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Shared Sep 14, 2014 comment

19 Ways to Encourage Kids to Eat Healthier

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

Want to get your kids to eat healthier? Here are 19 ways to encourage them to eat more fruits, veggies, and other healthy foods:

1. Make fresh juice together. This is a great way to get in lots of fresh produce!

2. Let your kids plant and harvest their own veggies in their little garden plot. Kids are more likely to eat foods they have helped to grow themselves.

3. Take your kids to the Farmer’s Market, give them $5 each, and encourage them to pick out one to two different vegetables to use for meals during the coming week.

4. Get a few backyard chickens and let your children gather the farm fresh eggs.

5. Take your kids to the health food store and the grocery store and have them read the labels on food at both places and discuss the differences.

6. Go to a U-Pick farm as a family and pick some fresh produce. Check LocalHarvest.org to find farms in your area that sell to the public.

7. When you’re planning the menu, let your kids pick out the fruits or veggies to serve with lunch and dinner.

8. Have a great attitude about eating new foods. Your attitude can often go a long way in helping your children to want to eat healthfully. If mom is excited, usually the kids are, too!

9. Make good food easily accessible. Wash and chop fruits and veggies and have them at-the-ready for snacks and meals. Kids are much more likely to reach for food that is cut up in a kid-friendly way!

10. Serve the fruits and veggies first at a meal. Fill up on these before you fill up on other items at meal times.

11. Teach your kids how to make smoothies. Let them experiment with different flavors and fruit combinations.

12. Serve cut up fruits, veggies, and other healthy lunch items in a muffin tin.

13. Talk about what produce is in season and have your child pick out seasonal produce at the grocery store.

14. Cut fruits and veggies into cute shapes and serve.

15. Make mealtimes fun: read aloud while your kids are eating. I find they will concentrate and eat what’s set before them better if their minds are busy listening.

16. Get creative: make faces or other fun designs with fruits and veggies!

17. Have a picnic! Kids seem to get more excited about eating when there is an element of fun and adventure involved.

18. Make some kind of dip for them to dip their fruits and veggies in. For a healthy option: try peanut butter or Greek yogurt.

19. Let your kids help in the kitchen. They usually love the opportunity to work alongside you and are more excited about eating what they have helped to make.

What ideas and suggestions would you add to this list? I’d love to hear!

Shared Sep 13, 2014 comment

Brigette’s $48 Grocery Shopping Trip and Menu Plan for 6

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

Aldi

2 3-ct packages Romaine Hearts ($1.99 each) – $3.98

1 3-ct package Green Peppers – $0.99

1 jar (38-oz) Ketchup – $1.29

2 packages (5-lbs each) All-Purpose Flour – $3.10

1 package (12-oz) Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

1 container Honey Mustard – $0.99

1 1-lb package Butter – $2.99 (Yikes!! I am hoping butter will go on sale around the holidays like it did last year at Aldi and if it does – I am seriously stockpiling for the whole year!)

4 packages Baby Carrots ($0.69 each) – $2.76

1 3-lb bag Lemons – $2.99

1 12-oz package Frozen Broccoli – $0.99

1 Cucumber – $0.49

1 2-oz container Pure Lemon Extract – $1.99

1 2-oz container Pure Almond Extract – $1.99

1 40-oz package frozen Chicken Tenderloins – $5.99

1 package 3-ct Tomatoes – $0.99

1 32-oz container Nonfat Greek Yogurt – $3.89

1 bunch Bananas ($0.44/lb) – $0.81

1 gallon Milk – $3.75

Total: $41.57

Harris Teeter

(I was planning on stockpiling the advertised $0.69/lb chicken, but they only had a couple of not-very-fresh packages left. I got a rain check and will be buying a bunch next week!)

Peaches ($0.79/lb) – $2.48

3 boxes Hamburger Helper – $3.00, used $0.75/3 printable (doubled), plus $1.00/3 Harris Teeter evic, plus receive back $1.00/3 from SavingStar – $0.50 MM after coupons and rebate

1 20-oz box Bisquick – $1.50, used $0.50/1 printable (doubled), plus $0.50/1 Harris Teeter evic, plus receive back $0.50 from SavingStar – $0.50 MM after coupons

1 Glade Scented Oil Warmer – $1.79, used $1.00/1 printable, plus $1.00/1 Harris Teeter evic – $0.21 MM after coupons

2 boxes Rice Krispies Cereal (B1G1 @ $3.89) – $3.89, used 2 $0.75/1 Kelloggs printable (doubled) – $0.89/2 after coupons

1 jar Smuckers Natural Strawberry Fruit Spread – $2.50 – used $0.75/1 Smuckers printable (doubled) – $1.00 after coupons

1 jar Smuckers Natural Grape Fruit Spread – $2.00 – used $0.75/1 Smuckers printable (doubled) – $0.50 after coupons

3 32-oz cartons So Delicious Coconut Milk ($1.50 each) – $4.50, used 3 $0.55/1 printable (doubled) – $1.20/3 after coupons

Total after all Coupons and Tax: $6.49, plus receive $1.50 back from SavingStar

Weekly Total after all Sales, Coupons, and Tax: $48.06, plus receive $1.50 back from SavingStar

Weekly Menu

Breakfasts

Oatmeal x 2, Scrambled Eggs and Toast, Smoothies (using frozen fruit and coconut milk), Cereal x 2, Pancakes

Lunches

Build-Your-Own-Salad Bar x 2, Baked Potatoes with Cheese/Bananas x 2, Tuna Sandwiches/Pepper Slices/Peaches, Macaroni and Cheese/Apples/Carrots, PB&J Sandwiches/Cucumbers

Dinners

Venison Roast in the Crockpot, Carrot Fries, Baked Potatoes

Cheesy Hamburger Potato Soup (using ground venison), Pumpkin Crescent Rolls

Spaghizza, Tossed Salad, Roasted Yellow Squash

Chicken Gravy over Brown Rice, Carrots, Homemade Applesauce

Easy Baked Chicken Nuggets, Homemade Baked French Fries, Tossed Salad, Big Daddy Biscuits

Fried Egg Sandwiches (meatless), Broccoli

Leftovers

Snacks

Popcorn, Oatmeal Cookies (for the rest of the family), Chocolate Zucchini Cake (for me – a new Trim Healthy Mama recipe)

Shared Sep 12, 2014 comment

My Homemade Wood Floor Cleaner Experiment

Published: by Crystal Paine on September 12, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

As I told you not too long ago, when we moved into this rental house here in Tennessee, it was my first time to ever have wood floors. And we don’t just have one room with wood floors; the house has more wood floors than carpet! So this is a new territory for me and I’m learning as I go.

So I was excited to see a recipe for Wood Floor Cleaner in the Clean & Simple ebook when I read this book last week. I love the idea of using all homemade cleaners and we’ve used a lot of them over the years, but it seems that I fall back into buying some cleaners occasionally, just for the sake of convenience.

After reading this ebook, though, I want to switch to all homemade cleaners. Why? Because Stephanie made it feel so doable and simple.

My favorite thing about this book was that all the recipes in it can be created by buying only 7 ingredients total. And the majority of the ingredients are inexpensive items like vinegar!

The ebook was well laid out, easy to read, and included cute pictures of every recipe — which made you want to go whip it up right away!

Wood Floor Cleaner

2 to 4 Tablespoons of Castile soap
10 drops of lemon essential oil
1 gallon of hot water
up to 1⁄8 cup of vinegar

Add soap and essential oil to a large bowl or bucket. Fill with hot water and stir to mix. Add up to 1/8 vinegar, depending upon how greasy the floor is.

This cleaner worked really well and smelled wonderfully. All in all, the experiment was a big success!

Want Step-By-Step Help To Start Living a Healthier Lifestyle?

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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!

Shared Sep 12, 2014 comment

How to Make 10 Freezer Meals in One Hour (Part 3)

Published: by MSM Team on September 12, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Ruth at Living Well, Spending Less has written a part 3 to her series on How to Make 10 Freezer Meals in One Hour:

Today I am super excited to share this Comfort Foods Edition of 10 Freezer Meals in One Hour, which includes five delicious home-cooked meals that are perfect for fall.

As usual, in order to make the cut, each recipe must meet ALL of the following criteria:

Deemed delicious by both my kids and husband

No pre-cooking required (aside from browning ground beef)

Freezer friendly

Easy to cook

Uses budget-friendly ingredients and pantry staples

In this one post you will find everything you need to prep 10 awesome freezer meals in about an hour of hands-on time (not including grocery shopping.)

Read the full post here.

Shared Sep 11, 2014 comment

Why I Don’t Sell Essential Oils

Published: by Crystal Paine on September 11, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Over the past two years, I’ve really become a fan of essential oils. I know they can kind of feel like a “fad” and I’m not one to jump onto bandwagons.

But as one friend after another friend has told me about how much she was loving essential oils, I finally decided to get over my “I don’t do fads” stance and try them. And I was pleasantly surprised.

I Don’t Have a Miracle Story to Share

No, I’m not here to claim that I have lost 15 pounds, feel ten years younger, and never have to go to the doctor again because of essential oils. I don’t have a miracle story like that to share with you, but I can tell you that:

I am sleeping better at night because I’ve been religiously putting Peace & Calming on my shoulders before I go to bed.
I have stayed healthier and warded off at least two full-blown colds/fevers/sore throats by using OnGuard and Oregano on the bottoms of my feet.
I have loved the smell of Thieves, Peppermint, Lavender, and more wafting through the house in our diffuser.
I’ve soothed aching muscles by rubbing on Deep Blue.
I’ve calmed a queasy stomach with DigestZen.
And I’ve definitely felt more peaceful and relaxed by sprinkling a few drops of Calming the Child, Whisper, Elevation, or Serenity in the tub and soaking in it after a long day.

If you’re familiar with essential oils, you’ll notice that there are a lot of different brands represented in this list above. Some of you may be cringing right now because you realize I’m not sold on any one brand.

Why I Don’t Sell Essential Oils

Here’s the thing: I love essential oils and I’ve seen them work well in so many cases, but I just can’t say that one brand is superior to another brand. Why? Because I personally have benefited from multiple brands.

This is why I could never sell essential oils. Many of my friends do and many of them have made good money doing so. I’m happy for them and their success, but I’m also happy with my decision to use multiple brands.

Do Your Own Research

So many of you have emailed in, commented, or asked me in person for more details on what essential oils I use and why. I can tell that many, many of you are doing your own research and that encourages me because I think there is a lot of misinformation out there and it’s important to study things out for yourself.

Don’t just read a blog post or do whatever it is that someone you know does. Research, read, investigate, and experiment with a few different oils.

Figure out what works best for your family and yourself. Maybe you decide that essential oils just aren’t for you. Maybe you decide you only want to stick with one brand. Maybe you decide to use multiple brands.

Whatever you do, remember that it’s important to do what is best for you and your own family.

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Shared Sep 10, 2014 comment

Swagbucks Paid for My Husband’s EMT Course

Published: by Crystal Paine on September 10, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Today’s Swagbucks success story is from Elizabeth:

I was the PTO President, my son was in second grade, and my husband worked full-time. We were already busy when my husband applied for a local EMT class — and got accepted!

That led me to panic a little. I worked as a substitute and he worked full-time — we had no idea how we would make everything work financially, but we were sure we could figure it out.

I have been using Swagbucks for some time now — usually to get gifts or things for our son with just pennies on the dollar using Amazon gift cards. However, when my husband got accepted to the EMT program, my new goal was to earn as many Swagbucks as possible before his first class started.

After his first class he came home with a lot of homework, a list of things he needed, and a smile that could brighten anyone’s day. I took his list of things he needed, and worked extra hard – just about every waking minute I wasn’t doing something, I was earning Swagbucks.

I was averaging about 200 a day — which was more than I had ever earned at the time. I was able to get enough Amazon gift cards to purchase my husband’s blood pressure cuff, stethoscope, first responder pants, and a pen light (totaling $200) and I spent nothing out of pocket!

It was all paid for using Swagbucks!

Here is a list of things I did to earn the Swagbucks:

– The Daily Poll: these are only worth 1 point but if there are 30 days in a month, that’s 30 points!
– Surveys: sometimes you get a bunch and others you don’t get any at all
– Special Offers: I never did any that cost money but the little ones for a 1 Swagbuck or more always worked well for me
– SwagTV: I played it on my phone and on the iPad (on their website they have the “watch” button and I would do that as much as I could. My son loves the animal videos)

A year later, my husband has now passed the class, and is working on two different departments. He really loves helping people, and I am happy I was able to get the items he needed with nothing spent out of pocket!

photo source

Shared Sep 9, 2014 comment

Work-At-Home Opportunity: Paid Blogging Internship

Published: by Crystal Paine on September 9, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Blogelina currently has a work-at-home opportunity available that might be a great fit for someone who is good with blogging and social media. Here are the details of the position:

Here at Blogelina, we’re excited to be adding to our team! We’re looking for a couple of motivated, organized, social people to work with us in maintaining the Blogelina blog and social media platforms.

Our internship positions will start on a trial basis at 4 hours/wk. – for 1 month. At the end of the month, there could be potential to increase your hours if you would like to! Our internship compensation is $10/hr.

The Tasks We’re Looking For Help With Are:

Uploading Posts To Blogelina
Adding To & Organizing Our Pinterest Account
Recycling Old Posts to Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc.
Organizing Online Events
Editing Images To Make Them More Social Media-Friendly

Think you’re a good fit or know someone who is? Go apply for this opportunity here.

Shared Sep 8, 2014 comment

Make-Ahead Salad on the Go!

Published: by Crystal Paine on September 8, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

I’m a little obsessed with eating and drinking from jars right now. I got a few jars from Amazon and one from TJ Maxx and rarely does a day go by that I’m not using them instead of a bowl or cup.

There’s just something fun and unique about using a glass jar instead of a plain bowl or glass. Plus, it makes the colors look beautiful.

I love salads and eat one almost every day (sometimes twice a day!). If you want to eat more salads, but you don’t have time to prepare them during the day or you eat lunch on the run or at work, here’s an idea for you: make your salad in a glass jar with a lid or a plastic cup with a lid.

Not only are the colors gorgeous and make you just look forward to eating the salad, but it will stay fresh and be portable. Just leave off the dressing until right before serving and you have salad on the go!

Today at Tanga, you can purchase a set of 2 Salad on the Go Cups on sale for $6.99. Shipping is just $2.99. As a comparison, Amazon is offering single cups for $8.95.

These cups make eating healthfully a breeze. At night, just layer a colorful salad in the cup, put dressing in the cup, and stick it in the fridge. In the morning, grab the cup out of the fridge on the way to work or school and you’ll have a fresh and healthy salad ready to go for you for lunch.

If you’re weird like me and don’t use dressing, you can use the cup to put some nuts or cheese in to sprinkle on your salad before eating. You could also use the cups for fruit salad and stick some Greek yogurt in the cup to top the fruit with!

(Note: The link in this post is my referral link. Read my disclosure policy here.)

Shared Sep 8, 2014 comment

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

Published: by Crystal Paine on September 8, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

I’m so excited that last week’s experiment to share what I planned to read last week (instead of sharing a post once a month on what I hoped to read during the whole month) was a success for me.

It feels like breaking things down into more bite-sized pieces. At this season of my life when it feels like I’m focusing on living one day at a time, this approach seems more doable and less daunting.

Plus, it motivated to me get in more reading — which is always a good thing!

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!

A Proper Pursuit — I’ve not started this book yet, but am hoping to have some down time some evening this week 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!

Love, Skip, Jump — Multiple readers have told me I must read this book. It looks good and I can’t wait to dive in!

All In — I’ve been so blessed by all three of the Mark Batterson books I’ve read so far and I’m guessing this will be another challenging and life-impacting read.

Eight Twenty Eight — I know very little about this book, but it showed up at my doorstep from the publisher. And I was so intrigued by the story when I read the back cover and flipped through it, that it went to the top of my book pile immediately!

Manage Your Day-to-Day — This book came highly recommended to me by a friend whose book recommendations I value, so I’m excited to see what thoughts and ideas I can pick up from it on better time management — something I love reading and learning about!

On the Alaskan Trail — I picked up this little book at a homeschool conference last year and have been meaning to read it to the kids ever since.

Last Week, I Read:

100 Days of Real Food — This was a great read! I enjoyed it so much that I wrote an entire post on it here: 10 Reasons I Loved 100 Days of Real Food.

Made for More — I read a little bit of this book every morning as part of my morning devotions. I really appreciated the thoughts on how to live in God’s image in our everyday lives. I especially loved this quote, “When you embrace God’s providence in your life, you are free to reflect His power and love. Instead of being paralyzed by what you can’t control, you are empowered by the knowledge that God is in control.”

Essentialism — Michael Hyatt recommended this one and it was a challenging read. I would recommend that everyone read this book. You might not agree with all of the principles, but it will definitely cause you to step back and examine your life and choices.

The Cure for the “Perfect” Life — I ate this book up! I can so relate to the perfectionist tendencies in this book and loved the insights and wisdom the authors shared for how to overcome the desire to have a “perfect” life and instead live with braveness and authenticity.

The Mouse and the Motorcycle — We read this aloud at lunch time and the kids really enjoyed it. It’s an easy and entertaining read — great to foster kids’ imaginations!

Ebooks read: The Eczema Cure, The Nourished Metabolism, All Natural Living, Clean & Simple, Kids Eat Real Food, Grain Free Freezer Cooking, and Grain-Free, Dairy-Free Baking, Sweets, and Treats.

Last Week, I Listened To:

Insider Secrets Podcast With Ruth Soukup — Ruth always has such great insight and this podcast was no different. If you are looking for some encouragement and inspiration as a blogger or online business owner, I think you’ll really enjoy this podcast.

Chris LoCurto Podcast — I love Chris and learn so much from him. I listened to his latest two podcast on building a team, putting people in the right positions, and encouraging your team to succeed. Such great wisdom and inspiration!

Last Week, We Watched:

Mom’s Night Out — I’ve heard about this movie over and over again since it released, so we finally watched it as a family. Jesse and the kids loved it and laughed their heads off. Since I had already read the book, I knew the storyline so I don’t think it was quite as funny to me since I already knew what was coming. 🙂

I’m kind of “meh” about the movie… I think it was nice that it was clean and wholesome and genuinely funny in parts. But I also love movies with more depth in them and this one just felt fluffy to me, if that makes sense?

Shark Tank — Everyone in our family is fans of Shark Tank, so we watched one episode together this week. Our kids love to analyze the business ideas and offers made and give their own running commentary. And Jesse and I not only love doing the same, but we love the entrepreneurial conversations we have with our kids as a result of watching the show.

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

Shared Sep 8, 2014 comment

What I de-cluttered in 30 minutes this week (12 Months to a Healthier You Challenge)

Published: by Crystal Paine on September 8, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

For September’s 12 Months to a Healthier You Challenge, we’re focusing on clearing out clutter. I committed to spend 30 minutes to an hour every week de-cluttering at my house.

You know what? After my decluttering session, I was so encouraged.

Why? Well, recently, I’ve been feeling like the clutter has been creeping in. And as you have probably figured out, I don’t like clutter. Er, more like, I loathe clutter.

So when it feels like clutter is creeping in and multiplying in closets, I can start to feel anxious about it. (I know, I know, I’m sorta weird. But it’s true.)

I figured that this challenge was going to be easy because I’ve not de-cluttered much at all since we moved in May. Well, guess, what? I had trouble finding clutter today! In fact, mostly what I found were things we use on a regular basis or have plans to use very soon.

As I analyzed it more, I think the reason I’ve been feeling like we have more clutter is not so much because we’ve been lowering our standards, but because we down-sized in house when we moved, my husband brought his office home, and our floor plan is laid out so differently here.

This left me feeling so encouraged! And it also made me have new appreciation for those of you who are currently living in really tiny houses or apartments.

Anyway, here’s a picture of what 30 minutes of digging through closets and dressers and drawers produced. A half-filled grocery sack.

I think I might try tackling the garage next week. That should produce quite a bit more clutter than a half-filled grocery sack! 🙂

Did you do any de-cluttering this past week? If so, how’d it go for you?

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Shared Sep 8, 2014 comment

10 Goals For This Week

Published: by Crystal Paine on September 8, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Last 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.~~

This Week’s Goals:

Marriage/Mothering/Homemaking Goals

1. Read On The Alaskan Trail aloud to the kids at lunch time.

2. Have a movie night with Jesse.

3. Write a love note to Jesse.

4. Spend 30 minutes decluttering our house.

5. Try making Sourdough Starter (my first attempt ever!).

Personal Goals

6. Work on reviewing and memorizing Romans 1 and Romans 2:1-2.

7. Finish reading I Thought It Was Just Me (But It Isn’t), A Proper Pursuit, Manage Your Day-to-Day, Love, Skip, Jump, Eight Twenty Eight, and All In.

8. Run or exercise at least 5 times.

Business Goals

9. Work on chapters 3-5 of my book manuscript.

10. Shut down the laptop by 6 p.m. every evening and keep it off until my computer time the following morning.

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 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

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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!

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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.}

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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.

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This is the Best Black Bean Soup

Black Bean Soup Recipe Ingredients

How to Make Black Bean Soup from Canned Beans

How to Thicken This Recipe for Black Bean Soup

What to Serve with Best Ever Black Bean Soup

Black Bean Soup with Canned Beans Storage

Can you freeze Black Bean Soup?

Black Bean Soup Recipe FAQs

Black Bean Soup from Canned Beans

Ingredients 1x2x3x

Instructions

Nutrition

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Ingredients