Recently I did a brand update on my blog and website and I am so happy with how it turned out! Updating my website was on my 2020 Goal List and I am so grateful that I was able to accomplish that in 2020.  A huge shoutout and thank you to my friend Britney @YourCreativeCounterPart.  She took the beautiful photos for my updated website.

Working with Britney has convinced me of the importance of hiring a professional photographer.  If you are business owner, have a website, sell product, want to take your social media platform to a greater level, I want to share five reasons why you should hire a professional photographer. 

1.  They think of the BIG Picture!  Working with Britney really inspired me to think about the big picture, business branding, she was so insightful and helpful.  Britney had me research and plan before our photoshoot with branding in mind and future content creation in mind.  We scheduled a photography shoot for a #SmallBizProject she was working on and she was extremely helpful with tips in regards to my outfit for my photography shoot, to ideas for evergreen photos that I can use in the future.  She had me think through props and flat lay ideas, she also brought extra props and background boards.

2.  Professional Investment.  As your business grows, it is essential that you invest back into your business.  That is in taking classes and courses to improve yourself as well as investing in marketing and advertising.  No matter what business you are in, presentation makes a difference.  If you want to stand out and look professional and consider aesthetics, hiring a professional photographer is essential.    

3. Education.  Professional Photographers, do more than just snap photos, they are often educated in so many other areas.  They are educated not only in their photography field, but also educated in who to contact locally for anything you need.  They have worked with real estate people, restaurant owners, small shops and businesses of all types.  In working with Britney and discussing a photography shoot, I shared with her that I have been trying to find someone to update my website it just had not worked out.   Britney referred me to a few people who could help me, one being Mina at Underline Designs. I have been trying to do some on my own and even when I started I used pre-made templates not being html savvy and all.  Which what I had worked, but it was in need of a refresh.  Mina was helpful, had great response time and had a quick turn around on this project.

If you are a content creator I highly recommend you work with others.  Find experts in various fields, photography, public speaking, graphic design, we need each other!  Allow others who have excelled in their gifts and talents to help you learn, grow and achieve your goals. 

4. There is more involved than just having a nice camera.  While a good camera is a great start to improve your photography, there is so much more that goes into taking great photos.  Professional photographers know about all the settings, they know about angles, perspective, framing in a shot right.  They also know how to edit photos to make them even better.  

5.  Experience.  When you hire a professional photographer, they come with experience of working with a ton of people and situations taking photographs.  You may say "I do not like to have my photo taken." or "I don't know how to stand or pose." That is why you need to hire a professional.  I don't know many people who really like their photo being taken, that is why you need a professional, they will help you!  They also know the best locations, where to capture a great background, and so much more.  Because of their photography experience they will think of things that do not even cross your mind.  They also provide a great experience, because of their experience photographing people, they  make you feel comfortable and actually enjoy the time spent together. 


If you are local to the Sacramento area I highly recommend you connect with Britney, she has a heart of gold and is a content creator herself, she knows about blogging, photography, branding and so much more.  I met Britney through blogging/social media and I am so grateful that we have become friends.  She has been one of my biggest cheerleaders and encouragers.  Go give her a follow on Instagram @YourCreativeCounterPart. 

If you are a small business owner and have been thinking about hiring someone to take photos DO IT!!!!  I know in this day with iPhones which have great cameras it is easy and convenient to take your own photos and if you don't have it in your budget I get it. Save and plan for a photography shoot! Having a professional photographer is so worth it, you will thank yourself after.

5 Reasons Why You Should Hire a Professional Photographer

Recently I did a brand update on my blog and website and I am so happy with how it turned out! Updating my website was on my 2020 Goal List and I am so grateful that I was able to accomplish that in 2020.  A huge shoutout and thank you to my friend Britney @YourCreativeCounterPart.  She took the beautiful photos for my updated website.

Working with Britney has convinced me of the importance of hiring a professional photographer.  If you are business owner, have a website, sell product, want to take your social media platform to a greater level, I want to share five reasons why you should hire a professional photographer. 

1.  They think of the BIG Picture!  Working with Britney really inspired me to think about the big picture, business branding, she was so insightful and helpful.  Britney had me research and plan before our photoshoot with branding in mind and future content creation in mind.  We scheduled a photography shoot for a #SmallBizProject she was working on and she was extremely helpful with tips in regards to my outfit for my photography shoot, to ideas for evergreen photos that I can use in the future.  She had me think through props and flat lay ideas, she also brought extra props and background boards.

2.  Professional Investment.  As your business grows, it is essential that you invest back into your business.  That is in taking classes and courses to improve yourself as well as investing in marketing and advertising.  No matter what business you are in, presentation makes a difference.  If you want to stand out and look professional and consider aesthetics, hiring a professional photographer is essential.    

3. Education.  Professional Photographers, do more than just snap photos, they are often educated in so many other areas.  They are educated not only in their photography field, but also educated in who to contact locally for anything you need.  They have worked with real estate people, restaurant owners, small shops and businesses of all types.  In working with Britney and discussing a photography shoot, I shared with her that I have been trying to find someone to update my website it just had not worked out.   Britney referred me to a few people who could help me, one being Mina at Underline Designs. I have been trying to do some on my own and even when I started I used pre-made templates not being html savvy and all.  Which what I had worked, but it was in need of a refresh.  Mina was helpful, had great response time and had a quick turn around on this project.

If you are a content creator I highly recommend you work with others.  Find experts in various fields, photography, public speaking, graphic design, we need each other!  Allow others who have excelled in their gifts and talents to help you learn, grow and achieve your goals. 

4. There is more involved than just having a nice camera.  While a good camera is a great start to improve your photography, there is so much more that goes into taking great photos.  Professional photographers know about all the settings, they know about angles, perspective, framing in a shot right.  They also know how to edit photos to make them even better.  

5.  Experience.  When you hire a professional photographer, they come with experience of working with a ton of people and situations taking photographs.  You may say "I do not like to have my photo taken." or "I don't know how to stand or pose." That is why you need to hire a professional.  I don't know many people who really like their photo being taken, that is why you need a professional, they will help you!  They also know the best locations, where to capture a great background, and so much more.  Because of their photography experience they will think of things that do not even cross your mind.  They also provide a great experience, because of their experience photographing people, they  make you feel comfortable and actually enjoy the time spent together. 


If you are local to the Sacramento area I highly recommend you connect with Britney, she has a heart of gold and is a content creator herself, she knows about blogging, photography, branding and so much more.  I met Britney through blogging/social media and I am so grateful that we have become friends.  She has been one of my biggest cheerleaders and encouragers.  Go give her a follow on Instagram @YourCreativeCounterPart. 

If you are a small business owner and have been thinking about hiring someone to take photos DO IT!!!!  I know in this day with iPhones which have great cameras it is easy and convenient to take your own photos and if you don't have it in your budget I get it. Save and plan for a photography shoot! Having a professional photographer is so worth it, you will thank yourself after.

Read more »
We recently made Pozole in the Instant Pot and WOW, it was so easy to make and it was delicious!  Pozole is a traditional Mexican soup that is often served on Christmas Eve.  You may have heard of Menudo, Pozole is similar, except Pozole is typically made with Pork or Chicken and the liquid of the soup is most often red in color.  Another difference between Pozole and Menudo is, Menudo has Tripe, which is not my favorite, not in taste or texture, so I prefer Pozole over Menudo.  

What you need: 
3 lbs Pork Shoulder Trimmed and Cubed
3 Dried Guajillo Chiles
1 Tbsp Garlic Salt
1 Tbsp Cumin
1 Tbsp Mexican Oregano
2 Tbsp. Red California Chili Powder
3 Cloves of Minced Garlic
1 Bay Leaf (I did not have any, so on this batch I left it out)
1 Yellow Onion Cut in Half
14.5 oz Can of Chicken Broth
You can also add in more chicken bouillon, I would add 2-3 Tbsp., on this batch I added a packet of Lono Life Chicken Broth Powder.  
1 29 oz Can of Teasdale White Hominy (strain and rinse)

Toppings for Pozole:
Shredded Cabbage
Sliced Radishes
Diced Onion and Cilantro
Lime Wedges
Directions:
You can brown the meat some on the sauté function for 5-10 minutes. 
Add in your spices.
Add in 14.5 oz Can of Chicken Broth and add water to the fill line.
Add in 1 Yellow Onion cut in half. I used a slotted spoon to scoop the onion chunks out when done.
Place lid on Instant Pot, make sure valve is set to sealing and cook on meat option for 38 minutes.
While the Instant Pot is going, remove the stem from the Dried Guajillo Chiles and as much of the seeds that you can, I cut the dry chilies in half, boil them in water to rehydrate.  Place the rehydrated chilies and about 1/4 cup of the boiling water to your blender and blend.  Strain and set aside to add into the Instant Pot. I did not strain mine, it blended really well in my mini Ninja Blender, and I could not find my strainer, so I went with it and it was fine.  
Once the 38 minute timer goes off, do a quick release of the pressure.  Once the pressure is released, remove the lid and add in a 29 oz can of White Hominy, strain and rinse first, we like to use the Teasdale brand.  Also add in the blended Guajillo Chile liquid, this is where the majority of the red color comes from. 
Cook on soup function for 20 minutes.
Have your toppings sliced and ready to serve. I like mine piled high with toppings and if I was not eating Keto, I would also have tortilla chips, preferably homemade corn tortilla chips along side with this, since Keto, I left out the chips. 
I grew up watching my parents eat Menudo more than Pozole.  I fell in love with Pozole because one of my best friends in High School's mom made it often.  I remember it taking hours on the stove top, I was pleasantly surprised that in about an hour it was done with the Instant Pot. 

After making it myself, I also realized how low-carb and keto-friendly this soup is.  If you skip the Hominy it is really low in carbohydrates and even with the Hominy, if you are not strict keto Pozole is a great soup option.  

I hope you will give this recipe a try, if you love Mexican food and flavors you will love Pozole! Thank you for reading if you've enjoyed the content you've read above please share with your friends. 

Easy Instant Pot Pozole
We recently made Pozole in the Instant Pot and WOW, it was so easy to make and it was delicious!  Pozole is a traditional Mexican soup that is often served on Christmas Eve.  You may have heard of Menudo, Pozole is similar, except Pozole is typically made with Pork or Chicken and the liquid of the soup is most often red in color.  Another difference between Pozole and Menudo is, Menudo has Tripe, which is not my favorite, not in taste or texture, so I prefer Pozole over Menudo.  

What you need: 
3 lbs Pork Shoulder Trimmed and Cubed
3 Dried Guajillo Chiles
1 Tbsp Garlic Salt
1 Tbsp Cumin
1 Tbsp Mexican Oregano
2 Tbsp. Red California Chili Powder
3 Cloves of Minced Garlic
1 Bay Leaf (I did not have any, so on this batch I left it out)
1 Yellow Onion Cut in Half
14.5 oz Can of Chicken Broth
You can also add in more chicken bouillon, I would add 2-3 Tbsp., on this batch I added a packet of Lono Life Chicken Broth Powder.  
1 29 oz Can of Teasdale White Hominy (strain and rinse)

Toppings for Pozole:
Shredded Cabbage
Sliced Radishes
Diced Onion and Cilantro
Lime Wedges
Directions:
You can brown the meat some on the sauté function for 5-10 minutes. 
Add in your spices.
Add in 14.5 oz Can of Chicken Broth and add water to the fill line.
Add in 1 Yellow Onion cut in half. I used a slotted spoon to scoop the onion chunks out when done.
Place lid on Instant Pot, make sure valve is set to sealing and cook on meat option for 38 minutes.
While the Instant Pot is going, remove the stem from the Dried Guajillo Chiles and as much of the seeds that you can, I cut the dry chilies in half, boil them in water to rehydrate.  Place the rehydrated chilies and about 1/4 cup of the boiling water to your blender and blend.  Strain and set aside to add into the Instant Pot. I did not strain mine, it blended really well in my mini Ninja Blender, and I could not find my strainer, so I went with it and it was fine.  
Once the 38 minute timer goes off, do a quick release of the pressure.  Once the pressure is released, remove the lid and add in a 29 oz can of White Hominy, strain and rinse first, we like to use the Teasdale brand.  Also add in the blended Guajillo Chile liquid, this is where the majority of the red color comes from. 
Cook on soup function for 20 minutes.
Have your toppings sliced and ready to serve. I like mine piled high with toppings and if I was not eating Keto, I would also have tortilla chips, preferably homemade corn tortilla chips along side with this, since Keto, I left out the chips. 
I grew up watching my parents eat Menudo more than Pozole.  I fell in love with Pozole because one of my best friends in High School's mom made it often.  I remember it taking hours on the stove top, I was pleasantly surprised that in about an hour it was done with the Instant Pot. 

After making it myself, I also realized how low-carb and keto-friendly this soup is.  If you skip the Hominy it is really low in carbohydrates and even with the Hominy, if you are not strict keto Pozole is a great soup option.  

I hope you will give this recipe a try, if you love Mexican food and flavors you will love Pozole! Thank you for reading if you've enjoyed the content you've read above please share with your friends. 
Read more »

Financial Freedom... sounds amazing right! To be free from financial debt, to be so free financially, you could do all the things you dream of.  I don't have it all together myself, but one thing I have come to learn for certain, is it all starts with your THINKING.  How you think about money, view prosperity, and how you value yourself are huge pieces to the puzzle, it is a process, to change the way you think.

We were all raised with situations and circumstances that shaped our mindset towards money.  Attending seminars and classes on finances have helped evolve and develop my thinking and mindset when it comes to money.  If you are looking for help with your finances, budgeting, paying off debt, getting rid of old thinking patterns then this seminar is for you!

Join me this March in attending this faith based Financial Freedom Seminar, you can attend from anywhere via live-stream. March 1st and 2nd two days that will equip you for your best year yet!

By attending this seminar you will see immediate results in your confidence which impacts your finances.  You'll learn how to be truly satisfied with who you are and your purpose.  For more information e-mail: connect@billkrause.com 
Register on-line at BillKrause.com 

I know that as a result of this seminar and implementing the things we have learned, my husband and I have had a steady financial increase in our life. This post is not sponsored in any way, this is a local seminar that I have attended annually, that has helped change the way we view financial freedom. Even if you have your finances in order, seminars like these help you stay focused on your financial goals and helps keep unity in your marriage so you are both on the same page.  

Financial Freedom Seminar | Sacramento, CA

Financial Freedom... sounds amazing right! To be free from financial debt, to be so free financially, you could do all the things you dream of.  I don't have it all together myself, but one thing I have come to learn for certain, is it all starts with your THINKING.  How you think about money, view prosperity, and how you value yourself are huge pieces to the puzzle, it is a process, to change the way you think.

We were all raised with situations and circumstances that shaped our mindset towards money.  Attending seminars and classes on finances have helped evolve and develop my thinking and mindset when it comes to money.  If you are looking for help with your finances, budgeting, paying off debt, getting rid of old thinking patterns then this seminar is for you!

Join me this March in attending this faith based Financial Freedom Seminar, you can attend from anywhere via live-stream. March 1st and 2nd two days that will equip you for your best year yet!

By attending this seminar you will see immediate results in your confidence which impacts your finances.  You'll learn how to be truly satisfied with who you are and your purpose.  For more information e-mail: connect@billkrause.com 
Register on-line at BillKrause.com 

I know that as a result of this seminar and implementing the things we have learned, my husband and I have had a steady financial increase in our life. This post is not sponsored in any way, this is a local seminar that I have attended annually, that has helped change the way we view financial freedom. Even if you have your finances in order, seminars like these help you stay focused on your financial goals and helps keep unity in your marriage so you are both on the same page.  

Read more »

Is getting out of debt on your goal list?  Maybe it has been on your goal list for years.  Do not be discouraged by that.  I get it that often times we do not actively work on our goals and so we do not achieve the results we are looking for.  I wanted to encourage you no matter the amount, no matter how many years getting out of debt has been on your goal list don't give up, you can do it!

Last year in 2020 we paid off over $25,000 in debt! Here are ten practical ways to attack your debt, these are the things that helped us.

1) Face the Numbers - It can be scary to face the numbers, I get it.  This is your first step, crunch the numbers and face the facts.  Write down ALL of your debt.  There are many free forms you can download, you can also total up the number and put it on a sticky note, don't overthink it.  That is what we did, we crunched the numbers, and wrote the total on a sticky note that we kept on our refrigerator. This way we saw the total we were focused on paying off. Don't avoid the fact that you are in debt, avoiding and ignoring the number is not going to make it go away. Call on old debts and list all of it in one place.  

2) Look Over Every Bill/Statement - This is important, often times there are extra fees, that don't even belong to you, but you just pay because you never look over your statements and just pay the monthly payment.  There have been many times when I have called and inquired about a fee and it has been taken off, just by me calling. Also ask for discounts, you'll be surprised at how much you can save just by asking.  Don't take no for an answer, ask to talk to a supervisor.  Practice asking and continuing to ask!  This is another way to find extra ways to cut your monthly expenses, you know those monthly subscriptions you "meant" to cancel after a free trial. When you see that monthly statement charge, you'll make the time to call and cancel.  When you receive your bills and statements rather than just clicking pay be sure to go over each line item.

3) Staying Home - With the stay at home order, we did so much less shopping, while our on-line Amazon orders did go up some, all other shopping was pretty much eliminated. We reduced our shopping trips immensely even when things started to open back up.  Before the stay at home order, I went to Target weekly, Walmart weekly, Ross, Hobby Lobby, just miscellaneous stops "just to look" which equals spending.  Staying Home is definitely a money saver!

4) Cooking More at Home - I did not realize how much we ate out.  With running kids to and from school, to soccer practice and everything else, we were in the habit of eating out, and even sometimes it wasn't necessarily meals and dinner, but stopping for smoothies, Slurpee's, ice cream, just miscellaneous stops that add up quickly. You will save money by cooking more at home, a key to this though is menu planning and using what you already have in your cupboards.  Even when trying a new recipe, improvise, you may need to swap out an ingredient for what you have on hand, to ensure eliminating extra spending. 

5) Accountability - We attended on-line Zoom "Debt Free Meetings", our church had these daily for a season.  We encouraged each other on ways to eliminate debt, calling our debtors, settling medical debts, ways to negotiate, and walking through how to call for reductions.  We prayed together and encouraged one another, we did debt free financial confessions which you can find on our church website.  Your words have power, say these confessions.

6) Celebrating Christmas Wisely - We had a family meeting with our kids and explained that since we have been working on paying off debt we were going to keep Christmas low key and cut out extra spending.  We still bought them gifts, each child a book, a new pajama set, I had some previous items I had found on clearance, that I saved for Christmas from last year, we also had some gift cards, that we used for gift purchases.  We also filled their stockings with candy, and snacks from the Dollar Store. This way they still had presents to unwrap, and we still stayed committed to not going into debt for Christmas. 

Christmas is eleven months away, and although in January that may seem far, if you plan now you can have an AMAZING Christmas while still being frugal and working towards debt freedom. Save gift cards you win or randomly receive for Christmas, shop the clearance deals, but don't just buy everything, buy quality, buy what you will actually use as a gift.  Also think and plan ahead for homemade gifts, Christmas gifts should be about the thoughtfulness of the gift and not the amount.  Don't be embarrassed to share with your friends and family that you are not participating in the annual gift exchange, that you are working on paying off debt, own it.  You are not in the place to make purchases and that is okay, but really own it don't make this an annual occurrence, part of obtaining debt freedom is so that you can be a blessing to others.  

7) Lowering Monthly Expenses - With my husband working from home, his company paid for our monthly internet bill, helping to lower our monthly expenses.  If you are working from home, ask your company if they will pay for your internet, it is a business expense and most companies are willing to cover that cost for you. Look over what you "think you need" compared to what you want. Cancel Netflix, cancel monthly expenses that are truly not needs. Be creative and open to ways you can lower your monthly expenses. 

8) Call and Shop Around - Remember the art of negotiation, we routinely do this for Insurance, we went with a new auto insurance which lowered our monthly bill.  This is something you should do annually, shop around services that you use and see if you can get it lower.  Cable, Phone, Internet, Insurance, etc. 

9) No Spend Challenge - I know I mentioned staying at home and how it helps curb spending, have you tried a "NO SPEND MONTH"? How about start with a no spend week.  Where you use what you already have in your pantry, and eliminate all spending, just try it, you will be amazed of how much money you can put towards debt retirement.

10)  Faith/Prayer - I am a believer in faith and prayer.  Now I don't believe in just wishful thinking, there is a difference between intentional prayer and wishful thinking.  I really believe when we pray with purpose and we align our actions with our prayer request, things start to line up to help us receive our answered prayer.  We received a miracle blessing in September of an unexpected check of $14,000 which we put towards debt, with this we were able to pay off all of our credit cards.  I am so grateful to God, it was a huge weight lifted off of us, we could finally see the light at the end of the tunnel, to be honest at the beginning of 2020 with over $60,000 of debt staring you in the face, debt freedom seemed pretty impossible.  With God NOTHING is impossible, do your part and lean into God to help with the rest.  

We only have our vehicles left and we are actively working on putting extra towards complete debt freedom.  

Having the accountability was the biggest key, phone a friend that is also working on getting out of debt, ask them to be your accountability partner.  You can encourage each other, discuss who you are going to call this week to negotiate lower rates. This is so key in all areas, having a buddy to spur each other on, and help remind you to get back on track when you slip.  Let's make 2021 our best year yet, paying off debt and living our best life!

Thank you for reading if you've enjoyed the content you've read above please share with your friends.  I would love to hear from you, I would be happy to e-mail you debt tracking forms that I used and follow your debt freedom journey.  You can e-mail me at theblogaboutitall@gmail.com.

Ten Ways to Attack Your Debt

Is getting out of debt on your goal list?  Maybe it has been on your goal list for years.  Do not be discouraged by that.  I get it that often times we do not actively work on our goals and so we do not achieve the results we are looking for.  I wanted to encourage you no matter the amount, no matter how many years getting out of debt has been on your goal list don't give up, you can do it!

Last year in 2020 we paid off over $25,000 in debt! Here are ten practical ways to attack your debt, these are the things that helped us.

1) Face the Numbers - It can be scary to face the numbers, I get it.  This is your first step, crunch the numbers and face the facts.  Write down ALL of your debt.  There are many free forms you can download, you can also total up the number and put it on a sticky note, don't overthink it.  That is what we did, we crunched the numbers, and wrote the total on a sticky note that we kept on our refrigerator. This way we saw the total we were focused on paying off. Don't avoid the fact that you are in debt, avoiding and ignoring the number is not going to make it go away. Call on old debts and list all of it in one place.  

2) Look Over Every Bill/Statement - This is important, often times there are extra fees, that don't even belong to you, but you just pay because you never look over your statements and just pay the monthly payment.  There have been many times when I have called and inquired about a fee and it has been taken off, just by me calling. Also ask for discounts, you'll be surprised at how much you can save just by asking.  Don't take no for an answer, ask to talk to a supervisor.  Practice asking and continuing to ask!  This is another way to find extra ways to cut your monthly expenses, you know those monthly subscriptions you "meant" to cancel after a free trial. When you see that monthly statement charge, you'll make the time to call and cancel.  When you receive your bills and statements rather than just clicking pay be sure to go over each line item.

3) Staying Home - With the stay at home order, we did so much less shopping, while our on-line Amazon orders did go up some, all other shopping was pretty much eliminated. We reduced our shopping trips immensely even when things started to open back up.  Before the stay at home order, I went to Target weekly, Walmart weekly, Ross, Hobby Lobby, just miscellaneous stops "just to look" which equals spending.  Staying Home is definitely a money saver!

4) Cooking More at Home - I did not realize how much we ate out.  With running kids to and from school, to soccer practice and everything else, we were in the habit of eating out, and even sometimes it wasn't necessarily meals and dinner, but stopping for smoothies, Slurpee's, ice cream, just miscellaneous stops that add up quickly. You will save money by cooking more at home, a key to this though is menu planning and using what you already have in your cupboards.  Even when trying a new recipe, improvise, you may need to swap out an ingredient for what you have on hand, to ensure eliminating extra spending. 

5) Accountability - We attended on-line Zoom "Debt Free Meetings", our church had these daily for a season.  We encouraged each other on ways to eliminate debt, calling our debtors, settling medical debts, ways to negotiate, and walking through how to call for reductions.  We prayed together and encouraged one another, we did debt free financial confessions which you can find on our church website.  Your words have power, say these confessions.

6) Celebrating Christmas Wisely - We had a family meeting with our kids and explained that since we have been working on paying off debt we were going to keep Christmas low key and cut out extra spending.  We still bought them gifts, each child a book, a new pajama set, I had some previous items I had found on clearance, that I saved for Christmas from last year, we also had some gift cards, that we used for gift purchases.  We also filled their stockings with candy, and snacks from the Dollar Store. This way they still had presents to unwrap, and we still stayed committed to not going into debt for Christmas. 

Christmas is eleven months away, and although in January that may seem far, if you plan now you can have an AMAZING Christmas while still being frugal and working towards debt freedom. Save gift cards you win or randomly receive for Christmas, shop the clearance deals, but don't just buy everything, buy quality, buy what you will actually use as a gift.  Also think and plan ahead for homemade gifts, Christmas gifts should be about the thoughtfulness of the gift and not the amount.  Don't be embarrassed to share with your friends and family that you are not participating in the annual gift exchange, that you are working on paying off debt, own it.  You are not in the place to make purchases and that is okay, but really own it don't make this an annual occurrence, part of obtaining debt freedom is so that you can be a blessing to others.  

7) Lowering Monthly Expenses - With my husband working from home, his company paid for our monthly internet bill, helping to lower our monthly expenses.  If you are working from home, ask your company if they will pay for your internet, it is a business expense and most companies are willing to cover that cost for you. Look over what you "think you need" compared to what you want. Cancel Netflix, cancel monthly expenses that are truly not needs. Be creative and open to ways you can lower your monthly expenses. 

8) Call and Shop Around - Remember the art of negotiation, we routinely do this for Insurance, we went with a new auto insurance which lowered our monthly bill.  This is something you should do annually, shop around services that you use and see if you can get it lower.  Cable, Phone, Internet, Insurance, etc. 

9) No Spend Challenge - I know I mentioned staying at home and how it helps curb spending, have you tried a "NO SPEND MONTH"? How about start with a no spend week.  Where you use what you already have in your pantry, and eliminate all spending, just try it, you will be amazed of how much money you can put towards debt retirement.

10)  Faith/Prayer - I am a believer in faith and prayer.  Now I don't believe in just wishful thinking, there is a difference between intentional prayer and wishful thinking.  I really believe when we pray with purpose and we align our actions with our prayer request, things start to line up to help us receive our answered prayer.  We received a miracle blessing in September of an unexpected check of $14,000 which we put towards debt, with this we were able to pay off all of our credit cards.  I am so grateful to God, it was a huge weight lifted off of us, we could finally see the light at the end of the tunnel, to be honest at the beginning of 2020 with over $60,000 of debt staring you in the face, debt freedom seemed pretty impossible.  With God NOTHING is impossible, do your part and lean into God to help with the rest.  

We only have our vehicles left and we are actively working on putting extra towards complete debt freedom.  

Having the accountability was the biggest key, phone a friend that is also working on getting out of debt, ask them to be your accountability partner.  You can encourage each other, discuss who you are going to call this week to negotiate lower rates. This is so key in all areas, having a buddy to spur each other on, and help remind you to get back on track when you slip.  Let's make 2021 our best year yet, paying off debt and living our best life!

Thank you for reading if you've enjoyed the content you've read above please share with your friends.  I would love to hear from you, I would be happy to e-mail you debt tracking forms that I used and follow your debt freedom journey.  You can e-mail me at theblogaboutitall@gmail.com.

Read more »

Are you trying to cut back on carbs and eat healthier? Check out these HighKey Keto-friendly Blondie Brownies, they only have 1 Net Carb! The Chocolate Chip Fudge Brownies only have 2 Net Carbs!

We have been eating a Keto-lifestyle for awhile now, and it is so nice to still be able to enjoy a sweet treat and stay on track with our goals. I love sharing keto-friendly, low-carb products and options with you all.  


I've teamed up with HighKey so you can try these delicious Keto-Friendly brownies for yourself head over to my Instagram @BlogAboutItAll and enter to win, but hurry this giveaway ends this Friday 1/15/2021 9 AM PST.

Why Choose HighKey?

Low in carbs, low in sugar and yet still delicious!

They are Keto-friendly and gluten free.

Delivered right to your door!

100% Money Back Guarantee - they have a 120-day guarantee, 100% money back policy!

Check out the variety of products like cookies, protein-cereal, biscuits and more at HighKey.com.

Thank you for reading if you've enjoyed the content you've read above please share with your friends.  Maybe you are not on Keto, share with a Keto friend you know!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post in collaboration with HighKey. Although I receive these benefits all opinions are my own. 

Keto Brownies by HighKey Only 1-Net Carb

Are you trying to cut back on carbs and eat healthier? Check out these HighKey Keto-friendly Blondie Brownies, they only have 1 Net Carb! The Chocolate Chip Fudge Brownies only have 2 Net Carbs!

We have been eating a Keto-lifestyle for awhile now, and it is so nice to still be able to enjoy a sweet treat and stay on track with our goals. I love sharing keto-friendly, low-carb products and options with you all.  


I've teamed up with HighKey so you can try these delicious Keto-Friendly brownies for yourself head over to my Instagram @BlogAboutItAll and enter to win, but hurry this giveaway ends this Friday 1/15/2021 9 AM PST.

Why Choose HighKey?

Low in carbs, low in sugar and yet still delicious!

They are Keto-friendly and gluten free.

Delivered right to your door!

100% Money Back Guarantee - they have a 120-day guarantee, 100% money back policy!

Check out the variety of products like cookies, protein-cereal, biscuits and more at HighKey.com.

Thank you for reading if you've enjoyed the content you've read above please share with your friends.  Maybe you are not on Keto, share with a Keto friend you know!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post in collaboration with HighKey. Although I receive these benefits all opinions are my own. 

Read more »

Sacramento peeps, you need to go check out Giggle and Riot Funhouse, you'll experience the most fun and photogenic spot in Sacramento!  This is a unique experience that is only here in Sacramento through mid-February. So hurry and book your reservation today!  They are located at 1501 N C Street, in the Sacramento River District.  

I visited with my four boys on a weekday and we had the best time making TikToks and snapping pics.  This would make a unique and super fun interactive Date Night!  I hear they have some new Valentines backgrounds in the works!  You can check out more of our fun visit on Instagram @BlogAboutItAll.


The Giggle and Riot Funhouse is an interactive pop up selfie experience in an 11,000 square foot warehouse, that invites you to journey through different backdrops (14+ backdrops) that have been designed to step up your selfie game. Perfect for Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok or just your family photos.


All tickets must be purchased online, in advance on their website http://bit.ly/38Ybttz.  Each group is allowed a total of 60 minutes in the Funhouse and approximately 5 minutes at each backdrop.


Giggle and Riot is taking safety precautions, their team will double check your ticket and your temperature at the door. If your temperature is 100.4° or higher, they will reschedule your visit for another time, free of charge.  You must wear a face mask until you are at the photo backdrops.  Following COVID-19 policies, each group is limited to a maximum of 6 people and 1 household. Groups are scheduled every 20 minutes.

Go give them a follow on social media TikTok, Instagram and Facebook, I personally loved seeing behind the scenes on their TikTok of how they created some of these backdrops.  One of my favorites is the New Year Shimmer Wall, which they collaborated with locally owned Lush Balloons on this project and it came out beautiful.  

Giggle and Riot Funhouse is also giving back to our community in a number of ways part of the proceeds will benefit local charities Weave, a nonprofit organization supporting survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and sex trafficking, and Joshua's House, a nonprofit focusing on hospice care for the homeless. Part of the proceeds of the dog nights will benefit Front Street Shelter, they are also accepting donations of pet food and blankets for Front Street Shelter.

Thank you for reading if you've enjoyed the content you've read above please share with your friends.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post our family received complimentary tickets in exchange for event promotion. Although I receive these benefits all opinions are my own. 


Giggle and Riot Funhouse | Sacramento, CA

Sacramento peeps, you need to go check out Giggle and Riot Funhouse, you'll experience the most fun and photogenic spot in Sacramento!  This is a unique experience that is only here in Sacramento through mid-February. So hurry and book your reservation today!  They are located at 1501 N C Street, in the Sacramento River District.  

I visited with my four boys on a weekday and we had the best time making TikToks and snapping pics.  This would make a unique and super fun interactive Date Night!  I hear they have some new Valentines backgrounds in the works!  You can check out more of our fun visit on Instagram @BlogAboutItAll.


The Giggle and Riot Funhouse is an interactive pop up selfie experience in an 11,000 square foot warehouse, that invites you to journey through different backdrops (14+ backdrops) that have been designed to step up your selfie game. Perfect for Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok or just your family photos.


All tickets must be purchased online, in advance on their website http://bit.ly/38Ybttz.  Each group is allowed a total of 60 minutes in the Funhouse and approximately 5 minutes at each backdrop.


Giggle and Riot is taking safety precautions, their team will double check your ticket and your temperature at the door. If your temperature is 100.4° or higher, they will reschedule your visit for another time, free of charge.  You must wear a face mask until you are at the photo backdrops.  Following COVID-19 policies, each group is limited to a maximum of 6 people and 1 household. Groups are scheduled every 20 minutes.

Go give them a follow on social media TikTok, Instagram and Facebook, I personally loved seeing behind the scenes on their TikTok of how they created some of these backdrops.  One of my favorites is the New Year Shimmer Wall, which they collaborated with locally owned Lush Balloons on this project and it came out beautiful.  

Giggle and Riot Funhouse is also giving back to our community in a number of ways part of the proceeds will benefit local charities Weave, a nonprofit organization supporting survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and sex trafficking, and Joshua's House, a nonprofit focusing on hospice care for the homeless. Part of the proceeds of the dog nights will benefit Front Street Shelter, they are also accepting donations of pet food and blankets for Front Street Shelter.

Thank you for reading if you've enjoyed the content you've read above please share with your friends.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post our family received complimentary tickets in exchange for event promotion. Although I receive these benefits all opinions are my own. 


Read more »

Latest Videos

@instagram
© Blog About It All, Made By Underline Designs Back to Top