2011 Mom Makeover Winner

You have to watch this story. It is one of my favorites and it's about two incredible moms who took care of loved ones with cancer. I cried with them, laughed with them and was inspired to think about what matters most in life. I encourage you to do the same!



Ann Troxell is focusing on taking it one day at a time. her husband Doug passed away from breast cancer just 5 months ago, leaving her two little girls without a dad.

Ann said, "The biggest thing I want to say is, when he told me he thought he had breast cancer, I laughed at him because i didn't think men could get breast cancer."

You'd think Ann is our Mom Makeover winner, but she is actually the one who nominated her best friend Nikki Cihi for the award.

Nikki said, "I have goose bumps just thinking about it. It speaks volumes as to the type of person she is."

They share a common bond. Nikki said, "March 28th of 2006 he was diagnoses with leukemia. He was seven years old."

Nikki's son Zachary is 10 years old today and in remission.

Nikki said, "He has lost friends, kids younger and kids older to cancer, I just can't imagine life without him. He's my hero."

Zach and Ann's husband Doug fought cancer together.

Ann said, "I didn't know what to feed him. I didn't know how to help him and Zach helped me with that. I could go to Zach and say, what do I do? How do I help him?"

Ann said, "It was the weirdest thing. My husband was talking to this little 9 year old and he was making him feel better. It was incredible and she raised him. She is responsible for that."

Ann says Nikki's courage and incredible friendship is how she got through it.

Ann said, "The last night before Doug passed, she slept in my bed with me. I don't think we slept, but just knowing she was there."

So today, these two friends are sharing a much needed new bond--a happy one.
Nikki said, "So I looked on-line and saw that I had won and said-what did you do?"

Ann said, "I was standing in my kitchen screaming. The neighbors probably thought I was looney."

These two local moms are taking care of themselves today, getting a physical and spiritual makeover.

And here's Nikki's new style! (Before and After)


-NewsAnchorMom Jen

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2011 Mom Makeover Winner!

The 2011 Mom Makeover Winner is Nikki Cihi of Peoria!(on the left)

Nikki will be enjoying:

1. Enjoy at Half Day of Beauty, 3 ½ hours worth of pampering, at Skin Dimensions Day Spa. This package ($170 value) includes:

* Custom Facial

* 30 Minute Massage

* Spa Manicure & Pedicure

* Makeup Application
2. Hair Cut, Color and Style by Melinda Stoneking: Melinda styles hair at her salon Silver Couture at 4609 North Prospect, Peoria Heights 61616.

3. The winning mom will get a personal shopper to help her find a new outfit! Belle Mie was created to bring the ladies of Peoria fashionable clothing by designers that Peoria has never seen! With impeccable customer service and personal shopper assistance available, Belle Mie customers are happy to shop and feel good about getting dressed! Fashion for the clothes minded is what Belle Mie is all about!!

4. OSF Saint Francis Women's Services is proud to help women take good care of themselves. They are giving out a 3-month RiverPlex membership to the lucky winner! OSF Saint Francis Medical Center is proud to be part of RiverPlex. a state of the art Wellness and Recreation center located on the beautiful riverfront in downtown Peoria. In collaboration with the Peoria Park District(PPD)this facility offers the community unsurpassed opportunity to improve health and well being in medically based fitness center.

Nikki was nominated by her friend, Ann, wrote:

My name is Ann, and I would like to nominate my closest friend, Nikki for the makeover contest. Nikki is a caring, selfless, and supportive mom and daughter. She is currently is not only the mother of two kids, but she is also the primary care giver for her dad who has had a stroke and is no longer able to completely care for himself. Nikki is one of those people that I can rely on any time, any day and if it is within her power, she is always there to support me in any way. The last few years have been hard on her, not only did her dad suffer the stroke, but her son was a St. Jude patient (who is now in remission).

Thank you to our sponsors and this year's judges!

2010 Mom Makeover Winner

The winner of the 2010 Mom Makeover is TARA DIVER!

Here's here entry:

Hi, my name is Tara Diver and I am 31 years old. I just had twin boys in October. I too have three other boys ages 6, 5, and 3...Yes you are probably thinking to yourself ALL BOYS and 5 kids under 6, yep you got it right. I had a rough pregnancy with the twins and 3 days after giving birth I got Bell's Palsey! I still have effects from it but it is 90 percent better.

Here's what she will be winning!



Soderstrom Skin Institute:

Enjoy at Half Day of Beauty, 3 ½ hours worth of pampering, at Skin Dimensions Day Spa. This package ($170 value) includes:

* Custom Facial

* 30 Minute Massage

* Spa Manicure & Pedicure

* Makeup Application

Plus, a $25 gift certificate for SkinDimensionsOnline.com - choose from 30 national and international skin care product lines including Guinot Paris, Kinerase®, Obagi®, and Peter Thomas Roth®.

OSF Saint Francis Medical Center

Women's Services at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center are donating a six month membership to the RiverPlex for one lucky mom! The RiverPlex Recreation & Wellness Center is an 118,000 square foot facility complete with a state of the art fitness center, indoor aquatic park, multipurpose arena, pro shop serving freezes and smoothies, activity room, classrooms and more.

Hair Cut, Color and Style by Melinda Stoneking:

Melinda Stoneking styles hair at her new salon Silver Couture at 4609 North Prospect, Peoria Heights 61616. It's right above Seven. Melinda is known for her hip hairstyles and perfect touch at coloring. She can be reached at (309) 363-8685.

Belle Mie Clothing:

Belle Mie was created a couple of years ago to bring the ladies of Peoria fashionable clothing by designers that Peoria has never seen! With impeccable customer service and personal shopper assistance available, Belle Mie customers are happy to shop and feel good about getting dressed! Fashion for the clothes minded is what Belle Mie is all about!! You can check out Belle Mie at Junction City in Peoria at 5901 N Prospect Rd or call (309) 693-7777.


-NewsAnchorMom Jen

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Mom Makeover Winner

You have got to see this amazing mom if you missed us airing the Mom Makeover Contest Winner last week. She is an amazing person and so deserving! Here are the stories we did. The first one is her courageous story through life. The second reveals her before/after photos.





-NewsAnchorMom Jen

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Mom Makeover Winner!

Congratulations! 48 year old Catherine Jackson from Putnam, Illinois is our Mom Makeover winner!





She was nominated by her daughter, Tara, who wrote:

"My mom has been fighting cancer for a good portion of her life. She battled childhood non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in her teen years. In 1998 she was diagnosed with stage I breast cancer, and in 2004 she was diagnosed with a recurrence, this time stage IV and found in her lymph nodes. She will be battling this the rest of her life. Daily living is hard for her yet she continues to push herself to do things like gardening and caring for her farm animals, as well as spending time with her 3 grand kids. She also raised 4 kids on her own without any help. "

Here's what Catherine will be getting:

1. spa treatment at Soderstrom Day Spa
2. A new designer outfit from Belle Mie at Junction City
3. Hair cut, color and styling by Melinda Stoneking

We will be sure to show you Catherine's before and after shots so you can see the results of our mom makeover!

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

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Soderstrom Skin Institute is positioned to be a comprehensive, full service, skin care facility. Visit www.soderstromskininstitute.com to learn what Soderstrom Skin Institute can do for you.