Kelly at New Leaf Wellness has a great post up sharing 10 easy ways to save money with slow cooker freezer meals.
Summer Bucket List
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Living On One Income and Living Well
Jessica at Life As Mom has a great post up on living on one income and living well. Here’s a snippet:
Fifty years ago it was commonplace for just one parent (usually dad) to work. One income was sufficient to pay the family’s bill. Today, there might be a number of reasons why a family would be living on one income.
- Mom or Dad might be laid off from work or unable to find a job.
- Mom or Dad might need to leave the workplace for health reasons.
- Mom or Dad might decide to stay home to care for the children or an aging parent.
- One parent might be in school or other vocational training.
- There might only be one parent in the family. Single parenting is a tough job, not to mention it’s difficult economically.
- You don’t want to rely on two incomes in case of health or economy-related issues arise in the future.
While our family currently earns two incomes, we try as best we can to make it living on one income, mainly because of reason #6. If one of us became unable to work or the economy took a major dive (again), we’d like to be living under our means to be able to weather the storm.
I never expected that our family would be as hard pressed as we were in 2007. We’d been living beyond our means and got ourselves in a mess of trouble. Thanks be to God, we got out of debt.
Getting out of debt and living on one income have been some of the best things we’ve ever done.
Choose Love Today
I’m wearing this on my arm as a reminder of how I want to live my life today — as a mom, as a wife, as a friend, as a writer, and as a business owner.
When I’m tempted to respond in frustration or anger or selfishness, I’m committing to chose love instead.
Need more encouragement? Read this post.
How Being A Money Making Mom Has Changed My Life
My friend, Erin, over at The Humbled Homemaker has a great post up on how being a money making mom has changed her life. Here’s a snippet:
Three years ago this month, I wrote what would turn into one of the most popular posts of this blog: Staying at Home with Your Kids When You Can Barely Afford It.
I don’t think it was the writing or even the subject matter that made this post so popular. Rather, I believe it was because I took a chance and was vulnerable on this site for the first time, sharing our family’s situation of living on a low income.
Little did I know that that post would jump start this blog into becoming a business, and, three years later, our family’s primary income source would be this blog.
My husband and I can pinpoint four main ways how being a money making mom has changed our lives…
Shared Oct 26, 2015
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Watch My Interview with Michael Hyatt from The Influence & Impact Summit!
Watch My Interview with Michael Hyatt from The Influence & Impact Summit!
If you missed the chance to see me speak at The Influence & Impact Summit online a few weeks ago, you can go here to watch a replay version of my presentation and interview with Michael Hyatt.
Also, summit attendees can sign up for the FREE Platform University video series that will encourage you in having more of an impact and getting your unique message out to the world.
5 Things I’m Loving This Week
It’s been 70 and 80 degrees here this week in TN. Say what?!?
Nashville: It’s OCTOBER. The end of October, to be more specific.
Did you miss the weather memo that this is the time of year when we like to wear leggings and boots and scarves?? I think you may have.
I’ve tried to be a good sport and wear leggings. I really have. But I give up. Because as much as I love leggings and boots, I prefer not dripping in sweat more. #StillWaitingforFall
Here are 5 things I’m loving this week:
1) This Beautiful Gift From My Sister
This showed up in my mailbox last week. It was a belated birthday gift from my younger sister, Olivia. (Yes, she designed it and used a wood burner to create it!)
Not only is this one of my longtime favorite hymns, her gift came on the exact day that I so needed this reminder.
2) Getting to Spend Time With Michele
I may have only gotten to hug her neck and see her for 7 minutes in her hotel parking lot before we both had to head to our respective speaking events, but I GOT TO SEE MICHELE!!!! We’ve not seen each other since right after all her chemo and radiation earlier this year and it has been WAY too long!!
My week is now complete and I’m a happy, happy girl. Love you so much, friend!
3) A Sneak Peek at Some of Our Soon-to-Be-Released Products
I just got a sample of our a few of our new products that are coming soon — including this cute fridge magnet.
We created it with the hope that it would encourage women to remember: you matter. The world needs your gifts. The world needs your story. The world needs YOU!
4) Not Checking Email Until After 12:30 p.m.
I committed to this at the beginning of the week and it has been the best.thing.ever. Truly! And honestly not at all as hard as I thought it would be!
Read more about why I committed to this and the difference it has made here.
5) Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Once I’d had a bite or two of these roasted Brussels sprouts, I promptly reneged every last thing I’d said about how much I despised Brussels sprouts.
I was hooked. How come I had gone years of my life not knowing about this amazing-ness?? We tried a new recipe for them this week and I posted it here.
What about you? What are YOU loving this week? Tell us in the comments!
Shared Oct 24, 2015
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Q&A: “How do you find reliable and experienced people to hire?”
Q&A: “How do you find reliable and experienced people to hire?”
I go to great lengths to find the right person for the right seat on my team. In fact, I have actually gone over a year in the past waiting to fill certain positions until I found that perfect fit.
If you are at a point in your business where you can afford to hire an extra pair of hands or eyes, watch the video above for some specific pointers on how to find the right fit for your business.
Looking for more tips & advice? Sign up for my FREE 5-day How I Make a Full-Time Income From Home course!
5 Keys to Celebrating Simple Traditions
Guest post from Elizabeth of ElizabethClareblog.com:
As parents and grandparents, we want to celebrate holidays and other occasions in memorable ways for our children and grandchildren. Observing traditions year after year serves as an anchor for their yearly rhythm, and ultimately, their memories.
Unfortunately, when we think of traditions, we often envision something elaborate, time consuming, and expensive. But the simplest traditions can be the most meaningful and the source of your child’s richest memories.
Consider the following five points when weaving traditions into your family’s lives. My hope is that they will help you keep them simple, meaningful, and memorable!
1. Simplicity
We adults can take a lesson from our children and remember how joy is found in the simple pleasures of life. Trying to cram too much symbolism or significance into any occasion can leave us feeling more emotionally empty than full.
Children sense when mother is stressed, taking away from the festive, loving atmosphere we are trying to create. When a tradition is simple, it will be something to look forward to every year not dread.
2. Food
Food is a way we all celebrate special occasions. Even the most meager fare served with love can bring warmth to any occasion.
It often isn’t what we serve so much as how we serve it. Saving particular dishes, not necessarily expensive, to eat only during particular celebrations will bring excitement to the occasion. For example, homemade cinnamon rolls don’t cost much to make, but serving them only on birthdays makes them extra special!
3. Activities
We don’t need to travel far or spend large amounts of money on excursions to make special moments.
As a child, due to my parents’ work, we almost never traveled. However, I do remember enjoying lots of picnics at local parks. Children love doing something out of the ordinary — even a local outing can be an adventure!
4. Stories
Great memories can be created around stories — imagined stories, stories from your family history, or a favorite book you read over and over again.
My family loves to pull out the box of Advent and Christmas books at the beginning of every December. I have wonderful childhood memories of being read to and hearing stories. Some of my favorites were stories my parents told of their childhood. These stories become a part of you, build a family heritage, and strengthen relationships.
5. Relationships
Above all, focus on building your relationships with your family. Remember why you want to make the occasion special.
If celebrating a particular tradition brings stress because it is too much work or is too expensive, you are not focusing on the ultimate goal.
I hope these tips and ideas will help you and your family celebrate traditions that are simple, stress-free, frugal, and memorable!
Elizabeth is a dairy farmer’s daughter, devoted wife, and homeschooling mother to four little blessings. She blogs about homeschooling, faith, homemaking, and self improvement all through a Catholic lens. Find her at ElizabethClareblog.com.
Reader’s Choice Magazine Sale: Pick 2 Titles for $10
This magazine sale is a great opportunity to get subscriptions to your favorite magazines at a great price, pick 2 for only $10!
There are over 50 titles to choose from, go here to see all of the titles included in this sale!
You can purchase magazine subscriptions as gifts, for yourself or even to renew existing subscriptions! This sale will end Sunday night, October 25th, 2015, at midnight EST.
(Note: The links in this post are my referral links. Read my disclosure policy here.)
Shared Oct 23, 2015
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Q&A: “Is it really possible to find a healthy work-life balance?”
Q&A: “Is it really possible to find a healthy work-life balance?”
I don’t think anyone will ever truly find the perfect balance in life. In fact, my idea of balance requires continual shifts, changes, and adjustments along the way.
There will never be a point where you wake up one day and say, “This is it! I have arrived!” Rather, you will constantly need to make tweaks to how you do things, shifts to your schedule, and changes in your priorities. Watch the video above to learn more about my idea of balance.
Looking for more tips & advice? Sign up for my FREE 5-day How I Make a Full-Time Income From Home course!
OVER-SPENDING EVERY SINGLE MONTH?Grab these FREE Budgeting Sheets!
Click here to download!
Shared Oct 23, 2015
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Honey-Roasted Brussels Sprouts (I can’t believe how amazing these are!)
Honey-Roasted Brussels Sprouts (I can’t believe how amazing these are!)
Even if you’re sure you don’t like Brussels sprouts, I urge you to give this super simple recipe a try. Like me, you might find out you actually love Brussels sprouts when they’re roasted with a little honey!
So here’s the honest truth: For years, I thought Brussels sprouts were absolutely disgusting.
There are very few things I can’t stomach (thanks to my mom always making me eat everything on my plate), but Brussels sprouts were on my very short list of “Things I Hope I Never Have to Eat Again”.
That plan was going great until we went over to someone’s house a few years ago and they served us roasted Brussels sprouts. I ate them because I wanted to be polite, not knowing that my whole opinion of Brussels sprouts was going to completely flip on its head as a result of my effort to be polite.
Let me tell you: there is a major difference between roasting something and boiling something — at least when it comes to Brussels sprouts!
We absolutely LOVE Roasted Brussels sprouts!
Once I’d had a bite or two of these roasted Brussels sprouts, I promptly reneged every last thing I’d said about how much I despised Brussels sprouts.
I was hooked. How had I gone years of my life not knowing about this amazing-ness??
So recently, when I saw this recipe in the latest issue of All You magazine, I ripped it out and set it on the stack of recipes Jesse had on his desk to use for planning next week’s menu.
And I hinted around at how amazing they looked.
But that was that.
Until two days ago, when I get done with an afternoon meeting and Jesse brings me this…
And I about squeal.
My man knows the way to his woman’s heart, that’s for sure.
Also, I still cannot believe I am swooning over Brussels sprouts!
It almost feels like I need to apologize for that. Or wonder if I’m on the verge of a midlife crisis or something?!
I posted this picture on Facebook and Instagram and so many of you requested the recipe that I wanted to share it here. Since I don’t want to keep a good thing to myself.
Plus, I’d like to introduce you to this addiction of mine not only because these are so amazing, but also so that maybe the trend will catch on and become more mainstream. Then, maybe, just maybe, I’ll feel less self-conscious about my incessant obsession with Brussel sprouts!
Ingredients for Honey Roasted Brussels Sprouts
- 1 lb. Brussels Sprouts
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- salt and pepper
- 2 Tbsp. honey
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds
How to Make Honey Roasted Brussels Sprouts
1. Preheat oven to 350ºF.
2. Wash Brussels Sprouts, trim the ends off, and cut them in half.
3. Please cut Brussels Sprouts in a medium size bowl,
4. Drizzle olive oil over the Brussels Sprouts and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss to coat and season.
5. On a large cookie sheet or roasting pan, put a single layer of Brussels Sprouts, cut side down.
6. Roast in preheated oven for about 35 minutes, or until tender and edges are starting to brown.
7. Remove Brussels sprouts from oven and drizzle with honey.
8. Sprinkle with cranberries and almonds and put back in the oven for another 5 minutes, or until warmed through.
9. Serve immediately!
Recipe
Honey Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Ingredients
- 1 lb. Brussels sprouts
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- salt and pepper
- 2 Tbsp. honey
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup almonds sliced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF.
- Wash Brussels Sprouts, trim the ends off, and cut them in half.
- Please cut Brussels Sprouts in a medium size bowl,
- Drizzle olive oil over the Brussels Sprouts and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss to coat and season.
- On a large cookie sheet or roasting pan, put a single layer of Brussels Sprouts, cut side down.
- Roast in preheated oven for about 35 minutes, or until tender and edges are starting to brown.
- Remove Brussels sprouts from oven and drizzle with honey.
- Sprinkle with cranberries and almonds and put back in the oven for another 5 minutes, or until warmed through.
- Serve immediately!
Nutrition
Serving: 1cup | Calories: 333kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.003g | Sodium: 30mg | Potassium: 591mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 31g | Vitamin A: 855IU | Vitamin C: 96mg | Calcium: 99mg | Iron: 2mg
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Shared Oct 23, 2015
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Brigette’s $66 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6
Brigette’s $66 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6
Aldi
1 2-lb bag Great Northern Beans – $2.49
1 jar Cumin – $0.99
1 can Green Beans – $0.49
1 bunch Bananas (2.56lbs @ $0.43/lb) – $1.10
1 3-ct pkg Romaine Hearts – $1.99
1 2-lb bag Carrots – $1.19
1 box Crispy Oats Cereal – $1.69
1 box Corn Flakes – $1.49
1 16-oz bag frozen Corn – $0.95
1 pkg Artisan Baby Lettuce – $1.99
1 8-oz pkg Mushrooms – $0.79
1 32-oz container Organic Chicken Broth – $1.79
1 head Cauliflower – $1.99
4 cans Diced Tomatoes – $2.20
1 jar Onion Powder – $0.99
1 jar Unsweetened Applesauce – $1.89
1 pkg Grape Tomatoes – $1.69
1 20-oz pkg Zucchini – $1.29
1 jar Garlic Powder – $0.99
1 head Cabbage – $1.29
2 16-oz cartons Egg Whites – $5.18
1 3-ct pkg Green Peppers – $1.19
Total: $35.65
Harris Teeter
3 pkgs Hefty Freezer Bags – $4.50, used 3 $0.50/1 printable – $1.50/3 after coupons
2 pkgs Community Coffee (B1G1) – $6.99, used $4/2 Community Coffee Bag or K-Cup Box, exp. 11/30/15 (RP 10/04/15 R), plus $4/2 evic – $1.01 MM after coupons (getting paid to buy coffee?!? – Yes, please! :))
1 12-ct pkg Community Coffee K-Cups – $4.24, used $1.50/1 Community Coffee Bag or K-Cup Box, exp. 11/30/15 (RP 10/04/15 R), plus $1.50/1 evic – $1.24 after coupons
1 pkg Friskies Party Cat Treats – $1.89, used $0.75/1 printable (doubled), plus $0.75/1 evic – $0.36 MM after coupons
2 cans Rotel Tomatoes – $2.00
6 boxes Horizon Organic Macaroni and Cheese – $6.00, used 3 $0.75/2 printable (doubled) – $1.50/6 after coupons
10 8-oz bags assorted Shredded Cheese (B2G3) – $13.16
1 pkg Barber Stuffed Chicken Breasts – $2.14, used $1.50/1 Barber Foods Product – 9-13-15 SS (exp 11/30/15) – $0.64 after coupons
1 pkg Frozen Chopped Onions/Peppers – $1.49
2 single-serve containers So Delicious Almond Milk Yogurt – $2.50, used 2 $0.55/1 printable (doubled) – $0.30/2 after coupons
1 40-oz pkg Frozen Boneless Skinless Chicken Tenderloins – $5.99
2 pkgs Perdue Short Cuts Grilled Chicken Strips – $4.65, used 2 $0.75/1 Perdue Short Cuts, exp. 12/31/15 (RP 08/23/15 R) (doubled) – $1.65/2 after coupons
1 Gallon Milk – $2.99
Total: $31.09
Weekly Total: $66.74
Weekly Menu Plan
Breakfasts
Oatmeal with Fruit (from the freezer) x 2
Cereal x 2
Veggie Omelettes x 2
Cinnamon Rolls and Scrambled Eggs
Lunches
Macaroni and Cheese, Carrot Sticks, Apples x 2
Peanut Butter and Honey Sandwiches, Green Pepper Slices, Bananas
Baked Potatoes with Cheese, Tossed Salad x 2
Leftovers x 2
Dinners
Wicked White Chili (from the new THM Cookbook), Pull Apart Oat Rolls
Taco Salad (using ground venison), Green Rice Casserole
Venison Roast in the Crockpot, Baked Potatoes, Carrots, Pull Apart Oat Rolls
Egg Roll in a Bowl, Brown Rice, Homemade Applesauce
Grilled Chicken, Tossed Salad, Butterhorns, Seasoned Potato Wedges, Rhubarb Crisp (company for dinner)
Birthday Dinner at a Friend’s House
Leftovers
Snacks
Popcorn, Bust-A-Myth Banana Cake (from the new THM Cookbook), Apples with Peanut Butter
All You Magazine Closing Down Publication
This is the end of an era for longtime couponers!
All You Magazine has announced that they will be closing down publication. You can read this article for more details.
It looks like the final issue will be December 2015. I’m sure we will hear more information in the near future about what they plan to do for current subscribers.
Thanks, Freebies For A Cause!
The Beauty of Motherhood
I came downstairs after finishing my morning Periscope show to find this waiting for me.
Silas looked up from his schoolwork and said really sweetly, “I made that fruit for you, Mom!”
In that moment, I wasn’t noticing the spilled milk or the laundry that still needed to be finished or the yogurt container that someone had forgotten to put away or the mess in the middle of the living room. Instead, I saw a bowl of beautiful, nourishing fruit that my son had taken initiative to make to bless his mommy.
Today as moms, let’s look past the spilled milk and messes and laundry piles and see the beauty and the gifts all around us. A grateful, cheerful attitude is one of the best gifts we can give to our family!
I Used to Be So Organized (part 3)
So I’m a little behind in getting my Book Club posts up this week on the book we’re reading. (I guess that might be because I’m still working on getting more organized. ;))
I do have good news to report and that is that I’ve been faithfully sticking with my commitment to not check email before 12:30 p.m. each day. It’s made SUCH a difference in my mornings! I’ve found that email was taking up so much brain space and energy… because once I checked it, then I would start composing responses, thinking through issues, and problem-solving — even for a long time after I had left my computer.
I’ve also been doing a much better job getting places on time and being ready on time for my daily Periscopes. Not perfect, mind you, but much better. And that makes me so happy!
Two quotes that I loved from the last two sections of the book were:
“At any moment, giving full attention to the one thing at hand is a hallmark of high performance.” -David Allen
That’s how I want to live. Fully present exactly where I am. Embracing the moment. Being 100% all there — instead of constantly feeling torn in five different directions. Making the change with my email this week has definitely helped with this big time and I’m excited to see how that plays out long-term.
“No matter how many times you’ve tried to get organized before, know that today is a brand-new day. Leave behind your past failures and weaknesses, You are the only one who places limits on your ability or disqualifies you because on your past.” (page 215)
Isn’t this such a great reminder?? Don’t stress over what you haven’t done or how you’ve failed in the past. Just get up and take the first babystep in the first direction. Right now, right here. Today is a new day!
How are YOU doing on the small habits you committed to wanting to stick with this week? I’d love to hear!
Next week, we’ll be going through Brene Brown’s book, Rising Strong. I’m so excited about reading this book as I’ve read all three other books by Brene Brown and my life will never be the same as a result of reading them.
So I can’t wait to dive into this one! I’ll be blogging and scoping through it beginning on Monday. Let me know if you’re joining us!