Thursday with the Steines Family
We jumped right into the kitchen today to help out a young viewer looking for a new dipping sauce for his chicken fingers. Enter the Tangy, Sweet BBQ Gravy to the rescue - then, for appetizers, where Rachael made bacon wrapped scallops! She even gave us some tips - which is good because I’ve never bought a sea scallop! Make sure they’re not separating and pulling apart, pat them dry and make sure the connective tissue has been trimmed. Then, quarter them - they’re gigantic - and it help stretches your budget.
Of course, you can’t have appetizers without a guest - so Mark Steines joined Rachael at the kitchen table to talk a bit about the red carpet and working for Entertainment tonight, but mostly to give us some tips for capturing the perfect images for your Christmas cards that reflect the spirit of your family!
You don’t need expensive software to start out with - not everyone loves pixel picking as much as I do, after all. Find something simple that helps edit the images and design your card.
Don’t feel like you have to take pictures inside by the tree with goofy sweaters either - pick a location that matches your family. For instance, Mark took his family to the beach, where they all have a good time.
Don’t be afraid to get down on the ground, or take photos from interesting angels - you get much better shots that way.
Be playful! This isn’t supposed to be awful with goofy smiles and forced attitudes that you get with professional photos. Laugh, and giggle and do what it takes to keep the kids engaged and at ease.
And my personal tip? Remember that it often takes 100 pictures to get that one perfect shot. Don’t force it, take a lot of photos, and you’ll be surprised and pleased with the end result, I promise! (And if not? Take 100 more!)
Afterwards, everyone’s favorite Survivor, Colby and our go-to girl, Gretta for a rousing He Said She Said when it comes to gift giving. Their tips and hints? When it comes to jewelry, make sure that the box is not the same size as THE box, else you have a disappointed girlfriend or a petrified boyfriend! Bracelets, necklaces and earrings get a total yes all the way around, but Colby confides that you have to be careful with giving jewelry to a man. There’s a certain level of commitment that inherently goes with jewelry and you might scare him off.
Tickets to an event are good, as long as you are clear with your intentions - is it for the two of you, for him and his friends? Make sure you know. And don’t scare your man off by giving him tickets to something 9 months from now as that involves a lot of assumptions!
Gretta hates gift certificates, and says it’s a lame gift for a girl. If you are determined to do it - then personalize it with something else, like a bottle of perfume or something unique. Colby however points out it’s a great gift for a guy - they’d much rather have that then a sweater they’ll never wear.
Don’t give clothing to your girlfriends unless you are CERTAIN it’s the right size, shape, style. Colby agreed and admitted they’ll never get the size right, so if they want to buy lingerie - make it a shopping trip for two!
Music is ALWAYS good - you can’t go wrong with music for an ipod. A gift for online music source somewhere, or download the songs and preload the mp3 player with things you’ve listened too since you met.
Experience gifts are also a great way to go - built in date night with a reservation for a cooking class, a night of dancing or some other activity you love. But most of all remember it really is the thought behind the gift that matters. Don’t stress, and smile. They did their best!
What’s for dinner? Grilled Chicken and Smashed Broccoli & Potatoes with Gouda Gravy.
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