Crystal Paine Show

Join Jesse and I this week as I unpack 25 things that I said yes to this year that I am really glad that I did because they have genuinely changed and improved my life. Some of them look small from the outside (like pajamas, fiction books, or shopping in-store again), but every single one has left an indelible mark on my life, our family, the business, and/or all three. I spent more time preparing for this episode than any other because I wanted to name these moments clearly and honestly, without rushing past what they have taught me.Listen in to hear about rhythms that have helped me slow down, such as weekly Sabbaths, earlier bedtimes, and learning how to rest without guilt. I open up about choices that have really reshaped my relationship with my body such as hiring a dietitian, eating enough food, letting go of the scale for a season, and eventually saying yes to strength training and 5 a.m. workouts in a way that actually feels supportive instead of punishing. There’s also a lot here about joy and play: wearing dresses again, reading fiction, wearing real pajamas at night, traveling with my kids one-on-one, and even rediscovering how much I love showing up for baseball games!I also share some of the heavier yeses, the kind that require courage and wisdom such as leaving a toxic relationship and investing in deeper support via a business coach and a functional medicine doctor. Alongside that, I talk about growing our team, saying no to work that no longer fits, and how leadership feels different when you’re not carrying everything alone. This episode of the show is truly reflective, practical, and deeply personal, and it is my hope that, as you listen, you’ll start noticing your own yeses - the ones that quietly changed your year, even if no one else saw them happening. Be sure to check out relevant recent episodes brought up throughout our discussion (as Jesse mentions, there are a lot of them!), and reach out to me with your own victorious yeses over 2025! I would love to hear from you, so send me an email at [email protected]!In This Episode[0:35] - This week, I am sharing 25 things I said yes to in 2025 that deeply impacted my life![2:45] - I share how weekly Sabbaths have become a meaningful time to rest, connect, and savor simple joys.[5:54] - Hear how a gym membership unlocked childcare convenience and a love for fitness classes I never expected![7:08] - I have said yes to wearing dresses more often which has felt freeing.[9:16] - I reflect on how hiring a dietitian, a quick spring break, and wearing real PJs all enhanced daily life.[12:36] - Hear how I am learning to honor hunger and eat enough calories.[13:25] - Reading more fiction has reignited a passion I once loved but had lost.[15:02] - I have prioritized spending intentional time with Jesse, including local trips and completing ABC date nights.[15:49] - Volunteering at school became important after Kristen expressed how much she wanted my presence.[18:25] - Assisting in Kristen's classroom strengthened our connection and allowed me to meet her classmates.[20:21] - Hear about how I took a break from scales and tracking, gaining freedom and a healthier perspective on eating.[23:26] - Co-leading a small church group and supporting Silas in baseball really enriched family and personal growth for me![27:16] - I reflect on how leaving a toxic relationship required faith and courage but ultimately brought me some hard-won freedom.[28:47] - I also said yes to weekly sessions with my business coach and how it expanded support for leadership and life decisions.[29:47] - Trips to Disney, Discovery Cove, and a Utah retreat helped give me clarity, reflection, and renewed perspective.[30:57] - Shopping in-store again helped bring me unexpected joy, community, and fun via finding deals and markdowns.[32:06] - I discuss how visiting India and planning my parents’ 50th anniversary created unforgettable, meaningful experiences this year![33:25] - Growing my team intentionally made leadership easier and more joyful.[35:58] - Starting Micah in pre-K early helped him become confident, curious, and more socially comfortable.[38:43] - I reflect on how committing to 5 a.m. workouts improved my energy, rhythm, and natural sleep patterns.[40:43] - Prioritizing earlier sleep and fewer work hours has helped restore balance, boundaries, and overall well-being.Links & ResourcesCrystal PaineThe Crystal Paine Show - 295. Surprising Lessons I Learned on My Trip to DisneyThe Crystal Paine Show - 306. Our 20-Hour Overnight GetawayThe Crystal Paine Show - 308. My Very First Time Going to a Gym ClassThe Crystal Paine Show - 311. Changing My Mindset with FoodThe Crystal Paine Show - 318. My Parents’ 50th Wedding Anniversary CelebrationThe Crystal Paine Show - 321. My 13-Day Trip to IndiaBooksThe Frozen River by Ariel LawhornSocial MediaCrystal Paine on Instagram (@moneysavingmom)Crystal Paine on Instagram (@crystaliscleaning)Crystal Paine on LinkedInCrystal Paine on TwitterCrystal Paine on GoodreadsMoney Saving MomMoney Saving Mom on FacebookMoney Saving Mom Deal Seekers Facebook [email protected] Sponsors:* Check out KiwiCo and use my code CRYSTAL for a great deal: https://kiwico.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

I am so excited to welcome Amy Hughes, author of Words Like Honey, to the studio for this episode! I want you to know this isn’t just an episode for parents of little kids. What Amy shares applies to marriages, friendships, classrooms, churches - any relationship where words matter, which is pretty much all of them. I found myself convicted not just about how I speak to my kids but about how I speak to Jesse too!Amy is a mom of nine with kids ranging from toddlers to adults, and her life is anything but quiet or controlled. Listen as she shares how she was thrust into motherhood at 19 years old, instantly becoming a stepmom to a 6-year-old, and how observing harmful parenting patterns early on shaped her desire to do things differently. Amy didn’t initially think much about her words at all, but it was watching how her kids reacted, misunderstood, and internalized things that she never meant that changed everything for her.We talk about how seemingly harmless phrases like “what’s wrong with you?” or “hurry up” can land very differently in a child’s mind, sometimes even leading to shame or anxiety when comfort was intended. Amy explains how small, thoughtful shifts in language can communicate empathy instead of blame and connection instead of pressure. We also talk about repair and why apologizing to our kids isn't a weakness, how humility can rebuild trust at any age, and why it’s almost never too late to begin again.Amy and I explore how asking guiding questions instead of giving quick answers helps kids develop confidence and problem-solving skills and why letting them wrestle with hard questions (especially when it comes to faith) is not dangerous but essential. She stresses that questions should never be shamed and shares why she believes doubt and curiosity can actually strengthen faith when they’re met with safety instead of shame.My conversation with Amy is truly honest, practical, faith-centered, and deeply human, and I strongly encourage you to go grab a copy of Amy's powerful book, and as always, I would love to hear from you, so send me an email at [email protected]!In This Episode[0:35] - This episode is an interview with Amy Hughes, author of Words Like Honey![1:49] - Amy discusses how our bustling, multigenerational household shaped her patience and parenting philosophy.[3:39] - Becoming a stepmom at 19 pushed Amy to question parenting norms and form her own.[5:25] - Amy reveals how witnessing a child be silenced until he wet himself cemented her refusal to silence kids.[7:56] - Hear how Amy eventually realized that parenting differently requires intentional speech, not just different actions.[10:01] - Amy's daughter’s long-held misunderstanding around stealing revealed how literally kids take words.[12:48] - Hear why we shouldn’t ask our kids, “What’s wrong with you?”[15:06] - Reframing “what’s wrong with you” into curiosity can help affirm children’s worth and help them feel heard.[16:30] - Amy discusses how empathetic language helps children feel supported, understood, and less anxious.[19:45] - Repair, rooted in humility and apology, can heal fractured parent-child relationships at any age.[22:09] - I discuss how showing children our flaws models grace, forgiveness, and faith far more powerfully than attempted perfection.[24:49] - Guiding kids with questions helps lead to confidence, critical thinking, and independence.[27:48] - I assert that letting children struggle and try builds life skills, resilience, and self-confidence.[30:29] - Amy highlights why it's important to not shame faith-based questions.[32:45] - Creating space for hard questions requires courage, prayer, and curiosity!Links & ResourcesCrystal PaineBooksWords Like Honey: How to Avoid Unintentional Harm, Model Kindness, and Nurture Your Child’s Faith Through What You Say by Amy HughesLove-Centered Parenting by Crystal PaineSocial MediaCrystal Paine on Instagram (@moneysavingmom)Crystal Paine on Instagram (@crystaliscleaning)Crystal Paine on LinkedInCrystal Paine on TwitterCrystal Paine on GoodreadsMoney Saving MomMoney Saving Mom on FacebookMoney Saving Mom Deal Seekers Facebook [email protected] Sponsors:* Check out KiwiCo and use my code CRYSTAL for a great deal: https://kiwico.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

As we wrap up the year with this episode that may or may not be the final episode of 2025, Jesse and I sit down and talk through something real, something I’ve been wrestling with. I’m not really the type to plan out twelve months of episode themes. I record when it’s something actually shaping my life right now, and when it comes to this conversation? It has been shaping everything!Jesse and I thought that we knew what this episode would be about, but we definitely didn't. What it turned into was a little year-end heart check and a look at two habits that I have wanted to build for months: going to bed on time and strength training - the everyday stuff that’s weirdly difficult when life is already overflowing.Listen in as I share the moment a few weeks ago when I finally told Jesse, “I can't figure this out. Help me.” Between our kids’ schedules, it being baseball season, my own work rhythms, and that magical late-night second wind that has betrayed me many times, I truly wondered whether these habits were even possible, but Jesse then suggested something I never would have landed on by myself: a 5 a.m. class at our gym! I tell you how that first week went, what surprised me, and why the locker room shower in total silence may now be one of the great joys of my life.I also discuss the domino effect that this small shift has had on our family, including Micah suddenly turning into a cheerful morning person and how a functional medicine appointment forced me to face the truth that I am not nearly as rested or relaxed as I thought! If you’re ending the year wondering whether a habit that you have been circling forever is actually possible, I hope this episode gives you some hope, some ideas, and maybe even a little permission to try something wild!As always, I would love to hear from you, so send me an email at [email protected]!In This Episode[0:35] - This episode focuses on year-end lessons and rebuilding habits that finally stick![4:15] - I describe how daily unpredictability kept derailing her bedtime and workout intentions.[7:10] - Hear how the schedule review pushes me toward trying a consistent 5 a.m. workout class.[10:52] - I talk about how our 18-year-old daughter supports my first class where I finds a warm and encouraging gym community.[12:48] - Early workouts give her peaceful morning routines and even improve her three-year-old’s mood.[15:51] - I explain how earlier bedtimes boost my sleep quality, supporting the rest my doctor says that I need.[18:42] - I realize that I have been disconnecting from my body and ignoring my own physical signals.[20:36] - I have recognized that my constant “fight mode” is draining my body.[22:48] - My therapist has warned me that nonstop high alert will eventually break me down.[25:55] - I adopt a calm, light-free morning routine to support rest, grounding, and early workouts.[27:25] - I share my full rhythm to encourage listeners to build habits aligned with your deeper values.Links & ResourcesCrystal PaineSocial MediaCrystal Paine on Instagram (@moneysavingmom)Crystal Paine on Instagram (@crystaliscleaning)Crystal Paine on LinkedInCrystal Paine on TwitterCrystal Paine on GoodreadsMoney Saving MomMoney Saving Mom on FacebookMoney Saving Mom Deal Seekers Facebook [email protected] Sponsors:* Check out KiwiCo and use my code CRYSTAL for a great deal: https://kiwico.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

I am so excited about having Nicole C. Mullen join me for The Crystal Paine Show for this episode! Nicole is the author of the book It’s Never the Wrong Time to do the Right Thing: Courageous Stories to Inspire Godly Decisions, and Nicole discusses one of the inspiring biblical stories that she explores in her book - the account of Abigail, the wife of the wealthy but foolish Nabal. As a self-proclaimed “Bible nerd,” Nicole discusses how, when Nabal insults David's men, the enraged David vows to destroy Nabal's household. Abigail quickly gathers provisions and goes to intercept David, humbling herself and pleading for mercy. Her wisdom and courage turn David away from his plan for vengeance, and later, when Nabal hears what Abigail has done, he has a fatal reaction, and David then takes Abigail as his wife.Nicole goes on to explain that Abigail's story teaches important lessons about responding vs. reacting and about the importance of timing and wisdom in difficult situations. She reflects on how Abigail's example has impacted her own life, especially during her experience of becoming a single mother, and she highlights the need for the church to better support and empower single mothers, who often feel unseen and unsupported. She recounts the legacy of her own grandparents, who fostered and adopted children, creating a true ripple effect of generational impact.My conversation with Nicole really highlights how one person's courageous choices can have far-reaching, even world-changing consequences, as seen in biblical figures such as Abigail and Moses' mother Jochebed. Nicole encourages listeners to step out in faith, even when it's scary. God can use our obedience in ways we can't imagine!As always, I would love to hear from you, so send me an email at [email protected]!In This Episode[0:35] - I welcome Nicole C. Mullen, author of the book It’s Never the Wrong Time to Do the Right Thing![2:06] - Nicole recounts Abigail’s bravery as she intervenes to stop David from slaughtering her household.[5:15] - Hear how Abigail’s swift courage and wise timing ultimately averted David’s anger and saved her home.[8:19] - Abigail waits wisely, reveals the crisis, and God, not her, ultimately removes her dangerous husband.[11:40] - Abigail's story teaches us that seeking divine wisdom and acting with calm timing prevents reckless reactions.[14:14] - Peace-guided choices, patient replies, and deliberate timing help us respond wisely instead of reacting rashly.[17:07] - Nicole reflects on how God guided her as a single mother despite fear and societal neglect.[20:50] - Supporting single mothers strengthens them and impacts future generations positively.[23:35] - I touch upon how helping one person’s healing creates a ripple effect across families and communities.[24:06] - Nicole traces her family’s legacy of faith, courage, and fostering children through generations.[27:11] - Even just one courageous, faithful act can create lasting ripples affecting families, communities, and even nations.Links & ResourcesCrystal PaineBooksIt’s Never the Wrong Time to do the Right Thing: Courageous Stories to Inspire Godly Decisions by Nicole C. MullenSocial MediaCrystal Paine on Instagram (@moneysavingmom)Crystal Paine on Instagram (@crystaliscleaning)Crystal Paine on LinkedInCrystal Paine on TwitterCrystal Paine on GoodreadsMoney Saving MomMoney Saving Mom on FacebookMoney Saving Mom Deal Seekers Facebook [email protected] Sponsors:* Check out KiwiCo and use my code CRYSTAL for a great deal: https://kiwico.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

I do want to say right out of the gate that this is not an episode that you’re probably going to want to listen to while eating. (The title should give you a clue as to why.) Jesse joins me this week as I discuss having recently returned from a trip to India feeling great but then soon after developing severe gastrointestinal issues that lasted for weeks. I initially thought that it was just a stomach bug, but after my symptoms persisted, I realized that something a lot more serious was likely going on.Listen in as I describe feeling extremely nauseous, fatigued, and having constant diarrhea that left me bedridden for days. I had trouble keeping any food or drink down, and the medical professionals that I saw were hesitant to test for a parasite, even though many of my friends who had heard about my condition suggested that that was likely what was wrong.I reflect on how, after struggling through a trip to attend my brother's wedding, my condition worsened to the point at which I could barely move! At 2 a.m. in severe distress, I finally convinced Jesse to take me to the emergency room where they were able to quickly get my fluids and run tests, which confirmed that I had contracted a parasite during my trip to India.My ER visit and subsequent treatment, which included an antibiotic regimen, ultimately helped me begin to recover. I talk about how it took several more weeks to fully regain my strength, but I am so grateful that I persisted in advocating for myself and getting the right diagnosis. This is a longer episode than usual, but we hope that you got some laughs from it! We also hope that you take away an important message - it’s so important to advocate for yourself! As always, I would love to hear from you, so send me an email at [email protected]!In This Episode[0:35] - I am recounting returning from India with a parasite and hope that my story encourages self-advocacy.[4:05] - After getting home, my mild jet lag suddenly escalated into severe stomach illness by Friday night.[7:44] - Hear how, even though I was happy to be home, my lingering nausea and exhaustion only got worse.[9:44] - Despite trying to push through, my nausea persisted, leading to inconclusive clinic tests.[12:26] - Hear about how I initially skipped parasite testing, forcing fluids and sugar-heavy drinks while struggling with my dehydration getting worse.[15:45] - My exhausting trip left me bedridden, prayerful, and unable to work despite my usually high stamina.[17:37] - I recount how a brief, miraculous surge of energy allowed me to run a wedding before the sickness returned that night.[20:57] - I share how I became violently ill on the drive home and barely managed the trip without incident.[23:48] - Hear how my slight improvement convinced me to skip testing while I worked through a hectic week.[26:12] - I discuss how the long drive to Kansas went surprisingly smoothly, leaving me feeling cautiously optimistic.[27:16] - I talk about how, during rehearsal, I helped David down the aisle.[29:12] - I reveal how my illness peaked that night, leaving me curled on the floor and worrying that something was seriously wrong.[32:10] - Zofran gave me brief relief before I realized that I needed to get emergency care despite the wedding.[34:48] - I reflect on how the quiet late-night ER immediately admitted me, ran tests, and began me on fluids.[36:50] - The ER staff collected my stool sample in-room, leaving me mortified while Jesse nearly gagged from the smell.[39:42] - Jesse’s dramatic reaction forced staff to rush in, confirm the awful smell, and remove the sample.[42:02] - IV fluids and Zofran quickly revived me, marking the turning point toward daily improvement.[44:25] - I learned of my parasite diagnosis, recovered with treatment, and have taken on healthier habits.[46:42] - I share how, after a late-night call, I started a short antibiotic course, and I encourage listeners to advocate for yourselves!Links & ResourcesCrystal PaineSocial MediaCrystal Paine on Instagram (@moneysavingmom)Crystal Paine on Instagram (@crystaliscleaning)Crystal Paine on LinkedInCrystal Paine on TwitterCrystal Paine on GoodreadsMoney Saving MomMoney Saving Mom on FacebookMoney Saving Mom Deal Seekers Facebook [email protected] Sponsors:* Check out KiwiCo and use my code CRYSTAL for a great deal: https://kiwico.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands