Ruth Soukup's Blog, page 51

Family Meetings that Rock

Why does it sometimes feel like everything somehow falls on Mom’s shoulders?

From meal planning and scheduling to establishing rules and privilege, there’s seemingly always one more thing we need to account for. Many of us plan school schedules, set up household budgets, and determine and reinforce bedtimes and daily routines.

But when you’re the decision maker, every time someone doesn’t like the outcome, doesn’t love the dinner choice, or wants to argue about bedtime, the

It can leave us feeling stressed out and stretched thin (even with the most supportive spouses). So how can we give ourselves a break?

I know this may come as a surprise, but family meetings can actually give you a break by fostering healthy, productive family discussions. Family meetings don’t need to be big productions or highly organized affairs (although they can be). Think of it as just a simple gathering where kids and parents can all express their opinions about family stuff and come to some consensus. Think of it as taking the burden OFF Mom and spreading some of the responsibility around to the rest of the family.

Will everyone always get their way in family meetings? Nope! But holding family meetings to address even the tough stuff like bedtimes, finances, and broken household rules helps keep us all on the same page.

Family meetings also help prevent knee jerk reactions to frustrating situations and keep us from making rash decisions. They help kids know they have a voice, it builds their confidence, and we can calmly talk about our ideas even when we feel impassioned.

Family meetings need not be a hassle. Some families prefer to hold them regularly—a family night once a week, where “town hall” concerns can be raised and addressed. Others hold their family meetings once a month or as needed when issues arise. Feel it out for your family and find what works for you.

Here are some basic dos and don’ts to help your family meetings help you!

Family Meeting DOs:
Do Schedule the Meeting Ahead of Time

Occasionally we might find the need to call an emergency or immediate family meeting, but always give family members a little notice when possible. Even we call the meeting a few hours ahead, it gives our family members a chance to prepare and organize their thoughts.

Spontaneous family meetings might happen from time to time, but we try to limit them to single-issue quick meetings where we can flesh out an answer or figure out a problem together. But if you want to have regular, productive meetings, schedule them ahead of time and even have an agenda in mind.

That said, avoid having a “meeting before the meeting” or calling family meetings as a punishment. You know, the “That’s it, you guys! Everyone in the living room this instant for a family meeting!!” Keep things positive and schedule ahead so both parents can actively participate whenever possible. Not every issue needs a family meeting, but big decisions can be a lot more successful when they’re made all together.

Do Make Sure Everyone is in Attendance

Scheduling ahead of time and even putting it on your calendar can go a long way in making sure all members of the family can attend the meetings. If your kids range in age, you might feel it’s not so important to include younger siblings, but they may be left feeling dismissed and overlooked. Try to find a time when everyone can be part of the meeting.

Do Allow Everyone a Voice

If you have a particularly talkative family or your family is full of strong personalities, it can be very important to implement rules about how speaking will go. Do Mom and Dad address the issues first, talk it through, and then open the floor to kids’ questions and concerns? Do you each take turns talking, and hold something or agree that when one person has the floor everyone else needs to listen? Do you go around in the circle after the topic has been discussed so everyone has a chance to comment?

These are just a few ideas and you know your family best, but by letting everyone have a voice, we can teach our kids just how important they are, and that their opinion matters. It helps them not feel dismissed or overlooked while giving them a chance to be heard without storming off, getting upset or clamming up and staying angry and silent throughout the discussion.

Do Make a List to Stay on Point

If your family has a hard time staying on topic, address the meeting just like you would structure a meeting anywhere else: create an agenda. It doesn’t have to be formal (although, for bigger families, it might help to write it out, or put it on a whiteboard or chalkboard). Simply address the agenda before you start: “In this meeting, I want to talk to you guys about some jobs we need to start doing around the house. I also wanted to talk about the upcoming lunch menus. Then we’ll address the concerns you have about helping the fundraiser at your school and how we’ll schedule it. Finally, if we have enough time, we’re going to talk about ideas for Dad’s birthday.”

Try to end your agenda on a high note or a topic that everyone wants to address and get to. This will help you keep from getting bogged down with long discussions about new family rules or harder-to-deal-with topics.

If one family member feels particularly strongly about a topic or can’t get past it, offer to table the topic for a week or two. Let them know you can see they feel upset about it, and you understand this is important to them. Tell them you want them to try it for a week or two and then you’ll come back to it and see how they feel, or perhaps you can come up with a plan for a different outcome next time.

Do Keep the Budget and Rules in Mind

Every family has rules and limitations. A family meeting isn’t the time to forget your budget, or rules and values as a family. If there’s something you aren’t comfortable with, it’s perfectly okay to hold the parent-veto card. It’s important as parents we know we need to set limitations and it’s okay to say no. It’s okay to let your kids know your family can’t afford something or when it goes counter to your family values or beliefs.

Is every single topic going to be fun and joyful? Probably not. You can keep your approach open and talk about ways you can work together to earn the things you want or budget for big items like a family vacation. Yes, sometimes you’ll have to make sacrifices or give up things, but when you decide to do it together, you’ll have the solidarity to stick to it.

Do Make it Fun!

Fun family meetings—really? Family meetings can be a really fun time, I swear! You can turn it into a game night or an activity together, or have a meeting and then have it blossom into a really great discussion or learning opportunity. Sometimes you’ll be so motivated by the meeting you’ll be ready to tackle something as a family right then and there.

Keep the atmosphere fun and don’t be afraid to even inject a little silliness into the mix. Even if you’re addressing major concerns or serious topics, you can still use it as a chance to bond together as a family and talk about why your family is strong and what you love about each other.

To really make family meetings something everyone looks forward to, include some time for a happy activity, or create a tradition that will make everyone smile—a family chant, a rule that each meeting ends with a dance-off, treats, or a quick, silly story or game. Keep it light and something everyone can look forward to.

Family Meeting DON’Ts:
Don’t Feel You Have to Give In

If you have a family meeting that turns into more of a family mutiny, don’t feel like you have to cave or give in. If you’re the holder of the family budget, and you know the limitations of your group, be strong. Family meetings are about giving everyone a voice, not about giving everyone their way.

Don’t Forget to Start on the Right Note

Some families like to start their meetings with a prayer or a warm-up exercise. Even if this isn’t something your family does normally, consider reading a favorite uplifting quote or having everyone tell a little bit about their day before you start to set the tone for the meeting.

Starting the meeting on the right foot can help you deal with emotional topics and keep temper tantrums and anger at bay. It can remind all family members what you stand for as a family and what your values are. Keeping your mission in mind can help drive your topics and guide your decisions.

Even if you’re feeling frustrated because your kids are fighting or you have to discuss a major budget crunch or something unpleasant, starting out with a positive note and identifying something you really appreciate about your family can reset the tone for the whole interaction.

Don’t Belabor the Negative

Keep things positive. It’s best when we don’t dwell on things that happened, broke, fell apart or the mess we have to fix. Instead, talk about what actions you can take together to make things better. What are you going to do about the concern and how can you assure a better outcome in the future?

Family meetings aren’t the time to tear each other down or start on the tattle train and sling accusations. They’re a time to talk things through, and even if someone has criticisms or frustrations to express, they shouldn’t be the only focus of the meeting.

Take action. Write a plan for what you’ll do next and post it in your family control center. Organize your budget and put a family savings jar up on the shelf. Set the alarm in your phone to go off ten minutes before bedtime, as a reminder so you can have time to read a story before everyone has to hit the hay. If there are consequences to dole out, address them, and talk about what can be done to earn back lost privileges, and how to prevent this issue in the future.

Don’t Talk on an Empty Stomach

My family gets “hangry”…how about yours? No one wants to sit and discuss things when they’re hungry. Tempers can be short and arguments can seem much more intense when our basic biological needs haven’t been addressed. Like food, tiredness and exhaustion can also be a major factor. When we get home from an 8-hour road trip, it’s probably not the time to have a family discussion about behavior in the car.

Never underestimate the power of sleep, a good meal, and a little time to quell people’s frustration and let things come out in new light. If you suspect everyone’s having a case of the hangries, provide a snack and refreshments for your meeting. It’s harder to be upset when you’re crunching away on apple slices or carrots.

Don’t Let Older Family Members Overshadow Younger Ones

In family meetings, older siblings might have bigger issues and concerns, leaving younger kids feeling overlooked or diminished. If you have a range of ages in your family, it’s important that everyone feels they have a voice and ability to express their emotions.

Let younger kids talk and understand their attention span might not be the same as their teenaged brothers and sisters. It’s okay to table a topic or have individual meetings to address concerns like car usage or allowance, if it doesn’t affect the entire family. In fact, your meeting may go smoother if you don’t try to talk about individual problems while younger siblings chime in with their opinions.

Keep family meetings focused on the whole family and the things you need to do and talk about together. Having a meeting can be a great way to build up your family bond and remind you of your strengths and why you’re better together.

When you have a family meeting, always keep it focused on what makes your family great! Family meetings are a wonderful way to build togetherness and allow everyone to be heard. They keep everyone on the same page and remind you that together you can overcome any issue, and tackle any problem ahead!

 

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Simple Habits that Will Change Your Life

Who wants an easy way to make life much simpler?

I know I do…For. Sure.

Life can be so complicated and busy! Every day is filled with figuring out how to schedule the day for our entire family and how to fit it all in and how to get it all done. And sometimes little things fall by the wayside because we just don’t have enough time, even when we KNOW those little actions would help us be happier and less stressed.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could just make those simple yet important actions automatic?

We can! It’s all about picking up habits. Habits help us work smarter, rather than harder. They help us stop worrying about all the things we NEED to do, and even lighten our workload—now that’s win-win in my book!

Learning about the Power of Habit changed my life. Here’s how it works: as actions are repeated and rewarded, we gain a Pavlovian (automatic) response. So, after a certain amount of time, our actions become routine. Think about it like brushing your teeth or putting on your pajamas. These little actions become so automatic you probably don’t even think about doing them! They just happen.

Keep in mind that most changes happen gradually, so creating habits can take time to become routine. I know I’ve tried to make too many sweeping changes right off the bat, and then ended up super frustrated and disheartened when all my changes didn’t stick. Or, I tried to pick up habits that made me miserable or weren’t important. Guess what? Yup, those didn’t stick either!

Instead, try to focus on just one or two new routines at a time until they become automatic, then incorporate a few more when you’re ready. Focus only on habits that make you feel good and really help make your life easier.

This post is a continuation of my 10 Simple Habits That Just Might Change Your Life post—so you might want to check that one out, too. Here are 6 MORE simple habits you can adopt today to really change your life!

1. Say “I Love You”

This one may seem obvious, but when it comes to maintaining happy marriages and great relationships with our children (and even our pets), nothing beats a sincere “I love you” each and every day.

When we say the words “I love you,” we’re telling the person we care about how we feel in a clear manner. We may show them all the time, but it’s true: we all need to hear those three little words to feel truly fulfilled and connected.

While “I love you” should always be said in sincerity, sometimes in the day-to-day hustle of life we can forget to say it or overlook it. If you feel “I love you” has been missing from your regular vocabulary, make it a habit to say it to your loved ones at bedtime, first thing in the morning, or as you leave for work. Saying “I love you” at least once a day just makes life more…lovely!

2. Smile

Even for the most light-hearted among us, putting on a happy face can be a challenge sometimes. That’s why it really does require practice to make smiling a regular habit. Smiling is one of the easiest ways to reduce stress. When you smile, you actually become happier and feel better (even if you’re faking it until you make it). When I’m frustrated or annoyed with something (it may seem counterintuitive or cheesy, I know), I try to give a little smile to see if I can boost my mood. I’m always surprised just how well this works!

When you meet someone for the first time, offer up a smile. Practice smiling at strangers at the store, on the street, or in your day-to-day interactions with others. I get that this can initially seem sort of uncomfortable, but eventually you might be surprised how it changes your interactions and puts others at ease around you.

Try smiling at your kids, your spouse or your friends and see what happens. Sometimes people are truly starved for a smile and a warm nod. Give them encouragement and a try a little grin now and again.

3. Look for the Positive in the UGH

This is a tough one, but I promise it’s worth it. The next time you’re dealing with a negative “ugh” situation, try to reframe it into a positive learning experience. When I’m faced with a problem or when something unexpected happens, I always try to think, “Wow, what a great opportunity to learn!” (…even if I’m saying it through clenched teeth—which yes, happens more often than I’d like to admit!)

When my car won’t start (ugh), I try to reframe the situation into something like: “I’m going to learn how to use jumper cables” or “This situation is a great chance for me to practice my emergency preparedness skills.”

Try thinking about what you can learn or take away from each interaction. If you’re waiting in a long line, try watching a video tutorial on your phone or catching up on a little reading. If you’re stuck in the car, use your hands-free to catch up on a phone call with an old friend or listen to a podcast or audiobook.

Approach each experience in life as an opportunity to learn and grow. You’ll be amazed at how this approach can change your outlook on…well, everything!

4. Check in on Your Goals

Many of us use a “set it and forget it” approach when it comes to our goals. Instead, try to make reviewing your goals an every-morning habit. Whether it’s your to-do list, your meal planning goals, your budget goals, or otherwise, checking in with yourself in the morning helps set the tone of your day.

Personally, I couldn’t find a way to set meaningful goals and focus on achieving them. Between running all over the place with my girls and running a business—getting my goals in order and getting anything accomplished felt super hard, if not impossible. That’s why I created the Living Well Planner™ to help me calm the chaos of being a busy mom and get my goals, dreams and plans down all in one place. It’s more than just a schedule organizer…it’s helped me organize my life! If you’re ready to CRUSH your goals and make YOUR dreams a priority, I just have to recommend my planner!

5. Read

It’s no secret…I love reading! Books are amazing. As a writer, I’m often deeply inspired by the works of others and I really enjoy reading both fiction and nonfiction. Reading is a rewarding habit and a way to escape, retreat, relax and rejuvenate. It can help us become smarter, more informed, more articulate and more interesting. …did I mention I love reading??

Try to make it a habit to pick up a book (or even a magazine, if you prefer) every day. Set aside a certain amount of time at the same time every day to ensure you go from casual reader to regular reader. Even if you spend only ten minutes a day reading before you fall asleep, it can make a huge impact on your life. It may even help you sleep better (but I do find it’s best to go with paper books over my Kindle when I’m in bed).

Choose books that uplift you and hold your interest. Rather than opting for books that leave you feeling empty, push your boundaries and look for books that help you learn, stretch your imagination, and keep you interested and engrossed from cover to cover. Try reading the book BEFORE you see the movie, or, if you loved the movie, try enhancing the experience by reading the book.

Fitting in reading can be difficult. So, if you can’t seem to fit in ANY reading, try opting for a podcast or audiobook! You can listen while you shop, wait for the kids, or work out—so you don’t even have to make extra time in your busy schedule. Joining a book club or visiting your local library can be a great way to find literary inspiration. But yes, those options take up precious time, too. I recently joined an online book club, and I just love it. It’s totally casual AND it keeps me reading…without the pressure of having to attend an actual group.

6. Floss

Most of us brush once or twice a day, but how many of us REALLY floss? When your dentist asks, do you ever fudge your answer…just a little? (I know I have. Yikes.) Maybe you say “a few times a week” when the answer really is “every other week, unless I eat spinach or corn.”

We all know flossing prevents dental disease and keeps our gums healthy. It also prevents tooth decay by loosening the bits of food that cause plaque when they build up between our teeth. And we’ve all heard someone tell us that flossing is just as (if not more!) important than brushing.

So we should probably think of your mouth as the gateway to our entire system. Tooth decay can lead to a number of health problems, from heart disease to sore throats and more—so keeping our teeth healthy and strong ensures the rest of our body works properly, too.

Flossing is probably one of the easiest habits to form quickly, as it can easily become part of your nighttime routine. It’s pretty easy and it only takes a few minutes. Once I made flossing part of my routine, I kept thinking, “Why didn’t I always do this?”

Habits are so freeing! What simple but life-changing habits have YOU picked up to boost your energy, become healthier, and feel happier? There are so many to choose from—yet some are easier for some of us than for others. Embracing flossing, picking up some reading time, smiling more, or any of the habits on this list can literally take just a few minutes a day and totally change your life.

Try a new habit today and within a month or two you just might thank yourself! You’ll be amazed at the things you can do when you pick up a few great habits.

 

 

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Easy Chicken Curry

It’s no secret that we LOVE quick & easy freezer meals around here, especially ones that use budget-friendly ingredients!  Believe it or not, this tender, juicy, flavor-packed Chicken Curry is a winner.  It’s uses mostly basic ingredients, whips up in minutes, then goes straight from the freezer to the crockpot to the table, all while tasting like you spent hours slaving away in the kitchen!

To make it as part of a freezer cooking day, just split the sauce & chicken into multiple bags, then throw it right into the freezer–no cooking required!

Chicken in the crockpot can get very dry, especially when it is cut into smaller pieces.  I used boneless skinless thigh meat rather than breast meat because it has a lot more fat, which helped keep the meat nice and moist.

 

Here is what you need:

3-4 pounds skinless, boneless chicken thighs
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons Chili powder
1 tablespoon salt
6 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoon Garam Masala
3 tablespoons butter, melted
1 tablespoon ginger paste
1 red chili pepper, chopped
1 28oz. can crushed tomatoes
2 15oz can diced tomatoes with chilies
4 tablespoons honey
2 cartons chicken stock
1 cup plain yogurt (cooking day only)
1 cup cooked rice (cooking day only)
 

Step 1: Cut chicken into strips; set aside.

Step 2: Chop chili pepper, and mince garlic; set aside.

Step 3: Mix together lemon juice, chili powder, salt, garlic, ginger, green chili peppers, crushed tomatoes, honey, chicken stock, Garam masala, and melted butter.

Step 4: Divide chicken into 2 gallon size freezer bags ( be sure to label bags first.) Divide mixture over top chicken.

Step 5: Thaw if frozen; cook in crockpot on low for 3-5 hours or high for 2-3 hours; until chicken is cooked. (Note-don’t worry if your chicken isn’t all the way thawed.  It can also cook from frozen, it might just take a little longer.)

Step 6: Once chicken is cooked; turn heat off and add yogurt to crockpot and stir.

Step 7: Serve chicken over cooked rice and along side some naan.

 

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Recipe: Easy Chicken Curry

Summary: This deliciously simple Chicken Curry recipe is the perfect way to turn boring old chicken into a meal your whole family will love.

Ingredients

3-4 pounds skinless, boneless chicken thighs
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons Chili powder
1 tablespoon salt
6 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon Garam masala
3 tablespoons butter, melted
1 tablespoon ginger
1 green chili pepper, chopped
1 28oz. can crushed tomatoes
2 tablespoons honey
1 carton chicken stock
1 cup plain yogurt (cooking day only)
1 cup cooked rice (cooking day only)



Instructions

Cut chicken into strips; set aside.
Chop green chili peppers, and mince garlic;set aside.
Mix together lemon juice, chili powder, salt, garlic, ginger, green chili peppers, crushed tomatoes, honey, chicken stock, Garam masala, and melted butter.
Divide chicken into 2 gallon size freezer bags ( be sure to label bags first.) Divide mixture over top chicken.
Thaw if frozen; cook in crockpot on low for 3-5 hours or high for 2-3 hours; until chicken is cooked. (Note-don’t worry if your chicken isn’t all the way thawed. It can also cook from frozen, it might just take a little longer.)
Once chicken is cooked; turn heat off and add yogurt to crockpot and stir.
Serve chicken over cooked rice and along side some naan.

Preparation time: 5-7 minutes

Cooking time: 3-5 hours on low or 2-3 hours on high in slow cooker

Number of servings (yield): 4

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How to Create a Financial Plan for the Year Series

Figuring out your finances can be so overwhelming! Even if you’ve made money-related resolutions this year (like making headway on debt or starting to save for retirement or creating an emergency fund or sticking to a budget)…there’s just so MUCH it’s hard to even know where to begin!

Good news! Getting back on track financially doesn’t have to be so stressful.

I’m excited to share this financial roadmap for the whole year! The best part is, you don’t have to tackle the entire year at once. We take each month and break it all down into doable, bite-sized tasks, so you can get your finances on track each month, without feeling frazzled.

Each month is simplified into three action items. Just 3 reasonable to-do items that will each make a big impact on your financial situation and your stress level.

We’ll also answer your most important financial questions, like: When do I renegotiate my utilities? What month is the best month for buying a car? Do I need to add some extra wiggle room in my budget for autumn home repairs before winter? What do I do with my tax return?

So join us for a year of financial planning and success! You can begin at any time, so let’s start planning for your year ahead, today.

January: Set Yourself Up for Financial Success!

January is a month of new beginnings and resolutions. It’s the month when we decide to take on new goals and create new positive habits. While there are many goals each of us might set to get our year off to the best possible start, if you’ve decide to tackle your financial goals this year: Congratulations! You can do this!

Action Items for January:

Gather bills and assess where you are right now.
Start to create a budget.
Start a savings account and aim to save $84.

1. Collect & Review Bills

I’ll admit, this first step is no fun—but it’s a step in the right direction, I promise. The first step to starting your financial year off right is to do an assessment of where you are financially. Take a look at all of it: the good, the bad and the ugly. Maybe you’re already moving toward your financial goals…or maybe you’re falling behind. Either way, no need to stress. The point of this action item is to assess your current situation so you can best plan for the year ahead.

Gather ALL your bills together and take a look at what you’re paying. Check to see if there are any mistakes on your bills. Many of us don’t notice when our cable or electricity bill suddenly goes up, especially if they’re set up for automatic withdrawal. Watch for hidden charges, fees or rate increases.

Assess your bills overall. If you can, call to negotiate any changes in interest rates and ask your utility or credit card companies if they can waive any finance charges or annual fees. (Most creditors will waive fees one time per year.) Also, inquire about any promotional deals you’ve seen to see if you can benefit.

Even if this exercise was stressful (and I know it can be very stressful!), you’re a step ahead now that you’ve realistically assessed your financial state. You’re well on your way to a year of financial success, so keep at it!

2. Create Your Budget

If getting a handle on your finances is your goal for January, making a budget is a great way to start the year off on the right foot. Since you’ve already gathered all your bills and paperwork together, getting started should be a piece of cake.

Look at your mortgage and your loans as well as any outstanding debts. How much do you owe creditors and what does your overall financial picture look like?

To get a clear view of everything, write down everything you owe, the amount outstanding, the interest rate, and the due date for each bill or loan. You can download our budget worksheet to help you get started and organized.

This is typically a good time to determine what you can cut out. Are there some monthly expenses you can give up? Do you need to be part of a gym or can you work out at home? Can you give up cable and just take advantage of your Amazon Prime subscription to stream movies or rent from your local library? Can you renegotiate your family’s phone plan? What are some other monthly expenses you might be willing to forgo to get your finances in order?

3. Start to Save

The New Year is also a great time to set up your emergency fund and start contributing. Even if you can’t save $1,000 right away, if you can figure out a way to put away $84 a month, you’ll get you to your goal of a $1,000 by next January!

If $84 seems like too much, just put away what you can to start. Even building up your change jar or setting up your checking to round up debit card purchases and deposit the extra into savings (a service offered by many banks) can help you get to your goal by the end of the year.

Look at your budget and see where you can shave off a few dollars to get you to your mark. You can read this post for more ideas: 10 Ways to Build Your Emergency Fund.

Bonus: Best Major Purchases in January

Following the holidays, many of us aren’t in a position to spend money on major purchases. However, if you were wise and held out, you might be able to use those Christmas gift cards to save on some great post-holiday deals. January is the best time to take advantage of post-holiday clearance deals, especially on Christmas decorations and wrapping paper for next year.

In January, you can find good deals on furniture and electronics, as well as on videogames and books. Retailers overstocked for the holiday season, so anything that didn’t sell now goes on discounted deals to get it out the door before new spring models are released.

Similarly, you can save on snow blowers and winter yard equipment, furnaces, and home supplies most people rushed to purchase at the beginning of the season in October and November.

Watch for deals on winter clothing like coats, boots, gloves and sweaters. They all go on sale in January, as do pajamas and linens. January is a good time to stock up on holiday canned goods such as pumpkin, cranberry sauce and canned gravy. You can also find deals on frozen holiday items such as ice cream, cakes and cookies (and no one will mind or notice when they’re enjoying gingerbread ice cream in February or March)!

Lastly, watch for gift cards or special deals and discounts. Many smaller retailers stock holiday-themed cards or gift sets they have to move out the door after the season is over. Also visit gift card trade-in sites like Cardpool or GiftCard Zen, where you can score deals on gift cards other people didn’t want in their stockings.

January is a month of new beginnings, tackling new opportunities, and getting yourself set up for success throughout the year. Join us for a year of financial success! Look for new posts each month to help you take on your finances step-by-step every month this year. Make it your New Year’s resolution to start the year off right by tackling your finances and making this your best year ever!

 

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Helpful Resources to Save Time and Money

Time and money. Don’t we all wish we had even a little more of each?

I know I do. Between last-minute trips to the store, unexpected car repairs, expensive doctor appointments, and so much more, it seems like us busy moms can never catch a break!

That’s why I’m always on the lookout for simple, easy-to-use tools, apps and websites to save even more precious time and money.

I know you’re busy, too…so I’m guessing a list of twenty (20!) ways to save time and money miiiight be a little overwhelming. So, before you even look at the list below, know that if you check out just ONE of these helpful resources (I recommend our Living Well Planner), I’m sure it’ll be worth your time. Plus, everything on this list is free to check out, and most resources are even free to try!

1.The Living Well Planner™

As a busy mom and entrepreneur, I feel like I’m always juggling. There’s never enough time for everything and I’ve often felt stretched so thin that even one more thing on my plate would do me in! I couldn’t find a great way to keep track of everything while helping me stay financially on track and CRUSH my goals. So, I decided to create the Living Well Planner™ to help me organize my entire life, not just my schedule.

If you don’t want to read through the rest of this list and you just want something to help NOW, please check out our Living Well Planner™. This planner helps you get everything together, including meal planning, financial planning, hour-by-hour scheduling, budgeting, and more.

2.Mint

If you’re a budgeting beginner, Mint is a great place to start getting a handle on your finances. Mint allows you to consolidate ALL your financial information in one place, then keep tabs on your transactions via their app or from the online dashboard. Add all of your bills, credit cards, and investments to get a total financial picture whenever you need it most. It connects with most financial institutions, and best of all, it’s free. Having a single resource to get an overview of your financial picture anytime is immensely handy for budget planning, shopping, and just general peace of mind.

Mint also offers savings articles and tips, plus they help you customize your savings plan based on your particular financial profile. All your information is updated in real time, saving you the hassle of compiling all your bills and payments, then comparing them yourself. Mint does it all for you and lets you view it all in one place.

3.   Evernote

Evernote is a great tool for organizing everything (everything!) in one place. You can organize your thoughts, to-do lists, articles, photos, notes, and even audio files, yes: all in one place. Whether you’re a visual person or not, if you need to create presentations, you’ll love this setup: there’s no need to build slides, as Evernote turns your research and ideas into little works of art with a single click.

Evernote offers both a dashboard and an app, and transitions between devices easily, so you can use it on your computer, tablet, and smartphone depending on how you want to work. It’s basically the digital version of a personal organizer.

4.   FatWallet

FatWallet has been around for over ten years now and it’s still a great resource for finding sales and comparative shopping. Oftentimes FatWallet will release sale circulars before retailers do, so you’ll get inside access to upcoming deals. It’s a great resource for large purchases or before major sale times (like Black Friday or Labor Day).

FatWallet also posts rebates (they’re owned by Ebates), so it can be an excellent resource for getting money back from purchases. They offer a referral program and list coupon codes and information for many large online retailers.

5.   RetailMeNot

Quite possibly the definitive coupon code resource, RetailMeNot offers coupon codes for over 50,000 stores. Before you order anything online you should always check for a coupon code. Most often you’ll save yourself shipping at the very least, but often much more.

Coupon codes are rated and successful use is reported back, so the codes are constantly updated. You don’t have to be a member to use RetailMeNot, but members benefit from being able to submit and share coupon codes, plus they’re the first to know about hot deals.

6.   PriceGrabber

The first and one of the best comparative shopping sites out there, PriceGrabber shows the price of items across several different retailers, helping you find the best deal.

Simply search for an item (including electronics, appliances, gifts or furniture) and compare prices from hundreds of retailers to help you find who’s offering the best deal. You can search for a specific product or model or you can browse through several different, but similar, items to find the price you want.

7.   Lifehacker

If you’re looking for a better way to get something done, chances are you can find it on Lifehacker. This website offers “hacks” (tips and tricks) on everything from how to make a better omelet to how to learn a new language. Usually funny and occasionally slightly irreverent, the writers tend to veer towards the tech side of problem solving, but it’s certainly not exclusive to just techie people and computer geeks.

Lifehacker is a frequently Pinterested site with lots of tips on how to clean and cook more efficiently. I often find inventive solutions and easy timesaving tricks that always make me wonder, “Why didn’t I think of that?!”

8.   OneHarvest Food Ministries

OneHarvest Food Ministries offers prepaid, prepackaged healthy affordable food options. They’re a non-denominational Christian program that seeks to offer families affordable and healthy dinner options. This isn’t a food-pantry service but rather it’s a food-sharing program, much like a CSA or farm-share program. OneHarvest works with many EBT programs through their partner pickup sites.

You can find OneHarvest throughout much of the US*, though there are similar programs in the Midwest and Western states. These programs purchase quality food directly from the distributer, then offer it at lower cost to help families get the most for their money. They even tailor boxes for families with dietary restrictions or for those with large families, but typically the boxes have enough food to feed a family of 4 three healthy meals a day for a few weeks.

*As of this publication, OneHarvest is currently distributing in Alabama, Florida (Pensacola and surrounding areas), Georgia, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas (Dallas/Ft Worth & Tyler), Virginia, and West Virginia (Martinsburg).

9.   Feedly

Feedly is a news aggregator. In plain English, it prioritizes your newsfeed, so you can read blogs, news sites and top stories you care about in an efficient central location. To set it up, you simply download the app or visit the site. From there you can select your favorite news sources or add the addresses of sites you frequent.

The latest posts and stories will come up as a “feed” in the app and you can skim through headlines and click on the items you care about the most. You can also add sites as you go so you’ll never miss an update or post on your favorite blogs.

10.camelcamelcamel

I don’t know about you, but I’m a frequently on Amazon, so camelcamelcamel is a great resource for helping me watch for the best deals. They show the price history of items on the site and can alert you to changes in price or availability of an item that you have your eye on.

For Amazon shoppers, this simple resource really helps ensure you’re getting the best deal. You don’t have to register to use the site, but if you do, you can import your wish list and receive email alerts when a special item goes on sale.

11.GasBuddy

This helpful little site and app lets you search gas stations to find the best price on gas in your area. Use GasBuddy to search by location to view helpful maps and listings of the closest, cheapest gas around. It also lets you search by price, so it can be a very interesting way to comparative shop when summer travel prices are up. It’s also a must-have to save money on vacations and road trips.

12.SmartyPig

A friend of mine clued me in to SmartyPig, which she’s using to save for her wedding. This FDIC-insured savings site is basically an online piggybank where you set up an account for a specific savings goal. The cool thing about this site is that it’s compatible with social media so you can use crowdfunding to help you meet your goal. (So it’s handy if your friends and family want to contribute to your wedding, your remodeling project or another financial objective.)

SmartyPig offers a competitive interest rate and works with online retailers like Amazon and Travelocity to give you rewards. So if you’re saving for a vacation, for example, when you reach your goal you can save even more money by booking it through retail partner Travelocity. The goal is to help consumers move away from a buy-now-pay-later mentality and make smart savings goals up front.

13.DaveRamsey.com

One of my personal favorite financial advisors, Dave Ramsey offers practical, sound financial advice. He also offers a listing of ELPs or Endorsed Local Providers of insurance and other financial services to help ensure you get the best deal (and so you can avoid getting ripped off)!

Dave Ramsey has helped millions of listeners and their families gain financial peace through his radio show and learning seminars. My husband and I attended his Financial Peace University and were very impressed with the reasonable, attainable goals and advice he extended to participants. Unlike some other financial advisors, Dave doesn’t claim to be perfect or make you feel guilty for being human. He tries to help people work within their situation to make smart choices and become debt free. His site offers a myriad of planning tools, articles and resources to help you on your financial journey.

14.The Frugal Farmer

Another blog you should check out is The Frugal Farmer. It’s the story one family’s journey working their way out of debt after leaving the “rat race” and life in the suburbs to run a hobby farm in the Midwest. By practicing financial, physical and spiritual self-sufficiency, this family is striving toward their goal of living debt-free. This blog has a lot of practical tips on financial management and self-sufficiency. It’s a great resource for anyone interested in homesteading and living frugally.

15.NerdWallet

The founder of NerdWallet created the site during his own struggle to find out which credit card had the best interest rate and benefits. He created a spreadsheet of all the possible offers he could find and compared the features of each. Realizing this information could help many consumers, he founded the site, which allows you to comparatively shop for investments, insurance and credit cards by collecting all the data to get the best deal.

NerdWallet also features comparative information on financial aid for school tuition, hospital fees, and more. It’s often been featured on The Wall Street Journal, CNNMoney, and other great sources as one of the best money management sites.

16.Block Talk

Ever wish you could dial up a tax professional to ask a quick question or to get an explanation of financial jargon in layman’s terms? Well, H&R Block’s blog Block Talk offers many articles and resources written by tax professionals who face these kinds of money questions every single day.

Tackling topics like insurance, identity theft and tax fraud, this blog offers valuable insight into the daunting world of taxes and helps you find answers and advice that’s well researched, and from a hands-on source. They also provide helpful information on the latest tax code changes and how they might affect you and your family.

17.AnnualCreditReport.com

The one truly free, no nonsense credit report site is AnnualCreditReport.com. This site offers access to your credit report and your all-important credit score. Keeping a handle on this number helps you to catch identity theft, address any concerns about misrepresented information, and helps to ensure you get the best rates from lenders, when and if the time comes. You should keep an eye on your credit report and review it annually for any mistakes or issues.

A word of caution—there are many sites out there that will try to charge you for your credit report and can even damage your score in the process. There is simply no reason to pay for your credit report. If you’re uncertain or if you want more in-depth assistance, many credit unions will also pull credit reports for members and help them strategize ways to build and improve their scores.

18.Brad’s Deals

Ever wonder how some people just know about great deals on the Internet before everyone else? Well, Brad’s Deals is a site dedicated to just that—finding great deals online. They feature items from shoes to kitchen utensils to the latest in gym equipment. When there’s a really terrific sale or a “don’t miss” deal, Brad’s Deals passes it on to their subscribers.

The site, founded by a guy named Brad (surprise) in 2005 is simply based on the premise of wanting to help consumers save. They’ve since become one of the top deal sources on the web.

19.Pocket

How easy is it to get lost down the rabbit hole of the Internet when you’re searching for something? I know I’ve become distracted many times—I’m sitting down to write a post and then “oh look, something shiny” and off I go… Pocket seeks to help limit the distractions by simply allowing you to pocket an article, photo, video or other tidbit until later.

Think of it as ripping an article out of a magazine so you can come back to it when you have time to read it. With this app or from their website, you can do the same thing—put something away and save it for when you have free time.

20.theSkimm

We all like to be kept in the loop on what’s going on in the world, but how on earth do you keep up on all of it? I have a few friends who always seem to be in-the-know on the latest breaking news, but for those of us who don’t have a train commute or a morning coffee break to read the newspaper, theSkimm is here to help. This easy-to-follow email arrives in your inbox each morning and gives you the Cliff’s notes version of the news—from events in the Middle East to tech updates or celebrity scandals, it offers essentially a 5-minute byte of information.

The emails are free and they offer fun giveaways and inside info for readers. It’s like a fun trip to the water cooler without the office.

I’ve found all of these resources very helpful in my journey to save time and money, so I hope you’ve found an app, website or tool within this list to help you and your family save these precious resources. I also know new tools are constantly coming to light, so please feel free to share your favorite time and money saving resources in the comments!

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Semi-Homemade Stromboli

It is always good to have a few recipes that you can whip up out of the pantry staples you already have on hand.  It’s even better if those recipes also happen to be super simple.  And if the recipe happens to be a family favorite that your kids and husband just love?  Well then quite frankly, that’s a recipe you just can’t live without. This delicious stromboli comes together with store bought dough and a few simple ingredients for a no fuss meal.

Here is what you need:

pizza dough (store bought)
1 jar of marinara sauce
1 16oz. package shredded mozzarella
1/4 pound hard Salami
1/4 pound pepperoni
1/4 pound ham, thinly sliced
1 green bell  pepper, thinly sliced
1 small onion, thinly sliced
2-3 tablespoons butter
1 egg
 Italian Seasoning
 
 

Step 1: Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees F., spray baking pan with cooking spray. Thinly slice green bell pepper and onion and set aside.

Step 2: Melt 2-3 tablespoons of butter in a large pan. saute peppers and onions until soft; drain and set aside.

Step 3: On a lightly floured surface, roll  the dough to a large rectangle, about 10 by 14 inches.

Step 4: Layer salami, pepperoni and prosciutto onto the dough; then add pepper and onion mixture over top evenly. Lastly, sprinkle with shredded mozzarella; being sure to leave a 1 inch boarder around dough.

Step 5: Using a pastry brush; coat the boarder with an egg wash.Starting at the opposite long end, roll up the dough into a cylinder, pinching the edges to seal. Place on the prepared baking sheet and let the dough rise, 20 to 30 minutes.

Step 6: Brush top of stromboli with egg wash then sprinkle with Italian seasoning and bake in preheated oven for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.

Step 7: Then sprinkle with Italian seasoning and bake in preheated oven for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.

Step 8: Let Stromboli rest 3-5 minutes; then cut into thick slices and serve with a side of warm marinara sauce.

 

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Recipe: Semi-Homemade Stromboli

Summary: This recipe comes together super easy using store bought pizza dough, deli meat and jarred sauce.

Ingredients



pizza dough (store bought)
1 jar of marinara sauce
1 16oz. package shredded mozzarella
1/4 pound hard Salami
1/4 pound pepperoni
1/4 pound ham, thinly sliced
1 green bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 small onion, thinly sliced
2-3 tablespoons butter
1 egg
Italian Seasoning





Instructions

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees F., spray baking pan with cooking spray. Thinly slice green bell pepper and onion and set aside.
Melt 2-3 tablespoons of butter in a large pan. saute peppers and onions until soft; drain and set aside.
On a lightly floured surface, roll  the dough to a large rectangle, about 10 by 14 inches.
Layer salami, pepperoni and prosciutto onto the dough; then add pepper and onion mixture over top evenly. Lastly, sprinkle with shredded mozzarella; being sure to leave a 1 inch boarder around dough.
Using a pastry brush; coat the boarder with an egg wash.Starting at the opposite long end, roll up the dough into a cylinder, pinching the edges to seal. Place on the prepared baking sheet and let the dough rise, 20 to 30 minutes.
Brush top of Stromboli with egg wash then sprinkle with Italian seasoning and bake in preheated oven for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.
Then sprinkle with Italian seasoning and bake in preheated oven for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.
Let Stromboli rest 3-5 minutes; then cut into thick slices and serve with a side of warm marinara sauce.

Preparation time: 20-30 minutes

Cooking time: 20-25 minute(s)

Number of servings (yield): 6-8

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How to Create a Book Club

 

I don’t know about you, but I love reading! In fact one of my big goals for next year is to read at least 100 books, and I’ve already started working on my list.  I also know that if I actually want to crush that goal this year, I am going to have to be diligent about making more time for this little passion of mine.

If you’re a book lover, but finding time to read is a challenge (as it can be), starting a book club can be a great incentive to keep reading, and a great excuse to set up a stimulating monthly activity to enjoy with friends!

Book clubs can come in many forms. Years ago, when Oprah started her famous Oprah’s Book Club, women from all over the country read along and with Oprah, and were able to share in her favorite literary selections. She hosted authors on her show and the mark of her book club became synonymous with great selections.

Local book clubs can spring up at your library, through the PTA, or even just among neighbors and friends. Book clubs can be as organized as you like, as large or small as you prefer, and involve a specific genre or topic, or be more free-form.

Book Club Basics

If you’re longing to share with others, want more motivation to keep up on your own reading list, or just like the camaraderie of a club, the easiest way to get involved is to check out your local Meetup.com, library, parent organization, neighborhood or church group. See if there’s a local book club you can join that’s already up and running.

If you can’t find a book club you’d like to join, then you might have to roll up your sleeves and start your own group. The great thing about starting your own book club is YOU have creative control. You can help make the first book selections (although it’s fun if eventually everyone gets to share their picks), and you can set the tone and the guidelines.

Find several likeminded friends who might be interested in a book club, too. If you aren’t sure how to approach the subject, try posting your idea on Facebook and see who responds. Or you can try sending out a few individual emails to friends to see if they’re interested. Your other option is to roll the dice and send invitations out to anyone you’d like to join (Evite or Paperless Post both have some cute options) and see who RSVPs to your club.

Once you have a few members ready to read, you’ll need to figure out how you’ll communicate with your group. First of all, how will you communicate about meetings and topics? Sometimes a closed Facebook group works really well, but be sure there’s a point person and posting approval so the group doesn’t become cluttered and confusing. An email chain or group text works just fine, too.

Next, it’s time to think on your book club guidelines. Are you going to stick with a certain theme or genre? (More on that to follow…) Do books need to follow certain guidelines? For example, books with uplifting subject matter? Classics? Works in translation? Short stories? (Be sure to consider the length of the books and set guidelines so everyone can reasonably participate. After all, reading War and Peace in two weeks or a month might be a bit much for some busy club members.)

Next, consider how often your club will meet and where. Monthly is usually a good rule of thumb, though some groups might prefer to meet more or less often depending on everyone’s schedules and preferences. Will you meet in the evenings? On the weekends? When considering a meeting place, you can offer to host if you like or you can discuss with the other members if it’s best to rotate through hostess’s homes or meet in a space at your local library or coffee shop.

Don’t forget to consider refreshments. There are some book clubs that prefer to be more of a wine-drinking club that reads books, while others take the book analysis very seriously. Feel out what type of club you’d like to have and what your members would enjoy. When you think of food, do you want to ask everyone to bring a salad to share, a dessert or snack item, or simply tea and coffee with your discussion? It can be fun to do a food theme that’s in line with the book. For example, sampling cuisine mentioned in the book or regional fare from the book’s setting.

(By the way, if all of this seems overwhelming, you might want to try an online book club. You can find an existing club or start your own, but the coolest part is that it’s all online. No meetings to worry about or anything! I’m in one on Facebook that I just love because it’s totally casual and no frills—just a bunch of book lovers talking about books!)

Once you’ve worked out the logistics and nuances of your book club, it’s time to start!

Leading Book Club Discussions

There are many options for discussion topics and you can leave it as open or as structured as you like. If you’re really hoping to dissect and analyze a book for deeper meaning, you may want to refer to LitLovers or CliffsNotes for questions and in-depth discussion ideas.

Universally speaking, you can always discuss the themes in the book and the motivations of the characters. One popular universal question is, “How did you, as the reader, relate to the book in terms of your own experiences and background?” This usually gets the conversation going, as everyone shares their thoughts and personal takeaways.

Ask for everyone’s opinion of the book. Did they find it engaging? Do they like the characters? What do they feel is the underlying theme or message? Keep in mind, not everyone is going to LOVE every single book you read. This can be challenging if you’re the one who picked the book or if it’s a personal favorite. Remember each person has their own opinions shaped by their lives and personal experience. It’s okay for them to feel differently about a book than you do.

As you discuss the book, be sure everyone has a chance to weigh in and share their opinions. Inevitably, some book club members might be more comfortable sharing with the group than others. As a host, be sure you engage every member of the club and give them a chance to speak and share.

When it comes time to choose the next book, if you plan to do a rotation, simply move to the next host or hostess and take turns. If your club has guidelines about theme or content, someone should read or screen through the book before suggesting it to the rest of the club. Look for books that are on the bestseller lists or search for suggestions from your local library. You can also search online resources such as Amazon’s Book Club Picks.

If you need some ideas, here are a few of my current fiction favorites (click the title to learn more about each book):

All the Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr
All the Pretty Things, by Edie Wadsworth
The Light Between Oceans, by M.L. Stedman
Everything I Never Told You, by Celeste Ng

Genres and Themes for Your Club

If you’re finding it challenging to come up with a theme or decide which books you’ll select for your club, referring to book club lists can help. You may want to be very specific with your theme or keep it open.

Some great ideas are:

Science Fiction
Classics
Self-Help
Historical Fiction
Biographies
YA Novels
Thrillers
Christian/Inspirational
Romance
Humor
Action & Adventure
Westerns

You can go as strict or loose with the guidelines as you like. If you’re having a hard time narrowing down a genre like “Classics,” consider picking a range like, “Mid-Twentieth Century” or “European.” Keep a page limit (usually around 300 is at the high end), so no one gets overwhelmed.

You can also pick a theme for the year or to explore over the course of several meetings, like World War II or strong female protagonists. A fun theme is to pick books that have been made into films, then screen the movie during your book club!

Book Club Benefits

When it comes to starting a book club, the main purpose is to simply get excited about reading and share your love of books and “a-ha” moments with your fellow readers. It’s an opportunity to expand your social circle and conversation topics beyond day-to-day happenings. It gives you a chance to keep your brain stimulated and growing. Not only that, but it encourages you to explore new subjects and learn about things you wouldn’t normally go for. Maybe you’re not a science fiction person, but through a book club, you might find something you really love!

On a side (and personal) note, as a writer, a book club can help strengthen your writing as well. Often we can get so caught up in our own thoughts and analysis, it can help to gain an outside perspective on a topic. Thinking on a “reader’s view” of a book can help us better relate to our own readers and how they think as they explore our writing. If you’re a blogger or a writer, or if you’d just like to strengthen your own writing skills, a book club can help reinforce those skills and help you better articulate your thoughts and points.

So the question becomes not “Why should I start a book club?” but “Why wouldn’t I start a book club?” The benefits are positive, the meetings are fun, and it’s a great way to grow, connect with friends and mix up your routine. So get out there! Open a book and join or start a book club. Fellow readers unite and find a way to connect and explore literature together!

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Christmas Break on a Dime

This is a Guest Post from Cherie at Queen of Free

Welcome to the great winter break time warp. The days seem both simultaneously incredibly short and much too long. The build up before Christmas, filled with eager anticipation and the busy joys of traditions, often makes my kids lose their junk and fight like cats and dogs. After all the presents have been unwrapped, if I’m not careful I can succumb to the post holiday blues and feel a little let down, wondering if all of the effort to try to make Christmas come off without a hitch was really worth it.

In the last days of December and the first days of January, we would sit quietly, playing with new things in separate rooms until inevitably one of my girls would reel out the three words that make every mom hear the sound of nails scratching on a chalkboard . . .

Mooooooom, I’m bored.

Deep within my heart of hearts, I long to reply in a kind and affirming, yet corrective voice, “Dear children, you simply cannot be bored. Your rooms are filled with so many good gifts. Scattered under the Christmas tree are new things – toys and books and clothes – that you ripped into mere hours ago. We have a television and crayons and board games. You have crafty items and puzzles and a gaming system. There’s no way you’re bored.”

However, if my own holiday malaise has gotten the better of me, I’m more likely to respond with a bit more grit in my tone of voice and maybe threaten to make them clean house all afternoon instead. Just sayin’.

Last year, I decided to replace the redundant cycle of the winter break blues with intentional activities to make a difference and make memories. Sure, there’s plenty going on in our nearby city . . . museum exhibits, special holiday celebrations at the zoo, and shows and plays galore. And there’s more than one holiday blockbuster that I’d like to take them to see. However, our family can’t budget to eat out or pay admission every single day of winter break. So, I got creative and we tried out some of the following ideas to make the most of our time together without driving each other crazy OR breaking the bank.

Serve Together

My husband regularly says that when one of our kids is off track, they simply need a better story, a way to shift their eyes from their own circumstances to the needs of other people. You’re probably not going to found a non-profit with your family between semesters (kudos to you if you do!) and so rather than getting bogged down on what you can’t do, start small. Consider the following ways you and your kids might serve together over winter break.

Visit an elderly neighbor or relative. Bring treats for that person or their caregiver.
Go caroling in the nursing home.
Prepare lunch for someone working long hours during the holiday season and deliver it.
Volunteer to ring bells or meet a need with the local Salvation Army.
Clean the toys in your church’s nursery. Anyone can use a Lysol wipe.
Shovel a snow covered driveway or two.
Bake cookies to take to your office or workplace.
Write letters to or Christmas Cards for soldiers. Contact your local Red Cross for instructions of where to send them.
Make fleece blankets to give to a local homeless outreach.
Collect pasta from your friends and neighbors to donate to a food pantry. Better yet, reach out and ask what items they have the greatest need for.
Babysit together for a family with young children so the mom and/or dad can take a break.

Really, the sky is the limit. Ask your kids to help identify needs and solve problems in their local community. You might be surprised with the ideas they share. Want more ideas? Check out 15 Christmas Service Projects for Families.

Make Up Your Own Movie Marathon

There are several family favorite movies that I want to be sure to watch with my kids, from holiday favorites to broadway musicals to epic sagas. Why not choose a movie or handful of movies to check off your list this winter break. Here are a few ideas to get your juices flowing. Obviously, keep in mind your own family preferences and the ages of your kids. You may even want to screen a movie or two if it’s been a long while since you’ve seen it.

The Night at the Museum Trilogy

America The Story of Us from the History Channel

The Complete Star Wars Saga

The Harry Potter Movies

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy or The Hobbit Trilogy

The Complete Toy Story Collection

Anne of Green Gables Collection

If you don’t already own these films or have access to them from any streaming services, put them on reserve from the library right now. Our library also features binge boxes filled with collections of films that are similar – Steven Spielberg classics, Marvel movies, British flicks, musicals, and more. Your library is the perfect cure for a boring break. Don’t forget to pop popcorn and put on your pjs.

Video Game Tournament

My girls love to play games on our Wii. They love it even more when their parents play with them. Whether you crush it on Just Dance or channel your inner Princess Peach to defeat all your enemies, Mario Party style, you probably have a game or two no the shelf that’s been unplayed. Play with your own family unit or expand your bracket to include friends, neighbors, and extended family. Speaking of brackets, you can even print your own bracket to keep track of scores and to see who advances to the next round.

Christmas Light Tour

Your city is more than likely filled with more wonder in the evening hours now than any other time of the year. Plot out a path to hit the best displays in town. Make some hot cocoa to take in travel safe mugs. Bring a cookie or two to much on in the car. And have plenty of sing-a-long Christmas classics to pump through your speakers. Google your town or city’s name with light displays to find some that might be in your area. Or better yet, ask your friends and family on social media the neighborhoods or houses they don’t miss every year.

Read a Classic Series of Books

There’s nothing like a good book that leads to another good book. Encourage your kids to dive into a piece of classic literature or a popular series. Check out the first two books the day before break begins so they’re ready to roll on day one. Or take advantage of the long time periods you might spend in the car traveling to and from visiting family to listen to audiobooks. Our family has listened to more than one lengthy series even in the short 15 to 20 minute trips we take around town. Need some ideas?

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket

The Magic Treehouse Series by Mary Pope Osborne

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

The Giver Quartet by Lois Lowry

Again, like with movies, consider the ages of your children and your family’s preferences when choosing a series. But beginning them on a journey of getting to know characters who will become like friends is a great investment for winter break and the years to come. If you don’t own the books already or didn’t get an Amazon gift card hit the local library. Some libraries even have digital borrowing programs where you can listen to audiobooks your phone, iPod, or tablet for free!

Creating a winter break that your entire family can enjoy takes more planning but results in better memories. Setting expectations and getting your kids excited about what they get to do can create a more hospitable environment where you all enjoy the time off a bit more. For even more ideas, head to 15 FREE Christmas Break Activities.

 

Cherie Lowe is an author, speaker and hope bringer. Her book Slaying the Debt Dragon details her family’s quest to eliminate over $127K in debt in just under four years. As her alter ego the Queen of Free, Cherie provides offbeat money saving tips and debt slaying inspiration on a daily basis.

 

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Simple Chocolate Mint Cookies

I don’t know about you, but I love me some Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies! Unfortunately for all of us, they only go on sale once a year, but thankfully we’ve discovered what might just be the BEST cookie hack of all time.

With just 3 simple ingredients, these delicious little gems come together in less than five minutes.  Better yet, they taste amazing and are such a dead ringer for your favorite Thin Mint! If you’re short on baking time, these cookies are the perfect way to cheat your way to homemade. Great for cookie exchanges, or a tasty gift for the neighbors, friends and teachers, or maybe just because!

In fact, they are SO easy we thought we’d make a little video to prove it!

Here is what you need:1 box Ritz crackers, original1 package chocolate almond bark1/4 tsp Peppermint Vitality Essential Oil or peppermint extract 

Step 1: Chop your chocolate almond bark into smaller pieces; set aside.

Step 2: Use a double boiler system to melt your chocolate bark.

Step 3: Once chocolate almond bark is melted add 1/4 teaspoon of peppermint vitality EO into the melted chocolate almond bark and stir. Taste to to determine if more peppermint is needed.

Step 4: Dip crackers one at a time into the melted chocolate almond bark and then place on a sheet of parchment paper to cool.

Step 5: Once chocolate is set, enjoy right away or place in cellophane bags or mason jars to use as a simple yet tasty gift.

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Recipe: 3 Ingredient Chocolate Mint Cookies

Summary: These super simple cookies are absolutely amazing and make the perfect homemade treat to share!

Ingredients

Ritz crackers, original
1 package chocolate almond bark
Peppermint Vitality essential oil or peppermint extract



Instructions

Chop your chocolate almond bark into smaller pieces; set aside.
Use a double boiler system to melt your chocolate bark.
Once chocolate almond bark is melted add 1/4 teaspoon of peppermint vitality EO into the melted chocolate almond bark and stir. Taste to to determine if more peppermint is needed.
Dip crackers one at a time into the melted chocolate almond bark and then place on a sheet of parchment paper to cool.
Once chocolate is set, enjoy right away or place in cellophane bags or mason jars to use as a simple yet tasty gift.

Preparation time: 7-10 minutes

Cooling time: 20-30 minute(s)

Number of servings (yield):

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Create a Stop Doing List

Raise your hand if you’re not perfect.

I know my hand is WAY up—is yours?

I try to save, but I overspend. I clean like crazy and feel like it’s not enough. I start my diet and exercise plan with resolve and then crash to a plate of brownies. Sometimes my friends or family members upset me and I don’t know how to handle it. Sometimes I argue with my husband and yell at my kids, and feel like I’m barely hanging on.

And I don’t think I’m alone.  As women, most of us deal with the constant internal pressure of feeling like we’re failing in one way or another.

We tell ourselves all we need to be happy is a clean house free of clutter; an awesome and fulfilling career in a job we love; a balanced budget and plenty of money in the bank; kids who are happy, healthy, clean, smart, talented and smiling all the time; a loving & passionate relationship with a spouse that makes our heart skip a beat every day; an active social life with friends, family and loved ones who bring constant joy, and a deep spiritual connection that keeps us on the mountaintop all the time.  Oh, and we also need to look fabulous in a swimsuit!

But the truth is that none of us can do it all.  There are only 24 hours in the day, which means that in order to excel in one area of our life, another area will almost inevitably suffer, at least a little bit.  And that’s okay.  Balance doesn’t mean doing everything perfectly, it means giving yourself the grace to not be perfect.

And so I’m proposing that there are a few things we can and should stop doing immediately. Today.

 

1. Over-apologizing

“I’m sorry I bumped into you.” (…when really you bumped into me.)

“I’m sorry I coughed.”

“I’m so sorry I’m bothering you.”

“I’m sorry, but I need to go to the bathroom.”

Seriously: we need to stop apologizing for everything! Not only is it perfectly inoffensive that we have real biological reactions like sneezing and having to go to the bathroom, but also, “sorry” becomes a habit, so we say it when we don’t actually mean it. At least “excuse me” or “pardon me” aren’t quite the tick that “sorry” becomes.

When we apologize for meaningless things, sometimes we lose the meaning in truly saying we’re sorry when we do something that’s actually hurtful. “Sorry” becomes a way to tell others we think they’re being a jerk. We’re trying to preempt their reaction by saying we’re sorry before they have a chance to say something we don’t like.

Instead of constantly saying “I’m sorry,” let’s try to replace it with “pardon me” or “excuse me.” Or, better yet, eliminate it altogether, except in cases when a sorry is truly necessary.

2. Comparing Yourself to Others

Between social media and everything we do online, it can be next to impossible to stop comparing ourselves to those around us. Of course we look at the friend on Instagram and see how amazing and together her family pictures look. We see her fabulous vacation and the amazing party she threw. We see our friends sharing their workouts on Facebook and talking about how fantastic their lives are.

It can be hard not to feel like we’re missing out or like we’re not measuring up to standards. However, when it comes down to it, there aren’t a lot of people sharing their true struggles online. Yes, maybe there are a few Pinterest fail blogs (which are hilarious, by the way), but for the most part, our online personas are carefully cultivated to reflect the best of times.

We photograph the joys in our life and the moments we want others to see. We rarely show the moment our three-year-old decided to make a sandcastle in the cat’s litter box, or the time our six-year-old cut her sister’s hair. (Okay, maybe after we’ve calmed down and can laugh about it, but not in the moment.)

Sometimes it’s okay to step away from social media for a while, particularly if it’s making you feel bad about yourself. Take a break to live in the real world where we’re all imperfect.

3. Buying “Good Deals”

When you find a great deal at the store, do you jump all over it? Many of us do. It can be very hard to pass up a BOGO deal or a double coupon opportunity, especially when you know you might need it in the future.

Here’s the deal, though: more often than not, we end up buying too much. We buy more than we need or can feasibly use up or store because it’s such a “good deal.” We’re not actually saving money when we have a closet full of cheap clothes we never wear or a cupboard full of food that will expire before we can eat it. Even though we think we’re saving money, we’re still spending.

The next time you get a hankering to walk to the back of the clearance aisle at the store, ask yourself if there’s anything you need on your list that might actually be on that aisle. If it’s not on your list, don’t go there. (Yes, even if it’s 70% off and you have a coupon!) For example, if I’m at the store for cereal, batteries and masking tape, I’m going to promise myself I won’t even look at the makeup clearance section or browse the candle aisle.

4. Feeling Guilty for Self-Care

As a mom, it can be hard to practice self-care. We might try to fit in gym time or even a few extra minutes to do our hair and makeup. Maybe you have a novel you’re dying to read for a few hours, but you know you can’t afford to take the time.

So, what do we do instead? When we have a few extra minutes, we surf the web or procrastinate or spend time doing “busywork” under the guise of productivity. …well, I know I do. But when I do, I realize I’m not really allowing myself to have downtime…downtime that is so nourishing, refreshing, and necessary. I’d be far better off if I took the time for myself, embraced it, enjoyed it and made the most of it.

Self-care gives us a chance to keep ourselves feeling energized and refreshed. It helps us look and feel our best. You know how wonderful you feel when you’re dressed up, looking good and feeling fantastic? I don’t know about you, but I feel like I’m ready to tackle the world.

I know it can be hard, but try to find time to treat yourself each day with a little gift—a piece of chocolate, a bath, reading a magazine, or a few chapters of your book. Be mindful about your activity and look at it as something special you’re giving to yourself. You deserve it!

5. Beating Yourself Up over Your Diet

Feeling guilty about your diet is a tale as old as women’s magazines. For years and years, we’ve been trying to “reduce,” lose weight, and shrink ourselves to fit into smaller clothing sizes. What happens? We do it for a while, and we’re miserable as we pick through a salad or eat carrot sticks. We feel like we’re punishing ourselves, so then when we crack and finally eat that bowl of ice cream, we feel guilty and like we’ve failed.

Most guidelines suggest a healthier approach is to look at our eating habits as part of a lifestyle, rather than a diet. A diet implies a set amount of time, whereas changing our eating habits is just something we do to feel better and have healthier bodies. Start looking at food as a way to nourish and strengthen your body and give you energy. Drink water, move more, and let go of the guilt.

If you eat something not-so-healthy, enjoy it! Tell yourself how amazing it was—and move on. Rest assured you can have cheesecake or pizza or whatever it is again, but just not all the time. Enjoy food and learn to love healthy vegetables and fruits, whole grains and lean proteins. Base your meals around these healthy things and allow yourself some treats along the way.

6. Saying, “It’s Okay” When it’s Not

Similar to saying we’re sorry too often, we also often say things are okay when they really aren’t. You don’t have to be rude about something that’s bothering you, but you can certainly express it and stop holding it in.

When a friend lets you down or someone has upset you, tell him or her what’s bothering you. Listen to their side as well and see if you can come to a resolution. You may be surprised to find out they’re experiencing a challenge, too. Or perhaps they weren’t even aware of the effect their thoughtlessness was having on you. Sometimes getting it out in the open is all you need to do to resolve it.

If there’s something you’ve done wrong, take ownership of it and apologize. Tell your friend you’re sorry for what you did that hurt their feelings or upset them, and work to make amends. Just ignoring problems or saying “it’s okay” all the time won’t make them go away.

7. Doing It All on Your Own

How many of us feel comfortable asking for help?

Most of us would prefer to be able to do everything on our own. We all want to be superwomen…but when we’re hurting or overwhelmed, we need to give others the opportunity to help us in our time of need.

Think of how great you feel when you can help someone out who truly needs a hand. Yet, when we need a hand, we feel embarrassed or ashamed to ask for some assistance. It can be as simple as asking a neighbor to help you exchange a babysitting day or a meal swap, or it can mean asking your kids to take on some chores or your husband to help out more.

Even though we’d all like to do things on our own, it’s not realistic to expect we can do it all. Give yourself a break and ask for a little help when you need it!

8. Giving All Your Time Away

Learn to say no. Trust me, I know it can be a challenge. We want to help everyone as much as possible. We want to join the PTA, be a Den Mother, and run the church bake sale. We want to help in every way we can.

Unfortunately, when we give all of our time to others, we can take it away from our families, our marriages and from running our own homes. Don’t feel like you have to give all of your time away every time you have a spare minute.

Learn how to decline some events and to maintain a balance when it comes to keeping up with activities. It’s okay to not do every single lesson, every activity and every invitation. You can pick and choose and spend some time at home with your family.

Part of maintaining that balance is keeping your schedule organized. How many times have you felt like you’ve lost hours simply because you were procrastinating or avoiding the things you didn’t want to face? Instead, try using a planner or organizer so you can schedule in your time and keep a handle on your goals and plans for the day.

Our Living Well Planner is back and better than ever! It can help you keep your time under control and ensure you’re setting aside time for the important things (rather than giving away your time and stretching yourself too thin).

9. Worrying About Cleaning

Aside from the few basic household chores we typically do daily or weekly…everything else? Give yourself permission to pace yourself and tackle cleaning projects over time. So often we’re haunted by the closet we need to organize, the fridge that needs to be deep cleaned, or the bedroom that’s less-than-perfect—when we’re the only ones truly bothered by it!

While being organized helps us to be more efficient and gives us a sense of calm and order, we don’t need to have every single thing perfectly in place. It takes time to get everything in order, and most of us hit roadblocks and have good weeks and bad weeks.

Give yourself permission to relax a little. Those spotty windows can wait until another day.

10. Getting to the End of Your List

I’ll admit, if I don’t make it to the end of my daily to-do list, I have to purposefully remind myself I don’t need to feel anxious. The amazing thing is, most of those items will roll right over to the next day without consequence. If I tackle the big items (“eat the frog,” so to speak), the other items are usually not as vital.

So I didn’t make it to the post office today. I can go first thing tomorrow. I didn’t wrap the gift for Saturday’s party. Well, it’s only Tuesday and there will still be time. It’s good to not get stuck in procrastination mode and to make the most of your calendar, but it’s also important to allow yourself some wiggle room.

After all, what happens when our kids beg us to come play a game with them outside or read them an extra bedtime story? Aren’t those the moments we’d rather have some extra time for?

 

It’s not easy to admit–to ourselves or anyone else–that we can’t always do it all. But the reality is that balance in life is found from taking things off our plate, not putting on more pressure to be all things to all people.  Get clear about what matters to YOU most of all, then give yourself permission to let a few things slide.  It will be okay–I promise.

P.S.  I’d love to hear what things you’re going to add to your stop doing list! Let me know in the comments below!

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