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.

The Family • A Proclamation to the World turns 20 this year. All grown up. 

Its birthday makes me think of when it was announced and the subsequent comments from some people. At the time they said it was so "vanilla". Meaning that it was an ordinary. A common knowledge flavored document. 

Well, prophets being what they are weren't exactly intending it for the generation it was given to. Of course it was meant to guide the 1995 generation but it was given then, when it was so "vanilla", so it would have time to sink in before today's full frontal assault on its principles began. It gave us time as a people to prepare our minds and hearts to really understand God's mind.

It also makes me evaluate how I've passed on those principles to my kids. They're the ones that are really going to have to get out there and articulate the Proclamation's point of view. We've tackled some of the tough subjects - gender, same sex attraction and marriage, gender roles - but we'll continue to talk. 

This little download is a Family Proc summary at your finger tips. Puts it in kind of a fun format. Usually I make downloads for My Ring Thing but this one was a special request for a particular purpose and needed to fit inside the scriptures (5" x 7"). Maybe you can use it in yours. Go to our download page here for your gift copy.

If you're looking for a tabletop or buffet table decoration for your YWIE or NB then here's a DIY Lighted Torch that just might do the trick. I made 2 of them and I've used them several times. 

I enlarged the YW Torch image to about 15". Then I used a carbon sheet to trace the pattern onto the masonite board. I used a drill to make holes into each section to be cut out. Then I used my handheld jigsaw to cut out the design. These are painted white, though they could be painted the value colors if there're 8 of them.

Next, I bought small battery operated lights (very handy so I don't have to mess with finding a plug and having an extension cord), and hot glued (low melt) them onto the back of the board. I made sure the lights were visible from the front side and that the placement was staggered. And lastly, I took a tie wrap and tied all the loose wires from view. 

The masonite torch slides in and out of the approximately 1" x 3" base board. Using a table saw, cut a channel the same thickness as the masonite board. With this base, no glue is needed and it pulls apart so it stores away nicely.

The little holes seen at the end of the boards are for dowels to slide into. Flags, bandanas, buntings or anything can be put on a dowel and slid into the holes. This makes it versatile.

Good luck on your upcoming Young Women In Excellence and New Beginnings. 

Just a quick post. I have to do flyers periodically for activities. A flyer is just a little more eye catching if an image added. You can download these blank flyers by clicking the images below. It'll take you to our download page. Then add your own content. Another way we make your life a little easier.

Here's a link to the previous post about our DIY blank flyers.

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 cupcake Leila custom made last year for our Newsletter Subscribers. I didn't post it beforehand mostly because I've been busy (like you) and forgot (probably unlike you). But.... that doesn't mean you still can't have your own little private after Mother's day celebration with it. If you knew her you know she made THE BEST CUPCAKES EVER. She was the Queen of Cupcakes. So even if you don't use it for a Mother's Day you ought to make it some time. Even if only for yourself.

We hope everyone's Mother's day was meaningful. Mine was. Especially this year. 

I went to visit Leila's gravesite Saturday. And, I actually took a selfie. Don't know why I just went with it. (Alisha left some lovely flowers there earlier in the day.) It was a pretty teary-eyed hour, no surprise. 

For some reason I just wished that I could bring Joseph there. I know she's not really there but I think there's something about going anyways. On Sunday, Leila's husband came up with Joseph so I asked if I could take JoJo to Leila's graveside. He said yes and came with us. I know this might not be able to happen every year and he's likely to have another mother to celebrate but I'm glad I got to this first year. Considering the day before, amazingly I didn't cry once with Joseph there. I was happy for the moment. Who wouldn't be happy around a face like that!

Which brings me to my New Year's resolution word post that I did a few weeks ago but haven't shared yet. I felt maybe I was being over dramatic or something with my word choice. But, after my first Mother's day without Leila it seemed like exactly the right word at the right time. So here it is...

I used to do a list of goals for my New Year's resolutions and I've loved the lists I've done over the years but I find that it's really a year round habit now.  So the past few years I've used a different method. Now I pick one word for the year to work on. For 2011 it was "Focused" and 2012 was "Finish". I had one for 2013 but didn't write it down, just had it floating in my head. Then when Leila died everything changed and I seriously can't remember what it was. 2013 will forever be a different kind of year for me.

When 2014 came I picked another word. I like to "wear" the word for a month or two before I commit to it. It has to feel right. That's one of the reasons I like this change in methods for resolutions. It makes me go deeper into my feelings and it becomes more meaningful. 
My word for 2014 is...

I know I'm not letting you know until the year is almost half over. Don't judge :) Like I said, it has to feel right. And sometimes right doesn't fit the calendar's timetable. 

Then I made something to help me remember this year's word. It's been in one of my black idea books for a little while now and it seemed like a good time to do it.

It also has a special meaning relating to a phrase in my patriarchal blessing that really helped/helps me. There's also a song by Sara Bareilles - Brave - that's a little upbeat reminder. So, this year I'm gonna be BRAVE!

That was my post before Mother's day. Then this morning I read this post by one of Joseph's amazing NICU nurses, Sally. More tears. As it turns out I was able to put "my word" into full practice the last few days. If nothing else, this weekend I was brave.

Do you have a word to share?

Celebrate with Us.
Leave your email address for us HERE and like us on FB or Pinterest.
See the Eye Chart Fabric Print you can get HERE

We're still celebrating our birthday over here. We can't help it! We like to party. In honor of our birthday, and you, we are doing a DIY eye chart giveaway! Here is what you do: 

1. Sign up for our email list here: http://mad.ly/signups/99104/join
2. Make sure you've "Liked" us on Facebook

That's it! Easy peasy. Saturday is the last day to enter. We will draw ten names on Monday which means ten of you will get the material and instructions for this eye chart FREE! 

What are you waiting for??

*Canvas not included.

That's right...it's our birthday! Do you like our new birthday suit? (read "website"). We hope you love it, because we do!

If you haven't checked out our "influence" page yet, you should! We are going to be utilizing how we LOVE, LIVE, LEARN, and LEAD more in our posts. You can click on any of the images in the sidebar to see more posts about these particular areas. We are still working on tagging all of our old ones, but stay tuned for new ones! 

We've also officially opened our Etsy shop! She looks a little naked right now, but we will be adding more and more products to help you love, live, learn, and lead your life! Take a look and use coupon code: BIRTHDAYSUIT to get 10% off your purchase! 

If you haven't signed up for our email list yet, you totally should--you'll get free stuff and coupon codes that are exclusive to our list. Sign up is FREE! so click here and git 'er done! 

Rate our birthday suit from one to five in the comments below--ONE is BOO and FIVE is FAB!

PS. Thanks for being our Nesties! We heart you :)

I like to do stuff. Caeden (our 2 year old) likes to do stuff. We are both happier when we are doing SOMETHING! I've been looking into "homeschool preschool" and discovered two things: you can be one of those moms who has a curriculum or you can be one of those moms who says "life is learning!" 

I'm a little bit of both because I'm inherently lazy. I know if I say something like, "Letters from 10:00-10:15" it won't happen...but I still want to have some sort of activity schedule for this Spring and Summer. Enter: the homeschool preschool bucket list! (You can download a weekly activity planner at the end of this post!)

Munchie Monday: Where we make a yummy food! Probably a breakfast food or other food (like rolls! or freezer meals--which I might do since I'm expecting in May) that can be used throughout the week. Specifically these: 

• Blueberry Oatmeal Bread
• Baked Oatmeal Casserole
• Lemon Raspberry Muffins
• Vegan Banana Pancakes
• Utah Scones
• Honey-nut Granola
• Rainbow Bread
• Homemade Poptarts 
• Biscuits
• Whole Wheat Honey Oatmeal Bread
• Homemade Flour Tortillas (I slightly changed this recipe to my own liking, but once you make these you'll never be able to eat store bought tortillas again. Seriously. I just...I can't.)
• Easy White Bread. Let me just reiterate that this is EASY.

Tactile Tuesday: Where we do or make some sort of touch-sensory thing.

• Paint with Watercolors and glue
• Button Sorting
• Finger Painting
• Homemade bubbles
• Ball pit
• Felt activities
• Homemade moon dough
• Dye eggs with shaving cream and food coloring

Work-out Wednesday: Exercise day! Go for walk, do some pilates or yoga, ride a bike, run, whatever! This can obviously be done on other days of the week too, but just in case it doesn't we have a specific day for it. 

• Swimming/run in sprinklers
• Go for a walk
• Go to the park
• Run outside
• Ride bikes
• Fly a kite
• Do Yoga stretches together
• Kick a ball around

Thinking Thursday: Choose a learning activity; numbers, letters, reading, puzzles. Something that makes him think. 

• Alphabet Matching
• Homemade Volcano
• Pom-pom activities
• Just read
• Learn sight words. I've been using DVDs, flashcards, and books from the Preschool Prep Co. They are awesome! Caeden knew all of the words after a month. He's still learning that the words he learned on the DVD/flashcards are in his books.
• Alphabet flashcards. Preschool Prep Co also has these, but I haven't used them yet.
• Learn numbers. You can download a DIY numbers quiet book here. 
• Puzzles

Free-for-all Friday: The day where you do whatever you want! Things we want to do this spring and summer as a family:

• Stargazing
• Fishing
• Backyard camping
• Have a bon fuego (bonfire)
• Get a chicken or two
• Go to the zoo
• Go on a mini weekend get-away

I've made a weekly activity planner that you can fill out weekly. Download it here, or click on the image below and save as. What would you add to the list?

Some of you have been asking about what and how to use the handouts we do here at LDS NEST. There really is a method to our methods. 

We women in the church like our handouts. For as long as I can remember I've been getting handouts. I've even saved several from when I was in YW. (Let's not ask how long that's been.) One problem I had was that the handouts weren't accessible when I wanted them. And frankly, some of the other handouts I threw away and felt it was such a waste of resources. 

I wanted a solution. 

To help save on resources I started designing my handouts as 1/4 sheets (4 to a printed page). That way if someone didn't like them and threw them away it wasn't so bad. Also, when in leadership positions I suggested that all of us design handouts in this way so they could all be consistently sized to save.

Second, I put them on a ring. And for a lack of creativity I called it my Ring Thing. It stuck. I've been doing this size for years and it's been very helpful.

Some people hate handouts but personally I like them, probably because I'm visually oriented. Handouts remind us of thoughts and feelings we've had while being taught or a specific doctrine or principle that is important to us. They end up at bedsides, on fridges or taped to mirrors. It's part of our learning and changing.

                        (As a bonus, I've found that it helps the YW (or kids for seminary) re-teach a principle.) 

My Ring Thing is like a mini book. A personally collected tutorial. You really can collect anything you like. 

Here's our some of our covers.

Here at LDS NEST we'll continue to do most of our handouts at this size. Maybe you'll start designing and doing the same.

If you have any Nestie thoughts about this, let us know. 

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.