We asked QVC's Group Creative Director, Peter Browne to give us the scoop on harvest decorating. Go behind the scenes and get inspired by Peter's beautiful work!

Creating a warm harvest feel is easy.

It’s hard to believe that fall is almost here again. Fall is one of my favorite times of year. I love when I get to see the changing of the leaves for the first time. Most of all, I love decorating for fall, when the temperature drops slightly and I get to put on my favorite sweater.

Fall is the one season of the year that I can start decorating early and I really don’t have to change out the decorations for several months. Sometimes I start out light with only bringing out a few small pieces and then build as the time goes by and then there are times where I just go hog wild and go big from the start. I always like to start in one area that I can really make one beautiful statement. (A center hall table, sideboard, mantle, something like that) It gives the room a splash of the fall colors and warmth.

Trust me when I say you don’t have to be a stylist or designer to decorate like this... never fear you can do it if you follow these few tips and tricks:

Step 1: Start with A CLEAN SLATE. Start with a space that you can play in. Clear it off completely so you can see what area have to work with.

Step 2: Create a STAGING AREA. Whether it is on the floor or on a folding table, have a place that you can lay out all the things you’ll need. This prep work is important and makes life easier in the end.

Step 3: Have a big “BAG OF TRICKS”. You should always have on hand  a “big back of tricks” that includes a few basic things: scissors, tape, double stick tape; tissue paper, stuffing paper, or bubble wrap; twine, clothes pins, glue, a staple gun, a small hammer, thumb tacks, fun tack etc. You’ll find your favorite things that work best for you over-time. Keeping all this together makes start up easy every-time.

Step 4: Collect things to create LEVELS. This is huge in creating a dynamic display. I love to use lots of found objects from around the house. Height is so important to any design to make sure you have eye movement, energy & fun.

Step 5: Collect your favorite fall decor pieces that you are going to put in the display. MIX AND MATCH. Multiple textures and finishes of elements add dimension and depth. Remember a good rule of thumb is that you start by adding things in odd numbers, 1, 3, 5 it breaks it up from being to symmetrical.

Step 6: BRING THE OUTSIDE IN. Collect things that are organic like leaves, twigs, straw, hay, corn sacks/burlap, etc. Texture can add a lot to the piece and also hide some of your flaws.

Step 7: ADD A LITTLE TOUCH OF WHIMSY. I always like hiding one little thing that not everyone sees but when they do see it they smile. In this example we added the one black bird. It has become a real game for me.

Step 8: Now start by filling in all the main pieces you have. Lay them roughly out on the table. If you want the piece to be viewed from all sides start in the center and work out. If you can only view it from one view point start in the back and work forward. Once you have the pieces in the place you think you like them add some height and then add in the texture and covering.

Step 9: Remember... STEP BACK AND LOOK AT IT as you build in the height. Walk away periodically and then tweak, add, delete etc. Which leads me to last step...

Step 10: EDIT! Once I think I am done I always remove 2-3 elements because I always feel like I have over done it!

A great decorated fall table can take you from mid-august all the way through Thanksgiving! HAVE FUN!

Here are two more examples that follow the same principle! Hope these inspire you!

Here is info for the other goodies on my tray;

Here's my latest edition of Jewelry On Q Street and I get to chat with the lovely Victoria. She went straight for the bling of this gorgeous Diamonique necklace that will be available soon. The great thing with Diamonique is, you can dress it up or dress it down as Victoria shares she thought it, "classed up" the t-shirt she wore to work that day. Enjoy!

Here is info for the other goodies on my tray;

J293554 - Epiphany Diamonique Round 100-Facet & Bar Tennis Bracelet

J291721 -  JAI by John Hardy ring 

J287031  - Bronzo Italia 1-1/2" Twist Oval Omega Back Hoop Earrings

J159362  -  Steel by Design Set of 3 Stretch Glitter Ankle Bracelets

If you are not able to view the video, you can click here and see them on my facebook page: Nancy Hornback QVC. Or just come to my page and say hello!

Lots of Love,

Nancy

            I have to brag on Aaron.  He’s one of the hardest working people I know both at work and at home.  Sometimes when I hear him on conference calls or holding meetings over the phone I’m always amazed at how strong his character is … but then sometimes I listen in and think to myself “what in the world are they talking about?!”        

            Aaron is a real estate banker in Philadelphia and definitely has the drive to get anything and everything done.  There are some times during the year that Aaron doesn’t go sleep for the evening or days, because he has to get a project done.  From that aspect, Aaron is very respectable… but what I love most about him is that he works just as hard for our relationship when at home. 

            When I became a program host and into the overnights I went, Aaron and I made the decision to work as hard as we could to make our life normal and keep a healthy schedule of spending time with each other.  Each night we are home, we make it a point to have dinner together. That may seem like the norm to you, but you have to realize Aaron and I are complete opposite schedules.  Sometimes dinner is at 4PM and sometimes it’s at 10:30 depending on what’s going on. 

            Fun fact: Whenever one of us is sleeping, the other is at work.  Before one of us goes to bed each night, we make it a point to talk for at least 15 minutes to catch up on anything and everything, and have a few laughs.  This is one of the reasons I appreciate Aaron so much, he’s down for putting all kinds of effort and love into our relationship.

            Fast forward to today; I could have never imagined how much Aaron has helped me with the wedding planning.  From day one, Aaron was eager to get to the stages of planning because of how fun he thought it was.   Aaron likes to make to-do lists and by golly he finishes all of them.  

            I can honestly say that Aaron has planned a large part of our wedding.  He’s been responsible for the band, play lists for the reception, rehearsal dinner, photographer, transportation, booking of the hotel rooms, booking our honeymoon, and so many more little things.  One day I came home and he had pages of music printed out so that we could decide on what songs we would love to hear at our wedding.  These are some of the details I had never thought of!  With the rehearsal dinner he and his parents made it a point to call every single restaurant in town and go over menus together to see what would best represent some of his favorite foods to serve our guests.  The weekend of our wedding he’s come up with so many activities for our guests like wine tastings and a golf tournaments.  I am just so amazed. He’s just been stellar toward this process and I couldn’t ask for a better partner in crime for wedding planning. 

Aaron left me in charge of the wedding reception design, church ceremony, and flowers.  That being said…. Here’s where I would love your opinion.  Aaron is a very simple, handsome, warm, humorous man.   He’s a hard worker and a loving fiancé.  When asking him about what kind of flower he would want to wear for our wedding, he told me… “You choose, I wouldn’t know which one to pick.” When it came to wedding bands, Aaron leans more traditional but wouldn’t mind his wedding band looking a little different than his idea of the “traditional gold band.”

            So let me know which flower for his boutonniere or wedding band would best fit Aaron and his personality.  Since I can’t take all of you back home to pick out flowers or go ring shopping with me, vote on some of the ideas I was thinking of below.  Let me know what you think :)

Vote here --> Courtney Says I Do

XO,CC

http://www.facebook.com/CourtneyCasonQVC

http://twitter.com/CourtneyQVC

http://instagram.com/courtneycasonqvc

http://gather.qvc.com/member/CourtneyCason/

Find More Wedding Inspiration at Southern Living :)

Hi Everyone, Steve and I will be answering answer your questions at Midnight, 10:00 AM, 4:00 PM & 7:00 PM EST. We're excited to hear and read your questions throughout the day today.

Please send through any questions you have about the Vionic® with Orthaheel® Technology Kona Sneaker. Feel free to inquire about any of the other wonderful styles available on QVC and QVC.com!

Hello, foodies…

When we first started brainstorming recipes for our “Month of Meatless Meals,” I was picturing all savory recipes, because I think “dinner” when you say the word "meal." But just then, one of my team members said, “French toast!” And then I said, “peaches!” And together, like we had rehearsed it, everyone yelled, “Peaches and Cream French Toast!” Well, our collaborative idea turned into one of the most delicious breakfasts we’ve ever made and it’s our recipe this Sunday on In the Kitchen with David. But I wanted to share this recipe now…tomorrow’s Saturday. Sounds like the perfect day for Peaches and Cream French Toast!

Peaches and Cream French Toast
Serves 6

Ingredients:

Sauce:

• 1 lb fresh or frozen peach slices
• 2 Tbsp water
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup apricot jam
• 1/2 cup heavy cream

French toast:

• 4 eggs
• 1 Tbsp white sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1-1/4 cup milk
• 8 thick bread slices (like Texas toast)
• 4 Tbsp unsalted butter, for cooking

Preparation:

1. To prepare the sauce, place the peaches, water, sugar, and apricot jam into a 3-qt saucepan. Cook the mixture over medium heat until most of the liquid has evaporated and the peaches are tender. Add the cream, bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 6 more minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and let the sauce cool for 10 minutes.
2. To prepare the French toast, whisk together the eggs, sugar, vanilla, and milk in a medium-size mixing bowl. Set aside.
3. Soak the bread slices, 2 at a time, in the egg mixture until saturated, about 20 seconds on each side. Over medium-low heat, melt 1 Tbsp of butter on a griddle or frying pan. Place 2 slices of bread at a time into the pan and cook until golden brown, approximately 3–4 minutes per side. Repeat until all the bread slices are cooked.
4. Meanwhile, place half of the sauce mixture into a blender and process until smooth. Pour the blended mixture back into the saucepan and stir to combine. Serve the sauce on top of the French toast. Garnish with whipped cream and fresh peach slices, if desired.

This recipe is prepared with the Cook's Essentials® Color Smart 11-Piece Aluminum Nonstick Cookware Set (K36181).

Go to David's Recipe Item Page for the full list of items that has been used in David's recipes.

The only thing I don’t love about peaches is peeling and pitting them. It can be a messy, messy chore. But, that was before I saw this video from our friends at America’s Test Kitchen. Now, I just feel ridiculously silly for not just asking those chefs for their advice sooner!!

And now, it’s time to get…Happy! We’ve had some truly incredible chefs and foodies on In  the Kitchen with David in the past year…Michael Symon, Carla Hall, the Cake Boss Buddy Valastro, Daphne Oz, Emeril Lagasse, Ree Drummond, and so many more. Not only did I have the pleasure of meeting and getting to know them, but I got to taste their food, which, not surprisingly, sparked a Happy Dance or two! Well, the ITKWD team took those moments and created a second “Happy Dance” video and it’s terrific. A big thank you goes to Rich, Wes, Jonathan, Tovi, and the whole team for getting this video together. And, thanks to all of you for dancing along with me.

Keep it flavorful!
—David

toGather Customer’s Choice Beauty Awards 2014 Sweepstakes

OFFICIAL RULES 

QVC, Inc. (“Sponsor”) is sponsoring the toGather Customer’s Choice Beauty Awards Sweepstakes ("Sweepstakes").

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.  A PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. MUST BE 18 YEARS OR OLDER TO ENTER. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.

By entering this Sweepstakes, entrants agree to abide by all terms of these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor whose decisions shall be final and binding.

ELIGIBILITY: The Sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the United States and District of Columbia, excluding Rhode Island, who are 18 years or older as of date of entry.  Employees and agents of Sponsor and their parents, affiliates and subsidiaries, and their immediate families (parents, children, siblings and spouses) and their same household members are not eligible. Void outside of the United States and District of Columbia, and where prohibited by law. Void in Rhode Island and Puerto Rico.  Subject to all federal, state and local laws and regulations.

SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY:   There are two (2) ways to enter the Sweepstakes, online via gather.qvc.com or by mail.

To enter online, you must have access to toGather.   To gain access to toGather, you must go to gather.qvc.com and sign up either through your Facebook Account or through your QVC Account.  Creating a QVC account requires providing a title (i.e., Mr., Mrs.), first name, last name, email address, physical address, and phone number.  You then submit your “Entry” within toGather by hearting your favorite beauty product.  Follow the submissions guidelines listed in these Sweepstakes Rules and submit your Submission ("Submission").  A Submission includes any story, text or any other information or data in any form that a Participant submits in any manner, directly or indirectly, to Sponsor in connection with the Sweepstakes.  Sweepstakes is limited to one (1) Submission per Participant.  Duplicate Submissions will be removed.  In the event Participants exceed the stated limit, only the earliest Submission will be reviewed. No e-mail or fax Submissions will be accepted.

To enter the Sweepstakes by mail, send your name, address, and daytime telephone number and Submission Story on a standard 4 inch by 6 inch postcard addressed to toGather Customer’s Choice Beauty Awards Sweepstakes, 1200 Wilson Drive MC – 201, West Chester, PA 19380. (“Mail Entry”).

Online Entries must be submitted by 11:59 PM EA on September 9, 2014. All Mail Entries must be postmarked by September 9, 2014, and received by September 11, 2014.

By completing the Online Entry or submitting a Mail Entry, you are signifying that you have read, understand and agree to these Official Rules. 

Limit of one (1) entry per person during the entry period either by Mail or Online.  Any person who attempts to participate with entries in excess of these entry limitations will be disqualified.Any other attempted form of Sweepstakes entry is void. Any person who attempts to participate under multiple identities or uses any device or artifice to enter in excess of this entry limitation will be disqualified; use of programmed, automated or like means of entry is prohibited. All duplicate entries will be discarded. Use of multiple email addresses or toGather accounts by the same individual to enter is prohibited and such multiple entries shall be voided. In the event of a dispute regarding the identity of the person submitting an entry, the entry will be deemed submitted by the authorized account holder of the email address associated with the toGather account of the entry, which the entrant will have the obligation to establish. Sponsor is not responsible for late, incomplete, misdirected, delayed, or undelivered entries, including without limitation inability to access QVC’s or the entrant’s toGather collection, or entries not timely received due to telephone failures, Internet or website failures and disruptions, and Internet service provider problems. Incomplete information may result in disqualification of entry. No entries may be effected on behalf of someone else. All Mail Entries are the non-returnable property of Sponsor. All eligible entries carry an equal chance of winning.

SWEEPSTAKES PERIOD: The Sweepstakes begins on or about 12:00:01 am Eastern Time (“ET”) on August 16, 2014, and ends 11:59:59 pm ET on September 9, 2014 (“Sweepstakes Period”).  Online Entries must be submitted by 11:59:59 pm ET on September 9, 2014. All Mail Entries must be postmarked by September 9 and received by September 11, 2014.

WINNER DETERMINATION:  One (1) Winner will be determined by a random drawing from all eligible entries and will occur on or about September 9, 2014.  Sponsor reserves the right to delay the random drawing. The number of eligible entries received will determine the odds of winning. Winning entries are subject to validation.

WINNER NOTIFICATION: Sponsor or a representative of Sponsor shall contact Potential Winners by email on or about September 9, 2014.  Potential Winners may be required to execute and return an affidavit of eligibility, liability release, and (where legal) an affidavit of publicity prior to receiving the prize. Potential Winners will have forty-eight hours from the time he/she is contacted to respond and accept the prize. Noncompliance with the time period described above will result in disqualification and an alternate winner selected. Potential Winners may be required to present proof of identification prior to claiming prize. Acceptance of any prize shall require acceptance of the terms of these Official Rules and shall grant Sponsor the right to use Winners’ first name, last name and city and state of residence for any publicity associated with this Sweepstakes.

PRIZES: One (1) Winner will receive one of each of our 2014 Customer’s Choice Beauty Awards winners from all 37 categories. Total Estimated Value of all prizes combined: $2,069.00

If a Winner is unable or unwilling to accept the prize he/she will be disqualified and the prize forfeited; and, in such event, an alternate Winner shall be selected from among all remaining eligible entries received. Prize cannot be substituted or transferred by Winner. If a Prize must be forfeited, Winner will not be given the cash value of the prize. Prize Winner is solely responsible for all expenses not expressly included. All taxes are the responsibility of the Winner. Winner and/or parent or legal guardian may be required to sign an IRS Form 1099, Form W-9, or the equivalent for all prizes valued at $600 or greater, or for any prize as to which Sponsor, in their sole discretion, believes it is warranted. Prize provided by QVC, Inc.

RELEASE OF LIABILITY: Sponsor’s failure to enforce any provision of these Official Rules shall not constitute the waiver of such provision. “Released Parties” (as defined in Rule 8) are not responsible for any changes or unavailability of the toGather service that may interfere with the Sweepstakes (including any limitations, restrictions or conditions on Sponsor's ability to use the service for the Sweepstakes) or ability of entrant to timely enter, receive notices or communicate with Sponsor. Released Parties are not responsible for failed, partial or garbled computer transmissions beyond their control, or for technical failures of any kind beyond their control, including but not limited to electronic malfunction, programming errors or failures, or damage or failure of any network, hardware or software. If for any reason the Sweepstakes (in whole or in part) is not capable of running as planned, as solely determined by Sponsor, including, but not limited to, by infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud or technical failures or any other problems beyond Sponsor's control that can corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of the Sweepstakes, Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Sweepstakes and/or disqualify any individual who tampers with (or attempts to tamper with) the registration process/operation of the Sweepstakes. In any such event, Sponsor shall conduct the Sweepstakes and make the Sweepstakes prize available to be won in a manner which is fair, appropriate and consistent with the spirit of these Official Rules, as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion. Notice of cancellation/termination/ modification/suspension of Sweepstakes will be posted on the Website. Tampering (as referenced above) includes but is not limited to use of any unauthorized apparatus (be it hardware, software or otherwise) to participate in the Sweepstakes. Released Parties assume no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to (or any problems or technical malfunctions of) any telephone network or lines, computer online systems, servers, or providers, computer equipment, hardware, software, failure of any email, Board or Pin to be received/properly recorded on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at the Website, or any combination thereof. Sponsor and its agencies are not responsible for any injury or damage to participant's or any other person's computer related to or resulting from participation in or downloading any materials from this Sweepstakes or the Website. Further, Released Parties are not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by Website users, tampering, hacking, or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Sweepstakes.

Participants further agree not to damage or cause interruption of the Sweepstakes and/or prevent others from participating in the Sweepstakes. CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT TO DAMAGE ANY ONLINE SERVICE OR WEBSITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST VIOLATES CRIMINAL OR CIVIL LAWS. IF SUCH AN ATTEMPT IS MADE OR AN INDIVIDUAL OTHERWISE ATTEMPTS TO DEFRAUD SPONSOR, SPONSOR MAY DISQUALIFY ANY PARTICIPANT MAKING SUCH ATTEMPT AND SEEK DAMAGES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW.

CONDITIONS AND LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY: By participating, participants agree to be bound by and abide by these Official Rules and the decisions of Sponsor, which shall be final and binding in all respects and not subject to appeal. By participating in this Sweepstakes, entrants agree to release and hold harmless Sponsor, their respective parent, subsidiary, affiliated and successor companies, advertising and promotion agencies , and each of their respective officers, directors, agents, representatives and employees, as well as each of their respective successors and assigns (collectively, the "Released Parties") from any and all actions, claims, loss or damage to person(s) or property arising in any manner, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part from participation in this Sweepstakes or any Sweepstakes-related activity, and/or acceptance, possession, misuse or use of any prize. By accepting the prize, Winner authorizes the Sponsor and its designees to use his/her name, voice, likeness, photograph, prize information, biographical data and city and state of residence in any media now known or hereafter discovered, world wide, including on the World Wide Web and Internet, in perpetuity, at any time or times, in programming, advertising, trade and/or promotional material relating to this Sweepstakes or on a Winner's List (if applicable) without additional compensation or notice, review or approval (unless prohibited by law). Sponsor is not obligated to use any of the above mentioned information or materials, but may do so and may edit such information or materials, at Sponsor's sole discretion, without obligation or compensation.

TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, RELEASED PARTIES MAKE NO WARRANTY, REPRESENTATION, OR GUARANTEE, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN FACT OR IN LAW, RELATIVE TO THE USE OF THE PRIZE, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ITS QUALITY, MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

DISPUTES: Arbitration/Choice Of Law: To the fullest extent permitted by law, entrants agree that: (1) any and all disputes, claims, and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Sweepstakes, or the prize, or the determination of the Winner, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by arbitration pursuant to the Rules of the American Arbitration Association, then effective, and (2) any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering this Sweepstakes (if any) but in no event attorneys’ fees; and (3) under no circumstances will entrant be permitted to obtain awards for and entrant hereby waives all rights to claim punitive, incidental and consequential damages and any other damages, other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses, and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of entrant and/or Released Parties in connection with the Sweepstakes, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, without regard for conflicts of law doctrine, and all proceedings shall take place in the City of Philadelphia, County of Philadelphia.

PRIVACY POLICY: The entry information provided is subject to The QVC Privacy Statement accessible via www.qvc.com. To read the QVC Policy, access the QVC Website and then click on the Privacy Statement link under the “Policies & Information” heading.

WINNER’S LIST: For the names of prize winners, mail a self-addressed, stamped envelope to toGather Customer’s Choice Beauty Awards QVC Studio Park Mail Code 201, West Chester, PA 19380 or email, communication@qvc.com.

Thank you so much for sending us your photos of your pets and you enjoying the summer season during yesterday’s Sundays with Carolyn & Dan. We received so many adorable pictures, we HAD to share them! We really look forward to seeing these each and every week and you never let us down!

XOXO from your fellow pet lovers,

Carolyn & Dan

My husband and I bought our first home in a bit of a rush. It was very small, very affordable, close enough to QVC and in a good school district. Our main concern was that we be settled somewhere before our oldest daughter started kindergarten.

Over time, we added another daughter and a dog to our family and our house went from cozy to cramped.

We decided to look for a home where my husband could have a garage, our kids could have a yard, and I could have a place to entertain. After two years of searching, we found it! We loved everything about our new home, except the kitchen, which had not been updated in a few decades. An unrenovated kitchen was fine with me! I knew that if the home had a new kitchen it would have cost a lot more and kitchens are very personal. I wanted to create my own dream kitchen.

This year, we decided to take the plunge. In order to create a larger space, we removed the wall between the kitchen and dining room. We also reconfigured the adjoining laundry and mudroom and changed the location of the entry from the garage. The construction process took four months. During that time, I cooked our meals on a card table in the basement. I learned that you can cook almost anything with a microwave and a toaster oven!

The Kitchen Before:

The Laundry Room Before:

Before the walls came down, I let the kids draw on them. They were so excited to do something so "taboo"!

This picture was taken on 4/8,  just 8 days into our renovation project. 

Here I am with my two daughters posing in our soon to be kitchen. At this point of the renovation I had mastered cooking on a card table in the unfinished basement! 

The next update we documented was 3 weeks into the project. We returned home from vacation to insulation! 

Here's a quick jump to week 5! 

My husband and I took a field trip to check out our soon to be cabinets! 

It took 4 months, but the wait was so worth it! Here are the after photos of our brand new kitchen: 

While I wanted the work and prep areas of the kitchen to be white, I wanted the wall visible from the living room to look less "kitcheny" and more like furniture. Our contractor and his team created a wall of built-in pantries from solid black walnut. The wood came from a property on Shelter Island, NY.

The owner, an amateur woodworker, had used trees on his property for his projects and had accumulated extra wood over several decades. My contractor took the ferry to the island to get the wood. He told the property owner (who has now retired to Florida) that he was going to create a special kitchen with the wood and would send him a picture of the end result.

I decided the cabinets should be very simple, with no exposed hardware so the focal point of the kitchen is the beauty of the wood, knots and all.

Our New Laundry Room! (With the new washer and dryer my husband surprised me with for my 44th birthday! -- That's my kind of romantic!) 

I've only been using the kitchen for a few weeks now and I'm not done organizing and decorating, but we have already had friends over several times and hosted a family party.  Although my new kitchen is much larger than the old one, I can clean it faster because everything has a place. Having white countertops helps too. If something is on the counter, it is easy to spot and wipe away.  Plus, I'm loving the convenience of having our everyday dishes so accessible on open shelves. Like many families, we spend a lot of time in the kitchen. It's so nice to finally have a space that functions well and feels like it belongs to us.

Hello, foodies…

Have you ever had a veggie burger? I’ll bet I can probably guess your reaction based on the burgers I’ve tried…dry, tasteless, and boring. Does that about cover it? When we decided on our “Month of Meatless Meals” recipes for August, I turned to my friend and talented chef friend, Andrea, and I said, “We’ve got to create a veggie burger that’s different. It’s got to be flavorful, hearty, and downright tasty.” We didn’t want to create a burger that tasted like you had to settle for second best if you didn’t eat meat, or preferred a lighter, healthier burger. And together, Andrea and I developed a recipe for a Black Bean Burger with Fresh Salsa that I’m quite proud of. Gone are the days of the “veggie burger” stereotype…at least as I know it.

Black Bean Burger with Fresh Salsa
Serves 5

Ingredients:
Burger:

• 1 (19-oz) can black beans, well drained
• 1 cup cooked brown rice
• 1/3 cup loosely packed cilantro leaves
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
• 1/4 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp light chili powder
• 1/4 tsp dry ground oregano
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 large green bell pepper, chopped
• 1/4 medium yellow onion, peeled and chopped
• 1/4 cup unseasoned breadcrumbs
• 1 Tbsp vegetable oil, for cooking
• Hamburger buns (optional, for serving)
• Lettuce (optional, for serving)

Salsa:

• 1/8 red onion, peeled
• 1/3 cup loosely packed cilantro
• 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and chunked
• 2 vine-ripened tomatoes, quartered
• 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 Tbsp fresh lime juice

Preparation:

1. To prepare the burger, pour half of the beans and 1/2 cup of rice into a medium-size bowl and set aside. Place the remaining beans and rice, cilantro, garlic powder, salt, pepper, cumin, chili powder, oregano, and egg into a food processor. Pulse 6 times and then process until well combined.
2. Scoop the mixture into the bowl that has the reserved black beans and rice. Add the green pepper, onion, and breadcrumbs and mix with a spatula until fully incorporated. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Remove the bowl from the refrigerator, form 5 patties, place them onto a platter, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for another 30 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, make the salsa. Place all the ingredients into a food processor and pulse 4–5 times, or until the desired consistency.
4. Add the vegetable oil to a large sauté pan, add the burgers, and cook over medium heat for 6–8 minutes on each side. Place the burgers on buns and add lettuce, if desired. Top the black bean burgers with salsa.

This recipe is prepared with the KitchenAid 13 Cup 3-in-1 Wide Mouth Food Processor with Accessories (K35182).

Go to David's Recipe Item Page for the full list of items that David has used in his recipes. 

Foodies, keep that salsa recipe handy for a quick appetizer idea…I know it’s easy to buy jarred salsa, but this one is fresh and bright. Throw it together in your food processor and it’s literally ready in seconds.

Ready for today’s blog question? So we topped today’s burger with fresh salsa. What other unusual burger toppings have you tried?Sautéed mushrooms or onions? Guacamole? Grilled peaches or pineapple? Maybe fresh prosciutto or salami? Thanks for taking the time to reply…I’ll see you Wednesday on In the Kitchen with Davidat 8pm ET.

Keep it flavorful!
—David

My dear friends,

I have always shared ‘my everything’ with you, always been humorously over-honest, unapologetically the over-sharer. I’ve always wanted to keep things real between us, because otherwise what’s the point?

I’ve been slow to do that with something recently, something very painful and private, something I wanted to keep to myself to keep it protected, and untouched by public consumption. But my need for privacy is causing worry, speculation, uncertainty, and in a few isolated cases, fueling some rumors. My heart doesn’t have the energy for that stuff, so after talking to Joe, we wanted to reach out and explain why you have not seen me.

A few weeks ago, Joe and I lost a baby, a beautiful baby girl. We were almost 5 months pregnant. That is why I had been sitting down during shows, and took a break from Saturdays. I was very close to announcing my pregnancy.

I know you probably wonder why in these situations “we” wait so long, “It’s so wonderful and obvious, why doesn’t she just tell us she's pregnant already?!”. This is why............because having to undo the greatest joy with news of a loss, on a very public stage, is even more painful.

Joe and I have been surrounded in prayer by so many amazing friends who are lifting us up, and for that, we are grateful. If you are one of them, we can’t begin to thank you enough!!!

I know God has a plan, even though I don’t understand it. The truest test of faith is believing and trusting in bad times, when He takes away, or allows us to walk through a valley of pain. I can’t just rely on Him for happy stuff, blessings, provisions, and then turn on Him when my life falls apart.

Joe and I know you grieve for us. This is not the first time this kind of tragedy has struck our QVC family. Few people can fathom this grief unless they have walked in these shoes, the shoes of hoping, wanting, dreaming, preparing, thanking, praying…and then mourning.

I don’t want to linger in this place of sadness, because the longer I do, the longer we are kept from what awaits us, which is hopefully the sun coming up after a dark night. I need your help with that. I know you will want to share your love and thoughts with me, maybe during shows, or call ins.

I would kindly ask for your mercy, that you don’t. Being on air with you, delighting in things that lift the soul and spirit, laughing uncontrollably with Isaac, and cracking jokes with my beauty babes on Tuesday nights, is what I need. Being reminded of this loss during a call in would be very painful, and none of you are tuning in for pain or sadness. 

I look forward to seeing you soon, I just needed some time to get my head and heart together. I’ll be back on Tuesday 9/2 and my return couldn’t come at a better time. My favorite season of all is Fall so I cannot wait for that smell of nip in the air.

There’s something in Autumn that speaks to my soul. It feels like a good time to heal. Until then, I am with family and Joe, on FB, and missing you all terribly, so excited to get back, and hoping that your end of summer is full of wonderful memories.

Shawn

x

My dear friends,

I have always shared ‘my everything’ with you, always been humorously over-honest, unapologetically the over-sharer. I’ve always wanted to keep things real between us, because otherwise what’s the point?

I’ve been slow to do that with something recently, something very painful and private, something I wanted to keep to myself to keep it protected, and untouched by public consumption. But my need for privacy is causing worry, speculation, uncertainty, and in a few isolated cases, fueling some rumors. My heart doesn’t have the energy for that stuff, so after talking to Joe, we wanted to reach out and explain why you have not seen me.

A few weeks ago, Joe and I lost a baby, a beautiful baby girl. We were almost 5 months pregnant. That is why I had been sitting down during shows, and took a break from Saturdays. I was very close to announcing my pregnancy.

I know you probably wonder why in these situations “we” wait so long, “It’s so wonderful and obvious, why doesn’t she just tell us she's pregnant already?!”. This is why............because having to undo the greatest joy with news of a loss, on a very public stage, is even more painful.

Joe and I have been surrounded in prayer by so many amazing friends who are lifting us up, and for that, we are grateful. If you are one of them, we can’t begin to thank you enough!!!

I know God has a plan, even though I don’t understand it. The truest test of faith is believing and trusting in bad times, when He takes away, or allows us to walk through a valley of pain. I can’t just rely on Him for happy stuff, blessings, provisions, and then turn on Him when my life falls apart.

Joe and I know you grieve for us. This is not the first time this kind of tragedy has struck our QVC family. Few people can fathom this grief unless they have walked in these shoes, the shoes of hoping, wanting, dreaming, preparing, thanking, praying…and then mourning.

I don’t want to linger in this place of sadness, because the longer I do, the longer we are kept from what awaits us, which is hopefully the sun coming up after a dark night. I need your help with that. I know you will want to share your love and thoughts with me, maybe during shows, or call ins.

I would kindly ask for your mercy, that you don’t. Being on air with you, delighting in things that lift the soul and spirit, laughing uncontrollably with Isaac, and cracking jokes with my beauty babes on Tuesday nights, is what I need. Being reminded of this loss during a call in would be very painful, and none of you are tuning in for pain or sadness. 

I look forward to seeing you soon, I just needed some time to get my head and heart together. I’ll be back on Tuesday 9/2 and my return couldn’t come at a better time. My favorite season of all is Fall so I cannot wait for that smell of nip in the air.

There’s something in Autumn that speaks to my soul. It feels like a good time to heal. Until then, I am with family and Joe, on FB, and missing you all terribly, so excited to get back, and hoping that your end of summer is full of wonderful memories.

Shawn

x

Calling all Denim & Company fans!! It's time to cast YOUR vote in our new Designer vs Diva Poll!!

As usual, lead Designer Gary and myself have searched through a lineup of beautiful new items for the season, and have each chosen one that we like the best! Now, we'd like YOU to choose which of these is YOUR Favorite Transitional Embellished Fall Top!!  Simply take a look at the two photos here, and read through the brief description of each and the reasons why we like them so much! Then, cast your vote below for the one  you like the best between the two. The poll will remain open until Tuesday, August 19th at 1:00pm ET. Then, on the following Tuesday, August 26th, Gary and I will reveal the top that received the most votes and which of us picked it during our two hour 10am Designer vs Diva Denim and Co show!!

So here are the two terrific tops!! Tell us which one is YOUR favorite!! (PS: you CAN order one or both tops now, or wait until the presentation of each on air, during the August 26th 10am show!)

Denim and Company Knit 3/4 Sleeve Top with Embroidery (A256318)

We LOVE this top because of the super cute and feminine Embroidery detail, which makes it an early Fall transitional top that you will wear nearly all year round. The trim is very unique and very pretty. It also has terrific versatility, and depending on if you dress it up or down, you can wear it to many different types of occasions, including the workplace or a nice luncheon date. It features a RELAXED fit, 3/4 sleeves, and a round neckline with embroidery detail. The fabric content is 95% cotton and 5% spandex. It comes in several lovely colors that are not season specific. Hmmm....did Gary pick this one or did I pick it????

Denim and Company Perfect Jersey 3/4 Sleeve Top with Stud Detail (A256321)

We LOVE this top because it is a rock star!! By that, we mean, it will be a welcome addition to your Fall wardrobe because of the terrific colors, the updated pop of the stud details (which are all over the place at ladies retail stores this Fall!) and the great,classic silhouette that goes with just about everything currently in your closet for Fall.....jeans, skirts, dress pants, your Active wear and more! We love the touch of sparkle you get from the stud detail, without being over the top or trying too hard. This top is FUN!

It features a SEMI-FITTED silhouette, 3/4 sleeves, a round neckline with stud detail at the yoke and a super flattering Hi-Low hemline. The fabric content is 95% cotton and 5% spandex. Gorgeous Fall colors! Hmmm....Did Gary pick this one or did I pick it???

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE HERE: 

(and don't forget to leave your comments and suggestions as well, 'cause we LOVE your feedback on Denim and Co!!) HAVE FUN, DIVAS!!!

Love,

Carolyn XO  (See you Tuesday mid mornings for Denim and Co....check your schedule...we're starting an hour early on some of the upcoming shows, at 10am!!)

For me, fall really is one of the most charming seasons of the year! The leaves turning colors, the bounty of the harvest and even the crispness of the air just seem so inviting and “cozy” for me. I was invited to my neighbor’s house for dinner this weekend, and since we are celebrating “Back to Fall” (and peaches are in season) I decided to make my “Easy Fall Peach Cobbler” for dessert. I happened to find some beautiful peaches at the market so I used them, but you can use 2 cans of peaches as I’ve written below. 

Ingredients

Two cans of sliced peaches in syrup

1 stick of butter

1 cup self rising flower

1 cup sugar

1 cup milk

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Drain 1 can of peaches; save the syrup from the other. Place the butter in a Temptations pie pan. Heat the butter in the microwave until it's melted. In a medium bowl, mix the flour and sugar. Stir in the milk and the syrup. Pour the batter over the melted butter in pie plate. Place the peaches over the batter. Bake for 1 hour. You’ll know the cobbler is done when the batter rises and the crust is a thick, golden brown color. 

Aren’t these peaches gorgeous!! I used 4 peaches, (as opposed to using the second can from the recipe)

This is what it looked like before we dug into it!

It was the perfect texture and consistency!!

This is what was left when the four of us were done with dessert!! My neighbor kept the remaining cobbler as well as the Pie Plate! She loved it so much, so it was my gift to her for inviting me over!!  

Do you have a great recipe that you want to share with me? Or a photo of a fabulous dish you’ve made lately?  If so, go to my Facebook page, Alberti Popaj QVC and post it there!! 

XOXO

- Alberti 

Do you believe in the theory that everyone and everything is six or fewer steps away? This theory is referred to as six degrees of separation.  It’s a chain of friend of a friend and that a connection can be made to connect any two people in a maximum of six steps… 

Here is my 6 Degrees of separation..

My sister Cindy's hair stylist, another Cindy, met Molly (a former Clarisonic guest) in the Chicago airport. They began talking & the conversation led to what they do.  Molly told her she worked for Clarisonic& that she was an on-air guest for QVC.  Cindy said she had a client whose sister was a host on Q.  Molly asked who it was.  And it was me!

Molly gave her guest pass to Cindy to give my sister, Cindy, to give to me!  And here it is...crazy!  I just sent the picture to Molly. Molly's response:  "Awesome!!!! Hi! Pretty ladies. Nice to meet you Cindy! I sure do miss you! Xoxo" 

Whew…

What's your story of "6 degrees of separation?"

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NancyQVC

Instagram: www.instagram.com/nancyhornbackqvc

Dear Friends

I am thrilled to be back on QVC August 20 at 1am EST, where I will be launching my ALL BRONZE collection of gutsy classic, ICONIC signature RLM jewelry. Concentrating mainly on high polished, clean and pure bronze cast forms, it will be as if we were back in 1999 when silver was still  very affordable and I made jewelry that had a luscious heft to it. 

I have a gut feeling that this will be a fast and furious hour, with sellout after sellout, the way I like it....the way it gets all of our ADRENALINE pumping like the good old days!

Please tune in for this live show where I will be sharing my inspirations and stories of what will be some of my most famous and wearable designs. All new but so familiar, and so so affordable due to the high polished, sensual bronze, offered white, yellow, and rose. 

Join me for this wildly fun show! 

See you soon,

Robert Lee Morris

I spent a summer on Martha’s Vineyard between my sophomore and junior years in college, and I’ve been enchanted with the place ever since.

Michele, Doreen, and I have been friends since college. I recently joined Michele’s family vacation for four jam-packed days. 

We biked along the beach and spent fun time in the water….

A nice outdoor shower kept me going after a day at the beach.

If you’re ever on the island, you must stop by this lighthouse. I go every time I visit to take in the view. 

Larsen’s Fish Market in Menemsha is a dream for every seafood lover. The seafood is so fresh it’s practically still swimming!!! This is Michele’s daughter holding her dinner.

Watching the sun set in Menemsha is breathtaking…

Late night snacks meant a visit to Back Door Donuts (TWICE!!!). There’s always a line, but it’s worth the wait. They make me giddy 

The Vineyard is beautiful by land and sea...

But what I loved most was spending time with great friends. Thank you Michele and family for hosting this amazing visit!!

What have you been up to this summer? I'd love to hear your stories…

- Rachel 

July came and went in the blink of an eye. Before we know it, it will be time for new backpacks and back to school shopping.  We aren't ready to let go of summer, just yet.  So we sat down and came up with some ideas for our "Rest of Summertime Fun Bucket List."  The kids and I also found a great fun activity to keep track of them! 

 Here's what you need to make your own:

- Large sand bucket

- Two sided velcro dots

- Marker or pen

- Multi colored paper

- List of all of your fun summertime ideas

First, cut the paper (or colored cardstock as we used) into the size you'd like.  Be sure and use all different colors - makes it more fun!

Next, write out all of your fun summertime bucket list ideas onto the small squares.  My kiddos did this part themselves and had a blast!

Now, take the velcro dots and stick the soft side of the velcro on the bucket.  You can place them all in a line so your bucket looks like it it is striped or just randomly stick them on in a polka dot pattern.  

Then, the rough side of the velcro dots are attached to each of your activity ideas you have written on the paper.

Then you attach to your bucket! 

See - super easy.  And fun. :)

Now, each time we check an item off the list, the kids pull the item off the bucket and toss it into the bucket. And now you can see what we had for dinner last night :)

We had so much fun making this - we hope you do too!  While the kids sipped on their latest favorite from Keurig® - Green Mountain Naturals® Lemonade K-Cup® packs, I opted for MY latest favorite, Green Mountain Coffee® Breakfast Blend K-Cup® packs.

Lately, Green Mountain Coffee® Breakfast Blend K-Cup® packs have been my drink of choice as it is a part of the exciting pack-up coming to you all on August 13^th. I cannot WAIT to share with you our special offer, so please make sure to tune-in, we kick-off at midnight ;) Until then, don’t worry, we still have some amazing Keurig offers, most important being that all Keurig® K-Cup® brewers are on EZ pay until August 13^th—Yes, you heard that right, ALL of them.

So tell us! What are your fun plans for the rest of summer?

From my family to yours, cheers to a wonderful rest of summer!

XOXO,

Melissa Fleming Epps

Hello my fashionistas!

The count down is on for dropping off Kevin at college.  Trying to motivate an eighteen year old male to shop is difficult....offering a meal somewhere with Mom....that is my catch. :) 

Today I spent the morning with MBR.  You see we were challenged by the lovely Jayne Brown to "dunk it or donate" in the ALS ice bucket challenge.  I want you to know that team LCNY always takes challenges seriously, and quickly responded within the 24 hour time limit as you would expect of any Liz lady.  We met at MBR's home.  We made our concoction of a bucket of water and ALL of the ice cubes from her freezer, just saying, it was cold.  We then asked her son Ryan, to video our message and the dunk. I only wish you could have seen his face trying not to laugh at us.

We decided to dunk and donate, so both of us will be donating to the cause.  In our video we challenged three people.  You will have to watch to see who they are.  But we decided it would be fun to involve you my friend, in this great cause.  So, if you are watching the video, the challenge goes out to you......from MaryBeth Roe and Linda Davies please participate in the ALS ice bucket "dunk it or donate"...or both. 

If you accept our challenge we would love for you to share your pics or videos with us.  Please post on either of our Facebook pages.  We look forward to our Wednesday mornings at 9am.  Bring your cup of joe and your friendship. See you tomorrow.

Linda :)

Hi, everyone!

I’m still enjoying a few precious days at the beach. It’s been a BEAUTIFUL week. But it’s Tuesday—my blog day—and I didn’t want to leave you without a new post for the week. Plus, you all kindly submitted photos of your living rooms in honor of our #YHJ Inspired theme…I couldn’t wait to share my favorites!

But first—in case this is the first time you’re hearing about this #YHJ Inspired thing, let me explain. You all inspire ME. Yes, I share DIY ideas and recipes with you on You're Home with Jill, but I am always blown away by your creativity and the things you share on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter. I love seeing your projects so I wanted to give you all a chance to shine. In the beginning of August, I asked to see your kitchens. I wanted to see how you incorporated color into your décor. You all sent lots of photos (using #YHJInspired so we could find them on social media) and I shared my favorites in last Tuesday’s post. In that same blog, I gave you another challenge: show me  photos of your bedroom décor. How did you choose your colors? How do you keep your space looking fresh and new? THANK YOU to everyone who shared…here are our winners!

This is Jennifer’s bedroom…she painted her “drab, olive green walls” a refreshing color called “Sweetwater Lake.” She added some new decorations, some crafty flowers, a new monogram above the bed, and included some updated family photos. She says she loves her new bedroom and I think it’s BEAUTIFUL. I absolutely love the monogram above the bed…it’s so classy and so personal. It’s also a great alternative to framed art or a heavy wall hanging.

This is Verla’s bedroom. She didn’t tell me about her theme, but it’s clear her bedroom is her place of zen. I like your thinking, Verla! There’s no clutter; the blues, whites, and neutrals are very earthy; and I see a tall tree-like plant peeking out from the corner. Very well done!

Finally, we have Stephanie’s bedroom. She redecorated her "shabby chic" grey, turquoise and ivory bedroom with some beautiful pillows and bedding. The adorable little puppy on the bed is her “newest addition” and his name is Remmy. “He wants to be QVC famous too!” she told me.

So how can you be QVC famous? Help us with our next #YHJ Inspired challenge! I want to see how you’ve decorated or recently changed up your décor in your living room. Did you bring summer in? Or did you already update your decor for fall? Just like before, you can submit your photos to Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter but be sure to use #YHJInspired so we can find them! Or, you can email your photos to us at yhj@qvc.com. We need them by Monday, August 18.

From my home to yours,
—Jill

View All Blogs Community » Content » Blogs Search: Filter: By: Sort: Page 1 of 41 2 3 4 Next Not Abusive x 0 #464033 - Shawn Killinger - A Personal Story Beauty Banter, Fashion Talk, Hosts & Personalities 102064 Views 676 Replies Started: Shawn Killinger 8-12-14 8:14 AM Last: cem50 8-13-14 9:36 AM Effective: None Expiration: None EditDelete