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Shared Dec 27, 2015 comment

5 Things I’m Loving This Week + how we kept Christmas simple

Published: by Crystal Paine on December 27, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

#1. A Relaxed Christmas

Like last year, we kept Christmas really simple this year. We focused on the few things that we decided as a family were priorities: we all wanted to go to Kansas to celebrate Christmas, the kids wanted to put up the tree and decorate the house all by themselves (they were so, so excited to do it themselves and ended up doing a great job!), Jesse and I wanted to go to New York City for a special trip just the two of us, the kids wanted to decorate Gingerbread Houses and drink hot cocoa, the kids wanted to decorate Christmas cookies, and Kaitlynn wanted to be in the Christmas ice-skating show.

We only did a few gifts for extended family members and a few other people in our lives, Jesse and I gifted each other the She Reads Truth/He Reads Truth Auto Ship Program for the year, and we gave the kids each one expensive Experience Gift. We’d never done just Experience Gifts before, so we weren’t sure how that would go over… but it ended up being a HUGE hit!

{In case you’re curious, we gifted Kathrynne a special one-day training class on swimming strokes with two olympians (she was over-the-moon excited about this!), we gifted Kaitlynn new ice skates (we’ve been renting her skates ever since she grew out of her last pair — this isn’t exactly an Experience Gift, but it’s something that will contribute to many Experiences and something she could really use and would be excited about, so we decided it counted!), and we gifted Silas Swimming Lessons — something he’s been begging for!}

Keeping Christmas simple this year allowed us to really get to enjoy a lot of relaxed time hanging out as a family and with our extended family. It ended up being one of the least stressful and most enjoyable Christmases in a long time.

We feel like clearing some of the commitments and schedule clutter gave our souls space to breathe — and it was such a good thing!

#2. Milano Cookies

What a fun surprise!! These Milano cookies randomly showed up in our mailbox this past week from Paige Yelle! She’s a reader and the designer of these adorable Gratitude Journals.

Milano cookies are pretty much hands down my favorite store bought cookie — and my kids agree, too!

#3. Quotes That Made Me Laugh

I love looking for quotes and cartoons online that make me smile, laugh, and nod my head. And then I love nothing more than to share these quotes with others so that they can relate or smile and laugh with me.

This one on introverts and this one on motherhood were two of my favorites this week.

#4. Phase 10

Have you played this game before? It’s a very simple card game and it’s something that almost all ages can play, but it’s one we’re loving as a family right now. We played multiple games of it while traveling this week and it was a great way to pass the time!

#5. Handlettering

I am setting very few goals in 2016, but one of them is that I will spend 5 minutes every day practicing handlettering. I have discovered that I not only love this art, but it’s a fun way to challenge myself to learn and grow. Plus, if I improve at it, it’s a skill that I can use to create quote graphics to share on social media and my blog.

I plan to stay accountable by sharing some of the fruits from my practice on my Instagram feed and Facebook Page. You can see a few of my first attempts here. I have so much to learn, a few more supplies to get, and a LOT more practice to put in, but I’m excited to see what a year of practice brings!

If you follow along, I hope you’ll be inspired as you watch me exercise a new area of creativity, challenge myself to develop a new skill, and have a whole lot of imperfect along the way.

What are you loving this week? Let us know in the comments.

Shared Dec 26, 2015 comment

What’s coming up next week + something to help you get organized in 2016!

Published: by Crystal Paine on December 26, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas! We did! In fact, it was our most stress-free and relaxed Christmas in a long time! I’ll be sharing more about how we did Christmas this year and what helped to make it such an enjoyable Christmas later on today.

For those of you who have asked, I also have some fun posts planned on my goals for 2016, my One Word for 2016, my favorite books from 2015, plans for 2016, and more. Those will all be coming up next week.

And tonight, I’ll be posting more details on our brand-new goal-setting course that is launching on Monday (I can’t WAIT to tell you more about it! We’re SO excited about how it turned out!!) Stay tuned for that because we have a special one-day-only sale on Monday and part of the proceeds will be going to a very special project in South Africa!

In the mean time, while you’re cleaning up from Christmas and thinking ahead to 2016, I wanted to let you know that we’ve discounted my highly popular 14-day Make Over Your Mornings course and you can get it for just $9 through January 8, 2016!

This 14-day course 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. It’s a GREAT course to help you get more organized and start 2016 off well!

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.

It’s not about following a one-size-fits-all system (because every woman and family is different!), but about creating a morning that is in line with your life, your strengths, your family’s needs, and your unique situation.

What You Get When You Purchase This Course

When you purchase this course, you’ll get immediate access to all of the following:

14 high-quality videos with motivational encouragement from me — one for each day of the course.
A behind-the-scenes peek into our everyday home and lives via short video clips throughout the course.
A comprehensive workbook with 14 chapters filled with practical ideas and inspirational encouragement.
Daily projects to guide you on your 14-day journey and help you implement and apply what you learned from the daily video and chapter.
Printable worksheets to walk you step-by-step through some of the projects and motivate you to follow through.
Additional links and resources for each day, if you’d like to dig deeper on a subject.

The course videos and materials can be accessed via any desktop computer, laptop computer, smartphone, or mobile device. You can choose to print the workbook or download it to your computer or phone.

This course is self-paced and you have lifetime access to all course downloads. You can begin it at any time and you can go at your own pace!

Go over to MakeOverYourMornings.com to find out all the details on this course and then be sure to take advantage of the special can’t-miss $9 sale!

P.S. Not sure if this course is for you? We designed this course with every woman in mind — whether you work, stay at home, are married or single, or have kids or not. If you purchase it and find it’s not what you expected or doesn’t live up to your expectations in any way, we are offering a 30-day money-back guarantee, no questions asked! So, there’s literally zero risk in purchasing this! Go pick up your copy here.

Shared Dec 24, 2015 comment

When It Doesn’t Feel Like the Most Wonderful Time of Year

Published: by Crystal Paine on December 24, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Can I be really honest with you? My heart’s been heavy this December.

I usually love the Christmas season. I love the smells, the music, the food, the time with family and friends, the special moments and memories.

But this year? My heart feels burdened.

There are so many people around me who are going through hard things… friends who are grieving the loss of a child, friends who have experienced deep physical and emotional pain this past year, friends who are struggling in their marriage, friends who are struggling financially, friends who are grieving big losses… and on and on the list goes.

I just want to fix it all and take it all away so that Christmas can be joyful and cheerful and wonderful — instead of painful and hurtful.

But I can’t take away the pain. I can’t replace what was lost. I can’t fix someone else’s marriage. I can’t heal someone else’s wounded relationship. I can’t wave a magic wand and solve someone’s unemployment struggles.

So what can I do? I can pray. I can listen. I can encourage. I can go out of my way to show that I care.

I can give the gift of myself.

And that’s the gift that most are longing for this Christmas — to know that they aren’t alone. That they are loved. That they are seen. That they are cared about. That, in the midst of all of the festivities and celebrations, their pain and hurt and heartache is not forgotten.

So my Christmas challenge for all of you today is this: In the middle of the merry-making, the carol-singing, the cookie-decorating, the present-giving, and the gift-unwrapping, look around and notice that person who is hurting and grieving.

The widow across the street. The woman holding the tattered sign on the side of the road. Your aunt sitting across the table from you at Christmas dinner.

Look into her eyes. Ask her how she’s doing. Let her know — by your words and actions — that she isn’t forgotten. That she is seen. And most importantly, that she is loved.

Give the gift of yourself this Christmas. It’s the greatest gift you have to offer.

P.S. If you are struggling and hurting and discouraged this Christmas, I’d love to pray for you. Can you leave a comment on this post or send me an email (crystal @ moneysavingmom.com) so I can pray for you? I would be honored to have the opportunity to do so.

Shared Dec 21, 2015 comment

Let there be peace on earth… and let it begin with our house! :)

Published: by Crystal Paine on December 21, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

“I want to do the icing!!”

“NO! Mom said I could do the icing!”

“You’re not giving me any candy so I can decorate!”

“You’re hogging all the candy!”

“Mom! I saw her eat a piece of candy!”

I was finally feeling a little better and had promised the kids we’d turn on Christmas music, make hot cocoa, and decorate a Gingerbread House. I had visions of how fun and memorable it was going to be.

Instead, one child ended up in their room for half of the decorating, another child was almost in tears, and I wanted to chuck the whole thing and send everyone to bed.

Sigh. Such is life some days.

To all the tired mamas out there, I just want you to know that you are not alone.

There are days when it’s not pretty, it’s not quiet, and it’s certainly not all picture perfect.

But this is the stuff that life is made up of. The good, the bad, the cranky, and the messy.

And in those difficult moments when the kids are acting up, I have a choice. I can choose to be overwhelmed and frustrated (and some days, sadly, that’s my first response!). Or, I can choose love, stay calm, and, yes, sometimes declare an early bedtime. 😉

Shared Dec 19, 2015 comment

5 Things I’m Loving This Week (the head cold edition)

Published: by Crystal Paine on December 19, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

#1) My New Cultivate the Lovely Mug

I had a radio taping in Colorado Springs on Thursday, and I barely made it through the interview before the slight head cold I had turned into full-blown nose-can’t-stop-running, head-is-going-to-explode head cold status.

(By the time I landed back in Nashville, the only thing I wanted to do was crawl into bed… And I’ve mostly stayed there ever since! I guess God decided that I needed to get a jumpstart on my planned word for 2016 — REST!)

At any rate, I’ve been drinking Zarbee’s Throat Relief drink in my brand-new Cultivate the Lovely mug that I bought from MacKenzie over at Bold Turquoise makes me feel a little more classy while rocking bed head and PJs.

#2) My Last Business Trip of 2015

As mentioned above, I flew to Colorado Springs on Wednesday and Thursday for a radio taping. It was my last business trip of 2015 and I couldn’t be happier to finally be at the finish line after a long, very full, and very stretching year.

It’s weird to not have any huge and pressing projects ahead of me and very little travel planned for 2016. But it feels SO good! While I’m grateful for the growth and the opportunities this past year, I’m also grateful to be entering a much quieter season!

#3) Our Monday Group

These are all the adults in our Monday Group (taken at our Christmas Party this past week). And every single person here means so much to us.

We’ve laughed, teased, cried, prayed, ate, and played together almost every Monday night over this past year. These people have listened to us, loved us well, cared for us, and modeled what authentic community looks like. And it’s been one of the greatest gifts to us since moving here to TN.

Can’t wait for all our 2016 Mondays!! (Also, I have no idea why I was the only person who missed the memo on where we were supposed to be looking in this photo!)

#4) A Funny Laundry Image

I found this image from MamaNeedsaNap.com and just had to share it… because maybe you needed the laugh, too?

#5) A Thought-Provoking Quote

I’m attacking this head cold with gusto… Taking all sorts of vitamins, downing the liquids, slathering myself with oils, chugging the tinctures, and resting like it’s my job! ?

I don’t mess around when it comes to sickness! Ain’t nobody got time for head colds!

It appears to be working because I was able to sleep well last night (okay, I confess: I did take Robitussin Nighttime) and feel more human today.

This is the perfect day to be reading Choose Joy. My favorite quote so far: “Too many people miss the silver lining because they’re expecting gold.” -Maurice Setters

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

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Shared Dec 19, 2015 comment

Get our NEW Make Over Your Calendar 7-Day Course for FREE!

Published: by Crystal Paine on December 19, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

I wanted to do something special as a thank you to you all for being readers here this year, so I’m giving away my new Make Over Your Calendar 7-Day Course for FREE.

Just type in your name and email address in the form above and you’ll receive an email in your inbox with the download!

P.S. When you sign up, this also signs you up for my new, weekly personal email newsletter with tidbits from our life, links I’m loving, books I’m reading, and more!

Shared Dec 19, 2015 comment

Last Minute, Frugal Gifts for Anyone on Your List

Published: by Crystal Paine on December 19, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Guest post from Elizabeth of ElizabethClareBlog.com

Christmas is fast approaching! Thanks to planning ahead, most of my gifts are purchased, wrapped, and under the tree. Inevitably though, there are always a few people on my list that I have no gift for… and no idea what to give them.

Running to the store to do last-minute shopping usually means spending more money than I want on something the recipient won’t even want. It also means fighting a crowd that steals my peace during this holiday season. No, thank you!

Over the years I developed a mental list of frugal gifts I can quickly throw together for anyone remaining on my list. This list of gift ideas is great for several reasons:

They are consumable and won’t end up in the donation box come January.
They can be used for all ages and types of people.
They can be put together quickly.
They are flexible based on your time and budget.

Food

We all need to eat, but don’t always have the time to cook a well rounded, delicious meal. Preparing freezer meals for those on your list would be a gift many would love to receive. Maybe you don’t have time to prepare the meals. Providing recipe cards and ingredients for a well-loved meal or dish in a beautiful basket would be even easier.

Our family also likes to give specialty food items we don’t normally purchase for ourselves, like the following:

Gourmet coffee or tea
Specialty salsa and spicy sauces
Dried fruits
Seasoned nuts
Dark chocolates
Seasonal fruit basket

Service

We all seem to be short on time these days. What about doing something to lighten someone else’s load? Here are some ideas:

Cleaning
Babysitting children
Organizing
Shopping

Gift Card to Anywhere (AKA cash!)

Maybe it seems boring, cold, or thoughtless to some, but I have never known anyone to be disappointed when receiving cash as a gift.

Cash is what my father-in-law calls the “Gift Card to Anywhere.” You can suggest the recipient uses the cash for a specific purpose, or leave it up to their discretion.

Time

This gift is the cheapest of all, and often the most appreciated. Take time to step away from the busyness of your life and really invest in someone else.

Here are a few ideas to get your wheels turning:

Coffee or lunch date
Shop together for something special
Do something active – skating, swimming, hiking, etc.
Watch a movie

No matter who is left on your list, or what your budget is, I am sure this list will help you come up with something anyone would enjoy!

Elizabeth Clare is a dairy farmer’s daughter learning to navigate the ropes of Catholic homeschooling, mothering, and homemaking. She gives advice and encouragement on those topics at her blog ElizabethClareBlog.com. She also runs her Etsy shop, A Pondered Life, which specializes in creating beautiful family traditions.

photo source

Shared Dec 19, 2015 comment

Gretchen’s $47 Grocery Shopping Trip & Weekly Menu Plan

Published: by Gretchen on December 19, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Aldi

1 pkg Plain English Muffins – Marked down to $0.50

1 loaf Bread – $0.99

2 pkg Lasagna Noodles – Marked down to $0.49 each

2 gallons Milk – $1.99 each

1 pkg Frozen Tilapia Fillets – $3.39

1 bag Frozen Boneless Chicken Breasts – $6.69

1 Half & Half – $1.79

1 Unsweetened Applesauce – $1.89

1 Honey – $4.99

1 Celery – $0.69

1 bag Yellow Potatoes – $0.99

1 pkg Rice Cakes – $1.29

1 bag Mini Marshmallows – $0.69

Used $5 Aldi coupon that was mailed to me

Total after coupon: $23.86

Dillons

4 Moms Best Cereal – $1.50 each

1 Welch’s Grape Juice – $1.99, used Free e-coupon (no longer available) – Free after coupon

1 pkg Romaine Lettuce – Marked down to $1.79

1 Kroger French Bread – $1.99 (We will split this in half and use it for 2 dinners.)

2 lbs Ground Beef – Marked down to $0.99 each

1 pkg Stew Pork – Marked down to $2.25 (I will use this for 2 dinners.)

1 pkg Hormel Deli Turkey – $3.99, used $0.50/1 e-coupon – $3.49 after coupon

1 Cucumber – $0.50

1 Nabisco Ritz Crackers – $2

2.33 lbs Bananas – $1.37

1 StonyField Kids Yogurt – Marked down to $1.89

Total after coupons: $23.26

Total for both stores: $47.12

Menu Plan for This Week

Breakfasts

Cereal x 3

Baked Oatmeal

Eggs & English Muffins

Brunch with family

Cinnamon Rolls

Lunches

Peanut Butter & Jelly Rice Cakes, Carrot Sticks

Turkey Sandwiches, Veggies x 2

Pizza (from a friend), Salad

Leftovers x 2

Lunch with family

Dinners

Spaghetti, Tossed Salad, French Bread

Grilled Chicken, Steamed Broccoli, Baked Potatoes

Chicken & Rice Casserole from freezer, Butterhorns from freezer

Pork & Gravy in Crockpot, Green Beans, French Bread

Grilled Tilapia, Biscuits, Tossed Salad

Lasagna, English Muffins, Green Beans

Dinner out

Shared Dec 18, 2015 comment

3 Reasons to Make Time for Fun

Published: by Crystal Paine on December 18, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Last weekend, in the middle of a very busy week and month, Jesse and I took off a day and a half to go to New York City.

Was it because we needed one more thing to do? No, it was because we are learning that it’s important to be intentional about making time for fun — especially when it comes to our marriage.

We can get so busy with life… with the things we feel like we need to do and with the things we feel should do. We can feel like we’re just rushing through life — going from one project and to do to the next.

When you’re a person like me with a very Type A, driven personality, busyness and productivity come naturally. Taking time to rest, relax, and have fun do not. But, as I’m learning, it’s very important if I want to have a healthy balance in life.

So, as we flew home from New York City, I through about three reasons why it’s important to take time for fun…

#1) It Relaxes You

We often need to remind ourselves to relax and breathe. When Jesse and I were in New York City, we left the to-do’s, the projects, and even the kids at home. It was the first time we had both left the kids with a babysitter and gone on a trip in at least three years!

It was so good to get away from all of the noise and to just breathe. And honestly, in taking time to breathe, I realized that I’d been figuratively holding my breath for months and months — never allowing myself to fully relax and unwind. It felt so good and it was so needed.

#2) It Re-Energizes You

We need to refuel ourselves. If we just go and go and go and we never take time to refuel, we’re going to feel burned out and exhausted.

I’d been feeling really tired and exhausted recently, so I found myself thinking before the trip, “Why are we going on this trip when I’m already tired and exhausted?” But, as I discovered, taking that time to step away from normal life and to just do fun stuff completely re-energized me — even though we didn’t get very much sleep on the trip!

We went to a Broadway show, we went to a really nice restaurant (something we rarely ever do!), we got to hang out with our dear friends who were in the states from South Africa, we got to take the Staten Island Ferry, see the Statute of Liberty, ride the subway, see Wall Street, go to Rockefeller Center (with about every single other person in New York City, it seemed — the crowds were insane!), and go to the World Trade Center Memorial.

On the plane ride home I kept thinking, “You know? I was tired when I left and I’m kind of tired from all the walking, but I feel so re-energized and ready to jump back into life!”

#3) It Reminds You of What’s Really Important

I feel like the quick trip away cleared my head and helped me to be able to come back to real life with a fresh perspective. It reminded me of what’s really important.

Yes, there have been a lot of to-do’s and projects and deadlines the past few months, but while those can be important, people matter so much more than projects and productivity.

My marriage is what really matters, my kids are what really matter… that’s what I want to wrap my time and life around. That’s what’s going to matter most in 25 years from now.

Some of you might be feeling discouraged right now and maybe even saying, “That’s nice for you, but there’s no way on earth we could get a babysitter and go to New York City!”

To be 100% transparent, we paid very little out of pocket for the trip. We almost always fly the same airline and stay at the same hotel chain when we travel, so this allows us a lot of perks and the ability to earn a few free flights and hotel rooms. So, we were able to get our flights for free and our hotel stay only cost us $4! We went really cheap on food (except for the nice dinner our), we walked or rode the subway most places so transportation was very inexpensive, and most of the attractions we went to were free (other than the Broadway show).

But most of you probably don’t travel a lot for business so you don’t have these same perks and maybe you don’t have any wiggle room in your budget right now for fun. If that’s the case, don’t feel discouraged. You can still make time for fun — without speaking a dime!

Get together with friends over homemade dessert and play games while your kids play in the other room. Swap afternoon childcare with another mom so you can read a book from the library or work on a project you love. Plan a family night with a themed dinner. Watch a comedy with your spouse after your kids go to bed. Try a new sport as a family or couple.

Fun comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes — and it doesn’t have to break the bank. Get creative. Think about what sounds fun for you and then start brainstorming ways to make it a reality. It will be worth it.

What are your favorite ways to have fun — individually, as a couple, or as a family? I’d love to hear!

Shared Dec 18, 2015 comment

Reader Tip: Remember to Check Your Autopay Accounts

Published: by Crystal Paine on December 18, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Bethany emailed in the following tip:

I just wanted to remind everyone to periodically check the bills and accounts you have set up for paperless billing with autopay or autodeposit…

I just found I had been charged $5 per quarter in our savings account for not updating our address — a loss of $35 because I didn’t realize it for so long! I don’t have our savings account at our regular bank because I don’t want to be tempted to use it… but that also meant I clearly didn’t look at it on any regular basis. We just let the money build.

Then I found that even though the bank withdrew the money for my car loan in June, the payment was never actually credited to the car loan company — potentially a $400+ loss if I didn’t find it! Again, with autopay, I saw the money go out and just assumed it made it to it’s destination – wrong!

Check those accounts, my friends! Don’t let someone take your hard earned cash!

photo source

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Shared Dec 18, 2015 comment

Brigette’s Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan

Published: by Brigette on December 18, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Since we are going to be traveling most of the next three weeks, I only bought a few sale/coupon items this week at the grocery store. We’ll spend the few days that we are at home trying to “clean out” our refrigerator so that nothing gets thrown out. Yep, I’m like that. We might end up with some interesting meal combinations, but no one will go hungry. 🙂

Aldi

1 bag Dark Chocolate Chips (these are a seasonal item, and – YUM!) – $1.79

1 24-oz container Cottage Cheese – $2.29

1 bag Mini Sweet Peppers – $1.99

1 8-oz Baking Cocoa – $2.19

2 3-lb bags Mandarin Oranges – $5.98

Total: $14.24

Harris Teeter

2 2-lb bags Dixie Crystals Powdered Sugar – $4.00, used 2 $0.55/1 Dixie Crystals Granulated Sugar, Poly Bag Light, Dark Brown or Powdered Sugar, exp. 12/30/15 (SS 12/06/15 R)(doubled), plus $0.55/1 evic – $1.35/2 after coupons

1 Progresso Chicken Broth – $1.50, used $0.75/1 printable (doubled) – FREE after coupons

1 Sauer Seasonings Roast Rub – $1.50, used $1.50 off Sauer’s spice, extract, or food color (SS 12/13) – FREE after coupon

2 64-oz jugs Old Orchard Juice – $2.85, used 2 $0.50/1 printable (doubled) – $0.85/2 after coupons

1 Mazola Cooking Spray – $2.00, used $0.55/1 Mazola Oil or Spray Product, exp. 2/6/16 (SS 12/13/15 R) (doubled) – $0.90 after coupon

4 8-oz blocks Philadelphia Cream Cheese – $6.00, used 2 $1/2 printable, plus $1/4 evic – $3.00/4 after coupons

2 8-oz blocks Challenge Butter – $4.00, used 2 $0.75/1 printable (doubled) – $0.50/2 after coupons

Total: $6.60

Weekly Total: $20.84

Weekly Menu Plan

Breakfasts

Oatmeal x 2

Eggs, Toast

Lunches

Almond Butter Toast, Oranges, Mini Peppers

Baked Potatoes with Cheese, Tossed Salad

Leftovers

Dinners

Christmas Party with Friends (we’re having a taco bar and desserts – I’m bringing The Pioneer Woman’s Pecan Pie, and several taco toppings)

Family Christmas Dinner (we always have Chinese food since we lived in Taiwan for 2 years and grew to love traditional Chinese food. Usually, we make it. This year, because of sick children and travelling plans…it will be take-out. 🙂 I am making Cottage Cheese Pie for dessert, so that counts for something homemade, right?!)

Ham and Beans, Cornbread

Shared Dec 17, 2015 comment

145 Non-Toy Gifts for Every Age

Published: by Crystal Paine on December 17, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Need creative non-toy gift ideas for kids of all ages? Check out this HUGE list of unique ideas for birthdays, Christmas, and more!

Guest post from Marci of My Heavenly Recipes:

I’m willing to bet that you don’t need any more toys lying around your house, right?!?

Whether it’s Christmas, a Birthday, or a special occasion, there’s no reason you must give toys for a gift. Think outside the box a bit and I’m sure you’ll come up with a great non-toy gift to give.

Whether you create a themed gift basket using the items listed below or throw a few of the non-toy gifts into a gift bag, I’m sure they will be a welcome surprise for anyone on your gift list!

Karate Class
Books that you enjoyed as a child
Zoo membership
Trampoline
Museum membership
Sidewalk Chalk
Swing set
Donation to a Children’s Hospital or special cause in their name
Savings bond
Construction Paper
Money deposited into savings or 529 account
Clothing and shoes
Children’s Cookbook
Dinner date coupons (one on one time)
Gift certificate to a cooking class
Music Class for 1 session
Arrange a family day at the bowling alley
Cook a family dinner together
Play Mat or Rug
Movie Date at the Movie Theater
Child’s Umbrella
Drawing Pads
Ride On Vehicle
Water Table (used for kinetic sand in the winter)
Scarf
Work on a craft together and proudly display
Gift Certificate to Favorite Restaurant
New Christmas Ornament
Horseback Riding Lessons
Dress Up Clothes
Add accessories to their fairy house
A Radio
Art Class for one Session
Gift Certificate for favorite ice cream eatery
Sheets and Comforter for Bed
Spend the day with a friend at the skating rink
Embroidery Floss
Playing Cards (Uno, Go Fish, Regular Deck)
Their favorite chef’s cookbooks
Your favorite books from your childhood
Yearly Subscription to National Geographic
Add necessities to their sporting gear
Sandbox
Beads for Crafts
Gift Certificate to Paint Pottery
Notebooks and Smell Markers
Day out with a Friend For Skating
Little Passports membership to explore the world
Magic Tricks For Kids
Head for a local kid or school theater for a play
Your favorite movies (on DVD or Blu-ray of course) from your childhood
Gymnastics Class for 1 Session
Cookie Cutters
Dry Erase Boards & Markers
I See Me! Personalized Book
Kidorable Rain Boots (so cute!)
Chick-Fil-A Gift Card
Car Seat
Amazon Prime Membership to stream movies and tv shows
Snack Cups
Yearly Subscription to Highlights Magazine
Photo Album with pictures of the special kiddo
Blanket
Sign up for a library card
iTunes Gift Card for Educational Apps
Personalized Step Stool
Colored Pencils
Tickets to an age-appropriate music concert
Pair of Skechers Light-up Shoes
Finger Flashlight
Fun Hat and Mittens
A puppet theater
Puzzles
Fun Colored Belts
Bicycle
Finger Puppets
Crochet Blanket
Character Alarm Clock
Kitchen Tools to help make meals
Educated with a membership to ABCMouse.com
Create a craft bin with supplies
Pillow Pet
Help your child create a Countdown Calendar for a special event
Diapers
Markers
Wipes
Cooking Apron
Writers Workshop (pencils, pens, notebook, journal)
Bath Mirror for Bath Time
Day out at the water park
Go for a hike
Crayons
Membership to local attraction/amusement park
Night out at a local hotel with a pool
Candy Molds
Drinking or Sippy Cups
Teach a hobby of yours
Funky Socks
Create a coupon book
Start a collection or add to an existing one
Wendy’s Gift Card
Spend an entire day baking and delivering the goods to friends and family
Finger Paint
At-home movie night with dinner, snacks, and dessert focused on the movie
Popcorn Cart
Potty Seat or Chair
Squeaky shoes for toddlers
Beanbag chair
Science Kits
Hat & Mittens
Create a book on Shutterfly expressing your love
Jewelry
Bubbles
Baseball Glove or Soccer Ball
Book Shelf
Karate Class
Tickets to a Professional Sporting Event
Crayons for Bathtub
Balloons
Shadowbox of Keepsakes
Book of handwritten notes of children’s “Silly Sayings” they’ve said over the years
Night Light
Pottery Kit
Personalized Anywhere Chair
Indoor Parachute
Duct Tape
Instrument
Chalkboard
Outdoor Movie Theater Screen
Slippers
Sunglasses
Nail Polish
Hammock
Drawing Paper
Bag of Craft Supplies (Googly Eyes, Glitter, Popsicle Sticks, Cotton Balls)
Bird Feeder and Seed (one of the best gifts we’ve ever received!)
New Pajamas
Stamps and Ink Pads
Sleeping Bag
Children’s Movies
Sled
Camping Tent
Popsicle Molds
Bubble Bath
A treasure of yours that you would like to pass down

Do you have any items that you would add to the list?

You can find Marci Loehner sharing recipes for busy Moms at My Heavenly Recipes. Each recipe and project is kid tested & Husband approved.

Shared Dec 16, 2015 comment

4 Ways to Market Your Business for Free

Published: by Crystal Paine on December 16, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Guest post from Beth Anne Schwamberger of The Brilliant Business Moms podcast

In Crystal’s book, Money-Making Mom, she gives incredible advice on how to find a great business idea and how to grow that business wisely.

I agree with Crystal’s advice: You shouldn’t have to go into debt to start a business. There are so many opportunities to market your products or services, and grow your income without taking a hit to your bank account. While these methods will require hard work and an investment of time, the benefit is that once you know how to use them effectively, you can train a dependable team member to perform these tasks while you continue to grow. Catch Crystal’s Periscope replay on how to find and manage great help right here.

Below are four ways my sister and I have marketed our business for free.

1.) Pinterest. Pinterest isn’t just a great place for bloggers. Product-based businesses can do well here, too. Our current storefront is getting over 50% of its traffic from Pinterest. And did you know that pins that originated on Etsy make up some of the most re-pinned content on the entire site?

Quick Tips for Pinterest Marketing:

Create and curate boards that reflect the ideal lifestyle of your customers. For example, if you sell baby products, pins about parenting, activities you can do with your baby, and nursery inspiration will all help to draw in your ideal customer.
Pin original content. Since the majority of pins on Pinterest are re-pins (meaning they were found right on the platform), pinning items direct from a website can make them stand out — particularly if you pin newly published content.
Use killer keywords. Many people use the search bar on Pinterest to find content. If you use the right keywords in your pin descriptions and in your board titles, categories, and descriptions, your content can be found over and over again.

2.) Instagram. Instagram combines the visual appeal of Pinterest with relationship-building. Once we reached about 700 followers on the platform, we were able to make consistent sales. We’ve sold our products with flash sales, a Black Friday deal, lifestyle shots of our products, and photos and quotes from happy customers.

Quick Tips for Instagram Marketing:

Use a consistent photo editing style so that your feed feels cohesive. For example, you may choose to slightly over-expose your photos and add cool tones to them. Or you may choose to sharpen your photos and add warm tones. Whatever editing style you choose, pick a recipe and stick with it.
Use hashtags that will attract your ideal customer with each post. You can put up to 30 hashtags in the first comment of your photo. How do you find these hashtags? Use the search bar. As you discover posts with great hashtags, inevitably, they’ll lead you to other great hashtags you can try.
Like, comment, and interact on the posts of users who fit your target market. Build relationships, and you will build followers and brand enthusiasts in the process.

3.) Email Marketing. One of the best things you can do for your business is to build an email list. Despite all of the work we do on social media and the sales we earn there, email performs even better. You can build a relationship with your potential customers over time, and as you provide value in the form of great content and helpful information, they decide to make a purchase. Many email service providers are free until your first 2,000 subscribers. Crystal shared tons of practical tips on building your email list on Periscope. You can catch her replay here.

Quick Tips for Email Marketing:

Create a great freebie to encourage people to join your list. Simply stating “sign up to receive the latest posts” is not going to get you far. Your freebie could be a checklist, printable, coupon to your shop, e-book, free video training, access to a private Facebook group, or any number of other items.
Make sure your freebie attracts the right audience. If you sell knitted items, for example, you want to entice people who enjoy buying high-end, handmade items, not other knitters. Consider a style guide for winter knits, for example, instead of a free knitting pattern.
Set up an auto-responder sequence for new subscribers. This will make the process of building a relationship much easier. Introduce them to you, your business, and your best content. Provide helpful tips, then pitch your products or services after you’ve provided a lot of value. We just recently set up an auto-responder sequence, and it has been wonderful for our business! It’s not nearly as complicated as you might think. In MailChimp, for example, simply click Automation at the top, and the process is straightforward from there.

4.) Guest Posting. One of the most effective ways to reach a new audience, establish authority, and build relationships with influencers in your niche is to guest post.

Quick Tips for Guest Posting:

Read the Guest Post Guidelines on the site first. Every blogger will have different preferences and requirements, and you need to follow these exactly to make a great impression.
Get to know the blog’s content well. Pitch a topic that relates closely to content on the site but also fills a gap. Link to other posts on the blog to give their content a boost. And on that note: don’t link to your own content unless you’re given explicit permission to do so.
Offer a great freebie to the blogger’s audience so that you can continue to build a relationship with them.

I wouldn’t be following my own advice if I didn’t offer you something fun for reading this post! Go here to grab a free download of guest post planners and Pinterest marketing sheets.

These sheets are also included in our Brilliant Business Planner. If you decide to visit our shop, use the coupon code MONEYMAKINGMOM at checkout to get an exclusive $5 off all orders of $10 or more for the month of December!

Beth Anne Schwamberger is the younger, quirkier half of the Brilliant Business Moms Podcast which she co-hosts with her sister Sarah. They’re passionate about providing the encouragement, support, and resources moms need to grow businesses on the side while also spending time with their families.

Shared Dec 16, 2015 comment

What We Learned Being TV-Free

Published: by Crystal Paine on December 16, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Guest post from Valerie of Our Healthy Foodie Life

Six months ago, my husband and I sold our only TV!

Being glued to the TV night after night became a regular occurrence in our household. At some level, it was comforting to get cozy on the couch after work and forget about all of the day’s problems. But at the same time, the anxiety caused by the constant realization that we were missing out on more fulfilling activities was too much to handle.

So finally we cut off the source of our unsettled feelings: we sold our TV and our gaming system.

Some (actually, most) people thought that selling our TV was crazy. I’ll be the first person to agree that, yes, this was a radical move for the norms of our culture. But after having long conversations about the subject, my husband and I found it even more crazy to spend evening after evening immersed in electronics rather than enjoying life.

We spent part of this spring, the entire summer, and a portion of the fall without our own TV. If we wanted to watch our favorite shows, we had to watch them on our computer, or watch someone else’s TV.

The emptiness created from having no TV was scary at first, but ultimately became freeing.

Here are three things we learned during our six months with no TV:

1. TV is (mostly) a waste of time

After giving up our TV, my husband and I had an incredible amount of free time for activities other than watching TV.

And do you know what we did? A lot! We read books outside on our porch, spent time with friends, went on bike rides, volunteered, read extra Bible devotionals, walked our dogs, started a garden, etc.

I think you get the idea by now: eliminating TV gave us so much in return.

2. Intentional TV watching is a wonderful gift

I wrote point #1 with a focus on unintentional TV watching. What does that mean? We’ve all been there before: turning the TV on as background entertainment, binge watching the latest show we discovered, or re-watching episodes of a favorite show.

During our six months without an actual TV, we did get to watch our favorite shows on our computer. However, watching TV on a computer is less enjoyable and is far less convenient. When we wanted to watch TV, it was something we truly wanted to watch.

Being intentional about our TV consumption allowed us to enjoy shows and movies, but it didn’t drain our free time.

3. There’s so much more to do in life than sit inside

The main lesson that we learned from this experience is that there is so much more to do in life than watch TV. This statement also applies to excess time spent on gaming, social media, tablets, and similar digital activities.

When we stay in the house glued to our digital devices, we lose out big time on the other wonderful activities in which we could participate. We also lose out on real, face-to-face conversations with one another.

If you take away one thing from our experience, this point is probably the most important: get outside, learn that hobby you’ve always wanted to learn, invite friends over for a night outside to catch up with each other face-to-face, volunteer, or start on that exercise goal you’ve thought about for months. Step away from your TV and your other digital devices, and enjoy the life that is happening right in front of you.

In doing so, you’ll give yourself the opportunity to feel more relaxed, fulfilled, and build new, healthy habits. We love the healthier perspective we have on using technology in moderation, and we are incredibly thankful for having completed our “no TV” experiment.

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

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Shared Dec 16, 2015 comment

Reader Tip: How I Save Even More with Online Shopping

Published: by Crystal Paine on December 16, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Lisa emailed in the following tip:

I’m really lazy when it comes to couponing, but I’m always looking for ways to save money when I can. One way I’ve learned to easily save money is by purchasing discounted gift cards from Raise.com, using cash back websites for purchases, and using the “store pickup” feature.

The idea is really simple. When I know what store I’d like to shop at, I head over to Raise.com to see what gift cards I can purchase with the highest discount. When I checkout, I then choose to have the gift card e-mailed to me vs having it sent by mail. That way, I receive my gift card in minutes and can use it instantly online or print it off to use at the store.

After I receive the e-mail, I then head over to Rakuten.com (formerly Ebates) to see if the store I’m shopping at offers cashback for purchases made online. After finding my store through Rakuten, I then go about adding the items to my shopping cart and I make sure to choose the “store pickup” option.

When I’m shopping, I also try to find items that are already on sale or already discounted so I save even more money. If the store I’m shopping at also has a rewards program, then it makes this even better because I’m able to accumulate cash back rewards for future purchases.

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Summer Bucket List

Summer Bucket List

FREE Summer Bucket List!!

#1. A Relaxed Christmas

#2. Milano Cookies

#3. Quotes That Made Me Laugh

#4. Phase 10

#5. Handlettering

What are you loving this week? Let us know in the comments.

What You Get When You Purchase This Course

#1) My New Cultivate the Lovely Mug

#2) My Last Business Trip of 2015

#3) Our Monday Group

#4) A Funny Laundry Image

#5) A Thought-Provoking Quote

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

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

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Service

Gift Card to Anywhere (AKA cash!)

Time

Aldi

Dillons