Starr Stories~ Our Personal Blog

Sweet boy, no one loves a spirit day quite like him. And I will say, these pictures are a tug at my mommy heart because I definitely didn’t allow enough time to plan ahead for spirit day.

It was last minute, and with Hunter and his creative yet sometimes stubborn ways, I don’t think it actualized quite how he had envisioned — but we definitely tried.

Thank you for having grace with your mama, buddy. 💛

One of those times I really should have listened to my gut. The Biltmore keeps inviting me to planner events, and even though I’m not on their preferred list, I try to go — even when it feels like a stretch. This was definitely one of those times.

I rushed there after school drop-off in my pickleball outfit (yes, bought for this event), had an okay time, but didn’t get the networking I’d hoped for. Then I couldn’t get out of the parking lot, found out my tire was literally coming off, and nearly lost the whole wheel.

Thankfully, Justin came to get me.

One of those days I really should have just stayed home.

This was a fun week full of Halloween festivities. Ever since the kids were little, I’ve loved taking them to pick out their pumpkins, and Trader Joe’s always has the best prices — so they each chose their own like a mini pumpkin patch.

One wild afternoon, I also knew it was important to drop off a special gift at Addie’s house for the one-year anniversary of her dad’s passing. I found the most beautiful healing gemstone tree for her. After leaving it on her patio, I took the kids to my favorite bookstore, Changing Hands — one of those nostalgic, old-fashioned places full of art, puppets, and creativity. It was exactly what I needed to calm down on a really busy, frantic kind of day.

My goodness, how they have my heart. This week was action-packed with so many Halloween-related events, including a trunk-or-treat at the junior high, where Hannah and Emma never shine brighter than in their old-lady costumes.

I also loved how they included their little brother among all their junior high friends — it was really quite touching.

It was one of those moments where I realized it’s always the three of them against the world, and that’s so special.

And Hunter had a Halloween parade this week that Justin was able to go to. He was the cutest little Dracula ever.

As is our tradition — and always a lot of work for Justin — we carved our pumpkins. This year, we combined it with watching Beetlejuice at the same time, and it was actually a game-changer. It made for a smoother, less stressful carving experience.

Halloween was one for the books. The kids had a blast.

My little buddy, my little buddy. I’m really proud of him for continuing with basketball, especially since aggressiveness isn’t part of his natural demeanor, and basketball requires quite a bit of it in a face-to-face setting. But he’s really great at his skills, and he’s getting a little more confident on the court. It always makes us so proud to see him trying his best.

Fun times at the JW Camelback Desert Ridge! We were invited for a lovely brunch and a tour of the property. I was so happy Planner Lauren was able to join me. We even had time to sneak in a podcast interview in one of the private hospitality suites.

Fun times at the JW Camelback Desert Ridge! We were invited for a lovely brunch and a tour of the property. I was so happy Planner Lauren was able to join me. We even had time to sneak in a podcast interview in one of the private hospitality suites.

Emma had the idea to create a fun little “Beetlejuice” scene in the front yard. I attempted a backdrop using Justin’s photo-backdrop framing, although I think I’m going to buy myself some pipe-and-drape framing in the future so I can better decorate this super-tall home.

Hannah had another rather defeating week, but this time at least it was shared with Emma. Both girls tried out for the school dance team, and neither of them made it.

But they handled it like champs—again, better than I did. I know the skill of putting yourself out there is far more important… but it still hurts in real time. I’m so proud of them that sometimes I feel like my heart will burst, but when they hurt, it takes me out. This is the part of motherhood that feels cruel, yet reminds me of how viscerally connected I am to them. My babies. We celebrated their bummer news with “happy meals” and good life talks. The cutest part was seeing how upset Hunter was about this news. They have a protector in him, too.

Basketball practice for little man. I think Justin taking a break from coaching was a great idea. Sometimes it’s easier to be coached by someone other than your parent. His new coach has been great, and it’s a fun group this season.

Justin took the kids to watch Grace in the production of Addams Family. They loved it. The crew said she did amazing. I can’t believe Grace will be in college next year—it’s been wild to see her grow into a young adult.

The kids loved watching the show, and hopefully we’ll be able to get them back into theatre soon.

The girls helped plan another junior high dance with Student Council. I love hearing them discuss themes and decorations—seems like they really enjoy these types of events.

One of the funnest nights recently was walking upon my wild family at “Trunk or Treat” in Playa del Rey. I had to cover a ceremony rehearsal for Alicia up at DC Ranch Country Club.

So this year, Justin and Hunter were fully in charge of designing and setting up our trunk, and they did an amazing job!

The FUNNIEST moments of the night were watching Hannah and Emma as old ladies. This was the first time they WANTED to look alike. They both stayed in character the entire time, never speaking, only making gestures. And to my surprise, they took this role to the next level as they loved frightening the heck out of all the little kids—and some adults too.

I think they loved being back at Playa; they feel safe here.

Hunter had a blast with his buddies too. It’s nice to let them have freedom at these kinds of events.

It was cute to see a handful of former Playa kids (now junior highers) at Trunk or Treat. The girls had a blast sneaking up on them.

Hunter wore his mask the entire time and collected a huge amount of candy.

I was out on the field for one of our fall weddings, serving in the role of “Wedding Attendant.”

The wedding was stunning, the day went smoothly, and I loved being among our team and vendors in person, but it reminded me of how much I LOVE having most weekends back. At this point in the business, I’m so busy throughout the week that working on weekends is too much.

Grateful for the growth of the J.Starr Wedding Company—it still shocks me.

“Dia de Los Muertos 2025″ at the Mesa Arts Center

One Sunday, I woke up yearning for some adventure. I knew Justin had a long list of things he wanted to do around the house, so I packed up the kids and headed out for some fun.

This was our first time attending the Dia de los Muertos Festival.

To join in the celebration, the kids had their faces painted while I watched the dancing, singing, and shopped the fun booths.

IIt was such a cool experience. The sights and sounds were endless. I especially loved the “Ofrenda Display.”

They had large displays out in the lobby, and then we walked into one of the theaters where there were tons of additional ofrendas submitted by various families. It was heartfelt viewing their displays, seeing their photos, and reading their stories.

It was a really unique experience.

The week started off with a Wedding Planner Brunch at the Royal Palms Resort. My relationship with Royal Palms has always been one that I’ve truly treasured because I believe there’s a strong connection between couples who choose Royal Palms and those who choose my company—something about the history, the relaxed setting, and the high quality of service that pairs us together quite well.

A big week for my Emma Lou. It’s wild seeing my little girls grow into beautiful women right before my eyes. I also love when I get one-on-one time with my loves. Emma took some evening walks with me this week.

October felt faster and busier than I would have liked, but we still made sure to decorate. Even though we didn’t get to put in as much time as I would have liked, I’m glad we did what we could.

I love seeing Justin and the kids playing basketball at the park. All three kids love to play, and it’s so great that we have so many parks nearby—and even better that the temperatures are finally cooling down a bit.

Heartbreaking week for my Hannah girl, but the truth is I’ve never been more proud of her. She gave cheer tryouts everything she had and, unfortunately, didn’t make the team. I was shocked, as she practiced hard and looked very polished.

But when she read the news, she didn’t get mad and never said it wasn’t fair; rather, she immediately looked at the notes on how she could improve for next time.

Hannah is an example of beauty, grace, and patience, and I’m inspired by her.

After a bit of a nerve-wracking morning online, I finally landed two tickets for the upcoming No Doubt concert taking place at the new Sphere in Las Vegas. I just knew I had to buy these tickets—this is my favorite band of all time, and it’s very rare that they perform together anymore.

Plus, I’ve been wanting to experience a Sphere performance. Justin and I are set to go in May of next year, and we can’t wait.

Fun times at the Schnepf Farms Annual Pumpkin and Chili Party

Just a sweet Sunday spent with our crew. We went on a hayride, ventured through a corn maze, zipped lines, enjoyed some farm food, rode the “spooky train” at night, shot paint guns, went on some rides, and picked up some “Grandma Goes Nuts” on the way out.

I think we’ve attended a pumpkin patch of some kind each fall ever since the babies were born and Justin and I even visited a few times before the kiddos.

The kids in particular love Schnepf Farms.

Onbooard the “Spooky Train”… the kids love this ride, me not so much, Justin just laughs.

The night ended with paintball and fireworks. We closed the farm down having tons of fun with our little adventure crew.

Hunter’s basketball skills have improved so much, especially recently. It seems like all the skills are really starting to connect for him. We LOVE watching him play, it’s become one of our favorite Saturday rituals.

Fall Break: Week 2 was pretty chill. The kids enjoyed having friends over (Cru one day and Raelyn another day).

One afternoon, Cru and Nikki invited us to join them at “Topgolf.”

Hunter got in some one-on-one time with Pa and Gee, and I was able to take the girls to what we thought was going to be a haunted mansion experience.

I bought tickets to what I thought was the “Chateau de Mort Haunted Experience,” thinking it would be a really fun night with me and my girls. We pulled onto the mansion grounds blasting Taylor Swift’s new album—specifically the song “CANCELLED!”—with the windows down, quickly realizing we were the first visitors on site.

As the evening progressed (kind of oddly), I realized we weren’t there for the “Chateau de Mort” experience at all. I had accidentally signed us up for the “Historic Mansion Evening Tour.” I was so bummed—and I think the girls were too—but we made the best of it. It was still cool to see the mansion and hear about its history, but we were definitely let down. It wasn’t run very well, and there were a handful of other people there who also thought they had signed up for the haunted night (the website was a bit unclear).

To top it off, we saw all the behind-the-scenes areas, essentially ruining it for us if we ever decided to go back another time. Oh well—always proud of my girls for going with the flow. Maybe next year! Still, a fun night out.

Other fun highlights of the week included:

Getting photo updates from my dad of his adventures with Hunter

Donnie treating the girls and Elise to lunch one afternoon

And a fun shopping day with Mom down in Casa Grande

Loved my “Dollar Tree” finds. Spent Sunday making the house feel extra festive with new floating witch hats and candles. And love my new battery lighted candles and of course the big spider that Hunter placed right in the middle to the table to make the look “complete.”

Once we got to the Grand Canyon, we had a nice lunch out on the patio at El Tovar, overlooking the canyon. Then we hiked the Bright Angel Trail.

One of the coolest parts of our hike was moving aside for the mules to walk through.

I was shocked to see a family similar to ours traveling back up the canyon on the famous “sure-footed” mules. I’m not sure I could do that myself, but it looked really extraordinary.

Our time at the Grand Canyon was a bit too short, but it was fun to share it with the kids.

Next time we go back, I’d love for us to stay at the Grand Canyon to experience the sunset and sunrise and do a full hike.

On our way home, we decided to check out Bearizona. I think Hunter enjoyed it the most.

Justin and I were pretty tired, but it was fun to drive through, looking for all the animals. It was a nice way to wrap up our adventure.

After our loooong visit at the ortho office, we hurried over to cousin Elise’s “Addams Family” play, as she was playing Wednesday Addams.

It’s fun to live close enough to Bri to share in the sweet girls’ performances. And the kids LOVE watching plays.

The week started off with a strings performance featuring Emma Louise and her violin. She looked extra beautiful up there on stage.

Pa even came to watch the performance, and afterward, we took the crew to Andy’s for celebratory ice cream. It was pretty funny looking back into the minivan and seeing Pa eating ice cream alongside all the kids.

Tons of fun with my “afterschool crew”! They LOVE when October rolls around and I take them to the Spirit store. So much fun running up and down the aisles!

We followed it up with a trip to Baba Bling Cupcakes, where we learned last year that they fully decorate in a “Beetlejuice” theme each Halloween.

Another meet-up with these two beauties. Never in a million years would I have guessed that two of my “competitors” would become such incredibly dear friends.

Somehow, I even talked each of them into letting me interview them for my new podcast!

The support and wisdom they share with me is invaluable, and it definitely helps that we share so many similar values in how we run our businesses.

Fall Break started off with hosting the Nelson family for a fun-filled pizza night. It’s been amazing to watch all these kiddos grow a little more each year.

Hunter has woken up early his whole life. This particular morning, he found me on the couch, sipping my coffee in peace. I tell him, “Son, there’s no way that TV is coming on right now — I’m having a moment.”

He disappears into the dark house for a bit, then returns a short while later.

I say, “Buddy, it’s not happening.” He replies, “Your moment’s over.”

I ask, “How do you figure?” He says, “Because it’s been over one minute and thirty seconds.” I reply, “You think that’s how long a moment is?” He nods confidently: “Yes, that’s what Alexa told me.”

The fall break weekend kicked off with the kids heading down to Casa Grande.

While in Casa Grande, the kids witnessed a Starlink satellite constellation during a walk to Burger King with Pa for ice cream — a simple but magical moment to top off their weekend.

My After-School Crew 🖤

I took them shopping for Chase’s birthday gifts, and to their delight, they discovered all the Halloween items were already on display. Emma and Hunter picked out scary masks—and wore them proudly through the entire store, even making a baby cry.

Hunter has been talking about “Uncle Chase’s” birthday for weeks. He was absolutely thrilled to bake Chase’s birthday cake—and pretty much did it all by himself. That boy loves cooking, baking, and celebrating big!

We had the best time celebrating Chase!

Everyone gathered at our home, and while we waited for Justin to get home from work (and bring dinner), Chase opened his gifts. Each kiddo had written him a special card and put so much thought into their gifts—it made the night extra meaningful.

We dined, we sang, we laughed—a lot. It was one of those feel-good nights where everyone simply enjoyed being together.

And I think it’s safe to say Chase felt extra loved, too. 💙

Happy 35^th Birthday, Chase!

April recorded the first podcast with me, and Linda the second! 🎙 In between, I’ve been loving after-school hangs with Hunter—finishing art projects, celebrating his “100 Club” win, and just watching him shine. 💙 Parent/teacher conference went well—all great news from his 3rd-grade teacher!

Justin’s adorable little basketball team won their championship game! I’m so proud of my guys. What a season, what a team.

The podcast efforts continue! It’s been a lot of work to get started, and the kids have had to be extra patient with us on the weekends. Hopefully soon we’ll find our rhythm so it doesn’t feel quite so labor-intensive.

In the meantime, the kids have been making their own versions of the podcast—and it’s absolutely hysterical. Honestly, that’s where the real magic lies. ✨

The girls looked so cute on “college day.” They earn student council points when they dress up for certain spirit days, and the best part is that both of their ASU shirts were thrift shop finds.

I also love my silly alone time with Hunter. Most days I pick him up at 2:55, while the girls don’t get out until 3:30, which gives us a little pocket of fun together in the van—sometimes reading, sometimes practicing spelling words, sometimes just listening to music.

There’s a new little coffee truck that recently popped up right around the corner from the girls’ school, and Hunter sweet-talked me into stopping one day.

We also have an old-fashioned ice cream truck that rolls through our neighborhood once a week. Something about that nostalgic music makes both Justin and me want to yell “Ice cream!” right along with the kids.

I had the best day getting out on the field Friday. The morning started bright and early with a 7 a.m. wedding walk-through at the beautiful Desert Botanical Garden with Jessie, Tyler, and Jessie’s parents.

Afterward, Alicia and I teamed up to drop off gifts at a handful of our favorite venues—Sanctuary, Royal Palms, Omni Montelucia, Mountain Shadows, Andaz, and McCormick Ranch Golf Club.

The outing wrapped up with Melissa and Camelia treating us to lunch at McCormick Ranch Golf Club. As I sat there, I couldn’t help but reflect on how wild it is to think about the relationships this industry has brought into my life. The wedding world is full of such special humans who pour their hearts into creating magic for others, and I feel so lucky to be surrounded by them.

These two. I just love, love, love watching them.

This recent basketball season has been wild. The team is really, really, good. The team is currently number one in the league with the championship game coming up this Saturday.

I’m so proud of Hunter for pushing himself, I see his confidence growing each passing week. And I know he loves having his Dad as his coach and his number one fan.

Exciting times around here—Justin and I have been working hard on launching a podcast, the first big step toward eventually creating an online course. It feels so good to collaborate with him again on a creative project, a great reminder of what a solid team we are. I’m getting more and more excited with each step we take.

After Hunter’s basketball game, Dad took the kids to Casa Grande for the night, giving us the perfect window to dive in. Justin took new photos of me for the cover art, we filmed the promo video to introduce the podcast, and I chose the music while recording intros and outros. It’s a lot to learn, but we’re having so much fun figuring it out together.

We wrapped up the day with a celebratory sushi date.

It’s been a bit of a rough week around here—Hunter missed three days of school (we later found out it was due to COVID), and to top it off, our not-even-one-year-old air conditioner broke.

At first, we thought we were going to be out over $2k to get it fixed, but thankfully, through a connection with one of Justin’s co-workers’ husbands (Mike, a realtor), we were able to get the fees waived and the project expedited.

Justin took Thursday off to watch little man and oversee the repair, while I snuck away to a coffee shop for a little breather.

The girls took this photo of a rainbow over our home from Emma’s bedroom window.

When life throws you a challenging week, I guess you gotta treat yourself to some Baskin-Robbins—the kids didn’t seem to mind.

Justin and I snuck away for a little “Target” date, leaving the crew at home. It’s pretty cool that we’re now at a stage where we can do that, even if just for short windows. We picked up some “fall gifts” for venue partners. Sunday was spent diving into all the functionality for my upcoming podcast—a much-needed step toward my future goals of taking J.Starr Wedding Company to the next level.

Despite Hunter feeling crummy most of the week, we still managed to squeeze in a little fun.

One afternoon I took him to a painting studio where he got to enjoy some creative time.

By Friday, he was finally feeling well enough to return to school, and Justin was able to step in for Pa and attend “Grandparents Day” with him.

Fun “Girls Day” in Phoenix! We started with brunch at Wren & Wolf to celebrate Adriana, who’s expecting a baby girl any day now. It was such a treat to spend time with a few of our Lead Planners and their daughters.

After brunch, I took Hannah & Emma on a little mini shopping spree at Urban Outfitters, followed by Starbucks, and we wrapped it all up with a stop at Uncle Chase’s for some good conversation and Toby cuddles.