A perfect fall day with Alison of The Polohouse....

Good Tuesday morning to you! I am delighted to be here with yet another fabulously talented blogger, say hello to Alison of The Polohouse. If you don't know of her blog, you must visit...must!!  Alison has superb taste in all she does and I truly anticipate her new posts like a kid waiting for a candy fix. I love her style and chic effortless attention to details. Her own home is magazine worthy perfect, right out of a Ralph Lauren ad. Once you see it you will know what I am talking about. 

If you are like me and never tire of looking at a beautifully done home, then for no other reason do visit The Polohouse!  The format is slightly different today but when I saw what a stunning job she did....I can't imagine it being any more perfect. Her descriptions make me want to jump in the car and head to the country!! So sit back relax and allow yourself to transport your mind, body and soul with Alison on her perfect fall day........

When my sweet friend, 
Tina,

asked me to take create   
a guest posting on what

fall
means to me,
 I hardly had to think about it.

It's one of my favorite seasons. 

I love the changing of

the leaves and cannot imagine

living somewhere that I might

miss that someday.

Growing up in the 

rolling hills of Pennsylvania,

I spent many  "Sunday drives"

with my parents or grandparents

heading off to view 

nature's explosion of color 

in October. 

A wonderful family tradition.

A

B

Here is a small list 
of some of the reasons

why I love the Fall!

C

The changing of the leaves.

D

Friday night 

 football games.

Sweater weather 

and plaid blankets.

E

Hot mulled apple cider

and iced pumpkin cookies.

F

G

Fall decor.

H

Bonfires and smores.

I

Pumpkin patches.

Those are a few of

my favorite fall things!
How about you?

Thanks so much 

for allowing me to

take part 

in your Fall guest posts,

Tina! 

I am honored to be here today.

xoxox~

Alison

PLEASE NOTE:

Photos taken and marked by letters

 are from Pinterest .

All others were taken at the Polohouse.

Simply beautiful, Alison. This post single handedly could make any "fall skeptic" an instant believer and convert! Yes to mulled apple cider, Friday night football games, beautiful pumpkin patches, warm fuzzy blankets and idyllic road trips through falls magic. Absolutely stunning! And those charming jockey pictures are taken from Alison's gorgeous home. Definitely click on over to say hello to Alison  and explore her fabulous blog.......you will be glad you did! Click here.  Thanks Alison and to all of you for stopping in. Wishing every one of you a perfect fall day too:)

PS That picture above with the small stone building surrounded by pumpkins is otherworldly beautiful, a definite keeper....gorgeous!!

guest blogger: mari of design shuffle

Hi all! It's Mari and I write as guest blogger for Design Shuffle, a fantastic social networking site for interior designers, architects, design professionals and enthusiasts to upload their work and receive lots of exposure. I love my work because I get to explore the beautiful world of interior design every day and then write about it, along with the great decorating ideas I discover along the way.†I'm so excited to be here at The Willows {blog} today. As you know, there's always something very interesting going at The Willowsóand everyone feels so welcome.

Let's talk about a subject near and dear to the hearts of many of you--vintage suitcases. We're already hooked and can't get enough of these intriguing pieces. They carry with them tales of yesteryear and bygone travel adventures. From our admittedly biased point of view, they add a historical feel, a sense of mystery and simply "belong" in any room. See what you think. We hope you enjoy these beautiful ways to decorate with vintage suitcases.

First Lady of the House (via)

Stacked to the ceiling in the corner of a traditional living room, this is an enviable collection of vintage suitcases. A great conversation starter!

Eclectic Revisited (via)

Vintage suitcases also work well in pale Swedish or French Country rooms. Don't they look wonderful next to the grouping of hatboxes beneath this antique work bench?

French Larkspur (via)

Small pieces can also be used to great effect with other found objects and a bouquet fresh of flowers like this one casually arranged in a galvanized metal container.

Vintage Junky (via)

Another fabulous stack of vintage suitcases reaching almost to the ceiling looks really stunning in this entry and hallway. Think of all the extra storage they provide. Good looking decorative element and great functionalityóa perfect pairing.

Decorology (via)

A stylish display of luggage is an inspired choice to go with this "world traveler" vignette. Perhaps a bit more modern than many of the rooms we're looking at today, but definitely one of the living room ideas to remember.

A Beach Cottage (via)

Regardless of which direction your bedroom design is going, vintage suitcases just might fit right in. White painted luggage makes a unique and functional bedside table in this eclectic bedroom.

SF Girl by Bay (via)

This totally personal and unique collection of cases is as eclectic as its surroundings. Think of the fun someone had searching for and finding those vintage treasures.

Design Happens (via)

And one last stack of vintage suitcases reminds us that the bedroom is always a great place to show off such a collection. And yes, they do seem to "belong" in this cozy and inviting room.


This post comes courtesy of Design Shuffle, where you can find top tier interior designs from around the world ñ from New York interior designers, Los Angeles interior designers, and more, check out the latest at Design Shuffle.

guest blogger: local lily

Local Lily is a wonderful new blog featuring all things local.

It is a great resource for local establishments from restaurants and stores to museums and markets.

They are definitely one to bookmark, especially if you are from Phoenix or planning to visit.

And, of course, the ladies of Local Lily are simply lovely. So, we are, indeed, thrilled to hear what some of their local No. 1's are here in Phoenix. We are so very happy to introduce you to the ladies of Local Lily...

Our five favorite things about Phoenix

by Local Lily

We found it nearly impossible to pick only five local faves! But we tried our best and here's a few close to our hearts...

1. The Duce!

A speak-easy that isn't going to be such a hidden gem for long. Little by little the Duce is becoming everyone's favorite spot! RnR surplus clothing, antique home items, great food and great drinks all in a family friendly atmosphere - you can't beat it!

2. Farmer's Markets

Farmer's Markets are a great way to start your weekend. See your neighbors, buy your produce and goodies from local vendors and increase the cohesiveness of your community.

3. Arizona Derby Dames

Arizona Derby Dames is a Saturday Night Out you won't soon forget! Grab a draft beer and get ready to holler - it ain't child's play!

4. The Phoenix Children's Museum

The Phoenix Children's Museum has many floors of awesome, air-conditioned fun for families of all ages... babies and big kids, too!

5. Nouvelle Armoire

For a one-stop shop of clothes and accessories, its all about Nouvelle Armoire! Gorgeous earrings, beautifully made and unique clothing with sales you can't beat.

Thank you so much to the ladies of Local Lily!

Keep up with their blog to find more fabulous places scattered across this great city of ours!

Hope you enjoyed all of our guest bloggers this week! We sure did!

For those from Phoenix, did you discover anything unknown to you that you are now itching to go check out?

What are some of you local favorites in Phoenix or your own city that you would recommend to someone if they were visiting?

Love to hear from you all!

guest blogger: georganne of frances and smeeks

If you live in Phoenix and are not already familiar with Frances and Smeeks, then come on out from under that rock and discover them.

Georganne Bryant is the brilliant talent behind both these fantastic local businesses.

Frances is one of the loveliest boutiques with wonderful gifts for anyone on your list (or, of course, for yourself, as it is hard to walk out of this store without something you just couldn't resist). And Smeeks is a dream of a candy store for any kid, or any person who still has that bit of kid inside them.

We couldn't be more thrilled to have Georganne here today to tell us why she loves this city of ours so very much. So, herewith 5 of her very favorite things about Phoenix, Georganne of Frances and Smeeks...

My five favorite things about Phoenix

by Georganne Bryant

(Georganne with the Frances & Smeeks staff Sandy, Cassandra and Julie)

1. Murphy's Bridle Path

I love walking my dog in the early, early morning along Murphy's Bridle Path on North Central.

2. Durant's

A definite favorite is Durant's on Central for its constant coolness. Its always a great place for a drink and we have celebrated many special occasions at this Phoenix landmark. Try the strawberry shortcake for a real treat!

3. Vintage Shopping along 7th Ave.

I love vintage shopping along 7th Ave. in Phoenix. I particularly love Indigo's style and finds at Retro Ranch. She always has a great collection/selection of vintage office supplies. Zinnia's, Hollywood Regency and Go Kat Go are all wonderful, too.

4. Urban Cookies and AJ's

We love Urban Cookies on a hot summer day with an AJ's iced tea! Yum! Try Urban Cookies ice cream sandwich!

5. Swimming pool at night.

My all time favorite "beat the heat" in Phoenix is hanging out with family in our pool at night. Love it!

Thank you so much to Georganne for another fantastic list of great things in Phoenix!

Maybe you should grab an AJ's iced tea and head over to Frances to check out all their lovelies and then pop into Smeeks for a little treat. Tell them we sent you!

And don't forget to check out their colorful blog for all the latest Frances and Smeeks news!

See you all tomorrow!