I am excited to share with you a beauty tool that I discovered at the end of last year.  It is called the Perfecter.  I, like you, have seen it presented on QVC and one of our make up and hair stylist even used it on my hair earlier in the year but I was still not sure it was the right tool for natural hair. 

Maria McCool, the creator of the Perfecter was in the studio and offered to give me the Perfecter to try.  I finally did try it and all I can say is WOW!!  I love it!  I purchased 4 more for Christmas gift for my mom, who has short, mixed gray natural hair, Lauren, has chin length natural hair, Chelsea, has shoulder length relaxed hair and my niece Kennady, has shoulder length natural hair.  We all have different hair textures lengths and thickness and the Perfecter works for everyone. 

For those that are not familiar with the Perfecter it is a hybrid between a heated round brush and styling iron.  It uses ceramic and ionic fusion technology that adds shine and soft voluminous curl to the hair. Surprisingly it is easy to use and because the heating element is recessed in the firm bristles of the wand, your fingers have some protection from the heat. 

I used it the first time after washing, blowing my hair dry and flat ironing.  I loved how soft and shiny my hair looked.  Since that time I have learned that I get the same soft shiny voluminous curl using the Perfecter without flat ironing first.  Yes, you read it correctly.  I DO NOT have to straighten my hair with a flat iron before using the Perfecter!  I was surprised and thrilled!

That means one less step, and less heat to achieve my desired style.  I will say that if you are looking for bone straight hair, this is not the tool, but if you are looking for bounce, shine, and soft curl this tool is worth trying. 

Here are a few tips:

• Use the Perfecter on clean, blown dry hair.
• Work from the back in small sections.
• Work from root to tip a few passes to straighten the hair, then for soft curl, start mid shaft and slowly rotate the Perfecter in a spiral down the length of the hair.
• At night I brush my hair and twist it into a bun on the top of my head.  When I wake up in the morning I finger comb my hair and manage to keep some of the soft curl from the day before. 

Happy New Year from Ireland!

The countdown is now on for March 17th - St Patrick's Day! We are very excited and have been  busy over the last few days getting everything finished and shipped out so that we will be all set for March. On the day we will have many new items, including the FIRST-EVER book on Connemara Marble written by me. QVC will launch it on-air on St. Patrick's Day, and each copy has been personally signed by me. The book traces the history of this unique and rare marble, and it is filled with pictures, history and stories that I'm sure you will enjoy.

Here I am signing the Connemara Marble book.

Mick checks the cartons before we ship them out.

Inese, in her Aran Craft sweater, completes the paperwork.

We will also have several new jewellery pieces, and I hope to be able to give you more information next month so you can grab them during the St. Patrick's Day Preview on QVC.com.

It won't be long till we are all wearing the green!

Looking forward to seeing you all soon!

Stephen

I recently had to do a presentation in front of all of the other hosts in one of our team meetings….. ME!  Talking in front of Mary Beth Roe and Rick Domeier and Jane Treacy ….. all of them really ….my heros!  The ones I watched for years and years and bought and bought and bought from!  To try to help me be less nervous – I shared with them my secret motivational board.  When I first came here to QVC it was like a dream come true…. I kept asking people to pinch me and wake me up!   I was so star struck meeting my idols that I asked them all to sign autographed photos to me – since I was convinced that I wouldn’t last the week!  LOL  After a few months, I thought “OK … maybe I can do this” .  But those photos and personal notes from each and every one of those kind people – some of who are no longer here at QVC – meant more to me than they can ever know.

So, now all the photos live on a huge poster in my room and when I think I just am not good enough, or am not doing my job well enough – I look at my board and at all of their kind words…  and I am READY TO ROCK!   :D

How did I do on my presentation you may ask?  Well, I didn’t faint or cry or anything like that but my boss said he could see my hand shaking from across the room.  (that wasn’t all that was shaking!   )  And true to form, all of my fellow hosts congratulated me and told me how great I did and, generally raised me up and made me feel like a MILLION BUCKS!!  I couldn’t be more blessed to do a job that I ADORE with people that are so caring, supportive – and most of all an ABSOLUTE BLAST to be around!

My wish for you all is that you have someone or a group of someones in your life that lift you up like that!

XO

Antonella

I had so much fun taking the Q Quiz! Take it with me in the comments below! -Isaac

Of course I’m a big believer in beauty potions and tonics, and I love the ritual of fussing over my skin, hair and nails in the journey to help reduce the signs of aging. But I’ve also always been one to subscribe to some more holistic antiaging practices, ones that have been passed down woman to woman over time.

Here are my not-so-secret suggestions for the best version of YOU:

1. Drink LOTS of tea

Green and white tea have a ton of antioxidant properties so drink them as often as possible to help fight free radical attack. Ginger and honey tea also is a very antioxidant rich blend and happens to be very delicious!

2. Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize

Keeping your skin looking youthful is as simple as staying incredibly moisturized. Dry skin tends to show fine lines more, so hydration is key. I love the feel of bathing in milk, full fat organic of course. It gets skin feeling baby soft and makes you feel like a queen too!

I also love coconut oil for EVERYTHING. Cooking with it is great, but I also love to use it as a great smelling and low key moisturizer. It works well as a hair and scalp mask in the dry winter months, it’s perfect for keeping nails and cuticles moist and I even use it on dry patches for my face.

3. Take Your Vitamins

A well-balanced diet is a super effective way to feel and look your best, but dietary supplements can also help fill nutritional gaps.  For one, grapeseed extract. This supplement is very high in antioxidants (see a trend forming here?) Also Omega 3 fish oil. The fatty acids can help the oil regulation in your skin, keeping it hydrated.

4. A Little Luxury

Silk pillowcases have been getting very popular lately and there’s good reason! Not only will it make your nighttime feel regal, but the soft fabric helps to ease sleep lines. It also does wonders for your hair! No more static in the morning, which will cut your getting-ready routine down. Less rush in the morning equals less stress in the morning, and you know what they say! Stress is no good for staying youthful.

5. Keep Moving

Last but certainly not least, I find that staying active keeps me feeling young. Stretching and walking are my two favorite ways to get moving, and luckily in the city I have plenty of opportunity to walk! But even if I just do a quick stretch and a yoga pose or two, it keeps me feeling agile and ready to tackle anything that comes my way during the day.

Do these tricks work for you? Share your secrets in the comments! And if you don’t want to rely completely on Mother Nature, then you can also try these new favorites of mine :)

1. The Algenist Genius Cream

Made up of crazy awesome ingredients like microalgae oil, this cream is incredibly hydrating and also smells terrific. Great for use on the face, neck and décolletage.

2. Dr. Gross ferulic acid + retinol brightening solution

Finally a retinol that you can use at night and in the morning! Delicate enough to use often, but powerful enough to give your skin a newfound glow.

3. Ole Henriksen ultimate eye gel

With a cool cucumber scent, this product helps hydrate, calm and soothe in the morning and the tingling effect really wakes you up. It’s such a great product for the morning time!

It seems like just yesterday when we brought our little Jericho home for the first time.  She was so tiny and sweet.  Well believe it or not that little baby is one year old and no longer so tiny and helpless.  She has grown so quickly over the past year and is now walking and singing and climbing the stairs.

For Jericho’s first birthday I wanted a Farmer in the Dell themed party in our backyard with a petting zoo, horse rides and a moon bounce but thankfully my husband talked some sense into me!   So in the end we decided to keep things low key with cupcakes and balloons at home.  Thank goodness we kept it simple because Jericho turned out to be a big party pooper during her celebration.  Now I will admit Coco was probably a wee bit tired and grumpy because we had to wait until daddy got home from work until we partied but she was not in a good mood. 

There were quite a few tears, very little smiles and Jericho didn’t even eat her cupcake!!!  Oh well! There is always next year!

Hi, foodies…

Wednesday’s live studio audience show was so much fun, and has given me a huge energy burst for the whole week! The live shows are always my favorite— there’s just such a buzz in the air when the studio is filled with 200 enthusiastic foodies who are ready to have a great time. Could you feel the excitement from home? We’re trying to do more of these, so be sure to keep a look out for a chance to get your free tickets!

I can’t wait to get back to ITKWD on Sunday, and we’ve got something special for you. Bobby Deen, a long-time friend of the show, will be with us. I’ve always loved his recipes, and this time, he’s brought us a great book, “From Mama’s Table to Mine,” filled with 120 recipes—all under 350 calories. It’s the perfect time of year for this book, as we’re all trying to get back to eating better after the holiday indulgence. Bobby’s taken everything he knows about delicious Southern home cooking, and lightened it up for us. I can’t wait for him to tell us all about it on Sunday—he’s even got some stuffed recipes to go with our theme this month!

Monday we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. day, and though Mondays are usually my day off, many of you will be staying home as well! How about we cook something yummy together? I’ve got the perfect breakfast for a cold winter morning. My Baked Stuffed Apples recipeis a delicious and decadent way to get your fruit in the morning, and will quickly become your go-to for a warm and comforting way to greet the morning. Americans have long had a love affair with the apple, and have found ways to sneak it into dishes of all kinds—sweet, savory, lunch, dinner, you name it! The health benefits are well known, and its versatility makes it a star in the produce world. Pair it with a little cinnamon, some oats, and caramel sauce, and you’ve got a meal that will keep you going all day long. Top anything with caramel and I’m IN! Try this recipe on MLK day to give your family a nutritious and flavorful start to the day.

Baked Stuffed Apples

This recipe is prepared using the Temp-tations® Floral Lace 24-Piece Oven-to-Table Set (K39348).

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

Ingredients:

4 large McIntosh or Honeycrisp apples

2 tsp lemon juice

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1/3 cup quick-cooking rolled oats

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

3/4 tsp ground cinnamon

4 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted

1/4 cup pecans, chopped

1/4 cup golden raisins

Caramel sauce, for topping

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease an 8” x 8” baking dish, and set aside.

Remove the apple cores, cutting to within 1/2" of the bottom. Using a melon baller, scoop out a 1/2" wide well in the apple, around the core to create room for the stuffing. Sprinkle each of the apples with 1/2 tsp of the lemon juice.

Mix the brown sugar, rolled oats, nutmeg, and the cinnamon in a medium-size bowl until all of the ingredients are fully incorporated. Add in the melted butter, chopped pecans, and the golden raisins and mix until fully combined.

Divide the mixture evenly between the 4 apples, stuffing them completely. Place the apples into the prepared dish and bake, on the bottom rack of the oven, for 30–40 minutes. To test for doneness, carefully poke the apple with a paring knife—the apple should be soft and the knife should break through easily. Drizzle with the caramel sauce before serving.

Now, THAT’S how you eat an apple! I love how baking apples brings out their natural sweetness, but you have to remember that there are certain apples that are best for baking. McIntosh or Honeycrisps work well in this recipe because they hold their shape.  But for snacking, I love me a juicy Red Delicious! What about you, foodies? My question for you today is what’s your favorite apple variety? Are you a Red Delicious person too? Or maybe you love the tartness of a Granny Smith? How about Golden Delicious—the perfect all-purpose apple? Is there a rare variety you have in your area?

See you Sunday, foodies!

Keep it Flavorful,

—David

Dr. Martin Luther King once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: “What are you doing for others?”

The national holiday to celebrate Dr. King’s life and legacy has also become an opportunity to serve our neighbors and communities. So in honor of “Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service”, I thought we could all share ideas for ways that we can volunteer to help others. Here are just a few ideas:

Hunger Relief -- volunteer at a local food bank

Housing -- volunteer to build houses to help end homelessness

Elderly -- visit a rest home or nursing care facility

Veterans -- volunteer at a local VA or offer help to a military family

Animals -- volunteer to help with animals at a humane society or shelter

Arts -- volunteer at museums and exhibits to promote the arts

Literacy --  volunteer at local libraries or donate books to promote reading

Clean up -- volunteer to adopt a highway with your local transportation department

Beautify the Planet -- plant a tree or garden

National Organizations -- lend a hand to groups like Volunteers of America, the American Red Cross, and the United Way.

There is no shortage of volunteer opportunities for those willing to donate their time and efforts. I’ll be helping in my community on Monday. How will you help?

See you Saturday!

Leah :-)

Hi foodies…

Happy MLK Day! For those of you who are lucky enough to be spending this holiday at home, I hope you’re enjoying some good kitchen time. Did you have a chance to make my Baked Stuffed Apples recipe? Now that January is about halfway over, it’s a good time to check in to see how we're doing with our New Year’s Resolutions. Did you make any food-related goals? Maybe to cook at home more, to eat less processed foods, or get more veggies into your diet? I’m never a fan of giving up the foods you love, and that’s why I was so happy with the tips Jenna gave us in her guest blog post while I was on vacation. Her balanced eating philosophy is attainable, and practical enough for any lifestyle. As a registered dietician, she knows that snacking can often be the downfall of a healthy eating resolution. With that in mind, she’s given us some great suggestions for snack time!

Convenient Snack Ideas for a Healthy New Year:

Hummus & carrots

Salsa & whole grain tortilla chips

String cheese

Greek yogurt

Mixed nuts & dried fruit

Whole grain or 100% whole wheat toast and sliced tomatoes

Low-fat cheese cubes & whole grain crackers

Low-fat, low-sodium deli turkey slices wrapped in lettuce with hummus or honey mustard

Microwaved apples topped with Splenda® & brown sugar

Thanks, Jenna! As foodies, we enjoy preparing meals that everyone will love and we don’t want to sacrifice our family’s favorite foods for bland, “good-for-you” alternatives. By just thinking ahead, we can make sure to have foods around that will satisfy our cravings in a healthier way. This week we’ve got some great snack foods on ITKWD that I think would be Jenna-approved, like the always delicious KIND Snack Bars!

Let’s face it; we all need a sweet treat now and again. The key to staying on track is not banning certain foods from your kitchen, but to avoid over-indulging on them. This week, I’ve got a great recipe that satisfies your sweet tooth in a small, bite-size portion. My Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cups are a cookie batter-lover’s dream, with their stuffed center of yummy confection! I make them in mini muffin tins, so they can be individually wrapped. They’re perfect for when you need just a taste of chocolate in the middle of your day. Enjoy!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cups

This recipe is prepared using the Walah 10-Piece Ceramic Nonstick Cookware Set (K36559).

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

Ingredients:

Cookie Dough:

6 Tbsp unsalted butter

1/3 cup light brown sugar, packed

1/4 tsp salt

1-1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar

4 Tbsp all-purpose flour

1/3 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips

1/3 cup peanut butter chips

Chocolate Cups:

1-2/3 cups mini semisweet chocolate chips

1-1/3 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Line a 24-cup mini muffin pan with paper liners and set aside.

2. To prepare the dough, melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the brown sugar and the salt, stirring until dissolved. Continue to cook the butter for 2 minutes, then remove the pan from the heat. Let it cool for 15 minutes, then whisk in the vanilla, confectioners’ sugar, and flour until fully combined. Let the mixture cool for another 5 minutes, then mix in the mini chocolate chips until they’re evenly distributed. You should refrigerate the dough until you’re ready to prepare the cups. If it’s more than 20 minutes, let the dough sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes to soften before you attempt to scoop it into the cups.

3. To prepare the chocolate cups, place the mini semisweet chocolate chips and 1 cup of the semisweet chocolate chips into a heatproof bowl. Set aside. Fill a medium-size saucepot about 1/3 of the way full with water and bring to a boil. Turn the heat off and then place the bowl with the chocolate chips on top of the saucepot. Let it sit for 3–5 minutes, and then lightly whisk the chocolate chips until fully melted. Remove the bowl from the saucepot, add the remaining 1/3 cup chocolate chips, and whisk again until completely melted. Pour 2 tsp of the melted chocolate into each liner, and with a small pastry brush, spread the chocolate to completely cover the inside of the liner. Refrigerate for 10 minutes.

4. Scoop 1 Tbsp of the dough into each of the refrigerated cups and press them into the chocolate, making sure that the dough is lower in height than the liner. Place the cups in the refrigerator for another 8 minutes. Evenly pour the remaining melted chocolate over each cookie dough cup, and smooth the top with a spoon. Refrigerate the cups until you’re ready to serve. Before eating, remove them from the refrigerator and let sit at room temperature for at least 15 minutes.

It’s easy to get carried away with making sure you get every last drop of cookie dough batter from the bowl and the spoon, but these little cups will give you just the taste you need. If you’re serving these to guests, don’t tell them about the dough in the middle—let it be a sweet surprise! I wonder who was the first person to realize how yummy the uncooked dough could be? Whoever it was, I thank you! Now, do you have a special recipe using cookie dough? Maybe you throw it into your ice cream, or do you have a cookie dough dip recipe? Tell me how you get creative with your unbaked batter!

Be sure to watch ITKWD this Wednesday to watch me go crazy for cookie dough!

Keep it Flavorful,

—David

With the winter well underway and most of us experiencing record breaking low temperatures, now might just be a perfect time to look out your window and plan your dream garden and outdoor living area.   Taking some time to think out and plan makes it all so much easier and you will be ahead of the game come springtime!   Get out your garden journal or sketch pad and consider all of the elements – exposure, drainage, best space for a gathering.  Maybe consider an area near a water element or spot shielded from the wind…each and every bit of thought and detail will pay off in creating YOUR outdoor space, unique and creative just like you.

I find that starting with a “wish list” helps me give everything in my garden and outdoor space a true purpose.  If you are planning a garden, before you place your first order have a list started.  Remember you can always add to your list and having the basics of what you want will make your spaces flow and work more efficiently.  I find this to be extremely helpful when designing outdoor living spaces too.   I like to order that one (or two) piece that I want for my area whether it be a fountain, solar lighting, furniture and build from there.   Let me tell you that dreaming of a beautiful fountain in your outdoor space will make you all warm and fuzzy inside

Now do not be afraid of this next step – make a diagram to scale.  Let me assure you EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US CAN DO THIS.  Whatever you call your “challenge” mathematics, spatial, artistic – we can all plan and create very specific diagrams TO SCALE.   Oh, and do not forget to tune in throughout January for some wonderful garden living items on QVC and check back here for more gardening tips! I can’t wait to show you! 

- Barbara

Meet Barbara King:

Barbara King's extensive career in the horticulture and design industries began at a very early age, when she decorated homes and outdoor spaces in her childhood neighborhood. Following in the footsteps of her father and grandfather, both floral designers, Barbara has since moved on to create an outdoor design empire recognized both at home and abroad. She loves the possibilities of outdoor floral design.

Barbara's designs have been blue-ribbon winners in venerable competitions such as the Philadelphia International Flower Show, Tournament of Roses, and Newport Flower Show. The outdoor sanctuaries and intimate spaces she has created have led to requests for her designs from private clients from around the world.

When it came time to celebrate her father and the 45th anniversary of the original Valley Forge Flowers location, Barbara created her own showpiece in Wayne, Pennsylvania. Valley Forge Flowers is now home to 7,000 square feet overflowing with flowers, garden and home accessories, numerous design services, and Café Fleur—a relaxing spot where customers can come to have a coffee and enjoy the nature-inspired décor.

Barbara is looking forward to her show with QVC. She hopes the beautiful plants and flowers she presents will inspire QVC customers to take advantage of the outdoors, what she calls "the greatest gift of all."

Beauty Obsession: bareMinerals Indulge Yourself 7pc Collection, A238523

This is a major kit. If you want a piece of every category that BareMinerals has to offer, this is the kit to bring home! Here are a few of my favorite pieces from the collection. 

Prime Time Primer- This is a cashmere texture with benefits that’s nice to start the day off with.  A lot of times with primers, I feel like I’m only applying it to level out the texture of my skin.  This primer is yellow based and attacks the red areas of your face.  It’s a nice primer to use in conjunction with your moisturizer SPF on days when you don’t want to wear makeup, but still want flawless, natural color. 

MY FAVORITE PART OF THIS COLLECTION of the Beauty Obsession is the Balance and Boost mineral veil.  How many of you feel like the only alternative to warm up your skin in bronzer… but then you look like you’re wearing bronzer?  This is the perfect substitute to get glowing warm skin without the bronze.  My name is Courtney Cason and for the last year of my life I have put bronzer on my skin to bring in some warmth…. Not anymore ladies!!

Well rested speaks for itself.  It’s nice to see your eyes come back to life with one simple step that makes your eyes appear awake and younger.

The Voayge Be Ready Eyeshadow collection is full of life for spring.  It’s got a subtle shimmer that makes your eyes look and feel even more dazzling!

Click here to see everything you’re going to get from this incredible collection. 

• 1-fl oz Extra Firming Neck Cream
• 1-fl oz Prime Time Neutralizing Foundation Primer
• ·0.03-oz Bare Radiance All-Over Face Color, an amber-nude sheen
• ·0.98-oz Deluxe Balance & Boost Mineral Veil, a subtle apricot tint
• ·0.17-oz bareMinerals Ready Eyeshadow 4.0 in The Voyage, with North, an icy pearl shade; South, a glimmering Taupe shade; East, a sable shade; and West, a chambray teal shade
• ·0.14-oz Jack of All Trades Lip Balm in Lean on Me, a sheer honey shade
• ·0.07-oz Well-Rested Eye Brightener
• ·Makeup bag

PM STYLE:

Attention QVC… it’s going to be a 4 hour show tonight and the first hour is all brand new items, just in time to transition into Spring. Woohoo! We’ve got Isaac, Joan, Susan, LCNY, WWC, Lori Goldstein all making appearances to help you refresh your wardrobe all the way into Spring. Here are some of my favorites:

Isaac TSV A240450

Lori Goldstein Tee with Lace Hem A213682

IML Lattice Print Scarf A240625

WWC Jersey Knit Peplum A240502

#KINDAWESOME

What is #KINDAWESOME you say?  Well, that’s easy because #KINDAWESOME is at the heart of everything we love about you, the time we spend together at QVC and our mutual addiction to KIND bars :-) #KINDAWESOME stands for great flavors, smarter choices, having fun, and above all being kind to one another.

So many of us choose our favorite KIND bar flavors because of their great taste or because of the quality ingredients or just because they look really cool in that bright colorful packaging.  But no matter why we choose our favorite flavors we all agree that when we eat a KIND bar or share them with our loved ones and friends we know we are making a really great snacking choice!

So we thought it would be really fun if you guys would tell us which KIND bar flavors are your favorites and why. Well the first part is already done you voted in October 2013 and chose your top five KIND bars and these flavors will be part of our TSV on January 22^nd, 2014! A true customer choice TSV!!!

This TSV will include (4) bars each of:

1. Dark Chocolate Cherry Cashew

2. Dark Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt

3. Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate

4. Maple Pecan Nuts & Sea Salt

5. Almond & Coconut

Now the fun part will be finding out why you chose this flavor or that flavor. So, please take to the QVC social platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) and include the hashtag #KINDAWESOME in your posts so we can all be connected and definitely call us live while we are on-air to tell us why you love this flavor or that flavor. We want to hear all the great stories you have about your experience with KIND bars. It’s going to be such a fun day and we can’t wait to share it with you.

Oh yeah and we are including 2 of our yogurt covered KIND bar flavors (8 additional bars total) as a bonus - now that is #KINDAWESOME!

Love you!

The KIND team

Another gluten free soup! The weather calls for it, I think. This soup has some heat to it: in temperature and spice. Let’s get into the ingredients you’ll need. Just for visual reference, here is a picture of the stock, noodles, and chili garlic sauce. So much easier to find in the store if you know what they look like!

Ingredients:

1 box Wegman’s Thai Culinary Stock

4 oz. “Oriental Style Noodles”

1 large yellow onion

1 red pepper

2 tbsp. canola oil

2 tbsp. chili garlic sauce

6 cups of washed & chopped kale

1 large leftover chicken breast (cooked)

Salt & Pepper to taste

Directions:

Put two tablespoons of oil (I used canola) into a dutch oven or soup pot on medium heat. Chop up the onion and red pepper and drop in the Dutch oven to simmer.

Once the onions are translucent drop in a “blap” of chili garlic sauce (turns out a “blap” is 2 tablespoons) and give the mixture a good stir until everything is coated in the pot.

Pour all 32 ounces of stock into the pot and bring to a rolling boil. Once boiling pour all six cups of kale into the broth. While stir for two minutes until the kale is a bright green color.

Reduce to low and let it simmer (keep stirring). Put in the chopped up chicken and stir it all together. Cover and let simmer 20 minutes.

Boil the noodles, should take about 6 minutes. Drain thoroughly and add them to the soup mixture in the dutch oven.

Stir thoroughly and you’re ready to enjoy!

Enjoy in good health! Talk to you soon ~ @Mary QVC

Well, if you live anywhere near where I do, today is the perfect day for staying inside and tackling a DIY project while eating a warm bowl of chili. Luckily, today’s blog gives you both of those things. They’re calling for up to 14” of fluffy snow here in Pennsylvania! Wherever you’re reading from, I hope that you’re staying safe and toasty—and remember, if you need some entertainment you can always catch up on past episodes of YHJ too!

It seems from your Facebook comments that you’re enjoying the DIY canvas theme we have going on this month. I’m so glad! I’ve got another good one for you today: Stenciled Initials on Canvas. I think this works so well for the bathroom, and it’s such a cute way to add a little personalization to a room that often gets overlook in terms of wall art. Monograms are one of those design elements that truly never go out of style and tend to show up in the bathroom (think monogramed towels, bathrobes, water glasses). With a few simple steps you can use your initials as a beautiful new addition to your bathroom décor.

You’ll Need:

Stretched canvas (you can decide how many you want to use and what sizes)

Spray paint (optional)

Painter’s tape

Stencils of your initials

Paint

Paintbrush or roller

To Assemble:

1. If you’d like to keep the white background on the canvas, your first step would be to secure the stencil to the canvas with the painter’s tape. I think white looks pretty for a bathroom, as it feels crisp and clean. If you’d like to have a different color background, start by spray-painting your canvas the color of your choice (make sure it’s a contrasting color than the one you’re using for the initial).  After the paint if completely dry, then attach the stencil as previously described.

2. Make sure your stencil is flush with the canvas and carefully paint over it, using either the paintbrush or the roller. Apply two coats.

3. Once your paint is completely dry, remove the stencil and the painter’s tape, and hang!

It’s that simple! You can also play around with the lettered stencils—write out your entire last name if you like. Again, the great thing about canvas art is that you can always go back later and change it if you want something different.

Now what to do while your paint is drying? Make a pot of something yummy, of course! My family always begs for chili during the coldest days, and though this is something I usually make for watching football, it’s a great snow day dish as well. With just a few ingredients and super-fast prep, it's perfect for when you want to just relax on the couch and cheer on your favorite team, or cuddle up with a favorite old movie. Here's the recipe:

Slow Cooker Three Bean Chili (or as I like to call it, Touchdown Chili Dip!)

This recipe is prepared with the Temp-tations® Old World 5 qt Ceramic Slow Cooker with Glass Lid (K39882).

Ingredients:

                  1–1/2 lbs ground beef or turkey

                  1 small yellow onion, chopped

                  1 Tbsp garlic, minced

                  1 green or red bell pepper, seeded & chopped

                  1 (14.5-oz) can chili beans in sauce

                  1 (14.5-oz) can black beans, drained

                  1 (14.5-oz) can pinto beans, drained

                  1 (14.5-oz) can petite diced tomatoes

                  1 (29-oz) can tomato sauce (or 2 14.5-oz cans)

                  1 tsp oregano

                  1/2 tsp ground cumin

                  1 tsp chipotle chili powder (in the spice section)

                  1/2 tsp black pepper

                  1/2 tsp ground cayenne

                  Salt, to taste

                  Shredded cheese (optional garnish)

                  Sliced jalapeños (optional garnish)

                  Sour cream (optional garnish)

                  Hot sauce (optional garnish)

Preparation:

Brown the ground beef or turkey in large skillet with the onion, garlic, and green pepper over medium heat until the meat is fully cooked. Drain off any excess oil and put the mixture into your slow cooker. Add the remaining ingredients and stir until mixed. Set the slow cooker on low and cook for 4–5 hours. Top with shredded cheese, jalapeños, sour cream, and hot sauce, if desired.

Let me know how you like it! I will be making this for the Super Bowl, and I know it will be a big hit—might have to double it!

From my home to yours,

—Jill

Well, if you live anywhere near where I do, today is the perfect day for staying inside and tackling a DIY project while eating a warm bowl of chili. Luckily, today’s blog gives you both of those things. They’re calling for up to 14” of fluffy snow here in Pennsylvania! Wherever you’re reading from, I hope that you’re staying safe and toasty—and remember, if you need some entertainment you can always catch up on past episodes of YHJ too!

It seems from your Facebook comments that you’re enjoying the DIY canvas theme we have going on this month. I’m so glad! I’ve got another good one for you today: Stenciled Initials on Canvas. I think this works so well for the bathroom, and it’s such a cute way to add a little personalization to a room that often gets overlook in terms of wall art. Monograms are one of those design elements that truly never go out of style and tend to show up in the bathroom (think monogramed towels, bathrobes, water glasses). With a few simple steps you can use your initials as a beautiful new addition to your bathroom décor.

You’ll Need:

Stretched canvas (you can decide how many you want to use and what sizes)

Spray paint (optional)

Painter’s tape

Stencils of your initials

Paint

Paintbrush or roller

To Assemble:

1. If you’d like to keep the white background on the canvas, your first step would be to secure the stencil to the canvas with the painter’s tape. I think white looks pretty for a bathroom, as it feels crisp and clean. If you’d like to have a different color background, start by spray-painting your canvas the color of your choice (make sure it’s a contrasting color than the one you’re using for the initial).  After the paint if completely dry, then attach the stencil as previously described.

2. Make sure your stencil is flush with the canvas and carefully paint over it, using either the paintbrush or the roller. Apply two coats.

3. Once your paint is completely dry, remove the stencil and the painter’s tape, and hang!

It’s that simple! You can also play around with the lettered stencils—write out your entire last name if you like. Again, the great thing about canvas art is that you can always go back later and change it if you want something different.

Now what to do while your paint is drying? Make a pot of something yummy, of course! My family always begs for chili during the coldest days, and though this is something I usually make for watching football, it’s a great snow day dish as well. With just a few ingredients and super-fast prep, it's perfect for when you want to just relax on the couch and cheer on your favorite team, or cuddle up with a favorite old movie. Here's the recipe:

Slow Cooker Three Bean Chili 

This recipe is prepared with the Temp-tations® Old World 5 qt Ceramic Slow Cooker with Glass Lid (K39882).

Ingredients:

                  1–1/2 lbs ground beef or turkey

                  1 small yellow onion, chopped

                  1 Tbsp garlic, minced

                  1 green or red bell pepper, seeded & chopped

                  1 (14.5-oz) can chili beans in sauce

                  1 (14.5-oz) can black beans, drained

                  1 (14.5-oz) can pinto beans, drained

                  1 (14.5-oz) can petite diced tomatoes

                  1 (29-oz) can tomato sauce (or 2 14.5-oz cans)

                  1 tsp oregano

                  1/2 tsp ground cumin

                  1 tsp chipotle chili powder (in the spice section)

                  1/2 tsp black pepper

                  1/2 tsp ground cayenne

                  Salt, to taste

                  Shredded cheese (optional garnish)

                  Sliced jalapeños (optional garnish)

                  Sour cream (optional garnish)

                  Hot sauce (optional garnish)

Preparation:

Brown the ground beef or turkey in large skillet with the onion, garlic, and green pepper over medium heat until the meat is fully cooked. Drain off any excess oil and put the mixture into your slow cooker. Add the remaining ingredients and stir until mixed. Set the slow cooker on low and cook for 4–5 hours. Top with shredded cheese, jalapeños, sour cream, and hot sauce, if desired.

Let me know how you like it! I will be making this for the Super Bowl, and I know it will be a big hit—might have to double it!

From my home to yours,

—Jill

The new "it" color of 2014… Radiant Orchid! This past December, Pantone announced "Radiant Orchid" as the color of the year. The name alone conjures up images of light, peace, joy, magic and intrigue. We can expect this color to pop up throughout the year in many different ways, from home and accessories to fashion and beauty. Get ready for Radiant Orchid!

At the end of every year Pantone selects a color through meticulous research to reflect what will become a prominent color throughout multiple industries. According to the Wall Street Journal, 

  "Pantone...each year polls graphic, industrial, fashion, and other designers around the world, as well as manufacturers and retailers, asking what colors they plan to use in coming seasons. A color committee made up of Pantone executives and clients makes a pick based on the surveys, sales of color swatches, and its experts' opinions."

I personally love this color! I think it's vibrant and refreshing. The warm undertone lends itself to any skin tone and can be worn with navy, black, grey, brown, white, and more. Click to check out my own collection in this family of pinks and purples.

What do you think... Do you like the color? Will you be wearing Radiant Orchid this year? I'd love to hear! 

Join me this Thursday at 9am ET for a fun and exciting fashion! Directly after, on Thursday at 10am ET, Watch for my brand new bedding set... I know you'll love it!

Can't Wait? Shop my Bedding Collection Now!

xoxo,

Susan

Brrr! How about this crazy-cold weather we're having? Good thing we know just how to warm you up! We've pulled together some of our favorite super-simple and delicious feel-good foods (courtesy of David!) to help warm you up from the inside out! Cozy up and enjoy!

1. Winter Wassail Recipe

2. Mexican Hot Chocolate

3. Grammies Noodle Soup

4. Turkey Chili

5. David's French Onion Soup

6. The Ultimate David Sandwich: Mac and Cheese Grilled Cheese

7. Better than Ever Tuna Casserole

You know what's so cool about this day and age? You let us know exactly what you want and we deliver it. I commonly get feedback from fans saying their skin needs more moisture. Well, we heard you and went to our labs to provide you with much more than just a moisturizer. We developed StriVectinLABS Extreme Cream, which gives you extreme moisture and extreme rejuvenation.

First, we did our homework. We learned that women today consider dehydrated skin their top skin-aging concern. They're tired of looking in the mirror AFTER applying all of their skin care to still see dry, overworked skin.

StriVectinLABS Extreme Cream immediately increases skin's moisture not just upon application, but after 24 hours, as shown in a clinical study. Our clinical studies also showed that there was an improvement in the look of coarse wrinkles after four weeks. We're not talking just fine lines here. In our consumer perception studies, 96.7% of women felt extremely moisturized after one application of Extreme Cream and by week two, that number went to 100%!

StriVectinLABS Extreme Cream is so effective because our scientists understand that like the body, the skin on the face needs two essential ingredients to thrive: water and oxygen. We've combined our patented NIA-114 technology with our brand-new Energizing Oxygen Complex to provide ultimate moisture.

So, there it is, ladies. We heard you want more than a moisturizer…you want StriVectinLABS Extreme Cream! Don’t forget to tune into my next show on January 25 at 5am ET with QVC program host Jennifer Coffey.

Youthfully yours,

—Meg Flather

Perhaps you’re like me, and you are fascinated by the people you see on television or in the movies. Little girls, of course, fall in love with the Disney fairy princesses or Tinker Bell. Boys have their hero figures and sports stars. It’s just a natural part of growing up, I guess.

Well, I’ll confess that I have always loved meeting celebrities, whether they are famous from television, or as concert performers, or from other fields. 

The very first ‘celebrity’ that I remember meeting was David Hasselhoff from the TV show Knight Rider. I was 13 years old, and I met him at the Philadelphia Car Show. I was obsessed with him!! No one else was allowed to meet him, and I was crushed. But he saw me at the side of the stage and made sure that I got to meet him—I have been a fan since!

As I got older and decided I wanted to go into modeling and study communications, I had a lot more opportunities—and I got braver! I’d ask to take a picture!

Of course since I came to QVC (23 years ago, if you can believe it!), I’ve gotten to meet many well-known personalities. I’m sharing some photos with you to give you an idea of the range of people I’ve met.

One celebrity I met at QVC changed my life. That, of course, was Jeanne Bice. As you may know, I was one of the models for Quacker Factory and other shows on QVC. Gradually Jeanne and I became friends, which was easy to do with Jeanne. So much so that she asked me to do her makeup before shows. I am a self-taught makeup artist, and she loved what I could do. We’d laugh and giggle over things. She always wanted to know what was going on in my world. 

What really amazed me was how she reacted with women who came to live audience shows and flocked to meet her. She would sit for hours and talk to each and every one of them, sign autographs, and take pictures. To these women, Jeanne was a big celebrity. But she always said, ‘Honey, I’m just a farm girl from Wisconsin, and, without these women, I am a nobody.’

Over the years when I’ve meet famous people here at QVC or elsewhere, I’ve noticed how much they had in common. Almost always, they are very nice. They’re approachable. They’re really grateful.

I’ve learned that many, like Jeanne and Joan Rivers, have suffered personal tragedies and survived. They spent years working hard, waiting for a ‘break’, never giving up. Almost always they got ‘famous’ because they were good at something. They worked hard and got recognized for it. I’ve discovered there are very few ‘overnight sensations.’

And, like Jeanne, they never forgot where they came from.

Today, when I am out shopping or in a restaurant, people will sometimes recognize me. They may say something about QVC or even ask for a photo. Like Jeanne did, I have to pinch myself! I get so excited.

So when you run across someone who’s well-known - nationally, in your community, or wherever - don’t hesitate to smile and say hello.

I’ve always been glad I did. And I think you will be, too.

I thought you might get a smile from some of the celebrity ‘friends’ I’ve met. So here are some pictures. (Please excuse the quality. Some of them are cell phone photos.)

Enjoy!!

Angel

2010 - Lar Park Lincoln - She is an actress who appeared in the movie Friday the 13^thas well as the TV show Knots Landing.

Clinton Kelly – The fashion guru and host of the ABC show The Chew.

2013 - the GORGOIS celebrity make-up artist Mally Roncal

2011 - Rapper and actor 50 Cent & TV talk show host Montel Williams

2013 - DJ and TV host of America’s Got Talent Nick Cannon

2013 – World-famous chef Emeril Lagasse

2013 – Actress Lisa Rinna

2013 - Rohan Marley (son of reggae legend Bob Marley)

2013 - TV show host Rachel Ray

2013 – Oscar-winning actress & singer Jennifer Hudson. Don’t you love the cleaning cart in the background!

2013 - Actress, singer & dancer Julianne Hough

2013 - Joan Rivers - nuff said!

2013 - The wonderfully talented designer & TV host Isaac Mizrahi

2013 - Reality show star Khloe Kardashian

2012 – Perfumer Tova Borgnine

2013 - Actor Orlando Jones

2013 - TV anchor Hoda Kotbe

2013 - Actress & interior designer Linda Dano

2013 - The ever-lovely star Marie Osmond. Many years ago I also met her brother, Donny, but I was not able to grab a photo with him.