Money Saving Mom®

Classic View

Grid View

Shared May 16, 2015 comment

What My 10-Year-Old Daughter is Teaching Me About Courage & Confidence

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

Dear Kathrynne,

You don’t often show up in pictures or stories on this blog because when I ask for your permission to post things about you, you usually ask that I don’t share them. And that is completely okay. I respect that and want to honor you in that regard.

However, I am so thankful that you gave me permission to write this post. Because it’s something I’ve wanted to share for a long time.

Thank you for how you constantly challenge me to be myself. To not worry about what other people think. To let my personality on the inside shine out on the outside.

As your mom, I couldn’t be prouder of you. Maybe our tastes in clothing are completely different. Maybe there are moments when I wish that you cared just a little bit more about what you wear. But then I realize, that’s my pride — and that’s me caring more about what other people think than about letting you be who God created you to be.

I’m so glad that you care so much more about people’s hearts and about reaching out and helping people than you do about what people think about you. I’m so glad that you are confident in your own unique style and personality. I love how you rock those gym shorts, t-shirts, and tennis shoes like nobody’s business.

I am so inspired by your desire to attract friends who really care about you as a person and who want to love you for who you really are than about trying to change who you are in order to have other people like you.

Thank you for how you continually encourage me to be true to who I am. To blog authentically. To live authentically.

Thank you for how you challenge me to stop caring what other people think and to be all that God has created me to be. Your courage and confidence as a person has motivated me to “come out of my shell” little bit by little bit.

You’ve challenged me to post more of the real-life stuff. To let people into our home and life — even when it’s messy and chaotic. To be okay that who I really am is not necessarily going to be exactly who people want me to be — but it’s going to be true and true is always better than fake.

I’ve seen you step outside of your comfort zone in big ways this past year. You’ve joined the swim team, you’ve poured hours and hours into swim practice, you’ve worked hard to improve your strokes, and you’ve faced your fear of competing in front of large crowds.

Other people had no idea that you were sick to your stomach about having to step up on those starting blocks and dive into the water, but I knew. And my heart wanted to burst when I saw you hold your head up high, dive in, and attack the water.

Moving away from your home and relatives and friends was very hard for you. But you bravely faced many new things — a new neighborhood, new church, new routines, new friends, and a new lifestyle.

You’ve experienced loneliness. We’ve cried together over what we left behind. And then you’ve dried your tears, punched fear in the face, and met new family after new family and went into new situation after new situation.

It hasn’t been a smooth ride for you, nor us. But you’ve trusted God through it, talked openly with us about your fears and hurts and sadness, and pressed forward — embracing the newness and choosing to live fully right where you are.

Thank you for how you love well, care deeply, and give generously. I couldn’t be more proud to be your mom.

You are one-of-a-kind and God has some great adventures for you in your future. Keep charging ahead with brave resolve, contagious courage, and unshakeable confidence.

I love you, sweet girl. You’ve forever changed my life.

Love,

Your Grateful Mom

Shared May 16, 2015 comment

Gretchen’s $55 Grocery Shopping Trip and Menu Plan

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

Homeland

1 Angel Soft Toilet Papter – $1.59, used $0.45/1 coupon (doubled) (I can’t figure out where this came from) – $0.69 after coupon

1 Kellogg’s Special K Crackers – $1.99, used $1/1 printable from email (doubled) – Free after coupon

3 Dannon Oikos Yogurt – $0.88, used $1/3 printable (doubled) – $0.21 each after coupon

1.53 lbs Tomatoes @ $0.99/lb – $1.51

1 Best Choice Dozen Eggs – $1.19

2 Cucumbers – $0.59 each

1 All Laundry Detergent – $3.33, used $1/1 printable (doubled) – $1.33 after coupon

1 Louana Canola Oil – $2, used $0.50/1 printable (doubled) – $1 after coupon

Buy 5 participating items, Get $2 off instantly:

3 Red Gold canned Tomatoes – $0.35 each, used $0.55/3 printable (doubled) – Free after coupon

1 Red Gold Ketchup – $0.49

1 Red Gold Salsa – $0.69

Total after coupons and sales: $8.66

Dillons

1 gallon Dillons Milk – $2.50, used $0.30 Ibotta rebate – $2.20 after rebate

1 loaf Bread – $3.39, used $0.30 Ibotta rebate – $3.09 after rebate (Ouch! This price makes me wish I lived closer to an Aldi where I can get their bread for $0.89.)

4 Totino’s Pizza – $1.25 each, used $0.30 Ibotta rebate – $1.18 each after rebate (This was a request by my husband…I refuse to eat frozen pizzas but he grew up on them.) 🙂

1 pkg English Muffins – $1.99

1 box Cheerios – $3.29, used Free e-coupon that was sent to me – Free after coupon

1 Oscar Mayer Sliced Ham – Marked down to $1.29

1 Hillshire Farms Naturals Sliced Turkey – $3.99, used $0.50/1 e-coupon – $3.49 after coupon

1 Sargento Sliced Cheese – $2.50

2 cans Kroger Beans – $0.69 each

3 Breyers Ice Cream – $2.99, used $1.25/3 e-coupon AND $0.30 Ibotta rebate – $2.47 each after coupon and rebate (We’ve been having a LOT of company at the last minute recently so I was happy to stock up on this. Ice cream is always a great thing to serve company.) 🙂

1.77 lbs Bananas @ $0.59/lb – $1.04, used $0.30 Ibotta rebate – $0.74 after rebate

1 bag Kroger Flour – $1.79, used $0.40/1 e-coupon – $1.39 after coupon

1 Kroger Peanut Butter – $2.19, used Free e-coupon that was sent to me – Free after coupon

4 Moms Best Cereal – $1.50 each, used $1/1 e-coupon and $0.75/1 e-coupon and $0.30 Ibotta rebate – $0.98 each after coupons and rebate

1 bag Kroger Spinach – $2.50

1 Romaine Lettuce – $0.99, used $0.30 Ibotta rebate – $0.69 after rebate

1 bag Kroger Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts – $6.99, used $1.45/1 e-coupon – $5.54 after coupon

1.04 lbs Broccoli @ $0.99/lb – $1.03

2.71 lbs Fuji Apples @ $0.99/lb – $2.68

Total after coupons, sales and rebates – $46.56

Total for both stores: $55.22

Menu Plan for This Week

Breakfasts

Toast & Eggs x 3

Cereal x 3

Freezer Breakfast Sandwiches (I will freeze several of these.)

Lunches

Turkey/Fruit/Veggies/Cheese x 2

Macaroni and Cheese, Sliced Apples

Spinach Smoothies x 2, Crackers

Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, Fruit/Veggies

Leftovers

Dinners

Pizza, Tossed Salad

Tacos

Chicken Fajitas, Steamed Peas

Chili, Biscuits, Veggies

Salad Bar, Homemade Bread

Roast, Potatoes, Green Beans

Chicken with Tomatoes and Mozzarella, Tossed Salad

Shared May 16, 2015 comment

21 Surprising Stats About How Much Clutter We Really Have

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

Woah! This article on Becoming Minimalist was pretty astounding.

Here’s a snippet:

Today, increasing data is being collected about our homes, our shopping habits, and our spending. The research is confirming our observation: we own too much stuff. And it is robbing us of life.

Here are 21 surprising statistics about our clutter that help us understand how big of a problem our accumulation has actually become.

1. There are 300,000 items in the average American home (LA Times).

2. The average size of the American home has nearly tripled in size over the past 50 years (NPR).

3. And still, 1 out of every 10 Americans rent offsite storage—the fastest growing segment of the commercial real estate industry over the past four decades. (New York Times Magazine).

You’ve got to go read the rest of the 21 Stats on Clutter over here.

Thanks to Amy for the link to this article!

Shared May 15, 2015 comment

5 Ways to Have a Happier Home — Guaranteed

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 15, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Want to have a happier home? Here are some of my top tips for enjoying life more and having a calmer, happier home!

My husband and I have been married for going on 12 and a half years and in those years we’ve made a lot of mistakes and learned a lot of lessons the hard way.

In the last few years, I feel like we’ve both become a lot more comfortable in our own skin, we’ve become a lot more settled in our personal family principles and beliefs, and we’ve become a lot less worried about trying to do what works for others and instead just doing what works for us.

As a result, we’ve experienced a lot more joy, peace, and happiness in our home. We won’t win any contests for having everything all together, having the best decorated home, having the most put-together-looking children, or always getting places on time. But we’re good with that.

We’re a work in progress. We’re in this together. And we’re seeking to fully embrace life — right where we are.

As I think back over the lessons we’ve learned along this journey of life, I wanted to share five things that have helped us have a happier home. I think I can almost guarantee that if you implement these in your home, it will result in more joy, peace, and happiness, too.

1. Spend Less Time Doing & More Time Being

It’s so easy to get sucked into the go-go-go, do-do-do mentality that pervades our culture. But is that really what life is all about?

I don’t want to reach the end of my life and have the only thing people know to say about me be something like: “She was always busy. She got a lot done.”

No, I want to live life to the fullest. I want to be available for people. I want to listen. I want to take time to care. I want to invest my life in the people closest to me. I want to have time for what really matters.

I encourage you to cut down on schedule clutter and unnecessary commitments so that you have breathing room in your life to take time for what really matters. Set up good systems so that you don’t have to spend extra time looking for things, moving piles, or doing busy work.

Teach your kids to work together with you so that the house runs more smoothly and you all have more time to be together. Stress less about having things perfect and be okay with imperfect.

Clear out the excess from your life so that you can focus on the few things that really matter. Doing this will guarantee you not only enjoy life more, but that you have a happier, calmer home.

This picture makes me laugh every time I see it! I posted it on Instagram awhile back and said: “Could not figure out why the ‘cream’ I was pouring in my coffee this morning looked so watered down. And then I actually read the box. Yikes… Clearly, not all brain cells are firing this morning. Or, maybe I just discovered a new kind on Bulletproof Coffee. Or not. Yuck.”

2. Always Look for Something to Laugh About

Life is full of hard things. Life is full of potentially frustrating things. And that’s why it’s so important that we learn to laugh quickly, easily, and often.

Find the funny in every situation. Laugh at yourself. Share funny stories with your friends. Don’t take life too seriously.

If you need some upbeat encouragement or things to laugh about, be sure to follow the Money Saving Mom® Facebook Page. I try to post at least a few things on there every day that made me laugh. Here was one from this morning. 🙂

You’ll discover — if you spend any time around me — that I pretty much always have a good story to share. I go through life looking for the humor that others might not see — because we all need to laugh more than we do, myself included.

So I try to notice those funny things and share them with others, instead of focusing on the hard and stressful things of life. I don’t always succeed at this, but this is what I aim for.

My husband and our kids join me in this much of the time, too. And it’s amazing how much happier we all feel when we pepper our daily life with large doses of laughter.

3. Find the Good & Praise It

I read this phrase in a book years and years ago and it has stuck with me and influenced me in so many situations when I wanted to get bogged down and discouraged by the hard and heavy things, when I wanted to feel irritated by others, or when I wanted to be upset that someone had done something all wrong or dropped the ball completely.

Instead, I’ve made it a point to look for the good. Because there is almost always, always something good to be found — whether that’s in your spouse, your kids, your co-worker, your relative, or an acquaintance.

Choose to dwell on what’s good instead of being bothered and irritated by what’s not so good. Praise the good. Show gratitude for the hard work someone is doing or how your spouse helped you in some way or a positive attitude your child exemplified or for how your co-worker took initiative on something… find the good and praise it.

Gratitude can transform your entire outlook on life. In addition, when you verbally express it to others, it can motivate and inspire them to work harder, rise to the top, develop character, and be the best version of themselves they can be.

A home built upon praise, rather than criticism, is always going to be a happier home.

4. Be Generous With the Hugs & Kisses

In our home, we are highly affectionate. I believe that human touch is a powerful force — providing comfort, healing, and nurturing, and communicating love, care, and compassion.

Not all kids are probably this way, but my kids need a lot of snuggles and hugs. It makes them feel secure, loved, and appreciated.

So we do our best to dole out the physical affection — even in those moments when it might not be what we’d want to do. (I’m an introvert and not a complete touch-y, feel-y person, so sometimes I’d really rather have space than snuggles!)

Not only does it promote closeness in our relationships, but we’ve found that our kids are so much more cheerful when their love tanks are filled up. And this results in an all around happier home.

5. Stop Worrying About What Other People Think

Of all the things I’ve shared in this post, this one has been the hardest for me, by far. I’m a perfectionist and people-pleaser by nature. I want people to accept me. But more than that, I want them to like me.

But I can’t live my life and we can’t run our home to please others. Why? Because there are just plain too many different people to please. So if we try to please everyone, we’ll run ourselves ragged and still fall short.

Slowly ever so slowly, I’ve been breaking free from the bondage of people-pleasing. I’ve been focusing on seeking the Lord with my husband for what God wants for our own family. We’ve been making decisions for our family based upon what we believe is best for us — not based upon what we think other people would want us to do or what others would think we should do.

Has everyone been supportive of our decisions? By no means! We’ve gotten plenty of criticism and questioning for choices we’ve made.

But more and more, I’m okay with that. I realize that not everyone will understand why we do what we do. Not everyone is called to have the lifestyle we do or parent the way we do or follow the path that we are on.

We’re all different in different situations with different families and different needs. What is right for one family won’t necessarily be right for another family. And sometimes, those choices won’t make a lot of sense to everyone else, but that’s okay.

What’s most important is that our family is carefully seeking God’s will, carefully and prayerfully making decisions based upon the needs of our family and children, and regularly re-evaluating to make sure those choices and decisions are still the best for our family.

When we let go of worrying about what other people think and instead focus on doing what’s best for our own family, we’re all much happier for it.

photo credit

Shared May 15, 2015 comment

Brigette’s $62 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan

Published: by Brigette on May 15, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Farmer’s Mart

2 Cucumbers – $0.58

9 Oranges – $2.00

2 Bell Peppers – $1.00, plus receive $0.25 back from Checkout 51 – $0.75 after rebate

Ripe Bananas (@$0.19/lb) – $0.34

4 Roma Tomatoes (@$0.79/lb) – $0.58

1 Cabbage (@$0.39/lb) – $1.49

Total after Rebate: $5.74

Aldi

1 38-oz jar Ketchup – $1.39

1 32-oz container Half & Half – $1.89

1 8-oz bag Flat Leaf Spinach – $1.79

2 20-oz pkgs Zucchini – $2.58

2 40-oz bags Frozen Chicken Tenderloins – $13.58

1 head Cauliflower – $1.99

2 bags Garden Salad – $1.18

1 3-ct pkg Green Peppers – $1.19

2 3-ct pkgs Romaine Hearts – $3.98

2 3-lb bags Pink Lady Apples – $5.98

1 10-lb bag Russet Potatoes – $3.49

1 16-oz bag Baby Carrots – $0.99

1 Fit and Active Ranch Salad Dressing – $1.29

Total: $41.32

Harris Teeter

1 gallon Milk – $2.99, plus receive $0.25 back from Ibotta – $2.74 after rebate

2 18-ct Hefty Quart Slider Bags (B1G1) – $2.75, used $1/2 Hefty Slider Bags, exp. 5/31/15 (RP 03/29/15) – $1.75/2 after coupon

2 boxes Multigrain Cheerios – $5.00, used 2 $0.75/1 printable (doubled), plus $0.75/1 evic, plus receive $0.30 back from Ibotta and $0.75 back from SavingStar – $0.20/2 after all coupons and rebates

5 jars Bertolli Pasta Sauce (B2G3) – $5.98, used 2 $1.50/2 Bertolli Product, exp. 6/7/15 (RP 04/26/15 R) – $2.98/5 after coupons

1 box Snack Crackers – $1.75

10 35-oz cans Tuttorosso Tomatoes (B2G3) – $7.96, used 2 $0.55/3 printable (doubled) – $5.76/10 after coupons

Total after coupons and Rebates: $15.18

Weekly Total: $62.24

Weekly Menu Plan

Breakfasts

Oatmeal with Strawberries (from the freezer) x 2

Cereal and Fruit x 2

Eggs and Toast x 2

Smoothies and Toast

Lunches

Smoked Sausage, Cheese Slices, Crackers, Relish Plate with Ranch Dressing Dip, Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies (company for lunch)

Peanut Butter and Honey Sandwiches, Oranges, Pepper Slices x 2

Build-Your-Own-Tossed Salad (Hard Boiled Eggs, Cheese, Sunflower Seeds, Salad Greens, Assorted Raw Veggies), Crackers x 2

Leftovers x 2

Dinners

Freezer-Friendly Barbecued Meatballs, Twice Baked Potatoes, Tossed Salad, Green Beans, Butterhorns, Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies (Company for Dinner)

Cabbage Roll Casserole, Easy Whole Wheat Bread, Apple Slices

Taco Salad, Green Rice Casserole

Chicken on the Grill, Baked Potato Wedges, Tossed Salad, Fruit Salad, Steamed Broccoli, Best Apple Crisp with Icecream (Company for Dinner)

Fried Egg Sandwiches, Mixed Vegetables, Smoothies (using fruit from the freezer)

Leftovers x 2

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

Click here to sign up!

Shared May 15, 2015 comment

Weekend Giveaway: Watch Me Grow Kit (10 winners)

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 15, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Do you want to keep a record of your child’s growth and milestones? The Watch Me Grow Kit is one really great way to do so.

This kit includes a Footer Family Foot Measure, Height Tape, Calendar, and Height Stickers! It’s designed to have you sit down with your child about 3 times per year to measure their feet, height, weight, and show size, trace their foot in the book, and discuss and record milestones that have happened in the past few months.

The book that comes along with the kit is very interactive and engaging and has many sections for you to write in and for your child to write and color in.

Kaitlynn and Silas were SO excited about this when we received the review product and begged if they could open it up and start testing it out! I was honestly surprised about how engaged they were with it.

To find out more information about the Watch Me Grow Kit, follow Footer Family on Facebook and Twitter. Or check out more information about this 3-generation Christian company on their site here.

Would you like to enter to win a Watch Me Grow Kit? Just click on the graphic below and type in your name and email address. 10 winners will be chosen and posted next week. This giveaway ends Sunday, May 17, at 11:59 pm, CST.

Shared May 15, 2015 comment

Reader Tip: How to Get Free Toys As a Toy Tester

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 15, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Kyle from The Penny Hoarder sent in the following tip:

Toys are expensive, right? Smart parents use coupons to help offset the cost of those must-have toys, but what if there was a way to get some of the newest and best toys for free?

There is, and it’s probably one you haven’t tried: sign your child up to be a toy tester.

How Toy Testing Works:

Toy testing is pretty simple. A company sends you a toy, your child plays with it, and then you provide a review, complete a survey, or otherwise let the company know how your child enjoyed the toy.

Sometimes, toy companies hold lab-style tests, where children are invited to come to a company location and play with toys there.

Interested?

Here are some tips to get your child on that toy-tester list.

Check out your favorite toy companies’ Facebook pages and social media accounts to see if they offer toy testing opportunities. Here are a few good accounts to follow:

Mattel Imagination Center Facebook Page

Step2 Facebook Page

Mega Bloks Facebook Page

Discovery Toys Facebook Page

You can also contact companies directly to ask about their toy testing opportunities. When we reached out to Fisher-Price, for example, we learned that you can find out about toy testing opportunities for both Fisher-Price and Mattel products by signing up for their Family Club.

You probably can’t expect toy testing to take the place of all of your toy shopping, but getting a bonus toy now and then is fun, and it’s a great way to save some money.

Have you ever tried toy testing? Do you have advice for other parents?

photo source

Shared May 14, 2015 comment

Is it really worth it to sign up for free samples?

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 14, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

People ask me all the time whether it’s really worth it to sign up for free samples. Well, all this took me just two minutes to sign up for… So yes, I think many samples are totally worth signing up for!

5 things you should know about this picture:

1) This was a box of free samples from SampleSource.com. If you’re not already signed up with them, you totally should be.

2) It’s completely free and they’ll send you a box of samples every few months like this. All you have to do is log in when they email you that samples are ready, take a quick survey, and choose which samples you want.

3) My favorite samples from this batch are the travel sized toothpaste and the baby wipes. Those are perfect for keeping in your purse/travel bag. Watch my video on Facebook here for my unboxing of this free sample box.

4) The hair products are a close second. I love to have a stash of those for traveling.

5) I don’t have any affiliation with SampleSource other than to have enjoyed multiple free boxes of samples from them.

(Tip: Sign up for my daily email newsletter and I’ll let you know anytime there are great samples like this available. Or, you can check out this page here for all the latest free samples I’ve posted recently.)

P.S. Are you following me on Instagram? If not, you should — I post a fun behind-the-scenes “5 Things” picture every day.

Shared May 14, 2015 comment

I’d love to meet you in Atlanta on June 20, 2015!

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 14, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Our team is so excited to be putting on a special one-night Say Goodbye to Survival Mode event on June 20, 2015, in Acworth, GA (near Atlanta)!

This evening will be encouraging, inspirational, and actionable. I’ll be sharing from my heart and giving you practical steps to take to:

Stop living life feeling stuck, exhausted, and overwhelmed
Determine your most important priorities & find time to invest in what really matters
Break free from the lie that whispers “I’m not good enough”
Move past loneliness and build authentic friendships with other women

If you could use a boost to live with more intention, joy, and purpose, you won’t want to miss this special one-night event!

Find out more information about this event and purchase tickets here. We have a special group rate for those who’d like to invite a group of women to come.

And if you’re planning to attend, be sure to RSVP on the Facebook Page here and then share the link with others you think would love to attend, as well.

P.S. Want to have us bring this one-night Say Goodbye to Survival Mode event to your church or women’s group in 2015 or 2016? We’d love to chat with you about that! Just fill out this form here and we’ll be in touch with more information on dates we have available and how we can serve your church or women’s group.

Shared May 14, 2015 comment

33 DIY & Copycat Recipes

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 14, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Oh, this is a great list with so many yummy recipes! Head over to Lynn’s Kitchen Adventures for a list of 33 DIY & Copycat Recipes.

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

Click here to download!

Shared May 13, 2015 comment

My crazy weekend in Arlington, getting stranded for 14 hours at the airport, & why I drove to Kansas with a stranger

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 13, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

I flew to Arlington on Thursday afternoon to speak at the homeschool conference there. When I got to the hotel, I discovered a surprise in my bag: the entire brand-new bottle of Robitussin spilled out all over my during the flight.

I had brought it just in case my cold came back and had double-checked that the lid was on tight when I packed. I should have put it in a plastic baggie, but at least I had the presence of mind to pack it in my extra bag, not in my suitcase where most of my clothes were.

Gratefully, only a white cami ended up suffering a casualty in the episode. There could have been a much, much worse outcome — especially since I had gotten brave this trip and packed white pants to wear for one of my speaking days. (Yes, white pants!!! I was kind of scared that clumsy me was going to sit in grease or something right after I put them on — but I somehow managed to wear them all day long without a mishap!)

These three girls were my on-the-ground team for this conference. They helped run the booth, took care of all the details of getting me set up in my speaking rooms, talked to countless attendees, and made sure I got to eat, sleep, and be where I needed to be. They stayed quite busy and I appreciated their willingness to put in long days on my behalf.

It was my first time to travel with two of them and it was the very first conference for one of them to work and they were amazing!

Also, I don’t know how women in TX keep their hair looking nice. The humidity made any effort you put into your hair kind of useless. My curls turned into frizz in about 10 minutes!

This was one of my favorite pictures of the conference. This is Amanda — a friend I’ve known for over 13 years and never actually met in real-life. She was incredibly sweet and it was so fun to get to meet her and spend time with her in person after all these years. Spending time with her was the highlight of my weekend!

When I was flying down to Dallas, it occurred to me that I was supposed to be flying back home on Sunday and that Dallas is super close to Kansas. So then, I got this crazy idea to look and see if I could get a super cheap flight to Kansas to spend a few hours with my mom on Mother’s Day and then fly back to TN from there.

Jesse spent some time researching flights and found a dirt cheap option that would give me about 4.5 hours in Kansas on Mother’s Day and still get me home in the evening. It seemed like the perfect idea, so we got the ticket and then I called my mom up and surprised her.

Problem was, Sunday morning, when I got to the airport around 7:20 a.m. for my flight out, it was raining and my flight got delayed and then delayed again and then delayed again.

By about 9 a.m., basically every flight out from Dallas was grounded — either cancelled completely, delayed by a few hours, or stuck on the Tarmac for a few hours. It was surreal to be sitting at the airport with nothing going in or coming out and everyone just camped out at gates, hoping that the rain would let up so that flights could begin taking off again.

I had gotten re-booked on a flight to Minneapolis and then to Kansas and thought I was going to make the flight, but then, after waiting for a few hours thinking it was going to board at any moment, it was also cancelled.

So I went and waited in another long line to try to find another flight. I was so relieved to get on another flight directly to Kansas that was supposed to leave at 4:19 p.m.

There was another flight to Kansas that was supposed to leave at 1:50 p.m. but it had been (supposedly) slightly delayed. They couldn’t get a seat for me at the desk or over the phone, so I ran halfway across the airport to make it to that gate to see if possibly I could get a seat or be put on standby.

When I finally got to that gate, there was a standby list of about 27 people and they were pretty much all there. So I decided to instead head for the 4:19 p.m. flight where I had a confirmed ticket.

By this time, a few flights were getting out — very few, but I was at least encouraged that planes were actually moving again.

The problem was, things got SO backed up while the planes were all grounded, that by the time flights actually started going out again the systems were in mass chaos and overwhelmingly backed up.

{This book by Shaunti Feldhahn is so good. I highly recommend it if you want to better understand your husband, son, boyfriend, etc.}

I got to the gate for the 4:19 p.m. flight — which was halfway across the airport in the other direction! — and discovered it was delayed by about 30 minutes. So there was nothing to do but wait for updates.

The pilots and crew showed up and I expected them to get on the plane at the gate and then have us start boarding. But instead, the crew just stood around and waited. They finally told us that the plane at the gate wasn’t our plane… that our plane had flown in and was sitting on the Tarmac somewhere with people in it.

They couldn’t locate it just yet, but it was out there and we just needed to sit tight and wait. 5 p.m. came and went. 6 p.m. came and went. 7 p.m. came and went.

Still no sign of our plane. But nothing had changed with the story we were being told and our crew was still there so we kept holding onto hope.

{I say “we” because, by this time, the passengers on our flight were developing quite the bond — sharing our crazy travel stories from the day so far, trying to find out any new info we could, and commiserating about the bizarre nature of the day!}

At close to 9 p.m., a plane pulled up to our gate and we couldn’t be more thrilled. Only to discover that it wasn’t our plane. What a let-down!

Finally, after sitting at the gate and waiting for over 6 hours for our plane that was supposed to be pulling in at any minute, they cancelled our flight around 10 p.m.

And we left with very few options… especially since there were no more flights out to Kansas on Sunday night.

I wasn’t sure what on earth I was supposed to do. I just wanted to be somewhere — anywhere — in a bed so I could go to sleep. But I also wanted to get to Kansas and the only flight option they were giving me was a flight on Tuesday mid-morning — which would never work since I needed to get home to my family in TN.

So I prayed and asked God to give me clear direction. And right after I prayed, a gal who I had briefly met at the gate, came up to me and said, “I know you don’t really know me at all, but I was thinking of just driving to Kansas. Would you be at all interested in driving with me?”

I usually would never go jump in the car with a stranger, but after being at the airport for over 14 hours and having gotten to know her a little bit, Jesse and I both felt comfortable with it. So I jumped into her car and we drove most of the night to get to Kansas. She ended up being the sweetest gal and we had such great conversation in the car!

I was completely exhausted by the time my mom met us at this gal’s hotel to pick me up when we made it to Kansas early Monday morning, but I was so happy to have finally made it to Kansas.

I slept for a few hours and then got to spend the morning and early afternoon with my mom before catching a flight from Kansas back to TN. It was so, so good to get to spend a little time with my family — every bit worth the long travel day and tiredness.

But I was never so happy to step foot back on the ground in TN and be re-united with my family late Monday evening. And I’m happily going to (hopefully!) not need to step foot in another airport for at least a few weeks. I think I’ve had my fill of airport life to last me for at least another month. 😉

I posted this on Instagram tonight and thought it was a fitting way to end this post — because it’s what I reminded myself of during the airport adventure:

Life is full of setbacks, interruptions, and unexpected hardships. And while we may not be able to change our circumstances, we *can* choose our attitude. Choose joy. Choose love. Choose gratitude. Choose courage. Often, a simple change of attitude can be the catalyst for turning curveballs into home runs!

Shared May 11, 2015 comment

Make 8 No-Cook Freezer Meals in 90 Minutes

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 11, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Kelli from New Leaf Wellness shows you how to make 8 No-Cook Freezer Meals in 90 Minutes.

Shared May 11, 2015 comment

4 Tips to Avoid Food Waste

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 11, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Guest post from Abigail of They’re Not Our Goats

I thought I was pretty good at avoiding food waste, until I cleaned out my fridge a couple weeks ago.

Ugh. Do I really have a science experiment growing on the back of the bottom shelf?, I thought to myself. Why yes, yes I did. I found myself disgusted with the amount of food I had let slide past my attention.

While it was a disheartening cleaning session, I finished with renewed vigor to cut back my waste — and hey, maybe save a few bucks at the same time!

Is food waste a problem in your house too? Here’s how you and I can put less food in the garbage and more in our bellies.

1. Keep stock of what you’ve got.

Knowing what you have on hand is half the battle. Consider the following:

Keep leftovers dated and visible so you always use the oldest food first.
Make an inventory of your freezer/pantry.
Shop your inventory regularly so you don’t let usable food go by the wayside.

2. Use & re-purpose leftovers.

Don’t dispose of perfectly edible food. An untouched kid’s plate should be saved rather than tossed, and the bottom of the pot can be given new life.

Eat leftovers for lunch instead of eating out or buying sandwich fixings.
Try your hand at “planned-over” meals — ones in which you purposefully use the leftovers from your first meal to serve as the base for the second.
Turn leftover veggies and meat into soups, stews, casseroles, omelettes, and stir fries. A half cup of steamed broccoli is a welcome addition to the breakfast frittata, and taco meat can easily be thrown into a pot of chili. Be creative!

3. Preserve the extras.

Use ready-to-expire fruit for smoothies, breads, muffins, popsicles, and juice.
Freeze extra meat, veggies, and fruit before they reaches their life expectancy.
Learn how to preserve extra produce while it’s in season (and on sale) by water bath canning, pressure canning, or dehydrating.

4. Put your scraps to work.

Throw your coffee grounds, apple cores, washed eggshells, and fruit and vegetable scraps into the compost bin to become great food for your plants and flowers.
Use your chicken bones for homemade stock, pan drippings for gravy, and vegetable cooking water in place of regular water in soups. You’ll get lots of flavor and nutrition out of a minimal labor.

With a little planning and extra effort, we can save a lot of food from the garbage, keep more money in our pockets, and hopefully keep our fridges a little cleaner too!

What are your creative ways to avoid food waste?

Abigail is an aspiring homesteader, homeschooler, music-maker, and birth doula. She lives with her husband and soon-to-be-three children on her acre-and a half homestead in scenic Pennsylvania. You can visit her blog about living the homegrown life (and seeking contentment while doing it) at They’re Not Our Goats.

Shared May 11, 2015 comment

Easy Lunches Freezer Cooking Plan

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 11, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Looking for some freezer-friendly lunch ideas? Check out this Easy Lunches Freezer Cooking Plan from Life as Mom.

Shared May 9, 2015 comment

3 Important Lessons My Parents Taught Me About Life & Money

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 9, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

I am so grateful to my parents for the wise money management they not only modeled before us, but also taught and instilled in us! These are 3 of the most important lessons my parents taught me about life and money:

1. Debt is Often Avoidable

My dad’s dad raised my dad with the belief that you should never go into debt for anything except a house. From the beginning of my parents’ marriage, they followed this principle.

And then they took it one step further.

When I was around six years old, my parents decided to do something radical and work hard to pay off their house. They then saved up everything they could.

When I was ten years old, we sold that house and bought land out in the country and moved a single-wide trailer onto it for us to live in.

The trailer didn’t have an oven, didn’t have heat or air conditioning, leaked crazily every time it rained, had a bad mice problem, and was in fairly disgusting shape when we got it. But after days of elbow grease, we got it in livable shape, moved most of our possessions into a storage unit, and moved the basic necessities into that trailer.

We spent seven months in that trailer while we were building our house. I could write a book of stories from that experience. But most all of the memories are very happy memories and I wouldn’t trade the experience for the world.

At the end of seven months, our new house was finished enough that we could move into it. And it was a huge celebration to make it to that day… and for my parents to have realized their dream of building a house debt-free.

Seeing my parents’ sacrifices and creative commitment to living debt-free and how it put them in position to be able to give generously because they worked so hard to no longer have a house payment was a huge inspiration to my husband and me. I know beyond any shadow of a doubt that we would never be in the position we are in financially nor would we have paid cash for our first house were it not their example and influence. And we are eternally grateful.

2. Money is a Tool

My parents taught me that money is a tool. In the hands of wise stewards, it can be put to good use and make a huge impact. In the hands of those who are unwise, it can be wasted and blown with nothing to show for it.

With their lives and checkbooks, they modeled the importance of being wise in how you use and manage money. It wasn’t about saving money for saving money’s sake, but so that you could use that money saved to impact and help other people. To invest in things that matter, to bless people, to donate to causes you believe in, and to give generously.

3. A Strong Work Ethic Will Take You Far

My parents wanted their children to leave home with three things: a deep love for God, integrity, and a strong work ethic. They were so motivated to teach us the value of hard work that they set a goal to move out to the country by the time we were in our early teens.

With much prayer and effort, their goal was realized. And boy did we learn how to work! I have fond and not-so-fond memories of lots of back-breaking work: gardening for hours on end, dragging hoses all over the acreage to water the new trees we had planted, and spending much of the day on Friday taking care of the seven acres of the land that were planted in grass.

Truth be told, I wasn’t always so thrilled at all the work they expected us to do. Sweating in the heat and developing sore muscles on a regular basis weren’t necessarily what I’d consider fun. But looking back, I’m so thankful for the character I developed through all those hours of laboring in the hot Kansas sun.

The lessons in diligence and perseverance have been invaluable to me as a wife, mom, and business owner today. Truly, I believe one of the greatest gifts my parents gave me was instilling in me a strong work ethic from an early age.

I’m so grateful for how my parents taught me these three lessons and have they’ve impacted my life in profound ways.

Summer Bucket List

Summer Bucket List

FREE Summer Bucket List!!

Homeland

Dillons

Menu Plan for This Week

Breakfasts

Lunches

Dinners

1. Spend Less Time Doing & More Time Being

2. Always Look for Something to Laugh About

3. Find the Good & Praise It

4. Be Generous With the Hugs & Kisses

5. Stop Worrying About What Other People Think

Farmer’s Mart

Aldi

Harris Teeter

Weekly Total: $62.24

Weekly Menu Plan

Breakfasts

Lunches

Dinners

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

How Toy Testing Works:

Here are some tips to get your child on that toy-tester list.

Have you ever tried toy testing? Do you have advice for other parents?

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

1. Keep stock of what you’ve got.

2. Use & re-purpose leftovers.

3. Preserve the extras.

4. Put your scraps to work.

What are your creative ways to avoid food waste?

1. Debt is Often Avoidable

2. Money is a Tool

3. A Strong Work Ethic Will Take You Far

Footer

Sign up for myHot Deals Newsletter