The start of spring has always meant Easter in my world. It was a time to make memories and enjoy fun times with my family. Growing up, I remember one of my favorite things was receiving new Easter outfits. They were complete with Easter hats, a purse, and patent shoes for church…I felt so stylish! Here I am on Easter with my sister Deb and my father.

Of course, I continued the tradition with my daughter, Nikki. This is when she was little, dolled up in her own Easter best.

And here is the only picture I have of her visiting the Easter bunny.

As a kid I always looked forward to the Easter basket, of course. I remember getting these beautiful sugared eggs in my basket.

I also loved the penny hunt in our back yard. My mom and dad wrapped pennies, quarters, and dimes in foil and hid them all around our yard. Everyone in the neighborhood was invited to join the fun. My sisters and I continued the tradition with our families too...Nikki just said she was texting her cousins and laughing about the penny hunt at Nanna and Grandad's every year. Apparently my youngest nephew was good at convincing the girls that pennies were better while he collected their quarters! LOL.

Another fun memory…I remember creating "bunny tracks" when Nikki and my shepherd Misty were really young. I helped the Easter bunny by creating tracks leading to the baskets in the house. As I made them with cotton balls and powder, Misty followed behind and licked them off of the carpet. :)

To decorate, my mom would hang eggs in cherry tree branches in our house. Easter afternoon, my family would eat a special ham dinner and enjoy time together. Today, I still love to decorate for each holiday, and of course I love seeing my loved ones around me. It's all about making new memories. I rely on Valerie Parr Hill decorations to set the stage for celebration.

DIY projects are a lot of fun, too. Jelly beans are a cheap way to add color to candles. The trick is to keep from snacking on them before the big day! ;)

And of course, I always put up special Sunday school artwork.

Thank you for sharing in my traditions and I hope you will share yours with me too… I hope you have a blessed holiday! :)

Please join Jayne and me for Fashionably Late on Friday at 10pm ET. Check my Facebook page later today for our Mid-Week Sneak Peek…and enjoy the rest of your week! See you Friday!

Best,

Pat

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

Twitter: www.twitter.com/pdementri

Instagram: www.instagram.com/PatJamesDeMentriQVC

www.gather.qvc.com/member/PatJamesDementri

I hate winter. Okay, I'm a sucker for a white Christmas. And fine, there's nothing quite like a warm, toasty fire when the weather outside is, well, frightful.

I also really like winter comfort foods. The kind that take hours to cook. The kind you make because you're snowed in and your furnace needs all the help it can get.

My all-time favorite comfort-food dish is "Aunt Edna's Rice," courtesy of my grandmother. Aunt Edna was my great aunt (on my grandfather's side) but I never met her. And my grandmother doesn't know where Edna found the recipe. She just knows it was a depression-era dish..."an oldie but goodie," she would say.

Because of the time it takes to make this magic rice (which, by the way, tastes kind of like rice pudding but better), Grammie didn't make it all that often. It was a special occasion when she did. Lucky for me, I was guaranteed to have it at least once a year on my birthday, because I requested it over cake. Yes, it's that good.

Ingredients:

4 cups milk (from powder)

1/4 cup raw white rice

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp salt

2 Tbsp butter, cut into pieces

1/2 cup raisins

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 350F. Grease a 9" x 9" casserole dish.

Combine the ingredients, except the butter and raisins, in a medium-size bowl. Pour the mixture into the casserole dish and dot the top with the butter.

Bake for 1 hour. Stir in the raisins. 

Bake for 1-1/2 hours, or until all liquid has been absorbed. Stir frequently.

Two helpful notes: one, Edna's recipe called for powdered milk but I've used normal Vitamin D milk and didn't notice a difference; two, it takes every bit of 2-1/2 hours for the milk to cook down. You won't really need to stir during that first hour, but I break that last 90-minute chunk into three 30 minute portions, so I don't forget to stir it.

I've made this dish at least five times over the winter and just finished my final helping for the season.

How long until next winter?

-Foodie Friend Amy

Hello fellow pet-lovers!!

I was so excited to put this blog together this week...in honor of our Serta TSV last week, I received SO many adorable pictures on my Facebook page of your fur babies snuggling up in your beds, taking up MORE than a little space! But it's true, we love it don't we!? Here are just a few, and thanks as always, to those who posted!!

XO,

Carolyn

I was skeptical at first. Yogurt making was not something I thought I could do in my kitchen. It seemed complicated.  Completely unfamiliar territory. What's even in yogurt? Isn't it just…yogurt?

As I've learned, there are a lot of great reasons to make your own yogurt. Not only can it save you some grocery money, it's delicious. It's easy, too—if you start a batch tonight you'll have homemade yogurt in the morning with enough left to enjoy all week.

Here's what you need:

• 5 cups milk
• 1/2 cup plain yogurt. This acts as a starter for your homemade batch.

And that's it.

Since I'm an absolute yogurt beginner, I used a yogurt maker.  You can just as easily make yogurt without one, but yogurt makers ensure an even, consistent temperature while the yogurt sets, and I didn't want to fuss over mine too much.

You'll also need an instant-read thermometer, but more on that in a second. You can use whatever kind of milk you like—even soy milk—and your favorite yogurt. For my first try, I went with skim milk and splurged on a fancy Greek yogurt—since, after all, I only needed a very small amount of it.

When it comes to making yogurt, think slow cooking. A little prep in the beginning pays off big in the end, with a whole lot of nothing (in my case, going to bed) in the middle. Here's how you do it:

1. Heat your milk in a heavy saucepan or Dutch oven to just below boiling, about 185-200 degrees Fahrenheit. This is where that instant-read thermometer comes into play. You can also heat your milk in a microwave, whisking it in one-minute increments. Why heat it? Heating helps stabilize the yogurt when it sets.

2. Let your milk cool to about 100-110 degrees. Again with that thermometer.

3. Mix your starter yogurt into the milk using a whisk until it's smooth.

4.  Pour the mixture into your yogurt maker

5. Set your timer. The length of time differs slightly depending on what kind of milk you use. But, if you're using skim milk, let it set for 9-10 hours. Always follow the instructions on your specific yogurt maker, as times may vary.

7. Now walk away. Go to work. Go for a run. Walk your dog. Catch up on your shows. It's totally up to you—the next 9-10 hours are all yours.  

8. BOOM! You just made yogurt. There might be some liquid on the top—that’s whey and it's very nutritious. Just stir it back in.

OptionalStep: Turn your yogurt into Greek yogurt. Right now, your yogurt is excellent. It's delicious and ready to be enjoyed however you like. Personally, I can't resist an optional step. Especially when the result is incredibly thick Greek yogurt with very little extra work. Greek-style yogurt is simply strained yogurt, and I tend to prefer it over thinner yogurt.

9. Strain your yogurt in the refrigeratorfor about 2 hours. My yogurt maker came with a strainer attachment, but if you don't have one, you can line a regular kitchen strainer with two layers of cheesecloth, place it over a bowl, and then pour your yogurt into the cheesecloth-lined strainer.  When you’re done straining (the longer you strain, the thicker your yogurt will be), scoop your yogurt into a container and store it in the refrigerator.

10. Pat yourself on the back—you made delicious Greek yogurt at home.

At this point, I had a lot of yogurt—a lot of really good yogurt. What to do with it? If you love yogurt, then this will be no problem. You're only limited by your imagination and the contents of your pantry. Here's what I did.

I like to keep things as simple as possible when I cook—4 or 5 ingredients tops. The yogurt is so good, it doesn’t need much, anyway.

Stir in orange zest, candied ginger, and honey.

Or, maple syrup and cinnamon.

Try it with your favorite berry preserves and cardamom.

I promise all three options are fantastic. But, the fun part is coming up with your own favorites. Experiment!

Still have more yogurt? I used my last serving to make creamyblueberry ice pops. (It’s time to think summer, after all.) Just blend together 1 cup Greek yogurt, 2 cups frozen blueberries, 3 tablespoons sugar, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until smooth. Spoon the mixture into paper cups, cover the top of the cups with plastic wrap, poke a stick in the center, and freeze for 4 hours or overnight. Easy!

I’m no longer a skeptic. I’m a full-fledged believer in homemade yogurt. It’s such a versatile, healthy ingredient to have on hand, and I think this is a great way to control exactly what goes into it. I hope you have a lot of fun creating your own.

Enjoy!

Your Foodie Friend Nick

Monday is Bree's 1st birthday and while we are planning our small birthday bash for our gal, I wanted to share some photos from the last year! I remember the first time she picked up her bottle on her own (she dropped it shortly after) and I finally understood what so many of you have been saying --- they grow up so fast!!! We've watched Bree grow over the last year and I'm so happy to have been able to share some of our special moments with all of you! Your kind words have meant the world.

With that said, I wanted to share some of our favorite Bree moments over the last year -- actually that isn't true.. There isn't enough room or space on the internet to house all of our favorite moments!! 

When we learned that bath time would be a favorite around this house!

The first time Bree got to meet her cousins! This is Drew, Reese, Abby & Bree all together for the first time. Bree cried her way through the photo shoot but we still got a cute pic :) 

My first Mother's Day! We took a walk to brunch and enjoyed the beautiful weather, the food, and of course the company! 

Bree's 1 month check up!

Now she is a frequent flyer at QVC, but this photo is from Bree's very first visit to the Q! 

Our first trip to the beach with Bree and the fam!

Love this family photo from dinner at the beach. :)

This face says "Mom, what did you just do?" Lol, what I did was play around with Bree's hair for the first time... Not sure if she likes the barrette or what haha!

We're smiling so big because we're happy to hear Bree is perfectly healthy & wonderful after her 2 month check up!

Look who got to meet Bree! There was a live audience Philosophy show so Steve brought Bree in to meet our favorite Philosophy ladies! She even got to meet a few of the audience members too. 

Bree & Drew hanging out and actually recognizing each other!

Here is the photo from when Bree held the bottle all by herself for just a few seconds. 

I don't think we captured our 3rd month check up, which for the sake of consistency sort of stinks lol, but here's a selfie documentation from Bree's 4 month check up! 

Look what I can do! This picture is when Bree discovered she could roll on her belly AND prop herself up on her elbows! :)

Bree's introduction to baby food 

Our very first family vacation (well besides the beach) -- This photo is from our breakfast outside in Florida!

After we came home from Florida we were fully ready to embrace the fall. Bring on the Pumpkin Spice lattes and pumpkin patches! 

I love this photo of story time! 

Happy Halloween from Bree the lioness! My girlfriend Bev gave us this lion costume that she used for her little boys. She also gave us the idea to put pink bows on it so we could make Bree a lioness, lol! 

An attempt to feed herself!

Bree's first trip to the big apple -- One of the things we were so excited to do in NYC, take Bree to a playground! Yes, we have one in our neighborhood too but very rarely are there other children there. She isn't looking at the camera here because she was so mesmerized by the other kids running around!

This photo is from Me and Steve's 7 year anniversary. We love this picture because our child was having a fancier dinner than us! There were no cards, no flowers, or no special dinner reservations this year and we couldn't be happier about it! 

A Christmas photo from our at-home shoot with the Q!

I'm so happy that Bree already has a knack for fashion! Love our matching Marvelush ponchos!

A new fun game for kids that's safe, practical, and lot's of fun -- All you need is a parent with lots of energy, a laundry basket, and lots of open space! lol

And the first time Bree discovered snow.... Inside the house... Steve wanted her to see so he scooped some snow into a bowl to show her!

While yes, this was a pain to clean up... It was also really funny and goes to show, Moms can't even look away for 2 seconds! 

It turns out the floors aren't the only thing that needs to stay clean in the house with a baby. Bree found herself in the reflection of the trash can and wanted to give herself kisses! 

I like the look of this... My child and husband love to clean!! 

Our most recent hang out with the cuzzies! Bree and Drew are really starting to appreciate each other's company!

I love this one because it's Bree's first time eating BRIE! Haha, I think she liked it!

Enjoying our first glimpse of sunshine for spring! Bree is loving the sun!

And of course our latest venture in baby land -- Bree's first hair cut!

Hi, everyone!

I was thumbing through my grandma’s recipe box hoping to find you some sweet spring inspiration. And, I stumbled upon one of the prettiest cakes I’ve ever made: Grasshopper Cake.

Grasshopper Cake

This recipe is prepared with the 13" x 9" baker from the Temp-tations® Floral Lace 18-Piece Bake and Serve Set (K41206).

Ingredients:

• 1 box white cake mix
• 4 Tbsp crème de menthe liqueur, divided
• 1 jar hot fudge ice cream topping (NOT chocolate syrup)
• 1 (9-oz) tub cool whip

Preparation:

1. Follow the cake box directions and preheat the oven. Grease and flour a 13" x 9" pan. Prepare the cake as directed, adding 2 Tbsp of crème de menthe to the batter. Bake the cake for the recommended time and then set it aside to cool.
2. When completely cool, spread the hot fudge over the cake. Mix the remaining 2 Tbsp of crème de menthe with the cool whip, and then spread it over the fudge topping. Refrigerate for 4 hours before serving and store any leftovers in the fridge.

I can’t honestly remember which grandma gave me this recipe. I have memories of both of them making this cake. It’s very possible one grandma made it, the other tried it, and then they both had the recipe. But, who knows...that’s the fun of old recipes, isn’t it? Just remembering when you had said dish and with whom?

I just love this cake because the mint is really refreshing. And, when you cut it, it looks like a giant Andes mint. The layer of hot fudge is just to die for and ties the whole thing together, I think.

I hope you've been enjoying our Refresh and Renew tips for this month...if you haven't seen them, they're trending on QVC.com.

Happy spring and happy baking, refreshing, and renewing!

From my home to yours,
—Jill

My life has changed dramatically in the last few years, as I know many of your lives have too…I'm still working hard to find my new normal! That's why it is so important to me to volunteer my time and give back to my community. I find it fulfilling and grounding.

Even though my daughter Nikki has moved on to college, I still enjoy the opportunity to give back to the local high school in my area. I find incredible fulfillment volunteering with the dancers and students...and what I have received in return has been much more than I could ever dream.

I thought I would share some memories with you…

Fundraiser Crafts

I have had the great privilege of helping with the crafting part of our dance fundraisers so that outstanding dancers and all-around great kids could continue to be able to perform and experience ballet. Here are a couple crafts I helped create.

I did recently retire from the board but will always be there to help these outstanding kids!

Backstage Ballet

For years, I worked backstage with other great moms to help students prep for ballets. It meant a lot of false eyelashes in a short time!

My goal was to make every dancer feel like a prima ballerina. The challenge was so rewarding for me...and I got to admire lots of beautiful costumes as I steamed them so they would be ready for our dancers!!!

Virtual Enterprise

Virtual Enterprise is a class in schools across the country in which the students run a virtual business and enter a business competition and trade show. This year was my third year mentoring our local Virtual Enterprise team, helping them prepare for their business presentation.

I can still remember the excitement in Nikki's voice when she called me to say that the team had won the local and now would advance to the NYC competition! Again this year our local team won their local competition and advanced to NYC to win the first place in the Mid-Atlantic region!!!!

I even had a chance to meet a QVC viewer Joyce who was also in NYC with her high school!

I know so many of you volunteer your time and resources which I so admire!

Giving back for me has given me so much to fulfill my life. Please take a moment to share how you volunteer! Maybe together we can inspire others.

Take care of yourself…and others! 

Pat

Tune in Friday 4/24 at 10pm ET for Fashionably Late to enjoy some pre-weekend girl time with me and Jayne. Check out my Facebook page for our Mid-Week Sneak Peek (#MWSP) item, and if you haven’t already, be sure to like my page to get fresh updates each week. And keep checking Facebook throughout the week for the inside scoop, style inspiration, and lots more fun!

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

Twitter: www.twitter.com/pdementri

Instagram: www.instagram.com/PatJamesDeMentriQVC

Last week I shared my love of painting with you and this week, it’s all about one of my other favorite pastimes—tennis. I started playing about 10 years ago. 

James and I went to a clinic with some of our friends and I was immediately hooked. At first, I played just for the exercise and fun, but quickly learned that I still had the drive to compete at a higher level and so I joined the USTA adult tennis league. And I’m still going strong!

I play doubles and I love playing up at the net. I have good reflexes, which is a must when you play the net. My lefty serve, although not as powerful as I would like it to be, is still pretty good and has a lot of spin on it. I love watching the faces of my opponents as they try to figure out why my ball bounces away from them… then they realize I’m left handed.  

My personal record last year was just okay—I’m striving to do better this year. My team made it to the national championship in Tucson, Arizona in 2008 and we‘re chasing the dream to return. Practice is twice a week (although I haven’t been able to make many because of my work schedule) and we play matches against other local clubs on Fridays. Afterwards, we celebrate with the opposing team with lunch and cocktails. So much fun.

I’ve met some amazing ladies over the years and between the exercise, the camaraderie, and friendship, playing tennis is truly one of my favorite things to do. Our first match of the season is this Friday, April 24. Tune in to Fashionably Late at 10pm to find out how we did (and for some fabulous girl time and shopping with me and Pat, of course).

Check out my Facebook page for our Mid-Week Sneak Peek (#MWSP) item, and if you haven’t already, be sure to like my page to get fresh updates each week. And keep checking Facebook throughout the week for the inside scoop, style inspiration, and lots more fun!

Blessings,

Jayne

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

Twitter: www.twitter.com/jaynebrown1

Instagram: www.instagram.com/jaynebrownqvc

Hi, everyone!

Happy Saturday! What are you up to today? Are you cheering your kids on at their soccer or baseball games? Maybe you’re tackling your garden? Maybe you're just relaxing! Well, if you’ve got about an hour of down time today, it’s a great day to do a little crafting, inside or out.

I don’t know about you, but I always save the extra buttons that come with my clothes, convinced I’ll need them later. But I can’t remember the last time I actually needed one. So I’ve got oodles of buttons—in all shapes and sizes—just sitting in my sewing bin. So last night on the couch I got lost on Pinterest and found a decorative way to use those spare bits. And I went to work!

Isn’t that fun! I love all the different colors and textures…there’s no décor this won’t complement. Here’s how I made this…

You’ll Need:

• Card stock paper
• Decorative craft paper
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Buttons
• Clear Mod Podge
• 10” x 13” picture frame

To Assemble:

1. First, use your card-stock paper to make a stencil of your letter. Cut out the stencil.
2. Trace the stencil onto the craft paper.
3. I used buttons from similar color palettes, so I sorted the buttons into piles to keep them organized. This is optional, obviously. If you want to incorporate every color of the rainbow and beyond, feel free to do that.
4. Start gluing on your larger buttons first with the Mod Podge. Then, fill in the outline with smaller buttons and glue in place.
5. Let the monograms dry for at least 20 minutes.
6. Add your art to the frame and hang!

Now go and enjoy the day…and your new art! I'll see you tonight for a special episode of You're Home with Jill at 6pm ET.

From my home to yours,
—Jill

Hi, everyone!

For the last 12 days, I’ve shared some springtime refresh and renew tips on Facebook and my “what’s trending” section on QVC.com. We began with a butterfly garden and ended with some simple DIY wall hangings you can make in minutes. There are lots of easy things you can do to make you home look and feel like spring has sprung and in case you missed my posts, here’s a recap!

April 15: Before your butterfly bushes arrive, here's how you can get your garden ready:

I know that graphic is a little small…here are the garden essentials I suggested within:

Exaco ECO 2.4 Gallon Kitchen Compost Collector (M109034)

Spear Head Gardening Shovel and Spade (M27353)

Large & Small Pruning Shears Set w/Ratcheting Action (M22345)          

Sloggers Waterproof Paw Print Garden Shoes (A252628)      

3-in-1 Outdoor Clock w/Thermometer & Hygrometer (M43523) 

Roberta's 10-oz. Spray & Flourish Micronutrient (M26045)

April 16: The dust of winter settles in every corner. Open those windows, find the air purifier and air out your house. Welcome spring with open arms!

An air purifier also helps reduce the levels of pollen in your air. And, by changing the linens every week, you’re washing away germs and more allergens.

April 17: I love the clean smell you get from a fresh linen or cotton candle. It just gives the impression that your home is clean and welcoming.

Prefer the smell of citrus? Make your own natural room scents.

And don’t forget about these sachets for the linen closet.

April 18: Now that your home smells clean, let that inspire you to do a spring clean out. Find charities that accept old cell phones, clothes, toys, anything that you don't need. Animal shelters and hospitals are desperate for old towels and sheets. And Dress for Success is a local charity that supports the success and wellness of women. Look for similar organizations in your area…your church, local hospital, or community center would be great places to find those organizations.

4/19: Winter comforters, sweaters. and coats take up a lot of room. Not to mention seasonal accessories. Pack those things away in a vacuum bag...you'll save so much space.

4/20: While you’re saving space, send hubby outside to pressure wash the patio and tell him to watch this video before he goes.

4/21: Need help organizing those garden supplies? I use the Creative Outdoor All-Terrain Folding Wagon.

4/22: Bring the colors of spring inside to your everyday furniture. Cut contact paper to fit the back of a bookshelf or drawer and you've transformed the piece.

4/23: The easiest way to change the look of your décor is to update your throw pillows. I've added all of these pillows to my What's Trending section, if you'd like to pick some up.

4/24: The fireplace and mantel is the centerpiece of your room and where your eye is drawn. If you only add elements of spring to that one area, it's enough.

4/25: Check out my DIY Monogram idea in my last blog for our last tip. And don’t forget the photo collage and DIY canvas ideas we've done in the past. Changing your art can be as powerful as changing a whole room.

From my home to yours,

—Jill

National Candied Orange Peel Day is May 4. Until last week I didn’t know Candied Orange Peels were a thing, much less a thing that merits its own day! But that’s the magic of the Internet for you. Now that I’m a veteran Candied Orange Peel maker, I slip the subject into every conversation--most recently with the bagger at the grocery store. “I know I bought a lot of oranges but I’m making more Candied Orange Peels!” If the conversation continued, I’d explain that I like the waste-not-want-not aspect of this delicacy. And it only calls for three ingredients which you probably have on hand.

Rustle up:

• Three oranges
• ¾ cup sugar
• 1-1/2 cups water

Directions

• Cut the ends off of the oranges
• Score the skin and peel. Then cut into strips.
• Put the peels in a saucepan and cover with cold water.
• Boil the water and drain. Repeat this process two more times. It banishes the bitterness. (I know what you’re thinking: I wish that would work on people that’s cool.)

• Remove orange peels from pan
• Whisk together 1-1/2 cup of water and sugar
• Bring to a simmer for 8 minutes, then add the peels
• Simmer the peels for 45 minutes. I simmered mine for 35 minutes since I didn’t want my son to be the last one picked up from baseball practice again they looked done. Nice and translucent.
• Spread peels on a cookie sheet, sprinkle with more sugar if you like and let them dry for about 4 hours
• Save the remaining syrup to eat like soup when no one’s watching sweeten tea.

Orange you proud of yourself? Here are some ideas how to use them:

• Add to bread or cookie batter
• Garnish desserts
• Dip in dark chocolate
• Just eat plain

Enjoy!

Your Foodie Friend Tara

Hi, everyone!

Have you ever tried to pack a salad in your lunch box? It’s not easy. Either you have five different containers to keep the ingredients separate so your salad doesn’t get soggy, or you have one big container…and soggy salad...that you then don’t want...so you order the grilled cheese anyway.

That’s when a friend told me about the mason jar salad. (I sound like I’m on a drug commercial or something, don’t I??) Anyway, it’s true. A friend at work brought in this beautiful salad in a mason jar and explained that not only can you put all of your ingredients in one container without creating an inedible salad, but you can use one of the thousand mason jars (or in my case, Lock & Lock  containers) in your cabinet. AND, it’s so cute, you could serve these as an appetizer at a party.

Here’s my take on a 7-Layer Salad. Note: To keep your salad fresh and crisp, layer the ingredients as follows: dressing first, starch second, fruits/vegetables third, and proteins/nuts fourth. End with the greens.

Ingredients:

Salad:

• 1/2 cup orange poppy seed vinaigrette (recipe follows)
• 1 cup cooked quinoa
• 1/2 cup mandarin orange segments
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries or dried cherries
• 1/2 cup almonds
• 1/2 cup cooked turkey bacon
• 1 cup fresh baby kale, spinach, or salad greens of your choice

Orange-Poppy Seed Vinaigrette:

• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
• 2 Tbsp honey
• 1 Tbsp orange marmalade
• Dash of salt and pepper
• 1 tsp poppy seeds

Preparation:

1. To prepare the salad: Layer the ingredients, one on top of each other, finishing with fresh salad greens in a mason jar or lidded container. Do not overfill. Shake the container so that the ingredients are mixed with the vinaigrette before eating.
2. To prepare the dressing: Pulse the first 6 ingredients 2 or 3 times in a Vitamix blender until blended. Pour the dressing into a container, add the poppy seeds, and stir to combine.

Have a great night! It’s almost the weekend…think happy thoughts!

From my home to yours,
—Jill

We are so proud of our little girl Theresa! This past weekend she made her First Holy Communion! With every step of this journey, her joyous heart was so excited for this very special day.

Theresa - we are so proud of you - and love you with all of our hearts! May God Bless you and protect you always.

Love,

Mommy & Daddy

Our little girl is named after my patron Saint - St. Theresa of Liseuex (St. Terese in French) - The Little Flower. Saint Theresa was known for being kind, gentle, loving, and believing that the smallest things are the most important in life. Our Theresa is filled with kindness, love and compassion for all people, animals and nature. We couldn't be more proud.

As she prepared for her First Holy Communion - Theresa diligently practiced her prayers - and we assured her she would do great. She did.  She continued to practice how to hold her hand when she would walk up to receive Communion.

Joining on this very special day - family & friends - including Carolyn Gracie - Theresa's Godmother and her husband Mike (Who I call Eric - it's his radio name!). I've known Carolyn and Mike OVER 20 years - since we all worked in radio in Los Angeles!  WOW!  We're blessed to have them in our lives!

Carolyn brought Theresa the sweetest gift. A beautiful wooden gift box with 3 Angels inside.  Theresa placed it her room and organized the Angels to watch over her and everyone who walks in her room.

Before we left church - Theresa left a special bouquet of roses for The Blessed Mother.  Not only to honor Mary - but also roses are a symbol of St. Theresa.

We can hardly believe how fast our little girl is growing up.  She's almost finished with 2nd Grade!  I told her daddy - "You know, the next time you'll see her in a white dress like this will be on her wedding day?" - He smiled - and said "I don't want to talk about that!"  And with perfect timing Theresa says "Yes daddy, when I marry Jake!"  (Jake is a boy from her Preschool that she STILL talks about!!!  Daddy isn't too fond of the idea!)

It took some time to get the photos together for this special blog - because as many of you know - I no longer post full face photos of Theresa online.  Trust me - if it were safe I'd have non-stop Theresa photos being posted.  Unfortunately, in this day and age it's too risky.  So my husband and I agreed that we would share side profile photos of this very special day with all of you.  I wanted to thank you all for understanding - and many of you are already aware that I only post photos that don't show her full face.

If you'd like to leave Theresa a message - please feel free to do so below.  Or visit my Facebook Page - www.facebook.com/jacqueqvc to post a message there (at least I can resond to you on FB - I cannot respond on this blog!)

Blessings,

Jacque G.

My parents were divorced when I was eleven years old.  My dad was a dentist in town so I mainly saw him when I would ride my bike to his office and spend a few minutes trying to talk to him as he worked on patients.  He was an outgoing, likeable guy and  I know he wanted to be a good parent but he just wasn’t around very much.  He passed away nineteen years ago this month and before he died he told me he how deeply he regretted leaving my mom and missing so much of my formative years.  I always loved him and still do.  But if it wasn’t for my mom I don’t know where I would be.

My mom is an amazing woman.  After dad left, she attended a local community college by night to earn a degree and worked by day at a full time job to help provide for her family.  Her life was busy but she often attended my sports, music and academic events at school.  She was and is so proud of all four of her children (I have three wonderful sisters.)  She repeatedly told us that God had “great things” planned for our lives and that we could accomplish whatever we put our minds to.  She made sure we were in church two to three times a week because she wanted us to have a strong faith in God. 

As proud as she always was of her children she never hesitated to discipline us when we needed it.  I was always very competitive at sports.   In fact, most of my summer days were spent on a baseball field.  I remember one time I struck out during a Little League game.  I was so mad that I turned around and threw my bat against the backstop.  My mom told me we were going to have a “long talk” when we got home.  I’ll never forget how badly I felt when she told me how disappointed she was in my behavior and that she had never been ashamed of me until that night.  She went on to tell me that if I ever lost my temper again on a sports field like that I would never play again.   I never did lose my temper playing and I was fortunate enough to attend college for all four years on a baseball scholarship.

Today my mom is ninety-three years old and she is still my rock.  She lives outside of Milwaukee so I don’t get to see her as often as I would like but I still talk to her almost every day.   Her prayers and her advice have made me who I am.  I know and greatly appreciate the sacrifices that she made for me and my sisters. 

Mom, on this Mother’s day and every day I want you to know much I love you and admire you.  Thank you for being who you are and for helping to make me who I am.     I thank the good Lord every day for blessing me with you!

Happy Cinco de Mayo, everyone!

No matter where you live or what your ethnicity, everyone can celebrate today's holiday just by eating some terrific food. Case in point: what’s Cinco de Mayo without a margarita...a Watermelon Margarita!

Watermelon Margarita

This recipe is prepared with the Vitamix 48-oz 16-in-1 Variable Speed Blending System (K42356).

Ingredients:

• 4 cups cubed watermelon
• 6 oz watermelon pucker
• 4 oz pink lemonade frozen concentrate
• 1 lime, cut in wedges
• Decorator sugar crystals

Preparation:

1. Place the cubed watermelon in a single layer on a cookie sheet and freeze.
2. Prepare margarita glasses by running a lime wedge over each rim. Pour the decorator sugar on a plate and dip the rim of each glass into the sugar.
3. Add the frozen cubed watermelon, watermelon pucker, and lemonade concentrate to a blender and pulse until well blended. Pour into prepared glasses and enjoy.

Two notes: one, take time to freeze the watermelon cubes because that eliminates the need for ice. The watermelon will become an icy slush after blending, giving you that frozen margarita texture and a great flavor. Two, you can certainly use tequila in this recipe to make a more traditional margarita. I had a falling out with tequila circa 1992 and I haven’t touched that particular poison drink since.

And now for your main course!

Chimichurri Chicken Enchiladas

This recipe is prepared with the Vitamix 48-oz 16-in-1 Variable Speed Blending System (K42356).

Ingredients:
Chimichurri Marinade:

• 4 cloves garlic
• 2 cups fresh mint leaves
• 2 cups flat Italian parsley leaves
• 4 Tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup olive oil

Enchilada Sauce:

• 8 oz tomato sauce
• 4 oz chicken stock
• 1/4 tsp cumin
• 1/4 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp canned Adobo sauce

You Will Also Need:

• 4 (4-oz) thinly sliced boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 4 8–10" corn tortillas
• 6 oz grated cheddar cheese, divided
• 1 tsp chopped Italian flat-leaf parsley (optional garnish)
• 1 tsp chopped mint (optional garnish)

 Preparation:

1. To prepare the marinade, place the garlic cloves, mint, and parsley leaves in a blender and pulse until a paste forms. Add the red wine vinegar, red pepper flakes, and salt and pulse to mix. Continue pulsing and slowly pour the olive oil into the mixture. Blend until all the ingredients are incorporated. Divide the mixture in half, placing half in a zip-tight bag and reserving half (you can keep it in the blender) to make the enchilada sauce. Marinate the chicken for 30 minutes.
2. To prepare the chicken, preheat an outdoor or tabletop grill and cook the chicken breasts for 5 minutes on each side, or until fully cooked. After cooling, slice the chicken into small strips.
3. To prepare the sauce, add the tomato sauce, chicken stock, cumin, chili powder, and Adobo sauce to the blender (with the reserved Chimichurri marinade). Pulse until well-mixed.
4. To assemble the dish, preheat the oven to 350°F. Place 4 corn tortillas on a flat workspace. Place 4 oz of sliced, grilled chicken in a horizontal line across the bottom half of each tortilla, leaving a 1/2" border. Sprinkle 1 oz of grated cheddar cheese on top of the chicken. Roll the tortilla once, tuck in the sides, and continue to roll, keeping the ingredients tucked inside. Repeat.
5. Place the rolled tortillas in an 8" x 8" oven-safe baking dish. Spread the enchilada sauce on top of the tortillas. Bake for 15 minutes. Garnish with the remaining 2 oz of grated cheddar, chopped mint, and parsley, if using.

Two more notes. This is a shot of the finished chicken, only we didn't cut it into strips. This chicken is so yummy just like this, so if you're looking for an easy weeknight meal, here you go.

The other thing I wanted to say is don’t let the size of the ingredient list in this recipe turn you off. If you looked closely, you’ll notice this is essentially a twofer, meaning the marinade and sauce are made with the same ingredients. Just be sure to reserve half the marinade to make the enchilada sauce.

I hope your fiesta is today…there’s nothing like a mid-week party to bring life to your week. But, if you have to wait till Saturday to celebrate, now you’ll be ready!

XOXO,
—Jill

Dear Mary Beth,

You know how I feel about you, so of course, I wanted to do something extra special for you on Mother's Day! And since I knew we wouldn't see each other today, I decided to get a little creative.

Sooooooooooo, I secretly contacted your "kids" (who by the way, are some of the sweetest, most respectful, well-spoken and kind young people I know) and asked them to write a little something for you ..... basically a virtual Mother's Day card. We sure hope you like it and we all love you!

Sincerely,

Erika

“I don’t know where I would be without my mama.”

 ~ Elizabeth

"Dear Mom, 

Thank you for always caring for us and giving each of us kids an adventurous spirit to be bold, forge our own path, and to love others that seem unloving. You taught me to pursue my passions and put my full effort into everything I do. You truly know what it means to break free from the patterns of the world and to take the path less traveled while entrusting God with it all, and I think it's very evident in our lives that we gained that similar spirit from you. You have always kept me and our family in your prayers and God has listened and blessed every one of them. Thanks for being a mom worth celebrating, Happy Mother's Day!"

 ~ Ryan

"Dear Mom,

You are my hero! I couldn't be more thankful to be your son. A quality that will always be special to me is your confidence and the way you present yourself to our family and the rest of the world. You stay true to yourself and taught us to be exactly who we are and to love how God made us. It's because of you, I believe I can achieve anything!! You have learned all of my cool dance moves, you make the meanest green Bean casserole, and you're Always there for me and you always have been. What more could I ask for?! I Love you mom! Happy Mother's Day!"

~Cory

~ Eric 

"Dear Mom (in-Law),

You deserve to have every blessing and praise on Mother's Day! You are truly a role model for every girl who aspires to be a mother some day. You are full of kindness, compassion, beauty and love. You have been such an inspiration to me and I cannot believe I have been given a wonderful mother-in-law who upholds God and his grace like you do. You are so loved by so many people and I cannot wait to share life with you since marrying the amazing, Eric. We cannot thank you enough for your kind encouragement and direction. We admire you for many reasons and I adore the home you have created for all who are fortunate enough to spend time there.

Lots of love! 

~ Alice 

“What are your favorite…baby names?” I asked to my not yet husband,  one gorgeous fall evening while walking down Manhattan Beach Boulevard in Southern California. Days before, we’d started playing this game where we would ask each other to name their favorites in a particular category as a way to get to know each other even better. Though at this point, to me it didn’t matter, I was smitten and completely in love. We were still counting our couple status in weeks at that point, but it felt like months since our first official date never really ended.

“I don’t know,” he replied, honestly thinking about what he would name his kids instead of completely freaking out like any other twenty-eight year old would when blindsided by this question from someone he just started dating.

“What about you?” he volleyed.

“Grace for a girl. I love that name, but for a boy…,” I trailed off.

 “I like strong, biblical, traditional names. Maybe Ben?” I had these two close friends in my high school youth group who were brother and sister. His name was Ben. He was this adorable, wholesome, southern Californian skater boy who loved Jesus. I always felt safe and happy around him. He was like a brother to me. His face popped into my head and it felt cozy.

“Yea… I like Ben.” The handsome man with the dark hair and happy eyes said back to me. “Grace and Ben.”  He looked at me again, smiling, almost settling on the picture of our future we had just discussed.  He squeezed me a little closer and we walked in step toward the ocean. His eyes held mine for a few seconds longer, getting gradually wider with that glimpse of what could be one day….

That was five months before we were engaged, seventeen months before we were married and four and a half years before our first miscarriage. Five years later we were diagnosed with infertility, and it seemed like an eternity before we were truly given God’s Grace.

Our faith was something my husband and I had in common immediately.  When I met him I was instantly drawn to that and I know he was put in my path by the Lord. At the time I prayed for the Lord’s favor in my life but was deliberately disobeying Him in so many areas of my life.  My husband fell into my life by the true grace of God. I did not deserve him. But that is the definition of Grace; undeserved favor, so its not a coincidence that we one day hoped to name our child Grace.

Today that child we spoke about nearly eight years before she was born to another woman is five and a half years old and the ultimate gift from God.  She was adopted at birth and placed into my arms seconds after she took her first breath.  That handsome man, who so easily accepted my love and got down on two knees to ask for my hand in marriage despite all my baggage, was frantically trying to get home from a business trip to meet his daughter. She was three weeks early (and four years late according to our plan,) but right on time for God.

The months leading up to her birth after we were matched with her birth parents and we knew she was coming, my aunt introduced me to the Grace line at philosophy. From the moment I read the inspiration on the bottles and jars, saw the pink packaging and inhaled the heavenly scent, I was hooked. The nursery and bathroom had bottles and jars of Grace, and to this day, I have Amazing Grace throughout my home.  Grace and her slightly younger sister Georgia call it the “Grace lotion” and always ask where the “Georgia lotion” is. That amazing Grace scent, will always take me back to the time we were waiting for Grace.  Not just the gorgeous baby girl, but also the undeserved favor from our Lord.

Ben never made an appearance, miscarriages and infertility can rob you of the family you once dreamed of, but we are so blessed by our Grace and our little miracle Georgia, and who knows, God has a plan, and while it might not be our time line or the picture we painted when we were in our 20’s, it is always filled with His Grace.

(To shop the brand new Amazing Grace Item, click here > philosophy amazing grace 4 oz edt and rollerball trio.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!!)

I have so much to celebrate in life and am so thankful for everything.  To read the full story in one of my earlier blogs click here > What Grace Means to Me Blog and The Girls 5 Months Apart blog.

Be sure to keep up with on Facebook: Kerstin Lindquist QVC too to follow more of my behind the scenes photos and moments :)

Have a blessed Mommy day!

xo

Kerstin

In honor of Mother's Day, some of your favorite hosts are sharing their proudest "mom moments!" 

Nancy Hornback

This note came from Isabella's kindergarten teacher this past October. It made me SO proud to be her mom!

"Good morning! I just wanted to write a quick email and let you know that Isabella has been a wonderful friend today.  We got a new student in our class this morning and she sits next to Isabella.  She has been very helpful showing her where everything goes, helping her find her cubby, and pencil box.  Be proud, not many kids would take it upon themselves to do that."  A proud moment for me, indeed!"

Alberti Popaj

“I’m proud of my mother for her inner beauty, her strong faith, and her ability to always face the world with a smile.”

Jennifer Coffey

 My proudest moment as a mom is any time my Gabby chases a dream...and she does that quite often! She'll get it in her head that she wants something, and I know it's already a lock when she declares it's in her sights. One day we drove past a karate studio and Gabby said "I'd like to get good at that." Next thing I know she's a brown belt! She declared that she wanted to give modeling a try, and next thing I know she's doing a runway show for girls' formals. She thought running for student council was a good idea, and became treasurer of her class. She isn't just my pride and joy, she my dream-chasing role model!

Kerstin Lindquist

Anytime one of my girls does something compassionate for the other or reminds me about Jesus' love, I just melt with pride. I love that they are growing up as little girls of faith.

Amy Stran

I know there will be so many proud moments in the future, but for right now I think my proudest moment as a mother so far is giving birth to Bree. I just can’t seem to wrap my finger around the idea that Bree is here because of us!

Jacque Gonzales

Theresa is my biggest Blessing! Her sincere compassion for people, animals and nature is beautiful. Theresa's faith is so deep and pure. She took every step of her journey for her First Holy Communion with an open heart and excitement. To see my baby growing up so fast is amazing - I'm so proud of all that she has accomplished - and love her with all of my heart!!! She's my little "Mini Me"! I'm Mama Wolf and she's Baby Wolf! We even howl at each other!  (Poor Daddy!)

Sandra Bennett

My proudest moment as a mother is every time I see my daughters being kind to each other. They love each other very much and it shows. I try to teach them that “family is first.” It’s easy to be nice and polite to a classmate, friend, or even a stranger and save your nastiest behavior for home. I remind them that they need to treat each other with that same kindness they give others. They sometimes fight, but they are rarely mean to each other. Of course, they are still young. So far, so good!

Sharon Faetsch

When both of my children and I first received our new color belts in Tae Kwon Do.  We all had to train hard to achieve it!

Jill Bauer

My proudest moments as a mom are when Kylie and Trevor are complimented by teachers and coaches for being respectful, kind and for being pleasures to have in the classroom or on a team.

Mary Beth Roe

Mark and I are certainly proud of all 4 of our children, but if I had to pick one as my proudest mom moment, I would have to say it was when our son, Eric, was given the award of "Most Coachable Player" at his high school tennis banquet. It was given to the player most able to take feedback with a positive attitude and then take the feedback and apply it to his game. That was the best award one of my kids could ever get in my mind, since to me, it's not about winning, it's about the respect you give the coach and the humility it takes to take criticism and turn it into a positive thing.

Jane Treacy

I cherish every moment. The bond with your child begins as soon as that baby is in your arms.

Rachel Boesing

My mom is a humanist, feminist, civil rights activist, and all around compassionate, caring, amazing woman. She has spent her life giving voice to those who need to be heard. I am proud of every moment she is on the planet.

Dan Wheeler

My mom’s prayers and her advice have made me who I am. I know and greatly appreciate the sacrifices that she made for me and my sisters.

Stacey Stauffer

Honestly my proudest mom moment is every day.  To see my boys try, thrive and love.  I know it might sound silly but it's the truth.

We'd love to hear about your proudest mom moment! Share it with us in the comments below, and have a happy Mother's Day!

Even though we were in London for a full week, the two nights leading up to the wedding were highly significant! We hadn't had a chance to meet Alice's parents until Thursday night before the wedding. They invited us to their home for dinner and welcomed us with open arms!

Alice's Parents: Paul and Lisa

Alice's Mum, Lisa, is a teacher and a tutor, so she is kind, gracious, nurturing and very hospitable. Lisa and I hit it off immediately. We have a few things in common: we are both blonde, similar in age, love to cook and bake, we both have been married about the same amount of years, and we both love the Lord! What more could we want?

Just like Alice, Lisa is lovely inside AND out, and I know I will love being friends with her for the rest of my life!

Alice's Dad, Paul, has his own printing business. He, like Lisa, was raised in the London area, but his family is from Trinidad. Paul is very friendly and loves to laugh. He exudes joy when you talk to him. He and Mark really enjoyed their conversations, and I can tell that they, too, will be friends for life!

Lisa showed us pictures of Alice as a baby and her growing up years. It just gave us a better idea of Alice's background and perhaps what a "little Alice" may look like someday years from now!

I know that in-laws and mother-in-laws get a bad rap and a negative connotation, but after meeting Alice's family, including her younger brother, David, 19, we are thrilled with our new family members across the pond!  Even Elizabeth said, "I love my new siblings!"

Lisa and David

David and Elizabeth

Counting our blessings, 
Mary Beth Roe 

Being the parents of the groom made the evening before the wedding our responsibility. I had to have Alice's help ahead of time since we had never been to London and yet arrangements needed to be made.

Friday evening was the rehearsal at church and the grooms dinner following it. Walking into an old London church is an experience by itself!  It had this arched ceiling with big white columns going down both sides. A large stained glass window was at the front making it look ever so majestic. It reminded me of a movie, like Sound of Music.

Alice had a maid of honor, three bridesmaids, two junior bridesmaids (one of which was Elizabeth) and one flower girl. Eric had groomsmen from the US and the UK, since he had made some great friends over there while getting his masters degree at the University College of London.  Our second son, Cory, was his Best Man, and our third son, Ryan, was one of the groomsmen. Alice's brother, David, was also one of the groomsmen, and since he and Ryan are the same age, they really got along well!

As soon as Lisa, Alice's Mum, and I saw Alice rehearsing her walk down the aisle with her Dad, and I saw the look on Eric's face of overwhelming joy, we both started crying. Bring out the tissues! The crying has begun!  We couldn't help it!  Reality had hit us that we had really come to this special moment in our lives!  Alice cried a bit at the rehearsal as well,  realizing the time had finally come.  It turned out though that she didn't cry during the wedding!  I guess she got it out the night before!

After the rehearsal, we had the groom's dinner at a restaurant in South Kensington called Obica for the wedding party and family members. What was especially exciting for me was that my three sisters, a sister-in-law, husbands and some of their grown children had arrived from the states, so it was wonderful to see them!  They are all from MN, so we had not seen them since last summer.

One of the most memorable moments of the trip was what we did before dinner that night. We went around the room, and each person introduced themselves and told how they knew Eric or Alice. This was necessary, since some were Brits and some were Americans, and it was their first time to meet. But as people spoke, it was very touching and sometimes emotional as people expressed their love and respect for these two and the impact Eric and Alice had already had on their lives!  It was definitely a "Proud Parent" moment!

After dinner, it was back to the hotels and quick to bed for the big day was coming up next!