My Grandma Ann always made these sugar cookies for me when she knew I was visiting. They are so light & airy, I would eat at least 4 at a time. Making these with Isabella brought back memories.  The picture is of one her last Christmases with us.  My niece Abby made us all scarves & Grandma is proudly sporting hers!  I miss her, but so grateful she's alive in her cookies!

My mom found a small note pad with grandma’s handwritten recipes and one of the recipes was her sugar cookies.  I am sharing this family recipe with you so you too may create memories with your loved ones and eat a lot of cookies too.  LOL!

Grandma’s Sugar Cookies

Here is the sugar cookie recipe:

• 4 cups flour   
• 1 cup powdered sugar    
• 1 cup granulated sugar       
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda          
• 1 cup butter or margarine
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup oil     
• Pinch of salt                                      

Mix well. You may have to add 1/2 cup more flour. Put in refrigerator at least 1 hour . Then put in cookie press. For Christmas I'll sprinkle them with red & green sugar before I bake them. Bake @ 350 degrees. 

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This episode of Project Runway All Stars is called “Match.com.” The designers are teaming up to create an elegant outfit for either a man or a woman getting ready for a romantic first date.

So how will I “Amy-ify” (yes, that is a verb I just made up) this week’s challenge? Funny you should ask! When hearing about this challenge I couldn’t help but laugh. The idea of wearing a polished and elegant outfit for a romantic first date is just so ironic when thinking about my “first date” with Steve.

Have I ever told you how Steve and I met? If so, bear with me while I take a walk down memory lane! After college I was a part of a traveling children’s theatre group. For a year I toured around, performing and pursuing my passion for theater. After a year, I decided to move to New York City with my best friend from college to take my acting career to the next level.

As you may have heard, the acting world isn’t the easiest biz to break into, so while I auditioned for various roles I also worked as a waitress/hostess at a restaurant in Manhattan. It was at this restaurant that I met and became close with one of the bartenders.

Meet said bartender.

For a while we spent our time as “close friends,” until one day we realized the friend zone was bananas. We admitted that we actually really liked each other and once the jig was up, I guess that is when we “officially” started dating.  

(Our first summer together)

Even when we transitioned from “friends” to “couple,” our relationship never changed and it still hasn’t. Steve continues to be my best friend every day and I couldn’t be happier to have found love at my part time waitressing job, lol!

(Steve and I a couple years ago in the brewery where we used to work/where we met.)

So what did I wear on my first date? Well that is a tough question because I don’t even know what to consider my first date with Steve! I will tell you one thing; it certainly was not elegant with a designer label on it. We were both young, living in New York City, and barely making ends meet. There was no glitz or glamour, it was all very real. Plus, even from the beginning, I never felt like I had to impress Steve. I was always my very true self. (Despite how corny that sounds, I actually really mean that!)

(Our very first Christmas together)

As you already know, we aren’t living the waitress/bartender NYC lifestyle anymore. We left the concrete jungle for the pastures of West Chester, so that I could pursue my dream job which just so happens to be hanging out/shopping with YOU!

We also have an addition to our household that has made life that much better. (We love you Bree)

It seems as though everything has fallen into place, but still despite all of the transitions and life changing moments, nothing about our relationship has changed at all. We are still those two twenty-something’s that fell in love while working in a Manhattan restaurant.

As the holiday season approaches, I look forward to getting out of New York City and relaxing at my place in Pennsylvania. I thought I would share some fun holiday pictures.

Let’s start with… THE TREE:

BEFORE AND AFTER!

Here I am up on the mountain near my place in Pennsylvania, cutting down an 11 foot Norway spruce! Add 1,500+ lights and a lot of Joan Rivers ornaments – magic!

I’ve been collecting our amazing Faberge-inspired ornaments from the very first set. They make my tree so meaningful and bring back wonderful memories of Joan.

Of course my sweet smooth fox terrier, Roscoe, loves to help!! (The picture on the right was taken by me on a ladder putting the star on the top of the tree.)

Roscoe exhausted himself!!!

This past Sunday I hosted a holiday open house for family and friends.

My sister Kathy, wearing Joan Rivers pearls that I gave her probably 20 years ago! They look great! (Maybe it’s time to bring them back!)

 My glamorous niece Rachel and her sweet daughter Caroline were one of the first to arrive. (I think Rachel is wearing a LOGO by Lori Goldstein necklace!!)

 Amy Stran and husband Steve with their sweet baby girl Bree. A great couple and a beautiful daughter!

Finally, from my home to yours… Happy Holidays!!

FYI - If you missed any of our shows this past month, QVC has put together terrific collections of NEW ARRIVALS.

Click here for incredible jewelry!

Click here for fabulous fashions!

Follow Joan’s FACEBOOK at www.facebook.com/joanrivers

Or INSTAGRAM at www.instagram.com/joanrivers

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Or on INSTAGRAM at www.instagram.com/daviddangle

Or on TOGATHER at http://qvc.co/DDprofile

www.joanrivers.com

Looking for a quick and easy appetizer?  I got rave reviews on this during our Fashionably Early party last week, so it’s back by popular demand for our Fashionably Early Christmas Party tomorrow morning!

This is a bacon lover’s dream.  Great as a holiday appetizer or to serve for the big game.  It is also an easy make ahead appetizer.  Serve with cracker or tortilla chips. 

Bacon Cheese Ball

2 pkgs. cream cheese.  Softened to room temperature

1 page Hidden Valley Ranch dip mix

1 cup shredded mild cheddar/ Monterey jack cheese

8 strips crispy cooked bacon, crumbled

Mix cream cheese, cheddar/ jack cheese & dip mix.  Form into a ball.  Roll into crumbled bacon

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My friend Amy Oselkin from Clark's just got back from London with news on the trends for 2015. Here they are:

For Spring 2015, Clarks will be bringing you lots of sporty lux looks. Be on the watch for athletic hardware, perforated textures and unexpected cutouts. You will also see a nod to the 70s with wedge sandals and chunkier heel that will easily take you from day to night. For Fall 2015 it’s all about boots! While ankle boots still reign, you will see more man tailored accents like broguing details and laces. Also, blood red is still in our veins and will become the new neutral.

Here is a picture of me in London next to an image of our founding father James Clark.

Theresa and I had fun looking through all the toys to find her favorite suggestions for great gifts this season - and there's still time to find the perfect gifts!!!  Being 8 years old - Theresa has really enjoyed helping you find just the right toy for a child in your life - and giving you her perspective on why it's a great gift!  We hope you've enjoyed her blogs - and THANK you for all of your messages to her!  

Now it's time to get to "WORK"! It's time for our Theresa's Toy Shop FINALE!!!   

Me:  I can't believe Christmas is next week!  

Theresa:  I can't wait!  I make sure to tell Polka Dots & Teresita what I'd love for Christmas - and then they tell Santa!

Me:  Well, you've been a really good girl this year - we're proud of you! Are you ready to help my QVC Friends shop for some toys?

Theresa: YEA!!!

Theresa's Toy Shop Pick #1:  ASPCA Animated Rescue Pet with Adoption Paper and Sound

Theresa:  Mommy these animals are so adorable and they're getting better!

Me:  And Adopted!  Which is your favorite?

Theresa:  I like the black and white kitty - she's sweet.  Oh, they have bandages to help them feel better.

Me:  Who would love this as a gift?

Theresa:  Anyone who loves animals, or can't have a pet - this could be their pet!  They're lovable!

Me:  Absolutely!  

Theresa's Toy Shop Pick #2:  Penguin Young Readers 10 Book Editor's Choice Collection

Theresa:  Mommy, I can't wait to read all of these books!  I love Skippyjon Jones!  All kids like to hear or read fun stories!

Me:  You're right sweetie!   Look at all of these great books: Night-Night Spot: Eric Hill, author

The Snowy Day: Ezra Jack Keats, author; Caldecott Medal winner

Froggy's Baby Sister: Jonathan London, author

I Like Me!: Nancy Carlson, author

The Story of Ferdinand: Munro Leaf, author

The Little Engine That Could: Watty Piper, author

Corduroy: Don Freeman, author

Thank You Bear: Greg Foley, author

Skippyjon Jones: Judy Schachner, author

Mirette on the High Wire: Emily Arnold McCully, author; Caldecott Medal winner

Theresa:  Can we read them all tonight?

Me:  How about one a night for 10 nights?

Theresa:  Ok, that sounds like a plan!

Theresa's Toy Shop Pick #3:  Butterfly Garden by Insect Lore 

Theresa:  Mommy we have to tell them about the time we hatched butterflies!

Me:  That was so much fun!  They could get the set now - and then send away for the butterfly larvae in the Spring!  It was fun watching them change into butterflies.

Theresa:  It was happy and sad when we had to let them go, but they were so happy to fly into the sky!

Me:  we definitely need to do that again this year!

Theresa:  Yes!

Theresa's Toy Shop Pick #4:  25-count SnowTime Anytime Indoor Snowballs

Theresa:  Mommy, I want to pick the Indoor Snowballs again because we've had so much fun playing with them inside!

Me:  I agree!  Although we may need another set - for a BIGGER snowball fight this year!

Theresa:  Yea!!!  We'll get Daddy!!!

Me: YEA!!!!!!!! 

Theresa's Toy Shop Pick #5: HugglePod Hangout w/ Lights, Window & Stand Ages 4+

Theresa:  Mommy, I want to ask Santa for the HugglePod for Christmas!  It's like having your own tree house hideout inside - and there's a door and lights!  I could read and draw in there!

Me:  You have been pretty good this year.  Do you think other kids would like their own HugglePod to have as their hideaway?

Theresa:  Oh yes Mommy - they wouldn't want to come out of it!

(From Jacque: Shhhhhhhhhh......I might have to put in a request to Santa for this one for her!!!  I know it's an investment, but if she finds it to be a fun place to read - that would be great!!!

***And one more secret gift possibility for Theresa:  Y-Bike Explorer 2.0 Deluxe 3-Wheel Ride-On Go-Kart  Ages 4+

Choose from Blue, Red or Green!  Final quantities at the Clearance Price for this AWESOME bike!  Award wining design - and easy to use!  I had so much fun on it - I know Theresa will as well!  Get it before it's gone!!!)

Of course ALL Theresa Toy Shop picks have the Official Theresa Toy Shop Seal Of Approval!

Please, if you have a moment - leave Theresa a message here or on my Facebook Page - www.facebook.com/jacqueqvc to let her know how you like her "Theresa's Toy Shop"!  Thank you!!!

We always love hearing from you all!

AND you can search for ALL TOYS here:  qvc.com

Best wishes & Blessings to you all!

Jacque & Theresa :)

It’s true! I am a nail polish hoarder! But even if you don’t have a lot of nail polish around the house, you can make these ornaments.

Thankfully, it doesn’t really even take much polish for each ornament and you can use the cheapest bottles of polish you can find.

For the last two years, I have purchased inexpensive clear ornaments at the craft store. All you need to do is remove the top of the ornament and pour your nail polish into the top. You don’t need to use a lot because once you start to swirl it around, you will see the polish cover the inside of your glass ornament.

We’ve also sometimes added glitter and tiny beads to the ornaments for a little extra décor. My daughters use these ornaments to decorate our trees and to give to friends and family. It’s one of those easy crafts that doesn’t take a lot of time or effort but ends up looking really great!

If you decide to test out this nail polish lover’s ornament DIY project, I would love to see the result!! You can post pictures to my Facebook page! I will keep you posted on more holiday photos and memories via my FB page and Twitter account, so be sure to follow me!!

I hope you have a safe and happy holiday! 

Hi, everyone!

Christmastime is here! We’ll be drawing near…(are you singing along??)

Since the holidays really are such a special time of year, I’d venture to say almost all of us like to don our tables with some formal dinnerware and festive decorations. If you’re new to entertaining...or you could use a refresher-course on properly setting a table, these two Flashback Friday videos will help:

And now for a centerpiece. Here’s an easy idea for all of you:

Have a great—and productive—weekend! And be sure to find some time for some holiday fun.

From my home to yours,
—Jill

We just arrived in NYC. Joe got me Andrea Bocelli tickets at Madison Square Garden, for my bday. Arrived little early for some shopping and sightseeing. So far, this is our only view ...

The windows at Saks Fifth Avenue are always such magical feasts for the eyes...

Sniffing out ideas for Momma Killinger, aka the most impossible woman in the world to buy for. 

The big moment has come. Find myself wondering an hour out from show...what is Andrea Bocelli is doing right now??? Gargling w warm water, relaxing in Italian pjs, pacing his dressing room? Where does he stay, is he married, has he always been blind, WHAT WILL HE SING??? I'm like a kid on Christmas morning mentally in overdrive. 

Selfie time. Show starts in moments. Jumbo screen has shown glimpses of the Clintons, and Ralph Lauren, sitting in front row. This is a one night only, performance. 

He sings a few of my favorites, and they bring me to tears. The Prayer, Time To Say Goodbye, and Amazing Grace...

So it's day two and before we leave town, we take in the Met. My favorite. Ps: it's wicked cold out.

I feel like my soul flickers when I look at old art, particularly the Masters from the European era. 

...and so it goes, the end to a beautiful NYC whirlwind. On way out of town peered out cab window on 71st & 5th Ave, to see Dr Dennis Gross' gorgeous dermatology office. Miss him on TNB.

I digress. Joe just leaned over to me and said, "I like traveling by train." Me too. It's part of the magic. Happy Holidays to all! I'll be on vacation from Christmas Eve to New Years Day. See you soon!

Hello, foodies…

Christmas is practically here. I may be 50 years old now, but I still feel like I’m five at this time of year. I just love Christmastime and everything that goes along with this magical holiday. And I think the reason it’s especially sacred for me is because it’s the only time of year my whole family gets together.

As is the Venable-family tradition, I’ll be spending Christmas at my brother’s home in North Carolina. His children and my mother will be there and my sister and brother-in-law will be driving in from upstate New York. On Christmas Eve, my niece, nephew, and I always make sugar cookies for Santa and then that night we’ll all go to church. When we come home we’ll have a terrific meal—usually a pork pot roast, which is my sister’s favorite and her yearly request. And then, my favorite part of Christmas happens that night—we all retire to the living room, make a fire, enjoy the Christmas tree and music, and just reconnect with family. That’s what I look forward to most…it’s so relaxing. Sometimes we watch a movie with the kids and sometimes we just talk about our Christmas memories. It’s marvelous to have that time together as a family.

Mom has already been busy for weeks planning menus for every meal, which, as I mentioned, consist of everyone’s favorite dishes…so it’s always a hodgepodge. I’ll help mom with the cooking and no doubt we’ll be up early on Christmas morning preparing another big dinner. When the Venables get together for Christmas, we EAT. Anyway, we’ll have prime rib and ham on Christmas as well as my request, mac and cheese, as well as my brother’s favorite recipe, mom’s broccoli-cheese casserole. And of course, no Christmas is complete without my mom’s party mix. She brings three bowls with her and hides two. When the first is gone, we all start searching for the others and it’s like a Chex-mix scavenger hunt. It’s always fun and she’s made that mix as long as I can remember.

That was my mom and me last year—I promise to share a new photo again this year.

Okay! So our last In the Kitchen with David before the holiday is this Sunday at Noon ET. (Wednesday is QVC’s Joy of Jewelry event, so we won’t be cooking together.) So here’s a recipe you can make this weekend, the days before, or even Christmas Eve…White Christmas Fudge.

White Christmas Fudge
Serves 36

This recipe is prepared with the Rachael Ray 12-Piece Gradient Porcelain Enamel Cookware Set (K39885).

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

Ingredients:

• 1 (14-oz) can sweetened condensed milk
• 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 4 cups (1 lb, 5.25 oz) chopped white chocolate
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Red gel food coloring
• Green gel food coloring

Preparation:

1. Lightly spray the bottom of a 9" x 9" baking pan. Cut a piece of parchment paper into a 9" x 18" rectangle and line the pan, making sure that the paper sticks to the bottom and the edges overhang. (You'll use the excess paper to pull the fudge out of the pan.)
2. Place the condensed milk, butter, and salt into a medium-size saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat until the butter is melted and the mixture is hot. Do not boil. Remove the saucepan from the heat, add the chocolate and vanilla and stir until the chocolate has melted completely.
3. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking pan and quickly insert a bamboo skewer or toothpick into the red gel food coloring jar and dot the fudge about 12–14 times. Repeat the process with the green food coloring. (You'll need to dip the bamboo skewers or toothpicks at least 2 times each into the gel colorings to have enough color in the fudge.) As quickly as possible, with a clean toothpick, swirl the fudge until most of the color has blended and a pretty pattern has formed.
4. Press a piece of plastic wrap against the surface to prevent a skin from forming. Let it cool completely for at least 12 hours, or overnight.

I love the idea of making this fudge on Christmas Eve. If you’re cooking a big meal like my family always does, your oven will be tied up. But you and the kids can make this while dinner’s cooking and then enjoy it on Christmas Day.

So what are you up to this weekend? Last-minute preparations, perhaps? Gift-wrapping? That’s where I’m headed this very minute, so for your blog question today, tell me what’s the best gift you’ve ever received?Was it a pet? Maybe a surprise visit from a loved one? A KitchenAid mixer? I’ll see you Sunday at Noon ET Foodies.

Keep it flavorful!
—David

P.S. While my mom's recipe is a bit different, we created a Holiday Party Mix on ITKWD a few years back that you might like to try...click for the recipe!

Holiday cheer and winter wardrobes are in full swing.  It’s a time to gift your loved ones that covetable item, but be sure to add yourself to the list.  With my wife, 2 daughters, a son as well as their husbands, wives and boyfriends, the holidays aren’t short on gift giving and filled with love.

I invite you to celebrate all of your hard work with a reward that will keep your feet warm, cozy and stylishly chic

Marc Fisher

Imagine an autumn afternoon with a group of your favorite girlfriends gathered together at a salon for make-overs and martinis. Sounds fun, right? Well it was! And every time I look at the pictures from that day, I smile at the memories.

Cell phone pictures are fine, but when the memories really matter, I always bring along my “real” camera. I’ve had my Canon DSLR for about four years and I love it. I love it because it’s easy to use, I love it because it can keep up with the action, but I mostly love it because when I see the pictures, I’m transported back to whatever memories were made because the pictures are so good.

If you look at these photos, I think you can tell just how fun our day of “Make-up and Martinis” was. That’s because the memories mattered -- and the camera delivered. :-)

Join me tomorrow morning for Great Gifts beginning at 7am and I'll show you our Canon Today's Special Value.

Warm regards,

Leah

This morning, the Center for Disease Control announced a listeria outbreak linked to commercially produced, prepackaged caramel apples. To help inform our customers who are enjoying Mrs Prindables this holiday season, QVC would like to share the statement provided by Mrs Prindables:

Statement issued by Mrs Prindables Friday, December 19, 10:19am:

The Center for Disease Control has reported an outbreak of listeriosis linked to commercially produced, prepackaged caramel apples. Two suspected brands have been identified by the Minnesota Department of Public Health. The Mrs. Prindable's brand was NOT on that list of affected brands nor has any agency contacted us regarding our products. Our food safety team is monitoring this investigation closely.

Mrs. Prindable's cooks our own caramel from scratch, using the finest ingredients, to strict quality control standards in our own kitchens.

Updates: http://www.mrsprindables.com/news. Additional information can be obtained directly from the Center for Disease Control (http://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/caramel-apples-12-14/).

When I walk through the door I want my house to remind me of a Christmas Wonderland. This year, I wanted to decorate our home with a warm and happy vibe that welcomed any guest in. With this being our first Christmas as a married couple, I wanted it to feel more special than ever. That included decorating the dog. :-)

EZ Fudge

• 14 oz. sweetened condensed milk
• 12 0z. chocolate chips
• 10 - 12 0z. butterscotch chips
• 1 cup miniature marshmallows
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup chopped nuts
• 1-1/2 teaspoon

On low heat, melt the chips with the sweetened condensed milk, stirring frequently. Stir in vanilla, salt and nuts. Add the marshmallows stirring until melted. Pour into greased pan(s) (two 8"x8" or one 9"x13")

Allow to cool completely before slicing.

Enjoy!

Counting our blessings,

Mary Beth Roe

Recently I was asked to share some tips on taking good pet photos during the holidays. I am a proud dog owner of a 15 year old dog (that’s 105 dog years!) that my wife and I adopted from a pound in California when our dog was was only 12 weeks old.  So needless to say, I have been taking pictures of my girl Maggie for a very long time.

Despite taking a lot of pictures of my dog over the years, I am not a traditional pet photographer so I decided to do some research online on the topic of pet photos and thought vetstreet.com summed up some really great tips for pet photos:

10 Ways to take perfect holiday pictures

Get your pet familiar with the camera– don’t scare your pet.

Be mindful of lighting– turn your flash off.

Minimize distractions– you know how easily your pet can be distracted by the smallest things.

Let your pet be him or herself– natural photos are always the best!

Get on your pet’s level– you’ll need to lay flat on the floor.

Use the proper attention-getter– use an attention-getter like making a noise that does not mean “come” for all you dog owners.

Keep sessions short and comfortable– this rule goes for pets AND humans!

Be patient– good pet and kid photography require a lot of patience.

Get in the photo– your pet will look so much more comfortable in the photos with you by their side.

Don't forget the final touches– For seasonal pictures include props that set the scene (i.e. Christmas tree background).

Below are some photos I found in a recent blog post by Carolyn Gracie which featured some really fun examples of good pet photography

Above: Taking pics of your dog when they are puppies gets them comfortable with the camera for future great photos for years to come.

Above: Shooting outdoors delivers plenty of light coupled with the perfect outfit make this a great Christmas photo! 

Above: This little kitty cat probably required the photographer to be ready to snap this great moment. I also can tell that the flash was kept off which allowed the Christmas tree lights to provide the perfect glow. Always use available light!

Above: It is always a lot easier when your dog will allow you to dress them up and sit  patiently while you capture that cute moment. Make sure you give your dog treats for playing along with your need to capture their photo!

Above: I'm guessing these little pups have been in this situation before. Otherwise I don't think they would have been so cooperative for the final photo. So funny!!!

Now it Was My Turn

With the Canon Rebel T5 DSLR Camera and the Canon 18-55mm lens I took the following photos of my old girl Maggie. I was very impressed with detail that this Canon camera was able to deliver despite my decision to shoot at 3200 ISO.

My sweet dog Maggie has been in my photos for 15 years so she is very comfortable with the camera. But I must admit it this was probably the easiest photo shoot I ever did with her because this poor old girl can't stand-up on her own once she is sitting down. Don't worry, I made the shoot really quick (less than 5 minutes) and then I rewarded her with some dog treats because she was the perfect model.

I hope you enjoyed the photos and found these pet photo tips helpful.  

Please reply to my blog with your photography questions and I will do my best to get you an answer.

Merry Christmas to you and your four-legged friends!

CG

Calling all Argan Beauties,

I have a very special offering for you and your precious skin.

As we enter into 2015, the year of possibility and growth, let's support each other as friends, sisters, and a community of women who want to nurture ourselves and our world. I believe we all deserve a beautiful life and I want you to know I'm here for you, as I trust you are here for me. It's funny, even though I'm on TV, I feel like we know each other; we play together through the TV and we are somehow connected. I never would have thought a connection like this could be possible through QVC, but it is and I'm very grateful for this connection with so many women. Please call in to let me know how you're doin', feelin', and what your needs are from me and my line. I love talking with you.

My January TSV®, Argan Pure Complexion Collection, was designed with love, by me, to give you skincare in every step and to simply renew and refresh your skincare and complexion routine--so you can go out and enjoy a bright and happy new year! I hope to connect with you on this very special day!

xx, Josie

Hi All,

It's that most wonderful time of the year.

As the hustle and bustle of the holiday season is all around us, I like to take a minute to remember all that is wonderful about this magical time of the year.

I love the time spent thinking about family and friends as I select gifts that I think they will appreciate.  It's a chance to reflect about all those we love and what a gift it truly is to be a part of each others lives.

Of coarse the Kitchen is the main event for the holidays at my home as I'm sure it is yours. This year I will be cooking for 15 people. On the menu is my famous pumpkin curry soup, leak and tomato tart and beat and blood orange salad. The main coarse is the annual beef crown roast.  My french mother's tradition when we came home from midnight mass was to celebrate with a bowl of homemade french onion soup, a glass of champagne and shucked oysters. I carry on this tradition. It's the best way to kick off the holiday.

And again this year, my favorite thing is to give gifts to my family that I love using myself. They always look forward to getting one of my MCM items for their kitchen. I thought it would be fun to list off some of my favorite gifts in the "12 Days of Christmas" format.

12 pc Bag Slide & Sealers K39446

11 Cup Multi Pot K41527

10 Bobby Shay's famous Crab Cakes M43254

9  Bottle of Vintage Vinyard Wines M45455

8 Pound Box of Florida Honey Bells M46157

7 Flavors of Hampton Candies in the Deluxe Tin M44911

6 Egg Cooker K39370

5 Wine & Champagne Sealers K41459

4 pc Houdini Wine Preserver Set K39714

3 Patterned Snips Set K41339

2 Polka Dot Ceramic Grinders Set K40084

and

1 Ultimate Can Opener K18779

That was so much fun to pull together!! 

I wanted to leave you with some pictures of my Tree.  Hope you enjoy your holidays.

Thank you for a wonderful year!

Deeg-in,

MarkCharles Misilli

On a cold, rainy Friday night a couple of weeks ago, I took to the streets of historic downtown West Chester, PA to act as the “social host” for the Mars Old-Fashioned Christmas Parade presented by QVC. The weather may have been nasty, but the company and the experience was an incredible experience to connect with our local neighbors. The event featured marching bands from local colleges and high schools, spectacular floats, and the arrival of the one and only…SANTA CLAUS! According to USA Today, our annual parade is one of the top ten places in the country to experience the arrival of old St. Nick during the holiday season! There were more than 35,000 people who came out to little old West Chester to experience the magic.

QVC encouraged all of the hosts who were “working” the event to bring their families. Both of my girls, Georgia and Grace, came with me, along with my husband, Dan. We got to see the Jingle Elf Run, where hundreds of runners dressed in creative holiday costumes, competed in the run, AND for the honor of being awarded the BEST elf-costume! After that we headed over to the parade, where we saw Santa along with tons of awesome floats, and my favorite part—Brazilian dancers! Mary Beth Roe and Courtney Cason waved to the crowd from our QVC car.

Jennifer Coffey was interviewing some of the littlest parade-goes, asking them about their favorite holiday memories. She asked one of my daughters what she wanted for Christmas, and after thinking for a minute she yelled, “diamonds!” Jennifer got such a kick out of that, the sparkly jewelry junkie that she is She brought her daughter, Gabby, who had a blast seeing her mom work the crowd!

For the second year, Carolyn Gracie and Dan Hughes were the Emcees for the parade. They are SO good at that… their banter together is priceless, and so funny. They represented the QVC family well!

Nancy Hornback and I spent a lot of time in the QVC Holiday Village Tent, trying (unsuccessfully) to stay at least a little dry in the rainy weather! But it turned out to be tons of fun, we got to meet so many of our local neighbors, listen to the QVC Singers, and snacked on FREE Cheryl’s cookies  And of course, I did what I came to do…I tweeted and posted on Facebook all of the happenings, making sure to connect people to the parade who were hundreds of miles away!

(Nancy and I tweeting!)

(The QVC Singers made the tent feel so festive with their caroling!)

I always love an opportunity to get out with my fellow QVC hosts, have some social time, and really get to know the people who watch us on TV every day, and make what we do possible. QVC has been headquartered here since 1986, and we employ about 2,700 people in the West Chester area, so it’s great to be out and about in our “back yard!”

For those of you who live in the area, we will be at it again next year, I hope you can make it! If you want to see more of the fun we had this year, be sure to tune into to QVC on Christmas Day, where you will be able to see great live footage from this fun event.

Happy Holidays to everyone!!

XO,

Kerstin

I absolutely love this time of year—and not only because my birthday is in December! I get into the holiday spirit by singing Xmas carols, helping my kids with holiday crafts, and, of course, decorating. This will be my first Christmas in my new role as an entrepreneur and co-founder of TULA, so it’s very special!

Kids make birthdays fun

There are so many decadent foods around the office and at holiday parties that I make sure I have nutritious foods on hand to prepare when I'm at home. Salmon, roasted vegetables, and quinoa are some of may faves for this season, always making sure that half my plate is comprised of colorful fruits and veggies. I also have a jar of nuts on my desk at work for a smart, mid-morning snack.

I always sneak a few bites of the kids’ gingerbread house. However, everything in moderation! During holidays, I obey the 80/20 diet rule: I try to eat well 80% of the time and take 20% of my daily calories to indulge in my favorite snack. Following this rule allows me to enjoy holiday sweets sparingly.

One of my favorite parts of the holiday is decorating and finding gifts for my loved ones. The women in my life—both family and friends—should be particularly happy this year, as they'll all receive my TULA skin-care goodies (which have already found a place under my Christmas tree).

Although I enjoy the family time, I also know that the craziness of the holidays can sometimes be a bit too much. That’s why I try to take extra time for myself to relax and stay balanced. I enjoy reading books that inspire me to recognize the importance of the mind-body connection even more. That’s why books by Deepak Chopra and the Dalai Lama are always on top of my reading agenda.

Wishing each of you a happy holiday and a wonderful new year!

—Dr. Raj