Hey everyone,
As another summer comes to an end and Autumn gets ready to wrap us in her cool embrace, I wanted to take a moment to celebrate life. When I think about all the work and preparation that has gone into launching our JAI Jewelry Collection here at QVC, the most memorable moments had little to do with the actual jewelry but the people, places, and moments I experienced while on this journey. I would love to take a moment to share some of my favorite summertime moments with you.
As the curator of JAI, I spend much of my time on trains, planes, and automobiles. One of my favorite things to do is people watch and imagine who they are and where they are going. I have met many interesting and inspiring people on my travels.
This past month, I met an amazing family. While flying back from my parent’s home in South Florida with my baby girl Olive, I watched a family in motion. They were coming back from a Caribbean cruise that was sponsored for them by the Make a Wish Foundation. The young lady at the center of the family was Carly. I was sitting behind the family and watched everyone from her mother Christina, to Carly’s nurse, and her siblings rally, love, and enjoy their Carly. It was only a matter of moments until I told Christina that we were going to be friends. We spent much of the flight sharing life stories, about family, being a parent, and life in general. I saw in her the parent that I want to be, one that loved without fear, one that embraced life, and one that lived life out loud. Carly’s birthday is coming up on September 17th, so on our August 29th show, I am going to surprise her and kick off her Birthday month with a cake, while she is watching.
Although I have only been working with the QVC team for a short time period, I truly feel like I am Charlie from Charlie’s Angels. I am surrounded by my QVC Angels. The entire team here at QVC has been so gracious and encouraging that I can’t imagine being anywhere else in my life. I have shared so many wonderful moments behind the scene with such a great cast of characters along with my on air QVC Angels. Here are just a few behind the scene moments with my angels.
For those of you who have read my blogs or been able to catch one of my JAI shows, you may have noticed that family is incredibly near and dear to me. This summer, my family expanded with the birth of my first child. My daughter Olive was born June 5th and my life has never been the same. I come from a crazy and large loving family. With the birth of my daughter, I have been embraced by each of them as a Dad and they are teaching me by example how to continue the loving path of parenting that our parents taught us. Throughout my life, my parents’ showed us that time together is more important than money. This is a virtue I will live by with my family.
Lastly, I want to celebrate the birth of our JAI Collection here at QVC. When I chose to leave the world of John Hardy and curate a new collection exclusively for QVC I had no idea what I was in store for. In the past year that I have worked on this collection I have traveled throughout the Far East. I have met some amazing artisans who have taught me so much. I have discovered parts of the world that I didn’t know existed and at the same time, discovered parts of me that I didn’t know were there. Hosting our JAI Facebook page and QVC blog has introduced me to new friends that I look forward to each day. All of this together has brought a beautiful collection inspired by artisans passion for giving and sharing, inspired by rich cultures and unique heritage, and created with love.
Please join me on August 29th at 10am- noon with Mary Beth as we celebrate 2 hours of new designs and new inspirations. Come back again at 6pm, as Jill kicks off the ultimate JAI Happy Hour with even more new designs that will continue to build your JAI wardrobe.
Please find below two end of summer drink recipes that were recommended by some of our friends on our JAI Facebook page. You can enjoy while we go on our new journey together and treasure hunt though out the Far East during our upcoming show. I want to thank Melanie Rodriquez for sharing her favorite ‘Cherry Smash’ summer drink along with Jean Gagliardo who’s ‘Mango Getaway’ was inspired by her time on the islands.
This blog will be live during and after the shows where I will be answering any and all of your questions and comments. Feel free to share what you are celebrating in life & to wish Carly a Happy Birthday. Life is good, let’s enjoy this together. Join me on our JAI Jewelry Facebook page, JAIJewelry_ Instagram , or our @JAIJewelry Twitter account to see the latest and greatest from all of my travels and inspirations.
Safe Travels,
Scott Grimes
Melanie’s ‘Cherry Smash’
1 cup ‘pitted’ cherries
¼ cup fresh mint leaves; (plus 4 sprigs for garnish)
8 teaspoons sugar
¼ cup lime juice
3 cups cherry flavored seltzer
(3/4 cup dark rum optional)
*Preparation: Divide cherries, mint leaves and sugar among 4 glasses. Mash everything together with the back of a wooden spoon. Stir in lime juice (rum optional), fill glass with ice and top with Seltzer. Garnish with mint sprigs.
Jean Gargliardo’s: ‘Mango Getaway’
1 Fresh Mango
1 Tablespoon of Mango syrup: (Mango rum optional)
1 cup of Gingerale
Preparation: Easy breezy because you are meant to be on vacation. Dice up the mango into cubes, add 6 of the cubes along with ice into your cup, add a tablespoon (to taste) of Mango syrup (Mango rum optional), and top off with Gingerale. Light, refreshing, and quick to serve.