Search Results for: blog touring a television station a family trip

Snapshot Of A New Photography Blogger

Your house is on fire! Besides your family members (pets included), what’s the one item you would try to save on the way out? My answer: My photo album. Okay, albums—as many as possible. My firefighter brother would frown upon my answer as he constantly warns people not to grab anything when fleeing a burning building, but then again photography is not his passion like it is mine. My name is Michele Cheplic and I will be joining Nicole Humphrey (who, by the way is doing an incredible job) here in the photography blog. Some of you may know me … Continue reading →

Are Your Kids in Danger?

As a kid growing up on an island floating in the middle of the Pacific Ocean I always dreamed of moving to New York City. Don’t all small town kids have the same dream? I was going to take a monster bite out of the Big Apple and never look back at the tiny Hawaiian town of my youth. My girlhood dreams included taking over for Jane Pauley on the “Today” show, marrying Jason Bateman and calling a Manhattan high-rise (preferably with a spacious cupola), home. Well, we all know what happened to those dreams. Anywhoo, now that I am … Continue reading →

Cleaning Wipes

A few years ago I conducted a TV news interview with a city health official on the proper precautions to take when grilling outdoors. She had great tips on how to keep fresh veggies from being contaminated by raw chicken juice and how long meat should stay on the fire before one worries about carcinogens. She also raved about her favorite cleaning shortcut–Clorox Disinfecting Wipes. The popular disinfecting wipes, which are packaged in a convenient pull-out container, is one of my favorite cleaning products as well. The health official went on and on about how the sanitary wipes were ideal … Continue reading →

When Okay Is Not Good Enough

I worked in TV news for more than a decade and during that time I encountered (and often had to interview) more than my fair share of despicable human beings, including parents who paid more attention to their cigarettes than their own children. There was the dad who told a courtroom full of people that he loved beer more than his son (which is why he threw the kid down a flight of concrete stairs while intoxicated) and the mom who let her drugged up boyfriend silence her toddler daughter with a sawed-off shotgun when the child wouldn’t stop crying. … Continue reading →

Are Your Kids a Target for Abductors?

It’s a question most parents don’t like to think about… unless you live in Minnesota. A few months ago some parents in a quiet Twin Cities suburb were forced to consider how easy it was to have a stranger abduct their child. Not because there was a deranged kidnapper on the prowl, rather parents and children were unnecessarily frightened because a local TV station decided to take a hands-on approach to reporting the news. Or shall I say creating the news? Thanks to some bonehead news director at KMSP, the Fox affiliate in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, reporters were told … Continue reading →

Becoming the Mom You Never Thought You’d Be

Attention Girl Scout cookie lovers: FYI–The Girl Scouts have issued a statement saying that their cookies are not affected by the current peanut butter warning. I just got the “breaking news” from my Girl Scout mommy pal Brenda. Here’s the irony: Unlike in years past when we would be reporting this type of news at the local TV station we worked at together, we now get it from our kids. Or at least she does. Yes, my once ultra-career oriented pal is now a stay-at-home mom to a Girl Scout Brownie. What’s more, she’s driving the minivan she swore she … Continue reading →

Coconut Candy Cane Cookies and Mega Chocolate Delights

It’s the eighth of December… how’s your Christmas cookie baking coming along? My sister-in-law just called to tell me that her kitchen resembles Mrs. Field’s, but not in a good way. The countdown to Christmas is on and if you haven’t already chosen the sweet treats you plan to lovingly prepare for family and friends, then you’ve come to the right place. I’m about to share two of my all-time favorite Christmas cookie recipes. The first recipe for Coconut Candy Cane Cookies was voted best holiday treat at the TV station I used to work at. Unfortunately, I wasn’t the … Continue reading →

How to Make Homemade Peppermint Bark and Other Sweet Holiday Treats

If you are looking for an affordable edible gift to present to friends and family members this holiday season I highly recommend Peppermint Bark. Interestingly, I didn’t get my first taste of this delicious holiday treat until I was in my 20s. I was anchoring a local morning TV news show and a local chef came into the station to demo the recipe for a Christmas cooking segment. One bite and I was hooked. Chocolate and mint… who can resist that combination? What’s more, the recipe is fantastically simple to make. The other edible gift I like to pass out … Continue reading →

Not Your Mama’s Thanksgiving Recipes

Back in my previous life as a TV journalist, I had the opportunity to cook with local “celebrity” chefs when they appeared on our morning show. I actually did more eating than cooking, but I learned some culinary tricks just the same. The holidays always included a steady stream of cooking segments featuring proud pro chefs whipping up unique dishes. The following is a sample of some of the recipes I saved from those segments. They’re nothing like my mom served us on Turkey Day, but boy were they popular with our studio crew. THANKSGIVING GRAVY Ingredients: 1 can cream … Continue reading →

Why Her?

I worked in television news for more than a decade. I know all about the gimmicks, stunts and over-the-top stories news directors pepper their shows with during the critical November ratings period. That said there’s no reason I should be surprised that NBC is sending their “Today” show anchors to the “Ends of the Earth” in a feature that begins airing Monday. However, I do question why they chose newsreader Ann Curry to be the one to climb Africa’s Mount Kilimanjaro. I guess Matt and Meredith refused. As a ratings stunt the popular morning show is sending Matt Lauer, Meredith … Continue reading →