I just realized that I never posted about our NASCAR experience. We were able to take our kids to NASCAR a couple of weeks ago when they were here. Bill has been there once. However, the rest of us had never been there. Here’s what our experience looked like: (http://my.thismoment.com/moment/view/75640/nascar)

What impressed me most is that they have really made NASCAR family friendly. I loved that the kids were given bracelets in case they got separated from us. It can happen at a big event like that, and it was nice to see them being proactive. We also were impressed that they had a Kids Club. My kids loved it in there! There was a lot of really great fun stuff for the kids to do before the race. The race was great to watch (though a tad cold). The kids favorite part (besides the balloon animals)? It was at the end when the winner spun out his tires and made a ton of smoke. Madison though that it was the coolest thing ever!

After seeing how family friendly NASCAR has become, I would definitely take my kids again! Have you been to NASCAR? What did you think of it?

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We had an awesome weekend this weekend.  My sister and I promised my mom about 2 years ago that we would paint her living room and hallway.  This had not been done in about 30 years, so it was well overdue.  We finally had a free weekend, so off to Green Bay we went.

My sister had taped everything, so we could start first thing Saturday morning.  The weather held out for us (it was suppose to rain), so the kids could play outside.  My mom also wanted ceiling fans put into the bedrooms, so Bill took care of that.  He also replaced their outside light.  Needless to say, it was a pretty busy Saturday!  The paint color my mom chose looked brown on the paint chip, it even looked tan in the paint can.  However, once we got it on the wall, it ended up looking like the color she already had (just fresher and newer now!).  That was a tad bit disappointing.  After we were done painting (and letting it dry), Bill realized how old their outlets look.  We ran to Menards real quick and got new outlets and trim plates.  Bill hooked those up for them too!  To finish off their new living room, Kari (my sister) and I bought new curtains and a new curtain rod too.  We also rearranged their living room sofa sets. Now, they don’t have contemporary sectionals or even a sleeper sofas. Instead, they have just a plain couch, 3 chairs, and 2 endtables.  All in all, I think we were able to freshen up the room and bring it into the 21st century!

I also fixed up their flower garden.  This was a project I started last summer and half of what we planted didn’t come back this year.  I again went to Menards with my mom and we picked up some new plants.  With some help from my dad (he dug the holes), I planted to the new plants and am crossing my fingers they take this year.  It has rained since we left, so that can only help them!

That, in a nutshell, is how we spent our weekend.  How did you spend yours?

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This is a guest post.

When remodeling a bathroom, choosing whether to fit a shower cubicle or a bath can prove to be a tricky dilemma. For instance, shower tray repair is generally easier to complete than bath repairs, yet most people find a long, hot bath to be the most relaxing activity around.

However, the ease of shower tray repair is far from the only reason to choose a shower cubicle over a bath, nor is relaxation the only advantage to fitting a bath tub. The following are some more things to consider that should help you decide which option is the best choice for you and your home.

How Much Space Do You Have?

The basic fact is that a bath takes up considerably more space than a shower, so for bathrooms that are a tad on the small side, a shower cubicle could be the ideal solution. However, if you really can’t decide, you can always choose a bath that is slightly smaller than standard, and have a shower head fitted over it.

However, showers over baths do have one disadvantage – they can be messy and leak water throughout the bathroom; particularly if the shower is of the very powerful variety. On the other hand, a shower cubicle ensures that regardless of how powerful the water pressure, all the liquid will stay enclosed within.

When considering this point, it is vital that upon installing a bath and shower, careful consideration is given to the entire design in order to keep the area as water-tight as possible.

Do You Plan On Selling The Home In The Near Future?

The fact is that most homebuyers are looking to purchase a house with a bath. An additional shower cubicle is a bonus but the main thing they want, is a bath. This is because many buyers are young families with children in tow, and trying to wash a small child in a shower cubicle is undeniably a tricky task.

Therefore if you are considering selling your home at any point in the near future it is definitely worth opting for a bath rather than a shower. If you don’t you may find you are vastly restricting the demographic of buyers that will be interested. This could lead to a huge increase in costs when you realise the only solution is to rip out the shower and install a bath.

Or Will You Live In The Home Until Old Age?

Shower cubicles are ideal for the elderly. As mobility becomes restricted, getting in and out of a bath becomes increasingly difficult. However a shower cubicle is very easy to navigate. What’s more, most shower trays are manufactured with full gripping, and a seat can even be installed, allowing the person to sit down and shower as easily and comfortably as possible. In addition, shower tray repair and cleaning are both quicker and easier than the equivalent processes with a bath.

Anyone in their fifties and beyond should consider this point – unless they have near definite plans to move elsewhere upon retirement. Already having a shower cubicle installed will save a lot of money and hassle once age sets in and clambering in and out of a bath becomes more difficult and therefore dangerous.

This article was written by Crispin Jones on behalf of Hometech UK. Crispin is a writer who covers many subjects including home renovations and repairs.

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Madison is one of those kids who can hear a song once and sing it back to you.  It happened to use again last night.  We were at Michael’s and she heard a Christmas song that I’m pretty sure she’s not heard before.  The rest of our shopping trip, she continued to sing the song and the correct words to the song.  She may never be the best forensic accountant, but she sure can remember music.

That being said, Madison has been dying to learn how to play piano.  To be honest, I’m not sure why.  She had been asking for months, but we recently decided to sign her up.  We can’t afford a piano right now (even the best forensic accounting services isn’t going to find money for that in our budget), so I picked her up a really nice keyboard.  She’s already had 2 lessons, and this week she is suppose to learn Mary Had a Little Lamb.  She’s super excited.  :)  Its a tad painful for me to watch her lessons and her struggle, but it is pretty amazing to see her “get” it.  What she struggled with last Wednesday, she is playing perfectly today.  Ahhh, to be young again.

I’m hoping this is something she will continue with.  I think she’s got a “sixth” sense with music, and I hope she will love to play.

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How do you clean up after the holidays?  For us, it is a tad more interesting.  Madison’s birthday was yesterday (she turned 5!), so we always have the quick cleanup that needs to be done from the time we get back from visiting Wisconsin and her birthday party.  I usually get about a week if we are lucky.  Since we have the basement now, Bill let me keep up the Christmasy decorations, but we did pull down the Christmas tree.  I need as much room as we can get, and this is pretty much the only way I was going to get it.  I figure everybody will hang out downstairs for her party just like they did for Christmas Eve.  The sad thing is that we are the only one on the block who still has their outdoor lights up.  Now, we don’t leave them up till June or anything, but it seems that it is kinda odd that on 8th of January that everyone has packed up everything already.  Now, I’ve slacked this week, and I have to get all my cleaning done tomorrow with the kids underfoot.  This should be interesting.  My sister is arriving tomorrow, so its not quite the end of the world if she’s the only one who sees my non-clean house.

How do you clean up?  Do you have a set plan?  Do you just do a little bit each day?

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