Kelly Clarkson Gets "Unplugged".

Van McNeil's Blog

Kelly Clarkson gets "Unplugged". by Van McNeil , posted Oct 18 2011 9:38AM

Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter Kelly Clarkson graces the Unplugged stage in “VH1 Unplugged: Kelly Clarkson,” debuting online at Unplugged.VH1.com Thursday, November 17 at 8PM ET / 7PM CT. The on-air premiere follows on VH1 Friday, November 18 at 11PM* and on Palladia, MTV Networks’ high-definition music channel on Saturday, November 19 at 9PM*. Kelly’s extremely personal set will include performances from her forthcoming album Stronger as well as other past favorites. Since bursting onto the music scene 10 years ago, Kelly Clarkson has released 4 studio albums (Thankful, Breakaway, My December, All I Ever Wanted), sold over 20 million albums worldwide, 10 million albums in the US and has had 7 singles in the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart. She is the recipient of 2 Grammy Awards, 2 American Music Awards, 2 MTV Awards and 11 Billboard Awards. Clarkson’s last effort, 2009’s All I Ever Wanted debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 and produced the smash singles “My Life Would Suck Without You” and “Already Gone.” Kelly joins Thirty Seconds to Mars, Mumford & Sons, Adele and Lykke Li in the 2011 roster of “Unplugged” artists. New episodes will continue to launch throughout the year at Unplugged.CMT.com, Unplugged.MTV.com, and/or Unplugged.VH1.com. Tags : Social : Kelly Clarkson, Unplugged, VH1, wmyx People : Van McNeil Back To Blog
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10/18/2011 8:37AM

Kelly Clarkson gets "Unplugged".

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When is it ok...
Over the weekend I went to a party and Miley Cyrus was there with her mom promoting her new album. I've seen Miley a million times on T.V. or in magazines but meeting her in person made me think...is it ever ok to tell someone they are too skinny? Miley is very nice but my first reaction was "Wow she is way to skinny". Of course I kept my mouth shut but everyone at the party was whispering the same thing. I hope she has success with her new album and comes to Wisconsin soon for cheese and beer! lol!

My recent Hollywood murder mystery adventure! Part 2
It was a beautiful sunny Saturday in Los Angeles, California. I awake from Friday night's TNT catered/planned festivites, where a criminal got shot atop the famous Beverly Wilshire Hotel, tried to figure out who hired the murderer and got ready to interteview the stars of TNT's Monday Night shows Major Crimes and King & Maxwell. PICTURE: Van McNeil w Jon Tenny / Sean King (King & Maxwell) Mondays, 9pm, TNT. Jon Tenny / Sean King talks about Milwaukee, his new show King & Maxwell and what it's all about... So, I finish my interviews and head back to my room to get ready for a cast party at this awesome club called Boulevard 3. Everything was to the nines and everyone was having a good time! Food, drinks, dancing, the Hollywood stars... and then, THIS happened! The murder mystery continues... It almost felt like we were on these TNT shows! Trying to put the peices together, collecting evidence, interviewing suspects, all to figure out whodunnit! Get your, "crime solving" ON! Monday Nights starting at 8pm on TNT w Major Crimes AND King & Maxwell OR get caught up online at www.TNTDrama.com

Remembering NOLA!
I don't know if you have ever been to Mardi Gras (February/March) in New Orleans, Lousiana but if you get the chance GO! I got to experience Mardi Gras before Hurricane Katrina hit in 2006 and lemme tell you, it was an experience! From all the parades, colorful costumes, beads and coconuts to the French Quarter and Burbon Street craziness there is NOTHING quite like Mardi Gras! So, if you've never been or just want to scratch that itch again, our friends at Six Flags Great America will be doing it Mardi Gras style all weekend and I have your FREE tickets to go! Of course, you can enjoy ALL that Six Flags has to offer, like Batman The Ride Backwards, X-Fight and the NEW Ignite Grand Finale but the streets of Orleans Place will be transformed THIS WEEKEND so you can enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes of Bourbon Street including live music, parades and fireworks, as well as authentic food and drinks from New Orleans. Want more information? Click here. Wanna win tickets to go? Listen between Noon-4p ALL WEEK for your chance to win! Good luck and 414.799.1099

BACON Debate - Best way to cook...
In honor of Father's Day, I thought I would finally settle the age old question... What is the best/proper way to cook bacon? To settle such a debate I called the experts! Renowned food writer/author/critic (New York Times), Peter Kaminsky joined me to talk about his new book he wrote alongside Marie Rama called, "Bacon Nation". In the book you will find 125 different recipies, from breakfest to dessert, that include BACON!! So... What IS the best/proper way to cook bacon? Find out what Peter says below and don't forget to enjoy some bacon this weekend! :) More about Bacon Nation...click here.

Managing Picnic Beetles
Eat up and clean up to keep those little black beetles from enjoying your harvest. Known as picnic beetles, sap beetles, or little black bugs, these scavengers can be found in overripe strawberries and raspberries, cracks in ripe tomatoes, ears of corn and more. Since they are attracted to overripe and damaged fruit, regular harvesting and sanitation will help keep these pests at bay. Avoid pesticides that require a waiting period before you can continue to harvest as this delays picking and will result in even more overripe fruit that attracts more beetles into your garden. Some gardeners find trapping effective. You may want to try this popular recipe: Mix 1 cup water, 1 cup dark corn syrup, one cake of yeast, and a spoonful of vinegar. Place the mixture in a container outside the garden. Use it to attract the beetles away from the garden, trap and drown them. A bit more information: Any fermenting plant juices will also work. Some gardeners report success using ripe bananas and melon to attract and trap these insects. For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com

Eat All Your Vegetables Day â June 17th
Load up your plate with fresh-from-the garden produce as you celebrate Eat All Your Vegetables Day on June 17th. Use this day to inspire new additions to your vegetable garden while encouraging reluctant veggie eaters to try something new. Once they try some fresh vegetables they may be willing to make them a regular part of their diet. And, if you get them to grow their own, they are even more likely to partake. Once you're inspired, look for extra space to add more vegetables to the landscape. Start by calculating the number of days left in your growing season. Simply count from the anticipated planting date to the average date of the first fall frost in your area. Check plant tags and seed packets for the number of days needed from planting until harvest. Make a list of these vegetables. Then look for vacant spaces in flowerbeds, mixed borders and containers. And train vines crops up decorative trellises and fences. A bit more information: Here are a few short season crops you may want to consider. Plant seeds and be ready to harvest radishes, leaf lettuce, spinach and chard in 40 days. Beets, bush snap beans, cucumbers and kohlrabi are ready to harvest in 50 to 60 days. Carrots, Chinese cabbage, and turnips take about 10 days longer. For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com

My recent Hollywood murder mystery adventure!
Every now and then, "work" takes me out to the West Coast but THIS trip was a little different. Lemme explain... This adventure begins at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, (Pretty Woman, Bevery Hills Cop) where I was put up for the weekend for a TNT event! If you're are asking what TNT is, you probably already know, it's the TV channel... the one that is so familiar with drama, it's in their slogan... TNT - We Know Drama. Anyway, me and my buddy check in, go up to our respective rooms and get ready for a gatering on the roof of the hotel later that night. Little did we know we would witness a "shootout" between police and a hired killer! It was up to everyone in attendence to figure out who at the party was responsible, by the end of the weekend. There were clues... LOTS of clues! Text messages, twitter accounts, pictures and more! Plus a whole cast of characters from detectives, forensic lab technicinans, suspects and even a special appearance from the Los Angeles Department of Corner office! If you're a murder myster junkie, even if you're not, this is kind of stuff you will encounter if you're watching TNT on Monday Nights! And let me be the first to warn you, IT SUCKS YOU RIGHT IN! Let's begin with, "Major Crimes" who's first season I missed despite rave reviews from critics and fans. This show gives you all the tools to figure out WHO killed, in this first episode it's the BIG TIME film-producers wife. It's a great show that will leave you wanting more! BTW you can catch up on Season One by visiting TNTDrama.com or take a sneak peek of Season Two, which premeieres tonight at 8pm on TNT..click here. PICTURE: Van McNeil w Major Crimes cast members, L, Tony Dension (Lt. Andy Flynn), C, Mary McDonnell (Capt. Sharon Raydor), R, G.W. Bailey (Lt. Provenza). TO BE CONTINUED...STAY TUNED FOR MORE!

Visit a Farmerâs Market and Plan Your Garden
Farmers Markets are on the rise as more and more of us are looking for locally grown fresh produce. You may be surprised to find one or more popping up near your home. Get the most out of your visit with a little advance planning. Check out the internet for a list of farmer's markets in your area. Confirm the dates and hours of operation. Many include a list of vendors with links to their website and the week's featured produce. Gather those cloth bags used when buying groceries. It makes managing all the produce easier and you will reduce the number of plastic bags headed to recycling or the garbage. Take cash and lots of small bills. This makes it easier for the farmer and speeds up shopping. And you'll have more time to visit every single booth. Look for and try new and different vegetables. It will help you plan future additions to your edible garden. A bit more information: Eat first so you buy less or go hungry and plan on staying for a meal or snack. Many markets serve coffee and pastries or tasty meals. And take the whole family to enjoy this shopping experience. Many have kids' activities and music for all to enjoy. For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com

Weed Your Garden Day â June 13th
Break out the cupcakes and balloons and get ready to celebrate Weed Your Garden Day on June 13th. The thrill of the party may wane a bit when family and friends discover your true motivation. But, adding a festive spirit to garden tasks can make it more fun and you're more likely to make them happen. Try a round robin of eating and weeding with friends. It is a great way to work in some social time and help each other tackle the weeds in the garden. Barter a bit of weeding for a home cooked meal, pie, photography or other hobby or skill you prefer over weeding. Hire some help – it's ok to admit the weeds won this round. Once under control, it will be easier for you to keep up with weeding and other garden care. Once the garden is weeded, mulch it to reduce future weed infestations. Shredded leaves and evergreen needles are perfect for flowerbeds and vegetable gardens. A bit more information: Woodchips and shredded bark make nice mulch around trees, shrubs and pathways. Do not put fabric weed barrier beneath these and other organic mulch. As the mulch decomposes it provides a great environment for weed seeds to sprout and grow through. For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com

Nudge Your Bougainvillea Into Bloom
Nudge your potted bougainvillea into bloom with proper growing conditions and proper care. Grow these blooming beauties in full sun. You'll get the best flower display during the shorter days of early spring and early fall. Plus the cooler night temperatures of 60 degrees or cooler will also promote bloom. Keep your bougainvillea potbound to further encourage bloom. Repotting too soon results in lots of leaves and stems and delays flowering. During the growing season, allow the plants to dry slightly before watering again. Use a low nitrogen slow release fertilizer with phosphorous, like Milorganite, to meet most of your plants season-long needs. Or apply a soluble flowering plant fertilizer to moist soil once a month. Prune away any unwanted growth throughout the summer. And occasionally pinch out the growing tips to encourage more compact growth. Wear gloves and long sleeves to minimize direct contact with the thorns. A bit more information: Start new plants from 4 to 6 inch long cuttings. Stick the cut end into a moist well-drained potting mix or mix of peatmoss and perlite. Roots should appear in 4 to 6 weeks. Repot if needed in a slightly larger container. For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com

Heaven on Earth!
Sun, snow, rivers, streams and...the mountains! That's what I saw while I was vacationing over the weekend in Denver and Vail, Colorado. It's always been one of my favorite places to visit because the mountain views, in my opinion, are a glimpse of heaven on earth. I was able to sit on a few rooftop patios downtown, I went horseback riding in the Rockies in Beaver Creek and then I was able to sit in a hot tub in Vail while sipping my morning coffee (this photo is my view from the hot tub). Yes, I fell back in love with Colorado during my visit and I hope to be back there sometime soon!

PIC: Cool Clouds
I took this picture from the rooftop of a friends condo in Chicago. We were having cocktails tonight when the storm was rolling in. Super cool clouds!

View 2013 Wisconsin Breast Cancer Showhouse

Shade Combinations for Attracting Hummingbirds
Don't let shade stop you from attracting hummingbirds to your garden. Include a few hummingbird favorites in the garden or container plantings. Fuchsia is a favorite of shade gardeners and hummingbirds. Try using one of the upright types like Thalia, Gartenmeister or Firecracker with its variegated leaves. Add a fern for texture and wire vine as a groundcover in the garden or spiller in the container. Consider adding a few or quite a few Dragon wing begonias to the garden. The large plants put on a show all summer long with the red and pink flowers. They combine nicely with impatiens, another hummingbird favorite. And surround this combination with a groundcover or trailer of Silver Falls Dichondra. Include a backdrop of summer long bloom you and the hummingbirds will enjoy. Train a honeysuckle vine onto a fence or decorative trellis for screening and hummingbird appeal. Try the mildew resistant Major Wheeler. A bit more information: For more ideas on attracting birds and butterflies to your garden visit www.birdsandblooms.com . See projects and ideas on attracting wildlife to the garden and you'll find my answers to common garden questions. Also, be sure to look for my article "Make Room for Hummingbirds and Butterflies" in the June/July 2013 issue of Birds & Blooms magazine. For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com

Buttered Rum, Southern Comfort - Colorful Perennials for the Garden
How about a bit of Buttered Rum or Southern Comfort in the garden? No, I am not talking about a drink, but rather a few colorful perennials. Heucherella 'Buttered Rum' is a hybrid with coral bells, known as Heuchera. And foamflower, called Tiarella as its parents. The maple shaped leaves have a caramel edge and are topped with white flowers in spring. Southern Comfort coral bells have cinnamon peach leaves that mature to amber. The white flowers on this plant appear in summer. Finish off your planting with a little dessert. Peach Flambe coral bells have bright peach leaves in the cooler months of spring and fall. The leaves turn a softer peach in summer and plum purple for winter. Use a combination of these and other coral bells and foamflowers to create a tapestry of color in your partial shade to full sun gardens. Be sure to keep the soil slightly moist throughout the season. A bit more information: Add some Dolce® Key Lime Pie to the dessert buffet. This coral bell has chartreuse foliage all season long. The heart shaped leaves are mottled with lime green. Mix a few with dark green or blue-green hostas for an eye-catching combination. For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com