Sunday, December 2, 2012

Friday FIVE

Le't s just get a few things out of the way:

1.  YES, I know today is not Friday

2.  THANK YOU for an amazing Black Friday and Cyber Monday.  My bed and I haven't spent much time together and my delivery man has informed that 106 packages shipped in one day is cruel and unusual punishment, but I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!

3.  We are officially on house countdown at the Grove....our builder says that we can have the cleaning crew come on December 14th and move in on the 15th...ASSUMING nothing goes wrong, and, well, I know what ASSUME means so I am not assuming anything.  (But I did book the cleaners!)  Please say a prayer that we can go buy a tree on the 15th as I love the way I am wrapping presents this year!

4.  I ordered my friend K's birthday present A MONTH ago, and it is STILL not here.

5.  Mini K is on the mend, but let's just say that Bactrum can knock a kid out for hours, complete with night terrors, in a mere 10-15 minutes.

Now, on to the fun stuff!

I LOVE the holidays, any holiday except Thanksgiving.  I just could never get into a holiday that focused on eating foods I don't really like.  I personally would substitute Thanksgiving with Cocktail Party Day.  I could rock a holiday that evolved around apps, champagne cocktails and a good pup mix!

My 5 items for this week are ALL over the place.

1.  Stickers!
We have a client that placed what I think is one of the BEST gifting orders I have seen.  She ordered stickers for her friends and their kids and emailed us that she is going to package them all in one of those clear zippered pencil pouches, tie it with a big bow and a gift tag.  She ordered stickers that say Happy Happy Love, The Smiths for the family to use all year, Merry Merry Love, The Smiths for them to use at Christmas, Made with Love By Sandy Bake at ___degrees for ___minutes for Sandy to put on  meals she takes to others, and sports themed stickers that say Enjoy! Your Friends, The Smith Team, Jason, Stephen & Nicholas for her boys to use all year.  I LOVE this idea!  She says she loved that the stickers were on SALE!  Well guess what?  ALL stickers, enclosure cards, holiday cards, gift tags on string and return address labels are on sale through December 4th with code: TRMG12 This sale includes ALL designs, not just holiday and you can see all of them HERE.

2.  Ebates!
We are putting a new staircase in during construction which means I can FINALLY have a gallery wall going up the stairs above the moulding.  I literally designed the moulding around how I wanted to do the gallery wall.  Needless to say, I have ordered a TON of 8x10 black and white photos and LOVE that I get 20% cash back on my order through Snapfish through my Ebates account.  Ebates also had an Ebates only coupon for 55% off my total purchase so my photo enlargements only cost me 25% of what they normally would!  If you haven't joined, you are literally losing money so STOP that habit before the year ends and join HERE.

3.  Fudge, Nutella Sea Salt Fudge To Be Exact!
I am almost afraid to post this as my secret will be out!  This fudge is not the result of me standing over a hot stove for hours on end, but super easy!

1 Tablespoon of butter (to grease 8x8 pan only!)
1 can (14oz) Sweetened Condensed Milk (I used Fat Free)
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
8 ounces of Bittersweet Chocolate Chips
1 Cup Nutella
3 Tablespoons Butter, Room Temp
1/2 Teaspoon Sea Salt

Directions:
Grease an 8x8 pan & then line with parchment paper
I used my double broiler.   Stir together butter, milk, vanilla, Nutella, butter and chocolate chips until smooth (5-7 minutes)
Pour into prepared pan and sprinkle with sea salt.
Let it chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours.  I let mine chill overnight.
Cut it into squares and GET IT OUT OF YOUR HOUSE AS FAST AS POSSIBLE SO YOU WON'T EAT IT ALL!!!

4.  Aerin Make-Up
I purchased her lipgloss and fall palette as soon as it came out.  I just ordered her holiday palette this weekend.  I think she designed this for a working mom!  EVERYTHING but the mascara is in one beautiful compact and takes up zero space!  You can purchase it HERE.

5.  Skinny Clothes!
I know this sounds too good to be true, but who doesn't love an outfit that has everyone asking you if you lost weight, especially if you haven't?  Well, I ordered this tunic from Open Sky because I loved the color blocking,  it would give me a reason to wear my fleece lined leggings and Frye black boots and it looked super comfy for days when I seem to go from errand to errand.  It arrived, I wore it and let's just say I would wear it every day if I could!  I saw it last week at Saks for over $160 so $107 is a STEAL!  I ordered mine from Open Sky and if you haven't shopped from them or joined (it's FREE) you can here, and can thank me when everything tells you how skinny you look!

If you posted a Friday FIVE,  please let me know as I need lots of ideas this time of year!


Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Hump Day Happies!

THANK YOU all for an amazing Black Friday and Cyber Monday.  I am already thinking about what to give our UPS man for Christmas as he has picked over over 175 boxes in the last 2 days!

When I started this business it was out of frustration of not being able to find the types of things I wanted to give and receive and in the past 9 years I am humbled by how it has grown!  A lot of you emailed me with exactly what I have been thinking...how is it already time for Christmas trees, holiday decor and wrapping?  This year has simply flown by.  There are also those of you that simply amaze me:  you are already planning Valentine's Day, your child's graduation or birthday party.

SO for all of you that might not be holding the winning powerball ticket, I wanted to make sure you got a little HAPPY this Wednesday as well!

If you follow us on Facebook, and based on the afternoon's orders, I know some of you do, then you already know this, but for the rest of you, from no until December 4th take 10% off all PHOTO CARDS, RETURN ADDRESS STICKERS, GIFT STICKERS, GIFT TAGS WITH STRING AND ENCLOSURE CARDS with code:  TRMG12.  We will not be posting this sale on the site until the 1st, but the code works now!  The best part about this sale is that ALL items mentioned are on sale, not just the holiday themed ones!

We thought we would sweeten the discount a little more, we will post the 3 most creative orders(can be planned out, new house, etc) on our Facebook page and you can vote for the winner.  The winner will receive a $50 gift certificate!

We have a client, I will call her Mrs. B as she knows who she is, that literally ordered photo save the dates for her 8th grade daughter's graduation, her high school senior's graduation, favor stickers for her second grade daughter's first communion and a ton of return address stickers for her and her three sets of in-laws.  She is a planner by force she says because she has 6 girls.  I need a nap just thinking about it!

We had a bride order these tags for her out of town bags for her March wedding!  I love the classic white and black!


I LOVE to give sets of gift stickers or return address stickers as hostess gifts during the holidays and I always pick a design that isn't holiday so they can use them all year.  We are shipping most print orders in 48 hours so you will have them in time for next weekend's soirees!

I am a sucker for pink and green and I love these stickers for year round use!

These round return address stickers make me think of airmail envelopes!  Package them in a cello bag tied up with red ribbon and a candy cane and your host will love that you didn't add an inch to her waistline this holiday season!

The sale runs through December 4th and PLEASE drop me an email if you need help with your photo or wording!  The discount code is:  TRMG12

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Cyber Monday Steals!

I hope ALL of you had a great Thanksgiving!  Mini K spent Black Friday baking with her Nanna and I have put my new eyeglasses to work processing holiday card orders!  You can still take advantage of our 20% off ALL photo cards through midnight tonight with code BLKFR20.  I can say Pineapple Grove has some of the BEST DRESSED and LOOKING customers around and I have loved getting a sneak peek at all of your photos!  You can see all of the sale cards HERE.


If you follow the Grove on Facebook then you know we have been cleaning out!  We decided to celebrate CYBER MONDAY on the blog!  We decided to SLASH, and I mean SLASH the prices on some of our fall merchandise.  All prices below include personalization and shipping!  Just leave a comment with your paypal address, personalization details and let us know if you are OOT (outside of Texas).  I will not publish the comments with your information.  You can also email me your order!  You will NOT find these deals on our website, just the blog!  All items will arrive in time for the holidays, most will ship within 24 hours!

1.  The Navy Weekend Bag!
We love this twist on our canvas tote with colored leather.  A classic zip top navy canvas with saddle brown letter and your monogram in gold in choice of a circle monogram or straight across.  The bag will be on our website on Tuesday for $150 plus shipping.


CYBER MONDAY PRICE:  $145, including shipping and personalization

2.  Knotical Wrists!
Classic, Bows or Sparkle we have you covered, or should we say clasped? ALL of our rope bracelets sell for $50, but.......



Styles:  Pink and White Bow, Tartan Bow, Yellow and White Bow, Navy and White with Gold Leather, Grey and White with Orange and Grey and White with Hot Pink and Silver.

CYBER MONDAY PRICE:  $35 including shipping

3.  Preppy Speakers!
These are usually BLASTING Taylor Swift in our house courtesy of Mini K!  Lilly Pulitzer battery powered portable speakers.  They come wrapped and bowed.  They sell for $24.

CYBER MONDAY PRICE:  $18

Please let us know if you want the blue or the pink print!

4.  Take Note!
Lilly Pulitzer Notepad Sets.  These are the best cercies to have on hand for stocking stuffers, for a teacher basket or hostess gift that you can pair with a gift card.  We just made up sets of these notepads with $10 Starbucks gift cards that she is giving to her book club.  Isn't grocery shopping more fun with a cute list and a red cup from Starbucks?  We usually sell these for $12.

CYBER MONDAY PRICE:  $9

5.  Blue Bib Necklace!
We have seen these being sold for over $65.  We usually sell them for $40, but.....

CYBER MONDAY PRICE:  $16

After all of this shopping for others, your deserve a little something for yourself!

6.  Carryalls!
This is our favorite bag!  I have used mine as a diaper bag, a work bag, a purse and a carry on!  You can have a name or a monogram embroidered on it!  They are $50 plus shipping in our store, but for Cyber Monday we have marked them down on the blog only!  We have limited availability of colors so  don't wait to place your order!

Orange:  4
Green:  2
Striped:  4
Navy & White Striped: 4
Thread Colors:  White, Black, Khaki, Kelly Green, Navy, Red, Orange, Bright Yellow, Pale Pink, Chocolate Borwn, Lime Green and Purple.




CYBER MONDAY PRICE:  $45

6.  Sunnies!
You asked for a sale and we hope you like what we have come up wtih.........4 pairs of engraved sunnies for $100 and YES that includes shipping!
Just let us know if you want your monogram in script, block or circle block font on our wayfarer style glasses!


All prices are valid through midnight tomorrow!  Just send us an email grovegifts@gmail.com or leave a comment!  Thank you for your business and friendship this past year!!!!!!!!

Friday, November 23, 2012

Black Friday!

I hope all of you had a great Thanksgiving and I wanted to make sure and post all of the discounts, deals and codes I have found and please leave a comment if you know of any others.  I won't clog up this post with a bunch of photos in case you are reading it on your phone as I want to make sure everyone has the info they need to drop until they drop, hopefully in the comfort of their home or at least without the insanity of rude shoppers!

Our Black Friday Card Sale continues.  ALL photo cards are 20% off through the 24th with code:  BLKFR20.  Due to printing demands, this will be our last card sale before Christmas.


Robert Redd
Both Mr. G and Baby C are fans of Robert Redd polos.   If you make a purchase today using code:  REDDFRIDAY12 you will get 50% off your purchase PLUS they will email you a code for 90% off your purchase on Monday.  I have already ordered Baby C a polo today and will stock up on Monday.

Remember Nguyen
Is having their annual 50% off sale today.  Lots of fall, winter and summer smocking at unbelievable prices!

C.Wonder
Is offering 30% off a purchase of $100 or more, no code needed and an additional 50% off sale prices.  They are also on Ebates and will give you 7% cash back!

Vineyard Vines
The stores are offering Buy 3 Get 1 Free on all items.

KnitWits has adorable animal hats for kids and you can save 20% with code:  BF12

Country Club Prep is giving members 25% off your total purchase.  If you aren't a member you can join for free HERE.  COuntry Club Prep carries Castaway Cay, Smathers and Branson and a lot of your other favorite preppy brands!

Pink Chicken
They have great clothes for girls and tweens.  You can get 14% off your puchase of $100 with code BLACK15, 20% off your purchase of $150 with code BLACK20, 25% off your purchase of $250 with code BLACK25, and 30% off your purchase of $300 or more.

Snapfish
If you need to get photos for Christmas, today is your DAY!  Not only is Snapfish giving you 20% cash back at Ebates, they have some amazing deals!
If you order one calendar, you get 2 FREE with code:  TREATUCA
If you order one photo book, you get 2 FREE with code:  TREATUBOOK
If you just need to order enlargements to put in frames, you can take 30% off the entire site with code:  RMNSITEWIDE

Tory Burch is also offering a percentage off depending on your total purchase and they are also giving you 7% cash back on Ebates!

Last, but not least because they are a favorite of Mr. G's:  Chubbies.  Think your favorite old school patagonia shorts, but in fun colors, reversible styles in college team colors and a great small business!  They are literally giving you CASH on Black Friday.  You can get a $49.50 gift card for $39.50!  Then  the person on your list can select their favorite item!

And if you aren't on Ebates, you are spending more than you need to today!  You can join HERE and the best part is, you will get your cash back check in January and you who doesn't love FREE money in January?

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Shows, Sales and So Much To Do

I apologize, but clearly I have been MIA in blog land.  Between trunk shows, the holiday season, the house construction and my foot once I am finished working on orders at night, okay really more like 3-4am all I want to do is sleep....even if it is only for a couple of hours.

Tonight I pushed myself away from the computer and spent an hour on the elliptical and am now drinking the strongest green tea I could find as I tackle my list.  I went into this business with a few rules that I insisted I would follow:
1.  I would only sell things that I would purchase myself, at all price levels.

2.  I have a 24 hour rule...if you call or email me, you will hear back from me within 24 hours.  It may be at 4am, it may be from my iPad, but I do respond.

3.  If this ever stopped being fun, then I would close up shop.

Well, almost 9 years later I am still having fun, even if I don't get a lot of sleep and am so THANKFUL to now call so many customers and suppliers friends.  I won't get all mushy on you, but I will say that I am honored that you allow my company to help you celebrate so many special events and trust me with your memories.  This year I have decided to shake it up a little bit.  We have 3 Black Friday-Cyber Monday sales this year.  If you don't follow us on Facebook, give us a like so you don't miss out and remember that you know have to click on the dial on our page and click "add to your interests" so our posts show up in your feed.

So on to the sales:

1.  ALL holiday cards will be 20% off from November 22nd-24th with code: BLKFR20

2.  We will be posting special sale prices, all of which will include shipping, on our Facebook page Friday and the prices will last through Sunday night.  You can grab a deal, and place your order when it works for you, coffee, diet dr. pepper or wine in hand!

3.  Cyber Monday Special.  I am going to leave it at that...you will have to check our Facebook page on Sunday night to find out exactly what it is!

In case I am not alone in finding the attraction to being trampled at a store the day after a holiday I thought I would share a couple of other deals I have seen.

The first is one I have shared often, but it is even sweeter this weekend because most stores have doubled their cash back.  That deal friends is EBATES.  If you aren't a member, you can join HERE.

All you need to do is log in to your Ebates account, type in the store you want to shop, click through and the cash is deposited into your account after you make your purchase.  Trust me:  it adds up!

Lately, most of my Ebates purchases have been for the house:  faucets, sinks, ceiling fans, light fixtures, shoes, Vince sweaters...just the basics of construction.  Yes, I firmly believe that shoes can make construction easier.

Here are some of the deals for Black Friday weekend:

Snapfish:  20% cash back & FREE overnight shipping with code QUICKSHIP50 or 30% off all frames and canvas prints with code 30HOME.  Spend $100, get $20 back!

Gilt City:  THe Washington, D.C. site has a great deal from The Crispery right now and you can get 4% cash back on your purchase.  Hopsy and I have both raved about their gourmet rice krispy treats!

C. Wonder is now on Ebates and is giving you 7% cash back.  Right now they are also offering 30% off sale items and FREE shipping.

J.Crew:  6% cash back plus 25% off all sweaters.

Lands End:  6% cash back and they are having one of their 30% off sales.  I love the idea of getting a boat tote with a family's last name on it, filling it with their presents and delivering it.  It's like a preppy version of Santa's bag!

I promise to post discounts as I find them and feel free to leave a comment and share one if you have it! I promise I will post again tomorrow--I am braving both the grocery store and tennis court post cast with Mini K---I am not sure which is more stressful!

Monday, November 5, 2012

It Was Only A Facebook Post

Actually it started with an email to a friend, both of us venting about why Staten Island hadn't seen any relief workers.  Then it turned into 2 Facebook posts and then as J put it: "we lost control and it took over."

That is pretty much been my Saturday, Sunday, today and now Mr. G's tomorrow.  We said we wanted to collect supplies to drive a Tahoe or two up to Staten Island.  We also said people could drop off items on my front porch or at J's office.  We woke up Saturday morning to a porch so full our contractors could not open the front door and J's office lobby was full.

Cue the first UHaul 26 FOOT TRUCK that we never thought we would fill.  It was full in less than 24 hours!  So off it went to Howland Hook Terminal on Staten Island today.  We still had donations so we got another 26 FOOT TRUCK and guess what, we filled it!  Mr. G is spending election day to drive it up to Staten Island and back tomorrow and we now have almost filled a 3rd 26 FOOT TRUCK.

We have had people drive over an hour to bring us stuff.  I won't attempt to list everyone here or on my Facebook page, because I know I will forget someone and don't want to leave them out.  All I can say is thank you thank you thank you!  There are children who will have formula, police officers who will have a coat and people that are sleeping in cars that do not have gasoline will at least have a blanket.  We didn't solve everyone's problems, but we did something and more importantly we now can point to these 2 original Facebook posts and tell our children:

Be careful what you put on Facebook, because it can get out of control!

Friday, November 2, 2012

Friday FIVE

This post is late today, but I had a tantrum this morning.  A BIG TANTRUM.  Not the screaming and tears of a toddler, but the seething anger of an adult.  I woke up, got Mini K off to school and then caught Congressman Michael Grimm's interview on the Today Show and it sent me over the edge.  To think that Staten Island is an area where A LOT of the NYPD and NYFD lives and it has been forgotten.  I am not saying that others did not suffer, but until about an hour ago, Staten island was mainly being discussed as the starting point for the now cancelled NYC marathon.  Then I realized I could do something about it, so we are filling two trucks and sending them to Staten Island.  It is a small effort organized by friends who like me, wanted to do something other than read and post on Facebook.  I hate feeling helpless!

Tonight we will watch the benefit on tv with Mini K.  She may not have a concept of Haiti or New Orleans, but peanut know NYC!  We will watch it in our home, with power and heat and we will be thankful!

Ok...I have stepped off of my soap box and let's talk about the Friday FIVE.

1.  The Holidays Are Coming!
Pumpkin pie, Chick Fil A's Chocolate Peppermint Shake, red cups at Starbucks and all of them make me smile.  I look forward to opening my mailbox during this time of year, the pictures, the catalogues, what can I say, but I love ALL OF IT!  Our holiday card sale at the Grove ends this Sunday, but you still have time to take 20% off your card order and 50% off envelope printing or return address stickers. You can see all of the designs HERE.  The sale includes flat or folded cards as well as apply your own photo cards.  This one is a favorite of mine!



2.  Glasses
NEVER did I think I would put glasses, as in prescription glasses, on the Friday FIVE, but after more than 30 years, the doctor said I needed them last year.  I ordered a pair of Tory Burch frames and lenses, but had been wanting a spare pair just in case.  I saw an ad for a free pair of Coastal glasses and gave them a try.  My glasses arrived today, less than 10 days after I ordered them and I LOVE them!  I got a pair of  wayfarers with my lenses for FREE.   I only paid $28 for anti-reflective coating and shipping, the shipping was only $9, the rest was my coating.  I won't complain about $28 for glasses that should of cost me $228!  You can get your first pair of glasses free too with code:  FIRSTPAIRFREE.  If you have been wanting a fun pair of glasses, or want a spare pair for yourself or your minnie, you can see all of the styles HERE.

3.  New Balance
Baby C's feet seem to grow a size a week....not really but it feels that way.  He keeps saying he wants string shoes like his sissy.  That would be running shoes that tie and not velcro.  SO today, I finally broke down and ordered them.  I wonder how many pairs of these shoes he will own in his lifetime as his daddy wears them still!  I ordered them from the new sister site of Diapers.com, After School, and got them fr 30% off with free shipping.  You can use code AFTER30 to take 30% off one item in the store.  I will say they have a huge selection of roller skates, the classic ones, not inline, if you have a little girl who has been asking for them!

4.  One Foot, Two Foot, Red Foot, Wild Foot!
No I am not writing a Dr. Seuss knock off, but I am LOVING that I was able to find my size in these leopard Kate Spade flats at 40% off during Nordstrom's sale.

5.  Surprise Offers!
I am in LOVE with our gold 1.5" hand engraved necklace.  It is classic yet makes a bold statement.  If you aren't a fan of ours on Facebook, you may want to be as we will be making you a special offer on this necklace and our silver one tomorrow!  You can find our Facebook page HERE and if you already are a fan make sure you can see our posts by going to our page, then click the circular "gear" symbol below our timeline photo. From the drop-down menu, select "Add to Interest Lists." This ensures that you'll see all of our posts despite the recent changes to Facebook.


Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Happy Halloween!

While we all know I love candy corn (Brachs only, no knock offs!), I will confess that I don't really like Halloween.  Sandy was clearly the trick that none of us needed and I am hopeful that the treat will be watching people help their neighbors come together to rebuild and do what they can to help after the storm.

The storm raged around us, but somehow the power stayed on and even more shocking, our 200 year old tree that was scheduled to be taken down next week stayed UP.  We are still having it taken down and it is not safe, but letting our tree guy take care of those who need trees and debris removed ASAP.  Would you believe our contractor's team worked all day Monday, was back here yesterday and again this morning at 8am?  Both Mini K and Baby C are back in school today!  Both have Halloween parties and parades at their schools today and both are super heroes, monogrammed of course!  I promise to post photos, once they are in their costumes!

The candy from trick or treating won't be staying in our house this year and I am thrilled about that!  I am a big believer in finding little acts to teach kids about helping others.  Mini K and I are coordinating candy donation for her school this year.  All of the classes (pre-K through 8th) are bringing their candy to my truck and off it is going to Mattie's Miracle Foundation!  Mattie was a little boy, not much older than Mini K who lost his battle with cancer.  His parents now run a foundation in his name and all of the donated candy will stock the snack cart that visits pediatric patients at Georgetown University Hospital.  Such a simple way to help out and I am sure all of you have something like that in your town and I encourage you to reach out to them this holiday season.

I have been a blur of orders and ribbon and cello in the Grove, but tomorrow marks the start of the holiday season!  For those of you that have emailed, our Holiday Cards are still 20% off and if you want to save yourself time you can get your envelopes printed or return address stickers for 50% off when you order your cards through this SUNDAY.

November is also the month that my beloved RED CUPS return.  Call me crazy, but there is something about a Starbuck's Red Cup that gets me in the holiday spirit!

I am off to do some last minute Halloween party prep and a conference call or two!  I hope you all have a Happy Halloween filled with treats and no tricks!




Sunday, October 28, 2012

Grease Lightening

YES!  I know Sandy is a hurricane, but thanks to Mr. G the grease theme song is stuck in my head.  Our weatherman claims this storm will be EPIC, the grocery stores have been cleaned out of frozen food, because when they predict you will lose power, the one thing you should buy is frozen food right?

Mr. G claimed my hurricane checklist includes monograms, a manicure, a trip to UPS, a Big Gulp of diet dr. pepper and some lip balm.  I told him I was able to not worry about it because he took care of everything when he had our generator installed!  We spent today running some errands, and I will confess to purchasing a few new Essie colors of nail polish, a new coat for Mini K and we did drop off a few orders at UPS to go out tomorrow morning, but I spent this afternoon processing orders and adding some new products to the Grove.

Schools have already been cancelled for tomorrow and Tuesday and I have lost count of the number of times Mini K has "checked" on her itouch battery life so she can be ready when the power goes out....even though the generator will turn it back on 2 minutes after it goes out!

Today is the last day of our 30% off sale on coaster, gift tags, enclosure cards, stickers and bag tags.  The code is:  HGIFT12.  We have had a lot of brides order these gift tags to attach to their out of town bags!

Despite their season this year, a lot of Auburn fans ordered these coasters yesterday, so we know their tailgating will be done in style!

A big thank you to our customers that have made me feel like I am not the only one by ordering stickers that just say:  TO:
                      XOX, The Smiths
I ALWAYS have stickers that say this so I can use them year round and not just during the holidays.  My two favorite designs are these colorful stripes and these grass green stickers.

I finally got around to adding all of our new hair bows and you can find them HERE.

In case you are wondering what time the storm will hit, you be on time with our new double wrap Sasha Rhett watches!  I have one in orange ostrich and LOVE it.  You can find them HERE.

Some of you may have seen the preview of our new weekend Getaway Bag on our Facebook page, and now it can be found HERE.

I am off to cook dinner (read order takeout once I decide what everyone wants!) before the Sandy blows through!  I hope you all keep your power and your sanity through this "epic" storm.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Weekend Sale!

Please excuse the lack of posts!  Tuesday threw me a curve ball!  My internist had told me that my foot was badly bruised and my arched had fallen.  It hurt so I went with it.  By Tuesday morning, I could barely walk so I called, or Mr. G actually insisted I call my orthopedic surgeon.  One appointment and 2 x-rays and a shattered sesamoid bone later, I am in a walking boot on my right foot.  I have a cat scan on Monday to see if surgery is needed which I pray I can avoid.

SO while I may be moving a bit slower, I think we really need to celebrate the weekend and look forward to the holidays....hopefully a walking foot free holiday!

A lot of our clients have asked us if we are going to do a sticker sale and we thought we could do a little better than that!

So.................

From tomorrow until Sunday ALL stickers, bag tags, coasters, gift enclosures and hanging tags are 30% off with code:  HGIFT12.

These coasters make a great hostess gift, stocking stuffer or present for neighbors, coaches and college kids!  Help someone entertain in style!
These classic khaki coasters are one of our best sellers!


I love giving people gift stickers as gifts.  You always need them and you could do a couple of designs and wrap them up in a box.

Bag tags are the perfect stocking stuffer for everyone on your list!  Your black suitcase won't be mistaken again!  I LOVE these square orange and pick tags!  Personalize them with name and address or your child's name on one side and emergency contact information on the other.

Baby C has these gift stickers and I can just write in the name of who the gift is for and off we go!  At 30% off each one of these stickers is less than 1/3 of the price of a birthday card and you don't have to make a trip to the store!

I love the clean modern lines of these stickers and often give them as hostess gifts.  I simply wrap them in a cello bag and tie a lollipop or two for the hosts minnies and know they will get more than a one time use like a bottle of wine.

As much as I love a good sticker, there are times, when I just need an enclosure card so I can write a little more!  The Grove carries both flat and folded enclosure cards, but I am partial to a folded enclosure in a tiny little envelope.  There is something about the envelope that I think is better suited for more formal and special circumstances.  Polka dots are everywhere this season, including on my enclosure cards!

Our 30% off sale ends on Sunday!  We hope this makes your weekend a little brighter!  Just enter code:  HGIFT12


Monday, October 22, 2012

FREE MONDAY

Please excuse the random post, but I love saving money!  I especially love saving money when it's holiday season and my must purchase list is long.

I saw a deal on Facebook that I was doubtful of...FREE prescription eyeglasses and frames, but too much time in front of the computer (it simply cannot be age) has left me with a prescription for glasses.  This is busy season at the Grove and I just don't have time between work and house construction to go to the store so online I went.

I was surprised, very surprised!  I got a basic pair of Ray Ban wayfarer tortoise glasses ( we all know how much I LOVE that style!), lenses and I upgraded to the anti-glare coating.  My total cost with shipping was $28 for over $200 in merchandise!  How bad can the week be when it starts off saving that much money!  That is like getting your holiday cards for FREE!

You can see all of the frame styles HERE and when you order, just enter code FBDEAL.  It is good through the 30th!

I will soon be sporting these in front of the computer!


And if Mini K wore glasses, these would be so adorable!



The reward of free glasses was soon followed up by another great deal.  If you have a boy or girl on your list this year and are looking for stocking stuffers, I have one for you!  Half priced monogrammed belts, or in Mini K's case glitter belts!

I purchased a buckle and some straps over the summer for Baby C's stocking, but you can get a much better deal on them today!

You can purchase a $36 gift certificate for $18 which is half price HERE.

These days anything that makes a Monday better and is calorie free I am for...have a great day!


Friday, October 19, 2012

Friday FIVE

It was a rainy day here, but fall has arrived.  I don't mean the weather, it officially starting to get dark in what still seems like the middle of the day!

The Friday FIVE this week are all things that make me smile and I hope they make you smile too!

1.  Weekenders
I love a weekend away.  Even more than a weekend away is the joy of just throwing my stuff in a single bag and not having to think about TSA, 3oz bottles or the possibility of a flight delay.  Our new weekender bag is one of my new favorites!  For those of you that follow us on Facebook, you already know about, it will be on the website tomorrow!  The bag comes in black, navy, and my favorite, bright orange and like most items at the Grove, can be personalized with up to 2 jumbo sized initials!


2.  Postagram
I LOVE this app!  If you haven't tried it, click HERE.  Your photos are placed on a postcard and mailed, all from your phone!  The best, besides not having to actually stamp the postcard and go to the post office: the photo comes off the postcard and your recipient can keep it!  Mr. G sends them to the kids when he travels and Mini K loves to send them to her beloved summer nanny R!  You can purchase postcards in bulk and have them in your account, much like Shutterfly prints and your first few postagrams are FREE.  Currently their bulk purchase options are 25% off so you really should try it out HERE.

3.  Orange Tic Tacs
These babies have magical powers in the Grove house, or I should say car.  Both Mini K and Baby C love them and dare I say they can cure the D.C. traffic jam blues....even in the rain!

4.  A Good Sale
Kate Spade is having their Friends and Family sale this weekend.  Everything in stores and online is 30% off with code:  F12FFUS.  I have my eye on this dress:


5.  FREE
I love free stuff, especially when it is something I have been wanting or to use Mini K's word:  "needing."  We know the holidays are coming and if our mailbox is any indication so are a lot of bridal and baby showers.  All of these events mean one thing to us:  thank you notes!   So this weekend we will double your quantity on all flat and folded notecard orders for FREE.  If you order 25, you will get 50?  You can find them all HERE.  We hope this helps writing all of those thank you notes a little more enjoyable...after all we haven't  figured out a way to monogram champagne yet!  I love this design because there is something that always draws me to colored paper....maybe I never grew out of my love affair with construction paper.
This weekend is full of swim practice, a swim meet, a final trip to the paint store and a meeting with my talented friend E who is making two fabulous shower curtains for the new bathrooms!  Please let me know if you posted a Friday FIVE as I would love to check it out!

Have a great weekend.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Flip The Switch

It seems easy right?  Well....that assumes there is a LIGHT connected to the switch and right now the front two rooms of the house have no lights because I cannot make up my mind.

This is pathetic I know.  There are real problems in this world and my indecision over light fixtures is silly, but I have been staring at fixtures for the past 3 days and according to Mr. G it might be next Christmas before I finally decide and order.

Feel free to email amongst yourselves and make fun of me, because it is literally the joke of the house.  Mini K came home from skating practice and said, did you pick yet?  I said no and her response was:  "how about I can stay up until you decide?"  Seriously, even my 6 year old is in on the joke!

So two fixtures and a pair of sconces need to be decided on tonight and I am turning to my friends for their opinions because I just cannot decide.  For those of you who have been following our construction or know me in real life, the tile starts going in next week, the new front door arrived today and they are doing all of the prep work to begin priming next week.  At this rate we might be finished by Thanksgiving.....if I get the light fixtures!

What do you think?








Monday, October 15, 2012

Wall Charges and Sugar

Yes I realize the title of this post is odd and not at all related, but I am keeping it real.  I am thankful our contractor and his team are moving at amazing speed, but I wasn't expecting to spend all last week selecting finishes!  I am pleased to report selections have been made, the painters are prepping and floors go in next week!

I wouldn't be me if I didn't have a major home project going on, in an election year, during the Grove's holiday season!  Let's just say my iPhone has been working overtime!  I ordered the iPhone 5, it arrived and is still sitting in the box on the shelf above my desk because I haven't had a moment to unpack it and I am really going to miss all of my current iPhone accessories!  My absolute favorite is my wall charger.  I HATE cords, and yes I do know that HATE is a strong word.  I also spend a lot of time sitting on the floor surrounded by cello and ribbon this time of year.  The good news is that there is an outlet right next to me and you can usually find my iPhone sitting in one of these chargers.  I LOVE them!  Mr. G thought I was nuts when I purchased one for $30, and within a week I had to purchase another one because he kept "borrowing" mine!  I would pay another $30 for one if it fit the iPhone 5, but not yet.  While it won't fit the 5 just yet, I am happy to tell you that you can get my exact same wall charger for $9 right HERE.  I confess to being a gadget nut, but considering I use this every single day I consider it a NEEDED gadget.

This past weekend was a blur of soccer, swimming, a Crossfit fundraiser for a great guy that I will blog about tomorrow, orders and Mini K's favorite Halloween past time:  BOO'ing people!

Each year we make monster bark, that healthy snack of white chocolate, candy corn, crushed Oreos, sprinkles and an occasional pretzel!  We also make another treat to go along with it.  Mini K wanted to make coal bars this year, but call them Dracula bites since Dracula is also black and more Halloweeny. (She made up that word, can you tell?)

What is a coal bar/Dracula Bite you may be wondering?  it would be another one of our health foods, aka  4 tablespoons of butter (we used light), a bag of mini marshmallows and an entire bag of Oreos (we used reduced fat).  You crush all of the Oreos.  We used the food processor, but I am sure a wooden mallet and some arm exercises would work too.  You then melt the marshmallows and butter and then add the Oreos, spread the mixture out and let it cool.  Think Rice Krispy treat, but you replace the cereal with Oreos.

I am attempting an actual blog plan this week and I feel like my brain is bursting with things to type, but no time to actually sit down.  I had to be at Mini K's school at 7:30am today and once again I realized Monday's are just not my day!

In case you need a little pick me up this week, make sure to keep an eye on our Facebook page for a special weekend sale!