Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Clean Slate Bars


I keep meaning to share this recipe with you. It is a working mom's dream: one bowl, endless options.

2 sticks of butter melted
2 cups brown sugar (light or dark or one of ech)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 eggs
2 cups of flours
1- 9x12 greased pan

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and mix all ingredients in a bowl. Bake for 30-35 minutes.
Variations:
add mini m&ms, Heath bar bits, chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, white chocolate chips, pecans, or anything else you wish

Mini K and I make these every week (we cut the recipe in half) and she takes one to school in her lunchbox. I love that she has something homemade instead of processed and that we make them together.

Enjoy!

Monday, May 30, 2011

We Remember

Image from outontheporch.org


We drove by Arlington National Cemetery yesterday just like we do every single day. Mini K knows it is a cemetery for soldiers...and all soldiers are heroes. Memorial Day weekend is like no other in Washington, D.C. due to the motorcyclists. They all park at the Pentagon.

We pass the Pentagon on the way home just after we pass Arlington. Yesterday Mini K asked if all of the motorcyclists were there to say thank you. We told her they were infact there to say thank you. Her response was so simple yet so powerful, heaven has the best soldiers anywhere.

So today on Memorial Day, before you head to the pool, the beach or wherever you are going, remember you are able to go there in freedom and peace because someone paid the ultimate sacrifice for you..without knowing you, but believing in you.

Thank you to all of the men and women in uniform who have served and are serving our country and to their families. We are grateful and humbled by your service!

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Memorial Day Madness

The Friday of Memorial Day weekend marks the opening of many pools for the summer. We are taking Mini K and baby C to Arlington Cemetary on Memorial Day to see lay flowers at my two great uncles who are buried there, but will also be at the pool this weekend.

So we thought why not help you save a little money (and time!) this weekend.

ALL of our in stock Lilly Pulitzer items are 20% off! If you have had your eye on a sailor bracelet, sunglass strap, koozie, insulated cooler or anything else...now is your chance!

Diaries Reg Price $14.50 SALE $11.60
Silicone iPad Covers Reg Price: $29.50 SALE: $23.60

Koozies Reg Price $5 SALE: $4
Notecube with Pen Reg Price: $15.50 SALE: $12.40
Sunglass Strap Reg Price: $8.50 SALE: $6.80
Sailor Bracelets Reg Price: $9.50 SALE: $7.60
Insulated Cooler Reg Price: $29.50 SALE: $23.60
Insulated Travel Mug Reg Price: $14.50 SALE: $11.60

We also have highlighters, pencil sets, small notebooks, iphone covers, baby buckets, watch sets, pens and lunch totes in stock and 20% off! Just email us for patterns at grovegifts@gmail.com

Clean Up


Mini K has the day off tomorrow so today is our Friday....it still feels like Monday to me! I had to take a road trip for my day job and came home to a laundry pile that could scare a small village. I could say that between my day job, PGG and the 2 minnies I still have plenty of time to do the laundry, but then lightening would strike and we have had enough crazy weather already so I will tell the truth: when the pile is taller than Mini K, it goes to the wash and fold, and it is worth every penny!

So since laundry seems to have taken over Casa Grove, I had to share one of our favorite new products: personalized cotton canvas laundry bags. They come with a 7 1/2" personalized deisgn and at $30 are the perfect boarding school, college, camp or just laundry hiding bag! We can't promise they will make dirty clothes fun, but they will at least keep them in style!

There are way to many designs to post on here, but for starters, they come in all of our camp designs!

To order just email us at grovegifts@gmail.com or on Facebook.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Camp Time!



If you thought I meant camping in a tent, you must not know me! I of course mean, sleepaway camp! I LOVED going to camp as a child. Grove Gal E went to an all girls camp, mine was coed and some of my favorite childhood memories are from camp.

Mini K still has to wait another year to go to sleepaway camp...she will be going to an all girls camp...Mr. G would only send her to a coed camp with SEAL Team 6!

Since I now own a stationery and gift business, I probably shouldn't admit to being a lackluster letter writer when I myself was at camp, but I was having too much fun. My mother would always find a way to sneak a few surprises into my camp trunk. I LOVED unpacking my trunk and finding a few hidden surprises.

Some of my favorites were:
new sunglasses
lip smackers and then lip glosses as I got older
K.I.T. cards already printed...what can I say my mother was ahead of her time...I felt so grown up having my own Keep In Touch "business" cards with my name, address and phone number...today they would of course require the addition of an email address

For those of you getting ready to send your prince or princes off to camp, we can help with our camp care package!

The package includes:
12 personalized postcards...already stamped
1 personalized pillowcase
30 personalized K.I.T cards..help them Keep In Touch with their new friends in style

The Price: $49




We can't promise they will write home, but we can promise they will be in style!

To order just email us or message us on Facebook.

So many designs to choose from and colors can be change to reflect your camper's favorite colors!


Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Back In Town!

I can see that Blogger and I need to have a talk...those 6 YES 6 posts I wrote and had scheduled to post clearly did not post. I know Blogger had a tantrum last week, but this is like burning someone else's homework, or their paycheck, or their favorite gossip magazine.

I got back last night from a girls weekend in NYC and a brief stop at the National Stationery Show. Despite the rain, it was a great weekend. Can you have a bad weekend when it involves shoes, handbags and champagne cocktails? I know, I don't think it is possible either.

But I am back to reality and off to search for my missing posts and figure out what Grove Gal E wants to do as this week's Facebook deal. If you have some suggestions, leave a comment here or on our Facebook page and if we pick your product, you might get a little happy in the mail!

I am also putting this in writing so I can hold myself accountable...I will run 105 miles a month..in addition to Crossfit. I am pretty sure it is the only way to keep up with Mini K and Baby C!

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Facebook Mondays



And yes I do know that today is Tuesday....but....if you "Like" us on Facebook then you know we announced a special one week discount this week. FREE to be exact. As in FREE shipping on all of our ipad cases. The same cases featured in US Weekly.

So for $38 you can get your ipad a new dress or a suit if you are buying for the guy on your gift list.

We love these! I have the amaze print in pink. I keep a screen cleaning wipe tucked in the case with my pad and it is ALWAYS in my bag, because I never know when I will be able to sneak a few minutes to read!

You can see all of our designs HERE!

Some of our favorites are the animal print and who doesn't love animal prints and plaids!


You can order 4 different ways: leave a comment on Facebook, leave a comment here, email us: grovegifts at gmail dot com or order on the site and we will credit the shipping back to you after your purchase.


Thursday, May 5, 2011

Gym Slim....



I feel the need to say I love my Lulu's, but received a pair of capris from The Girls Apparel as a gift and the only way I can describe is as my magic pants.

They are made with a compression panel around the tummy, hips and thighs, aka instant SLIMMER. And did I mention the capris are less than $30?

They also come in shorts for less than $20.


No need to pinch yourself, this is not a mirage...

So the next time you need to run some errands after your workout, you will be thanking me!

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Monday Deal



First, yes I know it is Tuesday. I thought I had scheduled this post to post last evening, but clearly I forgot to save it.

If you haven't checked out our Facebook page, then let me tell you...since everyone is buzzing about the debut of the new white iphone, we thought we would celebrate as well!

This week we are offering FREE SHIPPING on all of our iphone and blackberry covers from clairebella. These are not on our site yet...I am blaming Disneyworld!

So we have made you a cheat sheet so to say. All of the font, color and design choices are below.


To order you can leave a comment on our Facebook page and we will paypal you an invoice OR you can email us your order directly at grovegifts at gmail dot com.

Cases take 3 weeks to produce and ship and make great graduation gifts!

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Back To Reality

We are back home! Mini K is still reeling that we surprised her with a trip to Disney World and a princess makeover at the Bippidi Boppidi Boutique, but we needed to pack up and leave the Mouse's House as school starts tomorrow!

I am in the middle of the glamourous part of all vacations: unpacking and laundry! I promise a full recap of the trip, tomorrow, but Grove Gal E and I wanted to share a bit of news.

We have decided that everyone needs something to look forward to on a Monday so the Grove will be posting a special every Monday on our Facebook page.

If you don't "lile" us on Facebook, we would love for you too! Also make sure to sign up for our newsletter on our Facebook page if you want to receive notices about new products and special discount offers!

Since I left my fairy godmother in Florida, I must go get the lunches ready and clothes folded!

Night!