Business Owner

New Mom-preneur Shop-a-thon!

Laurie5 Comments

How sad it is it that I’ve been too busy to tell you about my new Mom-preneur Shop-a-thon. It’s a directory of women and their fabulous products. Buy from women this holiday season!

Save the gas money and shop online for your Christmas gifts this year. Every penny goes to supporting another woman and her family this holiday season. Your friends and family are going to be BLOWN AWAY at your gifts this year. {{giddy}}

I am so excited because after 14 days on constant design and troubleshooting, the New Mom-preneur Shop-a-thon has been redesigned!

It used to look like this with only links:

Now it has links with images, discounts, and automatic account upload. {{squeal with delight}}

Jason took off 3 days of work and went to bed between 3-5am for 2 weeks just to design the code and work out all the payment and account integration. Poor guy. But all his work was worth it and we are both so pleased with how it turned out.

I hope you’ll all start shopping and support these amazing ladies. Also, look for discounts just for Tip Junkie readers, they’ll be listed after their shop name.

Women in business ROCK!!

About Laurie · Party Planner

Not Too Old To Dress Up

Laurie14 Comments

For Talk To Me Tuesday over on Tip Junkie we’re doing a show and tell. So here are a couple of the Halloween parties I attended this month.

I love the energy of Halloween and all the possibilities of what you can be for a day. This year we were invited to 4 Halloween parties! {{squeal in delight}} It made the entire month so much fun and filled with new friends and unforgettable moments.

Our neighbors threw a couples only party at our club house. Jason and I felt honored to be invited and it was so nice to actually talk to people without having to keep track of my toddler and keep him out of the street. I was able to conjure up a couple more play dates so it was most definitely a success!

The invitation read:

“Dare to Join Us?
Ghosts and witches are creatures of fright,
Don’t miss the call of Halloween night.
Come one, come all in the threads of the season;
If you miss this bash, ’tis an act of treason.
Be here by 6:30 and meet your fate;
Wear your wildest costume
And bring your tastiest date!”

You know I LOVE a great poem so I had to share it with you.

“The Dog and his wife” won best costume. {{of course, who can compete with inflatable knockers?}} There was also “Sick and Tired” which really cracked me up! They wore matching white bath robes and Sick had some green something dribbled over her shoulder. They have a two year old as well, so it was probably more true than we know. {{wink}}

We also met a couple who dressed up as jail birds. Come to find out they go to our Ward (church). Imagine my surprise as I was taking my class (the 3 year olds) to the bathroom and she walks in. {{surprise}}

Jason’s good friend and co-worker throws an insane Halloween party every year, which every year falls on the same day as our couples-only Halloween party. Every Year! This year I thought for sure it would be different but no such luck. So we decided to get the kiddos a babysitter and go enjoy their party without chasing kids around.

I really enjoy reconnecting with all of the people from work. Their wives are truly lovely and it’s an evening to catch up, eat amazing food, and swap parenting stories.

You wouldn’t believe the transformation they made! Holy cow, it made me want to go goth next year. I didn’t have rebellious teenage years – I don’t think it’s too late. Do you?

We were having so much fun at Phil’s party, we were a little late to the annual couples-only skit mandatory Halloween event. The party was in full swing as we arrived.

Leave it to Janae to get the party started right!

I was a little star struck when I met Sarah Palin. Man she’s tall!

I’m glad to see that some traditions never die, like the fat suit. Julie does such a funny “Asian American Cafe” impression, it was fun to see it in costume. Bravo.

Here’s a Jessica Simpson sandwich!

You can never have too much “Peace & Quiet”.

Drake would have loved the party, as Dora and Diego showed up.

Here’s the Wii fit skit.

Disco won the night as best costume.

This is the only picture of Angelina & Brad Pitt I have who won best skit. They came late and left early. Man, those kids they are so demanding. {{wink}}

Larry King and Sarah Palin’s interview was runner up. They nailed it!!

After the skits were over and our tummies were full, we let loose and danced the night away. It was such a fun night and my favorite year to date.

Mother of Boys · Party Planner

Trick-or-Treat

Laurie4 Comments

The boys had a fun Halloween. Davis went as a clone trooper from the new movie/cartoon which is all the rage now in 4th grade. Dylan dressed up as Indiana Jones Mutt and Drake as Diego.

It only took a couple houses for Drake to figure out how to Trick-or-Treat. Here’s his first house.

Soon he was a pro and off on his own. After a couple houses, there was no convincing him that he should go back home with Daddy to help pass out candy. No way hosay!

So I took the 3 boys with our neighbors to scope out the neighborhood and rid it of all it’s chocolate. Drake got so excited he fell several times, but nothing dampened his newly found candy grabbing obsession.

It was so much fun to see the boys run into friends from school and make more connections. I was glad we made the decision to skip the trunk-or-treat at the church and go door to door with our neighbors. Play dates here we come! {{snicker}}

Davis especially loved his costume and felt so grown up in it. This year we had to have the talk about how what we wear makes a statement about ourselves. I also had to give him a couple fashion pointers. Since he’s so skinny, most of the costumes he wanted to wear just weren’t going to look good on him. This one however, hides that fact and makes him look bulkier and more grown up. I never would have thought I would have that conversation with a 10 year old boy during Halloween. Luckily, he got it and he’s been dressing better in real life as well. Thanks clone trooper!

He has agreed to let Dylan wear it next year as long as the collectively take good care of it. It was too funny listening to their conversation.

Happy Halloween everyone and I hope you enjoyed those special moments with your family.

Mother of Boys · Party Planner

Pumpkin Carving

Laurie4 Comments

October was jammed-packed with family bonding moments. I think that’s another reason it’s my favorite month of the year.

I found some insanely huge pumpkins this year and the boys were over-the-top excited to pick out their favorite face and start carving. The boys always choose a face to carve out.

This year Dylan has decided that he can do it all himself. {{sigh}} It’s just another sign the boys are growing up. There have been many recently.

This month Davis learned knife safety at Scouts and couldn’t wait to use his pocket knife again to construct his scary pumpkin.

I think they turned out amazing. Great job boys!

I’ll be honest and admit I’m not a fan of carving pumpkins. Nope, too messy and the stress of children with knives is too much. Thank goodness for fabulous plastic pieces. Grandma hooked us up with even more this year – so the creepy face possibilities were endless.

Drake stopped wanting to use a knife on the bigger pumpkins and came over to “potato head” the little ones. I’ll have to be sure to buy more smaller ones for him next year.

We creeped out the small pumpkins we got at the pumpkin patch and it was a good time had by all.

Family Cruise Director

A Family That Plays Together Stays Together

Laurie8 Comments

Did you know that Guitar Hero World Tour came out yesterday? My man pre-purchased a copy months ago and has been counting down the days. Thankfully he has headphones.

Here are some random pictures of the past couple days. I’ve been really focusing on being silly and trying to have a fun light-hearted atmosphere in our home. The boys have been cracking me up!



Lisa, this picture is for you. Head to toe in camo. Drake loves his “ammo” hat.

Family Cruise Director

Pumpkin Patch

Laurie4 Comments

We finally made it to the pumpkin patch. It’s a yearly tradition that I usually really enjoy. This year wasn’t picture perfect. Not only would Drake not cooperate with the pictures but I lost him 3 times.

Yes, three. The first time he was gone for quite a while and we had all split up to check the parking lot, bounce houses, and fields. I was in a panic. The little stinker was found happy as a lark jumping in a large pumpkin bounce house. {{scream out of frustration}}


The boys on the other hand, had a great time!

They loved the hay ride.

They loved jumping off the haystacks and playing in the bounce houses and slides.

Drake found Diego which was a highlight for him.


My breaking point was at the hay maze. (Parents weren’t allowed inside) The boys took soo long getting through it, I thought for sure Drake had sneaked out and left with someone’s grandpa.

Next year, we’ll have to go to our usual pumpkin patch with less people, less crowds, where it’s easier to find wandering children. At least I came home with all 3 kiddos. {{relief!}}

Family Cruise Director

Parent Lunch

LaurieLeave a comment

Last week we had parent lunch and early dismissal with the boys. Since Jason was home working on designing my new Tip Junkie Mom-prenuer Shop-a-thon, he was able to come to lunch too. (The new Shop-a-thon isn’t completed yet. Stay tuned.)



We had a good time together. Thanks to the sucker I brought even Drake was well behaved. Although since Jason went on the 4th grade Sky Ranch trip, he knew more parents than I did. Geeze.

Mother of Boys

The Pitfalls of Play Dates

Laurie2 Comments

This is the little darling that I have the pleasure of a play date with every other week. She brings giggles and laughter and a light hearted nature to our hard-core testosterone filled house.

I absolutely adore this little girl and while she’s here, I pretend she’s mine. She laughs at my jokes, dances to my music, and giggles all the time. It’s wonderful.

However, last week there was a little spat on the stairs of the bunk bead and Drake pushed her off, ending in a bone fracture to her wrist.

I’m completely devastated and have been since it happened. I know it’s just an accident but I feel terrible that she got hurt while at my home. I’ll admit, I’ve shed many tears throughout the week. The thought that she won’t want to come back and play with me, um I mean Drake, is completely devastating to me.

I feel terrible that her mom has to deal with her in a cast {{hot pink – of course}}, I feel terrible that she got hurt and had to feel pain while in my home, and I’m desperately hoping she can forgive us and want to come back to play.

Thankfully, her mom is absolutely fabulous and doesn’t blame me nor harbor any hard feelings. I’m so grateful for her friendship. They are such an amazing family and I feel blessed to have them in our lives.

This event has consumed me a bit emotionally. I know that all is forgiven, but now I need to forgive myself.

Mother of Boys

Sky Ranch

LaurieLeave a comment

Davis is in 4th grade which comes with the opportunity to go to Sky Ranch with his classmates. Jason took off work and went with Davis as a chaperone for 3 days of camping, learning, and adventure.





They both came home with huge smiles! It was a bonding moment for Davis and his classmates as well as Davis and his Dad.

I’m so glad they had the opportunity to go on this trip. Davis has definitely grown up a little and has gained more confidence. He wants to have more responsibility at home which is such a wonderful surprise. I couldn’t be prouder of him.

Family Cruise Director · Party Planner

Nightmare Before Christmas Party

Laurie4 Comments

This week for Talk To Me Tuesday Tip Junkie is having a Halloween Show & Tell. I thought that this party was such a fun idea and new tradition I might start in my own family.

We were invited to The Nightmare Before Christmas Halloween party and had such an amazing time. The invitation was so fabulous!

“The stockings were hung by the chimney with dread,
while visions of pumpkins danced in their heads.

You are hereby summoned to a ghastly gathering at the final resting place of the ________.
6pm until the Witching hour of 8pm. Entrance granted to those in Halloween attire.”

Our hosts went all out for the party! Almost every room in their house was decorated, they had Halloween fabric and spooky things covering her artwork, black lights, spider webs, keep out tape on the kids bedroom doors, etc. I was impressed.

I made these cupcakes inspired by this post.

We had a good time and it was great to see some of our friends dress up!





They had the movie playing in the living room, crafts upstairs, and some cool creepy experiments in the back yard. We all had a blast and really enjoyed the evening. Thanks guys for the invite!!