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.