Get ready, get set…to fall in love with fall flavors all over again!

Thanks to some unexpectedly cool weather in our neck of the woods last week, I found myself reaching for my favorite cozy sweater…which got me thinking about fall…which got me all kinds of excited for this week’s Taste of Fall Cooking eventat QVC!

To be fair, it doesn’t take much to get me excited about fall flavors. The things I like to cook best just taste better in the fall – ooey-gooey casseroles, cozy comfort foods and, of course, the kinds of desserts that make you want to find a friend and share the yumminess!

Still, fall is often the busiest time of year for so many families. I know my own calendar really starts to fill up in September. Which can make finding time for your favorite fall meals a little tricky.

That’s where temp-tations really helps make life easier. I picked my favorite, go-to, easy AND delicious fall recipe to share during QVC’s Taste of Fall Cooking event on Wednesday. And I’ll be featuring it in our beautiful, brand-new Jasper 4 quart baker!

Because if you’re going to fall in love with fall cooking, might as well make it super-easy as well as super-stunning, right?

Amy’s Chili Mac

This crowd-pleaser is perfect for even the busiest families! It comes straight from my BFF, Amy, who loves it because it’s so easy to throw together, and soooo delicious, her kids, Joey and Gracie, beg her to make it all the time.

 I love it because it reminds me of all the good times I’ve had, sharing this recipe with family and friends. What started out as a simple dish in Amy’s kitchen has become the star of tailgating parties, plenty of potlucks and the centerpiece of many memorable family meals.

If you’re super pressed for time, you can make it even easier by substituting 3 cans of your favorite brand of chili in place of everything but the macaroni and Cheddar jack cheese. Trust me, this recipe is foolproof, and fabulous for fall…especially in our new Jasper pattern!

16 ounces elbow macaroni

1 pound lean ground beef

1 cup diced yellow onion

1 can (15 ounces) kidney beans, drained and rinsed

1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste

2 cans (10 ounces each) diced tomatoes with green chilies

1 ½ teaspoons chili powder

½ teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon garlic powder

2 cups shredded Cheddar jack cheese

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Boil elbow macaroni for 2 less minutes than the package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water. Transfer to a 4 quart temp-tations baking dish. (Rectangular is best.)
2. Add ground beef and onions to a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat to brown. Brown well, stirring constantly, about 10 minutes. Add all remaining ingredients, except cheese, to the skillet and stir to combine.
3. Pour chili mixture over macaroni in baking dish and stir until everything is completely incorporated. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.
4. Remove from oven, uncover, and top with Cheddar jack cheese. Return to oven and bake uncovered for an additional 15 minutes, or until cheese is very bubbly and beginning to brown. Let cool 5 minutes before serving. 

If you want to learn more about this recipe, plus explore my other fall favorite must-have recipes and more, be sure and follow me on QVC’s toGather site.

If you haven’t checked out toGather yet, you really have to see what all the buzz is about! You can heart all your QVC favs, follow hosts and brands and – my favorite – use it just like you would Pinterest to discover ideas and trends. You can even log in with your QVC account info. But be sure to carve out some “me” time…it’s easy to get hooked on toGather. I know I am. J

So, how about you? Any fall favorite recipes that your family loves – and your schedule loves even more? If so, share them below in the comments. And be sure to tune into QVC’s Taste of Fall Cooking on Wednesday for even more great temp-tations and great ideas!

 XOXO

 Tara

I love to eat! Even more so, I love to eat meals that look great and that are easy to make! When I started watching QVC, one of my early purchases was a set of Temptations bake ware, because I felt that I needed something to help my “OK” kitchen skills look like “great chef” accomplishments! For example, the picture below with Lisa Gleason and how a beautiful Temptations plate made a simple salad look delish! 

In the next couple of weeks, I’d love to share some of my favorite recipes that I use for both entertaining and just any old Monday night! 

What better place to start than an appetizer!! This recipe not only tastes great, but it also looks great next to your favorite bowl of chips or sliced veggies; AND it can satiate a crowd of people!

I recently took this dip to Angel Smedley’s home for a pool party (you may know her from Quacker Factory). Here is the recipe along with some great photos from that fun afternoon.

Alberti’s Four Cheese Hot Artichoke Dip 

Ingredients

1 (8 ounces) block cream cheese, softened

2 cups mayonnaise

1 (14 ounces) can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped

3 green onions, sliced thin

1/2 cup grated Parmesan

1/2 cup crumbled Feta

1 cup shredded Mozzarella

1/2 Tsp. hot sauce

1/2 Tsp. Worcestershire sauce

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 

In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese with a hand held Kitchen Aid Electric Mixer until smooth. Then beat in the mayonnaise until smooth and creamy. Add remaining ingredients and stir together until combined. Transfer the dip to 1 quart round Temptations baking dish. Bake in a preheated oven for 40 minutes until the top is golden brown and the dip is bubbling. Serve hot with crostini or veggies.

Let the party begin!!!

Can you spot some of your favorite guests and models in this photo?

Now here we were just being SILLY!!! That's what good friends and good food will do!!

-Alberti

Favorite thing about fall shoes?? Boots! No longer just for work or snow, boots are always the number one footwear choice for fall.  And, they go back 1000's of years! The First "boots" showed up around 1000 BC, when an enterprising soul stitched a sandal to a legging to protect the ankle. First boots were born!  Whether we sported the go-go boots of the 60's (like Deirdre's retro dance number!) or cowboy boots even in the hottest weather, boots are a go-to in everybody's closet!

So - what are some of the top trends in boots this fall? (Warning, writing this blog led me to buy two pairs of boots - so read at your own risk!) 

Low Heeled Boots: Coming off the comfy shoe craze of the summer, many of the top designers that used to send models down the runway in teetering heels, have opted of the low held boots. You'll find lots of options - especially from Clarks! 

Strap Happy: Some of the freshest looks this fall are ankle boots with multi straps, like the Sole Society Portia Suede Caged High-Heeled Sandals and the Kensie Clive Suede Multi Strap Open Toe Shooties below.

Lace it Up: Any boot that laces, either for adjustment or just for show, is also a good choice this season - like the Clarks Bendables Nikki North Leather Lace-up Ankle Boots.

Interesting Ankles: The ankle boot is back, look for styles with cool buckles, interesting lines, and chunky heels. Good thing about chunky heels; they make walking much easier! 

Cool Prints: Whether it's on a cowboy boot, rain boot, or a fashion boot, prints, florals, embroidery in many colors are lighting up the runway. We carry many rain boot and cowboy boot styles at qvc.com, and Spring Step usually has some fun embellished options like the Parfum Leather Ankle Boots with stacked heel.

So - enjoy your fall boot shopping!! And look for Shoe Shopping With Jane almost every Thursday at 9pm eastern, and every day at qvc.com!

-Jane

Feel free to stop by my facebook page and say hello! We love chatting about all things shoes! www.facebook.com/JaneTreacyQVC

Microwave Chicken & Rice

Ingredients:

2lbs chicken thighs

1 packet Carolina Yellow Rice

Seasoned Salt

Cayenne pepper

2 cup chicken stock

Put chicken stock & rice in the cooker. Mix well. Season chicken. Add to the cooker. Put the lid on the cooker (follow the instructions that came with your cooker). Put it in the microwave and cook for 20 min.

You can find me on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/JayneBrownQVC

Twitter: www.twitter.com/jaynebrown1

Instagram: www.instagram.com/jaynebrownqvc

I am a Graduate Gemologist (G.G.)!!!!  Woo, Hoo! 

I found out last week (while on vacation) that I had passed my 20-stone exam with the required 100% accuracy. I laughed. I cried. And then laughed and cried again!  What a journey…20 months, 100’s of hours of study, 3 trips to NYC & over 500 gems identified. 

I have always loved gemstones, but didn’t know anything about them.  In 2008 I was hired as a host for Gem’s TV.   My training for the position was less than 3 days & did not include training on gemstones.  My first day on air (day 3), the producer fed me enough information (through my earpiece) to share with the audience. It was crazy!  Needless to say,  that was not going to work for me!  And this is where my journey, education and real love for gemstones began.

After work that first day (and every day after), I began studying gemstones.  I would research 5 new gems every day.  I put my notes onto a 3 x 5 card and popped it into a file box.  My little gem box was my lifeline to provide accurate information to our viewers.  (Secret:  I kept it off to the side so that when the camera was on the jewelry, I could peek at the cards.)  It was a great start, but it wasn’t enough for me…I wanted formal training.  My friend, Jessica, told me that I could get a great education through the GIA (Gemological Institute of America). The GIA offered a program called the Accredited Jewelry Professional (AJP).  It was exactly what I needed & I enrolled immediately!

MY AJP required 3 courses:  Jewelry Essentials, Colored Gemstone Essentials, and Diamond Essentials.  I was able to do the work online and finished the program within 3 months.  I never dreamed I would one day be a Graduate Gemologist (GG)!  Enter Christine Webb from the Smithsonian Institution.

I joined the Q family in 2009.  In 2012 I met Christine Webb.  Christine is a Graduate Gemologist and was the on-air guest for the “Smithsonian Institution – National Gem Gallery” shows. Low and behold, she was a gem geek, just like me!! Following the show, I mentioned that I would love to get my GG, but felt it wouldn’t be possible.  (My thoughts:  I work full time: I have a husband & 3-year old;  it would take years to complete.) 

Christine quickly shot my excuses down & said, “You can absolutely do it!”  As soon as I got home that night, I went to the GIA website to see if she was right.  And she was!  Because I had already completed my AJP, I was only 6 classes from my G.G. (3 online courses and their corresponding gem labs, which I would have to take in NYC.) 

Next steps:  get the blessing from my husband & approval from QVC.  Both gave me their wholehearted support!  So, in October of 2012 I enrolled in my first course!

It’s been a fascinating journey! But I have not been on this journey alone. There are several people who have been by side and were instrumental in the completion of my GG:

Q Friends & Viewers:  Thank you for your constant kindness and encouragement on FB!!

QVC:  Thank you for pouring into my education &, ultimately, to the people who matter most - our customers!

Jack, Rich, Mary H:  Thank you for allowing me time to take the 3 required lab classes in NYC and for supporting my passion!

Debbie R:  Thank you for proctoring every single exam (& there were a lot)!  How I appreciate and adore you!

Sue K:  Thank you for being my teacher, my coach, my cheerleader & my encourager!  Thank you for access to Q’s gem lab & all of your cool gem books.  Having a fellow GG as my guide was invaluable.  You are a GEM!!

Jim & Isabella:  Thank you for allowing & supporting my passion for gems.  I couldn’t have done it without your support!  All the hours away from you over the past 20 months could have been hard for us; but, “Team R., Rocks”!

I hope you find yourself becoming inspired to learn about gemstones.  A great place to start is our Gem Guide on QVC.com.  QVC, Peyton Kelley (GG & another one of my teacher’s & cheerleader’s) & the Q Gem Team partnered with the GIA to bring you the most accurate gem information available.  Check it out!

Every book represents one exam.  Each folder represents a comprehensive exam.  The silver box is my traveling gem lab.  I used it during my Gem ID class in which I identified more than 500 stones:  natural, synthetic, imitation, doublets & triplets.  Seeing it all laid out like this, kind of freaked me out!  LOL!  Still to come: the official paper degree from the GIA.  I’ll post it when it arrives!  

You can find me on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/NancyHornbackqvc

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NancyQVC

Instagram: www.instagram.com/nancyhornbackqvc

From my shows on QVC, designing, meetings, errands and everything in between; it’s hard for me to find alone time to gather my thoughts and be at peace. That’s why we must cherish those moments when we do have that time. 

This past week both Richie and I were in the house talking and realized we both had nothing to do! So we decided to take Pebbles for a walk in a local nature preserve close to home. It was so refreshing to be outdoors in the peace and quiet. Alone, with no distractions, Richie and I got to lazily stroll down a winding path through the woods while Pebbles enjoyed playing at our feet. The sky was blue, birds sang, and there was a cool hint of fall in the air. It was very serene and quiet and hard not to feel at ease. I believe it’s good for our souls to be connected to nature every once in a while, and it definitely made me feel more relaxed. 

After returning to the car we picked up our cell phones to see all of the phone calls, emails, and text messages we missed. With that, we return to daily life. But I must say, the walk in the park helped soothe the soul.

How do you like to wind down and reconnect? I’d love to hear!

See you at midnight tonight!

xoxo,

Susan

Shop my complete collection on QVC.com.

You can, just by adding angles to your wardrobe. It is surprising what a difference you can make. Your line of sight is kind of like water. Water will run off anything curved or diagonal, but it will pool on any flat line. By wearing angles in the cut or pattern of your clothes, you can make your eye "run off of it" which makes you look slimmer. Where your eyes settles is the area you notice. Where your eye keeps moving is where things seem to go away. This can be as simple as a shark bite hem on a cardigan or an asymmetrical zipper on a Moto jacket. Whether it is stripes, lines, zippers or hemlines, you can look slimmer by just putting it on. There is a new collection on toGather(TM) that highlights some of the fashions we have that do this.

We also have two new G.I.L.I.(TM) pieces this week on The Lisa Robertson Showthat really make the point. The G.I.L.I.(TM) Moto jacket, is an easy way to raise the look of your waist, make your waist look smaller because of the uneven hemline, and make you look slimmer with the asymmetrical zipper. The new G.I.L.I.(TM) dress is RIDICULOUS with how flattering it is! The seaming swirls up around your body to whittle away your waist, the construction of the shoulder make your waist look smaller, and the neckline draws the eye up high, which lengthens you out. I am very excited about the way they turned out, and it is going to be a packed show this Friday with all the great stuff!

See you Friday night for LRSat 10pm ET!!!!
--Lisa

Tomatoes, tomatoes everywhere! Let's share our recipes... Here is my family tradition of tomato pie using my homegrown Jersey tomatoes.....

Tasty Tomato Pie 

Ingredients:

(1) 9-inch deep dish pie shell

3 medium tomatoes, sliced

3/4 cup prosciutto or pastrami, pull into pieces sprinkle of basil

1/4 tsp of dried oregano

Dash of black pepper to taste

1 cup provolone or your favorite cheese

1/4 cup of mayonnaise

1/8 tsp of nutmeg

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees

Bake the shell for 5 minutes and remove...

Arrange tomato slices on bottom of shell. Add pastrami or prosciutto, basil, oregano and pepper.. Combine cheese and mayonnaise...spread on top to cover top of pie..sprinkle with nutmeg..

Bake for 35 minutes..serves for six

Your turn..share your favorite tomato recipe!

You can find me on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/PatJamesDeMentriQVC

Twitter: www.twitter.com/pdementri

Instagram: www.instagram.com/PatJamesDeMentriQVC

Now that we've entered back to school time, the classic question is popping up again. Should I be getting a tablet or a laptop for someone who will be hitting the books this fall? It’s a great question to ask! Unfortunately it’s not always an easy one to answer. As technology continues to advance at lightning speed, the power of tablets continues to advance while the portability of laptops makes them much more versatile as well.  Let’s break it down.

Advantages of a laptop

For several years, the laptop has been the go-to choice for high school and college students. A 15" or even a 17” size screen can fit in most backpacks. A hard drive of 500GB or even 1TB of storage means you have plenty of room to store all of your work for several years. The laptop is an ideal choice for someone taking courses in graphic design or video editing where storing large files and running complex programs is necessary. It’s also key to note that laptops continue to become lighter and thinner which makes them much easier to take with you. For example, I have an HP 17” laptop from 4 years ago that weighs more than 8 pounds.  A similar sized HP today comes in at under 5 pounds with a processor that blows the older model away.

Here are some great back to school laptop choices:

13" Apple MacBook Pro

17" Dell Laptop with Microsoft Office

15" HP Touch Laptop with Microsoft Office

Advantages of a tablet

The newer and trendier pick for students is the tablet. With a 9” or 7” screen, tablets are the ultimate in portability. With constant advancements in processing power, today’s tablets have the motor inside to keep up with the laptop world. Tablets will lack in hard drive space, but simply taking notes does not require a ton of storage. Plus, you can back up your data with a desktop, laptop or cloud storage to ensure your notes are safe.

 These are some tablets that are ideal for back to school:

 32GB Apple iPad Air

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3

Dell 32GB Android Tablet

Three or four years ago, choosing between a laptop or tablet was easy. The laptop was the choice for work. The tablet was more for play, but that is not the case anymore.  The merger of these two great pieces of technology is moving at lightning speed. My best advice is to take a step back and look at what is being studied. If its mostly a note taking need, the tablet will easily get the job done. For more complex programs, the laptop may be a better choice. Better yet, I recommend that you reach out to the school and more specifically your child’s teachers and see what they recommend. This will guide you towards the best choice for everyone’s  needs.

As always, if you have any questions connect with me on Facebook, Craig Smith for QVC.

I remember when Lisa Robertson and I were preparing to launch StriVectin’s TL Neck Cream as part of a Today’s Special Value® in the summer of 2011. During the countdown to Midnight, we stood behind our QVC white presentation table, not yet aware of the huge impact we would have on women’s lives. Three years and a 2012 CEW Beauty Award in the "Moisturizer/Prestige" category later, I can tell you that this is the most emotional product I've ever been associated with. For the first time in my 25-year career, women aren't hiding their necks thinking their time has passed. Women have a great neck solution, thanks to StriVectin.

Whether it's the women who approach me in airports, on trains, or in NYC bank and supermarket lines, they all lift their chins high as they say, “Meg, look at my neck!” It’s also all of you, who call me live on QVC to share your neck success stories and who continually remind me what a skin breakthrough our TL Neck Cream is. Women are walking into rooms a little more confident. Women look as vital on the outside as they feel on the inside. Yes—because their necks look younger.

So, in honor of the anniversary of our neck breakthrough, we're excited to offer a super-size TL Neck Cream for those of you who haven't yet experienced the TL Neck magic, or for those of you who have it already and want to stock up (smart you!). Hold your heads high, remove those scarves, and pack away your turtlenecks. We have the solution for you—super-sized—this August. Tune in for our kickoff on Friday, August 8 at 1pm ET. And please continue to share your stories with me on air by calling in or leave them on my blog, as well as show me any photos of your results on my Facebook page. Show off that firm-looking neck with pride!

Your Firming Friend,

—Meg Flather

I’m trying to relax more. 

Even just writing that makes me anxious.  I’m not a person who can easily sit still. Like at all. Ever. But, I need too. I used to teach yoga and be a major devotee. I loved the studios I studied in when we lived in Southern California but since the move east and QVC and crazy toddlers, I haven’t found the same time and space to get my flow on. In the past few years I’ve stepped up my steps; running and walking more and incorporated HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) with P90X, Insanity and T-25. I love the workouts, they are quick and really sculpt me but they are hard core.

I finish and feel like superwoman, pulsing with testosterone, ready to lift a car off a child as opposed to a lithe gazelle open, calm, and clear headed, like I felt after yoga. 

So last week I did something drastic. I stopped. I lowered the goal on my FitBit, and decided to just do yoga every morning. Okay, don’t freak out, if you know me you realize this is crazy talk, especially the FitBit part, but hear me out. I was doing about 14,000 steps a day on my FitBit as a result of T-25 work outs and then chasing after toddlers all day long (not to mention walking the coliseum size QVC building.) I took my goal down to 10,000 steps and promised I wouldn’t flog myself if I didn’t make it to 10,001.  I am super competitive so that has been hard for me.  I am used to be at the top of my leader board of friends, family and QVC colleagues, and watching my name slip down the list has been hard.  

Cue breathing. That has been the goal. Breathe more, stretch more, stop contracting my body and let it have a break! Years of overachieving, multitasking and trying to have it all has left me a little crazy.  Throw in fertility drugs on and off for 8 years, pregnancy, loss, working in the middle of the night and breastfeeding two children (at the same time) and I’m surprised I haven’t completely shut down.   

Actually I did.  About two months ago I woke up and could barely move.  My body hurt to touch and I was weak for about 36 hours.  I ended up sleeping every few hours.  I thought I had some terrible illness. Turns out my body just needed a break. 

So I am taking one.  The kind of yoga I do is still a great workout, but it doesn’t get me any steps and I’m learning to be okay with that.  Just being me I can still get in my 10K steps a day and I’m not giving up my weekly walks with Rachel Boesing but I’m trying to be less obsessed about it. 

Through this, I have fallen back in love with yoga and with strolling.  The two are complementary.  I have never been a stroller, I speed walk everywhere.  My college roommate nearly ended our relationship when we traveled through Europe together because I always walked too fast. 

 My husband is always yelling, “Im not running” when we walk around town or on the beach together.  And Rachel is more used to seeing the back of my head on our walks then being next to me.  I walk fast. But the new Kerstin isn’t in a hurry. 

The other day I decided to see if my little’s wanted to try this new gentle walking thing with me. I knew I would have to be slow for the 4 year olds but it was okay. I did my yoga before they woke up and I was ready to take it slow to enjoy my kiddos. I put on my new Vionic sneakers (in Grey because that is the color of the fall) and we headed out around our neighborhood (AKA farm, rural area, forest.) It was a different experience for me. I let them run ahead and occasionally accepted their offers to race a few feet.  

We discovered creeks I hadn’t seen before and talked about where the water comes from and where it goes.

We stopped and counted the rings in a downed tree and talked about how you know how old the trees are.

We just enjoyed nature.  For me it wasn’t about getting in a workout or beating my steps it was just about being with my girls and letting them lead the way. My body appreciated the relaxing walk and I enjoyed the quality time.

Even with my little break from over doing it, I will never stop walking. I love nature and the outdoors too much.  As long as I am able I will always take the stairs and park far away and offer to get up and get the remote or a glass of water. It’s how I keep the weight off and stay in shape and still each chocolate and drink wine.  But, I think that learning to breathe a little more and huff and puff a little less is good for me right now.  I’m blessed to be in a time and place where I have access to the right tools; a room to practice yoga, a Fitbit to keep me on track, and the right shoes to get me outside with my girls.

We will see what happens. If I can keep it up, and If all this yoga and strolling can actually get me to relax a little. It doesn’t matter what kind of physical activity you are doing just do something. And make it something that makes your body happy. If you need some help with the right tools check out my “Fitness Corner” collection on Togather and pick up the awesome Todays Special Value Vionic by Orthaheel Sneakers. They will make even the angriest, flat, over pronated, arch less feet happy.

               Find your balance.

               Have a blessed day.

               - Kerstin 

www.facebook.com/kerstinlindquistqvc

As you may know, I was a little blue over the winter months (feeling absolutely myself again now), but while I was picking myself up, I decided to buy a pass for Tango lessons at Sangha Space in Media, PA. This is also where Susan and I have been taking yoga classes!

So about ten weeks ago, my friends Susan, Karen and I began our Tango adventure!! I must tell you that the staff at Sangha Space and the other students were all so warm and welcoming. The teachers, Amy and Megan, were very encouraging, which, of course, we needed since we were new. Well Susan had taken classes many times before—she went to college for dance!! But Karen and I were very new!! The assistant teachers – Elly, Ivan, Judy and Lauren - were also extremely helpful. The students were all so interesting and came from very different backgrounds. I love meeting new people!

Each week we learned a few new steps, and we also learned how to lead and to follow. What I loved about this part is that Amy told us to be lazy—I am not lazy at all!!! And I also tend to be bossy—so leading was a perfect fit for me, but following was a challenge. Turns out I loved this since it forced me to trust someone else’s lead. After a while, I was able to close my eyes and let my body follow what the leader was trying to get me to do, which allowed me to be lead!! I will tell you that it is still a challenge for me to do this, but I am learning. 

The community at Sangha Space is one of warmth, encouragement, kindness and teamwork!! Susan, Karen and I fit right in. We opened our hearts and minds to Tango. I am very happy to say that we graduated!!! And we do plan to study more Tango in the future. 

Once a month, Sangha Space offers a night of fun called the Tango Hop!! The evening is full of musical performances, Tango lessons, demonstrations and excitement!!

Megan, Amy, Susan, Karen, me & Ivan

And last but not least—check out this short video of Ivan leading me in a Tango!!

Until next time—Quack, Quack!

Angel

Shop the Quacker Factory collection on QVC.com.

Whenever Joe and I have a chance to go away, which is treasured and seldom, we have our pre-vacation checklist down to a tee.  House sitter, check.  Dog walker, check.  Plant sitter, check.  Yes!  Be sure not to forget your garden and plant family care while you are away too. 

The greatest luxury would be a neighbor that you can show how to take care of your indoor plants and gardens.  If you are fortunate to have this – or even a friend who is willing to help you while you are away – be sure to take the time to review your garden and plants with them.  Like children, your plants have their own wants, needs and temperaments.  The more information you can share with your “sitter” the better.  And be sure to go over the basic gardening rules, even if you think it’s a “no brainer.”  I was able to find a kid in my neighborhood in need of some summer cash who was eager to help while I was away.  What was to simply be a “sitter” for my few days away became something much more – a young person who found a love of horticulture and gardening.  I spent time with my young friend days before our trip, showing him my daily routine of garden care – watering, weeding as necessary, what to do based on weather conditions and harvesting so he became familiar with the care for each plant and their “personalities.”   When I returned, my plants and garden were happy and healthy and my sitter had a wonderful hands-on learning experience, one that I know he will take with him wherever he goes.  Here’s to another future gardener!!

You can also purchase self-watering objects such as watering globes and stakes, but it’s very simple to make your own too.   

I like the look of wine bottle watering system; I have them throughout my garden at the farm.  I use wine bottles that have the metal twist caps – not cork stoppers.  Rinse the bottle with soap and water.  You can either drill a hole or two into the cap, or hammer a nail in the cap to make a hole.  After you fill the bottle with water, place it the bottle cap end down into about an inch of soil at the base of your plant.  I think that this type of “watering” is more effective than a sprinkler or hose as the water is going directly to the root system, not pouring from the top of the plant downward.  Depending on what type of plant you are watering – tomato, fern, lettuce – you should monitor how much water it drinks initially to get yourself on a re-fill schedule.

It just tickles me to think that I can turn wine into watering systems.  Now if I could only turn water into wine!!!

- Barbara 

Hello, foodies…

What’s your favorite sandwich? A Reuben? A peanut butter and jelly? A friend recently asked me to pick my favorite sandwich from my library of recipes on QVC.com and not only could I not pick a favorite, I had trouble narrowing it down to SIX favorites. So here we are. The six best sandwiches….ever.

Pulled Pork Melt

The Ultimate David Sandwich: Mac and Cheese Grilled Cheese

Roast Beef Club Sandwich

Italian Muffuletta Sandwich

Lobster Roll

Ham & Apple Monte Cristo Sandwiches

Look for all of these sandwich recipes in a perfectly pinnable pin…on Pinterest of course.

Keep it flavorful!
—David

A long time ago someone told me that I would be able to tell time by the age of my child...that same person told me that I would never know a love so strong as the love for my child...

The birth of your baby is always a miracle and I had lots of support at the Q as the stork arrived a few times in the same year...Within a few months, MaryBeth had Ryan, Jane had Cara, Donna(retired host) had Anna and I had Nicole...First I should shout out to my boss Jack Comstock for not even flinching when I was the fourth host to tell him that I was expecting...Dan who never even noticed that I was consuming alot of crackers during the show to help with the morning sickness and MaryBeth for all of her advice as she was the veteran in the group of all first time mom's...We were so blessed with each birth of healthy babies...

I was able to introduce all of you to Nicole before one of my 18Kt gold shows...she was wearing her christening dress and I was holding her as my heart was not sure I was brave enough to let go of her...

I survived the working mom guilt and worry with the support of the women at the Q...Fast forward in our journey eighteen years and my friend was so right about telling the passage of time by your children....all of our kids have graduated and are moving on to pursue their dreams..

I have to be honest to say that I have been dragging my feet this past year with the realization that my world will change dramatically with Nicole off to college...She is so excited to be going off to college and I am giving it the old college try with a great big lump in my throat...

I have savored every moment of this year....volunteering so that I could enjoy dance from the wings as a dance mom and going into school to help coach the VEI finance team who competed in NYC...Enjoying all of those big moments as well as the little moments in life... from movies that made us both cry and laugh to a Christmas tree that we could not push through the front door....I savored the moments of pride when other mom's at dance told me that their daughter's looked up to Nicole...or the fact that she is willing to give up a week at the beach to help with the dancecamp for the local homeless children in our area...

I will miss all of this more than I can put into words...and if I am honest I will tell you that I never thought this would be what my life would be like at fifty something...I have promised myself to take better care of myself and share the total gym with the cats...hopefully me exercising as they nap...I am looking forward to finding more time to discover many things…I may try yoga or a Pilates class.. I want to read, garden, maybe take a college course or two…I will be organizing and painting the house..maybe a larger garden in the spring from seeds..

I know that I need to look forward and let go of the past...so I will give myself a long cry as I bravely let go of her hand...I decided to believe in this thought from Winnie the Pooh:

“You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think”....advice that I am giving to Nicole and hopefully take to heart...as I search for my new beginning I count my blessings to have a job that I so love with friends and family to support me along my journey..here is to hoping that you will join me on my journey...how lucky I am to have been blessed with a daughter that makes saying goodbye so hard..

 To new beginnings.. maybe I will start with a nap....

You can find me on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/PatJamesDeMentriQVC

Twitter: www.twitter.com/pdementri

Instagram: www.instagram.com/PatJamesDeMentriQVC

JOAN:

David, I have had the most wonderful summer (see my previous blog about Grandma Week, Italian-style!) but I always get excited when a new season is about to start! New fall clothes, jewelry and accessories always get me going. Sweaters, faux fur, boots, here I come!!

DAVID:

I completely agree. And on August 11^th, the fun begins! We are kicking off 5 hours of AMAZING fall-perfect designs including something really wonderful at MIDNIGHT!!!

JOAN:

I know I’m not allowed to talk about what happens at MIDNIGHT, but I will say this: OMG! It is incredible. We worked over a year on this amazing jacket (oops!) item and I can promise you, your fall outfits will never look better!

DAVID:

OK, my job here is to change the subject! No more teasing our girls about midnight!!! You are bad!!

Here are some things we are allowed to sneak preview for you all:

Joan, your Extravagant Glass Flower 20” Bib Necklace (J292579) is a fabulous statement necklace thatyou have worn non-stop, including TV appearances.

And no MAJOR fall celebration of style would be complete without a BRAND-NEW BEE PIN (J293666):

JOAN:

So be sure to tune in Monday, August 11^th, for something very special beginning at midnight…

Hint: It goes with my brand-new Plaid Scarf with Fringe (A255185)!

DAVID:

You are so bad!!!! I knew you would sneak that jacket in somehow!!

Joan will be with our good friend, Lisa Robertson, in PM Style this visit as well. The one beauty product that Lisa and Joan can’t (and won’t!) live without is finally back on air. Our sensational Great Hair Day Fill In Powder Duo with On the Go Compact (A254764) is back for the first time since June.

Join us on August 11^th for an amazing day of fashion and jewelry!

Monday, August 11^th

Midnight - 2am           Joan Rivers Classics Collection

9-10am                     Joan Rivers Classics Collection

2-3pm                       Joan Rivers Classics Collection

6-7pm                       Joan Rivers Classics Collection

7-10pm                     PM Style with Lisa Robertson featuring Great Hair Day!!

Follow Joan on TWITTER at www.twitter.com/joan_rivers

Or on FACEBOOK at www.facebook.com/joanrivers

Or on INSTAGRAM at www.instagram.com/joanrivers

For Joan’ concert, TV and QVC schedule go to www.joanrivers.com

Follow David on FACEBOOK at www.facebook.com/daviddangleqvc

Or on INSTAGRAM at www.instagram.com/daviddangle

Shop Joan’s complete collection on QVC.com.

I’m not one to rush the changing of the seasons, but now that August is here, it won’t be long until the leaves start to turn, the air starts to chill, and the days grow shorter. I love fall colors -- orange, and yellow and green.

Yellow mums are my favorite, and the autumnal shades found in an assortment of gourds is the perfect decoration in a bowl on my kitchen island. And another of my favorite things in fall is a delicious bowl of pumpkin soup and a grilled cheese sandwich. Ahhhh, here comes Fall!

Here’s a recipe for an easy pumpkin soup. I hope you like it as much as I do!

2  15 oz cans pure pumpkin

2  14 oz cans of chicken broth

1/2 cup heavy cream

1 grated onion

1/2 clove minced garlic

2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

2 tablespoons olive oil

dash of salt

pinch of pepper

Heat olive oil in saucepan on medium. Add onion and garlic and heat to soften. Stir in pumpkin, chicken broth, heavy cream, spice, salt and pepper. Cook for 5-8 minutes until soup simmers. Pour into a soup mug or bowl and serve with a grilled cheese sandwich.

It’s August, and the excitement is building around one of my favorite events of the year, Santa Fe Indian Market!  Each year Bill and I look forward to reuniting with our friends at the largest Native American Art event in the world!  This will be our 20th Indian Market together, and each year holds special memories for us.  Over the years, we have made it our mission to introduce new visitors to Indian Market, and to Native American Art.  This weekend is spiritual, vibrant, heartwarming, mesmerizing, captivating, and calming all at once!

The artists that Bill and I have come to know and love express their appreciation for how Indian Market gave them the opportunity to introduce their work to a world of Native American art collectors.  Many also share stories of how they literally grew up at Indian Market, in the booths of their parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, and uncles.  Jody Naranjo is one of those artists, an award winning 8th generation Santa Clara Pueblo potter.  Bill and I cherish a piece of Jody’s that we purchased at the Gala auction a few years ago, and I remember the special moment years ago when I purchased Jody’s daughter Coral’s first piece at Indian Market, when she was only six years old.  This piece stands among our most treasured pieces, representing the importance of art to the Native American family, and how this incredible passion and artistry lives on through time honored traditions.  While Jody wins multiple prestigious awards and is known worldwide, she is one of the most humble and kind people I know.  Her love of life and gentle spirit shines through in her work.  I am honored that she so enthusiastically embraced the idea of collaborating with me to bring her amazing work to life in her first jewelry line!  I know many of you love her whimsical, yet sophisticated, designs, and I am excited to say we will be introducing a new Jody Naranjo piece (J296827) in our upcoming shows!

Bill and I have long admired the incredible work of Fritz Casuse.  I remember vividly the year we came to know one another in his booth, and I proudly walked away wearing my first Fritz Casuse bracelet!  While strolling the Santa Fe plaza, a group of teenage girls approached me and proudly exclaimed, “We know who made your bracelet, he’s our teacher!”.  Fritz Casuse is not only an award winning Navajo jewelry artist, but an inspiring teacher and mentor in the Native American community.  I love the whole Casuse Family, Fritz’s wife Wanesia, a talented and ever-evolving jeweler herself, and Mosgaadace, their 8-year-old son who holds the key to my heart with his spunk, infectious laughter, and the pride to proclaim his artful talent!!!  Last week, he showed me a sterling silver bracelet he had made that he KNEW I would love to give to our granddaughter, Grace. It was sweetly adorned with uplifting images of the sun and birds, after all!!  He also knew that the initial asking price of $15.89 was too complicated, because he wasn’t carrying any change, so he conveniently rounded it up to $20.00 for Carolyn.  Wise move Moss.  While on his way out of my design studio he suggested, “Carolyn, why don’t I email you the photos of the paintings I made for Indian Market, maybe you should buy them all beforehand”.  I told him I would be honored to have an exclusive sneak peek.  He left with one final belly laugh, his dad’s fedora on his head, and twenty bucks in his pocket!  Fritz and Wanesia, you have raised a mighty loveable one in Moss!!!

Speaking of Fritz... You will not believe the pieces he has designed for this year’s Indian Market!!!!  He was so excited about them that he met with us a few months ago in our design studio to collaborate on bringing them to life for QVC.  That’s right!  We have a chance to purchase these amazing designs BEFORE his original pieces are in his booth at Indian Market!  In all of my years following Fritz Casuse, I have never seen anything like these pieces!  As with all of his work, these are not only breathtakingly beautiful, but spiritual as well.  I am counting the minutes to show time!!

There are so many new items to talk about, including amazing pieces from Kenneth Johnson and Veronica Benally.  And a special collection of Native American Designer charms!  And you Sleeping Beauty lovers will be thrilled as well!  Also, because this is the 20th Santa Fe Indian Market for Bill and I, we wanted to start a new tradition each August on QVC by reproducing some of the pieces we have collected over the years.  The first piece I chose features the sea turtle, set with red coral.  I hope you’ll love it as much as I do!

We’ve heard artists refer to Indian Market as a giant family reunion, and that is truly how Bill and I look forward to this weekend every year.  Visiting each booth, seeing how the kids have grown, hearing new stories of inspiration and incredible craftsmanship, and running into the collectors from around the country we have come to know through our love of Native American art.  Being jewelers, Bill and I are inspired and blessed to be among this passionate American art community.  And we are fortunate to have such special relationships with the artists who share their designs and inspiration with us so that together we can bring them to life for you, our QVC collectors!

Please join Jennifer Coffey and I on Friday, August 8th from 7-9pm ET, and Lisa Robertson and I on Saturday, August 9th from 10pm to midnight ET!  I can hardly wait!

Happy August!

Love,

Carolyn

Gluten Free Banana Blueberry Honey Muffins

 I LOVE muffins for breakfast. When my doctor advised me to shift to a gluten free way of eating a while back, my love of the breakfast-muffin was one of the first things to cross my mind. “WHAT?!!” I think was exactly how it went…

After some research, TONS of help from America’s Test Kitchen, and gluten free buddies on social media: I got my gluten free baking groove going! Yes, it’s different, but it CAN BE DONE. I experiment all the time: yes, a few of them are catastrophes. But these Banana Blueberry Honey Muffins?  WINNERS.

Ingredients

1 ½ cups of Pamela’s Baking Mix

½ cup tapioca flour

¼ cup water

1/3 cup honey

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 egg

1 mashed banana

½ cup berries

Directions

Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees. Mix together the Pamela’s mix, tapioca flour, water, honey, vanilla, and egg. Let it rest in a bowl, uncovered, while you mash up the banana in a bowl. Use the back of a big spoon and mash one, leopard-spotted banana in a bowl. Once it’s a baby-food consistency, fold it into the big bowl of already-mixed batter. Blend until smooth. Fold in the berries with a spatula until evenly mixed. Give your muffin tin a spray with oil and load the tray about 2/3 full for each muffin. Bake for 25 minutes, but please keep an eye on it: all ovens vary. When they’re brown on top, they are ready to come out. Let them cool in the muffin pan for a few minutes. Remove them and let them cool on a rack until ready to store (or devour). This recipe makes 12 muffins.

Tips

• I don’t have Pamela’s mix. Try any GF mix from your store. Seems like the most readily available is Gluten Free Bisquick.
• What berries do I use? Any kind you like! Chris Pryme just gave us some gorgeous blueberries from her farm, so we went with those.
• Can I add nuts? Sure you can! Just add them in after you mix in the banana and before you add in the berries.
• I want to customize!  Please do! I add a little turbinado sugar to the top of ours for a bit of crunchy sweet, but I would LOVE to hear what you would do!

Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoy them as much as we do at our house. I am already feeling the Fall Baking Bug, are you? What are you looking forward to baking up at your house as the temperatures go down? Pies? Banana Bread? Would love to hear about it! See you soon. ~ Mary DeAngelis

I’m baaaaaaaaack! These past three months on maternity leave just flew by but I must admit I was  excited to return to work.  Coming back felt like the first day of school.  You’re excited to see all your friends and to get back to your routine. 

Everyone has been asking how my family is doing and adjusting and the short answer is not too bad!  We definitely have our hands full with our daughter Jericho (who is now 19 months) and our infant son Jace.  Jericho is fantastic with her brother.  She kisses him all the time and tries to pick him up when he cries.

One quick funny story:  Jericho had chicken nuggets for lunch one day while her brother slept on the sofa.  I turned away from Jace for just a second and when I turned back he had something all over his mouth.  As I took a closer look I realized it was chicken nugget crumbs!  Jericho had tried to give Jace a taste of her food while I wasn’t looking!  While I’m so happy that she wanted to share, it was just another reminder that you really need eyes in the back of your head with little ones.

Jericho is a handful right now.  She is busy exploring her world and she keeps me busy running after her. 

Jace on the other hand is such an easy little fellow.  He smiles and babbles A LOT!  He’s such a happy baby and I’m totally in love! 

Coming back to work has definitely been a challenge but I am blessed to have an awesome mother who stays with us to help with the kids.  She really helps us to keep it together and I’m so thankful for her. 

My husband is no slouch either.  He is super hands on with the kids, and much better at giving baths than me (I take too long!). 

Overall things are good in the Kerr household.  We are looking forward to our first trip away from the kids next month.  Just a long weekend out of town for a wedding but we plan to make the most of it!  I hope all has been well with you this summer and I look forward to chatting and shopping with you soon!