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It’s hard to believe, but CES 2015 has come and gone. We’re still recovering from the thousands and thousands of steps we took, many miles we walked, and information overload we got at the show…but we couldn't wait to talk about our favorite things!

The QVC Tech Trio is used to everything in our lives being connected. We've got our smartphones in our pockets at all times. Our tablets are usually within reach. Smart TVs and gaming consoles allow us to stream content to the big screen with ease. And yet, with all of this connectivity that we take for granted every day, we never gave much thought to how our homes could be…smarter. That is, until we went to CES and were inspired by the many smart sensors, appliances, and other devices making waves on the show floor.

Program Host Jacque Gonzales with her Star Wars buddies.

How convenient would it be if you could adjust the thermostat while you’re away from home just using your smartphone? You could keep the heat down during the day, and crank it up as you leave work, ensuring your house will be nice and toasty when you get there without wasting money on heating. And it’d be a huge relief to be able to check that everything was locked while you were away--plus, knowing that you could unlock the door remotely to let someone in if there’s an emergency would be great for peace of mind while you’re on vacation.

Of course, not every smart home improvement has to be so serious. Take the Panasonic beauty mirror, which lets you test out makeup and hairstyles before making a commitment. One of us was able to get some time in front of this mirror at CES, and we were really impressed! The Panasonic rep demonstrated this remarkable beauty aid by trying on some dark eye shadow and false eyelashes in the mirror, and we were surprised to see that they moved around with our reflection. And this beauty innovation isn’t just for the ladies--there are plenty of beard and mustache styles to try out, too, fellas. Between this, various smart sensors, and the smart kitchen appliances Samsung and other manufacturers had on display, we’re completely rethinking just how smart our homes could be.

But those weren't the only home appliances that grabbed our attention. Thoughtful details and fresh features made washing machines—that’s right, washing machines—some of our favorite things at CES. We were wowed by a Samsung washer with a built-in sink for conveniently pretreating stains. What a clever solution for those of us without utility sinks! And, you know those washing machines with pedestals underneath? The LG Twin Wash switched out the pedestal for a smaller second washer, creating a washing machine that lets you run two loads of laundry at once. It almost makes us want to do laundry!

Almost. What we really want to do, though, is watch TV. Lots of TV. On an absolutely stunning 8K display. Though they won’t be available for sale until December (at the earliest), Samsung and Sharp (among others) rolled out giant TVs with 8K resolution—that’s twice the resolution that the new Ultra HD 4K TVs present, which is already gorgeous. Staring at the 85” 8K TV was mesmerizing; it literally felt like you were looking out a window. As one of the reps pointed out, if you looked closely enough, you could see people walking around in rooms of distant buildings—it was that crisp and clear. If you REALLY value your entertainment, how about a glasses-free 3D 8K HDTV? Those were on display also, and they were a sight to see. Not only is the picture ridiculously lifelike, but when you add in the 3D element, it’s like watching your favorite TV and movie stars or athletes doing their thing in your family room.

Also coming soon to an office building or hotel near you are wraparound LED TVs. They’re just what they sound like—the screen literally wraps around a column or pillar. We’re not sure how practical this will be for household use, unless your home was constructed with large pillars and columns and you need to be able to watch your favorite show every time you walk by…but this could really be a breakthrough as far as lobby entertainment for commercial buildings, and could go a long way toward impressing potential clients, guests, and employees.

 CES 2015 was just as huge and overwhelming as people told us, but it was an amazing experience. And our hope is that we can share some of the knowledge and information we gained with you. While some of the products we mentioned throughout the week may not make their way to QVC’s airwaves or website, we wanted to share with you the biggest trends and coolest products in the electronics industry, as presented by the leading manufacturers and experts. We hope we were able to do so and that you enjoyed reading about it all as much as we enjoyed covering and writing about it.

Program Hosts Jacque Gonzales and Albany Irvin pose for selfies with help from the Selfie Stick.