This is the time of year that we make a list of all the things we would like to do to our house and to our yard. I know that we can’t be the only ones who do this.

For example, when I was painting the fence for Madison’s First Communion (that was May 5th), I realized how bad our fence is. When we first moved here, we put a fence in that March (2006). We bought the cheapest thing we could find at Menards and installed that. I can’t complain too much since the fence has lasted this log. However, while painting, I realized that we have definite sections that are rotting. Badly. To be honest, I will be surprised if the fence lasts the rest of this summer. That being said, we have started looking at our fencing options. We’ve seen some fencing that you put a pipe into the ground instead of having to dig holes for the posts. That sounds heaven sent!

We had Bill’s cousin check out our air conditioner too. Last summer, it did not work at all. However, this summer, so far, it seems to be working. He checked all of our PVC Duct work. I’m hoping if anything needs to be fixed, its something as easy as Lasco fittings or any other CIS pieces. However, it is like 90 degrees out right now, and I am cool. That’s all I ask for. However, the air didn’t go out until July last summer, so keep your fingers crossed that we don’t have a repeat performance!

At some point, we will be cleaning out our junk room in the basement too. I’m hoping to reorganize that so you can get in there and the attic needs some major reorganization.

What home improvements are you thinking about doing this summer?

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On May 21, 2012 (yes, today!), women from across the country will show off their swimsuit confidence by posting a photo in a 2012 Lands’ End swimsuit. Last year, they had just under 100 women participate! This year, I am one of the women who will be participating. I am joining the editors of Self Magazine, writers from the Curvy Girl Guide (did you catch, and a group of breast cancer survivors from Beyond the Boobie Trap in this amazing movement. What a great way to celebrate women of all shapes and sizes!

You can join Lands’ End and SELF Magazine each day this week (May 21 – 25) from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. CDST and
participate in a series of National Swimsuit Confidence Week events on Twitter. Each day Lands’ End will give away 6 – $50 Lands’ End gift cards each day! Check out hashtag #confidence and @LandsEndPR, @SELFMagazine, @LEprMichele, @LEprMariella, and @LEprMolly!

So, without further ado, here’s me in my new Lands’ End swimsuit:

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We were huge fans of Q101 and were super ticked off when Merlin Media took it off the air, because seriously, Green Bay Wisconsin has better rock and alternative stations than Chicago.  That is sad.  We had been listening to The Mixx (which is pop rock stuff) to replace it.  Trust me, that’s no replacement.

We were happily surprised that 87.7 fm is now playing alternative music!  (Though the problem with the label Alternative is that it isn’t defined all that well.  What I consider alternative may not be what you consider alternative).  On our trip to Green Bay last weekend, we were happy to be able to listen to some pretty good music till we got out of Illinois.  Merlin Media (yes the ones who took Q101 off the air) are the owners of that station.  I’m guessing they figured out that their news station they put on 101.1 sucks and consulted their reputation management company who told them to get a rock/alternative station back on the air.

My thoughts so far are pretty good.  Right now, we are in a music loop.  They seem to play a lot of the same songs over and over and over again.  Since the new station is about a week old, I’m willing to give them a little time to grow out their playlist.  (Now, supposedly Q101 is now on 1530 AM.  However, I’ve tried several times and I can’t find it).  I’ve heard everything from Pearl Jam to Live to Nine Inch Nails to Red Hot Chili Peppers to Goyte to Fun.

I am a little hesitant to support Merlin Media.  However, they seemed to realize that they made a mistake.  Hopefully, they’ll be able to keep this station on the radio.  I’m loving that they actually play music instead of a commercial every 30 seconds.

If you are in the Chicago market, check it out!

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If you can believe it (I know I can’t), our trip to New York is right around the corner. We just got a list of hotels together for where to stay while driving there and driving home (We have opted to make the drive a 2 day drive there and a three day drive back with some sightseeing scheduled for the way home). We are still trying to figure out what to do once we get to New York, but our trip is slowly but surely coming together. (I have even checked out a ny carpet cleaning company in case my kids trash the place! They shouldn’t but red koolaid stains something fierce!).  There is just so much to do in New York.  We are trying to find something affordable yet age appropriate for the kids.  We also hope staying with my sister-in-law will save us on eating out the whole time we are there too (that being said, I am still planning on eating out at least once a day.  I figure that lunch, most likely, will be eaten while we are out  on the go sightseeing).

Any suggestions for our trip?  Where must we go and see?  Any place we should steer clear of?

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As many of you know, my family and I are heading to New York this summer to help the economy.  :)  Okay, more seriously, we are going to visit my sister-in-law and her new baby (he was born on March 1st).  However, I didn’t want to fly for many reasons.

I don’t care how many times everybody keeps saying they don’t pat down kids.  I have seen 100s of videos on YouTube where they have.  Except, I would be getting arrested, because I couldn’t stand there while they fondle my kids (security my ass.  More like security theater.)  So I take my money where my mouth is — we are not flying.  Also, you have crap like this (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lisa-belkin/children-on-airplanes_b_1492051.html) where you have people who take their position to the extreme.  I don’t need that crap.    Plus, flying would cost us a ton of money.

We had many reasons to drive besides not wanting the TSA patdown.  It is cheaper to drive even with gas as expensive as it is.  As a family, we drive to Green Bay all the time.  However, my kids haven’t really gone anywhere else.  After our disastrous trip to Florida without a car several years ago, we learned the importance of having a car.  (We flew on that trip before all these stupid TSA rules were in play).  Plus, we are looking at sightseeing along the way, so my kids can see more of the country!  Lastly, we are being loaned a Cadillac Escalade.  That vehicle alone is worth driving!  To be honest, a Cadillac Escalade gets around the same gas mileage as the van I drive everyday.  Plus, there are some features it has that my van doesn’t like 3 DVD players.  I wish we were a family that could all get along on a car ride.  We are not.  Instead, I have no problem flipping on a DVD and with 3 players, there is no fighting over what movie we are watching (WOOOHOOOOO!!)  Some other really cool features are GPS (which I need), satellite radio, heated and cooled seats, and cooled cupholders.  The really cool thing is that since it seats 8 adults, both families will fit in here for any sightseeing we do in New York.  (There are about 100 cool features that the Escalade has, but these were the ones I cared about the most!).

I am super excited for our trip.  Are you flying for your summer vacation?  Why or why not?

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