Our Token Economy.

I was introduced to Token Economy when I was younger.  My Aunt & Uncle used the system in their home with their children. I remember thinking how cool it was for my cousins to be able to work and be rewarded for behavior, chores, good deeds, acts of kindness and other special recognition moments in the home.  It was fun to watch them save their tokens to earn things that they wanted. 
When Kevin and I got married, our financial understandings and ways of spending/saving were as opposite as Antarctica and The Zahara desert.  Kevin, being in his career, having to pay his own way for everything since he graduated high school and trying to save for his future, lived a very foreign concept view of finances compared to my, "I'm single, Ready to mingle, Let the change in my purse jingle" attitude.  It took awhile for us to come to an understanding of each others ways, but when we finally had our budget, spending, and saving plan in order, we both knew we wanted to teach our children the concept of saving, and working for things they wanted.  My aunt gave me a few printed pages from her collection from "Lets Fix The Kids" by James J. Jones and since our son was 2, he is now 4, we have applied a Token Economy system in our home. As he has grown, we've added another sibling and as their needs/wants/behaviors have changed, we have made adjustments to our system.  So....
What is Token Economy?  The Token Economy is based upon the principle that you must earn what you get and pay for what you use (or want in our system).  The Token Economy is a system that rewards work, and requires "something" for "something"and does not give "something" for "nothing".  Value for Value!  It is based upon the principles of: freedom and accountability, earning and thrift, challenge and reward, struggle and growth, integrity and virtue, duty, responsibility and so much more.  It is designed to develop skills, confidence and high moral values. It is a system for delivering positive reinforcement to children for engaging in good behavior or completing tasks. 
One of my favorite parts of Token Economy is that it is a completely customizable program that you and your family can build and adjust specifically to the needs of your children and your financial means. Some families use Token Economy for children with behavioral issues, autism or other learning disabilities. The Token Economy idea is also a popular system for classrooms. 
Why Token Economy?  Each of us acts or moves (behaves) to satisfy our needs (real or imagined). The more severe the need, the stronger we are motivated to satisfy that need.  Children "need to need" so that they will aggressively struggle and work! Children need motivation.  Children need opportunity, development and self-respect.  Token Economy teaches children to earn and save money, appreciate THINGS they have, listen, obey and counsel with their parents. Clean their bedrooms and bathrooms, toys etc. and WORK! 
Our Token Economy System. At ages 2 and 4, we aren't arguing with our kids (yet) about the newest iPhone, or $100 pair of jeans and shoes, so our system is geared towards teaching our children to help participate in household chores, kindness to each other and obedience to mom and dad. Our system also allows the children to recognize that if they WANT things, above and beyond what we would already provide for them; mostly toys at this age, they must work for them. And let me tell you, for a 2 and 4 year old it is WORK to be kind to your sibling.

Our Token Economy is paid in poker chips. Each poker chip has a different monetary value and each chore, good behavior or exceptional act of kindness etc. has it's own reward value.  We have 4 colored tokens. White is worth $.25 Blue is worth $.50 Green is worth $1  Red is worth $5
When a child completes a chore, does an unexpected kind act or goes above and beyond what has been asked, they are rewarded a token with a value that matches the work. Hunter has a weekly responsibility that he can automatically earn $1 for. If he takes out the trash from each room, the night before the garbage man comes, he automatically gets $1. Hayden is learning to take over this chore as Hunter is getting older and he can have a bigger chore responsibility.  Learning to make their beds, getting dressed themselves, picking up toys/books also earns them tokens.  Because our children are in a "learning" stage, we are rewarding them for simple tasks and behaviors when we notice them done without being asked or done extra well.  They do not get tokens EVERYTIME the make their beds or pick up their things. 
Some other ideas for rewarding tokens are: (For ages 2-4) -Unloading the dishwasher (plastics, silverware) -Setting the table -Putting away laundry -Dusting Baseboards -Helping dad in the yard -Helping a sibling with a problem -Being kind to a neighbor or friend -Using kind language  -Doing well in preschool/primary/nursery -Being helpful/behaved at a store

A lot of families who use Token Economy use it for behavioral purposes. I will say that our kids LOSE more Tokens when it comes to behavior.  Maybe I expect my children to behave better... but especially their behaviors towards their father and I, siblings, and when we're in public, account for a lot of tokens being revoked. I will say something like, "That is going to cost you a GREEN token if you continue to act that way" and the children are either quick to straighten up or completely lose it.  This is the only time I take away tokens and I limit my take aways to a couple of tokens a week before moving on to more severe consequences (this obviously depends on the behavior as well).  I want my children to find the value in the work they do to earn their tokens and if I was to take away everything each time I do not think the message would be clear to them at this age.
Cashing in our Tokens.

One of my favorite parts of our Token Economy is when the children are able to "cash in". Usually once a month we remind the children they have tokens they can use for a special treat or toy and then count out their earnings, combine smaller values for larger value tokens and put cash in their banks. If the children have a special toy they have been working to get, we will give the children the money so when we go to the store they can hand the cashier the payment.  There is such a sense of pride and excitement when they get to have real money. The token values are usually spent when we are out and about and a child wants a cookie or a small toy from the dollar section. These unexpected wants allows for us to have a quick conversation to decide if they have the money for it. With Hayden it's a matter of "do you have any tokens for that?"  To which she ALWAYS replies "YES". Later at home, I remind her how many tokens it cost her and be sure to have her get those out of her bank and turn them in. She's great with colors and counting up. For Hunter it is a deeper learning process.  We are able to tell him how much it costs, remind him how many tokens he has, ask him if he has the tokens and then when we get home we're able to count out tokens and use subtraction to make sure mom or dad gets paid.  It's been so neat to see the kiddos learn "add" and "take away" with Token Economy.  We have also used our Token Economy for when we are taking family trips, like our most recent one to Disneyland, to encourage our children to work "harder" or be "nicer" to earn EXTRA tokens for souvenirs they will want. 

Get Started. There are so many ways to approach a Token Economy system so be sure to check out  1000 Ideas about Token Economy over on Pinterest and get inspired.  Step 1 - Make a Plan and Prepare. -Sit down with your spouse and write out exactly what chores/behaviors you feel are appropriate for your children.  -Discuss how you will hand out tokens, how often and for what chore/behavior will they be rewarded.  -Put together your banking system. (Tokens, fuzz balls, sticker charts) Whatever you feel your children will be most excited about.  -Decide how often you will 'go to the bank'. Making a weekly or monthly "cash out" day will keep things consistent and keep the children motivated and not allow for their tokens to be forgotten. -Make visuals. In our home we have our banks to store our tokens in since the children are given their tokens immediately after the completed chore or good behavior is recognized, however some parents like to make charts for the children's chores or with smiley and frown faces for behaviors. They use these and put stickers on them and then give out tokens at the end of the week/day.  Again, everything is customizable so DO WHAT is best for your kids! 
Step 2- Put Your Plan Into Action. -Teach and explain the children about their Token Economy. You can even give the system your own name like "Fords Finances" or "Family Funds" any fun or catchy name your family can refer to.  -Start handing out tokens right away. Allow for the children, especially the little ones to really understand that they can be "rewarded" for their behavior and work.  -Use "Token Economy" language.  "Thank you!" "I'm so proud of you" "I noticed that you..." "Because you did this...." "I think that deserves a token!" "Is that a good choice or a bad choice?" 
Step 3. Be Patient and Consistent.  Having a Token Economy system in our home has been a huge blessing. We have been able to see our children develop skills and behaviors that we are proud of. Remember!  They are still little and learning, so let it be a huge part of our patience and desire for consistency with your program.  Not everyday is perfect.  There are times the children are mean to each other, mean to you, cry, yell, make tornado disasters of toys, clothes and books all over the house, however, the skills you are teaching them will be rewarded with a child/teenager and adult who has self respect, integrity and understands the value of work. The love, attention and communication you have with your child will all be worth it. 

We'd love to hear if you have a system set up in your home or if this post encourages you to start! 

Disneyland On Any Budget!

In preparation for our annual Disney trip, I was able to team up with the lovely Jessica from The Happiest Blog on Earth, and read her updated e-book, Disneyland On Any Budget!  

Jessica Sanders grew up in Southern California and loves all things Disney and creating new memories with her kids and husband at Disneyland each year.  With years of experience in the park, and several partnerships with Disney bloggers and travel websites, Jessica has put together the ultimate guide to making Disneyland work for YOUR budget. 
People always ask how we're able to afford and make Disneyland happen every year and the answer is: ON A BUDGET!  Disneyland On Any Budget covers a wide range of ways to make the most magical place on earth happen for your family from saving before you go, spending wisely inside the park and hotel/rental car details.  Jessica's e-book has so many great tips and tricks for making Disneyland a possibility for any family's financial situation and it was so great to apply some of her helpful hints to this years visit. 

The first tip we love is Saving Money Before You Go.  The book says to FORGET about the buy now - pay later approach, and we couldn't agree more!  We love the joy of being able to afford our trip when we go and that goes beyond the flight and hotel purchases. Every hot dog, churro, pin or toy we buy in the park we know we worked for it and there is such gratification and joy to be able to buy those for our family without the stress of having to "pay for it later". We also loved making our children part of the saving. Hunter is 4 and Hayden is 2 so mowing lawns or babysitting wasn't really an option for them to be involved with saving. However, we use the popular Token Economy, where we award the children tokens for chores and good behavior, and for the months leading up to our trip, we were able to encourage them to earn some extra tokens to save specifically for a special toy at Disneyland.  Both children were able to buy a glow in the dark toy that they HAD to have and an extra churro, a whole one for themselves, because they saved ahead.   We even let the children give the money when they paid for their treats.  It was really special to see how excited they got buying their own toys.

SAVE! SAVE! SAVE! 
Another great tip from the book gives lots of options for Renting Cars or Disneyland Shuttles. We're car rental people. We rent cars a lot. Anytime we travel out of town, which happened every other month this year, we always use Costco!  I was so relieved to read Disneyland On Any Budget and find that her #1 Car Rental Money Saving Strategy was Costco Car Rentals.  My husband is the travel planner of the family and he loves that Costco searches for the best deal, that Costco doesn't require a credit card when you book and that you can cancel up to the day before. These convenient features also allows you to re-book if better deals come up between booking and your trip.  Remember Costco has a yearly membership fee of about $55 but the savings on even just 1 rental, might be more than the $55 membership fee.
Along with the previous two money saving strategies from Disneyland On Any Budget, another strategy we apply on our annual trips is Saving on our Hotel.

Because of Kevin's business, we're able to get points through business credit cards that allow us to get hotels for points instead of cash. This has been a HUGE savings to make our annual Disneyland trip possible.  Even with points, we are very aware of the price per night when booking a hotel. With points we feel we have a little more flexibility but always take into consideration what comes in our price per night cost.  In the book, some of the topics they tell you to think about when staying in a hotel include proximity to Disneyland, fridge/microwave in room, free breakfast, updated rooms/cleanliness and obviously price per night.  Staying at a hotel within walking proximity is always a priority for us. With two small children we schedule nap time each day we are in the park so being able to get back to the room quickly allows for the children to get good naps and recharge so we can get back. Having a fridge in our hotel is also priority. On the first day we arrive into town, we always go to a grocery store and stock up on a few necessary snacks and drinks for the week. We keep yogurt, PB&J, fruits and veggies in the fridge to snack on in the park and when were hanging out in the room. This saves us tons because we are not having to ALWAYS buy food in the park when we're hungry.  Free Breakfast is a NO BRAINER when choosing a hotel also. 5 days of breakfast for a family can add up quickly if you're having to hit up the local IHOP each morning. Even good 'ol McDonald's is pricey when you're looking for a quick breakfast option.  A continental breakfast included in your hotel stay gives lots of great options for a hot meal and freshly squeezed juices giving everyone the nutrition and energy they need for a full day in the park. 
Saving Money At Disneyland.

Another favorite part of this book are all of the tips about Saving Money At Disneyland.  Even a small family can easily spend a couple hundred dollars a day in Disneyland just on food if there isn't a plan in place.  Tip #1 says to Bring and Eat Your Own Food. This is a trick we have always implemented and is a HUGE money saver for us. As mentioned above we always get a hotel that includes breakfast, so thats one meal counted for each day. We also always have a fridge in our room that is stock full of snacks and quick/easy lunch ideas. We like to make a plan of the things we know we want to buy in the park (churros, turkey legs, ice cream, drinks, a few meals) and then eat our own food the rest of the time. It's all about compromise! 

Be sure to read the book for a list of popular dining options at Disneyland for about $10!!  The book also lists several ideas about saving money at Disneyland with Souvenirs.  Before we head on our trip I've usually purchased the Disney T's the kids will wear on our fist day. The Disney Store always has great options and often a deal when you buy 2 or more!  When we get into Anahiem our first day is spent grocery shopping and buying a few souviner type goods from their local Target and Walmart. The kids this year got new character signature books, pens, a purse/zip bag, a hat and postcards for their memory books for less than $20! Score!  

Are you convinced you and your family can afford a trip to The Happiest Place on Earth Yet? This was just a handful of our favorite tips from the book, Disneyland On Any Budget, and if you still need more convincing or details about specific topics then head over and buy your copy now!  There is so much more in the book including Disney Freebies, Planning your Day in the Park, FastPass info, details about specific hotels, places to eat and much more.  I promise you readers this is one of the best guides to plan your trip! 
Thanks so much to Jessica for sending us this book to help make this year's trip to Disneyland the best ever!
Be sure to Follow The Happiest Blog on Earth on  Facebook Instagram  Pinterest  and  Buy your copy of Disneyland On Any Budget HERE.

Happy Reading Friends. *Disclaimer - This book was sent to me at no cost for use and review.  All opinions are my own*

Pinners Conference Utah.

I think it's time for this mommy to have a few days to herself before baby #3 comes and what better way than to spend a few days at Pinners Conference Utah this weekend.

So... What is Pinners Conference and Expo?  Pinners Conference is two great events in one. It's a conference featuring 100 Pinterest-based classes taught by the best presenters in the nation. And it's also an expo with nearly 300 top businesses providing beautiful options in the worlds of DIY, crafts, cooking, self-improvement, photography, party planning, scrapbooking, holiday, beauty and fashion and all sorts of other great things! Guys, it's PINTEREST in real life! 

This year some of my favorite Pinteresters/Bloggers are speaking and teaching classes!  Heidi Swap, Ashley Reeves from AshleysFreshFix, Megan Moore from TheBeautySnoop, Natashia McLean from CanaryJane, Jordan Page from FunCheapOrFree and even my sweet friend from high school, Amelia Edwards of SutterSisters. 

I am so excited to get the chance to go and mingle with these fabulous ladies and so many others.  How great is it that the awesome team behind Pinners Conference has brought together all these amazing and talented ladies, speakers, bloggers, crafters and creaters to one place for us all to learn and shop from! 
Did you know that Pinners Conference isn't just in Salt Lake?  This year, Pinners Conference made its way through Texas, Arizona, Utah and Georgia.  Be sure to follow Pinners Conference and Expo on Facebook Instagram and Pinterest to stay up to date on next year's schedule, speakers and shops. If you're in Utah, be sure to put Pinners Conference down on your to do list this weekend. The even runs Friday November 4th from 10am-9pm and Saturday November 5th from 9am-6pm at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Downtown Salt Lake.
General Admission is $7 for Exhibits and Shopping and Class Passes can be purchased for $15-$29. Purchase your tickets here or get them at the door! 

Hope to see you there! 

Once Upon A Dream - Halloween 2016

For YEARS I have wanted to pull off a themed family costume for Halloween.  I lied on Facebook when I said this was our first year... Kev reminded me that on  Hunters 1st Halloween (2012), we were Charlie Brown, Lucy & Snoopy 

and that Hayden's 1st Halloween (2014), the children's costumes were themed as Peter Pan & TinkerBell.

So.. this is the first time we've done a themed costume as a family, with all 4 of us!  Princess Aurora... I mean Hayden, got to choose this years costumes and it was obvious enough of what she wanted us to be, but I was surprised that I was able to pull it off in a bout a day. 
Sleeping Beauty, Prince Phillip, Maleficent and her Raven came together for a classic family themed Halloween costume and I couldn't have been more in love with each look.
Princess Aurora/Sleeping Beauty

Both her dress and crown came from our dress up box that is full of dresses and accessories from our favorite shop, Little Adventures. 
Prince Phillip.

Hunters costume came together with mostly stuff we had in his closet. Pants/Black Long Sleeve shirt we had.  The brown oversized shirt we picked up from the DI for $2 and then cut to make it look more like the outfit Prince Phillip has in the original movie. We picked up a Red Cape (it's really a girls cape but we cut off the bow in the front and you can't even tell) from Little Adventures also. ($10 at Zurchers) The Sword and Shield we also had.  Hunter was excited that it was the sword he actually got from Sleeping Beauty's castle at Disneyland. 
Maleficent.

Hayden begged that I be Maleficent for Halloween. Luckily, I remembered an awesome co-worker who wore this costume last year to our work party and I texted her the night before to see if I could borrow it.  Score!  I found these Maleficent horns at Zurchers for $3 and had the most fun doing my makeup. Red Lips - LipSense from my KissesByKyla collection - color: Napa Layered w/Blu Red.
Raven.

Coming up with a last minute costume for Kev was definitely the most frustrating.  I thought real hard how I could make him the 3 fairies all at once. That was too much work. Hayden didn't want him to be King Stephan and a Spinning Wheel didn't really seem like a 'cool' costume. I finally settled that a Raven costume would be the easiest. Black shirt, wings and mask.  I found the wings at Michael's, who already had their Halloween stuff discounted to 70% off, for $5.99. The beaked mask is from Zurchers, $3, and I added some black feathers to the side of the mask.  Quick/Easy and Kev loved that he could wear his regular clothes with a few accessories. 

 

Let's hope Hunter's choice next year is just as exciting, can include a 5th human being and that he'll let me know more than 24 hours before we all have to be dressed up! 
Hope you all have a safe and wonderful Halloween! 

Halloween Sugar Cookies. (Cookie/Frosting Recipe)

I am always down for some holiday festivities, but after returning from a 10 day vacation and being 30 weeks pregnant, the kids and I have been keeping it low key finding activities to do at home. 

This week we tried our hand at Halloween Sugar Cookies. I found the easiest recipe for Sugar Cookies and Frosting (recipe at bottom of post) and we successfully made the yummiest most adorable Halloween Cookies!  The Cookie Cutters and Sprinkles were all purchased at Walmart from $2-$5. 

 Quick and Easy and COMPLETELY kid friendly is just what the doctor ordered. 

Keep this recipe close by.  Christmas is coming up and we all know how much Santa loves a good sugar cookie. 
Easy Sugar Cookie Recipe:

2-3/4 cups all purpose flour.

1 tsp. baking soda.

1/2 tsp. baking powder.

1/2 tsp. salt.

1-1/2 cups granulated sugar.

2 sticks (1 cups) butter, softened. 

1 egg.

1 tsp. vanilla.

1. Heat oven to 375* F. Stir together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a small bowl; set aside.

2. Beat sugar and butter on MEDIUM speed until creamy. Beat in egg and vanilla until light and fluffy.

3. Mix in dry ingredients until well blended. Roll out dough. Cut with cookie cutters. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.

4. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until golden around edges. Cool on cookie sheet for 2 minutes.

Sugar Cookie Vanilla ButterCream Frosting Recipe:  1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, softened. 4 cups powdered sugar. 1/4 cup milk. 1 tsp. vanilla extract.
1. Beat butter until light and fluffy. 2. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating well. Add milk and vanilla, a little at a time until desired consistency. 
For Holiday Fun: Add desired colors of food color to divided frosting. Spread on cookies. Cover with sprinkles. Enjoy!