Book recommendations....

Especially if you are a Jane Austen fan or a fan of books written from this time period, I've recently finished two books that I would highly recommend!  I first read The Apothecary's Daughter at the recommendation of a friend, who also brought me The Girl in the Gatehouse.  A perfect time to catch up on some reading, with my arm in a sling, right?
So, my favorite so far has been The Girl in the Gatehouse, although both were very pleasant to read.  I am looking forward to reading Julie Klassen's two additional novels in my spare time.  I have pictured them here for your info.  Check them out, they are well worth the time spent with them.  In fact, I am  hoping she continues sequels of these books, as the characters are very endearing!!!

I Look forward to these two!!
check out this author--you won't be sorry!

Wednesdays with Willow House

Have you checked out the Weekly Deals on my outlet?   They change every Monday morning and last the week, and most of them are about 70% off!!  Here's a picture for you of ways to use the Trellis Plantholders(available for only $7.96 this week!!!)--created by another friend and consultant, Denise Cosgrove.  She is so generous to share; the spirit of generosity is what I love so much about working for Willow House.  That is encouraged and rewarded, to share and help other consultants!
Take a look and if you find something in the Outlet that strikes your fancy, go ahead and get it because these deals may not last long at these prices!! I'll be doing my Giveaway on Friday, so check back.....it may just be something from the Outlet!!

My outlet can be found at southerninspiration.willowhouse.com, and if you purchase, would you add my name as hostess when checking out? thanks ever so much!!!

Melanie Grant with Willow House...some FRESH ideas!!!

If you will search YouTube for other Melanie Grant videos, you can find even MORE Willow House Inspiration!!! Enjoy!
For some reason, the right side is cutting off...anyone know how to tell me to fix it? If not, If you go to the YouTube site, HERE, you can view all of Melanie Grant's Willow House videos there..she is adorable and has wonderful ideas!
All products can be found at southerninspiration.willowhouse.com. Be sure and check the Outlet and the Weekly Deals also!

Friday fives!!

1. What is your favorite restaurant?

2. What would you do with $350?

3. What is your favorite kind of soup or stew?

4. What is your favorite movie or television show?

5.  What is your favorite type of music?

Thanks for playing along!! I am typing much better, so I hope to be blogging more in the future....hope I haven't lost all of you in the meantime....
AND.....guess what....I hit my 500th post this week!! How exciting is that?  I never thought I'd be consistent enough with blogging to meet that accomplishment!  I have to admit in the last two months, it's been touch and go, and I've missed more than I've blogged...but life has happened.
Anyway, to celebrate, I'll be doing something special, probably a giveaway sometime soon.....come back and visit!! I hope to make that happen in next week's blog posts or the very near future!

Take care and Happy Friday!

Have YOU noticed?

How is your dishwasher doing lately? Not cleaning so well?  Are you having trouble getting your dishes clean?  Are you finding them "filmy" even after they've gone through a complete cleaning cycle?

Just recently, my husband shared with me that the dishwashing detergent companies (mainly Proctor and Gamble) have recently taken out phosphates from the manufacturing process of making their detergent, namely Cascade...which I've used for some time now, because I find it worked the best.  I would mostly use coupons when I had them, but even if I didn't, I'd still use/buy Cascade because I thought it did the superior job.  They took out the phosphates in an attempt to be a greener company....and did it with no announcements or PR letting customers know what they had done.  I'm not sure about other companies, but it is my belief that other companies are following suit.  Some people (I heard on a CNN news story) have taken to adding trisodium phosphate to their dishwashers to get the same benefits.....but how much, I don't know.

So recently, I called the 800 number on the side of the box of Cascade that was found under my sink.  They did not deny the fact that phosphates have been taken out, but they did not say they are working on a substitute for a more earth friendly yet equally as effective.....they simply offered to send me a coupon.  They also suggested I try the capsules that contain more "enzyme" ingredients, but which cost a bit more as well.
When I googled this issue, I found some interesting reading offering several solutions.......you can read here:

http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=185479
Well, lo and behold, look what I have found thru my research.....apparently commercial institutions don't have the same restrictions as homes, so one can purchase THIS product found here, and it still contains the phosphates....ok, people, I know that I may encounter rage from some but I cannot abide dirty dishes.  I am glad to recycle and do what I can for earth friendliness, but the dirty dish problem is not one I can deal with.  So if you feel the same, look here:
http://www.restockit.com/Cascade-Automatic-Dishwasher-Detergent-85-oz-%2834953PG%29.html?pnl=1_4#ReviewHeader  Read the reviews, and come back for mine after I have received mine and will let you know the results...right now, I am ONE HAPPY CAMPER!!
This post and the research to write it may have saved my sanity!

Edited to add an article that explains the whole story, in lengthy detail....
http://www.weeklystandard.com/articles/another-triumph-greens_536862.html

total Inspiration

A lady, turning 80 on 1/11/11.......inspired me.  I found a link on We are THAT family blog to a blog called Momedy (clever, huh?) and she wrote about Jean--enjoying her 80th birthday; go see!  It sure inspired me!  Not to go out and sled on a snowy hill--I'll wait until my shoulder is completely healed for all such activities!  But to live everyday to its fullest, and not live in fear!  What inspires you today?

when I finally progress from drawers to closets............

when i make progress in healing and move from small jobs to larger jobs like the linen closet, i will indeed be inspired by this youtube video!!!

an epiphany, of a different kind.

It must be getting to me that this is the second Monday of the new year and I've been unable to get much accomplished!  I wake up with a zeal to get things done and then feel stymied by the fact that I am one handed!  Also a factor is that major surgery is an energy zapper!  just doing a few things requires a lot more energy than normal!

  I know it's only temporary so it's definitely given me compassion for folks who live with handicaps daily!  But , nonetheless,  I feel the need to seize 2011 and get something done, even if it a few small things!  In fact, now is the best time to get them done, knowing that I cannot do big things nor will big things crowd out all the hours  in the day!

The epiphany came to me at 4:05 a.m. this morning!  For some strange reason, I woke with the thought that I could accomplish small things that need also to be done, such as cleaning out and organizing all the drawers in my house!!!  Who thinks of these things at 4:00 am in the morning??  Well, it was an epiphany of sorts that I woke up thinking of cleaning out drawers, and a helpful one!  I am going to focus on what I CAN get done rather than my limitations!  So my goal for this Monday is to clean out at least three drawers! 

What's YOUR Monday goal???

Would you consider helping???

http://ameliarobinsue.blogspot.com/

A dear friend out in blogland has the pleasure of a precious little grandbaby.  Congrats, Kathy!  However, coupled with this immeasurable joy is also immeasureable grief in the loss of her amazing daughter-in-law
(at birth) and the mom of sweet little Amelia.  In trusting that God will provide all that this family needs, I would like to pass on to any blog readers I have, a way to partner with the efforts to provide for this tiny little angel.  If you'd like to read the story, go on over to the blog that was started to tell the story.  A memorial fund has been set up and details are there for all of us to make whatever contribution possible.  I can only imagine how difficult this must be, so coupled with my prayers for this dear family, I chose to donate to the memorial fund, and wanted to give you the opportunity to do so as well.  If you are unable to give, please at least pray for this child and her precious family.  Thanks, friends!

we all have our choices...........

A friend shared this with me ........another little gem about perspective!

Whale or mermaid?

Recently, in a large city in France , a poster featuring a young, thin and tan woman appeared in the window of a gym. It said, "This summer,do you want to be a mermaid or a whale?"

A middle-aged woman, whose physical characteristics did not match those of the woman on the poster, responded publicly to the question posed by the gym.

To Whom It May Concern,
Whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, sea lions, curious humans.)They have an active sex life, get pregnant and have adorable baby whales. They have a wonderful time with dolphins stuffing themselves with shrimp.

They play and swim in the seas, seeing wonderful places like Patagonia,the Bering Sea and the coral reefs of Polynesia .

Whales are wonderful singers and have even recorded CDs. They are incredible creatures and virtually have no predators other than humans. They are loved, protected and admired by almost everyone in the world.

Mermaids don't exist.

If they did exist, they would be lining up outside the offices of Argentinean psychoanalysts due to identity crisis. Fish or human?They don't have a sex life because they kill men who get close to them, not to mention how could they have sex? Just look at them ... where is IT? Therefore, they don't have kids either. Not to mention, who wants to get close to a girl who smells like a fish store?

The choice is perfectly clear to me: I want to be a whale.

P.S. We are in an age when media puts into our heads the idea that only skinny people are beautiful, but I prefer to enjoy an ice cream with my kids, a good dinner with a man who makes me shiver, and a piece of chocolate with my friends.

With time, we gain weight because we accumulate so much information and wisdom in our heads that when there is no more room, it distributes out to the rest of our bodies.
So we aren't heavy, we are enormously cultured, educated and happy.
Beginning today, when I look at my butt in the mirror I will think, ¨Good grief, look how smart I am!¨

What will you choose today???? Have a terrific day!

willow house wednesday!!

The new catalog is out with some of the most adorable new things in it!!!  Check my newsletter out and find the link to the new catalog in there.


http://www.imakenews.com/theinsider/index000486002.cfm?x=bhVbhn4,b5PTsyF5

isn't she growing?????

precious, don't you think??

happy new year!!!

blogging will be slow for the early part of 2011--had my shoulder surgery and with my right arm in a sling, it is somewhat difficult to type with one hand!  the bad news is that i will be blogging less, and when i can, it will be with few caps!  the good news is that i am not really in pain (i still have the effects of the nerve block,though!) and my shoulder is fixed....there was a good amount of damage caused by some bone spurs but hopefully i am all repaired thanks to my good doctor and i'll be back and running before too long.  maybe i can just repost some older posts.....knowing it's been awhile since i was really able to post anyway!

anyway, happy 2011..................