Starr Stories~ Our Personal Blog

Thanksgiving is such a fun holiday to host. The day started with a sunrise walk, and as I turned the corner heading home, I had to pause and just feel grateful for our beautiful home. I was quickly greeted by a very excited Hunter—in a turkey costume, of course.

I’m pretty sure there was a good old-fashioned family debate over our traditional donuts and watching the Macy’s Day Parade. Then Hunter and I made an apple pie—this boy just loves baking,

And he’s getting better and better at it.

Each year, Justin prepares a true feast that everyone in the family looks forward to. The kids—especially Hannah—love helping me with the turkey and sides.

I take on the decorating, which I absolutely love. This year, I borrowed Chase’s “animal” fancy plates and clipped vines with blooms right from our neighborhood. Sweet Toby patiently waited by the door for Chase and the kids to return from the movie theater—their annual tradition.

THANKFUL

Such a fun night out with my team. We were so honored to have one of our weddings chosen as the cover of Mountain West Bride.

We attended the launch party and then enjoyed a long, soul-filling dinner together.

The day before Thanksgiving, we were able to take a care basket over to my Uncle Gene and spend some time visiting him in his new home.

That night, we watched A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.

Justin has a running list on his phone (just for fun) of all the things little Mr. Hunter Starr has broken. I think we’re up to at least four umbrellas now. Oh well—at least Hunter knows how to dance in the rain.

Another trip to the pediatrician’s office happened this week—Dr. Novy knows us well.

Justin was also able to attend “Western Lunch” at Hunter’s school. I’m so grateful he has Fridays off.

My birthday hangs with my brother are my favorite. This year, we had lunch at “Valentine” and followed it up with a podcast interview. Chase is always one to support me, and words can’t even begin to express what that means.

I think they talked me into a Starbucks visit to try the new holiday flavors. We also started decorating early this year, which felt really good. My goal was to have our main tree finished before Thanksgiving.

Last-minute idea—I had a quick doctor’s check-up, so I invited my little man to come with me. Then I surprised him with a fun breakfast date at Chandler Hangar Cafe.

We loved sitting at the “bar,” which gave it that true old-fashioned diner feel. The food and service are always great, and Hunter really enjoyed the one-on-one time… and, so did I.

Just a few fun J. Starr Wedding Company appointments.

I recently took on two spring weddings, and this week one of my couples was in town—so I attended their entrée tasting and floral mock-up.

April also brought Jordan to one of her ceremony rehearsals, and of course, I insisted they send me some photos

Weekly snaps… Hunter, our little B-ball player. Hannah (I can’t quite remember what was going on—I’m a few months behind on documenting, but we’ve definitely spent our fair share of time at the pediatrician’s office). Emma in all her glory, in the morning sunshine.

Hunter also got to assist Justin during a shoot we did for the Keegan family—and we simultaneously squeezed in a quick shoot of our own, which felt like a wise move. It was so nice seeing Andrea and her beautiful family. The rain teased us all day, but luckily, we were still able to capture the photos.

This is us, in this season. I’m always so grateful for Justin’s photography skills and his willingness to document our family. Time flies way too fast, so these photos truly are my treasures.

The little trio—they make our lives feel so full. This season allows us to do so many fun things, but it’s also a season of a lot of emotions, frustrations, and sibling squabbles.

On the drive out to this photo shoot, Hannah and Emma got into one of their worst fights… and Justin and I said nothing. We just let them work it out until it passed.

Not sure if that was the right parenting answer, but we’re figuring it out too.

At the end of the day, there’s always a really solid foundation of love—and they know that. And maybe that’s what matters most. I hope.

These two—practically carbon copies of each other. The bond they share is pretty darn special.

Hiking adventures with Pa. I always love when my dad sends me photos of their fun times in Casa Grande.

We enjoyed our time at Rustler’s Rooste, celebrating Emberlyn’s 2nd birthday. Hannah wasn’t feeling well, but Emma and Hunter had fun trying the rattlesnake appetizer, taking in the views, and celebrating Melissa’s sweet baby girl.

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.