want one of these?

want one these fun 12 x 12 chalkboards with whatever accent colors you'd like...you could even have it monogrammed or have your name printed on top...cool?

if you want to enter to win one of these get on over to http://myflipflopz.blogspot.com/2009/03/how-about-fun-little-giveaway.html
be sure to tell her that Kristie R from http://thegatormom.blogspot.com/ sent you

help end childhood hunger in America!

If you have read much of what I post or my about me you know I'm a Tastefully Simple Independent Consultant and I'm so proud of what Tastefully Simple is doing now...here's the details...


Today more than 12 million children growing up in America experience hunger, not knowing when their next meal will come. Tastefully Simple is proud to partner with Share Our Strength®, a national non-profit organization whose mission is to end childhood hunger in America.

You Can Make a Difference!

Every time you buy a box of our For the Love of Cookies Mix, Tastefully Simple will donate $1 to Share Our Strength.

For the Love of Cookies
Just add butter and an egg for crisp, chewy cookies that taste homemade. Makes an excellent incentive for kids to finish their homework or chores. 0g trans fat per serving. Kosher.
Ingredients Needed
¼ cup (½ stick) melted butter
1 egg
16 oz. box (1 lb.) 453g

"Together, we can show millions of children that they aren't alone. Together, we can make a difference."-Jill Blashack Strahan, Founder & CEO

To learn more about Share Our Strength and ways you can help, visit www.strength.org.

Help us give with gratitude and end child hunger!


if you want to help feed millions of hungry children in America you can place an order on my webpage www.tastefullysimple.com/web/krussell and enter my name Kristie Russell as the host and you will receive a discounted shipping rate...also for every box of "For the Love of Cookies" that I sell I will match Tastefully Simple's $1 donation to Share Our Strength so for every box of cookies you buy $2 will go to help feed the hungry children of America!

EVERY WOMAN...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...
enough money within her control to move out and rent a place of her own, even if she never wants to or needs to...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...
something perfect to wear if the employer, or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...
a youth she's content to leave behind...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...
a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to retelling it in her old age...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...
a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...
one friend who always makes her laugh... and one who lets her cry...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...
a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...
eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a recipe for a meal, that will make her guests feel honored...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...
a feeling of control over her destiny...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to fall in love without losing herself...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to quit a job, break up with a lover, and confront a friend without; ruining the friendship...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
when to try harder...and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
that she can't change the length of her calves, the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
that her childhood may not have been perfect...but it's over...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
what she would and wouldn't do for love or more...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to live alone...even if she doesn't like it...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
whom she can trust, whom she can't, and why she shouldn't take it personally...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
where to go...be it to her best friend's kitchen table...or a charming Inn in the woods...when her soul needs soothing...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
what she can and can't accomplish in a day...a month...and a year...

this ever happen to you?

I took my small child with me shopping, halfway through our shopping trip, nature called, so I took my little one with me into the restroom. If you'd been one of the ladies in the restroom that evening, this is what you would have heard coming from the second to the last stall:

''Mommy, are you gonna go potty? Oh! Why are you putting toiwet paper on the potty, Mommy? Oh! You gonna sit down on da toiwet paper now? Mommy, what are you doing? Mommy, are you gonna go stinkies on the potty?''

At this point I started mentally counting how many women had been in the bathroom when I walked in. Several stalls were full ... 4? 5? Maybe we could wait until they all left before I had to make my debut out of this stall and reveal my identity.

My child continued:

''Mommy, you ARE going stinkies aren't you? Oh, dats a good girl, Mommy! Are you gonna get some candy for going stinkies on the potty? Let me see doze stinkies, Mommy! Oh ... Mommy! I'm trying to see in dere. Oh! I see dem. Dat is a very good girl, Mommy. You are gonna get some candy!''

I heard a few faint chuckles coming from the stalls on either side of me. Where is a screaming new born when you need her? Good grief. This was really getting embarrassing. I was definitely waiting a long time before exiting. Trying to divert him, I said, ''Why don't you look in Mommy's purse and see if you can find some candy. We'll both have some!''

''No, I'm trying to see doze more stinkies...Oh! Mommy!''

My child started to gag at this point.

''Uh-oh, Mommy. I fink I'm gonna frow up. Mommy, doze stinkies are making me frow up!! Dat is so gross!!''

As the gags became louder, so did the chuckles outside my stall.. I quickly flushed the toilet in hopes of changing the subject. I began to reason with myself: OK. There are four other toilets. If I count four flushes, I can be reasonably assured that those who overheard this embarrassing monologue will be long gone.

''Mommy! Would you get off the potty, now? I want you to be done going stinkies! Get up! Get up!''

My child grunted and tried to pull me off now I could hear full-blown laughter. I bent down to count the feet outside my door.

''Oh, are you wooking under dere, Mommy? You wooking under da door? What were you wooking at? Mommy? You wooking at the wady's feet?''

More laughter. I stood inside the locked door and tried to assess the situation.

''Mommy, it's time to wash our hands, now. We have to go out now, Mommy.''

My child started pounding on the door.

''Mommy, don't you want to wash your hands? I want to go out!!''

I saw that my wait 'em out' plan was unraveling. I sheepishly opened the door, and found standing outside my stall, twenty to thirty ladies crowded around the stall, all smiling and starting to applaud. My first thought was complete embarrassment, then I thought, where's the fine print on the 'motherhood contract' where I signed away every bit of my dignity and privacy? But as my child gave me a big, cheeky grin while rubbing bubbly soap between chubby little hands, I thought, I'd sign it all away again, just to be known as Mommy to this little one.

(Shannon Popkin is a freelance writer and mother of three she lives with her family in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where she no longer uses public restrooms)

catchup time...again...

this time of year keeps me running in circles and it's only gonna get worse...

it's beautiful here all the fruit trees and flowers are starting to bloom, the sun is shining...I love it! I've been so happy about our beautiful spring weather then when I decide it's time to work outside last weekend it cools off and rains all stinking weekend; hopefully the yard gets some attention this weekend...I inherited my grandparents house when my Granny passed away last January and my Granny loved flowers, I think there are about 100 flower beds in this yard that I have to weed...maybe 100 is exaggerating but for real there are 7 flower beds plus all the bushes & trees she had planted all around the 2 acreas, and with the remodeling we did on the house last year they haven't had any attention since the spring before...I have lots of pruning and weeding to do...

so I want to spend some time working in my yard but what does everybody else want me to do...let's see...hubby had surgery to repair a torn tendon on the 5th, surgery went well he's in a cast now but that limits him some, he's hard headed and still thinks he can do whatever he wants (that's what tore the tendon in the first place)...Chelsey is playing soccer 6 days a week...Relay for Life is just around the corner so we have to start fundraising and go to meetings...2 of my nephews are on the high school baseball team and they (and Chelsey & Jenna) think I have to be at every game...next month Jenna starts softball and guess who couldn't say "NO" when asked to coach; yeap me!...hubby sold his old shop and the guy is moving it on the 28th and I have been storing stuff in it since we moved so now I have to have all my stuff out by the 27th...I JUST WANT TO WORK IN MY YARD!

I did win Preppy 101's 200th post give away...YEAH ME! I never win anything but that was the 2nd blog give away that I've won...maybe I should go buy a lottery ticket...

anyways, I hope you all are enjoying your March!

Happy 200 Preppy 101

Preppy 101 over @ http://southernandpreppy.blogspot.com/ is having a 200 posts give away

go check it out http://southernandpreppy.blogspot.com/2009/03/happy-200-posts-to-me-time-for-giveaway.html

proud soccer mom!

a few post ago I was telling you how proud I was of Chelsey for making the middle school soccer team as a 6th grader...well now I'm telling you how proud I am of Chelsey for not only making the soccer team as a 6th grader but for being a starter for the middle school soccer team as a 6th grader. Chelsey started and played the entire game, I was so proud! It just goes to show you that no matter what stands against you if you give it your all you will succeed...they had their first two games last week and won them both...WAY TO GO EAGLES & CHELSEY!

here's a picture from the 1st game

3/11 Outdoor Wednesday

It's Wednesday so time to take a trip outside...get over to Susan's at http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/ and check out all the other outdoor post...thank you Susan for organizing this for us

since I'm so ready for summer and a nice trip to the beach I'm going to share some pictures from the weekend getaway that the hubby and I took to Amelia Island in June 2008

the view from our room

we took a river cruise and the dolphins were jumping all around us but my camera was too slow to get the picture of the dolphin but this is still beautiful

this is another view from our river cruise

this was walking to the beach; there's a hawk sitting on the rail



the beach! what more can I say?



hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday!

HAPPY PINK SATURDAY

Happy Pink Saturday!!!

sorry if this "Pink Saturday" post is cheesey but my hubby had surgery on Thursday and I've been taking care of him

Be sure to check out all the other pinks at Beverly's http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/ ...thanks Beverly!

I got this email saying I've been pinked so here goes...

Hello, Pretty Lady!

You've been hit. You've been considered one of the 10 prettiest ladies with a kind, warm and loving heart. Once you have been hit, you have to hit 10 pretty ladies with kind, warm and loving hearts. If you get hit again you know you're really pretty and kind.

SEND THIS TO PRETTY LADIES, TO BRIGHTEN THEIR DAY, INCLUDING THE ONE WHO SENT IT TO YOU! REMIND LADIES TO BE INFORMED, AWARE AND BE CHECKED FOR THEIR HEALTH'S SAKE. TELL THEM THAT NO ONE WANTS TO LOSE THEM - AFTER ALL, THEY ARE PRETTY LADIES WITH KIND, WARM LOVING HEARTS...

In honor of anyone you know that has been struck by breast cancer

50th post give away winners

I had a give away for my 5oth post...some of my favorite things; chocolates, candles, lotions and notepad for the fridge...my nephew Brandon was suppose to draw but then my girls got mad so we have 3 winners... here's all the names in the basket

Brandon drawing his name (his eyes are closed)...

Lisa at http://typicaldaytoday.blogspot.com/ can thank Brandon

Jenna drawing her name (her eyes are closed too)...

my real life friend Tracy who got me into blogging at http://barbourbunch.blogspot.com/ can thank Jenna

Chelsey drawing her name (and yes her eyes are closed too)...

another real life friend Sherrie at http://childresshousehold.blogspot.com/ can thank Chelsey

CONGRATS TO ALL 3 WINNERS!

and THANKS for playing

Outdoor Wednesday

I love being outside!

I live on a farm, back in 1940 my Grandaddy bought 100 acres of land so that all his family could live together...today most of us do live on that 100 acres...60 of the acres still have cows on it which is on 2 sides of my 2 acres...I have cows beside and behind me, the cows are hiding in these pictures


this picture was taken February 28, 2009 of the birds playing in the water puddles in my yard

this picture was taken the next day, March 1, 2009 from about the same spot on my porch of the beautiful snow covering the barn, trees and pasture

this is from my front porch of the snow falling on the magnolia tree

I think snow is beautiful but I'm glad we don't get it that often

for more beautiful "Outdoor Wednesday" posts go see Susan at http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/

American Cancer Society's Relay for Life

I'm a huge supporter of the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life...here's a link to a post I did last month about why
http://thegatormom.blogspot.com/2009/01/have-you-ever-felt-helpless.html


I'm also a Tastefully Simple Independent Consultant and all proceeds I make from now until our Relay on April 24/25 I'm donating to the American Cancer Society...so if you need some Tastefully Simple goodies check out my website http://www.tastefullysimple.com/web/krussell place an order and support the American Cancer Society all at the same time


if you would like to just make a donation and be entered in a drawing which will take place on April 27th you can make an online donation on my Relay page at http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY09SA?px=3343132&pg=personal&fr_id=12844 each $5 donated is 1 entry in the drawing for a Bath & Body Works gift basket

Concentrate

To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.

When God takes something from your grasp, He's not punishing you, but merely opening your hands to receive something better.

Concentrate on this sentence...
The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.

well, it snowed

well it snowed yesterday, it snowed a pretty good bit for this area...stuck for a little while but it's all gone now...the girls loved it, well Chelsey did Jenna thought it was too cold (I agree with Jenna)...all the schools around here closed for today, well all of them except 3 and yes my girls go to one of the three that didn't close so they were not very happy about that when they went to bed last night and I'm sure they are not going to be happy when I wake them up in a few minutes

my nephew Taylor, Chelsey & Jenna

more pictures to come

happy monday!

it's snowing!

this is very rare down here in Middle Georgia

crazy weather

can you believe we have been having beautiful spring like weather in the high 60s and low 70s for the past couple of weeks, my daffodils are blooming and today we are suppose to get SNOW!? and back down to freezing temps at night...next weekend we are suppose to be back in the 70s...crazy I tell you, just crazy!

I live in Middle Georiga, it does NOT snow here very often...so this will make all the children very happy (my youngest daughter should be thilled, she asked for snow for Christmas)...if there is enough snow for pictures I'll be sure to share them with you later in the week

happy Sunday!