New Year, New Goals

I still cannot believe it is 2014!  2013 was an amazing year and it ended in a blur of activity.  The holiday season at the Grove was our busiest yet!  As soon as I shipped the last order I picked up Mini K's birthday cake and drove straight to her birthday party.  I may have also decorated the outside of our house in the dark, been caught wrapping presents by Mini K because I pulled an all nighter, but this past Christmas was so special.  Baby C finally got Santa and Mini K was a great big sister!  As you can tell from my lack of posts, the blog came in last and honestly, I have no regrets.  I am so thankful to have spent the time with family and friends and reflecting on 2013 as I planned for this year.

Christmas came, then Mr. G's birthday 2 days later followed by Mini K's 2 days after that.  She seemed a little tired, but had been staying up late so I didn't think much of it, well were we in for a shock at her 8 year old well check-up.  Mini K had pneumonia.  Forgive my tangent, but I determined to be more thankful for the little blessings that just appear.  I had been sent a Braun Therms VoxBox to try out the new forehead scanning thermometer.  K's doctor said we needed to monitor her temperature every hour for the first 3 days they sent us home because she can spike a high fever fast.  Did I mention that ALL she wanted to do was sleep?  Well enter my little angel aka my new thermometer!  All I had to do was swipe it across her forehead ---it didn't matter if she was awake or asleep and viola, I had her temp!  The best part is you can use this thermometer on an infant, a child or even an adult.  It is now one of my MUST HAVE products and something I will be giving to new moms!

I am spending this week updating the website and getting ready for our first buying trip of 2014!  We will be launching some new custom products this year as well as adding some non-personalized gifting options in the under $25 and under $50 categories.

New Year's Resolutions have never been a big thing for me, but I am big on goals for the year.  I tend to want to achieve goals and resolutions tend to be forgotten by February!  So here are my goals for 2014:

1.  Cook one new recipe a week. (Keeping it real grilled cheese with a new kind of cheese counts!).  I will be posting these recipes on the blog of Wednesdays this year, so please check out What's for Dinner Wednesday and let me know if you do a similar post as I would love to read.

2.  Write more letters just because!  I know the cost of stamps is increasing, but I LOVED getting everyone's holiday cards in my mailbox so I am going to try to keep it up in the new year by sending the kids godparents random photos and notes of the kids.  The best part, Mini K is joining me on this...she thinks it is fun and has no clue it will help her handwriting!

3.  Entertaining.  I have spent the last 3 years either planning for a renovation, construction, unpacking from construction or decorating.  The reality is, I will always have a house project, the next one, our butler's pantry, starts in 7 weeks but we built this house so we could have space to entertain and then I let life become an obstacle rather than an avenue to entertain.  So this is year we will open our house up to family, friends and neighbors.  Let the party planning begin.

4.  Girlfriends.  I haven't decided on a cooking club, a bookclub or a pinterest party, but 2014 will also be the year I make time ( and host) and once a month girls night!

5.  Be Accountable To My Health.  I have always worked out, but not really with a plan.  I made Crossfit a priority in December and have seen HUGE improvement in my strength so I am adding nutrition in January along with running.   Two feet in casts in one year made me scared of running.  The thought of not being able to drive for 6 more weeks is terrifying to a control freak like myself.  But I ran over the holidays and realized how much I missed it.

SO there they are...if you know me feel free to call me out on any of these goals.  One of my biggest jobs as a mother is to set an attitude of CAN DO for my kids instead of EXCUSES and kids learn from examples and actions not words.

Happy New Year

It has been a month exactly since my last post.  Our house construction is over, Christmas came and went, Mini K is now officially 7 and a new year has begun.  I am so thankful for all of you!  The Grove had another record year and I am hopeful for 2013!  I have new products in store and some custom designs I have been wanting to release.

I started this blog as an outlet for my business, but since the first post my life has changed so much.  Baby C wasn't around for the first post, my day job was at a firm and now it is another company that I own and Mini K was still relatively a baby.  This blog has evolved and in my month off I have realized that I needed a break from it to see if I missed it, and I have!!!  I will still post new products and discounts at the Grove, as well as my love affair with Ebates (especially in February when I can purchase my annual Ebates bag as I call it!), but I always wanted to keep this blog real which means sometimes you will get the ugly truth too.

I do not subscribe to the notion that you need to be married or have kids to be busy, to feel like your schedule is out of control and you have no idea why.  For those of you that know me, you know that I don't really do New Year's Resolutions, but I go set New Year's goals.  I find them to be much nicer sounding than a resolution.  A resolution feels like you are doing something wrong and I believe that most of us are doing the best we can to survive and thrive in this craziness called life.

So...here are my 2013 New Year's Goals
1.   365 Stamps:  I am going to put something personal in the mail EACH and EVERY day.  Sure I could send an email, but I know how much it means to me to receive a hand written card in the mail.  So if you live close or far away, I will hopefully be in your mailbox sometime this year!

2.  WATER:  I will drink more water, plain, not iced tea, not Market Pantry flavored, just water.

3.  Me Time:  It is so hard to get caught up in life that we as women forget to take time for ourselves.  This year I will read books, needlepoint, go for a longer run, whatever, I just won't forget me in the process because if I don't take time for me I cannot be who I want to be for others.

4.  Finish one project at a time.  I have a habit of starting 6 projects and attempting to work on all of them at the same time.  I am going to try something new this year and do one at a time.

5.  Leave My Comfort Zone:  This scares me more than you will ever know, but the only way truly amazing things can happen is if I leave my comfort zone.  I won't say I will be brave enough to do it daily, but at least once a week, I will leave my comfort zone behind and do something that scares me!

I am so happy to be back to blogging and will be back on Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest so follow along!

I hope you all had a very happy holiday season and 2013 brings you more blessings than 2012!

Happy New Year!!!!!!

I hope all of you had a great New Year's Eve! Mr. G and I did something the unthinkable...we called our babysitter at 3pm, told her we would pay her for the evening, but she didn't have to watch the kids. We wanted to stay home. I think we made her night and it was the best money we have ever spent. We officially are the parents to a SIX YEAR OLD daughter...I have no clue where the years have gone, but it doesn't feel like our lives have been blessed with her for siz years. We went to Starbuck's yesterday morning and Mini K said, I am one-third of the way to college. That statment hit me as how fast time flies. It goes by even faster if you don't have a plan. So last night we had a different kind of New Year's, one that involved baking cookies, reading stories and I wouldn't change any moment.

I took the last week off from blogging. I needed to re-focus, reflect and think about this new year. I have a lot of plans for the Grove this year: new products, a new website, more shows and more products made by the Grove itself! 2012 is also the year we do our final addition on our house so the past week has been busy with contractor and architect meetings as we are hoping to break ground by the middle of February.

2012 will also be Mini K's first year at Camp Greystone and I cannot thank Hopsy enough for her tips and emails. Mini K wanted to pack the morning of her birthday and is so excited! Baby C will turn 2 and I am sure his boundless energy will turn into double trouble!

Mr. G will no doubt continue his much needed guys weekend and I cannot wait for my January girls weekend.

As for my day job, the presidential primaries are literally around the corner and I am thankful that the American public and NOT the BCS will be making the decisions!

I spent an hour yesterday setting goals, for myself. I am not a resolution person, because I think resolutions tend to come with pressure! 2012 is the year I will keep myself focused and positive every single day! So many of you have done posts about learning to accepting saying YES and I have been so inspired them. I hope 2012 is the year we can all see our lives for the good, see the positive in our friends and family (even when they are driving us crazy) and remember how fast time goes by so remember that the present you might want to rush through will soon be the past!

Happy New Year!!!

19 Days and Counting

What is with the calendar this year? It is only the 6th of December and yet I know I am not alone in feeling like Christmas is TOMORROW.

I just hung up with a client who was placing a photo card order. She was SHOCKED that her order would ship on Monday if she ordered it today. She was convinced she would have to RUSH it.

Her call is one of many today so I knew I had to write a post. Grove Gal E and I wanted to make our paper site easy for you: our clients and friends! You upload your photo AND approve your proof when you place your order so there is NO waiting for a proof to be emailed to you.

Orders placed today will ship next week and that leaves you plenty of time to beat Santa to the mailbox!

I do have to admit that I LOVE some of the New Year's Cards that people are ordering today! My favorite so far says:

We wanted to be early!

Happy New Year!

and the other says:

Fashionably Late = Happy New Year!

I love getting cards the week between Christmas and New Year's as it makes you remember the real reason for the season: friends and family and not all of the after Christmas retail frenzy.

As always, Grove Gal E and I are here to help so PLEASE email us if you need assistance with your photo or order.

And remember...you have 19 days until Christmas, so grab a red Starbucks cup (or solo cup), take a deep breath and enjoy the season and let us do the work for you!

1.1.11

Happy New Year! I know many people start today with resolutions and we have a few of them, but today, above all else, we are THANKFUL!

We are thankful for all of our amazing customers who supported us this year. You invited us to be a part of the births of your children, engagements, special birthday, your holidays and even those days when you just needed a little pick me up!

I am sure you noticed we took a little break from blogging...let's just say that UPS added an extra dose of stress to the holidays both at the Grove and at Casa Grove. Our shipments from the North Pole this year came via UPS rather than sleigh and let's just say the sleigh, or walking them down would have taken less time.

The holidays are now behind us and we are so excited for 2011. For some reason, I have a feeling it is going to be a great year!

So for my resolutions...I have some for both the Grove and myself.

For the Grove

1. A facelift for the website..you see will see some products leave and some new ones come on...as always EMAIL us if you don't see something as most of our work is custom tailored to our clients and we are ALWAYS happy to help!

2. More products under $30...you asked and we listened. Some will be personalized and some won't, but let's just say that anyone who unwraps one of these items won't think it cost less than $30

3. Tweens..the age group I don't like to shop for, because well have you tried shopping for this group? This year we will tackle it!

4. Happies Tied With a Bow. This is what we are calling them. Look for Valentine's Day, Teachers Gifts, Camp Care Packages and Group Graduation Gifts...custom designed and in your hands with just a few clicks. You have enough on your to-do list, we will help you give in style!

Now For My 2011

1. Adopt a modified Primal Blueprint diet and drink more water. I can't do everything I need and want to do without energy so I have to take care of myself!

2. Don't skimp on things I can't replace like my skin, hair and nails. In the craziness of this fall I forgot hair appointments, my cuticles and that bump on my foot. Not this year!

3. Relationships: I am only going to invest in a relationship what I get out of it. This might sound rude, but I feel like last year I spent a lot of time on others that didn't invest in their friendship with me. As a result, I feel like I didn't have time for other friends.

4. Remember that each day is only going to come around once. This sounds so simple, but trust me, I know this will be hardest resolution to keep.

One of my mentors gave me a great piece of advice over the holidays and I thought I would share it:

As women we try to do so much for others that at times we forget about our own needs and happiness. World piece would be nice, but sometimes a new handbag is what we need. Know yourself and plan. Start each year thinking in quarters...they year doesn't seem so scary. Have a personal goal and splurge for each quarter. For example, call a friend a day and workout xx times a week or make an effort to have lunch with a friend once a week and eat dinner as a family. Your splurge has to be something that is classic, a classic bag, a new charm for your bracelet, a drawing of your home or child.

Impulse purchases and relationships don't last and we rush into them when we don't have a plan. Sh is a wise lady that has accomplished so much.

So remember in 2011, you can't give your best to others if you don't take care of yourself!

Happy New Year!

Welcome 2010 or Twenty-Ten...Which Is It?

I hope all of you had a fabulous holiday and 2010 is off to a great start. Groveland has been a bit hectic, but I have enjoyed every minute.

We survived the snow storm....I think our city's definition of snow removal is ...snow melts. Yes that is right 4 days for a plow to grace our street. If I didn't think it before, this is why we own not 1 but 2 4 wheel drive SUV's, and in case any of you are environmentalists, 1 of them is a hybrid.

Grove Gal E and her husband joined us for Christmas dinner and Mini K declared it the best Christmas E-V-E-R! It was followed 2 days later by Mr. Grove's birthday and 2 days after that Mini K turned 4. I must say, Lulu stole the show on Mini K's birthday by sending her flowers. Flowers I should say that Mini K has shown to the mailman, our neighbors and pretty much told anyone she came into contact with about. She has even tasked with me with keeping them alive until school starts on Monday so she can show her friends.

Our New Year's was actually so much fun. Our plans? NOTHING! We dined on bar-b-que and homemade mac 'n' cheese, watched some college football and went to bed early. What can I say sometimes low key is the best.

I want to thak all of you for a great 2009...PGG had the best year yet and we have so many fun things in store for 2010.

I should start by saying the Grove will be growing in April, but more on that later this week.

The week of Christmas is always a busy one with Mr. G and Mini K's birthday as well so I am now focusing on planning Mini K's 4 th birthday party. My new year is also starting out with 4 bins of Mini K's spring clothes that no longer fit that will soon be available on ebay. We are NOT telling Mr. Grove that most of them were only worn two or three times...okay?

And with that confession I am off to watch the ever educational (NOT) Hangover with Mr. G.