Rachel Shippy

Pet Photo Caption Challenge!

Written on March 19, 2010 at 3:01 pm, by Rachel Shippy

Hmmm, what could be on this kitty’s mind? Post your caption in the comments below… then have a happy weekend!

---

Lara Spencer: The (Oscars) Insider

Written on March 6, 2010 at 7:50 pm, by Rachel Shippy

One of the things I love most about awards shows, especially the Oscars, is the red carpet coverage. I’m riveted by the glitz, glam and gowns, but I’m just as fascinated by what goes on behind the scenes. Lara Spencer, anchor of CBS’ The Insider, was nice enough to give us a glimpse inside the industry’s biggest night.

For her, Oscar prep begins in January. “I start screening the films that are likely to be nominated, so that means a lot of movie nights with my friends,” Spencer explains. “They eat popcorn while I take notes!”

Though she puts her notes to good use when she interviews celebs on the red carpet, she also relies on her ability to improvise. “You can prepare all you want, but you never know what what will happen in the moment,” Spencer says. “You don’t know what mood a star will be in, or if they’re going to show up in a really fun outfit or with an interesting date. I kind of go with the flow and feel them out. My mantra is to be prepared, but also be prepared to throw all your notes out the window.”

On TV, Oscar night seems impossibly glamorous and exciting, but Spencer’s experience in the trenches is quite different. “It’s high pressure for us and it’s high pressure for the stars as well—you can definitely sense which nominated actors are nervous, and you can feel the tension. But when the ceremony is over and everyone heads to the parties, it’s like a giant weight has been lifted. It’s time to celebrate, regardless of who won.”

Check your local listings for The Insider to see Spencer’s coverage of the Oscars red carpet on Monday, March 8th.

---

Cesar Millan’s Do-Good Way to Honor His Dog

Written on March 5, 2010 at 2:13 pm, by Rachel Shippy

You may have already heard the sad news that Daddy, the lovable pit bull from National Geographic’s Dog Whisperer, passed away at age 16. Daddy, who often helped host Cesar Millan rehabilitate other dogs on the show, also helped change the stigma surrounding pit bulls. To honor him, Millan recently created Daddy’s Emergency Rescue Fund. Donations, which can be made here, will provide assistance for dogs who are victims of abuse or violence, man-made disasters (hoarder and puppy mill rescues)and large-scale natural disasters.

(Photo via cesarsway.com)

---

Home Alone: Cat Edition

Written on February 26, 2010 at 10:09 pm, by Rachel Shippy

Today I am escaping snow-covered New York and heading to Florida for a mini vacation. As usual, I’m feeling anxious about leaving two curious kitties to their own devices for the next four days. Sure, a friend will stop by a few times and check on them, but when I’m hundreds of miles away imagining worst case scenarios, this drop-in is only marginally comforting. Do other pet owners out there share my neuroses? I think it’s easy to forget that although they’re domesticated, cats are still animals that can fend for themselves (they can even survive without food or water for more than a week.) And considering that cats sleep up to 16 hours a day, mine may not even notice I’m gone. Still, I’m glad I stumbled upon this travel-prep checklist for pet owners that eased most of my concerns—it’s worth keeping on hand for your next trip!

---

Wonka’s Back! And So Is The Golden Ticket

Written on February 23, 2010 at 4:57 pm, by Rachel Shippy

Remember Wonka candy from back in the day? Well they never really went away… but now the sweetmakers once known for such classics as Bottle Caps and Laffy Taffy are all grown up and rolling out their new line of premium candies called ‘Wonka Exceptionals’ – what a makeover! We caught up with the folks from Wonka at New York’s own candy wonderland, Dylan’s Candy Bar (fittingly) to try some of their new creations. Although we loved sampling while we were at Dylan’s (who doesn’t want to try new candy while sitting at a table made of gumballs?), our real field testing was conducted back at the office—do you think this means the Editors of LHJ might have a candy problem? The real fruit juice taste and sour finish made the Pomegranate Fruit Marvels my personal pick (the snozzberries taste like snozzberries!) but based on how quickly they disappeared from my desk, I think the Scrumdiddlyumptious Chocolate Bar (pictured) won the fan favorite thanks to its toffee, peanut, and cookie pieces scattered throughout.

With Wonka’s new ‘Feed Your Imagination’ approach, you can’t NOT feel like Charlie as you bite into a big bar wrapped in iridescent, zainy paper (the packaging is as much fun as the candy!)… plus there’s a chance of finding 1 of 10 golden tickets that Wonka is distributing behind the wrappers of their new ‘Exceptionals’ chocolate tablet bars and bags of minis. Rather than a trip to a chocolate factory, golden ticket finders win a trip around the world with their loved ones while thousands of secondary prizes are being awarded to those who find a purple ticket. If you want to start your hunt for a ticket now, ‘Wonka Exceptionals’ are available at Dylan’s Candy Bar, and will begin hitting stores nationwide on March 1st. Prizes or not, we had a great time trying Wonka’s new premium candies because they stay true to what we all love about the original story—it’s  fun with a dash of fantasy.

Photos Courtesy of: Wonka / Debra Rothenberg

---

Quirky Cat Behavior Explained

Written on February 19, 2010 at 2:36 pm, by Rachel Shippy

The first time my cat, Winks (right), hopped on the coffee table and flopped over to flaunt his polka-dotted belly, I completely melted. And the sweet look he gave me (cat owners, you know the look I’m talking about)… so cute.

But once I was done aww-ing and my voice returned to a normal human pitch, I began to wonder why he did it. After all, I hadn’t given him a treat or even whistled in his direction. It turns out that this was just his way of showing he trusts me. Cats show their affection in many different ways and the belly-up move is one version. However, don’t mistake it for an invitation to rub your cat’s stomach—you could find yourself on the business end of a scratch attack. In your cat’s mind, your hands-on response might seem like a violation of his trust. So the next time your cat goes belly-up, don’t dive right in. Test the waters and show him you care by gently petting and monitoring the response. If his ears flatten, abort mission!

---

Celebrity Chef Snapshot: Ina Garten “The Barefoot Contessa”

Written on February 16, 2010 at 2:36 pm, by Rachel Shippy

Known to most of us as the Barefoot Contessa, the Food Network’s Ina Garten has become a household name and the authority on easy entertaining… but not overnight. We caught up with Ina at an event hosted by New York Women In Communications where she told us how she built her empire and where it’s going next.

After quitting her job as a White House nuclear budget analyst, Ina bought a specialty foods store in Westhampton, NY (called The Barefoot Contessa) marking the first leap of faith she took towards her dream and her now legendary culinary career. From there, Ina embarked on catering, cookbooks, and was eventually approached by the Food Network to do a cooking show (much to our DVR’s delight).

Now known as much for the simplicity of her cooking as she is for her clean, classic style, Ina has made painstaking efforts to ensure that the Barefoot Contessa brand continues to reflect the same. As she puts it, “It’s not always easy to make something simple.” Whether it’s an ingredient or a business decision, Ina has a clear idea of what she wants and refuses to stray from the “True North” she worked so hard to find.

What’s next for Ina? She is one of the upcoming recipients of the prestigious Matrix Award for her exceptional work in communications. New episodes of Barefoot Contessa air Saturdays on the Food Network at 1:30pm/12:30c.  Also, stay tuned for her 7th cookbook, which is in the works now.

Photo by Mary Anne Russell

---