decided that we our goal is definitely a stretch goal, but still reasonable, then we revisited our baby steps towards that goal.

A big goal to pay off a large debt can be exciting, but it can also be overwhelming. It’s far easier to handle it by breaking it into chunks. Then you can look forward to meeting several smaller goals along the way.

Some ways to break down your large debt goal into baby steps include:

Break down the goal into percentages. Create a visual thermometer and color in a rectangle as you pay off the debt. Each time you’ve hit 10%, 20%, etc. of your goal, celebrate! Dance in the kitchen, pull out the good china, treat yourself to a delicious dessert, or find your own special treat.

For something simpler, watch your bill. Each time the first number (or second or third number depending on your circumstances) goes down another notch, you’ve reached a baby step!

Find the Fun!

There are a few surprising things that are helping our entire family get through our debt payment plan. Try a few things and see what makes the challenge of paying off debt more fun for your crowd:

Get a Mantra. We’ve decided that our mantra for 2016 is that this is the #YearofNo. When someone asks if we can stop for fast food, all we have to do is say “Hashtag: Year of No!” Yes, we do sometimes still get whining and complaints. But far more often than not, we get a little giggle and a joke in return. This mantra has also helped me get through several shopping trips when I am trying to separate the “needs” from the “wants”.

Choose a Challenge. There are so many different challenges out there to try! Your family might enjoy seeing how long they can go without spending in a No Spend Challenge. Maybe your culinary side would like the workout it would get from an Eat From the Pantry Challenge. You could try generic versions rather than your usual brand name and treat it like a science experiment. (Get the whole family’s opinion of one versus the other!)

Don’t Break the Chain. Choose a habit that you’d like to change, then, see how many days you can go without using that habit. We were able to go the entire month of January without stopping for fast food. That was a major breakthrough for us! If and when you do finally break the chain of days, don’t be discouraged. See if you can break that record with your next try.

Stay Positive!

No matter how you choose to lift yourself from a debt discouragement slump, make sure that you find ways to stay positive. You can do this!

What are some ways you’ve gotten over discouragement?

Jamie is a wife and mother of 5, ages 2 to 12. Her family lives in the country where they raise goats (whenever they aren’t playing baseball!). She blogs at Medium-Sized Family where she shares tips on saving money in small and big ways so you can afford to give your family a beautiful life.

Shared Feb 26, 2016 comment

Brigette’s $68 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6

Published: by Brigette on February 26, 2016 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Aldi

3-lb bag Mandarin Oranges – $2.37

Vanilla Ice Cream – $2.49

2 3-lb bags Fuji Apples – $4.74

32-oz jar Unsweetened Applesauce – $1.89

2 bunches Bananas (5.25lb @ $0.38/lb) – $1.99

5-lb bag Grapefruit – $1.95

1 head Cauliflower – $1.99

10-lb bag Potatoes – $3.49

1 3-lb bag Sweet Potatoes – $1.79

2 cans Green Beans – $0.98

Sliced Pepperoni – $2.19

Parmesan Cheese – $2.49

3-head pack Garlic – $0.79

Mini Sweet Peppers – $2.29

Organic Arugula – $0.89

Baby Carrots – $0.99

32-oz Nonfat Greek Yogurt – $3.69

2 Tomatoes – $1.49

2 24-oz Cottage Cheese – $4.58

Grape Tomatoes – $1.69

Artisan Lettuce – $1.99

Romaine Hearts – $1.99

Heavy Whipping Cream – $1.69

2 16-oz cartons Egg Whites – $3.98

1 pkg Rice Cakes – $1.29

1 Green Olives – $1.29

Total: $57.00

Harris Teeter

1 Family-Size box Honey Nut Cheerios – $2.64, used $0.75/1 printable (doubled) – $1.14 after coupon

6 Larabars – $6.00, used 2 $0.75/3 printable (doubled), plus receive $0.75 from SavingStar – $2.25/6 after coupons and rebate

4 boxes Muellers Elbow Pasta – $3.40, used 2 $1/2 printable – $1.40/4 after coupons

1 Huggies Wipes – $2.00, used $0.50/1 Huggies Wipes, exp. 3/26/16 (SS 02/28/16) (doubled), plus $0.50 evic – $0.50 after coupons

2 cans Dole Pineapple – $2.58, used $0.75/2 printable (doubled), plus $0.75 evic – $0.33 after coupons

3 Parmesan Cheese Blend (I just happened to notice these were marked down to $0.97 each! Of course, this was after the Aldi shopping trip where I had already gotten parmesan cheese :)) – $2.91

1 Dannon Light and Fit 4-pk Yogurt – $1.40, used $1 off (3) Dannon Light & Fit Greek Yogurt Single Serve Cups or (1) Multipack or Quart, exp. 3/31/16 (SS 02/21/16 R) – $0.40 after coupon

2 Sorrento Ricotta Cheese – $3.99, used 2 $1/1 printables, NLA – $1.99/2 after coupons

Total after coupons and rebate: $11.06

Weekly Total: $68.06

Weekly Menu Plan

Breakfasts

Cereal x 2

Oatmeal with Fruit x 3

Toast, Scrambled Eggs/Veggie Omelettes x 2

Lunches

Baked Sweet Potatoes, Apples, Almond Butter on Rice Cakes

Build-Your-Own-Tossed Salad (Lettuce, Raw Veggies, Hard Boiled Eggs, Shredded Cheese, Nuts), Oranges

Macaroni and Cheese, Peppers, Bananas

Leftovers x 4

Dinners

Venison Roast in the Crockpot, Roasted Carrots and Potatoes, Almost Famous Breadsticks

Chicken Gravy over Rice, Steamed Broccoli, Homemade Applesauce

Homemade Pepperoni Pizza, Italian Cheese Bread, Tossed Salad, Chocolate Sheet Cake and Ice Cream (Birthday Meal/Company Dinner – my baby is turning 2! Which makes me very happy and very sad all at once. :))

Barbequed Meatballs (I made this a couple of weeks back, and it is back by popular demand!), Homemade Macaroni and Cheese, Roasted Cauliflower

Taco Salad, Homemade Yellow Rice

Baked Potatoes topped with Ham, Shredded Cheese and Broccoli, Easy Whole Wheat Bread

Leftovers

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

Click here to download!

Shared Feb 26, 2016 comment

Why I took a day {mostly} offline — in the middle of the week!

Published: by Crystal Paine on February 26, 2016 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Good morning! I took yesterday off from social media and was mostly offline, too. After a few full days with lots of projects and people, my soul was craving quiet.

So I stayed offline most of the day, moved at a slow pace, spent one-on-one time with each of the kids/Jesse, met a new friend for lunch, took a walk, had another good friend over, and then we capped off the day by having a family movie night (we watched The Odd Life of Timothy Green. And I’m still not sure what I thought of it!)

I’ve been asking myself a lot recently, “what does my soul need?” Then, I’m trying to be intentional about adding that into my day. It is making such a difference for me!

It’s Day #20 of the Go to Bed Early Challenge, but don’t ask what time I went to bed last night, because I stayed up way too late. But it’s Friday and I’m hoping to get somewhat back on track this weekend.

How was YOUR day yesterday? What does your soul need today?

Shared Feb 25, 2016 comment

3 Things I ADD to My Life to Avoid Burnout

Published: by Crystal Paine on February 25, 2016 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

When I read Breaking Busy by Alli Worthington awhile back, this quote she referenced by Christine Cane totally stopped me in my tracks: “You don’t burn out doing the right things, you burn out because of what you don’t do!”

That statement got me thinking about the things I try to every day to avoid hitting burnout. Here are 3 things I came up with that I try to add into my day that make a big impact:

1. I Add in Time in God’s Word & Prayer

As a Christian, this is the number one thing I have found to keep me from hitting burnout. Spending time in God’s Word and in prayer refreshes my spirit and fills my soul.

My favorite studies are from She Reads Truth. I love their mission to encourage women to be in the Word of God every day. You can purchase their devotional journals or you can just sign up to get the daily emails with Scriptures and encouraging thoughts. {Read more about how She Reads Truth works here.}

When the kids were little, I used to hide away in the bathroom and read The Daily Light. This is a compilation of topical Scriptures and it’s so rich and encouraging. You can get it in whatever Bible translation you prefer.

Are you in a busy season of life that makes it hard for you to commit a lot of time to read? Here are a few other options:

Listen to the Bible on audio
Download sermon podcasts (our church has their sermons available online or as a podcast)
Turn on some praise music (I love the options available on Amazon Prime Music!)

These are great ways to encourage your heart while you are cleaning or doing other mundane tasks.

I also love to spend time in the morning praying over my day while I’m on the treadmill. I’ll pray through the events of my day, ask God for wisdom in areas where I’m struggling, ask for God’s blessing on projects I’m working on, pray for my husband and kids, pray for other needs, and spend time thanking God for Who He is and what He’s doing in my life.

Taking the time to pray over my day and start my day with prayer lays such a great foundation for my day.

2. I Add in Time Connecting With Others

We weren’t created to live by ourselves or be loners. On the contrary, God designed us to need community.

While hospitality used to be something I considered not my strong point at all, I’m getting better and better at it as I make it a priority and just open up our home and life to others.

In this season of our life, we’ve been opening our home to friends almost daily and it’s been a beautiful thing. I love being able to use our home to bless and encourage others and to just get to “do life” and be in everyday community with people we love. I find that I’m so filled up by doing this!

A few other ways I seek to connect with friends each week:

Our Monday Group — a group of families that we get to hang out with each Monday night just to talk, laugh, connect with, love on, and do life with. It’s been one of the greatest blessings of moving here.
Spending intentional time with Jesse and our kids — just being together, learning together, laughing together, and loving life together.
Keeping up with friends through texting — it’s a great way to let people know I’m praying for them, to hear how things are going, and to just stay involved in life — especially in long-distance relationships.
Getting together with girlfriends at least once or twice. I’m currently involved in a Wednesday night Bible Study with a group of local ladies and also usually have a coffee date with a friend at least a few times per month.

3. I Add in Time to Take Care of Myself

So many of us are guilty of running around all day taking care of everyone else, that we forget to take care of ourselves. When you neglect yourself, it is one of the fastest ways you can hit burn out.

For me, taking time out for myself means doing things I love. Some of these things are:

Scoping: I just love getting to interact live with many of you on Periscope every day. It truly energizes me in a great way.
Writing: I love blogging — which is why I’ve stuck with it for so long!
Laughing: The other day, I shared a funny video that I found with Jesse. We just laughed and laughed about it. Laughter is so good for the soul!
Coffee: What more need I say? I love me some good coffee in a cute mug!
Quiet: I try to take a little time each day for quiet — whether that’s reading something, taking a bath, or just driving somewhere by myself without the radio on.

These are just a few of the things that I like doing for myself. Most of the things on this list don’t require a lot of time, but investing a little time to make sure I’m doing things I love makes such a difference in helping me feel refreshed and renewed.

What do you intentionally try to ADD to your life to avoid burnout?

Shared Feb 24, 2016 comment

4 Ways to Be a Better Listener

Published: by Crystal Paine on February 24, 2016 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

In my life, I’ve discovered that everyone can teach you something, if you just take the time to listen to them.

I think one of the biggest problems, however, is that we don’t take the time to listen. And many times when we think we’re listening, we aren’t really listening. Instead, we’re formulating a response to interject into the conversation as soon as we have a chance.

When you are intentional about becoming a good listener, you’ll gain so much wisdom from others. Plus, you’ll probably find that you develop deeper and more meaningful relationships.

Here are four ways to be a better listener:

1. Focus on the Other Person

This seems so basic, but you should focus your attention on the other person. I’ve found that people really love to talk about themselves. They have passions, interest, and things they want to share with whoever will listen intently to what they are saying.

If you want to have some interesting conversations, ask someone to tell you about themselves. It is a very simple question, but it can lead to a lot of great things.

I have found that when I meet someone, if I’m not sure what to say or ask, I’ll often say something like, “Tell me about yourself!”

This communicates: “I’m interested in you!” and it often opens up the door for all kinds of fascinating conversations.

Personally, I have learned about people’s past history, their triumphs, the hard things, their disappointments, and other interesting things. It all started by me saying, “Tell me about yourself”.

2. Put Away Your Phone

If you want to have really great conversations, learn about new perspectives, and go really deep with people, you have to put your phone away. This wasn’t even something we had to tell people to do in the past, but in our day and age, it is vital that we implement phone etiquette.

You cannot multitask the way you think you can.

Besides your inability to actually listen while looking at your phone, you send a signal to the other person that they are not important to you. When you put your device away, you tell them that you are interested in what they have to say.

This is something I do when I meet with someone; I put my phone on the table in case I need to check on what time it is or see if someone has texted me something that is very important. However, I keep my phone turned over so that I send the signal that I want to talk with that person and that person only.

I encourage you to put your phone away and focus solely on the other person. Give them your undivided attention. When you do this, it makes you a much better listener.

3. Ask Follow Up Questions

One of the biggest keys to listening intently and learning about other people, is to ask follow up questions. After I ask the question, “Tell me about yourself”, I listen so that I can ask them about more of their story.

When I hear an interesting tidbit or something that piques my interest, I’m going to ask questions that will give me more information about it.

I’m going to do everything I can to dig deeper with someone — if they are willing to open up and share. This is the key to meaningful conversations.

I want to know how someone is really doing or how they actually feel about something. Asking generic questions will only get you so far.

4. Reiterate Their Statements

For those that know me in real life, you know that I love to have interesting discussion and go deep. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that I have a very intense and analytical personality, but I also care very deeply about people.

One of the things I do often, is to reiterate what the other person said after they’ve said. This shows that not only did I listen to them, but that I actually understood (or an trying to understand) what they said. It also gives them a chance to correct me if I didn’t get something right.

By repeating back to them what they said, and then asking more questions, it helps me understand someone better and communicates to them how much I care about them — which only fosters deeper relationships and more meaningful conversations!

Shared Feb 24, 2016 comment

We Paid Cash: A New Steam Washer and Dryer

Published: by Crystal Paine on February 24, 2016 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

A testimony from Leah from Simple.Home.Blessings

A while back we decided to say goodbye to credit cards for big purchases, and since then, we have been saving up and paying cash for everything (including big ticket items).

I have found it is actually more FUN for me to save up and dream for a while before purchasing big things for our home!

Just recently, it was finally time for us to make our next big purchase: a steam washer and steam dryer!

A little background information.

We previously purchased our front-loader washer and dryer over nine years ago and I have been using them in spite of their quirks (developed over nine years of use). I even figured out how to give my dryer a tune-up last year and did it myself to save money on a repair man! However, they were really showing their age.

Then I got a serious case of “I want it” fever when we were staying at my in-laws house and using their new steam units. We needed to save up for it because they are not cheap!

Here’s how we saved up and paid cash for our new steam washer and dryer:

1. We set a goal.

We decided we would like to purchase our appliances and hoped to purchase them by the end of the year. Meanwhile, we were on the lookout for a great price all year long.

2. We saved our $5 bills.

This is harder than it seems! But we tucked away each and every $5 bill that we saw and put it aside for our dream washer and dryer. When we finally had enough to pay for our purchase, we went to the bank and cashed them in for larger bills.

3. We shopped around – A LOT!

We are notorious long-lookers before purchasing. We like to do our research and really know when we are getting the best price on the item we want.

In fact, we went to look at washers and dryers once again on November 30, and found the ones we wanted at the price we wanted. We talked with the salesperson and he said this would be the best price on the pair until July of next year! The only problem was, we didn’t have our cash with us.

We planned on going back the next day, but a mere hour later, my water broke and our third baby was born that night. So we had to shop another day.

4. We remained patient.

I was kind of bummed thinking that we had missed out on our window to purchase our dream washer and dryer at the price we wanted… but, I told my husband to keep watching the prices.

Then a couple of weeks ago, he texted me a picture from another local big box store with the exact price we were looking at back in November, but it was for an upgraded set of washer and dryer! Our patience had paid off and we were rewarded with better appliances for the same price!

Today, we are really enjoying the laundry appliances we purchased. We run at least two loads of laundry a day, and I am so happy that we were able to save up and purchase them at just the right time!

Leah is a wife of almost 12 years and mama to three precious little ones. She loves to wake up early to a cup of coffee and a quiet house. In her spare time, she leads a local Bible study and writes about the joys of homemaking at Simple.Home.Blessings.

Have you saved up and paid cash for something — large or small? Submit your story for possible publication here.

Shared Feb 24, 2016 comment

One of my very favorite things we have hanging on our wall (Go to Bed Early Challenge: Day 18)

Published: by Crystal Paine on February 24, 2016 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

This is probably one of my very favorite things we have hanging on our wall — handmade by our friends in South Africa with reclaimed pallet wood.

Right now, it has the Lent verses from our She Reads Truth study displayed on it and it hangs in our home as a constant reminder of one of our family hearts and passions: to wisely steward what God has given us here to make a difference in South Africa and around the world!

It also encourages my heart to think how God is working in mighty ways halfway around the globe. The fact that there is a woodworking shop committed to teaching the locals skills, strong work ethic, and how to create beautiful and practical things in one of the poorest areas there in South Africa using wood that would otherwise be thrown away reminds me how God is in the business of redemption. {Read more and see more pictures about the woodworking shop here.}

(It’s Day #18 of the Go to Bed Early Challenge and I was in bed close to 10 pm last night — I was wiped out after a long day of filming the #MakeOverYourEvenings course yesterday! {You can see a behind-the-scenes video we shot here, if you’re interested.} We have another day of filming today to do some promos and b-roll and then it’s a wrap! I can’t wait to share the finished product with you in April — and part of the proceeds will be going to make a difference in South Africa!)

Are you joining me for the Go to Bed Early Challenge? If so, leave a comment on this post to let me know how you did with your go-to-bed goal last night.

We’re in this together… And if you didn’t hit your goal, that’s okay! Give yourself grace, don’t beat yourself up, and know that you can try again tomorrow!

Summer Bucket List

Summer Bucket List

FREE Summer Bucket List!!

1. Make a list of all your ideas.

2. Prioritize your list.

3. Pick two to five things to do every night.

4. Commit to stick with it for 21 days.

1. Don’t Compare

2. Get on the Same Page as Your Spouse

3. Focus on a Routine

4. Plan Two to Three Different Kinds of Morning Routines

What advice and suggestions do you have for this reader?

1. Grow your own garden

2. Make your own cleaning supplies

3. Mix your own bath and beauty products

4. Make simple home health remedies

5. Create your own DIY home decor items

What are simple things you do most mornings to start your day well?

1. Periscoping With My 6-Year-Old Sidekick

2. My Husband

3. A To Do List That Made Me Laugh

4. My Current Book Stack

5. TOMS Shoes

What are YOU loving this week?

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

1. I rearrange the furniture.

2. I paint.

3. I clean.

4. I reorganize and purge.

5. I make a list of what I’m thankful for.

What do you do when you start to feel dissatisfied with your home?

Aldi

Homeland

Dillons

Menu Plan for This Week

Breakfasts

Lunches

Dinner

1. Go to bed earlier.

2. Plan ahead for great sleep.

3. Drink less caffeine.

4. Turn off the electronics.

5. Give yourself grace.

What helps you calm down, feel relaxed, and get in bed on time each night? I’d love to hear!

Look for the good.

Learn from it.

Revisit the goal.

Find the Fun!

Stay Positive!

What are some ways you’ve gotten over discouragement?

Aldi

Harris Teeter

Weekly Menu Plan

Breakfasts

Lunches

Dinners

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

How was YOUR day yesterday? What does your soul need today?

1. I Add in Time in God’s Word & Prayer

2. I Add in Time Connecting With Others

3. I Add in Time to Take Care of Myself

What do you intentionally try to ADD to your life to avoid burnout?

1. Focus on the Other Person

2. Put Away Your Phone

3. Ask Follow Up Questions

4. Reiterate Their Statements

1. We set a goal.

2. We saved our $5 bills.

3. We shopped around – A LOT!

4. We remained patient.

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