It's one of those things where you knew it was coming but you can never really be prepared for the end. I've been working here for 14 years and it's very emotional. I've developed really wonderful friendships and basically grew up here...getting married and having children along the way.

We're all just digesting it now and taking it in -- wondering what the future holds. I know for the fans...it will be hard to imagine your afternoon with Oprah on the TV. I grew up watching Oprah too.

It's been an incredible journey and a very exciting 14 years and next season is going to KNOCK your socks off...I can feel it in my bones. I'm excited to take it to the end...and celebrate the wonderful journey we've all traveled on for so many years.

What a blessing. And God bless Oprah...

I'm tellin' ya...get back in touch with your wardrobe. That's what I did. I have to say I'm that mom with a fairly newborn baby who really just STOPPED shopping. I stopped looking at fashion magazines and caring about my appearance. It happens to the best of us. Just a month ago I think I went to work everyday in jeans, a long sleeve T-shirt and a pair of sneakers. For the last two weeks I've been working on the Shoe, Handbag and Accessories Intervention Show. I have been inspired to start "paying attention" to my wardrobe again.

WHAT DID I LEARN? Everything. Really.

I had no idea you were supposed to match your tight with your shoe or boot? Did you know that? If so...show off!

I had no idea that gray is the hot new color for fall?

I had no idea that soft thin scarves are all the rage...

I had no idea that "bib" or "statement" necklaces are in...

And I DID NOT own a pair of skinny jeans or leggings...

So in the last couple weeks I've completely revamped my wardrobe. Adam Glassman - Creative director from O Magazine couldn't BELIEVE I still had square toed boots. I mean...when did that style go out? I thought I was still rockin it everytime I put those boots on. Embarrassing!

As you know if you've been reading my blog I'm not a fancy girl. I'm an everyday- love a great bargain girl. I started asking around the office about the leggings. Where do I get them? How much should I pay? One producer said she got her cheapies from Target. Can't remember how much. I happened to be in the mall and ran into Forever 21 and found black and gray leggings for $4.00! Yes - $4.00! I'm just sayin'

My other great bargain is buying inexpensive "trendy" jewelry from Norstrom's "teen" department. Can you even?!#%! I got great long chains from the Nordstrom "teen" department for like $10 a pop.

Anyway, enough about my bargains...watch the show Monday. It's so fun. You'll learn about shoes that make your legs look thinner...and handbags & shoe styles that can take 10lbs off your look. FOR REAL!

SO TUNE IN PEOPLE!!!

Things are just starting to rev up with our Shoe, Handbag and Scarf Intervention Show. We've had the idea a few days. We've talking to our audiences, going to the stores/malls and reading emails you all have written in to see who really need shoe, handbag and scarf advice. Some women write about bunions, having a flat so they won't tower over their husbands. A few moms wish they could find fashionable but mommy running around comfortable shoes. We've found a lot of folks who wear only one or two pair of shoes. Crazy!

I really like this show because I'm really "shoe" challenged. I have NO IDEA which shoes to buy and why. All the big NO NO's I'm reading...I DO on a daily basis. Wearing UGG or chunky shoes with wide-legged pants-- that's me. My jeans aren't long enough...oops. I now know that wearing long sleeve tshirts and sneakers everyday isn't exceptionally stylish. I mean! Really

So...hopefully I can up the ante on my wardrobe while I'm doing this show. I have to say...I'm wearing a bracelet and necklace I haven't worn since this summer. I actually dug through my jewelry box after hearing a tip about wearing accessories to spice up even the most basic outfit.

Yeah!! I'm off this weekend. I worked all last weekend because I taped my "Investigative Report on Women, Porn and Erotica with Lisa Ling" last week. Usually the weekend before you have a show you work. On work weekends it's a crazy juggle. I typically go to the grocery store at 6am when they open (although they haven't always updated the vegetables) so I can get back and cook a meal by 8am. Then off to work around 10a and back home around 6 or 7p depending on the show. Sometimes it's even later.

After the show is over...in this case this past Wednesday...it's catch up time... I have a week plus worth of mail to get through...school notes that could wait...I play catch up on. Then there's laundry, clothes shopping for my children who seem to grow out of their clothes every 3 months and winter shopping too. My bargain of the week...I was at Marshalls and they had great down coats for kids...Ralph Lauren ($24.99) and a few other brands. I usually go Gap or North Face but this time...it was Marshalls. That being said...more errands to run today but leisurely...a luncheon...home tonight watching the Netflix I've had for about 2 months and tomorrow...hopefully packing the kids in the car and hanging out at a girlfriend's house.

Now THAT'S a off weekend!

Enjoy yours too

I meant to write this blog post last week when I met Barbra Streisand for the first time. I think we spent about 3 hours in her presence as we prepared for the show the night before. We had a rehearsal-- showed her photos, video clips and lighting before the big interview. One of the things that struck me was her quiet strength. She's hugely talented and accomplished and successful...and when you're around her you can "feel" that energy...her confidence-- judgment-- and extremely beautiful voice. That's all I have to say. It's hard to explain but it was awesome to experience.

Have you ever been in the presence of someone who made you feel "GOOD" to be a woman?

No, this isn't Candi . . . it's Rick -- one of five members of Candi's Rockin' Team. Our fearless leader would like us to chime in every once in a while on our experiences preparing the show. And since I did the shoot at Jay-Z's executive offices in Manhatten, I'm up first!

I'll admit that I wasn't a huge Jay-Z fan before I left for New York. As a kid, I rode around in the back of the family station wagon as my parents played 8-track tapes of Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond. So now, as a 37-year-old father of two who knows little about rap music, this was an interesting assignment. But I suspect that's why Candi sent me. She knew I would be pleasantly surprised and could help bring the magic of Jay-Z to the portion of our audience who didn't know the man or his music.

You feel the greatness and impeccable style the moment you walk into Jay-Z's headquarters. Gorgeous offices, hip showrooms for his Rocawear clothing line, breathtaking views of New York City, stunning artwork -- and that heavenly smell that hits you the moment you walk in the door. (The smell comes from $185 Dolce Vita candles that Jay keeps burning all the time.) We got great shots around the office for about an hour before rushing downstairs to meet Jay as he pulled up (his staff said I should call him Jay).

After brief intros, the tour began. You can see a chunk on the show, but I'll tell you what the cameras didn't adequately capture: Jay's staff really digs their boss. Jay told me he believes in finding people who share his vision and then getting out of the way to let them soar. I wanted Jay to explain all elements of the business for our cameras. But Jay was rather sneaky in avoiding that role -- he wrangled employees from every corner of the building to explain the nuts and bolts. Believe me - it's not because Jay didn't have the knowledge! (During my afternoon there, I was amazed by his complete grasp of every element of the operation.) But it was obvious to me that Jay doesn't have anything to prove and wanted the spotlight to fall on the army of talent that makes his empire run. He wasn't hogging the spotlight - he was giving credit where credit is due. It impressed me.

I was also impressed by what our cameras were NOT allowed to capture. I got a stern warning when my camera got near his credenza of personal photos inside his private office. Family photos are strictly off limits. As a producer, it drives you nuts that you can't film a snuggly picture of Jay and wife Beyonce or a heartwarming photo with his mom. But I knew better than to ask twice. Jay fiercely protects his privacy - and even in an intimate tour, there is only so he was willing to go. It frustrated me as a producer, but made me like him even more as a person.

My overall impression? I can tell you that Jay-Z is one SMART businessman. With no Harvard Business School, he figured it all out the hard way and climbed to the top with street smarts, vision, and staying true to himself. And the music? In the course of writing and editing his pieces, I think I watched every one of his music videos and movies. I'm not ready to throw away the Frank Sinatra albums I listened to in my youth, but I have a whole new world of appreciation for rap because of Jay-Z. There is absolute genius in the way his mind generates poetic lyrics. And knowing his full life story, I'm no longer judgmental the way I was when listening to individual Jay-Z songs out of context. I actually went to Jay's intimate concert at the House of Blues in Chicago the night before our taping. It was painfully obvious to my amused teammates that this was my first rap concert. I had a blast. But that is the topic of a whole new blog.

Trust me...you don't want to miss this hour of television. Send me comments after the show. Let me know what you think. There will also be exclusive never before seen video on Oprah.com all day.

BEHIND THE SCENES WITH BARBRA STREISAND

It's 11:50pm and I'm still at work. I just finished editing video of "The Way We Were"- such a classic. Earlier this evening Barbra came in to rehearse and do a sound check before the interview and performance tomorrow. She couldn't be more darling. In her presence you are so proud to be a woman. She has accomplished so much in her career and she's so incredibly talented it's just an honor to be in her space. The set is gorgeous...designed like a dinner club with table seating in the areas closest to the stage. Tara Denise is our staging and lighting guru...she's won several Emmy's for her amazing work. She designed a killer set with vintage black and white photos of Barbra throughout. She'll be singing a new song off her new album, "Love is the Answer." And a classic...can't tell you which one you'll have to tune in to see.

She also spent 5 1/2 years building and designing her dream home. You'll get to see exclusive video of the exterior and interiors that she videotaped and edited. She also took a lot of photos (herself) of the property. Really really beautiful.

I need to go home and sleep. Our taping is tomorrow in the afternoon so it's not an early morning. Excitement is building...die hard Streisand fans will be lining up to see her tomorrow. The show is airing on Thursday 9/24...make sure you tune in. You don't want to miss it.

Tomorrow I'll tell you about Mackenzie Phillips...former "One Day At A Time" star...she'll be on the show Wed. 9/23. She is revealing an explosive family secret she's kept for 30 years. More tomorrow