Hi there,

It’s been such a brutal winter that it’s almost hard to believe spring is finally here (woo hoo!). I know those of you who have endured snow storms and frigid temperatures can’t wait to pack away the boots and gloves and bring out the sandals and shorts. This month, I want to help put Old Man Winter behind us by sharing some inside scoop on Denim & Co.® apparel debuting for the warm weather ahead.

I spoke with QVC’s resident Denim & Co. experts—Program Host Carolyn Gracie and Designer Gary Goben—to talk about the “How” collections customers know and love. But first I have to share some exciting news…drum roll, please…Denim & Co. is launching a beach line this year! Just the word “beach” is like music to my ears! “It’s super exciting,” said Gary. “We’re doing cover-ups and scarves that you can wear to the beach over your bathing suit!” Carolyn added, “You guys have asked for things you can wear with your swim suits, so we’re bringing them to you! Keep checking our blogs and Facebook pages for more in the coming months.”

Now that I’ve gotten you even more excited for sunny days at the shore, or wherever you may be headed this summer, let’s talk about activewear. The Denim & Co. Active collection is full of soft, fashionable pieces you lounge in at home, wear while running errands, or put on for the gym. Carolyn explained it best: “I think Americans are dressing much more casually now; it’s accepted. We do it more frequently than getting dressed up. But there’s a difference between looking casual and looking sloppy. With Denim & Co. you can feel casual and comfortable and still look really put together. We have great colors, great fabrics, and the fashions are affordable.”

Many of the items in the Active collection are done in French terry, jersey knit, velour, and knit terry, so you know they are going to feel as great as they look. And there are many styles to choose from! “We’re bringing you shorts, capris, and crops, plus we have new yoga pants and leggings,” Gary told me.

Now to those “How” pants I mentioned. One of the many great things about them is you can wear them year round. There are four different “Hows”: “How Smooth,”® “How Comfy,”® “How Classic,”® and “How Timeless.”®  

“The ‘How Smooth’ is a wide-waistband pull-on pant. We designed it to give the customer a very smooth look under her clothes so that there’s no bulk, no extra fabric, no belt loops—nothing like that,” Gary said. The “How Smooth” is perfect for wearing under your tunics. Carolyn explained, “It’s a fitted jean, so you look very slim. They’re the right weight, they’re not see-through, and they’re not so clingy that they enhance what’s not perfect. You don’t see bumps and lumps and things. It’s a very flattering fabric.”

“How Smooth” Petite Capri Pants with Pockets

The second member of the “How” group is “How Comfy,” which is all about the comfort of a yoga pant with the look of denim. “‘How Comfy’ is a knit jean,” Gary said. “They’re more stretchy and more comfortable, hence the name.”

“How Comfy” Pull-On Boot-Cut Jeans

“How Classic,” according to Gary, is all about the fit. “The ‘How Classic’ has elastic three-quarters of the way around. That means the center front of your waist from belt loop to belt loop is going to be flat, but then we put elastic all the way around to the back for comfort.”

“How Classic” Five-Pocket Boot-Cut Jeans

I enjoyed hearing about “How Timeless” partly because of the fun nickname created for the women who wear them. “We refer to our ‘How Timeless’ customers as our ‘side-pocket senoritas,’” Gary told me. “These pants have a full elastic waistband with side pockets.” So what’s with the nickname? “Scott, a member of our team, invented the affectionate term for the ladies because many of them own a pair of the side-pocket pants in practically every color!” Carolyn explained. “We have the ‘How Timeless’ pants in Petite, Tall, and Regular, so there’s something for every customer, and they just last forever.”

“How Timeless” Regular Capri Pants with Bow Details

If you’re a woman who likes to do some research before investing in a pair of pants, make sure to check QVC.com for more information. On the home page, click on the “Fashion” tab, click on Denim & Co. under “Brand,” and then click on the category you want to view. Or, if you already know you want to look at “How Comfy,” just type “How Comfy” in the search box—it’s that easy! And for even more details on each pant, make sure to look for a video posted with the product.

Now, let’s get back to spring! I asked Gary about the big trends for the season. “Anything chambray, like a lighter blue, is very strong, along with corals, yellows, royal blue, and mint green,” he told me. “The other big thing is floral prints. A floral print in anything is going to be really good.”

And that one item every woman should have in her closet? “A great pair of jeans,” Carolyn said. “I think if you have a great pair of jeans and you feel good in them, you can put on any kind of top and feel like you look good because of your jeans.”

“I totally agree with Carolyn,” Gary added, “a great pair of jeans. But I also think a must-have is a denim jacket. I love denim jackets over dresses, T-shirts, tunics—you name it!”

It may sound like Carolyn and Gary agree on fashion choices, but they’re actually in the middle of a competition they affectionately call Designer vs. Diva. “We have a viewer poll contest every couple of months where viewers can vote on their favorite of two items—one of which is picked by Gary and one of which is picked by me,” Carolyn explained. “And they don’t know which of us picked it until after they vote!” So, who will win? Make sure to follow Carolyn Gracie on Facebookand stay up to date on both Carolynand Gary’sblogs, so you don’t miss a minute of the fashion fun!

Happy trails!

Troy

QVC Editor

The cardigan has evolved! It used to be that a cardigan was a knit sweater that buttoned, but now it can be any combination of elements. The new looks in cardigans incorporate a lot of asymmetrical hems, flowing lines, and new fabrics. If you're not as familiar with them, we wanted to give you some ideas on how to dress with the new cardigan styles. Is it a blouse, a scarf, a cardigan, or a combination of all of them?! Whatever it is, it is a great update to a wardrobe that needs some freshening up :)

We're also including a video on the brand new Hand MD, that is premiering in LRS this Friday. Finally, some serious help for our hands, they give away our age more quickly than we'd like!

Hand MD

See you Friday for The Lisa Robertson Show at 10pm ET!
--Lisa

 When I turned 30, I began to struggle with my skin. Part of the issue was pregnancy hormones, but I was also experiencing challenges skin as a result of testing too many products.

When I first saw a geisha’s flawless complexion, I wondered aloud what her secret was. The geisha confided that their ritual is simple, straightforward, and founded on one vital concept, purification, which they discovered by chance. For centuries, geisha have relied on light camellia oil to melt away debris and wash away their famous makeup. The beloved oil is rich in oleic acid and serves as a source of vitamins A, B, and E.

To remove the pore-less wax barrier beneath their makeup, they devised a gentle daily exfoliant from rice bran. The age-old ingredient is prized for its skin-soothing and smoothing enzymes. It's also a rich source of gamma oryzanol, a potent antioxidant, and inositol, a multitasking ingredient and nourishing moisturizer.

I was surprised! All my life, I had invested in treatment products and used the cheapest cleansers available. I didn't think it was worth it to invest time or money into anything that washed off. It turned out that all those inexpensive, bubbly cleansers and exfoliants made from crushed nuts and sand were stripping my skin, leaving it dry and aggravated—and yet, I just assumed I had dry, sensitive skin.

What I learned, though, is that purifying the skin is the first step of any effective antiaging skin-care ritual. By removing burdens (makeup, environmental aggressors, SPF, etc.) without robbing skin of its native moisture, we can bring our skin back to neutral every day.

Geisha have long believed that the skin is a brilliant organ that's at its most radiant when it's free of makeup and debris. I love this holistic approach to skin care, one that comes from a place of deep respect for the skin’s natural abilities. I’m honored to share it with you through our duo for pure, polished skin.

—Vicky Tsai

The "luck of the Iris" was with us this week when our friends from the Emerald Isle came to celebrate St. Patricks Day with you. It's one of my favorite days of the year!! Sharing a few photos of the happy day!

It was off to a fun start by re-creating a famous "selfie" with my Irish friends.

So much excitement in our Live studio audience.

Bagpipes! Katie is part of our Production Team and is my camera operator for Shoe Shopping with Jane! So talented - and adorable!!

Lots of fun and silly Irish Jokes in the audience with my pal Albany!

Saying goodbye is such sweet sorrow.

It started with a "selfie" and had to end with one!

Goodbye my dear friend, Stephen! Can't wait to see you and the gang again!

-Jane

We all have our guilty pleasures in life.  I love shoes and clothing and purses like every other woman, but my biggest indulgence is travel. I love to challenge myself in the packing game. I think, “How little can I pack to get around and still look chic.”  I think you should be unencumbered when you hit the road, but in order to do that, you MUST be organized.

My friends often ask me to come over to help them pack for an upcoming trip. I DO think it helps to have someone there to help you sift through everything you WANT to bring. How often do you arrive at your destination and think, “Why did I bring all of this?” and at the end of trip realize you barely wore anything.

OK OK…we have all been there but don’t fear…those days are over! Here are my tips- I hope they help you the next time you open your suitcase and realize you can actually use a smaller one!

Before we start…just an FYI…I went on a 10 day Miami vacation recently with just a carry-on. My new rolly bag had just come in & I had to try it out. My mother was FLOORED that I was able to pack like this for a 10 day trip! (gasp! See below.) 

Here are my hints & items I invented to help with the process:

1)   Pick one color and go with it- for warm weather I go with mostly white—for colder weather – I choose black. This way everything goes with everything.

2)    Layer, Layer, Layer! Pack items that you can put on if you are cold & take off if your warm. Mixing and Matching is the key. I packed leggings for during the days, with light sweaters & tees. One pair for each day—they barely took up any room!

 3)   Accessorize! This is the best way to make a simple outfit pop without taking up room in your suitcase. These jewelry bags are one of my favorite creations & everyone is loving them. They protect your jewelry while allowing you to see exactly what you brought…even your sunglasses will travel in style!  (Kathie Lee just picked these as her favorite thing on The Today Show!)

1)   Pack one pair of classic flats and wear your sneakers on the plane. I did not need heels for my trip but if you do…pack a color (black or beige) that goes with everything. And, of course, have the bags to put them in! These have been featured in People Magazine, People Stylewatch, and O! Mags Gift guide!  

 5) Pick a pocketbook (as your personal item on the plane) that serves dual purpose. I use my tote because it has a clutch attached that I am able to grab if I need a small bag—and the tote holds a lot. But if you have something… similar that works too. Just as long as ANYTHING you bring serves more than one purpose.

Enjoy your trip!

XO, jill

tweet me @jillmartin with any questions !

In between my last appearance at QVC in early February and my upcoming shows this weekend, I took a quick trip to Bangkok to visit my factories there and to work with them on future products.  While the cold wave hit the U.S., I was sweltering in humid 95 degree weather, where my clothes stuck to my body, and my hair went all frizzy, so no pictures of me.

I work with factories throughout the world, some in the U.S., others in Italy, India, and Thailand.  Each factory has a unique expertise and skill, so as I create the concept for a new design, my production team determines which factory would be best to produce it.

Bangkok is an amazing city and the skill level of the jewelry craftsmen is extraordinary.

Here are some highlights from my trip.

The purple flower chandelier in the lobby of the Mandarin Oriental hotel is world famous.

The Hotel sits on the bank of the Chao Phraya River which runs through Bangkok and is a major channel for commerce and tourism.

Bangkok is known for its long tail boats which is seen here.  A car motor is attached to the boat and the tiller functions as a “long tail” rudder and propeller which steers the boat and gives it power.

The Koi Pond in the middle of the campus.

A two foot long golden Koi.

Now, the fun part:  the results of the designing and production, the new products for this visit!

First and foremost, is the new TSV watch (J290763).  I am very excited about this watch because it is an extension of my iconic Monaco collection– a stainless steel and diamonique Monaco watch.

I used colored diamonique stones in creating the Monaco effect and match the color of the mother-of-pearl dial and band and offer you choices of blue, black, purple, green, or brown.  The watch has Swiss parts movement and is water resistant with a snake-embossed cowhide adjustable strap.  This is my first watch in the Monaco collection and it works with the Monaco rings which I love making for you.

To coordinate with the TSV, I am bringing hoops, bangles, and stack rings in colors matching the watch – blue, black, purple, green, and brown.

The hoop is 1” (J291920) featuring bead-set colored round diamonique stones on the front and inside back of the hoop.  There is a beaded border with angled berge texture on each side.  You have a choice of pierced with post or clip on with omega back.

The bangle bracelet (J291806) is bead-set with a bead border and angled berge texture on the side.  It comes in a choice of small, average, or large.

The stack rings (J291811) feature a single row of bead-set colored diamonique with angled berge texture on the side and bottom of the ring.  Like the watch, hoops, and bracelet, they come in blue, black, purple, green, and brown to match the watch.

Also new to the visit are a burnished hinged cuff (J291808) featuring a twisted design with berge texture and burnished set diamonique, with  my custom designed hinged opening on one side for ease of use and a new estate necklace (J292367), which alternates small and large barrels.  The large barrels have bead-set baguettes and bead-set diamonique with berge and rope borders and an openwork diamond shape design.  The small barrels have a diamond shape design with bead-set diamonique.  The chain is a cable link with texture and my lobster claw closure pave set in a heart shape.

Lastly, but not the least, is a new multi-gemstone hinged cuff (J291799) featuring various sized textured bezel-set oval gemstone cabochons of blue topaz, peridot, amethyst, citrine, and rhodolite surrounded by bead-set round black spinel - a real stunner!

So, tune into my shows starting at midnight on March 21st and continuing from 3 - 5am, 11am - 12pm, 3 - 5pm, 8 - 10pm and also on Saturday, March 22nd at 4 - 7am, 7 - 9pm, and 11pm - 12am.

With love and glad to be back,

Judith

Hello, foodies…

I’ve owned a Vitamix (K41120) for some time and I just love it. I use it to make soup, purees, ice cream—everything that we do on In the Kitchen with David because it's so easy. But I tend to make two recipes in the Vitamix more than any other, my Chocolate Banana Breakfast Smoothie and my Lean, Mean, Green Smoothie. You can find both recipes on “David’s Recipes” page on QVC.com. We just hit the 400 recipe mark—and so many of the dishes there can be made in your Vitamix!

Chocolate Banana Breakfast Smoothie

We created this recipe last September for Back to School Month because I know how hard it is for kids—and adults—to find time to eat breakfast. Yes, “chocolate” is the first word in this smoothie, but the point is to get everyone to eat, isn’t it?! Plus, we’ve upped the nutrition ante with oat milk, protein powder, almond butter, and low-fat granola.

Lean, Mean, Green Smoothie

And this recipe was just unveiled earlier this month! There aren’t a lot of people out there who love green foods, but recipes like this prove you can get your greens and LIKE how they taste. This recipe makes seven cups of smoothie—more than enough to feed your whole family!

Keep it flavorful!
—David

Happy 1st day of spring! I was truly inspired by the sights and smells of the Philadelphia Flower Show that I thought I would share with you some of the lovely photos from that day.  I can’t wait to begin planning my garden!

I hope that you will share your garden pictures with me as we plant together this year.  Let the warmth of the sunshine and fragrances of the flowers warm your heart on this first day of spring!

Hi, everyone!

We had two amazing TSV® offers recently—the Vitamix Turbo Blender (K41120) or Temp-tations® 13-Piece Round Baker Set (K40167). If you got either, LUCKY YOU! I bet you’re in love. After I buy a new kitchen appliance, I’m always searching for great new recipes I can make in my new purchase. And, I’ve got two great recipes that were virtually made for those items.

That’s my Virgin Mango Daiquiri recipe. I always mix up a big batch of virgin daiquiris so the kids can have a glass, too. If you’d like to make a "grown up" version, add your favorite liquor...perhaps a light rum.

And that’s my Chili Cheese Egg Bake. It’s virtually a dump and stir…my favorite kind of recipe. Especially when it’s a breakfast recipe…you need something easy if you’re trying to cook before coffee! Use the largest bowl from your new Temp-tations set.

These recipes and more can be found on the You’re Home with Jill page on QVC.com. Just look for “Jill’s Recipes.”

Enjoy your goodies!
—Jill

On Sunday, March 16, in celebration of Disney’s Muppets Most Wanted movie, the Muppets came to QVC’s Studio Park here in West Chester, PA—and we had NO idea the adventure we were in for! From a marriage proposal (that surprisingly didn’t include Miss Piggy & Kermit!) to one too many chefs in David’s kitchen, we had a blast with the some of our favorites from the gang! Take a peek at some of the behind-the-scenes photos we captured below.

If you shake that camera one more time Animal!

An adorable repost from Mally! (Her daughter made the Muppets a cute little card!)

Selfie time!

It's going to be a long day, isn't it Miss Piggy?!

No way these two ever agree on anything, huh?

Hey man, is it my turn to play some tunes?

Pepe & Rizzo stole the studio—and Mary’s heart!

Who better than moi (and maybe Mally!) to spend an afternoon of Beauty's Most Wanted with?!

Twinsies?

Pepe just asked Josie to marry her?! She's taken! Ay dios mio!

Kermit introduces QVC’s Most Wanted show (and lets everyone know Joan Rivers would be making an appearance!) Uh-oh!

Gonzo & Rizzo certainly had fun with Joe Zee, Mally, Jill Martin & Dennis Basso!

No caption necessary, Pepe. (Looks like someone has a little crush on Amy Stran!)

We're thrilled that Miss Piggy & Joan Rivers decided to share the spotlight. They're both superstars!

We loved our day with the Muppets—thanks Miss Piggy, Kermit & the whole gang!

Don’t miss the Muppets big debut in their new movie Muppets Most Wanted in theatres March 21! Click here to watch the trailer and get more info: http://www.qvc.com/MuppetsMostWanted.content.html

As many of you know, last night was the season finale of Inspired Style Season 3. While I'm sad to see yet another season come to an end, my IS lovely crew saved me some heartache by throwing a surprise behind-the-scenes baby shower. Talk about going out on a positive note! 

Here are some pictures from our 3 am baby shower, lol! 

Special thanks to the amazing Inspired Style crew for such a great season and for all the love!

As for my Inspired Style fans...Thank you so much for joining our fashion fun this season, especially to all of you that chatted with us every week! I'm so looking forward to Season 4, but for now I'll leave you with this ... This isn't goodbye, it's "It's we'll see you soon..." In fact, we'll see you in August!!

xoxo Amy

Well, we did it again. We could not help ourselves, again. We could not help but improve upon perfection, again.

In December 2002, StriVectin made history with the launch of SD Concentrate. Then in 2010, we added to the formula our patented NIA-114 technology.

Well, 18 months ago StriVectin scientists went back to the lab to develop SD Advanced. It’s called Advanced because of a groundbreaking new ingredient. Drum roll please. Collagex CE Complex is our next generation of anti-aging technology. This new formula, which contains our trademark NIA-114 technology, helps to improve the skin barrier function for more moisturized skin and increased skin suppleness. It also helps to improve cell turnover for improvements in skin and its texture.

I’m so excited to present our Today’s Special Value® on March 24th. We’re offering the first StriVectin TSV® skin care collection with the new SD Advanced as part of our special Take Back Your Youth 3-Piece Collection which also includes our award-winning Eye Concentrate for Wrinkles and top-selling TL Neck Cream. Reveal more youthful-looking skin with this trio for face, eyes, and neck. Let StriVectin also take back your eyes with our award-winning treatment. In a clinical study, SD Eye Concentrate for Wrinkles improved the appearance of aging around the eyes in just one hour! Finally, let us take back your neck with a 2012 CEW Award winner in the "Moisturizer/Prestige" category and QVC Customer Choice nominee. TL Neck Cream helps improve the appearance of lines, wrinkles, photo-aging, and crepiness on the décolletage.

So, tune in starting at midnight on March 24th when the star of our Today’s Special Value Take Back Your Youth 3-Piece Collection is our revolutionary SD Advanced and witness history in the making (again!).

Tell me. What do you like about the new SD Advanced? I’d love to hear from you.

Youthfully yours,

-Meg

Jenny was the first best friend I ever had!  I hadn’t spent any time with her in nearly 40 years until just a few weeks ago.  And I can tell you, I would have CHOSEN her as my first friend!  Let me explain.

Our parents met over 50 years ago when Jenny’s folks moved to Indianapolis.  Our dads were in residency together.  Our moms became best friends & one another’s support system.   Jenny & I were born about a month apart.  That meant a total of 8 kiddos between the families!  (Wow! I can’t even imagine.)  Because our moms were BFF’s, Jenny & I became BFF’s by default.  Fast forward to when my memory starts…

I vividly remember our special lunches at Block’s Tea Room.  Oh, how I loved those lunches!  I felt like such a big girl.  I had a best friend just like my mom.  We would laugh and giggle while our moms talked about grownup things.  After our meal, we got to pick out a special toy from the treasure chest to take home.  Sweet memories for sure.

But those weren’t the only sweet memories with Jenny.  We went to see movies together, had birthday and slumber parties together and played together until we were about 5 or so.  Every ticket stub, each toy from the Tea Room and all the other mementos from our time together went into a cigar box under my bed.  That box represented my friendship with Jenny.  But like a lot of first friendships, it faded away.

Jenny’s family moved into a new neighborhood with new kiddos and found a new best friend.  It broke my heart.  Being so little, I didn’t have the mental capacity to understand the loss.  I just knew we didn’t play together any more.  Jenny and her friend always asked me to play with them; but for some reason or another, it didn’t work out.  So, our friendship faded.  Gratefully, our mom’s did not! 

Because our moms have remained dear friends for all these years, we have been able to keep tabs on each other’s lives.  It just so happened that while I was in Florida on vacation visiting my folks this year, Jenny was there visiting her folks, too!  And guess what we did??  We went to lunch just like we did when we were 5!  She hasn’t changed one bit.  Her smile, her kind eyes, her voice, her sweet spirit all exactly as I remember. I love her just as much now as I did when we were kids. Which is why…I would have CHOSEN her as my first best friend, regardless!!  

My mom, Penny (Jenny’s mom), Jenny and my sweet daughter, Isabella.  These wonderful women have put their stamp on my life!  Thank you, Girls!

-Nancy

Hello, foodies…

I’m just leaving an In the Kitchen with David recipe shoot for April!

Yes, we’re already mapping out those recipes (which are all designed to be made in a muffin pan, P.S. and by the way) and making our how-to videos that you see right here in the blogs. But, before we get to April, we’ve still got some green eating to do and I don’t think Sunday’s recipe, my Cream of Asparagus Soup, will be AT ALL disappointing.

Cream of Asparagus Soup
Serves 4–6

Ingredients:

• 2 Tbsp butter
• 2 lbs asparagus, stem ends removed and cut into 2” pieces
• 1 cup medium-diced onions
• 1/2 cup small-diced celery
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 Idaho potatoes, peeled and medium-diced
• 2 tsp fresh thyme leaves
• 4 cups chicken stock
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 cup half and half
• 1/4 cup crème fraîche
• 1 Tbsp milk

Directions:

Any time a recipe says “cut something in 2” pieces,” I think that’s more of a guideline. Shoot for around 2”, but by all means, don’t get your ruler out!

And that’s what I mean by medium-diced.

Melt the butter in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, and garlic and sauté until the onion is translucent, 5–8 minutes.

Add the asparagus, potatoes, thyme, chicken stock, salt, and pepper to the pot. Bring everything to a simmer and cook until the potatoes and asparagus are tender, about 5 minutes, being careful not to overcook.

Pour the soup into a blender and blend until smooth. Stir in the half and half and then divide the soup among individual serving bowls.

Combine the crème fraîche and milk in a small bowl and drizzle over the soup in each bowl.

This recipe is prepared using the Technique® 10-Piece Hard Anodized Dishwasher Safe Cookware Set with Color Smart (K38576).

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

Remember the blog I wrote about power of presentation? Why not try a little plating technique with this soup. Yes, the crème fraîche adds flavor, but it also makes this soup look terrific with just a swirl of the spoon. And, if you sprinkle a couple fresh thyme leaves on top—or along the edge of a rimmed bowl—it’ll look so professional and even more appetizing.

And, the next time you’re cooking with larger leaves like parsley, basil, or sage, the folks at America’s Test Kitchen have a great tip for how to make crispy, flavorful herb garnishes for your plate. You’ll never guess what kitchen appliance they use!

Now, let’s talk blog question. Asparagus is such a wonderful spring vegetable, and WE’VE MADE IT TO SPRING! What are you most looking forward to as this new season unfolds? More fresh spring veggies? The colorful flowers? The warmer weather? No more snow?! Our patience has paid off, foodies. Let’s soak up the next few weeks! I’ll see you Sunday for In the Kitchen with David at Noon ET.

Keep it flavorful!
—David

P.S. We have a few spots left for QVC’s Wine and Dine Weekend! We’d love to see you this May!

QVC Sprouts are new products picked by you! View a fresh selection of products every two weeks and vote on your favorite! The winner can be purchased within two weeks.

One of our past winners, Zymbol, shares the story of how they came to be.

Spreading love and empowerment, one Zymbol at a time…

A few years ago something amazing happened to our family.   One night my lovely mother, Sally Short, was doodling and she wrote down the phrase ‘LOVE IS ALL U NEED’ stacking each letter on top of the next with a peace sign.  

She loved the design and message so much that she decided to send it off to be cast as a pendant.  A few months later my sister and I randomly saw the pendant sitting on its side and we noticed a ‘K’ popping out.  Since there’s no ‘K’ in the phrase ‘LOVE IS ALL U NEED’, it got us curious and motivated us to look for other letters. That night, we ended up sitting down as a family and uncovering the entire alphabet and every number hidden within the doodle!!  We decided to create a line of inspirational jewelry based on the design.  We named it Zymbol as it is one symbol representing all letters A-Z. 

(This is a picture of the first Zymbol!!)

Given that Zymbol contains every letter of the alphabet and every number, it can represent any and all messages; from private anecdotes to everyday affirmations.

 I personally wear mine representing daily goals and intentions.  

Over the years we’ve collected heart-warming testimonials from breast cancer survivors, members of the military, children who have been bullied and people who have lost loved ones.  Each person wears Zymbol containing their own personal message of inspiration. Even though the design is physically the same, the meaning is different for everyone. 

(My Mom and Sister!)

We started out by setting up a local arts and craft shows in Colorado and Texas.   As our story spread we were able participate in bigger conferences and expos.  

(My mom and I at our first expo in New York)

One Zymbol at a time, we were able to build a tribe of followers that have supported us to this point.  

(Two new members of our ‘tribe’!)

We’ve always thought of Zymbol as a gift to our family. We pay it forward by visiting Children’s Hospitals where we gift out acrylic pendants to the kids.  

We provide them with blank sheets of Zymbols that allow them to trace out their personal messages of inspiration.

Our mission statement is simple…‘spread love and empowerment, one Zymbol at a time’.

There have been many ups and downs throughout our journey.  Launching a product is no easy task!!   Visiting Children’s Hospitals and receiving personal testimonials drives us to move forward.  Most importantly, we’ve been able to grow our business as a family.

(The newest member of our Family, Juniper Opal Odiorne)

Today my Zymbol represents ‘gratitude’ for QVC giving us this amazing opportunity.  What message would your Zymbol represent? 

Check out the Zymbol Inspirational Pendant Necklace.

Be sure to visit QVC Sprouts to vote for this week’s products and shop more past winners!

Divinity

On Friday March 21, 2014 at 10:00 PM EST and Saturday March 22, 2014 at 10:00 PM EST the QVC forums and blogs will be temporarily unavailable for maintenance. The downtime is expected to last no longer than 15 minutes.

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My father loved to tell the story about his first job as a kid at the Red Carpet Car Wash. He was 15, and it was back in the day when a hose, a bucket and a chamois were the tools of the trade. It was hard work, but he took great pride in it. I think that’s part of the reason his whole life he was adamant that a car should always be clean.

When I was a teen, with a car of my own, I wasn’t always diligent about keeping my car clean. One day my father said to me, “A pretty girl shouldn’t drive a dirty car--let’s go.” We hopped into my Datsun B210 and drove to -- you guessed it -- Red Carpet Car Wash. I expected a lecture about responsibility, a scolding for letting the car get so dirty. But none of that happened. Instead, it turned out to be a fun afternoon with my dad listening to him reminisce about working at the car wash as a kid.

What my father said that day stuck. Which I realized later, was the point. “A pretty girl shouldn’t drive a dirty car”. He wasn’t talking about vanity, he was instilling confidence, self-worth, and personal pride in his daughter. It was his way of telling me that he valued me, and that I should show I valued myself too in all that I did.

He would remind him for many years about that day, and what he said. He would laugh, acknowledging the importance he placed on a clean car.

It has been a long, snowy winter, and my car has been full of salt, grime and dirt for months. But the sun was shining bright this week. So on the first day of spring, I went to the car wash. I think my father was probably smiling in heaven. I was smiling at the thought of him...

Leah

QVC Sprouts are new products picked by you! View a fresh selection of products every two weeks and vote on your favorite! The winner can be purchased within two weeks.

One of our winners, Twiddle, shares the story of how they came to be.

Zorbitz is truly the story of an American Dream of a mother-daughter company starting with $100 and desire to touch people’s Lives. It was just the two of us in a 1 bedroom apartment, tirelessly working day and night, but our dream was coming true.

People would call us every day to tell us stories about how our products touched our lives. Today, 10 years later we have contributed countless dollars to Charities, and been able to make a difference. 

Speaking of the American “Dream” Well, one night, I had a dream about Twiddle and drew this picture in the middle of the night. Mini puzzle Pieces that you could pull apart and pop together to wear as jewelry or build shapes. Something that would bring families together and inspire creativity.

The next day, I went to the office and Jeremiah in our office found an amazing company that could create the pieces and make my dream a reality.  Here are first pieces. Yeah!!!  

Twiddle was born!  Twiddle became the ultimate fidget toy and shape maker. We had so much fun creating the shapes in our office! My mom loves to wear it as a necklace! 

We even created games that we could play with.

In creating the packaging for the product, we got advice from Steve, one of the toy experts from Diverse. You can see my original drawing and final packaging below.

We all chose the different colors that would be fun and pop together.

Immediately, it became the perfect family toy for kids, teenagers, parents, and grandparents!

 Our American dream has always been to be on QVC. We met Enid who introduced us to QVC and wow… With over 3000 votes, we won the Sprouts QVC and Twiddle immediately sold out! Yeah!! Here we are celebrating in our office! We love QVC!

This is truly the American Dream. With Gratitude, we celebrate everyday!

Anything is possible if you dream big.

Check out Twiddle.

Be sure to visit QVC Sprouts to vote for this week’s products and shop more past winners.