Going It Alone: Single Mothers Today. This was mostly about moms who choose to be single mothers as well as moms and dads raising children together but remaining unmarried. I guess the main emphasis was on moms choosing to remain single with or without the dad being involved. There really wasn't much news here. Sally Tusa from Baby Talk Magazine said that half of single moms are involved with the fathers of their children. Michele Borba, parenting expert, says that 80% of moms think children need two parents. The bottom line is happy parents make happy kids. And there are four things every kid needs: to feel safe, to be accepted, to be loved and clear expectations. I think she forgot some like food, clothing and shelter. Anyway, dads do matter. All kids need a positive male influence even if dad doesn't live with them.
Miss Teen South Carolina, Lauren Caitlin Upton, showed why beauty contests are an insult to all females. This girl makes the entire human race look bad. I'm sure you've all seen the video by now of Miss Teen South Carolina babbling incoherently about the "US Americans," as if there are any other kind, "the Iraq" and South Africa when asked why 1/5 of Americans can't locate America on a map. The answer to that is they probably have IQ levels around the same as this dummy trying to answer the question. The Today show didn't even have the guts to show the video again. Too bad because it was much more entertaining than listening to her trying to defend herself. She said she was shocked by the question. Yeah, that's a real tough one. They gave her a chance to answer the question after she'd been coached and memorized her answer. Who cares about that? You look stupid on TV you shouldn't get a chance to answer the question after you've already bungled it. Who does she think she is? George W. Bush?
Today's Style featured Must-Haves For Fall. Galina Espinoza from People Magazine told everyone what they need to buy such as Fuscia shoes or bags and Luxe Jewels. You need one bold statement to go with your more subtle pieces. She also showed some Oxfords for women, full blouses and belted dresses. You can see those and the rest in the fall issue of Style Watch.
Next up was another installation in a continuing segment called Vacations From Hell with Today's travel editor, Peter Greenberg. Today's story was about a whole family who got sick on the way to Mexico and instead of turning around and going home, they spent the entire vacation in their hotel room sick. If you're going to be sick, wouldn't it be better to be at home? Not to mention they all got on the plane and barfed into their bags, spreading germs to fellow passengers. I wonder how many other families' vacations were ruined because of their selfishness. Peter Greenberg had some suggestions for a worry-free vacation such as learn the refund policy. That's a pretty important one. Consider extra insurance, especially abroad and bring emergency medications (like Pepto-Bismol?).
Lucky and Flo are DVD Dogs who find illegally pirated DVDs. To Catch A Thief (original title) was the name of this brief show of these trained dogs' talents. According to Dan Glickman, President and CEO of the MPAA, pirating costs the industry around 18 billion. These adorable black labs proved there's nothing dogs can't sniff out once they know what they're looking for. Or should I say sniffing for? Dogs are always trying to please humans. We should be grateful for their love and help. Michael Vick and anyone involved with dog fighting should be forced into a fight to the death with Mike Tyson for being so cruel and heartless toward man's best friend. Yes, I am a dog lover, as if you didn't know already. You can see pictures of my bulldog and Boston terrier at http://cafepress.com/karmicbulldog.
And that's a wrap. Till tomorrow.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Monday, August 27, 2007
Monday on Today 8/27
Today's Money: How To Live The Good Life - Get Rich Quick. Don't get too excited by the title because it's a misnomer. It should have been called How To Get Rich Gradually. Unless you win the lottery, you're not going to get rich quick. Today's money experts had some suggestions for living large on less. The first thing to do, according to Money Magazine's Donna Rosato, is write down where your money is going. Others were: hit sample sales, buy one expensive item and inexpensive trendier pieces. For a chic home, design with accessories and paint. Jet set travel: go off season, especially beach vacations. Do home swaps or rent an apartment or villa since hotel costs are so high. Trick yourself into saving by using a 401k and an online savings bank. And stop throwing money away on stuff like Starbucks cappuccino--help the environment too by not stocking up landfills with paper and styrofoam cups. If you only use 10 out of 300 channels, get rid of your cable--it's such a waste. Too bad cable companies don't let you choose what channels to pay for. So make them pay, by dropping their service. Maybe then they'll get the message. And finally, if you only use your cell phone, drop your land line.
Today's Classroom had Back To School Cool. They showed some new products like a new age water bottle that's better than plastic and fits in the backpack. Speaking of backpacks, get a messenger bag like they showed there or visit my store at http://cafepress.com/karmicbulldog and find some there with an adorable bulldog on them--much better than a boring old backpack. They also showed some sports backpacks that store gear. You can get some notebooks with skull and crossbones at Office Max--if your kids are into that. Then they showed some stuff like a sound binder for $30 that has a speaker for an ipod, a USB drive that fits on a key chain, an MP3 study board with an ipod plug, and a locker organizer for $49. I'm sure the money experts from the previous segment would frown on spending so much on all these gadgets. Are they really necessary?
George Lopez paid a visit to the plaza promoting his movie "The Underground World Of Ping Pong." It's a spoof. It opens on Wednesday.
Also stopping by the plaza this morning was newly crowned Miss Teen USA, Hilary Carol Cruz from Colorado.
Moving on to more substantial topics, Ann Curry interviewed Kris Carr, author of "Crazy, Sexy Cancer Tips." Kris Carr is a cancer survivor who documented her cancer treatment and found her life. She was diagnosed with a rare vascular cancer at age 31. It was a catalyst for her and changed her life. There are 77 tips in her book for other cancer survivors but she listed a few here: breathe, create your cancer posse (your support network), shop around for a doctor and create boundaries. She ended up marrying her book editor. I guess he liked the book.
Let's Get Physical: Fitness Toys For Kids. This featured a bunch of toys to get your kids off the couch and into shape like a giant bubble maker so kids (and dogs) can chase the bubbles, carpet skates--just what they say and look like a lot of fun, a Fisher Price exercise bike, exercise video games, The Plasma Car and a few more. The baseball video game looked fun too because your kid is actually swinging at a ball and playing the game. Just another way for parents to spend more money on toys their kids will get bored with after a few months--if you're lucky enough to get that much use out of them.
And that's a wrap. Till tomorrow.
Today's Classroom had Back To School Cool. They showed some new products like a new age water bottle that's better than plastic and fits in the backpack. Speaking of backpacks, get a messenger bag like they showed there or visit my store at http://cafepress.com/karmicbulldog and find some there with an adorable bulldog on them--much better than a boring old backpack. They also showed some sports backpacks that store gear. You can get some notebooks with skull and crossbones at Office Max--if your kids are into that. Then they showed some stuff like a sound binder for $30 that has a speaker for an ipod, a USB drive that fits on a key chain, an MP3 study board with an ipod plug, and a locker organizer for $49. I'm sure the money experts from the previous segment would frown on spending so much on all these gadgets. Are they really necessary?
George Lopez paid a visit to the plaza promoting his movie "The Underground World Of Ping Pong." It's a spoof. It opens on Wednesday.
Also stopping by the plaza this morning was newly crowned Miss Teen USA, Hilary Carol Cruz from Colorado.
Moving on to more substantial topics, Ann Curry interviewed Kris Carr, author of "Crazy, Sexy Cancer Tips." Kris Carr is a cancer survivor who documented her cancer treatment and found her life. She was diagnosed with a rare vascular cancer at age 31. It was a catalyst for her and changed her life. There are 77 tips in her book for other cancer survivors but she listed a few here: breathe, create your cancer posse (your support network), shop around for a doctor and create boundaries. She ended up marrying her book editor. I guess he liked the book.
Let's Get Physical: Fitness Toys For Kids. This featured a bunch of toys to get your kids off the couch and into shape like a giant bubble maker so kids (and dogs) can chase the bubbles, carpet skates--just what they say and look like a lot of fun, a Fisher Price exercise bike, exercise video games, The Plasma Car and a few more. The baseball video game looked fun too because your kid is actually swinging at a ball and playing the game. Just another way for parents to spend more money on toys their kids will get bored with after a few months--if you're lucky enough to get that much use out of them.
And that's a wrap. Till tomorrow.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Friday on Today 8/24
Not a lot of useful information on the show today but here it is.
Today's Money: Does Money Buy You Friends? Yes. But those aren't the kinds of friends you want. Vera Gibbons from CNBC and clinical psychologist, Barbara Melamed, were the guests today taking viewer e-mail questions about problems with friends and money. The best advice: If you have money, don't buy people. If you don't, don't take advantage of those who do. That's basically what this segment boiled down to.
Al's Book Club For Kids discussed "Bud, Not Buddy" by Christopher Paul Curtis. It's about a kid growing up in depression era Michigan. Bud is named after the author's uncle. Mr. Curtis discussed his book with some kids. And as Al pointed out, kids do better in school when they read books over the summer. The book club is also continuing through the school year and the next book in the series is "The Golden Compass" by Philip Pullman. So get the book for your kids so they can participate. You can use my Amazon search box to find it.
Volleyball star Gabby Reece was out on the plaza this morning promoting her new job as spokesperson for Athlete, The New Voice For Women In Sports. It's about getting young women motivated to participate in sports.
The next story was called Frozen Football Field: New Station At The Top Of The World. Cathy Parker, wife of a football coach, coordinated a project to bring football to a school in a small town in Alaska called Barrow. Its mostly Eskimo population has a high drop-out rate and a lot of drug and alcohol use among teens. Kids don't have a lot of opportunities so getting a football field up there is something appreciated by the kids and all the teachers at the school. She is today's hero.
Martina McBride was Today's Summer Concert Series performer and played one last song before the end of the show.
More highlights from the America The Beautiful series ended the show.
And that's a wrap. Have a great weekend.
Today's Money: Does Money Buy You Friends? Yes. But those aren't the kinds of friends you want. Vera Gibbons from CNBC and clinical psychologist, Barbara Melamed, were the guests today taking viewer e-mail questions about problems with friends and money. The best advice: If you have money, don't buy people. If you don't, don't take advantage of those who do. That's basically what this segment boiled down to.
Al's Book Club For Kids discussed "Bud, Not Buddy" by Christopher Paul Curtis. It's about a kid growing up in depression era Michigan. Bud is named after the author's uncle. Mr. Curtis discussed his book with some kids. And as Al pointed out, kids do better in school when they read books over the summer. The book club is also continuing through the school year and the next book in the series is "The Golden Compass" by Philip Pullman. So get the book for your kids so they can participate. You can use my Amazon search box to find it.
Volleyball star Gabby Reece was out on the plaza this morning promoting her new job as spokesperson for Athlete, The New Voice For Women In Sports. It's about getting young women motivated to participate in sports.
The next story was called Frozen Football Field: New Station At The Top Of The World. Cathy Parker, wife of a football coach, coordinated a project to bring football to a school in a small town in Alaska called Barrow. Its mostly Eskimo population has a high drop-out rate and a lot of drug and alcohol use among teens. Kids don't have a lot of opportunities so getting a football field up there is something appreciated by the kids and all the teachers at the school. She is today's hero.
Martina McBride was Today's Summer Concert Series performer and played one last song before the end of the show.
More highlights from the America The Beautiful series ended the show.
And that's a wrap. Have a great weekend.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Thursday on Today 8/23
Today's Style featured Bobby's Beauty Bag with Bobbie Thomas. Four Ways To Stay Smooth: Removing Unwanted Hair. Laser removal is the most permanent and least painful (at least that's what they say) way to get rid of unwanted hair but it's also the most expensive at $200-$700 a treatment and you need about seven. I think I'll hang on to my razor for now. Then there's waxing--probably the most painful hair remover. But you can ask for a numbing cream. I think you'd need general anesthesia to numb that kind of pain. You can also learn to use wax at home if you can stand the pain with waxworks which is available at http://completelybare.com/. For die hard shavers like me, you can go to http://whishbody.com/ to get some type of men's shave kits. You can use a depilatory or cream that you just spread on and rinse off in the shower. My problem with those is you have to wait around for them to work before you rinse. I don't have the patience for that. And then there are those new products like Veet that use heat to destroy hair follicles over time. I've never tried those so I don't know if they work.
Today's Money: Splurge vs. Steal At Home. Jean Chatzky showed us what to spend on and what to save on starting in the kitchen with the microwave, which you can save on. No need to spend more than $60. You should splurge on a pepper mill--who knew? I don't even own one. Knives are also something you should splurge on, according to Jean, because they'll last longer. You can save on a food processor like one from Hamilton Beach for $50. Moving on to the living room; splurge on a couch. You shouldn't be able to lift it--that makes cleaning tough. Not to mention rearranging the furniture. You can save on a coffee table. Splurge on flowers. No supermarket shopping for those. Save on a stationary bike but splurge on a treadmill. Save on a headboard but splurge on a mattress and sheets too. That's Jean Chatzky's advice. Take it or leave it.
It's been a long time since I've seen The Critic's Corner. I wonder what Gene Shallot does with his time when he's not reviewing movies. Today he gave a good review of the British farce, "Death At A Funeral." This is my type of film and looks hilarious. Frank Oz, who's directed everything from all the Muppets movies to "Bowfinger" and "Housesitter" gives us a comedy to die for--Gene's words, not mine. And as he says, the first three letters in funeral are f-u-n.
There were some problems with the weather today and I'm not talking about the flooding in Findlay Ohio. Al's fill-in, doing the weather from there, got cut off for my local weather, then my local weather got cut off for a weather map of the entire country and no dialogue. This happens from time to time but it looks like both sides screwed this one up.
It's been ten years since Princess Diana's untimely death and newspaper editors in Britain are finally admitting some guilt over the paparazzi's role in her death. If they hadn't been chasing her, the car probably wouldn't have been speeding and there'd probably have been no accident. Too little, too late. But at least they're showing some humanity in admitting their fault.
Today's Home featured Lou Manfredini showing Quick Fixes Around The House. Five Common Problems, starting with the toilet--poor flushing due to clogged ports. Those are the holes under the rim. Just use a stiff brush and a calcium remover. From there it gets tougher. I'm just going to write down what was listed--I really can't describe any more than that. Raise flapper to stop a leaky toilet. A new flapper costs about $6. For a sticky door, use 3" wood screw to realign the door. Use a self adhesive metal wall kit for holes in the walls to patch them up. He made that look a lot easier than I'm sure it really is. He also showed a way to use a bowl over a carpet stain and then tack the unclean carpet. I have no idea what he means and my two year-old won out over the TV, so I couldn't hear much. The last tip was to use #0000 steal wool on wood tables. Maybe to get rid of scratches. Most of this stuff looked to me like it should be handled by a professional, but visit the Today website if you're brave enough to try any of these.
Today's Fitness was about Yoga For Mommy And Me. Take a class if you can find one but there are plenty of videos you can try at home. Gurmukh is a yogi whom they spoke with about the benefits of yoga. I have a couple of her videos, The Method prenatal yoga and The Method Postnatal Baby and Me for mamma and baby. They're great and I highly recommend this as a way to get back into shape and relax with your baby.
And That's a wrap. Till tomorrow.
Today's Money: Splurge vs. Steal At Home. Jean Chatzky showed us what to spend on and what to save on starting in the kitchen with the microwave, which you can save on. No need to spend more than $60. You should splurge on a pepper mill--who knew? I don't even own one. Knives are also something you should splurge on, according to Jean, because they'll last longer. You can save on a food processor like one from Hamilton Beach for $50. Moving on to the living room; splurge on a couch. You shouldn't be able to lift it--that makes cleaning tough. Not to mention rearranging the furniture. You can save on a coffee table. Splurge on flowers. No supermarket shopping for those. Save on a stationary bike but splurge on a treadmill. Save on a headboard but splurge on a mattress and sheets too. That's Jean Chatzky's advice. Take it or leave it.
It's been a long time since I've seen The Critic's Corner. I wonder what Gene Shallot does with his time when he's not reviewing movies. Today he gave a good review of the British farce, "Death At A Funeral." This is my type of film and looks hilarious. Frank Oz, who's directed everything from all the Muppets movies to "Bowfinger" and "Housesitter" gives us a comedy to die for--Gene's words, not mine. And as he says, the first three letters in funeral are f-u-n.
There were some problems with the weather today and I'm not talking about the flooding in Findlay Ohio. Al's fill-in, doing the weather from there, got cut off for my local weather, then my local weather got cut off for a weather map of the entire country and no dialogue. This happens from time to time but it looks like both sides screwed this one up.
It's been ten years since Princess Diana's untimely death and newspaper editors in Britain are finally admitting some guilt over the paparazzi's role in her death. If they hadn't been chasing her, the car probably wouldn't have been speeding and there'd probably have been no accident. Too little, too late. But at least they're showing some humanity in admitting their fault.
Today's Home featured Lou Manfredini showing Quick Fixes Around The House. Five Common Problems, starting with the toilet--poor flushing due to clogged ports. Those are the holes under the rim. Just use a stiff brush and a calcium remover. From there it gets tougher. I'm just going to write down what was listed--I really can't describe any more than that. Raise flapper to stop a leaky toilet. A new flapper costs about $6. For a sticky door, use 3" wood screw to realign the door. Use a self adhesive metal wall kit for holes in the walls to patch them up. He made that look a lot easier than I'm sure it really is. He also showed a way to use a bowl over a carpet stain and then tack the unclean carpet. I have no idea what he means and my two year-old won out over the TV, so I couldn't hear much. The last tip was to use #0000 steal wool on wood tables. Maybe to get rid of scratches. Most of this stuff looked to me like it should be handled by a professional, but visit the Today website if you're brave enough to try any of these.
Today's Fitness was about Yoga For Mommy And Me. Take a class if you can find one but there are plenty of videos you can try at home. Gurmukh is a yogi whom they spoke with about the benefits of yoga. I have a couple of her videos, The Method prenatal yoga and The Method Postnatal Baby and Me for mamma and baby. They're great and I highly recommend this as a way to get back into shape and relax with your baby.
And That's a wrap. Till tomorrow.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Wednesday on Today 8/22
Today's Classroom: Sending Your Child To College. Parents sometimes have a hard time facing the reality of their kids leaving home. They're not just entering college but they're leaving your house. Michele Borba from iVillage gave some advice for parents such as, be prepared. It's a very emotional time so you should say your good-byes before you leave home. You don't want to lose it and start bawling while you're kid's getting out of the car. Be sure to have a financial talk and one about drinking--especially binge drinking. Once on campus, follow your child's lead and locate essential places. Here Michele almost had Natalie Morales and myself in tears with these next bits of advice: Parting words--think about what to say in advance. Give one last look--you won't see him/her for a while. And it's okay to shed a tear. Once back home don't go and change the bedroom around. They will be back during breaks. One last saying from a Navajo proverb: "We raise our kids to leave us."
Ann Curry interviewed Brad Pitt in New Orleans. One-On-One with Brad Pitt. Why couldn't that be my job? Brad is in New Orleans as an advocate for environmental concerns and affordable housing. He says Hurricane Katrina was a man-made disaster, not a natural one, and the government has a responsiblility to make it right. Amen to that. But don't look to this administration to make anything right. They specialize in making things worse. On the bright side, I don't think it's possible to get a worse president than we have now.
Well, the American people have spoken and the winning couple is Cody and Jessica. They are the lucky couple who will get married on natioinal TV with Today Throws A Martha Stewart Wedding. Darcy Miller was there with the happy soon-to-be-weds in a segment about Wedding Gift Registry Ideas. The best advice: Register at at least one department store and online so out of town guests can easily shop. Another idea for an original wedding gift was a cake stand with recipes on it from Macy's. For the sports minded, golf lessons (for the spouse) and personalized golf balls for the golf enthusiast were suggested. I know a couple whose marriage ended because the wife gave the husband an ultimatum and he chose golf. He was an addict. Luckily my husband hasn't tried golf. The wine of the month club, wine glasses and monogrammed leather coasters were other ideas. Also for the couple who has everything--donate to charity. You can choose anyone from the ASPCA to the Arbor Day Foundation. This is a great idea. How many wine glasses and leather coasters does anybody need? Put the money to a good cause.
Today's Kitchen was All About Okra. Scott Peacock from Watershed Restaurant showed different okra recipes, such as fritters battered and fried--those looked delicious. He also roasted some with veggies. Corn, bacon and okra was the last dish featured. For those and other recipes, visit the Today show website.
R&B singer, songwriter, Ne-Yo, was in the studio for a quick interview and a song. He ended the show with "Because Of You," from the CD of the same name. I love that song.
And that's a wrap. Till tomorrow.
Ann Curry interviewed Brad Pitt in New Orleans. One-On-One with Brad Pitt. Why couldn't that be my job? Brad is in New Orleans as an advocate for environmental concerns and affordable housing. He says Hurricane Katrina was a man-made disaster, not a natural one, and the government has a responsiblility to make it right. Amen to that. But don't look to this administration to make anything right. They specialize in making things worse. On the bright side, I don't think it's possible to get a worse president than we have now.
Well, the American people have spoken and the winning couple is Cody and Jessica. They are the lucky couple who will get married on natioinal TV with Today Throws A Martha Stewart Wedding. Darcy Miller was there with the happy soon-to-be-weds in a segment about Wedding Gift Registry Ideas. The best advice: Register at at least one department store and online so out of town guests can easily shop. Another idea for an original wedding gift was a cake stand with recipes on it from Macy's. For the sports minded, golf lessons (for the spouse) and personalized golf balls for the golf enthusiast were suggested. I know a couple whose marriage ended because the wife gave the husband an ultimatum and he chose golf. He was an addict. Luckily my husband hasn't tried golf. The wine of the month club, wine glasses and monogrammed leather coasters were other ideas. Also for the couple who has everything--donate to charity. You can choose anyone from the ASPCA to the Arbor Day Foundation. This is a great idea. How many wine glasses and leather coasters does anybody need? Put the money to a good cause.
Today's Kitchen was All About Okra. Scott Peacock from Watershed Restaurant showed different okra recipes, such as fritters battered and fried--those looked delicious. He also roasted some with veggies. Corn, bacon and okra was the last dish featured. For those and other recipes, visit the Today show website.
R&B singer, songwriter, Ne-Yo, was in the studio for a quick interview and a song. He ended the show with "Because Of You," from the CD of the same name. I love that song.
And that's a wrap. Till tomorrow.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Tuesday on Today 8/21
Al Roker was doing the weather today from Chetumal, Mexico as the hurricane was bringing down rain and kicking up the wind. Maybe he'll get blown off his feet again like he did last year.
Separation Anxiety: Getting Over Divorce. Did you ever hear of a divorce financial analyst? I didn't until this segment with Stacy Francis who is one of the aforementioned analysts, and psychologist, Debra Mandel, author of "Dump That Chump!" Catchy title. They both shared advice for women going through a divorce. And the number one word of advice is also today's page from the book of the obvious: create a budget. Seems every segment gives that same piece of advice. The average divorced woman will see her standard of living decrease by 45%. Other advice was to take time to heal. If you're still carrying around resentment toward your ex, you're not ready to start dating again. Protect yourself financially and think about getting your own health insurance. You can stay on your ex-husband's insurance for about 36 months but it may be cheaper to get your own. I don't know how that works when kids are involved because they didn't mention it.
In Style Today was about being Sexy In The City For Fall. Key Fall Trends. In LA the key fall trend is skinny jeans. This model had on a belted cardigan over her skinny jeans and was probably the best dressed of all of them. The Dallas must have are dresses in bold colors. The model wore a mustard yellow dress that looked like something my mother might have worn when she was pregnant. Certainly not anything I would be wearing out in public. The Chicago model had on men's wear inspired trousers and the one from Miami wore a tiny micro skirt and bold patterned top with hideous shoes that looked like shoe string licorice tied around her feet and ankles. Obviously the hooker look is in for Miami. The New York look was much more civilized with silver bodice suit. Metallics are in for New York. The one key trend all the models had was a clutch--a must have for Fall.
With the next weather update, Al lost his video and had to report with audio only but they showed some earlier footage of some of the extensive storm damage.
Today's Travel had Philip Levine, Cruise Expert (is there anything you can't be an expert in these days?), showing us Excitement At Sea. Today's cruises are no longer about shuffle board. There's lots to do and they are very active. Royal Carribean's Freedom Of The Seas line has a rock-climbing wall and surfing among other attractions. Cunard Cruise Line is the owner of the Queen Elizabeth II where you can bring your dog--wow! That's something I would consider for that reason alone. Sea Dream Yacht Club has a more intimate atmosphere for a little more money than a regular cruise. Princess Cruises feature movies under the stars--like a drive-in except on a ship deck. Norweigan Cruises have bowling at sea. Crystal Cruises have wine lessons in a private vintage room--sounds like fun. A cruise has not really been on my list of things to do, but after seeing this I may just book one. Especially if I can bring my dogs. Hope they don't get seasick. But they made it on the Block Island ferry without a problem, so they should be all set. To see pictures of my Boston and Bulldog go to http://cafepress.com/karmicbulldog.
Good News For Parents: New Youth Happiness Poll by MTV finds the top answer to the question of what makes youths happy is spending time with their parents. The kids were probably lying. That certainly wouldn't have been my honest answer when I was a teenager. According to the poll, 64% of teens with parents still together wake up happy verses 47% who's parents are divorced. Most kids say their parents are their idols, with the highest percentage going to mom. This is good news if you can trust the source.
Today's Kitchen featured The Scottos visit to Italy. Apparently, this is part two and I didn't see part one. But this family went to Italy and brought back some good Italian recipes from Venice. Like potato gnocchi, calamari with some black stuff--not sure what that was--and some branzino (sea bass) with sauce topped with capers. Dessert was a delicious looking tiramisu. I love that stuff.
And that's a wrap. Till tomorrow.
Separation Anxiety: Getting Over Divorce. Did you ever hear of a divorce financial analyst? I didn't until this segment with Stacy Francis who is one of the aforementioned analysts, and psychologist, Debra Mandel, author of "Dump That Chump!" Catchy title. They both shared advice for women going through a divorce. And the number one word of advice is also today's page from the book of the obvious: create a budget. Seems every segment gives that same piece of advice. The average divorced woman will see her standard of living decrease by 45%. Other advice was to take time to heal. If you're still carrying around resentment toward your ex, you're not ready to start dating again. Protect yourself financially and think about getting your own health insurance. You can stay on your ex-husband's insurance for about 36 months but it may be cheaper to get your own. I don't know how that works when kids are involved because they didn't mention it.
In Style Today was about being Sexy In The City For Fall. Key Fall Trends. In LA the key fall trend is skinny jeans. This model had on a belted cardigan over her skinny jeans and was probably the best dressed of all of them. The Dallas must have are dresses in bold colors. The model wore a mustard yellow dress that looked like something my mother might have worn when she was pregnant. Certainly not anything I would be wearing out in public. The Chicago model had on men's wear inspired trousers and the one from Miami wore a tiny micro skirt and bold patterned top with hideous shoes that looked like shoe string licorice tied around her feet and ankles. Obviously the hooker look is in for Miami. The New York look was much more civilized with silver bodice suit. Metallics are in for New York. The one key trend all the models had was a clutch--a must have for Fall.
With the next weather update, Al lost his video and had to report with audio only but they showed some earlier footage of some of the extensive storm damage.
Today's Travel had Philip Levine, Cruise Expert (is there anything you can't be an expert in these days?), showing us Excitement At Sea. Today's cruises are no longer about shuffle board. There's lots to do and they are very active. Royal Carribean's Freedom Of The Seas line has a rock-climbing wall and surfing among other attractions. Cunard Cruise Line is the owner of the Queen Elizabeth II where you can bring your dog--wow! That's something I would consider for that reason alone. Sea Dream Yacht Club has a more intimate atmosphere for a little more money than a regular cruise. Princess Cruises feature movies under the stars--like a drive-in except on a ship deck. Norweigan Cruises have bowling at sea. Crystal Cruises have wine lessons in a private vintage room--sounds like fun. A cruise has not really been on my list of things to do, but after seeing this I may just book one. Especially if I can bring my dogs. Hope they don't get seasick. But they made it on the Block Island ferry without a problem, so they should be all set. To see pictures of my Boston and Bulldog go to http://cafepress.com/karmicbulldog.
Good News For Parents: New Youth Happiness Poll by MTV finds the top answer to the question of what makes youths happy is spending time with their parents. The kids were probably lying. That certainly wouldn't have been my honest answer when I was a teenager. According to the poll, 64% of teens with parents still together wake up happy verses 47% who's parents are divorced. Most kids say their parents are their idols, with the highest percentage going to mom. This is good news if you can trust the source.
Today's Kitchen featured The Scottos visit to Italy. Apparently, this is part two and I didn't see part one. But this family went to Italy and brought back some good Italian recipes from Venice. Like potato gnocchi, calamari with some black stuff--not sure what that was--and some branzino (sea bass) with sauce topped with capers. Dessert was a delicious looking tiramisu. I love that stuff.
And that's a wrap. Till tomorrow.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Monday on Today 8/20
Hope you had a good weekend. It was a good weekend for the movie "Super Bad," which was number 1 at the box office even though it received less than stellar reviews--one out of five stars in my local paper. It looks about as funny as a bad case of acne. Number 2 was last week's number 1, "Rush Hour 3," followed by "The Bourne Ultimatum" at number 3.
Al Roker was at the National Hurricane Center today tracking hurricane Dean but still doing the weather around the country and sending it back to your local news station for a check of your local weather.
Fighting The Good Fight: What Should You Be Arguing About? That was the question about fighting with your spouse. Dave Zinczenko, Editor In Chief of Men's Health Magazine and Psychiatrist, Dr. Jane Taylor, gave advice for fighting fair such as saying "I feel...when you..." instead of saying "You always..." You never..." You get the idea. Avoid zingers and sarcasm which leads to nastiness and divorce. They also suggested topics you should talk about with your partner such as sex, how to raise the kids, retirement, extended family, the relationship and adult kids. Don't wait until a problem arises. These are things that should be discussed openly.
Glamour Executive Fashion Editor, Suze Yatof Schwartz showed us Best In Beauty Products. The Glammy Awards were chosen by regular consumers who use and like these products. In most cases, they chose an expensive product and a cheaper counterpart. For everyday moisturizers they chose Olay Complete All Day and a Clinique equivalent. Personally, I don't know why you'd spend the extra money on Clinique when Olay is cheaper and just as effective. But some people like the prestige associated with expensive products. They also liked Olay Regenerist along with an expensive alternative, which I didn't catch. I pay attention to the beauty bargains. Great Lash Mascara at $6.50 was a top pick along with Lancome which will run you $28. Again, you make the call. They also had some lip gloss but I missed the brands--sorry. Covergirl blush was a hit along with Bare Minerals. Bare Minerals foundation was chosen as well as Loreal True Match. Jergens Natural Glow lotion is great--I love it. You can also spend more on Clarins if you want. Britney Spears Curious was picked for fragrance as was Victoria's Secret Dream Angels. St. Ives Apricot Scrub is a must have--another one of my favorites, as was the more expensive Bath and Body Works Vanilla something or other. The Matrix Sleek Look was on the list for a shine enhancing shampoo along with John Frieda Brilliant Brunette--they didn't mention the products for blondes and redheads. For frizz tamers, they chose Biosilk and John Frieda.
Matt Lauer interviewed a couple rescued from flood waters in Kingfisher, OK. Leroy and Bernice Krittenbrink, an elderly couple, were stranded on the cab of their truck and then moved to the bed until that also started filling up with water. They almost ran out of room--and luck before a helicopter saved them. But not before Bernice fell off the helicopter skid and back into the water. The rescuers were able to get her back up and now the couple are doing fine. Bernice even got her hair done before her national TV debut.
Today's Woman featured: How To Raise Confident Daughters. Susan Johnson and Kimberly Webb are the authors of the book, "Princess Bubble" which teaches girls that you don't need to be rescued by some prince or knight in shining armor. We all grew up on those fairy tales featuring the damsel in distress. Well this book lets girls know that they're in charge--not to wait around for some man to help them. Sounds like a great book and I'll get it for my daughter when she's old enough to understand it--now she's only two. Michele Borba, iVillage Contributor, advised us to talk to our daughters and set a positive example. To instill confidence, be confident yourself. Other suggestions were: stay connected, foster her strengths and passions and find good role models. It can be anyone as long she is strong and inspiring with the right values to instill in your daughters.
Today's iVillage Back To School showed Dinner ABCs. Madelyn Fernstrom showed different unconventional ideas for a healthy dinner when you're short on time such as a bowl of cereal. Why not? It's fast, easy and healthy too. Plus, my kids actually like it which is an accomplishment in itself. Make a sandwich with lettuce and tomato on whole wheat bread and you have a balanced meal in minutes. Tomato soup with a glass of milk is perfect for a cold night. Or have a salad with whole grain rolls. Now these are my kinds of meals--no cooking involved. She suggested to keep your fridge stocked with healthy foods like veggies and fruits. That makes it easy to have a healthy dinner in minutes.
And that's a wrap. Till tomorrow.
Al Roker was at the National Hurricane Center today tracking hurricane Dean but still doing the weather around the country and sending it back to your local news station for a check of your local weather.
Fighting The Good Fight: What Should You Be Arguing About? That was the question about fighting with your spouse. Dave Zinczenko, Editor In Chief of Men's Health Magazine and Psychiatrist, Dr. Jane Taylor, gave advice for fighting fair such as saying "I feel...when you..." instead of saying "You always..." You never..." You get the idea. Avoid zingers and sarcasm which leads to nastiness and divorce. They also suggested topics you should talk about with your partner such as sex, how to raise the kids, retirement, extended family, the relationship and adult kids. Don't wait until a problem arises. These are things that should be discussed openly.
Glamour Executive Fashion Editor, Suze Yatof Schwartz showed us Best In Beauty Products. The Glammy Awards were chosen by regular consumers who use and like these products. In most cases, they chose an expensive product and a cheaper counterpart. For everyday moisturizers they chose Olay Complete All Day and a Clinique equivalent. Personally, I don't know why you'd spend the extra money on Clinique when Olay is cheaper and just as effective. But some people like the prestige associated with expensive products. They also liked Olay Regenerist along with an expensive alternative, which I didn't catch. I pay attention to the beauty bargains. Great Lash Mascara at $6.50 was a top pick along with Lancome which will run you $28. Again, you make the call. They also had some lip gloss but I missed the brands--sorry. Covergirl blush was a hit along with Bare Minerals. Bare Minerals foundation was chosen as well as Loreal True Match. Jergens Natural Glow lotion is great--I love it. You can also spend more on Clarins if you want. Britney Spears Curious was picked for fragrance as was Victoria's Secret Dream Angels. St. Ives Apricot Scrub is a must have--another one of my favorites, as was the more expensive Bath and Body Works Vanilla something or other. The Matrix Sleek Look was on the list for a shine enhancing shampoo along with John Frieda Brilliant Brunette--they didn't mention the products for blondes and redheads. For frizz tamers, they chose Biosilk and John Frieda.
Matt Lauer interviewed a couple rescued from flood waters in Kingfisher, OK. Leroy and Bernice Krittenbrink, an elderly couple, were stranded on the cab of their truck and then moved to the bed until that also started filling up with water. They almost ran out of room--and luck before a helicopter saved them. But not before Bernice fell off the helicopter skid and back into the water. The rescuers were able to get her back up and now the couple are doing fine. Bernice even got her hair done before her national TV debut.
Today's Woman featured: How To Raise Confident Daughters. Susan Johnson and Kimberly Webb are the authors of the book, "Princess Bubble" which teaches girls that you don't need to be rescued by some prince or knight in shining armor. We all grew up on those fairy tales featuring the damsel in distress. Well this book lets girls know that they're in charge--not to wait around for some man to help them. Sounds like a great book and I'll get it for my daughter when she's old enough to understand it--now she's only two. Michele Borba, iVillage Contributor, advised us to talk to our daughters and set a positive example. To instill confidence, be confident yourself. Other suggestions were: stay connected, foster her strengths and passions and find good role models. It can be anyone as long she is strong and inspiring with the right values to instill in your daughters.
Today's iVillage Back To School showed Dinner ABCs. Madelyn Fernstrom showed different unconventional ideas for a healthy dinner when you're short on time such as a bowl of cereal. Why not? It's fast, easy and healthy too. Plus, my kids actually like it which is an accomplishment in itself. Make a sandwich with lettuce and tomato on whole wheat bread and you have a balanced meal in minutes. Tomato soup with a glass of milk is perfect for a cold night. Or have a salad with whole grain rolls. Now these are my kinds of meals--no cooking involved. She suggested to keep your fridge stocked with healthy foods like veggies and fruits. That makes it easy to have a healthy dinner in minutes.
And that's a wrap. Till tomorrow.
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