My nesting party was one of my favorite days of my life. I know that sounds crazy, but it was so much more than getting my home ready for having a baby. It was a day where I was surrounded by my favorite women on this earth, humbly receiving their love, work, and care. It’s a day that will always remind me that when I’m feeling alone, I’m actually not alone at all. I have women who love me. Today, I’m going to share the practical side of how to throw a nesting party and the heart side of why it meant so much to me. I’m going to have my friend and sister-in-law, Samantha Ray on to give her perspective of what it was like because she threw the nesting party for me. It’s going to be a lot of fun!

Resources from this episode:

Emily Thomas Substack

Samantha Ray Substack

Let's Talk Life with Samantha Ray Podcast

Nancy Ray Website

Nancy Ray on Instagram

Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!

Last week’s episode was all about what’s saving my life right now - mom edition, but I focused on everything that was free. This week is everything else, so it’s part two of What’s Saving My Life Right Now - Mom Edition.

Resources from this episode:

EveryLife Diapers

EveryLife Shampoo and Body Wash

Tubby Todd All Over Ointment

Solly Wrap

Lalabu Baby Carrier

How to Fight Mastitis Naturally Blog

YOTO Player

Spotify Premium Plans

Slugs and Bugs on Spotify

Forrest Frank on Spotify

Good News Guys on Spotify

Jess Ray on Spotify

Warby Parker

Pilot Pens

A'Del Cosmetics

Caraway Pans

Glass Food Storage

Legacy Photo System

Clear Your Photos Free Guide

Timeless Book Series by Gabrielle Meyer

Nancy Ray Website

Nancy Ray on Instagram

Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!

Let’s pretend you and I are sitting down at a coffee shop and you just asked me, “Nancy, what is saving your life right now as a mama of five?” Then I tell you everything that I can think of. That is what today’s episode is going to be.

Resources from this episode:

25% Off Dwell Bible App

2 Peter 1:3-4

Nourish Move Love on YouTube

Clear Your Photos Free Guide

Nancy Ray Website

Nancy Ray on Instagram

Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!

Winsome Joy Ray, our precious fifth baby, was born at home on Christmas Day. This is her birth story.

Resources from this episode:

Nancy Ray Blog

Nourish Move Love Labor Inducing Workout

Peace album by Bethel Music

Matin: Rest album by Jess Ray

Matin: Turn album by Jess Ray

Matin: Love album by Jess Ray

A Vision for this Season

How to Visualize Your Dream Birth by Hailey Aliff

Nancy Ray Website

Nancy Ray on Instagram

Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!

Hello and welcome to May is for Mamas! I am so excited! I love this month of the year on the Work & Play podcast! We are kicking off this series with 20 of my favorite things that I have experienced this postpartum season. This is going to be a great episode for you to forward to a pregnant mama or someone who is postpartum. There is going to be a total of five episodes released every Thursday during the month of May with something for moms and something free for you (like a gift or a discount). It’s all going to be in every episode, but you have to stay and listen to the end, so don’t miss it. I can’t wait for May is for Mamas 2025. Let’s go!

Resouces from this episode:

Lumebox (red light therapy)

Stanley cup

HydroJug

Owala water bottle

Element Electrolyte Drink Mix

Peace album by Bethel Music

Matin: Rest album by Jess Ray

Matin: Turn album by Jess Ray

Matin: Love album by Jess Ray

On Moonberry Lake by Holly Varni

Hiccapop bed bumper

Hatch alarm clock

Solly baby wrap

LUXE bidet

Colorfulkhola joggers

No-bake energy balls

Brewer's yeast

Haakaa breast pump

Kindle Paperwhite

Nursing tank tops

We Heart Nutrition postnatal vitamin (use code NANCYRAY for a discount!)

Frida Mom peri bottle

Free Diastatis Recti Repair Program on YouTube

25% Off Dwell Bible App

FREE GIFT: Calm Amidst the Choas podcast series

Nancy Ray Website

Nancy Ray on Instagram

Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!

Well today you’re in for a treat. I have my dear friend, Mary Marantz, author of Underestimated, on the podcast. She has written three amazing books, but we’re talking about her latest one. I cannot even tell you what a gift it has been to me so far. I know you’re going to love this conversation with Mary. If you are stuck in feeling afraid of moving forward in a dream or idea that you have… if you feel like you’re just a drop in a bucket and you don’t know how to create… if you feel like you are afraid and there are scripts playing in your head and you don’t know how to get past them, today’s episode is for you.

Resources from this episode:

Underestimated by Mary Marantz

Dirt by Mary Marantz

The Best of You by Alison Cook

Biblical Principles to Overcome Overwhelm with Jordan Raynor

Take the achiever quiz!

Pre-Order Underestimated

Mary Marantz on Instagram

Nancy Ray Website

Nancy Ray on Instagram

Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!

Do you know what I don’t talk about enough? My Contentment Challenge. It has become a regular part of my life every year now, but it continues to be one of the best things that I do. Today, I’m going to share eleven benefits that I experience every single time I do the Contentment Challenge and my unique approach to it this year.

Resources from this episode:

25% Off Dwell Bible App

Take the Contentment Challenge

Work & Play Episode 3 - The Contentment Challenge

Nancy Ray Website

Nancy Ray on Instagram

Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!

Today, I’m going to share what it means to live in day-tight compartments. This is a follow-up episode from last year called, “Be Where Your Feet Are.” Basically, an encouragement and reminder to you to be present today and that’s all you need to focus on.

Resources from this episode:

How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie

Nancy Ray Website

Nancy Ray on Instagram

Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!

Last week, I told you all about my favorite books from 2024. This week, I’m going to tell you all about what I plan to read in 2025.

Resources from this episode:

Nancy Ray Book Club

By my friend on Goodreads!

Kindle

On Moonberry Lake by Holly Varni

The Blooming of Delphinium by Holly Varni

Smart Brevity: The Power of Saying More with Less

TwoTone Creative

The-Opt Out Family: How to Give Your Kids What Technology Can't by Erin Loechner

The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins

40 Days of Decrease by Alicia Britt Chole

Anonymous by Alicia Britt Chole

Underestimated by Mary Marantz

The Wild Robot Trilogy by Peter Brown

The Wedding People by Alison Espach

The God of the Garden by Andrew Peterson

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

They Ask, You Answer by Marcus Sheridan

The If I Run Series by Terri Blackstock

The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter

How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

Nancy Ray Website

Nancy Ray on Instagram

Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!

Reading books will forever be an important part of my life. It is something my dad has instilled in me. I will always be sharing the books that I’m loving and the books that I’m hoping to read on this podcast because I think it’s one of life’s greatest gifts. So today I am going to be sharing with you my favorite books that I read last year in 2024.

Resources from this episode:

Nancy Ray Book Club

Goodreads

Set the Stars Alight by Amanda Dykes

Made for People by Justin Whitmel Earley

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

Rebel by Graham Cochrane

The Unplugged Hours by Hannah Brencher

Women of the Word by Jen Wilkin

The Giver by Lois Lowry

The Restoration Series by Terri Blackstock

How to Train Your Dragon Book Series

Nancy Ray Website

Nancy Ray on Instagram

Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!