Author: Laurie

About Laurie

Just For Fun

Laurie12 Comments

A blog “list of questions” for fun today! I want to thank Onehm for the list.

1. How old is your blog? I started blogging May 27, 2007. I’m still a newbie.

2. How would you categorize your blog? It’s a place I can go for girl time. Since I have all males in my life, I share home decor, girls nights with friends, tips, organizing, and gift ideas. I share funny stories and cute pics of my kids but it’s mainly girl talk.

3. Are the photos you post Photoshopped or otherwise altered? No. I’m too impatient to photoshop. If I take a picture specifically for my blog, it’s up in minutes. ;-}

4. Do you lie in your blog? No. I’m a terrible lair. It is something that I’m currently working on though. I’ve been trying to give “Lost” answers answers lately. Mainly because I’m too open with people and because I think it’s terribly funny.

5. Are you passive-aggressive in your blog? I don’t think so.

6. Do you ever threaten to quit writing so people will tell you not to stop? No. I’m way too addicted right now. But affirmations are always nice.

7. Have you deleted any of your own posts? Why? Yes. I’ve had to delete a post about talking to your child about sex. I’m reading a new book and was really excited to discuss it with my friends. However, someone put an obscene comment on it and I wasn’t moderating the comments. I had to delete the entire post. I was bummed but it was a good lesson learned.

8. Do you delete mean comments? I haven’t gotten any mean ones, yet. (Besides the one in #7.) I would probably delete it if it was a personal attack. If they disagreed with my opinion, that wouldn’t bother me. I don’t expect everyone to feel the way I do. Plus, I actually enjoy a little friendly banter.

9. If your readers knew you in person, would they like you more or like you less? I’m not sure. That’s a really great question. I would like to think that my true personality is represented in my blog, but I think it’s too early to tell.

10. How many blogs do you follow? A lot. I’ve just discovered this blogging world and love it.

11. Which blogger do you want to meet in real life? I would love to meet C Jane

12. Does your family read your blog? No. They aren’t bloggers. I’m so impressed with people who have a large list of family bloggers. I think it’s an amazing way to keep in touch and really experience each other’s lives.

13. Do you have a hit counter? How often do you check it? Yes, I check it often. Like I said, I’m new and completely obsessed.

14. Is blogging narcissistic? No. I see it as giving myself a voice and journalling my experiences. I go as far as to say that in my own way, I’m doing my genealogy. (ha ha)

15. Do you feel guilty when you don’t post for a long time? Yes.

Bonus: Do you try to look hot when you go to the grocery store just in case someone recognizes you from your blog? I can’t imagine my blog ever getting that popular. I don’t really worry about what I look like day to day and will usually run to the store in flip flops, terrycloth capri’s (which I have in many colors), and a T.

Okay, your turn!! How about your blog?!

About Laurie

My Childhood

Laurie10 Comments


I finally got about 200 slides converted onto a CD and am in the process of making a Shutterfly book of my childhood. Here’s one of my favorite pictures of my brother Barry. Naked on the counter! Bro this is for you, hope you’re still enjoying my blog! (ha ha)

I’ve always been a good kisser. I guess it’s because I started out young. ;-}

This is my FAVORITE picture of my childhood. It has all the things I love: my dad, flowers, and a good road trip. My dad looks so young and full of life in this picture.

Mother of Boys

We’re All Tied Up at the Moment

Laurie12 Comments

My kids are addicted to string! A ball of yarn equal hours of play here at the Turk house. They’ve just added a new element to the string games, it’s call the “Yank and Laugh!” Tie yarn to Drake’s binkie and as you can imagine the tricks were endless. I will say Drake was a trooper, he loved it!

Fun with the string usually ends with my upstairs turned into one big spider web. Their favorite thing to do is to tie toys onto it and dangle it from the banister.

Dylan’s new thing is giving Drake piggie-back rides. It’s so cute!!

Here’s Davis with is latest K-nex design, a race car with a working motor! He was so proud and he asked me to take his picture. He then told me that I can put it on my site so my friends can see it. (Too funny!!)

Girly Girl

I’m in Heaven!

Laurie13 Comments

I am so excited about my new Layer’s new shirt, the Ella! I can hardly stand it. It’s a little pricey, which I’m a little bummed about. But I’m in heaven it’s so beautiful! I think it will look so cute with a skirt and capri’s. I can’t wait to wear it to Dinner Club and church. I think it’s going to be a new staple in my “Dress Up” wardrobe.

Click here to check out the Ella and the other New Summer Arrivals!

About Laurie · Home Decorator

Thursday’s The Bomb!

Laurie15 Comments

Thursday was such a fun day. Part of me wishes every day could be as perfect as yesterday. Parker came over to watch the kids so Lisa and I could finish my errands. I’m not a shopper and so when I do get out, I like to get everything done in one shot. Anyway, after the notary, lots of returns, and block buster, we had our favorite potato soup at Salt Grass. Yummy!

Afterwards we headed over to Hobby Lobby for some decor brainstorming for her new house. Flower stems where half off so I got everything to finish up a center piece for my kitchen table. (I got the “vase” last week.) I’m not a pro at flower arranging by any stretch of the imagination, but I put my anal symmetry to work and here’s how it turned out.

That night, we went to see the Fray and had a blast! However, I will admit that it’s the first time I’ve ever felt old. When we were walking in I overheard a girl ask this guy if he was a Sophomore. I turned to Lisa and said, “I think she means Sophomore in High School!” It was a really weird experience. My birthday is in September so I’ve always been the youngest for everything. I got married young and my friends as an adult have always been older than me. So I hadn’t felt that yet and I’m excited to announce that it was pretty great! I’m 31 and finally felt my age. Woohoo!

I have such a sweet tooth! That’s why I enjoy the Closer so much on TNT because she’s a sweet eater just like me. 🙂 Here’s me indulging in some cotton candy while rocking out to the Fray.

Lisa got a churro and, as usual, was the life of the party! She rocks! She left this morning and I’m sad. It’ll probably be two weeks before I can guilt trip her into making the 4 hour drive, leave her honey, and stay with me again. (Sigh!)

In the meantime you lucky ducks can check her freakin‘ hilarious blog, click here. Some of it is making fun of me, so enjoy! I’m sure I gave her a lot of material this week – our family is so quirky and crazy. I must say, I love seeing us through her eyes. She makes the tough moments knee slapping.

Mother of Boys

Christmas in July

Laurie10 Comments

Instead of taking the boys to a museum or the movies and spending tons of cash on a one time experience, I decided the money would be better spent on some new toys they’ll enjoy daily. Well, our shopping trip to Toys R Us was a success and well deserved after the 4 hours of running errands. (Thank goodness I had my sister with me, or I would not have made it in a happy mood.)

Drake is almost 16 months old and still does NOT wake up happy. I’ll admit, it’s pretty much driving me to a nervous break down starting my morning with him screaming every day! Since I’m pretty much desperate at this point, I bought a bunch of toys for Drake’s crib. I’m hoping this ends my misery. I’m also planning on putting him in there a couple times during the day just to play. What do you think? Have any of you had this problem?

D1 and D2 decided they wanted Ben10 toys. Which I was so excited about because that will complete our “set”. You guys don’t know this about me yet, but I’m a toy fanatic! I love buying toys. With the first two boys I would sit for hours and play with them. It was really helpful for Davis because I would teach him how to play with a friend and his brother while we were playing. (Poor lil‘ Drake will not have that pleasure. 🙂 I’ve finally grown out of my playing with toys stage but thankfully he has his brothers.)

What started out as a $10 each trip ended up to be more because they bought what I wanted them too. Do you do that? Anyway, I love to buy toys in sets. It makes storing, cleaning, and purchasing so much easier. This way there’s a bin for every “set” and we don’t have any stragglers or misc. toy bin. I LOVE it! That’s one thing I get from my mom. She did that but she did it in every aspect of her life. Anyway, moving on.
Girly Girl

A Fun Creative Day

Laurie12 Comments

I’m so lucky to have my sister, Lisa, staying with me again this week. She’s a reading fanatic these days and was using a check I gave her as a book mark. Shameful! Not in my house! So I made her a black, red, and white bookmark. I decided to make me a pink and green one. You can never have too many.

My friend Lisa (I know a lot of Lisa’s) came over to work on our card swap and since I was on a roll, made her a teal and pink bookmark as well. (Doesn’t it POP with that teal book.)

Here’s the full view. Click here for more pictures and directions on how to make.

Here are the cards I made for my V.T. and card swap. I’ll never forget the first homemade card I received. It was after giving a talk in church and a couple days later I got this beautiful card in the mail with the most heart-felt words inside. She had made this same card in maroon. Needless to say, this card is very dear to me.

(Here’s a close up view.) I still remember those sweet words Lori wrote and how special I felt when I received it. I’m hoping I can do the same for someone else. Has someone given you something so small but it made a big impact on you?

Mother of Boys

Indoor Put Put Golf Course

Laurie9 Comments

When the boys are alone upstairs for any period of time, their creativity gets the better of them and you never know what you’re going to encounter.

Sunday, Davis & Dylan outdid themselves and designed our very own indoor put put golf course, complete with numbered animals. How else would we know what order to go in? :-}

First you start by putting the ball through the root beer box (1st pic) and then through this maze of blocks.

Once you reach the end of the hallway, there’s a tricky maze of bins.

Next, you put the ball into the Build-a-bear dog house. (They made a paper front with a hole in it. So great!)

Take a quick break and pose for the camera, well at least Lisa did. 🙂

For the final hole, you must hit the mall between the bins, up the ramp, into the Zoob box. It’s tricky but it’s possible! Thanks Davis and Dylan – we had a blast!

Family Cruise Director

I Spy Bags!

Laurie11 Comments

Do you have one of these I Spy Bags? I’ve had mine for years and the boys still play with them every Sunday at church. I thought this would be a great toy for upcoming road trips as well. Click here to order your own! There’s 20 colors to choose from.

I Spy Bags are loaded with learning and stuffed with fun! Kids love these wonderful, multi-sensory learning tools, and are motivated to use them! The look and feel of the colorful 7″ x 7″ fleece bag pleases both the eye and touch. The 4″ vinyl window allows easy viewing of the 50 or more toys which are hidden among the bag filler.

The entire interactive toy is self-contained so there are no pieces to lose! Great for encouraging finger manipulation. Also makes a great quiet toy, perfect for traveling, waiting rooms, and sitting in church! Click here to view all 20 colors.