beach garden therapy

some of my favorite gardens of course happen to be at the beach. many a crisp 

cool walk has led me find much of my inspiration for the store and my own home. 

this summer i was fortunate to find myself working on some of my friends

gardens as well as my own. 

i always look forward to this time outside as a therapeutic escape. combining

design and the outdoors to make a home beautiful can be so rewarding.

i love the use of pebbles and succulents for a romantic look that 

suits our arizona summers well!

what are some of your favorite spots for inspiration? 

counting blessings

every summer i find myself yet another year more blessed.

not another year older right, but rather another year to count 

the many blessings i am surrounded with.

i find myself incredibly fortunate to have such a wonderful 

group of grandchildren keeping me on my toes and keeping me 

laughing. 

"God gave us the gift of life, it is up to us to give ourselves 

the gift of living well"

-voltaire

hope your week is off to a great start!

The Spirit of Fall

So, it may still be a bazillion degrees outside and august is not quite over yet, but it never fails that at this time of year i cannot help but feel ready to shake off summer and move on to chillier things (like sweaters, crisp cool air and - most importantly - the comforting smells of fall baking). think: pumpkin, cinnamon, ginger, apple, and (hey, why not?) a bit of chocolate.

summer: you were lovely, but let's be honest, it's time to cool down.

get in the spirit with these:

• get your hands on some quality apple cider and have a go at these!
• here is a fun Sunday treat to try out.
• these pumpkin chocolate chip cookies sound just about perfect
• this ginger apple torte is making my mouth water, and mmmm gingerbread pancakes for the win!
• this looks just lovely and will get you started early on christmas gifts perhaps and when in doubt, chocolate is always a good idea.

while it may still be sweltering outside there is no reason you can not summon fall to come soon. maybe pick yourself up a new pair of killer boots, crank down the ac, and get those fall smells swirling... and if you don't want to bake, you can always simmer some cinnamon sticks and cloves on the stovetop - a good old family trick. cheers!

Drifting Away...

Since fall won't come to the Valley until November, we are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Fall at the shop. Every day we unpack new shipments - all with treasures from our Atlanta buying trip! This got us thinking… It really will be Fall before we know it, so we need to "live up" summer no matter how high the temps! One of our weekend shop girls, Meg, is inspiring us - check out this fun outing she and her (now) fiancé planned at Lake Pleasant. (Congratulations Meg!)

The bow of the boat made the perfect picnic spot!

Meg brought all the supplies for this sweet set-up… We're in love with her eclectic linen collection.

A few good reads.

Paper straws with a summery star print! (Hint: you can scoop these up at several local boutiques!)

This guy can be seen bringing Meg iced coffee on Saturdays. He wasn't sure why they needed to bring sunflowers and mason jars to the boat, but he helped carry everything aboard like a trooper! 

Meg and Johnnie capped off the night watching Friends, by the twinkling of a Linnea's Lights candle. Meg picked Orange Blossom. We are fans of Lavender and Cashmere any time of year. Do you need a new scent?

What fun! Thanks for sharing this sweet date night with us, Meg.

cookies

Welcome to our new bi-weekly post dedicated to all things delicious. What goes better with your lovely designed home than good food to eat, cookbooks to gaze through for inspiration and parties to plan? So, here you will find enticing inspiration for your everyday life or your next bash. Be it sweet, savory or simply beautiful. Today we focus on cookies and one of our new cookbooks, Milk Bar Life, by Christina Tosi. The author, well known for her famed birthday cakes and cereal milk themed sweets has come out with this second book filled with funny family favorites, cookies and some pretty sweet creations like burnt honey mustard dip, mac 'n cheese pancakes and miso butterscotch sundaes. I, of course, was drawn not only to reading the text and hearing the stories behind all the recipes, but the cookie section! I tried out the Ritz cracker cookies, grandmother's oatmeal and classic chocolate chip. Believe me, they do not disappoint. Her innovative use of everyday ingredients, such as milk powder, makes for a fun texture and new adventure. If you're in the market for something fun, give it a whirl. Who doesn't love cookies?

Wishful Thinking....

With all this back to school talk and summer lovin' coming to an end, here are 5 Fall Fashion Trends to tide you over until we are back into the double digits here in Phoenix. I hate to use the word trend. (Trendy always brings to mind fast fashion that’s over before you wear the item twice.) You can, however, take a trend and make it yours... Transforming it into something timeless. With that in mind, the following are the big ideas for Fall 2015. Some might not seem new, but are becoming classics and keep hanging around season after season. Try one or two and see if they will become your new wardrobe staples.

1)      The Flare Jean

These are universally flattering. The flare at the bottom lengthens the leg and gives you instant curves. You can pick the rise you like best: Low, Mid, or High. Wear them distressed, with frayed ends, or in dark indigo for a dressier look. You can tailor the length to wear with flats, heels, or platforms. Every woman should own at least 1 pair….if not many!

2)      The Pencil Skirt

I know the images of Mad Men come to mind when you think of the pencil skirt. They aren’t just for the office anymore. Dress them up with heels, dress them down with simple sneakers or flat sandals. The length is up to you. Tees and tanks, silk blouses and sweaters for Fall. Layer a long cardigan over a tank and knit pencil skirt with boots…and a scarf for the finishing touch. Feminine and classic.

3)      The Belt

This accessory is often under utilized. A belt can create an instant waist! It can be worn low, high, doubled, wrapped and tied, or loosely draped. You can take an old jacket and give it new life with a belt. Wide or thin, with gold or silver buckles - update any look with an amazing belt.

4)      The Ankle Boot

The ankle boot has been revamped for Fall 2015. The short block heel is in. Add this boot to the others in your closet for a complete boot wardrobe. The block heel looks amazing with your pencil skirt and flare jeans. Keep it classic in either black, brown, gray, or if you can find it, a perfect navy. 

5)      Gray and Navy

  This pairing is as elegant and classic as you can get. Nothing looks as crisp and clean as gray and navy together. Think dark indigo denim with a lightweight gray cashmere sweater. A gray and navy plaid scarf. A navy velvet blazer with a heather gray tee - gorgeous.

Come see us in August for some of these great Fall trends. We will be happy to help you add these new classics to your wardrobe!

Chambray, A Seasonless Staple

The beach. Long, lazy days. Ice-cold margaritas. White porch. Endless sunshine. All those things remind me of summer. And, what I wear while enjoying all of the above? Chambray. 

Chambray originated from the town Cambria in France in the 16th century. (Leave it to the French to create something so fabulous.) Similar to denim, it has a filler white fiber interwoven into the fabric making it lighter in color and weight. This makes chambray perfect for lightweight summer clothing items. A little utilitarian and a lot stylish. 

The best thing about Chambray?  It goes with everything. Pair a soft chambray shirt with white jeans for a crisp, clean look. Layer that same shirt over a black knit tank dress to give it a polished yet dressed down feel. Top your chambray shorts with any color you like, and it instantly says Summer! Throw a chambray skirt over your swimsuit at the beach or resort for an easy brunch/pool bar outfit. As the weather starts to cool, don’t put away your chambray - especially in Arizona. Chambray is a great transition fabric, easy to layer and wear with darker colors and under sweaters. Come into the Willows and add this invaluable piece to your wardrobe. You’ll use it in summer and all through the year!