Finally...

"Z" is for Zebra! Show off your wild side this fall by mixing in some fun animal prints for exotic impact.

Seen here with our Embroidered Scroll and Stripe Pillow, Parisian Ottoman Tray, and the Scrollwork Oversized Throw that is on sale this month!

November Sale!!!

Visit my website or contact me to place your order today for some great Christmas gifts during our HUGE sale!

www.darlenesdesigns.willowhouse.com

The ABCs of Fall Style

"Y" is for Yellow! Whether it's the rich gold of autumn leaves or the bright yellow of sunflowers, use this cheery color to brighten your fall displays.

The ABCs of Fall Style

·        ‎"W" is for Whole spices! Fill a hurricane or vase half full with your favorite whole spices like cloves, cinnamon sticks, or star anise. Then, just pop in a candle to fill your home with the rich scents of fall baking!

TIP: Buy whole spices in bulk from your local ethnic food store.

The ABCs of Fall Style

"V" is for Villa! The beaded detailing and classic cream color of the Villa Collection make it the perfect base for building a fabulous fall table. Just add splashes of rich color and natural accents and you're all set!

New Fun Wreaths in our Outlet!

Angel Wreath: Hot Pink and Lime (50% off this week)!http://darlenesdesigns.store.willowhouse.com/product.aspx?zpid=6415

Tastiest Witch's Brew Ever!

Are you in the mood to make something fun and festive for Halloween while at the same time serving it in something fabulous? Then try one of our favorite recipes, "Scarecrow Crunch." It's cheap, easy, and everyone will love it! Plus, it looks so amazing when served in our Hawthorne Trifle because the clear glass shows off all of the cool munchies in the mix.

  

Whether you're hosting a Halloween party or just want something good to munch on at the office "Scarecrow Crunch" is the perfect snack. And when served in our Hawthorne Trifle it showcases all of the beautiful fall colors in the snack mix. It also looks so cute when filled in small baggies and given out to trick-or-treaters instead of candy.

 So dust off your trifle and try using it for something else for a change! Here's what you need to do to make the mix. Combine all of the ingredients, mix together and voilå! You have a great snack or a perfect item to bring to a Halloween bash. WARNING: Scarecrow Crunch can be extremely addictive!

Scarecrow Crunch

4 cups crunchy oatmeal cereal squares or Chex cereal
4 cups tiny twist pretzels
1 can salted peanuts
1 bag of autumn mix honey candy
1 bag of candy corn
2 cups peanut butter M&M's
2 (6-ounce) boxes caramel popcorn with nuts
1 (6.6) bag chocolate Teddy Grahams

The ABCs of Fall Style

·        ‎"U" is for Urns! Whether they're flanking a mantel or anchoring a buffet, decorative urns are a style shortcut for fall!  Fill with mini gourds (like we did with our Framework Urn) for an easy harvest look.

Darlene Williamson's Page

Darlene Williamson's Page

Please visit my St. Jude donation page and help the kids!  Thanks so much.

The ABCs of Fall Style

·        ‎"T" is for Treats! For a fun fall centerpiece, forgo flowers and build a tower of treats! We added candied apples, trail mix and everyone's favorite — candy corn — to our French Wire Tiered Stand. And for a really fun touch, use holiday scrapbook paper to line each tier.  It's too pretty to eat...almost!

The ABCs of Fall Style

·        ‎"S" is for Sunflowers! There's simply nothing happier than a bright bunch of sunflowers, and you can find them just about anywhere! Tuck them in a door bucket or Demibottle for instant fall wow-factor!  Seen here with our new Riverstone Collection dinnerware.

The ABCs of Fall Style

·        ‎"R" is for Rust!  If you style your nest with orange this season, look your best in rich, spicy rust tones.  The Maya Collection's rust-etched mother of pearl medallions add instant warmth and style to your look!  Contact me soon to schedule your jewelry party or private showing with my new Sara Blaine Designer Jewelry!

The ABCs of Fall Style

·        ‎"Q" is for Quilts! We love the heirloom style of quilts for getting cozy on fall nights and for making hayrides more comfy.  For a fun fireside caddy, tuck a quilt and some birch logs into our Nola Party Bucket!

The ABCs of Fall Style

‎"P" is for Pumpkins, of course!  To create this 3-step centerpiece, fill the Cyprus Footed Bowl with reindeer moss, pop in a Cinderella Pumpkin, then tuck in dried berries. So easy!

The ABCs of Fall Style

·        ‎"O" is for Orange!   No color captures the feel of fall quite like orange!  Brighten up neutral pieces like our Villa Stoneware with pumpkins or use a fun orange print for an eye-catching backdrop.  What's your favorite way to use orange?

·        ‎"N" is for Nuts!   Acorns, pecans, and buckeyes make fantastic fall fillers.  Add them to our Galveston Hurricanes and top with candles for a nice natural centerpiece!  (Seen here with our Villa Stoneware.)

How can I tell if an egg is fresh?

I recently came across this helpful bit of kitchen trivia and wanted to share it with you.  Did you know that you can easily gauge eggs' freshness by gently placing them in a bowl of cold water?  Really fresh eggs will drop to the bottom of the bowl and lie on their sides (how cool is this)!  Somewhat fresh eggs will stand on end and bob about in the water.  Old eggs will float--and should be discarded.

If you are like me, you are trying to eat healthier and avoid food that has been recalled.  This info on eggs will just add to our arsenal as moms in the fight against yukky food!  It also provides you a neat science experiment for your children.

If you would like further info on "yukky food," check out Food, Inc.'s movie at www.FoodIncMovie.Com about what we are really eating.   I first came upon the movie while subbing at the high school.  I'll warn you, you may stop eating altogether after watching it! 

The ABCs of Fall Style

·        ‎"M" is for Mums!  Nothing says fall like a colorful pot of mums by your front door.  Just plop and drop into our Lincoln Village Planter or Red Mountain Iron Entertaining Bucket and Stand for a fabulous fall entryway!

The ABCs of Fall Style

·        ‎"L" is for Lanterns! Whether it's Bradshaw, Drake, or Firefly, Willow House has a lantern for every space in your home. Use large lanterns to flank an entryway or mantel, or scatter smaller ones down a table for a luminous fall centerpiece or to give eacy person at your table a special treat with their name attached.

The ABCs of Fall Style

  

       "K" is for Kumquats! We love the orange cuties for just about everything — filling a hurricane, adding a pop of color to a cornucopia, or even garnishing a drink! Shown here in our Simone Glasses on the Graymont Tray.

The ABCs of Fall Style

        ‎"I" is for Indian Corn — one of our favorite fall styling elements! Here it's tucked into our Galveston Hurricane for a quick harvest centerpiece. Ever decorated with Indian Corn? Share your ideas!

The ABCs of Fall Style

·        ‎"H" is for Hay--Stack a couple of bales outside your front door with pumpkins, cover with quilts for fun fall seating, or tuck a handful into your centerpieces for a rustic, natural touch.

The ABCs of Fall Style

“G” is for Gourds--You can find mini-gourds in almost every grocery store. Use them to fill a hurricane, scatter down a table or mantel or tie into your favorite wreath or garland. We loved them tucked into our French Wire Tiered Stand.  How do you use them?

The ABCs of Fall Style

“E” is for Earth-tones: Trade your summer brights for tans, browns and greens. Warm-colored serving ware adds a rich look to whatever you’re serving. Try it with our Alfresco Collection.

The ABCs of Fall Style

“D” is for Dried--Take a nature hike or shop your local craft store for dried elements to add to vases and hurricanes. Here we tucked sweetgum branches into our  new Athena Crackle Vase.

The ABCs of Fall Style

·        "C” is for Candles--Warm up your look by adding their flickering light to luminaries, lanterns and stands. Choose neutral candles you can use all year long. (Pictured here on the new Lyric Candelabra from Willow House.)

·         

The ABCs of Fall Style

"B" is for Burlap

Use it to make a rustic runner, place mats, or to line a planter. Here it's showing off the Eclipse Platter, one of our fall favorites. Got any more fun ideas for using burlap this season?

The ABCs of fall style

"A" is for Apples — pile them high in the Wireweave Baskets or the Olivia Antiqued Bowl for an instant centerpiece!

If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Maple Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls--Yummy!!!

Maple Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

Pumpkin Dough
1/2 package instant vanilla pudding mix (3.4 ounce box)
1/4 cup cold whole milk
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 package (1/8 ounce) active dry yeast
1 Tablespoon sugar
1/4 cup warm water (110-115 degrees)
4 cups all purpose flour

Filling
1/3 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 1/2 Tablespoons ground cinnamon

Maple Cream Cheese Frosting
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
6 Tablespoons cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/4 teaspoon maple extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 Tablespoon whole milk

In a bowl, whisk together the half the package of the pudding mix and milk. Add in the pumpkin puree and whisk to combine.
Add in the kosher salt and ground nutmeg and mix.
Whisk in the melted butter and lightly beaten egg. Set the mixture aside.

In a bowl of a stand mixer, mix together the yeast and 1 Tablespoon of sugar. Add in the warm water and mix it up with a fork. Mix it really well to make sure all of the yeast dissolves.
Set the yeast mixture aside for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes the mixture will be foamy.
Slowly pour in the pudding mixture with the mixer on low speed. (using the paddle attachment)
Add in the flour, 1/2 cup at a time.
Keep mixing with the paddle attachment until you’ve added all of the flour. Switch to the dough hook and mix on low speed for 7 minutes.
If you don’t have a stand mixer, knead the dough by hand for 9 minutes.

Once the dough is done mixing, take the dough out on a floured surface and knead the dough by hand for 1-2 minutes. Form the dough into a ball and place it into an oiled bowl. Roll it around to coat the dough in oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place it in a warm draft free area for 1 hour to rise.

After an hour, take the dough out onto a floured surface. Roll the dough out into a 11 by 18 inch rectangle.
Spread 1/3 cup softened butter over the surface of the dough but leave a 1 inch border on the left and right sides of the dough.
Mix together the brown sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle it over the butter. Press the brown sugar and mixture into the butter.

Roll the dough over once on the left side and once on the right side. Then begin rolling the dough up. Start at the bottom of the dough and roll it away from you. Pinch the seams of the dough to ensure that the cinnamon rolls don’t fall apart.
Using a serrated knife, cut 1 inch of the dough off on the left and right sides.

Then cut the dough every 2 inches. You should have about 7 cinnamon rolls.
Using your hands, press each cinnamon roll together. (see the photos above for an example) This will prevent them from falling apart during the baking process.

Place the cinnamon rolls in two lightly greased baking pans. I use a 10 and 8 inch round baking pans but you can use square pans if you like or whatever works for you. Just make sure you space them out a lot. They will expand in the oven.

Cover the baking pans with plastic wrap and let them rise again for 20 minutes.
Bake the cinnamon rolls at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

While the cinnamon rolls are baking, begin making the maple cream cheese frosting.

Sift the powdered sugar and set aside.
In a bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, mix together the cream cheese and butter for 3 minutes on medium speed until smooth. Add in the maple extract and vanilla extract and mix.
Slowly add in the powdered sugar and mix until the frosting is smooth.
Add in the milk and mix it up.

Take the cinnamon rolls out of the oven. Frost them while they’re still warm.

Enjoy!

Fall Fun!

Add a fun centerpiece to your fall party with our French Wire Tiered Stand.  Just perfect for all your "treats" when the goblins come calling! 

10 Things Jesus Never Said

I think this is going to be an awesome book!  Check out his website.
http://www.willdavisjr.com/ten-things-jesus-never-said/

Sara Blaine Jewelry Designed Exclusively for Willow House

I am so excited about our new designer jewelry!  Contact me today to schedule your show.

The Mistake of Florence Chadwick

http://www.maxlucado.com/facingyourgiants/


"In 1952, she attempted to swim the chilly ocean waters between Catalina Island and the California shore.  She swam through foggy weather and choppy seas for fifteen hours.  Her muscles began to cramp and her resolve weakened.  She begged to be taken out of the water, but her mother, riding in a boat alongside, urged her not to give up.  She kept trying but grew exhausted and stopped swimming. Aids lifted her out of the water and into the boat.  They paddled a few more minutes, the mist broke, and she discovered that the shore was less than a half mile away.  'All I could see was the fog,' she explained at a news conference.  'I think if I could have seen the shore, I would have made it.'


Take a look at the shore that awaits you.  Don't be fooled by the fog of the slump.  The finish may be only strokes away.  God may be, at this moment, lifting his hand to signal Gabriel to grab the trumpet.  Angels may be assembling, saints gathering, demons trembling.  Stay at it!  Stay in the water.  Stay in the race.  Stay in the fight.  Give grace, one more time.  Be generous, one more time.  Teach one more class, encourage one more soul, swim one more stroke."


I LOVE this story out of Max's new book, "Facing Your  Giants!"  If you have never read one of Max's books, I encourage you to start with this one.  You can even read it online if you don't have access to a bookstore or the library.  


God bless,


Darlene

60 ways to make life simple again

A friend sent this to me this morning, and I loved it so much that I thought I'd share it with you. When we were young life was easier, right?  I know sometimes it seems that way.  But the truth is life still is easy.  It always will be.  The only difference is we're older, and the older we get, the more we complicate things for ourselves. You see, when we were young we saw the world through simple, hopeful eyes.  We knew what we wanted and we had no biases or concealed agendas.  We liked people who smiled.  We avoided people who frowned.  We ate when we were hungry, drank when we were thirsty, and slept when we were tired. As we grew older our minds became gradually disillusioned by negative external influences.  At some point we began to hesitate and question our instincts.  When a new obstacle or growing pain arose, we stumbled and a fell down.  This happened several times.  Eventually we decided we didn't want to fall again, but rather than solving the problem that caused us to fall, we avoided it all together. As a result, we ate comfort food and drank alcohol to numb our wounds and fill our voids.  We worked late nights on purpose to avoid unresolved conflicts at home.  We started holding grudges, playing mind games, and subtly deceiving others and ourselves to get ahead.  And when it didn't work out, we lived above our means, bought things we didn't need, and ate and drank some more just to make ourselves feel better again. Over the course of time, we made our lives more and more difficult, and we started losing touch with who we really are and what we really need. So let's get back to the basics, shall we?  Let's make things simple again.  It's easy.  Here are 60 ways to do just that: Life is not complex.  We are complex.  Life is simple, and the simple thing is the right thing. - Oscar Wilde Don't try to read other people's minds.  Don't make other people try to read yours.  Communicate. Be polite, but don't try to be friends with everyone around you.  Instead, spend time nurturing your relationships with the people who matter most to you. Your health is your life, keep up with it.  Get an annual physical check-up. Live below your means.  Don't buy stuff you don't need.  Always sleep on big purchases.  Create a budget and savings plan and stick to both of them. Get enough sleep every night.  An exhausted mind is rarely productive.  Get up 30 minutes earlier so you don't have to rush around like a mad man.  That 30 minutes will help you avoid speeding tickets, tardiness, and other unnecessary headaches. Get off your high horse, talk it out, shake hands or hug, and move on. Don't waste your time on jealously.  The only person you're competing against is yourself. Surround yourself with people who fill your gaps.  Let them do the stuff they're better at so you can do the stuff you're better at. Organize your living space and working space.  Read David Allen's book Getting Things Done for some practical organizational guidance. Get rid of stuff you don't use. Ask someone if you aren't sure. Spend a little time now learning a time-saving trick or shortcut that you can use over and over again in the future. Don't try to please everyone.  Just do what you know is right. Don't drink alcohol or consume recreational drugs when you're mad or sad.  Take a jog instead. Be sure to pay your bills on time. Fill up your gas tank on the way home, not in the morning when you're in a hurry. Use technology to automate tasks. Handle important two-minute tasks immediately. Relocate closer to your place of employment. Don't steal. Always be honest with yourself and others. Say "I love you" to your loved ones as often as possible. Single-task.  Do one thing at a time and give it all you got. Finish one project before you start another. Be yourself. When traveling, pack light.  Don't bring it unless you absolutely must. Clean up after yourself.  Don't put it off until later. Learn to cook, and cook. Make a weekly (healthy) menu, and shop for only the items you need. Consider buying and cooking food in bulk.  If you make a large portion of something on Sunday, you can eat leftovers several times during the week without spending more time cooking. Stay out of other people's drama.  And don't needlessly create your own. Buy things with cash. Maintain your car, home, and other personal belongings you rely on. Smile often, even to complete strangers. If you hate doing it, stop it. Treat everyone with the same level of respect you would give to your grandfather and the same level of patience you would have with your baby brother. Apologize when you should. Write things down. Be curious.  Don't be scared to learn something new. Explore new ideas and opportunities often. Don't be shy.  Network with people.  Meet new people. Don't worry too much about what other people think about you. Spend time with nice people who are smart, driven, and likeminded. Don't text and drive.  Don't drink and drive. Drink water when you're thirsty. Don't eat when you're bored.  Eat when you're hungry. Exercise every day.  Simply take a long, relaxing walk or commit 30 minutes to an at-home exercise program like the P90X Workout. Let go of things you can't change.  Concentrate on things you can. Find hard work you actually enjoy doing. Realize that the harder you work, the luckier you will become. Follow your heart.  Don't waste your life fulfilling someone else's dreams and desires. Set priorities for yourself and act accordingly. Take it slow and add up all your small victories. However good or bad a situation is now, it will change.  Accept this simple fact. Excel at what you do.  Otherwise you'll just frustrate yourself. Mature, but don't grow up too fast. Realize that you're never quite as right as you think you are. Build something or do something that makes you proud. Make mistakes, learn from them, laugh about them, and move along. Oh, and enjoy life's simple pleasures, They're free and better than anything money can buy.

Willow House Jewelry

Here are some details you have been waiting for because I know some of you are confused!   Why jewelry and is it combined with your home decor parties?    We are all about SIMPLY GOOD DESIGN and whether you want to accessorize your home or your outfit… we’ll be able to help you!   We are going to be the first lifestyle company ever to allow our business owners (yes, we own our business) to sell multiple product lines.

1. We are launching a totally separate Jewelry Division… If you want to sell our brand new jewelry designs… and not home decor, that’s great… but if you want to double your opportunity to party – then you can sell home decor too.  The choice is YOURS!

2. We are forming our pre-launch team now to launch this fall!  Spots are limited and time is critical so please help me spread the word and share with your friends who may like to get in on the ground floor to be one of the first in the nation to launch our NEW division!

3. We have partnered with a known jewelry designer who is designing a line exclusive to us (to be announced June 1st).

4. The sneak peek photo shows trendy gold jewelry, but we’ll also carry silver and pieces with semi-precious stones!  So exciting to have so many choices!

Contact me today to just find out more… the only way you’ll know if this is for you is to ask me questions…. and trust me… I am VERY excited to share the news but I won’t talk you into anything.   I am SIMPLY EXCITED!!!! I’d love to have you, or someone you know, on my team to help me launch this or to just be one of the first hosts or of course…. you can always just purchase from me if you like!

Also, I am still selling home decor too, which is my first passion… so you’ll have to tell me what I can help you with!

Breaking News!

Have you ever thought about selling jewelry?  That's right.  I said JEWELRY!  Become a Willow House consultant now and attend convention in July!  Call me for details.

Poem...by Naomi Shure

I rush to the next point

So there I can wait—

Ugh, this ‘in between’

Is the place I most hate!

Digging in heels,

Grasping for security

Give me new focus

And do so hurriedly!

My searchlight scans

Beginning to see

Dusty little treasures

That once were me..

“Give them back!”

My heart exclaims!

I’ll wipe them clean

And work through pain!

I'll retrace those steps

That lead to this place

Of anger and judgment

This bitter distaste..

Uncovering dust,

Promising to forgive

If I want refocus,

I will have to relive:

Doing the work

At once I chose not—

Repatching, renewing

Returning— my heart.

Finished "The Shack" again yesterday.. This time, it took me to a place of exposing the bitterness in my heart, and yearning to clean out the closet.. Wrote this poem concerning all of that this morn. If you haven't read it, you should!