When I started my career in cosmetics a decade ago, I had no idea of the effect that makeup had on a person.  The ability to change a look, a feel, an attitude - with just the swipe of a lipstick, the brush of a mascara, and the scent of a fragrance.  What an impact this had on women’s everyday lives!  It was, is, and always will be, an honor to work with you as your beauty advisor and friend.

It is even more of an honor to find out that beauty can go “beyond a brush-stroke” to impact the lives of women in an even more impactful way…through an organization that I found at QVC called Beauty with Benefits (http://www.cancerandcareers.org/). BWB is an organization that helps women who are suffering from all types of cancer and who are still active in the workplace.  They have many services to help keep women thriving, even if they are in treatment, and also offer counseling services to accommodate legal as well as employment questions which may arise if diagnosed. 

I got to experience BWB last year for the very first time as a guest during QVC’s live fundraising event.  I witnessed first-hand, the magic of what can happen when a group of individuals comes together for a great cause.  It was a night of wonderful beauty products, impactful stories, and SO much celebration as we raised $984,000 for this organization. 

This year I am honored to be part of the event again, but now as your social host. It all happens on April 17^th from 8-10pm EST. I encourage you to join us for an evening of amazing stories, great products and a worthy cause.  I will be chatting live with you right here on this blog entry with a career coach from the BWB team to help answer your questions during the show!  So start asking your questions below in the comments section, and check back during the show from 8-10pm ET for the answers!

XOXO

Alberti

CALLING ALL CUTE EASTER and SPRINGTIME PETS!!  Thank you all SO MUCH for sharing photos of your precious fur babies with us!  Here is this week’s Showcase…

XOXO from your fellow pet lovers, Carolyn and Dan 

I present jewelry a lot, and I often talk about how a specific piece of jewelry is made, but I wanted to get some hands on experience, so I took a class. The class was Metalsmithing and Jewelry Design, and jewelry designer Susan Roggio was our fearless leader. I chose to make a necklace and three bangles. Before anyone lifted a finger, Sue demonstrated the steps we would need to take in order to complete the pieces.  

I had pieces of nickel alloy and copper, and I started by cutting out my shapes and putting designs on my metal

Then Sue burned the sides of the nickel (and put a patina on the copper)

I spent a lot of time sanding the pieces of metal until they were smooth. I often speak to this on air, and Sue reiterated the point, that the quality of the "finish" on a piece is the difference between a good piece and a great one. So, I sanded and sanded, and drilled holes, added brass thread connections, beads, and loops for the necklace (Sue added a chain).

When it came to making the bangles, I got a chance to solder the ends together and add silver tone drops to the sides.

I hammered the sides and sanded and sanded, and voila… three bangles

What did I learn? That each piece of jewelry needs to be thought out beforehand, and every decision leads to a gazillion other decisions. Every single step requires skill, patience, and luck… as each piece of metal responds to fire differently. I am pleased with my necklace (which I think looks like the face of a cat… lol) and my bangles. I’m also excited for my next jewelry show because I have stories to tell...:)

Our lovely friend and fearless Lock & Lock companion, Chris Pryme is as dear a friend as you could hope for. She is a baker. She has been a professional baker for 20+ years, but she also has a passion for it. Also, every Christmas, she bakes her Gluten-Free Chocolate Fudge Bars. I have to admit: I start to yearn for them in early November.

She has shared her recipe and it is WONDERFUL. You KNOW I had to share it with you too! Here we go:

Gluten Free Chocolate Fudge Bars

Ingredients:

1 cup butter whipped

1 16 oz pkg of almond meal

1 cup brown rice flour

1 can sweetened condensed milk

2 cup choc chips

1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans whatever is your favorite

Directions:

Mix the butter, almond meal, and rice flour together until a crumbly paste forms. Press a little more than half of this mixture into a greased pan and bake for 15 minutes at 350 in a 9” x 13” baker. While that is in the oven, melt the chips in a saucepan with the milk over low heat. Pour the chocolate mixture over the hot crust. Add the chopped nuts to the remaining crust mixture & crumble over the top of the fudge mixture. Put them in the oven and bake for another 15 minutes at 350. Let them cool and cut into squares. TIP: these freeze really well if you want to make them ahead of time.

Enjoy! ~ Mary QVC

Hello, foodies…

Happy Passover to one and all! I pray a bowl of Matzo Ball Soup is in your future before the week’s end—whether you're Jewish or not! This soup is like a big bowl of comfort and I’m indebted to the folks at America’s Test Kitchen for sharing one of the easiest and yummiest Matzo Ball Soup recipes I’ve seen.

Matzo Ball Soup
Serves 6 to 8

The flavor of this soup depends on homemade broth; do not substitute store-bought broth. We prefer the flavor of matzo balls made with chicken fat, but vegetable oil can be substituted. If you make the matzo balls larger, they may require a longer cooking time. The flavor and texture of the matzo balls will vary widely depending on the brand of matzo meal you use; more finely ground matzo meal will produce fluffier matzo balls.

• 4 large eggs, lightly beaten
• ¼ cup chicken fat or vegetable oil (see note)
• 6 tablespoons water, plus extra as needed
• 1 cup matzo meal, plus extra as needed
• Salt and pepper
• 8 cups Simple Chicken Broth
• 3 carrots, peeled and sliced 1⁄8 inch thick
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh dill or parsley

1. Whisk eggs, chicken fat, and water together in a medium bowl. In separate bowl, whisk together matzo meal, 1½ teaspoons salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Stir matzo mixture into egg mixture until just combined and let sit for 2 minutes.

2. Adjust consistency of matzo mixture as needed with additional matzo meal or water until it resembles texture of soft mashed potatoes (when a wooden spoon is run through the mixture to divide it in two, the two sides do not run back together). Cover and refrigerate for 1 to 4 hours.

3. Bring 4 quarts water and 2 teaspoons salt to a boil in large Dutch oven. Use moistened hands to shape 1 tablespoon matzo mixture into a 1-inch ball; repeat with remaining matzo mixture. Drop balls into boiling water, cover, reduce to gentle simmer, and cook until matzo balls are cooked through and firm, about 20 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, bring broth to a simmer in large Dutch oven. Add carrots and simmer gently until tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer cooked matzo balls to soup. Off heat, stir in dill. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and serve.

Now for our next “Do You Know the Muffin Pan” recipe, which we're debuting this Wednesday on In the Kitchen with David. Here's my Chicken and Dumplings Pot Pie!

Chicken & Dumplings Pot Pie
Serves 6

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cooked chicken, diced into small pieces
• 3/4 cup frozen peas and carrots
• 2 (10.5-oz) cans chicken gravy
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 2 tsp chopped fresh thyme
• 3-1/2 cup all-purpose baking mix
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 cup milk

Directions:

1. Combine the chicken, peas and carrots, 1 can of the chicken gravy, salt, pepper, and 1 tsp of the thyme and mix until incorporated. Divide the mixture evenly among 6 cups of a 12-cup muffin pan. Cover the pan with plastic wrap and freeze overnight, or until you’re ready to bake the muffins.
2. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Coat a 6-cup Texas-size muffin pan with cooking spray.
3. Mix together the all-purpose baking mix, buttermilk, milk, and remaining thyme in a medium-size bowl until smooth. Fill each muffin pan cup approximately 1/3 of the way full with the dumpling dough.
4. Remove the chicken filling from the freezer and run the bottom side of the muffin pan under warm water for 30 seconds, just to loosen the filling from the pan. Using a fork, pop the frozen fillings out and place one in the center of each dough cup. Divide the remaining dough over the top of each chicken filling, making sure the top layer of dough covers the filling entirely and connects to the bottom layer of dough. Bake for 45 minutes.
5. While the muffins are baking, heat the remaining can of chicken gravy and serve it with the finished muffins.

This recipe is prepared using the Temp-tations® Old World Figural Chicken 5-Piece Measuring Set (K29354).

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

The beauty of this recipe—besides the fact that it’s literally Chicken Pot Pie with Chicken & Dumplings combined into one perfect muffin—is its size. You can eat hearty comfort foods without feeling guilty because you’re sticking to a single serving size. You're not blindly filling a bowl or plate until it's full, and in turn, eating two or three servings. I also love this particular recipe because you can make the filling ahead of time and freeze it for later. Talk about a time saver!

Don’t forget the Beekman Boys are in the kitchen tomorrow with their new title, The Beekman 1802 Heirloom Vegetable Cookbook. I shared their Vegetable-Cheddar Breakfast Muffins recipe in my blog on Friday…did you see it? They've also got Mary, Brent, Josh, and I will see you Wednesday for In the Kitchen with David at 8pm ET!

Keep it flavorful!
—David

Hello to our QVC fans!

Here at Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare, we have SPRINGTIME on the brain, thanks to this gorgeous weather. You, too? Tulips…sunshine…sandals…and our favorite (of course): brand-new spring skin care—all with science behind it!

The heavy-duty formulas served us well this winter (ahem, polar vortex), but it’s finally time to swap them for lighter textures. Dr. Gross is dedicating a whole, hour-long QVC show to helping you do just that on Thursday, April 17 at 11am ET. He’s going to unveil the best of the 2014 solutions for great-looking skin.

Can’t wait? Neither can we! So here are a few preview tips from Dr. Gross himself in the meantime:

• Winter left us feeling dry and dehydrated. Did you know that Steamer Solutions—Dr. Gross' facial steamer—cleans, hydrates, and exfoliates the oldest surface layer of skin? After using, seal moisture into the skin underneath with Hyaluronic Moisture Cushion Moisturizer.

• Dr. Gross advises those with normal-to-less-sensitive skin to use a gentle chemical peel every morning to resurface the skin. Alpha Beta Peels blend alpha and beta hydroxy acids to make skin look polished, brighter, and smoother.

• If you weren’t using SPF this winter, you should definitely be using one now. Many of us complain that sunscreens are too greasy to use daily. “I created CC Cream SPF 18 to give luxurious, but lightweight UVA/UVB coverage,” says Dr. Gross. It immediately moisturizes and brightens the skin—and even helps conceal wrinkles and dark circles.

• Dr. Gross formulated his Colloidal Sulfur Mask to help visibly reduce the appearance of  pores for clearer, healthier-looking skin.

• The Ferulic + Retinol Discovery Kit contains three best-selling products (perfectly sized for travel) to keep your skin looking fresh and gorgeous, no matter where the season takes you. See you April 17!

—Dr. Dennis Gross

My mother makes the best potato salad!  It is a simple recipe, potatoes, celery, seasoned salt, Hellmann’s mayo and lots of LOVE.  I have watched her make it for years and still have not been able to get the same flavor.  I decided that instead of trying to do what she does, I should add my own FLAVOR to this classic dish.  I think it turned out really well.

Here’s the recipe, let me know what you think.

Sensational Spring Potato Salad

Ingredients:

1 lb. cooked potatoes, peeled, cubed to bite sizes pieces

1 cup chopped celery

¼ cup chopped red onion

3 tb. Hellmann’s mayo (add more if you like a creamier consistency)

2 tsp. celery salt

1 tsp.  dried dill

1 tb. Lawry’s Seasoned Salt

3 tb.  Relish

2 tb. Dijon mustard

Hard-boiled eggs

Recipe:

• Season cooked potatoes with celery salt, seasoned salt & dill
• Mix in celery, onions, relish, mustard & mayo.
• Refrigerate
• Garnish with sliced hard-boiled egg.  Enjoy!

You can find me on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/JayneBrownQVC

Twitter: www.twitter.com/jaynebrown1

Instagram: www.instagram.com/jaynebrownqvc

Google+: http://qvc.co/JayneBrownGPlus

Dressing the bump! 

test

It was an ordinary day at my design studio when an unknown retailer, QVC, walked into my showroom. The buyer tested a few items that sold well and invited me to make a guest appearance for the up-coming collection.

I was naive about what was to come... I thought I would be appear for a few minutes to introduce myself. To my surprise I was on air for a full hour! Totally unprepared, I dove right in to share my vision and my creations. Although I had never been on camera before, it felt natural to speak about the designs I had been working on for so many years. 

The rest is history… Vote now below to guess what year I made my first appearance on the Q!

xoxo,

Susan

Here at Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare, we have SPRINGTIME on the brain, thanks to this gorgeous weather. You, too? Tulips…sunshine…sandals…and our favorite (of course): brand-new spring skin care—all with science behind it!

The heavy-duty formulas served us well this winter (ahem, polar vortex), but it’s finally time to swap them for lighter textures. Dr. Gross is dedicating a whole, hour-long QVC show to helping you do just that on Thursday, April 17 at 11am ET. He’s going to unveil the best of the 2014 solutions for great-looking skin.

Can’t wait? Neither can we! So here are a few preview tips from Dr. Gross himself in the meantime:

• Winter left us feeling dry and dehydrated. Did you know that Steamer Solutions—Dr. Gross' facial steamer—cleans, hydrates, and exfoliates the oldest surface layer of skin? After using, seal moisture into the skin underneath with Hyaluronic Moisture Cushion Moisturizer.

Dr. Gross Facial Steamer with Hyaluronic MoistureCushion Moisturizer

• Dr. Gross advises those with normal-to-less-sensitive skin to use a gentle chemical peel every morning to resurface the skin. Alpha Beta Peels blend alpha and beta hydroxy acids to make skin look polished, brighter, and smoother.

Dr. Gross Anti-Aging Alpha Beta Peel Pads

• If you weren’t using SPF this winter, you should definitely be using one now. Many of us complain that sunscreens are too greasy to use daily. “I created CC Cream SPF 18 to give luxurious, but lightweight UVA/UVB coverage,” says Dr. Gross. It immediately moisturizes and brightens the skin—and even helps conceal wrinkles and dark circles.

Dr. Gross Anti-Aging CC Cream, SPF 18

• Dr. Gross formulated his Colloidal Sulfur Mask to help visibly reduce the appearance of pores for clearer, healthier-looking skin.

Dr. Gross Colloidal Sulfur Anti-Aging Mask, 1.7 oz.

• The Ferulic + Retinol Discovery Kit contains three best-selling products (perfectly sized for travel) to keep your skin looking fresh and gorgeous, no matter where the season takes you. See you April 17!

Dr. Gross Ferulic Acid & Retinol Discovery Kit 

—Dr. Dennis Gross

I had some fun with my four year olds this week as we got ready for Easter and enjoyed the awesome weather. 

 I got this idea on Pinterest and it was sooo easy.  Just took pipe cleaners, which we have tons of since my girls like to put beads on them, popsicle sticks, pom poms and glue. Every item was available at our local dollar store so it was a cheap and fun craft.

I let the girls pick their colors then just helped them wrap the pipe cleaners around the sticks.

Then I helped Grace and Georgia put a dab of glue on the top of the sticks and drop on the pop poms.

It was a quick little spring time project, but I think we had the most fun playing with our bunny whiskers afterwards.  They are still carrying then around!

I also helped the girls with another fun project.  This one came from my friend down the street who got cute little pots (again from the dollar store) and let the kids paint them.

She then let each child take home a plant in the pot.  Now they have their very own little flowers to start off spring.

 Happy Easter!!!

By the way....You can find me at www.facebook.com/kerstinlindquistqvc  and every Thursday at noon and Saturday at 10am on QVC!

Blessings!

Kerstin

Who isn't a little hooked on makeup?! We all subscribe to the idea that some cover-up, blush, mascara, and lipstick go a long way in boosting a girls confidence—and thanks to QVC & CEW Present Beauty with Benefits—which airs Thursday, April 17 at 8pm ET during our Share the Love event—our beauty rituals are taking on an even greater purpose!

Shop your favorite beauty items and help make a difference in the lives of people living and working with cancer. Eighty Percent of your purchase price of donated merchandise benefits the Cancer and Careers program of the CEW Foundation! Take a peek at a few questions and answers from three of the event’s leading ladies: Claudia Lucas, Carlotta Jacobson, and Tiffani Thiessen!

Claudia Lucas, QVC beauty merchandising director

What is Beauty with Benefits?

Beauty with Benefits is a concerted effort of the beauty industry to come together and combine its resources to present a compelling fund-raising event that will benefit so many. We know that we have very passionate beauty customers who shop at QVC and we are delighted to offer them the opportunity to get great beauty items from leading brands while being part of an event that will support and help so many men and women affected by cancer.

What are some of the beauty brands customers can expect to see?

We have an exciting lineup including Algenist, bareMineralsR, CHI, Clarins, Clarisonic, Dr. Denese, IT Cosmetics, Fresh, Laura Geller, Dr. Gross, Mally, Josie Maran, Dr. Perricone, Peter Thomas Roth, philosophy, StriVectin, tarte, T3, and WEN.

Carlotta Jacobson, president of Cosmetic Executive Women, creator of Cancer and Careers, and on-air guest during Beauty with Benefits

What does Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW) provide for the community?

CEW is a nonprofit professional organization for women and men in the beauty, cosmetics, and fragrance industries. Our mission is to develop the leadership potential of our members (over 5,700 executives strong!) through knowledge sharing, access, and networking opportunities. In 2001, the CEW Foundation launched Cancer and Careers, a groundbreaking initiative that helps cancer survivors thrive in the workplace. It is the enthusiasm of the beauty industry that makes Cancer and Careers’ free support system possible for over 250,000 people annually. The only organization of its kind, the program addresses all aspects of balancing cancer and work, with essential advice from experts and fellow survivors alike, interactive tools, and educational events. Eighty percent of the top cancer centers use our services and publications.

What was the inspiration for CEW to start Cancer and Careers?

During a period of two years, five out of 40 CEW board members were diagnosed with cancer. All five women continued to work during or after treatment, and encountered similar problems. They were courageous. They had to be—there were really no resources to help them address their work-related challenges—namely, how to manage a career and cancer at the same time. CEW is committed to filling that void. We are here to eliminate fear and uncertainty and to support those in a key position to help, including healthcare providers, managers, and co-workers. Our everyday work is helping survivors work through it.

Tiffani Thiessen, actress, and Beauty with Benefits spokesperson

How does it feel to be a part of Beauty with Benefits and help a great cause like Cancer and Careers?

I am extremely honored to be a part of this amazing cause that brings confidence to people who have battled cancer. Cancer hits close to home for me—from family members to very dear friends in my life.

Since we’re talking about beauty, do you have any beauty secrets?

Yes—confidence is key to feeling beautiful inside and out!

And now for the age-old question—if you’re running out the door and can only grab one beauty product, what would it be and why?

Mascara. Your eyes are what everyone looks at the most!

Happy Easter! Happy Passover! It’s a week for celebrating and week for eating. Could life be any better? We do Easter at my house and a glow-in-the-dark Easter egg hunt is in the plan, as is dinner with all the trimmings.

Speaking of dinner, there’s still time to get a Easter ham from QVC if you haven’t had time to pick one up. And, while you’re at it, take a peek at our entire gourmet food category. There’s something to be said for making an entire meal from scratch, but I never seem to find the time! Some things MUST be homemade and I always make time for those dishes...otherwise my family would plan a mutiny. But, if I can buy Junior's Cheesecakes or get an assortment of Mrs. Prindable's for Easter baskets, I’m all about a shortcut here and there—especially if those shortcuts are as tasty as anything I could make!

Speaking of my favorite recipes—the ones that MUST be made from scratch—here’s my Pineapple Casserole. Ham and pineapple just work so well together and this recipe is just to die for! It's also super easy. 

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 4 eggs
• 5 slices white bread, cubed
• 1 (20-oz) can crushed pineapple, with juice

Preparation:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly butter an 11'' x 7'' or 2-qt casserole dish.
2. Cream the butter and sugar together by hand or with a stand mixer. Add the eggs in one at a time. Use a spatula to fold in the bread and pineapple (plus the juice). Stir the mixture gently until just incorporated and then pour the mixture into the prepared casserole dish.
3. Bake for 1 hour until it is light brown and bubbly. Let the casserole cool for about 20 minutes before serving.

I’ve got a lot of yummy recipes on QVC.com that you could make this Easter…go check them out! I’ll see you for You’re Home with Jillthis Saturday at 8pm. And check for a new blog on Friday—I’ll show you how to make an easy DIY centerpiece for your Easter or spring table!

From my home to yours,
—Jill

Sometimes you need a beauty overhaul without traveling the distance to your local spa. Whether you’re cutting costs, being a homebody, or just too busy to take a moment out of your day, luckily some treatments were made for savvy, lazy, overbooked women like us!

Dr. Dennis Gross has designed products with spa-quality but refined usability for the lady who likes to do at-home beauty…and let me tell you, the perks are endless. In fact, as I write this blog from my office, I have the Dr. Gross Facial Steamer running next to me, sending through a steady stream of super-moisturizing steam. It’s perfect in the spring to help clear up my nasal passages when I have allergies and I use it on my son when he has a stuffy nose too! It’s a humidifier and facial steamer all in one. Now, that’s what I call multitasking! (And true luxury.)

But let’s get down to the business of at-home beauty treatments, after the rundown of these stellar products, you might just be inspired for a home makeover.

There’s no quicker way to help your skin than pumping it full of moisture with the Dr. Gross Facial Steamer. Set it up wherever you are, and enjoy the humidity! You can do work while it runs, or read! Try a hair mask by massaging some olive oil into your scalp while sitting with the steamer on to help aid encourage penetration. But if you want to go full-on relaxation, take a moment out of whatever you’re doing, tie your hair back, sit and enjoy the steam!

If you’ve ever considered a peel, look no further than the Dr. Gross Alpha Beta Peel pads. These little disposable pads, (there’s two kinds in the box) work first to help refine your skin’s surface, then improve cell turnover while brightening the skin.

Forget glowing from within, and get some skin brightening effects with Dr. Gross’ Ferulic Acid + Retionol Brightening Solution. For any woman who may want an even, brighter skin tone, this is your new best friend. This solution works overtime to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and helps your skin appear younger and firmer. Keep your spa day flow by using after the Alpha Beta Peels as recommended.

The best part of your at-home spa day is getting ready to go out and show off all your hard work (hard work may be an overstatement, this stuff is as fun to do as it looks.) Use Dr. Gross’ CC Cream to finish off your look. It protects with an SPF 18, and helps to both moisturize and hide flaws and redness. Perfect end to a makeover if I do say so myself.

If you’ve ever used any of these major impact products, let me know what you think in the comments!

As Easter 2014 approaches, I wanted to share a few fun stories about Easter from myself and some members of our Quacker Factory team. And, of course, I had to include a few fun pictures! Enjoy!

Myself (Yes, I insisted on wearing my Brownie uniform)

Well I remember my sisters and I having lots of fun on Easter. Of course, leading up to the big day we would dye eggs in all sorts of colors!! I know my Mom was not so happy to clean up our mess!! On Easter morning, we would wake up to see the baskets that the Easter Bunny left for us, my favorite—peanut butter eggs!! Then we would go to church, and, afterwards, we headed to our Grandparents’ house for Easter dinner. My Grandmother would make a cold buffet—ham, potato salad, macaroni salad and other cold dishes. My Uncle used to make this egg mold of scrambled eggs that he cooked then shaped into almost a cheese ball, and then we’d slice it up and serve it. At the time, I really did NOT get this dish!! As years went on and my sisters and I started planning Easter dinner, we decided that we wanted a hot Easter dinner. We were tired of our Grandmother’s tradition. That lasted a few years, and, when I began planning and hosting, I really missed the traditional dinner my Grandmother made. So I started making a mix of both hot and cold side dishes to go with our Easter ham. This tradition has stuck…for the moment anyway.

Patrick Hoy

Well, I wish that I could say that my favorite tradition about Easter, while growing up, was painting and dying the Easter eggs, but that just wasn't the case. Oh, don't get me wrong, I really did love sitting at the table with my little brother, mother, and father, and dying the eggs, but the problem was that I was not the best at coloring within the lines, so my eggs never seemed to look as pretty as everyone else's. And if the truth be known, I always ended up with more dye on my hands, face, lips, ears and clothes than on the eggs!!

But the tradition that I REALLY loved was HUNTING for the Easter eggs!! We had a community youth group center where I grew up, and every year at Easter they would have an Easter egg hunt. And each year we would go there after church on Easter Sunday, and the hunt would begin! It's no secret that I LOVE candy, so the minute they said 'Go!' I was the leader of the pack and would be racing around to find every egg I could in hopes that each one would be stuffed with candy! Of course, the big prize came if you found the golden egg, and you just know that I did everything I could to find that one. No one was safe if they got in my way!! Well, imagine my surprise and absolute delight the year I actually found that golden egg. Not only did I win the biggest Easter basket, stuffed with candy, that I had ever seen, but I won a white Easter bunny as well!! Here's a picture of me with that bunny. I think you can tell from my smile how happy I was!

Kristy Destefano

One of the best Easter traditions we had was going to our local township park for their annual Easter egg hunt. There were SOOOOO many kids there, and I always remember it being crazy. Also, every Easter the "Easter Bunny" would hide our baskets at our grandparents’ house. My brother, TJ, and I could not wait to get there and find them. They were always filled with so much candy. There was always a big egg in the middle of the basket with our names on them in white icing. Most years there were the hollow sugar eggs with the opening on the end and a figurine on the inside. My grandmother would make her "famous" Italian cookies, which I make now as well as her Easter eggs - coconut and peanut butter. It was hard to pick which I liked the best…I think I changed favorites every other year. Here is a picture of my brother and me in 1977-ish?

Tim Bice - Jeanne’s son & co-founder of The Quacker Factory

One of my favorite Easter traditions has always been the sunrise church service on Easter morning. When I was a kid, we went to Grace Lutheran Church in Ripon, WI. The sunrise service was filled with excitement and joy, song and pageantry, trumpets and kettle drums, and the great gift that God gave us all with his son. I have always been a faith-filled man, but it seems so much more real that morning when we all say these words - He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

When I was young, that is how my family always greeted each other on Easter morning, and now, some 50 years later, I still feel it so strongly and with such joy that it is like I become a kid again.

Now as an adult, my wife Karin and I and our son James, if he can get home for the holiday, still enjoy the tradition of sunrise service. We go to St. Joe’s Church here in Delray Beach, FL, and there are still songs, and trumpets, and kettle drums. It is great to know that in today's crazy world that some things are still as they were. There is still joy, pageantry, and the promise of Easter. I hope you all get a visit from the Easter Bunny and you keep on Quacking!!!

Finally I wanted to share a photograph of one of Jeanne Bice’s trees. You know how much Jeanne loved the holidays, and she had a tree for every occasion. Here is her Easter tree…wasn’t she was the best decorator of trees, ever?!

From all of us at the Quacker Factory-- 

HAPPY EASTER!!

Check out the Quacker Factory collection on QVC.com.

When I first saw the new TSV pants from Susan Graver, I thought “a printed pant?"  Then I showed them to my friend, Kristen, and she went nuts!  She loved them…and now I do, too!  Since my sister, Sue, is in town visiting, I wanted her to get into the act too, to see how she would style them.  Of course, Isabella & I couldn’t be left out. :) Check out how easy these pants were to style and how great they look on a 4 year old, 20 year old, 49 year old and 58 year old!

Kristen: Spring is finally here, and you know what that means, right?! Warm weather, bright colors, and lake trips! On Sunday, I took a break from the craziness of my final semester of college and went to the lake with some friends to enjoy the warmth. This outfit is inspired by the gorgeous weather that we've been having in Pennsylvania. The navy polka dot Susan Graver pants are flowy and perfect for a walk on the beach. And, what better color to pair with navy than pink!? I put on a beachy crocheted open cardigan and my floppy hat to pull everything together.

Sue: I’m visiting my sister, Nancy, for the week, and she asked me to do some styling with her.   I’m 58 years old and love to wear “statement” pieces; but, I never thought in a million years I could (or would) wear a printed pant.  But, boy, are the Susan Graver crop pants awesome!  I absolutely love the fit, the fabric and the easy-to-wear print.  The bohemian-style wedges and bright orange top made sense to pair with the woodcut print.  I would absolutely wear this outfit to the office!  (FYI – I’ll be ordering these at midnight, so that I can wear them to the office.)

Isabella:  I love to play dress up! 

Now me:  I wanted to show you that this new crop pant from Susan isn’t just for casual affairs.  They are also Madison Avenue, Kentucky Derby, I-have-very-good-taste-and-I-live-in-a-mansion affairs!  I paired the polka print with a simple cami (that I’ve had for years), popped the only crisp white shirt I own over it & tied it at the waist.  Next, I added some Jacqueline Kennedy jewelry, Joan Rivers sunglasses and a smashing pair of sandals with a little bit of bling and called it a day.  

-Nancy

Join the fun on my facebook page!

“My love of jewelry never wavers. No matter how many pieces I own, it never seems too much. I collect jewelry with an intensity of a fine art collector. And why not? Jewelry is art.”– Joan Rivers

DAVID:

Joan, are you as excited as I am about an ENTIRE HOUR OF GORGEOUS JEWELRY???

JOAN:

I am beside myself!! I wanted to do something very special for my jewelry ladies! You know my first love has always been jewelry, and the timing couldn’t be better. The fashion world has gone crazy for classic, timeless fashion jewelry looks…And who predicted this?

DAVID:

YOU DID JOAN!!!!!! Ha! The hour is packed with signature pieces you are famous for: bee pins (J288637), statement necklaces (J290036), dramatic collectible brooches (J279317), and Russian inspired egg jewelry! Wow, what a perfect assortment of quintessential ‘Joan’ looks!

J288637 Wildflower Bee Pin

“Wildflowers are flowers that were not intentionally planted and grow in the wild. They often symbolize a free spirit or someone who’s always on the move and loves to travel.” -Joan          

J290036 Jeweled Blossoms 15” Necklace with 3” Extender

“My most popular necklace of the season is back, and I’m adding a brand-new color choice!” -Joan

J279317 Limited Edition Pave' Gardenia Pin

“As you know, the gardenia is my very favorite flower. I couldn’t do an hour of my favorite jewelry without including it.” -Joan

Mini Russian Egg 7-3/4” Line Bracelet

“Attention, Russian egg lovers! To celebrate my love of Russian-themed jewelry, I went back to the archives to re-issue one of my favorite bracelets of all time.” -Joan

Please join Joan and JILL BAUER on April 21^st at 5pm for an entire hour dedicated to gorgeous jewelry!!  And, I hope you will join me for a LIVE chat right here on this blog during the entire show!

Joan and David’s upcoming QVC visits include:

Monday, April 21^st

6am – Fashionably Early with David Dangle

5pm – Joan Rivers Classics Collection - All Jewelry Hour!

7pm – PM Style

Tuesday, April 29^th

4am – Joan Rivers Classics Collection with David Dangle

Follow Joan on TWITTER at www.twitter.com/joan_rivers

Or on FACEBOOK at www.facebook.com/joanrivers

Or on INSTAGRAM at www.instagram.com/joanrivers

Or on WhoSay at www.whosay.com/joanrivers

Follow David on FACEBOOK at www.facebook.com/daviddangleqvc

Or on INSTAGRAM at www.instagram.com/daviddangle

For Joan’s concert, TV and QVC schedule go to www.joanrivers.com

Easter has always been a fun holiday for my family and I. I especially have fond memories of sitting around the kitchen table with my Grandma and sisters making special Easter eggs! Every year without fail my Grandma would visit and we would all gather around with newspapers spread out across the kitchen table and plenty of paper towels handy for her favorite way to decorate eggs. It was delicate hand blown painted eggs.

We would first carefully make a small hole on either side of the egg. Then, using a toothpick we would beat the inside so it would easily pour out. Then, it was the fun part! We would blow into one side until almost all of the yolk was out. It got pretty messy at times, but I preferred it that way. We would always mess up on the first few eggs, but eventually one would come out perfectly and we got to paint it. Mine was always hot pink!

Easter is almost synonymous with these memories and I, now, try to recreate them with my own kids.

Just as my Grandma used to, I gather the kids and spend a evening making her special Easter eggs with them. But, of course my son doesn’t like to paint his eggs pink! Ha ha. On the morning of Easter, we go to church and then come home to do the traditional Easter egg hunt with the whole family. Thanks Grandma, Mom and Dad for always making my Easter holiday so special! And from the Potempa family, we wish you all a very Happy Easter!

xo,

Sarah