Pat, Leah and I spent the day in NY with Susan Graver last Wednesday. We met her design team and had a preview of her fall and winter collection.  Susan also let us try on her next TSV.  Any guesses as to what it might be?

No it’s not me, Leah, or Pat. 

Audrey Graver and Susan’s son Michael also work as part of Susan’s design team.  It’s not just a family affair it’s a family with FLARE!!

This is their supply of buttons, sequins, and embellishments.  I was like a kid in a candy store!!

The view from the office window was spectacular even on a rainy day.  Talk about inspiring.  The Empire State building still takes my breath away.

Tune in Thurs. Sept. 5th at midnight!

tbd

Sewing is one of those things I think most of us can do out of necessity. Some of us were taught by a mother or grandmother who, perhaps, loved to sew; others learned by necessity to pass high school home economics. I was both home-taught and school-taught, and I’m very glad I have sewing in my skill arsenal. But do I like to sew? Not really. Do I have the time to sit down at a machine and make something really great? Unfortunately not.

So, when I saw a no-sew pillow cover project on Pinterest, I clicked. And, lucky for me, the pin led me to a blog called “Organize & Decorate Everything,” which is written by a woman named Leanne—an incredibly organized wife, mom, and apparently a grandma (but I’m not sure I believe that last part)!

Leanne’s project was as easy as she promised. But, I wanted to add something even more special to the pillow…like a monogram. So, friends, I give you my DIY project for this week: a no-sew monogrammed pillow cover!

Here’s a quick tutorial of how you make this…

• First, cut your fabric to size. You’ll need a piece of fabric that’s three times as wide and twice as tall as your pillow—plus a few inches to be safe.
• Then, flip the fabric to the “wrong” side and place your pillow in the middle. Fold the bottom edge of the fabric up over the pillow and the top edge of the fabric down. Carefully flip the pillow over and put a sticky note right where you want your monogram to go.
• Next, do the monogram. You can find iron-on transfer kits at any craft store and every kit comes with specific instructions. Because I wanted to create a custom design, I bought a kit that allows you to create the pattern on your computer and print it on the transfer paper. A note on transfer paper: if your fabric is dark, you’ll want to get dark transfer paper. If it’s light, opt for light paper. Some kits have both light and dark-colored transfer paper included, and those are great to keep on hand for your next project. Before you print your pattern, do a test-print on regular paper first to ensure it looks exactly right—but mirrored. (When you iron it on, it’ll look normal.)
• If you’ve never done an iron-on monogram before, again, it’s a good idea to do a practice run. Then, when you’re ready, place a paper bag underneath your fabric (to protect your ironing board) and make sure your iron is on high. (The steam setting should be off.) I start with a good, hard push right in the center, hold it for 20-30 seconds, then I work my way around the entire edge of the transfer, moving slowly, but keeping the pressure on. Then, go back to the middle and back out to the edges once more to ensure they’re good and stuck.
• After your transfer is cool (which will take a few minutes), flip the fabric over to the “wrong side” again, (the monogram should be facing down) and place the pillow in the center. Refold the bottom edge up and the top edge down. (Hopefully your monogram is right where you wanted it!)
• Next, taper the bottom and top edges on both the left and right sides down and in towards the center (like a package). Then, bring both sides up and tie!

If you’re a visual learner, join me for You're Home with Jill this Wednesday night at 7pm ET and this will all make sense! I can't wait to hear what you think. Are you already making this project in your head? If so, how would you design your own pillow cover?

From my home to yours,
—Jill

P.S. Speaking of ironing, our TSV(R) on Wednesday just so happens to be a great Rowenta iron! Think of all the monogramming you could do! :)

Hello Fashionistas and sisters in style!

As you know, I love Fashions and have hosted AM Style on Saturday mornings for the past ten years. It's been a decade of incredible fun, as well as, learning about manufacturing, designs, accessories, trends and gauging what you do and do not like. And now that we are comfortable and confident in what we are doing for you in terms of fashions, I am super excited to tell you about my brand-new show that will help you complete your look. It debuts on Thursday, September the 5th at 4pm and is called ......drum roll, please......."Leah Loves Shoes" and that I do!!

The Broadcasting, Buying, Lighting, Social Media, Modeling Teams and I have been working closely together for months to make sure everything goes smooth and as planned or, at least as close to "planned" as possible. It is live television, after all, and so much more goes into producing a new show than meets the eye.

We conducted "go-sees" and chose our team of models. (I knew Stuart was our guy as soon as he called me, “Cinderella’ and explained how his sister taught him all about the kitten heel.)

 

We practiced the segments of the show and shared many laughs!

And we got direction from our extremely talented, Show Producer, Venita.... everything from timing, to products, to positioning, lighting and much, much more!

It takes a lot of planning, effort and many man (and woman) hours to introduce a new show. However, when you love shoes as much as I do and have as much passion for your job as Venita does, all the long hours of hard work are well worth it!

We hope to bring you the shoes you love, need and want. We'll take great care in giving you the exact information you need to make the best buying decisions for YOU! 

I hope you will join us in our new venture and please stop by whenever you can both here and on Facebook and tell us how we're doing. We would love to hear from you!

Leah 

In the Kitchen with David is informative and FUN! We all know the THE BEST reason to watch on Sundays and Wednesdays: David Venable! We Foodies love David! He always shows us affordable ways to keep our kitchen running fast and smooth.

 Here are the five reasons, specifically, to watch in September:

#1) Month-long theme: “Back to Routine”. So it is Fall, back to school, back to practice/lessons/rehearsal, etc. Everyone is busy and the house is buzzing: What should I make for breakfast? What am I going to make for dinner? How can my kid’s lunches be healthier? It does not have to be mayhem! We got you covered.

#2)THE FOOD: David’s recipes are amazing. Did you know he has over 350 recipes? You can check them all out right here. If you are looking for savory casserole, healthy kid-lunch options, holiday cookie and healthy breakfast ideas (and more) – you do not want to miss an episode in September!

#3) Happy Dances: Speaking of delicious recipes, David will be dancing up a storm with some Chefs you may recognize! Sunny Anderson and Anne Burrell, just to name a couple! Mary, who else is coming? There have to be SOME surprises!

#4)QVC iPad app, ITKWD interactive experience. You are on the go and we get it, please take us with you! Go to your iTunes store, download the FREE “QVC iPad App”, and you can interact with us throughout Sunday’s and Wednesday’s show. Keep your feedback about your experience coming! We are always looking to improve to help make your life better!

#5) Milestones: September 4^th is our 2-year Chativersary! I have been lucky enough to get to know you for the last 2 years via our ITKWD Live Chat. Thank you for sharing who you are, your support and your joy. I look forward to many more years of friendship. Check out our first “Chat Pic” photo below! We also have Cooking on Q, Fall edition on September 11^th and the Joy of Christmas on September 22^nd!

Thank you for watching and reading. I will see you in our live chats on David’s Facebook page throughout ITKWD and feel free to stop by mine too (Mary QVC on Facebook and Twitter) for more behind-the-scenes of ITKWD! See you Sundays at 12pmET and Wednesdays at 8pmET!

Hello, foodies…

Some friends of mine were down-the-shore this week and guess what they saw?





That’s me! I’m on a billboard! And even though it’s tough to see, that’s my name on a sky ad! I was surprised but thrilled to see that and I’m even more excited for the actual event in September. As the billboard says, I’m doing a cooking demonstration and then a book signing at the Borgata on Saturday, September 14 at 2pm ET. I’ll be making three recipes from my cookbook and I’d love to see you in the audience. You can purchase tickets online at theborgata.com. Or, if you’re in the Atlantic City area, visit the Borgata Box Office.

It’s been another busy week and I’m headed to my next meeting in just a few minutes. But I’m really looking forward to some kitchen time tonight. Often times, the hosts are asked to try new foods and items before we bring them into QVC. And, I was sent a variety of pasta sauces to sample. So tonight, I’ll be making a big plate of pasta and turkey meatballs. Who’s coming for dinner!?

Tomorrow and Sunday, I’ll be celebrating the Labor Day holiday with you, then Sunday night, Monday, and Tuesday, I’m headed down to the Delaware shore to enjoy a last few days of summer before the fall routine begins again. I plan to have a barbecue on Monday and Kansas City hamburgers and hot dogs are on the menu, as well as my All-American Macaroni Salad, and my Frozen Summer Sangria! I think Nana’s Nanner Pudding is calling me for dessert.

Do something truly summery this weekend, then join me Sunday on In the Kitchen with David as we kick off the start of "Back to Routine Month" with the arrival of September. If they’re not already, the kids will soon be in school and busy with homework and practice, which means you’ll be busy with homework and practice, not to mention work, dinner, meetings, and more. But, we’ve got lunchbox ideas, dinner solutions, and some down-home good fall recipes planned that will remind you why the season  should be cherished.

Our first recipe is a great after-school snack: Homemade Pizza Rolls! There are no mystery ingredients in these treats—just wholesome (healthier) goodness like turkey pepperoni, low-fat cheese, and whole wheat tortillas. AND—we hid some healthy veggies in the sauce. I promise...the kids will never notice.

Homemade Pizza Rolls

This recipe is prepared with the Ninja Professional Blender (K37894).

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

Ingredients:

• 8 (8-9") whole wheat tortillas
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 cup large red pepper, diced
• 1 cup large zucchini, diced
• 1/2 cup carrots, grated
• 4 medium mushrooms, sliced
• 1 (15-oz) can pizza sauce
• 1 (8-oz) package part skim Mozzarella, grated
• 1 (6-oz) package turkey pepperoni, sliced

 
Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.
 
2. Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a medium-size skillet. Add the pepper, zucchini, carrots, and mushrooms to the skillet and sauté until soft.
 
3. Remove the pan from the heat and let the vegetables cool slightly. Then, spoon the veggies into a blender with the pizza sauce. Purée until smooth.
 
4. Place about 1/4 cup of sauce, 12 pepperoni slices, and a 1/4 cup of Mozzarella in the middle of each tortilla.
 
5. Fold the tortilla like you would a burrito. (Fold the tortilla in half, tuck the left and right sides in, then roll and tuck the top flap under the contents.) Lay the stuffed tortillas seam-side-down on the prepared baking sheet and spray with cooking spray.
 
6. Bake for 15 minutes, flip the tortillas over, and bake for an additional 5 minutes. Let the pizza rolls cool for 5 minutes before serving. Serve with leftover sauce for dipping.

Okay, foodies, blog question time. What's your family's biggest struggle during the busy fall months? Is it getting dinner on the table? Is it finding time for family time? Do you feel like you have to be in 10 places at once? Vent away, foodies, and I'll do everything I can to help you feel more in control this busy season. I’ll see you Sunday at Noon ET.

Keep it flavorful!
—David

It's hard to believe this is the last official weekend of summer. It seems to me, the older I get, the faster time goes by. Wasn't it just yesterday that we celebrated Memorial Day? And now it's already time for another holiday ....... Labor Day.

I am definitely not complaining; I always look forward to Labor Day. Our neighborhood throws an annual block party and it is always a great time for both the young and the well, not so young.

We all seem to lead such busy lives and get so involved with our own families, we rarely have time to keep up with the daily ins and outs of our neighbors. They are a terrific group of people and we truly enjoy their company. And we try to reserve every Labor Day to our neighborhood Block party ...... it's now become a tradition. It's a great opportunity to reconnect and maintain our friendships. We also get to see how all the children have grown and keep up with what's "in" this year! 

My Labor Day food has also become quite tradition, as I generally bring the same thing each year to share ....... Calico Bean Salad. 

It's easy to make, is very colorful and there are never any leftovers. Plus you can alter the recipe to suit your own taste. Sometimes I stick to the original recipe and other times I use all pork and beans and omit the kidney, lima and butter beans.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 pound bacon
• one pound ground beef
• 1 Tablespoon prepared mustard
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup chopped onions
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 2 Tablespoons vinegar
• 32 oz. lima beans
• 32 oz. pork and beans in tomato sauce
• 15 oz. kidney beans
• 15 oz. butter beans

Enjoy and Happy Labor Day! Do you have anything special planned? 

Counting our Blessings!
Mary Beth Roe 

Okay, I admit it. I’m ADDICTED to magazines. I’m the terrible person that doesn’t really subscribe but I read them cover-to-cover in the nail salon and promptly borrow (never to return) magazines from my friends & co-workers.



Now a part of the QVC family for 1.5 years, I’ve been craving a magazine experience…so I decided to start our very own digital magazine, Q In, bringing you a daily dose of what’s hot in beauty, food, fashion and more. Check back Monday through Friday at noon for your Q In fix. 

Along with a team of beauty, fashion, food & electronics experts, we’re also highlighting fabulous tips and tricks from QVC experts. A trained chef & food enthusiast, I’ve always had a passion for style and beauty experiments. As many of you know, I ran the fashion & beauty site Send the Trend that was acquired by QVC. With Q In, we’re leveraging all of our collective experiences to show you the latest makeup must haves, what’s hot in the kitchen and what you’ll need to stay on trend each season. We’ll get personal with the hosts you know and love, give you an exclusive peek inside our bags and go behind the scenes into our offices and on our shoots.

Our NYC-based team is the throes of what’s happening & beauty & fashion. Here’s a look at a few key contributors:

Last month in Q In, we shared our first StyleonQ webisode where I answered one Mom’s burning style question about the perfect summer handbag. Do you have fashion question? Ask away! Email us at StyleonQ@qvc.com. You could get featured in an upcoming segment. You may have seen some of our other videos here and here.

We also shared our self tanning tips to get you glowing through the seasons. We gave you a sneak peek into the life of Bobbi Brown and showed you how to shift your wardrobe (and your home!) from Summer to Fall.  

This month, you can expect the best of Fall. We will update your wardrobe, your makeup bag and may even tempt you to try a new perfume.

What features would you love to see in Q In? Leave your suggestions in the comments section!

“Remembering Lee Bice”

Gee, I miss my good friend Lee Bice – and I really can’t believe that it was two years ago that she joined her mother Jeanne in heaven.  I can only imagine what the angels in heaven look like now that Jeanne & Lee showed up with their wands full of glitter and bling – you just KNOW that it’s absolutely beautiful up there.  The two of them did such a great job making all of our Quackers look great here on earth, so you can bet that our angels in heaven are sparkling and shining like never before!

It was great fun watching Lee join her mother on QVC, but of course we all remember that Lee had her own QVC show when she introduced America to her Quacker Factory Home Accessories – which every item (except 1) sold out!

I absolutely adored Lee Bice!  One of the greatest things about being part of the Quacker team is that I got to spend time with Lee and to have her become one of my dearest friends.  If Lee was in the room, you just knew you were going to have a great time!  Her smile was beautiful – and her laugh (let me tell you, it was a BIG and LOUD laugh!) was infectious.  The picture above was taken when we went on a cruise together in December 2010 – you can just tell how much fun she was – and how she was an expert in bringing out the ‘clown’ in me!

Here’s a picture of Lee and her brother Tim one Christmas.  How adorable are the two of them?!

And here’s another picture of the two of them a few Christmas’s later.  Do you think that Jeanne made that beautiful Christmas wreath! 

And how about this great school photo of Lee – what a stunner she was, and just look at those beautiful eyes!!!

Lee went to college first in the sunny state of Hawaii and then went on to study at the very prestigious Parsons New School of Design in New York City.  Lee loved art, decorating and interior design, so Parsons was the perfect place for her to go and study.  It was while she was there, that the whole family really fell in love with NYC.  One of their favorite times to go was at Thanksgiving for the annual Thanksgiving Parade.  Lee once told me the story of how they all got up very early one morning before the parade so that they could go uptown and watch the balloons being blown up for the big parade!

And how about this wonderful picture of Lee on her wedding day after college – isn’t she beautiful?!

I had the absolute pleasure of going on vacation with Lee for two whole weeks in 2007.  We went with about 14 of our friends on a two-week cruise that departed from Vancouver and went up to Alaska for a week – and then we sailed down the west coast of America finally ending in San Diego.  It was at this time that I really grew closer to Lee and discovered that not only did she love to design, but she was an avid dog lover as well.  Her other passion was reading – and we spent hours and hours reading together in the crisp, clean air – and talking about our favorite books.  We also had the BEST time going to all of the shows on board – especially the comedy shows!  And there was NO mistaking Lee’s laugh – I used to joke with her that she laughed so loud that Jeanne could probably hear her all the way in Florida while we were on that cruise!  On one night during the cruise, we went to the evening show and we each laughed so loud and so much, that after the show, the headline act came and hunted us down and told us when all of his other shows were because he wanted us both there to help ‘wake up’ the other audience members!  J  Here are a couple of pictures of us on that cruise!  The first one is at 6 in the morning when we all woke up to see the beautiful Mendenhall Glacier.  The second one was taken on one of the Formal nights of the cruise – what a snazzy group we all were!

And here we are a couple of years later in 2009 at the Quacker Factory trip to Branson.  One of the Quackers actually got married at the event (with Jeanne being the witness on the marriage certificate!).  It was great fun getting dressed up for the wedding.  Doesn’t Lee look Quack-Tabulous in her purple velvet outfit?!

But my favorite pictures of Lee are of course the ones with her mother.  Here they are in 2006 for a July 4^th party.  They look so patriotic in their red, white & blue!

And I just LOVE this one of Lee with Jeanne and her brother, Tim.  This was taken on Christmas Eve in 2010.  Not only can you see the interior of Jeanne’s house that Lee designed and decorated, but also you can see just how much Lee loved her mother.

I sure do miss them both, but it makes my heart sing to know that the two of them are together again.  Not only were they mother and daughter, but they were best friends as well.

Every time I hear thunder come from the heavens above, I smile a little smile, because I know that it means that Lee has told another one of her funny jokes to the angels – and they are all laughing as robustly and happily as Lee used to while she was on earth!  So the next time you hear lots of thunder, don’t be frightened – it’s just Lee and Jeanne laughing with, and ‘quacking’ up, the angels!

To see more pictures of Lee and her family, friends and co-workers, please click here and go to our “Remembering Lee” album on our Quacker Factory Facebook Page.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Quacker-Factory/287677528040713

Quacker Hugs & Love to each and every one of you!

Patrick

Hi! I hope you had a great labor day weekend. Did any of you tackle my DIY monogrammed pillow cover in all your free time? ;) I had lots of “I want to get this done” weekend plans, but I didn’t manage to cross everything off my list. And, somehow it’s Tuesday. And that means YHJis on again tomorrow! So what’s our recipe for the night?

That’s my Buffalo Pasta Salad. The beauty of this recipe is you can use whatever you have on hand and it will still taste amazing. I’ve used Farfalle, Fusilli, and Rotini pastas in this dish because I like bite-sized pasta in my pasta salad. But, I’ve had pasta salads made with longer noodles and it’s a refreshing change. Plus, if you only have linguine on hand, you can always break the noodles into smaller pieces.

Next, If you don't have ranch dressing, use blue cheese. And, if you don't have Feta, use Blue Cheese crumbles. If you used blue cheese dressing—and then you use Gorgonzola or Blue Cheese crumbles—you’re just enhancing that great smoky flavor. Finally, if you don’t have time to run and get a rotisserie chicken, use canned chicken. I always keep canned chicken on hand and it’s great in casseroles, chicken salad, and those ooey gooey, cheesy appetizers.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb of your favorite pasta
• 1 cup ranch dressing
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/3 cup hot sauce (or more to taste)
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
• 2 cups rotisserie chicken, shredded
• 1 cup celery, diced
• 1/2 cup Feta crumbles

Directions:

1. Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain the noodles and set aside. 

2. To make the salad, combine the ranch dressing, mayo, hot sauce, salt, and pepper in a medium-size bowl. Add the shredded chicken and celery. Fold in the cooked, drained pasta and toss to coat completely with dressing.

3. Spoon the mixture into a serving bowl and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Top with the crumbled cheese just before serving.

What do you think?! Would your family love this as much as mine does? You’re Home with Jill starts tomorrow at 7pm. We’re airing our second pre-produced show, which means I’ll be chatting live—just like last week—for the whole hour. Please join me!

 From my home to yours,
—Jill

Hello, foodies…

I’m blogging to you from the Delaware shore. It’s a beautiful day here—much nicer than yesterday—and I’m living these final days of summer to the fullest. In fact, I think I had a picture-perfect “ending” to this summer yesterday...

Once a year or so, I walk down to the carnival and play all the boardwalk games I played as a little boy. I played whack-a-mole, skeeball, and my favorite—the squirt gun game. (You know, the game where you and five other people shoot at a bulls-eye and race to get a stuffed pony to the top of the booth.) I just love that game and yesterday was my day…I won this great big stuffed monkey! I was excited for a few minutes, then I thought, I don’t need this. So, not 10’ away, there was a mother and father walking with their little girl and I went up to the parents and asked if I could give the girl my prize. They recognized me from QVC and were really excited, so we first took a picture, and then I gave the monkey to the girl. Her face just lit up. And, without a doubt, I got the world’s biggest hug.

I was pretty sure that day couldn’t get any better, but I walked over to “food alley” and had boardwalk fries, a hot sausage sandwich, and an ice cream cone for dessert! So, my summer is officially complete. And now, I’m excited for fall to begin. I know you all could use a little help managing the new routine and my diet could use some healthy routine, so tomorrow we’re making a great lunchbox recipe that’s both healthy and different: Lettuce Wraps with Turkey & Cranberry-Walnut Mayonnaise.



Lettuce Wraps with Turkey & Cranberry-Walnut Mayonnaise
 
This recipe is prepared with the Apple Pro Peeler with Apple Slicer & Core Ejector (K6635).

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

Ingredients:

Cranberry-Walnut Mayonnaise:
1/2 cup light or low-fat mayonnaise
1/2 cup whole cranberry jellied sauce
1/2 cup walnuts, finely chopped
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
 
Lettuce Wrap:
8 large romaine lettuce leaves
16 slices 98% fat-free, low-sodium deli turkey
Cranberry walnut mayonnaise
2 cups baby spinach
1 Golden Delicious Apple, cored and julienned
 
Directions:

To prepare the Cranberry-Walnut Mayonnaise, whisk all of the ingredients together in a medium-size bowl. Refrigerate until needed.
 
To assemble the wraps, lay the lettuce leaves out flat on a large work surface. Carefully remove 3/4 of the hard center core with a knife. Layer two slices of turkey on top of each lettuce leaf and distribute all of the cranberry mayo on the turkey, spreading evenly. A 1/4 cup of baby spinach gets layered on next, followed by 1/8 of the julienned apple. Roll up each lettuce wrap and secure it closed with a toothpick.

You’ll love this recipe, foodies. The lettuce holds this wrap together beautifully and adds virtually no fat or calories. If you love a more traditional wrap, however—or that’s just what you have on hand—use it.

Ready for your blog question? Do you have a favorite wrap? Maybe chicken Caesar? Sautéed veggies and hummus? Maybe a BLT wrap? My standard lunch at QVC is a turkey wrap with a slice of cheddar cheese. It’s basic, but fantastic. I’ll see you tomorrow for In the Kitchen with David at 8pm ET. We’ve got an exciting show—it’s Mary’s Chattiversary! Believe it or not, Mary’s been chatting with you all for two years. Please join our chat and send her your congratulations. And, we’ve got a cookbook that’ll knock your socks off…Southern Food Truck Cookbook by Heather Donahoe.

I can feel a happy dance coming on! Keep it flavorful!
—David

The last 2 years have FLOWN by.

When I was added to In the Kitchen with David I thought I had hit the jackpot. I get to work with David Venable and his entire incredible team. Getting to meet David was exciting enough: now I get to WORK WITH him? Unbelievable.

Then, I was able to live chat on his show twice a week. I thought my head was going to explode. How do I do that? SHOULD I do that? What if the foodies don’t like me? It was an anxious time, but with David’s full faith and the support of our team, I was off and running.

We did not promote the live chat on air or online (just one quick mention) and eleven of you came. You welcomed me, greeted each other and chatted about the show: I was blown away. Now we have a weekly reach of over 50,000 people and Customer Care support from our beloved Leslie. Since day ONE, every one of you has been welcoming, kind, caring, and supportive. I will never be able to thank you enough.

Since then, we have come a long way! We have chatted with some famous folks, chatted in ALL kinds of locations, AND chatted on days when there is no show. I love to hear how you are, what is happening and ALL of your great ideas. Remember when Fabio took over the chat and “made me go on break?” Remember when Mally joined our chat for the first time and blew our minds?! Remember when there were “Flat Stanley” versions of you in the audience for the Foodie Chatter Weekend? I do, and I won’t soon forget. And there is SO much more to come!

One day, I hope I will be articulate enough to share how incredibly grateful I am for all of you. Until then, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you. If you are reading this and have never chatted with us, I invite you to join our wonderful community! Join us on David's Facebook Page on Sundays at 12pm ET and Wednesdays at 8pm ET. We have been known to have a little fun and I would love to know: what do you want to see next for our Live Chats? Ever have any ideas about chatting that you would like to share? Please let me know!

It’s been six weeks since Lauder was born, so it’s time to get moving. Ready, set, go! Here’s my post-baby plan:

Exercise Goals

• Yoga: Do light vinyasa three times a week. My goal is to make it to hot yoga in the next few months…it’s my fave!
• Walk: Throw on my gym shoes and turn baby strolls into power walks.
• Swim: Go once a week (just found out there's a free pool in my town!).

Healthy Meals

• Lots of fresh fruit and veggies
• Protein (egg whites, yogurt, and grilled chicken)
• Healthy salads
• Try to limit carbs and sugary desserts (my favorite pregnancy foods!)
• Stay hydrated
• Plan a juice cleanse when I feel ready

Motivation

• Find a workout buddy (my sister is always up for a fun workout).
• Braids and top knots are my favorite workout hairstyles, which is why I always keep the WRAP-UP in my gym bag. :)
• Stylish outfits make it more fun to get moving!

Let me know if you have any workout tips!

XO,

—Sarah Potempa

I love a big bag! So, when our accessories team asked me to take part in "Purse-onality" I thoughtfully chose a bag with plenty of room for all of my stuff. I'm going to spend the week carrying this OrYANY bag and post about it each day.

"Purse-onality" Day 1: I laid the bag out to have a look in preparation for the week. The first thing I noticed was the quality of the leather -- it's extremely good! 

What is your ideal size handbag?

Here I am on Day 2 of Purse-onality.

I was just coming into the studio to start my on-air shift and my friends at the "Ops" desk snapped my picture with this terrific bag.

I ran a few errands earlier in the day and this roomy bag from OrYANY allowed me the comfort of carrying everything I needed. Plus, I was able to find things easily with all of its zippered compartments.

What is the first thing you look for when shopping for a new bag?

Purse-onality Day 3:

I'm in New York city for a Susan Graver design team meeting. It's a rainy day, so the large size of my OrYANY is just perfect. It was big enough to hold both my umbrella and a pair of flats for walking in the city.

What's the one thing you carry in your purse at all times?

Purse-onality Day 4 - "Multiple Purse-onalities"!

I ran into Albany Irvin QVC as we were both leaving work this afternoon, and imagine my surprise to see that she carries the same OrYANY bag I'm carrying this week.

I loved how Albany's grey bag complemented her brown leather jacket and boots.

Do you match your bag to your outfit?

It's Friday, it's a holiday weekend, and it's "Purse-onality" Day 5--my final post.

Well, about this bag, anyway!!! I've been carrying the OrYANY bag all week and just loved it. 

Our accessories team asked me to sum up my thoughts. So here goes... The orYANY purse made me feel "finished" when I carried it. I loved taking it to work, because it held ALL the stuff I can't live without. It looks good with classic and contemporary outfits because it has an easy shape and nice hardware. Overall, the purse fit into my everyday life because quality and good style never disappoint. And that is my "Purse-onality". Here's my bag at the end of the week, and all of the stuff I carry. 

I hope you had a great Labor Day weekend! Did you do anything fun/special?

Back by popular demand!! Be the first to catch my Liquid Knit 3/4 Sleeve Tunic with Jacquard Wrap tonight at MIDNIGHT and in so many NEW colors!

Your favorite, go-to, Liquid Knit tunic paired with a stunning color coordinated wrap is the complete outfit that is sure to brighten up your look! These pieces will truly get everyday use

however you style this spectacular duo.

Check out ways to wear my Jacquard Wrap in this video... It will make you smile :).

You'll love my easy care, easy wear, Jacquard Wrap! Easy enough to sport everyday and elegant enough to look your best at any event. With so many ways to wear this outfit you'll appreciate it every day. This beautiful woven jacquard design brings any outfit to a new level of sophistication and elevates your entire wardrobe... You will be wearing these pieces designed for all seasons for years to come!

Jayne, Leah, Pat and Marilyn joined us for our design meeting this past week. We had a ball together as my manufacturer presented all our design concepts for the coming season. I'm fortunate to work with these lovely ladies. They came to the studio dressed in my Liquid Knit Tunic and Jacquard Wrap set! 

Don't miss this incredible pair at MIDNIGHT Thursday, September 5th. You can also join me later in the day for my shows at 9am, 1pm, 5pm and a special 2 hour show at 10pm ET!

xoxo,

Susan

OFFICIAL RULES

SPONSOR: This Sweepstakes is sponsored by QVC, 1200 Wilson Drive, West Chester, PA 19380 (“Sponsor”).

ELIGIBILITY: No purchase necessary. Must be 18 years or older to enter. Void where prohibited. Sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the United States and the District of Columbia, excluding Rhode Island, who are 18 years or older at the time of Submission and have submitted a valid Submission prior to the end of the Sweepstakes. Any person who submits any information to Sponsor or any other party in connection with the Sweepstakes is a “Participant”.  Any references to “you” or forms of “you” shall mean the Participant.

Employees, officers and directors of QVC or its affiliates, and their immediate family members and/or those living in the same household of each, their agents, affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies, and those involved in the production, development, implementation or handling of the Sweepstakes are ineligible to enter the Sweepstakes or win a Prize.

Without limiting any other provision of these Sweepstakes Rules, any winner may be required to sign and return a Release as a condition to receipt of a prize under this Sweepstakes.

SWEEPSTAKES PERIOD: The Sweepstakes begins on September 9, 2013, and ends at 11:59 pm (ET) on September 15, 2013 (the "Sweepstakes Period"). 

HOW TO ENTER: There are two (2) ways to enter the Sweepstakes, online via www.qvc.com or by mail.

To enter online, you must have access to the QVC Community.  To gain access to the QVC Community, you must open a QVC account.  No purchase is necessary to open an account.  Creating a QVC account requires providing a title (i.e., Mr., Mrs.), first name, last name, email address, physical address, and phone number.  You then submit your “Story” within the comments section of the Blog on www.qvc.com.  Follow the submissions guidelines listed in these Sweepstakes Rules and submit your Submission ("Submission").  A Submission includes any story, text or any other information or data in any form that a Participant submits in any manner, directly or indirectly, to Sponsor in connection with the Sweepstakes.  Sweepstakes is limited to one (1) Submission per Participant.  Duplicate Submissions will be removed.  In the event Participants exceed the stated limit, only the earliest Submission will be reviewed. No e-mail or fax Submissions will be accepted.

To enter the SweepstaKes by mail, send your name, address, and daytime telephone number and Submission Story on a standard 4 inch by 6 inch postcard addressed to QVC Fall Trends Stories Sweepstakes, 1200 Wilson Drive MC – 201, West Chester, PA 19380. (“Mail Entry”).

Online Entries must be submitted by 11:59 PM ET on September 15, 2013. All Mail Entries must be postmarked by September 15, 2013, and received by September 18, 2013.

 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. All Mail Entries are the non-returnable property of Sponsors.

Sponsors are not responsible for lost, misdirected or late entries caused by hardware or software errors or other technological malfunctions or failure of any kind or invalid/non-operational device, or lost, late, mutilated, misdirected or postage-due mail. Sponsors are not responsible for the failure of the delivery carrier responsible for delivery of any entry.

DRAWING:  Each eligible submission will be entered once in a random prize drawing to be held on or about September 18, 2013. QVC, Inc. retains the right to delay the prize drawing. Winner will be chosen at random from the pool of eligible entries received. Odds of winning are determined by the number of eligible entries received. Winning entry is subject to validation.

PRIZE: Three (3) Winners will be randomly selected to each receive:

(1)     orYANY Camilla Hobo, Retail Value= $398.00

(2)     Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil with Bonus Color Stick, Retail Value= $48.00

(1)     Supersmile Whitening Pre-Rinse, Retail Value= $16.00

(1)     WEN by Chaz Dean Cleansing Conditioner, Retail Value=$29.00

(1)     Laura Geller 5-pc Beauty Off of the Vine Collection, Retail Value=$66.50

(1)     bareMinerals Ready 4.0 The Bronze Age Eyeshadow Quad, Retail Value=$27.94

(1)     Strivectin Advanced Overnight Resurfacing Serum, Retail Value=$72.00

(1)     Dr. Denese Super-size Advanced Firming Facial Pads, Retail Value=$48.00

(1)     Peter Thomas Roth Retinol Fusion PM, Retail Value=$65.00

(1)     Philosophy super-size living grace olice oil body scrub, Retail Value=$35.92

(1)     Philosophy tried and true skin care favorites, Retail Value=78.00

(1)     Mally 5-pc Natural Look Collection, Retail Value=$40.00

Approximate Retail Value: $924.36.  Total Approximate Retail Value of all three (3)) prizes combined: $2,773.08.

Prizing is limited to one prize per person per household. Prize is limited to what is listed in these official rules. Prize winner (“Winner”) is not entitled to any surplus between actual value of prize and stated retail value. In the event Sponsor is unable to award prize as stated, Winner will receive a substitute prize of equal or greater value, at Sponsor’s discretion. Any costs or fees not specifically listed herein are the responsibility of the Winner.

If a potential Winner is unable or unwilling to accept the prize for any reason, he/she will be disqualified and the entire prize forfeited; and, in such event, an alternate Winner shall be selected from among all remaining eligible Submissions received.  Prizes cannot be substituted or transferred by Winner. If a Prize must be forfeited, Winner will not be given the cash value of the prize or any component of the prize.  Winner is solely responsible for all expenses not expressly included. All taxes are the responsibility of the Winner. Winner 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 its sole discretion, believes it is warranted.  PRIZES PROVIDED BY QVC.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:  Within the comments section of the blog or on a postcard, tell us “What Fall accessory/beauty trend are you most looking forward to this season”. The Winner will be selected randomly from all eligible Submissions.

ONCE TRANSMITTED ALL SUBMISSIONS BECOME PART OF THE SWEEPSTAKES AND MAY NOT BE REMOVED BY THE Participant, EVEN IF Participant CEASES OR WITHDRAWS FROM SWEEPSTAKES CONSIDERATION. Any Submission may be posted on Sponsor’s website and/or any other website specified by Sponsor and may be available to be viewed by anyone with access to the Internet.  All Submissions may remain on any website specified by Sponsor in perpetuity or for as long as Sponsor deems appropriate to archive.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. By entering the Sweepstakes and making any Submission, a Participant hereby represents and warrants to Sponsor and its affiliated entities that (a) the Participant has obtained all permissions necessary to post publicly the Submission and any portion thereof; (b) the Submission is an original work of authorship, created by Participant, has not been previously published or won any award, and there are no conflicting rights in the Submission, including but not limited to copyright, rights of publicity or privacy, or other intellectual property rights; (c) the Submission will not infringe upon the intellectual property rights of any third party, including by way of example and not by limitation, any copyright, trademark or patent rights or rights of publicity or privacy belonging to any third party; (d) the Participant is a legal resident of the United States or the District of Columbia, excluding Rhode Island, and is at the time of Submission, at least 18 years of age; (e) the Participant has the right to agree to, and fully perform the Participant’s obligations under these Sweepstakes Rules; and (f) the Participant has the consent of any third parties as required to grant the rights and licenses granted by Participant hereunder, including without limitation all licenses, rights, assignments of rights, waivers of non-transferable rights, consents and permissions to any portion of the Submission or performance contained in such Submission, and to all underlying elements or other works incorporated into the Submission (including without limitation any dialog/monologue, music, lyrics, voices, statements, photos and likeness releases for any person who appears in or is identifiable in the Submission).

Participant hereby agrees to defend, indemnify and hold harmless Sponsor, and its respective parents, successors, assigns and licensees, harmless from and against any losses or expenses incurred by Sponsor relating to any right or license granted, or any breach of any representation, warranty or covenant made, by Participant under these Sweepstakes Rules.

PUBLICITY RELEASE. Subject to applicable law, Participant irrevocably grants Sponsor the right to use the Submission and the Participant’s name, voice, likeness and/or biographical material, and has obtained identical rights of any third parties depicted in the Submission for advertising, promotional and/or publicity purposes in connection with the Sweepstakes, in all forms of media (now and hereafter known), worldwide in perpetuity, without any obligation or consideration of Sponsor, or its affiliated entities.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

Participant must have express written consent of any individual featured in the Submission. Please do not submit duplicate Submissions. Any Submissions that violate the Sweepstakes Rules will be removed. Any Submission using the likeness of others or uses or displays copyrighted material without permission will be removed.

Submissions may not portray the Sponsor in a negative light.  Submissions may not contain offensive, defamatory, inappropriate, or obscene material, in the sole discretion of Sponsor. In the event the Submission contains photographic images or likenesses of individuals, those individuals must have provided the Participant with adequate written permission to use the image, and must not be under contract or have any guild or association affiliations that would limit the right of Sponsors to use the Submission for any purpose for which a license or right is granted to Sponsors under these Sweepstakes Rules.

Sponsor is not responsible for legal protection or clearance of Submissions in any form. Sponsor reserves the right to request evidence of permission or original work and further reserves the right to disqualify any Submission it deems infringing or inappropriate in any form, according to these Sweepstakes Rules.  Except where expressly prohibited by law, once transmitted all submissions become part of the Sweepstakes and may not be removed by the Participant, even if Participant ceases membership or withdraws from Sweepstakes consideration.

Sponsor grants a limited license to use its proprietary text, logos, and trademarks provided and necessary to create a Submission.  Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, no rights in the Sponsor Content are granted to Contestant for any other purpose.  “Sponsor Content” means Sponsor’s name, proprietary text, logos, trademarks, trade names, service names and any other intellectual property of Sponsor.

WINNER NOTIFICATION: The potential Winner will be notified on or about September 18, 2013. The potential Winner will be required to respond (as directed) to the phone and/or e-mail notification within the time period specified in the notification (“Notification”). The failure to respond timely to the notification may result in forfeiture of the prizes; and, in such case, Sponsor may choose an alternate Winner from the remaining eligible submissions. The potential Winner also will be sent an affidavit of eligibility / liability / publicity release ("Release"); and together with the Notification and any other release or document required to be executed by Sponsor, the (“Prize Acceptance Documents”). Unless restricted by law, the potential Winner will be required to complete and return the Release within the time period specified therein. As a condition of receiving a prize, potential Winner shall, in the form specified by Sponsor, provide a perpetual non-exclusive license to Sponsor to use the Submission in any and all media throughout the world, in perpetuity, for any purpose whatsoever, without any additional compensation, the term of which shall be the entire life of the copyright. Should potential Winner be unwilling or otherwise unable to enter into the license, or provide such permissions and/or releases or otherwise cannot accept or receive the prize for any reason, an alternate Winner will be selected by Sponsor from the remaining eligible Submissions until one who is able to meet all requirements can be selected. Potential winner must provide Sponsor with all signatures on the Release and return all documents in a timely manner as required pursuant to these Sweepstakes Rules in order to be eligible to receive any prize.

USE OF SUBMISSIONS: LICENSE. Participant, by entering the Sweepstakes or making any Submission to or for the benefit of Sponsor, hereby irrevocably grants to Sponsor a non-exclusive, sub-licensable, royalty-free, fully paid license and right to use, distribute, make derivative works from and otherwise exploit the Submission, in any manner and in any medium now known or hereafter devised, throughout the world in perpetuity, including without limitation the right to use the Submission in whole or in part in merchandising, advertising, marketing or promotion or for any other commercial or non-commercial purpose related to the Sweepstakes or not related to the Sweepstakes. Participant hereby forever waives and relinquishes all so-called "moral rights (droit moral)" now or hereafter recognized.  Participant agrees that Sponsor shall have sole discretion in determining the extent and manner of use of Submission and is not obligated to use any Submission.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS: Sponsor shall not be liable to Participants for, and each Participant releases Sponsor from, any failure to supply any prize or any part thereof, by reason of any acts of God, any action(s), regulation(s), order(s) or request(s) by any governmental or quasi-governmental entity (whether or not the action(s), regulations(s), order(s) or request(s) prove(s) to be invalid), equipment failure, threatened terrorist acts, terrorist acts, air raid, blackout, act of public enemy, earthquake, war (declared or undeclared), fire, flood, epidemic, explosion, unusually severe weather, hurricane, embargo, labor dispute or strike (whether legal or illegal), labor or material shortage, transportation interruption of any kind, work slow-down, civil disturbance, insurrection, riot, or any other similar or dissimilar cause beyond any of the Sponsor’s control. Sponsor is not responsible for, and each Participant hereby releases Sponsor from any claim with respect to, any: (a) lost, late, misdirected, undeliverable, incomplete or indecipherable Submissions due to system errors or failures, or faulty transmissions or other telecommunications malfunctions and/or Submissions; (b) technical failures of any kinds; (c) failures of any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Sweepstakes; (d) unauthorized human and/or mechanical intervention in any part of the submission process or the Sweepstakes; (e) technical or human error which may occur in the administration of the Sweepstakes or the processing of Submissions; or (f) any injury or damage to persons or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from any Participant’s participation in the Sweepstakes or receipt or use of any prize.

Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any Participant it finds to be violating these Sweepstakes Rules. Sponsor reserves the right to require any Winner to submit to a confidential background check to confirm eligibility and help ensure that the use of any Submission will not bring Sponsor into public disrepute, contempt, scandal or ridicule or reflect unfavorably on the Sweepstakes as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion. Sponsor reserves the right to cancel or suspend the Sweepstakes for any reason.  Sponsor has the right, but not the obligation, to use any Submission. Sponsor may, in its sole discretion, cancel, modify or suspend the Sweepstakes should a virus, bug, computer problem, unauthorized intervention or other causes beyond Sponsor’s control, corrupt the administration, security or proper play of the Sweepstakes. Sponsor may prohibit a Participant from participating in the Sweepstakes or winning a prize if, in its sole discretion, it determines such Participant is attempting to undermine the legitimate operation of the Sweepstakes by cheating, plagiarizing, engaging in any deception, or any other unfair playing practices of intending to annoy, abuse, threaten, undermine or harass any other players or Sponsor representatives. The internal laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will govern the Sweepstakes, these Sweepstakes Rules, and any disputes regarding these Sweepstakes Rules and/or this Sweepstakes. Any attempt to deliberately damage or undermine the legitimate operation or fair play of the Sweepstakes may be in violation of criminal and civil laws and will result in disqualification of the Participant from participation in the Sweepstakes. Should such an attempt be made, Sponsor reserves the right to seek remedies and damages (including attorney fees) to the fullest extent of the law, including criminal prosecution.

PRIVACY: Information collected from Participant is subject to QVC’s privacy statement located at www.qvc.com (“Privacy Policy”).  By entering the Sweepstakes, you accept Sponsor’s Privacy Policy.  In the event of a conflict between these Sweepstakes Rules and Sponsor’s Privacy Policy, Sponsor’s Privacy Policy will govern.

GOVERNING LAW / LIMITATION OF LIABILITY:

BY ENTERING THE SWEEPSTAKES, Participant AGREES THAT: (1) ANY AND ALL DISPUTES, CLAIMS AND CAUSES OF ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR CONNECTED WITH THE SWEEPSTAKES, OR ANY PRIZE AWARDED, WILL BE RESOLVED INDIVIDUALLY, WITHOUT RESORT TO ANY FORM OF CLASS ACTION; (2) ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, JUDGMENTS AND AWARDS WILL BE LIMITED TO ACTUAL THIRD-PARTY, OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS INCURRED, (IF ANY), NOT TO EXCEED TWO HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS ($250.00), BUT IN NO EVENT WILL ATTORNEYS’ FEES BE AWARDED OR RECOVERABLE; (3) UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL ANY Participant BE PERMITTED TO OBTAIN ANY AWARD FOR, AND Participant HEREBY KNOWINGLY AND EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHTS TO (I) HAVE DAMAGES MULTIPLIED OR OTHERWISE INCREASED RIGHTS AND (II) SEEK, PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, LOST PROFITS AND/OR ANY OTHER DAMAGES, OTHER THAN ACTUAL OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES NOT TO EXCEED TWO HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS ($250.00); AND (4) Participant’S REMEDIES ARE LIMITED TO A CLAIM FOR MONEY DAMAGES (IF ANY) AND Participant IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO SEEK INJUNCTIVE OR EQUITABLE RELIEF.  SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. 

MISCELLANEOUS:

The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of these Sweepstakes Rules or the Prize Acceptance Documents will not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision.  In the event that any provision of the Sweepstakes Rules or the Prize Acceptance Documents is determined to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable or illegal, the other provisions will remain in effect and will be construed in accordance with their terms as if the invalid or illegal provision were not contained herein.  Sponsor’s failure to enforce any term of these Official Sweepstakes Rules or any Prize Acceptance Documents will not constitute a waiver of that provision.  Participants agree to waive any rights to claim ambiguity of these Sweepstakes Rules.  Headings are solely for convenience of reference and will not be deemed to affect in any manner the meaning or intent of the documents or any provision hereof.

DIGITAL MILLENNIUM COPYRIGHT ACT: Sponsor’s policy is to respond to notices of alleged infringement that comply with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act ("DMCA").

These are baked (as opposed to fried) mini muffins. They're a bit healthier than fried ones.

To make 24-48 mini muffins:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and spray a mini muffin pan with cooking spray.

In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 cups of flour, 1 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp of salt, and 2 tsp of cinnamon.

In another large bowl, whisk together 1 large egg, 2/3 cup of brown sugar, 1/2 cup of apple butter, 1 tsp of vanilla extract, 1/3 cup of honey, 1/3 cup of apple cider, 1/3 cup of plain yogurt, and 2 Tbsp of canola oil. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredient mixture and whisk until they begin to incorporate. Don't over-mix - a few lumps are okay.

Using a tablespoon or cookie scoop, fill a 24-hole mini muffin pan with the batter; filling each hole only 3/4 of the way.

Bake for approximately 10-12 minutes and cool on a wire rack.

While muffins are still warm, melt 2 Tbsp of unsalted butter in a microwave safe dish. Combine 1 Tbsp cinnamon and 1/4 cup of sugar in another dish. Using a pastry brush, very lightly brush a tiny bit of melted butter onto the top of each muffin, then dip the top of the muffin in the cinnamon sugar mixture. Roll the donut hole in the cinnamon sugar to coat the sides and top. Enjoy!

TBD

Q&A