The Nie Recovery

I wanted to share this post from my Daughter's Blog today: QUOTE: Thursday, August 28, 2008 "The Nie Recovery Some of you who are obsessive bloggers and blog-readers like myself may have also come across the story of Stephanie and Christian Nielson who were involved in a plane crash on August 16th (read the story here). I don't remember where I first came across the news, but I have since spent hours (yes actual hours of my days) reading about this cute family and their extended family. I have read the old posts on Stephanie's blog, The NieNie Dialogues, and now check her sister's blog, C Jane Enjoy It, daily (and have read all her old posts as well).The accident itself was obviously a tragedy, but I have been so moved reading about how this family has come together to support one another and how many other bloggers are doing what they can to help as well. Although I may not be in a position to donate to their recovery, spreading the word so they receive extra prayers is something I can do! Click the picture below for the website set up in their behalf: "

I was so touched by this amazing story. Please help spread the word.

JUST IN!

We are so excited about our

NEW ... PERSONALIZED BUCKETS !

Our new monogrammed buckets are the cutest thing in town! Each personalized bucket will be custom made for you using a special 5 step process. There are endless uses for these adorable buckets! Fill `em up and give it as a gift, store odds and ends or a special collection in a colorful bucket, display a bucket on a shelf or table. We love them and so will you!

These adorable buckets can be used for virtually anything from adding a cute touch to a house plant to storing toiletries in the dorm room. The bucket is covered with fabric and is monogrammed using the thread color of your choice. A specialized process is used to permanently seal the fabric. We have great fabrics to choose from! Share your ideas, what would you use these cute buckets for?

And The Winner Is..............

Thanks to all who participated in our first Blog Contest.Miss Ella came over today to pick the winning name.

And the Winner is........................BlueViolet!

Calling Princess Ella

Tomorrow at noon Miss Ella

will be drawing the winning name for our contest.

Contest Ends Wednesday..........

We'll be will drawing the Winning Name from

our contest this Wednesday, 8/20.

We are accepting entries until

12:00 Noon ~ Central Time.

Get your shopping list ready girls!

Year of The Frog

Many years ago, I nicknamed my adorable dad "Frog". I don't even remember exactly how it happened. I've been told when I was a little girl in Jacksonville Florida,on a foggy day, I would say,"it sure is froggy outside".

Frog and The Girls

I think my dad got a big kick out of that. My children have all grown up calling grandpa "grand-frog"and now we have 2 little grandaughters who lovingly call him "great-frog". Needless to say, we love Frogs! Great-Frog and Grammie

Since 2008 is the Amphibian Ark "Year of The Frog", we just had to celebrate in honor of "Frog"!

We've added a "Frog" category under

Check it out! We're adding some new items this week.

The Pink and Green Event

Congratulations Kayley and Scott!

Our Big Day, 08/08/08 was beautiful. We are so excited to get the pictures from our photographer, Janna Beecher. She did our wedding on Friday, flew back to Florida to do a wedding Saturday and now this week she and her little family are moving! We don't mind waiting Janna! In the meantime, here are some pictures some friends and family have shared of our "Pink and Green Affair". A dear friend, Sharon Houg, made our cake. Kayley drew what she wanted and Sharon did her design for us. We wanted a "Candy Bar" for the reception. Thanks Holly, for getting this picture for us! We gave all the guests sparklers to light as Kayley and Scott went off for their Honeymoon. They were displayed on a table with an "Advice Jar".

Now I can use one of my apothecary jars to put your names in for the drawing on August 20th.

Hope and I have been writing your names. I'll have little Ella draw the name of our winner. Thanks to all of our sweet customers for sharing this special time with our family!

4 More Days!

This week I will be totally consumed with the final wedding plans! Everything is coming together. Thank goodness for wonderful friends! I've been adding your names for the drawing. Thanks for posting. For now I'm just wearing my "Mother of The Bride" hat. It will all be over before I know it.

Surprise Cookies

Martha Stewart features a "Cookie of the Day". I love trying new cookie recipes and this one looks really yummy!Makes about 2 dozen Ingredients: 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 3/4 cup cocoa powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened 1 cup sugar 1 large egg 1/2 cup milk 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 12 large marshmallows, cut in half horizontally Chocolate Frosting for Surprise Cookies Directions: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add egg, milk, and vanilla, and beat until well combined. Add reserved flour mixture; mix on low speed until combined. Using a tablespoon or 1 3/4-inch ice cream scoop, drop dough onto ungreased baking sheets, about 2 inches apart. Bake until cookies begin to spread and become firm, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove baking sheets from oven, and place a marshmallow, cut-side down, in the center of each cookie, pressing down slightly. Return to oven, and continue baking until marshmallows begins to melt, 2 to 2 1/2 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting. Spread about 1 tablespoon of frosting over each marshmallow, starting in the center and continuing outward until marshmallow is covered.

Fun Summer Ideas with Watermelon!

AMERICANA BASKET

Using an oblong watermelon, slice ¼ inch off the bottom lengthwise to provide a stable base. Use a pencil to draw lines for handle placement and basket opening.

Cut the handle first, wide enough to hold stars, then make zig-zag cuts with a paring knife, all the way through the rind (be careful to not cut through handle base on either side). Carefully remove sections, pull out large chunks of flesh, and cut them into 3” x 3" squares. From squares, trim off 3/4" thick slices to use for cutting out stars. To cut stars use 1 1/2" to 3" star shaped cookie cutters. Next, cut out 5 large star shaped pieces from the left-over rind,

(use a paring knife if necessary), for the handle. Trim off red flesh and attach to basket handle with white side out with half toothpicks. Use an ice cream scoop to remove flesh from inside of basket and cut scoops into quarters for the fruit salad. Place in bottom of the basket. Use a white fleshed melon such as ripe honeydew to cut out white "stripes" for salad. Garnish top of fruit salad with watermelon stars, melon stripes, and blueberries.

See More at: Watermelon Carvings and Fun Ideas

3 More Days to Order.........

Don't forget, two of our Koozie styles are retiring at the end of this month. So sad! This month will be the last month we're taking orders for the Ribbon Koozies and Water Bottle Koozies.

Order Now!

Merry Measuring Cups

We're still celebrating
Christmas in July 
at 
Pineapple Hill Designs!

Last year one of our most popular items was the
  "Snowman Measuring Cups".

Our first order just came in. They are adorable!

Snowman Measuring Cups

A PINEAPPLE HILL FAVORITE

Merry measuring cups!

Our handpainted ceramic stacking snowman

includes measuring cups from 1/8 to 1 cup.

Hand wash. (6-1/4") Cute and pracitcal.

This set is made of Stoneware.

Dishwasher safe (5-pc. set)

Great Hostess Gift or Teacher Gift

$13.95

Pineapple Hill Blog Contest

Win a Pineapple Hill Designs Gift Certificate! To enter your name for our drawing:

*Visit our site and tell us what your favorite product is and why. (1 point)

(one favorite product per week)

*Post a comment on our blog . (1 point) (You can post more than one comment on separate post entries.)Drawing will take place and Winner will be announced August 20th.

Earn Extra Points:

* Add this contest to your blog (3 points)

and/or

*Add Pineapple Hill Designs to your side bar. (5 points)

E-mail ( pineapplehilldesigns@gmail.com ) or Post the link to let me know where to find it.

I Do!

We just got these adorable Glitter Words "I Do". They are perfect to use as favors or to embellish a gift for the new "Bride to Be or Wedding Couple. Acutally, the possibilities are endless: Post your ideas and be entered in our new drawing! Winner receives a Pineapple Hill Designs gift certificate.

It's Christmas in July

It's our annual Christmas in July celebration! This year get a head start on your shopping so you can truly enjoy the Christmas Season with your family and friends. Any of our pre-order items will be shipped to you free of charge. One of the featured artist is Lori Mitchell. Lori Mitchell was born and raised in Marietta, Georgia. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, Lori has always been inspired by children's themes and literature, old illustrations and toys. In 1999 she began making her first paper mache pieces for the folk art world and has never looked back. Full of whimsy and charm, her characters have won a place in the hearts and collections of folk art enthusiasts worldwide. Lori has been featured in Country Living, Mary Englebreit and other magazines. We are very excited to bring Lori's whimsical designs to Pineapple Hill.

Chilly Willy

Merry Little Angel Santa's List

Check out our Preppy Stockings , Christmas Quilts and Personal Children's Clothing in our fabulous "Christmas Boutique". We are so excited about some new items that we'll be adding so check back often! See all of our New Items, updated daily!

Patriotic Door Mat

An easy-to-make addition to the front door, this festive doormat is perfect for last-minute Fourth of July decorating. The technique calls for little more than a basic doormat, paint, tape, and our downloadable star-stencil template. For best results, use a sturdy, coir doormat (available at hardware stores), which will withstand the elements and a lot of foot traffic, so it can be used year after year. Tools and Materials: Star-stencil template Manila folder or lightweight cardboardPencilSturdy, coir doormat with sides taped Painter's tape Low-tack tape

Long ruler T-square (optional) Bowl of straight pins Blue and red oil paint Paint thinner Paintbrushes Jar of mineral spirits Clean rags Patriotic Doormat How-To: 1. Download and print the star-stencil template, or create your own. Trace the template onto a manila folder or lightweight cardboard, and cut out three star shapes. Create a rectangular box on the doormat using painter's tape. Use 2-inch low-tack tape to make a side border. Place the tape vertically and flush to the edge. Measure 6 inches from the top and bottom on each side; mark with pencil. Position tape horizontally along these measurements. (You should now have a taped-off box. You'll need to adjust the measurements, depending upon the size of your mat.) 2. Once the tape is affixed, position the stars on the mat. Find the center point, and place the first start on it. Place the remaining two stars 1 1/2 inches to either side of the center star. Tack them in place with straight pins. (Again, the spacing will depend on the size of your mat.) 3. Make a mixture of 1 pint of blue oil paint to 1 tablespoon paint thinner. Lightly dab and rub the paint into the mat. (It's better to do two light coats than one heavy one.) Let dry for a couple of hours. Apply a second coat, and once the paint has dried, remove the tape. 4. To create the stripes, place a strip of 2-inch tape along the bottom and top of the blue rectangle. Place additional tape along the bottom and top of the mat, flush with the edge. In the space remaining, paint the stripes red. Let dry, and apply a second coat. When dry, peel off tape, and remove the stars. Compliments of : Martha

Summer Savings Code Ends Today

Don't forget about our "Summer Savings" coupon code! Enjoy 10% off your entire purchase July 03.

Use Coupon Code: PHD10 Offer Expires Today

Start SHOPPING now.

Garden Party

Heaven only knows we are spending countless hours looking at Wedding Magazines for our upcoming Pink and Green Wedding! One of our favorite's is Wedding Style Guide! There is a story on a Garden Party Bridal Shower that is so wonderful. Of course, it doesn't quite go with our Pink and Green Affair but wouldn't it be a fun party for all the girls!

I've added our adorable Topiaries to enhance the theme.

Style Guide even includes a FREE Download for the Invitiations, Tags and Signs.

Of course, here in Houston, we'll need to wait until October or Spring Time to survive the heat. I think I'll have to do this next spring. Girlfriends get ready!
We downloaded the pink Recipe Card Template for Kayley's Bridal Shower. They are so cute!

Last Call

Two of our Koozie styles are retiring at the end of July. So sad. This month will be the last month we're taking orders for the Ribbon Koozies and Water Bottle Koozies.

Cuter in Person

The Favor Tins have arrived and I just have to say, they're even cuter in person. She LOVES them!

What a Cute Pear

My maiden name is Partridge so I always got to sing the infamous last line to the "12 Days of Christmas" at gatherings with friends ... "And a Partridge in a Pear Tree". Maybe that's why.... but, I just love pears, hence our Pears and Pineapples category. They're one of my favorite fruits to eat but I love to accessorize with them as well. Over the years I've acquired glass pears, wooden pears, signs with pears, you name it. I found this recipe for Poached Pears in Wedding Style magazine and thought it sounded interesting:

Poached Pears

500G caster sugar

1 litre of water

1 vanilla bean

1 cinnamon stick

6 Buerre Bosc pears

In a stainless steel pot bring the water, sugar, vanilla bean and cinnamon stick to the boil and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Peel the pears and poach in the sugar syrup until tender - approximately 15 minutes. Chill and serve sliced in a pastry shell, topped with whipped cream and drizzled with hot chocolate sauce.

There's even a template from that issue. (Wedding Style Guide/styleguide.com.au) I've ordered the most recent issue and can't wait to get it! Speaking of Pears, our cute Pair's wedding plans are moving right along. It's a pink and green wedding..........

She just ordered the favor tins with the pink and green "watermelon" labels.

17 More Days

Don't forget about our "Summer Savings" coupon code!

Enjoy 10% off your entire purchase June 13-July 03.

Use Coupon Code: PHD10

Use as many times as you like :) until July 3rd.

START SHOPPING NOW