Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin.
Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism. She spent the next ten years as a television anchor and reporter at various stations throughout the country (from the CBS affiliate in Honolulu to the NBC affiliate in Green Bay). She has won numerous honors including an Emmy Award and multiple Edward R. Murrow awards honoring outstanding achievements in broadcast journalism. In addition, she has received awards from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association for her reports on air travel and the Wisconsin Education Association Council for her stories on education. Michele has since left television to concentrate on being a mom and freelance writer.
What are you asking for this Mother’s Day? A clean basement? Not if your husband’s idea of “cleaning” is tossing out all of your stuff. An expensive vacuum? Not if you have to use it more to justify the price. Breakfast in bed? Not if it means doing damage control in the kitchen until dinner. What about a peaceful day surrounded by the people whose existence affords you membership in the sweetest sorority on earth? This Mother’s Day consider cuddling up with your kiddos and enjoying a quiet moment with these picture-perfect holiday reads: The Berenstain Bears: We Love Our … Continue reading →
There’s no better way to show mom how much she is cherished than by giving her a break from the daily grind. For many mothers, a day without having to make a single meal is heavenly… though potentially very expensive. Celebrating Mother’s Day at a restaurant is not cheap, especially if you are treating the entire family to a lavish buffet. To save on a delicious dining experience while still showing mom that she is worth her weight in gold, consider starting the day with breakfast in bed. Gather the kids and have fun in the kitchen making mom these … Continue reading →
“All that I am or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.” Those wise words are courtesy of the late, great Abraham Lincoln. The 16th President of the United States knew a thing or two about waxing poetic, especially when it involved his dearly beloved mother. Lincoln’s mom Nancy died when Abe was just nine years old. Whether your mom is with you physically or in spirit tomorrow is the day set aside to celebrate the blood, sweat and tears she has shed to make you the person you are. Make it a Mother’s Day to remember by … Continue reading →
Why yes, please, my dear 2-year-old, go right ahead and play demolition derby with grandma’s glass figurines on that solid marble countertop. It’s so much better than watching you have an epic meltdown because of my concern for your safety. When was the last time that choice was a viable option for a parent? You know that what you do for your children is for their own good. Unfortunately, most kids could care less about the rules of parenthood. In fact, the vast majority of what you do to ensure their well being makes absolutely no sense to them. They … Continue reading →
Ah, summer; a time to bond with your loved ones in the great outdoors. Whether you cherish trips to the beach, enjoy hiking at area parks or prefer barbecuing in your own backyard, the season of sun allows for a ton of fun. The key to making the most of summer vacation is to find activities that fit your family’s budget. Whether you are pinching pennies or have some extra cash to burn, top tourist destinations are hoping you will spend some time in their neck of the woods. For example, San Diego is pulling out all the stops to … Continue reading →
Moms, grandmas, aunts, or beloved female friends; no gal is going to turn down a gift that promotes relaxation especially when life is so stressful. Sadly, indulging in a day of pampering doesn’t always come cheap. A trip to a professional spa can run upwards of $200 depending on the number of services rendered. Paying for luxurious privileges is no fun even if it’s a Mother’s Day gift. Fortunately, there is a way to enjoy treating mom to a day of decadence without breaking the bank. Here’s how: DIY Neck Wrap Materials: Fabric Dry, uncooked rice Dried lavender or rosemary … Continue reading →
Prom season is in full swing and graduation festivities are not far behind. If all the pomp and circumstance has prompted you to honor your kid’s wish to turn your home into party central, you might want to consider what it’ll cost you. Forget about the bill for the food, beverages and decorations; rather, focus on how you may pay dearly if you aren’t familiar with social host ordinances. A “social host” is anyone who knowingly allows underage drinking to take place on property that he or she owns, leases or otherwise controls. This is not to be confused with … Continue reading →
Hotel rooms aren’t cheap. Adding insult to injury is the fact that many properties are now moving back check-in times, so by the time you are forced to check-out you’ve barely been in the place for 18 hours. How do you justify forking over $200 for a room you aren’t given the opportunity to be in for 24 hours? Or worse, consider having to park yourself in the hotel’s lobby after a long flight simply because you arrived prior to the set check-in time. What a waste of time; precious time that you can’t put a price tag on. To … Continue reading →
Want to give mom an eye-popping gift this Mother’s Day? You won’t have to sell your sibling, barter with a Chippendale or sacrifice your retinas to make this one-of-a-kind present. Rather, all you’ll need is some vibrant dye, a t-shirt and a little creativity. The end result will be a brightly colored clothing item that mom can’t miss when perusing her closet. You might consider making one for you too, so that mom will have a tie dye shirt mate to match on Mother’s Day. Materials: Cold Water Dye such as Rainbow Rock or Tulip Cold Water Dye Soda ash … Continue reading →
If sailing off into a stunning summer sunset without sinking your entire vacation budget seems too good to be true, think again. For a limited time, Princess Cruises is offering a summer clearance sale on voyages to Alaska and Europe. The promotion features savings of up to 50% off rack rates on more than 200 summer sailings. It also includes on-board credits of $25 to $100 depending on the type of accommodations you book. For example, if you book an interior or ocean-view cabin on sailings of up to nine days, you will receive $25 in credit. However, if you … Continue reading →
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