Meeting blogging buddies

I am so blessed to be able to attend our Annual Willow Convention last week. I learned so much and made many new friends. I will be sharing more about that soon, but I wanted to share with you that I had a chance to meet two delightful blog buddies in person. The first night in Atlanta I met the ever cheerful  Theresa from theycallmeganky.  She has become a treasured friend and one of my very best Willow House customers!! We had never met in person but we have been blogging friends for awhile now. We laughed when we saw each other... look at us. Can you say twins :  ) sorry for the blurry pix my camera and the lighting did not cooperate very well.

She was delightful and funny and the sweetest person. I felt as if we already knew each other and it was a wonderful evening filled with laughter, food. and fun and getting to know even more about each other. 

She even surprised me with some beautiful treasures. A journal, mug, a beautiful angel pin and chocolate yum!!  I was feeling bad that I was so busy getting ready for my trip that I didn't even think about a gift for her.

The next morning I got to meet yet another blog buddy for breakfast. Pam from  Late to the Party

I first "met" Pam through a blog swap and soon came to realize that we had so much in common. She is also sweet, funny and delightful and my Hero. You see Pam has recently lost more than 100 pounds and she looks terrific. I am so proud of her and I was so blessed to finally meet her in person. My only regret with these two special ladies is, that the time went much too quickly.  ( and that I did not think of giving them gifts)  I could have visited both for hours and hours. 

If you get a chance to visit a blog friend in person I highly recommend it. My life is richer with both of them in it!!

Did you Know...

that July is National Blueberry month? I love them!! I eat them fresh or frozen, in cakes and in smoothies too. 
Here is a great recipe using fresh or frozen blueberries

Lemon Blueberry Cake

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp baking powder

dash salt

1 1/4 cup vanilla yogurt ( I like to use lemon yogurt when I can find it)

1 cup sugar

3 eggs

1/3 cup canola oil

2 tsp grated lemon zest

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

1 cup fresh blueberries + 2 tsp flour 
( I use 1 1/2 C blueberries)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a bread loaf pan. In a bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt.  In a separate large bowl, whisk together the yogurt, sugar, eggs, canola oil, lemon zest, and vanilla extract. Add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and whisk until batter is smooth.  Sprinkle 2 tsp flour over blueberries and toss to coat.  This will prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the cake.  Carefully fold blueberries into the cake batter.  Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 45-50 minutes, or until toothpick tester comes out clean.

Lemon Simple Sugar: 

1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

1/3 cup sugar

In a small sauce pan over medium heat, stir together the lemon juice and sugar. Cook until the sugar dissolves completely. Turn off  heat and set aside.

When the cake is done, remove it to a wire rack and run a knife along the edges of the pan to loosen.  Allow it to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Carefully transfer cake to wire baking rack on top of a sheet pan. Pour the lemon simple sugar mixture over the cake and allow it to soak in. Let cake cool.

 Vanilla Glaze: 

3/4 cup powdered sugar

1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

milk, as needed

In a small bowl, stir together the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and enough milk to make a thin pourable consistency.  Pour over the luke warm cake and let it run down the sides. Transfer to a serving platter, slice and enjoy!

Why not purchase our Willow House loaf pan to make this in and give as a gift for a friend or neighbor.

Gail Pittman Alfresco loaf pan $14.96

If you like quality and a bargain...

It's Tuesday and I just realized I did not post the deals for the week!!
This Mario Batali Lasagna pan is a steal at just $24.96

  Click Here for all of the deals and descriptions

So much to share

 Just back from Atlanta where I went for a Willow House convention. It was a blast and my head is spinning with so much to share!! I also got to meet meet a few blogging friends in person. So much to share with you but I need to catch up a bit here on the home front after being away for 6 days. I will post pictures and share lots of fun info with you in the days ahead. Hope you all have a wonderful Monday!! Oh and I will leave you with a another look at the Jewelry line we have debuting int he fall. It is amazing and I see serious shopping trouble in my future :  )

And I'm off....

Off to Atlanta for lots of Willow House fun!! Can't wait to come back and share with you all that I will be learning and to tell you more about our Jewelry line coming this fall!! Be sure and shop those Red Hot Deals for unbelievable savings!!  don't forget the weekly deals in the outlet too! See you all when I get back.
Oh and I am super excited to meeting so me very special blogging friends too while I am there.