Wordless Wednesday ♥ Big Sissies are the BEST!

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Tuesday Tradition #43 - March Is All About WOMEN!

Did you know March is Women's History Month?

I didn't...just found out! Why is this not radiating through the media? Why is it not plastered on magazines or newspapers? Why are women, good women, who helped shape our nation not recognized the way they should be?? And not just popular famous women? What about the average woman who kept a family together and thriving during the depression? Or a single mom who fought to keep her children fed and clothed as her husband fought for freedom 1000's of miles away? Or a women who followed her dreams of becoming a teacher, doctor, or dentist despite the odds and obstacles?

Women's History Month is a time to celebrate the tradition and legacy of women. I was reading a letter from the editor, Julie B., in HomeMadeSimple's newsletter that said this:

"March is Women’s History Month: a time for celebrating women’s heritage and inspiring stories. Women have always had a role in keeping the history of their families and communities alive, through storytelling, handing down recipes, and keeping family treasures safe. This month, we’ll take a look back to highlight the classic and timeless heirlooms, comforting recipes and traditions that enrich our lives and homes today."

Perfectly said...

My challenge to you WOMEN, keep the role alive! Embrace and honor the roll we have in keeping our family and community history alive...pass on the stories of your life, create warmth and joy in your home, and respect the treasures that have been put in our care. Through traditions we can fulfill this sacred calling of being a wife, mother and woman.

Family Yearbook Challenge 2009 - Week 8

First....Sorry to late on this post today. A 15-min. dentist appointment for my 6-yr-old took about 2 and a half hours...GRRR! And second... this is my 300th post!! Woo-hoo!!!

Just joining the Family Yearbook Challenge? Click HERE to see ALL the post!

Homework March 9 -15:

No Pictures? No Worries!

If you don't have a lot of photos but want to add images to your Family Yearbook, try using some of the following items to add that visual appeal. And of course...Don't forget to tell the story behind each one of those items. Here's 7 ideas to start you off...I have more that I'll give you later.

• Event Passes/Ticket Stubs: Movie, sporting event, concert, local event, etc.
• Report Cards
• Calendar/Planner pages (in it's original form...all marked up!)
• Headlines & Newspaper Clippings - Newspapers and Magazines
• Menu or recipe from favorite restaurant
• Cards and handwritten letters
• Programs from recitals/performances

Now Scan your images and put into the March Folder. If you'd like to rename the photos/images you can with Mar 1, Mar 2, Mar 3, and so on and so on. Make sure to scan and save as a jpg. minimum 300 dpi to your March folder, named and labeled.

Breaking News: I'm Giving Away a Business!

UPDATED 3-17-09!!!!!!

BREAKING NEWS!

I'm giving away a business! Who wants it?

Many of you know I have a business that has something to do something with books... and stories...and memories...

I'm a National Founding Leader for Cherish Bound. An amazing direct sales company founded 5 years ago by 2 amazing people with a vision for traditions, stories, and families. Outside of my family, Cherish Bound is my passion and my life. I've been waking up for four and a half years thanking God for this amazing opportunity. I find myself thinking, "Is this for real? Can I really be so lucky...so blessed to have this opportunity?" Yep! It's for real.

I want to share this opportunity with all of you....So here's the scoop!

Basically, we know we have a good thing going here at CherishBound and would love for more people to know about us. We receive great feedback from our customers about how preserving memories and paying attention to the story has changed their lives and improved family communications. We want to help more people, especially during these hard times... so we are looking to add 400 people to our team in the next couple of months.

Won't you join us?

I'll tell you a few of the reasons why I decided to join Cherish Bound:

• I wanted to be home with my kids
• I wanted to work for MYSELF!
• I love photos and stories. I realized I could organize my stuff like I never could have with scrapbooking (and for those that have never done anything at all you'll luv this even MORE!)
• I wanted to find a group of women...powerful, passionate, women to surround myself with and become friends with.
• My passion for being a teacher was put on hold, and this became my outlet through the I'm An Author Children's Writing Program...I know I'm making a difference not just for my family and future generations, but for other families in my community.

We're confident you'll fall in love with all that we're doing...with the founders, the other consultants, storytelling and all the ways it will open opportunities for your family. Help us get the word out and ride the wave Cherish Bound is creating!

Drum roll please.....

• I'm giving away ONE FREE, no obligation, Cherish Bound business kit!
• $99 kit worth over $250!
• You will be the next Cherish Bound consultant.
• You'll automatically have a 20% discount on all publishing and products.
• You'll have access to Cherish Bound as a consultant, the publishing center and can run your own business.
• Cherish Bound does not have monthly or quarterly financial quotas!
  
• You can choose to run your business as a hobbyist or aspire to be a national leader with me!

Whatever your passion, it's up to you....but I'm giving away a business!

So how do you win a Cherish Bound business...it's easy!

1. Comment about why you want this business! Just tell me what you want out of it...that's easy!
   

For extra entries:

1. Tweet about it!
2. Follow me
3. For 5 extra entries blog about it on your blog!!
   

For those that would LOVE to win this, but do not get picked... You'll get 50% off a business kit if you choose to sign up by March 31! THIS IS EVEN BETTER!!! Everyone who posts a comment on THIS POST that doesn't win will become "Honorary" Cherish Bound consultants FOR FREE!! Yes, you'll be honored in just like ANY OTHER CONSULTANT!!! Just the same as if you won or if you purchased a kit.... And it gets better my friends!!! You'll get one Story Starter of your choice, DVD, catalog and all the business info you'll need to start a business for FREE!!!!! {I can barely breath....I'm so excited!!} Our president and Co-founder, Carol Rice, read through your comments and realized that every single one of you would make our company better, and you all deserve the chance to have the Cherish Bound opportunity!!!! Somebody Pinch me! If you don't win the kit YOU Must email me at tarabrown at cherishbound dot com by March 31, 2009 and let me know that YES, you're ready to join me!!! US residents only. Remember... NO obligation, just see if CB is a fit. The giveaway for the free KIT will end on March 20th 11:59 pm. Winner will be announced Monday here on my blog! PLEASE-PLEASE-PLEASE leave your email if you do not have a profile or blog!

So what do you say?? Wanna join me and start a business??

Storytime ♥ with Heidi Rosenberg

Here's what Heidi Rosenberg has to say about some adorable children's books and stories for St. Patrick's Day!

St. Paddy's Day or Paddy's Day, is an annual feast which celebrates Saint Patrick, one of the patron saints of Ireland. Celebrations are generally themed around all things Irish and, by association, the color green.

Share the classic tradition of Irish stories telling with Barefoot Books
(Many are on offer throughout the month of March)

The Story Tree Retold and Narrated by Hugh Lupton. This book offers 7 stories from around the world, ranging from the traditional three billy goats gruff to a less well known monkey see monkey do. This is a perfect gift for listeners under five.

Tales from Old Ireland Retold by Malachy Doyle. I loved this book, its a collection of seven Irish folk and fairy tales. This book is more appealing for older children between the ages of 8 and 11, younger children will also enjoy them.

Tales from Celtic Lands Retold by Caitlin Matthews. This is another anthology for the older child between the ages of 6-10. Celtic Tales is an ideal introduction to Celtic tradition, and the lavish illustrations make this a book to treasure for life before passing through the generations.

Did you know that fairies have been part of literature, art, and culture for more than fifteen hundred years? The Irish are proud to say that that Fairies were seen in Ireland before anywhere else in the world.

Barefoot Books have two books on offer this month

The Barefoot Books of Fairy Tales

This book is full of the old classical fairy tales such as Cinderella an Sleeping Beauty. Wonderful illustrations throughout the book.

Faeries Gift
Many children will love this enchanting tale, especially when read out aloud. The book has breathtaking illustrations, many of which are three dimensional. Read this book and you will be taken back to a magical world were faeries can grant wishes to good people. Combine this book with one of the beautiful finger puppets.

Click HERE to visit Heidi Rosenberg's site to receive 10% off!

Wordless Wednesday

For more Wordless Wednesday visit www.5minutesformom.com

Cherish Bound Giveaways Around The Bloggy World!

If you're looking to get in on some FREE Cherish Bound goodies visit these blogs that are hosting Cherish Bound giveaways!

Skip To My Lou

Your Mama Reviews

The Winning Mommy's Blog

These Ladies Rock! Go visit them and enter their giveaways!!

And Don't Forget my
I'm An Author giveaway

...Giving kids a chance to write their stories!

Family Yearbook Challenge 2009 - Week 7

If you're new to the Family Yearbook Challenge click HERE & then HERE

Happy Monday and Happy March! Can you believe it?? Two full months of 2009 in the books! Lots of memories, stories and photos I'm sure! Don't forget to leave a comment and check in...I'm keeping track of all the comments posted in the Family YB Challenge for a big giveaway at the end of the year....so go back and check in each of the FYBC posts if you haven't done so.

Follow-up from last week's homework....comment yes or no if you scheduled a family picture! ♥

Homework March 1 - 7:

1. What are the major headlines in the World? Country? Your City?

2. Do you have a family "motto" or "mission statement"? If so write about it. If not, create one as a family.

3. If you have children have them pick 3 of their favorite classwork, homework, art projects, etc. Scan them and save them as an image. As them to tell you about what their learning.

4. PETS! Do you have pets? If so, what's their name? How old? Do they do any tricks? How did you get this pet? Give all the details on your family's pets!

"We write to taste life twice, once in the moment and once in retrospection."

-Anais Nin

Now COPY and paste any photos that you have that go with these events and questions into the March Folder. If you'd like to rename the photos you can with Mar 1, Mar 2, Mar 3, and so on and so on. If you have any memorabilia that is NOT digital, scan and save as a jpg. minimum 300 dpi to your March folder, named and labeled.

Kingdom Chaos - Weekend Edition 2

This past week has been filled with some new experiences....Hurricane and Tornado have figured us out. I think they have their own little conspiracy going. They learned how fun it is to climb out of bed...eat their brother's Pokemon cards, ransack sissy's room and find and eat an entire jumbo size box of Runts, unsupervised playtime at 2am....that's what our nights have been like. We're all sleep deprived. Climbing out of their beds AT LEAST 35 times, as we sit by the door and try and scare them back into the bed...yeah right! They're the cutest things you've ever seen and they just laugh! We can hear them on the monitor whispering to each other coaxing each other out of bed to join in the mischief. I'm exhausted! But I know in a few years I'll be crying my eyes out because I haven't got a cute toddler running a muck around my house...So I'm going to suck it up and enjoy it...yes, I'm going to enjoy the late nights, short naps and adorable giggles!

Love the slime & boogers? I really do give them baths...I do!

Coop saved up enough money to finally buy herself a Laptop! Yes, she got a laptop before ME!! I'm 100% jealous, but so proud of her! She's so disciplined and I love to see her planning for the future...she wanted to purchase this laptop so she had something to take with her to law school. By the way, she's in 7th grade.

Z-man and Shrek discovered an amazing state park not too far from where we live...BEAUTIFUL! Bike trails, fishing, camping, hiking....awesome!

T-Rex has been busy with school and making moo-la! She's earning money for her summer camps so she's picked up some great babysitting jobs, but has scored big time by working the concession stand at our baseball fields. Learning the value of dollar...

My Husband Rocks ♥ Thank Yous

It's such a blessing to have a LIST of reasons why a husband rocks. I do have a list. But this just happened this morning and it's fresh and I think I may still have a tear....

Yesterday was his birthday. No day off for him...he thinks he's worthy of holiday and actually so do I, but no day off. And on a side note, I do not know how he puts up with all his stress at work...amazing! Because its totally crazy! Anyway, it was normal day at "Kingdom Chaos"...up at 5am, hurricane and tornado destroying everything in their path, buses not picking up kids at the bus stops, kids forgetting homework, soccer games, practices, errands, and my own work....and the list goes on.

I knew there was no way we were going to go out for dinner or do anything big because work would be keeping him until 9pm. So that gave me and my older girls a few extra hours to bake his favorite double layer chocolate cake, make some cards, you know...the cute homemade birthday. Kids ate dinner early and waited for him so they could have cake. It's was absolute chaos when he came home...I knew he was tired, it was his birthday, but there was nothing calm or orderly about our house at that moment.

I had dinner for just him and I ready...I was trying to plan for a quiet dinner for two, but two quickly turned into seven. I made sushi and had all the fixing from our favorite sushi bistro down the street and chop sticks, and the cute little wasabi dishes....I could tell he was excited to eat and a little shocked. So we sat down among all the chaos. Twins on top of the table. T-Rex trying to get homework done with an excessive amount of drama, Coop having computer problems and needing them fixed right away, Z-man totally exhausted, crying for no apparent reason and wanting chocolate cake...it was NOT romantic and I was getting frustrated! Finally after an hour or so the little ones went down, life quieted a bit and then we both just passed out until the alarm went off...at 4:55am.

I felt bad it was such a crazy and rushed night...another CRAZY morning to start today off...which deserves its own blog post... (tomorrow) And I jumped on my email this morning after everyone left and hurricane and tornado were in their cages and found this email from him...

Thank You!

"Just wanted to say thanks for dinner last night. I'm completely okay with the kids being up and the fact that it wasn't perfect.........we don't have perfection. We have a busy, hard working, fun, crazy, and loving family and I love it..........every minute. I'm grateful that you are the mother of our children and my wife.

Thanks for all that you do........"

{Sighhhhh}

For more My Husband Rocks Visit Katy Lin's Great Adventure! and My Husband Rocks Blog Roll