Business Owner

Tip Junkie Mom-preneur Shops

Laurie2 Comments


I’m so excited to announce that the Tip Junkie Mom-prenuer Shops have a new look and are open year-round! You won’t believe the amazing products and gifts now at your finger tips. {{giddy}}

All year long, the Mom-preneuer Shops will feature blogs/shops/sites where you can purchase products created or owned by women. So if you sell a product and are a woman, you can sign up here.

You can sign up for e-mail updates and even become a fan on Mom-preneur Shops on Facebook. Be sure to check it all out!

Mother of Boys

Grandparent Post

Laurie3 Comments


Where’s Drake?


There he is!

Drake and I were watching Max & Ruby when I realized a little later that I was the only one watching it. (Sort of, I was on the computer.) Drake had fallen asleep on the laundry. It’s the first nap he’s taken in probably over a year.

Mother of Boys

Red-Tailed Hawk Project

Laurie1 Comment

Dylan is onto his second big project for 2nd grade and he chose to do a presentation on the red-tailed hawk. Instead of doing a shoe box recreation of it’s habitat, Dylan chose to do a costume instead.

We searched for ideas and when I came across a mascot costume he said, “Mom that’s it! That’s what I want.” {{AHHHH!!}} Can you say high expectations?

To my surprise, he LOVED how his costume turned out. {{relief}} Dylan wanted his picture taken with a lizard in his mouth. He’s such a funny kid!

He was so excited about it, he wore it to school the next day.

Naturally, Drake couldn’t be outdone with the attention. Here he is sportin’ the look as well.

Blogger

What Would You Win an Oscar For?

Laurie2 Comments
You Would Win Best Director


You are a mastermind with a great plan. You can visualize what you want in life.

You are good at leading people and helping them do what you want. You are an excellent coach and teacher.

You are a hard worker, and you’re willing to see a project to completion – no matter how difficult it gets.

You have the both capacity and drive to be an amazing director. Most importantly, you have the vision that’s needed.

Mother of Boys

Be My Valentine

Laurie1 Comment

Now that I’m driving a bit, I made it to the boys Valentine’s Day parties at school. Their teachers are so amazing this year. We feel very blessed as a family to have them as teachers, especially this year.

Well… ok. I’ll admit they were hand picked because I’m one of “those parents”. {{evil laugh}}

Every V-day I buy each of the boys a box of chocolates and let them know they can give it their Valentine if they want to. They day of, I causally ask them who they’re planning on giving it to. I’ve been doing this for years, as it’s my ploy to find out who they like. {{another evil laugh}}

Skyler has been Dylan’s Valentine for 2 years in a row. She was very proud of that fact when I saw her. We had a cute chat about it and she gave me a hug. She’s darling! I love it that Dylan is so loyal to the woman in his life. {{snicker}}

Dylan’s such a sweet little boy. Here he is with a few of his favorite people.

Davis has had a harder year this year. Thank goodness he is so loved at school by his teachers. They take great care of him and are sensitive to his needs. They’re fab!

In years past, Davis has also been loyal to his Valentine, but this year there was a new name that I didn’t recognize. So while I was at the party I asked around and found out who she was. As sneaky as I am, I made sure she was in this photo so Davis could have a picture of her.

For Christmas, he was her “secret admirer”. So funny! He’s always been fine with giving the chocolates to the girl directly, but not this year. I guess it’s a sign that he’s growing up.

Davis grabbed the camera during his party and took some pics of his friends.

Chasing Drake around the school with a weak back is not a good idea. For the most part he behaved himself but Davis’ party was too much and he felt the need to be the center of attention. Needless to say, we cut the party short.

Girly Girl

Valentine’s Dance

Laurie8 Comments

So every year Jason and I crash another ‘Stakes’ Valentine adult dance (church dance). It’s one of the 3 main events I look forward to each year. Since we missed all the parties in December, I’ve been especially looking forward to this one. Here I am those fabulous zebra heals.

Don’t worry, I followed Dr’s orders and wore flats instead. Not as fun but safe. I ordered my dress online from New York & Co., of course. It’s posing as my favorite store until I can justify Ann Taylor prices. (I’m so cheap!)

Here’s a shot of Jason and me right before our big night.


Amy, Aurora, & Rebecca

Due to the number of fabulous people we get to hang out with, finding a restaurant that can accommodate us all is simply impossible. So this year Rebecca hosted dinner at her house.


Greg & Rochelle

Really, it’s just a ploy to get our men to the dance. They feel like they deserve to be feed first. {{giggle}}

(I have to apologize, I brought my little camera for ease and the quality sucks. Most of the pictures I took aren’t focused. Geeze. Now that I can drive, I’ve got to get my camera fixed.)


Anessa, Me, Lisa, & Leslie (I should like to their Facebook accounts. teehee)

Katrina decorated the gym for the dance and as usual did such an impressive job!! It has a French theme as she’s leaving for a trip to Paris on Friday. {{Snaps to her!!}}

I didn’t get a good picture but she cut out a french phrase and modged podged with with glitter and hung it on the curtain.

Ok Ladies, Katrina made these lanterns! She bought the top, added velum and put in a ton of battery tea lights inside, then made the stand. Add some red netting and balloons to boarder the stage.

She also made the Eiffel Tower out of wood, painted it red, modged podged red glitter, and bordered it in lights.


Table Center pieces

Every year our group may possibly dominate the dance floor. It’s not intentional, like I said we just have a rowdy large group. {{oops}}

However this year, we had a turf war. HA! I’m kidding. Come on we aren’t that possessive. Um… maybe only when it comes to songs. Anyway, there was a group who lined danced to every song. Way impressive. I don’t know that many line dances. I’m not a line dancer myself, I’ve never been one to conform. {{wink}}

The decor was fabulous, the company was perfect (a few were missed), but the music lacked a bit. Thank Heaven they finally played “Thriller” for Lisa. It’s just not the V-day dance until the staples are played. 🙂

It was so nice to get out of the house and enjoy the company of friends. I’ve missed them so much. Life just isn’t the same without people to make you laugh and let you into their lives. It felt great to be alive again.

Business Owner

Remembering Why I Do It

Laurie8 Comments

7 years ago I had this dream to have a website called Executive Homemaker. I had it meticulously planned out in my head and on paper. It took a year of coding & designing and finally my dream became a reality a little after Drake was born. Since then I’ve discovered blogging and a much easier, way to inspire women.

The problem with having a website is that you need a webmaster. It’s all very complicated and having one character out of place can bring down an entire page. Currently, we’re having problems with Executive Homemaker and so I asked Jason to take down the entire site.

Honestly, I didn’t think anyone would care. I don’t do anything really to market it and it’s just hanging out there on the web. We’ll, to my surprise I’ve been getting tons of hate mail. Yes Ladies, apparently people are having up coming birthday parties and NEED my transformer bingo and star wars bingo files. People are also unsubscribing because they are angry that the site is down and can’t get their files. {{the drama}}

I can understand the frustration with wanting something you no longer have access to. I completely sympathize with these women. However, reading so many of them is exhausting. I had decided to take the entire thing down completely when I read this e-mail:

“I cannot thank you enough for your materials designed for special needs children, especially for your son Davis. I have five children (ages 8, 7, 6, 3 and 2). My middle child, Trey, has special needs. He has been in Speech and OT on and off since 2 years old. His neurological testing ruled out Autism but yet my husband and I feel it still may be a mild form. Trey is being mainstreamed but each year we try to give his elem school teachers/sunday school teachers an explanation that he’s different than most kids. I loved your book to explain Davis. It sounds like my son almost to a T. I nearly cried when I read it. I am going to provide teachers with this type of book from now on. Sifting through and IEP doesn’t personalize children like this book will. Thank you so much. I also loved the Book About Myself. Trey will receive that well when I adapt it for him. Thank you so much for sharing this. You have been a great support. Judy”

To be honest, everything on there I made for Davis. He’s one that needs extra visuals, structure, and motivation. I can’t thank Judy enough for her kind words. She single handed saved Executive Homemaker from being taken down all together. I’ll have my hunky webmaster with mad-skills make it a priority to fix Executive Homemaker so everyone can have my files.

I just want to share what I have made, not make anyone angry or frustrated. Executive Homemaker doesn’t make any money and right now isn’t even designed too. I did it out of a passion to help and inspire. That’s it.

Hugs to Judy for giving me the lift I needed to keep moving forward.

Mother of Boys

Grandparent Post

Laurie1 Comment

Basketball season for the boys has been underway since December. However, I was finally strong enough to make it to a game. Dylan did such a great job! He was the high scorer.

Davis isn’t that into sports and wants to quit basketball. However, I keep telling him that Mormon’s play basketball so he’s out of luck. What else is he going to do on P-day? {{bwahahaha}}

I’m so mean but he’ll thank me later. {{fingers crossed}}

Small Talker

What’s your take on Toe Cleavage?

Laurie18 Comments

I was shopping online a couple weeks ago for a Valentine’s dress when I found these shoes. I ordered them and have been awaiting their arrival ever since.

When I opened them up, they were even more beautiful then I had expected. However, now I have another problem, they show toe cleavage. Ugh! Usually I have a strict policy against such a fashion no-no but I just adore them. Yes, leave it to something sexy to challenge my moral standards. {{snicker}}

(I’m not even going to be able to wear them for Valentine’s Day due to my surgery.) So should I keep them or take them back? What’s your take on toe cleavage?