The Nester blogs

Welcome Nester fans! Thanks so much for stopping over! I've been having a slow summer as far as the computer goes – and I hope you have been, too! Let's get outside and enjoy some traveling! Go on picnics; hit the beach; enjoy our National Parks; read a book; buy some shoes. You know, the important things.

My blog is MOSTLY about "Inspiring Ideas" to infuse your home, celebrations and life! with reflections of our faith. But, a girls' gotta relax a bit so please be forgiving if I throw in some random goings-on now and again.  :-)

I host a fair share of giveaways, I post about once a week or so, and I love to see photos of your versions of the ideas you've seen here... things you've been inspired to do or create. Here's a sample of my previous posts:

A custom tray:

My studio:

Wall art ideas with scripture:

A little love and sparkle like this Ribbon Ball for my daughter:

So, please look around and enjoy your visit! When you're done, you're welcome to pop over to my Etsy art store and see some of the other things I've been trying to do this summer – my real passion – more inspirational paintings!  :-) See you next time!

PS: And now you can follow me on twitter or facebook!

Shopping Central Coast California!

As always, when I venture out from the desert to the west coast I see such amazing abundance of bountiful blooms!! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the flowers!!

AND, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the shops!! :-) Here are a few I adored and recommend for that boutique feel of fun vintage, unique manufactured and local handmade.

The Nest in San Luis Obispo:

Paper Sky in San Luis Obispo:

Home Arts in Cambria: (I want to LIVE in this store!!!)

Affairs of the Heart in Arroyo Grande.

If you love lavender, there are a couple lavender farms near Paso Robles and Atascadero. And, naturally, loads of fun products made with lavender. We stopped by the 2nd Annual Lavender Festival in Paso while we were there. Great vendors, great festival on the town square.

Pleated Poppy at (in)courage Giveaway Winner!

The winner of the Lindsey Cheney Giveaway -  her choice of one of Lindsey's creations available at the (in)courage shop is ...

... "Lora" who blogs at My Blessed Life!

Congratulations, Lora!! Have a look, then email me your choice and mailing address!!

 . . . . . . . .

Hey all! Please pop back to my previous post about Helping Mommy When She's Down and add your ideas, too! Thanks!!

Helping Mommy When She's Down

Sometimes the Mommy in the family goes down. She has a surgery – elective or emergency – and is told to stay off her feet for days or weeks on end. Or is pregnant and on bed rest. Or just brought home a newborn. Or catches a flu bug. Or something worse, like a life-threatening illness ...

...so how can we help? I've compiled some ideas from my experiences over the years – ways I've helped or have seen other help.  AND please add YOUR ideas in your comments so this post will be a better resource for everyone.  :-)

HOW WE CAN SERVE:

Take the kids for a play date.
Babysit at her house while she rests.
Take older kids to a movie or school shopping.
Run her errands.
Offer books or DVDs to help with boredom.
Shop her grocery list.
Take her to an appointment.
Sort her mail.
Clean her house (vacuum, dust, dishes, straighten toys).
Decorate for the current/upcoming holiday.
Do yard work: mow, rake, shovel, weed, etc.
Wash her car.
Bring her cards and notepaper to catch up on her correspondence.
Bring a flower bouquet.

BRING FOOD:

 

•  hot prepared meal;
•  "heat-'n'-serve" breakfast dish;
•  "heat-'n'-serve" dinner;
•  healthy soup;
•  fruit basket;
•  bag of groceries;
•  gift card to local restaurant that delivers;
•  plate of wraps, cold sandwiches, pasta salad;
•  veggie tray;
•  have a pizza delivered;
•  drop off baked goods, like hearty muffins or banana bread or cookies;
•  large salad with dressing on the side;

What are YOUR ideas??

PS: Enter my Giveaway until Tuesday night!!

Pleated Poppy Giveaway!

WooHoo! You didn't think I'd just tell you how fabulous Lindsey Cheney from The Pleated Poppy is without offering a giveaway did you? You know me better than that peeps!

So, let's check out the stash from this talented seamstress again, shall we? Over at the (in)courage store we find ... 

... Fun tea towels: Taste and see that the Lord is good. Psalm 34:8

They will celebrate Your abundant goodness. Psalm 145:7 NIV

Posy Pins with uplifting messages:

And she has more designs. You can see the whole collection at (in)courage, of which the winner may choose any one item!!

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:

1. For one entry, simply comment below.
2. For TWO additional entries, blog, twitter or Facebook about this post and link to it. You must leave another comment telling me you did so.
3. For another entry, FOLLOW ME on blogger or twitter or become a facebook "fan" and don't forget to come back and let me know in a separate comment! One entry for each!
Contest is open until midnight MT, July 20th. Winner must have a US shipping address and an email to contact you!

California Poppies and Celebrity Sightings!!

I just returned from an amazingly fun week vacationing with the fam in California. We explored the central coast from bottom to top, dipping our toes in the waves on every beach along the way. Good thing my kids like beaches as much as me!! :-)

One of the non-surf highlights of my travels was getting to meet IRL one of the celebrity bloggers I've been stalking from afar - Lindsey from The Pleated Poppy:

She's such a doll and was so kind to take time out of her busy schedule for me. She maintains a blog, runs a web store, mothers 3 little ones AND homeschools! We got a chance to gab at a playground while our young kids all entertained each other.  Here's beautiful Lindsey getting attacked by my hat:

She's wickedly talented with a sewing machine and her fabric creations are gorgeous. She sews things for all over her house and has great tutorials for you, too ... I say "you" because I don't sew.  :-(   I bought a few cute hair clips for my daughter and since she was wearing a hat, too, she promptly clipped two onto it:

Fun! They're layered so nicely and the colors and fabrics are perfectly on trend! Lindsey had a booth at a craft show in one of the beach towns and this was her setup:

What a great shop! Don't you wish you could have made it to that art/craft fair?! I do!! Great job, Lindsey! If you go to her blog, you'll see a link to her own super cute gift shop. Plus, she also has different and equally ADORABLE inspirational creations in the (in)courage shop over at DaySpring. My favorites are the Crisp Posy Pin Collection:

and the Trees of the Forest - Handmade Tea Towel:

I loved getting to know the real Lindsey behind The Pleated Poppy. She's a sweetheart! Go check out her blog and her cute fabric creations!

Shutter Headboard & DVD winner

So, curb shoppers that you all are, you'll appreciate my latest home project. A find from almost 4 years ago that is enjoying it's 3rd life in my son's room.  

Vintage wood shutters from a little 50's ranch home! One day I was out walking with my newborn son, 1 year old daughter and extremely hyper Labrador when I spotted the treasures. Unfortunately Candid Camera was not there to capture the antics of the sleep-deprived new mom trying every possible way to fit these large, heavy shutters into or under or on her double stroller. It was not happening. As untold witnesses hid behind curtains, I had to risk returning the treasures to the curb while I hi-tailed it umpteen blocks home for the big rig ... before another eager scavenger or the garbage man found his way to Pershing Street. 

Alas, I retrieved them and they are now positioned as a headboard in "Li'l Surfer's Bedroom" , after first being painted bronze and positioned over our living room mantel for a few years. A now black coat of paint and 4 ultra long nails and we're nearing the final (for now) touches on my son's bedroom:

His beach-themed bedroom, complete with Lamby and Ducky, is a nod to our favorite vacation spot, the California coast, since we actually live in the desert. :-)

His room needed some weight and the black did just the trick. Offsets the feminine scallops on the bedding ... :-) OK, he's 3, how much longer can I go with it?  :-) This "Down by the Seashore" plaque was a gift, and is the centerpiece of the new headboard:

And here are my beach babies pretending to sleep on the boy's updated bed:

................................

And now for the winner of DaySpring's 3 Really Woolly DVD's: Mandi Arrington You've won!! Email me your address and I'll pop them out to you! Congrats!