Meaghan Dawson | The Grit and Grace Project

These 3 Non-Profit Organizations Are Doing Great Things

It seems like everywhere we turn the news is bad. We can’t turn on the TV, scroll through the internet, or meander through the casual, water-cooler conversation without some dire news striking us in the heart. People are hurting out there. It’s plain to see. Divided politics, anger, bitterness—it can sometimes seem like these are the currency of modern culture. Quieter, though, are the good things happening. Under the radar and around the world, people are doing spectacular things to help others, to share the good. To reach the underprivileged and share love where love is so sorely lacking. These are the things we need to focus on and to seek out actively if we are to cling to hope and faith […]

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An Ode to the Valentines Day Box

By Meaghan Dawson / Motherhood

An ode to the “Valentine’s Day Box”… Oh Valentine’s Day, what a weird, twisted, and torturous holiday you are. I just don’t know how to handle you. On the one hand, you celebrate love, of all things. It’s kind of hard to hate that. I mean, who wouldn’t want to celebrate love? Well, besides Satan and all. He probably hates Valentine’s Day too. Your intention as a holiday, I’m sure, is good and true and kind. But on the flip side, your modern-day execution of Valentine’s Day: It’s the pits. It’s a giant cesspool of commercialism, competition, and insecurity. And I’m just talking about my Valentine’s Day feels here, people. The oddest thing about my jumbled emotions is that they don’t even

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Are Meal Kits Worth It? A Review of 5 Popular Boxes

By Meaghan Dawson / Life & Culture

You might not know this about me, but in my other life, I’m kind of a big foodie. OK…Maybe not kind of. I’m a really big foodie. I’m actually a food blogger. So, I guess that makes me more than “kind of.” But for this tired and busy mom, no matter how much I love to create recipes and be healthy and creative in the kitchen on the daily, sometimes I just don’t have it in me. When we roll in the door from all of our activities each night, I’m usually exhausted and my kids are starving and no one is in any mood to be experimenting in the kitchen. And this, my friends, is why meal boxes are this mom’s

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We Asked the Experts How to Crush Your New Year’s Resolutions

By Meaghan Dawson / Health & Beauty, Life & Culture

The champagne is all popped. The New Year has been rung. Now what? This is a strange time of year, isn’t it? We’ve all spent the past month (and maybe longer depending on when you started your holiday revelry) indulging, celebrating, laughing and enjoying life to the full. And this is how it should be. Ringing in the end of the year with friends and family is a joyous time, meant to be savored. Most of us don’t calorie count at a party and this isn’t a time of year when we crank out new goals to be attained and to work toward. But the New Year? That’s when we get busy. We make plans. We start regimes. We join accountability groups.

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How to Make Meal Planning Simple for Your Busy Family

By Meaghan Dawson / Motherhood

Fall is my absolute favorite season of the year. It is nearly perfect in every way. I love fall colors. I love fall clothes. I love fall weather. I love fall food. And, if I’m completely honest, I love that with my kids back in school comes at least a few solid minutes a day where I am blissfully alone—a respite from the non-stop togetherness of summer days in our household. The only real drawback to fall stares me right in the face every time I glance at our nearly packed schedule. Because with fall comes the return of all the after-school things: the homework, the practices, the games, youth group, meetups, etc. When I look at our calendar, my eyes immediately

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To the Christian Woman With a Crooked Past

By Meaghan Dawson / Faith

As I sat in that stuffy, little room listening to the woman on stage, I looked around at the other women—some nodding along, some with eyes glistening with unshed tears—all with rapt attention. I listened to her testimony, heard her words, walked through her journey with the Lord. And with a bitter inward sigh, I thought to myself, “That’s it? That’s the best you’ve got?” Her story, it was beautiful. Her faith, it was unwavering and strong through the peaks and valleys of her life. I should have felt inspired by her testimony. I knew it took courage and strength for her to sit up there, in front of her peers, and bare her soul in words as personal as any words

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To the Mom Who Feels Guilty for Sitting on the Job

By Meaghan Dawson / Faith, Motherhood

Last week I found myself in a unique predicament. It was a typical weekday afternoon. Nothing special or noteworthy, and if I’m completely honest I’ll admit that I don’t even remember what day it actually was—could have been Tuesday or Thursday. I have no idea. Regardless, on this afternoon the kids were all home, homework and chores were done, and the messy after-school routine (and the whining that goes along with it) was long over. My daughter was happily jumping away on the trampoline, my son was playing basketball outside, and my oldest had gone to a friend’s house. They didn’t need me. My house was quiet. My pressing daily chores finished long before, and there was still an hour or so before dinner

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3 Simple Changes to Save Money Right Now

By Meaghan Dawson / Work & Money

I am a spender. I’m not proud of this fact, but it’s true. I have never learned the fine art of budgeting or saving or, if I’m honest, managing my money at all. This was not because my parents failed, mind you; I vividly remember my father sitting me down and forcing me to learn how to balance a checkbook and lecturing me on the importance of a savings account. I’m sure if we got into the finer arguments about nature versus nurture, we would discern that it’s because I’m naturally impulsive, more of a right-brained creative thinker than a logical left-brainer, and just all-around less careful than I should be when it comes to finances. Which is why it’s so perfect

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This Is Why Family Dinners Don’t Have to Be Perfect

By Meaghan Dawson / Motherhood

You may or may not know this about me, but when I’m not here writing for Grit and Grace Life, I actually run a fun little faith-based food blog, which I know is a strange combo, but it works somehow for me. I’ve been doing this for years now, and I feel blessed that I get to combine my passions for cooking, writing, and sharing Jesus with people all over the world. When I got the wild hair to start this thing, I never imagined that it would grow the way it has, that my words would touch people and help people and maybe (hopefully) even make people laugh at my expense—because truthfully, I’m really quite ridiculous. Since starting my blog I’ve

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How to Handle Workplace Criticism with Grit and Grace

By Meaghan Dawson / Work & Money

“Every human being is entitled to courtesy and consideration. Constructive criticism is not only to be expected but sought.” -Margaret Chase Smith, the first woman to serve in both houses of US Congress Constructive criticism is one of those things we love to hate. We know that in order to grow and improve we must continually use the lens of those we trust and respect to sharpen us every day. However, when we receive it, that criticism can cut deep into our core and leave us shaken and unsure. But it’s not the criticism that counts, is it? It’s what we do with it. It’s not supposed to just hurt our feelings and then die. The importance is in the work we

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How to Build the Workplace Reputation of Your Dreams

By Meaghan Dawson / Work & Money

So you aced the interview, got the offer of a lifetime, and are about to start the job of your dreams. Congratulations! There is nothing quite as simultaneously exciting and terrifying as starting a new job. There’s just so much new to take in: new office, new colleagues, new desk, new rules. It’s as fresh of a start as it comes. But it’s not without pressure, is it? Especially if this is a dream job or a place you plan to stay for the long haul, building a good reputation among your superiors and colleagues is a must. You know what you bring to the table—with your fabulous ideas, outstanding talents, and brilliant input—but in the modern world, you have to earn your

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How to Become a Better Listener in 5 Simple Steps

By Meaghan Dawson / Relationships

I am a mom of three children under the age of 10, so I’ve seen pretty much every animated movie created. Ever. My very favorite is The Lego Movie, though, and not solely because it’s got great animation, witty dialogue, and touching moments. Those are all great components, but it’s actually my favorite because of one tiny little line tucked into one tiny little scene that you’ll miss if you blink. This line is dreadfully funny, but it also hurts just a bit because, at least for me, it’s so true. It speaks directly to a problem we all have, every single one of us. And it’s poignant because in just a few sentences it tells the story of our modern day

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5 Immunity Boosting Smoothies That Will Help You Fight Flu Season

By Meaghan Dawson / Health & Beauty, Life & Culture

Unless you’ve been living under a rock this winter, you know that this year’s flu season is a doozy. In fact, the CDC is reporting the highest flu infection rates since 2009*, which if you remember is when we were all in a panic over the Swine Flu. And to make matters worse, the flu shot is only showing to be about 10% effective in preventing the flu*, largely because the most prevalent strains were not covered in batches this year. These stats are enough to make even the least germaphobic amongst us panic. But, let’s face it, life must go on. Most of us won’t have the luxury of riding out this season sealed off from human contact. Most of us

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