Monday, May 31, 2010

Memorial Day


This morning I am home with my children. I am home while so many brave men and women are not. Mini K will ponder what cereal to have for breakfast and whether she wants to ride her bike or her scooter, while so many children are dealing with the loss of a parent.

Saying thank you on this day just doesn't seem like enough.

Today we remember our heroes...the men and women who gave their lives so that we may have our own. I hope they know how much they mean to us.

If you see a military service member today or a military family say thank you, but most of all remember that their job keeps you and your loved safe...and FREE.

God Bless Our Military and God Bless America!

Monday, May 24, 2010

Game On....

Baby C will be 5 weeks old tomorrow. Today I had a date with Crossfit. It has been 5 weeks to the day since my last modified Crossfit workout. I thought I had done a decent job of keeping in shape during my pregnancy. I was wrong.

So tonight I thought, I am ready for this...the workout had other plans for me with the workout. Let's just say I finished the workout, and am truly appreciative that I can process PGG orders from my sofa....because I cannot move.

Crossfit you won today, but tomorrow I will be back.

I promise not to do too many Crossfit posts...those of you that follow me on twitter know I am addicted.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Best of Intentions

I had the perfect blog post planned tonight, but when it came to sitting down and posting...well Baby C decided he too needed to watch the Brooks and Dunn tribute.

So.......we watched it. She is now peacefully sleeping and I am going to follow his lead so I can be bright eyed for my thrilling appointment tomorrow morning...at the dentist.

Be happy you have something better planned, so pretty much anything other than what I will be doing!

Night

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

He Sleeps, I Blog


A week..seriously and I thought I was doing a good job about staying on top of everything! Baby C is...well....a snuggler. We didn't have that with Mini K as she had so much medication and certain positions she had to be in to help her breath so I confess I am enjoying this! Baby C sleeps like a champ during the day and from midnight until 6:30am, but from 7-11:30pm he wants to snuggle.

Well today we were gifted this, and let me tell you..I think he likes it better than me so I am able to catch up with all of you!

So here is a recap of my past week:

Processed a ton of PGG orders. We love our customers! Thank you so much for the orders and keep them coming.

Finally confirmed a coffee date with my favorite Mermaid...Baby C and I are excited.

I may have purchased a pair, or 4, of shoes from my favorite shoe store: The Shoe Hive

I have been able to carve out time for a run 5 out of the last 7 days and I now remember how much I love running.

Gotten Mini K organized for her ballet recital and the 4 birthday parties in the next 3 weeks.

I am also trying to work on a little surprise for her...Miss Trisha...an email is coming your way and I am hoping you can be our fairy godmother.

But I know when I need to ask for help and friends I need your help, in a major way, with 2 things:

1. Pasta salad recipes...NO THIS IS NOT A JOKE. Mini K is on a pasta salad kick...as in she wants to take it for lunch. Here are the rules: it must have pasta and chicken and NO tomatoes. I need recipe inspiration and blogland has never failed me.

2. New Tunes: I mentioned I have been running, well let's just say that my ipod is in need of a little dash of hip. What are your favorite or must listen to workout tunes.

I also want to say a HUGE thank you for all of the kind emails, texts, DM's and comments. Baby C was a miracle we didn't think we would know and yet here he is. We love watching Mini K be a big sister and he is such a blessing to us!

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

No More Crackers!


Tonight I decided to take on yet another organization project: my recipes. It seems te 3 shelves of cookbooks aren't enough as I have stacks (and stacks) of other recipes. A few months ago I ordered a set of matching (shocking I know!) binders and dividers with the hopes that I would have the entire house organized before Baby C's arrival. Well that didn't happen but as I type this, I am looking at neatly organized binders of recipes so I made my goal on his 3 week birthday!
I also came across one of my favorite recipes to make in the fall....and seeing as how the weather here seems to think it is fall and not March, I thought I would share it with you. Why have spinach dip with crackers when you can have it with this:

Dilly Cheese Ring with Spinach Dip

Image courtesy of www.tasteofhome.com
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups sour cream ( I use light sour cream)
1 package (10oz) chopped frozen spinach, squeezed dry and thawed
1 can drained and chopped water chesnuts (I sometimes leave these out)
3/4 cup of chopped green onions
1/2 cup mayo (again I use light Hellman's)
1 package of Knorr vegetable soup mix
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup butter (melted)
1 teaspoon dill weed
2 tubes of refrigerated buttermilk biscuits
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Directions
Combine the first 6 ingredients in a bowl to make the dip. Refrigerate, covered, until serving time.
In a small bowl, combine Parmesan cheese, butter, garlic and dill. Cut each biscuit in half. Place biscuits in an ungreased 10" fluted tube pan. Sprinkly half of the cheese over the biscuits and repeat with the remaining biscuits and cheese.
Bake at 400 degrees for 20-30 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes and take biscuits out of pan. Serve with spinach dip once biscuits are slightly warm.

The dilly bread is also great with a hearty tomato soup on a cold day.

I am hoping that the weather will warm up to where it belongs now that I have posted a fall recipe!

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Happy Mother's Day

Image and stunning flowers from Joy Events and Flowers


Happy Mother's Day to the woman who taught me the following:

How to love unconditionally

That a hug and a smile can really turn your day around, if it comes from the right person

To put my heart and best effort into everything I try

The meaning of .."because I said so"

That life is too short to wade into the water, just jump right in

That friends are the family we choose for ourselves

How to make a bed with perfect corners

You always have time for a new pair of shoes

Always pay someone to do your taxes, but know how to do them yourself first, otherwise you won't know if you are getting ripped off

A clean car is sometimes your first impression (sorry mom I am still working on that one!)

Email might be the new thing, but it never takes the place of a handwritten note

Never show up empty handed

And so many other things that I carry with me and cannot wait to pass down to Mini K and Baby C

I also want to say Happy Mother's Day to all of my blog and twitter moms and moms-to-be. Who would have thought this little piece of cyber space would have introduced me to so many amazing women!


Friday, May 7, 2010

Where Did The Week Go?

I have to confess I have been walking and running like amad woman this week. You see we I have to put a black tie dress on tomorrow...as in less than 3 weeks after having Baby C. I know every pregnant lady reading this is so thinking this is the motherhood equivalent of HELL.

Thankfully, I did not need to go to Dick's Sporting Goods and purchase a tent to bedazzle and wear. (All I can say is empire waist dresses truly are a new mom's best friend!)

It seems I have finally gotten into a schedule this week and think we have established a new normal routine in the Grove house. I have a stack of notes and photos I plan on sharing with all of you and Grove Gal E and I have some big plans for PGG. We will be sharing them with you soon and they will start with a giveaway.

I am off to get ready for this weekend and am feeling truly blessed to celebrate my first Mother's Day as the mom of two knowing they are currently sleeping soundly in their beds!

Night!

Monday, May 3, 2010

Announcing....


We have been.....SLEEPING! Sorry but this did NOT happen with Mini K so can you blame me for taking advantage of it? I have also been addressing like a crazy lady. Slecting Baby C's announcements proved to be quite a challenge. I think it is an occupational hazard of owning a stationery business...there are so many amazing choices that I had a hard time deciding..and that is unusual for me.

But this is what we finally chose:

Since Lilly isn't making too many baby boys outfits (and YES I have already purchased the Stuffed Shells print Jon Jon!), I had to go with Lilly for the birth announcements. Classic, preppy and simple. I love how they turned out!

We are finally on a schedule and I can get back to blogging and FINALLY working on the PGG website!