It's been a while since I wrote about what's happening on The Today Show. My brother died last Friday, so my life has had a bit of an upheaval, but I'm trying to get back to normal. So here is what was new and noteworthy on Today.
"Your Child's Divorce: What To Expect, What To Do" is the name of a new book by Marsha Temlock. It gives parents whose children are going through a divorce some pointers on how to behave. It deals with grandparents rights when children are involved as well as some other pointers such as, demonstrate loyalty to your child and withhold judgment. She also says that showing your support is not the same as agreeing. Also when children are involved, they need the support of all adults involved. In other words, every adult better act like an adult, if you know what I mean. Sometimes that's difficult to do during a divorce. For those and other tips, you can get the book. You can use my Amazon Search Box on this page.
Today's Fitness: Get Motivated With Lessons From The Biggest Loser. Amber Walker was a contestant on the show and was recently booted off. But she didn't let that stop her from losing 65 pounds with the help of Biggest Loser trainer, Bob Harper. His suggestions for being a successful loser are to find a support group, take responsibility for what you eat by starting a food journal, and from today's page from the book of the obvious: work out--especially weight training.
The Today Show is looking for Today's Best Sandwich In America. You can vote online for people who like to participate in that sort of thing.
Today's Classroom featured Today Show contributor and nutritionist Joy Bauer who talked about food smarts for kids. She gave some suggestions for meals that help kids' brains develop--or something to that effect. Good suggestions for breakfast were oatmeal and fruit, scrambled eggs with black beans (that looks and sounds delicious, not to mention the tremendous nutritional benefits). For lunch you can pack a sandwich on whole grain bread along with some fruit or carrot sticks or you can pack up some leftovers from dinner--if you're kids are willing to take it. And for after school snacks you can serve peanut butter and apple slices with some honey or dry cereal right out of the box--my kids' favorite. No chips, cookies or candy--also my kids' favorite but only as special treats. Any way to get Omega 3s is important because they are most concentrated in the brain. I think that means they're very important for brain function and development. I give my kids supplements because they don't like a lot of healthy foods. She mentioned sprinkling something on food, but I didn't hear what it was. Maybe Wheat Germ? I read that was a good source of nutrients once.
And that's a wrap.
Showing posts with label The Today Show. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Today Show. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
More Monday on Today 9/10
This is a bit of an extension of yesterday's post since it was the first day of the fourth hour on The Today Show. This hour has just three co-hosts, Ann Curry--who's not doing the news in this hour, Hoda Kotb and Natalie Morales. This hour seems to be dedicated more toward women's issues. Though, the first three hours are too. The first segment was a sit down discussion on women and aging called Graying Gracefully: Embracing Your Age. Nora Ephron was a guest along with a couple of actress/models who look great despite their advanced age. One had natural silver/gray hair that looked really pretty at shoulder length. I personally think gray hair looks good at longer lengths. I don't know who ever wrote the rule that once a woman is over a certain age or has white hair she must wear it short, but it's about time that was changed. You shouldn't cut your hair just because it's gray or white. And forget hair dye. It looks so much better natural. It just looks too fake after a while. But to each her own. At least women have a choice and can get a fairly decent dye job for a price. Men cannot no matter who does their hair. They always end up as copper-heads and the result is laughable rather than sexy. Anyway they discussed how women are judged more harshly than men. Especially in Hollywood where actors can get prime roles right into their 60's (think Harrison Ford), but actresses are shelved once they get to be a certain age. Sure, Meryl Streep and Jane Fonda are still at the top of their game, but do you see them paired with men 30 years younger for action/romance flicks like their male counterparts? There is quite a double standard. Women have to start standing up for their rights. Starting with shedding the husband's last name tradition. Why give up your identity for a man? We've come a long way since the suffragette movement, but we've got a hell of a long way to go for equality. Let's stand up for our rights and not bow to old standards. Who says we're the weaker sex? Women live an average of 5.2 years longer than men. Okay, enough of my rant. Their advice for living a longer, healthier and happier life was: self acceptance, which comes from the inside. And let go of other's perceptions. Do what you want, you've earned it--that's my advice.
After that discussion, the three co-hosts discussed the disaster that Britney Spears called a performance at the MTV Awards. It was supposed to be a come-back, but most say it was a come-down. Just when you thought the 25 year-old trailer trash bleach blonde couldn't sink any lower, she surprised everybody with an abysmal stage show that made people either shake their heads or just laugh because it was so pathetic. I just hope her kids are placed in a loving home with people who put their welfare above getting their next fix. Obviously, Ann, Hoda and Natalie didn't tear her apart like most people have (myself included) but even they didn't have a kind word to say about the former pop princess. If you're looking for a place for people to give honest opinions and not shy away from controversy, better switch over to The View. But so far, this is a good alternative for some informative stories. And I like it better than the third hour, so my main focus might switch to this new fourth hour show, which is a show within itself. Only problem is, my son is back in school and I have to get him off the bus about 40 minutes into the show. Seems the important stuff comes early on anyway, so we won't miss too much.
They're also going to feature Best In Show every day and today's doggie guest was a collie mix who broke all sorts of records on the obstacle course circuit--or whatever they call those things where dogs jump through hoops, among other things. The dog jumped rope and even walked up a set of stairs on its hind legs.
My only question is, since this new hour airs at 11:00 (there's an hour break between 9 and 10 for Regis and Kelly, at least on my local NBC affiliate), so what happened to The Martha Stewart show which used to air at 11?
And that's a wrap.
After that discussion, the three co-hosts discussed the disaster that Britney Spears called a performance at the MTV Awards. It was supposed to be a come-back, but most say it was a come-down. Just when you thought the 25 year-old trailer trash bleach blonde couldn't sink any lower, she surprised everybody with an abysmal stage show that made people either shake their heads or just laugh because it was so pathetic. I just hope her kids are placed in a loving home with people who put their welfare above getting their next fix. Obviously, Ann, Hoda and Natalie didn't tear her apart like most people have (myself included) but even they didn't have a kind word to say about the former pop princess. If you're looking for a place for people to give honest opinions and not shy away from controversy, better switch over to The View. But so far, this is a good alternative for some informative stories. And I like it better than the third hour, so my main focus might switch to this new fourth hour show, which is a show within itself. Only problem is, my son is back in school and I have to get him off the bus about 40 minutes into the show. Seems the important stuff comes early on anyway, so we won't miss too much.
They're also going to feature Best In Show every day and today's doggie guest was a collie mix who broke all sorts of records on the obstacle course circuit--or whatever they call those things where dogs jump through hoops, among other things. The dog jumped rope and even walked up a set of stairs on its hind legs.
My only question is, since this new hour airs at 11:00 (there's an hour break between 9 and 10 for Regis and Kelly, at least on my local NBC affiliate), so what happened to The Martha Stewart show which used to air at 11?
And that's a wrap.
Friday, August 17, 2007
Friday on Today 8/17
Topping Today's third hour was a segment called Just One Of The Boys, which was about tomboys. I don't know why this was a topic of the day but they went as far as to bring in a child Neuropsychologist, Kimberly Williams, and some other child expert, Carole Lapidos. They talked about girls who are tomboys and hypothesized about why it happens. They showed a mom with a tomboy who gets confused for a boy sometimes and the mom wishes she'd like to wear pretty dresses and act like a girl once in a while. This is ridiculous. Tomboys have been around since the dawn of time. I was one up until the age of about twelve--the age when girls usually start taking an interest in boys. There is nothing new here. What the "experts" want you to know is that it's a totally normal phase for many girls. Their advice was to not get hung up on gender roles and let your tomboys know there are plenty of other girls like them--as if they didn't know that. Being a tomboy is a good thing. Don't send mixed messages like telling them it's alright to play with the boys and then asking them to wear a nice dress once in a while. I hated wearing dresses and loved my Red Sox baseball cap. My best friend was a boy up until around age 10 or so. Trust me they will grow out of it and it's not going to ruin yours or your daughter's lives if she never wants to put on a dress.
The iVillage Back To School segment continues with After School Snacks. This whole segment was pretty much a page from the book of the obvious. Give kids healthy snacks after school. Of course they're hungry, so make sure they have something substantial like a bowl of cereal. My son eats crackers and peanut butter when he gets home from school. It has protein to keep him full until his next meal. If they're on the go, fruit and granola bars or fruit and grain bars are good. There are so many bars out there now. The trick is to find some that aren't too high in sugar. Also instead of buying individual sized snacks like chips, you can buy them in the large size and just separate them into Ziploc bags--it's cheaper and makes portion control easier. Don't keep soda at home. Limit sugared drinks and try to get them to drink water instead. And try to limit cookies too. You've heard this all before I'm sure.
Today was Al Roker's birthday, so David Gregory and Natalie Morales sang Happy Birthday and gave him a giant cake.
Today's Home featured Speed Cleaning Your Bathroom with Rosemary Ellis from Good Housekeeping Magazine. This was about cleaning up before you have guests, but she gave some good tips for regular cleaning too. Always carry supplies in a cleaning caddy, so you have everything you need at your fingertips. Begin with the toilet and use bleach or disposable scrubbers. Clear the counter of clutter by putting everything into a basket--then get the basket out of sight while your guests are there. I usually put so much stuff away in boxes that I forget where everything went by the time the guests leave. Use a spray bottle filled with half water and half white vinegar to clean just about everything. Use alcohol for the chrome and anything with hairspray splatter. Use a damp paper towel for the floor and Mr. Clean Magic Eraser works to get stains off tub and shower. Those things are great--especially when you have kids who think walls are an extension of their canvas.
High School Musical 2 is the start of something new. The first was a phenomenal success for Disney and I'm sure the next one will be too since 'tweens are in love with it--and Zack Ephron.
Maroon 5 finished off the show with their hit "Harder To Breathe."
Then they did their usual Friday sign off with highlights from America The Beautiful played out to the classical song "Hoedown."
That's a wrap. Have a great weekend.
The iVillage Back To School segment continues with After School Snacks. This whole segment was pretty much a page from the book of the obvious. Give kids healthy snacks after school. Of course they're hungry, so make sure they have something substantial like a bowl of cereal. My son eats crackers and peanut butter when he gets home from school. It has protein to keep him full until his next meal. If they're on the go, fruit and granola bars or fruit and grain bars are good. There are so many bars out there now. The trick is to find some that aren't too high in sugar. Also instead of buying individual sized snacks like chips, you can buy them in the large size and just separate them into Ziploc bags--it's cheaper and makes portion control easier. Don't keep soda at home. Limit sugared drinks and try to get them to drink water instead. And try to limit cookies too. You've heard this all before I'm sure.
Today was Al Roker's birthday, so David Gregory and Natalie Morales sang Happy Birthday and gave him a giant cake.
Today's Home featured Speed Cleaning Your Bathroom with Rosemary Ellis from Good Housekeeping Magazine. This was about cleaning up before you have guests, but she gave some good tips for regular cleaning too. Always carry supplies in a cleaning caddy, so you have everything you need at your fingertips. Begin with the toilet and use bleach or disposable scrubbers. Clear the counter of clutter by putting everything into a basket--then get the basket out of sight while your guests are there. I usually put so much stuff away in boxes that I forget where everything went by the time the guests leave. Use a spray bottle filled with half water and half white vinegar to clean just about everything. Use alcohol for the chrome and anything with hairspray splatter. Use a damp paper towel for the floor and Mr. Clean Magic Eraser works to get stains off tub and shower. Those things are great--especially when you have kids who think walls are an extension of their canvas.
High School Musical 2 is the start of something new. The first was a phenomenal success for Disney and I'm sure the next one will be too since 'tweens are in love with it--and Zack Ephron.
Maroon 5 finished off the show with their hit "Harder To Breathe."
Then they did their usual Friday sign off with highlights from America The Beautiful played out to the classical song "Hoedown."
That's a wrap. Have a great weekend.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Thursday on Today 8/16
David Gregory has been filling in for Matt Lauer all week for a refreshing change. And he actually stays around for the third hour. I'd like to see him take Matt's job, but that would probably be too much to ask. Then again, we were lucky enough to get rid of Katie Couric and have Meredith Viera take over, so anything is possible, right?
What's His Type? Different Kinds Of Husbands was about labeling men and finding out if he's the right one for you. They listed four types: The Sweetheart, The Thrill Seeker, The Rock and The Doer. There is more information--if you want it--at The Today Show website. This reminded me of one of those personality quizzes you see in magazines and online. And it was about as useful as one, too. The bottom line is you can't change anybody. So don't marry a doer and think you can change him into a rock. It just won't work. Not that you didn't know that already.
Moving on to Number five on the America The Beautiful List: The Pacific Coast Highway. They usually do a $50/day segment here, but obviously the west coast is too expensive for that. You'll have to enjoy its beauty at a steep price. NBC correspondent, Michael Okwu rented a little red corvette and cruised the coast in the convertible. The first stop was the Firestone Winery, which was featured in the movie "Sideways." From there he drove to Jalama Beach, The Apple Farm Inn and then on to The Big Sur Coast where he went to Point Sur Historic Lighthouse. Then it was on to Monterrey and the boardwalk in Santa Cruz, which is about an hour away from Monterrey. He drove to Big Basin National Park where there is a Pagoda along the way nestled under the Redwoods. The final stop was San Francisco and across The Golden Gate Bridge. And, of course, they had to play "Little Red Corvette" by Prince.
Remembering The King: The 30th Anniversary Of Elvis's Death. Here they showed Joe Mosceo, who used to be a back-up singer for Elvis back in Elvis's gospel days. He was at Graceland telling a story about Elvis when he was abruptly cut off by a commercial break in mid sentence--mid word even. Al later apologized for cutting him off but poor Joe never did get to finish the story. Oh, well. Can't keep those sponsors waiting. Got to pay the bills.
You can now get a chance to decide who gets married on The Today Show. Just go to the website and cast your vote for your favorite couple. I'm not sure how many are in the running, but it's not on my priority list to find out.
Today's Classroom: Dorm 101 featured lifestyle expert, Elizabeth Mayhew, telling you how to help prepare your new college student for their first dorm room. Most dorms come with the basics: bed, dresser, desk and desk chair. You can get a virtual tour at most college websites. A good accessory for any dorm is a microfridge--a microwave, mini-fridge combo for about $399. A good suggestion: starting in their junior or senior year of high school, make your kids do their own laundry. Apparently many get to college and don't even know how to do laundry--pathetic. I say make them do the laundry as soon as they're old enough to carry the basket to the washing machine. Why wait? It should be one of their chores--which you better make sure they're doing. She also suggested a mattress topper for comfort, bed risers to make room for under the bed storage, task lamps, book storage for valuables and bring your own desk chair. The others are really uncomfortable. Those book storage containers are a good idea, but if everyone is using them, they're not much of a secret anymore. Better to find a way to lock up valuables if you need to keep them in your dorm at all.
Today's Kitchen had chef, Scott Conant, author of "New Italian Cooking," showing pasta meals made easy. He cooked up some pasta and added it to steamed clams while the pasta was only half cooked so he could allow it to cook the rest of the way with the clams. A little tip I he passed along: if a clam stays closed, don't eat it. Then he had an asparagus and pasta meal with jalapenos and corn. For more recipes, visit the website.
And that's a wrap. Till tomorrow.
What's His Type? Different Kinds Of Husbands was about labeling men and finding out if he's the right one for you. They listed four types: The Sweetheart, The Thrill Seeker, The Rock and The Doer. There is more information--if you want it--at The Today Show website. This reminded me of one of those personality quizzes you see in magazines and online. And it was about as useful as one, too. The bottom line is you can't change anybody. So don't marry a doer and think you can change him into a rock. It just won't work. Not that you didn't know that already.
Moving on to Number five on the America The Beautiful List: The Pacific Coast Highway. They usually do a $50/day segment here, but obviously the west coast is too expensive for that. You'll have to enjoy its beauty at a steep price. NBC correspondent, Michael Okwu rented a little red corvette and cruised the coast in the convertible. The first stop was the Firestone Winery, which was featured in the movie "Sideways." From there he drove to Jalama Beach, The Apple Farm Inn and then on to The Big Sur Coast where he went to Point Sur Historic Lighthouse. Then it was on to Monterrey and the boardwalk in Santa Cruz, which is about an hour away from Monterrey. He drove to Big Basin National Park where there is a Pagoda along the way nestled under the Redwoods. The final stop was San Francisco and across The Golden Gate Bridge. And, of course, they had to play "Little Red Corvette" by Prince.
Remembering The King: The 30th Anniversary Of Elvis's Death. Here they showed Joe Mosceo, who used to be a back-up singer for Elvis back in Elvis's gospel days. He was at Graceland telling a story about Elvis when he was abruptly cut off by a commercial break in mid sentence--mid word even. Al later apologized for cutting him off but poor Joe never did get to finish the story. Oh, well. Can't keep those sponsors waiting. Got to pay the bills.
You can now get a chance to decide who gets married on The Today Show. Just go to the website and cast your vote for your favorite couple. I'm not sure how many are in the running, but it's not on my priority list to find out.
Today's Classroom: Dorm 101 featured lifestyle expert, Elizabeth Mayhew, telling you how to help prepare your new college student for their first dorm room. Most dorms come with the basics: bed, dresser, desk and desk chair. You can get a virtual tour at most college websites. A good accessory for any dorm is a microfridge--a microwave, mini-fridge combo for about $399. A good suggestion: starting in their junior or senior year of high school, make your kids do their own laundry. Apparently many get to college and don't even know how to do laundry--pathetic. I say make them do the laundry as soon as they're old enough to carry the basket to the washing machine. Why wait? It should be one of their chores--which you better make sure they're doing. She also suggested a mattress topper for comfort, bed risers to make room for under the bed storage, task lamps, book storage for valuables and bring your own desk chair. The others are really uncomfortable. Those book storage containers are a good idea, but if everyone is using them, they're not much of a secret anymore. Better to find a way to lock up valuables if you need to keep them in your dorm at all.
Today's Kitchen had chef, Scott Conant, author of "New Italian Cooking," showing pasta meals made easy. He cooked up some pasta and added it to steamed clams while the pasta was only half cooked so he could allow it to cook the rest of the way with the clams. A little tip I he passed along: if a clam stays closed, don't eat it. Then he had an asparagus and pasta meal with jalapenos and corn. For more recipes, visit the website.
And that's a wrap. Till tomorrow.
Friday, August 3, 2007
Friday on Today 8/3
Today's Consumer Smarts with Janice Lieberman started the third hour today with a segment called Going To The Mattresses. She showed Al Roker a vibrating mattress that cost 30 grand, a Sealy pillow top with foam for $799 and one that its makers say is like sleeping on a cloud. That one costs 60 grand, so for that price they ought to fly you into outer space and let you sleep on actual cloud. The whole point to this--I'm not exactly sure why they wasted their time having Al trying out a bunch of mattresses--is to save your money for college tuition, cars and other necessities. Al actually liked the cheaper mattress best anyway.
Today's Style featured a Fall Fashion Preview. The look is all about dressing up without getting dressed up--whatever that means. A 70's chic dress that looked like a brown top with a checkered skirt finished off with a wide waist belt was the first look, followed by metallics. Wear metallics with a neutral palette. This model had on a beige metallic, matching jacket with black leggings and leopard print shoes. It didn't look as awful as it sounds. The thing about leggings that most people don't like is their clinginess, but these were loose fitting and looked more comfortable. The next look was sophisticated - blacks and creams are always classic. Update the look with this season's blazer. Grey is the new black. A few weeks ago on Today's Style, white was the new black, now it's grey. It looks polished and professional. This model wore a long grey jacket over black slacks. Return of the shape: form-fitting shapes are back. The only looks I'd spend money on are the cream and black as well as the grey and black. They also suggested wearing colored tights with some of these skirts--especially the shorter ones.
Joan Allen stopped by for a visit outside on the plaza. The catchy titles they used for this were: Bourne In The USA - Allen's Ultimatum. In case you didn't know, she's in "The Bourne Ultimatum" as well as the other two movies in the series. She's a three time Oscar nominee and one of my favorite actresses. See her amazing performance in "The Contender" and you'll see why. "The Bourne Ultimatum" opens today--as if you didn't know that already.
Natalie Morales was still in Minneapolis covering the bridge collapse: Saluting The Rescue Workers. Brad Stencel is a paramedic and one of the first responders on the scene. Natalie asked him what kind of injuries he saw in the people he helped to rescue. He said mostly orthopedic injuries--broken bones, blunt trauma and lots of bleeding. This is his first big city tragedy and he says he's emotional but getting through and now helping the recovery workers. Not a pleasant job I'm sure.
Next they had a one-on-one from Southwest Airlines CEO, Gary Kelly, who answered some e-mails. More likely, he covered his ass and answered the questions about long waits and consumer complaints like a member of the Bush Administration would answer questions about the war in Iraq. Everything is great and Southwest is the best. Did anyone think he would give honest answers? He's a CEO.
Vince Gill and Amy Grant ended the show with a song that she sang and he played guitar to along with a big back-up band. It sounded pretty good out on the plaza.
That wraps up this week. Have a good weekend.
Today's Style featured a Fall Fashion Preview. The look is all about dressing up without getting dressed up--whatever that means. A 70's chic dress that looked like a brown top with a checkered skirt finished off with a wide waist belt was the first look, followed by metallics. Wear metallics with a neutral palette. This model had on a beige metallic, matching jacket with black leggings and leopard print shoes. It didn't look as awful as it sounds. The thing about leggings that most people don't like is their clinginess, but these were loose fitting and looked more comfortable. The next look was sophisticated - blacks and creams are always classic. Update the look with this season's blazer. Grey is the new black. A few weeks ago on Today's Style, white was the new black, now it's grey. It looks polished and professional. This model wore a long grey jacket over black slacks. Return of the shape: form-fitting shapes are back. The only looks I'd spend money on are the cream and black as well as the grey and black. They also suggested wearing colored tights with some of these skirts--especially the shorter ones.
Joan Allen stopped by for a visit outside on the plaza. The catchy titles they used for this were: Bourne In The USA - Allen's Ultimatum. In case you didn't know, she's in "The Bourne Ultimatum" as well as the other two movies in the series. She's a three time Oscar nominee and one of my favorite actresses. See her amazing performance in "The Contender" and you'll see why. "The Bourne Ultimatum" opens today--as if you didn't know that already.
Natalie Morales was still in Minneapolis covering the bridge collapse: Saluting The Rescue Workers. Brad Stencel is a paramedic and one of the first responders on the scene. Natalie asked him what kind of injuries he saw in the people he helped to rescue. He said mostly orthopedic injuries--broken bones, blunt trauma and lots of bleeding. This is his first big city tragedy and he says he's emotional but getting through and now helping the recovery workers. Not a pleasant job I'm sure.
Next they had a one-on-one from Southwest Airlines CEO, Gary Kelly, who answered some e-mails. More likely, he covered his ass and answered the questions about long waits and consumer complaints like a member of the Bush Administration would answer questions about the war in Iraq. Everything is great and Southwest is the best. Did anyone think he would give honest answers? He's a CEO.
Vince Gill and Amy Grant ended the show with a song that she sang and he played guitar to along with a big back-up band. It sounded pretty good out on the plaza.
That wraps up this week. Have a good weekend.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Tuesday on Today 7/24
We started the 9:00 hour off with Today's Classroom: Preparing For Preschool. The authors of "Practical Wisdom For Parents," from the 92nd Street YMCA preschool gave tips to parents to get their kids and themselves ready for that daunting first day of school. You have to first make sure the kids are able to communicate well and have good verbal skills. Are they able to say goodbye for a few hours while you're away from them? Can they take off their coats and shoes and use the bathroom independently and put toys away? They also suggested to wait until the week before school before talking about with your kids. Show them the school and read books about going to school to get them prepared. And only one parent should go to drop them off. Don't make a big fuss and try not to look so distraught. It should be a positive experience for all involved. And take it from someone who's been there, it's not that hard. Once you get past that first day and your child realizes that school is fun, it's routine. Get more parenting tips in the book.
Today's Family featured iVillage on the road again for a second day in a row. This time with a huge box they call a first aid kit filled with stuff like allergy medicine, band aids and pain meds. They also suggested you pack a stomach med such as Pepto Bismol and alcohol wipes for cuts and scrapes. There was a thermometer and cold meds in their box along with instant ice packs and lots of water. In case dehydration sets in, there are some kind of electrolyte tablets you can put into your water to relieve it. For the full list of things to pack, visit the website at todayshow.com.
Today Throws A Wedding: Looking For Couples In Las Vegas. Al Roker was in Las Vegas today auditioning people who want to get married on The Today Show. He gave the couples a quiz about Las Vegas weddings. The men also had to sing a couple of bars of That's Amore while riding in a gondola at The Venetian Hotel.
From there we moved on to A Hostess Gift Guide segment where they showed different ideas like personalized soaps, Table Topics--a box of cards with conversation starters written on them, and a salad bowl on ice. They also showed candles in keepsake containers as well as mobile serving trays that float. Obviously those are meant for pool parties. There was a bunch of ideas including gifts for dogs--if the hostess is a dog owner. For the full list visit the website. And if all this sounds a little too weird, you can always opt for the more traditional bottle of wine. Though, I do like the idea of the gifts for dogs. Everybody always seems to forget about the pooches. And what better gift for the dog than an adorable dog T-Shirt from The Karmic Bulldog store at http://cafepress.com/karmicbulldog. Right now you can buy 3 t-shirts and get one free. I just did. Hey, why not get one for the hostess too or one of many other adorable gifts? It's original. While you're there, you can pick up a card to go with the gift.
Another segment called Passion For Fashion had The Girlz of Bratz as guests. I guess there's a movie based on the Bratz dolls. Bet you can hardly wait for that one to open.
Today's Kitchen had two chefs from The Venetian Hotel "Cooking At The Venetian." They made truffles and wild prawn hash browns as well as other interesting edibles that I'm sure you can get recipes for on the website.
That's a wrap. Till Tomorrow.
Today's Family featured iVillage on the road again for a second day in a row. This time with a huge box they call a first aid kit filled with stuff like allergy medicine, band aids and pain meds. They also suggested you pack a stomach med such as Pepto Bismol and alcohol wipes for cuts and scrapes. There was a thermometer and cold meds in their box along with instant ice packs and lots of water. In case dehydration sets in, there are some kind of electrolyte tablets you can put into your water to relieve it. For the full list of things to pack, visit the website at todayshow.com.
Today Throws A Wedding: Looking For Couples In Las Vegas. Al Roker was in Las Vegas today auditioning people who want to get married on The Today Show. He gave the couples a quiz about Las Vegas weddings. The men also had to sing a couple of bars of That's Amore while riding in a gondola at The Venetian Hotel.
From there we moved on to A Hostess Gift Guide segment where they showed different ideas like personalized soaps, Table Topics--a box of cards with conversation starters written on them, and a salad bowl on ice. They also showed candles in keepsake containers as well as mobile serving trays that float. Obviously those are meant for pool parties. There was a bunch of ideas including gifts for dogs--if the hostess is a dog owner. For the full list visit the website. And if all this sounds a little too weird, you can always opt for the more traditional bottle of wine. Though, I do like the idea of the gifts for dogs. Everybody always seems to forget about the pooches. And what better gift for the dog than an adorable dog T-Shirt from The Karmic Bulldog store at http://cafepress.com/karmicbulldog. Right now you can buy 3 t-shirts and get one free. I just did. Hey, why not get one for the hostess too or one of many other adorable gifts? It's original. While you're there, you can pick up a card to go with the gift.
Another segment called Passion For Fashion had The Girlz of Bratz as guests. I guess there's a movie based on the Bratz dolls. Bet you can hardly wait for that one to open.
Today's Kitchen had two chefs from The Venetian Hotel "Cooking At The Venetian." They made truffles and wild prawn hash browns as well as other interesting edibles that I'm sure you can get recipes for on the website.
That's a wrap. Till Tomorrow.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Thursday on Today 7/19
Today's Woman started the top of the hour with a question: What's your type, A or B? Opposites attract--usually. They had someone from Men's Health magazine and a Relationship Expert (another one of those self-proclaimed "experts") who gave different celebrity examples of A and B relationships. Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes are one such match, and I'm sure you don't need to be told which is which. But just in case, Tom is type A. That means Katie is type B--obviously, if she let Tom talk her into becoming a scientologist and have a silent birth. I think doormat might be the better term there. Anyway, this is the typical (old school) pairing of a man as the dominant type A with a woman as the caretaker type B that still works well for some couples. The Clintons are an example of two type A's which can work through all the storming and clearing. They may break a few of dishes and scream a lot, but they work it out in the end. The reverse of the typical pairing is Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, where she's the dominant type A and Brad is the more laid back type B. And an example of two type B's is Eva Longoria and Tony Parker, which they said can also work as long as someone takes charge and remembers to pay the bills. Two type B's can tend to relax maybe a bit too much. My husband and I are more like Angie and Brad--not a bad comparison. If we looked like them it would be even better. If you want to figure out what type you are you can take a quiz on the website.
The America The Beautiful tour continued today in Charleston, SC. And apparently they're doing every city or town the same way--on $50 a day. Though Natalie Morales wasn't there. I'm not sure who the guy being the tourist was; I've never seen him before. Anyway, he started with breakfast for $12.96 and rode his bike around town where normal tourists can take horse-drawn carriage rides. He had lunch for 10.90, continued his bike tour, took in a museum for $5 and ate dinner for $15.32. Of course, they say you can do all this for $50 a day, but most people travel with companions. And I also think most people would prefer to have a drink or two with dinner. I mean, they are on vacation, right? It's not realistic for the average person to spend fifty bucks or less if they're eating all their meals on the go. Where do they find such cheap places to eat? Most of us don't have production teams to scout out the cheapest places to eat before we arrive at our vacation destinations. It would be nice, though, wouldn't it?
Next up was a Harry Potter Trivia Contest with a bunch of prepubescents competing--for what, I have no idea. I'm so tired of all this Harry Potter mania.
Moving on to Today's Family: Birthday Fun and Games. Not a lot more interesting, I know, but if you care they featured a surf party where you can throw blankets on the ground, pretend you're at the beach and the kids can make beachy necklaces. Then there's the pirate theme (so overdone right now) where kids can search for hidden treasures and dress like pirates. They also featured a carnival theme where you can have egg and spoon races. Kind of a back to the basics game that doesn't cost much and is a lot of fun. Maybe I'll try that one for my five year-old next year.
Today's Kitchen featured A Taste of Hawaii where they steamed some corn on the cob, shellfish and other stuff in a giant Jiffy Pop-looking tent of aluminum foil. If you'd like that recipe or more info about the Birthday party games you can visit Todayshow.com--God, I sound like Al Roker now. And this is only my fourth week on the blog.
Till Tomorrow.
The America The Beautiful tour continued today in Charleston, SC. And apparently they're doing every city or town the same way--on $50 a day. Though Natalie Morales wasn't there. I'm not sure who the guy being the tourist was; I've never seen him before. Anyway, he started with breakfast for $12.96 and rode his bike around town where normal tourists can take horse-drawn carriage rides. He had lunch for 10.90, continued his bike tour, took in a museum for $5 and ate dinner for $15.32. Of course, they say you can do all this for $50 a day, but most people travel with companions. And I also think most people would prefer to have a drink or two with dinner. I mean, they are on vacation, right? It's not realistic for the average person to spend fifty bucks or less if they're eating all their meals on the go. Where do they find such cheap places to eat? Most of us don't have production teams to scout out the cheapest places to eat before we arrive at our vacation destinations. It would be nice, though, wouldn't it?
Next up was a Harry Potter Trivia Contest with a bunch of prepubescents competing--for what, I have no idea. I'm so tired of all this Harry Potter mania.
Moving on to Today's Family: Birthday Fun and Games. Not a lot more interesting, I know, but if you care they featured a surf party where you can throw blankets on the ground, pretend you're at the beach and the kids can make beachy necklaces. Then there's the pirate theme (so overdone right now) where kids can search for hidden treasures and dress like pirates. They also featured a carnival theme where you can have egg and spoon races. Kind of a back to the basics game that doesn't cost much and is a lot of fun. Maybe I'll try that one for my five year-old next year.
Today's Kitchen featured A Taste of Hawaii where they steamed some corn on the cob, shellfish and other stuff in a giant Jiffy Pop-looking tent of aluminum foil. If you'd like that recipe or more info about the Birthday party games you can visit Todayshow.com--God, I sound like Al Roker now. And this is only my fourth week on the blog.
Till Tomorrow.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Tuesday on Today 7/11
There was a whole lot of stuff featured on Today today. For the rest of the week they'll be going to different cities to audition couples who want to get married on The Today Show. And the competition for The Today Show Wedding begins.
Today's Travel had World's Best Awards, starting with the best cities: 1) Florence, 2) Buenos Aires, 3) Bankok, 4) Rome 5) Sydney. The best islands (according to whoever compiled these lists) are: 1) Bali, 2) Maui, 3) Kauai, 4) Galapagos, 5) Santorini. They also listed some top hotels but you'll have to log onto their website for more information at TodayShow.com. They did say the number one U.S. hotel is in Oregon.
Moving onto Real Estate 101: Condos For College Students. Parents, you buy them for your college-bound kids and charge rent to their condo-mates and make a profit rather than paying for your kids to stay in a cramped dorm. Sounds like a good plan. The example they used showed you can make a profit of $325 vs. paying $300 for the dorm. This is a great idea if you have the time to go out and shop for a condo for your kid and pay a property manager (which they suggested is a must) and make sure it's within two miles of campus to make it attractive to other college students (renters). You also need to make sure those renters get their parents to co-sign the lease. College students are notoriously bad tenants. Just ask their neighbors. If you've got the time and means to make sure it all gets done right, great. Otherwise, just write that check for the dorm. Unless you like the idea of becoming a landlord to a bunch of college kids your own kids are going to party with and trash your new condo.
Outside on the plaza today was Bruce Block from "America's Got Talent," performing The Great Escape, which is getting out of a straight jacket. I know, it's been done before, but it's always interesting to see people practically yanking their shoulders out of socket on national TV just to get some attention. This guy had a pretty good act I caught on AGT with a rabbit that stands at the mic while he becomes an offstage ventriloquist. But the escape act got cut off as they went to a commercial in mid-sentence. It happens a lot on this show. Anyway, when we came back, he was still struggling (obviously not setting any time record) but he did manage to completely get it off.
From there, they went to a couple getting married in a box on 47th and 5th. Like I said, people will do almost anything to get on TV. This was a stunt arranged by iVillage.
Then they had a segment called Today's Update, featuring teenage golfer, Mackenzie (Mac) Kline, who was born with a congenital heart defect and beat the odds. Apparently, now she's an excellent golfer and has set up a children's heart foundation. There was too much noise in my house at the time to really hear what she was saying except that she feels great. But she can't go on roller coasters--no big loss there.
Trophy Wife - Is it offensive? Do we really need to answer that for them? I guess the reason they asked is because Senator Fred Thompson, rumored to be testing the waters for a presidential run, has what many political pundits call a trophy wife. She's 40 and 24 years younger than he. And she happens to look great, otherwise she wouldn't be much of a trophy. Yes, it's offensive and chauvinistic. What if the sexes were reversed? Would he be considered a trophy husband? But if you're in the public spotlight--especially for a presidential run--you'd better get used to it. So, my question is: he's a senator and still has time to play the DA on Law and Order? How does one relate to the other? And what are his credentials for president? Does he think people will vote for him just because they've seen him on TV? If any actor runs for president, it should be Martin Sheen. At least he played one on TV.
The show ended with Chrisette Michelle singing a song. No Today's Kitchen today.
Till Tomorrow.
Today's Travel had World's Best Awards, starting with the best cities: 1) Florence, 2) Buenos Aires, 3) Bankok, 4) Rome 5) Sydney. The best islands (according to whoever compiled these lists) are: 1) Bali, 2) Maui, 3) Kauai, 4) Galapagos, 5) Santorini. They also listed some top hotels but you'll have to log onto their website for more information at TodayShow.com. They did say the number one U.S. hotel is in Oregon.
Moving onto Real Estate 101: Condos For College Students. Parents, you buy them for your college-bound kids and charge rent to their condo-mates and make a profit rather than paying for your kids to stay in a cramped dorm. Sounds like a good plan. The example they used showed you can make a profit of $325 vs. paying $300 for the dorm. This is a great idea if you have the time to go out and shop for a condo for your kid and pay a property manager (which they suggested is a must) and make sure it's within two miles of campus to make it attractive to other college students (renters). You also need to make sure those renters get their parents to co-sign the lease. College students are notoriously bad tenants. Just ask their neighbors. If you've got the time and means to make sure it all gets done right, great. Otherwise, just write that check for the dorm. Unless you like the idea of becoming a landlord to a bunch of college kids your own kids are going to party with and trash your new condo.
Outside on the plaza today was Bruce Block from "America's Got Talent," performing The Great Escape, which is getting out of a straight jacket. I know, it's been done before, but it's always interesting to see people practically yanking their shoulders out of socket on national TV just to get some attention. This guy had a pretty good act I caught on AGT with a rabbit that stands at the mic while he becomes an offstage ventriloquist. But the escape act got cut off as they went to a commercial in mid-sentence. It happens a lot on this show. Anyway, when we came back, he was still struggling (obviously not setting any time record) but he did manage to completely get it off.
From there, they went to a couple getting married in a box on 47th and 5th. Like I said, people will do almost anything to get on TV. This was a stunt arranged by iVillage.
Then they had a segment called Today's Update, featuring teenage golfer, Mackenzie (Mac) Kline, who was born with a congenital heart defect and beat the odds. Apparently, now she's an excellent golfer and has set up a children's heart foundation. There was too much noise in my house at the time to really hear what she was saying except that she feels great. But she can't go on roller coasters--no big loss there.
Trophy Wife - Is it offensive? Do we really need to answer that for them? I guess the reason they asked is because Senator Fred Thompson, rumored to be testing the waters for a presidential run, has what many political pundits call a trophy wife. She's 40 and 24 years younger than he. And she happens to look great, otherwise she wouldn't be much of a trophy. Yes, it's offensive and chauvinistic. What if the sexes were reversed? Would he be considered a trophy husband? But if you're in the public spotlight--especially for a presidential run--you'd better get used to it. So, my question is: he's a senator and still has time to play the DA on Law and Order? How does one relate to the other? And what are his credentials for president? Does he think people will vote for him just because they've seen him on TV? If any actor runs for president, it should be Martin Sheen. At least he played one on TV.
The show ended with Chrisette Michelle singing a song. No Today's Kitchen today.
Till Tomorrow.
Monday, July 9, 2007
Monday on Today 7/9
Hope everyone had a great Fourth of July weekend. The movie Transformers did as it took the number 1 spot at the box office, followed by Ratatouille (last week's number 1) and Live Free or Die Hard (last week's number 2.) The Today Show is asking people to send in photos for the America the Beautiful segment--they must be running low on content again--where they showcase pictures from around the country sent in by viewers. Go to their website for more information. I believe the address is Today.msnbc.com.
The big story of the morning was about Miss New Jersey being blackmailed. I can't even write this with a straight face. Why is this news? It seems beauty queen, Amy Palumbo, put some controversial pictures up on her myspace page for friends and family only and they got into the hands of someone threatening to make them public if she doesn't give up the crown. Wow, imagine that. She publishes pictures of herself on the web doing God knows what and then complains that they were meant to be seen in private. Give me a break! Quit your whining and talk to somebody who has some real problems, like a kid who lost a parent in Iraq. Or a parent who lost a kid in a car accident. And if your pictures are so innocent, as you claim, then why not just tell the blackmailer to release them? Who cares? Ahh, but she must be hiding something, otherwise she would have already. She claims they break the "moral clause." They're probably pictures of her making out with her girlfriends. Blackmailer, if you're reading, just release the embarrassing pictures and get it over with. This girl needs a lesson on what a crisis really is. And for future beauty queens out there, keep your personal pictures off the web if you want to keep them to yourself! And stop complaining when someone catches you doing something "immoral."
Today's Travel focused on Splurge vs. Steal getaways from a splurge in Stoneover Farm, Massachusetts at around $380/night to a steal at The Valley Hotel in Scottsdale, AZ. Al Roker couldn't contain his laughter at that name. There were many others in between, but my 2 year-old was screaming at the time and I couldn't write them all down--too many anyway. This segment basically took some high priced hotels and then gave some cheaper ones--how original.
Moving onto deeper issues like Girls and Body Image, they featured a book by plus sized model, Emme entitled: "What Are You Hungry For?" It focuses on body diversity. Not everybody can be or should be a size 2. Attractiveness has little to do with body size. It's a good message to get across. I hope it works. They also give more information from the book of the obvious and that's that parents need to be role models. If you eat a nutritious diet and live a healthy life-style, then guess what? Your kids probably will, too.
Surviving The Dog Days of Summer was focused on--you guessed it--keeping your pets safe in summer heat. Andrea Arden, pet expert (how do you get that title? I wonder) gave some good tips like using sunscreen for pets. And don't laugh, my dog got melanoma. You can buy cooling vests or just wet a bandanna, freeze it and tie it around their necks. This is something I actually used on myself and it works. But only for a few minutes. It's a comfortable few minutes though. They also showed a pool alarm that goes off whenever something more than 10 pounds hits the water. Good idea but what if you have a 5 pound yorkie? Crates are a must for traveling and so is something called Contenteze--like a doggie downer. A great idea for high-strung dogs. In this segment's page from the book of obvious information ,they said to make sure your pets can't get to the antifreeze. In case anyone doesn't know, it's deadly! The best part of all this was an adorable pug that Natalie had on a leash and a kitten that kept mewing throughout the entire feature. It was nonstop.
Today's Kitchen featured sweet and savory foods for the grill such as marinated shrimp and strawberry and avocado salad with some kind of vinaigrette dressing. It looked pretty good. Also, the off-camera kitten kept up the noise while the food was being prepared, prompting more laughter from Al. That cat refused to be upstaged by anyone--even Al Roker.
Till tomorrow.
The big story of the morning was about Miss New Jersey being blackmailed. I can't even write this with a straight face. Why is this news? It seems beauty queen, Amy Palumbo, put some controversial pictures up on her myspace page for friends and family only and they got into the hands of someone threatening to make them public if she doesn't give up the crown. Wow, imagine that. She publishes pictures of herself on the web doing God knows what and then complains that they were meant to be seen in private. Give me a break! Quit your whining and talk to somebody who has some real problems, like a kid who lost a parent in Iraq. Or a parent who lost a kid in a car accident. And if your pictures are so innocent, as you claim, then why not just tell the blackmailer to release them? Who cares? Ahh, but she must be hiding something, otherwise she would have already. She claims they break the "moral clause." They're probably pictures of her making out with her girlfriends. Blackmailer, if you're reading, just release the embarrassing pictures and get it over with. This girl needs a lesson on what a crisis really is. And for future beauty queens out there, keep your personal pictures off the web if you want to keep them to yourself! And stop complaining when someone catches you doing something "immoral."
Today's Travel focused on Splurge vs. Steal getaways from a splurge in Stoneover Farm, Massachusetts at around $380/night to a steal at The Valley Hotel in Scottsdale, AZ. Al Roker couldn't contain his laughter at that name. There were many others in between, but my 2 year-old was screaming at the time and I couldn't write them all down--too many anyway. This segment basically took some high priced hotels and then gave some cheaper ones--how original.
Moving onto deeper issues like Girls and Body Image, they featured a book by plus sized model, Emme entitled: "What Are You Hungry For?" It focuses on body diversity. Not everybody can be or should be a size 2. Attractiveness has little to do with body size. It's a good message to get across. I hope it works. They also give more information from the book of the obvious and that's that parents need to be role models. If you eat a nutritious diet and live a healthy life-style, then guess what? Your kids probably will, too.
Surviving The Dog Days of Summer was focused on--you guessed it--keeping your pets safe in summer heat. Andrea Arden, pet expert (how do you get that title? I wonder) gave some good tips like using sunscreen for pets. And don't laugh, my dog got melanoma. You can buy cooling vests or just wet a bandanna, freeze it and tie it around their necks. This is something I actually used on myself and it works. But only for a few minutes. It's a comfortable few minutes though. They also showed a pool alarm that goes off whenever something more than 10 pounds hits the water. Good idea but what if you have a 5 pound yorkie? Crates are a must for traveling and so is something called Contenteze--like a doggie downer. A great idea for high-strung dogs. In this segment's page from the book of obvious information ,they said to make sure your pets can't get to the antifreeze. In case anyone doesn't know, it's deadly! The best part of all this was an adorable pug that Natalie had on a leash and a kitten that kept mewing throughout the entire feature. It was nonstop.
Today's Kitchen featured sweet and savory foods for the grill such as marinated shrimp and strawberry and avocado salad with some kind of vinaigrette dressing. It looked pretty good. Also, the off-camera kitten kept up the noise while the food was being prepared, prompting more laughter from Al. That cat refused to be upstaged by anyone--even Al Roker.
Till tomorrow.
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Previous Posts From Former Site
Friday on Today 7/6
Today’s Family: Fighting in Front of Your Kids. Okay, in case you didn’t know, this is not a good idea. You should try not to fight in front of your kids. If you do, make sure the kids know that you still love each other and it’s okay to argue once in a while–everyone does. Psychotherapist, Robi Ludwig, from a story out of “Cookie Magazine,” gave advice to “wives and mothers” that your child can really be affected by your fighting. Excuse me? Wives and mothers? Who are they fighting with, themselves? Why wasn’t this advice geared to both “wives and mothers” and “husbands and fathers?” In another segment of obvious information, this psychotherapist managed to insult half (if not more of) the audience by putting all the blame on “wives and mothers” for their kids’ psychological problems. Read more of this if you care to on The Today Show website or “Cookie Magazine,” but I’ve heard enough.
Moving onto Today’s Travel where they featured The Best Island Beaches. Lizard Island is in Australia and costs about $1,000/night. A better deal is on The Greek Isles - Shipwreck Island in The Ionian Sea which only costs $380/night. On to The Bahamas at Pink Sands Beach on Harbour Island which costs $600/night. Then to Jamaica, 7 Mile Beach in Negril which will run you only $365/night. But a better deal is right here in the U.S. on Ocracoke Island Beach in North Carolina at $200-260/night. If you care to go to Texas, you can stay at South Padre Island where it only costs $199-289/night. But don’t go during spring break since it’s legal to have kegs on the beach.
They have this thing going on called Harry Potter and Today’s Mystery Question, with this being the fourth installment. I’m not a Harry Potter fan, so this means nothing to me. Not knowing the names of anyone else but the main character (why is he the only one with a normal name?) I can’t even attempt to remember what the question was or who it involved. I don’t even know why they’re doing this. Maybe the winner gets some kind of prize. I’m sure there is more information on their website if you need to know.
Next was a story entitled, Just as Sweet: Fake Cakes at Weddings. They’re made out of styrofoam and cost much less than their edible competition. And you can rent them! With costs in the hundreds to thousands for a real wedding cake, I think it’s a great idea. Some of them even come with secret compartments where you can stash twinkies. Who wouldn’t rather have a twinkie than a miniscule piece of overly decorated wedding cake?
Onto Today’s Kitchen: Grilling Around the World: Going Greek. They roasted some peppers and some kind of meat–probably chicken. There was an array of other foods for the grill, too.
Fall Out Boy was their Summer Concert Series musical guest and finished the show with their first hit “Dance Dance.”
Obviously running long on time again and short on content, they ended early at around 9:52 with sappy hightlights of previous shows.
Maybe they’ll have heavier stuff next week when the regulars come back from vacation.
Till then. Have a great weekend!
Thursday on Today 7/05
Friday, July 6th in Lucky Seven Getaways, Dr. Scholl, building strong bones, the new face, personal trainers for kids, Feet No comments (Edit)
We started off the day with Today’s Fitness about keeping your kids healthy. Some people are now hiring personal trainers for their kids. Whatever happened to sending them outside with some toys and maybe tossing the ball around with them? Well, obviously everyone can’t afford to hire a guy built like LL Cool J to keep their kids in shape, so they focused on some things parents can do. Such as the obvious: turn off the TV and computer. Perhaps so they can go out and play? Then more obvious: be a role model. If they see you working out and staying shape, they’re more likely to do so themselves. And even more obvious: focus on nutrition and have family meals. Is any of this news to anyone? If it is, then I’m glad you tuned in (either to the show or to my blog) so you learned how to keep your kids from growing out while growing up.
Next up was a segment on Turning Feet Sultry Soft, or Toe Time: Feet, The New Face–who comes up with these titles? Anyway, I’m sure that’s at the top of everyone’s to-do list. Some common problems for feet are blisters, to which they focused on prevention: moisturize, use bandaids, wear properly sized shoes–and it probably doesn’t matter how well they fit if they cram your feet into a shape they weren’t meant to be in, like an arrow. Another common problem is corns which you can use some kind of Dr. Scholl’s product to put on them–really that’s what they said. This segment was obviously sponsored by Dr. Scholl. Moving onto nail discoloration such as yellowing or toenail fungus. You can put some polish-like substance on to get rid of it. Ironically, the yellowing is caused by polish, particularly dark colors. The last problem they discussed was bunions which are hereditary and sometimes require surgery. But you can try orthotics and/or splints first.
Today’s Health focused on building strong bones. Here’s more from the book of the obvious: eat 2-3 servings of dairy a day to ensure good calcium intake. Here is something that you probably didn’t know: chick peas and walnuts are good sources of calcium. I actually learned something there.
Today’s Travel was focused on Lucky Seven Getaways. In case you forgot, Saturday is 7/7/07. You can get special vacation packages from a $77 hotel room in LA to a $777 spa stay in Las Vegas. I don’t get it. It’s just a date. But if people can make money off it, they’re sure as hell going to try. I’ll stay home and watch the Live Earth concert.
Today’s Kitchen: Grilling Around The World had BBQ Bon Appetit with blue prongs, watermelon, spicy relish and horseradish. Grilled watermelon–interesting.
Till Tomorrow.
Wednesday on Today 7/4
Thursday, July 5th in kid etiquette, 100 dollar bottle of beer, Polo for the people, Work to Ride, Fourth of July, beer is the new wine, The Today Show No comments (Edit)
Hope everyone had a happy Fourth of July! We started the 9:00 hour today with a Kid Etiquette class. Kids need to learn to be polite, and have style and grace. As well as to be kind, courteous and respectful. Unfortunately most of them don’t. They learn from their parents so this segment was geared more to them. Know what to expect and expect it (rather vague). Always behave the way you want your kids to behave. Easier said than done but very true. Then again, whatever happened to “Do as I say, not as I do?” Of course, “Practice what you preach,” is an even more widely known cliche.
Ride to a better life is what the next segment focused on. Polo For The People. The work to Ride Program. (Why must all these segments have so many names when one would get the point across just as well?) Anyway, it’s a program that gives inner city kids a chance to learn how to play polo. Getting kids off the street and into the stable is their motto. Sounds like a good idea. Something about horses seems to soothe even the harshest of criminals. But some the kids end up in jail anyway. Oh well, you can’t save them all.
Today’s Kitchen was again focused on Grilling Around The World with a Fourth of July Feast of chicken and grilled corn on the cob, followed by peanut butter and jelly cupcakes. Yum. They were supposed to feature red, white, and blue desserts and I guess they somehow got those cupcakes to become those colors, but they ran out of time to get to any more.
Moving onto a beer segment. Beer is the new wine. How to match beer with food. Serve fried food with hoppy beers such as IPAs (India Pale Ales). Serve lighter fare with pilsners. Lager goes better with foods crisp in style. Potato chips, anyone? Ale is good with heavier, richer foods. Such as those peanut butter and jelly cupcakes? There is also a beer that costs a hundred bucks a bottle. It’s made by Sam Adams and is 25% alcohol. No thanks, I’ll stick to something like Twisted Tea if I want to drink something like a beer with more of a kick. Again, the Today Show hosts were enjoying a little nip on this Fourth of July morning. I’ve got to get a job on that show. They’re always having fun, no matter how early.
They signed off early today. And why not? None of the regulars were there on a holiday. Except Ann doing the news. And drinking beer with her co-hosts.
Till Tomorrow.
Tuesday on Today 7/3
Wednesday, July 4th in How to Lose 10 pounds without really trying, The best boardwalks in America, Larry King's interview with Isaiah Washington, T.R. Knight, Larry King, The Today Show No comments (Edit)
We started off the the third hour of Today by welcoming a new third hour co-host, Stacy London. Then it was onto Spa Dentistry where you can get everything from facials to manicures while you get your teeth worked on. I’m sure most of the procedures are cosmetic since I would imagine getting a massage during a root canal would kind of ruin the relaxation. Plus that was all they talked about, whitening and veneers. In case you hadn’t noticed, this show is dedicated to making yourself look better. At least this hour. And I doubt your dental plan will cover pafafin wax even if you get it while having your cavities filled.
Onto Today’s Travel where they showed The Best Boardwalks in America. Most of them are on the East coast. Only one on the West coast. Let’s see, there’s Atlantic City which is about 4 miles of boardwalk. Then there’s Coney Island which is 2.5 miles long and Ocean City, MD which is 3 miles long. Santa Cruz, CA is considered the Coney Island of the west. Fascinating stuff.
Larry King’s interview with Isaiah Washington was the next feature where Isaiah complained about being a victim and blamed the whole gay slur problem on T.R. Knight–you know the one Mr. Washington called a faggot? He blames T.R. Knight for using it to get more publicity. Oh yeah, well who’s out there doing talk shows and shooting his mouth off about being unfairly treated? Quit your whining and grow up. Obviously he learned nothing in “rehab.” Please, since when is rehab the answer to everything? And what kind of things do they teach homophobes in a few days of rehab anyway?
Moving on to How To Lose 10 Pounds Without Really Trying. Before you get your hopes up, I’ve got some bad news for you: it’s all done with make-up. You’re not really going to lose weight, just look like you have. At least according to make-up artist, Eve Pearl, who uses lots of blush to create a hollowed cheek and what she calls a facelift. Of course, you have to use concealer under your eyes and around the mouth to camouflage those pesky lines, but if you have the time to spend on all this primping, maybe you’ll shed a few years as well as pounds. I doubt it. Especially if you’re not a make-up artist, or should I say an illusionist yourself.
The show wrapped up with another Grilling Around The World segment. This time grilling Japanese style. Looks like they used fish again–not sure. They probably added some veggies.
Till next time, happy Fourth of July!
Monday on Today 7/2
Tuesday, July 3rd in weekend get away kit, Today Show Wedding, Mommy Envy, weekend box office, Ratatouille, The Today Show No comments (Edit)
Good morning. Hope everyone had a good weekend. The weekend box office was good for the movie Ratatouille, which apparently nobody on The Today Show can pronounce. It’s Rat-ah-tooey just in case anyone was wondering. Anyway, it came in at number one so they should know how to say it right. Coming in at number two was Live Free or Die Hard followed by Evan Almighty at number three. They don’t give the rest, sorry.
Following a news and weather update, we went right into a segment entitled “Mommy Envy,” about moms being jealous of other moms that seem to have everything together–at least more than you do. I was there a few weeks ago myself while watching my son’s preschool class put on a performance for family members. While other moms had their toddlers sitting quietly in their laps, mine was squirming, crying, and trying to join her big brother up on the “stage.” I kept wondering why mine was the only one misbehaving. Anyway, I certainly understand mommy envy as I wondered how all those other moms kept their sedate toddlers in their laps. The advice to all moms was to 1) let go of perfection–or the illusion of it because let’s face it, nobody has it, no matter what it looks like on the surface. 2) If you want something for yourself, get it–whatever that means. I want a new iphone, but it’s not in my budget. And finally, 3) appreciate yourself and keep things in perspective. In other words, since you’re probably not appreciated by others–lots of moms aren’t, especially stay-at-home moms–at least know that you’re doing a great service and someday it will pay off. Being a parent is the toughest but most rewarding job was what I gathered to be the theme of that segment.
Today’s Style: How not to overpack for a weekend getaway. They showcased a weekend getaway kit that included a sarong which doubled as a shirt. I had to laugh at that one. Looks like you’d have to be an engineer to figure out how to wrap it right so it doesn’t look you’re wearing a shower curtain. Pack one clutch and one day bag, two pairs of shoes, again one for evening and one for daytime. Pack a white sundress (white is the new black) and a couple of tank tops and you’re done. Oh, and don’t forget the shorts and maybe some jeans. I’d leave the sarong at home–just pack a beach cover-up and a normal shirt. How much more room is going to take up in your suitcase?
Then there was a big announcement on the show: they’re doing another Today Show wedding and are going out to find couples to audition to get married on The Today Show. Who wants to see strangers get married on TV? I don’t even like going to weddings of people I know. But at least then you get a meal and and an open bar–if you’re lucky.
Today’s Home: How to have a party on a budget with patriotic party ideas. Some of the suggestions were to use bandanas instead of napkins. That would probably save money unless your guests decided to toss them out with the paper plates. Make food the centerpiece with a giant glass box of chips and another of salsa. Interesting idea but I don’t know where you’d get containers like that. And does anybody really care what the centerpiece looks like (or if you even have one) when you’re eating outside? They also showed colored soda bottles as centerpieces. Again, why bother? And who wants to drink soda at a party? If you’re serving it to kids–bad idea since it rots their teeth. And adults probably want something with more of a kick, and I don’t mean from the salsa. By the way, the patriotic part was because most of the plates and balloons were red white or blue–how original.
Gene Shallot reviewed “Evening,” which opened this weekend. He said it is a must-see and I’m happy after seeing Richard Roper and his co-host give it two thumbs down last night. That surprised me because of the all star cast including Vanessa Redgrave, Meryl Streep, Miranda Richardson, and Claire Danes to name a few. The movie got four stars in my local paper, and it’s on my to-see list mostly because of the beautiful ocean-front scenes that were shot right here in my home state of RI. Newport and Tiverton provided the houses and scenery.
Moving on to grilling tips where they barbecued shellfish. Since it’s Fourth of July week, they’ll be throwing anything they can find on the grill.
That wraps up Yesterday on Today for Monday.
Till Tomorrow.
Today’s Family: Fighting in Front of Your Kids. Okay, in case you didn’t know, this is not a good idea. You should try not to fight in front of your kids. If you do, make sure the kids know that you still love each other and it’s okay to argue once in a while–everyone does. Psychotherapist, Robi Ludwig, from a story out of “Cookie Magazine,” gave advice to “wives and mothers” that your child can really be affected by your fighting. Excuse me? Wives and mothers? Who are they fighting with, themselves? Why wasn’t this advice geared to both “wives and mothers” and “husbands and fathers?” In another segment of obvious information, this psychotherapist managed to insult half (if not more of) the audience by putting all the blame on “wives and mothers” for their kids’ psychological problems. Read more of this if you care to on The Today Show website or “Cookie Magazine,” but I’ve heard enough.
Moving onto Today’s Travel where they featured The Best Island Beaches. Lizard Island is in Australia and costs about $1,000/night. A better deal is on The Greek Isles - Shipwreck Island in The Ionian Sea which only costs $380/night. On to The Bahamas at Pink Sands Beach on Harbour Island which costs $600/night. Then to Jamaica, 7 Mile Beach in Negril which will run you only $365/night. But a better deal is right here in the U.S. on Ocracoke Island Beach in North Carolina at $200-260/night. If you care to go to Texas, you can stay at South Padre Island where it only costs $199-289/night. But don’t go during spring break since it’s legal to have kegs on the beach.
They have this thing going on called Harry Potter and Today’s Mystery Question, with this being the fourth installment. I’m not a Harry Potter fan, so this means nothing to me. Not knowing the names of anyone else but the main character (why is he the only one with a normal name?) I can’t even attempt to remember what the question was or who it involved. I don’t even know why they’re doing this. Maybe the winner gets some kind of prize. I’m sure there is more information on their website if you need to know.
Next was a story entitled, Just as Sweet: Fake Cakes at Weddings. They’re made out of styrofoam and cost much less than their edible competition. And you can rent them! With costs in the hundreds to thousands for a real wedding cake, I think it’s a great idea. Some of them even come with secret compartments where you can stash twinkies. Who wouldn’t rather have a twinkie than a miniscule piece of overly decorated wedding cake?
Onto Today’s Kitchen: Grilling Around the World: Going Greek. They roasted some peppers and some kind of meat–probably chicken. There was an array of other foods for the grill, too.
Fall Out Boy was their Summer Concert Series musical guest and finished the show with their first hit “Dance Dance.”
Obviously running long on time again and short on content, they ended early at around 9:52 with sappy hightlights of previous shows.
Maybe they’ll have heavier stuff next week when the regulars come back from vacation.
Till then. Have a great weekend!
Thursday on Today 7/05
Friday, July 6th in Lucky Seven Getaways, Dr. Scholl, building strong bones, the new face, personal trainers for kids, Feet No comments (Edit)
We started off the day with Today’s Fitness about keeping your kids healthy. Some people are now hiring personal trainers for their kids. Whatever happened to sending them outside with some toys and maybe tossing the ball around with them? Well, obviously everyone can’t afford to hire a guy built like LL Cool J to keep their kids in shape, so they focused on some things parents can do. Such as the obvious: turn off the TV and computer. Perhaps so they can go out and play? Then more obvious: be a role model. If they see you working out and staying shape, they’re more likely to do so themselves. And even more obvious: focus on nutrition and have family meals. Is any of this news to anyone? If it is, then I’m glad you tuned in (either to the show or to my blog) so you learned how to keep your kids from growing out while growing up.
Next up was a segment on Turning Feet Sultry Soft, or Toe Time: Feet, The New Face–who comes up with these titles? Anyway, I’m sure that’s at the top of everyone’s to-do list. Some common problems for feet are blisters, to which they focused on prevention: moisturize, use bandaids, wear properly sized shoes–and it probably doesn’t matter how well they fit if they cram your feet into a shape they weren’t meant to be in, like an arrow. Another common problem is corns which you can use some kind of Dr. Scholl’s product to put on them–really that’s what they said. This segment was obviously sponsored by Dr. Scholl. Moving onto nail discoloration such as yellowing or toenail fungus. You can put some polish-like substance on to get rid of it. Ironically, the yellowing is caused by polish, particularly dark colors. The last problem they discussed was bunions which are hereditary and sometimes require surgery. But you can try orthotics and/or splints first.
Today’s Health focused on building strong bones. Here’s more from the book of the obvious: eat 2-3 servings of dairy a day to ensure good calcium intake. Here is something that you probably didn’t know: chick peas and walnuts are good sources of calcium. I actually learned something there.
Today’s Travel was focused on Lucky Seven Getaways. In case you forgot, Saturday is 7/7/07. You can get special vacation packages from a $77 hotel room in LA to a $777 spa stay in Las Vegas. I don’t get it. It’s just a date. But if people can make money off it, they’re sure as hell going to try. I’ll stay home and watch the Live Earth concert.
Today’s Kitchen: Grilling Around The World had BBQ Bon Appetit with blue prongs, watermelon, spicy relish and horseradish. Grilled watermelon–interesting.
Till Tomorrow.
Wednesday on Today 7/4
Thursday, July 5th in kid etiquette, 100 dollar bottle of beer, Polo for the people, Work to Ride, Fourth of July, beer is the new wine, The Today Show No comments (Edit)
Hope everyone had a happy Fourth of July! We started the 9:00 hour today with a Kid Etiquette class. Kids need to learn to be polite, and have style and grace. As well as to be kind, courteous and respectful. Unfortunately most of them don’t. They learn from their parents so this segment was geared more to them. Know what to expect and expect it (rather vague). Always behave the way you want your kids to behave. Easier said than done but very true. Then again, whatever happened to “Do as I say, not as I do?” Of course, “Practice what you preach,” is an even more widely known cliche.
Ride to a better life is what the next segment focused on. Polo For The People. The work to Ride Program. (Why must all these segments have so many names when one would get the point across just as well?) Anyway, it’s a program that gives inner city kids a chance to learn how to play polo. Getting kids off the street and into the stable is their motto. Sounds like a good idea. Something about horses seems to soothe even the harshest of criminals. But some the kids end up in jail anyway. Oh well, you can’t save them all.
Today’s Kitchen was again focused on Grilling Around The World with a Fourth of July Feast of chicken and grilled corn on the cob, followed by peanut butter and jelly cupcakes. Yum. They were supposed to feature red, white, and blue desserts and I guess they somehow got those cupcakes to become those colors, but they ran out of time to get to any more.
Moving onto a beer segment. Beer is the new wine. How to match beer with food. Serve fried food with hoppy beers such as IPAs (India Pale Ales). Serve lighter fare with pilsners. Lager goes better with foods crisp in style. Potato chips, anyone? Ale is good with heavier, richer foods. Such as those peanut butter and jelly cupcakes? There is also a beer that costs a hundred bucks a bottle. It’s made by Sam Adams and is 25% alcohol. No thanks, I’ll stick to something like Twisted Tea if I want to drink something like a beer with more of a kick. Again, the Today Show hosts were enjoying a little nip on this Fourth of July morning. I’ve got to get a job on that show. They’re always having fun, no matter how early.
They signed off early today. And why not? None of the regulars were there on a holiday. Except Ann doing the news. And drinking beer with her co-hosts.
Till Tomorrow.
Tuesday on Today 7/3
Wednesday, July 4th in How to Lose 10 pounds without really trying, The best boardwalks in America, Larry King's interview with Isaiah Washington, T.R. Knight, Larry King, The Today Show No comments (Edit)
We started off the the third hour of Today by welcoming a new third hour co-host, Stacy London. Then it was onto Spa Dentistry where you can get everything from facials to manicures while you get your teeth worked on. I’m sure most of the procedures are cosmetic since I would imagine getting a massage during a root canal would kind of ruin the relaxation. Plus that was all they talked about, whitening and veneers. In case you hadn’t noticed, this show is dedicated to making yourself look better. At least this hour. And I doubt your dental plan will cover pafafin wax even if you get it while having your cavities filled.
Onto Today’s Travel where they showed The Best Boardwalks in America. Most of them are on the East coast. Only one on the West coast. Let’s see, there’s Atlantic City which is about 4 miles of boardwalk. Then there’s Coney Island which is 2.5 miles long and Ocean City, MD which is 3 miles long. Santa Cruz, CA is considered the Coney Island of the west. Fascinating stuff.
Larry King’s interview with Isaiah Washington was the next feature where Isaiah complained about being a victim and blamed the whole gay slur problem on T.R. Knight–you know the one Mr. Washington called a faggot? He blames T.R. Knight for using it to get more publicity. Oh yeah, well who’s out there doing talk shows and shooting his mouth off about being unfairly treated? Quit your whining and grow up. Obviously he learned nothing in “rehab.” Please, since when is rehab the answer to everything? And what kind of things do they teach homophobes in a few days of rehab anyway?
Moving on to How To Lose 10 Pounds Without Really Trying. Before you get your hopes up, I’ve got some bad news for you: it’s all done with make-up. You’re not really going to lose weight, just look like you have. At least according to make-up artist, Eve Pearl, who uses lots of blush to create a hollowed cheek and what she calls a facelift. Of course, you have to use concealer under your eyes and around the mouth to camouflage those pesky lines, but if you have the time to spend on all this primping, maybe you’ll shed a few years as well as pounds. I doubt it. Especially if you’re not a make-up artist, or should I say an illusionist yourself.
The show wrapped up with another Grilling Around The World segment. This time grilling Japanese style. Looks like they used fish again–not sure. They probably added some veggies.
Till next time, happy Fourth of July!
Monday on Today 7/2
Tuesday, July 3rd in weekend get away kit, Today Show Wedding, Mommy Envy, weekend box office, Ratatouille, The Today Show No comments (Edit)
Good morning. Hope everyone had a good weekend. The weekend box office was good for the movie Ratatouille, which apparently nobody on The Today Show can pronounce. It’s Rat-ah-tooey just in case anyone was wondering. Anyway, it came in at number one so they should know how to say it right. Coming in at number two was Live Free or Die Hard followed by Evan Almighty at number three. They don’t give the rest, sorry.
Following a news and weather update, we went right into a segment entitled “Mommy Envy,” about moms being jealous of other moms that seem to have everything together–at least more than you do. I was there a few weeks ago myself while watching my son’s preschool class put on a performance for family members. While other moms had their toddlers sitting quietly in their laps, mine was squirming, crying, and trying to join her big brother up on the “stage.” I kept wondering why mine was the only one misbehaving. Anyway, I certainly understand mommy envy as I wondered how all those other moms kept their sedate toddlers in their laps. The advice to all moms was to 1) let go of perfection–or the illusion of it because let’s face it, nobody has it, no matter what it looks like on the surface. 2) If you want something for yourself, get it–whatever that means. I want a new iphone, but it’s not in my budget. And finally, 3) appreciate yourself and keep things in perspective. In other words, since you’re probably not appreciated by others–lots of moms aren’t, especially stay-at-home moms–at least know that you’re doing a great service and someday it will pay off. Being a parent is the toughest but most rewarding job was what I gathered to be the theme of that segment.
Today’s Style: How not to overpack for a weekend getaway. They showcased a weekend getaway kit that included a sarong which doubled as a shirt. I had to laugh at that one. Looks like you’d have to be an engineer to figure out how to wrap it right so it doesn’t look you’re wearing a shower curtain. Pack one clutch and one day bag, two pairs of shoes, again one for evening and one for daytime. Pack a white sundress (white is the new black) and a couple of tank tops and you’re done. Oh, and don’t forget the shorts and maybe some jeans. I’d leave the sarong at home–just pack a beach cover-up and a normal shirt. How much more room is going to take up in your suitcase?
Then there was a big announcement on the show: they’re doing another Today Show wedding and are going out to find couples to audition to get married on The Today Show. Who wants to see strangers get married on TV? I don’t even like going to weddings of people I know. But at least then you get a meal and and an open bar–if you’re lucky.
Today’s Home: How to have a party on a budget with patriotic party ideas. Some of the suggestions were to use bandanas instead of napkins. That would probably save money unless your guests decided to toss them out with the paper plates. Make food the centerpiece with a giant glass box of chips and another of salsa. Interesting idea but I don’t know where you’d get containers like that. And does anybody really care what the centerpiece looks like (or if you even have one) when you’re eating outside? They also showed colored soda bottles as centerpieces. Again, why bother? And who wants to drink soda at a party? If you’re serving it to kids–bad idea since it rots their teeth. And adults probably want something with more of a kick, and I don’t mean from the salsa. By the way, the patriotic part was because most of the plates and balloons were red white or blue–how original.
Gene Shallot reviewed “Evening,” which opened this weekend. He said it is a must-see and I’m happy after seeing Richard Roper and his co-host give it two thumbs down last night. That surprised me because of the all star cast including Vanessa Redgrave, Meryl Streep, Miranda Richardson, and Claire Danes to name a few. The movie got four stars in my local paper, and it’s on my to-see list mostly because of the beautiful ocean-front scenes that were shot right here in my home state of RI. Newport and Tiverton provided the houses and scenery.
Moving on to grilling tips where they barbecued shellfish. Since it’s Fourth of July week, they’ll be throwing anything they can find on the grill.
That wraps up Yesterday on Today for Monday.
Till Tomorrow.
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