Ho Ho Ho! It’s John from the Quacker Factory Design Team here! It was so great to get down to the QVC Studio’s last week for our 4^th Annual Quacker Factory Cookie Exchange Live Studio Audience Show! As you may know, I LOVE the holiday season and everything that comes with it – the food, the friends, the fun, and the magic and warmth that you feel only during those special holiday moments. It was such a joy to be able to spend the day with some of you, celebrating all things Quacker!

For big events such as the Cookie Exchange, the Design Team gets asked to help out with fun props for the set, and I had a great time making the Holiday Pillows you see Angel and Patrick holding. You may recognize them because I made them from some of our Quacker Factory Holiday tops that I simply turned into Holiday pillows! So as you add beautiful new Quacker items to your Holiday wardrobe, maybe think about recycling some of your older ones into beautiful pillows for your home! Tis the season to be covered in sparkle, right?

But if you’re thinking, ‘Hey, I don’t know how to sew!’ Don’t worry – you can make them a couple of different easy ways. Here’s how:    

HOLIDAY PILLOWS - THE NO-SEW METHOD

1. Head to your local home goods store and buy an inexpensive pillow that will coordinate with the shirt design you will be using. 
2. Take your shirt and cut around the motif you would like to feature on your pillow. Cut in the same shape as your pillow. Cut a couple of inches smaller than the pillow. For example, if your pillow measures 12 inches, then cut your square around 10 inches.
3. Adhere your design to your pillow using hot glue or fabric glue. 
4. To cover up the frayed edges of the design fabric, simply cover the edges with decorative trim from the fabric store. The trim really gives it that designer look for a fraction of the price, and it hides all the frayed edges! Hot glue will work best for applying the trim. 
5. You’re done! Find a perfect place for your new creation! 

HOLIDAY PILLOWS – THE SEWING METHOD

1. Cutting around your design, cut a square panel out of the front of the shirt you are using. 
2. Lay that square on the back of the shirt and cut a second square the same size. Now you have a front and back of your pillow. 
3. Turn the “good sides” of your fabric together.  Pin fabric around the borders if you like prior to sewing. 
4. Sew around all four sides leaving about a 4-inch section open at the bottom.
5. Turn the pillow right side out through that 4-inch section exposing the “good sides” back out to you. 
6. Stuff evenly with fiberfill and stitch the opening closed.

It just makes me smile to see these little drops of holiday sparkle around my home. I hope you’ll think of adding a little touch of Quacker to your holiday decorating! Wishing all of you the happiest of holidays! Until next time!!

John

Shop Quacker Factory holiday styles on QVC.com.

One of my favorite parts about the holidays, aside from cooking and eating delicious foods and sharing memories with friends and family, is the morning I set the holiday table. For me, it's like the equivalent of starting out with a blank canvas, and creating a simple and beautiful piece of artwork to please the eye, and make any experience at the table a little more fun.

Believe it or not, I actually like to be a little "impromptu" when it comes to setting the table. Don't get me wrong, I definitely have ideas and plans before hand, but it is sometimes fun to gather many options, variations, and pieces, to work in and switch around as you go.

Here are some tips, suggestions and ideas as you get started, that help me as I go!

1. Pick a palette you love. For the holidays, many people love sticking to colors that represent the occasion. But ultimately the holidays should be about what you love. We all love harvest colors and the greens and reds, but any combination can bring the holidays to life in a way that represents your life and your tastes. So don't be afraid to be yourself!

2. Don't be afraid to mix and match. Colors, textures, and contrasts can really bring a table to life. Sometimes too much matching doesn't allow any one piece, or accent to stand out. For instance, make every other place setting a different color or pattern that works well together, but adds some eye candy to the tablescape overall. Or use a different color or pattern of salad plate on top of an entree plate within an individual setting. 

3. Sometimes less is more. I particularly love a few bold centerpiece accents and fresh flowers/candles to adorn the table. For the holidays, it's always fun to throw in a nod or two to the occasion with figural pieces that have function, but add a little whimsy to the table.

4. Food makes any table beautiful. I love eating family style. When setting the table for the holidays, keep in mind that the food and the dishes they are prepared in may be the ultimate decor and beautifying element to the table. After all, this is the original thinking behind temptations. Food can be served beautifully, and therefore be part of what makes the table come to life visually.

5. Set the place settings first. Pick what you love and want to use, and THEN go for the accents and centerpieces. Once the table is set, its easier to look at what accents you love, pieces from around the home, and fresh flowers in season that will coordinate nicely.

All of the above said, the holidays are ultimately about the conversation, sharing, and love that happens around the table. So my goal is to make it easy and accessible to get that holiday table done beautifully, so you have more time to enjoy what happens once you pull up a chair.  Browse some of my favorite holiday pieces here and comment below with some of your favorite holiday table ideas. 

Happy Table Setting!

The holidays are in full swing! I love everything about this time of year…holiday parties, time with family and friends, festive decorations, the wonderful world of shopping. ;) There just seems to be an extra sparkle in the air!

The other thing I love about this time of year? Unveiling our most coveted bareMinerals collection of the year…our holiday Today’s Special Value® collection. We really raised the bar and upped the ante this holiday season with our Glamour Now 9-Piece Collection. It is by far one of our most stunning collections to date, filled with brand new innovations and all new shades. Whether you are gifting this collection to yourself or another lucky lady on your list, it is sure to be the most special gift of the season. Every single piece will bring a little more glamour into your everyday life. (And let’s face it…we all deserve a little glamour!)

bareMinerals Glamour Now 9-piece Holiday Collection

It’s all about a dazzling complexion…
Brightening Pearl Perfect Light Mineral Veil is a gift in itself. (So lucky you, or the person you’re gifting this to!) Our iconic Mineral Veil is known for the soft focus, diffused look it delivers to any complexion. And now for the first time ever, we’ve combined two of our most sought after Mineral Veil finishes: Perfect Light and Brightening Pearl. This is genius. The color-adjusting technology ensures your complexion will always look perfect in any lighting, while the brightening pearl adds a whisper-soft luminosity to the skin. Your complexion is the star the moment you buff this on…it’s stunning!

Our original blushes provide the most natural looking flush. I have been wearing the new Glamour Blush from the moment I got it, and it’s the most feminine warm pink. The new (and gorgeous) Ready Luminizer will add a touch of sheen in all the right places.

bareMinerals Ultimate Gift of Glam
Wait until you see the brand-new Ready Eyeshadow Quad in person. You will fall in love with every single shade. The soft yellow cream tone, the nude rose gold hue, the shitake gray sheen, and the rich plum chocolate shade are so flattering and so luxe.

To frame your eyes, we developed not one, but two new eyeliners. The double-ended duo has our first every liquid liner on one end (for perfect precision) and a kohl liner on the other end (think soft and smoky). We nailed it with this, and there has been a lot of buzz about it.

Lashes always deserve a little love too, Lash Domination Mascara will give them a few gifts- volume, curl, lift and separation!

bareMinerals Ultimate Gift of Glam
Perfectly polish your lips with the NEW Marvelous Moxie Lipgloss in Dazzler. Golden pearl weaves through this melon tone to give the most dazzling non-stop shine. This shade is my new best friend—I never leave home without it in my handbag.

And just when you think it couldn’t get any more glamorous, we made sure every single piece is beautifully contained d in rose gold-colored packaging. Gifting glamour has never been easier.

Join us all day Monday, November 25th for a day filled with beauty, glamour, gifts, and holiday fun.

Cheers to a beautiful holiday season!

—Jessica

Psst! Have a question about Glamour Now, or any other bareMinerals products or Holiday Gifts? We would love to chat with you! Post your questions here- and we will be answering them all day long on 11/25!

Hello, foodies…

Did you know this week is National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week? It always falls the week before Thanksgiving. And this past Tuesday, the In the Kitchen with David team partnered with the Chester County Food Bank to raise awareness about hunger prevention in our region and beyond.





This is our team with Phoebe—Program Manager at the Chester County Food Bank after we gave them our donation—which added up to be a whopping 1,405 lbs of turkey and trimmings.

Foodies, we’re always advocating to you about how important it is to help those in need and we were truly honored to lend our helping hands. But, none of us realized just how much we impacted the Food Bank—and all those it supports—until we met Phoebe, Anna, Larry, and all the many, many volunteers that work to feed the 70,000 people who go hungry in Chester County every day. I urge you to seek out your local food bank or pantry and make a contribution with food, time, or money. Every contribution—no matter how big or small, means the world to families in your local community. Please remember that this Thanksgiving, Christmas, and all throughout the year.

We have just one more ITKWD team recipe to share with you this Sunday. Talk about a sweet ending…we’re making a Pumpkin Roll with Spiced Cream Cheese Filling! It comes to us from Lori our busy and talented Senior Content Strategist, who maps out our delicious themes and makes connections for us throughout the food world!

 

DV: What type of food did you grow up on? And do you cook now?
LL: I come from a family of six children – three girls & three boys. (Here are the girls!)


My mom, Betty, has always done a great job keeping us all well-fed, especially during the holidays. I love my mom’s comfort food and especially her baking. (I must say, I’m lucky that I have a little bit of her baking gene in me.) She would really make the time to put some excellent meals together–meatloaf & mashed potatoes, pot roast, chicken & dumplings, stuffed peppers, scalloped potatoes, potato pancakes, and so much more. I think that’s the reason why I fit into the ITKWD team!

DV: Tell me about the holidays in your house. What’s on the menu and what are some of your annual traditions?
LL: We typically have the traditional holiday dinner spread: roasted turkey & gravy, mashed potatoes–REAL mashed potatoes (my mom wanted to make sure I said that), stuffing with apples, green beans, fresh baked rolls, and cranberry relish. And if my mom has time, she would make my favorite dish: corn pudding!  I think we always tried so hard to save room for dessert–pumpkin pie, apple pie, Shoo Fly pie, cheesecake, cookies–but it’s hard!

DV: What recipe did you submit and why is it a “favorite” in your house?
LL: On top of all those desserts, my mom always makes a pumpkin roll…which usually gets sent home with all of us since we ate too much. It’s so good even a couple days later. I picked the pumpkin roll for my holiday favorite recipe because it will always remind me of my mom, my family, and the fun we have at the holidays.



Our family can be a little goofy, especially around the holidays. At Thanksgiving, we um…I might be over-sharing…we make sure we give the turkey a good massage to get him to be relaxed prior to cooking while talking in a Julie Child’s voice. My twin sister may or may not also sing and dance with the turkey.


(You’re welcome, Wendy!) We sometimes weigh in before Thanksgiving dinner and then after to see who ate the most (I don’t partake in this). And we always take naps in the late afternoon–one massive couch nap. I’m lucky that most of us still live around the Philadelphia area. My oldest sister, Tonya, lives in Oregon that I wish we could see more often. And one of my brothers, Stephen, is in the Air Force becoming a pilot. I’m excited he can be home for Christmas this year!

Thanks, Lori! I’m REALLY hungry after all of that, aren’t you? Then let’s have some Pumpkin Roll with Spiced Cream Cheese Filling!

This recipe is prepared using the Temp-tations® 3-Piece Old World Chef, Bread, and Utility Knives by Kuhn Rikon (K39903).

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

Ingredients:

Pumpkin Roll:

• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 4 large eggs
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 3/4 cup canned pumpkin puree, packed

Filling:

• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 stick (2-oz) margarine, softened
• 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar, sifted
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground allspice

Directions:

Make sure a rack is placed in the middle shelf of the oven, and preheat to 375°F. Lightly spray a 15” x 10” jelly roll pan, then line the pan with parchment paper. Spray the parchment-covered pan with more oil and sprinkle with flour, evenly coating the pan. Shake off the excess flour and set aside.

Combine the flour, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, salt, baking powder, and baking soda together in a medium-size bowl. Lightly whisk the dry ingredients to fully incorporate.

Beat the eggs and both sugars in a bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with a whisk attachment on medium-high speed, until thick and light in color.
Add the pumpkin puree and mix on medium-low speed until combined.

Add the flour mixture and mix on low until evenly distributed.

Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly, then bake for 12–14 minutes or until the top of cake springs back when touched.
While the cake is baking, use a fine-mesh colander to sprinkle a thin, cotton kitchen towel with confectioners' sugar. Make sure the towel is completely covered with a generous amount of confectioners' sugar.
When the cake is finished baking, immediately loosen, and turn the hot cake onto the prepared towel.
Carefully peel off the parchment paper and roll up the cake and towel together, starting with the narrow end. Let the cake cool completely.
To make the filling, cream together the cream cheese and the margarine in a medium-size bowl until smooth and free of any lumps. Mix in the vanilla extract.


Next, add in the confectioners' sugar, cinnamon, and allspice and whip together until light and fluffy.


To assemble, unroll the cake and cover it with the cream cheese mixture.


Roll the cake again, this time without the towel. Wrap the cake in plastic wrap and refrigerate it for at least 2 hours.

When you’re ready to serve the cake, dust it with confectioners' sugar as a garnish. Isn't that beautiful?

Let’s go back to the food bank for your blog question today: do you know where your local food bank or pantry is? How do you plan to help those in need this holiday season? With donations? With time? With community awareness? Thank you for keeping those in need at top-of-mind, foodies. I’ll see you Sunday at Noon ET!

Keep it flavorful!
—David

I'm so excited to be bringing you the Today’s Special Value on Thanksgiving Day! It's that time of year! The towns, stores, and homes are putting up their holiday decorations. We're finalizing last-minute details of Thanksgiving Day and getting ready to go gift shopping! Why not treat yourself and loved ones to the coat of the season...

You will immediately fall in love with my modern and stylish Boucle Fleece Color Block Coat. The moment you open the QVC box and try it on, you'll understand why I'm so in love with this coat! Slip your arms into the warm, comfortable sleeves, and you'll notice the fine trim details of the cuffs and pockets. Button up the coat, and you'll feel how luxurious the high-end buttons feel in your hand. You'll love how beautiful your figure looks…We've added princess seams to be super figure-flattering, and the length creates a long, lean line while providing good coverage. Slip your hands into the deep, angled pockets to keep warm and hold your everyday items.

You'll love the vibrant color block shading from dark to light, drawing your eye up while the collar frames your face. Flip up the collar for extra warmth and style. My newest and most favorite addition is the hood! You'll look so cute and love the protection it gives from the wind and the elements.

I'm obsessed with the contemporary design, luxury, and length of this stylish and versatile coat, and I know you will be too! My newest Boucle Fleece Color Block Coat will premiere on Thanksgiving Day, November 28th, at Midnight ET! You won't want to miss this one!

Along with my Today's Special Value, please join me and Pat at 9am ET for my 3-hour special holiday show filled with fun, fashion, and surprise guest appearances!

Let's celebrate the holidays together!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

xoxo,
Susan

Shop my complete collection on QVC.com.

In Minnesota we call it "dressing"; however, a lot of people I know call it "stuffing". Whatever you call it, it is a "must-have" on our Thanksgiving table. How about yours?

This will be my first Thanksgiving without either of my parents, so in their honor and with my love, I decided to share my mom's dressing recipe with you this week. I hope you enjoy it as much as my family does. It brings back such sweet memories. It's funny and comforting how food or a certain smell can evoke such strong memories.

May you and your family enjoy a Thanksgiving of peace and love!! And whether two or twenty sit at your table, enjoy every minute with each other!

Counting our blessings,

Mary Beth

My Mom's Dressing/Stuffing

1 lb. bag of stuffing croutons

4 cups chopped celery

1 med onion chopped

1 stick of butter

3 cups of chicken broth

1 1/4 cups of half & half cream

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 Tbsp poultry seasoning

Salt & pepper to taste

Melt the stick of butter on low heat and add the chopped celery and onion.

Sauté for about 10 min until they are more transparent. Then pour that over the croutons in a large baking dish and add the rest of the ingredients. Mix well.

Cover the dish with foil and bake for one hour at 350 degrees. Then uncover it and bake another 15 min.

Great anytime, but especially for Thanksgiving!

Hello PM Stylers!  Well, we’ve made it… The week before Thanksgiving, which means putting up the tree is right around the corner! Thanks to the internet and Pinterest, I have finally decided on my Thanksgiving menu!   Here’s what I’m thinking (in case you need a little inspiration):

Appetizers: Butternut Squash Soup with Pancetta, Pistachios, and Crème Fraiche (Thank you Mark Charles Misilli!), Apple, Brie, and Honey Bruschetta, and Endive with Goat Cheese,  Cranberries, Walnuts, and Chives.

Main Course: Two Turkey Breasts.  One is going in the smoker and the other is going to have an herb crust with chardonnay gravy.  Aaron will be smoking ribs during Thanksgiving… but this year, we’re only smoking 1 as opposed to 5 J.

Sides: Artichoke and Wild mushroom Stuffing, Mac and Cheese, and Green beans Almondine.

Desert: Good Question; maybe Mrs. Prindable’s Apples!?

                What does your Thanksgiving menu consist of?  Even though this is only my third Thanksgiving, I feel pretty confident my menu has changed every year, ha!

Babysitting Pebbles Graver has gone so well!!  She is a busy puppy baby, but we have enjoyed getting to know her and have her in our home.  I will sure miss her when she leaves us! 

Pebbles learning how to get down the stairs

Pebbles hanging with Millie

Ok, I couldn’t resist, Cute puppy sleeping photo!!

Beauty Obsession:SmileActives Set of 4 Teeth Whitening Pens

                So this is a little different than most of my Beauty Obsessions you’ve seen me present.  So as my first obsession dedicated to teeth; what is it that is so captivating, intelligent, and beautiful about clean, white teeth?  I think it’s easy for a lot of us to get stuck in the rut that are teeth are the color that they are and that’s that… well not anymore my friends!  As I start thinking about the laundry list of things I want to accomplish before my wedding date; getting a whiter, brighter smile is definitely up there! Maybe you’re thinking Christmas, NYE, or a new year, new you.  I have the best news: Whiter teeth can come in as little as two days, with dramatic results approaching at 14 days.  I once paid $40 for a 7-day whitening supply at my dentist office, I used it once because it hurt so bad and I felt like I was foaming at the mouth.  This formula is very gentle and stays put on your teeth!  If you can use a paint brush, you can use this… Simply paint on after you’ve brushed your teeth, leave on for 20 minutes, then rinse. 

                Here is a set of 4, each a one month supply for the same price that I paid to only whiten for 7 days.  Love this idea for stocking stuffer, but also I must to have in the handbag and at home! Click here to find it!

PM STYLE:

Skinny tees are back! The final order of the year has just arrived and just in time… we were sold out of these for a little while and I missed the boat on bringing home Black and White.  Careful: These are addictive and you’ll want to wear with every outfit :)

Can you believe Dennis Basso just celebrated his 20 year anniversary here at QVC?  He’s going to be in the show tonight with a serious faux mink cape… wow!

Project Runway All Stars:

                This week the designers worked in pairs to create a modern 30’s look with pieces inspired by the Lifetime movie Bonnie and Clyde.  I feel happy Jeffrey finally won a challenge this week.  It was well deserved considering he’s been in the bottom 2 most of the challenges so far… maybe this will start his upswing?!  The jacket he made was just gorgeous- The fabric and the piping detail was original and stood out against what we think a jacket for a man should look like.  I hope this starts a new trend!

                I was terribly sad to see Mychael and Viktor in the bottom two.  Viktor has been one of my favorite contestants throughout this season, but I have to tell you, when his jacket turned around… it reminded me a Dallas Cowboy’s Cheerleader jacket…. Please don’t hate me! I just don’t understand why that tassel/fringe combination was put on there… Ekk!!  Even though Mychael’s didn’t look 30’s inspired, I actually liked the color of the bronze and the leather on his menswear jacket.  The lapel I agree was a big distraction, but nonetheless I am sad to see him go. 

                Who had your favorite design this week?  Don’t forget to check out Inspired by Pieces from Project Runway All-Stars on QVC.com and check out my ToGather collection on qvc pieces that inspired me from each week’s challenges.

See you tonight from 7-10 PM on my Facebook page, Courtney Cason QVC. Click here to find me on Facebook!

Happy Thanksgiving!

XO,CC

Thankful For Love!

My parents were married on November 25, 1948.  My Mom, Ginny, was raised in Mahanoy City PA, and the nuptial Mass and reception were held in her home town. Her dress, ivory silk satin, came from New York City and she looked beautiful. My Dad, “Rudy” was turned out in morning attire looking so handsome!  But the coolest thing about their wedding day was that it fell on Thanksgiving Day. They wanted to have all friends and family around them so instead of the typical weekend wedding, they chose Thanksgiving Day.  The reception was a celebration of love, with, of course, a full turkey dinner.  We have movies of the day, and one shot is the Thanksgiving Day parade making its way down the main street of town. For years, as a child, I was convinced the parade was for their wedding! 

So in our house Thanksgiving was always a celebration of their wedding day.  Even if the 25^th fell on another day of the week, we still always celebrated their anniversary on Thanksgiving.  I grew up in a house in Springfield PA and over the fireplace hung a print of an autumn scene. My Mom loved to decorate in fall tones so our house seemed to be just meant for Thanksgiving. When we moved into our home a few years back there was a space over the fireplace that was the right size for that print, and it hangs there to this day in my home. I see it every day and always think of my Mom and Dad. 

This Thanksgiving I am grateful for so much, especially the love of my parents who shaped future generations. I am also so grateful to you for being with me all these years on QVC. You are a blessing to me!

Happy Thanksgiving

TBD

A few years ago on a bright and sunny day in Los Angeles, I went to get my nails done. In the salon afterwards I went to my ATM to get cash and I got a message that said I didn’t have enough money to withdrawal $20. What? Panic. I called my bank.

“You have a zero (or close) balance. That can’t be right, I have money in the bank, and I have my bank card on me.”

I had been electronically pick-pocketed.

At the time I didn’t even understand it. My banker asked if anyone else had access to my card? No. Had I purchased such and such at so and so location?  No, and no. I had actually just returned from a wedding in Palm Springs, and I described my charges in that location. She told me that someone else had been charging things at the same time, miles and miles away, in Los Angeles. How could this have happened?

She told me about a scanning device which had the ability to “read,” and duplicate, the information on my card. Thus, the thieves were able to get my information, and I never suspected a thing because I still had my card in my possession. She said there had recently been a rash of electronic pickpocketing incidents in my area (not that that was any consolation).  She said the bank would replace my money. Whew! I asked how I could protect myself in the future and, at the time, her only advice was that I should never use my PIN number, that I should only use ATMs from my bank, and I should choose the “credit” option on all other purchases.

Thankfully we have a better solution now.

Click here to find the wallet: RFID Wallet

These wallets have a built in shielding alloy that protects all of my RFID embedded cards from being electronically scanned. This is HUGE! That protection shields all of the information that may be on an RFID chip: credit card numbers, name, address, etc. While I “just” had my money stolen, the information on some cards could give thieves all they need to know to steal my identity, and that’s too scary to even contemplate!

These wallets, for men and women, go beyond a “pretty gift,” they protect our financial house as well as our person. And this time of year, when we’re rushing around among all of the other shoppers, we’re perhaps more likely to come in contact with someone who has theft on his agenda.

Think of it this way, if you wouldn’t walk around wearing a tee shirt emblazoned with your credit card number and personal information on the front, then you need one of these. It’s like your very own armored car for your cards.  Happy holidays!

TBD

Hello, foodies…

Thursday is Thanksgiving—or, as I like to call it, National Foodie Day! What are your plans? Are you going somewhere for the holiday? Are you hosting everyone? If you’re the host, good for you! I hope you’ve already made a checklist for the big day—and it includes what you can start doing tonight!

For example, consider doing your grocery shopping today or tomorrow to avoid the rush on Wednesday. Try to go very early in the morning or very late in the day—studies show that’s when stores are the least busy! Be sure to stock up on wine, liquor, or beer if you plan to serve it. Borrow tables and chairs, if necessary. While you’re running errands, have hubby or the older kids give the house a quick cleaning. (Try bribing them with pie.) Tomorrow night, set the dining room table. Here’s a refresher on how to set a “proper” holiday table, which is bound to impress and sure to make Thanksgiving seem that much more special. You can buy every piece of this tablescape on QVC.com.

Let's start left to right. I prefer to put the napkin on the left to make room for a place setting. To make the pumpkins above, I just cut a small slit in the pumpkin top and put a small piece of card stock in the slit. If you'd rather not go the fruit route, get creative with card stock. Go to your local craft store and get turkeys, leaves, and peel-and-stick stickers from the scrapbook aisle. It'll cost pennies, but make a big impression.

The forks are located to the right of the napkin. The salad fork (which is slightly smaller) goes on the far left and the dinner fork goes right next to the plate. Chargers, speaking of plates, go on the bottom. (These are optional.) The dinner plate is stacked on the charger and topped with a salad plate.

To the immediate right of the plate is the knife. Make sure the blade faces inward. Then, the spoons come next. Put the teaspoon next to the knife and soup spoon on the far right.

The bread plate (with a bread knife) should be placed above the napkin and forks to the left of the dinner plate. Right above the dinner plate is the dessert fork.

The glasses are last...you're almost done! The water glass is the farthest one on the left, the wine glass is just to the right, and the cup and saucer are last. If you're pressed for space, keep the cup and saucer off the table until dessert.

Here's another view of the table. Notice the centerpiece in the background? It's a cornucopia from Bethlehem Lights and I love it because it's low profile. Never put tall flowers or decorations on your table that prohibit you from seeing your guests. It will feel distracting and disconnected.

The serving bowls in the background are all part of that gorgeous Lenox set. Because the table is a dark color, we chose a light-colored runner and napkins. But, let the colors of fall be your guide.

Now, you may be thinking: this is fine for adults, but what about the kids? What can I do to keep the kids entertained so the adults can sit and chat? First thing’s first—give them their own table that’s near—but not right next to—the adult table. Supervise them during the meal, but then have crayons or colored pencils at the ready so they can color this Thanksgiving picture!

Colleen, a designer on the ITKWDteam drew this cornucopia. Isn’t it terrific? Parents, grandparents, just print this out for each child and it’ll keep the kids busy for a few precious minutes—maybe even an hour. Depending on the ages of your kids, you can even put glue sticks, buttons, and pipe cleaners on the table so they can make the picture even more special. Inevitably, when the arts and crafts get “old,” pop in a favorite movie.

Foodies, I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving. For your blog question today, tell me what dish you’re most looking forward to this holiday. Is it the turkey, the stuffing, the sweet potato casserole, or the green beans? How about the pumpkin pie? There’s no In Kitchen with David this Wednesday but I will be joining you with my gift favorites from 9pm ET to midnight ET. Join me!

Keep it flavorful!
—David

P.S. Make sure a stop to your local food pantry is also on your to-do list this week!

bareMinerals does the holidays BIG on the Q! Jessica Foust and the rest of the bareMinerals team had a blast on set and behind-the-scenes during yesterday's TSV. Here's a recap of their Instagram Takeover!

Let’s face it, if you’re nominating someone to go and  Win the Pillsbury Bake-off, I’m probably not your guy. But, hey, I’d be more than willing to be one of the Judges! Who doesn’t love cookies?

Many Christmas’s ago, I came up with the crazy idea of baking Christmas cookies (with our two young sons, Nick and Josh) for our QVC Holiday celebration.  Their mom  supervised, and tried to steer clear of all the flour, flying through the air.  

So for our Anything Gifts annual cookie exchange (it’s our first!!), I decided to once again  seek the  guidance of my wife Amy, and kindly request the taste buds of our two ‘little boys’. The result?

Candy Cane Kiss Crinkles! Guess what? They’re really good! Who knew??!

Here’s the Recipe--- Please send us yours!!

Candy Cane Kiss Crinkles

Ingredients

• 2 cups granulated sugar
• ¾ cup coconut oil
• ¾ cup Cocoa
• 4 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2  1/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup chopped finely walnuts
• 1 Pack Hershey’s Peppermint Candy Can Kisses
• 1 packet Red Sugar

Instructions
1. Combine granulated sugar and oil in Kitchen aid mixer; add cocoa, beat until well blended
2. Beat in eggs and vanilla

3. Stir together flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add cocoa mixture, beating well.
4. Mix in finely chopped walnuts
5. Cover; refrigerate until dough is firm enough to handle, at least six hours.
Heat oven to 350degrees F.
6. Lightly grease cookie sheet or parchment paper
7. Shape dough into about 48-50 1 inch balls and roll into red sugar to coat.
8. Place about two inches apart on prepared cookie sheet.
9. Bake 11 to 13 minutes or until almost no indentation remains when touched lightly and tops are crackled.
10. Place/gently press in the candy cane Kiss on each cookie while cookies are still warm. Place cookies on wire rack.

11. Devour cookies. (hint: try them while still warm and the peppermint Kiss will melt in your mouth). 

 Have another! 

 Each week on "Anything Gifts" we will be choosing one of YOUR recipes to bake for the crew. Please share in the comments below your recipe. Maybe you'll see us tasting on-air!

For the month of November, I wanted to feature one of my wonderful rescued pets, and give special thanks for all of the happiness that my rescued pets have brought to our lives. As they say, it is a two-way street when you choose to rescue/adopt a pet from a shelter or rescue organization. You save the animal and give it a loving home, yet that animal gives you so much love, appreciation and joy in return. It really is difficult to tell just "who rescued who" sometimes!! Here is Tallie's story:

I decided one April, while living in Los Angeles and volunteering for a wonderful rabbit rescue organization called Zooh Corner Rabbit Rescue (www.mybunny.org), to go to one of the most high-kill shelters in the city, and rescue a rabbit or two,  just in time for Easter. Rabbits generally do not get much of a chance in over-crowded, high kill shelters, as they are quite low on the "totem pole" beneath dogs and cats. While I was at this particular animal shelter, I did find two bunnies to adopt, but while I was waiting for them to complete the paperwork, I spied a door off to the side of the dog kennel area, which said "quarantined". I walked over and saw a photo and info about a tan puppy who was being kept in there, and I asked one of the staff what the story was. It turns out this particular puppy, 7 months old, had been brought into the shelter with her siblings as a tiny puppy, and had been adopted, but a few months later, was found wandering around the city neighborhood again, and was brought in by the dog catcher. No one claimed her, and by now, she also had a couple of very curable medical issues. Since this particular city shelter was so over crowded, their policy was to put these animals down, rather than treat them. I asked if I could see her, and when I was let into the quarantine area, it was heartbreaking. She was missing a lot of her fur, and her skin was in terrible condition. She was so sad-looking, but when I spoke to her, she was still able to muster up a little bit of a tail wag, and soon, she walked slowly over to the cage door and stuck her nose through, while giving me that (now familiar) big Tallie smile.

The staff member told me she was scheduled to be put down that day, so I made quick call to my veterinarian (the man was and is a complete angel) and he said to bring her straight over, and he would treat her and  make a space for her to stay until she was well.

After she was better, we decided to foster her, until we could find her a permanent loving home....but because she is a Pit Bull mix, everyone we talked to wanted to turn her into a "junk yard dog" and we knew this was unfair and was NOT Tallie's personality. She does have a VERY LOUD SCARY BARK and would protect us with all of her might if necessary, but she is not a vicious dog. She is gentle and kind.

After a while, we couldn't even fathom parting with her. Now, ten years later, Tallie is a much loved member of our family, and is still going strong, although her muzzle and eyebrows have turned a lovely grey. We joke that she "moved on up" to the suburbs, from her beginnings "on the street". She is our protector and yet, one of the sweetest dogs on the planet, who loves to chase butterflies, squeaks at the cats, and who has made friends with a toad and a lizard in the backyard over the years.

I am thankful for the joy Tallie and ALL of our wonderful fur and feather kids have brought to our lives. Happy Thanksgiving, from our house to yours!!

Love, Carolyn

Name:  Tallie (Short for Tallulah, which is a Native American word for Dancing Water).

Age:    Eleven years

Breed:  Lab/Shepherd/Pit Bull Mix

Best Fur Friend:  Eliza Jane!! And I kinda like those cats and rabbits....although I'm not sure what to do with them sometimes, so I just squeak at them!

Best Non-Fur Friend:  I love pretty much every human I have ever met, and I have made friends with several toads, lizards and butterflies in the backyard.

Favorite Past Time:  Car Rides!! I love to hang my head out the window and sometimes bark when I see a dog in another car!

Best Trait:  My giant Pit Bull Smile, and Sweet Personality AND my white socks!!

What I'm especially good at:  Tolerance! I am never mean and I love the puppies and cats, even though they a can be quite annoying. Mom says I have the "Patience of Job" (whoever Job is!)

Favorite QVC Product:  I LOVE my new large MyPillow Pet Bed!! Although I DO share with a cat or two sometimes!

PS: I DO love TURKEY!! (Hint Hint, Mom!!)

Hi, girlfriends!

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Love,

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Happy Thanksgiving! Some of you follow me on Facebook and already heard this story, but for those of you who aren’t on Facebook, I clearly have turkey on the brain. I was at the grocery store this morning trying to push my way through to grab what I needed. As I went to put my gallon of milk and whipping cream in my cart, I realized my purse was gone...and there were Brussels sprouts in the cart (a sign this was not my cart). I desperately looked around trying to remember what the lady next to me in the dairy case looked like so I could find her because clearly she had taken MY cart...when a soft spoken gal, who realized I was in a panic, looked at me and said..."YOUR cart is over there...YOU walked away with MINE in the meat section." OH. MY.

That was this morning and I'm STILL red with embarrassment!

I’m so excited for Thanksgiving and even the weekend after, because that’s when I hope to decorate for Christmas. If I’m lucky, maybe I’ll even bake a few Christmas cookies! Do you plan to partake in any cookie exchanges this year? Are the kids having one at school? I know everyone has their own signature recipe, but in the event you’re searching for something new—not to mention kid-friendly—here’s one of my childhood favorites: Scotcheroos.



Scotcheroos

Ingredients:
•    1 cup sugar
•    1 cup dark corn syrup
•    2 Tbsp butter
•    1 cup crunchy peanut butter
•    6 cups of rice cereal
•    1 cup butterscotch chips
•    1 cup chocolate chips

Directions:
1.    Butter a 9'' x 13'' baking dish and then add the rice cereal. Set aside.
2.    Bring the sugar, corn syrup, and the butter to a boil in a medium-size saucepan. Add the crunchy peanut butter. Mix well and pour over the rice cereal.
3.    To prepare the topping, melt the butterscotch and chocolate chips in a small saucepan over low heat and spread the mixture over the rice-cereal mixture. Cool until the topping is set, then cut into squares.

This is one of those recipes from my grandma’s recipe box. (Check out my recipe page for more!) It’s a delicious, classic recipe and I truly don’t know where my grandma found this. (In fact, you may have seen a similar recipe out there somewhere!) If you plan to take these—or any recipe—to a cookie exchange this year, here are a few tips:

•    To avoid a cookie-baking marathon the night before, start baking about a week in advance and store your cookies in an air-tight container. If you slip a piece of plain white bread in with the cookies, they’ll stay soft!
•    Before you pack the cookies into containers, make sure they’re COMPLETELY cool. Then, take the time to slip wax paper between each layer to prevent sticking. Avoid cookies with a gooey or tacky topping because they just don’t travel well and presentation is important…no one wants an ugly cookie!
•    Clearly label your cookies. If you plan to individually bag, write the name of your cookies on each bag, as well as the main ingredients. Not only does it prevent you from answering the same question over and over, it’s helpful for people with specific allergies or taste preferences.
•    Finally, back to that presentation thing. Your assortment will stand apart from the rest if you rest your cookies on a beautiful plate and use springs of holly or greenery to decorate. In a sea of cookies, you want yours to look as good as you know they are.

Here’s a little something you might want to have handy during this holiday and cookie-baking season: a KitchenAid Hand Mixer!



I hope you all have a very Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy the time with your family and dear friends. While you’re prepping for the holiday, why not join me tonight at 6pm ET for Great Gifts!

From my home to yours,
—Jill

Hello, all! Danny here sharing the news of Lori and LOGO! We are head-long into the giving season and can't wait for a moment of R & R! Here's what we've been up too! 

We've been nonstop on our book tour for Lori’s new book, Style is Instinct. We’ve traveled from Columbus, Ohio to LA and back home to NYC for Holiday Windows on 5th Avenue where we ran into some QVC Friends, Edward Bess and the ever-lovely Dennis Basso! Then we headed to the fabulous downtown holiday feel at BookMarc...

But mostly, we have a special launch just for you…

As the year closes, we are beyond thrilled to announce a snuggly addition to the LOGO Family: LOGO Lounge! You can check out LOGO Lounge now on QVC.com, and we will be debuting it on-air during AM Style on December 7^th!

LOGO Lounge is the latest extension of the LOGO by Lori Goldstein collection! Because when you break it down, it's all about comfort! So we wanted to take it to the next level with perfection. LOGO Lounge is the softest and coziest collection of colorful, chic activewear. With saturated heathered colors that look as soft as they feel, no one would ever even know you're in loungewear! LOGO Lounge is your secret weapon...an easy, casual but chic way of dressing.

We remind you to stay chic and cozy all through the cool weather. Please catch the love on our upcoming shows:

Friday, December 6^th during Fashionably Early beginning at 6 AM ET

Saturday, December 7^th during AM Style beginning at 8 AM ET (LOGO Lounge on-air debut!)

Friday, December 27^th at 9AM & 7PM ET

See you soon!

Danny

Shop LOGO by Lori Goldstein on QVC.com.

‘Tis the Season – for the holiday photo deluge. We are being photographed more than ever these days. Beyond our selfies and usual fare, the holidays bring with them a whole new crop of photo ops, as we work to capture some of the most blissful moments of life with our families and loved ones.

And before you know it they are posted on social media for all the world to see!  So how do we ensure that we can smile with confidence for every pic?  My number one go-to for a festive and flawless holiday look is airbrushing with my TEMPTU. That’s why I was so excited about our new QVC exclusive TEMPTU Holiday Radiance AIRbrush Kit:  Everything you need to achieve the perfect warm and luminous holiday glow.

Makeup artists and celebs know that the quickest way to a flawless canvas is with our AIRpod Foundation.  A little goes a long way to correct any issues I’m having with my skin, plus the built-in primer means that I never ever worry about touch-ups (Thank you, Santa, for that!).   Then it’s on to the AIRpod Highlighter: A light touch on the top of my cheekbones, browbones, and my cupid’s bow, and then all along my shoulders and décolletage for some subtle luminosity. The lights on your tree will have some competition, as you will get ready to radiate light from within!

Did I mention I also like to strategically place my child in front of my…ahem, problem areas, for our annual Christmas photos?  That gives me just a touch more confidence as well.

What are some of your secrets for the best holiday photos?  Share them with us and have a beautiful and blessed holiday season!

XO,

Samantha

Post your HALO Story below, and tune in Sunday, December 1st for QVC's Best Portable Charger Value of the Year!