Karen Leigh's Blog

Despite me longing for warmer days of feeling the sunshine on my face, I still love the snowfall.

I can’t help but drive more slowly through my neighborhood and appreciate the way it blankets the lawns and rooftops – and delicately balances on tree limbs.

Growing up in Arkansas, snow is such a rarity, I’m not sure it’s in me to take one single snowfall for granted.

With that in mind, I wanted to share this photo of my nephew Tanner.

I was happily surprised to wake up this morning to this picture message on my phone.

It snowed enough in Little Rock last night for my nephew and niece to enjoy a snow day today!

For that reason alone, I can wait another month or two for those sunshine filled days.

A lot of people love the Super Bowl parties for the commercials, I love game day for the food!

I have no idea where I got this recipe but I have yet to make these and people not love them. I call them “little pizzas.”

They are easy, tasty and the best thing about them is you really can’t screw them up. That’s my kind of recipe!

And feel free to add whatever ingredients you like to them.

1 pound turkey meat

1 pound hot Italian sausage

1 large box of Velveeta (reduced fat will work, too)

1 pkg of mini rye breads (found in deli area)

Cook the meat, drain and season as you like.

I add crushed red pepper – and pepper to taste.

(I like my food a bit spicy.)

After cooking and draining meat, add in Velveeta.

Once it’s all melted together scoop out and put a hefty dab on your mini rye bread slices.

If you’re ready to eat, put them on a cookie sheet and broil on “high” for 4-5 minutes.

If you make them early – refrigerate – or freeze.

Happy eating and enjoy the game!

Jim and I will be anchoring the newscast after the game – so we’ll see you here after.

 "If there is no struggle there is no progress."

         ~~~  Frederick Douglass

Where do you get your daily inspiration?

Do you pray?

Meditate?

Do you enjoy a long morning walk, or does it come to you just sitting in your favorite chair sipping your morning coffee?

This time of year always makes me feel "stuck."

I am happy as can be, but the cool days, and dead trees begin to wear on my spirit.

It's challenging sometimes to get up and get going.

So, if you have any tips on things you do that makes you forget its winter out there, share them with me.

I'd love to hear what you do to lift your spirits.

I never had the pleasure of meeting little Gabby Krause, but I did have the pleasure of meeting her mother, Tammy yesterday.

Gabby, died at the age of six.

It was 2004 when her 19-month battle with a brain tumor ended.

Not long after saying good bye to her, Tammy and her family decided they wanted to do something in her memory she would’ve been proud of.

They formed the Gabby Krause Foundation, started raising money, and before long they were putting smiles on the faces of other cancer patients.

My boyfriend Jimmy and I were so impressed with Tammy and her passion for the kids that we hope to get the chance to do more with the foundation as the year unfolds.

If you’re interested in learning more….just click on the link above.

It’s definitely worth your time to check out.

How can we ever begin to understand what the people of Haiti are going through?

As a reporter covering natural disasters (mainly tornados) I can share with you that the video we see cannot do justice to the scope and reality of the destruction.

Television can show us a lot – but there is so much it unfortunately cannot show.

My heart breaks for the people of that country and those who have a loved one there.

Yesterday – from 4-7 we held an interactive help center to benefit the Haitian relief efforts and would you believe – thanks to your generosity – we collected 20-thousand dollars in three short hours!

That’s simply amazing.

Thank you for getting involved and making a difference.

If you still want to help CBS4 is sponsoring “Help 4 Haiti.”

You can donate money to the Red Cross at any King Soopers or bring first aid supplies for “Project Cure” to American Furniture Warehouse.

So much is needed….every little bit counts.

It should be a fun work day Wednesday.

I get to join Greg Moody on the red carpet to help showcase a CBS Films Project called “Extraordinary Measures” with Brendan Fraser and Harrison Ford.

I wanted to see the movie before I learned I would get the chance to take part in the movie premiere, so I'm looking to all of the hoopla.

If you’re a huge Brendan Fraser fan, come on down to the Pavilions on the 16^th Street Mall and maybe you’ll spot him.

He’s supposed to walk the red carpet sometime after 6 p.m.

If you can’t make it downtown – don’t fret.

We’ll be out there live for our 5 and 6 p.m. shows and Misty with our social media team will be “tweeting” about it.

It'll be nice to have a little "Hollywood" excitement in our big city.

Editor's Note: See the photos from the event in a cbs4denver.com slideshow:

Extraordinary Measures Denver Screening

A red-carpet showing of CBS Films' "Extraordinary Measures" took place at the Denver Pavilions for on Jan. 13. Slideshow

2010….has a nice ring to it.

I hope it’s a year filled with just that, “hope.”

I’m holding onto optimism that our economy will stop bleeding, and in turn, so will so many of our friends and neighbors who have lost their jobs, homes and in many cases faith in controlling their futures.

I’m sure 2009 had some beautiful, wonderful even “spectacular” moments worthy of celebrating.

 But this gal is looking forward…..forward to a New Year full of all kinds of possibilities – experiences – and potential.

Here’s to you, and a 2010 that is all you need and want it to be.

I love this time of year.

Not the shopping rush or the packed mall parking lots, but the magic in the air.

This time of year is truly “magical” to me.

I love the spirit of the season.

I love that people turned out in droves to help with our emergency toy drive.

I love the lights on the houses and I love listening to Christmas songs round the clock on KOSI.

I love what Christmas “means.”

I love that it brings out the best in most people and it certainly always reminds me of how fortunate I am to have a healthy family I love, and that I actually enjoy being around.

And this year, the holiday season has taken on even more meaning for me.

I have a wonderful boyfriend, with a fantastic family in Denver I get to enjoy, and we have a new puppy we get to share our world with.

Meet “Daisy.”

As many of you know, October was a terrible month for me after discovering my Basset Hound “Ruby” had cancer.

We lost her that month.

We had been wanting to add a new pet to our lives, but we wanted to make sure it would be a completely new experience. 

I didn't want to compare my new dog, to my beloved Ruby.

So, Jimmy and I decided to go the “bigger” route.

Hence, Daisy.

The Bernese/Pyrenees mix that we are already in love with.

I am so blessed this holiday season, and I hope you are too.

Thanks for letting me be a part of your lives, and please know that I am so happy to call Denver, and Colorado my home.

“There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness but of power. They speak more eloquently then ten thousand tongues. They are messengers of overwhelming grief and unspeakable love.”

 ~ Washington Irving

I heard this quote today and thought it was just beautiful, and so true.

Tears cleanse the soul and heal the wounds.

Do not be afraid to let them fall or to let people witness them.

It’s 3:20 as I write this and it’s only 3 degrees!

I knew we could get cold here in Colorado, but after a few days of these bitterly cold weather I’m beginning to remember what my years living in Minneapolis were like.

This was the norm there during the winter months…

But – no!

Not our Denver!

We are supposed to see sunshine and potentially a 50 – 60 degree day in the midst of our holiday season.

What’s going on Mr. Weatherman, Ed Greene?

Actually, I don’t mind the cold weather.

I love the snow and the cold that comes with it.

It certainly gets you in the mood to do some holiday shopping.

I loved the weekend of watching the snowfall, bundling up in a blanket and snuggling with my loved one.

I hope you’re finding ways to enjoy it too.

Stay warm, and share some of the things you love best about the cold weather when you get a chance!

I’d love to hear from you.