WichiTalk

Apple reported this week that "Hairspray (Soundtrack to the Motion Picture)" by various artists was the second most popular album on the iTunes Music Store this week. Are you tapping your toes to the music? One of my co-workers was singing the opening song in the newsroom a few days ago. The music from "Hairspray" just doesn’t do it for me like some of my other favorite movie/musical soundtracks, including "Moulin Rouge" and "Chicago." ("Come What May" is a particular favorite of mine. If I could only get Ewan McGregor to sing the duet with me … )

Posted by Lori

As teens, my sisters and I had to take turns cleaning the kitchen after dinner throughout the week. And we split up cleaning chores to get the house polished up on Saturdays. Did we like the chores? Of course not. But I can’t imagine how much I’d despise those chores now had I never had to do them growing up. We didn’t get allowance, but it was understood that we were pitching in to help with household work. (And our parents paid for our hobbies and occasional trips to the movies anyway.)

Are chores a must in your household? How do you divide them up? Enforce them? Do your children earn money for vacuuming and cleaning? Tell us about it by clicking on "comments" below.

Posted by Lori

I’m blessed to have a husband who doesn’t snore. But I have a relative and a co-worker (both women) whose husbands rattle the rafters with their snoring. And both ladies often slip away to a guest bedroom in the wee hours of the morn’ to find some peace and quiet.

The Chicago Tribune reports that "snoring rooms" are on the rise in homes for spouses seeking refuge from the sleep-interrupting noise. Do you have a snoring room in your home? Or do you — or your spouse — find a quiet spot on the living room couch or guest bed? Here’s another option: buy a "sleep kit" that contains ear plugs and a sleeping mask that covers your eyes. I saw one for sale in a local store and had to laugh.

Posted by Lori

Meet Wichitan Barb Smith and her relatives. Every year, as part of their July Fourth celebration, the family takes a different group picture. Although past photos have included poses with cowboy hats, and red, white and blue attire, this year featured something a little out of the ordinary: masks with big glasses, plastic noses and mustaches.

What does your family do when the whole gang gets together? Do you play goofy games or compete in contests? Does the whole family take silly pictures? Click on "comments" below to share your ideas and traditions.

I love making toasts. A birthday celebration, for example, isn’t complete until someone’s asked you to raise your glass for a "Here’s to another great year."

My most memorable toasts, though, were the ones my siblings and brother-in-law gave at my wedding. Shawn told a story I’d never heard about how cool he felt on the day I was born. (It helped that Dad bought him and his friends candy, he said.) Jenny gave a sweet testimony about how my new husband already felt like part of the family. Amanda made everyone laugh when she told a story about when Brian and I were young. And Eric confessed that he liked having me around because I knew a lot about girls. (Something one apparently appreciates when there are no sisters in the family.)

Do you have a favorite toast you’ve given or heard? Or maybe there’s a memorable one from a TV show or movie you love?

Posted by Lori