For our Honeymoon we wanted to go somewhere that we may not get the chance to go back to for a good while.  We decided to spend our honeymoon in French Polynesia both on the Paul Gauguin Ship and in Tahiti.  There are 115 islands in French Polynesia; some that are very small and desolate, and others that have bigger populations- but still small town, family-life oriented.  Throughout most of F.P. there is no real estate.  Everyone who lives on the land of the islands owns their land because it’s the land their family has grown up on.  Some families have whole Motu’s (islands) to themselves which is pretty amazing. 

I’ve never been anywhere in the world that was as beautiful as French Polynesia.  Part of the reason it’s so beautiful is the people that call it home.  Everyone we met from the Islands was beyond nice, happy to meet us, and share a part of their life with us.  If there’s one thing that I kept thinking to myself throughout the whole trip is that the Polynesian people live a refreshingly simple life, full of flavor. I hope that lesson will stay with me throughout my life,  because the people we met showed us that it’s the simple things in life you treasure most.

We visited five islands during our eleven day trip to French Polynesia.

Huahine was our first stop.  This island was really interesting.  There are eight villages in Huahine but at first glance you think “Where do they all live?!” We went and spent the day with a family that had called Huahine home all of their life- and they were so amazing to get to know. 

For Lunch they showed us how to make a tradition Tahitian Tuna Salad.  The first step was to pull the tuna from the ocean where it had been marinating for a few hours… hmm that was different :)   They served lunch with the tuna salad, rice, beef, and the best tasting fruit I’ve ever had.  When we were done eating they told us to wash off our dishes in the ocean so the fish could be fed and the salt could clean off the dishes.  That also put a new spin on how we do things back in the states; but hey, the fish loved it and we didn’t get sick the entire time!

Next stop was Tahaa. This is the vanilla island and a destination for Tahitian Pearls.  They call Tahaa the twin islands because they are the only islands in F.P. that have been separated over time and share the same lagoon.  We were lucky enough to visit a pearl farm on the side of the ocean to learn what a science it is extracting the pearl from the oyster.  At any given time they are harvesting more than two-hundred thousand oysters in their lagoon.  It takes anywhere from four to five years to get the oyster to harvest a sizable pearl and at the end of those five years only two percent of those are considered perfect--- which I’m guessing is why Tahitian pearls are considered such an investment!

 If heaven has an address… it’s here in Bora Bora.  It’s more beautiful than they say it is and the people that live there couldn’t be any more nice or welcoming. 

Jet Skiing around the Island

Dinner at Famous Bloody Mary’s

Moorea is probably one of the most spiritual places I’ve been in my life.  The Island has just a magical calming presence to it. 

Here’s our Dive/snorkel spot in Moorea.  We swam with Sharks that were 6-7 feet in length.  Every time the sharks would come by I would go over to our catamaran and hold on for dear life… as if that was going to help anything!

Relaxing by the Pool

On Moorea there is a Dolphin Rehabilitation Center.  We spent one afternoon there with three dolphins that honestly changed our lives.  One was 36 years old and blind.  We communicated with her by signing on her forehead.  When we would sign to her she would snuggle up for a pet or never leave our side while we were swimming. I teared up the entire time and currently because she was just beyond special.

Kisses for the Lady

Even though she can’t see… she loves to play fetch!

Tahiti was the last stop to our wonderful vacation.

Sunset

Sad to have left our over-water bungalow.  

Thanks for reading this far!  Enjoy your week!

XO,CC

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Hey everyone!

Are you avoiding the pre-holiday stress? I’ve already started thinking about what to get my loved ones, and maybe I can help you out a bit with gift ideas. Longer, thicker, fuller-looking lashes anyone? My Lashes To Die For The Mascara is now available as a trio for a limited time and comes in a sparkling, giftable purple box, making it an ideal present. You’ll be tempted to get an extra and keep one for yourself!

Peter Thomas Roth Lashes To Die For Mascara Trio

The 4–in–1 formula helps lengthen, volumize, define, and condition lashes with an innovative brush. It actually works like a comb to deliver perfect, even separation for clump-free, non-transferring, smudge-proof lashes every time. It’s quick drying, long lasting, water-resistant and gives lashes the look of dramatic length and enhanced curl. For optimum hygiene, you should swap out your old mascara for a fresh one every three months. An insert card with stickers is included, so you can keep track of the date you opened the mascara and toss it when the time comes. Out with the old, in with the new!

My formula leaves your lashes soft, not hard and crusty, which means you can reapply as needed. Start with one or two coats in the morning and apply again in the evening for longer, thicker, fuller-looking, more dramatic lashes. When it’s time to remove, the mascara easily washes away!

Wishing you beautiful skin,

—Peter Thomas Roth

from the brand that became famous for moisturizers that can help change your skin, philosophy does it again! announcing the newest moisturizer in the hope franchise: renewed hope in a jar. we're bringing it to the QVC customer first! 10 years in development, renewed hope in a jar delivers the healthy-looking, glowing skin you wish for. the lightweight, whipped formula melts perfectly into skin as it helps give your complexion a more youthful, ageless look.

we’ve asked dara, mari lyn, and heidi to share their personal testimony on the latest moisturizer from philosophy, an expert in skin care. renewed hope in a jar has few steps, so it fits into your personal lifestyle! here's what they shared:

dara lynn:
this is my true story. when i have the opportunity to preview products before we bring them to market, i'm always so excited to share the results. i take very seriously the responsibility of explaining the products to you when i'm on air. so, when i have the chance to use them in advance, i really take great care and get to know the formula and the result so i can share it with you and bring it to life. since i've been secretly using renewed hope for the past few months, i've noticed some powerful results on my own skin. on a recent trip with my husband, i was rushing to get ready for dinner. i was almost ready! i had done my hair nicely (no easy task with a tiny travel hair dryer), then put on a bit of eye makeup and a nice blush and lip color. i was satisfied with my outfit and took one last glance in the magnifying mirror before heading out. i looked closely and thought, "wow, my skin looks great." my brain was thinking, “i did a good job on my makeup." i looked again and realized i didn't remember putting on the typical foundation and concealer! then came the a-ha moment. i realized that, in my rush, i didn't make a conscious effort to skip foundation and concealer, but the reflection in the mirror was showing that i did not need foundation and concealer. i went to dinner beyond makeup optional and beyond thrilled with my results from renewed hope.

—dara

mari lyn meier:
i’m so excited about this new moisturizer, renewed hope! it's our first moisturizer to help promote skin's natural renewal process. 10 years in the making was worth waiting for! it's like no other skin-care product I've ever experienced. it does so much more than a traditional moisturizer. the level of gentle exfoliation matched with unstoppable hydration leaves any skin looking smoother, softer, and more touchable. my skin has this glow i had thought to be lost and gone forever. i also enjoy the lightweight-but-deluxe cream formula. it feels comforting and soothing as soon as it touches my skin, but it absorbs immediately, leaving no shine or residue—just a beautiful, healthy-looking glow. my skin feels like it did when i was younger. i can honestly say, “i love my skin!” i'm finding my makeup goes on more easily and lasts longer (that is, when i choose to wear makeup). renewed hope is our latest multitasking, advanced formula and one-step answer for makeup-optional skin.

—mari lyn

heidi guest:
renewed hope in a jar represents philosophy's ongoing commitment to evolve as skin science and technologies do the same. as someone who's always been focused on scientific excellence in product performance, i'd say that this new formula is the skin-care equivalent of a long-wear lipstick. key descriptors that apply are: continuous hydration and continuous glow.

i've personally loved introducing renewed hope to friends and family who are not quite at the miracle worker stage yet, but who are still concerned about dryness, dullness, and the first signs of aging. everyone on my friends-and-family test panel has commented that their pores suddenly look refined, fine lines are softened, and skin feels refreshed and full of moisture. best of all, everyone comments on their renewed glow! i've never received so many thank-you notes, e-mails, and texts.

everyone at philosophy really does believe in the constant renewal of the spirit and the skin. this hard-working moisturizer is committed to delivering a steady stream (pun intended) of moisture and provides the chance for skin to renew the look of itself—emerging as its glowing, makeup-optional best!

—heidi

Homemade treats are always a welcome gift during the holidays. My grandmother’s recipe for Candied Walnuts is one I’ve shared with family and friends for years.

Tonight, Lock & Lock is going to make sharing for the holidays a little easier with a set of 6 bowls and 6 adorable holiday gift bags.

Here’s the recipe for my grandma’s candied walnuts. Feel free to make them and share in your Lock & Lock too! Your friends and family will thank you! : ) 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup brown sugar firmly packed
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 cups shelled walnuts

Directions:

• Cover 10" x 15" baking sheet with wax paper
•  In a two-quart saucepan, stir in sugar and sour cream. Cook at medium-high until sugar is dissolved and comes to a boil. Sugar should be cooked to soft-ball stage (235-240 degrees).
• Remove from heat. Quickly stir in vanilla extract and walnuts and mix well.
• Spoon the mixture out onto waxed paper, and separate nuts (use a fork).
• Let cool (2-3 hours is best). 
• Once cool, remove nuts from wax paper and enjoy.

I’ll see you at midnight EST with the Lock & Lock holiday set of 6 bowls and bags. You won’t believe the price--here’s a hint: under $20!

(Take a peek now, but wait until after midnight to take advantage of our Today's Special Value price)

My grandma

Face paints and decorations, strong pigments, and pancake makeup that are often used in creating Halloween looks may leave skin looking irritated, due to the heavy formulas full of waxes and oils they contain. To help your skin maintain its balance, use skin-care products that include calming ingredients. I recommend using TULA Hydrating Day and Night Cream, which employs a probiotic extract and delivers nourishing skin benefits with hydration for soft, supple skin.

TULA Probiotic Skincare Hydrating Day and Night Cream

In addition to using the right skin-care products, remember to always remove your makeup. Although it may be tempting not to do so after a late night, going to sleep while still wearing it is always a bad idea. Your pores can become clogged with a buildup of dirt, oils, and acne-causing bacteria. Try using TULA Purifying Cleanser that thoroughly removes makeup, but isn't too harsh on the skin.

TULA Probiotic Skincare Purifying Face Cleanser 

All my best,

—Dr. Raj

Hi everyone! I just love this time of year when the leaves are turning and there's a little nip in the air. Growing up, next to Christmas, Halloween  was my favorite holiday. I'm not sure if it was getting dressed up, creating my own costume or if it was all that candy! OMG! Our local school would have a parade and contest and I was very focused on that event. Even today, I love to decorate our house for the fall season with pumpkins and mums and still love to go to a good costume party.

We have a friend who has a beautiful town house in Greenwich Village and she does a magnificent theme event ever year with a 'No Costume, No Entry' rule and they are very strict at the door! This Halloween I'll be missing that party for a very good reason - I will be on air from 6-8 pm with my favorite, and dear buddy, Lisa Robertson. You know we always have fun together! We have selected some of my most beautiful Fall/Winter designs for this special show with both new and old favorites in new colors. So, definitely join us as it is Halloween and you never know what could happen during those two hours. I have included a few photos of me dressed up as an admiral and one as a prince along with our house and shopping for pumpkins. So 'trick or treat' and Lisa and I both look forward to seeing you Friday.

Xxxx

DB

Shop Dennis Basso's Fashion Collection

This is such a simple recipe, perfect for your next cookie exchange, or for packing in your gift-able Lock & Lock Set and giving as gifts to teachers, friends, co-workers...anyone who loves cute holiday bags and yummy cookies!

Jen’s Pecan Pie Bars

Ingredients:

Crust:

½ cup unsalted butter

½ pkg cream cheese

¼ cup sugar

1 ¾ cup flour

½ tsp salt

½ tsp baking powder

Filling:

4 eggs

¾ cup corn syrup

1 cup sugar

½ stick butter, melted

¼ cup heavy cream

2 tsp vanilla

½ tsp salt

1 ¾ cup chopped pecans

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Grease a 9” x 13” pan. To prepare the crust, beat the butter and cream cheese together. Add all of the other ingredients together and spread into the bottom of the pan. Bake for 10 minutes, and then turn the oven down to 350 degrees.

Whisk together all of the filling ingredients, pour over the crust and bake for another 30 minutes. Cool, cut, and enjoy!

My oldest daughter has always picked easy Halloween costumes. In the past, she has just pointed to a costume in a catalog and we are done. Princess Leia, princess witch, girly vampire, princess ninja... you get the idea. Princess with a twist. However, my five year-old  is never content with pre-made costumes. For the last two years, she has started planning her costume before Easter.

That may lead you to believe that we can get an early start on things. Not so. Unfortunately, she changes her mind about what she wants to be nearly every day. For a while, she said she wanted to be Frida Kahlo (she has loved my Kahlo coffee table books since she was about two, but that is another story). I was thinking "Great, give her a unibrow and we are done." Not so fast.. she is the type of kid that comes home from school with doodles of monsters, superheroes with "electrified hair"(her words), and aliens doing yoga. Being an artist was not going to be nearly scary enough.

Finally, she decided on Medusa for this year. You know, the mythological creature with living venomous snakes in her hair.. essentially, what every 5 year old girl wants to be for Halloween, haha!

With a week before her school Halloween parade, my husband and I had to put our heads together to create the perfect Medusa costume for her! Challenge accepted.

My husband started with the most important element of our soon to be Medusa miracle – the wig! After some research and time well spent in the arts and crafts store, he had all of the proper materials to get started.

He found green fabric tubes that were attached to a headband. I think the headband was part of a clown costume. He bought two of the headbands and cut off the green fabric. He then filled the tubes with batting and "snaked" a wire through each. This way he could bend and coil the snakes in all different directions once they were secured on the wig.

My husband really went the extra mile by adding individual tongues made out of red felt to each snake.

Once the tongues were added, it was only right to add a pair of googly eyes to really bring these snakes to life!

He then tied the hand-made snakes into a black wig. I was at Chaz Dean’s house getting my hair done when texted me a picture of his creation. I had to ask the hair guru what he thought. He suggested adding a some spray paint to the wig for extra dimension. By the time I arrived home to share Chaz’s suggestion with my husband, he had already added purple spray paint!! How funny! I guess great minds really do think alike!

Next, came my contribution to the Medusa creation – the make up! I used Tarte foundation primer and then a combination of Tarte and Mally eye shadow and eye liner. The face color is just Mally’s green eye shadow applied with a blush brush. I drew the snakeskin with eyeliner and colored it in with shadow using a liner brush! I found the dress at a Halloween store. It is from the Monster High collection, but it looked close enough to our vision of Medusa.

My daughter enjoyed showing off her costume during a parade with all of her classmates. Fortunately, no bystanders turned to stone.

So what do you think? Did we nail this year’s Medusa costume? I will share more trick-or-treating photos on Friday that you can see by liking my page on Facebook at Sandra Bennett QVC and by following me on twitter at SandraQVC. I would love to see your photos too! A couple of my Facebook friends have already shared some.  Just as a heads up – my daughter recently mentioned putting a twist on her Medusa costume for actual Halloween night… A Medusa Librarian??!?! I really don’t know where she comes up with these things!!

Meet my friend Beth who, with the help of her husband Dennis, designs one of my favorite accessory brands, Lizden's Marvelush. You may have heard me gush about how much I enjoy their super-soft scarves and wraps.

I just love how easy it is to incorporate scarves into an outfit. Whether I want to add color, enhance a neckline or draw attention either to or away from a particular area. You just can’t go wrong with a scarf. They are fun and always make terrific gifts.

Last Saturday we offered a free workshop at Studio Park hosted by Beth and yours truly. It was great meeting so many viewers, who like me, love to accessorize and play with color. Have you ever visited Studio Park?

We got to see future designs and colors. And as you can see, it was an intimate group, so the participants were actually able to touch and feel the fabulous pieces. It's hard to appreciate the softness of the scarves without touching them firsthand. It's like being wrapped by a fluffy cloud.

Beth shared a few scarf tying tips with us and here is a video if you need a little further inspiration to get started.

INSERT VIDEO HERE

Beth gave us the opportunity to vote for our favorite colors. We'll see the winners some time next year in the form of a scarf.

Beth brought in a wardrobe full of clothing, scarves and wraps and three audience members were chosen at random to design an outfit. I loved the mother daughter duo headed by Riley! Somehow I knew she would go with the faux fur and animal print. She did a terrific job!

Below is our "winning stylist" who said she was inspired by her favorite color, teal! 

And what party would be complete without a goody bag?

A great time was had by all. I hope you get the chance to visit Studio Park one of these days and say hello. There's always something fun happening at QVC!

Warm regards,

Leah

I adopted Bailey & Olivia in early 2011. This itty-bitty brother and sister team, two total puffballs, delighted me in every way.  Initially Bailey was the timid one and Olivia was the adventurous one.

As they grew in to adolescence, all gangly and lean, their personalities started to emerge. Bailey prefers to be “up high.” He’s always climbing on top of bookshelves. Olivia likes to be “down low.”  She likes to slip in to cupboards or under hanging blankets.

Like any siblings sometimes they’re totally in love, and sometimes they’re not.

One thing is certain though, Bailey is the King and Olivia is the Queen in my household, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

10 things they do that make me smile (or scream )

1)   Bailey wakes me every morning with an increasingly escalating noise: a) scratching my magazines by my bed; b) strumming the blinds; c) pawing at the door

2)    They meet me at the door when I come home (or not)

3)    Olivia will always find a way to sit on my computer keyboard

4)    They sit by the window and “watch tv”

5)    They jump on my sheets when I’m trying to change my bed

6)    The think the fireplace mantle is a super special place

7)    They let me hold them and snuggle whenever I want (or not)

8)    They sing for their supper, especially if it’s canned tuna

9)    They love Dennis Basso and Berkshire throws

10)  They miss me when I’m gone. I can tell because they’ll have an attitude with me for several hours upon my return… lol!

Happy National Cat Day to all the cat people out there!!

-Rachel

At the Quacker Factory we LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Halloween.  The costumes, the decorating, oh and of course the CANDY!!!  I wanted to share with you some of the wonderful Halloween displays that our team works on every year.

A few weeks ago, I shared with you my indoor decorations.  So today I thought I would share my outdoor decorations.

So you can see the details, I took this during the daylight!!

But at night time, it is a little scary!!! 

Here are some pictures from Leslie, who is a huge part of our design team!!  She has a wonderful touch!!  You may recognize these pumpkins from a blog she wrote last year on how to create your very own special pumpkins!! 

Here are some great shots from the head of our design team Susan’s decorations.

Susan was gifted with many witches & houses from Jeanne’s collection and throughout the years from Jeanne herself.  Each witch is a special treasure.  The year that Jeanne passed, Susan had really wanted to grab this blow up carriage for her lawn, but did not want to treat herself.  So I decided that Jeanne would’ve gifted Susan this carriage, and since she was not with us any longer, I would gift it to Susan.  Susan is such an important part of the Quacker Factory world, I just could not resist!!

And last but not least—the woman who started it all—Jeanne Bice.  She had such vision, and loved to decorate for every holiday.  Her displays have encouraged me & the rest of the team to have fun with Halloween and decorate up a storm!  You may recognize the witch on the top of Jeanne’s tree—she now lives with me & is proudly displayed with my other witches.

What do you do for fun for Halloween??  Do you get dressed up?  Do you hand out candy to the neighborhood kids?  Do you decorate your house??  How about a Halloween tree??  We’d love to hear all about it!!  

From Patrick, myself & the rest of the Quacker Factory Team—we wish you a very Happy Halloween!!  Try not to eat too much candy!!  

Angel xo

"Shawn!!! Happy happy birthday and best wishes for many more! I've admired your wit, style, energy and positive attitude since I first met you and am honored to call you friend. Here's wishing you a year of dreams coming true, surrounded by love and good health. Hugs!" ~ Jennifer Coffey

Each week I like to get dramatic in the kitchen and make something to test the family's taste buds. Here is the latest recipe, Shrimp Pad Thai, I made that really got us fired up for dinner. It’s from a favorite website of mine called Plated. While the recipe sounds a bit exotic, it is quite easy to make because…let's face it... with two kids and a career, there's not much time to play in the kitchen. This makes a serving for two.

Shrimp Pad Thai Recipe

Ingredients

8 ounces rice noodles
1 tablespoon peanut butter
3⁄4 tablespoon chili sauce
1 tablespoon fish sauce


1 tablespoon soy sauce (gluten-free) 

1 tablespoon light brown sugar
1 teaspoon Sriracha (optional)
1⁄4 bunch scallions


1 tablespoon peanuts
12 ounces shrimp


1 clove garlic


1⁄2 cup bean sprouts
1 lime
1 egg

1. Boil Rice Noodles


Place 6 cups water in a medium pot and boil over high heat - then place noodles in a large bowl and pour over boiling water. Allow noodles to soak for 10 minutes, then drain and rinse under cold water for 30 seconds. Set aside.

2. Prepare Sauce

In a medium bowl, whisk together peanut butter, 1⁄2 tablespoon hot water, chili sauce, fish sauce, soy sauce, light brown sugar, and Sriracha, if desired. Set aside.

3. Prepare Ingredients

Gently crack egg into a small bowl and beat with a fork. Heat 1 teaspoon vegetable oil in a small nonstick pan over medium heat. When oil is shimmering, add egg and lightly scramble in pan until firm, about 2 minutes. Remove to a small bowl. Meanwhile, wash scallions and cut into 1-inch pieces. Roughly chop peanuts. Set all aside.

4. Cook Shrimp

Rinse shrimp and pat dry with paper towel. Mince garlic. Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. When oil is shimmering, add shrimp and minced garlic. Cook until shrimp is just pink and garlic is golden, about 11⁄2 minutes per side. Remove to a plate and set aside.

5. Assemble Pad Thai

Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in pan from shrimp over medium-high heat. When oil is shimmering, add noodles and sauce to pan and toss to coat. Cook, stirring constantly, until noodles are tender, about 2-3 minutes. Add cooked shrimp and scrambled egg. Stir in chopped scallions and bean sprouts. Taste and add salt as needed.

6. Plate Pad Thai

Cut lime into 4 wedges. Divide pad thai evenly between 2 bowls. Garnish with chopped peanuts and lime wedges and serve immediately.

Let me know if you try it!

-Stacey

Last week in A Lisa Robertson Christmas, I had a chance to show you some of my favorite new ideas on decorating for Christmas! I have to say, I love Christmas decorating more than almost anything else! A lot of you have questions on how to decorate a mantle and how to decorate your front door when people are coming to visit. So we put together some videos to show you exactly how to do it.

If you want to make your mantle as extravagant as possible, we show you how to start and the basic rules to help you along the way. I know a lot of you bought the garlands and beaded fruit from last week, so this video will really come in handy!

The one feature that greets your guests first when they visit you is your front door. So we also put together a video with some basic rules on how to make your front door something special. I think these videos will give you some ideas on how to use what you already have or give you ideas on what you would like to pick up. I'm looking forward to more Christmas decorating shows on November 7 and 21. But these videos will give you a head start. :-)

See you soon!
—Lisa

As a natural foods chef, I’m dedicated to helping others live healthier lifestyles. Here are some of my favorite recipes using good for you ingredients and my Skinnygirl by BELLA blender.

Cream of Broccoli Soup

Can you believe winter is almost here? As the weather gets colder this soup will warm up even the coldest of nights.

Touch ID is an Apple software that allows you to utilize a fingerprint scan within the iPhone to authorize your sign in credentials. By approving Touch ID within the QVC app you will be able to streamline your shopping experience without having to type in your email and password during checkout.

How do I set up Touch ID for use with the QVC iPhone app?

If you’ve already set up touch ID on your iPhone, when you check out you will be prompted to Save Password. If you approve, your sign in credentials will be stored on your device. You can manage your Touch ID settings anytime within the app by going to the More section and selecting Security Settings.

Is my device compatible with Touch ID?

You’re able to use Touch ID within the QVC app if you have an iPhone 5S or above. Those devices must have iOS8 installed in order for Touch ID to work.

it’s finally here, philosophy’s holiday fragrance collection! this five-piece layering collection is designed to customize how you wear your fragrance, and deliver a long-lasting, luxuriously scented experience all day long and comes with our gift to you—a reflection tray—making this collection the perfect gift!

Bonus reflection tray

at philosophy, we believe a multi-sensory fragrance experience is how to change how you feel daily. these fragrances make you feel sophisticated and beautiful head-to-toe as you cleanse, polish, nourish and scent your skin. you will revel in scents designed to uplift and inspire your perfect mood from shower to sunset...and beyond. presented with a silver reflection tray for a dressing table or vanity, this collection is a perfect gift for giving, or the perfect gift to yourself. when you wear philosophy fragrances, you will smell as good as you feel!

amazing grace: compliments in a bottle, feel amazingly clean, classic, and beautifully feminine
pure grace: simplicity in a bottle; pure, and crisp, feel infinitely clean and stress free
living grace: gratitude in a bottle; ethereal, uplifting and vibrant, feel thankful and reflective
falling in love: romance in a bottle; sensual and delicious, feel softly, sweet and romantic

below, dara, mari lyn and heidi share with you why they love this Today’s Special Value® offer.

here is what they have to say:

dara lynn:
i have had a fascination with fragrance for as long as i can remember. i always had a special place in my room where i would display all of my fragrances on a tray. i would stand in front of my tray and choose carefully how i would scent myself for the day. i love how fragrances can bring a lift to your day and sometimes even bring a compliment of "you smell so good!" from others when you least expect it. a very important part to my enjoyment of a fragrance is to treat my skin and layer for the longest lasting effects. when i saw this Today’s Special Value® set for the first time, i was so impressed and could not wait to share it with you. it has everything that fragrance should be—a beautiful collection for entire body scenting, a decorative reflection tray to display your collection of fragrances (or whatever special treasures you desire). this is the ultimate gift to give to yourself or anyone who loves fragrance on your list. i hope you love and enjoy it as much as i do.

mari lyn meier:
this has to be our most elegant holiday gift yet! from the moment you open the box and pull out the inspiring reflection tray to the last layering piece in your fragrance collection, you are surrounded by beauty, elegance, and grace or love. this is a gift she will remember forever and look forward to using every day. i love giving philosophy fragrance during the holidays because we have something for everyone. they are all sheer, light, and always appropriate, day or night. we give you a beautiful layering collection to help the fragrance last throughout the day and make your skin feel super smooth and soft. the reflection tray can be interpreted in many ways. i am using one to hold my precious jewelry that i wear on a daily basis, the pieces that mean the most to me and make me feel complete and protected. i also have one that holds items that are reflections of why i do what i do, and how grateful i am for you.

here are some tips to help you decide which fragrance to choose for your special someone….

if she loves the classics, she is always in style and loves feeling pretty and feminine—choose amazing grace

if she likes simplicity in her life, doesn’t have time to think about fragrance, but wants to smell clean and fresh—choose pure grace

if she celebrates life and lives in the present moment, she is vibrant, yet sophisticated—
choose living grace

if she loves romance and is passionate about herself and those she loves, she likes a little sweetness in her fragrance—choose falling in love

heidi guest:
i love this Today’s Special Value® set, our philosophy holiday fragrance collection, because it covers all the requirements that makes a gift absolutely surprise and delight the recipient, whether that person is you or someone else. it’s luxurious, pretty, feminine, comprehensive, practical…and best of all, it’s at an excellent value. in this spectacular assortment, you get everything you need for not just one, but many, luxurious spa-quality body treatments. this collection gives you the ability to mix and match formulas, as you choose, with the added benefit of an exquisite mood-enhancing fragrance experience. i cannot think of anyone who wouldn’t appreciate this luxurious offering. even those who are not fragrance fans would love pure grace. when in doubt, pure grace is my go-to choice when i am not sure of the recipient’s fragrance preferences. pure grace works with everything and it plays beautifully with other fragrances. when i give people the items that are featured in our body-care line, all of them tell me that they cannot believe the level of performance they deliver. the items featured are true skin care treatments that produce, individually or collectively, best-in-class results. for example, our “back from the vault” hot salt body scrub is my new favorite bi-weekly body peel treatment. i adore the warming sensation it provides. it immediately makes me feel very Zen-like and calm and that means a lot in the midst of a hectic holiday season or any time during the year.

Dear Friends,

This November, I celebrate the start of my 25th anniversary on QVC. With admiration and appreciation, I thank all of you for your continued support and love of my products. Your stories and experiences truly fill my heart with joy and ignite my creative passion.

From October 31–November 2014, I'll be presenting a very special, limited-edition duo of TOVA Signature and TOVA Nights to celebrate this milestone. Taking inspiration from one of my favorite crystal designers, I created a deeply faceted crystal collector’s bottle to house these beloved eau de parfums in a vessel of elegance and femininity.
Whether chosen as a gift to yourself or for someone special, this beautiful duo will delight! Although not often fully expressed, today I'm sharing the origins of these two eau de parfums, which have now undeniably become a facet of my legacy.

Having started TOVA Beverly Hills in the arena of skin care, I always knew I wanted to create a perfume. I wasn't sure what I wanted its essence to be or what it should express—and I had no experience at the time in creating perfumes. In my mind, I knew I wanted it to be beautiful, feminine, graceful, different, and nothing like the fragrance my dear Mama wore at the time (I never liked her chosen scent back then!). Ernie and I were married at this point, and I often traveled with him while he was filming. I would have long days to fill while he was working on set, so what better to do than spend time shopping and visiting stores in all the places we spent time (much to Ernie’s chagrin)! One day, while Ernie was filming in San Francisco, I set about my day shopping and stumbled upon an eclectic boutique in which I found a bath oil that particularly aroused my senses. I knew I had found “it”—the scent I wanted my perfume to emulate! With the help of the shopkeeper, I was able to track down the manufacturer (keep in mind this was long before the internet and search engines). Immediately, I contacted him and expressed my desire to make a perfume out of his bath oil, to which he said it would be impossible as it was too expensive to attempt to create and, besides, he was not a perfume house.

Full of passion, desire, and determination, I was sure I could make it happen. And we did! Our perfumer spent over a year developing the fragrance and presented me with several variations to sample, so I could pick one as the final winner that would become my fragrance. These samples were all very close in scent nature, making it a difficult decision as to which was "the one." One night, while Ernie and I were having dinner with Steve Manheimer and his wife Lore at Giambelli’s in New York City, I asked which sample they preferred. With that, Ernie took the samples in hand and began walking table to table, asking restaurant guests which scent they preferred! Can you imagine having an Oscar-winning actor stop by your dinner table to inquire which scent you like? As he came back to the table, he announced the winner to me (and she is!), and this scent became what you now know as TOVA Signature.

What's the magic and uniqueness of TOVA Signature? With its sparkling top notes of luminous bergamot, your being is enhanced instantly, like a symphony that draws you in with its clean, fresh notes. You then enter the experience of jasmine absolute, one of the world’s most expensive essential oils, with its warm embrace. This is followed by a tender touch of lavender Provence that descends into a blend with East Indian sandalwood. Finally, the depth of aphrodisiac Musk is the characteristic that raises all of the ingredients and the note that causes so many men to draw into you to get a closer smell of your scent. Signature is never overpowering and entices you into wanting more. Like music, scent forever plays in your memory. With each time you use Signature, it will feel like the first and offer you a new experience. Even when you don't smell it, I guarantee someone else will! This November, TOVA Signature will celebrate her 33-years-young anniversary. Worn now by three generations of women, she continues to be as modern and current of a scent as ever and unlike any other. Worn by young and old(er) and enjoyed by many, she is timeless perfection.

One night, as Ernie and I enjoyed an incredible evening at the Hotel de Paris in Monaco, we were relishing in the warm breeze coming off the ocean. I began thinking of how I could take the notes of Signature and tickle them. When I returned home, I called my perfumer and gave him my vision for a new fragrance: the Mediterranean, the twilight of night, black lace, and the effervescence of champagne—all while keeping the construction of Signature underneath. Behold, the perfumer was able to complete this vision and put it into a bottle. And so TOVA Nights was born. This alluring scent has captured the hearts of many, and I've been told by a few women it's the reason they became pregnant! With dewy greens as her top notes, the feeling of the fizz of champagne bubbles tickling your nose is captured. You're then lifted into a spring garden filled with a menagerie of soft floral notes, such as peony (one of my favorite flowers), jasmine, and iris, which brings you the feeling of passion, sexiness, juiciness, and delight. I often say TOVA Nights is Signature’s naughty sister, full of moonlight, black lace, seduction, and temptation.

Bound by kindred spirits, TOVA Signature and TOVA Nights will take you alluringly and sensuously from day to night. And, as they are sister scents, it's perfectly suitable to layer and intertwine them together. I can't think of a better way to celebrate my anniversary with you all than by presenting this elegant duo.

With Love,
 

Halloween is 1 day away, and your fur babies look like they're ready to strut their stuff for some treats! Here are my top 20 costume picks from my Facebook page. Thanks to everyone who sent in these adorable pictures!!

XO,

Carolyn

1. Bizzy Bee Pug

2. Princess Kitty

3. Hardhat Hound

4. Costumed Collies

5. Give me Moooooo-re Treats!

6. Cowgirl Cutie

7. The-Devil-Made-Me-Do-It-Kitty

8. The Plaid Pup

9. Double Trouble

10. Tuckerd-Out Tu-Tu Pup

11. "Alright, I put on the costume, now where are my treats mom??"

12. King of the Jungle

13. Pretty Little Pumpkin Pup

14. Miss Minnie

15. Pilgrim Puppies

16. Pope Puppy IV

17. "Pug-A-BOO!"

18. Pumpkin-Patch Pup

19. Wicked Witch of the Woof

20. Warrior Princess

Hi, everyone!

Do you remember the YHJ back-to-school mason jar challenge last month? We sent some of our favorite bloggers a set of mason jars and asked them to make a clever back-to-school creation. It was AWESOME…we had teacher survival kits, snacks for the kids, you name it. Well, I wondered what our talented friends could do with the Halloween decorations we have here at QVC. So, we sent our bloggers some props and one instruction: create a spooky scene. The results are in—just in time for Halloween.

Kimbo, from A Girl and a Glue Gun, made a spooky frame from QVC’s posable spider! She used an old thrift store frame and (surprise!) hot glue to create the web.

Beeb from MomStart used QVC’s inflatable cauldron to hold ice and drinks at her Halloween/Bachelorette boo-fet!

Julie from Craft Knife used spider lights to make her family’s jack-o’-lanterns stand out. Bravo, Julie!!

Sherri at Lesson Plans“mustache” for your opinion. She made a hungry (and rather distinguished-looking) jack-o’-lantern. Tell her what you think. I LOVE IT!

Fawnda and Jeannine from the blog Fireflies and Jellybeans need no further introduction...perfect 10 for your pumpkin light execution, girls!

Blogger Lisa from Planet Weidknecht used her Bethlehem Lights Jack-o'-lantern to create a spooky scarecrow named…well, Jack!

Family Focus Blogger Scarlet created a spooky Halloween entrance at her house. Do you recognize the Bethlehem Lights strand on the bannister?

Have a frightfully fun day tomorrow…

XOXO,
—Jill