Today on Home & Family
Thursday, October 16th, 2014
Brandon Beemer
Actor Brandon Beemer charms us with his dashing good looks and crystal blue eyes. It's no wonder he gets the girl in the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Original Movie "Wedding Planner Mystery" after falling in love at first site. Find out how he developed chemistry with the female lead, played by Erica Durance. You're in luck ladies. Brandon is back in the dating game after recently ending a longterm relationship.
"Taste of Home" Fiesta Tortilla Soup
Amy McFadden of Chelsea, Alabama joins us in the kitchen via Skype to share her recipe for fiesta tortilla soup that appears in the Fall 2014 issue of "Taste of Home" magazine. The busy wife and mom finds this meal fast and easy to squeeze in between soccer practices and games. To kick it up a notch, Amy uses green salsa in the dish.
"Taste of Home" is the #1 food and entertaining magazine in the world, with 3.2 million readers. Each year, "Taste of Home" receives more than 11,000 ideas and recipe submissions from real home cooks across the country. Just under 2,000 recipes are tested and then featured in "Taste of Home" magazines, cookbooks, and on tasteofhome.com.
DIY Talking Head with Ken Wingard
Using the technology seen in the Haunted Mansion attraction at Disneyland, Ken Wingard creates a creepy optical illusion of a talking head. He projects taped recordings of Cristina's face onto a styrofoam wig head. Learn how to stage the filming to achieve this special effect.
Visit Ken Wingard at www.KennethWingard.com and follow him on Twitter @KennethWingard.
Arthritis Diagnosis & Symptoms with Matt Iseman
Matt Iseman, MD educates us on some of the 100 different forms of arthritis. Learn about the impact of this debilitating and painful condition and tips for living with it. Although there is no cure for arthritis, Matt gives us a brief overview of how to treat symptoms, prevent progression, and exercise.
For more information about arthritis, please visit www.arthritis.org and www.creakyjoints.org.
Lea Thompson & Artem Chigvintsev
From season 19 of "Dancing With the Stars," Lea Thompson and professional dancer Artem Chigvintsev give us insight into how they get along so well and have fun in rehearsals. Currently sitting second on the leaderboard, the couple performs one of their dances. This experience is a full circle moment for Lea. Before getting bitten by the acting bug, she was a ballet dancer up until the age of 20 when Baryshnikov critisized her "short and stocky" physique.
"Dancing With the Stars" airs Mondays at 8/7c on ABC.
Follow Lea on Twitter @leakthompson and Artem @artemchigvintse.
Hosting House Guests with Paige Hemmis
Paige Hemmis teaches you to transform your guest room in three easy steps. First, fill picture frames with photos of your guest and their family to make them feel right at home. Second, post a welcome station on a bulletin board complete with house rules, take out menus, internet password, travel guides, and more. Third, make a goodie basket stocked with snacks, beverages, and then some.
Follow lifestyle design expert Paige Hemmis on Twitter @paigehemmis and check out her site www.paigehemmis.com.
Home Invasion Prevention with Robert Siciliano
Security expert Robert Siciliano advises us on how to deter intruders from breaking in to your home. Find out how to make your house the least vulnerable on the block by posting proper signage and installing a security system. Learn the tactics robbers use to survey your home and routine. Also, be careful about answering the door for strangers and think twice before posting your whereabouts on social media.
Learn more at besthomesecuritycompanys.com.
Cristina Ferrare Crafts DIY Halloween Themed Party Room
Cristina Ferrare goes all out in the "Home & Family" dining room with Halloween decorations. She covers framed photos and artwork hanging on the walls with cobwebs. Cristina also fills a cauldren and leans a witch's broom. Then, she covers the four legs of the table with striped stockings and places each leg into an old boot.
Hollywood Steals
Sandie Newton has some real gems of a deal in this week's edition of Hollywood Steals. Dress up in Hollywood glamour with stunning pearl necklaces and bracelets that range in price from $50-130. Carry your cell phone, cards, cash, and lip gloss in this cross body or fanny pack case for $16-18.95. Be prepared for just about anything with this handy Swiss army knife set that also features a tweezer, emory board, tooth pick, and so much more for $25. And, hurry up and order this handbag because it's sure to sell out at $35.
To take advantage of Hollywood Steals and more, visit http://www.hollywoodsteals.com/.
Visit our Facebook page at facebook.com/hollywoodsteals for contests and giveaways!
Hydroponic Plants with Shirley Bovshow
Shirley Bovshow defines hydroponic planting as growing lettuce, greens, and herbs in nutrient-rich water without soil. Instead of dirt, the plant is held up by clay pellets. Shirley illustrates how the roots search for water. Make sure to use an opaque container and to place it near a window for the sunlight to help with photosynthesis.
Learn more about how to "grow food with style" at Shirley Bovshow's FoodieGardener.com and on Twitter @FoodieGardeners.
Adopt a Shelter Dog Month
Best Friends Animal Society is teaming up with Hallmark Channel! This kicks off our "Adopt a Shelter Dog Month." Every day for the month of October we'll be having a furry friend here on set that is up for adoption.
Visit our gallery of dogs available for adoption today, courtesy of Best Friends!
To donate, adopt one of our shelter dogs of the day, or for more information on adoptable animals in your local communities, visit bestfriends.org/hallmarkchannel or contact Best Friends Animal Society at (818) 643-3989. We also invite you to visit bfla.bestfriends.org and bestfriends.org.
To learn more about Hallmark Channel's Pet Project, visit
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