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Shared Sep 5, 2014 comment

Brigette’s $30 Weekly Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu for 6

Published: by Brigette on September 5, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

This week is our first official full week back in homeschooling, so I tried to stay home as much as possible to help us adjust to a new schedule. My husband is a teacher and has the summers off – which we LOVE, but it is really hard to stick to a consistent summer schedule with Daddy home. 🙂

This makes transitioning back to a regular routine in the fall a little more challenging! I chose to stick to a simple menu and focus on using what we already had in the freezer and pantry. I am also hoping to clean up some of the not-so-great eating habits (like too much sugar and processed foods) we fell into over the summer.

Farmer’s Market

1 large bag Brussel Sprouts, reduced – $2.00

1 huge box of assorted Fresh Vegetables, reduced (included Cabbage, Red and Green Peppers, Cucumbers, Yellow Squash) – $5.00

Total: $7.00

Walmart

I had my husband do some price-matching at Walmart this week, since it is 1/2 mile from our house and very convenient. The regular prices on the brown rice, potatoes and romaine are all cheaper at Aldi, but since they aren’t listed in their sales flyer, I couldn’t price-match those. Aldi is a good 15 minutes from my house, so I only make the drive there when I am buying more than a few items.

4 ears of corn ($0.25/each) – $1.00

5 avocados ($0.49/each – price-matched Aldi) – $2.45

1 16-oz bag Brown Rice – $1.28

1 15-lb bag Russet Potatoes – $5.68

5 dozen Eggs ($0.99/each – price-matched Harris Teeter) – $4.95

Red Seedless Grapes ($0.99/lb – price-matched Harris Teeter) – $2.54

1 gallon Milk (price-matched Harris Teeter) – $2.97

3-ct package Romaine Lettuce – $2.98

Total: $23.85

Weekly Total for all Groceries: $30.85

Weekly Menu Plan

Breakfasts

Cereal x 2, Oatmeal x 2, Smoothies and Hard Boiled Eggs, Veggie Omelettes, French Toast and Scrambled Eggs

Lunches

Stir Fry Veggies/Salmon over Brown Rice, Baked Potato Bar, Leftovers x 2, “Snack” Lunch x 2 (plate of cut up fresh veggies and fruits, cheese slices), Build-Your-Own-Salad Bar

Dinners

Stuffed Baked Peppers (using ground venison), Corn on the Cob, Cucumber Slices, Grapes

Venison Roast in the Crockpot, Roasted Brussel Sprouts, “Mock” Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Chicken on the Grill, Grilled Yellow Squash and Red Peppers, Grapes, Homemade Freezer Biscuits

Grilled Peppers with Chicken Sante Fe, Sliced Avocados, Balsamic Maple Brussel Sprouts and Cauliflower

Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls, Apple Slices, Homemade Freezer Biscuits

Dinner at a Friend’s House

Leftovers

Snacks

Homemade Protein Bars (for me – I am training for a half marathon next month plus nursing a 6-month old, so trying to focus on lots of healthy fats, carbs and protein!), Homemade Popcorn, Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies (for the rest of the family)

Shared Sep 4, 2014 comment

Best Ever Black Bean Soup

Published: by Crystal Paine on September 4, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

This soup is packed with protein and fiber and is so easy to make. It’s also extremely frugal and tastes amazing! Definitely a must-try recipe for cold winter months!

This is the Best Black Bean Soup

I found this recipe in a recent issue of ALL YOU magazine and it looked easy, frugal, and delicious. Exactly my kind of recipe. 🙂

Honestly, I was not expecting this recipe to be as delicious as it turned out to be. I thought it would be yummy, but I didn’t expect it be one of those major winner recipes.

Jesse was out with Kaitlynn at her ice skating practice last night and when he walked in the door, his first remark was, “That smells so good.” And it did.

But it tasted even better than it smelled! In fact, I wanted to eat it straight from the soup pot. 🙂

Jesse kept commenting as he was eating it last night, “This is such a great recipe.” I totally agreed.

What surprised me most of all was that our kids loved it, too. They even asked if they could please eat the leftovers today.

It’s a simple recipe and it’s packed with good-for-you ingredients. If you wanted to kick it up a notch, you could add some hot sauce or salsa to it.

Black Bean Soup Recipe Ingredients

2 Tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium red bell pepper, seeded and diced
4 carrots, diced
3 ribs celery, thinly sliced
1 Tablespoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin
6 cups chicken broth
4 15-oz. cans black beans, drained and rinsed (you can also make your own recipe-ready black beans)
Salt and pepper

How to Make Black Bean Soup from Canned Beans

1. Heat oil in a large pot, saute onions, garlic, pepper, carrots, and celery over medium-high heat.

2. Stir occasionally and cook until softened.

3. Add chili powder and cumin and saute for a few more minutes.

4. Stir in broth and beans and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 25 minutes. Stir occasionally.

5. Remove a few cups of the soup and puree in a blender.

6. Stir pureed soup back into the soup, season with salt and pepper, and simmer for about 5 more minutes.

How to Thicken This Recipe for Black Bean Soup

If you want your soup to be thicker, simply puree more of the bean soup and add it back to the soup pot.

You can also cook with less broth — just make sure you don’t let it get too dry.

What to Serve with Best Ever Black Bean Soup

This soup is delicious on its own, or served with some crushed tortilla chips, cheese, sour cream, and sliced avocado on top if you want to be a bit fancier!

If you have a family who isn’t really into meatless meals, you could add some cooked chopped chicken or ground beef.

A simple side salad and some chips and salad would pair wonderfully with this soup.

Black Bean Soup with Canned Beans Storage

Any leftovers can be refrigerated for several days in tightly sealed food storage containers — they are great for lunches later in the week!

Can you freeze Black Bean Soup?

Yes, you can freeze black bean soup, however, the beans might have a slightly “mushier” texture after they are defrosted.

Black Bean Soup Recipe FAQs

Is black beans soup good for you?

Yes! Black beans are low in fat and full of fiber, healthy carbs, and protein. The high fiber and protein keep you feeling full for longer and the healthy carbs provide energy.

How do you get rid of the bitter taste in black bean soup?

If you’re using already-canned beans, you probably won’t have this issue. However, if you’re cooking your own beans from scratch, it’s helpful to let them soak overnight to remove the bitter taste.

Recipe

Black Bean Soup from Canned Beans

Author Crystal Paine

Course Soup

Cuisine Mexican

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 30

Ingredients

2 Tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion diced
3 cloves garlic minced
1 medium red bell pepper seeded and diced
4 carrots diced
3 celery ribs thinly sliced
1 Tablespoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin
6 cups chicken broth
4 15 oz. cans black beans drained and rinsed
Salt and pepper

Instructions

Heat oil in a large pot, saute onions, garlic, pepper, carrots, and celery over medium-high heat.
Stir occasionally and cook until softened.
Add chili powder and cumin and saute for a few more minutes.
Stir in broth and beans and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 25 minutes. Stir occasionally.
Remove a few cups of the soup and puree in a blender.
Stir pureed soup back into the soup, season with salt and pepper, and simmer for about 5 more minutes.

Nutrition

Love this recipe?

Make sure to share and save it on your favorite platform below!

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What are your favorite soups for fall and winter? Any recipes you think we must try? I’d love to hear!

Shared Sep 4, 2014 comment

Income-Earning Opportunity: Become a Mystery Shopper with MSI Services/TrendSource

Published: by Crystal Paine on September 4, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Looking for a way to earn some extra income? Mystery shopping might be a great option for you!

When we were first married, I did a lot of mystery shopping. And while it was sometimes tedious work, there were also many fun opportunities — like beauty shops, expensive restaurants that we would have never been able to afford to eat at otherwise, fast food restaurants, and more!

There are many different reputable mystery shopping companies out there that you can apply to work with. One such company is MSI Services/TrendSource and they are recruiting right now, specifically for grocery store mystery shop projects. Here’s what they emailed me about this opportunity:

MSI Services/TrendSource is recruiting Independent Field Agents to participate in Unrevealed Mystery Shop Projects at local grocery stores. An Independent Field Agent is an independent contractor who is paid to anonymously complete an evaluation and inspection of a local business based on specific criteria.

Independent Field Agents pose as regular customers while performing their evaluation. After the project is complete, Independent Field Agents submit their collected data through an online evaluation form.

A typical evaluation looks for the following information:

Counting the number of associates in each department.

Evaluating whether associates actively engage with customers.

Reporting how associates engage with customers.

Reporting how associates respond to specific questions.

Becoming a mystery shopper is a great way to get reimbursed for your groceries. MSI Services/TrendSource pays agents twice monthly for their projects. Independent Field Agents spend approximately 30 minutes on-site.

Are you interested in applying for this opportunity? Head over to MSI Services/TrendSource to learn more and apply to become an Independent Field Agent today!

{Note: This post was underwritten by TrendSource. Read our disclosure policy here.}

Shared Sep 4, 2014 comment

You could win a $1,000 Amazon gift card (Take a quick reader survey!)

Published: by Crystal Paine on September 4, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

I am so very grateful for each and every one of you and I want to do everything I can to serve you as best as I can here on MoneySavingMom.com. It’s been a few years since we’ve done a reader survey and there are many new readers here and the needs of those of you who are long-time readers may have changed, too.

Help Us Serve You Better!

We want to get a better idea of who you are, what your needs are, what you love here, and how we can best serve you. So would you do a us a huge favor and help us out by taking our quick reader survey?

>>CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE SURVEY<<

Everyone who fills out the survey will be entered to win a $1,000 Amazon gift card. Thank you so very much for taking a little time to help us do the best we can to serve you!

Two important notes:

In order to be eligible for the giveaway, you’ll need to include your email address at the end of the survey. Know that the only thing we’ll use the email addresses for is to pick and contact a winner though. You can read our legal disclaimer here for more information.
You can skip any question you don’t feel comfortable answering. If it’s something you don’t know the answer to or don’t want to share, just skip it and go onto the next question.

This survey closes on Wednesday, September 10, 2014. One winner will be chosen and emailed early next week.

Shared Sep 3, 2014 comment

10 Reasons I Loved 100 Days of Real Food

Published: by Crystal Paine on September 3, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

As I mentioned earlier this week, I’ve recently made some fairly significant changes to my diet.

Scratch that. The “I quit sugar” thing qualifies more in the CRAZY, RADICAL category for me.

I’ve always eaten fairly healthfully, having grown up with a mom who valued healthy living and taught us to love whole grains, real butter, and big salads. (Truth: we basically never bought white bread unless we were making croutons or feeding the ducks and I don’t recall a time we ever bought margarine. Yes, she was pretty hard core when it came to health!)

My husband wasn’t so keen on health food when we got married. In fact, he was more keen on McDonald’s and Vanilla Coke. 😉

During our lean law school years, I just did the best I could do with the small budget we had while also making sure the food I cooked was stuff Jesse would actually eat. We didn’t eat terribly unhealthy, but I knew it could be improved upon.

As our financial situation bettered and my husband started becoming more interested in fitness, we’ve slowly made small changes in our diet. First, we eliminated artificial dyes. Next, it was corn syrup. Then, we stopped cooking with anything but olive oil, coconut oil, and butter. And then we stopped buying bleached flour and refined sugar.

This journey has been years in the making, but as we’ve made slow and steady changes, it’s not felt too drastic or difficult. So I think that’s why eliminating sugar and most gluten from my diet didn’t feel as CRAZY, RADICAL as I thought it would.

Yes, I have salivated as I’ve passed the doughnut shop and I have given in and eaten dessert a few times in the past three months, but for the most part, switching the way I eat hasn’t been painful.

You know what else? I’ve noticed that once I stripped out sugar and processed stuff and ate real, fresh foods, some cool things have happened. For instance:

I savor my food more.
I’m getting fewer headaches.
I’m struggling less with my sinuses and allergies.
I’ve lost a few pounds that had crept on in the last year.
I’ve seen an improvement in my skin issues.
I feel more energetic.
I’ve stopped craving empty carbs and sugar (well, most of the time!).
I need less sleep.
I notice flavors that I never paid attention to before.
My nails are stronger and can actually grow without breaking (well, it probably helps that I’ve mostly stopped biting them, too!)
And even if I go a few days without getting enough sleep, I’m not at all as worn down as I would have been six months ago.

Yes, my experiment in dietary changes has paid off in much bigger dividends than I ever imagined. And the unexpected results are making me think this is going to be a lifelong lifestyle change not just a temporary experiment!

All this to say, I was really excited to read 100 Days of Real Food by Lisa Leake. I’ve watched her grow her blog over the past few years and have been so inspired by her family.

As I expected I loved the book. Here were 10 reasons I especially found it helpful:

1. It Feels Doable & Realistic

Truth be told, I was leery of starting this book because I was afraid I was going to be barraged with a lot of new information on why we needed to majorly overhaul our eating choices. Instead of guilt, I found the book dripping with grace… encouraging you to do the best you can, to not stress over treats and occasional cheats, and to figure out what works best for your family.

2. It Is Honest

Lisa readily admits that she tried making homemade versions of things like ketchup and mayo and didn’t like them at all. Instead, they’ve just chosen to not eat them very often (she says they eat mayo about once a month). I loved her honesty throughout the book.

3. It Gives You Step-By-Step Plans & Shopping Lists

If the idea of switching to more real foods feels daunting, you’ll love the step-by-step suggestions of how to make gradual changes that this book offers. You’ll probably also love that there are menu plans and shopping lists to help you get started, too.

4. It’s Packed With Real-Life Advice

Lisa doesn’t hold herself up as someone who has it all figured out. She’s right there learning and experimenting with you. I loved the pictures of her family sprinkled throughout the book, as well as her examples from their family on what worked and didn’t work.

5. It Has Loads of Lunchbox Ideas

If you pack a lot of lunches, you’ll find the lunchbox recipes, tips, and suggestions very helpful. I loved that this was a big part of the book, as I think probably this is an area that many families could use a lot of inspiration in — especially if you’re trying to pack healthful and wholesome lunches.

6. It Addresses the Inevitable Struggles

Making lifestyle changes is always a challenge and this book recognizes that from the get-go. If you’re feeling hesitant about taking the plunge or wondering if it will really work for your family, you’ll get a lot of encouragement here in your journey.

7. It Provides Lots of Delicious-Looking Recipes

The recipes are very down-to-earth, don’t have a lot of weird ingredients, and almost every single one of them looked very yummy. Score!

8. It Has Great Photos In It

If you’re going to write a book with lots of recipes, full-color photography is one of the best assets for your book. And 100 Days of Real Food does a fantastic job when it comes to photography. Not only is the food photography well done, but the pictures of real-life stuff make the book seem to come alive and make it more relatable.

9. It Shares Creative Tips on Dealing With Picky Eaters

One of the biggest fears a lot of parents might have with the concept of eating more real foods is that your children and spouse won’t be on board with it. This book spends a good amount of time giving you suggestions and ideas for how to address the picky and reluctant eaters.

10. It Gives Encouragement For How to Eat Well on a Budget

And finally, I loved that 100 Days of Real Food addresses how to eat well on a budget. Now, mind you, switching to more real foods is almost guaranteed to cause some increase in your budget. But Lisa encourages you that it doesn’t have to be a dramatic increase.

All in all, I found 100 Days of Real Food to be a very valuable book. I’m eager to try out some of the recipes and have a feeling I will be referring to it for my own family over and over again.

Want Step-By-Step Help To Start Eating Healthier?

Looking for more ideas, practical tips, recipes, and step-by-step help to live a healthy lifestyle? Through December 30, 2014 only, you can get The Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle for just $29.97. This Bundle is packed with ebooks, e-courses, and some cool free bonuses.

Here’s a sampling of what you’ll get for just $29.97:

The Nourished Metabolism ebook — $30 value

The Eczema Cure ebook — $29.95 value

Natural Homestead ebook — $24.95

All Natural Living: 75 Non-Toxic Recipes for Home & Beauty ebook — $2.99 value

Kids Eat Real Food ebook — $16.99

7-Day Real Food Challenge — $19 value

30-Day Green Smoothie Challenge — $15 value

Whole Foods For the Everyday Cook — $6.99 value

Allergy-Free Cooking — $20 value

Fit 2 Be 5×5 e-Course — $10 value

Essential Oils & Natural Health Online Course — $95 value

FREE 4-month Online Yoga Class Course — $23.97 value

FREE 3-month menu-planning service from Tradishen — $45 value

And much, much more! See all the contents of this bundle here (it’s over $1,000 value!).

Go grab your copy before the sale ends!

P.S. Lisa just emailed me today to let me know that she just found out that her book hit the New York Times list and will debut in the #2 spot for this week! That’s INCREDIBLE and I am just so very thrilled for her — especially because it makes me so happy to see a fellow blogger’s success!

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

Click here to sign up!

Shared Sep 3, 2014 comment

17 Freezer-Cooking Recipes for Busy Moms

Published: by Crystal Paine on September 3, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Jolanthe from Homeschool Creations has put together a great post on freezer-cooking, including 17 Freezer-Cooking Recipes for Busy Moms.

Shared Sep 2, 2014 comment

How to Make the Most of Your 24-Hour Day: Part 2

Published: by Crystal Paine on September 2, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Last week, I was recording a podcast with Andy Andrews and he asked the million-dollar question, “How do you do it all?”

My response was simply this, “While I do juggle a number of balls, there are many more more balls I’ve chosen to drop or hand off to someone else.”

Re-read what I just wrote. Yes, I’ve selectively chosen to drop balls. And I’m okay with that.

I Tried to Do It All & Failed

However, for a long time, I wasn’t okay with that. I tried to do way too much. I said “yes” to many more opportunities than I had time or energy for.

I’m Type A and have a very high-driving personality. I’m the kind who doesn’t want to admit that I can’t do it all. So you can imagine that it’s hard for me to say “no.”

But when I hit rock bottom a few years ago and realized that my health, my marriage, my home, and my life as a whole was out of whack because of being overextended, I had to get radical and just start saying no to all non-necessities.

Stripping Out the Non-Necessities

As I chronicled in Say Goodbye to Survival Mode, once I stripped my life of all non-necessities, I then had enough breathing room in my life to determine what I call my Best Stuff List. This is a list of the very few things I want to wrap my time and energy around.

To come up with the Best Stuff List, I had to fast forward in my mind to 25 years from now and think what things would be a priority then. I want to live now thinking of finishing well. And when you consider what’s going to really matter in 25 years, it pares down your life to the true priorities.

My Best Stuff List

I now hold up everything in my life in light of my Best Stuff List and those few things I’ve determined are true priorities. Everything — from opportunities to commitments to everyday responsibilities — is compared against my Best Stuff List to see whether it’s in line with these priorities or not.

This might seem harsh or rigid, but in reality, it’s freeing for me. Because I don’t want to waste my days spinning my wheels on things that don’t really matter.

What is a priority for one person won’t necessarily be a priority for another. And what’s a priority for one season, won’t necessarily be a priority for another.

But stripping away all the fluff and getting to the heart of what is actually a priority for you at this season of life will change the way you live. And it will empower you to stop feeling obligated to say “yes” to things that aren’t important for you and will only crowd out the room for what is important.

What To Do About the Guilt

It’s not always easy to say “no.” I want to help everyone. I want to volunteer for a lot of things. I want to accept many different opportunities that come my way.

But I also want to take care of my health. I want to grow in my spiritual walk. I want to be a loyal friend. And I don’t want to give my family the leftovers of my time and energy.

So I have a choice: I can exhaust myself trying to do most everything. Or I can choose to say “no” to most things and only do a few things well.

Sometimes, It’s Hard to Say “No”

Just today, I had to say a hard “no” — and it hurt my heart. A dear woman asked if I would help her with her book project. She wanted someone to look over it and give her honest feedback.

I love to do this sort of thing as often as I’m able, but because my blogging/writing time is full right now between blogging and writing my own book, I knew that the time for helping her with her book could only come out of family time.

At a different season — when I’m not in the middle of my own book project — I could probably carve out time to help her. But right now, I have to look at my priorities and realize that I have to prioritize family time over other projects right now.

And so I wrote her and said no as graciously as I could and she was so understanding in her response to me — which I was grateful for. Even though my heart really wanted to help her, my heart knows my family has to come first in this situation.

What Matters Most

I only have one life to live. When I say “yes” to one thing, it means I must say “no” to something else.

At the end of the day, I don’t want to regret the things I’ve said “yes” to. If saying “no” to many great things allows me the space in my life to say “yes” the best things, it’s worth it.

…to be continued later this week.

Do you struggle to say “no” sometimes? What have you said “no” to in order to say “yes” to the best? I’d love to hear!

photo credit; photo credit

Shared Sep 2, 2014 comment

DIY Project: Ferris Wheel Scarf (a simple, 3-step scarf!)

Published: by MSM Team on September 2, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

This is a guest post from Abigail who blogs at The Modern Prairie Girl

The Ferris Wheel Scarf was inspired by the simplicity and fun times spent at hometown fairs with family and best friends. Its simple design is fabulously straightforward.

If you’ve never sewn a stitch (or are known for messing up whatever you touch at the sewing machine!), you will find this scarf perfect for starters. This makes a perfect gift, too.

Sew! What are you waiting for? Have fun and please share your success story with me on the Modern Prairie Sewing Facebook page or via my email abiamerican92 @ netins.net

Ferris Wheel Scarf (A Simple 3-Step Scarf!)

Finished flat measurements: 19 ¼” x 7 ¼”

Required Supplies:

½ yard fabric*
Matching or coordinating thread
Sewing machine
Sewing pins
Scissors

*Notes on fabric: Make your scarf fun and unique by using a wide variety of fabric types. I would suggest a cotton quilting weight just like I used on these shown samples. You could also make your scarf out of cotton rayon, cotton voile, cotton velveteen (absolutely the best for Christmas gift giving!), and home décor. Really, this scarf is so versatile and crazy, go all out and make a scarf from each suggested fabric weights, types and styles! Have fun!

Cut it Out: Cut your scarf fabric at 40” x 15 ½”

Let’s Make it!

1. Right sides together, sew long sides together. Press long seam open. Make this step easy on yourself, by rolling the seam to the middle of your scarf piece and then press it open.

2. Turn right side out.

3. Press one short end ½” inside, the wrong sides of your fabric will be touching. Tuck raw short end of scarf inside other short end. Pin and sew in place.

Your scarf is finished! Now wear it to your hometown fair!

This scarf was designed and made by Abigail A. Long, author of Modern Prairie Sewing: 20 Handmade Projects for You & Your Friends. Visit her blog, The Modern Prairie Girl, for more sewing inspiration.

Note from Crystal: If you love sewing, you’ll definitely want to check out Abigail’s book, Modern Prairie Sewing. She sent me a copy and I fell in love with it… and I don’t even really sew at all! But she made me want to learn how to sew well so I could make some of the beautiful projects in the book.

Modern Prairie Sewing is very well written, the instructions are detailed, and it’s full color. My favorite thing is that there are so many pictures and step-by-step instructions, making it seem doable for even a very novice seamstress like me! Find out more details on the book here.

Shared Sep 2, 2014 comment

Single moms: I need your input & stories!

Published: by Crystal Paine on September 2, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

One of the areas I want to address in my upcoming book is how single moms can effectively start their own business or find ways to increase their income. I know that single moms have extra burdens on their plate and I’d love your help and input as I seek to address these struggles.

Help Me Out!

If you are a single mom who has a successful business or has found ways to increase your income, would you leave a comment telling me a little about your story and how you’ve done so?

I’d also love to hear your tips and suggestions for creative childcare options that won’t break the bank.

If you’d prefer, you can email me at crystal @ moneysavingmom.com

Note: I will be using some of your comments and emails in my book. If you’d prefer to remain anonymous or prefer I don’t use your comment, please say so. Thanks so much!

Shared Sep 1, 2014 comment

Peek Into Our Week: Trim Healthy Mama (I quit sugar!), my love of essential oils, sewing, homeschooling, and a trip to Las Vegas

Published: by Crystal Paine on September 1, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Kaitlynn and I have been working on some sewing and handwork projects together — thanks to the supplies and book generously sent to us by Abigail from Marie-Madeline Studio. We’ll be sharing more pictures and details on our projects in a post in a few weeks.

My first attempt at making Trim Healthy Mama Pancakes. These are not your typical pancakes — they have oats, cottage cheese, and egg whites as the base.

I had read rave reviews of them so I was so sad that my attempt was an epic fail. Leave it to me to somehow ruin a recipe with five ingredients!

But I’m not a quitter, so I tried again the next day. And it was a success!!

{I kept the batter in the fridge overnight and used the griddle instead of the stove top. Both things seemed to make a big difference.}

I topped these with a little Greek yogurt and berries and they are delicious!! I’m going to try making a batch for the freezer as I’ve heard that they are freezer-friendly, too!

Speaking of Trim Healthy Mama, some of you may have picked up on the fact that I’ve radically changed my eating over the last few months. After rave reviews from my sister and another friend, I decided to take the plunge and just experiment with eating according to the Trim Healthy Mama guidelines.

Truthfully, I figured I’d feel miserable and would hate eating this week. But I completely surprised myself when I actually felt great and found that I loved eating this way.

I held off on mentioning much online because I didn’t know whether I’d actually stick with it (going almost entirely gluten-free and sugar-free is a pretty MASSIVE thing for this former carb-loving, homemade-brownie-loving girl).

But I’m going on my third month of eating this way and I’ve (mostly) stopped craving carbs and sweets — except for those on the Trim Healthy Mama plan — so I’d say it’s safe to say that there’s a good chance this is going to be a lifestyle change. Which is something I truly could have never believed was possible.

Y’all, if I can quit sugar, anyone can. {It feels so empowering to be able to say that!}

It’s hard for me to believe that my baby is in Kindergarten!! He’s loving school and just eating it up! {Excuse the mis-matched outfit… I think we need to have a week of classes on How to Match Clothes! :)}

These new essential oils that just came in the mail from Plant Therapy last week and we are loving them! I especially like that these are formulated specifically for kids and have directions on each bottle on how to properly dilute them for use. Look for a giveaway and review soon!

I’ve become a huge essential oil fan over the past year (my poor friends have been so patient with me as I’m often whipping out my traveling oil bag and saying, “I have an oil for that! Here just try this!” ;)), but I’m not partial to any brand specific brand. That said, I’ve found that Plant Therapy has a great selection of oils, the quality is good from what I’ve experienced and researched, and their prices are some of the best I’ve found anywhere.

{I just realized that I am sounding like a total crunchy weirdo talking about quitting sugar and essential oils in the same post. I’m afraid I am becoming that person I never thought I’d be… I promise I will draw the line at switching to cloth toilet paper, though. I have committed to my husband that I will never be that crunchy. Ever. Kudos to those of you who are, but a girl’s gotta draw the line somewhere! :)}

Last week, we had been planning for months to travel to North Carolina for me to hang out with a few of my dear friends (Kathi Lipp, Renee Swope, and Michele Cushatt) for a few days. But Michele’s dad passed away and instead the three of us were able to switch travel plans and go to Las Vegas instead for Michele’s dad’s memorial.

I was grateful for some unexpected quiet on a flight that turned out to be much longer than expected this morning. I savored a Club Soda (one of my current “guilty pleasures”) and read the entire pre-release copy of The Fringe Hours.

It’s hard to describe in words how powerfully impacted I was by the memorial service for Michele’s dad. It was the most moving memorial service I’ve ever attended!

From both of his children giving dynamic messages and tributes to their dad, the worship time, Michele singing and playing, four men leading us in a time of prayer… To see the legacy of a life well lived left me inspired and changed to go home and pour into my family.

These four women are some of the very dearest women I know. We flew in from four different time zones to love on Michele and celebrate the legacy of her dad. After the memorial service, Michele’s family invited us over to celebrate this wonderful man.

We laughed, we teased, we shared our heart, and we cried buckets of tears. And it was beautiful.

We ended the day with Dilly Bars — Michele’s dad’s favorite. It was so very worth breaking my no-sugar commitment for one day in his honor. 🙂

So that was a peek into the last two weeks of my life. How has life been at your house? Tell us what’s been going on in your home recently!

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5 Books I’m Reading This Week + What I Read Last Week

Published: by Crystal Paine on September 1, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

If you noticed in August, my book posts were also noticeably absent. I did read some, but not at all as much as I was hoping to.

Since I feel like I’m living my life one week — or maybe even more like one day? — at a time right now, I decided to experiment with doing weekly book posts instead of monthly book posts.

This is an experiment. Therefore, it may fail or not work. But I figured it wouldn’t hurt to try! 🙂

This week, I’m reading:

I Thought It Was Just Me (But It Isn’t) — I’ve had this one started for quite awhile, and it’s good. It’s just deep and it’s taking me awhile to get through!

Made for More — I’m over halfway done with this book. I’ve been reading a little bit every morning as part of my morning devotion time. It’s been thought-provoking!

Essentialism — Michael Hyatt recommended this one and, so far, it’s been challenging and inspiring. I can’t wait to finish it and start implementing some of the principles!

The Cure for the “Perfect” Life — I started this one last week and am eating it up! I can so relate to the perfectionist tendencies they describe in this book and it’s an area that I’m really working on right now.

A Proper Pursuit — I’ve not started this book yet, but am hoping to have some down time this weekend so I can actually read a fiction book from cover to cover. It’s been quite awhile since I’ve done that and I’m itching to just get lost in a good story!

The Mouse and the Motorcycle — We’re reading this aloud at lunch time and the kids are really enjoying it. It’s an easy read, but entertaining so far.

Last week, I read:

The Fringe Hours: Making Time for You — One of the perks of being an author & blogger is getting to read pre-release copies of great books like this! If you feel overwhelmed with life and can’t seem to find time to recharge your batteries, I wholeheartedly encourage you to pre-order a copy of this book.

I’ve long admired how Jessica manages to do so much, and yet still have time for things she loves — like hanging out with friends and family, scrapbooking, and blogging. In The Fringe Hours, she unveils her secrets to success and gives you the tools, tips, and techniques you can use to find time in your full schedule to refresh yourself and refill your tank, too. You can read more about this book here.

What are you reading right now? Any book recommendations for me?

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10 Goals For This Week {and why I’ve been AWOL when it comes to goal-setting!}

Published: by Crystal Paine on September 1, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

So, um, did you notice I’ve not posted any goals since July? That would be because I sort of went AWOL when it came to goal-setting in August.

But I do have some fairly valid “excuses” for taking a break from goal-setting:

We started the month of August with just getting home from a 5-day trip, we took a 12-day trip in the middle of the month, and I ended the month with a trip to Las Vegas for my friend’s dad’s memorial service. So it felt like we just plain weren’t home much in August.
We also started back to homeschooling and it’s our first year to have three different grade levels (5th grade, 3rd grade, and Kindergarten). The first two weeks were pretty brutal as we all adjusted. Gratefully, I feel like we’re starting to get back into a rhythm and routine again!
I started writing my next book and am on a tight deadline (The manuscript is due December 1. I had months to think through and map out the idea and outline, though, and am working with an amazing ghost editor, so it’s not as audacious as it sounds. But it’s still a pretty tall order!)
All three kids started a more rigorous fall activity schedule than we’ve done before: Kathrynne is on swim team, Kaitlynn is getting private ice-skating coaching + taking group ice-skating lessons, and Silas is on a soccer team. Each of them have 2-3 practices/games each week, as a result. I never expected our kids would be so involved with extracurricular activities, but since Jesse is home now, he is the one who is mostly in charge of these. All three kids are very committed and truly excelling at their chosen sport and we’re excited to encourage them in their interests and giftings. Plus, we’re encouraged by the character we are seeing them build as a result.

Because of these additions to our schedule, I felt like I just needed to make “making it through the month of August” my goal for last month. That’s just how you have to roll sometimes, right??

By the grace of God, I survived August in one piece and, after a few grueling weeks where I lost my patience more than I’d like to admit, we’ve rearranged some things in our schedule, I’ve re-adjusted my expectations, I’ve delegated more, and I feel much better. And I’m so very ready to get back to goal-setting!

This Week’s Goals:

Marriage/Mothering/Homemaking Goals

1. Read 5 chapters of The Mouse and the Motorcycle aloud to the kids at lunch time.

2. Have a movie night with Jesse.

3. Write a love note to Jesse.

4. Work on decorating our house (finally!) with a generous friend who has offered to help me this weekend (because decorating is not my forte!)

Personal Goals

5. Work on reviewing and memorizing Romans 1 and Romans 2:1.

6. Finish reading I Thought It Was Just Me (But It Isn’t), Made for More, Essentialism, The Cure for the “Perfect” Life, and A Proper Pursuit.

7. Run or exercise at least 5 times.

Business Goals

8. Work on an article to submit to a magazine.

9. Put together answers for an upcoming online interview.

10. Edit chapters 1-4 of my book manuscript.

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.

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12 Months to a Healthier You: September’s Challenge

Published: by Crystal Paine on September 1, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

12-Months-to-a-Healthier-You

Note: I kind of fell off the bandwagon with this series in August. My goal-setting post for this week (coming in a bit) will explain why. Thanks for your patience with me. I’m excited to get back to this series again!

One of my goals for 2014 is to focus on my health. It’s easy to let our health take a back burner to everything else on our to-do list. But as I share in my new book, Say Goodbye to Survival Mode, I’ve experienced what happens when you put your health last… and it’s not pretty!

With this in mind, I’m committed to making my health even more of a priority this year. And I’d love to have you join me for the 12 Months to a Healthier You Challenge.

We’re be focusing on one challenge area each month — all with the goal of being in a healthier place as a person by the end of next year. My hope is that as we work on instilling one new healthy habit each month, they won’t just be month-long challenges, but lifelong changes.

12 Months to a Healthier You Focus Areas for 2014

Here are the focus areas I’ve planned out for 2014:

January: Exercise Regularly
February: Eat More Fresh Fruits & Veggies
March: Drink More Water
April: Cut Back on Sugar
May: Get More Rest
June: Create a Morning Routine
July: Read More
August: Go to Bed Earlier
September: Declutter Your Home
October: Cut Back on Caffeine
November: Keep a Gratitude Journal
December: Simplify & Say No

How This Challenge Works:

At the beginning of the month, I’ll introduce the focus area and encourage you to set a small goal for that specific area and I’ll share my goals.

Then, every Friday, I’ll have a check-in post where I’ll encourage you to share your progress & struggles and I’ll share mine, as well. If you want to blog about your progress, I’ll include a link-up at the end of the post so you can share your blog posts on this challenge.

In addition to the Friday check-ins, I’ll also probably share a few posts and guest posts on the monthly topics each month, along with sharing about related books, resources, or websites that I’ve found helpful.

Are you on social media? You can also share your progress on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter by using hashtag #12MonthstoaHealthierYou.

My Goals for Decluttering My House in September

My goal for September is to spend at least 30 minutes to an hour every week this month focusing on decluttering. I plan to share a post with my pictures and results of my decluttering each Monday this month.

Will you be joining me for this September Challenge? If so, leave a comment letting us know you’re planning to join and what your decluttering goals are — whether it’s an area of the house you plan to tackle or a certain amount of time you plan to spend. Remember to keep them simple and doable!

Shared Aug 29, 2014 comment

How to Make the Most of Your 24-Hour Day: Part 1

Published: by Crystal Paine on August 29, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

In recent months, many people have asked how I manage my time. While I’ve written on time management fairly extensively in the past, it’s been awhile since I’ve done so. And my season of life has changed quite a bit, which has changed how I manage my time and my days. So I figured it was time for another up-to-date series on the subject of time management.

I want to kick things off with one time management mindset that has radically shifted the way I think and live…

“I don’t have time.”

How often have you heard and said that phrase? I’d wager to guess you’ve said it a lot. I have, too.

But we all have the time 24 hours in each day. We all get to choose how we spend them.

Yes, you have choice.

Remember my post from earlier this week when I said that my was really full for the next few weeks? But I quickly stated that this is the life I’ve chosen.

I’ve chosen to write a book. We’ve chosen to homeschool our kids. I’ve chosen to run a blog.

I could have chosen not to take any one (or all!) of these things. Understanding this and owning this has changed my life.

I am not a slave to life. I don’t have to stay stuck in a situation if I’m miserable.

I can’t tell you how many times someone has said to me, “I wish I could get on a budget.” Or, “I wish we could save more money.” Or, “I wish I could find a way to earn money from home.”

All of those things are possible, if you choose to make them a priority.

And that means you’re going to have to say “no” to a lot of other things. Because you can’t do it all.

How you spend your 24 hours is up to you.

You can choose to be intentional. You can choose to set small goals and follow through with them. You can choose to seize each day and use it wisely.

Or, you can choose to wander through your days, going around in circles, procrastinating, and wasting time.

The choice is yours.

I wanted to start this series with a very foundational principle that has impacted and shaped the way I view time management. Beginning Tuesday, we’ll be diving in and getting really practical — starting off by talking about how I’ve made choices in what to say “yes” to and what to say “no” to and why.

Do you have any time management questions you’d love for me to try to answer or address in this series? If so, ask away in the comments and I’ll do my best to work in as many answers to your questions as possible as part of this series.

photo credit

Shared Aug 29, 2014 comment

Brigette’s $62 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6

Published: by Brigette on August 29, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Produce and Jams from a Friend’s Garden

Aldi

2 cartons Oil (@$2.49 each) – $4.98

4 packages Blueberries (@$1.29 each) – $5.16

2 packages Frozen Boneless Chicken Breasts (@$5.99 each) – $11.98

1 package Mini Sweet Peppers – $2.29

1 bunch Bananas (@$0.44/lb) – $1.15

2 bags Carrots ($0.69 each) – $1.38

1 bag Limes – $0.79

1 bag Gala Apples – $3.29

1 package Chocolate Chips – $1.59

1 jar Black Pepper – $1.99

Total: $34.60

Farmer’s Mart

4 heads Cauliflower (marked down to $0.99 each)

Total: $3.97

Harris Teeter

1 gallon Milk – $2.97

10 bags of Shredded Cheese (@B2G3 free) – $11.98

5 boxes Kashi Cereal – $1.99 each, used 2 $0.70/1 Kashi printable (doubled), plus $1.00/2 Kashi printable – $6.20 after coupons

3 boxes Annie’s Macaroni and Cheese (@$1.00 each) – $3.00, used 3 $0.35/1 Annie’s printable – $0.30/each after coupons

1 carton So Delicious Almond Milk – $2.50, used $0.55/1 So Delicious printable, plus receive $1.00/1 Ibotta rebate – $0.40 after coupons

8 individual Yoplait yogurts (@$0.37 each) – $2.96, used $0.60/8 Yoplait printable (doubled), plus $0.40/6 Harris Teeter evic, plus $0.40/6 Saving Star – $0.96/8 after coupons and rebate

Total after all sales, coupons and rebates – $23.01

Bakery Outlet

10 packages of assorted Buns (@$0.10 each!! They expire August 30th, so I will freeze most of them)

Total: $1.00

Weekly Total after all Sales and Coupons: $62.58

Weekly Menu Plan

Breakfasts

Oatmeal x 2, Veggie Omelettes, Scrambled Eggs with Toast/Jam, Cereal x 2, Smoothies

Lunches

PB&J/Carrots/Bananas, Tuna fish Sandwiches/Pepper slices/Apples, Leftovers x 3, Baked Potatoes with Cheese/Oranges, Build-Your-Own Salad Bar/Roasted Cauliflower

Dinners

Taco Salad, Steamed Cauliflower

Grilled Hobo Packets, Easy Whole Wheat Bread, Blueberries

Slow-Cooker Barbecue Sandwiches, Fresh Veggie Tray, Homemade Applesauce

Baked Macaroni and Cheese (meatless night), Roasted Cauliflower, Tossed Salad

Homemade Pizza, Steamed Broccoli

Dinner at a Friend’s House – I am bringing Ultimate Double Chocolate Brownies and Ice Cream

Classic Grilled Chicken, Cucumber and Tomato Salad, leftover Macaroni and Cheese, Blueberries

Summer Bucket List

Summer Bucket List

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Farmer’s Market

Walmart

Weekly Total for all Groceries: $30.85

Weekly Menu Plan

Breakfasts

Lunches

Dinners

Snacks

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Black Bean Soup from Canned Beans

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I Tried to Do It All & Failed

Stripping Out the Non-Necessities

My Best Stuff List

What To Do About the Guilt

Sometimes, It’s Hard to Say “No”

What Matters Most

Do you struggle to say “no” sometimes? What have you said “no” to in order to say “yes” to the best? I’d love to hear!

Ferris Wheel Scarf (A Simple 3-Step Scarf!)

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This week, I’m reading:

Last week, I read:

What are you reading right now? Any book recommendations for me?

12 Months to a Healthier You Focus Areas for 2014

How This Challenge Works:

My Goals for Decluttering My House in September

Produce and Jams from a Friend’s Garden

Aldi

Farmer’s Mart

Harris Teeter

Bakery Outlet

Weekly Total after all Sales and Coupons: $62.58

Weekly Menu Plan

Breakfasts

Lunches

Dinners

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