New Year Resolutions

So many people make a New Year resolution usually has quick and tangible results like; 'Losing weight' or 'eating right and exercising'. Sometimes it is 'Spending more time with family.' However, I would like to propose a different approach to the "New Year's Resolution" have you ever thought about asking whomever or whatever you believe what you NEED for the new year? This year (2009), mine was learning to wait. In 2010 I am going to Hope for Good things to come in life. These may seem rather simple and intangible but I see great lasting value in asking and seeking something outside of my regular realm of thinking. Think about it?

Holiday Get Together

This year our church decided to have a family night out at the bowling ally after Christmas. It is amazing that I thought I could give advice when my high score is only 130 - a perfect game is 300! Anyhow, if you want to laugh at yourself and others, I highly recommend a night of bowling, it will make you happy!

How Happy Are You?

This weekend I took some time to read a book called HAPPIER - the #1 class at Harvard. This book got me to ponder the thought 'what is keeping me from being happier?' I thought of a few things like; eating those things that make me feel sick afterward, worrying about things; instead of taking the time for my family and getting upset over meaningless problems. The one thing that I am going to start to do to be happier is write down five things a day that I am thankful for. This seems like a simple task but I can already see the benefit. The benefit for me is knowing that the 'One' thing that is bothering me is small in comparison to the many blessings in my life. I hope this gets you thinking.

Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer

The story of the Rudolph the red nosed reindeer is an American classic that my family loves. I personally like it because it is a traditional, holiday television special, that brings me back to a simpiler time in life. What are some of your favorite television specials?

Bundle Up And Have Fun

Yesterday it was seven degrees outside but the kids and I bundled up and took a sled ride. My oldest son, Austin, used his sled as a snow board, John plowed the longest trail on his belly and Matt, made a ramp to 'catch some air.' Then, we went home, had some hot chocolate and a nap. I would encourage you to get out, have a little fun in the snow, even if it is a little cold!

Funny Things People Do

When I am 'out and about' in the community I enjoy observing people. I usually chuckle at myself and others because of the silly things we do.... such as;

1. Why do I feel rushed when writing my check or paying with a card at the check out line (on that little square they call a counter,) because I think I am holding up the line - even when no one is behind me.

2. Why do men hold a purse with two fingers, away from their body because they are afraid of what people might think? All the while they are letting the whole world know 'THEY ARE HOLDING A WOMAN'S PURSE.'

3. When my children were younger, I always would go around sniffing their behinds to see if their diaper is clean - since when was that socially acceptable?

These are just a few of the things I do and watch, that make me smile. Do you have things that make you chuckle, what are they?

Counting My Blessings...

This isn't a tough one for me. This time of year - I am easily reminded of what I'm thankful for. Of course - (this won't come as a shock to any of you..) my baby Ella, my fantastic - PATIENT, sexy husband Kyle - my 3 older sisters (who make me laugh daily) and their families - my mom and dad who have always showed constant support and love - living close to family, our cat buddy, having two cars that work...(most of the time) food - (and wine) in our fridge, cable, internet, diet pepsi, bread, heat, ac...the list can really continue for a long time. I have to remind myself of all the truly fantastic things I have in my life...when things are getting tough. I hope this Holiday season - you can all stop and remind yourself of the wonderful things in your life!

Something To Be Thankful For

I am thankful for family that loves me the way I am.

Children who smile and light up my day.

A husband who takes care of the mouse that is invading my house.

A friend who gives me a favorite treat they know I like.

For rolling bales of hay on a Nebraska hill.

For a beautiful sunrise on a clear morning.

I am thankful, I have things to be thankful for.....what you are thankful for?

Things I am Thankful For

Thanksgiving is a time of year that I like to ponder the things in my life I am thankful for. I am always thankful for my family and my friends and I SHOULD probably talk about them but let me tell you about my dog Ben. Yes, I have a dog - a two-year-old black lab that weighs 104 lbs. Ben is a friendly puppy in fact, he has been running down to the local grocery store to greet the customers. Thankfully, the kind owner of the store knows my family and returns our dog. I realize everyone's pet is special to them but my dog would warm your heart and give you something to be thankful for.

What are you thankful for? Peggy

Thanks Peggy!

Just wanted to give a HUGE thanks to Peggy for surprising me this morning! If you missed the show - she gave me an early birthday present! First she surprised me with an autographed book from Mercer Mayer - my favorite children's book author! Then...a little later on in the show - she surprised me with a phone call from Mercer Mayer! I was thrilled! I have wonderful memories reading his books as a child - and continue to pass those memories onto my daughter! What a nice guy - to take time out of his day to talk to me! Thrilled! Plus - he gave me tips to help get my writing career started too. Thanks Peggy!! I am attaching the interview to this post - incase you missed it!

http://www.nebraska.tv/Global/category.asp?C=106636&nav=menu605_6

YouTube Video of the Week!

Our YouTube Video of the Week! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGth7aSd0EM - we show a different video every week, so send us your ideas for next week!

Kearney's Hilltop Mall

So this week is the 25 year anniversary for the Hilltop Mall in Kearney. I remember going to the Grand Opening to see Davy Jones. To my eight-year-old mind it seemed such an odd decision to place the new mall so far out of town in a field. The town has changed so much since then when it pretty much ended after Video Kingdom and Little Kings.

The mall figures prominently in my memories of growing up, from wandering aimlessly for hours as a teenager when we ran out of money for the arcade to looking for prom dresses. What memories does it bring back for everyone else?

Are homosexuals born gay?

Alright. Today on Good Life we had a discussion about the possibility of the first Lesbian woman being voted into office as Mayor of Houston. (It's now going into a run off as neither City controller Annise Parker or former city attorney Gene Locke received 50% of the vote. The new election will be held next month..)


My thoughts on this...(if you watched the show you already know) vote for the person you think is the best candidate - regardless of sexual orientation, etc..etc. Peggy, however, said she would never vote for a homosexual individual. During our discussion after the show - this question was brought up. Are you born gay? Let me know what your thoughts are on this one!! Leslie...

Video of the Week Ideas?

We're looking for suggestions for this weeks YouTube Video of the Week... anyone have any ideas? We've had laughing babies, cute kid clips, and an awesome Halloween costume - what else is out there?

Thanksgiving Treat!

Now that Halloween 2009 is officially in the books, it's time to start thinking about Thanksgiving!

NTV's Good Life is giving you the chance to win a free turkey this year, all you have to do is share your favorite Thansgiving recipe or show us your best turkey gobble. You can find all the details at http://www.nebraska.tv/

Day in the life of a Mortician!!

In High School - I was gone on the day my class took a tour of the local funeral home. I've been curious as to what goes on inside since that day. This week - my questions were answered.

This Tuesday on Good Life (10/27) my day in the life segment will feature a local mortician. This week we took our cameras to O'Brien/Straatmann Funeral Home in Kearney - and it was an adventure! Everyone was very kind - and laid back - (not the typical "Halloween" image you picture in your mind of a mortician!)

The funeral home was beautiful really - and very large. Even the "prep" room didn't make me cringe too badly! Steve and Gary answered ALL of my questions...(some which I can't share with you on Tuesday!) I was really pretty laid back about the whole thing....until they took me to the area where bodies are cremated!

I have to admit - that process made me a little weak in the knees. However - it's not as bad as I expected. You'll have to tune in on Tuesday for a full account of my adventure! I will show you the prep room - and the inside of the cremation area as well!

I do have to note - when asking the guys how they prepare dead bodies for a living, their response - "it's a calling." I was amazed at their honesty - and genuine care for each individual they care for - as well as their families. All in all - a very interesting day that I can't wait to share with all of you! Leslie...

www.twitter.com/NTVsGoodLife

www.facebook.com

Is it time to start Potty Training?

OK! If you watched last week - you heard me talking about my sweet Ella - and her little mishap in the tub! :) Of course, I know this will happen from time to time - but, I would like to limit the amount of times! So - I ask you all - is it time to potty train? Of course, I think my baby is the smartest 14 month old EVER - but, I might be a little bias. So - is it too early to start teaching her to use the potty? If not, what type should I buy? How should I do this? Geez - these babies need to come with instructions! Big thanks to a couple viewers who told me to use teething tablets to help Ella with her teeth! I will try them tonight! I look forward to hearing from you all!! Leslie...

Recipe Shout Out

Do you or someone you know have a recipe for popcorn balls or some other nostalgic Halloween treat? Good Life would love to fearture your recipe on October 20th, just in time for the trick-or-treaters!

Weekend Get Together Ideas Needed

This weekend I am having a group of girls ages 13-18 over my house for a get together. I thought we would do something in the kitchen. Do you have a recipe that is fun, quick and easy that 7-10 people can participate in.....I need ideas! Or do you have a fun activity idea that is about half hour to 45-minutes long?
Peggy
www.facebook.com follow us on Facebook!
and
twitter.com/NTVsGoodLife follow us on Twitter!

Yes - I do shop in other places!!

Apparently I struck a nerve today on the show! I talked about how frustrated Walmart grocery shopping makes me!! (Too many people - trying to shop at the same time - not enough space!!) One viewer said I need to broaden my horizons a bit - and shop in other stores. Truth be told - I do. However, I have found walmart to have the cheapest items - when I have to buy a bunch! I would much rather shop at Target - but, they don't have any produce or meat! I enjoy the local grocery stores - and try to shop there when I can - but it gets expensive! www.gooddealsandmore.blogspot.com - helps me find great deals in local stores and I try to utilize them when I can. However, many times life gets too busy - and I would rather make one stop at Walmart!

On that note, what do you guys do? How do you make grocery shopping a little less painful? I need your tips!! Thanks - Leslie

Hello....yes, this is my first blog. I am not quite sure how to do this but I do have a question. Do you have a dream that you would like to see fufilled? Music, theatre, modeling, seeing someone famous? I would like to help you realize that dream. let me know what it is at pmalzacher@nebraska.tv and I will do my level best to see if I can help. Obviously, I can't help everyone at once but I will try for the first five people who respond. Hoping to give you a piece of the good life...Peggy Malzacher

Baby Leashes!

There was a time when I thought baby leashes (or - the more PC term would be Child Safety Harness) were awful! I mean really - you put your child on a leash people - thats horrible! However, having an almost 14 month old child - completely changes my opinion on this topic! Ella runs EVERYWHERE!! She no longer tolerates the shopping cart - and wants to run willy nilly throughout the stores! The other day, I put her down in Target thinking it would stop her from crying - which was a BIG MISTAKE! She instantly stopped crying - and instead began running! As I was chasing her, (smiling cautiously as other parents watched nearby) I kept thinking to myself, "I need a baby leash!!"

Yes - It goes against everything I used to believe in - but I think it is a necessary purchase! What do you think? Do you own a "baby leash?" What do you think when you see parents using them?

Eli Young Band and Made in Nebraska

I saw the Eli Young band at U-N-L last Thursday. Aaron Watson opened and got the crowd ready. The "Honky Tonk" kid comes from Texas but plays in Lincoln quite a bit and has a following here. He played for almost an hour and a half and kept the students lively. The Eli Young Band followed it up with a good night. Although there were several technical difficulties, it was great to hear hits like "When it Rains" and my personal favorite, "Always the Love Songs". The Eli Young Band will be back in Lincoln in November when they open up for Jack Ingram and Gary Allan.

If you have a chance, check out the first annual Harvest Fest of Ale in Kearney. It's a great way to support local breweries and should be fun for all involved. It's awesome to celebrate things in our own backyard. ----Zach

Convicted Dog Abuser Sentenced to Probation

If you haven't heard about this story here is a brief update:

A judge sentenced Denise Withee to five years of probation for her role in the death of 23 dogs near Grand Island in July 2008. She was convicted in July 2009 on 3 counts of felony animal neglect and abandonment. Withee was also ordered to seek psychiatric care and is not allowed to own any dogs while on probation. If she violates her probation, she will spend 180 days in jail.

My thoughts on this one: this woman obviously has mental issues. Would jail help her in this situation? I love animals - and what she did (mental issues or not) is no excuse. However, I'm not sure jail time will give her the help she needs. I think the judge was correct in this situation. Obviously this is a heated debate among viewers, and we would love to know your opinions! Leslie...

Concert fun

When the cold weather begins, it's kind of a sign the concert season is almost over :( But there are some shows left. On Tuesday night, rock group Tantric took to the stage at the Garage in Kearney. They put on a great show and performed all their hits. It was a step back for me as I last saw them when I was in high school. Lead singer Hugo shook my hand back then(almost ten years ago) and I then was able to talk to him again at the Garage show. Good to see them still performing and it's great to see national acts coming to Kearney!

Tonight as part of the homecoming festivities, U-N-L brings in the Eli Young band and Aaron Watson. I'm pumped for Eli Young, I love their song Love Songs. Let us know if you see the show and I'll also give a review later.

The Ketchup Monster!

So...you all may know I like to talk about my baby girl (no longer a baby - almost 14 months) ALL the time. Well this time, I need your help! She has started to become a very picky eater. She would live off of whole milk, applesauce and bread if I let her. Last night I found out - she will eat her chicken - if I put a little bit of ketchup on it first. Now, tell me - am I creating a ketchup monster? Is it a bad idea to let her have ketchup? If you watch the show, you may know I am a HUGE fan of the delicious sugary/tomato substance. However, I know it's not the healthiest substance for an almost 14 month old. What should I do? Please let me know your tips!!

Blogs across the country!

Here is a link to several blogs websites to get you started. Tell us about your blog - we would love to read it!!

http://simplystated.realsimple.com/simplystated/

Kettle Corn!!

We received two bags of kettle corn from Country Harvest Pumpkin Patch this morning. Very delicious - but, addictive!! When there's free food at NTV - we like to eat! I can hear crunching throughout the newsroom!!

Getting Started!

NTV's Good Life wants to share our ideas of the show with you! We are starting a blog to find out what you like about Good Life! We want you to join us in this new adventure!