Bring On The Snow

This is what we woke up to yesterday morning. I will confess we left it right there and drove my husband's tank instead. According to our highly scientific study of sticking a yardstick into the snow, we were hit with 22" of snow. I would love to tell you the People's Republic of Alexandria, Virginia had a plowing plan, but I cannot. So our motto for the weekend was get to a neighboring city as fast as you can!

We spent yesterday getting coffee and today at the grocery store (it was actually peaceful!) and picking up our final Christmas presents at Tiffany's (it was PACKED!!) Mini K had ZERO interest in making snow angels or a snowman, all she wanted to do was shovel. It was truly a sight to be seen.

She is already fast asleep and school has been cancelled for tomorrow. I will be at Fed Ex bright and early to make sure a few last minute boxes get where they need to be and will spend the rest of the day planning Mini K's 4th birthday party! She has so many surprises in store for her over the next week she doesn't have a clue!

The Buzz About The Snow

The shelves are empty...or at least that is what I am guessing after watching people walk out of the grocery store tonight. I was in the car waiting on Mr. Grove to pick up the impending snow storm survival supplies: Baileys, bourbon and Sweet Tea Vodka. I joke that in the South, the house you want to be stuck in in times of bad weather is the one with a fully stocked bar and a wine cellar...who needs milk?They are predicting 14-20+" of snow in D.C. If that doesn't stop the Senate I am not sure anything will. It also makes me think of all of the fabulous Old Town Boutiques that were counting on this weekend to boost their holiday sales. I will confess i gave them a little boost last night...or at least my two favorite stores: The Shoe Hive and Stanton Gallery. For those of you that follow me on twitter, you saw me post a few of my favorites from the store. I picked up some Aquatelia boots last night...the warmth of Uggs with the fur, but they have a stylish wedge heel which I think means I can wear them more places, a couple pairs of heavy leggings, and some Hunter wellie socks for Mini K. I then popped over to Stanton Gallery, and it didn't take me long to select a stunning pair of black pearl earrings for my mom and a gold and gemstone necklace for, well, um, me.

I am a big believer in supporting businesses that give back and are owned by women and these 2 boutiques are no different. The fabulous Elizabeth owns The Shoe Hive and her manager, the uber chic Abigail, can ALWAYS help you find the perfect pair of shoes, a handbag or diaper bag, or a gift for most everyone on your list. Christine owns Stanton Gallery and is the most amazingly talented jewelry designer in addition to a great selection of unique designer pieces.

Both of these boutiques will be open tomorrow, in this crazy snowstorm, trying to boost their sales in this rough economic year. So if you are in the D.C. area, or just want to shop by phone, please support them! I even hear that the Hive might be offering specials on twitter so follow them. Their twitter id is theshoehive! You have to justify getting 4 wheel drive somehow and what better way than a new pair of boots or a bauble, or two?

Here are some of my favorites from the Hive...

How cute are these Kate Spade slippers? And at $60 such a great price for that friend, sister-in-law or assistant on your list.

The Hive also has a great selection of jewelry. Elizabeth has some great pieces that looks like they should cost much more than they do...the pearl drop bracelet is only $55 and the gold leaf triple strand bracelet is only $60.

One of my favorite gifts to give the mom-to-be is a chic diaper bag. I love this one. The perfect black, brown and cream combo. The best part, the lining comes out so you can wash it.

So stay warm and shop from home or bundle up and use that 4 wheel drive!!

We Are Back!

Last week is still a blur...I got the 3 of us packed, or I should say overpacked for New York City and off we went on the train. Mini K LOVED the train...or maybe it was the fact that we were in a private car for the event that came complete with snack mix and M & M's.

As soon as we got to our hotel we were met with smores and peppermint cupcakes from Crumbs. After a little frosting high we bundled up and headed to FAO Schwartz. I wish I would have gotten a photo of the look on Mini K's little face when we walked in the door and she saw all fo the stuffed animals. It was PRICELESS. I should also say we literally ran into Ramona and her daughter on our walk to the store.

A shopping bag full of toys later we went back to the hotel to meet the now beloved Miss Lulu who watched Mini K both nights. If you haven't checked out her blog you must. You should also know that Mini K is now in love with her...she literally cried on the train home when she realized Miss Lulu wasn't coming home with us. Her exact quote was, "but she was more fun than tea at the American Girl Doll Store and the bicycle roller coaster (aka Mini K's name for a rickshaw ride!).

Saturday we spent the day exlporing museums, Bendels, 5th Avenue and the American Girl Doll Store and ended the day with dinner at Bar American. Those of you that follow me on twitter know that Bobby Flay was actually in the kitchen at Bar American and he couldn't have been nicer. The food was amazing!

Sunday brought us some lovely rainy weather, but off we went to Bryant Park. Mini K couldn't wait to go ice skating outside. It seems we weren't the only parents braving the nasty weather for our kiddos...Brooke Shields, her husband and their 2 daughters were also at Bryant Park. I have to tell you...Brooke Shields could not be nicer. So down to earth, beautiful, but you knew that and such a hands on mom.

We arrived home to a DEAD Christmas tree, so tonight Mr. Grove is out buying a second tree. We are NOT talking about it!

Tie It With A Pretty Bow

I will confess I haven't been a fan of Kate Spade bags for awhile...and I wasn't sure what direction the company would take after Kate herself took a step back, but there are some truly fabulous items in their holiday line this year that I plan to purchase for the gift closet.

Other than a few last minute items, and birthday presents for Mr. G and Mini, K my Christmas shopping is finished and wrapped, but I always find that I can stock my gift closet with items from designer's holiday gift lines.

I have 3 nieces. One is already a tween and the other 2 will soon follow. I think this ring would be a great gift for a tween. A lot of sparkle, but yet not too grown up. That being said, I must confess, there is something about it that I love!

A little candy cane for your head! This headband caught my eye. I am not sure how Kate Spade headbands run, but I might even try it on Mini K's head. It would add a little splash of color to an all black outfit, or even pair it with jeans and a t-shirt.

This Gumdrop necklace is the perfect statement piece to pair with a white shirt and a pair of Lilly P capris, pants or a skirt. Several of my friends might find this in a box on their birthday!

And 2 random extras:

1. I have NO CLUE why part of this post is underlined...see my previous post on lack of technical skills

2. To the sweet Stacy who left a comment about the tray I am trying to send to a good home, I can't see your blogger profile so I cannot contact you. Please email me her name and mailing address and I will send her a holiday happy in the form of a personalized tray!

Now I must go make my packing list for NYC this weekend.

Sidetracked....

I have to confess, after a wonderful Thanksgiving I have been buried in PGG orders. Don't get me wrong, we are so thankful to have the problem of being busy this holiday season when so many retailers are hurting.

I am hoping I can help one of you out with your Christmas or holiday shopping. We have 2 acrylic trays that our supplier engraved incorrectly...I would rather pay it forward in blogworld. So if you have a special someone on your list (it can be you!) with the following initials, please leave a comment with who you would give the tray to and what you think they would use it for. I will then email you to get your address and ship it off to you to make your shopping list a little lighter.

The monograms are:

cBk

First: C

Last: B

Middle: K

nRk

First: N

Last: R

Middle: K

And now I must get back to the Texas game. Here's hoping the Horns get their act together!!!!!!

And yes, I promise to be back to posting tomorrow.

Deals A Plenty!

I am going to apologize for the lack of photos or examples in this post, but I still have to get the 3 of us packed for our flight tomorrow morning. Yes...here is a tip for those of you that don't like to cook Thanksgiving dinner...don't leave for your destination until Thanksgiving morning.

And in advance of our flight tomorrow...THANK YOU to the men and women of American Airlines for working on Thanksgiving so I don't have to!

I did want to pass on the Black/Pink Friday deals that I know of:

KEP Designs...and you know you have had your eye on one (or more!) of her necklaces is offering 20% off with code: GOBBLE2009 through November 30th.

Ralph Lauren's Friends and Family 25% Sale started on the 24th and will run through December 7th with code: HOL2009

LaPlates is offering 20% off with code: thanks09 through November 29th.

Piggy Paint...if you don't follow them on twitter your should! They are favorite of Mini K and as a mom I don't mind her wanting to paint her nails with their non-toxic nail polish. They are have been promising an amazing Black Friday deal on twitter for over a week so make sure to follow them before Friday. Tell them GroveGalK sent you. I will let you know that their gift sets of 3 polishes make GREAT birthday or camp care package gifts so buy early!

Bendels....and Dallas ladies, this is where I will be Friday morning! 40% off their Bath & Body Collection before 10am and 25% off their candles and sweet treats before 10am. The email didn't give me a code, just let me know that these were the store specials.

Bliss is offering a great deal. 30% off 2 or more Bliss items with code: GIFT30. What better way to make your own gift basket than with 30% off?

I promise to post any comment with a coupon code and to post codes as I get them tomorrow. I will warn you, I will be posting in transit tomorrow from my iphone so please forgive me if it is not pretty.

And finally, as the very thankful mom of a now healthy child I cannot help but think of all of the children and parents spending Thanksgiving at St. Jude's. So if you see their Thanks and Giving Green signs as you shop on Friday, it's only a $1 and it is such an amazing place.

And with that, I am off to make sure Mini K hasn't kicked off her covers and finish the packing.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!

A Monster of A Good Time...Recap Part 2

I promised you the rest of my warehouse recap. I must say thank you to the amazing ladies who organized such a fun meet up in the KoP. I met so many truly talented women and I also must thank them for helping me spread the word about a friend's new business. And full disclosure...NO I don't work for this business, but I do think it is simply FABULOUS.

Dawn is the talent behind Monster Cookie Co. and let me say her cookies are not only STUNNING they taste great. After all how could a business based on creativity and pink & green not be a success. She was kind enough to make some Lilly P themed cookies that I was only too happy to share. I still cannot get over the fact that the icing is all done by hand.

This might be my new favorite handbag....

A miniture version of the Originals Collection....

Here are a few of Dawn's ther creations...

These cookies are like a walking tour of D.C.--without the traffic, lines or blisters!

Can you believe this is a cookie?

I am a Texan, but after attending college in Boston, I must say I do love the Red Sox Nation!

So if you are looking for a great care package, gift or party favor, just tell Dawn your theme, wait for your delivery man and look like Martha Stewart with time to spare!

Trip Recap Part 1

I am back from the pink haze known as the Lilly Pulitzer Warehouse Sale. I had a mission, well besides shopping all of the amazing deals. I wanted to thank Trisha and the rest of Lilly Team for showing Mini K so much kindness before her surgery last spring. Well we all know that in the South we cook to say thank you....or in my case we call in the help of a professional. The professional in this case was a professional baker who is also a Lilly lover!

Excuse the photos taken in my car before the delivery, but I forgot to take them before I left for the sale. Words couldn't express how thankful I always will be to the Lilly team, but I hope the sugar helped during all of those crazy sale hours!

With my mission accomplished, it was time to shop, and shop I did. The girls sample size was Mini K's size so I stocked up, picked up more than a few Christmas gifts and of course a few things for me. The sale really was well worth the trip and after a quick rest I joined

some fellow Lilly lovers for dinner. It was so much fun, but truly deserves its own post.

Pink & Green Are In My Future

The Grove has been busy....and we are thrilled! The last week has been a blur of processing holiday orders, my day job, and too many children's birthday parties to count, but all of them fun.

But starting tomorrow, for the next 36 hours, I am letting Calgon take me away (BTW, if you don't know what that means, please DON'T email me and make me feel old!). My Calgon of choice will be the Lilly Warehouse Sale, a fun evening with some fabulous bloggers and two long drives without a Disney movie playing.

I promise to update all of you in my haze of pink and green. I am also choosing to ignore the fact that come Friday morning I will be back at work!

Heroes Surround Us

Today is Veteran's Day and the heroes are all around us. Sometimes it takes a terrible act of violence, like the one that the brave men and women at Ft. Hood just faced, to remember that are enemies are both foreign and domestic. Regardless of location, the soldiers in uniform today and the ones that have gone before them pay for our freedom with their lives. Such an amazing call to service and one that deserves respect from EVERY SINGLE AMERICAN. And to the families of the men and women in uniform, thank you for your service to our country.

I am grateful for your service to our amazing country!

God Bless You and God Bless America!

Feeling Brown, White and Striped All Over

There is something about a well presented box and grosgrain ribbon that make me smile. I think most people would say the Tiffany & Co. box is the most recognized in the world, but whenever I see chocolate brown and white I think of: Bendels.

I confess when we go to NYC every December I have every item I purchase at Henri Bendels placed in one of their signature brown and white boxes tied with their signature brown grosgrain bow. Preppy, classic and always festive. The wrapping can make anything from a candle to a handbag look like something to behold.

Image from Henri Bendel

Image from Henri Bendel

Bendels is holding their friends and family sale this weekend, and while there are more than a few fabulous items, all I can think of is the wrapping. There is something about a pretty box, some Christmas music and those festive red cups from Starbucks filled with a nonfat, sugar free peppermint mocha that get me into the Christmas spirit.

Cliff Notes....For Life

The homily today at mass focused on there are no Cliff Notes for life. I am not sure I agree. Don't get me wrong, I don't think life is full of short cuts, but I do think if we look around us, with eyes wide open and an open mind, we can discover ways of doing this better. The other thing we notice is how amazing some people are when they think no one is watching.

Feel free at me or tell me off during/after reading this post. I started reading blogs because CNN, MSNBC and Fox News said everyone was doing it. It was 2 years ago, and between the 5 newspapers I read daily, what felt like hundreds of preschool applications to fill out, doctor's appointments to make and keep, I was feeling anything but hip. SO I introduced myself to the world of blogger. Then I realized you had to enter in a word to search for blogs...or at least I think you did. While I am on the subject, I will just confess to this right now...technology is just NOT MY THING. I literally went into the Apple store to buy an APPLE ZIP DRIVE...that's right I thought there were separate zip drives for PC's and Mac's. I keep seeing all of this twitter chatter about Google analytics and anonymous commenting...I am not sure what is means or how you even know who lands on your blog from where or after what search. To be honest, it kind of scares me. The real laugh was I think it took Monogram Momma 3 hours to explain twitpic to me.

My point is, while I didn't find a wealth of new technology knowledge from blog world, I did find a world of amazing women (sorry men, but I don't know of a single non-political blog written by a man). Unfortunately, I think blogland has changed in the past couple of years. When I started reading there were blogs about fashion, make-up, Lilly Pulitzer, home decor, kids, the South, the North, cupcakes, and yes I will say it J.Crew. Now I can't change the world, but this is my blog. If you like it read it, if not, I at least hope you like our little PGG.

I don't know if what I am about to do will catch on, I hope it does, so here I go:

I am calling this my blogland Shout Out Awards. I have learned so much from so many of you, but there are a few of you that have really made a difference and I want you to know that. I think we can all agree that we can now travel almost anywhere and not have to purchase a guidebook to find a great meal, a must see place, fabulous shopping or a new friend to have coffee with thanks to the network that is blog world.

ATN...If you haven't read her blog, you are missing out. Nina, I read your blog and although I have no idea what happened in Chicago that led you home it made me think of one thing. If Mr. Grove and I am do as good of job parenting Mini K as your parents have done I will be happy with myself. I pray that someday if she needs to turn to someone when something bad happens she will turn to us and would allow us to help her. The relationship you have with your parents is amazing and I cannot imagine how proud they must be of you. Aside from your sense of style, you have a self confidence that comes through in every word you type.

Hopsy, you always see the world not as if it was half full, but if your cup was running over. You have impeccable manners, a sense of adventure and always make time for your friends. And let's not forget, you introduced me to Greystone and we cannot wait to send Mini K there.

DCGopGirl. This woman is a technology wizzard. She literally talks about building a website on a Monday and launches it on a Tuesday. It takes me that long to figure how to navigate from page to page. She also just started a new job, and trust me D.C. is not an easy market these days. Her attitude is even can do...I don't think there is much she is not in charge of or organizing.

MojitoMaven. I am not a writer. In college, sure, but now not so much. Writing is not why I admire her (although she is a fabulous writer), she is fearless I tell you. She dreamed of creative writing. She not only has a fabulous novel on her site (check out SIBU), but has started creative writing classes.

Monogram Momma. Secretly I am convinced she is somehow related to Martha Stewart. I mean seriously, at 4pm she tweets what to cooke for dinner and at 6pm there is some 3 course masterpiece...and unlike me she didn't use her telephone. If I ever have a boy, you had better believe I will be calling/emailing nonstop.

The Lilly Blog. Trisha can always bring a smile to my face with a little pink and green. Will it solve all of my problems, no, but trust me after a long day at the hospital it can make you smile and that means a lot.

Kristin Pearce. Aside from the fact that I might single handedly make you have a higher yearly revenue than Tiffany's, you make me smile. You and I seem to have been on the same page as to how long it takes to launch a website and may have even had questions about the same things. I knew I couldn't wait to meet you when I first landed on your blog, and Grove Gal E and I had a blast meeting and talking with you at NSS. And I love that you made me feel less crazy for paying someone to straighten my hair, because you hate frizz and a hairdryer as much as I do.

And the last one is a little personal for me. Sippycups has always had an eye for home decor, party planning and well just fun in general. Recently she was brave enough to share with all of us that she has separated from her husband. As someone who was raised by a single mom, (love you Dad, but even you admit now that sometimes it takes men a little longer to grow up), and everyone can learn something from her post. I cannot imagine what she is going through, but I can say I think of her and know that as long as anyone follows their heart it will lead them in the right direction.

What happened you may ask fro me to write this. All I can say is perspective. I took a break from blogging and twitter when mother got sick. The time away made me realize their are blogs I read as part of my day and they mean something to me. I also think every one of you out there has something to give, I hope I do to. I also realize that, there are people with far more technology knowledge than I have that like to point fingers. I, along with Grove Gal E and Mr. Grove for that matter will tell you that I say what is on my mind. You might think it, I say it. I have been this way since my grandfather died suddenly one night...the night before we were supposed to leave for Hawaii. I never got to say goodbye. I was too focused on running out the door to see my friends before we left for two weeks. I would do anything to get a do over on that night. Since then I speak my mind, because well you never know. We all have our opinions, I for one think there is much more to life than wearing a brand new J.Crew outfit everyday, but I do admit that sometimes a new bag or shoes can make a crummy day a little less crummy. And while I am on the subject, did you know that J.Crew's Jenna Lyons got a $1 million bonus...and she doesn't even work for an investment company...it must be the $400 shoes.

I am sure most of you have gone on to another site and have stopped reading by now, but if you are still here I would say that blog land might have changed, but I for one am going to make sure to say thank you to all of the blogs that I love. I keep seeing stores that I said I would always check out closed up and that could easily happen to blogs. So to the ones I have mentioned and the tons more I didn't, thank you for putting it out there with each and every post. Your words matter.

Time Flies....

This has been one of those weeks that has flown by. When I haven't been at work, I have been getting ready for the Halloween party at Mini K's school and our PGG trunk shows next week. For those of you in the D.C. area email me for details, but we have trunk shows in Alexandria on Monday and Thursday night with some fabulous holiday specials (buy 2/3 get 1 FREE, yes FREE), so bring your list and your holiday card photo and we will take care of everything else and leave you with plenty of time and money to spare.

Everyone has their own way of dealing with a crazy week, tea, coffee, an early bedtime, but I gravitate towards my laptop. It is as if I enter a trance, and by the time I come out of it, I have print outs or links of must purchase, or must remember items. Now if I placed these in the binders I have purchased for this very task I would be so very organized. Maybe that will be my project for this weekend when all of us are blessed with a Saturday with one extra hour. I still think if Congress is going to make us live for 6 months where it is dark by 5pm that I should get an extra hour of sleep EVERy NIGHT, just saying...

So tonight, the following items caught my eye...

This might be new go to girl's birthday gift for Mini K's friends. I love the ball of bands from J.Crew's Crewcuts.

I am loving this new tinted lip balm from Sugar.

At this rate 2010 will be here before I know it, and I am hoping everything is sunny in 2010. I have already ordered, and received, my yellow 2010 Graphic Image planner. Now I have to organize it.

If I can't will myself to a resort or make the sun shine, I can at least brighten up my day with a scarf from Lilly Pulitzer's Resort 2010 collection.

Revere bowls...I never tire of them. A classic that makes everything from apples to candy to flowers look elegant.

Can't decide on these FitFlop boots from Blissworld, because even I know I cannot wear my FlipFlops al winter long...

The large Trefoil key pendant from Tiffany. The blue box always makes anyone smile.

Seashells By The Seashore

We are back from a whirlwind 27 hours at the beach and I feel like a new person. I don't care what anyone says, the beach has the power to clear your mind, give you a fresh outlook and remember when life was as simple as finding that perfect shell to add to your collection.

This was the first time that Mini K got it. She went onto the balcony last night to hear the waves crash and say good night to all of her favorite characters from the Little Mermaid and asked them to send her shells. She woke up super early this morning and couldn't wait to finish breakfast so we could go explore.

Needless to say we all got soaked (thank heaven the water wasn't too cold) and filled a bucket with shells, and memories too.

I feel like this past week has been full of eye opening experiences. Or at least ones that make you think...if you truly know someone, if you are truly grateful for your blessings and how blessed we are to discover new friends.

Tonight I am back in reality, and it seems less stressful. If only I could bottle that beach feeling for the days I need an escape.

Pretty Thoughts

I came across some new baubles from one of my favorite jewelers: Atlanta's own Laura Pearce. All of these images are courtesy of her website. I should also say, as a result of these new FTC rules, that I do not receive ANYTHING in compensation from Laura Pearce. She is an amazingly talented designer and her pieces always make me think of soirees, good times and pretty clothes. I might be the only one, but I love pieces of jewelry that make me think of a memory, a past good time, a special moment with family and friends.

What can I say...pretty things make me smile! Happy Friday.

Speedy, Speedy, Speedy

I had a little shock today. I had forgotten I had ordered new counter stools for the kitchen. Well, I remembered, but for some reason I thought they wouldn't arrive until Christmas/new Year's time frame.

So when my fabulous Fed Ex man knocked and said he had 3 huge boxes I was surprised. Some of you, Hopsy, know that I spent an insane amount of time looking for bamboo style counter stools. The search + MAJOR FAIL. So I channeled my inner Lilly, or half Lilly and went green and a little wild too! The best part is that both the pillow fabric and the chair fabric are outdoor fabrics, so they repel water...I am hoping Mini K doesn't put them to the test tomorrow!

As I was unpacking them, I realized tomorrow our fabulous housekeeper comes. This translates to total panic attack of what to do with the old stools so there wouldn't be clutter. So at 4pm today up they went on Craig's List and and by 7:45pm they were gone.

I love it when things work out. There is always that little scare when you order something and wonder if it will work out, but this time I think it did.

Back To Stay

I guess you can tell I took a little time off. I spent last week in Texas, finding specialists for mom, making sure the contractors had not destroyed the house in her absence and well I confess just making sure that the happy, positive, brave voice on the phone was real.

As always, my mother amazes me. I have watched her survive divorce (love my Dad but they get along so much better apart and anyone who was at my wedding can vouch for that...strange, but true), cancer...twice, but West Nile Virus has left her with something called flaccid paralysis. In English that means she can feel her legs, but she cannot move them...her right one a little, her left one nada. So the woman who can power walk 5 miles in 57 minutes is in a wheelchair, and motivated as all get out to get out of it. Her spinal taps (poor thing had to have 2), CT scans and MRI's all show that it is metabolic and will return. The million dollar question is when.

She knows about the blog, but doesn't read it. We were talking and she asked what Grove Gal E and I were showcasing for the holidays and I told her I had taken a break. She promptly gave me some words. Now for those of you not from the South, words are shall we say, not sugar coated and not always what you want to hear. She made me promise no more posts on her until she was back up and at them, so friends I am back. Please keep her in your prayers. I am constantly inspired by her attitude and her refusal to accept anything but 110% from herself, even in the dark days.

We are escaping on Friday night to the beach...just for a night. This may sound strange, but to me, there is something truly calming about walking the beach in the fall bundled in my fleece and feeling the weather change. The one thing I have learned is that life can change in the blink of an eye. Year after year I have said we would take Mini K on a fall beach trip, and with everything that has happened I just decided no more putting things off....the good or the bad. So I am now out of my shell, not going back in, ready to tackle the good and the bad with the best attitude I can.

The long plane rides allowed me to finish some good books (I will share with you this week), plan out my gift giving list for the holidays and plan a few special surprises for my mom.

And for the record, can you believe it is almost November???? We are going to Texas for Thanksgiving and my treat to myself will be a visit to the new Bendels. If any of you Dallas gals will be in town let me know!

Happy Monday friends and thank you SO MUCH for all of your kind emails, and most of all your prayers for my mom. Please keep them coming.

Etsy Find

I don't know about all of you, but I can find etsy to be overwhelming. If you don't get the description just right you might end up with 0 results, or if you are too general you end up with 4,000.

But a few weeks ago I lucked out and Olive & Ollie and trust me, I will be ordering from them again and again. I love the ask the seller a question feature, but this time I really loved the answer.

I asked the talented designer at Olive & Ollie to custom make a monogrammed applique hoodie for Mini K. After two short weeks a package arrived and it exceeded ALL of my expectations. Her price was a steal and the quality is amazing. She wore it today and we were stopped no less than 5 times asking where we purchased it.

Since I believe in sharing with friends, I wanted to give all of you the source. These hoodies, or any of her other creative shirts would make great holiday or birthday shirts.

So Much Prettier Than A Trophy

I know I have blogged about Sew Girlie before...they solved my problem when I was trying to find scrapbook covers with a preppy monogrammed twist. Sew Girlie hosted a contest..how would you use one of their monogrammed buckets. Well I won!

My bucket arrived yesterday, and I simply adore it! I can't show you mine, because I had her put my name on it. And in case you were wondering what I plan to do with my monogrammed bucket.

I always wonder where to put our guests/party favors when we have people over. So I had our bucket customized with a chocolate brown and cream fabric and our last name in celadon green. It will sit by the door and keep our happies organized until the last guest leaves.

I also want to say thank you to all of your for your prayers and emails about my mother. She is hanging in there. I was given the all clear to travel so next week I will be back in my beloved Texas and able to go with mother to the Lyme specialist. I am so thankful that I can finally feel useful.

Happy Fall Y'all!

We have a neighborhood festival every year at the beginning of October. To me that is the start of fall. Well the day is here and I have caught the fall spirit. We had a new flagstone patio installed this week and I cannot wait to go sit in my chair, with a cup of coffee and watch Mini K play in the leaves.

I also added some fall decor to our farm dining room table thanks to a blogger friend. I am always amazed at how many truly talented women I have met through blogging....and all of you know that I like to support women owned businesses. Some of us have these businesses to pay the bills and some us do them because we have a passion (in my case Mr. Grove would say paper obession!) for them.

So if you haven't met the talented Miss Jennifer click on over to her blog Southern Living: Preppy Style. She made me the most amazing double ball fall topiaries for my table. I also ordered another pair in what else but pink and green to put out from Valentine's Day through Easter! I was stunned when they arrived yesterday. Have you ever seen anything so festive and preppy? Mini K's is calling them her ribbon trees and wants to go buy a bow tree so she can always have new hair bows.

Here are another one of Miss Jennifer's fall designs.

You can place an order by emailing her at: slpreppy @ gmail.com. Single tall topiaries in the pot(5" ball and 5" pot) are $35, the single low topiaries (6" ball and 6" pot) are $45 and the double ball ones like mine are $75. Prices are for each individual topiary. The best part is you can pack them up and use them year after year. And let's just say you don't have much luck keeping actual plants alive (that would be me!)...no watering needed!

I am off to make homemade roasted tomato soup and grilled pimento cheese sandwiches.

Happy Fall Y'all.

Mother Knows Best...

She has been telling the doctor's since she was first admitted to test her for Lyme Disease. Everyone kept telling her she was paranoid...she had West Nile. Her response was you could have both.

Well guess what???? Mother was RIGHT!

We have taken a step backward....she has both West Nile and Lyme Disease. West Nile she will get over...but Lyme can become chronic.

I mentioned to her I had been blogging (ok not often, but I am trying) and she wanted me to pass a message on:

1. Thank you for all of your prayers and please keep praying

2. Ladies, trust your gut, you must ALWAYS advocate for yourselves when it comes to your health and everything else.

SHe has an appointment with a top Lyme doctor on October 14th, and that has taken some stress off of me.

I will be back later with a non-health post.

Baby Steps

Well that is what I hope my mother is taking by the end of the week. She released herself from the hospital late last week and checked into a rehab center to get her strength back. Only to prove that when you have been in the medical field for as long as my mother has, the rehab center, well she was the boss there too at one time. Her room sounds like a party and I have had no less than 5 people tell me that mom was the best boss they ever had and they miss her daily so I know she will be getting the best care. And by care I mean 5 hours of rehab a day. I never thought a good day would be my mom being able to stand for 10 minutes with assistance...this is a woman that up until 2 weeks ago saw 15-20 patients a day and walked 3-5miles daily rain or shine. And now she is trying to move her left leg, because of 1 little mosquito bite. Why people don't spray for mosquitos I will never understand, but I will get off my box.

I also wanted to thank the amazingly talented Marie at Paper Menu. Over the years we have become friends. I can always count on her for top of the line products, a listening ear and a prayer and feel truly blessed to call her my friend. SOmehow she remembered that I needed to approve my own invite order and got them out to me with an adorable nightgown for Mini K. Marie...I promise I proper thank you is coming your way, but I confess I am still behind. She also just finished a BEAUTIFUL, I mean flawless birth announcement for another friend and client. How cute is this...and yes I am talking about the baby and the announcement.

I mean this baby boy looks like the poster child for a classic southern baby. Am I wrong? This little cutie is going places!

Thank you for all of you who have emailed or left comments for me over the past couple of weeks. I am truly grateful for your prayers and they are working! We were told mother would be in the hospital for at least two weeks and in 7 days she is out. I might not be back everyday, but I promise I will be back on the blog train.

I need to start thinking of Halloween decor this week, so if you have any great ideas please help a sleep deprived lady out. Anyone else been to Target lately? It seems that I somehow have slept through Halloween and Thanksgiving, because the Christmas decor is out. I saw it and walked out the door. If I have learned one thing is that life is too precious to rush through. I plan on making many memories before Christmas!

Enjoy your week, because at the end you won't be thinking of the one errand you didn't have a chance to complete.

Welcome Distractions

First, thank you all so much for all of your kind comments and most of all your prayers for my mother. Please keep them coming. She has gotten a little movement back in her left foot, but still cannot move the rest of her left leg and still has a fever. I have learned more about West Nile Virus in the last few days, and let me tell you, it is scary. It can last days, weeks or months, it just depends. Well you can imagine how much that unknown is to my control freak, science always has an answer medical mother. I might get grounded for some of the stuff I pulled today, but she is in a hospital in Dallas and I am in D.C., what is she going to do ground me? She is so focused on not asking for anything special, because she is the boss, that she is miserable. So I got her hospital food menu changed, and before you think she is getting filet and everyone is getting mush, relax. Iced tea instead of coffee, no gravy and cheerios instead of cornflakes. Seriously, minor things, that I know will make a big difference. Unfortunately, my list of names of people who feel that this is the perfect time for them to plead their case before her since she is trapped, well I have news for them....just as soon as they tell me I can be in the same room with her, watch out. If you are not nice to my mother, then you will deal with me.

I cannot believe tomorrow is Friday. Thank you to all of our fabulous clients that have kept me busy with orders. I have loved the distraction of focusing on smiling babies, happy couples, new houses, birthday parties. I started this business as a creative outlet, but this week it has become a welcomed distraction, that constantly makes me stop and think how many special, talented and kind women I have met.

One of my favorite designers just finished a birth announcement for a dear friend and I promise to share it with you tomorrow. And yes we carry invites and holiday cards, but no they are not on the website. There is a reason to this madness. When you need these, it is a special time, and Grove Gal E and I are a small, okay really small, company and we love to give our clients personal attention. SO we like working with each of you one on one. You tell us what you need and we email you options, once we have found that perfect one, you are all set. Plus if everything was on the website, I would have spent the last 3 days thinking, okay worrying, about my mother nonstop.

If you are on twitter than you know that the fabulously chic KEP Designs is offering their followers 20% off through Saturday. I am thinking I will order mom a little pick me up.

Please do me one last favor, since I cannot hug my mother or hold her hand, I have to think of her sayings and how much she teaches through her words and actions everyday. So I leave you with this:

Remember that when you fight with someone you love, you love them regardless of how you feel about their actions. And when the fight is over, it is over, unless you want to be reminded of your worst hair moment forever.

See why I love her? I have chosen not to discuss how horrified that I am by the fact that I am pretty sure I caught her talking back to Fox News today, and she emailed me an update on the injury status of Dancing With The Stars contestants.

So go be with your loved ones, dear readers, and sleep tight.

Imperfections & Explanations

You can obviously tell it has been awhile since I have blogged. I started this blog to promote PGG, connect with our clients and have a little fun. Since then, I have "met" so many wonderful and amazing women that I now call friends.

I also know that blogworld at times to appear to be some utopia with daily new clothes, perfectly behaved children and no worries. I saw this blog as a creative outlet, but we are all friends here, the "perfect" no problem life walked right on by me. That is a statement, not a complaint. I would not on any given day change a thing. Well that's not true, I wished that pain was NEVER inflicted on the people I love.

I have been hesitant to blog about this, but have decided if it helps someone it is worth it. My super healthy, extremely active mother collapsed Sunday. She has survived cancer, twice, but this is the weakest I have ever heard her. We are waiting on the final tests results from the Mayo Clinic, but her doctor's are pretty sure she has West Nile Virus. She doesn't live in a jungle, or a swamp, and unless you consider eating at Highland Park Village, Northpark Mall or Central Market places where you can catch West Nile, you are as stumped as we all are.

She is alert, still trying to be the mom, and from all accounts sounds like normal...she just cannot move her left leg. Let me tell you, for a woman as active as my mom, that is pure torture. I wish I could be there, but both my mom and her doctor's have said no until we know exactly what it is due to Mini K's compromised immune system. SO we all wait. These past two days have seemed like eternity.

I just hung up with her and thought, whatever, I am going to blog about this, because like Mini K's temper tantrums, my weekly cooking disasters, countless unfinished to do items and the constant struggle to cram as much as possible into a day this is my imperfect life. It is mine and for those of you that know me...wait for it....IT IS WHAT IT IS.

I have heard this phrase from the fabulous woman who now sits in a hospital bed, but with her own special twist:

It is what it is, embrace it and move forward, because God is in the pilot seat and you are not in charge.

This phrase could not be more true. Tonight I will send off a few proofs to clients, give Mini K an extra kiss goodnight and pray for mother's speedy and complete recovery. Everything else is out of my hands.

I think sometimes the hardest lesson we learn as women, daughters, friends or mothers is to focus our energy on the things we can control and good or bad embrace everything else.

I know this will attract the negative comments, bring them on, I will publish them, because life is not always perfect and if you try to make look perfect you are wasting time that you could be spending on friends and family. I seriously doubt anyone looks back on life and wishes they had purchased one more outfit, but an extra hug from a loved one is PRICELESS.

I am off to bed to dream happy thoughts and am hoping to wake up tomorrow to good news from mother's doctors and a better day.

Fall Is Here

I spoke to my mother today, and it seems that fall might not be in Dallas yet (is it Hopsy?), but the temperatures in D.C. are dropping and no not from the health care debate.

One of my favorite things about fall, and winter for that matter, are sweater coats. In fact I will try to wear them as long as I can instead of a blazer, jacket or coat. Mr. Grove refers to my collection as daytime pajamas. Make fun of me all you wish, but let me tell you, pair a sweater coat with a classic preppy basic like black pants or dark rinse jeans, a statement handbag and some black wedges, boots or heels, and well you are the perfect combination of chic, preppy and stylish. And the bet part.....you are COMFORTABLE and WARM, and as a working mom, that is a big deal.

I haven't decided on my fall handbag purchase ( I still have a month and change before Care for Kids Card and Partners Card...read GUCCI 20% for a good cause), but here are so

me of the sweater coats and jackets I am considering from anthropologie this fall.