From a Girl Scout Leader

So, I heard from my darling friend Heather that Dairy Queen has a new Blizzard... the Girl Scout Thin Mint Blizzard... So, to satisfy my immediate curiosity, I buzzed by to grab a Blizzard Monday evening after my daughter's final swim meet, and to much disappointment, they had run out and would not have more until Wednesday 7/16. Soooo... until then, I did some research (I'm the queen of internet research-- cars, ebay, music, real estate)... here's what I found... of course this tribute really touches my heart as a Girl Scout Brownie Leader... GIRL SCOUTS ROCK! Check it out:

Dairy Queen® Shows Appreciation for Girl Scouts Nationwide In July
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Minneapolis, Minn. — This summer, Dairy Queen® is giving new meaning to the term "going green." From July 7 through 13, participating Dairy Queen and DQ Grill & Chill® locations will salute the 3.6 million Girl Scouts in the U.S. for their community service and display of leadership during Girl Scout Appreciation Week, hosted by Dairy Queen locations nationwide.
During the week, local Girl Scouts will have the opportunity to develop their business and leadership skills at Dairy Queen locations by taking behind-the-scenes tours, receiving tips from Dairy Queen professionals about how to run a successful business and learning about the product development process, including how to make a Blizzard. Girl Scout councils also will encourage both girls and adults to register and re-register as Girl Scout members this week. Dairy Queen's Girl Scout Appreciation Week comes during the month when Dairy Queen debuts the Girl Scouts Thin Mint Cookie Blizzard®, the result of a licensing agreement between Dairy Queen and Girl Scouts of the USA.
"It's a month-long celebration of Girl Scouts in July at Dairy Queen," said Michael Keller, chief brand officer for International Dairy Queen, Inc. "We invite all local communities to join us as we recognize the accomplishments of this pre-eminent leadership development organization for girls."
Lisa Ling, Katie Couric, Abigail Breslin and Reese Witherspoon are some of the most recognizable Girl Scouts, but there are many more who have had an impact nationally and internationally. Sixty-nine percent of the women serving in the United States Senate, 65 percent of the women in the House of Representatives and nearly 80 percent of all women business owners and executives are Girl Scout alumnae.
"Our partnership with Dairy Queen enables us to reach the public in new and unexpected places," said Laurel Richie, Chief Marketing Officer, Girl Scouts of the USA. "We hope the Girl Scouts Thin Mint Cookie Blizzard whets people's appetites so they remember to support the Girl Scout Cookie Program and all the business and financial literacy skills girls learn from participating in this annual leadership activity."
Thin Mints are the best-selling Girl Scout cookie ever, while the Blizzard is Dairy Queen's signature treat with billions sold since 1985. This is the first time Girl Scouts of the USA and Dairy Queen have come together to create a one-of-a-kind Blizzard flavor. The Girl Scouts Thin Mint Cookie Blizzard is made with Girl Scout Thin Mint cookie pieces, creamy DQ® soft serve and a Crème de Menthe topping.
For more information about Dairy Queen's Girl Scout Appreciation Week, or to locate the nearest Dairy Queen, visit www.dq.com. For more information about Girl Scouts, please call 1-800-GSUSA 4U or visit www.girlscouts.org.
About IDQInternational Dairy Queen (IDQ), headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn., develops licenses and services a system of more than 5,600 Dairy Queen® stores in the United States, Canada and foreign countries, offering dairy desserts, hamburgers, hot dogs and beverages. IDQ is part of the Berkshire Hathaway family, a company owned by Warren Buffett, the legendary investor and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. For more information, visit www.dq.com.
About Girl ScoutsFounded in 1912, Girl Scouts of the USA is the preeminent leadership development organization for girls with 3.6 million girl and adult members worldwide. Girl Scouting is the leading authority on girls' healthy development, and builds girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place. The organization serves girls from every corner of the United States and its territories. Girls Scouts of the USA also serves American girls and their classmates attending American or international schools overseas in 90 countries. For more information on how to join, volunteer, reconnect or donate to Girl Scouts, call (800) GSUSA 4 U (800-478-7248) or visit www.girlscouts.org.June 20, 2008

A Rockin' Photography Website...check it out...

www.thepioneerwoman.com
Thanks to my dear friend Erika, I have discovered tonight that embedded in her blog the most amazing and comical photography website written for people just like me with nice digital SLRs and only the photography skills from highschool photography & yearbook class. Nearly 20 years ago I could shoot manually in black and white film, independently develop my own negatives, and print and develop my own beautiful shots for the Bryan High Yearbook! Back then, I could navigate the control knobs for apeture and shutter speeds but now (there wasn't even an auto setting available on my Minolta SLR!), and after bringing 3 kids into this crazy world and keeping up with them daily, I've lost most of my photography knowledge and have been anxiously waiting to gain it all back! So, to my delight, I've been introduced to this fab website by Erika (kudos girl!-- the top blogger I know!) --and I just got kicked out of the bedroom for being on the laptop reading and keeping my husband away from deep sleep-- it is 1:30 am...
All while I've been soaking up all that I've discovered at www.thepioneerwoman.com and the generous help that she has to lend out there! Go take a look at her amazing pictures and funny commentary. So, for all my digital SLR friends out there that would love to know just a little more about their high end camera, this one's for YOU!! I hope to start feeling more comfortable shooting on manual again on my Canon 30D. Oh thank you Erika for this one... I owe you!
Now, I can tell you that I am putting Adobe Photoshop on my birthday and Christmas wishlists RIGHT now! I'll start loading up my piggy bank for this software... because the pricetag will cetainly break it, but oh the pictures I will take!
Good nite my friends.
Cheri