Last Minute Holiday Hot Picks

Hello there! Scrambling for last-minute ideas for the hard to buy for? Some of our friends at the Westmoreland Mall have some great ideas! Check out their holiday hot picks:

Happy Shopping!
-j

Smarter, Easier Holiday Shopping with Special Offers, A Bed Giveway, and Great Gift Ideas

Hi, there! Despite the shaky economy, it's estimated that Americans will still spend billions of dollars during November, December, and January. What we buy for the holidays this year may be different though. Practical gifts for the home are expected to be very popular. Here's the scoop on some great gift ideas from our friends at Sleep Number by Select Comfort:

ENTER TO WIN a BED!
We've partnered with Sleep Number to bring you information on the importance of sleep and how to achieve quality sleep. Get sleep tips now at our brand new jenniferTVshow.com! Sleep Number is also offering our friends special offers, and a chance to win a Sleep Number Memory Foam bed! Click here for more information to to enter to win!
Also...Print this out before you head to the mall! Take it to a Sleep Number by Select Comfort store near you and get a special Free Gift! Please feel free to share with your family and friends. (Pittsburgh area locations include: Galleria at Pittsburgh Mills, The Mall at Robinson, Monroeville Mall, South Hills Village, and Westmoreland Mall. For the store nearest you anywhere in the country, call 1-800 SLEEP NUMBER or visit sleepnumber.com)

JC Penney stores have so many new product lines, and they are having fantastic after-Thanksgiving sales. Look at some of the cool stuff:

And, I've always been a big Macy's fan. Check out some of the latest trends (that you can get now all on sale)! :

I've gotta run in there to get a cozy for me! How cute!

Also, learn how to be a smart spender, how to use the holiday shopping season as a teaching opportunity for your children, and more in our new Family Finance area in the Money Matters tab at jennifertvshow.com.

And, if you're in the Pittsburgh area, it's worth a trip to the customer service desks at the Monroeville and Westmoreland Malls: they are giving out Free Treat Yourself Holiday Coupon Books that contain $850 worth of savings in mall stores and restaurants! Take advantage of that!

Happy Holiday Shopping!

j.

Halloween/Fall Treat

With the five kids, we have a party pretty much every day at my house...
but, imagine what it's like when my friend Gina and I get together with our kids! She also have five, so it's two moms---ten kids and a lot of fun!
This picture of us was from a visit to a pumpkin farm. We fit in well with the school groups there that day!
If you're gathering friends and family for a party this season, you'll appreciate having this easy dip recipe. I got if from a man dressed as a conehead (honest, I did) who brought it to a family Halloween party. Everybody loved it! It would be perfect to make and set out for Thanksgiving guests either before the meal, or for the football after.

Caramel Apple Dip

What do I Need?

1 brick cream cheese (light or reduced fat)

1/3 cup brown sugar

caramel topping

Chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

sliced apples an pretzels for dipping

How do I Make it?

Simply blend the cream cheese together with the brown sugar.

When fully blended, spoon into your serving dish or bowl.

Drizzle with caramel topping and sprinkle with chopped nuts.

Serve with sliced apples and pretzels.

Hope you like it! Feel free to let me know what you think, or share your favorite easy dip recipes with us. Get other great recipes in the Make Life Easier Meals area of jenniferTVshow.com. Plus, we have great apple recipes for you at our My Space page.

j.

Have Fun, Help Others

If we saw each other and started talking and I asked, "Guess where I was today"? I'll bet Rock Star Challenge wouldn't top your list. That's where I was though.
I did not compete in the event (I still need my kids to practice with me a little bit more before I'm ready to take that show on the road!) but I did get to see and meet many of the people who did. Most were very young, and besides having fun trying to win a real electric guitar; they were helping to do something very special for someone their age. The Rock Star Challenge at the Monroeville Mall benefits the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Many of the young people there used their own ten dollars to register. I spoke with Stephanie from Make-a-Wish, and Mindy from the mall about the event:

Again, you can catch the next Rock Star Challenge to benefit Make-a-Wish on October 11th at Westmoreland Mall. Hope to see you there!
j.

Smile! Get the Best School Pictures

It's that time of year again...school pictures! Have you ever taken any time to look through some of yours? If I can find one of me I'll post it so we can have a laugh together.
362 days out of the year my hair was long and straight. The night before Christmas, Easter, and School Picture Day, my mother would put me to bed with pink foam rollers in my hair. I would wake up with straight bangs, and long, long curls everywhere else. That and the buck teeth made for priceless shots-ha!
Well, now I'm sending my kids off to school for their school picture day, and I want them to feel comfortable and confident. I got some advice for myself, and for all of you from my photographer (and friend), Becky Thurner:

So don't even think about going out to look for those pink sponge rollers!!!
j.

Easy School Lunches and After-School Snacks

Already sick of packing peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for school lunches?
My friend Judy Dodd is Giant Eagle’s Food and Nutrition Advisor. She loves wrap sandwiches for easy-to-pack lunches.
She suggests a whole grain wrap, turkey, cheese, and spinach leaves (she says kids love the bright color).
Some children like the wrap without the wrap! (Just roll up the meat and cheese). Another good tip is to skip the mayo, and pack salsa for dipping. Sometimes Judy makes a creamy salsa by mixing in yogurt cheese. She makes this herself by putting some high-quality plain yogurt into a coffee filter and then letting it strain into a bowl in the fridge for about three hours. What’s left in the filter is yogurt cheese, concentrated with nutrients. Judy drains the salsa a little before mixing it with yogurt cheese so that it’s creamy. This is also a great dip for cut up raw vegetables.
Skewers are a fun for lunch, too. Poke a hole in vegetable, fruit, and cheese cubes with a regular metal or wooden skewer, then thread the cubes on drinking straws (much safer in the lunchroom). Pack some yogurt or salsa dip for these.
Judy also gives trail mix an A+. This recipe has several variations, and is packed with fiber, B vitamins, and protein for energy:
2 cups Lower Fat Whole wheat or Cheese Crackers
2 cups Giant Eagle Toasted Oat Cereal (or Cheerios)
2 cups Bite-sized Shredded Wheat
2 cups Mini Pretzels
1 cup Dry Roasted Peanuts or sunflower seeds, optional
1 cup dried cranberries, raisins or dried fruit bits
Optional:
Add low fat popcorn
Use mixed nuts, sunflower seeds, or other nuts instead of the peanuts
Sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese and bake at 300 degrees for 10 minutes on a cookie sheet.
Add 1 cup M & M’s, Mini chocolate or peanut butter chips
Add broken baked tortilla chips, sprinkle with chili powder or a seasoning mix and mix well.
You can make any one of these combinations in bulk, store it in an airtight container, and use it as needed for lunches and after school snacks.
Think about the lack of lunch time when assembling your child’s lunch: make half a sandwich with double the meat and cheese, cut wrap sandwiches in pieces, cut an orange into rings, pack a drink so your child doesn’t have to waste time standing in line. A small frozen bottle of water will keep the lunch cool while it thaws. It’s also good to tuck a couple of anti-bacterial hand wipes in little reusable container to make it easy for your child to clean-up before and after lunch.
Also, some children eat lunch at school very early, so be prepared to give them a significant snack as soon as they get home. Any of the lunch ideas I told you about would be great. Hard-boiled eggs, yogurt, string cheese and crackers, and smoothies are nice choices, too.
Smoothies are easy; just pop everything into a blender and blend on high for about a minute. Start with 1/2 cup plain or vanilla yogurt, and a little bit of milk; then add:
· Chocolate-covered banana: 1 banana, handful of chocolate chips
· Fruit Cup: ½ cup canned diced canned peaches, 1 banana, ¼ cup orange juice
· Berry: ½ cup strawberries, ¼ cup blueberries, ¼ cup raspberries
You can also add a little more yogurt to each and pour out and freeze in small cups, or ice cube trays for a sneaky, vitamin-packed dessert (I won’t tell if you won’t!)
j.

Back to School/Fall Beauty

Fall beauty products have taken over the beauty counters an cosmetic stores. My friend (and professional makeup artist) Gina went to Ulta outside of Monroeville Mall so we could scan the idles and find out what's most popular. Here are the things you'll want to look for:

Gina also saw some products that make her want to remind us all about the importance of taking the time to clean off our makeup. It's a step that's easy to neglect, especially for those of us who sleep walk our way to bed many nights.
We found some products that make it easier for everyone to be able to give their skin a little love.

j.

Easy Activity: Family Walk!

My whole family and I got to join some of Leslie's Sansone's most popular walk leaders to present a fun, family walk for a great crowd at the WTAE-TV/American Diabetes Association Healthy 4 Life Expo at the David Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh.
It was a great reminder to me, and many people who came up to talk to me after our program, that it's possible to SMILE and still get a fantastic workout--in this case, with your family!
Simple walking is one of the easiest, cheapest ways to work out. In just a few minutes of walking, you can get your blood pumping, raise your heart rate, get the oxygen flowing to your brain, and work all of the major muscle groups. Walking is wonderful for stress relief, too. It helps you to feel better right away.
My friend Leslie Sansone's style of walking makes something already easy, even easier for you...because with her DVD's, you can walk in your home! Don't worry about the weather, don't worry about the neighbor's dog getting in your way. Keep your pj's on if you want, slip on your tennis shoes, pop in a DVD and follow along!
Here's a little bit of our demonstration:

I interviewed Leslie for the chapter on fitness in my new book called Take Care! , which features 101 Ten Minute Tips for How to Care for Yourself While You're Taking Care of Others. One of my ten minute tips is a ten minute walking workout!
Find out more about Take Care! (you can preorder now!)
Find out more about Walk at Home DVD's (Family Walk is now less than $10!)

j.

Back to School and Fall Trends

Back to School shopping is in full swing. If you want to make the trip a little easier, take a look at these videos before you go.
I talked with people at JCPenney at Monroeville Mall to find out about what's popular this year.
Urban, Flashy, Trendy are all words that were used to describe the looks.
Penney's has the new Kimora Lee line in their juniors department. It's hard to miss the display with all the leopard print! Jessica showed us some of the most popular pieces:

We didn't forget about the guys! JC Penney Store Manager, Gary, told us about what the guys want for back to school:

And... we've gotta give our flip flops up sometime...what are we going to put on our feet this Fall? Here are some ideas from Jacki at Nine West:

There are some great end of summer sales going on right now. You can save big on basics that you can pair with other pieces to stretch them into year round wear.
If you're really thinking ahead, now's a great time to stretch your clothing dollars by picking up summer clothes for kids at 60 or even 70 percent off in sizes they'll be able to wear next year.
j.

Important Bullying Information

This week on our jennifer TV show, we discuss the serious issue of bullying.
Recent research by our partners at Highmark Healthy High 5 found that only 25% of the parents they talked with believe that bullying is a problem. However, according to U.S. Department of Justice Statistics, Every seven minutes a school child is bullied, and 85% of the time, there is no intervention at all.
Highmark Healthy High 5 working to stop bullying by providing grants and supporting bullying prevention programs. You can get helpful resources and find out more by clicking here.
On our show, I interviewed a beautiful young girl who shared a painful story of being a bullying victim in high school.
Click here to watch a clip.
Here's what Highmark Healthy High 5 Project Director, Kweilin Nassar wants parents to keep in mind as they watch the bullying show:

I am proud to be partnering with Highmark Healthy High 5 to provide important messages for parents regarding bullying for National Bullying Prevention week October 5th through October 11th; and beyond! I'll keep you posted.
j.

Country Pride

It was great to see so many families turn out to get an up close look at our country's birth certificate at the Carnegie Science Center last weekend. A rare copy of the Declaration of Independence was on display as part of a Declare Yourself visit to Pittsburgh.
Declare Yourself is a non-partisan organization funded by Norman Lear on a mission to get people---especially young people---interested in our country, and in showing people how easy it is to register to vote.
Listen to Sam Sarnicke, Area General Manager, Cricket Communications, Inc., (a proud sponsor) talk about how how people reacted when they saw the document, and Brent Miller from Declare Yourself, with the cool story behind it. I also asked Brent about the security for this national treasure---it's intense!

The document is displayed in a special glass case, and it travels with two beautifully produced films, one hosted by actress Reese Witherspoon, who is a descendant of one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence! It really provides an interesting look at our country's history. I think you and your kids will love it. WATCH IT NOW
I got to go to the event as part of Clearview Federal Credit Union's sponsorship.
j.

Go With Everything Face

Of course we want to look pulled together as we move through our busy days.

Psychologists say we shouldn't think of making time for ourselves as a luxury, but as a necessity. Feeling confident about ourselves is important to our success in any area of life.

Creating a classic look with your makeup is a wonderful, make life easier way to polish your look and help to make you feel good about yourself.

The classic face uses neutral colors that go with absolutely everything---so when you settle on what's right for you, you can pare down everything in that makeup drawer, and never worry about keeping enough shades around to match your clothes or your moods.

A classic face works no matter what.

My friend, makeup artist Gina Pravlochak created this classic look for me for a photo shoot we had at my house for our new Take Care! book for caregivers (click here to see the picture that my publishing team at St. Lynn's Press selected to be on the back cover)

Watch the video below to see Gina describe the basics of a classic face.
Watch a clip from our Make Me Over Show at jenniferTVshow.com

j.

Teach Your Children Well

Hope you can join me for a fun event that will make it easy for you to share many good lessons with your children:
A rare, original copy of the Declaration of Independence will be on display at the Carnegie Science Center on August 1, from 10 am to 5 pm and August 2, from 10 am to 7 pm as part of Declare Yourself, a nonpartisan youth voter initiative.
You'll get to make your own “Get Out to Vote” buttons at a station lead by the members of Handmade Arcade and sponsored by Clearview Federal Credit Union.
Also Clearview Federal Credit Union is sponsoring a chance to win 4 tickets to a private preview of America’s Birth Certificate (What a cool subject for a "What I did this Summer" report)!
You can enter to win right now at any Clearview Federal Credit Union branch location.
Plus! Don’t miss out on the on-site voter registration and children's voting booths designed to educate young people about the importance of the voting process and voicing their opinions.
Hope to see you there!
j.

Pretty Eyes, Car Help, and Take Care!

OK so false eyelashes are not the most practical thing for a busy woman to be thinking about---HOWEVER my friend and make-up artist, Gina Pravlochak has taught me that false eyelashes are a fun way to look and feel great for a special occasion. I have shared with you that I wear these eyelashes when we tape the TV show, and Gina and I have gotten several questions about exactly how to apply them. There are a few tricks to getting the best look. Here they are from a pro:



We recorded this to share with you while Gina was making me up for a shoot at Baierl Toyota. We are proud to have partnered with Baierl to help spread the word about a great new service they are offering women: ASK SUZIE.

Suzie is Susan Baierl---wife of Lee Baierl---and she is on a mission to make your life easier when it comes to buying a new car, or maintaining the one you have. She's been in the auto industry for 15-years, and even though she knew her stuff, she herself had an experience where she felt intimidated while trying to talk to salespeople about buying a car. Susan has tips and information to make you a stronger care buyer at her web site, as well as a place for you to submit any questions you may have. Check it out....and watch for Susan to appear on an upcoming jennifer TV show dealing with Families on a Budget, where Susan gives you advice on how to maximize your fuel efficiency

We've been busy working on production for new TV shows, as well as getting ready for the release of my new book for caregivers called Take Care! It will give you 101 Ten Minute tips on how to care for yourself while you're taking care of others.
To find out more, please visit TakeCareTips.com.

j.

Family On A Budget

Many families are struggling financially right now. We're in the process of shooting a new jennifer TV talk show episode that will offer helpful ideas for families on a budget. Jeanne May, a manager at Clearview Federal Credit Union, shared some easy strategies for creating a family budget, and (just as important) how to stick to it! Couldn't wait to pass this information
along:


The Families On a Budget show will air soon on WTAE-TV Channel 4 in Pittsburgh, and we'll post more clips from it at jenniferTVshow.com. and right here.
j.

Easy (and fun) Gardening Tips

Lately it's been raining a lot here, but we finally got some time outside to do some planting. Getting my hands in the dirt always takes me back to wonderful times with my mom and dad in our garden in Oil City. Now that I have my own kids, I love teaching them about plants and the way they grow, just like my parents taught me.
Besides our vegetable and flower gardens, I always like to plant a little patch just for the little ones. Take a look:

And here's another party-perfect quick gardening idea for you:

j.

Zumba in the Streets

You know you're pretty hard core when you take your passion out into the street, and that's exactly what more than 100 of us did for our love of aerobic fitness with a latin twist last week! We did Zumba in the Streets to benefit a local volunteer fire department. One of my favorite Zumba instructors, Connie Tinsley (that's her up on the stage) represented Keystone Health Club to organize this big sweaty dance party in the street! It gave people a chance to see what this crazy Zumba thing is all about. Take a look...even better, stand up and join in...It's fast fitness, and fast stress relief!

Zumba in the Streets was also a warm-up for a big Pittsburgh appearance by Beto Perez, the creator of Zumba. I'll have more on that for you in just a bit.
j.

Summer Beauty Tips

Got to go shopping with my friend Gina Pravlochak who also happens to be a professional make-up artist and does my make-up for our TV show. We went to Ulta right outside the Monroeville Mall (love that store! It can make even a mom of five feel girlie!)
I asked Gina about easy ways to boost your look for summer. She talked first about self-tanners...the safest, fastest, least expensive way to get a healthy glow.

Then we moved on to the nail polish area...oh my gosh, hundreds of colors to choose from. You need sunglasses for the hottest shades for summer this year!

It makes sense to go a little trendy especially with something like nail polish, because it's inexpensive, and easily changeable. Have fun being a little daring!
j.

Easy Ways to Wear White

It's been so hot and humid in our part of the world lately; it's a necessity to dress to be comfortable. You can do that and be stylish in crisp, cool, summer white. I know from emails we get at jenniferTVshow.com that a lot of women are a little afraid to wear white...but it can be very slimming if you know a few tricks! I got to go shopping with my good friend and professional stylist Suzanne Mauro recently. Here we are at White House Black Market at the Monroeville Mall:

So, to recap tips for easy ways to wear white:

• Keep it simple and dress in head to toe white: we show a long top with an attached belt, pants with a slightly wide leg, and white sandals
• Choose pants in a heavier weight fabric like denim to reduce "pocket lines", and to provide some slimming support
• Add white hot accessories in platinum and silver for a cool summer look

My tip for wearing white over the summer would be to fill your purse with Shout wipes or a Tide Stain Stick for fast fixes when peanut butter and jelly, ice cream, or chocolate flies your way!
j.

Need Help? Ask Your Angels!

Yesterday my father-in-law and I went to the mass celebrating the 140th anniversary of Most Holy Name of Jesus parish, and the 125th anniversary of St. Anthony's Chapel in Troy Hill. The old neighborhoods there are so rich with the ethnic diversity that is characteristic of Pittsburgh! The church itself is beautiful, St. Anthony's Chapel is breathtaking. If you've never been there, it's worth a trip. Tucked inside the little chapel are more than 5,000 religious relics that have come from all over the world...tiny pieces from Jesus' cross, bones and pieces of clothing from apostles and saints....the only place you'd find a larger collection of religious relics is at the Vatican in Rome! The chapel has a long history as a holy and healing place.

Bishop David Zubick was there with parish priests and deacons to celebrate the Mass, and to officially welcome the newest relic: a tiny piece of bone from St. Christina that was found in a family home in Paris.

The mass and ceremony were powerful and inspirational; and were strong reminders that when you're feeling like things are out of control, you can quickly bring balance by tapping into the power of prayer.

Two women known as the Angel Ladies, Eileen and Charlotte, have strong ties to St. Anthony's. We got to spend the morning with them. They are based in Pittsburgh but travel to people around the country helping people to connect with their spiritual side. The Angel Ladies believe that we all have angels around us to guide us and protect us. They believe that we all have the ability to communicate with our angels to tell them exactly what we need.
Here's how Charlotte says to get started:



The Angel Ladies say over the years, they have seen incredible blessings come to those who do communicate with their angels:


Recent studies show that people who pray and go to church regularly are healthier all the way around.
j.

Summer Learning

Last week we celebrated the last day of school by spraying the kids with Silly String as they got off of the bus, then moving inside for a beach party lunch.
Summer is a time for fun. I'm all for relaxing for a bit, and enjoying some extra time as a family. BUT....I've read a lot of reports about how much learning children lose over the summer. One study showed most teachers have to spend the first four to six weeks of the school year re-teaching many of the things their students learned before the summer break!
I want to make sure my kids go back to school next year feeling confident. I talked to pre-school director Tracy Belmonte about wanting to keep the learning going without sacrificing any
summer fun. I hope our conversation gives you some good ideas.
j.

Remembering Steelers Great Dwight White

I was at the pool with my kids this afternoon when I got the news that Dwight White passed away after a short time at a Pittsburgh hospital. The four-time Super Bowl Champion was gracious enough to be a guest on our show as we were just getting started. We talk here and on the TV show about making life easier, but as a player, Dwight's job was to make life very difficult for the other team's quarterback...and he did a nice job of that. Last September, Dwight joined us for the whole half hour and besides getting to hear his stories about his time playing with our Pittsburgh Steelers, he had us all laughing with his good natured coaching of some members of our audience.
Click here to watch the clip
Dwight White was funny and charming and kind to everyone on the staff and everyone in the audience that day. He even let me try on the huge Super Bowl ring he was wearing.
Steelers Chairman Dan Rooney said this afternoon "Dwight White was one of the greatest players to ever wear a Steelers uniform."
Our thoughts and prayers are with his wonderful family at this difficult time.
j.

Latest Hair Trends and Summer Hair Care

I was able to break away today for some much needed hair maintenance. I drove to my friend Cindy Cochran's Salon and Day Spa in New Castle, PA (an absolutely beautiful converted Victorian house) to freshen up my color and cut.
Cindy is just back from a business trip to New York where she got caught up on the latest looks. She shared a trend with me that makes it easy for anyone to pull off an updated style. I did what I could to keep the camera steady (I was trying to shoot both of us in the mirror and be her hair model for you...give me a little break, please! ha!) ...

I also asked Cindy about how to protect your hair from the summer sun, pool chemicals, etc. :

You can find more tips from Cindy in the Jen's Friends area of jenniferTVshow.com.
j.

Thoughts on Swimming Pool Safety From a Lifeguard

The kids had been counting down the days until the opening of the swimming pool that we go to; so I pushed aside my swimming suit insecurities, packed up the suntan lotion, put a smile on my face, and got everybody in the car.
I'm not a strong swimmer, and I get a little nervous at the pool, trying to keep constant watch over my no-fear children. I had my little Flip video camera with me and I asked an experienced lifeguard, Lauren, what she would want parents to know about making their children comfortable and keeping them safe at the pool.
j.

Fast Firming for the Arms

On my continuing quest to firm up mostly all areas of my body (!!), I love how a little tool called the Firming Band can quickly and easily help. I featured it on the TV show recently, and I show it to groups when I do presentations on How To Take Care of Yourself While You're Taking Care of Others. In ten minutes or less, you really can get a great strengthening and toning workout with the Firming Band. I've had some questions about how to use it, so I went out in my back yard and shot this little demo of some basic moves:

There are many other exercises that you can do with the Firming Band to target different areas of your body. You can print out the arm exercises and get more information about the Firming Band in the Take Ten with Jen area of our main web site.
j.

Do You Zumba? It's fast fitness!

When we had Zumba people in the audience for a show taping recently, I jokingly called them "Zumba Freaks". Turns out I was mocking what I didn't understand...now I'm a Zumba Freak! It's addictive!
Zumba is an aerobic form of exercise that uses Latin music and dance moves. It's high energy, it's definitely a workout (people in my classes who wear calorie monitors burn between 600 and 800 calories in one one hour class!)... but I love it most for the stress relief!
If you're looking for a fun way to get fit fast, give it a try. I go to classes with Maria at Club One, (You can see a class on our show this Sunday at 11. Watch a clip here). Connie at
Keystone Health Club, and Dani at Latin RhythmZ. Zumba's creator, Beto, will be in Pittsburgh to host a Master Class this summer. I will have the opportunity to introduce him and to interview him (watch for clips here). In the meantime though, we took a road trip to a studio in Wintersville Ohio to see Beto in action. Watch the clip below to see what it's all about and to hear a special hello from Beto. Please try to ignore the finger wiping the camera lens from time to time---the studio was steamy!



I went to Connie's early Zumba class this morning...such a great way to start the day...and before she ran off to do a Zumba demonstration at the Monroeville Expo Mart, I asked her some questions I though you might want to hear the answers to. Watch!
j.

Easy Family Reunion

The unofficial start of summer is officially this weekend!
Are you planning on gathering the family for a reunion this year? If so, I know of something that could help a lot with your planning and your budget...a FREE, fully-catered Family Reunion for 50 people at Idlewild Park & Soak Zone!
Growing up here, I have many fond memories of Idlewild Park and Storybook Forest. I have pictures of me and my sisters with the Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe; and now I have pictures of my children with her! (wow)
Idlewild's Great Family Reunion Contest Contest runs through July 7, 2008. To enter, you have to create and submit a :30 video commercial to YouTube that shows what Idlewild means to you and your family. There will be one grand-prize winning famliy, and others will win season passes to the park.
You can get all the details and the rules here, but I wanted to make sure you knew about it!
j.

Girls Run to Build Self-Esteem

I was with hundreds of girls and their families in the rain early this morning for the 6th annual WonderGirls 5K at Sandcastle waterpark. The event goes on in other cities across the country as part of a national program called Girls On The Run, which helps pre-teen girls to develop courage and a commitment to stay true to their own ideals and values, and develop a strong sense of self; so that they can keep on a healthy, positive track as they grow.
I asked local Girls on the Run Coordinator Meredith Colaizzi what she would want to say to girls to and their parents to encourage them:

j.

Steelers Talk About Importance of Activity and Sportsmanship

My family and I went to the American Respiratory Alliance of Western Pennsylvania's Asthma Fair and Healthy Lung Village at the Coca Cola Great Hall at Heinz Field today. The ARA (healthylungs.org) joins with the Pittsburgh Steelers several times throughout the year to promote a healthy lifestyle... and this was one of those times!
I got to talk with #92, Linebacker James Harrison; and #3, Kicker Jeff Reed about the importance of activity for kids, and how to foster good sportsmanship. I love their thoughts, and I wanted to share them with you.
j.

Theme Park Preparedness

The kids had their school day at Kennywood Park today. It was rainy...it was cool...we ate much more junk food than normal (Kennywood does have some good new healthy choices---we had great watermelon and salads; it's still hard to resist those potato patch fries though)...the kids loved it!
With five children, I have learned that it really pays off for me to spend a few minutes to think about and pack a bag (filled with things we may or may not need) for the day.
I think of it as my Mary Poppins Bag, because it seems that I can reach in and pull out almost anything we need for almost any situation.
I bring:

• a small first aid kit with water-proof Band-Aids - not just for cuts---good to have for blisters from park-walking, etc.
• anti-bacterial hand wipes - which I used today to wipe off tables and hands, to wipe a little bit of "ride grease" off of my daughter's leg, and to hold on my youngest son's lip, which he bit on the jack rabbit ride (poor baby).
• small bottles of water - water's healthy, and it's good to have some of your own to save time and money on drink stops.
• sunscreen
• lip balm
• sugarless gum - can satisfy a sweet tooth, and has way fewer calories than a funnel cake!!!
• little two-way radios - we have four that can all work on the same channel, which is great to keep in touch quickly when the group splits off for a bit.
• socks - how nice not to have to walk around with wet feet after water rides!
• cameras - I took our little Flip---which I love--to get some video, and a small digital camera.
• a little notebook and pen - how many times do you run into an old friend and have nothing to use to jot down their contact info?
• cash in small bills - to make paying for games faster and easier. Decide on an amount you want to spend, get that amount in $1 bills, and when it's gone, no more games.
• some business cards - you just never know who you might run into.
• umbrellas that fold up to only about 7 inches - wow were those great to have today! I got mine at Target---bright yellow, which made it easy to keep an eye on everybody.

I am able to fit all of this in a medium sized zippered tote bag that is made of durable, water-resistant fabric and has comfortable shoulder straps. It has a zippered pocket inside where I keep my keys and cell phone. It also has a little coin purse that hooks onto a loop inside, so it's easy to find. I still have room in the bag to load in small stuffed animals and other park souvenirs.
After you get a bag like this set up, it's easy to maintain. I keep mine stocked most of the time, so that I can grab it and go to soccer or baseball games, too (I add snacks if we're going to a game). You can of course customize your bag to fit your family's needs. I hope this list will help to get you started.
j.

Some Events/Organizations That Could Help You

It's only Monday, but I'm looking forward to some events I'll be at this weekend. The organizations involved offer lots of great tips:

SATURDAY, MAY 17th - The American Respiratory Alliance of Western Pennsylvania Asthma Fair and Healthy Lung Village
(left: my family and me at last year's event)
This is going to be held at the Heinz Field Coca-Cola Great Hall in downtown Pittsburgh. It features important information and testing needed to diagnose and manage asthma. It's also just a fun day with activities for kids and families, appearances from Pittsburgh Steelers, and more! If you're not in the Pittsburgh area and you can 't come and join us, visit HealthyLungs.org for helpful info.

• SUNDAY, MAY 18th - The 6th annual Wondergirl 5k
  This is going to be held at Sandcastle in West Mifflin, PA at 9:00 a.m. (although groups gather earlier).
  This event is tied in with a wonderful national organization called Girls On The Run which works to educate girls on self-esteem issues and more for a lifetime of healthy living.
  

Take Care of Yourself!

Fifty million people in this country are caregivers. Most of them are women caring for a sick parent or child. Caring for healthy family members and friends is also a job that requires a lot of energy.
We do it because we love it. We wouldn't want it any other way, but too many women are putting themselves on a back-burner and it's having serious negative effects.
We're not eating right. We're not getting enough sleep. We're not getting enough exercise. We are disorganized. We are stressed. Experts say the stress alone involved with being a caregiver can take ten years off of your life! As a caregiver you have doubled your risk of developing depression!
The good news is, you have the power to turn all that around. You CAN take care of yourself while you're taking care of others. I want to help you to do that.
Here at my house, I take care of my husband, my five kids (ages 10-3), My father-in-law (who moved in with us after my mother-in-law died of cancer) and my step-daughter.
In coming blogs, I'll share with you other elements of my life that challenge my ability to find some time to take care of myself (I started a new business); and more importantly for you, ways that I have found to be able to steal ten little minutes here and there for myself that help me to work toward a longer, stronger, healthier life for me and my family.
I've gotten some of these tips from the incredible experts I've had the chance to interview over the years...some from friends and family members...some from people who watch our TV show, or read our newspaper articles, or visit our web site (jenniferTVshow.com)... and I'd love for you to share your tips with us, too.
Looking forward to staying in touch.
j.