Well, it’s official…. My husband has managed to be out of town for every single snow storm over the last 5 years. SERIOUSLY?!?!?!  How on earth did I draw the short straw?  I would love to say that I’m building character and perseverance; but in reality, I’m only building biceps and a better winter wardrobe to accommodate sub-zero temperatures. I’ve blown snow, shoveled snow, and now swept snow!

Yes, you heard me right…”swept” snow.  Ironically, I saw Roxanne DePalma on air for a Garden Event with a broom. In a passing moment, she said I could “even sweep snow.”  (I did a little internal snort in disbelief.) But I really like Roxanne and have enjoyed everything else she’s brought to the Q, so I picked one up anyway--- I figured if nothing else, I’d use it once we’d thawed out. This past weekend, I had to opportunity to test drive it and was blown away at how efficient it was at getting all the powdery snow off the walkway and steps! So as a note for all of you shoveling away, this broom works wonders and I highly suggest checking it out!

In addition to no Hubby at home, Nana and I had 3 children, 2 Chesapeake Bay Retrievers and 3 cats all cozied in…. and BORED…. For 5 days!  Needless to say, we had a few “moments.”  We ran out of movies and activities waaaay before we ran out of hours in the day.

Where shall I start???  How about with Biggest Little deciding to cut the dog’s hair….  So, I’ve just come in from shoveling and am sitting at the table with a cup of coffee.  In pounces Jonah (one of the dogs).  I look and then look again.  Jonah is naked.  In walks Biggest Little… beaming I might add.  “Mom, look what I did for you… I gave Jonah a haircut.  Isn’t he handsome.”

Me: Uh, No.  No he’s not handsome… he’s cold.  It’s below zero.  We don’t groom the dogs in the winter for a reason.

Little: Seriously Mom, I was trying to do something nice.  You have to admit I did a good job.

Jonah: Tail down and looking sheepish…. He knows he looks a mess

Me: Wait, wait, wait…. Where and with WHAT did you shave the dog???

Little: Oh, don’t worry, I thought ahead about the mess; so I put the dog in your bathtub and used Dad’s electric shaver.

--To say that I lost all blood flow and color in that instant would be putting the situation mildly—

I get up and start the ascent to my bathroom to assess the situation.  And, Yes, Biggest Little had actually placed a 65 pound dog (with 65 pound course dog hair) into my Jacuzzi tub and shaved him.  There were hair balls everywhere.  At this point, I am counting to 100 in my brain.  I’ve started deep meditative breaths; and am thinking of ways not to self- destruct. 

Little: See, mom,  I told you I took care of it.  There isn’t any hair on the floor.  It’s all in the bathtub.  I was able to wash most of it down the drain.”  --she was so proud of herself.

She had NO clue that she had quite possibly ruined the bathtub and clogged our already half frozen pipes.  I called the plumber.  He told me to start with a drain cleaner because I was too far down the list with the snow storm for a house call.  Thankfully, I had extra packets of the Green Gobbler in the garage. Under normal circumstances, I would only use one packet. Today called for two; and I was ready with a third if need be. Fortunately, it only took two packets and all of us lived to tell the tale.  Although, Hubby did need a new electric shaver as his was now toast.

Movies, I thought….movies are safe! Surely, I can put on a movie and let the Littles eat popcorn. I figured this would give me 2 hours to get some things done around the house----keep in mind that I still have to go to work.  So I download the Lord of the Rings trilogy from Netflix and start the search for microwave popcorn.  BIG score, not only did I find Microwave Butter popcorn; but I also found Microwave kettle corn.  I get each one their own bowl, a water bottle, and a down throw.  I’m feeling like Mom of the Moment….Life is perfect….. for about 20 minutes.

From my office, I can hear the boisterous cacophony of sound billowing down the hall.  At 7, 9, and 14; surely they can work out amongst themselves whatever is askew, right?!?!?  So I wait and listen.  It becomes immensely clear that there are no less than 3 conversations occurring at once---with each one pleading his/her case.

***"Volume’s too loud."  "No it’s not loud enough."  "Turn the Bose Solo on."
"Mom said not past Volume 19."  "You got more popcorn than me."  "How come I didn’t get a bigger blanket?"  "Did you get juice, I only have water?"***

These were all sounding very normal-ish for sibling rivalry, right? What actually got me out of my chair was Littlest Little’s voice rising above the others; and as I walked into the room, I discovered that the voice was accompanied by one hand on a hip and the other wagging in the direction of the older two….. “I am NOT waiting until Summer Time, either you tell me now, or I’m telling Mom.”

I should interject that by this time of the day, I’ve turned Deep Sighing into an Olympic Sport; with a close second going to Extra Ocular Activity--- and at that exact moment, I was sure they rolled back far enough to get stuck in my brain.

Upon seeing me enter the room, each Little began pleading his/her case at the same time. 

Biggest:  Littlest asks too many questions and we keep missing the movie

Middle (the peacemaker and rule follower): I told them about Volume 19.

Littlest: I don’t know what Gollum says and how am I supposed to know if I should be scared or not if I have to wait until summer time for them to explain it.

We are now all looking blankly at Littlest, who has a history of making no sense at all. “Start from the beginning , please,” I say. 

Littlest:  It’s just like I told you, I don’t know what Gollum is saying and those two, said they would explain it in summer time….

Biggest:  Noooo.  We-did- not- say “summer time.”  We said “some other time.”  We said we would explain it to you some other time!

*** More sighing.  More extra ocular activity***

At this point, wer're only on day 2 of 5, and I am more than ready for everyone to head back to school and work . I don’t think I can stand one more minute of this so-called “rest and relaxation” at home!

I will have to keep you posted on any new activity around the house. I'm hoping that the weather warms up soon before the next dog (or quite possibly next family member) undergoes an impulse hair cut courtesy of Biggest Little. PLEASE feel free to share any and all remedies you might have for children suffering from snowed in boredom, as I'm sure you've either lived through it once or at least doing so now! 

Well, it’s official…. My husband has managed to be out of town for every single snow storm over the last 5 years. SERIOUSLY?!?!?!  How on earth did I draw the short straw?  I would love to say that I’m building character and perseverance; but in reality, I’m only building biceps and a better winter wardrobe to accommodate sub-zero temperatures. I’ve blown snow, shoveled snow, and now swept snow!

Yes, you heard me right…”swept” snow.  Ironically, I saw Roxanne DePalma on air for a Garden Event with a broom. In a passing moment, she said I could “even sweep snow.”  (I did a little internal snort in disbelief.) But I really like Roxanne and have enjoyed everything else she’s brought to the Q, so I picked one up anyway--- I figured if nothing else, I’d use it once we’d thawed out. This past weekend, I had the opportunity to test drive it and was blown away at how efficient it was at getting all the powdery snow off the walkway and steps! So as a note for all of you shoveling away, this broom works wonders and I highly suggest checking it out!

In addition to no Hubby at home, Nana and I had 3 children, 2 Chesapeake Bay Retrievers and 3 cats all cozied in…. and BORED…. For 5 days!  Needless to say, we had a few “moments.”  We ran out of movies and activities waaaay before we ran out of hours in the day.

Where shall I start???  How about with Biggest Little deciding to cut the dog’s hair….  So, I’ve just come in from shoveling and am sitting at the table with a cup of coffee.  In pounces Jonah (one of the dogs).  I look and then look again.  Jonah is naked.  In walks Biggest Little… beaming I might add.  “Mom, look what I did for you… I gave Jonah a haircut.  Isn’t he handsome.”

Me: Uh, No.  No he’s not handsome… he’s cold.  It’s below zero.  We don’t groom the dogs in the winter for a reason.

Little: Seriously Mom, I was trying to do something nice.  You have to admit I did a good job.

Jonah: Tail down and looking sheepish…. He knows he looks a mess

Me: Wait, wait, wait…. Where and with WHAT did you shave the dog???

Little: Oh, don’t worry, I thought ahead about the mess; so I put the dog in your bathtub and used Dad’s electric shaver.

--To say that I lost all blood flow and color in that instant would be putting the situation mildly—

I get up and start the ascent to my bathroom to assess the situation.  And, Yes, Biggest Little had actually placed a 65 pound dog (with 65 pound course dog hair) into my Jacuzzi tub and shaved him.  There were hair balls everywhere.  At this point, I am counting to 100 in my brain.  I’ve started deep meditative breaths; and am thinking of ways not to self- destruct. 

Little: See, mom,  I told you I took care of it.  There isn’t any hair on the floor.  It’s all in the bathtub.  I was able to wash most of it down the drain.”  --she was so proud of herself.

She had NO clue that she had quite possibly ruined the bathtub and clogged our already half frozen pipes.  I called the plumber.  He told me to start with a drain cleaner because I was too far down the list with the snow storm for a house call.  Thankfully, I had extra packets of the Green Gobbler in the garage. Under normal circumstances, I would only use one packet. Today called for two; and I was ready with a third if need be. Fortunately, it only took two packets and all of us lived to tell the tale.  Although, Hubby did need a new electric shaver as his was now toast.

Movies, I thought….movies are safe! Surely, I can put on a movie and let the Littles eat popcorn. I figured this would give me 2 hours to get some things done around the house----keep in mind that I still have to go to work.  So I download the Lord of the Rings trilogy from Netflix and start the search for microwave popcorn.  BIG score, not only did I find Microwave Butter popcorn; but I also found Microwave kettle corn.  I get each one their own bowl, a water bottle, and a down throw.  I’m feeling like Mom of the Moment….Life is perfect….. for about 20 minutes.

(Biggest Little took this pic during said 20 minute peace treaty.)

From my office, I can hear the boisterous cacophony of sound billowing down the hall.  At 7, 9, and 14; surely they can work out amongst themselves whatever is askew, right?!?!?  So I wait and listen.  It becomes immensely clear that there are no less than 3 conversations occurring at once---with each one pleading his/her case.

***"Volume’s too loud."  "No it’s not loud enough."  "Turn the Bose Solo on."
"Mom said not past Volume 19."  "You got more popcorn than me."  "How come I didn’t get a bigger blanket?"  "Did you get juice, I only have water?"***

These were all sounding very normal-ish for sibling rivalry, right? What actually got me out of my chair was Littlest Little’s voice rising above the others; and as I walked into the room, I discovered that the voice was accompanied by one hand on a hip and the other wagging in the direction of the older two….. “I am NOT waiting until Summer Time, either you tell me now, or I’m telling Mom.”

I should interject that by this time of the day, I’ve turned Deep Sighing into an Olympic Sport; with a close second going to Extra Ocular Activity--- and at that exact moment, I was sure they rolled back far enough to get stuck in my brain.

Upon seeing me enter the room, each Little began pleading his/her case at the same time. 

Biggest:  Littlest asks too many questions and we keep missing the movie

Middle (the peacemaker and rule follower): I told them about Volume 19.

Littlest: I don’t know what Gollum says and how am I supposed to know if I should be scared or not if I have to wait until summer time for them to explain it.

We are now all looking blankly at Littlest, who has a history of making no sense at all. “Start from the beginning , please,” I say. 

Littlest:  It’s just like I told you, I don’t know what Gollum is saying and those two, said they would explain it in summer time….

Biggest:  Noooo.  We-did- not- say “summer time.”  We said “some other time.”  We said we would explain it to you some other time!

*** More sighing.  More extra ocular activity***

At this point, wer're only on day 2 of 5, and I am more than ready for everyone to head back to school and work. I don’t think I can stand one more minute of this so-called “rest and relaxation” at home!

I will have to keep you posted on any new activity around the house. I'm hoping that the weather warms up soon before the next dog (or quite possibly next family member) undergoes an impulse hair cut courtesy of Biggest Little. PLEASE feel free to share any and all remedies you might have for children suffering from snowed in boredom, as I'm sure you've either lived through it once or at least doing so now! 

Valentine’s Day holds a special place in my heart for obvious reasons, but did you know Mark and I actually met on Valentine’s Day? Yes indeed, 32 years ago this Friday and we were married just a little over one year later.  And I can honestly say, I am just as much in love with him today, if not more, than I was more than three decades ago. Now, I’m not saying it is perfect, no marriage is, and it’s not always that crazy turn-your-stomach-upside-down kind of love after all these years. However, it is comfortable like your favorite blankie kind of love! He is my best friend, my confidant, my strength and protector, the one I turn to and lean on when things don’t go so well and the one I turn to first to share in good news.  I cannot imagine a life without him and it seems he’s always been a part of my life. I thank God for Mark and my children every day!

Celebrating the holiday of love has certainly changed for us throughout the years, as I’m certain it has for most couples with children. When we were first married, Mark and I would always go out for a romantic dinner, just the two of us. We would hold hands, share dessert and talk about our hopes and dreams both as a couple and as individuals. It was a magical time of wonderment and being young and in love. We always knew we would be together forever and looked forward to things to come.

As we started to build a family, we became more conscious of our roles as parents and our Valentine’s Day celebrations turned from “couple’s love” to “family love”. We always included the children somehow depending on their ages and what they liked … whether it was a little box of chocolate at their spot at the dinner table, a stuffed animal or a card, we always let them know how much they were loved.  And our romantic dinners out, turned to family dinners in with our children, our biggest blessings. It wasn’t about what we ate so much anymore, but who was around our table. From highchairs, to boosters to grown adult children, we continue to be blessed as a couple, as parents and as servants of our Lord.

So whoever you celebrate this Valentine’s Day with and whatever you do, we wish you lots of love and peace and sure, even a dessert or two! ; )

Counting our blessings!

Mary Beth

Pancakes have always been a family favorite in the Roe house. It's a simple, but must-have, basic recipe. Experiment with adding chocolate chips or blueberries and of course, making the three-circle, Mickey Mouse shaped pancakes.

Pancakes

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs
• 1-1/2 cups milk
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 cups flour
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1-1/2 tablespoons sugar
• 1-1/2 tablespoons baking powder

Love Lori Greiner? We do too and we're super excited for her new book! We're giving away 5 copies of “Invent It, Sell It, Bank It!” autographed by Lori Greiner herself!

To enter share your story below:What did you always want to be when you grew up?

No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Must be 18 years or older to enter.

**click here for official rules**

New York is experiencing a REAL winter. It's feels like the first time in years we've had so much snow. My snowboots are getting a workout. Lots of storms, sleet and slush and all that leads to one thing: snow days! Since we are being forced to stay indoors, it’s super important to have lots of great ideas for how to keep entertained during inclement weather. I’d love to swap stories of fun indoor activities with you in the comments!

First things first, anytime I have an extended period of time at home I love to cook. This is great because it’s an activity for the whole family. Ashvin, my son, will “cook with mommy” imitating what I’m doing in the kitchen while playing with a bowl and whisk. I’m busy whipping up banana nut muffins, homemade pasta, anything and everything that is warm and filling. Comfort food is perfect for cold snowy days. My husband certainly agrees, and though he doesn’t always participate, he definitely enjoys the results!

Once we’re well fed, Ashvin and I love curling up with a good book. Ashvin will request to be read to, and especially likes reading the same books over and over. This way, he can predict what’s on the next page and read along with me. Sometimes if he gets sleepy enough, he’ll take a nap and then I can read for myself a while. So relaxing and enriching. Has anyone read any great books lately?

After good food and nice cozy time, Ashvin loves to do some coloring. He yells "pen and paper" and then I know it’s time. He can also stay occupied for hours doing puzzles, it’s so fun to watch him figure out all the pieces! Anything with the alphabet or numbers keeps him happy.

Finally, since we’ve had so many of these snowy days, sometimes you do have to venture out of the house. Recently, I took Ashvin to the American Museum of Natural History. He absolutely loved it and we spent all day wandering around, and seeing the show at Hayden Planetarium. I also love going out to the movies for a little quiet time. Recently my team and I had a great outdoor chilly weather outing at the nearby Bryant Park skating rink. So much fun and such great exercise!

It’s so great to have so much at our fingertips! But if you’re really stuck inside, what do you like to do?

Love Lori Greiner? We do too and we're super excited for her new book! We're giving away 5 copies of “Invent It, Sell It, Bank It!” autographed by Lori Greiner herself!

To enter share your story below:What did you always want to be when you grew up?

No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Must be 18 years or older to enter.

**This sweepstakes has ended**

Garden Season 2014 is in full swing!  That means the boys are back ...Roberta’s Unique Gardens Boys, that is! 

Four generations and over 50 years!

Their greenhouses are only about an hour away from Indianapolis.  So, while I was home last May, I asked Eric if my family (all avid gardeners) and I could take a tour of Roberta’s.  He said, “Sure!  Come on down!” I took some pictures because I thought you might want to experience Roberta’s, too! 

We (my mom, Dad, Sister Susie, Isabella & I) arrived mid-morning to a nice welcome from Eric and Mark, his Operations Manager.

First up - The seeds are where it all begins.

Isabella loved seeing all the plants, especially the “hen”!

These are “chicks” of the “hens & chicks” or sempervivum, which means “live forever”.

Close-up of the “hen” that Izzy is holding.  

Look at the rich red snap dragon!  These come back every year as opposed to an annual that you find elsewhere.  And the flower actually snaps when you pop it!

Just one of the row of state-of-the-art greenhouses on the Roberta’s property.

I love this picture!  It shows the health & lush nature of their plants.  Believe it or not, this is the end of the season when nearly everything has shipped!

These are big, gorgeous roots that will become “Itoh Peonies”.  This is Kevin’s favorite plant we sell.  It’s a cross between your garden peony, tree peony and Tibetan peony.

Gratuitous shot!  Lol!  (Hens & Chicks that are growing a “cottony sweater”.)

We decided to jump into the semi that is waiting to bring you this year’s Roberta’s treasures!

After we left the grounds, we headed to Eric’s house to meet his family and have lunch.  And low and behold, who showed up?  Koort! 

Needlesstosay, we had a great day at Roberta’s!!  I was completely impressed by the healthy, beautiful plants, the operation and the family atmosphere that exists after all these years.  Their mission has always been to bring you “Hard-To-Find, Easy-To-Grow” plants.  Four generations and fifty years later, Roberta’s is still going strong!   I’m sure their Mom, Roberta, would be proud to see her sons & grandsons taking such good care of her namesake!  A big thank you to Eric, his Team & his family for their Hoosier hospitality!

-Nancy

When I think of Valentine’s Day, I immediately think of one thing: chocolate. I can’t help it! I am a chocolate lover, and I’ll take it in just about any incarnation. Today on Q In magazine, we discussed how to pair wine and chocolate like a pro for an extra sweet treat this Valentine’s Day, but what about some more unexpected ways to work chocolate into your diet? Here are some ideas I’m planning on making to treat myself, please share any recipes you have in the comments!

If you’ve never tried Mexican Mole sauce, now is the time! Make this simple recipe that incorporates chocolate and pour over chicken breasts, for voila! a chocolatey treat that can be served as a main:

Ingredients:

Ground black pepper

2 tablespoons of olive oil

2 tablespoons of mild chili powder

2 tablespoons of ground cumin

1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon

1½ ounces of unsweetened chocolate

4 cans of stewed tomatoes

Directions:

Combine 2 tablespoons of olive oil with chili powder, cumin and cinnamon in a pot over medium to low heat. Add black pepper to taste. Stir until blackened about 6 to 8 minutes. Reduce heat to low and stir in chocolate until melted. When chocolate is completely melted, add stewed tomatoes and bring to a boil. Cook for ten minutes then pour over a protein. I recommend chicken for a delicious treat!

Looking for a romantic beverage alternative to wine? Just pour a rich chocolate liqueur into your favorite martini or coffee drink or hot chocolate (for extra decadence!)

Don’t forget to pick out something for your loved ones, such as this glorious assortment of cakes and treats. Whatever form it comes in, I can’t get enough chocolate and there’s never a better excuse to indulge than Valentine’s Day!

I am so fortunate to be living an “American Dream”.  I am surrounded by people I love and my work gives me great joy and satisfaction.

Unbeknownst to me at the time, I was preparing for this career from my early years as a child.  I realize now that I gained strengths through both my good and difficult experiences. Those old clichés about “If it doesn’t kill you, it can make you stronger” and “there is no such thing as a failure just a learning experience”, are so true.  I know that my experiences can also provide guidance and instill hope in other “dreamers”.

Upon graduation from college with a double major in Art and Psychology, my intention was to become an Art Therapist. Funny how life takes a turn...Audrey Graver (my soon to be mother-in-law), suggested I might enjoy the fashion industry where I could apply my artistic talent, joy of people and passion for fashion. I thought it might be a good idea. So, I went to the heart of the garment center... 1407 Broadway, NY, NY. Perhaps a bit unconventional, I asked the elevator operator if he had heard of any jobs available in the building.  Lo and behold, he directed me to a new company that was looking for help. I started at the ground level. Answering phones and being a  “schlepper” were two of my major responsibilities. Nevertheless, I was so happy to be in an environment where I could learn.  I immediately fell in love with the fast pace and contagious energy of the business. This was my introduction to the fashion industry!

 A few months later, during a big storm, I was delivering a garment to another company. Appearing at their office with packages in hand, and looking like a drowned rat, I engaged in a delightful conversation. To my great surprise, I was asked to join this fast growing pant manufacturer. Talk about being in the right place at the right time!  I stayed with this company for many years and took every advantage to learn as much as I could. I worked with buyers/merchandisers of major department and specialty stores and especially loved designing and merchandising.

After quite a few years and embolden with my new knowledge, I dreamt about designing, marketing, and producing my own line of fashion under my name, Susan Graver Style.  The idea of owning my own business seemed perfect for me. I had the support of my buyers. I could design my own line from my own point of view. But there was also an ulterior motive... My son Michael was one year old and I fantasized about the prospect of not answering to a boss and coming and going as I pleased. I took the leap of faith.

Yes, there are both pros and cons of being in your own business. But they are not all exactly as I fantasized. When you are in your own business, you are on the job 24/7. And yes, you don’t have a boss to answer to but as your own boss you might be your own harshest critic. You also have a world of customers, buyers, staff, lenders, etc. depending on you. I remember being in the hospital bed with a color chart the day David, my second son was born, to choose the color palate for my upcoming collection.  I was back to the office 3 weeks later, barely physically or mentally ready. Then my third child, Jaclyn came along. We say, "that was the straw that broke the camel's back”. With 3 children now, and running my own business, I was ready to throw in the towel. I was totally stressed and pulled in every direction.

With my husband Richard by my side, we figured ways to manage the business and the children. Rather than give up, I remember telling myself that my family was all that matters... If my designs are not produced on time, it's not the end of the world. With my new relaxed attitude, my stress was reduced and it all came together!  I even met my deadlines. My business continued to grow and my fashions were seen in major department stores.

Twenty-five years ago a new and unknown retailer walked into my showroom, QVC. Before I knew what was happening, I was invited to QVC Studios to make a guest appearance. I thought I'd be on for 5 minutes, but was actually on air for an hour... Totally unprepared, it was one of the biggest hours at QVC!   Shortly thereafter, Audrey and I were asked to design exclusively for QVC.  I was so proud to be the first designer to have a weekly show and design exclusively for QVC.

Initially, I was spellbound by the allure of the fashion industry and the artistic outlet it provided me.  However, in reality, the greatest satisfaction I have derived from this journey is the connection I have made with women. Through QVC ‘s brilliant vision, the magic of television, the internet and social media, I have had the opportunity to connect with my customers in a way never have thought possible in prior generations.   My “customers” feel more like “friends” and I am so grateful for them. Thank you for allowing me the privilege of being part of your lives. 

It's funny how we never know where our paths will lead us.

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. 

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. 

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.  

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

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.

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

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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.

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Recently, our good buddy Chris Pryme brought in a lock and lock containerFULL of delicious no-bake cookies. AND they were gluten free! She is such a love for doing that and I am so very grateful to call her my friend. 

I promised I would share the recipe, so here it is! Also, as you can see: they are pretty popular with the non-gluten free folks as well!

Ingredients:

1 cup toasted coconut

1 cup toasted gluten free oats

1 cup toasted large chopped pecans

1 cup raisins

1 cup crushed potato chips

2 1/12 cups chocolate chips

3 tbsp Crisco

Directions:

Melt the chocolate chips and the Crisco together until no lumps remain. Add all the remaining ingredients to the melted choc chips. Stir until all ingredients are coated. Drop by tablespoon on cookie sheet lined with wax paper. Let set (cool) until firm.

*You do not have to toast 1st 3 ingredients I like taste better

**If you want you can melt the choc chips with 3 tablespoons peanut butter and 1 tablespoon Crisco for a different flavor.

Enjoy! Talk soon ~ @Mary QVC

There’s no doubt that I love a good tropical vacation, but escaping New York during this crazy winter is twice as nice! Goodbye 54 inches of snow. In the past year we have visited Puerto Rico three times, making it our go-to for great food, reliably beautiful weather, relaxation, and not to mention a short and direct flight from JFK.

The moment we arrived last weekend, my 21 month old son Ashvin started screaming “Blue skies, blue skies!” which really goes to show how gloomy and cold it has been in New York for the past couple of months. Check out the swaying palm trees!

My mom keeps telling me that we should leave Ashvin with her and my dad and enjoy some couple time away from our son. Somehow, we just CAN’T do it. While it would be fabulous to travel with carry on luggage and enjoy couple time at the pool we feel like our son enjoys our trips more than we do. His smiles and laughs during every trip make all the extra work worthwhile.

Sometimes you see families lugging around tons of stuff for their kids to the pool, but not us. We like to pack lightly. A bunch of small books and we’re lucky to borrow or buy stuff at our hotel. For this visit, we bought Ashvin a wetsuit which means his fun in the pool lasted hours longer than usual. This was a great investment, because the pools weren’t heated and got a bit chilly. We were so happy to maximize both his and our time swimming and splashing about!

As much as he loves the pool, Ashvin loves the beach even more. His favorite activities are looking for shells and rocks, jumping in the waves and hanging out with his dad as you can see from this adorable picture.

Anybody else dreaming of an island vacation? We had such a lovely time on our weekend excursion, Ashvin slept the whole way home. He was exhausted! But I felt revived and ready to tackle this crazy weather all over again.

We got back and rekindled our romance for  Valentine’s day. Manoj got us a couple massage at home. It was FABULOUS and a wonderful end to our weekend. I got him tickets to Mama Mia and we’re seeing it this weekend. What did you do for Valentine’s day?

Ever since our daughter Jericho started walking she has been on the go and into everything.  In an effort to get Jericho out of the house and to burn off all that energy I enrolled her in a weekly gym program.  The class has about 8 students from ages 12-19 months and all of them are at different stages of development.  Most of the toddlers can walk and a few can even talk.  Some of the children are shy and timid, while others are outgoing and fearless.  I was hoping my Coco was more of a fun and fearless type of gal but on the first day of class Jericho just stood back and observed the other kids.  However by the end of the session she had warmed up a bit and jumped in the fray.

The class started with an exercise where the students played bells and sang.   There was lots of singing, movement and even some gymnastics. The exercises on the gym apparatus were Coco’s least favorite.  She cried at the parallel bars, she cried on the balance beam and she didn’t like tumbling.  I was hoping Jericho would be the next Gabby Douglas in the making but maybe not! 

This class also gives Coco an opportunity to socialize with other children her age.  I was so proud of Coco for playing so nicely with the other kids.  The one big surprise was how tired mommy was after the class.  I thought the class was going to wear Jericho out but I think I needed a nap more! 

After every class Jericho appears more and more comfortable.  So who knows, maybe Jericho will be ready to go for the gold in 2030!

Here are the most frequently asked questions from our customers about the HALO 6000 mAh portable charger for cell phones and tablets.  Don't see an answer to your question? Post your question to this blog, below, and check back throughout the day on Wednesday, February 26th,  to have your question answered by our HALO team of experts!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can this charger be used with the iPhone® 5 or other newer Apple® devices with the lightning™ connector? A: Yes, the HALO 6000 can be used with the iPhone 5 and other Apple devices that have lightning connectors, such as the iPad Air™ and iPad mini™.

Q: How do I know if this HALO will charge my device? A: The HALO 6000 will charge your device if it is compatible with the included 30-pin tip, Micro USB tip, or Lightning tip. Additionally, you can use it to charge your device if you have a USB charging cable for it.

Q: Can I use this to charge my device if it doesn't use one of the included tips? A: Yes, as long as the device comes with a USB charging cable.

Q: How many devices can the HALO charge at a time? A: The HALO 6000 can charge up to two items at a time as long as the devices use the included adapters.

Q: What is the amp output of the USB port of the Halo? A: The HALO 6000 has an output of 2A from the USB port.

Q: Can the HALO be used in extreme heat or cold? A: It is not recommended to use the HALO 6000 in extreme heat or cold.

Q: When recharging the HALO, will it stop charging when fully charged? A: Yes, the HALO 6000 has overcharge protection.

FAQs provided by HALO.

Below are the most frequently asked questions about the products in the show. Don't see an answer to your question? Post your question(s) to this blog, and one of our product experts will post an answer to your question (Questions will be answered on Wednesday, February 26th, between 10PM and 11:59PM ET).

E225473 - HALO 6000 mAh Portable Charger for Cell Phones and Tablets

Q: Can this charger be used with the iPhone® 5 or other newer Apple® devices with the lightning™ connector?

A: Yes, the HALO 6000 can be used with the iPhone 5 and other Apple devices that have lightning connectors, such as the iPad Air™ and iPad mini™.

Q: How do I know if this HALO will charge my device?

A: The HALO 6000 will charge your device if it is compatible with the included 30-pin tip, Micro USB tip, or Lightning tip. Additionally, you can use it to charge your device if you have a USB charging cable for it.

Q: Can I use this to charge my device if it doesn't use one of the included tips?

A: Yes, as long as the device comes with a USB charging cable.

E225335 - Kodak AZ521 16MP 52x Zoom Digital Camera w/ 8GB SD Card

Q: How do I save to the SD Card?

A: f you are referring to the SD card in the camera, then the camera automatically saves the picture to the SD card when the picture is taken.  If you are asking about how to save data to an SD card when you plug the camera into the computer, then the camera drive on My Computer.  When you save data to the camera drive, it saves it to the SD card.

Q: Can I use a larger size SD Card? 

A: The camera can use up to a 32 gigabyte SD card.

Q: How can I avoid blurry pictures in low light, action situation?

A: Turn up the ISO and enable flash.  Place the camera on a flat stable surface or a tripod.  When this is not possible, it helps to follow the object throughout its motion and snap the picture when ready.  This will help the camera focus better and allow better timing of the shot.

E225751 - NeatDesk Desktop Scanner and Digital Filing System Mac & PC

Q: Is there a fee or subscription to use NeatDesk Desktop Scanner?

A: No, the NeatDesk Scanner includes the Neat desktop software which does not require any fee or subscription to use. Included with your purchase though is an optional 30 day free trial (no credit card required) of the NeatCloud subscription service which extends the capability of the Neat desktop software by giving you access to your files on the web and your mobile devices. 

Q:  Can I create my own organization system with my own categories?

A: Yes, everything you put into Neat can be easily organized anyway you like using your own categories and folders.

Q: Will my account numbers, files, etc. be safe and secure?

A:  Yes, our software leverages a variety of standard security measures provided by the operating system to secure your information. Further, if you choose to use our optional NeatCloud service, we use Secure Socket Layer (SSL) to encrypt transmission of all information exchanged between the desktop and cloud. Neat also encrypts the files that you store on NeatCloud using the 256-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES-256), which is the same encryption standard banks use to secure customer data

Check out the TSV & learn more about the Mother & Son Partnership at SkinnyTees!

It's been almost 2 years since we QVC welcomed skinnytees and what a ride it's been! This Friday the 28th we'll be featured with our first TSV! I'm so proud of what our company has evolved into in such a short time and I give all the credit to one person - my mom and partner, Linda Schlesinger Wagner. She had the vision to take what most call "basics" to the next level and what started as a Cami and Tank in a few colors has grown into the massive line we're proud to call ours, today. We had been trying to figure out a way to work together for over 15 years using her 40+ years of experience in fashion and my passion for marketing. Now almost 5 years later I'm happy to share the relationship has only grown and dare I say we never argue? We've learned how to stay in our respective boxes and found a match made in heaven, so to speak. 

I can't share everything we have planned with QVC as we move into spring and summer but I can tease you with the promise that our relationship with the Q is definitely growing. 

All this said, we couldn't do it without you, our loyal QVC customers and we thank you for loving us! Never hesitate to reach out to ask questions, make suggestions or just say hi - we love it. 

Go Mom - see you Friday!

David Schlesinger

Check out the TSV & learn more about the Mother & Son Partnership at skinnytees!

It's been almost 2 years since QVC welcomed skinnytees and what a ride it's been! This Friday the 28th we'll be featured with our first TSV! I'm so proud of what our company has evolved into in such a short time and I give all the credit to one person - my mom and partner, Linda Schlesinger Wagner. She had the vision to take what most call "basics" to the next level and what started as a Cami and Tank in a few colors has grown into the massive line we're proud to call ours, today. We had been trying to figure out a way to work together for over 15 years using her 40+ years of experience in fashion and my passion for marketing. Now almost 5 years later I'm happy to share the relationship has only grown and dare I say we never argue? We've learned how to stay in our respective boxes and found a match made in heaven, so to speak. 

I can't share everything we have planned with QVC as we move into spring and summer but I can tease you with the promise that our relationship with the Q is definitely growing. 

All this said, we couldn't do it without you, our loyal QVC customers and we thank you for loving us! Never hesitate to reach out to ask questions, make suggestions or just say hi - we love it. 

Go Mom - see you Friday!

David Schlesinger

Hi Everybody! Yay, it's March and that means spring is around the corner and so are babies!!  I know many people who are due in April and when I share my due date it seems there are many April Bdays out there.  Apparently summertime is the time to make babies, lol.   Our little bundle is still set for April 20th.  I'm thinking I will go late but Steve thinks I will go a day or two early.  Any bets from your end?  

We've certainly been busy the month of February with many wonderful things happening.  It seems those snow days helped us get all our "nesting" done and we officially have very organized closets in our household.  Seems like there is plenty of room to move Bree into our house but I have a feeling once she does get here we will need even more room for her items.  You should see how many bottles and pacifiers this little girl has already and she isn't even in our arms yet.  

Oh, the reason we have so many bottles and pacifiers was the highlight of this month, our shower!!  What a day!  It was in MD, in my hometown, and was a day filled with family, friends, food, and PINK, lol!  Steve's sis Kathy and her husband Dennis came down from NYC on the Friday night before the shower.  I was at work that evening with you for The Lisa Robertson Show and Friday Night Beauty but when I got home at 1am that night everyone had waited up for me so they could say hi.  They hadn't seen the belly in person since Christmas.  The four of us woke up Sat morning and had Panera bagels with their walnut honey cream cheese, my new pregnancy craving, yum.  We headed off to MD and by 1pm I was surrounded by a room filled with familiar faces, beautiful decorations, and lots of pink packages.  The men departed the festivities and had their own little get together in a near by bar/restaurant and we ladies all went right to food and chatter.  Always nice to see my family and this was also the first event where everyone got to meet Drew, my new nephew. He is so cute and so good, and I'm very impressed with the way my little sis Sarah has just embraced motherhood.  I'm hoping it comes that natural to me because she seems to have it down pat already.  

(Here is the invitation from my shower! Don’t mind my shadow and the crease, it was in my purse!)

(A look at the shower! The favors, the presents, and the sisters! J)

After some mingling and more food it was time to open those packages.  I got a lot of help from my two nieces, Abby and Reese. One brought over the next package and the other one helped me open the new one.  There were so many thoughtful appreciated gifts!  From homemade blankets and crafts to key items like car seats and monitors. There were all the necessities like bottles, wipes, diapers, bibs, burp cloths, and first aid needs. Also some of the cutest little spring/summer outfits.  Bree was certainly taken care of and her parents were too!  

(Can’t wait for this to no longer be empty!)

(Washing all her new clothes!)

We stayed in MD for a while that day but when we awoke in PA on Sunday morning I was in full blown clean up mode.  We built everything that day and cleaned it all up ,and then still managed to head out for a few more things we needed. It hit me hard that night how very much we had done, right when Downton Abbey started I said to Steve I can't keep my eyes open for this.  Even Mary and all her suitors weren't keeping me awake, lol.     

I would include finished pictures of her room and bathroom but I must say it looks even messier than before we left for the shower.  There are so many things now that still need to find a home and I'm also waiting on my parents to come up one weekend to help Steve and I hang things.  By help I mean they will hang them for us, lol.  My dad is quite the Mr. Fix it handy man type and so we want to treat them to dinner while they bang out the last of the to do list for us.  Then you will see all the pics you want!

(My new family room furniture, lol!)

We did though have a small photo shoot this month with QVC.  Her room was neat and tidy just not fully decorated and they came out to capture some photos.  Steve wasn't planning to be in any but it was one of his days off so since he was here they grabbed him for a few and they ended up being my favorites.  In fact I think one I love so much that I would like to frame it.  I also bought a 2 picture frame for her room so I'm hoping to capture a pic of Bree's tiny hand in her daddy's for one slot and then the one QVC took of me looking at my belly in the other.  I thought that would be cute in her room so she knows her parents think the world of her!

(My favorite photo from the Q Photo Shoot)

(This is the one I want to use for the frame that I bought for her room.)

Really we are just counting down the days, 48 if you are reading this the first day it is posted.  Hard to believe that July we found out we were going to be parents and now we just have 7 weeks to go. I haven't had too many changes as we entered the last trimester.  I have stopped jogging as my back just can't take it anymore so I'm now officially a walker.  I still have my heart burn and I've been told that means little Bree might have a head of hair when she is here in April.  I'm still hanging tight at a weight gain of 30 pounds.  Other than the bagels with cream cheese there isn't really anything too out of the normal that I'm craving.  I do like my trail mix right now and some cereal as a late night snack.  Bran flakes and almond milk seem to be my go to.  I do have a feeling though when this weather gets better ice cream might make its way onto my list more often than it is has in winter.  I also have noticed I'm certainly more emotional.  Not necessarily in a bad way but starting to think more about parenthood in general.  I want to be a good mom, a patient mom, and do the right things for my daughter.  I've been thinking a lot about being a better role model for her and how I would like to teach  by example so that means mommy and daddy could also remember to mind their manners more, treat others better, and just take a deep breath more often rather then getting annoyed with the small things.  We are working on it, good thing we have 7 more weeks:)

(Practicing! Me and Steve with our nephew, Drew.)

I'll write again soon and hopefully by then everything will be finished and we will just be waiting for her.    Gosh, I can't wait to see and hold her and put a little kiss on the face I've been waiting to see for 9 months!  Steve said just the other day he can't to smell her, thought that was so cute.  We certainly have realized how blessed we are during this time and are grateful that you've been sharing in our journey.  More to come as our last few weeks pass by and little Bree gets closer to meeting one very large QVC family.


All my love,
Amy