Blogs

[#1]

 Wow, I know it is so cliché to say, but I can’t believe how fast a year has gone by since taking my dream job at QVC.

A year ago, Easter weekend, my husband, 18 month old son and I loaded up the car with a few belongings (we still owned our home and the majority of our belongings stayed there until we sold the home) and made the 8 hour drive from Charlotte, NC to West Chester, PA. I was 6 months pregnant and leaving our dear friends, neighbors, first house and more than a decade as a newscaster to move to a place we’ve never been before (with the except of auditions a few weeks prior) to start a new journey in the world of home shopping.  I’m so thankful for a supportive hubby who’s always up for an adventure.

I showed up my first day a little uneasy being the new host in training with a baby bump. But of course, as I quickly came to realize, the people that make up QVC are so gracious and warm and were incredibly welcoming. I showed up in the room where we would spend most of our days over the next 6 weeks learning from the one and only, the most lovely and talented, Mary Beth Roe. In that room were the other three faces I had the pleasure of getting to know during the audition process….Cathy Padrayes, Courtney Khonabi and Mary Nelson. We were all in this together and we quickly formed a special bond. I’m so thankful for these women who became fast friends and will also be lifelong friends. We shared many laughs, some very vulnerable moments and maybe a few tears.

After training, we each debuted on separate days and times with Mary Beth. My first show, just 3 weeks shy of my due date (hello baby bump) was an hour of WEN with Chaz Dean and then a special show full of an assortment of home products. It was such a rush! Although, I’ve been in broadcasting since I was 14 – this was unlike any other experience! I know I had found what I really loved – combining my passion of shopping and TV. I’m so blessed to get up and do this job! And since we can be seen nationally, it was awesome that my parents, in laws and friends from around the country could watch and support….and shop, of course.

Fast forward a few weeks and we welcomed our daughter, Lila. I was on maternity leave until mid-October and with a 2 year old and 3 month old and then dived back into the new job during fourth quarter – a busy time at QVC as its gift buying time with the holidays around the corner. I quickly met a lot of wonderful guests, started meeting a lot of people around the building and learned that my maternity leave of no sleep while caring for a newborn and toddler helped me jump into the overnight hours.

A year in now and I feel as though I’ve come a long way, learned an entire new career, grew our family, moved 3 times…and counting (we move again in June as we continue to find the right home for us and learn the area), found our church, met new friends and re-built our life. I still have a long way to go in my journey at QVC in terms of growing and learning - but it’s been fun reflecting on the journey so far and how far we’ve come.

Thank you for being supportive and I appreciate you coming along for the ride as well.