Banana Nut Energy Bars

3 ripe bananas, mashed
1/4 c. honey
3 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla
1 Tbsp. ground flaxseed
1 tsp. salt
1/2 c. finely chopped almonds (I use the food processor on these)
1 c. spelt flour (can use all purpose flour)
2 c. oats

Preheat oven to 350. Mix bananas, honey, oil, cinnamon, vanilla, flaxseed, and salt. Add almonds, flour, and oats. Spread in a greased 8x11 pan. Bake for 25 min. Makes 12 bars.

Soda Fix

We've started drinking Virgil's Diet Root Beer and it's been great. All natural sweeteners and only 6 calories per serving! I didn't think I really missed pop since I stopped drinking it a few years ago, especially since on the rare occasions when I splurge and have a pop, I end up disappointed. But this is a delicious treat for me!

Stimulus: For Economy or Government?

From the Center for Freedom and Prosperity:

Reduce Government Costs: Have Fewer Kids!

Nancy Pelosi approves that idea:

Bring Back Thrift Week

Thanks to Jan at the Mothers Institute for pointing out Thrift Week. Be thrifty this week!

Auto Bailout? Just Say No

The Cato Institute speaks out:

Motivating Kids

I've debated on when and how much to offer rewards to our kids for pitching in around the house. I've heard convincing arguments both for and against it.

I haven't done it yet because I figured they were too young, and I also want them to have a sense of responsibility, to know that we help out because it's the right thing to do, not to get something out of it (other than the mutual benefit of having a nice environment to live in).

But, I know I work better if I know there's some type of reward, even if it's just a "thank you" from my family.

Yesterday, Natalie made me consider the idea of an allowance.

We were planning to go out to lunch with a few of our relatives. Natalie headed up to her room and started trying to pull some money out of her piggy bank.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"We need money to go out to eat," she replied.

I told her that she didn't need to get out any money, that Mommy and Daddy would pay for her lunch.

"No, my want to pay for your lunch," she said.

She was so insistent, and so excited about it, that we let her do it. She was so proud to put her money in to pay for lunch.

How more so would she feel if it was money that she earned?

Natalie tends to be reluctant to pick up toys or help with other chores.

DH tested the reward idea by offering the girls a Skittle (just one!) for picking up the set of farm toys that were scattered all over the floor.

"I've never seen her pick up so fast," was his comment.

I did the small piece of candy reward for potty training, but I think we'll go for an actual monetary reward here.

One reason is because she was so excited to have her own money to take out. Another is that it can help instill the idea of saving, if there's something that she wants to get that costs more than one allowance. (I'm thinking we'll do payments based on a sticker-card system, where she gets a sticker for each of a given set of tasks she does, and once the card is full, she gets some money.)

Another is that it gives her the option to spend it on someone other than herself.

I guess that's what touched me about her wanting to pay for lunch. She wasn't being selfish--she was paying for something that the whole family could enjoy.

Thinking of others is something I definitely want to instill in my children.

Republican Party: Time to Rebuild

Thanks to Laura at Red State Eclectic for posting this: