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Shared May 8, 2014 comment

Today’s Kitchen Pantry Re-organization

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

One of the risks of renting a house without seeing it, was not knowing how the storage space would be. Since we’ve been blessed to have a basement in our last few homes, I was a little concerned about how we’d adjust to not having the luxury of a basement here in TN.

Well, when we got here and saw the house for the first time, I almost squealed when I opened up this door off the kitchen and saw this amazing PANTRY!!! I had no idea this house had a pantry, so this was an incredible bonus.

I know it might seem weird that I was so excited about a pantry, but because I spend so much time in the kitchen and like to buy in bulk, this felt almost like Christmas morning to me. (Yes, you can think I’m crazy!)

My sister and I unpacked the kitchen on moving in day and just got everything into the pantry — we didn’t worry about getting it organized since we were just on a mission to get all the boxes unpacked that weekend. But I knew that one of the first organization projects I wanted to tackle was the pantry.

Today, I had some time to head in there and organize. And it felt so good to get a sort of organized system for what I was going to store where.

Things are pretty sparse right now since we tried to eat down as much of our pantry as we could so we didn’t have as much to move. But I’m looking forward to getting it filled up — and maybe even adding a few more shelves so we can have more storage in here.

Have you tackled any organization projects recently? If so, tell us about them!

Shared May 8, 2014 comment

Q&A: How do you get your book idea published?

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

I have a question regarding book publishing. I noticed that you recently published your second book and was wondering if you could give me some advice. I have a book idea that I’d really like to get published. I’m not sure where to start, though. The web sites I’ve read so far on book publishing have overwhelmed me. -Amy

Hi, Amy!

That’s exciting that you have a book idea and I love your ambition for wanting to get your book published! I don’t want to discourage you with this post, but I also want to be honest and say that it’s really hard to get a book deal if you haven’t already established a platform online.

Publishers have limited budgets and print capabilities. Meaning, they can only print and market a set number of books each year.

There are so many bloggers and online entrepreneurs with really large followings in this day and age, publishers tend to like proof of your pre-established market before they’ll even consider your manuscript. Publishers want to know that you have at least a few thousand (or more!) people who will buy your book without any marketing efforts from the publisher.

They also need to know that there is a market for what you have to say. If you haven’t already created and built that market, it’s hard to convince them to put time and money into your project — especially when they have dozens of other manuscripts from authors who do have a pre-established market of 5,000 to 20,000 people or more.

What does this mean for you? It’s good news and bad news.

The bad news is that if you don’t already have an online following, you need to focus on building a platform before you pursue a publishers.

The good news is that it’s never been easier to build an online platform. With social media networks and the power of viral marketing, everyone who has a unique message and a persevering spirit can build an online platform.

How to Get Started

1. Read Platform by Michael Hyatt — This book will encourage you and give you a vision for how you can build an online platform without money, experience, or even connections.

2. Read my free ebook on How to Make Money Blogging — This ebook isn’t just about making money online. I share step-by-step help for setting up a successful blog and getting people to read what you have to say.

3. Start networking. One of the best ways to learn and grow is to network with others. Find those who are ahead of you, those who are right where you’re at, and those who are just starting on their journey headed in the direction you are. Develop friendships, ask questions, share ideas and advice. Relationships with others who are in a similar position are invaluable!

4. Jump out start doing things. The best thing you can be doing to get yourself closer to getting a book deal is to just start doing things. Many people have great ideas, but they never do much with those ideas. Go experiment. Try things. Make mistakes and learn from them. And keep trying and learning!

5. Keep at it! As I wrote about recently, I think the number one reason most people fail is because they give up too soon. You are going to struggle in the process. You are going to feel insecure. You are going to question why you are doing this. You are going to fail. But success comes to those who refuse to give up.

What advice and suggestions do the rest of you have for Amy?

Recommend reading: How to Write a Book Proposal and Sell Your Book Like Wildfire. I wish I had read both of these books before I wrote my first book!

Shared May 7, 2014 comment

Oreo Ice Cream Cake

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 7, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Need a quick and easy recipe for a hot day? This Oreo ice cream cake is such a simple recipe and everyone loves it!

You Will Love Oreo Ice Cream Cake

It’s the perfect recipe for a summer birthday or get-together because it doesn’t heat up the house!

Plus, you can make it several day ahead of time and store it in the freezer until you’re ready to celebrate.

It’s also a great dessert to keep on hand for unexpected guests — everyone loves it!

Ingredients for Oreo Ice Cream Cake

1 package Oreo cookies
2 Tablespoons butter, melted (if you want a really firm crust, you’ll need 6-8 Tbs.)
1/2 gallon vanilla or chocolate ice cream, softened
1/2 cup chocolate syrup
16 oz. whipped topping, softened

How to Make Oreo Ice Cream Cake

1. Place Oreos in a ziptop bag or in your food processor and crush them into crumbs (you might need to do this in 2 batches).

2. Reserve 1/2 cup of crushed Oreo crumbs for the topping.

3. In a medium size bowl, mix remaining Oreo crumbs and melted butter.

4. Spread Oreo mixture into a greased 9″ x 13″ pan; pressing firmly to form a crust.

5. Spoon softened ice cream onto the Oreo crust and spread evenly.

6. Drizzle chocolate syrup in a thin layer over the ice cream.

7. Spread softened whipped topping over chocolate syrup.

8. Sprinkle reserved Oreo crumbles over whipped topping.

9. Freeze for at least 4-5 hours, or overnight (for best results).

10. Remove pan from the freezer about 10-15 minutes before serving to thaw slightly.

Recipe

Easy Oreo Ice Cream Dessert

Author Crystal Paine

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Prep Time 15

Freeze Time 4

Ingredients

1 pkg. Oreo cookies
2 Tbs. butter melted
1/2 gallon vanilla or chocolate ice cream softened
1/2 cup chocolate syrup
16 oz. whipped topping softened

Instructions

Place Oreos in a ziptop bag or in your food processor and crush them into crumbs (you might need to do this in 2 batches).
Reserve 1/2 cup of crushed Oreo crumbs for the topping.
In a medium size bowl, mix remaining Oreo crumbs and melted butter.
Spread Oreo mixture into a greased 9″ x 13″ pan; pressing firmly to form a crust.
Spoon softened ice cream onto the Oreo crust and spread evenly.
Drizzle chocolate syrup in a thin layer over the ice cream.
Spread softened whipped topping over chocolate syrup.
Sprinkle reserved Oreo crumbles over whipped topping.
Freeze for at least 4-5 hours, or overnight (for best results).
Remove pan from the freezer about 10-15 minutes before serving to thaw slightly.

Nutrition

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Shared May 7, 2014 comment

HOT! Get Say Goodbye to Survival Mode (ebook) for $2.99 — 4 days only!!!

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 7, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

I’ve got some GREAT news for you! Many of you have been waiting for a deal on my book, Say Goodbye to Survival Mode. Well, guess what?!? Your deal is here!

Through Saturday, the ebook version of Say Goodbye to Survival Mode is on sale for just $2.99!!! That’s at least $11 off the lowest price we’ve ever seen on this book! And from I’ve heard, this may the only time the price goes this low.

Wondering what Say Goodbye to Survival Mode is about? Here’s a description I shared recently:

Are you exhausted and overwhelmed with life? Do you wake up feeling like you’re already behind — and you haven’t even gotten out of bed? Do you spend most of your days just trying to make through the day?

If that’s you (or someone you know!), you need to get a copy of my book, Say Goodbye to Survival Mode. I wrote this book because I get it. I’ve walked the road of feeling spent, worn down, and burnt out. And after burning the candle at both ends for far too long and hurting my health, marriage, and family in the process, I finally reached a breaking point.

The day I finally hit rock bottom and said, “I can’t live like this any more!” was the day I realized I didn’t have to live in such a frantic, stressed, and overloaded way. There was a road out of survival mode!

In Say Goodbye to Survival Mode, I share candidly about the struggles I faced along the way and the strategies I learned for success. This book is not a fix-your-life-overnight handbook (sorry!). Instead, I’ll take your hand, and gently guide you through a step-by-step journey so that you, too, can:

feel healthier and more energetic by setting priorities and boundaries,

eliminate stress with savvy management of your time, money, and home,

get more done by setting realistic goals and embracing discipline,

and rediscover your passions—and the confidence to pursue them!

4 Days Only! Get Say Goodbye to Survival Mode for just $2.99! Go grab yourself a copy — and buy one for a friend who could use some encouragement, too!

Shared May 7, 2014 comment

Muddy feet, messy rooms, and the seemingly mundane

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 7, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

It’d been a busy morning and afternoon I hadn’t sat down once for hours as I’d been homeschooling, cleaning, cooking, and taking care of the details of life. It was late afternoon and I’d finally gotten all the necessary things done, homeschooling was done for the day, and the kids had gone outside to play.

I made myself a cup of coffee and went upstairs and sat down in my comfy chair, anxious to have a few minutes to get some blogging done and take a little breather. The house was quiet and there was nothing pressing to do… and I was ready to soak it up for a bit.

And then I heard a child come back inside and excitedly call up to me, “Mom, would you come outside with us?”

Truthfully, I heaved a little sigh. Here I was going to relish a few minutes of quiet and tackle some things on my list.

Immediately, I knew that I had a choice: I could do what I wanted to do and regret it. Or, I could get up out of my comfy chair and choose to bless my kids — something I wouldn’t regret.

My kids won’t always be begging me to come play with them. Someday, they will be busy with their own lives. Someday, they will be all grown up and well past the play outside days. Someday, the house will be quiet and I will miss these days.

So, I got up out of the comfy chair, went outside, and threw myself wholeheartedly into my kids’ world. They were thrilled. I was blessed by their excitement for life.

And you know what? When bedtime came, not only did I not have any regrets that I was too busy to take time to play, but everything that needed to get done on my list had gotten done.

Some day, all too soon, these years will be over. Today, let’s embrace the muddy feet, the messy rooms, and the seemingly mundane.

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

Click here to sign up!

Shared May 7, 2014 comment

31 Things to Do When You’re Having a Bad Day

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 7, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

I love this list of 31 Things to Do When You’re Having a Bad Day.

You might also enjoy my post on 10 Things to Do If You Wake Up Feeling Like a Grouch.

Shared May 6, 2014 comment

Unpacking, organizing, our amazing neighbors, & a Cinco de Mayo party!

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 6, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

As I mentioned yesterday, we’re almost done with unpacking! Yay! Now to just tear down this massive stack of boxes in the garage!

I was highly motivated to get everything unpacked this weekend as I knew that we had a lot of different things coming up in the next few weeks and if we weren’t mostly unpacked, it would likely result in major chaos. And if you know me personally, you know I’m not a person who does chaos well. 🙂

We’re still re-arranging and organizing, but it feels good to have places for most things and most things in their places. And we’re truly loving this house! Since we signed the lease on it without seeing it in person, we weren’t sure exactly what we’d think of it, but we love it just as much as our house in Kansas, if not more. And that’s saying a LOT since we really loved that house!

Most of you know that one of my greatest concerns with moving was my kids. It was hard for them to leave Kansas and their friends and extended family there. But God has answered our prayers for friends and community here far beyond what we could have hoped or dreamed.

The family we’re renting our house from had told the neighbors ahead of time that a family with three young children was moving in, so most all of the neighbors knew we were moving here and were so excited to meet us! That’s Southern hospitality for you!

The kids have welcomed my kids with open arms and within a few days, they act like they’ve known each other for years. It’s a beautiful thing to watch them jump right into this new community.

We continue to be utterly blown away by the warmth and graciousness of everyone in TN! It’s amazing!

Our washer stopped working right before we moved and was irreparable (well, the two repair guys we had come out both said they could possibly fix it, but it would cost us more to fix than it would to replace — and they weren’t even sure they could fix it.) So we bought a new washer here, but it won’t come in until tomorrow.

Some friends here found out about this and insisted we come over to use their washer/dryer. Not only that, but they invited us to stay for volleyball and dinner.

Then yesterday, a neighbor boy whom I hadn’t met yet, saw our moving boxes in our garage, rang out doorbell, and asked if he could break the boxes down for us. I didn’t quite know what to say at these random acts of kindness. He said, “I know you’re new here and I just wanted to help.”

This kind of graciousness is everywhere here. And it is humbling, inspiring, and oh such a blessing to newcomers like us!

We enjoyed our first home-cooked meal in our new kitchen on Sunday. It was fitting that it was one of our favorites: pancakes, eggs, and bacon — yum!

We’re still learning our way around here, but I’m incredibly excited by all the grocery store options and can’t wait to start learning the ropes of how to shop at Harris Teeter, Whole Foods, and more!

Yesterday, I was blessed to get to spend the afternoon with my dear friend, Angie Smith. And then they invited our family to come to a Cinco de Mayo party with some of their good friends.

It was so fun — and we laughed until we cried while the kids tried to break open this very persnickety pinata. Oh the memories!

Sporting my new Under Armour kicks that Jesse bought for me on sale (yes, he’s a keeper — he knows how to work the bargains!) All the color in this photo perfectly expresses how my heart feels today: grateful, happy, and excited about life. Today: Don’t let life happen to you; go happen to life!

Shared May 6, 2014 comment

50 Free Activities

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 6, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

It’s easy to get sucked into the idea that fun and entertainment must cost money. However, there are dozens of ways you can have fun without spending anything at all!

Here are just a few of the many ideas we had… feel free to share yours in the comments below.

Fun Things To Do For Free To Build Relationships

1. Write an encouraging email, text, or letter.

2. Invite a friend over for coffee.

3. Bake something for your family or for a friend.

4. Join a small group or Bible study.

5. Pray for someone and then text them to let them know you prayed for them.

6. Find a funny joke/photo & share it with a friend.

7. Invite friends or neighbors to your house instead of going out.

8. Make a meal for a friend.

Personal Wellness Activities That Are Free

9. Take a nap.

10. Read a book you already own.

11. Count your blessings.

12. Do devotions and pray over your day.

13. Give yourself a manicure or pedicure at home.

14. Go for a walk and pick some wildflowers.

15. Go for a bike ride.

16. Make a bucket list.

17. Try a new hairstyle (on yourself or others).

18. Shop your closet & put together a new outfit.

19. Go to bed earlier.

20. Take a hot bath or shower.

21. Do an at-home facial.

22. Bring flowers from your garden into your home (or to a neighbor’s house).

Things To Do For Free: Entertainment Ideas

23. Play a board or card game.

24. Watch comedy videos on YouTube.

25. Have a family movie night with fun snacks.

26. Find free art, music, or educational classes online

27. Have a bonfire and make s’mores or hobo pies.

28. Listen to a podcast or audiobook.

29. Make a variety of playlists and share them with friends.

30. Camp in your backyard (or your basement).

31. Watch the sunset and/or star gaze.

Free Activities:

32. Go to the library.

33. Go to the park.

34. Go to the beach.

35. Go to the library.

36. Go to church (either Sunday services or weeknight activities).

37. Go to a friend’s house.

38. Visit a museum on a free admission day.

39. Go for a hike at a local nature center.

40. Volunteer at a local mission or shelter.

41. Decorate your driveway or neighborhood sidewalks with chalk.

Free Things To Do Today: Home Improvement

42. Organize a drawer or closet.

43. Weed your garden.

44. Have a garage sale (after you declutter!)

45. Deep clean one room in your home.

46. Implement an “eat from the pantry/freezer challenge” and come up with creative recipes.

47. Catch up on the laundry!

48. Wash and vacuum your vehicles.

49. Defrost your freezer.

50. Wash your windows and let the sun in.

Things To Do For Free in the Winter

Have a snowman-building contest.

Try to build an igloo.

Go sledding.

Go snowshoeing or skiing.

Make a hot chocolate buffet at home (with a variety of toppings).

Drive around looking at the lights.

Write letters (or emails) to friends and family.

Visit the library.

Host a board game night at your house.

Learn to knit (there are lots of online tutorials for this!)

Things To Do For Free in the Summer

Go for a hike, a walk, or a bike ride.

Walk a dog with friends or neighbors.

Visit a local park with friends.

Head to the beach (or a friend’s pool).

Sit around a campfire in your backyard.

Invite friends over to run in the sprinklers.

Have a picnic in your front yard with neighbors.

Pick flowers from your garden or the side of the road.

Watch a sunset or sunrise.

Read a good book while laying in a hammock or on the lawn.

Give yourself an at-home pedicure.

More Fun Things To Do For Free

Free Things To Do FAQs

What can you do with friends for free?

There are an endless number of fun things you can do with friends all throughout the year.
Consider going for a group walk or having a picnic in the park during spring. Summer would be a great time to head to the beach together. In the fall, you could set up a weekly game night (board/card games) or Bible study. And winter is a great time for a white elephant gift exchange or an at-home pedicure party.

How can I have fun at home by myself?

Much of this just comes down to your attitude! Even if you are an extrovert, you can still find plenty of ways to have fun when you’re home alone.
Catch up on your favorite books, TV shows, movies, or podcasts (you can even clean, fold laundry, or exercise while listening to podcasts.) Call a friend. Write letters to special people in your life or just journal for a while. Cook or bake a special meal. Take an extra long shower or bath. Take a nap!

What about you?

What do YOU love to do instead of spending money?

Shared May 6, 2014 comment

Reader Tip: Earn By Taking Medical Surveys and Interviews

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 6, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Tiffany emailed in the following tip:

There is a company called Rare Patient Voice that does surveys and interviews for people with rare diseases about their medical care, quality, and services. This is not just for people who have the condition, but also for their caregivers. Each time you fill out a questionnaire or survey, you get a bit of financial compensation.

When you first sign up, you get a $10 Amazon gift card. Then anyone who signs up and puts your name as a referral, you both get another $10 gift card.

I just received $20 because I signed up and then my husband signed up under me. I haven’t taken any surveys yet, so I’m not sure how much compensation you get for each one, but this is really legitimate in what/how much I’ve gotten so far.

The diseases that qualify as “rare” are:

Bleeding Disorders

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Cystic Fibrosis

Sickle Cell Disease

Huntington’s Disease

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH)

Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia (WM)

Lupus

Gaucher

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Hepatitis C

Crohn’s Disease (I’m guessing UC counts as well)

If you think that either you or the person you care for has something that qualifies as rare, you can apply here, and then explain why you think you qualify. (If you do decide to sign up, I’d love it if you put Tiffany Thomas as your referral so I can get credit for it!) -Tiffany

Shared May 6, 2014 comment

Do It Yourself: Homemade Graham Crackers

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 6, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

ServingJoyfully.com shows you how to make homemade graham crackers.

Do you have a fun and frugal DIY idea to share? I’d love to hear about it! Read the submission guidelines and submit it here.

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

Click here to download!

Shared May 5, 2014 comment

Ponytails, sweatshirts, and a mother’s love

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

I got onto the elevator with my 4-year-old’s hand clasped in mine. He was so excited to go on a little outing with Mom. I was happy to be spending some one-on-one time with him, too. And it was shaping up to be a wonderful day.

Then I glanced at the two other gals in the elevator with us.

They were so put together. Cute clothes, beautiful hair, flawless makeup… the exact opposite of me.

I’d been running short on time that morning and my attire consisted of a sweatshirt, yoga pants, tennis shoes, a messy ponytail, and no makeup.

Yep, I was the epitome of style. Ahem.

As I began comparing my frumpy looks with these two adorable women, my earlier joy started slipping away.

Why couldn’t I get my act together this morning? Why am I so often resorting to ponytails and sweatshirts? What is my problem? Why can’t I be pretty, cute, and put together like so many other women?

Then I looked down again at the little boy holding my hand. He could care less what Mom is wearing; all he cares is that Mom loves him and is investing in him.

Yes, I want to take a little time to look presentable each day, but spending time on my outward appearance at the expense of moments with my kids is always a choice I will regret.

So you know what I did? I held my head up high, held on tight to my son’s hand, and wore that sweatshirt with pride. I may not ever be nominated for Fashionista of the Year Award, but my kids don’t seem to mind. 🙂

Shared May 5, 2014 comment

10 Goals For This Week

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

It was a busy and pretty exhausting week, but we’re all moved in and only have a few boxes left to unpack — YAY!

I’m excited to get back to a more normal routine this week! I pretty much bombed my goals list, but I’m going to be okay with that since it was moving week and all. 🙂

Last Week’s Goals:

Marriage/Mothering/Homemaking Goals

~~1. Move!~~

2. Write a love note to Jesse.

3. Read Captured on the High Seas aloud to the kids (while in the car driving to TN).

Personal Goals

4. Work on memorizing & reviewing Romans 1:1-29.

~~5. Exercise four times.~~

6. Finish reading Secrets of Dynamic Communication, The Busy Homeschool Mom’s Guide to Daylight, and Chasing Francis.

This Week’s Goals:

Marriage/Mothering/Homemaking Goals

1. Start our new routine.

2. Get our closet organized.

3. Organize the pantry.

4. Write a love note to Jesse.

5. Finish reading Captured on the High Seas aloud to the kids.

Personal Goals

6. Work on memorizing & reviewing Romans 1:1-29.

7. Exercise four times.

8. Finish reading Secrets of Dynamic Communication, The Busy Homeschool Mom’s Guide to Daylight, and Chasing Francis.

Business Goals

9. Finish tweaks/edits on a new project we’re working on.

10. Answer all the emails in my to answer file (I dumped all non-urgent emails into a file while we were moving!)

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 May 5, 2014 comment

FREE Activities For Kids (None of Which Involve TV)

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

Guest post from Carissa of Pretty/Hungry

I am a stay-at-home mom, and I am so thankful for the blessing of being home with my daughter all day long! It has allowed me to witness all her “milestones,” given me time to gently mold her and correct unwelcome behavior patterns, and provided me with millions of memories I get to keep forever.

But when I get together with other moms, the conversation inevitably turns to the nitty gritty day-to-day stuff. It seems all moms want to hear what other moms do with their kiddos hour after hour, day after day. And it makes sense to be curious… because those hours do stretch on sometimes! I often wonder how other families pass the time (ahem… I mean “make the most of it.”)

There are a lot of mommies out there who do an enviable job of entertaining and educating their children throughout the day… all without any help from the TV and on a razor-thin budget to boot. But to be honest, some of them intimidate me!

I’m just not someone who is going to painstakingly dye rice 10 different colors for my children to use for “sensory play.” The suggestion alone stresses me out.

Rainbow Rice hiding in every crevice of my kitchen from now to eternity? No thank you. Stay away from this household, Rainbow Rice!

(By the way, I have the utmost admiration for those of you who do make Rainbow Rice. And those of you who pull out drop cloths and aprons and let your kids cover themselves in paint. And those of you who create baking soda volcanoes, and math-themed Easter egg hunts, and hand-sewn doll clothing . I aspire toward such greatness.)

But if I’m honest with myself, that “really cool” stuff happens maybe twice a month around our house. And it’s not because I’m lazy (okay, maybe it’s a little bit because of that) but mostly it’s because I know my limits. If I stretch myself too thin with projects/goals/scheduled activities, my fuse shortens and my family suffers the consequences. And that’s no good.

So where does that leave us non-crafty moms? Those of us who want to stimulate our children’s minds, invite them to learn and grow, & include them in fun and educational activities around the house, but would rather not resort to Rainbow Rice?

Well, for me and mine, it means doing a lot of activities that are not only fun and educational, but also practical for our family!

If I need to work in the garden, my daughter comes with me to help. If I need to sort coupons and go grocery shopping, it’s an opportunity to teach my little one about budgeting and making wise purchases. If I need to get dinner on the table, I include in her in preparation.

These activities may not be Pinterest-worthy, but they are such valuable learning opportunities nonetheless! And even more importantly, they provide a backdrop for you to spend quality time with your little ones.

Pulling weeds is the perfect activity to promote conversation! I always like asking questions like, “What is one thing you did today that you are proud of?” and “What is one thing you would do differently today if you had a do-over?” These are the conversations that become the building-blocks for your children’s entire life. They are invaluable!

Here’s a short list of some FREE activities I do with my little one.

Take long walks outside (when the weather is nice)
Go to the park — we do this almost every day
Cook & bake — dinner for the family, treats for friends, anything!
Read stories
Bath time
Go to the library
Collect leaves, pine cones, or flowers (depending on the season) to decorate the house
Chores (yup! Laundry and cleaning does NOT have to wait until nap time)
Invite friends over
Work in the garden
Listen to praise CDs and dance/sing along
Exercise! — stretch, do jumping jacks, jump rope, push-ups… my little one loves trying to copy the moves
Run errands — go to the bank, renew vehicle tags… you know, fun stuff!
Memorize scripture — you’d be surprised how young they can start this!

What are your favorite FREE, non-TV activities for kids?

I am a wife, a stay-at-home-mom, and a food blogger! I love the Lord, my family, reading, writing, and cooking. We stick to a strict budget because we are saving up to buy our next home, so I have to get very creative in the kitchen at times. I blog at Pretty/Hungry about food, wellness, and family life!

top photo source

Shared May 5, 2014 comment

10 Books I Plan to Read in May

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

As I shared in January, I’m changing the way I’m approaching my reading goals in 2014. Instead of picking books for the whole year, I’m just choosing books a month at a time.

April was a dud month for me when it came to reading. I was busy with packing up our house for our move and attending/hosting a number of goodbye get-togethers and I just didn’t crack open very many books. In fact, I only read four books: Though Waters Roar, Praying for Boys, His Grace is Enough, and No Cook Freezer Meals.

So I’m going to try to finish most of the books I had on April’s list in May:

10 Books I Plan to Read in May

I also am reading through the Bible using the plan in my Blessing Journal and reading one devotional from Jesus Today every day.

3 Books I Plan to Read Aloud to My Kids

What books are you planning to read in May? Leave a comment and let us know — and then you can come back at the end of May to tell us what you ended up reading and what you thought of the books you read!

Shared May 3, 2014 comment

12 Goals for 2014: April Update

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

Jesse and I spent time really discussing what my focuses should be for 2014 and we nailed down four areas that are my priorities for this year:

Marriage: to continue to invest time and energy to strengthen and nurture our marriage and make it one of the greatest priorities
Mothering: to continue to invest in our children with the goal of teaching them character, life skills, and raising them to be responsible adults
Myself: to make my health a priority and to invest in my personal growth as a Christian, business owner, writer, speaker, and leader
MoneySavingMom.com: to invest time into blogging — not just overseeing the business and my team, but making writing content pieces one of my top blogging priorities

Having these specific areas determined at the beginning of the year is really helping me to prioritize and giving me much clearer direction on when, where, and what to say no to this year.

Here’s my progress for my 12 goals for 2014:

Marriage Goals

1. Read 6 marriage books. (I’ve finished two marriage books so far.)
2. Write 50 love notes to Jesse. (I’ve written 16 love notes so far.)

Mothering Goals

3. Read 40 books aloud to the kids. (We’ve finished five books so far — I’m really hoping to catch up on this goal over the summer!)
4. Finish memorizing Romans 1 together. (We’ve been working on this!)
5. Go through a cooking course with the kids.

Personal Goals

6. Read through the Bible. (I’m on track with this.)
7. Memorize Romans 2.
8. Run a 5K race and go through P90X again.
9. Read 150 books/ebooks. (I’ve read 34 books so far this year.)

Blogging Goals

10. Write 150 substantive content pieces for the blog. (I’ve written 54 substantive content pieces so far this year.)
11. Write 50 DIY/Recipe posts for the blog. (I’ve written 14 DIY/Recipe post so far.)
12. Blog about/participate in the 12 Months to a Healthier You Challenge (I finished April’s challenge.)

Did you set goals for 2014 yet?

If you’ve posted an update on how you’re doing on your goals for 2014, I’d love for you to share your link in the comments. Or, if you don’t have a blog, feel free to just leave a comment with an update on how you’re doing on your goals. Let’s encourage one another to live lives of intention and purpose!

If you’re brand-new to goal-setting, be sure to read my post on How to Change Your Life By Setting Goals.

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10 Books I Plan to Read in May

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Marriage Goals

Mothering Goals

Personal Goals

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Did you set goals for 2014 yet?

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