Graduation season is in full swing! Whether it's high school, college, or post-graduate, a lot of us have someone special to celebrate this time of year as they move onto the next exciting phase of their lives. I had the best time earlier this month attending the 2017 College Signing Day event hosted by former First Lady Michelle Obama — there's something thrilling about that moment that you decide to say "yes" to continuing your education, whether it's in a traditional 2- or

That's me, working the red carpet at the 2017 Academy Awards red carpet — talk about a dream come true! It was a crazy whirlwind — after leaving New York on Thursday, I spent Friday and Saturday in Miami at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival, then hopped on a plane early Sunday morning to fly out to the West Coast, where I made a mad dash from the airport to hair and makeup. I called it #5DaysOfBusy. Along the way, I tried a closetful of dresses on to find the perfect gown,

It's always interesting to find out what sparks viewers' interests on The Chew. On today's episode, I shared the affirmation that I've been saying every morning when I first wake up for the past twenty years. I use it as a way to remind myself of the power that I hold within myself to reach my goals and be the person I want to be. So many people have written to me today asking about that affirmation that I'm sharing it here again — I hope that it is something that you can use

I think that a holiday wreath offers a lot of room for creativity — you can go totally traditional with pine cones and a big red bow or take it modern by spray painting a standard wreath silver and then adding funky ornaments in turquoise and magenta. I was inspired this year by the wonderful wreaths that are seen in historic Williamsburg, Virginia, which feature citrus fruit nestled in the greens. The colors are always so vibrant! This wreath is a variation on that concept,

Here I am at The Chew with Pati Jinich, one of my favorite cookbook authors! I have the chance to look at so many cookbooks throughout the year that I thought I would share some of my favorites from the past few months with you, especially if you are looking for great cookbooks to give friends and family this holiday season!. If you have your own favorites, let me know what they are! Genevieve Ko is the co-author of my own cookbooks, Cooking with Love and Carla's Comfort Foo

I'm incredibly honored to be the Culinary Ambassador for the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which will open on the National Mall in Washington, DC on September 24th. This week, the museum was opened up to the media to explore, and everyone had an opportunity to taste the food in the Sweet Home Café, a menu which was carefully designed by chefs and curators to showcase the strong connection between the African American community and food. The museum i

I always love the idea of repurposing things in new ways, whether it's taking old recipe cards and turning them into wall art or using the same ingredient in completely different applications. So that's why this little project is just so much fun, using leftover eggshells as containers for starting seeds — the best part is that you can plant them straight in the garden, eggshell and all, when the seedlings are ready, because the eggshells are biodegradable. Talk about a win-w

Some of my favorite opportunities are those that come my way through the USO. Over the past two years I have had a few opportunities to cook with service men and women as well as their families on bases in the United States. It is an honor to be a part of the USOs 75th Anniversary. You can help be a part of it too! There are so many ways for you to contribute to the USO. Some of them are listed at the USO site HERE. But perhaps the easiest way of all is to participate in

Are you feeling these days like you’re caught up in a big whirlwind, just trying to get ready for the holidays? I know exactly how you feel. We make those long to-do lists, check them twice, and drive ourselves crazy trying to make everything “perfect” for our loved ones. The trick is to remember that perfection is not about doing more, but about doing things well. You might be cranking out cookies, cakes, and canapés like there’s no tomorrow, but it sure isn’t fun if you can

Thanksgiving is about family and togetherness, but it is also a food holiday, so the pressure is on to make a delicious and memorable meal. As the gateway to the holiday season, Thanksgiving is a time to pull out all the culinary stops and make an impression. Most importantly, it is the time to be thankful. It's easy to let the stress of trying to remember every detail become overwhelming, but with a little planning, you can avoid the logistical pitfalls and enjoy the holiday