Let Me Fill You In....

Yes, I know I have been an absent blogger, but I must confess I don't regret it for one second. I have spent the last 5 days with Mini K, going to the pool, the playground, walking preppy pup and getting ready for PRESCHOOL to start TOMORROW. Don't ask me why this seems like a bigger deal to me than kindergarten or first grade, but it does. Mr. Grove said something out of the blue and it struck a chord. After tomorrow, the only real first day of school change will be when she has her first day of college and is not in our house anymore. And before the catty remarks come rolling into the comments, let me just say this: I have learned something from my 3 year old minnie this summer that I am trying to take with me each and every day: THE BEST PART IS RIGHT NOW.

Today right now meant receiving several amazing surprises. One being my Prep For Fall Swap Package's arrival. I was lucky enough to have been partnered with the fabulous Miss Janice for this swap (thanks again for hosting Hopsy).

Miss Janice, thank you so much for everything. Don't you just love it when you open a package and your would have purchased every single item in it for yourself. Well that was me as I opened each and every pink and green wrapped package.

Here are a few pictures of my fabulous swap package:

Several of you have emailed and asked about my monogrammed sandals. I don't know that I am brave enough to post the exact count of the number I own on the blog. A girl must have some secrets, but SB Sandals, is having their annual sale and you can save $20 on your own monogrammed pair. I am telling you the hardest part will be selecting your colors.

Monday Madness Turned Into Where Has The Week Gone Wednesday?

I owe all of you an apology, so I thought I would do one better: a cocktail. Or at least something pink and green to put your cocktail on....and since I am late this deal will be good through Labor Day.

We have a great new line of paper reinforced coasters. They are a classic chic square shape with rounded corners and come in sets of 25. The best part, from my personal test bar, they last through more than one using. And yes sometimes in Grove Land I reuse my coasters...not for company.

The sets retail for $48, but for you my lovelies, they are 25% off until Labor Day. yep, that's right only $36. You can buy them right HERE. I hope you don't mind, but I selected my favorite design ...did you really think I could put my pink champagne or Seersucker Cocktail on anything other than pink and green?

Tomorrow I have school orientation...not for me, but for Mini K. I am actually nervous and excited, but mainly in denial that we survived the D.C. private school admissions process and she is old enough to start school.

So while I have been wondering where the week has gone, what have you been up to?

Only 2 Hours Left!

I felt like sharing, so through midnight tonight take 20% OFF your total purchase from the fabulously talented KEP Designs.

Coupon code: SUMMER

I currently have the following in my shopping cart and am trying to decide. I love my green and pink necklace and the tulip clasps can't be outdone.

Image Courtesy of KEP Designs

Image Courtesy of KEP Designs

Don't judge...I am also tracking 4, yes 4, missing packages. And don't be like Mr. Grove and point out, if what you have already ordered hasn't been delivered, why are you ordering more.

My response: I am optimist of course.

We Are Back

After a busy but fun 4 days in Williamsburg, a few trips to the pool, a super long day at Busch Gardens, to see Elmo and Zoe of course, we are home!

I just checked on a very tired Mini K, asleep in her bed and am working on a grocery list for tomorrow, but I didn't want anyone to think I had forgotten about the blog. You are probably wishing I would have abstained from posting, or at least had something interesting to say.

Here are a few highlights:

1. The J.Crew outlet had current items so I picked up a new yellow blazer and some ruffle shirts.

2. Ocean Palm, the Williamsburg Lilly Pulitzer store, had all of the Jubilee Collection on sale for 40-60% off. Mini K and I both now have some new additions.

3. I also found some black patent wedge McKims for 40% off.

4. Mini K was able to get her photo taken with Elmo and Zoe at the SAME TIME.

5. I return to Crossfit tomorrow...yes I am excited about this.

6. We found out a good friend is having a baby BOY.

7. The chair I had recovered for Mini K's room is finished and will be here Wednesday.

And with that, I am off to dreamland. I promise to catch up on all of your blogs tomorrow.

And Monday Madness will be Tardy Tuesday, but I will give you a hint, pink and green cocktails...can you guess the item?

Saying Goodbye Makes Me Sad

No not to blogging, but today was Mini K's last day at her day school. She has been there since she was 16 months old and the teachers and staff are like family. They have been with us through 2 operations, countless doctor's appointments, several false alarms and we will miss them all. Mini K is starting her "big girl" preschool on September 1st. Mr. Grove joked, the school might be changing, but the bow will ALWAYS be in her hair. Today was no exception.

I didn't want today to be sad, so I do what I do best: I threw a party! And doesn't cake make everything better? So the always talented Christina at Simply Sweet Bakery came up with one amazing crayon cake.

So many hugs, and yes a few tears later, we are home. Mini K is sound asleep and our bags are packed. She is starting her "big girl" life by coming on a business trip with Mr. Grove and I to Williamsburg. My mother is coming along with us and they have their own suite at the hotel. The magi room fairies will visit (room service), she will float in the pool and they are going to meet Elmo. Double thanks to my mom for saving me the Elmo experience.

And what always makes me smile...no matter what we are doing if you ask Mini K what her favorite part of the day was she says RIGHT NOW in a loud booming voice and smile on her face. I will confess I used to take this for granted, but have come to realize it is a lesson. She lives in the present, and even getting in trouble passes and the fun returns. So since we are starting many new adventures in the Grove House these days, mine will be to live for the right now, because even the bad stuff passes quickly.

And with that, my super sore muscles from Crossfit, I am off to dreamland.

It's Project Time

Maybe it is just me, but when it comes to home decorating projects I do them one at a time. So after 2 1/2 years, I am finally tackling my master bedroom. Now don't get me wrong, I have my running list of items I am looking for...(a unique large white bowl or urn for the dining room table, matching green and white urns, the perfect shade of lavender for the front guest bedroom).

When we added on to the house, the only thing we touched in the master bedroom was one wall. We turned a blank wall into a wall of built-in high glass white shelves and drawers. It provides us with some storage in our old house, and has inspired me to do a somewhat nautical theme for the room

I have been debating between Leontine Linens and Matouk, monogrammed of course, and have finally settled on Matouk.

The Mirisol pattern for the pique blanket cover and european shams..both will be in Ocean blue and monogrammed of course.

The Ocean Blue Bamboo pattern for one set of sheets.

I fell in love with their ocean blue color and am going to mix traditional monogrammed pique with the Lulu DK for Matouk River patten.

The River Duvet and I will also do River for boudoir pillow shams.

I still cannot decide between these 2 monograms.

I will be doing a separate post on my dear friend Elizabeth, who has a fabulous home design company later, but Miss Elizabeth is making from natural linen panels with double trim: a cream tassle and what else, but a striped blue wide grosgrain ribbon. I am still shopping for some high glass white rods, brackets and rings, but you can get the picture.

And last but not least is the paint color. I have narrowed it down to two choices: Northern Air and Glass Slipper. The Glass Slipper is more blue than gray in person. Both are from Benjamin Moore and I found both at one of my favorite sites: My Perfect Color. I ordered the samples and they should arrive on my doorstep next week. Mr. Grove laughs but I literally paint a 3ft by 3ft section on opposing walls of my choices and make myself live with them for a month, then I decide.

Northern Air

Glass Slipper...

I Have Crawled Out From My Pile....

This has been quite a weekend. I have been so focused on crossing things off of my to do list, that I have neglected my blog. I would love to give you some fabulous excuse, but between sticking to my new workout of Crossfit, enjoying those last summer days at the pool with a 3 year old who can FINALLY swim and errands, well at the end of the day I just really wanted to sleep.

I am going to post this week's Monday Madness tomorrow, so we can call it Tardy Tuesday.

As many of you know, I hate tardiness. Especially, when said tardiness occurs without so much as a phone call, text or email. I also know I can't expect everyone else to be on time and be late myself. You all also know that I am a sucker for SWAPS. I confess, I love them. Maybe they make me feel young again, or that it is fun to shop for someone else that I feel like I have more than a few things in common with, or really maybe it is because it's guilt free shopping. Is that ever a bad thing? Hopsy over at Kappa Prep organized one of the biggest fall swaps I have seen and I was paired with the fabulous Miss Janice.

If you haven't checked out her blog, you must CLICK on over and have a read. Her tablescapes are simply stunning and I find myself wishing I owned ALL of them, but that would probably require another kitchen renovation, and well I am just not there yet. Tonight I got her package all wrapped up in pink and green Lilly P style and am mailing it off tomorrow. I am simply thrilled that I will be early for the August 28th deadline. It's the small things my friends, as I feel like I am racing the clock on so many things in my life these days. I hope Miss Janice likes her package, because I had so much fun shopping for her.

Grove Gal E and I have been busy planning al kinds of fun events and specials for the holidays, so get ready. And yes, I will admit it, I have started my must purchase list for Partner's Card weekend in Dallas.

Discount Thursday

You were probably thinking I forgot today was Thursday, I did not. The day got away from me, but I opened my email this morning to find one of my favorite stores was having a 25% off special on one of my favorite products. Happy shopping!

I think every house needs a Pulp Products board. You pick the size, the molding and the fabric background and Pulp Products will custom make your memo board. I would share with you a picture of ours, but let's just say organizing it is still on my to do list this week. I must confess the Grove household has the largest memo board and it is constantly full. Well ladies, I paid full price for mine, but for the next week you can get yours for 25% off..and that is quite a deal. So promise me you will take a moment and go have a look.

Summer may be fleeting, but you might want to take advantage of In The Pink's 40% off ALL SUMMER merchandise with code: 0812

And my favorite calorie free indulgence, Jaqua Beauty's buttercream frosting body butter is having a major sale. Take 40% off ALL ITEMS through August 16th with code: SUMMER

Kate Spade's new clothing line is out, and to celebrate take $50 off of your purchase of $200. I am loving some of the new 3/4 sleeve coats, but I am not sure how the sizing runs.

The Fit Train

I am still on it....had session number 3 of cross fit tonight. Came home to find some PGG orders to process, tucked Mini K into bed and now I must work.

I promise a real post tomorrow.

Night!

Pinky Swear

Now let me just confess this right now...my fingernails are naked and I have neglected my cuticles this past week and my Crossfit-runners feet have a date with a Bliss Foot Patrol pedicure next week. This will be D.C.'s Bliss Spa's third chance...they have screwed up my last two appointments.

I have also happily converted Grove Gal E to my way of thinking on mani-pedis....bring your own polish. Call me a control freak, but I like knowing my polish is all mine, or only shared with friends. Just being honest.

Nail polish, in my mind, is like soda. Bear with me, you are either a Coke girl or a Pepsi girl. When it comes to nail polish, I think you are either an Essie girl or an OPI girl. I am an Essie girl. I might do a color on my toes, but it is always a pale pink on my hands.

One of my favorite things about the Essie site is that you can not only shop online, but they give you a really good idea of what the color will look like.

Here are some of my favorites, all images courtesy of the one and only Essie:

Starter Wife...my absolute favorite color

High Maintenance...my second most favorite pale pink

East Hampton Cottage..a pale pink that is almost white

Eternal Optimist...a pinky beige that I have loved long before J.Crew made it famous

Put a Ripka Ring On It

Really Red...my go to red

Heavenly Sunset...a mix of pink, mauve and coral

Chubby Cheeks...love the cheery coral color

Now if only I could find the time this week for a mani-pedi. If anyone has a spare hour, please let me know where you found it.

Pinky Swear

Monday Madness-Pour Me A Big Glass Of Water

What a day. I survived day 2 of Crossfit and I have decided to go ahead and join the program. You will find me in Crossfit land 4 days a week starting tomorrow. I may decide that I need mental help or a daily massage if I can't walk after this week.

Starting today I am also limiting myself to 1, yes Grove Gal E, just 1 diet coke a day. And for you health nuts out there, yes I know diet coke is bad for me, but I rarely drink, I don't drink coffee, I don't smoke, and I workout. I think as a working mom I deserve at least one vice.

This means I need to start drinking a lot more water. As with everything in my life, I get bored easily, so plain water just won't do the trick. So today we are sporting a pitcher of water with cucumber slices...my all time favorite flavor.

My recent beverage changes are the inspiration for this week's Monday Madness. This week only our monogrammed acrylic pitcher is 20% off. So instead of the regular $38, you can purchase it for $30.40. This is a great birthday, shower or pick me up gift. SOme of my favorite ways to gift this item:

Pick Me Up: I often give this pitcher with a variety of lemonade mixes...get it when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

Birthday: Pair the pitcher with your favorite sangria recipe and ingredients.

Shower: I love to give an unusual shower gift. Wedding gifts are ALWAYS from the registry, but I confess I tend to stray for the shower. This pitcher, monogrammed with the couple's monogram goes great paired with some monogrammed paper napkins, a bottle of sweet tea vodka, some gourmet lemonade mix and a great candle. Essentially, all they need for a relaxed night of cocktails outdoors.

And all of you blogging experts...I need your help..I have no idea how I underlined the first paragraph so how do I undo it.

Mini K's Sleepover = Parents Night Out

For the record, no we did not leave Mini K and a friend all by themselves last night. Mini K's idol R (that sounds better than big girl she wants to be EXACTLY like) came over last night for Mini K's first "sleepover". Our nanny came over and watched them while Mr. Grove and I joined R's parents, Grove Gal E and her husband for what can only be described as some of the best people watching in the greater D.C. area. I also don't think that Mini K and R have ever really shoved us out the door so they could have fun with Miss Kristy without us.

We had planned to spend the evening at the new W Hotel's rooftop bar..the best view in D.C., but we had a change of plans. We ended up heading over to a sing along piano bar in National Harbor. It seems the "cool people" make a table reservation (remember this is D.C. not NYC and who ever heard of reservations at a sing along bar) so we headed upstairs to the cheap seats, or really stools. Well let me tell you, those are the only seats you should occupy, because you can see the entire bar and all of the action. Our piano players for the night were 2 guys that were dead ringers for Hall and Oats (those of you who don't know who Hall and Oats are please don't leave that in the comments), a lookalike Meatloaf and a young guy who could play Coldplay and Kings of Leon on the piano. Overall, very talented musicians. We were not prepared for the fact that ALL OF THEM had groupies that stalked them. Remember we are not talking Dave Matthews, but piano players in D.C.

But the crowd, well that was the gift that kept on giving. Imagine a mix of American Idol wannabes, Biggest Loser contestants, cowboys, college kids and Sean Combs wannabes. Seriously who knew all of these people lived in the area...and I don't think we can blame a convention on a Saturday night. I don't think we stopped laughing for 4 hours straight. Okay, maybe when we had to bust out singing some Journey, Springsteen, John Cougar, and so many more.

I spent today in my own memorial for John Hughes watching 16 Candles. I must say, nothing against Michael Jackson, but how many of you think of John Hughes movies when you think of your teenage years? In my opinion, he deserves the Staples Center 50,000 person memorial service just as much as Michael Jackson. His movies defined a generation and I don't know who will make those movies for Mini K's generation. I am guessing she ends up just watching the originals. Breakfast Club is my all time favorite.

And now it is Sunday night. It always seems to come too soon. I seem to see fall on every website, but cannot bear to think about cashmere when it is 99 degrees outside. The realization that Mini K's first day of school is in 3 short weeks. Life goes by faster each year. So to all of you, I hope you had a great weekend. This weekend proved to me yet again that sometimes the best memories are made when you have a change of plans.

Friday Find-Chic Baby Rose

I have been trying to pre-purchase some birthday presents for friends of Mini K, and pick up some things for little Mini K as well. When I feel like I cannot find anything unique, I log onto etsy. And then let's me honest, hours later, after I have lost track of time, I end up with so many ideas and a long must purchase list.

Last night, I discovered a truly talented mom, some great products, placed and order and she emailed me today that they will arrive next week. Success.

Chic Baby Rose

Let me introduce you to Kristyn, the creative lady behind Chic Baby Rose. She designs adorable embroidered felt barrettes (snap clips, a favorite in Groveland) that are classic and trendy and not like all of the other ones you see. She also has a line of cupcake jewelry (calorie free of course). I ordered one of the necklaces and some tutu flip flops for my niece's birthday later this month.

Kristyn hand sews each clip. I assumed, incorrectly, that these would take a few weeks, but was shocked when she emailed me and told me I would have my entire order next week. Custom and speedy, a working mom's dream come true.

Mini K is getting so excited to start her big girl preschool this fall. I can't wait to surprise her with this preschool clip.

These personalized name clips are sold as individual clips and party packs. What a great idea for a party favor for your next princess party? Or order the party pack, save money, and knock out quite a few birthday/holiday gifts. You can select your color felt, border and stitching. So many options. You can get a pack of 8 personalized clips for $24.95

Love this Days of the Week set, seven clips for one low price of $19.95.

How fun are these? Mini K can practice her letters and channel her inner rocker with these rock 'n' roll themed clips. The guitars remind me of Mini K's friend R.

I think I am going to highlight one of my etsy favorite sellers every Friday. And for those of you wondering what it etsy, well you simply must go find out. I will warn you...it is very addictive and you might discover that you can look up from your computer only to discover you have been looking at fabulous finds for hours.

What Was I Thinking...

I am still in recovery mode from last night, no not cocktails, but Cross Fit. I can sum it up with following description: 45 minutes of constant movement followed by a morning after of soreness and a 5lb weight loss. Am I going back? Absolutely. There was something slightly addicting about a 45 minute workout where I did not have to think, just follow instructions.

So today was spent at an offsite meeting and now I am home and looking forward to tackling my list and add more fabulous finds to PGG.

I promise to be back a little later with a Discount Thursday update. I might just post some of my favorite sale items as the stores that I want to send me codes, just haven't gotten the message.

August Rush...Monday Madness

It hit me this weekend, Mini K will be starting school in less than a month and we are now less than 4 months away from my hell week...Christmas, Mr. Grove and Mini K's birthday and New Year's. All of these can only mean one thing: I have lists EVERYWHERE.

On the bright side, Grove Gal E and I are in the process of scheduling our Holiday Home Shows in September and October. I love watching everyone pick out their cards and select their photos. Plus, Grove Gal E and I are ordering hostess gifts for all of our show hosts this year and we all know how much I love to shop.

Speaking of shopping, this week's Monday Madness is our way of helping you get your to-do list organized in style, so pick your favorite notepad (or anything else for that matter) and take 15% off ALL PURCHASES this week with code: list15