have you ever felt helpless?

have you ever felt helpless?

well I do every time I hear the word cancer...that's why I volunteer for the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life

here's why I got involved...in December 1998 my Aunt passed away from cancer (at the young age of 54) and at her funeral I realized all the things I never told her...I never told her how much I admired her, how I thought she was a wonderful wife and mother, and how much I loved her...I made a promise to myself sitting right there in the church looking at her casket that I would do any and everything possible to help find a cure for that horrible disease so the next April I participated in my first Relay for Life...this April will be my 11th Relay for Life and it all started because of my love for my Aunt

you know, my Aunt may be the reason I started but my list grows every year...more family members, friends, parents of friends...I think the one that hit me the hardest was sweet little Olivia, 3 years old and diagnosed with leukemia...she's 5 now and still battling that horrible disease...she hasn't gotten to do the things little girls are suppose to do because she has spent the better part of the last 2 years in the hospital very very sick...bone marrow transplant, chemotheropy, you name it she's been through it...it makes me sad, no really it makes me mad!

I hope all of you who have been touched by this horrible disease will support your local Relay for Life and those of you who haven't be sure to thank God every night

Kristie needs...

I'm got this from Alicia who got it from Cynthia who got it from...anyways, it sounded fun so I'm doing it...

go to www.google.com, type in your name and write needs after it....for example, Kristie needs and click search...then take the top 10, list them and comment after each one!

have fun!!!

1...Kristie Needs Our Help

oh how true, I need all the help I can get

2...Kristie Needs Olives

well, I like olives but not sure if I ever needed them

3...Kristie Needs To Go Home

sorry I thought yall liked me but I am home

4...Kristi Needs To Know Exactly What Time She Is To Be Doing Something

well I do like to know exactly what and when something is expected of me to be done but I got that trait from the hubby

5...Kristie Needs Money

you can never have too much

6...Kristie Needs Chocolate

how did you ever know, I love chocolate

7...Kristie Needs To Turn Up The AC

no I don't, I'm perfectly fine

8...Kristie Needs A Life Style Change

what's wrong with my life style, I thought my life style was fine

9...Kristie Needs Something To Do

I have plenty to do, please don't add anything else to my list

10...Kristie Needs Not To Worry

easier said than done

that was fun, give it a try

I'm behind

I'm behind, sorry...I received 2 awards last week (thanks Tracy & Kris) and haven't given them to others yet but I promise I will later today so be on the lookout

Jen's prize...and maybe something for you too

Jen said she likes our sweets and our seasonings so her prize is going to be a little of both...these items are from our Fall/Winter line and will only be available until March 8, 2009

ITALIAN GARLIC BREAD SEASONING BLEND

Make your own garlic bread in minutes! Simply combine with softened butter and spread on sliced French bread before browning. Or use as a versatile Italian seasoning for hot pasta, sautèed mushrooms, pizza, soups and sauces. All natural.

CLASSY CHOCOLATE POUND CAKE MIX
xxxxx*, rich, double-chocolate goodness. Just add butter and enjoy this luscious cake loaded with real chocolate chips. For a little extra flair, top with whipped cream and shaved chocolate. Makes about 10 servings. Kosher. (0g trans fat per serving)

*a word that Jen does not like was removed (read her blog to find out what the word is)

CHEERY CHERRY CRISP MIX
Cheer your family and friends with delicious red cherries and a crunchy crisp topping. Just add butter and water. For a sweet ending, serve warm with whipped cream, ice cream or Creamy Caramel Sauce. Makes about 8 servings. (0g trans fat per serving)

PLUS if Jen ever wants to place an order with me she will receive 10% off her order when she reminds me that I promised this

all she has to do is check out my webpage
www.tastefullysimple.com/web/krussell
then email me what she wants
simply_kristie_06@yahoo.com
and I'll send her an email invoice and her order will be placed

just because I'm such a nice person, anyone who was entered in the drawing can get 10% off their order if they follow the directions above

and the winner is...

the official name drawer, Brady, my nephew

the names

I promise he can't read


and the winner is...

drum roll please...

sorry this is so blurry but it does say "JEN!"

the winner of my Tastefully Simple give away is...Jen over at "Life According to Jen" http://jenske426.blogspot.com/

so now Jen please email me @ simply_kristie_06@yahoo.com your mailing address and if you like sweets, seasonings, soups or drinks (adult type or child friendly)



CONGRATULATIONS JEN!

and thank you all for playing

give away day!

my Tastefully Simple give away is today...I've got all the names and how many times you are entered all figured out now I have to go fill out that many slips and draw a name...the winner will be announced around 12 noon...GOOD LUCK!

we have a new president

well it's official, Obama is our 44th President...it doesn't matter if you voted for or against him, he is the Commander In Chief of our Country so we must pull together and support and pray for him

God Bless America!

don't forget...

about my Tastefully Simple give away...

if you haven't already entered here's how...
1. Comment me on this post (1 entry)
2. Post about my give away in your blog and be sure to let me know (2 more entries)
3. Add yourself to my 'Followers' (3 more entries)

I'll draw for a winner Friday morning (January 23rd)...GOOD LUCK! and thank you!

Boy do I feel special...

I was tagged twice today so thanks to Preppy 101 at http://www.blogger.com/profile/06173303399522862906 and to Sherrie at http://childresshousehold.blogspot.com/

with Preppy 101's tag I am suppose to tell 6 things about myself and with Sherrie's tag I'm suppose to tell 8, so here goes...

#1...I'm not a very organized person but my hubby would love for me to be...see he was a Marine and is a total neat freak

#2...I actaully met my hubby through my best friend's boyfriend who was stationed at boot camp with him...we wrote letters for a month before we finally met at his boot camp graduation

#3...I use to love to play softball but had to hang my cleats up to watch and support my daughters in everything they do

#4...me nor my daughters are very girly girly...we are more of the tshirt and jeans type

#5...my daughters are 3 years and 12 hours apart...December 6 & 7, not a good time of the year to add 2 birthdays

#6...I love my long hair and occasionally think I want it cut but then chicken out

#7...I couldn't live without my family and friends (and computer)

#8...I own my own Tastefully Simple business who gets to be a stay at home Mom

Now here are the RULES for this tag:
1. Each blogger starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
2. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
3. At the end of your blog post, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
4. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them they're tagged and to read your blog.
5. For the recipients, leave a comment for the person who tagged you, so they can go and read your answers.

Okay...now for my 8 people.

#1 Kris at http://vintagewindow.blogspot.com/

#2 Sydnee at http://lvpoohbr2.blogspot.com/

#3 Carolyn at http://caroincarolina.blogspot.com/

#4 Michelle at http://eighthelpinghands.blogspot.com/

#5 Kelleye at http://hellesonquest.blogspot.com/

#6 Tess at http://sixfeetundersite.blogspot.com/

#7 Jen at http://jenske426.blogspot.com/

#8 Lisha at http://aliciashaf.blogspot.com/

So, go ahead...divulge a little. Tell me more about yourselves so I can get to know you better...

do you like...

chocolate? gift cards? camera straps? Serendipity?

well if you do you have to get on over to Yummy Mummy's place http://cynthialovespictures.blogspot.com/ to check out her give away and enter to win

it's been a year

my Granny passed away 1 year ago today...I thought it was suppose to get easier, does it?

I can't get the day out of my head...I keep reliving it...I knew that Friday would be her last day, the night before she couldn't talk very well but she kept looking at me and saying "ok?' I told her I loved her, I was ok and that I would be ok...so that Friday morning I took the girls to school and knew I had to get to my Aunt's to be with my Granny before she was gone...I was with her, I was holding her hand and I couldn't let go...I didn't want to say anything because if I didn't say it, it didn't happen...but it did, my Granny, my rock, who was suppose to live forever was gone...I know she's in a much better place, that she's with my Grandaddy and that's she happy but that doesn't change how much I miss her...there's not a day that goes by that I don't think about her

the point of this blog...
cherish every minute you have, you never know when the minutes will be gone

happy cold saturday

I really don't know how you people up North deal with this cold weather...yesterday morning it was 11 degress (with the wind chill) when I got up and this morning it's 19 degrees...that's just crazy! I'm glad temperatures are usually warmer down here in Georgia

maybe this can warm things up...

I need some followers...

so I'm going to have a give away...you know I am a Tastefully Simple Independent Consultant and I have all kinds of yummy foods in my office...so here's how you can help and enter...
1. Comment me on this post (1 entry)
2. Post about my give away in your blog and be sure to let me know (2 more entries)
3. Add yourself to my 'Followers' (3 more entries)

I'll draw for a winner next Friday on January 23rd...GOOD LUCK! and thank you!

too many emotions

sometimes I blame myself, should I?

I've always taught my daughters the importance of family and for the past year I've been thinking maybe I shouldn't have...I've had more tears shed on my shoulders and more screaming fits than I care to count but if I didn't encourage them to have the relationship they had with my Granny they wouldn't be feeling so much pain...they cry themselves to sleep almost every night wrapped in the blanket Granny made them when they were born

my poor Jenna...she cries or screams at the drop of a hat and is always worried something bad is going to happen to someone else she loves...she got off the bus crying and I asked her why, she said she couldn't find Chelsey and she thought something had happened to her and she couldn't live without her sister...Chelsey did get on the bus that day she was just a few minutes behind the group she usually comes out with

I feel like it's all my fault, I know one day they will treasure the memories they have but right now it's hard to see past the pain

I know most of my post lately are full of tears but that's were my life is right now...sorry

do I expect too much?

I was an average student in school, I was one of those students who had to bust my butt to pass...it made me mad that my sister and brother were both straight A students and never studied, me on the other hand studied all the time and made Bs & Cs (if I was lucky)

fast forward...I have 2 extremely smart daughters, Honor Roll every 9 weeks...this past report card Chelsey dropped in every single subject, yes she still made Honor Roll but I don't think it was her best...her average dropped from a 96 to a 91...I put her on restriction until mid-term and if her grades aren't up she stays there...I took away her computer (unless it's school related) and her cell phone...I've always told them that I don't expect perfection but I do expect 100% and I don't think she gave 100% because she never brings books home

was I too tough? do I expect too much?

to add to it, her mouth lately has gotten really smart...she thinks she's always right, she always has to have the last word, she's just like her Daddy!

Happy Birthday Grandaddy

Happy Birthday Grandaddy...today my Grandaddy would be 90...he shares a birthday with Martin Luther King Jr and he always said the holiday was in his honor...I always celebrate JC Allred day

my Grandaddy was a great man...a very quiet man but a very strong man...he was the head of our family and when he did speak everyone listened...he left us May 8, 1987...my oldest daughter Chelsey is named after him, his name was James Chesley so I changed the s & l and got my Chelsey

HAPPY JC ALLRED DAY EVERYBODY!!! enjoy your holiday Monday

I miss my Grandaddy :(

oh well

oh well, no picture...Jerry had it flipped back over by the time I got home with Chelsey so no picture

OMG...

I was just sitting here reading blogs and heard this loud bang outside in the back yard then my dog and my neighbor's (sister's) dog start barking so I look out the door...OMG the wind is blowing so hard it flipped the girls play house...

I'll post a picture when Chelsey gets home to take it, my batteries are dead in my camera

CHRISTmas picture

here's the picture we used for our CHRISTmas cards

Happy New Year...a little late

well since my last blog...

Christmas has come and gone, it was good! I carried on my Granny's tradition and had the family over for Christmas dinner...there was 26 of us in my house on my new carpet, well we enforced the "no shoes on the carpet" rule so it turned out ok plus it was like 70 degrees and we set tables up outside so there was no food or drinks on the carpet either...Granny was watching out for me from above (she always made everything ok for me so I know she had a hand in talking God into Springtime weather and no rain on Christmas day)

Christmas...my girls got way too much (like always) but they were happy...let's see MP3 players, an American Girl, a WII, a 4-wheeler, clothes, new bookbags, cds, bubble baths, lotions, Nerf dart guns, cap guns (I know, my girls wanted boy toys?), and I'm sure I've left off a lot...why do I always say I'm cutting back this year but never do?

Christmas...my in-laws were suppose to come up from Florida to be with us but my mother-in-law has been having serious health issues and a couple of days before Christmas they flared up again and they couldn't make it...I had 2 very disappointed girls in my house, they have never spent Christmas with that side of the family because we always stay home for Christmas

New Year's Eve...Jenna wanted a bon fire with my daddy, sister's & brother's families so she got it...it was a bit cold and windy that night and she decided she wanted to stay inside where it was warm but she wanted the fire outside that Wayne & I ended up staying with

New Year's Day...left to visit family in Florida...mother-in-law didn't look good at all...got to see everybody down there but 1 brother-in-law and his family; maybe next time

I hope you all had a Merry CHRISTmas and I hope 2009 is all you wish for!!!