It's Fall Y'all!

I know that Starbuck's is serving Pumpkin Spice lattes and my Target has officially skipped Halloween and Thanksgiving, but at Casa Grove it's not fall until we make Pumpkin Chocolate Chip muffins.

Now get ready because this recipe is SUPER tough and will stretch your culinary skills:

Ingredients
1 can Libby's pumpkin pie filling
1 box yellow cake mix
1 bag of chocolate chips (we use semi-sweet)

Directions:
Open up all bags and boxes
Dump in a bowl
Stir

Spoon into your favorite muffin tin and back at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until your toothpick comes out clean.

Trust me...they will DISAPPEAR!!!!!!!!

It's also not fall until the holiday card orders start coming in!  I won't share the photo or name obviously, but one of our clients submitted what I think is the cutest card yet this year today...don't worry I asked her before I posted this!  She and her husband just found out they are expecting a girl so they decorated their mantle in pink, the husband is wearing pink button down and khakis and the mom to-be is looking oh so cute and TINY in a Lilly P dress with a sign that says It's A Girl!  These chose this sweet card and are having it printed to read:

We are dreaming of a PINK 2013 This Christmas Season!  Wishing you silent nights for 83 more days!  She messaged me that she is going to mail her cards on December 1st so the countdown is correct!  For her return address, instead of their names it will say:  We are turning pink on March xx.

I am so happy we could help her save some money with all of the diapers in her future!  Remember ALL of our digital photo cards )flat and folded) as well as our entire selection of cards where you attach your own photo are 25% off with your choice of FREE shipping or return address printing through October 8th with code:  SHOL25!  You can see all of our designs HERE.

Fall Fever

Well it's officially fall. The past few days have been a whirlwind of client meetings, school field trips, flu shots and closets switches. Throw in some last minute cello bag and bow tying, Baby C's first haircut and prepping for this week and I missed the first official day of fall, or maybe it was our super muggy weather here in D.C.!

Well tomorrow kicks off the holiday trunk show season for the Grove with Rock, Paper, Cocktails! If you are in the D.C. area please come on by for a fun event for a great cause! I promise I will blog photos of our booth.

Tonight I had promised Mini K we would make dinner together...she wanted pasta, her father wanted soup...so we compromised. I must admit it turned out pretty good!

We made Cheese Ravioli Soup

Our ingredients, or the cast of characters as Pioneer Woman calls them were:

1 tablespoon (or so) extra-virgin olive oil

1 medium onion diced

1 green bell pepper diced

3 large carrots diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper

1 28oz can of crushed tomatoes (we used the garlic fire roasted because that is what was in the pantry!)

16oz of chicken broth (or half of one of those boxes from Trader Joe's)

1 1/2 cups HOT water

chopped basil from Mini K's herb garden

1 package of Wegman's fresh 3 cheese mini ravioli

Parmesan cheese

We heated the oil in our Dutch oven and added in the onions, garlic, carrots and green pepper. After a few minutes we added in the broth, crushed tomatoes, hot water, red pepper flakes and basil and left it alone until it was at a rolling boil. We added the ravioli and let it cook for 4 minutes then turned the burner down to low.

We added th cheese to the bowls for as Mini K called it, her presentation. Since she was the chef, the side dishes were cheese crackers and cucumbers without skin.

We had a lot of fun and now I am off to watch the Good Wife before my alarm wakes me up for a 4 mile run!

What did you do this weekend?

Tricks Already

Am I the only one that cannot believe it is October 1st???? This week charged through the grove and left a few tricks in its path.

Mr. G forgot to tell me we were having a new porch installed on Monday...so when I returned home I was a little surprised to find no way in the front door...and my key to the side door inside the house! Yet another reason God invented takeout. The porch is finished...the painters are coming next week because soggy is an understatement.

And for those of you in the D.C., you have probably spent the last two days thinking the same thing I have....I love my Burberry trench but seriously did Seattle move east?

Baby C's baptism is tomorrow...tomorrow morning...as in brunch afterwards....as in my fabulous caterer that was going to take care of everything so all I needed to do was drive home from the church...

well he had a family emergency (that I completely understand!) and had to cancel yesterday.

I spent far too much time trying to find a plan B then looked at my two hands and realized I was plan B.

So the new plan is to survive tomorrow and then I am turning my focus on decorating for fall...and for those of you that live near me...get ready because Mini K and I have big plans for the Boo season!

This photo is from two years ago, but I clicked on it by accident in iphoto tonight and it made me remember some sage advice from my mom..." only you know what your original plan was, only you will know what goes wrong...to everyone else a cocktail and a smile make it perfect."

So tomorrow the menu might not have been my first choice, and heaven knows I hadn't planned on doing dishes, but I cannot wait to take some photos of Baby C in the same gown Mini K wore and be thankful that this year I am blessed with two little pumpkins!

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.