Favorite things

We had a great time sharing at our "Favorite Things party" last week.  In case you're interested in hosting one yourself, follow this link. 

Here is my best effort to write it all down.  

Did you know Sharpie makes pens?  They do:)

Scrubbing cleaning cloths

Cleansing conditioner (shampoo/conditioner combined)

This AMAZING peanut butter, excellent on toast or as ants on a log

This wasn't the exact spoon but the brand is Tovolo and the small ones are good for cleaning out things like above peanut butter jar.  

A natural guacamole mix to make it easier and delicious!

Dark chocolate/milk chocolate peanut clusters from the bulk section of Sprouts
A CD with favorite Zumba music
A beautiful picture of the Teton's with a Dr. Suess quote
99 cent store sunglesses--high quality, low price
Beach towel to enjoy a happy place
Forever 21 necklace
Bath & Body Works soap because scents we enjoy contribute to happiness (their semi-annual sale started today, fyi)
Lip glossTrader Joe's basil gardenRazor blades from the 99 cent store, helpful to keep nearby when cleaning the floors

Foot cream/pumice stone

Scented candles

And, some other favorites we shared:

California destinations

Sequoia

Coronado/San Diego in general

Yosemite

Tahoe

Ojai

Santa Barbara

Ventura--Ronald Reagan museum and Marina Park

Bishop

Apps

rhondadesign--chalkboard prints

slackerradio--Joshua Radin station

My Fitness Pal

Mormon Channel

Lift--behavior modification

Geocaching

Redstamp--personalize and send digital cards

Websites

www.kids-in-mind.com <Details about movies>

100daysofrealfood.com  <excellent recipes and tips on eating real food>

71toes.com <mothering blog>

ourbestbites.com <recipes>

jamiecooksitup.net <family friendly recipes>

http://imslp.org/ <free public domain sheet music>

http://colorinmypiano.com/ <piano teaching ideas>

http://tolovehonorandvacuum.com/ <Christian marriage/homemaking site>

themoviespoiler.com <when you want to know about a movie without going to see it>

http://www.babygearlab.com/ <reviews and side-by-side comparisons for baby products>

Books

Strangling Your Husband is NOT an option

Fault in our Stars

The Peacegiver

Gifts from the Sea

Lone Survivor

Along Way from Chicago

While We Were Watching Downton Abbey

Kitchen tools

Kyocera ceramic knives

Black & Decker Electric chopper

mini food processor

giant skillet

vitamix

pressure cooker

It was a very enjoyable evening and I'm excited to add some of your favorite things to my life.:) Feel free to comment below to add anything else you think of!

How to Help Your Kids Love their Bodies:  I have been doing a lot of research on helping my children understand and care for their changing bodies. I think this article does a good job of getting parents thinking about how to help kids love the bodies they have. For specific body care books, I recommend, The Boy's Body Book by Kelli Dunham and the American Girl book: The Care and Keeping of You #1 The body care book for younger girls.
 http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/fitness_articles.asp?id=898

Why Being a Mom is Enough

This article recently went viral and is wonderful: http://findingjoy.net/why-being-mom-is-enough/

Christ-centered Christmas ideas

Here is the family night lesson Summer talked about: http://www.latter-dayhomeschooling.com/2010/12/symbols-of-christmas.html 

Here is the Scripture chain: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ANPqKyxRzpcHt-sLVwim2tQ5f-avP637jAPRoNn4IFM/edit

Here is a great opportunity to do service in our community:

Summer Davis and Jaime Thompson make about 30-40 lunches every Monday and take them downtown to hand out to those in need. (Mondays are the only days that nobody comes to feed the homeless and they are starving.) They keep the lunches simple: PB&J sandwiches, a piece of fruit, a baggie with some chips, a snack, and a water bottle. So if you can donate any of the items used to make the lunches, they would greatly appreciate it. Also, the people who can't make it into the shelter at night (and even those who do sleep in the shelter because they don't have heat in there) are FREEEEZING.  They have been asking for any spare socks or jackets (they even put the socks on their hands, just anything to keep warm). They are also in need of toilet paper. Any donations can be brought to Heather Thompson’s house either at our monthly meetings or any time you just happen to be in the area.  Or you can drop it off to Summer anytime, also.

Merry Christmas!

White House Petition to Make Porn An "Opt In" Feature Only with Internet Providers

Our Aunt sent us this link to a petition requiring pornography to be an "Opt In" only feature with all internet providers, in order to better protect our children and families through their internet use.  If you agree with the petition, please sign it and pass on the information to your friends!

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/require-porn-be-opt-feature-internet-service-providers-rather-standard-feature/GF1RkqpJ

Teaching Children To Be Independent

At our October meeting we discussed "The Plan" based on Merrilee Browne Boyack's book The Parenting Breakthrough.

1--"The Plan" is to introduce the child to the task you want them to gain independence on far in advance.  Ideally, use the summer to teach these skills.  Select the "trainer." This could be you but could also be a cub scout leader, or an older sibling.  Hold several "training sessions" then follow up with "practice sessions."  Use a 5x7 card to write out specifics.  For instance, cleaning your room includes: make your bed, clear your dresser off, dust, empty garbage can, vacuum, etc.

In introducing "the plan" she suggests to start during the summer, remember BALANCE, tie the passing off of training of items as privileges (great for teens--example, babysitting).  In her family, they paid allowance until age 12 and then the children were responsible for making their own money.  She also suggest using rewards...points to earn something as a family, marbles in a jar (or removed when things aren't done).   She points out that although the children are capable of completing the task on their own, it does not necessarily mean they always do it.  Example: they can make their own lunch but you do it for them occasionally. 

2--Allowance
--For chores or not???  Chores are a responsibility of being part of a family
--Money chores--outside stuff.  Pinterest has a board where all the available money chores are posted with the money then can earn
--How much to pay them and when?? Ms. Boyack suggests $1/per month of each year of age (6 year old gets $6 per month) paid on the first Saturday of the month so concepts like give (10%), save (20%), spend (70%) can be taught.
--Spending allowance--Amber shared her joy when she watched her son get in line for smoothie only to return empty handed.  When asked why, her son said "that was too much money to spend on that."  Some of us have kids who burn through whatever money they get but we have to let them experience in on their own.

We discussed how allowance/chores varies for every individual family.  Christina's kids are not given allowance but earned marbles for doing chores and could pick something out of the treasure box once they got to 10 marbles.  When asked what to about kids wanting things and they don't have allowance, she said she would have the kids write their requests for birthday or Christmas and that is when they got those things.  A great idea Marci shared was to take a picture of your kid in the store with the toy they want.  Then you have a reminder of what they want for birthday/Christmas and it satisfies their desire for gratification.  I've used this idea already with my youngest greedy child and IT WORKS!  

Morning helps:
Have a list with a check off of what they need to accomplist (buy cheap frame and use dry erase for the checks on the glass

or 
set a time so kids can watch it and know how much time they have left

What happens if your kids refuse to get ready?  Take them to school in their pajamas (let the office know why)...that will only happen once:) 

Great idea from Heather to encourage saving money.  When her kids get money for birthdays or Christmas, etc. whatever amount they save she matches and then at age 18 she will match everything in the account once again.  

The link once again by Ms. Boyack for about what your child should be accomplishing at various ages: http://www.boyacks.com/Merrilee/The%20PLAN.pdf

To help children become independent in making school lunches, Heather posted this list in her pantry to help guide their packing.

Drink
Capri Sun
Juice
Gatorade
Water 

Protein
Meat/cheese sandwich
PB sandwich
string cheese or cheese stick
pistachios or almonds
beef jerky
hard boiled egg

Fruit/Veggie
Fruit cup or applesauce
Fresh fruit (orange/apple/grapes)
Carrots/celery
Banana

Treat/Carb
Chips
Treat
Pudding cup
Ritz or graham crackers

I love this!!

Finally, we discussed the following quote
"Self-sufficiency is the yard stick to self-esteem.  The road to self sufficiency is paved with frustration, disappointment, failure, falling flat on one's face, and other equally 'unhappy' experiences.  We cannot afford to deny children with these things." --John Rosemond

How true that is!  It is difficult to watch our children struggle but if we want them to have self-esteem they must feel capable!  

Dear Parents with Young Children in Church

This doesn't touch too much on our topic for October, but a friend of mine sent it to me, and I was really grateful!  So here's the link to anyone who needs a pick-me-up after the Sunday morning wrestling match. :)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jamie-bruesehoff/parents-kids-church_b_3909085.html