A Few Favorite Things {August}

Can you believe today's the last day of August?  I am still in a bit of a fog from getting my daughter off to school, getting the boys back into their routines, and getting myself back into the teaching groove... and here is September upon us!  I have to confess, I am now ready for some cooler weather, breezy days, and changing colors-- or at least I will be after this Labor Day trip to the beach. :)

Thanks for sticking with me during this nutty month of ups and downs, friends... and now enjoy a few of my favorite things this month!

My boys enjoying their last weekend of summer, plunging into Lake Rabun. :)

source

This room ~ and especially this chandelier.  I could look at this space all day long...

Omelets for dinner... I'll share this next week.  It'll become one of your go-to recipes if you have a family of egg lovers. :)

Have a great day, everyone!

Art for the Mom Cave and a Road Block

I'm sooooo excited about the art for my home office {Mom Cave}!  Here's a hint...

"Emily's Girls" by the fabulously talented Inslee.

And then there's...

My go-to frames from WalMart (inexpensive and sturdy!).

Are you getting the picture?  I framed all of my treasures from Inslee, but held off hanging them.  You see, my beloved purple office/mom cave has got some molding in the upper portions of the walls that's just gonna have to go.  I've been fighting it, because it means repairing the walls after removing the molding AND repainting {which probably needs to be done anyway}.  In other words, this on-going Home Office/Mom Cave makeover has mushroomed.  But I realize that it's better that I really do it RIGHT and make it just like I want it.  Here's what I mean...

Just as a disclaimer, all of this molding was in place when I bought the house. :)  I've managed to work around it but am now tired of doing so... you can see how it limits your options for wall decor!  The area below the chair rail will keep the molding but become all white, so my lovely purple will have greater pop on top.  That's the plan!  Thoughts??  Feel free to share!

On a side note, my blogging schedule has been a little sketchy these past few weeks while I get my People and myself into our new "normal" this year.  Thanks for bearing with me!  I plan to be back on my regular publishing schedule after Labor Day.

In the meantime, head over to Inslee's delightful online shop and check out her prints, notecards, calendars, and more!

Happy Decorating!

And the Winner IS...

Thanks so much to those of you that joined the fun in my $50 Willow House giveaway!!  I'm thrilled to announce the winner is...

AubreyLaine who said: I like the Parisian Ottoman Tray!

I couldn't agree more, Aubrey!!  I've sent you an email with instructions on how to redeem your $50.  Here's what Aubrey liked, in case you missed it in the online catalog:

 

It's a beauty, no?

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.  I'm working on my Mom Cave art that I'll be sharing next week.  What projects do you have in store?

Winner chosen using random.org.

I Can't Resist... This Elkins Loop Chair

Spotted in the July/August issue of Coastal Living...

Well, the space itself is hard to resist, but that 1930's Loop Chair... *sigh*.  This one was procured from Darrell Dean Antiques.  They pop up on 1stdibs occasionally, too, but get your checkbook ready.

Then I spotted these in the same issue...

Variations on a theme, no?  These lovelies are in the Pacific Palisades home of Steve McPherson and Jennifer LaCorte, decorated by the one and only Brooke Giannetti (of Velvet and Linen and fab designs fame, now a published author!).  The armchair is available at Palecek and these awesome barstools at McGuire Furniture. 

Now, THESE are more accessible for the rest of us!

What do you think?  Thumbs up, thumbs down??

All images scanned from Coastal Living magazine.

Don't forget to enter my latest GIVEAWAY HERE!  Winner will be drawn Friday at 5pm, EST.

What's New at Willow House {and a GIVEAWAY!!}

Yikes, gang, it's already the 22nd of August and I haven't even shared what's new at Willow House this fall!  Chalk it up to the whole daughter-going-off-to-college and beginning-of-school-year craziness I suppose.  But better late than never. :)



Love this Wireweave Basket Trio-- perfect for storage and organizing with style!



This Athena Crackle Vase is such a great pop of blue!



Can't you see this Lyric Candelabra on your Fall mantle?



This sweet Snowflake Snapshot Holder makes it super simple to display a favorite photo, menu, or invitation


Love the cool neutrals of our Riverstone Dinnerware Collection.




The new Adelaide Flatware is elegant and durable.



Hello, lover... the majestic Monarch Grand Lantern speaks for itself. :)

So, which is your favorite??

And now to the GIVEAWAY! $50 in Willow House products is up for grabs so here's how to enter:

• Visit my online catalog HERE; come back and leave a comment with what you would choose to spend your $50 on from our Fall catalog. {1 entry}
• Visit my Facebook page (Willow House with Heidi Milton) and comment on the Giveaway Note there as well {1 entry}.

That's it!  Easy stuff!  Just please be sure to leave your email address in your comment so I can contact the winner.

Winner will be chosen at 5pm EST on Friday August 26th using random.org.  Check back to see if you won!

Happy Browsing and Good Luck!

Yumminess {Homemade Mac n Cheese]

I confess:  I've been in a funk since I dropped My Girl off at college last week. *Sigh*  Thank goodness my teaching year gears up again on Monday to help me snap the heck out of this!

For her "last supper" at home, My Girl requested this delish mac and cheese dish that came to me from my friend Harriet. Since you busy wives and moms are readying for back-to-school and football weekends (War Eagle! Go Dawgs!), I thought I'd share it with you. It's truly a crowd pleaser and is a regular request around here.

Harriet's Mac and Cheese

1 lb rotini pasta, cooked and drained

2 eggs, beaten

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

4 cups shredded cheddar (or colby jack-- our fave!) cheese-- 3 c in casserole, 1 c on top

2 1/2 cups milk

3-4 tbs butter

Coat 9x13 baking dish with butter.  Add beaten eggs and milk to cooked and drained pasta.  Mix well.  Add mozzarella cheese and 3 cups of cheddar (or colby jack) to pasta mixture and stir.  Pour into dish, cover, and bake at 350 for 45 minutes.  Uncover, add remaining 1 cup cheese on top, and bake additional 15 minutes until melted.

Enjoy...

You're welcome! :)

Coming soon: my Mom Cave/home office update, new Willow House decor, and a new "I Can't Resist!"

Linking up at Tatertots and Jello's Weekend Wrap Up.

 

Happy Cooking!



Sneak Peek at the Southern Living Idea House

More of this match made in heaven ~ Southern Living and Ballard Designs. :)

Don't you love checking your inbox and finding surprises?  I was so excited to have emails from both Ballard Designs and Southern Living about their partnership in the Horseshoe Bay Idea House.  Southernliving.com is featuring 101 design ideas from this gorgeous home, along with more videos:

http://www.southernliving.com/home-garden/idea-houses/idea-house-kitchen-00417000074824/

So everyone take a peek!  Can't wait to hear your thoughts and favorite ideas and features from the 2011 Southern Living Idea House. :)  Happy looking!



What a Coat of Paint Can Do {Family Room Update}

Hey there, everyone!  Whew, we made it to Friday!  It's been quite a week around here and will wrap up with a high school football scrimmage tonight (yes, Friday night lights around here!).  Tomorrow, we take the boys and friends up to Lake Rabun for a last hurrah on the water before school starts on Monday.  I, for one, can't wait to prop my feet up with a chilled beverage, how 'bout you?

Anyway, on to a fun project update!  Remember this forlorn little guy??

I scored this little wooden desk a loooong time ago for a song and he's done good work for me as a side table in our family room.  I couldn't believe all the stuff I found when I cleaned out the drawers, but that's another post all together!

This is a cool little piece, but had some chips in the wood here and there and the top has a nice long crack in it-- all of which adds character and made me feel fine about painting instead trying to repair/refinish.  I also wanted to get rid of some of the BROWN in my family room.  It was a wood piece on hardwood floors, next to a dark brown suede sofa.  Blah!!  So in my ongoing quest to lighten and brighten the family room I tried some left over paint from the kids bathroom redo two years ago. But I knew right away it was too light-- I wanted lighter, but I also wanted a pop of color. 

One coat of Martha Stewart's Salt Water and I knew I was on to something! No, I didn't prime (bad painter/blogger/diyer).  I usually am diligent about that, but I can also be impatient, and I was on a timetable before we were leaving town, soo... no primer.

I also decided to recycle the hardware.  Turns out it was 2 different sets of knobs!

I didn't care-- nothing a coat of brassy gold spray paint can't disguise!

And here's the new and improved little guy...

Okay, sorry about the lamp cord hanging down... (bad blogger/diyer/photographer) but what do you think? 

I turned it with it's back against the wall instead of against the arm of the sofa and that's opened up the space some, too.  I love the way the room feels so much brighter now!!  I have another painted piece under the window that I will match up to this one so that will help, too.

Ahh, much better. :)

Let me know what you think!  Happy weekend, friends... any projects on your list or will you be chillin' like me?

Linking up at Mrs. Mustard Seed's Furniture Feature Friday
and the Weekend WrapUp at Tatertots and Jello
and at Susan's Metamorphosis Monday {Between Naps on the Porch}
and Beth's Tutes and Tips Tuesday {Home Stories A to Z}!

Shopping on Saturday {Don't Be Jealous}

Well, I did it.  Dropped my little girl off at college yesterday.  I can't even describe all the ups and downs of the day, but she's there, she's settled, and hopefully enjoying her first day of Rush today!  Between that and the 5:30 a.m. shuttle runs to football practice, my brain and body are fried!

But you're in for a treat today, because I went shopping on Saturday and took my camera along on this very exciting outing!  You know how I looooove the Home Decorators Collection catalog?

Don't hate me!  Just opened in Alpharetta, Georgia on North Point Parkway.

They had a fun scavenger hunt for all their customers plus drawings for $500 gift cards.

Get your outdoor groove on.

love my refurbished desk, but this one had me drooling.

Pretty, pretty!

Sorry for the blurriness, I'm sure I was shaking with excitement over this rug!

Put your feet up!

Sweet dreams with these headboards.

Rugs!! Lots to choose from. :)

Helloooo, lover...

If you didn't want a Martha Stewart Craft Table before, you will now.

Dinnerware! Who knew?

Easy room makeovers possible with this selection of pillows.

Bring the outside in... wish my deck was screened so I could load up on these lovelies!

Loved the variety of mirrors.

And lighting! The white lamp is calling my name for my Mom Cave (think I could stencil this lampshade, too!)

Another gorgeous seating option.

Need dining room seating?

Barware?

A beachy chic side table?

New wreath for fall?

Or wall decor?

So exciting to have the actual storefront to visit! I was so impressed with the quality of the merchandise, the expertise of the staff, AND the fact that they have FREE shipping site to store.  Yay for us Georgia girls!!  There's a handful of other storefronts around the country (click HERE for locations) and hopefully they'll open up some more soon.

If you're ever in the area, let me know and I'll meet you for a shopping trip. :)

Coming Friday, my painted desk reveal and a question for you, too!

Happy Shopping and Happy Decorating!