Christmas shopping and special Christmases gone by

I have been somewhat panicked after last Friday's gem show with Jilly, when so many of you texted and rang in to tell us how organised you are with your Christmas present buying! The fact that I was still sunbathing in October has lulled me into a false sense of security and, as I admitted on the night, I have only just begun to break the back of my shopping list! 

I don't think Jilly was much further forward than me, although she rather fancied the boots I was wearing on the night and caught me unawares just before we went on air (see photo left)! So now you know what goes on underneath the table  - Jilly was in a sleeping bag! :) 

Actually truth be told we always have a bit of an issue with the air conditioning in that Studio - it's either freezing cold or boiling hot, but as long as my feet are warm I'm OK. 

Returning to QVC after a girly weekend away

I have missed you!! Just a couple of days off and a few days away, and I found myself looking forward with eager anticipation to returning to QVC Towers... seriously!! But you know the great thing is that when I do get back, everything's the same, which is why I love it :) 

Did nearly have a minor wardrobe crisis though, as I'd eaten something for supper that clearly didn't agree with me and my stomach filled out like a barrage balloon!

I couldn't get into my black trouser suit and was only able to encase myself in a rather tight pencil skirt thanks to Slim 'N' Lift! Luckily I was only ever standing head on to the camera otherwise comments like, "Isn't she rather old to be having another child?" would have been rife. 

My brief break to Hay On Wye was one of my twice yearly holidays with the five girlfriends who've been in my life ever since I moved down south from Shropshire over 15 years ago  We used to pick a different place to stay each time, but have found this fabulous house that we keep returning to.

A fantastic night at Debbie's!

I'll be honest I didn't know whether or not Debbie Greenwood's birthday/anniversary party was common knowledge until I read both hers and Julia's blogs, so as to not to appear churlish - and in response to your lovely comments this last week - here are a few more photographs of a fantastic night!

It's best to look at them in time order... less dishevelled, earlier on... and also to see those who clearly were not up for a late or energetic night! To be honest the fact that any of us could even move after sampling so many fabulous Thai dishes was a miracle!

But we polished Debbie's parquet flooring up a treat, and although there is no photographic evidence, I do remember belting out "I will survive" through a microphone (a la karaoke stylee) to all those who couldn't run and hide. Pippa - as you can see - did her best, but even she wasn't safe. 

See what I made with today's TSV...

I have a question for all of you... what do you do with all those photos you keep on your camera or store on your computer? How many of them do you have out in frames? Well if the answer is precious few, I've got just the thing! And if you tune in today you'll be able to get one too! 

The posh name for it is a 'photo montage throw'... but to me it's a way of surrounding yourself with your favourite people, pets and places - literally. The company who make them can reproduce ANY photo you have onto this sumptuously soft throw in either colour, or black and white. 

You can either upload your photos online to them, or alternatively send them your photos, disc, artwork or memory stick and not only will they let you know they've safely received them, but within 7 days they'll send you a proof and you can make any changes you like. 

What do you think of mine then? :) I've got Willows and Dodge on there too! And just think - you could theme yours to be just pets, or a new baby, a wedding, or holiday of a lifetime, maybe your parents - for a special anniversary, your brother who now lives abroad... you name it, they can do it. And the quality of the pictures is extraordinary. 

Hope to have your company with me on Sunday at midnight and we can share memories! 

Have a great weekend,

Love Ali x

My Christmas checklist

I have to admit to nearly choking on my licorice tea when I heard Dawn Bibby say there were only 89 days until Christmas, which made me realise I needed to start gathering my thoughts and my plans!

Ordering the turkey

To be honest this year - as with the last two - I shall order my Christmas turkey, gammon, sausages and other meats from Exmoor Style here at QVC because you can either have it delivered in November or just before Christmas - depending on how full your freezer is! Or in my case how much room there is as I haven't defrosted it for ages!

I'm launching our brand-new jewellery range!

I was planning to give you all a blow-by-blow account of our rounders match the other evening, but am putting that on hold for a few days, 'cos there's something else I think you'd like to know about. 

You know when someone mentions a name to you and somewhere in your mind it rings a bell? Happened to me the other day when I was told I'd be launching a brand-new range of jewellery designed by none other than Judith Ripka! 

Not only is she the recipient of the prestigious DeBeers Award for Outstanding Jewellery Design, but after several years - literally! - in talks with our jewellery buyers, I'm delighted to tell you that she has designed a fabulous collection of sterling silver jewellery. Plus, it features an awesome collection of our very own simulated diamonds - Diamonique.

I check out our Sanyo camcorder TSV...

I thought it would be churlish of me not to let you know about this fab Sanyo camcorder that we're bringing you as Saturday's TSV! 

Now, I'm really not all that technical, so when it was arranged for me to have a play with this little gismo (and it is little - fits in the palm of your hand and weighs just a fraction more than a small jar of mustard), I had visions of spending hours trying to read the instruction manual or getting one of the boys to work it out for me.

But... IT'S A DODDLE! And most importantly it's not just a movie camera, it takes 10MP quality still pictures too so you've got the two things in one. 

Wednesday's Liz Earle TSV and my beauty routine revealed

I'm assured that night follows day, but my current shift pattern leads me to disbelieve this! I'm living in some kind of weird twilight world, but reading all your comments on my blog has made me smile, and it's lovely to get a snapshot of your world too.

Of course working lates does have its bonuses - bringing you some fabulous TSVs over the last week, and still several more to come. Last night was a corking excuse to dress up in my Christmas party dress for the Grand Opening of Diamonique Day - our 14th to date! 

Thank heavens for Alison Young who laced me into a fitted and boned creation - but where was she at 2am when I needed to get out of it in a hurry and head off home?! Tucked into her bed I hope... it took a while but I was determined and with the help of a mirror and a coathanger I was able to disrobe rather than having to find my feet in amongst the chiffon, accelerator and brake pedals!

Tonight we have an incredible collection of Liz Earle products at a price that seriously begs belief! Caroline Archer will be joining me at midnight, and it promises to be a fast and furious couple of hours. We had a good old chin wag last Wednesday when we worked together, and both agree that this is possibly one of the best TSVs Liz has brought to you so far! 

My amazing new Aerobed!

Not since man invented the wheel and John West introduced no-drain tinned tuna have I been so excited! I'm talking about the Aerobed that we sell here on QVC! Such clever clever people. Actually I'm not talking am I? This is probably closer to gibbering - if you can do that using the written word. So... let me take a breath and explain.

I was introduced to this amazing brand of self-inflating beds about a year ago, and became the proud owner of one just over a month ago. It arrived in a relatively small box, but within minutes the kids were all over it like locusts. Inside it was the miracle of mattresses...  

All you need to do to bring to life this small flock-covered creation is plug it in, and in less than a minute it has turned into a bed! And not just any bed either - as the company say 'The finest alternative sleep system!' and I have to agree! Well we didn't even wait to put it in a bedroom - as you can see I was ready for forty winks in 60 seconds, on the hall floor! (left)

Why I love today's bakeware TSV

One of my favourite men to find in a kitchen is Malcolm Harradine, and at midnight last night he was in our kitchen with a fabulous three-piece Technique silicone bakeware set. Deep joy! 

It's oven, freezer, dishwasher and microwave safe, and so versatile that you can cook anything from muffins to mezze in it. Plus, whatever you put into it, it's GUARANTEED to come out whole without sticking. 

The price is quite simply ridiculous.... not a word I use lightly... but having seen the price for just ONE part of this amazing set that has another notable chef''s name on it, I know you're going to want this to grace your kitchen. Oh, and this particular collection packs down flat too, so you can save masses of room in that silly drawer thing under your cooker.... crazy design...

I'd love to know if you've used our silicone bakeware before, so do let me know how you got on with it, and also the most exciting thing you've cooked in it!  I've chose the red silicone collection and have made Hasslebach potatoes in the rectangular one... the cheese didn't burn or stick, it was great. Even my chocolate sponge turned out nice.... as George Fornby would say.