the union

Have you heard about the Biltmore's Union opening this November?  It's one huge retail space being filled with small (200-500 square foot) "boutique" style versions of all your favorite local and independently owned Phoenix faves in shopping and dining.  And guess who will be there?  The Willows!  We are so excited and can't wait for the big grand opening!  It is sure to be full of fun.  Now back to work.  We only have a month left to get this place looking fabulous...

We will let you know about the upcoming events as they come up!

around the garden shop

Fall crept into our garden shop, as well...

the coolest jobs in town.

Looking for a job?  Be sure to hit up the job fair at the Biltmore this Saturday for opportunities to work at the Union (opening this November).  We can't wait for the grand opening!

around the shop

We've been hard at work getting things all ready for Fall over here.

I realize it's been a while since we've given you a little peek inside the shop.

So, here we go...

missing cali

This last week was a crazy one.  I longed to be back at the beach without a care in the world.  

However, that's not reality, so we just keep moving forward.  

These amazing grapes are growing outside my friend Laurie's house.  Only in California could you grow something so amazing and make it look so simple.  These just grow so big and gorgeous right around her front door.  I love it.  What's the best thing you have had luck growing here in Phoenix.  Basil, perhaps?  Do share!

a few things on a saturday

The Willows' Annual Sale... Whew!!  That was fun!  We just wanted to give a big shout out to everyone who came to our sale!  It was a big hit.  For those of you who missed it, our annual end of summer sale offered everything in the store at 20% off and many other items 50% to 75% off for those two days.  Even our new fall arrivals were included.  If you missed this year's summer sale, don't fret!  We still have a few great pieces that are still marked down!  Come in to check them out!  And don't miss out on next year's big sale!

We also wanted to mention a few upcoming events to keep an eye out for...

A Jewelry trunk show

Chestnut Lane pop-up

Grand Opening of The Union at the Biltmore

Also, just a reminder that with fall events peeking around the corner, the Willows and our amazing team of qualified designers offer everything from event planning to floral arrangements to full top to bottom holiday/party decorating!  Give them a call at the store!

Lastly, I wanted to mention that I spent most of my week with my youngest daughter at Phoenix Children's Hospital.  While I wouldn't wish what we went through on anyone in the world, I did want to say how absolutely amazing the doctors, nurses and entire staff there are!  Everyone was so helpful and positive and cheerful!  It makes such a difference when dealing with a sick child to be surrounded by people keeping your spirits up.  They were having a fundraiser on Wednesday and Thursday that is over now, but I am sure they are always trying to raise money for different causes, so I thought I would mention it in case anyone was looking for a great cause to donate to!  Thank you for everything, Phoenix Children's Hospital!

Have a great rest of your weekend and keep an eye out for lots of fun upcoming events!

making plans

This year I finally got my wish after years of talking about it...  A family talent show!  It was so much fun.  People were clever, funny, entertaining and we even saw some real, true talent.  We marked a night on the calendar and told everyone a month or so in advance, so they could get planning.  Each family had to come up with something to do together as a family and then any other little thing people wanted to do could be added in also.  Some of the little girls even spent the days leading up to the talent show planning their own little dances with their cousins.  For a good laugh and a good time, I highly recommend planning a family talent show.  Start now, as it may take a few years to convince your family of this wild idea.  This, along with our family olympics, family pictures and any other activity that gets put on the calendar in advance, seems to help the whole week run so smoothly as everyone knows what to expect.  And, every year we have to include a little girls morning, where we go get toes painted and go out to lunch.  And, then the guys find somewhere in the week to squeeze in a little golf. It's a wonderful time and I miss it already.  Time to start planning for next year!

a real family picture

The other thing I have found that helps make the planning process less stressful is to delegate tasks to other people.  I ask one daughter-in-law to send out the emails to everyone asking them to pick their night for dinner or to update everyone on things like "family talent show - monday night" or "family pictures - tuesday morning."  One less thing I have to do is always good by me!

  And speaking of family pictures and delegating tasks, another daughter-in-law offered to plan our family pictures this year as she has a good friend who is a photographer and would just happen to be in Newport at the same time as us.  I think it has been about ten years since we paid an actual photographer to take our family picture, so everyone decided we were due.  Emily Carroll is actually a Phoenix photographer who spends part of the summer in California.  I highly recommend her, as I adored the photos she took and her presentation of them absolutely made me cry.  Check her out online (right here) and book your family photos today.  And you can see for yourself right here how very talented she is...

Thank you, Emily for capturing our family!