Morning Show Notes - Thursday, December 30th


-Cleve's Coffee Club begins on Tuesday at 6:50 AM. Each member inducted into the club get a bag of fresh coffee for Augusta's Buona Caffe and a stainless-steel 88.3 WAFJ mug. Fill out the entry form on our website under "Contests."

-We talked about your personal highlights of 2010 this morning. Join the conversation on the 88.3 WAFJ Facebook page.

-Ryan Abel joined us from A Love Project to talk about the results of our Christmas Cheer Tour. A total of 1,300 coats were collected, well beyond our goal of 1,000, along with 200 blankets and 200 other pieces of clothing. They were distributed to the Garden City Rescue Mission, Salvation Army of Augusta and the Augusta Rescue Mission. Plus, individual families benefitted from your donations, including a Graniteville family who lost everything in a house fire.

-Gas prices are around $2.89 in Aiken County and $2.99 in Richmond and Columbia Counties. The AAA says expected $3.00+ per gallon throughout the month of January. After that prices should start to drop as demand dwindles in the dead of winter.

-Steven Curtis Chapman and his family were on Good Morning America yesterday with Robin Roberts. See the video

Morning Show Notes - Wednesday, December 29th


-This is a busy week for sanitation workers collecting the trash created by Christmas presents. The Aiken Department of Public Safety is warning the public about giving criminals an invitation to come steal your gifts. If you are throwing away boxes, they suggest that you cut them up and place them in the garbage container or in garbage bags. The reason is that if you have some big ticket items and the boxes for those items say what was in them, you've given a target to a potential burgler.

-Many of us are resolving to lose weight in 2011 and for some, that involves joining a gym or starting an exercise program. This morning, we asked for advice on choosing the best gym or workout. Karen gave great advice on the 88.3 WAFJ Facebook page: (1) check into the rates and make sure that the "intro" rate doesn't go up in 6 months or a year as the cheaper rates seem to do and (2) don't sign a contract-join somewhere that you can pay month to month without a contract. There are only a few places like that but worth it because if you are locked into a contract-which is normally at least 2 years-you have to pay regardless of whether you use it or you have to pay a huge amount to get out of it. Join the conversation and see what others are saying at http://www.facebook.com/883wafj.

-One of the ways you can lose weight is by being chosen to be on one of five 88.3 WAFJ teams competing in Team Lean with the Family Y. Sign up to be considered at http://www.wafj.com/.

-Shepeard Community Blood Center is in need of blood donors today. You can give at either the Regal Cinemas in Augusta or the Evans Cinemas from 4 to 8 PM today. You'll get free movie tickets as a way of saying "thanks" for saving lives.

-We talked about an Easy Pasta Bake in Simple Cooking today. The recipe is in the post below this one.

Simple Cooking - Wednesday, December 29th


Easy Pasta Bake

1 box corkscrew noodles
1 pound hamburger meat
1 regular-size jar of spaghetti sauce
1 2-cup bag of shredded mozzarella cheese

Cook the hamburger meat in a skillet.
Boil and drain the noodles.
Mix meat, sauce, noodles and half of the cheese and put in a baking dish.
Sprinkle remaining cheese on top of mixture.
Bake at 350 until cheese is melted and sauce is warm.

John's sister-in-law, Laura, made this for their family gathering on Christmas Eve and everyone loved it. It is a versatile recipe in that you can use different types of noodles, add more cheese if you want and add seasonings or spices. If you need to make it for a large group, just double or triple the ingredients.

If you have a quick and easy recipe to share, send it to john@wafj.com. If we use yours, you'll get a thank-you gift. We feature a different recipe every Wednesday morning at 8:10.

Morning Show Notes - Tuesday, December 28th


-Monday Morning Mindbender (on Tuesday)
Q: Forget eating the Christmas dessert leftovers! Try wearing them! One skin and beauty expert says that this orange-colored dessert can be used for exfoliating skin. Which dessert is it?
A: Pumpkin Pie
Skin and beauty expert Stacy Cox suggests using your side dishes and desserts for less traditional purposes. She says that pumpkin pies can be used for exfoliating skin treatments while cranberries can make an excellent hair mask. Of course, even if the treatments aren’t quite as effective as you hope for, you’re at least certain to smell delightful on New Year’s Eve.

-Troy McKinney of North Augusta correctly guessed that the Cheapie of the Week is Coast Bar Soap. Kroger has the 2 bar pack on sale for $1 through Saturday (01/01). Use the printable $1 off coupon and all you pay is the tax. The coupon expires on Friday, so don't wait too long.

-Christmas Cheer Tour Results: Our goal was to collect 1,000 pieces of warm clothing to help those in need this winter. Thanks to you, we collected over 1,300 pieces of clothing, plus 200 blankets! Our friends at A Love Project have been busy distributing them to areas where they hear of a need.

-John's kids, Evan and Emma, got a lot of new toys for Christmas, but they each want the other's toys and not their own. So, this has created a wonderful opportunity to talk about what it means to share. John has said the word "share" more in the last few days than he has in his lifetime, and he's ready to eliminate the word "mine" from the English vocabulary. We talked about strategies for teaching kids to share this morning and you can join the conversation on the 88.3 WAFJ Facebook page.

Morning Show Notes - Thursday, December 23rd


-Will we have a White Christmas this year? Maybe! Forecasters are saying there is still some uncertainty about the track of the winter storm headed for the Deep South. The Atlanta area may see 1 to 3 inches of snow on Christmas Day. News 12 Meteorologist Tim Strong told us this morning that Augusta could see a few snowflakes on Christmas Night. If you plan to travel this weekend, keep an eye on the forecast.

-Aiken was the last stop on our Christmas Cheer Tour yesterday and it was the biggest one. It took three SUV's to haul away all of the warm clothing donations! Thanks to everyone who helped this year. We set a goal of 1,000 pieces and think we may have met it, if not surpassed it. Our friends a A Love Project are handling distribution of the items and will give us an update on the project soon.

-We talked about special Christmas memories this morning. Cleve remembers moving to Aiken at Christmastime around 15 years ago. They had no money for presents because of moving expenses, but they did have a Christmas tree and popcorn. Cleve cooked popcorn on the stove and it created so much smoke, that the family had to evacuate and let the house get some air. Now you know why Cleve doesn't do much in the kitchen! Share your Christmas memories on the 88.3 WAFJ Facebook page.

-We'll be off on Christmas Eve Day, but we're leaving you with plenty of Christmas music to celebrate the season. We're taking Monday off too, but you'll be able to enjoy some of our favorite conversations from the past year. The Mindbender and the Cheapie of the Week return on Tuesday. John will be with you and is cleaning out the prize closet, so there's no telling what you could win!

Morning Show Notes - Wednesday, December 22nd


-Cleve was test driving a spiffy new stainless-steel 88.3 WAFJ coffee mug this morning that we'll be using as part of a prize pack for Cleve's Coffee Club that starts on Tuesday, January 4th. It's a lifetime dream come true for Cleve, as he gets to give away coffee on the radio! Stay tuned for details on you can be a part of the club!

-If you love Third Day, you'll love a deal on their latest album, Move. It's on sale at iTunes right now for $6.99.

-You've seen the video of the flash mob singing the Hallelujah chorus at a Philadelphia Macy's? If not, it's at the bottom of http://www.wafj.com/. A group in California tried to do something similar which led to a mall evacuation. Some people break glass when they sing, but these people made the ground shake. Read more

-John's family started a new Christmas tradition last year of baking a birthday cake for Jesus. This year, Evan is trying to decide whether Jesus would like to have a Spiderman cake or a Batman cake. Share your Christmas traditions on the 88.3 WAFJ Facebook page.

-We shared another quick and easy recipe today in Simple Cooking. See how to make Creamy Chicken Noodles in the post below this one.

-Comedienne Anita Renfroe joined us this morning and shared what Christmas is like with her family. She'll be in Aiken on March 12th for Girls Night Out with Mandisa, and those tickets would make a nice Christmas gift for the lady in your life. You can print them from home when you buy them through our website.

Listen to our conversation with Anita Renfroe:
Part 1
Part 2

Simple Cooking - December 22nd


Creamy Chicken and Noodles

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Yield: Makes 6 servings

Ingredients

1 (0.6-oz.) envelope Italian dressing mix

1 (8-oz.) package wide egg noodles

2 tablespoons butter, softened

3 cups chopped cooked chicken

1 cup whipping cream

1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Preparation

1. Remove 1 Tbsp. Italian dressing mix from envelope, and set aside; reserve remaining mix for another use.

2. Cook noodles according to package directions; drain well, and return noodles to pan.

3. Stir in 2 Tbsp. butter, and toss to coat. Stir in chopped chicken, next 3 ingredients, and 1 Tbsp. dressing mix. Cook mixture over medium-high heat, tossing to coat evenly, 5 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Serve immediately.

**John recommends doubling up on the amount of italian dressing mix and parmesan cheese that is called for in the recipes. This will add an extra flavor punch.

Found in Southern Living February 2007

If you have a quick and easy recipe to share, send it to john@wafj.com. Please include a daytime phone number. If you use yours, you'll get a thank-you gift.

Morning Show Notes - Tuesday, December 21st


-There's a new way of telling the Christmas story that has gone viral. What would it had been like if Jesus was born to Mary and Joseph in 2011? Check out "A Social Network Christmas." This would be a great tool for sharing the true meaning of Christmas with those you know who need to hear it.



-Research has found moms spend about 42 hours on preparing for Christmas --with 20 hours and 13 minutes of that time spent fighting the shopping crowds. This is a busy shopping week. How do you handle the crowds? Join the conversation on the 88.3 WAFJ Facebook page.

-Augusta has a new way to save money with a site called Groupon. You can get certificates for products and services at local and national merchants for a heavily discounted price. There's a new deal each day at www.groupon.com/augusta. The Augusta Chronicle also does something similar with their Daily Deal at http://chronicle.augusta.com/.

-Natalie Grant had her third child, Sadie Rose, on Friday. She was a week early, much to Natalie's relief, and is very healthy. After meeting her little one, Natalie tweeted "I'm so in love, I feel as though my heart could rupture." See Sadie's picture

-A family Christmas classic, The Polar Express, comes on at 9:00 tonight on ABC Family. You can actually ride on the Polar Express in Bryson City, NC. Read more

-There's a new app for iPhones and Droids that will help you keep up with the gift cards you receive for Christmas. Swagg lets you put the information into your smartphone, ditch the plastic and scan a computer-generated barcode on your phone at select merchants. You can also give gift cards from one smartphone to another. Read more.

-Coming Up Wednesday: We'll be talking about Christmas traditions and would love to hear about yours. Plus, tickets to a Girls Night Out with Anita Renfroe and Mandisa would make a great Christmas gift for the woman in your life and you'll have a chance to win 'em when we chat with Anita between 7:40 and 8:00. Also, try your hands at another quick and easy recipe in Simple Cooking with John and Cleve at 8:10.

Morning Show Notes - Monday, December 20th


-Monday Morning Mindbender
Q: The average woman goes through 4 different ones of these in her lifetime. What is it?
A: Hair colors

-The last Christmas Cheer Tour stop is this Wednesday from 11 to 1 at the Hobby Lobby in Aiken. Please bring new or gently used warm clothing to help those in need this winter.

-Cheapie of the Week: Paula Myers of Martinez correctly guessed that it is Hershey's Kisses. They are on sale for $2.50 a bag with your Extra Care Card at CVS. When you buy 2 bags, you get $2 back in Extra Bucks. Plus, use the $1 off 2 coupon from http://www.coupons.com/ and it's like getting 2 bags for $1 each.

-Our friends from Doctors Hospital joined us this morning with some healthy recipes for your Christmas day meal. They did a great job of taking some traditional favorites and making them healthier, without sacrificing the taste.

Download the recipes We've made them available in Microsoft Word format.

Listen to our conversation with Chef Andy and Erin, the nutritionist:

1. Ham and Soup
2. Appetizers
3. Side Dishes
4. Desserts

Morning Show Notes - Thursday, December 16th


-While the political correctness surrounding the Christmas holiday continues on many fronts, we've noticed many retailers are once again incorporating the word "Christmas" into their advertising. Over the last several years, many of them have avoided the word for fear of offending someone. Of the 4 sales fliers in the Augusta Chronicle today, all of the stores called the holiday "Christmas." John mentioned that he is especially pleased with Kohls consistently using Christmas in their ads this year. He's one of their loyal shoppers! If you want to see the AFA's Naughty or Nice retailer list, click here.

-If you want to learn more about the Savannah River Site, they're offering public tours again in 2011. John took one and says it is very educational, especially for folks like him that are not from this area but love history. Read more

-Jason from Downhere joined us this morning. His band will join Mark Schultz tomorrow night at West Acres Baptist Church for the How Many Kings Christmas Tour. If you missed the conversation, here it is:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

-A Charlie Brown Christmas comes on tonight at 8:00 on ABC. Did you know that it is the Christmas special that almost didn't happen? Read the story

-Women's Health magazine has the holiday foods you should avoid. Unfortunately, pecan pie made the list. Read more

-Coming up Friday: Our movie guy, Bob Waliszewski, from Focus on the Family takes a look at the weekend's new releases at 7:10.

Morning Show Notes - Wednesday, December 15th


-There's a chance for some ice to accumulate overnight into tomorrow morning. Stay tuned to 88.3 WAFJ tomorrow morning for weather updates. We don't believe it's necessary to start the bread and milk stockpile...yet. :)

-John is reading a book called Radical by David Platt. The book encourages us to examine what the Bible says about what it take to truly follow Jesus. Some of the stories of people in other countries meeting in house churches and the risk of losing their lives or being tortured make you grateful for the freedom to worship.

-We were touched by a story in today's Augusta Chronicle about 10 year-old Sebastian O'Banion. He gave all of his birthday presents to needy children in Aiken County. Read more
He learned about giving by the example his parents set. Join the conversation on the 88.3 WAFJ Facebook page and tell us how you're teaching your kids the importance of giving.

-Linda Rader shared her recipe for Slow Cooker Pork Chops and Field Peas this morning in Simple Cooking with John and Cleve. Get the recipe

-After our hot chocolate conversation on Monday, John has been searching out the best hot chocolate through a taste test. The white hot chocolate at Dunkin Donuts is his new favorite, but the triple chocolate hot chocolate at Borders looks good and tastes good!

Coming up Thursday: Jason from Downhere joins us at 7:10 and 8:40 AM. His band will join Mark Schultz on Friday at West Acres Baptist Church in Evans.

Simple Cooking


Slow Cooker Pork Chops and Field Peas
Cook Time: 6 hours 30 minutes
Yield: Makes 6 servings

1 (16-oz.) package frozen field peas with snaps, thawed
1 1/2 teaspoons dry mustard
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
6 (1-inch-thick) bone-in pork chops (about 3 1/2 lb.)
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 large sweet onion, sliced
1 (10 1/2-oz.) can condensed chicken broth

1. Place peas in a lightly greased 6-qt. slow cooker.

2. Combine mustard and next 2 ingredients; sprinkle over pork chops. Dredge pork in flour.

3. Cook pork, in batches, in hot oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat 3 to 4 minutes on each side or just until browned. Transfer pork to slow cooker. Reserve drippings in skillet.

4. Sauté onion in hot drippings over medium-high heat 6 to 7 minutes or until tender. Add chicken broth, and cook 2 minutes, stirring to loosen particles from bottom of skillet. Spoon onion mixture over pork in slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW 6 hours.

Browning the pork chops and onions adds an extra layer of flavor to this dish. We love it served with hot cooked rice and chowchow.

Submitted by Linda Rader

If you have a quick and easy recipe, send it, along with a daytime phone number, to john@wafj.com. If we use it, you'll get a thank-you gift.

Morning Show Notes - Tuesday, December 14th


-Cleve wore short sleeves to work today. Has he lost his mind?

-After our hot chocolate conversation yesterday, John took the recommendation of a couple of Facebook friends on Dunkin Donuts' White Hot Chocolate. It is his new favorite! This has a very creamy, unique taste that's worth a try if you like white chocolate.

-John's been through 4 different irons in the last year and is convinced that a good one is hard to find. The consensus from listeners this morning rallied around two irons: the classic Black and Decker model and the high-end Rowenta. Others said the $6.96 iron at Walmart does an adequate job. Join the conversation on the 88.3 WAFJ Facebook page.

-To put perspective on our 16 degree low this morning, Justin checked in from Moscow on Facebook and said it was only 2 degrees colder there! We followed that up with Christmas Eve in Sarajevo from the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, which only seemed appropriate.

-Our next Christmas Cheer Tour stop is tomorrow at the Sunrise Grill in Martinez. We'll be there from 11 to 1 collecting new and gently used coats and blankets.

Coming up Wednesday: Linda Rader shares her recipe for Slow Cooker Pork Chops and Field Peas in Simple Cooking with John and Cleve at 8:10.

Morning Show Notes - Monday, December 13th


-Monday Morning Mindbender
Q: You can't touch it, hold it, smell it or taste it, but the average person sees one 11 times a year. What is it?
A: A rainbow

-If you think it's cold today, get ready for a bitterly cold evening, with a low expected to be around 18 tomorrow morning.

-Speaking of the cold, today is National Cocoa Day! We're searching for the best hot chocolate, either at a restaurant, store or homemade. Tell us about it on our Facebook page.

-John recommends visiting Lights of the South in Grovetown if you're looking for a neat way to celebrate Christmas with your family. They have millions of lights on display, and the thing that is most impressive is that they actually tell the Christmas story! You can take a hayride to view them or use the footpath. Find out more at http://www.lightsofthesouth.com/.

-Amy Brown of Appling correctly guessed that the Cheapie of the Week is Sprite (2 liter). Kroger has it on sale through Wednesday for $.88. Use the digital coupon that you can load to your Kroger card for $.75 off three Sprite or Sprite Zero. You'll get three 2 liter bottles for $.63 each plus tax.

-This cold weather is miserable for a lot of us, but imagine what it is like for those who don't have warm clothing. Donate new or gently used warm clothing at our next Christmas Cheer Tour stop on Wednesday from 11 to 1 at the Sunrise Grill in Martinez.

Morning Show Notes - Friday, December 10th



North Point Community Church in Alpharetta put together an iBand this past Sunday with musicians playing Christmas music from iPads and iPhones.

Things We Talked About Today

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition reveal for Earnie Graham and family at 161 McCain Way in Augusta.

Click here to see construction and reveal photos

-Why did one of the country's top football coaches resign? To spend time being a better husband and father. Urban Meyer felt this was more important than the $20 million he'll lose from stepping down as Florida's coach. We have the utmost respect for this guy! Read more

- The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader opens in theaters tomorrow.

Bob Waliszewksi, our movie guy, from Focus on the Family, will join us with his take on it at 7:10 AM.

Also, tomorrow at 7:40, join us for a conversation with Mark Schultz and hear what he's been doing in Italy. You'll have a chance to win tickets to his Christmas concert with Downhere on December 17th at West Acres Baptist Church.

Things We Talked About Today

-Today is the big reveal for Augusta's Extreme Home Makeover. Earnie Graham and her family will get to see the new home constructed for them by Bill Beazley Homes, ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and thousands of local volunteers. The reveal is at 2 PM and is open to the public. You'll need to park on the Deans Bridge Road side of Regency Mall and take a shuttle bus to the build site. Be prepared to wait a while because they are running behind schedule today.

-Earnie Graham was surprised yesterday with the new cabin built in her honor at the Girl Scouts' Camp Tanglewood in Martinez. Read more

-Google unveiled their new Chrome laptop computer yesterday. What's missing from the keyboard? A caps lock key! The company said at the Chrome press conference: "We expect this will improve the quality of comments across the web." So, no more online shouting!

-A Charlie Brown Christmas was on ABC last night and repeats on December 16th. It brought back memories of the Christmas of 1987 for John when his family had a live tree that lost all of its needles and was a Charlie Brown tree by Christmas day. Other listeners say they've had a similar experience on the 88.3 WAFJ Facebook page.

-There were a lot of automatic sprinklers running this morning at homes and businesses around the CSRA, creating icy road conditions. If you have one, please turn it off.

-Today, we're at the Sunrise Grill on Martintown Road in North Augusta for the next stop on our Christmas Cheer Tour. We're collecting new and gently used warm clothing donations. You can stop by from 11 to 1 and register to win tickets to the Mark Schultz/Downhere Christmas show and get some "Please Wish Me a Merry Christmas" stickers.

-Erin Arrington of Matthews shared her Creamy Broccoli and Cheese Soup recipe in Simple Cooking this morning. Get the recipe

-Pastor Andy Collins told us about a unique event that Sharon Baptist Church is doing at the Columbia County Fairgrounds. It starts tomorrow and it is called "A Hayride Through the Life of Christ." Details are on the family calendar at http://www.wafj.com/.

-This Man Called Jesus Drama at Lake Murray Baptist Church in Lexington, SC: http://www.thismancalledjesus.org/

Simple Cooking - Creamy Broccoli and Cheese Soup

2 boxes frozen chopped broccoli
(Cook according to package directions and drain.)

Add 1 quart of half n half
2 cans cream of chicken soup
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
Heat this through.

Add 1 cup cheddar cheese
1 cup mozarella cheese
(Or a little more to taste)

Submitted by Erin Arrington of Matthews. If you have a quick and easy recipe, send it to us at john@wafj.com. Please include a phone number. If we use your recipe, you'll get a thank-you gift.

Things We Talked About Today


-Yes, it's cold enough to wear your Snuggie to work! Who cares what people say? You'll stay warm. As you might imagine, Cleve had plenty to say about John wearing a blanket around the office.

-Our next Christmas Cheer Tour stop is tomorrow at the Sunrise Grill, Martintown Road, in North Augusta, next to Big Lots. We'll be there from 11 to 1 collecting new and gently used warm clothing donations and handing out our "Please Wish Me a Merry Christmas" stickers.

-Looking for Christmas movies on TV? Click here for a schedule

-Even President Obama has trouble pronouncing certain words. See the video Tell us which word(s) trip you up on the 88.3 WAFJ Facebook page.

-Matthew West joined us to tell the story behind his new song "One Last Christmas." Listen to the conversation: Part 1 Part 2




Coming up Wednesday: Erin Arrington of Matthews shares her Creamy Broccoli and Cheese Soup in Simple Cooking with John and Cleve at 8:10 AM.

Things We Talked About Today


John was on-site of Augusta's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition build for Earnie Graham. He talked to her parents, Earnest and Earnestine, and heard a very faith-filled story.
Listen: Part 1 Part 2


Bill Beazley Homes and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition have built this handicap accessible cabin at the Girl Scouts' Camp Tanglewood in Martinez. The home makeover winner, Earnie Graham, works for the Girl Scouts, and the cabin is being built in her honor.
Listen to Chris Dupree of Bill Beazley Homes talk about the cabin

-Monday Morning Mindbender
Q: Women do this an average of 62 times per day, but men only do it 8 times per day. We all need to do it a little more. What is it?
A: Smile!

-Cheapie of the Week: Hershey's Pot of Gold Chocolates

Coming up Tuesday: Hear the word that caused President Obama to stumble over the weekend and tell us what word always trips you up at 7:10 AM. Matthew West joins us at 8:10 to tell the story behind his new Christmas song "One Last Christmas."

Cheapie of the Week

Donie Nichols of North Augusta correctly guessed that the Cheapie of the Week is Hershey's Pot of Gold Chocolates. There are two ways to get a deal on this one. Rite Aid has them on sale through Saturday (12/11) for $3.99. Use your Wellness Plus card and get $2 back in Up Rewards. Use the printable $1 off coupon and it's like getting this for $.99 plus tax. Rite Aid was low on stock in the Augusta area, so you could ask for a raincheck or go to CVS and buy it there for $2.99 a box with the coupon and your Extra Care Card.

Things We Talked About Today

-The cold weather is a reminder of those who need warm clothing but don't have it. We're trying to change that with our Christmas Cheer Tour. We had a great response yesterday at our first stop in Evans, but we need it to continue. Bring your new or gently used warm clothing donations to Sunrise Grill, next to Big Lots, in North Augusta on Wednesday from 11 to 1.

-This morning, we pondered a recent finding. The average woman can stand their new pair of shoes for just 34 minutes before grimacing with pain. So, if that is the case, why do women wear shoes that hurt their feet? The resounding answer was that women are more interested in fashion, than the fit of the shoes. You can join the conversation on the 88.3 WAFJ Facebook page.

-Matt Hammitt of Sanctus Real, along wife his wife Sarah, told the miraculous story of their baby Bowen to millions last week on ABC's World News Tonight. See the video

-There are plenty of opportunities to celebrate Christmas with your family over the next few days. The City of Sylvania has their Christmas Extravaganza downtown tonight from 5 to 8. They'll have food samples from all over Screven County, along with crafts and the Statesboro Blues Band. Aiken is lighting their Christmas tree tomorrow night at 6:30 at the corner of Laurens and Richland. The City of Augusta has the parade and light-up spectacular downtown on Saturday afternoon. Columbia County has The Christmas in America Festival on Saturday at the ampitheater and a parade on Sunday.

Coming up Friday...Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is in Augusta for the next several days to build a new home for a deserving family. Their identity will be revealed this afternoon and we'll have the details tomorrow morning. Travis McNeal from the Golden Harvest Food Bank will tell us how you can help with their Extreme Dream where Everyone Eats! At 7:10, our movie guy, Bob Waliszewksi from Focus on the Family will tell us about two made for TV movies coming on this weekend. We have another Backstage Pass Friday coming up in the 8 AM hour.

Simple Cooking - Oreo Balls

1 Package of Oreos
1 Rectangular package of Cream Cheese
1 Package of white chocolate bars from the baking aisle

-Crush Oreos up really fine in a zip lock bag
-Mix with 1 package of softened cream cheese (to room temp)
-Refrigerate balls for about an hour
-Melt white chocolate on stove and dip oreo balls in chocolate!
-Cool/refrigerate

Yields: 30 Balls!

Submitted by Terri Spragg of Aiken

If you have a recipe to share, especially one that is Christmas-related, send it to john@wafj.com. If we use it on the air, you'll get a thank-you gift.

Things We Talked About Today

-We played the popular Go Fish/Brad Stine song "Christmas With a Capital C" that addresses those who wish to be "politically correct" about what we call Christmas. The song is so popular that it has inspired a made for TV movie of the same name that debuts this Sunday evening on the Gospel Music Channel. See the trailer

-We're glad to see that many more retailers are embracing the season as what it really is - Christmas. The American Family Association has their annual "Naughty or Nice Christmas List" and many more retailers are acknowledging this season of the year as Christmas. Read more

-Looking for a great Christmas present or stocking stuffer for the woman in your life? We have the answer with tickets to Girls Night Out in March with Anita Renfroe and Mandisa. You can purchase tickets at http://www.wafj.com/.

-Our Christmas Cheer Tour kicks off today at Scrubs of Evans. We're collecting warm clothing items for those in need this winter. Next Wednesday, we'll be at Sunrise Grill in North Augusta from 11 AM to 1 PM.

-It was good timing to kick off the Christmas Cheer Tour today because this is National Pay It Forward Day. Read more

-ShopSmart Magazine has the scoop on the sneakiest new shopping scams that could make you a victim during the Christmas season. Read more

-Terri Spragg of Aiken told us about her Oreo Balls in Simple Cooking this week. This is a great Christmas party food. Get the recipe

Things We Talked About Today

-There's a runoff election in Georgia today for a state supreme court justice and a court of appeals judge. Get your sample ballot at http://www.sos.ga.gov/mvp.

-MAU is hosting a job fair today to fill 40 industrial positions. Find out more

-First there was the junk food diet. Now, there's the potato diet, from none other than the potato commissioner! 60 days of eating only potatoes results in 21 pounds lost. Read more

-Augusta made national headlines on Black Friday after Marine Cpl. Phillip Duggan was stabbed by a shoplifter at Best Buy. His reaction to the situation? "I can't believe he (the shoplifter) messed up my uniform!" Thankfully, a local group has given him a replacement. Read more from The Augusta Chronicle

Coming up Wednesday...Ryan Abel joins us from A Love Project at 7:10 to talk about our warm clothing collection that begins tomorrow with the first stop on John and Cleve's Christmas Cheer Tour. Also, at 8:10, another quick and easy recipe in Simple Cooking with John and Cleve. Terri Spragg of Aiken will share a Christmas party favorite - Oreo balls!

Things We Talked About Today

-Monday Morning Mindbender
Q: 70% of men say this is the worst thing about the holiday shopping season. What is it?
A: Wrapping gifts

-Today is Cleve's 56th birthday! His iPad, Ippy, got all the presents. His family gave her all sorts of new extras making Ippy the most accessorized girl on the planet!

-We shared Thanksgiving celebration highlights this morning. You can tell us about yours on the 88.3 WAFJ Facebook page.

-The Cheapie of the Week is Campbell's Chunky Soups. Get the details

-We're collecting new and gently used warm clothing items for the first stop on John and Cleve's Christmas Cheer Tour. We'll be at Scrubs of Evans this Wednesday from 11 AM to 1 PM. See our other stops at http://www.wafj.com/.

-There's a runoff election in Georgia tomorrow for a state supreme court justice and a court of appeals judge. Get your sample ballot at http://www.sos.ga.gov/mvp.

Cheapie of the Week

Jeanette Hernandez of Augusta correctly guessed that the Cheapie of the Week is Campbell's Chunky Soups. They are on sale at Publix until Tuesday (11/30) as a "Buy 1, Get 1 Free" special. One can will ring up $1.20. Use the printable $.50 coupon, which will double at Publix, and you'll get one can for $.20 plus tax.

*If you don't have a Publix where you live, Walgreens has a deal on the same item, with decent savings. On the same website above, you'll find a coupon for $1 off 2 cans of this soup. Use that along with the coupon in this week's Walgreens in-store ad, and you'll get two cans for $1 each.

Things We Talked About Today

-Shoebox collection week is over, but it's not too late to participate in Operation Christmas Child. You can build a virtual shoebox at http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/index.

Simple Cooking - Chicken Bruschetta Bake

2 cloves garlic, minced
1 can (14-1/2 oz.) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 pkg. (6 oz.) Stuffing Mix for Chicken
1/2 cup water
1 tsp. dried basil leaves
1-1/2 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
1 cup Low fat Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

Preheat oven to 400ºF.

In a bowl, mix tomatoes, garlic, water and stuffing mix until stuffing mix is moistened.

Layer chicken, basil and cheese in 3-qt. casserole or 13x9-inch baking dish.

Top chicken and cheese with the tomatoe and stuffing mix. Bake for 30 min. or until chicken is done.

Tammy Willing of North Augusta passed along this recipe from Kraft Foods. If you have a recipe to share, especially one that is holiday related, send it to john@wafj.com. If we use it on the air, you'll get a thank you gift.

Things We Talked About Today

-Some people are really excited about Black Friday. We mean really excited, like the Davenport family in Florida. They've been camped out in front of Best Buy for almost a week. Read more

-Cleve and his fellow Aikenites are anxiously awaiting the construction of a Cracker Barrel in their area. Read the latest update

-As anticipation builds for Extreme Makeover: Home Edition's Augusta project, everyone's looking for clues about the recipients. Could a tour of a local arts school be a clue? Read more
Volunteers for the project are still needed. Sign up at http://www.extrememakeoveraugusta.com/.

-Looking for volunteer opportunities on Thanksgiving Day? Check out some ideas our listeners mentioned on the 88.3 WAFJ Facebook page.

-Cleve is in love with McDonalds' McRib. He has been there just about everyday since they started offering it again earlier this month. It's only available for a limited time. Johnny sent us a do-it-yourself McRib recipe to us so that Cleve would not experience McRib withdrawal. Recipe: Make your own McRib

-While we're on the subject of recipes, you should take a look at this one. While it may not be the tastiest cake, it sure is pretty and could be a great way to use your Thanksgiving leftovers. Recipe: Thanksgiving Turkey Cake

-We're finished collecting shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. If wanted to pack a shoebox and never got around to it, there's something new you can do called a "virtual shoebox." Read more

Coming up Wednesday...We're giving you a chance to share the blessings! Starting at 6 AM, you can call and share the blessings in your life at (803) 819-3125. Also, Tammy Willing of North Augusta has a recipe for Chicken Bruschetta Bake that she'll share at 8:10 for Simple Cooking with John and Cleve.

Cheapie of the Week - November 22nd

Leatha Minichan of Aiken correctly guessed that the Cheapie of the Week is Dixie Crystals Sugar (4 lb bag of Extra Fine Granulated Pure Cane). Bi-Lo has it on sale through Thursday for $1.98 per bag. Use the printable $.50 coupon which will double at Bi-Lo and you get the sugar for $.98 plus tax.

Things We Talked About Today

-Monday Morning Mindbender
Q: The average person has a dozen of these in their home and rarely buys new ones. What are they?
A: Pens
Dan Burton from Aiken had the correct answer. It turns out that today is his birthday, so the How Many Kings Tour tickets made a great gift for him!

-Our friends from Doctors Hospital's food and nutrition services shared some healthy Thanksgiving dishes that don't sacrifice the taste. Download recipes (Microsoft Word)

-The Cheapie of the Week is Dixie Crystals Sugar. Get the deal

Things We Talked About Today

-John was at the volunteer pep rally last night for Extreme Makeover: Home Edition's Augusta project. The Diamond Lakes Community Center was packed with people eager to help out a family whose identity has even been revealed yet. The build will happen in 106 hours, from the time the old house is demolished to the time the family is handed the keys to the new home. Work goes on around the clock, so as you might imagine, a lot of volunteers are needed. Even if you don't have construction skills, there's a place for you. Sign up to volunteer at http://www.extrememakeoveraugusta.com/.

-Our movie guy, Bob Waliszewski from Focus on the Family, reviewed Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 and The Next Three Days this morning. He doesn't recommend either of them for family viewing but says there are some good family movies like Megamind and Secretariat that are still playing in theaters.

-Phyllis Kramer joined us from the Butterball Turkey Talk Line to provide some cooking help for Thanksgiving and shared some funny calls she's received on the job. Listen to our conversation:
Part 1 Part 2

-Bowen Hammitt, son of Matt from Sanctus Real, was able to go home yesterday after spending the first three months of his life in the hospital. He has another heart surgery in February, but for now, he is doing really well. Praise God for a miracle in this situation and continue to pray for Bowen and his family. Updates will be posted at http://www.bowensheart.com/.

-The biggest shopping day of the year is one week from today. You can take a peak at Black Friday ads that have already been leaked at http://www.blackfriday.info/. Also, listeners are discussing their Black Friday shopping strategies on the 88.3 WAFJ Facebook page.

Coming up Monday...You could win tickets to the How Many Kings Tour with Mark Schultz and Downhere with the Monday Morning Mindbender at 6:10 and the Cheapie of the Week at 7:40. Also, we'll talk about a healthier Thanksgiving with the food and nutrition services staff at Doctors Hospital. They will share some dishes that don't sacrifice taste in the name of health at 7:10 and 8:40.

Things We Talked About Today

-Operation Christmas Child shoebox collection ends on Monday. Packing instructions and drop-off locations are at www.wafj.com/. There's a great discussion about shoebox packing tips happening on the 88.3 WAFJ Facebook page.

-Cold season is here and parents of small children are usually begging for some remedy that will help their kids sleep. There is now scientific proof to suggest that vapor rub may be the solution. Read more

-Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is looking for volunteers to help with their Augusta project happening December 3rd-8th. There is a pep rally tonight at 6:00 to recruit volunteers at the Diamond Lakes Community Center. The address is 103 Diamond Lakes Way, just off Windsor Spring Road. Keep up with the project at http://www.extrememakeoveraugusta.com/.

-Today is the Great American Smokeout and it was the focus of our monthly Living Well series this morning. Find out more about it here.

-Renee called and shared that she tried the http://www.e-mealz.com/ site that a listener mentioned earlier in the week when we were talking about ways you save money. The site plans dinner for you and does it using the weekly ad for your favorite grocery store. Renee said she saved $90 on her groceries and got her 7 year old to eat squash for the first time!

Coming Up Friday...Our movie guy, Bob Waliszewski, from Focus on the Family joins us at 7:10 for a family-friendly perspective on the weekend's new releases. At 7:40, Phyllis Kramer joins us from the Butterball Turkey Talk Line to help you get the turkey ready for it's big day!

Things We Talked About Today

-We had a crazy morning. Lightning hit our UPS (uninterruptable power supply) at the tower site in Beech Island, and we were off the air from late last night until just after 7:00 this morning. Then, we got knocked off the air for almost another hour. The good news is that we're back on the air!

-We didn't get to talk about much on the show today since we were off the air. We were able to talk with Lindsey Ferguson about the Ooey Gooey Pumpkin Cake she submitted for Simple Cooking with John and Cleve. Get the recipe

Coming up Thursday...The Great American Smokeout is the subject of this month's Living Well focus. We'll chat about that with Pam Major of Doctors Hospital at 8:10. Living Well is a partnership with WJBF Newschannel 6, The Augusta Chronicle and Doctors Hospital.

Simple Cooking - Ooey Gooey Pumpkin Cake

Cake:
1 (18 1/4-ounce) package yellow cake mix
1 egg
8 tablespoons butter, melted

Filling:
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
8 tablespoons butter, melted
1 (16-ounce) box powdered sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine the cake mix, egg, and butter and mix well with an electric mixer. Pat the mixture into the bottom of a lightly greased 13 by 9-inch baking pan.

To make the filling: In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and pumpkin until smooth. Add the eggs, vanilla, and butter, and beat together. Next, add the powdered sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and mix well. Spread pumpkin mixture over cake batter and bake for 40 to 50 minutes. Make sure not to over bake as the center should be a little gooey.

Lindsey Ferguson shared this Paula Deen original with us. If you have a quick and easy recipe to share, send it to john@wafj.com. If we use yours on the air, you'll get a thank you gift.

Things We Talked About Today

-US News and World Report blogger Kimberly Palmer shares some ideas for living off of $500 a month. Read more
You can share your penny-pinching ideas on the 88.3 WAFJ Facebook page.

-Several folks have been asking about the website one listener mentioned that helps you plan meals and creates a shopping list based on your preferred store. The site is http://www.e-mealz.com/.

-The pep rally to recruit volunteers for the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Augusta project is this Thursday at 6 PM at Diamond Lakes Community Center. Find out more at http://www.extrememakeoveraugusta.com/.

-Facebook is changing the way you communicate (again). Read more

-For those who prefer the old-fashioned way of communicating (phone calls), John found something that allows you to make free long-distance calls from your computer. Read more

-Matthew West was on Fox and Friends this past Sunday. If you missed it, like we did, check out the video from the After the Show Show.

Coming up Wednesday...Lindsey Ferguson shares an Ooey Gooey Pumpkin Cake recipe in our Simple Cooking feature at 8:10 AM.

Things We Talked About Today

-Monday Morning Mindbender
Q: Men spend three times more on this than women. What is it?
A: Tipping
Don't forget to thank those who serve you. 15%-18% is the usual recommended gratuity.

-We heard the story of Livia Satterfield, a young lady who received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox as a 12 year-old orphan in Romania. This box changed her life! You can see her tell the story by clicking the Videos tab at http://www.wafj.com/. Shoebox collection is happening this week all over our listening area, including at the 88.3 WAFJ studios. To find a drop-off location near you, check our website.

-Just in time for Thanksgiving, the Cheapie of the Week is Stove Top Stuffing. To find out how to get it for pennies, click here.

-The South Carolina Gamecocks are celebrating winning the SEC East for the first time ever! Over 2,000 fans showed up at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia to welcome the team home at 2:00 on Sunday morning. We're wondering who the Georgia fans will support in the Gamecocks matchup with Auburn. With Georgia being fresh off a loss to Auburn, their fans may support the Gamecocks, but around these parts, the Georgia/Carolina rivalry is pretty fierce too!

Coming up Tuesday...
A blogger for US News and World Report has a strategy that will allow you to live off of $500/month. Ideas include taking cold showers, reusing plastic sandwich bags and making your own cleaning supplies. We'll talk about your penny-pinching ideas, so feel free to share them on the 88.3 WAFJ Facebook page.

Cheapie of the Week - November 15th

Tina Jackson of Augusta correctly guessed that the Cheapie of the Week is Stove Top Stuffing. You'll find it on sale at Target through Saturday (11/20) for $.79 a box. Use the $.50 off 2 Target coupon, along with the $1 off 2 manufacturer coupon to get two boxes of stuffing for 4 cents each plus tax! **If there is not a Target near you, take the $1 off 2 manufacturer coupon to Walgreens and combine it with the coupon in the in-store circular and get two boxes for $.49 each plus tax.

Things We Talked About Today

-A study out this week says that nearly 75% of Americans are carrying a level of stress that is deemed to be unhealthy. Even worse, the stress is taking it's toll on our kids. So this morning, we talked about the different ways you handle stress. You can join the conversation on the 88.3 WAFJ Facebook page.

-Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is coming to Augusta to build a home for a family from December 3rd to December 8th. You can be a part of the project as a volunteer or as a spectator. Visit http://www.extrememakeoveraugusta.com/ for details. There's a big pep rally for anyone interested in volunteering on Thursday, November 18th at 6 PM at Diamond Lakes Recreation Community Center.

-A Night with the Chapmans is tomorrow at 7 PM at Millbrook Baptist Church in Aiken. Tickets are available at http://www.wafj.com/ and will be available at the door. Doors will open at 6 PM.
-Our movie guy, Bob Waliszewski, from Focus on the Family reviewed Unstoppable this morning. While he said it is a well-written, well-acted film, it is filled with profanities and only merits a 2 out of 5 for family-friendliness. You can get reviews on movies currently in theaters at http://www.pluggedin.com/.

-We had a great time ringing bells for the Salvation Army at the kickoff for their Kettle Campaign. They're looking for church youth groups who would be interested in ringing bells on Saturday, December 11th. It is a competition to see which youth group can collect the most money at their kettle. You can find out more by calling Beth Bargeron at (706) 922-0170.

Coming up Monday...The Mindbender at 6:10 and the Cheapie of the Week at 7:40. Plus, Monday kicks off collection week for Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes. Join us at 7:10 to hear the story of a young lady whose life was changed after receiving a shoebox.

Things We Talked About Today

-Join those who are saluting the special vets in their lives on the 88.3 WAFJ Facebook page.

-Businesses and restaurants are offering discounts to veterans today and over the next few days. See the list

-The folks who are sailing on the Music Boat Cruise with some of 88.3 WAFJ's artists are glad they're not on the Carnival Splendor, which is not so-splendid at the moment. Read why

-The Salvation Army's Kettle campaign kicks off today. John and Cleve are ringing bells at the Kroger on Washington Road at National Hills today from 12 noon til 2 PM. Volunteers are needed to man kettles and ring bells all around the CSRA. Get more information at http://www.salvationarmyaugusta.org/.

-We thought Chris Tomlin was a quiet, reserved guy off stage, but check out his appearance in a video about the "bowl" haircut. See the video

-Eighty-two year old Russell Quarles is the latest winner of the Living Well Award. It is presented by us, along with our Living Well Partners including WJBF Newschannel 6, The Augusta Chronicle and Doctors Hospital. Russell has been surviving prostate cancer for going on 20 years and has been giving back to help others who have been where he was. Read more about his story and nominate someone you know for the award by clicking here.

Simple Cooking - Chicken Pot Pie

1 pound of boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 cans of cream of chicken soup
2 cans of mixed vegetables
1 box of refrigerated pie crust

Boil the chicken until done. Chop the chicken and place in a mixing bowl. Add the cream of chicken soup and the vegetables. Place in a pie pan on top of one layer of pie crust. Place the other layer of pie crust on top and cut slits in the top for venting.

Put a ring of aluminum foil around the edges of the pie crust and bake on 375 for 30 minutes. After the first 30 minutes, remove the foil and bake for another 30 minutes. The foil keeps the crust from burning.

This recipe came from John's wife, Amy. They like to use one can of cream of chicken with herbs and then one can of regular cream of chicken for an extra flavor kick.

If you have a quick and easy recipe to share, send it to john@wafj.com. If we use yours on the air, you'll get a thank you gift.

Things We Talked About Today

-Steven Curtis Chapman joined us this morning. He and his family are in concert on Saturday at Millbrook Baptist Church in Aiken. Tickets are still available at http://www.wafj.com/.

-There's a new store in the old Circuit City building at the Augusta Exchange Shopping Center. It's called Christmas Tree Shops, but the funny thing is that most of the merchandise is not Christmas-oriented. John went and said it was like a combination of a Hobby Lobby, Big Lots and a dollar store. If you really want to get into the Thanksgiving spirit, they sell a hat shaped like a cooked turkey!

-Last night on News 12, it was a Hallmark moment when a soldier came home early from Iraq and surprised his daughters at school. See the video

-Two army wives at Fort Gordon are baking cookies for veterans and are looking for helpers. Read more

-Our Simple Cooking recipe this week is Chicken Pot Pie that John's wife, Amy, told us about this morning. Get the recipe

-Talk about irony, a nutrition professor has invented a junk food diet that helped him lose 27 pounds. He doesn't recommend you following his diet. He did it to prove a point. Read more

-Thursday is Veterans Day and you can pay tribute to the special vet in your life on the 88.3 WAFJ Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/883wafj

Coming up Thursday...John and Cleve will help kick off the Salvation Army Kettle Campaign from 12 to 2 at the Kroger at National Hills. Representatives of the Salvation Army will be in at 7:10 to talk about it. At 8:40, we'll meet Russell Quarles, the latest winner of the Living Well Award, which is given through our partnership with The Augusta Chronicle, WJBF Newschannel 6 and Doctors Hospital. He is a cancer survivor who is helping others facing the same battle.

Things We Talked About Today

-After spending $4.2 billion last year on marketing, mainly to kids, the fast-food industry is being blamed for contributing to childhood obesity in a study released yesterday. This morning, we talked about how the fast-food restaurants are not totally at fault here. Parental responsibility is an important part of the equation, as kids can't drive themselves to the restaurants and pay for their own meals. You can read the story here. Join the conversation on the 88.3 WAFJ Facebook page.

-Operation Christmas Child shoebox collection begins Monday. 88.3 WAFJ will again be serving as a collection point, Monday through Friday from 8 to 5. Click here to learn how to pack a shoebox and to find a collection point near you.

-Black Friday ads are starting to leak. Check http://www.blackfriday.info/ and http://www.bfads.net/ to see them.

-John and Cleve will help kick off the Salvation Army's Kettle Campaign on Thursday at the National Hills Kroger on Washington Road in Augusta. From 12 to 2, you can stop by and drop off your change in one of four college football kettles: Georgia, Georgia Tech, South Carolina and Clemson. John will man the Georgia kettle and Cleve will man the Clemson kettle. Of course, there's a friendly competition to see which team collects the most money!

-November is National Adoption Month and this morning we talked with Loren Rae Easterling of Covenant Care Adoptions. They are a Georgia-based, ministry-minded adoption agency that is establishing a local presence in Augusta. You can learn more about them at http://www.covenantcareadoptions.com/.

-MAU is hosting a job fair tomorrow in Augusta, looking to fill 50 industrial positions. Read more

Coming up Wednesday...Steven Curtis Chapman will join us at 6:10 and 7:40 AM. He and his family are in concert this Saturday evening at Millbrook Baptist Church in Aiken. Also, at 8:10 a quick and easy recipe for Chicken Pot Pie in our Simple Cooking feature. If you have a recipe to submit, send it to john@wafj.com. If we use yours on the air, you'll get a thank you gift.

Things We Talked About Today

-Monday Morning Mindbender
Q: The average man puts an extra 276 miles on his car each year doing what?
A: Driving around without asking for directions

-Georgia Southern won their homecoming game in Statesboro in overtime on Saturday. They played undefeated Appalachian State and handed them their first loss of the season. One listener called to tell us about about it and said that as an alumnus of GSU, it worth the trip to watch the game. The fans stormed the field at the end of the game.

-Speaking of football, Georgia plays Auburn this weekend. Talk about a rivalry! Millie, who is an Auburn fan, called to tell us about a video that shows how scary the word "Auburn" is to at least one little boy. Alabama and Georgia fans will enjoy watching this one. Watch the video

-The Cheapie of the Week is Green Giant Frozen Vegetables. See the post below this one for the details.

-Caleb Chapman, son of Steven Curtis Chapman, was with us this morning. He and his brother, Will Franklin, play in a band (Caleb) and will be joining their dad this Saturday night at Millbrook Baptist Church in Aiken. Tickets are available at http://www.wafj.com/. We'll chat with Steven on Wednesday's show.

Coming up Tuesday...November is National Adoption Month, so at 8:10, we'll chat with Loren Rae Easterling of Covenant Care Adoptions. They are a Georgia-based Christian adoption agency that is in the process of establishing a local office in Augusta.

Cheapie of the Week - November 8th

Phyllis Jenkins of Martinez correctly guessed that the Cheapie of the Week is Green Giant Frozen Vegetables. Kroger has them on sale through Saturday (11/13) for $.88 a box. Use the printable $.60 off 3 coupon at http://www.smartsource.com/ to get 3 boxes for $.68 each.

Things We Talked About Today

-Expect cooler weather for the next few days in the CSRA. We'll climb back into normal range in the mid-70's next week. We could see lows around freezing this weekend.

-The colder weather reminds us there are those less fortunate who are struggling to stay warm. You'll have a chance to help them by donating new/used warm clothing during our Christmas Cheer Tour. We'll do it every Wednesday in December through the week of Christmas. Stay tuned for times and locations.

-Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday. Set your clock back one hour before going to bed on Saturday night.

-Bob, our movie guy, from Focus on the Family says that Megamind is a good choice for families headed to the theater this weekend. He had mixed feelings about Fair Game, the true story of CIA agent Valerie Plame. You can read reviews on all the movies currently playing at http://www.pluggedin.com/.

-The Columbia County Fair is running through November 13th. John went with his family last night and highly recommends the Sea Lion Splash show. It is the quality of something you'd see at Sea World. These sea lions are so skilled at their stunts that they even know how to do the conga!

-Shepeard Community Blood Center has an urgent need for O negative donors. There is a critically ill patient in a local hospital that will need blood for the next week. Shepeard needs 24 donors a day to fill the need. Find a location where you can donate at http://www.shepeardblood.org/.

Coming up Monday...Caleb Chapman joins us at 7:10 and 8:40 AM. He is the son of Steven Curtis Chapman and will play with his band at a Night with the Chapmans on Saturday, November 13th at Millbrook Baptist Church. Listen for your chance to win tickets. Also, you could win a family-four pack of tickets to the Columbia County Fair during the Monday Morning Mindbender at 6:10 and the Cheapie of the Week at 7:40.

Things We Talked About Today

-Listeners are still trying to figure out the "why" of yesterday's Morning Morning Mindbender. We learned that half of Americans who sell their homes take the light bulbs with them. Our Facebook fans had various reasons for this including the light bulbs may be the expensive energy-saving kind, that they sold the house for less than expected and wanted to get every penny out of it or that they liked the feel of the lighting in the current house and wanted to recreate it in the new one.

-Sharathon begins at 6 AM tomorrow. Please pray about how God would use you to financially support the work He is doing in the CSRA and beyond!

-Bowen Hammitt, son of Matt from Sanctus Real, has had some setbacks in his condition. He's been recovering from heart surgery that happened right after he was born, but now they discovered that he's had a stroke and is still having difficulties with his blood sugar level. Please continue praying for this miracle baby. Updates are at http://www.bowensheart.com/.

-One of third of Americans are still undecided about who they'll vote for in this year's congressional races. If you need a voting guide or a sample ballot for the November 2nd election, we have them for GA and SC at http://www.wafj.com/. Also, advanced voting is underway this week in Georgia. Contact your county's board of elections for locations and times.

-Researchers have discovered what may be the most common sense way to help with dieting. They found that you are less likely to buy junk food at the grocery store if you pay for your purchase with cash. Those who used credit or debit cards tended to pile the junk food into their shopping carts. It makes sense! If you pay with cash, you're more discerning about what you buy because you have limited funds!

-Laura from No Other Name joined us this morning. You can find out more about the group at http://www.noothername.com/. They will be with Michelle Tellone at the Ladies Encouragement Luncheon on November 3rd. Tickets are $5 and available at (803) 819-3125. Also, they will do a love offering concert that evening at 7:00 at The Sanctuary Church in Evans.

-If you need a fresh perspective on life, check out what someone submitted to our online prayer center this week:
"My car is repossessed, my house is in foreclosure, I have more bills than money and no job. And yet I thank God that He stills sticks by me. He wakes me up every morning, even though I have a hard time sometimes facing what lies ahead that day. I'm glad I know that Jesus is the answer to all questions because I have no answers of my own."

--There are two job fairs going on in Augusta today:
MAU is hiring for industrial positions - read more
The Georgia Department of Labor has a job fair and expo - read more

Things We Talked About Today

-Monday Morning Mindbender
Q: Half of Americans who sell their homes take this along with them. What is it?
A: Light bulbs
Rick Stringfield figured it out, but he, like us, has no idea why this is the case!?! Don't most homes come with light bulbs?

-Cleve is back from vacation and discovered that October (at least this one) is the best time to go to the beach. He said there weren't any crowds and it wasn't too hot - two prerequisites for anywhere that Cleve visits. By the way, he recommends The Sea Captain for great seafood next time you're in Myrtle Beach.

-We revealed the lineup for Winter Jam 2011, happening on February 10th at the James Brown Arena in Augusta. This year, you get 10 artists for $10 at the door. The lineup includes: Chris Sligh, Chris August, Sidewalk Prophets, KJ-52, Newsong, Francesca Battistelli, Red, Kutless, David Crowder Band and Newsboys. Tony Nolan will be the guest speaker.

-There are two job fairs going on in Augusta tomorrow:
MAU is hiring for industrial positions - read more
The Georgia Department of Labor has a job fair and expo - read more

-Sharathon begins on Wednesday. This is where we raise our operating budget, which is funded by listeners like you. Please pray about your involvement as we look for 1,071 More Than Music Mission Partners.

-The Texas Rangers and San Francisco Giants are in the World Series, which begins on Wednesday. Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton has quite a story to tell about how God rescued him from bondage to drugs and alcohol. Read the story in his own words

Coming up Tuesday...Laura from No Other Name joins us at 8:10. They'll be at the ladies luncheon with Michelle Tellone on November 3rd and will be performing that evening at The Sanctuary Church in Evans.

Cheapie of the Week - October 25th

Tiffany Kent of Thomson correctly guessed that the Cheapie of the Week is Mahatma White Rice. There is a $.50 printable coupon at http://www.redplum.com/. The same coupon was in the Sunday newspaper. Either way, it will double at stores that double coupons, which makes for a cheap bag of rice. Publix has the one pound bag for $1.19, so it ends up being $.19 plus tax. The coupon is good on any size and any variety.

Things We Talked About Today

-October is Clergy Appreciation Month. You still have some time to do something special for your pastor. It's nice to have a month dedicated to honoring our pastors, but we hope you'll make it a year-round habit. A gift is a nice gesture, but even if you just send them a card with a special note, that be just the encouragement that they need! Don't forget the support pastors on staff too.

-Bob Waliszewski, our movie guy from Focus on the Family, gave us his take on the documentary, I Want Your Money. He says it is a conservative-leaning look at the vision of Ronald Reagan versus the vision of Barack Obama. Bob says it is full of some interesting stuff to chew on and gives it a 4 out 5 rating. You can get reviews of all movies in theaters at http://www.pluggedin.com/.

-John had some very positive comments for a movie called The Grace Card that he screened this week. It opens nationwide on February 25th. You can see the trailer at http://www.thegracecardmovie.com/.

-Casting Crowns, MercyMe and tobyMac have been nominated for Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist at the American Music Awards. You can vote for your favorite at
http://abc.go.com/shows/american-music-awards/vote.

-The Augusta Riverhawks open their very first season of ice hockey tonight at 7:30 at the James Brown Arena. http://www.augustariverhawks.com/

-John recently chatted with Livia Satterfield, the recipient of an Operation Christmas Child shoebox in Romania. Watch the video and hear how this shoebox changed her life. You'll find it at www.wafj.com/videos.

-Coming up Monday...Cleve returns from vacation. You'll have a chance to win a day with your family at Kackleberry Farm in Louisville. Listen to win during the Monday Morning Mindbender at 6:10 and the Cheapie of the Week at 7:40. Also, we have the inside scoop on the Winter Jam 2011 lineup. You'll hear it here, first, at 7:10.

Things We Talked About Today

-October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and this morning we had a survivor with us to tell her story. Listen to Angie Sanders talk about her "adventure" with breast cancer:
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4

-The Weekend to Remember Marriage Conference is not returning to Augusta this fall. The nearest one is December 3rd-5th in Charleston. You can find out more about it at www.familylife.com/weekend. Use our group code radio883wafj for a discount.

-The David Crowder Band has put together a music video for their new song, "Shine," that uses over 700,000 Lite Brite Pegs. Check it out on the Video tab at http://www.wafj.com/.

-Sharathon begins on Wednesday. We'll be raising the station's operating budget for the coming year. Please pray for God's provision and how He might use you to accomplish the goal.

-The Western Carolina State Fair opens in Aiken today. One of this year's highlights is the country's only traveling sea lion show. Find out more at http://www.westerncarolinastatefair.com/.

-Two more recalls are in the news this week:
Toyota Recall
Graco Stroller Recall

-Friday is the deadline to get your 4, 5 or 6 year-old in the drawing for the World's Smallest Christmas Carolers. The entry form is at http://www.wafj.com/.

-Coming up Friday...We're celebrating pastors, since this is Clergy Appreciation Month. Call us and recognize your pastor between 6 and 8 AM at (803) 819-3125. Also, our movie guy, Bob from Focus on the Family, tells us about I Want Your Money at 7:10. Plus, John will tell us about a movie that he screened this week called The Grace Card.

Things We Talked About Today

-Bowen Hammitt, son of Matt from Sanctus Real, is still having issues with his blood sugar level. Doctors can't seem to get it under control right now, and there is concern that it could delay his development. Please keep praying for this miracle baby! Updates are at http://www.bowensheart.com/.

-World's Smallest Christmas Carolers entry deadline is this Friday. Entry form is at http://www.wafj.com/.

-Voter guides are available for the upcoming November 2nd elections.
Click here for Georgia
Click here for South Carolina
For sample ballots, visit http://www.sos.georgia.gov/mvp and http://www.scvotes.org/.

-If you want to take the kids to Fort Discovery in Downtown Augusta, you'd better do it soon. They're closing at the end of the year. Read more

-The sun doesn't come up until after 7:30 AM these days, so please be very careful around school zones and bus stops. An 8 year-old boy in Thomson was struck by a car at his bus stop around 7:00 yesterday morning and is in the hospital fighting for his life. Please pray for him, the family, the driver of the car who hit him and the students who witnessed it.

-Do celebrities really seem to die in sets of 3? We're wondering if that's the case this time with the deaths of Tony Curtis, Barbara Billingsley and Tom Bosley all within the last two weeks. Obviously, death is inevitable, but it's just a strange phenomenon that seems to happen often.

-Anna Stamper shared her Crockpot Mexican Chicken in our Simple Cooking feature this week. Get the recipe
If you have a quick and easy recipe to share, send it to john@wafj.com. If we use yours, you'll get a thank you gift.

-Sharathon starts one week from today. We'll be asking for your help in raising our operating budget for the coming year. Please pray that the goal of 1,071 More Than Music Mission Partners will be met.

-The Texas Rangers need a win today to advance to the World Series. Randy Phillips of Phillips, Craig and Dean has done his part to help them get there. He wrote a song called "Do the Claw" and it talks about the thing the players do with their hands when they're congratulating another player. Randy wrote the song, but Canton Jones sings it. You can listen to it here.

-Coming up Thursday...Breast cancer survivor Angie Sanders of Graniteville joins us. She'll tell her story of finding purpose through cancer at 6:10 and 7:40 AM.

Simple Cooking - Crockpot Mexican Chicken

• 1 pkg. boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 1 jar salsa
• 1 can black beans
• 1 can corn, drained
• 1 (8oz.) pkg cream cheese OR 1 cup sour cream

1. Put chicken breasts on bottom of crockpot and sprinkle with taco
seasoning. Add salsa, corn and beans.

2. Cook on high for about 4-5 hours (low 6-7 hours) or until chicken
is cooked.

3. Add 1 package cream cheese (just throw it on top!) and let cook
another 1/2 hour until cheese is melted (or mix in sour cream).

4. Stir and enjoy! The chicken should be so tender that it can be
easily shredded with a fork. Sometimes I serve this as a casserole
with Spanish or brown rice, OR use it as a filling for burritos and
serve it with tortillas and shredded cheese and lettuce. It's also
delicious on top of salad and topped with guacamole, so as you can see it is very versatile!

Things We Talked About Today

-Casting Crowns, MercyMe and tobyMac have been nominated for Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist at the American Music Awards. You can vote for your favorite at
http://abc.go.com/shows/american-music-awards/vote.

-Two recalls are in the news:
Tylenol 8 Hour Caplets
Kroger and Walmart Frozen Vegetables

-How did the Chilean miners keep alive hope for a rescue? One miner named Jose with his nightly group Bible studies seems to have played a big role. Read more
This morning we asked "When has your faith helped you through what seems to be an impossible situation?" You can join on the conversation on the 88.3 WAFJ Facebook Fan Page.

On Wednesday....Simple Cooking with John and Cleve at 8:10 AM. Anna Stamper will tell us about her Crockpot Mexican Chicken.

Things We Talked About Today

-Monday Morning Mindbender
Barbara Billingsley (June Cleaver) of "Leave it to Beaver" fame died Saturday at the age of 94.
Q: What was the name of the town where the Cleavers lived?
A: Mayfield
Carmen Spletzer of Aiken figured it out and won tickets to Kackleberry Farm. She told us that her employer, AAA Sign, is the company replacing the letters on the Wachovia Building this week. The 20-story building in Downtown Augusta will have six foot tall letters that spell out "Wells Fargo." These guys have quite a job ahead of them!

-Deer have been very active before sunrise for the last couple of weeks and are causing traffic accidents, like the ones we had this morning. Keep your eyes out for them, and if you're about to hit one, don't swerve, just hit the brakes. Swerving could put you head on with other vehicles.

-David is in for Cleve this week and was telling us about going to Chuck-E-Cheese with his wife on Friday night. They don't have kids, so why were they there? Keller and her cousin were celebrating their birthdays. Their nana used to take them to Chuck-E-Cheese for their birthdays when they were kids and then bowling afterwards. Nana has passed away, so it was a chance to relive those good times. What tradition is still alive and well in your family? Share it on the 88.3 WAFJ Facebook Fan Page.

-The Cheapie of the Week is Softsoap. You can get it for free! Details are in the blog post below this one.

-That free soap will come in hand for smartphone users. A new study says your smartphone is dirtier than a public toilet. Read more

-Voter guides are available for the upcoming November 2nd elections. For Georgia, visit http://www.georgiafamily.org/voters-guide-home. For South Carolina, visit http://www.palmettofamily.org/Alliance.asp. For sample ballots, visit http://www.sos.georgia.gov/mvp and http://www.scvotes.org/.

-We didn't talk about it this morning, but there is a frozen vegetable recall that involves Kroger and Walmart. Read more

Cheapie of the Week

Brielle Smith of North Augusta correctly guessed that the Cheapie of the Week is Softsoap. Bi-Lo has this on sale through Tuesday (10/19) for $1 a bottle. Use the printable $.50 off coupon (which doubles at Bi-Lo), and all you pay is the tax! Note: The coupon is in the lower right corner of the website.

Things We Talked About Today

-Teen drivers are the group with the highest number of car accidents, and it may not totally be their fault. The AAA Traffic Safety Foundation found that parents only spend 2 hours per week, on average, teaching their teens how to drive. The AAA recommends parents spend 100 hours supervising their teenage drivers during the permit stage, although most states require only 50. Read more. You can join the conversation about teaching your teen to drive on the 88.3 WAFJ Facebook Fan Page.

-UGA VIII makes his debut tomorrow as the new Georgia Bulldog. Read all about Big Bad Bruce.

-Our movie guy, Bob, from Focus on the Family gave the new movie Red a 2.5 out of 5 for family friendliness. You can read reviews on all the movies currently in theaters at http://www.pluggedin.com/.

-There's another church-led movie coming to theaters on February 25th. Cordova Church in Memphis has produced The Grace Card starring Lou Gossett, Jr. You can see the trailer at http://www.thegracecardmovie.com/. John will be seeing it at a pre-screening next week and will tell you more about it.

-Chris Tomlin will be in Aiken tomorrow night with Kristian Stanfill. Tickets will be available at the door at the USC Aiken Convocation Center. Doors open at 6:00 PM. Concert begins at 7:00 PM. Parking is $3 per car.

-The Covenant Players visited with us this morning. They are a group of young actors and actresses who spend 10 months of the year on the road traveling through the Southeast. Their plays deliver a God-focused message to a variety of audiences. You can see them on Sunday at First Pres in Downtown Augusta at 5 PM. They will be back in February and are looking for churches, prisons, schools, childrens homes and other groups that would like to host them. Their website is http://www.covenantplayers.org/.

-Coming up Monday...We're giving your family a chance to visit Kackleberry Farm in Louisville. You could win a four-pack of tickets with the Monday Morning Mindbender at 6:10 and the Cheapie of the Week at 7:40.

Things We Talked About Today

-After saying John was crazy for falling into the McDonald's Monopoly trap, Cleve shows up this morning with a McDonald's orange juice that has two game pieces. He said he did it for John, but is he changing his tune and hoping to get a share of the prize money? Maybe. No cash was won this morning, just a free medium order of fries. :)

-The funeral of a local hero is today in Aiken. Staff Sergeant Willie Harley Jr. died on October 1st in Afghanistan. The service will be at Cedar Creek Church at 1 PM. Police are urging those who want to show their support for the family during the funeral procession to do so along Rudy Mason Parkway and York Street.

-Jennie Montgomery of WJBF Newschannel 6 joined us to talk about their Health and Wellness Expo on Saturday. It is 10 AM to 3 PM at the Savannah Rapids Pavilion in Columbia County. John and Cleve will be there broadcasting from 10 AM to 12 Noon. Click here for more information.

-You've seen the pictures from the rescue of the Chilean miners, but you may not have heard the faith stories. Miner Mario Sepulveda said "I was with God and I was with the Devil. They fought me, but God won. He took me by my best hand, the hand of God and I held on to him. I never thought for one minute that God wouldn't get me out of there." Mario, not losing his sense of humor, brought up rocks from the mine as souvenirs. The Jesus Film Project had sent each of the miners, using a supply line, an MP3 player loaded with the audio from the famous Jesus film. Baptist Press reports that two of the miners gave their lives to God while trapped underground.

-We're looking for 4, 5 and 6 year-olds to sing their favorite Christmas carols on the radio. Enter your child in the drawing for the World's Smallest Christmas Carolers at http://www.wafj.com/. Deadline is October 22nd.

-Today is National Dessert Day (where's The Cheesecake Factory when you need one?) It is recommended that the best way to celebrate this day is to eat dessert after every meal. So, now you have an excuse!

-Dr. Joe Wilson joined us for our monthly Living Well series to talk about the importance of having a mammogram. Living Well Augusta is our partnership with Doctor's Hospital, WJBF Newschannel 6 and The Augusta Chronicle. Listen to the conversation: Part 1 Part 2

-Coming up Friday...We'll be talking about why teen drivers need more practice. At 7:10, our movie guy, Bob Waliszewski, gives us the scoop on the movie Red, plus we'll tell you about another church movie effort starring a big-name actor. At 8:10, you'll meet The Covenant Players, a group of actors and actresses who spend life on the road ministering through drama. They're performing at First Presbyterian in Augusta on Sunday.