Jennifer Henderson

Jake, my son, has always been a bit of a natural martial artist and by that I mean, stealing moves from Naruto smashing them together with a bit of Power Rangers and adding a dash of Ninja Turtles which resulted in something that looked more like a string of high kicks, punches, and dance spins.  It looked pretty good for someone who had been trained by cartoon characters. 

It wasn’t until we saw Kung Fu Panda that real martial arts training became a reality.  We received a free trial and after one class we were hooked.  After visiting a few schools and programs, we found our martial arts home at United States Taekwondo Academy in Richardson.  I dare say that “shopping” for a martial arts school is not unlike searching for the right church/place of worship, neighborhood, school, hairdresser, sorority/fraternity, gym, etc.  It’s very personal and the environment plays a huge part in your level of comfort and your ability to train. 

Jake and I happened upon the Academy one afternoon last July when we were out for a bike ride and ice cream.  We popped in and met Instructor Rico.  We were immediately greeted with a warm welcome and information that would have Jake in class later that afternoon.  I joined Jake shortly thereafter and we became members of the Black Belt Club setting our sights on becoming black belts within three years.  We are approaching our first year anniversary and what a quick year it has been.  We’ve learned so much and still have so much more to learn.  It is such an incredible journey and here’s why…

Today we are taking another look back at an old post that needs a little 'dusting off'.  Our site is newly designed, but some of our older posts aren't up to par.  We are re-shooting some of the pics, updating some of the articles and re-releasing them.

The original post was done within our first month blogging.  The original photos were bad... really bad.  At the time, I thought they were good, but they weren't.  What is good, on the other hand, is the recipe.  This recipe is tried and true and one of the most requested cookies I bake.  They are impossibly easy, but the taste is very unique.  The cardamom adds a twist that will surprise your usual cookie snackers. Click the link for Cardamom Wedding Cookies.

savour... unexpected flavor

Nothing says summer like a campfire or bonfire.  Gathering around with food, drink, and friends stretches the fun well into the night.  If you are lucky enough to have someone in your group who plays guitar the evening is made even more fun with music in the air.  

Today we have compiled a quick list of fun songs for your bonfire.  If you don't have a guitar, gather this playlist together for your MP3 player and take along a way to share it with the crowd.  

Tip: If your gathering is more planned, consider making a printed playlist for your friends to take with them so they can remember the mood of the night long after it is over.  To help you, the playlist you see after the page jump is printable on 8.5" x 11" paper.  Enjoy!

Of course, these aren't the only good bonfire songs, just a few modern choices and some of our all time favorites.  Do you have some you'd like to share? Leave us a comment at the end of the post with your song suggestions.

savour... the music of the night

When the dog bites, when the bee stings… and a dozen other things that aren’t your favorite… that’s what summer brings along with all the fun and sun.  There’s little chance that you will be able to avoid all of the medical mishaps that come with summer.  Some are more severe than others, but with some patience and a little know-how you can treat most of the issues on the spot effectively.

The key to success here is to know ahead of time what to do and to have a 1^st aid kit prepared with all that you might need.  We have compiled a list of some (but not ALL) summertime 1^st aid situations and the quick remedy.  We have also included a checklist for your first aid kit.  Buy one and beef it up or just assemble the supplies you need in a handy plastic tote or used cookie tin.

savour... preparedness

The big day has arrived.  We are happy to announce our new and improved site. I hope you enjoy all that you see here.  We have added new features and there are sure to be a some finishing touches in the next few days.

If you are new to the Nest be sure to check out the Start Here page.  Otherwise, click around and check things out.  Let us know what you think.

While we’re at it… if you haven’t  connected with us around the web take a few minutes to do so.  You will find links to Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Pinterest at the top of the page in the banner.  You can also subscribe to Today’s Nest by email.  If you love what we’re doing and want to share it, grab one of our buttons and forward it on to a friend.

Thanks for continuing to read Today’s Nest and look for new posts coming this week. 

Happy Friday!  You may have noticed we haven’t been around much lately.  Sorry for the absence, but we have been hard at work finalizing a few jobs, a few posts, and getting ready for our revamped site right here.  I can’t give you any specifics just yet, but it won’t be long until we get our new improved look.  Don’t worry! Lola isn’t going anywhere.

In order to make the new site even more fantastic we are cleaning up some older posts (many of which have not been seen by many of you) and giving them new life.  Today we are dusting off one of our very first posts just in time for Cinco de Mayo.

Just a quick word to let you know about a very exciting upcoming post.  We were approached recently by HGTV to complete a project based on our Palette-able Patio Cocktail Table.  To complement the look of the cocktail table on the patio we added a hanging bar.

The use of discarded palettes made that project incredibly inexpensive to make.  Although the hardware added to the cost, the hanging bar still came in under $100.  Not bad for a super stylish piece of outdoor furniture.

The full instructions and lots of pictures will be posted soon at HGTV.  I will be sure to alert you the second it is there.  In the meantime, start gathering palettes.  Click continue reading for a sneak peek photo...