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Apr 23

10 REASONS WHY SUNDAY IS THE BEST DAY OF THE WEEK

Apr 23

Sunday is my favorite day of the week and it should be yours too. In this post, I explain my top 10 reasons why.

Being Mormon, Sundays are pretty important to me. I regard them as other Christians do, as the “Sabbath Day”. Therefore, I treat Sundays differently than the other days of the week. I don’t do the normal things I would do on any other given day, such as: clean, run errands, shop, etc. Instead, I try to focus solely on Jesus Christ and doing good things. My Sundays are filled with family time, researching my ancestors and relaxing. Each week, as Sunday comes closer, I’m excited to spend a day with those I love and doing things I love to do. There’s no better feeling than doing things that are important to you that also bring you joy.

Sunday is my favorite day of the week and it should be yours too! Here are my top ten reasons why...

Here are my top ten reasons why Sunday is the best day of the week for me and can be for you too.

10 REASONS WHY SUNDAY IS THE BEST DAY OF THE WEEK

I DON’T HAVE TO GET UP AT 6AM.

I’m not a morning person, but I’m not a crazy-long sleeper either. Just give me till 7 or 7:30 and I’m happy. Sunday is the one day all week that I have the luxury of sleeping in, just a little. I’m typically more productive when I arise early, but on Sunday, it’s not about productivity for me. It’s about people.

OUR FAMILY SPENDS THE WHOLE DAY TOGETHER.

I love, love, being with my kids and my husband and we make wonderful memories together just talking, snuggling or playing games. My husband has a very busy schedule and so we don’t have the opportunity to do this for more than 45 min here and there during the week. Sundays are cherished times when we can be a family without rushing or interruption.

Sunday is my favorite day of the week and it should be yours too. Here are my top 10 reasons why.

I DON’T HAVE TO DO LAUNDRY.

I know there are worse things, but laundry always seems NEVER-ENDING! It’s nice to not have to do laundry just one day during the week. Everyone has their things. I guess laundry is mine!

MY KIDS HAVE TIME TO PLAY.

Mr. Maven and I are careful not to over-schedule our kids with activities and outings. They really only have one extracurricular activity each in which they participate. Despite this, it seems as though our evenings fly by. The next thing I know, it’s bedtime and the kids haven’t played much together. On Sundays, they always seem to play together so happily; creating and pretending.

Sunday is my favorite day of the week. Here are my top 10 reasons why it should be yours too.

I MAKE SIMPLE MEALS WITH MINIMAL CLEAN-UP.

Less work=more relaxing. I love to cook. It’s my passion! I grew up as I’m sure many of you did, with Sunday dinner being a special meal. As a new wife, I started out in the same tradition. However, over time I realized that while I enjoyed eating the special meal, I didn’t enjoy spending most of my day in the kitchen. I’d rather be spending time with my family. Now, I plan a crock pot meal or I make something simple like nachos. Fancy? Nope! Yet, this small change simplifies my life and allows me the time with my family that I love.

NO PRESSURE TO GET THINGS DONE AROUND THE HOUSE.

Sunday is the one day each week when I can relax and enjoy the things I love. I can read, nap or whatever and not feel guilty about the many projects staring me in the face! (Yes, I have a crazy-good guilt complex, but I’m working on it) We’re currently renovating our home and it’s hard work making things pretty and functional. Our projects seem to be never-ending, which is why we need Sunday to take a break so we can come back with gusto on Monday.

IT’S A CHANCE TO CATCH UP WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

Our family often uses our time on Sundays as an opportunity to call, FaceTime, email or visit those we love. It’s easy to lose track of precious time during the week when our schedules as moms and wives (among other things) are so demanding. Sundays are a great day to touch base with loved ones and plan your next visit.

TOTAL REJUVENATION FOR THE BODY AND SPIRIT.

I feel uplifted from the positive, encouraging messages at church and I rest my body from all the craziness it normally endures. Sometimes I’ll take a quick nap, but most of the time just sitting and relaxing does the trick. This enables me to start my week with a clear mind, energetic body and a happy, go-getter attitude that often carries me through my week, no matter how difficult. I’m not a high-energy person, so I really need this down-time to give my body a needed rest. I also enjoy doing a crossword with my son, making goals, or searching for my ancestors on https://www.familysearch.org.

Sunday is my favorite day of the week. Here are my top 10 reasons why it should be your favorite too.

Look what my week did to me!

I HAVE TIME TO WRITE IN MY JOURNAL

I know that one day, my words, thoughts and experiences will be treasures for my children. It’s important to me to record them. I’ve found that during the week, I’m either too tired when I have the chance to write or I forget to write altogether. Sunday is the perfect quiet time to gather my thoughts and put them down on paper. Do you have a journal?

Sunday is my favorite day of the week. Here are 10 reasons why it should be your favorite too.

TREAT DAY!

We always make a special treat on Sunday to enjoy together and my children love to help me in the kitchen. It’s a special time together! Many times, at my daughter’s request, we share our treats with our neighbors. Plus, it’s an added bonus that we almost always end up with extras that we can pop in the freezer for a future sweet-tooth craving, or last-minute guests.

I have a challenge for you…are you ready? For the next month, join me in treating your Sundays as no-work days. Focus on the things that are important to you and that make you happy. Maybe there’s a relationship you’ve been neglecting that needs some attention. Perhaps you have a talent you’ve not attended to for a while. Spend some time thinking about what brings you joy and then make a plan to follow through with it.

I know that you’ll have more energy and joy for your responsibilities throughout the week because you’ll be rested and happy. You may even have the best week yet!

I’d love to know if you try out my little experiment and what the results are.  I can’t wait to hear from you!

xo Lauren

Posted by Lauren Leave a Comment
Filed Under: Faith, Family Tagged: rest, Sunday

Mar 01

TEACHING KIDS ABOUT MONEY: SPENDING, SAVING, BUDGETING

Mar 01

TEACHING KIDS ABOUT MONEY. www.onehavenmaven.com

Teaching kids about money, specifically, how to wisely spend and budget money can be one of the most challenging tasks. Until they reach a certain age, kids don’t have a good grasp on impulse control and they want to spend their money on everything they see.  Let’s be honest and say that a lot of adults have this same problem! 😉 I believe that a big part of the problem is that most kids don’t have much experience with money. They may get $20 from Grandma at Christmas, but that’s about it. Our kids need to have the opportunity to practice with money in order to learn those good spending and saving habits. After all, it’s much easier to develop good habits while in their youth when the costs of their mistakes are low.

I realize there isn’t a one-size-fits-all method when it comes to kids, so I’m going to share a few different ways to help your kids earn money. Then I’ll explain how to teach your kids to wisely spend, budget and save the money they earn.

TEACHING OPPORTUNITY #1: CHORE VALUES

Teaching Kids About Money: Spending, Saving, Budgeting. (with FREE printable chore value list!)

(This list above is similar to something I came up with for our kids a few years ago. If you like the values assigned, go ahead and download this list for free!)

Create a list of all the possible chores that could be done around your home and assign a monetary value to each. Then, place this list somewhere visible, so your children can choose how much money they’d like to earn. If there’s something they want to buy, instead of slapping the charge on your credit card, tell them to choose from the chore value list. Then, then can buy the item with their own money. By doing this, the child has to weigh out whether the time they’d have to spend doing chores is equal to the value of the toy they desire.

This approach was something my parents implemented in our home when I was growing up. If a friend called and wanted me to go to a movie with them, my parents didn’t just hand over a $20. I had to work for it. Sometimes, I had to complete everything on the list just to get enough cash.

Disclaimer: I think that kids should be expected to help around the home or have “chores” without expecting anything in return, except our gratitude. This chore value list is above and beyond their regular duties.

TEACHING OPPORTUNITY #2: ALLOWANCE

How to teach your kids about money. www.onehavenmaven.com

When our oldest child was about ten years old, Mr. Maven and I decided to change our tactics and give our children an allowance. They receive a monthly allowance, based on their grade in school, which allows them the opportunity to learn how to prudently spend, save and budget their money. This allowance is not tied to any chores or responsibilities. However, we have deducted funds from the monthly total when they’ve broken things, lost things or wasted food carelessly. The reason we chose not to relate their allowance to their chores has to do with what I said above. Everyone contributes to mess, dirt and wear and tear on the home and as such, should all be responsible for fixing, cleaning and generally taking care of it. No one is going to pay you to make your bed and brush your teeth when you’re an adult 😉

From this allowance, we encourage our children to give 10% in tithing (part of our beliefs: https://www.mormon.org), to save at least 10% (in their bank account or piggy bank) and then they may spend the rest how they please. As a result, our kids have purchased their own iPods, Fitbit and many other toys. In addition, they’ve opened savings accounts and college accounts with some of their money.

Over the past almost four years, they’ve really gotten the hang of saving up for things they truly want and forgoing things of lesser value. They’ve also had the opportunity to give through tithing and buying things for others. I will say that our nine year-old still has an issue with the money burning a hole through her pocket, but she’s become a lot more generous. Almost every month, she buys things with the purpose of sharing them with us or her school friends.

TEACHING OPPORTUNITY #3: JOB

Now, I know some of you will say, “Lauren, you’re crazy! My daughter’s only 8. She can’t get a job!”. Well-you’re wrong! Sorry 😉 This picture above is my oldest daughter in 2015. I responded to an email that a distant neighbor sent out to our “pet network” looking for a dog-walker/sitter. Although my daughter was only 10 at the time, she’s a huge animal lover and had been involved in training and walking our lab and a service dog. I didn’t know if my neighbor would go for it, but surprise! My daughter had a summer job, two summers in a row. She was able to save up for her own iPod.

Have your child can use his or her creative little eight year-old mind and skills to earn money. Is s/he a great crafter or knitter? Help him or her sell things on Etsy. Does s/he love to play around in the kitchen? Set up a lemonade or hot chocolate stand. Help him or her sell unused toys or games on eBay or Craigslist. Have your son or daughter petition neighbors to rake leaves, mow lawns, shovel snow, help with gardening or other household chores. Maybe he or she could walk dogs or pet-sit. The options here are endless.

My kids have gone around the neighborhood on occasion, looking for such opportunities. Just last summer, my daughters made popsicles and little chocolate bars to sell and our neighbors bought them out! We also have a community newsletter where my daughters babysitting and petsitting services are advertised for free.

TEACHING KIDS ABOUT MONEY: THE STEPS

Once you’ve established what works for you and your children, make it a habit. You may discover that having a chore list with assigned monetary values is a win-win. Or maybe, you want your children to learn to find creative ways to earn money. You know your kids best, so make it work for your family.

When your child acquires money through a job, doing chores or allowance (or some other way), sit down with them and talk to them about what their plans are with that money. How much are they going to spend? Are they going to save any? Is there something big they’ve been wanting that they should save up for? After you’ve heard them out, I would suggest providing some strong parental guidance 😉

STEP 1: HELP YOUR CHILD OPEN A SAVINGS ACCOUNT

Being able to save and not blow through your money is a practiced, learned habit-not a talent. There are always things your child is going to want to buy, but teaching them the importance of saving with serve them for life. Saving money will teach them patience and perseverance; traits that are often lacking in our instant society.

Our kids have two accounts; a regular savings for big ticket items like a phone and a college savings account that earns a little interest. When we give them their allowance, we encourage them to put 10% into each account (or more if they desire). The 10% rule is nothing new. I remember my parents teaching me this same thing when I was young. It’s a great starting point. If your kids are doing great at 10%, suggest they try 20% to achieve their goal even quicker.

STEP 2: BUDGETING

I don’t know about your kids, but at least one of mine seems to want everything on the planet. If someone else has it, this kid wants it! Sitting down with your child and helping them budget for the things they want is essential to helping them understand how to use their money wisely. It’s a great time to teach the important differences between needs and wants.

Grab your computer or phone, open up a note and have them type the list of things they really want to buy. I try to ask them questions about the items such as: what will you use it for? How long do you think it will last? Is it worth your money? Are you still going to want it in 6 months? Asking questions forces your son or daughter to examine their true reasons for wanting the item. In many instances, upon answering my questions, my child will decide it’s not really a worthy purchase after all.

Once they’ve chosen their goal, figure out with them how long it will take to earn enough money to purchase the item they desire.

STEP 3: SPENDING

(This may seem like a no-brainer, but helping guide your child’s spending habits is super important! Real life example: every single time one child in particular receives money, they spend it in one exciting trip to the Dollar Tree. And every single time, this child is incredibly sad later in the month when they don’t have the money they need to buy ____ item they see at Walmart, etc.)

Ultimately, the choice is up to your child, unless it’s something you just don’t allow in your house. (We have a rule about our kids only buying one sugary item per month with the allowance we give them.) However, you can still ask them the same questions I suggested in the budgeting section. Do you need it? Is it good quality? Are you going to actually use/wear it? Allowing children to spend their own money gives them the opportunity to learn about return policies, quantity or quality and even helps them improve their math skills.

RECAP:

  1. Allow your kids the opportunity to practice earning money (chores, allowance, job using their talents)
  2. Open a savings account for your child/ren; encourage them to save
  3. Help them budget for things they want by calculating the time it will take to earn enough to purchase
  4. Ask thought-provoking questions to encourage wise spending

I’m not a finance expert, but in my “mom-fessional advice”, I’d say that now is the most important time for you to start teaching kids about money. If they’re in first grade or higher, then they’re old enough to understand the basic concepts. Teach them how to properly budget, save and spend their money so that they can develop good lifelong money habits.  Your kids will enjoy the opportunity to have a little money to spend and you’ll love being able to say “no” to the million little things they want at the grocery store without feeling even a little bit guilty.

What are your techniques for teaching your kids about money? Are there some I haven’t included here? Let me know if the comments!

xo Lauren

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Posted by Lauren Leave a Comment
Filed Under: Family, Parenting, Uncategorized Tagged: allowance, bank accounts, budgeting, chores, habits, kids, kids and money, money, money habits, saving, spending, teaching kids about money

Dec 06

HOW TO HAVE A CHRIST-CENTERED CHRISTMAS

Dec 06

If you're looking to focus more on the Savior this Christmas, then this post is for you!
Merry Christmas! I get so filled with excitement and happiness around this time of year.  For our family, the reason its such a joy-inducing season is not just because we have the chance to spend a lot of time together, but because we’re focused on HIM. Our kids are now 12, 11 and 8, but when they were toddler age we realized that we really wanted to place less emphasis on Santa and have a more Christ-centered Christmas.

Santa is fun and we enjoy that tradition. We still put out cookies and milk for Santa. He still brings a special gift for each of our children and fills their stockings. However, Christ was the first gift we were ever given and the one we should be the most excited about. Together, Mr. Maven and I brainstormed ways we could help our kids (and us) spend more time thinking about the gifts that Jesus Christ has given us and how we can share those gifts with others.

White Stocking

Here are some easy ideas for how to have a Christ-centered Christmas this year.This particular tradition began a few years after we decided to have a more Christ-centered Christmas, but it starts the earliest in the season, so I’m listing it first. A friend gave me a little white felt stocking to hang on the tree for Jesus. We decided to use that stocking for more than just decoration. Instead, each year on December 1st begins our month of giving. Strips of paper and pens sit under our Christmas tree. Each time one of us does something kind as the Savior would, we anonymously write it down on a strip of paper, fold it up and put it in the stocking. Our goal is to fill the stocking with good deeds by December 24th. On Christmas day, we read all of the ways we showed Christ-like love and kindness that month. It’s a continual reminder of who we are as God’s children and the kindness and love shown to us by God and his Son.

Sibling Gift Exchange

How to Have a Christ-Centered ChristmasFor children, Christmas is often all about presents and what gifts they’ll be receiving. We really wanted our kids to understand that Christmas is about giving and not getting. So each December, we take our kids to a local thrift store and let them pick out a gift for their siblings. At first, we were paying for the gifts, but now they use their allowance to choose something small, but meaningful for their brother or sister. They look forward to sneaking through the store, trying to make sure the others don’t see what they’re choosing. Often, they choose things like games, puzzles, books or yarn. Then on Christmas morning, Mr. Maven has them give the gifts they’ve chosen to their siblings first before they open their own gifts, so they can experience the joy that comes from giving. This is my favorite! Is it sappy that I’m getting teary just thinking about this moment?

Act Out the Nativity

Easy ideas for having a Christ-centered ChristmasNow, I realize this isn’t something unique to us. I know a lot of Christian families do this. It’s always kind of hectic getting all of the “costumes” together after our special Christmas Eve dinner (more about this in a future post). I put costumes in quotes because they consist of bathrobes and sheets and whatever usually the dog is the donkey 😉 So, we read the christmas story as found in Luke 2 and act out the birth of the Savior…and have a few laughs along the way.

Watch the Nativity

Here are some easy ideas for how to have a Christ-centered Christmas this year.Before we open any gifts at all or read the good deeds from the white stocking, we set the mood for the day. Our church put out a short video years ago called The Nativity which re-enacts the journey to Bethlehem and the birth of the Savior. We gather around and watch this video. The first time we did this, all of our children (including our dog) sat and watched intently and reverently as the joyful event unfolded on the screen. If you want the spirit of God to be in your home on Christmas morning, watch this seven and a half minute video. After the video, we’re lead to the next item on the list.

Opening the Gift

We have a Little People Nativity set that we bought years ago and though my kids are getting older, they still insist we put it out every year. I wrap up the baby Jesus from this set and place Him in the tree. After watching The Nativity on Christmas morning, we open the baby Jesus and put Him in the manger. A simple, but effective reminder that He was the first and most important gift.

Birthday Cake for Jesus

Looking for ways to focus more on the Savior this Christmas? Look no further. This post has simple ways to accomplish this very thing.

After a nice Christmas dinner, the kids help me make a birthday cake for the Savior. We usually don’t have time to make it fancy, but it’s always yummy. We serve it as a regular birthday cake, complete with candles and the “Happy Birthday” song. The kids blow out the candles together and then enjoy tasting their treat.

These simple little additions to our Christmas season have helped us to grow closer together as a family and build our faith. They help remind us that the colorful, wrapped packages, plates of goodies and decorations are lovely and fun, but what matters most is finding peace and happiness through celebrating His birth and living like Him.

My hope for you is that you can feel that peace and joy this Christmas season and enjoy every wonderful, memory-making moment with your family.

How to Have a Christ-centered Christmas

Is there something special that you do to focus on the Savior at this time of year? Please share! I’d love to hear about it.

(*Note: The links in this post are Amazon affiliate links, which means I get a little kickback if you buy something through that link. No cost to you, but it does help me to be able to continue creating awesome posts)

Posted by Lauren Leave a Comment
Filed Under: Faith, Holiday Traditions Tagged: christmas, family, Jesus

Sep 16

4 SUREFIRE WAYS TO MAKE YOUR CHILD’S BIRTHDAY MEMORABLE

Sep 16

Looking for ways to make your child's birthday special? Check out these 4 easy ways.

Years ago, my husband and I decided that we wanted to change how we were celebrating birthdays and Christmas in our home. Birthdays were always fun; with a party and one or two presents from Mom and Dad, but never anything big. We tended to buy the “bigger” gifts for Christmas.

Christmas had become all about, “How many presents are under the tree for me?” and less about the birth of the Savior, Jesus Christ.

After some thought, we decided to make a switch. Big birthdays to celebrate our kids! A day just about them, to let them know how grateful we are that they are a part of our family. Christmas would be small; just one meaningful gift from us to them.

So, how did we do this? We created some fun traditions that our kids look forward to each year.

Breakfast in Bed

Birthday Traditions

Usually the week before their birthday, I find out what they’d like for breakfast. Frequently, the request is for crepes with whipped cream and berries (probably because I forget to make them the rest of the year!). But we’ve also had breakfast burritos, puffy oven pancakes with buttermilk syrup and pop tarts. I get up early and my other two children help me make and assemble breakfast on a tray, which we take to the birthday child for breakfast in bed. We serenade them with “Happy Birthday” as we enter, in our most terrible beautiful singing voices. The rest of us, sit on the floor and join the birthday child in eating their yummy breakfast of choice!

Presents after breakfast

Birthday Traditions

After the yummy breakfast, we bring in the gifts. Usually, there are about four gifts. I don’t necessarily plan to buy four gifts, it just ends up that way. I think it’s fun to open a bunch of presents and be spoiled once a year. It doesn’t always matter what’s inside. Sometimes it’s just about the opening! We try and get them things off of their amazon wish list that they keep throughout the year. I also keep a running list of gift ideas for each child in my phone. As they mention something they really want, I jot it down.

Themed Parties

Themed Birthday Party

We have a rule that determines the number of party guests that can be invited. If they’re turning seven, they can invite seven kids for example. However, we cap the guest list at eight children. With my three kids and eight others, that’s more than enough for this only child (me!) to handle! I love doing a themed party with decorations, cupcakes and games. The kids really enjoy it and the games and activities keep everyone occupied. I won’t lie-this is a bit of work. It takes some planning and lots of pinterest surfing (that’s the fun part), but in the end, it’s all worth it. In the past, I’ve done a puppy party, spy party, halloween-themed party, garden party, spa party and more.

Pick Your Dinner and Cake

Burger and Fries

In addition to choosing what they have for breakfast, I let the kids pick the menu for dinner. Yes, they’re getting spoiled, but it’s only one day a year. Usually, their request is something like mac n cheese, hot dogs or burritos. Easy peasy! The odd time they want to go out for dinner, but it’s typically a request for Denny’s or Sonic, which are pretty cheap. The best part is that if we go out, I don’t have to clean up!

Then comes dessert! My favorite =) I prefer to make cupcakes, but sometimes they really want cake. This past year, K wanted a key lime cheesecake. I found a copycat cheesecake factory recipe that was to die for!

Take Lots of Photos

Birthday Traditions

I know, this is a given. Sometimes though, in the midst of all the celebrating, it’s easy to forget to take pictures of the amazing day you’ve created. Not only is it great to have photos to send to relatives or get inspired for future events, but your kids will love looking back on the fun birthday memories they’ve formed from year to year.

These are just a few simple birthday traditions to your make your child’s special day one to remember, and make them feel like a king or queen for the day. I don’t know about you, but that’s all I want on my birthday! Good food, some gifts to open and relaxing time with my family. A perfect day in my book. Well, as long as chocolate is involved in there somewhere.

What does your family do to make birthdays memorable? Do you have some of the same traditions?
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Posted by Lauren Leave a Comment
Filed Under: Gifts, Parenting Tagged: birthdays, kids, traditions

I’m Lauren, the wife, mother of three and homemaker behind One Haven Maven. I love dark chocolate, old movies and all things pretty! Stick around for a while and enjoy mouth-watering recipes, ideas to help you strengthen your family and discover some easy ways to make your house a home.
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