Hello, again

It's been a long time...way too long since I've last written.
My last post was right before my final deadline to turn in a complete manuscript for Take Care Tips. I got everything in on time, the pros, my friends at St. Lynn's Press did their polishing and tweaking, and the book went to print. Take Care Tips will be at our warehouse, and shipping to bookstores around the country over the next few weeks.
Our official release date is March 18th! You can preorder now.
I want to share with you, too, that along with the work involved with completing the book, and the holidays, came some other news---which is really the main reason that I haven't been able to do any blogging for a while.
We found out that my father-in-law's cancer came back.
If you've been following the blog, or reading about Take Care Tips, you know that being a caregiver for my mother-in-law, who died of cancer, really inspired me to write the book, to reach out to help others, in her honor. One of the first things she asked me after she was diagnosed with cancer was "will you take care of Pap?"
Pap moved in with us after she died, and within a year after that, HE was diagnosed with colon cancer. Doctors found it during a routine exam. It later spread to his liver. He had two surgeries and two rounds of chemotherapy. He's been cancer-free for nearly four years.
He's been feeling great and hearing the results of the latest scan was shocking, actually. The cancer is back in his liver, a spot on his lower spine, and one in his lung. Since Christmas, I've been taking him to chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
We're back in that world.
Back learning about medications and side effects and treatment options.
Back spending long days in doctor's offices and cancer centers.
Back seeing the faces of all the others just like us.
Young couples, business people, single people, elderly people...some with caregivers...some alone.
So many sizes, shapes, and colors...all looking for help, and hope.
Pap tells people in the waiting rooms about my book. They smile and are quick to want to share their caregiving stories and ask for help with the kind of information and tips they need at the moment.
As difficult as all of it is, I feel blessed to be around all of these people now...blessed to be able to have something that can help them in some small way.
Pap's doing really well. He's tolerating treatment. His spirits are good. We're done with this first round, and will go for a scan in a couple of weeks to see how it's working.
I'll keep in touch.
j.

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.