Something to Remember

I haven't felt like blogging.  There isn't one thing, but just haven't felt like it.  Over the past week I have missed it.  I am now officially 38, my youngest is now almost 3 and another summer is taunting me in the not too distant future, but I have realized that the feeling of being unsettled might go away if I come back to just writing it all out, the good bad, the stuff that makes you wonder if I have lost it, essentially life!

This weekend was a reminder of how precious life is and how fast it can change.  I am a wife, a mother and the owner of two companies and I do not think I would be able to do any of these things without the wisdom and guidance of those that have gone before me.  I remember watching the news as a kid and not really knowing who the famous people were whose lives as ended.  Now it seems I remember them all...talk about feeling old.

The world has lost two amazing women in the last 72 hours:  Margaret Thatcher and Lilly Pulitzer.  One of them ran a country and the other created an empire based on living life to the fullest...neither required a discussion of the theory of "leaning in" neither took sides in the working mom vs. stay at home mom debate, both of them just lived their lives and did.

I can look in my closet, as well as Mini K's and Baby C's and see the impact that Lilly Pulitzer had on the world.  Her clothes make us smile, they make us think of vacations, and parties and family photos.  They are a wearable pick me up that were created out of one women's need to solve a problem and in solving the problem of juice stains she gifted us all with generations of happy memories, laughter and smiles.

Mini K had a date on Friday night...with her Daddy and without a moment's hesitation said I need to wear a Lilly dress.  Even 7 year olds know that a Lilly Pulitzer dress can change an evening!

Margaret Thatcher taught us all that a tough women is not another word for a witch.  She showed us how to go toe to toe with a man without the need for a quota or special help...in fact I think a lot of men wished they didn't pick a fight with her as it didn't end well for them.

Leave it to these two women to get me back to blogging.  I am not sure if anyone is still reading, but I am happy to be back!

It's Lilly Time

Well let's be honest, we can always make time for Lilly! Our spring shipment of Lilly gift items is in and we are busy busy packing, wrapping and shipping.

If you didn't take advantage of our special we will give you another chance!

All orders of Lilly P merchandise over $50 ship for FREE!!!!!! We are working hard to get all orders out tomorrow and PROMISE we will get everything on the site shortly.

But here is a tip:

ipad covers, we have them

iphone 4 covers, we have them

bracelets, we have them

koozies, we have them

coolers, we have them

In other words, if it's not on the photo just leave a comment here or on our Facebook page and we will send you a photo!

And speaking of Facebook, if you haven't liked us, you should. Our Facebook fans will be the first to know about specials and for those of you that don't live near us, we are bringing our gifts in a bag to Facebook. Gifts in a bag are our solution to what to put in a Easter Basket, camp care packages, party favors, etc.

Wrap It Up..

We have been enjoying fall weather for all of 4 days and I have a new obsession. This time it's not paper, but another kind of wrap.

If you haven't checked out Lilly's new fall line, then let me introduce you to fleece, and cotton and cashmere and even sparkle! I'm talking about the new line of wraps. My collection started with the Norma fleece wrap...ADORE! If you don't own it, buy it. I wear it with my Lilly yoga pants to Mini K's lacrosse, to crossfit, to the store, well you get the idea.

I had purchased a cashmere Weslee in purple last spring, but will be adding this new jewel green one to my collection. Since I pretty much just wear black, chocolate brown and dark charcoal from head to toe for work, I rely on my wraps and jewelry to brighten my outfits up.

Then I saw the Babs wrap in apricot...and it is reversible. You know I keep it real here so it shouldn't be a surprise that my kiddos spill, or grab me with grubbie little fingers so I love the idea of a quick turnaround and I am fresh and stain free again.

Then came the Babs wrap...in cable cashmere...hello cashmere AND Lilly, twist my arm, but only after I hand over my Amex...now I need to decide on a color.

Of course I had a little helper as I was clicking through the Lilly site, and Mini K can spot sparkle a mile away. I think her exact quote was "Momma, this will match my Tommy shoes!" Yes the TOMS shoe craze has hit the pre-K group and Mini K loves to wear her hot pink peace sign shoes. Well, in this case I think she might be correct, how adorable is this gold metallic Minnie Shere sweater? I think it might solve my constant battle of bribing her to wear a sweater.

The presents can wait, for now I am wrapping myself up in Lilly!

Just Around The Corner

We are heading to Nemacolin on Friday...Mr. Grove, myself, Mini K, Baby C and thank God Miss J is coming with us! I had everything laid out tonight so packing tomorrow would be easy and Mr. Grove's comment was the spare bedroom looks like the cutting room floor of a Lilly manufacturing plant. Only a man would compare clothing to a manufacturing plant!

This might sound strange, but my favorite time of year to waer Lilly Pulitzer is fall. I know I should say spring, or summer and I wear it then too, but there has always been something about the fall collection that I must have...okay who are we kidding and this year is no different.

I have heard rumors there will be some pieces designed for yoga and I promise you they will be in my closet. Mini K has one request for pre-K and that is she wear Lilly her first day of school. She did last year...and come to think of it wore it on the last day as well!

The Grove will be carrying the new Lilly Pulitzer Fall 2010 stationery and gift line. We are so excited to debut the umbrellas, iphone covers, water bottles and desk calendars for (gulp!) 2011. Grove Gal E and I are planning a Holiday preview party complete with pink cocktails so drop us your email if you live in the D.C. area and want an invite.

The photos from the fall home line are out and I am purchasing this set...if only I could snap my fingers and have a room painted with these perfect stripes without the hassle of well having a painter paint said stripes. For those of you that know me, you are wondering what room I plan on putting this set in. My answer is simple...at the moment none, but I have been collecting Lilly P bedding since it was sold in Lilly stores for the vacation house that we are on track to purchase in the next 2 years.

Image courtesy of Lilly Pulitzer

I think for me the best part of fall is anticipating it. I might be alone, but I swear just thinking about fall temps, the leaves changing colors cools me off on a hot August day and August will be here tomorrow it seems.

I hate that retailers are rushing things...I like that Lilly Pulitzer doesn't have tons of photos of the fallc ollection plastered everywhere right now...I want to enjoy the summer.

I went into CVS today to purchase sunscreen and you know what I saw...CANDY CORN...not joking! Seriously...why not just bring out the Christmas trees tomorrow!

The Secret's Out...Happy Birthday Grove Gal E

I don't always do a good job of keeping secrets so rather than letting something slip I just took a few days off from blogging (yes I know I have been doing that a lot lately!).

Today is Grove Gal E's birthday! I have to wish the best business partner ever a very happy birthday...I even arranged for a must see night of tv...because I know you are all watching RHONJ Season Finale.

In order to catch Grove Gal E off guard, her husband planned a surprise party for her yesterday and left the invites, cakes and details to me. We of course went with a Lilly P pink and green theme and I even managed to take some photos! My favorite part was seeing Grove Gal E's reaction to the cake.

Lilly Sale Recap

First, thank you all so much for your comments on my Gulf Coast post. I promise to let you know where we decide to go...we are leaning towards Florida or Alabama coast....haven't quite figured out how to tell Mini K that she cannot blame the oil spill on why she will not find any snow to ski on in July/August.

Speaking of Mini K....she has survived her first Lilly Warehouse Sale and LOVED it. I wish I had a photo of her with the giant pink bag that was 3 times the size of her. She had all of her things packed in her backpack, her pillowpet (pink of course) and a huge smile as we checked into the hotel.

Then it was off to shop, shop and shop some more. Clearly we found a few things!

She couldn't wait to wear a new dress and sported this one on her last day of nursery school. I cannot believe Mini K will be in pre-K come fall. She spent the drive up and back "reading," signing her name and telling me about all of the adventures she wanted to do this summer. Miss J our AMAZING nanny started with us full time today and Mini K literally fell asleep as soon as she finished her dinner. Let the summer fun begin!

A Monster of A Good Time...Recap Part 2

I promised you the rest of my warehouse recap. I must say thank you to the amazing ladies who organized such a fun meet up in the KoP. I met so many truly talented women and I also must thank them for helping me spread the word about a friend's new business. And full disclosure...NO I don't work for this business, but I do think it is simply FABULOUS.

Dawn is the talent behind Monster Cookie Co. and let me say her cookies are not only STUNNING they taste great. After all how could a business based on creativity and pink & green not be a success. She was kind enough to make some Lilly P themed cookies that I was only too happy to share. I still cannot get over the fact that the icing is all done by hand.

This might be my new favorite handbag....

A miniture version of the Originals Collection....

Here are a few of Dawn's ther creations...

These cookies are like a walking tour of D.C.--without the traffic, lines or blisters!

Can you believe this is a cookie?

I am a Texan, but after attending college in Boston, I must say I do love the Red Sox Nation!

So if you are looking for a great care package, gift or party favor, just tell Dawn your theme, wait for your delivery man and look like Martha Stewart with time to spare!

Trip Recap Part 1

I am back from the pink haze known as the Lilly Pulitzer Warehouse Sale. I had a mission, well besides shopping all of the amazing deals. I wanted to thank Trisha and the rest of Lilly Team for showing Mini K so much kindness before her surgery last spring. Well we all know that in the South we cook to say thank you....or in my case we call in the help of a professional. The professional in this case was a professional baker who is also a Lilly lover!

Excuse the photos taken in my car before the delivery, but I forgot to take them before I left for the sale. Words couldn't express how thankful I always will be to the Lilly team, but I hope the sugar helped during all of those crazy sale hours!

With my mission accomplished, it was time to shop, and shop I did. The girls sample size was Mini K's size so I stocked up, picked up more than a few Christmas gifts and of course a few things for me. The sale really was well worth the trip and after a quick rest I joined

some fellow Lilly lovers for dinner. It was so much fun, but truly deserves its own post.

Pink & Green Are In My Future

The Grove has been busy....and we are thrilled! The last week has been a blur of processing holiday orders, my day job, and too many children's birthday parties to count, but all of them fun.

But starting tomorrow, for the next 36 hours, I am letting Calgon take me away (BTW, if you don't know what that means, please DON'T email me and make me feel old!). My Calgon of choice will be the Lilly Warehouse Sale, a fun evening with some fabulous bloggers and two long drives without a Disney movie playing.

I promise to update all of you in my haze of pink and green. I am also choosing to ignore the fact that come Friday morning I will be back at work!