In my early days as host of Good Morning America (GMA), my beat was “home and family”. Interestingly it was the same time that the “women’s movement” was at a fever pitch in this country and I would get letters from feminist activists who questioned why I wasn’t getting the interviews with the big Hollywood stars and world leaders. While my role on GMA back in those days may have been shaped by a discriminatory attitude toward women, I frankly always enjoyed covering the so called “woman stories” -- you know parenting, education, health and nutrition and personal finances. At the end of the day, aren’t those the stories that people are talking about around the water cooler at work?
I remember one morning when Barbara Walters was on our show to talk about one of her specials. During the commercial break Barbara took me aside and gave me some great advice. She said “If you try to fight management for equality and your “fair share” of the big interviews you will end up where your predecessors did—out the door. Just take the smaller stories that they are willing to give you now and make them shine and trust me your role will grow.” It was sage advice and it served me well.
Over the course of the following two decades I travelled the world for GMA and had the opportunity to see what few others have seen from the White House to the foreign palaces. I had many opportunities to interview world leaders; Kings and Queens, and even Prince Charles, and five U.S. Presidents. It has been an extraordinary life with incredible memories.
Since leaving GMA I have worked on many projects as a women’s advocate and a health advocate. Those “women’s stories” on parenting and health and wellness, which some may have felt I was relegated to cover, have very much shaped my career. In my five bestselling books; Healthy Cooking, Healthy Living, A Bend in the Road is Not the End of the Road, Wake Up Calls and Growing Up Healthy and a workout video Workout America I have shared my personal journey to health and wellness as well as advice from the top experts. I help women to have healthy vibrant skin with my skincare line Resurgence by Murad Skin Care. As a parenting advocate I developed along with my husband Jeff Konigsberg, a child safety device called KinderKord to help keep our children safe from harm. Every Sunday morning I host the Lifetime television show Health Corner which we fondly call “the healthiest television show in America.”
Friends and family know how much I love making my home the center for family parties and entertaining. I pride myself in my tabletops which always reflect the season or the holiday. My aunt Flo always says “I’m going to call the press one of these days and tell them about this side of Joan Lunden – and how you always decorate your home to thrill us all.” Well I’ve taken my love of a decorating and entertaining one step farther, and have developed a new line of home goods Joan Lunden Home.
Women are pulled in so many directions these days, many working a job outside the home and yet still running a household and raising their children. While they may feel like there just aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done, they still want their homes to look beautiful. I’ve developed Joan Lunden Home to help make life a little bit easier today’s woman – so that she can have style in her home and still have time for herself.
Having been a busy working mom myself, I’ve learned to keep my sanity by developing my organizational skills which allow me to be ready for any occasion at the drop of a hat with very little effort. We often have huge parties at our home since we have a big extended family and since I don’t mind being the “party house.” Everyone always marvels at how I can create a theme and a party atmosphere while keeping such a demanding career schedule. They say “Either I’m a genie, or I have some other trick up my sleeve.” My trick is to plan ahead, shop for home décor and accessories when I have extra time and when sales are on and keep a well-organized pantry. It’s filled to the brim with tablescape items; candles/holders, tea lights, interesting artifacts, paper leaves, pine cones, sparkles, napkin rings, etc. I keep it organized so it’s always ready to go. This makes entertaining for 2 or 52 easy -- everything you need to create a party is right there, no running out to the stores to make it happen!
My basement is organized in the same way – labeled bins filled with Halloween to Holiday decorations. I could throw a child’s birthday party in a heartbeat – name a theme. I have other home décor items I’ve collected over the years from my travels around the world, and being able to put your hands on things easily lets you enjoy them and style enjoy yourself and your friends.
My linen closet is organized in the same way -- with twin sets for the children on one set of shelves, and other shelves for Queen and another for King. I love changing the décor in my bedrooms, and it’s not difficult when you’re organized and it’s the least expensive way to feel like you’ve redecorated.
I also stay organized for other occasions like birthday parties since they can really send you into a panic when you need that last minute gift or card. I have a filing system for cards, with folders for children and adult birthdays, Mothers and Fathers Day, Graduations, etc. Whenever I find great cards, I stock up (sometimes 4 or 5 of a card I really like) and I continually restock. For those children’s birthdays, I look for toy sales and make sure I always have a few classics standing by wrapped in generic birthday wrap (with post it notes as to what they are.) That has saved me from many last minute headaches.
I call my way of life Easy Living and I am here to share it with you. It has allowed me to be the wife, mom and homemaker that I enjoy being, while forging an exciting and demanding career. I hope to share my Simple Solutions to Everyday Life and those of the experts. And I hope that you too will share your ideas with me.
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