Every spring we spend hours searching for that perfect high-heel sandal that we can really live in and wear with everything. Well, the search is over! Our new Helio Float Today’s Special Value hits all the marks when it comes to finding a stylish and sexy wedge.

Drawing inspiration for our Artisan line, the Helio Float wows with its fine pebbled leather upper, hook and loop ankle adjustability, genuine cork wrapped 2.75 inch wedge, and coordinating leather stitched rand detail. Sure you can spend the day lounging poolside like me, or literally kick- up your heels for an all-night dance party thanks to the cushioned Ortholite footbed and shock absorbing honey colored rubber outsole.

Available in vibrant spring hues and both medium and wide widths, the Helio Float will quickly become your dream sandal. So, how do you plan on styling it this spring?

I am so excited to share with you my first ever handbag collection! Similar to my footwear line, my handbag designs are clean, casual and luxe. The truth is I love classics, always have and designing handbags only seemed like a natural extension to that idea.

There is so much that has gone into designing this line and I want my bags to leave you feeling beautiful and confident. Inspired by my wife and daughters, their insight has helped me to design bags that flatter a woman’s lifestyle from day to night.

Wearable neutrals and streamline pops of color are my focus for spring. The first bag of my spring 15 collection the ‘Kyra’ satchel, which comes in nude snake, white, black and grey. Non-chalantly chic and stylish, the Kyra is the perfect everyday bag!

I’m thrilled that Kyra is today’s special value item and a QVC exclusive. The Kyra is the perfect on-trend handbag. A great accent to both your weekday business look was well as your more relaxed weekend outfit of jeans and knits. This timeless silhouette is a classic. Its triple compartment adds great function and organization to the Kyra’s soft yet sturdy structure.

Be the first to buy your very own February 20th at 12:00am est and join me on air at 9am that very same day as I launch my new line, I’d love to hear from you.

Marc

As you may have guessed, I LOVE VALENTINE’S DAY !  The opportunity to tell people how much you love them….you get to wear red….and, yes, an excuse to eat tons of chocolate – could there be a better  day???  Oh and lets not forget CUPID…

HUBBA HUBBA!! ;)

Well, this year, I decided to make an easy treat so that I could celebrate with some of my favorite people.  They’re pretty to look at, quick and easy, and are the perfect salty/sweet combination!

Here’s the recipe below and some photos to help you along the way.

What you’ll need:

-        Square Pretzels

-        Hershey’s Hugs (the striped ones look the best)

-        Plain M&Ms (Pink/red/white color assortment)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 200 degrees.

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and place the pretzels on top with the hugs.  

Bake 4-5 minutes until the chocolate is shiny and soft (but NOT melting – they should still hold their shape).

Carefully place an M&M in the center of each hug and press it down to spread the chocolate.

Allow to cool completely (a few minutes in the fridge works perfectly) and enjoy!!! 

I wrapped mine in cellophane bags and tied ribbons around them for gifts and they came out pretty cute!! 

The best part about Valentine's Day is that you can share hugs and kisses with all of the people you love! 

Happy Valentine's Day!

What do you love the most about Valentine’s day?

XOXO

-Alberti 

p.s. Continue chatting here and also come chat with me on FACEBOOK.  I love hearing from you!! 

Cottage Farms has been a leader in the ornamental horticulture industry since 1947. Renowned for quality plants, integrity and reliability, and often referred to as "the growers' grower," Cottage Farms has long been the source of premium plants and expertise for many of the top nurseries and garden centers across the country. Now you can chat with them live, all day today!  They will be answering all of your questions.  Do you have any questions regarding Cottage Farms Rainbow Magic Carpet Sedum TSV?  

Hi!

HOLDING FOR POST. 

lisarinnaThanks for the chat! Love you guys so much! Thank you for loving my line and the housewives!! Thanks for being you!

Coconut Cake

• 1 box yellow cake mix
• 1 small package vanilla instant pudding mix
• 1-1/3 cup of water
• 4 eggs
• 1/4 vegetable oil
• 2 cups flaked coconut
• 1 cup chopped nuts, of your choice (I generally use walnuts)

Blend cake mix, pudding mix, water, eggs and vegetable oil in a large mixing bowl on medium speed for about 4 minutes.

Hand stir in coconut and nuts.

Pour into 2 or 3 greased and floured 9-inch layer pans (depending on if you want a two or a three layered cake. I made two this time.

Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Remove from oven and allow the cake to cool in the pans for at least 15 minutes then remove and completely cool on a rack or a counter top.

I usually top the cake with a homemade coconut cream cheese frosting, but I was short on time and mixed 2 cans of white fluffy Betty Crocker frosting with one and a half cups of flaked coconut. Be careful not to add too much coconut or the frosting will be too thick and too hard to spread.

Counting our Blessings and Happy Valentine's Day!
Mary Beth Roe 

On this Valentine's Day, I wanted to reshare my story of love!  

I am one lucky girl. Not only was I able to find my Prince Charming, but I have a Fairytale Story to go along with it, filled with beautiful gowns and scary dragons! (Ok, well, maybe the pink dragon wasn’t THAT scary- but still!)   

Langdon and I met while working at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. I was a magician’s assistant, and he seated people for the shows - while wearing a toga, I might add.    We had always seen each other around the theater, but were officially introduced at a party. Our first date was for lunch at The Macaroni Grill - I still remember how dressed up Langdon got! So much classier than the toga I had always seen him in.

We dated for five years, all of which were full of laughter and smiles. It was easy being around each other, we were so comfortable together from the start.  That is, except for one day - the day he asked me to marry him! Of course, at the time I had no idea what was going on. We were in upstate New York visiting my family, and Langdon was not acting quite like himself. Out of the blue, my dad asked him, “How long have you and Sharon been dating for?” I looked at Langdon, and for the first time in my life, I saw his loss for words. He replied “We’ve been together for uh… five years…and it’s been a lot of...umm...fun.” I looked at him, about to ask what was he trying to say, when all of the sudden he flew down to one knee and asked me to marry him! I started crying and hugged him so tight- I couldn’t get the word “yes” out fast enough!

We were married during 2002 in the chapel at Caesar’s Palace, where it all began.

Looking back, I can’t believe it’s been 13 years since we said “I do.” We have had such a fun time along the way, including me starting here at QVC! Since my schedule can get crazy with show times, we try to make time for each other every day by walking Fozzie, our poodle. Movies are our favorite past time - we even go to the Philadelphia comic book convention due to our love of Star Trek and Star Wars (see it IS possible to <3 both! ).  

If one of us has a bad day, there’s a routine for that too. Since he is so tall, we have found the perfect hug spot - me on the bottom step of the staircase, and him on the floor!

And now of course, with the addition of our two amazing children, it just gets better and better.

At the end of the day, not much else matters, except for love.  

I wish you and your Valentine lots of love and happiness!  

Always,

Sharon  

P.S.  Recently stumbled upon my wedding dress and - guess what?  It still fits - just like Langdon and I still fit together!  

Hello, foodies…

Valentine’s Day is on a Saturday this year! That means, you really can make an impressive dinner for your sweetie. Here are a dozen recipes that will knock his or her socks off.

Bacon-Wrapped Beef Tenderloin with Red Wine Sauce

Cheesy Veggie Manicotti

Chicken Breast with White Wine and Mushroom Cream Sauce

Chicken Cordon Bleu

Classic Eggplant Parmesan

Fettuccine Alfredo with Pancetta

Filet Wellington Bites

Zesty Grilled Scallops with a Mango and Arugula Salad

Roast Lamb in a Cherry & Red Wine Balsamic Sauce

Stuffed-Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin

Crab & Asparagus Stuffed Tilapia

Turkey Chili for Two

And now for dessert…I’ve got no less than 100 ideas on QVC.com and the QVC for iPhone app. No kidding. I know you'll find something to round out your special meal. Have a very happy—yummy—Valentine’s Day, foodies.

Keep it flavorful!

—David

Pork with Beets, Celery Root and Goat Cheese

Ingredients:

12 ounces yellow beets

12 ounces celery root

2 sprigs Rosemary

2 sprigs Oregano

12 springs Thyme, divided

4 pork chops (boneless)

4 TB Honey

4 TB butter (or ghee)

4 ounces crumbled goat cheese

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven 425.   Rinse beets, dry and cut into 1/4-inch wedges.  

    Peel celery root & cut into 1/4 slices.  

    Roughly chop Rosemary and oregano leaves, discarding stems.

    Pick Thyme leaves, discarding stems. Rinse pork and dry with paper towel.

2.  On a foil-lined baking sheet, toss beets and celery root with honey, 2 TB              water, 1 TB olive oil, salt and pepper.

     Arrange in single layer.  Break butter into small pieces and scatter over                evenly. Wrap a second piece of foil loosely overtop tucking in edges to create      a packet.  Transfer to baking sheet to oven and steam until they begin to            soften, about 10 minutes.

3.  While veggies steam, season pork both side with salt, pepper and then rub          both sides with rosemary, oregano, and thyme.

     Set aside to marinate 10 minutes (or overnight in fridge)

4.  After 10 minutes remove top piece of foil from veggies and continue baking          until soft and golden - about 15 minutes more

5.  Heat 1 TB olive oil in medium pan over medium heat.  When shimmering, add      poor and cook until brown and cooked through, about 5 minutes per side            depending on thickness.

6.  Divide veggies among plates and sprinkle over crumbled goat cheese.  Serve        alongside the pork.

Enjoy!!  

Stacey

Hi Friends!

Spring is near and I’ve already started thinking about all the new things I’d like to do to spruce up the house. You may not know this but I love having candles all around my house, garden and even my dressing room! I like having different scents for all the different rooms in our house.

The best thing about my spring apple & pear candle set is that not only do they smell fresh and pleasant but also they can be used as decor on your table, your bathroom or even on your kitchen counter. I sprinkle them all through the house and even outside in my garden. They’re a great way for adding something new and changing your decor quickly.

So easy to add a little touch of spring it seems. 

I hope you enjoy! 

Ellen ​

I always think of my Mom when I use my Kitchenaid mixer, she would have loved using one! And with St. Patrick's Day a few weeks away, I thought I'd share her Irish potato recipe. It's candy, but without any potatoes!  

Ingredients:

1/2 lb. butter, softened
2 lbs. confectioner's sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup finely shredded coconut
2 tsp. evaporated milk
1/2 tsp. salt 

4 Tbsp. cinnamon 
4 Tbsp. confectioner's sugar

Directions: 

In a mixer, cream butter. Gradually add sugar and salt. Add vanilla and evaporated milk. Mix in coconut. Chill for 20 minutes in the refrigerator. Roll into potato-shaped balls. 

In a bowl, mix cinnamon and sugar. Roll each "potato" in the mixture until well covered. 

Enjoy!

-Jane

No one's hobby is mopping or cleaning floors, even for a neat freak like myself. Your floors are the biggest real estate in your home and for most of us the biggest time consumer in terms of cleaning.  It doesn't have to be that way. Let's talk hardwood or laminate floors today and next week we will discuss how to resolve the bigger issues like discoloration and stains.

Wood floors add a warmth and beauty to a home but we forget some times that it is a natural product and needs special care.  The best part is they are easy to keep looking nice.

Always vacuum or dust wooden floors before "mopping". Dust, dirt and even pet hair can scratch wood surfaces so get any debris off the floor before the actually cleaning process.

I want to give you some options and remember that QVC is a retailer with great products and I will make some recommendations but the choice is entirely up to you.  The first thing I will tell you is throw away your old sponge mops.  Sponge mops were invented to spread floor wax not to clean.  They do a nice job of evenly spreading dirt or grime like they were designed to spread wax.  I personally prefer using a steam cleaner such as V32928 - The Monster Steam Jet Floor Cleaner with washable micro fiber pads.  First there are no chemicals and secondly it does not saturate the wood.  Excess water can swell or warp wood.

A moist, not wet, micro fiber mop is also a superior way to clean using warm, not hot tap water.  Hot water opens up the grain of the wood and allows dirt to get trapped instead of removing it.  Wood has a distinctive grain pattern and excess moisture is not good for wood.  When mopping always mop in the direction of the grain pattern.  Most of us don't think to do that but it prevents streaking.  V31632  - Don Aslett's Micro fiber mop with 6 washable micro fiber pads is a good piece of equipment as well.

About once a month I will mix a spray bottle with a few teaspoons of white vinegar and a few drops of vegetable oil in warm tap water.  Spritzing the floor as I clean.  The vinegar gets the deeper dirt and the vegetable oil gives luster and much needed natural oils to the wood itself.  Always then wipe the floor down with a micro fiber cloth to prevent it from being slippery. 

One last tip, if your floor has a gouge or scratch in it (we have five dogs and that's twenty paws and I don't even know how many claws), take a crayon that closely matches your floor color and rub it into the scratch.  With a hair dryer melt the wax crayon into the scratch and then when allowed to cool buff with a soft cloth.  It is a great way to make those marks virtually disappear.

More tips next week.

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

Twitter: www.twitter.com/danhughesqvc

www.gather.qvc.com/member/DanHughes

For many of us at KitchenAid, we love to create and share recipes with our office friends. It’s always fun to catch up on Monday mornings and hear about the weekend’s culinary adventures. One of our most shared recipes is the favorite Cappuccino Fudge Cupcakes. The moist and flavorful cake is enhanced by silky coffee cream and rich chocolate ganache, it’s positively delicious with lovely presentation.  It’s one of our favorites so we thought we had to share it with you and our friends at QVC as well.  Check out QVC host, Jennifer Coffey, who made this recipe as part of her Sunday cupcake collection.  Check out her blog here!

 Often at the center of our culinary adventures is the Stand Mixer. Of course, it’s the steadfast companion for baking, and a must-have for Cappuccino Fudge Cupcakes. In addition, with the power hub and a wide array of attachments (link to QVC attachment page?), it can become the culinary center of your kitchen…make ice cream, pasta, sausage, salsa and so much more!  Click here for additional recipes and culinary inspiration (link to KitchenAid recipe page)

Don’t forget to check out QVC’s Today’s Special Value, the KitchenAid 4.5qt. 300W Tilt Head Stand Mixer w/ Flex Edge.  This is being featured with the essential accessories for all your baking needs in a variety of beautiful colors!

So tell us, what is your favorite cupcake recipe?

Spring has sprung in Ireland and it's great to see ' a stretch in the evening' as the days begin get longer.

February 1st is the feast of St Brigid, and on this day it is the tradition to weave a cross made from rushes, as a symbol of our Christian faith.

These Saint Brigid's crosses are often hung over the doorway to keep the house safe and bring good luck and blessings to everyone that crosses the threshold.

And just the other day whilst on the road, I took a quick rest stop, and a cheeky little robin perched on my wing mirror. It was lovely to see this beautiful little bird only inches away, and I was reminded that the robin is a bird of spring.

It flies into our lives at the turn of the season and signifies new growth and new beginnings. The robin's song is a happy one to bring joy to our hearts and reminding us to let go of our personal problems and to laugh with life.

What is your favourite thing about spring ??

Watching the new shoots starting to grow ?  The days getting longer ? The weather getting a little warmer ?

I will look forward to hearing from you, and I can't believe it's only a month until St Patrick's day.

Stephen

With Valentine’s Day approaching, love is certainly in the air!  All this love has inspired me to share with you some of my QVC loves, my favorite products that I use and would recommend. 

Let’s begin in my medicine cabinet. As you can see I have a little bit of everything!  The wrinkles around my eyes are really starting to bother me so I have been loading up on the eye creams.  I love philosophy’s Miracle Worker retinoid eye repair and also Crème Ancienne eye cream by Fresh. 

From Dr. Denese I use her Pro-C pads which are great for evening out skin tone and lightening up dark spots.  For a great anti-aging moisturizer try Algenist.  If you want serious skincare this is it. 

At night I’ve started using Josie Maran’s pure argan oil and I must say boy was I late to the party!  My skin feels so soft and supple when I apply argan oil.  It has really helped with the dry patches that have popped up from this harsh winter weather.

I receive lots of questions about products I use on my hair.  It’s no secret I love my Chi Smart styling iron, I’ve used it for years and it glides through hair like butter! 

After styling I always reach for Alterna’s Bamboo Kendi Oil Dry Mist.  This imparts shine without weighing down hair and it smells beautiful! 

On my vanity I keep my Clarisonic brush which I use daily to deep clean my face.  (A quick tip:  If you have dry, chapped lips, run the Clarisonic brush over your lips for about 30 seconds-your lips will be smooth and flake free!).  It seems as soon as I turned 40 everything started heading south, so I’ve just started using the NuFace device to help tone my face.  My jowl area is starting to look a little soft to me so I’ll let you know how it goes! 

My make-up box is stuffed with Bare Minerals, tarte, Mally, I.T. and Laura Geller.  I enjoy playing in make-up and love how you can use it to enhance or completely transform your look.  Some of my go-to’s include Lights, Camera, Lashes mascara from tarte, bare Minerals Ready eye shadows, Laura Geller Baked Blush, and I.T. Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye concealer.

A few rock stars in my closet are my Dooney &Bourke Florentine satchel, my Spanx shapers I can’t live without and my favorite Diamonique rings. 

In my kitchen I keep my pantry organized with the help of Lock & Lock and every day I eat off Temptations.

I could go on for ten pages with more of my QVC Loves but I’ll save those for another day.  I would love to hear about some of your QVC favorites as well.  Please share in the comments below and Happy Valentine’s Day!

Hello, foodies…

Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone, and happy EARLY Mardi Gras! Shrove Tuesday is coming up next week...February 17. In the event you’re hosting a little party this weekend or a special dinner after work next week, I wanted to share some of our best Mardi Gras recipes. First up…Sunday’s recipe: Mardi Gras Cups!

Mardi Gras Cups
Makes 30

This recipe is prepared with the Rachael Ray Hard Anodized 12-Piece Cookware Set (K41693).

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

Ingredients:

• 1/2 lb fresh chorizo sausage, casing removed
• 1 (14.5-oz) can petite diced tomatoes, drained
• 1 (8.5-oz) package precooked, seasoned red beans and rice
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 30 pre-made mini filo cups
• 1-1/2 cups extra sharp cheddar cheese

Preparation:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Cook and crumble the chorizo over medium heat in a large skillet. Drain. Return the sausage to the pan and add the tomatoes, red beans and rice, salt, and pepper. Cook the filling until heated through, about 5 minutes.
3. Place the filo cups onto a baking sheet. Fill each cup with about 1-1/2 to 2 teaspoons of filling. Top each cup with cheese and bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the cheese has melted. Serve immediately.

This is another February Easy, 5-Ingredient Recipe…and again, we’re not counting salt and pepper. I think you’ll love how quickly this dish comes together—and how many little appetizers one recipe makes. A quick note about the filo cups…you should be able to find those in the freezer section of your grocery store. If you can’t find them, the scoop-style tortilla chips work just as nicely.

Now, you’ve got the appetizers…what about the drinks? You can’t celebrate Mardi Gras without a cocktail! Here’s how you make my Creole Bloody Mary and French 75.

And finally…dessert. Have you heard of Café du Monde? It’s the place to go for hot, fresh beignets in the heart of New Orleans. For those of us not lucky enough to live nearby, here’s a beignet recipe you might try this week…or anytime you need a sweet treat.

Again…I don’t know if you’re having a party or merely making dinner for you and your significant other, but it can be fun to make dinner a celebration. Get some Mardi Gras beads at the party store and decorate your table. Use a purple tablecloth with green and gold plates and napkins to infuse the colors of Mardi Gras into your décor. Or, if you’re feeling ambitious, why not make my Mardi Gras King Cake and place it in the center of the table.

I’ll see you this Sunday for In the Kitchen with David at Noon ET. Foodies, before, during, or after the show, be sure to check out QVC.com. We're having a special "Get Cooking – Special Offers & Savings" promotion...and it's only online.

Keep it flavorful!
—David

P.S. Don’t forget to submit your votes for our 2014 Golden Spatula Awards! You’ve got until 11:59pm on February 18 to tell us which of your fellow foodies submitted the best #FoodieFoto AND which ITKWD moment was the most memorable.

to come.

Instructions:

Put ground turkey into medium sized plastic bowl, and let come to room temperature.

While turkey is coming to room temperature, put celery, carrot, and onion into a food processor (I use my Vitamix) and puree. 

This is a sneaky way to get in a few more veggies and the puree helps to bind the meat.  I like to use all fresh herbs when possible.  If you have that, mince the garlic and finely chop the herbs.

Now start adding all ingredients to the ground turkey.  

Mix well with your hands.

Once fully mixed, use a spoon to scoop out ¾ cup size portions of meat and place into opening of Bell Pepper.  

Place in oven and bake at 400 degrees for about 25 minutes.  

Remove and top with Parmesan cheese.  Return to oven for 5 minutes.

ENJOY!

Albany  :-)

 P.S.  That's a lunch for me in my Lock and Lock ...the red sauce is a little Tapitio!  YUM!  

Hello, foodies…

We’ve had lots of things to celebrate this month. In fact, we have three big holidays to celebrate just this week! Saturday was Valentine’s Day, tomorrow is Mardi Gras, and Thursday is the Chinese New Year. Lucky for us, there are foods to commemorate each day and I’ve shared some of my favorites with you over the last few days. Today—so you have plenty of time to shop and plan for New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day—I’m sharing a Chinese New Year treat: Crab Rangoons.

Crab Rangoons
Serves 20

This recipe was prepared with the Temp-tations® Old World Set of 2 Mixing Bowls (K39864).

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

Ingredients:

• 4 oz cream cheese, softened
• 4 oz imitation crab meat, finely chopped
• 1 1/2 tsp Sriracha sauce
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 scallions finely chopped
• 20 wonton wrappers

Preparation:

1. Mix together the cream cheese, crab meat, Sriracha, salt, and scallions until evenly incorporated in a small bowl. Set aside. Preheat the oil in a deep fryer over medium heat or 365°F.
2. Place a small bowl of cold water next to your work surface. Dip your finger in the water and moisten all 4 edges of a Wonton wrapper. Place about 1-1/2–2 teaspoons of filling in the center. Lift up 2 opposite corners of the wrapper and bring them together. Repeat with the remaining corners. Pinch all 4 corners tightly together and seal the seams and sides completely, making sure there are no air bubbles left inside. You will end up with a 4-pointed star. Continue to make the wontons until you've used all of your filling.
3. Fry, in small batches, for 4–6 minutes, until golden brown and crunchy. Make sure to turn and flip the Rangoons around with a spatula or tongs while they are frying to ensure that all sides brown evenly. Remove the Rangoons from the fryer and place them onto a paper towel-lined plate. Serve warm with your favorite dipping sauce.

The Chinese New year is also called the Spring Festival. If you don’t have dragon costumes handy for a parade in your neighborhood, maybe consider other honoring other traditions like setting off fireworks or learning about your sign in the Chinese Zodiac. Above all, make time for your family. And, stay tuned for a special blog tomorrow. I’m going to post several recipes from my collection that just might bring you a little luck for the new year.

I’m off this Wednesday night, foodies, so I’ve asked my friend Jill Bauer to join you in the kitchen at 8pm ET. (As Mary said yesterday in the chat…it’s 2 power hours of Jill Bauer!) But, I’ve got some special posts coming this week so you’ve got plenty to munch on. I’ll see you again this Sunday for In the Kitchen with David, as usual, at Noon ET.

Keep it flavorful!
—David

Happy week after Valentines Day! I hope you all got to spend it curled up with your snuggly fur kids! Thank you, as always, to SO many of you who shared pictures of your pets that really stole your heart!! So many to choose from, you can see the rest on my Facebook page!

XO, Your Fellow Pet Lover,

Carolyn