Rasmussen Routines

For 8 YEARS I have used the same system to help my kids remember to do their jobs and cultivate good routines and habits.  Previously we called it the stick system and I have helped lots of moms set up their own stick system.  I created something NEW last night, but employs the same concept.  It's just...prettier!  And for all of my Heritage Makers friends and wanna-be-a-heritage-maker friends, I created it in Heritage Studio.  This allows you to customize this system for your own family and still have it look classy!

Here are your basic job charts.  Now instead of the pockets that I used to create with felt, I will have these laminated and put on the fridge or magnetic surface.  Next come the tiles:

 

These will be cut out and mounted to one inch tiles with Modge Podge and a magnet glued to the back with tacky glue .  You'll notice that each child has their own color.  The black ones are for the different zones in our house.  Obviously, you family will have different routines, or you may want to borrow some of ours, but the beauty of having this in Studio is that you can change it however you like!

The last page (these are all 12x12) tells the kids exactly how to do each routine.  You can post this in one place, or cut it up and tape inside of cupboards closer to the area where the job is to take place.  I printed two of them: one to post in the kitchen near the charts and one to cut up.

So, how does it work?  Easy!  Hold a meeting with each of your kids individually and decide which magnets they want to incorporate into their routine each day.  10 is a good number.  Place all their magnets on the left "to do" side.  As they choose to work on a routine, they can place it in the "in progress" area (optioinal).  This communicates to you that they are working on it and has been shown to decrease nagging by 85%. : )

Then, when they have finished their routine, they slide their magnet to the "done" area.

My kids know that in order to have privileges like friends, media, special shopping trips, etc., I am going to ask them about their routines.  Before I used this system, I used to ask them about everything individually and one of us would always forget something.  For example, everything done but the bedroom.  Or everything looking super clean, but forget to read the scriptures...for a few months!  I have found this system to make the expectations very clear and if we ever need to modify what is on their chart, we have a Monday Mom Meeting and change it.  Simple!

Kathleen Lisonbee's Book

This is one of the most meaningful projects I've ever done.  Kathleen didn't even have an email address when she asked me to help her with her book and brought me her precious family photos in a department store bag.  She originally was creating the book to give to her siblings that are still living, but as we finished tonight she said, "I've got a problem.  I don't think I want to give anyone the book!"

Kathleen is a pure spirit.  I know that Heavenly Father guided me in helping her make this.  I've never made a cornerstone project in so little time.  I hope her family does actually receive their copies of the book one day and feel the joy that Kathleen and I felt as we made it tonight.

Making Valentines for School

O.K., let’s be honest. Are you the kind of parent who is THRILLED to sit down and help your child make valentines for 29 other kids in their class?

I have to confess that I AM NOT. I always run to the grocery store last minute and get whatever dumpy card is left and attach it to the cheapest piece of candy I can find—or not. It is just not something I think about.

This year, however, I am thinking ahead! I just found a very cheap, awesome way to do Valentines on Heritage Makers. There is a new template for a deck of cards that can be made into Valentines for your kids. This allows them to put their picture on the card and address each one to someone the love (or someone they are required to give one to, whatever the case may be : ).

Half of the deck is for the girls, the other half is for the boys. These decks retail for $20 (52 cards) but are included in our Valentine Package at a considerable discount.


The decks will also go on sale on Monday, for one day only, 2 decks for $30.
These specials are for pre-purchased publishing credits and are available only through me, your Heritage Makers consultant!

Please call me ASAP 801-489-8686 to order your Valentine package or put in a pre-order for the Monday sale.

Also, I want to thank my Utah clients who came to my free digital scrapbooking/storybooking class last night. We had a FULL house and learned a lot and I am so sorry that we were not able to fit all who wanted to come. We will have another one soon! In the meantime, there are classes offered all the time from Heritage Makers that you can access from the “Classes” link in “My Studio” in your Heritage Makers account.

Please don't hesitate to call me as you work on your projects and need little help.