If you want to be scared like never before this Halloween season, then there's only one place to go!
The Wisconsin Feargrounds at the Waukesha County Expo Center!
I went there on Saturday with my husband Aaron. 'Timmer' and his wife Ann Marie are the real deal when it comes to putting together three haunted houses that even the toughest of characters will get scared in.
Take my husband for example. He's a guy who laughs during horror movies. He admitted that he almost had to leave while going throug the second house because it freaked him out that much. But make no mistake, he was defintely a happy customer.
The costumes, the makeup and the detail in all of these rooms were unbelievable. There were so many times when I forgot that I was actually in Waukesha. Each room takes you to a whole new world, like a creepy living room with bugs all over the wall - AMAZING!
Oh and watch out above! You never know what direction a ghost will come out and scare you.
It's totally worth the time to get a group together and visit the Wisconsin Feargrounds!
Photo - myself with one of the creepy actors in the makeup trailer
This song was playing at the wedding we went to up near Niagara Falls, Ontario and I can't get it out of my head. I LOVE it! It's Rahgav and the song is called "Fire."
I'm lucky enough to be on Oprah's email list and about once a month she's sends out a new message (and yes, they are actually written by Oprah herself).
Here's her latest email:
Dear Friends of Fall,
On my way back from Africa, where I've spent the past week teaching my soon to be graduating 12th graders, everything I wish someone had told me before I graduated. I bow to teachers everywhere who care about their students, prepare the curriculum and do their own homework to make sure they are prepared. It's a lot of work.
I received this email from one of my students today which makes it all worth it:
Mom Oprah I would like to thank you so much for the wonderful, exciting and mind blowing workshop on life and it's ways. I thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to come to South Africa, far away from your home. I have learned so many life lessons that I surely will be taking along with me through the many years to come. The one lesson that I definitely learned was that "It is okay to make mistakes". The reason it struck me so much is because I have had a shadow belief where I believed and told myself that I need to satisfy others and show them that I am good. What I did not realise along the way, is that I then stepped away from certain opportunities because I was too scared to take risks and to make mistakes and disappoint others. But after Life 101 I now know that IT IS OKAY TO MAKE MISTAKES. Another lesson that I learned is that other people will have their opinions about me and I will need to learn to give meaning to it or not.
Thanks M.
Wow, that warmed my heart.
That one email made the whole exhausting week to the bottom of Africa so worth the trip and rewarding. I'm not a good sleeper under normal circumstances. So my body does not adjust to time change well. So it's been a sleepless week. I had meeting after meeting...then taught class in the late afternoon, so girls wouldn't miss their regular classes.
Mistakes mean move in another direction. And other peopleâs opinions don't define you. Finding the courage to create the life you say you believe in, building from strength to strength, not giving away your power, especially not doing stupid things in the name of pleasing other people. That was my focus for 12 graders.
I'm returning to U.S. excited to be starting Lifeclass 8/7 central this week on OWN. Followed LIVE on the Web. I hope to see you on Facebook, Oprah.com...and if you have it the iPad app.
For Lifeclass we're moving on to even bigger lessons that speak to the power of the heart.
How not to be controlled by your ego. Letting Go of the past. Allowing the Truth of your life to set you free. Using your strength as a weapon against defeat. And Joy Rising moments that will remind you to feel and create your own.
All things I've learned and continue to grow and expand my understanding of how life works.
I want your world to open up, and you be enhanced, and stimulated by new ways of thinking about yourself.
Doing this on TV and the Web is a bold move. I know it. But what would life be without taking a risk!
See you Monday nite
Oprah
Photo credit VTK Productions via Flickr
Check out my new friend from Dublin, Ireland and her gorgeous fascinator (her hat). She is the aunt of the groom at the wedding I went to in Canada.
She said it's Irish tradition to wear a headpiece to a wedding. I wish we had that tradition here. These hats look so classy.
If you've never been to Niagara Falls, do it. Put it on the top of your bucket list - because it's unbelievable.
The size and the power of this enormous waterfall is so cool. Aaron and I visited the falls a few years ago and in this picture, we visited it again at a family wedding in October.
Both times it was AMAZING! Also, it's unfortunate for the U.S., but the Canadian side is much better. They have cool restuarants, casinos, bed and breakfasts and gorgeous landscaping and gardens.
Check it out if you can!
So, I spent the last 2 weeks eating raw vegetables, fresh fruit, smoothies, granola bars, chicken breasts and fish - so I could lose a few inches to wear this dress for an upcoming family wedding.
And YES, it finally fits! Now I have to remember to not sit, dance or eat at the wedding so it will continue to fit - KIDDING!
Join the WAC Downtown on Saturday, October 1st for Athletes vs Autism.
This event is meant to support individuals and families in the Midwest affected by autism spectrum disorders and get a good workout while doing it!
The fun starts at 9am in Studio 1 with Troy's Remember the Cause Ringside, followed by Jesse's Bootcamp to build Awareness.
Also at 9am in the Spin Room is Kelly's Cycle Cause You Care class and in the Mind/Body room at 9am is Jenny's Premium Pilates. And there's so much more!
The event goes until 1pm with Milwaukee Admirals Mascot Roscoe to make a special appearance at noon!
For more info, click here.
Classes registration required/suggested minimum donation of $5.
I've been a fan of Michelle Branch since college (2001) and I even loved her when she made the move to country music and was in the duo "The Wreckers."
So I was thrilled to meet her at Rock the Green at Veteran's Park on Milwaukee's Lakefront this past Sunday.
She LOVES Milwaukee and I got a kick out her drinking red wine out of a paper cup before she went on stage. She's super cool, friendly and down to earth.
Thanks Michelle for coming to our city!
Let's face it, cancer stinks! If you're going through this awful time there is help and support. It's at a great place called Gilda's Club!
And coming up on September 15, Gilda's Club is having their signature event "Show of Support Celebration" at the Pfister Hotel.
The evening will include:
Fashion show with models (all cancer survivors) taking the runway in the latest fall fashions;
Lee Kass Cancer Support Community Philanthropic Award presented to Mark Shapiro, executive director of the Jewish Community Center; and
Official kick-off of the Gilda's Club Community Challenge Grant Campaign
As you may know, Gilda's Club offers a much-needed support community for individuals and families who are living with cancer.
Educational programs, emotional support, networking, social and wellness activities are offered to participants free of charge. And now, operating in a community-based model, Gilda's Club is bringing the program to people where they live, work and worship.
Show your support and come on out to this great event on September 15th.
Tickets can be purchased online or by calling 414.962.8201, ext. 102.
So excited to hear about the big NFL Kickoff concert in Green Bay before the Packers/Saints game!
Lady Antebellum!!!
Maroon 5!!!
Kid Rock!!!
Plus a Packers game!!!
Could life get any better?!?!
If you're going, make sure to tweet me your pics @ElizabethKayFM or put them on Facebook!
Go Pack!
Photo credit avinashkunnath via Flickr
Photo credit via Flickr
Like many of you, I was glued to the TV this past weekend watching the devastation on the East Coast as Hurricane Irene blasted that area.
We have family in Jacksonsville, NC -Â not far from the coast. Thankfully they only have to do a few repairs on their roof, garage and their fence.
But others weren't as lucky. If you'd like to help, click here for a link to be redirected to the American Red Cross.
Photo credit qnr via Flickr
Check out this beautiful exhibit at our Discovery World at Pier Wisconsin on Milwaukee's Lakefront.
You can walk through the fish tank with this glass tunnel. All around you, even on the floor you can see fish! It's the coolest.
Get to Discovery World now and see even more neat exhibits like this!
We've all had a debbie downer in our life and those friends that are only concerned for their well being and never listen to your problems.
Here's some interesting numbers from a survey.Â
The most common kind of frenemy is the narcissist- 65% of people said theyâve got a so-called pal whoâs too self-obsessed to care about anyone beyond him or herself. But toxic friends come in many forms, including the chronic downer, who seems to be in a perpetual bad mood, the critic, who never has anything nice to say, the underminer, whoâs always ready with a backhanded compliment, and the consistently unreliable flake. So why do we put up with these unpleasant people?
After all, more than 80% of survey participants admitted theyâd remained friends with a bad-for-them bud even though they knew it wasnât good for them.Â
I agree that ending a relationship can be hard. You can "break up" with a guy, but how do you "break up" with a friend?
If it hurts too much to end it abrubtly, experts suggest taking breaks from hanging out with one another. Become an acquaintance. Good luck.
Photo credit Marion Doss via Flickr
Itâs a classic couple conflict- once you break up, what do you do with the jewelry he gave you?
Obviously you canât exactly give it back- that would be awkward- but continuing to wear it somehow feels wrong, too (and who wants a constant reminder of their former flame hanging around their neck?). Fortunately, a new website provides a perfect way to deal with your breakup baubles. On ExBoyfriendJewelry.com, you can buy, sell and trade your love tokens- but thatâs not all.Â
Unlike your friends, who are sick of you calling them in the middle of the night sobbing over the sad details of your relationshipâs demise, ExBoyfriendJewelry.com encourages you to tell the story behind your jewels. Better yet, you get to name your own price.
And who knows better than you what a Tiffany necklace from the guy who cheated on you with your sister is truly worth?
Photo credit tiffa130 via Flickr
Do you have times when you feel like you can't control your emotions? I"m a woman; therefore, the obvious answer for me is YES!
Here's a great quiz from Oprah.com that might help you gauge how in touch with your emotions you actually are.
Click here to take the quiz.
Thereâs an app for pretty much everything these days- including ones to rid you of your sins! Câmon, you know you have a few. Gluttony, for instance- itâs safe to say that smokers these days are gluttons for punishment. The risks associated with this nasty habit have been proven time and time again- even pictured, in grisly detail, right on the box!
If youâre ready to kick the butts for good, try the Quitter app, which reminds you how much money you could be saving if you werenât shelling out for cigs. Is greed your sin of choice? Shore up some karma by giving back- download Catchafire, which helps you find a philanthropic organization that matches up with your skill set. The internet is a breeding ground for the deadly sin of sloth- if youâve ever been swept into the endless time suck that is Facebook then you know this is true.
For students, the plugin Hoot.me will turn that wasted time into productivity by enabling you to arrange study groups. If pride is your vice, use Opinonaided, where you can talk about yourself to your own little heartâs content. And while we all feel a little wrath every now and then, Twitter is not the place to hash it out with a friend (or enemy). In lieu of a tweet battle, get the RageGage Connect, a gadget that lets you âpunchâ your online friends in effigy. Because remember- once youâve tweeted something, it canât be un-tweeted.
Photo credit Tony Buser via Flickr
I LOVE the pigs at the Wisconsin State Fair. I used to say that one day I would get a potbelly pig - they're so cute!
My friend Matt's family owns a pig farm in Luxemburg and these are two of their pigs. Would you believe they're almost 300 pounds!
Have you ever wanted to go whitewater rafting? Now you can and it's right in Wisconsin!
Check out my guest blog for Travel Wisconsin that talks all about our whitewater rafting and kayaking trip up north by clicking here.
It's not just a movie, wedding crashers really exist. And we saw two girls show up to our friend's wedding reception who weren't invited.
How do we know for sure?
They clearly did not know the bride and groom because they walked past them several times without any interaction whatsoever.
They stuck together, not talking to anyone else giggling the whole time.
They kept looking over their shoulds (almost paranoid), especially when they tapped into the appetizers.
Here's what's funny though. Each guest was able to grab a pretty, brown box from the greeting table when they left. The two friends ran down the stairs to leave and one ran back up - she looked left, then right and grabbed a brown box and ran down the stairs laughing.
We were laughing because what she didn't realize is that inside the brown box was a framed picture of the bride and groom - that they don't even know!!!
That's their karma for crashing a wedding.
Photo credit JEDM via Flickr
I've been lucky enough to be on Oprah's email list (yes she sends it out to thousands of people, BUT it REALLY is an email directly from her - which is cool).
Here it is:
Subject: The Next Right Decision...Friends of Summer,Can you believe it's August already? "Hot August nights with the leaves hanging down and the grass on the ground smelling so sweet"...thank you Neil Diamond. I always want to play that song this month.
I am digitally, technically, challenged but learned a great new thing yesterday.
Please don't LOL, but I did not know that you could play music wirelessly thru the speakers in your house directly from your iPad. And can upload movies directly to your tv screen and the movies maintain their HD quality.
I still think that iPad is a magic box.
I spent my first full week at OWN merging new staff with Harpo folks. Alignment is the first step in getting anything to work. We all had a great week. Although if you saw my tweet, you noticed I could use some better office furniture.
We're working on new shows for fall. ROSIE's on at 7pm ET/PT. I watched in awe this past Friday as she sat in a room full of critics, (Television Critics Association) and made them actually LOL.
OWN YOUR LIFE (the oprah class) will be at 8pm ET/PT. Sign up if you're interested in having a better life at Oprah.com.
By the way did you see the show SERVING LIFE on OWN it reairs this Wednesday night 9pm and 12am ET/PT. Produced and narrated by Forest Whitaker. If you didn't see and can't see when it reairs...DVR. It's worth your time.
I've been emailing Forest all weekend. I can't stop thinking about it. It was really, REALLY good. And a tough subject. But opened my heart and made me drop a lot of preconceived notions and judgment.
It is great television I'm proud to platform on OWN.
@Woodsy1069 asked me on Twitter yesterday if I was "frazzled" by OWN's performance thus far.
Nope, not frazzled. And I have faith that if I do what I'm supposed toâallow it to serve my purpose, and you, the viewerâit will succeed.
Everyone in the cable business told me it would take 3 years. Some said 5. I've been here a week.
Lorne Michaels, master creator/producer told me months ago, "it won't start to come together until you're there."
So I made myself CEO and now in the trenches with Erik and Sheri who've masterfully run Harpo, now also Presidents of OWN. We're uniting and building our team.
I will say this; it's 10 times harder than doing my daily show. Doing that show felt like breathing everyday. Now I'm in so many meetings I sometimes have to step out and catch a breath.
But I see every challenge as an opportunity. So no shortage of opportunities here.
I know the same is true for your life.
My experience is a network, yours is whatever is calling you right now.
Get clarity. Don't allow yourself to be overwhelmed. Don't be defeated by mistakes. Learn from them.
We have a new motto..."The next right decision"...what is it?
Onward!
Oprah Winfrey
Photo credit emilydickinsonridesabmx via Flickr
Scarlett Johansson is the latest star to receive an invitation to a Marine ball, but unlike Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake, Scarlett had to decline.
In a recent YouTube video, Sgt. Dustin L. Williams asked Scarlett to be his date for the November 10th event, but Scarlett said no, and sent him some champagne instead. âI feel incredibly honored to have been invited to the Marine Corps Ball by Sgt. Dustin L. Williams," Scarlett said in a statement. "Sgt. Williams, unfortunately due to prior commitments I will not be able to attend the Ball with you this year but I am sending you a case of Moet and Chandon with gratitude. In my absence, I raise a glass to you and all the men and women of the U.S. Marine Corps, past and present, in thanks for your continued commitment to preserving the safety of our nation.â
Now that's cool. I love all of these celebrities honoring our military! And special shout-out to my brother in-law who's serving with the USMC in North Carolina!
Photo credit cardinals17 via Flickr
Are you ready for some football? I am, but I'm not ready to give up that title of "Super Bowl Champs."
I've been bragging quite a bit in this off season to the Bears, Vikings and Steeler fans that I associate with.
Of course I hope we can have a repeat of last season, but I'm not ready to see us lose that title either.
I can't even imagine the pressure the players and coaches must feel to win. But I am ready to relax on a cozy, fall Sunday with a blanket, my Packer jersey and my husband.
Photo credit Nick Collins via Sara Schmidt with Cramer-Krasselt
WOW, this might be a little much! Green Bay Packers cornerback Sam Shields went and had this tattoo put on his body.
Do you think this is too much? I think it would hurt!
(Photo credit Sam Shields via @StickyShields9)
First a Marine asked Mila Kunis to his Marine Ball and she said yes.
Then a Marine asked Justin Timberlake to her ball and he said yes.
Now, this guy is inviting Betty White to his Marine Ball! I wonder what she'll say?
I'm lucky enough to be on one of Oprah's email lists and here is her latest email she sent this week:
Hello friends of Summer,I haven't written lately because my technically challenged self could not access this email account.
So many barriers were put in place to protect the account, I ended up barring myself from access.So here we go... Last week was at Allen Conference, with all the movers and shapers of our world. Met some fascinating people like Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook. Dynamo woman. So exciting to see women crack that glass ceiling and burst through it.
Came home inspired to work harder and do better.Started out the week taking swimming lessons. Moving beyond my amateur doggy paddle. Learned the breast stroke today.Over a year ago I pulled a picture from O mag of a woman gliding through water. It was such a striking image of Freedom and possibility I put it on my vision board (which I've still not completed). Â Today when I finished my swimming lesson I passed the vision board lying on the table where it's been since 2009. I had an aha moment. I had just become that woman, gliding through the water!For years I've been a challenged swimmer, afraid of the water and fighting it. Today I learned to move with the flow.This I've known forever is the great metaphor of life. "Move with the flow". Don't fight the current.
Resist nothing. Let life carry you. Don't try to carry it.Sometimes we just have to be reminded. A swim lesson did it for me.I've brought the metaphor to life as I try to evolve OWN into it's full potential. Erik Logan and Sheri Salata, presidents of Harpo today will bring their unique partnering leadership into alignment with the network.In all things you must have alignment for "flow" to occur.This I've known forever, but couldn't make it happen, because we were all so focused on ending The Oprah Show.So as of today... Harpo Team and OWN team become ONE.Our intention is to use the cable platform and the internet platform and the mobile platform to create messages that fill you up and bring you to new levels of awareness about yourself, ourselves, and our world; our potential...It's an incredible challenge ahead trying to figure out what kind of shows and programming will resonate with you, inspire you, bring a little piece of light into your already crowded existence. But I feel called to do it, and will be relying on your feedback, emails and tweets and message boards to let me know what you think.We're gearing up for October, The Oprah Show team of producers will be producing the Rosie show in Chicago at Harpo studios.I'll be in L.A working on "Next Chapter".I'm also taking The Oprah Show library of 4560 shows and redesigning them into the 100 best lessons I've learned about everything that can help you live a better life. Â Those will start airing Oct. 10. Â Same day as Rosie.At my core I'm a teacher, masquerading as a talk show host.
And now I'll have a nightly class on OWN.But for now, I'm enjoying every breath of Summer.
I hope you all are appreciating the warm sun and blue sky where ever you are.Everyday I wake up grateful. For the smallest things and big things:Health. Living in the U.S.A. Freedom. Democracy.
Promise and Potential. Growth.
And tiny pleasures like bathing my dogs or picking vegetables.I have a garden, and every Thursday we harvest our veggies. I grew up in Mississippi, too young to appreciate what it means to pull beans from the vine. Then I just thought it was work, now I get a little thrill from every onion and corn stalk. Yes I'm growing CORN in my back yard. And beets and lots of basil.I cook for Stedman, but have a limited repertoire.Next I think I may want to take one of those Tuscany cooking courses.Will let you know how it goes.The Best of Life to you,
Oprah WinfreyPhoto Credit: Pan-African News Wire File Photos via Flick
Some odd facts:
Supossedly if you add up the age you are turning this year and the year you were born it's suppose to equal some form of "11."
So far it's worked every time.
Take mine for example
30 (the age I'll be this year) + 81 (I was born in 1981) = 111
I've been emailing Oprah since her show wrapped up at oprah@oprah.com and here's her latest email.
Hello y'all, friends of summer.
Got back safely from vacation. Had to come back for Cable convention and meetings with OWN team. Building a network doesn't allow for the long relaxing time I had imagined for myself.
But I'm ready for the challenge.
Thanks for all your good wishes.
I'm sure you feel the same after vacation. Not long enough.
Oddly enough it's not the vacation, but small moments like having time to stop for a cup of coffee at Starbucks, or Friday night going out to dinner with friends that feels so different.
In the past I've been so exhausted that when Friday comes I just want to collapse and sleep.
So I marvel at the spaces of time to do something just normal and not worry about where I have to go next.
I appreciate you wanting to send me ideas for programming but I can't accept unless in real general terms. Law suits; Not my idea of a good time.
And though I empathize with everyone having money problems, even with all the kids I've given scholarships to, I don't give money to them directly but to a school or institution.
I've enjoyed corresponding with some of you. But with 132k emails in my inbox right now, obviously I can't respond to you all individually.
On my way out of country on business. Â Would appreciate if you'd watch BTS tonight 8/7 central on OWN. Tonight's episode is all the Behind the Scenes stuff with James Frey. I teared up watching it and I've obviously already lived it. Why? The true miracle of reconciliation and being willing to see things differently. Of all the BTS shows I think this one is the best so far. Â You really get an insight into all the misunderstanding that keeps people holding on to "stuff" for years. I didn't think I was one of those people until this show. Also looking forward to BTS on the making of United Center surprise shows. I still don't know HOW my team did that. Took over that venue from the Bulls and had less than 36 hrs to build the stage and rehearse, Aretha, Beyonce, Stevie, Jamie, Rascal Flatts, et al..
After Season 25 Behind the Scenes is Finding Sarah, really good I think. Please let me know what you think at Oprah.com
And I need your feedback on the Ryan and Tatum O'Neal show as they attempt a real reconciliation on camera. That's 10/9 central.
BTS.....Finding Sarah... The O'Neals.. Sunday lineup beginning 8/7 central.
I have to say, my experience with James Frey felt like a holy moment. You'll see in tonight's episode how we both came full circle. I would have never imagined of all the nearly 30 thousand people I've interviewed that James Frey would turn out to be a friend.
Amazing Grace..indeed.
Happy Father's day to all you great dads. And to those of you who are trying to be better; recognizing that you're not a man because you can make a baby... You're a man when you can raise one. I salute you for the work and sacrifice and the dream you carry day in, day out for your family.
It's good we take a beat once a year at least, to acknowledge and make sure Father's feel appreciated. And most important VALIDATED.
As I said on last show Everybody wants to know they matter. And every relationship improves according to how valued the other person feels.
I already called my Dad, since I knew I'd be traveling out of the country today.
Blessings and Thank you for your emails,
Oprah Winfrey
Check out the Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers new rings!
The rings have 13 diamonds in the logo (to represent the 13 championships) and 92 diamonds in the crest for the team's 92-year history of the team. WOW, that a lot of bling!
Each player has their name and number and even a picture of Lambeau Field on the ring.
You know that dream where youâre standing in front of your entire high school, preparing to give a speech and you canât remember anything youâre supposed to say? AND youâre naked? Most of us have a recurring dream of some kind- in some cases itâs more like a nightmare- and often it deals with something from our lives in high school or college.Â
As unpleasant as these dreams can be, experts say that not only are they normal, but they actually serve a purpose- they let us know when weâre overwhelmed or stressed, since thatâs when weâre most likely to have them.Â
They can also serve as a wake-up call to make us reexamine unresolved issues in our lives- in many cases, issues that are rooted in our teenage years. Which explains dreams about forgotten locker combinations, being unprepared for tests, and the whole naked-in-front-of-the-whole-student-body thing.
Do you have a recurring anxiety dream? What is it about? What do you think it means? Does it occur more often when youâre stressed?
I know it's cool, but why does our new puppy have to curl up to the grossest thing in the house - our toilet?
I understand that's it's cool in there, but the toilet?!?!? Really?!?!?
Another season of the Bachelorette has started this week on ABC, starring Ashley H. (how she was known on Bachelor Brad's season).
Already we know that Bentley from Utah is a dog. He openly tells the camera he wishes the bachelorette was Emily (who Brad picked in the end) and that he's not attracted to Ashley. That's not what makes him a dog. It's the fact that he keeps going along with the show and leading Ashley on.
Thanks to the blogger realitysteve.com, I found out that Bentley actually eliminates himself and supposedly comes back to the show.
For more spoilers, click here.
The countdown to Oprahâs final show on May 25th is onâ¦AND EVERYONEâS GETTING A CAR! Just kidding. After 25 years of shocking interviews, hard-hitting investigations, invaluable life guidance and a ton of free stuff, itâs no wonder Oprahâs many fans are saddened by the legendary showâs end. Are you one of them? Then you may be suffering from what one psychiatrist has actually dubbed âEmpty Oprah Syndromeâ â characterized by feelings of anxiety and a sense of loss at the thought of a world without TheOprah Show.
Donât worry though- between her magazine and an entire television network devoted to her, Miss O isnât really going anywhere. Weâll never get rid of her.Â
Are you sad about the end of The Oprah Show? How will you fill the void?
Now you can enjoy the addicting game "Angry Birds" without having an Apple product!
Just click here to install Google Chrome and then search "Angry Birds."
Happy gaming!
This might upset some people.
Celebrities are known for crazy baby names- most recently, actress Alicia Silverstone named her newborn son Bear Blu (and donât even get us started on Mariahâs son Moroccan). And this yearâs list of top trending baby names revealed our celebrity obsession even influences how we name our own kids.Â
As for the yearâs most hated baby names? Itâs quite a list. A survey found people dislike âgender-bendingâ names- as in girls with names typically reserved for boys. They also find names that invoke brands (such as Bentley) to be trashy, and are put off by names with âcreativeâ (read: difficult or ridiculous) spellings. The lists are below; we apologize in advance if your name is on one of them!
What baby names do you hate the most? Do you actually like any of the names on this list? What do you think of all the crazy celebrity baby names?
GirlsÂ
Nevaeh ("heaven" spelled backward)
Destiny (people dislike names that suggest virtueâ¦plus this one reminds people of a stripper)
Madison
Mackenzie
McKenna
Addison (an example of a masculine named turned feminine)
Gertrude (people said this name is "ugly")
Kaitlyn (for its "made-up" spelling)
Makayla
Bertha
BoysÂ
Jayden
Brayden
Aiden
Kaden (these rhyming names seem overdone)
Hunter (too much like a last name or "too violent")
LADY ANTEBELLUM released a new single on Monday. "Just A Kiss" will be included on the group's new album, which isn't due out until later this year.
But, you can see them peform the new tune tomorrow night on "American Idol."
Prince William totally redeemed himself by kissing Catherine a second time. The first kiss was a little lame for me.
Insiders are reporting that William does not like public displays of affection, but isn't that what a wedding is - a public display of your love.
He knew this was coming, I'm just glad he went in for another smooch!
The big day is finally here! Kate Middleton spent her last night as a commoner at the Goring Hotel in Londonâs extremely posh neighborhood of Belgravia. And after shacking up at this joint, moving into the palace is going to be a downgrade!Â
The Royal Apartment suite is on the top floor of the Goring. It features gorgeous, intricate interior decorations like bronze statues, chandeliers, a grand piano, leather-bound books and luxurious furniture. The four-poster bed has a built-in television, as does the large bathtub. And for an artful bathing experience, thereâs an oil painting encased in glass inside the spa-like shower. Kate could gaze out over her future empire from the balcony, which has breathtaking views of London.Â
Of course, the princess-to-be needed a good nightâs sleep before her wedding- and rumor has it she got to select her own mattress for the room, which will then be removed so no one ever sleeps on it again! So, how much do accommodations like this set you back? The suite costs nearly $10,000 per night. Living like royalty, indeed!
There's actually a website dedicated to EVERYTHING Royal Wedding. Now you can see pictures of the setup, their route and even who will be sitting where inside Westminster Abbey during the ceremony.
Just click here.
There's no denying EVERYONE is talking about the Royal Wedding, but not everyone wants to.
Lots of you are sick of it and that's where this graphic designer comes into play.
Lydia Leith has created "Barf Bags" in honor of the Royal Wedding.
Click here for more.
George Michael has decided on his wedding gift for Prince William and Kate Middleton.
He's recorded a version of  Stevie Wonder's "You And I," and you and I can download it for free at georgemichael.com.
The singer hopes you will make a donation to the Royal Wedding Charity Fund. The original version of the song appears on Stevie's 1972 album, "Talking Book," and George told CNN's Piers Morgan on Friday that Stevie gave his ok to distribute the new track for free.
Lately, there has been a lot of talk surround TLC's new series "Extreme Couponing."
I cut coupons, but I find that sometimes these deals aren't all that great, because have to buy more than what I need or have room for just to get the deal.
And, click here to read this story. She has 450 rolls of toilet paper in her house so she could "save money!"
What do you think? Is this for real?
Check out who will be at the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard stage this year at Summerfest!
June 29: Meat LoafJune 30: Funkmaster George ClintonJuly 1: Alt-rockers Third Eye BlindJuly 2: Countryâs party-ready piano player Phil VassarJuly 3: The Jayhawks with Alejandro Escovedo and the Ike Reilly AssassinationJuly 5: Reggaeâs the Wailers
July 6: Danny Gokey
July 7: Neo-soul artist Raphael SaddiqJuly 8: To be announced
July 9: Waukeshaâs BoDeansJuly 10: Singer-songwriter Amos Lee with Willy Porter
I'll see you at Danny Gokey and Phil Vassar!
After waiting for a few months, we receive the good news this past weekend that a litter of Bernese Mountain Dog puppies were born!
Since we already have a male (Huey) we didn't want a female. The best part - this litter has 3 males! Which means, one of these puppies will likely be ours.
Since they were born on April 2nd - the breeder decided the theme of the litter would be "April Fool's".
We decided on the name Gus for "Gus - I fooled 'ya". Get it? Instead of "Guess I fooled 'ya."
Slight play on words, but for this breed the name Gus for a male will be really cute.
He'll hopefully come to our house in June.
We're talking to Hanson tonight at The Rave.
Yes, I was a fan of MmmBop, but I LOVED this song. I used to cry to it at night when I was going through High School boy drama.
The latest list of the Billboard Top 10 singles was released this week and there isn't a song I DON"T like on this week's list:
Here are this week's Top 10 Singles:
10. "Down on Me," Jeremih featuring 50 Cent,
9. "Grenade," Bruno Mars.
8. "Look At Me Now," Chris Brown featuring Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes,
7. "F**kin' Perfect," P!nk,
6. "Loser Like Me," Glee Cast,
. "Just Can't Get Enough," The Black Eyed Peas,
4. "F**k You (Forget You)," CeeLo Green,
3. "S&M," Rihanna,
2. "E.T.," Katy Perry featuring Kanye West,
1. "Born This Way," Lady Gaga.
Found out last night that my family is actually related to a Green Bay Packer Hall of Famer! As the world's biggest Packer fan this is almost too good to be true.
For real! Let me explain, my second cousin Steve's wife is a great niece of Ted Fritsch.
He led the NFL in scoring with 100 points in 1946!
Is this a stretch? Kidd thinks so, I don't.
After the St. Patty's Day parade my husband and I went with my friends out to a few bars. WOW, were we surprised to see this girl at 3pm!
Don't turn out like this on St. Patty's Day because you never know who will be taking your picture.
Check out this guy who has 82 tattoos of Julia Roberts on his body!
He's spent nearly $81,000 and he plans on getting more tattoos as long as he has the empty space on his body and the money.
YUCK! My apologies to Julia Roberts
So my husband and I are looking into life insurance - god, do I feel old even typing that.
Is this necessary. I believe that it is, but to go all Kidd O'Shea "Mr. Conspiracy Theory" is it all a scam?!
What if we never use it? Or because we're all bound to pass away at some point it will get used.
Lots of questions and we're just starting this long process of making a pretty hefty decision.
There's a new app - "Drive me Crazy" for iPhones.
You can flag a license plate and leave a recorded message about how bad their driving is on the road.
It's free and you never know - your license plate might have already been reported.
Click here to see the app.
I did a little shopping today and I decided to walk into a popular lingerie store in the mall.
I'm just minding my own business and from behind, walking towards me I hear giggling. A group of teenage girls and boys decided to come into the store too.
Whatever, I just ignored them until the teenage boys walked up to the underwear table where I was browsing...and to make it worse they didn't hold back on comments of what they found to be attractive.
AWKWARD!
I mean come on...I used to work at this store and I get people of all ages will shop there, but maybe an age limit should be required to enter. Just a thought.
Congratulations to the Green Bay Packers, as a die hard fan - I had a hunch from the first preseason game that this was going to be a special team.
WOW, to all the haters who thought it couldn't happen. The smallest city in the NFL with the biggest heart won!
*Photo - My husband and I with the Packers during the summer Tailgate Tour that stopped at the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee.
I had every intention of making it into work today, but "me vs the snow drifts" meant only one thing - the snow drift WON.
My husband was up with me at 1:00 am to try and shovel me out of our alley. After an hour of shoveling the same drift over and over, he said it perfectly "we can't shovel our entire way to Hales Corners from Bay View."
True. So after a few phone calls with Kidd O'Shea (who's stranded at a hotel in New Berlin) and talks with the boss it was decided to stay home.
In theory a snow day would sound awesome, except it's 3:47 am and I can't go back to sleep (this is my usual awake time).
So it's time to put some coffee on, cuddle up with my dog (who's refusing to go outside and pee) and watch my TV friends report the news and weather.
BTW, this photo is outside our front door, yes you can only see parts of the hand rail down the steps due to the HUGE drift in front of me.
Ladies, you might not want to send your guy to Dallas for the Big Game.
A new story is reporting they need to hire more strippers to keep up with the demand.
YIKES! Check out the story here.
On the flip side, if you're looking for work - maybe you could perform in Dallas.
THIS IS GREAT! I've always had a hard time finding a button down shirt that doesn't pop open right by the bust.
Let's face it, if you have a chest - the white buttoned down shirt can be your enemy. I've used safety pins and tape and NOTHING kept those babies in, until now.
Oprah was just talking about it. "The Shirt" by Rochelle Behrens eliminates the gap because they've added another button. This is genious!
People thought I was crazy, but I said back in August - the Packers have a chance to go to the Super Bowl.
Now, we are only a few games away. I agree, if they don't play well we're out immediately. But when these guys are firing on all cylinders - they are a team that other teams don't want to face.
So excited they made the playoffs and I look forward to seeing them play in Dallas in February!
This is sooo cool. So a proud father took a photo of his daughter EVERY day for ten years.
Now the pictures are compiled into a video with millions of hits to go with it.
I was saddened today to hear the news that Elizabeth Edwards passed away after her long battle with cancer.
Let's face it, cancer sucks. I've seen it take the lives of people in my own life.
For me, this has nothing to do with politics. She had to bury her young son, go through a public, humiliating cheating scandal with her estranged husband and she kept her grace and composure through it all.
She has three surviving children who are now without a mom and two of them are very young.
I also lost someone very close to me around the holidays a few years ago and even though no time is easy, for me the holidays were harder - because this time of year is so much about gathering with family and friends.
As I type this I am reminded of how thankful I am for my health and the health of my family, life really is a fragile gift.
Check out this sweet video a guy made for his gilfriend who left town for school at Duke University.
The only catch is, he didn't let her know - he just hoped it would go viral and eventually get to her.
Ever since I was younger - I have loved reading about the Royal Family. I used to joke around as a kid that I was "Queen" Elizabeth. I even went as far as to hope to marry Prince William some day.
It was devasting for me to watch the funeral of Princess Diana and I cried when they showed William and Harry following the casket.
On my senior trip to Paris and London we visited the crash site of Diana's accident, we saw her ring on display inside Harrods department Store and it was William's birthday so we watched the parade in front of Buckingham Palace.
So for me to see this fairy tale unfold with William's engagement to Kate Middleton only adds to the story of this royal family.
What can I say, I'm a sucker for fairy tales.
We talked to our "germ expert" Robin, who is a lab supervisor at Columbia St. Mary's today in honor of National Clean Your Refrigerator Day.
Now she said that we are suppose to clean our refrigerators once a weeek! REALLY!?!? Drawers out and all and don't forget the bleach.
She went on to explain that the packaging is dirty after it's handled by the employees and store.
Interesting...
If you love your freedom, thank a Veteran. They make so many sacrifices for us and our country.
I witnessed firsthand my brother in-law miss the birth of his daughter this past March because of his deployment and this is just one example among thousands of other stories military families could share.
Hats off to you Veterans, this country wouldn't be the same without you.
When that time comes that you've decided you want to expand your family, should you tell people you're trying?
I can understand talking to close friends and family, but what are the advantages/disadvantages of telling the whole world you're trying?
A good friend said she'd loved telling people she was trying, because it prevented them from asking over and over "when are you going to have a baby?"
What do you think, should you tell people you're trying?
It's been announced...the New Kids on the Block are teaming up with the Backstreet Boys for a summer tour!!!
Dates will be announced soon. You can see all the boys performing live together on November 21st on the American Music Awards.
No offense to the Backstreet Boys, but I hope that the New Kids headline only because I a lot of Joey Joe.
Now you can be "fat" with a new line of hair products from Samy called "Fat Hair" and "Fat Foam" hair dye.
It's suppose to give your hair more volume and allow you to put the products in your hair and then go about your everyday lives...not sit with your head in a sink for hours dying your hair all day.
See for yourself by clicking here.
Maybe this is too premature, but after watching Brett Favre limping around last night at Lambeau Field I think it's safe to say we just watched his final game in Green Bay.
He's tired, he's old and he's hurt. I would be SHOCKED if he came back next year. Right now they're saying he might not even start next weekend (which would break his consecutive start record).
Yes, I will be a little sad the day he hangs it up for good. He's been great to watch (always unpredictable) and he did an awesome job for the Packers.
Either way, the day will come, but I'm just glad we were able to beat him as a Viking before it does.
In case you haven't finished the final book in the Twilight series Breaking Dawn - STOP reading the following news:
Bella and Edward's daughter, Renesme was cast by this adorable 9 year-old actress named Mackenzie Foy.
So cute! Get the full scoop here.
Just released this week - Pink's new single "Raise Your Glass."
What an awesome party song, love it!
(FYI - this is the non-edited version, so listen at your own discrection). Click here to check it out.
The song will be on her Greatest Hits album, in stores this November
Look, I am a happily married woman, but back in 2007 I began crushing on a reality star - Brad Womack.
He was "The Bachelor" who ended up picking no one at the end of his season and also became the most hated man in "Bachelor" history.
Think what you want about Brad...BUT ladies, he is some good eye candy and hey, doesn't everyone deserve a second shot at love?!?!
Can't wait to see this guy walking around the show again with no shirt on.
Check out the video we did with the 2010 Susan G. Komen race chair, Wendy Carlson at the beautiful state-of-the art HD studios at Discovery World.
If you're interested in Susan G. Komen, click here.
Laughing so hard while watching Sunday football.
The Vikings are 0-2, we are 2-0 and Brett Favre threw 3 interceptions.
You're welcome Vikings - now you know what we were dealing with.
I couldn't believe that Cher busted out her legendary 80's no pants, leather jacket and big hair look at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards!
And you know what, I loved it! I suppose when you have that much money to get plastic surgery you can still look great in those clothes when you're 125 years old.
Go Cher - you're hot!
Purchase your own Lexus this weekend at the Golden Opportunity Sales Event happening at Lexus of Brookfield until September 7th.
And if you say you're a Mix listener, Lexus of Brookfield will offer you 2 years of 24,000 miles of scheduled maintenance for FREE with the purchase of a brand new vehicle.
Check out the Lexus that's right for you this weekend on the corner of Bluemound and Barker Road!
OK, the car that I drive has a few dents and rust spots and sometimes the A/C can cut out, but check out what Lexus of Brookfield dropped off at the radio station this week! It's the new IS 350.
Despite my poor driving record, they're even going to let me take a spin with the top down! All you have to do is push a button and in twenty seconds you're cruising around in a convertible.
The inside is gorgeous, white leather interior with dark gray bird's-eye maple wood trim with navigation, bluetooth capabilities and an adapter for your iPod or Iphone (and that's just to name a few of the car's luxuries).
If you ever dreamed about owning a Lexus now is the BEST time to make that dream a reality. That's because this weekend is the Lexus Golden Opportunity Sales Event that ends September 7 at Lexus of Brookfield. Check out all of the models at Lexus of Brookfield on the corner of Bluemound and Barker Road.
And if you mention you're a Mix listener you will receive two years, 24,000 miles worth of scheduled maintenance for FREE with the purcase of a new car.
See you on the road!
Do you have a hard time finding jeans that fit? Maybe they're too tight or are they are too big in the waist.
I have the hardest time finding blue jeans - until NOW.
Levi's jeans has launched a new line that "honors your curves."
And I LOVE them.
Check this out if you're on the hunt for a new, sexy pair of blue jeans.
My ten year high school reunion is coming up in October. To be honest, when I read the email with the date my first thought was "oh no, do I really want to go to this?"
It's not because of anyone in particular. I was lucky enough to have been really involved in school extracurricular activities and I didn't date anyone in my class; therefore, there's no high school sweetheart drama. I'm just not sure what I would take away from a reunion.
Since I signed up for Facebook I feel like I keep in pretty good contact with the people from high school that I choose to keep in contact with.
I still have mixed feelings about it, not sure yet what I should do. I do admit that it will be nice to actually see some of these people in person compared to looking at their photo through a computer screen.
Check out this beautiful kitchen that so many of you helped me design with Kaerek Homes for the parade of homes tour! I am so jealous of whoever gets to call this kitchen their own.
The list is out again from onmilwaukee.com "100 Hottest Milwaukeans".
Here are some of the people who made the list:
Shelby Croft, WISN Ch. 12
Danny Gokey, national recording artist
Brandon Jennings, Bucks basketball player
Erin Lobdell, "Survivor" contestant
Me (not sure why, but totally flattered nonetheless)
So what do you find "hot" in a person? For me, it's all about how someone carries themselves. Confidence (NOT arrogance)Â and a great sense of humor are very attractive qualities in a person (nice teeth and smile help too).
Check out the full list here.
In case you missed it, check out this fun photos from the "Celebrity Cream Puff eating contest" that happened this week at the Wisconsin State Fair.
Needless to say, I didn't win. But it's always a good time nonetheless.
In light of what happened with the JetBlue flight attendant Steven Slater who walked off the job (by going off on the P.A., grabbing some beer and jumping off the emergency slide).
I thought it would be appropriate to include one of my favorite country songs by Johnny Paycheck "Take This Job And Shove It".
If you're not happy with your job, take a listen to this song and hopefully it will bring a smile to your face!
Gilda's Club of Southeastern Wisconsin is having their popular family event "Woof n Hoof" this Saturday, August 7th from 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
A very good friend of mine as been involved with this for the past couple of years and raves about how fun it is for your whole family and your dog!
The course gives walkers the option of a 1 or 2.5 mile that starts at Atwater Elementary School on Capital Drive in Shorewood.
And unfortunately Gilda's Clubhouse in Shorewood did suffer some damage from the Brew City Flood; therefore, some funds, in part, will help restore their lower level.
I hope to see you there!
*Gilda's Club of Southeastern Wisconsin's mission is to provide a welcoming support community for those affected by cancer.
Everyone is buzzing about the changes coming to "American Idol" - I say bring it on.
This show needed some shakeup and a little extra buzz. Â Ellen DeGeneres never really fit on the show in my opinion. I'll miss her witty comments on the show, but I think it's best that she leaves. Â I liked Kara, but never LOVED her. She didn't bring enough to the table that was different than what any of the other judges said.
Plus, it's entertainment afterall - enough of the "in the music business" kind of lingo. I want to be entertained and that's what I feel Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler would add to the show.
How Randy's job is saved I'll never know. He was one of the original judges and that may be what he has going for him.
And of course, what would be "American Idol" without Ryan Seacrest - I am glad he's coming back.
Well, my husband Aaron attempted to refinish our hardwoods floors (he's never done this before). And I have to tell you, he was a natural. Above is how the floors looked right after they were sanded before he was able to do the edge sanding.
Here's the mineral spirits drying on the floors.
Here comes the stain!
It took 3 days, but WOW, do they look nice. (Did you notice our feet - Aaron's shoes kept breaking through the booties, so he taped his undershirts to his tennis shoes!)
Oh, and the window is splattered with "knock down" - the replacement windows go in next!
I'm finishing up the remodel on this beautiful dream kitchen with Kaerek Homes in West Allis for the upcoming MBA Parade of Homes Tour.
Is it true when they say good lighting can really add the perfect touch to a room?
Of course we'll have standard lighting on the ceiling, but what about lighting under the cabinets or even INSIDE a few cabinets, perhaps with a glass door?
I'd love to hear your ideas. What have you used in your kitchen, or better yet, what would you like to have in the kitchen of your dreams?
And don't forget you can check out the kitchen when it's finished in the upcoming MBA Parade of Homes Tour August 21st - September 12th in Oak Creek.
What is your preference when it comes to a stove  - gas or electric? Does one cook better, which type of stove is easier to clean?
I'm in the final stages of designing a dream kitchen with Kaerek Homes in West Allis for their upcoming MBA Parade of Homes Tour.
So far, your suggestions on countertops, lighting, flooring and cabinets has been extremely helpful. Now the little things (like which stove most people prefer) has been overlooked, but is just as important as everything else when it comes to this remodel.
Let me know by leaving a comment here - if you could have your dream kitchen, what type of stove would you want?
Don't forget you can see the finished kitchen during the MBA Parade of Homes Tour, August 21st - September 12th in Oak Creek.
I'm in the final process of designing the dream kitchen with Kaerek Homes in West Allis for their upcoming MBA Parade of Homes Tour.
We have the cabinets picked out, the flooring, backsplash, appliances, countertops and even lighting.
But what color? The cabinets are on the darker side and the flooring is kind of a lighter/blonde type of wood mixed with some darker grains of wood as well.
Dark walls, light walls or a combination of both (sort of like an accent wall)?
Please let me know - all of your suggestions so far have been great. I can't wait for you to see the final result in the upcoming MBA Parade of Homes Tour, August 21st - September 12th.
I'm almost done with the dream kitchen that I'm working on with Kaerek Homes in West Allis (it will be featured in this year's MBA Parade of Homes Tour).
I'm a big time wino and I thought it might be neat to add a built in wine rack to go with this beautiful kitchen. What do you think? Does it run a big risk of making the kitchen too personalized if not anyone enjoys wine? Or will it add class and elegance and become a beautiful place to showcase some vintage wine or sparkling wine glasses?
Please send me your suggestions - they have all been great suggestions so far and I can't wait for all of you to see the finished product during the MBA Parade of Homes Tour August 21st - September 12th.
I thought it would be cute to start sending my husband Aaron some sassy text messages yesterday. It didn't take him long to figure out what I was doing and sure enough he began to text back.
One thing led to another and I decided to show up to his work and tease him over the intercom (he works part time at a coffee house with a drive through).
He answered the drive through page and while laughing I asked him if "he was an item on the menu that I could order" - I had no idea that all 6 of his co-workers were also on head sets and heard the same thing!!!!
Needless to say I was mortified, grabbed my drink and left. Aaron mentioned later that night he would be teased about this for weeks - he did think it was pretty funny.
Everyone loves a big kitchen, and more counterspace is a plus too!
I'm putting the finishing touches on the beautiful, dream kitchen with Kaerek Homes in West Allis for their upcoming MBA Parade of Homes tour.
Quick question for all you savy kitchen experts. Is it best to purchase a microwave range hood compared to a regular range hood? I would think that by doing that it would save counterspace, except there are some really cool looking range tops too.
What would you do if money wasn't an issue and you could have whatever you wanted in your dream kitchen?
Keep in mind you can see this stunning kitchen when it's finished during the MBA Parade of Homes Tour August 21st - September 12th.
My husband Aaron and I bought lots of stuff over the weekend for our new duplex. Two water heaters, a new screen door and a microwave range top.
Needless to say, we easily ran out of space in our small SUV. Instead of calling my in-laws to help us take some of the load, Aaron decided to take off the head rests in the front seat. Now we both had to lean forward while he drove 20 mph on the road with our flashers on.
Why won't men just ask for help?
I'm in the process of designing a dream kitchen with the wonderful people at Kaerek Homes in West Allis. This has been so much fun, but I never knew how many aspects of a kitchen there really are! This kitchen in particular is going to be featured in the upcoming MBA Parade of Homes Tour.
With that said, my hope is that this kitchen will be functional, stylish and a place where a family will be able to enjoy each other's company.
I'm still stuck on the lighting though. I'm not sure what most people would prefer to have in their kitchen. If you could design your dream kitchen, what would you prefer: track lighting, a light fixture, recessed lighting, under cabinet lighting - there are SO many options.
Your suggestions are greatly appreciated, so feel free to leave them here under comments.
And make sure to check out the finished product during the MBA Parade of Homes Tour August 21st - September 12th.
(left to right: Chad Clifton, Nick collins, Me, hubby, James Jones, John Kuhn)
My husband and I bought tickets to the Packers 2010 Tailgate Tour at the Harley-Davidson Museum. We arrived at the event early enough to get V.I.P tickets to the Packers cocktail party.
While the Packers were busy signing autographs I asked wide receiver #89 James Jones about the time I saw him jogging without a shirt on during a hot summer day down Oneida Street in Green Bay - he totally remembered and started joking around about his muscles.
Then Nick Collins started teasing James about having "small triceps"...a few minutes later a full blown flexing competition started - let's just say I'm not complaining!
I'm getting close to finishing up the kitchen design for the Kaerek Homes in West Allis MBA Parade of Homes Tour.
We've finished a lot so far - countertops, floors, cabinets, appliances and so much more. Now I need to decide how else we want to use this space.
What are your thoughts on an island? If you prefer an island, would you like there to be storage, maybe another sink or an area to put bar stools?
Other options might be a breakfast bar? Or maybe you like your kitchens to be more open and don't go with either option.
Either way, please let me know what you would prefer because my hope is that this kitchen will not only be my dream kitchen, but instead a dream come true for one lucky family who move into this house.
And if you want to see what the finished kitchen looks like, make sure to check out the MBA Parade of Homes Tour running August 21st through September 12th.
Also, if you're looking to build a new home or perhaps remodel your existing home, trust me - you can with Kaerek Homes!
A friend of mine is very passionate about the Gilda's Club of Southeastern Wisconsin and they are having a very fun event for everyone to enjoy!
It's the Gilda's Fashion "Show of Support" fashion show and lunch.
It's happening Thursday, May 13 at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center from 11am - 1:30pm.
For tickets call (414) 962 - 8201 ext.102.
Gilda's Club is a free cancer support community that was created in honor of commedian/actress Gilda Radner by her husband Gene Wilder.
I was surfing the internet the other day and I came across this cool photo of a kitchen. At first I couldn't figure out why I liked this kitchen so much. Then I glanced up at the ceiling and there it was - an enormous sky light window!
I LOVE how big this sky light is. Plus, I'm a huge fan of natural light.
I was googling kitchen designs because I'm currently working on a new kitchen with Kaerek Homes in West Allis for their upcoming MBA Parade of Homes Tour. I enjoy seeing what interesting design features other people have used. I wonder if Kaerek Homes wouldn't mind adding a sky light.
What do you think? Feel free to submit your comments and design ideas here. Maybe you have a unique feature in your kitchen you'd love to share.
And if you want to see what the finished kitchen looks like, make sure to check out the MBA Parade of Homes Tour running August 21st through September 12th.
I had to get a new driver's license photo. Yes, I did full hair and makeup for this photo opportunity. Let's face it, this photo might be on my license for a LOOOOONG time and I want to make it look good.
My husband thought I was nuts (by the way, he wouldn't even crack a grin in his photo - he looks angry). In my opinion I think it looks alright.
Here's a few photos of the other dogs with Huey for the dog costume parade at Congregational Nursing Home in Brookfield.
Our dog Huey won the for "Best Costume" - he was a cow.
I am really enjoying this kitchen design process that I am doing with Kaerek Homes in West Allis for their upcoming MBA Parade of Homes Tour.
Now when it comes to cabinets, there are thousands of choices. I have no idea where to start. Please help?!?! Is it best to go modern and smooth or mix the the design of cabinets up - some with design, some without?
I've also heard it can be very attractive to have a few cabinets with a glass door to add some more open space. Either way there are a lot of options and I can't decide on which ones look best. Your suggestions are greatly appreciated...so what would you choose for your dream kitchen?
And don't forget, you can see the unveiling of this beautiful kitchen at the MBA Parade of Homes Tour August 21st â September 12th.
Yeah - Packers 2010 schedule was just released and I can't WAIT. It looks like we'll do fairly well on the road. The one road game I'm most nervous about is December 19 against New England.
For the full schedule, click here.
Plain and simple are double ovens a "must have" in your dream kitchen?
I'm working with the talented people at Kaerek Homes in West Allis for the kitchen in one of their upcoming MBA Parade of Homes.
So many people I've been getting kitchen ideas from stress that a double oven is every cook's dream. Is it true? What else would you recommend when it comes to these luxury items.
Would you like the idea of a pot filler by the stove top or something else?
Again, all of your ideas so far have been extremely helpful as I continue this design process. I can't wait to hear your recommendations on this topic too!
Please keep in mind, you can see the unveiling of this beautiful kitchen at the MBA Parade of Homes Tour August 21st - September 12th (maybe your suggestion will be the "buzz" of the tour).
A virus...the most dreaded word for PC users.
Our laptop has a virus and now our computer is being fixed - for a week! Thankfully, we have a family friend who we trust to take care of this, but a week without a computer (internet especially) has not been fun.
I realize many good things could come out of this new found time, but we are about to close on our first house next week and not having regular internet access has made it challenging these past couple of days.
I keep telling myself - millions of people bought homes without the internet, why should my experience be any more different or difficult.
Right now I'm sitting at my sister's quiet home (she and her husband are at work and the kids are at school) trying to take care of as much work as I can on her computer before she gets back.
But all I'm really doing is cyber snacking...what can I say I love surfing the net!
I'm continuing to work with Kaerek Homes designing the kitchen for the upcoming MBA Parade of Homes Tour. Now I need your suggestions on flooring.
What would you prefer to have in your kitchen? Hardwood floors, tile, stone, etc. Personally, I'm a fan of hardwood floors, but I'm not sure if it can withstand the traffic that happens in most kitchens.
Again, all of your suggestions so far have been extremely helpful - I can't wait for all of you to see the reveal of this beautiful kitchen in the upcoming months.
Take a look at this outfit. At this year's Masters in Augusta Shingo Katayama of Japan wore this heeelarious outfit!
I understand that golf has it's own type of style and I enjoy my golf shoes and khaki shorts, but I feel like golf would be a lot more fun if we could wear cowboy and cowgirl hats!
I'm a couple weeks into designing the kitchen with Kaerek Homes for the upcoming MBA Parade of Homes Tour, but I'm stuck on wha type of backsplash to choose.
Honestly, I thought just painting the walls was enough, but the glass tile look is really popular and I've seen a few kitchens with slate and tile.
What are your suggestions?
And don't forget you could WIN $1,500 cash with Kaerek Homes by clicking here.
Sure I've thought about how life would be different if I had the money and fame of celebrities...but I wouldn't want this.
Check out Sandra Bullock trying to leave her house here. OMG!
American Idol winner Kris Allen had a very special message for his fans on his website this week! This card was made by a fan, but it was nice gesture nonetheless.
Buying your first home is nerve wracking!
My husband Aaron and I are in the process of purchasing our first home and we really are excited about it - but it's a BIG financial commitment.
Yesterday we had to sign off on all of the paperwork for our loan. That's a lot of zeros and at one point I thought I might throw up when I started thinking about how much money this really is.
I realize it's all made in small, monthly payments, but it's a heck of a lot different than paying a rent check every month.
Thankfully my husband is usually the calm, cool and collected one because I don't think I could have done this alone.
This week we get our final inspector through the property, I'm just crossing my fingers that this place is as good of a deal that it appears to be.
Thank you so much for all your great suggestions so far as I continue to design this kitchen with Kaerek Homes for the upcoming MBA Parade of Homes Tour.
Now, on to the appliances. I've heard all different suggestions when it comes to the appliances. What's the best and why?
Stainless steel, black? Is there an alternative to stainless steel that doesn't show fingerprints?
Please help, I want this kithen to look fabulous, but be practical for a homeower too!
So leave your comments here and I look forward to reading your responses.
Can you imagine being able to design your dream kitchen?! What would you include?
Kaerek Homes in West Allis has actually picked me to design the kitchen of MY dreams for the upcoming MBA Parade of Homes Tour.
This is such a fun opportunity, but I realized I have NO IDEA where to start!!! I have lots of ideas, but how do I pull them together and will other people like what I choose?
Let's start with the countertops. What would you suggest -Â Granite, silestone, marble, concrete or laminate?
Any advice would help, I really want to make this kitchen beautiful for a family to enjoy.
I'm still trying to get over the Sandra Bullock affair story - she's America's sweetheart who doesn't deserve this at all!
But here's a weird coincidence, Sandra isn't the first Oscar winner who ended up divorce soon after she won the award.
Take a look at this list:
Halle Berry, Kate Winslett, Hillary Swank, Reese Witherspoon and now Sandra Bullock?!
What gives? Was the relationship doomed before the envelope was opened and read? Or were these women so busy working on their successful and busy careers, that their men were feeling neglected and in the background so they decided to cheat?
Hang in there Sandra, it's his loss!
Now that the weather is getting nicer a battle has started up in our house - when do we turn off our heat.
I'm still cold, so I've kept the heat on at around 60 degrees. I've noticed my husband Aaron has been turning off the heat because he's "sweating"...so he claims.
It's not even officially Spring and we might get snow this weekend - I say keep the heat on, at least for a little while. Am I nuts?
I went to The Black Eyed Peas concert last Thursday with my very pregnant BFF Andrea. We knew that the rapper Ludacris was opening for BEP, but we had NO idea that a group called LMFAO was going to go on before Ludacris.
We could not stop laughing during LMFAO! Not only is Andrea ready to pop any day, I was wearing ear plugs (flesh colored so you couldn't see them) and every other word out of this group's mouth was a swear word or some reference to sex. Not that we cared, except here we are "trying" to be hip and cool at a BEP show pregnant and with ear plugs - some how the two just didn't mix.
At one point Andrea yelled to me over the screaming crowd, "Am I the worst mom ever for coming to this show?" I answered, "No. Just make sure to remind you son when he's a teenager that you were pretty cool in your prime!"
I have a feeling her son won't believe that she actually went to a Ludacris and BEP concert...doesn't matter we had a great time at the show!
Check out this new website Groupon - it's a fun, new way to save money on a lot of the cool places in the Milwaukee area.
Here's how it works - every day a new deal is featured at an unbeatable price! You only get this deal if enough people join in that day (so tell your friends).
It's called "collective buying power".
I've tried it and it's easy and the deals are very good!
Just found out that Oscar winner Robert De Niro will play the legendary Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi in the upcoming biopic.
I had heard they were going to do a movie about how coach Lombardi rebuilt the team and lead them to the NFL championship. And I couldn't picture who they would cast as Lombardi, but Robert De Niro, in my opinion, is a perfect choice!!!!
Producers hope to have the film out sometime before Super Bowl 2012.
I loved following the celebrities during the Oscars - it makes me feel like I'm sitting there watching it live inside the Kodak Theater.
Here are some of my funniest Oscar tweets.
_"Shhhh. I'm live tweeting from directly under Sandra Bullocks chair." â Rainn Wilson (rainnwilson), actor.
_"Charlize Theron would like to thank R. Crumb and my 16-year-old id for designing her outfit tonight." â David Itzkoff (ditzkoff), New York Times reporter.
_"Just got lost for a minute, sorry. Where was I? Oh yeah ... Zach Effron's (Zac Efron) eyes!" â Rob Corddry (robcorddr), comedian.
_"Oscars Fun Fact â Samuel L. Jackson spends 40 percent of his yearly income on Kangol hats ..." â Eric Stangel (EricStangel), "Late Show With David Letterman" writer-producer.
_"Oh, Sam Worthington, your glasses make me think you're imperfect and therefore accessible." â Mindy Kaling (mindykaling), actor-writer.
_"Oprah's about to tell everyone in the audience there's an Oscar under their seat." â Foster Kamer (weareyourfek), blogger.
_"James Cameron is going into his own hurt locker right now." â Paul Scheer (paulscheer), comedian.
from The Associated Press
LOVE the Oscars and I can't wait to see all the tearful speeches and beautiful dresses. I wasn't able to see all the movies this year, but here's my picks:
Best Picture: Avatar
Actor in a leading role: Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart
Actress in a leading role: Sandra Bullock in The Blind Slide
Actor in a supporting role: Woody Harrelson in The Messenger
Actress in a supporting role: Mo'Nique in Precious
Congratulations and good luck to all the nominees! Watch the Academy Awards this Sunday on ABC starting at 7pm.
John Mayer was a total gentleman and yes, now I'm smitten - he has that charm! I asked him to write on my autograph "your body is a wonderland."Â I told him my husband said that was OK.
Once he heard that I was married, he stepped back a little bit and instead wrote on my autograph "To Elizabeth, IÂ wrote a song Your Body is a Wonderland." A smooth way of not offending anyone.
He's a hottie that's for sure!
Check out photos from the show here.
So we've found a duplex in the Bay View area that we like, we made an offer and it's been accepted!!!!
I can't believe that my husband Aaron and I are one step closer to being homeowners. Like most couples, this has been a dream for us for so many years!
The next step is having the inspector come to the property and tell us what we're dealing with when it comes to updates and repairs...or in other words, how much do we have to spend NOW vs later.
And is it normal to be so nervous about signing off on the mortgage?! I may faint or throw up.
I was digging around online the other day trying to figure out who can fix the potholes in our neighborhood - because they are BAD in some parts of Bay View.
I went to the city of Milwaukee's Department of Public Works website to report the potholes and this was on that page:
Our goal is to repair potholes within three days of finding them or hearing about them. Emergency situations are investigated immediately.
And guess what...I reported the potholes and less than 2 days later they were fixed! If you're sick of your potholes, I'd recommend reporting them here (especially with their goal of fixing it in 3 days).
ABC's hit show "Extreme Makeover Home Edition" is looking for deserving families in the Milwaukee are to be on the show.
Here's the info from their press release:
The Extreme Makeover: Home Edition producers are looking for inspiring people and families whose home desperately needs to be rebuilt. "We're looking for those special people who have amazing strength of character and never give up in tough situations or helping others, says Casting Supervisor Rebecca Shumsky.  ¨We want to help people whose stories have really affected their community or made a big difference in other people's lives.â In addition, the homes of those families must present major problems that affect the quality of their life. The families or individual must not have the resources, ability or time to fix these serious problems without the show´s help. To be eligible, a family must own a single family home and be able to show producers how a makeover will make a huge difference in their lives. Anyone interested in nominating a family or applying should e-mail a short description of their family and house story, names and ages of everyone in the household, and photos of the house and family to: Castingwisconsin@gmail.com.For more information on how to apply, visitors can go to abc.com.Nominations may be submitted by the family or by a member of their community. Each nomination must include a description of the major challenges within the home and a contact phone number. Anyone submitting a nomination must be able to explain why the nominated family is deserving, heroic, and/or a great role model for their community. The deadline for nominations is Feb. 28, 2010.
People don't believe me, but yes I DID make heart-shaped french toast for my hubby Aaron this past Valentine's Day! And he LOVED them - only the best for the best guy I could ever wish for!
Get rid of that unwanted hair, just in time for summer with Ideal Image, the experts in laser hair removal.
I'm a client of Ideal Image and I love the results - silky, smooth skin! Laser hair removal really is a more permanent solution to saying goodbye that embarrassing hair.
And here's a video showing what happens during my treatments.
Check it out! My husband Aaron and I went up to visit some friends of ours in Green Bay. Even though we lived in Green Bay for a few years - we never went to the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame...until this weekend.
This is my trying to do the Lambeau Leap!
I was surfing the web the other day and found this blog post about a cell phone app (created by a Mom) to keep her teen from texting and driving.
The iZup software can be added to any cell phone. It basically stops the phone from functioning when a vehicle is moving faster than 5 mph (even if the cell phone holder is a passenger). The software will not turn off at red lights or during stopped traffic either.
The cell phone will still be able to call 9-1-1 and the cell phone owner's parents.
If you're interested in this app, click here.
What a sad story about the massive earthquake that hit Haiti Tuesday afternoon. Even though it seems so far away from Milwaukee - a little help really can go a long way.
So if you want to help the International Committee of the Red Cross, here's a link.
Facebook is doing something really fun to increase breast cancer awareness.
Here's the message IÂ received in my inbox:
"Something fun is going on. write the color of your bra in your status. Just the color, nothing else. And send this on to ONLY women no men. It will be neat to see if this will spread the wings of cancer awareness. It will be fun to see how long it takes before the men wonder why the women have a color in their status.....LOL!"
And this message has been spreading like wild fire right now on Facebook - and it's fun! There's no word yet on the origin or the ultimate goal of the campaign.
Here's who the Packers will face in 2010 regular season! Not gonna lie, I'm happy we're not facing Indianapolis.
I was talking to some of my fellow Packers fans and they mentioned that this could be a hard season for the Green and Gold because we'll be facing 4 playoff teams on the road. No specific dates have been released yet.
Green Bay PackersHome: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins
Away: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Atlanta Falcons, New England Patriots, New York Jets
I was surfing the web the other day and found this blog post about a cell phone app (created by a Mom) to keep her teen from texting and driving.
The iZup software can be added to any cell phone. It basically stops the phone from functioning when a vehicle is moving faster than 5 mph (even if the cell phone holder is a passenger). The software will not turn off at red lights or during stopped traffic either.
The cell phone will still be able to call 9-1-1 and the cell phone owner's parents.
If you're interested in this app, click 
Facebook is doing something really fun to increase breast cancer awareness.
Here's the message IÂ received in my inbox:
"Something fun is going on. write the color of your bra in your status. Just the color, nothing else. And send this on to ONLY women no men. It will be neat to see if this will spread the wings of cancer awareness. It will be fun to see how long it takes before the men wonder why the women have a color in their status.....LOL!"
And this message has been spreading like wild fire right now on Facebook - and it's fun! There's no word yet on the origin or the ultimate goal of the campaign.
Here's who the Packers will face in 2010 regular season! Not gonna lie, I'm happy we're not facing Indianapolis.
I was talking to some of my fellow Packers fans and they mentioned that this could be a hard season for the Green and Gold because we'll be facing 4 playoff teams on the road. No specific dates have been released yet.
