Dyslexia and "Dogs"

In our "Book Nook" segment today, I spoke with Nelson Lauver, a syndicated broadcaster, writer, speaker, humorist, award-winning narrator and advocate. His memoir: "MOST UNLIKELY TO SUCCEED: THE TRIALS, TRAVELS AND ULTIMATE TRIUMPHS OF A 'THROWAY' KID" is a facinating read. Nelson was a bright, young boy with undiagnoased dyslexia and he blends humor, story telling, irony and raw emotion as he shares his account of his learning disability and how he overcame it. His book will touch the lives of parents, grandparents, educators at all levels, and individuals who may have a learning disability or have had difficulties in shcool-and it will also resonate with anyone who works with or cares for children. Because he was undiagnosed, he learned to be the "bad kid" and acted out in class in the hopes that the teacher would pass him into the next grade in order to get him out of their classroom. By the time he graduated (104th out of 104 students), he could only read and function at a second grade level. In spite of the emotional and physical abuse, he perserved and today is a highly regarded speaker. His book a very powerful and inspite of all the tragic abuse, it resonates with the power of hope and how it can make all the difference. You might be able to catch his four-minute slice of the American experience "The American Storyteller Radio Journal"-featured on many radio stations across the country. Or check out his website at http://www.americanstoryteller.com/.

It is also Hot Dog Day! And the weather is warming up. A good day for a ballpark hotdog (although the Brewers don't play until tomorrow-and they're at Cinncinnati, so I guess it will have to be a DQ hotdog! We posted this question on facebook: What condiments do like on your hot dog? Ketchup and Onions are MY choice!

Longevity and Lent

What do these two things have in common?

We interviewed Dr. Howard Friedman, a health psychologist, who co-authored the facinating book, "THE LONGEVITY PROJECT: SUPRISING DISCOVERIES FOR HEALTH AND LONG LIFE FROM THE LANDMARK EIGHT-DECADE STUDY". Along with Dr. Leslie Martin, they compiled a truly remarkable collection of insights into why some of us are blessed with long lives while others falter. The book looks at thousands of pieces of information, the files of over 1500 participants in a study that began back in the early 1930's and has spanned over eight decades.

Told in an easy to read, easy to understand format, there are many facets (personality traits, relationships, experiences and career paths) that give us a good understanding of how the doctors compiled their results. Dr. Friedman says they became known as the "Myth Busters" because so many of things we've been taught about how to live a long life, turned out not to be true. You'll find lots of great information, as well as quizzes YOU can take to get a sense of your own longevity trajection. Dr. Friedman says the best advice he can give is to throw out all your lists. Develop patterns according to your own personality that lead to healthy living and associate with others who lead healthy lifestyles. Quite a fascinating study...

You can become a "friend" on facebook or check out his website at http://www.howardsfriedman.com/

We also were looking for some good recipes for making tilapia- a mildly flavored fish. If you are looking for some good (and easy) Lenten recipes see below:

Garlic Alfredo Tilapia
4 tilapia fillets
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 Tbsp. Creole seasoning, or to taste
3 Tbsp. butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 c. Alfredo sauce
Preheat oven to 425°. Brush tilapia fillets with oil on both sides, season with Creole seasoning to taste, then place into 9x13” baking dish. Bake until flesh is no longer translucent, and fish flakes easily with fork, about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, melt butter in small saucepan over medium heat. Stir in garlic, cook until it’s softened and aroma has mellowed, about 2 minutes. Stir in Alfredo sauce and bring to simmer. Reduce heat to LOW and keep warm until fish is ready. Pour sauce over fish to serve. Sprinkle with additional Creole seasoning if desired.

Hudson’s Baked Tilapia
4 (4 oz.) fillets tilapia
Salt & pepper to taste
1 Tbsp. Cajun seasoning, or to taste
1 lemon, thinly sliced
¼ c. mayonnaise
½ c. sour cream
1/8 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. fresh lemon juice
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh dill
Preheat oven to 350°. Lightly grease a 9x13” baking dish. Season fillets with salt, pepper & Cajun seasoning on both sides. Arrange seasoned fillets in single layer in baking dish. Place layer of lemon slices over fish. (2 per piece, it should cover most of the surface of the fish). Bake, uncovered for 15-20 minutes,or until fish flakes easily with fork. While fish is baking, mix together the mayonnaise, sour cream, garlic powder, lemon juice and dill in small bowl. Serve with tilapia.

Crab Salad
2 ½ c. cooked shell macaroni
¼ c. chopped onion
½ c. chopped celery
1 pkg. crabmeat, cut into chunks
1 c. mayonnaise or salad dressing
¼ c. sugar
1 Tbsp. vinegar
3 Tbsp. sour cream
In large bowl, combine macaroni, onion, celery & crabmeat. In separate bowl, combine mayonnaise, sugar, vinegar, sour cream. Pour over macaroni mixture and stir until well combined. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Good Grammar and Grandfathers

How's your grammar? You probably know the difference between an adverb and an adjective, but do you know what a "flat" adverb is? What about a "split infinitive"? The English language can get pretty technical, but Grammar Girl keeps everything in perspective and also keeps it fun! Today is National Grammar Day-March Forth (4th) to good grammar. We had a fun interview with Mignon Fogarty, aka: "The Grammar Girl" on the show today. Mignon said that the biggest error most people make is not with grammar itself, but rather with word usage. For instance: we confuse affect with effect and so on. If you want to get more tips and learn more about using good grammar, you can check out Mignon's books, DEV"THE GRAMMAR DEVOTIONAL" and "GRAMMAR GIRL'S QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS FOR BETTER WRITING", or you can check out the website: http://www.nationalgrammarday.com/. (You'll also be able to hear the catchy tune, MARCH FORTH, that Mignon wrote for the occassion-National Grammar Day).


We also had a chance to talk with Erin Bried, author of "HOW TO BUILD A FIRE: AND OTHER HANDY THINGS YOUR GRANDFATHER KNEW", a collection of tips and advice from 10 men (most of whom served in WWII). It's filled with warmth, humor, nostalgia and wisdom and covers their perspective on everything from how to change a tire, tie a tie, build a campfire, be brave, show respect and love and how to apply these things to our lives. Erin showcases each of the ten men who share their grandfatherly wisdom as well as their advice. The chapters cover everything from pioneering, thriving, bonding, cooking, hosting, leading and prospering as well as others. If you never got the chance to ask your grandfather about all the important (as well as unimportant) things in life, you'll want to read this book.
If your grandfather is still living, take time in the next week or so to seek him out and spend some time together. You'll be glad you did!

Fudge and Forgotten Delights

Do you like to do lots of baking for the holidays? Just a few family favorites each year? We shared a couple of fudge recipes on the show today.

A favorite that a listener called in last year is Milky Way fudge, made with Milky Way candy bars. Very YUMMY and very easy!

Milky Way Fudge

3 regular size Milky Way candy bars

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 (12 oz.) pkg. chocolate chips

Place all ingredients in microwave-safe bowl. Melt until smooth. Pour into greased 8x8" glass dish. Chill until firm.

This recipe was also shared on today's program. It would be a festive touch to your holiday dessert platter with the red cranberries...

Cranberry Nut Fudge

1 tsp. butter

1 (16 oz.) can milk chocolate frosting

1 (12 oz.) pkg. milk chocolate chips

1 (6 oz.) pkg. dried cranberries

1/2 c. chopped pecans

LIne an 8" square dish with foil and grease the foil with butter; set aside. In heavy saucepan, combine frosting and chocolate chips. cook and stir over medium low heat until chips are melted. Stir in cranberries and nuts. Pour into prepared pan. Refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours. Using foil, lift fudge out of pan. Discard foil; cut fudge into 1" squares. Store in refrigerator. Yield: 2 pounds.

In the Book Nook segment today we spoke with Lesley M.M. Blume, author of "LET'S BRING BACK-AN ENCYCLOPEDIA OF FORGOTTEN YET DELIGHTFUL, CHIC, USEFUL, CURIOUS AND OTHERWISE COMMENDABLE THINGS FROM TIMES GONE BY". It's a whimsical and beautifully illustrated collection of objects, recipes, words, and even people that she feels should be re-introduced...

As I read through the book, I easily flagged about two dozen things. For instance: door-to-door peddlers (I remember the Fuller Brush Man and the Minnesota Woolen Mills rep who stopped at our house once every six weeks or so). Good Cracker Jack prizes (I liked to collect all the circus train cars). Homely Christmas Trees. (No matter what our tree really looked like, Dad always proclaimed it was "The prettiest tree we ever had!")

There are so many more items that will trigger your memories. A fun read, and a great gift to give or receive.

In the "Book Nook" this week:

Monday, November 15th: Lesley M. M. Blume, "LET'S BRING BACK"-
a whimsical, beautifully illustrated encyclopedia of forgotten yet delightfully, useful, curious and otherwise commendable things from time gone by. As I read the book, I flagged many little bits and pieces that jogged a memory. For instance: poloroid cameras (I remember seeing the picture develop before my eyes and thinking it was MAGIC!), princess phones (I so badly wanted one as a teenager but received a "slim-line" instead), good Cracker Jack prizes (my favorites: the circus wagon cars), bandstands (we had a raised wooden platform, painted green in the city park where I grew up-we gathered there on warm summer evenings to hear local musicians. It was also the place where my sister and I would pretend we were girlfriends of the Beatles and we would haul park benches onto the stage to form our "apartments"). A fun read to resurrect memories and to spark conversation with other family members.

Wednesday, November 17th: Julie Klamm, "YOU HAD ME AT WOOF-How dogs taught me the secret of happiness".
A fun little book about the pets in our lives, what they can teach us.

Thursday, November 18th: Christine Lindner, this year's Alice in Dairyland will be in studio to talk about the "Something Special from Wisconsin" program-just in time for holiday gift giving...

Friday, November 19th: Debbie Macomber, "GOD'S GUEST LIST", a FANTASTIC read! Debbie makes you think about all the people God has placed in your life for various reasons...It will really give you reason to pause, take stock and look at your relationships in a new way...

Books, Baking Tips and your Brain

We spoke with Dr. Stan Cupery on Tuesday.

Dr. Cupery is a local retired physician. He lived and worked in Beaver Dam for over 25 years and also opened a clinic in nearby Randolph for 5 years. He had started the concept of this novel back in the 1980's but got so busy with his practice and his family that it had to be shelved until recently. His novel, SCARS OF EASTON, is a medical intrigue set in the 1960's. It's always a pleasure to speak with someone from the area. Dr. Cupery's book is available at the Beaver Dam Community Hospital gift shop and also at our local bookstore, Book World.

Did you know you can flavor coconut to enhance your recipes?

One of my listeners called with these tips-

To 1 & 1/3 c. coconut add:

• 1-2 Tbsp. dry JELL-O (any flavor)


• 1/2 tsp. baking cocoa + 1/2 tsp. instant coffee


• 1/4 tsp. imitation maply flavoring


• 2 Tbsp. juice from strawberries or other fruit


• 3-4 tsp. orange juice concentrate

On Wednesday, we talked with Dr. Martha Burns, a practicing clinician and faculty member at Northwestern University, about training kids brains and "brain fitness". Dr. Burns said that during the summer, children can lose much of the knowledge they've gained during the previous school year. We talked about the need for parents to be "pro-active" if they notice that their children are falling behind in their studies. There are various "brain games" that you can engage your children in-30 minutes per day of brain fitness might be just what is needed to make the difference. For more information, you can go to http://www.brainprolearning.com/

I was scheduled to talk with Mari Frank, about her book "THE IDIOTS GUIDE TO IDENTITY THEFT" today, however, she had an unexpected conflict so we have rescheduled that interview for early October. I think almost everyone knows someone who has gotten their identity stolen. Mari is a lawyer and lives in California. She has vested interest in this subject because it also happened to her. This topic should make for a very interesting interview.

Money and Makeup

Today's guest in the "Book Nook" segment was Herb Phillips. We had a facinating conversation regarding his book, "MOMMA ALWAYS SAID, 'PAY YOURSELF FIRST'". If you are looking for ways to attain your financial goals, or just want to start saving a little bit each week, you've got to get Herb's book. It is a common sense, easy to read, easy to understand approach to saving.


Herb is a retired United States Air Force officer. He served his country for more than 30 years as a Personnel Officer in Human Resources and has spent countless hours counseling enlisted members and officers in financial matters. He shares personal stories and experiences and weaves his wit, wisdom, throughout each chapter.

• The book is filled with lots of great advice. Herb says you need to:
  pay yourself first
• be disciplined
• be persistent
• realize that you don't need a lot of money to get started
• AND that it's never too late to begin!

Last Friday, I had a fun conversation with Carmindy-"Makeup Artist to the Stars" and celebrity makeup artist on the hit the television show, "What Not To Wear". We talked about fall fashion trends.

Thanks to the pop culture influence of popular shows such as "Mad Men" we're going to see dramatic cat eyes and iconic red lips set the tone for makeup this fall. Carmindy said that everyone can wear red lipstick, it's just a matter of the right coloration.
If you have a light skin tone, you'll want cherry red lip color; medium skin tones-fire engine red and darker skin tones-blood red lipstick

As far as fashion goes, you'll see a reemergence of styles from the 50's and 60's. they will however be more updated. Body hugging fashions, higher necklines, more conservative styles and high boots are just a few of the trends.

Todays Kitchen Tip:

If you're trying to slice an ice cream cake try this: Fill a bowl with hot water. Make your first cut through the frozen cake with a knife; dip the knife in the hot water before making a second slice. the hot knife will slice right through the frozen ice cream and the crust with a minimum of effort.

Book Nook guests this week

A full schedule awaits this week with some great guests:

Tuesday, September 7th-

Kathy Hetzel from the UW-Extension office will talk about the 2010 Dodge County Clean Sweep Program scheduled for Friday, September 17th and Saturday, September 18th. Tune in to find out what items will be accepted...

Wednesday, September 8th-

John Shors-"THE WISHING TREES"- an AMAZING book that I just finished reading. The novel is about love, loss, hope and wishes. Ian and his 11 year old daughter Mattie (having recently buried their wife/mother) journey together through Japan, Tibet, Hong Kong and many other Asian countries trying to find joy and happiness once again.

Thursday, September 9th-

Susan Butler-"WOMEN COUNT- A GUIDE TO CHANGING THE WORLD" will talk about women in business, as entrepreneurs and how things have changed over the years. She'll also talk about what women can expect in the future...Should be a very interesting interview...

and on Friday, September 10th-

We will speak with CARMINDY-of "WHAT NOT TO WEAR". She'll be discussing fall fashions and trends.

It should be a GREAT week!

Connecting, College and Communication

Are you an iConnected Parent?

We had a facinating conversation with Dr. Barbara Hofer, author of the book "THE iCONNECTED PARENT: STAYING CLOSE TO YOUR KIDS IN COLLEGE (AND BEYOND) WHILE LETTING THEM GROW UP". Dr. Hofer, a Middlebury College psychology professor and Abigail Sullivan Moore, a journalist who has reported on college and highs school trends have written a very compelling account of this new parenting phenomenon.

What is an iConnected parent? It is someone who is deeply involved in their children's lives, even as they approach adulthood, by utelizing the technology of instant communication. (cell phones, text messaging, email, facebook, etc).

I was amazed at some of the finding from the study. Most students connected with their parents in some way, at least 2 times per day. AND they were satisfied with the amount of contact and involvement that their parents were giving. Dr. Hofer documents parents who edit their children's papers, help in the selection of classes, and who call the dean or professor when their child recieves a poor grade! Some parents go so far as to accompany their children to job interviews for internships and full time positions once they have graduated! (I cannot imagine my children needing that much contact from me. As they each left for college, they knew I was always only a phone call away, but they also realized that it was their time to make decisions and choices because I was not "going to college" with them.
Because we are so connected with cell phones, and other ways of instant communication, children tend to rely more heavily on their parents today than in previous times. This book is a MUST READ for every parent of a college bound student because it offers sound advice when considering appropriate boundaries for the amount of involvement parents should take.

Bratwurst and Back to School

Today is Bratwurst Day-so celebrate!
Once the weather turns colder and I am not able to use my grill, I like to cook brats in the oven. They turn out (almost) as great as on the grill!
Preheat your oven to 350.
Grease a 9x13" baking pan. Add a package of brats (single layer).
Pour 1/2 can beer (or 1/4-1/2 c. water) over brats.
Bake for about 45-50 minutes. Turn half way through cooking.
They brown up nicely and go great on Packer Game Days, when it's too cold to "tailgate" outside before the game!

It's hard to believe that kids will be heading back to school in just a few weeks. We always celebrated with a "end-of-summer" party at our house.
My children would invite a few friends, we'd have special summertime foods, play some games, turn on the sprinkler and decorate folders or make book covers. The kids always had fun and it was a great way to end the summer. Do you have any first day of school traditions? Here are a few thought-starters or things you might like to try:

• Make something special for breakfast. How about homemade apple pie or another fun, family favorite? Only for the first day!


• Let them each select their own backpack and take a picture. Over the years you will have captured their interests, personality and be able to mark that milestone in their lives that might otherwise go unknown


• Fill a jar with 30 pieces of candy and use as a countdown. Your child will be able to see, as he/she gets to select one piece each day, that the first day of school is getting closer and closer.


• Pack a note with a loving messgage, joke or drawing into their backpack or lunchbox


• Make a bracelet, necklace or braid a pair of shoelaces that they can wear on the first day


• Decorate a backpack with a beaded key chain, pom-poms or a name tag


• Hide a small treat, such as a sticker or small toy in their pocket


• Make a special after school snack

And embrace the fact that they are venturing into new territory. They'll have many new and exciting experiences during the coming school year and you can watch, observe and encourage them.

We talked with Missy Chase Lapine, about her book "THE SNEAKY CHEF: SIMPLE STRATEGIES FOR HIDING HEALTHY FOODS IN KIDS' FAVORITE MEALS". Since it's almost time for kids to go back to school, why not pick up a copy of Missy's book and introduce your child to healthier eating the easy way. They won't even know that they've eaten sweet potatoes, or white beans in the blondie brownies! The book is more than just a cookbook, although it does cover recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, desserts, and snacks. Missy explains her philosophy about food, the reasons why certain foods are so good for you and gives the recipes for the purees that you can make ahead and freeze. Who knows, you may find that besides being good for the kids, it's great for everyone in the family!

"Sandwiches" and Simplifying

August is National Sandwich Month and August 2nd was Ice Cream Sandwich Day. Of course you know that ice cream sandwiches are frozen desserts composed of a layer of ice cream (any flavor) "sandwiched" between two cookies or slices of cake.
In the United States, a slice of ice cream, (commonly vanilla), sits between two rectangular wafers, usually chocolate. And alternatives to the chocolate wafer are usually chocolate chip cookies.
In Australia, they're called "Giant Sandwiches" or "Monaco Bar"
In Scotland they are known as "sliders"-usually served as vanilla ice cream sandwiched between two rectangle wafers.
In Singapore, common flavors often include: Ripple, Red Bean, Yam, Sweet Corn, Honeydew, Peppermint, Chocolate and Chocolate Chip and is known as "wafer" ice cream
In Ireland, England and Wales an ice cream wafer, consisting of a small block of ice cream between two rectangular wafer biscuits was a popular alternative to the ice cream cone up until the 1970's. Since then it has declined and is now rarely seen.


It is "SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE" week. What can you do to de-stress and make your life easier? Why not...

• Set a designated time (or couple of times) during each day to check your email. Reading and replying to email wastes a lot of time!
• Unsubscribe to email newsletters, ads, etc. Keep only those that you read and are really of interest to you.
• Take a long relaxing bath: candles, scented oil, your favorite music and put your worries away for about 30 minutes. You'll feel refreshed, relaxed and will sleep much better. Pencil it into your calendar if you need to.
• Get a sitter. Especially if you work from home. What could you do with an extra 3-6 hours/week?
• Purge your regular mail on a daily basis. Toss/shred anything that is junk mail, place items that need to be filed in one bin or basket and bills needing to be paid in another. You'll be much more organized when it comes time to pay bills.
• Make a list at the END of the day for tomorrow. You won't need to waste time in the morning figuring out what you need to do first.

Have you got any other ideas? Feel free to share......

I spoke with Dr. Fred Mandell, author of BECOMING A LIFE CHANGE ARTIST: SEVEN CREATIVE SKILLS THAT CAN TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE". He co-wrote the book with Kathleen Jordan and it is for anyone looking for a new spark in life, a path toward reinvention or anyone in the midst of transition. The book takes a unique approach to becoming a life change artist by studying famous artists throughout history. Dr. Mandell also discusses our creativity. I always thought that you were born with the creative talent to draw, paint, etc. However, this isn't really the case.

Creativity is actually the act of bringin into existence something that did not exist before.

The book also talks about the 7 key skills that you need in order to make a life transition: Preparation, Seeing, Using Context, Embracing Uncertainty, Taking Risks, Collaborating and Applying Discipline and he relates these principles to the lives and characteristics of Picasso, Monet, Rembrandt and others. A facinating look at making a change... check it out.

Lemonade ~ Low Fat ~ & Lincoln

"Phrase of Fire" Contest

Piece of the puzzle: #4

Ring of Fire

Today's Quote of the Day:

"The most important things in life aren't things"

In today's Book Nook segment I spoke with Gayle Brandeis, about her first "young adult" novel, "MY LIFE WITH THE LINCOLNS". The book is set during the turbulent 60's and the intricate storylines come together to create a great read for both adolescents and adults. The main character, 12 year old Mina Edelman believes that she and her family are the Lincolns, reincarnated. The book is sometimes "laugh out loud" funny and gives a lot of attention to historical detail. http://www.gaylebrandeis.com/

We also had the chance to talk with Dr. Natasha Turner about her new book, "THE HORMONE DIET: A 3-STEP PROGRAM TO HELP YOU LOSE WEIGHT, GAIN STRENGTH AND LIVER YOUNGER, LONGER". Dr. Turner has a 3 step program-that takes 6 weeks to complete. In her book, she walks you through the process and helps you figure out if the stress, fatigue and failure to lose weight are related to a hormonal imbalance. She also stressed that these imbalances can be found in both men and women. A very interesting concept-one maybe worth exploring. Her website is: http://www.thehormonediet.com/

And I shared a Lemonade Dessert recipe that will taste great during the heat of summer:

Lemonade Dessert
1 ½ c. all purpose flour

¾ c. packed brown sugar
¾ c. cold butter, cubed

¾ c. chopped pecans
½ gallon vanilla ice cream, softened
1 (12 oz.) frozen pink lemonade concentrate, thawed
In small bowl, combine flour & brown sugar; cut in butter until crumbly. Stir in pecans. Spread in single layer into greased 15x10x1” baking pan. Bake at 375 for 9-12 minutes or until golden brown, stirring once. Cool on wire rack for 10 minutes. In large bowl, beat ice cream and lemonade until blended. Sprinkle half of crumbles into greased 9x13” dish. Spread with ice cream mixture; sprinkle with remaining crumbles. Cover and freeze overnight. Remove from freezer 15 minutes before serving. Yield: 12-15.

Tip: to soften ice cream in the refrigerator-transfer from freezer to fridge 20-30 minutes before using. Or let it stand at room temperature for 10-15 minutes. Ice cream can also be softened in the microwave at 30% power for 30 seconds.

Here are some tips for "Low-Fat" grilling:
· Say "NO" to hamburgers and/or hot dogs unless you’re using very lean ground beef (veggie burgers are best) or low fat, low sodium nitrite free turkey dogs
· Light or fat free mayo, mustard, ketchup, steak sauce, hot sauce, pickles and relish are good for condiments.
· Use whole grain buns
· Marinated chicken breasts, halibut, scallops or shrimp are low fat. Salmon is also a good option. Leave skin on the chicken while cooking but remove before eating
· Opt for lean cuts of beef, flank steak, filet mignon, top loin or round steak are good choices. Trim all visible fat before cooking
· Kebabs are delicious and a great way to eat veggies and balance your meat consumption.

Relationships, Relay and Radiothon

Busy days ahead!
Tomorrow at 6am we kick off our 13th annual Children's Radiothon. We are closing in on the $1 million dollar mark and I think we just may achieve this goal this year! Everyone at the radio pitches and does their part but the main "year round" coordination is handled by Jill Cullen-she keeps everything running smoothly. HATS OFF to Jill!
The on-air auction items can be viewed at our websites: www.wbevradio.com or www.wxroradio.com -LOTS of great items with dates and times of when you can bid... The on-air dessert auction will run from 9am-11am. We have 13 home baked treats that you can bid on. I made a lollipop cupcake bouquet-50 individually wrapped cupcakes on a lollipop stick. DELICIOUS!

On Friday, I'll be participating in Beaver Dam's Relay for Life event at the High School. I will be walking in honor of my daughter Kathryn "Katie"-who was diagnosed with leukemia just before her 3rd birthday; my good friend and co-worker Karen Kuhn-a recent cancer survivor and in memory of a former co-worker, Karen Griswold, who lost her battle just over 1 year ago. If you would like to make a donation to me and my team, visit the website at: www.relayforlife/beaverdamwi find the "C CARD" team and then click on my name. We are walking to celebrate more birthdays this year!

I read a wonderful book recently and today had a chance to talk with the author.
Bonnie McEneaney lost her husband in the attacks on the World Trade Center. Her book, "MESSAGES: SIGNS, VISITS AND PREMONITIONS FROM LOVED ONES LOST ON 9/11", is a ground breaking collection of inspiring true stories of the spiritual experiences of those who lost loved ones. Bonnie talks about her own signs and messages that her husband has shared with her since his death and she interivewed over 200 other individuals to get their insights and inspiring messages. You might think the book is only about death but I believe it is really a gift; a gift of hope, faith and most of all love. Each story reveals the strong bond these family members had with each other; and brings a message of comfort and hope to anyone searching for their own deeper connections, proving that love and relationships can continue even after death.
Do you believe that your loved one can communicate with you after death? If you have an experience or story to share, you can contact Bonnie at www.messagesbook.com

Strawberries and Shades

Today is Pick Strawberries Day.

Although here in Wisconsin, it's about one month too early to be able to go to a berry patch and pick a quart or two. I love to make strawberry jam. The sweet smell that permeates the kitchen, the luscious red color in the jam jars, and the fact that I will be able to savor the sweet taste far into the cold winter months makes the task of picking them so worthwhile!

Here is a "little bit" of strawberry trivia and folklore for you to impress your friends and family:

• The strawberry was a symbol for Venus, the Goddess of Love, because of its heart shape and red color.


• If you find a double strawberry, break it in half and share it with a member of the opposite sex, you will soon fall in love with each other.


• To symbolize perfection and righteousness, medieval stone masons carved strawberry designs on altars and around the tops of pillars in churches and cathedrals.


• The strawberry is a member of the rose family and is the only fruit with seeds on the outside rather than the inside.

I also shared this recipe for "Chocolate Berry Shortcake":
2 c. baking mix 2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
¼ tsp. ground nutmeg ¾ c. low-fat vanilla yogurt
3 Tbsp. honey 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
2 c. sliced strawberries 1 Tbsp. sugar
1 ½ c. sweetened whipped cream or nondairy whipped topping
Preheat oven to 425. Combine baking mix, cocoa & nutmeg in medium bowl; mix well. Add yogurt, honey & oil, stirring until a soft dough forms. Drop dough by large spoonfuls onto an ungreased baking sheet, 1” apart forming 6 shortcakes. Bake until a toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean, about 15 minutes. Place baking sheet on wire rack & cool for 20 minutes. Combine strawberries & sugar in small bowl. Slice each cooled shortcake in half horizontally; place bottom halves on individual plates. Divide whipped cream and strawberries among shortcake bottoms. Top with remaining shortcake halves. Serve immediately.

It sounds YUMMY doesn't it?

If you have always been a fan of the children's classic, "Goodnight, Moon" then you'll want to be sure to get a copy of the new book, "The Fathers Are Coming Home".

Although Margaret Wise Brown (author of Goodnight, Moon, passed away in 1952, over 70 of her manuscripts were recently found in an old cedar trunk in a barn on her sister's farm. This new book was written to honor all the men (and fathers) that were soon to be coming home from WWII and its classic rhythm and lyrics will resonate with children and families today. (It would make a great fathers day gift idea!)

We also talked about wearing sunglasses. Just as it's so important to wear sunscreen, you need to protect your eyes. If you're going to be purchasing new "shades" for the summer make sure that the label says "99% or 100% unltraviolet blocking" instead of just "UV protection".