10,000 Care Packages for our Servicemembers...

I am floating on air right now...I am exhausted...but it is a completely happy amazingly elated feeling...I am in awe of what we, as volunteers for the USO, accomplished today. The USO is such an incredible organization, I just can not sing their praises enough. There were 137 of us, from all walks of life, some military (or affiliated) some just wanting to donate their time and we managed to stuff, box and pallatte 10,300 care packages and we did it in under 3 hours...here are a few pictures

First we stuffed the bags with postcards from Jack Daniels that people from all over the country had written messages on to the troops, when that was done they set us up assembly line style to put the "product" in the bags, product included toiletries, phone cards, granola bars etc. I was a bag zipper...:-). I would have pictures of the assembly line but we were working so hard I couldn't stop to take a picture! Every so many thousand packages, we would stop and do the conga...everyone..it wasn't an option...IT WAS SO FUN!!!

Can I just say that everyone whether you drink alcohol or not, should show some support to Jack Daniels, an american company, who although they can not sell/send their products to the troops overseas, are just out there to support the troops here...they have donated over $300,000 to events like these with the USO....
and this man right here

that would be Craig Morgan in the middle....wow...he actually helped the volunteers this morning set up for the packaging party, and then came out and worked on the assembly lines with us. He's just such a nice guy!! I have always been a fan of country music, and a fan of Craig's but now let me tell you I am going to promote him anywhere I can. Go buy his CD's, request his songs on country radio, whatever just do it. Here's someone who could have been with his family but took time out of his busy schedule to come spend time with us at Scott AFB and he was so sincere about it. This was not event that was advertised outside of the base. He did it just for us!!! He kept thanking US ...and he himself is former Special Forces with the Army. The concert was awesome and Craig and his band did this for us for FREE!!!!!

here are some more pictures

The USO survives because of it's volunteers, who better to give your time to than for those who lay their lives on the line everyday for us. Volunteer by clicking here.

Supporting artists who support our troops is what keeps the USO holding events like todays. You can go buy Craig Morgan's CD's by clicking here.

Jack Daniels can be found just about anywhere but they have a cool website too here.

Thanks for stopping by!

a few bits and pieces

Before I leave this morning for my date with Craig Morgan...ok the date isn't really just me and Craig, more like Craig and 125 USO volunteers (we're filling boxes to send to the troops), but hey a girl can have her little fantasies, right? Yes, my husband knows I have a date with another man...LOL...he's the one that volunteered me...I love that man...If you don't know who Craig Morgan is click here... I so love that song...I really appreciate artists who take the time to volunteer their time to support our troops, and you seem to see that in country music more than most other types of music.

Anyway...I'm trying out some photo printing services...I've always tended to be a print as I go kind of scrapper, but at about 30cents a print it gets expensive and really it's just not practical. I find that by the time I print the pictures I can't really remember the story behind them, or at least not in the detail I would like anyway. I'm trying to get better organized and start printing the photos and "filing" them in an album with journaling, then going back to "scrap" them later as I have time, if that makes any sense. Plus, I've been doing so many challenges lately, it helps to have the pictures all ready there. (I Remember When sells a really great system for the filing/jounaling part of this called "Everyday Stories" if you're interested. There's my shameless plug for the day..:-) ) The subject of photo printing has also come up on our forums there, so I wanted to try my own little experiment.

So here's where I'm at, I placed 2 orders on Sunday, one with Clark Color and one with Winkflash. I will let you know how long it took to get the pictures, shipping quality, picture quality etc. In the meantime here are some codes...

Clark Color 9cent prints maximum 100 9CENTPRINTS, Plus if your a new customer you get 30 free prints

Winkflash always has 99cent shipping and has 50 free prints with your first order
WF95WF27 (regular prints vary ,but I have it on good authority that they frequently have prints for as low as 3cents, but they email you a code, so I'm guessing you already have to be a cutomer)

Both sites have free photo storage as long as you place orders as often as their specified amount of time...

I really have to go now, have to finish getting the kiddos ready for school...I hope to be back later with pics

I am almost done with the Book "Plain Truth" by Jodi Piccoult, so I can join the discussion at Lain's....yay!

I may have over shot a little

I do that a lot..I had that big old list of things that I was going to get done today that I have not finished...but that is ok...

I did get the grocery shopping done, then got home and had to clean up around the house...the never ending pile of laundry, help with homework and I took the boys to see "Enchanted"...I am so in love with that movie...very cute and totally disney...I really think I need the soundtrack...Landon liked it, I think Britain is afraid he'll lose cool points if he admits he liked it.

Right now they are all upstairs watching The Matix, and yes I know they should be in bed because it's back to the real world in the am but, I am enjoying a little peace and quiet and country music from "various female artists" on http://www.pandora.com/... which is really cool by the way and free if you want to check it out...speaking of country music by the way...On December 4th Craig Morgan is coming to Scott Air Force Base for a Free Concert....!!! But that's not even the coolest part....the coolest part is that my friend Tonia and I volunteered to work with the USO (along with about 100 other volunteers) stuffing care packages to send over to the troops, and Craig I think, will be joining us, and then we're going to have a barbeque, and then the concert....I am so excited for all of it!!

and now the little bit of cropping that I actually got done today....
first Creative Prompt #8 from Christi
this is where the sewing on my list from yesterday comes in...I don't know how to thread it yet (it came that way) I just added the batteries and channeled my inner Mrs. Denton (my 8th grade home ec teacher) and this is what happened...and there's a scrap of fabric on there too...For the title I tried something new...I used the negatives of a chipboard punchout for the letters as a stencil and then colored them in and outlined them...I think it turned out cute...and it was easy...

Now next I have my layout for pencil lines sketch #60 but it was also it was also inspired by Christi's prompt #9....
The colors were inspired by Christi's prompt
but the design was inpired by the pencil lines sketch...This is my senior picture, I had been wanting to use these rub-ons from Daisy D's for a long time they were just waiting for the right project...the paper and stickers is mod designs by Autumn Leaves from Target...I love this collection....


soooo tomorrow, christmas cards, send off the rebates for Winnie (my laptop I thought she should have a cute name) and Wilbur (the new printer), fold laundry, maybe learn to sew more than a straight line, craftiness, and whatever else I need to get done...the rest of the week I have to work so I doubt I'll get much of anything done...till tomorrow....