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Deanna Davis, PhD, is a popular speaker, entertainer and workshop leader and the author of The Law of Attraction in Action and Living With Intention. Davis’s annual retreat, Womanhood Weekend, and her evening comedy events, Womanhood: The Divine Comedy, have inspired change in the lives of women all over the country. She lives in Spokane, Washington with her husband and their two young children. Visit her website at www.deannadavis.net.

Deanna latest book is “Laugh, Cry, Eat Some Pie”. It has a simple yet profound message: Happiness isn’t determined by what you have, where you are, or what happens to you. Instead, it comes from practicing happiness daily, regardless of what’s going on around you.

I keep thinking about Deanna’s message that life, just like pie, is made of of ingredients, some of which are unpalatable  unless they’re thoughtfully combined with other ingredients and a little bit of heat.  How true!  I would never eat a spoonful of raw flour,  but I would really miss it as part of the pie crust! (Try to remember that little gem the next time some “unpalatable” element of life rolls around, because we all know it will)  That’s the power of the positive psychology Deanna discusses in her book.

Deanna and I talked about living a momentous life -literally  living your life a moment at a time. She pointed out that “momentous” doesn’t always have to mean “the big times”  but instead we can focus on the extraordinary in the ordinary moments of life.   [Read more →]

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Are you  curious about plastic surgery? If you’re like me you wonder, “how would I look with a little nip here, a tuck there- a bit of botox here?” The world of plastic surgery is changing and the options available to us are amazing- many of which are non-invasive and actually affordable. Dr Jon Mendelsohn, a double board certified facial plastic surgeon specializing in both surgical and non-surgical procedures, joined me today to talk about the basics of these procedures.

Dr. Mendelsohn specializes in advanced surgical rejuvenation and sculpting techniques for the face, neck, eyes, nose, lips, ears, chin, and [Read more →]

A great marinade adds flavor while tenderizing meats. Marinades generally contain oil, seasoning and an acid, which does the tenderizing. The acid can be wine, fruit juice, vinegar or buttermilk. You can marinate bite size pieces of beef for kabobs in just 30 minutes to an hour. Larger or tougher cuts of beef benefit from a longer marinating time–even overnight – for tender, flavorful results. Always marinate foods, covered, in the refrigerator. And here’s a time saving tip: buy your favorite Certified Angus Beef cuts in quantity and package them in meal-size portions in re-sealable freezer bags; add your favorite marinade before stashing them in the freezer. Move them to the fridge the night before you plan to cook them and they’ll marinate while they defrost! Wow- it’s summertime and the living really is easy! You can find more information about Certified Angus Beef brand beef, beef cuts, marinade recipes and grilling tips at CertifiedAngusBeef.com

Wouldn’t it be nice to pull together a delicious dinner in 15 minutes or less? Guess what? You can! Easily. I swear. A great meal comes together in no time flat with a little planning and cooking with more than one meal in mind.

Tonight’s grilled steak can make dinner tomorrow that much easier if you cook a little extra. A favorite 2nd day meal at my house is Steak and Mushroom Wraps with Gorgonzola Dressing. I was inspired by a package of Dole Tender Garden Blend. Its got the bold taste and tender texture that I love. The pairs well with suggestions listed on the package helped inspire me to create a quick and easy wrap that’s become a go-to meal for my family. Just toss your favorite Dole Salad blend with blue cheese dressing and a little crumbled Gorgonzola cheese then layer the salad along with sautéed mushrooms and onions and thinly sliced leftover steak into warmed flour tortillas. Quick. Easy. Delicious. You can find this recipe, and more salad inspiration, at Dole.com.

Steak ‘n’ Mushroom Wraps

Makes: 6 to 8 servings

1 pound flank, skirt or other steak
1/2 cup Sherry Vinaigrette (recipe below)
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/3 cup blue cheese dressing
1/4 cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese
1 pkg. (6 oz.) DOLE® Tender Garden Blend or other DOLE salad blend
6 to 8 (8-inch) flour tortillas, heated [Read more →]

Tonight I’m teaching a “Steakhouse Dinner” class at EQ at The Party Source. In addition to grilling up great Certified Angus Beef New York strip steaks, we’re making all the classic sides, like wedge salads, creamed spinach, crispy onion straws and of course, the best steak house dessert- cheesecake!

Cheesecake with Walnut Crust
Prep time: 30 minutes
Bake time: 1 1/2 hours
Chill time: Overnight

3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
3/4 cup finely chopped walnuts
3 tablespoons butter, melted
4 (8 oz.) packages cream cheese, at room temperature [Read more →]

Watermelon Sorbet
Serves 8

7 cups seeded, chopped watermelon (from a 4-5 pound watermelon)
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice [Read more →]

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Ed Begely, Jr. was inspired to become an actor by the works of his Academy Award-winning father. As an actor, he became a household name on the long running series “St. Elsewhere,” for which he received six Emmy nominations. Since then Ed has moved easily between feature, television and theatre projects while remaining true to his passion for the environment as the star of the Planet Green series, Living with Ed a look at the day-to-day realities of “living green” with his wife Rachelle Carson. Ed’s coming to Northern Kentucky for the Second Annual Farmers’ Fair, a fundraiser celebrating our local food culture, as the Keynote Speaker.

Ed’s first book, Living Like Ed, hit the streets nationally in February 2008, and the second book, Ed Begley’s Guide to Sustainable Living came out in August of 2009. Ed has served as chairman of the Environmental Media Association and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. He serves on the boards of many organizations, including [Read more →]

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Here’s how Rachel DesRochers explains her new business:

“Grateful Grahams was started because I wanted something that I could do with my kids. I wanted to show them that no matter what you can follow your dreams and do what ever it is that you wish too! So here I am not even 6 months later with a growing business, able to be with my kids as much as possible and teach them at the same time!!”

The back of the  package says “Grateful Grahams” name was chosen to help remind me to be grateful for all things big and small! I hope you enjoy these treats as much as I do!

If you like all of this positive energy, wait til you taste Grateful Grahams! They’re absolutely fabulous! Both the classic  and chocolate flavors are slightly soft, deeply flavored and topped with yummy sugar crystals. My family and I couldn’t get enough of them. I’m positive  Rachel’s Grateful Grahams are going to be a huge success!

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Cat Cora made television and culinary history as the first and only female Iron Chef and has  been a popular television personality ever since, appearing on NBC, Food Network and PBS, among others. She brings that same commitment, passion and a sense of fun to her role as Executive Chef of Bon Appétit. Cat is president and co-founder of Chefs for Humanity, a national grassroots coalition of culinary professionals working to fight hunger by providing food nutrition, education, emergency food relief and humanitarian aid worldwide. In addition, she recently became the national spokesperson for UNICEF.

She’s coming to Cincinnati for the 9th Annual Cris Collinsworth ProScan Pink Ribbon Luncheon Monday, October 4th at the Duke Energy Convention Center.  Here are some details about the event:

The 3rd Annual Pre-Luncheon Panel, “A Healthier You”  begins at 10:30 am. Area Physicians will provide answers from women on how to live a healthy lifestyle physically, mentally and emotionally.

The luncheon begins at noon. Tables and tickets still available, Sponsorships and Donations are welcome. Visit www.pinkribbonluncheon.org or Call 1-866-557-PINK (7465)

Proceeds go to the Pink Ribbon Programs. Here’s a look at what those programs do:

Pink Ribbon Centers provide women with [Read more →]

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Do you want to raise mediocre kids? Neither do I! Rafe Esquith joined me today to discuss his book Lighting Their Fires (How parents and teachers can raise extraordinary kids in a mixed-up, muddled-up, shook-up world)

Rafe Esquith has taught 5th grade at Hobart Elementary School for 25 years. He is the only teacher to ever have been awarded the President’s National Medal of the Arts. His many other awards include the American Teacher award, Parent’s Magazine As You Grow Old Award, Oprah Winfrey’s Use your Life Award, and People Magazine’s Heroes Amoung Us Award.

Hobart Elementary School is an inner city school in Los Angles. It is a street-tough, graffiti-ridden school. Students come from homes that don’t often encourage success in school. Rafe believes that students become extraodinary as a result of parents and teachers who instill values that guide them not just in school, but for the rest of their lives. The amazing academic and extracurricular feats of his students do not happen by luck or accident— they are the product of hard work on the part of both the kids and those who guide them. Rafe points out that children are born with varying levels of talent and intellgence but possessing smarts and skills is no gaurantee of success, but with the right guidance any student can strive for and reach such heights.

Rafe instills in his students concepts that helps kids build character, such as:
Punctuality
Focus
Decision Making
Taking pride in what you do [Read more →]