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Shared Mar 2, 2015 comment

My 12 Goals for 2015 & The Progress I Made in February

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

Compared to January, February was a harder month, but it was still a good month.

There were a number of discouraging things that happened and multiple dear friends are going through very painful circumstances/carrying heavy burdens and my heart hurts so much for them, so those two things coupled with a fairly heavy work load and being snowed in for a week, contributed to me feeling stressed, burdened, and discouraged for a lot of the month. You may have felt that some in my writing here.

In the middle of my discouragement, though, I felt so much blessing because some of my dearest friends rallied around me and spent a lot of time talking, listening, praying, and just encouraging me. And by the grace of God, I felt much more peace, calmness, and joy by the end of the month.

I’m also grateful that the sunshine has been out some this week. It’s amazing what a difference that makes!

Here’s an update on how I did on my goals for 2015 in February:

My 12 Goals for 2015

Marriage

Read 1 book per month on marriage.

Read in January: 52 Ways to Wow Your Husband

Read in February: From This Day Forward

Write at least 1 love note to Jesse each week.

Done in January

Done in February

Motherhood

Read at least 1 book aloud to the kids per month.

Read in January: James the the Giant Peach

Read in February: The Imagination Station Book 15 & The Cricket in Times Square

Write 1 love note to each child every month.

Done in January.

Done in February.

Myself

Complete all She Reads Truth 2015 Bible Studies + memory work.

Done in January — I absolutely loved the John study!

Done in February — I really enjoyed the Esther study and am soaking up the Lent study.

Read 1 fiction book per month.

Read in January: What Alice Forgot

Read in February: I started two fiction books, but didn’t get either finished. Does it count that I read two fiction books to the kids?

MoneySavingMom.com

~~Hire a local personal assistant.~~

Done! And I’m so grateful! My new assistant, Ashley, started last week and she’s already been a huge blessing to my life!

Launch 2 courses (we’re planning one for spring and one for fall — stay tuned!)

We spent hours and hours of time working on the first course, Makeover Your Mornings. We’re beginning production/filming of it this week and we’re quite stoked. I think you’re going to LOVE it!

Launch our new product line (slated to soft launch in the summer).

Release my third book (slated to come out November 2015).

We’re now in the midst of copy-edits. Yay!

Money

~~Increase last year’s overall giving totals by 10% in 2015.~~

Part of my going to South Africa was to investigate the possibility of our family personally supporting the work of Take Action. After coming home, we both felt this was the direction we were supposed to take and our partnership with them will allow us to meet this goal. We’re so thrilled with what God is doing there in South Africa and, for those who have joined us in this through the #TenDollarTribe.

Finish funding our Rental House #3 Savings Account (we’re beginning the year at 35% funded).

This goal is currently on hold while we’re in the process of saving up enough to fully fund both of our IRA’s for this year.

How are you doing on YOUR goals for 2015?

If you set goals for this year, I’d love to hear how you are doing on them! Leave a comment telling us about your progress on them or leave the link over to your blog post about them. Here’s to a year of living with purpose, intentional, impact, and meaning!

Shared Mar 2, 2015 comment

Earn Money from Home via TeachersPayTeachers.com

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

Guest post from Sarah

About one year ago, my husband and I began experimenting with ways to supplement our income. As a long-time MoneySavingMom.com follower, I felt that I had a pretty good handle on a number of legitimate money-making ideas and began trying them, with varying degrees of success.

However, since I work full-time as a middle school teacher and am a mother to three children under the age of six, time is at a premium. I really wanted a more passive stream of income that would allow me to spend my evening and weekend hours how I wanted to — with my family.

That’s when I discovered Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT), a website that allows teachers to sell lesson plans, worksheets, and more. Teachers earn 60% of the profit off each item they sell. If they choose to upgrade from a Basic Seller account (by paying $59.95 a year), they can earn greater profit. Teachers are paid each month through a PayPal account.

Aha! I already had boxes and computer files full of worksheets, quizzes, lesson plans, and novel units that I had created over my years of teaching. Why not turn them into passive income?

I did… and have learned a few things along the way:

1. Strive For Quality Not Quantity

This may seem obvious, but it is actually the most important tip. Make sure that your products are high quality, interesting, user-friendly, and kid-tested. Check for spelling and grammar errors. No one will want to buy a worksheet with typos on it!

2. Create Unique Content

Try to find a niche area. Do a quick search of the TPT site and see how many items come up that are similar to yours. If the market is already flooded with “Frozen” themed addition practice, this may not be a good money-maker.

I’ve personally had success with novel units. For example, I had previously created a novel packet for the book, “A Boy At War”. A search showed that there were only two other unit packets for the novel, so I tweaked mine and posted it. It has been one of my biggest sellers.

3. Choose The Right Price

Pricing can be tricky. You want to demonstrate confidence in the value of your product, but you don’t want to scare customers away. First, search for similar products to see how they are priced.

Next, put yourself in the buyer’s shoes. How much would you be willing to spend on your product?

Finally, adjust. If something isn’t selling, have a sale to see if customers will buy it at a reduced price.

4. Utilize Pinterest

Whenever you post a new product, there is a sidebar that asks if you would like to Pin it. Always say yes! This allows your product to enter a new market and attract more customers.

There are also Collaborative Pinterest Threads on TPT. You pin another seller’s items to your board, and they will do the same for you.

I have found that, with a little up-front work, Teachers Pay Teachers is a great way to utilize my talents and gain a passive source of income.

Sarah Wright teaches middle school on purpose and loves it! She is wife to Dan and mom to three children under the age of six. In her spare time she loves to read — setting a reading goal of 100 books this year. She encourages her students to set their own “ridiculously big” goals and chase after them.

Shared Mar 2, 2015 comment

My Monday Morning Plan + Today’s Cleaning Project

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

We survived our very, very full week last week. And “survived” is definitely the word to use for how I felt… because some days I felt like I was just hanging on by a thread and being pulled in four different directions at once by people who really needed me right then and now.

I’m grateful that these types of weeks are much more of a rarity in our home these days than they used to be — and I’m also grateful that while this week is another full week, it should be much more manageable than last week.

Because last week was so packed, we got behind on laundry. So today’s cleaning project is to get completely caught up on laundry. I’m very hopeful that this actually happens because I’m kind of tired of digging through a big clean laundry pile to find something to wear. 😉

Here’s my plan for this morning:

Bible reading/journaling — start laundry
Blogging/Business work
School with Silas — switch laundry/start another load
Breakfast/Morning Time
Chores/quick house clean up — switch laundry
Get girls started on their independent work
Exercise/shower
Fold & put away all the laundry
Ready to go — lunch made — head to work at our office space

This evening, I’ll share a post about how my morning well and give you an update (with pictures) on how my laundry project went.

Need some motivation? Check out my post on 10 Ways to Make Cleaning More Fun.

Want to join me? Leave a comment to let us know you’re participating! If you have time, tell us what your morning plan is, too.

Shared Mar 1, 2015 comment

A recap of February: Our morning & evening routines, some changes we made this month, & much more!

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

I haven’t had a chance to post A Peek Into Our Week posts the past few weeks. So I thought I’d do a recap of February, instead. It was fun to review the month and see so many different things we did and tried and learned and experienced!

We started a Daily Morning Time in late January and it’s become one of my very favorite times of the day. We all gather before lunch to sing, read from a few different books (we’re reading from Aesop’s Fables, The Children’s Homer, Portraits of Integrity — a book on how historical figures demonstrated character qualities, plus our current read aloud), and review our memory work.

My kids’ excitement over spending this time together blesses me so much! These are the homeschooling and mothering moments I will forever hold in my heart and cherish. And homeschooling moms, I cannot recommend the concept of daily “Morning Time” highly enough. It has breathed such fresh new wind and life into our home and family.

Watch the video here to get a peek into our Daily Morning Time. 🙂

We had our very first Say Goodbye to Survival Mode one-night event in Mississippi and were thrilled that over 140 people showed up — especially because the church that hosted it was in the tiny town of Purvis, MS!

The women in Purvis were amazing! So warm, friendly, gracious, and welcoming. I was incredible blessed and encouraged to be there. Thank you, all, for having me!

{Our next Say Goodbye to Survival Mode one-night event will be on June 20, 2015 in Acworth, Georgia — right outside of Atlanta. I’d love to get to meet you there!

There are a number of other churches and groups very interested in hosting a similar event in other areas of the country, so stayed tuned for more details on where all we’ll be holding these events in the coming months! In addition, if you’d like to bring this event to your church or women’s group, you can find more information on how to do so here.}

While I was in Mississippi, Jesse took the kids to a fun Movie Night at our church. They were supposed to wear PJs and had popcorn, movie candy, and this fun photo booth!

As the kids get older and we’re training them to be able to help with more and more chores, I just can’t believe how much of a difference it makes in our workload and how much cleaner our house stays — without me having to do much work at all!

Moms of littles: keep on and know that one day soon, your hard work is going to pay off and you’ll be working yourself out of job… Don’t give up!

This was a fun surprise to get in the mail in February! My first book, The Money Saving Mom®’s Budget, got published in Chinese. It’s my first time to have a book translated into another language and it feels rather surreal!

Our little kitchen helper… This guy’s heart to serve blesses me so much! There’s rarely a cooking job that he’s not anxious, excited, and willing to help with.

My kiddos bought this bear for me for Valentine’s Day. And it just makes me so happy!

Every time I look at it, I smile… Not because I’m a big stuffed animal person, but because I know that so much heart and love for their mama is represented by this gift.

As a mom, I often make mistakes and have to ask forgiveness, but I’m so grateful for my children’s forbearance with me and their willingness to love me despite my shortcomings. God is good.

We took a trip back to Kansas for 5 days (and it was so busy the whole trip that I failed to get one single picture!). We came back to TN to a blanket of snow on the ground.

This might not look like much snow, but in TN, this was a LOT of snow — and it ended up mostly shutting down the city for 5 whole days. There was a thick sheet of ice underneath the snow and, because the temperatures were so cold, it took days for things to finally thaw out.

We ended up staying home all day for five whole days because all of our activities were cancelled and the roads were icy. So we just stayed put.

I’m usually a homebody, but I ended up feeling quite cooped up after a few days — especially because it was so cold that I just wanted to stay cozied up under a blanket all day long. So then I had troubled motivating myself to get up and clean the house, which meant that it quickly got messy!

Someday, I’m going to miss the days of busy little people in my house who leave a trail of books, craft odds and ends, papers, stuffed animals, and random scores from claw machines behind in their wake. (My kids are actually claw machine pros — studying techniques on YouTube videos and constantly perfecting their abilities. Cracks me up since it flies in the face of my minimalistic, frugal nature. But they LOVE it, are so good at it, and they can usually get quite a lot for just a few of their quarters. So I just go with it since I figure there are many much worse vices and, in most all other respects, they are usually really great at money management!)

One of my favorite times of each day is the quiet morning hour before the house is awake. My routine is something like this: light a candle, spend time in God’s Word, go through the the current #SheReadsTruth study, and read a few chapters from the current devotional/spiritually encouraging book I’m reading.

This is my fuel and foundation for the day. A few years ago when I only had babies and toddlers, this wasn’t possible (I was doing great to get in 5 minutes of Bible/prayer most days!). Moms of littles: know that someday you will actually be able to have a consistent daily quiet time!

For now, just soak up the season you’re in, pray while you’re cooking or nursing or changing diapers, listen to the Bible and uplifting music on your phone throughout the day, and sneak in moments here and there to refresh and encourage your heart!

It only took me about five hours of frustrated failed attempts and watching multiple YouTube videos, but I finally perfected the seed stitch! And now I’m working on making a head wrap for the cold winter days we’ve been having here.

It feels so gratifying to have learned a new skill, even if I’m a v-e-r-y slow learner. I love challenging myself to try different things and never grow stagnant as a person. I’m a better wife, mom, friend, writer, and business owner as a result.

Kathrynne was feeling a bit under the weather one day a few weeks back so Silas volunteered to make her one of her favorites: boiled eggs. With my supervision, he boiled them, rinsed them, peeled them, and then served them with a smile.

When my kids take initiative to serve their siblings it’s one of the best momma-gifts there are!

My bedtime routine is even more enjoyable than my morning routine. Here’s how it usually goes: clean up the kitchen with Jesse while our kids get ready for bed, snuggle with the kiddos/chat and then tell them goodnight, make myself a cup of herbal tea with cream, take my pills/vitamins & wash/moisturize my face, write out my to-do list for the next day, and then settle into bed with a good book or to watch an episode of Downton Abbey with Jesse and work on a knitting project.

I don’t always follow this perfectly, but I’ve found that even a loose before-bed routine followed consistently makes such a difference in our home. We all reap the benefits — not only in calmer evenings and better sleep — but it paves the way for a more peaceful morning the following day.

One afternoon last week, I had to opportunity to do some filming with Kelsey Humphreys for her upcoming online TV show.

Every time I sit in front of a camera or stand on a stage, I’m reminded of the fact that God often chooses those who are least qualified so that He is glorified. I ran away from opportunities like this for years out of fear and insecurity.

I still struggle with feeling afraid and not good enough, but I’ve learned that when I step outside my comfort zone and say “yes!”, I get to see God show up and do great and mighty things on my behalf. What He can do through broken vessels who are willing to be obedient to His call — even when it feels so scary! — constantly amazes me!

Speaking of stepping outside my comfort zone, I spent too much time last week putting together 14 different outfits for the 14-day course we’re filming this coming week. This is a minimalist’s nightmare — especially because it involves the trying on of many different outfits and attempting to piece together as many varieties as I can from what I already own.

I’d probably rather be slowly piercing my eyeballs with a burning stick. However, part of running a business is dealing with dreaded details like this. And so, I persevere in the spirit of pursuing a high-quality finished product and not utterly boring fashionistas worldwide with 14 days of the same outfit. 🙂

In February, I read the book The Adrenal Reset Diet and committed to doing a better job of eating a high-protein breakfast evening morning, getting more sleep at night, and not drinking coffee after noon. So far, these simple changes are making a great impact.

We tried out Sarah’s idea to use Daily Lists to help my kids stay on task in February. The kids were fairly resistant to the idea at first, but after a little convincing and encouragement, they seemed to have a complete change of heart. And then, they’ve ended up loving it and it really has seemed to help them stay motivated and focused!

As a bonus, they’ve needed a lot fewer reminders from me on what they are supposed to be doing or encouragement to steer them back on course. We’ll see how it plays out long-term, but I’m really loving the idea so far! The kids get so much done, the house is staying so much cleaner, and everyone is happier all around. I highly recommend this idea!

TOP 3 POSTS FROM FEBRUARY:

Dear Exhausted Mom of Littles…

Why I Can Never Complain About Doing Dishes or Cooking Again

50 Shades of Frustration

Want to get a peek into my every day life or hear about things I’m learning, trying, or mulling over in my every day life? Be sure follow my personal account on Instagram here.

Shared Feb 28, 2015 comment

5 Fun & Free Ways to Shake Off the Winter Blues

Published: by Crystal Paine on February 28, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Guest post from Asheritah of One Thing Alone

If you’re anything like me right now, you’re counting the days until the temperatures rise and all the white stuff on the ground has melted and spring has arrived. And while booking a cruise to a tropical island sounds like a great idea right now, most of us just can’t afford that.

So to help you ward off the winter blues, here are 5 fun and free ways to make the most of these last few weeks of winter:

1. Build a snowman.

I know, I hear you: delving into the snow sounds like the last thing you want to do. But sometimes, heading outside can help make fun memories that make the time go by faster. So grab a friend (or your kids), bundle up, and head out in the snow. Who knows — you might just enjoy yourself.

2. Book a Movie Night

Getting snowed in is the perfect excuse to pop in your favorite movie and enjoy a bowl of popcorn. And since it still gets dark early in the evening, there’s no reason not to plan a movie night during the week, too.

(Bonus points if you set up a themed movie night. Morrocan dinner and Casablanca? Yes, please!)

3. Catch up on your Reading List

Most of us have reading lists a mile long. Rather than scrolling through our Facebook feed our watching yet another cat video on YouTube, pick up that book you’ve been meaning to read.

You’ll soon find yourself immersed in another world, and the snowstorm outside your window won’t seem half as bad.

(For tips on how to read more as a busy mom, check out this post by Crystal.)

4. Join a Lent Challenge

Typically, Easter comes right around the dawn of spring, so why not spend the 7 weeks leading up to it doing something that will give you a sense of purpose?

Lots of people give up something for Lent and find the practice very fulfilling. Others read through portions of the Bible with a group of friends.

This year, every day leading up to Easter, I’m thanking the people who make my life special. If you’re interested, you can join me in the #40Thanks challenge here.

5. Cozy up under the covers.

So this might not be for everyone, but for those of us who are married, there may be a lot of free entertainment waiting in our bedrooms. Why not take these last weeks of winter to spark the passion in your marriage and rediscover why you fell in love with your husband in the first place? You’ll likely spark a fondness that will grow all year long.

These may sound simple, but a little creativity goes a long way in making the bleak midwinter just a little brighter. Try one idea for each of the next five weeks, and before you know it, the warm sun will be warming your face — no credit cards required.

Asheritah helps overwhelmed women find joy in Jesus on her blog and through her books. She’s also the instigator of the #40Thanks movement, a challenge to see Jesus in the kindness of others.

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

Click here to sign up!

Shared Feb 28, 2015 comment

Brigette’s $65 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6

Published: by Brigette on February 28, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Aldi

1 5-lb bag Baking Potatoes – $1.69

2 2-lb bags Lemons – $3.18, plus receive $0.25 back from Checkout 51 – $2.93

Cabbage – $1.29

1 bag Mini Sweet Peppers – $2.29

2 3-ct packages Romaine Hearts – $3.98

1 2-lb package Red Grapes – $2.38, plus receive $0.25 back from Snap by Groupon – $2.13

3 16-oz bags Baby Carrots – $2.17

2 16-oz packages Ground Turkey – $3.78

1 8-oz can Baking Cocoa – $2.19

2 8-oz cartons Heavy Whipping Cream – $3.78

2 24-oz cartons Cottage Cheese – $4.50

1 package Mini Marshmallows – $0.89

1 8-oz package Mushrooms – $1.29

1 large bag Kale – $1.99

1 32-oz package Spaghetti – $1.59

1 4-lb bag Oranges – $2.49

2 dozen Eggs – $3.18

1 20-oz package Roma Tomatoes – $1.79 (I was so disappointed they were out of the advertised $0.79 grape tomatoes!)

2 16-oz cartons Egg Whites – $3.98

1 gallon Milk – $2.99

1 48-oz carton French Vanilla Ice Cream – $2.49

Total after Rebates: $53.41

Ollie’s

Ollie’s is a discount store right by our house that has a wide variety of discounted items. My husband was taking my children there to pick out some birthday presents for my soon-to-be-one year old, so I asked him to pick up some vanilla for me. Always the over-achiever, this is what he came home with. 🙂

4 jars (7-oz each) Pure Vanilla Extract

Total: $11.96

I was super excited that my Mom and youngest sister sent me a care package this week that included these favorites!

Weekly Total: $65.37

Weekly Menu Plan

Breakfasts

Oatmeal and Fruit x 3

Scrambled Eggs and Toast x 2 (Veggie Omelettes for me)

THM Pancakes (from the Trim Healthy Mama book)

Homemade Cinnamon Rolls, Fried Eggs

Lunches

Peanut Butter and Honey Sandwiches x 2, Grapes, Peppers

Baked Potatoes topped with leftover Chili, Carrot Sticks

Build Your Own Tossed Salad (Romaine, Kale, Assorted Fresh Veggies, Hard Boiled Eggs, Sunflower Seeds, Shredded Cheese), Crackers

Macaroni and Cheese, Oranges, Peppers

Leftovers x 2

Dinners

Three Cheese Baked Spaghetti (using ground turkey), Italian Garlic Bread, Tossed Salad, Steamed Broccoli, Ice Cream Pie (Birthday meal for my youngest!)

Chili (using ground turkey), World’s Best Honey Cornbread, Carrot Sticks

Meat Potato Quiche (using turkey bacon that I bought several weeks ago), Green Beans, Oranges

Fried Egg Sandwiches, Smoothies (using a combo of kale, oranges, frozen strawberries, frozen bananas)

Kielbasa with Potatoes, Cabbage and Carrots, Pull Apart Oat Rolls

Chicken Carbonara, Leftover Pull Apart Oat Rolls, Tossed Salad, Steamed Peas

Leftovers

Snacks

Smoothies, Black Bean Brownies, Popcorn, Pumpin Spice Latte (for me)

Shared Feb 27, 2015 comment

3 Books I Read This Week & What I Plan to Read Next Week (+ win a stack of books!)

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

3 Books I Read This Week:

Unstoppable — All in all, there was a lot of food for thought, motivation, and inspiration in this book. I think it would be especially encouraging for those who feel called to do something but are struggling because it’s hard, and heavy, and discouraging, at times. It encouraged me to keep going, keep running the race I’ve been called to, and keep persevering even on those days when I really want to give up.

This was one of my favorite parts of the book…

Help Me, Jesus! I Have Nothing to Wear! — I heard the author speak at a conference not too long ago and loved her suggestions and tips for dressing well. I was so inspired, in fact, that I went and bought her book and had her do my color analysis at the end of her session. This book is a fun read with lots of pictures and practical application.

I didn’t necessarily agree with all of the conclusions, but I love how it helped me further formulate what my style is and how I can put outfits together in a way that compliment my shape, height, and personality. And it’s a good thing I had this help because I had to spent quite a bit of time working on putting outfits together this week (see my Instagram picture here for more details!)

The Cricket in Times Square — This book was a huge hit at our house with all the kids. It starts out a little slowly but quickly picks up into a fast-paced adventure that all of our kids loved. They would beg me to read extra every day because they enjoyed it so much. And we were very sad when we finished the last chapter.

9 Books I’m Reading This Week:

Parenting the Wholehearted Child — Can I be really honest with you? Parenting books aren’t my favorite genre. In fact, I typically steer clear of them.

I was raised in an age and culture where many families followed parenting books and discipline plans to a tee and, well, much of the fruit from all that didn’t turn out so great. It left a bad taste in my mouth for the whole “follow steps A, B, and C as a parent and you’ll be a Godly family/good parent” etc.

So yes, I kinda prefer to stay far away from anything that remotely resembles a system or method of parenting. Because I truly have come to believe that there are no one-size-fits-all plans.

At any rate, I was hesitant to start this book because it fell under the “parenting book” genre. But I’m so glad that I did. I’m two chapters in and it is honestly turning out to be one of the best non-fiction books I’ve read in a long time.

I just want to sit and read the whole thing in one sitting. But on the other hand, I want to process it slowly so that I can take it all in!

She Reads Truth Lent Study/Bible — I am loving the Lent study so far… as I have loved all the She Reads Truth studies. Seriously, one of the best things I’ve invested in for my personal spiritual development and relationship with God ever.

Stepping Heavenward — My new friend, Allison Burr, (who is not only been a huge blessing to my life by helping me with some business projects but is moving from Minnesota to just 15 minutes away from me this very weekend — I’m so excited!) sent me this book and said it was one of her very favorites ever. Can you believe I’ve never read it? I’m working on remedying that stat.

The Imagination Station: Book 16 — All the kids have been anxious for me to start this one ever since it showed up in our mailbox!

Love Without Limits — For years, Nick Vujicic has been a huge inspiration to me. I was excited to see that he had gotten married and is a dad now and am looking forward to reading this book from he and his wife.

The Relational Soul — This book came highly recommended to me by a friend. It looks intriguing and I can’t wait to start it.

Lizzy & Jane — So far, I’ve found this to be really engaging!

Long Walk to Freedom & Kaffir Boy — I’m slowly working through these as I seek to understand more about South African history.

See all the books I’ve read so far in 2015 here.

Who Wants to Win FREE Books?

Leave a comment telling us what you read recently and you could win the stack of books shown above + a $5 Starbucks gift card!

Shared Feb 27, 2015 comment

Listia: Trade in stuff you no longer need & earn free gift cards!

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

Have you tried out Listia before? It’s a site where you can list items you have that you no longer need or use and then you can earn free credit that you can cash in for gift cards — including Amazon gift cards!

3 freebies I got in my mailbox this week…

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

Here are the freebies that showed up in my mailbox this past week:

2 books from PaperBackSwap — I’m so bummed that PaperBackSwap is now going to be charging a small amount per transaction. I had some credit in my account that had built up over the years that I was able to use to cover the cost of an unlimited yearly membership. But after that year expires, I’m not sure that I’ll continue to use them. 🙁

1 free Degree Men’s Dry Spray — Jesse was really excited about this freebie! And it was such a generous size, too!

What freebies have arrived in your mailbox recently?

By the way, if you want to start getting great freebies in your mailbox, just start signing up for the freebies I post every day that interest you. Within 4-6 weeks, your mailbox will start filling up with great freebies!

Shared Feb 27, 2015 comment

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

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

Aldi

1 bag Whole Carrots – $0.99

1 bag Red Grapes – $1.98

1 bag Spinach – $1.79

1 carton Mushrooms – $1.49

1 pkg (3 per pack) – Zucchini – $1.49

2 bag Chocolate Chips – $1.59 each

1 can Black Beans – $0.59

1 Frozen Orange Juice – $1.19

1 lb Ground Turkey – $1.89

1 Baking Powder – $0.99

1 Half & Half – $1.89

1 pkg Rice Cakes – $1.29

1 pkg Strawberries – $1.69 (I bought these before I went to Green Acres and saw the marked down strawberries.)

2 Grapefruit – $0.59 each

Total with tax ($1.55): $23.18

Green Acres Market

2 pkg Strawberries – Marked down to $0.99 each

1 pkg Organic SuperGreens – Marked down to $0.99

Total with tax ($0.23): $3.20

Dillons

1 Russel Stover Marshmallow Egg – $0.50, used Free e-coupon (no longer available) – Free after coupon

1 Juicy Fruit Starburst Gum – $1.29, used Free e-coupon (no longer available) – Free after coupon (These free gum coupons are sure coming in handy as rewards for my Awana girls each week!)

1 Dream Blends Milk – $2.25, used $2/1 printable – $0.25 after coupon

0.60 lbs Broccoli – $1.13

0.63 lbs Tomatoes – $0.81

1 gallon Milk – $2.59, used $0.40 Ibotta rebate – $2.19 after rebate

1 Kroger Sandwich Slims – $1.79

1 pkg Corn Tortillas – $1.77

1 Kroger Greek Yogurt – $3.39

1 Kroger Mouthwash – $1.49, used Free mailer coupon – Free after coupon

1 Kroger Spaghetti Sauce – $1

0.93 lbs Asparagus – $1.85

2 Cucumbers – $0.79 each

1 Romaine Lettuce – $0.99

3 Mom’s Best Cereal – $1.50, used $0.50/1 e-coupon – $1.33 each after coupon

Total with tax ($1.44) after coupons and rebate: $21.18

Total for all grocery items: $47.66

Menu Plan for This Week

Breakfasts

Cereal x 2

Toast & Eggs x 3

Biscuits & Gravy, Eggs, Orange Juice

10-Minute Stovetop Granola, Fruit

Lunches

Peanut Butter & Jelly Rice Cake Sandwiches, Tossed Salad x 2

Fruit/Crackers/Cheese/Veggies x 2

Leftovers, Spinach Smoothies

Cheese Quesadillas, Fruit/Veggies

Sautéed Veggies with Spaghetti Sauce

Dinners

Mexican Lasagna, Steamed Peas, Strawberries

Chicken Pot Pie, Tossed Salad

Veggie and Chicken Stirfry, Oatmeal Muffins

3-Cheese Ziti with Turkey, Steamed Broccoli

Steak Fajita Sandwiches, Grapefruit

Ground Venison Vegetable Soup, Crackers, Cheese Slices

Out to eat

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

Click here to download!

Shared Feb 26, 2015 comment

I found my happiest place on earth!

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

The second to last day in South Africa, we visited the Maubane Community and participated in their children’s church service. There are not words to describe how incredible this experience was.

You see, most of these children live right across the street from this colorful playground (that you helped build!) in little homes — mostly made of cast-off supplies they’ve recycled into building materials. Many of these children don’t have parents or their parents are working in the city so they don’t see them but maybe on the weekends.

The majority of these children know hunger and want as a daily part of their lives. They have very few possessions and very little to look forward to. Despite all that, every Sunday, these children gather with Pastor Norman for an exuberant children’s church service.

To see these children joyfully and enthusiastically clapping and shouting and singing about the goodness of God… it was soul stirring.

I didn’t understand a lot of the words they were saying and shouting and singing at the top of their lungs, but I didn’t need to. Their enthusiasm, their heart, their hope, their happiness all spoke louder than words ever could.

After they were finished with their church service, the toddlers were called over to line up for food. They had a very special treat that day — Walkie Talkies (i.e. chicken feet & chicken beaks). The leaders there told me that it is rare for them to have meat so this was a very special occasion for them. {Take Action Ministries paid for some of the locals to make this for them as a treat because we were going to be there visiting.}

The leaders also told me that they have the toddlers line up first to give the older children a short break from caring for their younger siblings. Since there are so few parents around in this community on a daily basis, the older children often have to look after their younger siblings much of the time.

These older children shoulder a great deal of responsibility and burden and the church leaders try to give them a break as often as they can by having the toddlers all line up and sit down to eat together so the older kids can talk and play together.

We spent some time hanging out with the older kids. Taking pictures, laughing, talking, and even being quite goofy (as those who know me well know I am an expert at!)

I’m not sure exactly when it happened, but pretty soon, different children just randomly started coming up to me and hugging me. From the littlest ones to the teens, they all seemed desperate for love and affection. And the more kids who hugged me, the more the line grew of kids wanting to be hugged.

As more and more children hugged me and held on tightly, my heart began feeling like it just might rip into shreds. I tried to look into each child’s eyes and also speak words of life:

“You are loved.”

“You matter.”

“God has something special for you to do.”

“I love you.”

I felt so overwhelmed by the needs. It wasn’t just the need for food and shelter and clothes and schooling. More than any of that, these children are starving for love. To know that someone cares about them. To know that they have value.

As I found myself surrounded by these beautiful children, I wanted to just weep and laugh at the same time. Because I knew then and there that, going forward, one of my callings in life would be to see to it that none of these children in the Maubane Community go hungry again.

That none of them die from disease. That none of them miss out on an education. But most importantly, that I do all I can to provide opportunities for them to know that they are loved — not only by other people, but by a Heavenly Father who created them and has infused them with gifts and talents and worth.

Right there, on the red dirt of South African soil in that huddle of children, I discovered my happiest place on earth.

Somewhere deep in my soul, I felt right at home. Right where I was supposed to be. Doing what I was created to do. The only that would have made it more complete would have been to have my husband and children by my side experiencing it with me.

When I finally had to say goodbye, I could barely keep back the tears. One boy who was around 13 years old asked me, “Why are you going?”

I thought, “Trust me, child, I’m asking the same thing!”

But instead, I told him: “I will come back.”

And, by the grace of God, I will. I will come back as often as I can. And when I’m not there I will carry the stories and the faces and the hugs with me everywhere I go.

Because I left part of my heart behind in South Africa. And I will never be the same.

P.S. Thank you, thank you, thank you to each of you who have joined me in this cause that I have become fiercely passionate about. I know not everyone has the wiggle room in your budget to give money and not everyone is called to give to this project, but you have no idea how humbly grateful and excited I am that 130 of you have joined Lisa-Jo and me in making a difference in these poor communities in South Africa!

Your partnership in the #TenDollarTribe is going to make a major difference in the lives of all of the children you see pictured in this post plus many more. And it thrills my heart!

Shared Feb 26, 2015 comment

Who says you can’t save on whole foods?

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

Does your area have a Fresh Thyme Market? If so, you must go check them out!

Laurie from Passionate Penny Pincher wrote a post on the amazing deals she got there recently. Read her post here.

Shared Feb 26, 2015 comment

New family-friendly YouTube app!

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

Remember my post on 50 Shades of Frustration? Well, guess what? YouTube heard the voices of thousands of parents across the country and is launching a new YouTube Kid’s app.

Here are a few of the features of this new kid-friendly app:

Family-focused content
For years, families have come to YouTube, watching countless hours of videos on all kinds of topics. Now, parents can rest a little easier knowing that videos in the YouTube Kids app are narrowed down to content appropriate for kids.

You can browse channels and playlists in four categories: Shows, Music, Learning and Explore. Or search for videos of particular interest to your family, like how to build a model volcano, math tutorials, the amazing (and endless) world of trains—and everything in between

Parental controls
We realize every family is different, so we’ve built options into the app that help you control the experience for your kids:

Timer: Let the app be the bad guy with a built-in timer that lets you limit kids’ screen time. The app alerts your child when the session is over, so you don’t have to. (You’re welcome. 😉 )

Sound settings: Sometimes you need a little peace and quiet! You have an option to turn off background music and sound effects, so your kids can keep watching while you catch a breather.

Search settings: If you’d rather limit your children to just the pre-selected videos available on the home screen, you can turn off search.

Product feedback: Our goal is to improve YouTube Kids all the time, so we’ve included a space for you to give us your feedback.

This app is available now for Android devices on Google Play, and iOS devices on the Apple App Store.

Thanks, Ashley!

Shared Feb 26, 2015 comment

3 Ways to Get Cash for an Unwanted Gift Card

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

The Creative Recycler shows you 3 Ways to Get Cash for an Unwanted Gift Card. Do you have any suggestions to add to her list?

Psst! Don’t forget to sign up for Swagbucks so you can earn free gift cards, too!

Shared Feb 25, 2015 comment

How to Get Kids to Stop Whining & Help With Chores

Published: by Crystal Paine on February 25, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Do you have suggestions on how to motivate you children to help with chores and how to minimize whining? I would greatly appreciate any advice. -Amanda

First off, Amanda, I just want to encourage you: your desire to train and teach your kids to work will be such a gift to them. Truly.

You see, my parents were very committed to instilling in us the value of hard work from an early age. And I’m so grateful!

For as long as I can remember, I had chores that were assigned to me and I was expected to do. When we moved out to the country when I was 10 years old, I was given even more chores and learned more what hard work is all about.

I spent hours when I was in the my early teens working in the garden, watering trees, and mowing our huge yard. At the time, I didn’t necessarily love the chores, but looking back, I’m so grateful my parents taught us the value of hard work and instilled in us a strong work ethic.

In fact, I believe that a strong work ethic is one of the greatest gifts my parents gave me. It well prepared me for the struggles and setbacks I’ve encountered in the years since I’ve moved away from home and has helped me continue to persevere even when I might feel exhausted and ready to quit.

Practically speaking, here are 5 ideas to help minimize whining and encourage your kids to work:

1. Start Small.

Don’t overwhelm your kids with a bunch of new chores at once. Start your children out with one or two simple chores and then gradually add more as they catch on and improve.

In addition, make sure your children need to know what is expected of them when you assign a chore to them. If you never let them know what you expect of them, it will only result in frustration for you — and for them!

Need some age-appropriate chore ideas? Check out this post with some chore ideas for kids of different ages. (Keep in mind, though, that each child is different. What might be simple for one 4-year-old, could be utterly overwhelming to another.)

2. Be patient.

Training requires repetition. Don’t expect a child to do a job well at first.

Think about when you first started learning to ride a bike or drive a car. You didn’t automatically know how to do it.

You had to practice. You had to slowly learn. You had to make mistakes.

It often takes a lot of repetitive teaching, gentle correcting, and practice before a child can do a job well. Don’t expect perfection–especially when they are young. What matters is that they are putting forth effort and trying their best.

3. Teach By Example

It’s well be said that, “More is caught than taught”. We can’t expect our children to work hard if they don’t see us working hard.

One great way to encourage them by your example is to have your child work alongside you. Most children love to spend time with Mom, no matter what it is you’re doing. So take advantage of this and enthusiastically invite them to help you with whatever chore you’re working on.

While you’re working together, talk, sing, laugh, and praise them repeatedly for helping you. Let them see you working hard and enjoying it.

Yes, it takes longer, but it’s worth it! I remind myself that my goal as a parent is to work myself out of a job, so the sooner I can teach them to work alongside me, the more help they’ll become as the years go by!

4. Make it Fun

A few ideas:

Turn on Music. We love to turn on upbeat music and sing and dance while working — it’s fun, it makes the time go by quickly and it makes chores much more enjoyable!
Have a Race. We often set the timer and have a race to see who can finish their chores first. Or, you can race against the clock, instead of racing against each other or see how many things we can collectively pick up and put away within 10 minutes. When we all work together quickly, it’s amazing how much we can get done in a short amount of time!
Use Child-Sized Brooms & Mops. My children got mops for Christmas one year from my parents and it was, by far, the hit present. All the cousins spent the morning cleaning Grandma and Grandpa’s kitchen tile after the presents were opened! And their enthusiasm for using them still hasn’t waned!

5. Find the Good & Praise It

It’s easy to want to focus on pointing out all the things a child does wrong and where they need to improve.
Instead of dwelling on what they didn’t do right, focus most of your energies on praising those things they did well.

Encouragement and affirmation go a long way. In the same way, criticism and harsh words can do a lot of damage.

Make it a goal to praise 10 times more than you point out areas for improvement. Not only will your words of praise build up your child, but they will motivate and inspire them to continue working hard and developing the character quality of diligence.

Reward Ideas:

Working for a reward is always more motivating! Figure out what motivates your child and then use that as a reward.

Have your child work toward a larger prize. This could be something like a toy or DVD or a date with mom. Create a reward chart for them to track their progress.
Give instant rewards. It’s a standing rule at our house that once all of your chores and homework is finished for the afternoon, you can watch a movie or have 30 minutes of iPad time. None of our kids want to miss this time so they are highly motivated to get their chores done!
Download an app. Once a child completes a job and you sign off on it, they earn points. They can then cash out these points in the Amazon store for prizes you’ve pre-determined.
Consider paying your children for some chores. We have paid chores and non-paid chores at our house. The non-paid chores are chores you do as part of contributing to our family. The paid chores are extra chores you can elect to do and get paid for. This system has worked well for our family. You can read more about how it works here.

Summer Bucket List

Summer Bucket List

FREE Summer Bucket List!!

My 12 Goals for 2015

How are you doing on YOUR goals for 2015?

1. Strive For Quality Not Quantity

2. Create Unique Content

3. Choose The Right Price

4. Utilize Pinterest

Here’s my plan for this morning:

TOP 3 POSTS FROM FEBRUARY:

1. Build a snowman.

2. Book a Movie Night

3. Catch up on your Reading List

4. Join a Lent Challenge

5. Cozy up under the covers.

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