I like sports. A lot. When I was a teen I remember couples having issues over how much sports the husband watched. I determined that I didn't want to be one of those couples so I learned about sports. The game, rules, how to play. I loved racquetball, softball, and volleyball and have a pretty competitive streak. (But, not as much as the boyfriend, but that's another story.)

The thing is, though my husband is great at sports, he doesn't get into watching them that much. I learned all that to be the one who stays up and watches the games. By myself. Go figure. 

I only commit to watch 1 or 2 teams because I wouldn't do anything except sit in front of the tv otherwise. When a game comes on I tell my children, "I'm not your mother right now" do not bother me. I do have a couple of friends who come over and watch the games with me sometimes. There's a lot of noise making when we watch. 


My sport of choice is football and my team of choice is BYU. Going to the games in Provo was so much fun and I've missed that. (We have tickets to the game in November in Kansas City)


In honor of the coming season here is a printable that I've done.

I've also done this print for my husband who wakes up the kids by singing, "Rise & Shout the Cougars are out!" Needless to say the kids aren't thrilled with the song. But I hope you're thrilled with the watercolor printable. Click the image below or here.

Share this with a sports fan you know.

Have you ever sat to sing songs with your (grand)kids and only remember a handful of those songs. I know just about all the Primary songs (Primary Chorister, favorite calling in the world!) but I still couldn't manage more than a few in the moment. Being a problem solver (ie: creative) I came up with this idea and designed it. A Primary Song Sing • Along Quilt. It's a quilt I can pull out that has over 50 songs listed on it. There'll never be a lull again. I can't make you all quilts but I can sell the fabric panel so you can make your own. 

So that's what I've put in our Etsy Shop - Primary Song Sing•Along Fabric Panel.

Singing the songs are so important for teaching the gospel. I think this is what I'm going to be giving to each of my grandkids when they're born. But I could see it being used as a babysitter blanket, wall hanging, singing time bean bags (cut down smaller), or pillowcase. 

What would you make out of the Primary Song Sing • Along Quilt Fabric Panel?

Happy St. Patrick's day next week. Don't let the Polynesian looks fool you - I'm Irish. And the part of me that's the most Irish is the kissing part. Yeah I like to kiss. Probably has a lot to do with the Boyfriend I kiss. But I digress. 

Since we're talking about kissing, some of my kids (they're 8 of them) have come to me in their teens and asked, "How old do you have to be to kiss?", "When is kissing alright?", or "Is kissing wrong?" That's such a loaded question for a parent!

On the one hand you don't want to encourage it, like it's all good, go ahead, kiss whoever you want. Then on the other hand you don't want to discourage it, make them all freaked out and repressed as if it's wrong. And sometimes kids just want to find out what their parent's are going to say just so they can do the opposite. But you're not sure when they're going to use that tactic. See the problem? So I've always handled it this way - with the truth.

I tell them kissing is fun. Very fun. That I really haven't met too many people who are just starting out on the relationship road say that kissing is boring. I tell them it's exciting. I tell them it drives a mix of emotions. I tell them it's meant to lead us to greater intimacy.  I tell them once you start you really don't want to stop. I tell them that it's very hard to go in reverse once you start. Lastly, I don't tell them when it's okay to kiss. I just say, "Put it off as long as possible." That's it. I put it back on them to decide. Risky I know. But to my surprise most of them have put it off much longer than... well never mind. My kids read my blog sometimes.

Okay, so we were talking about St. Patrick's day. See how sidetracked I get with the kissing stuff? Go get my gift Kiss O' The Irish print here. Then kiss someone. And then tell me how you've handled the kissing question in your family.

Here's a link to our Thanksgiving sign post from last year. If you'd like the download go here.

Reading an article this month in BYU Magazine made me think of this little kit I did for some of my fam. It's the Compliment Kit and it's been downloaded over 4000 times between the 2 files. It seems we all want to write random compliments. They call them "praise notes" in this article. Call them whatever you like just write them. That's the important thing. Read this if you need more convincing. 

Our YW Camp and 4th Year Adventure are done for the year. (On to Youth Conference!) Camp always requires so many people's effort. And it's all volunteer as you know. Our Stake likes to show a little love and appreciation even for the smallest of services. This is a little Thank You Gift that we gave out this year. It was super fast and super easy. (Think of me, my paper cutter and double-sided tape standing at the back of my car.) 

I've changed up the version above to be camp generic for your use. Download here if you need a little YW Camp help. Share some of the thank you gifts you've given (or received) for service.

It's been camp, camp, camp on my brain. And I have a few things to share with you about that. But, for today, I've got a print in our Esty shop that I did before the camp rush.

The Boyfriend and my anniversary is next month (we're celebrating 32 years) so marriage has been on my mind. I kept seeing "all you need is love" or "love is all you need" everywhere on Pinterest when I was doing a little research. Anyone who's been married any length of time (or even for shorter periods) knows it takes more than love. Sure it's the basis, but if it were all up to love we wouldn't have any broken relationships. Married or otherwise.

"Love is all you need" is such an over simplification. Love is the start and the driver but it better get some other passengers on board (forgiveness, patience, fidelity, kindness, etc.) if it wants the fuel to go anywhere for any length of time. Can you tell I have strong opinions about this? Do you?

Well I didn't want anyone in this house thinking that all they had to do was have a little love for a strong relationship so I put my thoughts to paper. And tried to make it handsome. You can find it here.

What are 3 qualities besides love that you think a relationship, any relationship, needs?

PS • You might want to give it as a wedding gift. Just a thought.

I'm in charge of YW Camp thank you gifts this year. So I went back to see what we did last year. Then I thought you all might be needing some ideas too. Of course you can use this idea anytime.

There you have it. A personalized thank you gift that's easy to do and put together. Have any you want to share with us?

Here's a little FHE for Father's Day - Cracker Jack Dad. It's all about the Dad in your family.

Let us know how you appreciate the Dads in your life.

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See the Eye Chart Fabric Print you can get HERE

More Tabletop Toasting.

Here's a nestible, Ring Thing for you.

Parties are everywhere right now. This might be something that works for you. Tabletop toasting.

Add Toppings. 
Mini Chocolate Chips. Caramel Sundae Sauce. Chocolate Covered Toffee Bits. Chocolate Sundae Sauce. Chopped Nuts.

Here's a nestible, Ring Thing for you.

I know Thanksgiving is a week away and it may seem pointless to post a DIY Thanksgiving project but this is so super easy that you can get it done in about an hour after printing. That includes drying time. So, no fear, you can do the sign this weekend.

I wanted to make our Thanksgiving celebration more important, make it a little more meaningful. I went to read the Declaration and realized I hadn't ever read it or at least didn't remember it. I thought this would be a good place to start. I made this 11" x 36" framed sign. The content is condensed from the actual Thanksgiving Proclamation. It's my summary. Meaning that it's my point of view of what's important so you might want to read through it before you print it.

Or...... you can skip the coffee dying process and put the white print in a silver or colorful frame. This project just got easier.

Between YW's Camp and the 4th Year Adventure things are a little behind. But, nice things are happening behind the blog. This is one.

Saw family this weekend at a baptism. Our Geri (mother, grandmother, all around nice gal) made us these Temple Name Bracelets. Used for keeping track of the proxy names in a temple session. She made them using stretchy cord, beads, clips, and a little super glue on the knot. It's a great gift idea and I'm glad I was lucky enough to get one. 

Another example of what we do at LDS NEST. Here's a PERSONAL GIFT HUNT IN A BOX. It might come in handy for Easter but you can use it for anything.