Debbie Macomber
"Cedar Cove" author Debbie Macomber shares her gift of storytelling and explains how after writing so many books, she's still full of new ideas. She tells us how she drew inspiration from her mom's World War II diary for her novel "Love Letters." Plus, find out what message she likes to convey to readers and some of the special fan mail she's received. Camera shy Debbie also tells us about being convinced to make a one-time cameo appearance on "Cedar Cove" and teases the powerful new season of the Hallmark Channel Original Series. Later, Debbie takes to our kitchen to make angel crab cakes from "Debbie Macomber's Christmas Cookbook: Favorite Recipes and Holiday Traditions From My Home to Yours." Then, she gets us excited for her new Hallmark Channel Original Movie "Mr. Miracle," premiering this holiday season.
Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments are available at Hallmark Gold Crown Stores. Find the location nearest you at hallmark.com. Share your keepsake memories on the "Home & Family" Facebook page. Use #keepsakeit. Please enter to win the "Home & Family" Sweepstakes Ornament Giveaway. Seven lucky viewers will win seven wonderful ornaments.
Christmas in July Shopping Tips with Cristina & Kym Douglas
Cristina and Kym Douglas hit the mall for some bargain hunting ahead of the holiday rush between Black Friday and Christmas. They're teaching us to plan ahead to take advantage of major discounts in July. Save money, time, and frustration by crossing names off your gift list early. Cristina shows us how she catalogues all the gifts in a binder to keep track of what she's bought each family member and friend, how much she's spent, and how much she's saved. Get additional tips from lifestyle and beauty expert Kym Douglas at
KymDouglas.com. Follow her on Twitter
@KymDouglas and like her on
Facebook.
Traveling Safely with Your Kids Over the Holidays with Dr. JJ Levenstein
Board certified pediatrician Dr. JJ Levenstein, MD, FAAP shares tips to stay safe and healthy while traveling during the holiday season. Before booking a cruise, she suggests checking the ship's report card to see how well sanitized it is in order to prevent illness from spreading amongst all the passengers aboard the boat. Also, avoid the buffet and raw bar, instead opting to order off the menu. And, make sure kids are up to date on all their vaccinations. Plus, be conscious of how long it may take children to adjust to a new time zone and recover from jet lag. Dr. Levenstein also explains to parents how to alleviate pain in babies' ears while flying due to a change in cabin pressure during take off and landing.
Read up on the Vessel Sanitation Program at
cdc.gov.
Take parenting classes instructed by Dr. Levenstein online by visiting www.momassembly.com. To learn more about parents' concerns with kids go to her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TheMDMoms. Also, find helpful parenting products at the website Dr. Levenstein co-founded and serves as president of, www.mdmoms.com.
Sergio Harford
Actor Sergio Harford tells us the premise of Steven Spielberg's new show "Extant" and his first encounter with co-star Halle Berry. Sergio also speaks about rubbing elbows with First Daughter Malia Obama on set!
"Extent" premieres tonight, July 9, at 9/8c on CBS.
Follow Sergio on Twitter @sergioharford.
How to Get the Right Dog for Christmas with Laura Nativo
There's nothing like seeing the joy on your children's faces when they wake up on Christmas morning to find a dog under the tree. Laura Nativo is here to tell you how to choose the right one for you. She explains how to research breeds to find one that best suites your lifestyle. Take into consideration the lifespan of your dog, your plans for the future, and if small children are involved in the equation.
Find out about more dogs looking for homes at adoptmerescue.com.
Please visit "The Fairy Dogmother" Laura Nativo at:
www.lauranativo.com
Twitter:
@LauraNativo
Facebook:
Facebook.com/LauraNativo
Instagram:
Instagram.com/LauraNativo
To learn more about Hallmark Channel's Pet Project, visit www.hallmarkchannel.com/petproject.
DIY Holiday Block Letters with Jessie Jane
Jessie Jane turns empty corrugated boxes into oversized alphabet blocks that appear wooden. Amazing what a coat of paint can do! Give me a M-E-R-R-Y C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S!
Cristina's Christmas Light Cookies
Brighten up your Christmas with Cristina's Christmas light cookies. These make a great hostess gift or present for teachers. The bulbs can be made extra colorful with M&Ms or turned into sandwiches with cream cheese filling in between two cookies.
DIY Memory Book with Mark
Mark dedicates some time to scrapbooking made easy. Forget the scissors, glue, tape, and stickers. You can make just as personalized a scrapbook digitally that's easy to duplicate to gift to family and friends. Mark gives a tutorial on how to design a memory book filled with photos from the whole year through on a user-friendly website.
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