How to Be a Better Friend Today



Here's what's new: How to Be a Better Friend Today If you recall, my friend Mackenzie and I scoped on friendship awhile back. I’ve had several follow-up questions from that scope with people wanting me to expound more on friendship. Today, I want to share 4 ways to be a better friend today… 1. Take Initiative. Don’t wait for the other person to show up and do something for you. So much of the time, women feel lonely and left out, like nobody is inviting them to be a part of anything. You have a choice in that moment to be self-defeating and live under the lies that you’re unlikeable and that nobody will ever want to be friends with you. This will prevent you from ever opening yourself up, letting people in, or taking initiative. Good friendships require taking initiative, but don’t wait for the other person. Send that text, write that email, or invite that person into your home and life. When I meet someone whom I feel some synergy with and see the possibility of a friendship with, I try to take initiative to invite that person into my home or even just out for coffee. There’s no long-term obligation with that. Sometimes it won’t be a great fit, but sometimes it will turn into something meaningful and beautiful! Don’t wait for others to come to you. Go to them and take the first step. Look for ways to bless them first! 2. Ask Good Questions. People are desperate for community. They want people to really care about them at a deep level. When you take the time to look into someone’s eyes and listen, that means the world to them. Show people you care by giving them your full attention and fully engaging in conversation. When you ask good questions in response, it shows that you care and that you’re interested in them. Sometimes you may really love someone but feel that you don’t share much in common. That’s a perfect opportunity to ask questions and learn about someone who is different from you! There is SO much to learn from people who live different lives and have different viewpoints. I like to ask questions like: “How can I be a better friend to you?” “How does that make you feel?” “What is the hardest thing you’re going through right now?” “What do you most need right now?” “How can I encourage you?” Just recently, I was with a group of women that I’m getting to know. We went around the group and answered these types of questions openly. This helped transform the small group into true, authentic community. It prevented us from hiding and just showing up superficially without forming relationships. Good questions often facilitate friendship. 3. Find the Good and Praise It. How are you celebrating others right now? People love to know that what they do matters. Find the good. Celebrate it, praise it, and affirm it. I think everyone at their core has a desire to be noticed, affirmed, celebrated, and to know that they matter. It doesn’t take a whole lot of time or money to notice something about someone and then verbally affirm that. Think about how you can celebrate other people in simple ways. Maybe it’s just sending a quick text to celebrate someone. Words of affirmation can mean the world to someone! 4. Learn Their Love Language. Learning the love language of those in your life is SO important. You can feel like you’re pouring your love out to someone, but if it’s not in the way that makes that person feel most loved, there may be miscommunication. Once you know what someone else's love language is, it really helps you to be able to demonstrate love in a manner that means the most to them. For instance, my dominant love language is Words of Affirmation. It means the world to me when Jesse tells me how much he appreciates me and how proud he is of me. This speaks love to me much more than buying something for me does. My husband’s love language is quality time. When he feels like I’m busied, hurried, and not fully engaged, he feels unloved. I’ve had to learn over time how important it is to love him well in the ways he feels most loved. I’m not great at giving gifts, but I try to put forth that effort when someone’s love language is gifts. If you don’t know someone’s love language, simply ask someone what makes them feel most loved! Related Posts: How to Build & Cultivate Great Friendships How to Find Good Friends 3 Ways to Be a Better Friend How to Find Time to Be a Great Friend I’d love to hear from you: How do you intentionally seek to develop and foster deeper friendship? How have other been a good friend to you? P.S. If you’re struggling with friendships, I’d highly recommend reading the book, Safe People.        Amazon.com: Up to 40% off popular strategy board games! Amazon is offering up to 40% off a huge selection of popular strategy board games today! This sale includes some really great games at a rare discount: Dixit — $17.49 (Reg. $34.99) 7 Wonders — $26.99 (Reg. $49.99) Labyrinth — $15.49 (Reg. $31.99) The Castles of Burgundy — $19.99 (Reg. $41.99) These are just a few of the many, many games you can get on sale today! Shop the Strategy Board Games Sale here. Valid today only, April 25, while supplies last. (Note: The links in this post are affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy here.)        Amazon.com: KidKraft 2-in-1 Activity Table for just $65.51 shipped! Amazon has this KidKraft 2-in-1 Activity Table on sale for just $65.51 shipped right now! This is the lowest price we’ve seen since 2013! This is a double-sided table that can be used for LEGO play on one side and toy train play on the other. It comes with a 30-piece train set and 200 LEGO blocks. Sign up for a free trial of Amazon Prime to get free 2-day shipping. Psst! Don't forget you can sign up for Swagbucks to earn free gift cards to use on deals on Amazon. Thanks, SwagGrabber! (Note: The links in this post are affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy here.)        Cents of Style: Knit Midi Skirt for just $14.95 shipped! Cents of Style has their Knit Midi Skirt for just $14.95 shipped when you use coupon code KNIT4U at checkout! There are 10 different skirt colors to choose from in sizes S through XL. Valid today only, April 25, 2016. (Note: The links in this post are affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy here.)        Get a subscription to EatingWell magazine for $4.95 This is such a small investment (about the same price as a Starbucks coffee!) and a wonderful way to bring some healthy eating inspiration into your home. Right now you can get a one year subscription EatingWell magazine for just $4.95. You can order up to FOUR years at this price! Just use coupon code MONEYSAVING at checkout. You can order this for yourself, as a gift, or even to renew an existing subscription! About EatingWell Magazine A delicious balance of cooking and must-have nutrition features, EatingWell is the award-winning magazine where good taste meets good health on every page. Each issue is filled with dozens of delicious and nutritious recipes, smart shopping tips, healthy-in-a-hurry menus and much more! Beautiful color images illustrate never-fail, full-flavored recipes for healthful everyday eating and entertaining. This offer will expire Sunday night, May 1st at 11:59PM EST. (Note: The links in this post are affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy here.)        The Children’s Place: 50% off + free shipping = items for as low as $5 shipped! (Note: The links in this post are affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy here.) The Children’s Place is once again offering 50% off their entire site + free shipping on everything on their site! This offer is valid through April 27, 2016. They have a number of great deals you can pair with the free shipping offer — including their new Matchables line which has every single item on sale for just $4.97 each right now! If your kids are in need of some new summer clothes, be sure to check out the Matchables line. Almost everything is mix and match and everything is just $4.97 — which means you can stock their entire summer wardrobe very inexpensively!        Educational Deals & Freebies Round-Up Here are some of the best educational deals and freebies available right now from Katie who writes at Cincinnati Cents: ThinkFun Rush Hour Game for $15.99: Amazon has their ThinkFun Rush Hour Game on sale for $15.99. This game encourages kids to think strategically as they move cars around to get the red car out of the traffic gridlock. The game features four levels of play, from beginner to expert, and it includes 40 challenge cards, 16 cars and trucks, a red escape car, a traffic grid game board, and a convenient storage bag. Plus, each card has a solution printed on the back in case you're completely stumped on how to free the red car. Human Body Systems Flip Book for $1.50: Educents has their Human Body Systems Flip Book on sale for just $1.50. This book is the perfect complement to a unit study of the human body. Students record important information about major body systems, as well as label diagrams on each page. The set includes the skeletal system, nervous system, circulatory system, respiratory system, and digestive system. K’NEX Amazin’ 8 Coaster Building Set for $19.49: K'NEX Building Sets are hands down one of our kids' favorite things to do! And over the years, I've found that Amazon consistently has the best prices on these sets. Here are a few of our favorites – K’NEX Amazin’ 8 Coaster Building Set for $19.49, K’NEX 52-Model Set for $20.99, K’NEX 70-Model Building Set for $25.23, and K’NEX Supersonic Swirl Building Set for $18.79. You can find more awesome K’NEX Sets here. Free Math & Literacy Summer Break Review Set: School is a Happy Place has a free Math & Literacy Summer Break Review Pack available for download. This 8-week packet covers review topics for math and language arts to help kids stay on top of their skills during the summer months. Just for Kids Garden Tools Set for $8.64: Here's a fun way for kids to help out in the garden this year! Amazon has their Just for Kids Garden Tool Set on sale for $8.64. This set includes a 6″ hand rake, an 8″ shovel, and an 8.5″ trowel as well as a canvas tote for easy clean up and storage. Cookie Sheet Learning Set for $18.99: Jane.com has their Cookie Sheet Learning Set on sale for $18.99. Perfect for on-the-go learning or summertime review, this set includes the following components – Cookie Sheet, (26) Magnetic letters, (10) Magnetic numbers, (3) Making Words laminated activity mats, (1) ABC Order with letters laminated activity mat, (1) ABC Order laminated activity mat, (9) Close Number laminated strips, and (1) Color Sort laminated activity mat. Story Time Jigsaw Puzzle for $10.89: Here's a fun twist on your child's favorite book! White Mountain Puzzles has their Story Time Jigsaw Puzzle on sale for $10.89. This puzzle features a collage of classic bedtime stories such s Curious George, Goodnight Moon, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, The Giving Tree, and more. Free Preston Plum Measuring Tape: These always come in handy for math projects! Request a free Preston Plum measuring tape when you fill out a brief form. This offer is available while supplies last. Disney Learn To Draw Set for $29.99: Amazon has their Disney Learn to Draw 10-Book Set on sale for $29.99. These books help to nurture children's creativity by helping them draw their favorite characters. From classics such as Mickey Mouse and Cinderella to modern day favorites like Tiana and Elsa, these books teach kids to draw the characters in just 6 steps each. The books are each 32 pages long, and they're recommended for children ages 6 to 12. The bundle includes the following titles – Brave, Enchanted Princesses, Favorite Fairies, Frozen, Mickey Mouse and His Friends, Minnie and Daisy, Palace Pets, Tangled, The Little Mermaid, and The Princess and the Frog. 20% Off Sitewide at Family Christian Store: Family Christian Store is featuring 20% off sitewide, including sale and clearance items. This is a great way to save on children’s books, toys, and movies. Plus, if you have your items shipped to your local Family Christian Store location, you’ll receive free shipping as well. This offer is valid online only through April 25th. Save Up to 90% on Textbooks: Amazon can help college students and parents alike save money by buying cheap new and used textbooks and by renting textbooks for college. You can even trade your used textbooks for an Amazon Gift Card, regardless of whether you bought the books from Amazon or not. At the Amazon Textbook Store, you can shop online and buy all your textbooks without ever leaving the comfort of your couch. They offer a wide variety of new, used, rental, and eTextbooks in subjects from biology, chemistry, and nursing to accounting, arts, and engineering. Once you're finished with your textbooks, you can trade them in at Amazon.com to receive up to 80% of their value in an Amazon Gift Card! You can also enjoy FREE Two-Day Shipping on millions of items (including your cheap college textbooks) when you join Amazon Student. Free Acrostic Poem Lesson Plan: Evan-Moor has a free Acrostic Poem Lesson Plan available for download. This lesson plan guides students through the process of planning, editing, and writing an acrostic poem. LEGO Creator Blue Racer Set for $4.99: Amazon has their LEGO Creator Blue Racer Set on sale for $4.99. This racer features a hinged rear spoiler panel, a detailed engine, 4 orange traffic cones, and alloy-look rims. Plus, it can be rebuilt into a smart snowplow or a cool buggy. There are several other LEGO Sets on sale as well including the LEGO Creator Sea Plane – $4.99, LEGO Creator Construction Vehicle – $4.99, and LEGO Creator Desert Racer – $4.99. Save Up to 60% on School Clothes for Kids: This week at Schoola, the more you spend, the more you'll save – Spend $30, save 30% with promo code SAVE30, Spend $50, save 50% with promo code SAVE50, Spend $60, save 60% with promo code SAVE60. If you're a new Schoola member, you'll receive a FREE $10 credit just for signing up for a Schoola account! Before you start shopping, be sure to check out my Top 5 Tips for Shopping at Schoola. Plus, shipping is free on orders of $25 or more. Times Tales Animated DVD for $19.99: Educents has their Times Tales Animated DVD on sale for $19.99. Times Tales makes learning the upper times tables easy and fun for kids. The videos use cute, simple stories that provide students with a "memory peg" that allows them to quickly recall otherwise abstract multiplication facts. As kids progress through the video, they'll learn their multiplication facts without even realizing that they've done so! This is a great companion or introduction to teaching multiplication. The set includes the updated Times Tales Upper Times Tables DVD as well as a bonus Division CD. Free Subscription to Parents Magazine: Request a free subscription to Parents Magazine. This publication focuses on food, fashion, age specific child development, pregnancy, child care, education, and more. Infantino Spiral Activity Toy for $8.34: Amazon has their Infantino Spiral Activity Toy on sale for $8.34. This interactive toy wraps around car seat handles, strollers, and cribs, and it includes a peek 'n see mirror, 2 clacker rings, a bird rattle, a crinkle bug, textured fabrics, and satin ribbons. 33% Off Violin Starter Set: Educents is featuring 33% off their Violin Starter Set! Perfect for beginners, this Violin Starter Set contains everything your child needs to play the violin. Available in 3 different sizes, this set ensures that children as young as 5 years old can learn to play the violin. An animated character named Val the Violin guides students through lessons by the New York City Ballet violinist Sabina Skalar. The eMedia My Violin walks students through the core elements of violin playing in over 160 lessons. With this set, you’ll receive a quality violin with bow, a carrying case, rosin, a cloth, and the eMedia My Violin CD-ROM (compatible with Windows or Mac). LEGO Friends Heartlake Supermarket Set for $23.99: Amazon has their LEGO Friends Heartlake Supermarket Set on sale for $23.99. This set typically retails for $29.99, and it features a 1-story supermarket building with opening doors for easy play inside, a fruit display, breakfast aisle, fish display, meat and cheese counter, bakery counter, beauty stand, a checkout with candy display and outside is a stand selling newspapers and flowers, a fruit crate and a trolley park. Katie is a wife and homeschooling mother of four who writes at Cincinnati Cents about saving money and having fun as a family without breaking the bank. She enjoys sharing new recipes, ideas for frugal family fun, and tips for spending less at the grocery store.        Free Garnier Whole Blends Sample Sign up for a free sample of Garnier Whole Blends. Just go here and scroll down the page until you see the “get a free sample” button.        Autie Anne’s: Free pretzel on April 26, 2016 Auntie Anne's is offering a free Original or Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel to all Pretzel Perks members tomorrow, April 26, 2016. In order to qualify, you just need to have the My Pretzel Perks app downloaded and registered by the end of today, April 25, 2016. You'll need to use your mobile device to redeem the offer for the free pretzel.        Free Star Wars Themed Preschool Handwriting Printable Pack Download a free Star Wars themed preschool handwriting printable pack.        How to Create a Themed Literature Unit for Middle School Download a checklist to guide you in how to create a themed literature unit for middle school.        Free Printable Flower Scavenger Hunt Mini Book Download a free printable Flower Scavenger Hunt mini book.        Free Cinco de Mayo Emergent Readers Printable Download a free Cinco de Mayo Emergent Readers printable.        Target: Deals for the week of April 24-30, 2016 Here are some of the best deals at Target this week, with thanks to Passionate Penny Pincher for her help in compiling them: Spectrum Olive Oil Spray – $2.82 Use $3/1 printable Use 15% cartwheel Free plus $0.61 moneymaker after coupons Airbourn Tablets Travel Size – $0.99 Use $1/1 coupon from the 4/3 SmartSource insert Free after coupon Buy 4 Colgate Toothpaste Twin Pack at $4.79, Get $5 Gift Card Use $2/1 printable or $2/1 coupon from the 4/17 SmartSource insert Use 30% Target Cartwheel Pay $5.41 out of pocket, Get $5 Gift Card $0.10 each after coupons Ortega Seasoning – $0.71 Use $1/2 printable $0.21 after coupon Old El Paso Seasoning – $0.73 Use $1/3 printable or $1/3 coupon from the 4/17 RedPlum insert Use 25% cartwheel $0.22 after coupon Buy 4 Oral B Toothbrush (4 pk) at $4.99, Get $5 Gift Card Use $2/1 printable Use 30% Target Cartwheel Pay $5.97 out of pocket, Get $5 Gift Card $0.24 each after coupons Body Armor Drink – $1.25 Use $1/1 printable $0.25 after coupon Buy 3 Bathery Body Sponge/ Loofah at $1.99, Get $5 Target Gift Card $0.33 each after gift card Wet N Wild Nail Polish – $0.94 Use $0.50/1 coupon from the 4/17 SmartSource insert $0.44 after coupon See the full list of deals at Target this week here. Did you find a great deal at Target? Just post about it on your blog and leave your link below. To make it easy for everyone to navigate quickly through the links, your link must link directly to your Target deals post. Links going to the homepage of your blog or any other part of your blog besides the direct link to your Target deals post will be deleted.        CVS: Deals for the week of April 24-30, 2016 Here are the best deals at CVS this week, with a big thanks to Passionate Penny Pincher for her help in compiling them: Buy 2 PACT Ocean Spray Juice at $1.50, Get $3 ECBs (Limit 1) Free after ECBs Buy 1 Colgate Toothpaste at $3.49, Get $2 ECBs (Limit 2) Use $1/1 coupon from the 4/17 SmartSource insert $0.49 after coupon and ECBs Buy 1 Scope Mouthwash at $4.49, Get $3 ECBs (Limit 2) Use $0.75/1 printable $0.74 after coupon and ECBs Buy 1 Colgate Toothpaste Twin Pack at $5.99, Get $3 ECBs (Limit 2) Use $2/1 printable or $2/1 coupon from the 4/17 SmartSource insert $0.99 after coupon and ECBs Buy 2 Suave Shampoo at $3, Get $2 ECBs (Limit 1) Use $2/2 printable $1 each after coupon and ECBs Buy 1 Huggies Diapers at $8.99, Get $1 ECBs (Limit 1) Use $2/1 printable or $2/1 coupon from the 4/17 SmartSource insert $5.99 after coupon and ECBs Spend $20, Get $5 ECBs (Limit 1) *Deal Idea* Buy 2 Scott Paper Towels (6 pk) – $5.49 Buy 1 Scott Toilet Papers (12 – 18 pk) – $6.99 Buy 2 Kleenex Tissues – $1 Use $.55/1 printable Use $1/1 coupon CVS app Submit for $1/1 Checkout 51 Rebate Pay $17.42 out of pocket, Get $5 ECBs and $1 Rebate $3.81 each after coupon, rebate and ECBs  Other Deals In Ad Gold Emblem Popcorn – $1 Use $1/1 printable Free after coupon Palmolive Dish Soap – $0.99 Use $0.25/1 printable or $0.25/1 coupon from the 4/10 SmartSource insert Use $0.25/1 CVS app coupon $0.49 after coupons New to shopping at CVS? Be sure to check out my CVS 101 post that gives you the full scoop on how to get the best bargains at CVS. See the full list of deals at CVS this week here. Do you have your shopping trip planned or did you come up with a great deal scenario/idea? Just post about it on your blog and leave your link below. To make it easy for everyone to navigate quickly through the links, your link must link directly to your CVS deals post. Links going to the homepage of your blog or any other part of your blog besides the direct link to your CVS deals post will be deleted.        Walgreens: Deals for the week of April 24-30, 2016 Here are the best deals at Walgreens this week, with thanks to Passionate Penny Pincher for her help with compiling these: Buy 3 Colgate Mouthwash (16 oz) at $3.99, Get $5 Balance Reward Points Use $2/1 coupon from the 4/17 SmartSource insert $0.32 each after coupons and Balance Reward Points Register Rewards Buy 1 Glade Automatic Spray Starter Kit at $4.99, Get $1 Register Rewards Use $2/1 printable Submit for $3 Ibotta rebate Free after coupon, rebate and Register Reward Buy 1 Mars Snickers Crispers (10 oz) at $3, Get $3 Register Rewards Free after Register Rewards Buy 2 Crest Muilti Pack Toothpaste at $5.99, Get $5 Register Rewards Use $0.75/1 printable or $2/1 coupon from the 4/3 P&G insert $1.49 each after coupon and Register Rewards Spend $25, Get $5 Register Rewards *Deal Idea* Buy 4 Centrum Vitamins – $6.99 Use $4/1 printable or $4/1 coupon from the 4/24 RedPlum insert Pay $15.96 out of pocket, Get $5 Register Rewards $2.74 each after coupons and Register Rewards Other Deals In Ad Lindsay Olives – $0.99 Use $1/2 printable $0.49 after coupon Jell-O Pudding – $0.50 Ajax Liquid Dish Soap (12 oz) – $0.89 with in ad coupon Use $0.25/1 coupon from the 4/17 RedPlum insert $0.64 after coupons New to shopping at Walgreens? Be sure to head over and check out Walgreens 101 where I explain in detail how to maximize the mileage of your money at Walgreens. See the full list of deals at Walgreens this week over at Passionate Penny Pincher. Do you have your shopping trip planned or did you come up with a great deal scenario/idea? Just post about it on your blog and leave your link below. To make it easy for everyone to navigate quickly through the links, your link must link directly to your Walgreens deals post. Links going to the homepage of your blog or any other part of your blog besides the direct link to your Walgreens deals post will be deleted.        Rite Aid: Deals for the week of April 24-30, 2016 Here are the best Rite Aid deals this week, with thanks to Shannon for her help in compiling them. If you are new to shopping at Rite Aid or have questions about their coupon policy, click here. Buy 4 Garnier Fructis Shampoos and/or Conditioners – $3 each Use 4 $2/1 coupon from the 4/10 RedPlum insert Pay $4.00 Earn 400 plenti points Free after coupons and points L’Oreal Advanced Hair Care Shampoo or Conditioner, 12.6 oz, or Select Stylers – $3.99 400 ($4.00) Plenti Points wyb 4, Limit 2 Use $1/1 printable $0.99 after coupon and points Mars Candy Bars, 6 pk – 3/$3 100 ($1.00) Plenti Points wyb 3, Limit 2 $0.66 each after points Pepperidge Farm Biscoff Cookies or Nonnis THINaddictives and Biscotti – $2.99 100 ($1.00) Plenti Points wyb 2, Limit 2 Use $1/1 printable $1.49 after coupon and points Purina Beyond Dry Dog/Cat Food, 3-3.7 lb – $7.99 Use $5/1 printable $2.99 after coupon See the full list of deals at Rite Aid this week here. Do you have your shopping trip planned or did you come up with a great deal scenario/idea? Just post about it on your blog and leave your link below. To make it easy for everyone to navigate quickly through the links, your link must link directly to your Rite Aid deals post. Links going to the homepage of your blog or any other part of your blog besides the direct link to your Rite Aid deals post will be deleted.        Latest finds on Pinterest Here’s what self care looks like to me at this stage of life...and it's different than you may think. What a beautiful life we could have if we chose love over judgment more often -- if we gave people a piece of our heart instead of our mind. Choose Love! What a beautiful life we could have if we chose love over judgment more often -- if we gave people a piece of our heart instead of our mind. Choose Love! Latest finds on Pinterest Here’s what self care looks like to me at this stage of life...and it's different than you may think. What a beautiful life we could have if we chose love over judgment more often -- if we gave people a piece of our heart instead of our mind. Choose Love! What a beautiful life we could have if we chose love over judgment more often -- if we gave people a piece of our heart instead of our mind. Choose Love!     Click here to safely unsubscribe from "LITE Feed, Money Saving Mom®." Click here to view mailing archives, here to change your preferences, or here to subscribe • Privacy Email subscriptions powered by FeedBlitz, LLC, 365 Boston Post Rd, Suite 123, Sudbury, MA 01776, USA.