Fairwell 2010

Dear 2010,

It would be easy to look back at you and call you ugly names and say not-so-nice things about you. No matter how bad it seems you were, deep down inside I realize you were necessary. Had I not experienced your valleys I would have gone on living my graceless life.

You taught me to swallow pride and accept help from others. You helped me realize (much to my surprise) that Type A is NOT the way. Taking time to care for myself is not a selfish act. It's OK to have a good sobbing cry - it's actually HEALING to do so. NO is not a four letter word. And perfectionism is the enemy of living.

The most important and possibly hardest lesson to learn was this: The only choices that I have 100% control over are my own. That is powerful. This one took a while to sink in but you kept giving me chances to learn this truth. I'm so glad you did as it has been so liberating! This rings true in every aspect of my life and especially so in my parent/child relationship. Even God gives his children the freedom to choose. What a revelation!

So, 2010, you will not be logged as a favorite year for obvious reasons. However I do believe I will be able to look back on you in a few years and see how you launched me into the best decade ever. I now enter 2011 with inner confidence as a daughter, sister, friend, wife, mother and child of God. For that I thank you. Farewell 2010.

Sincerely,

Southern Fried Gal

These Willow House Items Retire Today!!

Today is the last day to order the following items that will be retiring from our Willow House line. You can place an order and have it shipped directly to you by going to my website at the link below. Please click "Find Your Host" at the end of your order and put in my name. REMEMBER: Any order over $39.96 qualifies you for most any item under $40 in our catalog at 50% off.

Here's the link:
http://bit.ly/SFGOnlineStore

Here's the Retiring list.

# Item Description
41061 Cathedral Luminary
57111 A La Carte: Ciabatta Bread Mix
57104 A La Carte: Strawberry Daiquiri Beverage
41282 Estate Organizers Basket
41281 Estate Organizers Tiered Rack
40798 Estate Towel Bar
41228 Estate Towel Bar Small
40797 Estate Wall Organizer
41000 Estate Wall Shelf
41232 Flora Embossed Sconce
53093 Florentine Napkin Holder
53088 Florentine Paper Towel Caddy
41117 GP Bountiful Cross
41209 Innsbrook Ornaments
41212 Innsbrook Tree Topper
52061 Italian Stitch Cup Set
52077 Italian Stitch Dinner Plates
52087 Italian Stitch Dinnerware Set
52088 Italian Stitch Platter Set
52075 Italian Stitch Ramekins
52042 Italian Stitch Rectangular Platter
52078 Italian Stitch Salad Plates
52081 Italian Stitch Square Bowls
52041 Italian Stitch Square Platter
52035 Mario Batali Peeler
52036 Mario Batali Pizza Wheel
53005 Napa Cookbook Holder
41052 Ornate Iron Bowl Stand
41234 Santorini Candlestands
41235 Santorini Planter
41249 Soda Glass Containers

~Southern Fried Gal

aka Carmella Fryar
Director, Willow House

Willow House Wednesday: Spring 2011 Color Trends

I can't believe we are only a couple of days away from 2011. That means Willow House with Southern Fried Gal has officially been in business five months! I am still just as excited today about the future of my business as I was when we launched in August. I especially love our new focus on simply good design.

Here are a few of the color trends we are naming for Spring/Summer 2011...

Embrace the casual style of a seaside palette.

Ground bright colors with neutral tones.

Punch up your earth tones with liberal doses of saturated color.

Of course all these color palettes speak to me in one way or another. There's no denying my eclectic style! After the bright red and lime green of Christmas I'm settling into calm greens and cool blues which fits squarely into the Chic Organic trend.

Which color palette speaks of the style you are craving for spring 2011? How will you blend these colors into your current home decor?

Our Willow House Spring 2011 catalog follows these three trends. In addition to our gorgeous products, it is filled with ideas and inspiration to implement these trends into your home. Simply said, it's gorgeous!

I usually enjoy the fall catalog much more than spring but I must say I can't put this one down! This will go live on my personal website in a few days. Even better, fill out this Contact Me form to request your very own copy from me today! I will also include our Spring/Summer 2011 Inspiration Guide and a gift in the packet.

~Southern Fried Gal

Christmas 2010 Recap

I try to recreate the magic I felt as a kid each Christmas for BBC. We start on Christmas Eve by putting out cookies and milk for Santa. BBC likes to put out reindeer food, too. I love his consideration.

On Christmas Eve our tree usually only has a gift or two under it. These two just happen to be for me from my boys.

We make sure we go to bed early because Santa doesn't visit if we are awake. Sometime during the night he makes his rounds.

BBC has a stocking on his door that gets a small gift. He can open that when he first wakes up (to give us a little more snooze time). We usually head down the stairs around 8ish. Santa always leaves a note for BBC to encourage his good behavior and thank him for the goods.

Stocking loot is opened first. This year Santa brought each of us a movie we had not seen. BBC got How to Train your Dragon (very cute movie), I got Eclipse and DH got Avatar. Stockings usually include candy and a few other small gifts. Santa always brings me earrings in my stocking.

We ask Santa to make Christmas fairly modest each year. BBC only asked for two big things this year when he visited Santa. It makes me happy that his list isn't a mile long.

For the second year in a row BBC asked for a Santa suit. Look at that pure joy on his face as he realizes what this gift is.

The second gift he requested was an electric train. Notice how we had to stop and get geared up before we could move on to opening other gifts. The rest of the small gifts were accessories for the Santa suit.

DH and I got him a Legos game for the XBOX 360. We bribe, er, I mean encourage good behavior and grades with video game time. DH and I made out nicely as well. I got earrings, boots, and a gift certificate to my favorite local boutique. DH, of course, got gaming accessories.

I must say this was the most fun I've had on Christmas morning since BBC was born. I think we all felt the magic this year. I hope you did, too!

How was your Christmas? Do you open gifts on Christmas Eve, Christmas, or some other day?

~Southern Fried Gal

Southern Fried Wednesdays: Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from Southern Fried Gal! Thank you to everyone who has supported my business this past year whether it be as a hostess, a customer, and/or friend! Here's a little Christmas cheer from my home to yours!

Bradford Lattice Lanterns filled with Christmas lights.

Glass bowl filled with Brilliant Glass Ornaments and a wonky red bow.

Roxy Reindeer Accent Towels as a window mistreatment.

Handy dandy clips and a tension rod conceal the secret.

Jolly Holiday Stocking stuffed with tissue paper on the powder room door.

Which made me think it would make a cute accent pillow, too!

Galveston Memo Board and Holder...

along with glass domes, Cinnabar Accent Plate, and Cinnabar Footed Pedestal.
{Woo Pig Sooie!}

Easy Christmas Cookie Fun

If you are like us, someone in your household has been sick within the past week or so. Taking care of ourselves and family takes away from time and energy to do some of the fun stuff like making cookies for Santa.

Here are three easy Christmas cookie recipes that use store-bought dough (and child labor).

We got the idea for these cute snowman cookies from All You magazine a couple of years back. Knead 2/3 cups of all-purpose flour into a 16ish oz roll of refrigerated sugar cookie dough. The recipe said to make three small balls (3/4 inch, 1 inch, and 1 1/4 inch), place close to each other on parchment lined cookie sheet and flatten slightly. Bake 12 minutes in preheated 350 degree oven.

Can I be honest? Three tiers were a pain. So we graduated down to just two tier snowmen. That was a lot easier and I think it made the cookies even cuter. Let the kiddos get creative with icing, candies, sprinkles or whatever! I love the hugs and peppermint kisses for hats.

Here's another fun idea from my friend, Amy. I'm sure Rudolph will love to get a cookie made in his honor on Christmas eve!

These are super simple, too. Cut refrigerated peanut butter dough and pinch circle in middle to form an eight. Add M&M eyes and nose then finish with pretzel antlers. Bake according to package instructions.

Finally for the more sophisticated Santa, my friend Sunshine @ Make Life Delicious shares these yummy Christmas Candy Bar Cookies. Easy, pretty, and a yummy little surprise in each one.

My mom used to slave away in the kitchen and bake tons of cookies from scratch each Christmas. (No weight jokes here, please...;) I admire her energy but I think I'll stick with these simple and fun ideas!

How about you? Do you have any Christmas cookie cheat ideas? Or should I admire your energy, too?

~Southern Fried Gal

Sharing this post at Jen's Tasty Tuesday...

Christmas Dining Room

I wrapped up the dining room table decor this weekend. I was going to do something with the green balls and glass cylinders similar to what I did for 'Tis the Season. I never could quite get the inspiration to finish it off.

One day last week as I pulling into the garage I saw these glass cones that were given to me over 10 years ago. They have a hole in the back where you can hang on the wall. They have been in my craft closet all these years. I have never found a use for them and had pulled them out to send to the consignment store. They reminded me of glass trees...hmmm.

The top of the glass cones are not flush so I needed a way to stabilize them. I found these styrofoam cubes and dark green reindeer moss at the Dollar Tree.

I wrapped the cubes with the reindeer moss using florist wire. If I had spray adhesive it would have made it easier but I went with what I had. Then I pushed the glass cone into the cube far enough to stabilize it.

Hubby walked in while I was doing this. I told him this reminded me of a ghillie suit because really that is the purpose of the moss - to blend in and conceal. He reminded me that ghillie suits don't have weird glass cones coming out the tops of them. Oh that man!

I added in a few light covers that I had gotten on clearance at the garden store...

I needed a centerpiece with height and drama to match the glass trees. I made a tower of cake plates and topped with a crystal cross (DH picked it out on our wedding registry, so sweet). It needed a bit more drama so I added the oversized cloche over the top. Simple and works for me.

And then tied all together with a greenery garland wrapped with lights (both on hand) to complete my pretty centerscape for the holidays. I especially like the way the lights reflect off the table.

I added a couple of glass cylinders from a previous Dollar Tree purchase, white candles, and green ribbon to finish off the look. I'm thrilled that the cones look like little glass trees!

And this is how it looks with the lights on - still very pretty and elegant. Now if we were just having a dinner party I would be all set.

Are your Christmas decorations pretty much complete? Or do you keep going up until the holiday like me? Let's not even talk about having the shopping finished!

~Southern Fried Gal

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The Girl Creative: Just Something I Whipped Up

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.
We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son,
Who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14 NIV

More Handmade Ideas for Kids

Today was BBC's last day of school for the year. Their Christmas party was today as well. Each year my mom makes something for BBC to share with the children in his class. This year she made this adorable Santa Kiss ornament.

Here's BBC showing you why we call it a Santa Kiss. Each one has a sweet surprise inside!

Last year she crocheted little stockings to hold candy canes. The year before she made little felt mice and the candy cane became the tail. She's pretty crafty. It was fun growing up with a crafty mom and I think BBC is enjoying our crafty fun, too!

Here's a project from a few years back. It is similar to the hand-painted Santa cards/art project. His hand was traced onto a foam sheet and cut out. Then the front was decorated with paint, googly eyes, glitter, poly fill, and a pom pom to look like Santa. We also made a reindeer similar to the paintings.

We also got crafty a couple of years ago with a pack of white pom pom balls, googly eyes, felt, and pipe cleaners. I just took these pictures today hanging on BBC's tree so they have held up quite well over time. The pirate snowman was at BBC's request. As a boy mom you have to be able to improvise!

We craft most of our items from raw materials. There are also kits you can get at Michael's and Hobby Lobby like this snowman ornament BBC made at school this week. He was so excited to give it to me yesterday. He's just precious inside and out!

I'm planning to roll up my sleeves and get busy crafting and baking with BBC next week. It's going to be a blast! I love creating memories with that little boy!

How is your week before Christmas shaping up? Do you have a favorite kid's craft idea to share?

~Southern Fried Gal

Handmade with Love

Earlier this week I had to go to the hospital to have an x-ray on my knee. The gift shop was on the way out so I hobbled in for a look. I was so glad I did because there were a lot of cute and unique items in the store. One grouping of ornaments inspired me to want to give to a friend. I liked the idea of the ornaments but couldn't find one that was perfect for her. So I just decided to go home and make my own!

I ran (ha - I wish) to Hobby Lobby and picked up a paper mache star ornament, a few coordinating scrapbook pages, a bag of beads, and a charm. Everything was on sale for half-off except the star ornament.

I had on hand a bottle of Mod Podge, super fine iridescent glitter, and silver string. I bought the Mod Podge and glitter for the cute ghost projects that were going around the blogosphere but I never got a chance to do the project. Can I get a witness?
I carefully cut and covered the star form with the papers. To personalize the ornament I printed off "Believe in the Magic" from her blog and added to the star. Once it was good and dry, I did two coats of Mod Podge to seal it all up. On the last coat I sprinkled on the glitter just to add a little extra magic.

I slid a bead down over a loop of ribbon and stuffed the ends into the top of the star. I added a bead of glue to secure the ribbon. Then I strung the charm on the silver string, wrapped and glued to finish off the top.
I think it turned out darling especially for a spur of the moment inspiration. I spent less than the actual ornament that inspired me, I have materials to make more, and I like this one even more! It was a joy to craft and even more joyful to see her reaction to it! Here's a picture of it on her tree from her sweet blog post.

Here are a few more handmade ornament ideas - especially fun for the kiddos!

Have you handmade and given anything with love this month? Tell me all about it!

~Southern Fried Gal

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Cheri's Ornament Party