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You all have BLOWN me away…!
So can I just say something? You all are one downright amazing group of readers!!
I was so excited about the Choose Gratitude Blessings Journal and knew it was a product that has the ability to totally transform your life. However, it’s scary to put a product out there for all the world and encourage other people to buy it — especially because this was our first time to offer physical products in our online store.
But I believe in this product, I know the value it has had in my own life, and I knew that it was something many of you have been asking for. So I wrote the post on Tuesday telling you about it.
And then I clicked publish with a little fear and trepidation wondering if anyone would actually order it.
20 minutes went by and it was pretty much crickets chirping.
I started to second-guess myself and wonder if maybe I had been crazy to put the time and effort into this. But then I remembered: you know what? If I did all of that work just so I could have a product that would make a difference in my personal life as I use it year after year, it was completely worth the effort.
Well, about 5 more minutes went by, and then the orders started trickling in a few at a time. A few more hours went by and they started streaming in. And by that evening, so many orders had come in we started talking about possibly needing to hire extra help to fulfill them all!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing in my excitement and for supporting this project — buying copies not only for yourself, but for your friends and family.
Being the goal-oriented person I am, I set what I thought was a fairly audacious sales goal of how many I had hoped to sell by year-end. I truly didn’t think we would hit it, but I set it anyway.
Well, guess what?!? We hit the year-end sales goal in less than two days!!!
Yes, I told you that you all BLOW ME AWAY!
I am humbly grateful for each of you, for reading here, for sending in encouraging comments and emails, for being such cheerleaders, and for showing up here every day and investing your time and resources to help make this site a success.
I’m not sure what to say other than thank you from the bottom of my heart. You bless me far more than you could ever imagine!
LAST CHANCE TO GET THIS JOURNAL FOR $7.99!!
If you didn’t get a chance to order a Choose Gratitude Blessings Journal, the $2 off coupon code is only good through midnight tonight.
We do not plan to offer it at this low of a price again before Christmas (except for bulk orders). So if you have been thinking of ordering, now’s the time to do it!
Through tonight at midnight, save $2 off the purchase of our brand-new Choose Gratitude Blessings Journals from our store when you use coupon code BLESSING14 at checkout.
That makes it just $7.99 + shipping. You can order as many as you’d like with this discount code.
This would make a great gift idea for friends and family this Christmas season! And don’t forget to purchase one for yourself, as well!
If you’d prefer, the Blessings Journal are also available to purchase off of Amazon. However, the $2 discount code is only good through our online store.
This offer is valid through through midnight tonight only (November 20, 2014).
Go here to order your Choose Gratitude Blessings Journal.
A Week of Gratitude (Week 2)
It’s November and I’m counting my blessings as part of the 12 Months to a Healthier You Challenge. Here are some of my blessings from this past week:
1. Strength and stamina after five days of being on the road to have clarity for a filming project I did with Focus on the Family.
2. 5 people who spent a lot of time and effort to critique my manuscript and give me feedback before I turn it into the publisher December 1.
3. 6 days, 6 flights, 3 hotels, 2 conferences, 3 presentations, 1 filming, countless conversations, and dozens of God-moments. This tired mama is thrilled to be finally home again with her babes and sleeping in her own bed again!
4. Finally getting our ceiling/bathroom leak problem fixed! It took multiple plumbers and a lot more time than we initially assumed it would take, but we are so grateful to have things in working order again and our ceiling all patched back up and painted.
5. My mom’s faithful prayers for me. She’s constantly texting and emailing me to let me know specific things she’s praying for me and it’s been such a blessing — especially the past two weeks as there’s been a lot going on in our family.
6. Playing LEGOS with my kids. (If your kids love Legos, be sure to search on YouTube for Puzzle Box tutorials — my kids get such great engineering practice and problem solving skills by designing and building these.)
7. My dear friend, Tam. After a long week for both of us, we got together for an hour and half on Saturday just to chat and encourage one another. It’s always a gift to have people you can share your hearts to openly with.
8. The love that my children have for each other. See a video Silas made for Kathrynne while she was at her swim meet here.
9. SLEEP! So very thankful to have time this weekend and the past few days to get caught back up on sleep. It’s amazing the difference being well rested can make!
10. After months of research, discussion, more research, talking with other companies, exploring options, and yes, some pulling our hair out moments, finally landing upon a solution for our email lists. So grateful for some direction and resolution after a year of working on this project!
11. A quick day trip to Atlanta and back to meet with an amazing group of designers, creatives, marketing brains, retail sales folks, and publicists and map out the details of the product line that we’re launching in 2015. I cannot wait to share more details… I had to hold in my squeals of excitement all that day! You are going to LOVE what we are cooking up! I’m still pinching myself that I get to be apart of all of this!!!
12. Our dear friend, Susanna, flying out from Kansas to stay with us for a few days. She’s been like an angel in our home — playing with our kids, helping with laundry, cooking, and just bringing so much blessing and peace into our home. It’s truly been a gift to our family.
13. An impromptu date night with Jesse! Since Susanna was here, she graciously watched our kids while we went out for dinner, conversation, and a movie. It was so fun to do something like this… especially spur-of-the-moment!
14. Launching the Choose Gratitude Blessings Journal. You all have, once again, BLOWN ME AWAY with your support and excitement for this. Thank you for how you bless me on a daily basis and for how much you believe and support me. You have no idea how much it means to me!
LAST DAY! Save $2 Off Our Brand-New Blessings Journal!
Through tonight at midnight, you can save $2 off the purchase of our brand-new Choose Gratitude Blessings Journals from our store. Just use coupon code BLESSING14 to get this discount.
That makes it just $7.99 + shipping for the next two days!
This would make a great gift idea for friends and family this Christmas season! And don’t forget to purchase one for yourself, as well!
If you’d prefer, the Blessings Journal are also available to purchase off of Amazon. However, the $2 discount code is only good through our online store.
This offer is valid through the end of the day today (November 20, 2014).
Go here to order your Choose Gratitude Blessings Journal.
How Choosing Gratitude Has Changed My Life
Expressing gratitude doesn’t require money. It doesn’t require much thought or effort, but it can change our whole outlook on life.
I say this, because I’ve experienced it personally.
Two years ago, I started keeping a Gratitude Journal — a small notebook where I recorded a few blessings from each day. I was going through some health problems at the time and feeling really discouraged and weary from going to doctors, trying various treatments, and not seeing any improvement.
After I began the habit of writing down my blessings each morning, I noticed a marked difference in my attitude — even while struggling with pain and discomfort. I started noticing little blessings that I had taken for granted before. I realized how much I had to be thankful for that I hadn’t been paying attention to because I was so focused on the pain and discomfort.
Truly, the simple practice of writing down my blessings each day transformed my perspective. Instead of focusing on everything that seemed to be going wrong, I started being so grateful for all that was right in my life.
Once my health problems were finally resolved, I had found such benefit in writing down my blessings every day that I decided to continue doing it.
Since I’m all about keeping things simple, I love the concept of a having a journal where there’s just a little space to write in every day. I don’t usually have 15 minutes to journal every day, but I can find a minute or two to write down a few things I’m thankful for.
My mom bought me a journal the past two years that was a line-a-day gratitude journal. I’ve loved using it and as I’ve talked about it here on the blog, many of you have asked where you can get one, too.
I started dreaming about the possibility of creating my own gratitude journal — one that was pretty, clean, simple, and inspiring. Soon after this, a company approached us about possibly publishing a journal or gift book for us.
When I had my first phone call with them, I knew exactly what journal I wanted them to help us create — a simple Gratitude Journal! And I’m so excited that it’s finally all finished, printed, and ready for purchase!
Cue the drum roll…
The Choose Gratitude Blessings Journal will inspire you to look for blessings in your every day life. It’s simple (just two lines for every day!) and doable for even the busiest woman.
Each month, there is a theme and each month’s pages have quotes and encouragement to go along with that theme. There are also a few extra pages for journaling or doodling if you’d like to include some extra thoughts or blessings.
I am so thrilled that the Choose Gratitude Blessings Journal is finally done. I hope that you’ll consider purchasing one and joining me in the life-changing practice of starting each day by re-counting your blessings.
Let’s live lives of gratitude… because there is always, always, always something to be thankful for!
Go here to order your Choose Gratitude Blessings Journal.
Shared Nov 17, 2014
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When your heart is in your throat, your stomach is in knots, and you just want to run away from it all
When your heart is in your throat, your stomach is in knots, and you just want to run away from it all
I had to get up on that stage. But it was one of the last things I wanted to do…
Months earlier, I’d been asked to speak at the Platform Conference. I was so honored to be offered the opportunity, but I immediately wanted to turn it down.
I’d attended the Platform Conference the year before and I knew the caliber and credentials of the speakers. I didn’t feel like I fit.
So much of the time, I feel like I’m limping along at this blogging thing. I’ve made so many mistakes. I don’t follow most of the advice the experts tell you that you must if you want to be successful. And, most days, I feel like I have no idea what I’m doing.
But I keep doing it because I love to write, I love the beautiful community here, and because I believe wholeheartedly that this is the calling God has for my life right now.
“I’m Not Worthy”
However, speaking about my blogging journey on the Platform Conference stage? That felt way outside of my comfort zone and outside of my skill set.
In fact, my first response after I was asked to speak was, “I’m not worthy of that stage.”
And I meant that to the depths of my being.
But as soon as my friend and manager, Brian, heard me utter those words, he looked me in the eye and bluntly said, “You have a message that God has given you. I want you to go up on that stage and own the message you’ve been given… because people need to hear it.”
The Lies That Hold Me Back
Brian knows that I’ve been going through a personal healing journey the past few years. Healing from years of believing lies — that I’m not talented enough, experienced enough, qualified enough… that I’m just plain not good enough.
These lies have held me back from many things — in my personal life, in my marriage, in my friendships, in my parenting, and as a businesswoman.
Part of discovering healing and wholeness in my life has been the result of recognizing these beliefs as lies and committing to replace them with the truth.
I’ve been blessed to have truth-tellers in my life like Brian, and my husband, and my other manager, Joy. People who are willing to call me out when I’m letting the lies dictate my behavior — like I was when I responded that I wasn’t worthy to speak at the Platform Conference.
Brian & Joy, my amazing managers — I am so very grateful for all that they pour into my life and for how they are such truth-tellers in my life. Their advice, counsel, and wisdom has transformed me as a person from the inside out.
Accepting the Opportunity — With Fear & Trembling
I knew I needed to get up on that stage and share. I knew it was what I was supposed to do. I might not be the most eloquent speaker or the most techie speaker or the most experienced speaker, but I had a message of hope that would resonate with those in the audience.
So, with fear and trembling, I accepted the speaking engagement many months ago. And then I promptly shoved it to the back of my brain so I could focus on other more pressing matters.
Well, and because I sort of wanted to forget that I had committed to something like this that was another leap outside my comfort zone. 🙂
The Text That Rocked My World
Fast forward to a week and a half ago. I had left on Friday morning to speak at Hearts at Home on Saturday. It had already been a long week. I was tired, spent, and just wanted to go to bed and sleep for hours.
Instead, I was sitting in my hotel room on Friday evening trying to take my outline for the Platform Conference talk and turn it into an actual talk.
And then my phone gave that familiar sound letting me know that I had a text message.
I picked up the phone to check to see who had texted me. It was from my dear friend, Michele.
As I read the text, everything inside of me turned inside out. I couldn’t believe what I was reading.
No, no, NOOOOO!!!!
This couldn’t be right.
I read it again. I tried to breathe but it felt like everything around me was going dark.
A suffocating weight came over me as I realized the gravity of text message.
It was incredibly aggressive.
She needed surgery, intense radiation, possibly chemo, more surgery, and even more radiation.
Not, Michele. Not the woman who has suffered so much. The woman who just lost her dad to cancer. The woman who has poured so much into me. The woman I love so much.
I Couldn’t Function
I needed to work on my talk for the Platform Conference, but that was the last thing on my mind then.
I couldn’t focus. Couldn’t function. Couldn’t think.
After three hours of trying to calm myself down, I finally fell into a fitful sleep.
When I woke up the next morning. The heaviness was still there. My heart hurt so much.
But I had to get up and get ready to go speak to hundreds of women at the Hearts at Home conference. I felt like I had nothing to give them… but I had to follow through on my commitment.
Putting One Foot In Front of the Other
I prayed for grace and strength, mustered all the courage I could, and got up on that stage. God was so faithful to carry me through that talk and the next. Then, I made a beeline for the airport to catch a plane to take me to the Platform Conference.
All the while, I was just focusing on putting one foot in front of the next. That’s all I knew to do.
I needed to work on my Platform talk, but every time I pulled my notes out, all I could think about was Michele. The woman who had spent hours helping me craft every talk I’ve given over the last year. The woman who has inspired me in huge ways as a public speaker. The woman who has loved me, encouraged me, and been such a gift to my life this past year.
I got to the venue for the Platform Conference around 11:30 p.m. I was spent, tired, and heavy-hearted. You know the kind of tired where you’re too tired to fall asleep? That was me.
Gratefully, I was finally able to fall into a deep sleep Saturday night and get a solid night’s rest. I would need it for the next few days!
Hitting A Brick Wall
My Platform talk was still far from done, but I was at a loss as to how to move forward with it. I’d hit a brick wall.
Jesse was flying in with the kids on Sunday. He was going to drop them off at his sister’s house in Boulder and then drive to meet up with me in Colorado Springs. I was so very ready to see him!
I was also so very ready to figure out what I was going to say for my Platform talk. The closer it loomed, the less prepared I felt.
Me & Michele at the Platform Conference — plus her soon-to-be-released book that you must pre-order!
And then, I found at that Michele was going to be able to come to the Platform Conference to emcee it and give the closing message. It made me so happy that she was going to get to come as I knew she would want to be there.
But on the other hand, it scared me a lot to know she was going to be there in the audience, hearing me give this talk that wasn’t ready at all and just didn’t seem to be coming together. She’s the pro at this, she’s never heard me give a live presentation, and the last thing I wanted was that her first time to see me on stage would be me stumbling along making a fool of myself.
Refusing To Give Into Panic
Instead of giving into panic like I wanted to, I decided to ask Brian and Jesse to go over my talk notes with me. They graciously agreed to spend a lot of time reviewing the talk with me and by the time we’d finished, the talk had been completely revamped and I was actually getting excited about it.
I finished the outline at 11 p.m. at night and then spent the next hour and a half reviewing it on my feet, out loud… er, more like a whispered since it was close to midnight!)
I was scheduled to speak at around 10:45 a.m. on Monday morning. While I didn’t feel ready, I knew I just had to go up there and give it my best shot.
As the time for my presentation loomed closer, I started to panic. How am I going to do this? How am I going to go up on that stage in front of all these successful people? Why did I say yes to this opportunity?
And how on earth am I going to deal with speaking right after Michele introduces me?
Jesse could see the fear rising in my eyes, so he took me in the foyer and just prayed for me. And then he gave me a pep talk and told me that I was equipped for this moment. I had to separate myself from the emotions and heartache I was feeling over Michele and just focus on the task at hand — to go give this message to these people.
More Courage & Confidence Than I Knew I Had
I prayed for confidence, took a deep breath, and went up and planted myself on that stage and gave the message of my life.
From the moment I stepped onto the stage until the moment I walked off, I felt more courage and confidence than I knew I had in me.
And guess what my message was on? The Three Lies That Are Stifling Your Success and the Truths That Will Set You Free.
The lies? “I don’t know where to start.” “I don’t have time.” and “I’m not good enough.”
Yes, I am still a work in progress when it comes to replacing these lies with truths. But I had the opportunity to practice what I was preaching right while I was preaching it. 🙂
I shared this picture on Instagram and said:
Yesterday: I punched fear in the face and stepped in front of an audience I had been nervous about speaking to for months. I felt unworthy, I wanted to run away & hide, but I knew that God had given me a message and I needed to own that message and get up on that stage and deliver it with all the courage I could muster.
And friends: it is the most beautiful place to be when God shines through in the midst of our weakness and insecurities! Without Him, I am nothing. With Him, I can do all things — including stand on the #platform14 stage, deliver the most powerful & authentic message I’ve ever given, and get a standing ovation. Yes, that’s God!!
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Stop running from the things that scare you. Start facing them head on. Believe the truth about who you are in Christ. Own the gifts and messages and callings God has given you. Live with courage and boldness. You only have one life to live — don’t spend it sitting on the sidelines in fear!!
P.S. Would you join me in praying for Michele? There are no words to describe how much my heart hurts for her and what she is facing over the next six months.
Blogging With Intention: My Interview on ProBlogger
I was so honored to be interviewed for an article on ProBlogger today.
If you’re curious about the how I got started blogging, how long it actually took to make a consistent income, ideas on blogging revenue streams, and tips that will help you be more intentional with your efforts to succeed.
Go read the interview here.
Gretchen’s $45 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan
Health Food Store
2 pkg Organic Lettuce – Marked down to $0.99 each
1 pkg Pita Bread – Marked down to $0.99
Total with tax ($0.21): $3.18
Homeland
1 pkg Fiora Bath Tissue – $1.79, used $0.50/1 printable (doubled) – $0.79 after coupon
1 Best Choice Mini Marshmallows – $0.59 after coupon
1 Best Choice Foil – $1
1 Jolly Time Popcorn – $1.59, used $1/1 printable (doubled) – Free plus overage after coupon
1 Lipton Tea – $2, used $1/1 printable (doubled) – Free after coupon
1 Best Choice Chocolate Chips – $1.29
Total before coupons and sales: $15.71
Total with tax ($0.47) after coupons and sales: $3.73
Dillons
1 Honey Nut Cheerios – $3.99, used Free e-coupon – Free after coupon (Plus receive $0.25 back from Ibotta)
4 Yoplait Yogurt – Marked down to $0.25 each
1 box Raisins – $1.99
1 bag Frozen Peas – $1
1 dozen Dillons Eggs – $1.69 (Plus receive $0.25 back from Ibotta)
1 Kroger Frozen Orange Juice – $1.59
1 can Goya Beans – $1.19
2 Horizon Mac & Cheese – $1 each, used 2 $1/2 coupon from the Fall Mambo Sprouts coupon booklet – $0.50 each after coupon
1 pkg Stew Beef – $5.49
1 bag Kroger Slivered Almonds – $1.79
1 Psst Honey $5.29
1 bag Unsweetened Coconut – $1.25
1 canister Kroger Old Fashioned Oats – $2.99
1 bag Clementines (3 lbs) – $3.99
0.84 lbs Roma Tomatoes – $0.83
3 half gallons Dillons Milk – $1.33 each
Total with tax: $38.33
Total for all grocery items: $45.24 (Plus receive $0.50 back from Ibotta)
Menu Plans for This Week
Breakfast
Cereal x 2, Toast, Scrambled Eggs & Juice, Homemade Granola (I plan to make a huge batch of this this week.)
Lunches
Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, Tossed Salad, Vegetable Soup (I will make a big batch of this and eat it for several lunches this week.)
Dinners
Macaroni & Cheese with Ground Beef, Steamed Peas
Chipotle Beef Chili, Homemade Applesauce, Sliced Veggies
Chicken & Rice Casserole, Tossed Salad, Steamed Broccoli
Crock Pot Beef Stroganof, CopyCat Texas Roadhouse Rolls, Tossed Salad
Mexican Chicken Chili, Biscuits, Oranges
Pancakes, Scrambled Eggs, Bacon
Dinner with family
How I Save With Off-Brands
Guest post from Liz of The Quick Journey blog
As a wife and mom who is trying to save money for our family, trying “off-brand” products sometimes makes me nervous.
Will the off-brand items be as good?
Will they taste the same?
Will the products hold up as well as the name brand?
Those are all questions I have when I am about to place a cheaper branded item in my shopping cart.
If you shared these same concerns, I wanted to share a few off-brand items that I feel are equal, or better than the name brand items. These are items that I will buy without hesitation because I have had such good success with them in the past. These are items that taste yummy, hold up to wear and tear, and perform really well despite the lower price tag.
1. Diapers
I am super picky about what diapers I use — I like a diaper that holds moisture well and doesn’t get saggy.
After diapering four kiddos (one is still in diapers), I will choose Target brand diapers every time. I much prefer them to the name brand diapers and the lower price point coupled with coupons and the Cartwheel app… you can’t go wrong!
2. Plastic Baggies
When I have snacks and food inside a plastic baggie and then shoved in a full diaper bag, I need those baggies to stand the test of time! There is nothing worse than cleaning smeared PB&J out of a diaper bag.
My favorite, go-to, baggies are the Boulder brand from Aldi. I have tried every version and size of their baggies and they are just as good, if not better, than the name brand.
3. Paper Towels
As I mentioned above, I have four kids, so there are a lot of messes happening in my house on a daily basis. While we like to limit our use of paper products, there are just times that require a paper towel.
I used to be a huge fan of the name brand towels that cost an arm and a leg, but I now use the Walmart Great Value brand of paper towels as I find them to be very durable and long-lasting when scrubbing yucky messes.
4. Canned Goods
I have found, after much trial and error, that canned goods, like soups, veggies, fruits, sauces, are pretty much all created equal. If you are new to off-brand buying, canned goods is a good place to start! Definitely do your pocketbook a favor and save your pennies by buying off-brand canned goods.
These are just a few of the off-brand items I but to save more at the grocery store!
What off-brand items do you buy?
Liz is a stay-at-home momma to her four kiddos. She enjoys cooking, drinking a piping hot cup of coffee, and reminiscing with her “high school sweetheart” hubby. She shares her journey through motherhood on The Quick Journey blog.
70 Frugal Homemade Cleaners That Are Easy to Make
Calling the broken, the struggling, and the hurting…
I met her three days after we moved to TN.
My friend, Angie, invited our family to drop by this Monday evening “thing” they were apart of called Meaty Monday — where everyone brings meat for the grill and a side dish. My introverted inner self is not one to jump at the opportunity to go spend all evening with people I don’t know.
However, we were new to this area and knew the only way to plug in was to dive in head first — even when it was way outside comfort zones.
So we showed up to this Monday “thing” and there was Tam Hodge. Cute, spunky, funny, and friendly.
We chatted a bit. I found out that she and her family lived in our neighborhood, that they homeschooled, and that they had moved here a few years ago.
She texted me a follow-up text a few days later. We started texting. And from the get-go I told her that I don’t do fluffy friendships.
Don’t get me wrong. Those who know me well, know that I love to laugh, I love to have a great time with friends, and I can be goofy.
However, you can be sure that spending any length of time with me will also include hard questions, going deep, and authenticity. Because I don’t do surface-y friendships.
She didn’t seem fazed by my honest confessions of what I was looking for in friendship. In fact, she seemed genuinely open to that sort of friendship.
So I kept walking forward. We kept texting. We started getting together regularly. And a beautiful friendship emerged.
Tam has been God’s gift to me in our move to TN. She’s listened. She’s cared. She’s let me be brutally honest as I’ve processed. And she’s loved me — messes and imperfections and all.
As I’ve gotten to know her more, I’ve realized that there is so much more to her than first meets the eye. She’s beautiful. She’s warm. She’s hilarious. And she deeply cares for people.
But more than that, she’s a woman who has experienced some of the greatest suffering of anyone I know — including repeated abuse from multiple abusers, intense rejection by those closest to her, and incredible physical pain.
Of anyone I know, she could have reason to go through life feeling like a victim — hurting, reserved, sad. But those words are the exact opposite of my friend, Tam. She radiates joy and hope!
Instead of being a victim of her circumstances, she’s chosen to be a VICTOR. And every single day, her life inspires me.
I am crazy proud of her bravery and courage and hard work to write her story. Her book, And Now I Choose, releases today and I highly recommend it for anyone who has experienced the pain of abuse, abortion, divorce, rejection, and feeling broken and not good enough.
Tam’s story will give you hope. It will inspire you to overcome the odds. It will encourage you to choose joy. It will motivate you that you, too, can become a victor not a victim.
Go get a copy of her book, And Now I Choose. It’s available in ebook or paperback form on Amazon here. And you also might consider buying an extra copy for a friend who could use the encouragement of someone who walked through great trauma and tragedy and found healing and hope.
OVER-SPENDING EVERY SINGLE MONTH?Grab these FREE Budgeting Sheets!
Click here to download!
Shared Nov 14, 2014
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Brigette’s $69 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6
Brigette’s $69 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6
Aldi
1 16-oz pkg Frozen Strawberries – $2.19, plus receive $0.25 back from Snap by Groupon – $1.94
1 3-lb pkg Frozen Chicken Breasts – $6.49
3 16-oz pkgs Baby Carrots (@$0.69/each) – $2.07
1 2-lb bag Red Onions – $0.89
2 3-ct pkgs Colored Bell Peppers (@$1.99/each) – $3.98
3 Avocados (@$0.69/each) – $2.07
2 Cucumbers (@$0.39/each) – $0.78, plus receive $0.25 back from Snap by Groupon – $0.53
1 head Cauliflower – $1.99
2 9-oz pkgs Fresh Spinach (@$0.99/each) – $1.98
1 3-ct pkg Romaine Hearts – $1.99
1 3-lb bag Oranges – $2.99
2 bunches Bananas (@$0.44/lb) – $2.08, plus receive back $0.25 from Checkout 51 – $1.83
1 bag Tortilla Chips – $1.19
4 1-lb boxes Butter (@$2.29 each – Yay! Hopefully this price will continue to drop as we head into holiday sales!) – $5.16
1 8-oz carton Heavy Whipping Cream – $1.89
1 32-oz carton Half & Half – $1.89
Total: $38.97 after rebates
Harris Teeter
2 boxes Betty Crocker Cake Mix (@$1.00 each) – $2.00, used $0.75/2 printable (doubled), plus $0.75/2 Harris Teeter evic, plus $0.75/2 SavingStar – $1.00 MM after coupons
1 box Cinnamon Sugar SuperPretzel – $2.00, used$0.75/1 SuperPretzel Item, exp. 12/6/14 (RP 10/26/14) (doubled), plus receive $0.75 rebate back from Checkout 51 – $0.25 MM after coupons
2 boxes Tetley Tea Bags (B1G1 @ $2.29) – $2.29, used 2 $0.75/1 Tetley Tea, exp. 12/31/14 (SS 11/09/14 R) (doubled) – FREE after coupons
2 Zone Bars (@$1.00 each) – $2.00, used 2 $0.55/1 printable (doubled) – FREE after coupons
10 cans Del Monte Green Beans (B2G3) – $5.00, used 2 $0.40/4 Del Monte Canned Vegetables, exp. 2/2/15 (SS 11/09/14) (doubled) – $3.80/10 cans after coupons
2 can Dole Mandarin Oranges (@$1.00 each) – $2.00, used 2 $0.40/1 printable (NLA) – $0.40/2 after coupons
2 boxes Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls – $4.00, used 2 $0.50/1 printable (doubled), plus $0.50/2 and $0.40/2 Harris Teeter evic (they both came off), plus receive $0.50 back from SavingStar – $0.60/2 after coupons
2 boxes Pillsbury Pie Crust – $4.00, used $0.50/2 Pillsbury Rolled Refrigerated Pie Crusts, exp. 2/7/15 (SS 11/16/14) (doubled), plus $0.75/2 Harris Teeter evic, plus receive $0.75 back from SavingStar – $1.50/2 after coupons
1 jug Hungry Jack Syrup – $1.99, used $0.55/1 printable (doubled) – $0.89 after coupons
2 boxes Bigelow Tea (B1G1 @ $3.19) – $3.19, used 2 $0.55/1 printable (NLA) – $0.99/2 after coupons
2 boxes Horizons Macaroni and Cheese (@$1.00 each) – $2.00, used $0.75/2 catalina coupon (doubled) – $0.50/2 after coupons
1 3-lb bag Grapefruit, reduced – $0.79
3-lbs of Apples, reduced – $2.00
1 bag of assorted Summer Squash, reduced – $1.11
10 8-oz bags of Shredded Cheese (B2G3) – $13.00
2 18-ct cartons Eggs (@$1.77 each) – $3.54
1 gallon Milk – $2.97, plus receive back $0.25 from Ibotta – $2.72
Total after all Sales, Coupons and Rebates – $30.60
Weekly Total for all Groceries: $69.57
Weekly Menu Plan
Breakfasts
Oatmeal and Fruit (using frozen fruit from some of my bulk purchases at the Farmer’s Market), Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oatmeal, Eggs and Toast, Protein Smoothies (for me), Cereal, Cinnamon Rolls (Saturday)
Lunches
Baked Potatoes with Cheese/Oranges/Carrot Sticks x 2, Leftovers x 2, Tossed Salad with Avocado, Tilapia or Chicken (for me), Veggie Omelettes, Grilled Cheese Sandwiches/Bananas/Peppers x 2
Dinners
Taco Salad (using ground turkey), Green Rice, Oranges
Spaghetti Carbonara (family recipe on my husband’s side), Green Beans, Homemade French Bread
Shepherd’s Pie (using mashed cauliflower instead of potatoes for the top), leftover French Bread
Crockpot Italian Chicken, Creamy Milk Rice, Steamed Broccoli
Chili (recipe from the Trim, Healthy Mama book), Raw Veggie Plate, Pumpkin Biscuits
Date Night (out to eat)
Leftovers
Snacks
Popcorn, Fruit, Angel Face Cookies
Shared Nov 14, 2014
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Gretchen’s Walgreens Shopping Trip: 7 items for $5.52 out of pocket!
Gretchen’s Walgreens Shopping Trip: 7 items for $5.52 out of pocket!
Walgreens
4 Xtra Laundry Detergent – $1.50 each
Used 2 $1/2 printable1 Dawn Dish Detergent – $1
Used $0.25/1 printable2 jars Lindsay Olives – $0.89 each with in-ad coupon
Used $1/2 printableTotal before coupons and sales: $15.75
Total after coupons and sales: $5.52
Doing this one simple thing has transformed my marriage
“You’re okay with me being completely honest?” I asked the producer yesterday as I sat down to film a piece sharing practical advice for engaged couples.
“Yes, absolutely.” He replied.
I pressed further, just to make sure he knew what he was getting himself into. “So you’re good with me sharing that marriage isn’t all rainbows and roses? Because I’m not here to pretend that I have it figured out or that our marriage has been a walk in the park.”
The producer assured me that’s exactly why they’d asked me to participate in this project. They wanted my completely authentic and honest voice.
As I talked openly about our struggles and victories while the cameras rolled, I couldn’t help but reflect on the past almost 12 years of our marriage and how it’s looked so much different than I expected it would on our wedding day.
We were blessed to go into marriage with similar core values. We were blessed to have a strong foundation of character and legacy handed to us from our parents.
But core values, character, and legacy didn’t make us immune to marriage struggles. In fact, I think it made us even more surprised when they came… because this wasn’t part of “the plan.”
We’ve weathered a lot of storms together… the lean law school years, multiple job losses, postpartum depression, starting multiple businesses, infertility struggles, quitting multiple businesses, struggles with anxiety, and years of baggage we’d never dealt with that we both brought into marriage.
{Our wedding day…Oh and in case you were wondering, I wore my mom’s wedding dress!}
The last thing our marriage has been is a walk in the park. There have been many moments when I’ve wondered whether we’d make. In the midst of some of the darkest times, I’ve threatened to leave.
Our idealist notions of “happily ever after” quickly crashed and burned. Our carefully mapped out life plan didn’t pan out.
But despite all the setbacks and struggles, our marriage is alive and strong today. If anything, I feel like the setbacks and struggles have woven the threads of our marriage tighter together.
It’s been a lot of hard work. But it has been worth it.
As the interview came to a close, the producer asked one more question. “What is your best advice for engaged couples as they go into marriage?”
“Choose to find the good and praise it,” I said. This has been key in our marriage.
We both have much to learn, many areas to grow in, but the glue that holds our marriage together is our mutual commitment to focus on the good.
When we first got married, I spent a few years tearing Jesse down, picking out all the things he needed to change, and nagging him about areas where he needed to improve. This was only a recipe for disaster.
A few years into our marriage when I realized all my tactics were only producing tension, I began to really step back and examine my heart. Slowly, God started chipping away at my pride and my lack of grace.
In the process, I started choosing to praise and thank my husband for all the things he was doing right, instead of spending my time pointing out all the things he was doing wrong. I was amazed at how this changed how I viewed him!
I had been so busy trying to nit-pick and change Jesse that I had failed to notice all the amazing qualities he had! And as I started to notice and praise him for his wonderful qualities, his great qualities only seemed to grow.
Today, we still have our moments and struggles, I still can get frustrated over stupid things, but for the most part, I spend my time blown away by what a wonderful husband I have. {And he truly is! He’s always going out of his way to help and bless me — like him ironing my shirt this morning for me because I was running late for a breakfast meeting I had, or him getting flowers for me this week, or him taking over all the homeschooling right now while I’m finishing up my next book… I could go on and on!}
You can always find something that is irritating and frustrating about another person. And if you spend all your time mulling over how annoying those things are, you will fail to notice all the good things about another person.
But if you choose to become a noticer of the good and the praise-worthy, it can transform your perspective. I dare you to try it and see if you prove me wrong. 🙂
For more marriage encouragement, read my post on 5 Keys to Have a Strong Marriage — Even During the Storms of Life.
Note: This post was written for couples who are in healthy relationships where both parties love each other and want to work on issues together and personally. If your spouse is abusive, please, please, please don’t hide the abuse out of fear or let your spouse convince you it’s your fault. Get help immediately.
We Paid Cash: A Down Payment
A testimony from Anne of Modern Mrs Darcy
My husband and I set a big hairy goal more than ten years ago. We wanted to move out of our much-loved starter home (6 people, 1 bathroom, you get it) into a slightly larger place — while keeping our first home so we could rent it out. We wanted to do it before our oldest child — then a toddler — hit the teen years.
We did our research: our banker suggested we borrow a big chunk of change off our first house to use as a down payment for the second, but we didn’t want to. We were uncomfortable with cashing out our equity: the big crash of 2008 was still fresh in our minds, and we didn’t want to give up the margin we enjoyed because of our small mortgage. Besides, once we put our first home into use as a rental, we wanted that place to cash flow. That’s easy to do with a small mortgage, but much harder with a brand-new 80% one.
So that meant we needed to save up a down payment from scratch. While still paying the mortgage on our first home. Yikes!
To make a long story short, we did it. We moved into our new place in May, and our new tenants moved into our old home a week later. Here’s how we did it:
Think long term.
We have known for over a decade that 1. we wanted to move before our oldest was a teen and 2. we wanted to keep our first home when we did.
Richard Foster says that people overestimate what they can accomplish in one year but grossly underestimate what they can accomplish in ten. We were working with a ten-year plan.
Sweat the big stuff.
Most Americans spend the most on housing and cars. We had a low mortgage payment on our first home, and we aren’t car people. (That’s a nice way of saying our cars are old and inexpensive to operate.)
Bonus: we don’t freak out when one of us dings the minivan backing into the stone wall at the park. Hypothetically speaking.
Put it on autopilot.
For years, we’ve relied on automatic deductions to take a portion of our paychecks straight out of our checking account and into savings. This was especially helpful early on when we were lacking in enthusiasm because we had so far to go.
Stick to the essentials.
The closer we got to our goal, the more motivated we became. For the last year we spent very little on nonessentials. The closer we got to the goal, the more we cut out because we were close enough to taste it.
Save dollars big and small.
Unexpected birthday checks, payments from consignment stores, yard sale funds, freelancing checks: whether it was $3 or $300, we banked all those extra income checks in a designated savings account at a not-normal-to-us financial institution that was really a pain to withdraw funds from.
Just keep swimming.
Ten years ago, it was daunting knowing that we needed to save up a big chunk of change starting from zero. But we just kept plugging away.
We were inspired by Crystal’s own journey to pay cash for a house. Like her, progress came slowly at first, and then all at once.
It wasn’t easy, and it took ten years, but paying cash for the downpayment on our new house sure felt great!
Anne Bogel loves strong coffee, long books, and big ideas. She’s putting a timely spin on timeless women’s issues at her blog Modern Mrs Darcy, where readers engage in an ongoing conversation on womanhood today. A classic INFP, Anne couldn’t choose a favorite book – or child – if you paid her, but she would love to talk about your best-loved titles and what we can learn from heroines like Lizzie Bennet and Anne Shirley all the live-long day.
Have you saved up and paid cash for something — large or small? Submit your story for possible publication here.
Christmas on a Zero Budget
If you are struggling and barely eeking by this Christmas, I highly encourage you to go read Victoria’s post on Having Christmas on a Zero Budget. I think it will inspire you!