Trista Laborn's Blog, page 12
October 31, 2016
Displaying Grace in our everyday life
In today’s podcast I interview Michelle, a wife, mom of 3 and the writer behind the blog Displaying Grace. I LOVE that she has a HUGE heart for the things of God. Her goal on the blog is to help women engage God’s word in a way that will leave them completely changed and thirsty for more.
John 9:3 (ESV)
“Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.”
In this interview Michelle shares a little bit about herself and family. She shares she homeschools and does a women’s bible study at her church. She’s written a blog post, a series called: Embracing God’s pace
She shares the story behind of how she got started with this series. The whole idea is to really look at the plans God has called you to do and do it. Sometimes what we tend to do is do our own thing and then realize how hard and out of control it can get sometimes. When we embrace God’s pace in our everyday lives. No more rushing, hurried, striving constantly on things that don’t matter and missing out on things that really matter.
Michelle and I discuss the most important thing for as moms when teaching our children about the word of God.
Embracing God’s pace in our everyday lives and meeting him in our quiet time before we start our…
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Michelle shares a lot of meaty information, I recommend getting a your Journals and a pen, some tea or coffee, sit and relax and stay encouraged in the Journey God has you on. You are not alone.
For more information about Michelle and her Etsy business, connect with her:
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October 24, 2016
Entrepreneurs: Faith is a destiny changer
As an Entrepreneur, doing things God has put in your heart to do can sometimes be so scary, stepping out of your comfort zone and at times lonely, but God is faithful and is always with us. He will never forsake us, Deutronomy 31:6(NIV) Never leave you on your own, figuring it out. Psalm 25:4(NIV)- “Show me your ways Lord, teach me your path.”
Meet Krista
Krista Pettiford is a mom to 4 beautiful children, an author, speaker, blogger and everything in between. More importantly she has a heart for the things of God and is passionate, which you will hear in the podcast. Here is more about Krista.
Listen to the Podcast:
Krista drops a lot of bombs that was so powerful, you want to grab a pen and your journal, WRITE IT DOWN!
Scriptures & Biblical Stories Mentioned:
Ruth 1
Lot and daughters- Genesis 19:30-36
Whatever God gives you to do, give it time-Krista Pettiford
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Let the fruit come in season, don’t force it- Krista Pettiford
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Connect with Krista On:
You can purchase the book Here
Website: http://kristapettiford.com
Twitter: Twitter
Instagram: Instagram
Facebook: Facebook
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October 21, 2016
Garlic & herb chicken crockpot dinner
I LOVE quick and easy Crockpot dinners. I just started school, my kids just starting middle school and hubby working hard in his new job. So, I’m always in a look out for quick meals. In the months to come, I will be sharing a lot of quick dinner meals for the family, meatless meals for my husband and non-dairy meals for myself. Stay tuned on the look out for fun, tasty, yummy recipes.
Let’s cook!
You can create this chicken recipe anyway you want, barbecue, Cajun style, lemon pepper, etc. You can use what you have and make it your family favorite. Here’s a video on what I used and how I did it.
Garlic & Herb Crockpot Chicken 2016-10-22 10:20:10 Serves 4 Super tasty, juicy Chicken Write a review
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Prep Time
2 min
Prep Time
2 min
Ingredients Red potatoes Garlic & Herb Seasonings Whole Chicken Onions (optional) Carrots (optional) Celery (optional)
Instructions Place all ingredients in Crockpot on High for 4 hrs and low for another 1 or hrs
Notes Red potatoes (Enough to cover bottom of Crockpot) You can cook on high for 4 hrs and then low for another 1 You can also add and subtract ingredients to this meal!
A Purpose Driven Wife http://adrivenwife.com/
You can serve with rice or mashed potatoes! ENJOY!
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October 8, 2016
Every Day with God: 365 Daily Devos for Boys By: VeggieTales Review & Giveaway #EveryDayWithGod
Disclosure: Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.
I LOVE the veggie tales. My kids grew up with, reading their books, watching the movies and playing with their toys as well. Now they are growing up so fast and I can see the seeds that were sown in them, now that they’re growing up. My prayer is that and will continue when they eventually leave the nest, that the word of God will never leave them.
My son in particular has a heart for God, I as a mom, I am always looking for ways to help my son grow in his relationship with God. I received the book by Veggie tales, Every Day with God: 365 Daily Devos for Boys I thought it was the cutest thing ever!
Here’s a little bit about the book:
Every Day with God is the latest 365-day devotional (one for boys and another for girls) from VeggieTales. Each entry includes a Bible verse, short devotion, Thought of the Day, and prayer. The content will help children learn more about God and develop a daily practice to keep Him close in their lives. The book is perfect for bedtime reading, family devotion time, or as a fresh way to start each day!
Giveaway:
If you are interested in getting a copy of Every Day with God: 365 Daily Devos for Boys or Girls, let me know in the comments below which one you would like and In Oct. 15th, A winner will be chosen on Random.org for the winner.
Disclaimer: Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”
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September 29, 2016
10 websites to shop for military ball gowns
Shopping for a dress, for the military ball, can sometimes be frustrating. At the end of finding the right dress, shoes, accessories and hairstyle, everything seems to work out. Here is a list of 10 websites to shop, for military ball gowns.
Before getting started if you need help deciding what to bring and what to wear during the military ball, Here is a survival guide to help you have a great time.
Shop online
When shopping online, you want to order a month to 2 months before the ball, to make sure you have what you are looking for, for returns, etc. You can sometimes buy dresses online cheaper than, when buying the dress at the actual store and more savings as well. You can shop at store like Burlington coat factory (They have free shipping), Kohl’s (Free shipping over $75 or more), TJ Maxx (Free shipping over $89 or more) etc, check out these types of stores online. You can buy online and pick it up at the store and if you bought online and end up not liking it, you can return it to the store as well.
Amazon. I didn’t know this until speaking with a friend, she ordered her dress on Amazon. When I checked it out, they have a pretty good selection of ball gowns, gorgeous, affordable and for selected few dresses, if it doesn’t fit, or you don’t like it, you can return FREE. Also, make sure you read the comments and the “question & answer” section, before buying.
Ebay. I’ve ordered clothes from Ebay and loved it. When shopping on Ebay, I always have a budget in mind and I do a lot of research when ordering. I read the ratings, the seller’s policy information, the returns, etc.
One stop shop
These website’s I’m about to show you, some have dresses, accessories ,shoes and more, all in one place, a one stop shop.
JJ House dresses– This website is one of those places you can everything from. They have a great selection of affordable and fun accessories.
Simply dresses– This website have dresses for different occasions. Long, short, plus size and homecoming, which I thought was very useful and fun to look at, and 50% off, already reduced prices. Savings, savings, savings!!!
Winsorstore– This is another website with affordable dresses, shoes, jewelry and more. They even have something called: “The Cinderella Project” when you walk into the store, for the month of September, you can win a dress.
Dressilyme– I personally love this website. They have dresses for all occasions and even a section just for Military Ball gowns.
Rent the runway– This website is a little different from all the others. You can rent a dress and return it free. Here’s how it works: you choose the occasion, find the best fit for you, then choose the time frame of 4 days or 8 days, you choose which day you want the dress to arrive. They recommend you to choose a delivery date 1-2 days before the event, to try it on or exchange if necessary.
Promgirl– At first, I thought this site was JUST for high school girls going to the prom, but after looking over the website, they have a section, where you can shop by event for military ball, Winter formal dresses and even homecoming. There’s even a section, where you can get dresses for 50% off. Worth checking out.
Davidsbridal– Finally, there is a website dedicated to beautiful formal dresses, fancy jewelry and more. I never thought to buy a ball gown from this website because I thought it was just for weddings. I’ve seen friends buy from this site with beautiful dresses for the ball. What I love most about this site is that they offer 10% military discounts, in addition to so much more savings.
In conclusion, Have fun at the ball. Pick a dress, that is comfortable for you to wear, dance and have fun in. make wonderful memories and learn from this night and make it better next time.
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September 20, 2016
3 ways to watch movies for $1 with Vidangel
Family movie night is a big deal our house. I sometimes have popcorn, we make ice cream floats, and I make delicious homemade pizza. It was a family activity I did growing up and it was one of the best things about home, that I love. So I want to provide that for my family, create memorable memories for my children to enjoy and they can pass on to their family, just like I’m doing now.
I’m very consistent with it. In the morning I ask the kids what kind of pizza they like, pepperoni, Chicken Alfredo, or Cheese pizza for my husband who doesn’t eat meat and so on. Getting movies my children can watch without bad language or bloody violence can be a little difficult and if you LOVE to save money, then this is for you. When I found Vidangel it blessed my soul.
Let me show you…
Vidangel is a streaming service where you can watch movies for $1. I was shocked when I saw this and right away checked it out. I thought it was going to be $1.09, $1.25 or even $1.50…NOPE, just $1! In addition to that, What’s different about all other streaming services is that Vidangel gives you the option to filter out any kind of violence, sex, language, etc. that you don’t want your family to watch. You get to pick and choose from the filters in the movie, what you don’t want to watch.
Even when I get to have “Me time” or even date night with hubby, I don’t want to get bombarded with language, bloody violence, and drugs, etc. I want to enjoy the movie content without having to cover my eyes or my children eyes. They do this process legally by selling you the moving and giving you the option to sell it back to them. You can watch movies for $1 on your Computer/Laptop, ipad/iphone or on Roku (This is my personal favorite).
Check out this video Vidangel created with a powerful message.
Here’s how it works…
You buy the movie for $20. You can sell it back to Vidangel and they will credit your account $19. You can then use that credit to get another movie or cash out your account. I like to leave it in my account for Friday family movie nights!
Once you put in the filters, you can watch the movie anyway you want. I watched Captain America: Civil War with some of the filters and I was so into the movie that I forgot I even put in filters for the movie, I couldn’t tell. Here is a video below on how you can sign up and get started with watching movies for $1.
I even had the opportunity to show my children the whole Star Wars Series, starting from the beginning. If you want to start from the beginning click the link above or if you want to see the recent Start Wars movie, The Force Awakens, Click below.
For more information on Vidangel, you can connect with them on…
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a percentage, when you make a purchase using the link.
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September 19, 2016
A thriving military marriage sometimes doesn’t include date night
I’ve been married now for over ten years and sometimes it seems longer. You are still learning each other and building communication. A lot of experts say one of the things you can do to help with communication is go on date night. What happens if you can’t go on date night and date each other like you use to?
My husband and I just moved into a new state, where we know NOBODY! Family and close friends is a 5 to 8 hour drive, so what do we do? Life has dealt us a few crazy hands along the way, when we did a cross-country move as a family and right now, we’re still waiting on our furniture to come. So while that is happening we have to get the kids ready for school, make sure they have everything they need to have a successful year and sleep on air mattresses at the end of the day.
When dealing with ups, downs and crazy turns, life give you, You don’t feel like being romantic and reminiscing about the past. Sometimes it’s so crazy, we’re just trying to get some rest and get through the day. Also, when we we’re in a season, when Our children were babies, barely walking we wasn’t able to go on date nights, so what happens then? I’m reminded of the times we do have date night, how much fun we have and how much we accomplish together.
Having a thriving marriage is possible…
One of the ways we discovered, that helps us during times when you’re not able to get out of the house and date. Hubby and I love to snuggle and watch movies together. One of the ways we love to watch movies at home is with Vidangel. We were able to watch ALL the Star wars series, each movie was $1. You CANNOT beat that.
Watching these movies brought back so many memories for not just my husband and I, but we shared it with our children and they became addicted to watching the whole series and it became a family thing. To learn more about vidangel click here.
Also, Check out my video on Encouraging moms, I go in detail about this topic.
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September 13, 2016
Military Spouse- Build an income online by creating your own business
When I married my husband in the early year of 2006, I didn’t realize how much my life would change. I moved from the hustle and bustle of New York City, working two jobs and going to school for my degree in business, to the a small, ruel town, where everyone knows your name, South Carolina.
When I married him, he was in the military, we had twins and nearly no money. What I didn’t expect was the late night work hours, in addition to MANY 6 to 8 month deployments, not knowing anyone to talk to you, being far away from family and having no support to help me with my children, I felt alone, helpless, angry, frustrated and anxious…Everyday.
Feeling alone…
I had no peace of mind and wanted to take action. I wanted to help my husband, provide for my family in any way possible. Here are some of the businesses I tried that have helped me get to where I am today, An author that’s making money online, building a community of Purpose Driven Momprenuers ready to make a difference in the world, while staying home with my children and truly helping, not just my husband but my household.
Before I get started on the different ways you can make money, I want you to know that it is not about making money. At the time I was at home with my then, two children, my husband was able to take care of us,with just his income. It wasn’t much but it was enough to take care of our needs. I was very driven to finish my degree and get a job that eventually I almost lost the trust and love of my husband. I wrote about the story here. Let me tell you from experience that being driven by money will get you nowhere.
Here are some tips to consider…
#1- Talk with your family to see if, you can wait until (If you are a mom with children) they’re of age to go to school,and then seek a job. Even if it’s for a certain amount of time.
#2- I know now-a-days its empowering to be an entrepreneur, which it is but, at the same time, being an entrepreneur is not for everyone. There is nothing wrong with having a 9 to 5 job. I personally have done this and have been successful in finding jobs in new locations, my husband been stationed at. Applying to different temp agencies has always been a blessing to me when looking for jobs, in areas I’ve never been in.
#3- The best advice I’ve received as an entrepreneur was from the book Failing Forward by John Maxwell and in his book, He talks about failing and moving forward. He shares in the book many opportunities that have failed and how he kept going. By me reading this book from a man who is VERY successful, encourage me from his book to not just sit and mediate in the mistakes you’ve made but to keep moving forward.
Fail Forward…
This has given me such courage to take action and build a bath and body company where stores are selling my products, still til this day. It was a journey and it wasn’t over night, it took me failing and putting one foot in front of the other everyday. I want to encourage you to do the same. The opportunities to create your business, I’m about to share, is not an overnight success and it may take you failing a few times to get there, but let me encourage you and say that… IT IS WORTH IT, KEEP MOVING!
I was given the opportunity to read the book: Make Money Using the Internet to Build a Second Income and Create your Own Business: 27 Ways to Earn Extra Money and Sell Merchandise and Services on the Web (Earn Money from Your Home Book 3) By: Richard Lowe Jr. In this book he gives an AWESOME list of resources to help you start making money online. In fact he lists 27 ways, I’m only going to lists three.
Let’s get started…
In the book he shares his testimony of working in Corporate america and how he got started in making an income online. I LOVE that he makes it sou easy and effortless and causes you to think about starting the business before you jump into anything.
#1- In the book He talks about Warrior+ gives you a list of thousands of products that can resell, and you can create your own products and convince others to sell them as affiliates. He shares that the PROs of starting this business is that, there are a lot products to choose from and some of them can make you quite a bit of money. If you create your own product, especially one about money-making you can use this platform. The Cons of this business is that, you have to carefully evaluate the product before you offer it for sale as an affiliates. He shares that he has run into a few scams that were pyramid scams which are very low in quality.
#2- If you LOVE fashion, then he shares Spreadshirt. You can create an account on te website and design t-shirts with your original design and sell one shirt at a time or open a store and sell a few designs at a time. The PROs is that the company handles printing shirts on demand, handles payments and maintains your custom store front. The CONs is that you would have to generate traffic to your storefront by your email lists, paid advertisements and other means.
#3- Lastly, If you love making videos you can create a YouTube channel. You can be VERY creative in this platform. I personally have a YouTube channel and have made a significant amount of money on this platform. The PROs once you start making a signficant amount of views on your videos you can make a living just for making videos. The CONs is that it can take some time, maybe years to start making money. It can be challenging and it does take time to generate an audience.
Bonus…
I also LOVE companies that are all natural. Cleaning products have been my #1 issue when it came to managing my home. I hated it (to be honest). Using products that didn’t work, that would cause me to have watery eyes, headaches or my kids to getting sick was the last straw. I found a company, I’m passionate about and products I use EVERY SINGLE DAY and I jump up to clean now that I have found products that do the Job. Check it out Here.
In Conclusion…
Anything you do to create a lasting business for yourself takes time. I Want to encourage you that it does take time and resources to get started. Richard does a great job in sharing with you ways that you can make money and the PROs and CONs of starting that business. If you want to connect with Richard check him here:
Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange for my honest review, This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a percentage, when you make a purchase using the link.
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September 1, 2016
5 tips to choosing a supermarket (Other than the commissary)
I love to go shop at the supermarket. When I’m alone and need to food shop, I feel relaxed, I learn new things and I have fun. Maybe I’m weird or cut from a different cloth, but I feel relaxed. As a military spouse you have the option to shop at the Commissary. At times, I like to get different food alternatives that sometimes the commissary may not carry, So here are some tips to choosing a supermarket other than the commissary.
Location
I just moved from CA to NC, where Costco is about 2 hours from me. In CA Costco was like 5 minutes from me. So in NC, the commissary and Walmart is the two closet ones to me, but I just discovered harris teeter is about 10 minutes and I LOVE IT.
Meat & Produce Prices
At most commissary’s (to me) the meat prices are so much cheaper to me than other supermarkets. Most of the time, I like to go to Walmart or the farmers market for fresh produce.
Food Alternatives
Choosing a supermarket to me the most important thing is, if the supermarket have a good selection of good food alternatives. My husband doesn’t eat meat and I’m trying to say away from dairy products. So having other food alternatives helps me cook healthy meals for my family.
Savings
I love to coupon and reward cards. Where I can save money with quality food for my family.
Clean
Last but not least, I LOVE a clean supermarket, it motivates me for some reason to cook and try out different food options for my family.
I also did a video of me sharing with you guys more tips and advice on choosing a supermarket other than the commissary. What are some tips you use to choose a supermarket other than going to the commissary.
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July 25, 2016
Relaxing Tea Time | Pique Tea
Disclaimer: This product was sent to me, in exchange for my review, all opinions are honest and 100% my own
I LOVE to try different types of healthy drinks that will benefit my overall health and drinking tea in the mornings is one of those ways, I like to stay healthy and relax. Pique tea is a company that is committed to helping people make smarter beverage choices, by making the healthier option, tea the easier option, easy to prepare, more antioxidants, great tasting and easy to enjoy.
The sample tea pack that came with it was 2 Jasmines (green tea) and 2 earl greys (black tea). Making tea in the morning for me sets my day to relax. I know most people drink coffee in the mornings but, I like tea, it just seems relaxing to me. I mostly drink green tea and I thought I wouldn’t like Jasmine tea but its floral and I don’t like floral type types, but I’m open-minded and willing to try new things. Thank God I did because it ended being so Delicious, especially after I cut a piece of lemon and added some honey. I barely added a Tablespoon and it was good just like that.
I LOVE how little it takes to make a nice strong cup of tea. This tea is made of organic ice crystals. Their jasmine green tea is (From their website) “made using spring harvested green tea from a mountain valley Zhejiang Province in China, and combined with fresh Jasmine flowers petals plucked at the peak of their freshness.” I LOVE the packets and the convenience of either putting it in my purse for a quick hot or cold drink. You can watch my video of Semi-vegan road trips snacks, where I talk about this tea drink as an option.
To find out more about the company, you can connect on:
Website: https://www.piquetea.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pique
Twitter: https://twitter.com/pique_tea
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