Willow Chic Boutique

WILLOW is packing our trunk show bags again......your town????

Yep, it's WILLOW traveling Holiday Trunk Show time again!!! Maybe not quite packing in that lovely above, but we promise to bring lots and lots of adorable Willow goodies. (Tucker, Parker, French Connection, Frye, Rebecca Taylor, MM Coutoure, ArynK, Hudson Denim, Vince, Koolaburra, lots of great jewels, beautiful scarves for $38 and lot's more gifts for under $50!!!)

So, if you live in Fairhope, Daphne, Spanish Fort, Point Clear, Mobile or anywhere near, you must come see us. We are setting up in one of our fav friends and talented interior decorator's house, Mallory Downey in Daphne Alabama. 

{View the invitation below}

Willow Boutique Holiday Shopping Trunk Show

Come by Mallory's house anytime on Tuesday for champagne and shopping. Enter to win something fabulous and take advantage of Holiday Trunk Show Special Savings (hint hint)!!!!!!!

Email us @ boutique.willow@gmail.com for: directions or requests for us to bring you someting special, etc

Just some random shots of goodies! Bring your friends, sister, daughter or just yourself!!! 

See you then!!! Check our our FB page for more pics... {Willow Boutique FB Page}

xoxoxoxo -celia&cindy

 

 

 

 

TUCKER TRUNK SHOW...yippe, woo hoo

Love prints or hate prints.....EVERYONE loves a good Tucker silk blouse custom-made with designer Gaby Barosa's famously fabuous prints. 

We are thrilled, ecstatic and honored to be hosting yet another annual Thanksgiving            

 Tucker Trunk Show.

Unless you have been living under a rock, you all know and love a good Tucker top, dress or tunic. We are on the edge of our seats each season in antcipation to see Gaby's new amazing prints, sure to fill our closets. They are staples in my wardrobe. In my opinion, you can't have too many Tucker blouses. I think I may have around 15 and love each one of them just as much as when I opened the box and squeeled with glee for my new fav crazy print. They are made of beautiful silks and the most amazing colors...a "forever" top in my closets.

So we all know about a Tucker top or dress,  but what do we know about designer, Gaby Barosa?? Well CIndy and I finally met her at this last NYC market in Sepember. It came as no surprise, she is pretty darn cute and super cool.

Gaby Basora is still shocked that the loose-fitting peasant blouse with bold prints she made for herself and sold to friends five years ago, turned her into an international design sensation. Her unforeseen good fortune began at dinner one night, when a friend introduced her to a Barneys New york buyer and a meeting was arranged.

“I arrived at Barneys with swatches stapled to paper,” says Ms. Basora. “I had no idea what I was doing.”

Barneys did. They spotted a trendsetter, and placed an order for 400 blouses in 30 of her distinctive prints. Six weeks later, the retailer ordered 2,000 more. She filled the order by working with the New York City factory that had done her initial friends-and-family batch.

Her style has been described as "eclectic bohemian".  The designer says she used to enlarge candy wrappers to see how they’d work as a print for a blouse. I wonder where those crazy names for the prints come from???

Gaby has taken her company from making a few tops for friends, to over 55,000 pieces a season and over an estimated $5 million in sales, in just a few short 4 years.  (some info from article by Tina Traster)

Come by Willow in Rosemary, call or email to inquire about one of the prints you love below!!!

We want to give a huge thanks to Gaby. We have had the priveledge of carrying Tucker at Willow since its first season. It has been so fun to introduce the line to hundreds of new customers who are just as loyal as Willow. We can't imagine where this lovely little line will go...but Willow is on board. Lots of love for Tucker!!!!

cozy toes obsession/ mukluks

Been waiting for this special delivery for months! Just in time for the cold front on the way,I just can't wait to get my toes in a new pair of these moccasins!!!!!!

muk·luk   (mklk) n. 1. A soft boot made and worn by Eskimos. 2. A slipper with a soft sole resembling this boot. (Antarctica or the beach, right?)

Come check them out this week while you're Thanksgiving shopping...they won't be around long.

(apparantly I'm not alone..these things are sold out everywhere)

Remember when UGGS where everywhere??? Maybe you wanted some but couldn't find them or thought they would be too trendy and you bought the knock-offs?? Well you quickly found out, there is nothing like the real thing. You may find some copycats of these, but they will just not be the same. 

Come slip your toes in these at Willow.....see you soon!! xx -celia.

Colored Denim

As a girl that likes to wear jeans, I was excited to see color come back into the denim world. With the 80's making a comeback into the fashion world putting color anywhere will work.  Here are a few of what we have at Willow.

the current elliott blue leopard

Marigold Skinny

The Fig Leather Skinny  (we have these in black as well and sooo cute)

royal blue skinny

 

Turkey Day menu block???...here ya go!!!!

 

Only a few days left until that one day of the year when we (maybe) don't count calories and allow ourselves to have a nap in the middle of the day and not keep it a secret!!!  Kav and I traveled south (yep south of our beach), to another beach, Naples, to spend an early Thanksgiving with his family. I love Thanksgiving and have always been a HUGE volunteer in the kitchen.....to clean only!! Never have I been much of a fixture at the ole stove for cooking. So Kav thought I had a fever when I volunteered to cook Thanksgiving ALL BY MYSELF for his family. 

Well if you know me, once I've said I'm going to do something...I'm gonna do it. So I was in deep trouble. I turned to the trusty Southern Living in the airport on the way down and picked out the menu below. Not to give myself a pat on the back, but OH MY GOSH, it was delicious. My favorite was the Creole Dressing and Crannberry Salsa and Kav's fav was the Collard Greens, Squash Casserole and turkey (he said it was a 3-way tie). 

Everyone had a fav, but I "think" they loved it all. We had a tiny bit of dressing left over and that was it. And no one got food posioning today. The Tucker's have decided to keep me around. 

So IF I CAN COOK AN ENTIRE THANKSGIVING DINNER ALL BY MYSELF....ANYONE CAN!!!!!!!! (print out these recipes...promise you won't regret it) 

Good Luck and Happy Eating. xoxox -celia

APPLE-BOURBON TURKEY & GRAVY

• 4 cups apple juice
• 1 cup bourbon
• 1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1 (12- to 15-lb.) whole fresh turkey*
• Cheesecloth
• Kitchen string
• 4 celery ribs
• 4 large carrots
• 3 small apples, quartered or halved
• 1 large onion, sliced
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup chicken broth (optional)

Preparation

• 1. Stir together apple juice and next 2 ingredients, stirring until sugar dissolves.
• 2. Remove giblets and neck from turkey, and rinse turkey with cold water. Drain cavity well; pat dry. Place turkey in a large roasting pan. Dip cheesecloth in apple juice mixture. Wring dry. Cover turkey with cheesecloth; pour apple juice mixture over cheesecloth, coating completely. Cover and chill 12 to 24 hours, basting occasionally with marinade.
• 3. Preheat oven to 325°. Remove turkey from pan, discarding cheesecloth and reserving 3 cups marinade. Sprinkle cavity with desired amount of salt; rub into cavity. Sprinkle desired amount of salt and freshly ground pepper on skin; rub into skin. Tie ends of legs together with string; tuck wingtips under.
• 4. Arrange celery and next 3 ingredients in a single layer in bottom of roasting pan. Place turkey, breast side up, on celery mixture; pour reserved marinade over turkey in pan.
• 5. Bake at 325° for 3 hours and 15 minutes to 4 hours or until a meat thermometer inserted into thickest portion of thigh registers 165°, basting every 30 minutes with pan juices and shielding with aluminum foil after 2 hours and 30 minutes to prevent excessive browning, if necessary. Remove from oven, and let stand 30 minutes.
• 6. Transfer turkey to a serving platter, reserving 2 1/2 cups pan drippings. Pour reserved drippings through a fine wire-mesh strainer into a large measuring cup, discarding solids.
• 7. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat; whisk in flour, and cook, whisking constantly, 1 to 2 minutes or until smooth. Gradually add drippings, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, and simmer, stirring mixture occasionally, 5 minutes or until gravy thickens. Add up to 1/2 cup chicken broth for desired consistency, if desired. Stir in salt and freshly ground pepper to taste. Serve turkey with warm gravy.
• *Frozen whole turkey, thawed, may be substituted. 

CREOLE CORNBREAD DRESSING

Ingredients

• 1 (12-oz.) package andouille sausage, chopped
• 8 green onions, thinly sliced
• 3 large celery ribs, diced
• 1 large sweet onion, diced
• 1 medium-size green bell pepper, diced
• Cornbread Crumbles
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 (8-oz.) package fresh mushrooms, diced
• 1 cup dry sherry
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 2 cups chopped toasted pecans
• 2 tablespoons Creole seasoning
• 2 (14-oz.) cans low-sodium chicken broth
• 2 large eggs

Preparation

• 1. Preheat oven to 350°. Sauté andouille sausage in a large skillet over medium-high heat 3 to 4 minutes or until lightly browned. Add green onions and next 3 ingredients, and sauté 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Transfer mixture to a large bowl; stir in Cornbread Crumbles.
• 2. Melt butter in skillet over medium-high heat; add mushrooms, and sauté 3 minutes. Add sherry, and cook, stirring often, 5 to 6 minutes or until liquid is reduced by half; stir in parsley. Stir mushroom mixture, toasted pecans, and Creole seasoning into cornbread mixture.
• 3. Whisk together chicken broth and eggs; add to cornbread mixture, stirring gently just until moistened. Divide mixture between 1 lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish and 1 lightly greased 8-inch square baking dish.
• 4. Bake dressing at 350° for 40 to 45 minutes or until golden brown.

GREEN BEANS WITH CARAMELIZED SHALLOTS

Ingredients

• 2 pounds haricots verts (tiny green beans), trimmed
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 pound shallots, halved lengthwise and peeled
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

Preparation

• 1. Cook green beans in boiling salted water to cover 3 to 4 minutes or until crisp-tender; drain. Plunge beans into ice water to stop the cooking process; drain.
• 2. Melt butter and brown sugar with olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat; add shallots, and sauté 2 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low, add vinegar, and sauté 10 minutes or until shallots are golden brown and tender.
• 3. Increase heat to medium-high; add green beans, and sauté 5 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.

WILD RICE WITH MUSHROOMS

Ingredients

• 2 (6-oz.) packages long-grain and wild rice mix
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 large sweet onion, diced
• 12 ounces assorted fresh mushrooms, trimmed and sliced
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup Marsala
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Preparation

• 1. Prepare rice mix according to package directions.
• 2. Meanwhile, melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat; add onion, and sauté 7 minutes or until golden. Add mushrooms and salt; sauté 4 to 5 minutes or until mushrooms are tender. Add Marsala, and sauté 3 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Stir mushroom mixture and parsley into prepared rice.

CRANBERRY SALSA

Ingredients

• 1 (12-oz.) package fresh or frozen cranberries
• 1 tablespoon orange zest
• 1 navel orange, peeled and coarsely chopped
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and coarsely chopped
• 3 tablespoons coarsely chopped crystallized ginger
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Preparation

• 1. Pulse cranberries in a food processor until coarsely chopped. Transfer to a bowl.
• 2. Pulse orange zest and next 5 ingredients in food processor 3 to 5 times or until orange, ginger, and pepper are finely chopped. Stir into cranberries; cover and chill 2 to 24 hours.

SQUASH CASSEROLE

COLLARD GREENS

For the squash casserole and collard greens, I used  secret family recipes, so you're on you own here!

And wash it all down with this yummy twist on a regular-ole mimosa:

CLEMENTINE SPARKLER

Ingredients

• 1 1/3 cups cava or other sparkling wine, chilled
• 3/4 cup fresh clementine juice, chilled
• Clementine slices (optional)

Preparation

• 1. Combine cava and juice. Garnish with clementine slices, if desired.

and even Annabelle made a new bestie...

(thanks SL...my first Turkey Day menu...for brand new family..off without a hitch)

 

time to decorate...for Christmas??

In the retail business, we are supposed to bring what's hot to you before you know it? Well as I sit here on this absolutely gorgeous Sunday in Seaside, Florida (in the store), I realize, it's time for us to decorate the stores for Christmas. I guess we put Christmas decorations up really early to remind you to get your Christmas shopping list started!!!   Holy crap that came fast this year.

So, what to do to decorate??? Hmmmmm.... I always love something very natural. Branches (with a little gold spary paint) suit me just fine. Then I started looking at how beautiful Christmas can be.

Well I am inspired! I don't have the time or PATIENCE to do probably anything above, but Kav is taking me to cut down some treasures in the woods this afternoon. Stay tuned...maybe I'll put some pics up! I sure wish the Anthropologie window merchandiser could take a little visit here.

BTW....get started on your Christmas wish list! Here the first thing on mine. Love this coffee table book. hint hint.

 

new store crush/ C. Wonder

Everyone from the North Pole to Tibucktu knows who Tory Burch is, right? But did you know that the co-founder of Tory Burch Ltd is her ex, Chris Burch? Yep! Chris has been in the industry for years..his father owned Eagle Eye Clothing (remember that from way back when) and he is also one of those very successful peope because everything he touches turns to gold.

(Burch pictured with Kelly Rutherford at C.Wonder opening)

Well Mr. Burch has a new venture, and I can't wait to check it out in person!! It's called C. Wonder and it is located in one of the coolest spots in SOHO.

First of all...the logo. Mr. Burch used the same graphic designer who came up with the inconic Tory Burch Logo. 

Don't they both just oooze success, class, and that "wow" factor? My next fav thing, that niether of the Burchs's seem afraid to use is COLOR! I have always loved her use of colors, paving her way with the perfect orange (and lots of gold accents). Getting back to C. Wonder...who seems no different here. I just adore the bright kelly green and white (and lots of gold accents).

Walk right in...to these amazing green doors..dont' mind if I do!

I could just move right in! C. Wonder just makes me happy looking at the pics. 

C. Wonder seems to carry just about a lil something for everyone. Some things a little bit cooky and some things cozy, but I bet you can find at least one or two things for yourself.

I'll take these in a 7!

and one of these...either color. So much to chose from for all! 

If you are planning a trip up to NY before Chirstmas, check out C. Wonder. Like them on facebook for some really fun updates and just love their creativity.

Fav Fact: On Grand Opening day, the first 400 women were given a FREE bouquet of flowers to take home. How freaking genius is that??? Cant' wait to check it out!

C. Wonder . 72 Spring Street @Crosby . NYC, NY

oh pinterest

How many of you are on Pinterest???

It is my most recent waste of time/ inspiration site. Well, it has been for a few months now, but I haven't let up yet. It is like reading my fav kind of book...ALL PICTURES.. haha. I haven't really figured out how to add friends or follow people. I am afraid if I do, my obsession will grow even more. Here are just a few of my fav pics of the day today:

Even my "brand spankin new" husband knows all about Pinterest. He actually got on my Boards (somehow)  and found a present for me. (ahhhh newlywed-ism)  See what I mean....very useful this Pinterest. Maybe we should all create Christmas wishlist boards!!!

So if you are on Pin., tell me some good people to follow and if you are not, get on it!!! But please respect it's seriousness....it's like my USA Today...no joking matter.