Magazine Articles

We are lucky to live in a part of the country that experiences all the seasons. Summer is so greatly anticipated here and happens so briefly that, if you are anything like me, you want to be outside to enjoy as much of it as possible—which means a lot less time indoors worrying about how the house looks. Labor Day marks the last hooray of summer. Soon the leaves will fall and children will be headed back to school. Life will fall back into a routine. For many of us, part of that routine includes fall decorating. Time to change …

Vicki Hoehn wears many hats. From a career that has spanned several decades at Royal Credit Union (RCU) to a busy family life and a new grandson, Vicki knows the importance of time management, prioritization, and goal setting. Even though some people may view faith, family, friends, fitness, and finance as demanding, Vicki sees the 5ive as reasons life remains interesting. Click the magazine below to read what Vicki has to say about faith, family, friends, fitness, and finance on PAGE 10:

As summer winds down, it’s tempting to get a little melancholy. Yet, I smile as I think of all the adventures, big and small, we crossed off our summer bucket list. The Northern Wisconsin State Fair was a much-anticipated tradition. I can almost still taste those famous Wisconsin cheese curds. It’s probably a good thing the Fair comes to town only once a year! We celebrated birthdays, beach days, and beautiful days on Lake Wissota. Catching a flick at the Gemini Drive-In Theater was a nostalgic treat. Our annual week in the Wisconsin Northwoods on the Chippewa Flowage is always …

As a child, Angela Meyer dreamed of horses. Poverty precluded owning any horses that weren’t palm-sized. So, Meyer played with her plastic ponies and dreamed big: of horse jumping in the Olympics, of owning horses too big to perch atop her dresser, and of becoming a veterinarian. She lost the Olympic and veterinarian dreams when she was the third car in a five-car pile-up in college. In the squeeze, her vertebrae and pelvis rotated and chronic back problems followed. That was just the beginning of having things taken from her, which is why today, Meyer has no distant dreams. I’m …

WRITTEN BY HEATHER ROTHBAUER-WANISH Sometimes life turns out differently than we planned. Megan MacLaughlin-Barck’s current reality bears little resemblance to her original plans. After graduating from Chippewa Falls Senior High School, Megan vowed never to come back to the area. She earned her undergraduate degree from UW-Madison, followed by a law degree from Pace Law School. Today, Megan is the sole owner of Larson Construction Co., Inc. (a Chippewa Falls company her grandparents founded). She admits she never envisioned herself in this role—but she has eaten a lot of “nevers” along the way. Nevertheless, while balancing motherhood, a thriving business, …

I was flipping through a magazine and came across an article about a landscape designer that transformed her narrow backyard (160 x 24 feet) into a private, lush retreat. The pictures are stunning. Essentially, she has three rooms: a dining area, a living room type area, and a little hideaway area. Her space includes beautiful all-weather furniture and cushions with punchy pillows, perfectly manicured plants and hedges, a gas fire table, outdoor lighting, and even a water feature. So what are we “regular Joes” to do? First, let’s not compare ourselves to a landscape designer with a bottomless budget. Then …

Summer is a great time to grill. This Father’s Day, we are having Korean short ribs. Two years ago, my coworker Maggie invited me out to a Korean restaurant in Madison. Despite not being able to pronounce most of the items on the menu, I loved the food and left there with hopes of trying some new things at home. I have much to master, but for now, I enjoy making and eating Kalbi—Korean short ribs. For another adventure in summer cooking, try this chilled celery soup as a light, refreshing meal or side. And be sure to check out all …

WRITTEN BY GRACE THEISEN He is someone I look up to, who at times is VERY embarrassing, but who loves me and would do anything for me. I’m talking about my amazing dad. As a boy, my dad lost one of the most important people in his life: his mother. Because of this, he understood from a young age the importance of working together as a family. Every day, he teaches my four brothers and me lessons that we will carry with us for the rest of our lives. In high school, Dad was involved in sports; he was the …

As I write this, “Summertime and the livin’ is easy” plays in my head. I love summer! The Theisen household welcomes the sweet, slowed-down pace of summer with arms wide open. June is for graduations and weddings, and we get to celebrate both. Our eldest, Joe, graduated from college—we are beaming with pride and it’s a joy to watch him go! We’re also ecstatic to see our sister move into a new and exciting season as she marries her best friend. It may be summer, but the livin’ isn’t always easy for everyone. Yet, Angela Meyer would never let you …

WRITTEN BY GRACE THEISEN Since Mother’s Day is right around the corner, I have been thinking about how much I appreciate my mom. I want to take the time to thank her and do some bragging about her. I come from a large family; I have four brothers and two dogs. Admittedly, we can be a lot to handle. Let me just say that things get a little crazy around our house. There is always a kid who is supposed to be somewhere, or a school project to work on, or a dog running away, and somebody under the mistaken …