It feels like I've been doing some extra tidying around the house lately considering there won't be much time for that once Bree arrives. FYI-- My due date is Sunday (April 20th) but if you've seen me lately it feels like she could come at any point, lol! As I was cleaning up I noticed that the Easter decor around the house all matched a specific theme -- Peter Cottontail's Bunny Trail! 

I'll start with my favorite bunny in the house... This USED TO BE filled to the top but Steve and I put our favorite Easter treat inside (Cadbury Mini Eggs) and this is what it left lol! 

This is our dining room table. And yes, ironing the runner is on my list of things to-do! ;)   

Here are the two bunnies that occupy our mantle!      

What our foyer lacks in bunny decor, it makes up for in beautiful Hydrangeas! Oh and don't forget the cute E-A-S-T-E-R blocks, lol!    

And here is my FAVORITE Easter addition... At the shower my family gave me Bree's first Easter basket because her due date is the 20th. 

I'll keep you posted on any new Peter Cottontail sightings around the house and in the mean time be sure to share your Easter decor tips and pics on my Facebook page {Amy Stran QVC}. 

Also keep your eyes peeled for our big Bree announcement!! 

xox Amy

I have been looking for the time to sit down and post some Bree photos into a blog for you, and I’m finally getting to it now. We are loving every second with our little girl and apparently she is loving every second of sleep, lol! Here are some of my favorite pics…

Here is a picture of Bree after a bath, because someone has around here has to get washed, lol!  

We drove up to Maryland so that Bree could meet her cousins Drew, Reese, and Abby for the first time. Although she screamed throughout the photo shoot, I still love this picture!

Okay so here is where our Sleeping Beauty photos begin. Out of all the places Bree seems to catch some shut eye, I think this one is her favorite.  

The prettiest sleeper in the world!!

Catching some zzz's in her very first sun hat!

Are you starting to see what I mean....

I assume this pose means "No more pictures Mom!" I just can't help myself... 

Here I was reading Bree a book to see if I could get her to close her eyes and it looks like it worked.... but for the wrong person, lol. 

Daddy's first bottle feed so Mommy decided to celebrate Mother's Day a day early. 

Here is a picture from my first Mother's Day as a Mom. We walked to go get brunch and enjoyed some warm weather, great food, and even better company. 

Bree was extra excited to go out to dinner... Like mother like daughter!    

As for me, I'm missing you all very much but loving my time with Bree. I wanted to give you an idea as to what "New Mom Beauty" looks like. I am still wearing my robe at noon, no make up, hair that is longing for a trim, and of course tired eyes! I'd say it's working for me! 

I promise to keep you posted with Bree pictures and updates on my Facebook Page {Amy Stran QVC}. I can't wait to be back with you on the Q in July!

Talk to you soon,

Amy  

Knowing that there was a host team meeting yesterday (the only time most of us are able to get together with our crazy schedules), Steve and I decided to bring Bree to QVC to surprise everyone! Here are some pictures from her big debut. 

Before the meeting let out, we fed Bree in the host lounge. Wanted to make sure she was fueled up and ready to meet everyone!

Then the meeting let out and all of the hosts immediately flocked to her...

I love this picture of Jane and Jennifer meeting Bree for the first time! 

I'm going to go out on a limb here, but my guess is that this is the first diaper change to ever happen in the QVC host lounge, lol! 

And after an exciting hour of meeting her QVC family and five minutes of being rocked by our friend Christine, Bree was out like a light! 

It was so great to see everyone and I am so happy that Bree was finally introduced to the crew! I can't begin to tell you how wonderful it was to watch everyone soak up Bree's presence and love her just as much as we do!!

I want to thank all of you for your love and kind words over the last 2 months (can you believe it's already been 2 months?!). I'm very excited to get back to QVC in July but in the mean time we will continue to share Bree updates and pictures on my Facebook page. :) 

Love,

Amy, Steve, and Bree :)     

The last two months have been filled with many "firsts." Our first meal as a family, Bree's first bath, my first Mother's Day, and now that June has rolled around it's time to celebrate Steve's first Father's Day. I know I'm constantly posting pictures of these two on my Facebook page, but there are SO many more where that came from! 

I'm sharing some of my favorite Daddy and Bree photos to celebrate a special "first" for all of us, especially Steve! 

Happy Father's Day to all of the amazing Dad's out there (including my Dad-- you're the best!!) 

Love, 

Amy, Steve, and Bree

Hi everyone!! I'm so happy to be back at the Q after spending some quality time with Bree at home. While it was hard leaving her, I'm so so so glad to be back to work and shopping with you!! I know I have a lot to catch you up on, but I wanted to start by sharing all of our photos from Bree's first visit to the beach! 

It was a full fledge family affair and not to mention the perfect way to end my time away from work. Here are some pictures from our vacation!

I took this picture to send to Bree's Aunt K and Uncle D. Since we were headed to the beach, she had to wear the new sailor outfit they bought for her! 

Someone was very excited to be in a bathing suit! 

Classic Bree catching zzz's on the beach!

Oh and don't forget cousin Drew partaking in his favorite past time as well! Watching these guys sleep makes me really regret not taking advantage of nap time when I was little!

Meme and Bree!

Took a break from the sand to grab a drink... After all this is vacation!

Here's a picture of little Drew in the pool for the first time with Mommy! Look how happy he looks!! 

 I had to take this picture. Steve was confiding in Bree to help him choose what to have for breakfast. This went on for quite some time... 

 Until Bree made this face and the decision was final! 

We wrapped up our lovely vacation with a delicious dinner! Looking forward to many more trips to the beach with Bree! 

Last week we had a photo shoot for my new head shot! It was such a blast so I wanted to show you some behind the scenes photos. 

Here's a little sneak peek at what it's like to be part of a photo shoot at the Q. Prepare for lots of laughter, lots of dancing, and lots of glamming!! 

It all starts in the salon! Do you think we have enough to get me "camera ready?!"

This is Robert my make up artist! He is amazing and always makes me feel so pampered and beautiful. 

Meg had to grab an "after" photo to show off Robert's talents! Can you believe the transformation?? I wish everyday was photo shoot day!

And some final touches on my hairdo!

Welcome to the studio! I wanted to share this picture because it's actually a really cool element to our shoot. Our amazing and creative team puts together one of these boards for every host. We look to these images for inspiration throughout the shoot because as you can imagine, some poses get boring after 4 hours and 4 outfits lol. 

And here comes the dance party..... 

To keep up our energy and to get some great shots we HAD to have ourselves a little dance party. All of our stylists helped out and we played a fun game where someone would come up with a dance move for me to mirror. Some were successful, while others... were not! 

 Finally, I wanted to show you some of my favorite shots from the day. Keep in mind the actual photos came out a lot better than these. I'm sharing the pictures I took with my phone of the computer monitor. It really does our photographer Will, zero justice for how AMAZING all the photos came out! Thanks Will!

 So what did you think? Pretty fun right?? I hoped you enjoyed as much as I did!

This week we had our friend Meg over for dinner. Not only did we have a delicious meal and a great time, but we also came up with a really fun idea for you! Because you're always inviting me into your home no matter what time of day I happen to be on-air, we thought it was time we finally returned the favor and invited you over to our house!!

Sunday Funday is one of our favorite traditions and this week you're invited! We put together a quick home tour so you can get an idea of where and how we like to spend our Sunday's and pretty much every day together. 

You'll notice most of the decorations we have all have some sort of back story. Some funny, some crazy, and some that mean a lot to us. 

So come on it and make yourself at home, lol! 

We keep our front door decorated depending on the season, but always keep our flameless candles and lanterns out all year around.

Since you came through the front door, it only makes sense to start with the foyer!

This is the hallway from the foyer into the family room/kitchen. We thought the clock would make for an interesting picture!

      There is a small powder room right off of the foyer and while I don't think you really need to see that, I did want to show you this! This little stool was a gift from Maria McCool. We know that Bree is too small to use it now, but we loved it too much to not have it on display!

Now onto the dining room... Before I really start giving you the full on home tour, I think I should give you some background. My Dad is a big time antique collector, so a lot of our decorations were given to us by him. 

Here is a look at our dining room. A common theme you'll see around the house and recognize from the Q is my love for flameless candles! They are so easy to decorate with and we usually set them on a timer. We have them decorated differently throughout the house with cloches, lanterns, and here these fun vases!

The story behind this piece in our dining room is actually a little funny. My Dad offered to give us this antique and I kept refusing it, but Steve had his heart set on placing it somewhere in the house. Finally I gave in and we brought it home. Now, I absolutely love it and it's a perfect "I told you so" moment for Steve!

Now we can head into the most frequently used room in the house, the kitchen! We love food here, so it's no surprise that we spend a lot of time hanging out around the island and cooking away at the oven! 

  Here is a wider look at the room. It wasn't until after we took this picture that I noticed the couch wasn't "freshened up," but I had to use the picture because it felt right. Earlier Bree was a little fussy so I had been rocking her in that exact spot. It's funny to think that before Bree I would have immediately fixed the sofa for a picture, but now there are so many other things to worry about!!!

This is our kitchen table, but typically when we have guests over we congregate around the island. When it was just me and Steve we ate dinner at the island every night! I'm sure you've seen our dinner for two photos on my Facebook page.

I love this corner in the kitchen! This is one of the antiques my parents gave us. It actually used to be an icebox back in the day. The bottom is where the ice was stored and the top opens up for a place to put eggs, milk, etc. We found a different purpose for the antique icebox.... it now functions as our wine cabinet! 

I love the glass bottles on the top, and yes that is a fresh squeezer parked next to the bottle decor. Here's a fun fact: Steve and I met working in a restaurant in NYC. I was a waitress and he was my bartender! His behind the bar knowledge comes in handy every once and a while and we use the fresh squeezer for cocktails... and for other drinks of course!

 You know I have a serious sweet tooth so I wanted to share this picture with you. Here were our options for dessert the night Meg came over for dinner. She brought over the salted caramel brownies and I pulled one of my favorite tricks in the book... Buy a pre-made dessert and throw it on your own dish, lol! Does anyone else do this??

Oh and PS: I helped myself to a slice of fruit tart AND a brownie because that's how I roll!! Both were delicious by the way. 

This is the bulletin board we have in our kitchen where we post pictures, notes, and reminders. During the holidays we hang all of the cards we receive and fill this guy up with our friends and family! 

 Oh and although fall is around the corner, I wanted to share with you my favorite summer candle. This guy has a couple more weeks of life until we move into the pumpkin and apple scents!

Let's take this party outside! This is our back deck where as you can see, me, Meg, Steve, and Bree (via her monitor lol) had dinner. You're looking at grilled chicken with tomatoes, potato and asparagus salad, with cornbread from our favorite bakery in Maryland. DELICIOUS!

We like to soak up the summer while we can, but I have to tell you the truth... We started our meal out here but ended up moving inside because it was just too hot. Shout out to Steve for grilling out there in the scorching weather!! 

We had to grab this picture after dinner, hence the clean up. The sun was starting to set and it was too pretty to pass up! 

Also notice when the table is clear of food we put up our Home Reflections lanterns. 

Now onto the family room! Our house has changed a bit since Bree came along, but in the best way possible. I love seeing her things around the house even if they cause a little clutter. 

What you're looking at here is something very special to me. As I mentioned my Dad is a big antique guy. He gave me and Steve the carriage clocks and the book to the right is an antique book on the history of theatre. I'm not sure if you know this about me, but I studied theatre in college, so this was my graduation present. Such a thoughtful and personal gift that reminds me of my passion for theatre and of course my parents! 

Continuing further into our antique corner is Steve's gift from my parents. Steve loves whales, so my Mom and Dad gave him this antique firewood box. 

I love this corner because it has a splash of both of our passions and interests with my parent's own personal touch.

   So that was my personal favorite corner of the family room, but here is Bree's spot! She lives in this thing. 

And of course there is a great story behind these shelves you see here. 

This shelf is is full of pictures, but the one next to it is completely empty, and here's why -- Steve attempted to hang one shelf so that we could put up the picture frames we already had and we decided as we create more memories and history if you will, we will put up the second shelf. My parents came to visit one weekend and my Dad could't believe Steve's hanging job. He said it was pretty much destined to fall at any second, lol. He fixed the shelf and we decided it would be best for him to put up the second one even if our memories weren't quite ready yet!

Another Bree hot spot is her little mat. She loves laying here and her latest favorite thing to do is roll over!! If you look close you'll see a little blue whale. Steve's Mom made that for Bree and she loves it! 

Now this is something I had to share. Steve and I are very particular about our coffee table books! We want to have a lot of books one day, but the only criteria is that they have to be meaningful to us. Right now we just have one book, but you can't rush these things!! Stone Harbor is our favorite beach so that is why this one is so special. 

I wanted to bring you down the basement but this is another one of our rooms that is "in the process." This is funny and worth sharing... Feast your eyes on our Mother's Day and Father's Day gifts, lol. 

I've been on this bad boy a full two times since May lol, but that's because we have been working out together at the gym and outside while the weather is still nice. We'll get a lot more use out of our Mother's and Father's day presents once Winter rolls around. That's usually when it gets extra tough to hop in the car and get to the gym!

Right off of the basement is a small patio. You might recognize this furniture because it used to be on our deck. We loved having somewhere to sit outside, but we realized shortly after buying the furniture that what we really wanted was a place to sit and eat our dinner. So we moved the outdoor furniture down here!

I know every home has a room like this, but brace yourself for the "junk room" aka the storage room! It may not be pretty, but I promised a full tour lol. 

Here is our bedroom!  

Another candle vase combination accompanied by some photos from our wedding day on the bureau.

    Moving on to Bree's bathroom. You may remember from one of my older blogs, this room is mermaid themed! 

A friend of mine gave this to us to hang for Bree. I love it for many reasons. One, because it is adorable and I love the message but also because I'm a huge theatre fan so I love that this is Shakespeare. 

 I'm going to end our home tour in a room I know you are familiar with because of my earlier blogs. I would show you a little more and even turn on the light for you, but there is an exhausted little girl snoozing in there!! 

 Well that was fun! Thanks for spending your Sunday Funday with us!

Bree’s beach bum status was confirmed back in June when we hit the Jersey Shore for a family vacation. It was a relief knowing that not only could she handle a day spent wearing a bathing suit at the beach covered in sunscreen, but she actually LOVED IT. I say it was a relief because me and Steve love the beach, especially Stone Harbor. It’s our happy place!

Since, we got the okay from our successful shore trip, we decided to plan our first big family vacation for the three of us in Florida. The trip brought a lot of firsts…

Bree’s first airplane ride:

Her first time sitting in a high chair:

Her first ride in the stroller diaper free:

Her first time behind the wheel LOL! Check out our little golf cart driver!

Her first playroom that didn’t consist of her mat and jumper in our family room:

Well not her first snooze on the beach on in Daddy’s arms but still this was really cute...

Her first time getting caught in the rain with Mommy and Daddy (more so Mommy and Daddy getting caught in the rain… we came prepared for her!)

Her first morning stroll in a place that she didn't really recognize lol!

Bree's first time with her toes in the water! 

Oh and not to mention the first time in a long time Mommy and Daddy had alone time!! I use the word "alone time" sparingly considering we were actually watching her sleep right in front of us in her stroller, but we were very thankful for the long nap!

All in all it was such a great trip!! We were sad to leave the sunshine, but it was the perfect break for the three of us.

Until next time Florida!! For now we are going to enjoy every bit of fall and pumpkin spice everything! 

What does everyone want to wear to Thanksgiving dinner…. Sweatpants or perhaps anything with an extremely elastic waistband! But since so many of us would never, I decided to put together a fashion guide for Turkey Day! Thanksgiving is the kickoff for holiday fashion, but it’s also really the last hoorah, for all of our fall favorites. This is the time to go big on the cozy sweaters, warm fall tones, and the latest trends you saw this season – plaids, fringe, and boyfriend style (just to name a few). 

Here are some of my rules for picking out your Thanksgiving outfit:
1. Think stretch. Let's not set ourselves up for failure here by wearing ANYTHING we don't feel completely comfortable in. Rock your favorite pair of jeans and feel ZERO shame in spending Turkey Day in your leggings. You can always dress that look up and comfort is key. 
2. Cozy and Comfy is always welcomed. Fall is all about warm colors, comfy chic sweaters and over-sized scarves. Spend Turkey day feeling the comfort of family, friends, and giving thanks to all that is comforting about fall fashion! (Remember you can always layer your comfortable basics with fashion forward pieces -- aka my favorite chambray shirt with the Joan River's hounds tooth jacket over my shoulders.)

3. Make the most of fall trends. Before the holidays roll around and you find yourself limited to glam style and formal attire, take Turkey Day as your last big outing to rock the trends of fall. This is where you can show off your plaids, boyfriend jeans and sweaters, ankle boots, and don't forget fringe! 

4. Shoes -- Your footwear will all depend on where you're headed for Thanksgiving. If you know you'll be spending a lot of time in the kitchen and hosting a large dinner I say stick to flats. (My current favorites) You can never go wrong with a pair of your favorite riding boots. You'll be comfortable and get the last stretch out of your comfortable flat boots before the holiday's come around and it's all about the heel!(Isaac Mirzrahi quilted boots)

4.Mix your prints and add color -- Top off the fall fashion season by going out with a bang. Make a statement with prints & and color!

 PS: If you're looking for a Thanksgiving jack pot, check out Mary Beth Roe's toGather collection that features host's home made Thanksgiving recipes, hostess gift guides, wine pairings, and more!! 

Cookies, cakes, brownies, tarts, YOU NAME IT and I am all ears. While my sweet tooth is hard to tame all year around, it gets a mind of its own around the holidays. This is the time of the year when I surrender the will power and splurge on sweets.

This year the QVC hosts are having a “virtual” cookie exchange where we can swap recipes and share them with you along the way. Shout out to Sandra Bennett for nominating me next on the list of cookie recipes… Now… I really mean it when I say you can’t judge these cookies by the way they look. They are dark (from the hershey’s chocolate) and therefore extremely hard to photograph.. but once you try them you will know why I’m hooked.

Also did I mention they are REESE’S CHEWY CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES! See if you’re going to judge a book by its cover (which hey you should never do!) can you at least take into consideration the title and perhaps the credibility of the author (I am a seasoned vet when it comes to sweets LOL). 

Here’s how you make them –

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup HERSHEY'S COCOA

1 teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

1-1/4 cups (2 and ½ sticks) of butter or margarine, softened

2 cups of sugar

2 eggs

2 teaspoons of vanilla extract

1 and 2/3 cups (10 oz. package) of REESE’S Peanut Butter Chips

Directions:

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Stir together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; set aside.
2. Beat butter and sugar in large bowl with mixer until fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well. Gradually add flour mixture, beating well. Stir in peanut butter chips. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheet.
3. Bake 8 to 9 minutes (Do not overbake; cookies will be soft. They will puff while baking and flatten while cooling.) Cool slightly; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely.

In the beginning of December I went up to NYC with our Inspired Style team to shoot a couple of fun segments coming up for our next season! (YAY, I CAN HARDLY WAIT!)

While I was there, I had the pleasure of hanging out with Erin, one of the fabulous makeup artists from tarte! She prepped me for a full day of shooting and I asked her to share exactly what she used on me so that I could then share with you!

So here is the exact formula on how to create a camera ready look for your upcoming holiday parties:

Complexion:

1. Start with tarte's Flawless Primer

2. Apply the CC-brightener under eye cream to your under eye to cover up dark circles/bags

3. Apply the Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Foundation to your entire face.

4. Highlight under your eyes and the high planes of your face with Maracuja Creaseless concealer in a shade lighter than your foundation.

5. Set all liquid foundation with the Translucent pressed powder

6. Next use Park Ave Princess Bronzer to contour your face.

7. Next Apply blush to the apples of your cheeks. (For me Erin used "Exposed" with a pop of "Fearless" Cheekstain.

Eyes:

1.Use tarte’s Amazonian clay brow mousse to fill your brows.

2. Highlight your brow bone with Amazonian Clay concealer (she used light on me)

3. Prime the eyelids with the CC eye shadow primer (Note: this will be a complete game changer when it comes to acing your eye makeup. The primer will keep your make up in place all day/night and will make it easier to blend!

4. Erin used the tartelette eyeshadow palette on me.

5. She started with the color Super Mom on the lid (lol Super Mom, that’s me!)

6. Then use the color Force of Nature in the crease of my eye

7. Next came the color Power Player in the outer crease

8. She used Bombshell in the outer corners to smoke out the look

9. Finally she smudged Power Player along the lower lash line with a bit of Bombshell in the outer corners.

10. Erin then used tarte’s Amazonian clay waterproof liner in black along my lash line and Lights, Camera, Lashes inner rim liner in black. (Note: I ALWAYS wear inner rim liner.. I feel naked when I don’t!)

11. She then topped off my eye look with my favorite mascara—Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 mascara in black.

So there you have it! The notes of a true make up expert all at your finger tips! I can't wait to see what kind of look you put together for your holiday events. I know you are going to look beautiful.  

Be sure to post photos to my Facebook page so I can see how gorgeous you look and remember you can shop all of your favorite tarte products here.

This episode of Project Runway All Stars is called “Match.com.” The designers are teaming up to create an elegant outfit for either a man or a woman getting ready for a romantic first date.

So how will I “Amy-ify” (yes, that is a verb I just made up) this week’s challenge? Funny you should ask! When hearing about this challenge I couldn’t help but laugh. The idea of wearing a polished and elegant outfit for a romantic first date is just so ironic when thinking about my “first date” with Steve.

Have I ever told you how Steve and I met? If so, bear with me while I take a walk down memory lane! After college I was a part of a traveling children’s theatre group. For a year I toured around, performing and pursuing my passion for theater. After a year, I decided to move to New York City with my best friend from college to take my acting career to the next level.

As you may have heard, the acting world isn’t the easiest biz to break into, so while I auditioned for various roles I also worked as a waitress/hostess at a restaurant in Manhattan. It was at this restaurant that I met and became close with one of the bartenders.

Meet said bartender.

For a while we spent our time as “close friends,” until one day we realized the friend zone was bananas. We admitted that we actually really liked each other and once the jig was up, I guess that is when we “officially” started dating.  

(Our first summer together)

Even when we transitioned from “friends” to “couple,” our relationship never changed and it still hasn’t. Steve continues to be my best friend every day and I couldn’t be happier to have found love at my part time waitressing job, lol!

(Steve and I a couple years ago in the brewery where we used to work/where we met.)

So what did I wear on my first date? Well that is a tough question because I don’t even know what to consider my first date with Steve! I will tell you one thing; it certainly was not elegant with a designer label on it. We were both young, living in New York City, and barely making ends meet. There was no glitz or glamour, it was all very real. Plus, even from the beginning, I never felt like I had to impress Steve. I was always my very true self. (Despite how corny that sounds, I actually really mean that!)

(Our very first Christmas together)

As you already know, we aren’t living the waitress/bartender NYC lifestyle anymore. We left the concrete jungle for the pastures of West Chester, so that I could pursue my dream job which just so happens to be hanging out/shopping with YOU!

We also have an addition to our household that has made life that much better. (We love you Bree)

It seems as though everything has fallen into place, but still despite all of the transitions and life changing moments, nothing about our relationship has changed at all. We are still those two twenty-something’s that fell in love while working in a Manhattan restaurant.

Hey Ladies,

First, I want to wish you a Happy Holiday? Don't you just love this time of the year? The other night me and Steve were thinking about how we never want the holidays to end. The home is cozier, the food is tastier, and the memories are that much sweeter. ANYWHO! The reason I am writing this blog (other than to chat with you!) is to thank you for all of the kind words you have shared about our Christmas special featured on the Q. We had such a blast shooting it and we were able take some really great professional photos (something I haven't been able to pull together just yet-- I promise it is next on my list after the laundry!)

So many of you asked for the Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies that we made during our Holiday video. I'm sorry it took me a while to get it to you, but it's finally here!! I realize Christmas is technically over, but it's never too late to have delicious cookies lying around the house! 

Enough out of me! The recipe is below! I hope you enjoy and have a very safe, healthy, and happy New Year! 

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

Ingredients:

•             2/3 cup (58g) old-fashioned rolled oats*

•             1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

•             1 teaspoon baking soda

•             1 large egg

•             1 cup (250g) peanut butter at room temperature or cold* (see notes)

•             6 Tablespoons (90g) light brown sugar (see notes)

•             1/2 cup (90g) semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips

Directions:

In a medium bowl, toss the oats, cinnamon, and baking soda together. Set aside. In a medium bowl, beat the egg. Mix in the peanut butter and brown sugar with a large rubber spatula until combined. Pour in the dry ingredients and slowly mix until everything is combined. Depending how thick and/or cold your peanut butter is, you'll have to use some arm muscles. Fold in the chocolate chips.

Chill the cookie dough for 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Line two large baking sheets with silicone mats or parchment paper. Scoop the dough, about 1.5 Tablespoons each, onto prepared baking sheet. Bake two batches - 7 cookies on each baking sheet. Gently press down on the dough mounds with the back of a spoon to slightly flatten as pictured in this recipe. If you find the cookie dough balls are oily-looking from your peanut butter, blot each with a paper towel.

Bake for 9 to 10 minutes. The cookies will look very soft and underbaked, but that's ok. For crispy cookies, bake for up to 12 minutes. Sometimes I press a couple more chocolate chips into the tops of each cookie immediately after coming out of the oven. This is optional and only for looks!

Allow the cookies to cool for 10 minutes on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Cookies stay fresh stored covered at room temperature for up to 7 days, if they last that long! Cookies freeze well, up to 3 months.

*Gluten intolerant readers: make sure your oats are certified gluten free.

*I typically use 3/4 cup of oats in these cookies, however 2/3 cup makes the cookie dough a little easier to handle and the baked cookies less crumbly. Make sure you use old-fashioned oats, not quick oats.

*About the peanut butter: you may use homemade, natural, or commercial peanut butter, however the type you use will alter their texture slightly. I found the best texture was with 1 cup of my homemade honey roasted peanut butter or 1 cup Skippy Natural Peanut Butter. If using my homemade peanut butter, make sure it is at room temperature or cold. Freshly processed, it's quite warm and you do not want to use warm peanut butter in the cookie dough. If using natural brand peanut butter: be sure to stir in any excess oil on top and get it completely mixed in. Otherwise, your cookies will spread. An equal amount of almond butter may be used instead of peanut butter.

*About the sugar: you may use white sugar instead, but keep in mind you'll lose the mild molasses flavor from brown sugar. If the peanut butter you are using is not sweet and on the salty side, increase brown sugar to 1/2 cup.

Hey Ladies!! WOW, what an exciting year. Today someone asked me to describe my year in 3 words and I was stumped. How could I possibly consolidate all of the amazing memories, events, and milestones we've experienced over the last year into just three words. 

Well it was a question and every question deserves an answer... So this is what I came up with. 

3 words I would use to describe 2014:

Life-Changing. Happy. Wonderful. 

Because not everyone has a Facebook, I wanted to share some of my favorite memories throughout the year that I've posted on my page. Starting with the gender reveal!! 

This is how we announced to our family (and you of course) that our baby was going to be a girl and that her name would be Bree! 

I couldn't believe I had just hung my baby's first stocking! It wasn't long before we shared the big reveal. 

Here are my parents, Steve's parents, our siblings, my grandmother, and my nieces after the big reveal! 

Then came all of the prepping for Bree! QVC came to our home for a little photo shoot and this is one of my favorite photos. 

This photo is right after we left the police station -- lol, IT'S NOT WHAT YOU THINK! Before Bree was here, the police station asks all parents to come by so they can do a safety check on car seats. We passed with flying colors!

A couple of months before Bree arrived we met our nephew (and Bree's cousin) Drew. 

Before we knew it, it was time!!! On Easter Sunday morning (1:20 am to be precise) we headed to the hospital and after what felt like the longest night of our lives, Bree arrived at 11:27 am and measured 7.3lbs and 20in.

Bringing Bree home from the hospital and also the first time I have ever been in the backseat of my car, lol. I was in great company! 

I had an emotional moment as we were sitting in the waiting room during Bree's first doctors appointment. I looked up and read this sign and my eyes filled with happy tears.

I absolutely love this photo from Bree's first time going out to dinner. I can tell already she will love food as much as her Mommy and Daddy. 

Here is a photo of Bree meeting her cousins Drew, Reese, and Abby for the first time!

This is us from my very first Mother's Day brunch as a Mom. Feeling very special, blessed, and full from a delicious meal. 

All smiles at Bree's 2 month check up!

The very first Father's Day card I gave to Steve. 

Our first family photo from our favorite beach town. This was an amazing last vacation with my entire family before it was time for me to head back to work. 

A face that says, "Are we done with running errands yet??" Hopefully this was the first and the last stink eye I'll get from my daughter lol!

The flowers I received from Steve and Bree on my first day back at the Q!

Reunited!!! (and it feels so good), lol! Sorry the word reunited made me think of that song. After one of my first couple of days back at work it felt so great to sweep that baby into my arms. It also felt great to have a delicious meal with my two favorite people. 

I was all set to jump on the treadmill  before I heading into work but when someone smiled at me I changed my mind. I think story time is a better way to spend the morning:)

And this was somebody's third outfit of the day!! Lots of spit up action was happening but it looks like she didn't really mind. 

And this is when Bree "told" me she just wasn't digging the barrette. LOL! Worth the experiment and photo! 

One day while I was at work Steve sent me this pic and said, "take your time at work but look who's waiting for you." I think he was very ready to start Sunday Funday and that was actually his way of saying, don't take your time, lol!

Our favorite time of night -- Bath time!

A summertime Sunday Funday with a new seat at the table! I love everything about this view.

Like mother like daughter... I promise it was just a long blink lol!

We were out running errands in the part of town where the local college is. It must have been move in day because a ton of parents and their freshman children were walking around. Daddy was sad saying goodbye just for the day before he went to work, so how are we ever going to do college, lol!!!!

Our very first family vacation with just the three of us. We spent the week in Florida and it was REALLY tough to come back!

Our little beach bum!

Sunday Funday walks in the fall is one of favorite things to do... besides eating delicious foods and enjoying pumpkin spiced everything! 

Another Sunday Funday favorite is visiting our family! After a weekend of pumpkin patches and family fun, we went to my niece Abby's field hockey game. My brother in law Mike took this pic of us from across the field.  I think you know everybody by now but just in case, from left to right is dad, Steve, mom with Bree on her lap, me, lil sis Sarah with Drew on her lap, big sis Jess who is clearly Abby's mom with her game face on!

Say hello to Bree the Lionness! She actually didn't mind wearing this costume and she spent Halloween with my parents and all of her cousins!

Like I said... she is a total foodie! Haha, Bree insisted on feeding herself and I figured I would give it a try. 

Bree's first visit to NYC! We were so excited to take her to the playground and the reason why we couldn't get her to look at the camera is because she was mesmerized by all of the little kids playing around her!

Finally as we come full circle, Bree's first time ever meeting Santa!! She wasn't afraid at all!

Thank you so much for spending this amazing year with us and for all of the kind words you have shared. We wish you a safe, healthy, and happy holiday! See you in the new year!! 

Love,

Amy, Steve, and Bree

This week’s episode of Project Runway All Stars is EXTRA special! Before our friend Lisa Robertson’s departure from QVC, she had the chance to guest judge an episode of Project Runway All Stars! In this episode, the designers were challenged to create a piece for the sophisticated, yet totally wearable, G.I.L.I collection to be sold on QVC. I know --- How cool?!?

Because we all got it and we all LOVE IT. I reached out you, to my loyal FB girls, to share photos of your favorite GILI item in your closet. I am never surprised by your amazing fashion sense, but I’ve got to tell you.. you ladies look amazing!!

Meet the GILI lovers that posted photos to my page!

Luanna is rocking our last GILI TSV, the Leather Motorcycle jacket.

Lisa Croft has the full GILI look going with her faux leather jacket and GILI handbag.

Love the way Sue layers a longer tunic under her Leather Motorcycle jacket! Looking good lady!

My friends Marisa and Kathy have their hands full with a fabulous collection of GILI handbags!!

Surama is keeping it edgy- chic with her sunnies and faux leather GILI jacket!

This is our FB friend Jessica, and I think she made a very wise choice investing in that amazing GILI Pieced Leather Jacket!

Linda Gant has us “blushing” with her GILI wardrobe – Get it.. Both items are blush! LOL!

There is nothing sharper than a bold and classic time piece. I bet this looks amazing on our friend Linda’s wrist!

Phylis is fierce from her phone case to her GILI! Love the look of the motorcycle jacket on you 

Love this photo that Albany Irvin posted to her Facebook page. It looks like while she was in Las Vegas for Consumer Electronics Show, she bumped into a GILI gal! I think the kids are calling it “twinning” these days! Both ladies serving the GILI Moto Leather Jacket justice!

Tune in tomorrow for the GILI Episode of Project Runway All Stars on Lifetime at 9pmET!

Okay, so have you heard the big news yet?? We have a brand new GILI bag coming soon and I have the opportunity to share it with my Facebook friends first, before it’s available to buy from anyone else!! That’s right, my loyal gals on Facebook can be first in line for the gorgeous GILI Large Stirrup Hobo starting Monday 1/26 at noon (ET) all the way until Wednesday at midnight (ET) – So technically, end of day on Tuesday!!!

I have a feeling this bag is going to be EXTREMELY popular so as a “thank you” to my FB friends, I wanted to make sure YOU are very first in line for this bag! We’re giving it to you at a special featured price AND on 6 EZ Payments!!!! It comes in Ivory, Terracotta, Dark Gray, Black, and Dusty Pink. PS: I couldn’t get my hands on the Dusty Pink before this weekend to grab a photo, but I will make sure to post one on Monday to give you a look at the color!

The more I’ve been carrying the new GILI around, the more I fall in love with it. It’s not just your everyday handbag, while yes, you can carry it every day. It will start to replace the old bags in your life before you know it. From your carry on, to your day trip duffle, all the way to your gym bag. You won’t believe how functional  and spacious this hobo truly is until I show you!

So…

Here’s how I’ve been using my GILI Stirrup Hobo over the last couple of days of test driving!

The “Get Myself To The Gym" Bag– I am notorious for planning to hit the gym after work, then ultimately coming home to Bree and Steve and never wanting to leave their side. Can you blame me?? It’s just SO hard to get all the way home, then get dressed for the gym, and then actually go. I also try to limit all of the bags I bring into the office because I really hate lugging them around all day from meeting to meeting, so I found the solution – my GILI hobo! I can pack all of my gym clothes and neccisities comfortably in my work bag! This way I have my sneakers staring at me all day telling me I should really hit the gym and I can change before I leave the building instead of going home to do so.  Even if you carry a laptop or notebooks to work, you’ll find that you still have SO much room left over. I encourage snacks and your gym clothes!

The New Mom Chic Diaper Bag– I’ve been told handbag lines have really stepped up their game when it comes to creating more stylish diaper bags. As a Mom trying to keep her chic, I really appreciate that… but I refuse to believe there is a diaper bag as luxurious and functional as this one!! I am able to pack Bree’s neccisities for a day of running errands while still keeping my handbag, my handbag! I’ve got all I need all in one sophisticated, luxurious, and beautiful bag. That makes me a very happy mama!

The Over Night/Carry On Bag– No more digging through your luggage to find a duffle bag suitable for the old over night trip. This one is tough because I like to try and keep my packing light when I’m only making an over night trip or a day visit, but if I use a duffle bag I open up the door to over packing, which I always do. I tested out the GILI hobo as a possible overnight bag and it was a success!! I think this would be the perfect way to arrive in style and keep the baggage light for your own sanity. Here’s how I packed for an overnight visit and check out how nicely it all fits in my bag.

Wahhoo! So what do you think? Clearly, I’m obsessed with my new GILI, and I really think you’re going to love it to. GILI brings us the luxury and sophistication we all deserve and I truly think this bag does that for all of life’s adventures. Remember to check in on my Facebook page starting at 12pm ET on Monday 1/26 to get your hands on this gorgeous bag before anyone else! 

Back in December I spent some time in New York City shooting a couple of fun things for Inspired Style. Since we wouldn’t have access to the “full salon” treatment we have here at Studio Park, we decided to call up some of our favorite New York beauty friends. One of those special ladies happened to be Emmy Award winning makeup artist, Eve Pearl.

While I was bummed she didn’t bring her Emmy for me to touch lol, she did bring her a whole lot of fabulous make up!

Not only is Eve a highly respected individual in the beauty industry, she’s also a really great gal. We had such a great time chatting and laughing throughout my make over session. All in all it was a great morning and I have to give huge props to Eve Pearl for doing an amazing job and for teaching me some really cool things!

Speaking of the really cool things Eve showed me (did you really think I would keep them a secret!?!)… You have to know about her Reverse Contour Method. I know, I know that sounds really intense but trust me when I tell you it is quick, easy, and will have you wondering where Eve Pearl has been all your life, lol!!! This is how Eve explains her contouring method:

Your face is not a canvas--a flat, blank surface. It has peaks, valleys, discoloration, and skin issues. The end goal should not be to match your face with similar shades, it should be to balance out your face's needs and have it match the rest of your body. The reverse contour method and HD Dual Foundation provide simple beauty steps to a flawless-looking complexion.

To reverse contour you are going to need the HD Dual Foundation. Check out the image below for color by number directions! It’s really that simple!

1. Apply side 1, the lighter side of the foundation on your eyelids and below your cheeks (above the jawline). Use one side of the foundation brush.
2. Apply side 2, the darker side of the foundation on your cheeks, chin, nose, forehead and/or anywhere you have redness, discoloration and need extra coverage. Use the other side of the foundation brush.
3. Use a damp non-latex sponge to blend the foundation into your skin to achieve a smooth, flawless finish!

The entire Eve Pearl collection is scheduled to launch on Feb. 6th at QVC! So very excited for Eve, and I think you will really love her stuff!

 “Everything goes with anything,” seems to be the mission statement and mantra of style extraordinaire, Lori Goldstein. Lori is one of the most influential stylists in the fashion industry today, having worked with a number of iconic celebrities and photographers over the last twenty years. In fact, the last time I visited Lori in New York City she casually mentioned her upcoming shoot with Katy Perry.

To think… Katy Perry and I have something in common!! That’s pretty amazing don’t you think? Lori Goldstein balances a full plate of artistic, extravagant, and amazing projects all at once and touches each with impeccable class, sophistication, and of course her unique style. According to Lori, her LOGO by Lori Goldstein line here at QVC is one that she takes deep pride in; perhaps what she is most proud of. She blends 20 years of notable experience in the fashion industry, combined with her eccentric style and brings a line of on trend fashion for everyday women like me and you.

It’s never “why?” to Lori, it’s more like “why not?” Why not mix prints and colors? Remember what I said before, “Everything goes with anything!” Sometimes we may see a look similar to Lori’s and think “I could never pull that off,” but what I’ve learned from Lori Goldstein is, yes. you. can. It’s all about confidence and owning any room you walk into.

Confidence is key when it comes to Lori’s line at QVC. To feel confident, you must feel comfortable and oh my goodness is there anything uncomfortable about LOGO?? Answer: No. Everything is designed and made to fit the everyday woman at any age. Her pieces are functional, stylish, and unique – is there a better combination? While I was up visiting Lori in NYC, she styled a couple of different looks to really show off how versatile her line can be. From running errands, to date night, you really can’t go wrong with her collection!

If you didn’t hear already, Monday nights on the Q are transforming to the ultimate night of fashion. In fact, we’re calling it Fashion’s Night In. You can join me and Lori at 8pmET after an all new time for Inspired Style at 7pmET. After Lori and I have had our fun shopping with you, stick around because the night is still young!! Next will be everyone’s favorite duo Shawnie Sue & Isaac followed by two hours of PM Style with Shawn Killinger! … Did Monday just become the best night of the week?!

Wahoo!! I’m so excited and I hope you are too! There will be a lot of fun to be had with Lori in the future! 

I’m back from Texas with some new friends, new insights on the latest and greatest in beauty, and even a little twang in my talk. Okay, that last part isn’t true… still have the loud, excited, happy Amy Stran voice that you know and hopefully love lol!

So you know I’ve been posting up a storm about BeautyCon on my Facebook and Instagram. (PS: If you didn’t know I’ve been posting up a storm that could only mean you haven’t followed me yet... Subtle social plug lol). You may be thinking okay we get it you’re in Dallas for BeautyCon, but we don’t know what the heck that is!

If that’s the case, don’t worry -- You’re not out of the loop. To be honest, I really didn’t know all too much about BeautyCon until I was invited to go, and even then I was still totally surprised by all of the magic involved in the actual event.

In a nutshell, BeautyCon is a giant community of creators and influencers redefining what beauty truly means. It goes far beyond what shade of blush matches your skin tone, or how to get the perfect beach wave; it’s a place for girls of all ages to talk about culture, trending topics, fashion, beauty, and important issues. The overall mission is to align these influencers and beauty bloggers with their fans to create a fun and safe environment where it’s cool to be yourself. Sounds amazing, right? It was!

Each week I’ll be sharing a fun beauty how-to video involving all of the QVC vendors that attended BeautyCon. Some brands you may be more familiar with, but if I’ve learned anything from this trip, is that the best is yet to come! We have so many new and exciting products coming to the Q from brands like EGO, tarte, FormulaX, Algenist, and Vita Liberata! Keep your eyes peeled for more blogs, videos, and FB posts to come concerning all of these fab brands!

As for the trip – who doesn’t love a little photo diary? I wanted to share a couple of photos so you can get an idea for the event and all the fun we had!

Most of our Public Relations team and production crew left Thursday to get all set up for the event on Saturday. Trust me, there was a LOT to be done, and all of their hard work paid off… you’ll see in the pictures! Any who, I ventured out to Dallas on Friday morning accompanied by these two gals.

(Me, Our girl Meg, and Lauren from our QVC Social Team!)

As you can tell, I’m all about the snacks, the magazines, and the pillows when it comes to a plane rides! PS: How cute is this pillow that the tarte team gave me!! Love them!

Can you guess what we did when we touched down in Dallas? Well, that’s actually a boring question… we just took a cab to our hotel, but can you guess what we did the second we got to our hotel?? We grabbed some lunch in the hotel restaurant, which would eventually become our favorite spot for the weekend. We felt boring all ordering the same thing, but we couldn’t help it. Meg, Lauren, and I all ordered the tacos. THEY WERE DELICIOUS and super spicy!

I timed my meal and next event quite perfectly… I look my spicy-taco breath (ew that sounds really gross when I type it) back to my hotel room where a very fab gal named Laura would be getting up close and personal to do my makeup for the BeautyCon party that night! Laura is one of brand managers/ representatives for Laura Geller Beauty. Besides being a savy business lady, she also doubles as an extremely talented makeup artist and really awesome person!

Laura did an amazing job on my “night look” for the BeautyCon party that night. We have some great how-to’s with Laura that I will share with you in the next couple of weeks in honor of something special coming from Laura Geller ;)

(Before Makeover -- obviously! PS: Do you recognized my head band philosophy girls?)

(After with Laura!)

Next it was party time! We were off to Gilly's, a fun Texas bar where we would get to meet and chat with some of the biggest beauty bloggers that would be attending BeautyCon. The band was great and we had such a blast! 

(Left to Right: Lauren, Bev, Meghan, Me)

   (Is it really a party if there isn't a selfie taken lol?)

After the party, the QVC gals all congregated in my room for a wonderful girls night in consisting of pizza, wine, and spray tans…. You’re probably thinking, “SPRAY TANS?!” Yep! One of our FABULOUS new brands at QVC, Vita Liberata, offered to come set up a temporary spray tan booth in my hotel room. All in all the night ended with full bellys, lots of laughs, and fabulous spray tans!

(Bev and I eating pizza and gearing up for our AMAZING spray tans!)

The next day was the main event!! We were rocking awesome tans and ready to mingle with the biggest beauty influencers out there. On the main floor I handed out samples, interviewed fine ladies, and got to grab some great photos with beauty bloggers and beauty blogger fans!

(A little girl talk with Leigh from tarte!)

     (Getting to hang out with some of the fabulous attendees!)

(Two of our favorite bloggers from the event! Left: Kandee Johnson Right: Nikki Phillippi)      

A photo opp with our tarte girls and one of the most well-known beauty bloggers out there, Bunny! 

(Left to Right: Leigh, Bunny, Me, Jen)

At one point I even had some time to Facetime with Bree LOL!

Oh but wait I forgot to mention the greatest part of all. QVC was a sponsor for this giant event and therefore you know we had to go big! We had an entire Talent Lounge for the top 100 VIP Beauty Bloggers! So what was in this lounge you ask….

 There were couches to hang out and meet all of the amazing bloggers...

A red carpet for photos

A photo booth… for more photos lol!

Hair, make up, and nail touch up stations thanks to Laura Geller Beauty, EGO Professional, and Formula X

There was even a place to get spray tan courtesy of Vita Liberata and fun booth to score yourself some Algenist goodies!  

At the end of the day we were exhausted. The heels were kicked off and we all crashed once we got back to the hotel… Just kidding you know exactly what we did when we got back to the hotel… Changed our clothes and then grabbed some grub!! We laughed, told stories, and me and Meg spent 15 minutes speaking passionately about our love for EZ Pay haha! I’d say it was a successful way to end a fantastic trip!!

Be sure to keep your eyes peeled on my Facebook page for some more how-to videos, a very special something from our friend Laura Geller and more! To find all things BeautyCon in my collection by clicking HERE. Oh and I also documented our entire trip on my Instagram, so if you're on insta and want to see some behind the scenes photos find me at AmyStranQVC!

Hey gals! So as many of you may already know, we have a really fun segment on my show Inspired Style called "Inspire Me." The idea of the entire show really stemmed from how often I seek my fashion sense from all of YOU and the amazingly stylish women that roam this world! I see it, I like it, I tweak it and I make it mine!

Okay, so back to Inspire Me. Inspire Me is a segment in Inspired Style where we highlight one or two gals that submit their photo showing off their amazing style. Now that we're prime time and loving life, I really started buckling down on you ladies to send me those Inspire Me photos! I want the world to see how unbelievably fashionable you are!! 

This week, I asked you to post a photo of your favorite bracelets. Now in the world of accessories and fashion, many people are calling the trend of wearing a couple bracelets at a time, an "Arm Party." Or perhaps you've heard a girl refer to a bracelet as her "arm candy!"

We received SO many gorgeous photos of your favorite bracelets that mean the most, and I decided to throw a little Arm Party! Here are all of the photos you sent me. 

Our girl Ashley rocking the black spinel look!

 Gold and glamorous is our friend Anna's arm party! This is oh so Courtney Cason, am I right?

 Deanna compliments her gorgeous time piece with a touch of turquoise!

 Diana blends leather, inspiration, pearls and sterling... and boy do I love it!

 Gloria keeps it classy, sophisticated, and simple with a gorgeous diamond tennis bracelet. 

 I see some Judith Ripka, I see some Sleeping Beauty Turquoise and per usual I see a lot that I love from our friend Lisa!

 You can tell that our friend Lynn has a lot of personalized and special pieces in the mix of her arm candy!

 Our girl Maria is calling all the Silver Ladies with one heck of an arm party. Girl, this is amazing. I love your style!

 Loving the sleek and polished look of Maryann's arm party. Very beautiful!

 Sakinah is rocking simple links that really add some wow to her wrist wrap!

 Shasha is clearly a gold girl and she is absolutely nailing the big, bold, and beautiful look! Love it!

 Sophisticated in silver is our friend Sheila!

 Our friend Stephanie rocks the bangle trend with such class!

 Dear Surama, can I please have one of each from this amazing arm party?! Trendy meets texture meets inspiration! You've got this arm candy thing down!

 See no evil. hear no evil. think no evil. and only wearing evil when it's in the form of a great bracelet and it's fending off evil... Uh, how many times did I say evil in one sentence lol! Val love this look, now I know where to go when I'm in need of some good vibes!

Thank you all for sending in your photos! You really don't know how excited it makes me to see what you're wearing, how you wear it, and the little personal touches you put on everything from your date night looks all the way to how you accessorize! 

Can't wait to show off all of these beautiful arm parties on Monday night during Inspired Style at 7pmET!!