Evenings with Jen

Bring Your Blankets!

Jen — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:39:31 +0000

Psalm 95:1-2 Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.

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I’m so excited for the weekend!!! Running, hanging out w/ friends, babysitting my cousins (who are only 12 but know so much about football - hopefully it’ll rub off on me!), church and relaxing. Yeah! If you’re heading to the Skillet show tomorrow, remember to bring a blanket for Star of Hope! P.s. This’ll get ya fired up for the show tomorrow night!

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Show Stuff U Need 2 Know:

Listen tonight for more Pine Cove Winterfest tix - 7:40 and 9:40! Tomorrow join us for a KSBJ Marathon Team breakfast - we’re going to one of my favorite places so I hope you can make it! Starting Monday you’ll have an opportunity to win up to 20 tickets for your youth group to see Family Force 5 with our Ugly Sweater contest…details soon!

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Eat It Up!

I LOVE this time of year - so many fun treats! Here are some healthy things you can chow down on!

1) Olives are antioxidant powerhouses.

Olives grow in searingly hot sunlight, so they produce an overload of anthocyanins, flavonoids, and phenols that fight the oxidation caused by ultraviolet light. Inside you, these same phytochemicals fight the oxidation that may cause aging. And, like the oil they produce, olives are rich in monounsaturated fat, which will help lower your cholesterol and reduce blood clotting and may offer some protection against breast cancer.

Don’t overdo it: Olives are high in sodium so get your fix by spreading the flavor around. Slice a few strong-flavored olives such as kalamatas into pasta sauce. Dab a tablespoon of tapenade (olive spread) on a piece of crusty bread as an appetizer. Add sliced stuffed green olives to potato salad, egg salad, or mixed green salad. Explore olives, from the tiny, pistachio-size French green to huge, inky black Cerignolas.

Olives can also help you slim your tummy. Find out how.

2) Dark chocolate is seriously heart-healthy.

This time, love isn’t blind. Chocolate, especially the dark or bittersweet kind, is rich in flavonoids, antioxidants that protect your heart by preventing platelets from sticking together and forming clots that could cause a heart attack. But even milk chocolate is good: A typical 1.5-ounce bar packs as much antioxidant power as a 5-ounce glass of red wine.

Don’t overdo it: Try individually wrapped mini or fun-size chocolate bars such as Nestlé plain chocolate or crunch. At 50 calories each, you can have two. Or dilute your chocolate with other flavors: mini peppermint patties are only 35 calories each, so have three! Dip your strawberries in chocolate syrup, or drizzle chocolate syrup on almost anything.

Try these 10 guilt-free chocolate desserts.

3) Cheese will lower your breast cancer risk—and your dental bill.

The news about cheese—except the fat-free kind—is that it contains a special kind of fat called conjugated linoleic acid, or CLA, that scientists are investigating as a new weapon against breast cancer. And all that concentrated calcium—300 mg, as much as in a glass of milk, in just 1.5 ounces of Cheddar—is a boon for bone health. And finally, there’s your smile: Eating hard cheese at the end of a meal can protect your pearly whites from tooth decay.

Don’t overdo it: Choose strong-flavored cheese, such as extra sharp cheddar or gorgonzola, and you’ll be satisfied with less. To prevent overindulgence, take what you need, then wrap and refrigerate the rest immediately. Or choose proportioned string cheese, cheese slices, or mini wedges. At parties, take a couple of cubes of exotic types, then move on or pair cheese with another food to make it last longer.

See these food cures that add up to better health.

4) Nuts can literally help you live longer.

Several large studies have linked nuts to lower heart disease risk and longer life. In the landmark Nurses’ Health Study, for instance, women who ate the most nuts (about 5 ounces per week) had half the risk of heart attack as those who rarely ate them. Although the power source in nuts is unclear, researchers suggest that their unsaturated fats, magnesium, copper, folic acid, protein, potassium, fiber, and vitamin E may all play a part.

Don’t overdo it: Punch up the texture and flavor of raw nuts by roasting them lightly in your toaster oven. “I add nuts to green salads and cooked vegetables, and I toss about 1/2 cup into homemade bread,” says Susan Adams, RD, a nutritionist at Washington State University. They’re also great in hot or cold cereal, yogurt, pudding, and pasta dishes. For a snack, try a small handful of almonds and dried dates. For the ultimate dessert, have two or three chocolate-covered macadamias. Ah… heaven.

Nuts are the perfect belly-flattening food. Find more here.

5) Beef can power up your immune system.

Beef is one of the richest and best-absorbed sources of zinc, a key mineral in your immune system’s fight against many enemies, from viruses to cancer. Getting enough zinc is also critical for appetite, taste, and night vision, yet only half of adults over age 50 come close to the daily value of 15 mg.

Don’t overdo it: For a special treat, have a 4- or 5-ounce filet mignon—a holiday season stalwart. When you eat out, pass on the huge steaks and burgers and choose kebabs, fajitas, or stir-fries, where a small amount of beef is served with lots of veggies instead.

Part time to full time.

Jen — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:14:41 +0000

Psalm 5:3 In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.

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Got my hair cut today and I LOVE it! It’s straight!! I feel like a whole new person! I’m thankful for people who can tame my curly mess & for friends & fam - so excited to get to spend time with them as we get closer to Thanksgiving! P.s. Since I’m in such a good mood - I wanna give you some free stuff! Listen to win 2 tickets to Pine Cove’s Winterfest December 18-120 in Columbus (for 3rd-9th graders). They’ll doing the typical camp stuff like games & fun activities, plus Bible studies and worship time!

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Turn a Seasonal Job into a Permanent Gig:

If you’re looking for a permanent staff position, a temporary or seasonal gig may be the first step toward getting there. Tory Johnson explains how to hold on to your holiday job after the season.

Is There Potential?
When taking part-time work, consider the potential for a permanent position. This holiday season, UPS says it will hire 50,000 temporary workers to assist with the shipping giant’s busiest time of year. The company estimates that 20 percent to 30 percent of those people will be hired into permanent positions starting at the end of January. If you take a holiday job, treat it like it has long-term potential. Show up on time, give it your all, and envision the advancement opportunities. Maximize every opportunity to get to know the long-term staffers and be sure they know of your desire to stay on.

Seek Out Companies You Admire
Pursue seasonal work with companies you admire. It’s easier to show up and shine when you’re working for a company with products or services that you’ve always valued, even from a distance. If your goal is to become fulltime, choose employers where you can show off your product knowledge during the application process. Ultimately this takes away some of the sting often associated with less than desirable seasonal shifts — and enables you to thrive in a culture and environment you respect.

Look for Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteer where you’d like to work fulltime. Give your time and talent to an organization where you could envision yourself working fulltime. Ask directly about the chances of being considered for a staff role. Be sure you treat it as seriously as you would if you were being paid, since it’s the best way to convince the organization that you’re serious and that you’d be an asset for a paid staff position.

Don’t Shy Away From Temp Work.
Too often jobseekers say they can only pursue an opportunity with benefits, so they shun any kind of temp work. That’s a mistake, especially since part-time temp work offers the chance to get your foot in the door and it places you front and center for a paid opening. The job market is showing signs of an increase in temporary hiring, which is often the step before employers make fulltime commitments to staffers. Take a temp job and prove yourself to be invaluable.

Tory Johnson is the CEO of Women For Hire and the founder of WaggleForce, a national network of local job clubs. She is the workplace contributor on ABC’s Good Morning America.

Dress for Success!

Jen — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:00:31 +0000

Colossians 4:3-6 “And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”

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Free Stuff:

*Win a certificate for your child and a friend to attend Pine Cove’s Winterfest at 7:40!

*Win 1 of 5 family 4-packs of tickets into tomorrow night’s Stirring w/ Switchfoot at 9:20!

*Check out Switchfoot tomorrow at 1 of 3 Ticket Servant Street N’ Greet locations - the Star of Hope Mission from 9:30-10:30A, the LifeWay Store in Webster from 11:30-12:30P, and the LifeWay Store in the Woodlands from 4:30-5:30P. Thanks to the Star of Hope Mission for their support of this event (and remember to bring a blanket to donate to the Star of Hope)!

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Show Stuff:

*If you or someone you know is female and looking for a job, Dress for Success might be able to help you! BTW - if you’ve got some gently used business wear that you’re not using, please donate it to DFS and help these gals look fabulous for their jobs/interviews! They’re particularly looking for black purses and clothing in size 14 and above (although they take all sizes). Plus - it’s all tax deductible!

*I read that cell #s are going public this month - not sure if that’s true or just a rumor, but if you haven’t registered your # with the Do Not Call list, you may wanna do it and avoid those unwanted calls.

Gearing up for Thanksgiving!

Jen — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:25:46 +0000

Psalm 4:8 I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

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I got back yesterday afternoon from my 4 day vacay to San Antonio…so glad to be back! SA was fun - went to the Alamo, walked along the River Walk, ran in the Rock n Roll San Antonio Half Marathon and recovered by hot tubbing…busy busy! The race was on Sunday it was sooooo humid - so glad I was doing the half and not the full that day! The day before I’d been at the Alamodome for the race expo, and amidst the throngs of people I ran into a gal from my high school (in Kansas City, MO)…small world! P.s. Watch video of me crossing the finish line (I’m wearing a purple tank and black hat and my bib # is 21325! You can hear me yell “hey” b/c one of the race workers walked in front of me at the finish line - I almost crashed into her!)

Pics from San Antonio:

At a rest stop along the way - we’re halfway there!

Our first Rock ‘n’ Roll race!

My first time at the Alamo!

Me w/ Steph at the Alamo.

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Show Stuff:

Company coming over for Thanksgiving? Not a prob - 30 quick and easy cleaning tips! These are some of my faves:

Get a Cleaner Liner: Mold and mildew attacking your shower curtain liner? Throw it in the wash with a few towels, which will help scrub it clean, then hang it back up to dry.

Sanitize the Sink: It’s hard to believe, but your dirty kitchen sink has more bacteria than your toilet seat. Use a product labeled as an EPA-registered disinfectant, or make your own. To disinfect, clean your sink with soap and water first, then spray a mist of vinegar followed by a mist of hydrogen peroxide, and let air-dry. (Don’t mix the vinegar and hydrogen peroxide together—spray one after the other.) If your sink is stainless steel, make it sparkle afterward by putting a few drops of mineral oil on a soft cloth and buffing. This prevents water buildup, which deters mold and keeps the sink looking clean longer.

Start with the Bed: If your bed is made, your bedroom looks neat, says Marla Cilley. When you wake up, pull the covers up to your chin, then scissor-kick your way out of bed so it’ll be half made. Finish the job before you walk away.

San Antonio Bound!

Jen — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:41:54 +0000

Colossians 1:9 “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.”

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Tomorrow I start my 4 day weekend - so excited! I’m going to San Antonio for a few days and have never been there but hear it’s a really fun city! I’m doing the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon on Sunday along with some friends from my running group. Roadtrips rule! Before I leave, I’m taking Daisy Sue to get fixed and praying the procedure goes smoothly. She’s such a cutie and I don’t want anything to happen to her!

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Show Stuff:

*7 tips if you’re chronically late (which I am!!! Can I blame it on my genes???)

1.You sleep too late? If you’re so exhausted in the morning that you sleep until the last possible moment, it’s time to think about going to sleep earlier. Many people don’t get enough sleep, and sleep deprivation is a real drag on your happiness and health. Try to turn off the light sooner each night.

2.You try to get one last thing done? Apparently, this is a common cause of tardiness. If you always try to answer one more email or put away one more load of laundry before you leave, here’s a way to outwit yourself: take a task that you can do when you reach your destination, and leave early. Tell yourself that you need that ten minutes on the other end to read those brochures or check those figures. (LOVE this tip!)

3. You underestimate the commute time? You may tell yourself it takes twenty minutes to get to work, but if it actually takes forty minutes, you’re going to be chronically late. Have you exactly identified the time by which you need to leave? That’s what worked for me for getting my kids to school on time. We have a precise time that we’re supposed to leave, so I know if we’re running late, and by how much. Before I identified that exact time, I had only a vague sense of how the morning was running, and I usually thought we had more time than we actually did. My daughter goes into near-hysterics if we’re late, so that motivated me to get very clear on this issue.

4. You can’t find your keys/wallet/phone/sunglasses? Nothing is more annoying than searching for lost objects when you’re running late. Designate a place in your house for your key items, and put those things in that spot, every time. I keep everything important in my (extremely unfashionable) backpack, and fortunately a backpack is big enough that it’s always easy to find. My husband keeps his key items in the chest of drawers opposite our front door.

5. Other people in your house are disorganized? Your wife can’t find her phone, your son can’t find his Spanish book, so you’re late. As hard as it is to get yourself organized, it’s even harder to help other people get organized. Try setting up the “key things” place in your house. Prod your children to get their school stuff organized the night before—and coax the outfit-changing types to pick their outfits the night before, too. Get lunches ready. Etc.

6.You hate your destination so much you want to postpone showing up for as long as possible? If you dread going to work that much, or you hate school so deeply, or wherever your destination might be, you’re giving yourself a clear signal that you need think about making a change in your life.

7. Your co-workers won’t end meetings on time? This is an exasperating problem. You’re supposed to be someplace else, but you’re trapped in a meeting that’s going long. Sometimes, this is inevitable, but if you find it happening over and over, identify the problem. Is too little time allotted to meetings that deserve more time? Is the weekly staff meeting twenty minutes of work crammed into sixty minutes? Does one person hold things up? If you face this issue repeatedly, there’s probably an identifiable problem – and once you identify it, you can develop strategies to solve it — e.g., sticking to an agenda; circulating information by email; not permitting discussions about contentious philosophical questions not relevant to the tasks at hand, etc. (This last problem is surprisingly widespread, in my experience.)

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Links 4U:

*Donate your old cell for our soldiers!

*38 uses for nail polish

*On the heels of Veteran’s Day, I just heard a caller on Joey K’s show mention she took some cookies to a local recruiting office for our soldiers…such a great idea!

*Wanna run in the Houston Marathon but don’t have an entry? Good news!

Happy Veteran’s Day!

Jen — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:14:15 +0000

Joshua 1:9 Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

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Links ‘n’ Stuff:

*Volunteer for the 31st Annual Thanksgiving Big Feast!! Get the lowdown on the Big Feast from Stephanie Lewis, Project Director for the City Wide Club!

*A University of Vermont study shows that exercise
can boost your mood for 12 hours. Research also showed
that those who spent 20 minutes on an exercise bike in
the morning had better moods throughout the day than
those who didn’t. Move it or lose it sister!

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Veteran’s Day

Were you able to make the Veteran’s Day festivities downtown this AM? KSBJ was there and my co-worker Kim Kossie had this to say ’bout it:

“This Veteran’s Day, we had the honor of joining Mayor Bill White and the City of Houston in a wonderful celebration for our U.S. Armed Forces on the steps of City Hall. The flags were so beautiful as they waved gracefully under the sunny blue skies. We had the opportunity to pray with several military family members at our KSBJ Prayer Station, for their loved ones who were serving in active duty. We also heard testimonies of answered prayers from our listeners who were grateful for our music and encouragement that keeps them going each day while their loved ones are away. While some of us were praying, others were signing a commemorative card that we will send to express our prayers and condolences for the families at Fort Hood.

The theme for this year’s ceremony was “Answering the Call to Defend Freedom”. Following the moving ceremony that included singing, bagpipes and testimonies attendees moved reverently to the sidewalks along Smith street to watch the “Annual Houston Salute’s American Heroes Veteran’s Day Parade”. Our KSBJ broadcast truck was #137, which was the last entry in the parade processional, to give a final reminder that…God Listens.”

Kim praying at the prayer station.

American pride.

Signing a card for the troops at Fort Hood.

Thank you vets!

Houston Salutes American Heroes.

Jen — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 01:15:52 +0000

John 15: 7-8 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

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Link ‘n’ Stuff:

*Win Nutcracker Market tix around 8:15ish!

*Good mood foods

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Veteran’s Day is tomorrow - here are some ways you can throw love at our vets!

1. Pray for them!

2. Wreaths Across America

3. Give blood Saturday at the Veteran’s Salute Blood Drive.

4. Check out tomorrow’s Houston Salutes American Heroes festivities. A ceremony begins at 10 a.m. on the steps of City Hall and the largest Veterans Day Parade ever here, with more than 130 entries, begins afterward at the corner of Texas Avenue and Smith Street (KSBJ’s own Bill Ingram will be driving our purple broadcast van in the parade!). *And be sure to look for our Prayer Station between 8 and 11am - stop by so we can pray with you and so you can sign a card for the troops at Fort Hood.

Win Nutcracker Market tix tonight!

Jen — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:43:20 +0000

Genesis 6:22 “Noah did everything just as God commanded him.”

Malachi 3:6 “I am the LORD, and I do not change.”

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How was your weekend? Mine was FABULOUS!!!! Newsboys show on Saturday, church on Sunday and lots of rest Sunday afternoon!!!! This AM I went for a run and praise God - no discomfort! I’ve been battling an injury for months and have been praying for healing…I guess today was my day!! I’m so thankful! I’m doing the San Antonio Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon this weekend, and the Houston Marathon in January, so this is prime time for running! Psalm 103:3 says “He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases” and I believe it

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Show Stuff:

*Listen to win a pair of tickets to the Nutcracker Market!!!

*Dishwasher Loading Tricks (from realsimple.com)

1. Glasses should go on the top rack between the tines, not over them, so they don’t rattle or come out with tine marks.

2. Plates get cleanest when they face the center rather than all in one direction.

3. Bowls go on the top rack. Those in the rear should face for-ward; those in front should face the back, so water can get in.

4. Butter knives are safest (for loader and emptier) blade-side down.

5. Spoons and forks should be varied (some placed business-end up, some down) to keep them from nesting.

6. Cookie sheets and platters go along the outer edges of the bottom rack, so they don’t block water and detergent from other pieces.

7. Long-handled utensils that are too tall for the silverware basket can lay horizontally across the top rack. Put serving spoons facedown so they don’t collect water.

8. Casseroles, serving bowls, and large pots should be placed on the bottom rack at a slight angle, rather than upside down, so they don’t block the flow of water.

9. Plastic containers and sippy cups belong on the top rack. Plastics marked “7” or “PC,” like some flimsy takeout containers, can’t be used for food after going through a dishwasher. They contain the chemical BPA, which may leach out when heated.

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Daisy Sue resting on her blanket on top of the couch cushions - her favorite spot! BTW - my dog has a new boyfriend as of this weekend! She and a neighbor dog (Charlie) kept licking each other’s faces - it was so cute!!!

Yeah for Friday!

Jen — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:43:57 +0000

Ephesians 1:9-10 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

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Links ‘n’ Stuff:

*5 Things Gals Should Never Wear to the Office (courtesy of The Huffington Post):

1. Too Much Perfume - I had a teacher in junior high who’s perfume was so strong I knew she was in the building before I even saw her. I still remember the scent - Red Door!
2. Workout Clothes
3. Anything That Resembles An Under Garment
Or Lingerie.
4. Sequins
5. A Political T-Shirt

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Concert/Artist Info:

*Tomorrow night - the Newsboys will ROCK the Berry Center!!! Be there or be square! Stop by the KSBJ booth during intermission - I’ll be there and want to meet you!

*Listen all weekend to win Chris Tomlin/Christy Nockels tickets - it’s a win it before you can buy it weekend!!!! The winning begins tomorrow morning at 6A!

*Meet the guys in Switchfoot at a Street N’ Greet near you!!!!

The ‘boyz.

Jen — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:54:26 +0000

Psalm 51:10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

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Show Stuff:

*Tonight is Newsboys Central!!! It’s your LAST CHANCE to qualify for the Newsboys giveaway! Listen for a Newsboys song, be caller 3 and you’re in the running to win 4 tickets, 4 meet & greet passes, and dinner backstage with me!!! It’ll be fun! (Hint - you’ll have 4 chances to qualify tonight!)

*Michael Tait, the new lead singer of the ‘boys, was on the show tonight!! Listen to our chat!!

*Tweet your questions in b/c tomorrow the Newsboys will pick some to answer!

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Wings Over Houston Pics!

I love sunscreen!!!

Cool plane!

Talking about upcoming KSBJ promotions & events.

Me with Bill Ingram.

Me with Kim Kossie, KSBJ’s Community Relations Director.

Me with Kent Matthews from Light Force.