Token System

A few summers ago, a sweet friend of mine created a way to reward her children with tokens that were traded in for special rewards. She created a token chart that listed expectations for the summer.  I thought it was fabulous and have been using a version of her token system for about a year now.

DOING YOUR PART

We began by deciding what contributions our children need to make so our family can function well.  These are typically things that NEED to be done everyday and they are age appropriate.  We are hoping to develop family unity and encourage responsibility, not laziness and boredom.  (If you desire more information on the heart issue of laziness, I encourage you to view this message from one of our pastors.)   These responsibilities are things that help the family and benefit the individual.  Some examples include making the bed, straightening their room and getting dressed before coming to the breakfast table.  We expect them to brush and floss, water plants, feed the dog, assist with preparing meals, help set the table (they each have their own job but are expected to help siblings with theirs) and unpacking their backpacks, dance or soccer bags when returning home.  These things we call "doing your part", it's just what's expected because you're part of our family and for the most part these are things they are to do without being reminded.

COMMISSION (EXTRAS)
The next part is what they can do to earn tokens.  The name came from money guru Dave Ramsey, who suggests you have your kids work to earn commission, not allowance (a hand-out).  Our commission items are things that if not done, our family can still function, but they are very helpful.  I still have little ones so our  commission items include wiping down lower cabinet doors, cleaning glass doors, wiping down the outside of the fridge, vacuuming a room, filling a grocery bag with weeds or reading 3 books to a sibling.  Each commission item has its own token assignment.  For example, filling a bag with weeds earns 4 tokens while wiping the fridge earns 1 token.  This list will change as the kids become more capable and we have more age-appropriate ideas.  

GOALS

We also set goals for each child.  If he/she completes a goal, the tokens are predetermined.  These are typically skills to be mastered and not things that are moral issues.  For example, they get tokens for things like mastering addition facts, going potty and staying dry, riding a bike without assistance, beating their time on swim team or learning to tie their shoes.

TOKEN REDEMPTION
This is where it gets fun.  The kids get to trade-in their tokens for rewards.  In our home the rewards are money, candy, chocolate milk, 30 minutes of TV time or computer time, video games or crafting time, nails painted or a special lunch out with Mama or Daddy.  Each reward has a different number of tokens it requires.  This is the reason I think this system works.  Our kids are motivated by different things at different times.  My 3-year old didn't want to earn money until the ice cream man came to the pool.  Now when the kids really want a treat they can do something to earn one. Potty training is the bread and butter of my 3-year old's token earnings. My oldest is saving her money for an American Girl doll and every time the catalog comes she wants to do extras or meet goals to earn more tokens.  And my middle one has a sweet tooth the size of Texas so when she runs out of tokens, she's very motivated to fill up again.

SUPPLIES?

So you may be thinking, but what do we use for tokens?  This is the idea I completely stole from my brilliant friend and it's worked well.  We use poker chips my husband won at work for our tokens.  Each child has his/her own magnetic spice container that is displayed on the fridge just above our token chart.  Our Token Chart has the four things mentioned above: Doing Your Part, Goals, Commission Items and Token Redemption.

I'm so excited about revising our Goals section just in time for the new school year.  I'm so proud of my kids and what they have accomplished over this past year.  I hope you have fun implementing a system like this!  Let us know how it goes or if you have good ideas for your family's token system.

Clean Grill

We're are in the thick of grilling season and many of us have a little more "seasoning" on our grill than we should. At least some of us call it seasoning...others call it burned food.  But worry no more, removing those filthy grates and then scrubbing until your fingers turn purple is a thing of the past.  This tip from Real Simple is worth trying:

As soon as you remove the food, give the grill grates a quick scrape with a long handled stiff bristle brush, like these.

Now for the fun part, let the burning coals do the work for you - the food bits will cook off and your grates will be cleaned and seasoned for your next cookout.  If you use a gas grill, just leave the heat on for a while after you're done to accomplish the same purpose.  It works just like a self-cleaning oven!

Do you have any grilling tips?

Photo courtesy of andrewmalone on Flickr.com

Curly Girl

I read this book, Curly Girl, a few summers ago and it changed the way I style and care for my wavy hair.  In the winter months, I straighten my hair with my favorite straightener because I like it better straight.  But in the summer months, it's a losing battle so I go wavy.  I learned several tips from Ms. Massey, author of Curly Girl:

Use less shampoo.  Shampoo strips your hair of natural oils and ruins your curls.  Only use shampoo to clean your scalp, your locks don't need it.

Condition the ends of your hair and then run your fingers through your hair to evenly distribute the conditioner.  Allow the water to run over your hair and then do NOT disturb the curls afterwards.  This means no towel wrapping, wringing or combing.  Trust me on this one.  You simply flip your head over and use your hands or a towel to "scrunch" the curls to get the moisture out.  Once out of the shower, use a small hand towel to continue to dry it by scrunching again until it's almost dry.

To style, choose a clear light-weight styling product to hold the curls in place.  Ms. Massey does not recommend a curling mouse - they can weigh your curls down. Spray the gel in your hands and then scrunch and style the curls until you like the way they fall. I've used both Pantene Curl Enhancing Spray Gel and Suave Professional Captivating Curls Spray Gel with success.  If you have one you love, please do share!

Continue to scrunch the curls with a drying towel until your hair is dry or you're ready to leave the house.  I think this works because it gets the moisture out of the bottom of the curls first, allowing them to spring up.

I hope you enjoy these curly hair tips!  If you're interested in learning more, please read Ms. Massey's book. If you have any tips of your own to share, we'd love to hear them!

Lower Blood Pressure

Want to eat your way to lower blood pressure?  According to an article on realage.com you can increase your circulation and lower your blood pressure simply by eating watermelon. If that isn't a sweet tip, I don't know what is!

Also, store the watermelon at room temperature until you are just about to cut into it. (Chill it for a few minutes before serving if you like it cold.) You'll maximize its nutritional value by allowing it to ripen on the counter.

How do you like to enjoy watermelon?

Photo courtesy of mynameisharsha on Flickr.com

Nose Stuffy?

This tip may be a few days too late for some of you and just in time for others.  Beauty returns in the Spring, but with it comes P-O-L-L-E-N.  Some allergy seasons are worse than others, but we are in the thick of it where I live.  If you want another tool in your arsenal to fight seasonal allergies, look no further than the Neti Pot.


Several recent studies cited in this New York Times article suggest that nasal irrigation may actually reduce sinus and allergy symptoms.  The benefit, according to this Web MD article is believed to be two-fold.  It helps clear away allergens and infectious agents by thinning out the mucus and by making the cilia in the nose more efficient.  


One study suggests daily use is not the best idea, but it is best to use it when you are congested. (The debate over the frequency is because some believe the good bacteria is carried out with the bad, forcing the body to be dependent on the saline solution).  


On an episode of the Oprah Winfrey Show, Dr. Oz stated this treatment may be more effective than medication.

Have you used a Neti Pot or had a doctor recommend it?  Would you consider using one?

Cheese - Grating on Your Nerves?

Image courtesy of dvortygirl on Flickr.com

Typically the worst part of grating cheese is cleaning the cheese grater afterwards.  Dread no more!  This tip from Real Simple recommends to spray the cheese grater with non-stick cooking spray.  When the cheese is grated, it will not stick.

UPDATE: I found that since I still had to clean the non-stick cooking spray off the grater, I'd just assume clean cheese off and save the step.  I don't have a box grater, though, I have one that doesn't require sticking my hand in a box.  I have this grater in green:

Not Just For Cereal

I often play songs for the kids during breakfast that we're working on for school.  We also like to have "mood music" when eating outside on our deck.  And in the shower, I play music but wish it it was a little bit louder.

I love this helpful tip from Real Simple magazine, April 2011 issue:

Place your phone speaker-side down in a cereal bowl to amplify the tunes streaming out of it.  The concave shape of the bowl makes an effective homemade speaker.  And in my experience, this works better than those little speakers you plug into a headphones jack.

This summer when you're planning your outdoor picnic, don't forget to pack a cereal bowl for some mood music!

Faster Meatloaf

Some say meatloaf is the ultimate comfort food.  But most meatloaves take at least an hour to cook!  Use this tip and you can cut the cooking time in half.

Next time you make your favorite meatloaf, bake it in a muffin tin!  My normal meatloaf bakes in a loaf pan for 1-1/2 hours but my meatloaf "muffins" only take 20 minutes.

Rachael Ray recently did made Thanksgiving-inspired meatloaf with sweet potato puree as the frosting.  It made little meatloaf cupcakes.  I tried the recipe and piped the sweet potato puree on top (see picture on left).  My kids were so excited about eating "cupcakes" for dinner.  I may try piping potatoes on my go-to meatloaf next time, since we all like that recipe so much.

I'd love to hear from all of you.  Do you have a meatloaf shortcut to share?  Have you ever baked a meatloaf in muffin tins?  How did it turn out?

Closet Makeover

This is the time of year we're all changing out clothes for the season.  Take the opportunity this year to give your wardrobe a complete makeover!  


I had a professional come and help me with this and wanted to share some tips learned from the experience.


First, take everything out of your closet and/or drawers and sort it in three basic piles:


Like It
Love It
Needs To Go


Next invite a girlfriend over (one that will tell you the honest truth) and starting with the Like It pile, go through each clothing item and explain why you don't love it.  If she agrees, donate it to someone who will.


Move on to the Needs To Go pile and see if you both agree about what needs to go.  You may be surprised at what she likes and/or what combinations she may come up with.


Finally, review your Love It pile with her.  If she agrees you should keep everything, you'll be happier with your Love It clothes.  Make a list of small items you may need to fill in gaps from those things you don't.


And finally take the piles of clothes you don't wear, anyway, and pay it forward.  Donate the clothes to whomever you think it will be blessed by them.  It feels so great to make room in your closet for the clothes you actually feel good in!


Lastly, if you live near Kelley Smith, don't wait another minute.  Schedule an appointment with her right away.  I'm telling you, she is fabulous!  And if you book with her in the month of May she is donating half of the proceeds to our friends the Espinosas and their Allendale Mission.

http://kelleysmithstyle.blogspot.com/

Photo courtesy of Rubbermaid Products on Flickr.com 

Rice Dryer

Have you ever completely submerged your cell phone in a toilet, pool, or puddle of water?  It's a terrible mishap, but try this tip before replacing the phone.

Immediately take the cell phone completely apart (do not try to see if it works!) Remove the battery and place it in a bag of white rice for 1-1/2 days, then turn it over and leave it in a new bag of rice for another 1-1/2 days.  I was shocked, but it really worked on my husband's phone.  He used it for another 6 months or so!

Do not use a hair dryer, microwave or just leave it out to air dry.  Read more from the Popular Mechanics site, if you're interested.

Photo courtesy of babbagecabbage on Flickr.com

Waste Not

If you've hosted a party and peered at all the delightful leftovers, but T-O-S-S-E-D them so as not to increase your hip size, toss no more!

This tip came from a precious friend at our last Christmas party.  She suggested we share the leftovers with the local fire department.  What a fabulous way to share calories and love at the same time!

Since summer picnics and outdoor parties are on the horizon, let's think of our local authorities before we toss the yummies.  If they have to work all night, at least they can eat well!  (Do call first to make sure they're allowed to accept the gift.)



Photo courtesy of avlxyz on Flickr.com

Treat Your Dog

This tip is based on research regarding dogs and music.  If you are going to be away for a long period of time, you may want to consider treating your dog to classical music.  Choose classical pieces that are about 50-60 bpm. This can have a soothing effect, causing the dog less anxiety (and less barking).

Here are some albums you may want to try:
  

Clean Your Ceiling Fan

Oh, I'm so excited about this tip from Real Simple magazine (April 2009 issue).  It's just in time for spring cleaning.

If your ceiling fan is covered with funk, slide a pillow case over the blade, grip the pillow case and pull backward. All the yucky dusty nastiness stays in the pillow case and is no longer all over the floor (or in my case, the bed - yuck!)

Photo courtesy of Sarah and lain on Flickr.com

Newspaper for Weed Control

I was given this tip by my precious friend who dreams of owning her own nursery one day.  A landscape designer recently confirmed it is one of the best ideas he's ever heard of.

Instead of fooling with black plastic sheeting to control weeds in your garden, use newspaper!  After placing plants in the ground, lay several sheets of newspaper around them and then mulch on top.  The newspaper will keep the weeds at bay and will eventually decompose and improve your soil condition.  I love this tip because it's free, super easy and it actually works!

Have you been successful with newspaper (or some other material) to control weeds?

Photo courtesy of Binuri Ranasinghe on Flickr.com

Easy Garlic Bread

I love a good piece of garlic bread.  But I rarely remember to buy it, or official ingredients to make it.  Our garlic bread needs to be made with on-hand ingredients.  Ergo, this tip:

Sandwich bread?  Check.  Olive oil?  Check.  Garlic cloves?  Check.  You now have all the ingredients needed for a nutritious version of garlic bread!

Simply arrange your bread on a baking sheet, drizzle with a little olive oil and then toast under the broiler.  As soon as it comes out, have a garlic clove cut in half, ready to rub all over the bread.  The bread acts like sandpaper, grinding the garlic down into all those nooks and crannies.

Voila, you have an instant, healthy delicious version of garlic bread!

Green Tea and Weight Loss

Looking to lose that last 5 pounds?  Then this tip is for you.

If you drink 2 cups of green tea in the morning and 2 cups at night, you can potentially lose 5 pounds in 8 weeks.  I have been making a pitcher of unsweetened iced green tea every few days and drinking it mid-morning and with dinner.  Preparing it ahead makes it easier for me to work it in.

Read this RealAge.com article for more information.

Photo courtesy of Dano on Flickr.com

Oral Temp and Cold/Hot Liquids

This winter brought more sickness to our home than any season I can remember and we've been wearing our thermometer out!

I found this tip, recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, on the HealthyChildren.org site:  Because cold and hot drinks can affect oral temperatures, if you (or your patient) have been drinking hot or cold liquids, wait 15 minutes after drinking to take an oral temperature.  This ensures a more accurate reading.  Of course, you can always try the axillary (under the arm, not as accurate) method until the 15 minutes has passed.

Airfare Sweet Spot

photo courtesy of xlibber on Flickr.com

If you are planning to travel in the sky in the next year, wait until you hit the "sweet spot" for airline prices.  If you  book too far in advance, you will pay full price.  If you are too close to the travel date, you will pay a lot because they know you don't have a choice.  According to an expert on this Rachael Ray episode, if you book a flight exactly 3-1/2 months before your departure date, statistics show that is when you'll get the lowest price.  So go ahead and schedule your "booking" date as well as your travel date!

Veggies on the Go

This tip for packing veggies and dip to-go is from a Rachael Ray show episode where she gave ideas for packing food for air travel.

First, find a small container, cut your veggies the height of the container then pack them with a little dip already in the bottom!  Kids love to dip and it will make eating their raw veggies so much more fun!  

You can try this with anything that can be stick sized, cucumbers, celery, carrots, red, yellow or green bell peppers.

I'm going to attempt this week to fill up a medicine cup with carrots and this greek yogurt dip at the bottom.  I'll use Glad Press and Seal to keep it from spilling in my new Easy Lunch Box bento-style containers.  (Which are fabulous, by the way.)  

Photo courtesy of Flickr, tlillis4

Discover Greek Yogurt

photo courtesy of whitneyinchicago on Flickr.com

Greek yogurt is getting a lot of "pub" because of its rich creamy taste and high protein content. But what you may not know is that you can substitute Greek yogurt for sour cream as a topping or a dipper. Most conventional stores only carry the fat-free Greek yogurt, but you can buy the full fat version at some specialty stores. It's worth trying because I'm telling you, the protein numbers will just blow your mind.

We've made the switch with our vegetable dip. And we use the fat-free version because it's easier to get each week. We also use it to spread on burritos or to dollop on tacos. If you want to try OUR favorite dip, combine a packet of Hidden Valley Fiesta Ranch dip with a 16 oz container of plain Greek yogurt. My kids call it "Dorito Dip-Dip" because it's tastes like a familiar cheesy chip.

UPDATE: All Greek yogurts are not considered equal.  Read the labels before purchasing.  Some containers  have 32 grams of protein per serving, while others only contain 4 grams.  Do not be fooled by conventional "Greek" marketing!