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Shared Jul 6, 2015 comment

My 10 Goals For This Week (+ we’re ready for some R&R!)

Published: by Crystal Paine on July 6, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

{Read the story behind this crazy photo here. And yes, it was staged, but it was pretty accurate to how we were feeling at the time!}

June was an especially full month. It was full of good things, adventures, outings with friends, time with people we love, many projects completed, and five different trips.

Whew! I don’t regret the “yeses” we said, but the truth is: I am tired and ready to take some time to slow down and catch my breath. So that’s exactly what the next few weeks are for our family.

Other than a few commitments, we’re taking the next few weeks to really slow down, unplug, hang out together as a family, catch up on sleep, and be intentional about resting and recharging.

Goals from 2 weeks ago:

Marriage/Mothering/Homemaking Goals

~~1. Write love notes to each of the kids and to Jesse.~~

~~2. Have an at-home movie date with Jesse.~~

Personal Goals

~~3. Finish reading at least one book.~~

Local Ministry/Hospitality/Friendship Goals

~~4. Have a coffee date with a friend.~~

Business Goals

~~5. Finish writing an article for an upcoming project.~~

~~6. Finish reading and writing an endorsement for another author’s book.~~

This week’s goals:

Marriage/Mothering/Homemaking Goals

1. Write love notes to each of the kids and to Jesse.

2. Have an at-home Family Movie Night.

3. Have an at-home Movie Date with Jesse.

Personal Goals

4. Finish reading at least one book.

5. Track my macros on My Fitness App.

6. Do one thing every day to refresh myself/recharge my batteries.

Local Ministry/Hospitality/Friendship Goals

7. Have a coffee date with a friend.

Business Goals

8. Finish writing an article for an upcoming magazine feature.

9. Launch our new t-shirt line with Cents of Style. (So excited to show you these!!)

10. Work on outlining the video course for Money-Making Mom.

How did you do on last week’s goals? What are your goals for this week? I’d love to have you share your progress on last week’s goals and your goals for this coming week in the comments. Of, if you’ve blogged about it, leave your direct link below. Let’s cheer each other on to live purposeful and productive lives! You can download a free customizable weekly goal-planning sheet here.

Shared Jul 6, 2015 comment

How I Saved (and made) Money on My Daughter’s Figure Skating

Published: by Crystal Paine on July 6, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

The following is a testimony from Jennifer:

When my daughter completed the USFSA basic skills and freestyle programs a few years ago, the cost of her ice skating training skyrocketed.

First I tried to save a few dollars here and there.

choosing a more affordable private coach (not such a good idea as it costs more time and money to fix bad habits)
supplementing private lessons with jumps classes, juniors (semi private) lessons, and camps (very helpful)
extra practice during summer public ice (freestyle ice time at our rink runs $15/50 minutes while public ice is $5/80 minutes once at day a noon)
sewing my daughter’s skating dresses (this is where the story gets good)

A few years ago I thought I would attempt to sew my daughter a figure skating dress. I’ve always been able to sew, but the slippery lycra and power mesh (the see through — usually flesh tone — panels on skating dresses) took some time to master.

I made her first dress with some bright blue lycra, the wrong kind of elastic and my basic sewing machine. Once I added a few crystals, it didn’t look too bad, so I kept going.

A few dresses later (along with one overlock machine and some experiments with lining and specialty threads) I was making dresses for my daughter’s competitions and drafting my own patterns. Then I volunteered to make a few character dresses for my daughter’s synchro team’s spring show. They were a hit.

I started working with her coach, making all the team dresses in exchange for the cost of participating. Her coach provided the fabric, a higher-end overlock machine, an industrial coverlock machine, and a great opportunity to show off my designs.

I have since made dance dresses for a collegiate synchro team, dresses for learn-to-skate groups, and custom freestyle dresses that range from $150-$675. In the past 12 months, I have made 275 dresses!

My business has become a wonderful way to pay for my daughter’s skating and my son’s activities while still allowing me to be a stay-at-home-mom. It has also provided me with a fun creative outlet (and my daughter loves that I can make just about anything we can dream up)!

Shared Jul 4, 2015 comment

Are You Throwing Money in the Trash?

Published: by Crystal Paine on July 4, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Guest post from Asheritah of One Thing Alone

When my husband and I went minimalist, we quickly realized that our trash habits had to change too. With a little research and some planning, we saved over $684 — and lightened our carbon footprint.

Here’s how you can too:

1. Sell old appliances and electronics ($100)

Our electric company pays $50 for refrigerators that still function, and offer reimbursements for energy-efficient replacements. And when our laptop crashed, we bought a new one and sold the dead computer for $50 online. Easy-peasy!

2. Reuse veggie scraps ($204)

I save all my veggie scraps and rotisserie chicken bones in the freezer and make crock-pot stock once a month. One batch equals $17 savings, and if I’m not planning on making soup that week, I simply freeze the stock for later use. The other scraps go into our compost.

3. Recycle aluminum, glass, and plastic ($68)

The average American drinks roughly 16 oz of soda a day (source), the equivalent of two aluminum cans or one plastic bottle. If those containers were recycled, a household of five could recover at least $68, if not more in certain states. You can also recycle wine corks, cooking oil, tennis balls, and golf balls for cash.

4. Drive scrap metal to a junkyard ($48)

When we remodeled our bathroom a few years ago, we took the old cast-iron tub to a junkyard and got $48 for something we were going to throw out anyway. Since then, we’ve also sold old wiring, aluminum house paneling, our old water heater, and other miscellaneous metals.

5. Get a tax deduction for clothing and furniture (varies)

The best way to get money for things around the house is to have a yard sale. But for those of us who just don’t have that much to sell, donating items to thrift stores results in an easy tax deduction.

6. Sell books ($156)

You know those old college textbooks you’ve been hanging onto “in case you might want to refer back to them someday?” (Please tell me I’m not the only one.)

Five years after my graduation, I still hadn’t opened the cover on a single one, and I decided they had to go. Some I listed on Amazon and others I sold in bulk for easy payments. I also sell books I receive from publishers to do video book reviews, so I get to read books and make some money off of them. Voila! More shelf space and more money.

7. Pay less for trash collection ($108)

As a result of our collective effort to throw out less stuff, we found our 120-gallon trash bin was nearly empty each week. I now pay only when I need a pickup. We went from paying $10/month to $2 every two months, and they pick up our recycling for free!

Have you tried any of these methods? How else do you throw away less trash and make more money?

Asheritah helps overwhelmed women find joy in Jesus on her blog and through her books. She likes giving away free stuff to encourage women in their walks with God.

Shared Jul 3, 2015 comment

“Dancing” To a Successful eBay Business

Published: by Crystal Paine on July 3, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Guest post by Kimberly of Garage Sale Heaven

My online selling success story began with a “dance”. Prior to selling online, I was working as a part-time writer and full-time homeschool teacher to my three children. My husband’s job as a public employee paid the bills, and the little bits of cash I made here and there for writing gigs paid for our little extras.

My oldest daughter, Madison, has danced since the age of three and in February 2013, she was accepted into Nashville Ballet’s Summer Intensive Program. Dance is her passion. She eats, sleeps, and breathes dance.

Needless to say, she was beyond excited to get this opportunity. The only problem was that it was going to cost over $3,000 to attend the 3-week program.

My husband and I knew what an incredible opportunity this would be for her, and we wanted her to have it, but we didn’t have an extra $3,000 sitting in the bank to pay for it.

While brainstorming different ideas, my husband remembered that he had several boxes of toys in the basement from his childhood. Since they were just collecting dust, we decided to try and sell them on eBay.

To our surprise, the toys sold quickly, and for great money! And to top it off, I really enjoyed selling and interacting with customers. After our success with the toys, we wondered what else might sell.

In June of 2013, I opened my online store, This and That Shack. In July 2013, Madison attended the Nashville Ballet Intensive, where she had the opportunity to follow her passion thanks to my eBay sales! And by a happy dance accident, I also found my passion. I haven’t looked back.

Since that time, I’ve expanded my sourcing to garage sales, auctions, antique malls, and the clearance racks of brick and mortar stores. I work, on average, about 25 hours per week. My sales have continued to grow, and I’m earning about $2,500 profit each month after expenses!

While dance is my daughter’s passion, eBay has become mine. I love sourcing and listing cool stuff, and I love hearing from happy customers that I helped them find exactly what they were looking for. This is definitely the most enjoyable and lucrative part-time job I’ve ever had, and I’m grateful for the opportunity.

My family is grateful, too. They are enjoying many more little extras since I started my new endeavor. We’ve enjoyed a few small vacations, and Madison has since attended another Ballet Intensive in Michigan.

For those of you who might be interested in selling on eBay too, here are a few tips:

1. You will need to set up a PayPal account. All payments on eBay are done via PayPal.

2. You’ll need to register as a new user on eBay. Just click the Sell your item button on the eBay home page, and you will be walked through this relatively quick process.

3. As far as tools/supplies, you’ll need a computer, tablet, or smartphone with internet access, a digital camera or phone that takes good pictures, a shipping scale, shipping tape, bubble wrap and boxes. You can order free Priority boxes from USPS.com.

4. You will need a space to keep your inventory neat and organized. Once you sell something, you don’t want to have to dig to find it.

5. If you’re wondering what sells on eBay, the answer is practically anything. The trick is always to buy low and sell high.

6. It’s a good idea to get the eBay app on your phone. When you are at garage sales, thrift stores, or auctions, you can easily look up items you’re interested in to see what they are selling for. Keep in mind that eBay and PayPal fees will take about 10-13% of each sale.

Any other tips from experienced eBay sellers?

Kimberly is a wife, mom, teacher, and eBay Top Rated Seller. She created her blog, Garage Sale Heaven, in order to share her frugal finds and reselling adventures. She loves a good garage sale! If you feel the same way, she hopes you’ll stop by.

photo source

Shared Jul 2, 2015 comment

“5 Reasons I Loved Make Over Your Mornings”

Published: by Crystal Paine on July 2, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

I loved this review from Simple Catholic Living on 5 reasons she loved Make Over Your Mornings.

If you’ve been considering purchasing this program, but aren’t sure whether it will work for you, I think you’ll find her review helpful.

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

Click here to sign up!

Shared Jul 1, 2015 comment

We Paid Cash: A Homeschooling Room

Published: by Crystal Paine on July 1, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

A testimony from Mandy from MissMaesDays.com

The day had come when I had had it with storing all of our school supplies, projects, lesson plans, and books in our kitchen drawers and cupboards. For years, I was using the kitchen island and drawers for homeschooling our kiddos and it just was not working.

I had an “a-ha moment” when I looked at our hardly-used formal living room…it was the perfect space for a classroom! When I saw it in my mind I knew it could be done.

But we didn’t have the extra cash to transform an entire room in our house into a school room. How in the world could I afford the furniture and supplies to make the conversion?!

Then it hit me like a ton of bricks! Sell the formal living room furniture — the couches, tables, lamps, and decor. Then, USE that money to purchase the items I need for our school room!

Voilà! A school room paid in full, without using credit cards.

Here’s how I did it:

I listed my formal, living room furniture on Craigslist.
I sold smaller items on eBay.
I purged my entire home of unused, unwanted items, readying them for a garage sale. (Any items that didn’t sell on Craigslist and eBay were sold in the garage sale.)
I planned and orchestrated a successful garage sale.

After my efforts to create some extra cash, I found that I had over $1,000 cash IN HAND. So, I set out to get some deals!

How did I do it?

I shopped garage sales for furniture pieces.
I shopped discount stores for decor, teaching supplies, classroom supplies, manipulatives, and games.
I researched curriculum to invest in. I found coupons and deals to purchase curriculum.
I scoured the internet for deals on things that you simply can’t find locally.
I sought the internet for my “dream, can’t live without” pieces. (Mine was a double-sided whiteboard easel on wheels!)
I shopped for discounted paints/supplies at my local hardware store for decorating my school room space.

Once all of my hard work had paid off, I sat back and prepared to design our homeschool room knowing that we paid CASH for it! It was the greatest feeling in the world. (Here’s a look at our finished room).

MissMaesDays.com is the creation of Mandy Mae; wife, mother, teacher, and frugal-DIY-enthusiast. Hoping to inspire mothers to take action in making a positive influence in the lives of their children with simple, DIY, crafting, thrifting, and teaching projects, Mandy Mae enjoys sharing both her successes and hiccups with easy-to-follow tips & tutorials.

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

Shared Jul 1, 2015 comment

My Daughter’s Make Over Your Mornings Video (adorable!)

Published: by Crystal Paine on July 1, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Rachel gave me permission to share this email and video:

Thank you for your Make Over Your Mornings program! You were the jumpstart I needed to get my morning routine going again now that my third daughter is 8 months old. Thank you so much for inspiring me to set goals again and get back into regular Bible reading, prayer, and working out!

You have a genuine gift for motivating women in practical ways. I finished your program about a week ago and I am excited to continue what I learned and the habits I started. I am finding such joy and peace starting my days ahead rather than feeling like I am behind and trying to catch up all day.

I challenged another friend to do the course as well and now we are keeping each other accountable as well as exercising together several mornings a week before our kids wake up.

My 4 and 5 year old daughters saw me watching your videos some morning when they woke up. Soon, they became little accountability partners! One night recently I heard them chattering in their room after bedtime. I went in and found out that they were “being Crystal Paine ” and pretending to be on a video.

So I recorded them doing their Crystal Paine impression yesterday and wanted to share it with you! You are inspiring little girls too! By the way, my daughter Annika made up the whole script herself. -Rachel

Oh my goodness! Is that video not the cutest thing ever?? I had to watch it multiple times because I just couldn’t help myself!

Shared Jun 30, 2015 comment

7 Ways to Eat Healthy on $4 Per Day

Published: by Crystal Paine on June 30, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Valerie emailed in this interesting article on 7 Ways to Eat Healthy on $4 Per Day. Read the post and 7 ideas here.

Do you do all seven things? What other ideas would you add?

Shared Jun 29, 2015 comment

That thing others are shaming you for? Do it anyway.

Published: by Crystal Paine on June 29, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

“You have such crooked teeth! You really should get braces.”

“Why do you make such weird faces in your pictures? It’s annoying!”

“You have such an ugly ‘smile’! I can’t believe you post selfies here. You should be embarrassed.”

All of those remarks — and more! — have been left in comments here and on Facebook in the last few weeks. Most of them were from the same two people who apparently are on a mission to get me to stop posting selfies.

I’ve just been deleting the comments as they come in and didn’t plan to mention them in a post because I don’t like to give trolls or rude commentors a platform here. My policy has always been that if your comment is shaming, harsh, or sharply critical, I promptly remove it as I want to keep this place upbeat and encouraging.

However, when I deleted yet another comment this morning about my “dumb selfie faces”, I could keep silent no longer and this post just bubbled forth.

You see, posting a selfie might seem very inconsequential to some of you. For me, being brave enough to take and then share selfies this past year has been monumental.

Why? Because it’s something that I ran kicking and screaming from for years.

I was embarrassed of my sometimes dorky faces, of my jaw, of my crooked teeth, of my overbite, of my skin that was prone to breakouts, of the fact that I probably don’t know how to do makeup, and of the fact that I probably don’t shape my eyebrows correctly.

For years, I hated the fact that I wasn’t photogenic. I was so self-conscious and insecure, that whenever a camera came out, I’d be so nervous, I wouldn’t be able to smile. My mouth would quiver. My hands would shake. I’d break out in sweat. And I just plain couldn’t smile sincerely.

I remember the night I was supposed to get my senior pictures taken. There were a group of us getting individual pictures done and when my turn came, I froze and couldn’t smile. The photographer tried over and over again to no avail.

I was so embarrassed and frustrated with myself. And ever since then, I shied away from cameras because I didn’t want to suffer that same humiliation again.

When I started blogging 10 years ago, I found that it was such a safe outlet for an introverted, insecure, and un-photogenic girl like me. It allowed me to mostly hide behind my computer screen. To carefully pick and choose any pictures I showed to the public. To take 46 different pictures in hopes of getting a decent shot.

The more I hid behind my computer screen, though, the less authentic I felt. I didn’t want to photoshop my life. I didn’t want to live life behind a smokescreen.

I wanted to be real… even though I know that it would mean sharing the good and the not-so-good. Even though I knew it would be opening up myself for criticism. Even though I knew not everyone would like the real, sometimes dorky, sometimes un-photogenic, me.

As I’ve stopped believing lies about myself and starting living under the truth, it’s given me more and more confidence to just be me. To stop worrying about what people would think. To stop caring whether I was going to be criticized. To stop stressing over whether I was going to disappoint someone.

And little bit by little bit, I’ve been brave enough to step out from behind the safety of the computer screen and be authentically me.

That’s meant accepting speaking engagements. Blogging about my struggles with shame and insecurity. Instagramming real-life stuff. Filming videos. And yes, getting brave enough to start showing my face in many more pictures.

Posting a selfie publicly represents something much deeper than the picture itself. It’s a testament to the work that’s happened in my heart, to the confidence that has grown in my soul, to the acceptance I have for exactly who God has made me to be — imperfections and all.

So when those recent comments have come over and over again, attacking me for how I look and how I smile, it really and truly hasn’t phased me. Instead, it’s encouraged me to realize how much I’ve grown in confidence and it’s also motivated me to keep posting the real-life, imperfect stuff.

The world needs to see that just because I happen to have a large number of people reading what I write online doesn’t mean that I am all perfect and polished and put-together. The truth is: nobody has it all together and nobody just floats effortlessly through life with flawless skin, perfect smiles, and zero struggles.

Now, let me be clear: I don’t share this post with you because I want you to criticize the few people who are on a “Stop the Selfie Crusade”. Honestly, I pray for them and hurt for them because I have a feeling that their unkind comments are probably coming from their own place of hurt and insecurity.

I also don’t share this because I need your affirmation. Truthfully, I don’t. I know who I am in Christ. I know the truth that I am enough. And I really can stand confidently in that.

I am writing this post tonight, because I have a feeling that some of you out there can relate to my struggles. Maybe you have no problem at all when it comes to smiling or showing your face in pictures, but perhaps you struggle with feeling like you don’t measure up somehow.

Maybe you had a really humiliating situation that forever cemented in your head that you weren’t good enough at X.

Maybe you’ve been shamed by someone close to you regarding your weight or your appearance or your skills or your mothering or your “inabilities”.

And it’s cut you deeply. So deep, in fact, that ever since then, you’ve avoided that thing at all costs.

Can I encourage you to stop believing the lies & start camping on the truth? Can I gently admonish you not to let shaming words from others dictate how you live and hold you back?

Be brave. Be YOU. The world needs your gifts, your story, and your unique perspective.

And every time you see me post a selfie, can it be a reminder to you to keep putting yourself out there, keeping stepping outside your comfort zone, keep pushing forward little bit by little bit?

Let’s be a community of people who don’t let shaming words get the best of us. Let’s camp on the truth, walk in confidence knowing that we are enough as we are, and then let’s bravely face our fear gremlins head on — imperfect selfies and all.

Shared Jun 29, 2015 comment

My interview with John Stossel on Fox Business (video clip)

Published: by Crystal Paine on June 29, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

For those of you who asked to see my segment that aired on Fox Business on Friday night with John Stossel, they’ve uploaded the clip of my interview to their site here.

And I know this is very controversial subject, so before you jump to conclusions and think that I think everyone should do what I’ve done or that I believe credit cards are evil, be sure to read this followup post I wrote on Why I Don’t Think Credit Cards Are Evil.

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

Click here to download!

Shared Jun 29, 2015 comment

Want some encouragement & accountability to Make Over Your Mornings?

Published: by Crystal Paine on June 29, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Instagram photo from GoddessMychele

Have you purchased a copy of my 14-Day Make Over Your Mornings course yet? If not, go grab your copy here.

If you’re looking for extra accountability and encouragement as you go through the course, here are two options for you:

#1: Private Facebook Group

There’s a private Facebook Page available here with over 1100 members and they are going through the course together again, beginning with Day 1 today. This Facebook is run by my friend, Caroline.

Sign up for the private Facebook Group here.

#2 Public Facebook Page

You can also join my new Make Over Your Mornings public Facebook Page. I started it as a place to share daily tidbits, articles, quotes, and more to encourage you to use your mornings and your days well and to life life with more intention.

You can follow the Make Over Your Mornings Facebook Page here.

I’ve been so blown away and blessed by your kind notes and comments and emails sharing how this course has made such a difference in your home and life. I’m so grateful! And thank you for spreading the word about it to your friends who you feel would also find it helpful!

Shared Jun 29, 2015 comment

5 Tips to Build a Frugal Wardrobe With eBay

Published: by Crystal Paine on June 29, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Guest post from Laura of Life as a Loewen

Finding adorable clothes on a shoestring budget can be challenging, but I’m here to tell you that it’s not impossible.

Enter eBay clothes shopping!

It should take you less than 5 minutes to set up an eBay account (if you don’t have one already). Then you can link your PayPal account for easy payments, or pay using a debit or credit card.

Here are a few tips for getting the most bang for your buck on eBay:

1. Know your sizes from a specific brand.

eBay has a number of different search features so you can narrow down exactly what you need (i.e. petite, tall, color of item, etc.)

Have you been eyeing a specific brand of clothing, say jeans, but don’t know what size you are in them? Go to a store that has them, try on a few sizes, write them down or enter into your phone and then you’ll be armed for your next eBay purchase!

You can also look on some store websites to see if they have sizing charts which would eliminate the need for a trip to the store!

2. Buy used.

You can search for items that are new, used, or unspecified. I’d suggest buying second-hand items to get an even lower prices on your clothes. Nearly all items I’ve gotten used from eBay come to me looking either new or nearly new!

3. Take advantage of bidding and offers.

Many items can be purchased through bidding (auction-style) on an item. Another way I’ve gotten steals on trendy clothes is by making an offer on items that indicate “or highest offer”. You never know until you try!

Offer less than the “buy it now” price, but what you feel is reasonable (and still a good deal) for the item.

4. Don’t write off high-end brands.

I personally adore the style of Anthropologie. But spending $100 on one top at the store? I couldn’t possibly.

What I do is keep a search saved of Anthropologie items in my size, and the types of clothes I’m looking for — such as short-sleeved blouses and cardigans.

eBay then saves that search and I get to look for the best possible deals, getting higher-end clothes that are actually in my price range.

5. Sell your own items.

Selling gently used (or new) items is a great way to boost that clothing budget. Having 3 little kids on one income means there’s not a lot of wiggle room for the clothing budget, and especially not for this Mama to get new threads.

By selling some of my clothes on eBay, I’ve earned a little money to use toward future purchases by letting the balance sit in my PayPal account until something really strikes my fancy. You can also deposit the money from PayPal into your checking out to use it for general purposes, as well.

I’ve gotten lots of cute, trendy items using eBay, and I hope this helps you have another budget-friendly way to spruce up your wardrobe!

Laura is a mama of three littles {and in the adoption process}, delighting in the Gospel of grace. Attempting to be genuine and raw, Laura seeks to find the humor in everyday life. She shares her journey through faith, motherhood and marriage at LIFE AS A LOEWEN blog. Passionate about issues of social justice, and always up for a Motown dance party, Laura seeks to live with spirited intentionality.

Shared Jun 29, 2015 comment

Want to learn to take better photos? Here’s help…

Published: by Crystal Paine on June 29, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Over the last few years, I’ve been slowly working on improving my photography skills. Not because I want to have Pinterest-perfect images (I gave up on that when I lost my SuperWoman cape in the laundry pile a few years back!), but because I want to capture and be able to look back on the memories of everyday life in years to come.

So I was excited to see that Ultimate Bundles (the same company that brings us the crazily popular Homemaking Bundle and Healthy Living Bundle each year) is offering a brand-new Ultimate Photography bundle — and it’s only available through midnight tonight.

For $37, you’ll get access to multiple amazing photography resources, courses, ebooks, and more — over $580 value total!

If you’ve been looking for some step-by-step resources to help you improve your photos as a blogger, a parent, an Etsy shop owner, or just someone who loves to post on Instagram, check out all the products offered in this bundle here.

Personally, I’m most thrilled that this bundle includes the iPhone Only Photography ebook. I have been wanting to get this download for a long time as friend after friend has raved about it and showed amazing transformation in their photography skills in their before and after pictures.

This ebook is regularly $29, so it’s almost worth the price of the bundle alone! So if I just benefit from that ebook + one other ebook, it will have more than paid for the bundle!

Read more about the Ultimate Photography Bundle here — and don’t forget that it’s only available through midnight tonight!

Shared Jun 27, 2015 comment

Can you go for 30 days without buying anything new?

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

How long could you go without buying anything new?

Yerdle is challenging people to make a commitment to stop buying new things for 30 days (or however long you decide works for you!) by taking their Unshopping Challenge.

They want to encourage people to unclutter their lives, save money, and create less waste.

If you decide to take the Unshopping Challenge, you can make your own rules. Yerdle encourages you to still buy food (of course!) and consumable items, but what they really hope to do is to challenge people who have a shopping “addiction” or who just shop as a recreational activity, to break free from excessive shopping and spending in order to save money and simplify your lives.

Here’s how they encourage you to consider setting up your Unshopping Challenge:

For 30 days, buy nothing new (except things you can’t re-use like food and gas).
Sign up for a Yerdle account (it’s free!), go through your stuff, and post pictures of items you no longer need, love, or use.
If someone is interested in your item, they can purchase it with Yerdle credit and you’ll earn Yerdle credit when you ship it out.
You can use your Yerdle credit to “buy” items from other sellers on Yerdle. You pay shipping on the items you “purchase”.

This is a great way to not only clear your home of clutter and save some money, but by taking the Unshopping Challenge, it will likely help you evaluate your spending habits in a new light. And maybe you’ll end up forever changed as a result.

Sign up for the Unshopping Challenge here.

Tip: When you sign up for Yerdle, you can grab your referral link and share it with others. If others sign up through your link, you’ll earn 10 free Yerdle points and they’ll get 10 free Yerdle credits, too!

{This post was underwritten by Yerdle. See my disclosure policy here.}

Shared Jun 27, 2015 comment

5 Things I’m Loving This Week

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

It’s been a packed-to-the-brim week — with 3 trips in less than 7 days (a trip to Atlanta for the Say Goodbye to Survival Mode event, a trip to NYC for my Fox Business interview, and a trip back to Atlanta to meet up with my sister and her family for a few days of fun!) + more.

Here are 5 things I’m loving this week:

1. Great Deals at Kohl’s

Kaitlynn and I went shopping for her birthday and she found some great deals at Kohl’s for some adorable clothes that she’s already worn multiple times this week. We found them on the clearance rack and they were just a few dollars per item!

I also bought some new shoes (a kind of rare occurrence for me!) and was excited to get a great deal on them! (See the shoes I bought in this picture here — I should have worn them for a few days before wearing them all over the streets of NYC because now I’m the proud owner of multiple blisters. It’s clear I don’t buy shoes often enough to know these types of things! :))

2. It’s My Pleasure*

I got to read a pre-release copy of this book and absolutely adored it! It’s short, but packed with inspiration for business owners, entrepreneurs, or anyone who would like to get a glimpse at the inner workings and core values of Chick-fil-A.

3. The Georgia Aquarium

When we went to Atlanta with my sister and her family, we debated whether or not to go to the aquarium. The tickets are expensive, but we are SO glad we splurged and bought them as we absolutely loved our time there.

It’s hard to say what our favorite parts of the visit were as it seemed like at every turn, we were all saying “woah” and “wow!” Some of my highlights were: the beluga whales, sea horses, whale sharks, albino alligators, weedy sea dragons (these are so cool!), and the shark eggs.

I also loved the exhibits where you could touch some of the creatures — including starfish, sea urchins, sea anemone, and the sea cucumber (my favorite). If I had to pick one favorite, it would have to be the Dolphin Show. It was hands down incredible. Seriously! We were in awe… And now Kathrynne is considering changing her career ambitions to dolphin trainer.

4. Coffee With Friends

My friend, Jennifer, and her husband were in the Nashville area this morning and we got to meet for a quick cup of coffee. Jennifer is the author of one of my Top 10 Books from 2014 and just such a sweet, sweet woman. She’s inspired me in so many ways and blessed my life.

I was also supposed to have coffee with my friend, Tam, this afternoon. But I was really tired after a long week so I texted to ask if I could have a rain check on coffee with her. Well, guess what she did, she went and got a coffee and dropped it off at my doorstep… because she’s such a dear person like that!

5. A Day At Home

After coffee with Jennifer this morning, I promptly came home and put on my Wonder Woman tee, hoodie, and comfy pants — one of my favorite “Lazy Day” outfits. (I had taken a shower and fixed my hair/makeup, so that I wouldn’t ruin my day!)

It was so nice to have a day to just rest, relax, and enjoy being with my people.

(Silas sat next to me for quite awhile today hard at work on his latest Loom Band* creation. He’s kind of obsessed with these right now and does a great job making them!

However, when I took this picture, he was concerned that if I posted a picture with the Loom Bands, someone might comment that “Loom Bands are for girls!!”

I told him not to worry about what other people think. If he likes creating with Loom Bands, then he should go for it, because I love to see him learning new things and trying his hand at new skills!)

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

*affiliate link

Summer Bucket List

Summer Bucket List

FREE Summer Bucket List!!

1. Sell old appliances and electronics ($100)

2. Reuse veggie scraps ($204)

3. Recycle aluminum, glass, and plastic ($68)

4. Drive scrap metal to a junkyard ($48)

5. Get a tax deduction for clothing and furniture (varies)

6. Sell books ($156)

7. Pay less for trash collection ($108)

For those of you who might be interested in selling on eBay too, here are a few tips:

Any other tips from experienced eBay sellers?

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

Here’s how I did it:

How did I do it?

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

#1: Private Facebook Group

#2 Public Facebook Page

Enter eBay clothes shopping!

1. Know your sizes from a specific brand.

2. Buy used.

3. Take advantage of bidding and offers.

4. Don’t write off high-end brands.

5. Sell your own items.

1. Great Deals at Kohl’s

2. It’s My Pleasure*

3. The Georgia Aquarium

4. Coffee With Friends

5. A Day At Home

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

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