Thursday, June 23, 2011

Instant Caffiene Boost

It's calorie free
Takes away morning eyes
Makes it okay if you forget to put on makeup before you leave the house
Saves you time

It sounds to good to be true doesn't it? I thought so, but couldn't resist trying it and I have ZERO regrets!

It is Lashdip and I couldn't be happier. Our good friends Brian and Amy just opened up Nectar Skin Bar in D.C. and are the only spa in town offering Lashdip. Now before I tell you about Lashdip can I just say if you are in the D.C., Virginia or Maryland area, head on over to Nectar...the store is stunning, the treatment rooms peaceful and it is packed with the most amazing products. I picked up a tweezerman baby manicure set to keep in my car for when Baby C decides to get a case of the scratches. I could have shopped longer, but it was time for my appointment and it didn't disappoint.

The Lashdip site describes the service as:
"Dipping" your lashes just once allows you to maintain gorgeous, beautifully sculpted, semi-permanent painted lashes for up to six weeks!
  • Low Maintenance, High Style
  • Wake Up Beautiful
  • Cut Your Makeup Routine In Half
  • No Hassling With Mascara
  • Shower, Swim, Sweat
It took about an hour to apply the Lashdip and I needed to keep my eyes dry for 4 hours after the application (thankfully no rain!) and when I woke up this morning (LATE!) I couldn't believe how my eyelashes worked.

I promise to take a photo, but I am sold. I have dark lashes to start with, but mascara and I have a longstanding war that I am the constant loser in. Waterproof is never waterproof or sweatproof and my eyes look like they have a case of the clumps. Not anymore...I now have long lashes, no clumps and don't have to worry about them for over a month. I threw on some concealer and lip gloss and was out the door in 10 minutes.

Did I mention, you get $50 off your first "dip" at Nectar. Does it get any better than looking well rested AND saving money?

Seriously ladies, find a Lashdip spa in your area! Less makeup equals more sleep!

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Summer Is Too Short To Do Dishes



Summer is officially here! I had the not so bright idea to kick it off with a 30 Paleo Diet Challenge...no one said I was smart!

Summer is also the season of visits with friends and family, backyard parties and entertaining galore. I love selecting a menu (well before the Paleo challenge!), cooking, seeing or visiting friends, but the clean up...not so much.

Grove Gal E feels the same way so we have been on a hunt for the past year for high quality personalized styrofoam cups (yes I know environmentalists hate them!), because ladies don't sweat and this includes their beverage of choice!

We are happy to report we have found a supplier that passes our test and the prices are great too! The cups come in sizes ranging from 4oz to 32oz and you can pick your favorite size, monogram style and color.

50 Cups are $48 and the more you order the better the price. We think they are the perfect gift to when visiting friends houses, for your next family reunion, for a housewarming or a send off for your favorite college student...and don't forget yourself. You deserve to take a break from all those dirty glasses!

We are working to get these on our website, but for now email us at grovegifts@gmail.com and we will be happy to help you with your selections and ordering.

Cheers!

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Smoked Chicken Salad Dip

If you thought I was going to post a recipe think again. Mini K has been talking NONSTOP about this dish and her desire to make it.

There is one problem...actually make that 2:

1. I have NO CLUE where she ever ate this and don't think I have had it myself (it does sound good)

2. Cannot find a recipe for it online anywhere

So instead we made turkey and brie turnovers, homemade macaroni salad and have an apple crisp all ready to go in the oven for Father's Day lunch.

I find this entire search quite funny as each day Mini K says she wants to be a chef no less than 5 times!

I know so many of you have exciting Saturday night plans, but brace yourselves you might want to cancel them to join me...

I have a date with roughly 500 torn out magazine pages, some dividers and some pink and green 3-ring binders and 3 bags of Lilly Pulitzer, Mini Boden and Pink Chicken to photograph so I can list on ebay on Monday evening.. Organization will be mine tonight!

While I do love Pinterest, there is something about a magazine that I never will be able to fully embrace online only. Mr. G makes fun of me because I have a wedding binder...that I started AFTER we got married, but then again I do introduce him as my first husband. KIDDING. Mini K will have a library to go through by the time she gets married, and if Mr. G figures out a way to hire SEAL Team 6 to accompany her to college and guard her until she is 40, I might need to rent a building to hold all of the binders!

Happy Saturday!


Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Our Cup Is Full

So sorry I haven't posted in almost a week. THANK YOU so much for all of your thoughts, prayers and emails. Baby C's surgery was yesterday and while there were some surprises, he was so strong and is feeling so much better.

We thought it would be a simple surgery, tubes in, ear infections gone, but it seems Baby C isn't clumsy, he has had severe vertigo his entire life. Our amazing surgeon drained his ears, nose and sinuses and Baby C's little body had 8oz of let's just say gunk in them. To make matters worse, the gunk was highly infected so it made coming out of the anesthesia a little rough.

I wish I would have had my camera, but I never think about taking them to the hospital for surgeries, only to capture photos of a sweet new baby! When he came to, he shook his head and gave us the biggest smile. He hasn't stopped moving sense. He is no longer clumsy, just on the move. Poor thing has had that stuff in his head his entire life. They now think the same gunk just kept getting reinfected.

We have some smelly (really smelly) ear drops and some extra strength pain meds for the next 2 days, but otherwise are back to a new pain free normal for our little guy.

I always go into nesting, cooking overdrive before surgery. I did it with Mini K and I did the same thing this past weekend. I also don't really sleep so I have been emailing so many of you some of my middle of the night finds. I promise to share all with you over the next few days.

But now, everyone but Mr. G is asleep, and he has promised to keep the yelling at Game 7 of the Stanley Cup to a low voice so I am going to sleep!

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Yes I Know This Is Weird


This is something that after years of firendship Grove Gal E just accepts from me. I plan ahead. I usually start planning as one thing is ending.

In this case, it was Mini K's last week of school and the arrival of my gold momagenda for next year. All of our teacher gifts are wrapped and ready to take to school tomorrow. I let Mini K pick these out every year and then I try to think of something clever to say on the card. This year she wanted to give monogrammed ribbon key fobs...so I tied them up with with a key shaped card that said: thanks for being the key to a great year!. We put them in cello bags with some candy and a starbucks keychain giftcard and tied them with some matching ribbon.

I have spent the rest of my week getting ready for Mini K's ballet recital on Saturday (flowers ordered & hairspray purchased!), charging the camera and organizing all of my magazine clippings so I am ready to meet with our architect tomorrow. My mom always surprised me with a gift on the last day of school and in her typical organized fashion she kept a list of what she gave me each year. She found the list last year while she was recovering and mailed it to me as proof that I did inherit my list making penchant from her. The scary thing...I have given Mini K almost exactly what she gave me for the last 2 years. Tomorrow she is getting a ladybug charm bracelet. Her favorite thing this year has been science and she has loved learning the names of insects and plants. I cannot wait to give it to her.

The big surprise is my mom is finally strong enough to travel and cleared from her radiation treatments! We are so thankful she is getting stronger and cannot wait for her to arrive tomorrow...Mini K has no idea and will be so excited!

So this brings me to my planning and the photo on this post....tonight I am starting my Christmas gift list. I do this every year and my goal is always to have my shopping finished by September not including teacher's gifts. I also try and pick out my hostess gifts for the holiday season and get them ordered so I have them ready to go. I always think there are so many good sales over the summer that I might as well take advantage of them and cross things off my list!

What can I say, I am a planner...I wonder if I can blame this on my love affair with school supplies as a child?

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Sprint to the Finish




I am still in denial that tonight is Sunday night. This weekend flew by. One of my best friends from college was in town this weekend with her husband.

Baby C tried to keep up with his sister on Friday night and as you can see, it didn't end well for him, it was quiet for us!
On Saturday we went to the Kenny Chesney concert. Needless to say, it was an unbelievable experience watching the show from the wings backstage. We had the best time and the perfect weather. The one thing you couldn't help but notice, his entire team, assistants, the band, etc all were southern and truly seemed to get along and like each other.

Tonight I am getting things ready for school, because tomorrow starts Mini K's last official week in Pre-K. This year has flown by and I still cannot believe my first born will be in kindergarten next year. I start a file every September. In September the file is empty, but during the school year I fill it with her art projects I want to keep, cards she has given me, schoolwork, class pictures and all of the funny things she says that I write down on little scraps of paper. I am not really a scrapbooking type, but this year I did purchase the Momagenda School Years book, personalized with her name of course, and brace yourselves, in green NOT pink. It is a deal at $32! Tonight I put everything in the pre-k section of the book. I will add the last day of school in front of the front door photo I always take and I now have an empty folder, waiting to be filled up in KINDERGARTEN!


I cannot tell you how much I love this book! It is a great price and only $4.95 to have personalized. If you spend $45 you can get free shipping with code: SHIP2011 and you can save 10% on your purchase with THIS LINK.
I also ordered my momagenda for next year in the soft gold and need to start filling it with summer schedules and next years dates.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Weekend Prep


Grove Gal E and I had a trunk show last night so the week has been a bit crazed! It was so much fun to share our products with our friends. We spent today making sure everyone's orders were wrapped and ready for the last day of school teacher gifts and camp care packages.

I can now focus on tomorrow. One of my dearest friends from college is coming to town, and tomorrow is her birthday! We are so excited to spend the weekend with her and her husband. I know she won't read this before she arrives in D.C. so she won't know that I am preparing a basket to leave at her hotel of all of her favorite D.C. items that she cannot get in Pittsburgh!
This Colossal Happy Birthday Cupcake from Crumbs being one of them!

On Saturday, Grove Gal E and I will be making our first of many trips to Nectar Skin Bar. Nectar has its Grand Opening on Saturday and is owned by a friend of ours. I think we are still in shock that he is opening a skin bar, but we couldn't be happier for him. You don't really have to twist our arms to purchase makeup, lotion and other goodies. If you live in D.C., or are planning to visit, please put Nectar Skin Bar on your shopping list!