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Shared Mar 18, 2014 comment

4 Weeks to a More Organized Home: Assignment #12

Published: by Crystal Paine on March 18, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

4 Weeks to a More Organized Home

I’ve set aside the month of March to really focus on organization in my home and life. And I’d love for you to join me!

Day 12 Assignment

::Get dressed in something that makes you feel great {there’s something about dressing in clothes that make you feel great that just gives you more energy and zest for life!}

::Sit down with a cup of coffee or tea, refer to your list of weekly goals, and make a list of no more than 5-7 specific things you want to accomplish today.

::Complete your morning routine {if you don’t have a morning routine, take some time to create one today! Read my How to Develop a Routine That Works–And Stick With It series for step-by-step help.}

::Set the timer for 15 minutes and vacuum the main living areas of your home.

::Clean your microwave, stove top, and/or oven.

::Find 7 items to get rid of today. Throw them out, stick them in a donate or garage sale box, give them to a friend who can use them, or list them on Craigslist or eBay.

Get Your Free Ebook + Printable Checklists

I put together an ebook with encouraging articles, all the daily assignments, plus printable checklists so you can know exactly what’s planned for the month and to allow you to work at your own pace, if you’d like.

To grab your free ebook so you can participate in this challenge, just fill out the form below with your name and email address. You’ll need to confirm your email address and then your free ebook will be sent to you instantly.

Are you planning to join us today? If so, leave a comment below!

Shared Mar 17, 2014 comment

4 Weeks to a More Organized Home: Assignment #11 (update)

Published: by Crystal Paine on March 17, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

I’m so excited about how many of you are joining us for the 4 Weeks to a More Organized Home Challenge! If you missed today’s assignment, you can find it here.

I was so excited to open up our silverware drawer and discover that it wasn’t at all as messy as I’d expected it to be. I have been trying to stay on top of it more and had recently cleaned the crumbs out of it, so it’s encouraging to realize that those little habits of keeping on top of dirt and clutter are making a difference!

It didn’t take long and it looked great!

And I cleaned out the cupboard above the stove and discovered a pile of stuff to get rid of. I was really surprised that all of that stuff was up there!

How you do on Assignment #11? I’d love to have you share your progress and success with us so we can be inspired. Either post a link to your blog post below or leave a comment with your update.

Shared Mar 17, 2014 comment

52 Different Ways to Save $100 Per Year: Make Homemade Cards {Week 48}

Published: by Crystal Paine on March 17, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

(Homemade cards made by Amanda.)

Every week for 52 weeks, I’m sharing a different way you can save $100 this year. If you do all of these things, you’ll be able to save over $5,000 this year alone! Many of these things will likely be things you’re already doing, but hopefully all of you will pick up at least a few new ideas or some inspiration from this series.

You can spend a lot of money buying Hallmark cards… possibly as much as $100 per year, or more. For instance, if you typically spend $4 per card and you purchase 25 cards per year for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, and other occasions — that’s $100 per year you’re spending on something that will most likely just be thrown out after it’s received.

Instead of having that money go straight into the trash can, save yourself a nice chunk of change by making your own homemade cards. Not only is it a fun way to exercise your creativity, it also will often be a lot more meaningful.

There are so many different ways to make your own homemade cards. If you have some magazines, cardstock, and glue, you can get creative making collage cards with cut-out words, phrases, and pictures that remind you of the card’s recipient.

Mixed Molly has some fantastic ideas for recycling last year’s Christmas cards into new Christmas cards for this year. You could use this same idea for cards for other occasions, too.

It doesn’t have to cost a lot of money or take a lot of time to make a homemade card. You probably have supplies on hand that could work. However, if you want to, you can come up some really amazing homemade card ideas, too.

Not Crafty? Write a Letter Instead!

Maybe you feel like you’re not crafty and creative at all. Never fear! You don’t have to pull out the glue gun and glitter. Write a meaningful letter, instead!

Here’s an idea from Victoria who blogs at Snail Pace Transformations:

I don’t remember the exact Mother’s day. I don’t remember even why I picked that Mother’s day to give this gift, but I have been forever touched by it’s impact.

That year I grabbed a dollar store card, and in it, I placed a simple list written on plain paper. Little did I realize how much my mother would cherish that list. Perhaps if I did, I would have chosen nicer paper. Perhaps I would have used my best handwriting, but then again, I doubt that would have changed the cord it struck in my mother’s heart.

On the list, written with the ink of a inexpensive dollar store pen, were 10 things my mom held dear.

What were those 10 things? What was that list? Why did it touch my mother’s heart so?

The title read “10 Reasons Why I am Glad You Are My Mother”.

Each point I thought about, some were simple “I love your habit of backwards dinners” some were more deep “thanks for providing the best you could for me with what you had”.

Never was a thank you said, never was the list even mentioned until one year when my mom knew her time on earth was coming to an end. She said, “honey, the best Mother’s day gift you ever gave me was that list. In fact, I still have it an read it often”.

Words (not things) have lasting power.

Do you have any quick, easy, and inexpensive homemade card ideas? I’d love to hear about them — and feel free to share links to your blog post(s) or other ideas online, too!

Shared Mar 17, 2014 comment

10 Goals For This Week

Published: by Crystal Paine on March 17, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Last Week’s Goals:

Marriage/Mothering/Homemaking Goals

1. ~~Read 3 chapters of A Big Year for Lily to the girls. Finish reading Jungle Doctor’s Fables. Read a few picture books with Silas.~~

2. ~~Write a love note to Jesse.~~

3. ~~Blog about the 4 Weeks to a More Organized Home Challenge.~~

Personal Goals

4. Work on memorizing & reviewing Romans 1:1-28.

5. ~~Exercise four times.~~

6. Finish reading ~~The Surprising Secrets of Highly Happy Marriages~~ and I Thought It Was Just Me (But It Isn’t)

7. Drink 8 glasses of water every day.

Blog/Business Goals

8. ~~Practice my talks for the Hearts At Home Conference.~~

9. ~~Work on my talks for the Teach Them Diligently Nashville Conference.~~

10. Write three content pieces for my blog.

This Week’s Goals:

Marriage/Mothering/Homemaking Goals

1. Read 4 chapters of A Big Year for Lily to the girls. Read 5 chapters of The Imagination Station: Hunt for the Devil’s Dragon. Read a few picture books with Silas.

2. Write a love note to Jesse.

3. Blog about the 4 Weeks to a More Organized Home Challenge.

4. Have an at-home movie date with Jesse.

Personal Goals

5. Work on memorizing & reviewing Romans 1:1-28.

6. Exercise four times.

7. Finish reading I Thought It Was Just Me (But It Isn’t), The Antelope in the Living Room, Fifteen Minutes, Debt-Free Living in a Debt-Filled World, and In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day.

8. Drink 8 glasses of water every day.

Blog/Business Goals.

9. Finish tweaking my talks for the Teach Them Diligently Nashville Conference.

10. Write three content pieces for my blog.

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

Shared Mar 17, 2014 comment

12 Easy Paleo-ish Crock Pot Meals

Published: by MSM Team on March 17, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Graciously Saved shows us how to make 12 Easy Paleo-ish Crock Pot Meals in just 3 hours!

For more Crockpot Freezer Cooking ideas, check out the following links:

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

Click here to sign up!

Shared Mar 17, 2014 comment

4 Weeks to a More Organized Home: Assignment #11

Published: by Crystal Paine on March 17, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

I’ve set aside the month of March to really focus on organization in my home and life. And I’d love for you to join me!

Day 11 Assignment

::Get dressed in something that makes you feel great {there’s something about dressing in clothes that make you feel great that just gives you more energy and zest for life!}

::Sit down with a cup of coffee or tea and make a list of weekly goals. I’ll post my goals for this week later today.

::Complete your morning routine {if you don’t have a morning routine, take some time to create one today! Read my How to Develop a Routine That Works–And Stick With It series for step-by-step help.}

::Set the timer for 15 minutes and quickly pick up your house and put things back into order after the weekend. If your house looks like mine, you might need to spend longer than 15 minutes.

::Clean out your silverware drawer. Remove all items, vacuum out the crumbs with your vacuum’s attachment, wipe down the drawer with a damp cloth, get rid of anything you don’t need or no longer use, and then put everything you’re keeping back into the drawer in an organized manner.

::Find 7 items to get rid of today. Throw them out, stick them in a donate or garage sale box, give them to a friend who can use them, or list them on Craigslist or eBay.

Get Your Free Ebook + Printable Checklists

Are you planning to join us today? If so, leave a comment below!

Shared Mar 15, 2014 comment

4 Weeks to a More Organized Home: Assignment #10 (update)

Published: by Crystal Paine on March 15, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

I’m so excited about how many of you are joining us for the 4 Weeks to a More Organized Home Challenge! If you missed today’s assignment, you can find it here.

It was a great day at the Hearts at Home conference! I loved getting to meet many of you there — and can’t wait to meet many more of you tomorrow.

Here are a few pictures from when I did the Assignment #10 projects earlier this week…

Cleaning the ceiling fans…

…and the light fixtures.

And the final batch of items from our homeschooling bins to get rid of.

How you do on Assignment #10? I’d love to have you share your progress and success with us so we can be inspired. Either post a link to your blog post below or leave a comment with your update.

Shared Mar 14, 2014 comment

12 Months to a Healthier You: Week 10 Check-in

Published: by Crystal Paine on March 14, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Are you joining us for the 12 Months to a Healthier You Challenge? If so, it’s Friday and guess what that means? It’s time for our weekly check-in to post our progress.

March’s Challenge:

We’re focusing on developing the habit of drinking more water in March. I encourage you to set a simple and doable goal for drinking more water and to stick with it.

New to this challenge? Read more details on the plan for this year here.

My Water Intake Goal for March

My goal for March is to drink at least 8 glasses of water every day. I’m also hoping to keep up with January’s habit of doing exercising at least 4-5 times every week and February’s habit of eating six big salads every week.

This Week’s Progress:

I hit my goal of drinking 8 glasses of water each day 5 days this week — this is definitely an area where I still need to work on making this a better habit. I hit my exercise goals, as well as my salad goals — yay!

How Are YOU Doing?

Leave a comment telling us how you did on your exercise goals this past week. If you’re blogging about this challenge, leave the direct link to your blog post about the challenge below. Are you on social media? You can also share your progress on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter by using hashtag #12MonthstoaHealthierYou.

Shared Mar 14, 2014 comment

Gretchen’s $40 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan

Published: by Crystal Paine on March 14, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Dillons

I was short on time today so I was only able to go to Dillons. I’m trying use up food from our refrigerator and pantry so I didn’t need to buy much for our menu plan this week.

2 Wisk Laundry Detergent – $2.99 each, used 2 $1.50/1 coupon from the 3/9 RedPlum insert – $1.49 each after coupons

1 Kroger Dishwasher Detergent – $2.99

2 Bic Razors – $2.49 each, used 2 $3/1 coupon from the 3/9 SmartSource insert – Free after coupons

2 Reach Toothbrush – $1 each, used 2 $1/1 coupon from the 1/26 SmartSource insert – Free after coupons

1 Kroger Bath Tissue – $2.95

1 Kroger Unbleached Flour – $1.99

1 gallon Dillons Milk – $2.78

8 Yoplait Yogurts – $0.50 each, used 2 $1/4 printable (no longer available) – $0.25 each after coupons

1.15 lbs Tomatoes @ $1.79/lb – $2.06

1.19 lbs Grapes @ $1.89/lb – $2.25

4 Navel Oranges – $0.69 each

1 Kroger Natural Peanut Butter – $2.19

1 Romaine Lettuce – $0.99

3 Gala Apples – $0.33 each

0.82 lbs Broccoli Crowns @ $1.59/lb – $1.30

2 Moms Best Cereal – $1 each

1 Tyson Frozen Chicken Breasts – $7.47

Total before coupons and sales: $69.22

Total after coupons and sales: $40.23

Menu Plan for this Week

Breakfasts

Cereal, Homemade Granola

Lunches

Cheese Quesadillas, Peanut Butter & Jelly on Rice Cakes, Fruits/Veggies/Cheese, Leftovers x 2

Dinners

Homemade Cheese Pizza, Tossed Salad

BBQ Meatballs (from the freezer), Cinnamon Muffins (from my Mom), Tossed Salad, Grapes

Deer Roast, Potatoes, Carrots, Fruit Salad

Chicken Fajitas, Steamed Broccoli

Chicken Almondine, Sliced Veggies, Green Beans

Pancakes, Eggs, Fruit

Dinner with family

Shared Mar 14, 2014 comment

Gluten-Free Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

Published: by MSM Team on March 14, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

These easy muffins are a great way to use up over-ripe bananas while sticking with a gluten-free diet… and the extra chocolate chips make them extra delicious!

For more frugal and delicious banana baked goods, check out this post with more than 50 banana recipes!

Guest post by Becki.

Our family has been gluten-free for over a year. Finding filling, healthy snacks – especially when we are on the go – hasn’t been the easiest task.

A friend shared a muffin recipe with me, but my family liked them just so-so until I made a few modifications.

Now, I make a double batch every week and they are devoured. I actually seek out ripe bananas every time I go to a store for my muffin making!

These muffins freeze well, make great snacks to pack for my kids, and really help fill up my children. They are a go-to fast breakfast as well in our home. These muffins are a great savings over most pre-packaged gluten-free snacks!

This recipe actually can easily be made non-gluten free as well and would be even cheaper with regular oats. Enjoy!

Ingredients for Gluten-Free Banana Muffins

3 cups gluten-free oats
3 mashed bananas (the riper the better)
1 cup milk
2 eggs
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips

Gluten-free Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

How to Make Gluten-Free Banana Muffins

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and line two 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners (these muffins are very sticky).

2. In a blender, blend oats to make oat flour.

3. In a large mixing bowl, mash bananas until they are a paste.

4. Add milk, eggs, peanut butter, and vanilla and mix well.

5. Add the oat flour and baking powder and stir until just combined — then add the chocolate chips.

6. Fill muffin cups 3/4 of the way full with better (you will get 12-18 muffins).

7. Bake in a preheated oven for 25 minutes.

Recipe

Gluten-Free Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

Author Crystal Paine

Course Snack

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 25

Ingredients

3 cups oats (gluten-free)
3 bananas; mashed (the riper the better)
1 cup milk
2 eggs
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and line two 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners (these muffins are very sticky).
In a blender, blend oats to make oat flour.
In a large mixing bowl, mash bananas until they are a paste.
Add milk, eggs, peanut butter, and vanilla and mix well.
Add the oat flour and baking powder and stir until just combined — then add the chocolate chips.
Fill muffin cups 3/4 of the way full with better (you will get 12-18 muffins).
Bake in a preheated oven for 25 minutes.

Notes

These muffins are VERY sticky if you don’t wait for them to cool. Use the liners and wait for them to cool — it will be worth it!

Nutrition

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Shared Mar 14, 2014 comment

Gretchen’s Target Shopping Trip: Spent $1.19 for $12.75 worth of products

Published: by Crystal Paine on March 14, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Target Shopping Trip

1 Oscar Mayer P3 Portable Protein Packs – $1.79, used $0.75/1 printable AND 50% off Cartwheel coupon – $0.27 after coupons

1 Welch’s Natural Jelly – $2.19, used $0.75/1 coupon from the 1/12 RedPlum insert – $1.44 after coupon

1 package Organic Carrots – $1.09, used $1/1 Target mobile coupon – $0.09 after coupon

2.19 lbs Bananas – $1.18, used $1/1 Target mobile coupon – $0.18 after coupon

2 Suave Kid’s Bodywash – $1.46 each, used 2 $1/1 coupon from the 3/9 RedPlum insert – $0.46 each after coupons

2 Suave Kid’s Shampoo/Conditioner – $1.79 each, used 2 $1/1 coupon from the 3/9 RedPlum insert – $0.79 each after coupons

Used $3.91 from Target gift card (leftover from my last shopping trip)

Total before coupons and gift card: $12.75

Total after coupons and gift card: $1.19

Shared Mar 14, 2014 comment

4 Weeks to a More Organized Home: Assignment #10

Published: by Crystal Paine on March 14, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

I’ve set aside the month of March to really focus on organization in my home and life. And I’d love for you to join me!

Day 10 Assignment

::Get dressed in something that makes you feel great {there’s something about dressing in clothes that make you feel great that just gives you more energy and zest for life!}

::Sit down with a cup of coffee or tea, refer to your list of weekly goals, and make a list of no more than 5-7 specific things you want to accomplish today.

::Complete your morning routine {if you don’t have a morning routine, take some time to create one today! Read my How to Develop a Routine That Works–And Stick With It series for step-by-step help.}

::Dust all ceiling fans and clean all light fixtures in your house. Check for burned out light bulbs and replace.

::Set the timer for at least 15 minutes and do something you really enjoy and that relaxes and rejuvenates you. If you need ideas, here are a few: read, write, call a friend, pray, exercise, bake, play with your children, laugh with your husband, stop by the bookstore and browse the book selection, work in the garden, or take a nap! Take some time to just stop and enjoy life today!

Note: If you work outside the home or have a really busy week with little time for extra projects, just do the bolded project above.

Get Your Free Ebook + Printable Checklists

Are you planning to join us today? If so, leave a comment below!

Shared Mar 14, 2014 comment

4 Weeks to a More Organized Home: Assignment #9 (update)

Published: by Crystal Paine on March 14, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

I’m so excited about how many of you are joining us for the 4 Weeks to a More Organized Home Challenge! If you missed today’s assignment, you can find it here.

It was a great day yesterday! I had a wonderful time doing two broadcast tapings at Focus on the Family with a live audience (these will likely air in May and June). Plus, I loved getting to meet some of my wonderful readers at the meet & greet afterwards!

I flew out from Colorado Springs to Bloomington, IL to speak at the Hearts at Home conference today and tomorrow. I’m so excited to get more readers today (if you’re going to be at Hearts at Home, please stop by our booth after one of my sessions and say “hi!” — I would LOVE to meet you!)

I worked ahead on the 4 Weeks to a More Organized Home challenge earlier this week and here are pictures of yesterday’s assigned projects…

We cleaned the light switch plates — and it was quite an easy and fun task (yay!)

I just had to show you this calendar — it’s a family calendar that my family gave us for Christmas with pictures for each month from my extended family. I LOVE it (you can see a peek of my entire family above at my sister’s Senior Recital — all 7 siblings and our parents!)

Pardon the banged up walls, but I also wanted to show you this quote above the light switch in our bedroom closet — I printed it out from Ann Voskamp’s blog a long time ago and it serves as a constant reminder to me.

And here are some more items we found in the school shelf clean-out that we’re getting rid of.

How you do on Assignment #9? I’d love to have you share your progress and success with us so we can be inspired. Either post a link to your blog post below or leave a comment with your update.

Shared Mar 13, 2014 comment

Easy Honey Butter Recipe

Published: by Crystal Paine on March 13, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

This Easy Homemade Whipped Honey Butter is amazing!

As I mentioned earlier this week, I tried my hand at making Homemade Honey Whipped Butter and was so pleased with how it turned out.

Seriously, I can’t believe that I waited this long to try this idea!

I was inspired by my younger sister, Olivia. She made dinner for us the week my book launched (wasn’t that sweet of her?) and one of the things she made was fresh rolls and Whipped Honey Butter.

whipped honey butter with freshly baked rolls

What is honey butter?

Honey butter is a type of sweetened butter that — as its name implies — combines honey and butter. It is popular with both kids and adults and tastes fantastic on almost any type of bread, roll, bagel, muffin, or toast.

Whipped honey butter takes everything to the next level by using a mixer to beat a bunch of air into the mixture until it’s light and fluffy — almost like a dense whipped cream!

Why we love this Honey Butter Spread

Jesse loved the Honey Butter so much that I knew I had to try my hand at making it. And it was so, so easy and delicious!

What I loved about this idea is that it not only stretches butter a little farther, but it also makes it much easier to spread the butter.

And, you can easily mix up the flavor combinations by adding various seasonings (savory or sweet), maple syrup, cinnamon, or even leaving out the honey and enjoying plain whipped butter.

The possibilities are endless — and you’ll definitely wow your dinner guests with this easy condiment!

whipped honey butter on striped placemat

Ingredients For Honey Whipped Butter

1 cup butter (2 sticks) salted or unsalted is fine
1/4 cup honey
1/4-1/2 cup milk

ingredients for homemade whipped honey butter

Whipped Honey Butter Recipe substitutions and variations

As I mentioned above, you could use maple syrup or even a bit of brown sugar instead of honey. Or you could omit the sweetener completely and just enjoy the lightness of whipped butter (butter + milk).

Breakfast foods would be extra delicious with a little cinnamon added in.

Or you could take a totally different route, omitting the sweetener and creating a savory whipped butter with garlic powder, onion powder, chives, or any of your other favorite herbs (fresh or dried).

Try swapping the milk for cream or even sour cream to give the butter a little extra thickness.

How to make Whipped Honey Butter

1. Soften the butter to room temperature.

2. In a medium size bowl, whip the butter with a handheld mixer (or stand mixer).

3. Add in the honey and milk and continue whipping until the mixture is smooth.

4. Use immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks.

Honey Whipped Butter is good with…

Everything — LOL!

Seriously though, anything you’d normally use butter on can be instantly elevated to the next level by swapping whipped honey butter.

Storing Honey Butter Spread

We recommend storing your honey butter in an airtight container in the refrigerator. However, it can easily sit at room temperature for a while if you’re serving it at a potluck, dinner party, or holiday gathering.

How long does honey butter last?

It should last a couple of months in the fridge, however, the “whipped” consistency might diminish over time as it sits.

We don’t recommend freezing whipped butter as it’s not as light after freezing.

Does honey butter need to be refrigerated?

It is OK to leave honey butter out for a few hours, but for longer-term storage, we recommend keeping it tightly sealed in the refrigerator.

Does homemade honey butter go bad?

Yes, it can go bad — after all, it’s a dairy product — however, it would take quite a while and you’ll most likely eat it all first!

Whipped Honey Butter FAQs

Is whipped honey the same as honey butter?

Nope. Whipped honey is simply honey that has been whipped to prevent the formation of large crystals. It makes the honey smoother and more spreadable.
It’s delicious, but it contains no dairy products so it’s not the same as honey butter.

Is creamed honey the same as honey butter?

“Creamed honey” is actually just another term for “whipped honey” — neither of which contains butter or any other form of dairy. So neither is the same as honey butter.

Recipe