This week, Lauren Schafer, who is working to get the big consignment sale at First United Methodist Church of Cary ready this week, is our featured mom of the week. Proceeds from the sale go back to local charities for women and children, which is fantastic.

Let me know if you'd like to be featured or know somebody who should be featured.

Let's hear from Lauren:

Mom2Mom: Tell us about yourself.

Lauren: I moved to Cary when I was 3 from South Carolina, so consider myself a native of this area. My family has been a member of First United Methodist Church of Cary since then so my family and my church are my biggest passions. I graduated from N.C. State and worked in telecommunications where I met my husband, Andrew. We decided to move to northern California with some co-workers shortly after getting married, but moved back to Cary about a year and a half later. We missed this area too much! I worked for a software company doing marketing and event planning and eventually had my own personal shopping business. In 2004, we had our first child, a beautiful daughter named Carson. A little more than two years later, our son, Cole, was born. Being a stay-at-home mom has been a dream come true for me. We keep busy, but I love every second of it. Andrew and I have been married almost nine years and he works in RTP for Quintiles.

Just after moving back from California, I joined one of the women's groups (Harmony Circle) at my church and got involved with their charity children's consignment sale. I've been involved in the sale for seven of the its 15 years now, and have seen some amazing things come out of it. Over the last couple of years, two of the church circles joined (Harmony circle and Sarah circle) to get more new moms involved in the sale. It's a semi-annual sale held every spring and fall and 100 percent of the proceeds go to local missions for women and children. Our sale takes almost anything kid-related that is in great shape (except for car seats): clothes (infant to size 12), maternity clothes, books, toys, DVDs, gear, bikes, furniture, bedding, etc.

Our sale on Sept. 20 will celebrate 15 years of this consignment sale! The women who went ahead of me coordinating this were amazing organizers and have this down to an art. We're one of the few sales in town who gives all of our proceeds to charity, supplies all tags, doesn't charge fees to our consignors, and can pay our consignors the same day of the sale. We try to make this as easy and fair for everyone so that each person involved from the first-time consignment shopper to the super-consignor has a wonderful experience and leaves happy. We get to hear feedback from our consignors too on what they do with the money that they earn. For some moms, it becomes their own shopping stash. For others, it's a way that their kids can participate in ballet or sports. Regardless, it's a win-win scenario for everyone.

We've been able to do so much with proceeds, from helping local groups like Me Fine and the Methodist Home for Children to individuals who have medical bills with terminally ill children. It has been the most rewarding part of the sale.

When I'm not working on the consignment sale at our church, I'm also involved in the MOPS and MMO programs at First United Methodist Church in Cary so that I can be involved in the areas where my kids are spending time and giving back where God has blessed us! We also started our first family garden this year, and have really enjoyed learning about that with our kids, particularly our older daughter who has understood it more. Carson has reminded us that each rain storm this summer has been "God watering for us."

Mom2Mom: What's your favorite family place in the Triangle?

Lauren: Our family's favorite spot is the Museum of Life and Science in Durham. There is such a variety of things to do there from the butterfly house to the train, the soundSpace room to all of the animals and the large number of child-friendly exhibits. We also love going to our neighborhood pool.

Mom2Mom: What's your favorite place for yourself in the Triangle?

Lauren: Having had a personal shopping business for a few years, this one's easy: Nordstrom! I was a personal shopper for several years and when all else failed, this is the one store that always came through. Although it was a lot more fun spending other people's money, I am a shopping junkie and just love the service that you get there.

Mom2Mom: What's your favorite ritual with your kids?

Lauren: Every Saturday morning, we wake up and make pancakes as a family. My 3 1/2-year-old loves to help us get everything out and measure. Even our 17-month-old is trying to get into it now. It's wonderful family time making a meal and then sitting down to enjoy it together. My son has food allergies, so we've had to be creative about finding good pancake recipes that everyone can enjoy and that taste good!

Mom2Mom: What did you eat last night? Can you share the recipe?

Lauren: We went out to Maggiano's to celebrate my dad's birthday and retirement. One of our favorite weeknight dinners at home though is chicken and apricot stuffing. Anything easy in a crock pot!

Mom2Mom: What's your guilty pleasure?

Lauren: Even 3-way split between pedicures, Dairy Queen and Starbucks.

Check out our other daily themes at TriangleMom2Mom:

MONDAY: Meet!
TUESDAY: Ask!
WEDNESDAY: Eat!
THURSDAY: Play!
FRIDAY: Out!

WEEKEND: Relax!