Get 1000 #Swagbucks + 15% off your Valentine's Day Order from ProFlowers

Valentine's Day is here, and if you still don't have a gift picked out, Swagbucks and ProFlowers are teaming up to give you a great deal. Order through this link (you'll be asked to create your Swagbucks account if you don't already have one) and you'll get 15% off of your order PLUS 1000 SB, which is the equivalent of $10 in gift cards at Swagbucks. The 13th is the last day to guarantee delivery on Valentine's day, so order now!

In case you didn't know from me gushing about it all the time, Swagbucks is a rewards site where you earn points (called SB) for shopping, discovering deals (like this one), watching videos, taking surveys, and even surfing the web. Then you take your SB and redeem them for gift cards to hundreds of places including Amazon, Walmart, Starbucks, Target, or PayPal.

As a special bonus to you, if you sign up through me through this offer and get the 1000 SB, you'll get a bonus 300 SB at the beginning of March. That's $13 total PLUS 15% off your Valentine's Day order.

Get it now!

Valentine's Day Shop Deals #Swagbucks

Still looking for the perfect gift to get that special person in your life? Do you Valentine's Day shopping through Swagbucks and get cash back for all your purchases!

The best part? Through Valentine's Day, select retailers are offering double cash back or more! Just click here to sign up for Swagbucks and learn more.

If you don't know about Swagbucks, it's a site where you earn points (called SB) for doing things like shopping, watching videos, discovering deals, searching the web, and taking surveys! You redeem your SB for gift cards or PayPal cash.

As a special bonus, if you sign up through me and spend at least $25 in shop, you'll get a 200 SB bonus!

Mommy's Little Helper!

Pexels Image: Tookapic

Traditionally many families insisted that each person, no matter what their age was, took part in daily tasks such as making the beds, lighting a fire and sweeping the floor. Until the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 or FLSA, lots of children took on tasks that these days only adults in peak physical health would be expected to perform. When this groundbreaking federal law was passed kids were banned from performing hazardous or dangerous jobs, and children under fourteen couldn't work at all. Those aged between fourteen and sixteen were allowed a part-time job, with strict working conditions in a non-hazardous workplace with limited hours.

However, when it comes to agriculture, the rules are again different. Rural families, especially those living on farms will often have their children pitch in due to the importance of agricultural work i.e. gathering hay before it rains, making sure animals have been fed and taking care of any maintenance that needs to be done. This is clearly reflected in both federal, and state laws regarding child employment as the rules in an agricultural setting are much more relaxed. Children who are twelve and over have no set limit, although it does state parents should use their common sense and the child ‘should not work unreasonable hours’ however, this is left entirely to their parents discretion.

Why Children Need To Do Chores

Teaching children to do chores isn't just so that you can have some extra help around the house because chances are early on you’ll end up doing it for them. Kids need to learn from a very young age that housework doesn’t magically take care of itself and there are certain things that they need to master before leaving their parent’s care. Chores also teach children responsibility for a particular task as well as helping them feel good about themselves in that they are making a contribution to the family dynamic, however, small it may be. Don’t fret about them getting it perfect every single time as it takes time and practice to learn even the simplest things, such as making your bed, setting the table, and sorting dirty laundry.

Pexels Image: Pixabay

Chores Can Be Fun Too!

Please don’t be tempted to rush in and do it for them even though they may be making a right pig’s ear of it. If you’re always there to save the day they'll learn not to bother ‘because mom will do it anyway’ and it’ll make them feel disheartened, or that they can’t do anything right because all you do is yell at them. Turn quick, easy and straightforward chores into a variety of games, such as races to tidy their bedroom and who can collect the most dishes, safely and carefully, then put them in the sink.

If you’re more relaxed about the idea of housework they will be too. Consider how old your kids are before you draw up a chore list, as well as what tasks might be appropriate for them but don’t hold back either. Lots of parents put off assigning younger children things to do because in their eyes their just babies’. Actually no, a five-year-old child is not a baby, and in some cultures children are sent to collect water, attend to smaller siblings and even look after young livestock at that age.

Tell Them How Proud You Are

We’re not saying you should load them up like pack mules and ask them to fetch the week’s shopping, but you will be surprised what young children are capable of if you let them. Don’t be stingy with praise either! Even if they’ve only done a half-hearted job of washing their plate, it doesn't matter you still tell them well done! Give them a hug while they’re doing it, as this will reinforce the idea that doing chores have a positive outcome and will give them the impetus to do better next time.

Be Consistent

Be consistent with chores, don’t let a week go by where you don’t ask them to do anything at all, followed by one where they can barely move for all the tasks you’re throwing at them. Allocating a small job every couple of days for younger children is fine, while older kids should be expected to perform simple household tasks every day. The idea of a ‘chore chart’ is incredibly useful as it shows everyone clearly what they have to do, or even better what they've already done. But don’t let kids pick the chores! One, they’ll always pick their favorite, folding warm piles laundry or picking up a fluffy comforter, or they'll end up fighting with siblings over which tasks they wanted to do. Worse, they’ll try to be a grown up, pick something that may be too hard for them and end up making a mess.

Pexels Image: Unsplash

Create Your Chore Chart

When writing out your family chore chart make sure that the descriptions aren’t too vague, as 'clean your room' can be interpreted in many different ways. Instead, writing ‘put books away, pop toys back in the toybox, hang clothes in wardrobe’ tells the child what you’re expecting of them, so you don’t find them flitting around with a feather duster or worse with a bucket of water and a wet carpet. Yes, chores need to be done but there are other important things like schoolwork, friends, and even exercise which comes first. Assign deadlines to tasks but don’t be too harsh about them  and don’t swoop in at the first sign of trouble, or worse spend the entire time micromanaging them which, in turn, will make your kids awkward, uncomfortable and far more likely to make mistakes.

The best way to approach deadlines is to weave them into your children's natural routine. For instance, the dinner table must be set before you all have dinner or, for older kids, the dog should be walked before bedtime. Parenting experts recommend a ‘When / Then’ approach so that children understand that A, there's a time factor involved but don’t feel too intimidated and B, are aware of what treat or reward they’ll get once they’ve completed something.

Use Dollars Carefully

Avoid bribing or giving cash to kids for doing their chores correctly because, while teenagers could have extra duties for money, younger ones need to learn why tasks are done first. Teens who are saving up for concert tickets, a new games console or some designer makeup might want to negotiate with you on their chores which is fine as long as you, and they aren’t unreasonable. Not only is assigning extra tasks, like sorting out old clothes, watering the plants, or washing the kitchen floor an excellent way to get these odd jobs done you can also attach a dollar value to each one and give your teen a choice.

Pexels Image: Pixabay

Chores should be broken down into age appropriate segments so that each child has a list of tasks that they need to accomplish. For example a typical household chore chart with three children aged five, eleven and fifteen could look like this:

Lucy: Five

• Put her toys away.
• Make sure the dog always has food and water.
• Pop clothes in the laundry basket.
• Wipe down any soft surfaces, and clean up any sticky patches.
• Pile books and magazines together and dust tables.
• Make her bed, pulling the duvet up and making sure pillowcases are on the right way.
• Bring in the morning mail to Mom and Dad.
• Wash some plastic dishes.
• Make her own cereal.

John: Eleven

• Sort out the family laundry.
• Sweep and mop the floor.
• Set and clear the table after meals.
• Keep his bedroom tidy and dish free.
• Put away supermarket groceries.
• Help to make dinner in the evenings.
• Take the dog for a walk.
• Peel vegetables like potatoes, carrots and parsnips.
• Clean up the kitchen.
• Wash the family car and hoover inside.
• Fold clean laundry and put it away.
• Iron any clothes that need it. Make sure there’s an adult nearby.

Katie: Fifteen

• All of the above.
• Cleaning the bathroom.
• Raking leaves.
• Doing the grocery shopping.
• Babysitting younger siblings.
• Doing the laundry.
• Washing the lower windows.
• Painting a wall.
• Repairing clothes or organizing trips to buy new ones.

Progress Means Pets ( Maybe)

This way each child knows what they are expected to do as well as any chores their siblings have been assigned as well. While these lists initially may look like quite a lot, they really aren’t. Many children naturally tidy their bedrooms or pile laundry into a basket while cleaning and chores such as feeding and walking a dog are necessary parts of pet ownership. In fact, one of the best ways children can prove to their parents that they may be ready for a pet is by making sure that their chores are done on time.Tasks that have been performed to a high standard show that they are capable of taking on extra responsibility, working hard and can complete what has been allocated.

Chores may not be as fun as playing outside, chatting with friends or riding your bike. Still, if everyone pulls their weight, you'll find they don’t take nearly as long and can actually be fun if you approach them the right way. Not to mention the daily management of the household will run so much more smoothly!

Pexels Image: Skitterphoto

Sick Of Your Job? Work From Home Instead!

Many people go through their day-to-day lives wishing they could be doing something else. It's hardly uncommon to hate your job, but that begs one particular question: why put up with it? Why bother sticking it out in a job that you can't stand instead of just walking away? For most people, the answer is pretty simple, what else would they do? Very few of us have the luxury of just getting up and walking out of our job one day when we decide we're sick and tired of it. So lots of people simply carry on and hope something better comes along. Well if you want to get away from your awful job it's up to you to make that happen. And one of the best things that you can do is to work from home instead. Millions of people every day are discovering how much more flexible and in control they are when they work from home rather than in an office. And if you're wondering what kind of things you could actually do to make that happen, then don't worry! Here is a list of three ways that you can earn money from home.

Start your own business

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Have you always had a business idea that you were sure would make millions? Well then why not just go for it? It's never been easier to set up your own business and thanks to the internet you have access to customers from every corner of the globe. There are plenty of services that allow you to create slick and professional websites and social media has made marketing yourself easier than ever. Just about everything that you need to start your own business, from insight into the best practices, to information on how to court investors, is right at your fingertips. Of course, it's important that you make your business professional and not just a hobby project if you plan on making your living off of it. From well-designed branding to virtual mailbox rental, it's incredibly important to make a good impression with your business.

Buy and sell stuff online

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You would honestly be surprised at just how many people are able to make a solid living this way. Whether it’s clothes, furniture, collectibles or antiques, the internet has opened up markets for just about anything and there's a lot of money to be made if you're able to capitalize on that.

Freelance

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If one of the major issues with your jobs is that you find it too restrictive, then you will definitely want to consider freelancing. As a freelancer, you're able to set your own hours, as well as being able to be selective about who you work for any when. Depending on how much you want to earn you can take on as much or as little as possible. Whether you have a way with words or a knack for design, there are always businesses out there looking for professionals with specific sets of skills.

Lazy Coconut Flour Banana Bread

So it was New Year's Day and I was bouncing around trying to avoid working on my paper organizing and working on my upcoming cookbook. I spotted 3 spotted bananas and claimed them as mine. I remembered I wanted to use up that coconut flour I bought months ago. It's expensive and I'm not sure why I got it (to make some Trim Healthy Mama goodies?) since I don't have the time to bake very often anyway.

Plus, let's face it, in my house when I bake a set of 4 mini banana bread loaves, they are inhaled within a few hours. Still, the allure of that coconut flour with its pretty pretty protein and it's fabulous fiber and it's cautious carb count. I couldn't resist. It makes me feel like I'm being healthier and feeding my kids all great too.

The ingredients:

1 cup coconut flour
3 ripe bananas
4 eggs
6 T melted butter or coconut oil
5 T honey
1/4 t. salt
1 t. to 1 T cinnamon to taste
1/2 t. baking soda
1 T vanilla
Sugar ... here you can do what you like. I used about 3 t. coconut sugar to see what it would taste like in the end. You can use regular sugar or the liquid stevia.

The steps:

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

2. Use pan spray to coat your loaf pan. I like a mini loaf pan that gives us 4 mini loaves plus the cooking time is reduced and the middle is never gross. This is one reason the recipe is dubbed "lazy" ... good cooks use parchment paper to line their baking situations but not me. Lay-zee.

3. Smash the bananas in a bowl and add all other wet ingredients.

4. Here's the other lazy part: good cooks keep their wet and dry ingredients separate, like a bride and groom on their wedding day. Me? Nah. I do the wet stuff then add the dry stuff and mix it all together. The result usually rocks.

*side note: as I was making this recipe, my husband came into the kitchen as I was shaking cinnamon into the bowl (not measuring). He jokingly asked how much I put in. I said I didn't know. He says, "It's okay, baby, you do your thing." I have to say that was awesome because there was a time when he was about to lock me away for the way I bake ... not measuring everything and not being exact and yet my stuff turns out okay most of the time anyway. I love that guy.

5. Put your concoction into your loaf pan/pans. This makes one large loaf or four small ones. Bake for 20 minutes then check it. I never can get things to come out at the same time every time so you'll have to babysit this one. Sorry about that.

6. Top with lots of butter because I am a champion of butter and don't believe it is evil!

You can customize this recipe once you get comfortable with it. For instance, you could add mini chocolate chips or try out applesauce instead of the butter. Let me know how it works out!

Check out more awesome recipes in this!