Today we remember those who have given the ultimate sacrifice to preserve our freedom...
Let's Party: Practice Hospitality June 2010
Garden Party: Thursday, June 3rd
Party Gathering: Updated Weekly
Memorial Day weekend officially kicks off the Summer entertaining season! Here are two yummy punch recipes to help you with your festivities!
With a $250 party and pick up the piece for $39.96, double your party to $500 and pick up the piece for $19.96, or get it free with a $750 party!!! Ask me for more details!
Meet BBC, Greek God of Silliness...
aka "A Dark Knight"
He is obsessed with Santa Claus. This particular photo was snapped in MARCH. I asked him to separate the laundry with towels in one basket. The next thing I know he's asking DH if he will be his reindeer... Very. Funny. Moment.
Well hello, Buckaroo!
Whooaaa, Nellie!
There is sadness at the Southern Fried mansion...the birds are not doing well. We have lost three so far. Two are still holding on. Two eggs are still unhatched. It's nature, I know, but still sad to watch. I now remember why I usually shoo them away in the spring...
On a happier note, K and I went to the opening of the new Piano Bar in Fort Smith on Friday. I loved the eclectic mix of folks there - young, old, couples, friends, cowboys, city-folk - a fun time for all. We sang at the top of our lungs! The fun really kicked in when they opened the garage doors to the outside. I loved to watch the reaction of folks walking past. We have another girl's night out planned this Thursday - any other SATC fans out there???
My granny recently had to move in with my mom. So on Saturday I picked her up and we went to her home. I was gathering mossy rocks for my new flower bed in the back yard. I realized this weekend how frail (body and mind) she is getting. 
I cannot express to you how wonderfully blissful it is to wake up today knowing that LOST is a wrap! I had a love/hate relationship with that show. DH wanted me to watch with him after he got hooked early in the first season. It has been our weekly TV date since. 
And to wrap up my Monday Hodge Podge, I can't believe BBC will be a kindergarten graduate in just two weeks.
I am excited to share a sneak peek at a few of our NEW Products that will be debuting in the Willow House Catalog this August. I LOVE every single one of these new pieces! Remember you can click the picture to enlarge the view. Enjoy!
A: Annabelle Iron Votives - You know I am a sucker for votives. I like to tuck and nestle them here and there to add interest and ambiance. I can just imagine the gorgeous tablescapes these can enhance!
C: Hyacinth Covered Casserole: Square - Imagine hosting friends for a brunch and serving hash brown casserole in this lidded beauty or what about bringing the wow factor to your next potluck?
I'm giddy with excitement because today I am sharing one of my favorite summer recipes, Lime & Chili Chicken Quesadillas, made simple with the New Tyson Grilled Chicken Breast Strips!
I added about half the bag of chicken to a non-stick skillet and sprinkled with about 1 teaspoon ground cumin and 1 teaspoons chili powder. I allowed that to brown on one side, flipped and seasoned the other side with equal amounts of seasoning.
Once the chicken was warmed and browned on both sides, I squeezed the juice of three limes onto the chicken and allowed it to cook a minute or two longer. To assemble the quesadillas, I lightly buttered a skillet, filled a flour tortilla with the chicken and cheddar cheese and folded to brown on each side.
Since the process was so fast, I had a little extra time to channel my inner chef. I painted the plates with a jalapeno and and a chipotle sauce (like my favorite restaurant).
I served with black beans and rice garnished with fresh yellow bell pepper and sour cream squiggles. (I'm really getting into the chef role at this point!)
Pure yumminess and a fraction of the time it usually takes to conjure up this meal. 
My boys (DH and my toughest critic, BBC) both gave it two thumbs up!
Here's the picture of the chicken I used. I found my bag at Target in the frozen goods section. It was priced around $7.50 plus tax and I was able to get two meals out of the bag for my family of three. That is a pretty reasonable cost considering the time savings.
As of Sunday two babies had hatched. I caught this sweet picture.
Today it looks like there are at least four if not five hatched babies. 
Here are some baby Mockingbirds in a bush near the garage. I love Mockingbirds - they have an ornery personality and their serenades are cheerful in the evening. I wasn't quick enough to catch any other pictures of these babies - they became full-fledged quickly!
an extra dog in her house!!! Look at how huge it is compared to her tiny Schnauzers! Her back yard is fenced. The gate was locked.
The only explanation was that the dog dug under the fence and came in the tiny doggie door. I think she was lucky that she fit through the door without getting stuck.
Today's Southern Fried Sundays edition is running down to the wire. I have been in a funk today - ever get like that? I haven't been able to shake it. I didn't go to church today so maybe I'm feeling a little spiritually bankrupt? BBC will be out of school in a few weeks and I guess I have a little anxiety about being ready for that - is that normal?
This week I want to highlight Sumo's Sweet Stuff blog. She is crafty, creative, & kind. She hosts a couple of fun parties each week. This week on Mouth-Watering Wednesday she featured S'Mores Cupcakes - they look divine don't you agree? I can't wait to try these with BBC! Please pay her a visit and let her know the Southern Fried Gal sent you her way.
Remember my friends on the porch? In the last update there were only four eggs. Now there are seven! It will be interesting to see how many hatch and survive. That is a tiny nest! I guess the economy is even hitting the birds this year. This momma bird likes to spice up her nest - notice the fuzz and Hershey Kisses ribbon? Nice touches!
And finally - I remembered to get that random number for the $50 Southern Living at HOME gift certificate. The number is 27 and the winner is Debbie from Love the Decor. Congratulations! Please contact me to claim your prize!
The obvious use for this bucket is filled with ice and beverages. I love how our stylists used the Ashford Bedside Sets (page 29) filled with various drinks in this presentation. I also like that two liter drinks can snuggle nicely into this bucket.
A good friend and fellow consultant, Bridget Price, shared the idea to use the stand and coaster as a serving tray. You could still fill the bucket with ice and drinks and then display other drinks or glasses on the stand. This way you are getting twice the bang for your buck!
I am finally disassembling my spring centerpiece hoping for new inspiration to come my way. While doing so I threw a few of the items onto this tray and you can see how easily a centerpiece can come together. Fabulous!
I love how the bucket looks in the guest bath filled with towels. Very welcoming!
You are probably going to notice a theme with these parks - they are mostly natural and that's the way I like it! I have wonderful memories of being outside as a kid and just experiencing natural fun such as climbing on rocks, exploring the water, daydreaming in the trees, and so on. The parks in Arkansas are amazing!
I love that Riverfront Park has trails and rocks to maneuver over, under, and through...
To the north of the park is the River. Sometimes we go sit on the bank and watch a barge mosey down the river. If we are lucky we will spot an official patrol in progress.
To the south of the park is the city. I love the juxtaposition of the city against nature - breathtaking!
There are a few things you would find in a normal park such as this long slide. Wheee!
Best part of all, no germ infested plastic stairs or play areas - ick! Oh and BBC gets to burn plenty of energy while here! He's always guaranteed a good night's rest afterwards!
May your...mother be glad;
Friends - there is nothing like them! I can never have enough! That's why I like to share who I'm meeting in the blogosphere.
Make guests feel special in a BIG way! I love how Sue Fess turned a Galveston Hurricane (page 37) into a BIG centerpiece for this game table. She is the expert at gathering twigs and flowers from her garden and throwing together an inexpensive and GORGEOUS centerpiece. It always makes me feel special knowing that she lovingly clipped her own flowers to display for me (and her other guests) to enjoy.
If you are having overnight guests, how wonderful would this be in the guest bathroom. Make your guests feel like they have escaped to a spa by rolling up towels and placing them in our Farmhouse Tiered Basket (page 72). Add bottled water, hotel size shampoos, soaps, loofahs, etc. to enhance the spa experience!
Live near a beach, lake, or pool? How cute are these beach towels rolled up in our Entertaining Bucket and Tray (page 10) for guests?
Treat guests to a coffee house experience each morning with our Covington Serving Tray (page 25), Cinnabar Canisters (page 65), and Italian Stitch Coffee Cups (page 8)! I love that you can feature items under the glass in the tray. If you were having a girlfriend over for a chat, you could put pictures of y'all under the glass to prompt conversation around great memories!
