The Willows Home & Garden

have you heard?

2015-12-01T10:28:00.000-07:00

{image via pinterest}

We moved!!

come see our new website here and blog here!!

thank you to kitchen sink studios for their beautiful work!

back in the swing of things

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after a beautiful and rather chilly weekend up north for thanksgiving

i am happy to be home and getting ready for the christmas season!

we had such a lovely time with family and friends.

my friend laurie helped to set the table and grandkids made sweet place cards.

we had quite the feast, many laughs and some good conversation by the fire.

i am indeed blessed.

and now its time to get in the spirit, decorate and shop!

dont miss our holiday open house this friday

for small bites, mimosas, and our favorite local jewelry artists!

giving thanks

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{image via here}

heading up north to give thanks with friends and family.

wishing you the best on this busy holiday weekend.

may you be blessed with good company, many laughs and the most delectable eats.

note our hours this week:

wednesday 10-2

thursday closed

friday 12-5:30

saturday 10-4

**SALES**

twenty percent off

all apparel

all bedding & dishware

{including special orders}

and all christmas ornaments

be merry and stay warm!!

mark your calendars

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Friday December 4th!!!

***Our Holiday Open House***

Join us for mimosas, and small bites.

Our fave local artists, Jewel Ya, Dos Fannies, Dayna Hall and Ripe Goods will be there!

Remember to also fill out your wish list to help the men shop for you

at our Men's Night Out which begins that eve at 5:00

CHEERS!!

set the table

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bringing family and friends together for the grand feast of thanksgiving can be one of the loveliest

days of the year to remember and treasure. i do love any chance i get to set a stunning table;

this is indeed the perfect occasion.

bringing the outdoors in is always a win:

pinecones, fresh pine leaves, eucalyptus, pumpkins, pomegranetes....endless possibilities!

we love the contrast with clean white dishes, and touches of silver and gold.

if you are in need of table ideas please stop by and let us help!

we also love these tabletops for inspiration:

this mediterranean feast is simply beautiful in design and composition

many pretty ideas here for thanksgiving settings and christmas

a great use of color on apartment 34

this outdoor setting looks incredibly cozy

a pretty mix of copper and olive on 100 layer cake

we hope you have been inspired and wish you the

best in thanksgiving planning!

we'll be back soon with a sample menu.

have a great weekend!!

white shirt exhibit

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do you love white shirts, and love some good fashion?

i recently checked out the fabulous white shirt exhibit at the phoenix art museum.

it is the stunning work of italian designer gianfranco ferre.

in addition to the main exhibit there are some gorgeous gowns and

plenty of sketches

to inspire.

grab a friend and check it out!

and dont forget today is t-shirt tuesday in the shop....
20% off all basic tees and tanks!!

happy weekend

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doing some early christmas shopping, or perhaps looking for a new good book

to snuggle up with on these chilly mornings?

come by and see us this weekend!

out and about?

hit up the roosevelt home tour in downtown phoenix...

grab coffee and pastries or a fabulous tortilla espanole at lola coffee bar

or stroll over to the new desoto building for brunch and cocktails with a dj on the patio

afterwards enjoy some of the darling boutiques or vintage shopping.

hope your weekend is off to a great start.

look forward to some great thanksgiving menu ideas and decorating tips next week!

gone bananas

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if you love cake and happen to be looking for an alternative to the banana bread

you usually make, then give this happy stunner a go. hey maybe even throw

a cake in your thanksgiving rotation to spice things up a bit.

banana cake & cinnamon vanilla buttercream

cake:

1 1/2 c. sugar

1/2 c. (1 stick) soft butter

2 eggs, separated

2-3 small bananas, mashed to smithereens

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 c. buttermilk

2 1/4 c. flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

preheat oven to 350. mix butter and sugar in stand mixer on medium until light and creamy. add yolks and mashed bananas. mix well. dissolve baking soda in buttermilk. sift flour, baking powder and salt. alternating, add flour mixture and buttermilk, and lastly the vanilla. do not over mix.

beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. fold into batter. bake in greased 9in. round cake pan or two smaller ones for layers, for about 30-40 minutes until done. let cool before frosting.

buttercream:

4 egg whites

1 1/2 cup sugar

3 sticks salted butter, room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste (or extract if that is all you have on hand)

1 teaspoon cinnamon

in small sauce pan begin boiling a few inches of water. in bowl of stand mixer that will fit nicely over the hot water, combine egg whites and sugar. whisk well. set over boiling water and whisk furiously until mixture reaches 160 or feels hot to the touch, or your arm is about to fall off. attach hot bowl to mixer and beat on high for several minutes until it fluffs up nicely. let cool.

turn on that mixer on med/high speed again and slowly add blobs of butter. once frosting begins to whip up like buttery whip cream you are good. add vanilla and cinnamon. woo hoo youre done!

now frost the cake and share a piece with your neighbor over a glass of champagne! cheers.

brr its cold outside!

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looking for a new cozy sweater or pair of jeans?

we've got it!

come in and check out our apparel. we'd love to help you find a new look!

around the shop

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some eye candy for your weekend viewing pleasure.

come by and get a jump start on holiday shopping!

our white sale goes on through the weekend.

xoxo, the willowettes

white sale

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{image}

heads up ladies! we're having a white sale at the willows!

come shop for anything white in the store and receive twenty percent off!

have you been eyeing some white vietri dishes, bella notte linens, apparel, or a new chair or couch?

then hurry in. its too good to miss!

see you soon.

local eats: okra

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so i just checked out this darling little spot, new to me, called OKRA in the Crown location on 7th St. and Palo Verde. stopping by for happy hour, we were warmly greeting with a taste of southern hospitality and a charming neighborhood atmosphere that lures you in.

the menu draws on the owners roots in the south and plays it up with an italian twist. we were quite happy with our small bites; some amazing chicken wings, and tasty broccolini topped with a poached duck egg and almond pesto. washing it down with the work of mixologist, Jax, I sipped on a refreshing French 75. and might i add this cocktail list is one you will not want to miss...hard decisions to be made!

I am looking forward to going back to try some of the fried chicken or catfish, or the buttermilk meatballs and polenta. Of course I have my eye on some tempting dessert like the canned biscuit donut with salted caramel. oh my. i may have to walk home that night! definitely check it out and let us know what you think.

thank you okra for a great night! we will be back!

happy halloween weekend!

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busy getting ready for a nice chilly halloween weekend? any fun plans or old traditions? we love spending time with family; seeing all the kids dressed up in silly costumes and munching on some good eats and treats! here are some fun links for your weekend inspiration. cheers to the holiday season!

this texas chili sounds like a fun one to try...beer and bison? why not.

a tasty punch for the adults looking for a treat

this gingersnap pumpkin pie with maple cinnamon whipped cream sounds divine

a gorgeous autumn flower arrangement how to

this and so many other amazing costume ideas if you're on the last minute search

bringing the outdoors in

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one of my most favorite things about this time of year is being able to be outdoors and using my garden to liven up my home. i recently planted some pomegranate trees for home decor. i love their look laying casually on a silver platter or arranged for the mantle or table top.

another favorite for both scent and look is eucalyptus. i bring bunches inside often to add to an arrangement or lay down the table as a centerpiece. it is simply lovely with roses as well! soon I will tackle some for a whimsical wreath as the holidays approach.

the possibilities are endless here with winter citrus, fresh herbs, and fall foliage. we'll be sharing some wreath making soon, so look forward to some good decorating tips, and get outside and enjoy this great weather!!

holiday thoughts

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with the upcoming holidays we have a few things on our mind.

travel + visitors.

we love to give the home a fresh look for the holidays and sometimes that includes

a clean new look for the guest room that will welcome family from afar. let us help you with

some new winter bedding, elegant dishware, or perhaps the perfect hostess gift

you'll be needing at the next get together!

we know many of you find yourself traveling and hopefully vacationing soon as well.

don't forget to check out our gorgeous apparel for a snazzy new look to go with your travels!

one of our best gals in the shop recently went to Hawaii and is sharing her travel experience

with us below. do enjoy and come see us soon!

on her recent visit to Kau'i Kim had a amazing visit and some breathtaking adventures.

here are her bits of advice.

Hawaii essentials:

-bedroom fans

-lavande mosquito spray (sold at the willows)

-sunscreen

-benadryl anti-itch cream

-a fancy cocktail in hand

She highly recommends snorkeling on Tunnels Beach, hiking for some unreal views and rainbow

sightings, staying close to the beach, and riding in a helicopter for even more stunning views of the

landscape.

Thanks for sharing Kim!!

Do share any exciting upcoming holiday travels with us. We'd love to hear about it!

dishes to inspire

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with the season of entertaining upon us we cant help but gush a bit about some of our favorite serving pieces. gorgeous white ceramics in perfectly imperfect shapes are at the top of our list.

we personally love the montes doggett line {see above images} for the whimsical

shapes and the story they hold. the artist, monica porter, bases her art on her

passion for making a table lovely...set with grace and style just as her mother did.

the italian vietri line {see below image} is another of our faves to fill with all of your

holiday dishes. if you are in need of something new to set that wow factor

come in and let us help you set your table!!

pre-order some holiday dishes and you will be entered to win a gift!

fall to do's

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so we've been reading about these fall bucket lists. fun idea, no pressure, but kind of nice to lay out the busy season ahead and plan a bit. you know we love a good list.

here is our little list to start:

-prayers for actual cool weather so it can feel like fall

-a visit to an apple orchard

-make applesauce, apple butter, or can something

-buy a pumpkin candle from the willows; get that fall scent going at home

-make chili and cornbread and enjoy dinner on the porch

-plant! sow wildflowers, winter grass and get a veg garden going

-decorate your home....of course!!

this list from country living had some good fun ideas.
what is on your fall to do list?
any great family traditions you might share with us?

chefy emily

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so my littlest set off to culinary school for pastry in northern california this past month. we are so proud of her and can not wait to visit and taste some of the lovely treats she has been making! my mouth waters every time she sends us photos. keep up the hard work emily!! love you and miss you here in phoenix!

outdoor markets

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tis the season for venturing outdoors to do some of your weekly grocery shopping. the somewhat new uptown market has some gorgeous produce, bread and many other goodies to fill your basket. they are not only open saturday mornings but offer a nice wednesday morning option to break up your week. they even have a great selection of coffee vendors to sip on while perusing your produce.

we gave noble's country bread a try for a fabulous chicken salad, used sweet baby pears for snacks, and turned the gorgeous basil in a pesto for pasta. looking forward to going back for some squash and pumpkins!

local eats + drinks

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looking for a fabulous craft cocktail at a hip local esablishment?

if you have never been or only have been for coffee, definitely give lux on central a try

for a a fun date night pre dinner drink. they are all one of a kind

and might i say amazing!

they also have a fabulous dinner menu with daily changes to suit your fancy.

hope your week is off to a great start!

Care Card Time!

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The Care Card dates are October 16th-25th! Are you all familiar with this unique fundraiser?

Purchase a Care Card for $60, and save 20% on purchases made October 16-25 at participating businesses. Net proceeds from the 2015 Care Card events will benefit Phoenix Children’s Hospital.
The program raised more than $261,000 for Phoenix Children's Hospital in 2014!

Cards may be purchased online, from a BOV member, or at participating retailers (that includes us, you know). These cards may be used at 600 participating retailers. Participants are listed in the Care Card booklet (which you receive upon purchase of the Care Card) and online. Save 20% on your purchases at The Willows!

We are already scouting the digs at our favorite local boutiques. Take a look at our wish list below!

Relics Architectural Home & Garden
We love our friends at Relics. This shop is more like a gallery, boasting a curated collection of antique and vintage European architectural home and garden items. We are eyeing these opulent twin mirrors. Catch them if you can...

Nove

This clothing and lifestyle shop in Scottsdale is edgy and beautiful. Think Andy Warhol meets Marie Antoinette... Or, really, any Sofia Coppola film. They have an incredible candle selection from Capri Blue and Voluspa (pictured below).

Poor Little Rich Girl

If you haven't been, you need to go. Forget My Sister's Closet. We are PLRG converts through and through! The Arcadia location is great for work-to-weekend looks, and we love the 16th Street & Bethany Home Road location for geometric and bohemian jewelry. Follow them on Instagram for adorable, real-time updates on items they are taking in (like these cuties below).

wedding wishes

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We recently had the pleasure of hosting a lovely wedding shower for Susan's daughter and bride to be.

A beach house setting, wrapped sandwiches, chilled gazpacho, champagne and lots of laughs.

Now we are sending our Susan off to Spain for the wedding!

In the meantime all design questions will have to be on hold while she is away.

Enjoy some sangria for us!!

We wish Adam and Brie (the couple to be) many happy years and blessings on their marriage!!

new apparel

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our CP shades velvet has arrived...just in time for this chilly weather.

come check it out! so much goodness!

feeling inspired by

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this lovely italian look; take me to milan!

{found via the sartorialist}

dressing in whites...even tennies

{found via charlottpetterson}

playing like you mean it

{found via that playhouse}

this dairy free "healthy" ice cream treat

{found via dolly and oatmeal}

lemon coconut cookies

2015-10-02T10:48:00.004-07:00

so i know, a day late, but apparently yesterday was national homemade cookie day. every day its something right? well i fell in love with these shortbread like soft cookies topped with buttery lemony frosting and had to share. find the recipe on a bountiful kitchen. she has a fabulous collection of other yummy recipes if these are not you're thing.

and to top it off, please come by today and mention this post to get 20% off any pair of jeans. that's right! we want to celebrate the double digits heading our way! have a beautiful weekend folks!