LDS Nest
  • Home
  • Blog
  • About
  • Influence
  • Shop
  • Not LDS?
  • Contact
  • Handouts

LDS NEST BLOG

LOVE • LIVE • LEARN • LEAD
NURTURING THOSE WHO NURTURE

DISTINCT & DIFFERENT • IN HAPPY WAYS

JOIN OUR MAILING LIST HERE

MOM • Reverence Begins with Googly Eyes

6/4/2015

0 Comments

 
Diapers, bottles and quiet toys. Those days have been long gone for me. Or so I thought. I'm 52 and mothering a toddler.

Mom 2.0

As mothers sometimes we wish we could do it over again. Do it better. Avoid some of the mistakes. Have more fun. Or be more serious. Whatever it was that we weren't.

We've also learned from experience. A fascinating, sometimes frustrating teacher. That in itself, already having gone through the ups, downs and outcomes, gives us an advantage and a different perspective the second, third or ninth time around.
Reverence begins with googly eyes • LDS NEST
Sorry for the blurry photo. I was picturing taking in stealth mode since it was Sunday School in the Chapel.
My Mom 2.0 tip: Reverence begins with googly eyes.
I know. Not the profound tip you might be expecting. But one that'll work. Small, compact and keeps a kid's attention for about 10 minutes. Anything that can entertain quietly for that long should be shared.

The eyes were sticky backed and I stuck them on his legs and fingers during sacrament meeting. This photo is during Sunday school where I was starting to entertain myself by sticking them on his head. (I wouldn't recommend this for sacrament meeting as it had all the adults snickering. Who keeps the adults quiet? Another day.)

A bonus grandparent tip: These aren't bulky and can be put in your pocket for last minute moments when you're asked to watch a grandchild or any child. You'll be a hit.
Picture
0 Comments

MOM • Kiss O' The Irish Print & Teen Kissing

3/13/2015

1 Comment

 
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.
DIY St. Patrick's Day Print - Kiss O' The Irish
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.
Shannon Christensen on LDS NEST
1 Comment

MEMBER • Building Family Unity - The Nested Family

2/16/2015

0 Comments

 
Today I put my first editable PDF online for you Nesties. Happy dance. I know it's not a big deal to some of you but it feels like a big deal to me. Other Nesties have been asking me about editable (means you can write your own text in certain places) PDFs. I just didn't know exactly how to do them but now I've figured it out. I've been working on several (Hundred?) projects and many will include the editable feature from here on out. This one just has a few check boxes and one place for writing but that's all this needed. Now on to what 'this' is.
Picture
The Nested Family - Collected Bits to Build Unity. This series will include 40ish tips on how to build family unity. Today is only the first tip, COMMITMENT, but it's pretty necessary. Maybe you might want to discuss the level of commitment needed for an eternal family for FHE tonight. Read it below or you can get our gift download for later reading here. 
The Nested Family - Collected Bits to Build Family Unity #1
The Nested Family - Collected Bits to Build Family Unity #1
The Nested Family - Collected Bits to Build Family Unity #1
Here's the third page that gives you space to write your Personal Commitment Pledge. Then you can put it on your Ring Thing for handy referencing. (Download our Nestie gift to you here.) 

This is part of my RESET One Word Resolution which leads to taking my family COMMITMENT to the next level. 

Does family unity come easy to you? 
Happy FHE tonight.
Shannon Christensen for LDS NEST
0 Comments

MORALIST • Giving Praise Notes & Compliments

8/26/2014

0 Comments

 
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. 
BYU Magazine
Picture
Compliment Kits
BYU Magazine Noting the Praiseworthy • Praise Notes & Compliments
BYU Magazine Article • Noting the Praiseworthy
Picture
0 Comments

LOVE • Love is All You Need, Really???

6/26/2014

2 Comments

 
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.
All You Need Is Love, Oh And... DIY Print • LDSNEST.com
Esty Print
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.
DIY Print • All You Need Is Love, Oh And... • LDSNEST.com
Etsy Shop
"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?
Shannon Christensen
PS • You might want to give it as a wedding gift. Just a thought.
2 Comments

Planning Youth Activities Infographic

2/24/2014

5 Comments

 
How many of you teach the youth in your ward? (raises hand). Have you checked out the new youth activities website? If not, you so totally should! It's pretty great. I've created a little infographic with the basics of planning an activity. 
Youth activities infographic from LDSNEST.COM Why do we have youth activities and how to plan them #lds #ldsyouth #ldsleadership #leadership
Picture
5 Comments

Party Tabletop Toasting • Strawberry Fluff

12/24/2013

0 Comments

 
More Tabletop Toasting.
Party Tabletop Roasting - Strawberry Fluff © Shannon Christensen for LDSNEST.com
Click Image Above to Download
Bucket. Pea Gravel. Sterno Can. Skewers.

Party Tabletop Roasting - Strawberry Fluff © Shannon Christensen for LDSNEST.com
Light Flame. Skewer Strawberry. Add Marshmallow. Toast.
Party Tabletop Roasting - Strawberry Fluff © Shannon Christensen for LDSNEST.com
Party Tabletop Roasting - Strawberry Fluff © Shannon Christensen for LDSNEST.com
Here's a nestible, Ring Thing for you.
Party Tabletop Roasting - Strawberry Fluff © Shannon Christensen for LDSNEST.com
Click on Image Above for Download
Picture
0 Comments

Party Tabletop Toasting • Apple Caramel Crunch

12/23/2013

0 Comments

 
Parties are everywhere right now. This might be something that works for you. Tabletop toasting.
Party Idea Toasted Apple Caramel Crunch © Shannon Christensen for LDSNEST.com
Click Image Above for Download
Bucket. Pea Gravel. Sterno Can. Skewers.
Party Idea Toasted Apple Caramel Crunch © Shannon Christensen for LDSNEST.com
Light Flame. Skewer Apple. Toast Apple.
Party Idea Toasted Apple Caramel Crunch © Shannon Christensen for LDSNEST.com
Add Toppings. 
Mini Chocolate Chips. Caramel Sundae Sauce. Chocolate Covered Toffee Bits. Chocolate Sundae Sauce. Chopped Nuts.
Party Treat • Toasted Apple Caramel Crunch © Shannon Christensen for LDSNEST.com
Here's a nestible, Ring Thing for you.
Party Idea • Toasted Apple Caramel Crunch © Shannon Christensen for LDSNEST.com
Click Image Above for Download
Picture
0 Comments

MORALIST • Stop the Contention with Compliment Kits

12/7/2013

91 Comments

 
Update 4/2019:
There's been so much trouble with the free download site that I've put this on my 
 ShannonsStudio.com Etsy business site for $3. Hope this helps

Contention. I hate it. Ironic huh? 

Contention is a part of what happens in families but something we all try to stop in our homes. I was thinking about it and what I could do to help our family lessen it when I came across Gordon B. Hinckley's quote - 
"There's a sad tendency in our world today for persons to cut one another down.... Try the opposite of that. Try handing out compliments."
Compliments. How easy. I thought this would be a super first step for me to take. And then I had this idea (the Boyfriend calls me "the idea woman"). I could make little Compliment kits. I love kits. (You can see a collection of kits on my Pinterest board.) 
Compliment Kit • © shannon christensen for LDSNEST.com
CLICK ABOVE FOR DOWNLOAD
I was heading down for a trip that some of our family had planned when we had Leila's funeral. We also decided to do devotionals when we got together. I wanted to do the compliment kits for them as part of mine. Here's what's inside and how we use it.
Compliment Kit • © shannon christensen for LDSNEST.com
CLICK ABOVE FOR DOWNLOAD
Compliment Kit • © shannon christensen for LDSNEST.com
CLICK ABOVE FOR DOWNLOAD
I really like how they turned out. I Mod Podge® fabric to the outside of an Altoid® tin. Inside, I added some fun things. Here's the nestibles for you. Print. Cut. Put together.
Compliment Kit • © shannon christensen for LDSNEST.com
CLICK ABOVE FOR DOWNLOAD
Compliment Kit • © shannon christensen for LDSNEST.com
CLICK ABOVE FOR DOWNLOAD
Here's a FHE lesson to help talk about with your family. 
Compliment Kit • © shannon christensen for LDSNEST.com
CLICK ABOVE FOR DOWNLOAD
Compliment Kit • © shannon christensen for LDSNEST.com
CLICK ABOVE FOR DOWNLOAD
Compliment Kits
CLICK ABOVE IMAGE FOR DOWNLOAD PAGE
You'll have to tell us what you think and any of your experiences in using it. 
Picture
91 Comments

MANAGER • Organizing Handouts - My Ring Thing

12/1/2013

2 Comments

 
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. 
Organizing Handouts - My Ring Thing • © Shannon Christensen for LDS NEST
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.
Organizing Handouts - My Ring Thing • © Shannon Christensen for LDS NEST
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.) 
Organizing Handouts - My Ring Thing • © Shannon Christensen for LDS NEST
My Ring Thing is like a mini book. A personally collected tutorial. You really can collect anything you like. 
Organizing Handouts - My Ring Thing • © Shannon Christensen for LDS NEST
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. 
Picture
2 Comments

ME • Sunday Scripture Studying

10/27/2013

7 Comments

 
Here's a little help with Sunday scripture study. If it helps, here's a Nestible (free printable) for you to use.
Happy Sunday!
LDS NEST Sunday Scripture Study Helps Free Download
FREE DOWNLOAD CLICK HERE
Picture
7 Comments

Leila's Last Thoughts on Pinterest

8/28/2013

10 Comments

 
Maybe I'm sharing too much. I don't know. There's no manual for these sorts of things. But it helps me. Here are Leila's last thoughts on Pinterest.
We get an email when someone has an interaction with us on Pinterest. We get one even when it's one of us that pins from our personal accounts. Aug 4th-5th was the night/morning that Leila went into the hospital and the last time she was conscious. When I saw an email saying Leila had "liked" something from LDS NEST's Pinterest boards I took note of the date. It was the 4th. I took note of the time, it was 10:10 pm, about 5 hours before her last words.

Since her passing, there's a need to connect with Leila any last little ways I can. I wondered what she'd been thinking as some of her last thoughts so I clicked through to the pin. Here's what it was. 
Dare to be unforgettable. Done. Leila
RochelleMoulton.com
This is such a bittersweet tug on my heart. It does me good to know these were some of her last thoughts. And maybe she unknowingly left a little message of choosing to be happy by daring to be bold, making it happen, and being unforgettable. This was so Leila. She may have "liked" it but she really lived it also.
10 Comments

ME • Don't Worry, 3 Ways to Be Happy

7/26/2013

0 Comments

 
This research into the 3 different lives that lead to happiness answers a few questions that some of us have. Namely, how can people who do contrary to the Lord's gospel be happy? And how can people who do and sacrifice so much for the gospel still be happy? The principles and practices our LDS lifestyle matched up to the happy life ideas Seligman talks about might give a little insight. (MY thoughts are  listed below in pink.) 
Picture
Picture
Click on the title and it will take you to the talk
I believe there are three different... happy lives.  - Martin Seligman
1 • THE PLEASANT LIFE
The first happy life is the pleasant life. This is a life in which you have as much positive emotion as you possibly can, and the skills to amplify it.... they're extremely social.... They don't spend time alone. Each of them is in a romantic relationship and each has a rich repertoire of friends.... when we teach people about the pleasant life, how to have more pleasure in your life, one of your assignments is to... design a beautiful day. Next Saturday, set a day aside, design yourself a beautiful day, and use savoring and mindfulness [Skills] to enhance those pleasures. And we can show in that way that the pleasant life is enhanced.  - Martin Seligman
THE PLEASANT 
LDS LIFE...
WARD SOCIALS
PARTIES & DANCES
MEETINGS
REUNIONS
CELEBRATIONS
COMMEMORATIONS

YOUTH PROGRAMS
PRIMARY

RELIEF SOCIETY

FRIENDS
RECREATION
2 • THE ENGAGED LIFE
The second is a life of engagement -- a life in your work, your parenting, your love, your leisure, time stops for you. That's what Aristotle was talking about. The second path is eudaimonian [happiness that's from an active life governed by reason] flow....during flow, you can't feel anything. You're one with the music. Time stops. You have intense concentration. And this is indeed the characteristic of what we think of as the good life....  Your assignment, [a Gratitude Visit] is to write a 300-word testimonial to that person... [someone who did something enormously important that changed your life in a good direction, and who you never properly thanked] show up at their door, you read the testimonial.... And what happens is when we test people one week later, a month later, three months later, they're both happier and less depressed.  - Martin Seligman
THE ENGAGED 
LDS LIFE...
EDUCATION
INTELLIGENCE
LIGHT & TRUTH
SCRIPTURES
PRAYER

CREATING
INDIVIDUALITY
HOLY GHOST
PROCREATION
TESTIMONY
REPENTANCE
FAITH
WORK
LOVE
3 • THE MEANINGFUL LIFE
And third, the meaningful life. So I want to say a little bit about each of those lives and what we know about them. And the third path is meaning. This is the most venerable of the happinesses, traditionally. And meaning, in this view, consists of -- very parallel to eudaimonia -- it consists of knowing what your highest strengths are, and using them to belong to and in the service of something larger than you are.... Another [assignment] is a strength date, in which we get couples to identify their highest strengths on the strengths test, and then to design an evening in which they both use their strengths, and we find this is a strengthener of relationships.... [Another idea]When you do something philanthropic to help another person, it lasts and it lasts.  - Martin Seligman
THE MEANINGFUL 
LDS LIFE...
CALLINGS
LEADERSHIP
TITHES
OFFERINGS
DONATIONS
PRIESTHOOD
TEMPLES
DATE NIGHTS

SEALINGS
PLAN OF SALVATION
CHILDREN
FORGIVENESS
RESULTS
"... we ask the question as a function of the three different lives, 
how much life satisfaction do you get?" 
It turns out the pursuit of pleasure has almost no contribution to life satisfaction.... Where pleasure matters is if you have both engagement and you have meaning, then pleasure's the whipped cream and the cherry.

The pursuit of engagement is also very strong. 

The pursuit of meaning is the strongest.  - Martin Seligman


It was interesting to see which areas I spend my time doing and my relative happiness. So, really I shouldn't be weary in well-doing. So should the phrase be, 'don't weary, be happy'? Okay, I'll say it, "uhh No!" Looking at this, lives 2 & 3 are where I want to be most. But I do like a little whipped cream pleasure in my life. 


What would you add to these lists?
0 Comments

MORALIST • How Do You Teach Fasting?

6/2/2013

4 Comments

 
Picture
Some people really get fasting. I don't think I'm one of them. I do it, just not to the depth that the principle can go. I'm working in the right direction though and I'm happy with that. 

Teaching kids about fasting is even harder than teaching yourself. We usually start to prep our kids at 7 and give them the option to fast. They start with us but have difficulty keeping at it all day but the pressure is off so they don't feel guilty when they don't make it. They're practicing. Then by 8 they've gotten a feel for fasting and know it's time to go all day. 

One of my daughters was complaining of headaches every fast Sunday until I reminded her to hydrate herself on Saturday in preparation for fasting. Some of the others I've told to go say a prayer when they get especially hungry. 

So, what do you say to kids to help them with fasting? What tips work for you? We like ideas. Please share. 
Picture
4 Comments

Motherhood Moments in Pictures

5/20/2013

1 Comment

 
“Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on [camera] is captured forever... it remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything.” - Aaron Siskind. Visit LDSNEST.COM to see more motherhood moments like this one captured!
On a previous post I shared some ideas on how to put JOY in Motherhood. It was awesome to hear how you wonderful moms put joy in motherhood, so thank you for sharing! First idea on my list was "take pictures." 

If you're like most moms, you're usually the one taking the pictures and rarely in them. This past week I tried to change that and I think you should too! 
Motherhood moment <3 LDSNEST.COM
All I did to get these pictures was put my camera on the ground facing us, set the self-timer to a 10-second release, pressed the button, and played with my boy until the camera took a picture. They aren't posed or perfect, and my feet are totally dirty, but I love them. That way when your children look back on your photos and they ask, "Mom, where are you?" you can say, "Look, I'm right there."
Motherhood moment <3 LDSNEST.COM
Motherhood moment <3 LDSNEST.COM
Motherhood moment <3 LDSNEST.COM
Picture
Picture
{not on a self-timer, but I had to share!}
Try it out! Make a conscious effort to be in the pictures, not just taking the pictures. Post one to our Facebook page!
1 Comment
<<Previous
    Picture
    Makers sharing 
    with other Makers
    love, live, learn & lead
    in happy 
    LDS NEST ways
    enter email
    You might find something that feathers your nest here!
    LDS NEST • LOVE
    LDS NEST • LIVE
    LDS NEST • LEARN
    LDS NEST • LEAD

    Enter your email address below to only get blog posts emailed to you. If you want special offers and updates then subscribe using the green button:

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    Enter email


    All
    01 Me
    02 Mate
    03 Mom
    04 Manager
    05 Manufacturer
    06 Money Maker
    07 Moralist
    08 Maven
    09 Magnet
    10 Messenger
    11 Member
    12 Mentor
    Agency
    Challenge
    Children
    Come Follow Me
    Downloads
    Family
    Family • Leila
    Fathers
    Fhe
    General Conference
    Gifts
    Holidays
    Lds Fashion
    Lds Nest
    Lead
    LEARN
    LIVE
    Love
    Marriage
    Motherhood
    Newsletter & Notes
    Parenting
    Party
    Personal Progress
    Pregnancy
    Projects
    Recipes
    Relief Society
    Ring Thing
    Scripture Study
    Teens
    Tips
    Traditions
    Training
    Us
    Young Women



    December 2016
    February 2016
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013

    RSS Feed


    This is NOT an 
    Official site of 
    The Church of 
    Jesus Christ 
    of Latter-day Saints.

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.