Hi everyone!

I am so excited and thrilled to be a part of the Christmas in July Finale.  As many of you know from following me on Facebook, and my blog, that I just love Christmas and decorating for it. Nothing could be more natural for me than to design holiday inspired gifts and decorations for the home. This show in particular has a stuffed toy dog that was inspired by my own little sweetheart, Lily. 

I think it’s a perfect gift for children of all ages (including all of us adults.) There is also a brand new teddy bear– you collector’s will love!

Please join me to see my full assortment of holiday ornaments, gifts and specialty items on July 31st at 3pm. 

To get in the mood for Christmas, I think you should crank up the air conditioning, make a cup of hot chocolate and check out the Christmas in July Finale.  

Here are some of my holiday decorating pictures, do you have a favorite decoration please share your pictures too.   

xoxo, Dennis

Can't wait shop my Christmas items now.

Simply stepping into QVC these days is like walking in a winter wonderland. Busy little elves have been decking the halls for Christmas in July everywhere you look…and I absolutely love it!

You know how most kids count down to Christmas? Well, when I was little, I counted down to the day my family unpacked all of our holiday decorations with the same excitement. Christmas for me has always been as much about the buildup and prep as it is about the celebrations…which would explain why I love Christmas in July at QVC so much!

And this year, Christmas in July is even more exciting than ever for temp-tations because I’m launching our brand-new holiday décor line. For the first time ever, you’ll be able to decorate for the holidays using festive temp-tations patterns in every area of your home!

Ornaments, luminaries, snow globes, sentiments – all in festive temp-tations colors and patterns, including NEW stunning silver and gold designs that are absolutely breathtaking. Just take a peek!

You should have seen me…When I unpacked the first samples of my new designs months ago, I felt just like I did when I was little girl, unwrapping my favorite holiday ornaments from the big box in our attic. I immediately started imagining all the fun and festive ways I was going to feature these in my holiday decorating plans. And I can’t wait for you to share that moment with me!

We’ll be introducing the entire home accent line in a special one-hour temp-tations Holiday Home Décor show on QVC,  Thursday 7/31 at 7:00 pm ET – kind of like those televised Holiday Specials I used to look forward to as a kid!

But no need to wait until then. If you want to see what we’ve been working on all these months, you can browse and buy right now! It’s my Christmas in July gift to you.

Over the past 11 years, temp-tations has helped so many families create lasting memories around the table…That’s why I’m so excited to help you spread those family moments and memories throughout your home. Because family and traditions…that’s what the holidays – and temp-tations – are all about. And I’m so happy to share both with you!

XOXO

Tara

Hello everyone!

Dr. Perricone has been on a quest to find a way to create what he refers to as “Glass Transition Results” or GTR. The idea is to create visible results to the skin that have “glass-like” texture, radiance, and translucency qualities.

To help achieve GTR, Dr. Perricone uses one of today's most effective skin-care ingredients: hyaluronic acid. He's created a formulation synergizing not one, not two, but three forms of this amazing ingredient. He also combined it with the power of his Plasma technology to create a one-of-a-kind product. And the name of this innovation? Hyalo Plasma.

Enjoy!

—Dana Bledsoe

Greetings Denim Divas, Denim and Company Fans and Brand New Denim Gals too!

I know you look forward to Denim and Company's Must-Have Leather Jacket for Fall, every year! Well now....THIS YEAR the D&Co team has outdone themselves with the best one yet!! Introducing our Denim and Company Lamb Leather Motorcycle Jacket with Pockets!!

Now, before you start envisioning yourself looking like "the Fonz" or one of the "bad girls" from Grease, stop right there!  This beautiful jacket is not straight out of the 50s and 60s...but instead, Denim and Company has taken all of your favorite "moto-inspired" details and put them into a jacket that is not only beautiful, but easy to wear with just about everything in your Fall closet!! 

You best get ready to turn heads when  you wear it! Truly, if you are going to buy only one leather jacket this year, THIS is the one to get! Why? Because not only does it look great, and gives you that "edge" and that "cool factor", but it is the highest quality leather we have ever used in a Denim and Co leather jacket TSV. It is the quality lamb leather that you have told us time and again that you love.

The motorcycle silhouette is "modern Denim and Company"....classic, on trend and very fashionable for the upcoming Fall season! IT is being offered in gorgeous leather colors of Navy (my favorite!), Cognac Brown, Black, Fall Wine, Evergreen and Mallard Blue. We've updated this silhouette per your requests and have made it less "boxy", and slightly more fitted.  We've incorporated princess seaming details as well, which make this jacket wonderfully figure-flattering! We've given it a "split sleeve" so you can roll it up or leave it long, as  you choose. It looks amazing whether you zip it up or wear it open. I was VERY pleased when I tried it on and checked it out in the mirror. Just like "the Fonz".....two thumbs up!  It's yummy, it's fun, it's easy, it's great looking, it's Denim and Company!! Vrroooomm!!! Fall, here we come!!

Love,

Your resident Denim and Co Diva

Carolyn XO

PS- here's a look into my closet: Carolyn’s Closet, connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, and toGather.

My dear friend’s mother-in-law created this yummy cheesecake and is sharing the recipe with me!  Easy to make.. and YUM! If you have any yummy dessert recipes you would like to share, please email me at n_hornback@qvc.com.  I am always looking for new ideas for snacks!

Ricotta Cheese Cake

Ingredients:

8-9” spring pan

2 - 8oz cream cheese bars

1-1/2 lb Ricotta cheese

2 cups sugar

6 eggs

6 tbs flour

1 pint of sour cream

Steps:

• Cream the cheese and sugar.
• Add eggs, one at a time, mixing after each one.
• Add and mix rest of ingredients.
• Put in Spring Pan (you can lightly spray inside of pan with cooking spray)
• Bake for 1 hour @ 350 oven.
• Shut off oven and leave in oven for 1 hour.
• Cool 1 hour.
• Refrigerate

Thank you Josephine for the wonderful recipe!

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NancyQVC

Instagram: www.instagram.com/nancyhornbackqvc

Nail polish has moved way beyond your standard red and pink. In the last few years, women of all ages have started to sport blue, purple, orange, even gray nails.  It only makes sense that the newest trends involve taking it to the next level by combining these colors. Two-toned nails are more popular than ever and fortunately, it's easy and affordable to get the look.

Take a look at this video and let me know what you think!

Every Saturday on my Facebook page, I feature My Weekend Polish Pick. You can join me.... 

I have been so blessed with wonderful girlfriends and I thank God for them every day! They come from all walks of life ..... some I work with, some I went to school with, some I've known for a few years and some I've known forever. They all hold a special place in my life and I thought that since today is 'National Girlfriend's Day', I would take a moment to honor them all here!

Counting our blessings,

Mary Beth

This is my friend. Alison. She did my make-up in this photo on the day of Ryan's graduation party.

Say hi to Kim and Heather. We went to the Rachael Ray show in New York and had a blast.

And of course you know this beauty, Linda Davies!

Here's the gang at the Rachael Ray show!

This is Maria McCool, my friend and my hairstylist for more than two decades! I am so grateful for her friendship and artistry.

This is Erika. I have worked with her off and on for almost 20 years at QVC. She helps me with photos, ideas and keeping in touch with my fans. Erika is all things social.

I got to meet a lovely Q viewer, Michelle, at the local fair a few weeks ago, along with her husband and kids and mom, Kathy! A lovely family! People who love QVC are some of the nicest people I know and I definitely consider Q fans my friends!

And the people I work with are incredibly nice, helpful and thoughtful! Love my QVC friends, my family away from home!

And of course, the woman who needs no introduction, Marie Osmond.

Who is your best friend?

This week is the first Lisa Robertson Show of the season! This season there are only five episodes, so we really packed them full. There is the best lineup of G.I.L.I.(TM) fashion ever! I have already been wearing some of the pieces to try them out and I can not begin to tell you how excited I am about them. We have SIX new G.I.L.I.(TM) pieces in the first show and one of them is a gorgeous bag.

There is the MOST flattering skirt, the MOST high-end perforated leather jacket, the MOST ladylike dress, the MOST fashionable bag, the MOST, the MOST, the MOST...you get the idea. Just look at The Looks and you will see why I am so excited!

If you go to my Facebook page, you can shop for the skirt today, the bag tomorrow, and the leather jacket on Friday at 10pm ET.

We are also going to be introducing brand-new beauty brands and products and gorgeous jewelry, as always.

If you use Instagram, there is going to be something special every Friday before the shows as well. It's an "E ticket" ride, (as they used to say at the amusement park), and I can't wait!

See you Friday at 10pm ET! :)
—Lisa

Today’s job: Tour Guide! While many of us are used to the non-stop, 24-7  world of QVC, it’s always great to open our doors to someone who’s never seen it before. Karen Rodgers from a popular  Show called “FYI-Philly” dropped by to join in the fun, even presenting a product with Jill Bauer QVC.

 Hey , if this day job doesn’t work out… ‘Step right this way! Single file please…  

Here we go! It’s the start to a new QUACKTABULOUS Fall Fashion season here at The Quacker Factory!! We are bursting at the seams with excitement on all the goodies we have in store for you – so we wanted to give you a ‘sneak peek’ at some of our favorite designs that we’ve ‘fallen’ in love with!

We are women - hear us ROAR! Let’s kick off the season with a walk on the wild side! Check out our Quacker Factory Leopard Flutter ¾ Sleeve T-shirt! It will be available soon, so don’t let this one fly by!

A kaleidoscope of Fall colors decorate the Quacker Factory Harvest Floral ¾ Sleeve T-shirt. Sparkle through the change of seasons in this beautiful embroidered top. Perfect for those crisp fall days, pumpkin picking, football games, or grabbing coffee with a friend!

Something wicked this way comes!! Whether you’re headed to ‘Ghouls Night Out’ or any of your Halloween happenings, our Quacker Factory Moonlighting Witch ¾ Sleeve T-shirt is one you won’t want to miss! No tricks! Just this little treat available soon!

The ultimate in glamour, sparkle and comfort, our Quacker Factory Rockin’ Rhinestone Sparkle Sweatshirt will be your new wardrobe favorite - we promise! In this one piece, you can walk the dog, run errands, meet your friends for dinner, and look rockstar fabulous all day! 

So if you’ve ‘fallen’ in love with these BRAND NEW designs, make sure to sign up to receive email alerts from QuackerFactory.com when these styles are available to purchase – just click HERE. You’ll be the first to know when they’re ready to ship to your wardrobe and will get the scoop on all the Quacker Factory fun!  

Check out the latest Quacker Factory fashions on QVC.com.

Hello Denim Divas,

Are you ready to ride into fall?

I am very excited that we have this stunning leather jacket for you today – our Denim & Co. Lamb Leather Motorcycle Jacket with Pockets (A255539)! The motorcycle jacket continues to be a major look for all seasons, and have we got a special one for you!!! When creating this, we were inspired by all of the classic ‘moto’ jackets from years past, but we wanted something more cleaned up, modern and versatile. This Denim & Co. jacket can be worn open or closed and works just as well whether it’s worn inside or outside.  

So, jump on and join the club…this jacket will add instant style to any ensemble - day or night!

Below are a few ways we styled this jacket:

Look 1: Sleek & Chic

(Holding the Motorcycle Jacket in Fall Wine)

Black Motorcycle Jacket styled with:

A256331 Denim & Co. Stretch Woven 3/4 Sleeve Peplum Shirt

J292003 Joan Rivers Bursts of Color 18" Necklace w/ 3" Extender

A254944 Dooney & Bourke Lambskin Leather Snapper Wristlet

A227290 Denim & Co. Pull On Stretch Knit Cord Leggings

A254578 G.I.L.I. Chantal Patent Leather Pointed Toe High Heel Pumps

Look 2: Classic Yet Fashionable

Cognac Brown Motorcycle Jacket styled with:

A256324 Denim & Co. Polka Dot Sweater Knit 3/4 Sleeve Pull-over

A251358 Denim & Co. "How Comfy" Slim Leg Pants with Pockets

A239202 Liz Claiborne New York Knit Infinity Scarf

A239466 Isaac Mizrahi Live! Classic Suede Moccasins

A236527 Dooney & Bourke Florentine Leather Kingston Hobo

Look 3: Southwestern Boho

Navy Motorcycle Jacket styled with:

A256332 Denim & Co. Stretch Denim Long Sleeve Button Front Shirt

A254000 Liz Claiborne New York Medallion Printed Scarf with Fringe

A210494 Denim & Co. Regular Classic Waist Stretch Moleskin Pants

A236369 Aimee Kestenberg Pebble Leather Flap Crossbody

A236911 White Mountain Jitter Suede Ankle Boots with Strap Detail

“I love this jacket because of the ‘cool factor’ and being very easy to wear; plus the leather is so soft and comfortable” - Carolyn Gracie

“I couldn’t believe how gorgeous this was when I first saw it…and then I tried it on and the fit is just perfect! The Denim & Company team has done it again!” -Antonella Nester

Shop the completed Denim & Co. collection on QVC.com.

Mark and I are equally proud of all four of our children; however, the focus at the moment, is on our youngest son, Ryan.

Ryan recently graduated from high-school with straight A's and will soon be off to college. 

The Teenager's Prayer hangs in our home.

Back in the day, our boys loved Thomas the Tank Engine. In this photo I remember they were making a train!

It was a miracle we captured this shot with all 4 of our children with the same pose.

Unfortunately, since we lived so far away from my parents and had our hands full with children and work, we did not get to visit as often as we would have liked. I remember when Ryan was about two or three years old he used to tell my mom to, "go home", because he wasn't quite sure who she was. As the years went by and Ryan got older, he recognized "grandma" and looked forward to her visits and big hugs!

I adore this picture! We were at a friend's wedding and Ryan was so proud how "cool" he was wearing sunglasses indoors!

Like mom, like son!

We have a tradition in the Roe household. On each child's 12th birthday, Mark and I took them to an upscale local restaurant called, The Dilworthtown Inn ..... just the three of us while the others stayed with a friend. It was their own special day ... a sort of a coming of age type thing. A lesson in manners, maturity, respect, etc. And boy, how doing that made them each feel incredibly special. With 4 children, solo time with each one of them didn't always come easy. They still remember their 12th birthdays to this day!

This was the same night of Ryan's 12th birthday just prior to our elegant dinner.

Prom night

And of course, Ryan's high school graduation day! This young man makes me so proud! He was always a straight A student, is an Eagle Scout and was the President of the National Honor Society ..... just an all-around good person .... kind, respectful, helpful, hard-working, etc. Words just cannot express how blessed and grateful Mark and I are with Ryan, with all 4 of our children! PTL!

Have a great weekend everyone and thank you for allowing me to share our joy with you!

Counting our blessings,

Mary Beth Roe 

Ingredients

• 1 box chocolate cake mix
• 3/4 cup butter
• 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
• 11 oz. bag of caramels (I like Kraft brand)
• 1 cup chopped pecans (optional)
• 1 cup chocolate chips

Hello, foodies…

I walked into my local supermarket yesterday and they had a display of fresh pineapple that I just couldn’t pass up. I swear…I think the produce people put magnets behind their fruit and veggie displays…it’s impossible not to stop and buy the special of the day! Anyway, I got home with my pineapple and was looking on QVC.com for a great recipe and I stumbled upon EIGHT. Now I have to go get more pineapple. And you need to know about these perfect summer recipes.

Ginger Pineapple Mojito

Loaded Frozen Piña Colada

Stuffed Raisin Bread French Toast with Pineapple Sauce

Aloha Chicken

Tropical Stuffed Chicken Breasts

Sweet & Sour Chicken

Grilled Pineapple with Fresh Fruit & Vanilla Ice Cream

Pink Stuff with Macadamia Nuts & Lemon Zest

All these recipes live on my recipe page on QVC.com. You can also find this collection in a single pin on my Pinterest page. Happy summer and happy pineapple picking!

Keep it flavorful!
—David

Deirdre went to her first ballet recital before she was born! Her big sister Cara was performing about a month before Deirdre was born so it just seemed natural that as soon as she was old enough, she went to dance class too.  Growing up, Cara and Deirdre would perform numbers from classic musicals (Sound of Music, Meet Me in St. Louis) when they were about ages 7 and 2.  Most guests were treated to "So Long, Farewell..." from the Sound of Music as they headed out the door!  And, like all sisters, they had their moments, but the bond of dance has always been there for them and always will be!

If it was Cara who got Deirdre to start dancing, it was Deirdre who brought her big sister back. In seventh grade Cara decided to focus on swimming and left dancing.  She devoted herself to the pool just like she had to the dance floor.  In her freshman year of high school we all went to see Deirdre in her first Nutcracker. Cara was so moved, and later told me she wanted to go back to dance.  Her ballet mistress welcomed her back, but she had years to make up for and worked harder than I've ever seen her work. 

If you told me then, that after missing years of dance, Cara would now be a professional ballerina with a contract with a well-known company, I would not have thought it was possible! But she never gave up, never stopped trying, and had the courage to pursue her dream.  Believe me, there were rough spots along the way, but she pushed through. She had near career ending surgery, had rejections and then many offers. Even now, as she is working on her first season in ballet, she is also pursuing a degree in Communications and Public Relations through Penn State World Campus. 

And although Deirdre loves ballet too, her passion is lyrical and jazz.  She is a force in a tiny package, and comes home after hours of dance, puts on music, and keeps dancing! She also loves art, and is usually involved in a project or three at any given time! Deirdre shines on stage, and loves performing.  She also volunteers with the baby dancers who adorably call her "Miss Dee-dwa."

Dance has bonded me to my girls. I love that we can speak the same language.  They both thought it was cool that Mom knew how to sew pointe shoes without asking the teacher! I love watching them grow and pursue this art form that will bond them forever!

When we left Cara at the airport on her new adventure I was fine, until Deirdre collapsed in her big sisters arms and they both were crying.  Thank goodness for FaceTime and Skype, it makes the miles seem less far.

And no matter where they go in life, they will always be my baby ballerinas!!

-Jane

For fall, I have been obsessed with the idea of marrying the menswear trend with a strong feminine slant and finding the perfect way to pair some of fall’s must-have pieces together using both textures, colors and proportions to create that look.

Here’s how to do it: First of all, THE PATTERNED SWEATER has a longer silhouette this season, but leaning towards traditional menswear patterns such as houndstooth (like the one I designed for my collection) but by elongating the length of it, I’ve given it a much more feminine feel and making it easier to wear.

Of course I love pairing that with with another must-have for fall, a LEATHER SKIRT. In my case (Styled by Joe Zee Faux Leather Skirt), the faux leather skirt is shorter with tacked pleats (to minimize the unwanted fullness factor) with a jersey stretch waist to keep the comfort (very important to me!). I love this proportion when you’re talking fall, of the longer top with the shorter skirt, which is flattering for every woman when it comes to looking longer and taller. 

For more finds, you can shop my entire collection here

-Joe

Here are the most frequently asked questions from our customers about the HP Pavilion laptop. Don't see an answer to your question? Post your question to the blog, below, and check back throughout the day on Sunday, August 3, 2014, to have your question answered by our new HP Expert, Stephanie Humphrey!

Q: Does it have a touchscreen?
A: No, this is not a touch-enabled laptop.

Q: Is this Wi-Fi capable?
A: Yes.

Q: Is it Bluetooth capable?
A: No.

Q: Can you print wirelessly from this computer?
A: Yes, if you have a wireless-enabled printer.

Q: Does it have a CD/DVD drive?
A: Yes, this laptop has a SuperMulti DVD burner.

Q: Does it have an HDMI port?
A: Yes, it has one HDMI port.

Q: Can you Skype with this computer?
A: Yes.

Q: Can you connect an external monitor?
A: Yes, there is an HDMI port for an external monitor connection.

Q: Will it play and record Blu-ray discs?
A: No.

Q: Will the memory card reader read SD memory cards?
A: Yes.

Information provided by HP.

Connect with Stephanie, our new HP Expert, on Facebook!

Hello, foodies…

Sometimes our recipes on In the Kitchen with David make me feel nostalgic and Sunday’s recipe is truly one of those…we’re making Sweet Potato Tots with Cilantro-Lime Sauce. Obviously, sweet potatoes are a bit of a change from the original, as is the zesty cilantro-lime sauce. But, I still felt like a little boy again when we taste-tested this recipe in our QVC kitchen.

Sweet Potato Tots with Cilantro-Lime Sauce
Serves 4‒6

Ingredients:
Sauce:

• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, rough chopped
• 1/2 of a jalapeño pepper, stemmed, seeded, and minced
• 1 scallion, minced
• 1 Tbsp lime juice
• 1/2 tsp sugar
• 3-1/2 tsp salt, divided
• 3/4 tsp black pepper, divided

Tots:

• 2 medium-size sweet potatoes, peeled and cut in large pieces
• 1/4 cup flour, plus additional for rolling
• 1 tsp cornstarch
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
• 2 egg whites, beaten
• Oil, for frying

Preparation:

1. Combine the sour cream, cilantro, jalapeño, scallion, lime juice, sugar, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper in a small bowl. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
2. Place the sweet potatoes in a medium-size saucepan. Cover with cool water and add 2 tsp salt. Bring the potatoes up to a boil over medium heat.
3. Pierce the potatoes with a fork every 5–10 minutes until they feel slightly undercooked. Then, drain the water and let the potatoes cool in the pot.
4. Meanwhile, combine the flour, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, cornstarch, and the chili powder in a large bowl and set aside.
5. When the sweet potatoes have cooled, mash 1 piece of sweet potato and set it aside. Finely dice the rest of the potatoes. Carefully fold the mashed and diced sweet potatoes into the flour. The mixture should form a dough-like consistency when blended.
6. Cut the sweet potato dough in half. On a floured surface, roll out 1 half of the dough into a 13–14" log that's about an inch in diameter. Repeat with remaining dough. Slice each log into small 1" x 1" logs.
7. Preheat a deep fryer to 375°F.
8. Place the egg whites and breadcrumbs in two small shallow dishes. Roll each tater tot in the egg whites and then dredge in the breadcrumbs. Place the tots on baking sheets that have been lined with a couple layers of paper towels.
9. Fry the tater tots in batches of 6 until they're a deep golden brown, about 2 minutes. Serve with the dipping sauce.

This recipe is prepared with the Kuhn Rikon Colored Nonstick 4th Burner Pot by MarkCharles Misilli (K40455).

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

Foodies, if you rarely fry food in your house, you can bake these and get great results…just put them on an unlined baking sheet in a 350°F preheated oven for about 10–12 minutes.

As I sit here thinking about all of those days in the school cafeteria—a mound of tater tots—in front of me, I’m reminded of all those foods I loved growing up. I think my favorite was something my mother used to make for my brother, sister, and me when we wanted a snack. She used to take store-bought chocolate chip cookies and spread peanut butter in the middle so we had little dessert sandwiches. Sometimes, she blended them into milkshakes. I’ll share with you that I have chocolate chip cookie milkshake in my new cookbook that’s inspired after that very treat. And yes, it's as good as it sounds.

So in honor of those childhood favorites, tell me in your blog question today…what’s your favorite kid food? Meaning, what did you eat when you were little that you still love now? Peanut butter and jelly? Grilled cheese? Hot dogs? Jell-O? After chocolate chip peanut butter sandwiches, a grilled cheese is my favorite. There’s nothing better than white bread and melty American cheese. I can’t wait to hear your answers! I’ll see you Sunday on In the Kitchen with Davidat Noon ET.

Keep it flavorful!
—David

I am so very happy that cupcakes have made this incredible resurgence into society.  It seems like in every major city, on any given corner, an abundance of cupcakes can be found.  Whether it’s a sweet pick-me-up or a special occasion, I am finding out that there are more to cupcakes than just a pretty face!

I guess it was back in February I started thinking about the cake for our wedding.  Did we want something traditional, out of the box, or just down right too pretty to eat?! These were all good questions.  The good news is that in today’s market you can have just about anything you like… until you hear the price.  Thank goodness I was calling from Philadelphia because when one woman told me her cakes started at $11.99 a slice, I thought to myself “Quick! Say something… you’ve been silent for too long and she’s going to know something’s up!”  

That being said, I had to re-work my game plan and change my approach.  I decided to make an overall cake budget. What was I willing to spend to accommodate all of my guests but still feel like we had a beautiful wedding cake?  I set the price at $3.99 a slice and believe me that helped.  When calling bakeries, it was nice to be able to say “Hey, I’m getting married, I’d like to budget $3.99 a slice. Can you send me photos of cakes that fall into that category?”  When I got a yes to the budget most bakers told me to go on Pinterest and find a style of cake that we loved and to send it over and from there.  What great News!!  This was working out really well and then I met Jamie…

Jamie is a baker near my hometown that introduced me to a wonderful idea for the Bride on a Budget from Creations Bakery in Georgia.

When talking to her about how much I loved desert and how I wanted my wedding cake to taste like desert (we’ve all had “wedding cake” before J ) she suggested that I do a wedding cake and cupcakes.  I immediately thought “There is no way we can afford that.”  Jamie’s idea was that we could take the total number of party guests, say 250, and make 150 servings for wedding cake and 150 cupcakes.  This way there would be plenty of servings and something for everyone with all sorts of flavors.  The even better news you might ask? We would come out better on the budget than we would have if it was only wedding cake.  Genius!  With cupcakes coming in at $2 each… the hardest part was going to be which flavors do we go with?

Aaron and I thought we’d start with vanilla and chocolate… but cupcakes are way too evolved for that!  Jamie had us write down our favorite deserts and she put together a tasting that reflected those treats.  We had everything from Smores to Red Velvet, Bread Pudding, Crème Brulee, Cookie dough, Mint Chocolate, and even BBQ!  Say what?!

Creme Brulee cupcake

Blueberry Pancake cupcake

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough cupcake

Maple Bacon cupcake

S'mores cupcake

The only one I didn’t care for was the BBQ… which Aaron loved but thought for our wedding we should hold off.  The only one Aaron didn’t care for was the Red Velvet because he said we could have that anytime.  He had a point…

BBQ cupcake

That still left us with 7 cupcakes we absolutely adored.  Here’s where you come in… Which flavors would you like to see at our wedding?!  Believe me there are no bad choices but it’s always nice to hear what’s making your mouth’s water!  Let me know by voting on the Courtney Says I do Page this week.  Can’t wait to see the results!

Bride on a Budget Extra Tip:  Don’t be afraid to call bakeries that aren’t in your town or even your state.  Most bakeries are able to ship cupcakes anywhere with the amazing packaging they’ve come up with to secure your cupcakes and sweets.  Take for example Cakes and Candies MaryEllen, who did the cakes for Courtney Says I Do.  Not only was she one of the best priced gals in the PA area, Her cupcakes were delicious, and she ships!

XO,CC

http://www.facebook.com/CourtneyCasonQVC

http://twitter.com/CourtneyQVC

http://instagram.com/courtneycasonqvc

Find More Wedding Inspiration at Southern Living :)