Why we went to Kalamazoo, MI + some fun news and LOTS of pictures!

Plus, book reviews and deals and freebies you don't want to miss! Hi, Friend! I'm writing this from the road! We've been gone for the last 8 days. We drove to Wichita, KS to drop Micah and Kierstyn off with my parents and then flew with David to Kalamazoo, MI and met Kaitlynn and Silas and Kathrynne there (they flew from Nashville) to spend four days in MI attending the Teen CrossFit Games. Kaitlynn's boyfriend, RJ Mestre, was competing in the 16-17 teen boys' division. It was his third CrossFit games to make and it's a BIG deal. The competition has four phases over a number of months and starts with around 1500-1800 guys around the world and then slowly was cut down to the top 30. If they make it to the top 30 in the CrossFit Games, they then compete in 7 different events over the course of 3 days, testing all sorts of types of fitness -- running, trail sprinting, box jumps, ring and bar muscle ups, rope climbs, double unders, heavy lifting, squats, sled pushes, hand stand walks, odd object carries, wall balls, and more. It's all about testing endurance, adaptability, gymnastic abilities, and strength over the course of many different strenuous workouts. The weekend was full of adrenaline -- and I'm not even related to RJ!! A number of times, while watching him compete, I caught myself holding my breath and feeling so nervous. In the end, he ended up winning the competition and the title of Fittest Teen on Earth in his division!!! It was amazing and we are so glad we got to go! We loved getting to watch him compete and get to hang out with his family and some of the other athletes' families! I also loved getting to watch Kaitlynn cheer on and support RJ and be such a cheerful, calming presence for him. I just love watching my girls with their boyfriends. We love both guys SO much and it's been such a wonderful experience to get to watch them both in this new season of life! On our way to Kansas, we stopped at the Harry S. Truman museum and presidential library. We really enjoyed it and I'd love to go back some time to get to read all of the signs and details more thoroughly! David adored getting to be the only little child for five days. And he did so amazingly well! He spent hours sitting on our laps or being held and barely ever whined the entire five days! Back in Kansas, Micah and Kierstyn had the time of their lives with Grandma and Grandpa, including many fun outings and getting to play with their kitties! We didn't get to do much sight-seeing, but we did go to a doughnut shop (Sweetwater's Donuts) as well as a local coffee shop (Waterstreet Coffee). Since we were at the event all day for three days, he took his afternoon nap in my arms. It was the sweetest and I cherished getting to hold him so much! The last event -- RJ was very close to winning, but he needed to win the last event to clinch the championship win. We were all a ball of nerves and screaming like crazy. It was so fun when he crossed the finish line first and you should have heard us hollering and cheering! Jesse's dad with Micah -- Jesse's parents helped out one morning with the kids. The kids were SO excited to see us and David when we went to pick them up! My parents with the three youngest kids when we picked Kierstyn and Micah up. Kierstyn asked if they could please go back and stay with my parents next week! We had never left Kierstyn or Micah before without one of us and we were so grateful that they did SO well and had the best time! HOT DEAL on The Time-Saving Mom! I've got a HOT deal for you! My book, [The Time-Saving Mom](, is hugely discounted this week only! It's the first time it's been on sale like this since it came out over a year and a half ago so you do not want to miss this deal! Grab [The Time-Saving Mom hardcover for just $4.49!!!](=) Or, get [The Time-Saving Mom ebook for just $3.99!!!]( This would be a great time to buy a few extra copies to give as gifts! I wrote this book while we were in the midst of adopting David and when I was pregnant with Micah and in the middle of morning, noon, and night sickness. So I became a case study for the principles I shared in the book. Do they actually work when life is really hard and turned upside down? It isn't a book about theories; it's a book from the trenches with real-life, real-world encouragement and practical examples. It's my answer to the question I get all the time of, "How do you do it all?" In this book I share what I don't do, why I don't do it, what I choose to prioritize, how I set up a priority system that gives me breathing room in my days, exactly how I plan my days and the hybrid planning system I use, plus loads of strategies and techniques that keep me sane. My hope is that it encourages your heart and gives you practical tools and takeaways you can implement immediately to stress less and enjoy your life more, while also juggling a lot of different things. [Go order your copy here. It's only on sale for a few days!]( = 4 Strategies to Start Your Back-To-School Year Well As the new school year begins, it’s easy to feel the rush of new beginnings, like a “new year, new you” moment, and in [this week's podcast episode on The Crystal Paine Show](=), Jesse and I dive into how to set yourself up for a successful school year. We all crave routines that make our days smoother and more intentional, and today, we share what’s been working for our family. We touch upon the importance of teaching kids to take ownership of their responsibilities, especially their homework. This might sound daunting, but it’s all about starting small and gradually giving them more control. Whether your child is in first grade or high school, fostering independence pays off in the long run, and even if your child has different abilities, there are ways to encourage them to take ownership in small, meaningful ways. We also emphasize how starting the day well actually begins the night before. We have personally found that our mornings run much more smoothly when we prep the night before by laying out clothes, packing lunches, and setting everything up for a stress-free start. This also includes getting enough sleep, which we are still working on! I also revisit the idea of [slow productivity](), which is all about intentionally slowing down, evaluating what truly needs to be done, and finding ways to simplify. By reducing the chaos in our schedules, we can make room for what truly matters and create a school year filled with intention and cherished memories! Whether you have school-age kids or not, this episode offers great, practical advice that will resonate with you regardless! [Listen to this podcast episode here.]() What I'm Currently Reading/What I Read Last Week Book finished this week: [Slow Productivity]() -- I savored this book slowly (hello, the title alone makes you want to be sure not to fly through it!) and it deeply impacted me. I will be mulling over the suggestions for many days, weeks, and months to come! It's already challenged me to rethink the way I set up my days and weeks (especially in light of one of the big premises of the book which is to do fewer things!) and it's also really made me think about the best way to set up our business and systems. I highly recommend reading it! Currently reading: [Momma Moments with God]() [Resilient: The True Story of CrossFit's Greatest Comeback](=) [Through the Eyes of a Lion]( Get your ticket for this FREE Online Organizing Event! I’m so excited to be one of this year’s [Get Organized HQ Virtual speakers](=)! This huge online event will take place September 9-14, 2024. There will be over 100 workshops to watch and they'll roll out daily. You’ll have 24 hours to watch each video for FREE. I’ll be presenting a class on How to Save $1000+/Year By Reverse Meal Planning! But there are so many other good sessions – here are just a few that I think will be so helpful: - Cas from Clutterbug is speaking on How to Help Your FAMILY Declutter - Dawn from The Minimal Mom is speaking on the concept of Home Hushing - Dana K White from A Slob Comes Clean is sharing about her No Mess Decluttering Process - Christine from Frugal Fit Mom is speaking on Tips to Stop Feeling Stressed Out By Your House And truly, that is just the tip of the iceberg! With over 100 sessions at Get Organized HQ Virtual there is something for everyone regardless of your season of life or interests! Be sure to [go grab your FREE ticket]()! A YEAR of Online Crafting Classes for $0.99!! Craftsy is offering a HOT deal to [get a premium annual membership for just $0.99](!! This is regularly $113 and we haven't see it this low in quite a long time, so it’s a great price! = I love this blouse!! Amazon has this [Women’s Casual Long-Sleeved Ruffle Blouse for just $13.99](when you save an extra 50% off at checkout! (Psst! Use the promo code 50APFJEA at checkout if the price doesn’t automatically drop.) There are lots of beautiful color options available in sizes S-XXL! I have[this blouse](and love the design on it. It’s feminine and can be worn tucked in or left out. It’s the perfect way to dress up a pair of jeans. Or wear it with dress pants or a skirt and nicer shoes for a more dressy look! Links You Should Check Out: [My 10-Year Stitch Fix Update]( — My Stitch Fix review was long overdue for an update, since I've now been using it for almost a decade! So I updated it with all my honest thoughts, plus added some fun pics from my latest box! [22 Tea Time Desserts]( — As we move into the cozy fall months, if you're anything like me and LOVE tea, then you'll want to check out [this fun round-up we put together of desserts that pair well with tea](! Enjoy!! _______________ Have a wonderful week! -Crystal P.S. Are you [following me on Instagram](? If not and you love my personal enewsletters, you'd probably really enjoy [all the behind-the-scenes and real-life updates I share there!]( I'd love to connect with you there! [Unsubscribe]( Money Saving Mom, LLC 2020 Fieldstone Parkway, Ste. 900 #313 Franklin, Tennessee 37069 United States