QVC, Inc. (“Sponsor”) is sponsoring the QVC’s Vacation Hotspot Instagram Sweepstakes ("Sweepstakes"). This Sweepstakes is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram.

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

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

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

2.    SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY: There are two (2) ways to enter the Sweepstakes, on your mobile device via the Instagram mobile app (“Instagram”) or by mail.  To enter the Sweepstakes by mail, send your name, address, and daytime telephone number on a standard 4 inch by 6 inch postcard addressed to QVC’s Vacation Hotspot Instagram Sweepstakes Studio Park Mail Code 201, West Chester, PA 19380 (“Mail Entry”). To enter the Sweepstakes via Instagram, complete the following steps:

Step 1 – Access your Instagram account on your mobile device. If you do not have an Instagram account, you can download Instagram for free in the Apple App Store on an iOS device (iPhone, iPod, iPad), http://bit.ly/zs83d4, or in Google Play for an Android device, http://bit.ly/HbEuQH. After installing Instagram, open it on your device and tap the 'Sign up' button at the bottom left of the screen to begin the account creation process.

Step 2 – Search “QVC” on Instagram and click the “FOLLOW” button (assuming that you are not following QVC on Instagram already).

Step 3 – Post a photo of your vacation hotspot (“Instagram Entry”), tag @QVC in the comments section of your vacation hotspot photo and use the hashtag #QVChotspot  

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

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

3.    SWEEPSTAKES PERIOD: The Sweepstakes begins on or about August 19, 2013, at 9:00 am Eastern Time (“ET”) and ends at 8:59 am ET on August 25, 2013, (“Sweepstakes Period”).  Instagram Entries must be submitted by 8:59 am ET on August 25, 2013.  All Mail Entries must be postmarked by August 25, 2013 and received by August 27, 2013.

 4.    WINNER DETERMINATION:  Winners will be determined by a random drawing from all eligible entries and will occur on or about August 27, 2013.  Sponsor reserves the right to delay the random drawing. The number of eligible entries received will determine the odds of winning. Winning entries are subject to validation.

 5.    WINNER NOTIFICATION: Sponsor or a representative of Sponsor shall contact Potential Winner via Instagram on or about August 27, 2013.  Potential Winners may be required to execute and return an affidavit of eligibility, liability release, and (where legal) an affidavit of publicity prior to receiving the prize. Potential Winners will have forty-eight hours from the time he/she is contacted to respond and accept the prize. Noncompliance with the time period described above will result in disqualification and an alternate winner selected. Potential Winners may be required to present proof of identification prior to claiming prize. Acceptance of any prize shall require acceptance of the terms of these Official Rules and shall grant Sponsor the right to use Winner’s first name, last name and city and state of residence for any publicity associated with this Sweepstakes.

PRIZE: One (1) First Prize Winner will receive:  (1) HP Slate 7 Tablet 8GB Bundle with HDMI Cable, Retail Value $169.00

Total Approximate Retail Value of Prize: $169.00

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

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

1. 
   Participants further agree not to damage or cause interruption of the Sweepstakes and/or prevent others from participating in the Sweepstakes. CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT TO DAMAGE ANY ONLINE SERVICE OR WEBSITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST VIOLATES CRIMINAL OR CIVIL LAWS. IF SUCH AN ATTEMPT IS MADE OR AN INDIVIDUAL OTHERWISE ATTEMPTS TO DEFRAUD SPONSOR, SPONSOR MAY DISQUALIFY ANY PARTICIPANT MAKING SUCH ATTEMPT AND SEEK DAMAGES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW.

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

1. 
   TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, RELEASED PARTIES MAKE NO WARRANTY, REPRESENTATION, OR GUARANTEE, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN FACT OR IN LAW, RELATIVE TO THE USE OF THE PRIZE, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ITS QUALITY, MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

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

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

10.  WINNER’S LIST: For the names of prize winners, mail a self-addressed, stamped envelope QVC’s Vacation Hotspot Instagram Sweepstakes, QVC Studio Park Mail Code 201, West Chester, PA 19380.

For a complete list of Winners email, communication@qvc.com.

What's all the brouhaha? Well this week, it’s the leather jacket. I read somewhere that the leather jacket is pretty much cultural shorthand for cool, and I would add that it’s also your best friend. 

Leather jackets started as aviator and military jackets in the early to mid 1900s. I can only imagine that the mystique of being a fighter pilot helped with the popularity among men and women, as every guy wanted to be a pilot and every girl wanted to wear her boyfriend’s jacket when he was home from the military.

But the leather jacket became iconic with Marlon Brando in his 1953 portrayal of Johnny Strabler in "The Wild One.” He was the rebellious young gang leader: handsome, edgy, and full of attitude. The movie was a hit, and so was the jacket. To really make it a part of the American culture, James Dean brought his "Rebel Without a Cause" portrayal just two years later, and the leather jacket became the American symbol of attitude, rebellion, youth, and living on the edge.

The leather jacket became the symbol of the greaser throughout the late '50's and into the '60's, all the while becoming more wearable and less utilitarian and specifically "motorcycle.” It was the uniform of "The Fonz" in the 70's. Then, it was adopted by the rockers in the '80's who added studs, safety pins, and their own brand of "cool.” Now the leather jacket is worn by "ladies who lunch,” big burly bikers, and everyone in between. There’s a leather jacket for every taste and it’s a mainstay. 

So that’s the short version of why it’s cool. But as I mentioned, a leather jacket is also your best friend. Like a friendship, a good jacket improves with time. The more you "break it in,” the more it becomes specifically yours. It’s something you can rely on, always look great in, and the more you wear it, the more it feels like "home." The bonus plan? It never goes out of style. :)

There’s been a lot of buzz about the leather jacket that’s premiering in The Lisa Robertson Show this Friday night. We’ve given a few sneak peeks in PM Style and there’s already a lot of interest! This leather jacket is one that I will definitely be wearing this fall and winter. It’s an evolution of the motorcycle jacket, but done in a way that’s very flattering. You can wear it open, closed, halfway closed (a personal fave—zipper stopping at empire waist line), and with the collar flat or "popped" in back. This is a jacket that gets better with time. Wear it around and it will break in quickly. I think a leather jacket is a great investment. You'll wear it a lot, as it can go from casual to corporate and out to dinner. And, again, it's something you'll wear for many years. 

By the way, you can get this jacket in all black or with a brown body and black sleeves. But, you have to join us early to get it. In fact, here’s a little tip: when Amy posts the tune-in post on my FB page (Lisa Robertson QVC) a few minutes before the show, there will be a link that takes you right to the jacket. (There will be pictures of it this week on my page so you can give it lots of thought.) On Friday night, get on my FB page and find that link so you can get your size and color. I know it will go quickly and I want you to be ready! :)

We also have something brand new from Dr Perricone this week, some gorgeous jewelry including a beautiful black spinel bracelet from G.I.L.I.(TM), a new G.I.L.I.(TM) dress and Roma Tote. It’s almost an exclusively G.I.L.I.(TM) show!  I am excited. I know I say that every week, but it’s true  I think having the show in seasons, and not all the time, allows us to make it truly special. :)

 See you Friday night at 10pm ET!!!
—Lisa

This morning I woke up and felt a little hint of fall in the air. Given the fact that we have experienced a pretty hot and humid summer here on the east coast, I am not complaining, but the cool temps also promise the changing of the season. This, of course, gets me thinking of, "What will I wear?" What do you have your eye on as a favorite for fall fashion?

The first couple of months are more transitional, so layers are key. How about a new jacket to freshen up your look? Mackie style!

Bob Mackie's Ponte Knit Embroidered Lace Zip Front Jacket

Check out the gorgeous lace on top of the three terrific color choices: black, charcoal and plum. Do you have any Ponte knit in your wardrobe? What's to love about this fabric? The knit is so comfy, and, because it's Ponte, it has a bit more weight and structure to hold a perfect shape in a jacket. The contrast piping and lace are just the right touch to make this a standout classic. Everything works back to black, which makes this so versatile. I will admit that the charcoal is my favorite! :)  

You can pick this up now online or see me wear it on Friday morning. I will be talking about this one and a few more of Bob’s Wearable Art pieces during Fashionable Early with Jayne and Pat on Friday, August 16th. The show starts at 6 AM ET…I hope you can tune in!

Until then! Enjoy!

Margaux

We hate to love it, hate to need it, but we do: we treasure our tech. Especially me - I’ve got just about every gadget you can imagine and we’re a multi-iPad household. So what happens when I (gasp!) run out of juice? Well, nothing much thanks to my discovery of the Halo since joining QVC.  At Send the Trend, we put ours to the test to see how they would stand up in a few testy situations, and they didn’t disappoint. Take a look:

- Eddie is motivated and seriously moving, but a dying iPod stops him in his tracks. Lucky him, he’s packing his halo, so he can pick up his jog without missing a beat.

- Alexa’s doing the long distance thing, so video chats with her boyfriend can’t be missed! When her iPhone dies mid-convo, she doesn’t panic. Her halo lets the conversation keep on rolling.

- Sam is on a role, presenting to important clients. When her iPad loses charge in the midst of her presentation, she keeps her cool. Plugging into her halo lets her carry on without breaking a sweat.

Why take the risk? Power up anytime, anywhere with a halo that suits your style.

QVC, Inc. (“Sponsor”) is sponsoring the Vitamix Pinterest Sweepstakes ("Sweepstakes"). This Sweepstakes is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Pinterest.

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

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

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

2.      SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY: There are two (2) ways to enter the Sweepstakes, online via http://pinterest.com/qvc (“Website”) or by mail.  To enter the Sweepstakes by mail, send your name, address, and daytime telephone number on a standard 4 inch by 6 inch postcard addressed to Vitamix Pinterest Sweepstakes-- Studio Park Mail Code 201, West Chester, PA 19380 (“Mail Entry”). To enter the Sweepstakes online, complete the following steps:

Step 1: Visit www.facebook.com/QVC (full link to sweeps to be provided)

Step 2: Follow QVC on Pinterest by clicking “Follow us on Pinterest” via the entry form or by navigating to http://pinterest.com/qvc and clicking the “Follow All” button at the top of the page (assuming that you are not following QVC on Pinterest already).

Step 3: Enter your email address in the space provided on the entry form.

Step 4: Click “Submit & Pin” to pin the image to any board on your Pinterest profile.  

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

Only images pinned from QVC are eligible for purposes of this Sweepstakes; images pinned from other boards, websites or sources are not eligible for purposes of this Sweepstakes. 

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

 3.      SWEEPSTAKES PERIOD: The Sweepstakes begins on or about 12:00:01 am Eastern Time (“ET”) on August 18, 2013, and ends 11:59:59 pm ET on August 25, 2013 (“Sweepstakes Period”).  Online Entries must be submitted by 11:59:59 pm ET on August 18, 2013. All Mail Entries must be postmarked by August 18, 2013 and received by August 29, 2013.

 4.      WINNER DETERMINATION:  Five (5) Winners will be determined by a random drawing from all eligible entries and will occur on or about August 29, 2013.  Sponsor reserves the right to delay the random drawing. The number of eligible entries received will determine the odds of winning. Winning entries are subject to validation.

 5.      WINNER NOTIFICATION: Sponsor or a representative of Sponsor shall contact Potential Winners by email on or about August 29, 2013.  Potential Winners may be required to execute and return an affidavit of eligibility, liability release, and (where legal) an affidavit of publicity prior to receiving the prize. Potential Winners will have forty-eight hours from the time he/she is contacted to respond and accept the prize. Noncompliance with the time period described above will result in disqualification and an alternate winner selected. Potential Winners may be required to present proof of identification prior to claiming prize. Acceptance of any prize shall require acceptance of the terms of these Official Rules and shall grant Sponsor the right to use Winners’ first name, last name and city and state of residence for any publicity associated with this Sweepstakes.

 6.      PRIZES: Five (5) Winners will each receive a Vitamix Creations GC 48oz. 12-in-1 Variable Speed Blender (K38445). Total Estimated Value of One (1) Prize: $508.00. Total Estimated Value of All Five (5) Prizes Combined: $2,540.00

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

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

1. 
   Participants further agree not to damage or cause interruption of the Sweepstakes and/or prevent others from participating in the Sweepstakes. CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT TO DAMAGE ANY ONLINE SERVICE OR WEBSITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST VIOLATES CRIMINAL OR CIVIL LAWS. IF SUCH AN ATTEMPT IS MADE OR AN INDIVIDUAL OTHERWISE ATTEMPTS TO DEFRAUD SPONSOR, SPONSOR MAY DISQUALIFY ANY PARTICIPANT MAKING SUCH ATTEMPT AND SEEK DAMAGES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW.

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

1. 
   TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, RELEASED PARTIES MAKE NO WARRANTY, REPRESENTATION, OR GUARANTEE, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN FACT OR IN LAW, RELATIVE TO THE USE OF THE PRIZE, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ITS QUALITY, MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

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

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

11.  WINNER’S LIST: For the names of prize winners, mail a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Vitamix Pinterest Sweepstakes QVC Studio Park Mail Code 201, West Chester, PA 19380 or email, communication@qvc.com.

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A few years after we moved to Pennsylvania, my next door neighbor, Lisa, acquired a new  puppy named Mae. Mae would bound over to our yard whenever she spied me outside with the garden hose...she was obsessed with the squirting water. Mae never simply RAN...she would HOP, like a lamb or a bunny rabbit. She was one of the cutest dogs I'd ever seen. Little did I know that a couple of years later, one of Mae's puppies, Rowdy, would become one of our OWN little pack of pups! Rowdy (whose original name was Riley, as in "the life of..."), was originally supposed to remain with Lisa, Mae, and his papa, Teddy....but when he was 3 months old, it became apparent that three Wire Fox Terriers were alittle more than Lisa could handle in her apartment, and she asked if the little fella could come and live at our house. After a "pack vote" with all paws up (and hubby's yes vote, too), Rowdy came to live with us. (We changed his name to Rowdy, because we already had a cat named Riley). My husband is a big fan of Clint Eastwood and one of Clint's early roles was on a show called "Rawhide", in which his character's name was "Rowdy Yates". Well, OUR Rowdy, certainly does live up to his name!! There is nothing like the unique energy of a Terrier! For instance, my other dogs (Cockers, Cocker Mixes and a Lab/Pit mix) had NO idea they were supposed to chase our cats, until Rowdy set them straight! Since then, we've have added Cotons and Shih Tzu's to our family of pups and, well, they already seemed to "know" that about cats. However, our cats have turned it into a game, and it's all in good fun. They all sleep together on various pet beds every night! Rowdy is an absolute PRO at playing fetch and never misses a tossed tennis ball. In fact, on walks through the neighborhood, Rowdy loves to collect ANY tennis balls that happen to be lying around in someone's driveway along the way!  He loves to have our regular "Terrier Time" with his mom and dad, Mae and Teddy, who still live next door. We play ball in the yard with our "Chuck it" and go for lots of long walks together. (You can see Rowdy, Mae, Teddy and some of their friends in these Halloween photos from last year.) He is an expert car rider, very polite to pets and people alike and doesn't have an grouchy bone in his body. He is very high energy, but it's all in good fun. What a fabulous dog he is and SO smart! Wire Fox Terriers have been featured in TV shows and movies many times through the years, and I can see why. With a professional trainer, I'm sure there is not much Rowdy could not learn how to do! You may remember that Rowdy was my "Co-Star" in the QVC Holiday video from last Christmas, as I shared Denim and Company jackets with my neighbors.  So, please welcome ROWDY to our growing list of Fur Babies of the Month! He's such a GOOOOOOD BOY!!!

Q and A:

Name:  Rowdy

Age:    4 years old

Breed:  Wire Fox Terrier (There is also a Smooth Coat Fox Terrier Breed)

Favorite Pastime:  Playing fetch with tennis balls!

Alternate favorite pastime:  Jumping and jumping and jumping!! It's amazing the heights I can clear!

Thing I get in trouble for the most: Jumping the fence to the goose yard and taking a dip in their pond!

Favorite QVC Product:  Anything with a squeaker on the inside!

Best Fur Friend: Pack Pals Molly and Ginger (Cocker Mixes) and my mom and dad next door, Mae and Teddy.

Favorite Treat:  Homemade dog cookies (My human Mom, Carolyn, shared the recipe here:  http://qvc.co/CarolynsRecipes)

I am thrilled to be a part of our 26^th annual Klondike Gold Rush event.  This will be my 19^th Klondike Gold Rush event.  I love the assortment of product we are bringing you this year.   Some of my personal favorites for this event represent key trends and must haves for the season.  I would be remiss if I did not start with the Today’s Special Value. Can you believe it is our first ever earring Today’s Special Value for our Klondike Gold Rush sale event in our 26 years?   It has always been one of my biggest challenges to find the perfect earring to bring you for a Today’s Special Value for a sale event and I finally found one! (The J# is J282608). The earring comes to you from our Oro Nuovo  collection and these beautiful bold, modern graduated polished hoops stand for luxury and high style.  I remember selecting a pair of very similar earrings from our 18K gold collection over 10 years ago and they were 5 times the price of what we are bringing you for these almost identical earrings. What a thrill to be able to offer these to you for under $100.00. I also love that we are offering them in three colors: yellow, white, and rose.    The status trend is so hot right now and there is something for everyone on this day in the status category – from necklaces to bracelets to rings to earrings. One of my favorites on the day is J284131. I love the look of the alternating status links as size of this bracelet for the price.  I was able to negotiate an extra special price on this bracelet, starting at $219.00!  

The next must have I want to talk about is color!  I thought it was very important to represent colors of gold on the day, and what better way to do so than in our glitter hoop earrings, J283947. These come in a choice of yellow, white, and rose gold and have that beautiful white glitter center that makes these hoops a one of kind must have on the day.  They also come in a matching bangle, J284387.  Last but not least, I need to touch on the big and bold.  So many of you write to me and ask for more big bold gold jewelry, and in J284136, I have captured the essence of this for all of the ladies out there looking for a big chunky polished domed Rolo Link bracelet.  It is absolutely breathtaking and I am so excited to offer it on sale for our Klondike Gold Rush event.

I really look forward to being on air throughout the day to interact with the hosts and you, answer your questions, and just have a lot of fun.  

See you on Saturday.  

There are only a couple of weeks left before the kids go back to school, so let’s make the most of it! My Friday Night Meal on The Wishful Dish this week is from Corky's.

Ribs and seasoned wings are definitely great flavors for summer, and I was thinking about how beautiful corn on the cob would be with it. How do you dress up corn on the cob? With a simple herb butter! Regardless of whether you boil the corn or grill it, this butter will get your corn to the next level! Here is the recipe:

Chive Herb Butter 

1 stick of butter, softened

1/4 cup chives, snipped

2 tablespoons fresh basil leaves, chopped

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 pinch cayenne (optional) 

In a small bowl, mix butter, chives, basil, salt, and cayenne (only if you want some heat). 

That’s it! Refrigerate until needed.  Easy and delicious! 

Tip: After mixing, you can form a ball, and wrap it in plastic wrap before putting it in the fridge. That way, when the corn is prepared to your liking you can unwrap the butter, and simply roll the corn in it. You won't even need a knife! Not to mention, the kids can do their own. 

Also, we have a brand new item from Perfectly Light! It's a Veggie Mac and Cheese that I'm really excited about. Here’s a sneak peek;

Remember, if it ships frozen, you will have it by Friday!  So, join me on Monday at 5pm for food and friends!

-Sharon

It has been a very busy and fun summer of shooting Shark Tank! Season 5 is going to be the biggest season ever, which means more episodes, more shooting and more great deals coming your way! You all have helped support my Shark Tank entrepreneurs over the years and I can’t wait for you to see what new deals I make this season! More great entrepreneurs & items I know you’ll LOVE! Since I haven’t been able to be at QVC much this summer because of Shark Tank, I thought I’d share some behind the scenes pics from Season 5 shooting. Enjoy!

Mark Cuban & I after a long day of shooting….we start at 4AM and don’t finish until after 7PM.

Happy Birthday Kevin! We were shooting on Kevin’s birthday, this was my present to him. Thought it appropriate – the shark is eating his head! ;)

At the TV Critics Awards w/ Mark Burnett and my brethren Sharks. We won best Reality Show!!!!

6 Sharks & the Producer in the TV Guide photo booth at TCAs.

Picking out food at the snack table on set, where they have all kinds of goodies. They even had Hummus, which is one of my favorite snacks!

Kevin & Daymond between set changes.

4AM call time for hair & makeup…I’m not a morning person, so this is pretty tough some days.

Lots of fun surprises this season, including some new guest sharks! Here I am with John Paul DeJoria, best known for creating Paul Mitchell hair products and Patron. Great guy!

All the Sharks on the red carpet.

The shoot days are jammed pack with entrepreneurs, but between each set there’s just enough time for touch-ups & bathroom break.

With Jordan on set, he’s the producer’s right hand man keeping it all rolling.

If you haven’t already, I’d love for you to join me on my Facebook, Twitter & Pinterest  pages too!

https://www.facebook.com/Lori.Greiner1

https://twitter.com/LoriGreiner

http://pinterest.com/lorigreiner/ 

Xx

Lori

Oh my goodness! Our all-new You’re Home with Jill starts next week. How did this happen!? Where did the summer go!? Never mind me, I’m just one big ball of excitement…I’m nervous because this show is going to be so new and so different than anything QVC has ever done before. We’re raising the bar of what “home” is all about and we’re working things out as we go. But, at the same time, I’ve loved every minute of this newness, and I know you will, too. I can’t wait to start on this new chapter of You're Home with Jill (YHJ—that’s what we’re calling the show now…we’ve got a logo and everything!)

So, along with joining you every Wednesday at 7pm ET—just before my favorite buddy David Venable, I’m going to try to blog twice before each show—on Fridays and Tuesdays. (Lucky you!) My Friday blog—including today’s—will highlight the DIY project we have planned for every episode of YHJ.

Here’s what we’re making next Wednesday:

That’s my Fall Centerpiece with Harvest Trail Mix. Isn’t it festive? Don’t you just want to dive in there headfirst? :)

The mix is made of M&M’s, candy corn, and peanuts. It’s such a simple combination and I’ve made it every fall for as long as I can remember. Yet, it’s the talk of every party I host. I’ve used lots of different serving vessels over the years…ceramic pumpkins, cornucopia-shaped dishes, and even small Temp-tations® bowls. But this year, I thought we’d make the mix the focal point of a fall centerpiece!

For those of you who consider yourselves to be “craft-challenged,” this might be the world’s easiest DIY project. I promise. First let’s make the mix:

Harvest Trail Mix

Ingredients:

• 2 cups candy corn
• 2 cups dry roasted peanuts
• 1 cup M&M’s (add a little more if you're a chocoholic!)

Directions:

1. Combine the ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Place the desired amount in a serving bowl and place any leftover mix in an air-tight container or plastic bag. Store up to three weeks.

Now, let’s make the centerpiece:

You’ll Need:

• 1 glass hurricane
• 1 tall flameless candle
• 1 short leftover container (similar in diameter to the candle)
• Strand of orange or yellow ribbon (or another fall color)
• Candy Corn Trail Mix

To Assemble:

1. Set the container inside the glass hurricane.
2. Check to ensure the candle has a battery before placing it inside the container (which, by the way, allows you to remove the candle to turn it on and off without touching the mix!)
3. Pour the mix into the hurricane around the inner container.
4. Tie the ribbon around the hurricane.
5. When desired, remove the candle and turn it on. Or, if your candle has a timer function, try it!

That’s it! Aren’t the colors of the candies and ribbon just beautiful? Whether you place this centerpiece on a side table, your dining room table, or your countertop, it’ll bring the warmth of fall into your home. Happy crafting—I’d love to see pictures of your centerpieces. Please post pictures on my Facebook or Pinterest pages. But, as always, you can also share your thoughts right here in my blog.

Don’t forget—I’ll be blogging again this Tuesday. Then, I’ll see you Wednesday for our Live show!!

From my home to yours,
—Jill

My name is Nancy & this is my friend, Chef Nick.  My favorite sandwich:  Peanut Butter & Pickles.

Problem:  I don’t like a bunch of things I can’t pronounce in my peanut butter!

Chef Nick and Vitamix to the rescue!

Nick put 3 cups of roasted peanuts in the Vitamix.  That’s it, nothin’ else!  And we were off….

…1 minute down, one to go!

Ta Da! It’s time for the taste test.    Yum!!!

Let’s put my sandwich together:  Spread the freshly whipped-up-in-the-Vitamix-roasted-peanut-only-peanut butter on wheat bread…

Top with Dill Pickles.

And Enjoy!!! Thanks Chef Nick & Vitamix for my wholesome peanut butter & pickle sandwich!

Bonus pic: My Friends, Wendy & Eva, even joined in on the action.  They were a little skeptical about the pickle/peanut butter combo… at first.

Recipe: 1-1/2 cups dry roasted & 1-1/2 cups of honey roasted peanuts 

Check out tomorrow's TSV:  K38445 - the Vitamix Creations 48oz Variable Speed Blender

There’s Sapphires in them there Hills!

Fifteen years ago I started working on a new program for QVC featuring Sapphires mined in Montana.  I loved the idea and was so excited about actually working with a precious gemstone mined in the USA.  The mine owner had come to QVC and made a presentation of the most beautiful blue and golden sapphires.  I flew to Montana with a QVC film crew and a host (Lisa Mason) and spent a glorious three days in Montana enjoying the great beauty of the state and discovering the area where Sapphires were mined.

We were all so excited and couldn’t wait to bring this beautiful stone on-air.  Months went by and the mine owner kept in touch and continued to apologize for the delays but was unable to deliver the quantity and quality of Sapphires that we had originally seen and been excited about.  Unfortunately, we discovered that this show was impossible because the production of gem quality sapphires was just too small.  I was so disappointed but my love of this stone continued.

Fast forward 15 years and I received a call from a good friend, Lisa, in the jewelry industry that she had partnered with the owners of the Rock Creek Sapphire Mine in Montana and wanted to come see me.   I laughed and told her how much I loved her but please don’t waste your time, it is not possible to pull it off.  Lisa laughed right back at me and said she was coming anyway.  When I walked into the meeting room at QVC, she had laid out the most beautiful array of Montana Sapphires that I had ever seen.  I was blown away and thought, wow, but this is probably all there is.

Lisa began telling the story of how the Rock Creek Montana Sapphire Mine had stopped producing over 20 years ago but the mine owner had a large stock of rough stones in his basement.  He was willing to cut them for us and sort them into a range of blue, green, and golden sapphires.  Once, I was able to speak again, I said fabulous but the proof is in the pudding.  We worked with David and Maureen, the gold/gemstone buyers on sketches of unique styling that would really highlight these beautiful Sapphires.  Lisa went on her way, I wished her well, and thought ok, she may be back or may not with enough stones to actually do this project.

Sure enough, Lisa called a few weeks later, and said she was on her way to show us what was possible.  The stones are magnificent.  There are five different colors that we are able to work with; Montana Blue, Rock Creek Blue, Green, Golden, Platinum and Kaleidoscope.  Lisa had a list of stones that the mine owner thought he could supply.  We would need every single gemstone that was available to make this happen.

The Rock Creek Sapphire Mine is located between Gem Mountain and Rock Creek in a beautiful, remote area of Montana.  Millions of years ago as the mountain eroded the gem bearing gravel traveled across a wide field into Rock Creek.  There was a dip in the field and some of the gravel got trapped in the dip.  Many years later, while prospecting for gold, miners discovered that there was no gold but a precious stone instead.

Please tune in for this amazing show that I never thought would be possible.  To be able to wear a precious gemstone mined in America is a rare treat.  We went back to Montana with a film crew and the footage of Montana is spectacular and the mine mesmerizing. 

Take care, Peyton

Hello friends!

As some of you know, many years ago (long before QVC Program Hosts ever participated in Social Media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, etc.)) I was asked quite often to write and publish a cookbook. In fact, about 75% of all the email I received back then, here at the Q, was about that very subject.

I had been with QVC for almost seven years when I decided it was finally time to put some of my family’s favorite recipes together in a book for you to enjoy. The book was aptly named, “My Family’s Favorites”. It was incredibly well received and it sold out, selling more than 275,000 copies.

I was humbled by your great response and your kind requests to do another. Two years later, “More Family Favorites” was born. The second book contained many more low-fat options and tidbits of information I thought you would like!

Both of the cookbooks are now out of print and have been for a long, long time. But to my delight and amazement, and to this very day, I still receive requests from my QVC friends for those recipes! So, I have decided to share all of them with you as my way of saying "thank you" for all the years of kindness, friendship and loyalty you have shown to QVC, me AND my family!

My goal is to post one recipe per week until I have shared all of them with you. Just please forgive me if I miss a week here or there with my crazy schedule. And, if I do miss a week from time to time, I will try to make it up to you the following week by sharing more than one. Sound fair?

Since we’re just about into football season and I am just crazy for football,
I'm dreaming of appetizers and finger foods. So, here are two recipes you might want to make for game day to share with your friends and family.

Taco Dip

• 8 oz. Cream Cheese
• 12 oz. small curd, Cottage Cheese
• ¼ cup Sour Cream
• 1 packet Taco Seasoning
• 8 oz. shredded Cheddar Cheese
• Chopped tomatoes, as desired
• Shredded lettuce, as desired
• Corn Chips of your choice; use a mixture of red white and blue to add color to your table

In a large, mixing bowl combine cream cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream and the taco seasoning, blending together with an electric mixer. Spread mixture onto a serving plate (I like to serve mine from in an oval Temptations dish) and cover with shredded lettuce, tomatoes and shredded cheddar cheese. Serve with your favorite chips.

Sloppy Joes

• 3 pounds ground beef
• 1 cup ketchup
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 can chicken gumbo soup
• Dash of lemon juice
• Salt and pepper to taste

Brown the ground beef in a skillet (I like Colorsmart from CooksEssentials), adding garlic powder, salt and pepper. Drain well. Add ketchup, brown sugar, lemon and soup. Heat thoroughly. Serve on your favorite bun.
(Makes approximately 2 dozen sandwiches)

Enjoy and Go ________!!

Counting our blessings,
Mary Beth  

Destination Gems

I am so excited to be Antonella’s Social Media Host on Monday, August 19 from 1:00 pm-3:00 pm for Destination Gemstones.  The show has an amazing array of fabulous gemstones.  There are two new Black Spinel pieces that really sparkle.  J283843 is a pave Black Spinel bracelet with alternating high polish and pave.  The contrast between the shiny metal and the sparkle is fresh and timeless.  It even has a hidden box clasp for security.

Some of my other favorites in the show include J266748, the beautiful Aquamarine 40 inch necklace and J284090, the Affinity Diamond ½ ct tw Yellow Estate Diamond ring.  I love fancy colored diamonds and this ring will be treasured for generations to come.

There are several gorgeous Tanzanite items including dramatic chandalinear earrings, J265076, and a diamond and Tanzanite ring, J281878.  There are also several Premier Morganite items and two very special London Blue items that are the very fine blue material without the gray undertone.

Please tune in and let me know any questions that you might have.  I will be answering all questions on this blog.

Take care, Peyton

Hi, everyone!

Here’s another update from some of your favorite people from the Emerald Isle! And make sure to check back on Friday, August 30^th for a special Rose of Tralee Preview blog!

Stephen, Connemara Marble

There has been the sound of little feet in my house! We’ve recently had a fun new arrival in our household - we are fostering a sweet little Miniature Dachshund!!! We saw a posting from our local animal shelter that he had been rescued from a really nasty situation, so we are taking care of him. He is fitting in quite well. When we got him home, he was really thin and nervous, but, with love and care, he is finding his confidence, and we are finding that inside this tiny dog there is a big heart! We have named him Watson, and he is really becoming one of the household!

Me with Watson...and leprechaun hat!

Watson wants to be a leprechaun dog!

One happy little dog!

With Watson, and my son Daniel's Springer Spaniel, Hero! 

I’m looking forward to travelling to QVC soon to take part in the Rose of Tralee celebration on Tuesday, September 3rd!  

See you then,

Stephen

Shop Connemara Marble on QVC.com.

Joseph, JMH Jewellery

Hi, everybody! Greetings from Louisberg, where I am taking a break with my family! We've been working hard all summer getting ready for the Rose of Tralee show on QVC. I'm so looking forward to seeing everyone and showing you what new surprises we have up our sleeves! St. Bridget and the amazing work she did spreading the message of Christianity in Ireland was a big inspiration for us for this show! I've listened to you guys asking for jewelry inspired by this wonderful saint, and we have brought you theseJMH Jewellery Sterling Silver St. Bridget's Cross Earrings (J269993)! And there’s more to come! Did you know the St. Bridget’s Cross is said to bring protection to the wearer?

The weather here has been great, for the most part. It has been a sunny Irish summer so far, but today is certainly a soft day! It gives me a great excuse to pop into the studio and get to drawing and working on new designs for St. Patrick’s Day 2014...

Looking forward to seeing you all soon! Tune in to QVC's Rose of Tralee Celebration, and be sure to let me know what you think of our jewelry. I love reading your reviews of JMH Jewelry products!

See you soon!

Joseph

Shop JMH Jewellery on QVC.com.

Barbara, Fragrances of Ireland

The first weekend in August – ‘August Bank Holiday Weekend’ – is a very special one in Ireland. It has a special place in all of our hearts, and, as you can probably garner, the banks are on holiday and so too are much of the country! The August Bank Holiday brings the Hurling and Gaelic Football championships to Quarter Final stage. I have to confess, I am not from a GAA family (Gaelic Athletic Assoc.), but my husband’s family comes from Co. Mayo. Their passion for the game has been passed on to my kids – hence last weekend they were out waving Mayo flags outside their nana’s house, much to the amusement of all her neighbours!

For the last few years, Mayo have been steadily improving. It’s been over 60 years since they won the Sam Maguire Cup, and over the weekend they defeated Donegal, the 2012 Champions, so it’s all systems go for the Semi-Finals on August 25^th when they meet Tyrone – that will be just as I start organising myself for my trip to QVC for the Rose of Tralee event!

After the excitement of the game, we’ve been taking it easier this week! Down at the beach we were teaching Eliza, our youngest, how to skim stones – although it may be closer to throwing at the moment! I also got my kids to do one of my favourite past-times – cloud watching!

Peter, who works with me here at Fragrances of Ireland, thinks this is the most wonderful way to get your imagination going, and I have to agree. Peter was there the day we took Arthur to Roundstone Beach, which is the place that inspired our Fragrances of Ireland Inis the Energy of the Sea Cologne Spray (A38210). Peter took the photo of the beach that I show when I visit QVC.

He has hundreds of images of clouds and would always be asking, ‘What can you see?’ Well, this particular cloud got the best reaction from my kids: buggys, wicked queens, wizards, acrobatic dogs. Why not let me know what you can see?

-Barbara

Shop Fragrances of Ireland on QVC.com.

John, Aran Craft

Hello, everyone! I thought this would be fun to share these photos with you. This is a picture of my brother and I in the early days of Aran Craft! I appear to be giving him some ‘artistic direction’ for one of the first Aran Craft photo-shoots!

Myself and my brother in some of the first Aran Crafts products

Fast-forward to 1999 when I was part of an international team whose objective was to reach the North Pole, which we were successful in achieving! Here I am sporting my Aran Craft sweater at the North Pole and flying the Irish flag!

Aran Crafts at The North Pole in 1999

I am looking forward, as always, to working with my various host friends this year for what we expect to be one of the biggest Rose of Tralee Celebrations ever! 

We have designed a very unique sweater for you guys to enjoy this year, combining unique stitch combinations with great attention to detail. Some of their meanings are inspired from the use of Mother Nature’s bounty with the Moss stitch to the vertical rib stitch representing the sometimes difficult path our lives take. I promise you this will be a real head-turner this fall.

Make sure you tune in on September 3rd, and I hope you enjoy our fantastic latest design for you, our fans and friends.

-John

Shop Aran Craft on QVC.com.

Until next time!

Shop our Irish assortment on QVC.com.

Hello, foodies…

Do you wake up smiling on Fridays? I do. And I was grinning this morning at 7:30 when I rolled out of bed and was even happier after I brewed a nice big pot of coffee. I love mornings when I can just sit and meander through my email and messages, knowing I’ve got all the time in the world. It was a picture perfect morning here in Pennsylvania, so I opened all the windows and blinds and enjoyed my big bowl of oatmeal with fresh bananas while I did a bit of work.

In between emails, I also chatted with a high school friend in Virginia because I’m helping plan my 30th High School Reunion. I was class president, so the vice president and I are buttoning some things up before the big day arrives this November. I really do like planning; it’s exciting. I went to Independent High School in Charlotte and it’s hard to believe that 30 years have already flown by. Thank goodness we’re using our high school yearbook photos on our name tags because I’m fairly certain we’ve changed a bit since high school…myself included!

I went into the office around 12:30 for cookbook #2 recipe testing and we’re now about 50% complete with that part. In all my other spare moments, I’m still writing copy to introduce the recipes as well as the few chapter openers. That part isn’t quite 50% yet.

Right now, I’m back at home, and after I write today’s blog, I’m going to try to nap a bit because I’ve got a big weekend ahead. Tonight we welcome 80 foodies to West Chester because we’re hosting an ITKWD Weekend. There’s a welcome reception tonight where guests will dine with Mary and me. And, I think food from my cookbook is on the menu. Tomorrow, our foodies head out for tours at Milky Way and Yellow Springs Farms which are here in the area. Then on Saturday night, we’re doing our first-ever Iron Chef competition! We’re asking volunteers to cook something before dinner and then prizes are awarded to the winners! I'm looking forward to that. Finally, on Sunday, all 80 fans will be attending our live show here at QVC. And, they’ll see me make my garden-to-table recipe: Green Bean Fries with Buttermilk Dipping Sauce.

Green Bean Fries with Buttermilk Dipping Sauce

This recipe is prepared with the Prepology® 5-Piece Nonstick Knife Set with Sheaths (K37306).
 
Go to David's Recipe Item Page for the full list of items that David has used in his recipes.

Ingredients:
 
Sauce:
 
•    1/8 cup buttermilk
•    1/2 cup mayonnaise
•    1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
•    1/4 cup onion, grated
•    1 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
•    1 Tbsp fresh dill, chopped
 
Fries:
 
•    1 lb fresh green beans, stemmed and rinsed
•    1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
•    1 Tbsp cornstarch
•    1 tsp baking powder
•    1 tsp kosher salt
•    1/4 tsp garlic powder
•    1/8 cup sesame seeds
•    1/8 cup black sesame seeds
•    1-1/2 cups club soda
•    2 Tbsp soy sauce
•    Oil, for deep frying
 
Directions:
 
1.    To prepare the dipping sauce, place all of the ingredients into a small mixing bowl and whisk until well-combined. Refrigerate the sauce until serving time.

2.    To prepare the fries, add the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, garlic powder, and sesame seeds to a medium-size mixing bowl. Combine the ingredients with a fork. Add the club soda and soy sauce into the dry mixture and stir until just combined.

3.    Heat the oil over high heat in a Dutch oven or deep-sided skillet. Use a thermometer to keep the temperature around 350°F–375°F. Line a baking sheet with paper towels.

4.    Dip each green bean into the batter, coat completely, and add a handful to the hot oil. Fry for 2–3 minutes, or until golden brown. Place the fried green beans onto the baking sheet to drain and keep them warm in a 300°F oven while you coat and fry batches of the remaining beans. Serve immediately with the dipping sauce.

Those ITKWD Weekend attendees are also going to see Food Network Star Sunny Anderson, who’s joining us with her new cookbook, Sunny’s Kitchen. I just love Sunny’s style…she makes real people food. Meaning, she’s down-to-earth, she uses down-to-earth ingredients, and taste always comes first. I just love that. I can’t wait to meet her and try some of her recipes like Fried Sweet Tea Chicken, Maple Bacon Wings, and best of all, North Carolina Slow-n-Low House Ribs! Here’s one of Sunny’s recipes you might want to whip up this weekend:





If you’d like to come for an ITKWD Weekend, you can always check QVC.com for updates on the next event. But, Mary often gets the inside track on information like that, so you can also ask her in the chat! I hope you’ll consider coming to West Chester sometime…I love meeting you all and we’re quite proud of our operation here at QVC. So much happens behind-the-scenes!

Let’s end with a blog question about those green bean fries, foodies. It’s tough to get kids—and some adults—to eat their veggies, but recipes like green bean fries make veggie-eating downright enjoyable. What veggie tops the “do not make” list in your household? Lima beans? Spinach? Brussels sprouts? If we land on a unanimously hated veggie, we’ll create a recipe to help keep the peace at dinnertime. Thanks, as always, for your responses.

Keep it flavorful!
—David

One of the joys of parenthood is watching your little one reach each milestone of their development.  So far we’ve had a lot of fun watching Jericho learn how to smile, blow bubbles, babble, sit up and roll over.  The milestone we’ve been looking forward to the most though is Jericho’s first foods!  After six months of exclusively nursing little Coco her pediatrician gave us the green light to introduce the baby to fruits, vegetables and rice cereal. 

It was so exciting to present Coco with her first spoonful of rice cereal.  As soon as it touched her lips her face frowned up with an expression that read, “This tastes weird, and I don’t know if I like it!”  It’s been trial and error with her.  Bananas make her gag but she loves peaches, pears and apples and so far carrots and sweet potatoes are winners.   She also LOVES to drink water which I understand to be quite unusual. 

Mealtime is always an adventure with her and quite messy! 

Do you know any kids with unusual food preferences?  Please share!

Hello Temp-tations family!

Wow, what a summer it has been! Fall is nearly here, and I cannot wait to see what this new season brings. The rich colors, cooling temperatures and most importantly time with family and friends is what I am looking forward to most.

The flavors of the fall harvest are great for baking, and my new Sweet & Savory 10-pc. Baking Set is a perfect way to serve them. Inspired by my visit to Paris, I created this unique set to prepare, bake and serve fabulous family dishes. And, just in time for fall, this set will be available in our seasonal Harvest pattern. 

Check it out this Wednesday, 8/21.  It's sure to be a very special day 

See you then!

Xoxo, 

Tara