Pipa has a flair for all things creative. As a child she immediately took to the stage which she always called home. She loves to act and sing, as well as write, and says she would live in a theatre given half the chance!

Read Pipa Gordon's full biography

My 'School run in a hurry' make-up look

Seeing as we have a Smashbox TSV tomorrow, I thought I’d quickly tell you that their products are fabulous!! I use them daily and took them away with me on holiday too.
 
This is my school run in a hurry face:
 
1. Bare Minerals Foundation or Smashbox Halo Perfecting Powder

2. Laura Geller Blush N Brighten 

3. And eyebrows if time using Redpoint's fab 2-in-1 with highlighter wand
 
Then adding to this for my holiday, keeping my make up bag smallish (for once in my life!!), I also took  Smashbox Reign Eyeshadow Palette (Majesty choice - I love the red!!!), Long Wear Lipgloss and their wonderful Bionic Mascara... oh and also my favourite Sue Devitt Eye Pencils in all colours 
 
I thoroughly recommend the Smashbox TSV as you can not only get some great Christmas looks from it, but it gives you the opportunity to look amazing and feel fabulous - some of the products won’t be launched on the High Street until next year so it’s very exciting to get all the 'hot of the press' pieces before anyone else!
 
It’s all smoke and mirrors ladies, we just need to find the good stuff and I have to say, the QVC Beauty department is the only place I buy mine!
 
See you soon x

An unforgettable fortnight in Canada!!

Wow, I’m back and I feel like I've been living in a movie for the last couple of weeks as we have had the most incredible trip out to Canada!!
 
A few weeks ago, my husband found out who his birth mother is. In Ontario in Canada, the law for adopted children has always been that you can’t find your birth parents, they have to find you. But this law changed on June 1st this year and my husband was allowed to apply for information of his birth parentage. On September 30th, he received a letter telling him the name of his birth mother (no father's name… yet!!).
 
So we immediately embarked upon this search for her and thanks to the internet, found a few family trees totaling about 30,000 entries of families and names related to his birth surname (amazing and true!). We discovered that his birth mother had tragically died aged 28 on Christmas Day - he would have been just 6. So, the hunt continued for any living blood relatives and we took off to Canada to find them!!
 

My favourite Christmas gifts

It’s funny because as my children get older, I see the similarities in the things they hope to get for birthdays and Christmas!! The other day we went to a friend’s house and their daughter had all kinds of treasures in her room - make-up, necklaces, jewellery boxes (all 6-year-old style!!)… and Ophelia was sooooooo inspired!!!!

It took me back to Christmas when I was 7/8 and I DESPERATELY wanted a Girls World!! I loved it - LOVED it!! It was the one where you could pull the middle section of hair up and it would 'grow' (even I at such a tender age wasn’t that impressed with the subsequent unevenness of the hair cut!!).

Anyway, suffice to say, I coloured it every colour under the sun and spent HOURS making her up! I’ve loved make-up for what seems like forever and I get the feeling Ophelia is going to follow suit!!
 
So Santa, beware!! Jewellery boxes, make-up and the like is going to be on her list!!!!
 
… and make-up will ALWAYS be on mine!! Just today for example, I've added these four to my list...

Get gorgeous with my top jewellery picks

Hello ladies,
 
Let's put aside the day to day bits - you know, doing the laundry, paying the bills, the school run, walking the dog, cleaning the loo - you know, the things that make the world go round! When all that is said and done (and sometimes when it’s not done too), then it’s time to GET GORGEOUS!!
 
Get Gorgeous, BE gorgeous!! I don’t know about you but I often find 'me' at the bottom of the long never-ending 'to do list'. Life is for living ladies, not just for cleaning!! So, we’re getting your make-up sorted, your wardrobe beautiful, your skin glowing - and then we're going to pepper it with some uber glamorous jewellery!!

My top picks in our Get Gorgeous Event

1. Murano 9ct Gold Heart Pendant

This is a perfect example of getting gorgeous every day. I fell in love with this necklace as soon as I saw it - easy to wear, low maintenance, lovely hand made quality to it, perfect every time!

School dinners

I don’t know about those of you with kids in school, but I do packed lunches in the summer term for mine and school dinners the rest of the year as it ensures some heat in their tummies in the middle of the day.

It’s a bit of a battle because seemingly packed lunches are more fun but nevertheless I dig my heels in and tell my children they need to have school dinners so that they can eat their vegetables.

So, this is what happened today, pretty similar to most after-school conversations (seriously, my 5-year-old daughter has no moral conscience!!). I picked her up from school today and this is how it went (keep in the back of your mind that from day one of weaning, she has kept her mouth clamped shut and is the fussiest eater ever!!)...
 
Me: “What did you eat for lunch at school today sweetheart”
 
Ophelia:  “Vegetables Mummy”
 
Me thinking: Hmmm
 

All à Twitter!!

I have to say, I was rather dubious about the latest online social network 'Twitter' but I’ve become quite attached to it!! On Saturday evening, I was at home watching X Factor and goodness knows how many people were with me on the sofa! We were all commenting (and RAGING at times!!) throughout the show - it’s absolutely fantastic!!

The following day I was out walking the dog with the children, and saw a beautiful toadstool which I was then able to photograph and, in an instant, share with my online Twitter friends!! Excellent!!

It’s hard to put it down at times so if you haven’t started yet, I should warn you it's tremendously addictive. But when something is going on, it’s so fun to have instant access to a load of other crazy peeps who are just as opinionated, chatty and bonkers as the rest of us.

So, you can be part of the party with me at twitter.com/PIPALIVE and also join the entire QVC network and follow twitter.com/aheadoftheQ (I don’t tweet on there so often so do both if you want my daft photos and X Factor dribble!!)
 
See you later, Pips x
 

Beware of the oak tree!!

So this morning, I was contemplating my next blog whilst putting on my new and devastatingly fabulous foundation from Urban Retreat and I was suddenly serenaded by the sound of acorns raining down on my car! These little, harmless beautiful creations of nature are sent to test my good nature!!

Yet again, as autumn falls upon us (no pun intended!), I find myself leaving my house and being ATTACKED by these little squirrels' friends!!

About two weeks ago, my husband popped out to get some milk, came home ten minutes later, then as we stood chatting having coffee, lo and behold, before our eyes, through the kitchen window, we saw our car door window shatter – yes, the dreaded acorn!!
 
I told a friend this the other day and he laughed at me… then just yesterday he told me how this weekend he was driving along, roof down (therefore serves him right, show off!!) and an acorn hit him square between the eyes!!! Ha ha, the last laugh is on THEM!
 
So whether it is the acorns with a mighty agenda or the squirrels up the trees with a jolly good aim – then take heed and beware the oak tree!!!!

Pipa x

Autumn Re-resolutions...

OK, two thirds of the way through the year - no, three quarters!! Really?? Gosh that’s scary!! Anyway, I am re-challenged by my New Year’s resolution!! Taking more time, slowing down and LISTENING more!!
 
However, I can see that I'm still refining my mastery at plate spinning (not literally… although it would be fun to try!) and I'm still multi tasking a little too much for my liking. So, my Autumn Re-resolution, if there is to be such a thing, is to remind myself that life is in the moment. It’s not about next week, it’s about NOW!! So, again, slow down, bake a bit more, do one thing at a time, and listen, REALLY LISTEN WITH BOTH EARS to my children, to my thoughts, to life! Carpe diem - or even better, carpe momentum!! A little rusty on my latin?!
 
I don’t know about you but I grew up on movies like The Water Babies - the one with James Mason and Bernard Cribbins - and The Railway Children (also Bernard Cribbins). Did you see either of those?? I could have watched both of them a thousand times for all I know, I just never could tire of the stories!

What's in my make-up bag...

I so often get emails about my make-up that I figured it might be fun to every now and then take a look into my make up bag and tell you what I'm using that week.

I have to be honest, as I hide my head in shame (not really), that I’m not faithful!! I'm ALWAYS flitting between brands, changing and discovering new things, new colours, new textures  - it doesn’t make the old ones rubbish, it just means I like to keep my make-up fresh and play with new things. We're so lucky that we have so many excellent brands at QVC that I can do exactly that!!
 
So, my make-up at the moment is generally:

1. Mario De Luigi Lift Up Foundation or Smashbox Halo Glow Powder this one is amazing as it offers coverage and hydration. I need to go a shade down now though as the ol’ tan is fading!!
2. Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick to highlight
3. Laura Geller Pink Grapefruit
4. Bad Gal Lash from Benefit
5. Buxom Lips from Bare Minerals - the copper colour is AWESOME!!!!
6. Oh and one of my all time favourites are the Sue Devitt chunky pencils - I use them every day, I think I own them in every colour!
7. And finally, the amazing red on my eyes from the bellápierre TSV a few weeks back.
   
   … will have a rummage again soon!! Pipa x
   
   

My baby has grown up!

My youngest (Ophelia) started school yesterday!! Just a half day to start off with, so as a treat when she finished, we whizzed into London and went to the oldest Open Air Theatre in Regent’s Park to see our friend performing in Hello Dolly. 

Ophelia was transfixed, delighted and totally inspired!! It was, of course an amazing show, and I sat there proud as punch with my little girl next to me, tears running down my cheeks here and there - a magical afternoon without a doubt!
 
Anyway, where does this big day go? In the bank of wonderful memories to be treasured forever? Oh absolutely but also in the bank of turbo charged life experiences! This morning she came to me fully dressed and ready to go to school telling me, “Mummy, I want to live on my own now. I want to dance with Cornelius... because I know how to dance Mummy and I would like my shoes and my jackets in my room now."
 
... how about that for growing up overnight… sniff sniff!! She ran into her classroom this morning with a smile, a wave and a big kiss, all grown up!

Love Pipa x