Crystal Paine Show

I have a lot in common with this week's podcast guest -- and we have many mutual connections! Author of Mind Your Mindset: The Science That Shows Success Starts with Your Thinking (which she co-authored with her father Michael Hyatt) as well as C.E.O. of Full Focus, Megan Hyatt Miller joins me this week to share about how our mindset impacts all areas of our life.

She talks about how she got into her business, what it’s like working with her dad, and the story behind this book and how personal it was. She shares about her struggle with false beliefs surrounding public speaking and how this held her back for years and took her on a journey to ultimately discovering that the stories we tell ourselves can either propel us forward or hold us back in a big way and keep us stuck.

Megan not only discusses her own story, but also how to stop listening to a story that could keep your stuck, how to recognize if you're believing a false narrative, how to help our kids (especially teenagers) when they say things like, "I'm terrible at xyz!" or "Everyone else is so much better at xyz!). I loved the very relatable illustration she shared from parenting her son recently when he was really frustrated in a situation in his life.

This episode has a lot of takeaways that we can apply immediately to: (1) identify the story we're believing, (2) interrogate the story to see what's true or false, and (3) imagine a new story. We talk in-depth about what each of these steps entails and how to walk it out practically -- and how it can change your life!

[00:35] - I am excited about today’s guest, Megan Hyatt Miller!

[01:52] - Megan shares a little about her background and her family.

[04:37] - I asked her about working with her dad.

[11:53] - How did Megan identify her false narrative around public speaking?

[13:16] - How do people identify their false narratives?

[17:12] - Megan touches upon how we can help teenagers mind their mindsets.

[20:50] - The three-step process for minding your mindset.

[21:33] - How do people get from realizing that something isn’t working to identifying their story?

[26:49] - Megan addresses interrogating your story with someone else.

[29:46] - Megan explains how to imagine a new story.

• Full Focus
• Mind Your Mindset: The Science That Shows Success Starts with Your Thinking by Michael Hyatt and Megan Hyatt Miller
• Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems
• 10 Days to Be a Happier Mom
• Sign up for the Hot Deals Email List
• MoneySavingMom.com
• My Instagram account (I’d love for you to follow me there! I usually hop on at least a few times per day and share behind-the-scenes photos and videos, my grocery store hauls, funny stories, or just anything I’m pondering or would like your advice or feedback on!)
• Have feedback on the show or suggestions for future episodes or topics? Send me an email: crystal @ moneysavingmom.com

We had a big milestone happen recently: our oldest child, Kathrynne, turned 18 and is officially an adult!! Today, we reflect on the last 18 years of parenting and four important lessons we've learned.

If I could go back, I would work less and chase numbers and business growth a whole lot less, I'd be more present and take time to really notice and celebrate the small things, I'd stop trying to fix my kids and just walk with them, and I'd worry a lot less about what other people think.

I hope our honest reflections in this episode really encourage you -- no matter where you are in your parenting journey.

[00:35] - We are now the parents of an adult!

[02:45] - I got a copy of my new book!

[05:49] - I am currently listening to Carnegie’s Maid by Marie Benedict.

[06:55] - Jesse has been reading George Orwell’s Animal Farm.

[08:23] - What has been saving my life recently?

[12:28] - We dive into lessons we’ve learned over the last eighteen years of parenting.

[15:37] - I touch upon fear being a reason I may have worked too much.

[18:39] - Learn about what happened when I finally stopped chasing numbers.

[21:10] - Jesse realizes there is a lot he doesn’t remember when our bigger ones were small.

[25:03] - I wish that I would have cared less about what others thought.

[27:05] - I wish I’d have spent more time walking with my kids rather than trying to “fix” them.

[31:25] - There is always still time for redemption.

• Links & Resources
• Clean Angel Multi-Purpose Cleaner and Stain Remover
• Books
• The Time-Saving Mom: How to Juggle a Lot, Enjoy Your Life, and Accomplish What Matters Most by Crystal Paine
• The Time-Saving Mom: How to Juggle a Lot, Enjoy Your Life, and Accomplish What Matters Most by Crystal Paine (Buy via Baker Publishing Group)
• Carnegie’s Maid by Marie Benedict
• Animal Farm by George Orwell
• Love-Centered Parenting: The No-Fail Guide to Launching Your Kids by Crystal Paine
• Sign up for the Hot Deals Email List
• MoneySavingMom.com
• My Instagram account (I’d love for you to follow me there! I usually hop on at least a few times per day and share behind-the-scenes photos and videos, my grocery store hauls, funny stories, or just anything I’m pondering or would like your advice or feedback on!)
• Have feedback on the show or suggestions for future episodes or topics? Send me an email: crystal @ moneysavingmom.com

Today’s guest Toni Collier is the founder of Broken Crayons and is also the author of the new book Brave Enough to Be Broken: How to Embrace Your Pain and Discover Hope and Healing. Toni shares her journey, discussing how her life took a turn for the worse when she was a child. She defines what brokenness means to her and how that led to her getting counseling and seeking change.

Toni discusses her belief in the importance of hope, arguing that it’s not pain that causes the most damage to us but rather hopelessness. She emphasizes that, even though she found redemption and love, her journey toward a happier, healthier life did not happen overnight and was a real struggle that involved a great deal of roadmapping and anxiety.

Her book also has some practical things at the back, including gratitude practices, and she emphasizes the importance of practicing gratitude, how to get out of a toxic and difficult situation when we feel trapped in it, why building a healthy community is crucial, and so much more! This was such an amazing and emotional interview, and I encourage you, especially if you enjoyed this interview and are struggling to find hope and healing in your life, to purchase Toni’s book!

In This Episode

[00:35] - This was today’s guest’s second attempt to be on the show!

[02:16] - Toni tells us a little bit about herself.

[03:24] - What does brokenness mean and look like to Toni?

[05:49] - Toni had to become more self-aware to realize why she was being abused.

[07:37] - From where did Toni find hope?

[09:01] - How does one go about embracing pain?

[10:28] - I point to a specific quote from Toni’s book about trauma leakage.

[12:49] - Toni reveals how she had the courage to step into a second marriage.

[15:29] - Healing is not linear and is very painful, Toni asserts.

[18:14] - Fear can either lead us to wisdom or cause us to hide, Toni argues.

[20:02] - Toni emphasizes counseling, reading

[21:30] - Learn why Toni included gratitude practices in her book.

[23:40] - It’s very difficult to heal in the place and with the people that broke you in the first place.

[26:53] - Toni points out that pain and hope can coexist.

Links & Resources

Crystal Paine

Toni Collier

Books

Brave Enough to Be Broken: How to Embrace Your Pain and Discover Hope and Healing by Toni Collier

Social Media

Crystal Paine on Instagram

Crystal Paine on Twitter

Crystal Paine on Goodreads

Money Saving Mom

Money Saving Mom on Facebook

Money Saving Mom Deal Seekers Facebook group

[email protected]

Michele Cushatt returns to the podcast today to talk about something that we didn’t get to dive into last time - her personal story and journey! Michele has a brand new book coming out in March called A Faith That Will Not Fail: 10 Practices to Build Up Your Faith When Your World Is Falling Apart, and if anyone knows what it’s like for your world to fall apart, it’s definitely Michele.

Michele dives into her journey and talks about all of the devastating loss that she has endured throughout her life. She describes her life over the last three decades as being “riddled with suffering” which includes cancer repeatedly coming back.

She touches upon the importance of lament and why grief is an important part of healing, why we need to anchor ourselves to something static other than the outcome, the importance of forgiveness and how refusing to hurts only ourselves, and so much more.

One of my favorite parts of Michele's book are the Five-Minute Faith Builders at the end of each chapter. These give you really practical tools for what to do next when you feel sucked into the vortex of grief and loss and don't know how to cope or function.

[00:35] - Michele Cushatt returns to the show today!

[01:37] - How Michele’s world fell apart.

[06:43] - What does the word lament mean to Michele?

[08:23] - What lamenting looked like when Michele was diagnosed with cancer.

[10:18] - Grieving is the necessary first step to new living.

[10:36] - How do we avoid getting stuck in grief?

[15:40] - How do we anchor ourselves to something other than the outcome?

[18:35] - Overwhelming suffering can lead to panic.

[19:42] - What forgiveness has looked like in Michele's life.

[21:39] - Forgiveness always comes at a cost.

[22:16] - How do people learn to forgive when they don’t want to?

[24:02] - Michele explains how she goes into the next day knowing it will be hard.

• The Crystal Paine Show - 187. Loving Someone Well Even When We Disagree (with Michele Cushatt)
• A Faith That Will Not Fail: 10 Practices to Build Up Your Faith When Your World Is Falling Apart by Michele Cushatt
• 10 Days to Be a Happier Mom
• Sign up for the Hot Deals Email List
• MoneySavingMom.com
• My Instagram account (I’d love for you to follow me there! I usually hop on at least a few times per day and share behind-the-scenes photos and videos, my grocery store hauls, funny stories, or just anything I’m pondering or would like your advice or feedback on!)
• Have feedback on the show or suggestions for future episodes or topics? Send me an email: crystal @ moneysavingmom.com

Jesse and I celebrated a milestone anniversary recently – twenty years of marriage! In some ways, it feels like it hasn’t been that long, and in other ways, it feels like we have been married even longer than that, and we thought that we spend today discussing the biggest lessons that we have learned over the past two decades.

The last few years have stretched us more than ever. Walking through foster care licensing, fostering 6 precious kids of differing ages, saying goodbye to the beautiful boy C who stole our hearts for 8 1/2 months, continuing to love and walk with his mama and be involved in his life for the past two years, saying yes to David and being thrust into the world of special needs and medical complexities, countless doctor’s appointments and therapies, many scary medical moments, surgeries, saying yes to adoption, having a senior and walking through all the college stuff and preparing to launch a child, saying yes to our daughter dating, countless sporting events, two miracle pregnancies, so many nighttime wake-ups with three little ones… life is full and never dull.

There are constantly opportunities to trust the Lord and work together. Some days we do it better than others.

Having three teenagers and three little ones and a full-time business from our home is always an adventure. Every day requires organization, communication, adaptability, creativity, flexibility, and patience.

We have our moments when we are really irritated and annoyed with each other, but we’ve learned more and more that it’s worth it to fight for our marriage and for each other instead of just fighting to be right or to prove the other person wrong.

Some days we are tired. Some days we wonder how it’s all going to work out. Some days we miscommunicate.

But we keep choosing each other. We keep choosing to love, even on the days when we don’t feel like it or when it’s hard or when there are tensions.

A few things w’ve learned in the last 20 years:

Say I love you often.

Go out of your way to make each other laugh.

Give your spouse time and space to do things that they love and that bring them life.

Flirt every day.

Find the good and call it out.

A strong marriage doesn’t just happen, but it’s so worth the time, intention, & sacrifice.

Happy 20th anniversary, Jesse! Thank you for continuing to choose me and love me — even on the hard days! I’d marry you all over again! I love you so much!

In This Episode

[00:35] – We recently celebrated a milestone anniversary.

[01:56] – We are sharing lessons we’ve learned in twenty years of marriage.

[02:22] – Don’t believe everything you dream.

[04:09] – I just finished listening to the audiobook The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek.

[06:49] – There is a sequel to that book as well.

[08:09] – What’s saving my life this week?

[09:40] – Pre-order my new book coming out on March 7th — lots of fun freebies coming for people who pre-order!

[11:33] – Baker Publishing Group is offering the best deal on my new book.

[13:14] – I have learned to tell Jesse that I love him often.

[15:43] – Jesse defines love as commitment, action, and feeling.

[16:00] – We have learned to go out of our ways to make each other laugh.

[16:59] – Give your spouse time to do things that they love.

[20:36] – We flirt every day.

[22:44] – Be cognizant of the good, and be grateful.

[23:44] – A strong marriage doesn’t just happen on its own.

[26:37] – Any strong relationship requires work and sacrifice.

• Links & Resources
• The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson
• The Book Woman’s Daughter by Kim Michele Richardson
• The Time-Saving Mom: How to Juggle a Lot, Enjoy Your Life, and Accomplish What Matters Most by Crystal Paine
• The Time-Saving Mom: How to Juggle a Lot, Enjoy Your Life, and Accomplish What Matters Most by Crystal Paine (Buy via Baker Publishing Group)
• Sign up for the Hot Deals Email List
• MoneySavingMom.com
• My Instagram account (I’d love for you to follow me there! I usually hop on at least a few times per day and share behind-the-scenes photos and videos, my grocery store hauls, funny stories, or just anything I’m pondering or would like your advice or feedback on!)
• Have feedback on the show or suggestions for future episodes or topics? Send me an email: crystal @ moneysavingmom.com

As promised in last week’s episode, we are giving more detail today about the newest addition to our family whom, after fostering for 21 months, we have officially adopted!

We have been referring to him as Baby D on social media and on the podcast, but we are now finally able to reveal that his name is David, and we touch upon the Biblical significance of his name and how it coincidentally (given that his mom named him) follows our pattern of boys’ names.

In this episode, we share a lot of never-before-shared stories of David's early months in our home and share about our interaction with his mom. Although we are sad that reunification was ultimately not an option, we also are so grateful for the gift of David.

Be sure to check out my Instagram page if you want to see pictures from the ceremony!

In This Episode

[00:35] - Introducing this episode.

[01:15] - Jesse reveals Baby D’s name.

[03:11] - Hear how his name follows our predetermined pattern of boys’ names.

[05:19] - Jesse shares how he felt about adoption day.

[07:15] - We never sought this; we went into foster care knowing that adoption isn’t the goal.

[12:21] - David’s biological mother always assumed that we were going to adopt him.

[14:58] - Jesse explains why we kept David’s middle name.

[16:40] - We shift the conversation toward the adoption ceremony.

[19:26] - Hear about the actual adoption itself.

[20:46] - I touch upon one of the most special moments of the adoption day.

[23:42] - Knowing that David is our legal son still feels surreal.

• Links & Resources
• 10 Days to Be a Happier Mom
• Sign up for the Hot Deals Email List
• MoneySavingMom.com
• My Instagram account (I’d love for you to follow me there! I usually hop on at least a few times per day and share behind-the-scenes photos and videos, my grocery store hauls, funny stories, or just anything I’m pondering or would like your advice or feedback on!)
• Have feedback on the show or suggestions for future episodes or topics? Send me an email: crystal @ moneysavingmom.com

Welcome to the very first episode of 2023! As a way of ushering in the new year, we thought that it would be appropriate to share our goals for 2023!

My new book The Time-Saving Mom is coming out in March, and I also have six children, all of which is already a lot, so I have gone about setting realistic and specific goals for 2023 in a way that is challenging me but not overwhelming me. I also want to be sure that my goals all correlate with my values and what I want to be able to accomplish by the end of my life.

We hope that you will listen in as Jesse and I share our goals for the new year, including but not limited to being overall physically healthier, having one family dinner per week, finishing reading or listening to one book per week, and setting aside time for a date with at least one family member per week. We also hope that you will tune in next week as we expand upon a very exciting announcement!

In This Episode

[00:35] - This is the first episode of 2023!

[02:17] - Does Jesse get excited about the start of a new year like I do?

[03:32] - We share an exciting announcement!

[06:00] - Hear why I am prioritizing sleep.

[08:37] - I share my first goal for 2023.

[10:41] - I explain why I want to lose body fat in 2023.

[13:13] - I have been sure to drink a lot of water and get a healthy amount of sleep.

[15:08] - Jesse wants to be more consistent with fitness.

[16:12] - Hear what my second goal for 2023 is!

[18:37] - I reveal goal #3.

[20:09] - I share my fourth goal for 2023.

[22:01] - I reveal and explain my fifth goal.

[24:33] - I want to delete 300 photos from my phone each week.

[27:37] - Jesse touches upon the importance of being effective and intentional.

[29:14] - Learn about my habit tracking system.

Links & Resources

Crystal Paine

WYZE Body Fat Scale

Money Saving Mom - “My Daily Habit Tracker Checklist (Plus Download Yours!)”

Books

The Time-Saving Mom: How to Juggle a Lot, Enjoy Your Life, and Accomplish What Matters Most by Crystal Paine

Social Media

Crystal Paine on Instagram

Crystal Paine on Twitter

Crystal Paine on Goodreads

Money Saving Mom

Money Saving Mom on Facebook

Money Saving Mom Deal Seekers Facebook group

[email protected]

Welcome to the very last episode of the podcast before we move into 2023! It has been a really eventful 2022, so we are spending this episode taking a look back at 2022, reflecting on the big events of the year, including finishing my next book and giving birth to Micah.

We talk about how we have two teenagers who are preparing for college, how this year has provided a lot of opportunities for me to talk about foster care, what challenges we have faced this year, and so, so much more!

You will also want to stay tuned to the end of the podcast for an exciting announcement that is, for the time being, completely exclusive to this podcast! You’re hearing it here first! 

In This Episode

[00:33] - This is the last episode of 2022!

[01:41] - Discover the title of my new book!

[04:51] - Micah has been a blessing from 2022.

[07:06] - This year has not been without its challenges.

[09:29] - We also have our older girls getting ready to go to college.

[12:18] - Jesse and I have learned to let go this year.

[13:10] - I reflect back on prioritizing community.

[16:37] - I touch upon how we began homeschooling again this year.

[18:27] - Our oldest is in a dating relationship for the first time this year.

[21:20] - Listen for an exciting exclusive announcement!

Links & Resources

Crystal Paine

Books

The Time-Saving Mom: How to Juggle a Lot, Enjoy Your Life, and Accomplish What Matters Most by Crystal Paine

Find Your People: Building Deep Community in a Lonely World by Jennie Allen

Social Media

Crystal Paine on Instagram

Crystal Paine on Twitter

Crystal Paine on Goodreads

Money Saving Mom

Money Saving Mom on Facebook

Money Saving Mom Deal Seekers Facebook group

[email protected]

Today’s guest is Jodi Mockabee, author of the book The Whole and Healthy Family: Helping Your Kids Thrive in Mind, Body, and Spirit! I appreciate how Jodi addresses things holistically and has a lot of wisdom and experience to bring to the table.

Jodi is the mother of five children ranging from the age of ten to sixteen, and she bases the book on all of that experience that she had, capturing parenting methods that have worked for her as well as ones that haven’t worked so well.

She discusses her childhood and how it impacted her family life now, how to let go as a mom and let your kids be as independent as possible, how to be minimalist and efficient even if you have people in your family who like to hold onto things, what it means for parenting to go through different seasons, the importance of accountability, and so more!

In This Episode

[00:35] - I introduce today’s guest, Jodi Mockabee!

[03:15] - What was Jodi’s childhood like, and how did it impact her family lifestyle now?

[05:26] - Jodi shares about teaching your kids to be independent.

[09:15] - How Jodi approaches parenting a child who is on the spectrum.

[11:32] - I ask Jodi about some of her methods for simplifying.

[14:29] - How to strive for efficiency while also addressing children’s needs.

[17:15] - Jodi addresses how to be minimalist with family members who want to keep things.

[26:24] - What accountability looks like in their home.

[29:56] - Jodi offers helpful advice to young moms.

• Links & Resources
• The Whole and Healthy Family: Helping Your Kids Thrive in Mind, Body, and Spirit by Jodi Mockabee
• 10 Days to Be a Happier Mom
• Sign up for the Hot Deals Email List
• MoneySavingMom.com
• My Instagram account (I’d love for you to follow me there! I usually hop on at least a few times per day and share behind-the-scenes photos and videos, my grocery store hauls, funny stories, or just anything I’m pondering or would like your advice or feedback on!)
• Have feedback on the show or suggestions for future episodes or topics? Send me an email: crystal @ moneysavingmom.com

As we are approaching the end of the year and preparing to move into a new one, let's talk about being a beginner. This topic was inspired by a pep talk Jesse gave to me a few weeks ago as I was starting a new workout program and was sort of bemoaning how much of a beginner I felt.

His words of encouragement were so motivational to me and I wanted him to share more in this episode of the podcast. If you are in the process of starting something new, starting over, or thinking of starting something new in 2023, I hope that our words in this podcast inspire you to keep showing up -- even as a beginner!

In This Episode

[00:35] - We are talking about being a beginner today.

[01:10] - We just got back from our trip to Kansas!

[05:19] - An incident involving gum on my flight.

[12:51] - I have been listening to Healing Stones by Nancy Rue and Stephen Arterburn.

[15:17] - We dive into talking about being a beginner.

[16:12] - Jesse share more about the workout program he is using to base my workouts on.

[19:20] - Why it's okay to be a beginner.

[20:19] - Real-life examples of being a beginner.

[25:34] - Keeping showing up.

• Links Mentioned
• Healing Stones by Nancy Rue and Stephen Arterburn
• Mayhem Athlete
• Other Resources
• 10 Days to Be a Happier Mom
• Sign up for the Hot Deals Email List
• MoneySavingMom.com
• My Instagram account (I’d love for you to follow me there! I usually hop on at least a few times per day and share behind-the-scenes photos and videos, my grocery store hauls, funny stories, or just anything I’m pondering or would like your advice or feedback on!)
• Have feedback on the show or suggestions for future episodes or topics? Send me an email: crystal @ moneysavingmom.com