Author: Laurie

Mother of Boys

Random Creations from Davis

Laurie5 Comments

I found this post in my drafts, I typed it up a long time ago but I thought it was cute.

My oldest son Davis is very creative and comes up with over the top creations. Here Davis turned his CD player into “King Turk”. Notice the gold bling around his neck! They got so into it Dylan made him dollars “because a king is rich”. LOL!

For the end of the school year party, Davis’ class did a readers theatre. Davis was prince charming and came up with his costume by himself it included: his batman cape and knight armor. He was so proud of his costume – can you tell!?!

I came home and Davis had made this rocket pack from a wipes box, 2 water bottles, and colored paper. I swear this kids got creativity oozing out of him!
Blogger

What Color Orange are You?

Laurie8 Comments
You Are Cameo

You are understanding and very empathetic.
You don’t tend to have acquaintances. Everyone is your friend.
And all of your friends tend to be friends. You have a knack for bringing very different people together.

Make sure you comment and tell me what Color Orange you are. This will help us all bond in flavors of orange.

Totally kidding – I’m making fun of my “You have a knack for bringing very different people together.” 😉

Also, check out Part 1 of the Blogtique Challenge on TipJunkie.com! There are some seriously talented women out there. Keep the referral’s coming on bloggers who sell a product.

Business Owner

The Phantom Ghost has come to town…

Laurie14 Comments

Monday night we started baking our treats for our Phantom goody plate. Every year we print out one of our Phantom poems on orange paper, and start the fun tradition of delivering treats to 3-4 families in the ring and run fashion. I always let the boys pick who our victims are going to be. 😉

This year I was a bit ambitious on our cupcakes. The directions sounded easy enough.

Oh well, ours look more like mohawked zombies but we had a fun time making them.

Davis always has a plan of attack, start on the side of the house!

It took us a couple houses, but by the last one Davis waited to ring the doorbell until Dylan was ready to run. Crazy kid! 😉

Meanwhile, Drake had a chocolate pretzel stick dipped in red sprinkles. This is what I saw when I looked back to check on him. My 13 year old turned into vampire!

Shopper

Blogtique Challenge

Laurie10 Comments

I’m putting my Christmas List together and I’ve decided that I’m going to purchase the majority of gifts from my fellow bloggers! I would love to support each of you any way I can. Here are some products I’m considering:


Christmas Cards from Aslhey! I can’t wait!

For Mom or Grandparents:


Generations of Love Necklace from Tabetha. She has many products that would work for almost any female. 😉 Including Christmas ornaments.


Post it Note Holder from Christy

For my Nieces:


Tutu from Bethany.


Pixie Bands from Sharon

For my Friends:


4 Groups of Chocolate from Lauralee

Other Cool Products:


Sassy Camera Strap for the digital scrapbooker or photographer.

Of course there are a lot of products created by women on Executive Homemaker as well.

**Blogtique Challenge**
I’m going to be posting all products created by women on my blog and on TipJunkie.com. Leave a comment and let me know about your product, a friends, or fellow blogger! Let’s get the word out and support each other this Christmas season!
Business Owner

And the Tip Junkie Winner Is…

Laurie1 Comment

Tip Junkie.com is proud to announce the winners of their latest giveaway!

Comment #17 was chosen and so the lucky winners are Laura from “The View From Our House”,

and Angie over at “Seven Clown Circus” for announcing it on her blog and referring Laura!

You lucky girls will receive, Chanda’s AMAZING Friendship 6×6 Mini Albums, a $39 value. If you didn’t win but would still like one for you or a special gift for a friend, you can purchase it and other of Chanda’s creations over on Executive Homemaker.

This is front and back with 10 layouts fully embellished with over 24 different papers, ribbon, brads, threading, and more! Keep this in mind for special events like baby showers, best friend birthdays, and Christmas.

Genuine · Reader

An Autobiography I Can Relate Too Much To

Laurie11 Comments

I just finished reading our last months book club pick “The Glass Castle“. Afterwards it made me feel like I drank two Mountain Dew’s it stressed me out so much. It took about 5 hours and a period movie to calm down my overly stimulated memory and emotions. Seriously, I was a little embarrassed afterwards because I was talking so fast to a couple of my friends while discussing the book.

Why was I so shaken? Because I could relate and had experienced some of the poverty and trials she had. I have been blessed with a terrible memory and therefore I have forgotten and pushed out the rest of the bad times. I feel like that’s how I’m able to stay positive. I was telling my sister Lisa about the book and she kept bringing up stories of our own that were similar. Eeek!

I wouldn’t necessarily recommend the book because it’s so gritty, but it’s very well written and engaging. The author has overcome atrocities no child should have to endure. She has also found her way to happiness and success and I applaud her for making the very best out of her life.

I finished the book at 2:45 right before I picked the kids up from school. So, to prove what a fun and engaged mom I am, I picked up my kids and drove straight to Chuck E. Cheese. 😉 I spent the rediculous amount of money on pizza and tokens just to validate myself. I know it sounds silly but I needed to prove to myself that I’m nothing like the mom in the book and that one does have control over their own situation no matter how they started out in life.

Leave it to my oldest to go through 42 tokens in 20 minutes! That’s got to be some kind of record. 😉 I played with Drake, we ate, picked out toys, and I just felt so grateful I was born here in the USA at this time in history. God Bless America!

Business Owner

All About Food

Laurie20 Comments



My Latest Guilty Pleasure! The perfect blend of mint with a creamy filling. It comes with 2 bars so you can have one before lunch and one after. That is of course if you have the will power, which I don’t! 😉

I’ve got meals on the brain. It’s a touchy subject at my house these days. I hate to cook!! I can not stress this enough. Why you ask? Because I’m not good at it. When I cook for others, I break out in a panic sweat wondering if it’s going to be edible. It’s bad. I got a D is homemaking in Jr. High and am still scared to this day. (Literally, I have a scar on my arm.)

Did anyone see Oprah’s show with Jessica Seinfeld? She has this new cookbook out for kids where you puree veggies and cook them into their meals. I might try this out! Of course that means that my man will have to eat kid food since I refuse to cook 2 meals. One is hard enough. My kiddos are so skinny and they don’t eat very healthy. I like how organized the program is and it looks completely doable. We’ll see…

Another tip, www.Smilebox.com/familyfun has this fun program where you can easily upload your family photos and make a “Tried & True Cookbook”. I think it’s a great Christmas gift idea or a fun addition to a wedding gift. If I ever go OCD on cooking like I’ve done in the past, I’m going to make myself one.

By the way: If you do make one, please make one for me! I’m in major need of some recipes. Jen and Mandy have offered to help teach me how to do some basic cooking to gain my confidence. You rock Ladies! I just might have to take you up on it.

Mother of Boys

The Gig is Up!

Laurie20 Comments

Yesterday during snack after school Davis and Dylan were talking about Christmas and how they want a PS3. I looked over at them and reminded them that that was a lot of money so don’t get their hopes up and be thinking about something else. (You gotta keep ’em guessing. ;))

Davis came up to me after homework and announced that Santa does not deliver the presents. I was surprised and asked him who does? He took both index fingers and pointed them at me, “You do.” He was quite frank and resolved about it.

I was happy that he finally figured it out (he’s almost 9) and then … panic struck! I shuffled him into my bedroom, locked the door, and went into the conversation, by that of course I mean threats on his life! Jason interrupted us and I explained what happened. Again, I saw the panic in his eyes, “Now Davis you can’t tell Dylan…” (more threats)

Then Jason said, “Well now that you’re in the secret, you get to help us play Santa.” Oh my goodness, I thought Davis was going to combust the excitement overwhelmed him and I swear he was 2 inches taller. That did it, all the threats in the world wouldn’t have prevented him from telling Dylan his new found secret – but being allowed to play Santa… Done.

When did your kids find out about Santa?

Mother of Boys

Grandparent Post

Laurie15 Comments

In an attempt to have some quality bonding time with my preteen, um I mean toddler, I enrolled us in Mommy & Me classes at ASI Gymnastics. I don’t know what I was thinking.

Drake is 18 months old going on 13 years old. He is moody, grumpy, he thinks he knows it all, and has a major beef with authority. It’s an hour spent constantly re-directing him as he attempts to make a mad dash to the small trampolines. Once caught he looks at me with his signature “go to hell” look and we start the process all over again. By the end we’re both exhausted and irritable.

There are a couple things my little guy enjoys, yes only a couple. He LOVES the water! Pool, lake, bathtub it’s all good! I’ve been putting him in the tub a lot just to get things done, like get dressed. 😉

Drake also LOVES shoes! If you come over and leave your shoes by the door they’ll be snatched up quickly. Doesn’t his little feet look so cute in Ella’s shoes! He was so mad when he had to give them up. He puts my shoes on several times a day.

We’re well into fall baseball for both the boys. It takes up 2 nights a week an all day Saturday. Here’s Dylan. I should clarify. Jason takes them 2 nights a week and on Saturdays. Drake is such a grumpy ball of fire at the ballfield, I stay with him at home. It’s too exhausting running after him or trying to keep him happy in the bleachers. Thanks honey!

Here’s Davis. I’m not counting on any invites to the All Star team, but I think it’s a good experience for the boys. They’re really looking forward to basketball in the winter and I think that sport suits them a little better.

Where are you carpooling your kids to?