Lauren
Lauren is the proud mom of two spunky little boys, wife and business owner. She holds a Masters of Business Administration degree, is a marketing communications professional and owner of Auriga Marketing. While she was born in Phoenix, she grew up in Temecula, California and moved back to attend Xavier College Preparatory. After high school she ventured to Denver for college (and skiing) and then on to Honolulu a couple years after graduating. She and her husband returned to Arizona in 2012 and made Central Phoenix their home. They love to travel and experience different cultures, having a deep appreciation for a warm beach and sand between their toes. When she isn’t chasing after two boys or playing with their overly energetic dogs, she can be found working on a home DIY project, trying out a new recipe or planning their next family adventure. Oh, and she is also a firm believer that chocolate should be its own food group!
Fun and Easy Ways to Build Fine Motor Skills
I was scrolling through Facebook recently when I came across an article shared by the music class our sons have attended—it was talking about school age children being unable to hold a pencil and...
Saying Farewell to a Beloved Family Pet
Our family recently said goodbye to our beloved 11-year-old dog, Kali. She had been on many fun adventures with my husband and I before we had children and was there greeting us when both...
Let’s Stop Telling Parents “There Are Only 18 Years”
Parents know having kids is inexplicably hard and magical at the same time. One minute you feel like you are rocking it and the next you want to just hide in your bed under...
Three Easy Summer Crock-Pot Meals
As temperatures ramp up, many people slide their crock-pots into the back of the cabinet and dust them off once cooler months roll around. I am a year-around crock-pot lover—and firmly believe the dog...
Here Are the Reasons I Didn’t Take My Husband’s Last Name
Your name is something you have from the very beginning. From that first breath, you enter the world with an identity, a name. After six years of marriage and two kids, my name is...
Dear Kindergartner: A Letter to My Kindergartner on His First Day
Dear Kindergartner,
It is hard to believe that five years have flown by so fast. Almost as if I blinked and you went from a tiny 7lb boy nestled in my arms to a big...
To My Baby, Please Don’t Rush Growing Up
Sleep, baby, sleep. Thy father's watching the sheep. Thy mother's shaking the dreamland tree, and down drops a little dream for thee." -Elizabeth Prentiss
To you my sweet boy, as you drift off to dreamland…
I...
Summer Birthday Party Ideas
The temperatures in Phoenix are climbing higher as summer quickly approaches. For those of us that have kids with summer birthdays, the heat poses a party planning challenge. Below are a few summer birthday...
Redshirting Kindergarten (Follow-Up a Year Later)
Almost a year ago I wrote a post for the North Phoenix Moms Blog, This is Why My Son Will be Redshirting Kindergarten. At the time I felt certain in the decision we made...
This is Why My Son Will Be Redshirting Kindergarten
Before becoming a mom I only knew the term “redshirting” as it pertained to college athletics; however, that all changed after our August baby was born. Once our son turned two we started to...
Girl, Wash Your Sheets
I was recently sucked into a Self Magazine article, Here’s How Often You Should Really Be Washing Your Sheets. On one hand I was very curious, but on the other I wasn’t sure if...
‘Tidying Up’ with Marie Kondo Isn’t for Me
Thanks to Netflix, people are spring cleaning in January.
I am going to throw it on out there: I can’t watch Tidying Up. I just can’t do it. Don’t get me wrong, I tried. I...
A Break from the Ordinary—A Guide to Five Fun Family Experiences in Phoenix
It’s January in Phoenix, which means the weather is perfect to get out and explore for the next couple months. Enjoying parks, hikes and restaurant patios are a favorite pastime this time of year,...
International Travel Tips for (Brave) Parents with Young Children
So you’ve decided to embark on an international trip with your precious toddler or young school aged children—you are in for one amazing ride. Our family just returned from a wonderful European vacation and...
I Unfriended My Mother on Social Media
Yes, I hit the unfriend button and have zero regrets.
Let me start by saying, if you have a healthy relationship with your mother then this statement is probably a bit shocking. I imagine...
How to Survive a Sizzling Summer in Phoenix
If you are new to sunny Phoenix—welcome! If you are a new mom—congratulations! Chances are that if you are reading this, you are starting your preparations for surviving the sweltering Arizona summer heat with...
Real Life, and Finding Joy in an Ordinary Day
Maybe it’s me, or maybe it’s all moms, but it feels like everyday has a schedule, a predicable routine, a rhythm of its own—it’s in fact an ordinary day. Our mornings, whether on a...
Ten Ways to Say ‘I Love You’ on Valentine’s Day
February is here! Love is in the air, stores are packed with heart shaped goodies, the color red is boldly splashed across everything, and scrumptious chocolate treats have made their way into our pantry....
5 House Cleaning Hacks You Need In Your Life Right Now
A clean house doesn’t have to seem like such a chore. Let’s get right to it, during the holidays people tend to “pop over” either on short notice or no notice at all, and...
How to Teach Young Children About Boundaries and Consent
As a woman and a mother, the trending #MeToo hashtag is both eye opening and heartbreaking. So many women, so much pain. I am the mother of two young boys, ages 4 and 1,...
How to Successfully Tackle the Baby Book
Two words: baby book. Baby books are fun and thoroughly enjoyable when you have the time to sit down and really get to work on them. They let you reminisce about the early days,...
Choosing to Celebrate Ohana in a Multigenerational Home
There is something special about spending time with your grandparents as a child. Maybe it’s a combination of the lenient rules, all the time spent playing or those delicious homemade treats. Whatever the reason,...
The Pressure Cooker Feeling of Being a Parent
Parenting comes with pressure. I mean if the Duchess of Cambridge can admit to “experiencing a lack of confidence and feelings of ignorance under the pressures of being a perfect parent”—then we ‘normal’ moms...
3 Reasons You Should Take a Family Trip Right Now
Summer is upon us, which means two things: school is out and the temperatures are HOT! Families are in the midst of summer activities and are desperately trying to figure out how to keep...
How to Know … “Am I Doing This Right?”
Parenthood is full of many questions: What is he eating? How is it dinner time already? We are how late? What’s that smell? While some questions make us laugh and others make us cry,...