As I haven’t written a blog yet this year I will start by saying happy new year to you! I hope it has started off well for you although I know that times continue to be hard for many. I wrote a post on Instagram the other week after spending most of the New Year’s Eve week working and it was about how lucky I feel to work where I do with such great people. Here at QVC the people I am surrounded with day to day are so much fun and it makes it such a lovely place to work and I just wanted to share on that post how grateful I feel to have that amongst what can be fairly gloomy times. I should also add a special mention to our wonderful team on floor who currently always have a seat and a fan waiting for this wearing pregnant lady in every studio… what stars they are!

On that note, as the title suggests, this will be my last blog for a good few months as I’m off on my maternity leave with my last two days at QVC being this week (Wednesday and Thursday). It feels strange because I never had an end date like this last time, because of covid and shielding etc I just left work one day just over half way through my pregnancy and then didn’t come back to the building until after maternity leave. So this feels a little momentous to me this time and also quite nice to have a normal experience for once. I mean, what kind of mad woman had TWO babies during a pandemic?!

I shall miss everyone at QVC but I’m definitely ready as I’m feeling pretty tired now and I’m sure any of you that have been pregnant can understand that a two hour car journey isn’t so comfy at 8 months along! I’m looking forward to spending a little more time one-on-one with Beatrice before her new sibling makes an appearance and I have to share my attention. She is just full of life and fun at the moment and saying new words/animal sounds all the time. It is so much fun to watch her personality come out and to see her learn so many new things. Can’t say I’m not slightly nervous about managing two under twos though… yikes!

Before I go, I want to chat about my Jewellery Insider role with you. We have put it on pause for while I am going off on leave, but it is going to be coming back when I do. So there’ll still be Knowledge and Style posts on my Instagram, a monthly live to chat about what’s coming up in the jewellery department each month and hopefully some more exciting things too. I have had a few chats with some of our teams behind the scenes and I’m so looking forward to what I could be bringing you with Jewellery Insider once I’m back. As always, please let me know if there’s anything you’d like to see.

I also quickly want to mention a new-to-QVC brand that will be featuring on air for the first time on 29th January. The brand is called Sea Magik and I recently had the pleasure of meeting their founder, Kate, via video call. It was great to hear from her about the brand as it started because her father used to visit the natural salt lakes where he grew up in Hungary and their passion and beliefs as a brand all stem from that. They will be bringing all sort of goodies, including shampoo and conditioner (yes, you read that right), masks, mists and, of course, bathing salts. I have tried the magnesium baths salts, which have been a wonderful treat for my aching muscles and what’s lovely is that there is also going to be a pack of three different types of bath salts so you’ve got the right ones for the right moments. I really, really recommend tuning into the show to hear Kate talk you through all the fab items on offer as she has such a passion and amazing understanding of them. It’s all about getting a true spa experience at home and getting back to the power of nature to do that.

Right, that’s it from me really. I will just say a quick thank you before I go for all of your lovely messages to me about the pregnancy here and on social media – you’re very kind and I really appreciate them. It’s time for me to put these puffy feet up and relax as much as a toddler and mad Flatcoat retriever will let me! I’ll probably be a bit scarce on social media for a while but I’ll share a little announcement when the new family member arrives so follow me on Instagram if you’d like to see that… if it’s a girl, I’ll be able to announce a name too, but if it’s a boy there is currently a strong chance that it’ll just be called “baby” for a while as we really can’t agree on any boys’ names!

I hope the first half of 2022 for you is healthy, happy and enjoyable and I’m hoping to be back with you on QVC for the second half of it.

Best wishes to you and take care,
Kathryn x

The post See you in a few months! appeared first on Stories.

I hope you’re doing well.

I’m just popping in to let you know about our special Diamonique event that is coming up soon. It’s going to be a three day festival of sparkle, where there is a two hour show every day dedicated just to Diamonique. Obviously this will be fantastic for Christmas shopping as our Diamonique range has some lovely gift sets and everything comes beautifully presented too, but I’d suggest that it might be worth a watch if you’re looking for a piece or two to sparkle up your own festive season.

The event kicks off on Wednesday 8th December and I will be presenting the final show for you on Friday 10th. I’m really looking forward to it and can’t wait to share the beautiful jewellery we’re going to have on offer.

Our Diamonique range is going from strength to strength and I think our team have really upped their game this year with the gifting side of things too. Have you seen that we have a 12 day Diamonique advent calendar this year? How amazing is that?! We’ve also got mini crackers with jewellery in, travel jewellery boxes with earrings inside and, if you’re reading this on the day of publication, then you are still JUST in time to get one of our personalised pieces for Christmas… the deadline is 2nd December.

Here’s my personalised pendant with a paw print and my lovely Monty dog’s name engraved on the back. There’s lots of options so do have a look online.

One of my favourite gift options is this little box with a set of 2 cushion cut halo earrings, one of which is classic white Diamonique and then your choice of a simulated coloured stone. They come ready boxed and are a nice alternative cut, so a lovely gift for a jewellery lover as they might only have round brilliant cut studs. I think cushion cut is probably my favourite of them all.

Here’s a sneak peek of three pieces you’ll definitely see during the festival at some point. I really love these little 3D bow earrings, they are so cute and a real point of difference compared to a normal single stone stud earring. They’ll look so cute with your Christmas jumpers, but let’s face it, these are a year-round treasure.

The ring is a seriously blingy option and I know a lot of you love this chunkier style… this one is particularly nice because of the mixed cuts together over the band. And the starry bracelet is another one that looks festive right now but will be a fab light little piece for the rest of the year too… stars just always work, don’t they?

That’s it from me for now. I do hope you can join in for the festival and maybe treat yourself and loved ones to something sparkly for Christmas. Do send me a message and join in if you’re watching the finale show on Friday – I’d so love to hear from you.

Have a great week,
Kathryn x

The post Discover the Diamonique Series Finale appeared first on Stories.

I hope this blog finds you well and you’re maybe starting to feel a little glimmer of festive cheer… we are half way through November already! I love Christmas so much but we don’t do any decorating until 1st December – luckily I get to come into work at QVC and get my Christmas fix here for now! When do you decorate? I like that everyone has their own traditions with some already full festive and some waiting until just a week before. The jumper in the photo at the top is one I think is great as a Christmas jumper alternative… the green colour and big velvet collar make it look lovely and festive during that time of year but not too much so that it won’t look out of place in a cold February! It’s from Monsoon and on the website now.

I’ve been trying to reign myself in with buying cute Christmas outfits for Beatrice. I’ve got her Christmas Day outfit sorted already as I saw the cutest little red dress and couldn’t resist. I may or may not have also bought her a sparkly red tutu skirt but I couldn’t possibly confirm or deny that! We will probably only get her one present as I know she’ll be very spoilt by everyone else but she will certainly be looking festive for the whole of December.

We have, of course, got lots going on at QVC ahead of the big festive day including amazing Black Friday deals, which we have some of on the website already. But before all that I want to talk to you about a big event coming up this Saturday 20th November that we’re calling QVC Unwrapped. There is so much planned for this day, including lots of live extras for you to see places you don’t normally see at the Q, with lots of sneak peaks behind the scenes. I’ll be bringing you two hours Live on the telly but I’ve got some little behind the scenes snippets for you myself too. There’ll be Facebook Lives and even a coffee morning with another of our presenter team too, so please do make sure you’re watching so you don’t miss anything. Here’s a little taster of the day for you.

The Today’s Special Value for the event is really exciting because it’s a brand new launch from Hotel Chocolat. They’ve only gone and teamed up with Dualit again to create their own Podster Coffee machine.

If you’ve ever experienced the Velvetiser, then you’ll know it’s set to be a great gadget. It comes with some of their very own Rabot Estate coffee capsules too, so you’ve got all you need for that perfect pick-me-up. Also a great gift for the cofee lover in your life.

We also have a lovely loungewear show lined up for you on Saturday and here’s a couple of snaps of me in a few of the items that will feature in it.

You’ll see more details on these if you follow our amazing presenter stylist Stine on her own blog and on Instagram, but you’re seeing items from the new WynneLounge collection here, and look at how cute the Radley slippers with puppy dogs are!

Now, before I go, I just wanted to share a couple of skincare saviours I’ve discovered recently. As many of you will have noticed, Beatrice is going to be having a little brother or sister next year and once again, pregnancy is really testing my skin. I had a good couple of months where I just couldn’t seem to calm it down… it was spotty but really dry so anything I usually used to help with breakouts was too harsh. Lately, I’ve managed to get things back under control (mostly) with the help of two fab QVC products. I asked the lovely Michaela from Gatineau if she had any advice on how I could hydrate my skin without causing further breakouts and she suggested I try the brand’s Hydra Aura Eclat de Soie Water Cream. It’s basically a really light moisturiser, which is great to layer with another moisturiser if you need an extra boost but if, like me, you need something super light and soothing then this is the perfect finish to your routine. It makes my skin so soft.

Now, the other thing that has helped enormously is a relatively new launch from Elemis that was released around the same time. It’s the first time I’ve seen them bring us anything that is specifically for breakout prone skin and, fitting that bill prefectly, I was very excited to try it. It’s their new Clarifying Clay Wash and I really am not exagerating when I say my skin started to clear up within just a couple of days of using it morning and evening. It’s a beautifully soft, creamy clay texture and I’ve just slotted it in alongside the other washes I use as a double cleanse. I wanted to wait a little longer before sharing these additions to my skincare regime just to really test them out, but I’m so happy with how they’ve made my skin feel I thought I would share that with you. Let me know if you try them out do let me know what you think.

Right, that’s it from me for now, thanks for reading. Don’t forget to tune in on Saturday to see more of QVC than you’re used to and some amazing offers, of course.

Take care,
Kathryn

The post QVC Unwrapped this weekend appeared first on Stories.

I hope this blog finds you well.

It’s been a little while since I posted because I took some time away for a little holiday to Yorkshire which, I have to say, was just lovely. We didn’t do a huge amount but we stayed in a lovely little woodland hideaway with horses in stables next door and chickens roaming around. We could walk anywhere we liked in the grounds through the woods and it was so lovely to get away from it all for a bit. Throw in lunches out in cute cafes, visits to local landmarks and a visit to the famous Betty’s tearoom for brunch and it was just a lovely relaxing week.

This is a photo of some huge water gardens we visited, and then Monty totally worn out back at the house after that particular morning excursion!

I’ve also had a birthday since the last blog and it was a treat to get together with friends and family to celebrate. With everything that’s happened over the past couple of years, it just makes me so happy and grateful to see them all gathered together in the same place. I also got so many gorgeous bunches of flowers so my house is full of them, which I absolutely adore!

Now, onto QVC news, because there is a big day coming up… one of my faves… it is, of course, JEWELLERY DAY! Hooray! It’ll be on the 3rd November and I’m really excited to be bringing you some of the wonderful shows of the day, including a luxury jewellery show at 10am (what a way to start my day!) and Clogau at midday. I’ll also be bringing you an hour of Tova’s Diamonique range at 1pm, which brings me on to talk about our Today’s Special Value for the day, as it is part of this wonderful range.

This special pick of the day is a panther watch with a leather strap, which comes with either the traditional gold or silver tone metal or an edgier black tone. Tova’s panther pieces have been so popular in the past and go very quickly so I’m sure this one will follow in their sparkling footsteps. The panther on the dial stands out so beautifully and has piercing green eyes in Diamonique stones, with what looks like starlights in the background. It’s a talking point for sure and will definitely have people noticing your time piece. I like the fact that it’ll work day to night beautifully and certainly won’t look out of place when you’re really dressed up too.

The leather strap is a big bonus for me, as I personally find them very comfortable to wear. Each of the straps is black, so a typically bold look for Tova’s styles. A great one for giving as a Christmas gift too, seeing as we have our extended money back guarantee running now.

There’s lots more going on throughout the day too, including the launch of a brand new pearl brand called Lara Pearls, which I strongly suggest you tune in to see. I’m very much hoping I get to show some of those pieces on-air soon, as I love them… pearls are some of my favourite jewels to wear!

Also, if you love all things jewellery, then tune in to QVC’s Facebook page at 1.30pm on 2nd November for my Jewellery Insider Live, which I do at the beginning of every month letting you know what’s new and coming up for the month with QVC’s jewellery. We also chat birthstones, which will be Citrine for November. I hope you can join me for that, as well as the jewellery day shows the next day.

In the meantime, take care and I hope you find something sparkly to treat yourself to.

Kathryn x

The post Give the gift of sparkle with our Jewellery Day event appeared first on Stories.

I hope you’re well and have enjoyed a lovely September. I feel like I’ve barely had a moment to stop and I’m looking forward to a couple of weeks of chilling out that I have coming up. Although, it has to be said, there’s not much chilling time with a one year old about!

I want to chat to you about an event at QVC that I’m launching on Thursday evening and the Today’s Special Value for that day but, before I do, I just want to share my latest Jewellery Insider project with you, in case you’re not on social media.

As you may know, part of my role of Jewellery Insider is teaming up with Stine, our amazing stylist, once a month to bring you some jewellery and fashion inspiration. We post these Insider Style posts on Instagram and have a little chat about how to wear your jewellery with what’s in your wardrobe. Because September was luxury jewellery month, we decided to go big and booked in a proper photoshoot.

We took our inspiration from the month’s birthstone, sapphire, and went with themes of blues and pinks. The jewellery includes real sapphires as well as Diamonique stones, which include simulated tanzanites too.

Stine and I are both really proud of the outcome and I have to say I felt VERY fancy! Just goes to show that jewellery doesn’t always have to be the last thing to think about in your outfit… why not START with the jewellery you want to wear and then take inspiration from there for your full look?

Please head to Stine’s blog to have a behind the scenes look and also for full outfit details… it’s all on the website! And please feel free to let me know if there’s something particular you’d like to see in these posts in the future.

If you want to keep up with all things Jewellery at QVC, then make sure you follow me on Instagram @kathryn_goldsmith and also I do both a Facebook and Instagram live at the beginning of every month on QVC’s accounts to fill you in on what’s to come. October’s is this Thursday (actually 30th September).

Now, back to that event I was talking about… also on Thursday night, I will be on air at 9pm launching our ‘Celebrate with Us’ event AND a brand new Cozee Home Today’s Special Value. Let’s start with the latter, shall we? This is the ultimate in snuggly, at-home comfort for the colder months ahead. It’s this hooded fluffy lounger, which is such a great idea to have to hand at home. I love that it’s like a dress or maybe even just a long hoodie, as it makes it so easy to throw on. For me I am thinking it would be great first thing in the morning if you have to get up early before the heating has kicked in properly or, perhaps, after a lovely indulgent bath, ready to snuggle on the sofa and watch something good on TV. It definitely is fine to wear on its own or you can layer your fave loungewear underneath too.

We have 5 colours available and the price is amazing at under £25. It also comes with a ribbon round it, so it will work perfectly for gifts too. I reckon it’s a great idea for that young person in your family who you really struggle to buy for come Christmas time. The fabric is so soft too, that perhaps a more elderly member of your family who feels the cold would enjoy wearing this at home as well. I tried one on in the Midnight Blue and had five minutes relaxing in our fab guest lounge at QVC.

The ‘Celebrate with Us’ event is all about QVC’s 28th birthday and we’ve put on all sorts of great things to help you, well, celebrate with us! We will have a special code to let you split your purchases into Easy Pay interest-free instalments across all our categories as well as special event prices on many of our items too. Look out for great buys from L’Occitane, Ruth Langsford, Harry Slatkin, Bundleberry and Elizabeth Arden, as well as our amazing Today’s Special Value above. Also from the Cozee Paws range, we have a great offer on the round pet bed which is so fluffy and comfy… my dog Monty adores his and we recently had our friends’ Boston Terriers to stay and they absolutely loved it too!

So it’s worth tuning in from Thursday evening into the actual birthday on Friday and I’d love to have your company at 9pm and midnight on Thursday to get the party started.

I also want to mention something that is hot off the press from a huge brand that we have here at QVC, which is Dyson. Their haircare range is so, so popular and many of us now swear by these tools everyday. We have got brand new colours launching this week with the first being shown… can you guess… Thursday evening! Told you it was a big event. So, I can reveal, and I’ve had to have special clearance for this and everything, that’s how new this is… the brand new Prussian Blue and Rich Copper Supersonic, Airwrap and Corrale! Aren’t they beautiful?!

This has to be my favourite colour way ever… it’s so classy and gorgeous. We have the long barrelled Air Wrap as well as the usual one, but remember this is always really popular when we have it, so be quick if that’s the one you’re after. I think this would be a great idea as a very special gift for someone, whether it’s a big birthday or a Christmas present, as the recipient may well not have ever seen this colour option before when you give it to them.

It’s so contemporary and I’m seeing these colours so much in fashion and interiors that you know it’s going to look beautiful in your home. What do you think? Is it your favourite colour too?

When the new options go live, you should be able to follow this link to take you straight to have a look at them all.

Right, that’s enough excitement from me for now. I hope you can join me Thursday night and maybe treat yourself to what I would call an un-birthday present… you know, like when you’re little and you get a little pressie on your sibling’s birthday so you don’t get too sad at missing out! Well, on Thursday/Friday you can treat your shopping at QVC like that! But do make sure you tune in to see all the exciting things we will be bringing you.

I’ll be back in a couple of weeks but have a lovely time doing whatever you’re doing until then and enjoy October which is, in my opinion, the best month of the year… hmmm can you guess why?

Take care and thanks for reading,
Kathryn x

The post Come and celebrate with us this weekend! appeared first on Stories.

How are you doing? Well, I hope. I’m very much starting to get excited about autumn over here. I know lots of people feel that way about summer and quite the opposite about the coming season, but I love it and can’t wait to cosy up!

Although, saying that, we had a lovely summer day out the other week. It was my Mum’s birthday and my brother and I arranged a trip for us all to go to David Austen Roses as a birthday treat. We had a lovely lunch there and then wandered round the gardens. They may have been a bit past their best in August but they were still lovely and I lost count of how many sweetly frangranced roses I sniffed! Beatrice enjoyed a run round, especially in the big courtyard where all the roses to buy were. It was surrounded by gravel, which she is strangely fascinated by! Ha! It was nice to get get out as a family and I came home with two new roses. They really are my favourite flower and with our clay soil they are one of the only plants I can truly rely on.

Unfortunately, not long after then, we all came down with a horrid cold and have all been suffering with that and various other ailments since. Poor little Beatrice has ended up with a chest infection whilst mine has turned into sinusitis and wow I was not prepared for how hard it is being ill whilst looking after a child who is also poorly! I’m hoping it’s all looking up a bit now because it’s been weeks and we are all a bit fed up and I have to say that’s why there’s not a bursting lot of photos for this blog… I’ve mostly been looking very pasty and make-up free!

Luckily, the weekend before last, we had a period of feeling a little better because we FINALLY had Beatrice christened, which was lovely. She looked so cute in her white dress and even danced in the church aisles to the first hymn. She really loves being the centre of attention… no idea where she gets it from! After such a long time it was so lovely to have friends and family gathered in our garden to celebrate our little girl and we were blessed with nice sunny weather too. I indulged a little and booked our friend who photographed our wedding and I can’t wait to see the photos. What do you think of the cake I made? I kept it very simple because there was enough to worry about, but had to make my girl a christening cake! I went a bit wobbly on the icing as I was too busy chatting at the same time, but hey ho.

Oh, we also managed to get the hallway tiled just before the big event too. What do you think to the pattern I chose? It’s a very small space so I went for it! That’s all the downstairs flooring done… woohoo!

Now, let’s chat QVC because I’m really excited to tell you about a couple of things that are coming up. Firstly, this Sunday 19th September, I will be bringing you the launch show of Hourglass cosmetics. Eeeek! They are a hugely popular make-up brand and I’m so excited that they’ll be joining us at QVC.

The Make-Up Junkies girls who do our faces at the Q are all very excited whenever I mention the brand to them. I have to say, just having a little play with the products I have been given to try and wear ahead of the show, I am seriously impressed! I am most excited to share the glitter eyeshadow pots with you… they are A-MAZ-ING! The pigment is beautiful and they are really creamy so don’t drop into your eyes and make them itchy as you wear them. You need so little that I think each pot would do you so, so many gorgeous eye looks. I won’t give any more away here but I’ll let our guest Heidi explain more to you during the show, which is this Sunday (Beauty Day) at 5pm.

September is also Luxury Jewellery month here at QVC and we have some SERIOUSLY amazing pieces on offer. Firstly, some great sapphires, as it’s this month’s birthstone and not all traditional blues either… keep an eye out for some gorgeous pink ones too. We have a HUGE collectors piece diamond necklace being launched this month too, which I am yet to see in real life, but I hope to very soon as the photos look great as it is. We are also bringing you some of our biggest EVER AAAA Tanzanite… I’m talking beautiful stones at 7 and 11 (yes, ELEVEN) carats. At that quality and size, it’s very hard for me not to jump up and down with excitement. So, you see, for my jewellery fans out there, you need to make sure you’re keeping an eye on things this month. I also have a Firelight Diamonds show on Friday night so if you want to learn more about lab-grown diamonds, then that’s a great one to tune in to.

And let’s not forget Diamonique because you’ve probably already seen this month’s Design of the Month, which features a brand new colour for our Diamonique range. The vivid fancy pink hue is the kind of colour that in a real diamond would mean a heck of a lot of zeros on the end of the price! It’s not for the subtle amongst us, but if you love a bit of a colour pop then make sure you check it out! I couldn’t resist popping it in one of my new roses because the colours are almost identical.

Right, that’s it from me for this time. Please send your healing vibes my way and hopefully we can kick all our bugs to the kerb! I hope you’re all embracing the September vibes as much as me and we can look forward to some killer winter fashion to come too.

Oh, and before I go… keep your eyes peeled for something cool and a little out of my comfort zone that the amazing Stine and I have been working on soon.

See you soon,
Kathryn x

The post Ups, downs and brand new launch appeared first on Stories.

It feels like it’s been a while since I’ve just written a general catch up blog without some sort of theme, so here I am for just that. A catch up on life but also a couple of great things coming up on QVC over the next few weeks.

So, where to start? Life feels like it has been pretty busy lately. We had Beatrice’s first birthday in July and celebrated with a little BBQ in our garden. She absolutely loved it! As she’s been a bit of a “lockdown baby”, we weren’t sure if she might be a bit overwhelmed by lots of people around her all at once but she really enjoyed herself with all the different people to play with and new toys she was spoiled with. No idea where she gets the attention seeking gene from?!!

Here is a photo of poor Monty dog having to deal with Beatrice’s favourite present, which is a talking and singing toaster. I think his face says it all, bless him… he does put up with a lot! The problem is Beatrice loves him very much and tries to be nice and share her toys with him but, as you can see, he doesn’t take much joy from it! Ha!

People are so right when they say life flies by with little ones and it’s amazing to see her constantly learning new things and starting to say a couple of words. Much more “DaDa” than “Mama” annoyingly! I am looking forward to watching her learn and grow over the next year, I’m just wondering when it gets less exhausting!

Just before her birthday we FINALLY, I repeat, FIIIINALLY, had some beautiful wood flooring laid in our dining room. It’s been four years of a manky old off-cut of carpet over the concrete floor in there and at last it looks like a real room. The job wasn’t straight forward (it is ever?) but it was done eventually, and we are so happy with how it looks. Now we just need to paint the architrave in there and find some artwork to go on the walls.

The house is so nearly done. The last two big jobs are tiling the hallway floor downstairs and carpeting the stairs and hall upstairs, which are looking like they might actually be done in time for Beatrice’s christening in September… woohoo! I am SO excited for these jobs to be done as it really will totally change the feel of the house, so it doesn’t feel half done as soon as you walk in. It’s taken years of chaos and doing bits here and there, but we might nearly have a nice house right the way through. Although the spare room is now permanently my husband’s workspace so I think a little re-jigging might have to happen in there too.

So, as I said, Beatrice’s christening is booked in for early September and as well as a cute white dress for her, I’m looking for something for me. Have you seen our fairly new range from Finery? Oh they are right up my street with lots of pretty floral numbers. I might just have to get one for my girls big day… we will see.

At QVC it’s been very busy and so much exciting stuff is coming up. Don’t forget that I am now QVC’s jewellery insider which means I’m getting the inside scoop on what’s coming up jewellery-wise ahead of time. I’m sharing lots of this info at the beginning of each month with a Live on the Q Instagram page so keep an eye out for that. August’s is still there for you to see. I was talking about there now being a dedicated place on the website to shop for anniversary jewellery so if you have a big one coming up it’s worth checking that out… or sending the link to your partner! Also, have a look at my Instagram page for my three ways to wear our Diamonique Design of the Month which is a lovely, blingy watch.

September is going to be big news for our jewellery department… there is so so much to be excited about for that month and I can’t wait to share more with you soon.

Now we have a fab Today’s Special Value launching tonight (Wednesday 18th) and running through Thursday from UKLash. It’s a chance to try or stock up on both the Eyelash and Eyebrow Conditioning Serums from this fab company. If you would like more luscious lashes and thicker looking brows that are in better condition then these are the products to try and the price that we have for this duo is incredible.

QVC is also currently the only place you can get these as a duo. With an extended money back guarantee, it is a perfect time to try UKLash out and see what it can do for you. I love the idea of these products especially because I now have less and less time for make-up, so something like this can help boost my confidence on days where I don’t have the time at all!

We’ve got some really fab Big Deals running at the moment too. A special mention has to go to the trio of Molton Brown Rosa Absolut Shower Gels, which are excellent value and come in a very festive looking bag if you’re shopping ahead of time and also the Skechers Flex Renew Shimmer Show Slip-On Shoe. The latter I know has been really popular on air as I presented it a few times last week and they are so comfy. The advice is to go down half a size unless you have a particularly wide foot and I have to agree that half a size down was perfect for me.

Right, that’s it from me for now. I reckon I’ve got ten minutes to get the washing hung out on the line before the tiny dictator is back up and and the madness commences once again. I wonder what I did with all my free time before…?!

Have a wonderful couple of weeks and I’ll see you back here soon.

Kathryn x

The post A little catch up appeared first on Stories.

It’s July, it’s sunny and it’s Diamonique month! We’re over half way through the month, with the Festival of Diamonique next week, so I thought I’d share with you my top picks, some of which are still yet to launch and some really exciting new designs.

Diamonique is such an amazing brand here at QVC, giving you simulated diamonds and coloured stones in gorgeous styles. We have everything from very traditional and simple to really cool new innovative designs.

Let’s start with the latter then, shall we? I’ve been really looking forward to sharing this style with you, as it’s quite different. These are thread-through earrings, not only with a sparkling Diamonique stone but a faux pearl too. The post inserts into the pearl, so you thread them through and then the Pearl pops on the end… so clever! They also have a little upside down U in silver that helps the threaders stay perfectly in place. I like these with my hair down as they really stand out, but they are the perfect hair-up earrings because there’s no traditional “back” to them. I’m going to wear these so much!

Next up, a piece from Michelle Mone’s range of Diamonique, and it’s this Toi et Moi ring. That’s a name used to talk about a ring with two feature stones and this one’s a corker! You can have this just in white stones or add that beautiful blue simulated tanzanite too. It’s really substantial and a chance to show off some sparkle. I chose it because I think it’s quite a different design for us but I’m seeing these two stone rings rise in popularity everywhere in the jewellery world. Also, I can’t resist a few big carat pieces!

Now, put your thinking caps on… what could be better that a tennis bracelet…? Apart from two tennis bracelets, that is? A tennis necklace! Oh, as soon as our lovely jewellery buyers showed me this one on the list of what was coming up for this month, I just knew I had to try it. A beautifully luxurious piece to own, this sits so perfectly at the neckline and curves to your shape. I think sometimes quantity wins over size and this is the case here. The finishing is such high quality with every stone bezel set (where the stone is surrounded by the metal which is rubbed slightly over its edges to keep it in place) and even the clasp is set with Diamonique stones. For me, this is a bit of a show-off piece that could become your real signiature, as it will work with so many outfits.

Let’s look at a couple of bracelets next… totally different in style. The first is a friendship bracelet with a little motif. For me, this is a real winner for stacking and would make a great gift, especially if the little motif means something to someone you know. For example, I’ve chosen the little bee here… my daughter is called Beatrice and we shorten it to Bea… even though it’s spelled differently, I have become a little obsessed with all things bee so this is a nice little memento to carry round.

Friendship bracelets are great for so many reasons and I really like that the “tails” add an extra dimension to an arm stack. The other motif is a daisy and we have matching earrings and a necklace too if you wanted a full suite.

The next bracelet is actually a bangle. I’m a big fan of a bangle and they are included in some of my most worn pieces in my personal collection. This one is lovely and has a real premium feel, as it has a lovely secure fastening as well as an oval shape that can make it much more practical for daily wear. You’ve got the choice of rhodium or yellow gold plating but the Diamonique stones across the top of them sparkle all the same in both.

Time to get back to earrings and this time it’s studs. These little floral numbers are so pretty and have a touch of something vintage about them. You’ve a choice of stones here, so pick what you’d wear most… whichever you go for, they are going to look fabulous and be so much more noticeable than single stone studs in your ears.

Now, I am a sucker for vintage style jewellery but this next ring is a little more modern in style and boy, does it pack a punch. Big, bold, colourful stones available in emerald or tanzanite simulations, embellished with round and baguette cut stones in chunky shoulders make this a wow piece that feels very “21st century celeb engagement ring”. I know first hand the price something like this would be if all the stones were real and top quality, so it’s lovely to be able to wear this look so affordably and, for me, it’s a nice way to change up my look.

This next pair is a style I think everyone should own, as they work casually or dressed up and are useful as well as being really pretty. Lever back earrings with a sizeable drop stone… simplicity at its best! What’s fun about these is they are all simulations of different rare colours of diamonds, as well as your usual D flawless simulation. You can choose from pink, canary yellow, blue and even lavender, which are colours that most of us could only dream about in this quality and size. Why not try something different and go for a colour you wouldn’t normally pick? In that spirit, I tried on the lavender pair. What do you think?

Another piece that I think is great for every day is this pretty little knot ring, which you can get in platinum plate or with a yellow gold accent plating over the knot design. If big solitaires aren’t for you, or aren’t practical for your everyday life then this is a nice alternative to a simple band ring without adding any bulk to your finger. Again, this one’s a nice piece to give as a gift because knots can symbolise so much in love and friendship too.

So, last but not least, a pretty little vintage style number (true to form from me!). There’s so much to love about this pendant but I love that it looks a bit like you might have found it lurking in your granny’s jewellery collection. You can get it in a lovely deep simulated sapphire option or emerald and we have matching earrings and a ring, so you can get the full vintage look. I think this is a piece you’d probably wear even more than you’d initially think. I love pendants like this for adding another dimension to plain tops or dresses and I like layering them over high neck tops.

So, that’s my top picks for this month… some are still yet to be launched, but make sure you are watching the Festival of Diamonique, which will be a two day event from the 30th July, with 2 hour shows on each day at 2pm, and you’ll be able to see these and so many more styles. Which would be your top pick out of my choices?

Our Diamonique range is just getting better and better as it expands and we have so many exciting things to come. Stay tuned and make sure you follow me on Instagram (Kathryn _Goldsmith) to keep up to date with all things jewellery here at QVC.

Have a sparkling day!
Kathryn x

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Here at QVC we have a wonderful variety of jewellery – there really is something for everyone, so if you’re not really aware of our jewellery or perhaps only catch the odd Diamonique show, then I strongly suggest dipping in on Friday if you can. From simple silver to premier tanzanite to Diamonique and, of course, a fabulous Today’s Special Value from Lola Rose, it’s set to be a day of sparkling beauty for sure.

I’ll be joining you on air for three hours in the morning with a lovely mix of things. At 9am, Anna Black will join me for a mixed hour where we can show off just what we have in store for the day to come. Then I’ll be bringing you a full hour of our Diamonique range… if you’ve never seen it before, it is simulated D Flawless diamonds and we have a huge amount of designs to choose from. Then, at midday, Letitia will be joining me via video call for a full hour of Bronzo Italia. They have recently launched lots of fab new lines, including some with stones like rose quartz and amazonite in and I am really looking forward to chatting about them with you and, of course, Letitia.

That is just where the fun starts obviously, as the day is packed with other amazing shows including Tova’s Diamonique range, Clogau Welsh gold and Lola Rose to name but a few. However, I also want to point you in the direction of my Instagram. That is because, as QVC’s Jewellery Insider, I am going to be going live on Instagram in the afternoon with three of our guests who will be bringing you some big shows on the day. Here’s what I have planned:

• At 1.30pm, I will be chatting live to Melissa Odabash all about her Diamonique range ahead of her show at 2pm.
• At 2.30pm, Hannah Clemmow will be joining me to talk all about Fire Light Diamonds. I was keen to chat to Hannah, not only because she’s a good friend of mine but also because our Fire Light range of laboratory-grown diamonds is so amazing and I thought you might have some questions for her about them (please do send them over to me if you do).
• And finally, at 3.30pm, I will be chin-wagging with the Lola Rose ladies ahead of their 4pm show and what’s coming up for Lola Rose at QVC.

How exciting! I am so, so looking forward to talking to all these fabulous ladies on the day and, as I say, if you have any questions for any of them, then please feel free to leave them as a comment below and make sure you join the live chats on my Instagram, @kathryn_goldsmith. I’m also planning to show you lots of what is going on behind the scenes on my Instagram stories too, so make sure you’re following so you don’t miss out!

I’ll also be popping up on the official QVC Instagram at 4pm to bring you the first ever Jewelllery Insider Live. This is going to be a little series that you can catch at the start of every month, where I can give you some insider information about what’s coming up during the month jewellery-wise. They’ll be saved in case you can’t catch them live, but I’m really pleased to be able to have a little chat with you each month in this way.

I should also mention the Today’s Special Value from Lola Rose; it is a set called Freddie, which comprises two bracelets, a chunkier one and a more slimline style. As is usual with the brand, the options are all different mixes of semi-precious stones and there will something for everyone, from neutrals to serious pops of bright colour. I like this set because you can keep them both yourself and stack or wear separately, but equally, you can split these into two gifts or if you like a chunkier style for example, you could give the daintier one as a gift. Not sure I’d part with either, though!

As someone who loves jewellery, this day is one of massive excitement for me and I hope you will enjoy it too. Let me know which shows you’ll be looking forward to most or even what your favourite piece of jewellery you’ve got from QVC is… I just love to hear about other people’s jewellery!

I’ve been chatting loads to the jewellery buyers lately and there is so much exciting stuff coming up throughout July – Jewellery day is just the beginning so keep your eyes peeled. Again, I’ll be posting lots about it on my Instagram as Jewellery Insider, so make sure you’re following for the inside scoop.

So that’s Friday 2nd July that needs to be in your calendar for Jewellery Day. I hope to see you there and comment below for questions for my guests or anything else you’d like to see “behind the scenes” on the day.

Take care and keep sparkling!
Kathryn x

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Walking is actually something I’ve learnt I shouldn’t go too long without doing. When we first got our dog, Monty, over three years ago, I came to the realisation that just getting outside every single day for a walk was so good for my mental health and, of course, my physical health. I’m not much of a fan of hardcore exercise, but going on a good walk every day is great because it’s enjoyable and not too intense! Unless you walk up a big hill that is! I used to walk Monty about four miles a day and I’ve never felt better than then. Of course, once I got pregnant and felt mostly too sick and tired to go out, my husband took over a bit and then after the arrival of baby Beatrice, he has become the main dog walker. But now we have more of a routine with Beatrice, I am going to try to do half the walks, because I really miss it and when I do go, my head feels so much clearer on the way back. I also really miss one-on-one time with my best boy!

This time of year, because of the sunshine and heat, we have to be up early to walk Monty because, as you can see, he is black and pretty hairy so he overheats later in the day. And, let’s be honest, so would I! But again, that’s kind of nice… being up and out with nothing but the birdsong to accompany you and your mad dog. I really do recommend, dog or not, that every now and again you get up early and go on a morning stroll. I will say that Monty could be better at posing with people as you can see here. My Dad’s dog Ruger is waiting for his turn though.

The summer months also mean I can do away with the hardcore waterproof boots and sling some Skechers on. I’ve had mine a good few years now and they are so great for getting out walking because they are so comfortable, lightweight and breathable, but all the while looking great. They have a whole GoWalk range but I’ve actually got my eyes on these ones right now.

I also love a spot of gardening. Lots of my friends laugh at me because I enjoy things that people traditionally come to when they are a bit older (see also, jam-making) but honestly I find such joy in planting things and seeing the end result. I’m very much flower-centric…none of this structural foliage stuff for me, but I do think I need to find some good things for winter interest as things start to look a little barren then! Any suggestions? My favourite flowers are roses, of which I have quite a few, and sweet peas. I bought the Keith Hammet sweet peas from Plants2Gardens earlier in the year and they are shooting up the poles now. I am SO excited to see them flower.

Here’s a couple of snaps of things looking great right now.

I’ve used Richard Jackson’s Flower Power and Root Booster to give everything a new lease of life and my husband was very pleased with the gift of Lawn Magic I gave him! Hopefully it’ll all be looking tip top by September when we plan to have a little garden party after Beatrice’s christening. But the main thing is, I just love a little wander round the garden looking at the flowers. Such a simple thing but it really makes me happy. Beatrice likes to come with me too and I let her have a feel of all the different textures of leaves and petals.

Another thing that I’ve finally realised is important to keep me feeling good is taking the time for a good skincare routine. Funnily enough, I’ve got better at looking after my skin since having a baby. You’d think I have less time, but I’ve discovered that it’s actually more important than ever to take five or ten minutes just for me every single day. It’s some of the only proper alone time I have and also I don’t feel I have to rush because the baby and the husband are both in bed already! Ha!

So, seeing as we’re talking about nature, it makes sense to share with you something new I’m trying in my routine from Liz Earle. They have come up with a retinol alternative that is extracted from plants as is their usual “naturally active” ethos.

Now, I can’t usually use anything with retinol in it on my face, as my skin is too sensitive, but the clever guys and gals at Liz Earle have come up with something that mimics retinol but that can even be used on sensitive skin. The two new products that I am just beginning to give a go are the Alt-Retinol Skin Paste and the Alt-Retinol Booster Drops. I personally am hoping that they will help refine my pores a little, as I’ve noticed how much more obvious they have become lately, particularly on my cheeks, but I wouldn’t say no to a little extra radiance too! I’ll be honest and say it’s still too early (as the products are so very new) to give you results photos etc., but what I will say is that I’ve had no reaction at all to the products and they have left my skin feeling great! I particularly love the Booster Drops, which I just use after I’ve cleansed and toned in the morning. Everything is feeling lovely and smooth.

Lastly, I think we all know that nothing it better than a good night’s sleep for helping you to feel your best and this is something I’m not great at and, surprisingly, it’s nothing to do with having a baby! I’ve always been a rubbish sleeper and I need complete silence and darkness just to hope of drifting off. I love a pillow spray for helping me calm down at bedtime but I like to alternate them. My two favourites are from This Works and Neom.

This Works have a choice between their Deep Sleep or Deep Sleep Plus pillow sprays. The former is to help you drift off in the first place, but the latter is motion-activated, so if you are restless and wake up a lot it’s perfect. I recommend these to a lot to people who can’t sleep, whether that be usual for them or because they are stressed. It really, really helps me get a better nights sleep. Neom’s Perfect Night’s Sleep Pillow Mist is the one I’m currently using and I actually used this one while my daughter was tiny and still sleeping in the room with us, as it was perfectly safe for her too. My top tip is going into your room and spraying a little on the sheets or into the air before you go and brush your teeth etc., so that when you walk back in you get that lovely relaxing fragrance getting you in the mood for sleep straight away.

Please do get in touch with me and let me know what works for you to help you relax and feel just that little bit better in everyday life. Sometimes I think the little things matter more day-to-day than big changes.

You can find me on Instagram @kathryn _goldsmith or Twitter @kathryngoldsmith, I’d love to hear from you.

In the meantime, I’m going to put my iPad down and give Monty dog a big fuss and a cuddle while the baby is napping because he doesn’t get enough of all that these day. Here’s an outtake of me trying to get a photo with him!

Take care and I hope you manage to enjoy a bit of nature yourself this week.

Kathryn x

Make sure to check out our Feeling Good Together campaign, where we’re regularly updating the page with fitness inspiration, wellbeing top tips and expert interviews to help support and inspire you throughout 2021.

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