Crystal Paine Show

Latest Episodes:

204. Kathrynne's College Decision (+ a funny story!) Mar 28, 2023

Show notes

Today’s episode is a fun and informal one! And it actually took a turn down a path I hadn't planned and we just rolled with it. I honestly think I've never laughed this much while recording a podcast ever! I hope it maybe makes you laugh... or you can just laugh at us laughing so hard (I literally had tears streaming down my face I was laughing so hard!)

In this episode, we not only share about Kathrynne's college decision and what led to that decision (and why she's going about things in a creative and non-traditional way), but we also share about a few crazy things that happened on my book launch day. (Note: you might not want to listen to this section if you have a weak stomach.) Plus, we talk about Jesse doing the 75Hard program

In This Episode

[00:35] - Welcome to our virtual living room -- this is a very informal episode where we share some updates and stories.

[01:44] - The day of my book launch was definitely eventful, starting with a flat tire.

[06:15] - And then I ended up in the urgent care for an infection in my finger and an excruciating procedure.

[14:44] - Sharing this story sparked me to tell a funny story of my mom taking me to a medical procedure.

[16:27] - Jesse has been working on 75Hard.

[19:20] - We shift the conversation to Kathrynne's college decision.

[22:22] - Why we had Kathrynne apply to 10+ colleges.

[26:55] - We did things "backwards" and Kathrynne applied to colleges and got accepted before doing college visits.

[28:56] - Why Kathrynne has decided not to live on campus and the college she chose to go to for the first year.

Links & Resources

Crystal Paine Show - 181. What is Kathrynne doing after high school?
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)
Love-Centered Parenting: The No-Fail Guide to Launching Your Kids by Crystal Paine
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

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

203. Kathrynne and Kaitlynn share about their trip to London & Amsterdam Mar 21, 2023

Show notes

Our two oldest girls, Kathrynne and Kaitlynn, returned to the podcast today to talk all about a recent trip to Europe, specifically London and Amsterdam! They share why they went on this trip, who they went with, what the highlights were, and some of the lessons they learned.

We talk about them seeing Big Ben, stage productions of Newsies and Mouse Trap, a soccer game, how beautiful Amsterdam was, the food, visiting the Anne Frank house, and their canal tour. This was such a great, character-building experience for them and I loved that they got to experience it together (even though I really wish I could have squeezed myself into their suitcase and joined them!) And I'm so happy they were willing to record this episode with me since so many of you asked for more details on their trip!

In This Episode

[00:35] - My two oldest daughters Kathrynne and Kaitlynn are on the show today!

[01:28] - Why the girls went on a trip to London.

[05:17] - What were a few of the highlights of the trip?

[09:24] - What food in London was like.

[10:52] - A soccer game was another highlight.

[12:11] - Their experience in Amsterdam.

[17:41] - Kaitlynn and Kathrynne agree that the food in Amsterdam was better than London.

[19:58] - What were some of the biggest lessons learned from this trip?

Links & Resources

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)
Love-Centered Parenting: The No-Fail Guide to Launching Your Kids by Crystal Paine
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

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

202. Disability and Discovering God’s Image in Every Person (with Laura Wifler) Mar 14, 2023

Show notes

Have you ever wondered how to talk to your kids about disabilities? Do you want your kids to not feel awkward around those who have special needs or disabilities, but you aren't sure how to interact or what to say and don't want to say or do the wrong thing?

In this week's episode of The Crystal Paine Show, I have a really fantastic conversation about with Laura Wifler about this very topic. We not only share practical ideas of how we've appreciated others approaching and interacting with us and our children who have disabilities, but we talk about the gift that our children have been to our homes and families and how it has deeply changed and impacted us -- in spite of the really hard parts.

Laura Wifler is the author of the new children’s book titled Like Me: A Story About Disability and Discovering God’s Image in Every Person and is also the Executive Director of Risen Motherhood, a nonprofit organization that helps mothers connect their faith to their motherhood.

Laura shares ideas of how to respond when your kids are curious about children with disabilities, giving great pointers about how to behave and what to say when your child asks questions about children they perceive as different. She also opens up and powerfully proclaims God's truths when it comes to processing through the struggles and hard things that come along with having a child who has disabilities. We also talk about how culture often defines success in one way, but how our children have given us such different perspective.

Whether you have a child with disabilities or whether you know someone who does or whether you just want to know how to better understand and walk with someone who has a child with disabilities, this is a really important conversation to listen to and I think you'll come away from it deeply moved and encouraged.

,In This Episode

[01:09] - Laura Wifler is today’s guest!

[01:43] - A little about Laura and her family.

[02:48] - How long has Risen Motherhood existed?

[03:24] - Laura discusses what inspired her new book Like Me.

[07:31] - How to engage with people with disabilities.

[12:50] - Laura reminds us that life isn’t always about our own comfort levels.

[16:08] - Hear some examples of questions that Laura often gets.

[17:55] - How Laura gets through difficult days.

[21:34] - Laura discusses how she has processed through wondering how God could allow disabilities.

[25:02] - Success is not measured by abilities.

[29:43] - Only one thing in common is needed to build a friendship.

Links & Resources

Risen Motherhood
Risen Motherhood - Instagram Page
Risen Motherhood Podcast
Books
Like Me: A Story About Disability and Discovering God’s Image in Every Person by Laura Wifler
Risen Motherhood: Gospel Hope for Everyday Moments by Laura Wifler & Emily Jensen
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

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

201. It's Launch Day! Why I wrote The Time-Saving Mom Mar 07, 2023

Show notes

Today is the big day - the release of my new book, The Time-Saving Mom: How to Juggle a Lot, Enjoy Your Life, and Accomplish What Matters Most! We're switching things up a little as Jesse interviews me!

I touch upon what makes this book unique, what tools and resources are in the book, how it changed and developed over time, and so much more. I also, as promised last week, I also read more of the introduction from the book.

It is my hope that this book helps others live with more intention, peace, and joy!

In This Episode

[00:33] - Jesse is interviewing me about my new book!

[02:34] - Learn why I initially resisted writing this book.

[04:17] - Did I learn anything from writing this book?

[08:16] - The last chapter of the book is one I never expected to write.

[10:22] - I explain why I pushed to not have a word count.

[12:12] - I describe the book’s appendix.

[13:39] - What was most surprising about writing the book and its aftermath?

[16:55] - The way you look at saving time is important.

[19:38] - I reveal my main goal behind writing the book.

[22:00] - I read more of the introduction of the book.

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

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)

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

crystal@moneysavingmom.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

200. Why We Stopped Fostering Feb 28, 2023

Show notes

In this week’s episode of The Crystal Paine Show, Jesse and I share why we made the decision recently to close our home (at least for the next year or two) to fostering. It was a really difficult decision to make — and it wasn’t the decision we were expecting to make right now. But we spent a lot of time praying and had a lot of conversations and are grateful for the clear direction God gave us and the peace we have.

While the need for foster families is so great right now, we also know that loving and caring for our six children is our highest priority — despite our heart to make a difference in the lives of children in foster care. The beautiful thing we’ve learned the past few years is that there are many ways to make a difference without actively fostering.

In this episode we talk about decision-making, prioritizing, and why there are seasons for saying yes and seasons for saying no and both can be a good thing. This process of making this decision is part of what I talk about in my new book, The Time-Saving Mom: How to Juggle a Lot, Enjoy Your Life, and Accomplish What Matters Most and I close out the podcast reading a section from it.

In This Episode

[00:36] – We are sharing about a difficult decision we made recently.

[02:23] – But first, what has been saving my life lately?

[07:57] – The story behind our decision.

[10:32] – Two of our daughters will soon be graduating.

[11:50] – Our three little ones need a lot right now.

[14:45] – Our family is currently not equipped to meet DCS’s needs of us taking in teens or large sibling groups.

[17:25] – We talk about celebrating someone’s yes and someone’s no.

[20:53] – I segue into my new book.

[21:51] – I read a section from the introduction from my book.

Links & Resources

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)
Love-Centered Parenting: The No-Fail Guide to Launching Your Kids by Crystal Paine
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

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

199. Raising Amazing Kids (with Monica Swanson) Feb 21, 2023

Show notes

I loved getting to have this conversation with Monica Swanson, an experienced mom of four boys who has so much wisdom to share! Her new book is called Raising Amazing: Bringing Up Kids Who Love God, Like Their Family, and Do the Dishes Without Being Asked -- I mean, I'd buy the book just to have someone share how to get your kids to do the dishes without being asked! :)

In this episode, I asked her to share more about this book, we talk about her book Boy Mom, too, and how she has fostered in her kids friendship with each other, love for God, and a sense of responsibility.

She also gives some helpful advice such as how to motivate kids who are failing in school, how to be an effective parent while also taking care of yourself and your marriage, how to maintain a loving relationship with teenagers who are quickly approaching adulthood, and more!

If you are a parent, if you ever plan to be a parent, or if you interact with kids and teens, I think this episode will really encourage you!

In This Episode

[00:46] - Today’s guest is Monica Swanson, author of Raising Amazing.

[01:27] - Monica shares about her life in Hawaii raising four boys.

[04:15] - How did Monica encourage her sons to be friends with each other?

[05:25] - What it looks like to set an example of loving Jesus with our kids.

[06:35] - The million dollar question: how do we teach our kids to do the dishes -- without being asked?!

[11:29] - What does all-in parenting mean practically?

[12:59] - But what if my kids are unmotivated?

[14:26] - How to set boundaries well, even if our kids resist them.

[18:34] - Is it possible to parent well without making our kids our entire identity?

[20:46] - All-in parenting isn’t getting our self-worth from our kids’ successes.

[22:59] - All-in parenting is not a formula or raising perfect kids.

[26:15] - How to nurture your marriage in the midst of raising kids.

[27:44] - What does fun look like at Monica's house?

[29:13] - Monica offers insight into having kids on the cusp of adulthood.

Links & Resources

Raising Amazing: Bringing Up Kids Who Love God, Like Their Family, and Do the Dishes Without Being Asked by Monica Swanson
Boy Mom: What Your Son Needs Most from You by Monica Swanson and Wendy Speake
Love-Centered Parenting: The No-Fail Guide to Launching Your Kids by Crystal Paine
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

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

198. How to Identify What's Keeping Us Stuck (with Megan Hyatt Miller) Feb 14, 2023

Show notes

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!

In This Episode

[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.

Links & Resources

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

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

197. 4 Things We've Learned After 18 Years of Parenting Feb 07, 2023

Show notes

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.

In This Episode

[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

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

196. Discovering Hope & Healing After Brokenness (with Toni Collier) Jan 31, 2023

Show notes

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

crystal@moneysavingmom.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

195. A Faith That Will Not Fail (with Michele Cushatt) Jan 24, 2023

Show notes

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.

In This Episode

[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.

Links & Resources

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

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

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