the best journey takes you home
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The Best Journey Takes You Home {Printable} (she: Brooke)

ByBrooke

I don’t know about you, but I’m a bit of a home body. Going home after a vacation, going home for the holidays, going home after a long day at school or work. I have yet to find anything that replaces that special, familiar, comforting feeling of returning home. I want my boys to have that same feeling. I cannot wait to see what life has in store for each of them. I know they’ll go out into the world, have many experiences and adventures. But as a mother, I want nothing more than to create an atmosphere in my home that invites them to return again and again.

April 2015 Visiting Teaching Message Printable (she: Kiki)
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April 2015 Visiting Teaching Message Printable (she: Kiki)

ByKiki Comin

First of all, let me explain visiting teaching. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we are in a congregation where we are asked to go and visit certain ladies each month to really get to know them, share a quick message and find out if they have any needs that need to be met. It’s one of the ways we build friendships and help our leaders know any needs that families have. (There would be too many for them to visit them all!) So why do I love printables + visiting teaching? I LOVE putting to paper thoughts and quotes that inspire and uplift me, my family and those around me and visiting teaching has been such a blessing in my life. I have met so many incredible women who have blessed my life through both visiting teaching and being taught as well! I love the thought of leaving a little thought for them to hang up and think about throughout the month.

The Tender Mercies in Our Lives ~ Sunday Sunshine #7
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The Tender Mercies in Our Lives ~ Sunday Sunshine #7

ByMariel

I look forward to conference every year, seriously. It makes me happy and I was thinking I would like to share a few of my most favorite conference talks with you on Sundays, for the next few weeks, so you can get a glimpse into what listening to conference is like (enlightening, uplifting, and inspirational!)

So, for today’s Sunday Sunshine, I wanted to share a talk that I love, called The Tender Mercies of The Lord…

random acts of kindness
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Random Acts of Kindness- 14 Ways to Spread Love this Valentine’s Day (she:Carmella)

ByCarmella

Valentine’s Day will be here soon, and although it’s a day that is supposed to be filled with love, it’s a day that can easily turn into a lonely time for lots of people in our world. We might be able to help this just by doing a few random acts of kindness throughout the day! Are you up for the challenge?
This list is just a starting point…. you don’t have to do all or any of these things, any kindness you share will still create a ripple effect and hopefully make others feel loved.

Printable Valentine Tag… Stuck-On-You! (she: Anne)
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Printable Valentine Tag… Stuck-On-You! (she: Anne)

ByAnne

Hi OSSS readers! Anne here, back with a printable Valentine tag for ya.

I think that I am with almost all other crafters out there when I scream, from the mountain tops, how much I love the Target Dollar Spot. I mean, can you ever make it 20 yards in before getting sucked in, regardless of what you went in there for in the first place? They always have such cute, seasonal things to create with. A couple of weeks ago I was in there, and how on Earth I was even thinking about Valentine’s Day ideas at that moment is beyond me. But I saw all of those cute post-it notes and the mini pens, and it just happened.
Ok. So how easy is this little Valentine? A post-it pad. A mini gel pen. Some bakers twine. And this sweet and simple Valentine’s Day tag you can download.

a year in review printable
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Year In Review Printable – Good for All Ages (she: Sharon)

Bysharon

Hi all! It’s Sharon back again for another fun year with ‘Or so she says…’ I’m looking forward to visiting with you all each month and sharing ideas I hope you’ll be able to put to use in your own home, family and life.

I’ve had this on-going goal of compiling a list of questions and answers from my kids around each of their birthdays so I could remember all the cute little quirks they have. Well now that I have three birthdays to remember…this never happens. So to solve my little problem, I decided that just once a year I would ask them questions, and this way I’m much more likely to remember to do it. So, starting this year, every January I’m going to fill out this year in review printable I created for each of my kids. I tried to make almost all the questions apply to most ages, it works for my 10, 4, and 1 year old twins.

Kids love those individual bottles of Kool-Aid and this Kool-Aid Valentine printable is so perfect to attach! Quick and easy Valentine for kids! orsoshesays.com #ValentinesDay #valentines #valentine #bemine #koolaidvalentine #koolaid #printable #osss
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‘You’re So Kool’ Valentine Printable

ByMariel

I needed something cheap and easy for my little girl’s Kindergarten class, as far as Valentines go. So, I went roaming up and down the grocery store aisles, trying to think of something kids love. And, then I saw it. An entire bin filled with those nasty Kool-Aid drinks, that my kids are always begging for. They were in a six pack for just $1.25. That worked for me! Now, to just come up with a Valentine to go with them…I think I got it! Isabelle was so excited to bring them to her class and was hoping she would have a few left over, that she could guzzle later.

good better best
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Good, Better, Best (she: Veronica)

ByVeronica

Hello my friends!! I’m so happy to be back this year as a contributor for “Or so she says…”. For those who don’t know me yet, I thought I’d briefly introduce myself. My name is Veronica and I’m married to Ricky…AKA Big Daddy, a good ol’ southern boy. I’m the mom of 9 amazing kids. We are literally a “his, hers and ours” family, which is never the ideal situation, but we are proof that it CAN work! I live in the south…which I love! By day, I can ALWAYS be found at my little table making bow ties for my Etsy shop. I’m also over the teenage girls at church, who keep me crazy busy, but I love them! I have many favorite things (my kids being #1), but with 9 kids, my favorite things are simple. Like the fact that Big Daddy was able to fix my 10 year old washing machine this weekend, or how happy I was to sit in a house of sleeping creatures and watch the episode of Downton Abbey that was recorded. Then there’s always the day last week when I found a forgotten hidden stash of chocolate in my t-shirt drawer. Now THOSE are my favorite things…

Anyhoooo…

I’m not your typical blogger. Actually I’m not a blogger at all.

But, I once was.

I knew exactly what I wanted to share this month, and it made me think of my old blog. I really wanted to do the “blog” thing a couple years ago, with the intention of keeping a better record of the little moments in our lives. And I loved it more than I can tell you! I was constantly writing things down, taking pictures, planning what I was going to do for what day, etc. I found myself sitting at my computer more and more. I could easily justify it, because I was being a good mom and recording our lives. Future generations would LOVE me!!!

One day, everything changed. It was a day when I was “BUSY”. Busy with life. Busy with little things…that seemed like big things. Not busy with bad things, just not the best things. I won’t share the whole post, but you can read it here if you would like.

Have a grateful heart!! Get a full family night lesson on gratitude in today's post. www.orsoshesays.com #familynight #fhe #ldsblogger #churchofjesuschrist #familyfun
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Family Night on Gratitude (she: Veronica)

ByVeronica

Hello friends! It’s Veronica and I’m so happy to be back sharing another fun Family Night Activity. I’m always looking for fun new ideas on how to strengthen my family.

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, we’ve been talking a lot about gratitude. It’s very hard sometimes when I realize my children are growing up in a world of “entitlement.” I think it’s easier than ever before to be ungrateful and to not recognize all the amazing things in our lives.

Pumpkin Carving Party Ideas {With 3 FREE Printables} (she: Brooke)
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Pumpkin Carving Party Ideas {With 3 FREE Printables} (she: Brooke)

ByBrooke

Happy October to you all! It’s Brooke from Blissful Roots. This is easily my favorite time of year! And while baby boy number four will be here in a matter of weeks, I’m still trying to squeeze in any Halloween crafting, baking, and partying that I can. We have our other three boys’ birthdays this week, so we’re in full party-mode around our house. I’m just hoping this little guy waits until after the big party to make his arrival. My four-year-old was very cordial five years ago, and waited until the day after my twins’ birthday to make his entrance into the world, so I’m crossing my fingers that will happen again (at LEAST the day after all the birthdays, even a few days later would be better!).
Today I have some fun pumpkin carving party ideas, and FREE printables to share with you. My dad’s side of the family has a fun pumpkin carving party every year, and we’ve only been able to make it a few times. I wish we could make it more often because we have the best time! Since we don’t make it to the family carving parties very often, I’ve decided it’s high time to start our own little jack-o-lantern making party. Here are a few of the ideas I’ve come up with for our party:

Apple Party Favor Pocket… A Free Printable (she: Anne)
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Apple Party Favor Pocket… A Free Printable (she: Anne)

ByAnne

Hi everyone–it’s Anne from Circus Berry, back again with another fun printable for you. This one comes to you in celebration of Apple Day, which is on October 21. Once October comes and everything turns all Halloween, pumpkins, turkey, or even Christmas (yee gads!), the almighty Apple sort of gets left behind. So, in honor of the Apple (I mean, lets face it, it is one of the most fabulous fruits out there), I am sharing this Apple Party Favor Pocket Printable project with you today! Here you go–

october visiting teaching message
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October Visiting Teaching Message (she: Kiki)

ByKiki Comin

Hi everyone, it’s Kiki here, and I’m so happy to be back this month with the October visiting teaching message. As usual, the printable is free, and would accompany a treat or a visit really well. This month the lesson is The Divine Mission of Jesus Christ: The Bread of Life. I’m loving all of these reminders of the different roles of Christ and hope you take a minute to read it.