Ruth Soukup's Blog, page 89

Thrifty Thursday {Week 95}

Happy Thursday! I hope you are all having a fabulous first week of February! For the most part it has been a pretty low-key week around here, but today we are enjoying the company of my adorable friend Renee Swope and her sweet family.  I love it when my online friends become real-life friends!

In other news, don’t forget to enter our fun #LWSL book@ Target Instagram Contest for a chance to win one of FIVE $100 Target Gift Cards!  All you have to do is first make sure you are following @RuthSoukup, then snap a picture of Living Well, Spending Less: 12 Secrets of the Good Life inside of or in front of any Target store, & share it on Instagram using hashtag #LWSLbook.  You can find out more details HERE!

Here are the most clicked links from last week:

1. Letters from Sunnybrook  { Do Without: The Spending Freeze }
2. My Stay at Home Adventures { 8 Tips That Helped Me to Not Spend Money }

3. Six Figures Under { Make it Do- Frugal Fresh Start }

4. The Beautiful Useful Project {7 Things to Do When You Feel Frazzled}

5. The Budget Mama {What the Happiest People Have That You Don’t Have}

6. Always Learning {50 Ways We Paid Off Our House with One Income}

7. Family Balance Sheet {Why We Want to be Debt Free}
8. Logger’s Wife { Saving Money at the Grocery Store }
9. Aspired Living { A Truly Frugally Organized Pantry}
10. Thrifty Little Mom {6 Kinds of Clutter You Can Purge Today}
 
Never linked up before? Here’s how:

Scroll down, find the little blue “Add your Link” Button and click on that.
Follow the instructions on the next page – add a great image of your project and an interesting title. Make sure you link to the direct page of your budget friendly post – not the main page of your blog!
Try to visit at least a few other blogs at the party. Be sure to leave a comment to let them know you stopped by!
Please link back to this post somehow. There are badges available here; a simple text link is just fine too.

Feel free to tweet about Thrifty Thursday so others can join the fun, and don’t forget to check back here Sunday morning to see which posts have been featured this week at Weekend Wandering!

If this is your first time here I also invite you to check out my blogging guide, How to Blog for Profit (Without Selling Your Soul).  It is a fantastic resource if you are interested in building your blog, getting more traffic, or learning how to monetize!  Or, if you have read the book and are still looking to take your blog to the next level, I encourage you to check out Elite Blog Academy.

An InLinkz Link-up

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Freezer to Crockpot Chicken Fajitas

I’ll readily admit that over the past year I have become more than a little obsessed with freezer cooking, and with developing new recipes that my kids and husband will love.  But seriously, what’s not to love?  Not only are they quick & easy to throw together, they save us a ton of money on groceries (and especially on eating out.)  Better yet, they make our sometimes hectic weekdays SO much simpler!  There is nothing better than knowing at the end of a crazy day that dinner is already in the crockpot!

So yes, I’m obsessed.  You’re just going to have to bear with me.

To be perfectly honest, I was a little nervous about how these easy crockpot chicken fajitas would turn out, but they were a HUGE hit. 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.  The green salsa & lime added lots of Tex-Mex flavor without being too spicy for the girls.  The whole family give it a 10.

To make it as part of a freezer cooking day, just split the chicken, sauce, & vegetables into multiple bags, then throw it right into the freezer–no cooking required!  Making it ahead of time is not necessary, though, as it is equally delicious just marinated at room temperature.

Here is what you need:

3-4 pounds skinless, boneless chicken thighs
1 16oz. jar salsa verde
1 4oz. can green chiles
 2 packets chicken fajita seasoning
1/4 cup lime juice
2 sweet onions
3 green bell peppers
 
For cooking day:
flour tortillas
sour cream
salsa
shredded cheese
shredded lettuce (optional)
avocado (optional)
 

Step 1: Chop onion and set aside.

Step 2: Slice green peppers into strips;set aside.

Step 3:Cut chicken into strips; set aside.

Step 4: Mix together salsa verde, lime juice, green chiles, and fajita seasoning.

Step 5: Divide chicken into 2 gallon size freezer bags ( be sure to label bags first.) Divide salsa mixture over top chicken.

Step 6: Divide onions & green peppers and add to each bag.  Freeze.

Step 7: Thaw if frozen; cook in crockpot on low for 4-6 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 8: Serve with tortillas, sour cream, salsa, lettuce & avocado.

    Print This!    




Recipe: Freezer to Crockpot Chicken Fajitas

Summary: This super easy crockpot meal is full of flavor and comes together fast!

Ingredients

3-4 lbs skinless, boneless chicken thighs
1 16 oz. jar salsa verde
1 4oz can green chiles
2 packets chicken fajita seasoning
1/4 cup lime juice
2 sweet onions
3 green peppers



Following items for cooking day only:
flour tortillas
sour cream
salsa
shredded lettuce
shredded cheese
avocado



Instructions

Chop onion and set aside.
Slice green peppers into strips;set aside.
Cut chicken into strips; set aside.
Mix together salsa verde, lime juice, green chiles, and fajita seasonings.
Divide chicken into 2 gallon size freezer bags (be sure to label bags first.) Divide salsa mixture over top of chicken
Divide onions & green peppers and add to each bag.
Thaw if frozen; cook in crockpot on low for 4-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours, until chicken is cooked.
Serve with tortillas, sour cream, salsa, lettuce, & avocado.

Preparation time: 7-10 minutes

Cooking time: 4-6 hours on low or 2-3 hours on high

Number of servings (yield): 8

 

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Find #LWSLbook @Target for a Chance to Win $100!

Did you know that Living Well Spending Less: 12 Secrets of the Good Life is available at Target stores nationwide?  Better yet, we are offering FIVE lucky readers a $100 Target Gift Card just for spotting it, snapping a picture, and sharing it on Instagram using hashtag #LWSLbook!

Can I get a woot woot?

Entering is SUPER easy, but it does require an Instagram account. (Don’t worry, it is free to join!)

To enter, simply follow these instructions:

Follow @RuthSoukup on Instagram
Instagram a photo of Living Well, Spending Less: 12 Secrets of the Good Life in or in front of any Target Store.  MAKE SURE the Target name or logo is showing in the photo!
Tag your photo with hashtag #LWSLbook AND @Target

After completing all three steps, you will automatically be entered into the contest and your Instagram photo will be displayed in our gallery HERE.

Winners will be chosen at random and notified via Instagram. BE SURE to follow all 3 steps above or you will not be entered.

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Stepping Out of the Shadows (Secret 13 Essay Contest Finalist)

Living Well Spending Less: 12 Secrets of the Good Life shares 12 secrets for seeking—and finding—the Good Life in our day to day lives. From time management and goal-setting to managing our homes and finances, these practical and concrete strategies can help each of us discover a life rich with purpose. Even so, a life well lived is not so much about what we have as who we are, and ultimately each one of us holds the key to our own secrets. Secret 13 is the truth that YOU have uncovered as you discover your own Good Life. 

Each week for 12 weeks we will select one finalist’s essay to feature here at Living Well Spending Less. At the end of the 12 weeks, Living Well Spending Less readers will vote on their favorite #Secret13 story, and the essay with the most votes will win a 7 day cruise for 4 on the Carnival Sunshine! Today’s post is our fifth finalist in the Secret 13 Essay Contest. For more inspiring Secret 13 stories, be sure to check out our Blog Tour!

Hi there!  I’m Stacey and I started my blog, Creating My Happiness, just last year.  After a bit of stumbling around, I finally figured out that what I really wanted to do with my blog was connect with people, share my experiences, and create a place where people realize they’re not alone.

My world was rocked 4 years ago when my daughter was born via emergency c-section, 8 weeks early, weighing just over 2 lbs.  A year later it was rocked again when my husband’s job went from stable and steady to intermittent and irregular.

Financially, we were fortunate to have an emergency savings, and my husband worked tirelessly to make sure that we always had what we needed.  But emotionally, the instability had taken its toll.  I withdrew from everyone except my daughter, including my husband.  I felt angry all the time.  I was constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Last year I decided I needed help.  I was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder and started therapy.  I have a long way to go, but I’m slowly coming back to the person I was before… life happened.  I entered this contest for the same reason I write, because I know I’m not the only one who’s life didn’t turn out the way I planned.  I entered because I’m finally starting to see that sometimes God has other plans – better plans – and only when you accept that will you truly live the good life.

I’m so grateful to Ruth and the Living Well, Spending Less team for this opportunity.  To win an amazing prize for writing my story and (hopefully) helping people would be an amazing blessing!

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We are social creatures.  Introvert or extrovert, laid-back or go-go-go, we all long to connect with the people around us.  In some ways being a mom helps us form bonds stronger than we’ve ever known before, but in others it leads to isolation and loneliness, especially if we don’t properly nurture our relationships.

I’ll be the first to admit, I didn’t.

When my daughter was born, 8 weeks early, my world came crashing down around me.  My days consisted of spending as much time as possible at the hospital, pumping, and sleeping.  I let go of friendships.  I let go of my focus on teaching.  I let go of my relationship with my husband.  I let go of myself.  Everything I had went into being a mom.  And when my daughter came home after 54 of the longest days of my life I was so desperate to make up for lost time, I hardly put her down.

It’s been almost 4 years and I’m still picking up the pieces of my fractured relationships.  I’m not there yet.  Old habits are hard to break.  Couple them with anxiety and everything becomes more complicated – and least in my mind – but I’m trying.  I’m making progress.  And in the end, isn’t that really what life is about?

So how do you do it?  How do you move yourself out of the shadows, back into the world again?  Well, I’m no expert, but I do have a plan…

Start with yourself

Part of our need for connection is a desire to connect with ourselves as a whole person.  That can be tough to do with a kid who needs attention, food, water, a playmate, potty, etc. every second.  It’s not selfish to want things for ourselves.  In fact, it’s good for my daughter to see me have goals and be proud of what I’ve accomplished.  It’s good for her to see that I aspire to be a good person, not just a good mom.

Rediscover your spouse

Once children enter the picture it’s easy to see your partner only as “Daddy” rather than the person you felt so connected to, you committed to each other for life.  The daily grind of working, cleaning, cooking, parenting, running errands and the rest of it can leave you feeling too exhausted to do anything beyond the necessities.  This is why yoga pants are so popular.  But when did being a loving partner get dropped off the necessity list?  I miss that connection.  So while it’s true that we are definitely past the newlywed stage, we are still partners.  We are stronger together than we are apart.

Reestablish friendships

There are all sorts of reasons friendships fall away when you have a child.  They don’t have kids.  Or their kids are older (or younger) than yours.  Or you have incompatible parenting philosophies.  Or you’re just bone tired and don’t have the mental wherewithal to handle an adult conversation.  I don’t know about you, but when my daughter came along I found myself out of the world for a while.  Whether by choice or lack thereof, I had basically become a hermit.  I don’t have a lot of friends, but the ones I have are awesome.  They are strong women who are beautiful in every sense of the word, and spending time with them makes me feel strong and beautiful, too.

Seek out new people

Friendships are ever-changing and kids are one of the biggest catalysts of that change.  Some of the same reasons that can fracture relationships can also bring you new ones.  Your friends become the parents of your child’s friends.  You form tighter bonds with acquaintances who have kids the same age as yours.  Or you totally surprise yourself and find a completely unexpected circle to join.  One of the best things I did for myself was join a monthly neighborhood game of bunko (or, as a fellow up the street calls it, drunko).  We drink wine, we play a silly dice game, and we talk.  It’s a beautiful thing and I always leave feeling recharged.

Go online

One of the best groups of friends I have is my online April Mommy Group.  We met in 2010 when we all conceived babies due in April of 2011 and we have seen each other through some of the best and worst times you can imagine.  Loss of pregnancies, loss of marriages, loss of children, illness, a house fire, birthdays, marriages, promotions, moves, new babies, surgeries, weight loss, weight gain, struggles and triumphs.  They are my people.

Get offline

Mommy group aside, there comes a time when you have to step away from the computer, go out into the world and interact with people.  Living, breathing, flawed people.  Just watch them or strike up a conversation.  Tell someone you like their shoes.  Say hello to the cashier and look them in the eye as you do.  Get off the phone, put down the tablet and engage.  You’ll be glad you did.

What I’ve discovered in my far-from-complete journey is that the good life, a life worth living, isn’t found in isolation.  It’s found in the moments shared with others.  It’s found in the bonds we form, the people we love and who love us back.  And the more we fill our lives with meaning and connection, the less we feel the need to fill it with stuff.

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Want to enter for a chance to win an all-expenses paid cruise for four on the Carnival Sunshine?  In 750-1200 words, please share your own Living Well Spending Less® story. It could be a challenge you faced in your own life and the lesson you learned as you overcame it, or a personal story about how something within one of the chapters of Living Well Spending Less: 12 Secrets of the Good Life personally affected or changed you.

Next, send a copy of your essay to secret13@livingwellspendingless.com. Be sure to also include your name and blog name (if you have a blog), as well as a photo of yourself and any other photos you’d like to include.  For more details about the contest and how to enter, please check out our Secret 13 Contest Page!

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10 Ways to Combat the Winter Blues

This is the time of year when winter just gets OLD!  The holidays are a distant memory, the thrill of the New Year has worn off, and even the Super Bowl is now over (and your favorite team may or may not have just suffered a crushingly heartbreaking defeat.)

While I live in Florida now, (where the extent of our winter means occasionally having to wear a sweatshirt), I grew up in the Seattle area, (where winter means a solid four months of gray skies and cold rain), and then I went to college in Michigan, (where winter meant a solid four months of snow and bitter cold temperatures.)  I know just how tedious these months can be, and how hard it can be to stay upbeat when the world just feels a little bleaker.

I know all too well how devastating a serious depression can become, which is why I work really hard to keep my spirits up, especially when I feel those dark thoughts creeping in.  Over the years I have found lots of ways to combat the winter blues, and if you are feeling like winter is getting the best of you right now, they might just help you too.

Give Yourself Grace

It is really easy to get down on ourselves when we start to feel blah.  Our self-talk messages become tainted by the dark cloud hanging over us, and suddenly it feels like everything we do is wrong.  We convince ourselves we are worthless or lazy or hopeless, or that people don’t like us or that we are fat or ugly or a bad mom or a bad wife or a bad friend.  The tapes start to play and we can’t help but listen–and start to believe them.

This, of course, creates a self-fulfilling prophesy.  When we tell ourselves we are worthless, we stop trying, which in turn makes us less effective, which in turn convinces us that we were right.

The only way to stop this vicious cycle is to be kind to ourselves.  Why is it that we say things to ourselves that we would never say to our best friend, or to our spouse or children, even if they were having the exact same problems?  Instead, we need to purposefully change the tapes that are playing, and begin to give ourselves conscious affirmations-even if we don’t believe them right away.  Write them down, things like “I am worthwhile,”  “I am a good friend,” and “I am a great mom,” and post them in a place where you can see them and read them to yourself daily, or multiple times a day.  Accept the fact that your perception is not necessarily reality, and give yourself the same grace you would show to the people you love.

Get Some Exercise

Walking for just 15-30 minutes a day can have a powerful effect on your mood. We’ve all heard of the “runner’s high,” which is a real thing—dopamine is released in the brain during physical exertion, resulting in feelings of well-being, calmness and happiness.

Of course not all of us are runners, but simply walking every day and working up a sweat a few times per week can really help to beat the winter blahs. Oftentimes, it’s the indoor mindset that can get us down, especially when it’s cold. Bundling up and going for a walk around your neighborhood can get the blood pumping and help you connect with the world around you.

If it’s truly too cold where you live, there are many neighborhood recreation centers, YMCA centers or even malls that offer indoor tracks or walking programs, or you could even try a good workout DVD such as Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred.  Another option is to join a sports league or sign up for that indoor class you’ve been thinking about. Try yoga, water aerobics, Zumba or anything that gets your heart pumping!

My biggest problem is often finding the time to exercise when my day is already jam-packed.  I helped solve this problem by trading in my office desk for a treadmill desk.  It was definitely an investment, but being able to walk while I work has been a huge lifesaver for me!

Watch What You Eat

There’s a tendency to turn to comfort food this time of year. We all do it—fettuccine Alfredo, macaroni and cheese, hearty pot pies and heavy sauces—while these are all delicious foods, they can leave us feeling weighed down and sluggish. In the summer and spring we eat light, healthy plant-based meals and it helps us feel light and healthy.

If you can’t resist the comfort foods (I’m right there with you!), try creating a healthier version instead. We love this Roasted Garlic Mashed Cauliflower dish or try this delicious Skinny Shepherd’s Pie. If you really want to go light, try a salad or some broth-based soups, or even use squash or cauliflower to add creaminess to a dish and skip the heavy butter, cream and cheese. Using whole grains like quinoa and barley can lighten up dishes as well and still be quite comforting and delicious.

When we are feeling down it is also easy to lose the motivation to cook.  Stocking up on simple freezer meals, like those found in our 10 Meals in an Hour plans, can help provide simple solutions for busy evenings, and the satisfaction of prepping 10 meals at once is a huge mood booster all on it’s own!

Try to keep a supply of fruits, veggies, and nuts on hand as snacks. Eating a varied diet with lots of fruits, vegetables and protein can really help combat the winter blues.

Count Your Blessings

Taking the time each day to pause and be grateful can can really help turn your attitude around. I’ve often found that if my children are facing a challenging day, attitude-wise, asking them to list the things they’re grateful for can overhaul a bad mood. This little trick works on grownups too!  Simply take time each day to write down one or two things  you’re grateful for.

This year, during my morning devotions, I have been using this pretty blessings journal.  It is amazing how my perspective has changed just by starting the day with intentional gratitude!

Pay it Forward

One of the best ways to transform your mood and boost yourself out of the winter blahs by helping someone else. It is hard to focus on our own worries and shortcomings, or even our own feelings of doubt and depression, when we are focused on someone else’s needs. We get so much more back in terms of joy and contentment when we give.

It doesn’t have to be a huge act. Try simply sending a note to a friend or donating a few dollars to charity—or, hey, next time you’re in line at Starbucks, pay for the order behind you. These random acts can leave you glowing and feeling positive for the rest of your day. Not only that, but they often create a chain reaction: help one person and they’ll pay it forward to the next person that comes along.

Take a Time Out

What activity really relaxes you and helps you to zone out? Is it scrolling through Pinterest? Is it reading a magazine, doing a craft project or cooking? Maybe it’s just taking a long hot bath or shower.  Whatever it is, allow yourself to get in a little time just for yourself. Maybe you love Sudoku puzzles or simply losing yourself in a good book.

Often we become so focused on everyday tasks that we feel guilty giving ourselves a time out.  But it’s okay to take a break sometimes!  If you are feeling low, give yourself time to nap, web-surf, watch a silly television sitcom, or throw yourself a homemade spa day once in a while–without feeling guilty! (Remember that grace thing we talked about?) Letting yourself indulge now and again is not a bad thing, and in fact, it recharges your batteries a little and helps you feel refreshed and refocused.

Reminisce

While it’s not a good idea to beat ourselves up for past mistakes, there is something healing about remembering good times that you’ve had. It is a great way to remind yourself that the way you are feeling right now is not the way you’ve always felt (or they way you’ll feel forever.)  It can also help you feel happy and upbeat, appreciate your loved ones and feel a renewed sense of excitement for the future memories that you’ll make.

Break out the scrapbooks or look through old photo albums. Take a leisurely Saturday to organize your photos or get those shoeboxes of pictures into books.  Get the whole family involved by popping some popcorn and breaking out some home movies or just looking through scrapbooks. Children often really enjoy looking through old yearbooks as well and laughing at what Mom looked like with big hair and blue eye shadow. It may be a little embarrassing, but it can also be a blast!

Plan for the Future

Just like looking back, planning for future activities can also help break you out of your rut. Try looking up some gardening ideas and think about your layout for your spring planting. List what you would like to grow this year or what flowers you’d like to plant. Try this fun and free, online Plan-a-Garden tool from Better Homes and Gardens. Fun!

You can also get yourself pumped up for summer by looking at vacations or planning a trip as a family. Having an event or something exciting on the horizon helps remind us that the frost will clear and spring and summer will be here before we know it.

If you can’t wait for a summer vacation, why not get away this winter? After all, it’s downtime for many amusement parks, so a winter Disney trip can be a real steal.

If you aren’t a gardener or you’re not ready to plan your vacation, try going through your closet and accessories and picking out a few early spring wear items. Even putting on a bright color—like pinks, yellows or floral prints—can get you in a summer frame of mind. Wearing bright colors can lift your mood and help you beat the blahs.

Listen to Music

Music can be a powerful mood motivator. If you enjoy devotional or uplifting music or hymns—put some on. Maybe you like show tunes or country or pop. Whatever puts you in a good mood and helps you combat the blues can help.

Studies have shown music can be a powerful treatment tool in many types of therapy for both physical and mental disorders. Music can help everything from Alzheimer’s to heart problems to assisting combat veterans with PTSD.

Try Aromatherapy

Our sense of smell is very closely attached to our emotional well-being, which means that aromatherapy can be a powerful mood booster.   You’d be surprised at what a difference adding a few key scents around your house can do!

You can diffuse essential oil scents right into the air or apply them to your pulse points, and there are lots of different essential oils that can give you a mood boost and help you feel more energetic.  I love Young Living’s Joy oil blend, as well as lemon, orange, tangerine, and Valor.  Check out my Essential Oils 101 post for more information.

Aromatherapy is also a great way to relax and get more rest, and more sleep can definitely help lift your mood.  I love using lavender and a Peace & Calming blend at night.  I rub them on my feet and pulse points, and do the same for the rest of my family.  Not only do the scents help us sleep better, but the ritual itself is very calming and a nice way to end the day.

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Whatever you do, take comfort in fact that the dreary days of winter are only temporary. Soon we’ll be seeing sunshine and longer, warmer days, and hopefully with it will come a boost in mood.

That said, if you suspect your winter “blahs” go deeper than just feeling a little down or a little blue, then please seek treatment right away.  Your doctor can refer you to a therapist or psychiatrist, and there are also many alternative, holistic treatments available as well.  Depression can be dangerous—but it is also very treatable and you don’t have to face it alone.

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Weekend Wandering

Happy Weekend! Am I the only one that is completely PUMPED for the Superbowl this weekend?  I can’t wait to cheer on my hometown team as they put those dirty cheaters in their place play their hearts out!  Tonight Bob Lotich (of ChristianPF.com) & his sweet wife Linda coming for dinner while they are in town visiting family.  It is always fun when online and real-life worlds collide!  Yesterday I spent a few hours doing some freezer cooking and working on a new 10 Meals in an Hour plan, which was fun!  I was even able to incorporate some of my fresh garden bounty into the new recipes, which I can’t wait to share!  I’m still pinching myself that I actually managed to grow something!

In other news, our Secret 13 Essay Contest Finalist for week four was Shawna from Not The Former Things You can read her  journey here. Be sure to check it out- it is both inspiring and heart-felt.  There is still time to submit your own entry for a chance to win an all expenses paid cruise for four on the Carnival Sunshine, so be sure to check out all the details HERE!

And now on to the good stuff.  Here is what I loved this week:

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First of all, this Philly Cheesesteak Omelet from Wife Mom Geek sounds like the breakfast of champions!  Wow!

A Mind Full Mom has the best Game Day Dips from sweet to savory!

 These Cheddar Bacon Ranch Pinwheels from This Silly Girl’s Life sound like snack everyone would go crazy for!

This One Pot Taco Pasta from Cozy Country Living is so easy to pull together for a fast flavorful meal!

Oh my, this Potato Cheddar Cheese Beer Soup from Carmel Moments is calling my name.  It’s got all the things I love the most in one bowl!

 Mmmm…this Cast Iron Chocolate Chip Cookie from Love of Home is best served right out of the oven with a scoop of ice cream! Yum!

These Chocolate Cheesecake Cookie Bites from Life With The Crust Cut Off  look so yummy & cute!

These Homemade Whole Wheat Graham Crackers from The Seasoned Mom are a wholesome sweet treat that can be served any time!

 These His & Hers Sharpie Mugs from Living Chic on the Cheap are so cute!  Love it!

 This Faux Love Letter Box from An Extraordinary Day is a treasure box in disguise! So clever!

The Budget Mama has 5 Budget Friendly Valentine’s Day Ideas to help you celebrate without breaking the bank.

Saving the Family Money has three great Tips to Creating a Budget along with a free budget worksheet!

These 7 Tips to Stop Impulse Spending from Frugal Debt Free Living are practical steps to keep your spending in check.

Finally, Short Cut Saver has 6 Ways to Throw a Super Bowl Party for Less! I totally agree with tip # 2!  It’s not too late to pull something together!

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What did you love this week?

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15 Awesome Valentine Gift Ideas Under $15

Valentine’s Day is just a few weeks away, which naturally means it is time for the 5th Annual LWSL 15 under $15 gift list!   I am always amazed at what fun things can be found for under $15 when you really start looking!  Of course if you would rather make your V-Day gifts, be sure to check out these 10 handmade gift ideas you can make for under $10.  Or, for more great gift ideas that won’t cost a ton of money, check out these 30 gifts you can score for $30 or less!

As always, remember that prices are subject to change without warning!

Gifts for Him:

1.  Braided Leather Bracelet-I also really like the black version, but the brown is my favorite.  In any case, this beautiful, er, I mean handsome braided leather and stainless-steel bracelet not only has awesome reviews, it is an absolute steal!  ($14.95, Amazon)

2.  10 Things I Love About You Photo Book-I love that this template is basically ready to go–just add your pictures and your own favorite things and watch your honey’s heart melt!  This one is making the list for the fourth straight year because I still love it and also because I still haven’t quite gotten around to making one for my husband, even though every year as I am compiling this list I swear I am going to.  But this is my year, friends.  I mean it this time!  ($12.99, Mixbook)

3  Globe Cuff Links-Cuff links are one of those things you never need until you do, and then you really need them!  I love this classy globe set, and at 87% off the list price of $114.00, they are a steal!  You could probably come up with some great card ideas to go with this one as well….”Being with you is my greatest adventure,”  “I’ll stop the world to be with you,” “Our love makes the world go round.”  (Okay, okay, I promise I’ll stop now!)  ($14.44, Amazon)

4. Ridged 6-in-1 Screwdriver-If your guy’s not the cuff-links type, why not make his V-day with a gift he’ll actually use?  According to my husband, not all screwdrivers are created equal, but this one actually met his stringent engineer requirements, whatever that means.    And this handy multi-tip version not only fits a variety of screws, it’s got almost all 5-star reviews!  ($14.99, Amazon)

5.  Outliers: The Story of Success-I loved this book so much that I read it three times last year, and it profoundly changed the way I looked at success and achievement.  Whether your guy is a go-getter looking to move up the corporate ladder or an entrepreneur trying to build a business of his own (or anything in between) I guarantee he will LOVE this book.  Malcom Gladwell has the ability to make what could be a very dry topic incredibly interesting!  ($10.19, Amazon)

Gifts for Her:

6. Mrs. Coffee Mug-Maybe it is just because I am a coffee addict, but I think this might be the most perfect Valentine’s day gift ever.  (And in case you’re wondering, YES there is a “Mr.” version too!)  This darling little 12oz mug features a hand-drawn heart at the bottom of the cup, as well as a verse just inside the rim that reads “I have found the one my heart loves” from Song of Solomon 3:4.  And as if that weren’t already enough, right now you can take an additional 20% off when you use the promo code THANKYOU15, making them only $8.49 each!  Love! ($9.99, Dayspring)

7. The Antelope in the Living Room-While at first glance a book about an antelope might not scream “Happy Valentine’s Day,” I implore you to take another look.   I seriously laughed until I cried at least a dozen times.  Melanie  (aka Big Mama) nails the side-by-side beauty and frustration of being married to someone who is both your best friend and your polar opposite, and provides the reminder that we all need now & then that while marriage might not always look like it does in the movies, being with the one we love is like coming home.   ($9.48, Amazon)

8. iLuv Clear iPhone Case-The iPhone 5 version of this case is just $5.99, and while it might seem a little plain by itself, the beauty of this clear case is that you could easily customize it with a photo or other memento (a movie ticket from your first date?), or even make it into a custom DIY project like this one covered in buttons. ($5.99, Amazon)

9. Love Necklace. This beautiful triple chain pendant is part of the beautiful Faith, Hope, & Love, which has several pieces that I absolutely ADORE.  The regular price is $16.99, it is currently ON SALE for just $8.49!  SO CUTE!  There is also a Faith and a Hope version that are really beautiful as well, but the Love style just seemslike the perfect fit for V-Day.   ($8.49, Dayspring)

10. 50 First Dates-My husband and I are pretty much polar opposites when it comes to movies (and everything else), but this is one we can both agree on.  In fact, we have probably watched this one together at least 50 times and it never gets old!  If you haven’t seen it yet, or even if you have, this classic always makes for a perfect date night!  If you want to make it a double feature, grab Hitch as well–that one is our 2nd favorite!  ($8.91, Amazon)

Gifts for Kids:

11.  Sterling Silver “I Love You to the Moon & Back” Pendant-Let your little valentine know just how much you love her with a keepsake she will enjoy for years to come.  In fact, I think this one takes the prize for my favorite kid’s gift this year!  The list price for this pendant is $55.95, but right now it is on sale for just $12.95.  This price does not include the chain, but you could put it on an inexpensive cord or ribbon, or you can grab a silver chain for just $6.99 here.  And if you don’t already have the corresponding book, Guess How Much I Love You, already in your library, check out this gorgeous sweetheart edition for just $9.95! ($12.95, Amazon)

12. Melissa & Doug Hearts & Butterfly Stamp Set-We have gotten a few different Melissa & Dough stamp sets over the years and my girls always love them.  You could even gift this one a little early and let your budding artist make her own Valentine’s this year!  If you need a boy version, try this vehicle set.  ($7.37, Amazon)

13. Snowy Valentine-This adorable children’s book is making the list for the second year in a row.  I just love the message that highlights the idea that Valentine’s Day is about love and not about gifts.  So sweet!  ($9.48, Amazon)

14. Melissa & Doug Slice and Bake Cookie Set-At $15.12, this one is just slightly over my $15 price limit, but I bought this set for Valentine’s Day five years ago and it is STILL one of my girls’ most-loved and most-played-with toys. ($15.12, Amazon)

 

15. Think Fun Chocolate Fix Game-We have several of the Think Fun games and we just love them–they are always fun for the whole family, and great for building our kids’ logic and reasoning abilities!  This Chocolate Fix game is not only perfect for Valentine’s Day, it has absolutely amazing reviews!  ($14.12, Amazon)

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Thrifty Thursday {Week 94}

Happy Thursday!  I hope you are all having a FANTASTIC week!  I’ve been busy trying to get into a new routine as I begin working on my next book (due out Spring of 2016).  My best writing time is early in the morning, which means getting up at 4am every day.  I know eventually it will get easier but this week it has been a little painful!

In other news, our Secret 13 Essay Contest finalist this week was Shawna  from Not The Former Things You can read her journey here.  Be sure to check it out–it is both inspiring and heart-felt!  There is still plenty of time to submit your own entry for a chance to win an all expenses paid cruise for four on the Carnival Sunshine, so be sure to check out all the details HERE!

Here are the most clicked links from last week:

1. Graceful Little Honey Bee  { 30 Items You Can Make at Home to Save Money }
2. Family Balance Sheet { Debt Free Stories }

3. Equipping Godly Women { How to Declutter Your Life in 2015 }

4. Taylor Made Homestead {When Financial Times Turn Tough Unexpectedly}

5. Letters from Sunnybrook {Top 40 Money Saving Tips}

6. Adventures in Coupons {How “Keeping Up With the Joneses” Helped Kill Us Financially..}

7. A Cultivated Nest {How to Track Your Expenses}
8. A Life in Balance { 5 Ways for Families to Save Money }
9. Cents and Order {5 Ways You are Throwing Money Away}
10. My Mothermode {5 Ways We Saved $ This Week}
 
Never linked up before? Here’s how:

Scroll down, find the little blue “Add your Link” Button and click on that.
Follow the instructions on the next page – add a great image of your project and an interesting title. Make sure you link to the direct page of your budget friendly post – not the main page of your blog!
Try to visit at least a few other blogs at the party. Be sure to leave a comment to let them know you stopped by!
Please link back to this post somehow. There are badges available here; a simple text link is just fine too.

Feel free to tweet about Thrifty Thursday so others can join the fun, and don’t forget to check back here Sunday morning to see which posts have been featured this week at Weekend Wandering!

If this is your first time here I also invite you to check out my blogging guide, How to Blog for Profit (Without Selling Your Soul).  It is a fantastic resource if you are interested in building your blog, getting more traffic, or learning how to monetize!  Or, if you have read the book and are still looking to take your blog to the next level, I encourage you to check out Elite Blog Academy.

An InLinkz Link-up

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Easy Slow-Cooked Split Pea Soup

It seriously does not get ANY easier than this delicious, hearty split pea soup.  My family loves it so much that we have started buying whole spiral-cut hams on a regular basis just so we can make it more often!  It actually ends up being a pretty good value, though, since an eight pound ham will provide at least 1-2 dinners, a week’s worth of lunch meat, and then another 12-15 hearty servings of soup.

But the true beauty of this soup is how ridiculously simple it is to make.  Simply throw the ham bone in the crock pot along with your split peas, onion, celery, carrots, and water, let it simmer for at least 8 hours, then remove the bone and you are done.  That’s IT.  Simple, frugal, and delicious….what more do you need?

Here is what you need:

1 meaty ham bone
1 1lb bag split peas
1 small onion
1 bunch celery hearts
8 oz baby carrots ( half a 1 pound bag)
10 cups water
pepper, to taste
 

Step 1: Rinse peas; set aside ( if peas come with a flavor packet, you can go ahead and discard it—we won’t use it.)

Step 2: Chop onion; slice celery and carrots.

Step 3: Place ham bone in crockpot; add split peas.

Step 4: Add onion and vegetables.

Step 5: Add water; cook on low for 8 hours or overnight.

Step 6: Carefully remove ham bone; place on plate and separate out the fat and bone from the meat. Return meat to soup; discard fat and bone.

Step 7: Serve soup immediately or store in refrigerator to reheat later. Soup will continue to thicken; keeps well for at least one week in refrigerator.

 

    Print This!    

Recipe: Easy Slow-Cooked Split Pea Soup

Summary: This soup comes together with just a few simple ingredients and the flavors get richer the longer it cooks.

Ingredients

1 meaty ham bone
1 1lb bag split peas
1 small sweet onion
1 bunch celery hearts
8 oz baby carrots (half a 1 pound bag)
10 cups water
pepper to taste



Instructions

Rinse peas; set aside ( if peas come with a flavor packet, you can go ahead and discard it—we won’t use it.)
Chop onion; slice celery and carrots.
Place ham bone in crockpot; add split peas.
Add onion and vegetables.
Add water; cook on low for 8 hours or overnight.
Carefully remove ham bone; place on plate and separate out the fat and bone from the meat. Return meat to soup; discard fat and bone.
Serve soup immediately or store in refrigerator to reheat later. Soup will continue to thicken; keeps well for at least one week in refrigerator.

Preparation time: 5-7 minutes

Cooking time: 8 hours on low in crockpot

Number of servings (yield): 16

 

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Good Enough (Secret 13 Essay Contest Finalist)

 Living Well Spending Less: 12 Secrets of the Good Life shares 12 secrets for seeking—and finding—the Good Life in our day to day lives. From time management and goal-setting to managing our homes and finances, these practical and concrete strategies can help each of us discover a life rich with purpose. Even so, a life well lived is not so much about what we have as who we are, and ultimately each one of us holds the key to our own secrets. Secret 13 is the truth that YOU have uncovered as you discover your own Good Life. 

Each week for 12 weeks we will select one finalist’s essay to feature here at Living Well Spending Less. At the end of the 12 weeks, Living Well Spending Less readers will vote on their favorite #Secret13 story, and the essay with the most votes will win a 7 day cruise for 4 on the Carnival Sunshine! Today’s post is our fourth finalist in the Secret 13 Essay Contest. For more inspiring Secret 13 stories, be sure to check out our Blog Tour!

My name is Shawna. I am wife to a fun loving, makes me laugh all the time, stole my heart away husband, and momma to two uniquely challenged, wildly joyful little boys. I find myself increasingly required to live beyond the limits of my tired self, and serve a wonderfully complex family – where God is using High Functioning Autism, and all that comes with it, to whisper His story to me every single day.I blog at Not The Former Things about my real life, and all the messiness and pain, sweetness and joy that comes with it.

The past few months have been a struggle for us – a very real, every single day, get up and fight the good fight because what else can we do kind of struggle. I have been tempted to try to control it all and fix it –  to make one more to-do list, to buy one more sensory therapy item for my son’s room, to call one more doctor.

What I have been reminded of, in the midst of our challenges, is that contentment does not come in responding to all the voices that tell me I am not enough, that I am failing my family, that I need to do one more thing, and that my life is broken. Seeing the beauty, right where I am , not just in spite of our circumstances but because of them – my life is full and overflowing with blessings. I suspect yours may be as well, which is why I entered this contest (that and the very honest fact that my little tribe could really put a crazy, all expense paid, I can’t believe this actually happened to us, family vacation to good use!). I hope my words encourage you to live well, right where you are, and enjoy the everyday blessings that matter most.

*    *    *

“I think, for right now, I just need to settle for good enough.”

I distinctly remember saying these words to my sweet friend about a year ago. She nodded sympathetically and said, “Sometimes good enough is the best we can do. In time, it will change. You’ll see.”

She was right. In time it did change. A lot.

Some changes gave me more time and energy. Like moving to a much quieter house that didn’t cause a meltdown every 20 minutes when an ambulance went by, or a jackhammer started hammering. Or finally finding an OT that really, really helped us. These changes made me feel like good enough might be behind us.

But then other changes came. Changes in our routine and my son’s meds. Changes in doctors and my husband’s job. Changes that brought less money and more medical bills.These did not give me more time and energy. These changes? They just felt like more. More on top of more for me to manage, me to handle, me to pray about, me to figure out.

And now, it’s the new year. In the midst of feeling like I am clawing my way back to some semblance of a normal routine, we are also trying to determine what is causing chronic pain for my son (read doctors appointments and phone calls and more phone calls and worrying about his pain level, his energy level, his ability to function). We are dealing with the very real prospect of more ongoing treatments and more medicines to be administered and more doctors bills and more pain for him. More of more.

I find myself looking around, at the laundry that is NEVER caught up (and I mean never at this point), at the floors I know I just scrubbed (but not really – time flies when you feel a little crazy), at the special school project I couldn’t wait to do with the boys and never got to, at the book I wanted to read, at the Bible study that I just knew I could finish up by the end of the year, at the recipe for the special dinner I wanted to make for my husband – I look around and I see all the things that are just not getting done. “Good Enough” just isn’t good enough.

I have been praying and praying for direction, for wisdom, for strength, for organizational abilities beyond my own. I have been praying that I might be different and do it differently, so that my good enough would be great.

Instead of all of that, you know what God, in his grace, has answered?

I am enough.

All my failures, the real ones and the perceived….

All my bad days and lack of getting things done…

All my good enoughs? They add up. They add up to ENOUGH.

Because although ‘good enough’ is like less than, and like settling, enough is exactly what is needed.

Enough is complete and not lacking.

Enough is exactly what we mommas are in God’s economy. Because the world tells us we need shiny floors at all times, and happy children who can’t wait to read another book well chosen by their thoughtful momma. The world tells us that skinnier is better, and you better not leave the house in those yoga pants. The world tells us that we have to do more, try more, and be more.

It makes me tired. It makes me lose myself in all the things that must be done to be better, to be more, to be a good mom, a good wife, and a good Christian.

But this is the day that the Lord has made. My abilities and my inabilities. My children and their abilities and inabilities. My husband and his abilities and inabilities. God made it ALL. And put it ALL together in this house, under these circumstances.

When my heart is fixed on him and his priorities, the bills and the chaos and plans and the to-dos – they work out. They always do.

He is sweetly telling me that because of HIS work, and not my own – I am enough.

…and so are you.

*   *   *

Want to enter for a chance to win an all-expenses paid cruise for four on the Carnival Sunshine?  In 750-1200 words, please share your own Living Well Spending Less® story. It could be a challenge you faced in your own life and the lesson you learned as you overcame it, or a personal story about how something within one of the chapters of Living Well Spending Less: 12 Secrets of the Good Life personally affected or changed you.

Next, send a copy of your essay to secret13@livingwellspendingless.com. Be sure to also include your name and blog name (if you have a blog), as well as a photo of yourself and any other photos you’d like to include.  For more details about the contest and how to enter, please check out our Secret 13 Contest Page!

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