Willow House Weekly.......

Willow House catalog fall 2010

I'm starting this feature as a mid-week diversion......It will be a touch of this and that, and will usually feature a Willow House product or two.  I'll try to often include recipes, because that's always fun.  So today, I'm going to tell you a few things going on with Willow House, starting on October 1st....which is Friday...how DID it get it here so fast??????
Starting October 1st, Willow House is starting the unveiling of some brand new things.....I think I told you already that we will have an assortment of videos available to watch.  I've shared some of those on Facebook....maybe you saw them over there. I'll feature those here from time to time, or at least the links to them.  What's new for Friday is that customers can now order products directly from the website, without having to attend a party.  Say your friend has a party, but you  cannot attend.  It's been a feature already that you could order online if someone was hosting a party. But now, if you missed that party, then three weeks later realize you need a gift, or really want a product you saw at a friend's house, or whatever scenario might be yours...you can go online and order and it will ship directly to you.....no problem!  You can shop anytime, 24/7.....also, you'll want to check out the eOutlet, where you will find "retired" items on sale! Yes, that's right.  Maybe you missed getting a product that you loved but is no longer available....check the eOutlet..it just might be there, on sale!  Lots of fun things coming in the future, so you'll want to bookmark my website to keep up with all the Willow House goodness going on...oh my goodness!!!
Look for those things to start on this Friday, Oct. 1st. by going to my website, which is southerninspiration.willowhouse.com.  Yes, I named my website after my blog!!  Hopefully, you can remember it that way, right??/

This week's feature will be the Galveston Hurricane.  There are two sizes, small and large.  The ideas I present can be translated to other containers, obviously, so feel free to take them and run with them.....put them in a mason jar, put them in a mayo jar, put them in a large brandy sniffer...what have you...you get the idea!  But let me just show you a few pics of ideas you could do...thanks to Chris Whitacre for sharing her pictures!  EDITED TO ADD: It was brought to my attention that many of these pictures  have been around the bloggy block a few times, and actually originated at Carmella's blog, Southern Fried Dreams...I am a firm believer that if you are going to use someone's pics or their words, that they be given credit for them.  So I apologize for inadvertantly misidentifying the source of them! Sorry, Carmella!  Go see her, she's got some GREAT ideas!  I am glad that we as Willow House Design Consultant sisters share the "spirit of generosity" together, but this NEVER means not giving someone credit for their work!

dressed up with red candle and greenery/berries

place a vase down inside the hurricane to make a lovely Spring arrangement of blooming branches!

Fall goodness w/acorns and eucalyptus

An orchid home

Halloween fun-black beans, candy corn and ghosts!

Notice how it's turned upside down and the glass is sitting on TOP of the frame!

Casual elegance to your mantle

A Thankfulness  tree for Thanksgiving

The possibilities are endless, right?  For a child's birthday, add colorful m&m's or skittles and a candle in the middle, or tapers sticking out of the top!  Better yet, fill it with colorful candies and have large colorful lollipops sticking out of the top! For the kitchen, add layers of dried beans (uncooked!)  such as black beans, pinto beans, white beans, green split peas, even popcorn for a striped look.....what about you....what ideas do YOU have?

So I will leave you with a recipe for today's Willow House Weekly.  The fall temps are teasing us, so that always conjures within me a desire to cook cooler weather food....How about some Cowboy Soup?  It's similar to Taco Soup, and it is easy, as it really is a bunch of cans!

Cowboy Soup
1.5 pounds of ground beef
1 c chopped onions
2 T. veg. oil
1 envelope taco seasoning mix
1 envelope ranch salad dressing mix
1 (14oz.) can diced tomatoes
1 (10oz.) can tomatoes w/ green chilies, such as Rotel
1 (8oz) can tomato sauce
1 (14oz.) can pinto beans
1 (14oz.) can red kidney beans
1 (14oz.) can whole kernel corn

Brown the ground beef w/ the onion in the oil in a skillet, stirring until the ground beef is crumbly, then drain.
Stir in the seasoning and salad dressing mixes.  Add the diced tomatoes, tomatoes w/ green chilies, tomato sauce, pinto beans, kidney beans, and corn, and mix well.  Cook over low heat for 1 hour.
Serve over rice, corn chips or tortilla chips if desired. Garnish with sour cream and shredded cheese.  Yield: 8 servings

Enjoy your Wednesday, wherever you are!  Thanks for stopping by, friends!