Countdown...7...6...5

One week and counting until Great Escape 2013!  My spare bedroom is stuffed with workshop materials and auction goodies.  (Needless to say, my own backpack will be packed on Friday morning one hour before takeoff.)  How I'll fit it all in one small SUV I don't know...will this be the year that I need the car top carrier? Especially after I pick us some yummy food treats?

We are looking forward to seeing you all!  If you can't come this year we will miss you, but be sure to check the website at gsgreatescape.org for pictures and updates. 

By the way, our donation of auction proceeds last year was used to install ceiling fans and lights in the theatre at Camp Wabasso, where we hold the Great Escape!  Since Wabasso specializes in horse back riding and drama for girls during summer, staff told us that our donation made the space much more usable.  Fun for adults (Great Escape!) = fun for girls (at Resident camp!)  Now that's math we can all get behind....

Two Weeks from Today!

Just two weeks until the Great Escape!  The Committee has been sending lots of emails to each other, nailing down details.  Who's doing the opening ceremony?  The evaluation forms? Are these the right quantities for that recipe?  How many are signed up now? I need an extra iron for my workshop, can anyone bring one?

Some of us are, well I am, shopping frantically to fill auction bags and baskets -  two days of nothing but shopping does tire the brain.  I'm running a Juliette/Halloween event this month and college daughter requested some items be delivered on our visit this weekend so I went out with 4 shopping lists the other day.  I got every thing except black poster board, glue dots and purple nail polish - but I'm sure I can get those next week!

It's going to be a great weekend!  One more week to sign up so REGISTER now!  October 4 - 6 in beautiful New Hampshire.

O suns and skies and clouds of June,
And flowers of June together,
Ye cannot rival for one hour
October's bright blue weather.  - Helen Hunt Jackson

 

Jumpin' Jamaica!

Paula explains her workshop this way: Switch the mood at your troop meetings, spice up a rainy day at camp, add a little spirit to your service team or entertain at Thinking Day!  Share the fun and excitement of lummi sticks -- a traditional Girl Scout experience! All thumbs?  No worries!  We'll laugh and sing in this cooperative exercise that your girls will love!

REGISTER: time is marching on!  October 4-6 in beautiful New Hampshire.

Gift Basket Shopping Lists

Kids back at school?  Are you starting to get excited for GE?  I am!  Need more ideas for a basket to bring to the GE Auction?  Fear not! 

• Book Worm Basket: Book, reading lamp, book mark/thread, fleece blanket, hot cooca/coffee/tea, book store gift card
• Traveler Basket: Luggage tags, battery powered alarm clock, magazine, crossword/soduku book, travel pillow, travel sized toiletries, eye mask, passport holder, universal travel adapter *Container Idea: Put all the items in a carry on sized bag
• Fitness Basket: Gym bag, yoga mat, kettle bell, pedometer, workout gloves, stretchy band, iTunes gift card, ear buds, water bottle *Container Idea: Put items in a gym bag
• Cook Basket: Any cookware or serving ware, recipe book, apron, utensils *Container Idea: put all the items in a stock pot
• Craft Lover Basket: Scrapbook supplies, stickers, fun scissors, paper, embellishments, stamps, glue sticks, organizing items
• Off to College Basket: Notebooks, pens, folders, binders, alarm clock, highlighters, laundry bag, mini vacuum, bath caddy, roll of quarters (for laundry), waste basket, laptop board, desk lamp, bed risers, storage boxes, over-the-door hanger, adhesive hooks, dry erase board, bulletin board, hangers, page markers, cord wraps, bungee card clip, wrinkle spray, wall putty, shelf liner *Container Idea: Put items in a laundry basket
• Moving In Basket: Command hooks, mounting tape, photo hanging gear, shelf liner, cleaning supplies, air freshener, candles, potted house plant
• Girlie Girl Basket: Nail polish, lipstick, hair accessories, purse holder, jewelry
• DIY Basket: Multi-purpose tool, measuring tape, small level, sand paper, work gloves, face mask, goggles, duct tape, electric screw driver, screw driver set, wrenches, photo hanging items *Container Idea: Put items in a tool box or tool bag
• Grilling Basket: Grilling cookbook, various sauces, rubs, spices, grilling utensils, meat thermometer, grill light, apron, wooden skewers
• Beer Basket: Cooler, beer, bottle opener, coozies
• Gardener Basket: Gloves, seeds, kneeling pad, hand tools, pots, miracle grow, flower trimmer, watering can *Container idea: Put all items in a planter
• Bird Watcher Basket: Bird book, seed, house, feeder
• Porch Lover Basket: Outdoor candle, outdoor thermometer, chimes, pitcher, serving tray, iced tea mix, book, magazine, book store gift card, bug spray
• Beach Basket (adult): Beach towel, sunscreen, beach bag, flip flops, sunglasses, magazine, water bottle *Container idea: Put items in a beach tote or cooler
• Beach Basket (kid): Beach towel, kid sunscreen, flip-flops, sunglasses, sand toys, buckets, sun hat
• Hiking/Camping Basket: Gps, battery operated radio, compass, matches, lighter, carabineer, first aid kit, camping cookware, water bottle, flashlight, lantern, bug spray, sunscreen
• Car Basket: Car cleaner, wax, microfiber towels, air freshener, tire gage, emergency items, accessories
• Art Basket: Paint, brushes, charcoal, pencils, sketchpad, canvases
• Reflection Basket: Journal, book of quotes, stationary pencils, pens, candle, iTunes gift card
• Poker Basket: Cards, poker chips, beer, cigars
• Photography Basket: Photography gift certificate, gift certificate for photo prints or canvas, frames, albums, SD cards
• Manicure Basket: Magazine, nail polishes, cuticle cream, clippers, nail files, pumice stone, scrub brush, foot soak, nail stickers
• Cupcake Basket: Cake mixes, icings, writing gels, cupcake holders, nuts, toppings, sprinkles, muffin pan
• Kid Basket (Indoor): Play dough, crayons, coloring books, books, stuffed animal, toys
• Kid Basket (Outdoor): Ball, bubbles, chalk, bug keeper, glow sticks, frisbee, water guns
• Wine Basket: Bottles of wine, wine glasses, wine charms, Cheese plate and knives, olives, crackers, jelly/jam, wine opener, wine stoppers
• Movie Basket: DVDs, popcorn, movie theater gift certificate, “movie candy”, soda, pizza gift certificate
• Coffee Basket: Coffee grinder, french press, mug, travel mug, electronic, coffee warmer, coffee, coffee flavorings, chocolate, coffee shop gift certificate
• Cocktail Basket: Liquor, cocktail recipes, various glasses (margarita, martini, scotch, etc.), stirring sticks, cherries, olives, lemons and limes, grenadine, drink shaker, shot glasses
• Baby Basket #1: Nursing cover, burp clothes, milk storage bags, nipple butter, nursing pads, steam cleaning bags, pacifiers
• Baby Basket #2: Bottles, steam cleaning bags, bottle dryer, bottle warmer, pacifiers, formula
• Baby Basket # 3: Magic bullet, food containers, baby food recipes, spoons, bowls, plates, sippy cups
• Baby Basket #4: Blanket, swaddler, or sleep sack, books, nightlight, stuffed animal, mobile, security blanket or “lovey”
• Baby Basket #5: Bathrobe, hooded towels, wash clothes, bath toys, spout cover, shampoo/body wash, lotion, toothbrush, kid toothpaste
• Baby Basket #6: First aid kit, diaper ointment, gas relief drops, Baby Tylenol/IBprofen, safety kit (door knob covers, cabinet locks, outlet covers), nail clippers, nose aspirator, children’s thermometer, kid ice pack

Paddling With Pat and Paula

Greetings from Pat!

What could be more blissful than heading out onto a pond on a Sunday morning in autumn in New Hampshire? Incredible fall colors, peaceful and restorative waters, giggles with friends, old and new. It's an opportunity that you shouldn't miss. I will take this chance to sound like a bottle of Dr. Bronner's soap and tell you that you should go paddling," ...to simplify and enjoy life more!..."

You don't need any previous experience or special skills. Paula and I have been teaching for a long time and love nothing more than to offer this life skill opportunity to our sister girl scouts. If you've been paddling before and want a chance to poke about this quiet pond, that's ok too! Consider letting this be the final workshop of your retreat weekend.

"Dip, dip and swing!"

REGISTER for Great Escape 2013, October 4 - 6.