Dollar Tree Designs

Every now and again I will wander into the local Dollar Tree on a mission. This time I was on the hunt for a little girl's umbrella. The bad news is I didn't score what I was looking for, but I did score some fun items for my southern fried design aesthetic...

Like these mossy rocks. I usually pick these up at a local garden boutique so imagine my delight when I found a bag of 5 for a dollar! Needless to say, I bought all they had.

These are cute and handy little objects. Throw them in a wire basket for a simple pop of color. They make perfect filler for hurricanes. Or just pop them here and there where you need a touch of nature and green. LOVE these!

I picked up a couple of bags of polished river rocks. Another great filler item to have on hand.

One of my favorite looks this spring has been simply adding a few river rocks in my charcoal platter with a white candle. There's just something about this super simple combo that soothes me.

You know I'm picky when it comes to faux flowers, but I have a project in mind and I think these little babies will do the trick. I will keep you posted (literally, hahaha) on how the project turns out.

Just for fun I decided to take these items and put them together in a quick look to hopefully inspire. I grabbed a glass trifle, dropped a few river rocks and mossy rocks in the bottom, added a sweet little nest, and tucked in a few of the flowers. Simple and sweet!

I still can't believe I found the mossy rocks - my favorite find ever from Dollar Tree. If you like them as well, I suggest you run to your local Dollar Tree store (before I get there) and scoop them up. I was also lucky enough to find several bags of reindeer moss a few months ago. I have several projects up my sleeves using these items that I will be sharing over the next week or so.

What's your favorite score from Dollar Tree?

~Southern Fried Gal

Willow House Wednesday: Mother's Day Ideas

Can you believe Mother's Day is just two weekends away? Don't let it sneak up on you! This tablescape from convention 2010 has lots of pretty ideas for Mom's special day.

This is the last week to take advantage of our Spring Into Savings Sale. Several of the products on sale are featured in this tablescape, like this Ruffled Glass Pitcher for just $23.96.

Treat Mom to a gorgeous cake with a surprise bonus - our Adair Upside-Down Cake Stand. This piece is a classic and can be flipped over for use as a dip and tray set. The coordinating Celebration Cake Dome is also on sale.

Our set of two Camille Vases filled with gorgeous fresh flowers make a perfect embellishment for the table if you are hosting a group of moms (or a group of friends or whomever) for brunch. For a sweet touch, give one as a parting gift to each guest.

Be sure to check out all the other items on the sale through Saturday. Don't forget to pick out your half price item (under $40) when you spend $39.96 or more. Items usually ship quickly if you are purchasing for gifts. You may also want to drop hints to your loved ones on what and how to order from my Willow House Online Store if you see the perfect gift for YOU!

~Southern Fried Gal

p.s. Want more ideas, recipes, and tips? Subscribe to my newsletter and like my Facebook page!

Time Out Tuesdays

Wanted: Guest Bloggers! Each Tuesday I take time out from my blog and share this space with others. Do you have something you would love to share? Home decor projects, DIY ideas, door decor, recipes, kids projects, entertaining tips and the like are what I'm looking for.

I have a couple of open slots in May and would love to include you! It is super simple to guest post. To help get as much exposure for you as I can, I will also tweet about your post and give a shoutout on my Facebook page. It's a great way to meet new bloggy friends!

Drop me a line with your post topic (southernfriedgal @ gmail.com) and we'll go from there! The first three to book a date for a guest post will receive a gift from me!

Excited!

~Southern Fried Gal

Easter Celebration

Happy Easter! I hope you had a wonderful weekend celebrating New Life! We had a much-needed, quiet family weekend.

When BBC was two we bought him Resurrection Eggs. I highly recommend these. I love that the included scripture and messages grow with the child. It is absolutely precious to hear BBC tell the Easter story in such great detail. Occasionally he will add a little BBC embellishment. This year he announced that he wants to try wine and it's OK because Jesus did. Oh that child.

We don't make a huge deal out of the bunny. He usually brings a couple of small gifts and lots of candy. BBC has had the same bunny basket (and grass) since he was born. I love carrying on a tradition and it makes it so much easier for the bunny.

I felt a little bad when I saw Amanda's baskets for her girls. They were mostly filled with gifts and a little candy. Quite the opposite of BBC's basket. I guess the bunny knows this family has a sweet tooth - ha!

Finally, we hunted eggs in the back yard. As you can see in this picture, BBC is not a very good hunter. He comes by that honestly from DH. Let's just say if anything needs to be found in this home, I'm on the case.

That's how our Easter shaped up. How about yours?

~Southern Fried Gal

Good Friday Hodge Podge

Happy Good Friday! Happy Earth Day! Isn't it crazy that these two celebrations fall on the same day this year? As a Christian and tree hugger I totally love it. Both celebrate life - today and forever, on earth and in heaven. Isn't that cool?

I hope the weather hold up so BBC and I can go grab our free tree from Lowe's tomorrow. I'm excited about planting it together. It's a memory we can watch grow over the years as it grows in our hearts.
Speaking of BBC, he brought home this adorable sock bunny yesterday. He made it in art class from a girl's sock. It is filled with beans and tied at the neck and head. The top of the sock is cut to make floppy ears. Googly eyes, felt teeth, cotton balls, ribbons, and markers were used for finishing touches. I love the personality of BBC's bunny - it represents him well.


I'm looking forward to a low key weekend hanging with my boys. We'll follow our Easter traditions. BBC will share the Easter story using his Resurrection Eggs (so precious). We'll decorate eggs and eat too much candy.


How about you? How are you spending the weekend.

~Southern Fried Gal

p.s. Don't forget to enter my giveaway!!!

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Park Hill Home Inspiration

My favorite local boutique is Park Hill Home owned by designer Todd Smith. This store is filled with fun ideas and lots of eye candy. Here are some of the looks I'm loving this spring...

This photo does not do justice to the live branches that greet you as you walk through the door. The long baskets hanging on either side of the doorway conceal jars of water. I could not believe how long these branches flowered. Gorgeous!

To the right of the store is a dining room vignette. I'm in love with the use of old burlap bags to add interest to the chair backs. Aren't those old bottles and clay jars yummy, too?

These metallic eggs hanging from faux willow branches are simple and elegant. When you are finished oohing and ahhing the tree, check out all the other details in this photo. I could stare for hours.

I also love the simplicity of this mistreatment. Simply gather a length of burlap, poof and hang on each corner of your window. Easy peasy and cute to boot!

There are so many fun ideas in this store. I go in at least once a week and slowly peruse every inch of the store. If I could live anywhere in central Arkansas it would be in Todd's store. If you are ever in the area, give me a shout so we can visit and be inspired together!

Where do you draw inspiration for your home projects?

~Southern Fried Gal

p.s. Don't forget to enter to win a magazine subscription!

Willow House Wednesdays: Magazines & Giveaway

It's no secret I have a thing for magazines and draw tons of inspiration from them. Did you know I also offer some of the best prices around on magazines through my Willow House business? Southern Living was one of my first loves. Some of my best home decor inspiration, entertaining tricks (like this fun spring party), and recipes have come from the pages of this magazine.

Real Simple is another great resource for beautiful organization (like this closet makeover), easy decorating, and simplified entertaining.

If you are looking for a smart magazine purchase, you can't go wrong with All You Magazine. This magazine is full of high value coupons on items you use everyday, ideas for fun crafts (like this ribbon basket), and other ideas for enjoying life for less. It's definitely worth the spend.

I have been toying with the idea of becoming some degree of vegetarian. I love veggies and if I have them on hand I really don't miss the meat. I love that Cooking Light regularly features vegetarian recipes (like this Chipotle Bean Burrito). For just $24 you can have inspiration for healthy cooking delivered to your home once a month for two years.

You can check out these and more in my Willow House Online Store. We have something for everyone (like Sports Illustrated, People, and more).

Now to the GIVEAWAY! Winner will have choice of Southern Living (2 years), All You Magazine (1 year), Cooking Light (2 years), Real Simple (1 year), or Health (2 years). To enter, simply leave a comment letting me know which you would choose and why.

I will leave comments open through Sunday (April 24 at 12 pm CDT) and announce the winner on my Willow House with Southern Fried Gal on Monday, April 25.

For extra entries, leave a separate comment below if you are a follower of Southern Fried Gal (1 extra entry), if you LIKE Willow House with Southern Fried Gal Facebook page (1 extra entry) and if you subscribe to my Willow House e-newsletter (1 extra entry).

Time Out Tuesday: Vote for Heidi

It's Time Out Tuesday where I take time out and share my blog with others. This week's guest blogger is Heidi from Little People Wealth. She has helped me out with my Willow House business in the past so when she contacted me to ask for help getting her dream job how could I resist? I pride myself on helping others dream big. I hope you will take a moment to get to know Heidi and support her dream with your vote.

Hi! I'm Heidi Ramsey and I hope to earn your vote to win the job of my dreams (as a Hopscout editor). This would be a dream job for me. I have been blogging at Little People Wealth for over 3 years now and I love it! I quit my job to be home with my children about eight months ago and although I do make some money with my blog, something a little more steady would be nice.

The Hopscout editor position is a part-time stay at home job (average of 4 hours per week). It would be perfect for me, my husband, and my children. If I earn your vote today you are helping me get the job of my dreams! I can't do this without your support.

Please head on over to my video and click "vote"! If you are feeling generous, please share the link with your friends! You can vote for me here and it takes about 5 seconds! Simply click the "vote" button to the right of the video.

Thank you from he bottom of my heart!

Way to go, Heidi! You are not only dreaming big but also following it up with action. Good luck and we wish you the best!

So how about you? What's your dream job?

~Southern Fried Gal

Easter Yum Centerpiece Ideas

Hello. My name is Carmella. I'm addicted to decorating with peeps. Who can resist these cute little sugar creatures?

It all started in early 2009 when I was inspired by a project in All You Magazine. I put together this centerpiece for a ladies brunch. After all the ooh's and aah's, I was hooked.

Last year I impaled the poor little guys with kabob skewers, tied ribbons to their underside and arranged them in a jar of jelly beans. To keep them soft I covered with a large glass cloche. BBC was wowed. It was a special treat to eat a bunny on a stick (no, not the ones from Pier 1).

This year for a quick centerpiece, I gathered up an odd number of glass containers and filled each with classic Easter candy. To finish off the look, I used tags to spell out y-u-m. Cheap, easy and best of all edible!

Do you decorate with peeps or other candies? What's your favorite?

~Southern Fried Gal

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Willow House Wednesdays: Easter Entertaining

Here are some fun ideas for Easter Entertaining from the Willow House design team. See something you LOVE? Check out more product ideas and how to purhase in my Willow House with Southern Fried Gal Online Store.

Do you have a favorite tip or trick for Easter entertaining?

~Southern Fried Gal

Time Out Tuesday: Frou Frou Britches

It's time for my new Tuesday series where I take Time Out from my blog to share this space with guest bloggers. This week I'm excited to feature another local bloggy friend, Tanya from Frou Frou Britches. Can you believe we met over the blogosphere and have not met in person, yet? We live about 30 minutes away from each other but sometimes that feels like the other side of the world. Shame on me! We are trying to hook up soon and I can't wait to hug her neck. She has the sweetest spirit. I think you'll see that for yourself...take it away Tanya!

Hello Carmella and Carmella’s bloggy friends. I’m Tanya, from FrouFrouBritches (yes, there is an “r” in that last word). I’m so glad that Carmella has invited me over to share a few of my little projects with y’all today. I’m VERY excited to meet y’all. Sit down, have a piece of virtual coffee cake (let’s have whip cream on top too since it’s virtual and we don’t have to worry about the calories) and coffee or sweet tea and let’s talk. Shall we?

Okay, so as I said, my name is Tanya. I’m wife to a wonderful, sweet husband and mother to four sweet little monkeys. I love to craft, cook and sew. So, today I thought I would share a few of my sewing projects.

My latest project was for my front door. I’ve been looking for something different (bye-bye burlap wreath) for spring. I’ve seen such adorable Easter decorations all over blog land. I settled on my version of big hanging carrots for my front door, out of burlap, of course. So, what do you think? I love how they turned out. See the tutorial here.

I do a lot of sewing for my daughter. This is my favorite. Well, at least today it’s my favorite. By the way, pay no attention to the dead plants in the background. I have a black thumb. I kill every plant that comes within 2 feet of me.

I also love to make baby gifts...

and I have a little bit of an obsession for kitchen towels, especially for the holidays. This is one I made for Christmas. I think I see a bunny towel in my very near future!

Thanks so much for having me Carmella!

Thanks for sharing, Tanya. You always have the most adorable ideas! Tanya also has an ETSY store where she sells her creations. I hope she doesn't mind me giving a shout out.

~Southern Fried Gal

p.s. I am looking for guest bloggers (read FREE advertising). I would love to fill up the next two months worth this week. Shoot me your idea(s) of what you would like to share to southernfriedgal @ gmail.com.

Easter Door Decor

It has been a while since I've been inspired with new door decor. I'm embarrassed to report I just took down my Valentine bucket this weekend.

I found my inspiration hanging on a door at a local boutique a few days ago. It was a sprig of blooming twigs tied with a burlap bow and a bird's nest. Simple and sweet. Here's my twist on that inspiration...

I wired together some twigs into the shape of a cross. I bought these twigs several years ago - they have tiny green balls glued to them to mimic buds. There are four bunches of twigs wired together in the center to make the ends more uniform. I used green florist wired to bundle altogether.

I tucked a few deep purple flowers from Hobby Lobby into the wire. Purple just says Easter to me. Then I tucked a few sprigs of greenery on the angle to offset the cross.

Here are my tips for getting the most expensive look with fake flowers: 1) Be picky when choosing fake. Think about what you would see in nature and get as close to that as you can. 2) Simple is usually best. 3) Remove the leaves and add in your own greenery or none at all. I find even at the higher end stores that the leaves are cheap and tacky on flowering bushes and picks.

Next I wired a sweet little nest with eggs to the center. I just ran the wire through the bottom of the nest to secure. For a sweet touch, I tucked in one of my Willow House Must Have Mini Markers with the message "Celebrate New Life."

I must say I'm once again in love with my door decor!

Have you been in a creative rut lately? How do you find your way back to inspiration?

~Southern Fried Gal

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Centsational Girl Easter Party

Friday Hodge Podge

TGIF! What a week. I think I can say this is the week that Mella Got Her Groove Back - or at least a good start! I'm not one to toot my own horn, but it has been a FABULOUS week for my family, a consistent week of blogging, and a productive week of work. Woo Hoo! It all started when I joined the Ultimate Blog Party 2011. I love this party because it forces me to revisit the goals of my blog and tweak for the coming year. It gives me the chance to meet lots of new bloggers, too. Did you join the fun? It's not too late - the party runs through today.

Tuesday was the launch of my new weekly feature, Time Out Tuesday. To help with the whole work-life balance struggle I have decided to take time out each Tuesday and share my blog with others. This week http://isogina.blogspot.com/ wowed us with her Carrot Cake Cheesecake! Do you have something to share on Southern Fried Gal? Send me your idea southernfriedgal @ gmail.com.

Wednesday I shared ideas for spring entertaining using Willow House products. Bonus - all of the products featured are part of our Spring Into Savings Sale this month! If you see something you like visit my Willow House Online Store and scoop it up. Some items will begin selling out as early as this week.

Yesterday I linked up with Beth's Spring Mantel Party where I drew inspiration from the garden. My favorite part of my mantel is the nesting cloche. Be sure to head over to the Stories of A to Z for more spring mantel inspiration! <BR> Well that sums it up for me this week. How has your week been?
Happy weekend!
~Southern Fried Gal

p.s. In addition to wrapping up taxes, working in my flower beds, and responding to visitors and comments, I'll be checking out Weekend Bloggy Reading posts over at Amanda's.