4 Ways to Discover Your Roots

No, we're not talking about those gray hairs. Or those weeds that keep popping up in your lawn. We're talking about your family!

Next Monday is National Roots Day. A day to look back on your ancestors, to share stories with family, and just gather to discover your family history. The holidays are a great opportunity to do this. We've compiled a a few ideas on how you can find and share your roots. Family trees and histories make great gifts.

1. Family Search

There are few apps you can use to record your family history. The most user friendly one we've found is FamilySearch or familysearch.org. Not only can you search for ancestors and keep track of them, you can also share what you find with others, make keepsakes, and store photos and stories all in one place. And the best part? It's free! Also try the sister app, FamilySearch Memories where you can do more creative projects to preserve your family history. These make great gifts.

Ancestry.com is another good site, but it's not 100% free.

2. All About Me

Have each family member fill out an "All About Me" sheet before a family gathering. You can compile them into a book or digital file as a gift to your family. Use the free download below as a starting point. You'll have so much to talk about when you get together.

3. Make a Time Capsule

Find a container that will last for a while and put items or letters in it that you can look at in 5 to 10 years. You don't need to bury it in the back yard, but put it somewhere out of the way, maybe with your Christmas decorations. When you open it, it will be a great present from the past.

Some good items to include are: a letter to your future self, photos, a printout of the day's big news stories, predictions for your future, a recording of your favorite song, and a selfie.

4. A Real Photo Album

Take the time to print out some of those digital photos and create an album or book that you can share with family members this Christmas. It doesn't have to be fancy or cost a lot. The point is to get people talking about experiences and memories. Services like Snapfish, make this super easy.

Good luck finding your roots and then sharing them with your family!

Laser Engraving a Christmas Countdown Calendar

So, in early November we had an idea. Why not try to make a Christmas countdown on our laser? It would be easy. We could post it on our Etsy shop and people might even want to buy it!

Well, first of all, it wasn't easy. And second of all, we never did get it right until it was too late to post it on our Etsy shop this year. No one wants to buy a countdown calendar after the countdown is supposed to have started.

We finally did get it right though, so look out for it next year! Here's the process we went through and what we ended up with. Hopefully it will be of help to you in your own maker process.

We started with the premise that we wanted something colorful and Christmassy and also easy to use. Then we asked ourselves, what could a laser calendar be that other calendars couldn't?

Our first iteration wasn't too bad. We spray painted the back board green, and the wood for the numbers white. The "Days Until" was burned in and the "Christmas" was cut out and super glued on. The problem with this was the green spray paint looked okay, but not great. Also, we cut the holes for the dowels at the top the wrong size so we had to shave the dowels down to make them fit. Gluing the "Christmas" on wasn't too hard, but it was a little finicky. Also, we loved the ornament we burned into the bottom center and thought that would be a good place for personalization.

The other issue was how we were going to get this guy to stand up. We tried one of the stands we use for some of our other products. Just slide the board into the stand. This was okay, but the sign just seemed too upright. We wanted it to lean a little. We also wanted storage for the hanging numbers.

Enter the box! Next we tried to make a box stand for the calendar. The box is one we already use for the dice towers we make. We just had to resize it.

Unfortunately, the problems with the box were numerous and varied. First of all, we used the wrong size plywood, so the box didn't fit together right. That error aside, it just didn't feel right.

It would be hard to package and ship. And even though it had storage for the numbers, it was just a little clunky. Add to that the too-slanted and too-big notch for the board, and this idea was a no-go. It also used a lot more wood than other versions, as you can see in the LightBurn screenshots below.

We had much more success with this stand that we use for some of the signs we sell. It's an easel-type stand that can pack flat and the tilt was just right for the calendar.

Another redesign later, we fit the whole calendar, sans stand, onto one sheet of 4mm plywood to reduce waste. We also ditched the color idea because we just couldn't get it to look good. (We even tried a vinyl backing that we burned into on one version.) Instead, we opted for a dark stain/light stain look that was more true to the products we normally make.

We also made all the words and the personalization coin separate cutouts to make them stand out more and be easier to glue on, and put guide lines on the backboard to help us to place the cutouts. The numbers went into a drawstring cotton bag for storage. Much simpler, and we already use those bags for another product we make (the Plan of Salvation set.)

Here is the whole thing fitting on one sheet of 4 mm 12x12" plywood. You can see from the LightBurn settings on the right, the numbers we used to burn and cut the project. It only takes about an hour on our 20 Watt X-Tool diode laser.

Just a few tweaks later, we came up with this beauty. It probably still needs some work, but it checks most of the boxes we wanted. It's easy to mail, customizable, fits on just one sheet of plywood, is quickly assembled, and is a good representation of our work. 

And now we'll have them ready for the Etsy shop for next Christmas!

Texas Proud

  The saying goes, "You don't just move into Texas, it moves into you," and that's definitely been true for our family. From our children saying y'all to our love for TexMex, we have settled here both physically and in our hearts. 

One thing we've learned about Texans is that they love their state. They put the shape of the state on everything and they have fierce Texan pride. Here, the Texas flag flies side by side with the American flag, and everyone proudly claims their home state wherever they go.

Since we love Texas too, we have been making some Texas themed items we want to show you. We also want to share some of the other Texas things we've seen.

The Texas waffle maker is ubiquitous at the hotels here. They probably taste better than regular waffles, too.

Even the stamps on the eggs are Texas shaped!

We made some Texas magnets for out last craft fair.

And we don't want to forget the Texas Tic-Tac-Toe.

So many businesses have the shape of Texas in their logos, it would be hard to share them all.

Some other things Texas is famous for: Longhorns, armadillos, the Alamo, Bluebell Ice Cream, delicious barbecue, pecans, bluebonnets, and football! If you ever come to the Great State of Texas, be ready for some hospitality and lots of state pride. Happy Thanksgiving y'all.

One-Liners for Laser Engravers

Looking for some great one-liners to put your your laser engraved items? Here are a few we haven't seen very often to get you started.

For Water Bottles or Mugs

If there is magic in this world, you will find it in water.

Have you heard the joke about dehydration?

No? That's because there's nothing funny about it.

HIJKLMNO

Water = H to O

Blood is thicker than water (with a vampire graphic.)

Life is Brew-Tea-Ful

Steeped in Happiness

A Few Sips of Serenity (or Sereni-tea)

For Pet Items

My cat Fluffy ate a ball of yarn. She had mittens.

No Pupperazzi, please

The Weiner Takes it All

Don't let my cat use the TV remote. She always hits paws.

You're My Pup of Tea

Don't stop retreivin'!

Come to the Bark Side

About Kids

Our child has a great deal of willpower—and even more won’t power.

I'm more of an Amazon Prime mom than a Pinterest mom.

I tuck my kids in at night and say "See you in the morning." And then we all laugh.

"Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see." -JFK

"Little boys should never be sent to bed. They always wake up a day older." -Peter Pan

 “Play is the work of childhood.” – Jean Piaget

For Teachers

Big hearts can shape little minds.

Without geometry, life is pointless.

I'm not yelling. I'm speaking in italics for emphasis.

"Nine-tenths of education is encouragement." –Anatole France

Teaching: the only profession where you steal things from home and bring them to work.

Dude. Show your work.

Please do not wipe your tears on the exam paper.

11 Gifts for Athletes that are $25 and Under

Runners, cyclists, football players. They all have different needs and preferences when it comes to their gear, diet, and workout regime. Here are a few gifts that almost any athlete would enjoy, and you can usually find them for under $25!

1. A fancy water bottle.

But not too fancy. Like, an under $25 fancy water bottle. Make it more special when you personalize it with their name in vinyl or a motivational quote sticker.

2. A comfy workout shirt.

This is another gift you can personalize with a name, or you could find one that says something appropriate, like "Not All Athletes Wear Shoes," for a swimmer. If you are a DIYer you could do a vinyl transfer of a map of a marathon route that a runner has completed or a list of games a player has won.

3. Slides

They may not be stylish with socks, but they are definitely comfortable for after workouts and games. A middle-of-the-line pair should be the right price. If you're looking for brand name deals, try a store like Ross Dress for Less or TJ Maxx.

4. Recovery Aids

A gift bag with some recovery items would be very appreciated. Some ideas of what to include are soothing bath bombs, Epsom salts, muscle rubs, massagers, cooling towels, or other things to help an athlete relax after a workout.

5. Food!

Those protein bars can get expensive, so help your friend out with a few healthy extras they can enjoy. Other ideas are electrolyte tablets, vitamins, or protein powder. The food should be specific to their workout, sport, or diet they are following.

6. A Cookbook or Health Magazine

These can be digital or paper. Again, get something specific to your friend or family member's sport or workout. Cookbooks can have good ideas for meals that they've never thought of and magazines will  have current ideas and recipes.

7. Socks, socks, socks.

Athletes go through a lot of socks. One more pair would always be welcome. Find out what brand your athlete likes best. People can be picky about their socks. Or just go with the ones with the best reviews.

8. Gloves

Keep those fingers warm with gloves that you can use on a smart phone. Winter sports can be hard on hands, and people always need gloves. They disappear almost as often as socks do. If it's in the budget, a matching scarf and hat would be great too.

9. A bag.

This could be a bag to put around a runner's waist, a bag to carry a water bottle easily, a wet bag, or whatever kind of bag your athlete most needs for their sport. (Sometimes it's a laundry bag.)

10. Safety Gear.

Reflectors for a bike, sunscreen, or a bright running vest are great ideas for gifts. Keep your athlete safe with the gear they need for their sport.

11. A Fitness App.

Fitness apps can be really helpful for workouts, at-home or otherwise. Choose the subscription that would be best for your athlete. There are apps for golfers, cyclists, you name it. Some of them are free with in-app purchases, and others have monthly, weekly, or yearly fees. Do some research online to get the best value for your money.

Good luck gifting! We're sure your athlete will be thrilled with your thoughtful presents! Let us know what you decided on in the comments below.

Holiday Travel Ideas to Make that Drive Seem Shorter

 

When our children were younger we would always be a little nervous before a long road trip. Who would say they were bored first? Who would poke someone else in the eye? And worst, who was going to throw up after being in the car for five minutes?

Some simple precautions helped give us a little peace of mind. First, each kid had their own Ziploc bag for car sickness emergencies. That's saved us a few times. (That, plus a little Dramamine.) Keeping the kids busy was a little more difficult. 

So, we thought we'd share a few holiday travel ideas that have helped us and our children have a more pleasant road trip experience. As for how to get along with your family once you arrive at your destination, well, you're on your own there.

1. Music and Audio Books

So this was hit or miss with us. One of our kids loves music and singing along. One of the others is okay with music, but goes ballistic when his sister sings in the car for too long. Music is still a sore point now that our kids are teenagers, but headphones help. The same goes for audio books. Sometimes they are in the mood, and sometimes they aren't. It's usually worth a try.

Some of our favorite audio books are Harry Potter, The Terrible Two, and The Worst/Best Christmas Pageant Ever.

2. Bribery Bags

Yes, you heard us right, bribery. Before our trip we would prepare small paper bags for each child to open every hour of the trip. In each bag we would put something small and new to (hopefully) keep them occupied and happy for a while. 

Some of the things we've included in the bags were suckers or other candy, a snack, a small toy, a game, coloring, or tiny toy sets. The dollar store is a great place to find items for your bags.

3. Family Games

First of all, Beaver. This is a game passed down from the grandparents. Whenever you see a yellow, diamond-shaped sign, you yell, "Beaver!" That's it. It's simple and noisy, but the kids enjoy it. 

Other noticing games for readers are the license plate game and the alphabet game. Eye-spy is a staple. For fewer arguments, set the rules beforehand. 

The singing game. To play this, family members take turns picking a word and then each take a turn singing a line from a song with the word in it. Whoever can't think of a new song on their turn is out. The last person out is the winner and gets to choose a new word.

4. The Last Resort

You've probably already thought of this one, but screen time is a good way to get some peace and quiet if you need it. We tried not to have our kids on devices too much, but sometimes everyone needs a break. Remember those charging cords!

Have any good car trip ideas to share? Comment below and let us know!

Happy End of Daylight Saving Time! Or not.

This Sunday, the clocks will change. People have mixed emotions about Daylight Saving Time. But whether you are a "yea" or a "nay," the fact is that the days are shorter at this time of year. And shorter days can mean Seasonal Affective Disorder (or SAD) for many people, including people in our family.

There are a few reasons for this, like less sunlight time, loneliness during the holidays, or the need to reset our biological clocks with the time change. Don't lose hope though! There are many ways to combat SAD. https://wellbeingtrust.org has some great information about doing this.

Some symptoms of SAD are depression, heightened anxiety, inability to sleep or sleeping too much, and eating too much. To help with these issues, experts recommend talking to your doctor, light therapy, eating well, maximizing your time in the sun, keeping a regular sleep schedule, and exercising.

Another suggestion is mindfulness, prayer, or positive thinking. So, with the end of Daylight Saving Time, we thought some positive ideas might be helpful.

Feel free to use and share these. We wish you joy.