Lauren Burroughs

Our highlight reel matters

2021-01-11

I really enjoy honoring my family, and making them feel uplifted and appreciated. I want my loved ones to know that even though our life is crazy and unstructured, their special days will still be very special.

So when I found out that we’d have to travel on my baby girl’s first birthday so that my husband, Jordan, could compete, I packed up some balloons and ordered a perfect cake to celebrate her, albeit a few days late, when we arrived in Austin, Texas.

But a few hours after touching down in Texas, we were informed that due to COVID contact tracing, Jordan's match had to be postponed to the following week and we would have to head back to Nebraska the following day so that he could prepare for the event at home.

Our scheduled five-day trip ended up being basically an exhausting two-day food tour of Austin (+ Joe Rogan ????), and instead of having a small gathering with a few of the wrestlers and coaches, we ended up singing Happy Birthday to Rise in our hotel room with only myself, the kids and our babysitter.

Jordan wasn’t even able to be there since he had less than an hour to practice, shower and pack before we headed back to the airport. He did, however, enjoy a single bite of her little smash cake (which was honestly the most delicious cake I’ve ever tasted. Shoutout Sweet Treats Bakery in Austin), before having to leave behind the second, bigger cake in our hotel room.

Such is life in 2021. Unexpected and disrupted, but bittersweet.

Nonetheless, my squad always makes it happen.

Earlier that day my husband, frustrated and out of sorts after a sudden change of plans and removal from a fight card that he spent weeks helping to put together, hurried to the bakery on the opposite side of town so that his daughter would have a first birthday cake that she wouldn’t even remember. Our babysitter joyfully helped me blow up balloons that were totally unnecessary but also extremely enjoyed by my wild children. We tried our very best to take a few pictures and capture those short moments of our wee little birthday celebration.

Today, while I was looking through the pictures, I was reminded that parenting is a lot like our makeshift birthday party. Most days are a total mess — unplanned — disrupted — just hard. But years from now we won’t focus on the mess that seemingly defined the days. Sure, we‘ll remember it. But it won’t be the main thing.

Rather it’s the short, fleeting moments of happiness that we hang on to. Not the difficulty of the day — only the bliss of it. When I think back on Rise’s first birthday, all I will remember in the center of the chaos, my two big babies held my smallest baby and sang to her. They shoved her little chubby fingers into her vanilla cake and touched the buttercream frosting to her lips. They kicked the balloons around the room and threw confetti in each other’s hair. All they cared about in those short few minutes was celebrating their sister.

They say that these social media images are just our highlight reel, but don’t forget that your highlight reel matters. Some of these images are the chapters of our life, and no matter how hectic the pages are in between, these small snippets of perfection are our story.

Fighting holiday abundance

2019-01-13

Gratitude is very difficult to grasp in the midst in abundance. It’s hard to appreciate anything when you have so much of everything.

34 forever

2018-11-11

Two weeks ago I was back in my hometown of Buffalo, New York to celebrate the success of someone very important to me.

I was two years old when Thurman Thomas landed in Buffalo for the 1988 Bills training camp.

Just a year before, my Aunt Patti left Buffalo for college at Oklahoma State University. During her first year there she ran into my future uncle at Eskimo Joe’s. Less than a year later her new boyfriend was drafted back to her hometown.
Fate right? But it wasn’t all as sweet as it sounded. He came into Buffalo pissed off about being passed up in the first round. And to top it off he assumed Buffalo was somewhere near New York City...SURPRISE! He landed in a blue collar snow globe with a built-in new family he didn’t ask for — The Mariachers.

He had no idea what he got himself into. And neither did I. My two-year-old self didn’t like him all that much. I’d cry whenever he’d try to pick me up or play with me. My aunt was one of my favorite people in the world, but he was an outsider, and like the rest of the in-laws in our family, he had to earn his place as a Mariacher “outlaw.”
The Mariacher Outlaws
He didn’t give up, and over the years I grew to love my new uncle. It helped that he made me super popular with all the boys at primary school who’d beg me for autographs and tickets. I wasn’t quite as popular during the postseasons from 1991-1994. You’re still the only player in NFL history to lead the league in total yards from scrimmage for four consecutive seasons. And everyone wanted to be you in Tecmo Bowl so I forgave you.

I look back now, when people talk about how incredible he was on the field, and I wish I could put myself back in the crowd for just one big game. I was too young to truly grasp the beauty of his career.

But I was there for all of it, thanks to my mom and dad, and Aunt Patti, who felt I needed to escape three brothers for girl time with my cousins. (My little sisters Livi, Angel, and Anni) and eventually my little Thurm! Sleepovers, vacations, hours spent in the bleachers at One Bills Drive — it shaped my childhood and I am so grateful for those memories.

Uncle Thurm and Aunt Patti, you taught me so much about life — the good lessons and the hard ones. You’ve been through so many things and through it all, you’ve remained a blessing to everyone around you. You’ve taught us the power of community, humility, sacrifice, a good laugh (Aunt Patti) and most importantly, an enduring love.

So while I congratulate you both on 34 being retired from the Buffalo Bills forever, let me recognize you also for being amazing people. It’s easy to see the success of a player on the field, but it’s another thing to know them up close and personal for a lifetime. You two are as real as it gets. I love you. #34forever

Athletics: Facing the fire

2018-10-29

We want the best version of ourselves, but we resist the route that will take us there.

Finding meaning in miscarriage

2018-10-26

"We love telling stories about perseverance, but we hate living through it," he said. "Perseverance is painful. But the purpose of your future is sometimes birthed in the pain of the fire."

2018 World Championships: In my feelings

2018-10-19

As I continue the tradition of capturing my thoughts on my flight to another World Championships, this time returning to Budapest, I have to reflect on life’s changes.

The fluffy stuff

2018-04-14

In my house, cotton candy is taken very seriously. How seriously? Well, when my husband won his Olympic gold medal in 2012 the first photo he tweeted was of his Olympic gold medal... and a bag of cotton candy.

I've been called a health hippie, and I totally embrace it. I'm constantly looking for ways to enjoy our favorite treats in a healthier way. So you can imagine how excited I was when I discovered GOURMET, ORGANIC COTTON CANDY! Sugar and Spun uses ONLY organic sugar, fruit and other natural ingredients in their cotton candy. And if plain ol' pink and blue flavors don't really get you excited -- they've got Strawberry Shortcake (my favorite), Piña Colada, Cookies & Cream, Peanut Butter & Jelly, Matcha Green Tea Latte, Cookie Butter, and a bunch more. Go visit my Instagram for a tasty giveaway!

Athlete and fan: It's a cycle of respect

2018-04-03

The athlete and fan relationship is not one sided, but should be a cycle of respect.

The Lolo Special: Cinnamon Vanilla Banana Bread

2018-03-01

Has there every really been a better bread than banana bread?

Kids' fashion: Can't buy it? RENT IT from The Borrowed Boutique

2018-01-31

How I've saved thousands by renting clothes for my kids from The Borrowed Boutique!