Friday Fives!

How are your Christmas preparations coming? I have been busy getting my house ready for the family to come home.  My son graduates on the 17th, so everyone will be here for a few days after that....so essentially, I have to be ready for Christmas by next Friday!! AAACCCKKKK!!  Along with all the prep and finishing up Willow House business, too, I haven't had time to be on the computer much!  I haven't read a lot of blogs, nor have I posted to my own blog!  How does everyone else do it ALL???  I decided to come say HI really quickly and come up with some Friday Fives for you all!

So here goes!

1. What is your favorite Christmas carol or song?

2.  Are you finished decorating your house for the holidays?

3.  What is your favorite Christmas treat?  Do you make it or just enjoy it?

4.  What is a favorite Christmas tradition?

5.  Have you completed all your holiday shopping??

Hubby and I plan to shop all day tomorrow and hopefully get that part behind us....I have some busy hours ahead!!  Merry Christmas, y'all!!!

My name is Southerninspiration...

and I'm a bloggy dropout.  Where did the time go? How has it been so long since I've posted on my blog?
Oh, dear, is anyone still reading this???

A giveaway to tell you about!!

Are you aware of Plate and Pattern??  It's a blog written by our lovely design team for Willow House.   Do they promote our Willow House products?? You BETCHA!! But do they also give you a behind the scenes look into product design, product and catalog development, and great design ideas?? You BETCHA!! AND,
what you might not know is that EVERY Tuesday is Prop Closet Giveaway day over there at Plate and Pattern.

For instance TODAY, they are giving away a set of (three) Trilogy Mirrors...have you seen them??
Here they are:

Aren't they gorgeous??

Use them in a bookcase or shelf!

Just yesterday Plate and Pattern told us how to recreate this look! check it out!

And ALL YOU HAVE TO DO, is go on over to Plate and Pattern and leave a comment about how you would use them if you are chosen the winner!!  How simple is that?? NOW go on over and tell them I sent you and leave a comment.  Tomorrow, I'll let you know the winner or you can check on their Facebook page if you are on Facebook.........I would LOVE for one of my readers to win....in fact, if one of my readers wins, then I WILL DO A GIVEAWAY on FRiday....how about that?  That would be SO COOL!! So go on over and help us ALL out! Have a great Prop Closet Tuesday!!!!

Have I mentioned???

That my son got engaged in October?? So the wedding will be next June!  It's going to be a big year!  He and his fiancee have been dating all thru college and they both graduate this December.  We are so proud of them and look forward to their future together!  He is waiting to get accepted to Vet School and she is a linguistics major.  We anticipate such great things for them!

And did I mention that  the grandbaby is going to be a big sister??  They just found out yesterday that this baby is another girl!  We will be IN  THE PINK!
What a big year 2012 will be for us!

Some linkies.....

Y'all, I have just been swamped.  I have not blogged.  I have been so crazy busy and then I took two glorious days to do NOTHING and be with my daughter.  Home, doing little, just being and resting.  It was so good to have her home, and enjoy seeing her with her boyfriend, just relaxing, and being family.  I had a really busy week last week getting set up for my Willow House Annual Open House and Sample Sale, and then hosting it on Thursday.  We had a GREAT day.  Then on Friday, I packed up my things and set up at a local country club holiday market.  Then came HOME......I was really tired and so glad to have a family weekend of simply being.  I am so thankful for my home and for my family.   So here we are on Monday, and I've got catching up to do for all the time I spent getting my house ready, visiting with great customers and friends.  Now I've got to finalize by wrapping up everything and putting away all the things that didn't sell......if you are interested in what I have left, let me know and I can send you the list.

So I thought I'd share a few linkies with you today that I found so helpful!  I don't know about you, but table setting isn't always easy.  It's hard to remember where to place the fork, the water goblet, the wine glass, etc.  So I rejoiced today when I saw that House of Fifty has a perfect diagram to download and never have to doubt again if you've done it correctly!! How about that???  i LOVE it!

And Layla, over at The Lettered Cottage, has a preview of what's to come for the holidays, with a list of bloggy holiday decorating parties that they are sponsoring when you have a minute to be inspired.  Yes, I realize that blog reading may only come in minutes.....so this link will be helpful in seeing the big picture and honing in on just what you want to read.  Be inspired.

And lastly, for some good bargain hunting, and online shopping, head on over to my website, and check out the Weekly Deals for Willow House.  These deals will run from Monday to Sunday at midnight, or until they are sold out.  There are some GREAT buys, so you'll want to check them out....

Let me know if I can answer any questions for you about any of the products.  Thanks, and happy Monday!

Willow House Wednesday!!

I suppose many people consider this the start of the Holidays, since we're into November.   I am not one to pass over Thanksgiving, because I really love the season before Thanksgiving.  But since I am also in retail sales, direct sales with Willow House, I also have to keep a step ahead of my customer's needs and think like a retailer, no matter how difficult that is!

Sooooooo, I want you all to know about all the bargains that are available thru Willow House right now. Seriously, even if I were not the business owner, and I ran across this sale, this is something I would want you to know about!!! Willow House is running a November Gift Giving Sale, and prices start as low as $3.96!  There is a section of gifts under $10, under $20, and under $30.  A few other things are beyond that, too.  We're talking some items are up to 75% off!   There are number of things that will sell out, so I urge you to shop soon, because I want you to be able to get the things you want!
One more thing, before I finish, is that Willow House also runs a series of Weekly Deals from Monday to Monday from the eOutlet sales.  They are even further reduced.  So, I would highly recommend to you to look at BOTH.  Go to my website www.southerninspiration.willowhouse.com

The PDF file for the November Sale can be found here:http://www.willowhouse.com/pne/assets/pdf/201111_sale.pdf

The Weekly Deals can be found here:  
http://southerninspiration.store.willowhouse.com/category.aspx?zcid=289


Let me know if you like hearing about WH news and sales, and I can add you to my monthly newsletter, also.  Thanks, friends!

getting ready this week for my Willow House Annual Open House and Sample Sale....

If you are local, I'd love to have  you come by!  It's this Thursday from 9 to 3.  I sell samples from my kit at a reduced price and any orders made that day are 10% off, including the new jewelry line...have you seen that, by the way?? Oh my goodness, it's so gorgeous!

I'll be posting pics, of course and posting some recipes for you.  So here's a few questions for you.....if you don't mind answering for me in the comments.  When you go to an Open House, would  you rather walk away with cash and carry items, or do you mind placing  your order and waiting for it to come in?  Do you get your holiday shopping done at events like this?  and lastly, when you go to an Open house, what kinds of foods do you like? Savory, sweet, a good mix of the two?

I'll be looking forward to your comments!
So here are a few pics for your inspiration.......let me know if you want to place an order, as all orders that day will be discounted by 10%!  You can always shop my website and my eOutlet at www.southerninspiration.willowhouse.com!  Let me know if you have any questions.  Both catalogs can be viewed there on my website, and it's not too late for you to conduct a virtual or catalog party to get YOUR hostess benefits to help with your holiday shopping!

Happy Halloween, everyone! Have a fun, safe, day!

It's time for Friday Fives!!!

Join us in getting to know one another better today with this session of Friday Fives!! Hope you have fun, and enjoy your weekend!

1. What project of yours is needing some attention that you need to muster up an "I CAN do it" spirit?

2. Is it cold where you are today?

3. When do you start your Christmas shopping?

4. What's on the menu for your weekend?

5.  What are your Halloween plans?? do you even celebrate it?

A Serendipitous Meeting!

I have known about Christy Jordan for what seems like a long time.  She is a cookbook author and hometown cooking girl extraordinaire!  She is the author of  The Southern Plate, and is recently affiliated  with Southern Living as an editor, and has appeared on a number of television segments....so, in my book, she is on her way to be a SUPA star!

Recently, as many of you know, my husband and I took a little trip over to see the g'baby, and her parents.....and what you may not know, is that they live in the same town as Christy.  Last week Christy mentioned on her FB page, Southern Plate, that she had been invited to be on Good Morning, Houston!.  She was scheduled to be on the show for Tuesday morning.  I was disappointed that I already had two appointments that day and couldn't plan to go.
So Monday morning my husband and I were getting on the airplane to come back to the Houston airport, when I spotted Christy at the front of the plane.  She had posted on Facebook that she had boarded the plane to head to Houston, and I , in my least stalkerish fashion, posted that I was on the same plane!! Long story short, we met in the Houston airport and she told me that several friends/followers were meeting up that night to have dinner, and she invited me to join them.  She is so sweet and hospitable, y'all really need to check out her website, if you haven't.  She can be found  at www.southernplate.com.  And if you don't already have her cookbook, The Southern Plate, this would be a great investment or a  gift for the cookbook lover on your holiday shopping list! She has a way of telling stories that is very endearing, and she has some good home cooking recipes!!!

In fact, to further introduce Christy, this is what she says about herself, over on About Me on her website:

Who am I?


For starters, my name is Christy Jordan and I want you to know right up front that I’m nobody special, but I come from some awfully good people, a long line of Southern cooks who were some of the poorest folks around but rich in every way that mattered. I was raised to appreciate the real wealth in life : Family, Friends, Faith, and Good Food. My Mother and Grandmothers used their talent in the kitchen to bring us all together at each meal. Most of the stories I know of my ancestors were passed down to me around that dinner table. Through our mealtime conversations we learned who we were, where we came from, and what was expected of us as we went out into the world.......

In my mind, she's JUST like the girl next door....


I want y'all to go on over to Christy's site and Facebook page and tell her I sent y'all to say hi. She is such a sweetie pie, and I so enjoyed meeting her and having dinner with her.....and I will be visiting her again next time I go see g'baby!!

Anyway, back to my story, we all sat at Lupe Tortillas in Houston for the several hours getting to know Christy and one another and just had the best time!  She is such a  sweet, Southern  lady that I really want all of  you to know her....so go on over and check out her site, buy her book, and become a friend of hers and her wonderful recipes.......you'll SO enjoy it!  The link to purchase her cookbook isn't live here, but it is thru her website, so head over there and purchase it through her links on her website.......y'all have a great Wednesday!

Here's a picture of her cookbook, and she has another one in the works for next spring!

She is ONE year old!

 

A definite BLESSING from my weekend.....

We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
And all the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel you near
We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love
As if each promise from Your Word is not enough
And all the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win, we know
That pain reminds this hearts,
That this is not, this is not our home.....
It's not our home

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?

What if my greatest disappointments,
Or the aching of this life,
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy.
What if trials of this life,
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise?

Because one can never really have enough....

of white pumpkins...I don't know if it's because we've looked at orange ones forever, or if there really is something more romantic, or cute or eye catching, or whatever, but white pumpkins just make me smile....I mean, really, really grin.  I love them.  I guess they are becoming more and more popular, because look at these gorgeous pics I found that really make me smile.
I'll be away for the weekend attending a church conference, called Amazing Grace 360, in case any of you may have heard of it.  I am looking forward to being in Atlanta with some sweet friends.  So I'll be back Monday with more fall festivities!!!

and the CUTEST little punkin EVER!!!!!!!

G, H and I.....more ABC's of decorating for FALL....

Have you decorated already?? I am seeing that I may have done these posts just a little late........I may have to shortcut and hit the highlights!!

For G, of course, I would add that you can be using GOURDS in your home decor.  Is that a no brainer???  There are so many varieties as there are varieties of pumpkins!!  The colors are just gorgeous, though, right??

How cute is this gourd VASE?

I LOVE the varying colors and shapes found in gourds of all kinds!

Willow House Renaissance Hurricane filled with pretty gourds!

Isn't this an inviting front porch area??

Inviting place to snuggle?

Aren't the colors and textures gorgeous??

For H, of course, is HAY!  You can use hay inside if you use sweeping as your daily workout, but there are multiple uses to have it look great OUTSIDE!!
And have you ever been on  or hosted a hayride?? How fun!!!

just tied with jute around a  hurricane or mason jar!

dried corn and a candle...how easy is that?

These are cupcakes, y'all....decorated with jelly beans!!! LoVE!

Plop and Drop into a hurricane and be done! You could tie jute or twine around middle if you wanted.

And lastly, for I, we have Indian Corn....again, such gorgeous colors, texture, and it is not expensive.  Use it on hurricanes, on wreaths, laying in a basket.....how do YOU love to use Indian Corn?  There's a funny story on www.plateandpattern.com about how Josh has a thing about Indian Corn....it just makes me laugh.  He is so funny!
If you haven't decorated, may you be inspired to do so....hope you are enjoying cooler weather, and Indian summer days!  So relieved here in Texas to have said goodbye to triple digits...the summer was brutal!  Happy Days, y'all!

thought I'd show you a few pics before we move on with the ABC's.....

I've been doing the Pumpkin thing at my house, so I thought I'd show you a few pics  of the fall decor I've accomplished at my house.  I had a Willow House Fall Extravaganza at my house last week, so I had reason to get it done earlier this year.  I enjoyed it!  Hope you do, also!

Fall wreath in family room hung on the mirror; love the way this turned out.  I had gotten two leaf garlands at Pottery Barn at the end of the season two years ago...and I just wound them onto a grapevine wreath...added a burlap wreath I made from burlap garland found at Michael's....LOVE this product!  Drake Lanterns from Willow  House.

This is the Coronado Stone Pedestal from Willow  House, and I found this candy corn a few years ago at a local nursery.......

The loyal and faithful Jamestown Tray....have had so long and it's timeless!  The acorn bells I found at Hallmark many years ago.

These acorns came from PB also, as well as Kohl's end of season.  On the left, the bell jar is full of fall colored jingle bells I found this year at Hobby Lobby.  They are so fun!  They are sitting in the Parisian Ottoman Tray...one of my favs!

More of the burlap garland (It's really thick and I love the way it drapes!) on the Montcrest Adj. Hurricanes....filled with sand and a flameless candle.

I LOVE that it's time for mums and pumpkins!

Welcome fall and Y'all; come on in!

Monarch Lantern filled with mums and feathers!

Never underestimate the power of Fall foliage on sale at the end of the season.....this bunch probably cost about $10 at the end of the season last year.

I moved things around a little this year, and ended up with this.....like it?